September 2008 Issue

Investor-owned Utilities Outline the Challenges and Opportunities to Addressing Climate Change Initiatives

Kyle Davis of PacifiCorp, Ken Johnson of Puget Sound Energy, and Sunny Radcliffe of Portland General Electric gave an overview (460k PDF) of their respective utility's actions to address carbon emission reductions. Some the challenges they face include:  growing load, transmission needs, meeting renewable portfolio standards, emerging technologies that are not fully developed, siting issues, and increased material, labor, and transportation costs. Noting that it will be expensive to cut electric-sector emissions, and referring to a study by EPRI, the panel suggested a number of sensitivity runs they believe are critical to include in the modeling for the Council's Sixth Power Plan. The panel also expressed concerns about the Western Climate Initiative, noting that a cap and trade program needs to be economywide, and should include the transportation sector.

Scientific Advisory Board Reports on Its Review of Snake River Spill and Transportation Operations

Dr. Richard Alldredge, review lead for the Independent Scientific Advisory Board, presented the board's report on Snake River spill and the transportation of smolts. The board was asked by NOAA Fisheries to provide a scientific review of the benefits of seasonal transportation and spill. Overall, the ISAB found that there was insufficient data to come to any definitive conclusions. The ISAB recommended continuing spill and transportation during the late April-May migration period when river conditions allow, and to continue monitoring recent spill-transport operations. See presentation (520k PDF) and report.

Council Forecasts an Adequate Power Supply in the Region

The Northwest has an adequate supply of electricity to avoid severe power outages for the next five years, according to the Council's analysis. The analysis also urges electric utilities to continue to plan for new power-generating resources and energy conservation in order to reduce the probability of price volatility and high-cost wholesale power events, and to meet state-mandated renewable resource requirements.