On the Road in Oregon: October 2023
Welcome to "On the Road in Oregon," an exciting new blog series that takes you on a journey through the heart of Oregon's diverse communities. In this series, we'll explore the work of the Oregon Department of Energy's new Community Navigator Program as its staff fosters connections and collaboration across the state. Join us as we uncover the stories, challenges, and triumphs of communities across Oregon, showcasing the power of community engagement and sustainable initiatives.
- Sarah Moehrke, ODOE Community Navigator
October 2023
As Community Navigator with ODOE, my role is to bridge the gap between state and federal resources and local communities, and foster collaboration and sustainable solutions. In October, that meant a lot of travel. Throughout the month, I visited eight Oregon counties to meet with different community organizations to learn about and explore how to support their goals and priorities around energy. From small rural communities to larger statewide organizations, I have enjoyed meeting with Oregonians to learn more about how ODOE can better engage and serve our state.
One of the trips I took in October was to Hood River County, which is beautiful at any time of the year, but really sparkles during the fall. The primary goal was to engage with local stakeholders, understand their goals and priorities, and work together to identify opportunities for collaboration. I met with the City of Cascade Locks, attended the Oregon Municipal Electric Utilities Association annual meeting, and received a comprehensive tour of the Farmers Irrigation District’s system.
The first stop on the trip was meeting with the City of Cascade Locks, home to the Oregon entry point of the Bridge of the Gods and one of a handful of municipalities who maintain their own electric utility. They are actively seeking opportunities for federal and state funding for an upcoming project to upgrade some of the lines that travel along I-84. This project is necessitated by a project related to highway construction and maintenance and will hopefully strengthen resilience of the City’s electric grid. As we explored the intricacies of this project, the need for federal or state funding became apparent, emphasizing the importance of the Community Navigator program to understand these needs and bring resources to help support. We discussed ODOE’s upcoming Grid Resilience program, funded by a grant from US DOE, as a potential option for this project, and I shared information about the ODOE-developed federal funding tracking spreadsheet that lists potential additional opportunities from the federal government. As a prior municipal employee myself, I enjoyed talking to City Manager Jordan Bennett about the joys of serving your community in such a direct and comprehensive way!
The next stop on my trip was to the Oregon Municipal Utilities Association’s annual meeting held at the beautiful Hood River Inn. I was joined by ODOE’s director, Janine Benner, who was presenting to the organization’s representatives about all the exciting programs and ways to engage with ODOE over the next year. The gathering provided a platform for utility leaders, local government representatives, and energy experts to share ideas and insights. Engaging in discussions about renewable energy integration, grid resilience, and community-led initiatives highlighted the collective commitment to a greener and more sustainable energy landscape. I was wowed by the level of questions and interest in the Oregon Energy Strategy and the amount of time some of the attendees have been working in this space — many spending more than 20 years at their respective organizations!
Finally, I spent an afternoon on a guided tour of the Farmers Irrigation District. As someone who grew up in a city, I didn’t know much about the importance of irrigation districts nor their importance to our clean, equitable energy future. I was joined by Lindsay McClure of Mid-Columbia Economic Development District, who is the energy & project manager supporting the Hood River Energy Council on executing their strategic plan. Executive Director Les Perkins has been serving the Irrigation District for over eight years and has been a Hood River County Commissioner for over 20 years. He is as knowledgeable as they come about Hood River County and the renewable energy sector. We loaded up in the truck to see firsthand how the water is siphoned off Hood River, with a system designed by prior board members to get the water as clean as possible before being transported to agriculture growers throughout the district. This system has been so successful that they patented it and have allowed other irrigation districts throughout the state and country to use it! Les also showed us their aging hydropower generator that, through a Public Purchase Agreement, allows them to generate power and sell it back to Pacific Power to offset some of the costs that would be passed on to customers of the district. We discussed the Community Renewable Energy Program, which could be a useful tool for the district to use in replacing the generator when it comes time.
My visit to Hood River reinforced the importance of localized solutions tailored to the unique needs of each community, and also how localized solutions can be shared with others! Listening to the concerns of residents and collaborating with local stakeholders not only builds trust but also ensures that state resources are directed toward meaningful initiatives. Moving forward, ODOE remains committed to the Hood River community and other regions across the state. The lessons learned and the relationships formed from this visit become integral in shaping the Community Navigator program’s future, ensuring it becomes a dynamic and responsive force throughout Oregon.