John N. Etchart is the Chairman of the Northwest Power Planning Council. Etchart is one of Montana's two representatives
to the Council, having been appointed by Governor Marc Racicot in 1993. He was elected to Chair the Council in 1996 and reelected
to a second term, serving through January 1998.
The Northwest Power Planning Council was created by Congress and the states of Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington in
1980 to do long-term electric power planning for the region, and to develop a program to protect and enhance fish and wildlife of the
Columbia River Basin that have been affected by hydroelectric development. The governors of the four states each appoint two members
to the Council.
As Chairman, Etchart presides over and sets the agenda for all Council meetings. He executes correspondence, documents and
pleadings in the name of the Council and provides oversight and overall direction to the central staff. He also represents the Council in
meetings with Congress, at conferences and other public events.
Since his appointment to the Council in 1993, Etchart has also served terms as Power Committee Chairman, Public Affairs Committee
Chairman, and Council Vice Chairman.
John Etchart was born and raised in Glasgow, Montana. He was an officer in the United States Marine Corps, including a combat tour in
Vietnam where he served as the Commanding Officer of an Infantry Company. He received the Bronze Star, Vietnamese Cross of Gallantry, and
Combat Action Awards.
Preceding his appointment to the Council, John was vice president/government relations for Burlington Northern. He also worked for the U.S. Department
of Interior as special assistant to the Commissioner of the Bureau of Reclamation acting as liaison with water interests and environmental and economic
development groups. Prior to that, he worked as permitting coordinator for a large oil pipeline project. Etchart has long experience in legislative and agency
representation work both in the Northwest and in Congress.
John Etchart is a member of the Board of Trustees of Carroll College in Helena, MT and a member of the Board of Directors of St. Vincent's Hospital Foundation
in Billings, MT. Etchart also is an officer and shareholder in a family cow-calf ranching operation in Northeastern Montana.
John holds a bachelor's degree in History/English from Carroll College and a master of science in Guidance/School Psychology from Montana State University in
Billings. He has completed graduate work in political science at the University of Montana and in law at the University of San Francisco.
