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, according to
the Northwest Power and Conservation Council.
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.
If you or a loved one is in a bind as a result of a DUI, immediately contact a Seattle DUI attorney. A DUI lawyer
is not going to judge you, and understands that everyone makes
mistakes. Hiring a Seattle DUI lawyer to help can – at a minimum –
reduce those penalties, and can help direct people on how to best deal
with their DUI charge. So it should go without saying that someone cited
for DUI should hire a qualified Seattle DUI lawyer
as soon as possible. Driving Under the Influence charges can cause
havoc on a person’s personal and professional life. Anyone charged with
DUI in Washington State should immediately seek the assistance of a
seasoned Seattle DUI lawyer.
Sunday, September 14, 2014
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