We remember how incredible it felt when the Portland Clean Energy Initiative passed in November 2018. Not by a slim margin, but an overwhelming affirmation of support for climate justice: 65%, two-to-one in favor.
As Earth Day 2022 approaches and our region is hit with unusual and extreme weather once again, there is no question that the Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF) is sorely needed. We wanted to share with you what a few Coalition of Communities of Color members who have received PCEF funding are doing to build a livable future for Black, Indigenous, Latine, Asian, Pacific Islander, and working-class Portlanders.
Verde Builds:
Verde Builds video about Francisco Ramos’ new heat pump system, thanks in part to the Portland Clean Energy Fund.
PCEF funding enhances Verde's Ductless Heat Pump (DHP) Activator Program in partnership with the Energy Trust of Oregon. The DHP program replaces electric resistance heating systems with energy-efficient ductless heat pump units in single-family homes, including mobile homes owned by people from historically marginalized communities at low to no cost throughout the City of Portland.
Check out this video interview with Francisco Ramos, who lives in a 1928 home in Cully and received a ductless heat pump system that keeps his family warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The project by Verde Builds was funded in part by the Portland Clean Energy Fund.
Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon (APANO)
APANO's Community United Fund has kicked off a workforce training program in collaboration with Consulting Community LLC and GreenSavers. Over 30 Asian American & Pacific Islander (AAPI) community members joined the online and in-person information sessions to learn about the program. Participants in the first cohort will receive hands-on training by GreenSavers at a dozen home weatherization projects. APANO is excited to offer these opportunities thanks to funding from the Portland Clean Energy Fund.
Portland Community Reinvestments Initiative, Inc.
PCRI’s Green Door Project kickoff
PCRI has over 800 units of affordable housing ranging from single-family homes to small multiplexes and community apartments. PCRI received multi-year funding from the Portland Clean Energy Fund for its "Green Door Project" (kickoff event pictured above) to lower energy bills for residents of their affordable housing units by doing deep energy retrofits and energy & water savings audits. The project also includes tree planting and mentoring, training, and contracting with minority-owned businesses and construction firms.
Events and Opportunities at CCC this April
Don't forget to join us for one of two upcoming Portland Charter Review testimony preparation workshops (the two sessions will cover the same content):
Tues. April 19th, 5:00-6:30pm
Tues. April 26th, 5:00-6:30pm
The Flavors Hook Oregon Kids Campaign is a growing statewide movement to protect our children from falling into the trap of tobacco and vape use by closing the main pathway used to hook them—flavored tobacco and vape products.
Flavors Hook Oregon Kids has partnered with CCC, Next Up, and Unite Oregon to host a joint community listening session on Monday, April 25th from 5:30–7:00 pm on Zoom. Register here.
Donations are needed to support our member, Voz Portland, whose worker center and bus were vandalized and burned last week.
Last Wednesday, April 6th, Voz had their van and worker center vandalized and burned in the middle of the night. They had only just purchased the van and moved into this space a few months ago. You can help the Voz worker center recover by donating to their GoFundMe.
Gratitude to everyone who attended our Research Justice Institute's webinar on April 12th, The Racial Wealth Gap & Economic Justice in Oregon. A recording of the event has been uploaded to our YouTube here, and you can read more about our Research Justice Institute's new report, Addressing the Racial Wealth Gap, here.