CS Blog
CS Journal
An extra special session in Washington State
On May 13, the Washington State legislature started its thirty-day special session, an addition to the 105 day “regular” session that ended last month. Unable to pass a budget during the regular session, the legislators are back at it after taking a couple of weeks to meet with constituents in their home districts. Let’s take a look at some of the key budget issues that Climate Solutions is following:
Memo to the Very Serious People: Resistance isn’t futile and irony can be delicious
Since the fight started brewing in the Northwest on coal exports, we have heard from many self-anointed "Very Serious People" who constantly tell us that our actions don’t matter.
Myth of China's endless demand for imported coal
New study undermines business case for coal exports.
Tom Steyer: a “crazed person” when it comes to energy
Tom Steyer is a national advocate for investing in clean energy solutions to address climate change whose targeted investments are aimed squarely at the intersection of economic development and environmental protection. Steyer will keynote at Climate Solutions Annual Breakfast on 5/13 in Seattle
Cloud Peak Energy: “All in” for coal exports from the West Coast
Recent developments make clear that Cloud Peak Energy is fully committed to coal exports from Washington terminals.
Caveat Investor
A new Sightline report details huge financial risks for Australian coal export startup
Climate solutions in the era of consequences
We aim to cross a new threshold, bringing a new level of urgency and imperative to the campaign. We’ll be demonstrating that solutions are not just practical and economical, but right and necessary.
Want to create good jobs? Don’t count on Coal.
In what has become an extremely volatile and declining industry, the evidence shows that coal is a poor foundation for job creation and coal company executives are not to be trusted.
Coal train traffic would impact property values
A new expert report warns that the dramatic increases in coal train traffic from the proposed Gateway Pacific Terminal may severely damage property values along the proposed route.
Take a hard look at salesman before falling for coal export pitch
The next time a traveling coal company salesman comes to your door asking you to “buy today, don’t delay”, ask for their credentials. These are huge projects, with gigantic impacts on our communities, our region and our globe
Unsung successes of the Recovery Act
The success stories of the Recovery Act’s clean energy investment are visible across the country in numerous American cities.
An open letter to Matt Rose, CEO of the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railroad (BNSF)
Dear Mr. Rose, We wanted to thank you for recently visiting the Northwest. We’re sorry that we didn’t have a chance to chat about the subject that brought you to our region: coal export. Here's what we need most from you.
I love the smell of solutions in the morning!
The Obama Administration brewed 'em up strong today, finalizing new passenger vehicle standards that will roughly double fuel economy by 2025, to 54.5 mpg.
Guest blog: Close to home - the Taylor Bridge fire
The news reports over the weekend were full of thanks for the outpouring of support for the firefighting and relief effort and requests that people stop donating stuff. If only the community could come together around fighting the larger disaster of climate change.
Guest blog: Heavy traffic ahead
Current rail line users, such as Pacific Northwest import and export container traffic and export grain traffic would be adversely impacted by the reduction of rail capacity with increased coal export. These important trade commodities will likely experience higher transit and cycle times as well as higher costs.
Sustainable Aviation Fuels program taking flight at Climate Solutions
From policies to processing plants, feedstocks to federal investment, our new Sustainable Aviation Fuels (SAF) effort aims to connect the dots, and develop a full Northwest aviation biofuels supply chain.
Good news: Court of Appeals tells the EPA to keep reducing global warming pollution
I feel like today’s rulings were a victory for my kids’ future. Thanks to the EPA for its important work and to the Court of Appeals for today’s dose of good news and hope.
King Coal may be losing its crown
The signs keep coming that markets are turning against coal. The Energy Information Administration reports that coal use, as a share of total US energy generation, fell to the lowest level since the 1970s.
PDX and .xls: What my spreadsheets tell me about coal in the Northwest
I decided to look up from my spreadsheets on Monday and attend the Power Past Coal rally in downtown Portland. With my hippie, street vendor burrito in hand (filled with things that only rabbits should eat), I arrived to join a crowd of 600 folks in Pioneer Square.
We are at a crossroads in Washington State
There is no way around it; this legislative session was the hardest one I can remember. We won some very important victories, but there was too little progress on climate change and clean energy
