Legislative Advocacy
From the Sacramento Bee: State has stake in Columbia salmon solution
The story of Pacific salmon has not recently been a happy one. Population declines in the West Coast’s big three rivers – the Sacramento-San Joaquin, Klamath and Columbia-Snake – have meant less fishing, lost jobs, scarce fish and higher prices for consumers. Without major changes to how we manage these waterways, the beating heart of our region’s salmon economy may cease.
Fortunately, there are some bright spots on the horizon. On a growing number of rivers, adversaries are opting to collaborate rather than litigate. People are starting to work together to restore rivers, recover salmon and rebuild jobs.
Read more here: www.sacbee.com
Fulfill Our Clean Energy Initiative
Washington’s Clean Energy Initiative (also know as I-937) was passed by voters in November 2006 and requires the state’s major electric utilities to gradually increase the amount of new renewable resources in their electricity supply to 15% by 2020.
Since 2006, The Clean Energy Initiative has generated about $7.5 billion in renewable energy investments in this state, especially in our struggling rural communities, and all-time-record efficiency savings for energy consumers. More investments, more savings and more jobs will come to us as long as we keep the pathway open…
Light Bulb rider bad for businesses and consumers
The Omnibus spending bill Congress is set to pass today contains a huge lump of coal for our stockings: a rider prohibiting the U.S. Department of Energy from enforcing the lighting efficiency standards. Those who couldn’t muster support for repealing the standards have used the threat of a government shutdown to undercut a law that will save money for consumers and utilities and significantly lower national greenhouse gas emissions…
Congress Calls on Obama to Convene Salmon Solutions Table
In a letter sent last week, 52 Members of Congress called on President Obama to convene a “solutions table” to help protect and restore endangered wild salmon and steelhead in the Columbia and Snake River basins of the Pacific Northwest.
With bipartisan support from lawmakers representing 23 states and territories, Congressmen Jim McDermott (D-WA), Tom Petri (R-WI), and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) spearheaded the letter to bring together all parties with a stake in salmon restoration to create a broad-based, collaborative process that explores and identifies real salmon recovery solutions…
The Coalition’s greatest hits … so far
We remember 30 years of clean and affordable energy success…
The Energy Activist – Fall 2011
The NW Energy Coalition was born of the battle against the absurdly misguided attempt to litter the Northwest with dozens of dangerous, polluting, unneeded and expensive, consumer-assaulting nuclear power plants.
This year the Coalition celebrates its 30th anniversary as the region’s leading advocate for policies promoting energy efficiency, new renewable energy development, consumer/low-income protection and energy assistance, and wild salmon restoration in the Columbia Basin.
The Fall 2011 edition of The Energy Activist looks back at our successes and forward toward the future…
NW Energy Coalition: Then and now
The NW Energy Coalition, was born of the battle against the absurdly misguided attempt to litter the Northwest with dozens of dangerous, polluting, unneeded and expensive nuclear power plants.
Much has changed in three decades, from the organization’s name, to the breadth of its advocacy, to the Northwest’s energy landscape itself.
Here’s a few examples…
Tomorrow: Striving for balance between hydropower and fish
For too long, the region has failed to strike the credible balance between hydropower production and salmon survival required by the 1980 Northwest Power Act. Some wild salmon runs have gone entirely extinct; several others remain stuck in an endless loop of Endangered Species Act processes, insufficient federal actions and litigation. Millions of energy ratepayer dollars have been wasted on ineffective salmon mitigation programs…
From the Board Chair: Involvement key to meeting challenges, seizing opportunities
Everyone who works in energy knows we deal with complicated issues. Energy is connected to everything and everybody. The nation’s energy paradigm took form over many decades and is resistant to change. Yet moving to a new energy future requires fundamental changes in existing relationships and ways of doing business. We will have to make – and are making – hard choices, balancing competing objectives and outcomes.
NW Energy Coalition to celebrate 30 years of clean energy policy achievement
Three decades of successful advocacy for clean energy and abundant wild salmon will be celebrated with a 30th Anniversary Gala the evening of Friday, Dec. 2, in Seattle…
Tomorrow: Seeing energy consumers’ future challenges today
The greatest future challenges for low-income and other energy consumers are readily apparent today. These include the fundamental affordability of electricity, climate change, energy efficiency costs and benefits, integrating new renewables such as wind, and the promises and dangers of the “smart grid…”
NW Clean & Affordable Energy Conference brings utility commissioners from all 4 Northwest states
Set for Friday and Saturday, Dec. 2-3, in Seattle, the Conference will tackle some of the most pressing issues and fascinating developments in the campaign for a clean energy future. Utility regulation, salmon recovery, clean energy for buildings, transmission/ecosystem issues will be on the agenda…