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The Price of Power

Participants

Below is a list of experts and activists who discussed western energy issues at the Idaho Public Television studio in Boise on Wednesday, November 5th, 2003. Click on a name or scroll down to read their biographies.

Biographies

Ralph Cavanagh directs the Energy Program of the Natural Resources Defense Council, a nonprofit environment-advocacy organization that he joined in 1979. He has held appointments as a Visiting Professor at the Stanford and Boalt Hall Law Schools, and as a Lecturer on Law at the Harvard Law School. His courses address a wide range of energy and environmental issues.

He is a past member of the U.S. Secretary of Energy’s Advisory Board, the Energy Engineering Board of the National Academy of Sciences and the Advisory Council of the Electric Power Research Institute. His awards include the Heinz Award for Public Policy and the Bonneville Power Administration’s Award for Exceptional Public Service.

Cavanagh currently is a member of the National Commission on Energy Policy, an initiative of the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and he is Vice Chair of the Portland-based Bonneville Environmental Foundation and the Sacramento-based Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies. He also serves on the board of the Electricity Innovation Institute, which manages long-term research and development projects in the energy sector. He has worked extensively with the Commission for Environmental Cooperation of North America, most recently as a member of its Electricity and Environment Advisory Board.

He received his undergraduate and law degrees from Yale University. He is married to Deborah Rhode, the MacFarland Professor of Law at Stanford University and past President of the American Association of Law Schools.

Michael Grainey is Director of the Oregon Department of Energy. The Department administers Oregon’s pioneering programs to increase use of energy conservation and renewable resources, including state tax credits, low-interest loans and other programs. The Department sites large energy facilities, assures the safe shipment of radioactive materials through Oregon and oversees the cleanup of radioactive waste. The Department also represents the State of Oregon on issues about the Hanford Nuclear Site in the State of Washington which affect Oregon.

Grainey has been with the Oregon Department of Energy since 1980 and became Director in January of 2002. He graduated from New York University Law School in 1972 and from Gonzaga University in Spokane, Washington in 1969. He is admitted to practice law in Oregon, Washington and the District of Columbia. Prior to joining the Oregon Department of Energy he worked for the General Counsel’s Office of the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and was appointed Deputy Chief Hearing Counsel in 1976. He has published law review articles and spoken frequently on energy issues.

His volunteer activities include support for the Salem Chamber Orchestra, coaching youth soccer and other sports in the Salem Parks and Recreation Program, and debate coach for Blanchet High School in Salem. He also chairs his church’s social justice committee.

Peter T. Johnson was the administrator of the Bonneville Power Administration from 1981 to 1986 in Portland, Oregon. From 1983 to 1986 he was also Director of the Electric Power Research Institute. Before his service at BPA, he spent ten years at Trus Joist Corporation in Boise, Idaho, where he was president and then CEO. In 1993, he published an article in the Harvard Business Review on some lessons learned at BPA, entitled, "How I Turned a Critical Public Into Useful Consultants."

Mark Maher was named senior vice president of the Transmission Business Line for the Bonneville Power Administration on Nov. 10, 1998. As the senior executive, Maher makes sure the transmission system grid operates safely and reliably. To do this, he leads, coordinates and sets policy for transmission system planning, design, construction, operations, maintenance, and aircraft services.

Maher joined Bonneville in 1985. He began as a hydraulic engineer in the fish and wildlife division, moved to chief for the water management branch, became deputy power supply manager, then was selected power supply manager. In May 1997, he became vice president of generation supply for Bonneville's Power Business Line and was responsible for power production from the Federal Columbia River Power System.

Maher worked for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service before joining Bonneville. He served as an environmental engineer for the Environmental Protection Agency’s Region IX in San Francisco in 1974.

Maher was employed as a civil engineer with Pacific Gas & Electric in San Ramon, Calif., from 1971 until 1974. He worked on construction of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant and performed environmental work on potential sites for additional nuclear plants.

He graduated from the University of Washington in 1969 with a bachelors in civil engineering, and in 1971 with a masters in civil engineering.

Dr. Kathryn McCarthy is the director of Nuclear Science and Engineering at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory where she and her staff play a key role in conducting research and development in nuclear systems analysis and design, reactor and radiation physics, thermal fluids, nuclear fuels and materials, and fusion. She received her Master's and Ph.D. degrees in nuclear engineering from the University of California, Los Angeles, and her Bachelor's degree in nuclear engineering fromp the University of Arizona.

She came to the INEEL Fusion Safety Program in 1991, focusing on examining the behavior of materials in the plasma-facing components of proposed fusion reactors. She also led a number of important experimental projects that have contributed to an understanding of the consequences of fusion reactor accidents. In 1994, McCarthy received the Fusion Power Associates Board of Directors' Excellence in Fusion Engineering Award for her 'very important contributions to fusion safety engpineering and in recognition of impressive leadership qualities.' In 1996, she received the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor Program Certificate of Merit for outstanding technical excellence and leadership in ITER Safety Research and Development. From 1998 to 2003, she served as the manager of the Nuclear Engineering Design and Research Department.

McCarthy received the ANS Women's Achievement Award in 2000 for outstanding personal dedication and technical achievement for work she performed in the fields of nuclear science, nuclear engineering, research and education. In 2002, she was elected to the American Nuclear Society's board of directors. Last year she served as chair of the Idaho section of the ANS.

James McClure was born in Payette, Payette County, Idaho, December 27, 1924; attended the public schools of Payette, Idaho; United States Navy 1; graduated, University of Idaho College of Law 1950; admitted to the bar in 1950 and commenced practice in Payette, Idaho; prosecuting attorney of Payette County 1; city attorney of Payette 1; member, State senate 1; member of the Payette County Central Committee for fifteen years; elected as a Republican to the Ninetieth Congress; reelected to the two succeeding Congresses (January 3, 1967-January 3, 1973); was not a candidate for reelection to the House of Representatives, but was elected in 1972 to the United States Senate; reelected in 1978 and again in 1984 and served from January 3, 1973, to January 3, 1991; not a candidate for reelection in 1990; chairman, Committee on Energy and Natural Resources (1981-87), Senate Republican Conference chairman (1); engaged in mining consulting business in Washington, DC; is a resident of McCall, Idaho. McClure is author of "Energy: A Positive Approach." In A Changing America: Conservatives View the '80s from the United States Senate, edited by Paul Laxalt and Richard S. Williamson, pp. 81-102. South Bend, IN: Regnery/Gateway, 1980.

Corbin A. McNeill, Jr. is the retired Chairman and co-CEO of Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), which was formed in October 2000 by the merger of PECO Energy Company and Unicom Corporation. Prior to the merger Mr. McNeill was Chairman, President, and Chief Executive Officer of PECO Energy, the Philadelphia electric and gas utility.

Mr. McNeill completed a twenty-year career with the U.S. Navy in 1981 after serving as Commanding Officer of the USS Tautog and Commanding Officer of the Naval Nuclear Power School. He joined the New York Power Authority as Resident Manager of the James A. Fitzpatrick Nuclear Power Plant in 1981 and subsequently was named Senior Vice President, Nuclear Generation. He subsequently joined Public Service Electric and Gas Company (PSE&G) as Vice President, Nuclear in March 1985 and was named Senior Vice President, Nuclear in April 1987.

In March 1988, Mr. McNeill joined PECO Energy as Executive Vice President, Nuclear. In April 1990, Mr. McNeill was elected President and Chief Operating Officer and a Director of the Company. In April 1995, he was elected to the position of President and Chief Executive Officer and in July 1997 was elected Chairman, President and Chief Executive Officer. During his tenure as Chief Executive Officer, PECO Energy was recognized as "Utility of the Year" by the Edison Electric Institute.

Mr. McNeill received his Bachelor of Science Degree in 1962 from the U.S. Naval Academy and has completed graduate courses in business at the University of California (Berkeley) and Syracuse University. He is a 1992 graduate of Stanford University's Executive Management Program.

Mr. McNeill serves on the Board of Directors of Associated Electric & Gas Insurance Services Limited (AEGIS) and is a post-bankruptcy director of Enron Corporation and its natural gas pipeline subsidiary, CrossCountry Energy where he is Chairman of the Board.

Mr. McNeill was awarded an honorary Doctor of Science degree by Drexel University in 2000. He has also received awards from the World Nuclear Association, the American Society of Mechanical Engineering, the American Nuclear Society and the Nuclear Energy Institute.

Jude Noland is editor of Clearing Up, the definitive weekly publication on energy policy, resource development and energy market news throughout the Pacific Northwest region and western Canada. Based in Seattle, Clearing Up has been clearing up Northwest energy issues since 1982, with regular coverage of supply and demand developments, court and regulatory commission activity, fish and wildlife issues, energy efficiency and other energy items of import.

Noland has over 25 years of experience with Northwest energy issues, both as a radio and print journalist and as media relations supervisor for a regional investor-owned utility. She has worked with Energy NewsData since the company launched Conservation Monitor in 1992. Noland, who has a master's degree in business communications from the University of Washington, performs her editorial duties from her home office in Walla Walla in Eastern Washington.

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