Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Energy News Digest for March 28, 2012


Ed Note: The energy news digest is being tucked into a mover’s box today…where it will remain the next two days during its relocation to Mason County PUD 3’s new Johns Prairie operations center. It will return, possibly a bit mussed, on Monday, April 2.

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

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices: https://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Higher Wholesale Energy Costs & Renewable Energy Purchases Prompt Consideration of PUD 3 Electricity Rate Increase (Mason County PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

British Columbia Pipe Break Spills 1.2M Gallons of Sewage into Columbia River (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Seattle Company Tests Mini Hydroelectric Plants in Small Canals (KING-TV, Seattle)

The Power of the Dammed: How Small Hydro Could Rescue America’s Dumb Dams (Renewable Energy World)

Storm Bringing More Mountain Snow in Washington State (Associated Press)

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Higher Wholesale Energy Costs & Renewable Energy Purchases Prompt Consideration of PUD 3 Electricity Rate Increase
  • Idaho Falls Power “North Loop” Lawsuit Moves to Federal Court
  • Southern Montana Co-op Could Survive Bankruptcy
  • After the Storm
  • Rising Chinese Demand Could Mean Coal Export Boom for West Coast
  • Layoffs: Grant to Help Former Workers at US Department of Energy’s Idaho Lab
  • NBC2 Investigates: Stealing Electricity
  • Alaska State Senate Committee Considering Energy Voucher Program
  • Volcker Rule Could Raise Energy Prices, Study Says – Hinders Hedging for Risk
  • For Klamath Tribes, Suckerfish Mean Renewed Life
  • British Columbia Pipe Break Spills 1.2M Gallons of Sewage into Columbia River
  • Storm Bringing More Mountain Snow in Washington State
  • Bottled Water Foes Oppose Columbia River Nestle Plant in Oregon
  • Seattle Company Tests Mini Hydroelectric Plants in Small Canals
  • Legal Decision on Port Townsend Paper Mill Biomass Project Expected this Week
  • Sierra Club, NRDC Sue Feds to Stop Big California Solar Power Project
  • Brown Liquor & Solar Cells to Provide Sustainable Electricity
  • Global Warming Close to Becoming Irreversible: Scientists
  • Startups Invited to Launch Party for Pacific Northwest Cleantech Open
  • When Defending Biofuels, Supporters Point to History
  • The Ugly, Dog-Eat-Dog World of Data Center Startups
  • FiOS-Deprived Cities Complain to FCC about Comcast Deal
  • Metal & Wire Thieves Targeting Aberdeen Parks
  • Static in Olympia over Wash. State Patrol Radio Upgrade
WORD OF THE DAY

Muss • \MUSS\ • Verb – To make untidy: disarrange

“I dare you to muss my hair,” announced the public information officer to the local reporter. “Especially since there’s no there…there.”

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast & Weather Alerts

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Higher Wholesale Energy Costs & Renewable Energy Purchases Prompt Consideration of PUD 3 Electricity Rate Increase (Mason County PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

Idaho Falls Power “North Loop” Lawsuit Moves to Federal Court (KIFI-TV, Idaho Falls, ID)

Southern Montana Co-op Could Survive Bankruptcy (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

After the Storm (Cottage Grove Sentinel, OR)

Rising Chinese Demand Could Mean Coal Export Boom for West Coast (Longview Daily News, WA)

Layoffs: Grant to Help Former Workers at US Department of Energy’s Idaho Lab (Tri-Cities Herald, WA)

NBC2 Investigates: Stealing Electricity (WBBH-TV, Fort Meyers, FL)

Alaska State Senate Committee Considering Energy Voucher Program (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

Volcker Rule Could Raise Energy Prices, Study Says – Hinders Hedging Risk (Reuters)

FISH & WILDLIFE

For Klamath Tribes, Suckerfish Mean Renewed Life (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

British Columbia Pipe Break Spills 1.2M Gallons of Sewage into Columbia River (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Storm Bringing More Mountain Snow in Washington State (Associated Press)

Bottled Water Foes Oppose Columbia River Nestle Plant in Oregon (Salem Statesman Journal, OR)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Seattle Company Tests Mini Hydroelectric Plants in Small Canals (KING-TV, Seattle)

The Power of the Dammed: How Small Hydro Could Rescue America’s Dumb Dams (Renewable Energy World)

Legal Decision on Port Townsend Paper Mill Biomass Project Expected this Week (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

Sierra Club, NRDC Sue Feds to Stop Big California Solar Power Project (Forbes Magazine)

Brown Liquor & Solar Cells to Provide Sustainable Electricity (Renewable Energy World)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Global Warming Close to Becoming Irreversible: Scientists (Reuters)

BARREL ‘O GREEN POTPOURRI

Startups Invited to Launch Party for Pacific Northwest Cleantech Open (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

When Defending Biofuels, Supporters Point to History (Forbes Magazine)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

The Ugly, Dog-Eat-Dog World of Data Center Startups (Gigaom)

FiOS-Deprived Cities Complain to FCC about Comcast Deal - Though It’s Unclear They Were Ever Going to Get FiOS (Broadband Reports)

GENERAL NEWS

Metal & Wire Thieves Targeting Aberdeen Parks (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

Static in Olympia over Wash. State Patrol Radio Upgrade (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

DIVERSIONS

Eight-Year-Old Tennessee Boy Solves Multi-State Crime Spree

Lorax Statue Stolen from Dr Seuss’ La Jolla Garden

Errant Text Message Leads to Arrest of a Wanted Man

Caffeine Might Turn Workers Into Slackers

SONG OF THE DAY

Nat King Cole - You’re The Cream In My Coffee

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

Energy News Digest for March 27, 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

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices: http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Oregon - Power is Back On in Lane County (KEZI-TV, Eugene, OR)

Canada - BC Hydro Pulls Smart Meters for Testing (Globe & Mail)

EPA to Reduce New Power Plants’ Carbon Pollution (Associated Press)

Fuel Demand Not Cut By Alternative Energy - A University of Oregon researcher concludes that energy demand rises when more sources become available (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

Prison Overcrowding Affects Guards, Too (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Oregon - Power is Back On in Lane County
  • Canada - BC Hydro Pulls Smart Meters for Testing
  • EPA to Reduce New Power Plants’ Carbon Pollution
  • Copper Theft Insurance Claims Soar
  • Bonneville Power Administration Seeking Proposals for Its 2013 Research Portfolio
  • Inland Power & Light Selects Chad Jensen to be New CEO
  • Brewer to Seek Second Term on Grant PUD Commission
  • Oregon Governor Taps Margi Hoffmann as Energy Adviser
  • Natural Gas Prices Fall Again on Supply Concerns
  • STUDY: Texas Lost $7.7 Billion, Forfeited 8,600 Jobs from Declining Natural Gas Use
  • California ISO Approves Transmission Plan for Power Grid Reliability
  • To Junk or Not To Junk? What Coal Plants & Ancient Subarus Have in Common
  • Man Giving Nature a Helping Hand in Laying a New Elwha Carpet
  • Battle Over Building in Puget Sound Flood Plains
  • Metal Foundries Twisting In Breeze over Wind Tax Credit
  • Breaking Down the Costs of Wind Turbine Components
  • Maryland - In Flurry of Activity in Annapolis, Wind Power Bill Advances
  • Communities Dive In: Local Planning for Energy Efficiency
  • Fuel Demand Not Cut By Alternative Energy
  • Does The Prius Actually Save Gas? A Closer Look at the ‘Rebound Effect’
  • Global Warming Could Explode ‘Compost Bombs’ All Over the Planet
  • Whose Data Centers Are More Efficient? Facebook’s Or Google’s?
  • State Auditors Finds Oregon State Data Center Secure, Stable, Makes Recommendations
  • The Good & Bad of Niche Broadband Networks
  • Money, Mountains & Maps Block Broadband Coverage
  • CenturyLink to Close Three Call Centers, Move 240 Workers
  • Western State Lawmakers Push to Take Over Millions of Federal Acres
  • Prison Overcrowding Affects Guards, Too
  • Fraud Investigation Forces More Franklin County Workers Off the Job
  • Study: Health Insurers Charge Idaho Women Hundreds More than Men
WORD OF THE DAY

Multitudinous \mul-tuh-TOO-duh-nus\ Adjective - 1: including a multitude of individuals 2: existing in a great multitude 3: existing in or consisting of innumerable elements or aspects

Ah yes, separating the wheat from the chaff in the daily perusal of multitudinous news sources to produce the energy news digest.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Oregon - Power is Back On in Lane County (KEZI-TV, Eugene, OR)

Canada - BC Hydro Pulls Smart Meters for Testing (Globe & Mail)

EPA to Reduce New Power Plants’ Carbon Pollution (Associated Press)

Copper Theft Insurance Claims Soar (Electric Co-op Today)

Bonneville Power Administration Seeking Proposals for Its 2013 Research Portfolio (Bonneville Power Administration)

Inland Power & Light Selects Chad Jensen to be New CEO (NWPPA E-News)

Brewer to Seek Second Term on Grant PUD Commission (Wenatchee World, WA)

Oregon Governor Taps Margi Hoffmann as Energy Adviser (Sustainable Business Oregon)

Natural Gas Prices Fall Again on Supply Concerns (Associated Press)

STUDY: Texas Lost $7.7 Billion, Forfeited 8,600 Jobs from Declining Natural Gas Use (PR NewsWire)

California ISO Approves Transmission Plan for Power Grid Reliability (Sacramento Business Journal, CA)

To Junk or Not To Junk? What Coal Plants & Ancient Subarus Have in Common (Sightline Daily)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Man Giving Nature a Helping Hand in Laying a New Elwha Carpet (Seattle Times, WA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Battle Over Building in Puget Sound Flood Plains (Associated Press)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Metal Foundries Twisting In Breeze over Wind Tax Credit (Midwest Energy News)

Breaking Down the Costs of Wind Turbine Components (Midwest Energy News)

Maryland - In Flurry of Activity in Annapolis, Wind Power Bill Advances (Washington Post)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Communities Dive In: Local Planning for Energy Efficiency (The Energy Collective)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Fuel Demand Not Cut By Alternative Energy - A University of Oregon researcher concludes that energy demand rises when more sources become available (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

Does The Prius Actually Save Gas? A Closer Look at the ‘Rebound Effect’ (Washington Post)

Global Warming Could Explode ‘Compost Bombs’ All Over the Planet (Grist Online)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Whose Data Centers Are More Efficient? Facebook’s Or Google’s? (GigaOM)

State Auditors Finds Oregon State Data Center Secure, Stable, Makes Recommendations (Oregonian, Portland)

The Good & Bad of Niche Broadband Networks (GigaOM)

Money, Mountains & Maps Block Broadband Coverage (Innovation Trail, NY)

CenturyLink to Close Three Call Centers, Move 240 Workers (Orlando Business Journal, FL)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Western State Lawmakers Push to Take Over Millions of Federal Acres (USA Today)

GENERAL NEWS

Prison Overcrowding Affects Guards, Too (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Fraud Investigation Forces More Franklin County Workers Off the Job (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

Study: Health Insurers Charge Idaho Women Hundreds More than Men - Oregon & Washington have banned gender rating in health insurance (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER DIVERSIONS

Victoria Police Called in for Dire Wind-Chime Complaint

Storage Firm Sold Her Andy Warhol Art, Woman Says

Paul Allen Victim of Identity Theft

Ohio: Century-Old Light Bulb from Site Still Works

SONG OF THE DAY

Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells

Monday, March 26, 2012

Energy News Digest for March 26, 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

Oregon - Apple Starts Small with Prineville Data Center; Amazon Doubles Up in Morrow County (Oregonian, Portland)

Jefferson PUD counting down to electrical power switch (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Oregon Supreme Court Certifies Ballot Titles for Banning Non-Indian Commercial Gill Netting (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

Ruling Expected Wednesday on Port Townsend Biomass Power Plant Appeal (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Spring Storms Pad Olympic Mountain Snowpack (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Jefferson PUD counting down to electrical power switch
  • Op/Ed – Help is Available for Utility Bills
  • Port of Coos Bay Wants to Flip from Importing to Exporting Liquefied Natural Gas
  • EarthFix Conversations: Coal Coming Through a Community near You?
  • Douglas PUD to Get New Mapping System
  • Power Supply at Issue with California Plants Offline
  • Americans Split on Energy vs. Environment Trade-Off
  • Banding Together to Get Cheaper Electricity
  • Spain to Hike Power Rates, Cut Renewable Energy Subsidies
  • Why Germany is Phasing out Nuclear Power
  • Oregon Supreme Court Certifies Ballot Titles for Banning Non-Indian Commercial Gill Netting
  • Canada - Chinook Recovery Must Trump Fisheries,
  • Spring Storms Pad Olympic Mountain Snowpack
  • Snohomish County PUD’s Annual Snowpack Survey Finds More Water for Summer
  • Lack of Federal Funding Stalling Chehalis Flood Studies
  • Agency Funding, Columbia Basin Aquifers Drying Up
  • Oregon - Columbia County Rancher Gets $300,000 Fine for Water Pollution
  • Portland Environmental Consulting Firms Staff Up
  • Ruling Expected Wednesday on Port Townsend Biomass Power Plant Appeal
  • Idaho Alternative Energy Contracts Put on Hold
  • Maine - Neighbors Win Court Round Over Wind Farm Noise
  • New Federal Wind Power Guidelines Are for the Birds
  • Hydropower’s Devices Beyond Dams
  • Grants Spur Tennessee Farms to Try Solar Energy
  • Massachusetts Students Invested in School’s Solar Energy
  • Pacific Northwest Ductless Heat Pump Project – Washington State
  • Pacific Northwest Ductless Heat Pump Project – Oregon
  • Op/Ed - A Window on Energy Efficiency
  • Study: Global Temperatures Could Rise Five Degrees by 2050
  • Washington State Bonds Will Build Facilities for Aviation Biofuels
  • Agreement Reached on Electric Vehicle Charging Network in California
  • Portland among the “Greenest” Cities in the World
  • GM Will Give Owners of Plug-In Volt New Electric Cord
  • Dude, Your Next House Could Be Made of Pot
  • Oregon - Apple Starts Small with Prineville Data Center; Amazon Doubles Up in Morrow County
  • Oregon Data Center Popularity Has Communities Scrambling
  • Top Secret Visa Data Center Banks on Security, Even Has Moat (
  • Call Centers Scale Back - Is Clearwire a Bellwether for Customer Service?
  • Web Address Controversy Deepens after US Warning
  • We Need a Broadband-To-Work Program
  • Western Washington University, Former Admissions Director Karen Copetas Agree To Exit, Salary, Benefits Deal
  • Port of Pasco Scrutinizes Its Vendors to Ensure That They Are Legit
  • Pressure Building at Jam-Packed State Prisons – It All Begins at WCC near Shelton
  • Body of Shelton Man, 31, Found in Mason County’s Lake Limerick
  • Grant County Sheriff, Deputies Nab Alleged Metal Thieves
  • Cowlitz County - Wildlife Camera Leads Deputies to Suspected Metal Thief
  • Belfair Water District Commissioners Explains Manager Contract Fuss
  • Tacoma Woman, 63, Who Stole from Employer Given 16 Years
  • Japanese Tsunami Ghost Ship Drifts Closer to British Columbia Coast
  • Girl’s Voice Mails Gone After T-Mobile Promotion
  • Data Point to Earthquakes Causing Mysterious Wisconsin Booms
WORD OF THE DAY

Hebdomadal • \hebb-DAH-muh-dull\ • Adjective - Occurring, appearing, or done every week: weekly

The hebdomadal county commission meetings began to grind on newsman Barty Abernathy’s soul. Although he knew the weekly ritual was required by law, much of the proceedings were padded by the review of each voucher, payroll payments, and contractual minutiae until what could have been a fifteen minute process drug on for at least two hours.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Jefferson PUD counting down to electrical power switch (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Op/Ed – Help is Available for Utility Bills (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Port of Coos Bay Wants to Flip from Importing to Exporting Liquefied Natural Gas (Oregonian, Portland)

EarthFix Conversations: Coal Coming Through a Community near You? (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Douglas PUD to Get New Mapping System (Wenatchee World, WA)

Power Supply at Issue with California Plants Offline (CBS News)

Americans Split on Energy vs. Environment Trade-Off (Gallup)

Banding Together to Get Cheaper Electricity (Washington Post)

Spain to Hike Power Rates, Cut Renewable Energy Subsidies (Reuters)

Why Germany is Phasing out Nuclear Power (Grist Online)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Oregon Supreme Court Certifies Ballot Titles for Banning Non-Indian Commercial Gill Netting (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

Canada - Chinook Recovery Must Trump Fisheries, Conservationists Say (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Spring Storms Pad Olympic Mountain Snowpack (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Snohomish County PUD’s Annual Snowpack Survey Finds More Water for Summer (Everett Herald, WA)

Lack of Federal Funding Stalling Chehalis Flood Studies (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

Agency Funding, Columbia Basin Aquifers Drying Up (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

Oregon - Columbia County Rancher Gets $300,000 Fine for Water Pollution; Ordered to Shut Down Cattle Operation (Oregonian, Portland)

Portland Environmental Consulting Firms Staff Up (Portland Business Journal, OR)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Ruling Expected Wednesday on Port Townsend Biomass Power Plant Appeal (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Idaho Alternative Energy Contracts Put on Hold (Idaho Press-Tribune, Nampa, ID)

Maine - Neighbors Win Court Round Over Wind Farm Noise (NY Times)

New Federal Wind Power Guidelines Are for the Birds (Associated Press)

Hydropower’s Devices Beyond Dams (Renewable Energy World)

Grants Spur Tennessee Farms to Try Solar Energy - Without government help, most projects still unaffordable (The Tennessean, Nashville)

Massachusetts Students Invested in School’s Solar Energy (Boston Globe, MA)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Pacific Northwest Ductless Heat Pump Project – Washington State: Advanced Energy Management Named 2011/2012 Contractor of the Year (BusinessWatch)

Pacific Northwest Ductless Heat Pump Project – Oregon: Automatic Heat Service & Installation Named 2011/2012 Contractor of the Year (MarketWatch)

Op/Ed - A Window on Energy Efficiency: Properly maintained traditional windows can be efficient for hundreds of years (Financial Times of London, UK)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Study: Global Temperatures Could Rise Five Degrees by 2050 (USA Today)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Washington State Bonds Will Build Facilities for Aviation Biofuels (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Agreement Reached on Electric Vehicle Charging Network in California (Sacramento Bee, CA)

Portland among the “Greenest” Cities in the World (Construction Digital, Pages 92-93)

GM Will Give Owners of Plug-In Volt New Electric Cord (USA Today)

Dude, Your Next House Could Be Made of Pot (Grist Online)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Oregon - Apple Starts Small with Prineville Data Center; Amazon Doubles Up in Morrow County (Oregonian, Portland)

Oregon Data Center Popularity Has Communities Scrambling (Associated Press)

Top Secret Visa Data Center Banks on Security; Even Has Moat (USA Today)

Call Centers Scale Back - Is Clearwire a Bellwether for Customer Service? (Seattle Times)

Web Address Controversy Deepens after US Warning (Reuters)

We Need a Broadband-To-Work Program (Gigaom)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Western Washington University, Former Admissions Director Karen Copetas Agree To Exit, Salary, Benefits Deal (Bellingham Herald, WA)

Port of Pasco Scrutinizes Its Vendors to Ensure That They Are Legit (Bellingham Herald, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

Pressure Building at Jam-Packed State Prisons – It All Begins at WCC near Shelton (Seattle Times)

Body of Shelton Man, 31, Found in Mason County’s Lake Limerick (Olympian, WA)

Grant County Sheriff, Deputies Nab Alleged Metal Thieves (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

Cowlitz County - Wildlife Camera Leads Deputies to Suspected Metal Thief (Longview Daily News, WA)

Belfair Water District Commissioners Explains Manager Contract Fuss (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Tacoma Woman, 63, Who Stole from Employer Given 16 Years (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

Japanese Tsunami Ghost Ship Drifts Closer to British Columbia Coast (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

Girl’s Voice Mails Gone After T-Mobile Promotion (Associated Press)

Data Point to Earthquakes Causing Mysterious Wisconsin Booms (USA Today)

DIVERSIONS

State Laws Crimp Booming Growth in Home Beer Brewing

Colorado - Aggressive Parents Force Egg Hunt Cancellation

London’s ‘Big Ben’ Tower Could be Renamed for Queen’s Jubilee

Connecticut Man Accidentally Dials 911 While Stealing

SONG OF THE DAY

Beatles - I Am the Walrus