Energy Trust of Oregon

Starting a $60 million organization from scratch

When the Oregon legislature agreed that public purpose investments in electric energy required a dedicated program, it left open just how that should be done.  Working initially for the Public Utility Commission (PUC) and eventually for a new nonprofit board of directors, we guided regional energy leaders through the maze of questions that answered first what to create, and then how to create it.

  • For more than a year, leaders discussed what the best structure might be, eventually shepherding that decision through the leadership of the PUC.
  • Initial incorporation and the first meetings of a new board focused on its responsibility for translating an initial public mandate into an organization that truly made a difference. 
  • The initial programs and brand new systems were created to ensure the $60 million dedicated ratepayer funding met the highest tests of accountability and responsibility.
  • Subsequent growth and program development have established the organization as a national model and innovator for smart energy investment.

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