Request for comment

The Council is requesting comment for its report: 
Avoided Carbon Dioxide Production Rates of the Northwest Power System

The cost of future carbon dioxide regulation has been a significant factor in resource planning in the Pacific Northwest. To avoid making higher cost resource choices, a direct evaluation of this risk requires an estimate of the carbon dioxide emissions avoided by purchasing conservation or another resource. The Council has periodically produced this study using the AURORAxmp model to help inform Council staff and regional stakeholder analysis.

Please email comments by February 16, 2018

Background

At the January 2018 Council meeting, staff presented a discussion of the results of the Avoided Carbon Dioxide Production Rates study. The study was formerly titled "Marginal Carbon Dioxide Production Rates of the Northwest Power System" and was released previously in April 2017. After receiving significant public comment Council staff reworked the study and are releasing this updated version for additional comment.

The impact of future carbon dioxide (CO2regulation is a significant risk in long-term utility resource planningImproper accounting for this risk when evaluating resources may result in poor resource decisions and higher costs for the region’s ratepayers. This study is an examination of the rate of avoided CO2 emissions over time under different water and CO2 price conditions. 

Read more in the full report.

Questions about the analysis methodology? Contact John Ollis at the Council.

Send comments to comments@nwcouncil.org or directly to John Ollis

Look back at discussions about the development of this paper at the August and October 2017 System Analysis Advisory Committee meetings.