Page Contents
Advertiser Disclosure: At ElectricityRates.com, our number one goal is to help you make better energy decisions. We adhere to strict editorial guidelines, however this post may include references to products offered from our partners.
A Washington state judge has ruled in favor of the electric utilityPacifiCorp and permanently blocked the public release of some economic information about its coal-burning units.
The Sierra Club wanted the information to be made public, saying people should have the information and data about the risks of running an coal-burning power plant.
PacifiCorp, based in Portland, Oregon, argued that releasing the confidential information would put it at a competitive disadvantage in the marketplace.
A Thurston County Superior Court judge granted the permanent injunction during a hearing Friday.
PacifiCorp spokesman Bob Gravely says the company is pleased with the court's decision and plans on working a more complete analysis in coming months.
The Sierra Club was disappointed with the ruling arguing that PacifiCorp’sown analysis of its 24 coal units concludes that 11 run at a higher cost than purchasing energy from the wholesale market.
According to a separate report commissioned by the environmental group,the utility could save $680 million by replacing those 11 units instead of running them until their planned retirement in 2023.
