April 2022 Newsletter: Creating Clean Buildings in the NW

This is the first installment of a monthly newsletter from us at the NW Energy Coalition. We hope to bring you timely, relevant updates and opportunities in a format that is quickly read and easily digestible. If you have ideas for how we can improve our newsletter, please email Chris Connolly at chris@nwenergy.org. Enjoy! Featured…

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Flexible demand webinar explores potential of customer-side technologies as an energy resource

Welcome to a conversation with Geoff Wickes, Jeff Harris, Conrad Eustis, and Tony Koch about how grid-integrated water heaters and other customer-side technologies can contribute to electric system efficiency and reduce the need for additional generations resources.  The session runs about 90 minutes. It was recorded on July 1st, 2020. The moderator is Fred Heutte,…

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Inslee halts electricity shut-offs

On Friday, April 17th, Governor Inslee signed a new proclamation to help utilities across the state preserve access to essential utility services and alleviate economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The NW Energy Coalition commends Governor Inslee for his leadership and work to protect Washington’s most vulnerable residents. As people continue to stay home to…

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Inslee appoints Hirsh to chair energy advisory committee

Washington Governor Jay Inslee has appointed NW Energy Coalition Executive Director, Nancy Hirsh, to co-chair a 27-member advisory committee to guide an update to the state energy strategy.  The committee’s charge is to identify policies and actions to ensure competitive energy prices, foster a clean energy economy, and ensure the state meets its greenhouse gas…

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Intro to new Washington Buildings Performance Standards

Implementing the Clean Buildings for Washington Act The Washington State Department of Commerce has finalized the rules for the Clean Buildings Act. Information on how to comply and other technical assistance is available on the Commerce webpage. The 2019 session of the Washington State Legislature enacted House Bill 1257, the Clean Buildings for Washington Act.…

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PGE’s Smart Grid Test Bed pioneers customer-side resources

Achieving a low-carbon or no-carbon energy system isn’t just a matter of switching our sources of electricity from coal-fired and natural gas-fired power plants to wind and solar power.  It’s also about embracing more energy efficient houses, buildings, and appliances that reduce our need for electricity.  And it’s about engaging new resources, many of them…

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NW solar industry lags in workforce diversity

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…

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Jessie Dye receives Doug Still Community Organizing Award

A note from executive Director, Nancy Hirsh, about Doug Still Memorial Community Organizing Award winner, Jessie Dye of Earth Ministry: The Doug Still Memorial Community Organizing Award honors individuals and organizations for engaging citizens in action for a clean and affordable energy future. It is named for Doug Still, a founding member of the NW…

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Colstrip Units 1 & 2 to retire at year end

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…

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