PNWER Summit Coming To Spokane July 22

From PNWER: Over 600 state and provincial legislators, policy makers, and business leaders from the Pacific Northwest and western Canada will convene at the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) Annual Summit, July 22-26, in Spokane, Washington, to discuss sustainable economic development in the Northwest, North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), election security, invasive species, the use of drones, forestry, energy, water policy and more.

Legislators and business leaders from Alaska, Idaho, Montana, Oregon, Washington, Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Yukon and the Northwest Territories will meet at the Spokane Davenport Grand Hotel, presented by the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region. The PNWER Annual Summit will have over 150 speakers, a number of high profile plenary speakers, and a wide variety of breakout sessions focused on key regional issues. The following are some of the topical highlights:

TRADE: Trade will be a major topic of discussion at the Summit with NAFTA sessions taking place in Border & Trade, Agriculture and Livestock Health all focused on US-Canada trade relations, and the impact of recent tariffs on ag producers on both sides of the border.

COLUMBIA RIVER TREATY: Both chief federal negotiators (from DC and Ottawa) will address a large group of stakeholders representing major sectors in both countries. Following the remarks will be a listening session with regional stakeholders. The Columbia River Treaty will be an area of focus for the Summit. We will also host two study tours to see first-hand the benefits and impacts of the treaty during a trip to Grand Coulee Dam and also a two day trip up to Castlegar, BC with the BC Minister responsible for the CRT. We will have a legislative roundtable with highlights from the region.

ENERGY + CLIMATE: Spokane’s energy innovation ecosystem will be highlighted with discussions on Avista and McKinstry’s work towards developing a shared energy economy. Energy Innovation Panel will showcase the value of energy research conducted by Pacific Northwest National Labs in Richland, CleanTech Alliance, Idaho National Lab, and Venture Lab. The Energy Session will feature WSU and PNNL researchers showcasing cutting-edge tech developed locally in use today by utilities and benefiting consumers. The audience will learn of the policy opportunities of renewable natural gas.
Legislators will share information on the various climate policies and carbon pricing programs in place in the northwest. Energy experts will discuss the impact of clean energy targets on grid reliability.

TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE: How can the region develop a smart infrastructure and transportation strategy to move inland goods to market? DC experts will discuss infrastructure plans of current administration. Port of Lewiston will speak on importance of river flows for market access. Washington Public Ports Association will speak on infrastructure investments. We will host a plenary session focused on infrastructure in the region centered on the importance of railways, pipelines and ports.

Preparing Washington for automated, connected, electric shared vehicles - What is the impact on truck drivers and can our grid handle the load? How soon will this technology be on our streets? What policies are needed?

INFRASTRUCTURE RESILIENCE: The Pacific Northwest Building Resilience Coalition is pleased to announce its sponsorship of a keynote address on Disaster Reliance at the upcoming 2018 Annual Summit of the Pacific Northwest Economic Region (PNWER) taking place July 22 - 26 in Spokane, Washington. Evan Reis, Executive Director and Co-Founder of the U.S. Resiliency Council, will discuss the pioneering work of the Council to raise awareness of the need to rethink how we build our cities and towns to make them more resilient to hazards thought impossible only a decade ago.

PNWER Roadmap to Resilient, Ultra-low Energy Buildings in the Pacific Northwest
PNWER is advancing the development of a “Roadmap” to improve resilience and energy efficiency for new and existing buildings through “net zero” emissions construction targets and deep energy retrofits of existing buildings by 2030. Efficient buildings encourage job creation, affordability, competitiveness, and resilience. Through consultations with all levels of government and the private sector, the Roadmap will develop market-driven strategies to promoting energy efficiency in each jurisdiction by focusing on policy options; market driven solutions; best practices; innovative technologies and construction materials; industry capacity building; and workforce developments.

INNOVATION AND WORKFORCE: Innovation and Workforce will be a major topic at this year’s summit. Sessions will include Health Innovations, Innovation in Government Service delivery, and the Future of Work. We will also have university presidents from the region highlight best practices and showcase economic development. Innovation in mining techniques to improve sustainability and efficiency. Telehealth and dealing with the opioid crisis will be other topics addressed.

INVASIVE SPECIES: Hear key officials from the US Department of Interior and Canadian Fisheries and Oceans speak on federal efforts to prevent invasive quagga/zebra mussels. Legislators will take part in a panel to discuss legislative priorities on combating invasive mussels, which would cost $500 million annually to the region if an infestation occurs. Other issues include northern pike, sudden oak death, and a panel of regional invasive species councils.

FORESTRY: Focus is on opportunities for our region to become the North American hub for innovative wood products industry.Vicki Christiansen, Interim Chief, U.S. Forest Service and Fritz Wolff, Board Member & Co-Founder, Katerra are keynoting the luncheon plenary on Tuesday, July 24th.

ELECTION SECURITY: Elections were designated as part of our nation's critical infrastructure in late 2016 by the Department of Homeland Security. We will host a session examining federal guidance for state and local election officials; current threats to election infrastructure; policies to protect election infrastructure; and methods to reassure the public featuring the head of King County Elections and the point person from Idaho Secretary of State.

WSU: WSU Spokane will host guests in a visit to the Health Sciences Building conducting research and development activities in support of the local economy. Attendees will learnmore about other applied research being conducted in partnership with, and in service to many sectors and residents in the greater Spokane area.

Policy tours to Fairchild AFB (this is the 60th Anniversary of NORAD), Kaiser Aluminum, and a legislative Energy Policy Tour to Itron Hub, TransCanada GTN Rosalia Compressor Station, Palouse Wind Farm tour/presentation

Monday July 23rd
Monday Breakfast Keynotes
NAFTA and Trade
Colin Robertson, Vice President and Fellow, Canadian Global Affairs Institute
Chris Sands, Senior Research Professor, Director of the Center for Canadian Studies, Johns Hopkins Center School of Advanced International Studies
Dan Ujzco, Of Counsel and Cross Border (Canada - U.S.) Practice Group Chair, Dickinson Wright

Monday Lunch Keynotes
The future of the US-Canada Border
Alan Bersin, Former Assistant Secretary, US Department of Homeland Security
John Ossowski, President, Canada Border Services Agency

Tuesday July 24th
Tuesday Breakfast Keynotes
Evan Reis, Executive Director, U.S. Building Resiliency Council

Tuesday Lunch Keynotes
David Condon, Mayor, City of Spokane
Vicki Christiansen, Interim Chief, U.S. Forest Service
Fritz Wolff, Board Member & Co-Founder, Katerra

Wednesday July 25th
Wednesday Breakfast
Hon. Deron Bilous, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, Government of Alberta
Hon. Bob McLeod, Premier, Government of Northwest Territories

Wednesday Lunch
Stephen Metruck, Executive Director, Port of Seattle
Victor Thomas, Vice-President, Prairie Region, Asia Pacific Foundation
Sen. Chuck Winder, Working Group Co-chair, Idaho Legislature
Bruce Agnew, Director; Working Group Co-chair, Cascadia Center

Other Highlights

Columbia River Treaty Lead Negotiators - July 25th
Jill Smail, Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, U.S. Department of State
Sylvain Fabi, Executive Director, U.S. Transboundary Affairs, Global Affairs Canada
Legislative panel with 30 stakeholders

Agriculture Session - Monday July 23rd (Trade, tariffs, regulatory cooperation)
Derek Sandison, Director, Washington State Department of Agriculture
Celia Gould, Director, Idaho Department of Agriculture
Ben Thomas, Director, Montana Department of Agriculture
Hon. Lana Popham, Minister of Agriculture, Government of British Columbia
Under Secretary Bill Northey, US Department of Agriculture Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services

University Presidents Round Table
Allan Cahoon; President and Vice Chancellor, Royal Roads University
Ana Mari Cauce; President, University of Washington
Mary Cullinan; President, Eastern Washington University
Paul Dangerfield; President, Capilano University
Daryll DeWald; Chancellor, WSU Health Sciences Spokane
Angus Graeme; President and CEO, Selkirk College
James Johnsen; President, University of Alaska
Christine Johnson; Chancellor, Community Colleges of Spokane
Thayne McCulloh; President, Gonzaga University
Marc Pagano; Chancellor, University of Washington-Tacoma
Deborah Saucier; President, MacEwan University
Kirk Schulz; President, Washington State University
Chuck Staben; President, University of Idaho
Beck Taylor; President, Whitworth University

Economic Development
Commissioner Hilary Franz, Commissioner of Public Lands, Washington Dept. of Natural
Lars Gilberts, CEO, The University District (Spokane)
Gynii Gilliam, President & CEO. Coeur d’Alene Area EDC

"At the PNWER Annual Summit, leaders in government, private industry and academia will meet to develop working solutions to the major challenges we share in the region," said, Oregon Senator Arnie Roblan, PNWER President. "Here in the Pacific Northwest we are committed to working together as states, provinces and territories.Trade, energy, transportation, environment, and disaster resilience are key topics that we tackle in these summits. Our regional partnerships remain strong and we are committed to a constructive dialog across our many areas of common interest.”

For more information, on the Summit visit: www.pnwer.org/2018summit.
Download a media credential form at www.pnwer.org/media2.
Return to eric.holdeman@pnwer.org.
Contact Eric Holdeman at 253-376-6683 for additional information.

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