Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Energy News Digest for June 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)

- Chelan PUD to Replace Bonds with New
- Chelan PUD to Offer Billing Online By January
- Wall Street Journal Op/Ed - The New Nuclear Revolution
- Court Rules against NE States in Power Grid Suit
- Wildfire Protection – San Diego Votes against Utility's Power Shutoff Plan
- Oregon - Savage Rapids Lesson: Removing Dams No Easy Task
- Snohomish County Restoring Salmon Habitat
- Canadian Fisheries Report Find Colder Ocean Water Good for Salmon
- Alaska Biologists Eye Ocean Shifts' Effect on Salmon
- Backyard Beekeepers Could Help Save Periled Population
- NYC Beekeepers Swarm City Hall to Protest Ban
- State Officials Issue Final Report on Yakima River Basin Water Needs
- Water Seeping Through Howard Hanson Dam Is Picking Up Speed
- Carlsborg Sewer Costs Raise Residents' Concerns
- Proposal Would Raise Stormwater Utility Rates
- Get the Dulcolax - Second Boring Machine Stuck In Kingco Sewage Tunnel
- Proposed Skamania County Wind Farm Intrusion To Hikers?
- Oregon - Umatilla County to Weigh Barring Turbines from Blue Mountains
- Land Use Fuels Wind Debate
- U.S. Awards Exploratory Leases for Offshore Wind
- Experts Say Wind Energy Key to Oklahoma Economy
- Baird Becomes Maverick On Federal Energy Bill
- Solar Industry to See Faster Than Expected Growth
- Ocean Renewable Energy Has Huge Potential But Not Without Giant Hurdles
- Energy Dept Sees Renewable Energy Loan Rules Soon
- Meltdown 101: Where Are The Renewable Energy Jobs?
- Seattle's Biodiesel Producer Hoping For a Comeback
- Deep in Bedrock, Clean Energy and Quake Fears
- Vermont School District Shifts to Wood Pellets
- Editorial - Green Politicians Thrive When Economy Goes South
- Tropical Plant Shows Promise as Biomass Energy Source
- Recycling Refrigerators Saves Money and the Environment
- Microsoft Debuts Power Conservation Website
- Vote Set on House Climate Bill
- Lobbying Frenzy Begins as House Climate Bill Heads for Floor
- Farm Groups Prevail as House Climate Bill Puts USDA in Charge of Ag Offsets
- Putting A Financial Spin On Global Warming
- Pennsylvania Utilities, Industry Lining Up Behind Clean-Energy Act
- Op/Ed - Reduce Carbon Emissions Now: Focus On Vehicle Emissions
- Fighting Climate Change at Mount Rainier and Other National Parks
- Maryland - Lawmakers Get Lesson on Global Warming and the Bay
- Cable TV’s Big Worry: Taming the Web
- Japan Offers Faster Speeds, Lower Prices than US, Report Documents
- Cost-Cutting - Mason County Eliminates Director of Budget and Finance Position
- Mason County Reaps Benefits of Bidding Climate
- Tahuya Paramedic Service Hangs in Balance as Contract Runs Out
- State Supreme Court Hears Library Filter Arguments
- Seattle Restaurant Owner Paid Workers to Enter Into Sham Marriages
- Including Bauxite - China Hoarding Building Blocks to Recovery, U.S. Charges

WORD OF THE DAY

Cavalcade • \kav-ul-KAYD\ • noun – 1a: a procession of riders or carriages b: a procession of vehicles or ships 2: a dramatic sequence or procession: series

Alfred came stumbling into the room; his bumbling entrance reminded his friend Bert of a crazed kind of “Rube Golberg” machine. The arrival was nothing more than a cavalcade of tripping, pratfalls, apologies, breaking glass, and the distant sound of a screeching cat.

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

Chelan PUD to Replace Bonds with New (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090623/NEWS04/706239968

Chelan PUD to Offer Billing Online By January (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090623/NEWS04/706239950/0/SPORTS04?Chelan-PUD-to-offer-billing-online-by-January

Wall Street Journal Op/Ed - The New Nuclear Revolution. Safe fission power is our future; if regulators allow it.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124580572129645069.html

Court Rules against NE States in Power Grid Suit (Associated Press)
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/06/23/ap6578437.html

Wildfire Protection – San Diego votes against utility's power shutoff plan (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2084121~SD_supes_vote_against_utility_s_power_shutoff_plan.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

FISH & WILDLIFE

Oregon - Savage Rapids Lesson: Removing Dams No Easy Task (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/5281-savage-rapids-lesson-removing-dams-no-easy-task/

Snohomish County Restoring Salmon Habitat - Some farmers are opposed to the loss of farmland on Smith Island (Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090624/NEWS01/706249791/-1/RSS02

Canadian Fisheries Report Find Colder Ocean Water Good for Salmon (Seattle Times)
http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/reeltimenorthwest/2009/06/23/canadian_fisheries_report_foun.html

Alaska Biologists Eye Ocean Shifts' Effect on Salmon (Fairbanks News Miner)
http://newsminer.com/news/2009/jun/23/biologists-wonder-if-ocean-shifts-affect-salmon/

Backyard Beekeepers Could Help Save Periled Population (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/48963471.html

NYC Beekeepers Swarm City Hall to Protest Ban (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009374828_apusnycbeekeepersabuzz2ndldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

State Officials Issue Final Report on Yakima River Basin Water Needs (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/2009/06/23/ecology-officials-issue-final-report-on-yakima-river-basin-water-needs

Water Seeping Through Howard Hanson Dam Is Picking Up Speed (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009376179_leakingdam24m.html?syndication=rss

Carlsborg Sewer Costs Raise Residents' Concerns (Sequim Gazette)
http://www.sequimgazette.com/topstory/articleDetail.exm/Index/article/2009-06-24_Carlsborg_sewer_costs_raise_residents__concerns/

Proposal Would Raise Stormwater Utility Rates - Clean Water Act: Requires monitoring, pollution prevention (The Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/890438.html

Get the Dulcolax - Second Boring Machine Stuck In Kingco Sewage Tunnel (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009377511_apwasewagetunnel.html?syndication=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Proposed Skamania County Wind Farm Intrusion To Hikers? (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20090624/NEWS02/706249957/Proposed+wind+farm+intrusion+to+hikers

Oregon - Umatilla County to Weigh Barring Turbines from Blue Mountains (Associated Press)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/06/umatilla_county_to_weigh_barri.html

Land Use Fuels Wind Debate (Boston Herald)
http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view/20090624land_use_fuels_wind_debate/srvc=business&position=recent_bullet

U.S. Awards Exploratory Leases for Offshore Wind (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE55M6G920090623

Experts Say Wind Energy Key to Oklahoma Economy (Associated Press)
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/06/23/ap6578750.html

Baird Becomes Maverick On Federal Energy Bill; Warns It Hurts Local Biomass Effort (The Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/politicsblog/story/890263.html

Solar Industry to See Faster Than Expected Growth (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009372808_apussolarutilities.html?syndication=rss

Ocean Renewable Energy Has Huge Potential But Not Without Giant Hurdles (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/06/ocean-renewable-energy-has-huge-potential-but-not-without-giant-hurdles?cmpid=rss

Energy Dept Sees Renewable Energy Loan Rules Soon (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssTechMediaTelecomNews/idUSN236811620090623

Meltdown 101: Where Are The Renewable Energy Jobs? (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009373936_apusmeltdown101greenjobs.html?syndication=rss

Seattle's Biodiesel Producer Hoping For a Comeback (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_062309ENB_seattle-biodiesel-imperium-JM.1c3054b2.html?rss

Deep in Bedrock, Clean Energy and Quake Fears (NY Times – Honey, I broke the planet!)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/business/energy-environment/24geotherm.html?hp

Vermont School District Shifts to Wood Pellets (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/06/vermont-school-district-shifts-to-wood-pellets?cmpid=rss

Denver Post Editorial - Green Politicians Thrive When Economy Goes South
http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_12673389

Tropical Plant Shows Promise as Biomass Energy Source (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/5283-tropical-plants-shows-promise-biomass-energy-source/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Recycling Refrigerators Saves Money and the Environment (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_062409WAB-refrigerator-recycling-LJ.1104f16.html

Microsoft Debuts Power Conservation Website (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/24/AR2009062401017.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Vote Set on House Climate Bill - Cap-and-Trade Legislation Advances Despite Some Resistance (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2009/06/23/ST2009062303474.html

Lobbying Frenzy Begins as House Climate Bill Heads for Floor (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/06/23/23greenwire-lobbying-frenzy-begins-as-house-climate-bill-he-7715.html

Farm Groups Prevail as House Climate Bill Puts USDA in Charge of Ag Offsets (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/06/24/24climatewire-farm-groups-prevail-as-house-climate-bill-pu-24287.html

Putting A Financial Spin On Global Warming - Climate change is a potential environmental disaster; but it's also potentially an economic opportunity. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105834436&ft=1&f=3

Pennsylvania Utilities, Industry Lining Up Behind Clean-Energy Act (Philadelphia Business Today)
http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20090624_PhillyDeals__Pa__utilities__industry_lining_up_behind_clean-energy_act.html

Salem Statesman-Journal Op/Ed - Reduce Carbon Emissions Now: Focus On Vehicle Emissions
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20090624/OPINION/906240464/1049

Fighting Climate Change at Mount Rainier and Other National Parks (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/outdoors/2009375042_webnationalparks23.html?syndication=rss

Maryland - Lawmakers Get Lesson on Global Warming and the Bay: With House vote looming, Chesapeake serves as site for hearing (Baltimore Sun)
http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/green/bal-md.bay24jun24,0,2096064.story

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Cable TV’s Big Worry: Taming the Web (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/business/media/24pay.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Japan Offers Faster Speeds, Lower Prices than US, Report Documents (Broadband Census)
http://broadbandcensus.com/2009/06/japan-offers-faster-speeds-lower-prices-than-us-report-documents/

GENERAL NEWS

Cost-Cutting - Mason County Eliminates Director of Budget and Finance Position (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7620/reftab/1632/t/COUNTY-ELIMINATES-DIRECTOR-OF-BUDGET-AND-FINANCE-POSITION/Default.aspx

Mason County Reaps Benefits of Bidding Climate (Kmas Radio, Shelton, Wa)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7618/reftab/1632/t/COUNTY-REAPS-BENEFITS-OF-BIDDING-CLIMATE/Default.aspx

Tahuya Paramedic Service Hangs in Balance as Contract Runs Out (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/jun/23/tahuya-paramedic-service-hangs-in-balance-as-out/?partner=RSS

State Supreme Court Hears Library Filter Arguments (Associated Press)
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/jun/24/court-hears-library-filter-arguments/

Seattle Restaurant Owner Paid Workers to Enter Into Sham Marriages (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19835937/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_4pm&tmi=sea_4pm_1_06000206232009&ts=H

Including Bauxite - China Hoarding Building Blocks to Recovery, U.S. Charges (Globe and Mail, Canada)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/china-hoarding-building-blocks-to-recovery-us-charges/article1194438/

DIVERSIONS

Woman Says Money Too Fake To Be Felony - worked with counterfeiters to pass off photocopied $100 bills in the store in exchange for gift cards
http://www.kirotv.com/politics/19822595/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000106232009&ts=H

Fifteen Los Angeles Students Denied Diplomas after Protesting Planned Teacher Layoffs
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12673203

Kids' "Power Station" Sparks Radiation Alert
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE55M6ME20090623?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest

Turkey Lands in Manure Truck's Cab, Causing Crash
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090624/ap_on_fe_st/us_odd_turkey_truck_crash;_ylt=AuBZCUAD4j5RP0Y1BXPAL3XtiBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTM0NDZsOWxuBGFzc2V0Ay9hcC8yMDA5MDYyNC9hcF9vbl9mZV9zdC91c19vZGRfdHVya2V5X3RydWNrX2NyYXNoBHBvcwMxBHNlYwN5bl9oZWFkbGluZV9saXN0BHNsawN0dXJrZXlsYW5kc2k-

SONG OF THE DAY

Steve Miller Band - Take the Money and Run
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFGZufk4HFs