Energy News Digest for February 17, 2009

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)

- Power Deal with BPA Averts Plant Closure in Columbia Falls
- BPA Rate Increase Will Have Impact in Ashland, Oregon
- US Senator Murray on Stimulus: Hiring Jolt Doubtful
- Judge Will Decide Soon On Cowlitz County PUD Recall
- Pend Oreille County - Home Of Seattle Dam Seeks Aid
- Grant County Irrigators' Power Group Organizes
- Demand for Heat Assistance Nearly Doubles
- Vantage Bridge Jumper Saved By Grant PUD
- Montana-Dakota Utilities to Consolidate Call Centers and Cut Jobs
- Texas' Image May Hurt Its Place At National Energy Regulation Table
- Is America Ready to Quit Coal?
- Congressional Research - U.S. Energy: Overview and Selected Facts and Numbers
- Report Says Federal Salmon Recovery Strategy Needs 'Immediate Change'
- Expectations Are High For Ocean Fishery
- Oregon Governor Ends Service of Fisheries Adviser
- Fishermen Upset By Planned Change in Fishery Council
- State Eyes Reduction of Fish and Wildlife Staff in Mid-Columbia
- Killer Whales Threatened By California's Thirst
- A People Bound to the Skokomish River
- Skokomish Valley Farmers Struggle with Ongoing Floods
- Forest Roads Contribute Gravel to Clogged Skokomish River
- City Of Seattle To OK Water-Bill Surcharge
- Alternative Energy Still Facing Headwinds
- Turbines Top New Clark College Building
- Novelties - Bringing Wind Turbines to Ordinary Rooftops
- Solar Energy Could Be Texas’ Next Boom
- Clatskanie-Area Ethanol Plant Files for Bankruptcy
- Electric Cars and a Smarter Grid
- Smart Money Is On Energy - Stimulus funds to recharge electric infrastructure
- LEED Loopholes Close As Certification Goes Regional
- Church Groups Hoping Congregants Will Conserve Energy during Lent
- Getting Your Hands on Some Green ... Stimulus
- Washington Post Editorial - Climate Change Solutions
- George Will - Dark Green Doomsayers
- Energy Pulse Commentary - The Plain Truth about Glorious Carbon Dioxide
- Seattle City light named Climate Action Leader
- Do We Need a New Internet?
- Mobile Broadband: It’s Still Gonna Cost You
- Slow but Steady: Dial-Up Saves For Those on a Budget
- Google Plans Data Center at Old Finnish Paper Mill
- How Google Decides to Pull the Plug on its Applications
- Across Nation, Some TV Stations Go Digital Tonight
- Facebook's Users Ask Who Owns Information
- Obama to Sign Stimulus Bill Today In Denver
- A 'Horrific' Washington State Budget Forecast
- 7,900 Federal Credit Unions May Take $5 Billion Hit
- Stock Up On Cough Syrup: Flu Season Has Arrived, Doctors Say
- Dairy Cows Head for Slaughter As Milk Prices Sour
- Zombie Banks Feed Off Bailout Money
- Driving Up the Cost For Public Works

These And Links to More Stories in Today’s Energy News Digest

WORD OF THE DAY

Myriad • \MEER-ee-ud\ • noun - 1: ten thousand *2: a great number

Just before the natural gas technician lit his cigarette, Abercrombie’s life flashed before his eyes. A myriad of images crowded his fevered brain…supplanted by one thought, “I wonder if I told this guy about the pilot light…”

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

Power Deal with Bonneville Power Administration Averts Plant Closure in Columbia Falls (Associated Press)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2009/02/15/news/state/48-power.txt

BPA Rate Increase Will Have Impact in Ashland, Oregon (The Mail Tribune)
http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090214/NEWS/902140308

Cantwell Gets Word Out On Energy - Subcommittee chair tours state to promote agenda (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20090217/NEWS02/702179968

US Senator Murray on Stimulus: Hiring Jolt Doubtful - Even without stimulus package, BPA was expected to start construction on new transmission lines this year, and construction of additional job-creating projects might not start for years (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008743322_bpa14m.html

Judge Will Decide Soon On Cowlitz County PUD Recall (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/02/15/area_news/doc499670b245a06173057232.txt

Pend Oreille County - Home Of Seattle Dam Seeks Aid (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/400098_power14.html

Grant County Irrigators' Power Group Organizes - Seeking members to work with PUD (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/02/16/news/doc4999a59a33d4c812151832.txt

Demand for Heat Assistance Nearly Doubles (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/18727627/detail.html

Vantage Bridge Jumper Saved By Grant PUD (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/02/13/news/doc4995c9fb1c899094153712.txt

Montana-Dakota Utilities and Three Others, Including Cascade Natural Gas, To Consolidate Five Call Centers and Cut 130 Jobs (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008752392_apndutilitygroupcuts.html?syndication=rss

Texas' Image May Hurt Its Place At National Energy Regulation Table (The Dallas Morning News)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/industries/energy/stories/DN-ceratexas_14bus.ART.State.Edition1.4c081fd.html

Is America Ready to Quit Coal? (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/business/15coal.html

Congressional Research Service - U.S. Energy: Overview and Selected Facts and Numbers
http://opencrs.com/document/R40187

FISH & WILDLIFE

Report Says Federal Salmon Recovery Strategy Needs 'Immediate Change' (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/02/report_says_federal_salmon_rec.html

Expectations Are High For Ocean Fishery - Salmon anglers planning on hitting the ocean this summer could be in for a stellar fishing season (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2008745247_outn15.html

Oregon Governor Ends Service of Fisheries Adviser (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1855433~Kulongoski_ends_service_of_fisheries_adviser.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Fishermen Upset By Planned Change in Fishery Council (The Register Guard, Eugene, OR)
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/updates/7816572-55/story.csp

State Eyes Reduction of Fish and Wildlife Staff in Mid-Columbia (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/1358/story/479055.html

Killer Whales Threatened By California's Thirst (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11702151?source=most_emailed

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

A People Bound to the Skokomish River (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/feb/14/a-people-bound-to-the-skokomish-river/?partner=RSS

Skokomish Valley Farmers Struggle with Ongoing Floods (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/feb/15/skokomish-valley-farmers-struggle-with-ongoing/?partner=RSS

Forest Roads Contribute Gravel to Clogged Skokomish River (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/feb/16/forest-roads-contribute-gravel-to-clogged-river/?partner=RSS

City Of Seattle To OK Water-Bill Surcharge - Fee will pay for court-ordered rebate checks (Seattle Post-Intelligencer – water customers charged to pay for rebate to water customers…Huh?)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/400207_surcharge16.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Alternative Energy Still Facing Headwinds - Despite Obama's Support, Projects Tripped Up by Financing, Logistics (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/16/AR2009021601199.html?hpid=moreheadlines

Turbines Top New Clark College Building - Environmental touches at East Vancouver site valued for their teaching capabilities (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20090217/NEWS02/702179952/

Novelties - Bringing Wind Turbines to Ordinary Rooftops (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/business/15novel.html

Solar Energy Could Be Texas’ Next Boom (Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/6265294.html

Clatskanie-Area Ethanol Plant Files for Bankruptcy (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/02/15//area_news/doc4997b03711ece760715033.txt

Electric Cars and a Smarter Grid (NY Times)
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/17/electric-cars-and-a-smarter-grid/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Smart Money Is On Energy - Stimulus funds to recharge electric infrastructure (Boston Herald, MA)
http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view/2009_02_15_Smart_money_is_on_energy:_Stimulus_funds_to_recharge_electric_infrastructure/

LEED Loopholes Close As Certification Goes Regional -Changes may make building program more adaptable (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/02/16/focus3.html?ana=from_rss

Church Groups Hoping Congregants Will Conserve Energy During Lent (Park Rapids Sentinel, MN)
http://www.parkrapidsenterprise.com/articles/index.cfm?id=15523

Getting Your Hands on Some Green ... Stimulus (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/2009/02/17/news/economy/green_home_stimulus/?postversion=2009021709

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Washington Post Editorial - Climate Change Solutions: Sen. Boxer is open to everything…except what might work best
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/15/AR2009021501425.html?nav=rss_opinions

George Will - Dark Green Doomsayers (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/13/AR2009021302514.html?nav=rss_opinion%2Fcolumns

Energy Pulse Commentary - The Plain Truth about Glorious Carbon Dioxide
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1945

Seattle City light named Climate Action Leader (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&id=105326

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Do We Need a New Internet? (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/weekinreview/15markoff.html

Mobile Broadband: It’s Still Gonna Cost You (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/02/17/mobile-broadband-its-still-gonna-cost-you/

Slow but Steady: Dial-Up Saves For Those on a Budget (Associated Press)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/400315_dialup17.html?source=rss

Google Plans Data Center at Old Finnish Paper Mill (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE51B5PW20090213?feedType=nl&feedName=ustechnology

How Google Decides to Pull the Plug on its Applications (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/15/business/15ping.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Across Nation, Some TV Stations Go Digital Tonight (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/16/AR2009021601067.html?wprss=rss_technology

Facebook's Users Ask Who Owns Information (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11719108

GENERAL NEWS

Obama To Sign Stimulus Bill Today In Denver (Associated Press)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090217/ap_on_go_pr_wh/obama_stimulus_6

A 'Horrific' Washington State Budget Forecast - Cuts are likely to deepen as state struggles with shortfalls (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/400245_deficit16.html?source=rss

7,900 Federal Credit Unions May Take $5 Billion Hit (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/627049.html

Stock Up On Cough Syrup: Flu Season Has Arrived, Doctors Say (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090214/NEWS01/702149906/-1/RSS02

Dairy Cows Head for Slaughter As Milk Prices Sour (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008748929_apfarmscenecowslaughter.html?syndication=rss

Zombie Banks Feed Off Bailout Money (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100762999&ft=1&f=3

Driving Up the Cost For Public Works - Party Tabs, Car Leases, Golf Shirts Piled On To Bills for Highway Projects, Audit Shows (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/13/AR2009021303280.html?wprss=rss_technology

DIVERSIONS

Burglary Victim Drives Off In Thieves' Van
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/18715931/detail.html

Answer to Budget Cuts: Stop Answering Phones
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090217/ap_on_fe_st/phones_not_answered;_ylt=AiBenTo3gY7v1SEjghjaL7jtiBIF

Koala Love Story Wins Hearts after Deadly Fires
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090211/od_nm/us_fires_koala;_ylt=AlD3Z4cvQNQ4bLttIwDQcWPtiBIF

Hong Kong Woman's Airport Hysterics an Online Hit
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090216/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_youtube_hongkong_flight;_ylt=AqNVI8jwLIigdf83mlUkWpHtiBIF

SONG OF THE DAY

New York State of Mind - Billy Joel
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UZh8YjbDiVk&feature=related