2024 NHA Midwest Regional Meeting

April 30th - May 2nd Des Moines, Iowa

Join NHA in Des Moines, Iowa, on April 30-May 2, 2024, for the 2024 Midwest Regional Meeting, co-hosted with the Midwest Hydro Users Group (MHUG)!  Co-located with the meeting, the U.S. Department of Energy will also be hosting the finale of its Hydropower Collegiate Competition, featuring students and faculty from more than 10 universities throughout the U.S.

Want to see who is already registered? Click  then click on “Display Roster”, located immediately below the orange “Register Here” button.


Detailed Agenda
See the Schedule
See Tour Info
Networking Golf Outing
See the event sponsors
DOE HCC

Co-Host: Midwest Hydro Users Group (MHUG)

Host Utility

Registration Rates

Standard Registration Rate: $525
NHA Member Discounted Registration Rate: $225
MHUG Member Discounted Registration Rate: $225 (contact Rory Alsberg for a code)

Sponsors should contact Ellie Rubalow for registration assistance.

NHA offers special discounted rates for:

  • Speakers
  • Federal Government employees
  • Young professionals involved in NHA’s Future Leaders of Waterpower (FLOW) group
  • Federal Government employees
  • Representatives of NGOs

Please reach out to Ellie for more information.

3 EASY STEPS TO REGISTER

STEP 1: FIND YOUR EXISTING PROFILE
Click here to search for your profile

Can’t find yourself? No problem! Click HERE to create a free profile

If you already have a profile, log in HERE.

STEP 2: LOG IN TO THE PORTAL
Log in to the Portal here

STEP 3: CLICK ON THE NHA REGIONAL MEETINGS TILE (top right)

For additional assistance, please contact Catherine Ryan.

CANCELLATION POLICY

You may transfer your registration at any time at no cost.  Cancellations received in writing by March 30 will be refunded less a $50 administrative fee.  Cancellations after this date cannot be refunded.

Meeting Location & Accommodations

The 2024 NHA Midwest Regional Meeting will take place at the Des Moines Marriott Downtown in Des Moines, Iowa.

 

 

U.S. Department of Energy Hydropower Collegiate Competition

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Water Power Technologies Office is holding the culmination of its annual Hydropower Collegiate Competition – and you’re invited to experience the competition, meet the competing teams, and celebrate the winners.

Teams of undergraduate and graduate students participating in the 2024 Hydropower Collegiate Competition will showcase their work addressing complex clean energy challenges.

By participating in this competition, co-led by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the Hydropower Foundation, students from throughout the United States are building the skills, experience, and professional relationships to help them find jobs in the water power industry.

2024 HCC teams

  • California Polytechnic State University
  • California State University, Fresno
  • Columbia University
  • Johns Hopkins University
  • Northern Arizona University
  • Texas Tech University
  • University of Michigan
  • University of North Florida
  • University of Wisconsin-Platteville

Map by Jennifer Breen Martinez, NREL

Schedule of Events

Monday, April 29

12:45 PM – 4:00 PM:  Hydropower Collegiate Competition Teams Make “Community Creations” Presentations (all attendees of the Midwest Regional Meeting are welcome to watch)

Tuesday, April 30

8:30 AM – 10:45 AM:  Hydropower Collegiate Competition Teams Make “Community Creations” Presentations (all attendees of the Midwest Regional Meeting are welcome to watch)

8:30 AM – 9:30 AM: Hands-On Session for Collegiate Competition Teams: Explore Clean Energy Activities, Energy Trading, and Hydro Pumped Storage (all attendees of the Midwest Regional Meeting are welcome to join in the fun, immersive educational activities)

8:30 AM – 11:00 AM:  Asset Owner Only Meeting (all attendees that work for asset owners/power producers are welcome to participate)

9:45 AM – 10:45 AM: Hands-On Session for Collegiate Competition Teams: Explore Clean Energy Activities, Energy Trading, and Hydro Pumped Storage (all attendees of the Midwest Regional Meeting are welcome to join in the fun, immersive educational activities)

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Student Industry Knowledge Exchange (SIKE) Lunch

12:00 PM – 4:30 PM: Tour of Red Rock Hydroelectric Project

5:00 PM – 7:00 PM: NHA / MHUG Welcome Networking Reception

Wednesday, May 1

8:00 AM – 5:00 PM: NHA / MHUG Regional Meeting (see featured topics HERE)

5:00 PM – 6:00 PM: Post Event Happy Hour

Thursday, May 2
(Two options to choose from: Dam Safety Workshop or Networking Golf Outing)

8:00 AM – 12:00 PM:   Dam Safety Comprehensive Assessments Workshop

This workshop will focus on undertaking Comprehensive Assessments under the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission’s new guidelines. Valuable new insights and learnings will be shared covering the planning process, execution, level of effort, and next steps following a comprehensive assessment, including how to leverage outputs to inform decisions and prioritize work.

Several perspectives will be shared, including those from independent consultants, federal regulators, as well as hydroelectric project owners.

8:00 AM: Golf Networking Outing at Waveland Golf Course

Thursday, May 2 – Saturday, May 4:
Tulip Time festival in Pella, Iowa (on own) 

Session Topics

  • Equipment – Modernizing and Replacing at “Old” Facilities 
  • Climate Extremes – What’s Happening in the Midwest and What Does That Mean for Hydro?
  • Clean Energy Transition – Hear from Utilities about How They Are Meeting the Mandates/Goals Set for the Future
  • Small Hydro
  • Funding (Loans and/or Grants) from the Government
  • Decision Making Insights – Deciding What to Do with Hydro Assets That No Longer Fit Your Organization’s Business Model?

Tour Information

Attendees will have the opportunity to tour the Red Rock Hydroelectric Project.

Missouri River Energy Services built the Red Rock Hydroelectric Project (RRHP), a 43-megawatt (MW) hydroelectric generating facility that was installed on the existing Red Rock Dam on the Des Moines River. The dam is about 3 miles southwest of Pella, Iowa, and is owned and operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE). It was placed into service in 1969.

Missouri River Energy Services hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for RRHP in August 2014. The project was completed six years later in October 2020, and began commercial operations in June 2021. RRHP operates as a run of release as directed by the USACE.

The tour is currently sold out. Please reach out to Ellie Rubalow at Ellie@hydro.org if you would like to be added to the waitlist.

If you need to change your RSVP for the tour, please reach out to Ellie Rubalow at Ellie@hydro.org

Transportation

A bus will be provided. Attendees should meet in the lobby of the hotel.

Security

Please bring a government-issued photo identification

Dress Code

Close-toed shoes are required and work boots are highly recommended. No sandals or heels. No loose or baggy clothing.

Where

Waveland Golf Course

4908 University Ave
Des Moines, IA 50311

Date & Time

Thursday, May 2
Tee Times starting at 8:00 AM

Cost

Approximately $50 for 18 holes and includes the cart rental.

 

Thank you to everyone who has signed up to golf! There are still a few spots available, at a first come first serve basis, if you signed up late and would like to attend. Please email Mike Pedersen at mike.pedersen@meadhunt.com. In your email, please include the names of those you wish to golf with in your group.

Additional Information

 

Membership

Interested in becoming a member of NHA? Want to know how to leverage your current membership? Contact Marla Barnes at marla@hydro.org or call (816) 588-4639 for more information.

Questions and Sponsorship

Interested in how you can get involved in planning the agenda? Looking for brand visibility? Please contact Joseph LoSasso at joseph@hydro.org or call him at (202) 697-2404 with questions about sponsorship opportunities.

Other NHA Events

For information on other events owned and held by NHA, reach out to Francesca Hadjimichael at francesca@hydro.org.

Meeting Conduct Policy

As a professional society, the National Hydropower Association is committed to providing an atmosphere that encourages the free expression and exchange of ideas. Consistent with this commitment, it is the policy of the NHA that all participants in NHA activities will enjoy a welcoming environment, free from unlawful discrimination, harassment and retaliation. Read the full policy here.

 

Privacy Statement

NHA does not sell information. We deeply respect the privacy of our attendees and we have never nor will we ever reach out to anyone with offers to sell our mailing lists. Any communications that say otherwise are scam attempts and should be deleted and/or blocked.