News
ACEEE honors BPA industrial efficiency program
Bonneville Power Administration’s Energy Smart Industrial Program has been honored with a 2013 Champion of Energy Efficiency Award by the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE).
The award, one of four given this year, recognizes “leadership and accomplishment in the energy efficiency field,” according to ACEEE. “Winners are selected based on demonstrated excellence in program implementation, research and development, energy policy or private sector initiatives…”
Read MoreSeattle Times: Saving energy to aid economy, leader of national group says
When it comes to saving energy, many of us think of turning out the lights, driving less and making personal sacrifices as consumers.
While that might be part of it, saving energy also means jobs, says Kateri Callahan, president of Alliance to Save Energy, a national consortium of energy experts, businesses and government leaders.
The alliance has launched a campaign to double the nation’s energy savings by 2030 and will conduct an energy-saving meeting of the minds in Seattle on Tuesday with Gov. Jay Inslee, Seattle Mayor Mike McGinn, Seattle City Councilmember Mike O’Brien, Seattle City Light general manager and CEO Jorge Carrasco and others…
Read more at The Seattle Times online (Paywall)
Read More21 groups ask BPA to reverse course on planned rollbacks of salmon spill
Later this summer, the Obama Administration will release the draft of its second try at a lawful plan to restore endangered Columbia and Snake River salmon and steelhead. This is the federal government’s fourth attempt since 2000 – all three previous plans having been ruled illegal. A key legal and scientific issue in this new plan will be the level of spill provided for salmon…
Read MoreBonneville Power Administration makes compelling ‘Case for Conservation’
On June 28, the Bonneville Power Administration released a significant study showing that its energy efficiency investments have saved the agency at least $750 million and likely more than $1.3 billion dollars over the last 10 years. BPA savings translate into savings for Northwest public utilities – and thus for the families and business they serve…
Read MoreIdaho Energy Update from Snake River Alliance
Idaho Power’s request to the Public Utilities Commission for approval of nearly $130 million in coal plant improvements is beginning to attract attention, and the public will have a chance to weigh in later this summer. Meanwhile, it turns out that Alternate Energy Holdings, the nomadic nuclear power plant developer, picked a Payette County reactor site that also happens to be home to a plant species the federal government says needs protection from activities such as nuclear power plants…
Read MoreGreat Falls Tribune: Wind at Spion Kop wind farm 'phenomenal'
Wind at NorthWestern Energy’s new 40-megawatt wind farm, called Spion Kop, is “phenomenal,” said John Hines, the regulated utility’s vice president of supply.
Officials with NorthWestern, turbine manufacturer General Electric, developer CompassEnergies and Judith Basin County gathered near a substation to celebrate the completion of the wind farm, which has been operating since December. It’s located 50 miles east of Great Falls.
Read the full article online at the Great Falls Tribune
Read MoreThe Transformer – Washington regulators' rulings on Puget Sound Energy set national precedents
In June, the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission issued a package of orders on three different Puget Sound Energy cases. The settlement and orders address PSE’s expedited rate filing, its proposed purchase of “coal transition power” from TransAlta Corp.’s coal plant in Centralia, Wash., and – perhaps most significantly – electric and gas decoupling to facilitate increased energy efficiency efforts by the utility.
This package of decisions ranks among the most important utility regulatory victories in decades for clean and affordable energy. The new edition of The Transformer summarizes the rulings and outlines the decoupling mechanism, the expedited rate filing and the TransAlta power purchase agreement…
Read MoreBig wins for clean energy in PSE case
A combination of rulings that some are calling the most important utility regulatory decision in decades paves the way for Puget Sound Energy to boost energy efficiency savings, make low-income families’ homes more livable and facilitate a fair and orderly end to coal-fired power production in WA state…
Read MoreCoalition elects new chair and executive board
The Coalition’s Saturday board meeting featured a special thank-you for outgoing board chair Chuck Magraw of Montana and the election of his successor, Jeff Bissonnette, a long-time clean energy advocate and organizing director of the Citizens’ Utility Board of Oregon…
Read MoreWelcome to our newest members!
The board added to the Coalition’s growing list of member groups by unanimously accepting four new membership applications. These new members bring additional expertise in energy efficiency, clean energy development and building sustainability to the Coalition.
Take a look at our newest members…
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