101 



A revamped Super Good Cents program would have substantially the same effect as 

 suspending the program in eliminating fuel choice biases. At the same time, keeping the 

 program operating helps to ensure that we build the most-efficient electric space heated 

 homes possible. 



6. Has the Northwest Power Planning Council adequately exercised its 



responsibilities under the Act in the resource acquisition Held? Please describe 

 the strengths and weaknesses of the Council's activities related to resource 

 acquisition? 



Within its statutory authority, the Council has adequately exercised its responsibilities. 

 The Council's regional power plan, a centerpiece of its work, has set both the resource 

 development principles and resource acquisition benchmarks that guide all planning and 

 acquisition efforts in the region. 



The Council's major strengths are: 1) a regional perspective and a regionwide vision; 2) 

 solid technical and policy analysis; 3) oversight of major Botmeville resource acquisitions 

 (6C review); and 4) a statutory commitment to least-cost energy development 



A weakness of the Council has been an inability to tackle some tough but critical policy 

 issues such as fuel switching and externalities due to the states' political and economic 

 differences. Further, the Council should play a stronger role in implementing its plan. 



7. Has BPA adequately accounted for the environmental externalities associated 

 with various energy sources in its resource acquisition process? If not, what 

 specific issues should BPA revisit? 



No. In particular, Bonneville does not adequately coimt the costs of carbon dioxide 

 emissions in its resource acquisition plans and policies. Because they fail to include 

 these costs in calculations of total resource cost, fossil fuel electricity-generation, a major 

 source of carbon dioxide emissions, appears cheaper than it is. One of the byproducts of 

 proper enviroimiental cost accounting is that it would boost conservation and renewable 

 resource development. 



