Environmental and energy groups from across the Pacific Northwest have filed a legal challenge to Bonneville Power Administration’s plan to transition to a new energy market based in the eastern United States. 

Citing BPA’s own analysis demonstrating increased costs for consumers, along with the potential to weaken energy grid reliability and access to clean energy, the groups say the plan violates BPA’s obligations to consumers and the environment, according to a release. 

“Energy prices have already skyrocketed across the Northwest over the past few years. People are struggling,” said Bob Jenks, executive director of Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board, in a statement. “BPA benefits immensely from the power generated in our region, but its responsibilities to Northwest utility customers rise above what works best for BPA. It must ensure the people in our region aren’t financially harmed by this hasty decision.” 

BPA announced in May that it would join Southwest Power Pool’s Markets+ day-ahead market rather than continue in the “real time” market under the California Independent System Operator.  

Agency officials said the move will yield economic benefits for its customers and more equitable management of the region’s energy resources.  

The groups have petitioned the U.S. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals to review BPA’s decision. Along with Oregon Citizens’ Utility Board, the other parties include NW Energy Coalition, Idaho Conservation League, Sierra Club and Montana Environmental Information Center. They are being represented by environmental law firm Earthjustice. 

“Bonneville’s decision on markets will affect the transmission and generation of electric power across the West and is exactly the type of major federal action that should first consider the harms it could cause to our air quality, grid system reliability, fish and wildlife, etc. This is exactly why Congress enacted NEPA – to examine the consequences before acting. Here, however, the agency has completely ignored its obligations under federal law,” said Jaimini Parekh, a senior attorney with Earthjustice, in a statement. 

Officials with power utilities in the Tri-Cities region have said they have no concerns the move will pull power from the Tri-Cities; BPA is legally required to provide power to the 140 consumer-owned utilities in the region, which includes Benton REA, Benton PUD and Franklin PUD. 

Those same officials have praised BPA’s decision, anticipating a greater likelihood of cost benefits since BPA would no longer have to adjust its operations in a way that would more likely benefit California ratepayers over the others it serves. 

“It’s that element of governance, this will move to a collective conglomerate,” Ryan Redmond, CEO of Benton REA, previously told the Tri-Cities Area Journal of Business. “It’s a solid and more equitable model for us to work from.”