Another Green Monday
For most, the changing of the seasons is identified more by traditional events than changing weather patterns or months and numbers on a calendar. Which if you've lived in Spokane over the last two years you can attest to - snow in June last year, 90-degree weather in May this year. So for most younger folks out there who have gone through their prom and graduations in the last few weeks, summer has begun. And the same holds true with DTE as we attended our prom over the weekend - and what a prom it was! So now begins our summer season, a summer that will likely prove significant in Spokane's political future, and without doubt will give us something to talk about each week. So while a lot of your attention might have been turned to foreign affairs this week, here are a few stories you might have missed.
We've signed climate change petitions, but that doesn't make us scientists. Former Spokane mayor Dennis Hession announced last week that he has applied to be the top administrator at the Environmental Protection Agency’s Region 10, which covers Washington, Idaho, Oregon and Alaska. And what is Hession hanging his hat on in terms of his environmental record - but his signing of the U.S. Mayors Climate Protection Agreement. This would only be better if he talked about his "work" at the Spokane River Cleanup Event in 2007. Read more on Hession HERE.
Whoops, they did it again. Well not yet anyways, but Energy Northwest is shopping around the idea to build a nuclear plant in the Pacific Northwest. According to the AP, "in a May 27 letter obtained by The Associated Press, the consortium asked each of its 25 member public utilities and municipalities to pitch in $25,000 for further research into building one or more small reactors." Energy Northwest, which used to be called the Washington Public Power Supply System, or WPPSS, is probably most well known for ambitiously proposing five nuclear plants in the early 80's (and just building one), and spawning what was then the largest municipal bond default in U.S. history. Thus forcing them to change their name from WPPSS when people started calling them "whoops". DTE's stance is that nuclear isn't the answer, regardless if it's carbon-free. Read more about this story HERE.
Here's a little more on energy. Governor Chris Gregoire, along with the governors of Montana, Oregon, and Idaho have signed a letter to the U.S. Secretary of Energy supporting funding for the Bonneville Power Administration to study technologies for integrating wind and other renewable energy into the Northwest power grid. Here's Governor Gregoire's comments, "The Northwest states have made huge progress in developing renewable power. We need to continue to build on that momentum. With funding from the Department of Energy, we should be able to prepare the ground work to get even more renewable power into the grid and make it usable for families and businesses. I look forward to working with Bonneville and our neighboring states to grow our renewable power industry and better serve our communities.” Read more about this HERE.
No more drip at Starbucks. Relax, we're not talking about the coffee, but the constant stream of running water that Starbucks was discovered for being guilty of back in October. If you recall, The Sun, a British tabloid, accused Starbucks fo wasting some 6.2 million gallons of water a day by having thier employees keep a constant flow of water into a sink to wash spoons that are used in preparing drinks. Well not anymore as the coffee giant has agreed to change its practices which they estimate will save about 150 gallons of water a day per store. Read more about this HERE.
Here's a little more on water. Major environmental players in the Obama Administration have declared support for Congressional efforts to restore federal jurisdiction over all wetlands and streams in an attempt to restore the broad scope of the Clean Water Act. Two recent Supreme Court decisions have narrowed the reach of the law due to unclear language, but bills currently in congress would help clear that help, and strengthen protections. Read more in a New York Times editorial HERE. 
The Great Indoors. It’s a fact that always frightens us: The EPA says indoor air can be two-to-five times more polluted than the air outdoors. Of course, it’s a problem that's largely up to homeowners themselves to solve. Over at The Daily Green, you’ll find a list of indoor air pollutions sources to consider, and also check out 25 Indoor Air Quality Tips from the American Lung Association.
“Healing or Stealing?” Julie Goltz, the finance manager at the Center For Justice, attended her son’s graduation ceremony from the University of Portland last month where Blessed Unrest author Paul Hawken gave an inspiring commencement speech. Reporting back, she told C for J, “We have entered the ranks of parents with a college graduate. Though many of these grads may not yet fully know what their next steps are, the soulful commencement address by Paul Hawken was a reminder of the amazing wonder of this earth, this life, with little wonder at what must be done by these creative, energetic, and committed young adults.” Titled “Healing or Stealing,” please read the full text HERE.
