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PSE, Mason, Lewis and Grays Harbor reach clean energy benchmarks
Regional electricity providers from Puget Sound Energy to Grays Harbor County Public Utility District recorded impressive accomplishments over the first reporting period for Washington’s clean energy law, Initiative 937. “These utilities should be commended for their energy efficiency achievements, which will save money for their customers,” said Nancy Hirsh, policy director for the Coalition.
1 Million Homes Weatherized Under US Recovery Act
Coalition member South Central Community Action Partnership (ScCAP) of Twin Falls, Idaho, was one of five agencies selected by the U.S.Department of Energy to host the symbolic weatherization of the 1 millionth home through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Sept. 27 event featured ScCAP executive director Ken Robinette and local, county, state and federal officials.
New Oregon wind farm is the largest in U.S.
Last week marked the opening of largest wind farm in the U.S. — the Shepherds Flat Wind Farm near Arlington, Oregon. The Shepherds Flat wind farm is an example of our region’s burgeoning clean energy industry that is strengthening our local rural economy.
Feds Maintain Status Quo as Salmon Numbers Struggle
Late last Friday, the federal “Action Agencies” (Bonneville Power Administration, Army Corps of Engineers, and Bureau of Reclamation) that run the federal dams on the Snake and Columbia Rivers, submitted their 2011 Annual Progress report to the U.S. district court in Portland, Oregon, that’s overseeing the ongoing litigation over the federal salmon plan (also known as a biological opinion). This annual self-assessment presents the agencies’ view of how well they are implementing a biological opinion (in this case, one that has already been ruled illegal in court). This morning, the main findings were presented to interested parties at NOAA’s offices in Portland….
Avista, Inland far surpass clean energy goals
Regional electricity providers Avista Utilities and Inland Power and Light recorded impressive accomplishments over the first reporting period for Washington’s clean energy law, Initiative 937.
Read and hear the exciting news about clean energy progress in the Spokane area ….
Rousing celebration notes success of I-937
The NW Energy Coalition’s July 31 celebration of Washington state’s Clean Energy Initiative truly was a grand success. Former King County Executive Ron Sims gave a touching and eloquent keynote speech highlighting the Coalition’s unique ability to bring diverse voices together and Coalition senior policy associate Danielle Dixon presented the details of progress on I-937, which passed by public vote in 2006…
Battery charger standards in contention
A broad coalition of energy efficiency, environmental, and public interest organizations, consumer groups, and energy providers (including the NW Energy Coalition) sent a letter today encouraging the Department of Energy to strengthen the proposed efficiency standards for battery chargers. DOE’s initial proposal sacrifices hundreds of millions of dollars in energy savings and seriously risks increasing national energy use and greenhouse gas emissions compared to simply permitting state standards to continue to exist.
BPA Integrated Program Review – Energy efficiency talking points
Download a .doc version here BPA Integrated Program Review Energy efficiency talking points NW Energy Coalition July 13, 2012 The Bonneville Power Administration is setting its budget for the 2014-15 rate period. BPA’s proposed energy efficiency budgets are of particular concern to clean and affordable energy advocates. BPA’s budget-setting process consists of the Integrated Program…
NWEC comments on the Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s Draft 2011 Expenditures Report
July 6, 2012 Mark Walker Public Affairs Division Director Northwest Power & Conservation Council 851 SW 6th Avenue, Suite 1100 Portland, Oregon 97204-1348 Dear Mr. Walker: The NW Energy Coalition appreciates the opportunity to comment on the Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s Draft 2011 Expenditures Report: Columbia River Basin Fish and Wildlife Program (“Report”),…
The Olympian: 9th circuit upholds state code for home-energy use
In an apparent defeat for the Building Industry Association of Washington, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals has upheld a federal court ruling in favor of the State Building Codes Council over standards for increasing the energy efficiency of homes that it adopted in 2009. The NW Energy Coalition, Sierra Club, Natural Resources Defense Council and Washington Environmental Council intervened in defense of the higher energy standards.