This July, Energy Trust’s board of directors and staff spent two days meeting with customers and community members in Pendleton learning how the organization can deliver more benefit to customers in the area.

During a series of events and meetings, the board had the opportunity to learn first-hand about Energy Trust’s customers’ investments in clean, renewable power and hear community members’ feedback to improve our local outreach.

Thanks to the hospitality of the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation, board members visited two of its facilities that recently received Energy Trust project incentives and technical resources.

Tour of Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center

Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center is an energy-efficient 64,000-square-foot clinic providing health and wellness services for tribe members and other eligible American Indians and Alaska Natives living in Umatilla and Union counties. Yellowhawk Tribal Health Center was the first tribally owned building in the state to participate in Energy Trust’s Path to Net Zero offering.

Tour of Nixyáawii Education Center in Pendleton

The board also got an up-close look at Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation’s newest project on the Path to Net Zero, the nearly complete Nixyáawii Education Center. This multi-use facility will provide comprehensive education for tribal members and includes classrooms and support spaces for the Nixyáawii Community School, Early Learning Center, adult education and Native language classes.

At our community reception, Pendleton residents provided input on Energy Trust’s next 2020-2024 Strategic Plan and ideas for how Energy Trust can provide more solutions to rural communities like Pendleton in the next five years. This input will help Energy Trust achieve a key goal in its strategic plan to provide more tailored services, programs and offers to serve rural communities, people with low- and moderate-incomes and communities of color.

Pendleton Mayor John Turner addresses reception attendees

Reception attendees also heard from Pendleton Mayor John Turner, who spoke about the services and incentives Energy Trust has delivered to more than 7,000 businesses, farms, factories and residents that have participated in Energy Trust programs in Umatilla County since 2002.

Tamástslikt Cultural Institute’s Executive Director Bobbie Connor provided welcome remarks at the beginning of the board meeting. To demonstrate our two organizations’ long-time partnership, Connor brought a collection of Energy Trust ceremonial incentive checks for Tamástslikt’s energy efficiency and renewable energy projects. These checks were a powerful visual reminder of the tribe’s ongoing commitment to clean energy.

Thanks to Bobbie Connor, Mayor Turner, Pendleton’s city councilors, Umatilla County commissioners and our customers at the Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation for their hospitality and feedback about our work.

Bobbie Connor shows a stack of ceremonial incentive checks