News & Events

NPA releases Renewable Energy Report

NPA Board adopts 2008 Legislative/Regulatory Policy Statement

NPA 2008 Winter Conference

February 20-21, 2008
Lincoln

Conference Presentations:

• Sustainable Renewable Energy: A Nebraska Perspective - Kenneth G. Cassman
• Electricity Technologies in a Carbon-Constrained Future - Tina Taylor
• APPA’s CEO Climate Change Task Force - Mark Crisson
• It’s a New Legislature - It’s a New Game - Shelley Sahling-Zart
• Renewable Energy Background and Outlook for Nebraska Electricity Consumers Report -
  Clint Johannes

Print and complete the Conference Evaluation Form and return it to the address listed at the top of the form or email it to ALawton@les.com.

Conference Brochure

 

Featured Speakers

Understanding and Managing the Generations in Today's Workplace -
From Matures (born prior to 1946) to Millennials (Born 1981 - 1999):
How Do They Affect Workplace Changes?"

Jeff VanKooten is a senior consultant with The Center for Generational Studies and specializes in exploring and communicating issues of cultural change and generational understanding. Jeff’s experiences as a business professional, high school teacher, youth worker, and pastor give him the perfect mix to understand people of all ages and backgrounds, challenging them to pursue more harmonious relationships.

He holds bachelors degrees in communications and psychology and a Masters in Theology. Jeff is a member of the National Speakers Association – the leading organization for those who speak professionally.

Because he’s had 22 years experience from the platform, and because he’s just downright funny, Jeff will cause you both to laugh and to learn.

Global Climate Change - Two Perspectives
How Politicians See It

Mark Crisson became President & CEO of American Public Power Association on Dec. 1, 2007. Prior to joining APPA, Crisson worked at Tacoma Public Utilities in the positions of Director of Utilities/Chief Executive Officer (1993-2007) and Deputy Director of Utilities (1987-1993).

From 1985 to 1987, Crisson served as Executive Director for Direct Service Industries, Inc. in Portland, Ore. He also was Manager of Northwest Power and Public Affairs for Martin Marietta Aluminum Inc. in Portland from 1983 to 1987.

Crisson held several positions in Power Management and Operations at Tacoma Public Utilities from 1975 to 1983, and served as an Officer in the U.S. Navy for five years. He has served in numerous capacities on a variety of utility-related boards, including serving as Board Chairman of APPA from 2002 to 2003.

Crisson has a Bachelor of Science degree in Applied Engineering from the U.S. Naval Academy and an M.B.A. from Pacific Lutheran University.

Global Climate Change - Two Perspectives
"A Scientific Approach" - Electric Power Research Institute

Tina Taylor is Director of Business Development in the Environment Sector. She is responsible for partnerships, initiatives and services that add value to and extend the reach of EPRI’s research. Ms. Taylor is currently leading work in the areas of climate change, fish protection, water availability and sustainability.

Taylor has worked in the electric power industry for 20 years and joined EPRI in 1997. She led the Engineering and Environment Services group at EPRI Solutions since its inception in 2001. Prior to joining EPRI Solutions she was a
project manager in the Nuclear Sector of EPRI where she was responsible for the development and delivery of a realtime plant monitoring and diagnostic system.

Previously, Ms. Taylor specialized in chemistry and corrosion work for nuclear plants, working as a senior engineer at B&W Nuclear Technologies and before that as an engineer at Northeast Utilities.

Ms. Taylor holds a BS degree in chemical engineering from Tufts University.

Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research

Dr. Ken Cassman is Director of the Nebraska Center for Energy Science Research at the University of Nebraska, and the Heuermann Professor of Agronomy. His research and teaching efforts have focused on ensuring local and global food security while improving environmental quality in the many of the world’s most productive cropping systems.  Currently he is evaluating the potential of corn-ethanol biofuels to reduce dependence on imported oil, mitigate greenhouse gas emissions, and improve soil and water quality.

In previous positions, Dr Cassman has worked as a research agronomist in Brazil, Egypt and the Philippines.  He received a PhD (1979) from the University of Hawaii’s College of Tropical Agriculture, and a bachelor’s degree in Biology from the University of California (1975). He is a Fellow in the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Society of Agronomy, the Crop Science Society of America, and the Soil Science Society of America, and has received a number of national and international awards for his contributions to crop and soil science.

Preliminary Program

NPA 2008 Calendar of Events