February 2, 2010
We are pleased to announce that Ecos’ Mike Bailey, P.E., Director of Technical Services, has been appointed as a voting member of the Regional Technical Forum (RTF) for 2010. The RTF is the technical committee of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council, which is the inter-state organization charged with planning for the long term electricity needs of the Pacific Northwest (Oregon, Washington, Idaho, and Montana).
Formed in 1996, the RTF set out to develop consistent standards and protocols for verification and evaluation of energy savings. Its goal was also to track regional progress towards, and provide feedback for, improving conservation and renewable resource programs throughout the region.
Today, the RTF’s regional role is to provide standardized protocols for estimating savings and regional power system value for measures/programs. The goal is to maintain a comprehensive data base of cost-effective conservation measures and programs that contain estimated incremental cost, savings (kWh & KW), benefit/cost ratios (both from a wholesale and retail utility perspective, as well as a total resource cost perspective), and carbon reduction.
“I expect to learn a lot and look forward to participating during a time of rapid growth and re-positioning of the role the RTF plays in the region,” says Mike Bailey of his recently appointed position. Funding for the RTF has recently been increased and they are expecting utility spending on energy conservation programs to double, and even triple, within the next five to ten years. “With an expanded work plan and increased budget in 2010, the RTF has a challenging and exciting year ahead,” says Bailey.
The RTF has monthly full day meetings at the Council offices in Portland. All RTF meetings, recommendations, databases, and proceedings are public. The RTF is a volunteer organization and is staffed by the Council with contractor assistance.
