Douglas County PUD joins Energy Northwest as a newest member
RICHLAND, Wash. – The Energy Northwest Board of Directors elected officers at its public meeting Oct. 27 in Kennewick, Washington. Commissioner Dave McKenzie, Skamania County PUD, will serve as president; Commissioner Jerry Asmussen, Okanogan County PUD, will serve as vice president; Commissioner Bill Gordon, Franklin PUD, will serve as secretary; M.L. Norton, Centralia City Light, remains assistant secretary.
The officers will serve until the Jan. 25, 2023, meeting when the regular election will be held.
Skamania County PUD Board of Commissioners appointed McKenzie to the EN Board of Directors in 2017 and he has served as a Skamania County PUD commissioner since 2016. McKenzie has more than 40 years of experience in the private and public sectors including banking, real estate and appraising complex commercial and industrial properties. He was also the mayor of Stevenson, Washington, for 20 years.
Okanogan County PUD Board of Commissioners appointed Asmussen to the EN Board of Directors in 2017 and he has served as Okanogan County PUD commissioner since 2017. Asmussen is a rancher and auctioneer from Tonasket, Washington, who has lived in Okanogan County for most of his life. He has degrees in agriculture, economics and animal science from Washington State University.
Franklin PUD Board of Commissioners appointed Gordon to the EN Board of Directors in 2004 and he has served as a Franklin PUD commissioner since 2003. Gordon served as assistant secretary and secretary from 2007-2017 and on the executive board from 2006-2010. Gordon holds a bachelor’s degree in hotel and restaurant administration from Washington State University and has worked in hotels throughout the United States. He also farmed and was a former partner in Gordon Brothers Winery.
Centralia City Light, appointed Norton to the EN Board of Directors in 2013, and he has served as the general manager of Centralia City Light since 2013. Norton brings a broad and varied background with more than 31 years of electric power industry experience. Following graduation from the U.S. Naval Academy, he served in the U.S. Navy Nuclear Submarine Service aboard USS Ethan Allen (SSBN/SSN-608).
New membership
The Board of Directors unanimously approved Douglas County PUD’s request to join Energy Northwest, increasing the joint operating agency’s total membership to 28 public power utilities and municipalities.
Energy Northwest’s Board of Directors represents 23 public utility districts and five municipal utilities that make up the public power agency. The board of directors has sole authority to authorize and terminate projects.
Editor’s note: Click here for portraits of officers
About Energy Northwest
Energy Northwest develops, owns and operates a diverse mix of electricity generating resources, including hydro, solar, battery storage and wind projects – and the Northwest’s only nuclear power facility. These projects provide carbon-free electricity at the cost of generation – enough clean, cost-effective and reliable energy to power more than a million homes each year. As an independent joint operating agency of Washington state, Energy Northwest comprises 28 public power member utilities from across the state serving more than 1.5 million customers. The agency continually explores new generation projects to meet its members’ needs.
