Washington
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.
Read MoreNWEC comments on the NPCC High Level Indicators Issue Paper
Click here to read NWEC’s comments on the NPCC High Level Indicator issue paper.
Read MoreNWEC comments on the NPCC Environmental Costs and Benefits Issue Paper
Click here to read NWEC’s comments on the NPCC Environmental Costs and Benefits Issues Paper.
Read MoreGov. Inslee proclaims October 30 Weatherization Day in Washington State
Washington’s Weatherization Assistance Program will help many households make it through the cold weather season – and the years ahead – by adding insulation, sealing cracks, and making other improvements that reduce heat loss and save money on energy bills. The program is funded through a partnership of the U.S. Department of Energy, the Bonneville Power Administration, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Washington State, and private and public utilities.
Read MoreGrist article: How one building is changing the world
The Bullitt Center in Seattle was designed to be the greenest commercial building in the world in 2012. Due to strict guidelines prohibiting the use of toxic chemicals in its construction, safer building materials were innovated to meet the Bullitt Center’s needs. The company Building Envelope Innovation replaced toxic phthalates in its sealants and coatings with non-toxic ingredients. The change will benefit the company’s employees who regularly handle the products.
Read MoreNuclear in the age of climate change brown bag discussion
On October 6, 2014 the NW Energy Coalition hosted a brown bag lunch featuring nuclear power expert Ed Lyman from the Union of Concerned Scientists. Dr. Lyman is the co-author of the recent book, Fukushima: The Story of a Nuclear Disaster (New Press). His work has focused on critical nuclear issues such as civilian and…
Read MoreNew federal equipment standards create big Northwest energy savings
In the past five years, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has cranked out federal appliance and equipment standards that by 2029 will produce almost 800 average megawatts of Northwest energy savings that will greatly help the region achieve the savings goals of current regional power plan, according to preliminary analyses by the Bonneville Power Administration and Northwest Power and Conservation Council. These standards have tremendous success in creating significant energy savings at the lowest possible costs.
Read MoreNW Energy Coalition seeks policy director
The Policy Director is a senior level position responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of a four-state policy agenda based on the goals of the Coalition. The work focuses on regional and state policy (regulatory and legislative) and utility proceedings and includes working with industry experts, building coalitions and educating stakeholders.
Read MoreNW Energy Coalition announces new executive director
The NW Energy Coalition executive board is proud to announce that nationally admired energy policy authority Nancy Hirsh will succeed Sara Patton as Coalition executive director, effective in January. Hirsh has been Coalition policy director for 18 years. She’s left her personal imprint on such critical accomplishments as increasingly energy efficiency-focused regional power plans, agreements to end coal-fired power generation in Washington and Oregon once and for all, and the region’s landmark renewable energy and energy efficiency standard: Washington’s I-937.
Read MorePublic input will be crucial in shaping next regional power and conservation plan
Work on the next regional power plan is shifting into high gear. The Seventh Northwest Power and Conservation Plan, like its six predecessors, will guide Bonneville Power Administration and public utility resource choices and set the regional benchmark for meeting predicted electricity needs over the next 20 years. Public comments on both are due Oct. 31.
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