Pendleton is Reinventing Rural!

Oct 28

Over three days, Sustainable Northwest, Energy Trust of Oregon, and the City of Pendleton hosted the 7th annual Fall Energy Symposium in Umatilla County. The sold-out event featured panel discussions, interactive group exercises, electric vehicle test drives, and field tours.

AGENDA HERE!

The symposium kicked off with on-site tours highlighting the City of Pendleton's Public Works Department's innovative energy management. Participants toured the Water Filtration Plant and Wastewater Treatment & Resource Recovery Facility. Highlights included utilizing micro-hydro from regenerative drives and a micro-turbine, plus innovative aquifer storage projects that have yielded significant water savings for the community and nearby rivers. The City of Pendleton is known as the most solarized city in Oregon, locally generating 400 watts per person!

After our field tour, Backfire Station hosted an evening of refreshments, networking, and dinner. Steve Chrisman, City of Pendleton’s Economic Development & Airport Director, spoke about the unique features of Pendleton's economy and how energy plays a vital role. Chrisman also discussed the importance of having an energy champion on the ground like Bob Patterson, the Public Works Director, who helped champion energy efficiency and solar developments for over 20 years. As Steve said, “Pendleton has reinvented rural!”

We spent time learning in the classroom on the second day, from presentations and panel discussions to interactive group exercises.

FEDERAL POLICY UPDATE UNPACKING THE INFLATION REDUCTION ACT

Speakers stressed how the Pacific Northwest can capitalize on these significant federal dollars and that states must organize and ready themselves to access and implement these funds. Coordination and collaboration will be key!

Our roundtable discussion focused on Oregon Legislative Priorities for Rural Oregon Representative Pam Marsh & Senator Lynn Findley, moderated by Hood River County Commissioner Les Perkins. The legislators shared opportunities for bipartisan collaboration around rural energy, resilience, and workforce development.

Inflation Reduction Act & Rural Communities by Eileen Quigley, Clean Energy Transition Institute
The Inflation Reduction Act by Nora Apter, Oregon Environmental Council

COMMUNITY ENERGY PLANNING

Moderated by Grace Andrews, RARE Program - The Environmental Center. Wendy Simons (ODOE) shared resources and assistance available to communities in Oregon, including the new 2022 Biennial report, which will be out in early November. Stay tuned for that release! Cathy Higgins (Hood River Energy Council) shared how they used community members and local partnerships to help develop the Hood River Energy Plan, centering all their planning work on people.

Hood River County Energy Plan by Cathy Higgins, Hood River Energy Council

RENEWABLE HYDROGEN

Shannon Souza (OCEAN) moderated. This high-interest topic was great! Abraham Mooney, from Obsidian Renewables, introduced renewable hydrogen and its efforts to help bring federal renewable hydrogen investments to Oregon. In addition, Mason Murphy, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla, shared insights on how the tribe will incorporate renewable hydrogen into their day-to-day operations and the importance of this technology in decarbonizing specific sectors.

Obsidian Pacific Northwest Hydrogen Hub by Abe Mooney, Obsidian Renewables
CRITFC Vision and CTUIR Energy Strategy by Mason Murphy, Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla
Renewable Hydrogen In the Pacific Northwest by Shannon Souza, Oregon Coast Energy Alliance Network

RURAL ELECTRIFICATION AND ON-FARM MODERNIZATION

Moderated by Kelley Thomas Delpit, Sustainable Northwest, this panel featured innovative ways to get solar on the farm with Chad Higgins (Oregon State University), whose specialty is experimenting with technologies and methods to increase economic and ecological sustainability. Higgins provided updates on the newly built North Willamette Research and Extension Center (NWREC) and his current research on agrivoltaics, pairing solar with farming for dual benefit.

Robert Wallace (Wy'East RC&D) introduced the Agricultural Electrification program, the first in the nation to test electric tractors' economic, environmental, and social benefits, and even brought one to show!

Innovative Solar Applications by Dan Orzech, Oregon Clean Power Cooperative
Rural Electrification by Robert Wallace, Wy'EastRC&D

In a recent interview with the Daily Yonder, Bridget Callahan shared how electric tractors can bring more predictability to farmers' energy use and consumption.

***“farmers are at the whim of so many external factors that are outside of their control, dealing with climate change, drought, pests, international conflict.***
***When we talk to farmers, we often hear that energy is one of the few things that they can control, and electric tractors are one way for farmers to avoid the price volatility of fuel."***

*- Bridget Callahan, SNW Senior Energy Program Manager*

E-tractors were just one of the electric vehicles at the symposium. Forth’s Ride and Drive and Mobile Showcase were on-site for participants to check out! This program allows people to experience EVs without dealing with a sales pitch. They focus on providing educational materials and a test drive. At the event, Forth brought a 2022 Chevy Bolt EUV and a 2021 Volkswagen ID4 for participants to test drive an EV.

For e-bikes, they brought Rad Powerbikes’s RedWagon Cargo Bike and RadRover 6 Plus Electric Fat Tire Bike. These test rides received many praises and left everyone with a smile.

The last day featured a tour of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation (CTUIR) Nixyáawii Governance Center with JD Tovey (CTUIR Planning Director). Tovey highlighted their Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center, which brings together healthcare, tribal culture, and energy efficiency incorporated into the design.

Featured design elements included LED lighting, solar panels in covered parking areas, and efficient heating & cooling options.

Tovey shared that this is a starting point and plans to make the first Tribal net zero health center.

Thanks to our co-hosts, Energy Trust of Oregon, and the City of Pendleton, for supporting this event!

Special thanks to our moderators, speakers, and participants. Sustainable Northwest looks forward to hosting our 8th Fall Energy Symposium next Fall. Contact Michael Hoch if you are interested in recommending next year’s location, field tours, or hosting a panel!