The day kicked off with a jam-packed plenary session, featuring Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (R-WA), who accepted the 2024 Hydro Legacy Award, and Rep. Kim Schrier, who received the Legislator of the Year Award. NHA President and CEO, Malcolm Woolf, then took the stage to share the highlights of our industry's remarkable successes in the last year. His rousing address was followed by remarks from Jacob Macdonald of Kiewit about the need to recruit and retain younger workers in water power, and NHA's Matthew Allen provided a policy update. These great presentations set the stage for a week of advocacy and purpose. Following the plenary, #WaterpowerWeek2024 attendees participated in a range of activities, from participating in a film premier, The Power of Water, to learning the in's and out's of the advocacy process. Attendees also met with representatives from government agencies and got important questions answered covering topics ranging from funding to regulatory topics. This afternoon, several "Tiger Teams" headed to Capitol Hill to urge a bipartisan group of House and Senate members to advance water power's priorities in Washington – including licensing, permitting, and tax reform. Our teams crisscrossed the capital complex to tell their water power stories, sharing why water power is vital to their communities and the constituents lawmakers represent. These in person meetings are critical for advocacy because, as one staffer put it, "if you're not at the table, you're on the menu." Following a bustling day, Future Leaders of Waterpower (FLOW) held a happy hour at Union Pub, where Hill staffers and water power industry members mingled. Almost simultaneously, the Advocacy Teams, staffers, and guests joined together on Capitol Hill for celebration and connection.
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