Regional energy conservation policy leadership

PNGC Power staff with expertise in managing environmental issues is actively involved in helping set regional policy relating to conservation and renewable resources. We work closely, in various ways, with regional power planning bodies to represent the interests of our members and their customers.

Energy conservation is important to our members and their customers locally — and to all of us globally. That is why PNGC Power staff members with experience in environmental issues get involved in helping set regional policy relating to energy conservation and renewable resources.

PNGC Power's approach to energy conservation and renewables mirrors our approach to the other services we provide to our members — as a group, we can do more than any one of us can alone.

Conservation Rate Credit (CRC) program

The region-wide Conservation Rate Credit (CRC) program has been offered by the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) as a way for utilities to promote conservation and to earn a rate credit. The program runs for three years and it began October 1, 2006. Over the three-year life of the program, PNGC Power and our members have a possible total of $6.6 million in credits to earn to offset the discount from BPA.

Under the current CRC program there are fewer qualifying measures than in the previous C&RD (Conservation & Rate Discount) program, but PNGC Power may be able to earn more credits by investing in renewable resources. Renewables that qualify to earn credits include wind, geothermal, solar and biomass energy projects. Supporting research and development for renewable projects such as wave energy is also an option for utilities. The goal is to help nurture infant technology for the benefit of the region.

To learn more about energy conservation and renewables, please contact Eugene Rosolie at PNGC Power: 503.288.1234.