CUB’s Second Annual Policy Conference a Great Success

And what a success it was! CUB’s second annual policy conference, Energy Efficiency: The Next Generation took place last Friday, October 26th with a full house and an impressive array of experienced participants and attendees. Thanks to the generous support of the University of Oregon School of Law, the event was hosted for the second year in a row at the historic White Stag Block of Old Town Portland.

This year’s conference focused on the timely topic of energy efficiency, including a long-term review of the region’s greatest prior successes and the challenges that the future holds for building on those good foundations. The day’s discussion moved in a chronological fashion, taking us from the genesis of efficiency programs in the region, to the current status, and then helped us to envision what the future can and should hold. Susan Ackerman, Chair of the Oregon Public Utility Commission, was our Breakfast Keynote speaker and commenced the event with an explanation of the key policies that set Oregon on its thoughtful energy efficiency track. Commissioner Ackerman’s presentation set the stage for CUB’s Executive Director Bob Jenks’ follow-up presentation, which dug down into the specifics of the past 30 years of energy efficiency policy in the Northwest. Bob articulated the impressive conservation efforts that have been made in the region that have resulted in a decrease in electricity use, saving more than $500 for individual households each year. He also emphasized the tools and policies that have enabled such progressive developments to succeed, namely federal standards, state codes, the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance programs, support from Bonneville Power Administration and the Energy Trust of Oregon, as well as other utility programs.

Sharing their perspective and expertise on the opening panel, were some of energy efficiency’s veterans; Karen Meadows (BPA Energy Efficiency, Acting Vice President); Margie Harris (Energy Trust of Oregon, Executive Director); Sara Patton (NW Energy Coalition, Executive Director); Bill Bradbury (Northwest Power and Conservation Council, Member); and, once again, CUB’s own Bob Jenks. These panelists offered their input on ways to move into the next generation of energy efficiency, followed by an engaging audience Q&A. Next up, we were honored to have Congressman Earl Blumenauer as our pre-lunch Keynote Speaker. Congressman Blumenauer offered a national and international context to the local and regional energy efficiency issues and discussed the enormous potential for energy efficiency within the US Department of Defense. He commended the Northwest for its achievements in efficiency and emphasized the growing importance that renewable energy sources and efficiency has had and will continue to have on a national scale.

After a lively lunch, Margie Harris returned to the podium to deliver the afternoon Keynote. Margie brought in the larger perspective of tying energy efficiency to the broader cultural values of livability and sustainable. While our region’s successes have been commendable, she noted, our challenge and opportunity now is to surpass those accomplishments through proven record of collaboration and ingenuity. She counseled that we need innovation, integration, and inclusion going forward.

Following this thought-provoking vision of our energy future, the afternoon panel discussions began. Attendees chose either the topic of Smart Grid, Demand Response and Energy Efficiency or Commercial Buildings: Challenges and Successes. The Smart Grid panel participants offered an updated discussion of new developments in Smart Grid policies and technologies. Moderator Gordon Feighner of CUB was again kind enough to recite his impromptu haikus including:

“What’s efficiency?
More than just insulation.
Now it’s gone high-tech.”

and

“Sun burning brightly
Large users dimming their lights
Demand response works.”

Though no poems were read at the Commercial Buildings panel, the audience and participants engaged in a dynamic discussion of the range of perspectives and challenges facing this sector.

Session two offered discussions on Engaging Customers in Energy Efficiency and Building Financially Accessible Programs, two of the biggest issues facing the future success of energy efficiency programs. As noted in the Engaging Customers panel, customer trust is one of the biggest issues regardless of sector (industrial, agricultural, commercial, or residential). It is a huge factor in whether any project will be successful. While the goal is to get to where efficiencies can occur without frequent human intervention, there need to be a lot of boots on the ground to provide the personal touch in order to reach efficiency goals. It was wonderful to hear our skilled panelists with their diverse experiences reflecting on the importance of thinking broadly and creatively about how to proceed both the short and long term. The Financially Accessible Programs panel, expressed the need for inclusive and diversified approaches that reach all customers to deepen potential energy efficiency savings. Current examples covered by the panelists included Mpower, a new project working entirely with affordable housing developments; and CEWO’s expansive homeowner lending programs.

The raucous closing panel was highlighted by Tom Eckman of the NWPPC drawing some interesting analogies and bringing the house down. Not to be outdone, Commissioner John Savage, CUB’s Bob Jenks, and NEEA‘s Karen Horkitz had some very enlightening comments of their own. Thanks to all who joined us at the post conference networking event—it was great to debrief over a beer or glass of wine. We are looking forward to seeing you all again next year!

UPDATE: Kendall Youngblood of PECI also wrote an wonderful article about some of the key points made during the conference.

This conference was made possible by the generous support of our sponsors and the time and thoughtfulness of our panelists and speakers. CUB is deeply appreciative to everyone for their support and dedication to our second annual conference. We hope that all the participants and attendees found the conference engaging, inspiring, and motivating so that we all can work together to move Oregon and the Northwest towards another 30 years of successful promotion and accomplishment of additional energy efficiency.

Special thanks to Ninkasi Brewing Co and Eat Your Heart Out catering for creating a delightful and relaxing networking reception for our staff, attendees, panelists, and sponsors. And this all would not be such a success were it not for all our amazing sponsors and marketing partners: PacifiCorp, PGE, Clean Energy Works, Avista, Bonneville Power Administration, Christenson Electric, Davison Van Cleve, Energy Savvy, Energy Trust of Oregon, Gale Energy Consulting, Home Performance Contractors Guild, McDowell Rackner & Gibson, NW Energy Coalition, Northwest Energy Efficiency Council, NW Natural, NW Power and Conservation Council, Opower, Oregon Department of Energy, Research Into Action, Troutman Sanders LLP, Renewable Northwest Project, Craft3, NIPPC, Cascadia Green Building Council, Climate Solutions, The Climate Trust, Community Action Partnership of Oregon, Oregon BEST, Oregon HEAT, Northwest Energy Business Council, Oregon Solar Energy Industries Association, Smart Grid Oregon, Public Power Council, Portland Sustainability Institute, and Solar Oregon.

Please see the Conference Program for the complete agenda so that you can review the topics, speakers and sponsors who were so inspiring.

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