(PORTLAND, OR) -- The Executive Committee of the Public
Power Council (PPC) announced today that Scott Simms has been selected as
Executive Director, effective August 12. Simms will be the ninth Executive
Director in the 53-year history of PPC.
“We are fortunate to have Scott as the next leader of PPC,
an organization dedicated to preserving and protecting the benefits of the
Federal Columbia River Power System for consumer-owned utilities and their
ratepayers,” said Debra Smith, PPC Executive Committee Chairwoman, and CEO and
General Manager of Seattle City Light. “PPC is critical to ensuring that
consumer-owned utilities can continue to deliver reliable, affordable, and
carbon-free power to thousands of businesses and millions of residents every
day,” said Smith.
“Scott has two decades of experience working in various
capacities on Northwest power issues and will bring his expertise and
enthusiasm to this new position” said Chairwoman Smith. “With Scott at the
helm, we look forward to building on PPC’s successes as public power continues
to conquer the challenges and seize the opportunities of the next decade.”
Simms is currently the Communications Director at the
Bonneville Power Administration (BPA). In that role, he has touched nearly
every part of the agency’s internal and external operations. Simms leveraged
his expertise to promote a robust communications program and create
collaborative relationships with customers and stakeholders. His time at BPA
has resulted in successes such as the nationally-recognized “Hydropower Flows
Here” campaign. Simms also held other leadership positions within BPA,
including Manager of Long-Term Power Planning and Secretary to the U.S. Entity
for the Columbia River Treaty negotiation process. Prior to joining BPA in 2006,
Simms held senior communications positions at Portland General Electric.
“It’s an honor to be selected by Northwest public power
leaders to serve as PPC’s Executive Director,” said Simms. “I was born here in
the Northwest and I have spent my whole life and career here, so supporting the
region’s public power interests in this capacity is a tremendous opportunity.”
“Public power is the backbone of both rural and urban parts
of the Northwest economy, and it also provides far-reaching benefits to our region’s
people and environment,” Simms said. “We have a lot of work and challenges
ahead of us, but also incredible opportunities – and PPC members have a
long-standing track record of accomplishing large tasks when they tackle them
as a collective.”
A Northwest native, Simms hails from Snoqualmie, Washington.
He studied Public Relations and Political Science at Washington State
University in Pullman, graduating with distinction. Simms lives with his wife
and daughter in Portland.
“I am humbled to work alongside PPC’s dedicated members,
visionary Executive Committee, and talented staff in service to Northwest
public power,” said Simms.
PPC ran a rigorous selection process. “I want to thank all
the candidates who expressed interest in leading PPC,” said Annette Creekpaum,
Vice Chair of PPC’s Administration and Budget Committee, and General Manager of
Mason County PUD No. 3. “The strong level of interest we received from
top-notch candidates is a testament to the vital role PPC plays in the region,”
said Creekpaum. “I want to also thank the members of PPC’s Administration and
Budget Committee for their diligence during the selection process and their
commitment to ensuring that PPC remains a passionate, devoted and powerful
advocate for public power.”
About the Public
Power Council
The Public Power Council, established in 1966, is an
association that represents over 100 consumer-owned electric utilities in the
Pacific Northwest. PPC’s mission is to preserve and protect the benefits of the
Federal Columbia River Power System for consumer-owned utilities. PPC is a key
forum to identify, discuss and build consensus around energy and utility
issues. For more information, please visit us on the web at www.ppcpdx.org.
