Studies & Reports
Resource Adequacy and the Energy Transition in the Pacific Northwest
A broad coalition of utilities and independent power producers in the Pacific Northwest recently commissioned Energy+Environmental Economics (E3) to examine changes in the region’s resource mix over the past seven years, evaluate near-term needs for capacity, develop least-cost resource portfolios for meeting regional reliability and greenhouse gas emissions goals, and identify potential barriers that may prevent the region from meeting its goals in the future.
Western Day-Ahead Seams Market Exploration
Given the development of two different day-ahead markets in the West, there has been considerable discussion and speculation about market seams. While the West already manages a significant number of seams, it lacks extensive experience in managing seams between organized markets. Because of this, Public Generating Pool and Western Power Trading Forum decided to partner together, along with…
Greenhouse Gas and Clean Energy Accounting Methodology Catalog
This study presents a catalog of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) and clean energy accounting methodologies in use across the Western U.S., inclusive of practices used under Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS); energy supply mix disclosure programs; mandatory GHG reporting and reduction programs; and voluntary utility and end-use consumer reporting. This catalog aims to provide a representative, but…
PGP Market Evaluation Study
The goal of the assessment was to help PGP members understand how they may be affected by new energy market structures that could emerge in the coming years, including day-ahead markets and regional transmission organizations (RTOs). The study examined how the operations of differently situated “proxy portfolios”, which comprise loads, generation, contracts, and market access assumptions, are…
Organized Market Retrospective
In an effort to support PGP member utilities in their evaluation of organized markets, PGP conducted a review of past organized market efforts in the West. The Organized Market Retrospective report includes a summary of market functions that are typically shared under an organized market, an overview of…
Achieving Western States Greenhouse Gas Reduction Objectives
Many states are embarking on aggressive state policies aimed at reducing Greenhouse Gas (GHG) emissions, with particular attention aimed at largely or fully reducing GHG emissions from the electricity sector over medium-term horizons (e.g., by 2040). The regulatory compliance design will have impacts on electricity markets and the effectiveness of the policies…
Resource Adequacy in the Pacific Northwest
The ability to maintain Resource Adequacy under certain scenarios was identified as a concern during the 2017–2018 E3 studies. Scenarios that limit the building of new natural gas or decarbonization beyond 80% below 1990 levels were identified as needing a different model to evaluate the adequacy of the system…
Pacific Northwest Low Carbon Scenarios
The Public Generating Pool, in collaboration with Energy Northwest, sponsored a study that investigates an approach to simultaneously achieve environmental and economic goals in the electric sector…