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Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Photo: Pendleton Early Learning Center

Reaching and Serving Everyone

Energy Trust is dedicated to helping 1.6 million utility customers in Oregon and southwest Washington save energy and generate renewable power, today and in the future. It is our responsibility to ensure that all customers can directly benefit from our services, including people with low and moderate incomes, communities of color and rural communities.

We strive to create a culturally diverse, equitable and inclusive organization with employees, contractors, trade allies and community partnerships who contribute a range of perspectives, experiences, skills and ideas to how we work, our programs and our services. We are committed to being an inclusive workplace where everyone is welcomed, supported, respected and valued. This will be a learning process. We expect to make mistakes along the way, and we pledge to learn from them.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Operations Plan

We understand that investments in energy efficiency and renewable energy lower energy costs, cut carbon emissions and strengthen local communities—resulting in economic benefits for all. However, there is more we can do to reach communities of color, low- and moderate-income customers and rural communities. We developed a Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Operations Plan to better understand where gaps exist so that we can improve and enhance offerings for underserved customers.

Read the executive summary of our Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Operations Plan >

Read more details about each goal, including baselines, activities to achieve goals and success metrics »

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Goals

Our goal is to increase participation in underserved populations in energy efficiency and renewable energy programs by 20% by 2020.
  • Report on Progress to Goals
    Publish the diversity, equity and inclusion operations plan and progress towards its goals.
    Measure Progress
    Develop systems and support needed to collect, track, analyze and report demographic information related to program participation, program delivery and Trade Ally Network members.
    Hire More Diverse Staff
    Increase the diversity in recruitment and hiring of employees by 25 percent.
  • Expand Trade Ally Network
    Increase participation in the Trade Ally Network by minority-owned and women-owned businesses by 50 percent.
    Expand Trade Ally Projects
    Increase the number of projects completed by minority-owned
    and women-owned trade allies by 15 percent.
    Diversify Contracts
    Increase the number of contracts executed with minority-owned
    and women-owned businesses by 15 percent.
  • Build Relationships
    Increase market awareness and understanding of underserved populations
    by developing and deepening relationships with up to 50 organizations.
    Increase Awareness
    Increase organizational cultural awareness to create a more inclusive work environment where all employees feel welcome.

What Does Success Look Like?

When diversity is an integrated part of who we are and how we conduct our business, Energy Trust will be more innovative and better positioned to meet our goals. If we are successful, we will:

  • Reach and serve all eligible customers, including communities of color, people with low and moderate incomes and rural communities
  • Gain understanding and perspectives about our customers
  • Work with more and different contractors to reach more customers
  • Recruit, hire and support a more diverse workforce
  • Develop staff skills and leadership in cultural competency
  • Improve employee retention in a competitive economy
  • Reduce energy costs, boost comfort and increase air quality for more Oregonians

Staff Leadership

Energy Trust’s diversity, equity and inclusion efforts are spearheaded by staff from all departments:

Calling All Perspectives

To join the conversation, contact Debbie Menashe, director of legal and human resources, at info@energytrust.org.