Energy Trust’s board of directors took its meeting on the road in May, spending two days in Hood River to hear directly from community members. 

The board hosted a series of panel discussions and a community event to hear perspectives that will help inform its work in developing Energy Trust’s 2025-2030 Strategic Plan. 

Board members heard from panelists representing The Next Door, the largest social service agency in the Columbia River Gorge; WyEast Resource Conservation and Development Area Council, a local rural development organization; and the Hood River Energy Council, a community-led advisory body that developed and now advances goals of the Hood River Energy Plan. 

They also heard from elected officials from the state and local levels about their energy policy priorities and objectives. A third panel featured perspectives from utility representatives of Pacific Power, NW Natural and Avista.  

Energy Trust and Farmers Conservation Alliance co-hosted a community reception at Farmers Conservation Alliance’s office. Executive Director Julie O’Shea spoke about Farmers Conservation Alliance’s innovative work and investments with Energy Trust in irrigation modernization, work that began more than 20 years ago and is now nationally recognized. 

Also at the reception, Energy Trust’s board president, Henry Lorenzen, honored Hood River Energy Council for its leadership, vision and commitment to energy planning.  

Hood River was one of the first communities in the state to adopt a county-wide energy plan back in 2018. 

“Hood River is a special community with a longstanding commitment to sustainability and collaboration that has been helpful to Energy Trust’s development over the years,” said Lorenzen. “The example it set as an early adopter of community energy planning is one that many other rural communities are now following.”  

From left: Henry Lorenzen with Matt King and Lindsay McClure from the Hood River Energy Council