Energize the Land Trust

Empowering Proud Ground Homes with Energy Efficiency and Solar

What is Energize Proud Ground?

Energize the Land Trust is a collaborative program bringing solar installations and energy-efficiency retrofits to Proud Ground homeowners, with the goal of creating a more resilient community and a thriving local clean energy workforce.

Funded entirely by the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF), this initiative expands on previous PCEF efforts of solarizing Proud Ground homes, by incorporating comprehensive energy audits and whole-home retrofits. These upgrades not only reduce homes’ environmental impact but also directly benefit homeowners by:

Lowering energy costs and improving home comfort
Enhancing home durability and resilience against climate impacts
Creating skilled job opportunities for community members through our workforce development program

This project is about making Portland more sustainable, equitable, and economically strong, one home and one career at a time.

How it works

Energize the Land Trust is designed to bring significant energy upgrades to your home over three phases, running through 2029. We are offering a tiered approach to participation, with homeowners selected based on applications submitted during open periods.

Here’s what participating homeowners can expect:

Round 1 Applications (closes on August 15, 2026)

Proud Ground homeowners who qualify will receive an energy audits. Homeowners who qualify will only receive solar panel installation or an energy efficiency home retrofit. During this round, we will conduct the following:
- 20 Energy Audits (September 2026 - December 2026)
- 10 Solar Panel Installs (February 2027 - October 2027)
- 5 Energy Efficiency Home Retrofits (February 2027 - October 2027)

Round 2 Applications (TBD)

Proud Ground homeowners who qualify will receive an energy audits. Homeowners who qualify will only receive solar panel installation or an energy efficiency home retrofit. During this round, we will conduct the following:
- 20 Energy Audits
- 10 Solar Panel Installs
- 5 Energy Efficiency Retrofits

Round 3 Applications (TBD)

Proud Ground homeowners who qualify will receive an energy audits. Homeowners who qualify will only receive solar panel installation or an energy efficiency retrofit. During this round, we would utilize the following:
- 10 Energy Audits
- 5 Solar Panel Installs

Ready to participate?

If you are a Proud Ground homeowner interested in these saving energy, here’s how to get started:

Energize the Land Trust Workshops

It is recommended to attend one workshop to learn more about the program and the benefits.

Upcoming 2026 Workshops
- (Virtual) Energize the Land Trust Workshop #2: Wednesday, July 29th, 2026

REGISTER HERE

2. Energize the Land Trust Application

Complete your Application: Submit your interest for selection into one of our program rounds.

Application Round 1 will be open June 27, 2026 through August 15, 2026.
Our Energize the Land Trust review committee will carefully assess all applications and notify selected homeowners.

Interested? Please submit the Energize the Land Trust Application below:

APPLY HERE

3. Solar Selection Committee Application

Volunteer Opportunity (Optional): As part of our goal with Energize the Land Trust, we are inviting up to four (4) homeowners to join the Solar Selection Committee! We are looking for homeowners who are passionate based on the following criterias:

Participants must dedicate 5-6 hours in training, review applications, and be part of the interview process with prospective contractors. Selected participants will receive a $200 gift card for their time and participation. The interviews will most likely start September/October 2026.
Help choose the solar installers and upgrade providers for Energize the Land Trust Program.

Interested? Please submit the Solar Selection Committee Application below:

APPLY HERE

Building a Skilled Local Workforce

Energize the Land Trust is committed to fostering economic opportunity and building a robust local workforce. We are proud to create meaningful development opportunities for contractors and aspiring professionals from communities historically impacted by economic and social disparities, empowering them to keep their businesses competitive and establish strong career pathways.

Through this collaboration with the Northwest Native Chamber, individuals and small businesses from our community will receive specialized training in building science fundamentals and acquire valuable building performance credentials.

These newly trained professionals will have the opportunity to work on Energize the Land Trust projects, performing the energy audits and carrying out the energy-efficiency retrofits on Proud Ground homes. This hands-on experience, combined with educational training and mentorship, directly supports:

Local job creation and economic growth in the greater Portland metro area
The development of a skilled, diverse energy workforce
Homeowners receiving high-quality, locally performed services

To learn more about training opportunities or express interest:

Sign Up Here

Meet our Partners

We are thrilled to work alongside these incredible organizations dedicated to helping our community thrive.

Spark Northwest works alongside communities to turn their clean energy goals into reality. For nearly twenty-five years Spark Northwest has worked at the local level to build equitable, affordable clean energy through energy programs and policy reform. We have facilitated the installation of over two megawatts of clean energy for community partners, catalyzing $42 million in locally-owned clean energy investments.

Learn more at sparknorthwest.org.

The Northwest Native Chamber is dedicated to transforming the economic landscape of Native and Tribal communities in the Northwest. They have extensive experience in conducting no-cost energy efficient retrofit work and providing contractor and workforce development training.

Learn more at nwnc.org

The Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (“PCEF”) is a program created by Ballot Measure 26-201 that was passed by Portland voters in November 2018. Measure 26-201 is the first time a Portland environmental ballot measure was created and led by communities of color. Measure 26-201 was adopted by ordinance as Portland City Code (PCC) Chapter 7.07 Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits.

The purpose of PCEF is to provide a consistent long-term funding source and oversight structure to address climate change in ways that advance social justice.

PCEF is a City Bureau of Planning and Sustainability program that funds projects and programs that both address climate change and advance social justice. Program grants can be used to fund clean energy, transportation decarbonization, green infrastructure, regenerative agriculture projects as well as workforce and contractor development to develop an inclusive and well-trained workforce and contractor pool in the field of clean energy.

Energize the Land Trust is supported entirely by funding from the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund (PCEF), a program of the City of Portland.

Learn more at https://www.portland.gov/bps/cleanenergy/about