The Association of Washington Business (AWB) this week released its Energy Solutions Summit Report, a roadmap to addressing Washington’s urgent energy needs while supporting future economic growth.
The Energy Solutions Summit, held in October, was the first summit advancing Washington in the Making 2040, the long-term economic vision launched by AWB and the Washington Roundtable last summer.
The Northwest faces a projected gap of 9,500 megawatts by 2034, driven by population growth, artificial intelligence and the electrification of vehicles and buildings. The summit brought together 200 people to address this challenge, with a focus on new generation and transmission, a release from the business association stated.
The report reflects input from summit participants, including energy experts, utility leaders, major energy customers, educational and scientific leaders and university students.
“The report opens with a wake-up call about the real risk of power shortages in Washington’s future,” AWB President Kris Johnson said. “It underscores the urgency of the problem and the need to build new generation and transmission to meet rising demand while preserving reliability. Washington’s low-cost electricity has long been a competitive advantage, but we can see that edge slipping. This report guides the conversation around Washington's energy future.”
The report’s Solutions section outlines priorities and recommendations from summit attendees. Participants broadly supported preserving Washington’s hydropower system, using natural gas as a bridge fuel during the clean energy transition, and streamlining permitting to speed up new energy infrastructure.
Among the solutions identified:
• Expand carbon capture for natural gas-powered generation
• Invest in emerging technologies, including advanced nuclear and small modular reactors
• Develop longer-duration energy storage systems
• Fix the state’s permitting system to accelerate clean energy and transmission projects
• Invest Climate Commitment Act proceeds wisely in clean energy development, siting and transmission
View the full report at https://tinyurl.com/3hdxrtud.
Learn more at www.wa2040.org.
