SPOKANE, Wash. — The Northwest Power and Conservation Council is projecting significant growth in the region’s electricity demand over the next two decades, with the power system expected to expand between 50 and 100 percent as data centers, electric vehicles, and economic development reshape energy needs.
The council is currently developing its ninth power plan—a comprehensive strategy that forecasts electricity demand for the next 20 years and outlines what infrastructure must be added to the power grid to meet those projections.
The growth stems from potential new data centers in the short term and widespread adoption of electric vehicles, economic growth, and population increases over the longer term…