Seattle City Light rates to increase as utility struggles with supply, demand
Electricity prices will rise more steeply than originally forecast, but city officials say that hiking rates now will save residents from steeper increases in the...
About Climate Lab
Climate Lab is a Seattle Times initiative that explores the effects of climate change in the Pacific Northwest and beyond. The project illuminates the impacts of heat waves, drought, wildfire and flooding, and examines government and industry actions, to help the public better understand how greenhouse gas emissions are changing our lives.
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Are we in for a scorcher? What the rest of summer might be like
After a broiling heat wave that delivered record highs and steamy lows across Western Washington, will we have a hot summer, too? The answer isn't...
WA adopts landfill rules to combat methane leaks
When food waste, vegetation and garbage decompose at landfills, methane often escapes. New rules attempt to keep a lid on methane gas leaks.
U.S. and Canada reach deal on Columbia River Treaty
The deal would modernize the agreement managing the Columbia Basin and its critical hydropower dams.
A record sockeye salmon run on the Columbia is now threatened by hot water
A record sockeye run is making its way upstream through Columbia River dams, but now hot water could stop the fish from reaching their home...
WA to impose fire ban on state-managed land following heat wave
The ban extends to the more than 5.6 million acres managed by DNR, including campgrounds, trailheads, day use area and natural preserves.
Pacific Northwest data center boom could imperil power supply within 5 years
A forecast from regional power planners predicts that, due to energy demands from data centers, the region will struggle unless it finds more sources of...
Amazon’s renewable energy purchases lead to 3% drop in carbon emissions
Amazon saw the most significant decrease in carbon emissions last year since it launched its Climate Pledge. But, its emissions are still 20 million metric...
PNW wildfire risk to reach ‘near record’ levels amid heat wave
This week is being described as “essentially the perfect weather recipe" for wildfires — and that's not a good thing.
WA’s sweet cherry industry hit by natural disasters, sour market VIEW
“The whole system is so broken,” said Matthew Whiting, a professor of tree fruit horticulture with Washington State University. “It isn’t sustainable.”