Meet the NLI Board: Steve Elgar
PrintBy Elissa Glassman
Northern Lights, Inc. (NLI) Board President Steve Elgar serves as director of District 3, overseeing Selle Valley, Rapid Lightning Creek, and the Schweitzer area. Steve has been on the board for 22 years.
When he was younger, Steve lived near Riggins, Idaho. His home was 25 miles up the Salmon River, nestled deep in the central Idaho mountains requiring a boat to cross the river to get to his house. During spring, when the river surged, his small boat wasn’t safe. Consequently, it meant a 5-mile walk to the road crossing the river. In such seasons, he preferred staying home.
Steve spent years working on a sheep ranch along the Salmon River as a herder, camp tender, and ranch hand. At the ranch, irrigating alfalfa fields and harvesting hay provided valuable experiences, including 1 summer when he and a fellow ranch hand put up 10,000 bales of hay from harvest to bailing to stacking.
With no electricity—but abundant mountain water flowing to the river—he set up a small hydro system to generate power for his house. A 15-inch Pelton wheel—similar to the turbines at NLI’s Lake Creek dam but smaller—turned with the flowing water. His home-engineered system, which featured wooden bearings, demanded constant maintenance, instilling in him an appreciation for the challenges of keeping the lights on.
Steve lives with his wife, Britt, and her Seeing Eye guide dog, Hugger. The couple has 4 children and 9 grandkids— 8 boys and 1 girl.
Steve graduated with a civil engineering degree from the University of Idaho and a doctoral degree in oceanography from Scripps Oceanography, focused on fast-moving water, reminiscent of rivers.
Steve is a water resources scientist engineer, and his work extends to national security research for the Department of Defense and other agencies.
Engaging with NLI members is a highlight of Steve’s role on the board.
“Joining the NLI board was a dream come true, enabling me to ensure reliable electrical service for thousands in north Idaho and western Montana despite the rugged terrain,” Steve says. “I enjoy knocking on doors to greet members, inviting any concerns they might have. The response is overwhelmingly positive—no complaints, a love for NLI, and appreciation for the consistent power supply and reasonable rates.”
Conversations then evolve, allowing Steve to hear stories and philosophies from experienced locals who continue to teach him new things.
“Working alongside our exceptional set of directors, I find joy in learning and collaborating to equip our staff with the necessary tools to keep the lights on and our members satisfied.,” he says. “The most rewarding aspect of being an NLI board member is contributing to the assurance of reliable power at reasonable prices for our members.”
