Public News Service

The Gates of the Arctic National Park and Preserve is the second-largest national park in the United States. (Patrick/Adobe Stock)

Monday, April 22, 2024

Denial of mining road in Alaska has ripples across U.S. national parks

The Biden administration has blocked a mining road in Alaska, and public-lands proponents see the move as a win for national parks around the country…

Methane emissions were measured from four dams on the Snake River in southeastern Washington. (davidrh/Adobe Stock)

Report: Lower Snake River dams source of methane emissions

A new report found four dams in the Columbia River Basin are big emitters of methane. Research from the organization Tell The Dam Truth showed the …

Washington state aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 95% by 2050. (jordano/Adobe Stock)

Repeal of WA carbon cap program would have 'devastating effects'

Opponents of a new law to cap carbon in Washington state are waiting to see if their initiative to repeal it will appear before voters in November…

More than a third of Washington homes have gas-burning appliances such as stoves. (Syda Productions/Adobe Stock)

Groups urge WA to warn about gas-burning health effects

The American Gas Association misled the public on the health effects of burning gas for decades. Now, a coalition wants the Washington State …

Revenue from Washington state's cap-and-trade program has exceeded expectations, bringing in $1.5 billion this year. (martin33/Adobe Stock)

WA cap-and-trade spending falls short for frontline communities

Washington state's Climate Commitment Act promised funds for communities on the front lines of climate change. One group is tracking those dollars to …

Seven regional hydrogen hubs are expected to produce more than three million tons of hydrogen each year. (energy.gov)

Clean energy advocates hold cautious optimism for NW hydrogen hub

The Biden administration has announced investments in a hub for hydrogen energy in the Northwest. Clean energy advocates say it could be a momentous …

The Puget Sound area has the highest concentration of nitrogen oxide emissions in the state. (Oleksandr Dibrova/Adobe Stock)

Report: Building emissions contribute to dangerous outdoor air pollution

Emissions from buildings are a dangerous source of air pollution across the nation, according to a new report. The analysis showed the burning of …

Buildings are the fastest growing source of climate pollution in Washington. (Casa.da.Photo/Adobe Stock)

Delay of Seattle's Cleaner Buildings Plan Disappoints Climate Groups

The wait to curb emissions from Seattle buildings has gone on long enough, climate groups say. The Seattle City Council is considering Building …

The pipeline owned by TC Energy runs through the east and southeast part of Washington. (Photocreo Bednarek/Adobe Stock)

Critics: East Coast Explosion Reason to Deny NW Pipeline Expansion

People opposed to expanding a fracked gas pipeline in the Northwest are pointing to the explosion of a pipeline in Virginia as another reason to rejec…

A GTN Xpress proposal would increase flow in its pipeline by 150 million cubic feet per day. (Pax Ahimsa Gethen/Wikimedia Commons)

Opposition Grows for Expanded NW Pipeline as Decision Nears

CLARIFICATION: In an emailed statement, TC Energy says there is "strong demand" for natural gas and an expansion to their GTN pipeline in the region…

The lower Snake River dams are aging, reducing their usefulness especially in energy production. (Samir Arora/Adobe Stock)

Historic Step Forward for Snake River Dam Replacement in WA Budget

Funding in Washington state's budget is pushing efforts forward to remove four lower Snake River dams in order to save salmon. Lawmakers committed …

Las presas de la parte baja del r�o Snake est�n envejeciendo, lo que reduce su utilidad, especialmente en la producci�n de energ�a. (Samir Arora/Adobe Stock)

Paso histórico hacia la sustitución de la presa del río Snake en presupuesto de WA

El presupuesto del estado de Washington impulsa la eliminación de cuatro presas en la parte baja del río Snake para salvar al salmón…

Washington state lawmakers will begin crafting a budget before the session is scheduled to adjourn on April 23. (George Cole/Adobe Stock)

WA Raises $300 Million from Polluters for Climate Action

By Kate Yoder for Grist.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Washington News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism-Public News Service Col…

The European Union is the world's largest consumer of wood pellets for energy. (Rokas/Adobe Stock)

Energy Market for Wood Pellets Globally Threatens U.S. Forests

Overseas markets could be harming forests in the U.S. Demand for wood pellets for biomass energy has increased dramatically around the world…

The Bonneville Power Administration is a key partner for building and modernizing Washington state's transmission lines. (Nadia/Adobe Stock)

In DC, Focus on Fish, NW Energy Grid

Northwest energy experts and conservation leaders are in Washington, D.C. to urge policymakers to invest in modernizing the region's grid. Updating …

Critics of the GTN XPress pipeline say it would create an additional 3.47 million metric tons of annual carbon emissions. (Diane/Adobe Stock)

Critics Ask Govs to Speak Out Against NW Pipeline Expansion

Environmental groups want West Coast governors to speak out against the expansion of a gas pipeline in the region. The Canadian company TC Energy is …

Washington state will need to obtain energy from other states to meet its renewable energy goals. (William/Adobe Stock)

WA's Renewable Future Hinges on Building More Power Lines

Washington state is pursuing an aggressive climate plan to switch to renewable energy sources, but it faces one often overlooked issue: enough high-…

There are seven species of Pacific salmon. Five of them occur in North American waters: Chinook, Coho, Chum, Sockeye and Pink, according to the U.S. Geographical Survey. (Adobe Stock)

EPA Issues Water Protection Permits for Columbia River Dams

The Environmental Protection Agency has ordered the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to stop oil and other toxic chemical discharges into the Columbia …

Solar panels on big-box stores and malls could generate enough energy to power nearly eight million homes. (Tracy King/Adobe Stock)

Rooftops on Big Stores, Warehouses Offer Huge Solar-Power Opportunity

By Emily Pontecorvo for Grist.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Washington News Service reporting for the Grist-Public News Service Collaboratio…

Electric ranges have been shown to emit fewer toxic chemicals than gas stoves. (Di Studio/Adobe Stock)

Proposal Would Lower WA Residential Buildings' Carbon Footprint

Washington state is considering a cleaner future for its buildings. The Washington State Building Code Council is holding public hearings, including …

The Lummi Nation totem pole traveled through the islands of Puget Sound before making its way to the East Coast. (Freddie Lane)

WA Totem Pole Travels U.S. for 'Just' Clean Energy Transition

A totem pole from the Lummi Nation in northwest Washington is traveling across the country as part of a bid to call for clean energy and environmental…

The Hanford Nuclear Site was home to the world's first plutonium production reactor. (U.S. Department of Energy)

Interactive Hanford Story Teaches about Nuclear Site's Threat to Columbia River

The Hanford Nuclear Site on the Columbia River in central Washington has left a complex legacy for the region. An interactive story map imagines …

El Sitio Nuclear de Hanford alberg� el primer reactor de producci�n de plutonio del mundo. (Departamento de Energ�a de EE.UU.)

Historia interactiva de Hanford enseña la amenaza del Sitio Nuclear para Río Columbia

El Sitio Nuclear de Hanford, situado en el río Columbia en el centro de Washington, ha dejado un legado complejo en la región. Un mapa …

The Nez Perce Tribe finds spring chinook salmon on the Snake River are unlikely to recover without substantial intervention. (Hanjo/Adobe Stock)

WA Leaders: Breaching Snake River Dams Necessary, Not Yet Possible

An announcement from Washington state leaders on the future of the lower Snake River dams contained both good and bad news for groups defending native…

The state of Washington aims for its electricity supply to be 100% carbon free by 2045. (digidreamgrafix/Adobe Stock)

WA Could Be First State to Require New Building Electrification

Washington state could head to the front of the pack when it comes to electrifying new buildings. Proposals before the State Building Code Council …

Gov. Jay Inslee has proposed higher building standards in the 2022 session to help decarbonize the sector. (Office of Gov. Inslee)

Advocates Want More Climate Action in 2022 WA Legislature

Washington state lawmakers meet in Olympia starting next week for the 2022 legislative session. Groups working on the issue of climate change see it …

The Columbia Generating Station, a commercial nuclear facility, operates at Energy Northwest's campus, which is surrounded by the Hanford site. (Tobin/Flickr)

Tribes Protest N-Reactor Project on Hanford Site

RICHLAND, Wash. -- An advanced nuclear reactor proposal at the Hanford site is spurring opposition from local tribes. The Confederated Tribes of the …

In June, Vancouver, Wash., reached a record temperature of 115 degrees F, breaking the previous record of 108 degrees F. (RG/Adobe Stock)

Gas Industry Turns Up Heat on Climate Action Plans

VANCOUVER, Wash. - As cities work toward decreasing their climate impact, they're running up against some opponents in the gas industry. In …

Advocates in Washington state are pushing to replace heat pumps and other appliances that run on fossil fuels. (Aleksey Sergeychik/Adobe Stock)

Build Back Better Act Could Boost Building Electrification

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Proposals in Congress's Build Back Better plan could speed up and lower the cost of electrifying people's homes. The budget-…

Under a proposal from U.S. House Democrats, utilities would be incentivized to increase clean electricity by 4% each year. Detractors say that's moving too quickly. (ozerkina/Adobe Stock)

Deadline Approaches as Democrats in DC Push for Climate Action

SEATTLE - Democrats in Congress are aiming to have legislation passed by the end of September that could have big implications for the climate…

Washington state lawmakers passed measures that move it closer to a clean energy future this session. (jpldesigns/Adobe Stock)

Cleaning Up Buildings Next Big Climate Push in WA

SEATTLE -- After a legislative session packed with measures to address climate change, clean-energy groups say Washington state leaders should …

The Ice Harbor Dam in southeast Washington would be breached under a proposal from Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho. (salmonrecovery/Flickr)

WA Groups: Infrastructure Plan 'Once-In-A-Lifetime Opportunity' for NW

SEATTLE - Groups are urging Northwest leaders to act on U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson's infrastructure and Snake River dam proposal. It aims to restore what …

Washington state is expecting more wildfires as the effects from climate change get worse. (Chris/Adobe Stock)

WA Bill on Equitable Climate Response Nears Finish Line

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The impacts from climate change fall disproportionately on some people, but a bill in the Washington state Legislature aims to put …

Some Washington state lawmakers want to join other West Coast states by creating a clean-fuel standard. (scharfsinn86/Adobe Stock)

Supporters: Clean-Fuel Standard Necessary to Clean Up WA Emissions

OLYMPIA, Wash. - State lawmakers are attempting to clean up Washington's fuel sources yet again this session. Efforts in the past few years to pass …

Some Seattle restaurants secure their salmon supplies months in advance, to ensure they can serve this iconic Northwest fish. (Aldo/Adobe Stock)

NW Infrastructure Plan Could Bolster WA Restaurants

SEATTLE -- If the Pacific Northwest has a taste, it's for the region's salmon, but as the iconic fish species dwindles, it also effects a food chain …

Front-line communities say cap-and-trade programs don't adequately address the sources of pollution in their neighborhoods. (elizabeth lara-EyeEm/Adobe Stock)

Cap-and-Trade Won't Cut It for WA Communities, Critics Say

SEATTLE - Programs that cap companies' pollution emissions and allow them to trade emissions credits have been touted as a way to reduce greenhouse ga…

About 9% of the population globally is food insecure. (tong2530/Adobe Stock)

Rejoining Paris Agreement: Good Sign for Global Food Supply

SEATTLE, Wash. -- The United States has rejoined the Paris climate agreement, an indicator the Biden administration plans to get serious about …

The building sector is the second-biggest carbon emitter in Washington state. (Dene' Miles/Adobe Stock)

WA Localities Speed Up Effort to Reduce Buildings' Emissions

SEATTLE - While Washington state lawmakers consider a bill to clean up the energy that buildings run on, some cities and institutions already are …

Although it ranked sixth in the country among states, a new report gives Washington's electric-vehicle policies a score of 54 out of 100. (scharfsinn86/Adobe Stock)

Report: WA Could Speed Up Electric-Vehicle Rollout

SEATTLE - Washington state is on the right track for electrifying its transportation sector, but still has work to do, according to a new report…

The Kalama, WA, facility along the Columbia River would export methanol to China. (Image'in/Adobe Stock)

Political Muscle, Money Driving Forces for WA Methanol Project

KALAMA, Wash. -- High-level politicians are entangled in the push for a massive fossil fuel facility in Washington state. Eric de Place, director …

Puget Sound Energy has a 25% stake in Unit 4 of the Colstrip coal plant in Montana. (P.primo/Wikimedia Commons)

Public Hearing in WA for Future of NW's Largest Coal Plant

SEATTLE -- Washingtonians have a chance to weigh in on coal's future in the Northwest today. The state's Utilities and Transportation Commission (…

Even before the pandemic, an estimated 15 million Americans, including a disproportionate number of BIPOC residents, had trouble paying their utility bills. (Adobe Stock)

WA Groups Seek for Protections for Utility Customers as Crisis Lingers

SEATTLE -- A state agency holds a public hearing this week on guideline changes for utility companies in Washington. At issue is a moratorium on …

$About three-quarters of natural gas nationwide comes from fracking. (creativenature.nl/Adobe Stock)$

Natural Gas Industry Misleads, Environmental Groups Say

SEATTLE -- The natural gas industry has launched a major campaign in the Northwest to tout the fuel source as a reliable way to fight climate change…

In 2018, Bellingham City Council stepped up its climate goals, pledging to be carbon neutral by 2035. (CascadeCreatives/Adobe Stock)

A Closer Look at One WA City's Natural-Gas Ban Proposal

BELLINGHAM, Wash. - Bellingham has made national headlines recently over a proposal to ban residential use of natural gas in its quest to be carbon …

Avista is one of six owners in the Montana-based Colstrip power plant, the largest greenhouse-gas emitter west of the Mississippi River. (Rachel Cernansky/Flickr)

WA Utility Commits to Stepping Away from Coal

SPOKANE, Wash. – An eastern Washington utility is cutting its reliance on coal in exchange for more renewable energy sources. Avista has …

Climate advocates want Washington state lawmakers to focus on a cleaner transportation sector during the 2020 session. (toa555/Adobe Stock)

WA Climate Advocates Call for Ambitious 2020 Session

OLYMPIA, Wash. – As the effects of climate change become more dire, advocates want Washington state lawmakers to take bold action in the 2020 …

The utility Avista serves about 350,000 people in eastern Washington and northern Idaho. (Gov. Jay Inslee/Flickr)

Avista Rate Case Moves Washingtonians Away from Coal

SPOKANE, Wash. – Some electric customers in eastern Washington are moving closer to a future without coal. The Spokane-based utility Avista …

Transportation accounts for more than 40% of Washington state's carbon emissions. (Oran Viriyincy/Flickr)

Puget Sound Proposes Aggressive Fuel Standard to Reduce Emissions

SEATTLE – The Puget Sound region is striking out on its own with a bold proposal for a clean fuel standard. The Puget Sound Clean Air Agency …

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WA: Energy Policy