Journal Archives

I said oooooh, it’s hot in here!*

Posted by Bonnie Frye Hemphill on 01 March 09, 04:54 PM

I don’t know how to scale this PowerShift thing for you. There are a dozen thousand students here. Folks hail from western tribes, from slums and from suburbs, from trade schools and law schools and high schools and universities, from football teams and hipster music scenes. And the unifying stomach-tightness is a Get-Shit-Done exuberance beyond measure. As individuals and en masse, this crew is not only passionate but also eminently capable. I’m hearing new campus campaigns born in the hallways between events, media interviews in every back corner, and connections made across stat… Read more ›

PowerShift: It’s a big deal.

Posted by Bonnie Frye Hemphill on 27 February 09, 11:05 AM

I’ve been in DC less than 12 hours, but talk of PowerShift is everywhere. On my connecting flight through Kansas City, Missouri, I heard a junior environmental studies major use glowing terms to describe where she’s going, who she’s meeting this weekend, and why thousands of other students are making the pilgrimage, too. Her seatmate was impressed.On the Metro platform, I started chatting with a guy who turns out to work for USAID. “Oh, yeah, I keep hearing about this PowerShif thing. I work on international development. All I can say is, Keep it up, you guys – the world needs you.”And just now, I walked into a Columbi… Read more ›

“It begins with energy”: Obama’s vision and Northwest action

Posted by Andy Grow on 25 February 09, 07:05 PM

By KC Golden, Climate Solutions’ Policy Director In his first address to Congress last night, President Obama called on Congress to get serious about building our clean energy future by passing legislation to cap climate pollution and drive investment in clean energy. But this bold vision won’t build itself. Now more than ever, leading states like Washington and Oregon need to keep forging ahead to deliver strong state policies and build national momentum. The President has wasted no time in launching a bold American transition to a clean energy economy. The stimulus package kick-started the transition with over $90… Read more ›

[Video] Inslee talks clean jobs and stimulus dollars in Washington state

Posted by Charles on 20 February 09, 02:38 PM

Rep. Jay Inslee is enthusiastic about the clean tech job provisions in the stimulus package.  Video available here (from a talk in Seattle earlier this week) body { background: #FFF; } Read more ›

Upcoming Events in Climate and Clean-Energy Business

Posted by Bonnie Frye Hemphill on 20 February 09, 12:35 PM

Recharging the Energy Sector: 2009 Economic Stimulus Package OpportunitiesPanel & cocktail reception hosted by Davis Wright Tremaine and Cascadia Capital February 24: 4-6:30pmDavis Wright Tremaine (1201 Third Avenue, Suite 2200, Seattle, WA 98101)The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 includes billions of dollars in tax incentives and investment programs targeting renewable energy, energy efficie… Read more ›

Green spending in stimulus marks a critical first step, but comprehensive climate legislation is needed to maintain progress toward a clean energy economy

Posted by Charles on 18 February 09, 10:28 PM

An estimated 30,100 jobs are created for every billion that is spent building the green economy in the stimulus package, according to a recent study by the Peterson Institute for International Economics (link).  But while these programs mark and unprecedented and crucial step toward a new green economy and will help with the recovery from the current recession, we cannot rely on them to reduce global warming pollution without strong policy action. The billions in spending for renewable energy and energy efficiency, the study argues, will d… Read more ›

Dramatic costs of climate change in Washington highlighted in new study

Posted by Charles on 18 February 09, 12:29 PM

“There will be no business-as-usual economy in Washington under a business-as-usual approach to climate change.”  That was the stark conclusion in report released yesterday from the University of Oregon Program for Climate Economics.   The report documents the economic costs to Washington state of inaction on climate change.  “Our research found that a failure to reduce greenhouse gas emissions would produce significant and continually rising costs for Washington households and businesses,” said Center Director Bob Doppelt.  Specifically, the report concludes that by 2020 Washington will face $3.8 billion per year in … Read more ›

Stimulus Package Marks New Day for Clean Economy Programs

Posted by Ross Macfarlane on 14 February 09, 06:21 PM

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, HR 1, is an unprecedented response to our mounting economic crisis. It also marks an unprecedented investment in clean energy, efficiency, sustainable transportation and green jobs for America’s future. All told, the package includes $71 billion for clean energy programs, which more than triples current levels fo spending. It also contains $20 billion in tax incentives for renewables and energy efficiency. All told, it represents a significant downpayment on the needed investment in a 21st century clean energy infrastructure. The bill contains significant opportunities for No… Read more ›

State Report emphasizes huge potential for green economic growth in Washington

Posted by Charles on 11 February 09, 03:56 PM

The Washington State Dept of Community, Trade, and Economic Development (CTED) has circulated the discussion draft of an upcoming report, “Washington’s Green Economy: A Strategic Framework”. This report reinforces and relies heavily on Climate Solutions’ “Carbon-Free Prosperity 2025” publication, which detailed the potential for job growth in targeted clean tech industries.Echoing Carbon Free Prosperity, the CTED report cites solar manufacturing, wind power development, green-building design, bioenergy, and smart-grid technology as areas where Washington has significant opportunitie… Read more ›

New Microsoft software allows companies to track energy use and greenhouse gas emissions

Posted by Charles on 10 February 09, 04:00 PM

Local software giant, Microsoft, announced a tool yesterday that will allow businesses  to better measure their energy consumption and target opportunities to reduce wasted energy and dollars using the new Environmental Sustainability Dashboard.  Rob Bernard, Microsoft’s Chief Environmental Strategist pointed out that businesses that eliminate unnecessary energy expenditures will “benefit both their bottom line and the environment”.   Many studies have shown that a large percentage of emissions reductions save companies money.  The platform is especially targeted at small to medium-sized business, since they can use i… Read more ›