Low water conditions and high market prices conspired to dampen the Bonneville Power Administration's first-quarter revenues in its October to September fiscal year, but the federal power marketing agency says strong reserves will cushion any financial impacts should water conditions not imp… Read MoreBPA Q1 Results Impacted by Low Water Conditions, High Market Prices
Top Stories
A Deschutes River tributary in the heart of central Oregon has undergone a tremendous transformation after more than 25 years of habitat restoration work, partially funded by the Bonneville Power Administration. Read MoreOregon Habitat Project Makes Slow, Steady Strides
Federal researchers have developed a battery that discharged for just over 28 hours in laboratory conditions. Read MorePNNL Researchers Say New, Cheaper Battery Could Discharge for 24 Hours
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission is facing an increasing number of calls to reject a proposal to expand a gas pipeline that runs through the Northwest. Read MoreFERC Facing Increasing Pressure to Reject NW Gas Pipeline Expansion
In a unanimous vote on Feb. 10, the Oregon Environmental Quality Commission appointed Leah Feldon as director of the state Department of Environmental Quality. Feldon replaces Richard Whitman, who retired in September. She has worked at DEQ since 2005, and been its deputy director since 2016… Read MoreBrief Mentions: News Roundup
Former FERC Chair Richard Glick spoke with Clearing Up on a range of energy issues pressing on California and the wider West. In particular, he acknowledged there were reliability and affordability issues. He also said that the state needs to work out solutions on its own, but added that F… Read MoreFormer Commissioner Glick Optimistic on California
Please join us next Tuesday, Feb. 21, to expand your understanding of the coming wave of electric vehicles in the Northwest, and what it means for the region and its electric system. Read MoreLast Call! Feb. 21 Webinar on Coming Wave of EVs, NW Power System Impacts
Western energy prices generally increased week over week as usage expanded during yet another pipeline constraint. Although El Paso Natural Gas Co.'s Line 2000 began its return to service, Southern California Gas Co. announced natural gas flow reductions on its Line 235 starting Feb. 16. Read MoreAnother Week, Another Natural Gas Pipeline Issue
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In the latest Energy West podcast, Clearing Up's Dan Catchpole and California Energy Markets' Jason Fordney talk about the California Independent System Operator's latest look at expanding its footprint, Southwest Power Pool's announcement that Markets+ is moving into development early, big rate-increase requests from two SoCal utilities, Puget Sound Energy's push to shut down its natural gas business, and more.
The Bonneville Power Administration is being encouraged to provide 100-percent carbon-free energy in its next 20-year contract that will begin in 2028. Read MoreBPA Customers Urge 100-Percent Carbon-Free Power in 2028 Contract
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission unanimously approved the Western Power Pool's Western Resource Adequacy Program in a Feb. 10 order. The regional organization is a step forward for the West, FERC commissioners said in their order [ER22-2762]. Read MoreFERC Approves Western Resource Adequacy Program
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Feb. 10 authorized tariff changes to allow Western Energy Imbalance Market participants to include compliance costs borne from Washington's new carbon cap-and-invest program in their energy bids. Read MoreFERC OKs Inclusion of Washington Cap-and-Invest Costs in Western EIM Tariff
When it comes to aquatic invasive species, one of the biggest efforts in the Columbia Basin is to prevent the arrival of zebra and quagga mussels. Read MoreEffort to Keep Mussels Out of Columbia Basin Expanding
Nonnative species can prey on native species, eat the same foods, or disrupt the food web. They can also transmit diseases or interbreed with native species. Whatever their impact, nonnative species are considered a serious threat to salmon recovery in the Columbia Basin. Read MoreWide Range of Invasives Impacting Columbia Basin Habitat
California took another step toward creating a Western wholesale energy trading market when a key energy lawmaker announced legislation to regionalize the California Independent System Operator, but such efforts have fizzled before and the challenges are many. Read MoreEffort Towards Western Wholesale Energy Market Relaunched
Portland General Electric on Feb. 16 released the company's fiscal year 2022 financial results, reporting income levels roughly at or below those recorded in 2021. Read MorePortland General Electric’s Q4 Financials Reflect Increased Energy Prices
The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission on Feb. 16 unanimously approved two cold-weather reliability standards proposed by the North American Electric Reliability Corporation following the 2021 freeze that knocked out generation and caused widespread blackouts in Texas. Meanwhile, utility a… Read MorePOTOMAC: FERC Approves Cold-Weather Reliability Standards