Thursday, January 27, 2011

Energy News Digest for January 27, 2011, the Abridged Edition

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

FERC Commissioner Jon Wellinghoff Says Northwest Utilities May Need to Catch Up with National Trends (Oregonian, Portland)

While Fishing for Laughs, Obama Hooks a Regional Issue (Seattle Times)

Biomass on the Olympic Peninsula - Clearing the Way (Sequim Gazette, WA)

Pennsylvania – Leak Shuts Down Susquehanna Nuke Reactor (Wilkes Barre Times Leader, PA)

FERC Commissioner Jon Wellinghoff Says Northwest Utilities May Need to Catch Up with National Trends (Oregonian, Portland)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         FERC Commissioner Jon Wellinghoff Says Northwest Utilities May Need to Catch Up with National Trends
·         Oregon Department of Energy - Documents Detail Intervention in Subcontract for Companion of Gov. John Kitzhaber
·         Bonneville Power Administration Plans Vegetation Removal in Kitsap
·         Pennsylvania – Leak Shuts Down Susquehanna Nuke Reactor
·         Texas Defies EPA, Approves Coal-Fired Plant Permit
·         Study Says Mercury Pollution Concentrated in Four States
·         How Clean Is Obama’s Clean Energy Standard?
·         New Report Puts a Price on Water Used to Generate Electricity in Colorado
·         While Fishing for Laughs, Obama Hooks a Regional Issue
·         First Spring Chinook Caught in Lower Columbia River
·         Bonneville Pool a Hot Spot for Sturgeon Keepers
·         Fish-Friendly - Alden Turbine Update
·         Biomass on the Olympic Peninsula - Clearing the Way
·         Ontario - Stray Voltage an Ongoing Issue in Wind Farm Areas
·         Public Comments Sought on Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Permit
·         Climate Change & a Funny Little Viral Map
·         Why Obama’s 98% Wireless Goal Is Empty Rhetoric
·         Microsoft Set to Report Lower Profit on Stale PC Growth
·         Editorial - Topeka Transforms After Google Project
·         Measure: Kill State Counties That Don’t Pay Enough Taxes
·         Man Arrested After Threats Made to Wash. Governor
·         North Mason School District Makes Budget Cuts
·         Study Ties Pine Beetle to Severe Washington State Wildfires
·         13,000 Welfare Recipients Accessed Cash in Casinos

WORD OF THE DAY

Empirical • \imp-PEER-ick-kull\ • Adjective - 1: originating in or based on observation or experience 2: relying on experience or observation alone often without due regard for system and theory 3: capable of being verified or disproved by observation or experiment

Jim’s normative call
Ignores empirical fact
Northwest system works!

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

FERC Commissioner Jon Wellinghoff Says Northwest Utilities May Need to Catch Up with National Trends (Oregonian, Portland)

Oregon Department of Energy - Documents Detail Intervention in Subcontract for Companion of Gov. John Kitzhaber (Oregonian, Portland)

Bonneville Power Administration Plans Vegetation Removal in Kitsap (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Pennsylvania – Leak Shuts Down Susquehanna Nuke Reactor (Wilkes Barre Times Leader, PA)

Texas Defies EPA, Approves Coal-Fired Plant Permit (Associated Press)

Study Says Mercury Pollution Concentrated in Four States (USA Today)

How Clean Is Obama’s Clean Energy Standard? (Washington Post)

New Report Puts a Price on Water Used to Generate Electricity in Colorado (Colorado Independent)

FISH & WILDLIFE

While Fishing for Laughs, Obama Hooks a Regional Issue (Seattle Times)

First Spring Chinook Caught in Lower Columbia River (Seattle Times)

Bonneville Pool a Hot Spot for Sturgeon Keepers (Oregonian, Portland)

Fish-Friendly - Alden Turbine Update (Water Power Magazine)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Biomass on the Olympic Peninsula - Clearing the Way (Sequim Gazette, WA)

Ontario - Stray Voltage an Ongoing Issue in Wind Farm Areas (Kincardine News, Ontario)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Public Comments Sought on Carbon Dioxide Sequestration Permit (Associated Press)

Climate Change & a Funny Little Viral Map (Midwestern Energy News)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Why Obama’s 98% Wireless Goal Is Empty Rhetoric - Broadband Lip Service Masks Business as Usual (Broadband Reports)

Microsoft Set to Report Lower Profit on Stale PC Growth (Reuters)

Editorial - Topeka Transforms After Google Project (Washburn Review, Topeka, KS)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Measure: Kill State Counties That Don’t Pay Enough Taxes (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

Man Arrested After Threats Made to Wash. Governor (Associated Press)

GENERAL NEWS

North Mason School District Makes Budget Cuts (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Study Ties Pine Beetle to Severe Washington State Wildfires (Associated Press)

13,000 Welfare Recipients Accessed Cash in Casinos (KING-TV, Seattle)

DIVERSIONS

A New Kind of High - Pot-Firing Catapult Found at Arizona-Mexico Border

Plastic Pyrenees Penguin Is France’s Newest Blog Sensation

How to Deter Destructive Squirrels

One Man’s Losing Fight Against Ladies’ Nights

SONG OF THE DAY

Kool & the Gang – Ladies’ Night