Tuesday, January 12, 2010

Energy News Digest for January 12, 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)

•  Grays Harbor PUD Rate Increases Approved by Commissioners
•  Grant PUD Faces Tough Decisions Concerning Rates
•  Avista Offers to Drop Seven Percent Surcharge
•  Mason PUD 3 Commissioners Deny Pre-hearing Motions on Environmental Appeal
•  Officials Say Financing Set for New Nevada Power Line
•  Wyoming Utility Workers Vote on 3rd Contract Proposal
•  Florida Regulators Reject Progress Energy Rate Hike
•  Tennessee Valley Authority Sets Records for Energy Demand During Weekend
•  Smaller Loss for Alcoa as Revenue Fell
•  Experts Hack New Power Meters: Utilities Installing Networked Devices on Homes
•  BPA Administrator to Participate in National Workshop
•  Dryden Man Sues State Agencies Over Wenatchee River Fish Project
•  California - Deal Reached to Demolish Dam on Carmel River
•  Bainbridge Island, Ratepayers Reach Tentative Agreement on Treatment Plant, Charges
•  Treatment Plant Will Keep Port Angeles Water Safe after Elwha Dams Removed
•  Capitol Lake Fans Form Group
•  Will Drilling More Wells for Water in California Help Or Hurt?
•  Nevada - Technology, Mussels Could Halt Lake Powell Wastewater Project
•  Stronger Controls Urged on Chemicals in Water
•  Neighbors Object to Massive Solar Project near Cle Elum
•  Edmonds-based utility Seattle Steam looks to reduce carbon footprint
•  Vestas Gets Canadian Order for 18 Wind Turbines
•  Indiana Not Promoting Wind Energy Like Its Neighbors
•  Minnesota Waives 5-Percent Biodiesel Requirement
•  Port Angeles School District Gets Energy Grant Money
•  Portland Habitat for Humanity Group Gets Green Building Award
•  Pennsylvania Rising electric bills may make LED bulbs seem necessary
•  Editorial - Canceling School in Florida Takes Energy Conservation Too Far
•  Lobbyists Helped Murkowski Write Bill to Limit EPA
•  After Climate Talks, Lingering Disputes between Danish Police & Greenpeace
•  Valley Firms Reap Millions in Clean-Tech Tax Credit
•  Op/Ed - Green Jobs Or Pink Slips?
•  Glasses vs. Contact Lenses: An Ophthalmic Guide to Saving the Planet
•  Communications Networks Could Be 10,000 Times More Energy Efficient
•  First Phase of Verizon FiOS Build Coming to An End
•  Comcast Launching Broadband Meter: Watch Your Limit!
•  Privacy No Longer a Social Norm, Says Facebook Founder
•  Deputies Investigate Hoodsport Bank Robbery
•  Pedestrian Killed by Semi-Truck on I-5 Early Tuesday
•  Money May Force DNR to Close Trails, Camps
•  Activists file initiative to legalize pot in Washington State
•  Washington State Lawmaker Wants to Banish Negative Language
•  Showdown Looms between Ink Cartridge Makers & Regulators

WORD OF THE DAY

Pied-à-terre • \pee-ay-duh-TAIR\ • noun - A temporary or second lodging

The in-laws were coming; dread filled Angela’s mind as she imagined the state of the garage, which she planned to use as a pied-à-terre for her finicky mother in law and slovenly father in law. “Well, at least my dad won’t have to go far for a cold beer,” quipped her sharp-witted husband.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast & Weather Alerts

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Grays Harbor PUD Rate Increases Approved by Commissioners (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA - Site does not play well with Firefox or Chrome browsers)

Grant PUD Faces Tough Decisions Concerning Rates (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

Avista Offers to Drop Seven Percent Surcharge (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

Mason PUD 3 Commissioners Deny Pre-hearing Motions on Environmental Appeal (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Officials Say Financing Set for New Nevada Power Line (Associated Press)

Wyoming Utility Workers Vote on 3rd Contract Proposal (Associated Press)

Florida Regulators Reject Progress Energy Rate Hike (Associated Press)

Tennessee Valley Authority Sets Records for Energy Demand During Weekend (Associated Press)

Smaller Loss for Alcoa as Revenue Fell (Associated Press)

Experts Hack New Power Meters: Utilities Installing Networked Devices on Homes (Istock Analyst)

BPA Administrator to Participate in Workshop - Ohio Governor Hails Energy Rebirth in America’s Industrial Heartland (MarketWire)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Dryden Man Sues State Agencies Over Wenatchee River Fish Project (Wenatchee World, WA)

California - Deal Reached to Demolish Dam on Carmel River (Associated Press)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

City of Bainbridge Island, Ratepayers Reach Tentative Agreement on Treatment Plant, Charges (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Officials Say Treatment Plant Will Keep Port Angeles Water Safe after Elwha Dams Removed (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Capitol Lake Fans Form Group - Members plan independent review of report that favored its reverting to estuary (Olympian, WA)

Will Drilling More Wells for Water in California Help Or Hurt? (Christian Science Monitor)

Nevada - Technology, Mussels Could Halt Lake Powell Wastewater Project (Associated Press)

Stronger Controls Urged on Chemicals in Water (SF Chronicle)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Neighbors Object to Massive Solar Project near Cle Elum (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

Edmonds-based utility Seattle Steam looks to reduce carbon footprint (Everett Herald, WA)

Vestas Gets Canadian Order for 18 Wind Turbines (Denver Business Journal)

Indiana Not Promoting Wind Energy Like Its Neighbors (Indianapolis Star, IN)

Minnesota Waives 5-Percent Biodiesel Requirement (Associated Press)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Port Angeles School District Gets Energy Grant Money (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

Portland Habitat for Humanity Group Gets Green Building Award (The Oregonian, Portland)

Pennsylvania Rising electric bills may make LED bulbs seem necessary (Pocono Record, PA)

Sarasota Herald Tribune Editorial - High Cost of a Discount: Canceling School in Florida Takes Energy Conservation Too Far

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Lobbyists Helped Murkowski Write Bill to Limit EPA (Anchorage Daily News, AK)

After Climate Talks, Lingering Disputes between Danish Police & Greenpeace (NY Times)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Valley Firms Reap Millions in Clean-Tech Tax Credit (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Op/Ed - Green Jobs Or Pink Slips?

Glasses vs. Contact Lenses: An Ophthalmic Guide to Saving the Planet (Slate Magazine)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Communications Networks Could Be 10,000 Times More Energy Efficient (Earth2Tech)

First Phase of Verizon FiOS Build Coming to An End - Company will now focus on improving uptake in existing markets (Broadband Reports)

Comcast Launching Broadband Meter: Watch Your Limit! (Seattle Times)

Privacy No Longer a Social Norm, Says Facebook Founder (The Guardian, UK)

GENERAL NEWS

Deputies Investigate Hoodsport Bank Robbery (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Pedestrian Killed by Semi-Truck on I-5 Early Tuesday (Olympian, WA)

Money May Force DNR to Close Trails, Camps (Seattle Times)

Activists file initiative to legalize pot in Washington State (Associated Press)

Washington State Lawmaker Wants to Banish Negative Language (Associated Press)

Showdown Looms between Ink Cartridge Makers & Regulators (Kansas City Star, MO)

DIVERSIONS

China to Be Short 24M Wives, Study Says - Shortage May Lead to Increased Crime

NY Cab Driver Returns $21,000 to Visitor

“Sounder” Train Passenger Wakes Up Locked in Rail Yard

Rogue peacocks a pain for Sultan neighbors

SONG OF THE DAY

Talking Heads - Wild Wild Life