Recently Oregon DEQ reopened the state’s popular EV rebate for a limited period starting this month. You can receive a rebate of up to $7,500 on purchases of eligible vehicles made between April 3 and June 3, 2024. I had the opportunity to sit down this month with EV expert, Jeff Allen, Executive Director at Forth, to explain how Oregonians can take advantage of this rebate and combine the state incentives with the federal incentives, which were improved under the Inflation Reduction Act.

These savings are significant. As Jeff explains, an eligible buyer looking to get a used EV could receive $5,000 from the state rebate program and $4,000 from the federal program, for a total of $9,000 to be applied as a discount at the time of purchase. That’s close to half the sticker price for a three-year-old Chevy Bolt.

You can watch the video I recorded with Jeff on my YouTube channel for tips about how to take advantage of these savings. For more information on other federal incentives on clean energy appliances and home energy efficiency upgrades, you can visit the resource page on my website.

Welcoming USDA Admin Andrew Berke

It was inspiring to join USDA Rural Utilities Service Administrator Berke at the site of West Tuality Habitat for Humanity’s Countryman Estates, where he announced a $319,000 grant for the organization. The funding I helped secure will go toward building eight homes that will be owned by community members in Forest Grove.

The homes we build need infrastructure around them. At a roundtable discussion with local leaders in Northwest Oregon, we talked about the challenges and opportunities around expanding affordable housing and basic infrastructure like wastewater and broadband.

Visiting Central Eastside Businesses

Portland has one of the best food scenes in the world, and the Central Eastside is the heart of many local businesses that make products Oregonians enjoy in restaurants and their kitchens. I visited Dos Hermanos Bakery and Olympia Provisions, where I learned more about their businesses.

Supporting Survivors

It was exciting to join community partners and local leaders to celebrate funding I helped secure for renovation of the new home for the Family Justice Center, which will become the Family Peace Center of Washington County. What is now an empty office building will be transformed into a resource center where survivors of violence and abuse can easily access the support they need.

ICYMI

• I asked my colleagues to focus on solutions at an Education Committee hearing with Columbia University administrators
• I met with climate activist and Oregonian Pattie Gonia
• You can watch a recording of the student loan repayment workshop my office held with Ombuds Lane Thompson on my YouTube channel
• I spoke out against the criminalization of homelessness ahead of arguments in Grants Pass v. Johnson
• I visited the U.S. Coast Guard’s Portland Station, where I learned more about their operations