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.
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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES
TransAlta Centralia Rolls Out PR Campaign Amid Environmental Scrutiny (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)
News Release - BPA & Customers Agree to Keep Transmission Rates Flat (Bonneville Power Administration)
Avista Fined $60,000 over Energy Assistance Procedures - Utility faulted for using aid on past-due balances (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)
Transient Orcas Hunting Seals in Puget Sound (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
California Regulators OK Major Greenhouse Gas Rules (Associated Press)
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
· TransAlta Centralia Rolls Out PR Campaign Amid Environmental Scrutiny
· News Release - BPA & Customers Agree to Keep Transmission Rates Flat
· California ISO Lowers Its Price to Manage Electric Grid
· Avista Fined $60,000 over Energy Assistance Procedures - Utility faulted for using aid on past-due balances
· Grant County Electric Rates to Increase by Six Percent
· New Puget Sound Energy Powerhouse Will Aid Baker River Salmon, Boost Hydropower
· Second Dog Suffered Shock on Holiday; This One Wasn’t Fatal
· A Divided Oregon Senate Confirms Bill Bradbury for Northwest Power & Conservation Council
· Smart Meters - Pacific Gas & Electric Documents Reveal That Snooping Executive Widely Shared His Findings
· Iowa Nuclear Power Plant Gets 20-Year Extension
· Kansas Coal-Fired Power Plant Gets Its Permit
· Why Investors Haven’t Warmed to Natural Gas
· Transient Orcas Hunting Seals in Puget Sound
· Farmed Salmon May Not Harm Wild Salmon
· Sport Clam Season to Open at Belfair State Park in Mason County
· FERC Signs Off on Condit Dam Removal
· North Carolina - Duke Energy Must Scale another Roadblock to Catawba Hydro License
· Bring on the Birds: A Holiday Count Begins
· Future of Yakima River Basin Is at Stake
· Editorial - Vandals Don’t Help with Cause Opposing Biomass Projects
· Federal Officials Designate Public Lands for Solar Projects
· Federal Solar Energy Plans Skip Oregon
· Sequim Pursuing Solar Requirements
· Turbines: 13 Million Homes Have the Capacity
· California Approves Reverse Auction Renewable Energy Market
· Wind Energy Gets Boost as Feds OK System to Pay for New Lines
· Extension of Renewable Energy Incentive Promotes Clean Energy Development & Job Growth
· Spell-Check Would be Good Here - Residents Oppose Proposed Gasophication Plant
· California - State Regulators Award Utilities $62.7 Million in Conservation Bonuses
· California Regulators OK Major Greenhouse Gas Rules
· Green Groups Look to Defend Turf - Legislature: Budget Threatens Agenda
· The Charging Conundrum: How to Feed Electric Cars?
· Congress: Hybrid Cars Should be Seen AND Heard
· Reindeer Better Watch Out for Rooftop Solar Installations
· Clearwire’s Cash Shortfall May Prompt Retail Retreat
· Yahoo May Shut Down Some Services
· Congress Sends $801 Billion Tax Cut Bill to Obama
· Oregon’s US Senator Ron Wyden Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer
· Adam Smith Elected Top Democrat on House Armed Services Committee
· Jaime Herrera to Sit on Two US House Committees
· Washington State Panel Says It Can’t Cut Officials’ Salaries
· Mayoral Recall Effort Splits Coulee City
· High Winds to Hit Eastern Puget Sound Area Friday Night
· Snow in Saturday’s Forecast for Some
· Parts of Tahuya State Forest Closed Due to Storm Damage
· Washington Bans Lead Wheel Weights
· Congressman Dicks Introduces Bill Giving Some Olympic National Park Land to Quileute Tribe
· Washington’s Economy: Best on the Coast, for What That’s Worth
· Fed Proposes Lower Store Fees on Debit Purchases
· Sound Lab Developed in Old Satsop Reactor Building
WORD OF THE DAY
Craggy • \KRAGG-ee \ • Adjective - 1: full of crags 2: rough, rugged
The closer Richard Boone came to the camera, the more distinct his craggy features became. A relief map of the Sierra Nevada Mountains flashed before the young cameraman’s eyes as the actor’s approach continued.
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
TransAlta Centralia Rolls Out PR Campaign Amid Environmental Scrutiny (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)
News Release - BPA & Customers Agree to Keep Transmission Rates Flat (Bonneville Power Administration)
California ISO Lowers Its Price to Manage Electric Grid (Sacramento Bee, CA)
Avista Fined $60,000 over Energy Assistance Procedures - Utility faulted for using aid on past-due balances (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)
Grant County Electric Rates to Increase by Six Percent (Columba Basin Herald, WA)
New Puget Sound Energy Powerhouse Will Aid Baker River Salmon, Boost Hydropower (Poten & Partners)
Second Dog Suffered Shock on Holiday; This One Wasn’t Fatal (Seattle Times)
A Divided Oregon Senate Confirms Bill Bradbury for Northwest Power & Conservation Council (Oregonian, Portland)
Smart Meters - Pacific Gas & Electric Documents Reveal That Snooping Executive Widely Shared His Findings (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
Iowa Nuclear Power Plant Gets 20-Year Extension (Des Moines Register, IA)
Kansas Coal-Fired Power Plant Gets Its Permit (Wichita Eagle, KS)
Why Investors Haven’t Warmed to Natural Gas (Wall Street Journal)
FISH & WILDLIFE
Transient Orcas Hunting Seals in Puget Sound (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
Farmed Salmon May Not Harm Wild Salmon (USA Today)
Sport Clam Season to Open at Belfair State Park in Mason County (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)
FERC Signs Off on Condit Dam Removal (Oregon Public Radio)
North Carolina - Duke Energy Must Scale another Roadblock to Catawba Hydro License: Protection of the Shortnose Sturgeon (Charlotte Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/print-edition/2010/12/17/Duke-must-scale-another-roadblock.html
Bring on the Birds: A Holiday Count Begins (NY Times)
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Future of Yakima River Basin Is at Stake (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Editorial - Vandals Don’t Help with Cause Opposing Biomass Projects (Olympian, WA)
Federal Officials Designate Public Lands for Solar Projects (NY Times)
Federal Solar Energy Plans Skip Oregon (Oregon Public Radio)
Sequim Pursuing Solar Requirements (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)
Turbines: 13 Million Homes Have the Capacity (Oregonian, Portland)
California Approves Reverse Auction Renewable Energy Market “…the onus would be on developers to calculate the cost of their projects & then offer a bid high enough to generate a profit yet low enough to beat out competitors…” (Reuters)
Wind Energy Gets Boost as Feds OK System to Pay for New Lines (St Paul Pioneer Press, MN)
Extension of Renewable Energy Incentive Promotes Clean Energy Development & Job Growth (Renewable Energy World)
Spell-Check Would be Good Here - Residents Oppose Proposed Gasophication Plant (WFRV-TV, Green Bay, WI)
CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY
California - State Regulators Award Utilities $62.7 Million in Conservation Bonuses (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
California Regulators OK Major Greenhouse Gas Rules (Associated Press)
BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI
Green Groups Look to Defend Turf - Legislature: Budget Threatens Agenda (Olympian, WA)
The Charging Conundrum: How to Feed Electric Cars? (National Public Radio)
Congress: Hybrid Cars Should be Seen AND Heard (Associated Press)
Reindeer Better Watch Out for Rooftop Solar Installations (Guelph Hydro Electric Systems)
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Clearwire’s Cash Shortfall May Prompt Retail Retreat (Bloomberg News)
Yahoo May Shut Down Some Services (NY Times)
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
Congress Sends $801 Billion Tax Cut Bill to Obama (NY Times)
Oregon’s US Senator Ron Wyden Diagnosed with Prostate Cancer (Oregonian, Portland)
Adam Smith Elected Top Democrat on House Armed Services Committee (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
Jaime Herrera to Sit on Two US House Committees (Associated Press)
Washington State Panel Says It Can’t Cut Officials’ Salaries (Associated Press)
Mayoral Recall Effort Splits Coulee City (Associated Press)
GENERAL NEWS
High Winds to Hit Eastern Puget Sound Area Friday Night (Seattle Times)
Snow in Saturday’s Forecast for Some (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
Parts of Tahuya State Forest Closed Due to Storm Damage (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
Washington Bans Lead Wheel Weights (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
Congressman Dicks Introduces Bill Giving Some Olympic National Park Land to Quileute Tribe (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
Washington’s Economy: Best on the Coast, for What That’s Worth (Crosscut Seattle)
Fed Proposes Lower Store Fees on Debit Purchases (Washington Post)
Sound Lab Developed in Old Satsop Reactor Building (Seattle Times)
DIVERSIONS
Man Unsuspectingly Helps Woman, 70, Rob Bank
Flirty Models Were Hired in Bid to Find Bone Marrow
Tigard Woman Delivers Her Own Baby -- As Her Husband Is Driving Her to the Hospital
“Whatever” Voted Most Irritating Word in Poll
SONG OF THE DAY
Robert Palmer- Doctor Doctor Give Me the News
