Our initiative is Oregon’s first ever community of color-led environmental ballot measure, with core leadership from the African-American, Native American, Latinx and Asian-Pacific Islander communities. The culmination of years of capacity building partnerships between organizations of color and the philanthropic community, PCEI signals the arrival of a new inclusive climate movement that can win elections in Portland, in Oregon and nationwide.
The Portland Clean Energy Initiative has a fundamental commitment to Portlanders who are most impacted by climate change but have been excluded from the emerging low-carbon economy: low-income people and people of color. At least 50% of grant-funded energy efficiency/renewable energy projects “should specifically benefit low-income residents and communities of color;” and at least 20% of all grants “shall be awarded to nonprofit organizations with a mission and track record of programs that benefit economically disadvantaged community members.”
