The Northwest Power and Conservation Council on Wednesday approved a new power plan for four Northwest states, focusing on improved energy efficiency to meet projected increases in demand.

The power council was created by federal statute in 1980. It is made up of state-appointed members from Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon.

The plan — a blueprint for regional energy production and distribution during the next 20 years — anticipates meeting most new power demand by making energy conservation programs more available to customers.

Energy conservation programs include helping customers purchase more fuel-efficient street lights, irrigation pumps and industrial motors.

Power Council spokesman Mark Walker said Wednesday that little changed in the power plan between the draft — unveiled last year — and the plan’s final form.

“I think the biggest point is that we’ve emphasized, to a greater degree, the use of demand response in the final draft,” Walker said.

“Demand response” refers to having large electricity customers reduce their consumption when power demand peaks — such as during heat waves in the summer or cold snaps in the winter.

The plan assumes that Northwest industrial output over the 20-year period will increase by 36 percent, from $125 billion to $170 billion, according to a news release. The council expects that the region’s electricity loads can be maintained at the current level of about 20,000 average megawatts.

The plan doesn’t anticipate any new coal-fired power plants, but takes into account the scheduled retirements of three large coal plants between 2020 and 2026. Any supply shortfalls after increasing conservation measures will be met by acquiring or building natural gas plants.

Hydroelectric dams are responsible for 47 percent of the energy production in the four-state area. Natural gas accounts for 23 percent and coal contributes another 17 percent. Wind energy produces 8 percent and nuclear and biomass make up the remaining 5 percent.

A large chunk of new demand is projected to come from the region’s fast-growing technology sector. “Cloud-based” computer farms owned by companies such as Google, Apple and Facebook are already using as much power as Japan and Germany combined, the release states.

The power plan also includes a detailed program to protect and enhance fish and wildlife affected by the hydroelectric system. It includes a program to protect, mitigate and enhance fish and wildlife of the Columbia River Basin affected by hydropower dams.

Reporter Sam Wilson can be reached at 758-4407 or by email at swilson@dailyinterlake.com.