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Olympian Editorial: Do not compromise the Energy Independence Act
The Olympian editorial denounces bills in the Washington State Legislature that would chip away at our Clean Energy Law, Initiative 937. The article asserts that Washington should continue developing new renewable energy resources, such as wind, solar, and geothermal, in order to reduce carbon emissions.
Read MoreStop the clean energy rollbacks!
Several bills moving toward floor votes in Olympia would undercut our clean energy law, Initiative 937, and reduce Washington’s commitment to a clean and affordable energy future. Proposed changes include allowing coal purchases from the TransAlta plant to reduce utilities’ renewable energy obligations. Tell your state legislators to stop rollbacks to I-937 and clean energy!
Read MoreEditorial: Latest salmon deal is disappointing (again)
The Daily Astorian editorial describes how the most recent biological opinion (bi-op) produced by NOAA Fisheries on behalf of the Bonneville Power Administration lacks broad stakeholder input and fails to protect endangered salmon. The editorial also purports that the bi-op disregards strategies for returning Columbia River to a more natural state.
Read MoreOp-Ed: Coal's time is over
The MagicValley.com op-ed by Mary McGown asserts that Idaho Power needs to work aggressively for clean and affordable electricity. McGown maintains that achieving a coal-free, energy-efficient future will require changes by the utility and possibly in state law and regulations.
Read MoreProtect and advance our clean energy law!
The voter-approved Clean Energy Initiative, I-937, has created thousands of jobs and generated over $8 billion in new renewable energy investments. It is also our No. 1 tool for reducing climate change emissions to state-mandated levels. Take action to oppose changes to I-937!
Read MoreFederal agencies squander chance for progress on Northwest salmon
The NOAA Fisheries plan for endangered Columbia and Snake River salmon fails to address the issues that triggered federal-court rejections of three previous plans. The plan, called a biological opinion, fails to help salmon, does not incorporate broad stakeholder input, and ignores climate change impacts.
Read MoreThe Oregonian guest opinion: Will 2013 be the year coal died?
The real energy story of 2013 may turn out to be the death of coal.
That’s still a little premature, but consider: Ten years ago some 120 new coal power plants were in the siting and financing pipeline. Today, nearly all have been abandoned.
Thirty per cent of existing coal plants, representing nearly 20 percent of U.S. coal generating capacity, have been terminated or announced near-term closure dates. Coal’s share of U.S. power generation has dropped from 53 percent in 2000 to 37 percent today.
Read the full article online at The Oregonian…
Read MoreGuest opinion: Columbia River plan fails to protect salmon
Sam Mace’s guest opinion article in the Spokesman-Review highlights the shortcomings of the most recent draft Biological Opinion proposed by federal agencies regarding endangered Columbia River salmon. Mace remarks that the final plan should include an analysis of lower Snake River dam removal, provisions for an enhanced spill test, and climate change considerations.
“The best fall chinook salmon run in years has made this a banner season for Columbia Basin anglers. River towns, outfitters, shops and motels throughout our region have shared in this unexpected bounty. Unfortunately, the news about many of our region’s other salmon and steelhead populations is far less encouraging. And the future for all the basin’s endangered wild salmon remains very much in doubt.”
Read MoreCoalition 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 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…
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