News items for February 6, 2023

British Columbia Parliament Buildings by Jim Culp used under CC BY-NC-ND 2.0
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1. BC announces $23.4m in climate adaptation funding
The BC government is providing $23.4 million to 49 communities to adapt and prepare for climate-related disasters.
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2. By 2050, WA might need to buy energy from other states
With the state’s power needs expected to double, it will have to import wind and solar to meet the demand.
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3. OR releases updated salmon habitat map
The State of Oregon has released the 2023 essential salmonid habitat map. The map identifies streams that are critical habitat for Chinook salmon, steelhead trout, and other sensitive, threatened or endangered fish species.
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4. Multnomah county to house homeless people in Portland
Multnomah County Chair Jessica Vega Pederson announced a plan Friday to quickly house hundreds of people experiencing unsheltered homelessness in and near downtown Portland.
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5. Micro-apartments may be coming to Bellevue
At their meeting last week, Bellevue’s Planning Commission initiated their discussions on a land use code amendment (LUCA) to allow more micro-apartments in the city. The work is the next step from an October 10th Council direction to advance the LUCA as part of the city’s Next Right Work strategies on affordable housing.
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6. Special election could bring social housing to Seattle
On the Feb. 14 ballot, Seattle voters will decide whether to launch and fund publicly owned, mixed-income affordable housing.
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7. The YIMBY vs PHIMBY battle in Seattle
Progressive housing divide cracks open a little in Seattle city council race.
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8. Wanted: An affordable home
It can be a challenge for newcomers in a small town to form the connections needed to find housing when it’s often advertised only by word of mouth, says US Forest Service Public Affairs officer Brian Harris, referring to McCall, Idaho.
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10. Five key climate solutions
A new, first-of-its-kind tool will make it easier for states to embrace the clean energy economy and achieve the nation’s climate goals.
More News from February 6, 2023
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Governments, BC coastal First Nations endorse marine protection plan
The Marine Protected Area Network Action Plan will support efforts to conserve 25% of Canada’s oceans by 2025.
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Why parking garages are pointless
We have been studying urban development and parking for decades. The car’s grip over city planning has been difficult to dislodge, despite a host of costs to the environment and to the quality of life for many city dwellers. But we see signs that that’s finally starting to change.
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Boosting dry farming in OR
In Oregon, farmers, educators and gardeners are exploring the benefits of dry farming. The method relies on water stored in soil during a rainy season to produce crops during a dry season.
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Dunleavy says he will sue over EPA’s veto of Pebble Mine
Alaska Gov. Mike Dunleavy says he’s going to pursue legal action against the Environmental Protection Agency’s veto of the Pebble mine.
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What’s your neighborhood’s climate impact in CA?
Where exactly you live in California has a big impact on your emissions.
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How to get government aid to ditch fossil fuels
For those of you who own a single-family home, if you can fork out the money to buy a new heat pump or an energy efficient refrigerator right now, you can be rewarded with tax credits down the road. If you don’t have that kind of money, be prepared to wait.
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NW Natural must cut emissions
NW Natural, and two other natural gas providers, need to move faster to cut greenhouse emissions or risk incurring significant fines and stalling Oregon State’s efforts to combat climate change, a two-year investigation from the state’s Public Utilities Commission found.