Susan Fillafer, Public Affairs, 509-377-6117
Carla Martinez, Public Affairs, 509-372-5156
RICHLAND, Wash. – The Energy Northwest Board of Directors elected officers at its virtual meeting Jan 27. The officers each serve a two-year term.
Commissioner Curt Knapp, Pend Oreille County PUD, will remain president; Commissioner Dave McKenzie, Skamania County PUD, will continue as vice president; Commissioner Kenneth Collins, Jefferson County PUD, will remain secretary; M.L. Norton, will stay assistant secretary.
Energy Northwest’s 27-member board of directors represents the 22 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.
Pend Oreille County PUD commissioners appointed Knapp to the EN board of directors in 2011 and he has served as a PUD commissioner since 2002. He previously served as the EN board of director’s secretary and assistant secretary. Knapp has more than 25 years in the funeral industry, having owned and operated funeral homes in Newport, Wash., and Priest River, Idaho; and he serves as deputy coroner in Pend Oreille County.
Skamania County PUD 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, Wash., for 20 years.
Jefferson County PUD commissioners appointed Collins to the EN board of directors in 2017 and he has served as a Jefferson County PUD commissioner since 2014. Collins served 14 years as a mental health consultant to Pacific Gas & Electric. During 12 years with the Chevron Corporation, Collins managed the company’s international employee assistance program.
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 30 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).
About Energy Northwest
Energy Northwest owns and operates a diverse mix of 100% clean electricity generating resources: hydro, solar, battery storage and wind projects, and the third-largest provider of electricity in Washington – the Columbia Generating Station 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 27 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.