Global Climate Change

Global climate change has increasingly become an important scientific issue with far-reaching social implications. The power sector is a major emitter of greenhouse gases that contribute to climate change. Those emissions include carbon dioxide from fossil fuel combustion, methane from natural gas releases, and sulfur hexafluoride from transmission and distribution equipment such as transformers.

As a power supplier dependent in part upon coal resources, PacifiCorp recognizes the global concern about climate change and incorporates climate change into corporate strategy. We are committed to building additional renewable generation and developing conservation resources with our customers to reduce or avoid carbon dioxide emissions. For example, the company's Integrated Resource Plan calls for adding 2,000 megawatts of new renewable energy resources by 2013.

Among other projects, company efforts include improving the efficiency of existing fossil fuel and hydroelectric generation plants, recycling, controlling fugitive methane emissions from mining operations and controlling fugitive sulfur hexafluoride emissions from electrical distribution equipment. We monitor our emissions closely and are committed to maintain accounting standards adopted by leading reporting systems such as the California Climate Action Registry.

PacifiCorp is also helping preserve more than 1.5 million acres of rainforest in Belize and Bolivia. These two projects, developed in partnership with local partners and The Nature Conservancy, are expected to reduce carbon dioxide in the atmosphere by 40 million metric tons over the life of the projects. The Noel Kempff Project in Bolivia has received national acclaim for sequestering carbon, preserving 2.2 million acres of valuable forest, and promoting sustainable livelihoods to neighboring communities. As one of the largest carbon sequestration projects in the world, the Noel Kempff partnership reduces emissions of greenhouse gases by preventing deforestation from logging and other land uses. PacifiCorp also is working with The Nature Conservancy, the Programme for Belize and other utilities to preserve more than 153,000 acres of endangered rainforest in Belize. This project –  Rio Bravo – includes developing a sustainable forestry program, while preventing the release of about 8.8 million tons of carbon dioxide.

We are also actively supporting our industry's efforts to develop new, cutting edge, lower carbon technologies, including carbon capture and storage for use on fossil-fueled power plants; plug-in hybrid electric and battery electric vehicles, reducing transportation-related greenhouse gas emissions; and energy storage technologies to better integrate intermittent generation, such as wind and solar, into our electricity delivery system.

PacifiCorp also engages constructively in external policy discussions with a focus on reducing environmental impact and protecting our customers and shareholders. For example, in 2006, PacifiCorp formed the Global Climate Change Working Group to analyze and discuss utility best practices in managing emissions of greenhouse gases. PacifiCorp will look for opportunities to reduce its carbon footprint within the rules set forth by the six state utility regulatory commissions it works with.

We work side-by-side stakeholders, communities and customers to balance energy costs with the needs of the state and region, the environment and future generations.