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How to be Involved in NHA

Committees and Councils of the National Hydropower Association

Employees of NHA member organizations can join any of these groups through the NHA Portal.  Log on today to make sure you are getting the information you want and that are you participating in all the exciting developments happening at NHA. 

From regulatory affairs to operational excellence, NHA hosts several standing committees and councils designed to put our members at the forefront of shaping the focus and direction of our industry. Without question, each of NHA successes can be tied directly to the input and influence of our standing committees and councils. 

NHA's Committees and Councils:

 
CEO Council

OVERVIEW: NHA’s CEO Council creates a forum in which high-level hydropower executives can leverage their resources and talents to preserve and strengthen the existing system, while furthering the industry’s growth objectives.  The CEO Council serves as a forum to bring hydropower executives together to share information about industry challenges and solutions.  Its members also enhance the voice of NHA and the hydro industry as a whole within Congress and the Administration. 

The CEO Council serves as a strategic advisor to the NHA Board and acts as a key project and initiative leader on projects that strengthen NHA’s advocacy work and the representation of the industry.  On its initiatives, the Council coordinates closely with NHA’s staff, committees, and other councils. Membership is limited to Leadership Member organizations.

Co-Chairs: Stanley Kocon, Voith Hydro Inc. and Alicia Barton, FirstLight Power
Supporting NHA Staff: Malcolm Woolf
 
Hydraulic Power Committee & Operational Excellence Program
 
OVERVIEW: The Hydraulic Power Committee (HPC) provides a confidential and private setting for the hydropower industry to exchange critical information related to the technical and environmental aspects of operating hydroelectric projects.
  • HPC Forums – The HPC provides ongoing opportunities for benchmarking and the exchange of information within the hydropower industry.
    • Discussion Board:  A web-based, real-time, collaboration tool that allows HPC members to securely discuss operations & maintenance, dam safety, and other issues. 
    • Virtual & In-person Events
  • Operational Excellence (OpEx) – The OpEx program is an NHA member-only voluntary event reporting system that receives, distributes, archives, and catalogs operating experiences and resulting best practices and lessons learned.  OpEx launched a new website in 2014 – www.hydroexcellence.org – and is the only event reporting program and database available to the hydropower industry.  
  • FERC Liaison – The HPC serves as a conduit for industry input and advocacy on proposals and activities originating at FERC’s Division of Dam Safety and Inspections (D2SI) and Division of Hydropower Administration and Compliance (DHAC).  Recent interactions include:
    • Drafting Comments:  Owners Dam Safety Program (ODSP), Emergency Action Plans (EAP), and Chief Dam Safety Engineer (CDSE) annual statements. 
    • Issue Calls:  Minor License Deviations & Violations, Shoreline Management Plans (SMP).
  • Other – The HPC also serves as a liaison with other industry interests including USSD, ASDSO, EUCG, EPRI, and ASCE, among others

Chair: Eric Van Deuren, Pacific Gas and Electric / Vice Chair: Wyatt Williams, Alabama Power
  • Dam Safety Sub-Committee   Chair: Thomas Fitzgerald, Schnabel / Vice Chair: Ellen Faulkner, Ayres Assoc
  • O&M Sub-Committee Chair: Scott Klabunde, HCMS
    • Vice Chair: Bryce Cain, Consumers Energy Company
  • Operational Excellence Chair: Jim Miller, Signal Energy Consultants, LLC / Vice Chair: Raymond Chow, Duke Energy
Supporting NHA Staff: Luciana Ciocci


Legislative Affairs
 
OVERVIEW: NHA’s Legislative Affairs committee tracks, analyzes and responds to critical and emerging issues on Capitol Hill and within the administration.  The committee develops strategies to ensure that hydropower is positively recognized and incorporated in energy policies proposed by federal policymakers. 
 
With real-time information, NHA’s Legislative Affairs Committee keeps you abreast of important policy developments in Washington and helps the industry protect their interests
 
Chair: Jack Lincoln, Northern California Power Agency
Vice Chair: Scott Hennessey, Brookfield Renewable Energy
Supporting NHA Staff: Zolaikha Strong
 
Marine Energy Council

OVERVIEW: The National Hydropower Association’s Marine Energy Council (MEC) is the U.S. national trade group dedicated to promoting technologies and related services to harness clean, renewable power from significant untapped marine energy resources. Established in 2015, the MEC works with private sector companies, academia, and government partners to encourage the commercialization of marine energy technologies and raise awareness of the industry’s considerable potential to create good paying jobs and secure an affordable, reliable, and environmentally friendly energy future. The MEC is actively engaged with federal policymakers to increase R&D support, reduce market barriers, and create financial incentives for technology deployment. The MEC works with its members to inform future federal programs and competitive funding solicitations, lobby for appropriations and legislation in support of the sector, and serve as a clearinghouse of critical information. A broad and actively engaged membership is key to the MEC’s success.

Co-Chairs:  Reenst Lesemann, Columbia Power Technologies / Paul Gay, SMI, Inc. / Jason Busch, Pacific Ocean Energy Trust / Tim Mundon, Oscilla Power
Conference Liaisons: Reenst Lesemann, Columbia Power Technologies / Paul Gay, SMI, Inc.
Secretary: Sam Quinn, Pacific Ocean Energy Trust
Supporting NHA Staff:  Luciana Ciocci

Markets

OVERVIEW: The Markets Committee is dedicated to obtaining greater value recognition for both the environmental and reliability benefits that hydropower provides to the electric grid. The committee monitors developments in wholesale power markets and regional and state governments and engages on issues to the benefit of the hydropower industry as a whole. 
 
Chair: Alan Michaels, New York Power Authority
Vice Chair: Aleksandar Mitreski, Brookfield Renewable Energy Group
Supporting NHA Staff: Cameron Schilling
 
Pumped Storage Development Council
 
OVERVIEW: NHA’s Pumped Storage Development Council was formed to address the emerging regulatory and business needs for new pumped storage development to support increasing renewable energy generation policies.  The committee is focused on both the regulatory and legislative issues and the business and commercial drivers that are leading the call for new pumped storage development.   The Pumped Storage Development Council keeps you abreast of important policy, technology and business developments in this fast changing area of new hydropower development.
 
Chair: Justin Trudell, FirstLight Power
Co-Vice Chairs: Todd Briggeman, Black & Veatch Corporation / Jim Moen, PG&E / Nathan Sandvig, Rye Development
Supporting NHA Staff: Cameron Schilling
 
Regulatory Affairs
 
OVERVIEW: NHA’s Regulatory Affairs Committee monitors, tracks and notifies Membership of critical issues that could impact the hydropower industry including, licensing and compliance regulations.  The Regulatory Affairs Committee membership, with the support of NHA staff, affects the resolution of regulatory issues to the balanced positive benefit of the hydropower industry.

Chair: Nathan Craig, Duke Energy Corporation
Vice Chair: Thomas St. John, Alabama Power Company
Supporting NHA Staff: Dennis Cakert
 
Small Hydro Council
 
OVERVIEW: NHA’s Small Hydro Council addresses barriers to the development of small projects with a particular focus on traditional hydro resources such as conventional hydro, development at non-powered dams, irrigation power, and conduit power. 
 
Through working groups focused on regulatory issues, dam safety and operational issues, R&D and new technology, and funding and finance, the Council develops strategies to facilitate development and expansion of small hydropower and works to implement those strategies.  On its initiatives, the Council will coordinate closely with NHA’s Marine Energy and Waterpower Innovation Councils and with NHA’s Legislative, Regulatory, and Hydraulic Power Committees. 
 
With real-time information, NHA’s Small Hydro Council keeps you abreast of regulatory and legislative activities in Washington relative to small hydro and helps the industry protect its interests.
 
Chair:  Juliann Blanford, NuSTREEM        
Co-Vice Chairs: Daniel Olson, Voith Hydro Inc. / Dan Panko, Natel Energy, Inc.
Supporting NHA Staff: Dennis Cakert
 
Waterpower Innovation Council

OVERVIEW:  This Council is responsible for identifying industry needs and developing recommendations to promote focused technological and environmental research, development and demonstration (RD&D) that will serve to strengthen the waterpower industry.  It will track and evaluate major RD&D currently underway at national laboratory, government agencies, academia and other entities in the waterpower sector and share the information with industry.  The Council can help reduce duplication of effort and identify synergies of ongoing research.  The Council will work with other NHA Councils to reach out externally to advocate for external funding to maintain a strong waterpower programs within the U.S. Department of Energy and other agencies. 
           
Chair:  Megan Nesbitt, GE Renewable Energy
Vice Chair: Boualem (Bo) Hadjerioua, Mesa Associates, Inc.
Supporting NHA Staff:  Luciana Ciocci


Future Leaders of Waterpower (FLOW)
 
OVERVIEW: FLOW stands for Future Leaders of Waterpower, NHA’s newest ad-hoc networking/career development group. The ultimate goal of FLOW is to attract and support talented, diverse professionals by creating a welcoming and safe environment and by providing a clear pathway for professional growth. Learn more by visiting the FLOW website here.
 
FLOW members will have the opportunity to help create content, identify speakers, and shape agendas for NHA events. They’ll also get a chance to meet and collaborate with the waterpower industry’s current thought leaders.
 
FLOW will organize ahead of NHA events to host meet-ups, happy hours, and dinners to facilitate networking and making friends within the waterpower industry. This group will plan career development webinars, knowledge-sharing sessions, hydro 101 workshops, and other activities to cultivate the next generation of industry leaders. FLOW is open to members and non-members. 
 
Chair: Elliott Jackson, HDR
Vice Chair: Nuria Holmes, Kleinschmidt
Social Chair: Open
Supporting NHA Staff: Marycella Dumlao