Skip to main content

Header Menu

  • Contact

Search

Menu
  • About

    Integrating energy and the environment in the Columbia River Basin

    About the Council
    • Mission and Strategy
    • Members and Staff
    • Bylaws
    • Policies
    • Careers / RFPs
  • News

    See what the Council is up to.

    Read the latest news
    • Read All News
    • Press Resources
    • Newsletters
    • International Columbia River

    Explore News by Topic

    • Fish and Wildlife Planning
    • Salmon and Steelhead
    • Wildlife
    • Energy Planning
    • Energy Efficiency
    • Demand Response
  • 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

    • 2020 Addendum
    • 2014/2020 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
    • Strategy Performance Indicator Workgroup

    Topics

    • Adaptive Management
    • Anadromous Fish Mitigation
    • Blocked Areas
    • High-level Indicators
    • Invasive and Non-Native Species
    • Lamprey
    • Predation: Sea lions, pike, birds
    • Protected Areas
    • Research Plan
    • Resource Tools and Maps
    • Sockeye
    • Sturgeon
    • Hatchery Map
  • 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 May 4 - 5, 2021 in Portland (Webinar) › See all meetings ›

    View all council meetings View full calendar

    Recent and Upcoming Meetings

    Previous Swipe left or right Next
    • Oct 2020 Thu 22
      1:00 pm—4:00 pm System Analysis Advisory Committee
    • Oct 2020 Fri 23
      9:00 am—10:30 am Conservation Resources Advisory Committee
    • Oct 2020 Tue 27
      10:00 am—12:30 pm Demand Response Advisory Committee
    • Nov 2020 Wed 04
      9:30 am—12:30 pm System Analysis Advisory Committee
    • Nov 2020 Tue 10
      9:00 am—1:30 pm RTF Meeting: November 10, 2020
    • Nov 2020 Tue Wed 17 - 18
      Council Meeting
    • Nov 2020 Mon 30
      1:00 pm—4:00 pm System Analysis Advisory Committee
    • Dec 2020 Tue 01
      9:00 am—12:00 pm Resource Adequacy - Technical Committee
    • Dec 2020 Wed 02
      9:30 am—11:00 am Generating Resources Advisory Committee
    • Dec 2020 Thu 03
      9:00 am—11:00 am Power Committee Webinar
    • Dec 2020 Tue 08
      9:00 am—1:00 pm RTF Meeting: December 8, 2020
    • Dec 2020 Wed 09
      9:00 am—11:00 am RTF Policy Advisory Committee Meeting 9:30 am—12:30 pm System Analysis Advisory Committee 10:00 am—12:00 pm Informal Hatchery Workgroup Meeting
    • Dec 2020 Fri 11
      9:30 am—11:30 am Resource Adequacy - Steering Committee
    • Dec 2020 Tue Wed 15 - 16
      Council Meeting
    • Dec 2020 Thu 17
      9:00 am—12:00 pm Conservation Resources Advisory Committee
    • Jan 2021 Fri 08
      9:00 am—12:30 pm System Analysis and Resource Adequacy Combined Committee Meeting
    • Jan 2021 Tue Wed 12 - 13
      Council Meeting
    • Jan 2021 Tue 19
      1:00 pm—4:00 pm System Analysis Advisory Committee
    • Jan 2021 Wed 20
      9:00 am—1:00 pm RTF Meeting: January 20, 2021
    • Jan 2021 Thu 21
      9:00 am—12:00 pm Regional Coordination Forum
    • Jan 2021 Tue 26
      9:00 am—12:00 pm Conservation Resources Advisory Committee
    • Jan 2021 Thu 28
      8:30 am—11:30 am Power Committee Webinar
    • Feb 2021 Wed 03
      9:00 am—12:30 pm System Analysis Advisory Committee
    • Feb 2021 Mon 08
      1:00 pm—4:00 pm Demand Response Advisory Committee
    • Feb 2021 Tue Wed 09 - 10
      Council Meeting
    • Feb 2021 Thu 11
      1:00 pm—4:00 pm 2021-2022 Anadromous Fish Habitat and Hatchery Review: Proposal Form Workshop 1 of 2
    • Feb 2021 Wed 17
      9:00 am—12:30 pm System Analysis Advisory Committee
    • Feb 2021 Wed Thu 17 - 18
      RTF Meeting: February 17-18, 2021
    • Feb 2021 Fri 19
      9:00 am—2:30 pm SIF: 2021 Power Plan and DEI
    • Feb 2021 Wed 24
      8:30 am—11:30 am Power Committee Webinar - CANCELLED
    • Feb 2021 Thu 25
      1:00 pm—4:00 pm 2021-2022 Anadromous Fish Habitat and Hatchery Review: Proposal Form Workshop 2 of 2
    • Mar 2021 Wed 03
      9:00 am—12:30 pm System Analysis Advisory Committee - CANCELLED
    • Mar 2021 Mon 08
      9:00 am—12:00 pm Fish and Wildlife Program Objectives and Strategy Performance Indicators Workgroup
    • Mar 2021 Tue Wed 09 - 10
      Council Meeting
    • Mar 2021 Tue 16
      9:00 am—1:00 pm RTF Meeting: March 16-17, 2021
    • Mar 2021 Wed 17
      9:00 am—12:30 pm System Analysis Advisory Committee
    • Mar 2021 Fri 19
      10:00 am—12:00 pm RTF Policy Advisory Committee Orientation 1:00 pm—3:00 pm RTF Policy Advisory Committee Meeting
    • Mar 2021 Wed 24
      8:30 am—11:30 am Power Committee Webinar
    • Mar 2021 Wed 31
      9:00 am—12:30 pm System Analysis Advisory Committee
    • Apr 2021 Thu 01
      9:00 am—12:30 pm Conservation Resources Advisory Committee
    • Apr 2021 Tue Wed 06 - 07
      Council Meeting
    • Apr 2021 Mon 12
      1:00 pm—4:00 pm Demand Response Advisory Committee
    • Apr 2021 Tue Wed 13 - 14
      RTF Meeting: April 13-14, 2021
    • Apr 2021 Wed 14
      9:00 am—12:30 pm System Analysis Advisory Committee
    • Apr 2021 Wed 21
      8:30 am—11:30 am Power Committee Webinar
    • Apr 2021 Tue 27
      1:30 pm—3:30 pm Resource Adequacy Advisory Committee - Tech/Steering Combined
    • Apr 2021 Wed 28
      9:00 am—12:30 pm System Analysis Advisory Committee
    • Apr 2021 Thu 29
      9:00 am—12:00 pm Conservation Resources Advisory Committee
    • May 2021 Mon 03
      9:00 am—12:00 pm Strategy Performance Indicator Workgroup
    • May 2021 Tue Wed 04 - 05
      Council Meeting
    • May 2021 Thu 06
      1:00 pm—2:00 pm Informal Hatchery Workgroup Meeting
    • May 2021 Tue Wed 11 - 12
      RTF Meeting: May 11-12, 2021
    • May 2021 Wed 19
      9:00 am—12:30 pm System Analysis Advisory Committee
    • May 2021 Wed 26
      8:30 am—11:30 am Power Committee Webinar
    • Jun 2021 Wed 02
      1:00 pm—4:00 pm RTF Policy Advisory Committee Meeting
    • Jun 2021 Thu 03
      1:00 pm—4:00 pm Demand Response Advisory Committee
    • Jun 2021 Tue Wed 08 - 09
      Council Meeting
    • Jun 2021 Tue Wed 15 - 16
      Power Committee Work Session Webinars RTF Meeting: June 15-16, 2021
    • Jun 2021 Wed 30
      8:30 am—11:30 am Power Committee Webinar
    • Jul 2021 Tue Wed 13 - 14
      Council Meeting
    • Jul 2021 Tue Wed 20 - 21
      RTF Meeting: July 20-21, 2021
    • Aug 2021 Mon Wed 09 - 11
      Council Meeting
    • Aug 2021 Tue 31
      9:00 am—1:00 pm RTF Meeting: August 31, 2021
    • Sep 2021 Tue Wed 14 - 15
      Council Meeting
    • Sep 2021 Tue Wed 21 - 22
      RTF Meeting: September 21-22, 2021
    • Sep 2021 Wed 29
      9:00 am—12:00 pm RTF Policy Advisory Committee Meeting
    • Oct 2021 Tue Wed 12 - 13
      Council Meeting
    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.

Tags: 
solar

Sign up for our Newsletter

Contact

  • Central Office
  • Idaho Office
  • Montana Office
  • Oregon Office
  • Washington Office
  • Council Members

Social Media:

Facebook Twitter Instagram LinkedIn Vimeo Flickr

Copyright 2021

Footer Menu

  • Privacy policy
  • Terms & Conditions
Top