Central and Eastern Washington are the sunniest areas of the state, with several large solar farms already in place.But as the energy grid undergoes a transition to completely cut out fossil fuels, some areas want to pump the brakes on quick solar development.
“The amount of renewables we need is kind of uncertain,” said Jennifer Light, director of power planning for the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. “We don’t know the trajectory of where the region is going and how fast.”
The council is comprised of members appointed by the governors of Washington, Oregon, Montana and Idaho. Every 20 years the council creates a regional plan for energy throughout the Pacific Northwest.
As states set more aggressive goals for renewable energy, the council steps in to help determine the specifics of how much electricity we need to achieve those goals. Those…