In a recent spotlight feature by Seattle City Light, Alan Bach, a Senior Power Analyst, shared insights into his role and personal life. Bach, who joined the utility company in November 2022, plays a pivotal role in shaping the future of Seattle's power supply. His work is dedicated to supporting the utility’s Integrated Resource Plan (IRP), a forward-looking guide that anticipates the city's energy needs over the next two decades.
Key to Bach's mission is the evaluation of potential new resources and the spotting of opportunities for conservation and demand response suitable to meet fluctuations in energy consumption. In a statement obtained by Seattle City Light, he explains, "This involves evaluating what new resources, conservation measures, and demand response we need to meet changes in our load." His analysis fuels the IRP process, including the Demand-Side Management Potential Assessment, which sets the conservation and demand response targets for City Light’s Customer Energy Solutions team for the coming years.
Bach hails from Woodinville, Washington, and is an alum of the University of California, Berkeley, where he studied environmental engineering. Since returning from California, he's been residing with his family in his hometown. Far from experiencing the so-called "Seattle freeze," Bach has found a warm welcome back in the Pacific Northwest. "How welcoming my colleagues have been," Bach told Seattle City Light when asked about his surprises upon joining City Light.
When not crunching numbers or forecasting energy trends, Bach indulges in his love for mythology, citing "The Silmarillion" by J.R.R. Tolkien as his favorite book due to its coherent narrative style. He admits to a love for pizza, with Mama's Too in NYC being the purveyor of the best meal he has ever had. According to a Seattle City Light interview, the last melodies to grace his ears were from NMIXX's "High Horse," though he prefers tracks from their "Blue Valentine" album. Lastly, he reveals an ambition to one day design his own board game, marking an inventive streak that's undoubtedly an energizing addition to his professional endeavors.
