Friday, October 31, 2008

Energy News Digest for October 31, 2008

NOTE: The news digest will be taking a break on Monday, November 3. It will return with its “I Think I Voted” sticker on November 4.

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Voters in 3 counties to decide on municipal authority over Puget Sound Energy
- Voters might pull the plug on Puget Sound Energy
- Drive against Jefferson PUD power approaches a cool quarter-million
- Wenatchee Alcoa layoffs coming amid soft metal prices and demand
- Intalco trims jobs as metal price falls
- Portland General Electric reports net income of zero for third quarter
- Fowler retiring from Portland General Electric
- Tri-City Herald Editorial – Nuclear fuel recycling shouldn't be shelved again
- California nuke plant back online after jellyfish block cooling water intake pipes
- T. Boone Pickens not bullish on energy smarts of Obama, McCain
- Budget Cuts Could Threaten Salmon Recovery
- Salmon egg nests destroyed on Elwha River
- Many Grays River residents say fish habitat plan could do more harm than good
- Biodiversity: Unraveling the Mysteries of Salmon Migration
- Group suggests gillnetting changes on Columbia
- South Dakota – Spawning next wave of salmon
- Canada – Pink salmon in sharp decline near Broughton fish farms
- Project aims to keep bats under Oregon bridges
- Thurston Country recycling options shrink
- Recycled Goods On Ferry Thrown In Trash
- California cuts water deliveries to cities, farms
- Wind Companies Compelled to Play Nice in New York
- Tumwater district joins energy-saving program
- Do You Know You Have Phantoms in Your House?
- New York – United Way to host free energy workshops
- Tennessean Op/Ed – Energy progress needs broad plan
- Canada – Adjust carbon tax to lift burden on poor, think-tank says
- The Unintended Consequences of Climate Change Solutions
- Qwest FTTN: Available to 5 Million By 2010
- JD Power Ranks Broadband ISP Satisfaction
- Chip makers tighten belt
- DOT warns of death after daylight savings
- Earnings: Exxon profit a record: $14.83 billion in quarter

These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest

WORD OF THE DAY

Parley • \PARR-lee \ • verb – To speak with another: confer; specifically: to discuss terms with an enemy.

“ARRRRRRRR,” growled the lady pirate to her opponents. “I won’t let ye onto me ship for a parley unless ye all wear dresses before ye come aboard.” Her quaking opponents, facing the grinning guns of the pirate ship were only too happy to don hoop skirts for their trip to discuss terms of surrender.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?textField1=47.213805&textField2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=Shelton%2C%20WA%2C%20USA

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Voters in 3 counties to decide on municipal authority over Puget Sound Energy – Utility spends more than $900,000 to fight the measures (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/385776_pse31.html

Voters might pull the plug on Puget Sound Energy (Crosscut)
http://crosscut.com/2008/10/30/energy-utilities/18604/

Drive against Jefferson PUD power approaches a cool quarter-million (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20081031/news/310319991

Wenatchee Alcoa layoffs coming amid soft metal prices and demand (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081030/NEWS04/710319992

Intalco trims jobs as metal price falls (The Bellingham Herald, WA)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/255/story/640477.html

Portland General Electric reports net income of zero for third quarter – The company faults a customer refund from the closure of the Trojan plant (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1225423519154860.xml&coll=7

Fowler retiring from Portland General Electric (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/10/27/daily33.html?ana=from_rss

Tri-City Herald Editorial – Nuclear fuel recycling shouldn't be shelved again
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/962/story/368514.html

Suicidal Jellyfish – PG&E Calif. Diablo Canyon reactors start back after jellyfish block cooling water intake pipes (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN2450595320081024

T. Boone Pickens not bullish on energy smarts of Obama, McCain (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/10/27/daily39.html?ana=from_rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Budget Cuts Could Threaten Salmon Recovery – between 20-30 percent of BPA customer bills go towards fish & wildlife (Audio from KPLU-Radio, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1403151

Salmon egg nests destroyed on Elwha River (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20081031/NEWS/310319993

Many Grays River residents say fish habitat plan could do more harm than good (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/10/31/area_news/doc4909470fa33b8928710444.txt

Biodiversity: Unraveling the Mysteries of Salmon Migration (IPS, Italy)
http://www.ipsnews.net/news.asp?idnews=44532

Group suggests gillnetting changes on Columbia – Proposal would move commercial users to side channels on lower river (The Statesman-Journal, Salem, OR)
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081031/OUTDOORS/810310356/1034/SPORTS

South Dakota – Spawning next wave of salmon: 1.5M fertilized fish eggs to boost S.D. economy (The Argus Leader, Sioux Falls, SD)
http://www.argusleader.com/article/20081031/NEWS/810310319/1001/rss01

Canada – Pink salmon in sharp decline near Broughton fish farms – Numbers spawning in five key indicator streams down 90 per cent (The Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=6d3af277-d143-4115-adf9-25a2825e342a

Project aims to keep bats under Oregon bridges (Associated Press)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/33368179.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Thurston Country recycling options shrink – Five blue box locations in county to close Jan. 1 (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/643361.html

Recycled Goods On Ferry Thrown In Trash (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17815454/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news

California cuts water deliveries to cities, farms to second lowest level ever (Associated Press)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10861484?source=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Wind Companies Compelled to Play Nice in New York (NY Times)
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/30/wind-companies-compelled-to-play-nice-in-new-york/?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

CONSERVATION

Tumwater district joins energy-saving program (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/643348.html

Do You Know You Have Phantoms in Your House? How to Combat Phantom Power Pilferage (MarketWatch)
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Do-You-Know-You-Have/story.aspx?guid=%7B2EAACF7E-D27F-4255-BE0F-DFF15C60B5FC%7D

New York – United Way to host free energy workshops (The Chronicle, Goshen, NY)
http://www.strausnews.com/articles/2008/10/30/the_chronicle/news/30.txt

Tennessean Op/Ed – Energy progress needs broad plan
http://tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081029/OPINION01/810290418/1007/OPINION

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Canada – Adjust carbon tax to lift burden on poor, think-tank says (Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081031.BCCARBON31/TPStory/TPNational/BritishColumbia/

The Unintended Consequences of Climate Change Solutions (NY Times)
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/31/the-unintended-consequences-of-climate-change-solutions/?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Qwest FTTN: Available to 5 Million By 2010 – Should be available to 1.8 million users by year's end (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Qwest-FTTN-Available-To-5-Million-By-2010-98787

JD Power Ranks Broadband ISP Satisfaction – Cablevision, Cox, WOW and Roadrunner take top honors (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/JD-Power-Ranks-Broadband-ISP-Satisfaction-98786

Chip makers tighten belt – Local companies cut costs as global sales sag (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20081031/BIZ01/710319984/-1/biz

GENERAL NEWS

DOT warns of death after daylight savings – I am Darkness, the bringer of death… (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/33640039.html

Earnings: Exxon profit a record: $14.83 billion in quarter – Insert Cynical Comment Here (Associated Press)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/385805_earnsoil31.html?source=rss

DIVERSIONS

Would-be florist robbers get only rose as loot
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008334669_webroserobbery31.html?syndication=rss

Hover chair hopes to rise above economic woes
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE49T64U20081030?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

Theft averted – Boy shocked after man powers up campaign sign
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081031/ap_on_fe_st/odd_shocking_sign;_ylt=AsoEEApopkcGPx1gdsPkWivtiBIF

Man allegedly helps renovate with 'hot' property
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081031/ap_on_fe_st/odd_stolen_renovation;_ylt=Avq7VxvFErX1UZv46LwHpv3tiBIF

Teen Volunteer Finds Ancient Hebrew Writing – Archaeologist Says Find Holds Oldest Hebrew Writing
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/17853985/detail.html

Thursday, October 30, 2008

Energy News Digest for October 30, 2008

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Supplier Poll: Texas voters favor electricity competition
- Massachusetts – Utility offers a 3-year lock on electricity rate
- Massachusetts Electricity offer slammed
- Benton PUD offering low-income discounts
- South Africa – 'No electricity, No vote’
- Union-Bulletin Editorial – New study finds fish do as well on dammed rivers
- Coho flooding to Cowlitz salmon hatchery at record pace
- 'We're getting down to the last fish in the barrel'
- Oregon – Commercial fishermen question salmon plan
- Taylor Shellfish May Face Fines from Washington State
- Dusky tree vole may be in need of federal protection
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer Editorial – Puget Sound: Troubled waters
- Camas, state tout ‘win-win’ water rights
- Pateros businesses lament Douglas County PUD’s plan to lower river
- West Montana tribal water compact negotiations rolling along
- Feds to check for contaminants in Columbia River
- Wastewater concerns slowing N. Idaho developers
- Renewable energy debuts on ballots
- Pickens delays world's biggest wind farm project
- California rejects Pacific Gas & Electric contract for wave energy
- Michigan – Stranded oil spurs an electric America with more renewables
- California City to Turn Waste into Energy
- Turning Waste Olive Stones Into Bioethanol
- Energy-efficient fridge actually costs less
- North Carolina – Energy Star goods have tax holiday
- Pointers to help you avoid ‘greenwashing’
- Comcast: The New Broadband King
- Cable Subscribers Increase Before Digital Transition
- State Releases Audit of City of Shelton

These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest

WORD OF THE DAY

Internecine • \inter-NESS-seen\ • \adjective – 1: marked by slaughter: deadly; especially: mutually destructive 2: of, relating to, or involving conflict within a group

The manufacturing employees and design staff continued their internecine battles over color choices for the new product line throughout the year. The designers demanded that the assembly line use dark brown and hot pink in new throw-pillow designs. The workers rebelled, when after one week, the color combination had sent hundreds of them home with headaches and nausea.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?textField1=47.213805&textField2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=Shelton%2C%20WA%2C%20USA

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Poll: Texas voters favor electricity competition – Industry to use findings in battle against efforts to regulate prices “…poll commissioned by a power industry trade group…” (Houston Chronicle, TX)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6084989.html

Massachusetts – Utility offers a 3-year lock on electricity rate: Dominion's deal would cut average bill by a few dollars (Boston Globe, MA)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/6084989.html

Massachusetts Electricity offer slammed (Boston Herald)
http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1128762&srvc=rss

Benton PUD offering low-income discounts (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/kennewick_pasco_richland/story/367432.html

South Africa – 'No electricity, No vote’ (Independent Online)
http://www.iol.co.za/index.php?from=rss_South%20Africa&set_id=1&click_id=13&art_id=nw20081030152202533C743404

FISH & WILDLIFE

Union-Bulletin Editorial – New study finds fish do as well on dammed rivers: Yet, environmental groups quickly dismissed the merits of the study. Any study that doesn't denigrate dams is automatically unscientific, horrible or both (Walla Walla, WA)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2008/10/29/opinion/daily_editorial/081029%20editorial%20dams.txt

Coho flooding to Cowlitz salmon hatchery at record pace (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/704/story/641985.html

'We're getting down to the last fish in the barrel' (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/33560749.html

Oregon – Commercial fishermen question salmon plan (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/index.ssf/2008/10/andy_parker_commercial_fisherm.html

Taylor Shellfish May Face Fines from Washington State (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/5427/reftab/1632/title/TAYLOR_SHELLFISH_MAY_FACE_FINES_FROM_THE_STATE/Default.aspx

Dusky tree vole may be in need of federal protection (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008328905_treevole30.html?syndication=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Editorial – Puget Sound: Troubled waters
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/385542_pugeted.html?source=rss

Camas, state tout ‘win-win’ water rights (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20081030/NEWS02/710309968/-1/NEWS

Pateros businesses lament Douglas County PUD’s plan to lower river (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081030/NEWS04/710301306

West Montana tribal water compact negotiations rolling along (Char-Koosta, Pablo, MT)
http://www.charkoosta.com/2008/2008_10_30/CSKT_water_compacts_roll_along.html

Feds to check for contaminants in Columbia River (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/kennewick_pasco_richland/story/366999.html

Wastewater concerns slowing N. Idaho developers (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1658956~Wastewater_concerns_slowing_N__Idaho_developers.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Renewable energy debuts on ballots (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-10-29-ballot-proposals_N.htm?csp=34

Pickens delays world's biggest wind farm project – Texas oilman's wind farm project hit by financial crisis and drop in price of natural gas (The Guardian, UK)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/oct/30/windpower-energy

California rejects Pacific Gas & Electric contract for wave energy (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10830160?source=rss

Michigan – Stranded oil spurs an electric America with more renewables (Tri-Cities Business Review, MI)
http://www.mlive.com/businessreview/tricities/index.ssf/2008/10/stranded_oil_spurs_an_electric.html

California City to Turn Waste into Energy (Facility Blog)
http://todaysfacilitymanager.com/facilityblog/2008/10/california-city-to-turn-waste-into-energy.html

Turning Waste Olive Stones Into Bioethanol ([Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=53974&src=rss

CONSERVATION

Energy-efficient fridge actually costs less (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1224712526166670.xml&coll=7

North Carolina – Energy Star goods have tax holiday (The Business Journal of the Greater Triad Area)
http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/stories/2008/10/27/daily28.html?ana=from_rss

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Pointers to help you avoid ‘greenwashing’ (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081030/HOM/710301323/1025/rss1025

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Comcast: The New Broadband King – Poised to surpass AT&T as nation's largest provider (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Comcast-The-New-Broadband-King-98748

Cable Subscribers Increase Before Digital Transition (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96311177&ft=1&f=3

GENERAL NEWS

State Releases Audit of City of Shelton (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/5425/reftab/1632/title/STATE_RELEASES_AUDIT_OF_CITY/Default.aspx

DIVERSIONS

Police kill wild turkeys in Philomath
http://www.examiner.com/a-1663998~Police_kill_wild_turkeys_in_Philomath.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

On this Day: ‘The War of the Worlds’ Broadcast Causes Panic
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/September-October-08/On-this-Day---The-War-of-the-Worlds--Broadcast-Causes-Panic.html

Leave Your Ear Wax Alone, Experts Say
http://www.kirotv.com/health/17846271/detail.html

Sticky-Fingered Campus Cop Charged In Pastry Theft
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/17848981/detail.html

Wednesday, October 29, 2008

Energy News Digest for October 29, 2008

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Electricity crisis lurks over the hill in rural U.S., co-op group warned
- Grays Harbor County PUD rebuffs Bassett on Cosmopolis pulp mill
- BPA reviews old transmission line plan between Umatilla to John Day, Oregon
- Rating improves on Chelan County PUD debt
- Oregon – FERC is a no-show at Coos Bay area LNG hearing
- Snohomish PUD opponents differ on size of board
- South Carolina – Electricity – key to disaster recovery
- PG&E Mulling Fee for Customers Who Switch Service to Proposed Public Utility
- Tags unlock young salmon secrets
- Dams Appear to Have No Impact on Salmon
- Salmon are heading up the Satsop and Wynoochee
- Mexico Pays Fishermen to Help Save a Species
- Colorado – Water trial sails into third day
- Amid economic crisis, wind power spins more slowly
- Grays Harbor County PUD looks into wind power
- Statesmen Journal Op/Ed – Let free market decide when Oregon is ready for more wind power
- A Clean Energy Uprising in California
- It Pays to Go Green in a Down Economy
- Kansas - Conservation program cutting thousands off energy bills
- Winston-Salem Journal Editorial – Saving Energy
- New York – Stony Kill Farm offers home energy guidance
- Can smoke and mirrors ease global warming?
- Live from Antarctica! A lesson in global warming
- Microsoft loses share of Internet searches, while Yahoo sees gain
- Telemedicine Could Save $197 Billion, But Only With ‘Smart Networks’
- Are taxpayer-funded networks a good idea?
- WiFi showing up in more places
- Microsoft Introduces Windows 7, Ending Vista Brand
- On this Day: ‘Black Tuesday’ Stock Market Crash Ushers in Great Depression
- What Went Into the $500 million Pepsi Logo

These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest

WORD OF THE DAY

Eldritch • \EL-dritch\ • adjective – Weird, eerie

Hiding under the covers, lest the closet monster see any part of its body, the quaking child began having second thoughts about reading “Tales from the Crypt” with a flashlight under the covers at bedtime. Every eldritch creak of the house, branch against the window, or drip of the bathroom faucet conjured up images of a monster with slathering jaws waiting to pounce.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?textField1=47.213805&textField2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=Shelton%2C%20WA%2C%20USA

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Electricity crisis lurks over the hill in rural U.S., co-op group warned (NW Arkansas News)
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Business/241932/

Grays Harbor County PUD rebuffs Bassett on Cosmopolis pulp mill (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/10/28/local_news/09news.txt

BPA reviews old transmission line plan between Umatilla to John Day, Oregon (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/915/story/365572.html

Rating improves on Chelan County PUD debt (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081028/NEWS04/710289970

Oregon – FERC is a no-show at Coos Bay area LNG hearing (The World, Coos Bay, OR)
http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2008/10/28/news/doc49074c94dda45199451496.txt

Snohomish PUD opponents differ on size of board (Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20081029/NEWS01/710299820

South Carolina – Electricity – key to disaster recovery (North Myrtle Beach Local News, SC)
http://www.northmyrtlebeachonline.com/modules/AMS/article.php?storyid=1397

PG&E Mulling Fee For Customers Who Switch Service to Proposed Public Utility (KPIX-TV, San Francisco, CA)
http://cbs5.com/consumer/marin.energy.switch.2.850935.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Tags unlock young salmon secrets (British Broadcasting Corporation, UK)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/sci/tech/7694180.stm

Dams Appear to Have No Impact on Salmon (Discovery Channel)
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2008/10/29/salmon-dam.html

Salmon are heading up the Satsop and Wynoochee – Some of the best reports for salmon are coming from the Satsop-Wynoochee region. (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/outdoors/story/521825.html

Mexico Pays Fishermen to Help Save a Species (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/29/world/americas/29mexico.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Colorado – Water trial sails into third day – The trial over the San Luis Valley’s first groundwater management sub-district plan enters its third day today (Valley Courier, Alamosa, CO)
http://www.alamosanews.com/V2_news_articles.php?heading=0&story_id=10044&page=72

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Amid economic crisis, wind power spins more slowly – Many of the big players who were drawn to alternative energy by tax credits are now sidelined or kaput (Christian Science Monitor)
http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2008/10/28/amid-economic-crisis-wind-power-spins-more-slowly/

Grays Harbor County PUD looks into wind power (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/10/29/local_news/05news.txt

Statesmen Journal Op/Ed – Let free market decide when Oregon is ready for more wind power (Salem, OR)
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081029/OPINION/81025011/1049/OPINION

A Clean Energy Uprising in California (NY Times)
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/29/a-clean-energy-uprising-in-california/

CONSERVATION

It Pays to Go Green in a Down Economy – Learn why even in this economy you can't afford not to implement green practices in your business (MSNBC)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/27438289/

Kansas - Conservation program cutting thousands off energy bills (The Morning Sun, Pittsburg, KS)
http://www.morningsun.net/news/x1588594087/Conservation-program-cutting-thousands-off-energy-bills

Winston-Salem Journal Editorial – Saving Energy (NC)
http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2008/oct/29/saving-energy/opinion/

New York – Stony Kill Farm offers home energy guidance (Poughkeepsie Journal, NY)
http://www.poughkeepsiejournal.com/article/20081029/NEWS01/81028035/1006

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Can smoke and mirrors ease global warming? (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSTRE49Q02B20081027

Live from Antarctica! A lesson in global warming (The Courier-Post Online, New Jersey)
http://www.courierpostonline.com/article/20081029/NEWS01/81029045/1006/news01

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Microsoft loses share of Internet searches, while Yahoo sees gain (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/521833.html

Expert: Telemedicine Could Save $197 Billion, But Only With ‘Smart Networks’ (Broadband Census)
http://broadbandcensus.com/blog/?p=957

Are taxpayer-funded networks a good idea? (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/external/idg/2008/10/27/27idg-Are-taxpayer-fu.html

WiFi showing up in more places (Business First of Buffalo)
http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2008/10/27/focus2.html?ana=from_rss

Microsoft Introduces Windows 7, Ending Vista Brand (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/29/technology/business-computing/29soft.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

GENERAL NEWS

On this Day: ‘Black Tuesday’ Stock Market Crash Ushers in Great Depression (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/September-October-08/On-this-Day---Black-Tuesday--Stock-Market-Crash-Ushers-in-Great-Depression.html

What Went Into the Updated Pepsi Logo – Experts Estimate Cost to Roll Out New Look in the Hundreds of Millions (Advertising Age)
http://adage.com/article?article_id=132016

DIVERSIONS

Red Makes Women More Attractive To Men
http://www.kirotv.com/health/17829157/detail.html

Man Charged With Driving Stolen SUV To Court
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/17829042/detail.html

TV Remotes, Doorknobs Among Germ Hotbeds
http://www.kirotv.com/health/17828695/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=irresistible

Tuesday, October 28, 2008

Energy News Digest for October 28, 2008 - The Gollum Fish Story Edition

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Shelton Releases 2009 Preliminary Budget – May turn off half the city’s street lights
- Westinghouse big winner in nuclear power push (Atlanta Business Chronicle)
- Research hints dam improvements helping salmon
- Salmon study sparks row over dams
- Salmon study: Dammed or not
- Salmon study under fire for minimizing effect of dams
- Salmon smolt survival similar in Columbia and Fraser rivers
- Fraser full of risks for salmon, study finds
- Texas district wins round in Okla. water lawsuit
- Cyprus – Thirst for solution to water shortages
- State's alternative energy projects gain momentum
- Tilting at Windmills: Is Small-Scale Turbine Power Viable
- Whirlwind of investment – Betting on wind energy
- Calif. Rule Casts Shade on Solar Panels
- Google’s Green Agenda Could Pay Off
- FPL Cuts 400 MW of Wind Energy Plans
- 3TIER Named one of "100 Fastest-Growing Private Companies"
- Jay Inslee Calls Clean Energy "Our Generation's Legacy”
- 19 Ways to Slash Your Utility Bill
- Clallam climate group traces greenhouse gases
- Oregon governor reveals climate change agenda
- FCC to rule on white space channels
- Dolly Parton, Other Artists Hates White Space Broadband
- US cablecos spice wireless broadband fight
- Belfair House Fire Victims Died From Smoke Inhalation
- Wrong-way driver hits pickup on I-5 in Olympia, leaves one dead
- Boeing, Machinists reach settlement
- Records request for December 2007 storm insurance claims disputed

These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest

WORD OF THE DAY

Orb • \ORB\ • noun – 1: Any of the concentric spheres in old astronomy surrounding the earth and carrying the celestial bodies in their revolutions 2: archaic: something circular: circle, orbit 3: a spherical body; especially: a spherical celestial object 4: eye
5: a sphere surmounted by a cross symbolizing kingly power and justice

Woody Allen’s “Sleeper” caused orb sales (or any other spherical object) to skyrocket in the tiny burgh of Anytown USA. Unfortunately, without the futuristic technology foretold in the movie, no one got high…they just all got annoyed.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?textField1=47.213805&textField2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=Shelton%2C%20WA%2C%20USA

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

City Releases 2009 Preliminary Budget – Proposes turning off half the city’s street lights to save money (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/5406/reftab/1632/title/CITY_RELEASES_2009_PRELIMINARY_BUDGET/Default.aspx

Westinghouse big winner in nuclear power push (Atlanta Business Chronicle)
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2008/10/27/story1.html?ana=from_rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

A “Gollum Moment” – “We loves the report….We hates the report”

Research hints dam improvements helping salmon (The Oregonian, Portland, WA)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/10/research_hints_dam_improvement.html

Salmon study sparks row over dams – Results dismissing link to fish mortality are called into question (Nature News)
http://www.nature.com/news/2008/081027/full/4551160a.html?s=news_rss

Salmon study: Dammed or not – A river with zero dams or a river with eight may not be much different for the survival of young salmon (Science News)
http://www.sciencenews.org/view/generic/id/38128/title/Salmon_study_Dammed_or_not

Salmon study under fire for minimizing effect of dams – A new study says river dams make no difference to salmon survival (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008319616_salmon28m.html

Salmon smolt survival similar in Columbia and Fraser rivers (EurekAlert)
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-10/osu-sss102708.php

Fraser full of risks for salmon, study finds (CanWest News Service)
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=3d661bfa-fb46-4841-9cdd-cc32682920f2

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Texas district wins round in Okla. water lawsuit – Lawsuit was over Oklahoma's ban on out of state water sales (Associated Press)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/6081580.html

Cyprus – Thirst for solution to water shortages (Financial Times)
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/4ae2c9dc-a480-11dd-8104-000077b07658.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

State's alternative energy projects gain momentum “…hydroelectric power has been Washington state's green power of choice for decades…” (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/33429934.html

Tilting at Windmills: Is Small-Scale Turbine Power Viable--Or Just an Illusion? A new plastic turbine can capture energy from the wind gusting over your roof (Scientific American)
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=small-scale-wind-power

Whirlwind of investment – Zoltek, Emerson, Wind Capital betting on wind energy
(St. Louis Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2008/10/27/story2.html?ana=from_rss

Calif. Rule Casts Shade on Solar Panels (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96175833

Google’s Green Agenda Could Pay Off (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/28/technology/internet/28google.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/story?id=53954&src=rss

FPL Cuts 400 MW of Wind Energy Plans (Renewable Energy World Online)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=53951&src=rss

3TIER Named one of "100 Fastest-Growing Private Companies" in Washington (Renewable Energy World Online)

News Release – U.S. Representative Jay Inslee Calls Clean Energy "Our Generation's Legacy” (MarketWatch)
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/us-representative-jay-inslee-calls/story.aspx?guid=%7B2F99E3CC-841C-4EF7-A247-B6CC512B23D6%7D&dist=hppr

CONSERVATION

19 Ways to Slash Your Utility Bill (Popular Mechanics)
http://www.popularmechanics.com/home_journal/how_to/4288639.html?page=1

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Clallam climate group traces greenhouse gases (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20081028/news/310289992

Oregon governor reveals climate change agenda (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/10/27/daily4.html?ana=from_rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

FCC to rule on white space channels (Associated Press)
http://www.fox44.net/Global/story.asp?S=9251567&nav=menu660_1

Dolly Parton, Other Artists Hates White Space Broadband (Broadband Reports)
http://www.broadbandreports.com/shownews/Dolly-Parton-Hates-White-Space-Broadband-98712

US cablecos spice wireless broadband fight – The quadruple play (The Register)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/10/27/cox_and_wireless/

GENERAL NEWS

Belfair House Fire Victims Died From Smoke Inhalation (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/5408/reftab/1632/title/HOUSE_FIRE_VICTIMS_DIED_FROM_SMOKE_INHALATION/Default.aspx

Wrong-way driver hits pickup on I-5 in Olympia, leaves one dead (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/638296.html

Boeing, Machinists reach settlement; pact calls for 15 percent pay raise over 4 years (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/boeingaerospace/2008319765_machinists28.html?syndication=rss

Records request for December 2007 storm insurance claims disputed (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/10/27/local_news/02news.txt

DIVERSIONS

The Ultimate In Cold Feet – Reluctant groom sets hotel on fire
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE49Q3X220081027?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

Man drives drunk to protest drunken driving charge
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE49Q62620081027?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

Poodle Delays 8 Flights At Boston Airport – Dog Evades Airport Personnel For 17 Hours
http://www.kirotv.com/travelgetaways/17814900/detail.html?treets=sea&taf=sea

Colo. Couple Get Marijuana With Order Of Tacos
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17813418/detail.html

Monday, October 27, 2008

Energy News Digest for October 27, 2008

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Rate weight: Clark Public Utilities faces upward pressure on electricity costs
- Seattle Times Editorial – Public Power, Yes: keep local control
- Whidbey Examiner – General election endorsements
- Jefferson PUD power drive generates $250,000 in both sides' campaign spending
- Thurston County PUD candidates educate while on campaign trail
- Mason County PUD No. 3 to Discuss Identity Theft Prevention
- Idaho – Salmon River Electric decides not to sign PNGC power supply contract
- Weyco, Evergreen still talking about fate of Cosmopolis pulp mill
- Oregon – Troutdale metal thefts continue despite arrests
- Texas – Falling natural gas prices pull electric rates with them
- Commerce Energy Sells Texas Retail Electric Business for $14.8 Million
- Alcoa to slash production at Texas plant
- Damaged Sequim banner structure may cost $30,000 to fix
- Are the Orcas starving?
- Canada – Fishy business at B.C. fish farms
- Groups appeal draw down of Lake Roosevelt
- Oregon – Public buildings could use wood heat
- One man's garbage becomes another's power plant
- Missouri – Utilities offer stances on clean-energy initiative
- Houston Chronicle Op/Ed – After oil: The future of energy
- Editorial – No miracles coming in Pennsylvania conservation bill
- Canada – Cap-trade or carbon tax alone not adequate: Study
- Scientists worried over rise in two more greenhouse gases
- Bandwidth brouhaha-- You get what you pay for, or do you?
- Should Cable Operators Just Run Fiber To The Home?
- CenturyTel to Buy Rival for $5.8 Billion in Stock
- Comcast Revs Broadband Engine
- DSL Still Dominates The Globe
- Broadband Caps Affecting One Million Brits
- Microsoft’s Vista Problem, by the Numbers
- Details about Microsoft's cloud computing expected at conference
- Teenager, 4-year-old identified in fatal Belfair house fire

These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest

WORD OF THE DAY

Wherewithal • \WAIR-with-awl\ • noun – Means, resources; specifically: money

Amber let the canoe drift lazily along the river, oblivious to the distant sound of crashing water plummeting over 800 feet to the base of Reichenbach Falls. Even if her companion, Frederic had the interest in guiding the craft to shore, he lacked the wherewithal to do so. The gaily painted canoe paddles had been left on the dock, almost two miles upstream from the impending site of the two boaters’ doom. “At least we’ll depart in good company, my dear Holmes,” joked Freddy.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?textField1=47.213805&textField2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=Shelton%2C%20WA%2C%20USA

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Rate weight: Clark Public Utilities faces upward pressure on electricity costs (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20081026/BIZ01/710269998/-1/biz

Seattle Times Editorial – Public Power, Yes: keep local control: Voters in Skagit County, eastern Jefferson County and Whidbey Island have a historic choice Nov. 4: Whether to buy out Puget Sound Energy
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2008308444_edit27puds.html

Whidbey Examiner – General election endorsements: Scroll down to see this paper’s endorsement of the Whidbey PUD proposal
http://www.whidbeyexaminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=1856&TM=74561.48

Jefferson PUD power drive generates $250,000 in both sides' campaign spending (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20081026/news/310269990

Thurston County PUD candidates educate while on campaign trail (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/635863.html

Mason County PUD No. 3 to Discuss Identity Theft Prevention (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/5393/reftab/1896/Default.aspx?title=P.U.D._3_TO_DISCUSS_IDENTITY_THEFT_PREVENTION

Idaho – Salmon River Electric decides not to sign PNGC power supply contract (Challis Messenger, ID)
http://www.challismessenger.com/index.php?accnum=story-9-20081023

Weyco, Evergreen still talking about fate of Cosmopolis pulp mill (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/10/25/local_news/03news.txt

Oregon – Troutdale metal thefts continue despite arrests: Construction company suffered numerous losses (Gresham Outlook, OR)
http://www.theoutlookonline.com/news/story.php?story_id=122489185365992900

Texas – Falling natural gas prices pull electric rates with them (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, TX)
http://www.star-telegram.com/news/story/996872.html

Commerce Energy Sells Texas Retail Electric Business for $14.8 Million (MarketWatch)
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/commerce-energy-sells-texas-retail/story.aspx?guid=%7B60D54AFF-0EFD-4862-B24E-385BAAE06423%7D&dist=hppr

Alcoa to slash production at Texas plant – Cuts at another plant blamed on citing uncompetitive power supply and general market conditions (Pittsburgh Business Times)
http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2008/10/20/daily52.html?ana=from_rss

Damaged Sequim banner structure may cost $30,000 to fix – publicity sites now down to one (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20081024/news/310249992

FISH & WILDLIFE

Are the Orcas starving? As salmon runs decline (except in the Columbia), killer whale numbers take hardest hit since 1990s (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/384854_orcas25.html

Canada – Fishy business at B.C. fish farms – Widespread environmental degradation accompanies growing industry (McGill Daily)
http://www.mcgilldaily.com/article/5378-fishy-business-at-b-c-fish

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Groups appeal draw down of Lake Roosevelt (The Associated Press)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/384984_columbia25.html?source=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Oregon – Public buildings could use wood heat (Eugene Register-Guard)
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/1535909-35/story.csp

One man's garbage becomes another's power plant (Associated Press)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/26/AR2008102600871.html?nav=rss_technology

Missouri – Utilities offer stances on clean-energy initiative (The Missourian, Columbia, MO)
http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2008/10/26/utilities-offer-stances-clean-energy-initiative/

Houston Chronicle Op/Ed – After oil: The future of energy: Is there a 'silver bullet' that will take the place of petroleum as America's primary fuel source?
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/6078864.html

CONSERVATION

Reading, PA Eagle Editorial – No miracles coming in Pennsylvania conservation bill
http://www.readingeagle.com/blog.aspx?bid=4&id=18238&t=No-miracles-coming-in-conservation-bill

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Canada – Cap-trade or carbon tax alone not adequate: Study (The Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/story.html?id=8f0f1d67-2007-45d0-bdf3-64d1399fbd50

Scientists worried over rise in two more greenhouse gases (Associated Press)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081025/NEWS02/710259839/1025/rss1025

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Bandwidth brouhaha-- You get what you pay for, or do you? (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/2008/10/26/bandwidth-brouhaha-you-get-what-you-pay-for-or-do-you

Should Cable Operators Just Run Fiber To The Home? (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Should-Cable-Operators-Just-Run-Fiber-To-The-Home-98676

CenturyTel to Buy Rival for $5.8 Billion in Stock (NY Times)
http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/27/centurytel-is-said-to-be-near-deal-to-buy-rival/index.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Comcast Revs Broadband Engine (TechNewsWorld)
http://www.technewsworld.com/story/Comcast-Revs-Broadband-Engine-64922.html

DSL Still Dominates The Globe – Though fiber is on the march, particularly in Japan, South Korea (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/DSL-Still-Dominates-The-Globe-98673

Broadband Caps Affecting One Million Brits (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/10/23/broadband-caps-affecting-one-million-brits/

Microsoft’s Vista Problem, by the Numbers (NY Times)
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/24/microsofts-vista-problem-by-the-numbers/?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Details about Microsoft's cloud computing expected at conference (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008314759_windows27.html?syndication=rss

GENERAL NEWS

Teenager, 4-year-old identified in fatal Belfair house fire (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/oct/26/one-child-died-trying-to-save-the-other/?partner=RSS

DIVERSIONS

From a Strip of Scotch Tape, X-Rays
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/28/science/28xray.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

A Record in Making Guinness Annoyed at You
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/27/business/media/27guinness.html?adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1225079575-eFm9yOaUEjSq5e9q0Xmo+A

Sand snatchers shrink Caribbean beaches
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/10/26/international/i081813D33.DTL&feed=rss.news

Nike Customers Angry After Woman with Fastest Time Doesn't "Win" Marathon
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/22/MNCI13MDH0.DTL

Friday, October 24, 2008

Enegy News Digest Update

ENERGY: 2 more utilities join Energy Northwest (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/360746.html?mi_email=Tri-City%20Herald_PM+%26+Breaking+News

Energy News Digest for October 24, 2008

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Grays Harbor County PUD pulls out of Cosmopolis mill cogeneration deal
- Port Townsend suspends lobbyist; Strategies 360 was representing PSE in Jefferson County public power fight
- San Francisco votes on electrical system takeover
- Clallam County PUD race causing rift on commission
- Oregon – Appeals court sides with liquefied natural gas developer in Coos Bay
- Nuclear Power May Be in Early Stages of a Revival
- Dynegy to Warn Investors on Risks of Coal Burning
- Missouri – Over rebuild of breached hydro reservoir project – Court denies Taum Sauk reservoir review
- FERC approves $14.2 million California settlement related to energy crisis
- BPA – Landmark agreement on hatchery changes expected to be good for fish
- Klamath salmon looking good for 2009
- Seven Puget Sound Orca Deaths Attributed to Lack of Food
- California – Only 12K salmon return: Hatchery official still expects enough fish to meet egg quota
- Consumer groups call on FDA to test Chilean salmon
- Vader Water System Could Become Property of Thurston PUD
- Oregon – Rogue River’s Gold Ray Dam: the next to go?
- California to pull Auburn Dam water rights on American River
- Wenatchee fixes leaky underground water reservoir
- Environmental groups fight for greener ways to deal with storm runoff
- Wenatchee area sewer service may expand, but some don’t want it
- Duke cuts proposed $100M solar program
- Wal-Mart Says Duke Energy’s Solar Roof Plan Unfair
- Agency seeks to clear air on Vancouver area woodstove decision
- British Columbia needs alternatives for energy
- Missouri – Electric utilities face renewable energy initiative
- Wind development biggest challenge for power grid
- Algae fans gather in Seattle to boost alternative energy industry
- Conservation is a sham; Smart Consumption isn't
- Solving the financial crisis by averting the climate crisis
- State of Oregon sets new greenhouse gas emission rules
- Date Local – The environmental case against long-distance relationships
- Yahoo plans new data center in Nebraska
- Broadband Over Power Lines Gets An Autopsy
- Japan, Korea lead in fiber-optic broadband
- FCC Pushes Digital TV on Tribal Reservations
- Lumber industry threatened by unsold homes
- At Rail Crossing – Highway 108 Closes Overnight Friday
- Man charged in 2007 theft of aluminum bridge
- Fall Back November 2 – Use clock change as reminder to change smoke alarm batteries
- Survey: U.S. Doctors Regularly Prescribe Placebos

These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest

WORD OF THE DAY

Exoteric • \ek-suh-TAIR-ik\ • adjective – *1: suitable to be imparted to the public 2: belonging to the outer or less initiate circle 3: external

The smoke-filled room rumbled with the low-voiced whispers of the Presidential king-makers. “No...No…No,” uttered the head of the group. “If we’re going to position our candidate as a Washington outsider, we can’t call them an ‘exoteric candidate.’ It makes it sound as if they have some sort of weird lifestyle.”

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?textField1=47.213805&textField2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=Shelton%2C%20WA%2C%20USA

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Grays Harbor County PUD pulls out of Cosmopolis mill cogeneration deal – The Evergreen Pulp Mill deal is dead (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/10/23/local_news/02news.txt

Port Townsend suspends lobbyist; Strategies 360 was representing PSE in Jefferson County public power fight (Port Townsend Leader, WA)
http://www.ptleader.com/Main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=22205

San Francisco votes on electrical system takeover (Associated Press)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5i_x60e4vvz1waOw3a5onxM442jtQD940TNT00

Clallam County PUD race causing rift on commission (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.konp.com/local/4139

Oregon – Appeals court sides with liquefied natural gas developer in Coos Bay (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1652441~Appeals_court_sides_with_LNG_developer_in_Coos_Bay.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Nuclear Power May Be in Early Stages of a Revival (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/24/business/24nuke.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

Dynegy to Warn Investors on Risks of Coal Burning (Associated Press)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/24/business/24dynegy.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Missouri – Over rebuild of breached hydro reservoir project – Court denies Taum Sauk reservoir review (St. Louis Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2008/10/20/daily83.html?ana=from_rss

FERC approves $14.2 million California settlement related to 2001 West Coast energy crisis (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=343448&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Landmark agreement on hatchery changes expected to be good for fish ─ and good for fishing (News Release, Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/235560/

Klamath salmon looking good for 2009 (The Times-Standard, Eureka, CA)
http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_10803408?source=rss

Seven Puget Sound Orca Deaths Attributed to Lack of Food (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/oct/23/seven-puget-sound-orca-deaths-attributed-to-lack/

California – Only 12K salmon return: Hatchery official still expects enough fish to meet egg quota (Redding Record Searchlight, CA)
http://www.redding.com/news/2008/oct/23/only-12k-salmon-return/?partner=yahoo_headlines

Consumer groups call on FDA to test Chilean salmon – authorities in Germany detected banned chemicals in the fish (The Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008302966_apimportedsalmonchemicals.html?syndication=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Vader-Area Water System Could Become Property of Thurston PUD (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/rss/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1224787559&archive=

Oregon – Rogue River’s Gold Ray Dam: the next to go? Environmental studies will determine when and how Gold Ray Dam will come down (The Mail-Tribune, Medford, OR)
http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081024/NEWS/810240327/-1/rss01

State of California to pull Auburn Dam water rights on American River (Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://www.sacbee.com/latest/story/1338499.html

Leaky reservoir no more – Wenatchee’s tomb-like facility had been losing 140 gallons of water a minute (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081023/NEWS04/710239889

Environmental groups fight for greener ways to deal with storm runoff (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/33083339.html

Wenatchee area sewer service may expand, but some don’t want it (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081023/NEWS04/710239915/1001/rss1001

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Duke cuts proposed $100M solar program (Charlotte Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2008/10/20/daily34.html?ana=from_rss

Wal-Mart Says Duke Energy’s Solar Roof Plan Unfair (Environmental Leader)
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2008/10/20/wal-mart-says-dukes-solar-roof-plan-unfair/

Agency seeks to clear air on Vancouver area woodstove decision – Choice to award grants in specific area angers some residents (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20081024/NEWS02/710249951/-1/news

British Columbia needs alternatives for energy – Demand may create Island opportunities (Nanaimo Daily News, BC)
http://www.canada.com/nanaimodailynews/news/story.html?id=27574c40-1d14-4780-bd44-6742268a8b00

Missouri – Electric utilities face renewable energy initiative from Prop. C (Bolivar Herald Free Press, MO)
http://www.bolivarmonews.com/articles/2008/10/24/news/doc4900df6d590e9508808447.txt

Wind development biggest challenge for power grid (Scientific American)
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=wind-development-biggest

Algae fans gather in Seattle to boost alternative energy industry (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008304498_algae240.html

CONSERVATION

Conservation is a sham; Smart Consumption isn't (Design News)
http://www.designnews.com/blog/Green_Engineering/1871-Conservation_is_a_sham_Smart_Consumption_isn_t.php

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Seattle Times Op/Ed – Solving the financial crisis by averting the climate crisis
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008303013_opin24gillerweb.html?syndication=rss

State of Oregon sets new greenhouse gas emission rules (Portland Tribune, OR)
http://www.portlandtribune.com/sustainable/story.php?story_id=122479756902002900

Date Local – The environmental case against long-distance relationships (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2202431/?from=rss

TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Yahoo plans new data center in Nebraska (Associated Press)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10805311?source=rss

Broadband Over Power Lines Gets An Autopsy – Say goodnight to the FCC's 'great broadband hope (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Broadband-Over-Power-Lines-Gets-An-Autopsy-98627

Japan, Korea lead in fiber-optic broadband (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE49M4Q320081023?sp=true

FCC Pushes Digital TV on Tribal Reservations (Northwest Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=4481

GENERAL NEWS

Lumber industry threatened by unsold homes (KIRO Radio, Seattle, WA)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=98562

At Rail Crossing – Highway 108 Closes Overnight Friday (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/5371/reftab/1896/title/HIGHWAY_108_CLOSES_OVERNIGHT_FRIDAY/Default.aspx

Man charged in 2007 theft of aluminum bridge (The Daily News, Longview, WA)http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/10/24/area_news/doc490122472aeee897895737.txt

Fall Back November 2 – Use clock change as reminder to change smoke alarm batteries (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20081024/NEWS02/710249943/-1/news

Survey: U.S. Doctors Regularly Prescribe Placebos (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96063076&ft=1&f=3

DIVERSIONS

Man May Be Reimbursed For Money Mutilated By Mice
http://www.kirotv.com/money/17788099/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=irresistible

Follow-Up File – Deal Brings Longtime Santa Back To Mall
http://www.kirotv.com/money/17788664/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=irresistible

Drummer Breaks Into Church To Rock Out – Police Catch Man In Spirited, Illegal Solo
http://www.kirotv.com/entertainment/17785069/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=irresistible

Unwanted Chihuahuas crowd Santa Barbara shelters
http://www.examiner.com/a-1654009~Unwanted_Chihuahuas_crowd_Santa_Barbara_shelters.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Thursday, October 23, 2008

Energy News Digest for October 23, 2008

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- PUDs, Puget Sound Energy and Debate Over PSE Merger Issue
- Whatcom County PUD race pits architect vs. fisherman
- Mason County PUD No. 3 makes low-income senior citizen discount more accessible for customers
- PSE's community donations climb with $5,000 gift to Port Townsend swimming pool
- Feds reject protest to nuclear waste storage plan
- Groups approve plan to open Oregon river for salmon
- Chum Salmon Returning To Kennedy Creek
- Nesting site built for Caspian terns
- Chinook salmon run 'better than expected' on Campbell, Quinsam Rivers
- Kevin Richert: “Scary Salmon Rhetoric”
- Endangered species: A 9-second rewrite
- Birds Fly More than 7,000 Miles Nonstop, Study Shows
- Long list of ideas to rescue the Sound
- Canadians in Friday Harbor to explain Vancouver Island sewage plan
- North Idaho counties dispute pollution plan for Lake Coeur d'Alene
- U.S. wind energy capacity up 1,400 megawatts
- Oregon – Elkhorn Valley Wind Farm Studies Possible Expansion
- Feds Open Public Lands To Geothermal Exploration
- Region's manufacturing centers can become focal points for green-collar jobs
- A clear choice and a murky one on two California energy initiatives
- Canada – Change blowing in the wind
- Spooked by high energy prices? Save money with these tips
- Puget Sound Energy Helps Customers Save Energy and Money
- Maine – Hancock sawmill earns award for leadership in reducing energy use
- Climate Campaigners Were on Terrorist List
- Comcast increases Internet speed
- Did You Know: 'Smashed To Bits' Modems May Not Work
- Hundreds of state jobs cut since July
- State gets $63 million for flood, other damage
- 35th District a contrast in style, substance
- Ballot snafu means reissue for 211 voters in Brinnon

These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest

WORD OF THE DAY

Stalactite • \stuh-LACK-tite\ • noun – A deposit of calcium carbonate (as calcite) resembling an icicle hanging from the roof or sides of a cave

Stalagmite • \stuh-LAG-mite\ • noun – A deposit of calcium carbonate like an inverted stalactite formed on the floor of a cave by the drip of calcareous water

A good way to remember the difference is that of course, the stalactite hangs down, but a stalagmite (because it has an M in it) comes from a mound on the ground.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?textField1=47.213805&textField2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=Shelton%2C%20WA%2C%20USA

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

PUDs, Puget Sound Energy and Debate Over PSE Merger Issue (The Bellingham Herald, WA)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/623975.html

Whatcom County PUD race pits architect vs. fisherman (The Bellingham Herald, WA)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/623770.html

Mason County PUD No. 3 makes low-income senior citizen discount more accessible for customers (Mason PUD 3 News Release)
http://www.masonpud3.org/News/display.asp?NewsID=475

PSE's community donations climb with $5,000 gift to Port Townsend swimming pool (Port Townsend Leader, WA)
http://www.ptleader.com/Main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=22198

Feds reject protest to nuclear waste storage plan (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008301626_apnukeplantterrorism.html?syndication=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Groups approve plan to open Oregon river for salmon (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1652038~Groups_approve_plan_to_open_Ore__river_for_salmon.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Chum Salmon Returning To Kennedy Creek; Trail Opens November 1ST (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/5361/reftab/1896/Default.aspx?title=CHUM_SALMON_RETURNING_TO_KENNEDY_CREEK;_TRAIL_OPENS_NOVEMBER_1ST_

Nesting site built for Caspian terns – Move is a bid to keep the birds away from young salmon in Columbia River (Associated Press)
http://www.thewhig.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1260508

Canada – Chinook salmon run 'better than expected' on Campbell, Quinsam Rivers (Victoria Times Colonist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/business/story.html?id=f5caabda-fcbc-4950-9f55-578123ebffec&k=27837

Kevin Richert: Otter's 'F' grade from think tank isn't fair – Scroll down to the heading “Scary Salmon Rhetoric” (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/106/story/546416.html

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Editorial – Endangered species: A 9-second rewrite
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/384504_endangered.html?source=rss

Birds Fly More than 7,000 Miles Nonstop, Study Shows – In Its Annual Fall Migration, One Godwit Traveled From Alaska to New Zealand in Eight Days (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/21/AR2008102102685.html?nav=rss_nation

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Long list of ideas to rescue the Sound – Leaders of newly re-launched campaign gather in Olympia (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/384531_sound23.html?source=rss

Canadians in Friday Harbor to explain Vancouver Island sewage plan (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=d4f0413c-51ba-4f88-8100-bd4fbc186524

North Idaho counties dispute pollution plan for Lake Coeur d'Alene (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1650834~N__Idaho_counties_dispute_pollution_plan.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

U.S. wind energy capacity up 1,400 megawatts – said to be enough for ore than 400,000 homes (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/23/BU3I13MD07.DTL&feed=rss.business

Oregon – Elkhorn Valley Wind Farm Studies Possible Expansion (istockAnalyst)
http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews+articleid_2731010.html

Feds Open Public Lands To Geothermal Exploration (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/3345-feds-open-public-lands-geothermal-exploration/

Seattle Times Op/Ed –Region's manufacturing centers can become focal points for green-collar jobs
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008298246_opin23kane.html?syndication=rss

Los Angeles Times Op/Ed – A clear choice and a murky one on two California energy initiatives
http://www.latimes.com/news/columnists/la-me-cap23-2008oct23,0,5191147.column

Canada РChange blowing in the wind: Prime Minister Stephen Harper used the carbon tax as a cudgel to beat the political life out of St̩phane Dion in order to win reelection (Straight.com Рand another quarter goes to Robert Zimmerman)
http://www.straight.com/article-167131/change-blowing-wind

CONSERVATION

Spooked by high energy prices? Save money with these tips. (Google)
http://www.google.com/hauntedhouse08/index.html

Puget Sound Energy Helps Customers Save Energy and Money – Homeowners Eligible for $2,200 in Energy-Efficiency Rebates (MarketWatch)
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/PSE-Helps-Customers-Save-Energy/story.aspx?guid=%7B8C6BB296-36CB-4965-8C65-7CF8E851FE2F%7D

Maine – Hancock sawmill earns award for leadership in reducing energy use (Bethel Citizen, ME)
http://www.bethelcitizen.com/story.php?storyid=5270

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Climate Campaigners Were on Terrorist List (NY Times)
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/23/climate-campaigners-on-terrorist-list/?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Comcast increases Internet speed (Philadelphia Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/stories/2008/10/20/daily28.html?ana=from_rss

Did You Know: 'Smashed To Bits' Modems May Not Work – And other helpful tips from AT&T support (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Did-You-Know-Smashed-To-Bits-Modems-May-Not-Work-98606

GENERAL NEWS

Hundreds of state jobs cut since July – Personnel numbers show departments affected (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/631713.html

State gets $63 million for flood, other damage (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/632222.html

35th District a contrast in style, substance (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/10/22/local_news/07news.txt

Ballot snafu means reissue for 211 voters in Brinnon (Port Townsend Leader, WA)
http://www.ptleader.com/Main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=22197

DIVERSIONS

Online divorcee jailed after killing virtual hubby
http://www.theolympian.com/nationworld/story/632097.html

Satellite TV mix-up costs Belfair woman 22 trees (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/32678739.html

In Search Of An 'Honest' Pint Of Beer
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95997199&ft=1&f=2

Firing of longtime Santa outrages Va. mall patrons, mall owners apologize
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008301591_webfiredsanta23.html?syndication=rss