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Blazing the Path to a New Energy Future

The New Energy Cities blog tracks the innovation that is going on in communities throughout the Northwest and the United States to transform the way we create and use energy.

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NEC Weekly Wrap-May 17, 2013

NEC Weekly Wrap-May 17, 2013

Posted by NEC Team | May 18, 2013

Highlights this week include: Growing rift among Republicans over the denial of climate change science. . . Why insurance companies may not be as worried about climate change impacts as you would think. . . U.S. to become net oil exporter in next five years. . . Pipelines win in British Columbia's 5/14 elections. . .Lobster populations to benefit potentially from protected offshore wind installations. . .Declining solar prices and rising energy costs could spell trouble for huge national utility. . .Morocco is going big on solar. . .Kids eschewing cars appears not to be a passing trend. . .Evidence emerging of how poor an investment fossil fuel companies are. Read More »

NEC Weekly Wrap-May 10, 2013

NEC Weekly Wrap-May 10, 2013

Posted by NEC Team | May 14, 2013

NASA says some regions may have no rainfall in the future. . . Seattle aims for carbon neutrality by 2050. . . Boston buildings must report on annual energy and water use. . . Sebastopol, CA requires new homes and commercial buildings to install solar panels. . . Republican-leaning states use more energy and emit more CO2. . . Washington is again the most bike-friendly state in the U.S. . . . Nissan LEAF sales at a record high. . . More solar planned in Massachusetts, California, and Hawai’i. Read More »

Why Oyster Farmers Believe in Climate Change

Why Oyster Farmers Believe in Climate Change

Posted by David Hastings, Ph. D. | May 10, 2013

On Earth Day 2013, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee declared, “First we had the canary in the coal mine. Now we have the oyster in the ocean for climate change.” The governor is right to issue this clarion call: unless we change business as usual, we might not be able to enjoy one of life’s greatest pleasures – fresh oysters on the half shell. Read More »

NEC Weekly Wrap-May 4, 2013

NEC Weekly Wrap-May 4, 2013

Posted by NEC Team | May 04, 2013

Highlights this week include: The Earth approaches 400 parts per million. . . U.S. imports of Canadian crude oil on the rise. . . Debates over how CA will distribute $500m in clean energy funds. . .Continued calls for a carbon tax from news outlets around the country. . .Study finds that economic benefits of EPA regulations far outweigh the costs. . .The fate of the OR solar industry. . .Huge energy and economic savings from upgrading municipal water systems. . .Verizon to spend $100m on solar and fuel cells. . .Buying groceries online and having them delivered to your home saves carbon emissions. . .Next-gen Volts will cost $7-10,000 less. . . 10 U.S. cities are acting to remove fossil fuels from their investment portfolios. Read More »

Keeping the Energy Retrofit Dream Alive

Keeping the Energy Retrofit Dream Alive

Posted by Elizabeth Willmott | Apr 30, 2013

US communities are far from empty-handed as they set out to build energy efficiency retrofit programs. DOE and a number of nonprofit organizations offer resources for communities to get started. New developments in local energy efficiency finance and policy emerge regularly. Read More »

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Energizing Cities

Report CoverDownload our report on communities that are pioneering the clean energy economy. Learn how small- to medium-sized cities are piloting innovative energy efficiency, renewable energy, smart grid, and eco-mobility solutions.

Books We're Reading

Turning Oil into Salt: Energy Independence through Fuel Choice

Breaking oil's monopoly over transportation fuel is the only way to bring about energy independence.

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From Our Partners

“The New Energy Cities workshop was a wonderful use of my time. I am very energized about what Thurston County can do with clean energy now. Our money was very well-spent.”

- Sandra Romero, Thurston County Commissioner