SALT LAKE CITY, UT – Hi Tech Solutions, LLC (HTS) proudly announces the appointment of Bear Prairie as President of Utility Integration and Strategy, effective August 4, 2025. In this critical senior leadership role, Mr. Prairie will strategically guide HTS’s integration efforts across utility partnerships, infrastructure projects, advanced nuclear deployment, and regional market strategy throughout the Mountain West.
Mr. Prairie’s appointment highlights HTS’s pivotal role in advancing the recently announced landmark Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between HTS, the State of Utah, and Holtec International. This innovative partnership aims to establish the Mountain West’s first comprehensive nuclear energy ecosystem. Aligned with Utah Governor Spencer Cox’s visionary "Operation Gigawatt" and "Built Here" initiatives, the MOU integrates advanced reactor deployment, domestic manufacturing, workforce development, and regional energy infrastructure enhancements to significantly expand Utah’s energy capacity and resilience.
In his strategic leadership position at HTS, Mr. Prairie will oversee strategic utility partnerships, lead nuclear project deployment, enhance regional grid integration, direct regulatory and licensing initiatives, facilitate environmental and feasibility assessments, and drive workforce and economic development strategies. Mr. Prairie's extensive industry experience, visionary leadership, and deep understanding of regional energy markets uniquely position him to align HTS’s technical expertise and operational capabilities with broader state, regional, and national energy transformation goals.
“We are tremendously excited to welcome Bear Prairie to Hi Tech Solutions,” stated Chris Hayter, President and Chief Operations Officer at Hi Tech. “Bear’s distinguished career achievements, profound strategic insights, and unparalleled boardroom experience position him uniquely to strengthen our strategic partnerships, accelerate advanced nuclear deployments, and solidify HTS’s leadership in energy innovation across the West.”
Before joining HTS, Mr. Prairie dedicated over fifteen years to Idaho Falls Power and Idaho Falls Fiber, serving initially as Assistant General Manager (2010–2018) before advancing to General Manager in 2018. Throughout his tenure, he provided executive oversight for five municipally owned hydroelectric dams along the Snake River, managing 47 megawatts of renewable generation capacity, an extensive electric distribution and transmission network, and Idaho’s largest open-access fiber-to-the-home broadband system.
Notably, Mr. Prairie was the principal architect behind Idaho Falls Power’s state-of-the-art 17.5 MW natural gas peaking plant, an innovative $36 million facility designed to efficiently meet peak energy demand and enhance regional grid reliability. He oversaw utility assets exceeding $290 million, managed an annual budget surpassing $120 million, and led critical initiatives involving capital planning, rate structure design, infrastructure modernization, regulatory compliance, and financial risk management.
Under Mr. Prairie’s leadership, Idaho Falls Power achieved significant technological innovation, operational efficiency, and enhanced customer engagement, earning recognition as a regional leader in utility management.
Prior to his tenure at Idaho Falls Power, Mr. Prairie amassed extensive experience across regulated and non-regulated energy sectors. His career began at Idaho Power Company in Boise, Idaho, where he held several strategic roles culminating in his appointment as Director of Wholesale Transactions and Real-Time Operations. In that capacity, he managed complex operations involving diverse generation portfolios, including hydroelectric, natural gas, coal, and renewable resources, strategically balancing risk and compliance across regional markets. Subsequently, Mr. Prairie established and managed the Western energy trading division for Integrys Energy Services, a Fortune 100 enterprise, deepening his expertise in market strategy, asset optimization, and regulatory frameworks. Through Prairie Enterprises, his own consulting firm, he advised leading energy organizations on market entry strategies, risk management practices, and infrastructure growth.
Widely regarded for his leadership, Mr. Prairie actively contributes through numerous board affiliations, including the American Public Power Association, Public Power Council (Executive Committee Chair), Northwest Public Power Association, Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems (UAMPS), Idaho Energy Resources Authority, Northwest River Partners, and Idaho Strategic Energy Alliance. Notably, as Committee Chair of the Carbon Free Power Project at UAMPS, he significantly advanced regional adoption strategies for early-stage small modular reactor technology, setting the stage for nuclear development across the Western U.S.
A passionate advocate for energy innovation and grid modernization, Mr. Prairie frequently participates as a speaker and thought leader in national and regional dialogues addressing energy strategy, nuclear feasibility, market integration, and community-focused utility practices.
Mr. Prairie earned his Bachelor of Arts in Business Administration from The College of Idaho, completing dual minors in Leadership and Finance, and subsequently earned a Master of Business Administration from Northwest Nazarene University. Further augmenting his strategic capabilities, he completed specialized executive-level training through the Utility Executive Program at the University of Idaho, focusing on advanced public utility management, regulatory strategy, and infrastructure planning.
Reflecting on his appointment, Mr. Prairie shared, “Joining Hi Tech Solutions at such an exciting and critical moment in the energy industry is an honor. I am eager to leverage HTS’s considerable expertise to deliver meaningful, lasting outcomes aligned with Utah’s Operation Gigawatt vision and beyond. This role provides an extraordinary opportunity to shape a sustainable, resilient, and economically prosperous energy future for the Western United States.”