Clean Energy Blog
Stay up to date on the latest news related to clean energy in our region and beyond.
Electric Bills on the Rise, Data Centers Share the Blame
Google data center in The Dalles, Oregon, sits on the banks of the Columbia River. (Credit: Google) As electric bills increase, states are under pressure to protect regular household and business ratepayers. The actual effect of data centers on electricity bills is...
The future of offshore and onshore wind power
The world's leading wind power experts were asked to predict what the industry will look like in 2035. The results from those surveyed indicate that wind power development projects will more frequently be paired with batteries or hydrogen production. Also, cost...
‘Troops to Energy Jobs’ virtual career fair, May 24
The energy industry has a large need for skilled trade professionals, engineers, technicians, plant operators, cybersecurity experts, and business professionals. The Center for Energy Workforce Development (CEWD) is hosting a free, virtual career fair recruitment...
EV GRID Act addresses the increasing demand for electric vehicle charging infrastructure
The Electric Vehicle Grid Readiness, Improvement, and Development Act (EV GRID Act) was recently introduced in the U.S. Legislature to meet the increasing electricity demand of the electric vehicle charging infrastructure. The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act...
Seattle community gains power reliability via solar and battery storage systems
A project funded by a Clean Energy Fund grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce is bringing higher power reliability to a Seattle community by keeping a microgrid facility energized during a power outage. The Miller Community Center microgrid project...
Making the West Coast a ‘floating wind technology capital of the world’
Floating wind turbines could solve the technological challenges that topographical features along the West Coast present, such as the deep drop in water depth along its continental shelves. The Department of the Interior announced this week that the Bureau of Ocean...
March winds make wind power the second largest source of electricity generation in one day
Wind first ranked as the second-largest source of U.S. electricity generation for an hour in late March 2021. On March 29, 2022, wind turbines in the Lower 48 states produced 2,017 gigawatthours (GWh) of electricity, making wind the second-largest source of electric...
Floating offshore wind industry becoming more competitive
As the offshore wind industry is becoming increasingly competitive, the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management (BOEM) is set to hold its first lease auctions for rights to develop waters off the Pacific Coast this fall. Interest in California offshore wind leases is...
Turning methane from Washington landfills into biofuels
Washington state aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and one way is to capture natural gas emissions at landfills and to use the methane for biofuels. State legislation to reduce emissions would require methane collection systems at large landfills. A capture...
Clean energy company to develop green portable energy generators, produce electro-fuels for Port of Tacoma
OCOchem Inc., a clean energy company in Tacoma, WA, was awarded $1.5 million to develop green portable energy generators and produce electro-fuels for use at the Port of Tacoma. The grant awarded is among the latest round of $8.5 million in state Clean Energy Fund...