Oral history interview with Roy H. Hemmingway

Collection

Identifier: SR 2758

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This oral history interview with Roy H. Hemmingway was conducted by Michael O’Rourke at the Oregon Historical Society in Portland, Oregon, from August 29 to October 20, 2000. The interview was conducted as part of the Northwest Power Planning Council Oral History Project, which documented the history and purpose of the Northwest Power Planning Council, now known as the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. The interview was conducted in four sessions, and a transcript is available.

In this interview, Hemmingway discusses his family background and early life in Illinois, his education at Stanford University and at Yale University, and his involvement with the Oregon Environmental Council. He speaks at length about the drafting of the 1980 Northwest Power Act, about representing Oregon on the Northwest Power Planning Council from 1981 to 1986, and about the financial difficulties of the Washington Public Power Supply System. He closes the interview by speaking about his career as an energy consultant, including his work with Portland General Electric, and about his role in Governor John Kitzhaber’s administration from 1995 to the time of the interview.

Dates

2000 August 29-October 20

Creator

Hemmingway, Roy H. (Leroy H.), 1946- (Interviewee, Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Joint copyright for this interview is held by the Oregon Historical Society and Roy H. Hemmingway. Use is allowed according to the following statement: In Copyright – Non-Commercial Use Permitted, http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-NC/1.0/

Biographical note

Leroy H. Hemmingway was born in Evanston, Illinois, in 1946. In 1968, he earned a degree from Stanford University. In 1972, he earned a law degree from Yale University. He was involved with the Oregon Environmental Council during the early 1970s, and in 1976, he worked as a lawyer for the Oregon Public Utility Commission. He served as deputy public utility commissioner under Commissioners Charlie Davis and John J. Lobdell, during both the administrations of governors Bob Straub and Vic Atiyeh. He represented Oregon on the Northwest Power Planning Council, now known as the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, from 1981 to 1986. From 1995 to 2001, he was a policy advisor to Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber. From 2001 to 2003, he served as chair of the Oregon Public Utility Commission. From 2003 to 2006, he served as New Zealand Energy Commissioner. He then returned to Portland, Oregon, and worked as an energy consultant.

Historical note

The Northwest Power Planning Council is a four-state regional planning body formed by Congress through the Northwest Power Act of 1980 to develop and maintain regional conservation and electric power plans and a fish and wildlife program. The council is composed of two representatives from each member state: Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana. The mission of the council is "to preserve the benefits of the Columbia River for future generations." The body was originally known as the Pacific Northwest Electric Power and Conservation Planning Council; the name was shortened to Northwest Power Planning Council in October 1981, and in 2003, the name was changed to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council.

Extent

0.1 Cubic Feet (9 audiocassettes (8 hr., 13 min., 35 sec.) + transcript (190 pages))

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

Oral history interview with Roy H. Hemmingway conducted by Michael O’Rourke from August 29 to October 20, 2000, as part of the Northwest Power Planning Council Oral History Project. Hemmingway represented Oregon on the Northwest Power Planning Council, now known as the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, from 1981 to 1986.