ESG in Hydropower: Emerging Ideas, Opportunities and Notes of Caution

​This panel will provide an overview of ESG (“environmental, social, governance”) factors of business strategy and operations) and its importance for a sustainable organization and the related concepts of equity and greenwashing.  Panelists will discuss the regulatory and voluntary drivers for ESG and how they relate to promoting hydropower as part of the clean energy future.  Additionally, panelists will share ideas for gathering the data needed to support these efforts, public communications on these issues and how these ideas affect internal operations as well as broader societal interests.   
 
Who Should Attend:  Environmental Managers, Communications Specialists, Marketing Managers, Senior Risk Managers, Attorneys, Consultants
 
Why You Should Attend:  This is an area that is evolving quickly and this session will help attendees understand the components of ESG and the different drivers for implementation.  The panel will also explain how ESG relates to equity, environmental compliance and greenwashing.

Michelle McGinty, moderator
Senior Manager, Program outreach
Center for Resource Solutions, green-e
About Michelle: 
Michelle McGinty works for the nonprofit Center for Resource Solutions as Program Outreach Senior Manager, working to get the word out about the benefits of Green-e® certification for voluntary renewable electricity, carbon offsets and biomethane as well as other program initiatives at CRS. She initially developed an interest in Corporate Social Responsibility while studying at U.C. Berkeley, where she graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration. Michelle was later exposed to renewable energy while working at Sungevity, a national residential solar provider, and continues to enjoy helping organizations reduce their climate impact.

speakers

James McDougall
ESG Program Manager, Avista Corporation
About James: James McDougall is the ESG Program Manager for Avista Corporation. In this role, he is responsible for developing and executing a range of strategies and solutions to respond to the complex and evolving policy, regulatory, and business risks and opportunities associated with Environmental, Social and Governance disclosure requirements and stakeholder expectations, with emphasis on the investor and capital market community expectations. As a senior advisor to the Company's Board of Directors and Senior Leadership team, McDougall ensures that the Company’s Corporate Responsibility Program articulates an ESG strategy that supports Avista’s vision, mission and values.

Andrea Wortzel, Moderator
​Partner/Practice group leader, Troutman Pepper hamilton sanders LLP, NWHA general counsel
About Andrea: Andrea Wortzel’s practice focuses on natural resource-related compliance, including addressing issues such as water quality, endangered species, National Environmental Policy Act reviews, environmental justice and water rights. She works closely with hydropower projects as they navigate through ESA consultation, NEPA analyses, and obtaining Clean Water Action Section 401 certifications. Additionally, she has worked with hydropower clients on environmental justice studies, and with strategies for developing ESG programs. She serves as General Counsel to the Northwest Hydroelectric Association.

Monica Wright
Principal Air and Sustainability COnsultant, Tetra Tech
About Monica: Monica specializes in optimizing solutions to address environmental social and governance (ESG) challenges and inform strategic planning and implementation. Dr. Wright has technical expertise developing environmental solutions and air strategy including monitoring, inventory preparation, modeling, permitting and analysis tools to calculate, monitor and report progress. Monica has supported public sector clients including state agencies, municipalities and community-based organizations as well as commercial clients in technology, manufacturing, energy infrastructure, and telecommunications industries. Outside of consulting, Monica is the secretary of the board for the Northwest Xcelerator a non-profit climate tech accelerator tailored for entrepreneurs from Black and underserved communities to facilitate socio-economic growth and development of healthy, safe, and sustainable communities for all.

Northwest Hydroelectric Association
providing a regional forum for the hydropower industry

P.O. Box 441 Lake Oswego, OR 97034
Phone: 503-502-7262    Fax: 503-253-9172  Email: info@nwhydro.org