Friday, February 26, 2010

Energy News Digest for February 26, 2010

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)

·         Tri-Cites Leaders File Lawsuit over Closure of Yucca Mountain Nuke Facility
·         Nuclear Waste - Gregoire Says State May Weigh in on Yucca Mountain
·         Seattle Times Columnist - Obama Administration Should Not Close Yucca Mountain Unilaterally
·         Costs, Plant Age Obstacles to Nuclear Renaissance
·         Columbia Basin Herald Op/Ed - Grant PUD Rate Increase Is Shared
·         WPUDA Cited - Battle Lines Harden over New Transmission Policy for Renewables
·         Seattle City Light Says Scam Artists Targeting Utility Customers
·         California - Sempra Does Not Expect to Lose Money from Wildfires
·         Connecticut - Did ‘Unsafe’ Natural Gas Release Lead to Power Plant Explosion?
·         Kentucky - Coal-to-Gas Company Wants Utilities Required to Buy Its Electricity
·         Clean-coal project seeks help from Kentucky Lawmakers
·         Venezuela - Power Failure Interrupts Live Chavez TV Address
·         Pacific Fisheries Management Council Releases 2010 Salmon Abundance Forecasts
·         Upbeat Salmon Forecast Worries Fishermen
·         City of Olympia’s Stalled Salmon Habitat Project Spurs Suit
·         Fish from Columbia Slough Tainted With PCBs, Heavy Metals
·         Connecticut - Ten Towns Work to Preserve Salmon River Watershed
·         Mason PUD 1 Holding Hearing on Water Use Goals Tuesday Night
·         Columbian Editorial - Caring for a River
·         Spokesman Review Editorial - Water without Transparency
·         Vast Patch of Floating Plastic Waste Found in Atlantic Ocean
·         Canada - Castlegar Pulp Mill Ready to Make Green Energy
·         What You Need to Know About Appliance Rebates in WA
·         You Must Get a Home Energy Assessment
·         Can Home Insulation Become a Celebrity Like Lady Gaga?
·         End to Bickering Urged to Achieve New Climate Pact
·         Canada - Bridge Glacier to be studied for Global Warming
·         Wal-Mart Unveils Plan to Make Supply Chain Greener
·         Washington Post Op/Ed - The Green Jobs Myth
·         Two Huge Icebergs Let Loose off Antarctica’s Coast
·         Canada - The Art of Defusing the Green Protests
·         Going for the Green - How One Ski Resort Cleaned Up Its Act
·         The Wiring of Jefferson County: Coalition Seeks Funding for Broadband Network
·         UTOPIA Sees New Hope for Network via Google
·         Google: Pick Us for ‘FiberTown Initiative’
·         Palo Alto Customers Sing the Praises of Fiber
·         9 out of 10 Fake Scientists Agree: Neutrality Means Job Losses
·         Teacher Fatally Shot Outside Tacoma Elementary School
·         Sales Tax on Vehicle Trade-Ins May Return
·         Utah House OKs Eminent Domain on Federal Land

WORD OF THE DAY

Thew • \THOO\ • noun - 1a: muscular power or development b: strength, vitality *2: muscle, sinew; usually used in plural

To the stake they led him, and as they pushed him roughly against it preparatory to binding him there securely for the dance of death that would presently encircle him, Tarzan tensed his mighty thews and with a single, powerful wrench parted the loosened thongs which had secured his hands. Like thought, for quickness, he leaped forward among the warriors nearest him. A blow sent one to earth, as, growling and snarling, the beast-man leaped upon the breast of another. His fangs were buried instantly in the jugular of his adversary and then a half a hundred men had leaped upon him and borne him to earth.

-- Jungle Tales of Tarzan: “The Capture of Tarzan.” Edgar Rice Burroughs

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast & Weather Alerts

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Tri-Cites Leaders File Lawsuit over Closure of Yucca Mountain Nuke Facility (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Nuclear Waste - Gregoire Says State May Weigh in on Yucca Mountain (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Seattle Times Columnist - Obama Administration Should Not Close Yucca Mountain Unilaterally

Costs, Plant Age Obstacles to Nuclear Renaissance (Associated Press)

Columbia Basin Herald Op/Ed - Grant PUD Rate Increase Is Shared

WPUDA Cited - Battle Lines Harden over New Transmission Policy for Renewables: Quotes letter the Oregon Municipal Electric Utilities Association, the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, & the Washington Public Utility Districts Association (NY Times)

Seattle City Light Says Scam Artists Targeting Utility Customers (Seattle Times)

California - Sempra Does Not Expect to Lose Money from Wildfires - expects to recover costs through lawsuits & higher electricity rates (North County Times, Escondido, CA)

Connecticut - Did ‘Unsafe’ Natural Gas Release Lead to Power Plant Explosion? (Christian Science Monitor)

Kentucky - Coal-to-Gas Company Wants Utilities Required to Buy Its Electricity (Louisville Courier-Journal, KY)

Clean-coal project seeks help from Kentucky Lawmakers (Associated Press)

Venezuela - Power Failure Interrupts Live Chavez TV Address (Associated Press)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Pacific Fisheries Management Council Releases 2010 Salmon Abundance Forecasts (Seattle Times)

Upbeat Salmon Forecast Worries Fishermen (SF Chronicle)

City of Olympia’s Stalled Salmon Habitat Project Spurs Suit - Contractor seeks funds to complete salmon habitat work (Olympian, WA)

Fish from Columbia Slough Tainted With PCBs, Heavy Metals (The Oregonian, Portland)

Connecticut - Ten Towns Work to Preserve Salmon River Watershed (Hartford Courant, CT)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Mason PUD 1 Holding Hearing on Water Use Goals Tuesday Night (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Columbian Editorial - Caring for a River: Northwest politicians want Congress to fund increased monitoring of Columbia River

Spokesman Review Editorial - Water without Transparency: Mike Markham of Colorado has an explosive problem…His tap water catches fire

Vast Patch of Floating Plastic Waste Found in Atlantic Ocean (Finding Dulcinea)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Canada - Castlegar Pulp Mill Ready to Make Green Energy (Vancouver Sun, British Columbia)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

What You Need to Know About Appliance Rebates in WA (KING-TV, Seattle)

You Must Get a Home Energy Assessment - How a “blower door test” will save me $900 per year. (Slate Magazine – Private utility charged $75)

Can Home Insulation Become a Celebrity Like Lady Gaga? (Christian Science Monitor)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

End to Bickering Urged to Achieve New Climate Pact (Associated Press)

Canada - Bridge Glacier to be studied for Global Warming: Ice field will be photographed every 30 minutes (Vancouver Sun, British Columbia)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Wal-Mart Unveils Plan to Make Supply Chain Greener (NY Times)

Washington Post Op/Ed - The Green Jobs Myth

Two Huge Icebergs Let Loose off Antarctica’s Coast (Seattle Times)

Canada - The Art of Defusing the Green Protests (The Globe & Mail)

Going for the Green - How One Ski Resort Cleaned Up Its Act (Newsweek Magazine)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

The Wiring of Jefferson County: Coalition Seeks Funding for Broadband Network (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

UTOPIA Sees New Hope for Network via Google (Davis County Clipper, Bountiful, UT)

Google: Pick Us for ‘FiberTown Initiative’ (Holland Sentinel, MI)

Palo Alto Customers Sing the Praises of Fiber (Palo Alto Online, CA)

9 out of 10 Fake Scientists Agree: Neutrality Means Job Losses (Broadband Reports)

GENERAL NEWS

Teacher Fatally Shot Outside Tacoma Elementary School (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

Sales Tax on Vehicle Trade-Ins May Return (Olympian, WA)

Utah House OKs Eminent Domain on Federal Land (Associated Press)

DIVERSIONS

Famous Ukulele Players of History

Washington Girls’ Basketball Team Puts Religion First, Forfeits Championship Game

Batman Knocks out Superman in a New Round of “Comic Book Wars”

Man Battles Hiccups for Nearly 2 Years

SONG OF THE DAY

Neal Hefti - Batman Theme

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Energy News Digest for February 25, 2010

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)

·         Jefferson PUD Electrical Power Decision Expected in a Month
·         Jefferson PUD: No Decision Yet on Public Power Issue
·         Oregon Lawmakers Pass Restrictions on Energy Tax Credits
·         Energy NW to Sell Bonds
·         Olympian Editorial - We Must Keep Nuclear Power as Viable Option
·         Vermont Senate Votes to Close Nuclear Plant
·         Vermont - Records Show Tritium Leak Reaches State Land
·         Ruptured Pipes Create Extra Work for Contractor on Cowlitz PUD Building Expansion
·         Portland General Electric Reports 2009 Financial Results
·         Great Falls Mayor Wants More Direct Oversight of Electric City Power
·         California - Report Confirms Plane Crashed After Hitting Power Lines
·         United Kingdom – Telegraph Editorial: There’s a Blackout Coming
·         Orca Whale Kills SeaWorld Worker
·         Killer Orca Has Violent Past, Ties to Northwest
·         Feds Predict Better Year for California Salmon
·         Columbia River 2010 Fall Chinook Returns Look Good on Paper
·         Community Meeting Monday to Discuss Salmon Enhancement Project on Skokomish River
·         Editorial – California Water Plan Would Hurt State’s Salmon Fishery
·         Groups to Rally for Bull Trout Protections
·         Fishermen Rally at US Capitol for More Generous Catch Limits
·         Pacific NW Delegation Members Back $200 Million Proposal for Columbia Cleanup
·         Concerns Build Over Washington State’s Water Supplies
·         EPA Begins Yakima Valley Groundwater Sampling
·         California Water Diversion Plan ‘A Work in Progress,’ Feinstein Says
·         Report Says Contamination from Coal Ash Waste Is Worse Than EPA Says
·         Whatcom County Votes Emergency Moratorium on Wind Power
·         Oregon - Comments Sought On Wave Energy Project
·         Columbia Basin College Goes Solar
·         Idaho - Micron Clears Way for Solar Venture in Nampa
·         Idaho Plans to Install Solar Panels on Schools
·         SF Chronicle Editorial - Solar Bill Will Help California’s Energy Future
·         General Electric GE Bullish on British Columbia’s Green Power Sector
·         Michigan - Officials Largely in Favor of Biomass Plant
·         Florida - Supply of Wood to Fuel Biomass Plant Still Under Scrutiny
·         Trash Power? US Communities Use Landfills to Produce Energy
·         Deere Mulls Possible Sale of Wind Energy Business
·         BPA Announces Funding Opportunity to Help Manage Electricity Use
·         Why Climate Change Is Dead in the Senate - GOP is focused on cheap domestic energy
·         Wyoming Formation Could Hold 50 Years of CO2
·         Scientists Examine Causes for Lull in Warming
·         Study Says at Least Theoretically - Numerically Speaking - We Could Get All US Electricity from Wind Power
·         Seattle Times Op/Ed - Lawmakers Should Bring Back Construction Jobs by Spurring Data-Center Industry
·         Wenatchee World Editorial - Data Centers & the Big Refund
·         FCC Proposes $16 Billion-Plus for Public Safety Wireless Networks
·         Qwest Hits Users with New ‘Convenience Fees’
·         AT&T Faster Than Verizon, Sprint in 3G Wireless Performance Test
·         Facebook Friends Austin, But It’s Complicated
·         Allyn Bank Robbed a Second Time by the Same Guy
·         Missing Camper Found Dead in Deschutes River
·         Highway Three - SR 3 - Belfair Bypass: Alternatives Outreach
·         G.M. to Close Hummer After Sale Collapse

WORD OF THE DAY

Proscribe • \proh-SCRIBE\ • verb - 1: outlaw *2: to condemn or forbid as harmful or unlawful

Jolene joyfully traipsed across the law, unaware that she had crossed into the dog’s off-leash area of the park. For barefoot revelers, it was the only proscribed area of “Dog Bomb Park,” for obvious and unspoken reasons.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast & Weather Alerts

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Jefferson PUD Electrical Power Decision Expected in a Month (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Jefferson PUD: No Decision Yet on Public Power Issue (Port Townsend Leader, WA

Oregon Lawmakers Pass Restrictions on Energy Tax Credits - Bill plugs an estimated $100 million budget hole (Salem Statesman-Journal, OR)

New York State Paying More for Appropriations-Backed Bond Issue - Energy Northwest plans to sell about $475 million of bonds through Goldman Sachs Group (Business Week)

Olympian Editorial - We Must Keep Nuclear Power as Viable Option

Vermont Senate Votes to Close Nuclear Plant (NY Times)

Vermont - Records Show Tritium Leak Reaches State Land (Rutland Herald, VT)

Ruptured Pipes Create Extra Work for Contractor on Cowlitz PUD Building Expansion (The Daily News, Longview, WA)

Portland General Electric Reports 2009 Financial Results (Market Wire)

Great Falls Mayor Wants More Direct Oversight of Electric City Power (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

California - Report Confirms Plane Crashed After Hitting Power Lines (Associated Press)

United Kingdom – Telegraph Editorial: There’s a Blackout Coming - unless someone sees the light

FISH & WILDLIFE

Orca Whale Kills SeaWorld Worker (NY Times)

Killer Orca Has Violent Past, Ties to Northwest (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

Feds Predict Better Year for California Salmon (Associated Press)

Columbia River 2010 Fall Chinook Returns Look Good on Paper (Seattle Times)

Community Meeting Monday to Discuss Salmon Enhancement Project on Skokomish River (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Salem Statesman Journal Editorial – California Water Plan Would Hurt State’s Salmon Fishery

Groups to Rally for Bull Trout Protections (Associated Press)

Fishermen Rally at US Capitol for More Generous Catch Limits (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Pacific NW Delegation Members Back $200 Million Proposal for Columbia Cleanup (Oregon Public Radio)

Concerns Build Over Washington State’s Water Supplies (KUOW Radio, Seattle)

EPA Begins Yakima Valley Groundwater Sampling (Associated Press)

California Water Diversion Plan ‘A Work in Progress,’ Feinstein Says (Sacramento Bee, CA)

Report Says Contamination from Coal Ash Waste Is Worse Than EPA Says (Christian Science Monitor)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Whatcom County Votes Emergency Moratorium on Wind Power (Bellingham Herald, WA)

Oregon - Comments Sought On Wave Energy Project (The Umpqua Post, Reedsport, OR)

Columbia Basin College Goes Solar (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

Idaho - Micron Clears Way for Solar Venture in Nampa (Idaho Press-Tribune, Nampa, ID)

Idaho Plans to Install Solar Panels on Schools (NW Public Radio)

SF Chronicle Editorial - Solar Bill Will Help California’s Energy Future

General Electric GE Bullish on British Columbia’s Green Power Sector (Vancouver Sun, BC)

Michigan - Officials Largely in Favor of Biomass Plant (The Record-Eagle, Traverse City, MI)

Florida - Supply of Wood to Fuel Biomass Plant Still Under Scrutiny (The Gainesville Sun, FL)

Trash Power? US Communities Use Landfills to Produce Energy (USA Today)

Deere Mulls Possible Sale of Wind Energy Business (Associated Press)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

BPA Announces Funding Opportunity to Help Manage Electricity Use (Bonneville Power Administration)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Why Climate Change Is Dead in the Senate - GOP is focused on cheap domestic energy (Newsweek Magazine)

Wyoming Formation Could Hold 50 Years of CO2 (KTVQ-TV, Billings, MT)

Scientists Examine Causes for Lull in Warming (Reuters)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Study Says at Least Theoretically - Numerically Speaking - We Could Get All US Electricity from Wind Power (Investigate West)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Seattle Times Op/Ed - Lawmakers Should Bring Back Construction Jobs by Spurring Data-Center Industry

Wenatchee World Editorial - Data Centers & the Big Refund

FCC Proposes $16 Billion-Plus for Public Safety Wireless Networks (Associated Press)

Qwest Hits Users with New ‘Convenience Fees’ - ‘Pay us so you can pay us,’ insists telco (Broadband Reports)

AT&T Faster Than Verizon, Sprint in 3G Wireless Performance Test (USA Today)

Facebook Friends Austin, But It’s Complicated (GigaOM)

GENERAL NEWS

Allyn Bank Robbed a Second Time by the Same Guy (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Missing Camper Found Dead in Deschutes River (Olympian, WA)

Highway Three - SR 3 - Belfair Bypass: Alternatives Outreach (Washington State Department of Transportation)

G.M. to Close Hummer After Sale Collapses (NY Times)

DIVERSIONS

Icelandic Couple Sued Over ‘Ugly’ Kitchen in NY

Can Social Networking Invite Burglars? Site Shows How Much Personal Information Is Available Online

Customer Dubbed Poor Tipper Refused Service

Man Sues For $25,000 over Hot Dog Injury - Kansas City Royals Mascot Threw Hot Dog

140-Year-Old Hot Dog Discovered - Found encased in ice underneath restaurant

SONG OF THE DAY

Miles Davis Quartet - My Funny Valentine