Promoting and Accelerating
Grid Innovation

An industry association for utilities, technology providers,
policymakers and other diverse stakeholders dedicated to smarter
pathways for managing regional energy systems.
FOCUS: We provide information and community to help leaders promote and accelerate gridinnovation via advanced technology, policy progress and business innovation.

Grid Forward brings together
diverse stakeholders to educate
and collaborate with one anotherto identify, replicate and scale
successful approaches tomodernizing our regional grid.

Our organization fosters grid innovation by:• Encouraging investments into new technologies and models foradvanced and optimal grid management techniques• Accelerating transitions from demonstrations to larger scale deployment• Defining regulatory and business model pathways to encourage best-inclass solutions for managing grid systems• Supporting cultural change to help energy providers and their partners
navigate evolving energy ecosystems“We’re excited to be a member of Grid Forward as it focuses on issues that impact ourutility, customer-owners and local communities. The work to accelerate grid innovation will
be important as we pursue regional goals such as electrification and deep decarbonization,
while continuing to deliver reliable, affordable power.”– DEBRA SMITH, CEO, SEATTLE CITY LIGHT.

Learn more at GridForward.org

Where New
Technologies andModels Meet New
Expectations

Radical changes in energy sources, regional markets, distribution
systems, societal demands and consumer interests are transforming theelectrical infrastructure.
Starting in 2010, Smart Grid Northwest established a model for bringing
together the various disciplines needed to tackle multiple dimensions
related to progressing modernization on the electrical grid. Now weare committed to connecting all the stakeholders needed to define andimplement optimal energy solutions for our region.
Our membership-based 501(c)(6) organization will be accelerating
advanced technology, policy and business-model innovation as
Grid Forward.

“Grid Forward has a unique opportunity to bring the most important players in the ongoing
grid modernization effort – technologists, policy-makers, operators and others – into asingle environment with the express intent to drive safe, efficient and innovative solutions
into full deployment. We look forward to helping define and collaborate in its activities anddiverse membership as the organization steps into the next chapter.”– MATT SCHNUGG, SENIOR DIRECTOR, DATA & ANALYTICS, ML/AI, GE POWER DIGITAL

Our members and event attendees dug deep into new industry ideas and best practices at our
GridFWD event, numerous grid modernization tours and our Energy Resiliency Summit.

“Grid Forward is an excellent place to participate in the thriving energy innovation ecosystemof the region. Through our involvement Amazon Web Services has made numerous
connections with thought leaders, some that were right in our own backyard. The resulting
AWS-cloud-enabled pilots and projects will deliver real value to the electricity grid.”– RALPH KAPPELHOFF, EXECUTIVE, POWER & UTILITIES SOLUTIONS,AMAZON WEB SERVICES

GridForward.org

Where Grid Operators,
Innovators andInfluencers Work
TogetherSome of our members:

Grid Forward members represent all the key actors in the electrical grid:• Utility executives and practitioners working to optimize energysystems. Grid Forward helps utilities share new approaches andcompare results to improve confidence in moving ahead with various
modernization solutions.
• Executive and technical leaders of solution providers developing newtechnologies and processes that modernize generation, transmission,distribution, and customer relationships though advanced sensoring,controls, analytics and much more. Grid Forward gives technology
providers a platform to meet and collaborate with customers and thebroader influencers shaping the market.
• Regulators and government officers exploring bold ideas, opportunities
and best practices that lead to more efficient, reliable, equitable andlow-carbon power systems. Grid Forward provides a valued exchange ofideas and best practices, based on real-world results, to determine how
models can evolve to meet increasing system needs.
• NGOs, thought leaders and advocates building the knowledge baseand relationships to promote progress on regional energy systems. Grid
Forward puts non-profits, educators, labs, investors, and others in theroom with leading practitioners and decision makers to work together tocraft solutions that lead to optimal outcomes for all.

Take Your Next Step Forward – Become a MemberYour organization can play a fundamental role in Grid Forward’s mission
to promote and accelerate grid modernization in our region. Yourmembership will serve your organization in several ways:• Engagement: plug into regular communications, quarterly roundtables,
shared-initiative working groups and members-only forums• Connection: get facilitated introductions across our diverse member
base including utilities, regulators, technology providers, implementers,
advocates and more
• Promotion: build awareness of your projects and employment
opportunities in the newsletter and at our events• Influence: attend our annual planning meeting, join the board ofdirectors or advisors and help drive key initiatives and shape events• Discounts: get discounts for event sponsorship, special rates to partner
events and other perks• Leadership: demonstrate your industry thought leadership at key
meetings and show influence in critical regional and national forums“We have benefited from the long partnership with Smart Grid NW going back to its
founding nearly a decade ago. Today we pursue diverse efforts that require not only newtechnologies coming into our system at scale but also new ways of doing business as agrid operator and energy solutions provider. We anticipate strong contributions from Grid
Forward and its stakeholders in working alongside us to accelerate our progress.”– LARRY BEKKEDAHL, VICE PRESIDENT, GRID ARCHITECTURE INTEGRATION & SYSTEM OPERATIONS,PORTLAND GENERAL ELECTRIC

Where the Modern
Grid Connects withRegional Needs

Grid modernization is no longer an option: it’s the proven path for utilities
to build new capabilities and operational models to meet the needs of theregions they serve. Grid Forward will help all stakeholders pursue these goals:• Establish a more resilient, reliable and decarbonized energy systemthat can minimize outages, restore service more rapidly, abate peakdemand, optimize efficiency programs, and use resources effectively.
• Integrate new energy resources such as distributed renewables,
dispatchable energy storage, automated demand response, transactiveenergy, smart homes/buildings, electrified transportation, and otheremerging energy solutions.
• Ensure energy affordability by encouraging optimal grid investments
and balancing energy supply and demand more dynamically with nearreal-time data.
• Empower consumers to make wise and economical decisions witheasy-to-access, timely and accurate energy information.

“Grid modernization is a complex, time-intensive journey that involves significant
investment, risk and rapidly changing vendor landscape. It is a journey where one needs a
guide or at least a fellow traveler to compare notes and share successes. Grid Forward isan organization that helps utilities in the region to pursue shared goals while helping thevendor community and other direct stakeholders stay aligned to where the value really is.”– VIDYA VANKAYALA, PH.D., DIRECTOR, GRID MODERNIZATION, POWERTECH LABS

Learn more at GridForward.org

Questions or Ideas?
Contact Executive Director
Bryce Yonker at bryce@gridforward.org© 2019 Grid Forward, 2705 E Burnside St #212 Portland OR 97214

GridForward.org