Friday, March 11, 2011

Energy News Digest for March 11, 2011

The energy news digest will be on vacation March 14-18. Sand in the shoes time.

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

Japan Earthquake Shuts Nuclear Power Plants, Leaves Residents in Dark (Christian Science Monitor)

Critics Say Bonneville Power Administration Drops Ball While Juggling Its Power (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

Doc Hastings & Pete DeFazio - Saving Columbia River Salmon: Time to Get Out of the Courtroom & into the River (Oregonian, Portland)

Progress Denied: A Study on the Potential Economic Impact of Permitting Challenges Facing Proposed Energy Projects (US Chamber of Commerce)

Light Bulb Law Stokes Fury in US Senate Hearing (NY Times)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Japan Earthquake Shuts Nuclear Power Plants, Leaves Residents in Dark
·         Critics Say Bonneville Power Administration Drops Ball While Juggling Its Power
·         Report: TransAlta Legislation Not a Done Deal
·         Editorial - TransAlta Agreement Shows the Power of Compromise
·         Wind Disrupts Mason County Power
·         FERC to Use Texas Outage Inquiry to Evaluate Energy Issues Nationally
·         California PUC Orders Pacific Gas & Electric to Let Customers Opt Out of Smartmeter Program
·         Oregon - Clatsop County Closer to Killing Second Liquefied Natural Gas Project
·         Natural Gas, Scrutinized, Pushes for Growth
·         Showdown on Vermont Nuclear Plant’s Fate
·         Regulators Say Northeast US Utility Mergers Must Benefit Environment
·         Doc Hastings & Pete DeFazio - Saving Columbia River Salmon: Time to Get Out of the Courtroom & into the River
·         Montana - Hungry Horse Dam Operated in Favor of Fish
·         Canada - Study Rules Out Usual Suspects in Decline of Fraser Sockeye
·         California - 65 Tons of Dead Fish Removed from Redondo Beach Marina, 30 Stinking Tons Left
·         Progress Denied: A Study on the Potential Economic Impact of Permitting Challenges Facing Proposed Energy Projects
·         Montana Bill Aims to Lift 2005 Renewable Energy Provision
·         Danish Battery Company Eyes Oregon for US Base
·         Pennsylvania Capital Gets Offer to Buy Costly Incinerator
·         Light Bulb Law Stokes Fury in US Senate Hearing
·         Op/Ed - Let There be More Efficient Light
·         Energy-Efficient Laundromats Keep Popping Up in Oregon
·         House Panel Votes to Strip EPA of Power to Regulate Greenhouse Gases
·         Interest in Renewable Energy May Stick as Oil Prices Surge
·         Deaconess Severs Ties With Inland Northwest Health Service as Part of Lawsuit Settlement
·         FCC Boss Plans to Stay - ‘Very Happy at the FCC,’ Says Spokesman
·         CEO of Kirkland-Based Clearwire to Step Down
·         Hundreds Killed in Tsunami after 8.9 Japan Quake
·         Japan’s Earthquake Ranks as the Fifth Strongest in the World Since 1900
·         Weather Service Confirms Tsunami on Washington State Coast
·         California Surfers Waited in Water for Tsunami
·         Spokane - Finders of MLK Bomb Say They Were Fired for Actions
·         La Nina Climate Condition Weakening
·         51 Died Under Washington State Death With Dignity Act Last Year

WORD OF THE DAY

Enigmatic • \enn-igg-MATT-tick\ • Adjective - Of, relating to, or resembling an enigma: mysterious

Ishmael strode confidently past the screaming crowds lining the stage entrance to the local theater. Smiling slightly, he knew why they were there. They wanted to get a glimpse of him. The enigmatic king of the professional tiddlywinks circuit, who had parleyed a disturbingly large right thumb into his secret weapon while wielding the colorful plastic chips that danced at his command.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Japan Earthquake Shuts Nuclear Power Plants, Leaves Residents in Dark (Christian Science Monitor)

Critics Say Bonneville Power Administration Drops Ball While Juggling Its Power (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

Report: TransAlta Legislation Not a Done Deal (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

Editorial - TransAlta Agreement Shows the Power of Compromise (Olympian, WA)

Wind Disrupts Mason County Power (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

FERC to Use Texas Outage Inquiry to Evaluate Energy Issues Nationally (Dallas Morning News, TX)

California PUC Orders Pacific Gas & Electric to Let Customers Opt Out of Smartmeter Program (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

Oregon - Clatsop County Closer to Killing Second Liquefied Natural Gas Project (Oregonian, Portland)

Natural Gas, Scrutinized, Pushes for Growth (NY Times)

Showdown on Vermont Nuclear Plant’s Fate (NY Times)

Regulators Say Northeast US Utility Mergers Must Benefit Environment (Boston Herald, MA)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Doc Hastings & Pete DeFazio - Saving Columbia River Salmon: Time to Get Out of the Courtroom & into the River (Oregonian, Portland)

Montana - Hungry Horse Dam Operated in Favor of Fish (The Daily Interlake, Kalispell, MT)

Canada - Study Rules Out Usual Suspects in Decline of Fraser Sockeye (Globe & Mail, Canada)

California - 65 Tons of Dead Fish Removed from Redondo Beach Marina, 30 Stinking Tons Left (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Progress Denied: A Study on the Potential Economic Impact of Permitting Challenges Facing Proposed Energy Projects (US Chamber of Commerce)

Montana Bill Aims to Lift 2005 Renewable Energy Provision (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

Danish Battery Company Eyes Oregon for US Base (Sustainable Business Oregon)

Pennsylvania Capital Gets Offer to Buy Costly Incinerator (Associated Press)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Light Bulb Law Stokes Fury in US Senate Hearing (NY Times)

Op/Ed - Let There be More Efficient Light (NY Times)

Energy-Efficient Laundromats Keep Popping Up in Oregon; Save Money & the Planet All at Once (Oregonian, Portland)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

House Panel Votes to Strip EPA of Power to Regulate Greenhouse Gases (NY Times)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Interest in Renewable Energy May Stick as Oil Prices Surge (Los Angeles Times, CA)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Deaconess Severs Ties With Inland Northwest Health Service as Part of Lawsuit Settlement – Dispute over license to operate acclaimed electronic medical records network (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

FCC Boss Plans to Stay - ‘Very Happy at the FCC,’ Says Spokesman (Broadband Reports)

CEO of Kirkland-Based Clearwire to Step Down (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

GENERAL NEWS

Hundreds Killed in Tsunami after 8.9 Japan Quake (Associated Press)

Japan’s Earthquake Ranks as the Fifth Strongest in the World Since 1900 (Time Magazine)

Weather Service Confirms Tsunami on Washington State Coast (Associated Press)

California Surfers Waited in Water for Tsunami (Associated Press)

Spokane - Finders of MLK Bomb Say They Were Fired for Actions (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

La Nina Climate Condition Weakening (Associated Press)

51 Died Under Washington State Death With Dignity Act Last Year (KING-TV, Seattle)

DIVERSIONS

Eric Clapton Guitars Fetch Millions for Charity

Will March 19 ‘Supermoon’ Trigger Natural Disasters?

Fed Up Manager Goes on Wild Ride With Tool Thief

Eek! Honda Accord Has Had Spider Infestations Like Mazda

SONG OF THE DAY

Eric Clapton- Cocaine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q3L4spg8vyo