PORTLAND, Ore. — June 5, 2018 — Energy Trust of Oregon is pleased to add Ernesto Fonseca, CEO of Hacienda Community Development Corporation, to its board of directors. Dr. Fonseca brings deep expertise in sustainable communities, energy efficiency and affordable housing to the Energy Trust board.

As CEO of Hacienda CDC, Dr. Fonseca works to help families achieve their goals through affordable housing, homeownership support, opportunities for economic and educational success, and access to health care and healthy neighborhoods.

“Access to affordable energy and energy efficiency programs is one way that families and communities flourish,” said Dr. Fonseca. “I look forward to helping Energy Trust continue its efforts to provide energy efficiency support for people with all income levels.”

Energy Trust’s board of directors provides strategic and policy direction for the nonprofit organization as it designs and delivers programs that help Oregonians and businesses lower costs, save energy and generate renewable power. As volunteers to the board, Dr. Fonseca and the other board members offer a range of insight about energy, utilities, construction, agriculture and business, as well as perspectives about rural and urban communities across Oregon.

Dr. Fonseca has served as the CEO of Hacienda CDC since 2017. Prior to joining the nonprofit, Dr. Fonseca was a housing development manager for the Housing Authority of Maricopa County in Arizona. Additionally, as the executive director of Elemental Group, which works to advance health, sustainability and justice of urban and rural communities, Dr. Fonseca led a project to inform the future development of a light rail corridor in Phoenix, incorporating community feedback to ensure that the service benefitted all residents. His previous roles also included serving as a development and revitalization manager for the City of Avondale, Arizona, and as a project manager and architect designer for the Stardust Center for Affordable Homes and the Family at Arizona State University.

“Ernesto has worked consistently to serve the needs of communities of color through small business development, micro-lending, community revitalization and affordable housing, with the long-term goal to create healthy and sustainable communities. We are pleased to benefit from his expertise to help us achieve our mission,” said Roger Hamilton, Energy Trust board president.

Dr. Fonseca’s interest in service on Energy Trust’s Board of Directors derives from his passion for energy efficiency and renewable energy access in building and housing design. He hopes to bring his professional and lived experiences to the board to inform its policies and practices to bring renewable energy to those that need it the most, and to increase energy efficiency across all households in Energy Trust’s service area.

Other members currently serving on Energy Trust’s board include Susan Brodahl, Heffernan Insurance Brokers, Portland; Melissa Cribbins, Coos County Commission, Coos Bay; Roger Hamilton, retired consultant and past OPUC commissioner, Eugene; Lindsey Hardy, Bend Energy Challenge, Bend; Anne Haworth Root, EdenVale Winery and Eden Valley Orchards, Medford; Mark Kendall, Kendall Energy, Salem; Debbie Kitchin, InterWorks LLC, Portland; Alan Meyer, retired from Weyerhaeuser, Salem; Eddie Sherman, Against the Current Consulting Group, Portland; Janine Benner, Oregon Department of Energy; and Stephen Bloom, Oregon Public Utility Commission, Salem. Representatives from the OPUC and the Oregon Department of Energy serve as non-voting board members.

All board meetings are open to the public. View board meeting dates, agendas and materials, including financial audits and performance reports, online at https://energytrust.org/about/public-meetings/board-of-directors-meetings/.

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 $3.2 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.

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