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A community adapts to life after coal
How a community, a company, and environmental groups are building the future Even before Centralia, Washington was founded, coal was being mined there. So, by the time the town was formally incorporated in 1886, the local mine was already its largest employer. Then, in 1971, Washington’s largest coal-fired power plant opened in Centralia and, between…
Read MoreThank you for fighting the good fight
What an effort! Yesterday’s election culminated an immense effort by thousands of people throughout the Northwest to effectively address issues of clean energy, climate change, equity, and affordability. Those efforts met with success in Portland with passage of the Portland Clean Energy Initiative and they did not in Washington where Initiative 1631 was defeated. Win…
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I-1631: Hirsh, Guenther set record straight on misleading claims by McKenna Ads claiming I-1631 exempts Washington’s biggest polluter fail to note the facility is already slated for closure By Nancy Hirsh, Executive Director NW Energy Coalition & Bob Guenther, Centralia-based labor activist. This year, voters in Washington have been subject to the biggest onslaught of…
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Bruce Nilles to keynoteClean & Affordable Energy Conference Beyond Coal Campaign founder to discuss expanded areas of activism in new role at Rocky Mountain Institute SEATTLE, Washington — Bruce Nilles is relentless. Fifteen years ago he founded the Sierra Club’s highly successful Beyond Coal Campaign, which has helped retire a quarter of the nation’s coal fired…
Read MoreI-1631: The people did it before and we’ll do it again!
I-1631, the clean air and clean energy measure, is critical for addressing climate change. Yet, a lot of loud voices are claiming the proposed carbon fee on fossil fuel polluters won’t do have much effect and costs will be passed through to customers. But, if they believe that, then why are the polluters — big…
Read MoreOctober 5 is Energy Efficiency Day! Here’s why it matters.
Why is there an Energy Efficiency Day? Because all of us, especially policymakers, need to be reminded that, as we pursue economic growth and jobs, reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, a transition to a clean electric system, and affordable energy now and in the future, energy efficiency is doing the heavy lifting. We hear about…
Read MoreEnergy jobs are mostly in energy efficiency
E4The Future and Environmental Entrepreneurs have issued a new analysis that expands on a recent clean energy jobs report by drilling down on the role that energy efficiency jobs play in every state’s economy. Last May, the Energy Futures Initiative and the National Association of State Energy Officials published the 2018 U.S. Energy and Employment Report and…
Read MoreNew Shepherd’s Door Solar Sanctuary Project in Portland
Twende Solar, a not-for-profit organization that develops community solar projects in communities of need around the world, recently collaborated with the Portland Rescue Mission on the Shepherd’s Door Solar Sanctuary Project in Portland, OR. Shepherd’s Door is a sanctuary of peace and security for women and their children who are seeking a safe transition to healthy lifestyles. …
Read MoreNo time to retreat on energy efficiency: Part 2
Last week, part 1 of this post focused on the Northwest’s impending shortfall in meeting 7th Power Plan goals for energy efficiency as well as plans by Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) to cut funding for energy efficiency efforts by 10% in 2020 and 2021. That news comes against the backdrop of efforts by the Trump…
Read MoreNo time to retreat on energy efficiency: Part 1
This week, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council staff updated Council members on regional energy efficiency savings and savings projections relative to the goals contained in the 7th Power Plan. The good news is that the region beat the 2-year milestone in the plan. The bad news is that the region is on a path…
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