Policy: By Region

The Washington State Solar Summit is an important annual information gathering and networking event for industry stakeholders including manufacturers, installers, utilities, municipalities, legislators/policymakers, educators students, tribal members, advocacy organizations/nonprofits, distributors, engineers, financial lenders, consultants, and more. Over 250 solar and related industry personnel are expected to gather to discuss: The effects of 2019 legislation (net […]

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 […]

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 […]

Clean Energy Communities / Reliable Systems What is a utility to do? Disparate stakeholders want today’s utilities to accomplish many things: phase out coal, become 100 percent clean, give customers and communities more choices, make long-term investments, and much more. At the same time, utilities must retain enough capacity to ensure that lights turn on […]

A tailwind in the Northwest behind clean and affordable energy On May 3, the NW Energy Coalition hosted its Spring 2019 Clean & Affordable Energy Conference in Boise.  Conference guests participated in discussions and presentations on the growing synergy between governments and private industry in the drive for clean energy, the challenge of reducing peak […]

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, […]

Simpson says region must ask “what if?” lower Snake River dams are removed Will Washington legislature follow suit? BOISE, IDAHO — Republican Congressman Mike Simpson of Idaho energized a conference audience in Boise on Tuesday by declaring the need for the Northwest to explore the implications of removing four lower Snake River dams in order […]

(Nancy is traveling, but she asked me to send the following message on her behalf. S.O’L.) Hi, After a long time and a great deal of effort, just now, the Washington legislature passed the third bill in the trio of NW Energy Coalition priorities for this session – the 100% Clean Electricity (SB 5116) bill, which assures that over […]

The Seattle Times has published an op-ed titled, “Restore the Snake River? Stakeholder talks are the right next step”  by Sam Mace of Coalition member Save Our wild Salmon.  Sam makes the case for state funding for a proposed lower Snake River dam stakeholder forum.  The forum would give Washington communities a voice in examining the […]

Buildings and Appliance bills pass WA Senate Climate bills on a winning streak in Olympia The Washington legislature is well on its way to passing an unprecedented body of climate legislation that will, when fully enacted, address nearly every major source of climate pollution, including the electric system, the transportation sector, buildings, and appliances. At […]