Oregon’s industrial leaders were presented the inaugural Oregon Leaders Awards at the NW Industrial Energy Efficiency Summit on January 18. Six manufacturers were honored for their efforts to boost competitiveness with strategic energy management, energy performance improvement and employee, community and customer engagement. Energy Trust expertise helped industrial customers stand out—four of the six award-winning companies are participants in Energy Trust of Oregon’s industrial program: Hampton Affiliates, Contact Industries, Pacific Foods and CalPortland. The annual awards were developed by the Oregon Department of Energy, in collaboration with Energy Trust, the Bonneville Power Administration and the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance.

Photo caption: Oregon First Lady Cylvia Hayes presented the Governor’s Award for Energy Performance Improvement to Frank Pearson of Contact Industries

Read more about Oregon industries maintaining a competitive edge through energy efficiency »

Energy Trust preliminary 2011 results surpassed expectations even during a year marked by a stalled economy and uncertainty and reductions in available Business Energy Tax Credits through the state of Oregon. Energy-efficiency acquired exceeded our annual stretch goals of 44.3 average megawatts of electricity and 5.2 million annual therms of natural gas. Renewable energy programs, while facing the same challenges, installed a record-breaking number of solar electric systems while also building a robust pipeline of solar, biopower and hydropower projects that will serve us well in 2012.

Margie Harris, executive director, credited the promotion of innovative bonus offerings to customers willing to move their projects forward even during uncertain times. “Our team worked with our contractors, trade allies, utilities and others to promote other program options and secure savings. This is a tribute to our ability to be flexible and deliver products customers need and want. We’ll be doing more analysis to better understand what motivated people to act and how to sustain the demonstrated commitment to clean energy for our state,” she said.

The Energy Trust 2011 Annual Report to the Oregon Public Utility Commission, available April 15, will provide the most accurate and comprehensive 2011 results »

Oregon school districts can access low-cost financing to pursue energy efficiency in public schools. Championed by Governor Kitzhaber, the Cool Schools program is a one-stop resource that works in tandem with other energy solutions and incentives available through the Oregon Department of Energy, Energy Trust, Oregon’s consumer-owned electric utilities and Idaho Power. The goal is to help Oregon’s public schools save money, improve facilities and increase student success. Cool Schools is a part of the Oregon Department of Energy’s Energy Efficient Schools Program, and expands low-cost financing options for energy-efficiency upgrades in public schools across. Outreach to schools is underway across the state, and schools can enroll this spring to identify, finance and implement projects this year.

Cool Schools can help public schools cut their second largest expense—energy costs »

J.W. Kerns, an agricultural irrigation dealer specializing in sprinkler and flood irrigation, has provided design and installation services of irrigation equipment in southern Oregon for 90 years. The Energy Trust trade ally contractor recently helped a customer upgrade to a low-pressure pivot irrigation system and energy-efficient pump, while installing a variable frequency drive on an existing pump. “The result was extremely efficient and eliminated pumping from the river,” said Dan Nygren, president (pictured). J.W. Kerns completes an average of 12-15 Energy Trust projects per year and Nygren said Energy Trust incentives are always a positive factor when bringing in prospective customers. “When customers come in looking for a program they can work with, we refer them to available Energy Trust incentives to help with their return on investment,” said Nygren.

Read more about J.W. Kerns »

Energy Trust is helping commercial and industrial customers start the year with energy savings by providing Kick-Start bonus incentives for qualified lighting upgrades and custom capital energy-efficiency improvements, such as compressed air systems, boiler retrofits, chillers and control installations. Customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural and Cascade Natural Gas can maximize energy savings in 2012 by working with Energy Trust and receiving up to a 20 percent bonus incentive on qualifying projects.

Get details on enrolling a project that qualifies for a Kick-Start bonus »