Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Energy News Digest for December 16, 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)


City of Shelton May Turn Out Lights to Save Money

Mason PUD 3 Commission Adopts 2010 Budget - No Retail Rate Increase

Clark Public Utilities Cranks Up Electricity Production to Meet Demand

Idaho Power Reports New Record for Winter Power

Clark County residents protest new BPA line

Columbian Editorial – Productive BPA Protest Rally

Daily News Op/Ed - BPA Rushed Planning of Power Line

New Substation Necessary - ‘Project Chinook’ Near Moses Lake Could Mean 200 Jobs

Chelan PUD Settles Discrimination Suit for $500,000

Clallam PUD Gets Enron Refunds

Two More Seek Appointment to Jefferson County PUD Board

BPA Seeks Senior Vice President for Power Services

Washington State Watchdog Hands Out Clean Audits to Whatcom PUD

Keizer City Councilors Interested in Power Plant Proposal

Colorado - State Regulators Delay Power Line Decision

Exxon Mobil Makes $29 Billion Bet on Natural Gas

Georgia - Burned Man Still Hospitalized after Electric Shock

Coalition Forms to Fight Klamath River Agreement

Upcoming Cowlitz Sport Smelt Season Again Could Be Slim

Bull Trout May Return to Clackamas River

Washington State Tribe Loses Ruling on Treaty Fishing Rights

10 Million Gallons of Wastewater Spills into Elliott Bay

Sewage-Soaked Madison Valley Residents Sue Seattle

Forest Service Fined $12,000 for Smoke from Yakima Area Controlled Burn

Panel Says Great Lakes Not Losing Extra Water Due to Dredging

Phasing Out Wind Farm Tax Credit Divides Oregon Groups

TV Washington Feature on Marbled Murrelet Tonight (Wednesday) at 7 PM

Oregon - Troutdale mayor seeks stimulus assistance for wind project

Wyoming Allows More Comment on Wind Recommendations

Kansas - Sunflower Wind Is Suing Turbine Blade Supplier

Contractor’s 100th Windmill Goes Up in Maine

Report Says Wind Farms Annoying But Not Harmful

L.A. Utility Shelves Plans for Solar Farm near Salton Sea

NY Energy Plan Pushes Conservation, Solar & Wind

Tampa Electric Allowed to Charge Customers Premium Prices for Solar Energy

As California Greens, Northwest Power Gains

Energy-Efficient Traffic Lights Can’t Melt Snow

‘Smart’ Device Makers: Variable Electricity Rates Needed

US Dept. of Energy DOE Wants Water Heated More Efficiently

Bellevue Family Cuts Power Consumption, Gains $7,500

Frustration Mounts in Copenhagen as Talks Stall

Police Beat Back Massed Climate Protesters

Turning Carbon into Cash

In Duluth, Carbon Offset Boosts the Holiday Cheer

Study Says Big Impact of the Plug-In Hybrid Will Be Decades Away

Soft Cheese for a Clean Planet - A foodie’s guide to planet-friendly fromage

Quincy Hums With Data Centers & Tax Dollars, Say Summit Speakers

Bend Broadband Launches Nation’s Fastest Wireless Service

Privacy concerns close Pierce County septic Web page after personal data found

F.T.C. Accuses Intel of Trying to Stifle Competition

The Europe/Microsoft Browser Battle Ends

Google & Bing Keep Rising While Yahoo Drops Again

McDonald’s to Lift Fee for Internet Access

Boeing Dreamliner Finally Takes Flight

Washington Unemployment Rate Steady at 9.2

Naveed Haq Guilty in Jewish Center

Traffic Stop Nets $1.5 Million in

Cantwell Irked With NOAA over Planned Move

Congress - Doumit Considering Run for Baird

Mason County Floral Greens


WORD OF THE DAY


Modicum • \MOD-ih-kum\ • noun - A small portion: a limited quantity

The debate over how much rum was necessary for the best hot butter rum quickly fractured the elves on Christmas Eve. The original Santa-approved recipe called for a “modicum” of the warming alcoholic liquid. One of the two camps defined that as meaning half a shot glass. The other, rosy-cheeked advocates called for “whatever feels right.”


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


City of Shelton May Turn Out Lights to Save Money (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.nwcn.com/news/washington/Shelton-may-turn-out-lights-to-save-money-79348202.html


Mason PUD 3 Commission Adopts 2010 Budget - No Retail Rate Increase Anticipated (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=645


Clark Public Utilities Cranks Up Electricity Production to Meet Demand (Columbian, Vancouver, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2009/dec/12/utility-cranks-up-electricity-production-to-meet/


Idaho Power Reports New Record for Winter Power (Associated Press)

http://www.examiner.com/a-2372953~Idaho_Power_reports_new_record_for_winter_power.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines

Clark County residents protest new BPA line (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010512708_apwabpaline.html?syndication=rss


Columbian Editorial – Productive BPA Protest Rally: Residents speak up, BPA listens & the power line discussion continues (Vancouver, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2009/dec/16/productive-rally/


Daily News Op/Ed - BPA Rushed Planning of Power Line (Longview, WA)

http://www.tdn.com/news/opinion/article_b658faf4-e7ca-11de-9381-001cc4c03286.html


New Substation Necessary - ‘Project Chinook’ Near Moses Lake Could Mean 200 Jobs (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/12/15/news/doc4b280f4e27117653301276.txt


Chelan PUD Settles Discrimination Suit for $500,000 (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2009/dec/15/chelan-pud-settles-discrimination-suit-for-500000/


Clallam PUD Gets Enron Refunds (Sequim Gazette, WA)

http://search.sequimgazette.com/news/article.exm/2009-12-16_pud_gets_enron_refunds


Two More Seek Appointment to Jefferson County PUD Board (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20091215/news/312159992


BPA Seeks Senior Vice President for Power Services (Renewable Energy World)

http://jobs.renewableenergyworld.com/careers/jobsearch/detail/jobId/21535075/viewType/rss


Washington State Watchdog Hands Out Clean Audits to Whatcom PUD, City of Blaine (Bellingham Herald, WA)

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/477/story/1205452.html


Keizer City Councilors Interested in Power Plant Proposal (Keizer Times, OR)

http://www.keizertimes.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=12128


Colorado - State Regulators Delay Power Line Decision (Pueblo Chieftain, CO)

http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2009/12/16/business/local/doc4b286d44ab502162424556.txt


Exxon Mobil Makes $29 Billion Bet on Natural Gas (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010509447_exxonxto15.html


Georgia - Burned Man Still Hospitalized after Electric Shock – Was trying to restore his disconnected electrical service (Augusta Chronicle, GA)

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/latest/lat_703985.shtml?v=1540


FISH & WILDLIFE


Coalition Forms to Fight Klamath River Agreement (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/12/coalition_forms_to_fight_klama.html


Upcoming Cowlitz Sport Smelt Season Again Could Be Slim (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews?Upcoming-Sport-Smelt-Season-Again-Could-=1&blockID=103986&feedID=410


Bull Trout May Return to Clackamas River (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/12/14/Bull_Trout_May_Return_to_Clackamas_River.htm


Washington State Tribe Loses Ruling on Treaty Fishing Rights (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/12/14/Tribe_Loses_Ruling_on_Treaty_Fishing_Rights.htm


WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT


10 Million Gallons of Wastewater Spills into Elliott Bay (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/10-million-gallons-of-wastewater-spills-into-Elliott-Bay-79334422.html


Sewage-Soaked Madison Valley Residents Sue Seattle (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/413272_madisonvalley14.html?source=pimail


Forest Service Fined $12,000 for Smoke from Yakima Area Controlled Burn (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2009/12/15/forest-service-fined-12-000-for-smoke-from-controlled-burn


Panel Says Great Lakes Not Losing Extra Water Due to Dredging (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010521073_apusgreatlakeserosion.html?syndication=rss


RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY


Phasing Out Wind Farm Tax Credit Divides Oregon Groups (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2009/12/phasing_out_wind_farm_tax_cred.html


TV Washington Feature on Marbled Murrelet Tonight (Wednesday) at 7 PM (TV Washington)

http://www.tvw.org/search/theimpact.cfm?eventtype=1&CFID=3101507&CFTOKEN=85585796&bhcp=1


Oregon - Troutdale Mayor Seeks Stimulus Assistance for Wind Project (Daily Journal of Commerce, OR)

http://djcoregon.com/news/2009/12/14/troutdale-mayor-seeks-stimulus-assistance-for-wind-project/


Wyoming Allows More Comment on Wind Recommendations (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010521641_apuswindenergywildlifewyoming.html?syndication=rss


Kansas - Sunflower Wind Is Suing Turbine Blade Supplier (Hutchinson News, KS)

http://www.hutchnews.com/Newsbriefs/wind2009-12-14T20-58-58


Contractor’s 100th Windmill Goes Up in Maine (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010521235_apmewind100thtower.html?syndication=rss


Report Says Wind Farms Annoying But Not Harmful (Vancouver Sun, BC)

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Wind+farms+annoying+harmful+Report/2344246/story.html


L.A. Utility Shelves Plans for Solar Farm Near Salton Sea – Utility is troubled by the costs of the project (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-la-solar16-2009dec16,0,2282198.story


NY Energy Plan Pushes Conservation, Solar & Wind (Associated Press)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ihzA7tP3Wfr_FRwIstgZCKlrt0NwD9CK0EJ80


Tampa Electric Allowed to Charge Customers Premium Prices for Solar Energy (St. Petersburg Times, SFL)

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/energy/tampa-electric-can-charge-customers-premium-prices-for-solar-energy-psc/1059048


CONSERVATION



As California Greens, Northwest Power Gains (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2009/12/15/energy-utilities/19443/


Energy-Efficient Traffic Lights Can’t Melt Snow (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121498684&ft=1&f=3


‘Smart’ Device Makers: Variable Electricity Rates Needed (CNET News)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10414993-54.html


US Dept. of Energy DOE Wants Water Heated More Efficiently (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/12/14/DOE_Wants_Water_Heated_More_Efficiently.htm


Bellevue Family Cuts Power Consumption, Gains $7,500 (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/video/featured-videos/Bellevue-Family-Drops-Power-Gains-7500-79357037.html


CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT


Frustration Mounts in Copenhagen as Talks Stall (Time Magzine)

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1929071_1929070_1948020,00.html


Police Beat Back Massed Climate Protesters (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/17/science/earth/17climate.html?partner=rss&emc=rss


Turning Carbon into Cash - How the carbon-offsets market is turning Wall Street traders & an African stove maker into unlikely business partners.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/226941?from=rss


In Duluth, Carbon Offset Boosts the Holiday Cheer (Duluth News Tribune, MN)

http://wcco.com/wireapnewsmn/In.Duluth.paying.2.1369106.html


BARELL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI


Study Says Big Impact of the Plug-In Hybrid Will Be Decades Away (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/15/business/15hybrid.html


Soft Cheese for a Clean Planet - A foodie’s guide to planet-friendly fromage (Slate Magazine)

http://www.slate.com/id/2237779/?from=rss


TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS


Quincy Hums With Data Centers & Tax Dollars, Say Summit Speakers (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2009/dec/14/quincy-hums-with-data-centers-and-tax-dollars-say/


Bend Broadband Launches Nation’s Fastest Wireless Service (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Bend-Broadband-Launches-Nations-Fastest-Wireless-Service-106018


Privacy concerns close Pierce County septic Web page after personal data found (News Tribune, Tacoma)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/government/story/995705.html


F.T.C. Accuses Intel of Trying to Stifle Competition (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/17/technology/companies/17chip.html?partner=rss&emc=rss


The Europe/Microsoft Browser Battle Ends (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2009/12/16/the-europemicrosoft-browser-battle-ends/


Google & Bing Keep Rising While Yahoo Drops Again (NY Times)

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/16/google-and-bing-keep-rising-while-yahoo-drops-again/?partner=rss&emc=rss


McDonald’s to Lift Fee for Internet Access (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010516210_apusmcdonaldswifi1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss


GENERAL NEWS


Boeing Dreamliner Finally Takes Flight (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/1072523.html


Washington Unemployment Rate Steady at 9.2 Percent (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010513682_apwawashjobless1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss


Naveed Haq Guilty in Jewish Center Shooting (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010513302_apusjewishcentershooting4thldwritethru.html?syndication=rss


Traffic Stop Nets $1.5 Million in Cocaine (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010516830_webcocaine15.html?syndication=rss


Cantwell Irked With NOAA over Planned Move (Puget Sound Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/12/14/daily20.html


Congress - Doumit Considering Run for Baird Seat (Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)

http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/12/15/local_news/doc4b27daa88e656970200325.txt


Mason County Floral Greens - Making the Arrangements for a World Market (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/dec/12/making-the-arrangements-for-a-world-market/?partner=RSS


ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS


Man Turns Christmas Lights Into Guitar Hero Game

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-10414561-71.html?tag=nl.e703


AP Exclusive: Tourists Enjoy White House Breakfast

http://www.kirotv.com/politics/21977124/detail.html


Sonic Manager Arrested on Charges of Cooking Meth at Restaurant

http://www.slashfood.com/2009/12/11/sonic-meth-bust/


Kelso: Bowhunter Shoots Prowler in Buttocks with Arrow

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/995710.html


SONG OF THE DAY


Harry Nilsson - Me & My Arrow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tgL4p4d1Yo