Incredible predictions for generation and transmission needs in the Pacific Northwest may impact reliability, affordability.

Today, hydro projects in our backyard (e.g. Hungry Horse, Libby dams) and throughout the Pacific Northwest (e.g. Grand Coulee, Chief Joseph, the lower Snake River dams) provide enough electricity to keep our regional and local grids in perfect balance. Hydro powers our well pumps for irrigation of crops and watering of stock. Hydropower keeps our hospitals, schools, and grocery stores open. Hydro’s reliability warms us on -40F January mornings and cools us during the dog days of summer. We’re largely a hardy bunch in Northwest Montana – but almost all of us rely on electricity for our health and safety.

However hardy we may consider ourselves, it’s important to be aware of issues impacting the reliability and affordability of the electricity that plays such a critical role in our daily lives – now and in the future. On that note, your Co-op wants its members to be aware of this year’s Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference Committee (PNUCC) report predicting a whopping 30% increase in our region’s demand for electricity over the next 10 years!
The predicted enormous increase in electricity consumption is partly attributable to the incredible growth in electricity consumption by each of us. In our homes, we charge our robot vacuums and watches. We ask Alexa to set a timer for the rice. We own battery powered leaf blowers and weed whackers. While they may be small individually, collectively they contribute in huge ways to our demand for electricity.
At the same time our individual use of electricity is increasing, the Pacific Northwest (PNW) is experiencing growth in population and industry. The PNW is a desirable place to do business – in no small part because of our affordable electricity rates and reliable hydro generation. Modern, high-tech manufacturing and data center development are huge drivers of the current PNW economy, including the Flathead’s.
PNUCC’s predictions mean that in the next 10 years the PNW needs to build enough generation and transmission to support another 7,400 average megawatts (aMW) of electricity. For perspective, current PNW electric load is about 23,700 aMW, including your Co-op’s 200 aMW requirements (200 aMW is 0.84% of 23,700 aMW, for even more perspective). PNUCC predicts 2033 load to be about 31,100 aMW, an increase from today of about 30%.
To put it mildly, 7,400 aMW is an astonishing additional amount of power. How will we generate it? How will we transmit where it needs to go? (Read this months “Power Points” to see a visual representation of what adding 7,400 aMW would look like.) To compound these issues, there are many areas in the Pacific Northwest, including your Co-op’s service area, that are “transmission constrained,” meaning that the existing transmission lines and towers are at or near capacity, unable to carry more electricity even if it becomes available.
Generation and transmission are big problems to solve, but your Co-op believes we can do it if we work together, as is the cooperative way. Staff is committed to protecting your access to reliable, affordable electricity and to educating members, and the PNW public, about current generation and transmission issues. To receive more frequent resource adequacy updates from us, join our Grassroots team.