Oregon
Energy Advocates Retreat
In September, we held our first-ever Energy Advocates retreat in Portland, in partnership with GEI, Citizens Utility Board, Oregon Solar + Storage Industries Association, Multnomah County, Verde, Clackamas Community College, and Climate Solutions. The idea for the retreat followed the 2025 Oregon legislative session and the huge wave of implementation that’s now moving to the…
The Value of Coalition
The NW Energy Coalition has just completed our Spring membership meetings and educational conference and I am inspired by the effective and collaborative work of Coalition members and allies in sharing best practices and helping communities and governments ensure that we have the most effective policies and programs to advance a clean, reliable and affordable…
NWEC Statement on BPA’s Day-Ahead Market Policy Final Decision
NWEC is disappointed that the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is choosing to join Markets+, a project developed by the Arkansas based Southwest Power Pool (SPP) and with a more limited portfolio of clean energy resources. NWEC agrees with BPA that joining a day-ahead energy market is the correct strategy to achieve our shared goals…
Webinar: Wildfire and Utilities
This webinar covered the intersection between wildfire and utilities, policymakers, and communities. Increased fire risk is threatening communities as utilities work to mitigate risk and policymakers are deciding how to regulate them. We explored this intersection, and the role advocates can play in the development of utility regulations, legislation, and wildfire mitigation plans that will…
Feb. 2025 Newsletter – Save the date for our spring conference, updates from NW Energy Coalition
Spring 2025 Clean & Affordable Energy Conference: Missoula, May 7 Join the NW Energy Coalition this spring in Missoula for our Clean & Affordable Energy Conference! We’ll have three panel discussions throughout the day featuring dialogue from experts in Montana on moving a clean energy transition forward. Panelists will talk about how Tribal communities are…
Pathways Initiative’s Step One Proposal for Governance of a West-Wide Energy Market
A single, unified energy market in the West is essential to unlock the clean energy resource potential of the West, enable efficient use of our infrastructure, and maintain a reliable and affordable energy system. The West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative is a collaborative, multi-step effort to create this connected, independently governed Western energy market, as discussed…
Pathways Initiative addresses the key challenge to a West-wide electricity market
This blog post discusses the latest developments in creating a single, unified West-wide market – essential for keeping rates affordable, improving reliability, and meeting our clean energy and decarbonization goals. For an introduction to energy markets, we highly recommend checking out our Markets Month series (Part 1, Part 2, and Part 3). Pathways Initiative addresses…
Customer-side resources will be critical as rising electricity demand, extreme weather and climate change impact the Northwest power system
In January 2024, extreme cold descended on the Northwest, causing a significant spike in electricity demand. At the same time, there were serious challenges for energy supplies across the region. But first and foremost, we want to acknowledge those personally affected by the severe weather and send a heartfelt thank you to all the utility…
The value of centering energy assistance programs on energy burden
As colder weather seeps across the Northwest, most people are switching on heating systems to stay comfortable. Some may not think twice about the impact cranking up the heat has on their energy bill. But for energy burdened households — those who spend 6% or more of their income on energy costs — high energy…
A Single, Unified Western Market
Bonneville Power Administration has a key role The West is in the midst of determining how to structure itself into electricity markets, with significant implications for utilities, customers, and the future of a clean, equitable, and affordable western grid. Electricity markets can coordinate and optimize the electricity grid, creating a system that is more reliable,…