April 26, 2006
News Release 06-06
Brad Peck, Corporate Communications
(509) 377-8247
RICHLAND, Wash. – Energy Northwest’s Board of Directors today elected five of its members to serve a four-year term on the public power agency’s eleven-member Executive Board. The Executive Board is responsible for setting policy and overseeing the day-to-day operations of the organization. The new term begins June 17, 2006.
The election began with 11 individuals vying for the five positions. After one round of balloting, the following public power leaders were chosen to serve on the Executive Board: Tom Casey, Grays Harbor PUD; Bill Gordon, Franklin County PUD; Dan Gunkel, Klickitat County PUD; Jack Janda, Mason County #1 PUD; and Kathy Vaughn, Snohomish County PUD.
Ronald L. Hatfield, Board of Directors President and Pacific County Public Utility District No. 2 Commissioner, offered congratulations. “I want to thank all of those who sought election to the Executive Board today. Your civic spirit and community leadership is what continues to make public power an invaluable asset to the Pacific Northwest. To those of you who were elected, I congratulate you on your new responsibilities and look forward to working with you as we continue to provide affordable, reliable power for the region’s ratepayers.”
Energy Northwest’s Board of Directors has 19 members, one representative for each of the 16 public utility districts and three municipal utilities that comprise Energy Northwest. The Board of Directors has sole authority to authorize and terminate Energy Northwest projects.
The Executive Board has 11 members; five elected from the Board of Directors and three appointed by the Board of Directors from outside Energy Northwest. The remaining three are appointed by the governor of Washington.
Energy Northwest owns and operates four electricity generating stations: Columbia Generating Station (nuclear power plant), Packwood Lake Hydroelectric Project, Nine Canyon Wind Project, and White Bluffs Solar Station. The joint operating agency also provides operations and maintenance services for other power generation and technical facilities.