Rick Dunn, Benton PUD General Manager was selected as one of two utility stakeholder representatives from the four northwest states to serve on the Columbia Basin Collaborative’s Integration/Recommendation Group (I/RG).  The I/RG will seek consensus agreement on proposed actions and develop recommendations to federal, state, tribal and other decision-makers on issues affecting salmon and steelhead recovery in the Columbia River Basin.
 
“I am humbled and honored to be selected to serve in this position,” said Rick Dunn.  “This is an opportunity for electric utility customers throughout the northwest to have a voice at the table.  Northwest hydropower provides clean energy like nowhere else in the country and is the foundation of affordable, reliable, and environmentally responsible electricity supplies for 127 public power and tribal utilities in five states.  I look forward to contributing to the honest, transparent and respectful dialogue we are going to need to develop innovative solutions for salmon and steelhead recovery that also consider the complex and diverse interests represented by the Collaborative.”
 
Having lived most of his life in south-central Washington’s Benton County, Dunn knows first-hand what the rivers in the Columbia Basin mean to our region. And with over thirty-five years of electrical power and utility engineering, operations and management experience, Dunn is a leader well-versed on the challenge of balancing complex energy and environmental issues.  His recent engagement and expertise on regional clean energy policies and grid reliability are expected to be a valuable contribution as he serves side-by-side representatives from Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana, Columbia Basin Tribes, the federal action agencies who own, operate and market the federal hydro system, NOAA National Marine Fisheries, and other interested stakeholders.
 
The I/RG is scheduled to convene later this Fall, with recommendation scheduled to be released by the end of 2022.