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Net-Zero Northwest
NZNW Energy Pathways is a deep decarbonization pathways analysis that examines low-cost pathways for how the Northwest could achieve economy-wide net-zero emissions by 2050.
NZNW Health Impacts examines the health benefits that the Northwest could experience from reducing tailpipe and smokestack pollutant emissions if the region were to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
NZNW Workforce Analysis assesses how achieving net-zero emissions would impact existing and future employment in the Northwest overall and Washington and Oregon specifically.
We invite you to join our community, provide feedback, request a briefing, or support our work.
Energy Pathways Analysis
The NZNW Energy Pathways analysis offers guidance to Northwest policymakers and clean energy stakeholders on what actions to take from now to 2030 to get on the path to achieving net-zero emissions by 2050.
The key themes that emerge from the analysis are:
The Northwest region is poised to lead on decarbonization, particularly in clean fuels development.
Siting and permitting will shape the Northwest’s new energy map.
Federal funding is boosting nascent clean energy technologies.
An equitable clean energy transition is not a given and must be planned with authentic community engagement.
Explore how energy resources would change if the Northwest were to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
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Health Impacts Analysis
The NZNW Health Impacts analysis looks at the impact of reducing pollutant emissions and finds that if the region were to achieve net-zero emissions based on the least-cost pathway set out in the NZNW Energy Pathways Core Case, Northwest residents would experience fewer deaths, fewer days of work lost, and fewer hospital admissions attributed to annual pollutant reductions.
The health and economic impacts for the Northwest include:
Health benefits range from 15 to 33 avoided deaths per million people in 2030 and 18 to 40 avoided deaths per million people in 2050.
Economic benefits include economy-wide savings that range from $2.8 billion to $6.2 billion per year in 2030 and $4 billion to $8.9 billion per year in 2050.
Explore how reducing tailpipe and smokestack emissions would impact health in the Northwest.
Workforce Analysis
The NZNW Workforce Analysis is the Northwest’s first comprehensive clean energy workforce analysis. The study is developed by BW Research Partnership (BW Research), a national applied research firm that analyzes economic and workforce data.
BW Research is examining the jobs to be created or displaced if the Northwest were to achieve net-zero emissions as modeled in the NZNW Energy Pathways analysis by occupation and location in the buildings, fuels, electricity, and transportation sectors throughout the region.
The NZNW Workforce Analysis results will be available in fall 2023.
Explore BW Research's Methodology and Assumptions.