News
The Transformer – August 18, 2010
How green is my electron? Overcoming the smart grid’s color blindness
Energy journals and, increasingly, the popular media now teem with updates and predictions on developing “smart grid” technologies … how they will help smooth power demand, greatly improve efficiency and outage/service response, and reward consumers with lower bills.
This issue of The Transformer tackles the question of why the smart grid isn’t necessarily a green grid and, in fact, could actually foster greater demand for power from coal-fueled or nuclear baseload plants. It also presents one proposed means of dealing with the problem: buying green electrons…
Editorial: Columbia River salmon: The fishermen's plan is starting to work
Bob Rees of the Northwest Guides and Anglers Association has an editorial in The Oregonian today on how changes to the dam system recommended by scientists and fishermen are bringing back wild salmon. But we still have farther to go.
Real-time NW wind display courtesy of BPA
The public can now view a new online display of wind and other data the Bonneville Power Administration uses to monitor weather conditions that drive the growing amount of wind energy generated in the Northwest.
Washington State Sen. Kilmer honored for Efficiency First advocacy
Washington State Senator Derek Kilmer (D-Gig Harbor) has been honored by the NW Energy Coalition for his legislative advocacy of energy efficiency.
Kilmer received his award from Coalition executive director Sara Patton during a brief ceremony July 20. The resolution of commendation conferred by the Coalition Board of Directors notes Kilmer’s “leadership and advocacy for super efficient energy codes, innovative energy performance standards and efficiency standards for public buildings.”
Next for up Boardman: natural gas
The Daily Journal of Commerce Oregon talks about the eventual shutdown of the Boardman coal-fired power plant and what might replace the power it generates. You can read the article here.
Energy and Conservation Groups Seek to Preserve State Energy Efficiency Rules
Energy and conservation groups today filed court papers to defend Washington’s energy efficiency standards – standards that will save consumers millions of dollars and reduce harmful global warming pollution – against a lawsuit that aims to dismantle them.
Washington state Rep. John McCoy honored for protecting I-937
Washington State Rep. John McCoy (D-Tulalip) has been honored by the NW Energy Coalition Friday for his successful efforts to maintain the integrity of the state’s voter-approved Clean Energy Initiative, I-937, particularly during the 2009 state legislative session. Coalition policy director Nancy Hirsh (left side of photo) and former Coalition policy associate and lobbyist Carrie Dolwick (right) presented the award to Rep. McCoy during a brief ceremony in the Coalition’s Seattle office June 18.
120 Western Washington business and community leaders seek leadership of Senators Murray and Cantwell in resolving Columbia Basin salmon crisis
On Tuesday, 120 Western Washington business owners and community leaders wrote to U.S. Senators Patty Murray and Maria Cantwell urging their leadership in solving the Northwest salmon crisis. The open letter to the senators also appears as a full-page ad in today’s Puget Sound-based weekly, the Stranger.
These leaders want the senators to bring together all interests —farmers, fishermen, energy users, business owners and local communities — to craft a durable, science-based and economically viable salmon restoration plan. They acknowledge past tensions surrounding the salmon issue, but note the enormous economic opportunity if Washington can forge an effective long-term solution.
Efficiency accomplishments win Headwaters award for PSE's Cal Shirley
Cal Shirley, Vice President of Energy Efficiency Services for Washington state-based Puget Sound Energy, recently received the NW Energy Coalition’s 2009 Headwaters award honoring his clean and affordable energy leadership.…
Wash. Governor delays new building code improvements
The Washington State Building Code Council has acceded to Gov. Chris Gregoire’s request to delay economically beneficial improvements to the state’s energy code.
The actions – Gregoire’s request and the Council’s June 11 acquiescence – send the utterly false message that better energy efficiency is bad for homeowners. In fact, the code improvements now put on hold will save homeowners far more money than the improvements will cost, no matter what the Building Industry Association of Washington says.