Energy News Digest for May 20, 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)

- NERC: Electricity Reliability Looking Good This Summer
- Lightning Storm Blows Transformers, Starts Fires
- Chelan PUD Could Speed Up Chelan Dam Rehabilitation
- Pumped Hydro Energy Storage: It Takes a Heck of a Long Time
- Avista Wants to Lower Natural Gas Rates
- Kulongoski Replaces Oregon Energy Director
- BC Power Grid Goes under the Microscope
- Nuclear Cleanup Awards Questioned
- Dwindling Coal Supply: Good for Environment, Bad for Economy
- Texas Electric Rates Are Mostly Below 12 Cents Now
- Salmon-Recovery Plan Needs Work, Judge Says
- Dam Breaching an Option to Protect Salmon, U.S. District Judge Says
- LA Times Op/Ed - If Salmon Can't Be Saved, Snake River Dams May Have To Go
- Chinook seasons set for South Fork and Upper Salmon
- Scientist Discovers Beavers Building Prime Salmon Habitat in Skagit Delta
- California - New Salmon Barrier Is No Substitute for Real Delta Protections
- Endangered Blue Whales Resurfacing In Alaska
- Shellfish isn't the only draw at this weekend's ShrimpFest in Brinnon
- River Currents Pick Up Amid Slow-Motion Spring
- Tribes Tout Walla Walla Water Swap
- Tribal Water Project for Puget Sound Honored
- Pennsylvania Nonprofit Interested in Belfair Sewer Project
- Water Main Break Floods North Seattle Streets, Homes
- King County Judge's Basement Flooded With Sewage
- Wind Power - Yakamas Say Development Is Damaging Sacred Cultural Sites
- Washington wind turbines claim first known eagle victim
- Vancouver, WA Wind Turbine Training to Begin
- Energy Industry Warns Of Green Bandwagon Effect
- Idaho Wind Farm Donates Turbines to Schools
- Vestas Names New Local President
- Hoquiam - Idled Imperium biodiesel plant may reopen next year
- Seattle Times Op/Ed - Time to Scale up the New Energy Economy
- Utilities Start to Use Google's Power Savings Software
- Energy Program Saves Michigan School District Nearly $500,000
- Cap-and-Trade Debate Drags On in House Energy Committee
- Environmentalists Attack House Global Warming Deal
- North Dakota Regulators Oppose 'Cap and Trade' Carbon Rules
- Oregon Greenhouse Legislation Would Weaken Economy
- Climate Bill Could Be a $750 Billion Boon for Consumers
- Washington Post Editorial - Let's Have Cap and No Trade
- Thursday – EPA Hearing: Gregoire, Rockefeller to Testify About Greenhouse Gases
- Department of Information Services Plans Meeting on Future Buildings
- How Much Bandwidth Can You Buy With $15,000?
- 50Mbps Fiber Lines for $99.95 per Month in 17 States
- Yahoo Upgrades Search Engine
- Call Center Will Close Olympia Operations
- Qwest Wants to Avoid 'Speed Game'
- The Race to Provide Wi-Fi at 30,000 Feet
- Confusion over Dueling Digital TV Conversions
- Social Networking: Members Can Become ‘Fans’ Of Richland
- Bosses Concerned About Facebook, Twitter
- What Type Of Emailer Are You?
- Unofficial Mason County Election Results
- One Case of Swine Flu Confirmed In Mason County
- Major Pieces Are In Place for Hood Canal Floating Bridge
- WA planners looking to Cut Columbia River Bridge Project
- Gregoire Agrees to Limit Cuts to State Auditor Brian Sonntag's Budget
- Panel freezes pay for Washington elected officials
- Gregoire OKs Delay of Washington State Family Leave Program
- Oregon House OKs Changes to State’s Initiative System
- KGY Radio Eager to Use New Tower
- Olive Garden Settles Credit-Card Suit with $9 Appetizer Voucher

WORD OF THE DAY – HAIKU STYLE

Deasil • \DEE-zil\ • noun – clockwise

Ride the tidal surge
Inner tube in deasil spin
Give me ‘Dramamine’

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

NERC: Electricity Reliability Looking Good This Summer (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=362700&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss

Lightning Storm Blows Transformers, Starts Fires (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19513740/detail.html

Chelan PUD Could Speed Up Chelan Dam Rehabilitation (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090519/NEWS04/705199945/-1/WEATHER?Chelan-PUD-could-speed-up-Chelan-dam-rehabilitation

Pumped Hydro Energy Storage: It Takes a Heck of a Long Time (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/earthToTech/idUS334429218720090518

Avista Wants to Lower Natural Gas Rates (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/05/18/daily23.html?ana=from_rss

Kulongoski Replaces Oregon Energy Director (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/05/kulongoski_replaces_oregon_ene.html

BC Power Grid Goes under the Microscope - An inquiry is in the early stages of examining B.C.'s potential (Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.vancouversun.com/Technology/power+grid+goes+under+microscope/1607857/story.html

Nuclear Cleanup Awards Questioned - Firms Cited for Errors Get Funding (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/17/AR2009051702254.html?wprss=rss_business

Dwindling Coal Supply: Good for Environment, Bad for Economy (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/environment/2009/may/Dwindling-Coal-Supply--Good-for-Environment--Bad-for-Economy.html

Texas Electric Rates Are Mostly Below 12 Cents Now (Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX)
http://www.star-telegram.com/business/story/1382435.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Salmon-Recovery Plan Needs Work, Judge Says - A judge is telling federal agencies they need to do more to help Columbia Basin salmon survive, or he will find the latest restoration plan in violation of the Endangered Species Act. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009235669_salmon19m.html

Dam Breaching an Option to Protect Salmon, U.S. District Judge Says (Idaho Statesman, Boise)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/775091.html

LA Times Op/Ed - If Salmon Can't Be Saved, Snake River Dams May Have To Go
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2009/05/salmon-recovery-snake-river-dams-columbia-river-endangered-species.html

Chinook seasons set for South Fork and Upper Salmon (Idaho Statesman, Boise)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/Extras/IdahoOutdoors/story/772417.html

Scientist Discovers Beavers Building Prime Salmon Habitat in Skagit Delta (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009231736_beavers18m.html

California - New Salmon Barrier Is No Substitute for Real Delta Protections (IndyBay, CA)
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/05/18/18595753.php

Endangered Blue Whales Resurfacing In Alaska (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009235492_bluewhales19.html

Shellfish Isn't the Only Draw at This Weekend's Shrimpfest in Brinnon (Port Townsend Leader)
http://www.ptleader.com/Main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=24242

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

River Currents Pick Up Amid Slow-Motion Spring (The Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090519/NEWS04/705199899/1001/NEWS04

Tribes Tout Walla Walla Water Swap - Umatilla Basin plan provides a blueprint (East Oregonian, Hermiston)
http://eastoregonian.com/main.asp?FromHome=1&TypeID=1&ArticleID=92671&SectionID=13&SubSectionID=48

Tribal Water Project for Puget Sound Honored (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090520/NEWS01/705209818

Pennsylvania Nonprofit Interested in Belfair Sewer Project (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/may/17/pennsylvania-nonprofit-interested-in-belfair/?partner=RSS

Water Main Break Floods North Seattle Streets, Homes (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19506207/detail.html

King County Judge's Basement Flooded With Sewage (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/406341_sewer19.html?source=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Wind Power - Yakamas Say Development is Damaging Sacred Cultural Sites (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/2009/05/16/yakamas-say-development-is-damaging-sacred-cultural-sites

At Goodnoe Hills Wind Project - Washington Wind Turbines Claim First Known Eagle Victim (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20090519/NEWS02/705199958/

Wind Turbine Training to Begin - Vancouver-based program will produce technicians following its July launch (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20090520/BIZ01/705209972/-1/BIZ

Energy Industry Warns Of Green Bandwagon Effect (Washington Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2009/05/18/story11.html?ana=from_rss

Idaho Wind Farm Donates Turbines to Schools (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/855319.html

Vestas Names New Local President (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/05/18/daily4.html?ana=from_rss

Hoquiam - Idled Imperium biodiesel plant may reopen next year (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009235360_imperium19.html?syndication=rss

Seattle Times Op/Ed - Time to Scale up the New Energy Economy: The federal finding that climate pollution hurts public health is not the only reason society should step up efforts to combat climate change
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2009234432_opinb19golden.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Utilities Start to Use Google's Power Savings Software (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200905200951DOWJONESDJONLINE000671_FORTUNE5.htm

Energy Program Saves Michigan School District Nearly $500,000 (The News-Herald, Southgate, MI)
http://www.thenewsherald.com/articles/2009/05/20/news/doc4a130d476022e199642787.txt

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Cap-and-Trade Debate Drags On in House Energy Committee (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/19/AR2009051903177.html?wprss=rss_politics

Environmentalists Attack House Global Warming Deal (Time Magazine)
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1898896,00.html

North Dakota Regulators Oppose 'Cap and Trade' Carbon Rules (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009239304_apuscarbonregulationnorthdakota.html?syndication=rss

Salem Statesman Op/Ed - Oregon Greenhouse Legislation Would Weaken Economy
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20090520/OPINION/905200446/1049

Climate Bill Could Be a $750 Billion Boon for Consumers, Study Finds (NY Times)
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/20/climate-bill-could-be-a-750-billion-boon-for-consumers-study-finds/

Washington Post Editorial - Let's Have Cap and No Trade
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/18/AR2009051802647.html

Thursday – EPA Hearing: Gregoire, Rockefeller to Testify About Greenhouse Gases (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/may/18/gregoire-rockefeller-to-testify-about-greenhouse/?partner=RSS

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Olympia: Department of Information Services Plans Meeting on Future Buildings (The Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/853995.html

How Much Bandwidth Can You Buy With $15,000? (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/05/20/how-much-bandwidth-can-you-buy-with-15000/

50Mbps Fiber Lines for $99.95 per Month in 17 States (Geek.com)
http://www.geek.com/articles/chips/50mbps-fiber-lines-for-9995-per-month-in-17-states-20090518/

Yahoo Upgrades Search Engine (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12404040

Call Center Will Close Olympia Operations (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/747850.html

Qwest Wants to Avoid 'Speed Game' - As if they actually had a choice (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Qwest-Wants-To-Avoid-Speed-Game-102503

The Race to Provide Wi-Fi at 30,000 Feet (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/19/business/19road.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Confusion over Dueling Digital TV Conversions (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_051809DTV-two-digital-conversions-TP.16a241d6.html?rss

FACEBOOK: Social Networking Website Members Can Become ‘Fans’ Of Richland (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/582404.html?mi_email=Tri-City%20Herald_PM+%26+Breaking+News

Bosses Concerned About Facebook, Twitter (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/05/18/daily12.html?ana=from_rss

What Type Of Emailer Are You? (Yahoo! Technology)
http://tech.yahoo.com/blogs/null/142158

GENERAL NEWS

Unofficial Mason County Election Results - Fire Five EMS levy passing; Fire Eight levies failing; North Mason Capital Levy just passing (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7299/reftab/1632/Default.aspx

One Case of Swine Flu Confirmed In Mason County; State Total Now 441 (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7304/reftab/1632/Default.aspx

Major Pieces Are In Place for Hood Canal Floating Bridge (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009240402_webbridge20.html?syndication=rss

WA planners looking to Cut Columbia River Bridge Project (The Associated Press)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_i_5_project.html?source=pimail

Gregoire Agrees to Limit Cuts to State Auditor Brian Sonntag's Budget (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2009238622_gregoire_agrees_to_limit_cuts.html?syndication=rss

Statewide Elected Officials & Judges - Panel freezes pay for Washington elected officials (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009241436_apwapayfreeze.html?syndication=rss

Gregoire OKs Delay of Washington State Family Leave Program (KIRO-Radio, Seattle)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=169127

Oregon House OKs Changes to State’s Initiative System “…background checks on all prospective signature gatherers…turn in signature sheets once a month…not allowed to collect as a volunteer for one cause while simultaneously gathering for another cause as a paid worker (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2024378~House_OKs_changes_to_Ore__initiative_system.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

KGY Radio Eager to Use New Tower - Radio signal expected to be stronger with higher structure (The Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/852499.html

Olive Garden Settles Credit-Card Suit with $9 Appetizer Voucher (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009235363_olivegarden19.html?syndication=rss

DIVERSIONS

2 Fired For Urinating Into Old Faithful - Employees Caught On Live Webcam
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19465748/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_12pm&tmi=sea_12pm_1_02000205152009&ts=H

Hawaiian Shirts Ride Wave of Popularity
http://www.theolympian.com/living/story/854048.html

Cell Phones Can Spark More Than Just Conversations
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/45445817.html

Omaha Man Blames Casino Drinks, Drugs for Big Debt
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/747684.html

The Star Report: You Can Call Him Zimmy: Bob Dylan's Bad Early Poetry
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12404545

SONG OF THE DAY

Manfred Mann – The Mighty Quinn (Written by Bob Dylan)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=liIQLIx2Onw

Bob Dylan - Quinn the Eskimo (The Mighty Quinn)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=svyTF3WItiE