Project AURORA

Project AURORA

Save money. Save energy. Build community!

The mission of Project AURORA is to help Energy Trust of Oregon–eligible households in Hood River County navigate incentives for energy upgrades, improve energy efficiency, and save money.

The Hood River County Energy Council is partnering with Electrify Oregon, and Seeds for the Sol to provide energy assessments to qualifying households.

In total, this project has helped 23 households receive no-cost home energy assessments. Home energy assessments are not available through Project AURORA at this time. The project team will see currently enrolled households through the process before enrolling new families. This webpage will be updated as resources become available.

AURORA stands for:
Take Advantage of Available Resources
Useful guidance to improve your home
Reduce bills
Optimize energy use
Replace inefficient systems
Advance toward greater comfort and wellbeing

Some income-qualified households may qualify for additional no-cost home weatherization services through a separate program run by NeighborImpact. This program is open to income-eligible households served by any utility. Learn more about this weatherization program and its eligibility requirements on NeighborImpact’s webpage.

ODOE Renewable Energy Grant Program Round Three Awards

ODOE Renewable Energy Grant Program Round Three Awards

The Oregon Department of Energy recently announced the third round grant recipients for the Community Renewable Energy Grant Program. Three applications in Hood River County were successful. 

Mt. Hood Town Hall
Hood River County was awarded an implementation grant for construction of a solar plus storage microgrid at Mt. Hood Town Hall. The project will use solar to offset utility costs and battery storage to provide backup power during grid events. The project will install a solar and storage microgrid with 55.1 kW of PV and 307.2 kWh of battery storage. The solar panels will be integrated into PowerShingle solar canopies, which will provide co-benefits including shade from the sun and shelter on rainy days. Hood River County owns the property, Mt. Hood Towne Hall Association operates the property under a long-term lease, and the Energy Council is providing project management and technical assistance. 

Click here to learn about the history of the Mt. Hood Town Hall and how the community’s needs and goals, plus the active work of the Energy Council, led to the design (Round 2 ODOE grant award) and construction (Round 3 ODOE grant award) of this project.  

Wy’east Middle School
New Buildings Institute’s Microgrid Opportunities: Vehicles Enhancing Resiliency (MOVER) project looks to implement a nationally replicable pilot project that uses electric school buses and light duty fleet vehicles as storage for a PV microgrid at Wy’East Middle School that will provide backup power for portions of the school during long-duration power outages. The Energy Council supported grant writing for a successful ODOE C-REP construction grant, which combines with funding from the U.S. Department of Energy and other sources to cover the full cost of the project. 

Cascade Locks Fire Station
The City of Cascade Locks was awarded a a planning grant to develop a project plan for a solar plus storage system at the Cascade Locks Fire Station. 

Learn more about the grant program and the projects that were awarded by reading ODOE’s press release. 

The Hood River County Energy Council is Accepting Applications

The Hood River County Energy Council is Accepting Applications

The Energy Council — a volunteer advisory body that supports the implementation of the Hood River County Energy Plan — is accepting applications for at-large Energy Council members. Applications must be received by November 2, 2026. 

Hood River County Energy Council Member Applications

  • The Energy Council is looking for applicants who are committed to helping our community reach its clean energy goals.
  • The Energy Council is seeking members who will represent all Hood River County residents. We strive to include a diversity of perspectives on the Energy Council.
  • The Energy Council is interested in new members who represent the following industries: energy, transportation, buildings, agriculture, land use, finance, fundraising, and related industries. Applicants with experience in other fields are also encouraged to apply.
  • To be eligible, applicants must live in one of the following counties: Hood River, Wasco, Sherman, Klickitat, or Skamania.

New members will serve a two-year term beginning in January 2027. The Energy Council meets quarterly on Thursday afternoons, and subcommittees meet during off-months for the full Energy Council. Meeting time and frequency are subject to change.

Please feel free to share this news with anyone you know who may be interested.

The application is linked below. 

Hood-River-Energy-Council-Application_2027 2028

Email completed applications to lindsay@mcedd.org. Applications must be received by November 2, 2026, to be considered. Reach out to Lindsay McClure with any questions.