Latest news with #PortlandCleanEnergyFund
Yahoo
4 days ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
‘Check on friends, family' in these record-heat spells
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — Portland is no stranger to summer temperatures. Record-breaking heat is expected to hit the region this weekend. But the , killing nearly 100 people in Multnomah County alone. Since then, the number of deaths from extreme heat has dramatically dropped in the region. The City of Portland and health officials in Multnomah County have stepped up efforts to keep people safe. Weekend plans impacted by summer temps in Portland, heat advisory issued But emergency room visits due to the heat remain high. 'We're making sure we're working with our partners to ensure that libraries are open malls, community centers are open this weekend, air conditioned spaces for people to go to cool off if they don't have air conditioning at home,' said Dr. Richard Bruno, the health officer in Multnomah County. The temps have not yet reached a threshold where cooling center will open. But the big concern is people who live alone. 'The past four years, two out of three deaths from heat-related illness were men over the age of 50,' said Dr. Richard Bruno, the health officer in Multnomah County. 'So we're really encouraging people to check on your neighbors, checking on your family members, check on your friends. make sure that they have the ability to stay cool. The City of Portland is also working to keep people cool through the . Funded through the Portland Clean Energy Fund, it deliver and installs air conditioning units to Portlanders most at risk for heat-related illness. Portland's 10 best burger joints of 2025, according to Yelp Last year, the Portland City Council approved more than $10 million to the program to help 10,000 households for the next two years. But there is a wait list to get a unit. To apply, simply call 311. The interactive fountains around the city are already open, and the splash pads are set to open June 14. KOIN 6 News will have more information later. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
11-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Will money for free e-bikes survive Portland budget process?
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — The 'is to support real demand shifts towards electric bikes on the ground, and bring tangible lessons to expanded scale for impact.' On Saturday, the group — which is funded by the City of Portland — provided 25 e-bikes for free to low income people in an effort to help with the environment. The money for these e-bikes came from the Portland Clean Energy Fund (PCEF), whose money has been eyed by to the budget for Portland Parks & Recreation amidst the city's overall $93 million budget shortfall. Portland councilor floats loaning clean energy funds to city parks Earlier this week, Portland Mayor Keith Wilson's proposed budget suggested many cuts, including to maintenance of the city's 300 parks. That didn't sit well with some city councilors, who want to find ways to cover parks maintenance. , which hosts Ride2 Own, has a vision for 'a complete, safe, low-carbon, multimodal transportation system that contributes to equity in access, opportunity, health, and prosperity for people and communities.' Executive Director Sarah Iannarone — who against Ted Wheeler in 2020 — told KOIN 6 News she is interested to see what the city council does with the Portland Clean Energy Fund. 'As long as the council and mayor do due diligence with the communities of concern to help pass the fund, and the public that depends on those funds supports that, as long as it's going to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, increase community access to opportunity and other things, we would support that,' she said. Trouble is brewing for Wilson's $8B Portland budget The proposed Portland budget is far from final. Both Wilson and the council will likely make several alterations before the budget is approved at the end of June. KOIN 6 News will continue to follow this story. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Portland councilor floats loaning clean energy funds to city parks
PORTLAND, Ore. (KOIN) — One city leader is considering temporarily using money from the Portland Clean Energy Fund to support the struggling parks bureau. District 4 Councilor Mitch Green's Healthy Parks, Healthy Climate Plan would utilize a portion of the clean energy fund as a short-term loan to cover operations for Portland Parks & Recreation. Shuttered Oregon chateau named among America's 'most endangered' historic sites The release of his plan follows the City of Portland's February announcement that it is facing a $93 million budget shortfall for the next fiscal year spanning from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026. More recently, Mayor Keith Wilson proposed an $8.54 billion budget that aims to save money by going 'back to basics' and cutting expenses like staffing within the parks bureau. Wilson also proposed reducing 'underutilized building hours, nonessential property upkeep, arborist hours, facilities cleaning, and non-critical maintenance' for PP&R, while increasing the agency's golf fees. Instead of tightening the bureau's operations, Councilor Green's plan to use the Portland Clean Energy Fund would help keep the investments going. PCEF covers environmental projects in neighborhoods that are disproportionately impacted by climate change. It is funded through the 1% surcharge that is implemented for retailers that earn around $1 billion in nationwide revenue and $500,000 in local revenue. The money has been a strong revenue source, with officials discovering a surplus of $540 million in clean energy funds in late 2023. Green's proposal would allow the city to take out a loan of up to $80 million from the grant program during the upcoming fiscal year, but he says the amount would be repaid before the impacted climate projects begin. Fred Meyer employee stole $60K for gambling 'If we go down this road, and if this is something that the PCEF Committee is comfortable with, then that loan really should be the last resort… if during the budget amendment process, we've tried to find every opportunity to avoid unacceptable cuts,' Green said to the committee during a meeting on Wednesday. 'The mayor's budget gives us a good first starting point, but I think there are areas that I want to restore that are unacceptable cuts.' Mayor Wilson will further discuss the budget proposal at a Portland City Council meeting on Wednesday afternoon. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
