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Wright Testifies Before Congress by Staff BPA Journal, April 15, 2010

Despite challenging economic conditions and low water, BPA Administrator Steve Wright told the U.S. House of Representatives Subcommittee on Water and Power last month that BPA will make its annual Treasury payment and is continuing its support for renewable energy development, fish and wildlife restoration and energy efficiency. Wright was before the subcommittee to review BPA's proposed budget for fiscal year 2011.

Wright detailed BPA's accomplishments of the past year in supporting new renewable wind generation. BPA now has approximately 2,800 megawatts of wind generation capacity connected to its transmission system. Wright described BPA's transmission construction program that is underway, explaining it will support more wind energy in the Northwest and maintain system reliability.

The Northwest Power Planning and Conservation Council's Sixth Northwest Power Plan calls for the region to meet 85 percent of its electricity load growth through energy efficiency over the next 20 years. Wright told the committee that BPA is committed to work in partnership with its public utility customers to achieve public power's share of that goal.

Wright also reported that BPA is well underway in implementing the restoration measures called for by the 2008 Columbia Basin Fish Accords.