The Oregon Department of Energy is now accepting incentive applications for the new Early Compliance Action and Planning Program to help Oregon building owners meet requirements for the state’s Building Performance Standard.
In 2023, the Oregon Legislature passed House Bill 3409, establishing a Building Performance Standard for commercial buildings. The bill requires covered commercial buildings to enhance energy management practices and implement efficiency measures to meet energy use targets; the earliest compliance date for certain buildings is 2028. The bill directed ODOE to establish an early compliance incentive program to encourage building owners to consider implementing energy efficiency efforts ahead of compliance dates.
ODOE has $1 million available for a first round of incentives to help building owners offset costs associated with compliance, such as energy benchmarking and reporting or performing an energy audit. Incentives will be awarded on a competitive basis and structured to reflect the various compliance requirements and actions.
Oregon’s Building Performance Standard sorts eligible buildings into Tier 1 and Tier 2 buildings. The Early Compliance Action and Planning Program’s first round of funding will offer $750,000 in total incentives for Tier 1 buildings and $250,000 in total incentives for Tier 2 buildings. The maximum incentive per building is $10,000-$50,000, depending on building type and size.
“The Oregon Department of Energy is proud to support building owners in their efforts to comply with Oregon’s Building Performance Standard,” said ODOE Director Janine Benner. “In our upcoming Oregon Energy Strategy, energy efficiency is one of the five key pathways Oregon can take toward a clean energy future that maintains affordability and reliability. Energy efficiency in buildings presents a significant opportunity to reduce energy use – and costs.”
Applications from eligible building owners are due by 5 p.m. Dec. 19, 2025. More information, including an Opportunity Announcement, Tier 1 and Tier 2 descriptions, and application materials are available on ODOE’s website.