2017 ANNual conference presentationS archive
The following files represent presentations provided at the 2017 NWHA Annual Conference. Where available, click on a speaker’s name to view or download a file of that speaker’s presentation.
Tuesday, Feb. 22
Welcome
Steve Padula, McMillen Jacobs Associates
President, Northwest Hydroelectric Association
KEYNOTE
Maria M. Pope, Portland General Electric Senior VP of Power Supply, Operations & Resource Strategy
Straight Talk—Where does hydro fit into the nation’s renewable energy
Moderator:
Michael Manwaring, VP, Northwest Manager, MWH Global
Panelists:
William Hazelip, VP US Business Development, National Grid USA
William Holmes, Partner, K & L Gates LLP
Tess R. Park, VP of Power Supply, Idaho Power Company
David Danner, Chair, Washington Utilities & Transportation Committee
An Operator’s View of Hydro on the GridModerator:
Scott Flake, Principal Consultant, Scott Flake Consulting
Panelists:
Tom Beene, Sr. Manager, Power Generation, Pacific Gas & Electric
Travis Keller, Manager, Power System Operations, Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Evan Sorrell, Manager, Transmission Operations, Puget Sound Energy
Kresta Davis-Butts, Balancing Operator Leader, Idaho Power Company
Strategic People Management: Tips on Weathering the Silver TsunamiModerator:
Annie Kilburg, Facilitator, Senior Associate, Kearns & West
Panelists:
Brenna Vaughn, Managing Director, Hydro Research Foundation
Pat McCarty, Generation Manager, Tacoma Power
Lena Kostopulos, Chief Human Resources Director, Eugene Water & Electric Board
Mark Andersen, State Water Project Deputy Director, CA Dept. Water Resources
Advances in New Waterpower TechnologiesModerator:
Cherise Gaffney, Partner, Stoel Rives LLP
Panelists:
Justin Klure, Pacific Energy Ventures
Eric Thompson, Natel Energy
Benjamin Maurer, Senior Engineer, Applied Physics Laboratory
Dr. Andrea Copping, Sr. Research Scientist, Pacific NW National Laboratory
Wednesday, Feb. 23KeynoteSteve Wright, General Manager, Chelan PUD
Security – Real Threats and Hydro’s ResponseModerator:
Michele Drake, Hydro Compliance Supervisor, Avista
Panelists:
FERC’s Role in Security Regulation
Edward Perez, Consultant, Ed Perez Engineering
Electronic Security
John Yale, Hydro Plant Engineering Manager, Chelan County PUD
Development of Public Information: Safety and Security
Meg Richardson, Mgr., Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness, Pacific Gas & Electric
Automated Controls and Cyber Security
Dave Brown, Security, Hydroelectric Design Center, US Army Corps of Engineers
New Hydro Development Now and in the FutureModerator:
John Gangemi, Director, Hydro Licensing, ERM
Panelists:
Erik Steimle, VP, Project Development, Rye Development
Lizzie Rubado, Program Strategies Mgr., Renewable Energy, Energy Trust of Oregon
Joshua Adrian, Shareholder, Attorney, Duncan, Weinberg, et al
Paul Kariya, Executive Director, Clean Energy Association of British Columbia
A Climate Change in Asset ManagementModerator:
Mark Jones, Vice President, HDR Inc.
Panelists:
Bill Leady, Asset Investment Policy Advisor, Bonneville Power Administration
Steven R. Miles, Director, Hydroelectric Design Center, US Army Corps of Engineers
David Zayas, Director, Regulatory Affairs & Technical Services, National Hydropower Association
Janel Ulrich, Operation Asset Program Manager, Chelan PUD
Compliance: Hot Topics, Big Challenges, Creative SolutionsModerator:
Jon Jourdonnais, Leader, Hydropower License Compliance, NorthWestern Energy
Panelists:
Who agreed to this downstream fish passage standard?
Tim Shibahara, Supervisor, Fish Biologist, Portland General Electric
License Implementation: Navigating the maze of federal, state and local permitting
Briana Weatherly, Manager, Environmental Compliance, PacifiCorp
Complying with Historic Preservation License Requirements: New Uses for Old Buildings
Rebecca Ossa, Historic Resource Specialist, Seattle City Light
Snake River Stewardship Program and Water Quality Compliance
Ralph Myers, Environmental Supervisor, Idaho Power Company
Thursday, Feb. 24Legal and Policy Impacts of a New AdministrationModerator:
Barbara Craig, Partner, Stoel Rives LLP
Panelists:
Timothy Welch, Hydropower Program Manager, US Department of Energy
Michael Tehan, Assistant Regional Administrator, Interior Columbia Basin Office, NOAA Fisheries, West Coast
Jeff Leahey, Deputy Executive Director, National Hydropower Association
Jason Morgan, Partner, Stoel Rives LLP
“Fishy Business” – Timely Investigations in the NorthwestModerator:
John Esler, Licensing Project Manager, Portland General Electric
Panelists:
Methylated Mercury in the Food Chain – How reservoirs can concentrate this toxin
David Krabbenhoft, Sr. Research Scientist, US Geological Survey
Putting the Pieces Together: Idaho Power’s White Sturgeon Program on the Snake River
Ken Lepla, Senior Biologist, Idaho Power Company
Battle for the Ages – Managing Multiple ESA Protected Fish Species on the Deschutes River
Megan Hill, Fisheries/Water Quality Manager, Portland General Electric
Shattering Long-held Beliefs of How Rivers Function – Myths of Hydrology that Effect Dam Owners
Gordon Grant, Research Hydrologist, NW Research Station, US Forest Service
Pumped Storage WorkshopPolicy and Markets
Moderator:
Scott Flake, Principal Consultant, Scott Flake Consulting
Hydropower Vision Report – Pumped Storage
DOE Small Pumped Storage Grant Program
Timothy Welch, Hydropower Program Manager, U.S. Department of Energy
Pumped Storage in the Northwest
Part 2
Gillian Charles, Energy Policy Analyst, Northwest Power & Conservation Council
Pumped Storage in California – Effect of the Marketplace
Mark Andersen, Assistant Deputy Director, State Water Project, California Department of Water Resources
National Updates Affecting Pumped Storage
Jeff Leahey, Deputy Executive Director, National Hydropower Association
Project Updates
Moderator: Debbie Mursch, Director of Markets, Strategy & Development, General Electric
Swan Lake Pumped Storage Project
Erik Steimle, V.P., Project Development, Rye Development
John Day Pool Pumped Storage Project
Brian Skeahan, J D Pool Project Coordinator, Skeahan Advisory LLC
Nate Sandvig, Director, Business Development, National Grid
Banks Lake Pumped Storage Project
Tim Culbertson, Secretary-Manager, Columbia Basin Hydropower
Gordon Butte Pumped Storage Project
Carl Borquist, President & CEO, Absaroka Energy LLC
Tuesday, Feb. 22
Welcome
Steve Padula, McMillen Jacobs Associates
President, Northwest Hydroelectric Association
KEYNOTE
Maria M. Pope, Portland General Electric Senior VP of Power Supply, Operations & Resource Strategy
Straight Talk—Where does hydro fit into the nation’s renewable energy
Moderator:
Michael Manwaring, VP, Northwest Manager, MWH Global
Panelists:
William Hazelip, VP US Business Development, National Grid USA
William Holmes, Partner, K & L Gates LLP
Tess R. Park, VP of Power Supply, Idaho Power Company
David Danner, Chair, Washington Utilities & Transportation Committee
An Operator’s View of Hydro on the GridModerator:
Scott Flake, Principal Consultant, Scott Flake Consulting
Panelists:
Tom Beene, Sr. Manager, Power Generation, Pacific Gas & Electric
Travis Keller, Manager, Power System Operations, Sacramento Municipal Utility District
Evan Sorrell, Manager, Transmission Operations, Puget Sound Energy
Kresta Davis-Butts, Balancing Operator Leader, Idaho Power Company
Strategic People Management: Tips on Weathering the Silver TsunamiModerator:
Annie Kilburg, Facilitator, Senior Associate, Kearns & West
Panelists:
Brenna Vaughn, Managing Director, Hydro Research Foundation
Pat McCarty, Generation Manager, Tacoma Power
Lena Kostopulos, Chief Human Resources Director, Eugene Water & Electric Board
Mark Andersen, State Water Project Deputy Director, CA Dept. Water Resources
Advances in New Waterpower TechnologiesModerator:
Cherise Gaffney, Partner, Stoel Rives LLP
Panelists:
Justin Klure, Pacific Energy Ventures
Eric Thompson, Natel Energy
Benjamin Maurer, Senior Engineer, Applied Physics Laboratory
Dr. Andrea Copping, Sr. Research Scientist, Pacific NW National Laboratory
Wednesday, Feb. 23KeynoteSteve Wright, General Manager, Chelan PUD
Security – Real Threats and Hydro’s ResponseModerator:
Michele Drake, Hydro Compliance Supervisor, Avista
Panelists:
FERC’s Role in Security Regulation
Edward Perez, Consultant, Ed Perez Engineering
Electronic Security
John Yale, Hydro Plant Engineering Manager, Chelan County PUD
Development of Public Information: Safety and Security
Meg Richardson, Mgr., Public Safety & Emergency Preparedness, Pacific Gas & Electric
Automated Controls and Cyber Security
Dave Brown, Security, Hydroelectric Design Center, US Army Corps of Engineers
New Hydro Development Now and in the FutureModerator:
John Gangemi, Director, Hydro Licensing, ERM
Panelists:
Erik Steimle, VP, Project Development, Rye Development
Lizzie Rubado, Program Strategies Mgr., Renewable Energy, Energy Trust of Oregon
Joshua Adrian, Shareholder, Attorney, Duncan, Weinberg, et al
Paul Kariya, Executive Director, Clean Energy Association of British Columbia
A Climate Change in Asset ManagementModerator:
Mark Jones, Vice President, HDR Inc.
Panelists:
Bill Leady, Asset Investment Policy Advisor, Bonneville Power Administration
Steven R. Miles, Director, Hydroelectric Design Center, US Army Corps of Engineers
David Zayas, Director, Regulatory Affairs & Technical Services, National Hydropower Association
Janel Ulrich, Operation Asset Program Manager, Chelan PUD
Compliance: Hot Topics, Big Challenges, Creative SolutionsModerator:
Jon Jourdonnais, Leader, Hydropower License Compliance, NorthWestern Energy
Panelists:
Who agreed to this downstream fish passage standard?
Tim Shibahara, Supervisor, Fish Biologist, Portland General Electric
License Implementation: Navigating the maze of federal, state and local permitting
Briana Weatherly, Manager, Environmental Compliance, PacifiCorp
Complying with Historic Preservation License Requirements: New Uses for Old Buildings
Rebecca Ossa, Historic Resource Specialist, Seattle City Light
Snake River Stewardship Program and Water Quality Compliance
Ralph Myers, Environmental Supervisor, Idaho Power Company
Thursday, Feb. 24Legal and Policy Impacts of a New AdministrationModerator:
Barbara Craig, Partner, Stoel Rives LLP
Panelists:
Timothy Welch, Hydropower Program Manager, US Department of Energy
Michael Tehan, Assistant Regional Administrator, Interior Columbia Basin Office, NOAA Fisheries, West Coast
Jeff Leahey, Deputy Executive Director, National Hydropower Association
Jason Morgan, Partner, Stoel Rives LLP
“Fishy Business” – Timely Investigations in the NorthwestModerator:
John Esler, Licensing Project Manager, Portland General Electric
Panelists:
Methylated Mercury in the Food Chain – How reservoirs can concentrate this toxin
David Krabbenhoft, Sr. Research Scientist, US Geological Survey
Putting the Pieces Together: Idaho Power’s White Sturgeon Program on the Snake River
Ken Lepla, Senior Biologist, Idaho Power Company
Battle for the Ages – Managing Multiple ESA Protected Fish Species on the Deschutes River
Megan Hill, Fisheries/Water Quality Manager, Portland General Electric
Shattering Long-held Beliefs of How Rivers Function – Myths of Hydrology that Effect Dam Owners
Gordon Grant, Research Hydrologist, NW Research Station, US Forest Service
Pumped Storage WorkshopPolicy and Markets
Moderator:
Scott Flake, Principal Consultant, Scott Flake Consulting
Hydropower Vision Report – Pumped Storage
DOE Small Pumped Storage Grant Program
Timothy Welch, Hydropower Program Manager, U.S. Department of Energy
Pumped Storage in the Northwest
Part 2
Gillian Charles, Energy Policy Analyst, Northwest Power & Conservation Council
Pumped Storage in California – Effect of the Marketplace
Mark Andersen, Assistant Deputy Director, State Water Project, California Department of Water Resources
National Updates Affecting Pumped Storage
Jeff Leahey, Deputy Executive Director, National Hydropower Association
Project Updates
Moderator: Debbie Mursch, Director of Markets, Strategy & Development, General Electric
Swan Lake Pumped Storage Project
Erik Steimle, V.P., Project Development, Rye Development
John Day Pool Pumped Storage Project
Brian Skeahan, J D Pool Project Coordinator, Skeahan Advisory LLC
Nate Sandvig, Director, Business Development, National Grid
Banks Lake Pumped Storage Project
Tim Culbertson, Secretary-Manager, Columbia Basin Hydropower
Gordon Butte Pumped Storage Project
Carl Borquist, President & CEO, Absaroka Energy LLC