Over the past two years, the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs and Energy Trust of Oregon have quietly transformed dozens of buildings across the reservation — upgrading lighting, heating, and energy systems in ways that are already paying dividends for tribal government and community members alike.

More Than 40 Projects Completed

The partnership has completed more than 40 energy efficiency projects reservation-wide. Two flagship projects — the High Lookee Lodge and the Warm Springs Fire and Safety Building — received a combined investment of more than $90,000 from the Energy Trust. Together, those two buildings are projected to save approximately $13,800 annually in energy costs.

A Fire Station That's Also a Clinic

The Warm Springs Fire and Safety Building serves a dual purpose: it functions as both a fire station and a medical clinic for community members seeking treatment. Before the energy upgrades, the facility's aging lighting system left rooms dimly lit — a condition that Fire Chief Scott Spaulding said created real problems for patient care.

"When the new lighting came in, it completely made it brighter. And the crews can see the patients better and the patient can see the crew better," Spaulding said.

"They come in, and I think that the warmth, the feeling of the building helps out with patient care." — Scott Spaulding, Warm Springs Fire Chief

Unique Challenges of Reservation Energy Needs

Carina Miller, tribal government stakeholder relations manager for Energy Trust of Oregon, said working on reservation land requires a distinct approach. Unlike typical county or city projects, tribal communities face both energy efficiency needs and energy enterprise considerations — the tribe sells power to surrounding communities as well as consuming it.

"This is a reservation and so it's a very unique community," Miller said. "We need to be able to anticipate for higher energy needs and some of these things that are going to impact our communities regardless. But here in rural Oregon, on the reservations, there are different and unique needs that ETO is learning how to fill those gaps."

Looking Ahead

The partnership between Energy Trust and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs is being watched as a model for how state energy programs can serve rural and tribal communities often left behind in broader efficiency initiatives. The savings generated by these upgrades can be reinvested in tribal services — a meaningful benefit for a community that has historically operated with constrained resources.

Residents and tribal members interested in learning more about energy efficiency programs available on the reservation can contact the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs tribal offices or Energy Trust of Oregon directly.