2026 Conference - Announcing CUB’s Consumer Champions
Posted on September 14, 2026 by Cassie Allen
Tags, General Interest, Conference & Events
We’re just weeks away from Harnessing Local Energy on October 2 in Portland, Oregon. Our 2026 Conference is packed with industry insights, expert speakers, and networking opportunities. Don’t miss out on this once-a-year event! Register today to save big before early bird pricing ends on September 18th!
Today, we’re excited to announce the recipients of our Consumer Champion Award: Soledad Molina and Rogelia Martinez Perez! 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.
2026 Conference Theme: 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.
Meet the 2026 Consumer Champions Award Winners
Soledad Molina, Community Advocate
Soledad Molina is a resident of East Portland and a participant in the program Lideres Verdes, Energy Justice, and other Advocacy programs. As a mother and a member of the community, her personal experience with public utility debt and disconnection has inspired her to advocate for the reform of public utility policies, giving testimony and raising her voice for all those affected by these policies.
Soledad Molina es residente de East Portland y participante en el programa : Lideres Verdes , Justicia Energética y otros programas de Abogacía . Como madre y miembro de la comunidad, su experiencia personal con las deudas de servicios públicos y las desconexiones le a inspirado a defender la reforma de las políticas de servicios públicos ,dando testimonios y alzando la voz por todos los afectados con estas políticas . Soledad defiende la energía asequible en la legislatura estatal, ante la PUC y a través de la participación comunitaria local.
Rogelia Martinez Perez, Community Advocate
Rogelia is a NE Portland resident and active participant in the Lideres Verdes program. As a mother and impacted community member, her lived experience with utility debt and disconnections has inspired her to repeatedly advocate for utility policy reform. She champions affordable energy at the state house, before the PUC, and through local community involvement.
Rogelia es residente de NE Portland y participante en el programa Líderes Verdes. Como madre y miembro de la comunidad, su experiencia personal con las deudas de servicios públicos y las desconexiones ha inspirado a defender repetidamente la reforma de las políticas de servicios públicos. Rogelia defiende la energía asequible en la legislatura estatal, ante la PUC y a través de la participación comunitaria local.
About the Conference
The CUB Energy Policy Conference is designed as a day of discussion, networking, and sharing diverse perspectives. This conference is ideal for community groups, regulators, advocates, utility representatives, attorneys, or those interested in our region’s energy industry.
16th Annual CUB Energy Policy Conference
Friday, October 2, 2026
9:00 am - 5:00 pm
Sentinel Hotel
614 SW 11th Ave, Portland, OR 97205
Stay Up to Date on Oregon Utility Issues
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09/11/26 | 0 Comments | 2026 Conference - Announcing CUB’s Consumer Champions