Oregon selects CALSTART to run climate fund that may finance EV chargers for low income households
By Eve
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality has chosen California nonprofit CALSTART to administer a community climate investment fund that could generate $50 million to $150 million per year. The programme allows major polluters, including natural gas utilities and fuel suppliers, to pay into the fund rather than cut emissions directly, with proceeds earmarked for heat pumps, insulation, solar panels and electric vehicle chargers in low income communities. DEQ aims to sign a written agreement with CALSTART by the end of this year, though the scheme faces a legal challenge from polluting companies.
Why it matters: A fund of this scale could unlock significant EV charging infrastructure deployment in underserved Oregon communities, creating procurement opportunities for installers and equipment suppliers. The programme's survival depends on the outcome of industry litigation, making it a high stakes but potentially lucrative pipeline for CPOs targeting equity focused projects.