In the coming years, more Portland families will see the benefits of solar than ever before. In a historic investment, the Portland Clean Energy Benefits Fund is awarding more than $55 million to Energy Trust and other local organizations to connect communities of color and households experiencing lower incomes to solar energy through the installation of rooftop solar and large community solar projects.
In partnership with community organizations Community Energy Project, APANO, and Self-Enhancement Inc, Energy Trust will receive $25 million to install solar on approximately 725 Portland homes and at 25 multifamily buildings across the city. PCEF is also awarding the Bonneville Environmental Foundation $31 million to build several, large-scale community solar projects. Together these grants will lower energy bills for more than 3,000 households, including renters.
“This is an investment in the homes and livelihoods of people across Portland,” said Michael Colgrove, executive director of Energy Trust. “With this work, we’re addressing the historic inequity in solar energy, adding more renewable energy to our community, and lowering costs for people for decades to come.”
Energy Trust will leverage PCEF funding along with an $87 million federal Solar for All grant and existing Energy Trust programs to create a never-before-seen investment in rooftop solar. The work could save each participating household an estimated $25,000 on energy over the next 20 years.
For many homes, the Portland Solar for All program will also help pay for batteries that store energy, strengthen the utility grid, and can help keep the lights on during outages. Funding may also cover roof repairs or electrical upgrades, which are often needed before installing solar on older homes. With their expertise, CEP, APANO and SEI will help design the program, identify people and families in most need, and support them through the installation process.
“The need for this work is as urgent as it is imperative,” said Sahaan McKelvey, director of advocacy and engagement at Self Enhancement, Inc. “Adding solar to these homes helps create long-term stability, reduces cost burden and creates pathways to economic growth for communities who have been on the front lines of climate change and have historically had the least access to these types of resources and supports.”
Energy Trust will also support Bonneville Environmental Foundation’s community solar projects as they are developed. Community solar projects are larger solar systems built on rooftops of large buildings or in an undeveloped area. Each can bring the benefits of solar to hundreds of people including renters and anyone unable to install solar at home.
With the PCEF grants, both Bonneville Environmental Foundation and Energy Trust will help grow and diversify the solar workforce in Portland, directing millions of dollars to BIPOC-owned contractors and working with partners including the Oregon Solar Energy Education Fund, Energy Assurance and Portland Community College.
Energy Trust and its partners will develop the solar programs through 2025 with the goal of beginning installations in early 2026.
Visit energytrust.org/solar to learn more about the ways Energy Trust helps people and add solar to their homes and businesses.