Oregon Clean Grid Summit

2024 Agenda & Panelist Bios

• 8:30 – 9:15 a.m.  –  Breakfast and Registration          
• 9:15 – 9:45 a.m.  –  Welcome & Keynote       
  • Nicole Hughes, Renewable NW
  • Nora Apter, Oregon Environmental Council
• 9:45 – 10:05 a.m.  –  OCGC Welcoming Keynote Panel Discussion          
• 10:05 – 10:15 a.m.  –  Break          
• 10:15 – 11:00 a.m.  –  Panel 1: Transmission, The Pacing Item
  • How can we build out the infrastructure needed to keep Oregon on track to meeting clean energy mandates and growing our state’s economy?
    • Moderator: Nicole Hughes (RNW)
    • Panelists: JD Podlesnik (PGE), Janine Benner (ODOE), Megan Decker (OPUC), Crystal Ball (PNUCC)
• 11:00 – 11:10 a.m.  –  Break 
• 11:10 – 11:55 a.m.  –  Panel 2: Regional Market Evolution
  • How do various market configurations playing out affect Oregon’s electricity grid and where are we now?
    • Moderator: Kavya Niranjan (RNW)
    • Panelists: Mike Wilding (PAC), Ben Otto (NWEC), Allie Mace (BPA), Conner Reiten (PNGC Power), Mary Weincke (PGP)
• 11:55 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.  –  Lunch 
• 1:00 – 1:45 p.m.  –  Panel 3: Building an Equitable Regional Grid
  • How can Oregon set the standards for an equitable regional grid and work with our neighbors to ensure those benefits are seen region-wide?
    • Moderator: Kate French (BGA)
    • Panelists: Bob Jenks (CUB), Anahi Segovia Rodriguez (Verde), Donald Williams (From the Light Consulting/ATNI)
• 1:45 – 2:00 p.m.  –  Break (Transition to Breakout Rooms) 
• 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.  –  Breakout Session 1 (breakout rooms listed onsite)
  • Siting
  • Energy Strategy
  • Regulatory Perspective
  • Climate Goals and Emissions Accounting
• 3:00 – 3:10 p.m.  –  Break (Switch of Breakout Rooms)
• 3:10 – 4:10 p.m.  –  Breakout Session 2 (breakout rooms listed onsite)
  • Siting
  • Energy Strategy
  • Regulatory Perspective
  • Climate Goals and Emissions Accounting
• 4:10 – 4:20 p.m.  –  Break (Transition to Panel) 
• 4:20 – 5:00 p.m.  –  Panel 4: Insights from Today
• 5:00 – 5:15 p.m.  –  Concluding Remarks 
• 5:15 – 6:30 p.m.  –  Happy Hour
  

2024 Panelist Bios

Panel 1

• NicoleNicole Hughes (Renewable NW)
  Nicole Hughes joined as executive director of Renewable Northwest (RNW)  in 2018. She has over 20 years of experience in the renewable energy industry; including work in project development, construction, finance, permitting and policy for utility-scale wind and solar. Previously, she worked at AWS Truepower, HDR, Element Power, RES Americas, Tetra Tech, and The Bonneville Power Administration. Through her diverse background in the industry, Nicole has learned the importance of relationship and coalition building among diverse stakeholders to move the region towards a clean energy future. Nicole has served in a variety of board and volunteer positions working on issues related to support for individuals with disabilities, environmental conservation and energy issues. She currently serves on the board of the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies. Nicole lives in Portland, OR with her husband and two kids and spends most of her free time recreating in the mountains of the Pacific Northwest.
• JD Podlesnik (PGE)
  JD Podlesnik is the Senior Director of Transmission Delivery at Portland General Electric (PGE). He joined PGE in 2018 and has more than 20 years of energy industry experience. Podlesnik oversees transmission delivery and is responsible for development of transmission projects, the capital transmission portfolio, project coordination with regional entities including Bonneville Power Administration, and ensuring projects are delivered to enable customer growth, system reliability, and connect to new sources of renewable energy.
• Janine Benner (ODOE)
  Janine joined ODOE in February 2017 as our Assistant Director for Planning and Innovation, and was confirmed as director in February 2018. As director, she provides leadership and policy direction to the department’s 120​+ employees and oversees a $200+ million budget​.Janine came to ODOE from the U.S. Department of Energy, where she served as Associate Assistant Secretary in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, the largest government funder of clean energy research and development. Before that, she served as Deputy Assistant Secretary in USDOE’s Office of Congressional and Intergovernmental Affairs. Janine also spent 12 years working for Congressman Earl Blumenauer (D-OR), first as an energy and environmental policy advisor and then as deputy chief of staff. She grew up in Portland, Oregon, and has a degree in history from Princeton University​.
• Megan Decker (OPUC)
  Megan Decker was appointed to the Oregon Public Utility Commission by Governor Kate Brown in April 2017 and was promoted to Commission Chair in May 2018.Chair Decker has led the PUC through a period of major change. From a strengthened financial and organizational position, the agency has both shaped and responded to the evolving policy and industry environment facing its regulated utilities. Beginning with the PUC’s landmark SB 978 process, Chair Decker has presided over evolution of the PUC’s role in climate change policy, equity and energy burden, load flexibility and distributed resources, and wildfire risk mitigation.In her regional and national leadership, Chair Decker focuses on increasing regional cooperation within the Western electricity grid to benefit Oregon utility customers. In 2019, Chair Decker was elected Co-Chair of the Committee on Regional Electric Power Cooperation (CREPC), where she promotes impactful conversations among Western leaders. Chair Decker has also represented Oregon as a member of the Committee of State Representatives (COSR) for the Western Resource Adequacy Program (WRAP), the Western Interconnection Regional Advisory Body (WIRAB), and the Enrolled Parties and States Committee (EPSC) of NorthernGrid, a regional transmission planning organization.Prior to her appointment, Chair Decker was an Assistant General Counsel with the Port of Portland. She developed expertise in energy policy and regulation as Chief Counsel for Renewable Northwest, where she managed utility commission advocacy in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana and served as Board Chair of the NW Energy Coalition. Chair Decker’s legal experience also includes private practice in land use and a clerkship with the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit.Chair Decker earned her law degree from the University of Washington, where she graduated with high honors. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Stanford University, where she graduated Phi Beta Kappa, earned honors in Latin American Studies, and received the Firestone Medal for Excellence in Research.
• Crystal Ball (PNUCC)
  Crystal Ball is the Executive Director of the Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference Committee (PNUCC). In her role she helps PNUCC members look for opportunities to increase awareness about the state of the Pacific Northwest power system and provides a regular forum where industry leaders examine issues, share perspectives and collaborate on regional solutions. Crystal is an experienced electric utility professional who is focused on developing sustainable strategies for managing change and delivering strong leadership through collaborative partnerships. Her experience includes advising executives on state and federal energy and environmental policies and overseeing the implementation of the Pacific Northwest region’s most comprehensive fish and wildlife mitigation program. Prior to working at PNUCC, Crystal worked for the Bonneville Power Administration for 25 years. She has a sophisticated understanding of the power industry and a strong reputation as a strategic thinker and competent communicator.

Panel 2

• Kavya Niranjan (RNW)
  Kavya Niranjan joined Renewable Northwest in February 2024 and serves as the organization’s Markets & Transmission Policy Manager. She supports policy activities and engagements with key stakeholders on the development of energy markets, transmission, and storage across the Western US. Kavya holds a Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Sciences from UC Berkeley, and an MBA from the University of Washington’s Foster School of Business.
• Mike Wilding (PAC)
  As Vice President, Energy Supply Management, Mike Wilding has been employed by PacifiCorp since 2014 and is currently responsible for directing PacifiCorp’s front office organization in commercial and trading activities. Energy Supply Management is responsible for commercially managing PacifiCorp’s diverse generation portfolio. This includes the electric and natural gas hedging, term and day-ahead trading, real-time trading and system balancing. Mr. Wilding also oversees the company’s regulatory net power cost filings.
• Ben Otto (NWEC)
  Ben Otto is an independent consultant helping public interest groups engage in the clean energy transition. Based in Boise, Idaho, he spent a decade representing a local non-profit in utility planning forums and regulatory proceedings. Along with energy work, Ben has served on the Board of Directors of the NW Energy Coalition, Renewable Northwest, the Idaho Clean Energy Association, and the NW Energy Efficiency Alliance. Currently, Ben works under contract to the NW Energy Coalition focused on western electricity market development. He is a member of the Pathways Initiative committees and workgroups.  Ben holds a law degree from Lewis and Clark Law, a Master of Studies from Vermont Law, and a BA in Outdoor Education from Prescott College where he developed his true passion for exploring the wilds of the west.
• Allie Mace (BPA)
  Allie Mace is the manager of Market Policy and Analysis at Bonneville Power Administration. Allie joined Bonneville in 2011 and has held a number of roles throughout the organization in energy efficiency, grid modernization and bulk marketing. Allie is a graduate of Williams College and the Yale School of Management.
• Conner Reiten (PNGC Power)
  Connor Reiten serves as the Vice President of Government Affairs for PNGC Power, a Generation and Transmission (G&T) utility serving 18 cooperative members across the Pacific Northwest. In addition to leading PNGCs advocacy and external affairs functions, Connor sits on the Launch Committee for the Pathways Initiative and leads PNGCs efforts to support regional RTO integration. He spends much of his personal time with his wife and two daughters at their home in Salem, Oregon.
• Mary Weincke (PGP)
  Mary Wiencke is the Executive Director of Public Generating Pool. Mary joined PGP in 2022. Prior to joining PGP, Mary was the Vice President of Market, Regulation, and Transmission Policy for PacifiCorp where she developed and provided strategic direction on PacifiCorp’s environmental, transmission and market policies. Ms. Wiencke held various roles at PacifiCorp including Senior Attorney and Director, Environmental Policy at PacifiCorp. Ms. Wiencke is a graduate of Barnard College and Lewis & Clark Law School.

Panel 3

• Kate French (BGA)
  Kate French is the Deputy Director for State Transmission Policy with BlueGreen Alliance. As a lifelong Westerner, she has focused her work on creating a more resilient future for the area’s diverse communities and landscapes. She spent 9 years as a board member and then as a researcher for the Northern Plains Resource Council, a rural Montana grassroots organization. During this time, she forged new partnerships between environmentalists, ranchers, power plant workers, and unions to successfully advocate for comprehensive closure of the coal ash pond complex in Colstrip, MT.She then spent 3 years as a regional organizer with the Western Organization of Resources Councils to advance Just Transition and clean energy policies at the national level. Her research and reports on the economic impacts and job creation potential of complete coal ash pond closure and coal mine remediation have been widely cited and utilized by coalfield communities around the country.Her other work on rural community resilience –local policymaking, community agricultural practices, and rural electric cooperatives –has allowed her to partner and work alongside many diverse stakeholders all across the West. Kate earned her BA from the University of Colorado and her Masters of Public Administration from Montana State University. She is based in Livingston, Montana.
• Donald Williams (From the Light Consulting/ATNI)
  Donald Williams is an enrolled Umatilla Tribal Member, and Principal Consultant/CEO of From the Light Consulting, a Tribal member owned energy consulting firm. Mr. Williams has been working in the energy sector for 10 years. During this time, he has gained valuable experience ranging from technical grant writing, project management, development, and consultation to tribal, state, federal agencies and NGO’s. Donald is an advocate of renewable energy policy and Tribal Energy sovereignty in the Pacific Northwest Tribal communities. Donald has also performed as an Energy Advisor, Trade Ally manager, and Tribal Liaison with Energy Trust of Oregon, where he developed the Tribal strategic communication plan with Energy Trust of Oregon, worked with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, he is currently working to provide energy services and consultation to both Tribal and rural communities with From the Light Consulting.
• Anahi Segovia Rodriguez (Verde)
  Anahi Segovia Rodriguez is the Energy Justice Coordinator. She is handling all of Verde’s Energy work and is excited to see what new possibilities arise as she starts her Energy Policy journey, though she is most excited to empower communities to speak on issues and advocate for issues within their neighborhoods.  In May 2020, Anahi graduated from Portland State University with a Bachelor’s in Political Science and a minor in Civic Leadership. She comes from a strong campaign and legislative work background, starting her career with Congressmen Blumenauer’s office to previously working as in the State Legislature. Anahi grew up in SE Portland, where she currently still resides. In her free time, she enjoys gaming with her friends online, traveling, and listening to Crime Junkies.

Additional Details: About the Oregon Clean Grid Collaborative

Thank you to Amazon Web Services and Google for sponsoring the 1st Annual Oregon Clean Grid Summit.