*Appropriate grant for $656,268 from Earth Advantage as a subrecipient to the United States Department of Energy Resilient and Efficient Codes Implementation Funding Advanced Building Performance Standards in Oregon project

The "Advancing Building Performance Standards in Oregon" project aims to establish a comprehensive policy and support program tailored to the unique needs of Oregon and enhance local jurisdictions' efforts in Portland, Beaverton, Bend, Eugene, and Milwaukie. This initiative will result in the development of actionable state policy rules for building performance standards, equipping local jurisdictions with the tools and guidance necessary to create and enforce policies that are both progressive and exceed state standards. The statewide project's technical scope encompasses the following key components: Active engagement with the technical assistance network to foster national collaboration and gain insights into the development, adoption, and compliance aspects of building performance standards. Policy analysis that includes surveying how building performance standards are enacted and implemented in other places, engaging with community-based organizations to understand community priorities, and conducting a detailed legal review of state preemption to assess local jurisdictions' authority in implementing building performance standards. Support the Oregon Department of Energy in collecting and analyzing data, with a focus on representing historically overlooked communities adequately. Development and implementation support for a Portland specific set of building performance standards, which locally are referred to as Carbon Performance Standards. (Carbon performance standards are one component of BPS’s Climate and Health Standards for Existing Buildings (CHESB) proposal that was developed in 2020-2022 by BIPOC community members and organizations. CHSEB aims to create harmonious standards that advance climate justice goals.) Portland’s carbon performance standards would be implemented in commercial and multifamily buildings 20,000 square feet and over. The project seeks to achieve the following objectives: Develop robust and actionable building performance standards at the state level. Provide local jurisdictions with support tools and guidance materials to facilitate local action. Engage in policy analysis to create a comprehensive picture of BPS development options. Conduct building data evaluation to inform policy rules and ensure inclusivity. Offer development support to Portland to establish Carbon Performance Standards.

Earth Advantage has notified the City of Portland that it has been awarded a 2024-2026 subrecipient grant in the amount of $656,268. The grant will amend the FY24-25 budget in the amount of $656,268 under grant number PN000122. The legislation will create a new City staff position and will fund part of an existing position for staff time associated with the project. The grant has no match requirement.

Not applicable.

A goal of this project is to ensure carbon performance standard policy reflects community needs. The results of this grant work will help continue community input on the City’s development of carbon performance standards, and the strategies that the City will need to develop and implement policies to establish these standards. This grant work will provide additional outreach to BIPOC communities to educate and inform about building decarbonization policy decisions and build community capacity to engage in the legislative process.