Nonprofit accelerates energy investment in rural Lake County

With 8,000 locals, South Central Oregons Lake County is more remote than a number of Oregons rural counties, with few local contractors to support organizations and individuals interested in tidy energy upgrades.
Thats why Energy Trust partnered with regional not-for-profit Lake County Resource Initiative to help 19 small companies in downtown Lakeview upgrade to energy-efficient lighting at a cost effective expense– a considerable accomplishment for a city with fewer than 2,500 individuals and simply a few hundred registered organizations.
To overcome the communitys barriers of restricted professional resources, Lake County Resources and Energy Trust secured and supported travel costs for a professional to drive to Lakeview to install energy effectiveness upgrades.
With a mission to support Lake Countys economy and environment and a history of strong collaboration with Energy Trust, Lake County Resources Initiative recently established an agreement with Energy Trust to increase awareness of clean energy opportunities for farming and businesses and support them in taking the first actions.
” Lake County Resources Initiative functions as a bridge in between Energy Trust, organizations, residents and specialists,” said Nick Johnson, executive director of the not-for-profit.
To make these 19 lighting upgrades a truth, Lake County Resources Initiative hired two organizations to serve Lakeview clients. The not-for-profit carried out audits to recognize cost savings chances and supplied reduced-cost tubular LEDs with incentives from Energy Trust, and Pacific Electrical Contractors travelled from Klamath County to install the LED upgrades.
Energy Trust used $5,000 in travel repayment given that the expense of travel was a financial barrier to making these tasks profitable.
” This collaborative technique is enabling us to connect specialists around Lake County to house owners and businesses who likely havent had the opportunity to make energy upgrades or include renewable resource before,” stated Johnson. “Individually, these tasks might appear little, however together this type of work will lead our region into a clean energy future.”
” Having a relied on community partner was crucial to our success,” said Energy Trust Southern Oregon Outreach Manager Karen Chase. “Collaboration with nonprofits and trade ally professionals is a model we can apply to support other rural neighborhoods.”
Learn more about all the methods Oregon and Southwest Washington businesses and homeowners are conserving and creating energy while supporting our communities in Energy Trusts 2020 Annual Report.