Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Energy News Digest for April 3, 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

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Grand Power Grab - PBS Documentary Tackles Construction, History of Grand Coulee Dam (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

City of Centralia Repairing Two Units at the Yelm Hydroelectric Plant - What began as a unit inspection at a vintage hydroelectric project turned into a complete mechanical rebuild, with several challenges and change orders amounting to $1.2 million (Renewable Energy World)

Avista Seeks Electric, Gas Rate Increases in Washington State - Electricity rates would rise 6.3 percent (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Former Washington State Association of Counties Employees Plan to Sue - Tort Claim: Pair seek $500,000 each (Olympian, WA)

Report: Washington State’s Least Healthy Counties Beat Nation “…The five counties in poorest health are Ferry, Wahkiakum, Okanogan, Grays Harbor & Mason…” (Associated Press)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Grand Power Grab - PBS Documentary Tackles Construction, History of Grand Coulee Dam
  • The Columbia River: Not Eternally Dammed
  • City of Centralia Repairing Two Units at the Yelm Hydroelectric Plant
  • Avista Seeks Electric, Gas Rate Increases in Washington State - Electricity rates would rise 6.3 percent
  • BPA Power Line Project Will Down Thousands of Trees
  • Bonneville Power Administration Files Reciprocity Tariff
  • Mason County PUD 3 Commission - Bruce Jorgenson Seeks Fourth Term
  • Southern Montana Electric Members Not in Agreement about Dissolution of Co-Op
  • Montana - Hiring of Interim Manager on Fast Track for Beartooth Electric Co-Op
  • Nuclear: US Production Falls as Reactors Shut in Four States
  • Northeast & NStar - Connecticut Regulators OK $4.9 Billion Utility Deal
  • Iowa - Caution Urged on Land-Clearing Fires
  • Columbia Commercial Netters Will Finally Go Fishing
  • Port Townsend Paper Praises Biomass Project Court Decision
  • Nevada Energy Windmill Program Generates Rebates, Little Electricity
  • Solar Trust Seeks Bankruptcy Protection in Delaware
  • Vestas Wind Turbine Catches Fire in Germany, No Injuries
  • On Facebook, Some Friendly Energy Rivalry
  • Global Warming Began in Oceans 135 Years Ago, Suggests Study
  • Old Wind Turbines Find New Life in Playground
  • Amazon Gets No Love from Its Hometown Newspaper
  • Former Washington State Association of Counties Employees Plan to Sue
  • Government Bond Funds Losing Their Allure
  • Report: Washington State’s Least Healthy Counties Beat Nation
  • Mason County 35th in Health Rankings
  • Mite Might Give Oregon Hope against Scotch Broom
  • Data Breach Puts 1.5 Million Credit Card Numbers at Risk
  • Knock Knock: Amway to Build $32 Million Plant in Quincy
  • Kennewick - Local Radio Station’s Signal Hijacked
  • Mars, Moon & Star Regulus Form Brilliant Sky Triangle Tonight
WORD OF THE DAY

Grok • \GRAWK\ • verb - To understand profoundly and intuitively.

“Unable to grok your feelings I am, my young apprentice,” croaked the fanboy to his pork rind consuming friend. “I’m wishing I had that little packet of hot sauce that normally comes with these things,” muttered the Star Wars aficionado under his breath.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Grand Power Grab - PBS Documentary Tackles Construction, History of Grand Coulee Dam (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

The Columbia River: Not Eternally Dammed (Crosscut Seattle)

City of Centralia Repairing Two Units at the Yelm Hydroelectric Plant - What began as a unit inspection at a vintage hydroelectric project turned into a complete mechanical rebuild, with several challenges and change orders amounting to $1.2 million (Renewable Energy World)

Avista Seeks Electric, Gas Rate Increases in Washington State - Electricity rates would rise 6.3 percent (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

BPA Power Line Project Will Down Thousands of Trees (Albany Democrat-Herald, OR)

Bonneville Power Administration Files Reciprocity Tariff (Bonneville Power Administration)

Mason County PUD 3 Commission - Bruce Jorgenson Seeks Fourth Term (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Southern Montana Electric Members Not in Agreement about Dissolution of Co-Op (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

Montana - Hiring of Interim Manager on Fast Track for Beartooth Electric Co-Op (Billings Gazette, MT)

Nuclear: US Production Falls as Reactors Shut in Four States (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Northeast & NStar - Connecticut Regulators OK $4.9 Billion Utility Deal (Associated Press)

Iowa - Caution Urged on Land-Clearing Fires (Electric Co-op Today)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Columbia Commercial Netters Will Finally Go Fishing (Oregonian, Portland)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Port Townsend Paper Praises Biomass Project Court Decision (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Nevada Energy Windmill Program Generates Rebates, Little Electricity (Power Engineering)

Solar Trust Seeks Bankruptcy Protection in Delaware (Associated Press)

Vestas Wind Turbine Catches Fire in Germany, No Injuries (Bloomberg)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

On Facebook, Some Friendly Energy Rivalry (NY Times)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Global Warming Began in Oceans 135 Years Ago, Suggests Study (Christian Science Monitor)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Old Wind Turbines Find New Life in Playground (The Energy Collective)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Amazon Gets No Love from Its Hometown Newspaper (Paid Content)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Former Washington State Association of Counties Employees Plan to Sue - Tort Claim: Pair seek $500,000 each (Olympian, WA)

Government Bond Funds Losing Their Allure (USA Today)

GENERAL NEWS

Report: Washington State’s Least Healthy Counties Beat Nation “…The five counties in poorest health are Ferry, Wahkiakum, Okanogan, Grays Harbor & Mason…” (Associated Press)

Mason County 35th in Health Rankings
Mite Might Give Oregon Hope against Scotch Broom (Associated Press)

Data Breach Puts 1.5 Million Credit Card Numbers at Risk (Associated Press)

Knock Knock: Amway to Build $32 Million Plant in Quincy (Wenatchee World, WA)

Kennewick - Local Radio Station’s Signal Hijacked (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

Mars, Moon & Star Regulus Form Brilliant Sky Triangle Tonight (Christian Science Monitor)

DIVERSIONS

Interest in 1940 US Census Paralyzes Fed Website

Dog Theft-Ransom Nets Three-Year Term for Longview Man

New App Lets You Transform Your iPhone into Bagpipes

Is There A Seattle Accent?

SONG OF THE DAY

Shannon - Henry Gross