NERC: As other states strengthen their grids, the Northwest faces growing reliability risks this summer

A new reliability outlook report from the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) highlights a growing divide in how different regions are preparing for summer electricity demand. While grid conditions are improving in most parts of the country, states in the Northwest region (including Washington) remain at elevated risk levels.

The report notes that rapid additions of solar power and battery energy storage systems are helping improve reliability in states like Texas and California, especially during periods of high demand and extreme heat.

Those states have faced some of the nation’s most serious summer reliability challenges in recent years. In response, they have accelerated deployment of grid-scale batteries that can store electricity when demand is low and deliver it back to the grid during peak periods. The result: fewer outages and improved reliability during extreme heat events.

The Pacific Northwest, however, remains an area of elevated concern. NERC warns the region could face reliability risks this summer under extreme conditions, including drought that limits hydropower availability and periods of unusually high demand.

That contrast is becoming harder to ignore. While other states are rapidly deploying utility-scale battery storage to add flexibility and support grid reliability, Washington still has no operating utility-scale battery projects connected to the grid.

Battery storage is increasingly becoming an important part of how states prepare for growing energy demand, extreme weather, and changing energy systems. As electricity demand grows and extreme weather puts more pressure on the grid, projects like Cascadia Ridge are part of the infrastructure Washington will need to build a more reliable energy future. Washington should move faster to enable these projects here at home.