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Clark Public Utilities Commissioners Approve Power Plan The Clark Public Utilities board of commissioners has approved the broad outline of a plan that is expected to guide the way the utility meets Clark County's future power needs.
Byron Hanke, president of the utility commission, said that under the plan the utility would continue to buy as much power as possible from the Bonneville Power Administration.
BPA's existing resources are currently the lowest cost power available.
BPA power currently meets about 70 percent of local needs, with the balance produced at the utility's River Road Generating Plant, which will continue to operate. Hanke said the percentage of power purchased from BPA is expected to fall in future years due to growing demand for electricity.
In addition, the utility will expand its energy conservation programs for residential and business customers in an effort to reduce demand for electricity. The utility has offered conservation programs for more than 30 years.
Beginning in 2012, the utility will be required to buy at least 3 percent of its total power supply from renewable resources, not including existing hydroelectric resources. That requirement, which will increase to 15 percent by 2020, was approved in 2006 by voters as Initiative 937.
To meet this requirement, Hanke said the utility would pursue the best available resources. These will most likely be power from one or more of the many wind power projects under construction or planned in the Pacific Northwest.
The plan is somewhat tentative because the utility hasn't received new contracts for BPA power to replace the existing agreement that expires in 2011. Hanke said commissioners would consider modifying the plan if necessary once the new agreements are available. August 13, 2008 Return to September 2008 Western Energy News To sponsor Western Energy News , please contact WEI at 503 231-1994.
Copyright © 2008. Reuse of this publication or its contents is allowed with credit to Western Energy Institute. WEI - 827 NE Oregon Street, Portland, Oregon 97232-2172
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