PR 23-24                                                         

BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION
                                                            FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday, Nov. 25, 2024
                                          CONTACT: Maryam Habibi, BPA, 503-230-4413 or 503-230-5131

BPA celebrates 15 years of energy efficiency with the Energy Smart Industrial Program 

Portland, OR – The Bonneville Power Administration celebrates the 15th anniversary of its Energy Smart Industrial program, highlighting its profound impact on the industrial sector and pivotal role in advancing energy efficiency across the Pacific Northwest. The program has been instrumental in helping businesses grow, compete and meet the region’s ambitious energy conservation targets.

"The ESI program has transformed how industries view and manage their energy consumption," said Jamae Hilliard Creecy, BPA's Vice President of Energy Efficiency. "Over the past 15 years, BPA has helped utilities to build strong, long-term relationships with their key industrial-end users, paving the way for sustained energy savings, operational improvements with facilities receiving several other non-energy benefits."

In the past 15 years, the program has completed over 7,000 projects focused on industrial process, system, and device-level measures, resulting in over 240 average megawatts in first-year energy savings—enough to power 175,000 Northwest homes.

As the Pacific Northwest prepares to retire over 2,000 aMW of coal generation while integrating a variety of energy resources, BPA’s commitment to industrial energy efficiency remains unwavering. By leveraging the expertise and collaboration of utilities, industries, and regional stakeholders, the ESI program is set to lead the region in achieving greater energy savings, by implementing energy management practices and supporting energy-related climate and national decarbonization goals.

Learn more about the program benefits and the exceptional participation rate in the BPA Newsroom.


About BPA The Bonneville Power Administration is a federal non-profit power marketing administration that delivers reliable, low-cost and carbon-free hydropower produced in the Columbia River Basin to communities across the Northwest. BPA also owns and operates more than 15,000 circuit miles of high-voltage transmission lines and administers one of the largest, most comprehensive fish and wildlife conservation programs in the United States. A leader in promoting energy efficiency, BPA has saved more than 2,500 average megawatts of energy since 1980. More information about these and other activities is available on our Media Relations page.

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PR 22-24

BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION 
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday, Nov. 19, 2024 
CONTACT: Maryam Habibi, BPA, 503-230-4413

BPA selects Chris Wilk as chief information officer

Wilk will take over the role and join BPA’s executive team on Dec. 1, 2024 

Portland, Oregon – The Bonneville Power Administration has named Chris Wilk as its chief information officer and executive vice president of Information Technology. Wilk will take over the role on Dec. 1. 

Wilk comes to BPA from the Southeastern Power Administration, where he served as CIO for three years. He also served as BPA's acting CIO during the first half of 2024. 

“Chris brings to BPA a depth of experience in civil service, industry and the military that gives him a uniquely well-rounded perspective and the ability to create connections, collaborate and build coalitions across diverse groups at all levels," said Chief Administrative Officer Robin Furrer. 

The CIO and executive vice president of Information Technology is responsible for developing and supporting BPA-wide technology systems and providing governance and planning to meet BPA's mission and objectives. In this position, Wilk will have overall responsibility, oversight, direction and accountability for BPA information and operational technology-related programs.

After completing his undergraduate studies at the University of Colorado, Wilk was commissioned through the U.S. Army Officer Candidate School at Fort Benning, Georgia. While on active duty, he served with the storied 10th Mountain Division as part of Operation Enduring Freedom as well as with the 15th Signal Brigade and U. S. Army Cyber Center of Excellence. 

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to serve as BPA's chief information officer," said Wilk. “Technology is a key partner and enabler, supporting nearly all aspects of our agency's mission. I look forward to working with BPA’s workforce as we help move the agency forward during a time of critical transformation."

You can read more about Wilk’s qualifications and responsibilities in BPA’s newsroom. 

About BPA: BPA is a federal non-profit power marketing administration that delivers reliable, affordable and carbon-free hydropower produced in the Columbia River Basin to communities across the Northwest. BPA also owns and operates more than 15,000 circuit miles of high-voltage transmission lines and administers one of the largest, most comprehensive fish and wildlife conservation programs in the United States. More information about these and other activities is available on our Media Relations page.

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