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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Kelso School District has been recognized as a "District on the Rise" for reading achievement by Education Scorecard, a national research initiative led by researchers at Harvard and Stanford Universities. The designation highlights districts whose student achievement has improved significantly more than closely matched peer districts since the pandemic.

The recognition comes as student achievement growth has remained largely flat across Washington state. While statewide average test scores have shown little improvement since 2022, Kelso students have demonstrated accelerated growth in both reading and mathematics.

According to the report, Kelso's reading achievement increased by approximately one-quarter of a grade level between 2022 and 2025, placing the district in the 87th percentile nationally for reading growth. During the same period, Kelso students gained approximately 0.65 grade levels in mathematics. Together, Kelso students averaged 1.13 years of learning growth per year, exceeding both the Washington state average of 0.98 years and the national average of 0.96 years.

"Being named a 'District on the Rise' matters because it is really about students learning at higher levels," said Superintendent Mary Beth Tack. "Our students are making significant gains in reading and math, and that translates into more opportunities and brighter futures."

District leaders believe the recognition reflects years of focused and intentional work to improve student outcomes following the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"We made a commitment we would not simply recover, we would improve," Tack said. "We stayed focused on what matters most, remained disciplined in our approach, and continued the strategic investment in what we knew would make a difference for students."

Kelso attributes its academic growth to four key districtwide investments:

• Early Learning – Expanded preschool and Transition to Kindergarten opportunities help ensure students enter school ready to learn and reduce learning gaps before kindergarten.
• Social-Emotional Learning – Elementary students receive daily social-emotional learning instruction designed to help them feel safe, connected, and ready to engage in learning.
• Professional Learning Communities (PLCs) – Kelso educators collaborate around essential learning standards, common assessments, and timely interventions to ensure every student receives high-quality instruction and support.
• Science of Reading – The district has maintained a long-term commitment to evidence-based literacy instruction, including explicit teaching of foundational reading skills, language development, and comprehension strategies.

"When strong systems come together, strong outcomes follow," Tack said. "This recognition reflects the collective efforts of our entire district team and the extraordinary work happening in classrooms every single day."

District leaders emphasize that while the recognition is encouraging, it is not a finish line.

"We are proud of this progress, but we know our work is not done," Tack said. "Our scores are improving, yet we remain focused on helping every student reach their full potential. This recognition tells us we're moving in the right direction, and we're committed to building on that momentum."

The district's long-term goal remains unchanged: ensuring 100% of Kelso students graduate prepared for their next step, whether that is a two-year college, four-year university, apprenticeship, military service, or career pathway.

"Districts don't rise—students do," Tack said. "This recognition tells us our students are rising, our staff are making a difference, and our community should be proud of what we're accomplishing together."

About the Education Scorecard
The Education Scorecard is a collaborative project led by researchers from Harvard University and Stanford University that tracks student academic recovery following the COVID-19 pandemic. The project analyzes student achievement data from districts across the United States and identifies districts demonstrating exceptional academic growth compared to similar peer districts.

About Kelso School District

Kelso School District has a goal of 100% (bit.ly/ksd-100) of students graduating high school and having post-secondary plans for college, career, trades, or military. Our mission is to prepare every student for living, learning, and achieving success as a citizen of our changing world.

TACOMA, Wash., (June 25, 2026) – Nearly two-thirds of Washington businesses say they are prioritizing investment over cost-cutting, according to new data released today by Columbia Bank. While half of Washington business leaders will continue to monitor inflation, tariffs and broader economic conditions before making major investment decisions, most remain focused on growth opportunities with the expectation that demand, revenue and profitability will increase over the next 12 months.

The findings are from Columbia Bank’s 2026 Business Barometer, an annual study examining the outlook, priorities and decision-making of nearly 1,200 small and midsize enterprises across the United States, including businesses with significant sales, employees and operations in Washington.

Top Regional Priorities: What is Driving Decision-Making for Washington Businesses?

Washington business leaders express a measured but growth-oriented outlook for the year ahead, balancing economic concerns with continued investment in expansion.

• Most Washington businesses are more focused on growth rather than cost-cutting, with 64% saying they are prioritizing investment, compared with 33% who are focused primarily on reducing expenses. At the same time, 54% say they plan to wait at least six months before making major business decisions.
• Despite being less optimistic about revenue expectations (59% compared to 67% nationally), Washington businesses continue to report strong expectations for growth. Nearly eight in 10 businesses (79%) expect demand to increase over the next year, while 59% expect profitability to improve.
• Washington businesses are relatively inclined to invest in their business compared to the national average, with local leaders saying they are very or somewhat likely to borrow to invest in expansion (74%) and acquire another business (52%).
• Washington businesses are less inclined to increase headcount over the next 12 months (37%) than most businesses (51% nationally). 

Recent advances in AI capabilities are in part driving the 12-month outlook. Washington businesses are more optimistic about the impact of AI than most businesses, with 77% saying it will strengthen their business. More than four in five Washington businesses (78%) expect AI to help with employee satisfaction and retention.

While tariff impact has fallen out of as a top concern for many businesses since last year, it still ranks as a top three concern for Washington businesses. Input from business leaders indicates that the unpredictability of tariff implementation has been more challenging than direct tariff costs, as delays, exemptions and shifting percentage amounts have made planning difficult.

• 46% expect trade volatility, tariff impacts to last one to two years.
• 58% will seek tariff refunds.

To download Columbia Bank's 2026 Business Barometer, visit: www.columbiabank.com/business-barometer.

Survey Methodology
The Columbia Bank 2026 Business Barometer, conducted annually, surveyed 1,186 owners, executives and financial decision-makers from U.S. small and middle market businesses. The online survey was conducted in partnership with DHM Research, a public policy and business research firm, and targeted leaders at companies with $500,000 to $500 million in annual revenue. The survey, which did not filter for Columbia Bank customers, has a 2.7% margin of error and was fielded from April 28 to May 7, 2026.

About Columbia Bank
Columbia Bank is an award-winning preeminent regional bank with offices in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington. It combines the resources, sophistication, and expertise of a national bank with a commitment to deliver superior, personalized service. The bank supports consumers and businesses through a full suite of services, including retail and commercial banking, Small Business Administration lending, institutional and corporate banking, and equipment leasing. Columbia Bank customers also have access to comprehensive investment and wealth management expertise as well as healthcare and private banking through Columbia Wealth Management.

TACOMA, Wash., (June 25, 2026) – Nearly two-thirds of Washington businesses say they are prioritizing investment over cost-cutting, according to new data released today by Columbia Bank. While half of Washington business leaders will continue to monitor inflation, tariffs and broader economic conditions before making major investment decisions, most remain focused on growth opportunities with the expectation that demand, revenue and profitability will increase over the next 12 months.

The findings are from Columbia Bank’s 2026 Business Barometer, an annual study examining the outlook, priorities and decision-making of nearly 1,200 small and midsize enterprises across the United States, including businesses with significant sales, employees and operations in Washington.

Top Regional Priorities: What is Driving Decision-Making for Washington Businesses?

Washington business leaders express a measured but growth-oriented outlook for the year ahead, balancing economic concerns with continued investment in expansion.

• Most Washington businesses are more focused on growth rather than cost-cutting, with 64% saying they are prioritizing investment, compared with 33% who are focused primarily on reducing expenses. At the same time, 54% say they plan to wait at least six months before making major business decisions.
• Despite being less optimistic about revenue expectations (59% compared to 67% nationally), Washington businesses continue to report strong expectations for growth. Nearly eight in 10 businesses (79%) expect demand to increase over the next year, while 59% expect profitability to improve.
• Washington businesses are relatively inclined to invest in their business compared to the national average, with local leaders saying they are very or somewhat likely to borrow to invest in expansion (74%) and acquire another business (52%).
• Washington businesses are less inclined to increase headcount over the next 12 months (37%) than most businesses (51% nationally). 

Recent advances in AI capabilities are in part driving the 12-month outlook. Washington businesses are more optimistic about the impact of AI than most businesses, with 77% saying it will strengthen their business. More than four in five Washington businesses (78%) expect AI to help with employee satisfaction and retention.

While tariff impact has fallen out of as a top concern for many businesses since last year, it still ranks as a top three concern for Washington businesses. Input from business leaders indicates that the unpredictability of tariff implementation has been more challenging than direct tariff costs, as delays, exemptions and shifting percentage amounts have made planning difficult.

• 46% expect trade volatility, tariff impacts to last one to two years.
• 58% will seek tariff refunds.

To download Columbia Bank's 2026 Business Barometer, visit: www.columbiabank.com/business-barometer.

Survey Methodology
The Columbia Bank 2026 Business Barometer, conducted annually, surveyed 1,186 owners, executives and financial decision-makers from U.S. small and middle market businesses. The online survey was conducted in partnership with DHM Research, a public policy and business research firm, and targeted leaders at companies with $500,000 to $500 million in annual revenue. The survey, which did not filter for Columbia Bank customers, has a 2.7% margin of error and was fielded from April 28 to May 7, 2026.

About Columbia Bank
Columbia Bank is an award-winning preeminent regional bank with offices in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon, Texas, Utah, and Washington. It combines the resources, sophistication, and expertise of a national bank with a commitment to deliver superior, personalized service. The bank supports consumers and businesses through a full suite of services, including retail and commercial banking, Small Business Administration lending, institutional and corporate banking, and equipment leasing. Columbia Bank customers also have access to comprehensive investment and wealth management expertise as well as healthcare and private banking through Columbia Wealth Management.