Today in Headwaters News' Western Perspective, Roger Valdez of the Sightline Institute details what the new "green economy" could mean for the Northwest and Montana.
The Institute released its report, "Green-Collar Jobs: Realizing the Promise" in October, and the Western Perspective provides a glimpse into that report.
For example, the report says one of the first things the nation can do to grow jobs and cut energy use would be to make buildings more energy-efficient.
Buildings consume about 40 percent of the energy used in the nation, and the construction industry has been one of the industries hit hardest by the nation's economic slump.
Making buildings more energy efficient will give construction workers employment and save energy.
We invite you to read the Western Perspective, Sightline's "Green-Collar Jobs: Realizing the Promise" and join
the debate.
Rockies today
Obama assures tribal leaders D.C. summit just the start
More than 400 tribal leaders met with President Barack Obama and other federal officials on Thursday at the White House Tribal Nations Conference, where Obama promised the summit was just the beginning of a continuing conversation on shaping federal policies regarding Indian Country. Contains sidebars with President Obama's remarks, as well as Interior Secretary Ken Salazar's.
Indian Country Today; Nov. 6
Senate panel OKs climate bill without GOP participation
Montana Sen. Max Baucus was the only Democrat on the Environment and Public Works Committee to vote against the climate bill approved Thursday without the participation of Republican members of the panel.
New York Times; Nov. 6
Wyoming county commission joins push for fracking regulation
The Teton County Commission voted this week to support legislation proposed by Colorado Congresswoman Diana DeGette that would require drilling companies to release information about chemicals contained in the liquid that's injected under high pressure to break rock formations to release natural gas, a measure the Petroleum Association of Wyoming said will only make drilling more expensive.
Billings Gazette (Casper Star-Tribune); Nov. 6
Montana reports 50 wolves so far this hunting season
Four wolves from two Rocky Mountain Front packs in Montana are among the 50 killed by hunters so far this hunting season.
Great Falls Tribune; Nov. 6
Montana researcher shares findings on elk, wolves in Yellowstone
On the first day of the two-day symposium of the Montana Chapter of the Society of Conservation Biology in Missoula, Montana State University researcher Scott Creel shared the results of his three-year study of elk populations in the Greater Yellowstone Area and how wolves had affected elk behavior and populations.
Missoulian; Nov. 6
Utah contractors vie for a piece of the action on $1B data center
On Thursday, more than 500 people representing contractors, subcontractors and consultants who want a piece of the work to build the National Security Agency's $1-billion "Utah Data Center" on 200 acres at Camp Williams.
Salt Lake Tribune; Nov. 6
GAO: N.M. preserve years behind in schedule, lacks solid plan
The 89,000-acre Valles Caldera National Preserve in New Mexico was created in 2000, and given until 2015 to become financially self-sufficient, but a new Government Accountability Office report said the preserve is five years behind schedule and lacks a plan to reach that goal.
Santa Fe New Mexican; Nov. 6
Budget gap on Denver's commuter-rail system at $2.2B
The recession sent sales tax revenues in Colorado plummeting, widening the budget gap for Denver's 12-year, $4.7-billion FasTracks passenger rail system to $2.2 billion, and transit officials say voters could be asked to increase sales tax next year to keep construction on the project moving forward.
Denver Post; Nov. 6
Opinion
Idaho counties need new jails, no matter how voters feel
Ballot measures to fund new or expanded jail facilities failed in three Idaho counties, but voters' distaste aside, the counties have little options but to move forward to replace aging facilities.
Twin Falls Times-News; Nov. 6
Beyond the region
U.S. unemployment rate tops 10 percent
For the first time since April of 1983, the unemployment rate in the United States is higher than 10 percent, with new reports indicating that 109,000 jobs were lost across the nation in October, pushing the national unemployment rate to 10.2 percent.
Denver Post (AP); Nov. 6
Canada's jobless rate increases to 8.6 percent in October
Canadian companies shed 43,200 part-time jobs in October, sending the country's unemployment rate to 8.6 percent for that month.
Toronto Globe and Mail; Nov. 6
Canada launches study of B.C.'s declining sockeye salmon numbers
Prime Minister Stephen Harper's announced Thursday that the Canadian government would investigate the collapse of British Columbia's sockeye salmon population, and that more details of the study would be released today.
Toronto Globe and Mail; Nov. 6
Study finds farmers not toeing the line on modified corn
Farmers growing genetically engineered corn are required to plant 20 percent of their fields with corn that has not had bacterial genes spliced into its DNA that is toxic to insects to give insects harbor from the toxins and to keep those insects from developing resistance to the toxins, but a recent study found that the percentage of farmers actually complying with the Environmental Protection Agency regulation has fallen from about 90 percent in 2006 to 80 percent in 2007 and 78 percent in 2008.
New York Times; Nov. 6
In depth
Federal stimulus funds pump up geothermal research in Idaho
Researchers from universities in Utah, Idaho and Alberta are working on a project to evaluate geothermal resources in Idaho's Magic Valley, funded by $4.6 million in federal stimulus funds.
Twin Falls Times-News; Nov. 6
Arizona group gets $17.8 million for geothermal work
The Arizona Geological Survey received $17.8 million of the $338 million of federal stimulus funds for geothermal projects, and will use that money to gather geothermal data from states and incorporate that information into a national database.
Arizona Daily Sun; Nov. 6
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