Energy News Digest for September 28, 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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Energy Northwest Nuclear Power Plant Back On Grid (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/09/28/1659298/nuclear-plant-back-on-grid-after.html

How A Fallen Tree Can Make A House Explode - The electrical arcing that Puget Sound Energy says caused a natural-gas explosion on Monday (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016337715_gasleakexplain28m.html

Electrical Utility Sued After Massive Texas Wildfire (Associated Press)

http://mynorthwest.com/15/553334/Power-utility-sued-after-massive-Texas-wildfire

Renewable Energy Corporation to Assess Permanent Closedown of Parts of the Production Capacity in Norway (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/28/idUS51167+28-Sep-2011+HUG20110928

Public Hearing on Simpson Lumber Company’s Waterfront Air Quality Permit (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/15275-public-hearing-simpson-timber

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Energy Northwest Nuclear Power Plant Back On Grid
• How A Fallen Tree Can Make A House Explode
• Electrical Utility Sued After Massive Texas Wildfire
• Texas - Utility Tree-Cutting Challenges in Bastrop County
• Grant County PUD Commissioners Approve Rate Increase Distribution
• Oregon – Forest Grove Power Costs Get Passed Along
• Mason County PUD No. 3 to Purchase Renewable Energy Credits
• Should Florida Power & Light Customers Pre-Pay For Nuclear Energy Plants?
• Group Backs New Standard Following Connecticut Power Plant Blast
• California - Call for Caution on State Energy Tax Breaks
• In North Dakota, Flames of Wasted Natural Gas Light the Prairie
• Northern Pikeminnow Reward Program on Columbia River Extended
• Elwha River Flows Freely Past Destroyed Dam Portion
• Busting Up Klamath River Dams Could Be Boon to Tribes & Salmon
• Hatchery Steelhead Opens on Columbia River
• Olympic National Forest Clearcuts Sought in Exchange for Wild Olympics
• Fluoride Question Will be Floated to Port Orchard Water Customers
• Editorial - Howard Hanson, A Dam Site Better
• Renewable Energy Corporation to Assess Permanent Closedown of Parts of the Production Capacity in Norway
• Judge Refuses To Extend Sale Timeline for Solyndra
• NY Power Authority Trustees Vote to End Proposed Great Lakes Offshore Wind Project
• Three Maine Wood Pellet Producers Receive Biofuel Grants
• Farmers Harvesting the Power of Solar Energy
• Ductless Heat Pumps Get a Northwest Push
• Kitsap County Farmers, Others in ‘Food Chain’ Can Get Free Energy Audits
• California - Bridgelux Cuts Jobs, Shifts Focus in How It Makes LED Systems
• Smart Energy: Kitchen Appliances That Save You ‘Green’
• UW, WSU to Receive $80 Million to Develop Biofuels
• Census Data: Portland Region Still Car-Dependent, Despite Bike & Public Transit Commuting
• Report Says Vehicle Fuel Should Be the Priority, Not Electricity
• Amazon.com Unveils Kindle Fire Tablet to rival iPad
• Google+ Rockets on Search-Engine Promo
• Survey Sees Major Expansion of World’s Data Centers
• Liquor Battle Already Approaching Total Cash Raised in Last Year’s I-1100 Fight
• Public Hearing on Simpson Lumber Company’s Waterfront Air Quality Permit
• First Lawsuit Filed In Columbia River I-5 Bridge Project
• US Ambassador Gary Locke Admired, Reviled in China

WORD OF THE DAY

Redoubt • \ri-ˈDOW-T\ • Noun - 1a: a small usually temporary enclosed defensive work b: a defended position: protective barrier 2: a secure retreat: stronghold

A snow fort, a blue woolen blanket draped over a folding card table, barriers made out of couch cushions. Seems like the redoubts we made as children were much more comforting and safe than the cubicle walls that now enclose our daily lives.

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

Energy Northwest Nuclear Power Plant Back On Grid (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/09/28/1659298/nuclear-plant-back-on-grid-after.html

How A Fallen Tree Can Make A House Explode - The electrical arcing that Puget Sound Energy says caused a natural-gas explosion on Monday (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016337715_gasleakexplain28m.html

Electrical Utility Sued After Massive Texas Wildfire (Associated Press)

http://mynorthwest.com/15/553334/Power-utility-sued-after-massive-Texas-wildfire

Texas - Utility Tree-Cutting Challenges in Bastrop County: Trees Cut on Private Property, Upsetting Some (KXAN-TV, Austin, TX)

http://www.kxan.com/dpp/news/local/tree-cutting-challenges-in-bastrop-co.

Grant County PUD Commissioners Approve Rate Increase Distribution (Grant County PUD)

http://www.gcpud.org/yourPud/newsRoom/newsreleases/2011/092711%20Revenue%20Increase.html

Oregon – Forest Grove Power Costs Get Passed Along (Forest Grove Times, OR)

http://www.forestgrovenewstimes.com/opinion/story.php?story_id=131717711555703900

Mason County PUD No. 3 to Purchase Renewable Energy Credits (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/15276-renewable-energy-purchased

Should Florida Power & Light Customers Pre-Pay For Nuclear Energy Plants? (Palm Beach Post, FL)

http://www.tcpalm.com/news/2011/sep/27/should-fpl-customers-pre-pay-for-nuclear-plants/

Group Backs New Standard Following Connecticut Power Plant Blast (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2016333326_apuspowerplantexplosion.html

California - Call for Caution on State Energy Tax Breaks (Bloomberg News)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/09/27/BUJC1LAB2E.DTL

In North Dakota, Flames of Wasted Natural Gas Light the Prairie (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/business/energy-environment/in-north-dakota-wasted-natural-gas-flickers-against-the-sky.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Northern Pikeminnow Reward Program on Columbia River Extended (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2016336670_northern_pikeminnow_reward_pro.html?syndication=rss

Elwha River Flows Freely Past Destroyed Dam Portion (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110928/NEWS/309289984/elwha-river-flows-freely-past-destroyed-dam-portion

Busting Up Klamath River Dams Could Be Boon to Tribes & Salmon (Indian Country)

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2011/09/busting-up-klamath-river-dams-could-be-boon-to-tribes-and-salmon/

Hatchery Steelhead Opens on Columbia River (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/sep/27/hatchery-steelhead-opens-on-local-rivers/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Olympic National Forest Clearcuts Sought in Exchange for Wild Olympics (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110928/news/309289994/olympic-national-forest-clearcuts-sought-in-exchange-for-wild-olympics

Fluoride Question Will be Floated to Port Orchard Water Customers (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/sep/27/fluoride-question-will-be-floated-to-port-water/

Editorial - Howard Hanson, A Dam Site Better (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorials/2016336524_edit28corps.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Renewable Energy Corporation to Assess Permanent Closedown of Parts of the Production Capacity in Norway (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/09/28/idUS51167+28-Sep-2011+HUG20110928

Judge Refuses To Extend Sale Timeline for Solyndra (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2016332351_apussolyndrabankruptcy.html

NY Power Authority Trustees Vote to End Proposed Great Lakes Offshore Wind Project (New York Power Authority)

http://www.nypa.gov/Press/2011/110927b.html

Three Maine Wood Pellet Producers Receive Biofuel Grants (Bangor Daily News, ME)

http://bangordailynews.com/2011/09/27/business/three-maine-wood-pellet-producers-receive-biofuel-grants/?ref=latest

Farmers Harvesting the Power of Solar Energy (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/energynow/66136/farmers-harvesting-power-solar-energy

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Ductless Heat Pumps Get a Northwest Push (Oregon Public Radio)

http://earthfix.opb.org/energy/article/northwest-power-users-contemplate-ways-to-save-mon/

Kitsap County Farmers, Others in ‘Food Chain’ Can Get Free Energy Audits (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/sep/26/farmers-others-in-food-chain-can-get-free-energy/

California - Bridgelux Cuts Jobs, Shifts Focus in How It Makes LED Systems (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_18989405

Smart Energy: Kitchen Appliances That Save You ‘Green’ (North Jersey.Com)

http://www.northjersey.com/community/house_gardening/130488843_Smart_Energy__Kitchen_appliances_that_save_you__green_.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

UW, WSU to Receive $80 Million to Develop Biofuels (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/UW-WSU-to-receive-80-million-to-develop-biofuels-130699408.html

Census Data: Portland Region Still Car-Dependent, Despite Bike & Public Transit Commuting (Oregonian, Portland)

http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting/2011/09/census_data_portland_region_st.html

Report Says Vehicle Fuel Should Be the Priority, Not Electricity (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/09/27/transportation-fuel-challenge-dogs-the-u-s/?partner=rss&emc=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Amazon.com Unveils Kindle Fire Tablet to rival iPad (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Amazoncom-unveils-Kindle-Fire-tablet-to-rival-iPad-130700398.html

Google+ Rockets on Search-Engine Promo (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2011-09-27/google-popularity-increases/50574872/1?csp=34tech

Survey Sees Major Expansion of World’s Data Centers (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/09/28/technology/worlds-data-centers-expected-to-grow-survey-says.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Liquor Battle Already Approaching Total Cash Raised in Last Year’s I-1100 Fight (Publicola)

http://publicola.com/2011/09/20/liquor-battle-already-approaching-total-cash-raised-in-last-years-i-1100-fight/

GENERAL NEWS

Public Hearing on Simpson Lumber Company’s Waterfront Air Quality Permit (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/15275-public-hearing-simpson-timber

First Lawsuit Filed In Columbia River I-5 Bridge Project (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/130701378.html

US Ambassador Gary Locke Admired, Reviled in China (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2016335870_locke28.html

DIVERSIONS

Seattle Band Heart Nominated for Rock & Roll Hall of Fame

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=553230

Sleepbox Is a Tiny Hotel Room for Airport Layovers

http://gizmodo.com/5840904/sleepbox-is-a-tiny-hotel-room-for-airport-layovers

Sorry for Your (Job) Loss - Hallmark Unveils Sympathy Card Line for Layoffs

http://www.kirotv.com/money/29314990/detail.html

Massive Silver Haul Found On Shipwreck - British Steamship Sunk By German U-Boat

http://www.kirotv.com/news/29305583/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Heart - Even It Up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLhxF-Un39k&ob=av2n