Oregon Department of Energy Awards $2 Million in Grants to Support Energy Workforce
A heat pump technician at work
Media Contact: Jennifer Kalez
Program Contact: eetraining@energy.oregon.gov
SALEM – The Oregon Department of Energy has awarded $2 million in grants to six organizations supporting development of Oregon’s energy workforce.
ODOE received 20 applications requesting more than $7 million in funding through the competitive grant review process. The agency selected six organizations based on the number of qualified applicants, program needs, and demonstrated benefits to disadvantaged communities for clean workforce development.
House Bill 3409, passed by the Oregon Legislature in 2023, recognized the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions by accelerating the installation of heat pumps and other energy efficient appliances in Oregon homes. It established the one-time $2 million Energy Efficiency Technologies Information and Training Fund at ODOE, with a focus on reducing barriers to home energy efficiency and resilience improvements.
“Each of these organizations provide access to invaluable education and trainings, mentorship, or hands-on experiences that expand access to family-wage jobs for community members around the state,” said ODOE Director Janine Benner. “Having skilled professionals in heating, ventilation, home energy efficiency upgrades, and related crafts is pivotal to improving efficiency in the homes of Oregonians and reaching Oregon’s energy goals.”
The awarded organizations:
Chemeketa Community College: Chemeketa Community College Energy Efficiency Building Technology Training Program
$601,537 | Embed energy efficiency building technology into pre-apprenticeship, apprenticeship, and community education training opportunities for disadvantaged communities in the Salem and Woodburn area.
Green NW: HVAC Training Program
$188,313 | Provide participants, including veterans and underserved communities, with 12-month comprehensive training, hands-on experience, industry-recognized certifications, and theoretical knowledge with practical applications in the HVAC industry, with a particular focus on energy-efficient heat pump systems.
Klamath Community College: HVAC pre-and registered apprenticeship program $338,395 | Increase rural Klamath and Lake counties HVAC workforce through the development of highly skilled professionals who are knowledgeable about consumer-facing information regarding resources, education, and incentives for use of clean energy equipment and practices.
Leaders Become Legends: Green Workforce Development Program
$295,910 | Provide culturally inclusive, hands-on training and mentorship to prepare participants, including Indigenous, Black, and Brown individuals, for technical careers in weatherization, heat pump installation, heat pump water heater installation, and electrical panel upgrades.
Northwest Native Chamber: Clean Energy Construction Program
$400,000 | Provide workforce navigators who will work one-on-one with tribal members to help them access stipends and training programs tailored to their unique circumstances; provide classroom and hands-on training in foundational building science principles, practical energy auditing techniques, and retrofit installations.
Warm Springs Construction Enterprise: Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs Energy Auditing Program
$175,845 | Provide the existing construction professionals of Warm Springs Construction Enterprise with building performance and energy auditing skills to address needs in Tribal homes and prepare housing stock for future electrification and renewable energy implementation.