Sen. Matt Boehnke, R-Kennewick/CREDIT: Washington State Legislature
OLYMPIA… Senator Matt Boehnke today issued a strong warning about the Pacific Northwest’s energy future, citing a new analysis that projects potential power shortfalls in the region during extreme conditions.
The analysis, conducted by Energy + Environmental Economics for the region’s largest utilities, models thousands of years of weather, hydropower, renewable energy, and demand scenarios. It concludes that in a dry hydropower year combined with a multi-day cold snap, the Northwest could face reliability challenges as early as 2026.
Boehnke, R-Kennewick, emphasized the urgency:
“When our region’s grid faces drought, extreme cold, and high demand at the same time, the question isn’t if we will feel the strain; it is how much we can endure,” said Boehnke. “The clock is ticking for our energy infrastructure.”
In the study scenario, the power-reliability gap is expected to be around 1,300 megawatts by 2026 and could grow to approximately 8,600 megawatts by 2030 if planned resources are delayed.
The greatest risk of an energy shortfall happens during a year with low hydropower output, a prolonged cold winter wave, and simultaneously low wind and solar production.
“We need resilient backup systems and consumer protections,” Boehnke said. “Public safety is at risk. We need mechanisms for planned load shedding and alerting, better systems for consumers, and state policies that prioritize reliability along with clean energy.”
The region is experiencing an unprecedented rise in electricity demand, driven by population growth; the expansion of data centers, artificial intelligence and cloud infrastructure; the increasing adoption of electric vehicles; and the rise in air-conditioning loads.
“We need faster permitting and transmission build-out,” Boehnke said. “One of the biggest bottlenecks is getting the new generation and transmission online. We must accelerate the process, so Washington isn’t left waiting for projects while the demand surge is already here.”
“The Pacific Northwest also needs diverse, reliable power resources,” Boehnke said. “We need energy sources that remain strong when nature surprises us, including hydropower, advanced nuclear, storage, wind, solar, and cleaner natural gas.”
Boehnke highlighted that the 8th Legislative District and Tri-Cities region, where he serves, is home to leaders of significant clean-energy research and development. These include the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Energy Northwest, the Institute for Northwest Energy Futures, our higher education leaders, our union partners, and our strategic utility organizations, which are positioning Washington to be out front in modernizing the grid.
“We aren’t just observers, we are builders,” Boehnke said. “The Tri-Cities already have the talent and labs to support next-gen power. What we need now is the policy muscle.”
Boehnke concluded that the energy sector may need to accelerate investments in backup generation, storage, transmission, and demand-management programs. Policymakers must balance the state’s ambitious clean-energy goals with the practical realities of maintaining grid reliability.
Areas like the 8th, which have research and industrial energy users, are especially vulnerable to disruptions, making proactive legislative measures essential.
“We’ve been warned,” Boehnke said. “Now it’s time to act before the lights go out, costs increase, or families face a winter without the power they need. Washington can lead a smart, balanced transition, but only if we move with urgency, intelligence, and a full understanding that reliable energy is just as important as clean energy.”
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Sen. Matt Boehnke represents Washington’s 8th Legislative District and serves as the Ranking Member on the Senate Environment, Energy, and Technology