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 Gary Wiens,
Assistant general manager MT Electric Co-Op Association In his position as assistant general manager at Montana Electric Cooperatives Association, Mr. Wiens works closely with the leadership of the 24 retail electric utility distribution cooperatives that are members of the association. Together, these consumer-owned electric utilities provide cost-based power to nearly half the state's population, serving in all 56 Montana counties, including six of the state's seven federal Indian reservations.
Montana's electric cooperatives maintain an active interest in renewable energy, including hydropower and wind energy, with a major study of geothermal energy opportunities now underway. Virtually all of Montana's electric cooperatives offer some form of alternative renewable energy for sale to their consumer-owners. In addition, all of these utilities offer their customers net metering, a program designed to promote the interconnection of smaller renewable energy generators. In addition, Montana's electric cooperatives collectively own the state's largest electric distribution system, totaling more than 50,000 miles.
A former congressional staffer in Washington, D.C. and newspaperman, Mr. Wiens' primary duties are in the arena of government affairs, serving as a lobbyist before state government policymakers and representing the association to Montana's congressional delegation.
Mr. Wiens is a native of Glasgow, Montana, having graduated from Glasgow High School. He is also a graduate of the University of Montana with a bachelor's degree in journalism from UM's School of Journalism.
Mr. Wiens was in the newspaper business for nearly 10 years, serving as a daily newspaper reporter and later managing editor. In 1988, he helped launch a newspaper in southern Arizona. He later moved to Washington D.C. where he served as a legislative aide to former Montana Congressman Ron Marlenee, specializing in energy, public lands and environmental issues.
Now in his 18th year with the Montana Electric Cooperatives' Association, Mr. Wiens was hired to the statewide association in 1993.
He and his wife, Pamela, have two grown daughters, Alyssa and Kyla. Alyssa and her husband David reside in Long Beach, Calif. Kyla, a graduate of the University of Montana with a degree in wildlife biology, is employed by the Montana Environmental Information Center in Helena.Appearing: Conference Day Two: Wednesday, June 16, 2010 11.20am Managing renewable energy resources and connecting them to the grid
- Identifying the technology being employed and developed in integrating renewable energy sources
- Overcoming the challenges that renewable resources presents
- The role of smart grid in reducing the carbon footprint
- The commercial benefits for grid operators in integrating renewable energy sources with mainstream sources
- Selling excess electricity produced from various sources back into the main grid
- Transmitting off-grid energy to the consumer
Gary Wiens, Assistant general manager,
MT Electric Co-Op Association Ron Binz, Chairman,
Colorado Public Utilities Commission |
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