Decarbonizing Buildings, Transportation & Fuels
YES ON I-1631 in Washington
If you believe that Washington should take additional action to combat pollution and climate change – and according to recent polling, the vast majority of Washingtonians do – you probably accept that with action there is cost. The trick is to develop solutions that effectively address the problem while minimizing the cost and, as far…
Read MoreNW Senators rise to save ENERGY STAR program
There aren’t many federal programs that are as unequivocally successful or as cost-effective as ENERGY STAR. The ENERGY STAR seal, which is awarded by the Environmental Protection Agency to energy efficient products and appliances, helps consumers and businesses save tens of billions of dollars annually on their electric bills. However, the Trump administration wants to…
Read MoreDam Replacement Study Reveals New Opportunities
(The following opinion piece by NW Energy Coalition executive director, Nancy Hirsh, was published in the April 21, 2018 edition of the Tri-City Herald.) The NW Energy Coalition has released a new study demonstrating that the ongoing decline in the cost of new wind and solar energy can not only contribute to a cleaner environment,…
Read MoreLIHEAP, Weatherization, other programs fully funded.
In addition to the good news that energy efficiency, renewable energy, and environmental programs avoided cuts and, in many cases, received budget increases in the spending bill signed by President Trump today, there is more good news. Congress increased by $250 million funding for LIHEAP, the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, and increased the…
Read MoreBudget bill a pleasant surprise for clean energy and the environment
To the relief of energy and environmental advocates, the U.S. House and Senate have come to an agreement on an omnibus spending bill that will preserve and, in some cases, increase funding for energy efficiency and renewable energy programs many of which were targeted for cuts in the Trump administration’s proposed budget. Examples include: ·…
Read MoreWashington Legislature Wrap-up
Passion and Paralysis on Climate Action In Washington, standards for energy efficiency and the share of power utilities must acquire from renewable resources have been in place for eleven years – a period during which great progress has been made in reducing carbon emissions and the state’s clean energy economy has blossomed. But, the renewable…
Read More“Protect Washington Act” headed for this fall’s ballot
Washington’s Alliance for Jobs & Clean Energy, of which the NW Energy Coalition is a member, has filed a ballot initiative to reduce pollution and greenhouse gas emissions while generating jobs and growing the state’s clean energy economy. The Protect Washington Act will reduce incentives for industries to pollute and will generate funds that will…
Read MoreClean utilities and carbon pricing bills advance in Washington legislature
Yesterday HB 2402 the Washington Clean Utilities Act and SB 6203, Governor Jay Inslee’s carbon pricing bill, were passed out of their respective House and Senate committees. The passage of these bills out of committee is a necessary step toward achieving two important policy goals: Continuing to clean up our electric system by advancing renewable…
Read MoreNW Energy Coalition welcomes BPA 2018-23 Strategic Plan
Yesterday, the Bonneville Power Administration released its 2018-2023 Strategic Plan that lays out the agency’s goals as it works to adapt to an increasingly complex and competitive electricity market. The NW Energy Coalition congratulates BPA for establishing four important overarching goals in the new 5-year plan. They are: Strengthening financial health Modernizing system assets and…
Read MoreCoalition supports Washington Clean Utilities Act.
HB 2402, the Washington Clean Utility Act, will ensure that progress on greenhouse gas reduction and growth in Washington’s clean energy economy don’t come to an end when existing renewable portfolio and energy efficiency standards top out in the year 2020. Sponsored by Delegates Gael Tarleton, Vandana Slatter, Nicole Macri, Gerry Pollet, and Beth Doglio, HB…
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