Oregon Awards $12M to Renewable & Resilient Energy Projects

From Canyonville to Cascade Locks, 24 projects just got a major clean energy boost. The Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) awarded nearly $12 million through its Community Renewable Energy Grant Program to help public organizations and Tribes plan and build renewable and resilience energy systems across the state.

ODOE received 76 applications requesting more than $46 million. A panel of experts—including community advocates, industry pros, and technical reviewers—selected projects based on cost savings, resilience, feasibility, and equity.

Highlights from This Round of Grants

• Salem Housing Authority – $294,967 to install solar at two senior housing sites (114 units), cutting energy bills.
• Pinehurst School District – $219,500 for solar + battery backup at its elementary school, a local resilience hub.
• City of Pendleton – $1,000,000 for a 500-kW battery system paired with hydropower at its water facility.
• Confederated Tribes of Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians – $100,000 planning grant for solar + storage at a community health center.
• Curry Public Library – $1M for 3 solar canopies + battery backup, keeping the library online during outages.
• Cascade Locks Fire Station – $778,000 for rooftop solar and battery backup to power emergency operations.

In total, ODOE is supporting:

• 16 construction projects
• 8 planning grants

Some awardees first received planning grants in prior years and now move forward into construction—proof the program helps take clean energy from idea to reality.

Full List of Awardees (Select Projects)

• Silver Falls Library District – 71 kW solar + 240-kWh battery for emergency response hub
• City of Gresham – 155 kW solar + 480-kWh battery for four Rockwood Village buildings
• Umpqua Indian Utility Cooperative – 4 MW of solar across five Tribal sites
• Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (Redmond) – 37 kW solar + EV chargers + storage at youth workforce center
• Klamath County – 148 kW solar for public offices, saving energy long-term

“This grant program supports projects across the state that bolster clean electricity and strengthen resilience in Oregon communities,” said ODOE Director Janine Benner.

ODOE will finalize agreements with recipients, releasing up to 30% of funding upfront, with the remainder provided upon completion and verification.

About the Program

The Community Renewable Energy Grant Program was created by the Oregon Legislature in 2021 to support public and Tribal energy projects outside Portland city limits. Funding can be used for both planning and construction of renewable energy or backup power systems.

Past grant rounds were awarded in 2022, 2023, and 2024, and the program continues to drive local investment in solar, battery storage, microgrids, and more.

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