Power plan: Conserving energy will create jobs

Feb 12 - McClatchy-Tribune Regional News - Libby Tucker The Columbian,
Vancouver, Wash.    

Getting green will put more green in the wallets of 47,000 workers in four
Western states over the next 20 years, according to a plan approved by the
Northwest Power and Conservation Council.

The council said up to 3,500 direct jobs will be created in Oregon,
Washington, Idaho and Montana in the next two decades as energy management
companies and utilities hire technicians to meet demand for energy
efficiency services. The council predicted that another 43,500 jobs will be
created indirectly over that period as businesses take advantage of energy
cost savings to boost their payrolls.

Demand for power in those four Western states is expected to increase by
7,000 megawatts by 2030, about the amount of electricity consumed by more
than five cities the size of Seattle over the course of a year. Up to 85
percent of that demand can be met through conservation efforts, according to
the council's plan. Revised every five years, the plan serves as a guide for
utilities to meet future energy needs at the lowest possible cost.

Energy-efficiency measures are the cheapest option by far, representing
about half the cost of building new coal or natural-gas-fired power plants
instead. Upgrades to homes and appliances have the most potential for
savings at 2,600 megawatts, or 42 percent of the estimated total savings of
6,100 megawatts.

"A lot of this conservation doesn't come from your utility over the next 20
years, it comes from decisions consumers make," said John Harrison, a
spokesman for the power council.

Harrison said demand for energy efficiency services should increase as
consumers replace outdated furnaces and remodel their homes with
energy-efficient windows and insulation, possibly with added incentives from
their utilities.

Additional savings will come from upgrades to lighting and control systems
in commercial buildings, more efficient consumer electronics, equipment and
system optimization in industrial operations, upgrades to utility
distribution systems and improved agricultural systems.

Not all of the potential energy-saving measures are cost-effective, however.
In all, the council estimates about 5,800 megawatts of savings can be met,
out of the 6,100 megawatts of energy efficiency measures identified.

Local impact

Northwest Natural Gas and Clark Public Utilities have already started
stepping up energy efficiency programs in anticipation of the council's new
plan. The conservation budget is likely to increase at Clark utilities so it
can meet new goals set by the power council.

"State Initiative 937 mandates that we achieve all the practical
conservation we can achieve as identified by the (power) council," said Mick
Shutt, spokesman for Clark utilities. "We'll evaluate the final plan, and at
some time it will go to our commission to get approval of what else we might
do."

The new programs, in combination with stricter building codes related to
saving energy, increased business somewhat last year for Miller's One Hour
Heating and Air-Conditioning in Vancouver.

"The state of Washington will start requiring duct sealing as part of the
building code," said Sharon Brouillette, a spokeswoman for Miller's. "It's
extra hours for the workers ... and it does cost the customer upfront, but
in the long run it saves them money because they're not heating under their
house."

Clark College is also preparing to help meet work force needs in the growing
energy efficiency industry with a host-of new programs in the sector,
including training in weatherization, smart-grid technology and control
systems. The power council's plan reinforces the school's mission to prepare
students for jobs of the future.

"There will be jobs for our graduates," said Rassoul Dastmozd, vice
president of academic affairs at Clark College. But, he cautioned, "we have
to be very careful (about predictions). When the tire hits the road, we
don't know how many jobs will actually be created."