ORS 469.769: Program to reduce barriers to home energy efficiency and resilience.

(1) The State Department of Energy shall collaborate with other state agencies described in ORS 469.763 (1)(a) to reduce financial and nonfinancial barriers to home energy efficiency and resilience by: (a) Providing initial and continuing technical assistance and training in order to build capacity in developers, builders, community-based organizations, homeowners and tenants to conduct renovations and installations of energy efficient technologies, including heat pumps; and (b) Providing education and training to contractors, subcontractors, technicians, community-based organizations and other installers and other workers in industries related to construction and energy appliance installation concerning: (A) The availability of moneys, programs, rebates and other incentives for acquiring and installing energy efficient appliances for heating and cooling; (B) Methods, techniques, available incentives and funding available for upgrading electrical panels and wiring to accommodate energy efficient appliances for heating and cooling; and (C) Planning for, installing and operating heat pumps. (2) The program described in subsection (1) of this section must: (a) Provide information and assistance that is understandable and usable by developers, builders, community-based organizations and other industry stakeholders with an interest in acquiring, maintaining and using energy efficient technologies for heating and cooling homes and commercial buildings, including heat pump technologies; (b) Include information on delivering, installing and using high efficiency heating and cooling appliances in instances where variation exists in funding options for various minimum efficiency requirements; (c) Work with locally connected and culturally connected organizations to provide the program’s information, technical assistance, training and support; and (d) Allow sufficient flexibility for designated state agencies to contract with private entities to provide needed information, assistance, training and support. (3) The department may incorporate the work described in this section with other programs that serve to educate the public on energy efficiency. [2023 c.442 §4]