The future of the Northwest’s economy and way of life can, in some ways, be distilled into a few sentences.
“BPA has about 150 energy-intensive projects in its queue across the region. Some of those requests date back to as early as 2005, although the vast majority are from the past four years. About 300 generation projects — like solar or wind — are also waiting for approval to connect to the grid . . . ,” details a recent article by Columbian reporter Sarah Wolf.
BPA, of course, is the Bonneville Power Administration, which supplies electricity throughout Washington, Oregon and Idaho – as well as parts of California, Montana, Nevada and Utah.
Like other electricity providers throughout the country, the BPA is attempting to avoid a future in which energy demand exceeds supply. The needs of data centers and the prospect of widespread electric vehicle use presages increased demand for electricity. So does the fact that population growth and industrial expansion inevitably require electricity to power computers, appliances and manufacturing.
The Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference Committee has estimated that demand in the region – Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana – will increase 30 percent in the next decade.
“The electrical industry as a whole is grappling with the big issue of large loads coming on to transmission systems,” BPA’s Doug Johnson said. “We are not alone here in the Northwest.”
As the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine detailed in a 2021 report: “New technologies, such as clean generation, wide electrification, energy storage, power electronics, and systems for monitoring and control, can enable large changes in the way the power system is organized and operated.”
Critics suggest that efforts to promote clean energy in Washington and other states will diminish the power supply. But that is a shortsighted outlook.
With abundant hydroelectricity, advancements in wind and solar power, and the pursuit of small modular reactors as the next generation of nuclear energy, Washington is well positioned to meet the needs of the future. Our state also is well positioned to benefit from the economic opportunities provided by green energy.
The larger issues in our state involve energy storage and transmission. Wind and solar facilities do not produce electricity around the clock, increasing the need for vast, reliable storage capacity. According to media outlet Washington State Standard, the Northwest’s first urban, large-scale battery farms are scheduled to enter service this year in Troutdale, Ore., followed by a project in Snohomish County.
“The region is already at risk for blackouts and brownouts,” a representative of Nebraska-based energy company Tenaska said at a hearing. “This is going to be a backstop for a region such as this.”
A spokeswoman for Puget Sound Energy said: “Battery energy storage systems help us to meet Washington’s clean energy goals. They are critical to maintaining grid reliability when demand surges during summer heat waves and cold snaps. They help to accelerate the transition to clean energy and allow us to get the most value from wind and solar energy.”
Washington has the ability to make its desired transition to clean energy. It also has the ability to provide the electricity required by a changing economy while taking advantage of the opportunities provided by those changes. But it will take foresight and leadership to maintain our quality of life while attracting large businesses and enhancing our environment.
