The incomprehensible challenge is how to generate enough greenhouse gas-free electricity for our growing demands without nuclear power production and by taking out major hydropower projects.
Nuclear proponents acknowledge that not all tribes are necessarily on board with SMR development in the region. But they added that the ability for the tribes to achieve other environmental goals, such as removal of the power-generating Snake River dams, could be facilitated by SMRs coming online.
The Tri-Cities is home to two local renewable natural gases projects, with a third one expected to come online later this summer. Already the first two projects, which started up a little over a year ago, have generated enough power to meet the needs of thousands of homes.
Lawsuits challenging the decision by former Gov. Jay Inslee and a state agency to site a wind energy facility in the Horse Heaven Hills are headed to the Washington Supreme Court.
As energy demand continues to grow, state officials are hoping those interested in building and operating large-scale carbon-free power sources will take advantage of some legwork done ahead of time.
Should the lights ever go out, Portland International Airport wants to know exactly where it can find batteries to turn them back on. And Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is studying whether PDX looks no further than its own bus fleet.
The Republican budget reconciliation law that Trump signed July 4 extended an energy tax credit for producing clean fuels, such as sustainable aviation fuel, an alternative to the typical jet fuel planes use. The Tri-Cities is becoming a hub for research and development of the fuel.
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.
Clean energy projects scheduled to begin construction by the end of the year can continue as planned. But many will likely be delayed or stopped as developers scramble to find other funding sources to overcome the loss of federal assistance.
