The recent storm that battered the Pacific Northwest with hurricane-force winds, intense rainfall and widespread power outages was a harsh reminder of the critical role reliable energy plays in our daily lives. Fallen trees and downed power lines left hundreds of thousands of families and businesses without electricity, highlighting not just the region’s vulnerability to extreme weather but also the pressing need for resilient and forward-thinking energy solutions.

While the storm primarily impacted the western part of our state, its effects echo across the region. For those of us in Eastern Washington, it underscores the importance of preparing for severe weather events and ensuring that our energy infrastructure is equipped to handle these challenges.

Although the storm-related power outages were not caused by a lack of electricity generation, they draw attention to the broader challenges like workforce shortages among line workers and electricians, aging infrastructure and the slow pace of developing and approving new energy projects. 

Addressing these realities is as important as expanding our capacity to meet the region’s growing energy demand.

Electricity demand

Electricity demand in the region is expected to increase by over 30% in the next decade according to the Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference Committee (PNUCC), which provides an annual assessment of the regional electric utility industry. It’s no surprise that this surge is driven by the electrification of buildings, industry and transportation, along with technological advancements and economic growth, including the expansion of data centers and high-tech manufacturing.

As a cornerstone of the Pacific Northwest’s energy landscape, Energy Northwest is deeply attuned to these challenges and is committed to providing clean energy for a sustainable future. With 60 years of experience developing, deploying and operating a diverse generation portfolio, we play a vital role in powering communities. Our innovative and dependable energy solutions keep the lights on, our food safe, homes warm or cool, our phones charged and power traffic lights, elevators, medical devices and much more.

Meeting the growing demand for electricity isn’t just about producing more power – it’s also about making sure there’s enough available when it’s needed most, especially during extreme weather. Renewable sources like wind and solar, though critical, have limitations in reliably meeting these needs. Battery storage technologies are advancing but remain limited for long-term use in such scenarios. This is where nuclear energy plays a pivotal role. As a zero-carbon, full-time power source, nuclear energy complements renewables by providing consistent, reliable energy that isn’t weather-dependent.

Columbia Generating Station, owned and operated by Energy Northwest, is a boiling water reactor located about 10 miles north of Richland. Columbia produces 1,207 MWe of carbon-free electricity, enough to power about a million homes.

| Courtesy Energy Northwest

Nuclear energy expertise

Our expertise in nuclear energy has been exemplified by Columbia Generating Station, our 1,200 megawatt (MW) power plant that has just surpassed 40 years of operation. The plant has been continuously online for over 530 days since our last planned biennial refueling and maintenance outage, has not had an unplanned shutdown in over six years, and provides close to 10% of the electricity in Washington. The plant is scheduled for its next refueling outage in April. 

Looking ahead, Energy Northwest is pursuing avenues to increase the role of nuclear energy on the Northwest grid. Projects like an extended power uprate at Columbia, which would involve upgrading equipment to gain efficiencies and an additional 170 MWs of clean, reliable power, are under development.

Beyond optimizing our existing assets, at the request of our 29 public-power member utilities, Energy Northwest is leading the exploration of advanced nuclear technologies. The Clean Energy Transformation Act, passed by Washington state in 2019, set a bold target of transitioning to a carbon-free energy grid by 2045. 

Small modular reactors

In partnership with X-energy, we began making considerable strides in 2020 to study the development of a new nuclear project. These efforts, supported by funding from our member utilities and Puget Sound Energy, attracted attention from major stakeholders like Amazon. 

In October, Amazon announced is is committing to fund the feasibility work for deploying four to 12 small modular reactors (SMRs). This investment marks a significant step forward in advancing nuclear energy in the region and country.

SMRs, like X-energy’s Xe-100 reactor, represent the future of nuclear energy with their compact design, scalability and reliability. Energy Northwest, in collaboration with Amazon, X-energy and our other partners, is well-positioned to bring this innovative technology to the state, with plans to site the SMRs next to Columbia Generating Station. 

Energy Northwest’s nuclear development team members Stephan Moen, from left, Cassandra Otto and Jessica Hansen review project budget and resources. 

| Courtesy Energy Northwest

Solar project

Beyond nuclear energy development, Energy Northwest is also progressing renewable energy projects such as Ruby Flats, a utility-scale solar project under development near Richland, as well as studying smart grid and long-duration energy storage technologies through grants received from the state. 

As we look to the future, recent events serve as both a challenge and an opportunity. Energy Northwest remains steadfast in its mission to provide reliable, clean energy while championing the community that supports its work. Together, we can build a legacy of sustainability for generations to come.

Bob Schuetz is Energy Northwest’s chief executive officer.