The Pacific Northwest’s Energy Future Depends on Gas-Electric Coordination

The Pacific Northwest is at a critical energy juncture. As demand for electricity surges—driven by electrification, rapid growth in data centers, and high-tech manufacturing—our region’s energy system is being tested like never before. Recent weather events highlight an urgent truth: the reliability of our energy future depends on closer coordination between natural gas and electric utilities.

Over the next decade, electricity demand in the Pacific Northwest is projected to increase by more than 30%. That’s enough power for seven Seattle’s. According to the Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference Committee’s 2024 Northwest Regional Forecast, utilities are planning for more than 29 gigawatts of new generation capacity to keep up with this growth. But challenges loom.

Delays in building renewable energy projects, supply chain disruptions, and siting hurdles have slowed progress. According to the Western Electricity Coordinating Council (WECC), only about half of the new generation resources planned for the Western U.S. came online as scheduled. These delays create a growing risk that the region may not have sufficient resources to meet demand during extreme weather or peak periods.

Natural gas plays a vital role in bridging these gaps. It remains the second-largest electricity source in the Northwest after hydropower and is essential during times when renewable output dips. But the existing natural gas infrastructure—pipelines, storage, and delivery systems—is already stretched to capacity during high-demand events. Without investments in both natural gas and electric infrastructure, the region risks blackouts and rising energy costs.

This fragility was evident during the January 2024 cold snap, when extreme temperatures pushed energy systems to the brink. Peak electricity demand exceeded historical highs, and the region relied on nearly 5,000 megawatts of imported power to avoid outages, according to a retrospective report from Powerex.  Emergency coordination between gas and electric providers—and conservation efforts by customers—were key to keeping the lights on.

But these near-misses reveal how close the Northwest is to a major energy disruption. Prolonged events or infrastructure failures could overwhelm our systems.

Historically, gas and electric systems have planned separately. That approach no longer works in today’s interdependent energy landscape. Electricity generation depends on natural gas availability, while gas delivery systems often rely on electricity for operations. A failure in one system can cascade into the other.

The report calls for a new era of collaboration. Policymakers, utilities, and customers must work together to:

• Align energy planning across gas and electric systems.

• Invest in infrastructure to handle rising demand and extreme weather.

• Streamline permitting to speed up critical projects.

• Develop coordinated emergency plans for rapid response during crises.

The Pacific Northwest is dangerously close to significant energy disruptions. Delaying action will not only threaten reliability but also drive-up costs for consumers and slow the clean energy transition.

To ensure a reliable, affordable, and sustainable energy future, gas and electric utilities must lead with a shared vision and coordinated actions. The stakes are higher than ever, and the window to act is closing. That is why the Northwest Gas Association (NWGA), the Pacific Northwest Utilities Conference Committee (PNUCC), and co-hosts Western Power Pool (WPP) and Public Generating Pool (PGP) are hosting a Regional Energy Symposium on October 9. To learn more or register, click here.