What is unique about the educational component of Clean Currents (the conference program) and how is it being developed?
Industry perceptions of education opportunities at other national events are that they are too commercial, superficial, are specifically focused only on technical education, and/or the content changes little from year to year.
For Clean Currents, instead of issuing a “call for abstracts” and building a program from whatever is submitted, NHA is organizing topic-based working groups of representatives working in the industry as well as with the industry. From discussions and sharing among these groups, the topics most vital to be discussed will come to the surface. Those topics will then be shaped into session content.
The working groups will be encouraged to focus on topics that would lead to sharing technical best practices in a variety of disciplines as well as ‘how to’-type sessions to help asset owners improve operations and management and apply innovation that will reduce costs, increase flexibility, and support additional clean renewable power generation.
Most importantly, NHA is not asking the industry and those beyond the industry to do all the ‘heavy lifting’ to build the conference content. NHA staff will do that work. However, we want to ensure the content for the event is built based on the needs of the industry. That’s why NHA staff will seek the guidance, input, and counsel of NHA member companies, the industry at large, and those that influence, regulate, and affect the industry.
NHA recognizes the individuals agreeing to participate in the working groups are volunteering their time. We pledge to be thoughtful and respectful in that regard. Additionally, NHA will look for ways to make participation in these working groups valuable for the volunteers, making it worth their time.
In addition to getting the topics “right,” NHA is committed to finding ways to deliver that content in compelling ways – not restricted to a “cookie cutter” approaches. Our objective is to offer a variety of learning formats including:
- Hands-on Tours
- Workshops
- Brief Announcements in the Powerhouse
- Informal Roundtables
- Asset Owner Only Discussion Sessions
- Panel Discussions
- Formal Technical Presentations