September
28, 1995
Advocates Praise Salem Utility
for Commitment to Renewable Resources
A regional advocacy organization today cheered the unanimous decision
by the Salem Electric Board to invest in a substantial amount of non-hydro
renewable energy.
“Salem has demonstrated its leadership and pledged to make an
investment for our future with this vote,” said Rachel Shimshak,
director of the Renewable Northwest Project, a regional organization
promoting environmentally responsible renewable energy resources,
based in Portland, Oregon. “Investing in renewable energy sources,
such as wind, geothermal and solar, will benefit both the economy
and the environment in the Northwest. With its investment, Salem will
diversify its energy supply and help maintain our quality of life,”
she added.
In its September 19, 1995 meeting, the Salem Board voted to invest
in as many renewable resources as it could within a four percent rate
cap. They directed the staff to begin the process of searching for
a supply of renewable energy to displace its share of the Bonneville
Power that does not come from hydroelectric plants.
# # #
September 29, 1995
Advocates Praise PGE for
Commitment to Oregon Wind Project
A regional advocacy organization today cheered Portland General
Electric’s (PGE) commitment to Oregon’s first commercial-scale
wind energy project. PGE and KENETECH Wind power, the project developer,
today signed a power purchase agreement for a 25 MW wind plant to
be located in Umatilla County, Oregon.
“PGE has demonstrated its leadership and made an investment
for our future by committing to this wind project,” said Rachel
Shimshak, director of the Renewable Northwest Project, a regional
organization promoting environmentally responsible renewable energy
resources, based in Portland, Oregon. “This project will benefit
both the environment and the economy of Oregon and help maintain
our quality of life,” she added.
The Umatilla County wind plant was one of the winners in PGE’s
1993 renewables only Request for Proposals (RFP). Together with
the Columbia Hills, WA, wind plant, PGE will be investing in a total
of 37.5 MW of wind energy. The project will begin construction after
the completion of environmental studies and state and county siting
review. Construction could begin in early 1997 with expected completion
later that year.
PGE joins PacifiCorp, the Bonneville Power Administration, the Eugene
Water and Electric Board, and Salem Electric all of whom have made
decisions to move forward on renewable energy projects in the last
week. “The citizens of Oregon can be proud of their utilities
for making clean energy decisions that will set the pace for others
to follow,” concluded Shimshak.
# # #
September 20, 1995
Group Applauds Utilities'
Commitment to Wind Project
A regional advocacy organization today cheered the Bonneville Power
Administration (BPA), PacifiCorp, and the Eugene Water and Electric
Board’s (EWEB) commitment to the region’s first commercial-scale
wind energy project. A letter, signed by the parties today, allows
the Foote Creek Rim wind project, located in Carbon County, Wyoming,
to move forward.
“This is a green-letter day for the region,” stated Rachel
Shimshak, director of the Renewable Northwest Project, a regional
organization promoting environmentally responsible renewable energy
resources, based in Portland, Oregon. “BPA, PacifiCorp, and EWEB
have demonstrated their leadership and made an investment for our
future by committing to this wind project. The Wyoming project represents
a meaningful step toward a clean energy future for the region -- one
that will help maintain our quality of life in the Northwest,”
she added.
BPA, PacifiCorp, and EWEB signed a letter of agreement today to move
forward on one of the renewable pilot projects called for in the Northwest
Power Planning Council’s 1991 power plan. BPA has already signed
a contract for the Newberry geothermal project. The goal of the Council’s
confirmation agenda is to gain experience and capability with wind,
solar, and geothermal resources to position the region to use them
in the future. The project, to be installed by KENETECH Wind power,
will be 68 megawatts in size. The participants in the project include
BPA, PacifiCorp, EWEB, Tri-State Generation and Transmission, and
the Public Service Company of Colorado. Construction on the site could
begin this autumn, with operations slated for late 1996.
“This project will be good for both the environment and the economy,”
stated Shimshak. “These days you can’t get much better than
that.”
# # #
July 12, 1995
Advocates applaud utility
commitment to renewable energy
A regional coalition of environmental groups and energy developers
applauded the July 11, 1995 vote of the Snohomish Public Utility
District (SnoPUD) Commissioners to move forward on investing in
a wind energy project in the Columbia Gorge. The Commissioners adopted
an unanimous recommendation of their Citizens’ Advisory Committee,
and directed their staff to negotiate a contract with KENETECH Wind
power for 10 aMW of energy from the Columbia Hills wind project.
“Commissioners Vaughn and Moon demonstrated their leadership
on clean energy with this vote,” said Rachel Shimshak, director
of the Renewable Northwest Project. “SnoPUD has not only listened
to its customers, but made a solid business decision that will diversify
its energy mix, and help the region build a sustainable energy future,
she added.
SnoPUD Commissioners voted on actions related to a resource plan
which contains 100 MW of power purchases, 50 MW of contingency resources,
10 aMW of wind energy and a small hydroelectric project. With their
wind investment, SnoPUD will join Portland General Electric and
PacifiCorp as participants in the 67 MW Columbia Hills project.
The Renewable Northwest Project is a regional organization that
promotes the implementation of environmentally sound, workable renewable
projects in the region.
# # #
April 1995
State survey shows a clean
Northwest energy system has huge potential for renewable energy
additions
All four Northwest states received high marks in renewable energy
use, according to a new study titled Renewable Energy Sourcebook:
A Primer for Action released nationally by Public Citizen, and in
Oregon, by the Renewable Northwest Project (RNP). Additionally,
the report shows that Northwest renewable electric resource potential
is over seven times our current total electricity consumption.
“Public Citizens' study shows that new renewable energy technologies
are moving from the laboratory into the field, as a wide range of
utilities are looking to wind, solar, geothermal, and biomass resources
for new electrical capacity,” said Matthew Freedman, the report’s
author.
“In the Northwest, over 14 public and private utilities are
considering investments in renewable resources,” said Rachel
Shimshak, Project Director for RNP. “We hope that the Northwest
will continue its leadership position on clean resources, and set
an example for other regions to follow,” she added.
The Renewable Energy Sourcebook contains profiles for each state’s
energy use. It includes electricity generation, renewable energy
and electric use and resource potential, state rankings, state policies,
and electric utility activities. The ranking section shows how states
compare nationally. For example, per capita, Oregon is:
- fourth in terms of total renewable
energy consumption;
- fourth in renewable electric generation,
including hydroelectric, thirteenth
without hydroelectric;
- fourth in biomass energy use;
- eighth in direct use geothermal energy,
and;
- eleventh in solar hot water use.
Oregon also offers numerous incentives for
renewable energy, ranging from tax credits for businesses and residences
and low-interest loans, to solar access ordinances.
Northwest state profiles are available at no charge from RNP.
RNP is cosponsored environmental and consumer organizations, renewable
energy developers, and energy service companies. The purpose of
the organization is to promote the implementation of cost-effective,
workable renewable resources in the Northwest.
# # #
February 28, 1995
BPA Cost Cuts Are Triage in
Reverse:
Efficiency, Renewables, Salmon on the
Chop List
But the Nuclear Rathole Will Stay Open
A Better Idea:
Groups Propose BPA Financial Security
Plan to Cut Costs, Keep BPA Competitive, Pay Off Debts, Protect Forward-Looking
Investments
An orderly financial security plan for the Bonneville Power Administration
was proposed today by a coalition of consumer, utility, and environmental
organizations seeking continued BPA commitment to forward-looking
investments in energy efficiency, renewable energy resources, and
wild salmon restoration, the core of BPA’s mission.
The plan was developed to counter BPA’s proposed $250 million
per year budget cutting strategy, announced Friday, February 24. The
plan is being proposed the Northwest Conservation Act Coalition, and
supported by the Renewable Northwest Project, Northwest Environmental
Advocates, and the Emerald People’s Utility District.
“Bonneville’s cost cutting priorities are upside-down,”
said Rachel Shimshak, director of the Renewable Northwest Project,
and advocacy group for renewable energy. “Rather than preserving
their statutory priorities of conservation and renewable energy, they
appear to be cutting those first, and preserving their bloated nuclear
program, which constitutes nearly one-third of BPA’s expenses.”
“What’s worse is that BPA may let some of its customers
leave the Bonneville system and walk away from their share of the
nuclear debt that BPA ran up on their behalf. That would shift huge
costs onto the customers who remain behind, and possibly onto the
nation’s taxpayers,” said Jeff Shields, general manager
of the Emerald People’s Utility District.
“The Columbia River system can produce abundant power and abundant
fish. It can also generate ample revenue for BPA to repay the debt
on the dams, and invest in energy conservation and renewables so that
our children enjoy a power system as clean and affordable as we have,”
said K.C. Golden, policy director for the Northwest Conservation Act
Coalition.
Here is what Bonneville must do to safeguard its financial health
and carry out its statutory mission:
• CLOSE THE NUCLEAR RATHOLE: Bonneville can’t continue to
be a sponge for bad nuclear debt and Washington Public Power Supply
System (WPPSS) cost overruns. The Northwest’s last remaining
nuke, Washington Nuclear Plant 2, costs 3.5 cents to 4.1 cents per
kilowatt-hour just to operate, 20 to 40 percent higher than the going
rate for power. Bonneville and WPPSS say these costs will come down.
Bonneville should off nuclear energy as a separate product line to
anyone willing to believe these promises. If Bonneville can’t
find enough customers for this product, the plant should be closed.
In either case, BPA would save up to $80 million per year.
• SPREAD THE NUCLEAR COST BURDEN FAIRLY: BPA is liable for more
than half a billion dollars annually in nuclear power plant debt.
Bonneville must allocate the debt costs so that the burden does not
impair its central mission: economical and environmentally sound energy
for the Northwest. Bonneville must enforce its contract rights to
keep customers on its system if their leaving would harm the agency
financially. Those rights must not be waived unless Bonneville can
close uneconomical power plants, resell abandoned power at a rate
that makes it whole, or collect nuclear debt costs from departing
customers.
• STOP THE IRRIGATION GIVEAWAY: Bonneville must charge federal
irrigation customers the same pumping power rate that other irrigators
served by BPA utilities pay. Currently, the Bureau of Reclamation
is charged less than one-tenth of a penny per kilowatt-hour. This
absurd subsidy costs Bonneville $32 million a year, and rewards wasteful
water usage. Irrigation water withdrawals already cost Bonneville
up to $300 million a year in foregone power sales.
• STOP THE ALUMINUM GIVEAWAY: If Bonneville offers the aluminum
smelters new power sales contracts, they must ensure that the smelters
pay the full cost of their service. That would eliminate a subsidy
that costs the rest of the ratepayers $170 million annually.
• TERMINATE HIGH-COST GAS PLANT: As customers leave Bonneville’s
system, the high-cost Tenaska combustion turbine will not be economical.
The project should be canceled.
• RECOMMIT TO ITS MISSION: Bonneville’s central mission
is to deliver economically and environmentally sound power to the
Northwest. The agency must continue funding its successful energy
efficiency programs, go forward with renewable resource development,
and fully implement the Northwest Power Planning Council’s salmon
recovery recommendations.
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