--- kind: section source_pdf: oregon-prosperity-council-report-june-2026.pdf fingerprint: 8ac9aef8ca1b page_range: [287, 291] breadcrumb: ["Appendix E: Submissions & Feedback", "29. Energy Trust of Oregon — Survey Form Response"] source_links: pdf: "https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=287" raw_pages: - "../../.extracted/pages/page-0287.txt" - "../../.extracted/pages/page-0288.txt" - "../../.extracted/pages/page-0289.txt" - "../../.extracted/pages/page-0290.txt" - "../../.extracted/pages/page-0291.txt" --- # 29. Energy Trust of Oregon — Survey Form Response ## TL;DR *(generated · confidence: high)* Energy Trust of Oregon (non-profit serving 2.4M utility customers) advocates for a state-led clean energy workforce development strategy with consistent, long-term funding for training programs, especially in rural areas. They highlight labor shortages in electricians and HVAC trades, apprenticeship bottlenecks limiting worker pipeline growth, and uneven training access. Proposed solutions include embedded solar/efficiency training in community college programs, business incubation support, and coordination among state agencies, utilities, and training providers, citing New York's integrated system as a model. **Key points** *(each cites a PDF page)*: - Energy Trust serves 2.4 million customers of five utilities: Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas, and Avista in Oregon and Southwest Washington ([p. 288](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=288)) - Jobs analysis for Oregon Energy Strategy identified critical need for greater employment in electricians and HVAC specialists for energy efficiency and renewable energy work ([p. 289](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=289)) - Apprenticeship bottleneck: requirement of one journeyman per apprentice in carpentry and HVAC limits production of qualified workers and Energy Trust's project completion capacity ([p. 289](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=289)) - Rural areas lack specialized workers and training infrastructure; contractors from outside communities needed, increasing travel, lodging, and logistical costs ([p. 289](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=289)) - For every $1 Energy Trust invested in energy efficiency, utility customers saved $2.72; since 2002, participating customers saved $8.5 billion on energy bills ([p. 291](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=291)) - Since 2002, Energy Trust's net economic benefits: $12.7 billion to Oregon's economy, $4.3 billion in wages, $699 million in small business income, and 93,600 full-time job equivalents ([p. 291](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=291)) - Energy Trust's network includes 1,600+ trade ally contractors and 145 allied businesses employing approximately 17,500 people related to energy efficiency and renewable energy work ([p. 291](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=291)) - Proposed state-led strategy should include consistent, long-term funding for community college apprenticeship and training programs, especially in rural areas, embedding energy efficiency and solar technology education ([p. 290](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=290)) - Success metric: within 2–3 years, state-led clean energy workforce development strategy established and implemented, with training programs well-funded across state and workers connected to employment opportunities ([p. 290](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=290)) Amounts: $2.72 · $8.5 billion · $12.7 billion · $4.3 billion · $699 million · 93,600 full-time jobs · 17,500 people · 2.4 million customers · Dates/FTE: March 25, 2026 · March 20, 2026 · November 2025 · 2030 · Programs: Oregon Energy Strategy · Oregon Clean Energy Workforce Coalition · apprenticeship programs · pre-apprenticeship programs · business incubation programming · Parties: Energy Trust of Oregon · Portland General Electric · Pacific Power · NW Natural > **Source:** PDF [pp. 287-291](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=287) · raw: [287](../../.extracted/pages/page-0287.txt) · [288](../../.extracted/pages/page-0288.txt) · [289](../../.extracted/pages/page-0289.txt) · [290](../../.extracted/pages/page-0290.txt) · [291](../../.extracted/pages/page-0291.txt) Breadcrumb: Appendix E: Submissions & Feedback > 29. Energy Trust of Oregon — Survey Form Response --- 920 SW 6th Ave, Suite 900 Portland, OR 97204 To: Prosperity Council 1.866.368.7878 From: Chris Lyons, Energy Trust of Oregon energytrust.org Date: March 25, 2026 Re: Prosperity Council Survey The following provides Energy Trust of Oregon’s responses to Governor Kotek’s Prosperity Council online survey that closed on Friday, March 20, 2026 and was originally accessed at https://www.research.net/survey- closed/?sm=6aN6_2FiXUT7Tt7B2unhuq12HZuc_2FGvNy_2Fu8L2SIQpGBc7xZUc_2BXv_2Bm 2kR_2F05qQuSdUUgF6t7VpqEzYcFFwxiq8BE3PtFhb_2BAIwajr_2BdrDaD7j0EYN18AW53_2B qEXrHXLIwo9LJR0lMod7b8zjceqT6McDdN2pSibww7qnsUcBHhQU_3D. We regret that we missed the deadline and hope our feedback can be shared with and help inform the council’s efforts to develop actionable steps to accelerate Oregon’s economy, create good paying jobs, and recruit and grow Oregon’s businesses. If you have any additional questions, please contact Chris Lyons, Sr. Government and Stakeholder Relations Manager, at 971-990-8008 or chris.lyons@energytrust.org. Name (first and last) Chris Lyons Email address chris.lyons@energytrust.org * What is your 5-digit zipcode? 97204 Are you representing yourself or your organization/business? Myself Organization/Business Both Business/Organization Information To better understand whose input we are receiving, please tell us more about your business or organization. What business/organization are you representing? Energy Trust of Oregon Are you in the public or private sector? Public Private Non-profit What industry do you work in? Metals and Machinery Business and Professional Services Page 1 of 5 Food and Beverage Forestry and Wood Products Technology Outdoor Gear and Apparel Bioscience Other (please specify) • All industry types operating in Oregon and that are customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas and Avista What is your Oregon-based team’s headcount? 1 - 20 people 21-100 people 101-500 people 500-1000 people 1000+ people I don't know Detailed Input on Focus Areas of Your Choosing Please share specific challenges, needs, or solutions related to a specific focus area. You may submit as many ideas as you'd like. Focus area you are providing input on Business climate Workforce Tools for growth What challenge would you like addressed in the Prosperity Council’s recommendations? What is the biggest barrier or friction point in this area? Energy Trust of Oregon is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to helping people, businesses and communities thrive through clean, affordable energy. We offer information, technical studies, services and cash incentives to help more than 2.4 million customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural, Cascade Natural Gas and Avista in Oregon and Southwest Washington benefit from energy efficiency and renewable energy generation. This includes homeowners, renters, property owners and small to large businesses of all types, like commercial businesses, agricultural producers and manufacturers. We connect these customers to qualified contractors, and we provide these contractors with ongoing training and support. The State of Oregon has set ambitious greenhouse gas reduction goals for utilities by 2030 and beyond. To help utilities meet these goals as affordably as possible, Energy Trust has increased our own targets to significantly scale up cost-effective energy efficiency and small-scale renewable energy efforts, which will result in cost savings, improved comfort for residents and enhanced productivity for businesses. As outlined in the Oregon Energy Strategy issued in November 2025 and embedded in Energy Trust’s long-term planning, the energy industry workforce will need to evolve as the energy sector modernizes to meet Oregon’s future energy needs and policy objectives. Investing in workforce development is critical to building a robust pipeline of qualified trades contractors, home energy auditors, designers, architects, engineers and other professionals who are Page 2 of 5 equipped to design and implement clean energy solutions as the demand for energy upgrades increases. However, there is an ongoing labor shortage of workers with the skills needed for energy efficiency and renewable energy work. A jobs analysis conducted for the Oregon Energy Strategy demonstrated a need for greater employment in several key occupations, including electricians and HVAC specialists. Expanding the number of qualified professionals who can complete projects is vital to accelerating energy savings and advancing Oregon’s decarbonization goals. Investing in these sectors, job types and workers can further the state’s economic prosperity goals, too. Energy Trust has identified several challenges related to workforce development for energy efficiency and renewable energy work that we highlight for the Prosperity Council as it develops its recommendations for Governor Kotek. Overall, an ongoing need is state-led and statewide coordination among organizations, agencies and funders like Energy Trust that are focused on clean energy workforce development. There are several entities engaged in clean energy workforce development and supporting the implementation of statewide policies. Without a coordinated strategy and funding, it is challenging for these groups to partner with one another or tap into existing workforce infrastructure such as pre-apprenticeship programs, workforce development boards, funding mechanisms, small business administrations and local organizations. This makes it challenging to scale robust, impactful programs in all regions of the state. An example of a statewide effort seeking to bridge gaps and avoid duplication of efforts is the Oregon Clean Energy Workforce Coalition (OCEWC). The OCEWC is a nonprofit created by Portland General Electric in partnership with several organizations. Energy Trust is actively engaged with OCEWC to ensure we advance shared goals for statewide support for its clean energy workforce. Other notable challenges are related to training and retention for the clean energy workforce. Bottlenecks around apprenticeship programs limit workforce development, as too few programs exist and the requirement that there is one journeyman for every apprentice (in carpentry and HVAC, in particular) slows the production of qualified workers and limits Energy Trust’s ability to complete projects, save energy and generate clean power. In addition, there is an opportunity for pre-apprenticeship programs to more consistently connect graduates with employment opportunities. Workforce instability can also result from challenges retaining workers within the clean energy industry. In some regions, wages in the energy efficiency industry are less competitive, causing job seekers to choose to work outside of the industry. These challenges are amplified in rural areas of Oregon. In some parts of the state, there is a lack of specialized workers, such as electricians and weatherization installers. This limits the implementation of cost-effective energy efficiency and renewable energy projects, as contractors must be brought in from outside of local communities, resulting in higher costs for travel, lodging and other logistical expenses and diverting funds outside of rural areas. There is also limited access to training and education programs in rural communities, including a lack of training providers, spaces for hands-on learning and training materials, making it difficult to build a local pipeline of qualified energy professionals. What solution or specific change would you make? Energy Trust suggests developing a statewide strategy for clean energy workforce development. This strategy could be state-developed and state-supported, providing uniform direction and shared goals to all key entities involved in clean energy workforce development: government agencies, local organizations, educational partners and funders. Page 3 of 5 As a part of this strategy, consistent, long-term funding to support community college apprenticeship and training programs, especially in rural areas, can make the training more accessible and sustainable. Training and education in energy efficiency equipment and solar technologies could be embedded within these programs to prepare the workforce for evolving needs in the energy efficiency industry. Consistent funding could help develop and scale training infrastructure in rural communities, including the permanent placement of training equipment and materials. The state could also support business incubation programming to help new small businesses provide energy efficiency and renewable energy services and grow to meet project demand. What would success look like in 2–3 years? In two to three years, success would look like establishment and active implementation of a state-led clean energy workforce development strategy, as outlined above. Training programs incorporating education in energy efficiency and solar would be well-funded and established across the state, including in rural communities, enabling a steady pipeline of skilled workers. Additionally, apprenticeship and training programs would partner with local businesses to ensure that, upon completion, workers are connected with employment opportunities within their communities. Who has to act for this to happen? (i.e. legislature, local governments, employers, education/training partners, etc.) To develop and implement a state-led clean energy workforce development strategy, there would need to be continued commitment by the state to meet energy goals as outlined in the Oregon Energy Strategy. Additionally, the Legislature would need to act to secure sustainable, long-term funding for clean energy workforce development, with a particular focus on supporting training programs integrating energy efficiency best practices and solar technology training into curricula. Applicable state agencies would need to coordinate with nonprofit and community- based organizations, utilities, community colleges and other partners to develop and implement a statewide clean energy workforce development strategy. Employers would need to partner with training providers and educational institutions to offer hands-on learning opportunities and commit to hiring program graduates. What existing state programs and policies does Oregon have that are most helpful to you that you want to see continue? What promising models or effective best practices have you seen in other states that you’d like Oregon to emulate? New York’s comprehensive, accessible website demonstrates how an integrated state system can guide and connect the many players in the energy efficiency landscape, making it easier for businesses, training partners and workers to collaborate. * Do you have another focus area you would like to provide input on? Yes No Additional Input Page 4 of 5 Energy Trust’s support for energy efficiency and renewable energy has economic benefits of saving people and businesses money, investing in local communities, creating jobs and increasing business income. Energy efficiency is among the lowest-cost energy resources available to utilities to meet their customers’ energy needs, costing less than what utilities would pay for most other sources. When customers save energy, utilities are able to defer spending on new infrastructure, including energy generation, transmission and distribution. These deferred costs help keep rates lower than they otherwise would be and become savings that are passed on to all utility customers, including businesses. For every $1 Energy Trust has invested in energy efficiency, utility customers have saved nearly $2.72. Since 2002, participating customers have also saved $8.5 billion on energy bills from building retrofits, operations and maintenance improvements, high-performance new construction and renewable energy systems. These savings recirculate in Oregon’s economy, driving broader economic benefits for all. Dollars saved on energy bills deliver far-reaching benefits to the economy through new purchases of goods and services, job creation, increased wages and new business income. Since 2002, the net economic benefits of Energy Trust’s expenditures, energy savings and renewable energy generation added $12.7 billion to Oregon’s economy, including $4.3 billion in wages, $699 million in small business income and employment equivalent to 93,600 full-time jobs. (Figures are based on an independent analysis by Pinnacle Economics.) Energy Trust’s network of more than 1,600 trade ally contractors and 145 allied businesses located in Oregon and Washington – including local electricians, construction workers, engineers, architects and others – report employing about 17,500 people related to our work in the marketplace. Businesses range in size from one to 200 employees or more; the majority are small businesses with 20 employees or fewer. For local businesses, energy efficiency and renewable energy solutions not only control costs, but also help meet growing sustainability and corporate responsibility commitments. Energy Trust features many examples on our website, from A-dec in Newberg to Laika in Hillsboro. If you have materials and or/reports that would be helpful for the Prosperity Council to review, please upload them here. (Max 16MB) • Economic Impacts of Energy Trust of Oregon’s 2023 Program Activities (most recently completed study), accessible at https://www.energytrust.org/wp- content/uploads/2024/10/ETO-PY2023-Final-04_29_2024.pdf Page 5 of 5 --- Parent: [Appendix E: Submissions & Feedback](./INDEX.md) · PDF: [pp. 287-291](https://www.oregon.gov/gov/Documents/Oregon%20Prosperity%20Council%20Report_June%202026.pdf#page=287)