Policy
NW Energy Coalition and Save Our Wild Salmon Comments on the Draft Business Practice, Environmental Redispatch, Version 1
nwec-and-sos-overgeneration-bp-april-1.pdf
Enviros and Labor stand together to move Washington beyond coal
On March 5th, Organized Labor and major environmental organizations in Washington reached an historic agreement with the TransAlta Corporation and Gov. Chris Gregoire to phase out coal-fired power generation in Washington. The agreement reflects all parties’ shared vision of a Washington powered by clean energy and will provide a model for the nation of how investing in transition to a clean-energy future can create good jobs and a healthy economy.
Wash. Senate OKs bill to close coal plant
The state Senate on Saturday approved a bill that would eventually shut down Washington’s only coal-fired power plant, a move that could help the state meet climate change goals set in 2008.
The measure, Senate Bill 5769, was part of a deal negotiated among plant owner TransAlta, state officials and environmental groups (including the NW Energy Coalition and several member organizations). It would shut down one of the plant’s two boilers by 2020 and phase out coal-burning by 2025.
Read the full Associated Press article online at The Olympian.
Federal Court Rejects Challenge to Washington State Energy Efficiency Rules
A federal court today upheld Washington’s 2009 energy efficiency building code – a code that sets standards that will save Washington residents millions of dollars and reduce harmful global warming pollution. The building code sets energy efficiency requirements for new homes that will reduce energy use, and homeowners’ energy bills, for years to come. The Building Industry Association of Washington had challenged Washington’s code, alleging that it conflicted with federal law, despite that fact that the code gives builders the flexibility to pick from a large range of energy efficiency options.
Report: Washington's TransAlta Coal Plant Ranked 125th Nationally in Release of the Toxic Metal
A chorus of calls for TransAlta to reduce emissions increased in volume this morning as a Seattle-based coalition released a report detailing what it called an “extremely dangerous” level of mercury roughly one month before the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency is expected to propose new mercury emission requirements.
The Missoulian: Measure looks to deter tiered energy rates for conservation efforts
Coalition staffer Diego Rivas is quoted in this article on a new bill in the Montana legislature that looks to specify that tiered or “inverted block” utility rates meant to promote energy conservation should only be allowed if they reflect the utility’s actual costs.
Federal investigators probing finances of nuclear backers in Idaho
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission on Tuesday suspended trading of Alternate Energy Holdings, Inc., stock out of concerns about stock sales practices, the viability of the company and its ability to build a nuclear reactor in Payette County, Idaho and how AEHI’s executives are compensated…
The Missoulian: Decoupling, inverted block rates can help energy consumers
A recent op-ed in the Missoulian discusses how the current NorthWestern Energy rate case provides two exciting opportunities for saving energy and reducing people’s power bills.
The Montana Public Service Commission is now considering a pair of company-supported proposals that promise long-lasting benefits for consumers and particularly for low-income Montanans.
NWEC comments, and joint comments with RNP, CUB, etc., in PGE’s Boardman 2009 IRP
NWEC_FinalReplyLC48 – NWEC comments, and joint comments with RNP, CUB, etc., in PGE’s Boardman IRP LC48Group 10-29 Comments LC48Group10-29Attachment