Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Energy News Digest for February 29, 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:

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Snow Falls in Parts of Washington State (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Strong Returns of Columbia River Chinook Salmon, Coastal Coho Projected (Access Washington)

California – Pacific Gas & Electric Expects Gas-Safety Program to Cost $5 Billion (SF Chronicle)

Poll: US Belief in Warming Rises with Thermometer (Associated Press)

Senate Democrats Offer Washington State Budget (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • California – Pacific Gas & Electric Expects Gas-Safety Program to Cost $5 Billion
  • Claudia Andrews Named Bonneville Power Administration’s Chief Financial Officer
  • Executive Interview: Viewpoints from the Board Room: Snohomish County PUD
  • Mason County PUD 3 Commission Report for February 28, 2012
  • Rock Quarry - Poor Training Blamed for Oakesdale Electrocution
  • Reduced Electricity Spending Offsets Rise in Gas Prices
  • Ohio Nuclear Energy Plant Owner: Weather Caused Cracks
  • Texting Prank Alarms Customers, Worries Ozark Electric Company
  • Roadshow: Copper Thefts Leave Bay Area Motorists in the Dark
  • North Carolina - Two Accused of Stealing Utility Truck
  • Pennsylvania - Adams Electric Cooperative Choppers ‘Take to the Sky’
  • Haiti Seeks To Rebuild, Or Just Build, Power Grid
  • Strong Returns of Columbia River Chinook Salmon, Coastal Coho Projected
  • Plan to Stock Elwha River with Non-Native Hatchery Fish Put Off
  • Spotted Owl Recovery Plan Calls for Killing Barred Owls, Designating Habitat, Increasing Logging
  • Army Corps of Engineers to Close Several Locks on Columbia, Snake Rivers March 20
  • Judge Says Oregon’s River Temperature Standards Need More Scrutiny
  • Stat of the Day: Power Plant Siting Problems? What Problems?
  • Idaho Utility Wind Contract Approved by Regulators
  • Clean Energy: Another Solar Firm Lays Off Workers
  • Surprise: Chinese Suppliers Dominate Solar PV Module Rankings
  • Green Energy Puts Green in Homeowner Wallets
  • Projects to Add Wind Power for City Gain Momentum
  • Poll: US Belief in Warming Rises with Thermometer
  • Op/Ed - Canada’s Carbon Lesson: Just Put a Price on It
  • Portland ‘Sustainability Center’ Hits a Wall at the Oregon Legislature
  • Taco Time Northwest goes green & local to mark 50th anniversary
  • Woman Arrested for Burning Down 3,500-Year-Old Tree
  • The First Google Maps War
  • Interpol Says Suspected Anonymous Hackers Arrested
  • Senate Democrats Offer Washington State Budget
  • Legislator Slips $3 Million Gift to Seattle Schools into House Budget
  • Law Lets Credit Unions Accept Larger Government Deposits
  • Snow Falls in Parts of Washington State
  • Belfair Valley Residents Worry about Noise, Pollution at Proposed Kitsap County Track
  • Timberland Library Director on Administrative Leave
  • National park staffing would be cut under Obama budget
  • JP Morgan Chase - No Profits from Clients with Less than $100,000 in Their Accounts
  • Washington State Family Admits To Decades of Disability Fraud
  • Thieves Swipe Miss Washington’s Crown, Sash, Car
  • Leap Year: What Are You Doing With Your Extra Day?
WORD OF THE DAY

Viva Voce • \vie-fuh – VOE-see\ • Adverb - By word of mouth: orally

“This can’t be written, recorded or provided in any a form other than viva voce,” the wizened blacksmith whispered hoarsely to his fresh-faced apprentice. “Never, under any circumstances, should you give service to the four horsemen of the apocalypse. Once they leave the barn, you won’t have the time to enjoy your ill-gotten gains,” he rasped, “You’ll most likely be dead by morning.”

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

California – Pacific Gas & Electric Expects Gas-Safety Program to Cost $5 Billion (SF Chronicle)

Claudia Andrews Named Bonneville Power Administration’s Chief Financial Officer (Bonneville Power Administration)

Executive Interview: Viewpoints from the Board Room: Snohomish County PUD (Penn Energy)

Mason County PUD 3 Commission Report for February 28, 2012 (Mason County PUD No. 3)

Rock Quarry - Poor Training Blamed for Oakesdale Electrocution (Associated Press)

Reduced Electricity Spending Offsets Rise in Gas Prices (Los Angeles Times, CA)

Ohio Nuclear Energy Plant Owner: Weather Caused Cracks (Associated Press)

Texting Prank Alarms Customers, Worries Ozark Electric Company (The News-Leader, Springfield, MO)
http://www.news-leader.com/article/20120229/NEWS01/302290016/White-River-Valley-Electric-Cooperative-was-impersonated

Roadshow: Copper Thefts Leave Bay Area Motorists in the Dark (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

North Carolina - Two Accused of Stealing Utility Truck (Jacksonville Daily News, NC)

Pennsylvania - Adams Electric Cooperative Choppers ‘Take to the Sky’ (Shippensburg News-Chronicle, PA)

Haiti Seeks To Rebuild, Or Just Build, Power Grid (Associated Press)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Strong Returns of Columbia River Chinook Salmon, Coastal Coho Projected (Access Washington)

Plan to Stock Elwha River with Non-Native Hatchery Fish Put Off (Seattle Times)

Spotted Owl Recovery Plan Calls for Killing Barred Owls, Designating Habitat, Increasing Logging (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Army Corps of Engineers to Close Several Locks on Columbia, Snake Rivers March 20 (Longview Daily News, WA)

Judge Says Oregon’s River Temperature Standards Need More Scrutiny (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Stat of the Day: Power Plant Siting Problems? What Problems? - New tool estimates there is enough land & water to accommodate 958 gigawatts of clean energy (GreenTech Media)

Idaho Utility Wind Contract Approved by Regulators (Renew Grid)

Clean Energy: Another Solar Firm Lays Off Workers (Christian Science Monitor)

Surprise: Chinese Suppliers Dominate Solar PV Module Rankings (Renewable Energy World)

Green Energy Puts Green in Homeowner Wallets (Reuters)

Projects to Add Wind Power for City Gain Momentum (NY Times)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Poll: US Belief in Warming Rises with Thermometer (Associated Press)

Op/Ed - Canada’s Carbon Lesson: Just Put a Price on It (Los Angeles Times, CA)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Portland ‘Sustainability Center’ Hits a Wall at the Oregon Legislature (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

Taco Time Northwest goes green & local to mark 50th anniversary (Puget Sound Business Journal, Seattle, WA)

Woman Arrested for Burning Down 3,500-Year-Old Tree (Grist Online)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

The First Google Maps War (NY Times)

Interpol Says Suspected Anonymous Hackers Arrested (Associated Press)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Senate Democrats Offer Washington State Budget (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Legislator Slips $3 Million Gift to Seattle Schools into House Budget (Seattle Times)

Law Lets Credit Unions Accept Larger Government Deposits (Associated Press)

GENERAL NEWS

Snow Falls in Parts of Washington State (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Belfair Valley Residents Worry about Noise, Pollution at Proposed Kitsap County Track (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Timberland Library Director on Administrative Leave (Olympian, WA)

National park staffing would be cut under Obama budget (USA Today)

JP Morgan Chase - No Profits from Clients with Less than $100,000 in Their Accounts – Here’s a buzzword bingo winning statement: “...”I’m trying to give you a proxy for what the banking industry has to look forward to if you don’t take into account business bank clients & getting more of the affluent wealth wallet…” (Bloomberg)

Washington State Family Admits To Decades of Disability Fraud (Associated Press)

Thieves Swipe Miss Washington’s Crown, Sash, Car (Associated Press)

Leap Year: What Are You Doing With Your Extra Day? (Los Angeles Times, CA)

DIVERSIONS

Expensive 200-Year-Old Book Found at Centralia College Nearly Donated

Fort Worth Marathon Winner Disqualified Because He Didn’t Register for Race

No One Knows Where “Dude” Came From

Goats apparently have accents, report goat experts

SONG OF THE DAY

David Bowie - All the Young Dudes

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Energy News Digest for February 28, 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:

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Snow Forecast for Parts of Washington - A winter storm is bringing another shot of snow to parts of Washington (Associated Press)

Lean Energy: Clark Public Utilities Controls Costs - Rates under control in face of economy, weather, I-937 (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Coal Export Opponents to Bring 40,000 Petition Signatures to Olympia (Longview Daily News, WA)

Biggest, Ugliest Clam in Town Earns State Protection - Survey shows geoduck poaching is hampering species' recovery (KCPQ-TV, Tacoma/Seattle – Before opening, make sure you have not just taken a sip of coffee, tea or other beverage…)

Big Prospects for Small Wind Turbines - Markets for turbines of less than 100 kW offer huge potential for growth if government incentives (subsidies) are set up (Renewable Energy World)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Lean Energy: Clark Public Utilities Controls Costs
  • Coal Export Opponents to Bring 40,000 Petition Signatures to Olympia
  • Plant Chief: Japan’s Fukushima Nuke Plant Still Vulnerable
  • City of Prosser Alerts to Utility Shut-Off Typo
  • Seattle - Dump Truck Snags Power Lines; Buses Affected
  • Hawaii - Smart Meter Installation Rolls Out:  Some Residents Irked By Lack of Notice
  • Stray Voltage Claims - Farmer Shocked at Cows' Drying Up
  • Biggest, Ugliest Clam in Town Earns State Protection
  • Oregon Legislature - Fish at Center of Debate Whether Health, Education Bills Advance
  • Pacific Sea Otters’ Failure to Thrive Confounds Wildlife Sleuths
  • Why Asian Carp Are Such a Threat
  • The Atlantic Sturgeon’s Looming Endangered Listing
  • Water Bills Expected to Triple In Some Parts of US
  • Project aims to photograph every inch of Sacramento River
  • Editorial - Congress Moves to Redistribute California's Water
  • Big Prospects for Small Wind Turbines
  • United Kingdom - Tall Order for Firefighters as Blaze Hits Fuel Store in Biomass Power Station
  • A Case of Big Wind Bullying in Mexico?
  • Spain Exits Renewables Top Ten after Curbing Subsidies
  • Evergreen Public Schools Recognized for Energy Efficiency
  • Comcast to Offer Smart Thermostat Service via EcoFactor
  • Study: Less Arctic Ice Means More US Snow
  • How Student-Built Solar Homes Can Help Solve US Housing & Energy Crisis
  • North Carolina - Discovery Place Branches Out with New Solar Trees
  • Chelan PUD Fiber Future Meeting
  • Google Fiber Edging Device Could Help It Rapidly Connect Homes in Kansas City to 1-Gig Network
  • Pot, Meet Kettle: Washington State Auditor Has Unused Phones, Too
  • Audit Confirms Improper Charges by Port of Seattle Commissioners
  • Snow Forecast for Parts of Washington - A winter storm is bringing another shot of snow to parts of Washington
  • Winter Storm Watch for Hood Canal Area
  • Gas Prices Leap another 12 Cents a Gallon in Past Week
  • The $200 Million Seattle Tunnel Miscalculation
  • Pacific Northwest - Water Views With a Hint of Daring and Danger
  • Obama Approves Bill for Quileute Tribal Move
  • No High School Basketball TV This Year
WORD OF THE DAY

Copious • \KOE-pee-yus\ • Adjective - 1a: yielding something abundantly b: plentiful in number 2: full of thought, information, or matter 3: lavish, abundant

Expensive shellfish
Ugly geoduck in danger
Copious no more

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Lean Energy: Clark Public Utilities Controls Costs - Rates under control in face of economy, weather, I-937 (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Coal Export Opponents to Bring 40,000 Petition Signatures to Olympia (Longview Daily News, WA)

Plant Chief: Japan’s Fukushima Nuke Plant Still Vulnerable (Associated Press)

City of Prosser Alerts to Utility Shut-Off Typo (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Seattle - Dump Truck Snags Power Lines; Buses Affected (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

Hawaii - Smart Meter Installation Rolls Out:  Some Residents Irked By Lack of Notice (The Garden Island, Lihue, HI)

Stray Voltage Claims - Farmer Shocked at Cows' Drying Up (Courthouse News Service)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Biggest, Ugliest Clam in Town Earns State Protection - Survey shows geoduck poaching is hampering species' recovery (KCPQ-TV, Tacoma/Seattle – Before opening, make sure you have not just taken a sip of coffee, tea or other beverage…)

Oregon Legislature - Fish at Center of Debate Whether Health, Education Bills Advance (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

Pacific Sea Otters’ Failure to Thrive Confounds Wildlife Sleuths (NY Times)

Why Asian Carp Are Such a Threat (Christian Science Monitor)

The Atlantic Sturgeon’s Looming Endangered Listing (NY Times)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Water Bills Expected to Triple In Some Parts of US (Cable News Network)

Project aims to photograph every inch of Sacramento River (Sacramento Bee, CA)

Editorial - Congress Moves to Redistribute California's Water (SF Chronicle)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Big Prospects for Small Wind Turbines - Markets for turbines of less than 100 kW offer huge potential for growth if government incentives (subsidies) are set up (Renewable Energy World)

United Kingdom - Tall Order for Firefighters as Blaze Hits Fuel Store in Biomass Power Station (Yorkshire Post, UK)
http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/at-a-glance/main-section/tall_order_for_firefighters_as_blaze_hits_fuel_store_in_biomass_power_station_1_4291688

A Case of Big Wind Bullying in Mexico? (Christian Science Monitor)

Spain Exits Renewables Top Ten after Curbing Subsidies (Bloomberg BusinessWeek)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Evergreen Public Schools Recognized for Energy Efficiency (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Comcast to Offer Smart Thermostat Service via EcoFactor (GigaOM)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Study: Less Arctic Ice Means More US Snow (USA Today)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

How Student-Built Solar Homes Can Help Solve US Housing & Energy Crisis (Christian Science Monitor)

North Carolina - Discovery Place Branches Out with New Solar Trees (EcoSeed)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Chelan PUD Fiber Future Meeting (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

Google Fiber Edging Device Could Help It Rapidly Connect Homes in Kansas City to 1-Gig Network (Fierce Cable)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Pot, Meet Kettle: Washington State Auditor Has Unused Phones, Too (Associated Press)

Audit Confirms Improper Charges by Port of Seattle Commissioners (Seattle Times)

GENERAL NEWS

Snow Forecast for Parts of Washington - A winter storm is bringing another shot of snow to parts of Washington (Associated Press)

Winter Storm Watch for Hood Canal Area (National Weather Service, Seattle)

Sixth Person Arrested in Slaying of Trooper - Courts: Drugs ‘common thread’ (Associated Press)

Gas Prices Leap another 12 Cents a Gallon in Past Week (USA Today)

The $200 Million Seattle Tunnel Miscalculation (KING-TV, Seattle)

Pacific Northwest - Water Views With a Hint of Daring and Danger (NY Times)

Obama Approves Bill for Quileute Tribal Move (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

No High School Basketball TV This Year - Root Sports Open To Broadcasting Future Basketball Title Games (Olympian, WA)

DIVERSIONS

Wyoming House Advances Doomsday Bill “…its own military draft, raise a standing army, and acquire strike aircraft and an aircraft carrier…”

Couple Wants Answers after Lavatory Leak from Overhead Plane

Chicken Slaughter Art Project Ruffles Feathers - Officials have banned an artist from publicly slaughtering chickens in eastern Kansas, saying the proposed art installation would amount to animal cruelty

Lexicon of Regionalisms to Live on After Final Printing

SONG OF THE DAY

Barry McGuire - Eve of Destruction