Author Archives: Bryndon Light

Holiday Happy Hour, 2022

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AEE CRC Holiday Party and Annual Meeting

Click here to register!

About this event

Please join us on Wednesday December 7, 2022 from 5-8pm in the Barrel Room at Level Beer (5211 NE 148th Ave in Portland) for our annual holiday celebration. We’ll hold a brief business meeting to conduct our office elections, announce the recipients of the annual Wrench of the Year Award, and then it’s on to celebrating a great year in energy engineering!

This in-person event is free and open to everyone. It’s a great chance to relax and connect with a group of professionals doing great work across a wide range of energy industry roles.

This free event will include:

  • Delicious appetizers and hosted bar with tasty drinks
  • Wrench of the Year Awards
  • Excellent networking with your peers
  • Opportunities to provide input on topics you’d like addressed during the coming year
  • Membership and information

June 2022 Energy Engineering Forum

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Findings and Summary of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council 2021 Power Plan

The AEE Columbia River Chapter is continuing its Energy Engineering Forum series in 2022 in a biannual format. Join us for our next EEF presentation where we will be joined by Tina Jayaweera.

Tina will present findings from the regional power plan recently adopted by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. The 2021 Power Plan provides an overview of the Northwest’s future electrical power needs, with the goal of ensuring “an adequate, efficient, economical, and reliable power supply” (from the Northwest Power Act of 1980 that created the Council). The plan develops a resource strategy to best meet the projected electricity demands over the next 20 years, based on the understanding that the future is uncertain by examining various scenarios. The presentation will provide an overview of the planning process, highlighting the dramatic changes projected across the region and the greater western interconnection, and what the Council sees as the strategy to best meet the regional needs while balancing cost and risk.

Tina Jayaweera – Power Planning Resources Manager, Northwest Power and Conservation Council

Tina Jayaweera, Power Planning Resources Manager, joined the Council in 2014 and works on energy efficiency and demand response topics as part of the development and implementation of the Council’s regional power plan. Dr. Jayaweera holds a bachelor’s degree in physics from Oberlin College and a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Cornell University. Prior to joining the Council, she was a principal in the energy services division and head of the planning and assessment team for The Cadmus Group, a consulting firm.

  • Presented: June, 2022
  • Presenter: Tina Jayaweera, Northwest Power and Conservation Council

A Letter to Members (2022)

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Happy new year! I hope that this note finds you healthy and enjoying a nice start to the year.  

The Columbia River Chapter (CRC) board was pleased to wrap up a successful 2021 and we look forward to a great 2022. We kicked off January with a half-day annual retreat to map out the year and here’s some news about upcoming initiatives and events that we have in store.  

We were happy to meet in person for our October board meeting

Here’s your first look at the new board for 2022 (you can find photos and bios of each board member on our website here):  

  • President: Elin Shepard 
  • Vice-President: Gertrude Villaverde 
  • Secretary: Candice Norton
  • Treasurer: Bill Kostich
  • Membership: Bill Henry
  • Marketing and Outreach: Tom Prevish
  • Website Committee: Bryndon Light & Tanner McCue
  • Social Media: Roxanna Magallanes
  • Wrench of the Year: Kristen Ige

These dedicated board members didn’t waste any time. They are revved up and ready to keep CRC the vibrant, informative, and fun organization that it is. Please save these dates:

  • Energy Engineering Forums: we have two EEFs this year – 
    • April 27 will be virtual (registration coming very soon) and 
    • Oct 12 will be in person. 
  • Holiday party – in person on Dec 7 at Level Beer. 

Tina Schnell, Candice Norton and Eric
Braddock at the 2021 Holiday Party

In addition to the events, here are a few exciting initiatives for this year: 

CWEEL: We plan to expand our connection with the AEE Committee on Women in Energy Efficiency Leadership (CWEEL). The CRC plans to hold CWEEL events and build a network in the local community. Our chapter VP, Gertrude Villaverde, is our CWEEL Lead and she’s working hard on upcoming events and programming.  

• Publications: AEE National publishes three quarterly journals that members may submit  for consideration to be published. If a chapter member is interested in writing a paper, we would like to offer authors a chance to have peer review before the submission. These  submissions can be made to our chapter Treasurer, Bill Kostich, or through our submission portal on the website. Authors also could have the opportunity to present these papers to a live or virtual audience. I was honored to have an article published in an AEE journal last spring and it was a great experience. We look forward to seeing many more papers published from our members.  

• Wrench of the Year: we plan to continue to recognize the amazing work of the “wrench turners” out there with our annual Wrench of the Year awards. We are accepting nominations from April to September. We’ll send out more information when they go live, but please feel free to visit our website here for more information.  


Ken Kelso, the 2021 Wrench of the Year award winner, with nominators and board members

Please connect with us on our website or LinkedIn. We’d love  to hear from you.  

Sincerely,  

Elin Shepard – CRC Board President – elin.shepard@clearesult.com

2021 WOY Award Applications

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The Association of Energy Engineers Columbia River Chapter is now accepting nominations for the 2021 Wrench of the Year Award!
           
This award is intended to acknowledge and celebrate the individuals that best exemplify the spirit of hard work, hands-on responsibility, and determination that resulted in the successful implementation of an energy efficiency project in 2021. 
         
Specifically, the award targets on-site facility personnel that are often overlooked in major efficiency projects but whose hard work and attention are key to the successful implementation and persistence of the project.
           
One winner will be selected by a committee consisting of AEE CRC board members. The winner will receive $500 cash and 2021 award plaque. The award will be announced and presented to the winner at the annual, in-person, AEE CRC Holiday Party, on December 1st, 2021 at Level Beer.
 
The Nomination window is now open! We are accepting nominations starting now until end of day Monday, November 8th, 2021. More details about the award, eligibility criteria and the process to apply can be found at:  http://www.aeecrc.org/awards/

Now is your chance to recognize your colleagues!

 

November 2021 Energy Engineering Forum

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Power to the People – A Journey Through Discrimination to Empowering Others

• click here to register •

About this event

The AEE Columbia River Chapter is committed to strengthening Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) efforts in the Pacific Northwest. We recognize the importance of challenging and addressing systemic inequality, eliminating barriers, and paving the way for an equitable future for all. Our next Energy Efficiency Forum, sponsored by the Council on Women in Energy and Environmental Leadership (CWEEL – a division of AEE national), will feature Portland’s very own Wendy Gibson, who leads Energy Trust of Oregon’s Existing Buildings Program.

About CWEEL:

The Council on Women in Energy & Environmental Leadership (CWEEL) is a division of the Association of Energy Engineers (AEE). Its mission is to support career development for professional women, mentoring, networking, and scholarships for aspiring women to pursue technical education and careers in the energy and environmental fields.

The CWEEL programs assist in career development activities of existing industry professionals and aspiring young leaders looking for supportive mentors. CWEEL meets formally three times a year at each of the major AEE tradeshows and expositions. However, we are creating a local CWEEL division as part of the AEE Columbia River Chapter, with the intention of supporting our members who identify as part of any underrepresented demographic in the energy and environmental industries.

Speaker:

Wendy Gibson – Senior Program Manager, Energy Trust of Oregon

In her role at Energy Trust, Wendy is focused on developing a more equitable program by identifying and breaking down both acute and systemic barriers that have traditionally prevented some individuals and businesses from being served by the program. She’ll also share her perspective and experience overcoming gender discrimination and career obstacles as a female non-engineer in an industry traditionally dominated by white men.

Wendy has worked in the facilities and sustainability fields for over 16 years both as a facilities manager and a consultant. She has a BS in Sociology and is an expert at focusing on the people side of buildings. She enjoys supporting organizations through the change management process as they integrate energy management best practices into their company to ensure persistent savings. She is also a skilled presenter and facilitator and enjoys all aspects of bringing people together to learn from one another.

Agenda:

45 minute presentation followed by Q&A

This event is free to attend. Members of the local AEE Columbia River Chapter will receive certificates of attendance and professional development hours. If you’re not already a member but would like to join, click here for more info and a 50% discount code.

Webinar Info:

Call-In Details:

  • +14086380968,,89931168171#,,,,*104646# US (San Jose)

AEECRC Receives National Award for Best Website

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AEE CRC received the national award for best chapter website in 2021!

Note: Click the  button in the screen below to view our announcement video!

This award was presented in response to our website and showcases the involvement of our chapter board members in their organization, and technical aptitude to present chapter materials in an effective and professional manner.

Thank you for all your hard work and for staying involved in our local chapter!

Thank you to our board web master, Bryndon Light, for his work on improving and creating technically-oriented content for many of our chapter’s needs.

Special thanks to Marina Garcia and Ashley Girres for their expertise in creating professional marketing materials.

We look forward to seeing you at the next AEE CRC event!

Did you know we also won a national recognition award last year?

Click here to learn more!

  • To learn more about and stream our past events click here.
  • If you would like to join our next AEE CRC events, click here for details on upcoming events.
  • We will soon be providing information on application / nomination submissions for this year’s Wrench of the Year Award.
  • For now, you can check out nominees from past years here.

September 2021 Energy Engineering Forum

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Power Generation and Resource Adequacy in the Pacific Northwest Energy Transition

About this event

Join the AEE Columbia River Chapter on May 5th for our next Energy Engineering Forum, sponsored by Energy Trust of Oregon.

With HB 2021 set to become effective in Oregon this month, all three West Coast states have set binding 100% clean electricity objectives. Additional states and local jurisdictions across the western US are following closely. These policies will increase investment in wind and solar electricity, hasten the retirement of fossil fuel power generation, and usher in a new era of technology innovation on the power grid. However, many large questions remain open about how this will all play out, particularly regarding resource adequacy – ensuring the grid has enough of the right kind of resources to remain reliable. This talk will not answer those questions but will explore some of the key factors that are set to shape the future clean energy resource mix in the Pacific Northwest.

This event is free to attend. Members of the local AEE Columbia River Chapter will receive certificates of attendance and professional development hours. If you’re not already a member but would like to join, click here for more info and a 50% discount code.

Speaker:

Bill Henry, CEM

Bill is an independent energy industry consultant with an ambition to accelerate the energy system transition by assisting in infrastructure planning in key focus areas of offshore wind and renewable hydrogen. He leads a newly established forum for planning offshore wind transmission infrastructure in partnership with the Pacific Ocean Energy Trust and is engaged in assessing the capabilities and planning needs of renewable hydrogen under deep decarbonization futures. His prior work in consulting and project development spans a wide range including demand response, energy efficiency, distributed energy resources, energy market policy, and natural gas decarbonization. He holds a B.S. in Construction Engineering Management from Oregon State University, and an M.S. in Engineering & Technology Management from Portland State University.

Agenda:

45 minute presentation followed by Q&A

Webinar Info:

  • Meeting ID: 869 7623 7673
  • Passcode: 637247

Join Zoom Meeting: click here

Find your local number: click here

September 2021 Energy Efficiency Forum image

Register for CEM, 2021

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Event Details

Dates:
  • Oct 25-29, 2021
Venue:
  • Cascade Energy
  • 123 NE 3rd Avenue Suite 400
  • Portland, Oregon 97232

To register for the CEM training, complete the following steps:

  1. Complete the AEE CRC CEM Registration Form
  2. Pay the CEM course fee (see section “Paying the CEM Course Fee” below)
  3. Complete the AEE National form (see section “AEE National Form” below)
  4. Review the “Additional Resources” section below

PAYING THE CEM COURSE FEE

Important Note:

  • All registration ends October 8, 2021

Course Fees:

  • Early Bird Admission (non-AEE member): $2195 (for non-AEE members who register before September 15th, 2021)
  • Standard Admission (non-AEE member): $2395 (for non-AEE members who register after September 15th, 2021)
  • Standard Admission (AEE members): $2195
  • Student Admission: reduced cost for active students – click here to email Gertrude Villaverde and request your reduced rate!

If you already have a Venmo account:

  1. Using your mobile device, navigate to: venmo.com/AEE-CRC
  2. Verify you’re on the correct screen to send payment to “AEE-CRC”
  3. Select “Pay or Request”
  4. Include the payment amount with the payment memo “CEM Registration Fee”
  5. Select “Pay”

If you don’t already have a Venmo account, follow these steps to pay the fee:

  1. Create an account at Venmo.com
  2. Link your bank account
  3. Using your mobile device, navigate to: venmo.com/AEE-CRC
  4. Verify you’re on the correct screen to send payment to “AEE-CRC”
  5. Select “Pay or Request”
  6. Include the payment amount with the payment memo “CEM Registration Fee”
  7. Select “Pay”

AEE NATIONAL FORM

Attendees are encouraged to complete a Certified Energy Manager (CEM) Exam Application or Energy Manager in Training (EMIT) Exam Application 3-4 weeks prior to taking the exam. If an applicant doesn’t meet one of the CEM eligibility criteria, they can still apply for the Energy Manager In-Training certification, EMIT. The EMIT certification is valid for six years, which allows applicants time to meet the full CEM certification eligibility requirements. Anyone who misses the 3-week deadline for the application submittal can still take the exam, but will need to complete an application waiver form on exam day, and then submit the CEM or EMIT application at a later date. We encourage all students to submit the application ahead of time so they can be pre-approved for the certification. If you have any questions regarding the application process, please contact Crystal Xiong / 770-447-5083 x.218 / crystal@aeecenter.org.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

Prior to the training, students should review:

Students should bring to the training:

  • Calculator – Allowed calculators include scientific, business/financial or graphing calculator, unless it has internet capability. For example, TI 30, 30x, 35 and 35x range will work well. Business/Financial calculators offer the ability to quickly check ‘time value of money’ computations. Prohibited Calculators: Smartphones, tablet, or laptop computers, including PDAs, electronic writing pads or pen-input devices, calculators built into cell phones or any other electronic communication devices.

Summer Social – Come Join Us!

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POSTPONED due to COVID-19 variants

Summer Social – Come Join Us!

Join the upcoming Summer Social event, hosted by Oregon APEM and AEE Columbia River Chapter

Event Details:

  • Cost (updated): Covered by Energy350 for the first 200 attendees! Sign up soon to have your addmission covered. After first 200 attendees, cost will be $10/person. Includes two drink tickets and food. Registration is required and room is limited.
  • Who: Oregon APEM and AEE Columbia River Chapter have joined forces for a Summer Social event!
  • When: Thursday, August 19, 2021 | 4-8 pm
    • POSTPONED due to COVID-19 variants
  • Where: Energy 350, 1033 SE Main St, Portland, OR 97214
  • Why: Please join us for an awesome evening of in-person networking – it’s a chance to re-connect with colleagues and friends.
  • Please note: The event space is located outside and current COVID protocols will be followed.

Register Here!

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