2026 NWHA Annual Conference

Join us for the 45th Annual NWHA Conference, the premier gathering for hydropower professionals across the Northwest and beyond. This year’s conference brings together utilities, regulators, consultants, technology providers, project developers, and nonprofit and agency partners for three days of cutting‑edge technical content, policy discussion, peer exchange, and networking that shapes the future of clean energy.What You’ll Experience

Over three days you’ll choose from parallel tracks, co‑located workshops, panels, deep dives, and case studies. Key themes include:

• Regulatory & policy outlooks (federal, state, and regional scale)

• Environmental compliance & mitigation strategies

• Advanced operations, condition monitoring, and digital solutions

• Dam safety, asset management, and reliability

• Finance, funding, and project development models

• Small hydro / distributed systems

• Emerging topics (e.g., energy storage integration, climate resilience, grid dynamics)

You’ll hear from seasoned industry leaders, utility executives, regulators, project developers, and technology innovators. Thought-provoking discussions will explore how we navigate today’s regulatory, financial, and technical challenges — and how hydropower can help shape the energy transition.

Networking & Highlights

One of the most valuable aspects of the NWHA Conference is the opportunity to connect with peers, collaborators, and future partners. Among the featured networking and special events:

• Networking Breaks  — enjoy coffee, informal meetups, and exhibit hall mingling to connect across the eleven networking sessions

• President’s Luncheon — a signature gathering with a keynote address, hosted by NWHA leadership, bringing together attendees across disciplines

• Premier Exhibit Hall — learn and visit with the vendors, suppliers, and manufacturers proud to support NWHA members and attendees

• Co‑located Workshops — specialized half- or full-day intensives that dive deeper into topics such as small hydro, a hydro primer course for new to hydro professionals, and special interest group meetings for owners

• Career Fair — for students, early-career professionals, and organizations recruiting talent, this is your chance to explore opportunities and meet hiring managers

• Women in Hydro and New Professionals Networking — special luncheon for Women in Hydropower as well as a networking breakfast for those new to industry

See the Speaker Line Up

View the Full Program