By Region
Federal agencies squander chance for progress on Northwest salmon survival, send region back to court
Yesterday, 13 conservation and fishing groups filed a legal challenge of the latest federal plan for endangered Columbia and Snake River salmon. The organizations assert that the Obama administration’s National Marine Fisheries Service (NMFS) failed to address the core issues that triggered federal-court rejection of three previous plans, forcing another round of litigation just as momentum is building in the Northwest for a broadly supported stakeholder collaboration as an alternative to the courtroom.
4 Under Forty Honoree Bios
Four young leaders, in bringing the benefits of clean and affordable energy to all of us, will be feted at the NW Energy Coalition’s 2nd annual 4 Under Forty celebration the evening of June 12 at Seattle’s Bullitt Center. The honorees are Tara Anderson (Sustainable Works), Jessica Finn Coven (Climate Solutions), Benjamin Otto (Idaho Conservation League) and Gus Takala (Puget Sound Energy).
NW Energy Coalition to honor Seattle's first living building on June 12
For showing the tremendous potential of energy efficiency and on-site power generation in buildings, the Bullitt Foundation has earned the NW Energy Coalition’s coveted Headwaters Award. Foundation CEO Denis Hayes will accept the award during the Coalition’s 4 Under Forty event from 5:30 to 7 p.m. Thursday, June 12, to be held – appropriately – at the Bullitt Center.
Clean and affordable energy advocates petition NEEA board to maintain energy efficiency budget
Clean and affordable energy advocates sent a group letter to the Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance board expressing concerns with the depth of proposed budget cuts. Earlier versions of NEEA’s budget and business plan were more consistent with the mission and goals of the organization and did not undercut the organization’s integrity.
NW Energy Coalition to give first organizing award
In its 33-year history, the NW Energy Coalition has honored dozens of groups and individuals for their efforts in advancing clean and affordable energy policy across the region. But it has never honored someone specifically for their on-the-ground success in mobilizing grassroots support for those policy efforts. That glaring omission will be rectified on Thursday, June 12. As part of its 2nd annual 4 Under Forty celebration at Seattle’s Bullitt Center, the Coalition will bestow the inaugural Community Organizing Award on Kathleen Casey Ridihalgh, senior organizing manager for the Sierra Club.
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Snake River Alliance clean energy director Ken Miller wins regional leadership honor
The NW Energy Coalition will present its annual Headwaters Award to Ken Miller in honor of his tireless promotion of energy efficiency, renewable energy and economic development in Idaho and the Northwest. The award’s name refers to the headwaters of the Columbia River, and honorees receive a vial of water from the Columbia headwaters in Canada in addition to a plaque.
Montana Standard op-ed: Dam purchase "watershed" moment
Diego Rivas of the NW Energy Coalition and Kyla Maki of the Montana Environmental Information Center explain how NorthWestern Energy’s purchase of 11 hydropower dams from PPL Montana will diversify Montana’s resource mix, protect customers from price risks associated with fossil fuels, and lead to a cleaner and more affordable energy future.
NW Energy Coalition conference to feature EPA emission standards panel
The NW Clean & Affordable Energy Conference in Helena, Mont. May 2- 3 will feature a panel on the EPA’s proposed emission standards for existing power plants. This panel will outline EPA’s authority and the guidance the agency is soliciting from states and stakeholders. Panelists will also assess the opportunities for regional coordination on clean energy strategies for meeting the emissions standards.
Groups assail BPA’s woefully low efficiency spending proposal
NW Energy Coalition and 29 other clean energy advocacy organizations and businesses submitted a group letter to the Bonneville Power Administration April 11, urging the agency to adequately fund energy efficiency it its FY 2016-2017 capital budget. The letter expressed concern that the proposed budget is inadequate to meet BPA’s legal obligations or to pursue the best interests of the region.
Governor signs bill to preserve Oregon's RPS
Today Governor John Kitzhaber signed HB 4126 to preserve Oregon’s highly successful Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS). The bill is the result of a diverse stakeholder process convened by the Governor to address a ballot measure, which would have gutted the state’s RPS by allowing existing hydropower to count towards the standard. Renewable Northwest commends the Governor for his leadership in preserving the RPS, which has helped to bring over $9 billion of capital investment to Oregon as well as thousands of jobs and tax dollars to rural communities.