Monday, June 8, 2009

Energy News Digest for June 8, 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)

- Columbia Falls Aluminum Closing at End of July
- Columbia Gorge Bucks Economic Winds, Especially in The Dalles
- New Nukes in the Northwest
- California Activists Ask Feds to Reject Nuclear Plants
- California - Victorville files suit against power plant design firm
- 'Smart Grid' To Spur Bids from Puget Sound Companies
- California - Power line plans protested in Livermore
- `Smart Grid' - Power Lines Move into Digital Age
- Why the Smart Grid Won’t Look Like the Internet Anytime Soon
- Duke Energy Reaches Settlement on Indiana Grid Upgrades
- TransAlta Donates $300,000 for Centralia HS Track
- Georgia - Plans for Coal Plant Are Still on Track despite Obstacles
- NY Mohawks to Vote On Creating Electric Utility
- Klamath Dams Removal Agreement Will Be Delayed
- From Logjam to Salmon Recovery - Alder Dam
- Idaho Petitions for More Salmon
- Chelan and Douglas PUDs to Team Up for Fish Study
- Washington State Eases Way For Condit Dam Removal
- Mason County PUD No. 1 Holding Hearing on Twanoh Heights Water System
- Proposed Kitsap County Government Policy: Don't Waste Water
- Official Says Wet Spring Boosted Aquifer Recharge
- Victoria Times Colonist Editorial - Time to Slow Sewage Express
- Herbicide Drift - Idaho Farmers Sue Federal Agency Over Lost Crops
- Stunt Lacked Merit - Clean-Air Lawsuit against WA Dairy Dropped
- California - Jury Awards Cotton Farmer $8.5M in Water Lawsuit
- Lake Mead Water Level Will Be Trigger for Pipeline
- Missouri - Table Rock Dam Gives Much Back to Local Area
- Iran's Lake Orumieh Shrinks Dramatically
- Recycling 'Gray Water' Cheaply, Safely (
- Skamania County Wind Project Will Kill Wildlife, Biologist Says
- Planned Kittitas County Wind Farm Reduces Turbines
- Plans to Harness the Ocean Excite Coastal Power Agencies
- New Backers for B.C. Wind Farm
- North Carolina - Green Energy = Higher Electricity Bills
- Paper Industry: Don't Kill Fuel Credit
- Northwest's Biofuel Boom Goes Bust
- Central Oregon Garbage Never Smelled So Sweet
- Kansas - Wind Suggested to Power Casinos
- The Winds of Change Blow through the Heartland and Beyond
- Molten Salt Is "Secret Sauce" Of New Solar Energy Technology
- Are Solar Panels Worth It?
- Buried Code - The Unexamined Federal Regulation in A House Energy Bill
- McMinnville Water & Light Offers Own Stimulus Package
- Green Homes Growing In Popularity
- Weatherization Program Aims To Provide Jobs, Save Homeowners Money
- Energy-Efficiency Programs Dimmed By Down Economy
- Stimulus Funds Spent to Keep Sun Belt Cool
- ENERGY: Clean Power Advocates Urge Conservation First
- How Much Are Electric Utilities Spending To Save a Kilowatt-Hour
- BC Hydro Asking Customers to Conserve to Power Up 2010 Winter Olympics
- 'Cap and Trade' Could Affect Montana More Than Most States
- Midwest Could Pay Big in New Energy Economy
- Qwest Backs Off Sale of Its Long-Distance Network
- Canada Mirrors U.S. Broadband Policies, Gets Same Crappy Results
- Orphaned Tweets
- Radio Giant Clear Channel Amps Up Digital Strategy
- Hiker Injured In Fall on Mount Ellinor
- Mason County Hikers Stuck In Canyon
- Severed Foot Found At Port Orchard Construction Site
- Upgraded Hood Canal Bridge: ‘Stability ... for Years to Come'
- AP Analysis Shows Recession's Impact Moderating
- Flushing out The Truth about Recycled Toilet Paper
- With "Extreme Makeover" Homes, Some Get Foreclosure Instead of Happy Ending

WORD OF THE DAY

Consecotaleophobia • \con-SECKOH-talley-oh-foe-bee-yah \ • noun – Fear of chopsticks.

The party was just breaking up for the night, the revelers going their separate ways for romance of a bite to eat. Darwin innocently wandered into a Chinese restaurant with his date where he was confronted by the business’ astounding collection of chopsticks. His unnatural bout of consecotaleophobia left him incapacitated for several minutes, after which he was just fine. Unfortunately, he was unexpectedly overcome with fear an hour later, for no apparent reason.

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

Columbia Falls Aluminum Closing at End of July “...plans to close in February, but an agreement with Bonneville Power for reduced electricity rates helped them keep the plant open longer….” (The Daily Interlake, Missoula, MT)
http://www.dailyinterlake.com/articles/2009/06/07/news/local_montana/news_8755652629_02.txt

Columbia Gorge Bucks Economic Winds, Especially in The Dalles (IStockAnalyist)
http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/3260479

New Nukes in the Northwest (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/energy/archives/170554.asp?source=rss

California Activists Ask Feds to Reject Nuclear Plants (Associated Press)
http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_12529447

California - Victorville files suit against power plant design firm (The Daily Press, Victorville, CA)
http://www.scoop.com/remote/article/include/94918950/53616c7465645f5f205d54e84f60456570e542cecc725657bffc152e6238ef3f

'Smart Grid' To Spur Bids from Puget Sound Companies (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/06/08/story7.html?ana=from_rss

California - Power line plans protested in Livermore: Vociferous residents label project a 'green oxymoron' (Modesto Bee, CA)
http://www.modbee.com/local/story/735068.html

`Smart Grid' - Power Lines Move into Digital Age (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009308196_apussmartgridabridged.html?syndication=rss

Why the Smart Grid Won’t Look Like the Internet Anytime Soon (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/06/05/why-the-smart-grid-won%E2%80%99t-look-like-the-internet-anytime-soon/

Duke Energy Reaches Settlement on Indiana Grid Upgrades (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200906081103DOWJONESDJONLINE000373_FORTUNE5.htm

TransAlta Donates $300,000 for Centralia HS Track (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/874987.html

Georgia - Plans for Coal Plant Are Still on Track despite Obstacles (Augusta Chronicle, GA)
http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/2009/06/08/met_526904.shtml

NY Mohawks to Vote On Creating Electric Utility (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009305107_apnymohawkspowervote.html?syndication=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Klamath Dams Removal Agreement Will Be Delayed (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2054844~Klamath_dams_removal_agreement_will_be_delayed.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

From Logjam to Salmon Recovery - Alder Dam: Stream restoration project uses wood debris to create nursery area for fish (The Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/874697.html

Idaho Petitions for More Salmon (Lewiston Tribune, ID)
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/jun/07/idaho-petitions-for-more-salmon/

Chelan and Douglas PUDs to Team Up for Fish Study (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090605/NEWS04/706059974/1025/rss1025

Washington State Eases Way For Condit Dam Removal - Environmental regulators say they have no serious concerns (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20090607/NEWS02/706079955/State+eases+way+for+dam+removal

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Mason County PUD No. 1 Holding Hearing on Twanoh Heights Water System (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7470/reftab/1632/Default.aspx

Proposed Kitsap County Government Policy: Don't Waste Water (Kitsap Sum, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/jun/07/proposed-kitsap-policy-dont-waste-water/?partner=RSS

Official Says Wet Spring Boosted Aquifer Recharge (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/874326.html

Victoria Times Colonist Editorial - Time to Slow Sewage Express (British Columbia)
http://www2.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/comment/story.html?id=3bb3dadd-26d5-44cf-96d9-522c9b0c9bf2&k=60307

Herbicide Drift - Idaho Farmers Sue Federal Agency Over Lost Crops (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009312641_apusfarmsceneherbicidelawsuit.html?syndication=rss

Stunt Lacked Merit - Clean-Air Lawsuit against WA Dairy Dropped (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/874287.html

California - Jury Awards Cotton Farmer $8.5M in Water Lawsuit (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2056045~Jury_awards_cotton_farmer__8_5M_in_water_lawsuit.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Lake Mead Water Level Will Be Trigger for Pipeline (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/06/06/state/n000030D16.DTL&feed=rss.business

Missouri - Table Rock Dam Gives Much Back to Local Area “…Tourism: 14,000 jobs and $1.6 billion related industries - $461 million in expenditures in 17 tourism-related sectors - saving an estimated $170 million in flood damage …” (Springfield News-Leader, MO)
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20090607/NEWS02/906070353/1007/NEWS01/Table+Rock+Dam+gives+much+back+to+local+area

Iran's Lake Orumieh Shrinks Dramatically (Press-TV)
http://www.presstv.ir/detail.aspx?id=97415&sectionid=3510208

Recycling 'Gray Water' Cheaply, Safely (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105089381&ft=1&f=3

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Skamania County Wind Project Will Kill Wildlife, Biologist Says (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20090607/NEWS02/706079966/

Planned Kittitas County Wind Farm Reduces Turbines (The Daily Record, Ellensburg, WA)
http://kvnews.com/articles/2009/06/06/news//doc4a295d8035065262545198.txt

Plans to Harness the Ocean Excite Coastal Power Agencies (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/06/07//area_news/doc4a2b55bf1dee4013835989.txt

New Backers for B.C. Wind Farm (Tri-City News, British Columbia)
http://www.bclocalnews.com/tri_city_maple_ridge/tricitynews/news/46959122.html

North Carolina - Green Energy = Higher Electricity Bills (The Times-News, Burlington, NC)
http://www.thetimesnews.com/articles/bills-25641-electricity-energy.html

Paper Industry: Don't Kill Fuel Credit - They call it "black liquor," but the dark, chemical brew is not a beverage. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105004252&ft=1&f=2

Northwest's Biofuel Boom Goes Bust (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/06/northwests_biofuel_boom_goes_b.html

Central Oregon Garbage Never Smelled So Sweet (The Bend Bulletin, OR)
http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090607/BIZ0102/906070301/1001/NEWS01&nav_category=NEWS01

Kansas - Wind Suggested to Power Casinos (Topeka Capitol-Journal, KS)
http://www.cjonline.com/news/state/2009-06-06/wind_suggested_to_power_casinos

The Winds of Change Blow through the Heartland and Beyond (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/gwmCarbonEmissions/idUS168244195720090605

Molten Salt Is "Secret Sauce" Of New Solar Energy Technology (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009312233_saltsolar08.html?syndication=rss

Are Solar Panels Worth It? (WFMY-TV, Greensborough, NC)
http://www.digtriad.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=125354&catid=57

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Buried Code - The Unexamined Federal Regulation in A House Energy Bill “…The bill would give the federal government power over local building codes…” (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/06/AR2009060601797.html?nav=rss_opinions

McMinnville Water & Light Offers Own Stimulus Package (Yamhill Valley News-Register, OR)
http://www.newsregister.com/article/40013-utility+offers+own+stimulus+package

Green Homes Growing In Popularity (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/47167092.html

Weatherization Program Aims To Provide Jobs, Save Homeowners Money (Associated Press)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090607/BIZ/706079910/-1/RSS03

Energy-Efficiency Programs Dimmed By Down Economy (Boston Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2009/06/08/story14.html?ana=from_rss

Stimulus Funds Spent to Keep Sun Belt Cool (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/08/science/earth/08weatherize.html?ref=us

ENERGY: Clean Power Advocates Urge Conservation First - Energy saving insulation, lighting and appliances urged before solar panels (North County Times, Escondido, CA)
http://www.northcountytimes.com/articles/2009/06/07/business/z91e47df5e7226bb4882575c8005a6023.txt

Energy Pulse Commentary - How much are electric utilities spending to save a kilowatt-hour through energy-efficiency programs?
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=2063

BC Hydro Asking Customers to Conserve to Power Up 2010 Winter Olympics (Associated Press – Oh, and Victoria; stop flushing your toilets for those two weeks…)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/canadianpress/article/ALeqM5iAfL7OZdDk-KdwCGOZhfmL4kndQQ

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

'Cap and Trade' Could Affect Montana More Than Most States (Great Falls Tribune, MT)
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20090607/NEWS01/906070301/+Cap+and+trade++could+affect+Montana+more+than+most+states

Midwest Could Pay Big in New Energy Economy (Chicago Public Radio)
http://www.wbez.org/Content.aspx?audioID=34660

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Qwest Backs Off Sale of Its Long-Distance Network (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/06/08/qwest-backs-off-sale-of-its-long-distance-network/

Canada Mirrors U.S. Broadband Policies, Gets Same Crappy Results - How's that 'free market' telecom utopia working out for you, eh? (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Canada-Mirrors-US-Broadband-Policies-Gets-Same-Crappy-Results-102793

Orphaned Tweets - When people sign up for Twitter, post once, then never return (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2219995/?from=rss

Radio giant Clear Channel amps up digital strategy (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/06/08/financial/f072609D48.DTL&feed=rss.business

GENERAL NEWS

Hiker Injured In Fall on Mount Ellinor (KIRO-Radio, Seattle)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=175924

Mason County Hikers Stuck In Canyon (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_060709WAB-steel-bridge-hikers-stuck-SW.5af8da26.html?rss

Severed Foot Found At Port Orchard Construction Site (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/406949_foot07.html?source=pimail

Upgraded Hood Canal Bridge: ‘Stability ... for Years to Come' (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/jun/06/upgraded-hood-canal-bridge-145safety-for-years/?partner=RSS

AP Analysis Shows Recession's Impact Moderating (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2009230192_apusstressmap.html?syndication=rss

Flushing out The Truth about Recycled Toilet Paper (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2009308821_ecoconsumer06m.html?syndication=rss

With "Extreme Makeover" Homes, Some Get Foreclosure Instead of Happy Ending (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/Americas/2009/June/With-Extreme-Makeover-Homes--Some-Get-Foreclosure-Instead-of-Happy-Ending.html

DIVERSIONS

Stephen Colbert Shaves Head for US Troops in Iraq
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12545087

Robbery Suspects' Getaway Car Runs Out Of Gas - Police Trace Abandoned SUV To Vehicle Owner -- One Of The Suspects
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/19660894/detail.html

Bear Cub Spotted With Head Stuck In Feeder
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090607/ap_on_re_us/us_bear_in_feeder;_ylt=AjKq78PF7VxN9e_wAlajYV3tiBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTJpaXJwbDg0BGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwNjA3L3VzX2JlYXJfaW5fZmVlZGVyBGNwb3MDMQRwb3MDMgRzZWMDeW5fdG9wX3N0b3J5BHNsawNiZWFyY3Vic3BvdHQ-

Modern Romeos and Juliets Can Tie Knot In Verona
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090602/od_nm/us_romeo;_ylt=AqNcMlEGGwZEs9lNXiaX1DTtiBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTJka203c201BGFzc2V0A25tLzIwMDkwNjAyL3VzX3JvbWVvBHBvcwM5BHNlYwN5bl9hcnRpY2xlX3N1bW1hcnlfbGlzdARzbGsDbW9kZXJucm9tZW9z

SONG OF THE DAY

Andre Rieu - Love Theme From Romeo & Juliet
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dHyR4ZzA2R0&feature=related