Welcome to the official podcast of Northwest hydropower! Yes, you read that right. We’ll be covering hydropower, plus energy and environmental issues, while sharing the stories of the most interesting folks you’ve probably never heard of—from salmon scientists and policymakers to the heroes of public power. Now fire up those water-powered devices and get to listening!
Hosted by Austin Rohr. A Northwest RiverPartners production.
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Alan Walker is a hero. He's a lot of other things too (namely, the executive director of the Chelan-Douglas Community Action Council and president of the Washington Community Action Partnership), but above all else, the work he does is essential to helping thousands meet their basic needs. Right now, the cost of those basic needs are increasing dramatically and rapidly, and the cost of electricity is among them. With 9 out of 10 residents in the Northwest now ranking cost as their primary energy concern, we hosted Alan on the podcast to learn what challenges the people he serves face, where energy costs factor into those challenges, and why keeping those costs low is non-negotiable for thousands in our region.
Ep.49 Fighting the Affordability Crisis (01:01:25)
Alan Walker is a hero. He's many other things, too (namely, the executive directer of the Chelan-Douglas Community Action Council and president of the Washington Community Action Partnership), but the work that he does is essential to help thousands of residents in the Northwest meet their basic needs. Unfortunately, the cost of those needs are growing dramatically and rapidly. Energy is among those needs, with prices in the Northwest climbing especially fast. In fact, 9 out of 10 surveyed in our own independent poll ranked cost as their largest energy concern. We felt it was an especially important time to host Alan on our podcast to learn more about the challenges he sees low income communities facing in our region, how the price of energy factors into those challenges, and why keeping energy prices low is non-negotiable for thousands.
Ep.48 Inside scoop on AI (01:38:07)
What's the deal with all of this AI? From an energy perspective, our exposure to this emerging technology often comes in the form of the demand it places on the grid via data centers. However, it's rare that we hear about the technology side of AI development and the practical use cases for it. Luckily for Dam! listeners, we brought that conversation to life with the CTO and founder of Snapbar–an ai-centric startup–Patrick Ellis.
Ep.47 Welcome to the team (00:56:34)
Meet the newest member of the Northwest RiverPartners team, Victor Valerio! On this episode, you’ll hear about Victor’s background before coming to the organization, the lessons he’s learned along his path in life and his career, eye-opening experiences since starting his new job, and the unique ways he’ll be helping us fulfill our mission. Enjoy!
Ep.46 "POWERING ON" Grant PUD's history in the words of John Harrison (01:15:05)
On this very special episode of the podcast, we're joined by Grant PUD's senior manager of external affairs and communications, Chuck Allen. He shares the story of their recently released history book, "POWERING ON: The can-do legacy driving Grant PUD into the future by Grant PUD." While the history alone is fascinating, Chuck also wanted to celebrate the legacy and memory of it's author, John Harrison, who sadly passed away earlier this year. You can read the excellent book by following the link below:https://www.flipsnack.com/55A6559BDC9/powering-on-the-can-do-legacy-driving-grant-pud-into-the-future/full-view.html
Ep.45 Not your average port (00:44:29)
Dam! heads to the mighty Palouse to get the scoop on the Port of Whitman County. Executive director Kara Riebold and commissioner Kristine Meyer make the perfect duo to tell the story of multi-modal transportation, recreation, improvements to the community, and of course, the value of the river system.
Hydro 101: Lock in on locks (00:18:21)
Class is in session! The fifth episode of Hydro 101, a sub-series of the Dam! podcast, has arrived. Hydro 101 aims to provide you with a fundamental understanding of hydropower and how it interacts with energy and the environment–particularly in the Northwest. This episode explores the infrastructure responsible for solving vertical challenges on the water, the lock, from the historical development of the technology to an explanation of how a modern lock works like a water elevator.
Ep. 44 Fight for the system (01:01:43)
The Columbia-Snake river system, that is. Neil Maunu, executive director at the Pacific Northwest Waterways Association, gives us the rundown on the integrated system of infrastructure that makes the Columbia and Snake rivers navigable. From locks and dams to dredging and jetties, it's an all hands on deck operation that provides critical services well-beyond just the Northwest, and on this episode we cover it all.
Ep.43 Wheat's the big deal? (00:52:03)
There's a unique relationship between agriculture and hydropower that we've yet to fully explore on the podcast. That all changes with this latest episode, as Michelle Hennings from the Washington Association of Wheat Growers–a farmer herself–joins the podcast to discuss the multitude of benefits the dams provide to rural communities.
Ep.42 Dam! Year in Review (00:57:47)
With Dam! winding down for 2024, we wanted to spend some time revisiting an incredible year of storytelling. You'll hear snippets from a handful of episodes, starting with our most-listened to of the year, that capture some of the most impactful moments shared on the podcast. For both those who missed these episodes or haven't heard them in sometime, we think you'll enjoy what we've put together.
Ep.41 Salmon rejoice! Reintroduction on the Green River (00:48:19)
While we love hydropower stories, we know that dams serve a multitude of purposes. In fact, many dams generate no power whatsoever. And, likewise, the community-owned, not-for-profit utilities that serve the Northwest offer more than energy. What remains the same is the universal commitment to environmental stewardship and collaborative solutions that benefit all. Today, we explore the story behind the non-powered Howard Hanson dam and the effort to bring fish passage to it–allowing salmon to return to spawning habitat in the Green River. To tell that story, we connected with the interim superintendent of Tacoma Water, Heather Pennington, to get the full scoop on this huge win for salmon.
To learn more about the project's progress from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, start your journey here.
Ep.40 Telling "The Whole Dam Story" (01:13:41)
Just hearing mention of the four lower Snake River dams can stir up strong feelings for people who fall on either side of the debate over their future. Yet, it's rare to find someone who's actually stood atop–or within–these dams and spoken with the people who work at them at length. Ryan Hall, communications director at the Montana Electric Cooperatives Association and editor for Rural Montana, made it his mission to do exactly that and report what he found to communities across Montana. The four-part series, "The Whole Dam Story," is the product of that work, and the 40th episode of the podcast tells the story behind "The Whole Dam Story."
Hydro 101: What is a watt? (00:18:03)
Class is in session! The fourth episode of Hydro 101, a sub-series of the Dam! podcast, has arrived. Hydro 101 aims to provide you with a fundamental understanding of hydropower and how it interacts with energy and the environment–particularly in the Northwest. This episode takes a deep dive into the units of measurement used to describe the generation and consumption of energy. By the end, you'll have a better idea of where watts came from, what they represent, and how to quantify them.
Ep.39 The silent service of the sagebrush sailors (01:09:04)
From deep into the interior Northwest to the mouth of the Columbia, river transportation is a vital yet overlooked service to the nation and the world. Rob Rich, vice president of marine services at Shaver Transportation, joins Dam! to shed a light on this "silent service," speak to the true value it provides, share the incredible opportunities it presents, and how all of this is interwoven with our hydroelectric dams.
Ep.38 Now hiring! (For the clean energy future) (00:55:49)
The future of hydropower and the utilities who depend on it across the Northwest rests in the future of our workforce. In the case of Grant PUD, that workforce is challenged by looming retirements and gaps in education and training. Yet, the utility is rising to meet those challenges head on, and convert them into opportunities for their employees and the rural community they serve. Joining us on this episode to provide more details and tell his own unique story is Grant's general manager and CEO, Rich Wallen.
Ep.37 Cost Cap: Setting the record straight (00:40:16)
"Misinformation does not serve our region or policymakers and doesn’t recover salmon." That's the message Northwest RiverPartners executive director, Clark Mather, delivered in a recent statement. That statement was in response to a campaign aimed at undermining bipartisan legislation simply meant to maintain the federal government’s commitment for the Bonneville Power Administration to spend no more than $300 million in additional funds to implement the 12/14 agreement. On this special episode of Dam!, Clark is joined by Katie Pfennigs from Flathead Electric Cooperative and Chris Sidmore from the Flathead Food Bank to discuss the legislation, what it truly stands for, and why it is critically important to fight rising energy costs.
Ep.36 Cause for celebration (00:50:58)
Put your party hats on! President and CEO of the National Hydropower Association, Malcolm Woolf, returns to Dam! to hype us up for National Hydropower Day and the upcoming celebration. He also provided us with updates on the state of hydropower in 2024, the challenges and opportunities ahead, ongoing work on bipartisan legislation, and the need to build momentum and increase visibility for our favorite resource.
Ep.35 Hydropower on the small screen (00:58:37)
If you've ever wondered what the deal is behind the "Our Power is Water" campaign we've been running here at Northwest RiverPartners for the past four years, this is the podcast for you! We caught up with North's CEO, Rebecca Armstrong, to discuss digital advertising for a good cause, the nuance of telling hydropower stories in the Northwest, and the exciting, yet terrifying future introduced by artificial intelligence. If that wasn't enough, you'll get the scoop on North's partnership with the Oregon Humane Society, a case for bringing a miniature dachshund into your life, and the answer to whether or not the Pacific Northwest is as wet as the United Kingdom.
Hydro 101: A brief history on Northwest hydropower (00:20:48)
Class is in session! The third episode of our new sub-series of the regular Dam! podcast is here. Hydro 101 aims to provide you with a fundamental understanding of hydropower and how it interacts with energy and the environment–particularly in the Northwest. On this installment, we walk through the timeline of events and happenings that span the era of dam-building in the region–giving birth to hydro and public power as we know it today.
Ep.34 Designing fish-safe hydropower (01:02:05)
Fish passage is a serious matter for hydropower–especially for our Federal hydro system in the Columbia River basin. Like the dams themselves, maintaining and updating fish passage infrastructure is essential to achieving the best possible results for our aquatic friends. One of the leaders in this field is Natel, who designs fish-safe turbines to replace aging turbines and eliminate the need for bypass systems for juvenile salmon. Joining us on this episode to detail this win-win in design is Natel's co-founder and Chief Commercial Officer, Gia Schneider.
Ep.33 Charge! Funding the future of battery storage (01:00:21)
Energy storage is not only essential to meeting our growing electricity needs, it also ensures a reliable grid. And, in places where even accessing that energy is a challenge, energy storage can alleviate the pressure on transmission infrastructure. Ravalli Electric Cooperative's slice of rural Montana is one such place, but with the help of the Pacific Northwest Generating Cooperative–or PNGC–they've secured a grant to build a new battery storage project to help overcome these challenges. On this episode, Erin Erben, senior vice president of power supply and strategy at PNGC, gives us all the details on how this exciting new endeavor was made possible.
Ep.32 Forecasting our clean energy future (01:07:20)
The first step to solving a problem, is admitting you have one. We've known the demand for energy is outpacing our ability to build new generation, all while coal is retiring at a swift pace. Now, PNUCC's 2024 Northwest Regional Forecast is showing a clear gap in where we're headed, and where we need to be. It all sounds a bit scary, so we reached out and connected with their executive director, Crystal Ball, to give us the full context around the forecast and what it means for our clean energy future.
Hydro 101: How fish navigate dams (00:20:49)
Class is in session! The second episode of our new sub-series of the regular Dam! podcast is here. Hydro 101 aims to provide you with a fundamental understanding of hydropower and how it interacts with energy and the environment–particularly in the Northwest. As the title suggests, this one is all about fish passage and the infrastructure that allows our scaly friends to migrate up and down river of our local dams.
Ep.31 Who's in charge around here? (01:01:50)
With the hiring of Northwest RiverPartner's newest executive director, Clark Mather, it was only a matter of time before we would introduce him to the Dam! podcast listeners. That time is now. You'll hear Clark describe his background, just how small the public power world really is, his views on the value of hydropower, and takes on the most relevant and pressing issues we face in 2024. The next chapter in our hydropower advocacy effort starts now!
Ep.30 Live at the USSD 2024 annual conference! (01:18:01)
Dam! hit the road and headed to Seattle, Washington, to record this special episode on site at the 2024 US Society on Dams annual conference. We opened up the guest chair to anyone looking for their "15 minutes of fame" on the podcast, and the lineup did not disappoint. Listen in to hear from the likes of Jeremy Begley, Dr. Nathaniel Gee, and Dr. Robert Hall and enjoy their expert insights and stories!
