Energy News Digest for November 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.

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

BC Hydro Paid Bonuses for Non-Existent Profit - Auditor general's report discovered millions of dollars in deferred debts (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/business/Hydro+paid+bonuses+existent+profit/5635771/story.html

Vancouver Sued Over Biomass-Related Moratorium - Clark County, meanwhile, takes steps to limit its liability (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/oct/31/city-sued-over-biomass-related-moratorium/

Portland's Questionable Water Utility Spending Prompts Formal Legal Threat (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/10/portlands_questionable_utility.html

Oregon - Lane Electric Cooperative Rural Utility Delivers a Rebate: Customers in outlying parts of Lane County will see smaller power bills in December (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

http://www.registerguard.com/web/updates/27106664-55/rate-electric-cooperative-lane-utility.html.csp

How Long Will It Take an Energy-Efficient Washer/Dryer to Pay for Itself? (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/The-Simple-Dollar/2011/1029/How-long-will-it-take-an-energy-efficient-washer-dryer-to-pay-for-itself

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• BC Hydro Paid Bonuses for Non-Existent Profit
• Oregon - Lane Electric Cooperative Rural Utility Delivers a Rebate
• Montana - Yellowstone Valley Electric Rejects Wholesale Rate Hike
• Mason County PUD 3 Commission to Hold November 8 Hearing on Commission Redistricting
• Anti-Coal Group Stages 'Zombie' March on Banks
• Pacific Gas & Electric Used Wrong Natural Gas Pipeline Tests for Years After '74 Rupture
• Generator in the Basement - Ten Sickened in Connecticut from Carbon Monoxide Exposure
• Japan Restarts Reactor Despite Nuke Power Concerns
• Japan: We Don’t Have Enough Electricity, So Everyone Dress Warmer!
• Hundreds Occupy Dam Construction Site in Brazil
• Maryland - Sparrows Point Steel Mill Wants More from Constellation, Exelon Merger
• Orcas Expected to Follow Chum Salmon
• New Cedar River Hatchery Starts Incubating Salmon Eggs with 8.5-Million on Hand
• Federal Judge Backs Rules That Limit Pesticide Use near Salmon Habitat
• Dam Removal: No One Has a Model of How to Go Forward
• Portland's Questionable Water Utility Spending Prompts Formal Legal Threat
• Vancouver Sued Over Biomass-Related Moratorium
• Congress Divided on Pollution Reduction
• Proposed Boiler & Incinerator Regulations Threaten Jobs Here, Critics Say
• Solyndra Auction Brings Out Bargain Hunters
• A Foothold in Solar, But What Now?
• China Paper Says US Solar Complaint Driven By Envy
• Solar Kit Could Light African Homes, Brighten Lives
• Solar-Powered Lamp & Charger – A History of the World in 100 Objects
• Nampa School Receives Solar Grant
• Solar Incentives to Fall Amid Uncertain Global Economy
• Batteries at a Wind Farm Help Control Output
• Report: Wind Energy Back on the Rise
• How Long Will It Take an Energy-Efficient Washer/Dryer to Pay for Itself?
• Improving Energy Efficiency
• Greenhouse-Gas Tax Could Inflate Airfares
• The Future of Carbon Pricing
• Climate Experts: Expect More Weather Disasters
• Snohomish County Electric Car Drivers Charged Up
• Portland Tapped for Ecodistric Development in Hong Kong
• Post-Event Story - Dine by Candlelight for Energy Conservation
• Editorial - Less Government Meddling Could Unlock Green Energy's Power
• Idaho School Districts Upgrading Broadband
• How Connectivity is Revolutionizing Everything
• Discovery of Accounting Error Means Ireland’s Debt to Fall €3.6 Billion ($4.9 Bln)
• Man Accused of Killing Pregnant Girlfriend, Kidnapping Baby Arrested
• Bank of America Nixes $5 Debit Card Fee
• City of Shelton’s Preliminary 2012 Budget
• Chamber of Commerce Makes Downtown Revitalization Suggestions to City of Shelton
• Clallam County Newspapers Now Under Same Ownership
• Deer-Car Collisions Increase This Time of Year

WORD OF THE DAY

Rococo • \ruh-KOE-koe\ • Adjective - 1a: of or relating to an artistic style especially of the 18th century characterized by fanciful curved asymmetrical forms and elaborate ornamentation b: of or relating to an 18th century musical style marked by light gay ornamentation and departure from thorough-bass and polyphony 2: excessively ornate or intricate

See: Jean Philippe Rameau - Suite in G Minor - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lDsOFR4XVwk

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

BC Hydro Paid Bonuses for Non-Existent Profit - Auditor general's report discovered millions of dollars in deferred debts (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/business/Hydro+paid+bonuses+existent+profit/5635771/story.html

Oregon - Lane Electric Cooperative Rural Utility Delivers a Rebate: Customers in outlying parts of Lane County will see smaller power bills in December (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

http://www.registerguard.com/web/updates/27106664-55/rate-electric-cooperative-lane-utility.html.csp

Montana - Yellowstone Valley Electric Rejects Wholesale Rate Hike (Billings Gazette, MT)

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_cdfd34a9-a64a-54b9-83cb-f3b8f2aefafb.html

Blown Transformer Knocks Out Power to East Issaquah Residents (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Blown-transformer-knocks-out-power-to-4300-Issaquah-residents-133001908.html

Mason County PUD 3 Commission to Hold November 8 Hearing on Commission Redistricting (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/Newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=929

Anti-Coal Group Stages 'Zombie' March on Banks (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/story/15920140/anti-coal-group-stages-zombie-march-on-banks

Pacific Gas & Electric Used Wrong Natural Gas Pipeline Tests for Years After '74 Rupture (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/01/MNNI1LN68L.DTL

Generator in the Basement - Ten Sickened in Connecticut from Carbon Monoxide Exposure (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2016659823_apuscarbonmonoxideexposure.html

Japan Restarts Reactor Despite Nuke Power Concerns (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2016661892_apasjapannuclearcrisis.html

Japan: We Don’t Have Enough Electricity, So Everyone Dress Warmer! (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/5855156/japan-we-dont-have-enough-electricity-so-everyone-dress-warmer

Hundreds Occupy Dam Construction Site in Brazil (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2016626178_apltbrazilamazondam.html

Maryland - Sparrows Point Steel Mill Wants More from Constellation, Exelon Merger (Baltimore Business Journal, MD)

http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2011/10/27/sparrows-point-steel-mill-wants-more.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Orcas Expected to Follow Chum Salmon (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/oct/31/orcas-expected-to-follow-chum-salmon/

New Cedar River Hatchery Starts Incubating Salmon Eggs with 8.5-Million on Hand (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2016622576__it_took_more_than.html

Federal Judge Backs Rules That Limit Pesticide Use near Salmon Habitat (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/10/federal_judge_backs_rules_that.html

Dam Removal: No One Has a Model of How to Go Forward - Washington state's Condit and Elwha dam removals are getting attention. But no one has figured out a way to make the trend into a policy (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2011/11/01/environment/21496/Dam-removal:-no-one-has-a-model-of-how-to-go-forward/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Portland's Questionable Water Utility Spending Prompts Formal Legal Threat (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/10/portlands_questionable_utility.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Vancouver Sued Over Biomass-Related Moratorium - Clark County, meanwhile, takes steps to limit its liability (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/oct/31/city-sued-over-biomass-related-moratorium/

Congress Divided on Pollution Reduction - Boilers: EPA claims new rules would save hundreds of lives a year (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/10/29/1856526/congress-divided-on-pollution.html

Proposed Boiler & Incinerator Regulations Threaten Jobs Here, Critics Say (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/10/28/1856327/proposed-regulations-threaten.html

Solyndra Auction Brings Out Bargain Hunters (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_19234597

A Foothold in Solar, But What Now? (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/oct/30/a-foothold-in-solar-but-what-now/

China Paper Says US Solar Complaint Driven By Envy (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/30/us-china-usa-solar-idUSTRE79T0CR20111030

Solar Kit Could Light African Homes, Brighten Lives – See similar item in the link below (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/oct/27/solar-kit-could-light-african-homes-brighten-lives/

Solar-Powered Lamp & Charger – A History of the World in 100 Objects (BBC)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/ahistoryoftheworld/objects/lvsof-uPTpeh-VRmmywHIw

Nampa School Receives Solar Grant (Idaho Press Tribune, Nampa, ID)

http://www.idahopress.com/news/nampa-school-receives-solar-grant/article_95872c52-0063-11e1-a9de-001cc4c002e0.html

Solar Incentives to Fall Amid Uncertain Global Economy (Gigaom)

http://gigaom.com/cleantech/solar-incentives-to-fall-amid-uncertain-global-economy/

Batteries at a Wind Farm Help Control Output (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/29/science/earth/batteries-on-a-wind-farm-help-control-power-output.html?_r=1

Report: Wind Energy Back on the Rise (Wichita Business Journal, KS)

http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/blog/2011/10/report-wind-energy-back-on-the-rise.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

How Long Will It Take an Energy-Efficient Washer/Dryer to Pay for Itself? (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/The-Simple-Dollar/2011/1029/How-long-will-it-take-an-energy-efficient-washer-dryer-to-pay-for-itself

Improving Energy Efficiency (Boulder Daily Camera, CO)

http://www.dailycamera.com/lifestyles/ci_19232451

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Greenhouse-Gas Tax Could Inflate Airfares (USA Today)

http://travel.usatoday.com/flights/story/2011-10-31/Greenhouse-gas-tax-could-inflate-airfares/51018748/1?csp=34money

The Future of Carbon Pricing (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/the-future-of-carbon-pricing/2011/10/31/gIQASsqyZM_blog.html?wprss=ezra-klein

Climate Experts: Expect More Weather Disasters (CBS News)

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-205_162-20128315/climate-experts-expect-more-weather-disasters/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Snohomish County Electric Car Drivers Charged Up (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20111029/NEWS01/710299963/0/sports01

Portland Tapped for Ecodistric Development in Hong Kong (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2011/10/portland-tapped-for-ecodistric.html

Post-Event Story - Dine by Candlelight for Energy Conservation (comoxvalley.com)

http://hqcomoxvalley.com/news/local/news/Local/11/10/27/Dine-by-candlelight-for-energy-conservation

Editorial - Less Government Meddling Could Unlock Green Energy's Power (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-hiltzik-20111030,0,245833.column

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Idaho School Districts Upgrading Broadband - Deals bring 2-gigabit service to CdA, Post Falls students (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/nov/01/school-districts-upgrading-broadband/

How Connectivity is Revolutionizing Everything (Gigaom)

http://gigaom.com/2011/11/01/how-connectivity-is-revolutionizing-everything/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Discovery of Accounting Error Means Ireland’s Debt to Fall €3.6 Billion ($4.9 Bln) (Associated Press)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/markets/discovery-of-accounting-error-means-irelands-debt-to-fall-36-billion-49-bln/2011/11/01/gIQAiecccM_story.html?wprss=rss_economy

GENERAL NEWS

Man Accused of Killing Pregnant Girlfriend, Kidnapping Baby Arrested (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/29643821/detail.html

Bank of America Nixes $5 Debit Card Fee (Associated Press)

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2011/11/01/business/AP-US-Chase-Checking-Account.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

City of Shelton’s Preliminary 2012 Budget (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/17366-city-preliminary-2012-budget

Chamber of Commerce Makes Downtown Revitalization Suggestions to City of Shelton (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/17367-chamber-makes-suggestions-to-city

Clallam County Newspapers Now Under Same Ownership (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.konp.com/local/7367

Deer-Car Collisions Increase This Time of Year (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2011-10-31/deer-car-accidents-rise/51019604/1?csp=34news

DIVERSIONS

Texting bride caught messaging down the aisle. LOL! OMG

http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Tech-Culture/2011/1101/Texting-bride-caught-messaging-down-the-aisle.-LOL%21-OMG%21-VIDEO

Harold Camping Gives Up on Rapture Prophecies

http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2011/10/31/harold-camping-gives-up-on-rapture-prophecies/

The Simpsons Called It: Three Eyed Fish Caught Outside a Nuclear Power Plant

http://gizmodo.com/5853988/the-simpsons-called-it-three-eyed-fish-caught-outside-a-nuclear-power-plant

Samuel L. Jackson Holds New Guinness Record

http://www.kirotv.com/entertainment/29607434/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Dick Dale and His Del Tones - Pulp Fiction Soundtrack - Opening Theme (Miserlou)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D5OHrQYwRac