A century of innovation
The Inland Northwest possesses one of the richest energy legacies in the nation—where geography, ingenuity and grit combined to spark a century of innovation. Born from the power of the Spokane and Columbia Rivers, the region helped define early electrification in America. Spokane generated its first electricity in 1885 and by 1888 illuminated more than a thousand streetlamps, long before most Western cities had a single bulb. The founding of Washington Water Power in 1889—now Avista—anchored a new energy economy built on the Spokane River’s Lower Falls, followed by pioneering hydro developments like Nine Mile and Long Lake that powered growing communities across the Northwest.
A record of energy firsts
That spirit of experimentation carried through the 20th century as Spokane and its neighbors became a proving ground for energy “firsts.” From the early electric light rail system that tested onboard battery storage, to the creation of microprocessor-based protective relays, smart metering and the world’s first tariff rider for energy efficiency, the region continually reinvented how power is generated, managed and shared. Local innovators helped advance nuclear research, transmission design software, and energy-management analytics that reached global markets
Extending innovation for the next generation
Today, that inventive culture continues in projects like Spokane’s South Landing Eco-District, where utilities, builders and researchers are testing grid-interactive buildings and community-scale energy storage. At the same time, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and regional universities are advancing breakthroughs in battery technology, hydrogen systems and grid resilience—turning the Inland Northwest into a real-world testbed for the next generation of clean energy solutions.
Powering the Promise of Tomorrow
With its deep bench of expertise—an innovative investor-owned utility, two national labs, world-class universities, engineering firms and a collaborative civic culture—the Inland Northwest stands uniquely positioned to lead again. Here, the region’s hydro heritage meets digital innovation, creating a living energy ecosystem that continues to power possibility for the nation’s clean-energy future.
