renewable energy Archives - Northwest Public Broadcasting

Explosive Demolition Of Boardman Coal Plant Underscores End Of Coal-Fired Electric Generation In Oregon

By Tom Banse September 16, 2022

The towering smokestack at Portland General Electric’s shuttered coal-fired power plant near Boardman has fallen, heralding the end of the era of coal-fired power generation in Oregon, Sept. 15, 2022.

A demolition contractor on Thursday imploded the towering smokestack and 19-story boiler building at Portland General Electric’s shuttered coal-fired power plant near Boardman, bringing a symbolic close to the era of coal-fired power generation in Oregon. Imported electricity generated from coal still flows through transmission wires across the Pacific Northwest, but that Read More

Massive New Climate Law Could Give Pacific Northwest Green Businesses A Boost

By Tom Banse August 18, 2022

Tim and Bev Acker, CEO and CFO respectively of Biosonics, stand beside the Seattle company’s new ocean-bottom sonar device, which is designed to facilitate marine energy permitting by identifying and tracking nearby sea life.

Companies large and small around the Pacific Northwest say they are excited by growth opportunities that may flow from the climate, healthcare and tax package signed by President Biden on Tuesday. Turbocharged federal spending could benefit the region’s green energy sector in particular, although congressional Republicans remain dubious that Americans on the whole will Read More

Comments Sought On ‘One Of Best Pumped Storage Sites’ In Washington

By Courtney Flatt June 30, 2022

Erik Steimle, vice president of Rye Development, stands near where his company would like to build an upper reservoir for a pumped storage project near Goldendale, Washington.

Storing renewable energy is critical in the Northwest. A draft review for the region’s largest proposed energy storage project is available for public comment. Continue Reading Comments Sought On ‘One Of Best Pumped Storage Sites’ In Read More

Northwest Energy Generation Continues To Green Up

By Courtney Flatt January 13, 2022

Coal plant closures in the Northwest decreased heat-trapping emissions that contribute to climate change. The Boardman Power Plant closed in October 2020.

Coal plant closures in the Northwest and an increase in natural gas generation meant fewer heat-trapping carbon dioxide emissions recently contributed to climate change, according to new data from the Northwest Power and Conservation Council. Continue Reading Read More

More Renewable Energy, Less Energy Efficiency In New Power Plan

By Courtney Flatt September 27, 2021

A view of the Bonneville Power Administration's Big Eddy-Knight transmission line. More renewable energy development and less room for energy conservation are two of the biggest changes in the draft of the new regional power plan.

The draft Northwest Power Plan is dramatically different from previous versions. People can comment on the plan through Nov. 19. Continue Reading More Renewable Energy, Less Energy Efficiency In New Power PlanRead More

Even In The Bright Of Day, Some Klickitat County Residents Have A Solar Energy ‘Nightmare’

By Courtney Flatt May 3, 2021

Elaine Harvey, left, a member of the Rock Creek band, Ka-milt-pah, of the Yakama Nation, at an April 1, 2021 demonstration in Goldendale opposing a solar farm project. CREDIT: Courtney Flatt/NWPB

If approved, a utility-scale solar farm would be the largest in renewable friendly Klickitat County and in Washington. But some residents say its potential location doesn’t take one important thing into account: environmental justice. Read More

Wyoming Doubles Down On Coal With Threat To Sue Other Western States, Including Washington

By NWPB News May 3, 2021

In this July 27, 2018, the Dave Johnson coal-fired power plant is silhouetted against the morning sun in Glenrock, Wyo. A law signed April 6, 2021, by Republican Gov. Mark Gordon creates a $1.2 million fund for an initiative that marks the latest attempt by state leaders to help coal in the state that accounts for the bulk of U.S. coal production, which is down by half since 2008. Wyoming coal production, which accounts for about 40% of the nation's total, has declined as utilities switch to gas, which is cheaper to burn to generate electricity. CREDIT: J. David Ake/AP

Last year, Wyoming and Montana — another major coal state — asked the Supreme Court to override a decision by Washington state to deny a permit to build a coal export dock on the Columbia River. The interstate lawsuit followed years of unsuccessful attempts by the dock’s developer, Utah-based Lighthouse Resources, to contest the permit denial in federal court. Read More

How The U.S. Could Halve Climate Emissions By 2030

By NPR News April 18, 2021

September 28, 2016 - Workers with Zilla Rack install PV modules on two racks just north of the NREL parking garage. The first row modules are part of a project called the Regional Test Centers (RTCs), small demonstration systems for PV industry to help get some initial performance validation and bankability study from the national labs.. The PV modules in the second row are part of a new DOE program called PV Lifetime. The intent is to study with high accuracy the initial degradation of PV modules, and to make all of the data publicly available. (Photo by Dennis Schroeder / NREL)

Next week, President Biden will announce a number that could shape the rest of his presidency: a new goal to cut U.S. greenhouse gas emissions. The announcement marks the country's renewed commitment to the Paris accord, the international climate change agreement that former President Trump withdrew from. Read More

No, Texas Blackouts Weren’t Caused By Wind And Solar Energy Failure. Here’s What Really Happened

By NPR News February 18, 2021

Snow covers the ground in Waco, Texas, on Feb. 17. Texas Gov. Greg Abbott has blamed renewable energy sources for the blackouts that have hit the state. In fact, they were caused by a systemwide failure across all energy sources. Matthew Busch/AFP via Getty Images

The focus on windmills ignores the evident fact that — as Abbott acknowledged on local TV — every kind of power generation fell short in this storm. In fact, significantly more natural gas and coal went offline than renewables. But that doesn't suggest fossil fuels were uniquely to blame either — they were responsible for more production, so it's no surprise they were the Read More

Northwest Clean-Energy Advocates Eye Pumped Hydro To Fill Gaps, With Tribes Noting Concerns

By Courtney Flatt July 24, 2020

The Goldendale Energy Storage Project would be built just outside Goldendale in Klickitat County. If built, it would be the largest pumped storage facility in the Northwest. The lower reservoir is proposed in the flat area below this image, by John Day Dam on the Columbia River. Courtesy of Rye Development

Many states – including Oregon and Washington – have set renewable energy goals. But, there’s a problem. The wind isn’t always blowing, and the sun isn’t always shining. That’s why wind and solar power are variable, or intermittent. Enter pumped hydro. It's not a new technology, but it is gaining more interest regionally. Read More

Shockingly Chewable: Farmers Are Using Food Waste To Make Electricity

By NPR News November 30, 2019

Peter Melnik, a fourth-generation dairy farmer, owns Bar-Way Farm, Inc. in Deerfield, Mass. He has an anaerobic digester on his farm that converts food waste into renewable energy. CREDIT: Allison Aubrey/NPR

Dairy farmers in Massachusetts are using food waste to create renewable energy. Each farm produces enough to power about 1,500 homes. This helps prevent the release of methane, a greenhouse gas. Continue Reading Shockingly Chewable: Farmers Read More

Northwest Utility PacifiCorp Releases Plan To Cut Coal Power And Add Renewables

By Cassandra Profita October 4, 2019

A coal mine operation in Wyoming. CREDIT: KATIE CAMPBELL/KCTS9

Environmental groups have been pressing PacifiCorp for years to close more of its coal plants sooner and speed up its transition to renewable energy. But leaders in states like Wyoming, where the utility’s coal plants are stationed, say the company would be hurting local economies and betraying their trust by closing coal plants early. Read More

Controversial Biofuels Project Gets Lease On Lower Columbia River

By Courtney Flatt September 9, 2019

File photo. The Port of Columbia County has approved a lease for a biofuels export facility at Port Westward. CREDIT: Port of Columbia County/Facebook

A port on the Lower Columbia River has approved a controversial lease for a biofuels project. The county says it will bring jobs to the area. Some environmental groups are concerned about previous deals gone bad involving the project’s backers. Read More

Southwestern Washington’s Port Of Kalama Says Methanol Refinery Can’t Export For Fuel

By Molly Solomon June 17, 2019

The proposed site at the Port of Kalama where NW Innovation Works is proposing a 90-acre methanol plant. CREDIT: NW INNOVATION WORKS

Port of Kalama commissioners unanimously passed a lease amendment with a controversial methanol facility Wednesday night that prohibits the company from exporting its product for fuel. Continue Reading Southwestern Read More

Oregon Wave Energy Testing Project Moves Forward

By Jes Burns June 12, 2019

Permitting is underway for a new wave energy test facility off Oregon’s coast. CREDIT: U.S. Department of Energy

A renewable energy project planned off the coast of Newport is taking a step forward. Oregon State University has submitted a final license application for a wave energy testing facility with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission. If built, it would be the largest of its kind in the U.S. Read More

From Walmart To Google, Companies Teaming Up To Buy More Solar And Wind Power

By NPR News March 28, 2019

Power lines and power-generating windmills rise above the rural landscape on June 13, 2018, near Dwight, Ill. Driven by falling costs, global spending on renewable energy sources like wind and solar is now outpacing investment in electricity from fossil fuels and nuclear power. CREDIT: SCOTT OLSON/GETTY IMAGES

Going green is often easier said than done, but a new business organization is hoping to change that. While focusing on large-scale energy buyers, the group plans to push for changes that could make renewable power more accessible for all Americans. Read More

Clean Electricity Rule To Phase Out Fossil Fuel Plants Moves Closer To Passage In Washington

By Tom Banse March 4, 2019

Colstrip power plant in Montana - Flicker-Creative Commons

Electric utilities in Washington would have to phase out all coal power, and eventually, natural gas-fired generation under a measure passed by the state Senate last week. The 100 percent clean electricity mandate is a priority of Gov. Jay Inslee and environmental groups, but Republican critics decried it as a big rate increase in the making. Read More

Utility Plans 1st-Of-Its-Kind Renewable Energy Site In Eastern Oregon

By Courtney Flatt February 19, 2019

A wind mill supplies water to a stock tank, surrounded by wind turbines of the Smoky Hills Wind Project near Wilson, Kansas. CREDIT: ORLIN WAGNER/AP

Eastern Oregon may soon be home to a next-generation renewable energy project. Portland General Electric is making plans to build the country’s first large-scale energy facility that combines wind turbines, solar panels and battery storage. Read More

A Rare Political Common Ground: Rooftop Solar

By Courtney Flatt October 19, 2018

New research suggests Democrats and Republicans can find common ground on rooftop solar panels. CREDIT: NATIONAL RENEWABLE ENERGY LAB

Whether you’re a Republican or Democrat, chances are you support rooftop solar. New research suggests there’s a reason why two groups that normally disagree on environmental issues both like certain types of renewable energy. Continue Reading A Rare Political Read More

Land Use Conflict Hangs Over Plan For Renewable Fuels Refinery On Columbia River

By Tony Schick September 4, 2018

A proposal for a $1.1 billion renewable fuels refinery on the Columbia River could be held up by a dispute over land use zoning. Continue Reading Land Use Conflict Hangs Over Plan For Renewable Fuels Refinery On Columbia Read More

Washington And Oregon Solar Projects Face Legal Hurdles From Farmland Projection Groups

By Tom Banse June 3, 2018

CREDIT - SARAH SWENTY - USFWS - TINYURL.COM/YBSAL64J

1:00 Two projects that would convert cropland in Oregon and Washington into large solar farms are hitting new bumps. Last week the Oregon Court of Appeals issued a ruling that blocks a planned 80-acre solar project on farmland outside Medford in southern Oregon. Read More

Gas-Guzzling Cities, State Blow Past Deadline For Electric Vehicles In Washington

By John Ryan June 3, 2018

A parking spot is designated for electric vehicles at the charging station outside of the Ballard Market on Monday, December 11, 2017, in Seattle. CREDIT MEGAN FARMER - KUOW

Washington state’s electric vehicle law is being widely ignored, according to a new report. June 1 was the deadline set by a decade-old law that requires vehicles in government fleets to run on electricity or biofuel. But just two percent of the state's motor pool is electric now, and many cities and counties have no electric vehicles at all. Read More

Vote Expected Soon On Bill To Protect Snake River Dams

By Courtney Flatt April 24, 2018

The Ice Harbor Dam on the Snake River. CREDIT: BONNEVILLE POWER ADMINISTRATION

Some Eastern Washington lawmakers want the Snake River Dams to stay in place. They’ve crafted a bill to leave the dams as they are — in response to a federal judge’s order to consider removing the dams to protect salmon. Continue Reading Vote Expected Read More

Study: It’s Possible To Replace Snake River Dams With Renewable Energy

By Courtney Flatt April 5, 2018

Lower Snake River dams could be replaced by a variety of renewable energy resources, according to a new study by the NW Energy Coalition. The advocacy group says this means dam removal doesn’t have to be a choice between salmon and renewable energy. Read More

Climate activists rallied today at the state capitol, the first day of the legislative session. They want Washington state to be powered exclusively by renewable energy within 10 years. Continue Reading Climate Activists Urge Washington Lawmakers Read More