Montana
Puget Sound Energy makes move to transition off of coal power
Today, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission approved a petition filed by Puget Sound Energy, Sierra Club and the NW Energy Coalition asking to delay the pending April 1, 2016, rate case with the commitment that PSE include a retirement and cleanup plan for the older coal-fired units Colstrip units 1 and 2. The new rate case must be filed no later than January 17, 2017.
Read MoreMontana Governor Announces Interim Clean Power Plan Advisory Council Members
The NW Energy Coalition’s senior policy associate for Montana, Diego Rivas, Coalition board member and former board chair Chuck Magraw, representatives of Coalition member organizations including member utilities Portland General Electric and Puget Sound Energy have been named to Montana’s Interim Clean Power Plan Advisory Panel.
Read MoreCoalition comments highlight strengths, weaknesses of draft 7th Power Plan
On Dec. 18, the NW Energy Coalition submitted its written comments on the Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s draft 7th regional plan which, when finalized, will inform resource decisions by Northwest electric utilities for the next 20 years – especially in the initial five- to six-year action plan period.
Read MoreHundreds testify for clean energy and salmon provisions in 7th Northwest Power and Conservation Plan
A series of eight public hearings on the Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s draft 7th Plan drew hundreds of clean energy, climate and endangered salmon advocates expressing support for the Council’s embrace of energy efficiency to meet virtually all new power demands through the plan’s 20-year horizon.
Read MoreOpEd: A clean energy plan to benefit all Montanans
Affordable and reliable electricity are the backbone of a strong economy. They ensure that Montana families don’t have to choose between buying food and paying the electric bill. Electricity prices are also critical to the success of our state’s businesses and communities.
Read MoreWeigh in on the 7th Power Plan
The Northwest Power and Conservation Council, the region’s official power planning agency, has just released the draft of its seventh regional power plan. The public now has 60 days to provide written reactions and opportunities to attend and testify at public hearings in all four Northwest states.
Read More2015 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.
Read MoreCoalition 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.
Read MoreCoalition, 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.
Read MoreBozeman Daily Chronicle guest column: Building on 10 years of renewable energy
Last month, Montana celebrated the 10th anniversary of its Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS). Jeff Fox of Renewable Northwest lauds the legislation as a success because major utilities have met the 15 percent renewable energy requirement, compliance has not increased costs to consumers and new renewable energy development has created more than 1,500 jobs in the state. Fox says, “We must stay focused on our opportunities and challenges in order to ensure that the next 10 years of renewable energy in Montana are an even bigger success.”
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