Gov. Gregoire appoints Sen. Phil Rockefeller to NW Power and Conservation Council

For Immediate Release: May 25, 2011

OLYMPIA � Gov. Chris Gregoire today announced she has appointed Sen. Phil Rockefeller, D-Bainbridge Island, to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. His appointment is effective July 1, 2011.

�Phil is one of the most intelligent and thoughtful lawmakers that I have worked with,� Gregoire said. �Additionally, he has worked tirelessly to safeguard, enhance and maintain our environment so that future Washingtonians may enjoy the natural beauty our state offers. His appointment to this council will allow him the opportunity to continue to serve as both an environmental steward and leader.�

The Northwest Power and Conservation Council was created by Congress and approved by the Legislatures of Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington in order to give them a stronger voice in shaping fundamental natural resources � specifically, ensuring the electricity generated in the Columbian River Basin by the hydroelectric dams does not endanger local populations of fish and wildlife.

Rockefeller will replace Dick Wallace, who announced he would be leaving his position earlier this year.

�Dick provided tremendous leadership to the council, and I thank him for his service on the board the last several years,� Gregoire said. �I wish him only the best.�

Rockefeller has served as the Assistant Majority Senate Floor Leader and as Chair of the Senate Environment, Water and Energy Committee since 2005. In 2007, Rockefeller was voted legislator of the year for outstanding environmental leadership by the Washington League of Conservation Voters for his work on �Save Puget Sound� legislation. During the past legislative session, Rockefeller spearheaded landmark legislation to help transition Washington state off of coal power.

Rockefeller is a member of the Early Learning & K-12 Education, Ways and Means, Rules Committees and the Joint Committee on Energy Supply and Energy Conservation. He is a former officer of the Bainbridge Island Land Trust, a former board member of the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Council, Bainbridge Performing Arts, and the Bainbridge Public Library.

Rockefeller earned his undergraduate degree from Yale and a law degree from Harvard Law School.