News

On April 29, the Power Division staff released a new initial forecast showing a range of potential electricity demand growth in the Pacific Northwest over the next two decades. Senior Energy Forecasting Analyst Steve Simmons, Senior Power Analyst Tomás Morrissey, and Power System Analyst Jake Kennedy led a presentation on the forecast during an online meeting of the Council.

NOAA’s 2024 ‘Stoplight’ report shows mixed signals, average forecasted adult returns for salmon and steelhead.

At April’s Council meeting, managers from the Columbia River Inter-Tribal Fish Commission, Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Idaho Department of Fish and Game provided forecasts for adult salmon and steelhead returns to the Columbia River Basin in 2025.

At its April meeting in Portland, the Council set the thresholds for its resource adequacy metrics, which are intended to protect the Pacific Northwest’s power system from outages that are too frequent, too large, or too long in duration.

After announcing in December that he would be stepping down, Executive Director Bill Edmonds confirmed his departure date of April 18. The Council also announced that Guy Norman, a former Washington Council member (2016-2023), is serving as interim executive director.

At its March 12 meeting, the Council heard additional briefings on the 2014/2020 Fish and Wildlife Program as the deadline nears for state and federal agencies, tribes, NGOs, the public, and more to submit recommendations.

When you need to see in the dark, which will illuminate the terrain better – a flashlight or an aerial flare? This spring, Council Power Division staff will be using the latter approach to produce new 20-year load forecasts for the future of the Pacific Northwest’s power system.

At March’s Council meeting, Power Division staff led presentations about the estimated costs and timelines to develop for generating resources, and the first portion of energy efficiency potential for the Ninth Power Plan.

The Council will welcome two new Oregon Members at its March 11-12 meeting: Margaret (Margi) Hoffmann and Chuck Sams. Gov. Tina Kotek appointed Hoffmann and Sams, and the Oregon Senate has confirmed their appointments to the Council.

In February, the Council learned the sad news that John Harrison, a member of the Public Affairs Department for 31 years until he retired in 2022, had passed away. At February’s meeting, General Counsel John Shurts and Council Member Jeff Allen of Idaho gave remarks honoring Harrison.