Energy News Digest for January 31, 2012

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:

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Bonneville Power Administration project opponent to hold meeting on proposed I-5 corridor route (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/clark-county/index.ssf/2012/01/bonneville_power_administratio_3.html

Feds Told to Back Off Pacific Northwest Wind Dispute (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/public-policy-watch/energy-environment/feds-told-back-off-n-w-dispute/39094

Reward for Info about Dead Puget Sound Sea Lions (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017382790_apusdeadsealions1stld.html

Oregon’s Snowpack Makes a Dramatic Rebound, Doubling in 16 Days (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/weather/index.ssf/2012/01/oregons_snowpack_makes_a_drama.html

Shelton Prison Officer Surrenders after Chase in Tacoma - Prompted Lockdown at Washington Corrections Center (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/01/30/2005741/prison-officer-surrenders-after.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Bonneville Power Administration Project Opponent to Hold Meeting on Proposed I-5 Corridor Route
• Feds Told to Back Off Pacific Northwest Wind Dispute
• Op/Ed - Washington View: Power’s Back On Thanks to Hard Work
• Canada - Smart-Meter Opponents Energized: Provincial Health Officer Says BC Hydro Devices Are Not Dangerous
• Protesters Sue Tennessee Valley Authority over Costume Ban at Meetings
• Minnesota Power Makes Deal with Manitoba Hydro – Hydropower to back up wind
• Illinois Nuclear Reactor Shutdown Probed
• Massachusetts - Newburyport City Council Urges Halt to Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant Relicensing
• North Carolina Firm Set to Build Two Nuclear Power Plants
• Reward for Info about Dead Puget Sound Sea Lions
• Editorial - Klamath River Dam Removals Should Go Forth
• Crooked River Irrigation Deal Benefits Farmers & Fish
• Pacific NW Agencies Try to Head Off Bat Fungus
• Oregon’s Snowpack Makes a Dramatic Rebound, Doubling in 16 Days
• Clallam PUD Moves to Change Renewable-Energy Requirements
• Commerce Department, Siding With SolarWorld, Finds ‘Massive’ Surge of Chinese Solar Panel Shipments Ahead of Potential US Tariffs
• Avista Wants a New Source of Electricity from Kootenai Electric Co-Op
• Maine - Clean Energy Coalition Won’t Make Ballot in 2012
• Green Electricity Finds Few Customers in Massachusetts - Wind farms bring higher NStar bills
• Illinois Second in Nation for Adding Wind Turbines
• Editorial - A Misguided Effort to Aid Maryland Wind Projects
• Ocean Motion Could Produce Nine Percent of US Electricity
• Run-of-the-River Hydropower Goes With the Flow
• Germany’s Green Energy Sector: Can It Grow Without Subsidies?
• Save Money with an Energy Audit
• Opinions Differ About New Plant Hardiness Map
• Anti-Diesel Prejudice Eroding Fast in the US
• Five Solar Power Chargers to Energize Your Gadgets
• Facebook’s Oregon Data Center Uses as Much Power as the Entire County It’s In
• Washington State House Committee Approves Gay Marriage Bill
• Idaho State Treasurer under Fire for Improper Travel Accounting
• Indiana Welfare Drug Testing Bill Withdrawn after Amended to Include Testing Lawmakers
• Shelton Prison Officer Surrenders after Chase in Tacoma - Prompted Lockdown at Washington Corrections Center
• Grays Harbor County Commissioners Oppose Wild Olympics Proposal
• Fifteen Washington State Counties Are Primary Natural Disaster Areas
• Two Ratings Agencies Lower Washington State Credit Outlook
• Forty Two Washington State Lawmakers Ask Feds to Reclassify Marijuana
• Sequim Legislator Floats Rechargeable-Battery Bill
• More Northern Lights Sky Shows Coming from Solar Storms

WORD OF THE DAY

Gambol • \GAMM-bull\ • Verb - To skip about in play: frisk, frolic

It never ceased to amaze Tommy about how the simplest pleasures lightened the hearts of his employees. Things like the arrival of the itinerant “tamale lady,” whose presence made many of his grizzled minions gambol about their cubicles like small children. The after lunch torpor was another thing altogether.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Bonneville Power Administration Project Opponent to Hold Meeting on Proposed I-5 Corridor Route (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/clark-county/index.ssf/2012/01/bonneville_power_administratio_3.html

Feds Told to Back Off Pacific Northwest Wind Dispute (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/public-policy-watch/energy-environment/feds-told-back-off-n-w-dispute/39094

Op/Ed - Washington View: Power’s Back On Thanks to Hard Work (Vancouver Columbian, WA – BTW, hundreds of public power line crews & employees were in the soup on this also.)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/jan/31/powers-back-on-thanks-to-hard-work/

Canada - Smart-Meter Opponents Energized: Provincial Health Officer Says BC Hydro Devices Are Not Dangerous (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/technology/Smart+meter+opponents+energized/6075364/story.html

Protesters Sue Tennessee Valley Authority over Costume Ban at Meetings – TVA banned such getups after people protesting a nuclear plant dressed up as zombies (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2017376344_apustvazombieslawsuit.html

Minnesota Power Makes Deal with Manitoba Hydro – Hydropower to back up wind (Pioneer Press, St Paul, MN)

http://www.twincities.com/business/ci_19852384

Illinois Nuclear Reactor Shutdown Probed (CBS News)

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-201_162-57368694/illinois-nuclear-reactor-shutdown-probed/

Massachusetts - Newburyport City Council Urges Halt to Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant Relicensing (Newburyport Daily News, MA)

http://www.newburyportnews.com/local/x431317527/City-Council-urges-halt-to-nuke-plant-relicensing

North Carolina Firm Set to Build Two Nuclear Power Plants (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/30/1806845/nuclear-nc-firm-set-to-build-2.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Reward for Info about Dead Puget Sound Sea Lions (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017382790_apusdeadsealions1stld.html

Editorial - Klamath River Dam Removals Should Go Forth (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/01/30/ED6C1MVIVB.DTL

Crooked River Irrigation Deal Benefits Farmers & Fish (Oregon Public Radio – Is it the Crooked River (yes) or a crooked deal?)

http://news.opb.org/article/crooked-river-irrigation-deal-benefits-farmers-and-fish/

Pacific NW Agencies Try to Head Off Bat Fungus (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017379418_aporbatfungus1stldwritethru.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Oregon’s Snowpack Makes a Dramatic Rebound, Doubling in 16 Days (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/weather/index.ssf/2012/01/oregons_snowpack_makes_a_drama.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Clallam PUD Moves to Change Renewable-Energy Requirements (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.konp.com/local/7625

Commerce Department, Siding With SolarWorld, Finds ‘Massive’ Surge of Chinese Solar Panel Shipments Ahead of Potential US Tariffs (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2012/01/commerce_department_siding_wit.html

Avista Wants a New Source of Electricity from Kootenai Electric Co-Op (Coeur d’Alene Press, ID)

http://www.cdapress.com/news/business/article_b659b16c-20aa-5887-b906-b3c9ed4e87fb.html

Maine - Clean Energy Coalition Won’t Make Ballot in 2012 (Lewiston Sun Journal, ME)

http://www.sunjournal.com/news/state/2012/01/30/clean-energy-coalition-wont-make-ballot-2012/1147846

Green Electricity Finds Few Customers in Massachusetts - Wind farms bring higher NStar bills (Boston Globe, MA)

http://bostonglobe.com/metro/2012/01/31/green-electricity-finds-few-customers-mass/awxGuGG44ENt0UmrDAOegN/story.html

Illinois Second in Nation for Adding Wind Turbines (KMOX-TV, St Louis, MO)

http://stlouis.cbslocal.com/2012/01/30/illinois-no-2-in-nation-in-adding-wind-turbines/

Editorial - A Misguided Effort to Aid Maryland Wind Projects (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/mr-omalleys-misguided-effort-to-aid-maryland-wind-projects/2012/01/27/gIQAVJVYdQ_story.html

Ocean Motion Could Produce Nine Percent of US Electricity (MSNBC)

http://futureoftech.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/01/30/10273481-ocean-motion-could-produce-9-percent-of-us-electricity

Run-of-the-River Hydropower Goes With the Flow (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2012/01/run-of-the-river-hydropower-goes-with-the-flow

Germany’s Green Energy Sector: Can It Grow Without Subsidies? (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2012/0130/Germany-s-green-energy-sector-can-it-grow-without-subsidies

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Save Money with an Energy Audit (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/story/2012-01-28/truong-energy-saving-products/52823694/1?csp=34tech

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Opinions Differ About New Plant Hardiness Map (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Opinions-differ-about-new-plant-hardiness-map-138368049.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Anti-Diesel Prejudice Eroding Fast in the US (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/01/diesel-avalance-cost-hostile-bosch-mileage/1?csp=34money

Five Solar Power Chargers to Energize Your Gadgets (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/story/2012-01-29/solar-chargers-gadgets/52824314/1?csp=34tech

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Facebook’s Oregon Data Center Uses as Much Power as the Entire County It’s In (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/5880804/facebooks-oregon-data-center-uses-as-much-power-as-the-entire-county

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State House Committee Approves Gay Marriage Bill (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017379616_apwaxgrgaymarriage3rdldwritethru.html

Idaho State Treasurer under Fire for Improper Travel Accounting (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2012/01/idaho_treasurer_under_fire_for.html

Indiana Welfare Drug Testing Bill Withdrawn after Amended to Include Testing Lawmakers (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

http://www.khq.com/story/16631779/welfare-drug-testing-bill-withdrawn-after-amended-to-include-testing-lawmakers

GENERAL NEWS

Shelton Prison Officer Surrenders after Chase in Tacoma - Prompted Lockdown at Washington Corrections Center (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/01/30/2005741/prison-officer-surrenders-after.html

Grays Harbor County Commissioners Oppose Wild Olympics Proposal (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kxro.wordpress.com/2012/01/31/county-commissioners-oppose-wild-olympics/

Fifteen Washington State Counties Are Primary Natural Disaster Areas (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017380644_apwafarmersdisasteraid.html

Two Ratings Agencies Lower Washington State Credit Outlook (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017379168_apwacreditoutlook1stldwritethru.html

Forty Two Washington State Lawmakers Ask Feds to Reclassify Marijuana (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017375963_apwamedicalmarijuana.html

Sequim Legislator Floats Rechargeable-Battery Bill (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20120130/news/301309993/tharinger-floats-rechargeable-battery-bill

More Northern Lights Sky Shows Coming from Solar Storms (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/columnist/vergano/story/2012-01-28/solar-flare-northern-lights/52824828/1?csp=34tech

DIVERSIONS

Woman Weds Warehouse amid ‘Gay Marriage’ Furor

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Woman-warehouse-wed-as-some-object-reference-to-gay-marriage-138298184.html

Chronicle Takes Viral Marketing to the Sky with Human Planes

http://www.observer.com/2012/01/chronicle-takes-viral-marketing-to-the-sky-with-human-planes/

Kansas Bill Would Make Toto Breed - Cairn Terrier - Official State Dog

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2017379987_apusstatedogtoto.html

Many Younger Super Bowl Fans Can’t Crunch the Numerals

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2017379803_numerals31.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Yolanda Adams - I Believe I Can Fly

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TPJ5kqjEQlc

Energy News Digest for January 30, 2012

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:

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Puget Sound Energy Proposes Rate Increases for Electricity, Gas (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/JAMIE-LYNN-138184374.html

Pacific Power Asks for Rate Increase While Economy Drives Up Need for Bill Assistance (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2012/01/29/pacific-power-asks-for-rate-increase-while-economy-drives-up-need-for-bill-assistance

Great Expectations Await Spring Chinook Fishery on the Columbia (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2017356404_outn29.html

At Least Eight Sea Lions Found Shot to Death around Puget Sound (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=618281

Editorial - Unneeded Wind Turbines Can’t Help Environment (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/29/1805886/unneeded-wind-turbines-cant-help.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Puget Sound Energy Proposes Rate Increases for Electricity, Gas
• Pacific Power Asks for Rate Increase While Economy Drives Up Need for Bill Assistance
• Columnist - Natural Gas Promise Could Easily Fall Short
• UPDATE: Natural Gas Leak Stopped in Shelton Neighborhood
• Fed Energy Chief Says National Energy Standard Would Broaden Market
• Op/Ed - Washington Delegation Must Fight to Proceed with Yucca Mountain Nuclear-Waste Repository
• Oklahoma Emergency Response Officials Learn Lessons from Massive Ice Storm
• “Extreme Views” - Minnesota Senate Likely to Reject Former State Senator for Public Utilities Commission
• Ten Ways Big Data is Remaking Energy
• Great Expectations Await Spring Chinook Fishery on the Columbia
• Spring Chinook Return Expected to Be Large; Wild Component Predicted Above Ten-Year Average
• How Would a New Approach to Managing Endangered Salmon Affect Idaho?
• At Least Eight Sea Lions Found Shot to Death around Puget Sound
• Blasting Being Used to Take Down Glines Canyon Dam
• Last Fall’s Elwha Dam Party Brought Only Trickle of Funds
• Keeping Dam to Save Salmon - Juan De Fuca Officials Galvanize to Battle ‘Stupid’ DFO Move
• Environment Again a Source of Friction in Olympia
• Slow Leaks at Ice Harbor Dam Spill 1,500 Gallons of Transformer Oil into Snake River
• Tacoma: Supreme Court Rules against City in Hydrants Case
• Editorial - Unneeded Wind Turbines Can’t Help Environment
• Energy Tax Breaks Proposed, Despite Waning Support for Subsidies
• Wind Power: Clean Energy, Dirty Business?
• Spain Halts Renewable Subsidies to Curb $31 Billion of Debts
• Portland Community College to Build Oregon’s Largest Solar Project
• Canadian Pulp Mill Claims It Is Being Discriminated Against by BC Hydro
• Minnesota Biomass Projects Burned by Low Natural Gas Prices
• Georgia - Tire-Burning Plant Moves Forward, 75 Jobs Possible
• Is Warren Buffet’s Utility Betting on Clean Energy?
• LEED from Behind: Why We Should Focus on Greening Existing Buildings
• Keep the Dishwasher & Fridge Apart; Save a Bundle on Energy
• Activists Want Climate Change on TV Weather Reports
• Op/Ed - A Dangerous Shift in Obama’s ‘Climate Change’ Rhetoric
• North Dakota Wind Farms to Help Offset Electricity Used During Super Bowl at Stadium, Hotels
• What the Green Bay Packers Can Teach Us about Broadband
• Customer Interaction with Utilities Via Social Media Rising Swiftly, According to New Pike Research Survey
• Crowded Field Jockeying to Represent Washington State’s First Congressional District
• Ratings Agency Fitch Warns Washington State’s Credit Rating Could Suffer
• Big Liquor Sellers Looking for Washington State Locations
• Belfair-Based Winery to Release First Wines
• Storm Solves Area Firewood Woes

WORD OF THE DAY

Xylography • \zye-LAW-gruh-fee\ • noun - The art of making engravings on wood especially for printing

Ten-year-old Webster backed away from his xylographic efforts, the sting of the smoke from his wood-burning iron making his eyes tear up. Not all of his tears were the result of the particulates from his new hobby. He was also fearful that he would not be able to hold his breath during the entire craft project, especially since he had heard that he could die from a single exposure to the acrid emissions from his “Washington Crossing the Delaware” artwork.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Puget Sound Energy Proposes Rate Increases for Electricity, Gas (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/JAMIE-LYNN-138184374.html

Pacific Power Asks for Rate Increase While Economy Drives Up Need for Bill Assistance (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2012/01/29/pacific-power-asks-for-rate-increase-while-economy-drives-up-need-for-bill-assistance

Columnist - Natural Gas Promise Could Easily Fall Short (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/01/29/2003786/natural-gas-promise-could-easily.html

UPDATE: Natural Gas Leak Stopped in Shelton Neighborhood (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/22797-update-natural-gas-leak-stopped

Fed Energy Chief Says National Energy Standard Would Broaden Market (CBS News)

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57367345/chu-national-energy-standard-would-broaden-market/

Op/Ed - Washington Delegation Must Fight to Proceed with Yucca Mountain Nuclear-Waste Repository (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2017345705_guest27ferguson.html

Oklahoma Emergency Response Officials Learn Lessons from Massive Ice Storm (Associated Press)

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/710d2183c70d4f95ba8164106a068ce9/OK--Ice-Storm-Lessons-Learned/

“Extreme Views” - Minnesota Senate Likely to Reject Former State Senator for Public Utilities Commission (Pioneer Press, St Paul, MN)

http://www.twincities.com/ci_19835846

Ten Ways Big Data is Remaking Energy (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/cleantech/10-ways-big-data-is-remaking-energy/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Great Expectations Await Spring Chinook Fishery on the Columbia (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2017356404_outn29.html

Spring Chinook Return Expected to Be Large; Wild Component Predicted Above Ten-Year Average (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/415842.aspx

How Would a New Approach to Managing Endangered Salmon Affect Idaho? (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/01/30/1973628/a-new-approach-to-managing-endangered.html

At Least Eight Sea Lions Found Shot to Death around Puget Sound (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=618281

Blasting Being Used to Take Down Glines Canyon Dam (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.konp.com/local/7614

Last Fall’s Elwha Dam Party Brought Only Trickle of Funds — But Media Attention Worth It, Olympic National Park Says (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20120130/news/301309991/last-fall-8217-s-dam-party-brought-only-trickle-of-funds-8212-but

Keeping Dam to Save Salmon - Juan De Fuca Officials Galvanize to Battle ‘Stupid’ DFO Move (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/Juan+Fuca+officials+galvanize+battle+stupid+move/6067011/story.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Environment Again a Source of Friction in Olympia (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/01/30/2004683/environment-again-a-source-of.html

Slow Leaks at Ice Harbor Dam Spill 1,500 Gallons of Transformer Oil into Snake River (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2012/01/slow_transformer_leaks_at_ice.html

Tacoma: Supreme Court Rules against City in Hydrants Case (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://blog.thenewstribune.com/politics/2012/01/26/tacoma-supreme-court-rules-against-city-in-hydrants-case/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Editorial - Unneeded Wind Turbines Can’t Help Environment (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/01/29/1805886/unneeded-wind-turbines-cant-help.html

Energy Tax Breaks Proposed, Despite Waning Support for Subsidies (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/27/business/energy-environment/clean-energy-projects-face-waning-subsidies.html?_r=1

Wind Power: Clean Energy, Dirty Business? In the developing world, where land-intensive wind turbines are being rapidly constructed, wind power has often turned clean energy into dirty business (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2012/0126/Wind-power-Clean-energy-dirty-business

Spain Halts Renewable Subsidies to Curb $31 Billion of Debts (Bloomberg News)

http://news.businessweek.com/article.asp?documentKey=1376-LYGJGQ6KLVR601-58GOHAPGRVO9VFQ0PVAO70OJ13

Portland Community College to Build Oregon’s Largest Solar Project (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/pcc-build-oregons-largest-solar-project/

Canadian Pulp Mill Claims It Is Being Discriminated Against by BC Hydro (Vancouver Sun, BC)

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Pulp+mill+claims+being+discriminated+against+Hydro/6063753/story.html

Minnesota Biomass Projects Burned by Low Natural Gas Prices (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, MN)

http://www.startribune.com/business/138204894.html

Georgia - Tire-Burning Plant Moves Forward, 75 Jobs Possible (Atlanta Business Journal, GA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/morning_call/2012/01/tire-burning-plant-moves-forward-75.html

Is Warren Buffet’s Utility Betting on Clean Energy? (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/josephromm/75307/warren-buffet-s-utility-explains-clean-energy-investment-vote-renewable-energy-it-n

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

LEED from Behind: Why We Should Focus on Greening Existing Buildings (TIME Magazine)

http://ecocentric.blogs.time.com/2012/01/27/leed-from-behind-why-we-should-focus-on-greening-existing-buildings/

Keep the Dishwasher & Fridge Apart; Save a Bundle on Energy (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/The-Simple-Dollar/2012/0128/Keep-the-dishwasher-and-fridge-apart-save-a-bundle-on-energy

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Activists Want Climate Change on TV Weather Reports (Houston Chronicle, TX)

http://www.chron.com/news/houston-texas/article/Climate-change-battle-spills-into-the-nightly-2760000.php

Op/Ed - A Dangerous Shift in Obama’s ‘Climate Change’ Rhetoric (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/a-dangerous-shift-in-obamas-climate-change-rhetoric/2012/01/26/gIQAYnwzVQ_story.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

North Dakota Wind Farms to Help Offset Electricity Used During Super Bowl at Stadium, Hotels (Associated Press)

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/13542ae4d4004b6784b307ca8959869a/ND--Super-Bowl-Electricity/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

What the Green Bay Packers Can Teach Us about Broadband - If Green Bay…can raise $70 million to rehabilitate its football field by selling $250 stock shares, I bet $250 there’s a community in America that can raise $2 or $3 million for a broadband network (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/broadband/settles-green-bay-packers-broadband/

Customer Interaction with Utilities Via Social Media Rising Swiftly, According to New Pike Research Survey (Electric Energy Online)

http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=163038

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Crowded Field Jockeying to Represent Washington State’s First Congressional District (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Crowded-field-jockeying-to-represent-Washingtons-1st-district-138239394.html

GENERAL NEWS

Ratings Agency Fitch Warns Washington State’s Credit Rating Could Suffer (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017356013_fitch28m.html

Big Liquor Sellers Looking for Washington State Locations (Associated Press)

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/Big-liquor-sellers-looking-for-locations-138209334.html

Belfair-Based Winery to Release First Wines (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/jan/27/belfair-based-winery-to-release-first-wines/

Storm Solves Area Firewood Woes (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2012/01/29/1968614/storm-solves-area-firewood-woes.html

DIVERSIONS

Deathbed Music: The Final Works of Famous Composers

http://www.npr.org/2012/01/08/144791519/deathbed-music-the-final-works-of-famous-composers?ft=1&f=2

Franklin Delano Roosevelt: Eight Great Quotes on His Birthday

http://www.csmonitor.com/Books/2012/0129/Franklin-Delano-Roosevelt-8-great-quotes-on-his-birthday/Try-try-again

Beard & Stache Fest Grows Contestants, Money for Treehouse

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017372804_beard30m.html

Walls of Discovery Bay Cafe Yield Amazing $10,316

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Walls-of-Discovery-Bay-cafe-yield-amazing-10316-138289234.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Johnny Cash & Willie Nelson - Hello Walls

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zc7MImq9ODY