Pacific Northwest can meet most energy needs with conservation, council says

85% of new energy can be met by more efficient use of existing generating plants-

For some time here, we have arguing against giant, new centralized power plants whether of “alternative” or traditional energy. This means that few nukes, giant wind farms, coal plants, or space-consuming solar farms are needed.

I would have missed this. I’m glad Rocky Barker was alert following Northwest Power and Conservation Council’s new plan. Northwest can meet most energy needs with conservation, council says. By Rocky Barker. Idaho Statesman.

Jim Yost, one of Idaho’s two council members (and a strong corporate conservative) said “Everything we add to the system costs five to 10 times the resources we are using today,” Yost said. By this I takes it to mean the marginal cost of new generated power is 500 to 1000% the average cost of existing power.

Huge boulder tumbles onto town next to Zion National Park

Another boulder is set to tumble down and smash things-

Massive rolling boulder rocks town of Rockville, UT. Buildings, vehicles damaged; another rock unstable. By Mark Havnes. The Salt Lake Tribune.

In the comments to this article in the SL Trib, one person wondered if folks looked uphill before they built?  I have often wondered about this in towns set in deep canyons.

Excellent Idaho steelhead season is getting underway

These sea-run rainbow trout are now moving well up the Salmon and Clearwater Rivers-

The season has been good so far. Now the fish are moving well upstream. I see the average time to catch one is about 5 hours, depending on your fishing location.

Roger Phillips’ Fish Rap: Steelhead fishing is heating up a cold winter.  Idaho Statesman