Thursday, March 24, 2011

Energy News Digest for March 24, 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

Shelton’s Final SEPA Determination for Simpson Lumber Company Biomass Power Plant (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Idaho - Rupert to Sign Bonneville Power Administration Settlement (Twin Falls Times-News, ID)

Corps of Engineers Strings Wires to Deter Gulls from Eating Young Columbia River Salmon (Oregonian, Portland)

Washington State Lawmakers Introduce Slew of “Title Only” Bills (Associated Press)

Shelton’s Oakland Bay Junior High a Green School (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Idaho - Rupert to Sign Bonneville Power Administration Settlement
·         Jefferson County PUD Meets Friday on Paper Mill Power Request
·         Oregon – Natural Gas Pipeline Backer Pulls Application, Cites Low Demand
·         Home Heat Aid Advocates Seek Emergency Money
·         Oregon - Central Lincoln PUD to Close Reedsport Office May 1
·         Voith Hydro Strongly Supports Hydropower Improvement Act
·         EPA Pursues Michigan’s Largest Coal-Fired Plant
·         Energy Northwest Shows How They (sic) Monitor Radiation for Power Plant
·         Feds Filing Charges over Tennessee Valley Authority Nuclear Reactor Site
·         Corps of Engineers Strings Wires to Deter Gulls from Eating Young Columbia River Salmon
·         Utah Groups Launch Challenge to Salazar’s ‘Wild Lands’ Policy
·         Stormwater Threatens Sound, Both Sides Say
·         In the Rainy Pacific Northwest, Why Save Water?
·         Shelton’s Final SEPA Determination for Simpson Lumber Company Biomass Power Plant
·         Clark County Still Eyes Biomass Plant in Vancouver
·         For Now, Idaho Energy Politics Scuttle Wind Power Rebate Deal
·         Developer Pulls Plug on Wisconsin Wind Farm over Policy Uncertainty
·         Maryland - Lobbying Intensifies Ahead of Offshore Wind Vote
·         Spanish Region Imposes Visual Impact Tax on Turbines
·         Alaska - Catching a New Wave of Energy: Maine-Based Company Studies Tidal Power in Cook Inlet
·         Shelton’s Oakland Bay Junior High a Green School
·         Utilities: EPA Haze Rule May Increase Energy Costs
·         Yakima Man Duped by Computer Scam
·         Best Buy to Sell Access to New Wireless Network
·         Yahoo Puts Its Spin on Real-Time Search Results
·         Comcast Really Doesn’t Want ‘Worst Company’ Award This Year
·         Washington State Lawmakers Introduce Slew of “Title Only” Bills
·         Thousands of Shoes Line Capitol to Make Important Point
·         Inslee Says ‘G Word’ Got into Donor Letter by Accident
·         Filling in for a Friend: Congressman Adam Smith Visits Wounded Rep. Giffords’ Arizona District
·         Public Records Requests by Man Costly for City of Vancouver
·         Fort Lewis Soldier Sentenced to 24 Years for Killing Afghan Civilians
·         Ex-Lacey Chamber of Commerce Official Charged With Theft
·         Teen Burned by Wood Stove Fire at Bay Center – Used Gasoline to “Start” Fire
·         Weyerhaeuser Anticipating Market Shifts in Wake of Japan Disasters
·         Report Names Top 10 ‘Dying’ Industries
·         Mariners Worth $449 Million, Says Forbes

WORD OF THE DAY

Snollygoster • \SNOLL-ee-gost-ter\ • - A shrewd person not guided by principles, especially a politician. Word Origin: 19th century American English. Possibly from snallygaster, a mythical beast that preys on poultry and children

Snollygoster; see Gordon Gecko, Elmer Gantry, Michael Milken, Bernie Madoff, Francis Urquhart et. al.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Idaho - Rupert to Sign Bonneville Power Administration Settlement (Twin Falls Times-News, ID)

Jefferson County PUD Meets Friday on Paper Mill Power Request (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

Oregon – Natural Gas Pipeline Backer Pulls Application, Cites Low Demand (Associated Press)

Home Heat Aid Advocates Seek Emergency Money (Associated Press)

Oregon - Central Lincoln PUD to Close Reedsport Office May 1: No layoffs planned while office closes for up to one year for software upgrades (Umpqua Post, Reedsport, OR)

Voith Hydro Strongly Supports Hydropower Improvement Act (PR Newswire)

EPA Pursues Michigan’s Largest Coal-Fired Plant (Associated Press)

THE NUCLEAR SCIENCE READING ROOM

Energy Northwest Shows How They (sic) Monitor Radiation for Power Plant (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

Feds Filing Charges over Tennessee Valley Authority Nuclear Reactor Site (Associated Press)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Corps of Engineers Strings Wires to Deter Gulls from Eating Young Columbia River Salmon (Oregonian, Portland)

Utah Groups Launch Challenge to Salazar’s ‘Wild Lands’ Policy (Deseret News, Salt Lake City, UT)
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705369255/Utah-groups-launch-challenge-to-Salazars-wild-lands-policy.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Stormwater Threatens Sound, Both Sides Say (Olympian, WA)

In the Rainy Pacific Northwest, Why Save Water? (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Shelton’s Final SEPA Determination for Simpson Lumber Company Biomass Power Plant (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Clark County Still Eyes Biomass Plant in Vancouver - Private firm would likely be sought to serve as partner (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

For Now, Idaho Energy Politics Scuttle Wind Power Rebate Deal (Associated Press)

Developer Pulls Plug on Wisconsin Wind Farm over Policy Uncertainty (Solve Climate)

Maryland - Lobbying Intensifies Ahead of Offshore Wind Vote (Washington Post)

Spanish Region Imposes Visual Impact Tax on Turbines (Windpower Monthly)

Alaska - Catching a New Wave of Energy: Maine-Based Company Studies Tidal Power in Cook Inlet (Homer News, AK)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Shelton’s Oakland Bay Junior High a Green School (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Utilities: EPA haze rule may increase energy costs (Bloomberg Businessweek)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Yakima Man Duped by Computer Scam (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

Best Buy to Sell Access to New Wireless Network (USA Today)

Yahoo Puts Its Spin on Real-Time Search Results (Associated Press)

Comcast Really Doesn’t Want ‘Worst Company’ Award This Year - Letters Urge Employees to Vote Multiple Times Across Devices (Broadband Reports)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Lawmakers Introduce Slew of “Title Only” Bills (Associated Press)

Thousands of Shoes Line Capitol to Make Important Point (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

Inslee Says ‘G Word’ Got into Donor Letter by Accident; Continues to Hit McKenna on Health Care (Seattle Times)

Filling in for a Friend: Congressman Adam Smith Visits Wounded Rep. Giffords’ Arizona District (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

Public Records Requests by Man Costly for City of Vancouver (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

Fort Lewis Soldier Sentenced to 24 Years for Killing Afghan Civilians – “Lost my moral compass…” (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

Ex-Lacey Chamber of Commerce Official Charged With Theft (Associated Press)

Teen Burned by Wood Stove Fire at Bay Center – Used Gasoline to “Start” Fire (Associated Press)

Weyerhaeuser Anticipating Market Shifts in Wake of Japan Disasters (Longview Daily News, WA)

Report Names Top 10 ‘Dying’ Industries – No. 1: Manufactured Home Dealers (Nashville Business Journal, TN)

Mariners Worth $449 Million, Says Forbes (Puget Sound Business Journal)

DIVERSIONS

Oregon Appeals Court: Teeth Not Dangerous Weapon

Brawl over Spaghetti in NYC Subway Ignites Debate

Instant karma for suspected Idaho wallet thief

SONG OF THE DAY

Elton John - Saturday Night’s Alright for Fighting (Don’t forget your teeth!)