6/3 Purple finch, Montana wind farm, Active Pass tankers, Arctic drilling, BC forestry plan, Orca Action Month

Purple finch [BirdWeb]

 
Purple finch Carpodacus purpureus
The Purple Finch is closely related to the Cassin's Finch and the House Finch, and in fact, there are places in Washington where all three species can be found. All three species are streaked, and the males of all three have red plumage. Purple Finches are generally found in moist coniferous and mixed-forest lowlands, especially those with many openings and edges, and an abundant understory. They are often found in revegetating clear-cuts, on farmland, and in rural residential areas. (BirdWeb)

Montana's largest wind farm contracts with Puget Sound Energy
What’s expected to be Montana’s largest wind farm secured its first customer Wednesday from Colstrip Power Plant co-owner Puget Sound Energy. The Seattle-area utility confirmed Wednesday morning that it has a 20-year contract with the owner of the Clearwater Wind project, a massive three-county wind farm being developed near Colstrip. Puget will purchase 350 megawatts of Clearwater capacity, enough to power 140,000 homes, according to the utility. The power is expected to come on line by the end of 2022. Tom Lutey reports. (Billings Gazette)

‘We’re Not Going to See Tankers in Active Pass Ever Again’
Tankers of all sizes have been banned from travelling through Active Pass, a narrow stretch of water between Mayne and Galiano islands, following a public outcry and Tyee reporting. The Pacific Pilotage Authority, a federal Crown corporation, issued the ban following a Tyee report that highlighted the lack of regulation on tankers transiting the narrow, busy waterway.The interim ban covers ships carrying bulk oil, pollutants and hazardous cargo, and it stands until a risk assessment is completed for commercial vessels in Active Pass. Michelle Gamage reports. (The Tyee)

Biden Aims to End Arctic Drilling. A Trump-Era Law Could Foil His Plans.
President Biden may be forced to hold a new lease sale for oil drilling in the pristine Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, despite his vows to slash fossil fuel pollution and his action this week to suspend Arctic drilling leases that had been awarded in the final days of the Trump administration. A law passed by the Republican-controlled Congress in 2017 requires the president to hold two lease sales in the refuge before the end of 2024. President Donald Trump held the first; now legal experts say the Biden administration could be locked into holding a second sale. Coral Davenport and Henry Fountain report. (NY Times)

Five ways B.C.’s new forestry plan sets the stage for more old-growth conflict
In the midst of escalating protests over logging, Horgan released an intentions paper on Tuesday that critics say fails to implement any immediate solutions. Matt Simmons reports. (The Narwhal) See also: Additional logging deferrals expected this summer, says forestry minister  Deferrals temporarily protect old growth, putting harvesting on hold in old forest ecosystems at the highest risk of permanent biodiversity loss. They can expire, and can be extended. (CBC) And: Police say they've made 158 arrests so far at B.C. protests against old-growth logging  (Canadian Press)

Orca Action Month
June marks the 15th annual Orca Action Month in Washington state and sixth annual celebration in Oregon and British Columbia. Members of the Orca Salmon Alliance and their partners are hosting events throughout the month to educate the public about the Southern Resident orca community and the challenges they face.

Now, your tug weather--
West Entrance U.S. Waters Strait Of Juan De Fuca-  246 AM PDT Thu Jun 3 2021   
TODAY  W wind to 10 kt becoming 5 to 15 kt in the afternoon.  Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell 6 ft at 10 seconds. 
TONIGHT  W wind 5 to 15 kt. Wind waves 2 ft or less. W swell  6 ft at 10 seconds subsiding to 4 ft at 10 seconds after  midnight.

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