Traveling Renewable Energy Classroom

by

Katie Kargol

Rising oil and gas prices is just one element that every community, urban or rural, has in common. The difference is what the community chooses to do about it. That brings me to the quaint but tallest town in Oregon called Lakeview.  Lakeview sits in Goose Valley with the Warner Mountain Range to the east and Fremont Mountain range to the north and west.  Over 75% of the land surrounding Lakeview is owned and managed by the government which provides endless opportunities for recreational activities.

Lake County is blessed with the natural resources readily available to the area. They chose to battle the rising energy costs by implementing sustainable practices and renewable energy projects. My Resource Assistance for Rural Environments (RARE) placement with Lake County Resource Initiative (LCRI) is how I ended up in Lakeview. LCRI is the local nonprofit that aims to create an economic and environmentally viable county through sustainable practices. My role as the Renewable Energy Coordinator for LCRI has me working alongside the Executive Director, Jim Walls, and the Mechanical Engineer, Bob Rogers. Together we strategize ways to educate the general public on sustainable opportunities available to them. One interesting project we are currently developing is a renewable energy demonstration trailer. LCRI is partnering with Solar Oregon who received a grant through Oregon Department of Energy to create an educational outreach project that teaches Lake County about renewable energy systems and energy efficiency. The Steering Committee appointed to the project decided to proceed with a more hands on approach. The goal is to convert a 7 X 16 cargo trailer into a renewable energy demonstration trailer. The trailer will travel to 5 communities in Lake County and provide hands on workshops that demonstrate renewable energy systems available; a few examples include, ground source heat pumps, solar pivots, solar hot water, energy efficiency, weatherization, and wind systems.

The grant requirements are to be completed by mid June. I am excited to share the information and resources available through LCRI with Lake County. After the project is complete in June LCRI hopes to tie the trailer in with another project called the Western Regional Innovation and Learning Center. This is a whole other project in itself but LCRI hopes to play a role by providing natural resource conservation and renewable energy curriculum for the center. The trailer will fit in perfectly for the hands on training and we hope to make it available for other counties to utilize throughout Oregon. The RARE experience has allowed me to connect not only with my local community but other entities passionate about sustainable practices. I hope to keep you informed on the progress and please feel free to contact LCRI for more details on the project.

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