PNWER Visits the Capitals: 2020 Meetings in Olympia, Juneau, & Boise Address USMCA, Invasive Species, Transportation, Ag, & More

PNWER kicked off the decade with visits to several of our jurisdictions' capitals last month. PNWER traveled to Olympia, WA, first before heading to Juneau, AK, and Boise, ID. PNWER will visit the capitals of our other jurisdictions, Ottawa, and Washington, D.C. in the coming months. ​These annual capital visits allow PNWER delegates and stakeholders to meet with key government, legislative, and private sector leaders to discuss issues important to our region. 

 

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PNWER in Olympia
​January 21

​The PNWER Delegation traveled to Olympia for meetings on January 21. The delegation included Montana State Senator Mike Cuffe, PNWER President; Oregon State Senator Arnie Roblan, Past PNWER President (2017-18); Melanie Roberts, Pacific Northwest National Labratory; Dan Kirschner, Northwest Gas Association; Bruce Agnew, Cascadia Center and ACES NW Network; Nirav Desai, Moonbeam; Bryce Campbell, Consulate General of Canada - Seattle; Matt Morrison, PNWER CEO; and Brandon Hardenbrook, PNWER COO as well as additional PNWER staff.

PNWER delegation meeting with House Minority Leader J.T. Wilcox

OR State Sen. Arnie Roblan, MT State Sen. Mike Cuffe, & Brandon Hardenbrook

During the visit to Olympia, the PNWER delegation presented to the House Innovation, Technology, and Economic Development Committee on regional innovation and its contributions to Washington State. Matt Morrison provided an overview of PNWER's 2019 Economic Leadership Forum held in Seattle in November which focused extensively on regional innovation across sectors. Bruce Agnew highlighted the Forum's discussion on Automated, Connected, Shared, and Electric (ACES) mobility and the emergence of 5G technology. Brandon Hardenbrook then explained PNWER's Center for Regional Disaster's (CRDR) recently completed project on Using Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS or drones) for Inspecting Critical Infrastructure and recommended that Washington establish a state-wide UAS Coordinator. Lastly, Nirav Desai, PNWER's Innovation Co-Chair, shared the results of a joint project between PNWER and the University of Washington which mapped out innovation hubs across the PNWER region. A recording of PNWER's presentation to the committee can be found here.

PNWER delegates also presented to both the House and Senate Agriculture Committees on the importance of continued financial support for preventing invasive quagga and zebra mussels in the Columbia River Basin and regional development in precision agriculture as well as highlighting examples of best practices in forest management including how Oregon is fighting wildfires. During these hearings, Senator Cuffe described the negative economic impact of invasive quagga and zebra mussels in the Columbia River Basina as well as explained the value of Cross-Laminated Timber (CLT) which will be showcased at PNWER's Annual Summit in Big Sky, Montana, in July. Brandon Hardenbrook then presented on the autonomous and precision agriculture technologies that were demonstrated during the PNWER Annual Summit in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, in 2019 and described the potential that these technologies offer to the region. Senator Roblan closed with a presentation on Oregon's efforts to contain and prevent wildfires, highlighting Oregon's use of fire insurance to help cover the costs to the state. A recording of the House presentation can be found here, and the Senate presentation can be found here. 

Lastly, the PNWER delegation presented to the House Environment and Energy Committee. Matt Morrison began by providing highlights from the Smart Grids and 5G Technology sessions at PNWER's 2019 Economic Leadership Forum and explained the Legislative Energy Horizons Institute (LEHI) program. Senator Roblan discussed the Oregon State Legislature's new approach to carbon pricing, which is currently on the docket. Melanie Roberts from PNNL and Dan Kirschner from NWGA also provided comments. A recording of the presentation to the House committee can be found here. 

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PNWER delegation meeting with Lt. Gov. Cyrus Habib

Delegation members met for one-on-one meetings with Lieutenant Governor Cyrus Habib; the Office of Senator Steve Hobbs, Transportation Committee Chair; Lauren McCloy, Governor Jay Inslee’s Senior Energy Policy Advisor; Minority Leader Representative J.T. Wilcox; Representative Zach Hudgins, Chair of the Innovation, Technology & Economic Development Committee; Senator Lisa Wellman, Environment, Energy & Technology Committee; Representative Mary Dye; Representative Cindy Ryu; Senator Jim Honeyford; and Representative Sharon Wylie, Transportation 1st Vice Chair. Meetings covered a wide range of topics from the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA), invasive quagga zebra mussels, infrastructure financing, retraining displaced workforces, and the importance of technology in regional innovation.

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PNWER in Juneau
​January 22-24

Sen. Mia Costello at the PNWER Lunch and Learn

The PNWER delegation visited Juneau, Alaska, on January 22-24. During the visit, Senator Cuffe met with several Alaska legislators and PNWER delegates on regional economic issues. PNWER was also hosted by Senator Mia Costello at a Lunch and Learn on January 23 in the Capitol. At the Lunch and Learn, attendees heard from Consul General Brandon Lee, Senator Mike Cuffe, and Matt Morrison about the current U.S.-Canada relationship and the projects that are underway that benefit Alaskans and the region.

The delegation met with Lieutenant Governor Kevin Meyer to discuss several topics related to transportation, economic development, and the Arctic. Lt. Gov. Meyer is the Office of the Governor's lead to PNWER and is a great proponent of the economic growth of Alaska and the region. 

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PNWER delegation meeting with Senate Majority Leader Lyman Hoffman

​Rounding out the visit, PNWER and members of the Consul General staff in Seattle met with the Alaska Marine Exchange in Juneau to learn more about the maritime domain management occurring out of the operations center in Juneau. The meeting showcased the systems the Exchange has in place and the work they are doing to improve the safe transit of vessels through Alaskan waters.

In addition to the above meetings, the PNWER delegation visited the following offices of Senate Majority Leader Lyman Hoffman, Senate Minority Leader Tom Begich, Senator John Coghill, Senator Mia Costello, Senator Jesse Kiehl, Senator Bert Stedman, Senator Gary Stevens, House Minority Leader Lance Pruitt, Representative  Chuck Kopp, Representative Chris Tuck, and Representative Adam Wool.

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PNWER delegation at the Alaska Marine Exchange in Juneau

 

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PNWER in Boise
​January 27-29

PNWER delegation meeting with Governor Brad Little

Sen. Chuck Winder gives remarks at the Legislative Lunch & Learn

The PNWER delegation traveled to Boise, Idaho, for meetings on January 27-29. Topics included specific issues impacting Idaho including Aquatic Invasive Species Funding, Precision Agriculture, Unmanned Aerial Systems, Transportation and Infrastructure, Columbia River Treaty, U.S.-Canada Trade, Legislative Energy Horizon Institute, and Cybersecurity. 

PNWER delegates and staff participated in a hearing in the Senate Agriculture Committee chaired by Senator Jim Gutherie. Brandon Hardenbrook and Patrick Kole, Idaho Potato Commission and PNWER Agriculture Co-Chair, gave an overview of recent working group activities focused on Agriculture technology and precision farming. This overview included a description of the demonstration of autonomous farm equipment during the PNWER Annual Summit in Saskatoon this past July. Matt Morrison gave an update on recent changes to federal funding for inspection stations to stop the spread of aquatic invasive mussels. Through PNWER's efforts, $18 million in federal matching funds is now available to 16 states. Finally, former Montana SenatorJohn Brenden invited committee members to Big Sky, MT, for the upcoming PNWER Annual Summit in July. 

The delegation also participated in a hearing in the Senate Transportation Committee chaired by Senator Bert Brackett. Brandon Hardenbrook and Bruce Agnew, Cascadia Center and PNWER Transportation Co-Chair, gave an update on PNWER's recent activities relating to Unmanned Aerial Systems (UAS) and stressed the need for a UAS coordinator in each state. Idaho is poised to become the first state in the region with an official UAS coordinator. Bruce Agnew also discussed truck size-weight issues, autonomous vehicles, and PNWER's efforts to improve large infrastructure projects in the region. 

The PNWER delegation was introduced on the House Floor by Representative Rick Youngblood, previous PNWER Economic Development Co-Chair. Following the introduction, PNWER hosted a legislative luncheon for members of the House and Senate to provide updates on current activities. Senator Chuck Winder, PNWER Vice President, introduced the delegation and provided remarks about the upcoming Legislative Energy Horizon Institute (LEHI) and the planning for the PNWER Annual Summit.

While in Boise, PNWER also met with Governor Brad Little to discuss several issues including invasive species funding, infrastructure permitting, and cybersecurity. They also addressed USMCA which was recently ratified by the U.S. Canada's Consul General Brandon Lee provided an update on the where the trade agreement stands in Canada's Parliament, which is expected to vote to approve the agreement very soon.

Other one-on-one meetings included discussions with Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin, Speaker Scott Bedke, Senate Pro Tem Brent Hill, Senate Minority Leader Michelle Stennett,  Representative John Vander Woude-Chair of the House Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee, and Scott Pugrud-Director of the Idaho Office of Species Conservation and the lead of Governor Little's Salmon Working Group.

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