Oregon

Coalition comments highlight strengths, weaknesses of draft 7th Power Plan

By Alicia Healey | December 21, 2015

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.

Hundreds testify for clean energy and salmon provisions in 7th Northwest Power and Conservation Plan

By Alicia Healey | December 10, 2015 |

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.

Weigh in on the 7th Power Plan

By Kat Plimpton | October 28, 2015 |

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.

Coalition honors clean energy leaders with Headwaters awards

By Alicia Healey | October 13, 2015

Two clean energy pioneers have been honored for their efforts with NW Energy Coalition Headwaters awards. Coalition executive director Nancy Hirsh recently presented colorful plaques and vials of water drawn from the headwaters of the Columbia River – Columbia Lake in British Columbia, to Alan Zelenka and Mike Nelson.

2015 legislative sessions challenging for Northwest clean energy advocates

By Alicia Healey | July 29, 2015

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.

Coalition analysis: 7th Power Plan model minimizes looming coal plant costs, ignores out-of-region generators

By Alicia Healey | July 16, 2015

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.

Coalition, allies urge Council to push low-income energy efficiency in the 7th Plan

By Alicia Healey | July 8, 2015 |

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.

NW Council blog post – Northwest energy future: Efficient, low-cost, low carbon

By Alicia Healey | June 12, 2015

The Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s recent blog post outlines the preliminary results of its 20-year scenario analysis modeling. The results indicate that investments in 3,800-4,500 aMW of energy efficiency are cost-effective over the next 20 years and will help the region meet new load growth; demand response will help meet winter peaking capacity requirements; and some new power generation may be needed to replace retiring coal plants.

Coalition presents its two highest awards

By Alicia Healey | June 10, 2015

In May, former NWEC executive director Sara Patton presented the Headwaters Award to Seattle’s Mary Smith. The award recognizes a member of NWEC’s extended family for outstanding achievements. The following day, current Coalition executive director Nancy Hirsh presented NWEC’s highest award, the Conservation Eagle, to the Coalition of Columbia Basin Tribes. The group, comprising 15 Northwest tribes, effectively advocated adding ecosystem function as a designated purpose of the Columbia River Treaty.