en-us Copyright Sightline Daily - all rights reserved newsfeeds@sightline.org newsfeeds@sightline.org Most recent headlines about Energy and Washington from Sightline Daily, the Northwest news that matters http://daily.sightline.org Plone http://daily.sightline.org/logo.gif 427 69 If it seems like you're buying less gas these days, you're probably right. A new study from a Seattle-based sustainability think tank finds total gasoline consumption across the Northwest dropped sharply last year. In fact, per-capita gasoline use has dropped in 8 of the last 9 years, and it's now at its lowest level since 1965. http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain/article/0/1/1524886/KPLU.Local.News/Study.Finds.Northwest.Using.Less.gas Energy Sprawl & Transportation Cascadia Idaho Oregon Washington 07/02/2009 KPLU Idaho, Washington, and Oregon drivers cut back their per-capita gasoline consumption by 5 percent in 2008. Total gasoline consumption in the three states fell about 180 million gallons between 2007 and 2008, the largest drop since 1980, according to a new study from Sightline Institute. http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/820612.html Energy Sprawl & Transportation Cascadia Idaho Oregon Washington 07/01/2009 Boise Idaho Statesman Tracking energy use is the first step toward reducing your carbon footprint and saving money on your utility bill. Now, Microsoft is coming out with free software that let's you analyze how your home uses energy. It's called Hohm: a combination of "home" and "ohm," the unit for measuring electrical resistance. http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain/article/0/1/1522980/KPLU.Local.News/Microsoft.and.Utilities.Team.Up.on.Energy.Tracking.Software. Climate Economy Efficiency Energy Environment Solutions Sustainable Living Washington 06/28/2009 KPLU It has been a roller-coaster year for anyone concerned about climate change. The Western Climate Initiative is stalled and federal legislation has an uncertain future. But Washington state could make strides to reduce carbon emissions by repealing the state property tax and imposing a carbon tax shift modeled on British Columbia's. http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2009396163_guests29flory.html?syndication=rss Cap and Trade Climate Economy Efficiency Energy Environment Green Taxes Policy Pollution & Toxics United States Washington 06/29/2009 Seattle Times Owners of gas-slurping vehicles will soon get an offer President Barack Obama and a nation of auto dealers hopes they won't refuse: a promise to knock up to $4,500 off the price of a new fuel-efficient car if the owner trades in their old wheels. But some argue it's less about reducing carbon emissions than selling new cars. http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090629/NEWS01/706299960/-1/RSS02 Cap and Trade Climate Economy Efficiency Energy Environment Pollution & Toxics Sprawl & Transportation US Northwest United States Washington 06/29/2009 Everett Herald Just a couple of years ago, ethanol and biodiesel were celebrated as homegrown alternatives to foreign oil. But now, not so much. Policymakers are starting to pay attention to long-standing criticisms of crop-based fuels, and even green-minded cities like Seattle are backing away. http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105988831 Climate Economy Energy Environment Food & Farms Forests Policy Washington 06/28/2009 NPR With a $225,000 state trips-reduction grant, organizers of the Green Bike Project handed out 200 free bikes, some gear and training lessons. About 265 people, who enlisted through 25 employers from King County, joined the Washington program, which began last August. Thursday, they celebrated their miles logged and pounds lost. http://www.seattlepi.com/transportation/407626_bike26.html?source=rss Energy Human Health Sprawl & Transportation Washington 06/26/2009 Seattle Post-Intelligencer It's awfully hard to compete against the cheap, government subsidized electricity produced by the Pacific Northwest hydropower system. This appears to be the emerging lesson of entrepreneurs looking offshore and at hilltops as areas to place wave and wind turbines. http://www.dailyastorian.com/Main.asp?SectionID=23&ArticleID=62030 Climate Energy Oregon US Northwest Washington 06/25/2009 Astoria Daily Astorian A proposed wind farm near White Salmon, Washington would obstruct views of the Columbia Gorge National Scenic Area, according to a National Park Service official. That news comes as residents in eastern Oregon push back against wind turbines there. http://news.opb.org/article/5305-northwest-communities-push-back-against-wind-power/ Climate Energy Oregon Washington 06/25/2009 Oregon Public Broadcasting