Oregon Secures Over $450 Million in Federal Climate Funding: What It Means for You and the Environment

Oregon has regained access to over $450 million in federal funds for climate action. This funding, awarded to two state agencies, had been paused during the Trump administration.

The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) announced that it can now tap into all federal climate funding available through the Inflation Reduction Act and the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law. “This is fantastic news. We can now purchase lab equipment and support various projects that improve our air, land, and water,” said Lauren Wirtis, DEQ’s communication manager.

Recently, the agency had reported that six federal grants were frozen, including the major $197 million Climate Pollution Reduction Grant. Understanding the reasons behind these freezes was tricky. The funds were affected multiple times within just three weeks, starting with an executive order on the first day of the Trump administration. Following that, a broader freeze was imposed by the federal Office of Management and Budget, affecting multiple programs, but this was quickly lifted. The latest freeze came during a compliance review by the Environmental Protection Agency.

Wirtis mentioned that they have updated their partners and are eager to proceed with programs like the electric vehicle rebate initiative and home weatherization. “With this funding, we aim to kick off various projects soon. We hope by 2025, funds will start benefiting Oregonians,” she added.

To access the federal funds, the DEQ first has to spend the money and then request reimbursement from the federal government.

Several state programs will benefit from the Climate Pollution Reduction Grant. One of them is the electric vehicle rebate program, which has seen demand outstrip its budget for two consecutive years. This program will receive a $31 million boost aimed at low-to-moderate income households.

The Oregon Department of Energy is also set to benefit from federal funding with its nearly $87 million Solar for All grant. Most of these federally tied programs are now operational, and they will keep watching federal developments to understand how it will affect their work.

“We remain focused on delivering a reliable and affordable energy system for Oregonians and will keep moving forward with our implementation plans for federal awards,” the agency confirmed in a recent newsletter.

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