HOME HEATING * Darrington cleans up its air, one wood stove at a time -- A program to replace old stoves with ones that burn pellets or propane has decreased pollution. http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090202/NEWS01/702029898&news01ad=1#Da rrington.cleans.up.its.air.one.wood.stove.at.a.time <http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090202/NEWS01/702029898&news01ad=1#D arrington.cleans.up.its.air.one.wood.stove.at.a.time> On certain winter days four years ago, Darrington's air was among the most polluted in the state. In this high valley town surrounded by mountains, stoves coughing up unhealthy ash particles were raising asthma rates among children and making it rough on older people, Councilman Dan Rankin said. A project run by the town and the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency has since replaced nearly 70 old wood-burning stoves with wood-pellet stoves or propane heat. Since the program started, the air pollution has dropped. * Home repairs piling up? -- Housing authority loans help some owners get needed work done http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090201/BIZ/702019948#Home.repairs.pil ing.up <http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090201/BIZ/702019948#Home.repairs.pi ling.up> The rehabilitation loan program is a way for lower-income homeowners to secure a home improvement loan. It covers much of Snohomish County, excluding residents in the city limits of Everett and Bothell and people in mobile homes living inside parks... During the time of the repairs, Schulz, thanks to the loan, switched from using oil heat to natural gas. The move has saved her money on heating bills, and the new windows and appliances have reduced her electricity bill significantly, too. Schulz, who is on disability, will pay back her loan when she goes back to work or sells her home. DIESEL SOLUTIONS * Seattle's garbage trucks to run on natural gas http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008691112_naturalgas31m .html <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008691112_naturalgas31 m.html> CNG trucks are likely to reduce air-polluting particulates at least 90 percent compared with older diesel trucks. New diesel trucks are so clean that they roughly match CNG, said Dennis McLerran, executive director of the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency. But the CNG trucks still have an advantage in greenhouse gases, releasing 20 percent less than even the best diesel engines, he said. Natural gas, once thought to be running out, is making a comeback because of better extraction technologies and the discovery of new reserves, McLerran said. ENERGY * Corvallis leads nation in green-power use http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008696809_corvallis02m. html <http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008696809_corvallis02m .html> A report by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says Corvallis buys more renewable energy than any other city in the nation... Oregon cities made up half of the nation's top 10 green-power purchasers. Bellingham was second on the list, which also includes Santa Clara and Palo Alto, Calif.; Boulder, Colo.; and River Falls, Wis. Lacey, in Thurston County, was No. 11. CLIMATE * Environmental law firms in Washington state warm to climate change rules http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/02/02/focus1.html?b= 1233550800^1770569 <http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/02/02/focus1.html?b =1233550800%5e1770569> These regulations - which are getting their final tweaking in Olympia - could prove a boon to Puget Sound area lawyers as clients seek their advice on tracking and reporting emissions and buying energy credits. The energy credits are part of a proposed cap and trade program intended to cut back the state's greenhouse gas emissions to 15 percent below 2005 levels by 2020. Companies that can't meet the new requirements will be able to buy credits to offset their excess emissions from companies that are able to reduce emissions below their 2005 levels. GREEN JOBS * Gov. Gregoire, legislative leaders announce Green Jobs and Climate Action legislation http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2009news/gov_20090129.html <http://www.ecy.wa.gov/news/2009news/gov_20090129.html> Gov. Chris Gregoire and legislative leaders Thursday announced a comprehensive Green Jobs and Climate Action legislative package. The proposed legislation will create jobs, expand our green economy, and make important progress toward energy independence. Bill Smith Senior Environmental Specialist City of Tacoma Solid Waste Management 3510 S. Mullen Street Tacoma, WA 98409 253-593-7719 Phone 253-591-5547 Fax