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Media Summary
Contact Carol Winkel
for more information. Also see archive.
Overview for December - September 2000
A number of stories about the Council's power study, released in
mid-October, set the stage for continuing concerns about the region's
energy supply. In November a feature story appeared in the Sunday
Oregonian on the potential for an energy shortage and high prices this
winter that was picked up by the AP wire and appeared in papers throughout
the region. Governor Kitzhaber's salmon plan received coverage in
mid-November, but by early December, and with the threat of a coming cold
front, print, radio and television media were focused on electricity
supplies both in the Northwest and California.
October 2000
Power Warnings Planned--The
Oregonian, Portland, OR (Oct 27)
AP story on Northwest power managers? development of a warning system
when supplies are low. In light of growing demand and tight energy
supplies, a committee of regional power interests has been formed to set
up a warning system. The story mentions the Council: ?No
extensive analysis has been done since the four-state Northwest Power
Planning Council concluded earlier this year that the region has a 24
percent chance of a power deficit by 2003.? Also appears in The
Daily News, Longview, WA; The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA; The Sun,
Bremerton, WA; and The Herald & News, Klamath Falls, OR; The Daily
Journal of Commerce, Seattle, WA; The Seattle/Times Post Intelligencer,
Seattle, WA; The Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, WA; The Yakima Herald
Republic, Yakima, WA; The Lewiston Tribune, Lewiston, ID; and The Daily
News, Moscow, ID, Pullman, WA.
Columbia Fish and Wildlife Plan Completed--The Daily Journal of
Commerce, Seattle, WA (Oct 24)
Short piece on the completion of the Council's fish and wildlife
program: ?Annually about $130 million is spent in Columbia Basin
by the program to mitigate the effects of hydropower generation. It
is the largest regional effort to protect fish and wildlife in the nation.?
Also appears in The Daily Astorian, Astoria, OR.
Northwest Skirted June Blackout; Power consumption higher than
output, but power somehow stayed on--The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA
(Oct 20)
Story on the Council's power study, focusing on how close the region
came to power blackouts at the end of June: ?A Northwest Power
Planning Council study of what went on in the West Coast's abnormally
high priced energy markets this summer could identify only 38,000
megawatts of electric generating capacity June 28, but said the net hourly
consumption was 41,000 megawatts.?
Industry Questions Electricity Supply, Demand, Conservation; Power
planning council releases study pinpointing problems, solutions--The
Capital Press, Salem, OR (Oct 20)
Story on the Council's power study and the steep increases in the
wholesale price of electricity from the perspective of large industrial
users of electricity. In particular the story points to the need to
develop new supplies. Quotes Council members John Brogoitti and Tom
Karier, as well as Council staffer Dick Watson.
2nd Gas-fired Plant Planned--The Union-Bulletin, Walla Walla, WA
(Oct 15)
In-depth story on a proposal to build a gas-fired power generating plant
in western Walla Walla County. The writer notes that if it is
approved, ??the facility would be the latest in an increasing number
of such plants being developed in Washington and around the nation to
counter the growing risk of power shortages.? The article cites
the Council's forecast of ??a 25-percent chance of regional
blackouts in the next four years.?
High Electricity Prices Blamed on Factors Including Weather; Fewer
power plants, growing economy figure in, report says--The
Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID (Oct 14)
AP story on the release of the Council's power study. Notes the
findings and recommendations of the study and quotes Larry Cassidy:
?This is not just a Northwest problem; it is a problem for the entire
West Coast.? Also appears in The Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, WA;
The World, Coos Bay, OR; The Chronicle, The Dalles, OR; The Gazette-Times,
Corvallis, OR; The Observer, La Grande, OR; Walla Walla Union-Bulletin,
Walla Walla, WA; and The Morning News, Blackfoot, ID.
Power Plant at Satsop Planned; Power project would generate $7
million in state, local taxes--The
Bellingham Herald, Bellingham, WA (Oct 13)
AP story cited in an earlier summary about a power plant project proposed
for Grays Harbor County that would generate 500-megawatts. The
Council's forecast is cited as background information. Also
appears in The Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, WA; The Yakima Herald Republic,
Yakima, WA; and The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA.
High Energy Prices Might Lame Aluminum Industry; Northwest smelters
may not be able to survive paying the prices that are expected--Puget
Sound Business Journal, Seattle, WA (Oct 12)
Interesting story on the precarious state of the Northwest's aluminum
industry given the high energy prices. ?Many observers believe
this may be the beginning of the end for the region's aluminum industry.?
Also quotes Council staff: ??there's not likely to be as many
as there are now, and I think some of them are going to be closed,? says
Terry Morlan, manager of economic analysis for the Northwest Power
Planning Council in Portland.?
States Object to Fed's Fish Program; Water flow plan draws
criticism from governors--The
Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, WA (Oct 11)
Story on the Northwest governors? objections to NMFS's fish recovery
program. The article cites some key criticisms, including flow
augmentation and state sovereignty, and mentions the Council: ?Washington
is 'very concerned? about NMFS plans to defer to the Northwest Power
Planning Council a significant part of the federal salmon recovery
program.?
BPA Participates in Power Plant Proposal--The Skamania County
Pioneer, Stevenson, WA (Oct 11)
Story about Bonneville's agreement with Golden Northwest Aluminum and
Goldendale Energy Inc. to purchase power generated from a generator
planned to be built in Goldendale, Wash., cited in an earlier
summary. The story notes that ?the project must be reviewed by the
Northwest Power Planning Council, a four-state agency with responsibility
under the Northwest Power Act of 1980 to determine that any large
generating resource in which the BPA participates is cost-effective.?
Advocate: Do the Job or Quit; Salmon supporter calls for power
council reps to resign--The Time-News, Twin Falls, ID
(Oct 8)
Article on Ed Chaney's request for Council members to resign because
they have failed to ensure the survival of migrating salmon by opposing
increased flows. The story describes the role of the Council and
quotes both Todd Maddock and Mike Field, as well as John Harrison:
?The council would support increased flows if benefits to fish and
wildlife were documented, Maddock said.?
Clallam Electricity Costs May Climb--Peninsula Daily News, Port
Angeles, WA (Oct 6)
Story on the Clallam County PUD's anticipated rise of about 10 percent
in wholesale costs for electricity next year. Notes the
Council: ?In July a committee of the Northwest Power Planning
Council attributed rising power prices to declining reserves, low
hydropower generation, power plant outages and more demand from
California.?
Need to Work Together to Diversify Fuel Sources Imperative--Cascade
Business News, Bend, OR (Oct 4)
Letter to the Editor by Paul Israel, Sunlight Solar Energy. He
criticizes the fees and charges that utilities propose and urges utility
executives to help in diversifying fuel sources to address increasing
energy shortfalls. He cites the Council's forecast, noting that
"small generation projects such as photovoltaics and wind, can make an
impact on that shortfall."
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