Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Energy News Digest for January 11, 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

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Thurston PUD Delays Decision on Electric Takeover Study - Meeting: Both Sides Showing Passion (Olympian, WA)

Nearly 77% of PUD 3 Electricity Comes from Renewable Sources (South Sound Business Examiner)

Governor Gregoire Calls for $3.6 Billion Washington State Transportation Package (Associated Press)

California - State Shift of $500 million from Carbon Fee to Deficit Questioned (SF Chronicle)

On White Salmon River - Erosion Spooks Northwestern Lake Cabin Owners - Landscape continues to transform two months after breaching of Condit Dam (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Thurston PUD Delays Decision on Electric Takeover Study - Meeting: Both Sides Showing Passion
  • Nearly 77% of PUD 3 Electricity Comes from Renewable Sources
  • Hydropower Keeps Idaho Emissions Low - Per Capita Rate of Carbon Dioxide is Second Lowest
  • EPA: Power Plants Main Global Warming Culprits
  • Oregon - Power Purchase Costs Fuel Springfield Utility Board Rate Hike
  • New Snohomish PUD Substation Should Limit Number, Length of Camano Island Outages
  • NorthWestern & Bonneville Power Administration Agree to Discuss Ways to Collaborate on Mountain States Transmission Intertie Project
  • Idaho - Man Gets Prison Sentence for Stealing Cable from Area Farmers
  • Contained leak of slightly radioactive water shuts Indian Point nuclear reactor near NYC
  • 14 Feet of Snow Covers Alaska Co-op
  • On White Salmon River - Erosion Spooks Northwestern Lake Cabin Owners
  • Thinking Outside the Pond: What’s the Best Role for Hatchery Fish?
  • Editorial - Endangered Species Act Review Needs All Sides
  • Report: Wastewater Preferable to Wasting Water
  • Oregon Fuel Cell Maker ClearEdge Power Lands $85 Million Order from Austria’s Gussing
  • Central Oregon Landfill Could be Electricity Generator if Company Can Harness Methane Gas
  • Local Company Converting Cow Waste into Green Energy
  • Proposed Oregon Biomass Plant Reaches Milestone
  • Wave Farms Face Financial & Regulatory Obstacles
  • Want Clean Energy: Try Your Utility
  • Nine Things to Consider In “Going Solar” for Your Home
  • CES: Energy-Saving Gadgets, Samsung Appliances Debut
  • California - State Shift of $500 million from Carbon Fee to Deficit Questioned
  • Statewide Washington Plastic-Bag Ban Proposed
  • Biodiesel Users See Benefits in Central Oregon
  • Loss of Ethanol Subsidy Boosts E85 Prices Significantly
  • Who Knew? Data Center Segment Is Hot, Hot, Hot!
  • Governor Gregoire Calls for $3.6 Billion Washington State Transportation Package
  • Greg Nickels Considering Run for Washington’s Secretary of State
  • City of Grand Coulee Reimburses Mayor for Most Recall Expenses
  • California - Mountain View Council Sticks With Action Minutes
  • Lowland Snow in the Forecast for Next Week
  • Man Gets Five Years in Prison for Allyn Crash That Killed Three
  • Belfair Sewer Law Passes after Moratorium Removed
  • Judge Dismisses Hanford Whistleblower Lawsuit
  • Tumwater to DuPont - Suspected Drunk Driver Hits 100 Mph Going Wrong Way on I-5
  • Trend to Charge Extra for Aisle & Window Seats Helps Airlines Boost Bottom Line

WORD OF THE DAY

Encomium • \en-KOE-mee-um\ • Noun - Glowing and warmly enthusiastic praise; also: an expression of this

Abner’s “aw shucks” manner only generated more endearment from the crowd which had showered him with their encomium for saving the town from the “Batfaced Boy Bandit.” “Too bad the ‘Weekly World News’ went out of print,” he mused. “This would have been page one pulp fodder.”

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Thurston PUD Delays Decision on Electric Takeover Study - Meeting: Both Sides Showing Passion (Olympian, WA)

Nearly 77% of PUD 3 Electricity Comes from Renewable Sources (South Sound Business Examiner)

Hydropower Keeps Idaho Emissions Low - Per Capita Rate of Carbon Dioxide is Second Lowest (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

EPA: Power Plants Main Global Warming Culprits (Associated Press – Except in Washington State, where it is transportation)

Oregon - Power Purchase Costs Fuel Springfield Utility Board Rate Hike: The BPA & corroding water pipes force SUB to increase its electric & water budgets (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

New Snohomish PUD substation should limit number, length of Camano Island outages

NorthWestern & Bonneville Power Administration Agree to Discuss Ways to Collaborate on Mountain States Transmission Intertie Project (Bonneville Power Administration)

Idaho - Man Gets Prison Sentence for Stealing Cable from Area Farmers (Rexburg Standard Journal, ID)

Contained leak of slightly radioactive water shuts Indian Point nuclear reactor near NYC (Associated Press)

14 Feet of Snow Covers Alaska Co-op (Electric Co-op Today)

FISH & WILDLIFE

On White Salmon River - Erosion Spooks Northwestern Lake Cabin Owners - Landscape continues to transform two months after breaching of Condit Dam (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Thinking Outside the Pond: What’s the Best Role for Hatchery Fish? (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Editorial - Endangered Species Act Review Needs All Sides (Tri-City Herald, WA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Report: Wastewater Preferable to Wasting Water (USA Today)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Oregon Fuel Cell Maker ClearEdge Power Lands $85 Million Order from Austria’s Gussing (Washington Post)

Central Oregon Landfill Could be Electricity Generator if Company Can Harness Methane Gas (Associated Press)

Local Company Converting Cow Waste into Green Energy (Northwest Cable News)

Proposed Oregon Biomass Plant Reaches Milestone (Biomass Power & Thermal)

Wave Farms Face Financial & Regulatory Obstacles (SmartMeters)

Want Clean Energy: Try Your Utility (Business Insider)

Nine Things to Consider In “Going Solar” for Your Home (MarketWatch)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

CES: Energy-Saving Gadgets, Samsung Appliances Debut (USA Today)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

California - State Shift of $500 million from Carbon Fee to Deficit Questioned (SF Chronicle)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Statewide Washington Plastic-Bag Ban Proposed (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

Biodiesel Users See Benefits in Central Oregon (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

Loss of Ethanol Subsidy Boosts E85 Prices Significantly (The Energy Collective)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Who Knew? Data Center Segment Is Hot, Hot, Hot! (GigaOM)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Governor Gregoire Calls for $3.6 Billion Washington State Transportation Package (Associated Press)

Greg Nickels Considering Run for Washington’s Secretary of State (Seattle Times)

City of Grand Coulee Reimburses Mayor for Most Recall Expenses (Wenatchee World, WA)

California - Mountain View Council Sticks With Action Minutes (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

GENERAL NEWS

Lowland Snow in the Forecast for Next Week (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

Man Gets Five Years in Prison for Allyn Crash That Killed Three (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Belfair Sewer Law Passes after Moratorium Removed (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Judge Dismisses Hanford Whistleblower Lawsuit (Associated Press)

Tumwater to DuPont - Suspected Drunk Driver Hits 100 Mph Going Wrong Way on I-5 (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

Trend to Charge Extra for Aisle & Window Seats Helps Airlines Boost Bottom Line (Oregonian, Portland)

DIVERSIONS

Handcuffed Man Takes Police Car, Radios for Help to Find Handcuffs Key

Twinkies Maker Hostess Files for Bankruptcy Protection

Roman Helmet Mistaken for Bucket Unveiled

National Geographic’s Photo of the Year Winners

SONG OF THE DAY

The Last Goodnight - Pictures of You