NW scientists study the promises – and challenges – of offshore wind With the climate rapidly changing, researchers are trying to find ways to make clean energy developments less expensive and easier to build. For the Northwest, offshore wind power could play a critical role, but it also presents major challenges. Courtney Flatt
Environment Rolling toward Washington state: support for e-bikes E-bikes flatten hills and make it possible for people who aren’t strong bikers to go 20 miles or more without wearing themselves out – or trashing the planet. John Ryan
Environment Why deforestation means less rain in tropical forests A new study finds deforestation reduces rainfall in tropical rainforests, which has grave consequences for agriculture, drought and climate resilience. Lauren Sommer Seyma Bayram
Health There's a second outbreak of Marburg virus in Africa. Climate change could be a factor The first outbreak this year was in Equatorial Guinea, which has seen 20 deaths already. Now there are cases reported in Tanzania as well for this infectious disease with a high fatality rate. Fran Kritz
Environment The numbers are in: Washington's carbon credit auction raised nearly $300M This is the first year Washington has implemented its new cap-and-invest program. The first auction for those credits was held in February. Major polluters in the state cannot surpass a certain pollution amount, unless they buy credits to offset their emissions. Paige Browning
Environment Northwest’s hottest summer in 1,000 years revealed by tree rings The summer of 2021 was the Northwest’s hottest in at least 1,000 years, according to a new study of very old trees. John Ryan
Washington bill could help ease renewable energy development tensions A bill in the Washington Senate could help ease local tensions over new wind and solar projects. Courtney Flatt
Science The Abstract: A song of fire and ice cores Can fertilizer be sustainably made without fossil fuels? How have volcanos changed our atmosphere? We look at two recent studies about emissions today and throughout the past. Libby Denkmann Alec Cowan
Environment 'Sacred ground': Why Camp Minidoka's survivors say 'no' to this windfarm Many Japanese Americans who were incarcerated during World War 2 at a federal camp in Minidoka, Idaho are opposing a wind farm project near the campsite. Over 13,000 people were imprisoned there, many were from the Seattle area. Natalie Akane Newcomb
Environment Bidding for the right to pollute, WA's first carbon allowance auction Companies had three hours to bid for the right to keep pumping out carbon dioxide and other gases that are overheating the planet. Kim Malcolm John Ryan Andy Hurst
