Spring Board Meeting and Conference

 for the Conference and Board Meeting and/or the Montana Reception

NW Energy Coalition
Spring Board Meeting & Conference
May 30 & 31, 2008

Best Western Helena Great Northern Hotel
835 Great Northern Blvd.
Helena, Montana 59601
(406) 457-5500 | (map)

 Draft Agenda

Subject to change

Friday, May 30th

8:00    Registration opens

8:30    Breakfast Buffet opens

9:00    Welcome and Keynote address

               Former Montana Congressman Pat Williams

9:45    Panel: Energy Efficiency: The Surest Route to our Energy Future

Moderator: Dale Horton, National Center for Appropriate Technology
Stan Price, Northwest Energy Efficiency Council
Bill Thomas, NorthWestern Energy
Mike Weedall, Bonneville Power Administration
Robert Balzar, Seattle City Light, Board member of Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance

11:00    10 min Break

11:10    Panel: Protecting the Climate and Consumers

Moderator: Representative Mary Caferro
Jim Morton, Human Resources Council, District XI
Tom Power, Professor Emeritus, Dept. of Economics, University of Montana
Joel Eisenberg, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

12:30    Lunch / Utility & Low-income Caucus Meetings

1:45    State and Regional Caucus Meetings

3:00     Panel: Montana Renewables at a Crossroads

Moderator: Ralph Cavanagh, Natural Resources Defense Council
Commissioner Ken Toole, Montana Public Service Commission
Wilbur Wood, Alternative Energy Resources Organization
Tom Schneider, Western Electricity Coordinating Council, former member of Montana Public Service Commission
Commissioner Peggy Beltrone, Cascade County Commission

4:30    Break

5:15    Evening Reception

Join Coalition members and allies for a lively evening reception celebrating our Montana member organizations. Look forward to appetizers, a no-host bar and good conversation! <More Info>

Saturday, May 31st

7:30    Breakfast

8:30    Welcome and Announcements

8:45    Strategic Planning Roundtable

10:15    Break

Registration

Register today

for the Conference and Board Meeting and/or the Montana Reception

Travel

Flights:
Important Note:  Flights in and out of Helena are very limited so we strongly encourage you to make your reservations as soon as possible! Please see below for flight information getting to/from Helena.  

Seattle & Portland Alaska Air/Horizon Flights:
Portland flights (there are many to choose from) come to Seattle and then are on the same to Helena flights below.

Seattle (SEA) To: Helena (HLN) on Thu, May 29
11:35 am - 3:10 pm  #AS2322
8:35 pm - 11:59 pm  #AS2324

Helena (HLN) To: Seattle (SEA) on Sat, May 31
3:40 pm - 4:25 pm   #AS2322

Helena (HLN) To: Seattle (SEA) on Sun, Jun 1
6:10 am - 7:50 am   #AS2321
3:40 pm - 4:25 pm   #AS2322

Delta.com has a greater selection of Helena flights, but the flight times are longer as they usually transfer through Salt Lake City.

Other Options & Carpool:
Flying into Missoula is quite a bit cheaper, and about 1.5 hours drive from Helena. There is an option for car-pooling in on Thursday evening. If you’re interested, please let us know and we’ll put you in touch.

Lodging

The Conference and Board Meeting will be at the Best Western where we’ll be having the conference. Around $100 a night. Please check around online for better deals. Free airport shuttle.

Best Western Helena Great Northern Hotel
835 Great Northern Blvd.
Helena, MT 59601
(406) 457-5500
>Map<

The Budget Inn Express is close to the Best Western and significantly cheaper.
Budget Inn Express
524 N Last Chance Gulch
Helena, MT 59601
Phone: 1-800-862-1334
>Map<