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2026 NWHA Annual Conference

Join us for NWHA’s 45th Annual Conference

Tuesday, February 24, 2026 at 8:00 AM (PST) to Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 4:00 PM (PST)

Event Details

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

Thank you to our
PLATINUM SPONSOR

 


Thank you to our
SILVER SPONSORS

 



View the Agenda

See who is Speaking

Who Should Attend

Whether you’re working in operations, engineering, environmental compliance, licensing, policy, finance, or project development — this conference is for you. Attendees typically include:

  • Hydropower project owners and operators

  • Engineers, O&M and asset managers

  • Regulators, permitting experts, environmental leads

  • Consultants and technology vendors

  • Utility staff and power system planners

  • Researchers, nonprofit organizations, and governmental agencies

If you're looking to stay at the forefront of hydropower innovation, regulatory developments, and industry best practices — and to build relationships across the sector — this is your venue.

Why You Should Attend

  • Stay current on evolving federal and state hydropower policies

  • Learn actionable strategies for operations, reliability, modernization, and compliance

  • Explore innovative solutions and emerging technologies

  • Build your network across utilities, agencies, vendors, and academia

  • Open doors for recruitment, partnerships, and new business

We look forward to welcoming you to our 45th Annual Conference — where experience meets innovation, knowledge is shared, and industry relationships are forged.

For Registration Help

Chivan- info@nwhydro.org or call 503-290-3024