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Justice, unity, change: A call for action
(Earlier today, NW Energy Coalition executive director Nancy Hirsh sent the following letter to the Coalition’s members.) Dear NW Energy Coalition members, I was concerned that Mr. Floyd’s senseless death, and all those before him, would get swept under the rug yet again. Now we see a massive collective response to systemic racism and the…
Coalition recommends clean energy stimulus spending
To help Americans and businesses cope with the economic impacts of the coronavirus crisis, the federal government is considering targeted investments into the US economy. In the immediate future, more funds need to be invested in bill assistance through the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to help utility customers with growing unpaid balances. In…
May 2020 Northwest Energy Update
May 2020 Northwest Energy Update NW Utilities’ COVID-19 Response The Coalition’s effort to persuade utilities to suspend service shut-offs during the coronavirus crisis has been quite successful, especially among the region’s largest utilities many of which are also increasing support for bill assistance and reconnecting those whose service may have been shut off before the…
Panel explores paths to NW resource adequacy
As the Northwest electric system transitions away from fossil fuel resources, many are asking how utilities plan to meet future power needs. On May 7, 2020, the NW Energy Coalition hosted a webinar exploring that question and others. The webinar was moderated by Coalition Senior Policy Associate, Fred Heutte. Joining him on the panel were…
NWEC joins groups asking Inslee to extend shut-off moratorium
The following press release was issued earlier today by the Sierra Club. Coalition calls for WA to protect low-income utility users during COVID fallout Wednesday, April 29, 2020 Contact: Robin Everett, Senior Organizing Manager – Sierra Club, 206-713-5474 Wendy Gerlitz, Policy Director – Northwest Energy Coalition, 503-449-0009 Katrina Peterson, Climate Justice Program Manager – Puget…
Advancing energy efficiency during the COVID-19 crisis
A new analysis finds that, in March, the economic crisis associated with the coronavirus pandemic resulted in over 106,000 workers who are employed by clean energy businesses such as solar installers, wind developers, and energy efficiency-related businesses, losing their jobs. Layoffs continued in April and could eventually number more than 500,000, or about 15% of the nation’s 3.4 million clean energy workers. The energy…
Inslee halts electricity shut-offs
On Friday, April 17th, Governor Inslee signed a new proclamation to help utilities across the state preserve access to essential utility services and alleviate economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The NW Energy Coalition commends Governor Inslee for his leadership and work to protect Washington’s most vulnerable residents. As people continue to stay home to…
Coalition finds DEIS energy analysis inadequate and misleading, calls for new study
The following is a summary of the formal comments the NW Energy Coalition is submitting on April 13, 2020 in response to the Columbia River System Operations Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS). You can download this summary and the full comment. The NW Energy Coalition and partners, including the Idaho Conservation League and the National…
Avista rate case offers wins for customers, climate, Colstrip
Last week the Washington Utilities & Transportation Commission (UTC) approved a partial multiparty settlement in the Avista rate case. It also decided issues outside of the settlement, including fast-tracking refunds to customers to minimize rate increases for natural gas customers and to eliminate them for electric customers in the wake of the COVID-19 crisis. Avista’s…
Appeal to Oregon Gov. Brown to assure electricity service
The Oregon Community Action Partnership and the Oregon Citizen’s Utility Board joined the NW Energy Coalition in a letter to Governor Kate Brown asking her to order reconnection of utility customers who may have been disconnected, a moratorium on new disconnections, and , and revised credit and collection procedures to insure that electricity remains affordable…