Solar Farms Will Redefine Energy If They Can Get Installed
Washington state hopes to implement solar farms as a way to achieve clean-energy goals and transition toward more renewable energy. But officials are having troubles finding places to install them.
May 03, 2021 • (TNS) In September 2018, Russ and Amy Hanson received an unsolicited offer from Invenergy to cover their land near this south central Washington town with solar panels.
They could earn up to $40,000 a year for a quarter-century lease on their 40-acre tract, according to correspondence from the company to the Hansons.
After decades in Western Washington, the Hansons were close to retiring to this area with a spectacular view of snow-capped Mount Adams.
Washington’s Department of Natural Resources says fire agencies around the state have already responded to more than 250 wildfires this year. They say that
The Global SuperTanker is being shut down ahead what could be an above-average fire season. Author: Associated Press Updated: 1:40 PM MDT April 24, 2021
DENVER The world’s largest firefighting plane has been shut down just as Western states prepare for a wildfire season that fire officials fear could be worse than the average year.
Tara Lee, a spokeswoman for Washington Gov. Jay Inslee, said via email Friday that the state’s Department of Natural Resources was alerted to the shutdown of the worlds’ largest firefighting plane called the Global SuperTanker.
The decision to cease the SuperTanker’s operations was first reported by Fire Aviation, an industry website that reported an email was sent this week to officials in Colorado, Oregon, Washington and the U.S. government saying that the investor group that owns the plane was shutting it down.
Bill has passed both chambers with unanimous, bipartisan support
CLARK COUNTY After passing both the house and senate with unanimous support earlier this month, Washington’s wildfire bill (HB1168) is headed to the governor’s desk where it is expected to be signed into law.
The bill was authored in large part by the team at Washington’s Department of Natural Resources (DNR), under the guidance of Hilary Franz, the commission of public lands.
The Big Hollow fire can be seen here from a helicopter burning near Cougar back in September of 2020. The blaze consumed around 25,000 acres. Photo courtesy of of KGW
For WA wildlife and spaces in danger, one woman paddles to the rescue
In May, Megan Duffy will lead the state’s Recreation and Conservation Office, a small-but-mighty division that funds everything from land acquisition to salmon recovery.
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Washington state Director of Recreation and Conservation Office Megan Duffy stands atop her paddle board at Ward Lake in Olympia on April 21, 2021. (Matt M. McKnight/Crosscut)
Because Washington state is speckled with natural wonders orcas, salmon, mountains, old growth forests spending time outside is a way of life. But many of its most recognizable species and outdoors spaces are under threat from development and climate change.