Items by Jonathan Thompson
We can have a renewables revolution that's even more robust than Germany's.
How long will it be before tourists simply avoid the West during fire season?
As the West burns, Native American leaders convene to plan their energy future.

Net metering is under attack in one of the nation's sunniest states

Even the costliest blazes can boost local economies.

In many Western communities, the more careful you are with land-use planning and wildlife conservation, the less you're doing for worker housing.
Keep abreast of the burning planet with these iPhone applications!

How the huge and fragile network of wires intertwined into our very existence may determine whether we can kick our carbon habit.
Home prices are rebounding, even in the most troubled markets, but what does it mean?
But you'll probably never do it, and here's why.
But don't write a eulogy yet
An excuse to watch some cool videos, filmed from unmanned aircraft.
Battle lines are drawn as AZ's biggest utility threatens to axe net metering
A substation sabotage in San Jose stirs up the conspiracy theorists
A rafting trip with low water and dust storms on the San Juan River drives the dryness home
A "symbiotic relationship" between natural gas and renewables has yet to make as much headway as hoped.
Expensive mega-fires have some economic upsides for local communities.
As gun sales have soared, so has wildlife restoration funding.
What if a ban on extraction could be used as a bargaining chip to benefit the community?
A little-noticed deal could be a big deal for renewable energy in the West

Getting skiers on the slopes is less about actual snow and more about getting skiers to believe there is snow.
Do agreements to shut down units at two of the West's biggest plants signal the end of the dirty fuel?
A failed development in northwestern New Mexico highlights the severe need for housing on the Navajo Nation

It’s hard to tell Beijing from Salt Lake when pollution clouds the air.
The Census Bureau maps the Five Percent and reveals some disturbing trends.

The Saguache Crescent prints on an ancient letterpress machine, no computers necessary.
Los Angeles adopts a German-like feed-in-tariff to encourage rooftop solar

Pro-gun Western Democrats are in the spotlight as the nation debates non-traditional firearms.
And more oddities from Heard around the West
Featured stories
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INDIGENOUS AFFAIRS EDITOR - HIGH COUNTRY NEWS High Country News is hiring an Indigenous Affairs Editor to help guide the magazine's journalism and produce stories that are important to Indigenous communities and...
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STAFF ATTORNEY Staff Attorney The role of the Staff Attorney is to bring litigation on behalf of Western Watersheds Project, and at times our allies, in the...
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ASSISTANT VICE PRESIDENT FOR DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION Northern Michigan University seeks an outstanding leader to serve as its next Assistant Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion. With new NMU President Dr. Brock...
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The Clark Fork Coalition seeks an exceptional leader to serve as its Executive Director. This position provides strategic vision and operational management while leading a...
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GOOD NEIGHBOR AGREEMENT MANAGER Help uphold a groundbreaking legal agreement between a powerful mining corporation and the local communities impacted by the platinum and palladium mine in their backyard....
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The Feather River Land Trust (FRLT) is seeking a strategic and dynamic leader to advance our mission to "conserve the lands and waters of the...
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COLORADO DIRECTOR COLORADO DIRECTOR Western Watersheds Project seeks a Colorado Director to continue and expand WWP's campaign to protect and restore public lands and wildlife in Colorado,...
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DIGITAL MEDIA SPECIALIST, THE NATURE CONSERVANCY: WYOMING, MONTANA AND UTAH Digital Media Specialist - WY, MT, UT OFFICE LOCATION Remote and hybrid options available. Preferred locations are MT, WY or UT, but applicants from anywhere...
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GRANT WRITER (PART-TIME, FREELANCE CONTRACT) HIGH COUNTRY NEWS High Country News seeks an energetic, articulate and highly organized grant writer to support a growing foundations program. This position works closely with our Executive...
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EXPERT COMPUTER & TECH HELP, PROVIDED REMOTELY From California, I provide expert tech help remotely to rural and urban clients. I charge only when I succeed. Available 7 days. Call for a...
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ASSISTANT PROFESSOR OF HISTORY - INDIGENOUS HISTORIES OF THE NORTH AMERICAN WEST Whitman College seeks applicants for a tenure-track position in Indigenous Histories of the North American West, beginning August 2024, at the rank of Assistant Professor....
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DAVE AND ME Dave and Me, by international racontuer and children's books author Rusty Austin, is a funny, profane and intense collection of short stories, essays, and poems...
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CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER Rural Community Assistance Corporation is looking to hire a CFO. For more more information visit: https://www.rcac.org/careers/
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EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR The Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness Foundation (ABWF) seeks a new Executive Director. Founded in 2008, the ABWF is a respected nonprofit whose mission is to support...
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CANYONLANDS FIELD INSTITUTE Field seminars for adults in natural and human history of the northern Colorado Plateau, with lodge and base camp options. Small groups, guest experts.
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COMING TO TUCSON? Popular vacation house, everything furnished. Two bedroom, one bath, large enclosed yards. Dog-friendly. Contact Lee at [email protected] or 520-791-9246.
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ENVIRONMENTAL AND CONSTRUCTION GEOPHYSICS We characterize contaminated sites, identify buried drums, tanks, debris and also locate groundwater.
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LUNATEC HYDRATION SPRAY BOTTLE A must for campers and outdoor enthusiasts. Cools, cleans and hydrates with mist, stream and shower patterns. Hundreds of uses.
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LUNATEC ODOR-FREE DISHCLOTHS are a must try. They stay odor-free, dry fast, are durable and don't require machine washing. Try today.
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WESTERN NATIVE SEED Native plant seeds for the Western US. Trees, shrubs, grasses, wildflowers and regional mixes. Call or email for free price list. 719-942-3935. [email protected] or visit...