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Planning and Sustainability highlights PSEF grants, climate work, digital equity and waste system roles
Summary
Bureau of Planning and Sustainability described oversight of the Portland Clean Energy Fund, climate and energy programs, digital equity work and the city's waste and recycling system.
The Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) briefed City Council on Jan. 30 about the bureau’s role spanning land use, climate and energy, the Portland Clean Energy Fund (PSEF), digital equity and the city’s waste and recycling systems.
Interim Director Eric Engstrom said BPS manages the comprehensive plan, zoning code updates, climate‑and‑energy programs and stewardship of citywide planning documents. He noted that with the mayor’s elevated climate office, BPS continues to provide technical support for building energy, electrification and renewable fuels programs.
Engstrom said BPS oversees the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PSEF), which he described as an investment program that has awarded more than $500 million in grants and allocated over $1 billion toward strategic programs identified in the 2023 climate investment plan. He said PSEF prioritizes reducing carbon pollution while enhancing community resilience and economic opportunities for Portlanders most vulnerable to climate impacts.
Engstrom also described the bureau’s work on digital equity and open‑data efforts after the former Office of Community Technology merged into BPS in 2022. He told councilors the bureau staffs the Mount Hood Cable Regulatory Commission and manages franchise agreements and community media grants.
On waste and recycling, Engstrom said the city manages private haulers via a regulated franchise system and provides technical assistance to small businesses. He noted recent accomplishments such as adding batteries to curbside recycling and recap code packages aimed at regulatory improvements. Councilors raised questions about recycling efficacy and frequency of garbage collection; Engstrom said service frequency and bin sizes are balanced against cost and that multifamily collection remains largely unregulated and is an equity concern the bureau is beginning to address.
BPS officials said they will continue to coordinate with other bureaus on the comprehensive plan, recap code amendment packages, regulatory streamlining and implementation of the climate investment plan.
