News
From the Sacramento Bee: State has stake in Columbia salmon solution
The story of Pacific salmon has not recently been a happy one. Population declines in the West Coast’s big three rivers – the Sacramento-San Joaquin, Klamath and Columbia-Snake – have meant less fishing, lost jobs, scarce fish and higher prices for consumers. Without major changes to how we manage these waterways, the beating heart of our region’s salmon economy may cease.
Fortunately, there are some bright spots on the horizon. On a growing number of rivers, adversaries are opting to collaborate rather than litigate. People are starting to work together to restore rivers, recover salmon and rebuild jobs.
Read more here: www.sacbee.com
Light Bulb rider bad for businesses and consumers
The Omnibus spending bill Congress is set to pass today contains a huge lump of coal for our stockings: a rider prohibiting the U.S. Department of Energy from enforcing the lighting efficiency standards. Those who couldn’t muster support for repealing the standards have used the threat of a government shutdown to undercut a law that will save money for consumers and utilities and significantly lower national greenhouse gas emissions…
Congress Calls on Obama to Convene Salmon Solutions Table
In a letter sent last week, 52 Members of Congress called on President Obama to convene a “solutions table” to help protect and restore endangered wild salmon and steelhead in the Columbia and Snake River basins of the Pacific Northwest.
With bipartisan support from lawmakers representing 23 states and territories, Congressmen Jim McDermott (D-WA), Tom Petri (R-WI), and Earl Blumenauer (D-OR) spearheaded the letter to bring together all parties with a stake in salmon restoration to create a broad-based, collaborative process that explores and identifies real salmon recovery solutions…
The Energy Activist – Fall 2011
The NW Energy Coalition was born of the battle against the absurdly misguided attempt to litter the Northwest with dozens of dangerous, polluting, unneeded and expensive, consumer-assaulting nuclear power plants.
This year the Coalition celebrates its 30th anniversary as the region’s leading advocate for policies promoting energy efficiency, new renewable energy development, consumer/low-income protection and energy assistance, and wild salmon restoration in the Columbia Basin.
The Fall 2011 edition of The Energy Activist looks back at our successes and forward toward the future…
State Dept. Announces Reevaluation of Keystone XL Tar Sand Pipeline
The State Department announced today that it is reevaluating the environmental review of the Keystone XL tar sands pipeline project. The reevaluation will include consideration of rerouting the pipeline to avoid sensitive ecological areas in Nebraska. An alternative route would require a new environmental impact statement and would delay a final decision on the tar sands pipeline for as long as 18 months.
Executive Board Caucus Report Highlights — Oct. 20, 2011
Each month, we post the updates from the state and provincial caucus reports. In Idaho, the state energy plan’s clean energy provisions are under fire, The eminent domain rollback referendum falls short in Montana, Oregon is gearing up for a 10-year energy plan and legislative prep proceeds in Washington.
Report Shows Energy Efficiency Efforts In 2010 Marked Biggest Megawatt Savings Gain In 30 Years
The Columbia Basin Bulletin reports on the annual “Utility Conservation Achievements Report” released this week by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council and Regional Technical Forum that shows that increased conservation during 2010 by Pacific Northwest electricity users saved 254 average megawatts, the equivalent annual power use of 153,900 homes.
Alliance Reports on Idaho Utilities’ Use of Coal-Fired Generation
The Snake River Alliance has released the first of two reports on the use of coal-fired generation by Idaho’s three electric utilities.
The report, “Idaho’s Dangerous Dalliance with King Coal,” notes that the utilities own or have a stake in no fewer than 29 out-of-state coal plants, the bulk of which are owned or partly owned by PacifiCorp, which does business in eastern Idaho as Rocky Mountain Power.
Executive Board Caucus Report Highlights — Sept. 15, 2011
Each month, we post the updates from the state and provincial caucus reports. The BLM releases a draft EIS on the Gateway line, Northwestern Energy’s Request to Change QF Curtailment Language in MT, rulemaking is underway on new BETC and RETC programs in OR and Legislative prep proceeds in Washington.
Washington Future Energy Conference coming in October
October 18-19, 2011 – Once again incorporating the Washington State Energy Summit, this unique gathering offers a forum to connect those developing strategies for energy security and economic development with the businesses making it happen.