Email: jackie@wyeast-rcd.org
Title: Rural Energy Specialist
Organization: Wy’East Resource Conservation & Development
Community: The Dalles
Population: 15,700
County Served: Statewide

Meet Jackie Solomon (she/her):

Jackie was born and raised in Portland, OR and grew up in NE Portland. She then went to the University of Oregon and graduated in Spring 2024 with a B.S. in Environmental Studies and a minor in Food Studies. During Jackie’s time at the University of Oregon she became passionate about climate change issues, conservation, food and agriculture, and art and crafts! During her time at UO Jackie was a part of the PIE Program in the summer of 2023, where she worked at the St. Johns Center for Opportunity and helped manage and operate the St. Johns Farmers Market. She enjoys spending time with friends, cooking, cats, making jewelry, and meeting new people.

Community and Organization:

Wy’East Resource Conservation and Development is a 503(c)3 non-profit based in The Dalles, OR right off of the Columbia River. The origin of the term Wy’East comes from past and present Indigenous groups in the area that were referring to Mount Hood, which is only about 45 miles away from The Dalles. Wy’East RC&D aims to help small rural business owners and farmers by offering electric farm equipment for them to test free of charge, free technical assistance for grant writing applications for the USDA REAP program, and assistance in energy efficiency improvement projects ranging from irrigation to solar to HVAC upgrades.

Projects:

Jackie will primarily be assisting small business owners and individuals working in the agricultural sector to apply for the USDA’s Rural Energy for America Program (REAP) grant. Where they may receive up to half of the cost (up to $1 million) covered by the USDA to increase their energy efficiency, upgrade their existing, or implement new renewable energy equipment at their business.

She will also be a part of Wy’East’s goal to increase resiliency in Wasco County and throughout rural Oregon. By moving away from diesel, gas, and our reliance on fossil fuels we are not only benefitting the planet, we are also benefiting ourselves. The electrification in the transportation and agricultural equipment sectors allows for those in rural communities to have access to electricity even if the grid power is shut off due to a wildfire or other reasons.