Northwest Power Planning
Electric utilities are meeting renewable energy targets at a lower cost
Costs for meeting the state’s renewable energy targets are going down for all three of Washington’s investor-owned electric companies. The companies told the Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) they are on track to meet the state’s renewable energy requirements, and are reporting lower costs to meet those requirements.
Intensive rate design workshop well attended by regional advocates
On Aug. 14, the NW Energy Coalition sponsored a workshop for energy professionals and advocates across the Northwest. The Coalition invited friends and allies to this valuable training on the history and current trends in utility rate design, and how advocates can advance affordable bills and clean power.
ACEEE awards reflect region’s energy efficiency commitment
Northwest leadership shines bright in the Champion of Energy Efficiency in Industry Awards just announced by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy. Two of the four recipients hail from our region: J.R. Simplot Co. corporate energy director Don Sturtevant and Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance.
2015 legislative sessions challenging for Northwest clean energy advocates
Progress on clean and affordable energy met strong head winds in this year’s Northwest state legislatures. But we prevailed against yet more attempts to weaken or undo Washington renewable energy and energy efficiency standards law, Oregon’s public purpose charge and Montana’s renewable portfolio standard.
Coalition efforts help put less coal, more efficiency in PacifiCorp's plan
For the past several years, NW Energy Coalition policy staff have participated actively in PacifiCorp’s resource planning process. Our twin goals: increasing the multi-state utility’s development of energy efficiency resources and reducing its reliance on outdated, climate-polluting coal plants. Our efforts and those of our clean energy allies are paying off.
Coalition offers initial ideas to strengthen 7th Plan’s energy efficiency provisions
Early results from the Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s 7th Power Plan analysis once again illustrate the tremendous value energy efficiency brings to our region. Some 1,300–1,450 average megawatts of cost-effective energy efficiency should be available over the next five years.To assure the cleanest and most affordable 7th Plan, the NW Energy Coalition recently submitted an initial set of energy efficiency action recommendations to the Council.
Renewable Northwest's Megan Decker new chair of NW Energy Coalition board
Megan Decker, chief counsel to Portland-based Renewable Northwest, has been elected chair of the NW Energy Coalition. Decker previously served as vice chair and was instrumental in leading the Coalition’s organizational transition over the past year. Decker succeeds Jeff Bissonnette of the Citizens’ Utility Board of Oregon as chair.
Coalition analysis: 7th Power Plan model minimizes looming coal plant costs, ignores out-of-region generators
The Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s 7th Plan will serve as a guide for choosing the best resources to meet electric needs over the next 20 years. A NW Energy Coalition issue paper, The True Cost of Coal: Fully accounting for coal-fired electricity use in the 7th Northwest Power and Conservation Plan, bares two shortcomings in the Council’s resource modeling that makes these polluting coal plants look cheaper than they are as a resource to meet the region’s needs.
The Tri-City Herald: Benton PUD’s solar panels producing savings for investors
The Benton Public Utility District showed off its Ely Community Solar Project to its customers Wednesday and held a ribbon-cutting ceremony. An array of solar panels is lined up on the PUD property, visible from Highway 395 at the 10th Avenue intersection. The project has been operating since July 1, and those who invested will see savings on their next monthly electric bill.
Coalition, allies urge Council to push low-income energy efficiency in the 7th Plan
The NW Energy Coalition and several member organizations are urging a strengthened commitment to economic equity in the 7th Power Plan. In a July 8 letter, the groups note Bonneville Power Administration’s ongoing shortfall in extending the benefits of energy efficiency measures to low- and moderate-income families. All energy customers pay for utilities’ energy efficiency programs in their bills, but those on limited incomes often cannot take advantage of the product and services incentives those programs provide.
Event: Citizens' Utility Board's policy conference (10/23/15 in Portland, OR)
The CUB Policy Center is pleased to announce its fifth annual policy conference, Utility 2025: Building the Northwest’s Energy Future. Imagine it is the year 2025. The Conference will explore the challenges and opportunities that NW utilities face in the coming decade. The program is specifically designed to educate utility analysts, policy analysts, attorneys, industry professionals, stakeholders, and others working in and around the energy industry.
Event: AWEA State Wind Energy Forum (9/9/15 in Bozeman, MT)
The forum agenda is designed to appeal to a broad array of Montana wind stakeholders, including landowners, county officials, rural bankers, agricultural producers, policy makers, manufacturers, developers, educators, researchers, advocates, utilities, economic development specialists, energy specialists, government officials, analysts, and regulatory personnel.