Arthur O’Donnell, Program Co- Chair, is an energy writer based in San Francisco. Previously Associate Publisher of “California Energy Markets,” an independent weekly newsletter covering the energy business in California and the U.S. Southwest, he was recently named “Person of the Year” by the Power Association of Northern California.

Fred Schmidt, a former Commissioner of the Nevada Public Service Commission, served as the state’s Consumer Advocate for customers of public utilities. He is currently a shareholder of Hale Lane practicing administrative and regulatory law.

Jeffrey R. Holmstead, Special Address, Assistant Administrator for Air & Radiation, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, is in charge of all activities at EPA’s office of Air and Radiation - including programs addressing global climate change, stratospheric ozone depletion, and radiation protection. Previously, he served as associate counsel to President George H. W. Bush focusing on environmental policy and issues including the 1990 Clean Air Act Amendments.

The Hon. Bill Richardson, Special Address, became Governor of New Mexico in 2003. Previously as Secretary of Energy, he oversaw and reformed one of the most challenging and unmanageable agencies in government: the Department of Energy. Gov. Richardson was U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, and has been nominated four times for the Nobel Peace Prize.

Marta Adams is the Senior Deputy Attorney General for the Nevada Office of the Attorney General.

Karen J. Atkinson is a member of the Mandan Hidatsa and Arikara Nation and a partner at Dorsey & Whitney LLP where her practice focuses on government relations, energy development, and natural resource management issues. Before joining the firm Ms. Atkinson served as Deputy Director of the National Park Service and Senior Counsel to the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs.

Gary B. Bailey is Vice President of Innovative Design, Inc., and Principal of partner firm, Solargenix Energy, previously Duke Solar. Duke Solar and Innovative Design have combined advanced solar technology and sustainable architecture to produce a unique building-integrated solar thermal solution, the Power Roof™, systems that are now being implemented in offices and industrial buildings throughout the world.

George T. Baker is President of Baker & Associates, Energy Consultants (BAEC), established in 1990. In 1994 Dr. Baker founded Mexico Energy Intelligence as an industry news service. Dr. Baker is the author of Mexico’s Petroleum Sector (PennWell, 1984) and numerous articles in Oil and Gas Journal and other publications.

Steven C. Begay is the General Manager for the Dine Power Authority (DPA), an enterprise of the Navajo Nation. Under his management, DPA and Trans-Elect, Inc. recently announced a business partnership to develop the Navajo Transmission Project (NTP) and on March 19, 2003, DPA and Steag Power also announced a partnership to develop a coal-fired power plant on the Navajo Nation.

Steven S. Boss, President of Energy Buyer’s Network LLC, has extensive experience in energy contracts and the federal and state regulation of the natural gas and electric industries. Energy Buyer’s Network, LLC, d/b/a Nevada Energy Buyers Network (NEBN), is designed to assist commercial electric and natural gas customers and is active in legislative and regulatory initiatives affecting commercial interests in the State of Nevada.

Douglas V. Fant is in private practice and counsels the Arizona Power Authority, Priority Power Management and Alpha Energy LLC. Mr. Fant frequently speaks about energy related topics. He is a member of the Colorado River Multi-Species Conservation Plan Environmental Committee and the Solar Advisory Committee, State of Arizona. He was an Honors Program Attorney, Solicitor’s Office, U.S. Department of Interior during the Carter Administration.

Herbert Hayden is the Solar Program Coordinator for the Arizona Public Service Company and a member of the Technology Development department at APS. Mr. Hayden is responsible for the construction and operation of solar power plants and, in addition manages the development of new solar technologies.

Warren C. Kotzmann is Vice President of Financial and Corporate Services for Pinnacle West Energy. He is responsible for oversight of all business activities of Pinnacle West Energy, including the eventual transfer of regulated generation from Arizona Public Service Company to Pinnacle West Energy.

Benjamin Luce is a theoretical physicist and renewable energy advocate. He is a staff member at Los Alamos National Laboratory, President of the New Mexico Solar Energy Association, and Chair of the Coalition for Clean Affordable Energy. At Los Alamos he conducts research on nonlinear processes involving a variety of physical phenomena, including climate change. Since 1997 he has also pursued research on carbon dioxide management, renewable energy, and alternative fuels

Richard M. McIntire was appointed to the Public Utilities Commission of Nevada in 1999. Previously he served as an economist at the Commission and in the Attorney General’s Office Bureau of Consumer Protection.

Jeffrey C. Miller  has more than 20 years experience in the utility industry leading to his current position as Regional Transmission Manager at the California Independent System Operator. He is responsible for overseeing the planning of the Southern half of the California ISO Grid and coordinates the interconnection of new generators.

Jerry D. Smith joined the Arizona Corporation Commission after a lengthy career with the Salt River Project. A Utilities Engineer, he is involved in Arizona’s regulatory rulemaking and rate processes.

The Hon. Marc Spitzer chairs the Arizona Corporation Commission. He served as an Arizona State Senator from 1992-2000 as Majority Leader. His greatest achievements include sponsoring legislation that protects consumers from fraudulent schemes and public agencies from antitrust violations and bid rigging.

Jon B. Wellinghoff’s practice focuses on energy, consumer and utility law at Beckley Singleton Jemison Cobeaga & List where he represents a wide array of clients including large utility consumers, renewable energy project developers, environmental organizations and federal and state agencies. He was Nevada’s first Consumer Advocate and recently represented the MGM/ Mirage Corporation in the $922 million Nevada Power rate case.

Michael W. Yackira is Executive Vice President, Strategy and Policy at Sierra Pacific Resources. Mr. Yackira previously served as President of FPL Energy, one of the largest electric utility companies in the US. He also served as Vice President, Finance, CFO of FPL Group and CFO of Florida Power and Light. He was Senior Vice President of Market and Regulatory Services for the Florida Utility.