Ley says Washington needs more power generation, transmission

Rep. John Ley, R-Vancouver, speaks during a House floor debate on SB 6346 on Tuesday, March 10, in Olympia.

The Reflector, Posted Monday, June 15, 2026 6:49 pm Click here to read on the Reflector.

Washington state Rep. John Ley says Washington and the broader Pacific Northwest need to expand electricity generation and transmission capacity to keep up with growth and the state’s clean energy requirements.

Ley, R-Vancouver, shared the remarks after attending the Northwest Gas Association’s annual conference in Sunriver, Oregon.

He said the conference reinforced concerns he has studied during the past 18 months as a member of the House Environment and Energy Committee.

Ley said the region’s growing population and business needs are already putting pressure on the power grid. He said those challenges are made more complicated by Washington and Oregon policies requiring a transition away from fossil fuel sources and toward carbon-free electricity.

“We need more power generation, we need more transmission,” Ley said in a video update following the conference.

Washington’s Clean Energy Transformation Act requires utilities to move toward clean electricity, but Ley said the state is behind on both the amount of electricity it can produce and the transmission infrastructure needed to move that power where it is needed.

Ley said conference presenters discussed forecasts showing the region may need to add roughly one-third to 50% more electric generation by 2035. He said that demand will be driven by population growth, business growth and the shift from natural gas and other carbon-based energy sources.

The Vancouver lawmaker also pointed to a four-day cold snap in January 2024, when he said natural gas produced a large share of the electricity needed to keep homes heated and lights on.

Ley said wind and solar power will remain important parts of the energy mix, but he cautioned that they are not always available during peak demand periods.

“Where is the sun on a January cold day?” Ley said. “The wind wasn’t blowing, so our wind farms were generating minimal amounts of electricity.”

Ley said the state must plan for reliable power during extreme weather while also addressing long-term clean energy goals. He said new generation is only part of the challenge, because electricity must also be moved across the state.

Much of the region’s power generation, including wind and solar resources, is located east of the Cascades, Ley said. More transmission capacity is needed to deliver that power west of the Cascades, where much of Washington’s population and business activity is located.

Ley said energy policy will remain a key issue in Olympia as lawmakers work to balance reliability, affordability, growth and environmental goals.