The Oregon Department of Energy has announced $1.2 million in grant awards to local governments across the state. The funding was available thanks to the 2021 Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act’s Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant Program for energy efficiency, renewable energy, and transportation-related projects.
Local governments were encouraged to apply earlier this year for the grants, which support projects that reduce fossil fuel emissions, lower a community’s total energy use, improve energy efficiency, and build a clean and equitable energy economy. The EECBG program was also designed to advance equity, environmental, and energy justice priorities in support of federal Justice40 Initiative goals to deliver benefits to disadvantaged communities. ODOE estimates that at least 40 percent of the awarded funds are supporting projects in disadvantaged communities across the state…