Energy

Compressed Air Technology To Store Wind Energy

Courtney Flatt — Fri, 24 May 2013 23:48:12 +0000

Renewable energy storage is one step closer becoming a reality in the Northwest. Researchers are proposing a new system that could store enough wind energy to power 80,000 homes for a month. But researchers aren’t proposing fields lined with batteries. They’re using some of the Columbia River Basin’s natural geography and compressed air.

Portable Wind Turbines Bring Renewable Energy To Cities

Courtney Flatt — Thu, 16 May 2013 01:49:39 +0000

Tall, noisy wind turbines may not go over well in some urban areas. A Northwest company has developed residential-sized turbines to push renewable energy to cities. The portable turbines could also generate power during disasters.

Grays Harbor Signs Option To Lease For Train-To-Barge Oil Facility

Ashley Ahearn — Fri, 12 Apr 2013 13:54:26 +0000

The Port of Grays Harbor near Aberdeen has announced an agreement to lease property for a crude oil unloading and storage facility. The oil would arrive by train and then be loaded on to barges bound for refineries on the West coast. Ashley Ahearn reports for EarthFix.

Columbia River Treaty Public Meetings Begin In Spokane

Courtney Flatt — Thu, 11 Apr 2013 13:43:35 +0000

A decades-long treaty between the United States and Canada will soon be up for renewal. It governs power management and flood control in the Columbia River Basin. Next year is the first time in 50 years either country can end or revise the treaty.

Biorefinery Lays Off Eastern Oregon Workers

Courtney Flatt — Mon, 01 Apr 2013 23:50:04 +0000

An eastern Oregon biofuel plant has announced it’s laying off workers. The news comes three weeks after it began producing ethanol.

Kitzhaber, Inslee Push For Emissions Accounting For Coal Export Proposals

Amelia Templeton — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:26:18 +0000

Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber and Washington Governor Jay Inslee continue to push for a tougher federal review of proposed coal export terminals in the Northwest. Monday the governors sent a letter to the President’s top environmental advisors, asking them to consider the impact of coal exports on the climate. Amelia Templeton of Earthfix reports.

An Electric Vehicle Charger To Help Balance The Grid

Courtney Flatt — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 23:33:38 +0000

Charging your electric vehicle could help balance the grid and save you money. Northwest researchers have developed a smart charger to do just that.

Voices Of Coal: Rail Town Mayor

Toni Tabora-Roberts — Fri, 08 Mar 2013 14:55:43 +0000

This week we’re bringing you our special EarthFix series, "Voices of Coal."

Each day we'll hear from someone with a personal stake in the Northwest's debate over coal export terminals.

Trains hauling coal from mines in Wyoming and Montana would pass through Camas, a Columbia River town just east of Vancouver.

Malheur County Geothermal Plant Exceeding Expectations

David Nogueras — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 01:07:14 +0000

Operators of a geothermal power plant in Malheur County say that facility is producing more electricity than originally anticipated.

Shell Cancels Arctic Oil Drilling

John Ryan — Thu, 28 Feb 2013 14:33:05 +0000

Shell Oil has put Arctic drilling on hold. The company announced Wednesday that it will not attempt to drill for oil in the Arctic Ocean this year. The announcement comes after a year of accidents and setbacks for Shell’s Arctic drilling efforts. KUOW’s John Ryan reports from Seattle.