COMMUNITY ENERGY DEVELOPMENT
We are working to significantly increase the pace of clean energy development in the Pacific Northwest by helping rural and indigenous communities plan for, fund, and build locally driven, clean energy projects. This includes:
Energy assessments.
Finance modeling.
Grant writing and fundraising.
Support during construction.
Projects include energy efficiency and renewables such as solar, biomass, micro-hydro, geothermal, and wind power.
Locally driven clean energy projects help communities advance their energy independence while reducing climate pollution and supporting local economies. Currently, rural and indigenous communities face numerous barriers to building clean energy projects, including limited capacity, technical assistance, pre-development planning, and funding.
COUNTY ENERGY RESILIENCE PLANNING
In Fall 2025, Oregon Department of Energy’s Community Navigator Program and Sustainable Northwest partnered to showcase how counties across Oregon are approaching and utilizing energy resilience planning resources. Their teams developed two case studies featuring counties that applied to and were awarded funds from the County Energy Resilience Grant Program (introduced by HB 3630). By developing energy resilience plans, local governments can anticipate risks and identify the infrastructure and other resources they will need to protect their communities from future energy disrupting events.
As a reminder, HB 3630, which was drafted and supported by the Making Energy Work Policy Committee in 2023, established the framework for Oregon counties to develop energy resilience plans. Specifically, these resources were set-up to ensure that each county plan addresses several required elements, including:
Planning for short-, medium-, and long-duration power outages;
Identifying and mapping critical infrastructure, hazards, and social vulnerability;
Engaging with environmental justice communities to identify communities that experience greater social vulnerability;
Outlining backup power and fuel strategies to sustain critical facilities and services during disruptions; and
Identifying locations for community resilience centers, prioritizing areas with greatest social vulnerability.
Importantly, these efforts are laying the groundwork for widespread energy resilience solutions for Oregon communities as the Oregon Public Utilities Commission works to establish a community microgrid framework (as directed by HB 2066) by March 2027.
Learn more about strategies, approaches, and lessons learned from Grant County and the Central Oregon Cohort (Crook, Deschutes, and Jefferson Counties) here!
Are you looking for support for your energy project?
