December 29, 1994

Survey reveals strong bipartisan support for continued federal funding of energy efficiency and renewable energy programs

A national post-election opinion survey released today on federal energy budget priorities reveals strong and broad bipartisan support for continued federal funding of energy efficiency and renewable energy research programs. The survey, conducted by Republican pollster Vince Breglio, found that 64 percent of Americans (Rep.-60%, Dem.-66, Ind.-67%), and 68 percent of those in the Northwest, believe that renewable energy resources, like solar, wind, geothermal, biofuels, and hydroelectric should be the highest, or second highest, priority for continued federal funding of energy research and development. The broad level of support for renewable energy technologies exists across all geographic regions, and across all age and income groups.

“This poll sends a clear message: Americans want clean energy,” said Rachel Shimshak, director of the Renewable Northwest Project. “The results also underscore the priorities set forth in the Northwest Power Act,” she added.

Energy efficiency and conservation technologies are cited as the highest, or second-highest, priority by 49 percent of Americans (Rep.-48%, Dem.-51%, Ind.-53%). In addition, 74 percent of respondents (Rep.-75%, Dem.-75%, Ind.-68%) agree that the government should provide tax incentives and other federal support to expand development and use of energy efficiency and renewable energy technologies.

The poll of 1,000 randomly selected voters nationwide (424 Republicans, 387 Democrats, 106 Independents, and 83 others) was commissioned by the Sustainable Energy Budget Coalition, a coalition of nearly 40 national environmental, business, governmental, consumer, and energy policy organizations, and was released by the Renewable Northwest Project in Portland. The poll, conducted between December 7-12, solicited views on federal funding of energy efficiency, renewable energy, natural gas, nuclear power, and fossil fuel (i.e. coal and oil) programs.

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November 22, 1994

US Senator and Congressmen Urge BPA
to Promote Renewable Energy Resources

Senator Mark Hatfield (R-Oregon), and Congressmen Ron Wyden (D-Oregon) and Jim McDermott (D-Washington) are urging BPA Administrator Randy Hardy to include a meaningful strategy for developing renewable resources such as wind, solar, and geothermal in its final Business Plan.

In letters written to Randy Hardy over the last month, each Member applauded BPA’s current wind and geothermal pilot projects, but noted the startling lack of attention given to renewables in the draft Business Plan.

In his November 8, 1994, letter, Congressman McDermott wrote, “There is little to no mention of them [renewables] in the plan, which is disturbing when BPA itself claims that the business plan will lay out its operating strategy for the coming years ... Leaving renewable energy out of the picture will cost both the environment and the economy of the Northwest.”

The Members called upon BPA to continue its leadership on these issues and to use innovative ways to promote renewable energy.
“BPA must become leaner and greener to stay competitive, said Congressman Ron Wyden. “BPA should jump start a fresh approach to develop renewable resources, because this will be a long-term winner for ratepayers and the environment.

Senator Hatfield, a strong supporter of both energy efficiency and renewable energy development, said in his letter, “Investing in these assets will have a positive effect on the environment and the economy of the Northwest.

For instance, solar, wind and geothermal resources have no fuel costs and therefore eliminate the uncertainty and expense of future fuel price increases. In addition, the development of these technologies will keep high paying jobs and consumer dollars within the region.”

Rachel Shimshak, director of the Renewable Northwest Project, praised the elected officials for their strong letters saying that their support is crucial to ensuring that the market for renewables continues to develop and that the goals of the 1980 Power Act are met.

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November 9, 1994

National Environmental Groups Target Bonneville's Lack of Renewable Energy Strategy

Portland, OR - - A coalition of national environmental groups is targeting the Bonneville Power Administration in a campaign to encourage the federal power agency to increase its strategic focus on renewable energy options in the Pacific Northwest.

The campaign, led by the Renewable Northwest Project, is centering on the fact that Bonneville’s recently released draft Business Plan pointedly leaves out any strategic reference to renewable energy resources.

In a letter to Energy Secretary Hazel O’Leary, released Tuesday, the groups charged that Bonneville’s Business Plan “barely mentions renewable energy resources such as solar, wind, geothermal or biomass, even though the Pacific Northwest is home to a rich diversity of these resources.

“As Bonneville plays a central role in the development of energy markets in the Northwest, and controls over 80 percent of the region’s transmission resources, it can play a critical role in helping build a market for renewable energy. We urge you to ensure that Bonneville fulfills this mission for the benefit of the region’s citizens and the environment,” they wrote.

The groups signing the letter included Environmental Action, USPIRG, Union of Concerned Scientists, Climate Institute, Clean Energy Campaign, Energy and Environmental Study Institute, Geothermal Energy Association, American Wind Energy Association, American Biofuels Association, American Solar Energy Society, Sun Day Campaign, and the Solar Energy Industries Association.

“Renewable energy resources such as solar, wind, geothermal, and biomass have little to no fuel costs and therefore provide protection for ratepayers against fossil fuel price increase,” the coalition wrote. “The increased utilization of clean and renewable energy resources in the region will use American technology to provide American jobs while helping to protect our environment.

“If Bonneville does not take a leadership role in this effort, the goals of Congress and of the Clinton Administration in providing for increased reliance on conservation and renewable energy will be frustrated,” they warned O’Leary.

The groups commended Bonneville supporting two geothermal power projects, located at Newberry Crater in Oregon and Glass Mountain in California, and two wind energy pilot projects, in Columbia Hills, Washington and Carbon County, Wyoming.

But they noted that “these alone will not meet the regional goals outlined in the 1980 Power Act, which explicitly named conservation and renewable resources as priority resources and which was designed to ‘encourage through the unique opportunity provided by the Federal Columbia River Power System conservation and efficiency in the use of electric power, and the development of renewable resources within the Pacific Northwest.’

“We urge you to do all that you can to ensure that Bonneville puts the necessary emphasis on the development of clean, renewable and domestic energy in the Northwest through its Business Plan, its power sales contracts, and its rate case,” they wrote to O’Leary.

Rachel Shimshak, director of the Renewable Northwest Project, said, “Bonneville has a golden opportunity to lead the nation in the development of renewable resources. A meaningful strategy for the development of conservation and renewable resources will also help Bonneville address declining fish stocks.”

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September 7, 1994

Northwest renewable energy advocates urge BPA to include action on renewable energy in its future plan

The Renewable Northwest Project (RNP) today urged the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to include a comprehensive strategy to promote regional acquisition of safe, clean, renewable energy resources in its Business Plan. Such action would ensure a sound energy future for the people of the Northwest. Renewable energy resources include solar, wind and geothermal.

Rachel Shimshak, director of RNP, speaking at a public meeting on the Business Plan at the Portland Convention Center said, "Despite the requirement in the 1980 Power Act to prioritize renewable resources, Bonneville's 231-page Business Plan barely mentions renewable energy, and offers no strategy for achieving the renewables goals of the Act. We want to fill in that blank with a Renewable Action Plan that will diversify our energy system, reduce potential fuel price and availability risks, protect our treasured environment, and keep the system competitive for the long run."

The RNP Renewable Action Plan includes the following steps for BPA:

1) help the region acquire 450-600 average megawatts (the size of one large coal or gas power plant) of power from renewable resources by the year 2000;

2) make meeting the megawatt goal a benchmark against which BPA will be measured; and

3) pledge to lower the emission of greenhouse gasses from the power it buys and sells.

"Because it generates half the power and controls 80% of the transmission in the region, BPA plays a huge role in determining the future of renewable energy in the Northwest," said Shimshak. "They have already taken positive steps by investing in wind and geothermal projects. We want them to build on those accomplishments by adopting a renewable action plan that will help transform the market and make the goals of the Power Act a reality," she concluded.

The Renewable Northwest Project is an advocacy organization sponsored by renewable energy developers, energy efficiency companies, environmental and consumer groups. The purpose of RNP is to promote the implementation of cost-effective, workable renewable technologies in the Northwest.

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