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This is the Council's Monthly Spotlight e-newsletter. Each month, you'll receive the latest news from Council meetings, including recent decisions, news from state offices, and updates on energy and the environment.

April 2005 Issue

Bush Administration's Proposed Borrowing Restriction for Bonneville Poses Risks to Northwest Power Supply

Terry Morlan, manager of economic analysis, presented his analysis (70k PDF) of the effects of the Bush administration's budget proposal to include third-party debt under the Bonneville Power Administration's borrowing authority. According to Morlan's analysis, the proposal would make it difficult for the agency to maintain and upgrade the region's transmission and hydroelectric systems. As a result, the reliability, adequacy, and efficiency of the Northwest's power supply could be at risk, possibly leading to higher costs for customers and delays in the agency's repayment of its debt to the U.S. Treasury.

Northwest Power Supply Adequate; Higher Electricity Prices Likely

John Fazio, senior system analyst, briefed (60k PDF) the Council on the 2005 power outlook. Fazio said that although there was some improvement in the Northwest's snowpack, the region is experiencing a low water year—the 11th driest in 77 years; 2001 was the 2nd driest. He noted that the Northwest will have an ample power supply, but due to the shortage of cheaper hydroelectric generation, the cost of serving demand will be greater this year. Wholesale market electricity prices are higher mainly because the cost of natural gas is up about 40 percent from last year. Also see Fazio's primary presentation (890k PDF) and alternative outlook presentation (300k PDF). Federal agency representatives provided additional information (50k PDF) on how their agencies were dealing with the low water year.

Council Concerned Bonneville Will Not Make Its Share of Conservation

In its review (80k PDF) of the Bonneville Power Administration's proposed conservation program, the Council found that the agency's funding allocation appeared insufficient to meet its share of the targeted amount of conservation recommended in the Council's regional power plan. Council members approved a draft letter to Bonneville conveying the Council's concerns, encouraging an increase in its proposed conservation budget, and requesting that the agency document its success in achieving its share of the conservation goal.

Council Approves Work to Integrate Hatcheries and Subbasin Plans

Council members approved funding (20k PDF) for technical work that will draw on information from the Council's subbasin plans and other sources to estimate how many and what type of salmon and steelhead adults will escape to spawning grounds, be harvested, and return to hatcheries. The effort will analyze all the influences affecting anadromous fish—habitat, artificial production, harvest, hydro, and other effects—to determine the effectiveness of current and proposed actions. The work is supported by other fish and wildlife stakeholders in the region, and NOAA Fisheries will contribute some additional funding. The end product will be a web-based data system for policymakers and fish and wildlife managers to use in their decisionmaking.
 

Coming Up

• May 10-12: Council meeting in Walla Walla

For more, visit www.nwcouncil.org.

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