Study shows EV’s save $800/year in fuel costs

The Union of Concerned Scientists has released a new report, Going from Pump to Plug: Adding up the Savings from Electric Vehicles. The report compares fuel and maintenance costs of driving on electricity versus gasoline. For more, read the press release and How Much Does It Cost to Charge in Your City? blog.  While the environmental benefits of driving electric…

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Solar Plus Northwest aims to triple region’s solar energy resources

The NW Energy Coalition has joined a broad coalition of stakeholders in supporting Solar Plus, an in initiative that’s working to triple the amount of solar energy installed in Washington and Oregon by 2019. The Solar Plus project is funded by the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) and brings together utilities, environmental…

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Drive for carbon pricing featured at Clean & Affordable Energy Conference

Organizations in Washington and Oregon are gearing up for another run at passing carbon pricing legislation in 2018 either in their state legislatures or, if that effort fails, very possibly at the ballot box. Washington’s Alliance for Jobs and Clean Energy and Renew Oregon, who are already in recruiting mode, will present their proposals at…

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Rivas makes the case for proposed Puget Sound Energy settlement

Settlement a key step in securing the best possible outcome for Colstrip and Montana (The following is an op-ed written by Diego Rivas of the NW Energy Coalition. It was published on October 6, 2017 in the Billings Gazette.) A recent settlement proposal filed with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission is a major step toward ensuring…

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Proposed Puget Sound Energy Rate Case Provides Funds for Colstrip Transition

(The NW Energy Coalition along with Renewable Northwest released the following statement today in response to the filing of a proposed settlement in the Puget Sound Energy rate case at the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission.)  SEATTLE, Wash. — A diverse group of parties has reached a proposed settlement in the Puget Sound Energy (PSE) rate…

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Member spotlight: Oregon Solar Energy Industries Association

The Oregon Solar Energy Industries Association is the NW Energy Coalition’s newest organizational member. A solar energy trade association, OSEIA collaborates with utilities, legislators, non-profits and academics to promote solar development in Oregon. OSEIA engages in community education, legislative and regulatory advocacy, market expansion and industry support. It is a crucial organizing association for solar industry professionals in Oregon.

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Clean energy, consumer advocates outline good rate design principles

The NW Energy Coalition is among 32 consumer, clean energy and environmental organizations urging utility regulators to adopt uniform principles for making rate design changes. Northwest utilities, like others across the country, are reconsidering their business models as energy efficiency and consumer-owned distributed generation reduce electric demand. Many are considering higher fixed charges, minimum bills and other approaches that could impede progress toward a clean, affordable and equitable energy future.

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Coalition conference featuring Montana governor and NorthWestern Energy CEO draws big crowd in Missoula

Overflow crowds greeted Montana Gov. Steve Bullock, NorthWestern Energy CEO Bob Rowe, and a host of renewable energy and energy efficiency advocates and providers at the Spring 2016 NW Clean & Affordable Energy Conference in Missoula on May 19. More than 120 people from around the region attended this edition of the NW Energy Coalition’s twice-yearly conference, which rotates through Oregon, Idaho, Washington and Montana. Coalition members returned the next day to elect board members, select annual award winners and strategize.

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Member spotlight: YMCA Earth Service Corps

To prepare the next generation of environmental leaders, the YMCA Earth Service Corps (YESC) helps young people from diverse backgrounds get outside, engage with their local community and gain tools to enhance the natural world. YESC empowers youth to create a healthier environment through education, service learning and leadership activities.

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7th Northwest Power and Conservation Plan another stride toward clean energy future

In approving its seventh 20-year power plan on Wednesday, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council refilled the prescription to meet the region’s new electricity needs primarily with bill-shaving, emissions-avoiding, job-creating energy efficiency. The Council finds that acquiring 1,400 average megawatts of cost-effective energy efficiency in the plan’s five-year “action plan” period and 4,300 aMW by 2035 is the lowest cost and lowest risk strategy for meeting growth in electricity demand.

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