Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund’s Cooling Portland Program Enters Final Year of Installations

Portland, Ore. (May 1, 2026) - The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) has entered the fifth and final year of Cooling Portland, its flagship program providing heat pump cooling units to residents most at risk of heat-related illness. Applications are open through June 30, 2026, at the City of Portland's website or by calling 3-1-1 for assistance.

"PDX311 is proud to help community members apply for cooling units that can make a real difference during extreme heat," said Betsy Drake-Studstill, 311 Program Manager. "Our customer service representatives are ready to answer questions, explain the process, and make sure people feel supported every step of the way."

Cooling Portland:from heat dome to action

In June 2021, a historic heat dome enveloped the Pacific Northwest, claiming nearly 100 lives in Oregon with 72 deaths in Multnomah County. It was the deadliest natural disaster in the county's recorded history. In direct response, PCEF launched Cooling Portland, a five-year program to connect low-income, heat-vulnerable Portlanders with efficient portable heat pump cooling devices.

A program that has exceeded expectations

Program administrator Earth Advantage has overseen the identification, procurement, warehousing, and installation of cooling units throughout the city, coordinating a network of Community Distribution Partners (CDPs) to ensure timely delivery and installation in the homes of vulnerable residents.

In four years, Cooling Portland CDPs have delivered and installed more than 20,500 units, and the program is on track to meet its community goal of 25,000 units ahead of schedule. The program's performance is captured in annual reports, published on the PCEF website.

"This program is a testament to what's possible when community partners and residents work together, and a foundation we'll build on for years to come," said Pilar Calderin, Senior Manager, Climate Justice Programs, at Earth Advantage. "We're honored to have partnered with so many dedicated organizations to deliver real impacts for Portland's most vulnerable residents."

What comes next

Cooling Portland was designed as a medium-term bridge solution, and as it winds down, PCEF is shifting focus toward more comprehensive home improvement programs. Energy Friendly Homes offers eligible residents broader home energy upgrades to build long-term resilience and provide energy savings.

Current Cooling Portland recipients with questions about maintaining their units can find troubleshooting guidance on the City of Portland's website.

Contact

Chenoa Philabaum
Strategic Communications and Media Manager
[email protected]

About the City of Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability

The Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability (BPS) oversees a world-renowned waste and recycling system and leads the country in its commitment to digital equity, open data, and protecting communities in the application of technologies. Staff collaborate with partners on neighborhood, economic, historic, and environmental planning and provide research, policy, and technical services to advance energy efficiency and renewable energy, as well as policies and actions to address climate change. The bureau also oversees the innovative Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF).

About PCEF

The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF) initiative was passed by 65% of Portland voters in 2018. It provides a consistent, long-term funding source and oversight structure to ensure that our community's climate action efforts are implemented to support social, economic, and environmental benefits for all Portlanders, particularly communities who have been historically under-resourced. The initiative was supported by a broad coalition of groups and individuals and represents the first environmental initiative in Oregon led by communities on the frontlines of climate change.

About PDX311

PDX311 is your first call for any questions or local government service needs within Multnomah County. Reach friendly call takers who can answer questions, take non-emergency reports, and assist with requests seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., excluding federal holidays. Interpretation services are available in many languages.