Four executives from North American investor-owned utilities, public power, and privately owned companies will share their views about hydro policy, regulations, and markets during the final session of the National Hydropower Association’s Waterpower Week event next month.

All four have at least two things in common – they recognize and are vocal about the unique value their hydro assets provide in their respective organizations’ electric power portfolios … and they are all female.

Highlighting women as leaders of electric power generating companies is an important priority for the association and our industry, said Malcolm Woolf, NHA CEO and President.

In the fast-paced capstone session, led by Alicia Barton, CEO of FirstLight Power, headquartered in Burlington, Massachusetts, the executives will provide “from the boardroom” perspectives on a variety of policy-related issues.

Participants are:

• Nicolle Butcher Senior Vice President, Renewable Generation & Energy Markets, Ontario Power Generation, Inc., Toronto, Ontario, Canada
• Lisa Grow, President and Chief Executive Officer, IDACORP, Inc. and Idaho Power, Boise, Idaho
• Jolene Thompson, President and CEO, American Municipal Power, Inc., Columbus, Ohio

(From left to right: Alicia Barton, Nicolle Butcher, Lisa Grow, and Jolene Thompson)

Attendees can expect them to answer a variety of questions such as:

What have you seen in the “first 100 days” of the Biden Administration that excites you and, conversely, concerns you?

How realistic is it to meet 2050 clean energy mandates and, if so, what kind of growth can hydro contribute?

How are positions about “hydro as renewable” viewed in your organization?

What are the “game changers” when it comes to influencing policy makers about hydro?

Registration remains open for the virtual Waterpower Week. “Early bird” rates are available through the end of March. The three-day event consists of informational panel discussions, speakers of the day, a virtual exhibit hall, and plenty of informal networking opportunities.

Sponsors of the event include:

• Platinum Sponsors: GE Renewable Energy, Ames Construction
• Gold Sponsor: Voith Hydro
• Silver Sponsors: Kleinschmidt Associates, Van Ness Feldman LLP, Ontario Power Generation
• Bronze Sponsors: Black & Veatch, Schnabel Engineering, HDR, MAVEL, American Hydro

For details, visit: www.waterpowerweek.com