Groups assail BPA’s woefully low efficiency spending proposal

NW Energy Coalition and 29 other clean energy advocacy organizations and businesses submitted a group letter to the Bonneville Power Administration April 11, urging the agency to adequately fund energy efficiency it its FY 2016-2017 capital budget.

The letter, addressed to BPA Administrator Elliot Mainzer, reads, in part:

“ … Our comments … express our collective concern that BPA’s proposed budget is inadequate to meet BPA’s legal obligations or to pursue the best interests of the region.

“BPA should establish a capital budget for energy efficiency sufficient to achieve the savings levels for 2015-2019 identified in the 6th Northwest Power and Conservation Plan. BPA’s proposed energy efficiency capital budget is significantly lower than what it needs to meet those targets … The Northwest Power and Conservation Act establishes energy efficiency as the region’s first priority resource. The Act also establishes a legal obligation for BPA to acquire energy efficiency first and other resources consistent with the Council’s regional power plan.

“ … Acquiring cost-effective energy efficiency actually will ease other budget pressures by reducing the needs for capital investments in new generation and transmission capacity. Bonneville’s strong track record of acquiring cost-effective energy efficiency has helped keep power costs low and reduced consumers’ electricity bills by billions of dollars each year.

“… We ask you to maintain this momentum through the first priority to and adequate funding for energy efficiency in the capital budget for FY 2016 and 2017.”

The letter is signed by: American Rivers, Citizens’ Utility Board of Oregon, Climate Solutions, Community Action Partnership Association of Idaho, Community Action Partnership of Oregon,
Earth & Spirit Council, Earth Ministry, Edmonds Community Solar Cooperative, The Energy Project, Idaho Clean Energy Association, League of Women Voters of Idaho, League of Women Voters of Washington, Montana Audubon, Montana Environmental Information Center, Natural Resources Defense Council, Northwest Energy Efficiency Council, NW Energy Coalition, Oregon Progressive Party, Opportunity Council, Puget Sound Cooperative Credit Union, Renewable Northwest, Save Our wild Salmon, Sierra Club, Snake River Alliance, Solar Oregon, South Central Community Action Partnership, U.S. Green Building Council Idaho Chapter, Washington Environmental Council, Washington State Community Action Partnership and Winter Sun Design

Here is the entire letter and signatories.

NW Energy Coalition separately submitted its own comments. You may read them here.