Meet Riley
We are so excited to welcome Riley to the team for the summer! Riley will be working with the Energize Bend team to engage the community in the next phase of our work. This phase will focus on gathering community input to develop recommendations for how the proposed Climate Impact Fund—the fund that would be created through the Climate Impact Fee—should be used. Those recommendations will be presented to the City of Bend to help inform how the fund is designed and managed if and when the fee is adopted. We are stoked to have Riley help us spearhead this work.
Where are you from and what brought you to Bend?
I grew up in Bend but have spent the last three years in California and Latin America studying environmental analysis and policy, and now I’m back in Central Oregon.
What attracted you to Energize Bend?
The mission of Energize Bend to electrify more sustainable development in our beautiful and growing city is a cause that motivates me greatly!
What is your personal interest in energy?
I am interested in the use of natural resources as it relates to place based development. As we use the resources of the PNW bio-region a deeper relationship can grow between people and place and more thoughtful care can be provided for energy development, use, and pollution. Place based development to me ignites more motivated individuals and communities to create long lasting changes to sustainable living.
What is your favorite form of renewable energy and why?
My favorite form of renewable energy in Central Oregon is solar, especially individual or community shared solar on roof scapes! This solar energy sourcing works with the almost year round sun we receive in an inconspicuous yet impactful way atop the built environment.
What is a topic you geek out about?
I love to geek out about cities built for people by people, as the Gehl institute promotes! What does this mean? Urban spaces that include human scale development, green areas, and non-vehicular transportation systems improve cognitive function, decrease mental stress, and increase community engagement! What isn’t to love and geek out about here?
