| People People on the move IWP&DC reports on recent appointments in the industry New CEO for Suomen Voima


The Board of Directors of Suomen Voima Oy has appointed Pekka Saijonmaa (M.Sc.) as the CEO. Saijonmaa has been with the company since 2016, serving as Director of Development. Prior to joining Suomen Voima, Saijonmaa worked in management consulting and has over 15 years of experience within the energy industry and markets. Saijonmaa succeeds Antti Vilkuna, who has successfully led Suomen Voima as its CEO since 2017. Saijonmaa will also replace Mr. Vilkuna as the CEO of SV Vesivoima Oy. The take over was completed during December 2023. “Suomen Voima has a strong and capable


organization, and we believe that under Pekka’s leadership, the company has excellent conditions to continue on the path of success”, Heikki Hapuli, the chairman of Suomen Voima’s board summarized.


Under Vilkuna’s leadership, Suomen Voima has increased its own electricity procurement fivefold and thus considerably increased the company’s importance as a strategic electricity procurement channel for its owners. The company also has a comprehensive wind power development portfolio, mainly through the subsidiary company Puhuri Oy, where Vilkuna has served as CEO from its early days until last summer. “We want to thank Antti for his tireless and successful efforts in developing Suomen Voima from a project development company into a production company”, said Hapuli. Vilkuna stepped down from the position of CEO of wind power company Puhuri last summer when he turned 60.


US Bureau of Reclamation’s names new California-Great Basin regional director


US Bureau of Reclamation Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton has announced the selection of Karl Stock as the new regional director for the California-Great Basin Region. Stock will succeed Ernest Conant, who will assume the role of senior advisor to the deputy commissioner for operations. Stock will lead the management, development and protection of water and related resources in the region, including one of the nation’s largest and most complex water projects, the Central Valley Project. He will also oversee Oregon’s Klamath Project; Nevada’s Truckee Storage projects; and California’s


Orland, Solano, Cachuma and Ventura River projects. “Karl’s extensive experience across


Reclamation’s many programs and offices, and his collaborative approach will serve our partners well as Reclamation invests historic funding to improve water resources across the California Great Basin and the American West,” said Commissioner Camille Calimlim Touton. “I am also extremely grateful for Ernest Conant’s extraordinary tenure as the regional director. His vision and executive leadership consistently advanced regional priorities and I wish him all the best in his new role.” Stock joined Reclamation in 2001 and has served in a variety of leadership positions, most recently as manager of the Reclamation Law Administration Division. In this capacity, he has been instrumental in developing proactive strategies for investing the historic funding from the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act to address the challenges facing the Western states. “I have known Karl for years. He has a depth of knowledge and breadth of experience with an array of complex and challenging water resource management issues, including those in the California-Great Basin Region. Karl has been a key leader in western water and power for more than two decades and his experience will be crucial as we continue to strengthen partnerships and develop innovative approaches to sustaining water resources,” said Deputy Commissioner David Palumbo. “Ernest Conant’s unwavering dedication,


exceptional service, and professional excellence have played a vital role in shaping the American West. We are truly grateful, and I look forward to working with Ernest in his new and critical role,” Palumbo continued. Stock earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics from Brigham Young University and a Master of Science in Public Administration from the University of Colorado Denver.


NHA welcomes new 2024 Board Officers and Members


The National Hydropower Association has announced its new officers and members of the 2024 Board of Directors. NHA’s 20-member board is comprised of forward-thinking leaders from every sector of the hydropower and marine energy industries. The Executive Officers of the Board of


Directors who start their terms of service on January 1, 2024, are:


Chair: Pamala Sullivan, American Municipal Power


Vice Chairs: Heidi Wahto, Stantec and Christopher Rousseau, J.F. Brennan Company Secretary: Sharon White, Rock Creek Energy Group Treasurer: Eric Van Deuren, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Immediate Past Chair: Mike Haynes, Seattle City Light


NHA is welcoming five newly elected members to its Board of Directors: Carl Atkinson, Voith Hydro, Inc. Scott Hennessey, Brookfield Renewable Energy Group (US) Kelly Larimer, Kleinschmidt Associates Jillian Lawrence, Hull Street Energy LLC Preston Pierce, Duke Energy


The following members continue their terms into 2024 on the Board of Directors: Suzanne Biddle, Tennessee Valley Authority Suzanne Grassell, Chelan County Public Utility District Sarah Kulpa, HDR Jeff Leahey, SMI Chris Mattson, Tacoma Power Alan Michaels, New York Power Authority Megan Nesbitt, ANDRITZ Hydro Corp. Christopher Rousseau, J.F. Brennan Company, Inc. Charles Sensiba, Troutman Pepper Thomas St. John, Southern Company Pamala Sullivan, American Municipal Power Justin Trudell, FirstLight Power Eric Van Deuren, Pacific Gas and Electric Company Heidi Wahto, Stantec Sharon White, Rock Creek Energy Group In addition to the newly elected and continuing members, the Board also appointed the following five individuals from NHA member companies to serve as advisory members to the Board:


Mark Benacquisto, United Brotherhood of Carpenters (UBC) Millwrights Todd Briggeman, Black & Veatch Katia Debian, GE Vernova Samantha Quinn, Pacific Ocean Energy Trust Erik Steimle, Rye Development


NHA extends its thanks to the outgoing board members for putting the organization and the waterpower industry on a pathway to continued success.


Leaving the Board at the conclusion of 2023 are: Mike Haynes, Seattle City Light; Randy Herrin, Duke Energy; and Mary Gail Sullivan, Northwestern Energy


www.waterpowermagazine.com | January 2024 | 31


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37