Vancouver, Whistler & Vancouver Island - Washington, Oregon and the Pacific Northwest - page 889

What's the Alternative?
Renewable energy is big - really big - in the Pacific Northwest. The region leads North
America in green-power sales, and nuclear power is yesterday's news - in 2006 the Tro-
jan nuclear power plant in Rainier, OR, was imploded to great fanfare.
Hydroelectric energy is huge in the Pacific Northwest, helped by all the rain feeding
streams and rivers, which in turn power dams. In fact, the region gets up to 70% of its
power needs from hydroelectric - more than any other region in the US. Some of the
biggest systems here are the Grand Coulee Dam (itself the largest power generator in
North America), the Bonneville Dam and the Bridge River Power Project. The Columbia
River is North America's largest power-producing waterway.
Wind power is another huge player in the region, and in 2012 surpassed hydroelectric
power for the first time in the Columbia River Gorge area. This area is the perfect home
for wind farms: inland heat draws air from the coast through the narrow gorge, creating a
tunnel that produces reliable and forceful winds. Oregon and Washington are two of the
fastest-growing wind-energy producers in the country.
Solar energy is, surprisingly, alive and well in the drizzly Pacific Northwest. This ain't
Arizona, but the region does get enough sun to make this alternative energy viable - and
even popular. Solar panels are becoming more and more common on rooftops here, on
both homes and businesses, and the region boasts multiple leading solar-energy manufac-
turing companies.
Wave, tide and geothermal energies are other potential sources of power in this geolo-
gically active area.
Some people dislike wind power because of its association with bird and bat deaths. But
when you take into account the wildlife killed by electric transmission lines and oil spills
and the pollution created by dirty energy, the figures pale in comparison.
Eco-Cities of the Future
Seattle, Portland and Vancouver consistently top the 'Greenest Cities in the US' (or
Canada) lists. With good public transportation, hundreds of miles of bike lanes and high-
density population neighborhoods, these urban centers have made it a priority to live re-
spectably within their natural surroundings.
And they're getting better. Vancouver wants to become the world's 'greenest city' by
the year 2020; it already uses less energy and land per resident than its southerly big-city
neighbors. Seattle is one of the top 'green building' cities in the country, and Portland
has nudged its carbon emissions to 15% below its 2000 levels.