Workshop Report: Rocky Mountain Institute NY E-Lab “Forge”
Posted on June 28, 2018 by Mike Goetz
Tags, Energy
From June 11-13, 2018, I had the distinct pleasure of representing CUB at a series of informative and empowering workshops facilitated by the Rocky Mountain Institute (RMI) on the banks of the scenic Hudson River in Garrison, New York. The event was held at the Garrison Institute, nestled about two hours north of bustling Manhattan in a beautiful old monastery. The grounds provided an idyllic setting for energy professionals from across the country to roll up their sleeves and get to work over the three days we spent together. This year’s e-Lab Forge was RMI’s second annual event to accelerate the design of innovative projects that connect low-income communities and households to clean energy benefits.
I was joined by a contingent of energy and environmental justice professionals from Oregon, including representatives from the Oregon Public Utility Commission (PUC), Portland General Electric, Multnomah County’s Office of Sustainability, OPAL Environmental Justice Oregon, VERDE, the Asian Pacific American Network of Oregon, NW Energy Coalition, and the Regulatory Assistance Project. Apart from our Oregon group, there was a team of similarly situated energy and community-based groups in Washington, and three groups working on low income consumer issues surrounding the transition to a clean energy economy in New York City and NY state.
The impetus for the Oregon group’s pilgrimage to the Empire State was the passage of Oregon Senate Bill 978 — a 2017 law requiring the PUC to establish a public process to investigate how developing industry trends, technologies, and policy drivers may impact the existing regulatory system. To its credit, the PUC has taken the public part of the process very seriously, and conducted outreach to a broad array of stakeholders not traditionally involved in utility regulatory processes.
At the Forge event, we were able to engage in productive and contemplative facilitated discussions centered on unwinding and demystifying the, at times, arcane utility regulatory process, with a focus on breaking down barriers that have traditionally kept historically marginalized communities from meaningfully participating. In our Oregon-specific group—where we spent most of the time—all parties left with a better understanding of individual issues and challenges, as well as those that we all face. As a residential ratepayer representative, it was truly enlightening to hear on-the-ground stories of how energy issues affect the communities that we strive to represent.
I left inspired, and with a renewed sense of optimism for the future of the energy sector in Oregon, and how we must strive to be as inclusive as possible in our policy and regulatory decision-making. The future is looking bright in our fair state, and real, positive change can be accomplished if we listen to the voices of the many, not merely of the few.
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06/28/18 | 0 Comments | Workshop Report: Rocky Mountain Institute NY E-Lab “Forge”