This is part of a series of blog posts amplifying community voices. Growing up in Portland, OR Chandra Robinson’s love for the outdoors started early, leading to years as a sea kayaking guide and the study of geology and physics. Always drawn to architecture, she developed a deep appreciation for spaces that felt welcoming and comfortable. Today she’s a Principal at LEVER Architecture, based in Portland and Los Angeles, where she is proud to create impactful spaces that are accessible for all. As a Founding Board Member and Treasurer of Noma PDX, Chandra works to bring together people of color ..read more

As extreme heat events continue to pose significant challenges for Oregonian, Energy Trust is exploring new ways to help keep people safe and comfortable when temperatures soar. “There’s an urgent need to help the growing number of Oregonians who live in less energy-efficient housing and can’t afford to install cooling equipment,” said Ryan Crews, Energy Trust senior residential program manager. For many years, Energy Trust has offered cash incentives for high-efficiency central air conditioners and ducted and ductless heat pumps. Now, under a three-year pilot program that launched in 2022, cu ..read more

For 13 years, Villas Market, a family-owned Hispanic grocery store and market, has been more than a business for the Hispanic community in Portland—it has been a community hub. According to Medardo Villanueva, owner of Villas Market, he has “clients who used to bring their kids. Now, some of those kids are parents!” Villanueva fully attributes his success to Oregon’s thriving Hispanic community. When he started Villas Market, he only had a small shop in Vancouver, Washington, with a minimal selection of prepaid services, such as prepaid phones and money transfers. At the request of his ..read more

As Energy Trust enters its third decade of service to Oregon and Southwest Washington, it remains committed to the belief that clean, affordable energy can be transformational—for families, for businesses, for the economy and for communities. Energy Trust has released its 2022 annual report, highlighting stories about innovation and community partnerships, along with results toward its strategic plan and diversity, equity and inclusion goals. In 2022, Energy Trust worked with more than 45,000 businesses, customers and communities in Oregon and Southwest Washington to m ..read more

< ► > Watercress Townhomes in Bend, built by Habitat for Humanity, was the 25,000th solar project in Oregon. New homeowners will have more than half of their energy use covered by solar and will immediately be lowering their carbon footprint. Over the past 20 years, Energy Trust of Oregon has helped grow the solar industry in Oregon, bringing the benefits of clean, renewable power to Oregon families and businesses. This spring marks a significant milestone as Energy Trust supports its 25,000th solar project, a group of townhomes built by Habitat for Humanity in Bend. Solar on ..read more

  < ► > Clean Water Services, a water resources management utility serving 620,000 customers in Washington County, does all it can to keep rates low. That includes continually looking for ways to cut energy costs. With a 13 year history of working with Energy Trust of Oregon, the utility reached out for help on equalizing influent flow at its Rock Creek wastewater treatment facility. Fast forward to today: The utility has achieved flow equalization by optimizing its controls, saving approximately $25,000 a year in energy costs, while improving the treatment process and red ..read more

In Gresham, Energy Trust has been working closely with utility partner Portland General Electric and City of Gresham’s Green Business Program to reach small businesses eligible for free lighting upgrades. Energy Trust offers incentives that can significantly lower or even cover the total cost of installing new LED lights and controls. Compared to traditional bulbs, LEDs use 90% less energy and last longer, saving businesses money on both energy use and maintenance. This allows businesses to take the money they would’ve spent on utility bills and invest it right back into their operations ..read more

< ► > A 10-year commitment to energy efficiency has helped Biomass One, a 28.5-megawatt cogeneration facility in White City, slash 4.1 million kilowatt hours from its annual energy use. Biomass One, which burns wood waste to generate renewable power, first worked with Energy Trust of Oregon in 2009 to boost efficiency in its primary process. Installing new fans and motors with variable frequency drives delivered annual savings of 3.35 million kWh. A $344,000 Energy Trust cash incentive helped defray the $708,000 installation cost. Starting in 2017, plant personnel dedicated f ..read more

Solar is the future of clean energy, and it’s time for everyone to have access to its benefits. That’s why Energy Trust is working with community-based organizations in Oregon to make solar more accessible to Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian American and Pacific Islander communities. Maria Dolores Torres is the Advocacy and Outreach Coordinator for Adelante Mujeres, an organization dedicated to empowering Latinas and their families. She represents one of seven community-based organizations that are collaborating with Energy Trust on the Solar Ambassador pilot program. In addition to Adelante M ..read more

Mia Kalatzes joined Green Hammer Design Build in Portland as part of Energy Trust of Oregon’s Net Zero Emerging Leaders internship grant program, from January to March of 2022. It was there that she was first immersed in sustainable design-build practices, including helping to develop processes for measuring and documenting embodied carbon in built environments. After completing her architecture degree from the University of Oregon, she’s now an architectural designer at Studio.e in Eugene and will be passing along her learnings as a mentor to the firm’s Net Zero Emerging Leader intern this ye ..read more