Policy
WNS story: Attack of the Oil Company Mega-Loads? Big Shipments Scare NW Watchdogs
Washington State is closely watching a battle in the Idaho Supreme Court over whether to allow massive oil exploration equipment to be trucked across scenic roadways of Northern Idaho and Montana to the tar sands of Alberta, Canada.
Missoulian Op-Ed: Renewable energy works for Montana
Complaints about the supposedly high costs of renewable energy by political pundits and candidates around the state are vastly misleading and need correction. In an Oct. 11 Missoulian story, Public Service Commission candidate Bill Gallagher is quoted as saying that renewable energy in Montana has raised electricity rates “without generating any real benefits.” Meanwhile, PSC candidate Travis Kavulla claims that renewable energy requirements for our utilities are “going to add costs to the consumer without adding any real value for them.” Let’s set the record straight…
Read the full Op-Ed online at The Missoulian.
Economic boost awaits transmission upgrades in Idaho
From the Times-News comes this article about how Idaho and other western states may need to invest millions of dollars in transmission lines to continue producing and selling renewable energy.
Oregon's Bill Bradbury appointed to Northwest Power and Conservation Council
Former Oregon Secretary of State Bill Bradbury has been appointed by Governor Kulongoski to the position being vacated by Melinda Eden on the Northwest Power and Conservation Council.
You can read the full story online at The Oregonian.
Portland getting solarized
Several companies have been working with the Energy Trust of Oregon and the city of Portland to solarize the city. The project goes from neighborhood to neighborhood, with hundreds of customers signing for installation of photovoltaic cells. So Portland is experiencing a huge penetration of solar power at very reasonable costs thanks to economies of scale…
Avista reaches settlement with stakeholders in latest rate case
Spokane-based Avista Corp., which provides electric and natural gas service to much of northern Idaho, has joined the staff of the Idaho Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in asking the Commission to approve a rate case settlement agreement that could mean higher rates – though not as high as the utility first sought.
More woes for MSTI transmission line
NorthWestern Energy’s application to construct the Mountain States Transmission Intertie has encountered another in a long line of difficulties.
Coalition on BPA Integrated Program Review – Energy Efficiency 2010 IPR Draft Close Out Report
The Coalition, Partnership and NRDC appreciate the opportunity to submit these comments in support of BPA’s proposed energy efficiency budget for FY 2012 and 2013. This proposed budget is consistent with the energy savings targets committed to in the Regional Dialogue policy and the Post-2011 efficiency plan.
Regulators weigh utilities’ efficiency targets in Washington state
Following a lengthy process, the Washington’s Utilities and Transportation Commission approved PacifiCorp’s and Avista Utilities’ targets for meeting the energy efficiency provisions of the state’s clean energy law. Initiative 937 requires the state’s major electric utilities to capture all of the cost-effective conservation in their service territories beginning in 2010.
Next for up Boardman: natural gas
The Daily Journal of Commerce Oregon talks about the eventual shutdown of the Boardman coal-fired power plant and what might replace the power it generates. You can read the article here.