News

The Council hosted a discussion on the next phases to study and test the feasibility of reintroducing salmon in the upper Columbia, with tribal members and representatives from several federal agencies presenting.

A panel of long-time regional leaders on energy and fish and wildlife issues shared their thoughts about the significance of the Northwest Power Act and the Council

Meeting the Pacific Northwest’s growing need for power with a shifting mix of energy resources will be a major undertaking on its own. Balancing supply with demand, however, is only one part of the challenge for the Council’s power planning efforts.

WDFW briefed the Council on the survival of adult summer steelhead through the Columbia River hydrosystem.

Understanding how ocean conditions affect salmon, especially as the climate warms, is a priority of the Fish and Wildlife Program. NOAA presented findings on 2023 ocean conditions for salmon and steelhead, and explained how actions taken in freshwater can improve ocean survival.

The public can help inform early preparations for the Council’s next power plan, and guide formation of an advisory committee on the impacts of climate change and extreme weather on the Pacific Northwest’s power system.

New data on electric vehicles, data centers, and computer chip manufacturing suggests a shifting trend. Power demand in these sectors is growing, and over the next five years this demand could grow substantially.

IDFG continues to improve habitat in the Potlatch watershed, the largest spawning area for wild steelhead in the lower Clearwater River.

Directors of North Idaho utilities talk about the pressures they face: significant load growth, changing demographics, aging infrastructure, rate increases, and extreme weather events.

The 2021 Plan Resource Strategy called for the region to build at least 3,500 megawatts of renewable resources by 2027, and region has already built 3,200 megawatts since the Plan was released.