The Northwest Power and Conservation Council is updating its Ninth Power Plan and accepting public comments on the draft plan through October 16.

The plan steers how the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), utilities, and regional decision makers choose the resources needed to meet the Northwest’s electricity demand.

The Council needs strong encouragement to adopt a robust Ninth Power Plan that ensures we are meeting our future energy needs, AND our responsibilities for fish recovery.

Submit your comment and attend public hearings!

Please join us in urging the Council to chart a course towards affordable, efficient, and reliable energy that benefits fish, our water and rivers, communities, and honors our obligations to uphold Tribal Treaties.

About the Power Plan Submit your comment  Comment Guide  Attend hearings

ABOUT THE NINTH POWER PLAN: 

Who is the Northwest Power and Conservation Council?

The Northwest Power and Conservation Council (Council) was authorized by Congress through the Northwest Power Act in 1980 to give the region a greater voice in energy planning AND protecting fish and wildlife. The Act requires the Council to develop, with broad public participation, a Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program, and then a corresponding regional Power Plan.

What is the Ninth Power Plan?

The Council produces a Northwest Power Plan every five years to forecast needs, assess supplies, and recommend a resource strategy for the future. Find more information here.

HOW TO SUBMIT YOUR COMMENT:

The public comment period is open until October 16. Submit online through the comment portal.

Submit your comment 

Customize the comment template below – or – create your own comment with the talking points here. If you use the comment template below, remember to customize the first sentence!

COMMENT GUIDE:

WHAT TO INCLUDE IN YOUR COMMENT:

To customize your own comment, use the following messaging points as a guide, including why salmon recovery matters to you.

The Ninth Power Plan may be the most consequential one yet: Our energy choices today will shape the future for many generations. We can get it right if we:

1. 1. Protect and Restore Salmon and Wildlife
   2. Prioritize New Clean Energy and Expand Transmission Capacity
   3. Expand Conservation and Demand Response Programs

Changing the way the hydropower system is operated to support healthy and abundant salmon and advance a modern and reliable electricity system is a win-win for all of us.

1. Protect and Restore Critically Endangered Salmon and Steelhead

• The Northwest Power Act requires BPA to balance hydropower benefits with fish and wildlife protection, and to do that the Power Plan must support The Columbia Basin Restoration Initiative and regional salmon recovery goals.
• The Power Plan resource strategy can replace the 700mw produced annually from the 4 lower Snake River dams. The Council should provide technical support and modeling in partnership with Washington State to incorporate Lower Snake River dams energy replacement into our region's future power plans.

2. Prioritize New Clean Energy, Storage Resources, and Expand Transmission Capacity

• The draft Plan clearly shows that clean sources—wind, solar, and storage—are the most economic choice to meet future power demand, and support fish and wildlife recovery.
• The draft Plan indicates that delays in expanding the transmission system could result in more gas generation. Instead, integrating storage and expanding transmission access will lead to more clean energy, lower costs for everyone, and improved system flexibility and reliability.
  • BPA's poor energy planning has left the region with overdue updates, backlog of repairs, and lack of necessary expansion to our region’s transmission system—the vital network of power lines and related infrastructure used to deliver electricity to our communities, homes and businesses.
• Recommend the region robustly pursue clean resources to meet future needs and remove barriers to necessary transmission connections across the four states.
• Recommend BPA prepare to acquire renewable resources and lead the region in expanding transmission capacity in order to integrate them into the grid.
• Create a Load Management Forum so that the region can maximize future flexibility and avoid further strains on the river systems from data centers or other.

3. Energy Conservation and Demand Response.

The NW Power Act requires the Council to prioritize energy conservation. The draft plan has a great starting point for energy efficiency and demand response but the data shows there is more cost-effective measures available that will also benefit salmon recovery, including:

• Adopt strong conservation targets and encourage regionwide collaboration to meet these goals. Save Energy, Support Rural Communities, and Protect Salmon!
• Recommend the region develop to Model Conservation Standards for Data Centers and Heat Pump installations. These standards help clarify performance criteria, installation guides, and operational practice to help the region address these growing issues.
• Recommend BPA help regional utilities implement demand response programs and modernize energy conservation program delivery, especially to address the unique aspects of serving rural communities.

The Council's energy and fish recovery responsibilities are inseparable. Let's embrace this opportunity to build out new energy generation to benefit fish, our water and rivers, communities, and to honor our obligations to uphold Tribal Treaties.

These measures are necessary and doable and would make meaningful progress towards salmon and steelhead recovery AND ensure a reliable, affordable energy system.

PUBLIC HEARINGS: 

We need your help at these important upcoming hearings to shape the Northwest’s energy future and advocate for healthy and abundant wild salmon. Public testimony is one of the most meaningful ways members of the public can influence the plan before it is finalized.

Register to join the hearings, and you will receive additional information about testifying.

9th Power Plan Testimony Prep: Join us on Sept 8 at 5:30 – 6pm PT for a virtual testimony preparation session ahead of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s public hearing. Register here.

Portland

When: Wed. September 9, 4:30-6:30pm PT
Where: Northwest Power and Conservation Council Office, 851 SW 6th Ave, Suite 1100
Let us know you'll be there.

Spokane

When: Mon. September 14, 4-6pm PT
Where: Spokane City Council Chambers, 808 W Spokane Falls Blvd
Let us know you'll be there.

Hearing Prep: Right before the hearing, we invite you to join us at Indaba Coffee (518 W Riverside) at 3:00pm to discuss testimony priorities and questions, and then walk to the hearing together at 3:45pm.

Coeur d'Alene

When: Mon. September 14, 4:30-6:30pm PDT
Where: Idaho Fish and Game Office, 2885 W Kathleen Ave
Let us know you'll be there.

Hearing Prep: Right before the hearing, we invite you to join us at Union Roasters (2007 Tea Olive Ln, Ste 103, Coeur d'Alene) at 3:30pm to discuss testimony priorities and questions, before driving to the hearing around 4:15pm.

The Dalles

When: Tue. September 29, 4:30-6:30pm PDT
Where: Columbia Gorge Discovery Center, MJ Murdock Theater, 5000 Discovery Drive

Missoula

When: Mon. October 5, 4:30-6:30pm MST
Where: Edgewater Missoula, 100 Madison St
Hearing Prep: Right before the hearing, we invite you to join us at Union Roasters (2007 Tea Olive Ln, Ste 103, Coeur d'Alene) at 3:30pm to discuss testimony priorities and questions, before driving to the hearing around 4:15pm.

Idaho Falls

When: Tue. October 6, 4:30-6:30 MST
Where: Idaho Fish and Game Office, Centennial Room, 4279 Commerce Circle
Let us know you'll be there.

Webinar: October 1, 4:00-6:00pm PDT, Online*
Seattle: October 7, 4:00-6:00pm PDT**

*details subject to change
**final location details to be confirmed