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Washington state's program to combat climate change raised $2.2 billion in its first year. (jdoms/Adobe Stock)

WA carbon cap program faces initiative challenge on November ballot

By Kate Yoder for Grist.Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Washington News Service reporting for the Grist-Public News Service Collaboration For…

As part of the Greening Research in Tacoma initiative, air temperature monitors were set up in a city neighborhood. (Hannah Letinich/The Nature Conservancy)

Tree coverage in cities crucial as planet warms, WA research shows

Trees in urban areas provide benefits for people, including decreased temperatures and improved air quality, according to new research from …

Laborers marked a decade of Farmworkers Tribunals in Olympia in 2023. (Community to Community Development)

Farmworkers Tribunal provides 'critical' platform in Olympia

Washington state farmworkers are converging on Olympia this week to call for better working conditions. The 11th annual Farmworkers Tribunal is …

S�lo algunas especies de peces cerca de Bradford Island en el r�o Columbia son seguras para el consumo (J-B-C/Adobe Stock)

Presión para acelerar limpieza del río Columbia tras designación de Superfondo

Defensores avanzan lenta pero firmemente en la limpieza de una parte del río Columbia que ha sido declarada zona de Superfondo por la Agencia de …

Washington state aims to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 95% by 2050. (jordano/Adobe Stock)

Repeal of WA carbon cap program would have 'devastating effects'

Opponents of a new law to cap carbon in Washington state are waiting to see if their initiative to repeal it will appear before voters in November…

Los cr�ticos de PacifiCorp dicen que la compa��a rompi� una promesa en 2004 de modernizar sus represas hidroel�ctricas para incluir pasos para peces. (Kevin/Adobe Stock)

¿PacifiCorp cumplirá sus promesas de recuperación de peces?

Al comenzar el nuevo año, Columbia Riverkeeper apoya los esfuerzos de la tribu Cowlitz y la nación Yakama para restaurar la migración …

Critics of PacifiCorp say the company broke a 2004 promise to retrofit its hydroelectric dams to include fish passages. (Kevin/Adobe Stock)

Will PacifiCorp make good on its fish recovery promises?

Coming into the new year, Columbia Riverkeeper is supporting efforts by the Cowlitz Tribe and Yakama Nation to restore salmon migration throughout …

Un mural en la tienda Patagonia en Belltown, Wash., recuerda a las personas que todos vivimos r�o debajo de la contaminaci�n nuclear dejada atr�s en Hanford. (Hanford Challenge)

Comunidades de WA unidas para continuar limpieza del sitio nuclear de Hanford

"Todos vivimos río abajo desde Hanford": ese es el mensaje pintado en los cristales de la tienda Patagonia en el barrio Belltown de Seattle…

Revenue from Washington state's cap-and-trade program has exceeded expectations, bringing in $1.5 billion this year. (martin33/Adobe Stock)

WA cap-and-trade spending falls short for frontline communities

Washington state's Climate Commitment Act promised funds for communities on the front lines of climate change. One group is tracking those dollars to …

Pumped storage hydroelectric facilities have been built around the world, including the Spanish facility above. (contributor_aerial/Adobe Stock)

Pumped storage energy project in NW could destroy sacred tribal resources

Critics say a proposed hydroelectric project in the Columbia River Gorge could damage cultural resources for nearby tribes. The company Rye …

The Puget Sound area has the highest concentration of nitrogen oxide emissions in the state. (Oleksandr Dibrova/Adobe Stock)

Report: Building emissions contribute to dangerous outdoor air pollution

Emissions from buildings are a dangerous source of air pollution across the nation, according to a new report. The analysis showed the burning of …

A GTN Xpress proposal would increase flow in its pipeline by 150 million cubic feet per day. (Pax Ahimsa Gethen/Wikimedia Commons)

Opposition Grows for Expanded NW Pipeline as Decision Nears

CLARIFICATION: In an emailed statement, TC Energy says there is "strong demand" for natural gas and an expansion to their GTN pipeline in the region…

Wetlands cover nearly 940,000 acres in Washington state. (George Cole/Adobe Stock)

SCOTUS Hands Mining, Developers Win in 'Gutting' Wetlands Protections

Environmental groups are decrying a U.S. Supreme Court decision they say will have major impacts for how the Clean Water Act is implemented. The …

The Bonneville Power Administration is a key partner for building and modernizing Washington state's transmission lines. (Nadia/Adobe Stock)

In DC, Focus on Fish, NW Energy Grid

Northwest energy experts and conservation leaders are in Washington, D.C. to urge policymakers to invest in modernizing the region's grid. Updating …

Highways are hot spots for soot, fine particulate matter which has major effects on people's health. (Naris Dorndeelers/Adobe Stock)

Proposed EPA Air Quality Update Not Good Enough, Groups Say

A new air quality standard from the federal government does not go far enough to protect the public, advocates said. For the first time in a decade…

The Copper Mountain mine is just 25 miles north of the Washington state border in British Columbia. (edb3_16/Adobe Stock)

Tribes Call for Greater Regulation of BC Mines Threatening NW Waters

Tribes in Washington and other western states are calling for greater regulation of upstream British Columbia mines that impact their waterways across…

Washington state's Climate Commitment Act will set aside $20 million every year to improve air quality. (asayenka/Adobe Stock)

WA Climate Law Aims to Improve Frontline Communities' Air

Washington state is crafting its ambitious cap-and-invest law to reduce the state's emissions by 95% by 2050 and is seeking comments from the public…

The Lummi Nation totem pole traveled through the islands of Puget Sound before making its way to the East Coast. (Freddie Lane)

WA Totem Pole Travels U.S. for 'Just' Clean Energy Transition

A totem pole from the Lummi Nation in northwest Washington is traveling across the country as part of a bid to call for clean energy and environmental…

El Sitio Nuclear de Hanford alberg� el primer reactor de producci�n de plutonio del mundo. (Departamento de Energ�a de EE.UU.)

Historia interactiva de Hanford enseña la amenaza del Sitio Nuclear para Río Columbia

El Sitio Nuclear de Hanford, situado en el río Columbia en el centro de Washington, ha dejado un legado complejo en la región. Un mapa …

The Sams River on the Olympic Peninsula is among the rivers that would be protected by legislation in Congress. (Javin Elliff)

Rivers Month: Calls to Protect Olympic Peninsula's Unique Waterways

June is National Rivers Month, and supporters are calling for greater protections of the Olympic Peninsula's rivers and landscapes. The Wild …

Olympia has been adapting to climate change by reducing flooding and restoring estuaries near its downtown. (Christopher Boswell/Adobe Stock)

Cities' Efforts Underscored in Latest International Climate Report

Cities' efforts to reduce their carbon footprint and adapt to the changing climate are highlighted in the latest United Nations report on climate chan…

Muchos de los trabajadores agr�colas en Oreg�n cerca del Columbia River Gorge trabajan en huertos. (Kirk/Adobe Stock)

Estación de radio comparte noticias bilingües con trabajadores agrícolas del Gorge

Una estación de radio muy única en Columbia River Gorge brinda información en inglés y español sobre temas que van desde el m…

Radio Tierra has been on the air in the Columbia River Gorge since 2004. (yooranpark/Adobe Stock)

Bilingual Station Keeps Columbia Gorge Farmworkers Up to Date

A unique radio station in the Columbia River Gorge provides information in English and Spanish, on topics ranging from the environment to immigration…

Puget Sound Agrarian Commons started in 2020 after a gift of land from Caroline Gardener on Whidbey Island. (Northwest Meadowscapes)

Land Trust Agreement Provides Step Toward Food Justice in WA

CORRECTION: A description of this land has been changed to "land trust agreement," rather than "leased farmland." (1:19 p.m. PST, Feb 22, 2022) A 99-…

A program that would incentivize utilities to transition to clean energy was stripped out of the Build Back Better Act. (richard theis-EyeEm/Adobe Stock)

Front-Line Communities on Climate Action: First Step is "Stop the Harm"

SEATTLE, Wash. -- Communities dealing with the impacts of climate change in Washington state are watching legislation in Washington, D.C. closely…

The Columbia Generating Station, a commercial nuclear facility, operates at Energy Northwest's campus, which is surrounded by the Hanford site. (Tobin/Flickr)

Tribes Protest N-Reactor Project on Hanford Site

RICHLAND, Wash. -- An advanced nuclear reactor proposal at the Hanford site is spurring opposition from local tribes. The Confederated Tribes of the …

Washington state farmworker Honesto Silva Ibarra died in hot conditions in 2017. (Edgar Franks)

In Olympia, Calls for Greater Safeguards Against Heat for Farmworkers

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Farmworkers are in Olympia today, calling for stronger protections from extreme heat. The farmworkers union Familias Unidas por la …

Electrifying heat pumps are key to lowering the carbon cost of buildings. (SkyLine/Adobe Stock)

NW Heat Wave Exposes Inequities, Need to Prioritize Low-Income Communities

BELLINGHAM, Wash. -- Last month's deadly heat wave in the Northwest underscored the need to reduce carbon emissions, but advocates want to ensure low-…

The Lower Elwha Klallam Tribe is helping plant life come back to areas near the former site of the Elwha River Dam. (Mike McHenry)

After Tribe's Century-Long Fight, WA River Dam Removal Helps Nature

By Lindsay VanSomeren for Yes! Media. Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Washington News Service reporting for the YES! Media-Public News …

People are advised not to eat non-migratory fish within a mile upstream of Bonneville Dam, because of contamination from PCBs. (salmonrecovery/Flickr)

States, Tribe Call for Superfund Site on Columbia River

VANCOUVER, Wash. -- Oregon, Washington and the Yakama Nation are asking the Biden administration to list one stretch of the Columbia River as a …

Supporters of the seabed mining ban say the practice would hurt sensitive habitats on Washington's coast. (Ferrous B�ller/Flickr)

Seabed Mining Opponents Off WA Coast Find Win in Legislature

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- Gov. Jay Inslee signed a seabed mining ban into law Monday. The measure prohibits mineral extraction within three miles of …

The Ice Harbor Dam in southeast Washington would be breached under a proposal from Rep. Mike Simpson, R-Idaho. (salmonrecovery/Flickr)

WA Groups: Infrastructure Plan 'Once-In-A-Lifetime Opportunity' for NW

SEATTLE - Groups are urging Northwest leaders to act on U.S. Rep. Mike Simpson's infrastructure and Snake River dam proposal. It aims to restore what …

Washington state is expecting more wildfires as the effects from climate change get worse. (Chris/Adobe Stock)

WA Bill on Equitable Climate Response Nears Finish Line

OLYMPIA, Wash. -- The impacts from climate change fall disproportionately on some people, but a bill in the Washington state Legislature aims to put …

About 9% of the population globally is food insecure. (tong2530/Adobe Stock)

Rejoining Paris Agreement: Good Sign for Global Food Supply

SEATTLE, Wash. -- The United States has rejoined the Paris climate agreement, an indicator the Biden administration plans to get serious about …

Washington has developed a map of environmental health disparities across the state. (Washington State Department of Health)

WA Communities on Front Lines of Climate Change Focus on HEAL Act

SEATTLE -- A measure in the Washington Legislature would make justice for all communities the bedrock of environmental policies in the state…

The Washington Environmental Health Disparity Map identifies communities highly impacted by environmental justice issues. (Washington State Department of Health)

Task Force: Ways for WA to Prioritize Environmental Justice

SEATTLE -- A new report lays out how Washington state's government can ensure environmental justice for people of all races. The Environmental …

Climate action is sure to take many forms in the next Washington state legislative session, which begins on Jan. 11, 2021. (Reagan/Adobe Stock)

WA Climate-Action Groups Look Ahead to 2021 Prospects

OLYMPIA, Wash. - Climate action groups in Washington state are recognizing the role climate change played in the election, and they're looking ahead …

Washington state has created a map that breaks down racial health disparities due to environmental conditions. (Washington State Department of Health)

Environmental Racism, Police Brutality: Intertwined Issues of Violence

SEATTLE -- Environmental groups are joining the chorus of voices denouncing police brutality in the wake of George Floyd's death at the hands of polic…

In Seattle's South Park neighborhood, a cleanup coalition formed after the Duwamish River was declared a Superfund site in 2001. (Jovelle Tamayo/YES! Media)

Square Mile of Defiance: WA Neighborhood Supports Itself During COVID-19

By Lornet Turnbull for Yes! Broadcast version by Eric Tegethoff for Public News Service Reporting for the YES! Magazine Media-Washington News Service …

Pollution levels in Washington state could rise under the state Department of Ecology's flexible enforcement of regulations. (Scott Garner/Flickr)

Coronavirus Could Mean Relaxed Enforcement, More Pollution

SEATTLE -- Washington state and the federal government say they are relaxing enforcement of environmental regulations during the coronavirus outbreak…

The Tilth Alliance, its Seattle community garden seen above, is bringing together farmers and farmworkers in Yakima this weekend. (CAJC: in the PNW/Flickr)

Farmers Meet Up in WA as Harvest Season Winds Down

YAKIMA, Wash. – Washingtonians who work the land to provide their neighbors with food are coming together, as the production season slows down…

Groups opposed to a Tacoma liquefied natural gas project say it's received permits based on flawed analyses. (Seattle City Council/Flickr)

Many Critics of Tacoma LNG Project Expected at Hearing

TACOMA, Wash. – Critics of a liquefied natural gas (LNG) project in Tacoma are hoping to topple the proposal at a public hearing this week…

The clean-energy sector already provides nearly 83,000 jobs in Washington state. (agnormark/Abode Stock)

Gov. Inslee Signs 'Strongest' Clean-Energy Bill in Nation

SEATTLE — Gov. Jay Inslee is signing one of the most comprehensive clean energy bills in the country today. Washington state lawmakers passed …

This map shows the areas of Washington state most vulnerable to wildfires, based on both landscape and socioeconomic factors. (University of Washington)

Study: Communities of Color Most Vulnerable to Wildfire Devastation

SEATTLE, Wash. – Communities of color face the greatest risk from wildfires, according to a new study. Across the country, 29 million people …

Este mapa muestra las �reas m�s vulnerables del estado de Washington a los incendios forestales, con base tanto en el paisaje como en factores socioecon�micos. (University of Washington)

Estudio: Comunidades de color, las más vulnerables ante la devastación por Incendios Forestales

Seattle, WA – Las minorías étnicas y raciales enfrentan el mayor riesgo por incendios forestales, de acuerdo a un estudio …

La Legislatura de Washington fonde� un programa piloto para convertir la Cumbre Chimacum (�Chimacum Ridge�) en bosque comunitario. (Cortes�a de Phil Vogelzang)

Bosque comunitario da ejemplo del potencial de la Cuota de Carbón en WA

CHIMACUM, Wash. – La Cumbre de Chimacum (“Chimacum Ridge”), que se encuentra en la Península Olímpica, está …

Una planta que consume carb�n, cerca de Centralia, Wash., est� programada para ser cerrada completamente en 2025. (Kid Klutch/Flickr)

Defensores: Comunidad de WA, muestra del Potencial de la Cuota Tributaria del Carbón

CENTRALIA, Wash. – Con una iniciativa en la boleta de noviembre para aplicar cobros a la industria que contamina con carbón, los …

Seattle high school student and event organizer Jamie Margolin wants the Zero Hour Youth Climate March to be an inclusive movement. (Zero Hour Seattle)

As Climate Crisis Reaches 'Zero Hour,' Youths Take a Stand

SEATTLE – Young people around the world are standing up this Saturday to tell leaders to act on climate change before it's too late. The Zero …

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WA: Environmental Justice