electric grid Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Federal grants could improve utility safety and add jobs

By Lauren Gallup November 1, 2023

The federal Grid Resilience and Innovations Partnerships Program is investing in 58 projects across 44 states. (Courtesy of Julien Maculan on Unsplash)

Four utilities in Washington state received funding from the U.S Department of Energy to strengthen the electrical grid against future wildfires and ensure reliability to customers. That funding comes from the federal Grid Resilience and Innovations Partnerships Program, which is investing in 58 projects across 44 states. Read More

Explosive Demolition Of Boardman Coal Plant Underscores End Of Coal-Fired Electric Generation In Oregon

By Tom Banse September 16, 2022

The towering smokestack at Portland General Electric’s shuttered coal-fired power plant near Boardman has fallen, heralding the end of the era of coal-fired power generation in Oregon, Sept. 15, 2022.

A demolition contractor on Thursday imploded the towering smokestack and 19-story boiler building at Portland General Electric’s shuttered coal-fired power plant near Boardman, bringing a symbolic close to the era of coal-fired power generation in Oregon. Imported electricity generated from coal still flows through transmission wires across the Pacific Northwest, but that Read More

Electric Utilities In Northwest Spending Millions On Upgrades To Reduce Risk Of Wildfire Ignitions

By Tom Banse April 30, 2022

Utility crews replace power poles burned in the Beachie Creek Fire east of Salem in September 2020.

Private electric utilities in the Pacific Northwest are planning tens of millions of dollars in upgrades to reduce the risk that their power lines could spark wildfires during extreme weather. Utilities such as Pacific Power, Avista, Idaho Power, Portland General Electric and Puget Sound Energy are either required to or are voluntarily submitting wildfire mitigation plans. Read More

Avista Plans Targeted Power Outages To Combat High Demand; Tri-Cities Could See Outages Too

By NWPB News June 29, 2021

Much of the Inland Northwest will experience the peak temperatures of the heat wave on Tuesday, June 29. CREDIT: National Weather Service

Avista says it plans to cut power to parts of its coverage area Tuesday as a way to reduce demand for power. Spokane saw rolling outages Monday, and will likely see more on Tuesday. Residents of the Tri-Cities region have been warned they could also see outages this week for up to four hours at a time. Read More