HECATE ENERGY

For more than a decade, this region has been navigating a path of economic diversification and growth, leveraging its educational institutions and natural resources to build a resilient future. And energy remains a key resource challenge for the region – as well as an opportunity for the local community to modernize its economy as part of the transition to a cleaner economy.

In 2020, Hecate Energy, a leader in renewable energy and storage development, proposed a new solar and battery facility that required careful integration with existing farming and ranching operations. The plan included installing 150 to 300 megawatts (MW) of solar photovoltaic generation and up to 1,100 MW of battery storage on approximately 2,733 acres.

Working in close partnership with Hecate’s engineering and planning teams, Hubbell led a multi-year community engagement campaign that helped secure support from community leaders on several phases of this solar project. This included supporting regulatory oversight and review, public information phases, and helping broker land-use agreements and permitting requirements.

Our team provided on-the-ground staffing and public affairs support during the years-long planning and design process for Hecate Energy’s proposed Bonanza project outside Klamath Falls, Oregon.

The Hubbell team designed an integrated approach to building community support – including facilitating open houses, public hearing mobilization, and building local partnerships with community groups and civic organizations.

Given the region’s lack of traditional media outlets, our team placed a heavy emphasis on digital and social media outreach to increase awareness of the project. This required a digital advocacy strategy to address local concerns – and combat misinformation by outside opposition groups.

By 2023, Hubbell had counseled the project team through a new public engagement process – and ultimately supported the transition of the project to a new investor. Our team’s work over these initial years of planning helped establishing communications channels with community leaders and built a network of supporters that enabled.