Thursday, April 5, 2012

Energy News Digest for April 5, 2012

Energy News Digest for April 5, 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

California Power Shortages a Concern with Nuke Plant Offline (Associated Press)

Climate Change Could Cost Washington State $10 Billion a Year; State Crafting Response (KPLU Radio, Tacoma, WA)

Agency Not Protecting Klamath Chinook (Courthouse News Service)

Blown Away: Wind Power Growing Faster than Other Top Electricity Sources (Grist Online)

Parties Butt Heads at Washington State Capitol as End of 30-Day Special Session Nears (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • California Power Shortages a Concern with Nuke Plant Offline
  • Feds Monitor South Carolina Nuclear Power Plant that Lost Power
  • Fire at Penly Nuclear Reactor in Northern France
  • US Natural Gas Supplies Grew Last Week
  • Snohomish PUD’s Sultan Dam Honored by Energy Group
  • Arizona - ‘Tea Party’-Backed Bill to Halt Green Programs
  • Agency Not Protecting Klamath Chinook
  • The Economics of Salmon - Recovery Efforts Support Local Jobs & Businesses
  • Columbia River Gorge - Are Drano Lake Tribal Platforms Off-Limits?
  • City of Portland’s ‘Questionable’ Spending List Grows
  • Blown Away: Wind Power Growing Faster than Other Top Electricity Sources
  • Solar Investments - Watchdog Finds Solyndra Loan Was ‘Rushed’
  • Snohomish PUD Meeting to Mobilize Community to ‘Solarize Mukilteo’
  • Free Light Bulbs Part of Pierce County Energy Conservation Event
  • Climate Change Could Cost Washington State $10 Billion a Year; State Crafting Response
  • Ice Age Data Bolsters Links between Greenhouse Gas & Global Warming
  • The Brighter Side of Air Pollution
  • America’s Greenest Cities? Which Ones Beat Seattle
  • Electric or Hybrid - Payoff for Efficient Cars Takes Years
  • Who Knew? Upcycling the Dog Poo
  • Google’s Kansas City Fiber - Construction Update
  • Google Announces Expansion at Oklahoma Data Center
  • Parties Butt Heads at Washington State Capitol as End of 30-Day Special Session Nears
  • Washington State GOP Staffer Seeks $1.75 Million Settlement over Senator Pam Roach Decision
  • Washington State Senator Introduces Facebook Password Bill
  • Philadelphia Councilman: Tweet Contract Justified
  • New Charges Filed in Grays Harbor County Courthouse Shooting
  • US to Sink Ghost Ship Dislodged by Japanese Tsunami
  • Fowl Play: ‘Mystery Booms’ Solved in Sequim
WORD OF THE DAY

Incunabulum • \inn-kyuh-NAB-yuh-lumm\ • Noun - 1: a book printed before 1501 2: a work of art or of industry of an early period

“Golly,” exclaimed Joel to his fellow employees. “Look at all the incunabulum that we’ve uncovered during the relocation to our new operations center.” A treasure trove of ancient publications ranging from the “myths of public power” to action comic books (graphic novels) about how electricity works lay spread around the floor, surrounded by cases of beta-max video tapes about various and sundry utility issues.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

California Power Shortages a Concern with Nuke Plant Offline (Associated Press)

Feds Monitor South Carolina Nuclear Power Plant that Lost Power (Associated Press)

Fire at Penly Nuclear Reactor in Northern France (British Broadcasting Corporation)

US Natural Gas Supplies Grew Last Week (Associated Press)

Snohomish PUD’s Sultan Dam Honored by Energy Group - Youngs Creek dam chosen for having little to no effect on environment (Everett Herald, WA)

Arizona - ‘Tea Party’-Backed Bill to Halt Green Programs - Claims green policies are connected to United Nations “Agenda 21,” an attempt to implement a one-world order (Arizona Republic, AZ)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Agency Not Protecting Klamath Chinook (Courthouse News Service)

The Economics of Salmon - Recovery Efforts Support Local Jobs & Businesses (Methow Valley News, Twisp, WA)

Columbia River Gorge - Are Drano Lake Tribal Platforms Off-Limits? (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

City of Portland’s ‘Questionable’ Spending List Grows - Group says it will push for water, sewer rate reimbursements (Portland Tribune, OR)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Blown Away: Wind Power Growing Faster than Other Top Electricity Sources (Grist Online)

Solar Investments - Watchdog Finds Solyndra Loan Was ‘Rushed’ (Associated Press)

Snohomish PUD Meeting to Mobilize Community to ‘Solarize Mukilteo’ (Mukilteo Beacon, WA)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Free Light Bulbs Part of Pierce County Energy Conservation Event (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Climate Change Could Cost Washington State $10 Billion a Year; State Crafting Response (KPLU Radio, Tacoma, WA)

Ice Age Data Bolsters Links between Greenhouse Gas & Global Warming (Associated Press)

The Brighter Side of Air Pollution (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

America’s Greenest Cities? Which Ones Beat Seattle (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

Electric or Hybrid - Payoff for Efficient Cars Takes Years (NY Times)

Who Knew? Upcycling the Dog Poo (NY Times)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Google’s Kansas City Fiber - Construction Update (Google)

Google Announces Expansion at Oklahoma Data Center (Associated Press)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Parties Butt Heads at Washington State Capitol as End of 30-Day Special Session Nears (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

Washington State GOP Staffer Seeks $1.75 Million Settlement over Senator Pam Roach Decision (Seattle Times)

Washington State Senator Introduces Facebook Password Bill (Associated Press)

Philadelphia Councilman: Tweet Contract Justified - Outside contractor hired for $28,800 to send Twitter & Facebook updates on his behalf (Associated Press)

GENERAL NEWS

New Charges Filed in Grays Harbor County Courthouse Shooting (KING

US to Sink Ghost Ship Dislodged by Japanese Tsunami (Associated Press)

Fowl Play: ‘Mystery Booms’ Solved in Sequim (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

DIVERSIONS

Sheriff’s Captain Accused of Freeing Inmate for Golf Outing

Dog Eats Tickets to Masters Golf Tournament

Town with One Resident Up for Auction

After Pilot Dies, Wisconsin Grandma Has ‘Right Stuff’ to Land Plane, Audio Shows

SONG OF THE DAY

Kenny Loggins - I’m Alright (Theme from Caddyshack)