Toward a clean energy future
Risk has always been part of energy planning, and never more so than today. Rising electricity demand and fuel costs, evolving climate-change policies, and the growing need for system capacity and flexibility are factors that require careful examination to understand their impact.
Renewable portfolio standards have been adopted in Montana, Oregon, and Washington, with other potential regulation to reduce carbon emissions on the horizon.
Historically, the Pacific Northwest’s hydropower system has been able to meet both peak-hour load and provide system flexibility—quickly increasing or decreasing power to keep generation and load in balance. Today, the region faces increasing peaks in energy use coupled with fish protection requirements that reduce hydroelectric production, and increasing wind generation that requires more flexibility. How to add more capacity and flexibility into the power system is a critical question.
The Council’s Sixth Power Plan examines the many changing circumstances that affect the power system to determine the best strategy to ensure that the Pacific Northwest’s energy is economical and reliable.
Energy efficiency could meet most of the region’s future load growth >