The Northwest Power Planning Council was formed in 1981 in response to concerns in the area about the future availability of energy and the potential impact on power production on various business sectors and on the environment, especially fish runs. Formed by Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana, the Portland-based commission was high-profile and even controversial for a while, but it fell off the public radar once its regional energy and environmental plans were completed. Now called the Northwest Power and Conservation Council , its mission in recent years often has focused more heavily on fish runs than on energy…..