Public News Service

School districts across the nation spend $8 billion per year on energy costs. (naraichal/Adobe Stock)

Monday, September 16, 2024

As climate change ramps up, energy efficiency helps OR schools save money

Oregon students are back in the classroom, but their classrooms might not be as energy efficient or climate resilient as they should be. As the …

Food waste is the biggest source of methane emissions at landfills. (ArieStudio/Adobe Stock)

Report: Food banks work to prevent carbon emissions, globally

Food banks are helping to significantly decrease carbon emissions, according to a new report. The Global FoodBanking Network's annual impact report …

El desperdicio de alimentos es la mayor fuente de emisiones de metano en los basureros. (ArieStudio/Adobe Stock)

Informe: Bancos de alimentos evitan emisiones de carbono en todo el mundo

Los bancos de alimentos ayudan a reducir significativamente las emisiones de carbono, según un nuevo informe. El informe anual The Global …

Wildfire smoke can be especially hard for people with preexisting respiratory conditions. (Cavan/Adobe Stock)

Tips for protecting homes during OR's wildfire season

Wildfires have burned across Oregon this year, but a few tips could help people protect themselves against their damaging impacts. Fires have …

A dirty air filter can keep air conditioners from running optimally. (Kevin Brine/Adobe Stock)

Home cooling tips as hot summer days come to OR

As Oregon is seeing its first major heat event of the summer, some simple tips can help you keep your home cooler. Most of Oregon was under a heat …

The Climate Protection Program was adopted in Oregon in 2021 but invalidated in late 2023. (Cascadia Aerial/Adobe Stock)

Coalition forms to support restoration of OR Climate Protection Program

A diverse coalition of groups in Oregon is advocating for the restoration of the Climate Protection Program as the state works to reestablish it…

The phase-out of gas-powered leaf blowers in favor of electric in Portland begins ins 2026. (nieriss/Adobe Stock)

Portland turns down noise from gas-powered leaf blowers with phaseout

By Hannah Wallace for Reasons to be Cheerful.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Oregon News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Networ…

A new clinic on the Grand Ronde reservation includes solar panels so the building has power even during an outage. (Photo by Claire Carlson)

Clinic on OR reservation drives tribal self-reliance

By Claire Carlson for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Oregon News Service for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Collaborat…

Many Oregonians lack air conditioners even as extreme heat events increase in the state. (M-Production/Adobe Stock)

OR first in nation to use Medicaid dollars to protect against climate change

By Samantha Young for KFF Health News.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Oregon News Service reporting for the KFF Health News-Public News Servic…

The John Day Fossil Beds National Monument encompasses about 14,000 acres in east-central Oregon. (Zack Frank/Adobe Stock)

New BLM rules better protect national parks, supporters say

Conservation groups said two new federal rules aim to help better protect public lands, including national parks. The Bureau of Land Management's …

A proposed mining road would have been built near the Brooks Range in northwest Alaska. (Irenabyss/Adobe Stock)

Rejection of AK mining road seen as victory for national parks across U.S.

The Biden administration has blocked a mining road in Alaska and public lands proponents see the move as a win for national parks around the country…

The Snake River is the largest tributary to the Columbia River. (Sascha Burkard/Adobe Stock)

Carbon emissions found from Columbia River Basin dams

A new report found four dams in the Columbia River Basin are big emitters of methane. Research from the organization Tell The Dam Truth showed the …

Grants Pass, Oregon, is a rural community with a sustainability plan. However, local officials say the lack of dedicated staff to secure federal grants threatens the plan's success. (Claire Carlson/The Daily Yonder)

Century-old Grants Pass slogan takes on new meaning in era of climate change

By Claire Carlson, John Upton and Kaitlyn Trudeau for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Mark Richardson for Oregon News Service for the Public …

Oregon ranked behind California, Massachusetts and Vermont in a report on transportation spending policies. (Christopher Boswell/Adobe Stock)

Report: Oregon in top 5 for transportation spending policies

Oregon ranks in the top five in a new report measuring how states spend on transportation. With the passage of the Infrastructure Investment and …

The 2020 wildfire season was one of the most destructive in Oregon's history. (mdurson/Adobe Stock)

Longer wildfire seasons have mental-health impacts in rural America

By John Upton and Kaitlyn Trudeau for Climate Central and Claire Carlson for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Oregon News Serv…

An increase in wildfires has brought devastation to Oregon in recent years. (Victoria Schaal/Adobe Stock)

Inflation Reduction Act will improve national security, vet group says

A group of veterans is touting the national security benefits of the Inflation Reduction Act. The organization Elected Officials to Protect America …

Prices for 2.5 hour tickets on TriMet will increase from $2.50 to $2.80 in January. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Opponents Urge Alternative Ways to Fund Portland Public Transit

Despite an approved fare increase, a campaign continues to look for other ways to fund public transit in Portland. In front of crowd of loud …

Fire hardening a home also involves managing vegetation within 100 feet of the home. (jryanc10/Adobe Stock)

Hardening Homes Could Be More Effective Defense Against Wildfires

Wildfires are a growing threat in the Northwest and a lot of money is spent on fire suppression. But a less costly approach could be to make homes …

Highways are considered hot spots for soot pollution. (vit/Adobe Stock)

Critics: EPA's New Soot Standards Lag Behind Current Science

Clean-air advocates say a new air-quality standard from the federal government does not go far enough to protect the public. For the first time in a …

The Bonneville Power Administration has about 15,000 miles of transmission lines in the Northwest. (Cam/Adobe Stock)

Transmission Lines: Often Ignored, But Key to NW's Renewable Future

Oregon is pursuing an aggressive climate plan to switch to renewable energy sources, but it faces one often overlooked issue: enough high-voltage …

Youth climate councils have been established in cities including Portland and San Antonio. (Tamia Studio/Adobe Stock)

Youth Climate Councils Seek to Influence Local Governments

By Marianne Dhenin for Prism.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Oregon News Service reporting for the Solutions Journalism Network-Public News Se…

In Oregon, 36 building projects were LEED-certified in 2022. (Tada Images/Adobe Stock)

Oregon Ranks in Top 10 for Green Buildings

Oregon is high on the list of states focused on sustainable building practices, according to a new report. The state comes in at number 10 in U.S…

The Columbia River is renowned for its salmon and steelhead runs. In a year of good returns, over 1 million Chinook, coho and sockeye salmon, and summer steelhead travel up the river to spawn in its tributaries. (Adobe Stock)

New Columbia River Protections Under EPA Permits

The Environmental Protection Agency has ordered the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to stop oil and other toxic chemical discharges into the Columbia …

The Wheatridge Renewable Energy Facility has 300-megawatt wind farms and a 50-megawatt solar farm. (Chad/Adobe Stock)

Novel Solar-Wind-Battery Power Plant in OR a 'Needle Mover' for Renewables

A first-of-its-kind hybrid power plant with wind, solar and battery storage has opened in Oregon, and the plant could be a model as power grids …

The company Solectrac is providing the electric tractors for Oregon's

OR Farmers Can Test Out Electric Ag Vehicles with Rideshare Program

By Claire Carlson for The Daily Yonder.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Oregon News Service Service for the Public News Service/Daily Yonder Co…

La Perennial Wind Chaser Station propuesta era una central el�ctrica a base de gas que habr�a generado 415 megavatios de potencia. (Ranimi/Adobe Stock)

OR Desechados planes para construir planta de energía a base de gas

Oregón ha eliminado oficialmente una planta de energía a base de gas cerca del río Columbia. El Consejo de Ubicación de Energí…

The proposed Perennial Wind Chaser Station was a gas-fired power plant that would have generated 415 megawatts of power. (Ranimi/Adobe Stock)

OR Scraps Plans for Gas-Fired Power Plant

Oregon has officially axed a gas-fired power plant near the Columbia River. The Oregon Energy Facility Siting Council terminated the site …

Crater Lake National Park covers more than 180,000 acres in southern Oregon. (aiisha/Adobe Stock)

Public Lands Day Celebrates 'Spectacular' Landmarks in OR, U.S.

Saturday is National Public Lands Day, a celebration of national parks in the United States. People will be able to access national park lands for …

Electric bike sales outpaced electric cars sales in 2021. (aerogondo/Adobe Stock)

Local OR E-Bike Program Could Make for Easy Riding Across State

By Henry Houston for Eugene Weekly.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Oregon News Service with support from the Solutions Journalism Network It'…

Veterans are a greater part of the solar workforce than in any other energy industry. (hetmanstock2/Adobe Stock)

OR Elected Officials Urge Congressional Climate Action

Elected officials in Oregon and across the country are calling on Congress to speed up the transition to clean energy. At least 20 elected leaders in …

The Yaquina River is located on the central Oregon coast, meeting the Pacific Ocean near Newport. (Bobby Hayden)

Update to Old Estuary Plans Starts in OR with Yaquina River

Oregon's estuaries - the wetlands where the ocean meets rivers and streams - are rich habitat for wildlife, and they even store carbon from the …

Dioxins are called persistent organic pollutants (POPs), meaning they take a long time to break down once they are in the environment, according to the Environmental Protection Agency. (Adobe Stock)

OR Activists Seek Dioxin-Contamination Accountability in Low-Income Eugene

As a West Eugene wood-treatment facility continues the process of reducing operations, activists are seeking accountability for contamination that …

Six janitors, above, graduated from a 30-hour curriculum on green and sustainable practices. (Molly J. Smith/Adobe Stock)

OR Janitors Go Green with Sustainability Certification

Janitors in downtown Portland have received a unique certification that signals they're going green. Six janitors were certified through the green …

Salmon numbers in the Pacific Northwest could improve due to colder ocean temperatures. (Tyler Hulett/Adobe Stock)

Ocean Temperatures Favor Salmon, But Population Decline Still Concern

Recent data on ocean conditions could be good news for struggling salmon in the Northwest. But advocates for the species warn this isn't enough to …

Zenith Energy's facility is in Northwest Portland, with oil coming in by rail through the northern part of the city. (Rick Rappaport)

Blocked Portland Oil-By-Rail Facility Faces One More Test

An effort to block an oil-by-rail facility in Portland could be solidified this week. This summer, the city of Portland decided to deny a land-use …

Forests cover almost 29 million acres in Oregon, nearly half of the state. (Gerry/Adobe Stock)

Groups: OR Forestry Climate Plan Signals Commitment to Curb Climate Change

SALEM, Ore. -- The Oregon Department of Forestry recently approved its first Climate Change and Carbon Plan, to embrace climate-smart forest …

Beginning in 2024, manufacturers must increase their zero-emission truck sales to between 30% and 50% by 2030. (Renew Oregon)

Front-Line Communities Applaud OR "Clean Truck" Rules

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Communities on the front lines of climate change are expected to benefit most from new rules in Oregon to move the state toward …

Oregon has been hit with multiple devastating wildfire seasons. Some say action on climate change is needed to mitigate them. (tawatchai1990/Adobe Stock)

With COP26 in Full Swing, Advocates Push U.S. Climate Measure

PORTLAND, Ore. -- As leaders from around the world meet in Glasgow, the United States' plan to tackle climate change is coming into focus. The Build …

Electricity use is the second-largest source of carbon emissions in Oregon. (Beyond Toxics)

Groups Push for Stronger Action in OR Climate-Protection Program

Corrected 9/28/21, 2 p.m. MDT, to clarify that the Climate Protection Program was not directly created by executive order; and that it is unclear how …

Anglers in the Columbia River Basin have been packing up earlier than normal this year. (ftfoxfoto/Adobe Stock)

Columbia River Basin Closures Put Fishing Jobs 'On Hold'

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Closed fisheries from imperiled fish runs in the Columbia River Basin are prompting calls for action before it's too late. …

Research has found one hour of cooking can produce nitrous oxide levels that would be illegal if found outside. (avirid/Adobe Stock)

Air Quality Faces Dual Threats from Wildfires, Gas Appliances

PORTLAND, Ore. - Wildfire season has obvious effects on air quality outside, but hidden impacts on air quality also are lurking inside some homes…

As the Northwest feels the summer heat, salmon are struggling to migrate hundreds of miles upstream. (Conrad Gowell/Columbia Riverkeeper)

Northwesterners to Rally to Support Threatened Salmon

PORTLAND, Ore. -- Rallies are taking place across the Northwest to support salmon, which face dire conditions in the Columbia River Basin. Saturday…

Effects of Oregon's Bootleg Fire stretch all the way to the East Coast, with smoke carried thousands of miles by high-level winds.(Clandestino/Pixabay)

Experts: More Logging Won't Stop Oregon's Wildfires

PORTLAND, Ore. -- As the Bootleg fire burns in southern Oregon, the U.S. Senate is considering an infrastructure package that environmental …

Coastal Oregon communities like Yaquina Bay are in the process of updating their estuary management plans. (Jessica Miller/Oregon State University)

Eelgrass Research Could Help Guide OR Coastal Management

PORTLAND, Ore. -- A new study finds restoration of eelgrass, an important marine plant, depends mostly on where, rather than how. The findings could …

The South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve near Coos Bay supports 65 jobs. (Werewombat/Wikimedia Commons)

Report: Southern OR Coastal Reserve Has Big Local Impact

COOS BAY, Ore. -- A system of little-known public lands protecting sensitive coastal habitats generates big economic impacts for local communities…

This year, the entire state of Oregon is considered to be either in a drought or abnormally dry. (earagen/Adobe Stock)

Summer of Drought, Wildfires Could Devastate NW Salmon Species

PORTLAND, Ore. - There are signs this summer could be a bad one for the native salmon of the Northwest. Already, drought has gripped the region…

More than a million acres in Oregon burned during the 2020 wildfire season. (Larisa Bogardus/U.S. Bureau of Land Management)

Wildfire Awareness Month: OR Prepares for Fire Season

PORTLAND, Ore. -- May is Wildfire Awareness Month, and the western United States is preparing for an active year. Coming off a severe wildfire …

Carbon dioxide is a natural byproduct in the production of concrete. (Banana Republic/Adobe Stock)

OR Sequestration Week: Future of Carbon Capture, Storage

PORTLAND, Ore. -- This week, groups are holding virtual events in Oregon for "Sequestration Week," and the potential of carbon capture is among the …

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PNS Daily Newscast - September 19, 2024

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OR: Climate Change