It's being called revolutionary by some, reckless by others. A proposed tidal energy project in the Salish Sea is facing fierce pushback from environmental groups and the Swinomish Tribe. They say the technology could endanger the region’s last remaining Southern Resident killer whales.
At the center of it all — a utility company trying to prevent blackouts before the lights go out for good.
The project, spearheaded by the Orcas Power and Light Cooperative (OPALCO), would install a massive tidal turbine—roughly the size of a Boeing 747—in the Rosario Strait, a narrow waterway between Blakely and Cyprus Islands frequented by boaters and home to endangered southern resident killer whales.
"This is a huge piece of equipment," said Sheri Tarantino, executive director of the advocacy group Orca Conservancy. "It could definitely mask their search for food."
Tarantino, a vocal opponent, has called the proposal "incompetent" and "outrageous," warning, "This project, with it only powering 400 homes, to me, is just another nail in the coffin for the southern resident killer whale population."
A new female orca has joined a local Southern Resident pod off the west side of San Juan Island.
The Center for Whale Research confirmed the gender of the new calf named J62 in J pod on Feb. 15. The center first spotted J62 at the beginning of January, bringing the total population of the pod to 26.
Researchers said in the Feb. 8 spotting that J62 seemed to be doing well, “bouncing around” between J41 and the others. Meanwhile J35, the mother that was carrying her dead calf’s body late last year, was no longer carrying the carcass.
The team of researchers said that the group seemed to be in social spirits, with J62 doing belly rolls that allowed the crew to confirm the calf’s gender.
By MICHAEL R. BLOOD @ AP News
Updated 4:07 PM PST, January 30, 2025
LOS ANGELES -- What was once the world's largest solar power plant of its type appears headed for closure just 11 years after opening, under pressure from cheaper green energy sources. Meanwhile, environmentalists continue to blame the Mojave Desert plant for killing thousands of birds and tortoises.
The Ivanpah solar power plant formally opened in 2014 on roughly 5 square miles of federal land near the California-Nevada border. Though it was hailed at the time as a breakthrough moment for clean energy, its power has been struggling to compete with cheaper solar technologies.
Pacific Gas & Electric said in a statement it had agreed with owners — including NRG Energy Inc. — to terminate its contracts with the Ivanpah plant. If approved by regulators, the deal would lead to closing two of the plant's three units starting in 2026. The contracts were expected to run through 2039.
Everett, WA – Today, U.S. Senator Patty Murray (D-WA), Chair of the Senate Appropriations Committee, visited Helion Energy’s cutting-edge fusion energy research and manufacturing facility in Everett. Murray toured the Helion facilities and met with staff to discuss their groundbreaking work to harness fusion technology as a source of clean electricity. Murray discussed the transformative possibilities of fusion energy and talked about the Fusion Energy Act, legislation she was a lead sponsor of, which will help support the development of commercial fusion facilities and was signed into law by President Biden earlier this month. Murray also discussed the billions she secured to propel clean energy solutions in this year’s spending package.
By TODD MYERS at Washington Policy Center
What does it cost to generate solar power in Seattle? Conrad Swanson, a writer at the Climate Lab project at the Seattle Times, claims to answer that question in a recent article.However, if you read the entire article, Swanson never provides an actual price, saying only that costs for solar have come down.
If you ask someone the price of something and they only say, “its cheaper than it was,” you can be pretty sure it is still expensive. Solar in Seattle – especially rooftop solar – is very expensive.
New initiative connects residents with free resources, including experts and tools, to get prepared for fire season.
Representatives from the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR) joined San Juan County fire district partners, emergency management, the National Park Service, and San Juan Islands Conservation District on Wednesday for the local launch of Wildfire Ready Neighbors – an initiative to help bolster community preparedness ahead of wildfire season.
“We’re excited to bring this much needed resource to San Juan County because no one is immune from the impacts of wildfire,” said Commissioner of Public Lands, Hilary Franz. “The San Juan Islands face a unique challenge as they are a designated wildland-urban interface, where our homes and development intersect with undeveloped and often dry wildland, creating a dangerous situation. With the population steadily growing, the time to make our homes wildfire ready is now.”
More Articles …
- EV sales in WA far short of state target. Ecology's application of the rule appears illegal.
- WDFW removing invasive pike after illegal introductions on San Juan Island and in Lake Washington
- ‘Environmental Pollutant’—How a Key Climate Agenda Tool Harms Endangered Species
- Fecal pollution threatens 15 popular shellfish harvest areas
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