Both will be from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sponsors include area utility groups, the Cascadia Region Green Building Council, BetterBricks and ASHRAE.

For costs and to register, see http://www.cascadiagbc.org. For more information, contact (877) 343-3960 or training@betterbricks.com.

Volunteer salmon watchers needed

SEATTLE — Upcoming workshops are set to train volunteers to gather data on salmon spawing in local streams and to find areas where they get stuck.

From September through December for almost 10 years volunteers have been watching for salmon along streams and shorelines in the Lake Washington watershed and on Vashon Island. They also look for barriers to migrating salmon. Scientists and policy-makers use this data as part of salmon recovery work.

Workshops will show volunteers how to identify species and spawning salmonids. Sessions are scheduled for: Sept. 15, Odle Middle School Library, 14401 N.E. Eighth St., Bellevue. Program sponsors include area municipalities, Vashon-Maury Island Land Trust and the King Conservation District.

For more information call Jennifer Vanderhoof at (206) 263-6533 or see http://dnr.metrokc.gov/wlr/waterres/salmon.

Wood recycler joins King County LinkUp

SEATTLE — Rainier Wood Recyclers has joined King County's LinkUp program, which partners with businesses to expand markets for recycled materials.

LinkUp members are manufacturers, material processors and businesses that encourage salvage and reuse.

Rainier Wood grinds and recycles urban wood waste, landclearing debris and brush. It handles up to 70,000 tons a year of construction and manufacturing debris, pallets and crates.

Some of the material is turned into products, including mulch, animal bedding and boiler fuel. Fine-cut wood goes to a company that markets it for playground base, and some material becomes part of siding.

Rainier Wood's recycling yard in Covington has run for more than 15 years. It also has newer yards are in Auburn and Fall City.

For more information, call Kris Beatty at (206) 296-3740 or see http://dnr.metrokc.gov/linkup.

Green power buying jumps 40%

PORTLAND — The nonprofit Renewable Northwest Project says the number of utility customers buying green power in this region jumped 40 percent from 2003 to 2004, according to Renewable Northwest's recently released report.

There are 36 utilities in the Northwest offering customers a choice of power from wind, solar, landfill gas power or low-impact hydro resources. These utilities are in both urban and rural markets.

The amount of green power sold from 2003 to 2004 through voluntary programs was 22 times higher than what Renewable Northwest tallied in 2000. Green power customers have bought more than 550 million kilowatt-hours since 2003, enough to run more than 45,000 homes for a year. Customer retail green power purchases help pay for construction of renewable energy projects.

Golf course seeks status as sanctuary

TACOMA — The Lake Spanaway Golf Course recently completed the first of a six-step process to get certified as an Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.

Lake Spanaway Golf Course, at 15602 Pacific Ave., opened in 1967. Lake Spanaway officials say they've kept areas secluded for wildlife for seven years, installing nest boxes and keeping tall grass and brush for birds and small animals.

Audubon International manages a national network of backyards, schools, corporate and business properties, and golf courses that help promote environmental stewardship and sustainability. The program for golf courses is designed to enhance wildlife habitats and protect natural resources. Environmental planning is the first step to certification.

Marymoor Park gets 20 "blue bikes"

SEATTLE — Twenty new Trek Cruiser Classic bikes are available at Marymoor Park for residents to use for free.

King County is one of eight participants around the country in the Dasani Blue Bike Program, a community bicycling program that gives residents free access to bikes.

Bikes will be stored in lockers at Marymoor Park. People can register to use them at King County Parks and Recreation's office in Marymoor Park. They can ride them around Marymoor Park or on the Sammamish River Trail.

Other program supporters are local citizens, cyclists and the Rails to Trails Conservancy.