Avista files state's first clean energy plan

SPOKANE - Avista filed the state's first Clean Energy Implementation Plan (CEIP) with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission on Oct. 1.

The plan maps specific actions for the next four years to progress toward clean energy goals established by the Clean Energy Transformation Act (CETA), passed by the state Legislature in 2019. It requires electricity to be greenhouse gas neutral by 2030 and 100% renewable by 2045.

"This plan builds upon our longstanding commitment to environmental stewardship and sustainability," said Jason Thackston, Avista's senior vice president. "This CEIP includes benchmarks created with customer input that has been invaluable to this process and helps ensure we are benefitting all our customers."

Avista announced its goal to serve its customers with 100% clean electricity by 2027. More than half of Avista's current electricity generating is hydropower, biomass, wind, and solar power generation.

Beginning in 2022, Avista plans to serve 80% of its customer demand with renewable energy, and then increase this target by 5% every two years.

To minimize Avista rate impacts, Avista is going to sell some of its renewable energy on behalf of customers through 2029. In 2030 Avista's proposed plan to sell renewable energy is expected to lower rates by 1% each year.

Avista plans to lower power's need to lower peak demand by 30 megawatts in a period of extreme heat or cold.

The utility proposes a Named Communities Investment Fund to invest up to $5 million annually in projects, programs, and initiatives that directly benefit "customers residing in historically disadvantaged and vulnerable communities."