Legislative Advocacy
WA Climate Legislation Implementation
Following the passage of important climate legislation in the 2019 session of the Washington legislature, many rulemakings are now underway to implement the intent of that legislation. Rulemaking for most of these bills concluded in 2020, while others will extend into 2021 or further. The NW Energy Coalition was involved in many of these proceedings;…
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…
May 7, 2020 Member Meeting Summary
MEMBER MEETING SUMMARY May 7, 2020 Organizational Update Executive director, Nancy Hirsh, reported that the Coalition is financially stable for the near and mid-term, but that given long-term unknowns is being cautious with its finances. Recently, the GiveBig campaign exceeded fundraising goals bringing in just over $14,000. This summer the Coalition will begin development of its next…
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…
Brown issues executive order following legislature’s failure to pass cap & trade
Oregon Governor Kate Brown has signed an Executive Order (EO) that seeks to reduce carbon emissions in the state after the proposed Cap and Invest bill, SB 1530, failed to pass due to the Republican legislator walk-out. The Executive Order sets greenhouse emission (GHG) goals at 45% below 1990 levels by 2035 and 80% below…
Washington enacts law to spur building efficiency, resilience upgrades
Leveraging private funding for public good: efficiency and resilience upgrades made easier with C-PACER Upgrades to make commercial and apartment buildings more resilient and energy efficient will soon become easier in Washington. The state legislature has passed and sent to the governor House Bill 2405, the Commercial Property Assessed Clean Energy and Resilience bill, also…
Washington makes zero emission vehicles more available and affordable
The Washington State Legislature has passed SB 5811, the zero emissions vehicle (ZEV) bill, which will increase zero emission vehicle selection in the state and ensure reductions in greenhouse gases from the transportation sector by requiring that ZEVs command an increasing share of Washington’s new car market. Washington joins eleven other states in implementing the ZEV program, which places…
OPALCO Board Rescinds Resolution Opposing Dam Removal
Today, the Orcas Power and Light Cooperative board of directors unanimously rescinded a resolution passed last September in which the board expressed its opposition to removal of four lower Snake River dams as well as the now ongoing Washington stakeholder process that is exploring the social and economic implications of possible dam removal. Confronted with…