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In the Rockies today, wind power and transmission capacity are in the news.
Wind power developers say a lack of transmission capacity is hampering efforts to harness wind in Wyoming and other states where space and the renewable resources are plentiful.
Two wind power producers in Wyoming are taking a proactive approach to that problem by bidding for transmission capacity on a transmission line that won't be built for years.
And, in Alberta, University of Calgary researchers have linked the death of bats near turbines on a wind farm to the sudden drop in air pressure that causes a fatal injury to the bats' respiratory system.
Also in Rockies today, and our In-depth section, we provide coverage of the Democratic National Convention, including speeches made last night by Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer and Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano.
New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson will speak tonight.
In our "A Look Ahead" column, we offer readers a preview of the Public Lands Foundation's annual meeting set next month in Utah.
The role of fire on public lands and the threat of invasive species are just two of the issues that will be addressed during the Sept. 11-12 conference in Park City.
Rockies today
Burst of renewable energy bumps into lack of transmission capacity
A wind farm in New York state was forced to shut down because there was no available transmission line capacity to carry the electricity generated to where the demand for it is, a scenario that is repeated throughout the nation as more renewable energy projects come on line.
New York Times; Aug. 27
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Wyoming wind producers snag space on Wyoming-Colorado line
When the Wyoming-Colorado transmission tie line was first proposed three years ago, developers believed the line would carry coal-generated power, but when emissions concerns sidelined many of those projects, wind producers are stepping in and buying space to ship their power on the line which should be in place by 2013.
Casper Star-Tribune; Aug. 27
Alberta study unravels mystery of bat deaths near wind turbines
University of Calgary researchers discovered that a sudden decrease in air pressure near wind turbine blades on a wind farm in Alberta caused severe injury to bats' respiratory system that resulted in hundreds of bats dying on the newly opened wind farm near Pincher Creek.
Toronto Globe and Mail; Aug. 27
Poll: Westerners willing to pay more for renewable energy
A poll of 400 likely voters in each of six Western states, commissioned by the Las Vegas-Review Journal, the Denver Post and the Salt Lake Tribune, found that 64 percent of the 2,400 respondents were willing to pay more for energy created from wind, solar or other renewable resources, and in a related issue, 69 percent of those polled said they support drilling for gas and oil on public lands, and 47 percent said they favored energy development over protecting public lands from environmental damage.
Las Vegas Review-Journal; Aug. 26
SNWA's promise to pay taxes doesn't sway Nevada county officials
The Southern Nevada Water Authority, which is exempt from property taxes, agreed to pay White Pine County such taxes on seven ranches the water authority has purchased since 2006 to tap into groundwater in the Spring Valley, but county officials said the negotiated agreement on taxes doesn't change their opposition to the plan to pump groundwater from their county south to Las Vegas.
Las Vegas Review-Journal; Aug. 27
Perfect conditions fueled firestorm that burned Idaho neighborhood
It took just two minutes for Boise firefighters to arrive at the Oregon Trail fire that killed a BSU professor and burned nine homes in the Oregon Trail neighborhood and another in the adjacent Columbia Village in the southeast area of the city, but high winds drove the wildland fire upslope through sagebrush into the subdivision at an amazing speed.
Idaho Statesman; Aug. 27
Montana governor's speech at DNC gets crowd going
Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer's speech last night at the Democratic National Convention began with what appeared to be a pitch for doing business in Montana, which was met with polite attention, but when he changed tactics and began working the crowd, using Barack Obama's "change" theme, he really go them going.
NewWest.net; Aug. 27
At Arizona speech, McCain outlines America's role in the world
Arizona Sen. and the Republican Party's presumptive presidential nominee spoke at the 90th annual American Legion national convention in Arizona on Tuesday, where he warned the world would see more violence and aggression should Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama win in November.
Arizona Republic; Aug. 27
Opinion
Montana must mix land-use policies into firefighting policy
The report from Headwaters Economics presented to an interim committee of the Montana Legislature put a price tag on what it costs to save homes built in areas of the state where forests meet subdivisions, and while the report held few surprises, it highlighted the need for land-use policies that could reduce the state's cost of fighting wildfires.
Great Falls Tribune; Aug. 27
Guest column:
Election-year politics fueling drive to end ban on offshore drilling
The effort afoot in Congress to end a ban put in place in 1981 on offshore drilling has been embraced by federal lawmakers as a way to end the United States' dependence on foreign oil, but it's no coincidence that this push is occurring during an election year as politicians increase their pandering to Big Oil. A column by former Montana Congressman Pat Williams, a Senior Fellow at the O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West, of which Headwaters News is a project.
Pat Williams, O'Connor Center for the Rocky Mountain West; Aug. 27
Napolitano's speech underscores Democrats' high regard for her
Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano is no stranger to the Democratic National Convention, having given an afternoon speech at the 2000 convention and an early evening speech at the 2004 convention, but at this year's convention, her primetime speech Tuesday night, along with appearances in Monday presentations used to set the mood for the convention, provides Arizona great exposure no matter what your political leanings.
Arizona Republic; Aug. 27
Beyond the region
Alaska voters shoot down water-quality initiative
With more than 84 percent of the votes counted early Wednesday, a ballot initiative designed to impose new water-quality standards on new mining operations in Alaska appeared headed for defeat, with 57 percent of the votes rejecting the initiative.
Seattle Times (AP); Aug. 27
Scientists say Arctic ice at second-lowest level
A research scientist said if Arctic ice keeps melting at the pace it is this year, it will best the record set in 2007 for the lowest amount of ice since record-keeping began three decades ago.
Washington Post; Aug. 27
California county votes to press governor on offshore drilling
Santa Barbara County commissioners voted along geographic lines to press Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to change California's opposition on offshore drilling, with three inland commissioners voting in approval and two shoreline commissioners opposing the action.
Los Angeles Times; Aug. 27
In depth
Arizona governor warns McCain not to take state for granted
During her speech at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano warned Republican presidential candidate John McCain not to assume his home state will support his run for president, and cited recent gains by Arizona Democrats in capturing congressional seats in the state as a reason for McCain to be concerned.
Arizona Daily Sun (AP); Aug. 27
Democrats hope Montana governor's support will help win the West
Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer has done much to power up the discussion about energy at the Democratic National Convention this week in Denver, and party officials hope his support will help Barack Obama win in the Rocky Mountain West states.
Great falls Tribune; Aug. 27
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Obama joins Billings crowd in watching Montana governor's DNC speech
While Montana Gov. Brian Schweitzer was delivering his speech at the Democratic National Convention in Denver, Democratic presidential candidate was in Billings, where he joined a convention-watching party at the home of Eran and Carlee Thompson; Obama is scheduled to speak in the Montana city this morning.
Billings Gazette; Aug. 27
Washington governor touts Obama connection at DNC
At the Democratic National Convention in Colorado, Gov. Chris Gregoire said Barack Obama's promise to work with governors if he is elected president would help Washington state move forward on issues now in contention between the state and the current administration such as health care for children, education and clean-car technology.
Seattle Post-Intelligencer; Aug. 27
N.M. governor to give speech at DNC tonight
Gov. Bill Richardson said Monday that he passed with flying colors the process by which Democratic presidential candidate Barack Obama vetted his potential vice presidential candidates and believed until Friday he would be in the No. 2 spot, and tonight the New Mexico Democrat will address the Democratic National Convention in Denver.
Santa Fe New Mexican; Aug. 27
Nevada Democrats willing to forget Pickens' past for energy future
T. Boone Pickens, the Texas billionaire who made his money in oil and who provided $2 million in funding to the Swift Boat Veterans for Truth 2004 attack on Democratic presidential nominee U.S. Sen. John Kerry's Vietnam War record, is now making the rounds at the Democratic National Convention where his proposal to build wind farms across the nation's midsection has earned him forgiveness for his past transgressions.
Reno Gazette-Journal; Aug. 27
At GOP event in Colorado, Romney questions Obama's ability to lead
Former Massachusetts governor, and one-time opponent of Republican presidential candidate John McCain, was in Colorado on Tuesday, where he and other Republicans gathered at an opposition center to provide their opposing views as the Democratic National Convention proceeds in Denver.
Denver Post; Aug. 27
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| "We need an interstate transmission superhighway system."
Suedeen G. Kelly, a member of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, about the lack of transmission line capacity to carry electricity generated by wind and solar power to markets.
- New York Times
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Utility asks Montana agencies for permits to build gas-fired power plant
Poll finds Nevadans, Utahns most open to water restrictions
Nevada one of 5 Western states Democrats hope to put in play
Federal judge signs off on Atlantic Richfield, Montana settlement
Census: West had highest median income in the U.S.
Wyoming congressional candidates square off over energy
Alberta on track to report $8.5 billion surplus
Howling winds drive Wyoming wildfire
Montana man to be honored for forest ecology work
Wyoming governor again presses for property-tax exemption
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Exclusively
on Headwaters:
NewVoices/NewWest:
Culture
Clash: Can the federal No Child Left Behind Act coexist with Montana's
Indian Education for All?
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Regional Conferences
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Sept. 8-11: The U.S. Geological Survey's Third Interagency Conference on Research in the Watersheds, Estes Park, Colo. Read a preview.
Sept. 11-12:Public Land Foundation's annual meeting: "Sustaining the Ecological, Economic and Social Vitality of the Public Lands," Park City, Utah. Read a preview.
Sept. 15-17: Headwaters Summit: Re-visioning how we use water in a changing climate, Missoula, Mont. Read a preview.
Sept. 22-24: The 32nd Annual Public Land Law Conference, "A Federal Lands Agenda for the 21st Century," Missoula, Mont. Read a preview.
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Headwaters
News is a project of the Center
for the Rocky Mountain West at the University
of Montana. |
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