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Electric mobility seems to be everywhere these days, but does availability equal accessibility? Here at EWEB we’ve determined that the answer is ‘no’ and are working to bridge that gap through EV car shares, community grants and electric bike rebates.
Find Out MoreIn Eugene, we take pride in knowing we have one of the cleanest power portfolios in the nation. Roughly 90% of Eugene's power comes from carbon-free hydroelectric energy. And EWEB has a long history offering robust conversation programs. But we wanted to do more, so we launched Lead Green, a suite of programs for climate innovators looking to support renewable energy and take action on climate change. In the year since Lead Green was launched, we've accomplished a lot we can be proud of.
Find Out MoreLearn some of the many ways EWEB customers support local schools and help inspire kids to explore the wonders of watershed health and clean energy resources.
Find Out MoreOur skilled journeymen are experts in their field, with thousands of training hours and real-world experiences.
Find Out MoreSeventh graders in the Bethel School District put their handmade wind turbines to the test in a wind power challenge supported by EWEB grants last week.
Find Out MoreThe application period is now open for the Electric Mobility Community Grants. Mobility Grants of up to $25,000 will be awared to five nonprofits, schools and academic intitutions, government and other public agencies to cover costs associated with their electric mobility projects.
Find Out MoreEWEB's Greenpower subscribers voted to award this year's Greenpower Grant to Friends of Trees, a local nonprofit that brings trees to areas of Eugene and Springfield with low tree equity.
Find Out MoreFollow along as the Currin Substation, the first of 10 substations in 10 years, is rebuilt from the ground up as part of EWEB's Capital Improvement Plan for major infrastructure investments to rehabilitate, replace, and install new infrastructure.
Find Out MoreToday and every day, we celebrate and honor the hard work, innovation and dedication of electrical line workers.
Find Out MoreThe EWEB Board of Commissioners discussed prefunding Leaburg, the 2022 State of the Watershed report, and the General Manager's performance evaluation at their April 4th, 2023 meeting.
Find Out MoreIt’s spring-- the time of year when birds are nesting in our trees. EWEB crews take special care to avoid disrupting birds when they’re trimming trees. But tree trimming is a necessary part of delivering safe and reliable power. We went out with a crew to find out how it's done.
Find Out MoreEWEB is excited to announce the eligible candidates for the 2023 Greenpower Grant! The winner of the Greenpower Grant will be voted on by Greenpower subscribers. Learn more about each origanization and their proposal before casting your vote.
Find Out MoreCrews are identifying and addressing equipment failures before wildfire season and doing so mitigates risk of fire ignition.
Find Out MoreAs a utility, EWEB is known for providing water and electricity to Eugene residents. But EWEB also operates the largest publicly owned open-access fiber network in Oregon. The infrastructure of underground fiber that connects high-speed internet in downtown Eugene needs to be maintained. Gretchen Lowen is the engineering technician who oversees changes or additions to EWEB’s fiber system.
Find Out MoreEWEB is already in compliance with a new proposed federal rule that would require municipalities to test for PFAs, or forever chemicals, in drinking water. The good news for EWEB customers is that in over ten years of testing we have not found PFAs in our water.
Find Out MoreMay 04, 2023 • Rachael McDonald, EWEB Communications
PUBLIC INPUT:
Eugene 4J teacher Tana Shepard thanked EWEB for supporting local schools with Education Grants. She offered some statistics on how EWEB grants have supported the district:
EWEB customers help support education grants – totaling $500,000 annually – for Eugene 4J, Bethel, Springfield, and McKenzie School Districts.
TOPICS AND DECISIONS:
Leaburg Hydroelectric Plant Decommissioning Action Plan Update
EWEB is in the early stages of planning to permanently discontinue electricity generation at the Leaburg Hydroelectric Project, remove Leaburg Dam and restore the McKenzie River to a free-flowing state. Staff gave the Board an update on development of the plan. The final plan will be completed in December 2023. The plan identifies key decision points and milestones in the process. It will be at least 10 years before we see work on the ground towards removing Leaburg Dam.
Annual Strategic Plan Review
General Manager Frank Lawson reviewed EWEB’s strategic plan and proposed some additions. The 10-year plan, first implemented in 2018, calls for EWEB to develop more resilient and sustainable infrastructure, finances, people, and processes. The plan also calls for EWEB to collaborate with customers to mitigate supply volatility and scarcity, improve resiliency to disruptive events, optimize infrastructure investments, and aid in water and electricity supply decisions. Lawson said we’re in the second phase of the plan. The proposed additions include positioning for flexibility by planning for new energy services, and developing a diversity, equity, and inclusion Board policy. The Board plans to revisit the plan at its future meeting in June.
2023 Quarter 1 performance report and Capital Plan Update
Assistant General Manager Rod Price told commissioners 2022 was a great year and that success is continuing this year. EWEB is on track with nearly everything we’re doing. He talked about risk and things to watch, including climate and weather, which affect hydropower generation. Inflation is another concern looking ahead as well as regulatory compliance, service reliability, and workforce resiliency.
Chief Operations Officer Karen Kelly shared an update on EWEB’s capital projects, which include building new drinking water storage tanks and water transmission mains, planning for a second drinking water treatment plant, rebuilding multiple substations, deploying smart meter technology, refurbishing elements of the Carmen Smith hydroelectric project, and replacing outdated technology. While some projects are over budget because of increased costs and workforce challenges, many others are on budget and on time.
Performance Evaluation Process for General Manager
Board members asked for more models to follow for evaluating performance. General Manager Frank Lawson noted that the Board sets the utility’s strategic direction and policies, while the primary means of overseeing ongoing daily operations is through the general manager.
Future Board Agendas:
May 16 Upriver Board Meeting – Commissioners and EWEB staff are planning for the annual upriver board meeting. It will be at 6 p.m. at the McKenzie Fire & Rescue Training Center in Leaburg.
NOTABLE QUOTES:
EWEB Assistant General Manager Rod Price: “I’m really pleased EWEB received a first-place award from the 2023 Northwest Public Power Association for Safety. We also heard a few days ago that we won a similar award from the AWWA (American Water Works Association) for first place in safety as a water utility. I think it highlights the importance that we place as an organization on safety and how seriously our employees take it.”
Commissioner Mindy Schlossberg on the Leaburg Decommissioning Action Plan “Be really clear that this is really a plan to create an action plan. Because I think some people might think there’s already an action plan for decommissioning and really this is just beginning to plan for a plan for decommissioning.”
EWEB Generation Manager Lisa Krentz on the Leaburg Decommissioning Action Plan: “It will be at least 10 years before we see work on the ground towards decommissioning Leaburg Dam.”
EWEB General Manager Frank Lawson on workforce challenges: “If you look at really strong organizations, they develop a workforce strategy and I think we as an industry have to look at it that way. It will have to be something we invest in and build a foundation for.”
Commissioner Mindy Schlossberg on the Upriver Board Meeting on May 16: “I’m sure we will have a large turnout at our Upriver Board meeting, and we will hear a lot of questions about Leaburg.”
NEXT REGULAR BOARD MEETING IS JUNE 6
Commissioners hold regularly scheduled public meetings on the first Tuesday of each month, typically starting at 5:30 p.m. Customers are welcome and encouraged to attend.
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