As human actions threaten the planet, the GoCleanEnergy Conference, July 13, in Bend, offers hope and inspiration for government, individuals, and businesses. 350Deschutes, a local nonprofit, will convene 23 speakers and 3 keynotes to suggest ways to reduce energy use, manage waste, and get incentives for efficiency and clean energy improvements. Both small and large businesses will benefit from additional sessions on recruiting talent in a competitive market. The opening keynote will discuss how businesses and governments are adopting and demanding clean energy. Nossa Familia Coffee will tell how they grew their business as a Bcorp, an innovative platform that combines business strength with social responsibility. With a constantly changing energy landscape, the community is encouraged to attend and learn how easy it is to participate in sustainable actions that benefit everyone.
Elemental Energy and Sunlight Solar lead the discussions about individual and commercial solar and creative financing. Bonneville Environmental Foundation will describe the new Community Solar options along with project success stories.
Homeowners, builders, renters, buyers, and realtors will learn how to benefit from the Home Energy Score, recently implemented in Portland, Vermont, California, and New Jersey. Energy Trust of Oregon ally, Mike Lillesand, and Green Realtor Mike Tucker, will describe buyer preferences for efficient energy installations, and how they can be implemented to increase profitability.
Individuals, business, breweries, and food service businesses will learn how to avoid plastic. Ashley Hammond, SunRiver Brewing Company will instruct in vending, and how to train staff. “Wasted Food: Wasted Money”, offered by DEQ, offers great value as participating businesses reduce food costs 10-14%. Deschutes Solid Waste director, Tim Schimke, will describe the current situation with plastics and the future of waste.
Cannabis Grower Justin Clapik, of Deschutes Growery, Colebreit Engineering, and others will discuss the “Future of Sustainable Cannabis Growing”. Cannabis growers will learn how to significantly reduce water and energy costs, with Energy Trust of Oregon incentives.
Success stories from local and national governments will provide inspiration as Ameresco, an energy service company, discusses many options for efficiency and renewable energy projects that are saving money for taxpayers. One outstanding local example for the lunch keynote comes from Prineville, where city staff will almost humorously describe “How a Conservative Town Made Hay with Progressive Energy”.
Government leaders from Central Oregon have been invited and are highly encouraged to attend. Dr Nathan Boddie, Bend City Councilor, will describe why clean energy increases jobs, along with the Clean Energy Jobs Bill that is expected to be a “Gamechanger for the Oregon Economy”.
Since transportation is important for everyone, another session will highlight alternative fuels for dirty diesel, the status of Electric Vehicle deployment in Central Oregon, and how electric busses are proving to be cleaner and cost effective.
Generous sponsors include: Worthy Garden Club, Ameresco, Colebreit Engineering, GobioCommunity Fuel, Sunriver Brewing Company, Deschutes Brewery, Elemental Energy, Deschutes County Solid Waste, Sunlight Solar, Crux Fermentation, Vocal Booth, Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union, and Forth. Register today at GoCleanEnergy.ORG. for the July 13 event.
