Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Energy News Digest for January 25, 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.

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Winds Set Back Thurston County Power Restoration - New outages add to 6,400 customers without power (Olympian, WA)

Power Restored Overnight In Lake Cushman (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Lawmakers Seek Compromise on Washington State’s Renewable Energy Mandate (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

Behind Iberdrola’s Portland Layoffs - Expiring wind-energy tax credits, declining demand, overloaded grid, cheap natural gas (Oregonian, Portland)

Opponent Groups Say Relicensing of Enloe Dam Would Cost Okanogan PUD Ratepayers (Wenatchee World, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Winds Set Back Thurston County Power Restoration - New outages add to 6,400 customers without power
  • Power Restored Overnight In Lake Cushman
  • Strong Winds Create New Outages around Puget Sound
  • Professional Pride Powers Workers Who Came to Fix Downed Lines
  • Opponent Groups Say Relicensing of Enloe Dam Would Cost Okanogan PUD Ratepayers
  • Richland City Council Wants to Phase In Power Rate Increases
  • Feds Give Idaho $5.1 Million More To Help Fight Soaring Utility Bills
  • A Judge Rules Vermont Can’t Shut Nuclear Plant
  • Wanted: Parking Space for Nuclear Waste
  • As Smart Meters Roll Out, Opponents Get Organized
  • How Member-Owned Electric Cooperatives Evolved
  • Americans Approve Tagging of Endangered Killer Whales
  • Removing Four Dams in Klamath Basin Will Help Fish, Farms, Federal Report Says
  • Op/Ed – State Of California Has Stake in Columbia Salmon Solution
  • Wasting the Wastewater
  • Lawmakers Seek Compromise on Washington State’s Renewable Energy Mandate
  • Oregon – Umatilla Electric Cooperative Wants Break on Renewable Mandate
  • Behind Iberdrola’s Portland Layoffs - Expiring wind-energy tax credits, declining demand, overloaded grid, cheap natural gas
  • Oregon Must Bail Out Public Fund That Made Bad Loans to Renewable-Energy Projects
  • NRECA Backs Iowa Co-op in Wind Flap
  • United Kingdom - Government Loses Second Case on Solar Tariff Cut
  • Here’s Exactly How Much You’ll Save Doing Laundry in Cold Water
  • Tips on Shopping for Energy-Efficient Bulbs
  • Ask Umbra: Why are My CFLs Burning Out So Quickly?
  • Hey Silicon Valley, Nest Isn’t the Only Smart Thermostat Around
  • Global Warming Skeptics to Take Center Stage in Portland
  • Weaker Sun Will Not Delay Global Warming: Study
  • Oregon Drops Out of Top Ten LEED States
  • Washington State Ranks Fifth in Top Ten LEED States
  • Washington State Agency Launches Woodstove Replacement Program
  • ‘Green’ Logos Used on Products May Aid Consumers - Or Not
  • Chattanooga Gets to See What Broadband Competition Looks Like
  • Wind: Overnight Gusts Top 100 Mph at Hanford
  • Weak Snowpack, Heavy Snow Raising Avalanche Danger
  • Solar Storm Sparks Dazzling Northern Lights
WORD OF THE DAY

Ostensible • \ah-STENSE-uh-bull\ • Adjective - 1: intended for display: open to view 2: being such in appearance: plausible rather than demonstrably true or real

“As you can see, my assistant is ostensibly floating in thin air,” crowed the Vitalis-slicked magician to his spellbound audience. The entire crowd was in awe…except for the small child in the front row who started shooting spitballs at the thin, strong wires (which apparently only he could see) holding the scantily clad lady above the dirty, beer stained floor of the tavern stage.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Winds Set Back Thurston County Power Restoration - New outages add to 6,400 customers without power (Olympian, WA)

Power Restored Overnight In Lake Cushman (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Strong Winds Create New Outages around Puget Sound (KING-TV, Seattle)

Professional Pride Powers Workers Who Came to Fix Downed Lines (Seattle Times)

Opponent Groups Say Relicensing of Enloe Dam Would Cost Okanogan PUD Ratepayers (Wenatchee World, WA)

Richland City Council Wants to Phase In Power Rate Increases (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

Feds Give Idaho $5.1 Million More To Help Fight Soaring Utility Bills (Electric Energy Online)

A Judge Rules Vermont Can’t Shut Nuclear Plant (NY Times)

Wanted: Parking Space for Nuclear Waste (NY Times)

As Smart Meters Roll Out, Opponents Get Organized (Midwest Energy News)

How Member-Owned Electric Cooperatives Evolved (Agri-View)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Americans Approve Tagging of Endangered Killer Whales (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

Removing Four Dams in Klamath Basin Will Help Fish, Farms, Federal Report Says (Associated Press)

Op/Ed – State Of California Has Stake in Columbia Salmon Solution (Sacramento Bee, CA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Wasting the Wastewater (NY Times)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Lawmakers Seek Compromise on Washington State’s Renewable Energy Mandate (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

Oregon – Umatilla Electric Cooperative Wants Break on Renewable Mandate (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Behind Iberdrola’s Portland Layoffs - Expiring wind-energy tax credits, declining demand, overloaded grid, cheap natural gas (Oregonian, Portland)

Oregon Must Bail Out Public Fund That Made Bad Loans to Renewable-Energy Projects (Oregonian, Portland)

NRECA Backs Iowa Co-op in Wind Flap (Electric Co-op Today)

United Kingdom - Government loses second case on solar tariff cut (British Broadcasting Corporation)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Here’s Exactly How Much You’ll Save Doing Laundry in Cold Water (Christian Science Monitor)

Tips on Shopping for Energy-Efficient Bulbs (NY Times)

Ask Umbra: Why are My CFLs Burning Out So Quickly? (Grist Online)

Hey Silicon Valley, Nest Isn’t the Only Smart Thermostat Around (GigaOM)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Global Warming Skeptics to Take Center Stage in Portland (Oregonian, Portland)

Weaker Sun Will Not Delay Global Warming: Study (Reuters)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Oregon Drops Out of Top Ten LEED States (Sustainable Business Oregon)

Washington State Ranks Fifth in Top Ten LEED States (US Green Building Council)

Washington State Agency Launches Woodstove Replacement Program (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

‘Green’ Logos Used on Products May Aid Consumers - Or Not (Seattle Times)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Chattanooga Gets to See What Broadband Competition Looks Like - Lower Prices, Better Services, More Attractive to Businesses (Broadband Reports)

GENERAL NEWS

Wind: Overnight Gusts Top 100 Mph at Hanford (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Weak Snowpack, Heavy Snow Raising Avalanche Danger (Associated Press)

Solar Storm Sparks Dazzling Northern Lights (Associated Press)

DIVERSIONS

“Shcool” Sign Goes Uncorrected for Months In N.Y.

Dropped Heart Successfully Transplanted in Mexico

Tourist Stuck For Days after Driving Into Dairy’s Muck Pond

Alaska Woman, 85, Beats Back Moose That Stomped Husband

SONG OF THE DAY

Alice Cooper – School’s Out