September 2026 Newsletter
Oregon Home Energy Rebate Programs to Begin Contractor Enrollment
The Oregon Department of Energy is opening contractor enrollment on Monday, October 12, 2026, to prepare to launch two new federally funded home energy rebate programs.
The Home Efficiency Rebates Program (also known as HOMES) and the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates Program (also known as HEAR) will provide rebates for high-efficiency home improvements and appliance installations to eligible single-family and multifamily households, particularly households with low or moderate incomes.
Most projects must be completed by contractors enrolled and trained in the program to receive a rebate. Contractors, home energy assessors, and energy modelers can register to become an Enrolled Contractor starting Oct. 12, 2026. Registering now and completing the required program trainings early means contractors will be ready to begin working on rebate applications with customers when applications open.
Rebate applications for owner- and tenant-occupied single-family properties will open once ODOE receives U.S. DOE approval to launch – a requirement of the federal grant. We expect to launch two additional phases to follow in 2027: Rebate applications for multifamily properties, and Home Electrification and Appliance Rebate Program coupons for the purchase of a qualifying appliance at participating retail locations across the state.
Contractors can attend a webinar from 9-10 a.m. on Tuesday, Oct. 6, 2026, to learn more about becoming an Enrolled Contractor. Register for the webinar on our program website.
Sign up to be an Enrolled Contractor on our program website beginning Monday, Oct. 12, 2026. Energy Trust of Oregon and Earth Advantage are delivering the programs for Oregon, including processing contractor enrollment and rebate applications.
ODOE Launches Oregon Electric Fleet Network
The Oregon Department of Energy, in partnership with the Oregon Department of Transportation, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, and the National Association of State Energy Officials, has launched a new Oregon Electric Fleet Network, a collaborative initiative bringing together public agencies and medium- and heavy-duty fleet operators to accelerate the adoption of electric vehicles in Oregon's public and commercial fleets.
The eFleet Network will serve as a statewide forum where fleet managers can share best practices, troubleshoot common challenges, and build the technical and financial knowledge needed to transition their fleets to electric power — from medium-duty delivery vans to heavy-duty trucks. The eFleet Network, which includes a founding group of 24 fleet operators across Oregon’s public and private sectors, will serve as a peer-learning community designed to help fleet operators navigate every stage of electrification.
Through regular meetings and shared resources, members will learn directly from one another's successes and setbacks, reducing duplication of effort and helping Oregon fleets electrify faster and more cost-effectively. Following yesterday’s in-person kickoff, the eFleet Network will meet virtually on a regular basis to enable participation from across the state.
The transportation sector is the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Oregon, and fleet vehicles — from state and local government fleets to school buses, transit, and commercial delivery vehicles — represent a significant opportunity for emissions reductions. Many fleet managers face similar hurdles when going electric, including uncertainty about charging infrastructure, upfront costs, available incentives, and vehicle availability.
By convening fleets from across sectors and regions, ODOE hopes to increase the pace of fleet electrification statewide, help members make the most of available funding opportunities, and unlock cost savings associated with operating medium- and heavy-duty vehicles.
Alongside the eFleet Network kickoff, the State of Oregon and Portland General Electric partnered to host a Fleet Forward Electric Ride and Drive event at Portland International Raceway on September 29. The Ride and Drive offered the broader Oregon fleet electrification community the opportunity to get behind the wheel of the latest electric trucks and vans on the market and talk directly with manufacturers, utilities, and other experts about charging infrastructure and fleet planning.
ODOE Submits Clean Energy Project Reports to Governor Kotek
The Oregon Department of Energy has submitted three major deliverables required under Governor Kotek’s Executive Order 25-29: a report on Siting and Permitting Large-Scale Electricity Infrastructure, a report on Reducing Barriers to Clean Energy Deployment, and a Proposed Framework for Strategic Transmission Siting. Together, these reports and proposed framework address the issue of how to accelerate the pace at which clean energy projects and associated transmission infrastructure are permitted, built, and brought online in Oregon. These efforts will ultimately support access to the energy needed for Oregon homes and businesses to continue to grow and thrive.
As articulated in the Oregon Energy Strategy and amplified in the executive order, demand for electricity is rising far faster than in recent history, driven by new data centers along with electrification, industrial growth, and climate change-driven reliability challenges. At the same time, many state-approved clean energy projects are struggling to move into construction because local and federal permitting processes are stressed, interconnection timelines and costs are increasing, supply chains are constrained, and the transmission system has become a limiting factor for nearly every major project. EO 25-29 asked agencies to diagnose these challenges and propose a coordinated, proactive state response. Alongside the Department of Land Conservation and Development’s report, Accelerating Clean Energy Deployment Through Oregon’s Land Use Planning Framework, ODOE’s latest documents fulfill that directive and recommend concrete steps the state can take today to help us meet this challenge.
Each document addresses a different stage of project development, but they collectively outline a roadmap to support EO 25-29’s directive to “get clean energy projects built” and advance key elements of the Oregon Energy Strategy. The Oregon Department of Energy stands ready to act as quickly as we can on these recommendations, working in concert with leadership, other natural resource agencies, Tribes, state and local governments, developers, the public, and the legislature to continue balancing energy needs and impacts for current and future generations.
Learn more about these new reports and about other Oregon Energy Strategy implementation progress on our website.
ODOE Awards Nearly $1 Million in Building Performance Standard Incentives
The Oregon Department of Energy has selected 63 recipients to receive about $913,000 in Early Compliance Action and Planning Program incentives. The incentives will help building owners offset costs of early planning activities associated with Building Performance Standard compliance, such as energy benchmarking and reporting or conducting an energy audit.
ODOE received 72 applications in this second round of program funding, requesting a total of about $1.2 million for Tier 1 and Tier 2 buildings. Of the applications received, 63 were deemed eligible and will receive an award. Awardees include state, county, and city governments; healthcare organizations; multifamily residential buildings; retail and office space; schools and universities; and others. A complete list of awardees is available on ODOE's blog.
Awards will support compliance actions, including energy benchmarking and reporting, energy management plans and operations and maintenance programs, energy audits, and achieving compliance. ODOE will finalize incentive agreements with awardees, which will outline their responsibilities for receiving the funds.
In 2023, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 3409, establishing the Building Performance Standard for commercial buildings. The bill requires covered commercial buildings to enhance energy management practices and implement efficiency measures to meet energy use targets; the earliest compliance date for some buildings is 2028. The bill directed ODOE to establish an early compliance incentive program to encourage building owners to consider implementing energy efficiency efforts ahead of compliance dates. ODOE expects to open a third round of Early Compliance Action and Planning Program incentives later this year.
Learn more about Oregon’s BPS program and other incentive opportunities on ODOE’s website.
Grounded Podcast: Back to School with Energy Savings
All year round, the Oregon Department of Energy helps schools understand their energy needs, identify improvements, and connect with financial resources to improve learning environments. One of those financial resources is the Public Purpose Charge (SB 1149) Schools Program. Eligible schools can use funds to conduct energy audits, make energy efficiency improvements, and purchase or lease electric vehicles or install chargers.
On the latest episode of Grounded, host Katelyn Jackson is joined by Christie Sphoon, ODOE’s schools program lead, and Anne Birky, Bend-La Pine Schools’ Facilities Support Supervisor. They walk us through the Public Purpose Charge Schools Program and what the funds look like when put to use – from lighting projects to heating and cooling systems, to insulation for a new roof.
Advancing energy efficiency across buildings and transportation is one of the Oregon Energy Strategy’s five pathways for Oregon. In addition, projects help provide a more comfortable learning environment for students and teachers.
Listen to the episode on ODOE's blog or your favorite podcast app.
Reports from Around the Agency
Join our team! We are currently recruiting for a Systems Administrator (ISS 7) on our IT Team. Learn more and please share with your networks!
At its September meeting, the Energy Facility Siting Council voted to approve the Yellow Rosebush Energy Center in Wasco and Sherman counties. As approved, the facility will include 800 megawatts of solar generation and a battery storage system once constructed.
At the end of August, ODOE Assistant Director for Nuclear Safety Max Woods and Government Relations Coordinator Christy Splitt joined state lawmakers for a tour of the Reed College nuclear research reactor. The reactor dates back to 1968 and give students an opportunity to learn more about the technology and how to operate it.
On September 28, Max Woods was the opening speaker at the Oregon State University nuclear engineering program's fall seminar speaker series. He covered nuclear power policy in Oregon and nationally. OSU and ODOE work closely together on nuclear safety and other important issues facing our state.
ODOE was proud to support the Oregon Infrastructure Summit this month in Salem. ODOE Director Janine Benner presented on a panel focusing on Oregon's energy policy direction alongside representatives from Climate Solutions and Portland General Electric. ODOE team members Sarah Moehrke, Joni Sliger, and Dan Farrell also attended the summit's sessions, which focused on the planning, financing, and delivery of infrastructure projects across the state.
ODOE also sponsored this year’s Sustainable Northwest Symposium in Astoria. The event brought together panels of experts and leaders discussing coastal resilience, the grid reimagined, and community engagement and project implementation. Ruchi Sadhir participated on the panel on the grid reimagined, where she previewed key findings and preliminary recommendations from upcoming reports from EO 25-29. ODOE team members Lauren Rosenstein, Sarah Moehrke, Kaitlin Lynch, and Andy Cameron participated in the Symposium and connected with attendees across industry, policy makers, advocacy groups, and leaders from rural communities.
Planning to join a virtual ODOE meeting? We have transitioned all of our public meetings to the Microsoft Teams platform. Check out this handy guide to get started. We hope to see you in a meeting soon!
Did you know ODOE's Energy Facility Siting Team is currently reviewing more than a dozen proposed or amended energy facilities? From wind to solar facilities – to combined wind, solar, and storage facilities – you can learn more about the state's process and how to get involved on our website. You can also sign up to receive a monthly facility siting update showing the latest and greatest.
LOOKING AHEAD
Oregon Climate Action Commission |October 16, 2026 | Via Webinar
Oregon Climate Action Committee Meetings | Various Dates and Times
Energy Facility Siting Council | November 19-20, 2026 | Dates and Details to be Confirmed
CUB Energy Policy Conference | October 2, 2026 | ODOE Sponsoring
Current Rulemakings (click to see details)
Other Stakeholder Groups (click to see details)
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