Diane Barr

Diane Barr is a FERC permitting and regulatory specialist with over 25 years of experience in Federal, State, and local approvals for hydroelectric projects. She has established trusting relationships with upper level management at several agencies that support critical decisions. The foundation of her hydroelectric career is from a dam owners’ perspective, resulting in over 15 years as a FERC Regulatory Compliance Manager for regulated and unregulated utilities; in this position, she was responsible for all regulatory requirements and stakeholder engagement. This foundation has often placed her in the role of an owner’s representative in regulatory processes, as her strategic position is based on thinking like an asset owner. She has navigated teams through the FERC relicensing and surrender processes, NEPA, ESA, HCPs, Section 106, Settlement Agreement development and implementation, and compliance management. She is the owner of Camas, LLC and is supported by many skilled staff. In recent years, Diane has become increasingly recognized for her expertise in the decommissioning space, where she has helped dam owners determine if decommissioning is the appropriate pathway, and if so, led efforts to streamline processes, reduce unnecessary costs, and avoid burdensome regulatory hurdles. Her clients continue to rely on her deep regulatory knowledge and facilitation skills to navigate complex challenges and develop practical, balanced solutions in the hydro electric field. She has resided on the NWHA Board for over 12 years through out her career.