Clean Energy Works Incentive Deadline is May 15th

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 8, 2012

Contact:
Lee Collinge, lcollinge@metgroup.com
503-517-3739, 971-227-5929

Casey Kaiser, casey@sustainablecentered.com
541.419.8046

NONPROFIT LAUNCHES CENTRAL OREGON HOME ENERGY EFFICIENCY REMODEL PROGRAM MATCHING HOMEOWNERS WITH
CASH INCENTIVES, FINANCING, AND EXPERT HELP
Clean Energy Works Oregon partners with local green contractors and creates opportunities for professionals to earn a paycheck and build a career

Bend, ORE. —Today, Clean Energy Works Oregon officially launched its successful home energy remodel program in Central Oregon’s Deschutes, Crook, and Jefferson counties. CEO Derek Smith, joined by Oregon First Lady Cylvia Hayes, Deschutes County Commissioner Alan Unger, and Energy Trust of Oregon’s Energy Program Director Peter West detailed program benefits for individual homeowners and the region. The program will provide area homeowners with an easy, convenient, and affordable way to increase their homes’ energy efficiency and comfort. It also will help generate family-supporting construction jobs in Central Oregon. Working with five carefully selected local energy efficiency contractors, the nonprofit is targeting––by February of next year—the completion of at least 150 home energy remodels generating enough work to sustain at least 15 jobs in the region.
“Clean Energy Works Oregon provides a one-stop shop to make home energy efficiency affordable and easy,” said Derek Smith, CEO of Clean Energy Works Oregon. “We bring together qualified contractors, attractive financing, objective advice, and generous rebates.” To date, Clean Energy Works Oregon has completed almost 1200 home energy remodels and created or sustained 120 jobs throughout the state.

The program offers eligible homeowners a bundled experience including financing, rebates for a limited time, and free advice from objective energy experts. The program also offers a range of energy upgrades including insulation, advanced home heating systems, windows, and high-efficiency water heating. The Central Oregon Clean Energy Works program includes:

•    Through May 15, homes in the three-county region accepted into the program can receive instant rebates of up to $3,700, including a free home energy assessment worth $500.
•    Clean Energy Works Oregon will help match homeowners with certified contractors who are specially trained in whole-house energy efficiency.
•    An independent, objective Energy Advisor will be present at the home energy assessment and will stay in communication with the homeowner throughout the project to provide needed guidance or advice. The Energy Advisor will also conduct a quality assurance review after the work is completed to ensure the work was done as promised.
•    The program will connect homeowners to Umpqua Bank, which is partnering with Clean Energy Works Oregon to offer participants low-interest, no-money-down loans. For many, energy savings can offset a significant portion of the annual loan payments.

Local partners Central Oregon Intergovernmental Council (COIC) and The Environmental Center are spearheading the program. They will be hosting a series of homeowner workshops to help potential program participants learn more about how to make homes more energy efficient and how the program can help. Workshops are scheduled in:

•    Bend: February 15, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. at The Environmental Center
•    Redmond: February 15, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. at the Redmond Library
•    Prineville: February 16, 5:00 - 6:30 p.m. at the Prineville Library

“While there are other similar programs taking place across the country, the Oregon program is among the most successful to date and has become a model for the nation,” said Oregon First Lady Cylvia Hayes. “Groups like Clean Energy Works and initiatives like the Governor’s Cool Schools program are identifying energy efficiency upgrades for residential and public buildings, helping to improve our environment while creating jobs in local communities.”
“We were able to participate in an informal pilot of the project,” said Juanita Martin, a Bend resident and happy Clean Energy Works Oregon participant. “Before our energy remodel, despite spending a fortune on heating, our house was still cold all the time. Clean Energy Works Oregon not only made it really easy for us to figure out what to upgrade, but they helped us secure financing and gave us cash incentives that made the costs really manageable. Now our house is much more comfortable and much cheaper to heat. We couldn’t be happier.”
Begun as a U.S. Department of Energy-funded pilot in 2009 in Portland, Clean Energy Works Oregon expanded statewide last spring and now serves four service territories and nine counties. More rollouts are expected this year.

The expansion is anticipated to bring $100 million in private capital to communities throughout the state and is drawing innovative partners. Lender Umpqua Bank, which is now offering financing to participants in the Portland-metro area and Central Oregon, saw the program as an exciting business opportunity and a great way to continue serving the community.

"Umpqua Bank's partnership with Clean Energy Works Oregon aligns with our commitment to invest in the communities and economies we serve by giving residents access to smart, affordable financing for energy-saving projects," said Rick Calero, executive vice president of community banking for Umpqua Bank. "We are pleased to ensure Central Oregonians will get the assistance they need to make environmentally-responsible home improvements."

About Clean Energy Works
Formed in 2010 after the City of Portland’s innovative Clean Energy Works Portland pilot, Clean Energy Works Oregon (CEWO) is a nonprofit organization committed to making it easy and affordable to remodel homes for energy efficiency. The CEWO program brings together certified contractors, a personal Energy Advisor, and low-interest financing into a convenient one-stop shop. As homeowners sign up for the program and receive financing from participating local financial institutions, the dollars flow to paychecks for workers who install new insulation, furnaces, heat pumps, hot water systems, and windows, making homes more comfortable, affordable, and energy efficient.
Clean Energy Works Oregon works closely with Energy Trust of Oregon. Energy Trust serves 1.5 million Oregon utility customers, providing solutions and cash incentives for energy efficiency and renewable energy upgrades for homes, businesses, and industry. Energy Trust is contributing the value of cash incentives for every eligible home that participates in CEWO.
In Deschutes, Jefferson, and Crook counties, local partner COIC is spearheading the program with support from The Environmental Center.

For more information about Clean Energy Works Oregon, visit www.cewo.org or call  (855) 870-0049.

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