News
Up one levelAssure that Puget Sound Energy remains a clean energy leader and offers fair rates for gas and electricity
In May and June, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission (WUTC) will be taking public comments on two important cases involving Puget Sound Energy: its request for a rate increase and the proposed acquisition of the utility by an investor consortium. PSE gas and electric customers should express their support for energy efficiency, low-income energy services, renewable energy and strong greenhouse gas emissions-reduction policies at any of the following hearings...
New report: Global warming heats up urgency of Columbia/Snake salmon recovery
A report released March 27 documents global warming's effects on endangered Columbia and Snake river salmon and steelhead and proposes action steps to be incorporated into federal plans. The scientific review warns that global warming is now an overarching threat to salmon survival, and is co-authored by former Oregon fisheries chief Jim Martin and National Wildlife Federation global warming expert Patty Glick.
The Transformer - February 25, 2008
Our Nov. 28 Transformer on decoupling, a strategy for overcoming potential revenue losses for utilities that invest in energy efficiency, elicited a flurry of electronic responses. Several writers were complimentary; others sought clarifications of insider terminology (we’ll keep working on that!) or additional information, which we supplied them individually.
The Transformer - February 6, 2008
Wind continues to provide just a small fraction of the region’s power. To really combat global warming we will need a lot more renewable energy of all types in the next 15-20 years. This issue of The Transformer considers a recent study from the Center for Energy Efficiency and Renewable Technologies (CEERT) that examines the economics of “mega projects.”
MidAmerican withdrawing nuke plans in Idaho
MidAmerican Energy and its newly created MidAmerican Nuclear Energy subsidiary announced Sunday they’re withdrawing plans to develop a nuclear power plant northwest of Boise in Payette County.
Energy Matters Update - Innovative waste-oil recycling program helps families pay power bills
Longtime NW Energy Coalition member Oregon HEAT has come up with another groundbreaking way to help low-income families cope with steep heating bills … and benefit the environment at the same time...
Victory on Kalama!
In a victory for the environment and utility customers, Washington state utility regulators halted the permitting for a proposed coal-fueled power plant in southwest Washington.
The Transformer - Decoupling 101: Breaking the link between energy sales and utility revenue
Decoupling is a deceptively simple concept: “decouple” a utility’s bottom line from the amount of energy it sells through periodic rate adjustments – upward to make up for losses from reduced sales, or downward to reflect any “windfall” revenues from higher-than-expected sales. This issue of The Transformer looks more closely at decoupling, its pros and cons, the barriers to its widespread adoption, and recent progress toward inclusion of decoupling mechanisms in Northwest utilities’ rate cases.
Update on recent Transformer
A recent Transformer (“PacifiCorp’s Dilemma,” Oct. 29, 2007) described multi-state utility PacifiCorp’s proposed integrated resource plan (IRP) and detailed clean-energy advocates’ critique of the plan’s call for two new coal-fired power plants. Now, Oregon Public Utility Commission staff have released their “Initial Comments and Recommendations” on the IRP..
View Lazar-Cavanagh cap-and-trade debate
On Oct. 12, NW Energy Coalition stalwarts Jim Lazar and Ralph Cavanagh went toe-to-toe in a fascinating debate over how to create a fair and effective cap-and-trade system. The debate, a highlight of the Coalition’s fall board conference in Seattle, was recorded by the Seattle Channel and is now available for online viewing...
Coalition responds to historic Northwest ‘climate footprint’ report
On Sept. 13, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council sounded a regional call-to-arms on global warming. It declared that achieving the steep reductions in carbon dioxide emissions will require closure of ALL coal-fueled power plants in the Northwest. The historic Council report was not without flaws. Read inside to see the NW Energy Coalition’s and Climate Solution's official comments.
Update: You told officials where to stuff the Kalama coal plant
When Energy Northwest gave the state’s Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council a sham carbon-sequestration plan (no commitment to actually capturing and storing its global-warming pollution) for its proposed coal-fueled power plant in Kalama, Wash., we asked you to tell EFSEC that was unacceptable. Thanks to Coalition and FUSE members and supporters, EFSEC has now received more than 1,000 emails and comments calling on the Council to reject Energy Northwest’s proposal. See iside for background information and updates on the EFSEC process...
WA Governor approves Kittitas County wind project
After a long process of back and forth, Governor Chris Gregoire has approved the Kittitas County wind project, marking a major victory for clean energy advocates...
Western states, provinces set carbon-reduction goal
On Aug. 22, the Western Climate Initiative, comprised of six Western states and two Canadian provinces, set a goal of reducing global-warming pollution 15 percent by 2020...
Coalition's Spring Board Meeting a rousing success
This May 18-19, more than 60 NW Energy Coalition board members, clean-energy activists, utility officials and others gathered in Boise for theCoalition’s annual Spring Board Meeting and Conference. On the agenda were the latest developments and policy considerations regarding climate change, Columbia Basin salmon restoration and low-income advocacy...
The Transformer: Power Council seeks advice on hiking 5th Plan target
A new study says the region is going gangbusters on acquiring new energy efficiency. At the current pace, we’ll meet the Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s 20-year target in 12-14 years. But the Council needs to raise the goal set in its 5th Power and Conservation Plan to maintain or accelerate the current rate of achievement. Read on for the latest info on the study...
Energy Matters Update - Oregon completes West Coast sweep
Last week, Oregon joined California, Washington and 22 other states by enacting a renewable energy standards bill – this one viewed by many as the toughest in the nation.
The Transformer – Replacing Lower Snake dams’ power
In the recently released Revenue Stream report on the economics of Lower Snake River dam removal, NW Energy Coalition policy staff put a price range on replacing the power the four dams produce. The latest issue of The Transformer explains how those numbers were developed and defends our findings against criticisms lodged by opponents of Columbia Basin salmon recovery.
New study shows economic benefits of real salmon recovery
A study released Nov. 15 by a coalition of taxpayer, business and conservation groups shows that removal of four dams on the lower Snake River in Washington state will save U.S. taxpayers and Northwest electricity consumers billions of dollars while increasing tourism, creating new outdoor recreation, and improving sport and commercial fishing opportunities.
The Transformer - Oregon regulators say 'No' to PacifiCorp coal plants
Clean energy advocates started the new year with a significant victory. After a long, contentious regulatory battle, the Oregon Public Utility Commission (OPUC) sided with NW Energy Coalition and its allies in denying PacifiCorp’s request to acquire two new coal plants totaling more than 1,100 megawatts by 2013.