Call for Action on Proposed PCEF Changes
On October 19 from 2:00-5:00 p.m. City Council will hold a public hearing on Commissioner Rubio's recently proposed changes to the Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF). The changes aim to better align the program with the City's climate goals and expand tree planting, among other priorities. They come in the context of the fund having created much more tax revenue than expected and public pressure to spend it.
The proposal is a framework that will require changes to the City's PCEF code. Many of the details will not be worked out until after City Council approves the proposal and code language changes.
According to Commissioner Rubio's staff, with whom TFLO recently met, the proposal leaves PCEF's current community grants program and funding for it intact. It adds on to PCEF a separate "strategic investments" component to be based on five-year Climate Investment Plans. Two strategic programs that would be developed "immediately" are "tree canopy growth and maintenance," expected to receive $40 million over five years, and "energy efficiencies in multifamily affordable housing," expected to receive $60 million. Regarding trees, the change will open tree-planting contracts to government entities (e.g., Urban Forestry) and private contractors (tree companies). Read the proposed changes.
Commissioner Rubio's staff pointed out that:
—The proportion of tree planting/watering/pruning funds going to City entities versus to community partners and private contractors is yet to be determined.
—The City wants a community component to be added back into tree planting. But the first step is getting tree-planting quality control measures in place before PCEF will "revisit" how to bring back community groups. By quality control the City means which species to plant and how and where to plant them.
—PCEF will have to build out its capacity to oversee the grants and contracts expansion, which is why the proposal asks for an increase in the administrative cap.
Trees for Life Oregon supports Commissioner Rubio for acknowledging the urgency of the climate crisis and the need to take action to align PCEF (and we would hope all City programs, bureaus, codes, and practices) with the City's stated climate and equity goals. We laud the proposal for making trees a top priority. We have asked the City Council to ensure that the public has adequate time to comment on the proposed PCEF code language changes in advance of the Oct. 19 public hearing, and to ensure that the code requires community engagement in developing the Climate Action Plans.
Register to testify at the Oct. 19, 2-5 p.m. hearing here (sign-up will be available starting 9 a.m. on Oct. 14), where you'll also find a link to submit written testimony.