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The Department of Energy this week announced an opportunity for $129.7 million in funding to create an energy-efficient building research center.

The Funding Opportunity Announcement is directed at universities, labs, nonprofits and businesses interested in working together to create a center to develop new building efficiency technologies that can be used in local buildings. The DOE plans to offer $22 million in funding in the first year for the effort and up to $100 million over the next four years.

David J. Sailor, director of the Green Building Research Laboratory says that the green building community in Portland is currently discussing what its response to this opportunity will be.

“I think there is a good chance that the Oregon University System, perhaps led by Oregon BEST, but in cooperation with other entities, will put together a proposal,” Sailor said. “It’s too early to say for sure.”

Greg Kleiner, media relations officer for the Oregon Built Environment & Sustainable Technologies Center (BEST) said his organization plans to hold two meetings next week to discuss how it could bring this project to Oregon.

“We’re all thinking there’s an opportunity here for Oregon,” Kleiner said. “It’s just a matter of getting the right groups together.”

The project, called the Energy Regional Innovation Cluster, is being funded by several federal agencies, including the DOE, Department of Commerce/Economic Development Administration, Department of Commerce/National Institute of Standards and Technology, and the Small Business Administration.

To view the full Funding Opportunity Announcement, visit .