Posts by Alicia Healey
Coalition analyzes spill test effects on electricity consumers’ bills
The NW Energy Coalition has released a pair of fact sheets addressing regional salmon scientists’ proposed experiment to measure survival gains from spilling more water over federal hydropower dams to aid the ocean-bound migration of Columbia Basin endangered wild salmon than is now required by the federal court. Court-ordered spill has increased returns of adult fish, and many regional scientists have concluded that additional spill could raise those returns even further – potentially to recovery levels for some of the endangered stocks…
Read MoreDecember Idaho Energy Update from Snake River Alliance
The Idaho Energy Update is a periodic summary of Idaho energy and climate issues from Coalition member Snake River Alliance. It features updates from the Legislature and state agencies, Idaho’s utilities and regulators, and topical clean energy developments in Idaho and the Northwest – all designed to help you follow and participate in Idaho energy issues…
Read MoreNWEC comments from recent Clean Air Act public session
NW Energy Coalition policy director Nancy Hirsh presented the following comments at a U.S. Environmental Protection Agency public listening session Nov. 7 in Seattle. The session concerned EPA’s plan to set CO2 standards for existing power plants under Section 111d of the Clean Air Act…
Read MoreFocus on electricity future, celebration of Sara Patton 20th draw large, enthusiastic crowd to Coalition’s fall conference
Upwards of 150 people attended our Nov. Conference, which uniquely focused on a single subject: how all communities can thrive as energy efficiency, the smart grid and lower-cost local power tempt consumers off the grid. A similar number attended a rousing, laughter-filled celebration of Sara Patton’s 20years as NW Energy Coalition executive director. Photos and more inside…
Read MoreThe Oregonian guest opinion: Federal government doing to little to help Columbia salmon
At a time when Americans need their faith in government restored as national lawmakers play chicken with the world economy and approval ratings plummet — out pops The Federal Family’s (Bonneville Power Administration, US Army Corps of Engineers and NOAA Fisheries) new biological opinion, which may surpass even those lows. The court-mandated biological opinion is the cornerstone for salmon recovery in the Columbia Basin. None of the four previous attempts have passed the federal court’s straight face test, which has given rise to just how important basic principles of balance-of-power and the judicial branch of government are to the country, and ultimately Columbia Basin salmon…Read the full piece online at The Oregonian.
Read MoreSeattle Times Guest column: Energy Independence Act costing less than naysayers warned
David Danner, chairman of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission and speaker at the Coalition’s upcoming NW Clean & Affordable Energy Conference, writes in today’s Seattle Times about how the act that required electric utilities to invest in new renewable-energy resources is costing customers less than what the naysayers warned.
Read the full article online at The Seattle Times.
Read More4 Under Forty Celebration a Huge Success!
We are so happy many people in the Portland area could join us Tuesday to recognize and thank the Four Under Forty honorees for the outstanding work they do every day. The evening was a great success!
All of us were moved by the honorees’ stories, by the words of support for the Coalition, and by the contributions from so many to sustain our clean energy work…
Read MoreIncreasing Numbers of Northwest Residents Chose Green Power
Customer participation in voluntary green power programs increased by 13.1% across more than 60 utilities in the Northwest between 2010 and 2012, according to a new report released today from Coalition member Renewable Northwest Project. RNP annually summarizes the progress of these programs in its report, “Powerful Choices”…
Read MoreVideo: Flathead Electric making use of solar, biomass projects
Flathead Electric Co-op and Stoltze lumber have entered into a 20 year deal to supplement some of FEC’s electricity with power generated from a new biomass boiler.
KPAX has the story of a couple of other projects the co-op is working on which could mean big things for power production in the future…
Read MoreThere’s good news and bad news for Northwest’s salmon
First the good news: On Sept. 9, a record 64,000 adult fall chinook salmon passed Bonneville Dam near the mouth of the Columbia River. For a change, fishing limits are being adjusted upward – a great sign for our fall chinook and for Northwest fishermen.
Here’s the bad news… (read the rest online at The News Tribune.)
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