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Homeland Security
PNWER formed the Partnership for regional infrastructure security - a collaborative effort of regional public & private stakeholders and state, provincial and federal government agencies dedicated to pursuing a greater understanding of critical infrastructure interdependencies and address gaps for regional disaster resilience.
In July 2006, the US National Infrastructure Protection Plan referenced PNWER as the model process to address critical infrastructure interdependencies. PNWER is helping to facilitate other regional partnerships around the Pacific Northwest, including, Washington State, the Puget Sound area, the Portland/Vancouver area, Alberta and Alaska.
Initiatives
As part of its homeland security program area, PNWER has created the Puget Sound Alliance for Cyber Security (PSACS), and the Northwest Warning Alert and Response Network (NWWARN) the Center for Regional Disaster Resilience, has organized three critical infrastructure interdependencies exercises, worked with the Partnership for Regional Infrastructure Security, Argonne National Laboratory and the Department of Homeland Security’s Science and Technology Directorate to develop an Interdependencies Assessment Tool.
Seminars and Workshops
Seattle/King County Critical Infrastructure Interdependencies Annual Seminar (Dec. 2007) Dam and Levee Security Workshop (early 2008), SR 520 Action Planning Strategy Session (March, 2008)
Staff Contact
Brandon Hardenbrook, Deputy Director; (206) 443-7723 or brandon@pnwer.org
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2010 Winter Olympics/Tourism
PNWER’s 2010 Winter Olympics/Tourism Program focuses on regional tourism promotion, with a particular emphasis on the 2010 Winter Olympics and Paralympics in Vancouver, British Columbia.
Venues Promotion Program
The PNWER 2010 Coordinating Council is putting together a Venues Promotion Program in advance of the 2010 Winter Olympics. This program will feature an online searchable database of the region’s outstanding sports venues and a marketing campaign that will connect the region’s winter sports communities to the Games themselves.
WHTI
PNWER member jurisdictions are also developing a public outreach program to unify messaging throughout the entire Pacific Northwest regarding the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative’s requirement that border crossers show a passport or similar document over the next few years.
Media
The Coordinating Council will also develop a comprehensive plan to maximize positive worldwide travel and general media exposure surrounding the Olympics and highlight sustainable technologies, best practices and innovations from throughout the Pacific Northwest.
Funding
PNWER’s 2010 Winter Olympics/Tourism Program is supported state/provincial tourism and economic development departments from Washington, Idaho, British Columbia and Alberta.
Co-Chair
Carl Wilgus, Idaho Director of Tourism
Staff Contact
Ian Burkheimer, 2010 Winter Olympics/Tourism Program Manager; (206) 443-7723 or ianb@pnwer.org
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Energy
PNWER’s energy program is funded in part by the US Department of Energy; the Alberta Ministry of Energy; British Columbia Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources, and various private sector stakeholders. The overall goal of the Bi-National Regional Energy Planning Initiative is to engage regional public and private sector stakeholders in a dialogue about the region’s energy future.
Initiatives
To lead this effort, PNWER has convened a Legislative Energy Chairs/Provincial Energy Ministers Task Force, is developing an Energy 101 Project in conjunction with the National Conference of State Legislatures, is disseminating information on the implementation fo the corridor provisions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005, is analyzing current and proposed energy infrastructure projects, is engaged in an effort to develop better tools to analyze resource and transmission planning in the bi-national region, and will monitor state and provincial legislative developments on behalf of its stakeholders.
Co-chairs
Rep. Jeff Morris (WA) and Minister-Counsellor Murray Smith (AB) Energy Chairs Task Force Sen. Tom Wagoner (AK), Rep. George Eskridge (ID), Sen. Vicki Walker (OR), Rep. Alan Olson (MT), Rep. Jeff Morris (WA), Hon. Mel Knight (AB), Hon. Richard Neufeld (BC), Hon. Archie Lang (YT)
Staff Contact
Matt Morrison, matt@pnwer.org 206-443-7723
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Research and Development Exchange Network
Although the Pacific Northwest has a vibrant entrepreneurial, high-tech economy; in an increasingly global economy, building a collaborative research capacity and developing a regional initiative to support and advance market-driven commercialization is essential to ensuring continued growth and prosperity.
PNWER has launched the Research and Development Exchange Network to address these challenges and to enhance opportunities related to collaborative research and market-driven commercialization.
PNWER will explore and document opportunities and best practices supporting collaborative research capacity among public, private and not-for-profit organizations.
Long-term Goal
of this effort is to leverage seed funding from US EDA grant to develop the concept of the R&D Exchange Network in Washington State; while maintaining the intent to expand the network to become a highly valued and effective resource for the entire PNWER region.
Funding
Supported by a grant from the US Department of Commerce’s Economic Development Administration (EDA).
Staff Contact
Joy Howland, R&D Exchange Network Program Manager; (206) 443-7723 or joy@pnwer.org
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