ODOE Announces $12 Million in Available Grant Funding for Renewable Energy and Energy Resilience Projects
The Latino Network’s newly opened community center in Gresham’s Rockwood neighborhood was a recipient of the first round of funding. | Image courtesy of Carpentry Plus, for Colas Construction
Media Contact: Jennifer Kalez
Program Contact: community.grants@energy.oregon.gov
SALEM – The Oregon Department of Energy will soon begin accepting applications for a fourth round of funding through the agency’s Community Renewable Energy Grant Program. ODOE is making $12 million available to support planning and construction of renewable energy or energy resilience projects for Tribes, public bodies, and consumer-owned utilities.
Grant dollars are available for four types of projects:
Planning a renewable energy project
Planning a renewable energy project that also has a resilience component
Construction of a renewable energy project
Construction of a renewable energy project with a resilience component
Eligible projects include renewable energy generation systems like solar or wind, as well as energy storage systems, electric vehicle charging stations, or microgrid technologies paired with new or existing renewable energy systems. Eligible applicants are encouraged to partner with community groups, non-profits, private businesses, and others on potential projects. Previous rounds in 2022, 2023, and 2024 selected recipients for $42 million total in grant funds.
ODOE will again offer grants up to $100,000 for eligible planning projects and up to $1 million for eligible construction projects. Planning grants can cover up to 100 percent of eligible costs to develop a plan to build renewable energy and energy resilience projects. Construction grants for renewable energy projects can cover up to 50 percent of eligible costs to build the project, while construction grants for resilience projects can cover up to 100 percent.
Awards will be made on a competitive basis, and priority will be given to projects that support energy resilience and that serve qualifying communities, including communities of color, low-income communities, Tribes, rural areas, and other traditionally underserved groups. Previous planning grant awardees may return to apply for a construction grant to put their plan into action.
“The Oregon Department of Energy is proud to offer this fourth round of Community Renewable Energy Grants,” said ODOE Director Janine Benner. “We look forward to supporting even more projects that strengthen community energy resilience, invest in clean energy, support local jobs and economic development, and reduce overall energy cost savings for Oregonians.”
The Community Renewable Energy Grant Program was created by the Oregon Legislature in 2021 to support projects outside Portland city limits. The Latino Network’s newly opened community center in Gresham’s Rockwood neighborhood was a recipient of the first round of funding.
"La Plaza Esperanza represents a powerful vision of our Latine communities, of a place of hope and safety, a place of powerful transformation of lives and a place of resilience,” said Latino Network Executive Director Tony DeFalco. “With ODOE C-REP resources we were able to install solar and battery storage making La Plaza even more durable in the event of power outages, enabling our community to come together in times of need."
An online application will be available this summer and will be due in August (exact date to be announced). All applications will be checked for completeness before going through a competitively scored review. Opportunity announcements for the four project types with additional eligibility details are available on ODOE’s website. ODOE is making the opportunity announcements available early to ensure eligible applicants have time to gather materials to apply. ODOE will post application information online and send updates to the program email list.
The program has resources, including Frequently Asked Questions and a document checklist, available online and encourages additional questions from potential applicants through ODOE’s customer service portal.