Washington
BPA seriously underfunding energy efficiency
Bonneville Power recently released its proposed capital budget, but it has not yet finalized its expense budget for public review. Given what we’ve seen so far, BPA’s draft budgets for 2016-17 seriously underfund energy efficiency efforts, making achievement of the full power savings called for in the regional plan unlikely at best.
Read MoreThe Energy Activist Update, Feb. 2014: Defending and advancing clean energy in Northwest state legislatures
NW Energy Coalition staff, members and allies are working to protect our clean energy future in legislative sessions in three of our four Northwest states. The February Energy Activist Update highlights legislative efforts in Idaho, Oregon and Washington. The update also includes information on the upcoming NW Clean & Affordable Energy Conference in Helena.
Read MoreSave Our Wild Salmon press release: Science panel’s review provides pathway to expanded spill test
On Friday, the Independent Scientific Advisory Board of the Northwest Power and Conservation Council released its review of Oregon’s proposal to test state, federal and Tribal scientists’ findings that increased spring spill over Columbia Basin hydropower dams would help restore endangered Columbia-Snake river salmon stocks.
Read MoreOlympian Editorial: Do not compromise the Energy Independence Act
The Olympian editorial denounces bills in the Washington State Legislature that would chip away at our Clean Energy Law, Initiative 937. The article asserts that Washington should continue developing new renewable energy resources, such as wind, solar, and geothermal, in order to reduce carbon emissions.
Read MoreStop the clean energy rollbacks!
Several bills moving toward floor votes in Olympia would undercut our clean energy law, Initiative 937, and reduce Washington’s commitment to a clean and affordable energy future. Proposed changes include allowing coal purchases from the TransAlta plant to reduce utilities’ renewable energy obligations. Tell your state legislators to stop rollbacks to I-937 and clean energy!
Read MoreEditorial: Latest salmon deal is disappointing (again)
The Daily Astorian editorial describes how the most recent biological opinion (bi-op) produced by NOAA Fisheries on behalf of the Bonneville Power Administration lacks broad stakeholder input and fails to protect endangered salmon. The editorial also purports that the bi-op disregards strategies for returning Columbia River to a more natural state.
Read MoreProtect and advance our clean energy law!
The voter-approved Clean Energy Initiative, I-937, has created thousands of jobs and generated over $8 billion in new renewable energy investments. It is also our No. 1 tool for reducing climate change emissions to state-mandated levels. Take action to oppose changes to I-937!
Read MoreFederal agencies squander chance for progress on Northwest salmon
The NOAA Fisheries plan for endangered Columbia and Snake River salmon fails to address the issues that triggered federal-court rejections of three previous plans. The plan, called a biological opinion, fails to help salmon, does not incorporate broad stakeholder input, and ignores climate change impacts.
Read MoreBPA wins Platts Global Energy Award for grid optimization
BPA wins a prestigious award for its build out of the largest, most sophisticated synchrophasor network in North America.
The Bonneville Power Administration’s development of the most sophisticated synchrophasor network in North America landed the agency its first ever Platts Global Energy Award, the most coveted awards in the energy industry.
Read MoreGuest opinion: Columbia River plan fails to protect salmon
Sam Mace’s guest opinion article in the Spokesman-Review highlights the shortcomings of the most recent draft Biological Opinion proposed by federal agencies regarding endangered Columbia River salmon. Mace remarks that the final plan should include an analysis of lower Snake River dam removal, provisions for an enhanced spill test, and climate change considerations.
“The best fall chinook salmon run in years has made this a banner season for Columbia Basin anglers. River towns, outfitters, shops and motels throughout our region have shared in this unexpected bounty. Unfortunately, the news about many of our region’s other salmon and steelhead populations is far less encouraging. And the future for all the basin’s endangered wild salmon remains very much in doubt.”
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