The draft Ninth Power Plan for the Pacific Northwest proposes adding 9,000 MW of renewable energy capacity and 5,000 MW of storage between 2027 and 2032 to meet growing electricity demand. The proposed resource portfolio also includes 1,060 average-megawatts (aMW) of energy efficiency, 2,100 MW of natural gas, 590 MW of demand response and 220 MW of voltage regulation. The proposed portfolio would add more than 11,000 MW of new generation capacity in total, alongside storage and efficiency measures.
The Council estimates the portfolio’s fixed cost at $2.3 billion in 2032, equivalent to around 0.15% of the four-state region’s $1.46 trillion gross domestic product in 2025. The Northwest currently has around 70,000 MW of installed generation capacity.
The plan responds to expected growth in electricity demand, driven initially by data centres and over the longer term by the electrification of transport, buildings and industry, as well as economic and population growth. A 20-year forecast published in 2025 projects annual electricity demand growth of 1.8–3.1% between 2027 and 2046, with peak demand expected to grow by 1.9–3% annually.
By 2046, annual energy demand could increase from around 22,000 aMW today to 31,000–44,000 aMW, while peak demand could rise from 35,500 MW in winter and 33,300 MW in summer to 47,000–60,000 MW.
The draft plan considers a range of future demand scenarios and risks, including extreme weather, constraints on new generation and transmission, technology costs and availability, and changes to Columbia Basin hydropower operations. Regional climate models extending to 2050 were also used to assess future temperatures, streamflows and resource availability.
The plan also proposes energy efficiency standards for new data centres and measures to increase their flexibility in electricity consumption through demand response and backup generation.
The Council approved the draft for public review and comment on 13 August, with hearings scheduled for September and October across Oregon, Washington, Idaho and Montana, as well as online.
