Obama Administration Announces Additional $33,501,500 for Local Energy Efficiency Improvements in Oregon --- Block Grants to Support Jobs, Cut Energy Bills, and Increase Energy Independence

Bend will receive $745,500 and Deschutes County $325,700

Vice President Joe Biden and Energy Secretary Steven Chu today announced plans to invest $3.2 billion in energy efficiency and conservation projects in U.S. cities, counties, states, territories, and Native American tribes.  This includes $33,501,500 for state, county and city efforts in Oregon.  A detailed breakdown is below.

Today's announcement builds on an investment of $80,694,236 in Oregon weatherization and energy funding announced by the Administration on March 12th and detailed at energy.gov/recovery.

"These investments will save taxpayer dollars and create jobs in communities around the country," said Vice President Biden.  "Local leaders will have the flexibility in how they put these resources to work - but we will hold them accountable for making the investments quickly and wisely to spur the local economy and cut energy use."

The Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program, funded by President Obama's American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, will provide formula grants for projects that reduce total energy use and fossil fuel emissions, and improve energy efficiency. 

The funding will support energy audits and energy efficiency retrofits in residential and commercial buildings, the development and implementation of advanced building codes and inspections, and the creation of financial incentive programs for energy efficiency improvements.  Other activities eligible for use of grant funds include transportation programs that conserve energy, projects to reduce and capture methane and other greenhouse gas emissions from landfills, renewable energy installations on government buildings, energy efficient traffic signals and street lights, deployment of Combined Heat and Power and district heating and cooling systems, and others.

To ensure accountability, the Department of Energy will provide guidance to and require grant recipients to report on the number of jobs created or retained, energy saved, renewable energy capacity installed, greenhouse gas emissions reduced, and funds leveraged.  Funding is based on a formula that accounts for population and energy use. 

"The Block Grants are a major investment in energy solutions that will strengthen America's economy and create jobs at the local level," said Secretary Chu. "The funding will be used for the cheapest, cleanest and most reliable energy technologies we have - energy efficiency and conservation - which can be deployed immediately.  The grants also empower local communities to make strategic investments to meet the nation's long term clean energy and climate goals."

Funding for state, city, and county governments in the state includes:

Oregon Total Sum City, County, and SEO Allocations: $33,501,500

Oregon State Energy Office:  $9,593,500

Albany, City: $201,500

Beaverton, City: $914,900

Bend, City: $745,500

Corvallis, City: $511,600

Eugene, City: $1,485,800

Gresham, City: $901,500

Hillsboro, City: $924,700

Keizer, City: $138,500

Lake Oswego, City: $157,900

Medford, City: $729,700

Portland, City: $5,626,100

Salem, City: $1,521,200

Springfield, City: $539,400

Tigard, City: $230,500

Clackamas County: $3,159,500

Deschutes County: $325,700

Douglas County: $442,900

Jackson County: $524,800

Josephine County: $343,200

Lane County: $561,200

Marion County: $609,000

Umatilla County: $312,900

Washington County: $2,596,900

Yamhill County: $403,100

In addition, today's announcement includes funding for the following Tribal governments in the state:

Burns Paiute Tribe of the Burns Paiute Indian Colony of Oregon: $29,000

Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua and Siuslaw Indians of Oregon: $63,500

Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Community of Oregon: $301,100

Confederated Tribes of the Siletz Reservation, Oregon: $305,500

Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Reservation, Oregon: $68,900

Confederated Tribes of the Warm Springs Reservation of Oregon: $129,300

Coquille Tribe of Oregon: $64,400

Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Indians of Oregon: $96,800

Klamath Tribes, Oregon (formerly the Klamath Indian Tribe of Oregon): $91,500

Fort McDermitt Paiute and Shoshone Tribes of the Fort McDermitt Indian Reservation, Nevada and Oregon: *$25,800

(* If a Tribal government spans more than one state, the number above reflects the allocation for the Tribal government as a whole.)