Regional and Oregon Leaders Celebrate Federal Solar for All Investment
The Oregon Department of Energy was pleased to join federal and local partners in Portland this week to celebrate Oregon’s award of $86.6 million for the Solar for All program. The grant funding, provided by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), will support renewable energy adoption for low-income Oregonians and other disadvantaged communities. The Oregon Solar for All Coalition – which includes the Oregon Department of Energy, Energy Trust of Oregon, and Bonneville Environmental Foundation – applied for the funding last fall.
Regional and local leaders underscored the difference the Solar for All funding will make for disadvantaged communities across the state in a roundtable discussion that included representatives from the U.S. EPA, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, the Governor’s office, Oregon Department of Energy, Energy Trust of Oregon, Bonneville Environmental Foundation, the Portland Housing Bureau, Hacienda CDC, and the Northwest Environmental Justice Center.
To show firsthand the impact this funding can have, attendees toured Las Adelitas, an affordable housing apartment complex in Portland’s Cully neighborhood. Developed by Hacienda CDC, the complex provides homes for more than 400 low-income individuals and families who benefit from on-site EV charge stations and lower utility costs thanks to the sustainable energy generated by a large rooftop solar array.
Janine Benner, Oregon Department of Energy Director, thanked federal partners for recognizing the importance of community projects like these that not only keep energy costs for families affordable, but also advance equity, environmental, and energy justice priorities.
“This Solar for All funding is a game-changer, as it will bolster existing programs and enable more Oregonians to access the benefits of solar at little to no cost to them,” Benner said. “We’re grateful for the nearly $87 million award to kick-start even more solar projects across the state and so pleased that EPA is supporting workforce development to give Oregon workers the skills to do this important work in well-paying jobs.”
U.S. EPA Region 10 Administrator Casey Sixkiller was on hand and commended the diverse coalition of Oregon partners and local agencies that are leading this work. “President Biden committed to making the largest investment in our nation’s history to combat global climate change,” said Casey Sixkiller. “This funding will be used to supercharge the deployment of solar power in communities, create jobs, make our power grid more resilient, and lower the cost of energy for every household.”
The Oregon Solar for All Coalition will use the first year of the five-year grant to plan and develop the grant-funded programs, including leveraging existing solar technology incentives and support platforms already in use. More information is available on the Oregon Department of Energy’s website, and the coalition will provide updates as planning and development continue over the next year. Oregonians can also sign up for email updates to stay in the loop on opportunities to weigh in and ahead of future program roll-out.