Newsletter
Power plan assessment shows energy efficiency on track to meet regional goal
An assessment by the Northwest Power and Conservation Council shows that the efficiency of electricity use continues to improve and that the region is on track to meet the Council’s goal to improve efficiency. Meanwhile, development of renewable resources, mainly wind power, has continued but the pace may slow in the future.
Executive Director Sara Patton on BPA's next 75 years
For 75 years, the Bonneville Power Administration has been intrinsic to the growth and prosperity of the Northwest. BPA has been a boon to the Northwest’s economy and a clean energy leader. To meet the challenges – many unforeseeable — of the next 75 years, BPA must deepen its commitment to the long-term health of the region while becoming more open to all of its stakeholders. And it must be agile enough to respond to big changes…
Take action to stop the Senate from Weakening I-937
Over the past month many of you have contacted your legislators in Olympia expressing concerns about bills that would weaken Initiative 937, our Clean Energy Initiative. You helped stop more than a dozen bad I-937 bills. However, there are still several bills that would seriously reduce our state’s development of new clean and renewable energy. …
Clean energy advocates provide action plan for climate change solutions
Clean energy advocates and leaders from across the West are urging policymakers to enact policies and support investments in renewable energy and efficiency that would modernize our electric system while slashing greenhouse gas emissions. With President Obama calling for action to address climate disruption in his State of the Union address, and thousands marching on Washington last weekend, a series of white papers and a video are being released to help illustrate how adopting a Clean Energy Vision rather than business as usual will move the West forward…
Washington's SHB 1017 – Equipment Efficiency Standards
Good for the Consumer, Good for the Environment, Good for the Economy
Already, refrigerators, furnaces, exit signs, commercial hot-food holding cabinets and many more products are meeting federal or state efficiency standards. HB 1017 would add the next generation of low-cost, high benefit measures to Washington’s existing efficiency standards, saving energy, reducing water waste and saving millions of dollars on consumer utility bills..
News Tribune: State Senate moving backward on 3 fronts, says Inslee
Wash. Gov. Jay Inslee waded into the legislative fray Wednesday with his most pointed comments so far in state lawmakers’ 25-day-old session, taking aim squarely at ideas put forward by the Republican-dominated Senate majority.
“I’m very concerned that the Senate already has gone backwards on two areas,” the Democratic governor said, citing workers’ compensation and clean energy…
Statement by executive director Sara Patton on the appointment of new BPA Administrator
The NW Energy Coalition congratulates Bill Drummond for being named as Bonneville Power Administration’s next administrator. BPA is critical to our region’s prosperity, and its leadership affects families, businesses and communities throughout the Northwest.
We have high hopes that the new administrator will draw on his extensive public power experience while working to serve the broad public interest…
Washington policy analyst Murray honored for energy efficiency efforts
Chuck Murray, senior energy policy analyst for the Washington State Department of Commerce, has been honored by the NW Energy Coalition for his years of dedicated public service in support of energy efficiency. The award cites his leadership in implementing state energy policies including the Clean Energy Act (I-937), the Efficiency First legislation, appliance efficiency standards, the state energy strategy and the Governor’s Climate Action Team recommendations.
Celebrating Washington's Clean Energy Success
Voters passed Initiative 937 in 2006 to build on Washington’s clean energy heritage. At the time, new renewable energy made up less than 1% of the region’s electricity mix, even though new renewables would reduce risks and boost our economy. Six years after its passage, I-937 is doing exactly what Washington voters wanted. Official utility…
Puget Sound Energy’s latest wind-power project, the Lower Snake River Wind Facility
PSE’s newest and largest wind-power operation is the Lower Snake River Wind Facility. Located in Southeast Washington near Pomeroy, Garfield County, this energy project builds on the success of our Hopkins Ridge Wind Facility in adjacent Columbia County, and our Wild Horse Wind and Solar Facility in Kittitas County. Completed in early 2012, the Lower Snake River project contains 149 wind turbines that produce up to 343 megawatts of renewable energy. On average, the facility generates enough electricity to power 100,000 homes
WA environmental community announces its 2013 legislative priorities
Clean energy, toxic-free couches and kids’ products, and more funding for projects that protect the environment will be on legislators’ agendas for the 2013 legislative session in Olympia as Washington State’s Environmental Priorities Coalition announced its 2013 Priorities. These three Priorities are critical in protecting the state’s quality of life, creating Washington grown jobs, and preserving a better future for our children.
Coalition lauds new federal approach to recovering endangered Columbia Basin salmon
Today the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) sent a letter to hundreds of stakeholders in the ongoing struggle to restore several wild salmon stocks endangered by the federal hydropower system in the Northwest.
The letter heralds a new approach by federal agencies to the myriad issues involved in Columbia Basin salmon recovery…