Recent updates
- NEW! 2023 Natural Gas Price Forecast (December 2023)
- Other Energy Forecasts, including market rates and avoided emissions, and adequacy.
2021 Power Plan
- The final plan has been published! See the 2021 Power Plan and supporting material
Older:
- 2022 Natural Gas Price Forecast Update (May 2022)
- 2019 Natural Gas Price Forecast and background/related materials
Background
The US Energy Information Administration (EIA.gov) defines Fuel as ”any material substance that can be consumed to supply heat or power. Included are petroleum, coal, and natural gas (the fossil fuels) and other consumable materials, such as uranium, biomass, and hydrogen.” The Fuel Cycle is defined as “the entire set of sequential processes or stages involved in the utilization of fuel, including extraction, transformation, transportation, and combustion. Emissions generally occur at each stage of the fuel cycle.”
Fuels, including natural gas, and the fuel cycle play an important role in both the forecast of electricity demands and the cost of electricity generation. The Fuels Advisory Committee is being formed to assist the Council in the development and implementation of the Northwest Conservation and Electric Power Plan (power plan) by advising on important assumptions and analyses regarding fuels in the region and the associated fuel cycle.
Note: This committee formerly named the Natural Gas Advisory Committee