Avista selected a portfolio of projects to support its 2025 Electric Integrated Resource Plan, adding a 14‑megawatt natural‑gas combustion turbine upgrade, a 100‑megawatt battery energy‑storage system with four‑hour duration, a roughly 200‑megawatt wind power purchase agreement, and a 40‑megawatt demand‑response program. The mix of generation, storage, and demand‑side resources is designed to meet reliability requirements and the company’s clean‑energy targets for its service territory in eastern Washington, northern Idaho, and parts of Oregon.
Avista will bring the turbine upgrade online in 2026, the battery system in 2027, the wind agreement in 2028, and the demand‑response program in 2029, creating a staged rollout that aligns with projected peak‑load growth and regulatory timelines.
The selected projects represent an estimated $250 million to $350 million of incremental capital investment. The company plans to finance the upgrades through a mix of debt and equity, with the new assets expected to increase the long‑term rate base and support future rate‑increase filings.
Avista’s clean‑energy strategy is anchored by Washington’s Clean Energy Transformation Act, which requires 100 % clean electricity by 2045 and greenhouse‑gas neutrality by 2030. The wind and battery additions directly advance those goals, while the turbine upgrade and demand‑response program provide flexible capacity to balance the variable renewable portfolio.
Scott Kinney, Avista’s Vice President of Energy Resources & Integrated Planning, said the projects “are critical to maintaining reliability while accelerating our clean‑energy transition.” He added that the mix “provides the right balance of generation, storage, and demand‑side flexibility to meet both current and future customer needs, including the growing data‑center market.”
Analysts at KeyBanc reiterated a “Sector Weight” rating on Avista following the RFP win, describing the outcome as “incrementally positive.” Mizuho raised its price target to $42.00 after Avista’s Q3 2025 earnings beat, reflecting confidence in the company’s execution and growth prospects.
By securing these projects through a competitive RFP process, Avista strengthens its resource adequacy, supports its clean‑energy commitments, and positions the company to capture emerging demand from high‑growth customers such as data centers. The staged implementation and diversified portfolio also enhance grid resilience and provide a solid foundation for future rate‑base expansion.
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