<body><div><figure><img src="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?type=thumbnail_580x000&amp;url=4Usv8i_1F95teve00" alt="https://img.particlenews.com/image.php?url=4Usv8i_1F95teve00" width="1350" height="775" ><figcaption>USDA Photo by Lance Cheung</figcaption></figure>PACIFIC NORTHWEST - Energy leaders across the Northwest have prepared a major power plan for the region as energy needs could double in the next twenty years. The Northwest Power and Conservation Council asked for feedback from locals on the plan."These decisions about the future shape of our electric power system are going to be potentially expensive and controversial," KC Golden with the council told NonStop Local during an interview at Spokane City Hall. "They can have big environmental impacts one way or the other. They can have significant costs one way or the other.""[The council was] created to make sure that the people who pay the bills ultimately get a voice in those decisions."Monday, the council held public hearings in Spokane and in Coeur d'Alene for residents to comment on its Ninth Power Plan.A statement from the council described this plan as a blueprint for meeting what it estimated would be a 50% to 100% increase in the region's energy needs by 2046. The council estimated that, over the next six years, data centers and the tech sector would be the biggest stressors on the grid."We don't know how many of those data centers are actually going to show up, but we have to make a plan that works in the face of that uncertainty," Golden said before the public meeting in Spokane.Several community members mentioned concerns regarding data centers. "A critical question is, who's going to pay for this," one public commenter asked. "If data centers want to utilize our energy grid, they must pay the true, unsubsidized cost of their massive footprint."Other topics mentioned by public commenters were the split conservation approach described in the plan, as well as concerns for area fish and wildlife when using hydropower, such as dam energy."Overall I give the ninth generation of the plan a B-minus," another commenter said.Additionally, WSDOT data showed a 34% bump in new electric vehicles in just one year. The region's grid is supporting more people, too: census data showed Washington's population passed 8 million for the first time in history last year. The council predicted future weather events such as heat waves and winter storms could add to these pressures.Information about upcoming meetings across Washington, Oregon, Montana and Idaho can be found here. Locals can also attend virtually and submit feedback online.</div></body>

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PACIFIC NORTHWEST - Energy leaders across the Northwest have prepared a major power plan for the region as energy needs could double in the next twenty years. The Northwest Power and Conservation Council asked for feedback from locals on the plan. "These decisions about the future shape of our electric...

Northwest's energy needs may double by 2046, feedback wanted on plan

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PACIFIC NORTHWEST - Energy leaders across the Northwest have prepared a major power plan for the region as energy needs could double in the next twenty yea

Northwest's energy needs may double by 2046, feedback wanted on plan

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