FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Thursday, Oct. 8 CONTACT: Jeff Morris (360) 941-5678 [email protected] Mark Stayton PNWER Media and Communications Coordinator 206-443-7723 [email protected] Legislators from U.S., Canada graduate from Legislative Energy Horizon Institute Bi-national training program creates energy policy experts, results in more effective legislation WASHINGTON D.C. — Thirty-five state and provincial legislators from the U.S. and Canada and four energy staff will graduate from the Legislative Energy Horizon Institute (LEHI), accredited through University of Idaho, at 5:30 p.m., Thursday, October 8. The certificate program in energy policy is designed specifically for state and provincial legislators. It provides an extensive overview of the North American energy system, from operating energy systems to building and financing infrastructure to regulation methods and market impacts. Graduating legislators have completed 60 hours of classroom instruction in Richland, Washington and Washington D.C. Since the program's inception in 2009, 160 legislators from the U.S. and Canada have graduated. The LEHI program provides legislators with comprehensive, up-to-date information on the nation's complex energy systems; helping them become leaders in energy policy and make better-informed decisions, said Matt Morrison, Chief Executive Officer of PNWER. “Participants gain a more concrete understanding of the electric grid and how it operates, as well as the relationship between climate and energy. This helps them to make more informed and effective policy,” Morrison said.

The four-day course included instruction and hands-on exercises in: • Generation, transmission and distribution of electricity, petroleum and natural gas • Integrating renewable energy into the grid • Biomass as an energy product • Alternative fuels for transportation and the state of electric vehicles in North America • Aligning utility regulation with state energy policies • Challenges faced by energy companies Legislators from five graduating classes have praised the course as an effective learning experience that connected them with colleagues, partners and resources within the energy sector. "Energy issues are complex and interconnected. This course has been very helpful and what I have learned will enable me to make informed policy decisions. I am very appreciative for the opportunity to participate," said 2014 graduate Sen. Bill Hansell, Oregon. LEHI is operated by PNWER in partnership with the U.S. Department of Energy, the University of Idaho, the National Conference of State Legislatures, the Government of Canada and the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. Jeff Morris is director of the program. MORE ABOUT LEHI The Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) and the National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) partnered with the University of Idaho and the Department of Energy to create the Legislative Energy Horizon Institute (LEHI) in 2009. The program is designed to educate state legislators on the North American energy infrastructure and delivery system. High turnover in state legislative bodies decreases the institutional knowledge concerning energy issues in states and provincial legislatures. Legislators must understand multifaceted issues associated with electricity, natural gas and petroleum infrastructure — as well as regulation governing this infrastructure — in order to make responsible and informed policy decisions. Learn more at www.pnwer.org/energyhorizon. MORE ABOUT PNWER Founded in 1991, PNWER is the only statutory, non-partisan, bi-national, public/private partnership in North America. PNWER is the forum for collaborative bi-national planning involving both the public and private sectors and offers leadership at the state/provincial level in Oregon, Washington, Idaho, Montana, Alaska, Alberta, Calgary, British Colombia, Northwest Territories and Yukon, and at the national level in Washington, DC and Ottawa. PNWER facilitates working groups consisting of public and private leaders to address specific issues impacting our regional economy. For more information, visit www.pnwer.org.