Thursday, December 15, 2011

Energy News Digest for December 15, 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

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Mid-Columbia Power Rates Cheapest in Washington State (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

Department of Energy Implementation Activities in the Case of a Lapse of Appropriations “…BPA…is self-funding…operates funds under a permanent, indefinite appropriation known as the Bonneville Fund. Therefore, BPA will continue to operate normally…” (US Department of Energy)

Salmon Flood California Hatcheries, Great 2012 Predicted (SF Chronicle)

Montana – NorthWestern Energy Urges State to OK $86 Million Wind Deal (Helena Independent-Record, MT)

Greenpeace Finds Common Cause with Facebook on Clean Power for Data Centers (Oregonian, Portland)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Mid-Columbia Power Rates Cheapest in Washington State
  • Department of Energy Implementation Activities in the Case of a Lapse of Appropriations
  • British Columbia - $200-Million River-Power Project Clears Key Hurdle
  • Pacific Gas & Electric Cuts Power to Three SmartMeter Opponents Who Removed Devices
  • Mason County PUD 1 Budget Approved
  • Arch Coal Secures $300 Million Wyoming Coal Lease
  • Montana – Thanks to Flathead Electric: Money Found for Discovery Square
  • Energy Northwest Gives Out Toys & Clothing
  • Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Goes Nuclear with Abuse, Colleagues Say
  • Thousands of Households Face Cuts in Energy Aid
  • Duke Energy, Progress Energy Merger Delayed
  • Merger Talks - Constellation, Exelon Reach Accord with Maryland Governor
  • Tennessee Valley Authority Says Fuel Cost 3.1 Percent Lower in January
  • US Natural Gas Supplies Shrank Last Week
  • As Gas Drilling Spreads, Towns Stand Ground Over Control
  • Is a Perfect Storm Brewing for the Power Sector in 2012?
  • Salmon Flood California Hatcheries, Great 2012 Predicted
  • Washington State Water Deal Benefits All of Tri-Cities
  • Pateros is First to Receive Lake Roosevelt Water
  • Yakima – River Basin Water Plan May Have to Wait Two Years for Funds
  • Montana – NorthWestern Energy Urges State to OK $86 Million Wind Deal
  • Vestas’ Martha Wyrsch: Save the Production Tax Credit
  • Green Energy: Silicon Valley Leads a Back-To-Basics Revolution
  • Connecticut - NRG Biomass Plant Could Offset Impact of Montville Coal-Fired Power Plant’s Closing
  • Thou Shalt Covet Thy Neighbor’s Electric Bill
  • With Rise of Eco-Friendly Cars, Washington State Sees Slump in Gas Tax Revenue
  • California Regulator Plans for Near Elimination of Gasoline-Powered Vehicles
  • Recycling Rate Reaches 49 Percent in Washington
  • Hawaii Utility to Make Gas from Vegetable Oil
  • Greenpeace Finds Common Cause with Facebook on Clean Power for Data Centers
  • Google to Invest in $120 Million Singapore Data Center
  • Fun Facts for Data Center Geeks - Infographic
  • Lines Drawn on Internet Antipiracy Bills
  • Top Internet Engineers Warn Against SOPA
  • Cisco Says 70% of Young Workers Ignore IT Rules
  • Six Million Only Use Wireless Broadband
  • Op/Ed - State Redistricting Commission Needs to Set Aside Politics & Meet Jan. 1 Deadline
  • Columnist - US Senator Patty Murray’s Plan to Skirt Partisanship: More Women in Congress
  • Does Politics Trump Science in The Obama White House?
  • Washington State Legislature Adjourns 17-Day Special Session in Olympia
  • This Could be Seattle’s Driest December Ever
  • Thieves Prowling for Unattended Holiday Packages
WORD OF THE DAY

Emblazon • \im-BLAY-zun\ • Verb - 1a: to inscribe or adorn with or as if with heraldic bearings or devices b: to inscribe (as logos or lettering) on a surface 2: celebrate, extol

“I can’t admit you sir,’ the apologetic bouncer murmured to the jittery fanboy at the backstage door at the local comic book convention. “But,” whined the pizza-faced adolescent, “didn’t you see my ‘Justice League’ badge. That should mean something.” “Yeah,” sighed the bouncer; “It means you had a sharp nail to emblazon the ‘League’ logo on tinfoil….now get lost.”

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Mid-Columbia Power Rates Cheapest in Washington State (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

Department of Energy Implementation Activities in the Case of a Lapse of Appropriations “…BPA…is self-funding…operates funds under a permanent, indefinite appropriation known as the Bonneville Fund. Therefore, BPA will continue to operate normally…” (US Department of Energy)

British Columbia - $200-Million River-Power Project Clears Key Hurdle: Conservation groups raise fears over fish habitat (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

Pacific Gas & Electric Cuts Power to Three SmartMeter Opponents Who Removed Devices (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

Mason County PUD 1 Budget Approved (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Arch Coal Secures $300 Million Wyoming Coal Lease (Associated Press)

Montana – Thanks to Flathead Electric: Money Found for Discovery Square (Flathead News Group, Kalispell, MT)

Energy Northwest Gives Out Toys & Clothing (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Goes Nuclear with Abuse, Colleagues Say (Seattle Times)

Thousands of Households Face Cuts in Energy Aid (The Tennessean, Nashville)

Duke Energy, Progress Energy Merger Delayed (Dayton Business Journal, OH)
http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2011/12/15/duke-energy-progress-energy-merger.html

Merger Talks - Constellation, Exelon Reach Accord with Maryland Governor (Baltimore Business Journal, MD)

Tennessee Valley Authority Says Fuel Cost 3.1 Percent Lower in January (Associated Press)

US Natural Gas Supplies Shrank Last Week (Associated Press)

As Gas Drilling Spreads, Towns Stand Ground Over Control (NY Times)

Is a Perfect Storm Brewing for the Power Sector in 2012? (Electric Light & Power)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Salmon Flood California Hatcheries, Great 2012 Predicted (SF Chronicle)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Washington State Water Deal Benefits All of Tri-Cities (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

Pateros is First to Receive Lake Roosevelt Water (Wenatchee World, WA)

Yakima – River Basin Water Plan May Have to Wait Two Years for Funds (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Montana – NorthWestern Energy Urges State to OK $86 Million Wind Deal (Helena Independent-Record, MT)

Vestas’ Martha Wyrsch: Save the Production Tax Credit (Sustainable Business Oregon)

Green Energy: Silicon Valley Leads a Back-To-Basics Revolution (Christian Science Monitor)

Connecticut - NRG Biomass Plant Could Offset Impact of Montville Coal-Fired Power Plant’s Closing (Hartford Courant, CT)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Thou Shalt Covet Thy Neighbor’s Electric Bill (Electric Light & Power)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

With Rise of Eco-Friendly Cars, Washington State Sees Slump in Gas Tax Revenue (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

California Regulator Plans for Near Elimination of Gasoline-Powered Vehicles (E&E News)

Recycling Rate Reaches 49 Percent in Washington (Associated Press)

Hawaii Utility to Make Gas from Vegetable Oil (Associated Press)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Greenpeace Finds Common Cause with Facebook on Clean Power for Data Centers (Oregonian, Portland)

Google to Invest in $120 Million Singapore Data Center (San Francisco Business Times, CA)

Fun Facts for Data Center Geeks - Infographic (GigaOM)

Lines Drawn on Internet Antipiracy Bills (NY Times)

Top Internet Engineers Warn Against SOPA (Washington Post)

Cisco Says 70% of Young Workers Ignore IT Rules (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

Six Million Only Use Wireless Broadband (Broadband Reports)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Op/Ed - State Redistricting Commission Needs to Set Aside Politics & Meet Jan. 1 Deadline (Seattle Times)

Columnist - US Senator Patty Murray’s Plan to Skirt Partisanship: More Women in Congress (Seattle Times)

Does Politics Trump Science in The Obama White House? (Politico)

GENERAL NEWS

Washington State Legislature Adjourns 17-Day Special Session in Olympia (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

This Could be Seattle’s Driest December Ever (KING-TV, Seattle)

Thieves Prowling for Unattended Holiday Packages (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

DIVERSIONS

Behold the Power of Paws: Wisconsin Cat with 26 Toes Helps Raise $120,000 for Shelter

Dogs Have Their Day in Court after Jury Finds Two Portland Men Guilty of Animal Neglect

Seattle Names City Dump after Julius Pierpont Patches

Police: Thieves Pocket-Dial 911, Leading to Arrest

SONG OF THE DAY

Buddy Guy & Tracy Chapman - Ain’t No Sunshine