Woodburn Awarded First Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant – Applications Due May 21
The City of Woodburn has been awarded the first Energy Efficiency & Conservation Block Grant from the Oregon Department of Energy’s new federally funded grant program.
Woodburn will receive a $100,000 grant from ODOE to support electric vehicle charging in the city, including four EV charging stations placed in disadvantaged communities, as defined by the federal Justice 40 Initiative. The City of Woodburn developed a technical advisory group and coordinated with local utility experts to inform the EV charger locations.
ODOE announced the new grant opportunity in late March, and is now accepting applications for projects that benefit disadvantaged communities as identified on the Climate and Economic Justice Screening Tool (CEJST) through May 21, 2024 or until funds have been fully allocated (whichever comes first).
The agency has a total of about $1.2 million available for grants that will be awarded on a rolling basis to eligible local governments for energy efficiency, renewable energy, or transportation-related projects, and will be awarded on a rolling basis.
Local governments are eligible to apply for grants to support projects that reduce fossil fuel emissions, lower a community’s total energy use, improve energy efficiency, and build a clean and equitable energy economy. The program is also designed to advance equity, environmental, and energy justice priorities in support of federal Justice40 Initiative goals to deliver benefits to disadvantaged communities.
The funding is available thanks to the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program. Eligible applicants include Oregon units of local government that are not otherwise eligible to receive a direct Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant from the U.S. Department of Energy. In Oregon, several larger cities and some counties are receiving grants directly from the U.S. DOE.
Learn more about the program, read the current grant opportunity announcement, and apply online on ODOE’s website.