Who We Are
Northwest RiverPartners is a member-driven organization that serves not-for-profit, community-owned electric utilities in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Nevada and Wyoming. We also proudly represent partners that support clean energy, low-carbon transportation, and agricultural jobs.
- We educate the public and policymakers about the important role of hydroelectricity
- We partner with our members, Native American tribes, communities, agencies, and businesses to achieve common goals
- We support research and analytics so the region can reach informed decisions
- We engage in public processes to provide balanced insights and suggestions
Conduct
In order to fulfill our mission and strive towards our goals as an organization, we believe it is necessary and appropriate to follow a strict code of conduct in all aspects of our work. Doing so ensures that we can be champions of our hydropower system, our membership, and all those who rely on the dams to power their lives.
Northwest Riverpartners Commits To R.I.S.E. Principles:
- Represent our members with integrity and respect
- Include the perspectives of the diverse communities of the Pacific Northwest
- Seek holistic solutions that consider both people and the environment
- Explore collaborative and actionable answers to challenging issues
Our History
Northwest RiverPartners (NWRP) was founded in 2005 as The Coalition for Smart Salmon Recovery in response to the court challenge of the 2004 National Marine Fisheries Service Biological Opinion. The goal of the organization was to provide the public and policymakers with information that they weren’t hearing from the litigants. More than anything, NWRP recognized that the only way for the region to come together in agreement while debating over the emotional issue of salmon recovery was by focusing on sound science.
As time went on, NWRP would grow to include over 100 members, representing their voices and the voices of the communities they serve. While we have continued to evolve, we still believe in informing the public and policymakers with the best available science. We also hope to work towards collaborative solutions with our members and to reach those with differing views. The journey of our organization is a challenging one, but we strongly believe it is worth the effort.
Our Staff
Kurt Miller
Executive Director
Kurt grew up in Gresham, Oregon, a suburb of Portland. His mother was an immigrant from Guatemala and his father’s family was from Germany, and from this experience, Kurt learned to appreciate the importance of diverse perspectives from an early age. He has spent most of his life in the electric service sector where he has successfully led many diversity and inclusion efforts within the organizations he has been a part of today. Kurt and his wife Jennifer live in Vancouver, Washington with their daughter Emily, who attends a local university. Kurt’s main hobby is cycling, and he loves the opportunity to cycle around the Pacific Northwest.
Austin Rohr
Media & Communications Specialist
Originally from Gig Harbor, Washington, Austin realized his passion for storytelling early on when he got involved with his high school radio station, KGHP-FM. After winning multiple Washington State High School Radio first place awards, he decided to attend University of Washington’s Tacoma Campus to study communications. Following graduation, he moved to the San Diego area to assume the role of managing editor at TransWorld Motocross and travelled the country to cover professional racing at the highest level. He would eventually return home to the Northwest, where he shifted his focus towards another passion; energy and environmental issues. Today he calls Washougal, Washington, home and loves spending his free time hiking, fishing, kayaking and continuing to race motocross.
Our Members
Partnership
Foundation for Water & Energy Education (FWEE)
The Foundation is committed to providing balanced information regarding the use of water as a renewable energy resource in the Northwest.
National Hydropower Association (NHA)
The National Hydropower Association (NHA) is a nonprofit national association dedicated to promoting the growth of clean, affordable U.S. hydropower.
Northwest Hydroelectric Association (NWHA)
The Northwest Hydroelectric Association (NWHA) provides a regional voice for the hydropower industry, representing the needs of its membership since 1981.
Northwest Public Power Association (NWPPA)
Northwest Public Power Association (NWPPA) is a not-for-profit association of over 155 public/people’s utility districts, electric cooperatives, municipalities.
Northwest Requirements Utilities (NRU)
NRU advocates on behalf of its members for cost-effective and reliable wholesale power supply and transmission service (including transfer service) from BPA.
Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Assocation (ORECA)
ORECA represents and promotes the interests of electric cooperatives and their members.
Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference Committee (PNUCC)
Bringing the power of good ideas together to assist PNUCC members in fulfilling their company missions in this ever changing electric industry.
Pacific Northwest Waterways Association (PNWA)
PNWA is a collaboration of ports, businesses, public agencies and individuals who combine their economic and political strength in support of navigation.
PNGC Power
PNGC Power is a Portland-based electric generation and transmission (G&T) cooperative owned by 15 Northwest electric distribution cooperative utilities.
Public Power Council (PPC)
The mission of the Public Power Council is to preserve and enhance the benefits of the Federal Columbia River Power System for consumer-owned utilities.
Washington Rural Electric Cooperative Association (WRECA)
WRECA’s mission is to proactively influence the regulatory environment in the best interests of the consumer-owned electric utilities in the State of Washington.