Northwest Power and Conservation Council

The Northwest Power and Conservation Council was created by Congress to give the citizens of Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington a stronger voice in determining the future of key resources common to all four states — namely, the electricity generated at and fish and wildlife affected by the Columbia River Basin hydropower dams.

The Council is a unique organization that helps the Pacific Northwest states make critical decisions that balance the multiple purposes of the Columbia River and its tributaries.

The Council is funded by wholesale power revenues from the Bonneville Power Administration, the federal agency that markets the electricity generated at federal dams on the Columbia River.

The Council was authorized in the Northwest Power Act of 1980 and approved by a vote of the legislatures of all four states. The governor of each state appoints two members to serve on the Council. The Power Act contains three principal mandates for the Council to carry out:

1. Develop a 20-year electric power plan that will guarantee adequate and reliable energy at the lowest economic and environmental cost to the Northwest. Energy conservation, renewable resources, such as wind power, solar, geothermal and biomass, and high-efficiency resources, such as those that use heat from manufacturing processes to also generate electricity, are listed in the Power Act as priorities.
2. Develop a fish and wildlife program to protect and rebuild populations affected by hydropower development in the Columbia River Basin.
3. Conduct an extensive program to educate and involve the public in the Council's decision-making processes.

The plans and policies the council develops and approves are implemented by numerous agencies including Bonneville Power Administration, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Bureau of Reclamation, and Federal Energy Regulatory Commission.

State, tribal and local governments often work closely with the Council as it develops its power and fish and wildlife plans, and these entities also implement measures in those plans. The power plan and fish and wildlife program are updated at least every five years.