Sagging Economy May Help Ease Energy Woes
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A gloomy economy and aluminum plant closures in the Pacific Northwest turned out to have a bright side--electricity demand has declined enough that analysts believe the region will avoid any power blackouts this winter.
Without the huge reduction in electricity use caused by widespread layoffs and plant closures, chances were nearly one in three that the Northwest would have suffered winter blackouts, said Dick Watson, one of the chief analysts for the Northwest Power Planning Council.
“This is quite a dramatic change,” Watson said in Portland as he presented the annual winter power forecast to the four-state council.
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