Wednesday, September 30, 2009

Energy News Digest for September 30, 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)

• Cowlitz PUD Officials Approve Rate Increase
• Lock At the Dalles Dam On Columbia River Shut Down
• Avista Reaches Settlement in Oregon Natural Gas Rate Request
• Farmers Protest Idaho Falls Power’s Planned Transmission Line
• Op/Ed - Dialogue Key to Idaho Power Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Project
• Liquefied Natural Gas Opponents Make Their Case for Recall of Clatsop Commissioners
• China Orders Crackdown On Industrial Overcapacity
• Mississippi Steel Offered Low-Cost New York Hydro-Power Deal
• Big Utilities Pull Back on Coal Plant Plans
• Deal Would Remove Klamath River Dams to Aid Salmon
• Utility Agrees To Terms for Removing Klamath Dams
• Utility Agrees To Removal of 4 Klamath River Dams
• Landmark Agreement to Remove 4 Klamath River Dams
• Could Klamath Dam Removal Deal Set Future Precedent?
• Strong Fish Returns Allow Six Eastern Washington Rivers to Open for Hatchery Steelhead
• Elwha River Turns Red for Pre-Dam Removal Test
• Fed Stimulus Money Helping Prep Lower Elwha for Dam Removal
• Shovelnose Sturgeon Proposed For Listing
• House Dust in Washing Machines Might Be Chemically Polluting Puget Sound
• Colorado Governor Says Western Water Policies Must Change
• Canadian Ferries To Stop Dumping Sewage Into Ocean
• Editorial - Cities on Right Path to Deal with Water Issues
• Alternative Energy Projects Stumble on a Need for Water
• Clallam County PUD Sets Annual Solar Tour
• Clean Energy on Display at Saturday's Kitsap Solar Tour
• Chinese company takes over Hoku Scientific
• San Francisco tilts toward wind power
• As Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb Sales Fall, More Incentives Urged
• Contest for Brightest Idea in Light-Bulb Makeover
• Oregon Rep. Wu Introduces Bills to Encourage Energy Efficient Buildings
• Climate Control Debate Heats Up In Senate
• U.S. Chamber Of Commerce Faces Revolt over Its Opposition to Global Warming Legislation
• What Ever Happened to the Ozone Layer? Is there still a hole in it?
• Snohomish County Fleet To Burn Cleaner Fuel
• From Turbines & Straw, Danish Self-Sufficiency
• Some Coffee Shops Crack Down On Free Wi-Fi
• Borders Books to Offer Free WiFi Starting Next Month
• FCC’s Broadband Plan: A Need for (Actual) Speed
• FCC: We're halfway Done with National Broadband Plan
• Verizon: Metered Broadband Is Coming
• Traffic during Belfair Sewer Construction Will Be Horrible
• Driver in Belfair Crash Jailed, Passengers Released from Hospital
• El Niño Should Mean Drier Seattle Winter, But Maybe Not
• Strange Twists in Capture of Alleged Metal Thief
• Alexander to Step Down as WA Chief Justice

WORD OF THE DAY

Pabulum • \PAB-yuh-lum\ • noun – 1: food; especially: a suspension or solution of nutrients in a state suitable for absorption *2: intellectual sustenance 3: something (as writing or speech) that is insipid, simplistic, or bland

As far as literary content is concerned, the scrawling writing efforts of the kindergarten student were considered mere pabulum by her adult relatives. Her parents, on the other hand, custom-framed the alphabetic efforts of the tot and hung the creation next to their Franklin Mint replica of the Declaration of Independence.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast & 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

Cowlitz PUD Officials Approve Rate Increase (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/09/30/area_news/doc4ac2ae28952f5543394061.txt

Lock At the Dalles Dam On Columbia River Shut Down (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/987598.html

Avista Reaches Settlement in Oregon Natural Gas Rate Request (Yahoo! Finance)
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Avista-Reaches-Settlement-in-prnews-141626221.html?x=0&.v=1

Farmers Protest Idaho Falls Power’s Planned Transmission Line (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/986926.html

East Oregonian Op/Ed - Dialogue Key to Idaho Power Boardman to Hemingway Transmission Project
http://eastoregonian.com/main.asp?SectionID=14&SubSectionID=50&ArticleID=98441

Liquefied Natural Gas Opponents Make Their Case For Recall Of Clatsop Commissioners (Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/09/lng_opponents_make_their_case.html

China Orders Crackdown On Industrial Overcapacity - new aluminum production projects are banned for three years (Associated Press)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iL02QM067VXDWSLRj1mWOPVeS5LwD9B1JCTO0

Mississippi Steel Offered Low-Cost New York Hydro-Power Deal (Business First of Buffalo)
http://buffalo.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2009/09/28/daily20.html?ana=from_rss

Big Utilities Pull Back on Coal Plant Plans (NY Times)
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/29/big-utilities-pull-back-on-coal-plant-plans/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Deal Would Remove Klamath River Dams to Aid Salmon (Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/09/deal_would_remove_klamath_rive.html

Utility Agrees To Terms for Removing Klamath Dams (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/62868162.html

Utility Agrees To Removal of 4 Klamath River Dams (Los Angeles Times)
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-klamath30-2009sep30,0,3525101.story

Landmark Agreement to Remove 4 Klamath River Dams (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/09/30/30greenwire-landmark-agreement-to-remove-4-klamath-river-d-72992.html

Could Klamath Dam Removal Deal Set Future Precedent? (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/5931-could-klamath-dam-removal-deal-set-future-precedent/

Strong Fish Returns Allow Six Eastern Washington Rivers to Open for Hatchery Steelhead (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2009967645_strong_fish_returns_allow_six.html?syndication=rss

Elwha River Turns Red for Pre-Dam Removal Test (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090930/news/309309990

Fed Stimulus Money Helping Prep Lower Elwha for Dam Removal (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.konp.com/local/5133

Shovelnose Sturgeon Proposed For Listing (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2241895~Shovelnose_sturgeon_proposed_for_listing.html?cid=rss-Montana_Headlines

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

House Dust in Washing Machines Might Be Chemically Polluting Puget Sound (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/410626_badchemicals29.html?source=rss

Colorado Governor Says Western Water Policies Must Change (Associated Press)
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/sep/29/colo-gov-western-water-policies-must-change/

Canadian Ferries To Stop Dumping Sewage Into Ocean – now, if you can just get Victoria to stop it… (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)
http://www.timescolonist.com/technology/Ferries+stop+dumping+sewage+into+ocean/2046993/story.html

Olympian Editorial - Cities on Right Path to Deal with Water Issues
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/987556.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Alternative Energy Projects Stumble on a Need for Water (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/30/business/energy-environment/30water.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Clallam County PUD Sets Annual Solar Tour (Sequim Gazette, WA)
http://www.sequimgazette.com/gazettetop/articleDetail.exm/Index/article/2009-09-30_Clallam_County_PUD_sets_annual_solar_tour/

Clean Energy on Display at Saturday's Kitsap Solar Tour (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/sep/29/clean-energy-on-display-at-saturdays-kitsap-tour/?partner=RSS

Chinese company takes over Hoku Scientific - Takeover gives Hoku money to finish building plant in Pocatello, Idaho (Pacific Business News)
http://pacific.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2009/09/28/daily21.html?ana=from_rss

San Francisco tilts toward wind power (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/29/MNAO19U159.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

As Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb Sales Fall, More Incentives Urged (NY Times)
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/28/as-cfl-sales-fall-more-incentives-urged/

Contest for Brightest Idea in Light-Bulb Makeover (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009968878_lightbulbprize30.html

Oregon Rep. Wu Introduces Bills to Encourage Energy Efficient Buildings (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/5920-rep-wu-introduces-bills-encourage-energy-efficient-buildings/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Climate Control Debate Heats Up In Senate (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE58S5X320090930?feedType=nl&feedName=ustopnewsearly

U.S. Chamber Of Commerce Faces Revolt over Its Opposition to Global Warming Legislation (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_13447658

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

What Ever Happened to the Ozone Layer? Is there still a hole in it? (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2229859/?from=rss

Snohomish County Fleet To Burn Cleaner Fuel - Vehicles will rely more on biodiesel, ethanol & electricity, & electric-vehicle charging stations (Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090929/NEWS01/709299872/-1/RSS02

From Turbines & Straw, Danish Self-Sufficiency (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/30/world/europe/30samso.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Some Coffee Shops Crack Down On Free Wi-Fi (Nat’l Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113134753&ft=1&f=2

Borders Books to Offer Free WiFi Starting Next Month (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009967745_apusborderswifi.html?syndication=rss

FCC’s Broadband Plan: A Need for (Actual) Speed (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/09/29/fccs-broadband-plan-a-need-for-actual-speed/

FCC: We're halfway Done with National Broadband Plan - It could cost between $20 & $350 billion to get job done (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/FCC-Were-Halfway-Done-With-National-Broadband-Plan-104715

Verizon: Metered Broadband Is Coming - As long as consumers are stupid enough to allow it (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Verizon-Metered-Broadband-Is-Coming-104713

GENERAL NEWS

Traffic during Belfair Sewer Construction Will Be Horrible (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://masoncountydailynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=276:traffic-during-belfair-sewer-construction-will-be-horrible&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

Driver in Belfair Crash Jailed, Passengers Released from Hospital (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/sep/29/driver-in-belfair-crash-jailed-passengers-from/?partner=RSS

El Niño Should Mean Drier Seattle Winter, But Maybe Not (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009969444_elnino30m.html

Strange Twists in Capture of Alleged Metal Thief (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/21153900/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_7am&tmi=sea_7am_1_09000109302009&ts=H

Alexander to Step Down as WA Chief Justice (Associated Press)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=218688

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

'First Clown in Space' Has Serious Goals
http://www.kirotv.com/entertainment/20688549/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_7am&tmi=sea_7am_1_09000109302009&ts=H

Police: Teen Uses Fork to Brand Friend
http://www.kirotv.com/news/21151688/detail.html

Elephants Find Recession Work Washing Cars - Car Wash Promises Not To Get Cars Clean
http://www.kirotv.com/travelgetaways/21156464/detail.html

Ailing Chicken Leaves Behind Giant Egg
http://www.kirotv.com/news/21136512/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Melanie Safka - Brand New Key
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Vr9rtQbijR8&feature=related

Tuesday, September 29, 2009

Energy News Digest for September 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)

• Groups Appeal Permit for TransAlta’s Centralia Coal Plant
• Fatal Marysville Crash Knocks Out Power
• Chelan PUD Expects another Tough Year
• Centralia Utilities Want Rental Customers to Pay Up
• Benton PUD Takes Lead by Installing 'Smart Meters'
• India Launches Probe into Power Plant Accident That Killed 41 Workers
• Southern California Edison Shuts San Onofre Reactor
• Feds Rule TVA Contractor Fired Browns Ferry Worker for Raising Concerns about Nuclear Safety
• 1,000 Jobs Lost At Uranium Enrichment Plant
• Germany Eyes Nuclear Revival
• Wholesale Power - Tri-State Sued By Five Nebraska Members Who Allege Overcharging
• PECO: Storms Caused 67% of Power Outages during Summer Season
• Editorial - Fed’s Salmon Plan As Good As It Will Get
• Op/Ed - Facing the Facts on the Future of Northwest Salmon
• Op/Ed - We Need to both Help Salmon & Produce Cleaner Energy
• Idaho officials to pay hatchery spill fine
• Steelheading Opens Tuesday On Upper Columbia
• Leaky Green River Dam Causes Flood Worries in Seattle Area
• California Water Interests Argue New State Dam Proposals
• Clatskanie Ethanol Plant Will Be Sold
• Alternate-Energy Scramble On Across West
• PacifiCorp Looks to Renewables for Future Power Needs in Idaho
• Solar Plan Ignites Some Environmental Concerns
• Companies Race to Develop Utility-Scale Power Storage
• Reminder: Amish Heater Is Still No Miracle
• Avista Launches Video Contest to Show How Every Little Bit Adds Up
• Exelon Leaves U.S. Chamber over Climate Dispute
• Learn How to Go Green at Renewable Living Fair
• Who Knew? Home-Rolled Fiber Lowers Cable Rates
• Ex-Enron Broadband Exec Gets 16 Months in Prison
• Wireless Lobbyists Step Up Defensive against Net Neutrality
• Microsoft, Google Clash over E-Mail Dominance
• Metered Broadband Is the Future: Verizon CTO
• Social Networks, Blogs Grab Bigger Share of Web
• Five Kids Hurt In Belfair Crash Weren't Wearing Seat Belts
• Mason County to Terminate Port Lease for Fairgrounds
• Recession, Seasonal Slowdown Force Mason County’s Skokomish Casino to Fold
• Feast on Fall Bounty at OysterFest
• 1.2 Million Visitors to Puyallup Fair
• Narrows League Welcomes Four
• Suspected Wedding Crashers Arrested In Indiana Theft

WORD OF THE DAY

Glaucous • \GLAW-kus\ • adjective - 1a: of a pale yellow-green color *b: of a light bluish-gray or bluish-white color 2: having a powdery or waxy coating that gives a frosted appearance and tends to rub off

It was almost like living inside “Plato’s Cave” thought Alexandra. The glaucos finish on the conference room windows almost allowed you to see what was going on inside the inner sanctum. The hazy view left her speculating about the activities in which the shadowy figures moving about were engaged.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast & 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

Groups Appeal Permit for TransAlta’s Centralia Coal Plant (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009960141_apwatransaltacentralia.html?syndication=rss

Fatal Marysville Crash Knocks Out Power (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_092809WAB-fatal-marysville-crash-SW.1c4c68348.html?rss?npc

Chelan PUD Expects another Tough Year (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2009/sep/29/chelan-pud-expects-another-tough-year/

Centralia Utilities Want Rental Customers to Pay Up (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)
http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews?Centralia-Utilities-Want-Rental-Customer=1&blockID=77618&feedID=410

Benton PUD Takes Lead by Installing 'Smart Meters' (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/yahoonews/story/725595.html

India Launches Probe into Power Plant Accident That Killed 41 Workers (Power Engineering)
http://pepei.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=6&ARTICLE_ID=369498&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss

Southern California Edison Shuts San Onofre Reactor (Los Angeles Business)
http://losangeles.bizjournals.com/losangeles/stories/2009/09/28/daily3.html?ana=from_rss

Feds Rule TVA Contractor Fired Browns Ferry Worker for Raising Concerns about Nuclear Safety (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=119279

1,000 Jobs Lost At Uranium Enrichment Plant (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009959604_apusuraniumplant.html?syndication=rss

Germany Eyes Nuclear Revival (United Press International)
http://www.upi.com/Energy_Resources/2009/09/28/Germany-eyes-nuclear-revival/UPI-14571254168521/

Wholesale Power - Tri-State Sued By Five Nebraska Members Who Allege Overcharging (Denver Business Journal)
http://denver.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2009/09/28/daily18.html?ana=from_rss

PECO: Storms Caused 67% of Power Outages during Summer Season (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=119359

FISH & WILDLIFE

News Tribune Editorial - Fed’s Salmon Plan As Good As It Will Get
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/897329.html

Oregonian Op/Ed - Facing the Facts on the Future of Northwest Salmon
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/09/facing_the_facts_on_the_future.html

Eugene Register Guard Op/Ed - We Need to both Help Salmon & Produce Cleaner Energy
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/opinion/20641308-46/story.csp#ID:20641308

Idaho officials to pay hatchery spill fine (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/986613.html

Steelheading Opens Tuesday On Upper Columbia - Fish managers encourage anglers to harvest bountiful hatchery fish (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/sep/28/steelheading-opens-tuesday-upper-columbia/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Leaky Green River Dam Causes Flood Worries in Seattle Area (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009958881_apusleakydam.html?syndication=rss

California Water Interests Argue New State Dam Proposals (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/28/MNRO19SUMN.DTL&feed=rss.news

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Clatskanie Ethanol Plant Will Be Sold (Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/09/29//area_news/doc4ac0f85d2ac07513762126.txt

Alternate-Energy Scramble On Across West (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009958817_aputrushtoalternateenergy.html?syndication=rss

PacifiCorp Looks to Renewables for Future Power Needs in Idaho (Hydro World)
http://www.hydroworld.com/index/display/news_display/s-135792122.html

Solar Plan Ignites Some Environmental Concerns (Nat’l Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112860913&ft=1&f=2

Companies Race to Develop Utility-Scale Power Storage (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/09/28/28greenwire-companies-race-to-develop-utility-scale-power-25857.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Reminder: Amish Heater Is Still No Miracle (Consumerist – Note: some comments may include PG-13 language…)
http://consumerist.com/5369400/reminder-amish-heater-is-still-no-miracle

Avista Launches Video Contest to Show How Every Little Bit Adds Up (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=119324

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Exelon Leaves U.S. Chamber over Climate Dispute (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/09/28/28greenwire-exelon-leaves-us-chamber-over-climate-dispute-74577.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Learn How to Go Green at Renewable Living Fair (Everett Herald, WA)
http://heraldnet.com/article/20090929/NEWS01/709299878

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Who Knew? Home-Rolled Fiber Lowers Cable Rates (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Who-Knew-HomeRolled-Fiber-Lowers-Cable-Rates-104703

Ex-Enron Broadband Exec Gets 16 Months in Prison (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009958648_apusenronbroadband.html?syndication=rss

Wireless Lobbyists Step Up Defensive against Net Neutrality (Washington Post)
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/posttech/2009/09/the_wireless_industry_has_been.html

Microsoft, Google Clash over E-Mail Dominance (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoft/2009960755_lacityhall29.html

Metered Broadband Is the Future: Verizon CTO (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/09/29/metered-broadband-is-the-future-verizon-cto/

Social Networks, Blogs Grab Bigger Share of Web (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/09/28/daily11.html?ana=from_rss

GENERAL NEWS

Five Kids Hurt In Belfair Crash Weren't Wearing Seat Belts (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/theblotter/2009964042_five_children_injured_in_van_c.html?syndication=rss

Mason County to Terminate Port Lease for Fairgrounds (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://masoncountydailynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=268:mason-county-to-terminate-port-lease-for-fairgrounds&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

Recession, Seasonal Slowdown Force Mason County’s Skokomish Casino to Fold (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/sep/28/recession-seasonal-slowdown-force-mason-county/?partner=RSS

Feast on Fall Bounty at OysterFest - Shelton celebration puts shucking skills to the test (Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/living/story/986424.html

1.2 Million Visitors to Puyallup Fair (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009964124_webfair29m.html?syndication=rss

Narrows League Welcomes Four - Conference increases with Thurston County additions (Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/highschoolsports/story/986346.html

Suspected Wedding Crashers Arrested In Indiana Theft (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2009964043_apusweddingcashstolen.html?syndication=rss

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

Long Island Doctor’s Swine-Flu Rap Unexpectedly Awesome
http://nymag.com/daily/intel/2009/09/long_island_doctor_brings_the.html

Man Sues Bank of America for "1,784 Billion, Trillion Dollars" (heck, why not a gazillion?)
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE58O4SC20090925?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

Doctor Charged With Stealing Patient's Rolex
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2009-09-28-rolex_N.htm?csp=34

Four-Legged Colbert Wins Dog Photo Contest
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/wayoflife/09/28/colbert.dog.wins.contest/index.html?eref=ib_us

Phone Off? Hugh Jackman Stops Broadway Show for Ringing
http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE58S02J20090929?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest

SONG OF THE DAY

Culture Club - Time (Clock of the Heart)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8tI1_KlO6xI

Monday, September 28, 2009

Energy News Digest for September 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)

• Power Deal Deadline Looms for Ferndale-Area Smelter
• Op/Ed - Tom Karier: Energy Saving Begins with Us
• Op/Ed - The New Northwest Power Plan Is Good Start, But Needs to Attack Coal Plants
• Avista Holding Public Hearings On Rate Increase
• Cowlitz PUD Moving Along on Automated Meter Installations
• Fitch Affirms Tacoma Power at 'A+'; Outlook Stable
• Mylar Balloons Caused West Bremerton Power Outage
• Idaho - A Power Plant in Keizer?
• Heating Oil Prices Cool Down As Winter Approaches
• E.P.A. Ordered to Reconsider New Mexico Tribe’s Coal Power Plant Permit
• Editorial - Bill Grant: Nuclear Power Revisited
• Delaware - Decouple: Success of Programs in California Is Cited
• Want Cheaper Electricity? Maryland Co-Op Seeks More Customers
• Florida - Glades Electric Cooperative Slashes Power Bills
• Texas - Retail Electricity Providers Often Offer Lower Rates, Survey Finds
• Virginia - Suffolk Couple Struggles to Get Electricity in Dream House
• Redden Wants BiOp Challengers' Views on Obama Adaptive Management Plan
• Editorial - Salmon Strategy Reflects Cautious Federal Efforts
• Columnist - Long History of 'Fish Fights' Likely Won't End Anytime Soon
• Big Upper Columbia Steelhead Return Prompts Expanded Hatchery Fishery
• Klamath Dam Removal Settlement Expected This Week
• Killer Whales Love to Dine on Puget Sound’s Chinook Salmon
• Bird Die-Off Slows At Idaho Reservoir
• Canada - Sea Lions at Victoria's Race Rocks Injured by Debris, Boats
• Washington State Indian Tribes: Hunters without Borders
• Op/Ed - Gregoire on Target with River Management
• Water Rights Dust-Up - Man, 93, says he was pushed
• Shipping Trash from Hawaii to Mainland to Begin
• Tour Shines On Local Solar Efforts
• Op/Ed - U.S. Must Take Lead in Renewable Energy
• China's Wind Farms Come With a Catch: Coal Plants
• Slowing Wind Farm Blades Reduces Bat Deaths
• Massachusetts - Wind Turbines Will Hit the Highway
• Floating Turbines Open Wind Potential
• Solar Power, Without All Those Panels
• Minnesota - Wood Heat, a '70s Idea, Catches Fire Again
• Report Touts Minnesota's Energy Policy as Model for Nation
• Better Building Energy Codes: It's Not Rocket Science
• LED Technology - Micron to Develop Efficient Lighting Products
• Ben & Jerry's, GE Work on Greener Freezers for US
• US Says Climate Bill Might Not Pass in Time
• Costly Carbon Cuts - Proposed Strategies Would Hurt the Most Vulnerable
• Another Utility Leaves U.S. Chamber over Climate Policy
• California - Top State Emitters of Greenhouse Gases Face Fees
• Op/Ed - On Energy, We’re Finally Walking the Walk
• Op/Ed - Health-Care Debate Too Mild For You? Wait For Climate-Change Politics
• California's 'Green' Ink-Cartridge Recycling Fails To Cut Pollution, Or Costs
• Wyoming Glass Pile Shows Recycling Challenge
• Tulalips’ Broadband Investment Cuts Costs
• Editorial - The FCC's Heavy Hand
• Huge Australian Broadband Project Begins
• 'Broadband for America': Same Lobbying Crap. New Name
• Fall Weather on the Way
• Boeing to test military airplane over Hood Canal
• Mason County United Way Campaign Under Way
• Nickels Wants To Cut 300 Jobs, Use Rainy Day Fund
• Driven to Distraction - Truckers Insist on Keeping Computers in the Cab
• Plutonium Shortage Could Stall Space Exploration

WORD OF THE DAY

Deke • \DEEK\ • verb - To fake (an opponent) out of position (as in ice hockey)

Barnard thought it was always a figure of speech. That is, until he stepped onto the court to play one-on-one with the star point guard from the local community college. It was halfway down court, Bernie thought he was doing a passable job guarding the 5’ 2” phenom, when his opponent deked left and blew by him on the right for an easy layup. A definite draft to the nether regions was the clue…as Bernie looked back to the timeline and saw his athletic supporter laying on the court.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast & 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 Deadline Looms for Ferndale-Area Smelter (Bellingham Herald, WA)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/latestheadlines/story/1086654.html

Spokesman Review Op/Ed - Tom Karier: Energy Saving Begins with Us
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/sep/27/energy-saving-begins-with-us/

Seattle Times Op/Ed - The New Northwest Power Plan Is Good Start, But Needs to Attack Coal Plants
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2009944636_guest28beres.html

Avista Holding Public Hearings On Rate Increase - Utility, state commission won’t have details on proposals (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/sep/25/avista-holding-public-hearings-rate-increase/

Cowlitz PUD Moving Along on Automated Meter Installations (Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/09/28/area_news/doc4abfb676b6411619523208.txt

Fitch Affirms Tacoma Power at 'A+'; Outlook Stable (Yahoo! Finance)
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Fitch-Affirms-Tacoma-Power-at-bw-3996793788.html?x=0&.v=1

Mylar Balloons Caused West Bremerton Power Outage (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/sep/25/power-out-much-west-bremerton/?partner=RSS

Idaho - A Power Plant in Keizer? (Keizer Times, ID)
http://www.keizertimes.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=11791

Heating Oil Prices Cool Down As Winter Approaches (Associated Press)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/896229.html

E.P.A. Ordered to Reconsider New Mexico Tribe’s Coal Power Plant Permit (Associated Press)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/science/earth/27plant.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Star Tribune Editorial - Bill Grant: Nuclear Power Revisited. The elephant in the room: there's still nowhere to put that toxic waste
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentary/61519562.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUsZ

Delaware - Decouple: Success of Programs in California Is Cited (News Journal, Wilmington, DE)
http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090928/BUSINESS/909280308/1003/business

Want Cheaper Electricity? Maryland Co-Op Seeks More Customers (Baltimore Business Journal)
http://baltimore.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2009/09/28/story7.html?ana=from_rss

Florida - Glades Electric Cooperative Slashes Power Bills (Tampa Tribune, FL)
http://www2.highlandstoday.com/content/2009/sep/27/lc-glades-electric-cooperative-slashes-power-bills/

Texas - Retail Electricity Providers Often Offer Lower Rates, Survey Finds (IstockAnalyst)
http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/3509009

Virginia - Suffolk Couple Struggles to Get Electricity in Dream House (Virginia Pilot, Hampton Roads, VA)
http://hamptonroads.com/2009/09/couple-struggles-get-electricity-their-dream-house

FISH & WILDLIFE

Redden Wants BiOp Challengers' Views on Obama Adaptive Management Plan by Oct. 2 (Columbia Basin Bulletin)
http://www.cbbulletin.com/357628.aspx

East Oregonian Editorial - Salmon Strategy Reflects Cautious Federal Efforts
http://eastoregonian.com/main.asp?SectionID=14&SubSectionID=50&ArticleID=98292

Daily News Columnist - Long History of 'Fish Fights' Likely Won't End Anytime Soon
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/09/27/focus/doc4abeae0e45881859342749.txt

Big Upper Columbia Steelhead Return Prompts Expanded Hatchery Fishery to Protect Wild Fish (Columbia Basin Bulletin)
http://www.cbbulletin.com/357626.aspx

Klamath Dam Removal Settlement Expected This Week (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/5906-klamath-dam-removal-settlement-expected-week/

Killer Whales Love to Dine on Puget Sound’s Chinook Salmon - which could further endanger their future (Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/09/post_7.html

Bird Die-Off Slows At Idaho Reservoir (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/985749.html

Canada - Sea Lions at Victoria's Race Rocks Injured by Debris, Boats (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)
http://www.timescolonist.com/technology/lions+Victoria+Race+Rocks+injured+debris+boats/2037349/story.html

Washington State Indian Tribes: Hunters without Borders (Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090927/NEWS01/709279880/-1/RSS02

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Othello Outlook Op/Ed - Gregoire on Target with River Management
http://othellooutlook.com/?p=4975

Water Rights Dust-Up - Man, 93, says he was pushed, breaking his hip in water rights confrontation (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/sep/26/water-rights-dust-up/

Shipping Trash from Hawaii to Mainland to Begin (Associated Press)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=11200911

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Tour Shines On Local Solar Efforts - Learn about energy-savvy devices at annual showcase (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/partners/theolympian/story/896030.html

SF Chronicle Op/Ed - U.S. Must Take Lead in Renewable Energy
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/26/INQH19QRKL.DTL&feed=rss.opinion

China's Wind Farms Come With a Catch: Coal Plants (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125409730711245037.html

Slowing Wind Farm Blades Reduces Bat Deaths (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/09/25/calgary-bat-deaths-alberta-wind-farms.html

Massachusetts - Wind Turbines Will Hit the Highway (Berkshire Eagle, MA)
http://www.berkshireeagle.com/ci_13424444

Floating Turbines Open Wind Potential (Cape Cod Times, MA)
http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090927/NEWS/909279988

Solar Power, Without All Those Panels (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/27/business/27novel.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Minnesota - Wood Heat, a '70s Idea, Catches Fire Again (Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN)
http://www.startribune.com/business/61529702.html?elr=KArks:DCiU1OiP:DiiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr

Report Touts Minnesota's Energy Policy as Model for Nation (St. Cloud Times, MN)
http://www.sctimes.com/article/20090927/NEWS01/109270015/1009/Report-touts-Minnesota-s-energy-policy-as-model-for-nation

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Better Building Energy Codes: It's Not Rocket Science (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/mnGreenBuildings/idUS169294379920090925

LED Technology - Micron to Develop Efficient Lighting Products (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/983723.html

Ben & Jerry's, GE Work on Greener Freezers for US (Associated Press)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ggMd2JSCQGlMS7UOtKLXBXn7trBwD9AVOQPG3

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

US Says Climate Bill Might Not Pass in Time (Associated Press)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5i7hP2g0kyiepKq9-cVavDQwIQpAAD9AVQA0O0

Costly Carbon Cuts - Proposed Strategies Would Hurt the Most Vulnerable (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/27/AR2009092701444.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns

Another Utility Leaves U.S. Chamber over Climate Policy (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/09/25/25greenwire-another-utility-leaves-us-chamber-over-climate-2910.html

California - Top State Emitters of Greenhouse Gases Face Fees (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/25/MN6O19SPHD.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

News Tribune Op/Ed - On Energy, We’re Finally Walking the Walk
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/othervoices/story/895111.html

Seattle Times Op/Ed - Health-Care Debate Too Mild For You? Wait For Climate-Change Politics
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2009944391_krugman261.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

California's 'Green' Ink-Cartridge Recycling Fails To Cut Pollution, Or Costs (Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/2212196.html

Wyoming Glass Pile Shows Recycling Challenge (Associated Press)
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/sep/28/glass-pile-shows-recycling-challenge/

TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

Tulalips’ Broadband Investment Cuts Costs - The Internet exchange could serve rural areas if the tribe gets stimulus funding (Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090928/BIZ/709289958/-1/RSS03

Washington Post Editorial - The FCC's Heavy Hand: Federal regulators should not be telling Internet service providers how to run their businesses
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/27/AR2009092703026.html?nav=rss_opinions

Huge Australian Broadband Project Begins (Tech.Blorge)
http://tech.blorge.com/Structure:%20/2009/09/27/huge-australian-broadband-project-begins/

'Broadband for America': Same Lobbying Crap. New Name - Meet the cable & phone industry’s latest Astroturf attempt (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Broadband-For-America-Same-Lobbying-Crap-New-Name-104658

GENERAL NEWS

Fall Weather on the Way (KIRO Radio, Seattle)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=218128

Boeing to test military airplane over Hood Canal (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/62210637.html

Mason County United Way Campaign Under Way (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://masoncountydailynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=248:united-way-campaign-under-way&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

Nickels Wants To Cut 300 Jobs, Use Rainy Day Fund (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/410532_budget25.html?source=rss

Driven to Distraction - Truckers Insist on Keeping Computers in the Cab (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/28/technology/28truckers.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Plutonium Shortage Could Stall Space Exploration (Nat’l Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113223613&ft=1&f=3

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

Lucy of 'Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds' fame dies
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2009958104_apeubritainbeatleslucy.html?syndication=rss

Ten Ways to Enjoy Doing Nothing (see number five)
http://www.cnn.com/2009/LIVING/wayoflife/09/21/rs.10ways.enjoy.doing.nothing/index.html

Monkey See, Monkey Sue? Firm's Name Spawns Lawsuit
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/09/25/financial/f085924D68.DTL&feed=rss.business

Employee Injured in Robbery Attempt Loses Job
http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/6080324/

SONG OF THE DAY

The Beatles - Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A7F2X3rSSCU

Friday, September 25, 2009

Energy News Digest for September 25, 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)

• PSE Natural-Gas Rates Will Fall; Power Rates Will Increase
• Northwest Power and Conservation Council to Hold Sept. 30 Hearing
• Fall Chinook Count Huge At Bonneville
• Salmon Litigants Promise Responses to Obama Plan
• Op/Ed - Wide Support for Dam Removal
• See Survey That Shows Exactly The Opposite
• Shrunken West Coast Fishing Fleet to Shrink Further
• Op/Ed - Why Feinstein Seeks Review of San Joaquin River Delta Findings
• State of Oregon Sends Fish Passage Money to Clean Up Road Runoff
• Lewis County Eagle Nest Removal Would Be a First
• School Drinking Water Contains Toxins
• Chelan PUD, State Give Solar Energy a Boost
• Avista Calls for Additional Renewable Energy
• Clean-Energy Jobs Touch off Bidding Wars between States
• Recession Causes Drop In U.S. Wind Installations
• Self-Interest - Global Wind Leaders Push Climate Legislation
• $3.1 Billion - California Sets Biggest Energy Efficiency Plan
• New Groups Revive the Debate over Causes of Climate Change
• California Clean-Air Program Designed To Boost Forests
• Carbon Disclosure Project: Con Edison Ranks Again as a Top Performer
• Environmentalists Seek to Wipe Out Plush Toilet Paper
• How Much Broadband Do We Need?
• FCC To Examine Wireless Broadband Demands
• Worker Killed At Olympia Area Cider Mill
• Smoke from Two Oregon Wildfires Reaches Into Canada
• North Mason Chamber Members Reject Proposal to Add 'Kitsap' Label
• Forbes ranks Washington State No. 2 for Business

WORD OF THE DAY

Epigone • \EPP-ih-gōne \ • noun – Follower, disciple; also: an inferior imitator

Mariana was determined to exceed the glory of the previous mail delivery person in the office. Unfortunately, her inability to organize the mail by name and location doomed her forever as a pale epigone of her predecessors.

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

PSE Natural-Gas Rates Will Fall; Power Rates Will Increase (Olympian, WA – decreased BPA subsidy)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/981803.html

Northwest Power and Conservation Council to Hold Sept. 30 Hearing (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/energy/archives/180240.asp?source=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Fall Chinook Count Huge At Bonneville (Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20090924/SPORTS04/709249926/Allen+Thomas+column++Fall+chinook+count+huge+at+Bonneville

Salmon Litigants Promise Responses to Obama Plan (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/5894-salmon-litigants-promise-responses-obama-plan/

Spokesman Review Op/Ed - Wide Support for Dam Removal
http://www.spokesman.com/letters/2009/sep/25/many-oppose-latest-columbia-snake-salmon-plan/

See Survey That Shows Exactly The Opposite (NW River Partners: Links to 7.6 MB PDF File - Only 6% cited removing dams as a factor to help salmon; 71% agree that removing the lower Snake River dams would be an extreme solution.)
http://www.nwriverpartners.org/images/pdfs/pollresultssummary4-09.pdf

Shrunken West Coast Fishing Fleet to Shrink Further (KUOW Radio, Seattle)
http://www.kuow.org/program.php?id=18473

SF Chronicle Op/Ed - Why Feinstein Seeks Review of San Joaquin River Delta Findings
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/25/EDK619SBTF.DTL&feed=rss.opinion

State of Oregon Sends Fish Passage Money to Clean Up Road Runoff (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/5895-odot-sends-fish-passage-money-clean-road-runoff/

Lewis County Eagle Nest Removal Would Be a First - Chehalis Aerie Would Be First in State to Be Taken Down Since Bird Was Removed From Endangered Species List (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/articles/2009/09/25/news//doc4abbb6b5b98d8585354053.txt

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

School Drinking Water Contains Toxins (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2009942499_apustoxicwaterschools.html?syndication=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Chelan PUD, State Give Solar Energy a Boost (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2009/sep/24/pud-state-give-solar-energy-a-boost/

Avista Calls for Additional Renewable Energy (PR NewsWire)
http://sev.prnewswire.com/oil-energy/20090924/SF8151924092009-1.html

Clean-Energy Jobs Touch off Bidding Wars between States (USA Today – is there just one winner in this, or do we all get “participation trophies?”)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/environment/2009-09-24-energy-jobs-incentives-states_N.htm

Recession Causes Drop In U.S. Wind Installations
http://pepei.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=6&ARTICLE_ID=369414&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss

Self-Interest - Global Wind Leaders Push Climate Legislation (Associated Press)
http://www.newsday.com/news/nation/global-wind-leaders-push-climate-legislation-1.1473828

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

$3.1 Billion - California Sets Biggest Energy Efficiency Plan (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE58N70520090924

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

New Groups Revive the Debate over Causes of Climate Change (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/24/AR2009092404797.html?hpid=sec-business

Carbon Sequestration: California Clean-Air Program Designed To Boost Forests (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2235238~Calif__clean_air_program_designed_to_boost_forests.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Carbon Disclosure Project: Con Edison Ranks Again as a Top Performer (Electric Energy Online – Ahem, see Public Utilities, Pacific Northwest…)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=119072

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Environmentalists Seek to Wipe Out Plush Toilet Paper - Soft Toilet Paper's Hard on the Earth, But Will We Sit for the Alternative? (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/09/23/AR2009092304711.html?wprss=rss_business

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

How Much Broadband Do We Need? (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/09/24/how-much-broadband-do-we-need/

FCC To Examine Wireless Broadband Demands (Washington Post)
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/posttech/2009/09/fcc_asks_if_enough_spectrum_fo.html

GENERAL NEWS

Worker Killed At Olympia Area Cider Mill - Police say man shot ex-girlfriend, self (Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/982247.html

Smoke from Two Oregon Wildfires Reaches Into Canada (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/5883-smoke-two-oregon-wildfires-reaches-canada/

39-30 Vote - North Mason Chamber Members Reject Proposal to Add 'Kitsap' Label (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/sep/24/north-mason-chamber-members-reject-kitsap-label/?partner=RSS

Forbes ranks Washington State No. 2 for Business (Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20090925/BIZ01/709259967/-1/BIZ

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

At 19 Pounds - Giant Baby Draws Spectators to Indonesian Hospital
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2009938511_apasindonesiagiantbaby.html?syndication=rss

Pomeranians and Put Bulls, Oh My! Judge Orders Pomeranian to Leave Town
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2009937980_apusoddpomeranianbanned.html?syndication=rss

Bob Dylan to Release Christmas Album for Charity
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2009936445_apunmusicbobdylan.html?syndication=rss

It's A Mystery: Whose $100 Bills Rained On Sunnyvale Recycling Workers?
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_13419175

Pilot Allegedly Buzzed Ex-Girlfriend's House
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/24/BABN19S3AT.DTL&feed=rss.news

SONG OF THE DAY

Eric Burdon and the Animals - Sky Pilot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_gL3HTlfW0A

Thursday, September 24, 2009

Energy News Digest for September 24, 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)

• Cowlitz PUD Officials Outline Rate Increase at Public Hearing
• Portland General Electric to Test Peak-Pricing for Electricity
• Lewis County - BPA Equipment Problem Sets Off Power Outage
• Southern Montana Electric Air Permit Hearing Less Contentious This Round
• Beartooth Electric Cooperative Sees Changes
• Natural Gas Stocks Grow As Expected
• U.S. Panel Shifts Focus to Reusing Nuclear Fuel
• Twenty Die in Chimney Collapse at Power Plant in India
• Deadline Set For Comments New NW Salmon Plan
• Editorial - Obama Hooked Into Salmon Plight
• Op/Ed - Obama Science Goes Schizophrenic on Salmon Restoration
• Nez Perce Tribe Opens Gill-Netting Season On Snake & Clearwater Rivers
• Local Rivers Produce Good Salmon Catch
• Hanford Reach Area of Columbia River Picks Up For Kings
• $2.1 Million Morse Creek Fish Crib Under Way to Preserve Young Elwha River Salmon
• Klamath Dam Removal Costs, Liabilities Studied
• State OKs Olympia Brewery Water Plan
• Idaho anglers, boaters, skiers, growers, power companies all affected by climate change
• U.S. Senate's Failed Water Amendment Roils California Alliances
• State Of Idaho Awards Loan to Blackfoot for Big Water Reservoir Project
• Howard Hanson Dam - 'We Are Trying To Fix a Hill & Not a Dam'
• Winslow-Area Sewer Customers Could See Big Rate Increase
• Canada – Report Today Says Victoria Area Municipalities Can Opt Out Of Sewage Plan
• Army Corps of Engineers' Regional Leader Departing
• Montana, Wyoming Wind Power Sought For $3B Transmission Lines
• Green Power Line to Los Angeles Hits Roadblock
• Challenges That Independent System Operators Face When Dealing With Wind Power
• Mukilteo Woodstove, Fireplace Maker Hopes Tax Credit Ignites Sales
• Oregon - Waste Management Garbage to Power Homes
• Houston a Hub for Renewable Energy?
• LED Bulbs - Is This the Light Bulb of the Future?
• Dayton, WA - Energy Use in Agriculture to be Discussed At Liberty Theater
• Stable Temps Could Chill Work On Climate Treaty
• Top Washington Businesses Silent on Their Climate Impacts
• Are Hybrid Cars Dangerously Quiet?
• Duke Energy, FPL to Switch to Hybrid, Electric Vehicles
• Swallowing Eco-Hype - Being a 'locavore' is supposed to be healthier for you
• Oregon’s Bend Broadband Unveils 25 Mbps, 60 Mbps Tiers
• Rural, Urban Areas of Ohio Seek Broadband Cash
• Oregon Smoke Clouds Inland NW Skies
• Seattle Rotary Bookkeeper Charged With 123 Counts of Theft
• Arrest Made in Burglaries at Lakes on Mason-Kitsap Line
• Oregon Environmentalists Target New Legislation

WORD OF THE DAY

Cogent • \COE-junt\ • adjective - 1: having power to compel or constrain 2*a: appealing forcibly to the mind or reason: convincing b: pertinent, relevant

Unfortunately, for the scientists in the room, their inherent, cogent abilities to persuade the government panel were overwhelmed by the politics of fear. Their opponents stalked smugly from the room, unaware of the future consequences of their actions that day. In the not too distant future, candle and oil lantern manufacturers were to make a killing….

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast & 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

Cowlitz PUD Officials Outline Rate Increase at Public Hearing (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/09/23/area_news/doc4ab9ce6faae9c671540437.txt

Portland General Electric to Test Peak-Pricing for Electricity (Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2009/09/pge_to_test_peak-pricing_for_e.html

Lewis County - BPA Equipment Problem Sets Off Power Outage (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)
http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews?BPA-Equipment-Problem-Sets-Off-Power-Out=1&blockID=76788&feedID=410

Southern Montana Electric Air Permit Hearing Less Contentious This Round – Coal plans changed to natural gas (Great Falls Tribune, MT)
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20090924/NEWS01/909240303

Beartooth Electric Cooperative Sees Changes (Billings Gazette, MT)
http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/article_12902718-a8c7-11de-bbaf-001cc4c03286.html

Natural Gas Stocks Grow As Expected (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/09/24/financial/f073332D53.DTL&feed=rss.business

U.S. Panel Shifts Focus to Reusing Nuclear Fuel (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/24/business/energy-environment/24yucca.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Twenty Die in Chimney Collapse at Power Plant in India (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/09/23/international/i090552D46.DTL&feed=rss.business

FISH & WILDLIFE

Deadline Set For Comments New NW Salmon Plan (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009930416_websalmondams24.html?syndication=rss

SF Chronicle Editorial - Obama Hooked Into Salmon Plight “…this fall's salmon counts are way up, making drastic steps a hard sell…”
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/24/EDO719RE9P.DTL&feed=rss.opinion

Crosscut Seattle Op/Ed - Obama Science Goes Schizophrenic on Salmon Restoration
http://crosscut.com/2009/09/23/animals-wildlife/19247/

Nez Perce Tribe Opens Gill-Netting Season On Snake & Clearwater Rivers (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009935515_apidgillnettingseason.html?syndication=rss

Local Rivers Produce Good Salmon Catch - Puyallup, Carbon & Nisqually are good places to fish (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/outdoors/story/889647.html

Hanford Reach Area of Columbia River Picks Up For Kings (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2009928965_hanford_reach_area_of_columbia.html?syndication=rss

$2.1 Million Morse Creek Fish Crib Under Way to Preserve Young Elwha River Salmon (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090923/NEWS/309239995

Klamath Dam Removal Costs, Liabilities Studied (Mount Shasta News, CA)
http://www.mtshastanews.com/news/x1699595587/Klamath-dam-removal-costs-liabilities-studied

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

State OKs Olympia Brewery Water Plan - Slightly less than Conservancy Board determined will be transferred to municipal control (Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/979589.html

Idaho anglers, boaters, skiers, growers, power companies all affected by climate change “…Extra water now runs through Idaho Power Co.'s dams in the spring - when the company already has more than it needs & when state reservoir operators can't capture it all for storage...” (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/environment/story/909277.html

U.S. Senate's Failed Water Amendment Roils California Alliances (Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://www.sacbee.com/capitolandcalifornia/story/2205188.html

State Of Idaho Awards Loan to Blackfoot for Big Water Reservoir Project (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/979840.html

Howard Hanson Dam - 'We Are Trying To Fix a Hill & Not a Dam' (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/60881882.html

Winslow-Area Sewer Customers Could See Big Rate Increase (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/sep/23/winslow-area-sewer-customers-could-see-big-rate/?partner=RSS

Canada – Report Today Says Victoria Area Municipalities Can Opt Out Of Sewage Plan (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Report+today+says+Victoria+area+municipalities+sewage+plan/2023444/story.html

Army Corps of Engineers' Regional Leader Departing (Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/09/army_corps_of_engineers_region.html

RENEWABLE & ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Montana, Wyoming Wind Power Sought For $3B Transmission Lines (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2232978~Montana__Wyoming_wind_power_sought_for__3B_lines.html?cid=rss-Montana_Headlines

Green Power Line to Los Angeles Hits Roadblock (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE58M03M20090923

Billings Gazette Op/Ed - Senators Should Support Clean Energy for Montana’s Future
http://billingsgazette.com/news/opinion/guest/article_f4b404ce-a8b9-11de-bded-001cc4c03286.html

Challenges That Independent System Operators Face When Dealing With Wind Power (North American Windpower)
http://www.nawindpower.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.4646

Bits o’ Biomass - Mukilteo Woodstove, Fireplace Maker Hopes Tax Credit Ignites Sales (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009930193_stoves24.html?syndication=rss

Oregon - Waste Management Garbage to Power Homes (Portland Business Journal)
http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/09/21/daily41.html?ana=from_rss

Houston a Hub for Renewable Energy? (NY Times)
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/24/houston-a-hub-for-renewable-energy/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

LED Bulbs - Is This the Light Bulb of the Future? (NY Times)
http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/09/24/is-this-the-lightbulb-of-the-future/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Dayton, WA - Energy Use in Agriculture to be Discussed At Liberty Theater (Walla Walla Union Bulletin, WA)
http://union-bulletin.com/articles/2009/09/23/local_news/090923local06xenergylecture.txt

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Stable Temps Could Chill Work On Climate Treaty (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2009922827_cooling23.html

Top Washington Businesses Silent on Their Climate Impacts (KUOW Radio, Seattle)
http://www.kuow.org/program.php?id=18466

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Are Hybrid Cars Dangerously Quiet? (Bloomberg News)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009922506_quietcars23.html

Duke Energy, FPL to Switch to Hybrid, Electric Vehicles (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/09/24/financial/f055224D35.DTL&feed=rss.business

Swallowing Eco-Hype - Being a 'locavore' is supposed to be healthier for you & better for the planet, right? Maybe not (Newsweek Magazine)
http://www.newsweek.com/id/216034?from=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Oregon’s Bend Broadband Unveils 25 Mbps, 60 Mbps Tiers (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Bend-Broadband-Unveils-25-Mbps-60-Mbps-Tiers-104604

Rural, Urban Areas of Ohio Seek Broadband Cash (SF Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/09/23/financial/f134841D51.DTL&feed=rss.business

GENERAL NEWS

Oregon Smoke Clouds Inland NW Skies (Associated Press – but is it carbon neutral?)
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/sep/24/oregon-smoke-clouds-inland-nw-skies/

Seattle Rotary Bookkeeper Charged With 123 Counts of Theft (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/410454_rotary23.html?source=rss

Arrest Made in Burglaries at Lakes on Mason-Kitsap Line (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/sep/23/arrest-made-in-burglaries-at-lakes-on-mason-line/?partner=RSS

Oregon Environmentalists Target New Legislation (Associated Press)
http://www.dailytidings.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090923/NEWS02/909239996

DIVERSIONS

Potato Farmer Holy Grail: McDonald's French Fries
http://www.kirotv.com/money/21078746/detail.html

Angry College Students Hold 'Naked Rally'
http://www.kirotv.com/education/21075078/detail.html

Chocolate Tied To Health after a Heart Attack
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_13403659

Huge Hoard of Anglo-Saxon Treasure Found
http://www.kirotv.com/money/21099185/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Hot Chocolate - Every 1's A Winner
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J-GkwIRbLw8

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

Energy News Digest for September 23, 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)

• Money Approved For More Seismic Studies at Dams
• Utah OKs Continued Disposal Of Depleted Uranium
• Oregon - Ashland May Raise Power Rates
• California - Diablo Canyon Reactor Restarted After Repairs
• Who's Looking At Natural Gas Now? Big Oil
• BC Hydro Defends $600,000 Olympic Ticket Contest
• Chelan PUD Won't Pay For Wenatchee's Riverfront Improvements
• Columbia River's Hanford Reach area opens for steelhead fishing
• State AG Sides with Ecology in Kittitas Co. Wells Dispute
• California - Opponents Sue to Stop Marin Desalination Plant
• Canada's wind industry aims high
• Are Smart Grids Too Smart?
• Analysis: Miles to Go On Long Road to Climate Deal
• California Utility Quits Alliance over Climate Change
• After a Tornado, a Kansas Town Rebuilds Green
• Debate Begins About Fuel Ratings on Electric Cars
• Washington Governor Appoints Panel to Review Broadband Requests
• Twitter's Stone Says No Ads In 2009
• Yahoo to Spend $100M in Bid for More Brand Buzz
• Obama to World: Don't Expect America to Fix It All
• Study Says Washington Ninth-Best State for Business
• Sequim Rejects Former Lacey City Manager
• Victoria Protest Group Vows to Disrupt Start of 2010 Olympic Torch Relay
• Pages of Inappropriate E-Mails Put Hanford Employee under Scrutiny

WORD OF THE DAY

Popinjay • \PAH-pin-jay\ • noun - A strutting supercilious person

The Defense Secretary of Ruritania, attending NATO exercises in Belgium, cut an impressive figure in his flamboyant dress uniform. His proclamations about troop movements and grand strategy would have been more impressive had not this bristling little popinjay commanded an army of more than three soldiers.

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

Money Approved For More Seismic Studies at Dams (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2009/sep/22/money-approved-for-more-seismic-studies-at-dams/

Utah OKs Continued Disposal Of Depleted Uranium (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2009921856_apusdepleteduranium.html?syndication=rss

Oregon - Ashland May Raise Power Rates (Mail Tribune, Medford, OR)
http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090922/NEWS07/909229998/-1/NEWSMAP

California - Diablo Canyon Reactor Restarted After Repairs (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2229962~Diablo_Canyon_reactor_restarted_after_repairs.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Who's Looking At Natural Gas Now? Big Oil (Nat’l Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113080237&ft=1&f=3

BC Hydro Defends $600,000 Olympic Ticket Contest (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/09/22/bc-hydro-olympic-tickets-lotto-icbc.html

Chelan PUD Won't Pay For Wenatchee's Riverfront Improvements (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2009/sep/22/pud-wonat-pay-for-cityas-riverfront-improvements/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Columbia River's Hanford Reach area opens for steelhead fishing, including a portion not open since 1996 (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2009920375_columbia_rivers_hanford_reach.html?syndication=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

State AG Sides with Ecology in Kittitas Co. Wells Dispute (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)
http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2009/09/22/state-ag-sides-with-ecology-in-kittitas-co-wells-dispute

California - Opponents Sue to Stop Marin Desalination Plant (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2230638~Opponents_sue_to_stop_Marin_desalination_plant.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

RENEWABLE & ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Canada's wind industry aims high (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE58L42F20090922

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Are Smart Grids Too Smart? (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/green/detail?entry_id=48115

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Analysis: Miles to Go On Long Road to Climate Deal (Associated Press)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iyr7eKs68bpTnBETOuMfypAQue3gD9ASIL7O0

California Utility Quits Alliance over Climate Change (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/business/energy-environment/23utility.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

After a Tornado, a Kansas Town Rebuilds Green (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/23/realestate/commercial/23kansas.html

Debate Begins About Fuel Ratings on Electric Cars (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/environment/2009-09-22-electric-car-fuel-ratings_N.htm

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Washington Governor Appoints Panel to Review Broadband Requests (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/09/21/daily17.html?ana=from_rss

Twitter's Stone Says No Ads In 2009 (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE58L4C520090922?feedType=nl&feedName=ustechnology

Yahoo to Spend $100M in Bid for More Brand Buzz (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009921060_apustecyahooadcampaign1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

GENERAL NEWS

Obama to World: Don't Expect America to Fix It All (Associated Press)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090923/ap_on_go_pr_wh/us_obama;_ylt=AmE9vxozU0YOW3nAYj51GEd34T0D;_ylu=X3oDMTI5OGY5c2duBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwOTIzL3VzX29iYW1hBGNwb3MDMQRwb3MDMgRzZWMDeW5fdG9wX3N0b3J5BHNsawNvYmFtYXRvd29ybGQ-

Study Says Washington Ninth-Best State for Business (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/09/21/daily21.html?ana=from_rss

Sequim Rejects Former Lacey City Manager (Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/979591.html

Victoria Protest Group Vows to Disrupt Start of 2010 Olympic Torch Relay (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Victoria+protest+group+vows+disrupt+start+2010+Olympic+torch+relay/2020212/story.html

Cautionary Tale - Pages of Inappropriate E-Mails Put Hanford Employee under Scrutiny (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=11180000

DIVERSIONS

Iran - No Curvy Mannequins in Shop Windows
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE58L3PI20090922?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

Hog Lawsuits Raising Stink In Missouri
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/09/23/financial/f000042D39.DTL&feed=rss.business

One in seven Germans wants Berlin Wall back?
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090917/od_nm/us_wall_odd;_ylt=AnIq.Xl3Y_4cRZZVRaq2lQXtiBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTJncXV1OHV2BGFzc2V0A25tLzIwMDkwOTE3L3VzX3dhbGxfb2RkBHBvcwM3BHNlYwN5bl9hcnRpY2xlX3N1bW1hcnlfbGlzdARzbGsDb25laW5zZXZlbmdl

SONG OF THE DAY

Marx Brothers - Lydia the Tattooed Lady
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n4zRe_wvJw8&feature=related