On the Road in Oregon: EmPowering the Future on the Coast
We continue On the Road in Oregon, an exciting blog series that takes you on a journey through the heart of Oregon's diverse communities. In this series, we're exploring the work of the Oregon Department of Energy's Community Navigator Program as its staff fosters connections and collaboration across the state. This story is courtesy of Sarah Moehrke, ODOE’s Community Navigator.
In early December, I was joined by ODOE Director Janine Benner and Associate Director of Strategic Engagement Ruchi Sadhir for three days of visits with organizations serving communities along the Oregon Coast. Similar to the trip we took to eastern Oregon over the summer, we are looking to connect in different parts of the state to listen and learn about how ODOE’s programs can better serve the communities. The meetings and tours were purposeful engagement with the people that live in these communities and that focus on workforce development, innovative and resilient projects, and providing supportive services that promise to shape Oregon’s future.
Over three days, we engaged in discussions and conversations where we learned about the need for a skilled and sustainable workforce that aligns with the state’s ambitious clean energy goals. We also learned about how many coastal communities, recognized for their resilience and commitment to environmental stewardship, are embracing the opportunity to collaborate and be active contributors to our vision of a safe, equitable, clean, and sustainable future.
Our time on the coast began with a roundtable discussion in Astoria that brought together representatives from Clatsop County, Port of Astoria, Clatsop Community College, the Small Business Development Center, Community Action Team, Columbia Pacific Economic Development District, and Business Oregon. The roundtable addressed the intersection of education, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development. We explored ways to stimulate small business growth and enhance educational pathways, and discussed the need for sustainable systems that can expand for the busy tourism season on the coast. The roundtable energized us in seeing the power of community collaboration with examples of projects with diverse stakeholders that were united in finding ways to complete projects and propel positive change and innovation along the Oregon Coast.
We continued our visit and appreciated conversations with both Tillamook PUD and Coos-Curry Electric Coop. Both organizations are cornerstones in their communities as well as in the region’s energy infrastructure. They talked about the important intersection of workforce development, new technologies, and resilience that is crucial for shaping Oregon’s energy future. The visit to Tillamook PUD provided a firsthand look at the integration of new technologies within its operations, showcasing a commitment to stay at the forefront of advancements in the energy sector. Our conversation with Coos-Curry Electric Coop emphasized resilience as a central theme, highlighting the strategic planning and investments the utility is making to withstand challenges like wind, rain, and forest fire events.
On our last day before heading home, we met with the Coquille Indian Tribe’s executive director, staff, and tribal members that serve on their climate change task force to learn more about the priorities and needs emerging from the task force work. The discussion centered around whether the various incentive programs offered by ODOE could support their priorities and needs as well as learning more about their work on applying for federal grants through the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act and Inflation Reduction Act. Emphasis was placed on incentivizing clean energy projects, promoting energy efficiency, and bringing down costs for tribal members and tribal buildings, while also discussing questions and concerns around newer technologies where we might not fully understand the impacts to important cultural resources and natural resources. We left our discussion feeling inspired by the Coquille Indian Tribe’s tribal council offices and the spirit of potlatch in sharing and caring for their neighbors.
Through conversations on workforce development, new energy technologies, and incentive programs and federal funding opportunities, we see a future filled with collaboration, innovation, and commitment to sustainability and taking care of each other. As the echoes of these conversations continue to reverberate over a month later, they underscore the importance of partnership and community engagement in supporting the clean and resilient energy transition already underway. This coastal journey wasn’t just a visit, it’s a transformative step toward a more resilient and interconnected Oregon.