Community Renewable Energy Grant Program

The Community Renewable Energy Grant Program is administered by the Oregon Department of Energy and was established through state legislation to support the planning and development of community-based renewable energy and energy resilience projects. The program is designed to create a structured and competitive process for awarding grants that align with statewide energy goals, including increasing access to renewable energy, improving energy resilience, and delivering economic and environmental benefits to communities across Oregon. The program places a strong emphasis on equitable distribution of funding and prioritizes projects that serve historically underserved or environmental justice communities. The primary objective of the program is to offset the cost of planning and developing community renewable energy systems while making such projects economically feasible for qualifying communities. These projects are expected to provide direct benefits such as increased resilience to energy disruptions, job creation, economic development, and reduced energy costs for families and small businesses. Eligible project types include renewable energy generation systems such as solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass, as well as energy storage systems, microgrid technologies, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure when paired with renewable energy sources. Funding under this program supports both planning and construction activities, with planning grants covering up to 100 percent of eligible costs and construction grants covering up to 50 percent or 100 percent depending on the project type. Planning grants are capped at 100,000 dollars, while construction grants can reach up to 1,000,000 dollars. The program operates with a significant total budget, and funding allocations are reserved to ensure that at least half of all funds support community energy resilience projects and at least half benefit qualifying communities such as rural areas, tribal communities, and communities with lower incomes or limited infrastructure. Eligibility for the program is limited to Oregon federally recognized tribes, public bodies such as counties and municipalities, and consumer-owned utilities. Applicants may partner with nonprofit organizations, private businesses, or other stakeholders to strengthen project proposals. Projects must be located within Oregon and must provide direct community benefits. Additional technical and project-specific requirements apply, including capacity limits and requirements for stakeholder consultation, feasibility, and integration with community needs. Applications must be submitted through the Oregon Department of Energy’s online portal and must include detailed project descriptions, stakeholder engagement documentation, technical specifications, budgets, and evidence of consultation with utilities and community stakeholders. The review process includes an initial eligibility and completeness screening followed by a competitive evaluation based on criteria such as project strength, feasibility, resilience impact, equity considerations, and community engagement. Projects that align strongly with program priorities, including equity and resilience, receive higher scores. The grant operates on a reimbursement basis, with up to 30 percent of funds available upfront and the remainder disbursed after project completion and approval of final reporting. Planning projects are generally expected to be completed within six months of executing a performance agreement. While the program has conducted multiple funding rounds, it is not currently accepting applications, and future opportunities are expected to be announced periodically. Interested applicants are encouraged to monitor program updates and prepare for future competitive rounds.

Emphasize community energy resilience and equity impacts; demonstrate strong stakeholder engagement and partnerships; ensure technical feasibility and clear project planning; align with environmental justice priorities