December 2014

Thanks for attending! 
AT THE WINTER MEETING
Legislators and business leaders from the Northwestern U.S. and Canada met November 19 - 22 in Seattle for the Economic Leadership Forum and Converge@Seattle Innovation Summit.

The Economic Leadership Forum brought Canadian and U.S. state and provincial legislators together with business leaders to work on regional, bi-national solutions to high priority issues. Leaders from Alaska, Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana, and the Canadian provinces / territories of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and Yukon and Northwest Territories focused on the region's innovation ecosystem and how the region can be more collaborative. At the Winter Meeting, delegates:
  • Collaborated to develop an energy efficiency roadmap for Net Zero emissions in new construction of buildings by 2030
  • Discussed the launch of a plan to prevent invasive species infestations that could cost the Pacific Northwest up to half a billion dollars annually and seriously impact fresh water ecosystems
  • Discussed solutions for transportation and market access issues in rail capacity across the region to get goods to market
  • Addressed best practices in workforce development and middle market businesses expansion
  • Created a task force to provide CBSA and CBP ongoing input and recommendations on the implementation of the U.S. - Canada pre-clearance agreement once it has been released
  • Held a round table about ocean energy projects and how ocean energy can be integrated into the greater North American energy picture
  • Shared best practices at the Converge@Seattle Innovation Summit on Thursday, addressing topics such as: 'How can we thrive in an increasingly connected world?" with a specific look at start-ups, higher education, women in innovation, digital economy, and the new manufacturing renaissance
  • Saw the 'working waterfront' of the Seattle harbor by boat, and learned how important the maritime and industrial manufacturing sector is to the entire region from 12 public / private sector speakers
A special Disaster Resilience for Legislators session was hosted by PNWER's Center for Regional Disaster Resilience and Glen Woodbury, Director, Center for Homeland Defense and Security at Naval Postgraduate School. Another pre-meeting session hosted by the Consulate General of Canada in Seattle featured best practices of P 3's: public-private partnerships for infrastructure in Canada and the U.S.

Keynote speakers included Premier of the Northwest Territories, Hon. Bob McLeod, who discussed the future of the Arctic and Arctic issues; Lynne Platt, U.S. Consul General in Vancouver; Commissioner Bill Bryant of the Port of Seattle; David Giuliani of the Washington Business Alliance; Joe Sprague, Senior Vice President of Communications and External Relations, Alaska Airlines; and Kat Taylor, CEO of Beneficial State Bank.
RESOURCES
HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WINTER MEETING
Thanks to Argosy Cruises and SSA Marine for a fantastic harbor cruise of Elliott Bay. Rep. Gael Tarleton was grateful other state legislators could see the 'working waterfront' of the Seattle harbor, and understand how important the maritime and industrial manufacturing sector is to the entire region.
"The best ideas about how to make things work back and forth across the border have come from groups like the Pacific NorthWest Economic Region," said  Lynne Platt, U.S. Consul General in Vancouver, B.C. 
The Honourable Bob McLeod, Premier of the Northwest Territories, addressed the future of the Arctic. We're looking forward to our 2015 Winter Meeting in Yellowknife, NWT.

The Invasive Species working group held a workshop to discuss the zebra and quagga mussel perimeter plan.
Mayor of Surrey, B.C., Dianne Watts, addressed a pre-meeting public-private partnership session hosted by Canada's Consulate General in Seattle.
POLICY TOURS
At the Bullitt Center.
Bullitt Foundation

 

PNWER Delegates had an amazing opportunity to visit the Bullitt Center, the world's greenest commercial building in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. Delegates viewed cutting-edge sustainability features including net zero energy and water, composting toilets, toxic-free materials, FSC wood, and more. The goal of the Bullitt Center is to drive change in the marketplace faster and further by showing what's possible today and bringing innovative ideas in one place. The tour was a great compliment to the Energy Efficiency Roadmap discussion earlier in the day.

 

Puget Sound Energy Hydroelectric Project

Delegates in front of one of the hydro project's original generators.

Delegates enjoyed breathtaking views and learned about renewable hydroelectric power at Washington's most popular tourist attraction. Snoqualmie Falls Hydroelectric Project is Puget Sound Energy's oldest power-generating operation and is situated at a 270 -foot waterfall. After learning of the engineering feats behind building the world's first completely underground power plant, delegates enjoyed an engaging discussion on federal operating licensing and the recent major redevelopment of the project. Thank you to PSE for hosting us! 


 

     

 
  
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