1942
As World War Two continued to unfold, the United States was drawn into the global conflict. Congress passed the War Production Board of 1942, which required federal based entities, like Bonneville Power Administration, to join entities like the Northwest Power Pool. This time, the goal of pooling collective resources was to power the war effort.
The War Production Board gave the Power Pool members a boost. By issuing Order L-94, the Board directed utilities throughout the United States to increase electric capacity. Puget Sound Power & Light Company, Portland General Electric Company, the municipal systems of Seattle and Tacoma, and the Bonneville Power Administration joined in, which significantly expanded Power Pool capacity to about 2600 megawatts.