The Energy News Digest: Energy News Digest for September 1, 2011

Thursday, September 1, 2011

Energy News Digest for September 1, 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

McKenna Wins Health-Care Suit, Loses Goldmark Case over Okanogan PUD Power Line Case in Washington State Supreme Court (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2016079154_mckenna_wins_loses_in_state_su.html

Montana - Last Day to Comment on Proposed Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Power Deal (KAJ-TV, Kalispell, MT – Now, about those thank you notes to public utilities…)

http://www.kaj18.com/news/last-day-to-comment-on-proposed-cfac-power-deal/

California Cap & Trade Proposal Criticized as Inadequate, Harmful to Industry “…"BPA disagrees that California has 'authority' to regulate BPA…” (Cogeneration & Onsite Power Production)

http://www.cospp.com/news/2011/09/1490602313/calif-cap-and-trade-proposal-criticized-as-inadequate-harmful-to-industry.html

Feds Still on the Hook for Foiling Energy Stimulus (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/08/31/39438.htm

Solar Firm Aided by Federal Loans Shuts Doors (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/01/business/energy-environment/solyndra-solar-firm-aided-by-federal-loans-shuts-doors.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

McKenna Wins Health-Care Suit, Loses Goldmark Case over Okanogan PUD Power Line Case in Washington State Supreme Court
Montana - Last Day to Comment on Proposed Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Power Deal
Port Angeles City Electricity Bills Likely to Rise Next Year
Infrastructure & Dam Licensing Requirements - Grant PUD Plans Rate Hike
Officials Celebrate New Moses Lake BMW Plant - Thank you Hydropower!
Everett's Kimberly-Clark Mill Preparing to Close
Energy Secretary Fears US Engineering Programs Falling Behind
Editorial: Pacific Gas & Electric Shouldn't Stick Ratepayers with Repair Bill
Energy-Hungry China is Becoming a Big Player in the Mountain West
Texas - New EPA Rules Could Mean Major Power Outages
Eastern Utilities Tap Virtually Every Resource Available East of the Rockies to Restore Power Following Irene
Massachusetts - Mayor, Officials Blast Utility's Storm Response
Japan Study Boosts Nuclear Power's Cost Estimates
Shocking Investigation on Stray Electricity
Revenge on the Smolt Snatchers - Trouble in Seabird Paradise
Commercial Gill-Net Season on Columbia River for Four Native American Tribes
Summer Salmon Fishing Season Has Been Stellar
Comment period extended for winter plan for Lake Pend Oreille
Solar Firm Aided by Federal Loans Shuts Doors
Solyndra's Collapse a Worrisome Sign for 'Green-Tech' Hopes
Green Jobs Backlash? A Reality Check from Bellingham
Massachusetts - State Supreme Court to Hear Appeal of Cape Wind Decision Sept. 8
Has Wind Energy Reached Overcapacity?
Renewable Energy Corporation Singapore Unaffected by Lay-offs in Norway
World’s Biggest Tidal Power Plant Opened in South Korea
Feds Still on the Hook for Foiling Energy Stimulus
Energy Monitoring: A Crucial Part of Energy Conservation
Tell Us About Your Water Heater!
California Cap & Trade Proposal Criticized as Inadequate, Harmful to Industry
London Olympics Drops Carbon-Offset Plan
Seattle Electric Car Charging Station Runs on Solar Power
British Columbia - Thefts at Landfill Spark Battery Ban
Local Residents Urge Clallam County Withdrawal from UN-Sponsored Environmental Group
Editorial – Jefferson County’ s Digital, Economic Divide
Wi-Fi Scam Could Steal Personal Information from College Students
Washington State Attorney General Clears Mason County Sheriff's Office
Parole Denied for Man Who Killed Kitsap Deputy
Space Junk Littering Orbit; Might Need Cleaning Up

WORD OF THE DAY

Mettle • \MET-tull\ • Noun - 1a: vigor and strength of spirit or temperament b: staying quality: stamina 2: quality of temperament or disposition

“I have only one question for you Simpson,” growled the grizzled, cigar chewing CEO of the materials testing firm. “Do you have the mettle to test this metal?” (Haw Haw)

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

McKenna Wins Health-Care Suit, Loses Goldmark Case over Okanogan PUD Power Line Case in Washington State Supreme Court (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2016079154_mckenna_wins_loses_in_state_su.html

Montana - Last Day to Comment on Proposed Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Power Deal (KAJ-TV, Kalispell, MT – Now, about those thank you notes to public utilities…)

http://www.kaj18.com/news/last-day-to-comment-on-proposed-cfac-power-deal/

Port Angeles City Electricity Bills Likely to Rise Next Year - Due to Bonneville Power Administration wholesale rate increase (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110901/news/309019986/port-angeles-city-electricity-bills-likely-to-rise-next-year

Infrastructure & Dam Licensing Requirements - Grant PUD Plans Rate Hike (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/sep/01/grant-pud-plans-rate-hike/

Officials celebrate new Moses Lake BMW plant “…Low hydropower rates from Columbia River dams are drawing an increasing number of high-tech companies to Moses Lake and surrounding Grant County…” (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/128890078.html

Everett's Kimberly-Clark Mill Preparing to Close - Had teamed with Snohomish PUD on Biomass energy facility (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110901/BIZ/709019872

Energy Secretary Fears US Engineering Programs Falling Behind (Oregon Public Radio)

http://news.opb.org/article/energy-secretary-fears-us-engineering-programs-falling-behind/

Editorial: Pacific Gas & Electric Shouldn't Stick Ratepayers with Repair Bill (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/09/01/3876276/pge-shouldnt-stick-ratepayers.html

Energy-Hungry China is Becoming a Big Player in the Mountain West (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2011/09/01/west/21258/Energy-hungry-China-is-becoming-a-big-player-in-the-Mountain-West/

Texas - New EPA Rules Could Mean Major Power Outages (Houston Business Journal, TX)

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/news/2011/09/01/new-epa-rules-could-mean-major-power.html

Eastern Utilities Tap Virtually Every Resource Available East of the Rockies to Restore Power Following Irene (Electric Energy Online)

http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=160562

Massachusetts - Mayor, Officials Blast Utility's Storm Response (Sun Chronicle, Attleboro, MA)

http://www.thesunchronicle.com/articles/2011/09/01/news/10103518.txt

Japan Study Boosts Nuclear Power's Cost Estimates (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/01/japan-energy-cost-idUSL4E7K10BE20110901

Shocking Investigation on Stray Electricity (CBS News)

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/08/31/eveningnews/main20100122.shtml

FISH & WILDLIFE

Revenge on the Smolt Snatchers - Trouble in Seabird Paradise (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016073606_cormorants01m.html

Commercial Gill-Net Season on Columbia River for Four Native American Tribes (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/08/commericial_gill-net_season_on.html

Summer Salmon Fishing Season Has Been Stellar (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2016072994_fish01.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Comment period extended for winter plan for Lake Pend Oreille (Coeur d’Alene Press, ID)

http://www.cdapress.com/news/outdoors/article_0d555ada-36ef-51f5-aa9a-31028718c9b1.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Solar Firm Aided by Federal Loans Shuts Doors (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/01/business/energy-environment/solyndra-solar-firm-aided-by-federal-loans-shuts-doors.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Solyndra's Collapse a Worrisome Sign for 'Green-Tech' Hopes (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_18798501

Green Jobs Backlash? A Reality Check from Bellingham (Sightline Daily)

http://daily.sightline.org/2011/08/31/green-jobs-backlash/

Massachusetts - State Supreme Court to Hear Appeal of Cape Wind Decision Sept. 8 (AIM Business Insider)

http://blog.aimnet.org/AIM-IssueConnect/bid/66066/State-Supreme-Court-to-Hear-Appeal-of-Cape-Wind-Decision-Sept-8

Has Wind Energy Reached Overcapacity? (REVE)

http://www.evwind.es/noticias.php?id_not=13241

Renewable Energy Corporation Singapore Unaffected by Lay-offs in Norway (ScandAsia)

http://www.scandasia.com/viewNews.php?coun_code=sg&news_id=9386

World’s Biggest Tidal Power Plant Opened in South Korea (The Green Optimistic)

http://www.greenoptimistic.com/2011/08/31/korea-biggest-tidal-power-plant/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Feds Still on the Hook for Foiling Energy Stimulus (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/08/31/39438.htm

Energy Monitoring: A Crucial Part of Energy Conservation (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2011/09/energy-monitoring-a-crucial-part-of-energy-conservation

Tell Us About Your Water Heater! A quick survey can help jump-start residential energy efficiency (Sightline Daily)

http://daily.sightline.org/2011/08/31/tell-us-about-your-water-heater/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

California Cap & Trade Proposal Criticized as Inadequate, Harmful to Industry “…"BPA disagrees that California has 'authority' to regulate BPA…” (Cogeneration & Onsite Power Production)

http://www.cospp.com/news/2011/09/1490602313/calif-cap-and-trade-proposal-criticized-as-inadequate-harmful-to-industry.html

London Olympics Drops Carbon-Offset Plan (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-08-31/olympics-drops-carbon-offset-plan-to-focus-on-u-k-benefits.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Seattle Electric Car Charging Station Runs on Solar Power (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Running-On-Solar-128849128.html

British Columbia - Thefts at Landfill Spark Battery Ban (Salmon Arm Observer, BC)

http://www.bclocalnews.com/news/128822288.html

Local Residents Urge Clallam County Withdrawal from UN-Sponsored Environmental Group (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.konp.com/local/7187

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Editorial – Jefferson County’ s Digital, Economic Divide: Efforts to bring broadband to the county are moving along, thanks to a $3.2 million federal grant (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

http://www.ptleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=29931

Wi-Fi Scam Could Steal Personal Information from College Students (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.kndu.com/story/15369299/wi-fi-scam-could-steal-personal-information-from-college-students

GENERAL NEWS

Washington State Attorney General Clears Mason County Sheriff's Office (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/13598-attorney-general-clears-sheriffs-office

Parole Denied for Man Who Killed Kitsap Deputy (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016078695_apwaparoledenied.html

Space Junk Littering Orbit; Might Need Cleaning Up (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Earth-lost-fight-to-keep-orbit-clean-of-space-junk-2150950.php

DIVERSIONS

Man Finds $150,000 in Garden