Washington State Archives – The Green Optimistic

“Undo” – Elwha River Dams Removed, Salmon Run Free

Benji Jerew — Fri, 17 Oct 2014 20:37:56 +0000

Just over one hundred years ago, a dam was constructed to provide power for local logging operations and residences, but cut off the upper section of the Elwha River in Washington. Constructed between 1910 and 1913, the Elwha dam effectively cut off five species of salmon, as well as other trout species, from their spawning […]

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Vanadium Flow Batteries Offer Advanced Renewable Energy Storage

Benji Jerew — Thu, 10 Jul 2014 21:03:25 +0000

Renewable energy sources, while free of emissions, also has environmental limitations, meaning energy storage is more important. Renewable energy generation continues to expand, from residential solar power installations to off-shore wind power, to the point where some locations could even eliminate their dependency on fossil fuels, if not for one little problem. Of course, I’m […]

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Park Passive House is First in Washington State

Benji Jerew — Tue, 01 Apr 2014 13:49:32 +0000

What is a “passive house?” The idea has been around for about twenty years, building the world’s most-efficient homes. Perhaps better if I let someone else explain what a passive house is and where it all started, in 1991… The idea of the passive house is to significantly reduce energy expenditures in the home. Typical […]

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