Media Contact: Ryan Yambra, ryan.yambra@multco.us
New Multnomah County pilot program helps residents replace wood stoves and fireplaces with cleaner heat pumps
Multnomah County today began accepting applicants for its brand new Wood Burning Device Exchange Program. The pilot program helps Multnomah County residents remove their older, smoky wood stoves and fireplaces and replaces them with cleaner heat pumps for a healthier home and cleaner air.
Participating homeowners will receive a financial incentive for replacing their wood burning device. The incentive amounts range from $3000 to full cost replacement, dependent on eligibility and household income.
“Smoke from residential wood stoves contains pollutants that can worsen indoor and outdoor air quality and cause harmful health effects, both long and short term,” said Nadège Dubuisson, a program specialist with Multnomah County Environmental Health. “We are working to improve air quality and protect community health in Multnomah County by removing inefficient polluting woodstoves and fireplaces with more efficient electric heat pumps.”
By upgrading, residents can:
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Improve local air quality indoors and out
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Cut creosote build-up in chimney and reduce the risk of fire
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Improve family lung health by reducing indoor air pollution
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Save time and energy
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Support the local economy
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the program the applicant must:
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Be located in Multnomah County
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Decommission or permanently remove a wood burning device that is indoors, is currently working, and burns wood for heating purposes
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Be approved by the legal homeowner. For rental properties, formal approval from the property owner will be required as part of the approval process
There is not an income limit to participate in this program. However, priority and higher incentives will be given to low to moderate income homeowners within target areas of Multnomah County. This program is also available to rental units with homeowner approval.
How to apply
Applicants must complete the interest form in English or Spanish.
The program is currently accepting interest forms for households located in the Cully, Lents, Portsmouth and Powell-Hurst Gilbert neighborhoods. The target neighborhoods were prioritized by taking a closer look at areas in Multnomah County that have households with lower incomes, more people of color, higher risk of cancer from air toxics in wood smoke, and likelihood of heating by a bulk fuel (wood, oil, or propane tank). Applications from other neighborhoods will be placed on the wait-list.
The interest form is to express interest in the program and is not a guarantee of registration or incentive award. You will be notified by phone or email when your place on the waitlist has been reached.
To learn more, visit multco.us/woodburnexchange