Climate Solutions

WA's electricity grid needs a state transmission authority | Editorial A bill aims to focus state government on the urgent task of building transmission to power new electricity demands and fulfill the clean energy transition.

Washington state has charted a clear, ambitious, and achievable path to a carbon-free future. But in order to reach it, we must step up our game on building transmission lines to carry that clean energy into people’s homes and businesses.

The latest from Seattle Times Ed Board

Good explainer video on the important Supreme Court battle shaping up over Oil Company efforts to evade liability for climate damage lawsuits and the massive conflicts of interest that some Justices have.

Monday Was a Bad Day to Depend on Fossil Fuels Topsy turvy oil prices aren’t great for the U.S.

Oil prices were all over the place on Monday, opening at more than $115 before falling closer to $85 by the time the market closed.

None of this is good news for the U.S. economy — or even U.S. oil producers. @zeitlin.bsky.social explains:

heatmap.news/energy/oil-p...

Use climate dollars for climate solutions - Climate Solutions

Climate funding is under threat in #WALeg. Let’s fight to protect it! Email your lawmakers TODAY - shorturl.at/20TUg

How to commemorate Billy Frank Jr. Day - Northwest Treaty Tribes Every year, the treaty tribes in Western Washington observe Billy Frank Jr.’s birthday on March 9. The fishing rights warrior…

nwtreatytribes.org/how-to-comme...

So excited to hang out with @billmckibben.bsky.social and anyone who wants to join us. Tomorrow, 4pm Pacific.

Time is running out, and WA lawmakers seem prepared to redirect Climate Commitment funds to unrelated needs, without a commitment to replace them. Tell WA legislators not to misuse our climate funds!
climatesolutions.secure.nonprofitsoapbox.com/finalpushcca...

Editorial: Protect state climate act’s funds for intended uses - HeraldNet.com The CCA fund’s shouldn’t go toward other needs. A better accounting of its spending is necessary

WA voters want Climate Commitment funds to go where they're supposed to—supporting climate resilience, clean energy projects and communities harmed by climate change. So why are lawmakers poised to redirect hundreds of millions of CCA funds to patch unrelated budget holes?

Middle East conflicts largely avoided energy facilities in the past. Not in this war Recent conflicts in the region have either spared energy infrastructure or caused limited damage. That isn't the case in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran.

Recent conflicts in the region have either spared energy infrastructure or caused limited damage. That isn't the case in the U.S.-Israeli war with Iran. n.pr/4svcRem

Coal plant DOE ordered to stay online unlikely to run given ‘flush’ power supplies: CEO The Department of Energy claimed “emergency” conditions in the Pacific Northwest required TransAlta to continue running Washington’s last coal plant past its planned retirement. The company plans to convert it to run on gas.

Despite the Trump administration's (unlawful and backward-looking) efforts to re-open Washington's last remaining coal power plant, TransAlta says restarting its Centralia plant is very unlikely—there's no need for it, let alone an energy "emergency"

Volvo Scales Up Electric Heavy Trucks As Profits Fund Zero-Emission Shift - CleanTechnica Support CleanTechnica's work through a Substack subscription or on Stripe. Volvo Group is channeling its strong profitability and European market leadership into the rapid expansion of battery-electric and other zero-emission heavy trucks, positioning electrification at the center of its decarbonization roadmap for long-haul transport, regional distribution, and mining. During the ... [continued]

Major companies like Volvo see where our energy future is headed, and progress won’t be stopped by fossil-fueled politicians. That’s why they’re invested in zero-emission vehicles at all levels -not just sedans and passenger cars, but heavy duty equipment too.

Renewable Energy and National Security The wind and the sun don’t need to transit the Strait of Hormuz

Trump's Iran war makes the case for the energy transition to renewables for most countries much clearer and immediate. @pkrugman.bsky.social 1/

WA takes another step to link its carbon market with California and Quebec • Washington State Standard Both supporters and critics of Washington’s cap-and-trade program say combining markets would benefit the state. 

Washington takes another step towards linking carbon markets with California and Quebec

Washington lawmakers are preparing to redirect climate funds for unrelated expenses, which would break trust with a majority of voters, who overwhelmingly voted to support the Climate Commitment Act on the ballot. Tell them to keep their commitment and protect CCA funds! climatesolutions.sec...

Is a Gas-Station-Free Future Possible? Environmentalists are advocating for clean energy infrastructure despite Trump’s push for more fossil fuels

Gas station sites are contamination zones. People living nearby suffer health consequences, so does the soil beneath it. Students in California aren’t just dreaming about a fossil-fuel free future, they’re demanding it from their local governments.
www.sierraclub.org/sierra/gas-s...

Bill moves forward despite concerns over Safe Routes and rail program funding Robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Oregon built a massive road system it can’t afford. Now the state is raiding funds for child safety, passenger rail, and community paths to pay for it. This forces Oregonians who don’t drive to pay for a road debt they didn’t create. Read what we have to say: bikeportland.org/202... #ORpol #ORleg

Let's secure an affordable and reliable energy grid for Washington's future! Contact your representative ahead of a key #WALeg hearing on electricity transmission Thursday morning: climatesolutions.secure.nonprofitsoapbox.com/transmission...

The Trump EPA & Administrator Lee Zeldin’s Make America Hazardous Again agenda, by the numbers.

This 🧵 examines the 1st reported air pollution data from Trump’s 1st year—using EPA’s own data—showing the harmful impacts of the Trump-Zeldin reckless & dirty, pro-fossil fuel rollbacks & policies. 1/

Very frustrating.

#WALeg missed an opportunity to protect energy affordability, grid reliability, and clean energy in data centers. Lobbying by , tech firms helped to stop legislative action this year. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

Washington state’s data center regulation bill fails following pushback from tech industry Microsoft last week publicly came out in opposition to the bill.

Washington legislators failed to advance a data center bill designed to protect communities from higher electricity prices, grid blackouts, and environmental impacts. Tech firms lobbied against the bill, and the Senate did not act on it.

I interviewed @antoniajuhasz.bsky.social after Trump attacked Venezuela about the role of fossil fuels and the companies that profit from them during war -- her insights are more relevant every day. Give her a read and a follow

Oregonians, are you tired of our communities bearing the financial burden of the #ClimateCrisis while megapolluters rake in profits? Write to your lawmakers today and urge them to make polluters pay:

bit.ly/mpp-email #ClimateAction #orpol #orleg

Disruptions of oil supply chains in the Middle East are likely to impact fossil fuel energy costs as far away as the Pacific Northwest, despite the fact that the region gets most of its gasoline from U.S. and Canadian sources. www.seattletimes.com/business/mid...

War With Iran Isn’t Just an Oil Story The U.S.-Israeli campaign will have, if anything, bigger implications for liquified natural gas.

War with Iran has big implications for oil markets — but it might have even bigger implications for natural gas.

@zeitlin.bsky.social explains:

heatmap.news/energy/iran-...

Tech firms in WA committed to have their large data centers pay their own way, protect the environment, and shield consumers from price hikes. But behind the scenes, they're fighting to stop sensible regulations that would actually accomplish those goals. www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news...

¡An electrifying performance! Puerto Rico’s energy issues in the national spotlight | Climate Solutions As the resident Boricua on the Climate Solutions staff, I’m going to have to talk about that Super Bowl halftime show! At our energy-focused organization, all my coworkers were giddy about the spotlight on energy infrastructure; I would be giddy with them if it weren’t for the failure it represented.

Recently, the Super Bowl halftime show featured the energy crisis in Puerto Rico, hometown of Climate Solutions' very own Juan Muñoz. In our new blog, he shares his perspective and explains why #CleanEnergy is necessary for survival.

Tech firms in WA committed to have their large data centers pay their own way, protect the environment, and shield consumers from price hikes. But behind the scenes, they're fighting to stop sensible regulations that would actually accomplish those goals. www.seattletimes.com...

Larry Ellison won. Will climate journalism lose? The great infotainment wars aren't just a Hollywood story or a media story. They're a climate story.

Wrote about the future of CNN's climate journalism under Paramount's ownership. If Bari Weiss gets involved, and does anything like what she did at CBS, it won't be good. www.climatecoloredgoggles.com/p/larry-elli...

Trump administration eases limits on coal plants for emitting mercury, other toxins The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday weakened limits on mercury and other toxic emissions from coal-fired power plants.

Coal plants don’t just spew dirty, climate-warming pollution, but they’re also the largest human source of mercury pollutants.

A 2012 EPA rule helped reduce mercury pollution by 90% ‼️ But the current coal-loving administration intends to weaken this standard