Category – Energy

Wholesale power markets in the West are a key factor to review annually to track the Council 's 2021 Power Plan, as well as helping utilities in their own price forecasts and providing avoided market emissions rate guidance for state agencies developing building codes.

Last week, the Council approved for release the 2027 Resource Adequacy Assessment, representing many months of work to ensure the power plan will provide “an adequate, efficient, economic and reliable power supply.”

An effort is underway to explore adding fast-acting energy storage into traditional hydroelectric units to improve response and stability, and to increase operational flexibility, particularly when integrating renewable power.

Fuel up on that leftover Halloween candy and join our Power Division at November meetings to learn more about the Council’s critical work on resource adequacy.

Last year, the Northwest saved 216 average megawatts of energy, which is slightly lower than the 223 average megawatts achieved in 2020, according to the Council’s recently released 2021 Regional Conservation Progress Report.

The Regional Technical Forum models how heating and cooling equipment performs in various climates as part of its work. Recent weather events in the region suggest that the past may no longer be a reliable predictor of the future.

With an ever-growing need to decarbonize the grid while providing reliable and affordable generation, offshore wind is receiving significant industry attention.

While it is possible to replace the output of the four lower Snake River dams while meeting aggressive clean-energy goals, the cost would be substantial, and the reliability of the system could depend on future technologies.

In a challenging economy when costs seem to be rising constantly, low-income households face an increasing risk of being unable to afford basic necessities, including electricity

Against the backdrop of soaring fossil fuel prices due to the war that Russia is waging on Ukraine, a transition to cleaner fuels is underway in the Northwest that will touch nearly all aspects of the economy.