Earlier this year, Mike Haynes, Chief Operating Officer of Seattle City Light, was named the 2025 recipient of the Pamela E. Klatt Award by the Northwest Hydroelectric Association (NWHA).

The award, presented annually since 2009, recognizes individuals who have demonstrated lasting contributions to the Northwest hydroelectric industry through exceptional leadership and service.

For Haynes, who has decades of experience in the energy sector, the recognition is a personal milestone that celebrates a career dedicated to furthering hydropower’s technical and human potential.

Mike Haynes (center) with Chris Townsend (left – Natural Resources & Hydro Licensing Director, Seattle City Light) and Shelly Adams (right – Senior Capital Projects Coordinator, Seattle City Light)

FINDING A HOME IN HYDRO

Haynes began his energy career in 1980, initially working on gas- and coal-fired projects. It wasn’t until 1987, when he transitioned into hydropower, that he found the work that would come to define his professional life. “For the first time in my career, I spent time in the mountains around scenic rivers and lakes, enjoying the landscape while rebuilding 100-year-old hydropower equipment,” he recalled in his Pamela E. Klatt Award acceptance speech. “I saw the brilliance of our industry’s founders, which I’d only known through textbooks and periodicals. I developed an appreciation for the longevity of this equipment.”

That turning point also sparked a shift. “I came back from Montana in about 1987 and have been full time in hydro ever since,” he said. “This is all to say that our industry is a great place to work, and hydropower has never been more relevant than right now.”

HONORING THE AWARD’S NAMESAKE

The Pamela E. Klatt Award, named after the late environmental planner and long-time NWHA board member, is meant to recognize exactly the type of career Haynes has built. Klatt was known for her high standards, strategic insight, and collaborative spirit—qualities that Haynes has exemplified throughout his leadership at Seattle City Light and beyond.

“Fundamentally, I have always strived to inject a dose of practicality into everything I do,” Haynes said. “Everything I know of and experienced with Pam tells me she would have appreciated this.”

Over his nearly 25 years with Seattle City Light, Haynes has led multiple divisions and teams, often taking on some of the utility’s most complex challenges. In 2023, he served as Interim General Manager and CEO, further solidifying his role as a leader in one of the nation’s largest municipally owned utilities.

Among the projects he holds most challenging and rewarding is his work on the Skagit Relicensing team. “Sometimes it seems that solving problems on the ground can be the easy part of what we do,” Haynes reflected.

In one of his first relicensing projects, Haynes approached flow requirements primarily as an engineering challenge—until a meeting with a tribal group shifted his view. “They sincerely and passionately expressed how they looked at instream flows and bypass flows,” he recalled. “This became a conversation about a cultural and spiritual connection to the river.” From that moment on, he said, he worked to “listen, build an understanding, and find common ground for balancing multiple and sometimes competing needs.”

INFLUENCE BEYOND THE NORTHWEST

Haynes’ impact has reached far beyond the Pacific Northwest. As former Board Chair of the National Hydropower Association, he has become a key voice in both state and national policy discussions. “Mike’s ability to clearly articulate the impacts of policy proposals has made him our ‘secret weapon’ in Washington, D.C., and Olympia,” said Maura Breuger, Director of Government and Legislative Affairs at Seattle City Light.

In an industry that is too often taken for granted in the energy conversation, Haynes has worked tirelessly to elevate the profile of hydropower as a vital renewable energy source. Whether engaging with lawmakers or helping develop the next generation of energy professionals, he consistently advocates for the industry’s future.

THE POWER OF PEOPLE

Perhaps one of Haynes’ most enduring legacies is his ability to inspire those around him.

In his remarks at the Pamela E. Klatt Award ceremony, Haynes emphasized the importance of connection and continuous learning: “Every situation is an opportunity to learn. Every new acquaintance builds a wider network and provides a path to seeing things from a different perspective and an appreciation for what is possible.”

He also encouraged experienced professionals to give back. “The best part of giving back is working with talented people just coming into the business, finding ways to inspire them, showing interest in their development, and supporting them whenever possible.”

CHAMPIONING THE VALUES OF THE PAMELA E. KLATT AWARD

The Pamela E. Klatt Award honors the memory of an industry figure who brought grace, intellect, and heart to the complicated world of hydroelectric licensing and environmental compliance.

In celebrating Haynes’ achievements, the Pamela E. Klatt Award, which recognizes the ideals she championed—principled leadership, dedication to service, and an unshakable belief in the value of this work, serves as a testament to his career.