7th Power and Conservation Plan vehicle to clean energy future

Every five years, the region’s official power planning agency prepares an updated 20-year forecast of the Northwest’s electric power needs and a plan for how those needs should be met. The forthcoming 7th Plan will help us raise the bar higher, capitalize on our region’s clean energy success and set us on the course to a cleaner, more affordable and wildlife-friendly future. We need all hands on deck … starting now!

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Northwest Power and Conservation Council seeks comments on direct natural gas use, aka 'fuel switching'

As it develops the 7th Plan, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council is releasing a series of issue papers for public comment. This week the Council released its “Direct Use of Natural Gas Analysis,” with a comment period running through Feb. 20. Despite the potential thermal efficiencies of direct use, the Council has never considered switching from electric to gas heat to be conservation.

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Wendy Gerlitz takes policy helm, completing leadership team transition

Wendy Gerlitz, a NW Energy Coalition senior policy associate for the past four years, has become policy director for the organization. Gerlitz replaces longtime policy director Nancy Hirsh, who is now the Coalition’s executive director. Both changes became effective Jan. 1, the date on which Sara Patton officially stepped down after 20-plus years as Coalition director.

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Sightline article: The new Oregon carbon tax report is out

Portland State University’s Northwest Economic Research Center (NERC) modeled different carbon tax scenarios in Oregon that would start at $10 per ton and increase at different rates over time. In nearly ever scenario, Oregon was able to reach its goal of a 10% carbon reduction below 1990 levels by 2020. NERC concluded that a carbon tax would generate significant state revenue and thousands of jobs.

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Oregonian guest opinion: How wind power helps rural Oregon

Erin Hansell-Heideman of Ione, Oregon explains how renewable energy development is an economic boon for rural communities. Wind farms generate clean electricity, create thousands of rural jobs and accrue millions of dollars in revenue for schools. Hansel-Heidman says, “By harvesting Oregon’s abundant wind resources we are opening up opportunities for rural communities and other family farms throughout the state.”

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Northwest electricity consumers enjoying higher and higher energy savings

Northwest utilities and their customers continue to beat their regional energy efficiency targets and remain on-course to exceed the five-year savings goal established by the 6th Northwest Power and Conservation Plan. In 2013, the region achieved 268 average megawatts of energy efficiency. According to the region’s official power planning agency, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, that’s enough negawatts (energy savings) to satisfy the electricity needs of more than 180,000 Northwest homes.

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NW Clean & Affordable Energy Conference draws largest-ever crowd; Coalition adds four new members

Attendees learned about influencing behavior to fulfill energy efficiency potential; discussed opportunities and challenges to cleanly replacing aging, dirty power sources, considered consumer protection and utility revenue concerns surrounding expanded solar and other distributed generation; and got up to speed on how changing the Columbia River Treaty could affect power generation and other river uses in the basin.

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In victory for clean energy development, court upholds transmission planning order

In a major win for clean energy development, a U.S. Court of Appeals panel this summer unanimously upheld a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) directive aimed at modernizing transmission planning around the country. The decision gives strong support to the contention that utility-by-utility transmission planning is not enough, because energy resources and transmission lines are already widely shared across the power grid. Regional planning is needed to capture important benefits for clean energy, the environment and consumers.

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