5th NW Electric Power and Conservation Plan

In December 2004, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council released its draft blueprint for meeting regional electricity needs over the next 20 years.

The Council consists of governor-appointed representatives from Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington. Its job is to balance energy production from dams in the Columbia River basin with environmental safeguards for endangered salmon and other wildlife. The Council is required to write a 20-year Power and Conservation Plan every five years that predicts which power resources utilities should acquire to best ensure a reliable regional power supply that imposes the least cost on consumers and fish.

You can download the entire report and all supporting materials from the Northwest Power and Conservation Council's website