Renewable energy

Northwest's Second Geothermal Power Plant Enters Service

Tom Banse — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 01:21:09 +0000

The Northwest's second geothermal power plant has entered service. A Boise-based company called U.S. Geothermal built the project at Neal Hot Springs, near the small town of Vale in eastern Oregon.

Creating Power From Wheat Straw

Courtney Flatt — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 13:20:24 +0000

Since 1978, one eastern Washington county has out-produced all other wheat-growing counties in the U.S. But what to do with all the leftover straw? Reporting for EarthFix, Courtney Flatt explains a group of students at Washington State University has found a way to provide power from farmers’ scraps.

An Underused Resource In Washington: Forest Biomass

Bellamy Pailthorp — Tue, 13 Mar 2012 23:11:09 +0000

Renewable energy is growing on trees in Washington, and right now, much of it is going up in smoke.

That’s the word from Commissioner of Public Lands Peter Goldmark, who has released the results of a study on forest biomass. Goldmark says industry is currently using only about a third of the woody biomass that could be sustainably harvested and then converted into liquid fuel or heat for electricity generation.

BPA Offers "Compromise" To Wind Energy Companies

Rob Manning — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:18:39 +0000

The Bonneville Power Administration has offered a solution for its dispute with wind energy producers. As Rob Manning reports, BPA's offer of compensation is not appeasing wind developers.