56 



We applaud expressed commitments and first steps. At the same time, we must 

 be realistic about barriers to delivery, and whether the region ~ not only Bonneville, 

 but other utilities, state agencies and the Council ~ are making sufficient progress in 

 addressing these barriers. We are concerned about whether Bonneville will be able to 

 fully exploit its conservation resource, given the Administrator's recent rate and budget 

 decisions, and the difficuhies the agency and its customers are having coming to terms 

 on acquiring the resource, and doing so economically. We are concerned about the 

 region's ability to capture commercial and industrial energy efficiencies, to implement 

 adopted energy codes and to prospect for and develop cost-effective, high-efficiency 

 cogeneration resources. 



Our testimony will address other issues as well, including resource acquisition, 

 Bonneville's proposed acquisition of the Tenaska gas-fired combustion turbine, the 

 impact of natural gas price and supply on long-term power planning, the question of 

 fuel choice, resource fmancing options, our relationship with Bonneville and our role in 

 the regional energy planning process. 



The CounciFs role 



The Northwest Power Act of 1980, which called on Oregon, Idaho, Montana and 

 Washington to create the Northwest Power Planning Council, created a public process 

 for regional electrical power planning that is unique in the nation. ' The Act charged the 

 Council with developing a long-term, regional plan for meeting demand for electrical 

 energy, and also with developing a program to protect, mitigate and enhance fish and 

 wildlife resources, and related spawning and rearing habitat. In addition, the Act says 

 the Council must develop a broad-based public involvement process for making these 

 decisions. 



The Act gives highest priority to energy conservation as a source of power to 

 meet regional demand in the future. Most efficiency improvements are inexpensive, 

 compared to other sources of electricity, and also are more environmentally benign. In 

 compliance with the Act and the Council's plan, the region's electric utihties and 

 Bonneville accelerated their acquisition of conservation. Electricity efficiency 

 improvements from 1978 to 1991 totaled an estimated 528 annual megawatts, 



1 A brief history of the Northwest Power Act, the Council and its relationship with Bonneville is 

 attached to this testimony as Appendix A. 



