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$2 million in funding to increase access to healthier air for kids and neighborhoods
PORTLAND, Ore. — Today, Portland General Electric Company (NYSE: POR) announced the launch of its electric school bus program that will help up to four school districts in the region start their transition to transportation that is cleaner, quieter and more cost-effective to operate.
Funded by the sale of Oregon Clean Fuels Program credits, PGE will return the value of the credits to local communities by providing funding and technical assistance for these school districts to adopt electric school buses.
“Transportation is the largest source of carbon emissions in the state, making an electrified transportation system critical to a low-carbon future,” said John McFarland, PGE vice president and chief customer officer. “PGE is committed to supporting an electric transportation system that serves everyone, and this program extends the benefits to students and the neighborhoods where they live.”
Funds will be provided in the form of a grant to pay for the incremental costs of the electric buses, along with the equipment and installation of the necessary charging infrastructure. Additionally, PGE will provide technical assistance to help schools make the transition, including site assessments, cost-benefit analysis, vehicle and charger selection support, and driver and mechanic training. In return, participating school districts will work with PGE to share their insights and learnings with other school districts interested in electrifying their bus fleets.
“The data is clear: Oregon cannot meaningfully address climate change without dramatically reducing carbon emissions from vehicles,” said Gov. Kate Brown. “Electrification of our transportation network is a key component of my climate policy agenda [oregon.gov]. State partnerships and innovative investments like this one between the Oregon Clean Fuels Program and PGE will help ensure that these new electric school buses are carrying our children into a brighter, cleaner future.”
This program is part of a larger initiative at PGE to invest its Oregon Clean Fuels Program credits in ways that help make electric transportation available to everyone. In addition to the electric school bus program, PGE established the Drive Change Fund, which will award $1.75 million in grants early next year for projects that expand access to electric transportation in the area. PGE is also increasing access to its Electric Avenue charging stations and conducting public outreach to raise awareness about the benefits of electric vehicles.
How to apply for a grant:
School districts that overlap with PGE’s service area can apply for a School Bus Electrification Project grant. The application is available now and submissions are due Jan. 31, 2020. PGE aims to have electric school buses on the road by the beginning of the 2020-21 school year. PGE will look for diversity across the portfolio of selected participants, such as geographical location, pupil transportation business models and school district size to maximize the value of the project for the region.
About Portland General Electric Company: Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) is a fully integrated energy company based in Portland, Oregon, with operations across the state. The company serves approximately 892,000 customers in 51 cities, has 16 generation plants in five Oregon counties, and maintains and operates 13 public parks and recreation areas. For 130 years, PGE has been delivering safe, affordable and reliable energy to Oregonians. Together with its customers, PGE has the No. 1 voluntary renewable energy program in the U.S. PGE and its 3,000 employees are committed to helping its customers build a clean energy future. PGE, employees, retirees and the PGE Foundation donate approximately $4 million annually to support nonprofits and schools. In addition, employees and retirees log about 45,000 volunteer hours annually. For more information visit portlandgeneral.com/cleanvision.
1.4 megawatts of new generation for the region to be completed in 2020PORTLAND, Ore. — Portland General Electric Company (NYSE: POR) recently awarded nearly $1 million in PGE Renewable Development Fund grants to nine local nonprofits to create clean energy projects that will generate 1.4 megawatts of clean power for the region. These grants are part of the Green FutureSM renewable energy program, which helps put more clean, local, renewable energy onto the electric grid. “On behalf of PGE’s Green Future customers, we’re pleased to award grants to these outstanding organizations and recognize their leadership in advancing clean energy,” said Maria Pope, president and CEO of PGE. “Through our shared commitment and ongoing collaboration, innovative programs like these deliver a clean energy future for all Oregonians.” This is the 20th anniversary of the fund. Since it was launched in 1999, the fund has contributed about $14 million in grants to help more than 60 community organizations develop local clean energy projects. To date, completed projects have added more than 14 megawatts of clean electricity capacity to our region. Another 3 megawatts from previously approved projects are in development. When those projects and the nine new projects are completed in 2020, the program will have created more than 18 megawatts of clean power capacity, enough to power more than 15,000 homes. PGE’s Green Future is the most successful renewable power program of its kind in the country, with more than 225,000 customers voluntarily enrolled. The U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory recently announced in its 2018 rankings that PGE has the largest participation in a renewables program of any U.S. electric utility for the 10th year in a row. Project overviews: This year’s grant recipients span PGE’s service area and represent organizations delivering important community benefits in addition to their projects, including affordable housing, mental health services, conservation and education.
How the PGE Renewable Development Fund works: The PGE Renewable Development Fund is supported by customers who choose one of PGE’s Green Future renewable energy programs. The fund offers competitive grant awards for applicants to deploy their own clean energy projects. Grants are awarded through an open and competitive application process and evaluated in accordance with eligibility guidelines, preferred project standards and established evaluation criteria. The next grant cycle will begin in spring of 2020. About Portland General Electric Company: Portland General Electric (NYSE: POR) is a fully integrated energy company based in Portland, Oregon, with operations across the state. The company serves approximately 892,000 customers in 51 cities, has 16 generation plants in five Oregon counties, and maintains and operates 13 public parks and recreation areas. For 130 years, PGE has been delivering safe, affordable and reliable energy to Oregonians. Together with its customers, PGE has the No. 1 voluntary renewable energy program in the U.S. PGE and its 3,000 employees are committed to helping its customers build a clean energy future. PGE, employees, retirees and the PGE Foundation donate approximately $4 million annually to support nonprofits and schools. In addition, employees and retirees log about 45,000 volunteer hours annually. For more information visit portlandgeneral.com/cleanvision. ### |
Electric cars, scooters, and even an electric bus will be part of the show at Eastport Plaza in Portland this Saturday, October 26 at the grand opening of the metro area’s newest Electric Avenue public charging station for electric vehicles, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Who: The public, and speakers including PGE President and CEO Maria Pope, Multnomah County Commissioner Jessica Vega Pederson, Tri-Met Chief Operating Officer Sam Desue, and Ingrid Fish, of the City of Portland’s Bureau of Planning & Sustainability.
What: Opening remarks from 10 to 10:20 a.m. In addition to a ribbon-cutting for the new Electric Avenue and remarks, members of the public can test-drive an EV or Lime scooter, tour a TriMet electric bus and learn about electric transportation options until 2 p.m.
Where: Eastport Plaza, 4000 SE 82nd Avenue in Portland.
Why: Transportation is the largest source of carbon emissions in the state, making an electrified transportation system critical to a carbon-free future. By increasing access to reliable electric vehicle charging infrastructure, we are supporting electric vehicle adoption and sustainable transportation options.
PGE, the City and Multnomah County partnered to develop the Eastport Plaza Electric Avenue to serve communities in east Portland, joining the existing charging stations at PGE’s Electric Avenues in downtown Portland, Hillsboro and Milwaukie to help assure EV drivers have access to public charging throughout the region. Three more PGE Electric Avenues are slated to open in coming months in Beaverton, Wilsonville and Salem.
To learn more about Electric Avenue and the work we’re doing to electrify transportation and combat climate change, visit www.portlandgeneral.com/plugin. Electric Avenue charging stations are powered by 100 percent renewable energy from PGE, so the community can charge up using carbon-free energy.