Walk into the Warm Springs Fire and Safety Building today and you'll notice something different: the lights actually work. That may sound like a low bar, but for a facility that simultaneously serves as the reservation's fire station and a medical clinic, adequate lighting matters enormously.

Energy Trust of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs have completed more than 40 energy efficiency projects over the past two years, investing over $90,000 in just the Fire and Safety Building and the High Lookee Lodge elder care facility alone. Both buildings are projected to save $13,800 annually in energy costs as a result.

A Fire Station and a Clinic

Fire Chief Scott Spaulding with the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs said the old lighting system left rooms dim — a real problem when paramedics and patients need to see clearly.

"So 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. The improved environment, he added, has a measurable effect on care. "They come in. I think that the warmth, the feeling of the building helps out with patient care. I think it's all around better experience."

Elder Care at High Lookee Lodge

The High Lookee Lodge, a 26-year-old facility serving tribal elders, also received significant upgrades. Director Fay Hurtado said the difference for residents with impaired vision has been dramatic.

"The energy upgrade was awesome. The elders were able to see," Hurtado said. "It's a lot better. Dim light is sometimes hard on some that can't see very well. So the upgrades brought a lot of light to our facility."

Unique Challenges on Tribal Land

Carina Miller, tribal government stakeholder relations manager for Energy Trust of Oregon, said the reservation presents distinct needs that utility programs serving cities and counties simply aren't designed to address.

"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."

Tribal land also operates with different energy dynamics than municipalities — encompassing both efficiency and energy enterprise, where power generated on tribal land can be sold to surrounding communities.

Just the Beginning

Both Energy Trust of Oregon and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs view this partnership as an initial phase, with hopes to expand services across the reservation in coming years. With more than 40 projects completed and measurable results at flagship facilities, the groundwork has been laid for deeper collaboration.

The Warm Springs Reservation covers roughly 1,000 square miles of Central Oregon, and its communities — from the main tribal campus to Simnasho — face energy reliability and affordability challenges that disproportionately affect rural and tribal households statewide.