This program will bring together senior leaders responsible for wildfire planning and mitigation strategies at WEI member companies for an interactive peer to peer session. We will focus on sharing and discussing best practices around strategies for planning, operations, technology and various other tactics to mitigate and plan for wildfires.
General Details
- Program Chair(s)
- Dave James, Wildfire Resiliency Program Manager, Avista Corp.
- Program Location
- Virtual Event
- No travel required. All agenda times are in Pacific time. Instructions to access the virtual event will be provided before the program.
- Who Should Attend
Directors and senior leaders responsible for their energy companies wildfire planning and mitigation strategies.
- Registration Options
Member: $199 USD
Registration includes access to forum sessions, meeting materials and roster.
- General Cancellation Policy
- To best serve WEI members and program participants during the COVID-19 pandemic, WEI will be waiving its standard cancellation policy for this program and all virtual programs through July 2021. Registrants can now receive a full refund should they need to cancel their registration up to the day before the program begins. This applies to both new and existing registrations for virtual programs.
- Participation Policy
- Western Energy Institute programs and events are open to energy companies (including gas production and electric generation, gas and electric transmission and gas and electric distribution utilities). Select programs and events are open to energy industry product and service suppliers. Programs and events are closed to all media representatives and to the general public. Recording is not permitted for any portion of the event.
- For more information contact Jessica Grant, Program Manager at (971) 255-4970.
Agenda
All session times are listed in Pacific time.
Wednesday, May 19, 2021
12:00 PM - 12:30 PM
Virtual Help Desk + Technology Check
The room will open early with optional time for participants to get familiar with the virtual platform, test their audio and webcam, or ask questions about the agenda before we begin.
12:30 PM - 1:15 PM
Welcome + Introductions
1:15 PM - 2:30 PM
Managing the Risk of Wildfires
Speaker(s): Greg Hesler, VP, General Counsel, Corporate Secretary and Chief Ethics/Compliance Officer, Avista Corp.
Making the Case for Fundamental Change
2:30 PM - 2:45 PM
Break
2:45 PM - 4:00 PM
Working with Fire Protection Agencies
Speaker(s): Angie Lane, Washington State Department of Natural Resources
Before, During and After an Event
Thursday, May 20, 2021
8:15 AM - 9:15 AM
The Utility’s Role After an Event
Speaker(s): Paul Kimmell, Business & Public Affairs Manager, Avista Utilities
Navigating the Liability + Remediation Landscape
9:15 AM - 9:30 AM
Break
9:30 AM - 10:45 AM
A Practitioner's Guide to Fire Risk Modeling
Speaker(s): Bruce Blackwell, Principal, M.Sc., RPF, R.P.Bio., B.A. Blackwell & Associates Ltd., Bill Messner, Director, Wildfire Mitigation & Resiliency, Portland General Electric
10:45 AM - 11:00 AM
Break
11:00 AM - 12:15 PM
Roundtable Discussion: System Protection
What Utilities Are Doing to Modify Their System Protection Strategies
12:15 PM - 12:30 PM
Wrap Up + Future Planning
Provide input about what content should be part of the 2022 Forum.