Friday, April 8, 2011

Energy News Digest for April 8, 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

US Department of Energy Implementation Activities in the Case of a Lapse of Appropriations “…Bonneville Power Administration…is self-funding…Therefore, BPA will continue to operate normally…” (US Department of Energy)

Grays Harbor PUD Commissioners Say No to Proposed Bonneville Power Administration Settlement (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

(Some) Utilities Reach Settlement on Bonneville Power Administration Dispute (Sustainable Business Oregon – Need to work on those headlines Mr. Editor…)

A Look inside Facebook's Massive Data Center - Facebook opened its doors to share its latest data center technology (Christian Science Monitor)

Mason County among Finalist for New Prison Site (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         US Department of Energy Implementation Activities in the Case of a Lapse of Appropriations “…BPA will continue to operate normally…”
·         Grays Harbor PUD Commissioners Say No to Proposed Bonneville Power Administration Settlement
·         (Some) Utilities Reach Settlement on Bonneville Power Administration Dispute
·         Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Relicensing of Seattle’s Boundary Hydroelectric Project & Surrender of Pend Oreille PUD’s Sullivan Creek Project
·         California - Pacific Gas & Electric Threatens to Pull Out of Deal over Natural Gas Records
·         Government Releases $311 Million Home Energy Aid
·         National Hydropower Association Recognizes Seven Industry Achievements for Outstanding Accomplishment – Pacific Northwest Winners Include: Grant County Public Utility District, Turlock Irrigation District, Portland General Electric Company, Puget Sound Energy
·         Canada - Panel to Review BC Hydro Ahead of Rate Increases - Proposals to increase rates by as much as 40 per cent over the next four years
·         After EPA Prodding, Pennsylvania Seeks More Water Tests for Radium, Other Gas-Drilling Pollution
·         Activists Fight to Stop Dam across Mekong
·         'Unusual Event' Declared at Hanford Nuclear Plant
·         Satsop Training Goes Nuclear
·         Nuclear Regulatory Commission: US 50-Mile Evacuation Based on Assumptions
·         Nuclear Woes Could Propel Quest for Natural Gas
·         Washington State University’s Reactor ‘Can’t Melt Down’
·         Nonnative Northern Pike Becoming a Problem in Pend Oreille River
·         Good Grief for Great Lakes - Army Corps Activates Barrier to Stop Asian Carp
·         Port of Tacoma Sued over Wetlands Fill-In
·         Public Murky about Lake Coeur d’Alene Water Quality
·         Arizona - Appeals Court Upholds Rule on Renewable Energy
·         Audit Blames Los Angeles Municipal Utility for Compromising Energy Goals
·         US Senators Udall Push for Federal Renewable Energy Standard
·         Iowa Leads All States in Use of Wind Energy
·         Wind Energy Farms Added 26 Percent of New US Power Capacity in 2010
·         Maryland Wind Farm Bill Won’t Make It This Year
·         Solar is All about Efficiency -- Business Efficiency
·         Solar Power Shines as Clean Tech Industry Grows
·         Vermont Utility Regulators Say Biomass Plan Needs Land Use Planning Review
·         Car Pollution Can Damage Brain: Study
·         US Corn Reserves Expected to Fall to 15-Year Low - The limited supply is chiefly because of increasing demand from ethanol makers
·         A Look inside Facebook's Massive Data Center - Facebook opened its doors to share its latest data center technology
·         Facebook Now Wants Say in Computer Hardware
·         FCC Adopts Rules to Drive Wireless Competition
·         Web Firms Face Increased Federal Scrutiny over Internet Privacy
·         Missouri - Slow Motion toward High-Speed Internet at Lake of the Ozarks
·         Google Poised to Become a Giant in Online Travel
·         17 Trying to Storm Washington State Governor's Office Are Arrested; Larger Rally is Planned Today
·         Public Lands Chief Goldmark Says Budget Cuts Would Weaken Oversight
·         Bill to Extend Temporary Stadium Taxes Reappears in Washington State Budget
·         Mason County among Finalist for New Prison Site
·         Mason County Is Top Contender - Three Sites Eyed For New Western Washington Prison Center
·         Olympic College Will Cut Academic Programs to Save $3.2 Million
·         Obama to Address Grads in Tiny Bridgeport, Washington School
·         Mariners Prepare for Home Opener, Honoring Dave Niehaus
·         US Newspapers End Three-Year Slide in Newsroom Hiring

WORD OF THE DAY

Abrogate • \AB-ruh-gayt\ • Verb - 1: to abolish by authoritative action: annul 2: to treat as nonexistent

Thank God it’s Friday
Abrogate weekend yard work
Time for relaxing

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

US Department of Energy Implementation Activities in the Case of a Lapse of Appropriations “…Bonneville Power Administration…is self-funding…Therefore, BPA will continue to operate normally…” (US Department of Energy)

Grays Harbor PUD Commissioners Say No to Proposed Bonneville Power Administration Settlement (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

(Some) Utilities Reach Settlement on Bonneville Power Administration Dispute (Sustainable Business Oregon – Need to work on those headlines Mr. Editor…)

Draft Environmental Impact Statement for Relicensing of Seattle’s Boundary Hydroelectric Project & Surrender of Pend Oreille PUD’s Sullivan Creek Project (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)

California - Pacific Gas & Electric Threatens to Pull Out of Deal over Natural Gas Records (SF Chronicle)

Government Releases $311 Million Home Energy Aid (Associated Press)

National Hydropower Association Recognizes Seven Industry Achievements for Outstanding Accomplishment – Pacific Northwest Winners Include: Grant County Public Utility District, Turlock Irrigation District, Portland General Electric Company, Puget Sound Energy (Renewable Energy World)

Canada - Panel to Review BC Hydro Ahead of Rate Increases - Proposals to increase rates by as much as 40 per cent over the next four years

After EPA Prodding, Pennsylvania Seeks More Water Tests for Radium, Other Gas-Drilling Pollution (Washington Post)

Activists Fight to Stop Dam across Mekong (Associated Press)

NUCLEAR SCIENCE READING ROOM

'Unusual Event' Declared at Hanford Nuclear Plant (Associated Press)

Satsop Training Goes Nuclear (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

Nuclear Regulatory Commission: US 50-Mile Evacuation Based on Assumptions (Associated Press)

Nuclear Woes Could Propel Quest for Natural Gas (National Public Radio)

Washington State University’s Reactor ‘Can’t Melt Down’ - Operator says seismic sensor triggers shutdown (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Nonnative Northern Pike Becoming a Problem in Pend Oreille River (Seattle Times)

Good Grief for Great Lakes - Army Corps Activates Barrier to Stop Asian Carp (Associated Press)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Port of Tacoma Sued over Wetlands Fill-In (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

Public Murky about Lake Coeur d’Alene Water Quality (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Arizona - Appeals Court Upholds Rule on Renewable Energy (Arizona Republic, Phoenix, AZ)

Audit Blames Los Angeles Municipal Utility for Compromising Energy Goals (Associated Press)

US Senators Udall Push for Federal Renewable Energy Standard (Associated Press)

Iowa Leads All States in Use of Wind Energy (Des Moines Register, IA)

Wind Energy Farms Added 26 Percent of New US Power Capacity in 2010 (Bloomberg News)

Maryland Wind Farm Bill Won’t Make It This Year (Washington Post)

Solar is All about Efficiency -- Business Efficiency: The industry is turning toward gaining efficiencies in other areas like financing, permitting, installation and back-office management (Renewable Energy World)

Solar Power Shines as Clean Tech Industry Grows (SF Chronicle, CA)

Vermont Utility Regulators Say Biomass Plan Needs Land Use Planning Review (Associated Press)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Car Pollution Can Damage Brain: Study (Vancouver Sun, BC)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

US Corn Reserves Expected to Fall to 15-Year Low - The limited supply is chiefly because of increasing demand from ethanol makers (Associated Press)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

A Look inside Facebook's Massive Data Center - Facebook opened its doors to share its latest data center technology (Christian Science Monitor)

Facebook Now Wants Say in Computer Hardware (Reuters)

FCC Adopts Rules to Drive Wireless Competition (Associated Press)

Web Firms Face Increased Federal Scrutiny over Internet Privacy (Washington Post)

Missouri - Slow Motion toward High-Speed Internet at Lake of the Ozarks (Lake News. Camdenton, MO)

Google Poised to Become a Giant in Online Travel (Associated Press)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

17 Trying to Storm Washington State Governor's Office Are Arrested; Larger Rally is Planned Today (Olympian, WA)

Public Lands Chief Goldmark Says Budget Cuts Would Weaken Oversight (Seattle Times)

Bill to Extend Temporary Stadium Taxes Reappears in Washington State Budget (Associated Press)

GENERAL NEWS

Mason County among Finalist for New Prison Site (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Mason County Is Top Contender - Three Sites Eyed For New Western Washington Prison Center (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

Olympic College Will Cut Academic Programs to Save $3.2 Million (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Obama to Address Grads in Tiny Bridgeport, Washington School (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Mariners Prepare for Home Opener, Honoring Dave Niehaus (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

US Newspapers End Three-Year Slide in Newsroom Hiring (Associated Press)

DIVERSIONS

Take That, Monopoly Man: Who's the Richest Fictional Character?

Deer, Goose Make Unlikely 'Friends' At Cemetery

How One Oregon Lawmaker Convinced His Colleagues to ‘Rick Roll’ the State Legislature

Rick Rolling

Montana Judge on DUI Task Force Charged With DUI

SONG OF THE DAY

Rick Astley – Never Gonna Give You Up
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CwnnSSs0kFA