Energy conference coming to town Kalispell

 Several of Montana’s leading energy experts will headline the Northwest Clean & Affordable Energy Conference on Friday, May 18, at the Red Lion Hotel Kalispell.

The Northwest Energy Coalition, one of the region’s foremost clean energy policy advocacy associations for the past three decades, holds its semiannual conference in Montana every other year.

The conference will focus on state energy issues such the future for in-state coal mining and how effective renewable energy standards are in Montana and other Northwest state.

Bonneville Power Administration Deputy Administrator Bill Drummond kicks off the conference with a keynote address at 9 a.m. Others providing regional perspectives include Renewable Northwest Project Director Rachel Shimshak, Climate Solutions Policy Director KC Golden and PacifiCorp Vice President for Governmental Affairs Scott Bolton.

Also participating in discussions will be Diane Yarus of AirWorks Heating and Cooling Solutions in Kalispell; Gaelectric Vice President Van Jamison of Helena; Montana Public Service Commission Chairman Travis Kavulla; David Bopp of Flathead Electric Cooperative; Ralph Goode of Mission Valley Power; University of Montana energy economist Thomas Power; Mayre Flowers of Citizens for a Better Flathead; Anne Hedges of the Montana Environmental Information Center; Jim Morton of Human Resources Council District XI in Missoula and Shiloh Hernandez from Western Environmental Law Center’s Helena office.

Activities conclude with a 5 p.m. reception sponsored by NorthWestern Energy that is open to the public at no charge. It will feature Vice President and General Counsel Heather Grahame.

Those staying for Saturday sessions may join a private tour of Algae AquaCulture Technology’s “Green Power House.”  

Registration of $70 for Friday or $100 for both days covers all sessions, including breakfasts and luncheons. For the full agenda and to register online visit www.nwenergy.org/conference. Scholarships are available; call Coalition outreach director Cy Berryman at (206) 621-0094.