Oregon's Department of Environmental Quality won $197 million in federal funding from the Environmental Protection Agency through a nationwide competitive grant process for its Climate Equity and Resilience Through Action program. CERTA will reduce greenhouse gas emissions and deliver the secondary benefits of clean energy, lower utility costs, the construction of energy-efficient housing, and improved health outcomes in Oregon. DEQ is partnering with the Oregon Department of Transportation, Oregon Department of Energy, Oregon Housing and Community Services, Oregon Health Authority and the Energy Trust of Oregon to implement the CERTA grant.
The five-year CERTA grant will deliver results in three key sectors across the state:
- Transportation is the largest contributor to Oregon's greenhouse gas emissions and contributes to air pollution that negatively impacts public health. CERTA funds will provide rebates and grants for electric vehicles and trucks for Oregon residents, businesses and local government fleets. CERTA funds will also build electric charging infrastructure across the state for electric vehicles and trucks.
- Buildings and homes generate a third of Oregon's sector-based greenhouse gas emissions. CERTA will provide rebates and grants to developers, builders, landlords, and homeowners to construct low-embodied carbon housing and improve the energy efficiency in housing and commercial buildings. Low-embodied carbon housing includes converting existing non-residential buildings to housing or building space-efficient housing. Upgrades to improve energy-efficiency in buildings and homes includes installing insulation and heat pumps, among other upgrades. These activities will save energy, reduce utility costs, improve indoor air quality, and increase housing production.
- Landfills and food waste produce methane, a potent greenhouse gas. CERTA will provide funding to landfills to invest in new technologies, equipment, and food waste processing capacity to improve methane capture, leading to improved waste management efficiency. CERTA will also provide funding to community organizations to support community composting programs.
The CERTA grant will generate work opportunities across the state, including in construction, heat pump installation, electrical contracting, and landfill operation and other specialized labor.
To find out how CERTA can benefit you, click on the boxes below.