Wallowa County Community Energy Planning Launched
By Garrett Christensen on Thursday, September 8th, 2022 in More Top Stories Northeastern Oregon News
Enterprise – (Release from Wallowa County) After years of quiet discussion, energy development and energy challenges, Wallowa County has launched a comprehensive Community Energy Strategic Planning (CESP) process to proactively plan and manage its energy future– with a special eye to lowering energy costs and stabilizing energy access for the county’s “end of the line” communities.
The effort is a collaboration between the Wallowa County Commission and Wallowa Resources Community Energy Program, with funding from Energy Trust of Oregon. It will be using the tag line “We have Good Energy.”
Early estimates show county residents currently spend $30-$40 million annually for various types of energy, according to Nils Christofferson, executive director, Wallowa Resources, and most of those dollars currently leave the county. Finding ways to keep some of them working here creates real opportunities for all of us,” he said.
“The Community Energy Strategic Plan is us taking a hard look at how we use all kinds of energy in the county right now and then figuring out 1) what we can do to lower energy costs for everyone, 2) how we can put those saved dollars to work locally, 3) how can we insure us having stable, reliable access to energy for critical services in times of emergency, and at the same time, 4) how we can be good stewards of the environment,” according to Joe Basile, Plan Manager and Wallowa Resources Community Energy Program Manager
Critically important too, he said, “this Energy Plan will also deliver a comprehensive, prioritized list of local energy opportunities with short- and long- term strategies and funding to make projects happen.”
“This is a community-generated plan,” emphasized Commissioner John Hillock. “We are wanting input and assistance from interested groups and individuals from every sector of the community—from homeowners and renters to Ag to business and beyond.”
An 11-member Leadership Team has been established and team members are now beginning to identify key stakeholder groups and interested individuals willing to contribute some time and expertise in small group work sessions over the next several months, according to Basile.
The Leadership Team is chaired by Mike Hayward, former County Commissioner and past General Manager, Wallowa Grain Growers. Members include Ryan Sheehy, Fleet Solar; Sara Miller, Northeast Oregon Economic Development District, (NOEDD); Travis Boyd, Wallowa Valley Networks; Paul Karvoski, Wallowa County Emergency Management; Stacy Beckman, Wallowa County Grain Growers; Andy McKee, Developer; Joe Dawson, Ag/Real Estate; Franz Goebel, Wallowa County Planning Director; Jennifer Piper, Wallowa County Chamber of Commerce; Dan McCarthy, Hospital Facilities Manager and Emily Bratcher, Wallowa Resources Youth Education.
This plan is a blueprint for the next 10-20 years, said Hayward. “We want the people who will be impacted to be part of the planning. Stay Tuned.”
For more information on the planning process and how to become involved, contact members of the Leadership Team or Joe Basile, joe@wallowaresources.org; 541-426- 8053.
