Main Feature: Jobs 'R' Us – Our economy desperately needs the jobs clean energy can create

If you care about creating jobs – as virtually all political and opinion leaders say they do – then you enthusiastically endorse full development of our energy efficiency and renewable energy potential. “The notion that we must choose between clean energy and economic progress is utter nonsense,” said NW Energy Coalition executive director Sara Patton.…

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DVR, cable and satellite boxes waste $2 billion of electricity every year

DVR, cable and satellite boxes waste $2 billion of electricity every year DVRs lead energy vampire pack, consuming more energy annually than typical new flat screen From Coalition member organization National Resource Defense Council Digital video recorders (DVRs), cable and other pay-TV boxes cost American consumers $3 billion a year — $1 billion to operate…

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New federal salmon bill introduced

New federal salmon bill introduced Taxpayer groups, fishermen, businesses, clean energy advocates and conservation organizations applaud bi-partisan legislation WASHINGTON— Rep. Jim McDermott (D-WA) and Rep. Tom Petri (R-WI), joined by 10 additional co-sponsors from across the nation, introduced the Salmon Solutions and Planning Act (H.R. 2111) in the House of Representatives on June 3. If…

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Spill Announcement for Columbia and Snake Rivers Helps Salmon, Jobs

West coast fishermen and fishing businesses today thank the Nez Perce Tribe and the State of Oregon for successfully advocating to retain court-ordered levels of water spilled over federal dams in the Columbia and Snake Rivers during the 2011 spring salmon migration. This spill has been a key reason for recent improvements in salmon returns, although numbers are still far below levels needed to sustain healthy salmon populations.

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Enviros and Labor stand together to move Washington beyond coal

On March 5th, Organized Labor and major environmental organizations in Washington reached an historic agreement with the TransAlta Corporation and Gov. Chris Gregoire to phase out coal-fired power generation in Washington. The agreement reflects all parties’ shared vision of a Washington powered by clean energy and will provide a model for the nation of how investing in transition to a clean-energy future can create good jobs and a healthy economy.

Read the full Op-Ed online at Publicola.com

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Wash. Senate OKs bill to close coal plant

The state Senate on Saturday approved a bill that would eventually shut down Washington’s only coal-fired power plant, a move that could help the state meet climate change goals set in 2008.

The measure, Senate Bill 5769, was part of a deal negotiated among plant owner TransAlta, state officials and environmental groups (including the NW Energy Coalition and several member organizations). It would shut down one of the plant’s two boilers by 2020 and phase out coal-burning by 2025.

Read the full Associated Press article online at The Olympian.

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