In this message:
  • PNWER Highlight Reel
  • PNWER in Washington D.C.
  • Invasive Species Updates
  • Earthquake Exercise
  • Forestry: Wildfire Funding
  • Transportation
  • NAFTA Update & Report
  • Annual Summit registration and agenda
  • Center For Regional Disaster Resilience Update
  • Annual Report
  • Partner events
PNWER Highlight Reel
PNWER has had a very successful month with a string of wins in advocating for our region. Scroll down for more!
PNWER Advocates for Canadian Tariff Exemption
"Tariffs- The Wrong Way to Achieve Greater Economic Growth, Resilience, and Security in North America;" PNWER consulted with stakeholders, hours after the proposed tariff announcement, to send a strong message to D.C that the region benefits from a close relationship.

Link to letter sent to the White House and Congressional Leadership. An exemption for Canada was announced last week.
PNWER in Washington D.C.
Spotlight on the Arctic
PNWER visited Washington, D.C. for another round of meetings with state and federal leadership. One of the highlights was PNWER's North American Arctic Leaders Roundtable held on March 15, featuring Representatives from the U.S., Canada and Greenland, as well as many experts in the Arctic region.
Promoting PNW at The Energy Council
State legislators and high-level federal energy officials convened at The Energy Council in early March in D.C. PNWER President Senator Arnie Roblan addressed the group and Nirav Desai, PNWER Innovation Co-chair, spoke on harnessing innovation. PNWER has partnered with The Energy Council to provide expert briefings to our members on federal energy policy.
State Sen. Giessel, Sen. Sullivan, Rep. Young, Sen. Murkowski, and Sen. Stedman at the PNWER Arctic Roundtable
Sen. Arnie Roblan provided opening remarks to US and Canadian energy leaders.
Invasive Species Update
PNWER has worked with state agencies, federal legislators and officials, as well as regional nonprofit associations to support and organize the region’s defense against these mussels for the past several years. PNWER and partners were instrumental in securing the initial $9 million in federal funding in 2016. A Regional Framework for Perimeter Defense against invasive zebra and quagga mussels was written by PNWER’s Invasive Species Working Group. The framework identifies ways states and Canadian provinces can work together to prevent the spread of mussels and estimates funding needs and possible sources to implement control measures. More details here .
Earthquake Recovery Exercise
Blue Cascades VII Recovery Exercise
PNWER hosted an Exercise on post-earthquake disaster recovery efforts, on March 21 at the SeaTac Hilton Hotel. 125 + energy, transportation, healthcare, education and other sectors attended.

Focus was placed on recovery priorities, public/private sector collaborations, and discussion on how to plan for the long term recovery process. Info on past exercises here .
Local Media covered the Exercise:
Forestry: Wildfire Funding Fix
PNWER has long advocated for a fix to the wildfire funding methods. In the past years, PNWER has written letters to Congressional leaders, met with Representatives in D.C., and organized working group sessions that discussed forest management policies.

Congress recently passed a bill that will increase funding to the National Park Service.

Forest management; Good Neighbor Authority and use of drones in wildfire response to be addressed at PNWER Summit.
Transportation
P NWER pushes for strategic infrastructure investments to reduce bottlenecks and grow our economy

Transportation & Infrastructure Co-chairs Sen. Chuck Winder, ID and Bruce Agnew submitted an op-ed in Northern Idaho paper supporting a second rail bridge over Lake Pend Oreille.

Train travels over Lake Pend Oreille
Photo courtesy of Spokesman Review
NAFTA Update
Latest News:
Upcoming PNWER Events
Highlights: Policy Tours
Policy Tour registration will be part of the main Summit registration:
Fairchild Air Force Base Tour

When: Wednesday, July 25
2:30 pm - 5:30 pm

Fairchild AFB is home to a wide variety of units and missions. Over 5,200 active duty Air Force, Air National Guard, and tenant organization military and civilian employees work on Fairchild, making the base the largest employer in Eastern Washington.

Attendees will be given a tour of the base's facilities and learn more about the important role the vase plays in the local economy.
Delegates

​PNWER Summits routinely bring in 550+ 
outstanding attendees.

​Typical guest lists include:
60+ state, provincial and territorial legislators
50 corporate CEOs or VPs
60 NGO executive directors
Several federal legislators 
15 University Presidents 
90+ governmental officials
​
This year's summit will be in Spokane, WA from July 22-26 .

Join us as we explore the challenges and solutions that the PNW region faces.

Hear from 125 industry leaders across 20+ sessions , covering a spectrum of fields including agriculture, transportation, tourism, (health) innovation, and energy.

Discuss and network with regional business leaders, government officials, academic and non-profit stakeholders.

The Summit schedule is now online. Click here.
News Around the Region
Washington State Partners with DNV GL on a mission for sustainable maritime sector growth, DNV GL here .

Inslee signs executive order to protect orcas, Chinook Salmon, Office of Governor Jay Inslee here .

BNSF to double track on line linking to Spokane Valley to Hauser, Idaho, The Spokesman-Review here .

Montana Wildfires Provide a Wealth of Data On Health Effects Of Smoke Exposure, NPR here .

How does the Tsunami Warning System Work?, Oregon State Legislature here .

Trudeau promises government recognition of Indigenous rights, The Globe and Mail here .

Trans Mountain decision by appeal court is a 'victory' for Alberta and pipelines, Notley says, CBC here.
The latest in Emergency Preparedness and Disaster Resilience Projects:

When: April 26, 2018
Where: St. Alphonsus Regional Medical Center (Boise, ID)


Op-Ed Piece:
Olympia's indifference to earthquake prep could kill us all, Crosscut here .
Annual Report 2017
Download the PDF File here .

Click for Brief Updates on:


See our Highlights of 2017  here .
Thank You to Our Early Sponsors
Sponsorship Opportunities Available!

The Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) is the premier nonpartisan organization bringing together policy makers, non-profits, and business leaders to support the development of our regional economy. PNWER is recognized by both the United States and Canada as a model for regional and bi-national cooperation because of its proven success. 

ABOUT PNWER

The Pacific NorthWest Economic Region (PNWER) was created in 1991 by the states of Alaska, Idaho, Oregon, Montana, Washington, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, and the Yukon and Northwest Territories. 

It is a statutory public/private non-profit dedicated to increasing the economic well-being and quality of life for all citizens of the region, while maintaining and enhancing our natural environment.

Our overarching goals are to:
  • Coordinate provincial and state policies throughout the region
  • Identify and promote "models of success"
  • Serve as a conduit to exchange information.
  • Promote greater regional collaboration
  • Enhance the competitiveness of the region in both domestic and international markets
  • Leverage regional influence in Ottawa and Washington D.C.
  • Achieve continued economic growth while maintaining the region's natural environment
Connect with PNWER on Social Media
Keep up to date on the latest PNWER activities and news around the Region.
Partner Events
What : GoGreen Seattle
When : Wednesday, April 4, 2018
Where : Washington State Conference Center, Eighth Avenue at Pike Street, 3rd Floor 
Registration : https://goo.gl/PpskPM  
Who Attends : Business and public sector decision-makers focused on sustainability

Use code  PNWER30 for  30% off registration today

GoGreen empowers business decision makers with sustainability strategies, tools and connections to create positive change within their organizations by facilitating environmental, economic and social performance improvement through our topics and best practices covered at each conference. View the  2018 Conference Program  and our featured  Case Studies/Speakers  and join us for an action packed day of driving social and sustainable change in your organization!
When: September 26-28, 2018
Where: Vancouver, British Columbia

High level talks on:
  • North American Trade Agreements
  • Border Management & Transportation
  • Automation & Productivity in Business
  • Mexico: Post 2018 Presidential Election

The NASCO Continental Reunion brings together North American industry and government leaders in a unique way and features ideas and solutions regarding our continent’s borders, trade and transportation network.
The common thread at each year's reunion is how to strengthen North American cooperation at the grassroots level. A strong agenda focused on supply chain networks, transportation efficiency, border management, and workforce development make for a busy two days.