[bouldercouncilhotline] Hotline: Portland Energy Retrofit Program Goes Statewide

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Portland Energy Retrofit Program Goes Statewide



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TAP Insulation Clean Energy Works Oregon plans to complete 6,000 home energy retrofits by 2013. Part of the program will provide financial help and vetted contractors to homeowners in 17 communities throughout the state.

Posted: Wednesday, March 23, 2011 5:00 pm | Updated: 6:42 pm, Wed Mar 23, 2011.

Portland Energy Retrofit Program Goes Statewide<http://www.sustainablecitynetwork.com/topic_channels/energy/sCityNetwork.com/topic_channels/energy/article_07132052-541f-11e0-ba53-00127992bc8b.html> Department of Energy Sustainable City Network, Inc. | 0 comments <http://www.sustainablecitynetwork.com/topic_channels/energy/article_07132052-541f-11e0-ba53-00127992bc8b.html#user-comment-area>

PORTLAND, Ore. - Lauded by federal authorities as a national model for residential energy efficiency retrofit programs, the city of Portland's Clean Energy Works pilot is going statewide beginning this week.

Portland and newly formed nonprofit Clean Energy Works Oregon announced Monday the completion of the pilot and the expansion of the program to 17 communities throughout the state. In the next three years, Clean Energy Works Oregon anticipates enrolling 6,000 Oregon homes in the program, significantly increasing energy savings and spurring the support of 1,300 new jobs through 2013.

As of this month, all of the pilot's goals had been achieved, city officials said. Five hundred homes were enrolled in the program and received an energy assessment, low-interest loan for energy upgrades, a personal Energy Advisor and connection to pre-qualified construction professionals. The program also created 29 entry-level jobs in the hard hit construction industry, provided opportunities for established professionals to gain skills in green building, and made paychecks possible for 381 workers who otherwise may not have had work.

Most homes in the pilot experienced a 20 percent or greater reduction in energy consumption after their retrofits were complete.

The city capitalized the pilot's revolving loan fund with $1.1 million of its Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant (EECBG) award. The U.S. Department of Energy and energy advocates have lauded the Portland pilot as a national model. To date, there are at least 25 similar programs across the country, but no other EECBG-funded programs have achieved as much as the Portland program.

"Today, the city of Portland celebrates the early success of the Clean Energy Works Portland pilot and welcomes the new Clean Energy Works Oregon," said Portland Mayor Sam Adams. "Though our Bureau of Planning and Sustainability led the way, we are grateful for the innovative collaboration from our many community partners, including Energy Trust of Oregon, Enterprise Cascadia, NW Natural, Pacific Power, PGE, Worksystems, Green for All and our host of stakeholders, including contractors, unions and community groups."

Due to the success of the pilot, in June of 2010 the U.S. Department of Energy invested an additional $20 million dollars from its BetterBuildings program to fund the expansion of the program across Oregon. The statewide program, which will help homeowners transform older homes into energy-efficient, comfortable homes, will be administered by Clean Energy Works Oregon.

"The Portland pilot program has been successful in supporting new jobs in the community, expanding the market for energy efficiency products and services, and is serving as a model for other communities looking to adopt home energy efficiency programs," said Henry Kelly, acting assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy at the U.S. Department of Energy.

Clean Energy Works Oregon will work closely with Energy Trust of Oregon. Energy Trust serves 1.5 million Oregon utility customers, providing solutions and cash incentives for energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades for homes, businesses and industry. Energy Trust is contributing the value of cash incentives for every eligible home that participates in Clean Energy Works.

The expansion is expected to bring $100 million in private capital to communities throughout the state. Seven of those communities are in the metro area and include Clackamas, Multnomah and Washington Counties and the cities of Portland, Lake Oswego and Gresham. The three-year goals of the expansion are to complete 6,000 residential projects, create 1,300 family-supporting jobs and generate significant energy savings. The expanded program is launching in the metro area this week with an expected phased rollout to the Rogue Valley, Eugene/Lane County, Hood River, Astoria, Klamath Falls, Coos County, Pendleton, Bend/Deschutes County, Corvallis and Salem throughout 2011.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for Clackamas County homeowners to join with others in the Portland area to improve energy efficiency, save valuable resources, help create jobs and decrease their own day-to-day living costs," said Clackamas County Commissioner Ann Lininger.

In mid-March, Clean Energy Works Oregon conducted a soft launch of a new website<http://www.cewo.org/> that offers an easy online application. The city of Portland and Clean Energy Works contractors have sent out preliminary information about the program and its initial rebate offerings totaling up to $3,700. This targeted pre-sale activity has already generated more than 500 applications.

"Clean Energy Works Oregon makes home energy efficiency affordable and easy," said Derek Smith, CEO of Clean Energy Works Oregon. "As communities look to economic development through climate action, Clean Energy Works offers a proven, turnkey service that produces jobs, energy savings, carbon reductions and housing affordability."

Formed in 2010 from the city of Portland's Clean Energy Works Portland pilot, Clean Energy Works Oregon is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting positive social change by reducing the state's environmental impact and creating new jobs, according to its web site. The organization offers an all-in-one solution by bundling multiple upgrades, vetting contractors, and arranging low-interest financing and easy repayment through a homeowner's monthly utility bill.