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Media Summary
Contact Carol Winkel
for more information. Also see archive.
Overview for October 18 - December 13, 2001
The Council received very positive coverage of its proposal for a
conservation target in many papers, including two editorials. Also,
several articles continued to cite the Council's improved power supply
forecast for winter.
OCTOBER 18
Council Predicts Adequate Northwest Winter Power Supply--The Daily
News, Moscow, ID and Pullman, WA
AP story on the Council's power forecast for winter, noted in an earlier
summary. Quotes Council member Tom Karier: "'According to
our analysis, there is less than a 1 percent probability of power deficits
this winter,' Karier said." Also appears in The Press, Post
Falls, ID; The Idaho Press-Tribune, Caldwell, ID; The Lewiston Tribune,
Lewiston, ID; The Tribune, Great Falls, MT; and The Capital Press, Salem,
OR.
OCTOBER 25
What's Up with the Diesel Generators?--The Okanogan Valley
Gazette-Tribune, Oroville, WA
Op ed by the Okanogan PUD on the electric market and how diesel generators
fit into the picture. In describing the difficulty of predicting
power supplies, the commentator notes a Council forecast:
"...the Northwest Power Planning Council just announced that
prediction of outage to less than 1%." Also appears in The
Quad-City Herald, Brewster, WA.
Avista Says Power Supply is Adequate--The Journal of Business,
Spokane, WA
Story on improved energy supplies. Mentions the Council's forecast
and notes "Still, the council says, those improvements were obtained
at the cost of idling Northwest aluminum smelters, a reduction in demand
for electricity because of a downturn in the regional economy, and
curtailing of water spills at Columbia and Snake River dams to help fish
runs."
Cost of Okanogan County Electricity Jumps 20 Percent--The Herald,
Brewster, WA
Story on rate increases for Okanogan County PUD customers. Mentions
the Council's forecast: "At the time, the Northwest Power
Planning Council was projecting a 12 to 17 percent chance the region could
face shortfalls during the winter."
NOVEMBER 2
Sept. 11 Events May Affect Next Year's Salmon Budgets--The Capital
Press, Salem, OR
Story on the federal government's shifting priorities since September 11
which may affect the availability of funds for fish and wildlife
projects. Mentions the Council's fish and wildlife committee meeting
and quotes Council staff: "Marker said funding for things the
opinion calls for, such as irrigation screens and water rights, may not be
available because the agency may have to ask for money to safeguard its
projects."
New NMFS Director Deals with Hogan Ruling--The Capital Press, Salem,
OR
Story on Bob Lohn's brief address at the Council's October meeting.
Quotes his comments regarding the Council and subbasin planning:
"'Subbasin planning is absolutely critical' in watershed planning, he
said."
NOVEMBER 5
PUD Facing Supply, Cost Questions--The Peninsula Daily News, Port
Angeles, WA
Story on the Clallam County PUD's meeting to discuss the power supply and
rate issues. Mentions the Council's forecast: "A
Northwest Power Planning Council analysis released in mid-October said the
region has less than a 1 percent probability it will experience power
deficits this winter."
NOVEMBER 7
Conference to Address Energy, Economy--The Daily Journal of
Commerce, Portland, OR
Story on the Northwest Construction Consumer Council's third annual
Construction Conference & Exposition in Seattle. Mentions
Council staff: "Following the economic review session will be
the 'Northwest Energy Forecast' by Terry H. Morlan, manager of economic
analysis for the Northwest Power Planning Council."
NOVEMBER 8
Utility Actions Prevented Blackouts, Bigger Hikes--The Republic News
Miner, Republic, WA
Story reviews last year's energy shortage and all the steps that helped to
alleviate the situation. Mentions the Council: "The
collective effort worked. Demand for electricity declined, while
supplies increased. As a result, the Northwest Power Planning
Council announced October 17 that the region faces little probability of a
power shortage this winter."
NOVEMBER 9
Public Invited to Attend Regional Energy Forum--Vancouver Business
Journal, Vancouver, WA
Brief notice on the forum; mentions that "Guest speakers
include: Larry Cassidy, chair of the Northwest Power Planning
Council..."
Cheers & Jeers--The Post Register, Idaho Falls, ID
Editorial praising the Council's promotion of conservation:
"Cheers to the Northwest Power Planning Council. The
panel--representing Idaho, Montana, Washington and Oregon--is promoting
electricity conservation...After a year of price spikes, that's just what
the council ought to be doing."
NOVEMBER 10
Fish Agency to Review Salmon Runs--The
Tri-City Herald, Kennewick, WA
Story on the National Marine Fisheries Service's plan to review its
hatchery program. Quotes newly appointed regional administrator Bob
Lohn and mentions the Council: "Larry Cassidy, power council
chairman, and Washington Gov. Gary Locke were among many who welcomed NMFS'
approach to state and local efforts."
Feds Review Salmon Listings After Ruling--The East Oregonian,
Pendleton, OR
AP story on the National Marine Fisheries Service's reevaluation of how it
treats wild salmon versus those raised in hatcheries. Quotes Council
Chair Larry Cassidy: "Larry Cassidy, chairman of the Northwest
Power Planning Council, which hands out millions of dollars from federal
hydroelectric dam profits each year for salmon habitat restoration, said
he was glad to see NMFS supporting locally developed projects."
Also appears in The Lewiston Tribune, Lewiston, ID; The
Democrat Herald, Albany, OR; The Herald & News, Klamath Falls, OR;
The News-Review, Roseburg, OR; and The Daily Argus Observer, Ontario, OR.
Powerful Topic Up Next--The
Columbian, Vancouver, WA
Notice on an upcoming forum at the library on the regional and local
energy supply and transmission system. Mentions the
Council: "Energy leaders who will be making their reports to
the community are Larry Cassidy, chair of the Northwest Power Planning
Council..." Also appears in The Oregonian, Portland, OR.
NOVEMBER 13
Federal Fish Decision Applauded by State--The
Columbian, Vancouver, WA
Story on the Bush administration's decision not to appeal a federal
judge's ruling on hatchery and wild coho salmon in Oregon. Quotes
Council Chair Larry Cassidy: "Larry Cassidy Jr., who advises
Locke on salmon matters and serves as chairman of the Northwest Power
Planning Council, faulted wild fish purists for failing to give enough
credit to hatcheries that have for decades produced the overwhelming
majority of salmon that return to Northwest rivers and streams."
Vancouver Man Retains Seat on Power Council--The
Columbian, Vancouver, WA
Story on Council Chair Larry Cassidy's reappointment to the Council:
"Cassidy, who first became involved in politics through his work as a
sportfishing activist, said he will make a strong case for increasing
spill rates in the months to come."
NOVEMBER 14
NMFS Won't Appeal Salmon Decision--The Methow Valley News, Twisp, WA
Story on the government's decision not to appeal Judge Hogan's
ruling. Quotes Council Chair Larry Cassidy: "Larry
Cassidy of Vancouver, Wash., president of the four-state Power Council,
said 'I think I speak for the entire council when I say I am excited by
the prospects of working with the Fisheries Service to address the needs
of all fish and wildlife in the Columbia River Basin...Local input, and
avoiding duplication, is the key to salmon and steelhead recovery.'"
PUD Explains Diesel Generator Purchase--The Chronicle, Centralia, WA
Story on Okanogan County PUD's decision to purchase 16 diesel generators
to address the need for a new energy source during the last year's energy
shortage. Because of the improved energy situation, they may never
be economical to operate. Mentions the Council: "But the
Northwest Power Planning Council recently announced that the prediction
has changed to less than a 1 percent chance of rolling blackouts."
NOVEMBER 15
Tactics Eased Energy Crisis--The Argus, Hillsboro, OR
Story on what happened to the energy crisis. Quotes Council
staff: "John Harrison of the Northwest Power Planning Council
says conservation may provide the best low-cost answer for the near term
if demand begins to overtake supply again."
NOVEMBER 16
Air Apparent--The Puget Sound Business Journal, Seattle, WA
Feature story on the growing competitiveness of wind power. Mentions
the Council: "Of those renewables, wind provides only about 0.1
percent of the region's power, according to the Northwest Power Planning
Council."
NOVEMBER 19
Conservation Key to Energy Picture--The
Register Guard, Eugene, OR
Feature story on the Council's conservation proposal: "The
Northwest Power Planning Council, a four-state agency created by Congress
more than 20 years ago to balance power production and wildlife, says one
of the best ways to catch up is to conserve as much electricity as a new
power plant can generate." Also appears in The Tri-City Herald,
Kennewick, WA; The Daily Astorian, Astoria, OR; The Bulletin, Bend, OR;
The Oregonian, Portland, OR; The Mail Tribune, Medford, OR; The Idaho
Statesman, Boise, ID; The News-Review, Roseburg, OR; The Columbia Basin
Herald, Moses Lake, WA; The Longview Daily News, Longview, WA; The
Chronicle, The Dalles, OR; The Gazette-Times, Corvallis, OR; and The
Observer, La Grande, OR.
Northwest Energy Supply Bounces Back--The Olympian, Olympia, WA
Story on the changed energy situation this year. Mentions the
Council: "The hydropower dam reservoirs are near their normal
storage levels, erasing the 4,000-megawatt deficit the drought created in
the Pacific Northwest, according to the Northwest Power Planning
Council."
State Prepares New Energy Standards for Construction--The Olympian,
Olympia, WA
Story on new standards adopted by the state's Building Code Council.
Mentions the Council: "The Northwest Power Planning Council
estimated that the more rigid standards also will save natural gas during
the next 15 years equal to half the state's current annual residential gas
consumption."
NOVEMBER 21
Blue Sky Wind Power Saves Energy--The Pioneer, Madras, OR
Story on Pacific Power's program to provide new, clean, renewable wind
power generation to business, industrial and residential customers.
Mentions the Council: "Buying one 100-kwh block of Blue Sky
each month for a year has the same environmental impact as planting a
third of an acre of trees or not driving a car for 1,800 miles, according
to the Northwest Power Planning Council and the Environmental Protection
Association."
Power Planning Council Clears Projects--The Blue Mountain Eagle,
John Day, OR
Story on the Council's approval of about $35 million for projects in the
Columbia Plateau province. Quotes Council member John Brogoitti:
"'I am pleased to have the council recommend projects that were
developed locally by soil and water conservation districts and other local
interests, projects that in some cases will be co-funded by state and
federal agencies,' Brogoitti said."
NOVEMBER 22
Energy Users Urged to Conserve--The
Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA
Story on the importance of conservation in spite of an improved winter
energy supply forecast. Quotes Council member Tom Karier:
"'Our forecast just goes through the winter,' warned Tom Karier,
chairman of the council's power committee. 'We're now operating in a
market system, and it tends to run in a boom-and-bust
cycle'...Conservation is one way to add stability, Karier said."
Locke Applauds New Energy Code Standards--Wahkiakum Co. Eagle,
Cathlamet, WA
Story on the State Building Code Council's requirement of stricter energy
efficiency standards in new buildings. Mentions the Council:
"The Northwest Power Planning Council estimates the improvements will
result in a savings of 29 trillion British Thermal Units or BTU's, of
natural gas over the next 15 years..."
Locke Warns Against Energy Market Changes--The Enterprise, White
Salmon, WA
Story on Gov. Locke's message to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission
to avoid changes in energy markets that would diminish the role of states
in regulating local electric utilities or managing regional transmission
facilities. Mentions the Council: "The Northwest Power
Planning Council earlier had forecast a 12-17 percent chance of blackouts
occurring in Washington this fall and winter, but improved its outlook and
now sees a less than one percent chance of blackouts."
NOVEMBER 23
Grants to Help Fish Habitat--Walla Walla Union Bulletin, Walla
Walla, WA
Story on the Council's funding for a project in the Walla Walla River
Basin: "The Northwest Power Planning Council approved $478,000
to increase the water flow in a section of the Walla Walla River between
Milton-Freewater and the Oregon-Washington border."
Roses and Raspberries--The Gazette-Times, Corvallis, OR
Editorial bestowing "roses" or "raspberries" to those
deemed deserving. Mentions the Council: "Roses to the
Northwest Power Planning Council for urging Northwest states to improve
energy conservation as a way of providing a 'virtual' power plant."
Power Play--The Mail Tribune, Medford, OR
Editorial in support of conservation programs. Mentions the
Council: "The Northwest Power Planning Council contends,
rightly, that a good way to catch up--if not the best way--is to conserve
as much electricity as a new power plant can generate."
NOVEMBER 28
Don't Ignore Conservation--The Olympian, Olympia, WA
Editorial urges region to rededicate its efforts to conserve energy to
"help buffer the impact of the next round of tight supplies an higher
power costs." Mentions the Council: "The Northwest
Power Planning Council calls for about 300 megawatts of conservation
during the next three years to complement 4,000 megawatts of new,
gas-fired power plants."
NOVEMBER 30
Groups Want More Funding for Fish Recovery--The
Columbian, Vancouver, WA
Story on request by conservation groups for more funding from the
federal government for salmon recovery. Quotes Council Chair Larry
Cassidy on the Bush administration's approval of a $20 million increase in
funding to states: "'We're excited about that,' said Larry
Cassidy Jr., a member of the Washington Salmon Recovery Board...Cassidy
also serves as chairman of the Northwest Power Planning Council, which
disperses about $130 million each year for projects improving salmon and
wildlife habitat."
DECEMBER 1
Northwest Vulnerable, Experts Say--The
Register Guard, Eugene, OR
AP story on the need to assess the security of the region's
infrastructure. Quotes Council member Tom Karier: "'We
need to start thinking about the unthinkable,' said Tom Karier, a member
of the Northwest Power Planning Council, a conference
co-sponsor." Also appears in The Tri-City Herald, Kennewick,
WA; The Columbian, Vancouver, WA; The Daily Journal of Commerce, Seattle,
WA; and The Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID.
DECEMBER 4
BPA Might Not Buy Habitat Along Methow River--The
Columbian, Vancouver, WA
AP story on the status of a proposed purchase of a conservation easement
next to the Methow River. Plans were put on hold over concerns the
river running dry part of the year. Quotes Council staff:
"John Harrison, spokesman for the four-state Northwest Power Planning
Council, said an independent scientific review panel toured the site in
October and found the riverbed was dry." Also appears in The
Oregonian, Portland, OR; The Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA; and The Daily
Journal of Commerce, Portland, OR.
DECEMBER 5
Groups Gather to Draw Deschutes River Plan--The
Oregonian, Portland, OR
Story on subbasin planning meeting for the Deschutes subbasin.
Quotes Council staff: "'A subbasin plan will hopefully show
that we are doing the right things in the right places,' said Lynn
Palensky, subbasin planning coordinator for the Power Planning
Council."
Sifting Through the Ashes of Enron's Meltdown--The
Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Seattle, WA
Op ed on the long term effects of Enron's collapse. Quotes Council
staff on the improved supply and demand: "But as [Dick] Watson
points out, 'Supply is adequate for demand because we've kicked the hell
out of demand...'"
DECEMBER 9
The Incredible Shrinking Energy Crisis--The
Sunday Oregonian, Portland, OR
Feature story on the effects of last year's energy shortage on fish and
resulting higher electricity rates. Quotes Council member Eric Bloch
on the impact of reduced spill on fish: "Still, Eric Bloch, one
of Oregon Gov. John Kitzhaber's representatives on the Northwest Power
Planning Council, says Bonneville caused too much harm to salmon."
DECEMBER 11
BPA Plans to Increase Spending on Salmon Recovery 46 Percent--The
Oregonian, Portland, OR
Story on Bonneville's funding level for fish and wildlife projects.
Mentions the Council: "The money will pay for salmon programs
recommended by the Northwest Power Planning Council, whose eight members
are appointed by the governors of Oregon, Washington, Idaho and
Montana."
DECEMBER 12
Study: West in Bad Power Cycle--The Statesman Journal, Salem,
OR
AP story on a study presented to the Council that likens the volatile
wholesale power market to the boom-and-bust real estate market.
Quotes Council member Tom Karier: "'If the electric power
industry does turn out to be like the real estate industry, it's going to
be a disaster,' said Tom Karier of Spokane, Wash., a power council member
and chairman of its power committee." Also appears in The
Columbian, Vancouver, WA; The Register Guard, Eugene, OR; and The
Oregonian, Portland, OR.
DECEMBER 13
11 Scientists Fault Plans to Save Fish--The
Oregonian, Portland, OR
Story on the Independent Scientific Advisory Board's review of the
region's four plans for restoring salmon in the Columbia Basin.
Quotes Council member Eric Bloch: "Eric Bloch, one of Oregon's
two appointees to the power council, said the review makes clear that the
state and federal governments must improve their salmon recovery
plans."
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