Support Smart, Local Journalism
Make a Small Monthly Donation

Give now

Portland Clean Energy Fund
Posted inClimate Issue 2026

PCEF’s Community Benefits

Portland Clean Energy Fund grant recipients share the program’s impact on their lives.
Avatar photo by Taylor Griggs

This is one of many articles in the Mercury’s 2026 Climate Issue. Find a print copy here, subscribe to get a copy mailed to you here, and if you’re feeling generous and want to keep these types of articles coming, support us here.—eds. Just after President Trump took office for the first time, environmental activists in Portland decided they […]

Posted inClimate Issue 2026

Working for the Planet

Programs like Connecting Canopies and Climate Jobs Oregon strive to make jobs in sustainability sustainable for workers.
Avatar photo by Anna Del Savio

This is one of many articles in the Mercury’s 2026 Climate Issue. Find a print copy here, subscribe to get a copy mailed to you here, and if you’re feeling generous and want to keep these types of articles coming, support us here.—eds. Creating a greener future requires work—and workers. Climate and labor advocates have […]

Posted inNews

Effort to Send Climate Dollars to Cops Won’t Qualify For November Ballot

Petitioners threaten legal action after ballot initiative to use Portland Clean Energy Funds for hiring more police failed to garner enough legally valid signatures.
Avatar photoAvatar photo by Courtney Vaughn and Jeremiah Hayden

A ballot initiative that sought to direct 25 percent of Portland’s Clean Energy Fund toward hiring additional police officers failed to gather enough valid signatures to qualify for the November ballot. The Portland City Auditor’s Office, which houses Portland’s Elections Division, confirmed Tuesday afternoon that after sampling and verification, the number of qualified signatures for […]

Posted inNews

Controversial Police Initiative Sparks Quarrel Between State and City Elections Officials

Auditor’s Office cites “no credible errors” in response to accusations from petitioners of Community Safety Initiative as initial sampling shows petition falling short of November ballot requirements
Avatar photoAvatar photo by Courtney Vaughn and Jeremiah Hayden

Updated: 5:13 pm July 30 Controversy surrounding a ballot initiative that would divert funds from Portland’s Clean Energy Fund to hire more police officers continues to grow—and has now spawned a quarrel between Oregon’s Secretary of State and the Portland Auditor’s Office.  The Enhanced Community Safety ballot initiative, also dubbed the “Safer Portland” measure first […]

Posted inNews

‘Safer Portland’ Campaign Faces New Complaints As Elections Officials Work to Certify Measure For November Ballot

The city and state are awash in complaints over an initiative to use climate funds to hire more police. What happens next?
Avatar photoAvatar photoAvatar photo by Jeremiah Hayden, Courtney Vaughn and Taylor Griggs

Updated: 5:15 pm July 9 The campaign for a ballot initiative seeking to redirect clean energy funds to the Portland Police Bureau announced Monday it had submitted enough signatures to the city to qualify for the November ballot. The next day, the Portland Auditor’s Office and Oregon Secretary of State received lengthy new complaints alleging […]

Posted inNews

Dozens of Complaints Against Police Funding Petition Prompt State Investigation

The Secretary of State has received more than two dozen complaints alleging campaign canvassers are misleading voters.
Avatar photo by Taylor Griggs

Last month, canvassers began collecting signatures for a Portland ballot initiative seeking to use clean energy funds to hire police. Since then, the Oregon Secretary of State has received 28 complaints alleging campaign petitioners are misleading the public about the proposal. The Secretary of State’s office has opened an investigation into the allegations, many of […]

Posted inNews

Council Budget Talks Highlight Tension Over Proposed PCEF Moda Center Investment

Mayor Keith Wilson has suggested Portland’s Clean Energy Fund can spare $75 million for Moda Center upgrades, but the details are murky.
Avatar photo by Taylor Griggs

If Mayor Keith Wilson wants to allocate clean energy fund dollars to renovate the Moda Center, he’ll have to go through Portland City Council first. And it’s not clear if they’re going to let him.  Earlier this year, amid a fervor to ensure Portland Trail Blazers’ new owner Tom Dundon keeps the basketball team in […]

Gift this article