Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund
The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) provides dedicated funding for climate action that advances racial and social justice. PCEF was created by local ballot measure #26-201 in November 2018 with overwhelming community support.
The Fund is supported by the city’s Clean Energy Surcharge, a surcharge on large retailers. The Clean Energy Surcharge applies to large retailers with annual tax-year total gross revenue from retail sales of $1 billion or more in the U.S. and $500,000 or more within the City of Portland, excluding utilities, co-ops, credit unions, construction, retirement, as well as sales of qualified groceries, medicine or drugs and health care services.
The Fund finances programs that meet the following priorities:
- Clean energy projects, including renewable energy and energy efficiency projects
- Regenerative agriculture and green infrastructure projects.
- Clean energy jobs training.
- Programs that both reduce greenhouse gases and promote economic, social and environmental benefits.
The Fund is anticipated to bring $44 – $61 million in new annual revenue for green jobs, healthy homes, and a climate-friendly Portland. The found touts itself as the nation’s first-ever climate-fund created and led by communities of color, and they proudly credit centering Black and Indigenous people, and other disadvantaged and marginalized groups in addressing the climate crisis.