The Northwest Power and Conservation Council recently elected Bruce Measure, one of Montana’s two members, as chairman for 2010.

Measure, who lives in Kalispell, has been the council vice chairman for the last two years. Washington member Dick Wallace was elected as the new vice chairman.

“I am honored to be elected to chair the council,” Measure said. “It is an exciting time with the expected release of a new power plan that contemplates meeting nearly all of the region’s [power] load growth with conservation, and a new spirit of collaboration in salmon recovery.

“I look forward to working with the council members, states, tribes, rate payers and the public in general on important matters of energy and fish and wildlife mitigation in the Columbia Basin.”

The council includes members from Montana, Idaho, Oregon and Washington and is directed by the Northwest Power Act of 1980 to protect, mitigate and enhance fish and wildlife of the Columbia River Basin that have been impacted by federal hydropower dams, while also assuring the region has an adequate, efficient and reliable power supply.

Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer appointed Measure and Rhonda Whiting to represent the state on the council in 2005. Measure has been a practicing attorney in Kalispell since 1988.