Earth Share of Washington

Clean Energy Options Break Through Cost Barriers

- submitted by Lisa Noble of ESW member group Northwest Energy Coalition

A study released last month by the Tellus Institute shows the Northwest can meet all of its growing need for electricity by increasing energy efficiency and investing in new sources of renewable power generation. Thanks to recent innovations, clean energy technologies are primed to compete with gas-fired power plants, the economic benchmark for new power generation. The results of the Tellus study cast doubt on the need for additional fossil fuel generation in the Northwest.

The study shows we can meet all of the Northwest's new power demand with cost competitive clean energy and even retire some existing power plants. The region will need about 5,300 average megawatts (aMW) of additional generation by 2020, enough juice to power nearly five cities the size of Seattle. The Tellus report shows we can slash that demand by 3,100 aMW through cost-effective conservation and generate 9,000 aMW with new wind, biomass and geothermal resources at prices comparable to what we would pay for new gas-fired generation.

Investing in energy efficiency and diversifying the Northwest energy mix with alternative sources offers clear environmental advantages, but will also act to stabilize energy prices and make the power supply more secure. Much like a diverse financial portfolio guards against the ups and downs of Wall Street, energy diversity mutes swings in the price and supply of any single resource.

Tellus identifies 14,431 aMW of potential energy available through conservation and renewable resources. Pulling out the most cost-effective conservation measures and competitively priced renewables yields just over 12,000 aMW, most of which costs 4.1 cents per kilowatt-hour or less. The cost of new gas-fired generation ranges between 3.5 cents and 4.0 cents per kilowatt-hour.

This report indicates that not only is shift to renewable energy the right thing to do, but that it is also an economically viable alternative. The Northwest is poised to lead the way in obtaining energy from the fast-growing supply of renewable power.

Read the full report of this study or learn more about Northwest Energy Coalition at http://www.nwenergy.org/

Audubon Washington Unveils First Birding Trail in State

Audubon Washington Unveils First Birding Trail in State
- submitted by ESW member group National Audubon Society, Washington State Office

Washington State and the National Audubon Society are proud to announce the first of six planned birding trails for Washington State. Birding Trails are actually driving trips with stops at special places where birds are most likely to be seen. Each stop describes the habitat, the birds you are likely to see in a particular season, where to look, and how to get from a main road to the location.

With 71 million people in America describing themselves as interested in bird watching, Birding Trails in other states have become big business. The Trails and their birds attract visitors to primarily rural locations, which spurs economic development and gives local residents increased incentive to safeguard the natural areas around their communities and region.

The first map of the Great Washington Birding Trail, the Cascade Loop, has just rolled off the presses. The full-color, fold-out map features original art work of birds and descriptions of 68 sites from Edmonds to the Skagit, across the mountains to Lake Chelan and back through Leavenworth. The first of six planned routes, the Cascades Loop features 225 of Washington's 365 bird species.

To order a copy of the Great Washington Birding Trail map, call 1-866-WA-BIRDS.

A Tale of Two Foxes

- submitted by naturalist Kevin Mack from ESW member group PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center

On November 11th a male red fox cautiously crept from a transport carrier in a wooded area near Gig Harbor. He was understandably wary as this was the first time he had experienced this much freedom of movement. The last time he was outside the confines of a cage, he was far too young to be away from a den. His former cage mate, a female red fox, was even more cautious as she watched his exploration from the relative safety of her own transport carrier.

Both of these foxes had arrived at PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center in the late spring. The male had been left on the doorstep of an Olympia veterinary clinic, and the female had been found on the beach about 200 yards from the clearing in which she now sat. They were both extremely young kits when they arrived at the PAWS Wildlife Center, and bore little resemblance to the striking animals they were on release day. During their stay at PAWS, the kits had transformed from two-pound fuzz balls with rounded faces and skinny tails into 15 pound animals exhibiting the familiar pointed snout and bushy tail of adult red foxes. The male was clearly the bolder of the two and the female was still hiding in her carrier as he disappeared from view.

After we repositioned her carrier a little closer to cover, the female fox exited and quickly entered the brush. She was deterred at first by a solid wall of blackberry bushes, but she made her way to a break in the bushes and followed a path out of sight. Although neither fox could be seen at that point, their progress could still be followed by the sound of Douglas squirrels and small birds that were protesting the two new additions to their neighborhood.

These foxes represent only two of the 4,400 animals that the PAWS Wildlife Department has received so far this year. Their release represents the best possible outcome for a wild animal undergoing rehabilitation. For PAWS, this is the end of the process. For the animal, this is a whole new beginning.

Learn more about PAWS Wildlife Rehabilitation Center at http://www.paws.org/wildlife/

Earth Saving Tips for Winter (part 1 of 2)

As you move inside this winter, don't let your energy dollars leak outside. By keeping your home insulated and well sealed, and by using energy wisely, you spend a warm, cozy - and affordable - winter at home. And by saving energy, you'll help reduce gases that contribute to global climate change and other environmental problems.
Here are some things you can do:

• Have your heating system inspected. Have a professional inspect and clean your furnace and ducts. If you have a forced-air furnace, check your filters and replace them as needed. Generally, they should be changed every month or two, especially during periods of high usage.
• Purchase a programmable thermostat. You can save as much as 10% a year on your heating bills by simply turning your thermostat back 10% to 15% for 8 hours. You can do this automatically without sacrificing comfort by installing a programmable thermostat.
• Check your insulation. This is one of the fastest and most cost-efficient ways to reduce energy waste and costs. You can increase the comfort of your home while reducing your heating and cooling needs by up to 30% simply by investing just a few hundred dollars in insulation and winterization products.
• Inspect your windows. There are a number of simple steps you can take to reduce the amount of heat lost through your windows. Be sure to close your curtains and shades at night; open them during the day so that you can benefit from the free solar heat. Keep windows on the south side of your house clean to maximize the amount of sunlight coming through them.

Check out next month's Earth Page for part two of our Earth Saving Tips for the Winter!

Cool Website

GreaterGood.com

Visit GreaterGood.com to shop for the holidays at hundreds of name brand stores and a portion of your purchase goes to the charity of your choice, at no extra charge! At their website, registration is free and you can pick the charity of your choice to receive up to 15% of your purchase $$$. You can shop at hundreds of stores like Amazon.com, REI.com, Dell Computers, and Nordstrom.com to name just a few.

Several Earth Share of Washington members can receive money through GreaterGood.com. The Nature Conservancy, Natural Resources Defense Council, and People for Puget Sound are just a few of the good environmental organizations to which you may designate. Put you holiday shopping $$$ to work for a good cause!