1. NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release:
January 17, 2013
Contact:
Gregg Small, Executive Director
(206) 443-9570, gregg@climatesolutions.org
Business and Climate Leaders Call on New
Administrator to ‘drive regional climate action’
DOE Taps New Head of BPA for
First Time in Decade
Portland, OR: Business leaders from around the Northwest congratulated Bill Drummond’s selection as
head of the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) and look forward to working together towards a
carbon-free Northwest. “As a manufacturer of solar modules, we would like to see BPA play an active
role in growing our local renewable energy industry, helping create local jobs and strengthen our local
economy while addressing climate change head on,” Said Gary Shaver, President of Silicon Energy based
in Marysville, WA. “We need to reduce our exposure to the risks associated with fuel costs and
climate disruption.”
The Northwest’s economy and its history were defined by visionary energy infrastructure investments
made by BPA 75 years ago that created a platform for long-term, broadly-shared prosperity.
“Energy infrastructure is of central importance to the region’s economic and environmental future,”
stated Jim Holbery, President and Founder of GridMobility in Redmond, WA. “BPA has the opportunity
to constructively engage with a full spectrum of public and private interests that are working to expand
our Northwest economy and improve energy reliability by adopting smart grid technology.”
Clark Brockman, Principal, SERA Architects in Portland, OR: “The BPA’s role regarding the energy future
of the Northwest cannot be overstated – it is critical. The new administrator arrives on the job at an
exciting time in the region. All of the pieces are in place for a robust and meaningful discussion about
the region’s energy future to take place and move forward.”

2. Many leading Northwest businesses are committed to environmental excellence, reducing their carbon
footprints, and building sustainable prosperity in the region. They need a strong partnership with the
region’s electric utilities and BPA to accomplish these goals.
“Businesses know that to thrive in the 21st Century they cannot just maintain the status quo, but need to
innovate,” said Ash Awad, Vice President, Energy and Facility Services of McKinstry in Seattle. “BPA can
invest in modernizing the Northwest power grid and drive regional job creation and economic
success by helping us hone our ‘renewable edge’ in clean energy and innovation.”
BPA controls 75% of all the electricity transmission in the Northwest, and manages over 10,000 aMW of
federal resources, all used to serve customers in the Northwest. Since its founding in 1937, BPA has
been foundational to our electrical system. BPA was a pioneer when it was founded and can again
spearhead an energy revolution in the Northwest.
Stan Price, Executive Director, Northwest Energy Efficiency Council, Seattle: “The cleanest type of energy
is using less of it. This region is a natural leader in energy efficiency and clean energy. This sector is a
primary driver for economic development in the region. BPA’s active support is essential to the
continued growth of this vital economic sector.
Alan Hickenbottom, General Manager, Energy Services Group, Christenson Electric, Portland, OR: “BPA
occupies a unique position in the region and we look forward to working with the new administrator.
Taking BPA into its next 75 years will require leveraging all available resources – existing hydropower,
wind, solar, and biomass as well as the foundation of energy efficiency. Successfully integrating all these
aspects will provide a solid foundation for BPA’s continued success.”
“Climate Solutions is proud to partner with these business leaders in calling for BPA to take a leadership
role in reducing the region’s reliance on fossil fuels and pushing our transition to a carbon-free, clean
energy economy,” said Climate Solutions Executive Director Gregg Small, “We are incredibly excited
about the possibility of BPA playing a productive leading role in helping drive energy efficiency and
increase renewables in the region.”
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Climate Solutions is a Northwest-based clean energy economy nonprofit that works to accelerate
practical and profitable solutions to global warming by galvanizing leadership, growing investment and
bridging divides. Since 1998, Climate Solutions has pioneered the vision and cultivated political
leadership in the Northwest for the proposition that clean energy and broadly-shared economic prosperity
can go hand-in-hand. Through our like Business Leaders, New Energy Cities and Harvesting Clean
Energy programs, Climate Solutions builds a powerful constituency for local, regional and national action
on climate and clean energy.