2026 Conference Agenda
Friday, October 2, 2026
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sentinel Hotel
614 SW 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97205
Harnessing Local Energy
Finding Local Solutions to (Inter)National Energy Challenges
In just the last few years, Oregon’s energy landscape has seen many big, new challenges. We’ve seen hyperscaled energy demand from data centers, cuts to federal support for customers and utilities, large rate increases, and record household disconnections. With all of these hurdles, attention is increasingly turning to what we can do close to home to address both our energy needs and the human impacts of our industry. In a world with increasingly globalized energy, we need to start to think more locally for solutions. To create the energy system all Oregonians deserve, we need to work together. All customers, from big industry to households, need to be the best neighbors we can be for everyone else on our energy systems.
Featured Panel
Good Grid Neighbors
While there has been a lot of talk about the corporate impacts on the energy grid recently, these businesses do not exist in a vacuum. At the same time that we’re seeing some of the greatest demand for energy from businesses like data centers, we’re also seeing many households struggling with the cost of living. Leaky homes, poorly insulated manufactured housing, old and inefficient heating systems, and more keep our communities burdened by high energy bills. The largest impacts for individual households, when scaled up, can have big impacts on the grid. We’re all on the same grid; we’re all grid neighbors.
What does being a good grid neighbor look like? How can we turn complex impacts into benefits for our communities? How can we combine energy-saving benefits for utilities and tangible, material change for communities? What new innovations can we learn from other states to bring to Oregon?
Moderator: Bob Jenks, Executive Director, Oregon CUB
Morning Breakout Sessions
Panel 1A—Data Centers: New Kids On the Block
Over the last few years, the demand for electricity in Oregon has grown significantly, largely due to data centers. When these new neighbors come to town, we need to work collaboratively to ensure we all have our needs met. Oregonians have all done our part through shifting when we use energy, piloting demand response programs in our homes, energy efficiency investments, and more. Data center flexibility is critical to being a good grid neighbor. We will discuss effective data center energy efficiency and policy, and what it looks like for DCs to shoulder a fair share of the flexibility responsibility on a shared system.
How can large load energy users create benefits for local communities and the grid? How can we leverage efficiency and flexibility as a tool for affordable energy? What are creative ways data centers can pledge to be good grid neighbors as they connect their outsized loads onto our shared grid?
Moderator: Jennifer Hill-Hart, Policy & Program Director, Oregon CUB
Panel 1B—Moving Forward Hand-in-Hand: Solutions for a More Just Energy Transition
Energy efficiency has rightly been the Northwest’s affordability ethos for a long time. But our approach itself needs an upgrade. Many families are still forced to navigate living in homes that are too hot or too cold, with broken, unsafe, or inefficient appliances causing their energy bills to rise. This lack of access to affordable, efficient home energy is something bill discount programs can never address on their own. Despite some progress, we need to address gaps in the existing supports for Oregonians who have fewer resources, ensuring they are not left behind in the energy transition.
How can we ensure families living on low incomes, renters, and those in mobile and manufactured homes do not continue to suffer disproportionately? How can promising new technologies support a more just energy transition? Who will get to live in more resilient, affordable, and safe homes as a result? And why isn’t the current answer: all of us?
Moderator: Sarah Wochele, Equity Analyst & Advocate, Oregon CUB
Keynote
To Be Announced
Afternoon Breakout Sessions
Panel 2A—Local Takes the Lead: The Future of Gas in Oregon
Oregonians across the state are pushing their community leaders and utilities to invest in policies that focus on moving us away from fossil fuels. Natural gas utilities may have fewer tools available to achieve this goal, regardless of the future of the Climate Protection Program. But across the state, gas utilities, local governments, and community organizations are pursuing getting creative in transitioning customers away from gas appliances. And different approaches will be needed to meet the needs of local communities. In this panel, attendees will hear diverse perspectives on balancing climate imperatives with operational realities.
What is on the horizon for electrification for gas customers? How are local community leaders working to make appliances in our homes and businesses more efficient? What lessons can we learn from local efforts to decarbonize the gas system in their communities? And what is the role of gas in a decarbonizing energy system?
Moderator: Emily Dougan, Utility Analyst, Oregon CUB
Panel 2B—What the Tech?!: Emerging Solutions for Energy Efficiency, Big and Small
Oregonians have new technologies available to reduce energy use and emissions that enable them to be good grid citizens. Promising tech such as balcony solar, residential battery storage systems, and window heat pumps may be excellent tools, but understanding how to effectively use them can be daunting. In homes and at scale, new tech in demand response and energy efficiency can have big impacts. We invite experts on this panel to discuss the larger policy implications and the practical use of new tech.
How can we sort through what is promising and what is over-promising in new technology? What are the tools that industry leaders are excited about that are currently available? What do we need to adapt in our energy policy to ensure these tools are accessible and affordable for Oregon? How do we go from pilot programs to widespread rollouts for new tech?
Moderator: Ryan Tran, Economist, Oregon CUB
2025 Consumer Champion Award
CUB’s Consumer Champion Award honors community leaders who have substantially improved the lives and well-being of Oregon’s utility customers. Through their leadership, advocacy, and public service, these champions are leading the way to a more equitable energy future.
Awardee to be announced!
