In the Rockies today, transmission lines, power plans, and wolves and travel plans in Montana are in the news.
After residents whose land was in the path of the proposed Mountain States Transmission Intertie pushed Northwestern Energy to move the transmission line that will stretch from Townsend, Mont., to Twin Falls, Idaho, to public land, the utility will pitch some alternative routes at a meeting Thursday night in Butte.
On Tuesday, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson announced plans for the Tres Amigas SuperStation, a proposed super transmission station in Clovis that would tie together three transmission grids to help route power produced by remote wind- and solar-energy projects onto the grids.
In Montana, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council rolled its five-year plan for the region, that called for more renewable energy, less reliance on coal-fired power and more reliance on power produced from natural gas.
Also in Montana, motorized travel groups filed a lawsuit against the U.S. Forest Service seeking an injunction to put its travel plan for the Badger-Two Medicine area on hold.
The travel plan that went into effect Oct. 1 bans all motorized travel on the 130,000-acre area.
And in the federal lawsuit over wolf delisting in Idaho and Montana, the National Rifle Association asked to join the litigation, alleging the outcome will affect members of the group and their ability to hunt and enjoy the outdoors in those states.
Rockies today
Utility to roll out alternative routes for Montana-Idaho transmission line
At a meeting scheduled for Thursday evening, NorthWestern Energy will unveil new alternative routes for its proposed 500-kilovolt Mountain States Transmission Intertie, which will stretch from Townsend in Montana to Twin Falls, Idaho.
Montana Standard; Oct. 14
N.M. governor unveils plan for electrical transmission hub
At a news conference Tuesday, New Mexico Gov. Bill Richardson released plans for the proposed Tres Amigas SuperStation in Clovis, that would link the nation's three power grids and help route wind- and solar-generated power from remote sources to urban centers.
Seattle Times (AP); Oct. 14
Northwest power council lines out 5-year plan
At a public meeting Tuesday night in Missoula, the Northwest Power and Conservation Council released its proposed five-year plan for Montana, Idaho, Washington and Oregon that calls for more energy from renewable resources, restraints on coal-fired power and more reliance on natural-gas power.
Missoulian; Oct. 14
Wood power a hot market
Power plants across the nation are turning to wood to generate electricity, and in 2008, those plants churned out 6,700 megawatts of power, enough to power 8 million homes.
USA Today; Oct. 14
Army: Colorado wilderness proposal will affect landing areas
The U.S. Army said the proposed "Hidden Gems" wilderness areas in Colorado would put all the high-altitude landing zones used by the for training purposes off limits.
Vail Daily; Oct. 14
Motorized trail users sue to stop travel plan in Montana forest
The Montana Trail Vehicle Riders Association, Capital Trail Vehicle Riders Association and Montanans for Multiple Use, as well as several individuals filed a federal lawsuit on Friday in Montana, seeking an injunction on the U.S. Forest Service's implementation of its travel plan for the Badger-Two Medicine area that bans motorized travel on 130,000 acres of the Lewis and Clark National Forest.
Great Falls Tribune; Oct. 14
NRA asks Montana court to let it into wolf-delisting lawsuit
The National Rifle Association filed documents in federal court in Montana last week asking that the group be allowed to join the lawsuit regarding the removal of wolves from the federal Endangered Species list, alleging that if the 13 conservation groups fighting the species delisting are successful, NRA members will be deprived of their right to hunt and enjoy recreational opportunities in Montana and Idaho "due to the threat to themselves, their pets and their prey from problem wolves."
Helena Independent Record; Oct. 14
Opinion
Wyoming needs to take its time on developing wind tax plan
The Wyoming Wind Energy Task Force met Monday in Casper to begin work on drafting legislation to tax the state's burgeoning wind-energy industry, but the process is more complicated than extracting a mineral severance tax, and state lawmakers should take their time to develop a good plan that provides revenue to counties impacted by the development that does not squelch the industry.
Casper Star-Tribune; Oct. 14
Beyond the region
EPA releases report on climate change suppressed in 2007
The Environmental Protection Agency released a report suppressed by the Bush administration that detailed the risks posed by climate change to the United States and called for regulation of greenhouse gases.
Los Angeles Times; Oct. 14
Filling TransCanada pipeline will boost oil market
TransCanada's 2,142-mile long pipeline designed to carry heavy oil from Alberta's oilsands country to U.S. refineries in Illinois and Oklahoma is slated to begin filling in November and will pull nine million barrels of oil off the market, which will boost oil prices that have already begun to rise.
Toronto Globe Investor; Oct. 14
For some investors, copper a precious metal
The surge in copper prices is no longer linked to an increase in industrial activity as investors have begun buying copper much like they've been purchasing gold, silver and platinum, as a hedge against fluctuating currency.
Toronto Globe Investor; Oct. 14
Colorado company works to reopen California metals mine
The Mountain Pass Mine in California's Mojave Desert contains an array of some of the world's rare-earth metals, and Colorado-based Molycorp Minerals has launched a two-year effort to restore the mine that is located about 60 miles southwest of Las Vegas.
Los Angeles Times; Oct. 14
Maine senator's vote propels health care bill out of committee
Republican Sen. Olympia J. Snowe of Maine voted with the Democrats on the U.S. Senate Finance Committee to propel the health care reform bill out of committee and now the bill moves to the full Senate and the U.S. House for action.
New York Times; Oct. 14
Report: Washington state has lost 1 in every 20 jobs
A new report issued Tuesday by the Washington state Employment Security Department said that unemployment in the state was at 9.3 percent, the highest reported in decades.
Seattle Times; Oct. 14
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