Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance
Encyclopedia
The Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance (NEEA) is a non-profit organization
working to maximize energy efficiency in the Pacific Northwest
through the acceleration and adoption of energy-efficient products, services and practices. NEEA is supported by and works in partnership with more than 100 Northwest utilities, the Bonneville Power Administration
and Energy Trust of Oregon. NEEA’s efforts serve Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.
programs at risk of being stranded by deregulation
, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council
called for the creation of a regional organization to encourage energy efficiency practices. NEEA was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in the fall of 1996 with funding from all investor-owned utilities
in the region and the Bonneville Power Administration
, which represented publicly owned utilities. In order to ensure the necessary collaboration would take place, the first Board
represented all of the primary stakeholders including regulators from the four states, public and privately owned utilities, energy efficiency businesses, and representatives for the four state governments.
Since 1997, the region, in collaboration with NEEA, has saved enough energy to power more than 450,000 homes each year from their energy efficiency efforts.
Non-profit organization
Nonprofit organization is neither a legal nor technical definition but generally refers to an organization that uses surplus revenues to achieve its goals, rather than distributing them as profit or dividends...
working to maximize energy efficiency in the Pacific Northwest
Pacific Northwest
The Pacific Northwest is a region in northwestern North America, bounded by the Pacific Ocean to the west and, loosely, by the Rocky Mountains on the east. Definitions of the region vary and there is no commonly agreed upon boundary, even among Pacific Northwesterners. A common concept of the...
through the acceleration and adoption of energy-efficient products, services and practices. NEEA is supported by and works in partnership with more than 100 Northwest utilities, the Bonneville Power Administration
Bonneville Power Administration
The Bonneville Power Administration is an American federal agency based in the Pacific Northwest. BPA was created by an act of Congress in 1937 to market electric power from the Bonneville Dam located on the Columbia River and to construct facilities necessary to transmit that power...
and Energy Trust of Oregon. NEEA’s efforts serve Idaho, Montana, Oregon and Washington.
History
In the mid 1990s, with energy efficiencyEfficient energy use
Efficient energy use, sometimes simply called energy efficiency, is the goal of efforts to reduce the amount of energy required to provide products and services. For example, insulating a home allows a building to use less heating and cooling energy to achieve and maintain a comfortable temperature...
programs at risk of being stranded by deregulation
Deregulation
Deregulation is the removal or simplification of government rules and regulations that constrain the operation of market forces.Deregulation is the removal or simplification of government rules and regulations that constrain the operation of market forces.Deregulation is the removal or...
, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council
Northwest Power and Conservation Council
The Northwest Power and Conservation Council is a regional organization that develops and maintains a regional power plan and a fish and wildlife program to balance the Northwest's environment and energy needs. Based in Portland, Oregon, the Council was created in 1980 when the U.S. Congress passed...
called for the creation of a regional organization to encourage energy efficiency practices. NEEA was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in the fall of 1996 with funding from all investor-owned utilities
Investor-owned utility
An investor-owned utility or IOU is a business organization, providing a product or service regarded as a utility , and managed as private enterprise rather than a function of government or a utility cooperative...
in the region and the Bonneville Power Administration
Bonneville Power Administration
The Bonneville Power Administration is an American federal agency based in the Pacific Northwest. BPA was created by an act of Congress in 1937 to market electric power from the Bonneville Dam located on the Columbia River and to construct facilities necessary to transmit that power...
, which represented publicly owned utilities. In order to ensure the necessary collaboration would take place, the first Board
Board
-Flat surface:* Lumber, or other rigid material, milled or sawn flat** See :Category:Engineered wood** Cutting board** Sounding board, of a musical instrument* Cardboard* Paperboard*Corrugated fiberboard*Fiberboard*Particle board, also known as chipboard...
represented all of the primary stakeholders including regulators from the four states, public and privately owned utilities, energy efficiency businesses, and representatives for the four state governments.
Since 1997, the region, in collaboration with NEEA, has saved enough energy to power more than 450,000 homes each year from their energy efficiency efforts.
Funders
- Avista UtilitiesAvista UtilitiesAvista Utilities is an energy company with its headquarters in Spokane, Washington in the United States. It employs nearly 2,000 people who work in five western states...
- Bonneville Power AdministrationBonneville Power AdministrationThe Bonneville Power Administration is an American federal agency based in the Pacific Northwest. BPA was created by an act of Congress in 1937 to market electric power from the Bonneville Dam located on the Columbia River and to construct facilities necessary to transmit that power...
- Clark Public Utilities
- Cowlitz County PUD
- Energy Trust of Oregon
- Eugene Water & Electric BoardEugene Water & Electric BoardThe Eugene Water & Electric Board is the customer-owned electricity, water, and steam public utility provider for the city of Eugene, Oregon, United States. It is Oregon's largest customer-owned utility....
- Idaho Power
- NorthWestern Energy
- Pacific PowerPacific PowerPacific Power may refer to:*Pacific Power, an electric power company in the north-western United States owned by PacifiCorp*Pacific Power , a state owned power generation company in the state of New South Wales, Australia which operated from 1995 to 2003...
- Puget Sound EnergyPuget Sound EnergyPuget Sound Energy is Washington state's oldest local energy utility providing electrical power and natural gas in the Puget Sound region of the northwest United States...
- Seattle City LightSeattle City LightSeattle City Light is the public utility providing electrical power to Seattle, Washington and parts of its metropolitan area, including all of Shoreline and Lake Forest Park and parts of unincorporated King County, Burien, Normandy Park, Seatac, Renton, and Tukwila...
- Snohomish County PUDSnohomish County PUDSnohomish County Public Utility District is a public utility providing power to 320,000 customers in Snohomish County and on Camano Island, Washington. It provides water service to over 20,000 customers in the northeast section of the Snohomish County....
- Tacoma PowerTacoma PowerTacoma Power is a public utility providing electrical power to Tacoma, Washington and the surrounding areas. Tacoma Power serves the cities of Tacoma, Fircrest, University Place, and Fife, and also provides service to parts of Steilacoom, Lakewood and unincorporated Pierce County...
Board
- Ted Coates, Tacoma PowerTacoma PowerTacoma Power is a public utility providing electrical power to Tacoma, Washington and the surrounding areas. Tacoma Power serves the cities of Tacoma, Fircrest, University Place, and Fife, and also provides service to parts of Steilacoom, Lakewood and unincorporated Pierce County...
- Anita Decker, Bonneville Power AdministrationBonneville Power AdministrationThe Bonneville Power Administration is an American federal agency based in the Pacific Northwest. BPA was created by an act of Congress in 1937 to market electric power from the Bonneville Dam located on the Columbia River and to construct facilities necessary to transmit that power...
, NEEA Board Secretary - Bill Drummond, Western Montana Electric G&T Cooperative, Representing the Indirect Funders
- Pat Egan, Pacific PowerPacific PowerPacific Power may refer to:*Pacific Power, an electric power company in the north-western United States owned by PacifiCorp*Pacific Power , a state owned power generation company in the state of New South Wales, Australia which operated from 1995 to 2003...
- Margie Harris, Energy Trust of Oregon, NEEA Board Vice Chair
- David Hawk, E2A Energy Analysis and Answers, Idaho Governor Representative
- Tom Karier, Northwest Power and Conservation CouncilNorthwest Power and Conservation CouncilThe Northwest Power and Conservation Council is a regional organization that develops and maintains a regional power plan and a fish and wildlife program to balance the Northwest's environment and energy needs. Based in Portland, Oregon, the Council was created in 1980 when the U.S. Congress passed...
- Steve Kern, Seattle City LightSeattle City LightSeattle City Light is the public utility providing electrical power to Seattle, Washington and parts of its metropolitan area, including all of Shoreline and Lake Forest Park and parts of unincorporated King County, Burien, Normandy Park, Seatac, Renton, and Tukwila...
- Warren Kline, Idaho Power, NEEA Board Treasurer
- Patrick McGary, Clark Public Utilities
- Clay Norris, Eugene Water & Electric BoardEugene Water & Electric BoardThe Eugene Water & Electric Board is the customer-owned electricity, water, and steam public utility provider for the city of Eugene, Oregon, United States. It is Oregon's largest customer-owned utility....
- Rhys Roth, Climate Solutions, Representing the Public Interest
- Cal Shirley, Puget Sound EnergyPuget Sound EnergyPuget Sound Energy is Washington state's oldest local energy utility providing electrical power and natural gas in the Puget Sound region of the northwest United States...
- Jim West, Snohomish County PUDSnohomish County PUDSnohomish County Public Utility District is a public utility providing power to 320,000 customers in Snohomish County and on Camano Island, Washington. It provides water service to over 20,000 customers in the northeast section of the Snohomish County....
- Roger Woodworth, Avista UtilitiesAvista UtilitiesAvista Utilities is an energy company with its headquarters in Spokane, Washington in the United States. It employs nearly 2,000 people who work in five western states...
, NEEA Board Chair - Deb Young, NorthWestern Energy