Wednesday, October 20, 2010

Energy News Digest for October 20, 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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

October 20 - Special Weather Statement for This Weekend from National Weather Service (Mason County PUD No. 3)

Fight over Rural Water Use Faces Critical Decision (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

Judge Dismisses Challenge of Jefferson County PUD’s Ability to Tax Port Townsend (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Work in Progress on Mason PUD 3 Johns Prairie Projects (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Spain’s Solar Deals on Edge of Bankruptcy as Subsidies Founder (Bloomberg News – Thanks to Kevin O’Meara for the tip)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Judge Dismisses Challenge of Jefferson County PUD’s Ability to Tax Port Townsend
·         Judge upholds Potential Jefferson County PUD taxes in Port Townsend
·         Puget Sound Energy May Raise Natural Gas Rates, Despite Drop in Prices
·         Work in Progress on Mason PUD 3 Johns Prairie Projects
·         Chelan PUD Agrees to Settle Tax Lawsuit with Washington State
·         US Department of Energy Wants to Remove Hanford Reactor
·         Pacific Gas & Electric Hammered over Safety Issues
·         Wave of Closures Set to Hit US Coal Stations
·         US Chamber of Commerce – “Worry About Energy Regulations, Kids”
·         Smart Grid Demystified?
·         Two in Mason County - South Sound Salmon Projects Get Money
·         Elwha Restoration Project - Lowering of Lake Mills Starts Today
·         New Channel Off Wenatchee River is Designed for Fish
·         Fight over Rural Water Use Faces Critical Decision
·         Olympia Area Sewer Bills to Go Up by $1.50 Again - Hookup fee will also increase
·         Water Utility to Save $200K per Year by Turning Human Waste to Energy
·         Pumpkins Flourish on Compost from Coeur d’Alene Sewage Facility
·         Spain’s Solar Deals on Edge of Bankruptcy as Subsidies Founder
·         Canada Cashing in on Hydropower Potential
·         Price Tag for Wind Transmission; $20 Billion & Up
·         New Jersey - Offshore Wind & Solar Power Could Cost NJ $5 Billion in Subsidies over Next 20 Years
·         Australia - Biomass Not Sexy, But More Viable Than Wind Farms: Bioenergy Expert
·         Last Call for “Cash for Appliances” Program
·         Weatherization Went Awry, Audit Shows
·         Utah - Groups Push to Make Homes More Energy Efficient
·         The Right Ways to Save Energy During Cooler Weather from Reliant’s Energy Expert
·         Biomass Burning in the Home - Oregon Holds Meetings to Discuss New Wood Stove Rule
·         Editorial - The Cold War in Clean Energy
·         Advertising Watchdog Group Takes Issue with Ziploc Ad
·         Are Workers in Green Jobs Happier? Study Offers Clues
·         Intel to Spend Up to $8 Billion to Retool Factories
·         Starbucks Launching Wi-Fi Network
·         State of the Internet: Mobile Web’s Explosive Growth
·         Will Video on iPad, Other Tablets Crush Mobile Networks?
·         Report: Consumers’ Need for Speed Will Leave DSL in the Dust
·         Washington State Legislature - 35th District Races Could Determine Balance of Power in Olympia
·         Washington State Senator Berkey May Sue to Keep Her Seat
·         October 20 - Special Weather Statement for This Weekend from National Weather Service
·         Missing Shelton Teen Found Dead
·         Unemployment Rate in Mason County Down in September
·         Students Walking to School after Snohomish County Cuts Bus Service
·         Chilly Winter Means Bitter Harvest for Cranberry Growers
·         Feds Consider Limiting Potatoes Offered to Kids

WORD OF THE DAY

Diurnal • \di-UR-null\ • adjective - 1a: recurring every day b: having a daily cycle 2a: of, relating to, or occurring in the daytime b: active chiefly in the daytime c: opening during the day and closing at night

“Dagnabit,” cursed Homer. “I shoulda got myself a diurnal pet. It woulda been a lot more fun to play with,” he fumed while watching his pet bat sleep in the darkened closet. Homer took another bite of his baloney sandwich as he mused during his lunch hour about his next pet purchase.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Judge Dismisses Challenge of Jefferson County PUD’s Ability to Tax Port Townsend (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Judge upholds Potential Jefferson County PUD taxes in Port Townsend (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

Puget Sound Energy May Raise Natural Gas Rates, Despite Drop in Prices (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

Work in Progress on Mason PUD 3 Johns Prairie Projects (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Chelan PUD Agrees to Settle Tax Lawsuit with Washington State (Wenatchee World, WA)

US Department of Energy Wants to Remove Hanford Reactor (Seattle Times)

Pacific Gas & Electric Hammered over Safety Issues (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

Wave of Closures Set to Hit US Coal Stations (Financial Times of London, UK)

US Chamber of Commerce – “Worry About Energy Regulations, Kids” - wants students to consider what would happen if regulations shut down the coal industry or another domestic energy source (Politico)

Smart Grid Demystified? (Lexington Herald Leader, KY)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Two in Mason County - South Sound Salmon Projects Get Money (Olympian, WA)

Elwha Restoration Project - Lowering of Lake Mills Starts Today (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

New Channel Off Wenatchee River is Designed for Fish (Wenatchee World, WA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Fight over Rural Water Use Faces Critical Decision (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

Olympia Area Sewer Bills to Go Up by $1.50 Again - Hookup fee will also increase (Olympian, WA)

Water Utility to Save $200K per Year by Turning Human Waste to Energy (Reuters)

Pumpkins Flourish on Compost from Coeur d’Alene Sewage Facility (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Spain’s Solar Deals on Edge of Bankruptcy as Subsidies Founder (Bloomberg News – Thanks to Kevin O’Meara for the tip)

Canada Cashing in on Hydropower Potential (Renewable Energy World)

Price Tag for Wind Transmission; $20 Billion & Up (Des Moines Register, IA)

New Jersey - Offshore Wind & Solar Power Could Cost NJ $5 Billion in Subsidies over Next 20 Years (New Jersey Spotlight)

Australia - Biomass Not Sexy, But More Viable Than Wind Farms: Bioenergy Expert (ABC Ballarat)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Last Call for “Cash for Appliances” Program (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

Weatherization Went Awry, Audit Shows (NY Times)

Utah - Groups Push to Make Homes More Energy Efficient (Deseret News, Salt Lake City, UT)

The Right Ways to Save Energy During Cooler Weather from Reliant’s Energy Expert (Market Watch)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Biomass Burning in the Home - Oregon Holds Meetings to Discuss New Wood Stove Rule (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Editorial - The Cold War in Clean Energy (Christian Science Monitor)

Advertising Watchdog Group Takes Issue with Ziploc Ad – Claims Sandwich Bags Are “Made with Wind Energy” (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, WI)

Are Workers in Green Jobs Happier? Study Offers Clues (USA Today)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Intel to Spend Up to $8 Billion to Retool Factories (Associated Press)

Starbucks Launching Wi-Fi Network (Associated Press)

State of the Internet: Mobile Web’s Explosive Growth (GigaOM)

Will Video on iPad, Other Tablets Crush Mobile Networks? (GigaOM)

Report: Consumers’ Need for Speed Will Leave DSL in the Dust (USA Today)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Legislature - 35th District Races Could Determine Balance of Power in Olympia (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Washington State Senator Berkey May Sue to Keep Her Seat (Everett Herald, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

October 20 - Special Weather Statement for This Weekend from National Weather Service (Mason County PUD No. 3)

Missing Shelton Teen Found Dead (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Unemployment Rate in Mason County Down in September (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Students Walking to School after Snohomish County Cuts Bus Service (KING-TV, Seattle)

Chilly Winter Means Bitter Harvest for Cranberry Growers (Longview Daily News, WA)

Feds Consider Limiting Potatoes Offered to Kids (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

DIVERSIONS

Nevada Feline Named Longest Domestic Cat

Restaurant’s Giant Promotional Rooster at Odds with Law

2012 Mayan Apocalypse Calculation Might be Off

Tom Bosley of “Happy Days” Dies at 83

SONG OF THE DAY

Happy Days Theme Song