Northwest Power Planning
7th Power and Conservation Plan vehicle to clean energy future
Every five years, the region’s official power planning agency prepares an updated 20-year forecast of the Northwest’s electric power needs and a plan for how those needs should be met. The forthcoming 7th Plan will help us raise the bar higher, capitalize on our region’s clean energy success and set us on the course to a cleaner, more affordable and wildlife-friendly future. We need all hands on deck … starting now!
Northwest Power and Conservation Council seeks comments on direct natural gas use, aka 'fuel switching'
As it develops the 7th Plan, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council is releasing a series of issue papers for public comment. This week the Council released its “Direct Use of Natural Gas Analysis,” with a comment period running through Feb. 20. Despite the potential thermal efficiencies of direct use, the Council has never considered switching from electric to gas heat to be conservation.
NWEC comments on the NPCC High Level Indicators Issue Paper
Click here to read NWEC’s comments on the NPCC High Level Indicator issue paper.
NWEC comments on the NPCC Environmental Costs and Benefits Issue Paper
Click here to read NWEC’s comments on the NPCC Environmental Costs and Benefits Issues Paper.
Public input will be crucial in shaping next regional power and conservation plan
Work on the next regional power plan is shifting into high gear. The Seventh Northwest Power and Conservation Plan, like its six predecessors, will guide Bonneville Power Administration and public utility resource choices and set the regional benchmark for meeting predicted electricity needs over the next 20 years. Public comments on both are due Oct. 31.
Coalition analyzes spill test effects on electricity consumers’ bills
The NW Energy Coalition has released a pair of fact sheets addressing regional salmon scientists’ proposed experiment to measure survival gains from spilling more water over federal hydropower dams to aid the ocean-bound migration of Columbia Basin endangered wild salmon than is now required by the federal court. Court-ordered spill has increased returns of adult fish, and many regional scientists have concluded that additional spill could raise those returns even further – potentially to recovery levels for some of the endangered stocks…
Power plan assessment shows energy efficiency on track to meet regional goal
An assessment by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council shows that the efficiency of electricity use continues to improve and that the region is on track to meet the Council’s goal to improve efficiency. Meanwhile, development of renewable resources, mainly wind power, has continued but the pace may slow in the future.
Comments of the NW Energy Coalition on the Sixth Power Plan Mid-Term Assessment – Situation Scan
The NW Energy Coalition appreciates the opportunity to provide comments on the draft Situation Scan related to the Mid-Term Assessment of the Sixth Power and Conservation Plan. We appreciate all…
Northwest Power and Conservation Council honored for best-ever regional plan
In recognition of the most far-sighted, clean energy-based power plan in regional history, the NW Energy Coalition last week presented its highest award to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council.
This year’s award goes to the Council members, staff and advisory committee members who produced the Sixth Northwest Power and Conservation Plan in early 2010. The plan projects the next 20 years of regionwide electricity needs and prescribes the means of meeting them. The Sixth Plan tells Northwest utilities they can and should meet 85% of new needs with bill-reducing energy efficiency and most of the rest with new, clean renewable energy.