Email: sara.millies-lucke@energy.oregon.gov
Title: Rural Resilience Analyst
Organization: Oregon Department of Energy
Community: Cave Junction
Population: 2,071
County Served: Josephine County, and the entire State of Oregon

Meet Sara Millies-Lucke (she/her):

Sara grew up on a farm in rural Michigan where she was privileged to grow a deep appreciation of the environment and understand the challenges and beauty of rural areas. After graduating from Michigan State University in December 2020 with a major in Comparative Cultures and Politics with a concentration in environmental justice and renewable energy as well as a minor in environmental studies and sustainability, she has continued to work on renewable energy through her work as board member at Taras Meadow on Beaver Island and her previous positions as Energy analyst at ICF and Key Account Manager at Dynapower. She excited to continue her work on energy now through the lens of public policy and governance and connect back to her passion and focus on rural areas and environmental justice communities.

Community and Organization:

As a RARE member, Sara is excited to be working with the Oregon Department of Energy (ODOE) through the Community Navigator program. She will serve as a Rural Resilience Analyst on several state and federal initiatives to increase rural participation while also increasing ODOE’s understanding of how ODOE’s programs can better serve rural communities. As part of the program, Sara is hosted by Illinois Valley Community Development Organization (IVCDO) in Cave Junction in southern Oregon, to experience firsthand rural communities in Oregon. You can also find her traveling around the state to attend in-person meetings and connect with different rural communities and organizations across the state.

Projects:

As Rural Resilience Analyst, Sara is working on several initiatives with the State of Oregon, including Solar For All, Grid Resiliency and Community Renewable Energy Program Analysis (C-REP) as well as outreach campaigns to better understand the states energy needs and connect organizations to grant funding opportunities. Her work will center on cataloging energy needs across the state, as well as creating a foundation to build positive lasting relationships with rural community organizations, public officials, Consumer-owned utilities and Tribal members. Although focused on the three main projects, Solar for All, Grid Resilience and Community Renewable Energy Program, her work will help lay the foundations for a more prosperous and holistic approach to serving rural communities in Oregon.