Decarbonizing Buildings, Transportation & Fuels
Portland Monthly: Drink "green" this St. Patrick's Day with eco-friendly beers
This Portland Monthly article showcases how eight Oregon breweries have made strides to lower their carbon footprint by switching to renewable energy, recycling steam, sourcing local ingredients, installing efficient lighting, capturing methane, saving water, cutting transportation emissions and reusing spent grain. Raise a glass to these innovative breweries this St. Paddy’s Day!
Read MoreIdaho Statesman guest opinion: Idaho needs a plan to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
Ken Miller of Snake River Alliance eloquently makes the case for a greenhouse gas reduction plan in Idaho. Miller points out that so long as Idaho utilities burn coal, their customers will be on the hook for inevitable regulatory costs. If Idaho doesn’t create its own emissions reduction plan, the state will face legal costs and the federal government may write the plan instead. Ken Miller will be one of our featured panelists at the NW Clean & Affordable Energy Conference May 29-30 in Boise.
Read MoreHuffington Post blog: 6 reasons 2014 was a good year for climate action
There are many reasons to be joyous about clean energy advancements in 2014. The cost of solar and wind energy continues to fall, utilities are investing in energy storage and electric vehicle charging, Chinese coal demand is falling, sustainable investing is on the rise, and businesses are more vocal than ever on the need for climate action.
Read MoreClean energy advocates should rally behind governor's bold climate plan
On Wednesday, Washington Gov. Jay Inslee unveiled a suite of proposals that would increasingly limit carbon pollution in the state and make major polluters pay for the carbon they do emit via a market-based allocation system. Revenues from the pollution permits – estimated at $1 billion in the first year – would go to transportation, particularly transit and electric vehicle incentives and infrastructure; relief for low-income communities; and education, to help meet court funding mandates.
Read MoreSightline article: The new Oregon carbon tax report is out
Portland State University’s Northwest Economic Research Center (NERC) modeled different carbon tax scenarios in Oregon that would start at $10 per ton and increase at different rates over time. In nearly ever scenario, Oregon was able to reach its goal of a 10% carbon reduction below 1990 levels by 2020. NERC concluded that a carbon tax would generate significant state revenue and thousands of jobs.
Read MoreNWEC comments on EPA Clean Power Rule
Click here to view the NW Energy Coalition’s comments on the EPA’s Clean Power Rule.
Read MoreCrosscut artice: Washington businesses unite on climate action
More than 100 businesses – from REI and Virginia Mason to Taylor Shellfish and Microsoft – launched a declaration calling for “climate action.” The businesses recently endorsed the Washington Business Climate Declaration, a statement by businesses and individuals on the need for action against global warming, saying, that the Northwest firms “support using energy efficiently, investing in cleaner fuels, advancing renewable energy, and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.”
Read MoreNuclear in the age of climate change brown bag discussion
On October 6, 2014 the NW Energy Coalition hosted a brown bag lunch featuring nuclear power expert Ed Lyman from the Union of Concerned Scientists. Dr. Lyman is the co-author of the recent book, Fukushima: The Story of a Nuclear Disaster (New Press). His work has focused on critical nuclear issues such as civilian and…
Read MoreThe Columbian Op-Ed: Climate woes, income inequality can be tackled together
K.C. Golden, senior adviser for Climate Solutions, and Jeff Johnson, President of the Washington State Labor Council, insist that our leaders must do more to address climate change and inequity issues. They point out that through advancing energy efficiency, we can create jobs, save bill-payers’ money, reduce climate pollution and build healthier communities.
Read MoreNW Energy Coalition and other Clean Energy Scenarios Stakeholders submit comments on PacificCorp's Integrated Resource Plan
The “Clean Energy Scenarios Stakeholders” (NW Energy Coalition, HEAL Utah, Idaho Conservation League, Mormon Environmental Stewardship Alliance, Powder River Basin Resource Council, Renewable Northwest and Sierra Club) have submitted comments for the PacificCorp’s 2015 IRP modeling process concerning proposed carbon price and solar PV scenarios. Click here to read the comments.
Read More