The Oregon Department of Energy was awarded $12 million in federal funding for Building Performance Standard incentives as part of the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality's Climate Equity and Resilience Through Action program. CERTA funding will incentivize Tier 1 buildings to exceed performance requirements and reach compliance early and will incentivize Tier 2 and tribal buildings to voluntarily comply with the BPS, thereby reducing Greenhouse Gas emissions from commercial buildings.
Building Energy Reduction Incentive (BERI)
Note: The Building Energy Reduction Incentive program is separate from the
Early Compliance Action and Planning Program. Although both programs incentivize early compliance with the BPS, the Early Compliance Action and Planning Program focuses on planning (e.g. Energy Benchmarking and Reporting) while the Building Energy Reduction Incentive program focuses on energy efficiency measures (e.g. HVAC or lighting upgrades).
See below for more information about the Early Compliance Action and Planning Program.
ODOE is now accepting incentive applications for the Building Energy Reduction Incentive (BERI):
Opportunity Announcement
Incentive Application
Program Background
Tier 1, Tier 2, and some Tribal buildings are eligible for BERI incentives, which must be used for energy efficiency measures. To be eligible, buildings must have a baseline energy use intensity that exceeds the applicable energy use intensity target. An energy audit for the building must be submitted with all applications. The maximum incentive per building is $100,000 for Tier 1 buildings and $50,000 for Tier 2 buildings (the maximum incentive and early compliance date for Tribal buildings is determined by the building's tier). Applications will be evaluated competitively, with priority given to the cost-effectiveness of the energy efficiency measure's greenhouse gas reductions, strength of the project plan, rural buildings, multifamily buildings, and multifamily affordable housing. Applicants will have 60 calendar days to submit applications after the program start date.
Approximately $8 million will be reserved for Tier 1 buildings, $3 million will be reserved for Tier 2 buildings, and $900,000 will be reserved for Tribal buildings. The funding opportunity will consist of at least 2 rounds. Round 1 (50 percent of the total funding) will offer approximately $4 million in total incentives for Tier 1 buildings, $1.5 million in total incentives for Tier 2 buildings, and $450,000 in total incentives for Tribal buildings.
BERI Program Schedule (approximate) (Round 1)
Opportunity Announcement & Start Accepting Applications
| February 2026 |
Webinar: Building Energy Reduction Incentive Overview
Access log-in information
| February 20, 2026 | 11 a.m.
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Close Opportunity Period and Stop Accepting Applications | April 2026
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Competitive Review | May 2026 |
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Award Notification | June 2026 |
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Performance Agreement Period | June 2026
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Early Compliance Action and Planning Program (ECAPP)
The Early Compliance Action and Planning Program (ECAPP) Round 1 opportunity has closed and ODOE is no longer accepting applications. The Round 2 opportunity will open in Spring 2026.
Program Background
HB 3409 directs the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) to establish an early compliance incentive program for Oregon's
Building Performance Standard (BPS). The $2 million allocated to the program will be used to help building owners offset costs associated with BPS compliance, such as energy benchmarking and reporting or performing an energy audit. Oregon's
Building Performance Standard (BPS) has multiple components and requires different steps and actions to meet compliance. ECAPP incentives are intended to offset some of the costs of compliance and will be offered for different compliance actions. A building owner can receive a maximum of $0.85 per square foot, subject to incentive caps, if all compliance actions are taken, but can also receive partial incentives for individual compliance actions.
Tier 1 and Tier 2 buildings are eligible for the incentives. Considering the limited funding, and to provide access to more building owners, the maximum incentive per building is $10,000-$50,000, depending on building type and size. Incentives will be awarded based on a competitive review process. $1.5 million total will be reserved for Tier 1 buildings and $500,000 total will be reserved for Tier 2 buildings. The Round 1 funding opportunity will offer $750,000 in total incentives for Tier 1 buildings and $250,000 in total incentives for Tier 2 buildings.
Program Schedule (approximate) (Round 1)
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Opportunity Announcement & Start Accepting Applications | October 2025 |
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Close Opportunity Period and Stop Accepting Applications | December 2025 |
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Competitive Review | January 2026
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Award Notification | January 2026
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Performance Agreement Period | February 2026
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