Governor Announces Next Round Of Recovery Act Grants For Energy Efficiency Projects

Press Release

$7.25 million will invest in more than 95 projects statewide, including $1 million to Portland Community College for Energy Net Zero Projects

Governor Ted Kulongoski today announced more than $7.25 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (Recovery Act) awards for 97 energy efficiency and conservation projects across the state. Combined with matching and other leveraged funds, these projects total nearly $46.2 million in energy investments, creating about 139,662 worker hours and delivering thousands of dollars in energy savings.

The Recovery Act funds being awarded through the State Energy Program (SEP) can be used for public buildings, including K-12 schools, colleges, universities, and government buildings. The U.S. Department of Energy administers the funds, approves the projects and reviews the state's progress.

"This federal investment provides an unprecedented opportunity to make significant improvements in energy efficiency and renewable energy projects for public buildings throughout the state, creating both jobs and energy savings for Oregonians," said Governor Kulongoski. "These projects will increase energy efficiency, use renewable sources of energy, incorporate promising technologies, conserve resources, reduce energy costs, and most importantly invest in local economies."

The state's investment strategy is to target Recovery Act SEP funding to energy projects in public buildings that leverage additional public or private funds, advance innovation or meet state and local energy priorities and goals. To that end, included in this announcement is $1 million for Portland Community College (PCC) to begin the first phase of their Energy Net Zero project on the Sylvania Campus.

This project was also approved and moved forward as a priority initiative by the Governor's Oregon Way Advisory Group, which is focused on advancing Oregon's competitive green advantage by leveraging of federal Recovery Act dollars.

"This award represents the first phase of PCC's Net Zero initiative as it begins to develop a self-sufficient campus where carbon emissions are eliminated and all energy needs are met with renewable energy generated on-site," said Governor Kulongoski. "These dollars will allow the college to move forward with this ambitious vision and provide a national model for sustainability."

The Oregon Department of Energy announced its first round of SEP-ARRA funds Sept. 22 for lighting retrofits, windows, and heating, ventilation and cooling (HVAC) system upgrades in K-12 schools. The second round awarded Oct. 2 was for energy conservation and renewable energy public building projects in eastern Oregon.

"Conservation projects like these help us provide Oregonians with affordable, reliable energy today and into the future," said Oregon Department of Energy Director Mark Long.

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