Bill would let community renewable grants fund standalone energy-resilience projects

Chair Lively opened a public hearing on House Bill 2566 on Feb. 11, which would allow the Oregon Department of Energy’s Community Renewable Energy Grant Program to fund stand‑alone energy resilience projects in addition to renewable‑plus‑resilience projects. The bill would also direct the agency to adopt a list of eligible technologies and measures, and includes proposed amendments to preserve the program’s renewable focus and to set a 20% carve‑out for stand‑alone resilience projects.

Why it matters: proponents say the change gives smaller consumer‑owned utilities and tribal or public bodies a way to fund resilience measures they currently cannot support — and could be used as match for new federal grid‑resilience money. Opponents and some industry advocates warn the program is already oversubscribed and that diverting up to 20% of funds to non‑renewable projects risks reducing funding for renewables‑plus‑resilience work.

Overview and examples Christy Split, government relations coordinator at the Oregon Department of Energy, told the committee the Community Renewable Energy Grant Program was established to offset planning and construction costs for small community renewable or renewables‑plus‑resilience projects and that the program has received wide interest across the state. "We think this program has been a great success," Split said, describing 195 applications since launch and…