A Grid Forward Symposium
June 4, 2025
Utilities play a central role in mitigating the risks and impacts of wildfires, working alongside regulators, policymakers, technology providers, and other organizations. Join the Grid Forward community to explore the evolving tools, strategies, and policies making a tangible difference for power providers and the communities they serve.
Symposium: Standing Up to Wildfire
June 4, 2025
9AM – 5PM
Amaterra Winery
Portland, OR
Our nation is facing enormous challenges to the reliability and affordability of the electrical grid due to the impacts of wildfire. The risk of wildfires to the grid impacts a utility’s ability to deploy capital that improves its system, to maintain insurance, to understand risk and liability and more. This all creates added pressures on affordability and reliability that directly impact customers. The Standing Up to Wildfire Symposium will bring together the many stakeholders needed to advance solutions for reducing wildfire risks and costs to our utilities and communities.
Wildfire is a societal issue that demands societal solutions. Grid Forward’s gatherings are opportunities to build relationships, form partnerships, learn and advance important work.
Wildfire risk is increasing in severity and expanding in scope. It is a societal problem, not a just a utility problem. Addressing it requires policy innovation and support, close partnership between the public and private sectors, and across-the-board innovation: from AI applications supporting forecasting and situational awareness, to devices providing increased system visibility on-the-ground, to new ways to manage vegetation and maintain infrastructure.
Protecting the grid from wildfire risk involves a dedicated set of experts across many organizations: utilities working closely with local, state and federal offices as well as innovative tech solution providers. This event will give all attendees insight into how to work together to make grid infrastucture and communities safer and more resilient. See the initial list of speakers, topics and sponsors in the preliminary program.
Chairman, Colorado Public Utilities Commission
President and CEO, Holy Cross Energy
President, Xcel Energy’s Colorado Operating Company
Director Wildfire Mitigation PMO, Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E)
Founder and Principal, Wildfire Mitigation Strategies
Wildfire Mitigation Program Strategy Manager, SDG&E
Director of Electric Operations, Puget Sound Energy
Chief Policy & Grid Strategy Officer, CTC Global
Commissioner, Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission
Senior Director of Marketing and Business Development, Sharper Shape
CEO, Rhizome
Fire Chief (ret), Policy Advisor, Western Fire Chiefs Association
This symposium addresses the critical needs and responsibilities of keeping the power on safely in today’s wildfire reality. It will be a unique opportunity for the whole energy ecosystem to build knowledge and connections.
Grid Forward is holding this symposium immediately following the western NARUC meeting and Grid Forward Annual Members Meeting. This makes it even more valuable for you and your peers to come to Portland.
The Standing Up to Wildfire Symposium will take place at the Amaterra Winery in the west hills of Portland, just a 10-minute drive from downtown. This spacious facility provides inspiring views, comfortable meeting spaces and an ideal setting for collaboration on advancing wildfire issues.
Most of our events sell out. Register now to hold your spot.
If your organization would like to sponsor this symposium, please download the prospectus and get in touch with Grid Forward now.
