Northwest electricity consumers enjoying higher and higher energy savings

Northwest utilities and their customers continue to beat their regional energy efficiency targets and remain on-course to exceed the five-year savings goal established by the 6th Northwest Power and Conservation Plan. In 2013, the region achieved 268 average megawatts of energy efficiency. According to the region’s official power planning agency, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, that’s enough negawatts (energy savings) to satisfy the electricity needs of more than 180,000 Northwest homes.

Read More

NW Clean & Affordable Energy Conference draws largest-ever crowd; Coalition adds four new members

Attendees learned about influencing behavior to fulfill energy efficiency potential; discussed opportunities and challenges to cleanly replacing aging, dirty power sources, considered consumer protection and utility revenue concerns surrounding expanded solar and other distributed generation; and got up to speed on how changing the Columbia River Treaty could affect power generation and other river uses in the basin.

Read More

In victory for clean energy development, court upholds transmission planning order

In a major win for clean energy development, a U.S. Court of Appeals panel this summer unanimously upheld a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) directive aimed at modernizing transmission planning around the country. The decision gives strong support to the contention that utility-by-utility transmission planning is not enough, because energy resources and transmission lines are already widely shared across the power grid. Regional planning is needed to capture important benefits for clean energy, the environment and consumers.

Read More

NW Energy Coalition conference to feature consumer protection panel

Please join us for the NW Clean & Affordable Energy Conference Nov. 7-8 at the Crowne Plaza Hotel in Portland, Ore. Top energy experts from across the Northwest will address some of the region’s most pressing energy issues. The consumer protection at the grid edge panel will look at safeguarding home and business owners’ off-grid energy investments and preventing potential rate and bill increases for customers – especially low-income families – who remain on the grid.

Read More

Nuclear in the age of climate change brown bag discussion

On October 6, 2014 the NW Energy Coalition hosted a brown bag lunch featuring nuclear power expert Ed Lyman from the Union of Concerned Scientists.   Dr. Lyman is the co-author of the recent book, Fukushima: The Story of a Nuclear Disaster (New Press). His work has focused on critical nuclear issues such as civilian and…

Read More

New federal equipment standards create big Northwest energy savings

In the past five years, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has cranked out federal appliance and equipment standards that by 2029 will produce almost 800 average megawatts of Northwest energy savings that will greatly help the region achieve the savings goals of current regional power plan, according to preliminary analyses by the Bonneville Power Administration and Northwest Power and Conservation Council. These standards have tremendous success in creating significant energy savings at the lowest possible costs.

Read More

NW Energy Coalition seeks policy director

The Policy Director is a senior level position responsible for overseeing the development and implementation of a four-state policy agenda based on the goals of the Coalition. The work focuses on regional and state policy (regulatory and legislative) and utility proceedings and includes working with industry experts, building coalitions and educating stakeholders.

Read More