Image provided by: University of Oregon Libraries; Eugene, OR
About Portland observer. (Portland, Or.) 1970-current | View Entire Issue (July 26, 1979)
Nearly a decade ago, the region’s elec tric suppliers were planning new generat ing facilities to meet forecasted electric i t y needs. Thirteen plants were indicated Today, only two are on sched ule. Eleven plants have been delayed as much as three to six years. Had the needed new Northwest elec tric generating plants been built on schedule the cost would have been billionsol dollars less than they’ll cost now And in the end the con sumers will pick up the tab lor de I a vs in their electric bills. it can ’t erase the large deficit in needed new electric energy we face T hat’s why your help in finding new wavs to save electric- itv must be m atched bv vour participation in helping avoid the penalties ol a serious electric crisis in the Northwest. We N eed Your H elp. LAST WINTER WAS BAD ENOUGH. BUT THE BILL FOR DELAYED POWER PLANTS,,, ,„g IS EVEN MORE SHOCKING. 1 ■ ■ , < un over controversies The Bad Taste o f What 's to Com e._________ Last winter, the North west came close to a severe electricity crisis. Power sup plies were stretched to the breaking point If there had been an unexpected plant shutdow n, if we hadn t been able to purchase outside pow er, if the cold spell had contin ued ... it could have pushed the dem and for electricity be yond all available supply. But the frightening thing is, the situation’s going to get worse II our resources barely got us through last w inter, what's going to happen next w inter when tensol thousands ol new homes and businesses have increased that demand lor electricity______ Is the O nly Way Out o f T h is M ess M ore and More G iant P ow er Plants? The problem is supply and demand Right now. the dem and is running away from the supply. Clearly w ith this kind of requirem ent ..some new major therm al power plants will be required to meet de mand But that doesn’t mean everv effort possible shouldn’t be made to reduce the demand through conservation. What Can We Do To Help You Save? building needed new power Oregon. Washington, Idaho plants.T hat’s the longer we and Montana Low-interest wait ..not only will supply be financing available in Oregon jeopardized but certainly, and California. THE HOME ENERGY thecosts will rise. It isn't a question of ANALYSIS A free in-home inspection of energy saving po coal or conservation; nuclear or non-polluting solar and tential with specific recom m endations lor improvements wind; " h a rd ” or "soft " paths to Northwest electric energy vou can make. SPECIAL CONSERVA sufficiency. It ’s going to take all of TION HELP H om ebuilders, the above and more. And commercial and industrial custom ers are eligible for a time is running out It is also clear that we variety of energy management program s which are sponsored can ’t do it alone. Overcoming by Pacific Power. the delays in building needed Conservation of electric new plants and achieving energy, through improved in meaningful conservation re sulation, weatherstripping, quires a new level of involve application of active or pas ment by all of us Please help. sive solar heating systems, Energy costs are wood-burning stoves, or even mounting with every delay. w ind power could play a part in your effort to reduce your electric use Pacific Power has many effective program s designed to reduce wasted electricity... and money These include: Can Conservation Solve WEATHERIZATION The Supply Problem? FINANCING: Zero interest fin Conservation is vital, ancing of home weatherization im perative and essential But im provem ents available in The People at Pacific Power á
