Hood River City Councilors and County Commissioners received a briefing on the efforts of the County’s Energy Council as it looks to reduce use of carbon sources of power and develop local energy resilience and independence.  Energy Council member Alexia Kelly told the group there is an on-going “sea change” in energy technology and costs.  She said solar and wind are now the lowest cost resources on the power grid, so investor-owned utilities and others are now making significant procurement of those options.  Marla Harvey of the Mid-Columbia Economic Development District said they are currently trying to understand the financial impacts of power outages on businesses.  And Jeni Hall of Energy Trust of Oregon discussed studies into a solar and storage project in the Hood River Valley.