By Jean Sheppard. July 25, 2019. There has been a lot in the national news lately about the Green New Deal: a sweeping and controversial proposal that features an economic stimulus package designed to address climate change as well as income inequality. The proposal would marshal public resources to help the United States transition from an economy built on fossil fuels to one driven by clean energy and more jobs for all citizens in the renewables industry.
And although the details behind the Green New Deal remain unclear, many politicians are already speculating that it is too ambitious, unaffordable and unattainable. The aspects of the proposal that address income inequality are the most controversial, and some conservatives have even characterized it as a socialist agenda.
Nevertheless, many state and local governments are operating under the theory that small, incremental changes can add up to sizable results, and they are embracing certain parts of the Green New Deal that they feel can be reasonably implemented.
Hood River County is picking up on this trend. And despite its relatively small size, the county is taking bold steps to address climate change by adopting and implementing the Hood River County Energy Plan.
A big plan for a small county
[perfectpullquote align=”full” bordertop=”false” cite=”” link=”” color=”” class=”” size=””]“The Hood River Energy Plan is a blueprint to improve community resilience, increase energy independence, and increase economic benefits related to energy use in Hood River County while reducing emissions from the burning of fossil fuels.”[/perfectpullquote]
The plan sets measurable goals for fossil fuel emissions and energy reduction as follows:
Replace 30%, 50% and 80% of power generated from fossil fuels with clean, renewable energy in buildings, water systems and transportation by 2030, 2040 and 2050, respectively, as compared with 2016 levels.
In an especially bold move, the plan also calls for generating 50% of the county’s energy needs within the county using local, diversified sources by 2050.
Because collaboration is vital to its implementation on a county-wide scale, Hood River County first invited local partners and stakeholders to jointly develop the plan back in 2016. It was formally adopted by the County Commission, the Hood River City Council, the Port of Hood River and the Port of Cascade Locks in 2018.
The Energy Plan is comprehensive, and it sets goals in four focus areas:
- Building design, construction and occupancy
- Transportation and land use
- Agriculture and water
- Community scale solutions
One of the more audacious goals of the plan is to wean the county off of fossil fuels and transition to cleaner energy sources.
Interestingly enough, many residents of Hood River County assume that most of their energy comes from hydropower. But as the plan points out, 41% of the county’s electricity is actually derived from coal- and gas-fired plants that are operated by Pacific Power.
Pacificorp’s coal-fired Dave Johnston Plant, located in central Wyoming, adds approximately 800 megawatts to the Northwest’s electrical grid. Photo by Greg Goebel
The Energy Plan seeks to shift this balance in favor of renewable sources, and it promotes the adoption of more electric vehicles, bicycles and other non-polluting options. Likewise, it encourages green building design and provides incentives for home builders to install solar panels and other energy efficiencies.
It also addresses agricultural water use, and focuses on the movement of water and the energy used or produced by that movement.
According to the Energy Plan, sales from micro-hydroelectric systems connected to the valley’s irrigation systems attract and reinvest over $3 million into the local economy each year, significantly reducing the amount of money that the county spends on energy. Improving and expanding these systems over time would increase these profits, benefitting local irrigation districts as well as ratepayers.
A plan for the community, by the community
One of the Energy Plan’s most intriguing aspects is its focus on community-scale solutions. The plan openly acknowledges that not all consumers can make structural changes to their homes or purchase electric cars. So it suggests ways to encourage greater participation in the effort to mitigate climate change and promotes more sustainable lifestyles.
The plan provides other opportunities for community engagement, such as the community-financed solar option. This would involve a relatively large solar installation located on publicly owned land that would accept capital from individual investors and provide them with a return on their investment (as well as tax benefits). It would allow more people to access the financial benefits of renewable energy generation without requiring them to install solar panels on their own homes or businesses.
Marla Harvey is the Energy Coordinator for the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District. She confirms that the community solar option could be a reality, but that implementation will take some time, perhaps a couple of years. She says the energy council is currently looking at a large installation at the Hood River Airport, but that feasibility studies have not yet been completed.
Communities in over 31 states, including Colorado and Massachusetts, have already embraced the community solar option. Photo courtesy of the Smart Electric Power Alliance
Harvey points to some other interesting facts, including the statistic that Hood River County residents spend, on average, $1200 a year on energy bills. She notes that buildings that are “high performance” in terms of their energy efficiency are able to achieve nearly 32% savings on their annual energy costs. This translates to a savings of nearly $400 each year for an average homeowner.
Harvey also wants residents to know that “Oregon code will require all new homes be built Net Zero Ready by 2023. So new homes in Hood River County will feature a lot of the construction requirements recommended by the Hood River County Energy Plan.”
Other benefits of energy-efficient construction include: increased durability and comfort, better health and indoor air quality, and less impact on the environment. Affordability is key, but the public health advantages are priceless.
“Another recent focus of the Hood River Energy Council is collaborating with emergency management services to introduce solar plus battery technology in schools and emergency shelters,” Harvey says. “While these systems might not replace noisy diesel generators, they can supplement them and provide power for critical services such as phone charging, food storage and nebulizers.”
In fact, the Hood River County Health Department just recently installed solar panels on its roof to protect the Department’s supply of vaccines, and the Hood River Energy Council was instrumental in securing the grant for this project.
Harvey stresses that “the Hood River County Energy Plan was specifically designed to maximize the community benefit and show positive economic impact.”
This is important because, as demonstrated by the failure of the cap and trade bill in the Oregon legislature this year, smaller, rural communities will not get on board with energy savings unless they see an economic benefit in terms of reduced costs or added jobs.
Hood River Mayor Paul Blackburn is another big proponent of the Hood River County Energy Plan. Like Harvey, he stresses the positive economic benefits and incremental nature of the plan. He realizes that “not everyone can afford to convert their home to solar,” but says the community solar project will provide everyone the chance to invest in locally sourced renewable energy.
“And with private investors financing the project, the city, county and ports wouldn’t have to foot the bill,” he adds.
The concept of a rural electric car share is another idea that Blackburn says he is happy to support. For the donation of a parking space, the city can have the use of the car for its employees as well as members of the public. “This could be a great way to introduce the public to electric vehicles and spur private investment in more of them in the future,” he says.
Launched in Germany in 2008, car2go is one of the pioneers of car sharing. The service has now spread throughout the United States and Europe, with car sharing programs established in over twenty cities, from Austin to Amsterdam.
Having an electric car available and visible to the public is one example of a tiny step that will hopefully spur some bigger steps. And as it turns out, a Portland-based non-profit has already applied for a federal grant to bring five electric cars to Hood River at no cost to the city or the port.
The mayor also likes the idea of having electric bikes available for rent on city streets. He says he “would be open to the concept of a company that was willing to provide the bikes and bike racks in exchange for a place to park them.”
This is yet another idea that the ports, city and county could collaborate on as part of a local Green New Deal. The concept is already being implemented in other small towns and cities, and it fits within the Hood River County Energy Plan’s goal of encouraging walking and biking, and promoting the use of public transit to reduce our carbon footprint.
And while the Energy Plan could take years to implement, the key is making changes in baby steps, not giant leaps and bounds
Blackburn tends to agree with this strategy, and he points to The Consumer’s Guide to Effective Environmental Choices, which recommends the following priority actions for American consumers:
Transportation
- Choose a place to live that reduces the need to drive
- Think twice before purchasing another car
- Chose a fuel-efficient, low-polluting car
- Set concrete goals for reducing your travel
- Whenever practical, walk, bicycle, or take public transportation
Food
- Eat less meat
- Buy local organic produce
Household
- Choose your home carefully
- Reduce the environmental costs of heating and hot water
- Install efficient lighting and appliances
- Choose an electricity supplier offering renewable energy
With little to no action being taken by state and federal governments, it is time for all of us to take matters into our own hands and do our part to live more sustainably. We can’t wait another ten years. Climate change is already happening and it’s happening right now. The Hood River County Energy Plan acknowledges this fact, and it is specifically designed for the unique challenges faced by a small, rural area.
To Learn More:
- Local residents are encouraged to come to the second annual Streets Alive! Event in Hood River in September. The event will feature demonstration projects that showcase beneficial energy streetscape options and urban renewal strategies that can enhance energy efficiency and save money. (City streets in the heights will also be closed to cars during the event.)
- For those looking to improve the efficiency of their own homes, Energy Trust of Oregon is a fantastic resource that offers incentives for conversion of less energy efficient windows, heating and cooling systems and other building enhancements. Check out their website to learn about cash incentives and other low-cost ways to save energy.
- To learn more about community solar and add yourself to the mailing list, email Marla Harvey at: marla@mcedd.org
Just curious why the city/county have not considered putting solar collecting on the HR Fire Dept Roof all the way, and the county as well on their expansive roof at 18th and May. So ideal.