Seattle Times and PI.com report on coal hearing

Both the Seattle Times and Seattle PI.com are running an Associated Press story on Tuesdays packed House hearing on  HB 1825 – which would transition the Centrailia Coal Plant off of coal power by 2020 and provide economic development for Lewis County. Nancy Hirsh, Policy Director for NW Energy Coalition testified at the hearing and LeeAnne Beres, Excutive Director of Earth Ministy and member of the Coalition’s Executive Board is quoted.

Read the article online at The Seattle Times.

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Federal Court Rejects Challenge to Washington State Energy Efficiency Rules

A federal court today upheld Washington’s 2009 energy efficiency building code – a code that sets standards that will save Washington residents millions of dollars and reduce harmful global warming pollution. The building code sets energy efficiency requirements for new homes that will reduce energy use, and homeowners’ energy bills, for years to come. The Building Industry Association of Washington had challenged Washington’s code, alleging that it conflicted with federal law, despite that fact that the code gives builders the flexibility to pick from a large range of energy efficiency options.

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Report: Washington's TransAlta Coal Plant Ranked 125th Nationally in Release of the Toxic Metal

A chorus of calls for TransAlta to reduce emissions increased in volume this morning as a Seattle-based coalition released a report detailing what it called an “extremely dangerous” level of mercury roughly one month before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected to propose new mercury emission requirements.

Read the full article online at The Chronicle.

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NPR Posts Positive Poll for Clean Energy in Northwest

Wind farm developers may be cheered by the results from a new public radio poll. It found broad support for wind energy among both urban and rural Northwest residents. The finding comes amidst nagging opposition to some new wind farms from upset neighbors. The opinion survey was a collaboration of the Northwest Health Foundation, the polling firm Davis, Hibbitts and Midghall and public radio stations across the Northwest.

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