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wilderness issues lecture series

“Almost all of the solutions to climate change have potential drawbacks,” said Donald Brown via live videoconference at the University of Montana Tuesday night.

Brown, speaking as part of the ongoing Wilderness Issues Lecture Series, urged his audience to consider the ethical implications posed by climate change solutions.

Among these drawbacks are the possibility of future CO2 leaks from poorly planned carbon sequestration projects, deforestation and rising food prices driven by biofuel production, and bird migrations being disrupted by wind power farms.

Brown, an associate professor of environmental ethics and program director for Ethical Dimensions of Climate Change at Penn State University, acknowledged that these concerns are important, but insisted that it would be unethical for them to limit action if the technology could lessen the environmental degradation and human suffering associated with climate change. [more]

the treasure state's new energy trove

Montana is beginning to ramp up its efforts to capitalize on the energy potential carried in winds rolling off the Rockies and whipping east across its plains.

But it's been slow in coming. Despite Montana's No. 5 ranking in wind potential by the American Wind Energy Association, statistics from the Department of Energy have Montana accounting for only 145 megawatts of wind power out of a total of 16,596 MW nationwide.

On Tuesday, Governor Brian Schweitzer announced that German wind turbine manufacturer Fuhrlander AG plans to construct a new manufacturing facility near Butte, with the expectation that turbine demand will greatly increase in the coming years.

And this spring Spanish wind developer Naturener will begin construction on the first phase of a wind power facility near Shelby called McCormick Wind Farm that could more than double the state's current capacity. [more]

Changing The Rules

The "simmering battle" between Colorado state regulators and the oil and gas industry took a couple of strange turns this week as the state Oil and Gas Conservation Commission got closer to publishing new draft rules for energy production Colorado – which industry officials have criticized in advance for giving too much authority to the Division of Wildlife.

"Tempers flared and text messages flew Wednesday as lawmakers tried to figure out if the state oil and gas commission was about to get the authority to override landowners' wishes," The Rocky Mountain News reports.

In other energy news: solar thermal plants take off in the deserts of the Southwest; Canadian regulators question the environmental effects of a huge oil-sands project; oil prices reach "unimaginable" levels.
[more]

"leave of absence" acknowledged as permanent for first time

In the first acknowledgment that Idaho Director of Commerce Jim Ellick will not be returning from his personal leave of absence, Gov. Butch Otter told the Idaho Press Club Wednesday that he was starting a new round of interviewing for the position.

Ellick, who was hired in 2007, went on personal leave in January, the day before he was scheduled to give his presentation to the Joint Finance and Appropriations (JFAC) committee of the state legislature.

Otter said that Ellick fit the profile of the sort of person he wanted - aggressive, able to speak the language of high technology, familiar with capital markets - but that Ellick, whose background is in industry, had found himself frustrated with the slow pace of the public sector - frustration that actually affected his health. [more]

But no new jobs

Boise’s NBC affiliate KTVB reported Monday that Boise’s Micron Technology and Taiwan’s Nanya Technology will invest jointly in a new chip manufacturing plant. The Idaho Statesman reported the plant will be in Boise. [more]

state politics: idaho

Idaho’s TechConnect business catalyst program received half a loaf from the Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee today amid complaints from legislators that it was not providing enough information on what it did.

“I’m getting to the point where, if we can’t get detailed, reasonable information, I don’t know whether I’ll be able to support it,” said Senator Elliott Werk, D-Boise. “I think you have a lot of company on that one,” agreed co-chair Representative Maxine Bell, R-Jerome. [more]

Symbolic Vote

The bill to eliminate $18 billion in tax breaks for oil and gas producers passed by the U.S. House this week is largely symbolic, since the measure faces opposition in the Senate and a likely president veto. But as symbolic gestures go, it's a fairly powerful one.

Passed by 236-182, with 17 Republicans voting in favors, would use the savings from rollback of tax break for big oil companies to finance incentives for renewable energy, including wind and solar power. Several existing tax credits for renewable-energy investments will expire at the end of this year, unless Congress extends them.

It's time to "stop the madness of subsidizing oil companies," said Rep. Jim McDermott, a Democrat from Washington.

In other energy news: University renewable-energy center plans big solar installation near DIA; Colorado House votes to require utilities to spend more on energy efficiency; new Oil and Gas Commission members narrowly pre-confirmed.
[more]

March 17 in Missoula

NewWest.Net, in partnership with the University of Montana School of Journalism and First Security Bank, is delighted to announce its latest local event, "On the Bleeding Edge of Internet Media," featuring online media pioneer Dave Kansas. Dave was the founding editor of the prominent financial news website TheStreet.com, and then served as Money & Investing editor of the Wall Street Journal before returning to the online world as president of FiLife, an ambitious new personal finance Web site for young people. With deep experience in both the editorial and business sides of the Internet media world, Dave has a unique perspective on the many changes underway in the business and what they mean for both individuals and organizations.

The event will take place at 4:00 p.m. on March 17 at the Missoula Art Museum, with a presentation and discussion followed by a wine and beer networking reception. Tickets are $10 for the general public, $5 for students, and free for paid members of NewWest.Net. Please call 406-829-1725 or email with any questions or to reserve tickets in advance. We look forward to seeing you there!

internet technology

A company that sees its role as providing broadband Internet to underserved rural communities is offering an innovative service in a third Idaho city, Hailey, and is planning to add it to Idaho Falls and Twin Falls early this year.

DigitalBridgeCommunications Inc., based in Ashburn, Va., uses WiMAX technology to provide Internet connections of up to 3 Mbps. WiMAX uses a base technology that is similar to that used by cell phones, meaning it has a much wider range than the wireless Internet technology typically used – up to three miles. Because of this, WiMAX is said to be well-suited for providing broadband access to rural areas, which are woefully underserved in most of the country. [more]

state politics: idaho

The Idaho Joint Finance-Appropriations Committee rejected a recommendation by Governor Butch Otter this morning by turning down videoconferencing equipment for the Department of Environmental Quality, saying that the state should have an overall policy for obtaining and using videoconferencing equipment.

Otter had recommended $100,000 in one-time funding for DEQ as a “Governor’s Initiative,” meaning it was something he was putting into the budget that the agency hadn’t asked for. Oddly, agencies that did ask for videoconferencing equipment did not receive recommendations from him. [more]

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