“A Win-Win-Win-Win-Win-Win-Win” Situation

Happy Earth Day!

We are all familiar with the cliched “win-win” scenario, something that’s good for “both sides.” But what about a situation that has a lot of benefits and not many downsides?

The title describes a growing project that’s starting in Portland and is rapidly developing in other parts of the state. The description was proffered by Marshall Runkel, an energy efficiency contractor with Eco-Tech, a growing energy services firm, at a news conference highlighting the award of $20 million federal grant to help the City of Portland expand its Clean Energy Works Portland project into a Clean Energy Works Oregon campaign, just in time for Earth Day!

All the wins Marshall was describing included: ratepayer benefits (efficiency is the cheapest source of energy); environmental benefits (the cleanest electron is the one you don’t have to produce in the first place); economic benefits (saving energy saves money); labor benefits (ensuring family wage jobs helps put workers on a steady career path); and agricultural and rural benefits (reducing energy use can provide more financial stability and decrease water use). Just to name a few.

The statewide pilot is fitting within the framework set up by the passage of HB 2626, the Energy Efficiency and Sustainable Technologies (EEAST) bill, by the Oregon legislature in 2009. And the framework outlined by the EEAST legislation definitely has the attention of the federal government, which wants to see what we’re doing in Oregon replicated in the rest of the country.

While the wide-ranging partnerships and cooperation that are making this effort move forward so successfully is truly impressive (community groups, small business, labor, utilities, government at the federal, state and local levels), it’s important to note that much of this is possible because of a key factor we have here in Oregon - the Energy Trust. It is a uniquely Oregon institution that makes the coordination of such a multi-facted undertaking possible because ETO staff are able to respond to opportunities quickly and efficient to bring great value to ratepayers and economic benefits to Oregon as a whole. Because the ETO delivers its work through a network of trade allies, small business throughout Oregon, state Rep. Jules Bailey (SE Portland), the primary author of HB 2626, noted, “We’re announcing this grant on Earth Day but it would be equally appropriate on Labor Day because it really does create jobs, both directly and indirectly.”

The $20 million in federal resources is exciting. Some expressed a bit of disappointment that Oregon didn’t get more of its requested amount ($75 million). But federal officials were quick to point out that no application received what was requested. Since Oregon received one of only 25 grants awarded nationally and received more than Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento combined, it holds “an elite position” in the words of Gil Sperling, a top US Department of Energy official. Oregon and Portland can be proud of a significant achievement that will build on already-successful institutions and partnerships and lead to even more real benefits for all Oregonians.

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