High energy rankings unsurprising for Northwest

For people connected (pun intended) to the Northwest energy industry, a recent report about electricity in the U.S. isn’t really news. Oregon, Washington, Montana and Idaho swept four of the top five slots for best states in the nation for energy according to a U.S. News and World Report article, using data gathered in 2019. The energy category uses three criteria to determine a score: renewable energy use, power grid reliability and electricity cost.

“These high rankings should come as no surprise to Bonneville Power Administration employees who work hard every day to deliver superior results,” said Bill Leady, vice president of Generation Asset Management. “The Federal Columbia River Power System provides thousands of megawatts of clean energy each year and is key to balancing renewable resources such as wind and solar, which have expanded rapidly in the region over the past decade.” 

In the category of energy, Oregon ranks first, followed by Washington, South Dakota, Montana and Idaho. 

Oregon and Washington ranked first and second in renewable energy use, thanks largely to federal dams in the Columbia River Basin and the substantial renewable hydropower they provide. 

“This report further emphasizes the value of the hydropower that our utility customers and the region have relied on for decades,” said Suzanne Cooper, senior vice president of Power Services. “The Columbia River fuels the federal hydropower system enabling this region to enjoy clean and affordable power that is the envy of communities across the United States.”

Additionally, the predictability and dependability of hydropower complements other variable renewables because it can ramp up or down quickly, balancing unexpected variations in wind or solar production.

“We take great pride in providing a hydropower-based product that remains a dependable, low-cost resource to communities large and small, while also helping to curb regional carbon emissions,” said Cooper. “BPA has helped the region achieve these high rankings in the U.S. News and World Report, and we’re striving to become even more competitive and responsive to customer needs in order to continue delivering on our public responsibilities through a commercially successful business.”

The energy rankings are a subcategory of a state’s overall ranking for U.S. News’ “Best States for Infrastructure.” Oregon and Washington also landed in the top five in the infrastructure category.