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One step closer to a coal-free Oregon
Another step toward finalizing the Boardman, Ore., plant’s transition off of coal was taken early this week. The Sierra Club and its co-plaintiffs (NW Energy Coalition was not a plaintiff) settled their Clean Air Act suit with plant owner Portland General Electric.
Northwest Power and Conservation Council honored for best-ever regional plan
In recognition of the most far-sighted, clean energy-based power plan in regional history, the NW Energy Coalition last week presented its highest award to the Northwest Power and Conservation Council.
This year’s award goes to the Council members, staff and advisory committee members who produced the Sixth Northwest Power and Conservation Plan in early 2010. The plan projects the next 20 years of regionwide electricity needs and prescribes the means of meeting them. The Sixth Plan tells Northwest utilities they can and should meet 85% of new needs with bill-reducing energy efficiency and most of the rest with new, clean renewable energy.
Update: US House of Representatives wastes time and energy
After the BULB bill suffered a defeat in the House on Tuesday because proponents could not muster the needed 2/3 majority, the sponsors tried a different tact. Today the House approved an amendment to the Department of Energy’s spending bill, a vote that required only a simple majority vote.
House Refuses to Pull Plug on Energy-Efficient Lighting
In a show of support for energy efficiency, the U.S. House of Representatives voted against a bill that would have turned back time on the way Americans light their homes.
Congress voted down the politically named “Better Use of Light Bulbs” (BULB) Act, which was sponsored by Rep. Joe Barton (R-Texas), on a 233-193 vote, missing by 40 votes the two-thirds majority needed for passage.
Why the BULB bill is bad for America
Analyses by the American Council for an Energy Efficiency Economy and the Appliance Standards Awareness Project shows that better bulbs equal consumer cost savings in every state.
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.…
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…
Gone but not forgotten dept. – Efficiency Works! rides off into the sunset
In late 2008, the NW Energy Coalition initiated the Efficiency Works! project to accelerate Northwest businesses’ energy efficiency investments. The project’s two-year run has ended. But the archives of the Efficiency Works! website are collected here.
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…
Legislature passes landmark legislation to transition Washington off polluting coal-fired power
Today, the Washington State Legislature put its final stamp of approval on a plan to responsibly transition TransAlta Corp.’s Centralia, Wash., power plant off of coal. The state Senate approved technical changes made in the House and sent the Coal-Free Future for Washington bill to Gov. Chris Gregoire for her much-anticipated signature.