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

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

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

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/02/25/916850/hanford-tri-cites-leaders-file.html

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

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/02/25/916430/gregoire-says-state-may-weigh.html

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

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2011189667_kate26.html?syndication=rss

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

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=9948057

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

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2010/02/25/editorials/doc4b870804acb87676621253.txt

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)

http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2010/02/26/26climatewire-battle-lines-harden-over-new-transmission-po-77427.html

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

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/theblotter/2011184649_seattle_city_light_says_scam_a.html?syndication=rss

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

http://www.nctimes.com/business/article_85c160f6-6787-5ee6-845d-c0fa02e586fb.html

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

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0225/Did-unsafe-natural-gas-release-lead-to-power-plant-explosion

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

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20100225/NEWS0101/2250352/Coal-to-gas+company+wants+utilities+required+to+buy+its+electricity

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

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Cleancoal-project-seeks-help-apf-4073764692.html?x=0&.v=1

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

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/25/AR2010022504613.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

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

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2011189048_pacific_fisheries_management_c.html

Upbeat Salmon Forecast Worries Fishermen (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/02/26/MNB81C6TIM.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

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

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/02/26/1152633/stalled-project-spurs-suit.html

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

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2010/02/warning_fish_from_columbia_slo.html

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

http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-salmon-river-nature-0226.artfeb26,0,7962312.column

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

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

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/1457-pud-1-holding-hearing-on-water-use-goals-tuesday-night

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

http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/feb/26/caring-for-a-river/

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

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/feb/26/water-without-transparency/

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

http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/environment/2010/feb/Vast-Patch-of-Floating-Plastic-Waste-Found-in-Atlantic-Ocean.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

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

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=a7d9481d-4442-4889-84c9-a78838791cfc&k=38040&utm_source=AllTodaysNewsRSS

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

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

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Appliance-Rebates--What-are-the-rules--85432532.html

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

http://www.slate.com/id/2245899/?from=rss

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

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Eco-renovation/2010/0225/Can-home-insulation-become-a-celebrity-like-Lady-Gaga

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

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

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011192529_apclimateindonesia.html?syndication=rss

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

http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Bridge+Glacier+studied+global+warming/2615375/story.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

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

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/26/business/energy-environment/26walmart.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Washington Post Op/Ed - The Green Jobs Myth

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/25/AR2010022503945.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns

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

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011192405_apasaustraliaicebergs.html?syndication=rss

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

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/industry-news/energy-and-resources/the-art-of-defusing-the-green-protests/article1481763/

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

http://www.newsweek.com/id/234147?from=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

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

http://www.ptleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&SubSectionID=55&ArticleID=26385

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

http://www.clippertoday.com/view/full_story/6467332/article-UTOPIA-sees-new-hope-for-network-via-Google?instance=secondary_stories_left_column

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

http://www.hollandsentinel.com/news/x593978204/Google-Pick-us-for-FiberTown-Initiative

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

http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/show_story.php?id=15881

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

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/9-Out-Of-10-Fake-Scientists-Agree-Neutrality-Means-Job-Losses-107096

GENERAL NEWS

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

http://www.kirotv.com/news/22681951/detail.html

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

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/02/25/1151147/sales-tax-on-vehicle-trade-ins.html

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

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011189858_apusutahfederallands.html?syndication=rss

DIVERSIONS

Famous Ukulele Players of History

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/02/25/famous-ukulele-players-of_n_477249.html

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

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/85451677.html

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

http://www.csmonitor.com/Books/chapter-and-verse/2010/0226/Batman-knocks-out-Superman-in-a-new-round-of-comic-book-wars

Man Battles Hiccups for Nearly 2 Years

http://www.kirotv.com/health/22675167/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Neal Hefti - Batman Theme

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNtQrzy0rio