The Northwest Power and Conservation Council developed a new tool to show the performance of its Fish and Wildlife Program, funded by the Bonneville Power Administration. Read MoreNew Tool Tracks Performance of Fish and Wildlife Program
Top Stories
The Oregon Department of Energy is seeking entities to manage funding available through the state's Community Heat Pump Deployment Program. Read MoreOregon DOE Seeks Administrators for Community Heat Pump Grant Program
Washington Gov. Jay Inslee has appointed two new members to the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission. Steve Parker, of Yakima County, is a retired fish biologist who worked for the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, and will serve as an eastern Washington representative. … Read MoreBrief Mentions: News Roundup
Christine Gregoire, former Governor of Washington, joined the board of directors for Puget Energy and Puget Sound Energy, effective Feb. 24, the companies announced March 3. Read MoreFormer Washington Governor Gregoire Named to Puget Sound Energy Board
REC Silicon's shuttered solar polysilicon plant in Moses Lake, Wash., is still on track to resume production by the end of the year, REC Silicon Chief Executive Officer Kurt Levens said during a Feb. 22 call discussing fourth-quarter earnings. Read MoreREC Silicon on Track to Restart Moses Lake Plant in Late 2023
Comments flowed in regarding a new draft report on regionalizing the California Independent System Operator, and predictably, the opinions and ideas are diverse and wide-ranging. Read MoreRegionalization of CAISO Draws Much Comment on the Implications
Continuing cold weather bolstered Western natural gas consumption; however, regional natural gas prices deflated week over week. Read MoreWestern Demand Up; Power Prices Vary
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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.
Small modular reactors aren't the only new nuclear generation being considered in the Northwest. Read MoreENW Studying Increasing Output of Columbia Generation Station
Participating members of Utah Associated Municipal Power Systems have voted to continue developing what could be the nation's first commercial small modular reactor, the 462 MW Carbon Free Power Project, despite rising costs. Read MoreUAMPS Members Vote to Continue With SMR Project
X-energy, a small modular reactor developer, has shifted its focus from Washington state to the Gulf Coast for its first SMR demonstration project, which is underwritten in part by the Department of Energy's Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program. Read MoreX-energy Shifts Focus of First SMR to Gulf Coast
Attorneys representing those affected by the Labor Day 2020 wildfires in Oregon filed a motion Feb. 28 claiming to show evidence that PacifiCorp withheld and destroyed evidence indicative of the company's culpability. Read MorePacifiCorp Accused of Hiding, Destroying Evidence in Lawsuit Over Oregon Fires
Seattle City Light's draft license application for the Skagit River Hydroelectric Project [P-553] generated numerous comments from state and federal agencies, tribes and others about important factors to consider in the final license application, due April 30. Read MoreCommenters Say SCL Draft Relicense Studies Incomplete
Idaho Power last year continued its 15-year streak of increasing earnings per share. Read MoreHigher Load, Customer Growth Fuel Strong Fourth Quarter for Idaho Power
As Washington state's legislative session grinds on, a few energy bills have garnered bipartisan support in a Legislature oftentimes divided along partisan lines on energy policy. Read MoreWashington State Bipartisan Bills Back Light Pollution, Transmission Planning
Lithium Americas on March 2 announced the start of construction on the proposed Thacker Pass lithium mine in northern Nevada, a day after a federal appeals court rejected a request by environmental groups and tribes for an injunction to stop development. Read MorePOTOMAC: Thacker Pass Lithium Mine Construction Begins
While many jurisdictions in the Northwest have adopted or are considering higher rate classes for cryptocurrency miners, Montana state lawmakers want to make it harder to do that in the state. Read MoreMontana Bill Would Protect Cryptocurrency Miners From Special Rate Classes
Highlights of NorthWestern Energy's 2022 and 4th quarter earnings reports, released Feb. 17, included a record level for capital investments and a double-digit rate increase request filed with Montana's regulators. Read MoreNorthWestern Energy CEO: 2022 Was a 'Foundational Year'