February 2006 Issue

Utilities Hit Conservation Target in 2005

Charlie Grist, senior analyst, briefed the Power Committee on the conservation achievements made by Northwest utilities in 2005. In a survey conducted by the Council, preliminary results show that the 15 largest utilities collectively reduced electricity demand by 108 average megawatts in 2005, meeting the conservation target in the Council's Fifth Power Plan. The plan recommends ways for the region to secure an adequate, efficient, and affordable power supply.

Science Board Presents Its Review of 2005 Court-ordered Summer Spill

Independent Scientific Advisory Board members Thomas Poe and Robert Bilby briefed Council members on the board's review (750k PDF) of the biological effectiveness of the court-ordered spill operations in 2005 to benefit ESA-listed Snake River fall Chinook salmon. The Council had asked the ISAB for the review, and the National Marine Fisheries Service and the Columbia River Inter-tribal Fish Commission added their own questions for the board to consider. In its review, the board examined other relevant studies on survival, travel time, and dam passage, but none of the studies specifically addresses how summer spill might benefit listed Snake River fall Chinook. The board recommended additional research, monitoring, and evaluation, and in particular, the need for more research on the over-wintering fall Chinook as a life history form.

Council Releases Issue Paper on a Northwest Resource Adequacy Standard

Council members approved the release of an issue paper on a standard for guiding long-term regional resource planning. The paper describes the adequacy standard as a gauge to assess whether the Northwest power supply is adequate in terms of "keeping the lights on."  Wally Gibson, system analysis and generation manager, also noted the value of the standard as an "early warning system" that would signal the need to acquire resources.