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    Integrating energy and the environment in the Columbia River Basin

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    • Fish and Wildlife Planning
    • Salmon and Steelhead
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  • Fish and Wildlife

    The Council works to protect and enhance fish and wildlife in the Columbia River Basin. Its Fish & Wildlife Program guides project funding by the Bonneville Power Administration.

    Fish & Wildlife overview

    The Fish and Wildlife Program

    • Fish and Wildlife Program 2018/19 Amendment Process
    • 2014 Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program
    • Subbasin Plans
    • Project Reviews and Recommendations

    Independent Review Groups

    • Independent Economic Analysis Board (IEAB)
    • Independent Scientific Advisory Board (ISAB)
    • Independent Scientific Review Panel (ISRP)

    Forums and Workgroups

    • Asset Management Subcommittee
    • Ocean and Plume Science and Management Forum
    • Regional Coordination
    • Science and Policy Exchange
    • Toxics Workgroup
    • Columbia Basin Research, Monitoring and Evaluation Workgroup
    • Informal Hatchery Workgroup

    Topics

    • Adaptive Management
    • Anadromous Fish Mitigation
    • Blocked Areas
    • High-level Indicators
    • Invasive and Non-Native Species
    • Predation
    • Protected Areas
    • Research Plan
    • Resource Tools and Maps
    • Sea Lions
    • Sockeye
    • Sturgeon
    • The Pike Problem
  • Energy

    The Council develops a plan, updated every five years, to ensure the region’s power supply and acquire cost-effective energy efficiency.

    Energy overview

    THE NORTHWEST POWER PLAN

    • The 2021 Northwest Power Plan
    • The Seventh Power Plan
    • Planning Process and Past Power Plans

    TECHNICAL TOOLS AND MODELS

    • Regional Portfolio Model
    • Generation Evaluation System Model (GENESYS)

    Energy Advisory Committees

    • Conservation Resources Advisory Committee
    • Demand Forecast Advisory Committee
    • Demand Response Advisory Committee
    • Generating Resources Advisory Committee
    • Natural Gas Advisory Committee
    • Resource Adequacy Advisory Committee
    • System Analysis Advisory Committee
    • Regional Technical Forum
    • RTF Policy Advisory Committee
    • System Integration Forum
    • Resource Strategies Advisory Committee (Not Active)

    Energy Topics

    • Energy Efficiency
    • Demand Response
    • Power Supply
    • Resource Adequacy
    • Energy Storage
    • Hydropower

    Energy Forums and Workgroups

    • Pacific NW Demand Response Project
    • Northwest Wind Integration Forum (Archive)
  • Meetings
    See next Council meeting December 10, 2019 in Portland › See all meetings ›

    View all council meetings View full calendar

    Recent and Upcoming Meetings

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    • Jun 2019 Tue Wed 11 - 12
      Council Meeting
    • Jun 2019 Tue 18
      9:00 am—4:00 pm RTF Meeting: June 18, 2019 9:00 am—11:00 am Hatchery Workgroup
    • Jun 2019 Mon 24
      9:00 am—12:00 pm Council Work Session for Fish and Wildlife Program Amendments
    • Jun 2019 Thu 27
      10:30 am—12:00 pm Asset Management Subcommittee
    • Jul 2019 Tue Wed 16 - 17
      Council Meeting
    • Jul 2019 Tue 23
      9:00 am—4:00 pm RTF Meeting: July 23, 2019
    • Jul 2019 Thu 25
      9:30 am—3:30 pm Conservation Resources Adv. Committee - 2021 Power Plan
    • Aug 2019 Mon 12
      1:00 pm—5:00 pm Regional Coordination Forum
    • Aug 2019 Tue Wed 13 - 14
      Council Meeting
    • Aug 2019 Tue 13
      5:00 pm—6:30 pm Public Hearing on Proposed Amendments to the Fish and Wildlife Program
    • Aug 2019 Tue 20
      9:00 am—3:00 pm Generating Resources / System Analysis Advisory Committees meeting
    • Aug 2019 Wed 21
      9:30 am—3:45 pm Demand Response Advisory Committee 5:00 pm—6:30 pm Public Hearing on Proposed Amendments to the Fish and Wildlife Program
    • Aug 2019 Thu 22
      5:00 pm—6:30 pm Public Hearing on Proposed Amendments to the Fish and Wildlife Program
    • Aug 2019 Mon 26
      1:30 pm—3:30 pm Resource Adequacy Advisory Committee - Technical Committee
    • Aug 2019 Tue 27
      9:00 am—4:00 pm RTF Meeting: August 27, 2019
    • Aug 2019 Fri 30
      10:00 am—11:00 am RAAC Steering Committee WEBINAR
    • Sep 2019 Tue 10
      9:30 am—12:30 pm Demand Forecast Advisory Committee
    • Sep 2019 Wed 11
      9:30 am—12:00 pm RTF Policy Advisory Committee Meeting
    • Sep 2019 Thu 12
      12:00 pm—1:30 pm Columbia Basin Habitat RM&E Strategy Webinar
    • Sep 2019 Tue Wed 17 - 18
      Council Meeting
    • Sep 2019 Tue 17
      5:00 pm—6:30 pm Public Hearing on Proposed Amendments to the Fish and Wildlife Program
    • Sep 2019 Tue 24
      9:00 am—4:00 pm RTF Meeting: September 24, 2019
    • Sep 2019 Wed 25
      9:00 am—3:00 pm Generating Resources Advisory Committee
    • Sep 2019 Mon 30
      5:00 pm—6:30 pm Public Hearing on Proposed Amendments to the Fish and Wildlife Program
    • Oct 2019 Tue 01
      10:00 am—12:00 pm Demand Response Adv. Comm. Webinar - Draft Residential DR Product Assumptions 1:30 pm—4:30 pm Columbia Basin Habitat RM&E Strategy Workshop #1 5:00 pm—6:30 pm Public Hearing on Proposed Amendments to the Fish and Wildlife Program 5:00 pm—6:30 pm Public Hearing on Proposed Amendments to the Fish and Wildlife Program
    • Oct 2019 Tue 08
      1:00 pm—4:00 pm Large-group Technical Consultation on the Fish and Wildlife Program
    • Oct 2019 Tue Wed 15 - 16
      Council Meeting
    • Oct 2019 Tue 15
      5:00 pm—6:30 pm Public Hearing on Proposed Amendments to the Fish and Wildlife Program
    • Oct 2019 Tue 22
      9:00 am—4:00 pm RTF Meeting: October 22, 2019
    • Oct 2019 Wed 23
      9:00 am—12:00 pm Columbia Basin Habitat RM&E Strategy Workshop-Boise
    • Oct 2019 Thu 24
      9:30 am—3:30 pm Conservation Resources Advisory Committee
    • Oct 2019 Mon 28
      9:00 am—12:00 pm Columbia Basin Habitat RM&E Strategy Workshop - The Dalles 1:00 pm—3:00 pm Informal Hatchery Workgroup
    • Oct 2019 Tue 29
      9:30 am—3:00 pm Generating Resources Advisory Committee
    • Oct 2019 Wed 30
      9:30 am—3:45 pm Demand Response Advisory Committee
    • Nov 2019 Wed 06
      9:30 am—2:30 pm System Analysis Advisory Committee
    • Nov 2019 Tue Wed 12 - 13
      Council Meeting
    • Nov 2019 Wed 13
      1:00 pm—4:00 pm Columbia Basin Habitat RM&E Strategy Workshop - Portland
    • Nov 2019 Thu 14
      9:00 am—11:00 am Proposal Form Webinar - Resident Fish and Sturgeon Review
    • Nov 2019 Mon 18
      12:30 pm—3:30 pm Columbia Basin Habitat RM&E Strategy Workshop - Wenatchee
    • Nov 2019 Tue 19
      9:00 am—4:00 pm RTF Meeting: November 19, 2019
    • Dec 2019 Wed 04
      9:00 am—2:30 pm Conservation Resources Advisory Committee
    • Dec 2019 Thu 05
      9:00 am—11:00 am Proposal Form Webinar - Resident Fish and Sturgeon Review
    • Dec 2019 Fri 06
      9:30 am—3:00 pm Generating Resources Advisory Committee
    • Dec 2019 Tue 10
      Council Meeting via Webinar
    • Dec 2019 Thu 12
      9:30 am—3:30 pm Demand Response Advisory Committee
    • Dec 2019 Mon 16
      5:30 pm—7:30 pm Town Hall Meeting on Modernizing the Columbia River Treaty
    • Dec 2019 Tue 17
      9:00 am—4:00 pm RTF Meeting: December 17, 2019
    • Dec 2019 Wed 18
      9:00 am—12:00 pm Natural Gas Advisory Comm. Webinar
    • Dec 2019 Thu 19
      1:30 pm—4:30 pm System Analysis Advisory Comm. WEBINAR
    • Jan 2020 Tue 07
      9:00 am—3:00 pm Generating Resource Advisory Committee
    • Jan 2020 Tue Wed 14 - 15
      Council Meeting
    • Jan 2020 Wed 22
      9:00 am—4:00 pm RTF Meeting: January 22, 2020
    • Jan 2020 Thu 23
      1:00 pm—4:00 pm System Analysis Advisory Comm. WEBINAR
    • Jan 2020 Wed 29
      9:30 am—3:30 pm Conservation Resources Advisory Committee
    • Feb 2020 Mon 10
      12:00 pm—5:00 pm Regional Coordination Forum
    • Feb 2020 Tue Wed 11 - 12
      Council Meeting
    • Feb 2020 Wed 19
      9:00 am—4:00 pm RTF Meeting: February 19, 2020
    • Feb 2020 Thu 20
      9:30 am—3:30 pm Demand Response Advisory Committee
    • Mar 2020 Tue Wed 17 - 18
      Council Meeting
    • Mar 2020 Tue 24
      9:00 am—4:00 pm RTF Meeting: March 24, 2019
    • Apr 2020 Tue Wed 14 - 15
      Council Meeting
    • Apr 2020 Tue 21
      9:00 am—4:00 pm RTF Meeting: April 21, 2020
    • May 2020 Tue Wed 12 - 13
      Council Meeting
    • May 2020 Tue 19
      9:00 am—4:00 pm RTF Meeting: May 19, 2020
    View Council Meetings View all Meetings
  • Reports and Documents

    Browse reports and documents relevant to the Council's work on fish and wildlife and energy planning, as well as administrative reports.

    Browse reports

    Reports by Topic

    • Power Plan
    • Fish and Wildlife Program
    • Subbasin Plans
    • Financial Reports
    • Independent Scientific Advisory Board
    • Independent Scientific Review Panel
    • Independent Economic Analysis Board

    Columbia River History Project

Close

Taking Stock of the Solar Power Boom

Reviewing how well the technology has performed and where it stands in the Northwest

April 19, 2016
Gillian Charles

Share

Solar power has taken off in the U.S. thanks to improving technology, which has lowered the costs of photovoltaic installations for utilities and homeowners. Over the past eight years, installations have grown from around 1 gigawatt to just over 22 gigawatts, according to Department of Energy data — and most of it just in the last four years.

The Lawrence Berkeley National Lab just released a study of utility-scale PV performance across the U.S., looking at generation data for 2014 from 128 projects from 18 different states, mostly in California and Arizona. They found that the projects have performed as expected which, along with the extension of the federal tax credit and advances in storage technologies, should encourage solar power development. The study also found that designing panels with the ability to adjust direction to capture solar energy helped improve their performance.

As for the status of solar in the Northwest, there are a number of PV installations totaling about 220 megawatts underway in southern Idaho; Idaho Power has contracted to purchase its generation. There are several projects in southern and southeastern Oregon at various stages of the planning process; a few small projects planned in Montana; and very little development in Washington for now.

One way to increase access to solar power is through community solar, where consumers share the costs and benefits of a generation project. It gives consumers an affordable way to participate in renewable energy while also enabling the utility to provide the service while maintaining the customer's load. Overall, it increases access to solar developments to a greater share of the market.

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