E&E news: Wind turbines generate prompt energy payback – study

The energy required to build a new commercial-scale wind turbine amounts to only a small amount of what the turbine will produce over a projected 20-year life span, according to a new life-cycle analysis of wind turbines performed by Oregon State University researchers. The environmental analysis, published in the International Journal of Sustainable Manufacturing, concludes that a 2-megawatt turbine built for a typical Pacific Northwest wind farm will pay back the energy used in its manufacture and installation within five to eight months of coming into service.

Read More

Federal agencies squander chance for progress on Northwest salmon survival, send region back to court

Help Me!

Yesterday, 13 conservation and fishing groups filed a legal challenge of the latest federal plan for endangered Columbia and Snake River salmon. The organizations assert that the Obama administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) failed to address the core issues that triggered federal-court rejection of three previous plans, forcing another round of litigation just as momentum is building in the Northwest for a broadly supported stakeholder collaboration as an alternative to the courtroom.

Read More

4 Under Forty Honoree Bios

Four young leaders, in bringing the benefits of clean and affordable energy to all of us, will be feted at the NW Energy Coalition’s 2nd annual 4 Under Forty celebration the evening of June 12 at Seattle’s Bullitt Center. The honorees are Tara Anderson (Sustainable Works), Jessica Finn Coven (Climate Solutions), Benjamin Otto (Idaho Conservation League) and Gus Takala (Puget Sound Energy).

Read More

NW Energy Coalition to honor Seattle's first living building on June 12

For showing the tremendous potential of energy efficiency and on-site power generation in buildings, the Bullitt Foundation has earned the NW Energy Coalition’s coveted Headwaters Award. Foundation CEO Denis Hayes will accept the award during the Coalition’s 4 Under Forty event from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 12, to be held – appropriately – at the Bullitt Center.

Read More

NW Energy Coalition offering paid internship

The NW Energy Coalition seeks a part-time (15 – 20 hours per week) intern to work with the outreach director and senior development associate to coordinate the Coalition’s fall Gala in Portland, Ore. The position involves frequent contact with Coalition staff and member organizations. This position is located in our Seattle office.

Read More

NW Energy Coalition to give first organizing award

In its 33-year history, the NW Energy Coalition has honored dozens of groups and individuals for their efforts in advancing clean and affordable energy policy across the region. But it has never honored someone specifically for their on-the-ground success in mobilizing grassroots support for those policy efforts. That glaring omission will be rectified on Thursday, June 12. As part of its 2nd annual 4 Under Forty celebration at Seattle’s Bullitt Center, the Coalition will bestow the inaugural Community Organizing Award on Kathleen Casey Ridihalgh, senior organizing manager for the Sierra Club.

Read More

Snake River Alliance clean energy director Ken Miller wins regional leadership honor

The NW Energy Coalition will present its annual Headwaters Award to Ken Miller in honor of his tireless promotion of energy efficiency, renewable energy and economic development in Idaho and the Northwest. The award’s name refers to the headwaters of the Columbia River, and honorees receive a vial of water from the Columbia headwaters in Canada in addition to a plaque.

Read More