PR 03-26

BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: June 29, 2026
CONTACT: Kevin Wingert, BPA, 503-230-4140

Kavulla sworn in as BPA’s 17th administrator

PORTLAND – Travis Kavulla was sworn in today as the new administrator and CEO of the Bonneville Power Administration by U.S. Under Secretary of Energy Kyle Haustveit, becoming the 17th administrator in BPA’s 89-year history. Kavulla will oversee BPA’s vital mission of delivering affordable, reliable and secure power to the Northwest. 

“The Northwest is blessed with abundant hydropower as you all know, and it has provided critical power for Americans for decades. And it will continue to do so for decades to come. You all, along with the work you do and the infrastructure you support, are deeply woven into the fabric of the Northwest,” said Hausveit during a ceremony in Portland. “Travis, I look forward to partnering with you and with all of you at BPA… It’s a unique time in history, and I believe Travis is the right person to answer the call and serve our country.”

BPA faces several unique challenges and opportunities, ranging from significantly expanding transmission infrastructure to best position the region for exponential load growth and exploring new energy markets to upholding statutory obligations such as mitigating the impacts of the federal power and transmission system on fish and wildlife.

U.S. Secretary of Energy Chris Wright, who announced Kavulla’s appointment on June 22, noted the pivotal timing of Kavulla’s leadership.

“This Administration is committed to restoring American energy dominance and your leadership is essential in delivering real, measurable results for the American people,” Wright wrote in a welcome letter to Kavulla. “I encourage you to bring your bold ideas forward and help us accelerate and expand energy production. This is a pivotal moment for America and for DOE.”

Kavulla brings more than 15 years of experience as an energy policy expert and state regulator to this role. He has dedicated his career to developing solutions for affordable, reliable energy in a highly complex industry, focusing on streamlining policies to meet growing power and transmission demands while protecting existing customers from the costs of system upgrades.

He most recently served as the Head of Policy for Base Power Company and as the vice president of Regulatory Affairs at NRG Energy. Previously, Kavulla served eight years as a commissioner at the Montana Public Service Commission, including as chairman, and is a former president of the National Association of Regulatory Utility Commissioners.

“I have served nearly a decade previously in public service, on behalf of the people of Montana, and to join the senior executive service of the United States Government to serve the nation and this region feels like a continuation of that vocation, a calling I could not resist,” Kavulla said during the swearing-in ceremony. “In the coming months, I look forward to getting to know Bonneville’s customers, the region’s members of Congress, and our state and tribal partners. I trust you will not be circumspect about your opinions, and as anyone who knows me can attest, I value an open dialogue, a good debate, and even friendly disagreements as we together work to accomplish shared goals.”

“We have hurdles to overcome, and I am clear-eyed about the enormous task ahead of us. But I am also filled with optimism for BPA’s and the region’s future,” Kavulla added. “My confidence stems in large part from BPA’s workforce, which has a strong reputation for being highly skilled and deeply committed—driven intrinsically to succeed on behalf of the millions of people relying on you.”

Throughout his career, Kavulla has advocated for common-sense policies that deliver value for electricity consumers, including major ratemaking and cost-allocation proceedings impacting both small and large utility customers. In addition, he served on several committees and councils providing policy leadership related to transmission planning, governance and reliability.

Kavulla received a bachelor’s degree in history from Harvard University and has a master’s in history from the University of Cambridge. He is also a lecturer at the University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy.

A recording of the swearing-in ceremony can be found at the following link:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C0AmLb9_MVQ

A full copy of Travis Kavulla’s remarks can be found here:

https://www.bpa.gov/-/media/Aep/about/who-we-are/20260629-swearing-in-remarks-travis-kavulla.pdf

About BPA The Bonneville Power Administration is a federal non-profit power marketing administration that delivers reliable, low-cost hydropower produced in the Columbia River Basin as well as the output from the region’s only nuclear plant to communities across the Northwest. BPA also owns and operates more than 15,000 circuit miles of high-voltage transmission lines. More information about these and other activities is available on our Media Relations page.

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Repeat Sex Offender Sentenced to 27 years

for Victimizing Minors Online and Possessing Child Sex Abuse Material

Clarkston, WA – Clarkston School District is pleased to welcome community members back to Adams Field at Clarkston High School and the lawn at Parkway Elementary School as viewing locations for this year's Fourth of July fireworks celebration.

For the first time in several years, the District is opening these campuses to the public so families, friends, and neighbors can gather to enjoy the American 250th Anniversary fireworks display in a safe, family-friendly environment. These locations offer some of the best up-close views of the fireworks. Please note that no concert, food vendors, or activities are planned at these sites. Restroom facilities will be available in the west end building passageway at Clarkston High School.

The fireworks display is scheduled to begin at 10:00 p.m. Guests are encouraged to arrive early to find a comfortable viewing spot and enjoy the evening with family and friends.

"We're excited to once again open our campuses for this community tradition," said Superintendent Thaynan Knowlton. "We hope everyone enjoys a fun and memorable evening while helping us keep these facilities safe, clean, and welcoming for all."

To help ensure a positive experience for everyone, we ask guests to:

• Respect school property.
• Follow directions from event staff and public safety personnel.
• Help keep our campuses clean by taking all personal belongings and disposing of trash before leaving.
• Alcohol, tobacco products, vaping devices, illegal drugs, and other controlled substances are prohibited on school district property.
• Fireworks and firearms are prohibited on school district property.

Clarkston School District extends its sincere appreciation to Community Spirit for its continued dedication to providing this cherished Independence Day tradition for the Lewis-Clark Valley. The District also thanks the Clarkston Police Department and Clarkston Fire Department for their partnership in helping provide a safe environment for community members enjoying the fireworks from our campuses.

We look forward to welcoming our community for an enjoyable evening and wish everyone a safe and happy Fourth of July!

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Former CEO Pleads Guilty to $24,000,000 Embezzlement Scheme

Repeat Offender Sentenced To 180 Months In Prison For Drug Trafficking

Defendant Sentenced to 78 Months for sourcing Spokane-Area IPO Blood Criminal Street Gang