Pubdate: Thu, 11 Sep 2014
Source: Herald, The (Everett, WA)
Copyright: 2014 The Daily Herald Co.
Contact:  http://www.heraldnet.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/190
Author: Phuong Le, Associated Press
Page: A13

LEGAL POT GROWS CREATE NEW DEMAND FOR NW POWER

SEATTLE (AP) - As more marijuana producers move their plants indoors 
over the next two decades, the grow operations in Washington state 
are expected to need as much electricity each year as what a small 
Northwest city consumes, according to an energy forecast by regional 
power planners.

Demands on the Northwest electrical grid would grow further if Oregon 
voters pass a ballot initiative in November to legalize recreational 
pot use, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council said.

The council, which develops a long-term power plan for Washington, 
Oregon, Idaho and parts of Montana, has been studying the impacts of 
electricity needs for operations that grow legal marijuana indoors in 
Washington state.

New energy demand among growers of marijuana is estimated to expand 
to as much as 163 megawatts a year by 2035. That represents about 10 
percent of what Seattle uses annually, or roughly what a small city 
such as McMinnville, Oregon, uses, said Tom Eckman, the council's 
power planning director.

Still, it makes up less than 1 percent of overall regional electricity use.

"We're trying to ensure that we have adequate, affordable power 
supply," Eckman said. The analysis will be incorporated into 
long-term energy demand forecasts for the region, which is used by 
Bonneville Power Administration and regional utilities for planning.

Since Washington voters in 2012 approved an initiative to legalize 
recreational pot use by adults, the state Liquor Control Board has so 
far issued more than 200 licenses to marijuana growers out of about 
2,500 who have applied.

Most producers grow pot outside, but they may start to move more 
operations into warehouses to get continuous harvests or have better 
control over the amount of light plants receive.

Indoor grow operations can be energy intensive, requiring electricity 
for grow lights or air conditioning systems to cool warehouses and 
control humidity.

The power council is in the process of developing a 20-year regional 
power plan for electrical needs in the Northwest and pays close 
attention to new and emerging energy uses, such as indoor marijuana 
operations, new data centers and electric vehicle charging, Eckman said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom