Formed in 2005, Farmers Conservation Alliance is a nonprofit organization initially created to market the Farmers Screen™ technology. The Farmers Screen is an innovative fish technology that is licensed to Farmers Conservation Alliance by the Farmers Irrigation District of Hood River, Oregon, with a condition to take the screen to market, address institutional barriers and invest profits into other solutions that benefit both the environment and agriculture. While implementing this vision, Farmers Conservation Alliance has spent the last decade working with individual farmers, irrigation districts, agencies, tribes, nonprofits and foundations to form collaborative relationships that support modern irrigation systems. Expanding on the knowledge gained and an extensive network of partners, Farmers Conservation Alliance is building teams and broad alliances to help accelerate the great work of irrigation districts, agencies and organizations.
Energy Trust of Oregon is proud to be a key funder and strategic collaborator on the Irrigation Modernization program. Energy Trust’s support for Farmers Conservation Alliance reflects the opportunity we see with irrigation districts to generate clean, renewable energy from small-scale hydropower projects, promote on-farm energy efficiency improvements to the farmers they serve, and achieve many other important benefits. Energy Trust is an independent nonprofit organization dedicated to helping utility customers benefit from saving energy and generating renewable power. Our services, cash incentives and solutions have helped participating customers of Portland General Electric, Pacific Power, NW Natural and Cascade Natural Gas save nearly $1.9 billion on their energy bills since 2002.