Retreat on Improving Energy Resilience in the State of Oregon

December 11 – 12 | Salem, OR

The state of Oregon, in partnership with the National Governors Association Center for Best Practices (NGA Center), is hosting a retreat on policies and strategies to improve energy resilience. Based on opportunities identified in the NGA Center’s State Resilience Assessment and Planning Tool, the objectives of this retreat are to assist Oregon leadership in identifying actions that will improve the state’s resilience in the event of a prolonged outage of the electric grid. At the end of the retreat, participants will have:

  • Learned about current state resilience plans, such as the Cascadia Playbook and Oregon Fuel Action Plan;
  • Discussed opportunities to improve resilience for future energy emergencies;
  • Identified solutions to improve fuel security for critical, lifeline assets and electricity response and restoration efforts;
  • Explored solutions for continuity of governance (COG) and continuity of operations planning (COOP) for state government during energy emergencies; and
  • Developed potential recommendations for future actions the governor can pursue.

Agenda 

December 11, 2018

Welcome, Introduction, & Meeting Goals

Background & State Introductions

  • Speakers:
    • Mike Harryman, State Resilience Officer, Office of Governor Kate Brown
    • Dan Lauf, Energy Program Director, Environment, Energy, and Transportation, National Governors Association

Oregon Context: The Threats to Energy Security:

  • Moderator:
    • Dan Lauf, Energy Program Director, Environment, Energy, and Transportation Division, National Governors Association Center for Best Practices
  • Speakers:
    • Althea Rizzo, Geologic Hazards Coordinator, Oregon Office of Emergency Management
    • Adam Schultz, Senior Policy Analyst, Oregon Department of Energy
    • Yumei Wang, Geotechnical Engineer, Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries

State Resilience Assessment and Planning Tool: Key Takeaways and Lessons

  • Speakers:
    • Mike Harryman, State Resilience Officer, Office of Governor Kate Brown
    • Sonya Andron, Operations and Preparedness Manager, Oregon Office of Emergency Management
    • Adam Schultz, Senior Policy Analyst, Oregon Department of Energy
    • Shannon Marheine, Critical Infrastructure Program Coordinator, Oregon Department of Justice Fusion Center
    • Lori Koho, Administrator, Safety, Reliability, and Security Division, Public Utility Commission of Oregon

Working Lunch: Leading and Decision Making in Complex Environments – Ideas for COOP/COG Energy Scenario 

  • Moderator:
    • Reza Zomorrodian, Policy Analyst, Homeland Security & Public Safety Division, National Governors Association Center for Best Practices
  • Speaker
    • Glen Woodbury, Director, Center for Homeland Defense and Security, Naval Postgraduate School

Identifying Critical Infrastructure for Prioritized Resilience Investment 

  • Moderator:
    • Dan Lauf, NGA
  • Speakers:
    • Allison Pyrch, President, American Society of Civil Engineers, Oregon Section
    • Jay Landstrom, T&D Asset Manager, Portland General Electric
    • Chass Jones, Protective Security Advisor – Oregon District, Office of Infrastructure Protection, U.S. Department of Homeland Security
    • Douglas Toomey, Professor, University of Oregon

Ensuring Fuel Security for Expedited Recovery

  • Moderator:
    • Reza Zomorrodian, NGA
  • Speakers:
    • Deanna Henry, Emergency Preparedness Manager, Oregon Department of Energy
    • Jill Nordstrom, Data & Programs Section Supervisor Washington State Department of Commerce
    • Suzanne Lemieux, Manager, Midstream and Industry Operations, American Petroleum Institute

Group Discussion and Feedback: Resilience Prioritization

December 12, 2018

Continuity of Government (COG) and Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP) for a Severe Energy Emergency

  • Moderator:
    • Reza Zomorrodian, NGA
  • Speakers:
    • Erik Rau, Emergency Management Planner, Oregon Office of Emergency Management
    • Brigadier General William B. Richy, Director, Idaho Office of Emergency Management and Director, Joint Staff, Idaho Joint Force Headquarters
    • Mike Harryman, State Resilience Officer, Office of Governor Kate Brown

Managing the Grid

  • Moderator:
    • Dan Lauf, NGA
  • Speakers:
    • Lori Koho, Administrator, Safety, Reliability, and Security Division, Public Utility Commission of Oregon
    • David McKay, COOP Coordinator, Oregon Department of Energy
    • Qing Liu, COOP Coordinator, Public Utility Commission of Oregon

Group Discussion and Feedback: Discussion of COOP and COG Priorities of Attendees

  • Moderator:
    • Reza Zomorrodian, NGA

Next Steps

  • Speakers:
    • Mike Harryman, State Resilience Officer, Office of Governor Kate Brown
    • Dan Lauf, Energy Program Director, NGA Center