Friday, January 13, 2012

Energy News Digest for January 13, 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

Puget Sound Braces for Snow this Weekend (KING-TV, Seattle)

Vancouver Plant 10th Largest Greenhouse Emitter in Pacific Northwest – “…Transportation is more than half of our greenhouse gas emissions in the state of Washington…” (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Renewable or Not? How States Count Hydropower (Midwest Energy News)

Renewable-Energy Misery Spreads to Vestas - Danish wind turbine maker slashes jobs, some in Portland (Oregonian, Portland)

Legislation Alert: Washington State Considers Community Broadband Bill (Reclaim the Media)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Vancouver Plant 10th Largest Greenhouse Emitter in Pacific Northwest
  • Bonneville Power Administration & Portland General Electric Continue Discussing Potential Collaboration on Transmission Project
  • Hoku Materials, Idaho Power Await PUC Ruling on Power Bills
  • Op/Ed - Montana Co-Ops Left to Build Power Plant, Not for Lower Rates
  • California – Pacific Gas & Electric Diverted Safety Money for Profit, Bonuses
  • New York - Vision for Affordable Energy Even if Indian Point Nuclear Plant Is Shut Down
  • Texas - Public Meeting Held about Proposed Austin Energy Rate Hike
  • Michigan Panel Investigates Electricity Smart Meters
  • Northern Puget Sound Prime for Salmon Anglers
  • Battle against Pollution Continues in Kitsap Peninsula’s Streams
  • Dairy Air Program Lauded, Attacked
  • Renewable or Not? How States Count Hydropower
  • Renewable-Energy Misery Spreads to Vestas
  • Vestas CEO: We Have a ‘Credibility Problem’
  • Montana’s Rim Rock Wind Power Developer Obtains Project Financing
  • Latham: Natural Gas Blocks Wind Tax Credit
  • California - US Senator Boxer Urges SoCal Edison to Expedite Renewable Energy Projects
  • Ikea’s Rooftop Solar Array Will Be the Largest in Minnesota
  • DC Judge Nixes Delay on Rule for Boiler Emissions
  • Clallam PUD Customers to Get CFL Bulbs
  • Irrigation Method Saves Power, Water, Money
  • What Is This “Connected Appliance” Stuff All About Anyway?
  • Finding the Energy Hogs
  • Olympic Peninsula Climate Change
  • Covering the Coverage: Scientists Propose Cuts in Methane, Soot Emissions
  • Investors Say Private Sector Must Tackle Climate Change
  • Global Warming Fires up a $300,000 Complaint
  • How to Avoid Phone Book Deliveries - And Their Carbon Footprint
  • Legislation Alert: Washington State Considers Community Broadband Bill
  • Global Broadband Subscribers Inches Up to 600 Million
  • The Next Big Thing for Data Centers: DC Power
  • Ex-Skamania County Auditor Pleads Not Guilty to Shredding Documents
  • New Challenger to Washington State Congresswoman Herrera Beutler Comes Forward
  • DelBene Jumps into Washington State’s 1st District Congressional Race
  • Puget Sound Braces for Snow this Weekend
  • Windy Saturday May Help Lift Area Burn Ban
  • Special Weather Statement Issued
  • Fawn Lake Woman Reports Attempted Abduction
  • Washington State’s Gas-Tax Refunds to Tribes under Fire
  • Kent Goes After Tree Toppers – 71 Trees Damaged
  • Washington Ski Resorts Benefit from La Nina
WORD OF THE DAY

Kraken • \CRAW-kinn\ • Noun - A fabulous Scandinavian sea monster

Cecil the sea monster was truly a foil for Beanie. The loveable kraken’s origin as an elaborate sock puppet to cartoon character is one of legends of early television, right up there with the Flintstones and Jetsons.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Vancouver Plant 10th Largest Greenhouse Emitter in Pacific Northwest – “…Transportation is more than half of our greenhouse gas emissions in the state of Washington…” (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Bonneville Power Administration & Portland General Electric Continue Discussing Potential Collaboration on Transmission Project (Yahoo! Finance)

Hoku Materials, Idaho Power Await PUC Ruling on Power Bills (Pacific Business News, HI)

Op/Ed - Montana Co-Ops Left to Build Power Plant, Not for Lower Rates (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

California – Pacific Gas & Electric Diverted Safety Money for Profit, Bonuses (SF Chronicle)

New York - Vision for Affordable Energy Even if Indian Point Nuclear Plant Is Shut Down (NY Times)

Texas - Public Meeting Held about Proposed Austin Energy Rate Hike - Asking council to raise its customer fee from $6.00 to $22.00 on average (KVUE-TV Austin, TX)

Michigan Panel Investigates Electricity Smart Meters - Fears by customers, municipalities stir probe of utilities for privacy, safety & opt-out data (The Detroit News, MI)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Northern Puget Sound Prime for Salmon Anglers (Wenatchee World, WA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Battle against Pollution Continues in Kitsap Peninsula’s Streams (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Dairy Air Program Lauded, Attacked (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Renewable or Not? How States Count Hydropower (Midwest Energy News)

Renewable-Energy Misery Spreads to Vestas - Danish wind turbine maker slashes jobs, some in Portland (Oregonian, Portland)

Vestas CEO: We Have a ‘Credibility Problem’ (North America Wind Power)

Montana’s Rim Rock Wind Power Developer Obtains Project Financing (Re-Charge)

Latham: Natural Gas Blocks Wind Tax Credit - Gas prices have dropped, making it an affordable wind energy alternative (Des Moines Register, IA)

California - US Senator Boxer Urges SoCal Edison to Expedite Renewable Energy Projects (Los Angeles Times, CA)

Ikea’s Rooftop Solar Array Will Be the Largest in Minnesota (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, MN)

DC Judge Nixes Delay on Rule for Boiler Emissions (Courthouse News Service)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Clallam PUD Customers to Get CFL Bulbs (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

Irrigation Method Saves Power, Water, Money (Capital Press)

What Is This “Connected Appliance” Stuff All About Anyway? (Consumerist)

Finding the Energy Hogs (The Ottawa Citizen, Ontario)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Olympic Peninsula Climate Change (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Covering the Coverage: Scientists Propose Cuts in Methane, Soot Emissions (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Investors Say Private Sector Must Tackle Climate Change (Reuters)

Global Warming Fires up a $300,000 Complaint (Courthouse News Service)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

How to Avoid Phone Book Deliveries - And Their Carbon Footprint (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Legislation Alert: Washington State Considers Community Broadband Bill (Reclaim the Media)

Global Broadband Subscribers Inches Up to 600 Million (GigaOM)

The Next Big Thing for Data Centers: DC Power (GigaOM)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Ex-Skamania County Auditor Pleads Not Guilty to Shredding Documents (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

New Challenger to Washington State Congresswoman Herrera Beutler Comes Forward (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

DelBene Jumps into Washington State’s 1st District Congressional Race (Associated Press)

GENERAL NEWS

Puget Sound Braces for Snow this Weekend (KING-TV, Seattle)

Windy Saturday May Help Lift Area Burn Ban - Stagnant air prompted a burn ban on Wednesday in four Seattle-area counties, but it’s also causing more colorful sunrises & sunsets (Seattle Times)

Special Weather Statement Issued (NWS Seattle)

Fawn Lake Woman Reports Attempted Abduction (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Washington State’s Gas-Tax Refunds to Tribes under Fire (Seattle Times)

Kent Goes After Tree Toppers – 71 Trees Damaged (KING-TV, Seattle)

Washington Ski Resorts Benefit from La Nina (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

DIVERSIONS

Ringing Finally Ended, but There’s No Button to Stop Shame

Radioactive Tissue Holders Pulled From Stores (“Radioactive Tissues” – Great name for a punk rock band…)

It’s Friday the 13th: Laugh if you dare...

UK Mom Coughs Up Tumor, Now Cancer-Free

SONG OF THE DAY

Electric Light Orchestra - Telephone Lines