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Northwest Energy Plan Sparks Debate by Don Jenkins Bend Bulletin, August 18, 2026

Washington, Oregon face mandatory reductions in natural gas

New natural gas power plants will be needed to serve Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Montana, according to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council.

Charged by Congress in 1980 to write energy blueprints for the four states, the council released a draft of its Ninth Power Plan Aug. 13. The plan guides the Bonneville Power Administration, which sells electricity to utilities.

Washington and Oregon laws limit new natural gas plants. Nevertheless, natural gas hedges against power shortages in dry years when less hydropower is available, according to the plan.

The power plan proposes adding 1,200 megawatts of natural gas power by 2032. The last power plan, released in 2021, didn't call for more natural gas. The council, however, anticipates data centers, electric vehicles and population growth will drive up demand for electricity.

"The biggest thing that has changed is that load expectations are much higher," Washington Public Utility Districts Association policy director Nicolas Garcia said.

"We're running out of ability to serve load," he said. "The gas would be available on a short-term basis to fill in the gaps."

The power plan also calls for 9,000 megawatts of renewable energy; 5,000 megawatts of stored energy, such as batteries; 1,060 megawatts of conservation; and 590 megawatts of demand-response in which service is temporarily curtailed to some customers.

The region should be cautious about constructing new natural gas plants, especially to serve data centers that may not be built, Climate Solutions policy director Meredith Connolly said.

She said she was pleased the council assigned more new megawatts to renewable energy than natural gas.

"We should be full-steam ahead on that," she said. "I think the biggest reason we'll see new natural gas is if we slow-walk the building of wind, solar and storage."

Legal limits

Oregon bans new large natural gas plants. Washington utilities must limit natural gas power to 20% of their electricity by 2030 and be off natural gas entirely by 2045. Washington's cap-and-trade law taxes carbon emissions from natural gas, raising electric rates.

Meanwhile, natural gas is more available and economical in Idaho and Montana, according to the power plan.

At the same time, wind and solar power have more potential in Idaho and Montana, too. As a result, the power plan places more emphasis on conservation in Washington and Oregon.

The council projects conservation measures will cost $150 per megawatt hour in Washington and Oregon. "That's really expensive power," Garcia said.

"If you're talking about insulating homes, that's a different animal than saying, 'Here's a more efficient lightbulb,' " he said. "You could be creating immediate real-life problems for your customers."

Renewable energy projects will require a significant amount of land and may face public opposition and supply-chain problems, according to the power plan.

The council will take public comments on the plan until Oct. 16. The council also will hold hearings in September and October. Times and places have not been announced.

Related Pages:
With PNW Electricity Demand Surging, Planners Map Out Major Grid Upgrades by Aspen Ford, Daily Montanan, 8/17/26