News

Missoula City Council supports study of coal trains' effects

The resolution calls on the Corps of Engineers to conduct a “programmatic environmental impact statement” on the cumulative effects of air pollutants, traffic delays, coal dust, and noise pollution. It also calls for a public hearing in Missoula.

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.

Activists rally in Portland against exporting coal from Northwest ports

Several hundred activists gathered in Pioneer Courthouse Square today to rally against exporting Montana and Wyoming coal from Northwest ports, an effort to signal the industry that it's in for a no-holds-barred fight.

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson on Clean Water Act, coal, natural gas and Portland

Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Lisa Jackson stopped by Portland on Friday to tour the city's "green infrastructure" and deliver the opening address for "River Rally 2012," a gathering of river activists from around the globe in Portland this weekend.

Oregon and northwest neighbors must decide wisely on coal export proposals

Oregon Governor Kitzhaber has asked the Bureau of Land Management and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to explain how boosted coal exports to Asia fits "the larger strategy of moving to a lower carbon future."

Pierce County’s sustainability efforts save $1.3 million

Pierce County saved more than $1.3 million in 2010 and 2011 by reducing its use of energy, water, fuel and office supplies.

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

Green military marches on

While partisan battles have been raging in the other Washington over Department of Defense efforts to use clean energy as a major weapon in the fight to keep America safe and secure, military leaders, in cooperation with businesses and clean energy advocates, are moving forward to address the worldwide and domestic threats posed by our dependence on fossil fuels.

Seattle building receives LEED Platinum certification

Unico Properties and Northwestern Mutual Real Estate Investments have achieved LEED-Platinum certification for the Russell Investments Center – now the largest Platinum building in Seattle.

Protesters rally against coal transport plan

Leaders of Power Past Coal delivered more than 7,000 comments from Oregonians speaking out against the proposals.

Climate change vs. Easter bunnies and rock rabbits

Easter is still a great day for worship, candy in baskets, pagan equinox rituals and running around the yard finding eggs, but every year it gets quite a bit worse for bunnies - and our pikas.

Congressman Reichert helps build our clean energy future

While fossil fuel industries and some of their friends in Congress are trying to pull the rug out from under the clean energy economy, Dave Reichert is trying to put it on a solid foundation.

U.S. EPA announces proposal to limit carbon pollution from new power plants

Today, the Environmental Protection Agency and the Obama administration answered the call, releasing a proposal to limit industrial carbon pollution from new power plants. The proposal builds on successful laws in California, Oregon, and Washington

Railroad carbon emissions – What you ship matters, too

Efficiency is great, but finding cleaner ways to ship the dirtiest fuels will never add up to a sustainable future. We need to look at the whole picture

Northwest seen as hot spot for jet biofuels

The goal is to establish the Northwest as a center for aviation biofuels by harnessing the presence of Boeing, Alaska Airlines and research labs across the state.

Mission Critical: Clean Energy and the US Military

A new and formidable leader has emerged in the push for clean energy. So say Representatives Adam Smith and Jay Inslee. The two Puget Sound-area Congressmen joined a panel of current and former military leaders on Thursday evening to highlight the military’s leadership in the clean energy economy.

West Coast leaders point the way to real climate solutions

Having set their sights on the clean economy prize, we’re counting on West Coast leaders to back up the vision with strong policy initiatives and political resolve. Nothing less will get us there.

Fossil Fuels R Us? America and the Northwest can do better

Marketing fossil fuel dependence and accelerating the climate crisis is not our niche; it’s not our “value-add”; it’s not who we are. We can do better, and we plan to.

Power of the people: Heroes in our midst

A reverend, a commercial fisherman, a doctor, and nine other people from diverse walks of life came together on February 29 to speak out against exporting coal from Washington ports to Asia.

Emerging energy solutions presented at Green Professionals Conference

One emerging energy centered in the Northwest is the search for sustainable aviation fuels. Ross Macfarlane explained that aviation industry leaders were pushing for innovation in this field.