PORTLAND, Ore. — January 14, 2021 — Energy Trust of Oregon is conducting a national search for a director of energy programs, a position currently held by Peter West, who plans to retire in 2021.

The role is instrumental in Energy Trust’s ability to achieve the goals in the organization’s current five-year Strategic Plan, especially to achieve energy savings and renewable generation and reach more customers who have previously not participated with Energy Trust’s programs. This includes communities of color, rural communities and customers with low and moderate incomes.

The position is responsible for:

• Providing vision, strategy, passion and leadership for multiple energy efficiency and renewable energy programs.
• Overseeing management of a significant program budget; for example, the 2021 program budget includes $115 million for incentives and $56 million for delivery of customer-focused services and programs, out of a total organization budget of $206.5 million.
• Motivating, supporting, supervising and mentoring senior program managers and a staff of approximately 50 to inspire creativity, as well as creating a culture of inclusion, collaboration and innovation.

Desired candidates will bring:

• A high level of intellectual curiosity and a desire to explore new ideas and innovative approaches to solving problems.
• Strong program design and implementation skills and experience grounded in an understanding of customer and stakeholder perspectives.
• Proven ability to effectively build relationships among diverse customers, staff and stakeholders based on professional or lived experience.
• An ability to lead and mentor large teams through periods of growth and transformation, and within a culture that embraces innovation, respect and kindness.

“Recruiting for this position comes at an exciting time for our organization and the industry as a whole,” said Michael Colgrove, executive director of Energy Trust. “Climate change pressures, the need to ensure diverse customers benefit from our work, and economic hardships associated with COVID-19 are all forces that require our industry to innovate. However, thanks to the work of Peter and our staff, Energy Trust is already well positioned to respond. We know that the new energy programs director will bring new ideas to help us adapt to accomplish our goals and deliver benefit to customers well into the future.”

Interested candidates, please visit www.energytrust.org/About/careers.

Peter West retires after 40 years in Oregon’s energy sector

The role of energy programs director is currently held by Peter West. West joined Energy Trust in 2002 as a foundational leadership team member and first renewable energy director. Since then, West has led energy efficiency and renewable energy program teams, whose cumulative work has resulted in significant energy savings and renewable generation in Oregon and a real-world pathway to affordable, clean energy for thousands of Oregonians.

Prior to Energy Trust, West spent time at Bonneville Power Administration and Renewable Northwest, where he was instrumental in shaping regional energy policy, working with others to help create Oregon’s and the nation’s first carbon standard and pass Senate Bill 1149, the legislation that paved the way for the public purpose charge and Energy Trust.

Through West’s leadership at Energy Trust, the organization developed a robust portfolio of energy programs for residential, commercial, industrial and agricultural customers and the public and nonprofit sectors. Annual electric and gas savings accelerated significantly as Energy Trust brought on new utility revenue sources and programs diversified offers and developed innovative approaches.

Under West’s program leadership, Energy Trust has:

• Served nearly 750,000 sites across Oregon and SW Washington – including small businesses, farms and ranches, rental properties, homes and manufacturers.
• Helped customers save $3.9 billion on their utility bills so far.
• Avoided more than 32 million tons of carbon from entering our atmosphere – the equivalent to taking 7 million cars from Oregon’s roads.
• Added more than $8 billion to Oregon’s economy, in the form of jobs, new business income, increased wages and purchases of new goods and services.

West has also championed Energy Trust’s work to further expand the benefits of clean, affordable energy to rural-, low- and moderate-income customers and communities of color – part of Energy Trust’s diversity, equity and inclusion initiative.

Energy Trust of Oregon is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to helping utility customers benefit from saving energy and generating renewable power. Our services, cash incentives and energy solutions have helped participating customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas and Avista save $3.9 billion on energy bills. Our work helps keep energy costs as low as possible, creates jobs and builds a sustainable energy future. Learn more at www.energytrust.org or call 1-866-368-7878.

END