For More Information Contact:
Joe Harwood, 541-685-7471
Eugene Water & Electric Board

Feb. 2, 2012

$100,000 Greenpower Grant available for renewable projects

The Eugene Water & Electric Board is accepting applications for a 2012 Greenpower Grant of up to $100,000 to fund high-impact projects and programs that drive advancements in renewable energy for EWEB customers, with emphasis on EWEB products, resources and priorities.

Since 2007, thousands of EWEB customers have chosen to support clean renewable energy and the environment by purchasing EWEB Greenpower. They buy $1.50 or $10 “blocks” of Greenpower, or voluntarily dedicate all of their energy use to Greenpower by paying an extra penny per kilowatt-hour of consumption.

EWEB developed the Greenpower Grants in 2009 to help reinvest these funds into renewable energy projects, education and research. New in 2012 will be a change in how the utility directs Greenpower revenue. Effective immediately, EWEB will use Greenpower revenues to directly fund local photovoltaic incentives, in addition to the annual grant for a nonprofit, academic or public entity.

“It makes sense to direct Greenpower funding to solar installations right here in Eugene,” said Monica Shovlin, EWEB’s energy information and marketing supervisor. “With the help of local solar contractors and other Greenpower businesses, we hope to increase Greenpower contributions to support clean energy and local jobs.”

One grant of up to $100,000 will be available this spring. The grant application deadline is Feb. 27.

EWEB will once again ask Greenpower customers to choose the recipient. A team of EWEB employees will screen the list of grant applicants in early March, selecting a handful of eligible projects for consideration. Only EWEB Greenpower customers as of March 28 will be able to vote for their favorite projects when ballots go out on April 2.

The winners will be announced at the annual Earth Day Celebration on Saturday, April 21, at the EWEB River Edge Plaza.

Past grant recipients include Lane Community College, Adams Elementary School and Northwest Youth Corps.

See funding criteria and grant applications

Projects that expand Eugene’s development of local renewable electric generation, support educational efforts to bring a broader understanding of sustainability in energy development, or invest in research and demonstration of new generation technologies such as wave power, will be eligible. Grants are open to tax-exempt 501(c)(3) organizations, academic and public institutions.