J. Rachel Shimshak, Director
Rachel has been the Director of the Renewable Northwest Project since its inception in 1994. On her watch, RNP has supported the implementation of more than 1,400 MW of wind, geothermal and solar resources in the Northwest. In 2005, she was chosen by the Governor of Oregon to represent the state on the Western Governor's Association Clean and Diversified Energy Advisory Committee, and she was chosen by the four Northwest Governors to serve on the Comprehensive Review of the Northwest Energy System in 1996. Before moving back to the Northwest, Rachel was the Policy Director for the Massachusetts Division of Energy Resources where she worked on electricity, natural gas, oil, conservation, renewables, and emergency planning issues. Prior to that, Rachel was the Legislative Director for a Massachusetts consumer group, and an advocate in Colorado and Washington, D.C. She has served on the Boards of several, non-profit, clean energy and educational organizations and is currently the Secretary of the Bonneville Environmental Foundation. Rachel graduated from the University of Oregon and is a native Oregonian.


Ann English Gravatt, Policy Director
Ann focuses on legislative and regulatory policy in Washington, Montana and Oregon. Prior to joining RNP in 2002, Ann practiced natural resources, environmental and energy law in Portland and Washington, DC. Ann also has worked on a variety of political campaigns and as an associate in a public affairs firm. She holds a J.D. from George Washington University and a B.A. from the University of Richmond.



Suzanne Leta Liou, Senior Policy Advocate
Suzanne focuses on project siting, regulatory and legislative issues in Oregon and Idaho, solar energy, and media relations. Prior to joining RNP staff in December 2007, Suzanne coordinated large commercial energy efficiency programs and related contract development at Portland Energy Conservation, Inc. Before moving to Oregon, Suzanne directed energy policy analysis and advocacy at Environment New Jersey and New Jersey Public Interest Research Group, where she worked on a variety of issues including carbon cap legislation, implementation of the state renewable energy standard, and a major utility merger. Suzanne represents RNP on the Energy Trust of Oregon's Renewable Advisory Committee, is a board member of the Citizens' Utility Board of Oregon, a steering committee member of the Oregon League of Conservation Voters in Lane County and a Senior Fellow in the Environmental Leadership Program. Suzanne was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah and holds a B.A. from the University of Pennsylvania.


Cameron Yourkowski, Transmission Policy Associate
Cameron's work at RNP focuses on removing transmission barriers for renewable resources and assessing the system impacts of wind energy. Prior to coming to RNP in 2007, he worked for the Alaska State Legislature on energy and fisheries issues. Cameron holds a M.S. and B.A. in economics from Portland State University and the University of Montana, respectively.



Ken Dragoon , Research Director
Ken joined RNP in 2006 and works on power system wind integration issues, analytical support for utility resource plans, and ensuring the effective implementation of renewable portfolio standards. Prior to joining RNP, Ken worked at PacifiCorp for 9 years in various analytical support roles, and at BPA for nearly fifteen years before that. He had short stints in the Michigan oil fields with Schlumberger and as an undergraduate research associate at Argonne National Laboratory in the fusion power program. Ken holds BS and MS degrees in physics from Western Washington University and the University of New Hampshire respectively.


Jesse Jenkins , Research and Policy Associate
Jesse joined RNP in July 2006 and works on renewable energy standard policy, climate policy, utility resource planning, and voluntary green power and carbon offset markets. He also tracks the economic development impacts of renewable energy in the Northwest and provides research and analytic support for RNP's advocacy activity. Jesse is a native Oregonian and earned a B.S. in Computer Science and Philosophy, magna cum laude, from the Robert D. Clark Honors College at the University of Oregon in 2006.  


David Wolf, Office Manager
David joined RNP in June 2002. David is an Oregon native and has a BA from Reed College. Prior to working for RNP, David has been a natural foods merchandiser for Nature's Fresh Northwest, operated his own web design company, and managed a large-format digital print shop. In addition to his duties at RNP, David also serves on the Board for The Wallace Medical Concern, a nonprofit providing free medical care to low-income, uninsured people in the Portland area.

RNP Staff in February 2007 (clockwise from upper left):
David Wolf, Ann Gravatt, Natalie McIntire (former staff member), Ken Dragoon, Rachel Shimshak, Troy Gagliano, Jesse Jenkins, and Diane Zipper (RNP contractor & former staff member)