The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) provides dedicated funding for climate action that advances racial and social justice. PCEF was created by local ballot measure #26-201 in November 2018 with overwhelming community support.
The Fund is supported by the city’s Clean Energy Surcharge, a surcharge on large retailers. The Clean Energy Surcharge applies to large retailers with annual tax-year total gross revenue from retail sales of $1 billion or more in the U.S. and $500,000 or more within the City of Portland, excluding utilities, co-ops, credit unions, construction, retirement, as well as sales of qualified groceries, medicine or drugs and health care services.
The Fund finances programs that meet the following priorities:
- Clean energy projects, including renewable energy and energy efficiency projects
- Regenerative agriculture and green infrastructure projects.
- Clean energy jobs training.
- Programs that both reduce greenhouse gases and promote economic, social and environmental benefits.
The Fund is anticipated to bring $44 – $61 million in new annual revenue for green jobs, healthy homes, and a climate-friendly Portland. The found touts itself as the nation’s first-ever climate-fund created and led by communities of color, and they proudly credit centering Black and Indigenous people, and other disadvantaged and marginalized groups in addressing the climate crisis.