Working to keep the West special

News on Climate Action, page 8

In unusual move, West joins global-warming fight, Salt Lake Tribune, June 20, 2007 and Western states develop energy, ask for help, Casper Star Tribune, June 12, 2007.  The Western Governors Association releases a progress report on its goal  to add 30,000 megawatts of new "clean and diversified" energy generation by 2015. Western states are on track to surpass the goal and could add up to 80,000 megawatts by 2015, if the federal government would better cooperate. The bi-partisan consensus of western governors is apparent: Utah’s Republican Governor John Huntsman, Jr., says "If we do this right, our citizens are going to have a better quality of life, we're going to spawn new technologies and industries, and we're going to leave our most important belongings in better shape for the next generation."   Montana’s Democratic Governor Brian Schweitzer says, "Western states are serious about the development of domestic renewable energy. Congress, as usual, is talking about it. We need action." 

Global warming threatens alternative-oil projects, Christian Science Monitor, July 6, 2007.  California is addressing the consequences associated with the alternative fossil fuels described in the report referenced above by requiring energy producers to include full life cycle costs, including extraction and transportation of fuels, in complying with its new low carbon fuel standard. The state has broadened the reach of the standard by negotiating agreements with Ontario and British Columbia to also adhere to it.

Carbon sequestration in the news:

  • Power plant would bury greenhouse gas, Seattle Times, July 5, 2007. A Washington state company plans to test a new technology to sequester a new coal-fired power plant’s carbon dioxide emissions beneath volcanic basalt layers, potentially reducing emissions by 65%.
  • CO2 seen as key to increasing oil production, Billings Gazette, June 26, 2007. The Wyoming Enhanced Oil Recovery Institute estimates that some 20 trillion cubic feet of CO2 could be sequestered in Wyoming's oil basins, which would bolster the steadily declining production from standard low pressure wells.

Skies may power state's surge, Denver Post, June 25, 2007. “[Colorado’s] green-minded leaders pulled off the most dramatic shift in renewable-energy policy in the nation this year,” according to Ned Farquhar of the Natural Resources Defense Council. The state seems well positioned to catch up with or even surpass other states that are years ahead.

Air board acts on greenhouse gas rules, Los Angeles Times, June 22, 2007. The California Air Resources Board takes a careful, measured approach in implementing rules on low carbon fuels, automobile air-conditioning refrigerants, and methane gas capture at landfills.

Alta buys more renewable energy , Salt Lake Tribune, June 16, 2007. The town of Alta follows the lead of other ski towns by purchasing 30% of its energy from renewable sources and by joining the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Green Power Partnership.

Oregon passes one of nation's toughest renewable energy standards, Associated Press, June 7, 2007. Oregon Governor Kulongoski signs into law a requirement that large utilities generate 25% of their power from renewable sources by 2025.

California sees sprawl as warming culprit, USA Today, June 6, 2007. In California, the state is suing San Bernardino County for failing to account for greenhouse gases as pollutants when updating its 25-year blueprint for growth.

Every one of the 11 western continental U.S. states now has either a climate action plan in place or is in the process of developing one, with the recent additions of Idaho (Governor Establishes State Policy on Reducing Greenhouse Gases, media release, May 16, 2007) and Nevada (Governor Gibbons Creates Climate Change Advisory Committee, media release, April 10, 2007).  Additional state actions around the West:

  • States vie with US over emissions rules, Christian Science Monitor, May 29, 2007, and Colorado lawmakers support California's push for emissions limits, Associated Press, May 30, 2007. Led by California, states challenge the EPA to grant a waiver for approval of California’s first-ever standards for limits on greenhouse gas emissions from new cars and trucks. Many other states have signed up to adopt the California standards. Under the federal Clean Air Act, EPA has to decide whether the California standards are needed in the state to deal with an “extraordinary and compelling” situation. A recent U.S. Supreme Court decision compels EPA to act on the California waiver request, but does not tell the agency what to decide.
  • State acts to limit use of coal power, Los Angeles Times, May 24, 2007. California forbids utilities from signing new contracts with coal-fired power plants unless they eliminate greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Climate change: Guvs to team up, Salt Lake Tribune, May 20, 2007. Governor Huntsman signs Utah on to the Western Regional Climate Action Initiative.
  • Lawmakers OK 'clean and green' energy bill, Great Falls Tribune, May 16, 2007. Montana gives tax incentives for coal-fired power plants that sequester carbon and transmission lines that carry renewable energy sources.

Frontier weighs plan to 'offset' pollution, Rocky Mountain News, June 2, 2007. Frontier Airlines prepares to launch a voluntary program for customers to purchase carbon offsets for their flights.

Western states are in the lead as the U.S. attains the fastest growing wind power capacity in the world:

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