By Hannah Mullin ENERGY EFFICIENCY C+C | ALL ABOUT THE GOOD
New partnership brings energy and cost savings to businesses in rural Oregon
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here’s a new program helping small businesses in rural, southern Oregon save money and prepare for the future. With fewer than 2,500 residents, the town of Lakeview is even more remote than most rural communities, meaning there are fewer contractors available to help when businesses need to improve older or inef cient buildings and spaces. But a local nonpro t, Lake County Resources Initiative, is taking a new approach to help businesses overcome these barriers, starting with upgrading lighting—which government statistics show is one of the highest energy costs for businesses. Lake County Resources Initiative, which works to improve the area’s economy and environment, is working with Energy Trust of Oregon, a nonpro t organization that makes
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6 | Southern Oregon Business Journal June 2021
it easier and more affordable for people to save energy and generate their own clean power. By bringing in contractors from outside of Lakeview, providing technical assistance, and connecting businesses to cash incentives, this partnership is helping businesses save energy, time and money by upgrading to highly ef cient LED lighting. “In a rural area like this with harsh weather, running a business can be challenging,” said Nick Johnson, executive director of Lake County Resources Initiative. “But thanks to many partners, we’ve been able to lessen some of the burden by helping these businesses cut their energy costs.” In less than a year, 19 Lakeview businesses have taken advantage of the program – an achievement that leaders say is making the community stronger. One of the participants, the Lakeview Community Partnership, is a nonpro t working to restore the
historic Alger Theatre and its neighboring annex building. “The Historic Alger Theater is the town of Lakeview’s crown jewel,” said Ginger Casto, executive director of the Lakeview Community Partnership. “After closing in 2014, it fell into disrepair and put a damper on the town’s image. With the support of Lake County Resources Initiative, we were able to afford to work with contractors to make signi cant lighting upgrades to the annex building next to the theater. Three months in and we’ve cut our electric bill in half.” To make the lighting projects a reality, Lake County Resources Initiative conducted audits to identify savings opportunities and supplied reduced-cost tubular LEDs with cash incentives from Energy Trust. The nonpro t also secured $5,000 in travel reimbursement from Energy Trust to cover
