The Energy News Digest: Energy News Digest for December 9, 2010

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Energy News Digest for December 9, 2010

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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

Potential Heavy Rain Event This Weekend (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/news/4034-potential-heavy-rain-event-this-weekend

New York - Oyster Creek Nuclear Reactor to Close by 2019 (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/09/nyregion/09nuke.html

Washington State Forest Biomass Supply Research Team Chosen (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20101209/news/312099989/forest-biomass-supply-research-team-chosen

Study Says British Columbia Consumers Need to Pay More for Electricity (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/bc-consumers-need-to-pay-more-for-power-study-says/article1830792/

Deadline for Washington State Lawmakers to Set Special Session (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013636216_apwaspecialsession.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

· New York - Oyster Creek Nuclear Reactor to Close by 2019

· US House Approves Money for Nuclear Loan Guarantees

· Op/Ed – Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative Sees ‘Perfect Storm’ on Consumers’ Horizon

· Fall River Electric Cooperative May Increase Rates Next Year – BPA Wholesale Rates Cited

· Study Says British Columbia Consumers Need to Pay More for Electricity

· Money Scarce in Tri-Cities Energy Aid Program

· EPA Regulations May Shut 50,000 MW of Coal Plants

· California - Bill Would Force Utilities to Offer Wired Meters

· Oregon - Falling Power Line Briefly Traps Worker 60 Feet Up Tree in Lake Oswego

· Texas - Pedernales Electric Cooperative: Ex Manager Takes the Stand, Says He “Did Not Instruct” Lawyer on Payments

· Hatchery Fish Spawn Concerns over Weakening of Wild Salmon

· Alaska Fisheries Restricted to Help Steller Sea Lions

· Major Conservation Easement Granted in Northern Kittitas County

· Washington State Department of Ecology Won’t Propose Water Fees during Upcoming Legislative Session

· Puyallup Utility Bills to Rise, Cover Landfill Gas Settlement Cost

· Oregon Ocean Panel Endorses Three New Marine Reserves

· Washington State Forest Biomass Supply Research Team Chosen

· News Release – Washington State DNR Selects Group to Conduct Statewide Forest Biomass Supply Assessment

· Metro Considers Biogas Plant for Northeast Portland

· California - Wind Towers Slaying Birds

· Cuts to Oregon’s Business Energy Tax Credits Nearly Blew Wind Event out of Oregon

· Colorado - Plan for Large Solar Power Plant Stirs Opposition in Scenic Colorado Valley

· City Of Sequim’s LED Lights Saving Money

· Damaged Wires on LED Christmas Lights Cause Fire

· Florida Public Utilities Company & Central Florida Gas Select APOGEE for Online Energy Efficiency Platform

· Energy Experts Focus on Policy, Technology

· Editorial - Good Energy Subsidies, And Bad

· Idaho - Fiber-Optic Project Sets Spring Date

· Vermont - State Audit of Burlington Municipal Telecom Due Out Thursday

· Clearwire Completes $1.33 Billion Debt Offering

· FCC: 68% of US Connections Slower than 3 Mbps Down, 768kbps Up

· Microsoft Lands US Department of Agriculture as Cloud Customer

· Google Says Shut Out Of US Department Of Agriculture Cloud

· Google Targets Portland to Market New Service

· CAPS LOCK KEY: An endangered species?

· Deadline for Washington State Lawmakers to Set Special Session

· Wall Street Journal: Washington State Budget Deficit Among Nation’s Worst

· Greens’ Washington State Legislative Agenda: Try, Try Again

· Save Money by Redrawing Washington’s County Map

· New Thurston County Prosecutor Fires Five Deputies

· Potential Heavy Rain Event This Weekend

· Heavy Snow Forecast in Washington Cascades, Olympics

· Fired Grays Harbor Employee Files $610,000 Claim

· Washington State Businesses to Pay Higher Unemployment Taxes

· Crowd Prompts Mount Vernon Hospital to Lock Down

· Potentially Toxic BPA Found on Dollar Bills

· Lead in Christmas Tree Lights Poses Hazard for Kids, Group Says

WORD OF THE DAY

Bombast • \BOM-bast\ • Noun - Pretentious inflated speech or writing

Darby inhaled deeply, filling the lungs encased by his barrel-chest with the air that would be used to sing, heartily, his infamous version of “Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.” He delivered the epic Beatles song with vigorous bombast, causing at least two people in the front row of Albert Hall to faint with exhaustion.

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

New York - Oyster Creek Nuclear Reactor to Close by 2019 (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/09/nyregion/09nuke.html

US House Approves Money for Nuclear Loan Guarantees (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013635812_apuscongressnuclearenergy.html

Op/Ed – Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative Sees ‘Perfect Storm’ on Consumers’ Horizon: Actions of BPA raise specter of rate increases (Blue Mountain Eagle, Grant County OR)

http://www.bluemountaineagle.com/opinion/article_1d773556-0319-11e0-8eb1-001cc4c03286.html

Fall River Electric Cooperative May Increase Rates Next Year – BPA wholesale rates cited (Teton Valley News, Driggs, ID)

http://www.tetonvalleynews.net/news/article_d02cdcd6-0315-11e0-b0b3-001cc4c002e0.html

Study Says British Columbia Consumers Need to Pay More for Electricity (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/bc-consumers-need-to-pay-more-for-power-study-says/article1830792/

Money Scarce in Tri-Cities Energy Aid Program (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/12/08/1283985/money-scarce-in-energy-aid-program.html

EPA Regulations May Shut 50,000 MW of Coal Plants (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6B82UI20101209

California - Bill Would Force Utilities to Offer Wired Meters (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/12/08/BABE1GMOAQ.DTL

Oregon - Falling Power Line Briefly Traps Worker 60 Feet Up Tree in Lake Oswego (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/lake-oswego/index.ssf/2010/12/falling_power_line_traps_man_60_feet_up_tree_in_lake_oswego.html

Texas - Pedernales Electric Cooperative: Ex Manager Takes the Stand, Says He “Did Not Instruct” Lawyer on Payments “…said he said he ‘suggested’…an outside lawyer hire his brother as a legislative consultant, but “did not instruct” the lawyer to do so…” (Austin American Statesman, TX)

http://www.statesman.com/blogs/content/shared-gen/blogs/austin/hillcountry/entries/2010/12/08/fuelberg_trial_day_eight_fuelb.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Hatchery Fish Spawn Concerns over Weakening of Wild Salmon - Instead of returning to Sandy hatchery, fish stray & possibly pass on negative genetic traits (Portland Tribune, OR)

http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=129177244854611400

Alaska Fisheries Restricted to Help Steller Sea Lions (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013631093_apakendangeredsealions1stldwritethru.html

Major Conservation Easement Granted in Northern Kittitas County (The Daily Record, Ellensburg, WA)

http://dailyrecordnews.com/news/article_1c9e6cd6-0237-11e0-b29d-001cc4c03286.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Washington State Department of Ecology Won’t Propose Water Fees during Upcoming Legislative Session (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/article_e5657340-032b-11e0-9b9b-001cc4c03286.html

Puyallup Utility Bills to Rise, Cover Landfill Gas Settlement Cost (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/12/09/1457911/puyallup-utility-bills-to-rise.html

Oregon Ocean Panel Endorses Three New Marine Reserves (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2010/12/oregon_ocean_panel_endorses_th.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Washington State Forest Biomass Supply Research Team Chosen (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20101209/news/312099989/forest-biomass-supply-research-team-chosen

News Release – Washington State DNR Selects Group to Conduct Statewide Forest Biomass Supply Assessment (Washington State Department of Natural Resources)

http://www.dnr.wa.gov/ResearchScience/News/Pages/2010_12_07_biomass_nr.aspx

Metro Considers Biogas Plant for Northeast Portland (Oregonian Public Radio)

http://news.opb.org/article/20343-metro-consideres-biogas-plant-northeast-portland/

California - Wind Towers Slaying Birds (NBC Bay Area TV, CA)

http://www.nbcbayarea.com/news/local-beat/Wind-Towers-Slaying-Birds-111464359.html

Cuts to Oregon’s Business Energy Tax Credits Nearly Blew Wind Event out of Oregon (Ecotrope)

http://ecotrope.opb.org/2010/12/betc-cuts-nearly-blew-wind-event-out-of-oregon/

Colorado - Plan for Large Solar Power Plant Stirs Opposition in Scenic Colorado Valley (Solar Home & Business Journal)

http://solarhbj.com/news/in-colorado-solar-power-plant-proposal-stirs-opposition-in-scenic-valley-01189

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

City Of Sequim’s LED Lights Saving Money (Sequim Gazette, WA)

http://www.sequimgazette.com/business/article.exm/2010-12-08_led_lights_saving_money

Damaged Wires on LED Christmas Lights Cause Fire (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

http://www.kpq.com/12-9-10---Christmas-Lights-Cause-Fire/8744432

Florida Public Utilities Company & Central Florida Gas Select APOGEE for Online Energy Efficiency Platform (PR Newswire)

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/florida-public-utilities-company-and-central-florida-gas-select-apogee-for-online-energy-efficiency-platform-111592094.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Energy Experts Focus on Policy, Technology (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013636121_apnmrenewablesregulation.html

Editorial - Good Energy Subsidies, And Bad (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/09/opinion/09thu3.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Idaho - Fiber-Optic Project Sets Spring Date (Bonner County Daily Bee, Sandpoint ID)

http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com/news/local/article_5fc9b1b6-0366-11e0-a47a-001cc4c03286.html

Vermont - State Audit of Burlington Municipal Telecom Due Out Thursday (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013632517_apusvttroubledtelecom.html

Clearwire Completes $1.33 Billion Debt Offering (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013636272_clearwire10.html

FCC: 68% of US Connections Slower than 3 Mbps Down, 768kbps Up (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/FCC-68-Of-US-Connections-Slower-than-3-Mbps-Down-768kbps-Up-111755

Microsoft Lands US Department of Agriculture as Cloud Customer (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoftpri0/2013626227_microsoftlandsusdaas.html

Google Says Shut Out Of US Department Of Agriculture Cloud Computing Deal (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6B65H620101208

Google Targets Portland to Market New Service (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2010/12/google_targets_portland_to_mar.html

CAPS LOCK KEY: An endangered species? Caps lock key replaced with a search key on the new Google Chrome OS notebook (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Horizons/2010/1209/Caps-lock-key-An-endangered-species

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Deadline for Washington State Lawmakers to Set Special Session (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013636216_apwaspecialsession.html

Wall Street Journal: Washington State Budget Deficit Among Nation’s Worst (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/231049.asp

Greens’ Washington State Legislative Agenda: Try, Try Again (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/blog/crosscut/19972/Greens--state-agenda:-Try,-try-again/

Save Money by Redrawing Washington’s County Map - Could Seattle be its own county? And why not consolidate some smaller, rural ones? (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2010/12/09/mossback/20432/Save-money-by-redrawing-Washington-s-map/

New Thurston County Prosecutor Fires Five Deputies (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=13644146

GENERAL NEWS

Potential Heavy Rain Event This Weekend (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/news/4034-potential-heavy-rain-event-this-weekend

Heavy Snow Forecast in Washington Cascades, Olympics (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013632447_apwaweather.html

Fired Grays Harbor Employee Files $610,000 Claim (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_grays_harbor_claim.html

Washington State Businesses to Pay Higher Unemployment Taxes (Puget Sound Business Journal)

http://bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2010/12/08/washington-businesses-to-pay-higher.html