About Us
WE BELIEVE THAT ALL COMMUNITIES SHOULD HAVE THE POWER TO CHOOSE WHERE THEIR ENERGY COMES FROM AND HOW THEY BENEFIT FROM THOSE ENERGY CHOICES.
— OUR MISSION STATEMENT
Our mission is to provide capital, business services and technical support to create and support businesses that generate benefits to the community and the environment. The Community Energy Program participates in opportunities that generate family wage jobs, productive lands and sustainable natural resources. We operate through four Primary Strategies:
Assess community entrepreneurial and business opportunities.
Provide services for entrepreneurs and small businesses.
Act as a partner.
Manage public assets as opportunities become available.
WHO WE ARE
We are a nimble, innovative program focused on creating opportunities to enhance our community and our environment through business development and renewable energy projects. We support existing agricultural producers, municipalities, and all manner of businesses by identifying and developing projects to sustainably utilize our plentiful natural resources and keep energy dollars working locally. We share our expertise with like-focused communities as we find fit.
Our Energy Program began in 2009 when Wallowa Resources, Energy Trust of Oregon and the Freshwater Trust collaborated on a count-wide micro-hydro scoping study. Based on positive study results, we then began developing hydro projects, followed by solar and biomass.
We want to create vibrant communities in control of their energy use as a way to maximize local resources, create community opportunities and environmental benefits, and generally enhance rural vitality.
OUR GOALS & OBJECTIVES
Our Goal is to build a Wallowa County whose people own and operate a mix of energy facilities able to generate 100 percent of the energy used in the County. Locally, independence and self-reliance are deeply held values. From the early 1900’s into the 1950’s, all the county power was generated locally. So this 100 percent goal melds past and present to reach for a smart, self-sustaining, triple bottom line future.
Our main objectives are to:
Build locally owned and operated Energy Projects that keep energy dollars at home and circulating to support the local economy.
Give local communities choice about the sources of their energy.
Build a resilient local power grid that can keep the lights on when wild fires, natural disasters or big-grid issues could potentially result in power outages. This is especially important for remote rural areas where typical electrical distribution systems generally have limited redundancy.
Maximize the “Energy Plus” benefits of renewable and efficiency energy projects, such as Energy Plus water conservation, Energy Plus enhanced fish habitat… wild fire mitigation, forest restoration, and education and job training, etc. This kind of integration is a key way energy work supports our commitment to economy, environment and equity.
Meet the Team
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PROGRAM MANAGER
After completing her education at Coventry University in England, Julia began her career in Operations and Program Management at Intel Corporation. Over the years, Julia gained valuable experience, bringing to WR a diverse background in personnel management, operations management, project management, strategic planning, and relationship building. With two degrees in engineering (a BS in Manufacturing Engineering from Oregon State University and a BS in International Disaster Engineering & Management from Coventry University), Julia Views challenges from a technical perspective and how they impact the natural world.
Julia has traveled extensively worldwide, visiting and living in different cultures. She’s seen and done amazing things: Backpacking in the USSR and Morocco; rafting the Ganges and the Grand Canyon; shopping the markets of New Delhi, Marrakesh, Korea, and Kenya; wine tasting in Italy; Meeting Stephen Hawking; touring the belly of the CERN Supercollider; and staring down a 400-lb bear threatening her livestock.
When she’s not working, Julia enjoys spending time with her animals, traveling to new places, and trying new restaurants. She also loves cooking and reading, which helps her unwind and recharge after a busy day.
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COMMUNITY ENERGY PROJECT COORDINATOR
Gavin was born in Wallowa County and spent most of his childhood in Joseph. He has also spent time living across the state, including the central coast, central and southern Oregon. He studied Biology and Chemistry at Southern Oregon University and hopes to pursue a master’s degree in a similar field in the future. Gavin has experience volunteering with wildlife conservation groups and state agencies such as Oregon State Parks. He has professional experience in mechanical and electrical work, construction and project management, and noxious weed control. Gavin is passionate about serving Wallowa County in the way of renewable energy development, natural resource management, and conservation. Gavin’s other interests include spending time with his wife, Anna, and their two dogs (Luna and Millie), enjoying his beautiful home that is Wallowa County, hiking, fishing, hunting, photography, and aviation.
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COMMUNITY ENERGY PROJECT COORDINATOR
Dawson was born and raised in Eastern Oregon. After graduating in 2020, he moved to Seattle to pursue the telecommunications and fiber optic construction trade. Wanting to escape the busy city of Seattle, he later landed in Wallowa County. Dawson has experience volunteering with multiple municipalities and has professional experience in mechanical, construction, electrical, and telecommunications systems work. He is passionate about serving Wallowa County, and his interests include playing guitar and multiple other instruments, fly fishing, hunting, and foraging.
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Nils and his family moved to Wallowa County in 1999 to start Wallowa Resources field programs. He was promoted to Deputy Director in 2002 and Executive Director in 2007. Nils has diverse experience in place-based natural resource management from working around the world, including ranching in Australia, farming in Israel, fishing and forestry in Norway, and forestry and wildlife in southern Africa. He is passionate about working landscapes and the role of rural communities in their stewardship.
He is a graduate of both Williams College (B.A. Economics) and Oxford University (M.S. Forestry), and has served on many local and national boards - including the National Commission on Science for Sustainable Forestry. He currently serves on the Oregon Board of Forestry and World Forest Center's Board of Directors. He also served on the Enterprise School District Board from 2004-2017.
“After I return the water to the ditch, it travels four miles before it reaches the Wallowa River. There’s enough gravity in that stretch that other landowners could do the same thing, using the same water to generate power over and over. It’s like a big recycling project.”
— Vern Spaur on his Micro Hydropower Project in Wallowa, Oregon.
OUR PARTNERS
