Energy News Digest for August 2, 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

Mason PUD 3 Signs Contract for Construction of Johns Prairie Operations Center (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=753

Sockeye Salmon Run Sets Record for Columbia River (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2010/08/sockeye_salmon_run_sets_record.html

Oregon - Turbines Too Loud? Here, Take $5,000 (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/01/us/01wind.html

US Says It’s Committed to Cutting Greenhouse Gases (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012512646_apclimatechange.html

Belfair’s Water District Padlocks Fire Hydrants (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/aug/02/belfairs-water-district-padlocks-fire-hydrants/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Mason PUD 3 Signs Contract for Construction of Johns Prairie Operations Center

·         California - New Rules Make It Harder for Pacific Gas & Electric to Shut Off Service

·         Windows Power Grid Worm is Just the Beginning

·         Second Quarter Shows TransAlta Returning to Profit

·         Op/Ed - Shale Gas: Hope for Our Energy Future

·         Op/Ed - Who Should Pay for ‘Smart’ Electricity in Maryland?

·         A Benchmark of Progress, Electrical Grid Fails Iraqis

·         Sockeye Salmon Run Sets Record for Columbia River

·         Record Sockeye Run Is a Boon for Small Town of Brewster

·         Editorial - Sockeye, Fantastic

·         Elwha River’s Coming Dam Removal Has Scientists Flooded With Unknowns

·         Court Decision Allowing Deeper Lake Roosevelt Drawdowns Appealed to the Ninth Circuit

·         Oregon - Rocky Mountain Goats Released at Base of Mt. Jefferson

·         Logging Plan for Willamette National Forest Suspended After Spotted Owls Move Closer

·         Congress - McMorris Rodgers Introduces Legislation to Shed Light on Endangered Species Act Compliance Costs

·         Ruckelshaus retires from Puget Sound Leadership Council

·         Army Corps Sets $44M Fixes for Howard Hanson Dam

·         Acidification Threatens Wide Swath of Sea Life

·         Louisiana Marshes Damaged by Oil, But Surprisingly Resilient

·         Oregon - Turbines Too Loud? Here, Take $5,000

·         Oregon - Reaping the Wind; ‘Community Wind’ takes a village

·         Cape Wind Drops Power Price

·         Vestas Shakes Up Portland Exec Team

·         Canada - California Dreamin’ for Green Power Sales

·         Iowa - Lightning Strike Burns Down Wind Turbine

·         Bigger Blades & Better Designs in Wind Energy

·         New York – Veterans’ Hospital to Get New Biomass Energy System, Thanks to Stimulus Funds

·         Coal to Biomass - Burning Ohio Trees at Burger Sets Fire to Debate

·         Vermont - Montpelier Biomass Energy Project Moves Forward

·         Massachusetts Solar Panel Incentives Prompts National Company to Offer Installation Without Upfront Investment

·         Richland Senior Center Going Ductless

·         North Carolina - Duke Energy Wants OK to Share Home Usage Data With Neighbors

·         Green-Financing Suspension Hits San Francisco Programs

·         Green Building Supplier Sees Growing Market in Colleges, Hospitals

·         US Says It’s Committed to Cutting Greenhouse Gases

·         What’s Next on Climate Change?

·         EPA’s Global Warming Authority under Fire from All Sides

·         Cap-&-Trade Failure Leaves Utilities Waiting on Energy Policy

·         Climate Change Prolongs Interior Alaska Growing Season

·         Plugging in the Electric Car

·         Biofuels Left Out as Automakers Go Electric

·         For Pocono, Solar Power & Safety Improvements

·         Vermont Is Wiring Itself with Fiber Because Nobody Else Will

·         Idaho Broadband efforts back on waiting list

·         Op/Ed - The Corporate Deal to Control Your Internet

·         Six Cool Innovations for the Data Center

·         Technology Races to Meet Tide of Data

·         Mason County Candidates’ Forum Tuesday Night at Olympic College Shelton

·         Washington Secretary of State Predicts 38 Percent Turnout in Primary

·         Mason County Seeks Help in Identifying Bank Robber

·         Belfair’s Water District Padlocks Fire Hydrants

·         Hazy Skies Creating Spectacular Sunsets in Western Washington

·         Montana Twisters Are More Frequent, Powerful in 2010

·         Cowlitz Bank Closed, Sold to Heritage Bank

·         KVI Ex-Employee Sentenced for Rigging Radio Contest

·         North Mason Chamber Names Interim President & CEO

WORD OF THE DAY

En masse • \on-MASS\ • adverb - In a body: as a whole

Like the sheep they were, the group of unshorn ruminants followed the bell-wether en masse to their first shearing of the year. “Where are we going?” bleated Anabelle to her herd mate. “I dunno,” replied Gertie. “Someone said there was a fashion statement to be made today. I just hope it’s not a clipper cut like I had last year; it makes me look fat.”

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

Mason PUD 3 Signs Contract for Construction of Johns Prairie Operations Center (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=753

California - New Rules Make It Harder for Pacific Gas & Electric to Shut Off Service (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_15632908

Windows Power Grid Worm is Just the Beginning (Earth2Tech)

http://earth2tech.com/2010/08/01/windows-power-grid-worm-is-just-the-beginning/

Second Quarter Shows TransAlta Returning to Profit (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews?Q2-Shows-TransAlta-Returning-To-Profit-=1&blockID=280346&feedID=410

Op/Ed - Shale Gas: Hope for Our Energy Future (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/01/AR2010080103288.html

Op/Ed - Who Should Pay for ‘Smart’ Electricity in Maryland? (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/30/AR2010073005983.html

A Benchmark of Progress, Electrical Grid Fails Iraqis (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/world/middleeast/02electricity.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Sockeye Salmon Run Sets Record for Columbia River (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2010/08/sockeye_salmon_run_sets_record.html

Record Sockeye Run Is a Boon for Small Town of Brewster (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99722884.html

Editorial - Sockeye, Fantastic (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/jul/31/sockeye-fantastic/

Elwha River’s Coming Dam Removal Has Scientists Flooded With Unknowns (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012495725_elwha31m.html

Court Decision Allowing Deeper Lake Roosevelt Drawdowns Appealed to the Ninth Circuit (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/393662.aspx

Oregon - Rocky Mountain Goats Released at Base of Mt. Jefferson (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/bill_monroe/index.ssf/2010/07/rocky_mountain_goats_released.html

Logging Plan for Willamette National Forest Suspended After Spotted Owls Move Closer (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2010/07/logging_plan_for_willamette_national_forest_suspended_after_spotted_owls_move_closer.html

Congress - McMorris Rodgers Introduces Legislation to Shed Light on Endangered Species Act Compliance Costs (Trading Markets)

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/news/stock-alert/pmkt_mcmorris-rodgers-introduces-legislation-to-shed-light-on-esa-compliance-costs-1078260.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Ruckelshaus retires from Puget Sound Leadership Council (Associated Press)

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

Army Corps Sets $44M Fixes for Howard Hanson Dam (Associated Press)

http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=348945

Acidification Threatens Wide Swath of Sea Life (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012502655_acidification01.html

Louisiana Marshes Damaged by Oil, But Surprisingly Resilient (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2010-08-02-1Amarshes02_CV_N.htm

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Oregon - Turbines Too Loud? Here, Take $5,000 (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/01/us/01wind.html

Oregon - Reaping the Wind; ‘Community Wind’ takes a village (Dalles Chronicle, OR)

http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2010/08/08-01-10-01.shtml

Cape Wind Drops Power Price (Boston Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2010/07/26/daily42.html

Vestas Shakes Up Portland Exec Team (Portland Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2010/07/26/daily42.html

Canada - California Dreamin’ “…The Clean Energy Act was approved…to enable B.C. to become an exporter of renewable energy to the United States…” (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/california-dreamin/article1656731/

Iowa - Lightning Strike Burns Down Wind Turbine (Sioux City Journal, IA)

http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/article_28f30fe1-66fc-5db0-85c1-662dd6009bd6.html

Bigger Blades & Better Designs in Wind Energy (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/07/bigger-blades-and-better-designs-in-wind-energy

New York – Veterans’ Hospital to Get New Biomass Energy System, Thanks to Stimulus Funds (Messenger Post, Canandaigua, NY)

http://www.mpnnow.com/news/x145183678/VA-to-get-new-energy-system-thanks-to-stimulus-funds

Coal to Biomass - Burning Ohio Trees at Burger Sets Fire to Debate (Akron Beacon-Journal, OH)

http://www.ohio.com/news/99711024.html

Vermont - Montpelier Biomass Energy Project Moves Forward (Montpelier Times-Srgus, VT)

http://www.timesargus.com/article/20100802/NEWS02/708029955/1003/NEWS02

Massachusetts Solar Panel Incentives Prompts National Company to Offer Installation Without Upfront Investment (Springfield Republican, MA)

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/08/massachusetts_solar_panel_ince.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Richland Senior Center Going Ductless (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/08/01/1285254/richland-senior-center-going-ductless.html

North Carolina - Duke Energy Wants OK to Share Home Usage Data With Neighbors (Triangle Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2010/08/02/story4.html

Green-Financing Suspension Hits San Francisco Programs (San Francisco Examiner, CA)

http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/under-the-dome/green-financing-suspension-hits-sf-programs-99722404.html

Green Building Supplier Sees Growing Market in Colleges, Hospitals (The Business Review - Albany, NY)

http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/stories/2010/08/02/focus3.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

US Says It’s Committed to Cutting Greenhouse Gases (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012512646_apclimatechange.html

What’s Next on Climate Change? (KPLU Radio, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1682941

EPA’s Global Warming Authority under Fire from All Sides (Politico)

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0810/40534.html

Cap-&-Trade Failure Leaves Utilities Waiting on Energy Policy (Bismarck Tribune, ND)

http://www.bismarcktribune.com/business/local/article_56f282d6-9cdf-11df-a911-001cc4c03286.html

Climate Change Prolongs Interior Alaska Growing Season (Associated Press)

http://www.adn.com/2010/08/01/1391100/warmer-temperatures-prolong-alaska.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Plugging in the Electric Car (Nat’l Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128911975&ft=1&f=2

Biofuels Left Out as Automakers Go Electric (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/08/01/BU3H1EK5HK.DTL

For Pocono, Solar Power & Safety Improvements (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/01/sports/autoracing/01pocono.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Vermont Is Wiring Itself with Fiber Because Nobody Else Will (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Vermont-Is-Wiring-Itself-With-Fiber-Because-Nobody-Else-Will-109655

Idaho Broadband efforts back on waiting list (Bonner County Daily Bee, Sandpoint ID)

http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com/articles/2010/08/01/news/doc4c53c2fc497ad445804818.txt

Op/Ed - The Corporate Deal to Control Your Internet (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2012494647_guest02karr.html

Six Cool Innovations for the Data Center (ComputerWorld)

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9179865/6_cool_innovations_for_the_data_center?taxonomyId=12

Technology Races to Meet Tide of Data (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/technology/02iht-NETPIPE02.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Mason County Candidates’ Forum Tuesday Night at Olympic College Shelton (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/2856-candidates-forum-tuesday-night-at-olympic-college-shelton

Washington Secretary of State Predicts 38 Percent Turnout in Primary (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012495506_primary31.html

GENERAL NEWS

Mason County Seeks Help in Identifying Bank Robber (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/aug/01/mason-county-seeks-help-in-identifying-bank/

Belfair’s Water District Padlocks Fire Hydrants (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/aug/02/belfairs-water-district-padlocks-fire-hydrants/

Hazy Skies Creating Spectacular Sunsets in Western Washington (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Hazy-skies-creating-spectacular-sunsets-in-Western-Wash-99756349.html

Montana Twisters Are More Frequent, Powerful in 2010 (Billings Gazette, MT)

http://www.billingsgazette.com/news/local/article_c6640e2c-9d9e-11df-8e35-001cc4c03286.html

Cowlitz Bank Closed, Sold to Heritage Bank (Portland Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2010/07/26/daily60.html

KVI Ex-Employee Sentenced for Rigging Radio Contest (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012494429_riggedcontest31m.html

North Mason Chamber Names Interim President & CEO (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/2850-north-mason-chamber-names-interim-president-a-ceo

DIVERSIONS

Northwest Wienerfest: Big Event, Little Dogs - Hundreds assemble for the love of dachshunds

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/08/01/1322074/big-event-little-dogs.html

Comic Book Buff Selling Rare Copy of Batman No. 1

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2012510518_apuscomicbookauction.html

De Niro, Brooklyn, India on last Roll of Kodachrome Slide Film

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2012512844_apuskodachromeslastroll.html

Bottom-Shaking Employee Wins Workers’ Comp Appeal

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/08/02/29258.htm

SONG OF THE DAY

Paul Simon - Kodachrome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZpaNJqF4po