This fall, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council released its 2022 Regional Conservation Progress Report showing long-term energy savings targets for the region are well within reach.

The Council’s 2021 Northwest Power Plan represents a multi-year roadmap for ensuring the region has reliable, affordable power amid shifts in the electricity industry and a move toward cleaner energy. The plan details six-year resource strategy goals for energy efficiency, demand response, renewable resources, existing resources and regional collaboration.

The newly released progress report, developed with data collected from energy efficiency programs administered by utilities, the Bonneville Power Administration, the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance and Energy Trust, is the first indicator of how the region tracks against its efficiency targets.

In 2022, the region saved just under 150 average megawatts (aMW) of electricity, according to the report. That is within the 125-167 aMW the region needs to save each year to meet the goal of savings 750-1,000 aMW over the six-year action plan period.

The biggest contributions to energy efficiency came from the commercial sector, which accounted for 50% of regional savings. The residential and industrial sectors contributed 24% and 22% of savings, respectively, with agriculture and utility system efficiency making up the rest.

These latest results build on an already impressive history of energy savings. Since 1978, the region has saved nearly 7,700 aMW, which is about the equivalent to the annual energy consumption of 6.1 million homes.

Seeing the region’s first-year results is confirmation Energy Trust’s energy efficiency programs are doing their part to meet the region’s energy needs today and in the future.