9th Power Plan, Seattle Hearing Register

Date and Time:
Wed, Oct 7, 2026; 3:45 PM - 6:00 PM  (Pacific)

Organized By: Washington State Chapter

Location: Seattle University, Oberto Commons, Sinegal Room 200

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The Northwest is at an energy crossroads. The question isn't whether we'll need more power—it's who pays for it, and how we get it. As electricity demand surges, the decisions made this Fall will determine whether our region meets growing demand with clean energy and smart conservation, or locks itself into decades of costly new fossil fuel infrastructure. 

The Northwest Power and Conservation Council (NPCC), comprised of members from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, and Montana, is finalizing its Ninth Power Plan, a once-in-a-decade regional blueprint that federal law requires the Bonneville Power Administration to follow when planning the region's power system.

For roughly two decades, regional electricity demand has remained steady—a testament to the success of energy efficiency programs and conservation standards that offset growth in population and economic activity. That era is over. Regional electricity demand could grow by 50 to 100 percent by 2046, driven largely by massive data centers being built across the Northwest. 

The draft plan has been released, and now is our chance to shape the final version. The Sierra Club is calling on the Council to do more to reduce demand before building new gas plants, require data centers to share the burden they're creating, prioritize renewables, limit costly new fossil fuel infrastructure, and protect the salmon and steelhead that depend on how we manage our rivers.