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Lake County commissioner urges local control, broader energy mix at Gilliam County meeting
Summary
James Williams, a Lake County commissioner and executive with the Community Renewable Energy Association, told the Gilliam County Court that counties should prioritize local generation and broaden their energy portfolios beyond wind and solar to include dispatchable sources and hydroelectricity.
James Williams, a Lake County commissioner and executive director with the Community Renewable Energy Association (CREA), addressed the Gilliam County Court on the association’s evolving mission and urged local officials to prioritize locally produced and diversified energy generation.
Williams told the court CREA is revising its mission to remain relevant as county leadership changes. “We need to continue to have a conversation, especially as boards change, commissioners change, the missions of the individual counties may change,” Williams said, adding CREA wants “open lines of communications” with county officials.
Why it matters: Williams said decisions about how and where energy is sited have direct consequences for county economies, land use and local tax revenue. He urged counties to press for projects sited at the local level so communities can engage in permitting and benefit-sharing.
Williams outlined several policy concerns: he said reliance on wind and utility-scale solar has raised local opposition when projects occupy prime farmland, and questioned whether current renewable energy incentives should continue at their present scale. “I’m not entirely sure…that renewable energy needs to be subsidized to the degree that it is currently,” he said.
He encouraged counties to consider a broader portfolio that includes hydroelectric resources and potentially small modular nuclear reactors, which saw study bills in the last state session. Williams noted Oregon’s long-standing restrictions on additional nuclear generation but said study bills for SMRs have been introduced and that some counties, including Umatilla, are exploring local ballot measures to allow nuclear facilities.
On farmland, Williams said solar projects that convert tillable land are a key concern. He described a need to balance private property rights with long-term conservation: “We should think long and hard about the sacrifices we make with our farmland — which is a very precious resource where we grow the majority of the food.”
Transmission and local reliability also featured in the discussion. Williams warned of “load pockets” where transmission capacity is limited and investor-owned utilities are reluctant to invest ahead of demonstrated demand. That, he said, can limit new generation opportunities and leave rural areas disadvantaged.
Williams discussed tax and valuation issues for centrally assessed energy projects. He said counties can reclaim central assessment on individual sites, but doing so places added strain on county assessors. He also noted CREA’s engagement at the Public Utility Commission to hold investor-owned utilities accountable and to protect ratepayers.
He advocated for local gains from siting agreements and tax arrangements, citing Lake County’s experience: “Lake County brings in approximately about $900,000 a year in just solar,” he said, describing that revenue as important to local districts and services.
Ending: Williams invited county officials to stay engaged with CREA and said the association is refining its mission to better reflect county priorities as energy policy evolves at the state and federal level.
