Friday, May 29, 2009

Energy News Digest for May 29, 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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Puget Sound Energy Lowers Natural Gas Bill
- Avista Natural Gas Customers Will See Rate Reduction
- NW Natural Gas to Refund Washington Customers
- NW Natural Gas Tightens Security at Shareholders Meeting
- Clean-Energy Stimulus - “It’s about to be raining money.”
- Keep Mylar Balloons Indoors and Away from Power Lines
- Tri-City Herald Editorial - Salmon Aren't Helped By Revival of Dam Debate
- Idaho Lt. Gov. Little Urges Obama Administration to Back Salmon Collaboration
- Geoduck Harvest near Blake Island Nets State $1.4M
- Environmentalists Sue to Protect Sea Turtles off US Coasts
- Washington's Chelan River to Get Some of Toughest Rapids
- Obama Moves to Curb Road-Building in Forests
- 'Rock Snot' Algae Confirmed In SW Idaho River
- Small American Town (Olympia) Fights to Save Artesian Well
- California – San Jose Water Plant Could Become Regional Tourist Attraction
- Mmm...Raw Sewage? Leaks Blamed On Krispy Kreme
- Pennsylvania PUC Issues Wood, Water Alternative Energy Guidelines
- British Columbia - Ocean wind project moves ahead
- Wind Energy--Too Much of a Good Thing
- Massachusetts - Cape Wind Secures Permits to Begin Construction
- Hawaii Utilities among Top Solar Producers in US
- A Solar Plant That's Worth Its Salt
- States, Nonprofits Jockey for 'Weatherizing' Funds
- DTE Energy Offers Tips to Stay Cool This Summer
- Olympian Editorial - Did The Governor Overreach To Boost Climate Policy?
- Governor Signs Order to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Greenhouse Gas Reporting Topic of Debate
- Think Tank Report: Climate Change Causes 300,000 Deaths a Year
- Copenhagen Must Create More Buyers For Carbon Markets
- Stop Burning Trees and Coal
- NY Times Editorial - Forests and the Planet
- Sabey Preps to Break Ground for New Data Center in Quincy
- Microsoft’s Search for a Name Ends with a Bing
- Google Wants To Change Online Communication
- Muni Wi-Fi Firms Find New Life in Smart Grid
- Shelton: Inmate Found Dead At Corrections Center
- State Will Give 3-Day Notice When Ready To Reopen Hood Canal Bridge
- Washington State Economist: Signs of Recession's End
- New Poll: Half of Washington Voters Expect Economy to Get Worse
- Chehalis: Loss from Business Fire Put At $15 Million
- Newspaper Execs Meet To Discuss Internet Options

WORD OF THE DAY

Laodicean • \lay-ahh-duh-SEE-un\ • adjective – lukewarm or indifferent in religion or politics

Ilene backed away from her desk to partake in a forceful yawn, followed by a stretch to the sky. She’d been reading the news digest, skimming past the controversy over fish, climate change, and “raining money” with a laodicean intensity. All for the tasty bits in the diversions and song of the day at the bottom of the page.

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

Puget Sound Energy Lowers Natural Gas Bill (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)
http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews?PSE-Lowers-Natural-Gas-Bill=1&blockID=56215&feedID=410

Avista Natural Gas Customers Will See Rate Reduction (Associated Press)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=10439167

NW Natural Gas to Refund Washington Customers (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/05/25/daily26.html?ana=from_rss

NW Natural Gas Tightens Security at Shareholders Meeting (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2009/05/nw_natural_tightens_security_a.html

Clean-Energy Stimulus - “It’s about to be raining money.” That’s how Terry Oliver of the Bonneville Power Administration described the federal economic stimulus’ clean-energy provisions. (Sightline Daly)
http://daily.sightline.org/daily_score/archive/2009/05/28/clean-energy-stimulus

PECO Reminds Graduates to Keep Mylar Balloons Indoors and Away from Power Lines (Electric Energy Online – I think Cowlitz and Mason PUD 3 agree with this sentiment)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&id=112586

FISH & WILDLIFE

Tri-City Herald Editorial - Salmon Aren't Helped By Revival of Dam Debate
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/962/story/594452.html

Idaho Lt. Gov. Little Urges Obama Administration to Back Salmon Collaboration (Idaho Statesman, Boise)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/mobile_channels/story/782488.html

Geoduck Harvest near Blake Island Nets State $1.4M (KIRO Radio, Seattle)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=172633

Environmentalists Sue to Protect Sea Turtles off US Coasts (Associated Press)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12471694

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Chelan PUD Water Release - Washington's Chelan River to Get Some of Toughest Rapids (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009273328_apwaoutchelanrapids.html?syndication=rss

Obama Moves to Curb Road-Building in Forests (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2009272856_apusroadlessforests.html?syndication=rss

'Rock Snot' Algae Confirmed In SW Idaho River (The Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/865295.html

Small American Town (Olympia) Fights to Save Artesian Well (Epoch Times)
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/17449/

California – San Jose Water Plant Could Become Regional Tourist Attraction (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12470759

Mmm...Raw Sewage? Leaks Blamed On Krispy Kreme (Associated Press)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12476982

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Pennsylvania PUC Issues Wood, Water Alternative Energy Guidelines - It’s official. Wood and water are just as good as the sun, when it comes to alternative energy. (Pittsburgh Business Times)
http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2009/05/25/daily35.html?ana=from_rss

British Columbia - Ocean wind project moves ahead (BC Local News)
http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/46396177.html

Wind Energy--Too Much of a Good Thing (Gerson-Lehman Group)
http://www.glgroup.com/News/Wind-Energy--Too-Much-of-a-Good-Thing-39717.html

Massachusetts - Cape Wind Secures Permits to Begin Construction (Boston Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2009/05/25/daily52.html?ana=from_rss

Hawaii Utilities among Top Solar Producers in US (Pacific Business News)
http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2009/05/25/daily40.html?ana=from_rss

A Solar Plant That's Worth Its Salt (Los Angeles Times)
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-rocketdyne-solar29-2009may29,1,4661220.story

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

States, Nonprofits Jockey for 'Weatherizing' Funds (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124346403073960129.html#mod=rss_whats_news_us

DTE Energy Offers Tips to Stay Cool This Summer (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&id=112588

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Olympian Editorial - Did The Governor Overreach To Boost Climate Policy?
http://www.theolympian.com/editorials/story/864923.html

Governor Signs Order to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Transit Sponsor Rips Her for Transit Veto (Seattle Weekly)
http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2009/05/transit_measure_sponsor_sounds.php

Greenhouse Gas Reporting Topic of Debate - Ecology denies it will seek verification by a third party (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20090529/NEWS02/705299976/Greenhouse+gas+reporting+topic+of+debate

Think Tank Report: Climate Change Causes 300,000 Deaths a Year (Associated Press: dogs and cats…living together: MASS HYSTERIA!)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12476629

Copenhagen Must Create More Buyers For Carbon Markets - Demand for emissions-reducing projects is shrinking (The Guardian, UK)http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/may/29/copenhagen-carbon-market-buyer

Stop Burning Trees and Coal (Times of London, UK)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/science/article6382124.ece

NY Times Editorial - Forests and the Planet
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/29/opinion/29fri2.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Sabey Preps to Break Ground for New Data Center in Quincy - Wants to construct a 525,000 square-foot data center called “Intergate.Quincy.” (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/05/28/news/doc4a1ead6c49919491239969.txt

Microsoft’s Search for a Name Ends with a Bing (NY Times – What? Bing Crosby? Bing Cherries? Dave Bing, the NBA star who averaged 20 points per game for the Pistons and Bullets; and is listed as one of the top 50 players of all time?)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/29/technology/internet/29bing.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Google Wants To Change Online Communication (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/29/BU1P17SSVP.DTL&feed=rss.business

Muni Wi-Fi Firms Find New Life in Smart Grid (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/05/28/muni-wi-fi-firms-find-new-life-in-smart-grid/

GENERAL NEWS

Shelton: Inmate Found Dead At Corrections Center (The Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/864883.html

State Will Give 3-Day Notice When Ready To Reopen Hood Canal Bridge (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090529/NEWS/305299991

Washington State Economist: Signs of Recession's End (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009214801_apwastateeconomy.html?syndication=rss

New Poll: Half of Washington Voters Expect Economy to Get Worse (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/soundeconomywithjontalton/2009273621_new_poll_half_of_washington_vo.html?syndication=rss

Chehalis: Loss from Business Fire Put At $15 Million (Associated Press)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/759916.html

Newspaper Execs Meet To Discuss Internet Options (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/05/28/financial/f150308D57.DTL&feed=rss.business

DIVERSIONS

Little Dogs Show Cougar Big Attitude in Philomath
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/05/philomath_ore_a_big.html

Pink Dolphin a Standout in Louisiana Shipping Channel
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/909/story/592328.html?mi_email=Tri-City%20Herald_Weird+Wide+World

Australian Belatedly Wins $10 Million Lottery
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090529/ap_on_fe_st/as_odd_australia_late_lottery_winner;_ylt=AqKy4z4Z_FRKNcZwo9gn.uXtiBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTNhMGtlcHQzBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwNTI5L2FzX29kZF9hdXN0cmFsaWFfbGF0ZV9sb3R0ZXJ5X3dpbm5lcgRwb3MDMTcEc2VjA3luX2FydGljbGVfc3VtbWFyeV9saXN0BHNsawNhdXN0cmFsaWFuYmU-

In Death, UK Widow Leaves Neighbors Surprise Gifts
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/Europe/2009/may/In-Death--UK-Widow-Leaves-Neighbors-Surprise-Gifts-.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Ella Fitzgerald – Summertime
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vc2Bm5IXGh4

Thursday, May 28, 2009

Energy News Digest for May 28, 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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Lewis County Wire Theft Ring Is No More
- River of Power Education Day - Local kids dig in at Rocky Reach Dam
- Energy Northwest's Nuclear Power Plant Halfway Through Refueling Outage
- Key Senator Calls for 100 New Reactors in 20 Years
- Arizona Republic Editorial – Nuclear Plants are the Best Way to Go
- News Tribune Editorial - Science, Politics and Yucca Mountain
- North Carolina - Alcoa Hydro Relicensing Blocked
- Spring Chinook ‘Catch-Balancing’ Sure To Be Topic in 2010
- Sea Lions and Trappers Disengage
- With Sewers, Tillicum Will Take Off
- Wenatchee World Editorial - Why can’t they use biofuels?
- Columbian Editorial - Wait on the Wind
- Vermont Renewable-Energy Bill Becomes Law
- Forecasting Wind for Dollars
- Obama Says Clean-Energy, Stimulus Plans Creating Jobs
- Kansas - Net Metering Impact Not Great So Far
- Hawaiian Garbage-to-Energy Plant Recycles Derelict Fishing Nets
- United Kingdom - Rumbling over Wind Power
- Group Helps Tri-Citians Go Green
- Mason County PUD No. 3 and City Team Up For Energy Efficient Traffic Signals
- Greenland Ice Could Fuel Severe US Sea Level Rise
- Southern Co. to run National Carbon Capture Center
- Thankfully, Irony Is Not Dead – Environmentalists Saved By Oil Tanker
- FCC Issues Rural Broadband Report
- City Of Richland Continues On Fiber-Optics
- The New UTOPIA: Transforming Failure into Success
- There's A Catch To AT&T Speed Boost
- North Carolina Offers Incentives for $1 Billion Apple Data Center
- Time Warner to Spin Off AOL, Ending Ill-Fated Deal
- Yahoo Open To Microsoft Deal under Right Terms
- Bing It On: Microsoft Overhauls Search, Again
- Yahoo CEO Bartz: “We Are Not a Search Company”
- Digital TV Switchover Imminent Though Millions Remain Unprepared
- Apogee Interactive Adds New Regional Manager of Business Development
- Swine Flu Now Labeled 'Common'
- Mason County Government Facing Third Round of Cutbacks
- Man Gets 11 Years for Seattle Traffic-Circle Death
- Coastal Radar Station Sought To Improve Storm Forecasts
- Video Game Addiction A Serious Problem among Children

PHRASE OF THE DAY

Philadelphia Lawyer • noun - A lawyer knowledgeable in the most minute aspects of the law

From the opening statements, “Manny the Mole” knew that his slick Philadelphia Lawyer was going to get him sprung from his legal entanglements. His counsel argued that since the charging papers identified his client as “The Mole” instead of his real name: Emmanuel Franklin McDonald, that all charges should be dropped.

From Merriam-Webster Online: The reputation of the Philadelphia lawyer dates back to the colonial period, when our legal system was in its infancy and lawyers had to be especially astute. Many noted attorneys seem to have hailed from early Philadelphia, and probably no single lawyer is the source of the term, but several have been suggested. Although not strictly a lawyer, Benjamin Franklin is sometimes claimed to have inspired the expression through his cunning in diplomatic negotiations with the British and French. Another possible source is the Scottish-American Philadelphia attorney Andrew Hamilton, who famously got newspaper publisher John Peter Zenger acquitted of libel charges in 1735, paving the way for the principle of freedom of the press in the process.

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

Lewis County Wire Theft Ring Is No More - Jail Time: With Suspects Sentenced and Metal Prices Declining, County Disbands Task Force (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/articles/2009/05/27/news/doc4a1d83155ce9c989699851.txt

River of Power Education Day - Local kids dig in at Rocky Reach Dam (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090527/NEWS04/705279918?Local-kids-dig-in-at-Rocky-Reach-Dam

Energy Northwest's Nuclear Power Plant in Richland Halfway Through Refueling Outage (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=10434920

Key Senator Calls for 100 New Reactors in 20 Years (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/05/27/national/a172516D09.DTL&feed=rss.business

Arizona Republic Editorial – Nuclear Plants are the Best Way to Go
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/2009/05/28/20090528thurlets286.html

News Tribune Editorial - Science, Politics and Yucca Mountain
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/757329.html

North Carolina - Alcoa Hydro Relicensing Blocked (Charlotte Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2009/05/25/daily28.html?ana=from_rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Spring Chinook ‘Catch-Balancing’ Sure To Be Topic in 2010 (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20090528/SPORTS02/705289945

Sea Lions and Trappers Disengage (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/5077-sea-lions-and-trappers-disengage/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

With Sewers, Tillicum Will Take Off (The News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/757326.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Wenatchee World Editorial - Why can’t they use biofuels? Maybe someday they will give up. From the beginning their goals weren't practical. Eventually that will sink in.
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090527/OP02/705279888/1025/rss1025

Columbian Editorial - Wait on the Wind: State agencies will conduct more research before deciding on mountain wind farms
http://columbian.com/article/20090528/OPINION02/705289975/-1/OPINION

Vermont Renewable-Energy Bill Becomes Law (Burlington Free Press, VT)
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20090528/NEWS03/90528004

Forecasting for Dollars “…swings of 500 megawatts of wind can disappear from a system in an hour or less, creating scheduling havoc for system operators…” (Energy Biz Insider)
http://www.energycentral.com/utility/newsletters/sample_ebi.htm

Obama Says Clean-Energy, Stimulus Plans Creating Jobs (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/27/AR2009052702458.html?wprss=rss_business

Kansas - Net Metering Impact Not Great So Far (Pratt Tribune, KS)
http://www.pratttribune.com/news/x2085732965/Net-metering-impact-not-great-so-far

Hawaiian Garbage-to-Energy Plant Recycles Derelict Fishing Nets for Electricity (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/mnEnergy/idUS91417768220090528

United Kingdom - Rumbling over Wind Power: Vineyard owner can't wait for turbine (Suffolk Times, UK)
http://www2.timesreview.com/ST/Stories/T052809_windmill_bh

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Group Helps Tri-Citians Go Green (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/915/story/591778.html?mi_email=Tri-City%20Herald_PM+%26+Breaking+News

Mason County PUD No. 3 and City Team Up For Energy Efficient Traffic Signals (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7378/reftab/1632/Default.aspx

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Greenland Ice Could Fuel Severe US Sea Level Rise (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/bondsNews/idUSN2718485020090527

Southern Co. to run National Carbon Capture Center (Atlanta Business Chronicle)
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2009/05/25/daily32.html?ana=from_rss

Thankfully, irony is not dead - Environmentalists often like to wax poetic about the beauty of lakes and rivers, trees and mountains. But sometimes, the sweetest sight is an oil tanker (The Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.vancouversun.com/Technology/Thankfully+irony+dead/1637897/story.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

FCC Issues Rural Broadband Report - First step in concocting national broadband strategy (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/FCC-Issues-Rural-Broadband-Report-102631

City of Richland continues on fiber-optics (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/kennewick_pasco_richland/story/592180.html

The New UTOPIA: Transforming Failure into Success (AppRising)
http://www.app-rising.com/2009/05/the_new_utopia_transforming_fa.html

There's A Catch To AT&T Speed Boost - Download speeds of up to 7.2 megabits per second (theoretically) will be available on AT&T's 3G network after upgrades are completed this year (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/brierdudley/2009270924_brier28.html

North Carolina Offers Incentives for $1 Billion Apple Data Center (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/05/27/n-c-votes-on-incentives-for-apples-1b-data-center/

Time Warner to Spin Off AOL, Ending Ill-Fated Deal (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/28/AR2009052800895.html?wprss=rss_technology

Yahoo Open To Microsoft Deal under Right Terms (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2037606~Yahoo_open_to_Microsoft_deal_under_right_terms.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Bing It On: Microsoft Overhauls Search, Again (KIRO Radio, Seattle)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=172433

Yahoo CEO Bartz: “We Are Not a Search Company” (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/05/27/yahoo-ceo-bartz-we-are-not-a-search-company/

Digital TV Switchover Imminent Though Millions Remain Unprepared (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/Americas/2009/May/Digital-TV-Switchover-Imminent--Though-Millions-Remain-Unprepared.html

Apogee Interactive Adds Andrew Schechter as Regional Manager of Business Development - Utility Demand for Energy Analysis Software Rising (BusinessWire)
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090528005305&newsLang=en

GENERAL NEWS

Swine Flu Now Labeled 'Common' (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_052709WAB-swine-flu-common-TP.2181002d.html?rss

Mason County Government Facing Third Round of Cutbacks (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/may/27/mason-county-government-facing-third-round-of/?partner=RSS

Man Gets 11 Years for Seattle Traffic-Circle Death (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2018401~Man_gets_11_years_for_Seattle_traffic_circle_death.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines

Coastal Radar Station Sought To Improve Storm Forecasts (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009271163_radar28m.html?syndication=rss

Video Game Addiction A Serious Problem among Children (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_052809WAB-video-game-addiction-LJ.257b5140.html?rss

DIVERSIONS

Rock-throwing pair: 'It was just a dumb little prank'
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/46251362.html

News Flash! Archie Andrews to Marry Veronica Lodge!
http://www.vancouversun.com/Technology/News+flash+Archie+Andrews+marry+Veronica+Lodge/1636102/story.html

Man Calls 911 to Protest Missing Juice Box - Family Says McDonald's Left Juice Box Out Of Order
http://www.kirotv.com/money/19579261/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000205272009&ts=H

Minnesota Man’s Mullet Experiment Exposes Fashion Prejudice
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/Americas/2009/May/Minnesota-Man-s-Mullet-Experiment-Exposes-Fashion-Prejudice.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Hair - Hair the Musical
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1yd3Elm-X7c&feature=related

Wednesday, May 27, 2009

Energy News Digest for May 27, 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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Third Open House on Mason County PUD No. 3 John's Prairie Facility Thursday
- Little Leisure For Retirees Fighting Proposed Power Plant
- Minnesota - Plans for Prairie Island Nuclear Plant Face Opposition
- US Department of Energy Budget Doubles With Stimulus Funds
- Texas - Now's the Time to Lock In “Low” Electricity Rates,
- Pepco Wants to Raise Rates in D.C.
- Obama Officials Come To NW to Learn Salmon Issues
- Chinook Run Prediction Updated, But Still No Steelhead Season
- Northwest Scientists Work to Track Tiny Salmon down Columbia River to Ocean
- Deadline Looms over Stocking Fish in North Cascades National Park
- Victoria’s Raw Sewage to Flow When It Rains, Despite Treatment
- Clotheslines, Rainwater, Vs. The Law
- San Francisco Chronicle Op/Ed - Time for The Governor to Wade Into the Delta
- Montana – Cascade County Will Test Wind-Energy Storage
- Wyoming - $6 Billion Wind Farm Proposed Near Rawlins
- Consumers Energy to Add Surcharges to Monthly Bills for Renewable Energy Plan
- Wind Farm Opponents Want European Moratorium
- Zero Down Solar Panels
- Feds Announce Money for Green Jobs and Training
- Historic Architecture vs. Clean Energy
- Free Energy Audit Can Uncover Problems
- Carbon Pollution to Grow By 40 Percent
- Electric Co-Ops Concerned With Climate Bill
- Carbon Allowances -- The Glue In House Energy Package
- Global Warming: a Controversial Bill, And a Game of Roulette
- Forest Offsets Give EPA Regulators Some Tough Nuts to Crack
- Germany Abandons Cap and Trade for Major Industries
- Qwest Struggling To Sell Long Haul Network
- Appeals Court Upholds No Exclusive Cable Rights In Apartments
- FaceBook Sells Nearly Two Percent Stake for $200 Million
- Obama Set to Create A Cybersecurity Czar With Broad Mandate
- Texting May Be Taking a Toll
- Will Bridge Reopen June 5? State Says . . . Maybe
- Mason County Needs To Make More Budget Cuts
- Once Considered Unthinkable, U.S. Sales Tax Gets Fresh Look
- Evergreen State College Police Say They Need Rifles
- City of Shelton to Exempt Some Development from Street Frontage Requirement

WORD OF THE DAY

Carrefour • \ kair-uh-FOOR \ • noun - 1: crossroads *2: square, plaza

Fredo was in heaven, the shaded carrefour in the aged city of Sienna was devoid of all activity, save the large flock of pigeons that were making cooing and clucking sounds around the bread crumbs at his feet. His desire to lure the birds ever closer was at odds with the consequences: what most birds do when they take flight.

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

Third Open House on Mason County PUD No. 3 John's Prairie Facility Thursday (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7366/reftab/1632/Default.aspx

Little Leisure For Retirees Fighting Proposed Power Plant: Coal country community split by eight year battle (The Salt Lake Tribune, UT)
http://www.scoop.com/remote/article/include/92989569/53616c7465645f5fbc00fa1e22be88150e1c10944a591aef92a6e38a54b2a90c

Minnesota - Plans for Prairie Island Nuclear Plant Face Opposition (Minnesota Public Radio)
http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2009/05/22/prairie_island_nuclear_plant/

US Department of Energy Budget Doubles With Stimulus Funds (Associated Press)
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/05/26/ap6467236.html

Texas - Now's the Time to Lock In “Low” Electricity Rates, Experts Advise (Dallas Morning News, TX – median rate is 13.45 cents per kWh: what deregulation hath wroght))
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-electricity_26bus.State.Edition1.98a886.html

Pepco Wants to Raise Rates in D.C. “…average homeowner who uses 750 kilowatt-hours of electricity a month would increase…to $112.69 a month…” (Washington Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/05/25/daily18.html?ana=from_rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Obama Officials Come To NW to Learn Salmon Issues (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/05/obama_officials_come_to_nw_to.html

Chinook Run Prediction Updated, But Still No Steelhead Season (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/bill_monroe/index.ssf/2009/05/chinook_run_prediction_updated.html

Northwest Scientists Work to Track Tiny Salmon down Columbia River to Ocean (KUOW Radio, Seattle)
http://kuow.org/program.php?id=17630

Deadline Looms over Stocking Fish in North Cascades National Park (The Bellingham Herald, WA)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/920848.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Victoria’s Raw Sewage to Flow When It Rains, Despite Treatment - CRD says it can save money by delaying wet-weather plant (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/sewage+flow+when+rains+despite+treatment/1627610/story.html

Clotheslines, Rainwater, Vs. The Law (Whidbey News Times, WA)
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/whidbey/wnt/lifestyle/46114097.html

San Francisco Chronicle Op/Ed - Time for The Governor to Wade Into the Delta: Clean, abundant water is something most people take for granted
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/27/EDCP17R69A.DTL&feed=rss.opinion

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Montana – Cascade County Will Test Wind-Energy Storage (Great Falls Tribune, MT)
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20090527/NEWS01/905270304

Wyoming - $6 Billion Wind Farm Proposed Near Rawlins (Gillette News Record, WY)
http://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/articles/2009/05/26/news/today/news04.txt

Michigan - Consumers Energy to Add Surcharges to Monthly Bills for Renewable Energy Plan (Jackson Citizen Patriot, MI)
http://www.mlive.com/news/jackson/index.ssf/2009/05/consumers_energy_to_add_surcha.html

Wind Farm Opponents Want European Moratorium (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE54P53Q20090526

Zero Down Solar Panels (Cool Tools)
http://www.kk.org/cooltools/archives/003737.php

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Feds Announce Money for Green Jobs and Training (Associated Press)
http://www.seattlepi.com/national/1110ap_us_obama_middle_class.html?source=rss

Historic Architecture vs. Clean Energy (NY Times)
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/27/historic-architecture-vs-clean-energy/

Free Energy Audit Can Uncover Problems (NW Arkansas News)
http://www.nwanews.com/bvwv/Business/8828/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Carbon Pollution to Grow By 40 Percent (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2009267453_apusenergyforecast.html?syndication=rss

Electric Co-Ops Concerned With Climate Bill - How much is regulating climate change worth to you? (The Ledger Independent, Maysville, KY)
http://www.maysville-online.com/articles/2009/05/27/local_news/doc4a1cc43aa6309954067216.txt

Carbon Allowances -- The Glue In House Energy Package (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/05/26/26greenwire-carbon-allowances----the-glue-in-house-energy-10416.html

Global Warming: a Controversial Bill, And a Game of Roulette (Popular Science)
http://www.popsci.com/environment/article/2009-05/greenhouse-gamble

Forest Offsets Give EPA Regulators Some Tough Nuts to Crack (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/05/27/27climatewire-forest-offsets-give-epa-regulators-some-toug-91999.html

Germany Abandons Cap and Trade for Major Industries (Weekly Standard)
http://www.weeklystandard.com/weblogs/TWSFP/2009/05/germany_abandons_cap_and_trade.asp

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Qwest Struggling To Sell Long Haul Network - Probably won't get over $2 billion, say analysts (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Qwest-Struggling-To-Sell-Long-Haul-Network-102613

Appeals Court Upholds No Exclusive Cable Rights In Apartments (Associated Press)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12450859

FaceBook Sells Nearly Two Percent Stake for $200 Million (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/2009/05/26/technology/tech-us-facebook.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Obama Set to Create A Cybersecurity Czar With Broad Mandate - Shielding Public, Private Networks Is Goal (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/25/AR2009052502104.html?wprss=rss_technology

Texting May Be Taking a Toll (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/26/health/26teen.html?_r=1&8dpc

GENERAL NEWS

Will Bridge Reopen June 5? State Says . . . Maybe (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090527/NEWS/305279994

Mason County Needs To Make More Budget Cuts (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7371/reftab/1632/t/COUNTY-NEEDS-TO-MAKE-MORE-BUDGET-CUTS/Default.aspx

Once Considered Unthinkable, U.S. Sales Tax Gets Fresh Look - Levy Viewed as Way to Reduce Deficits, Fund Health Reform (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/26/AR2009052602909.html?wprss=rss_politics

Evergreen State College Police Say They Need Rifles (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19573271/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_7am&tmi=sea_7am_1_09000105272009&ts=H

City of Shelton to Exempt Rebuilds, Remodels, Additions from Street Frontage Requirement (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7370/reftab/1632/t/CITY-TO-EXEMPT-REBUILDS-REMODELS-ADDITIONS-FROM-STREET-FRONTAGE-REQUIREMENT/Default.aspx

DIVERSIONS

'I bought my daughter Botox jabs for her 18th birthday'... says mother who has spent £45,000 on plastic surgery
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-1187380/I-bought-daughter-Botox-jabs-18th-birthday--says-mother-spent-45-000-plastic-surgery.html

Nebraska Cigarette Bandit Wore Beer Carton as Disguise
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12450821

Chef Bourdain talks about Seattle's magical food scene, Batali envy and more
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/restaurants/2009265119_zres27bourdain.html

First Thieves, Then Cops Take Man's Medical Pot
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/46183347.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Barry McGuire - Eve of Destruction
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D8SfiCnwF28

Tuesday, May 26, 2009

Energy News Digest for May 26, 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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org


TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Gregoire: Cut TransAlta Emissions by More than Half by 2025
- Historic Green Victory at Idaho Power Annual Meeting Could Mean Higher Electric Bills
- Idaho Statesman: Power Rates Will Rise, But Your Bill Doesn't Need To
- Idaho Power must sell energy credits
- Benton PUD to Raise Rates
- Contracting economy sparks BPA expansion
- BPA Hosts Vancouver Meeting Tuesday on Grid Boost
- Wire Power - How to Send Electricity across the Continent, Virtually For Free
- California - Colusa Power Plant Shows Importance of Fossil Fuels
- Hartford Courant Op/Ed - Heating Tax Would Only Burn Consumers
- Cost of Electric Grid Failure from 2012 Solar Storms Avoidable
- Fish Tales - Obama brass angle for answers
- Oregonian Editorial - Fresh Eyes, Fragile Deal on Columbia Salmon
- Upper Klamath Water Rights Issue Settled
- Dewatto River - Steelhead Recovering Through Hood Canal Program
- Million-Dollar Creek Restoration Begins In Central Oregon
- PacifiCorp Delays Condit Dam Removal
- Willamette Sea Lions Escape Brethrens' Fate
- San Diego Wants To Disperse Seals with Dog Barking
- Report Finds the World's Oysters Threatened by Development, Pollution
- Landfill Methane Towers Scorch Perched Hawks
- Silverdale Water Customers Get Tip-Top Taste Out of the Tap
- Environmentalists Want Drugs in Columbia River Monitored
- Without Meters, Fresno Water beyond Measure
- Market Pulse - Water May Be Hot Investment
- Environmentalists Fear for Tahoe amid Logging in Burned Angora Area
- In BPA Right of Way - Kitsap Redwood Spared, at Least Temporarily
- With Billions at Stake, Trying to Expand the Meaning of ‘Renewable Energy’
- Endangered Birds - Clark County wind farm on hold
- Chase for Wind Power Turns to Oregon's Public Lands
- Change in the Air? Wind Industry Wants Government Lift
- Renewable Power Mandate Overcomes Hurdle in US Senate
- GOP: Alternative Energy Alone Won't Meet US Needs
- Anchorage News Miner Op/Ed - Consider energy reliability and reality
- Oregonian Op/Ed - The Unfortunate Myth of "Renewables Now!"
- Renewables: America's next heavy industry
- Detroit Edison Seeking Input On Wind Energy Programs
- Two Neah Power Board Members Resign
- United Kingdom - Blown away by the North Sea
- Solar-Tech Company Scouts Oregon Sites
- NW Natural’s Methane Project Taps Cow Power
- Green Homeowner Given Noise Order After Hum of 40ft Wind Turbine Drives Neighbors Mad
- PUD 3 and City of Shelton Team Up for Energy Efficient Traffic Signals
- Mason County - Energy-Efficient Businesses Can Get a Break
- Energy Efficiency Rates High On Home Buyers’ Wish Lists
- Energy-Efficiency Pitch Brings Funds
- Cut Energy Costs This Summer by Making Changes At Home; Help Is Available
- Caps, Trades and Offsets: Can Climate Plan Work?
- Gov. Gregoire Does Her Own Thing On Climate Change
- Seattle Times Editorial - Climate-Change Action Picks Up On Three Fronts
- Idaho Delegation Opposes Greenhouse Gas Legislation
- Canada – Globe & Mail Op/Ed - Carbon offsets: It really isn't easy being green
- Study Says Businesses Can Create Clean Energy Jobs
- Seattle P-I Columnist - Global warming's impacts on state forests
- Canada - Inaction on Climate Change Backfires
- How Boeing Fights Climate Change
- Kansas - Farmers Could Cash In On Cap-And-Trade
- U.S. Government Delays Broadband Grants
- Broadband Stimulus Fund Timetable
- FCC: Broadband Plan Will Be Huge
- Verizon Threatens Massachusetts
- Net Computing ‘Cloud’ Over Microsoft Chills Investors
- Yahoo's Departing CFO to Get $1.8M in Severance
- Skyline Drums Up Strong Data Center Business
- Hood Canal Bridge Might Reopen a Week Early
- Propane suppliers quietly reduce size of refills
- Catching Up On State's New Crop of Green Legislation
- Washington State Won't Make Target for Biofuels
- Localities Want U.S. To Support Muni Bonds

WORD OF THE DAY

Obnubilate • \obb-NOO-buh-layt\ • verb - Becloud, obscure

Here’s one of my favorite Groucho Marx quotes, intended to confuse is antagonist by obnulation:

“Well, Art is Art, isn't it? Still, on the other hand, water is water. And east is east and west is west and if you take cranberries and stew them like applesauce they taste much more like prunes than rhubarb does. Now you tell me what you know.”

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

Gregoire: Cut TransAlta Emissions by More than Half by 2025 (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)
http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews?Gregoire-Cut-TransAlta-Emissions-by-More=1&blockID=55236&feedID=410

Historic Green Victory at Idaho Power Annual Meeting Could Mean Higher Electric Bills (Idaho Statesman, Boise)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/777839.html

Idaho Statesman Columnist: Power Rates Will Rise, But Your Bill Doesn't Need To
http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/780888.html

Idaho Power must sell energy credits - regulators have ordered the state's biggest utility to sell about $2 million worth of renewable energy credits and use the money to benefit ratepayers (Associated Press)
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/05/25/ap6462221.html

Benton PUD to Raise Rates (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.kndo.com/Global/story.asp?S=10404267&nav=menu484_2_11

Contracting economy sparks BPA expansion “…Unlike most stimulus dollars, which add directly to the deficit, the BPA must repay with interest whatever it uses…” (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/05/contracting_economy_sparkis_bp.html

BPA Hosts Vancouver Meeting Tuesday on Grid Boost (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20090523/NEWS02/905229977/BPA+hosts+Vancouver+meeting+on+grid+boost

Wire Power - How to Send Electricity across the Continent, Virtually For Free (Newsweek Magazine)
http://www.newsweek.com/id/198942?from=rss

California - Colusa Power Plant Shows Importance of Fossil Fuels “…even in a future dominated by renewable power, some fossil fuel-fired plants will be needed to provide the reliable, on-demand juice needed to keep the grid running smoothly…” (Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1885837.html

Hartford Courant Op/Ed - Heating Tax Would Only Burn Consumers (Connecticut)
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-snyder-oil-taxes.artmay24,0,882334.story

Cost of Electric Grid Failure from 2012 Solar Storms Avoidable (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/x-2383-Honolulu-Exopolitics-Examiner~y2009m5d25-Cost-of-electric-grid-failure-from-2012-solar-storms-avoidable

FISH & WILDLIFE

Fish Tales - Obama brass angle for answers: Four top Obama administration officials will travel to Portland on Tuesday, to hear fish stories and angle for answers (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/169257.asp?from=blog_last3

Oregonian Editorial - Fresh Eyes, Fragile Deal on Columbia Salmon
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/05/fresh_eyes_fragile_deal_on_col.html

Upper Klamath Water Rights Issue Settled (The Times-Standard, Eureka, CA)
http://www.times-standard.com/localnews/ci_12427596?source=rss

Dewatto River - Steelhead Recovering Through Hood Canal Program (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009251881_apwasteelheadrecovery.html?syndication=rss

Million-Dollar Creek Restoration Begins In Central Oregon (Oregon Public Radio)
http://news.opb.org/article/5053-million-dollar-creek-restoration-begins/

PacifiCorp Delays Condit Dam Removal (Associated Press)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_dam_removal.html

Willamette Sea Lions Escape Brethrens' Fate (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/bill_monroe/index.ssf/2009/05/willamette_sea_lions_may_face.html

San Diego Wants To Disperse Seals with Dog Barking (Examiner.Com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2031046~San_Diego_wants_to_disperse_seals_with_dog_barking.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Report Finds the World's Oysters Threatened by Development, Pollution - Oyster reefs are the most critically threatened marine habitat on Earth (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/05/new_report_finds_the_worlds_oy.html

Landfill Methane Towers Scorch Perched Hawks (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009258267_apusscorchedhawks.html?syndication=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Silverdale Water Customers Get Tip-Top Taste Out of the Tap (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/may/26/silverdale-water-customers-get-tip-top-taste-out/?partner=RSS

Environmentalists Want Drugs in Columbia River Monitored (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20090524/NEWS02/705249966/

Without Meters, Fresno Water beyond Measure (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104466681&ft=1&f=3

Market Pulse - Water May Be Hot Investment (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009256237_pulse24.html?syndication=rss

Environmentalists Fear for Tahoe amid Logging in Burned Angora Area (Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1890877.html

In BPA Right of Way - Kitsap Redwood Spared, at Least Temporarily (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/may/22/kitsap-redwood-spared-at-least-temporarily/?partner=RSS

RENEWABLE & ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

With Billions at Stake, Trying to Expand the Meaning of ‘Renewable Energy’ (NY Times – How ironic: first time I saw “subsidy” used as an argument against hydro as renewable)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/25/business/energy-environment/25renew.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Endangered Birds - Clark County wind farm on hold: State introduces a delay to think through possible environmental effects of the turbine construction (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20090523/NEWS02/705239990/

Chase for Wind Power Turns to Oregon's Public Lands (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/05/chase_for_wind_power_turns_to.html

Change in the Air? Wind Industry Wants Government Lift (Associated Press – more than it gets now; subsidies plus mandates?)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009258295_apuswindpowergovernmentpolicy.html?syndication=rss

Renewable Power Mandate Overcomes Hurdle in US Senate (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/latestCrisis/idUSN21261453

GOP: Alternative Energy Alone Won't Meet US Needs (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2009120717_apusrepublicansenergy.html?syndication=rss

Anchorage News Miner Op/Ed - Consider energy reliability and reality: Crisis looms and alternative energy can’t deal with it
http://newsminer.com/news/2009/may/24/consider-energy-reliability-and-reality/?opinion

Oregonian Op/Ed - The Unfortunate Myth of "Renewables Now!" “…the region simply will not be able to move away from coal and rely on renewable sources of electric generation without facing reliability issues that could result in blackouts…”
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/05/the_unfortunate_myth_of_renewa.html

Renewables: America's next heavy industry - How three manufacturers in three Midwest states are picking up where the auto sector is laying off (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/2009/05/21/news/economy/midwest_renewables/?postversion=2009052309

Detroit Edison Seeking Input On Wind Energy Programs (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=363004&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss

Two Neah Power Board Members Resign (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/05/18/daily58.html?ana=from_rss

United Kingdom - Blown away by the North Sea: Offshore wind farms in Scottish waters ‘could produce 40% more power than English equivalents (Sunday Herald, UK)
http://www.sundayherald.com/business/businessnews/display.var.2509982.0.blown_away_by_the_north_sea.php

Solar-Tech Company Scouts Oregon Sites (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2009/05/chinese_solar_giant_considers.html

NW Natural’s Methane Project Taps Cow Power (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/05/25/story1.html?ana=from_rss

United Kingdom - Green Homeowner Given Noise Order After Hum of 40ft Wind Turbine Drives Neighbors Mad (The Daily Mail, UK)
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1187936/Green-homeowner-given-noise-order-hum-40ft-wind-turbine-drives-neighbours-mad.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

PUD 3 and City of Shelton Team Up for Energy Efficient Traffic Signals (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=555

Mason County - Energy-Efficient Businesses Can Get a Break (The Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/environment/story/860807.html

Energy Efficiency Rates High On Home Buyers’ Wish Lists (Houston Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2009/05/25/focus4.html?ana=from_rss

Energy-Efficiency Pitch Brings Funds - Corning: Ailing Fiberglass Maker May Benefit (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/24/AR2009052402143.html?wprss=rss_politics

Cut Energy Costs This Summer by Making Changes At Home; Help Is Available (Kansas City Star, MO)
http://www.kansascity.com/business/story/1212467.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Caps, Trades and Offsets: Can Climate Plan Work? Lawmakers, Scientists and Industry Debate House Measure (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/25/AR2009052502264.html?hpid=moreheadlines

Gov. Gregoire Does Her Own Thing On Climate Change After Legislature Fails To Pass Bill. Can she do that? (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/politics/2009/05/24/gov_gregoire_does_her_own_thing_on_clima

Seattle Times Editorial - Climate-Change Action Picks Up On Three Fronts
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2009259641_edita25green.html

Idaho Delegation Opposes Greenhouse Gas Legislation - Lawmakers doubt that a bill they say would raise the cost of gas and electricity can pass Congress this year (Idaho Statesman, Boise)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/780890.html

Canada – Globe & Mail Op/Ed - Carbon offsets: It really isn't easy being green - B.C. learns that it's hard to navigate the murky world of offsets
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/carbon-offsets-it-really-isnt-easy-being-green/article1147597/

Study Says Businesses Can Create Clean Energy Jobs (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/05/24/international/i064439D36.DTL&feed=rss.news

Seattle P-I Columnist - Global warming's impacts on state forests: Burn baby burn! Lands commissioner says our children will live with consequences
http://www.seattlepi.com/connelly/406468_joel22.html?source=rss

Canada - Inaction on Climate Change Backfires (Winnipeg Free Press, Manitoba)
http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/westview/inaction-on-climate-change-backfires-45974802.html

How Boeing Fights Climate Change - The efficiency of jets has increased by 70% over the past 50 years (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124303177241948493.html

Kansas - Farmers Could Cash In On Cap-And-Trade (Wichita Eagle KS)
http://blogs.kansas.com/weblog/2009/05/farmers-could-cash-in-on-cap-and-trade/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

U.S. Government Delays Broadband Grants (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/05/21/government-delays-broadband-grants/

Broadband Stimulus Fund Timetable - First stimulus funds available Q4 2009 (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Broadband-Stimulus-Fund-Timetable-102574

FCC: Broadband Plan Will Be Huge - Biggest project the commission has ever undertaken (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/FCC-Broadband-Plan-Will-Be-Huge-102553

Verizon Threatens Massachusetts - If you don't pass franchise 'reform,' you don't get broadband?
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Verizon-Threatens-Massachusetts-102601

Net Computing ‘Cloud’ Over Microsoft Chills Investors (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/05/25/focus8.html?ana=from_rss

Yahoo's Departing CFO to Get $1.8M in Severance (Associated Press)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12430962

Skyline Drums Up Strong Data Center Business - Skyline Construction is turning to data centers to help beat the recession (San Francisco Business Times
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2009/05/25/story18.html?ana=from_rss

GENERAL NEWS

Hood Canal Bridge Might Reopen a Week Early (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/45874332.html

Propane suppliers quietly reduce size of refills (Associated Press)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12433769

Catching Up On State's New Crop of Green Legislation (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/ecoconsumer/2009253167_ecoconsumer23m.html

Washington State Won't Make Target for Biofuels – The state won't reach its goal next month of having biofuels make up at least 20 percent of its fuel use in state vehicles and ferries (Seattle Times – the state didn’t meet its energy conservation “goals” either)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009260425_apwabiofuels.html?syndication=rss

Localities Want U.S. To Support Muni Bonds - State and local governments are asking Washington to give them something that banks are trying to get rid of: federal bailout money (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/26/business/26muni.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

DIVERSIONS

Snohomish Dog Adopts Litter of Kittens
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/45871602.html

Media Ipecac - Sales of Bacon-Flavored Vodka Sizzling
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_052409WAB-bacon-vodka-SW.129e5d8e.html?rss

Couple throwing rocks off I-5 playing 'stripping game'
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_052509WAB-rocks-thrown-trestle-SW.17026e59.html?rss

SONG OF THE DAY

Henry Gross – Shannon (About his family’s Irish Setter)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jxz2wQX3EvA

Thursday, May 21, 2009

Energy News Digest for May 21, 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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org


TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Grays Harbor County PUD Calls Off Rate Increase
- Power Project Generates Walla Walla-Hi FFA Championship
- NW Natural Gas Refunds Ratepayers
- U.S. Natural Gas Boom: The Race to Tap Shale's Potential
- Georgia Coal Plant Project Loses Two More Coalition Members
- With Salmon Facing Extinction, Will Pols Continue "Treading Water"?
- Wenatchee World Editorial - Salmon and the Perpetual War
- Hazing Sea Lions to Protect Salmon
- Vancouver Island salmon numbers on rise
- Puget Sound Fish Counters
- Washington State Dept. of Wildlife Struggling With Cuts
- Vancouver Island Natives Plan To Kill Sea Otters for Pelts
- Naming the inland waters of the Pacific Northwest the Salish Sea
- Oregon House OKs Greener Dishwasher Soap
- New King County Sewage Plant behind Schedule and Over Budget
- New Project Uses Slash for Electrical Power
- Enough With Birds, Farmer Claims Wind Turbines Kill Goats
- Iowa Co-Op’s Increase Because Of Renewable Energy
- Wind Turbines Becoming Growth Industry in Ohio
- Herald Op/Ed - Winds of Change
- PenLight Hires Company to Conduct Energy Efficiency Survey
- Gregoire Signs Order To Reduce Greenhouse Gases
- Seattle's Day to Tell EPA How to Fix Climate
- Poor Economy: Carbon Dioxide Emissions Drop in 2008
- Oregon Power Companies Divided Over Pollution Plan
- Shareholders to Push Idaho Power for Greener Standards
- Idaho Statesman Op/Ed - Idaho Power is Steps behind the Energy-Efficiency Movement
- New Web site reports greenhouse gas emissions
- America's climate-change bill is weaker and worse than expected
- Yahoo Eyes Acquisitions, Social Media
- State Sues to Recover $100 Million Lost In Stock Market
- Former Idaho Attorney General - Bureau of Indian Affairs Leader Chosen
- Barbecue Coals Cause $200,000 Fire at Mukilteo Home

WORD OF THE DAY

Plenary • \PLEE-nuh-ree\ • adjective – 1: complete in every respect: absolute, unqualified 2: fully attended or constituted by all entitled to be present

The plenary session of the Abercrombie County Rock and Mineral Society crumbled into bitter recriminations after some members had been found throwing rocks in the vicinity of the local florist’s greenhouses. “But we weren’t LIVING in the glass house,” whined the reprobates, “so throwing stones near houses in which we did not live was OK!”

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 Calls Off Rate Increase (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/05/20/local_news/doc4a1443fe7be5d017557002.txt

Power Project Generates Walla Walla-Hi FFA Championship (Walla Walla Union Bulletin)
http://union-bulletin.com/articles/2009/05/20/local_news/090520local04wahiffakids.txt

NW Natural Gas Refunds Ratepayers (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/05/18/daily38.html?ana=from_rss

U.S. Natural Gas Boom: The Race to Tap Shale's Potential (Popular Mechanics)
http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/earth/4318390.html

Georgia Coal Plant Project Loses Two More Coalition Members (Atlanta Journal Constitution)
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/2009/05/21/coal0521.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Seattle P-I Columnist - With Salmon Facing Extinction, Will Pols Continue "Treading Water"?
http://www.seattlepi.com/connelly/406433_joel21.html

Wenatchee World Editorial - Salmon and the Perpetual War
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090520/OP02/705209882/1025/rss1025

Hazing Sea Lions to Protect Salmon (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/5024-hazing-sea-lions-protect-salmon/

Vancouver Island salmon numbers on rise (Nanaimo Daily News, BC)
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/regional/Vancouver+Island+salmon+numbers+rise/1609807/story.html

Puget Sound Fish Counters (KUOW-Radio, Seattle)
http://www.kuow.org/program.php?id=17557

Washington State Dept. of Wildlife Struggling With Cuts (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/story/749971.html

Vancouver Island Natives Plan To Kill Sea Otters for Pelts (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)
http://www.timescolonist.com/Technology/Vancouver+Island+band+plans+kill+otters+pelts/1612728/story.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Sea Change - Washington State will officially consider altering the map by naming the inland waters of the Pacific Northwest the Salish Sea (Crosscut, Seattle)
http://crosscut.com/2009/05/20/mossback/19007/

Oregon House OKs Greener Dishwasher Soap (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2027180~Ore__House_OKs_greener_dishwasher_soap.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

New King County Sewage Plant behind Schedule and Over Budget (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/406434_brightwater21.html?source=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

New Project Uses Slash for Electrical Power (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090520/NEWS04/705209874/1025/rss1025

Enough With Birds, Farmer Claims Wind Turbines Kill Goats (British Broadcasting Corporation)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/8060969.stm

Iowa Co-Op’s Increase Because Of Renewable Energy (Osceola Sentinel-Tribune, IA)
http://www.osceolaiowa.com/articles/2009/05/20/24198238/index.xml

Wind Turbines Becoming Growth Industry in Ohio (The Plain Dealer, Cleveland, OH)
http://www.cleveland.com/business/index.ssf/2009/05/wind_turbines_turning_into_gro.html

Herald Op/Ed - Winds of Change (United Kingdom)
http://www.theherald.co.uk/features/editorial/display.var.2509413.0.Winds_of_change.php

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

PenLight Hires Company to Conduct Energy Efficiency Survey (Peninsula Gateway, Gig Harbor, WA)
http://www.gateline.com/104/story/4253.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Gregoire Signs Order To Reduce Greenhouse Gases (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009247078_apwaepaclimategregoire1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

Seattle's Day to Tell EPA How to Fix Climate (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009245410_greenhousegas21m0.html

Poor Economy: Carbon Dioxide Emissions Drop in 2008 (Associated Press)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12413989

Oregon Power Companies Divided Over Pollution Plan (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2009/05/oregon_power_companies_divided.html

Shareholders to Push Idaho Power for Greener Standards (The New West)
http://www.newwest.net/city/article/shareholders_to_push_idaho_power_for_greener_standards/C108/L108/

Idaho Statesman Op/Ed - Idaho Power is Steps behind the Energy-Efficiency Movement
http://www.idahostatesman.com/OPINION/story/776181.html

New Web site reports greenhouse gas emissions (Portland Business Journal – PNW Looks Good)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/05/18/daily41.html?ana=from_rss

Handouts and loopholes - America's climate-change bill is weaker and worse than expected (The Economist)
http://www.economist.com/world/unitedstates/displaystory.cfm?story_id=13705417

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Yahoo Eyes Acquisitions, Social Media (Yahoo! Technology)
http://tech.yahoo.com/news/nm/20090521/tc_nm/us_summit_yahoo_1

GENERAL NEWS

State Sues to Recover $100 Million Lost In Stock Market (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/169125.asp?source=pimail

Former Idaho Attorney General - Bureau of Indian Affairs Leader Chosen (Associated Press)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/21/us/politics/21brfs-BUREAUOFINDI_BRF.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Barbecue Coals Cause $200,000 Fire at Mukilteo Home (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090521/NEWS01/705219904/-1/RSS02

DIVERSIONS

Bank Mistakenly Deposits $6M in Couple's Account
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/05/21/international/i021829D42.DTL&feed=rss.business

Game Of Lighter Fluid Tag Ends Badly
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=169972

Drink Up: Space Station Recycling Urine to Water
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009243427_apusspaceurine.html?syndication=rss

Household Drill to Head Saves Boy's Life
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19509317/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

The Partridge Family Opening TV Theme Song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LOiKa51ll-k