Tag: Washington

US wind generating capacity surpasses hydro capacity at end of 2016

US wind generating capacity surpasses hydro capacity at end of 2016

ERCOT’s recent record of 16,022 MW occurred on morning of Dec. 25, accounted for more than 47% of generation mix Installed wind electric generating capacity in the United States surpassed conventional hydroelectric generating capacity, long the nation’s largest source of renewable electricity, after 8,727 megawatts (MW) of new wind capacity came online in 2016, according […]

Trial opens for activist charged in Kinder Morgan pipeline disruption

Trial opens for activist charged in Kinder Morgan pipeline disruption

Activists hope Kinder Morgan protest trial will serve as referendum on climate change By Dan Whitcomb Jan 30 (Reuters) – A jury was selected in Washington state on Monday in the first trial over a coordinated protest that disrupted the flow of millions of barrels of crude oil into the United States, a proceeding activists […]

By January 30, 2017 0 Comments Read More →
The politics of carbon taxes…it ain’t pretty

The politics of carbon taxes…it ain’t pretty

If Washington voters don’t approve carbon tax, is it likely other states or feds will introduce one in near future? Washington state environmentalists are clashing over a carbon tax proposition that will show up on Tuesday’s ballot, demonstrating again that carbon pricing to reduce emissions can be a tough sell to voters. In theory, carbon […]

Pacific Northwest electricity mix influenced by weather conditions, El Niño

Pacific Northwest electricity mix influenced by weather conditions, El Niño

Cycle of earlier-than-anticipated hydro power followed by more natural gas generation may be repeated this winter in Pacific Northwest In the summer of 2015, hydroelectric generation in Washington and Oregon, which provides the largest share of electricity generation in the Pacific Northwest, was lower than normal, causing an increased reliance on natural gas and other fossil generation […]

By December 7, 2015 0 Comments Read More →
Native Americans’ unusual protest targets coal export terminals in western US, Canada

Native Americans’ unusual protest targets coal export terminals in western US, Canada

New coal terminals will export millions of tons to new Asia markets A Native American tribe is taking a 22-foot (6.71-meter) totem pole through the western U.S. and Canada in opposition to proposed terminals for exporting coal to Asia, saying the terminals would contaminate air and water and harm sacred sites. A team from the […]

American coal exports boosted by proposed Washington port

American coal exports boosted by proposed Washington port

Exports a bright hope for American coal miners A Wyoming company has entered a partnership to develop a Washington state coal port for shipments of the fuel to Asia, in a deal that gives Montana’s Crow Tribe the future option of a 5 per cent stake in the project. Cloud Peak Energy paid $2 million […]

Wind energy generation drops off West Coast in 2015

Wind energy generation drops off West Coast in 2015

Wind energy in California has recovered, Oregon and Washington still below average A drop in average wind speeds in the western United States during early 2015 led to reduced wind energy generation from plants in California, Oregon, and Washington, according to the US Energy Information Administration. As a result, wind plant utilization rates, also known as […]

Voluntary methane emission targets best strategy for American oil and gas?

Voluntary methane emission targets best strategy for American oil and gas?

Industry says methane emission levels have dropped dramatically in recent years despite much  higher production The American energy industry is ignoring a potent political push back in its battle with the Obama Administration over methane emission regulations : Committing to doing the job better and faster voluntarily than cumbersome regulation could ever achieve. On Tuesday, […]