The City of Salem has been awarded $225,000 to purchase a new battery-powered compact street sweeper. This project has been made possible by DEQ’s Oregon Clean Fuels Program via the PGE Drive Change Fund, established in 2019. The Drive Change Fund has awarded millions of dollars in new electric vehicles and chargers throughout Oregon. The new street sweeper is expected to be in service beginning in the spring of 2024.
With this Drive for Change award, the proposed compact street sweeper is designed with a narrow width and short wheelbase, making it ideal for sweeping buffered bike lanes, downtown alleys, park pathways, plazas, parking lots, and public spaces. The purchase of the fully electric sweeper advances the city’s climate action goals by reducing emissions and being more energy efficient while it fulfills the City’s Climate Action Plan Strategy #TL 30 emphasizing the transition of all city vehicles to electric vehicles. It is also 23% quieter than a similarly sized gas-powered sweeper.
“Portland General Electric is excited to award funds from DEQ's Oregon Clean Fuels Program to support our partners in expanding cleaner transportation systems across the state,” said Elyssia Lawrence, senior manager, Product Manager and head of PGE’s Transportation Electrification team. “Transportation electrification plays an essential role in accelerating the clean energy transition. It is going to take all of us working together to achieve a cleaner and more equitable future for all Oregonians.”
The estimated total cost of purchasing the battery-powered sweeper, and a trailer to transport it, is $250,000. The 10% matching funds will come from the City’s Utility Fund as required by the grant.
Street sweeping is a required element of the City’s National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (DPDES) and stormwater quality Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System (MS4) permits. Sweeping keeps leaves, sand, silts, and gravel out of the City’s storm sewers, preventing backups and flooding throughout the City. In addition to the positive impacts on our environment and communities, EVs are cost-saving choices for organizations as they require less maintenance and the price of electricity is regulated, unlike gasoline.
The City of Salem is taking action to respond to climate change. Thank you, to DEQ’s Oregon Clean Fuels Program and PGE, for supporting the City of Salem in the journey towards a cleaner, greener future. To learn more, go to portlandgeneral.com/drivechangefund.
