Wednesday, November 17, 2010

Energy News Digest for November 17, 2010

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news and notices: http://twitter.com/energydigest

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

Thousands Still in the Dark from Monday’s Windstorm (KING-TV, Seattle)

Nov. 17- Short Outage Affects 1,400 Near Belfair (Mason County PUD No. 3)

Editorial: The Bonneville Power Administration’s Balancing Act - Agency proposes significant rate increase for 2011 (Eugene Register Guard, OR)

Figuring out How to Get Rid of Oregon’s Renewable Tax Credit Program (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Court Rejects Shelton Port Commissioner Jay Hupp’s Recall Petition – ADAGE Opponents winless so far in legal battles (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Thousands Still in the Dark from Monday’s Windstorm
·         Nov. 17- Short Outage Affects 1,400 Near Belfair
·         Bonneville Power Administration Lowers 2011 Rate Increase Expectations
·         Bonneville Power Administration Expects to Increase Electricity Rates Next Year
·         Editorial: The Bonneville Power Administration’s Balancing Act
·         Chelan PUD Ices Pay until April 2012
·         Stay 30 Feet from Downed Power Lines
·         I’m Guessing This Is Billable - Tree Contractor Damages Power Line in North Clark County
·         ‘Smart’ Meters Draw Complaints of Inaccuracy
·         Questioning the ‘Smart’ in Smart Meters
·         Canada - Ontario Energy Minister Blames Soaring Electric Bills on Faulty Old-Style Meters
·         Op/Ed - Protecting Us from the Dangers of Coal Ash
·         Stuxnet Virus Could Target Many Industries
·         Op/Ed - Return of the Sockeye & the Legacy of Lonesome Larry
·         Sea of Facts Delays Salmon Probe
·         Elwha Restoration Logo Unveiled
·         Editorial - Barges to be Blocked
·         EPA Tells States to Consider Rising Ocean Acidity
·         Dairy Air - Air Pressure; A Battle to Breathe
·         Figuring out How to Get Rid of Oregon’s Renewable Tax Credit Program
·         The Sun Is Shining on Oregon Solar Power
·         Ocean Energy Concepts Proliferate
·         BC Hydro Purchases Clean Power from Zellstoff Celgar Pulp Mill
·         Ohio - FirstEnergy Abandons Plan to Burn Wood, Will Close Boilers at R.E. Burger Plant
·         Minnesota - Charting the Future of Woody Biomass Resources
·         China Protests U.S. Green-Energy Probe
·         Associated Industries Spends $30,000 to Switch to LED
·         Electric Cars Are Charging into the Marketplace
·         Benevolent Biomass - Biochar Stoves Could Fight Climate Change
·         Boom or Not, Internet Bandwidth Prices Still Falling
·         Wireless Firms Count on the Future of the Internet
·         F.B.I. Seeks Wider Wiretap Law for Web
·         WA State Senate Leader Rejects Calls to Exclude Snohomish County Lawmaker
·         Senator Karen Fraser Moving Up to No. 2 Job in Washington State Senate
·         No Nativity Scene to be Displayed in Olympia
·         Storm Pulled a Fast One on the Region
·         Wind Brings Hint of What’s Ahead
·         Man, 3-Year-Old Narrowly Escape Falling Tree, Truck Fire Sparked by Power Line
·         Court Rejects Shelton Port Commissioner Jay Hupp’s Recall Petition
·         Belfair Eagle Scout Earns All 129 Merit Badges
·         Facebook Pics May Be Used to Fight Insurance Claim

WORD OF THE DAY

Banausic • \buh-NAW-sick\ • Adjective - Relating to or concerned with earning a living -- used pejoratively; also: utilitarian, practical

Despite her sheltered upbringing, Daisy loved digging in the garden with her bare hands. Her banausic pleasure was only slightly lessened by the soil that got under her fingernails.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Thousands Still in the Dark from Monday’s Windstorm (KING-TV, Seattle)

Nov. 17- Short Outage Affects 1,400 Near Belfair (Mason County PUD No. 3)

Bonneville Power Administration Lowers 2011 Rate Increase Expectations (Electric Energy Online)

Bonneville Power Administration Expects to Increase Electricity Rates Next Year (The Western News, Libby, MT)

Editorial: The Bonneville Power Administration’s Balancing Act - Agency proposes significant rate increase for 2011 (Eugene Register Guard, OR)

Chelan PUD Ices Pay until April 2012 - Non-union freeze, rate surcharge helping utility work out budget (Wenatchee World, WA)

Stay 30 Feet from Downed Power Lines (Everett Herald, WA)

I’m Guessing This Is Billable - Tree Contractor Damages Power Line in North Clark County (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

‘Smart’ Meters Draw Complaints of Inaccuracy (NY Times)

Questioning the ‘Smart’ in Smart Meters (NY Times)

Canada - Ontario Energy Minister Blames Soaring Electric Bills on Faulty Old-Style Meters (Ottawa Citizen, Ontario)

Op/Ed - Protecting Us from the Dangers of Coal Ash (Oregonian, Portland)

Stuxnet Virus Could Target Many Industries (Associated Press)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Op/Ed - Return of the Sockeye & the Legacy of Lonesome Larry (Covington Reporter, WA)

Sea of Facts Delays Salmon Probe (The Globe & Mail, Canada)

Elwha Restoration Logo Unveiled (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Editorial - Barges to be Blocked - Repairing locks at 3 Columbia River dams will impact highway & rail commerce (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

EPA Tells States to Consider Rising Ocean Acidity (Associated Press)

Dairy Air - Air Pressure; A Battle to Breathe (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Figuring out How to Get Rid of Oregon’s Renewable Tax Credit Program (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

The Sun Is Shining on Oregon Solar Power (Renewable Energy World)

Ocean Energy Concepts Proliferate (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

BC Hydro Purchases Clean Power from Zellstoff Celgar Pulp Mill (Pulp & Paper, Canada)

Ohio - FirstEnergy Abandons Plan to Burn Wood, Will Close Boilers at R.E. Burger Plant (Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH)

Minnesota - Charting the Future of Woody Biomass Resources (Worthington Daily Globe, MN)

China Protests U.S. Green-Energy Probe (Wall Street Journal)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Associated Industries Spends $30,000 to Switch to LED - Company Cutting Energy Costs in Long Term (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Electric Cars Are Charging into the Marketplace (LA Times, CA)

Benevolent Biomass - Biochar Stoves Could Fight Climate Change (CNN)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Boom or Not, Internet Bandwidth Prices Still Falling (GigaOM)

Wireless Firms Count on the Future of the Internet (National Public Radio)

F.B.I. Seeks Wider Wiretap Law for Web (NY Times)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

WA State Senate Leader Rejects Calls to Exclude Snohomish County Lawmaker (Associated Press)

Senator Karen Fraser Moving Up to No. 2 Job in Washington State Senate (Olympian, WA)

No Nativity Scene to be Displayed in Olympia (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

GENERAL NEWS

Storm Pulled a Fast One on the Region - Unexpectedly strong winds caught experts, residents by surprise; thousands remain without power (Olympian, WA)

Wind Brings Hint of What’s Ahead - Gusty storm cuts power to thousands as snow-bearing system heads this way (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Man, 3-Year-Old Narrowly Escape Falling Tree, Truck Fire Sparked by Power Line (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

Court Rejects Shelton Port Commissioner Jay Hupp’s Recall Petition – ADAGE Opponents winless so far in legal battles (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Belfair Eagle Scout Earns All 129 Merit Badges (KING-TV, Seattle)

Facebook Pics May Be Used to Fight Insurance Claim (Courthouse News Service)

DIVERSIONS

Pink Whistles & All - Referees raise $5,000 for Susan G. Komen Foundation

Furious Ryanair Passengers Protest in Plane

Man Charged With Eat & Run at Top Restaurants

SONG OF THE DAY

A-Ha - The Sun Always Shines On TV