Environment Electricity demand in Northwest could double in next 20 years, forecast finds

Demand for electricity in the Northwest could double by 2046, according to a new energy forecast from regional experts.

Over the next two decades, demand could increase by between 1.8% and 3.1% annually, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council heard Tuesday. The projected growth will come primarily from companies building more data centers in the region, more electric vehicles on roads, electrifying buildings, computer chip manufacturing and the production of “green hydrogen” created by running an electrical current through water to split the molecules into hydrogen and oxygen.

Council staff presented the 20-year forecast for electricity demand in Oregon, Washington, Idaho and western Montana Tuesday to the council’s eight, governor-appointed members. Each state’s governor gets to appoint two representatives.

“The data centers, naturally in our forecasts, are the very early load growth driver here. They’re the big driver of near-term demand,” Steven Simmons, senior energy forecasting analyst, told the council. Energy demand from data centers and from all electric vehicles in the region are expected to be equal by 2046, and demand from EVs is likely to surpass data center demand after 2046, Simmons said.

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2025/04/29/electricity-demand-in-northwest-could-double-in-next-20-years-forecast-finds/