With the help of a nearly $1 million grant, Multnomah County is preparing to invest in two renewable energy projects. One will support a Troutdale farm, and the other will build a solar community project to lower electric bills for low-income households.
The work is being funded through a $998,763 Oregon Department of Energy Community Renewable Energy Grant. The program focuses on installing renewable energy or energy-resilience projects for Tribes, public bodies and consumer-owned utilities.
The Community Reaps Our Produce and Shares, or CROPS, a farm in Troutdale, will get solar panels and battery storage — plus an EV charger.
John Wasiutynski, director of Multnomah County’s sustainability office, said the solar power and battery components will offset the energy consumption of refrigeration, a hydroponic freight farm and other onsite equipment at the farm.
“Feed’em Freedom Foundation is going to have lower electricity bills,” Wasiutynski said, referring to one of the groups that manages the farm, alongside Mudbone Grown. “They’ll also have backup energy storage in case the power goes out, and all the food that they store in the coolers at the farm won’t spoil. So that’s a really nice energy resilience feature that’s going to be added to the farm.”
The EV charger will also support farm operations.
FILE -- A Portland community solar project photographed on August 22, 2024. Multnomah County was recently awarded a grant to fund a new community solar project in Troutdale.
Monica Samayoa / OPB
“From running food pantries and growing culturally specific fresh foods to providing agricultural education and entrepreneurial opportunities, we are constantly seeking new ways to serve,” Feed’em Freedom Executive Director Shantae Johnson said in a statement. “This solar project is our latest initiative, allowing us to offer sustainable energy access and fully embrace the power of the sun.”
Multnomah County was one of 24 recipients of the $12 million Community Renewable Energy Grant Program.
“East Multnomah County continues to demonstrate the spirit of agricultural innovation as seen by the CROPS farm and Multnomah County’s partnership with Feed’em Freedom Foundation,” Multnomah County District 4 Commissioner Vince Jones-Dixon, who represents the area, said in a statement.
Among the other grant recipients are Pendleton, which will get $1 million to install an energy storage system, and the Oakridge School District, which will get $63,911 to support planning work around solar and energy storage projects.
Boosting community solar
Multnomah County will also use a share of the grant funds it’s receiving to build a community solar project in Troutdale, in partnership with Bonneville Environmental Foundation.
Community solar allows people to access energy from the sun even if they rent or cannot afford rooftop solar panels.
The county aims to generate enough energy to power 32 households. The county will focus on low-income households and expect that each could save about $350 on their energy bills per year.
Wasiutynski said both Troutdale renewable projects should be up and running by June 2028.
