The language for the proposed bill to implement “Step 2” of the West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative stipulates the conditions under which CAISO and California utilities can participate in energy markets governed by an independent regional organization.

The deadline to submit bills for California’s 2025 session is looming, and backers of the West-Wide Governance Pathways Initiative expect legislation without unnecessary fluff that will change CAISO’s governance structure and allow a new regional organization to oversee Western energy markets.

Washington Gov. Bob Ferguson signed an executive order to create a team that will explore the impact of data center growth on the Evergreen State.

BPA would have to strike several types of agreements, many of which are complex and could take years to implement, to tackle seams that could arise if BPA joins a day-ahead market, agency staff said during a workshop.

BPA would earn $65 million in annual benefits from joining CAISO’s EDAM but face $83 million in increased yearly costs from participating in SPP’s Markets+, according to a new Brattle study.

The West faces a “pivotal” opportunity to develop a fresh approach to managing its electricity markets, one that could update RTO governance to better accommodate the public policy.

BPA’s choice of a day-ahead market will not be driven by concerns about the impact of the seams that would divide the two markets proposed for the West, an agency official made clear.

The Bonneville Power Administration released a much anticipated staff report that tentatively recommends the agency choose SPP’s Markets+ over CAISO’s Extended Day-Ahead Market.