New Energy Northwest Website Designed Developed with Powerful Emphasizes Accessibility, Innovation & Clean Power
RICHLAND, WA — Innovation does not stop at power generation for Energy Northwest. The agency has launched a redesigned website with Powerful that demonstrates its leadership in clean energy communication.
The new website reflects Energy Northwest’s mission to provide safe, reliable and cost-effective electricity while strengthening communication with utility members, policymakers and residents across Washington. The redesign focuses on intuitive navigation and accessibility, aligning with WCAG 2.0 AA standards and supporting visitors with varying abilities.
Designer, Jack Kenzler, described the process as a shared exploration that aligned design with brand identity. “The more we explored, the more the design started to reveal itself,” he said. Kenzler noted that Energy Northwest’s brand carries a “quiet strength,” and his goal was to ensure that strength was represented through imagery, patterns and bold font choices. The redesign, he added, aimed to reflect “the scale and success of Energy Northwest,” a goal he believes the project achieved.
A major focus of the redesign was visualizing information in a way that makes clean energy concepts more accessible. Several content-heavy pages were restructured with graphics, photography and simplified layouts to help visitors navigate dense material. Project manager, Stacey Horton, said the approach was driven by Energy Northwest’s role as a clean energy leader. “They pride themselves on innovation through the generation of clean, reliable electricity, and they needed a website that communicated that,” she said. Horton pointed to the About Nuclear Energy page as an example of the redesign’s impact, explaining that it “breaks down a topic that seems daunting into a format that is easy to understand and visually appealing.”
The redesign also supports Energy Northwest’s long-term approach to accessibility. The organization opted into annual accessibility audits and webinar-based accessibility training through Powerful to help ensure that future updates remain compliant and visitor-friendly. These services equip internal teams with best practices for headings, alt text, document structure and clear navigation, while providing continued assurance as content evolves.
With these updates, the new website strengthens Energy Northwest’s efforts to communicate transparently and support clean energy education for the communities it serves. The intuitive structure, accessibility measures and redesigned content work together to offer a more engaging and visitor-focused experience.
- RELATED: Energy Northwest Web Design Case Study
- RELATED: Press Release from NWPPA, Energy Northwest Launches a Redesigned Website That Started With an NWPPA Connection (External PDF Link)
About Powerful
Powerful is a leader in designing human-centered website designs for utility companies, enhancing digital interactions through innovative design and advanced technology. Their mission is to build lasting partnerships with utility organizations by creating engaging, visitor-friendly digital experiences. Specializing in functionality, visitor experience, and accessibility, Powerful tailors each project to the unique needs of their clients, ensuring websites are visually appealing, intuitive, and easy to navigate. With a focus on humanizing websites, their team is dedicated to understanding the specific challenges and goals of each client, crafting solutions that foster meaningful connections and drive engagement. Through a meticulous design process and commitment to excellence, Powerful helps utilities connect more effectively with their communities, providing websites that both inform and inspire.
About Energy Northwest
Energy Northwest is a joint operating agency that produces reliable, affordable and carbon-free electricity for public power utilities across Washington. Formed by the Washington State Legislature in 1957, the agency generates electricity from nuclear, hydro, wind and solar resources and serves 29 public utility districts and municipalities. Energy Northwest delivers clean energy and innovative solutions to support the region’s power needs while prioritizing safety, stewardship and leadership at all levels.
