In Puget Sound’s Seagrass Habitats, Ocean Acidification Threatens Dungeness Crabs

In a study this last April by Pacella et al., the authors projected the rise of carbon dioxide (CO2) in seagrass environments is about twice the projected rate of change in the open ocean. This indicates that these habitats and estuaries in general may be especially sensitive to ocean acidification. But what is ocean acidification?

Solutions to NW Carbon Pollution?

If Sightline could only do one thing for a sustainable Northwest, we’d put a price on carbon pollution—on the emissions of climate-changing greenhouse gases. Doing so would speed the entire regional economy through the transition from coal, oil, and other dirty fossil fuels to clean, efficient, renewable energy. It would also help stem or reverse sprawl, breathe life into alternatives to the automobile, clean the air and water, and keep local dollars circulating locally.

Mercer Island Energy Farm

MERCER ISLAND, Wash.– A first of it’s kind program from Puget Sound Energy will connect local cities, agencies and companies with renewable energy. Mercer Island is one of four cities that’s helping to fund construction of a wind farm.

“We’re pleased to be a leader in this, it’s something that our citizens we know care about and that we as elected officials care about, too,” says Mayor Bruce Bassett.

Trump to Slash EPA Budget, Puget Sound Fallout

On Thursday, President Trump outlined his plans to slash 31% of the Environmental Protection Agency’s budget. The specifics on exactly what programs will be slashed in that included 31% reduction is still hazy, with no real detailed plan released by the White House. But, the bold statement beckons back to the Trump campaign theme to significantly reduce government spending in environmental and social services.

Puget Sound Energy may be slowly weening off of coal-fired power plants

The Colstrip Power Plant, located 100 miles east of Billings, Montana, is comprised of four separate plant “units”. Together, these plants rank as the 15th largest emitter of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere in the United State. However, according to a Seattle PI article on Tuesday, Puget Sound Energy signaled that they may speed up the shutdown on two of those plants, units 1 & 2.