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Northwest Power Plan to Embrace More Natural Gas by Don Jenkins Capital Press, June 2, 2026

The Northwest Power and Conservation Council likely will recommend building natural gas-fired power plants, guidance that runs counter to Oregon and Washington's clean-energy aspirations.

Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana will need to add at least 2,000 megawatts from natural gas by 2032 to keep the grid reliable and rates down, according to power planners.

The four-state region could add less natural gas to the electric grid and erect more windmills instead. But rates would be higher and service less reliable, according to planners.

The natural gas plants likely would have to be in Idaho and Montana and the electricity transmitted over long distances. Oregon prohibits new natural gas plants, while Washington's Clean Energy Transformation Act requires utilities to phase-out natural gas by 2045.

Natural gas power plants emitted an average of 976 pounds of carbon per megawatt hour, according to a 2019 assessment by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Washington law requires the state to slash greenhouse gas emissions from all sources to 50 million metric tons by 2030. In the most recent count, the Washington Department of Ecology estimated emissions in 2022 were 96.1 million metric tons.

The council's upcoming power plan likely will illustrate the difficulty of eliminating natural gas from the state's grid, Washington Public Utility Districts Association policy director Nicolas Garcia said. "It doesn't appear to be feasible," he said.

"It is time to have a serious discussion about making some changes to CETA," Garcia said. "I don't see how we maintain grid reliability west of the Cascades without natural gas."

The council's work

Every five years, the eight-member council sets targets for increasing the region's electricity supply. Governors from the four states appoint two members each.

The council is scheduled to propose its ninth power plan in July. The council will hold public hearings and expects to adopt a final plan by the end of the year.

Power planners anticipate conservation measures, such as insulating homes and installing heat pumps, won't be enough to meet the growing demand for electricity for vehicles, buildings and data centers.

In late May, power planners presented two options to the council. The staff recommended the option that called for 2,000 megawatts from natural gas and 9,335 megawatts from renewables, such as wind and solar.

The second option proposes 2,225 megawatts of natural gas and 9,000 megawatts from renewables.

Power planners studied adding 1,600 megawatts of natural gas and 2,340 megawatts of renewables, but concluded the option was not cost-effective and may not supply enough energy.

Montana representative Douglas Grob said the option with more natural gas power would better serve cold regions east of the Cascade Range.

"I just want a reliable system," he said. "People on the eastside have to keep the lights on to keep from freezing up their homes, which is very expensive to fix."

Power planners said they believe either option would make the grid reliable.

"As somebody who would like to see less gas, not more, I'm equally committed to the reliable outcome," Washington representative KC Golden said.

Related Pages:
U.S. Sets Energy Production Record; Natural Gas Leads Way by Don Jenkins, Capital Press, 6/10/25