PNWER's 30th Annual Summit to be a Virtual/In-Person Hybrid EventAs the COVID-19 pandemic began impacting our communities, PNWER made the difficult decision to postpone the 2020 Annual Summit, and went on to host our first ever hybrid Summit in Big Sky, Montana August 15 - 19, 2021. Over 325 state and provincial legislators and business leaders from the Pacific Northwest states and western Canada joined in-person and virtually at the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) Annual Summit in Big Sky, Montana. This year, the four-day, bi-national hybrid event brought together delegates from the U.S. and Canada to discuss regional economic recovery, renewable energy and resource adequacy, ongoing Columbia River Treaty negotiations, transportation infrastructure, growing costs of wildfires, broadband infrastructure, critical minerals, and more. The PNWER Summit featured a number of high-profile plenary speakers during the four-day meeting. Below is an abbreviated list of a few of the keynotes that addressed the delegates in person and virtually:
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The PNWER Summit highlighted a wide array of regional issues throughout the conference. The following were some of the important issues that delegates learned about in the targeted sessions:
Policy Tours
- Regional economic recovery, especially hard-hit sectors like tourism
- Electric and natural gas utility CEOs to discuss regional challenges and opportunities in ensuring long-term energy infrastructure and resource adequacy while achieving state and national environmental and other policy goals
- Innovative technologies to address energy and infrastructure challenges
- Continuing dialogue on renewable energy and supply chains
- Necessity of investment in broadband infrastructure for post-COVID economic recovery
- The U.S. - Canada binational relationship for strategic critical mineral supply chains
- Transportation infrastructure and innovations
- Ongoing Columbia River Treaty negotiations
- Increasing costs of wildfires, wildfire mitigation and response, and discussion of current wildfire policies as well as needed legislation
Policy Tours
- Aerial Firefighting & Aerospace Industry Tour: Delegates visited Bridger Aerospace and heard from several Montana aerial firefighting and aerospace industry success stories. They were able to tour a water bomber and aircraft that are instrumental in managing wildfires in the West.
- Hydroelectric & Ecological Restoration Tour: Delegates also visited the NorthWestern Energy Madison Dam Hydroelectric and Ecological Restoration Project.
PNWER is a nuts and bolts operation that gets things done. We are a diverse group with many competing interests, personalities, and political factors, but in our region, we have many common interests and can find common ground to stand on. PNWER attracts those who care about the region and believe that our region grows better and stronger together.
-Senator Mike Cuffe, MT
PNWER President, 2019-2021
Thank you to our Partners!
The PNWER Annual Summit is the leading forum where people in the policy world and the business world come together to figure out solutions to regional challenges. Regional legislators, business leaders, and key decision makers will come together in Big Sky, Montana, and virtually on August 15-19, 2021 to explore shared challenges in the region, discuss best practices, strengthen regional relationships, and develop action plans for addressing these challenges in the future.
PNWER is recognized as the model for regional and bi-national cooperation, providing a platform for collaboration among public, private, academic, and non-profit stakeholders to work together as a region in pursuit of common goals.
PNWER is recognized as the model for regional and bi-national cooperation, providing a platform for collaboration among public, private, academic, and non-profit stakeholders to work together as a region in pursuit of common goals.
Delegates
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PNWER's Annual Summits attract delegates from across the public and private sector.
Attendees include: 60+ state, provincial, and territorial legislators 50 corporate CEOs or VPs 60 NGO executive directors Several federal legislators 15 University Presidents 90+ governmental officials |
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For more information on what to expect at an Annual PNWER Summit, visit our 2019 Annual Summit events page.
Code of Conduct
It is the policy of the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) that all participants, including attendees, staff, volunteers, and all other stakeholders at PNWER meetings will conduct themselves in a professional manner that is welcoming to all participants and free from any form of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. To make it possible for true collaboration, creativity, innovation, and idea exchange to thrive we are committed to facilitating a welcoming, respectful, and professional community for all.
Participants will avoid any inappropriate actions or statements based on individual characteristics such as age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, nationality, political affiliation, ability status, educational background, or any other characteristic protected by law. Disruptive or harassing behavior of any kind will not be tolerated. Harassment includes but is not limited to inappropriate or intimidating behavior and language, unwelcome jokes or comments, and unwanted touching or attention.
Inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. PNWER reserves the right to refuse entry to or remove any party from the event at any time. Sanctions may range from verbal warning, to ejection from the meeting without refund, to notifying appropriate authorities. If you witness or are subjected to inappropriate behavior or have any other concerns, notify a PNWER staff member as soon as possible.
It is the policy of the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) that all participants, including attendees, staff, volunteers, and all other stakeholders at PNWER meetings will conduct themselves in a professional manner that is welcoming to all participants and free from any form of discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. To make it possible for true collaboration, creativity, innovation, and idea exchange to thrive we are committed to facilitating a welcoming, respectful, and professional community for all.
Participants will avoid any inappropriate actions or statements based on individual characteristics such as age, race, ethnicity, sexual orientation, gender identity, gender expression, marital status, nationality, political affiliation, ability status, educational background, or any other characteristic protected by law. Disruptive or harassing behavior of any kind will not be tolerated. Harassment includes but is not limited to inappropriate or intimidating behavior and language, unwelcome jokes or comments, and unwanted touching or attention.
Inappropriate behavior will not be tolerated. PNWER reserves the right to refuse entry to or remove any party from the event at any time. Sanctions may range from verbal warning, to ejection from the meeting without refund, to notifying appropriate authorities. If you witness or are subjected to inappropriate behavior or have any other concerns, notify a PNWER staff member as soon as possible.