Thursday, October 20, 2011

Energy News Digest for October 20, 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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

SolarWorld, Facing Fight for Survival, Seeks Tariffs on Cheap Chinese Solar Products Flooding the US (Oregonian, Portland)

US Senators Seek New Study of Deadly Pacific Salmon Virus (Seattle Times)

BC Hydro Boss Resigns after 16 Months on Job (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

The Columbia River's Extreme Math (Forbes Magazine)

Utilities Want You To Go Ductless - They tout incentives and savings on monthly bills as reasons to ditch baseboards (Olympian, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • BC Hydro Boss Resigns after 16 Months on Job
  • The Columbia River's Extreme Math
  • Oregon - Rate Increase Protesters Gather Outside Eugene Water & Electric Board
  • Customers Think Rates Too High, But Love Columbia River PUD
  • Mason County Recreation Area Infield Project – Mason County PUD 3 helps with volunteer replacement of light poles
  • Public Power Push - Xcel Says Boulder Customers Could Lose Solar Rebates If 2B, 2C Pass
  • Energy Department Altered Loan-Related Releases
  • US Senators Seek New Study of Deadly Pacific Salmon Virus
  • Salmon Virus - Knot of Worry Tightens for Fishermen
  • Salmon Catch Falls Short of Expectations
  • Grant/Chelan PUDs to Pay for Fish Hatchery in Canada
  • Steelhead Fishing worth a Try Below Wells Dam in Columbia River
  • Humptulips Hatchery Needs Help
  • Op/Ed - Saving Salmon: Sea Lions Aren't the Enemy
  • It's Orca Time in Central Puget Sound
  • EPA Signs Off on New Oregon Water Quality Rules - Strictest in the Nation
  • Washington State to Issue Rules to Spell Out Strategies to Curb Runoff
  • Largest Ocean Science Project in US History Launches Soon Off Oregon Coast
  • Oregon - Bend Moves Forward with Controversial Water Upgrades
  • From the Washer to the Sea: Plastic Pollution
  • SolarWorld, Facing Fight for Survival, Seeks Tariffs on Cheap Chinese Solar Products Flooding the US
  • SolarWorld May Extend China Fight to Europe
  • Sharp Solar Adds Products, Jobs
  • Council Approves Skamania County Whistling Ridge Wind Farm with Limits
  • Pennsylvania - Bat Carcass Stops Wind Farm's Nighttime Operation
  • Is Wind Worth It?
  • California State Treasurer Defends Tax Break for Energy Firms
  • Is NIMBYism a Threat to Small-Scale Renewables?
  • From Coal to Biomass for Some Virginia Power
  • Utilities Want You To Go Ductless
  • Oregon - Sleuth Seeks to Slash Home Heating Bills
  • A Social Energy Network Turns to Solar Chargers & Shopping
  • California Poised to Finalize 'Cap-And-Trade' Plan
  • Ultra-Green Seattle Office Project Draws Corporate HQ, Complaints
  • What a Fight for Broadband Tells Us about Democracy
  • Novell vs. Microsoft in Utah Antitrust Trial over Windows 95; Bill Gates Expected to Testify
  • Wireless Group Seeks to Block San Francisco Phone Radiation Warning Law
  • Murray Fundraising Down Since Appointment
  • Costco's $22M for Liquor Initiative Sets Record
  • Former Washington State Trooper Ronda Reynold's Death Ruled Homicide
  • Washington State Loses 18,000 Jobs in September, Mostly Government
  • Psychedelic Mushrooms Targeted in Federal Raid near McCleary
  • Seattle Ranks among Most Innovative Cities in US
  • Portland Ranked Second Angriest City in America - Seattle Ranked Third

WORD OF THE DAY

Aesopian • \ee-SOAP-pee-un\ • Adjective - 1: of, relating to, or characteristic of Aesop or his fables 2: conveying an innocent meaning to an outsider but a hidden meaning to a member of a conspiracy or underground movement

“Oh, what a sweet little kitten,” cooed the visitor to the Smith Estates. As her hand extended to pat the aggressively cute little ball of fluff, the admirer would have been horrified by the eventual outcome of her shrill mouthings of wonder. Behind those liquid eyes, under the huge, radar-like ears raged the Aesopian mind of a kitten who would be king. Needless to say, the Smith Estates used their entire stock of ‘Band-Aids’ in the aftermath of the encounter.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

BC Hydro Boss Resigns after 16 Months on Job (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

The Columbia River's Extreme Math (Forbes Magazine)

Oregon - Rate Increase Protesters Gather Outside Eugene Water & Electric Board (KMTR-TV, Springfield, OR)

Customers Think Rates Too High, But Love Columbia River PUD (St Helens Chronicle, OR)

Mason County Recreation Area Infield Project – Mason County PUD 3 helps with volunteer replacement of light poles (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Public Power Push - Xcel Says Boulder Customers Could Lose Solar Rebates If 2B, 2C Pass (Energy Boom)

Energy Department Altered Loan-Related Releases (CNBC)

FISH & WILDLIFE

US Senators Seek New Study of Deadly Pacific Salmon Virus (Seattle Times)

Salmon Virus - Knot of Worry Tightens for Fishermen (NY Times)

Salmon Catch Falls Short of Expectations - Oregon fishermen are disappointed in a season that many had forecast to be a banner year (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

Grant/Chelan PUDs to Pay for Fish Hatchery in Canada (Wenatchee World, WA)

Steelhead Fishing worth a Try Below Wells Dam in Columbia River (Seattle Times)

Humptulips Hatchery Needs Help (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

Op/Ed - Saving Salmon: Sea Lions Aren't the Enemy (Oregonian, Portland)

It's Orca Time in Central Puget Sound (Seattle Times)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

EPA Signs Off on New Oregon Water Quality Rules - Strictest in the Nation (Oregonian, Portland)

Washington State to Issue Rules to Spell Out Strategies to Curb Runoff (Associated Press)

Largest Ocean Science Project in US History Launches Soon Off Oregon Coast (Oregonian, Portland)

Oregon - Bend Moves Forward with Controversial Water Upgrades (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

From the Washer to the Sea: Plastic Pollution (NY Times)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

SolarWorld, Facing Fight for Survival, Seeks Tariffs on Cheap Chinese Solar Products Flooding the US (Oregonian, Portland)

SolarWorld May Extend China Fight to Europe (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Sharp Solar Adds Products, Jobs - Business recently relocated to Camas from S. California (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Council Approves Skamania County Whistling Ridge Wind Farm with Limits (Hood River News, OR)
http://www.hoodrivernews.com/ns/news-headlines/8114/council-approves-whistling-ridge-wind-farm-with-limits

Pennsylvania - Bat Carcass Stops Wind Farm's Nighttime Operation (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, PA)

Is Wind Worth It? (NY Times)

California State Treasurer Defends Tax Break for Energy Firms (Associated Press)

Is NIMBYism a Threat to Small-Scale Renewables? (Energy Collective)

From Coal to Biomass for Some Virginia Power (CNET News)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Utilities Want You To Go Ductless - They tout incentives and savings on monthly bills as reasons to ditch baseboards (Olympian, WA)

Oregon - Sleuth Seeks to Slash Home Heating Bills (Baker City Herald, OR)

A Social Energy Network Turns to Solar Chargers & Shopping (GigaOM)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

California Poised to Finalize 'Cap-And-Trade' Plan (Associated Press)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Ultra-Green Seattle Office Project Draws Corporate HQ, Complaints (Seattle Times)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

What a Fight for Broadband Tells Us about Democracy (GigaOM)

Novell vs. Microsoft in Utah Antitrust Trial over Windows 95; Bill Gates Expected to Testify (Washington Post)

Wireless Group Seeks to Block San Francisco Phone Radiation Warning Law (Bloomberg News)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Murray Fundraising Down Since Appointment (Seattle Times)

Costco's $22M for Liquor Initiative Sets Record (Seattle Times)

GENERAL NEWS

Former Washington State Trooper Ronda Reynold's Death Ruled Homicide (Seattle Times)

Washington State Loses 18,000 Jobs in September, Mostly Government (Associated Press)

Psychedelic Mushrooms Targeted in Federal Raid near McCleary (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

Seattle Ranks among Most Innovative Cities in US (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

Portland Ranked Second Angriest City in America - Seattle Ranked Third (Portland Business Journal, OR)

DIVERSIONS

From the Statue of Liberty to the Park of Dissent: Occupy Wall Street Becomes NYC Tourist Stop

How Can I Avoid Static Electricity Shocks in Cold, Dry Weather?

T-Mobile Sends Customer $200,000 Bill - Woman's Brother Who Is Deaf, Also Mute, Rang Up Charges Unknowingly

Burlington Escapee Falls into Police Chief's Office

SONG OF THE DAY

Muppet Show - For What it's Worth
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m0yCM5uhQU