Bulletin Articles
Right-of-way clearing is one of those essential, often underappreciated operations that keeps communities safe, power reliable, and ecosystems resilient. But technical excellence alone won’t carry a program—stakeholder trust will. The path to that trust runs through “forming,” “storming,” and “norming,”...
The $42.5 billion Broadband Equity, Access, and Deployment Program, funded by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law, represents a historic investment in closing America’s digital divide. However, as BEAD implementation moves forward, congressional committees and the Federal Communications Commission have intensified scrutiny...
Wildfires are among the most destructive and unpredictable natural disasters faced by communities throughout the West. Their rapid spread, driven by dry conditions and high winds, threatens lives, property, and ecosystems. Because of their catastrophic and rapidly changing nature, families,...
Southwest Colorado, where desert and alpine environments meet, is a beautiful place to live and work—but it is also a challenging place to deliver reliable electric service. Cold, snowy winters; hot, dry summers; and dense forests all place unique demands...
When I grew up on the outskirts of Portland, Oregon, wildfires were a Southern California problem. I remember watching the devastation on TV and thinking, “How can people live there?” Fast forward several decades, and wildfires are now a defining...
Kevin Mara is the executive vice president at GDS Associates, also doing business as Hi-Line Engineering. He began his career 43 years ago as a distribution engineer with an electric utility, where he spent five years gaining hands-on experience in...
Chris Davis owns and operates two wedding venues while also serving on Inland Power & Light Company’s and NWPPA’s boards. Before getting into the wedding business, he taught high school math, physics, and engineering for 11 years. He holds a...
Tracy Yount, the energy and services development manager at Energy Northwest, has spent the majority of his over 25-year career in public power. Before he joined Energy Northwest in September 2024, he worked as director of strategic affairs at Chelan...
