Thursday, July 29, 2010

Energy News Digest for July 29, 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
 
HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES
 
Bonneville Power Administration Balances Wind Services with Cost for Developers (Oregonian, Portland)
 
Invasive Mussels Pose Threat to Dams (Associated Press)
 
Ex-Enron CEO Skilling Seeks Release on Bail after Supreme Court Ruling (Washington Post)
 
Kittitas County Residents Have Their Say on Ecology’s Ban on Wells (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)
 
Evergreen State College Considers Wood Power - Campus to study process called biomass gasification (Olympian, WA)
 
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
 
·         Bonneville Power Administration Balances Wind Services with Cost for Developers
·         Invasive Mussels Pose Threat to Dams
·         Columbia Snake River System Shut Down to Barges Soon
·         Ex-Enron CEO Skilling Seeks Release on Bail after Supreme Court Ruling
·         Idaho - Challis Council Hears Salmon River Electric Plans
·         Group Seeks to Stall Montana Coal Railroad
·         Editorial - Clark Public Utilities Commissioner: Barnes, Lyons - Top two choices for utility commissioner
·         Illinois - Wary of ‘Smart’ Meters
·         Constellation Energy Cuts Spending on Areva Nuclear Reactor Venture
·         Iowa - Alcoa’s Davenport Works to Recall 159 Employees
·         Power & Light - Getting Iraqis & Afghans on the grid could have helped build peace
·         Key Base of Ocean Food Web Dropping Dramatically
·         New Rules & Increased Enforcement for Skokomish River as Salmon Fishing Opens Sunday
·         Klamath Farmers Will be Paid to Save Water for Fish
·         Salmon: Judge Won’t Stop Rogue River Dam Removal
·         Bald Eagle Comeback Pressures Coastal Seabirds
·         All Clallam Beaches Closed to Shellfish Harvesting
·         Wildlife Officials Seek Men Who Shot Ten Seagulls
·         Feds, Farmers Create Habitats for Migrating Birds
·         Kittitas County Residents Have Their Say on Ecology’s Ban on Wells
·         EPA Releases Data on Local Toxics
·         Pasco Dedicates New Water Treatment Plant
·         Lawsuit Filed to Stop Hawaiian Trash Bound for Washington State
·         Evergreen State College Considers Wood Power
·         Massachusetts - Fight Gears Up on Biomass
·         Study Says Pacific Northwest Poised to Lead Clean-Energy Transition
·         California’s Clean Energy Future Threatened by Federal Delays, State Officials Say
·         Editorial - California Policy Could Blow Hard: California’s energy policies now affect the Northwest in significant ways
·         Warning to Michigan Manufacturers: Nothing Easy About Getting into Wind Energy
·         Energy Subsidies - Good & Bad
·         Builders Try to Prove Green Homes Can be Affordable
·         State-Level Politics Could Threaten Western Climate Initiative
·         Scientists Say Global Warming Is Continuing
·         State of the Climate: Hottest Decade on Record
·         Snowmageddon - Washington, DC Record Snow in 2010 Not Due to Global Warming
·         Wind Drives Growing Use of Batteries
·         Mason General Hospital Named “Most Wired” Again – Thanks in Part to Public Broadband
·         Lower Costs, Better Technology Enable Portland Hospitals to Extend Telemedicine Links Across Oregon
·         White House Proposal Would Ease FBI Access to Records of Internet Activity
·         FCC: Broadband Mission Not Accomplished
·         Who is the World’s Biggest Broadband Company? Find Out
·         Washington Special Session More & More Unlikely
·         35th District Democrat Draws Opposition - Tim Sheldon Facing Write-In Foe
·         Sixth & Final Initiative Added to Washington State’s November Ballot
·         Education - Why Washington Stumbled in “Race to the Top”
·         Bond Sale a Plus for State - Results: estimated $3.7 million savings
·         Washington State Residents Paid $105 in Taxes per $1,000 in Income
·         Fife to Pay $23,500 for Help in Finding Next City Manager
·         Are Public Pension Funds Sustainable?
·         Fire at Skokomish Tribal Police Department under Investigation
·         Missing West Seattle Sailor’s Body Recovered in Afghanistan
·         Belfair Company Fined for Mining Mistake
·         Engineer Raises Safety Concerns at Hanford
·         Washington State’s Move to Restrict Pain Killers Puts Onus on Doctors
·         Unusual bunch of foes to postal rate increase unites as Affordable Mail Alliance
·         Doomsday Shelters Making a Comeback
 
WORD OF THE DAY
 
Averse • \uh-VERS\ • adjective - Having an active feeling of repugnance or distaste
 
Adverse • \add-VERS\ • adjective - 1: acting against or in a contrary direction: hostile 2a: opposed to one’s interests
 
“Here ya go sonny,” blared the beefy barkeep, offering a thick slice of haggis to Dilton, a diminutive customer in the dark, smoky Scottish pub. “I must choke back my aversion to this local dish or face the consequences,” he said to himself through clenched teeth. Even so, his reaction to the baked internal organs of the ancient sheep was not the expected adverse expulsion of his own stomach contents…to the contrary, he actually liked it.
 
SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS
 
 
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
 
Bonneville Power Administration Balances Wind Services with Cost for Developers (Oregonian, Portland)
 
Invasive Mussels Pose Threat to Dams (Associated Press)
 
Columbia Snake River System Shut Down to Barges Soon (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
 
Ex-Enron CEO Skilling Seeks Release on Bail after Supreme Court Ruling (Washington Post)
 
Idaho - Challis Council Hears Salmon River Electric Plans (Challis Messenger, ID)
 
Group Seeks to Stall Montana Coal Railroad (Associated Press)
 
Editorial - Clark Public Utilities Commissioner: Barnes, Lyons - Top two choices for utility commissioner (Vancouver Columbian, WA)
 
Illinois - Wary of ‘Smart’ Meters: as ComEd launches its pilot program, users elsewhere raise accuracy, health issues (Chicago Tribune, IL)
http://www.suntimes.com/business/2546014,CST-NWS-SMART29.article
 
Constellation Energy Cuts Spending on Areva Nuclear Reactor Venture (News & Advance, Lynchburg, VA)
 
Iowa - Alcoa’s Davenport Works to Recall 159 Employees (Quad City Times, Davenport, IA)
 
Power & Light - Getting Iraqis & Afghans on the grid could have helped build peace, but the Americans couldn’t quite deliver (Newsweek Magazine)
 
FISH & WILDLIFE
 
Key Base of Ocean Food Web Dropping Dramatically (Associated Press)
 
New Rules & Increased Enforcement for Skokomish River as Salmon Fishing Opens Sunday (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
 
Klamath Farmers Will be Paid to Save Water for Fish (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
 
Salmon: Judge Won’t Stop Rogue River Dam Removal (Associated Press)
 
Bald Eagle Comeback Pressures Coastal Seabirds (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
 
All Clallam Beaches Closed to Shellfish Harvesting (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)
 
Wildlife Officials Seek Men Who Shot Ten Seagulls (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
 
Feds, Farmers Create Habitats for Migrating Birds (Associated Press)
 
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
 
Kittitas County Residents Have Their Say on Ecology’s Ban on Wells (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)
 
EPA Releases Data on Local Toxics (Associated Press)
 
Pasco Dedicates New Water Treatment Plant (Tri-City Herald, WA)
 
Lawsuit Filed to Stop Hawaiian Trash Bound for Washington State (Associated Press)
 
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
 
Evergreen State College Considers Wood Power - Campus to study process called biomass gasification (Olympian, WA)
 
Massachusetts - Fight Gears Up on Biomass (NY Times)
 
Study Says Pacific Northwest Poised to Lead Clean-Energy Transition “…well suited to make the switch to clean-energy sources…it has a relatively small part of its energy generation portfolio coming from coal & nuclear power…” Note: wouldn’t that mean that we’re already there? (Sustainable Oregon)
 
California’s Clean Energy Future Threatened by Federal Delays, State Officials Say (Los Angeles Times, CA)
 
Editorial - California Policy Could Blow Hard: California’s energy policies now affect the Northwest in significant ways, & the impacts, somehow, will trickle down to ratepayers (Wenatchee World, WA)
 
Warning to Michigan Manufacturers: Nothing Easy About Getting into Wind Energy (Grand Rapids Press, MI)
 
Energy Subsidies - Good & Bad (NY Times)
 
CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY
 
Builders Try to Prove Green Homes Can be Affordable (USA Today)
 
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
 
State-Level Politics Could Threaten Western Climate Initiative (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
 
Scientists Say Global Warming Is Continuing (Associated Press)
 
State of the Climate: Hottest Decade on Record (NY Times)
 
Snowmageddon - Washington, DC Record Snow in 2010 Not Due to Global Warming (Washington Post)
 
BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI
 
Wind Drives Growing Use of Batteries (NY Times)
 
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
 
Mason General Hospital Named “Most Wired” Again - Thanks to Public Broadband (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
 
Lower Costs, Better Technology Enable Portland Hospitals to Extend Telemedicine Links Across Oregon (Oregonian, Portland)
 
White House Proposal Would Ease FBI Access to Records of Internet Activity (Washington Post)
 
FCC: Broadband Mission Not Accomplished - And it won’t be until the FCC addresses competition (Broadband Reports)
 
Who is the World’s Biggest Broadband Company? Find Out (GigaOM)
 
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
 
Washington Special Session More & More Unlikely (Northwest Public Radio)
 
35th District Democrat Draws Opposition - Tim Sheldon Facing Write-In Foe (Olympian, WA)
 
Sixth & Final Initiative Added to Washington State’s November Ballot (Associated Press)
 
Education - Why Washington Stumbled in “Race to the Top” (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
 
Bond Sale a Plus for State - Results of latest sale provide rare bit of good news: estimated $3.7 million savings (Olympian, WA)
 
Washington State Residents Paid $105 in Taxes per $1,000 in Income (Puget Sound Business Journal)
 
Fife to Pay $23,500 for Help in Finding Next City Manager (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
 
Are Public Pension Funds Sustainable? (Nat’l Public Radio)
 
GENERAL NEWS
 
Fire at Skokomish Tribal Police Department under Investigation (KING-TV, Seattle)
 
Missing West Seattle Sailor’s Body Recovered in Afghanistan (KING-TV, Seattle)
 
Belfair Company Fined for Mining Mistake (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
 
Engineer Raises Safety Concerns at Hanford (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
 
Washington State’s Move to Restrict Pain Killers Puts Onus on Doctors (NY Times)
 
Unusual bunch of foes to postal rate increase unites as Affordable Mail Alliance (Washington Post)
 
Doomsday Shelters Making a Comeback (USA Today)
 
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
 
Detectives Investigate ‘Extreme Domestic Dispute’
 
Cats That Look Like Hitler Bemuse, Annoy - Website Popularity Spikes After Mentions by Colbert
 
Chihuahua Takes on Black Bear
 
Competitive Lock picking Growing in US Popularity
 
SONG OF THE DAY
 
Steely Dan - I.G.Y

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Energy News Digest for July 28, 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

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

US Senate Introduces Pared-Down Energy Bill (USA Today)

Clark Public Utilities Electric Rate Hike May be Coming Down Line (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Columbia River Summer Steelhead Catches Nearing Record Size for July (Seattle Times)

US Wind Power Installations Drop in First Half of 2010 (Reuters)

Georgia - Feces-Burning Power Plant Riles Neighbors (WYFF, Greenville, SC)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         US Senate Introduces Pared-Down Energy Bill
·         Senate Energy Bill Draws Widespread Criticism
·         Stripped Down Energy Bill Leaves out ‘Cap & Trade’
·         Energy Bill, Focusing on Conservation, Can’t Shake Calls for Renewable Energy Standard
·         Clark Public Utilities Electric Rate Hike May be Coming Down Line
·         Grant PUD Cuts $28 Million
·         Montana - Mission Valley Power Rates to Increase
·         Grant PUD Pursues $266,000 Tax Refund
·         Clatskanie PUD, One of the Lowest-Cost Electricity Providers in the World, Focuses on Smart Grids & Sustainable Solutions
·         Contractor for Mason PUD 3 Operations Center Recognized for Safety
·         Editorial - There’s Opportunity for the Chelan County PUD
·         New Mexico - Socorro Electric Cooperative Trustees Re-Think Lawsuit against Members
·         Indiana - US Accuses Electricity Co-op of Polluting
·         Smart Grid Technology Vulnerable to Attack, Experts Say
·         Bond Market Players Unruffled by BAB Exclusion
·         Canada - Toronto Hydro Utilities Warn of Price Shock
·         United Kingdom - Energy Revolution Could Put Bills Up by a Third
·         Columbia River Summer Steelhead Catches Nearing Record Size for July
·         Op/Ed - Tribes & Salmon: The Tradition Continues
·         With Some BPA Help - Western Pond Turtles Return to the Columbia River Gorge
·         Environmentalists, Loggers Push New Wilderness Deal in Northeast Washington
·         Entiat Seeks Funding for New Park
·         US Wind Power Installations Drop in First Half of 2010
·         A Rough Year for Wind
·         Hawaii - Kahuku Wind Farm Lands $117 Million Loan Guarantee
·         Op/Ed - Massachusetts: The Great Wind Power Bait & Switch
·         Market Value of Biomass Electricity to Reach $53 Billion by 2020
·         Time to Scale Back Renewable Energy Incentives for the Wealthy?
·         Congress Could Spur the Southeast’s Renewable Energy Use, Industry Says
·         New Hampshire Utility Seeks Approval of Wood Plant Power Deal
·         Georgia - Feces-Burning Power Plant Riles Neighbors
·         Analysis: Canada Clean Power Push Faces Labor Shortage
·         United Kingdom - Deal Is Close for Southampton Biomass Energy Plant
·         Solar Panels Vs. Historic Districts: a Conflict We Need to Resolve
·         Arizona Utilities Told to Help People Cut Energy Use
·         Western Climate Initiative Offers Cap & Trade
·         Don’t Forget Reliability in Climate Change: N. American Electric Reliability Corporation
·         Science Matters: Climate Change & Water Are Inextricably Linked
·         Chevy Volt Will Cost $41,000 before Tax Credits
·         Washington One of Nissan Electric Car First Markets
·         Akamai: US 16th in Broadband Speed - Average US Connection Speed is 4.7 Mbps
·         Corporate America, You’re Not Ready for Internal Clouds!
·         Healthiest State for Kids - New Hampshire, Study Says: Washington 11th, Oregon 18th
·         Baseball - Portland Beavers May Head to California

WORD OF THE DAY (Hump-Day Haiku)

Poetaster • \POE-uh-tass-ter\ • noun - An inferior poet

Orange has no rhyme
Poetaster tries ever
His words are like poop

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

US Senate Introduces Pared-Down Energy Bill (USA Today)

Senate Energy Bill Draws Widespread Criticism (CNBC)

Stripped Down Energy Bill Leaves Out ‘Cap & Trade’ (Christian Science Monitor)

Energy Bill, Focusing on Conservation, Can’t Shake Calls for Renewable Energy Standard (NY Times)

Clark Public Utilities Electric Rate Hike May be Coming Down Line (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Grant PUD Cuts $28 Million (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

Montana - Mission Valley Power Rates to Increase (KAJ-TV, Kalispell, MT)

Grant PUD Pursues $266,000 Tax Refund (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

Clatskanie PUD, One of the Lowest-Cost Electricity Providers in the World, Focuses on Smart Grids & Sustainable Solutions (Energy Digital)

Contractor for Mason PUD 3 Operations Center Recognized for Safety (Mason County PUD No. 3)

Editorial - There’s Opportunity for the Chelan County PUD (Wenatchee World, WA)

New Mexico - Socorro Electric Cooperative Trustees Re-Think Lawsuit against Members (El Defensor Chieftain, Socorro, NM)

Indiana - US Accuses Electricity Co-op of Polluting (Courthouse News Service)

Smart Grid Technology Vulnerable to Attack, Experts Say - Utility companies scramble to install technology without heeding security warnings (McClatchy News Service)

Bond Market Players Unruffled by BAB Exclusion (The Bond Buyer)

Canada - Toronto Hydro Utilities Warn of Price Shock (Toronto Star, Ontario)

United Kingdom - Energy Revolution Could Put Bills Up by a Third (The Telegraph, UK)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Columbia River Summer Steelhead Catches Nearing Record Size for July (Seattle Times)

Op/Ed - Tribes & Salmon: The Tradition Continues (The Oregonian, Portland)

With Some BPA Help - Western Pond Turtles Return to the Columbia River Gorge (The Oregonian, Portland)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Environmentalists, Loggers Push New Wilderness Deal in Northeast Washington (Seattle Times)

Entiat Seeks Funding for New Park - Chelan PUD plans a $6.8 million renovation at Entiat Park, along with a $1.4 million trail (Wenatchee World, WA)

California - Marin Board Approves Own Desalination Measure (Associated Press)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

US Wind Power Installations Drop in First Half of 2010 (Reuters)

A Rough Year for Wind (Renewable Energy World)

Hawaii - Kahuku Wind Farm Lands $117 Million Loan Guarantee (Honolulu Star-Advertiser, HI)

Op/Ed - Massachusetts: The Great Wind Power Bait & Switch (Boston Glove, MA)

Market Value of Biomass Electricity to Reach $53 Billion by 2020 (Sustainable Business)

Time to Scale Back Renewable Energy Incentives for the Wealthy? (Renewable Energy World)

Congress Could Spur the Southeast’s Renewable Energy Use, Industry Says (Washington Independent)

New Hampshire Utility Seeks Approval of Wood Plant Power Deal (Associated Press)

Georgia - Feces-Burning Power Plant Riles Neighbors (WYFF, Greenville, SC)

Analysis: Canada Clean Power Push Faces Labor Shortage (Reuters)

United Kingdom - Deal Is Close for Southampton Biomass Energy Plant (The Daily Echo, Southampton, UK)

Solar Panels Vs. Historic Districts: A Conflict We Need to Resolve (Scientific American)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Arizona Utilities Told to Help People Cut Energy Use (Arizona Republic, Phoenix)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Western Climate Initiative Offers Cap & Trade (Associated Press)

Don’t Forget Reliability in Climate Change: N. American Electric Reliability Corporation (Financial Times of London, UK)

Science Matters: Climate Change & Water Are Inextricably Linked (Winnipeg Free Press, Manitoba)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Chevy Volt Will Cost $41,000 before Tax Credits (USA Today)

Washington One of Nissan Electric Car First Markets (Puget Sound Business Journal)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Akamai: US 16th in Broadband Speed - Average US Connection Speed is 4.7 Mbps (Broadband Reports)

Corporate America, You’re Not Ready for Internal Clouds! (GigaOM)

GENERAL NEWS

Healthiest State for Kids - New Hampshire, Study Says: Washington 11th, Oregon 18th (Associated Press)

Baseball - Portland Beavers May Head to California (Portland Business Journal)

DIVERSIONS

Garage Sale Find Called Pricey Ansel Adams Lot - California man paid $45 for glass negatives which may fetch $200 million

Daughter Urges Oklahoma Voters to Not Vote for Father

Teen Cheerleader Tackles Theft Suspect - 16-Year-Old in Strapless Dress Slams Man to Ground

Pot Reviewer Gets Paid to Get High - Denver Man One of Country’s First Medical Marijuana Critics

SONG OF THE DAY

Ringo Starr - Photograph