News
NWEC joins groups asking Inslee to extend shut-off moratorium
The following press release was issued earlier today by the Sierra Club. Coalition calls for WA to protect low-income utility users during COVID fallout Wednesday, April 29, 2020 Contact: Robin Everett, Senior Organizing Manager – Sierra Club, 206-713-5474 Wendy Gerlitz, Policy Director – Northwest Energy Coalition, 503-449-0009 Katrina Peterson, Climate Justice Program Manager – Puget…
Advancing energy efficiency during the COVID-19 crisis
A new analysis finds that, in March, the economic crisis associated with the coronavirus pandemic resulted in over 106,000 workers who are employed by clean energy businesses such as solar installers, wind developers, and energy efficiency-related businesses, losing their jobs. Layoffs continued in April and could eventually number more than 500,000, or about 15% of the nation’s 3.4 million clean energy workers. The energy…
Inslee halts electricity shut-offs
On Friday, April 17th, Governor Inslee signed a new proclamation to help utilities across the state preserve access to essential utility services and alleviate economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The NW Energy Coalition commends Governor Inslee for his leadership and work to protect Washington’s most vulnerable residents. As people continue to stay home to…
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…
Appeal to Oregon Gov. Brown to assure electricity service
The Oregon Community Action Partnership and the Oregon Citizen’s Utility Board joined the NW Energy Coalition in a letter to Governor Kate Brown asking her to order reconnection of utility customers who may have been disconnected, a moratorium on new disconnections, and , and revised credit and collection procedures to insure that electricity remains affordable…
Coalition asks for suspension of utility shut-offs
On Friday, the NW Energy Coalition joined the Washington Community Action Partnership, and The Energy Project, a program of the Opportunity Council in a letter asking Governor Jay Inslee to issue an order under emergency powers to suspend utility shut-offs, waive late fees, and expand bill assistance in order help low and moderate income Washingtonians…
Congress passes stimulus bill with $900 million for LIHEAP
The United States Congress passed a stimulus bill that contains $900 million for LIHEAP. This represents about a 27% increase over the current FY 20 appropriation. The money can be spent through Sept. 2021. Each state will make its own decisions regarding how to use this money. There are lots of options including providing funding…
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…
How utilities can help customers, communities cope with COVID-19
On behalf of the NW Energy Coalition staff and board, we hope you are staying safe in the midst of the national public health emergency around coronavirus (COVID-19). In addition to the physical well-being concerns that COVID-19 is raising, we are also aware of the enormous economic effects that this crisis will have on many…