# Environment and Climate Committee Meeting, September 17, 2026

The City of Bend Oregon's Environment and Climate Committee met on September 17, 2026, primarily to discuss updates on various climate action partner grant projects and to deliberate on the design of an electrification incentive program funded by a climate pollution fee. Staff provided detailed reports on grant-funded initiatives including home air conditioning upgrades, waste reduction at events, reusable foodware programs, transportation options, and energy efficiency training for local businesses. The committee reviewed financial analyses and incentive structures for heat pump installations and other electrification measures, considering different funding scenarios and the potential for a community solar project as an alternative or complement to direct customer incentives. Discussions included concerns about administrative costs, program sustainability, and alignment with city climate mitigation goals. The committee also considered expanding grant funding and briefly touched on other climate-related priorities such as wildfire risk reduction and water issues, though there was limited support for diverting funds outside of electrification and mitigation efforts. No formal votes were recorded, but there was consensus to continue exploring four main options: direct customer incentives, split incentives involving contractors, community solar investment, and increased funding for the climate action partner grant program. Further discussions and data gathering were planned for future meetings.

**Jurisdictions:** sled
**Industries:** Environment
**Topics:** Grants & Funding
**Published:** September 17, 2026

### Sources
- [Environment and Climate Committee Meeting, September 17, 2026](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z9duwa7h60o) - CityofBendOregon