Oregon Department of Energy Grants Support Renewable and Resilient Energy Development from Canyonville to Cascade Locks
The City of Pendleton was awarded a Community Renewable Energy Grant in 2022 to support a new solar canopy at its Wastewater Treatment Plant.
The Oregon Department of Energy has selected 24 recipients to receive nearly $12 million in Community Renewable Energy Grant Program funds. The program supports planning and construction of renewable energy or energy resilience projects for Tribes, public bodies, and consumer-owned utilities.
ODOE received 76 applications requesting over $46 million to support projects for this fourth round of grant funding. Awards were chosen on a competitive basis with the help of a grant application evaluation committee, which included community-based organizations, renewable energy advocates, industry leaders, and technical experts from across the state. Committee members considered project feasibility and strength, equity considerations, cost savings, economic development, and other features to select the 24 awarded projects.
The Salem Housing Authority has been awarded about $295,000 to construct a net-metered solar system that will offset energy costs for 114 apartments for seniors at two low-income housing locations. Pinehurst School District’s $219,500 award will support installation of a 19-kW solar photovoltaic array, along with 71.5 kWh of energy storage to mitigate routine power interruptions at Pinehurst Elementary School. The school serves as an emergency resilience hub for a remote community in the mountains east of Ashland. The City of Pendleton has also been awarded $1 million to install a 500-kilowatt energy storage system that will pair with an existing micro-hydropower generation system at the Byers Aquifer Storage and Recovery Well Site. The added battery storage will optimize grid operations, particularly during outages or emergencies. The Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians has been awarded a $100,000 planning grant for a Tribal-wide renewable solar plus storage resilience project at the Three Rivers Health Center. A $63,811 grant award to Oakridge School District will support planning for solar and energy storage, including a potential solar and biomass combined heat and power system at three area schools and a Parent Resource Center.
ODOE was also pleased to see program participants that received previous planning grants return to request construction funds to put those plans into action. The Curry Public Library District was awarded a planning grant in 2024, and will now receive nearly $1 million to install three ground-mounted solar canopies paired with energy storage. In addition to producing energy savings, the library will serve as a community emergency center during potential outages or other emergencies. The City of Cascade Locks also received a planning grant in 2024, and is now awarded nearly $778,000 to install rooftop solar and paired battery storage that will support Cascade Locks Fire Station operations during outages and emergencies. In total, ODOE’s program is supporting 8 planning and 16 construction projects – see a complete list of awardees below.
“The Oregon Department of Energy is proud to announce these new grant awardees,” said ODOE Director Janine Benner. “This grant program supports projects across the state that bolster clean electricity and strengthen resilience in Oregon communities – two of five pathways we’ve identified in the Oregon Energy Strategy.”
ODOE will finalize performance agreements with the awardees, which outline their responsibilities for receiving the funds. After finalizing the agreements, the agency can release up to 30 percent of the grant, with the remaining funds released upon project completion and verification.
The Community Renewable Energy Grant Program was created by the Oregon Legislature in 2021 to support projects outside Portland city limits. ODOE also announced grant awardees in 2022, 2023, and 2024.
ALL AWARDeeS
Silver Falls Library District | Construction Resilience | $589,147
Installation of a 71 kW PV solar system, estimated to produce 82,359 kWh annually, along with a 240-kWh battery storage system to supplement energy use. The project will offset costs and allow the building to act as an emergency response and community support center during outages. This project is a prior grant recipient to support planning activities for this construction project.
City of Gresham | Construction Resilience | $998,766
Installation of a net-metered, 155-kW PV solar system capable of producing up to 173,160 kWh annually, including 480 kWh of battery energy storage. The project will support four buildings at the Rockwood Village Apartments. Project partners included Feed’em Freedom Foundation, Community Development Partners and the City of Gresham. This project is a prior grant recipient for planning activities for this construction project.
Salem Housing Authority | Construction Renewable | $294,967
Installation of a net-metered PV solar system estimated to generate 163,000 kWh annually to support and offset energy costs for 114 one-bedroom apartments for seniors at two low-income housing locations.
Umpqua Indian Utility Cooperative | Construction Renewable | $1,000,000
Installation of 4 MW of solar generation across five site locations to provide electricity for the Cow Creek Band of the Umpqua Indians, resulting in an estimated annual savings of $706 per Tribal member households.
Pinehurst School District #94 | Construction Resilience | $219,500
Installation of a 19-kW solar photovoltaic array generating up to 25,825 kWh per year, along with 71.5 kWh of energy storage to mitigate routine power interruptions at Pinehurst Elementary School. The school serves as a community emergency resilience hub for a remote community in the mountains east of Ashland.
Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council | Construction Resilience | $292,923
Installation of a 37-kW PV solar system generating up to 53,389 kWh annually, including 111 kWh battery energy storage system and 12 publicly available electric vehicle charging ports at the Heart of Oregon Corps’ new youth workforce development central campus in Redmond. The organization serves disadvantaged youth and the broader community.
Klamath County | Construction Renewable - $321,988
Installation of a 148-kW solar system estimated to produce up to 243,028 kWh annually to offset utility costs for the Klamath County Juvenile and Public Departments, as well as the Veterans Services Office.
City of Pendleton | Construction Resilience | $1,000,000
Installation of 500-kW nameplate energy storage system paired with an existing micro-hydro generation system at the Byers Aquifer Storage and Recovery Well Site. The project will optimize grid operations and sustain power during outages or emergencies.
Curry Public Library District | Construction Resilience | $999,161
Installation of three ground-mounted PV solar canopies, totaling 90-kW nameplate capacity, that are able to produce up to 131,100 kWh annually. They will be paired with a 184-kW energy storage setup to offset energy costs. The building will serve as a community emergency incidence center during outages and emergency events. This project is a prior grant recipient for supporting planning activities for this construction project.
Rogue River Rural Fire Protection District | Construction Resilience | $603,630
Installation of an 87-kW PV storage and 184 kWh storage capacity pole mount system that will allow critical fire, EMS, and 911 operations to continue uninterrupted in the event of a major disaster without the need for diesel fuel deliveries.
Ochoco Irrigation District | Construction Renewable | $700,000
Installation of a 764-kW floating solar project on a reservoir to provide affordable energy to local residents.
Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs | Construction Resilience | $1,000,000
Installation of community-scale solar and battery storage systems at 34 Tribe-owned affordable and supportive housing locations, as well as a community center. The project will be capable of generating up to 239,000 kWh of renewable energy annually.
Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council | Construction Resilience | $380,000
Installation of a 30-kW photovoltaic array estimated to produce 41,483 kWh per year, paired with a 240-kWh battery storage system. The project will support 40 low-income households at a new affordable housing project in Sisters developed by partner Northwest Housing Alternatives.
Oregon State University Cascades | Construction Renewable | $1,000,000
Installation of solar at five campus locations, including classroom and residence halls and the Student Success Center. The projects are estimated to generate 1,128,000 kWh annually to provide clean campus energy and offset costs.
City of Cascade Locks | Construction Resilience | $777,851
Installation of a 64-kW rooftop solar array, generating 76,891 kWh per year, paired with a 125-kW battery storage system. The project will offset energy costs and support facility operation during outages and emergences at the Cascade Locks Fire Station. This project is a prior grant recipient for planning activities for this construction project.
Multnomah County | Construction Resilience | $998,763
Installation of a net-metered 31-kW PV solar system with estimated annual renewable energy production of 340,109 kWh, paired with a 33-kWh battery energy storage system in Troutdale. The project will support an onsite walk-in cooler and refrigeration trailer, and provide barn lighting in partnership with Feed’em Freedom Foundation, the county’s CROP program, which also serves as a Black Community Food Center.
City of Gresham | Planning Resilience | $100,000
Planning for a microgrid solar power and storage system linking four non-profit agencies at the Rockwood Community Campus in Gresham.
Coos County Area Transportation District | Planning Resilience | $100,000
Planning for a microgrid with multi-type photovoltaic arrays and energy storage systems for a new transit hub, including possible planning and consideration of a modern hydrogen methane pyrolysis system.
Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians | Planning Resilience | $100,000
Planning for a Tribal-wide renewable energy resilience project at the Three Rivers Health Center using PV solar and battery energy storage system.
Oakridge School District 76 | Planning Resilience | $63,811
Planning for PV solar and energy storage, including a potential photovoltaic and biomass combined heat and power system at three area schools and a Parent Resource Center.
Hood River County School District | Planning Resilience | $100,000
Planning for a net-metered rooftop 110-kW photovoltaic system with 300-kWh battery storage potential at the elementary school, including possible addition of vehicle-to-building EV charging system.
Tualatin Hills Park & Recreation District | Planning Resilience | $100,000
Planning to conduct comprehensive feasibility studies for solar photovoltaic systems and potential resiliency options at multiple building sites at the Howard M. Terpenning Recreation Complex.
Eugene Water & Electric Board | Planning Renewable | $100,000
Planning to design expanded EV charging infrastructure at EWEB’s headquarters to support the long-term electrification of its light-duty fleet, which typically includes 50 pickup trucks and 14 SUVs.
East Fork Irrigation District | Planning Renewable | $100,000
Planning for an in-conduit hydropower facility of approximately 850–950 kW that would generate approximately 2.6 million kWh annually.