NW Energy Coalition v. Bonneville Power Administration — 9th Cir. (Aug 6, 2026)
The Ninth Circuit hears a direct challenge by five Northwest energy and conservation groups to the Bonneville Power Administration's policy to pursue Markets Plus, a day-ahead electricity market. The court must first decide whether the policy is final enough, and its consequences imminent enough, for judicial review. The groups say Bonneville acted without satisfying the Northwest Power Act or conducting the environmental review required by NEPA. Bonneville responds that it adopted only a business direction, not a binding commitment to join.
NW Energy Coalition v. Bonneville Power Administration (No. 25-4278) — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit, argued August 6, 2026.
Sources
Argument audio — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit (public domain, 17 U.S.C. § 105):https://cdn.ca9.uscourts.gov/datastore/media/2026/08/06/25-4278.mp3
Argument listing — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/streams-videos/archive?case=25-4278&hearingDate=2026-08-06
Oral-argument calendar — U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit:https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/cases/calendar/calendar-week/?date=2026-08-06&loc=SE
Day-Ahead Market Policy — Bonneville Power Administration:https://www.bpa.gov/-/media/Aep/projects/day-ahead-market/20250509-dam-final-policy.pdf
Day-Ahead Market Record of Decision — Bonneville Power Administration:https://www.bpa.gov/-/media/Aep/about/publications/records-of-decision/2025-rod/rod-20250509-day-ahead-market-policy.pdf
Petitioners' opening brief — Ninth Circuit filing:https://www.rtoinsider.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/2025.11.03-Opening-Brief-FINAL.pdf
Appellate docket — Justia:https://dockets.justia.com/docket/circuit-courts/ca9/25-4278
Published-opinion search — Ninth Circuit:https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/opinions/
Memorandum-disposition search — Ninth Circuit:https://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/decisions/memoranda/
- 0:00Introduction
- 0:38Jaimini Parekh
- 22:04J. Courtney Olive