Northern Rural Energy Network launches website and begins soft launch of residential rebates and assessments in Mendocino County

MCOG’s Northern Rural Energy Network (NREN) program manager told the board on May 5 that the regional partnership has launched a public website and entered a soft‑launch phase for residential programs.

Program manager Orion Walker said the regional website (northernwren.org) is live and that residents can view rebate options, apply for some rebate programs and request energy-efficiency kits. Walker said staff are not yet in broad promotional mode because back‑end logistics for processing applications — including handling customer energy‑use data — are still being finalized.

Key points

- Website and soft launch: the regional web portal is live and applications for some residential rebates and energy‑efficiency kits are available; staff emphasized they will ramp outreach only after application processing and payment logistics are working reliably. - Home energy assessments: NREN plans to offer phone-based home energy assessments to Mendocino County residents who can provide the required account identifiers (SAID code) from their energy bills. Assessments will include a structured questionnaire and a report with recommended actions and available rebates. - Eligibility and services: staff said qualifying residents are Mendocino County electric customers with an SAID on their bill; the first services focus on residential rebates and kits, while non‑residential programs and financing are being developed. - Program funding and scope: Walker said the total budget across the four partner agencies is about $33 million and MCOG’s regional portion cited at the meeting was $2.5 million; MCOG’s budget entries currently cover staff and direct program expenses (marketing, training, consultant support) rather than rebates and incentive payouts, which will be disbursed through a third‑party mechanism.

Why it matters: The NREN program is intended to provide energy‑efficiency and electrification rebates and workforce/training supports to a four‑county rural region. Local staffing and marketing choices will influence early uptake in Mendocino County.

Next steps

Walker said staff are preparing marketing collateral, setting up application processing workflows and planning training and outreach; staff expect to begin larger‑scale community outreach in the coming weeks once backend systems are ready.

Public and board questions

Board members asked whether outreach was ready for public discussion; Walker advised not yet, noting a few weeks to a month until public promotion is recommended. Eligibility questions were answered: qualifying residents will be county electric customers who can provide an SAID code on their bill. Walker said program partners are finalizing processes for receiving customer energy data either directly from customers or via utility data sharing arrangements.

Ending note: Staff invited board members to follow upcoming NREN reports and to request materials if they want to help coordinate local outreach.