Sustainable Life Section
February 12, 2015
Portland debut planned for vaccine documentary
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A new documentary film touching on the national vaccine controversy will debut in Portland at a Thursday night screening. The film is called "Trace Amounts," directed by Los Angeles-based…
February 10, 2015
Study yields clues to disappearing lamprey
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A new study found that Pacific lamprey prefer side channels and lower water velocity habitats within streams. The loss of such habitat may explain why lamprey populations have declined so much…
February 10, 2015
Kitzhaber cancels Valentine's Day plans in Tigard
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Looks like Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber won't be spending Valentine’s Day in Tigard, after all. The city announced Wednesday that the governor had canceled a planned appearance in Tigard this…
February 09, 2015
State buildings shedding kilowatts
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The state of Oregon has reduced energy use in its buildings by more than 20 percent — more than two years ahead of target — according to a new report by the Oregon Department of Energy. The…
February 06, 2015
Activists pressing mayor to make good on divestment pledge
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Climate change activists are putting some heat on Portland Mayor Charlie Hales to support divestment of city funds from fossil fuel companies. “We trusted our mayor when he told us on World…
February 05, 2015
City maneuvers to protect West Hayden Island
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City planners, bowing to public pressure, have yanked West Hayden Island from their proposed list of industrial lands available for development over the next 20 years. The move is likely to…
February 02, 2015
New leader takes helm of Johnson Creek Watershed Council
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The Johnson Creek Watershed Council board has named Daniel Newberry as its new executive director. Newberry will leave his post as executive director of the Siskiyou Field Institute in Selma,…
February 02, 2015
Nature Conservancy names new Oregon director
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Jim Desmond, the director of Metro’s Sustainability Center, has been named the new state director of The Nature Conservancy. The Nature Conservancy’s Oregon chapter manages 45 nature preserves…
January 27, 2015
Green science expert, mountaineer, offers free lecture at Reed
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Arlene Blum, executive director of the Green Science Policy Institute, returns to her alma mater for a free lecture on “A Life of Mountains and Molecules” on Thursday, Feb. 5, from 5 p.m. to 7…
January 26, 2015
Green coalition seeks ban on coal burning for Oregon customers
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A bill calling on Oregon’s largest utilities to stop burning coal to produce electricity just got some more firepower behind it. The Oregon Conservation Network agreed to make the Coal to Clean…
Jan 22, 2015
More than 100,000 trees and shrubs being planted along Clackamas…
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The Clackamas River Basin Council has begun a massive effort to plant 112,000 native trees and shrubs along streams in the lower Clackamas River watershed this winter. Crews are working with…
Jan 22, 2015
A primer on Pembina terminal project
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Raging Northwest debates over fracking and fossil fuel exports are hitting close to home in Portland, thanks to a Canadian company’s proposed propane-export terminal at the Port of Portland.…
Jan 21, 2015
Utility customers subsidize solar for Oregon Convention Center
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Portland-based Pacific Power will devote $1.8 million to subsidize solar projects in 10 Northwest communities this year, thanks to the utility's customers who contribute through its Blue Sky…
Jan 20, 2015
UO Senate votes to urge divestment of fossil fuel stocks
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The University of Oregon Senate has voted unanimously to request the university divest its endowment fund holdings in fossil fuels. The Senate, which includes faculty, students and officers,…
Jan 20, 2015
Give birds a little help in the winter
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Winter can be a very difficult time for wildlife. Wild birds, for example, rely on wild food sources for their survival. Many bird species come to feeders to supplement their diet, particularly…
Jan 20, 2015
Lucid begins producing electricity inside city water pipes
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No salmon will be sacrificed for new form of hydro power. Some Portlanders will soon get their electricity from hydro power generated inside Portland Water Bureau pipes. Portland-based Lucid…
Jan 16, 2015
2014 second warmest ever for Oregon
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Last year was the second-hottest on record for Oregon, since records started being kept in 1895, according to researchers at the Oregon Climate Change Institute of Oregon State University. “We…
Jan 15, 2015
Imperiled turtles not found in Clackamas County survey
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A two-year survey of likely Western pond turtle habitat in Clackamas County found no trace of the imperiled species. A team of volunteers led by biologists searched 15 potential sites in the…
Jan 15, 2015
Foe restates opposition to state money for dock project
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Ousted chair of Transportation Commission says it's connected with coal exports. SALEM — The former chairwoman of the Oregon Transportation Commission says she has no apologies for her…
Jan 15, 2015
A sneak peek at the Islands of Portland
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Much of area will be submerged if ice sheets fully melt Seattle urban planner Jeffrey Linn has created a terrifying visual image of a global warming future that hits close to home. He mapped out…
