News
The 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 MoreBPA wins Platts Global Energy Award for grid optimization
BPA wins a prestigious award for its build out of the largest, most sophisticated synchrophasor network in North America.
The Bonneville Power Administration’s development of the most sophisticated synchrophasor network in North America landed the agency its first ever Platts Global Energy Award, the most coveted awards in the energy industry.
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 MoreMontana Attorney General should seek more facts, not less
In a Helena Independent Record column, Steve Charter, the newly elected chair of the Northern Plains Resource Council, describes how both Montana and Washington would benefit from a thorough review of the effects of a proposed coal port.
“Recently, Montana’s Attorney General sent a letter to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and the state of Washington urging them not to study a proposed coal port’s impacts on Montana … [The] letter is in sharp contrast to the comments sent by several Montana towns, state legislators, public health boards, and more than 1,000 Montanans who asked that the impacts this coal port would have on Montana be included.”
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Governor Jay Inslee Honors Washington Industrial Energy Leaders
Governor Jay Inslee today honored five industrial companies in Washington for their outstanding leadership in improved energy performance at the second annual Washington Industrial Energy Leaders awards ceremony at the State Capitol.
“Energy efficiency means an improved bottom line for industries, and I am proud of the commitment toward innovative energy savings demonstrated by tonight’s awardees,” said Governor Jay Inslee. “A strong economy and a cleaner environment for future generations are certainly important, and a thriving industrial sector helps create and maintain jobs in our state”…
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 MoreDecember Idaho Energy Update from Snake River Alliance
The Idaho Energy Update is a periodic summary of Idaho energy and climate issues from Coalition member Snake River Alliance. It features updates from the Legislature and state agencies, Idaho’s utilities and regulators, and topical clean energy developments in Idaho and the Northwest – all designed to help you follow and participate in Idaho energy issues…
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…
Read MoreFocus on electricity future, celebration of Sara Patton 20th draw large, enthusiastic crowd to Coalition’s fall conference
Upwards of 150 people attended our Nov. Conference, which uniquely focused on a single subject: how all communities can thrive as energy efficiency, the smart grid and lower-cost local power tempt consumers off the grid. A similar number attended a rousing, laughter-filled celebration of Sara Patton’s 20years as NW Energy Coalition executive director. Photos and more inside…
Read MoreThe Oregonian guest opinion: Federal government doing to little to help Columbia salmon
At a time when Americans need their faith in government restored as national lawmakers play chicken with the world economy and approval ratings plummet — out pops The Federal Family’s (Bonneville Power Administration, US Army Corps of Engineers and NOAA Fisheries) new biological opinion, which may surpass even those lows. The court-mandated biological opinion is the cornerstone for salmon recovery in the Columbia Basin. None of the four previous attempts have passed the federal court’s straight face test, which has given rise to just how important basic principles of balance-of-power and the judicial branch of government are to the country, and ultimately Columbia Basin salmon…Read the full piece online at The Oregonian.
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