PORTLAND, Ore. — October 18, 2018 — Energy Trust of Oregon added four new members to its volunteer board of directors during a public board meeting yesterday. The new board members are Eric Hayes of Beaverton, Elee Jenn of Newberg, Henry Lorenzen of Pendleton and Roland Risser of Washington County. They bring expertise in high-performance building design, engineering, utility and government leadership, trade unions, workforce issues and law, and they represent communities in Eastern Oregon, the Willamette Valley and the Portland metro region.

“We’re pleased with the outcome of an extensive outreach and selection process to fill four board vacancies,” said Debbie Kitchin, board member and chair of the board nominating committee. “We engaged a broad array of organizations to help ensure our new board members bring a range of skills, perspectives and experiences to guide the organization.”

A resident of Beaverton, Eric Hayes is the state organizing coordinator for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). He engages and organizes electrical workers to achieve better wages, pension, insurance and training. With 23 years at IBEW, Hayes’ multiple roles included recording secretary, vice president and president of Local 48. During this time, Hayes served as a trustee of the Edison Pension Trust, Harrison Health Trust and the Apprenticeship Trust. He was also president of the Electrical Minority Workers Caucus Portland Chapter, which promotes minorities and women in IBEW.

“My passion is helping improve the quality of life for all Oregonians,” said Hayes. “My work at IBEW is about empowering and expanding opportunities for people, and I look forward to applying those organizing and community-building skills to help Energy Trust reach and serve all eligible customers.”

As principal marketing and business development manager at Energy Performance Engineering, LLC in Newberg, Elee Jen helps building owners construct and maintain high-performance energy-efficient facilities through system commissioning and building control services. Many of Energy Performance Engineering’s clients are schools, colleges and governments, including Portland Community College in Newberg. Jen is also an accredited Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design professional.

“I’m passionate about helping businesses reduce costs and achieve energy savings from cutting-edge technologies,” said Jen. “As a trade ally of Energy Trust’s Existing Buildings and New Buildings programs, I look forward to offering insight into the needs and challenges of trade ally contractors and their customers.”

Energy Trust’s first board member from Pendleton, Henry Lorenzen’s resume spans from working as a partner at Corey, Byler, Rew, Lorenzen and Hojem law firm to running his family’s 4,000-acre wheat farm. From 2002 to 2018, he served as member on the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, which develops a regional power plan and fish and wildlife program. He has also served on the Oregon State Board of Higher Education, Oregon Fish and Wildlife Commission and Oregon Environmental Quality Commission, and on the boards of Oregon Public Broadcasting and the Oregon Historical Society. Lorenzen is certified as a Professional Electrical Engineer.

“As a recent member of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, I have been an avid advocate for energy efficiency and conservation as a most cost-effective approach to meeting regional energy requirements as well as reducing carbon emissions,” said Lorenzen. “As a board member of Energy Trust, I look forward to championing an organization that implements the regional conservation targets established by the power council.”

Washington County resident Roland Risser has extensive knowledge of residential, commercial and industrial energy efficiency program design, development and implementation, including low-income energy-efficiency programs. He recently retired from the U.S. Department of Energy, where he was the director of the Building Technologies Office and then deputy assistant secretary of renewable power. His decades of energy experience include multiple leadership positions at Pacific Gas and Electric and serving on national boards for the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and the Consortium for Energy Efficiency.

“I understand the complexity of today’s dynamic energy industry, and I believe I can help Energy Trust adapt and thrive amid market changes,” said Risser. “In 40 years of working in the energy industry, I observed energy trends over time and have been an integral part of California’s energy evolution.”

As volunteers, Energy Trust’s board of directors provide 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. Board members offer a range of insight about energy efficiency, renewable energy, agriculture, business, state and local government, sustainable communities and affordable housing, as well as perspectives about rural and urban communities and customers throughout Oregon.

“These four new board members bring valuable skills and perspectives to Energy Trust,” said Roger Hamilton, board president. “They will help Energy Trust better understand the many customers and communities we serve, navigate changes in the market and fulfill its clean energy goals.”

Other members currently serving on Energy Trust’s board include Susan Brodahl, Heffernan Insurance Brokers, Portland; Melissa Cribbins, Coos County Commission, Coos Bay; Ernesto Fonseca, Hacienda CDC, Portland; Roger Hamilton, retired consultant and past Oregon Public Utility Commission commissioner, Eugene; Lindsey Hardy, The Environmental Center, 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; 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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