Northwest Power Planning
The Technologies of The Harmonious Grid
The second in a series about changes coming to the Northwest electric system The internet of things (IoT) is an old concept that is about to come to fruition in the electric system. Grid-integrated appliances, home energy systems, and EV infrastructure are just a few of the “things” which the electric system will soon be…
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…
How solar installers can diversify their workforces
The NW Energy Coalition has published a fact sheet summarizing tactics that solar installers can use to attract more people of color to the industry and to their companies. The fact sheet is derived from a study published in June by the Solar Foundation, which found that only about 10% of 7,300 solar industry jobs…
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…
A simple choice to save salmon and orcas
In a recent letter to the editor of Orcas Issues News & Views, Lopez Island resident, Michael Karp, said of removing four lower Snake River dams, “. . . orcas here in the Salish Sea would have the best overall chance of survival by benefitting from the increases of endangered and threatened salmon and steelhead…
Intro to new Washington Buildings Performance Standards
Implementing the Clean Buildings for Washington Act The Washington State Department of Commerce has finalized the rules for the Clean Buildings Act. Information on how to comply and other technical assistance is available on the Commerce webpage. The 2019 session of the Washington State Legislature enacted House Bill 1257, the Clean Buildings for Washington Act.…
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…
PGE’s Smart Grid Test Bed pioneers customer-side resources
Achieving a low-carbon or no-carbon energy system isn’t just a matter of switching our sources of electricity from coal-fired and natural gas-fired power plants to wind and solar power. It’s also about embracing more energy efficient houses, buildings, and appliances that reduce our need for electricity. And it’s about engaging new resources, many of them…
NW solar industry lags in workforce diversity
New report suggests how employers, governments, and labor can collaborate to match employer needs with qualified candidates of color A new Solar Foundation report that was supported by the NW Energy Coalition finds that only about one in ten solar industry jobs in Washington and Oregon is held by a person of color. For management…
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…
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…
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,…