Friday, February 25, 2011

Energy News Digest for February 25, 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

Tanker Shocker: Boeing ‘Clear Winner’ (Seattle Times)

Bonneville Power to Wind Generators - Shut Down, and You Get Free Power (NY Times)

Tacoma Power to Lower Level of Lake Cushman (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

New EPA Data Show Futility of US Carbon Dioxide Restrictions - China’s emissions alone will make reduced emissions in the Western Hemisphere moot (Forbes Magazine)

DOE Finalizes $96.8 Million Guarantee for Oregon Geothermal Project (Sustainable Business Oregon – Just don’t break the planet…)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Bonneville Power to Wind Generators - Shut Down, and You Get Free Power
·         Tacoma Power to Lower Level of Lake Cushman
·         Cowlitz Coal - Millennium Internal Email Reveals Goal of 80 Million Tons in Annual Coal Exports
·         National Transportation Safety Board Chief Concerned About Rash of Pipeline Cases
·         Newspaper: Oil ‘Megaloads’ Will be Downsized
·         California - Final Environmental Impact Statement for the McCloud-Pit Hydroelectric Project
·         Poll: Nuclear Energy Enjoys Majority Support Among Americans
·         Hackers in China Hit Six Petrochemical Energy Companies
·         Weak Chum Salmon Runs - Starving British Columbia Eagles Swarm to Dumps
·         Salmon Can Once Again Explore Marsh Mapped by Lewis & Clark
·         Canada - Cargo Ships & Freighters Called Threat to Local Sea Life
·         A Small Compromise in California’s Water Wars
·         California Water Company Auditor Guilty of Stealing $9.2 Million
·         DOE Finalizes $96.8 Million Guarantee for Oregon Geothermal Project
·         Jerry Brown’s Tough Choice: Green Energy in Hard Economic Times
·         Solar Projects Pit Green against Green
·         Solar Workers in Denver Protest Xcel Energy’s Decision to Scale Back Rebates
·         New Guidelines Would Temper Wind Energy Development Effects
·         GE & Alstom Prepare for Larger Wind Turbines
·         Paper Maker Turns Waste Wood to Biofuel, Jobs
·         Editorial - A Land Grab for Renewable Energy?
·         Renewable Energy & the Smart Grid
·         New EPA Data Show Futility of US Carbon Dioxide Restrictions
·         Severe Weather, Forecasting Could Prompt Force Majeure Rethink
·         Can Geo-Engineering Put the Freeze on Global Warming?
·         Using Solar Power to Extract Oil
·         Clinton: Too Much Ethanol Could Spark Food Riots
·         Interview: Rob Bernard, The Man Driving Microsoft’s Green Agenda
·         On Hiring Spree, Google Expands in Seattle & Kirkland
·         Editorial - Why the Web May Unleash the Largest Construction Boom in History
·         Tanker Shocker: Boeing ‘Clear Winner’
·         Politicians Jubilant at Unexpected Boeing Victory
·         Intel Survey: Mobile Etiquette Appalling

WORD OF THE DAY

Dilettante • \DILL-luh-tont\ • Noun - 1: an admirer or lover of the arts 2: a person having a superficial interest in an art or a branch of knowledge: dabbler

Barty was proud of his resume…the prospective employer was not. “It says here that you are ‘familiar’ with many software programs,” the interviewer intoned. “What we wanted was ‘proficiency.’ Instead of being an expert in these areas, I can only conclude that you are an expert dilettante.”

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Bonneville Power to Wind Generators - Shut Down, and You Get Free Power (NY Times)

Tacoma Power to Lower Level of Lake Cushman (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Cowlitz Coal - Millennium Internal Email Reveals Goal of 80 Million Tons in Annual Coal Exports (Longview Daily News, WA)

National Transportation Safety Board Chief Concerned About Rash of Pipeline Cases (Associated Press)

Newspaper: Oil ‘Megaloads’ Will be Downsized (Associated Press)

California - Final Environmental Impact Statement for the McCloud-Pit Hydroelectric Project (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)

Poll: Nuclear Energy Enjoys Majority Support Among Americans (Electric Light & Power)

Hackers in China Hit Six Petrochemical Energy Companies (SF Chronicle)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Weak Chum Salmon Runs - Starving British Columbia Eagles Swarm to Dumps (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

Salmon Can Once Again Explore Marsh Mapped by Lewis & Clark (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Canada - Cargo Ships & Freighters Called Threat to Local Sea Life (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

A Small Compromise in California’s Water Wars (NY Times - Mmmm, Smoked Smelt)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

California Water Company Auditor Guilty of Stealing $9.2 Million (SF Chronicle)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

DOE Finalizes $96.8 Million Guarantee for Oregon Geothermal Project (Sustainable Business Oregon – Just don’t break the planet…)

Jerry Brown’s Tough Choice: Green Energy in Hard Economic Times (Christian Science Monitor)

Solar Projects Pit Green against Green (NY Times)

Solar Workers in Denver Protest Xcel Energy’s Decision to Scale Back Rebates (Associated Press)

New Guidelines Would Temper Wind Energy Development Effects (Twin Falls Times-News, ID)

GE & Alstom Prepare for Larger Wind Turbines - Big is better in wind technology, judging by two recent developments in the industry (Renewable Energy World)

Paper Maker Turns Waste Wood to Biofuel, Jobs (Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, MA)

Editorial - A Land Grab for Renewable Energy? (Denver Post, CO)

Renewable Energy & the Smart Grid - New techniques in renewable energy forecasting can lead to a smarter, more reliable grid (Renewable Energy World)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

New EPA Data Show Futility of US Carbon Dioxide Restrictions - China’s emissions alone will make reduced emissions in the Western Hemisphere moot (Forbes Magazine)

Severe Weather, Forecasting Could Prompt Force Majeure Rethink (Reuters)

Can Geo-Engineering Put the Freeze on Global Warming? (USA Today)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Using Solar Power to Extract Oil (NY Times)

Clinton: Too Much Ethanol Could Spark Food Riots (Associated Press)

Interview: Rob Bernard, The Man Driving Microsoft’s Green Agenda (The Guardian, UK)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

On Hiring Spree, Google Expands in Seattle & Kirkland (Seattle Times)

Editorial - Why the Web May Unleash the Largest Construction Boom in History (Christian Science Monitor)

GENERAL NEWS

Tanker Shocker: Boeing ‘Clear Winner’ (Seattle Times)

Politicians Jubilant at Unexpected Boeing Victory (Seattle Times)

Intel Survey: Mobile Etiquette Appalling (Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal)

DIVERSIONS

Vinyl Records Spin Back into Vogue

Washington State Bill Would Narrow Definition of Service Animals

Quieter Biodegradable Bag Set for SunChips

KFC Customer Receives Cash Loot Instead of Food Order at Drive-Through

SONG OF THE DAY

Boston - Rock & Roll Band