Roadmap for Integrating Renewables: Fundamentals for Power Systems Relying Primarily on Renewable Energy

In an October 5, 2016 workshop attended by utility executives, regulators, educators, and clean-energy advocates, Ken Dragoon of Flink Energy, takes his audience through the basics of electricity generation, storage, and management and then shows how emerging techniques can be used by utilities to integrate wind and solar into their power systems.

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NW Energy Coalition issue paper weighs benefits and opportunities for vehicle electrification

Transportation is one of the most polluting, energy-inefficient sectors of our economy, and the Pacific Northwest is uniquely positioned to leverage its clean electricity resources to change that. State and local policy should foster a greater role for the region’s electric utilities in electrifying transportation, not only for passenger vehicles but also for buses, short-haul vans and trucks, and non-road industrial equipment such as forklifts and shore power.

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The Northwest Power & Conservation Council reports: 'Northwest energy savings now second largest resource'

In 2014, Pacific Northwest utilities developed 262 average megawatts of new energy savings, enough to power 180,000 homes for a year, adding to the region’s impressive track record in achieving energy efficiency. Between 2010 through 2014, the cumulative savings of 1,500 average megawatts exceeded the target of 1,200 average megawatts set in the Council’s Sixth Power Plan.

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How clean energy is faring in Northwest state legislatures

This fall and spring, NW Energy Coalition staff have been working in state legislative sessions throughout the region to advance and especially to defend clean and affordable energy laws. Each legislature is different, but many of the issues being addressed are familiar ones: energy efficiency, including building codes; renewable energy incentives and targets; distributed generation options, particularly resident-sited solar power; and coal plants and climate. Low-income protection and electric vehicle infrastructure are also getting legislative looks.

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Take Action: Stop bill that would slow energy efficiency gains

Washington’s strong energy and building codes often prove to be the state’s most cost-effective energy conservation measures. They reduce electricity and gas use, and save consumers money for years to come. But some business interests, including builders and realtors, want to squelch new energy code improvements. Their strategy is to legislate a more complicated code amendment process. Please tell chair Jeff Morris and other House committee members to reject SB 5804.

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Unclouding the Council's crystal ball: What we look at changes everything

Scenario planning lies at the heart of the analysis used to develop the 7th Northwest Power and Conservation Plan. The Northwest Power and Conservation Council wants your help in selecting and shaping the scenarios to be used. The 7th Plan will guide utilities’ energy choices, theoretically for the next 20 years and practically for at least five. Please look over the proposed scenarios and let the Council – and us – know which ones they must consider seriously while developing the 7th Plan.

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