News
Focus 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…
The 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.
Seattle Times Guest column: Energy Independence Act costing less than naysayers warned
David Danner, chairman of the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission and speaker at the Coalition’s upcoming NW Clean & Affordable Energy Conference, writes in today’s Seattle Times about how the act that required electric utilities to invest in new renewable-energy resources is costing customers less than what the naysayers warned.
4 Under Forty Celebration a Huge Success!
We are so happy many people in the Portland area could join us Tuesday to recognize and thank the Four Under Forty honorees for the outstanding work they do every day. The evening was a great success!
All of us were moved by the honorees’ stories, by the words of support for the Coalition, and by the contributions from so many to sustain our clean energy work…
Increasing Numbers of Northwest Residents Chose Green Power
Customer participation in voluntary green power programs increased by 13.1% across more than 60 utilities in the Northwest between 2010 and 2012, according to a new report released today from Coalition member Renewable Northwest Project. RNP annually summarizes the progress of these programs in its report, “Powerful Choices”…
Video: Flathead Electric making use of solar, biomass projects
Flathead Electric Co-op and Stoltze lumber have entered into a 20 year deal to supplement some of FEC’s electricity with power generated from a new biomass boiler.
KPAX has the story of a couple of other projects the co-op is working on which could mean big things for power production in the future…
There’s good news and bad news for Northwest’s salmon
First the good news: On Sept. 9, a record 64,000 adult fall chinook salmon passed Bonneville Dam near the mouth of the Columbia River. For a change, fishing limits are being adjusted upward – a great sign for our fall chinook and for Northwest fishermen.
Here’s the bad news… (read the rest online at The News Tribune.)
Seattle Times: Snake River barging drop: new factor in dams debate?
Federal rulings on salmon protection continue to raise questions about dams on the Lower Snake River and the future of Lewiston, Idaho, as an inland port city. Now some wheat farmers are turning away from river barges and back to trains as their lowest-cost, most-efficient shipping option…
![Image of a worker looking at the glass of a solar panel. In the background you can see Wind Turbines. Two different technologies to produce energy in a responsible and sustainable way (ISO 100) . All my images have been processed in 16 Bits and transfer down to 8 before uploading. [url=http://www.istockphoto.com/file_search.php?action=file&lightboxID=7053550] [img]http://www.ll28.com/istock/solarpanel.jpg [/img][/url]](https://nwenergy.org/wp-content/uploads/2012/01/iStock_small.jpg "Examining the glass")
Guest column: Montana needs fair access to renewable energy markets
Earlier this month, NorthWestern Energy officially dedicated its new 40-megawatt wind farm, Spion Kop, near Great Falls. The wind farm is already exceeding expectations and NorthWestern Energy deemed it a “phenomenal” energy resource providing cheap, clean energy for thousands of Montana households.
Spion Kop’s success is a timely reminder of Montana’s ability to contribute to the nation’s clean energy needs. Montana could potentially supply thousands of megawatts of cost-effective, clean energy to the Pacific Northwest, California and the Southwest…
Read the full article at the Bozeman Daily Chronicle.
Confronting Idaho Power's coal plans
The outcome of Idaho Power’s latest case at the Idaho Public Utilities Commission could affect the state’s energy picture for decades to come. If Idaho Power gets its way, the company and its customers will be married to a fleet of dirty coal plants for a very long time. Read more at the Snake River Alliance blog…