Emerging Trends from Scenario Analysis Modeling
- February 18, 2021
- Carol Winkel
Reducing carbon will transform the power system
Category – Energy
Northwest Power System’s 2019 Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- February 01, 2021
- Carol Winkel
In the Pacific Northwest, the system’s carbon emissions are directly connected to the hydro system. In a good hydro year, emissions are lower as less natural gas and coal are dispatched and conversely, emissions tend to be higher in poor hydro years as fossil fuel resources are dispatched more often.
State of Northwest Utilities in 2019
- January 03, 2021
- Carol Winkel
Flat load growth continues and on site solar takes off.
Clean air, affordable power and environmental mitigation: Northwest Power Act turns 40
- December 16, 2020
Four decades ago, legislators and policymakers in the Pacific Northwest took a revolutionary leap of faith, writing a law that changed the direction of the region's energy future and made fish and wildlife co-equal with other purposes of hydropower dams in the Columbia River Basin.
Wholesale Electricity Prices Come Into Focus
- December 04, 2020
- Carol Winkel
Throughout the West, retiring coal plants and a plethora of clean energy policies in states, municipalities, and utilities have changed how electricity markets function, adding even more uncertainty to an already challenging enterprise: forecasting the future.
Could California’s Summer Rolling Blackouts Happen in the Northwest?
- October 20, 2020
- Carol Winkel
Could the Northwest experience rolling blackouts? “Yes,” says John Fazio, senior power systems analyst. “And it almost happened in 2001.”
Survey: 2019 Energy Efficiency Improvements Would Power 158,000 Northwest Homes
- September 16, 2020
- John Harrison
The 2019 accomplishments bring the total energy efficiency improvements in the Northwest since 1978, when efficiency programs began, to 7,000 average megawatts. That's more than twice the annual output of Grand Coulee Dam.
Electricity Price Forecast Trends: Lots of Renewables as Clean Energy Policies Drive Resource Development
- August 25, 2020
- Carol Winkel
At the Council’s August power committee meeting, John Ollis presented the preliminary findings of the Council’s wholesale electricity price forecast. The forecast is used in developing the Council’s resource strategy for its regional power plan.
Canadian Columbia Basin Glaciers are Shrinking
- August 04, 2020
- John Harrison
Five years of research shows the warming climate is causing glaciers to retreat. There are implications for the Columbia River water supply.
NW Natural's Plan for a Carbon Neutral System by 2050
- July 17, 2020
- Carol Winkel
Oregon's legislation opens the door for NW Natural to acquire renewable natural gas for its customers.
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