SALEM – Our Community Charging Rebates Program, which helps fund “Level 2” electric vehicle charging projects, will receive $10.9 million in federal grant funds for charging projects in Oregon’s low income and disadvantaged communities. 

The new funds are a portion of a $197 million grant awarded on July 22 to the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality from the federal Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program. The grant will fund programs for electrifying transportation, building energy-efficient housing, and more; read a summary of the funded programs on page 26 in DEQ’s workplan PDF for the grant. 

DEQ manages several EV-related programs — like the Clean Vehicle Rebate program for buying or leasing an EV — so including our EV charging rebates program in their application was a natural fit. Together, DEQ and ODOT grant programs make it more affordable and convenient to travel via EV in Oregon, especially in low income and disadvantaged communities.  

“Oregon’s success with this grant demonstrates the value of our partnerships with DEQ, the Oregon Department of Energy, and other state and local partners,” said Susan Peithman, ODOT Climate Office director. “We’re grateful for this federal investment in our work to close gaps in Oregon’s EV charging network and to reduce emissions from transportation.” 

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Greenhouse gas emissions from transportation are about 35% of total emissions in Oregon. The state has been working to reduce those emissions for over a decade. By 2050, our data says we’re on track to reduce emissions by about 60%. Learn how we’ll get there on Oregon’s transportation emissions website.