Monday, November 22, 2010

Energy News Digest for November 22, 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

Winter Weather Advisory Remains in Effect - More Snow Expected (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Snohomish County PUD Warns of Higher Bills - The BPA has requested an 8.5 percent hike on wholesale power rates, which could get passed on to customers in 2011 (Everett Herald, WA)

Avista Rate Hikes Approved with Warning - Annual Audits Imposed to Prevent More Incorrect Charges (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Fish Fight: Wild vs. Hatchery (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Pilot Project in Port Angeles to Store Electricity; Venture First in Region, May be First in Nation (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Bonneville Power Administration Seeks Rate Increase for Wholesale Power
·         Snohomish County PUD Warns of Higher Bills
·         No Clark Public Utilities Rate Increase Expected, But Bonneville Power Hike Looms
·         Grant PUD Rate Increase May be Bigger
·         Avista Rate Hikes Approved with Warning
·         Oregon Regulators Endorse Portland General Electric’s Long-Term Energy Plan
·         Former Washington Water Power Head Satre Dies at 92
·         California - EPA Rejects Challenge to Hayward Gas Fired Power Plant
·         Peter Darbee, CEO of Pacific Gas & Electric, Acknowledges a ‘Year of Challenge’
·         Pacific Gas & Electric Considers Smartmeter Compromise for Customers Who Fear New, Wireless Meters May Jeopardize Their Health
·         Op/Ed – Congressman Doc Hastings: One Energy Panel Better for Nation
·         Nations That Debate Coal Use Export It to Feed China’s Need
·         Fish Fight: Wild vs. Hatchery
·         Salmon Runs Dwindling in Central Kitsap
·         Alaska Salmon Harvest 11th Largest Since Statehood; Best Value in 18 Years
·         Smelt Fishing in Columbia River Will be Closed in 2010-2011
·         No Use Crying over Spilled Fish: Thousands of Salmon Given Away
·         Massive Study of Upper Columbia River Underway
·         Tidal Power: Could Waves Provide Ten Percent of America’s Electricity?
·         California – Pacific Gas & Electric Playing Catch-Up with Solar Popularity
·         Eastern Idaho County Restricts Wind Farm Development
·         Massachusetts - Cape Wind Foe’s Funding Takes Hit
·         North Dakota - Renewable Energy Push Leads to Price Jolt for Rural Electric Co-Ops
·         Ohio - Local Sawmill Generates Its Own Energy
·         Garbage to Diesel - Pasco Biomass Plant Says It Will Reopen
·         Pilot Project in Port Angeles to Store Electricity; Venture First in Region
·         Thurston County Businesses Can Benefit from Energy-Savings Program
·         Seattle City Light, Bonneville Compare LEDs with Fluorescents Side by Side
·         Oregon - Salem Launches Lighting Efficiency Program for Businesses
·         More LED Bulbs to Choose From (Photos)
·         Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s Charger Unit a Smart Buyer
·         Weak World Economy Cuts Carbon Pollution Last Year
·         What if Captured Carbon Makes a Getaway?
·         Ecosystem Restoration a Growing Source of Jobs
·         Russia “Closely Watching” EU Shift to Green Energy
·         Researchers Debate Whether Biofuels Are Truly Greener than Fossil Fuels
·         Avoiding the Hazards of Wood Burning
·         In Hard Times, Less ‘Green’ Turkey for Thanksgiving?
·         FCC Chief Sees Clouds Darkening Broadband Skies
·         Chinese Internet Diversion Was Worrisome, Report Says
·         Wi-Fi Makes Trees Sick, Study Says
·         Top GOP Leaders in Washington Legislature Re-Elected to Statehouse Jobs
·         Economists Want to Stop Teachers’ Master Degree Bonuses
·         Winter Weather Advisory Remains in Effect - More Snow Expected
·         Your Car’s Emergency Kit Needs Ten Items
·         Shooting at Shelton’s Disco Durango
·         McNeil Island Prison to Close Next Year
·         Grocery Workers, Stores Reach Tentative Agreement
·         Oops: Air Force Sends Boeing’s Confidential Tanker Bid Details to Airbus & Vice Versa

WORD OF THE DAY

Fob • \FAWB\ • Verb – To deceive, cheat

“Good grief,” groused Abercrombie. “I bought this stupid Yugo for ten bucks…and that was the worst item ever fobbed off on me,” he muttered as he pushed the four-wheeled boat anchor into the nearest driveway off the country lane and abandoned it to its fate.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Bonneville Power Administration Seeks Rate Increase for Wholesale Power (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Snohomish County PUD Warns of Higher Bills - The BPA has requested an 8.5 percent hike on wholesale power rates, which could get passed on to customers in 2011 (Everett Herald, WA)

No Clark Public Utilities Rate Increase Expected, But Bonneville Power Hike Looms (Oregonian, Portland)

Grant PUD Rate Increase May be Bigger (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

Avista Rate Hikes Approved with Warning - Annual Audits Imposed to Prevent More Incorrect Charges (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Oregon Regulators Endorse Portland General Electric’s Long-Term Energy Plan (Oregonian, Portland)

Former Washington Water Power Head Satre Dies at 92 (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

California - EPA Rejects Challenge to Hayward Gas Fired Power Plant (Associated Press)

Peter Darbee, CEO of Pacific Gas & Electric, Acknowledges a ‘Year of Challenge’ (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

Pacific Gas & Electric Considers Smartmeter Compromise for Customers Who Fear New, Wireless Meters May Jeopardize Their Health (SF Chronicle)

Op/Ed – Congressman Doc Hastings: One Energy Panel Better for Nation (Politico)

Nations That Debate Coal Use Export It to Feed China’s Need (NY Times)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Fish Fight: Wild vs. Hatchery (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Salmon Runs Dwindling in Central Kitsap (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Alaska Salmon Harvest 11th Largest Since Statehood; Best Value in 18 Years (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

Smelt Fishing in Columbia River Will be Closed in 2010-2011 (Seattle Times)

No Use Crying over Spilled Fish: Thousands of Salmon Given Away (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Massive Study of Upper Columbia River Underway (Associated Press)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Tidal Power: Could Waves Provide Ten Percent of America’s Electricity? (LA Times, CA)

California – Pacific Gas & Electric Playing Catch-Up with Solar Popularity (Santa Rosa Press-Democrat, CA)

Eastern Idaho County Restricts Wind Farm Development (Associated Press)

Massachusetts - Cape Wind Foe’s Funding Takes Hit (Cape Cod Times, MA)

North Dakota - Renewable Energy Push Leads to Price Jolt for Rural Electric Co-Ops (WDAY-TV, Fargo, ND)

Ohio - Local Sawmill Generates Its Own Energy (WKBN-TV - Youngstown, OH)

Garbage to Diesel - Pasco Biomass Plant Says It Will Reopen (Associated Press)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Pilot Project in Port Angeles to Store Electricity; Venture First in Region, May be First in Nation (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Thurston County Businesses Can Benefit from Energy-Savings Program - Utility teams with local program (Olympian, WA)

Seattle City Light, Bonneville Compare LEDs with Fluorescents Side by Side (Business Video TCM Net)

Oregon - Salem Launches Lighting Efficiency Program for Businesses (Salem Statesman-Journal, OR)

More LED Bulbs to Choose From (Photos) (CNET News)

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s Charger Unit a Smart Buyer (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Weak World Economy Cuts Carbon Pollution Last Year (Associated Press)

What if Captured Carbon Makes a Getaway? (NY Times)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Ecosystem Restoration a Growing Source of Jobs - Oregon voters ensure steady stream of funds (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Russia “Closely Watching” EU Shift to Green Energy (Reuters)

Researchers Debate Whether Biofuels Are Truly Greener than Fossil Fuels (Fox News)

Avoiding the Hazards of Wood Burning (Seattle Times)

In Hard Times, Less ‘Green’ Turkey for Thanksgiving? - Cash-strapped Americans have to dig deeper in their pockets to buy organic turkey. Will they cut back this year? (Christian Science Monitor)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

FCC Chief Sees Clouds Darkening Broadband Skies (GigaOM)

Chinese Internet Diversion Was Worrisome, Report Says (Washington Post)

Wi-Fi Makes Trees Sick, Study Says (PC World)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Top GOP Leaders in Washington Legislature Re-Elected to Statehouse Jobs (Associated Press)

Economists Want to Stop Teachers’ Master Degree Bonuses (Associated Press)

GENERAL NEWS

Winter Weather Advisory Remains in Effect - More Snow Expected (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Your Car’s Emergency Kit Needs Ten Items (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

Shooting at Shelton’s Disco Durango (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

McNeil Island Prison to Close Next Year (Seattle Times)

Grocery Workers, Stores Reach Tentative Agreement (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

Oops: Air Force Sends Boeing’s Confidential Tanker Bid Details to Airbus & Vice Versa (Associated Press)

DIVERSIONS

Parental Food Nagging May Produce Fussy Eaters

California Couple Stand Out as World’s Tallest

Chihuahua Joins Japan Police Rescue Squad

Three Arrested over Indonesian Ringtone Mayhem

SONG OF THE DAY

Norah Jones - Cold, Cold Heart