NWEC Timeline
- 2026:
- Extended Day-Ahead Market (EDAM) launches across the West; Coalition has been a leading advocate for the market and for independent Western governance of the regional grid
- Coalition serves as plaintiff in federal litigation supporting salmon restoration and Columbia Basin Tribal priorities
- 2025:
- Coalition joins litigation to defend Washington’s clean energy laws after the Trump Administration issues an emergency order directing the Centralia coal plant to remain in operation two weeks before its scheduled retirement date
- Coalition advocates for HB 1903, creating a statewide monthly energy bill discount for low-income households funded by CCA revenue, and backs protections preventing utility disconnections during extreme heat events
- Tamara Kennedy becomes Executive Director of NW Energy Coalition
- 2024: Coalition advances utility transportation electrification plan requirements in Oregon and Washington
- 2023-2024: Coalition supports redesign of utility assistance programs at four of Washington’s five investor-owned utilities, improving affordability for low-income households
- 2023: Coalition is part of RMI-led team developing Washington State’s Transportation Electrification Strategic Plan for the Department of Commerce
- 2022: Coalition engages in regulatory implementation of CETA and CCA across Oregon and Washington, including integrated resource plans, distribution system planning, and utility rate proceedings
- 2021:
- Coalition supports passage of Washington’s Multi-Year Rate Plan legislation (SB 5295), establishing performance-based utility regulation and the state’s first intervenor funding program
- Coalition supports passage of Washington’s Climate Commitment Act (CCA), establishing the state’s cap-and-invest program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
- Coalition supports passage of Oregon’s HB 2021, setting clean energy targets for investor-owned utilities
- Coalition spearheads multi-partner Energy Strategies Study examining how the Northwest can replace power from the four Lower Snake River Dams
- 2020: Coalition continues to bring its vision to ongoing forums, legislatures, utilities, and regulators.
- 2019: Coalition is instrumental in developing and passing landmark energy and climate policy in Washington
- Co-authored national white paper “Reversing Energy System Inequity: Urgency and Opportunity During the Clean Energy Transition.”
- Launched a regional campaign, called Harmonious Grid, to bring attention to the critical role of customer-side resources in meeting our clean energy future
- 2018: Lower Snake River Dams Power Replacement Study is published
- 2017: Agreement in Puget Sound Energy (PSE) rate case to provide transitional funding for the community of Colstrip.
- 2016: Research paper “Building ‘good load’ to reduce carbon emissions: Getting Northwest utilities more involved in widespread transportation electrification” is released
- 2012: Membership grows to 100 organizational members across four states and British Columbia
- 2011: Coalition plays a key role in negotiating the retirement of TransAlta Corporation’s coal-fired power plant in Centralia, WA by the end of 2025
- 2010: Coalition helps negotiate a settlement with Portland General Electric to transition Boardman generating facility off coal by the end of 2020
- 2009: Coalition influences the 6th Northwest Power and Conservation Plan and releases the report “Bright Future: How to keep the Northwest’s lights on, jobs growing, goods moving and salmon swimming in the era of climate change.” This year also marks internal expansion, as the first Montana staff is hired.
- 2007/ 2008: Coalition successfully advocates for the passage of Washington & Oregon greenhouse gas emissions performance standards
- 2006: Coalition leads effort to pass clean electricity ballot Initiative-937 in Washington State
- 2004: Citizens Energy Plan (describes regional and state policy change to attain NW clean energy potential) is published
- 2006: Coalition leads effort to pass clean electricity ballot Initiative-937 in Washington State
- 2002: Coalition becomes an inaugural member of Idaho Power’s energy efficiency advisory group
- 2002 – 2004: Coalition influences the 5th Northwest Power and Conservation Plan to include expanded energy efficiency targets and consideration of new renewable energy resources
- 1998: Bonneville Environmental Foundation (BEF) is established, Utility Scorecard is published, and Oregon and Montana energy efficiency investment requirements pass
- 1997: NCAC changes name to NW Energy Coalition (NWEC), and helps establish the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
- 1994: Coalition successfully advocates for the first BPA stakeholders meeting and helps launch the Renewable Northwest Project
- 1991: Coalition helps launch the Save Our wild Salmon (SOS) coalition
- 1989: Seattle Lighting Design Lab opens its doors as a testbed showcasing energy-efficient lighting
- 1988: Northwest Power Planning Council adoption of the hydropower protected areas program – includes setting aside 44,000 miles of Northwest streams as critical habitat for fish and wildlife
- 1985: Coalition and NRDC propose the development of a facility to promote energy-efficient lighting for commercial buildings
- 1983: Northwest Power Planning Council releases first regional Power Plan
- Early 1980s: Termination of four planned Washington Public Power Supply System nuclear power plants
- 1982: First “Model Electric Power and Conservation Plan for the Pacific Northwest” is released.
- 1981: Founding of the Northwest Conservation Act Coalition (NCAC)
- 1980: Pacific Northwest Electric Power and Conservation Act passed
- 1976-1980: NRDC, Sierra Club & League of Women Voters lobby for energy conservation, new renewable energy and salmon restoration aspects of a federal NW power bill
- 1975: Natural Resources Defense Council released the “Alternative Scenario” for NW energy future