The Harmonious Grid: A new direction for the NW electric system

The first in a series about coming changes to the Northwest electric system In ten years, the NW electric system will be a very different creature . . . we hope.  In addition to reducing and ultimately removing fossil fuel resources, the grid will see another fundamental change — the integration of emerging customer-side resources…

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Coalition members sue Trump administration over emissions rule

NW Energy Coalition members Seattle City Light and National Grid are among nine utilities suing the Trump administration over its plan to replace the Obama administration’s Clean Power Plan with the Affordable Clean Energy rule.  The plaintiffs, who call their group the Power Companies Climate Coalition, argue that the Environmental Protection Agency’s ACE rule undercuts…

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Wind power, good for Montana’s economy and Washington’s energy system

State representative, Denise Hayman, encourages Washington investor-owned utilities to replace power from Colstrip with Montana wind Observing that two major Washington utilities — Puget Sound Energy and Avista — are currently weighing options for how to replace energy from the large, coal-fired power plant in Colstrip, Montana, state representative Denise Hayman, from Billings, makes a…

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Jessie Dye receives Doug Still Community Organizing Award

A note from executive Director, Nancy Hirsh, about Doug Still Memorial Community Organizing Award winner, Jessie Dye of Earth Ministry: The Doug Still Memorial Community Organizing Award honors individuals and organizations for engaging citizens in action for a clean and affordable energy future. It is named for Doug Still, a founding member of the NW…

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Colstrip Units 1 & 2 to retire at year end

This morning, Talen Montana, the operator and co-owner with Puget Sound Energy of Colstrip units 1 and 2, announced that the units will be retired at year-end.  The retirement will remove a major emitter of greenhouse gases and air pollution from the Northwest energy system and, by freeing up transmission capacity from eastern Montana to…

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Washington’s groundbreaking climate package examined

8 bills that transform Washington’s energy system Click here to download the NWEC 2019 Washington State Legislative Digest for energy-related bills Click here to download the NWEC digest for E2SSB 5116, the Washington Clean Energy Transformation Bill, better known as the 100% Clean Electricity bill. Click here to download the NWEC digest for HB 1257,…

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Please join us in celebrating!

(Nancy is traveling, but she asked me to send the following message on her behalf. S.O’L.) Hi, After a long time and a great deal of effort, just now, the Washington legislature passed the third bill in the trio of NW Energy Coalition priorities for this session – the 100% Clean Electricity (SB 5116) bill, which assures that over…

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Double Squeeze: Arctic Express, system constraints skyrocket NW wholesale energy prices

More clean energy solutions, less reliance on gas needed to meet peak energy needs When discussing electric system affordability and reliability, natural gas is often portrayed as a guarantor of both. But, since the beginning of February, when Northwest temperatures dropped to near record lows, wholesale natural gas prices skyrocketed, causing serious disruption for gas-fired…

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Washington’s 100% Clean Electricity Bill Has Its First Hearing

Today, Joni Bosh, Senior Policy Analyst at the NW Energy Coalition, testified in support of Senate Bill 5116, the 100% Clean Electricity Bill,  before the Washington Senate Environment, Energy, and Technology Committee.  The following is a press release from the Environmental Priorities Coalition of which the NW Energy Coalition is a member. To learn more…

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Fall 2018 Clean & Affordable Energy Conference Digest

On November 15, the NW Energy Coalition hosted its fall Clean & Affordable Energy Conference.  The conference attracted over 180 attendees who participated in panel discussions and presentations on utility decarbonization, the role new storage technologies will play in transitioning the Northwest electric system, the health, comfort, and productivity benefits that energy efficient buildings provide…

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