The Pacific Northwest is on track to meet energy efficiency goals set in the Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s 2021 power plan after having saved 160 aMW through improvements in 2024, the council said in a news release.
The 160 aMW in 2024 is up from 157 aMW in 2023. In total, the region has saved 465 aMW since the 2021 power plan was adopted in February 2022, putting it on track to hit the plan’s target of 750 to 1,000 aMW by 2027, the council stated in the Sept. 11 release.
“The council’s power plans protect the Northwest electricity grid’s reliability and adequacy, and cost-effective energy efficiency has been a crucial part of our strategy,” council board member K.C. Golden, who represents Washington, said in a statement. “The region is making key progress on our most recent plan’s target, but we have more work to do in the next two years. Acquiring the full target by 2027 will achieve the greatest benefit for the Northwest’s electricity grid and energy consumers in our region.”
Approximately 39 aMW of the 160 aMW in savings came from the Bonneville Power Administration, according to the news release.
The results are based on an annual survey conducted by the council’s advisory committee, the Regional Technical Forum. Participants in the survey include BPA, the Energy Trust of Oregon, the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance, and investor- and consumer-owned utilities in Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Montana.
Commercial buildings accounted for 50% of the savings in the 2024 survey, while the industrial sector accounted for 26%, the residential sector 22% and the agricultural sector 2%.
The region has increased spending on energy efficiency over the past three years. It invested $386.7 million in 2022, $456.2 million in 2023 and $580.6 million in 2024, the council said.
“This increase in funding comes after a period of declining investment in this resource,” according to the news release. “This trend likely reflects the renewed need for energy efficiency in meeting regional load growth. Budgets are forecast to grow by 12% in 2025, compared to 2024 levels. Continuing this trend will be important to achieving the 2021 plan’s full target by 2027.”
In total, the region has saved 8,042 aMW over the past 45 years, according to the council.
The savings report comes as the council prepares its ninth power plan, which will have a 20-year outlook for the region’s grid.
The council is required under the Northwest Power Act “to develop a plan to ensure an adequate, efficient, economical and reliable power supply for the region,” according to its website. NWPCC publishes a plan every five years, and the goal is to have a draft ninth power plan by July 2026 and a final version by the end of that year. (See NWPCC’s Initial Demand Forecast Sees Sharp Growth for NW.)
“The council’s power plans and collaboration with regional partners have made the Pacific Northwest a national leader in acquiring cost-effective energy efficiency,” Margi Hoffmann, Oregon council member, said in a statement. “Efficiency saves consumers and businesses money on their energy bills, makes our homes safer and more comfortable, and helps ensure the Northwest’s power supply continues to be adequate and reliable.”
