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Commentaries and editorials

BPA's Connolly to Retire; Cogswell
Joins Offshore Wind Developer

by Rick Adair & Steve Ernst
Clearing Up, January 14, 2022

Graphic: Snake River Steelhead have triggered the Early Warning Indicator of the Federal Columbia River Power System's 2014 Supplemental Biological Opinion Kieran Connolly, BPA's VP of generation asset management, is retiring at the end of January after working for the agency more than 30 years.

He joined Bonneville as a supply systems analyst in November 1991, and worked his way up to becoming manager of generation scheduling in Power Services in 2007.

Connolly has served in his current post since 2014, where he has "played a critical role in helping preserve the greatest value and performance of the federal hydropower system in an increasingly complex operational environment," Bonneville spokesman Kevin Wingert told Clearing Up. "Kieran's fingerprint can be seen in issues ranging from oversupply to grid modernization, and he has played a critical role in helping to advance efforts related to the Columbia River Treaty."

BPA Asset Manager Bill Leady will replace Connolly in an acting capacity until a permanent selection is made. Leady has been with BPA for six years, and is responsible for the development, implementation and oversight of the agency's program that prioritizes more than $1 billion in annual asset investments. He is a 28-year U.S. Army veteran, including seven years spent with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers where his postings included a stint at the Northwestern Division.

Also shifting to a new role at BPA is Rachel Dibble, who will serve as VP of BPA Power Services' bulk marketing on a 6-month detail, effective Jan. 17. Her permanent position is BPA's director of market initiatives.

In another departure from BPA, Pete Cogswell has been named director of government and external affairs for West Coast offshore wind operations at TotalEnergies SBE US.

Cogswell had been the director of intergovernmental affairs at BPA since 2015, after joining the power marketing agency in 2007.

In his new position, Cogswell will lead TotalEnergies SBE US's efforts in Oregon to drive state and regional offshore wind development and market opportunities, and will advocate for the establishment of market mechanisms for offshore wind procurement for West Coast electricity users (CU No. 2026 [12]).

"Peter has extensive experience with Oregon energy issues and an exceptional understanding of the work that needs to be done to advance this new clean energy resource with state policymakers, energy decision-makers and stakeholders," Kevin Banister, president of TotalEnergies SBE US, said in a Jan. 11 statement.

Related Pages:
Carbon Sequestration a Comment and the Federal Response in the CRSO EIS process, 2019-2020.


Rick Adair & Steve Ernst, Boise
BPA's Connolly to Retire; Cogswell Joins Offshore Wind Developer
Clearing Up, January 14, 2022

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