PORTLAND, Ore. – Winter weather has come early this year, and Portland’s Community Energy Project (CEP) is enhancing its weatherization workshops for low-income residents and providing a new source for hard-to-find weatherization supplies, thanks to a $105,500 grant from Pacific Power.

“We are excited about this funding for two weatherization programs that will help Portland residents, particularly some of our neediest neighbors, to stay warm, healthy and safe in their homes this winter,” said Sherry Burbach, CEP executive director. “Pacific Power’s generous grant will assist us in revitalizing our existing education program and has funded the creation of a new pilot program to provide access to affordable weatherization supplies for all Portland area residents.”

For 25 years, CEP has been mobilizing community resources to help people weatherize their homes, conserve water, control their utility costs, and protect their children from lead poisoning. Pacific Power funding has enabled the nonprofit agency to provide all area homeowners and renters with a new option for purchasing reusable window kits and other types of weatherization supplies that aren’t easily accessible elsewhere in Oregon. Supplies can now be ordered online atwww.communityenergyproject.org and picked up afterward at the CEP office. Order forms can also be printed from the Web site and mailed in.

In addition, Pacific Power’s grant will provide for a revitalization of CEP’s educational workshops, where each year hundreds of low-income residents learn firsthand how to install weatherization supplies, and qualifying low-income residents receive free weatherization kits.  Pacific Power funding will provide for an enhanced curriculum, including additions to help overcome language barriers. Workshops will also include many new hands-on components, allowing residents to practice installing weatherization supplies before attempting to install them at home. 

“There are many things people can do to improve energy efficiency in their homes or apartments, and CEP plays an important role in providing the link to obtaining weatherization supplies and education on how to use them correctly,” said Becky Eberle, Pacific Power’s program manager. “We are pleased to partner with CEP to provide the valuable weatherization resources this grant will support.”

For additional information about Community Energy Project programs, or to order weatherization supplies, visitwww.communityenergyprojects.org   or call 503-284-6827.

Media inquiries:Newsdesk@PacifiCorp.com .