Energy News Digest for January 4, 2011

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

Four More Dangerous Electrical Structures Found in Seattle (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/432708_citylight03.html

Columbia & Snake River Shippers Seek Port of Portland Subsidies While Locks Are Repaired (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=13775511

Microsoft Says Lost Hotmail E-Mails Now Restored (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_16999871

Canada - Bald Eagles Forced from Feeding Grounds by Poor Chum Runs (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/Bald+eagles+forced+from+feeding+grounds+poor+chum+runs+story+photos/4056901/story.html

California - San Joaquin Valley Utilities & Firms Work to Meet Green Energy Mandates - “It doesn’t pencil out without the subsidies.” (Modesto Bee, CA)

http://www.modbee.com/2011/01/02/1495066/green-energy-gets-real.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Four More Dangerous Electrical Structures Found in Seattle

·         California - 14-Year-Old Driver Survives Crash, Killed by Live Wire

·         Grant PUD’s Smallest Rate Hike Goes to Residential Customers

·         Editorial – Oregon’s Sudden Energy Shift Comes at a High Cost

·         Bainbridge Considers Requiring Backup Generators for Gas Pumps

·         Montana - Southern Montana Electric Proposes Customer-Owned Cooperative with Electric City Power

·         Mason PUD 3 Commission Announces 2011 Regular Meeting Schedule

·         Gordon Thomas Honeywell LLP Welcomes Partners Eric Lee Christensen & Durham C. McCormick, Jr.

·         California - San Bruno Natural Gas Blast: Feds Urge Pacific Gas & Electric to Verify Records

·         California - New Natural Gas Plant to Aid in Integrating Energy from Solar, Wind

·         Mississippi Utility Sues Railroad over Monopoly

·         Utilities Seek Fresh Talent for Smart Grids

·         Editorial - Penalize Pepco for Poor Performance in Delivering Electrical Service

·         2011 Hydropower Outlook

·         Canada - Bald Eagles Forced from Feeding Grounds by Poor Chum Runs

·         Buzzkill: USA’s Bumblebee Population Declining

·         Blackbird Mystery Deepens: More Birds Fall from Sky in Louisiana

·         Columbia & Snake River Shippers Seek Port of Portland Subsidies While Locks Are Repaired

·         Clean Air Agency Bans Burning in Thurston County Wood Stoves, Fireplaces

·         California - San Joaquin Valley Utilities & Firms Work to Meet Green Energy Mandates

·         Wind Industry Outlines Priorities for This Year

·         US Interior Urges Iberdrola to Cut Size of California Wind Farm

·         Push for Turbines in Connecticut Hampered by a Lack of ... Wind

·         Gresham Plans Unique Hydro Energy Project Using Sewage Plant Outfall Pipes

·         While Communities Fight Biomass Plants, Congress Pays to Build Them

·         Maine - Colby College Goes to Biomass Heat

·         Connecticut - Outdoor Furnaces Facing Possible Ban

·         New York - Turning the East River’s Flow into Electricity

·         Wisconsin - Madison Plant to Recycle Coating from Solar Panels

·         For Sale: Student-Built Energy-Efficient Home

·         Richland Company Wants to Install Charging Stations for Electric Cars

·         In 24 States, be Careful How You Throw Away Your Old Computer

·         Microsoft Says Lost Hotmail E-Mails Now Restored

·         More on State Plan for Qwest-CenturyLink Merger

·         Firefox Dethrones IE in Europe, But Its Real Battle is with Chrome

·         Could Verizon Steal Apple’s Thunder?

·         Wi-Fi Hotspots, Only Going to Get Hotter

·         Ceiling Lights in Minnesota Send Coded Internet Data

·         BIAW Names Losey to Replace Mccabe as Leader

·         Editorial - Power Shift Looming for Department of Fish & Wildlife

·         Strained States Turning to Laws to Curb Labor Unions

·         Shelton Woman Killed in Car Crash on Agate Road

·         More People Moved Out of Washington State Last Year than into the State

WORD OF THE DAY

Disquisition • \disk-kwah-ZISH-un\ • Noun – A formal inquiry into or discussion of a subject

Brenda was asked to present a brief disquisition on the Bonneville Power Administration’s “small farm and residential exchange program.” Two hours later she was still droning on. “I thought you said this was going to be a short presentation,” huffed the moderator. “So far, it is,” was her tart rejoinder.

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

Four More Dangerous Electrical Structures Found in Seattle (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/432708_citylight03.html

California - 14-Year-Old Driver Survives Crash, Killed by Live Wire (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_16999336

Grant PUD’s Smallest Rate Hike Goes to Residential Customers (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/jan/03/grant-puds-smallest-rate-hike-goes-to-residential/

Editorial – Oregon’s Sudden Energy Shift Comes at a High Cost (Salem Statesman Journal, OR)

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20110104/OPINION/101040318/1048

Bainbridge Considers Requiring Backup Generators for Gas Pumps (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/jan/03/bainbridge-considers-requiring-backup-generators/

Montana - Southern Montana Electric Proposes Customer-Owned Cooperative with Electric City Power (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20110104/NEWS01/101040308/SME-proposes-customer-owned-cooperative-with-ECP

Mason PUD 3 Commission Announces 2011 Regular Meeting Schedule (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/Newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=817

Gordon Thomas Honeywell LLP Welcomes Partners Eric Lee Christensen & Durham C. McCormick, Jr. (PR Newswire)

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/gordon-thomas-honeywell-llp-welcomes-partners-eric-lee-christensen-and-durham-c-mccormick-jr-112816264.html

California - San Bruno Natural Gas Blast: Feds Urge Pacific Gas & Electric to Verify Records (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/01/03/BABM1H3G9Q.DTL

California - New Natural Gas Plant to Aid in Integrating Energy from Solar, Wind (Solar Home & Business Journal)

http://solarhbj.com/news/new-natural-gas-plant-to-aid-in-integrating-energy-from-solar-wind-sources-01249

Mississippi Utility Sues Railroad over Monopoly - claims the railroad uses a monopoly over coal deliveries to inflate costs (Associated Press)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/01/03/financial/f111014S04.DTL

Utilities Seek Fresh Talent for Smart Grids (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/30/business/energy-environment/30utility.html

Editorial - Penalize Pepco for Poor Performance in Delivering Electrical Service (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/28/AR2010122803725.html

2011 Hydropower Outlook (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/01/2011-hydropower-outlook

FISH & WILDLIFE

Canada - Bald Eagles Forced from Feeding Grounds by Poor Chum Runs (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/Bald+eagles+forced+from+feeding+grounds+poor+chum+runs+story+photos/4056901/story.html

Buzzkill: USA’s Bumblebee Population Declining (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2011/01/widespread-decline-of-north-american-bumblebees/1?csp=34tech

Blackbird Mystery Deepens: More Birds Fall from Sky in Louisiana (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2011/0104/Blackbird-mystery-deepens-more-birds-fall-from-sky-in-Louisiana

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Columbia & Snake River Shippers Seek Port of Portland Subsidies While Locks Are Repaired (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=13775511

Clean Air Agency Bans Burning in Thurston County Wood Stoves, Fireplaces (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/01/04/1494160/clean-air-agency-bans-burning.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

California - San Joaquin Valley Utilities & Firms Work to Meet Green Energy Mandates - “It doesn’t pencil out without the subsidies.” (Modesto Bee, CA)

http://www.modbee.com/2011/01/02/1495066/green-energy-gets-real.html

Wind Industry Outlines Priorities for This Year - Includes tax incentives for wind energy & a renewable electricity standard (The Hill)

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/135723-wind-industry-outlines-priorities-for-energy-bill

US Interior Urges Iberdrola to Cut Size of California Wind Farm (Platts)

http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/ElectricPower/6717340

Push for Turbines in Connecticut Hampered by a Lack of ... Wind (Republican American, Waterbury, CT)

http://www.rep-am.com/news/local/530553.txt

Gresham Plans Unique Hydro Energy Project Using Sewage Plant Outfall Pipes (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2010/12/gresham-plans-unique-hydro-project.html

While Communities Fight Biomass Plants, Congress Pays to Build Them (Huffington Post)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/carol-polsgrove/while-communities-fight-b_b_798378.html

Maine - Colby College Goes to Biomass Heat (Associated Press)

http://www.wlbz2.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=142360&catid=3

Connecticut - Outdoor Furnaces Facing Possible Ban (Connecticut Mirror, Hartford)

http://www.ctmirror.org/story/8818/outdoor-furnaces-facing-possible-ban

New York - Turning the East River’s Flow into Electricity (NY Times)

http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/03/turning-the-east-rivers-flow-into-electricity/

Wisconsin - Madison Plant to Recycle Coating from Solar Panels (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WI)

http://www.jsonline.com/business/112732309.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

For Sale: Student-Built Energy-Efficient Home - Omak students give construction curriculum a workout (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/jan/03/for-sale-student-built-energy-efficient-home/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Richland Company Wants to Install Charging Stations for Electric Cars (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/12/31/1487240/richland-company-wants-to-install.html

In 24 States, be Careful How You Throw Away Your Old Computer (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/technology/2011-01-04-e-waste_N.htm?csp=34money

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Microsoft Says Lost Hotmail E-Mails Now Restored (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_16999871

More on State Plan for Qwest-CenturyLink Merger (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/technologybrierdudleysblog/2013837521_more_on_state_plan_for_qwest-c.html

Firefox Dethrones IE in Europe, But Its Real Battle is with Chrome (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2011/01/04/firefox-dethrones-ie-but-its-real-battle-is-with-chrome/

Could Verizon Steal Apple’s Thunder? (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2011/01/03/benzinga747809.DTL

Wi-Fi Hotspots, Only Going to Get Hotter (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2010/12/30/wi-fi-hotspots-only-going-to-get-hotter/

Ceiling Lights in Minnesota Send Coded Internet Data (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/12/27/AR2010122701267.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

BIAW Names Losey to Replace Mccabe as Leader (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/01/03/1493558/biaw-names-losey-to-replace-mccabe.html

Editorial - Power Shift Looming for Department of Fish & Wildlife (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/opinion/article_94024cf8-17a8-11e0-b563-001cc4c03286.html

Strained States Turning to Laws to Curb Labor Unions (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/04/business/04labor.html

GENERAL NEWS

Shelton Woman Killed in Car Crash on Agate Road (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/news/4235-shelton-woman-killed-in-car-crash-on-agate-road

More People Moved Out of Washington State Last Year than into the State (Puget Sound Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2011/01/03/more-people-moved-out-of-washington.html

DIVERSIONS

“Chicken Poop” Tops List of Beauty Products with Ugly Names

http://consumerist.com/2011/01/chicken-poop-other-beauty-products-with-less-than-pretty-names.html

Florida Man Says He’ll Live in Lions’ Den for 30 Days

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/01/03/national/a023959S77.DTL

Man Sues College after It Rejects Son Following $40K Donation

http://consumerist.com/2011/01/man-sues-college-after-it-rejects-son-following-40k-donation.html

SONG OF THE DAY

The Tokens – The Lion Sleeps Tonight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_LBmUwi6mEo