Local ski area aren't impressing The Ski Area Citizens' Coalition. Last week we wrote about 49 Degrees North and Mt. Spokane ski areas endorsing the National Ski Area Association’s (NSSA) Sustainable Slopes initiative, “a framework for improving the environmental performance of the ski industry." Then came a recent report from the Ski Area Citizens' Coalition, a group that rates the environmental friendliness of ski areas in the West, that the 2 local Spokane-area ski resorts are rated among the 10 worst ski resorts for environmental friendliness because of plans to expand "outside the existing area footprint." The report cites recent developments as the core for the low marks, including 257 acres of forest vegetation cleared for expansion at 49 Degrees North and Mt. Spokane's planned Master Development Plan that would create 333 acres of new terrain and potentially disrupt a thriving wildlife corridor. To read more about the failing grades read HEREUPDATE: Avista delays first wind farm development. Some bad news for those who want quick, local alternative energy: Avista is putting a wind farm on hold for at least two years because of high costs. Located five miles south of Reardan, the $125 million farm is now scheduled to begin operating by the end of 2013 with a capacity of 50 megawatts of power, enough for 37, 500 homes. According to the Northwest Power Planning Council, more than 40 new wind facilities are planned or under construction in the Northwest. That's a very good thing considering it was only in 2006, Washington voters passed a law requiring utilities to get 15 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. Currently, we’re at about 3 percent. Let’s hope the rest of the state realizes the immediacy and efficiency of wind power. More.
The DTE blog is committed to reporting and sharing environmental news and sustainability information from across the Inland Northwest.
UPDATE: Avista delays first wind farm development. Some bad news for those who want quick, local alternative energy: Avista is putting a wind farm on hold for at least two years because of high costs. Located five miles south of Reardan, the $125 million farm is now scheduled to begin operating by the end of 2013 with a capacity of 50 megawatts of power, enough for 37, 500 homes. According to the Northwest Power Planning Council, more than 40 new wind facilities are planned or under construction in the Northwest. That's a very good thing considering it was only in 2006, Washington voters passed a law requiring utilities to get 15 percent of their energy from renewable sources by 2020. Currently, we’re at about 3 percent. Let’s hope the rest of the state realizes the immediacy and efficiency of wind power. More.
