Event Overview
Wildfire risk continues to evolve, and utilities are looking for practical approaches to strengthen their planning efforts. Join APPA and participating public power utilities for a webinar highlighting key resources, tools, and lessons developed through APPA's wildfire mitigation initiative.
During this session, attendees will learn about a member-informed wildfire mitigation planning framework designed to help utilities assess their current capabilities, identify gaps, and prioritize next steps. Experts from Argonne National Laboratory will also showcase datasets and analytical resources that utilities can use to support wildfire risk assessments and planning efforts.
The webinar will conclude with perspectives from public power utilities, including CORE Electric Cooperative and the City of Loveland, as they share their experiences, challenges, and lessons learned. Whether your utility is just beginning to address wildfire risk or looking to enhance an existing program, this session will provide practical insights, planning resources, and peer-driven examples that can be adapted to your organization's needs.
Key Takeaways:
- Learn about a wildfire mitigation planning framework developed with input from public power utilities.
- Explore datasets and resources that can strengthen wildfire risk assessments and planning.
- Hear real-world experiences and lessons learned from fellow public power utilities.
- Identify practical actions and resources that can support your utility's wildfire mitigation efforts.
Discussion Topics
- Wildfire mitigation planning
- Wildfire risk mitigation
- Risk reduction
- Public Power lessons learned
Acknowledgement
APPA gratefully acknowledges the support of the U.S. Department of Energy and our project partner, Argonne National Laboratory, for supporting this initiative. We also thank the participating public power utilities and APPA members whose time, expertise, and willingness to share lessons learned helped shape the resources, framework, and insights presented during this webinar. This work reflects a collaborative effort to develop practical, public power-focused approaches and resources that can help utilities strengthen their wildfire mitigation planning and risk reduction efforts.
Registration
Registration is free and open to the public. Register now or Contact Academy@PublicPower.org with questions.
Who Should Attend
This webinar is intended for public power utility staff involved in wildfire mitigation, risk management, resilience, emergency management, operations, engineering, vegetation management, environmental services, and strategic planning, as well as utility leaders responsible for risk-informed decision making.
Speakers
Kent Coldsnow serves as the Senior Electrical Planning Engineer for the City of Loveland, Colorado, leveraging data to drive strategic system improvement initiatives. With ten years of experience in electric distribution at municipal utilities, he has a background in engineering standards, material failure analysis, and asset management. Alongside colleagues from Loveland’s engineering and operations teams, Kent co-developed Loveland’s foundational Wildfire Mitigation Plan with the APPA and Argonne National Laboratory. Kent holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Colorado State University.
Jordan Ambrogi is the Wildfire Mitigation Manager for CORE Electric Cooperative, where he is driving the strategy to reduce wildfire ignitions from power systems in Central Colorado. Jordan joined CORE in 2018 as the Utility Forester and was promoted to his current role as head of CORE's Wildfire Mitigation Program in 2022, in which he has focused on developing the cooperative's wildfire risk assessment, situational awareness capabilities, and targeted mitigation tactics. His background in vegetation management and desire to combat the realities of climate change that are affecting many states across the West have driven Jordan's focus to achieve a best-in-class Wildfire Mitigation Program at CORE.
Don Kalubowila, Don Kalubowila is a Senior Electrical Engineer for the City of Loveland, Colorado, where he primarily focuses on Substation Operations. Don has seven years of experience in the utility industry, including prior roles as a Distribution Engineer and DER Engineer for a regional investor-owned utility. His earlier work included vegetation management prioritization, wildfire risk focused protection strategies, and grid hardening projects for extreme weather events. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering from Texas Tech University and a Master of Science in Electrical Engineering from Colorado State University and is a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Colorado.
David Parsons, Office of Electricity, US Department of Energy
Ashton Raffety, Senior Energy Policy & Strategy Analyst, Argonne National Laboratory
Charles Doktycz, Risk and Resilience Analyst, Argonne National Laboratory
Blythe Maue, Energy Security & Resilience Analyst, Argonne National Laboratory
Moderators
Aggie Serrame, Senior Resilience Program Manager, APPA
Technology Requirements
- Zoom Platform: This event will be hosted on Zoom. A reliable internet connection is essential for smooth participation. You can test your setup at Zoom.us/test .
- Audio: We recommend using your computer’s microphone and speakers for the best experience. A dial‑in option will also be available.
Login Credentials and Recording
- Zoom Links: Access details will be emailed 24 hours before the event, with a reminder sent one hour prior to the start time.
- Recording: The event will be recorded and distributed to registrants after the meeting.
