The following announcement is from the NW Energy Coalition.Ā
To learn more about the 2021 Northwest Power Plan and how to get involved, please join the NW Energy Coalition for one of two upcoming webinars. Weāll review whatās in the plan, its strengths and drawbacks ā and provide information and talking points that you can use to send in comments or participate in a public comment hearing on the Draft.
2021 Northwest Power Plan: Your Voice Matters!
Webinar #1 – Hosted by the NW Energy Coalition
September 27th
12:00pm ā 1:30pm PT / 1:00pm ā 2:30pm MT
2021 Northwest Power Plan: Your Voice Matters!
Webinar #2 – Hosted by the NW Energy Coalition
October 6th
12:00pm ā 1:30pm PT / 1:00pm ā 2:30pm MT
These webinars are designed to be one hour in length, and we are reserving extra time for additional Q&A for those who want to go more in depth.
The Northwest Power and Conservation Council, the regionās official power planning agency, has just released the draft of its 2021 Northwest Power Plan.Ā The public now has until November 19thĀ toĀ submitĀ written comments,Ā andĀ severalĀ opportunities to testify atĀ public hearingsĀ (virtually):
- SeptemberĀ 27,Ā 5-7pm Mountain, 4pm-6pm Pacific, hosted by Montana
- October 7,Ā 5-7pm Pacific, 6pm – 8pm Mountain, hosted by Washington
- October 12, 1:30-3:30pm Pacific, 2:30-4:30pm Mountain hosted by Oregon
- October 14, 5pm-7pm Mountain, 4pm-6pm Pacific, hosted by Idaho
The Councilās power plan is important.Ā ItĀ helpsĀ determine how much clean energy and energy efficiency we use by providing a blueprint for power system decisions throughout the region.Ā ItĀ guidesĀ theĀ Bonneville Power Administrationās choice of resources to meet public utilitiesā needs and establishesĀ benchmarks for the long-term plans of both public and investor-owned utilities.
The 2021 Northwest Power Plan comes at a critical time. The region needs to replace the energy and capacity services from retiringĀ fossil fuel resourcesĀ andĀ meetĀ aggressive economy-wide greenhouse gas reduction goals inĀ Washington and Oregon,Ā whileĀ maintaining reliability and affordability.Ā As we begin toĀ seeĀ the impacts of climate change on theĀ grid,Ā theĀ importance of havingĀ a clean, flexible, and resilient power system has never beenĀ greater.
Our Coalition formed to monitor the Councilās first plan in the early 1980s.Ā We continue that work, advocating for plans that prioritize money-saving energy efficiency and affordable new renewables and that address consumer and environmental/wildlife needs.
That advocacy has paid off. Previous plans focused onĀ energy efficiency and new renewables to meet power needs, and thus helped build the Northwestās clean energy economy.Ā Since the release of theĀ first Northwest Power Plan in 1983, the regionās utilities have acquired more than 7,200 average megawatts of energy efficiencyĀ –Ā more than twice the annual average generation of Grand Coulee Dam.
The 2021 Plan can maintain that momentum, but only if public-interest voices let the CouncilĀ knowĀ which parts of the 2021 Plan we support, and which parts could be improved.
Visit our websiteĀ for more information on the Plan and how to get involved!