Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Energy News Digest for June 6, 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

Low Natural Gas Prices May Drive FY 2014-2015 Power Rates (Bonneville Power Administration – A Gas CRAC?)

Jim Lazar, Utility, Energy Expert Joins Thurston PUD Commission (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

Renton wins federal case over collecting storm-water fees from Bonneville Power Administration (Auburn Reporter, WA)

No Water for Belfair Water District Residents (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Shelton Senior Center Funding Denied (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Low Natural Gas Prices May Drive FY 2014-2015 Power Rates
  • Jim Lazar, Utility, Energy Expert Joins Thurston PUD Commission
  • Governor John Kitzhaber Releases Draft of Oregon’s Ten Year Energy Plan
  • Snohomish PUD Reminds Customers about Potential Scams
  • NERC Predicts Adequate Summer Reserve Margins in Most Areas
  • Black & Veatch’s Sixth Annual Strategic Directions in the U-S Electric Utility Industry Report
  • FERC Ruling - Lake of the Ozarks Boundary Redrawn to Save 1,500 Homes
  • Massachusetts - Cape Cod Energy Report Sparks Ill Will
  • Here’s What the Analyst Who Uncovered Enron Thinks About Chesapeake
  • Coal is Here to Stay, Says Obama’s Chief Environmental Adviser
  • German Minister Warns of Rising Electricity Prices
  • U-S House Protects Salmon Tributary of “Magic Skagit”
  • Mussels Face the Nose Test; Part of Penn Cove OK for Shellfish Harvesting
  • Columbia River Region Fishing Reports by Washington State Fish & Wildlife
  • Renton Wins Federal Case over Collecting Storm-Water Fees from Bonneville Power Administration
  • Wind Power Execs: Tax Credit Needed to Keep Jobs
  • Wind Tax Credits Vital to Energy Independence, Rove Says
  • Romney Aversion to Wind-Power Aid Alienating Republicans
  • Wind Power’s Carbon Dioxide-Cutting Impact Disputed
  • Solar Makers Bet on Japan Nuclear Crisis Being a Game-Changer
  • Fish Heads Turned into Electricity Help Wal-Mart
  • U-S House Votes to Block Enforcement of Energy Efficient Light Bulb Standards
  • Geothermal Heat Pumps: The Next Generation
  • Seeing Green: Wauna Credit Union Named to Top 100 Green List
  • United Nations Sounds Environment Alarm Ahead of Rio Summit
  • Go Macro, Energy Panel Says - Efficiency focus should span buildings, even cities, it reports
  • Hydrogen Powered Vehicles Could Emerge from Traffic
  • Solar Energy Plane Completes Maiden Intercontinental Trip
  • Layoffs, Rate Hikes May Be Part of Chelan PUD Fiber Future
  • Did Google Fiber Just Get Its Own Google TV Set-Top Box?
  • Gay Marriage Will Go to Washington State Ballot with Submission of 225,000 Signatures
  • U-S House Bill Takes a Scythe to Spending
  • No Water for Belfair Water District Residents
  • Shelton Senior Center Funding Denied
  • Port of Shelton Looking For Input on Future of Fairgrounds
  • Buyer’s Remorse over End of State Stores as Liquor Prices Rise
WORD OF THE DAY

Cognoscente • \conn-yuh-SHENT-tee\ • Noun - A person who has expert knowledge in a subject: connoisseur

“Ahhh,” sighed Albert as he reluctantly pulled his nose away from a freshly opened package of Life-Savers ‘seven flavorts’ gummie candy. As the company’s cognoscente on packaged candies, he relished every opportunity to take a whiff of newly opened bags. So much so that he tended to lurk around the vending machines in the third floor break area; much to the chagrin of the steno pool.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Low Natural Gas Prices May Drive FY 2014-2015 Power Rates (Bonneville Power Administration – A Gas CRAC?)

Jim Lazar, Utility, Energy Expert Joins Thurston PUD Commission (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

Governor John Kitzhaber Releases Draft of Oregon’s Ten Year Energy Plan (Oregonian, Portland)

Snohomish PUD Reminds Customers about Potential Scams - New schemes use social media, texting, automated phone calls (Edmonds Beacon, WA)

NERC Predicts Adequate Summer Reserve Margins in Most Areas (Renew Grid)

Black & Veatch’s Sixth Annual Strategic Directions in the U-S Electric Utility Industry Report (Bloomberg News)

FERC Ruling - Lake of the Ozarks Boundary Redrawn to Save 1,500 Homes (St Louis Dispatch, MO)

Massachusetts - Cape Cod Energy Report Sparks Ill Will (Cape Cod Times, MA)

Here’s What the Analyst Who Uncovered Enron Thinks About Chesapeake (Forbes Magazine)

Coal is Here to Stay, Says Obama’s Chief Environmental Adviser (Grist Online)

German Minister Warns of Rising Electricity Prices “…Electricity prices will be rising amid high subsidies for the renewable energies that are set to replace nuclear power…” (Bloomberg Businesweek)

FISH & WILDLIFE

U-S House Protects Salmon Tributary of “Magic Skagit” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

Mussels Face the Nose Test; Part of Penn Cove OK for Shellfish Harvesting (Seattle Times)

Columbia River Region Fishing Reports by Washington State Fish & Wildlife (Seattle Times)

Editorial - Forage Fish Play a Vital Role (Olympian, WA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Renton wins federal case over collecting storm-water fees from Bonneville Power Administration (Auburn Reporter, WA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Wind Power Execs: Tax Credit Needed to Keep Jobs (Associated Press)

Wind Tax Credits Vital to Energy Independence, Rove Says (Bloomberg News)

Romney Aversion to Wind-Power Aid Alienating Republicans (Bloomberg News)

Wind Power’s Carbon Dioxide-Cutting Impact Disputed (The Energy Collective)

Solar Makers Bet on Japan Nuclear Crisis Being a Game-Changer (Reuters)

Fish Heads Turned into Electricity Help Wal-Mart (Bloomberg Businessweek)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

U-S House Votes to Block Enforcement of Energy Efficient Light Bulb Standards (The Hill)

Geothermal Heat Pumps: The Next Generation (Renewable Energy World)

Seeing Green: Wauna Credit Union Named to Top 100 Green List (Coast River Business Journal, Astoria, OR)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

United Nations Sounds Environment Alarm Ahead of Rio Summit (Reuters)

Go Macro, Energy Panel Says - Efficiency focus should span buildings, even cities, it reports (Milwaukee Sentinel, WI)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Hydrogen Powered Vehicles Could Emerge from Traffic (Forbes Magazine)

Solar Energy Plane Completes Maiden Intercontinental Trip (The Guardian, UK)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Layoffs, Rate Hikes May Be Part of Chelan PUD Fiber Future (Wenatchee World, WA)

Did Google Fiber Just Get Its Own Google TV Set-Top Box? (GigaOM)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Gay Marriage Will Go to Washington State Ballot with Submission of 225,000 Signatures (KCPQ-TV, Seattle/Tacoma, WA)

U-S House Bill Takes a Scythe to Spending (NY Times)

GENERAL NEWS

No Water for Belfair Water District Residents (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Shelton Senior Center Funding Denied (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Port of Shelton Looking For Input on Future of Fairgrounds (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Buyer’s Remorse over End of State Stores as Liquor Prices Rise (Seattle Times)

DIVERSIONS

Pacific County Man Increases His Jail Time by Forgetting to Leave His Drugs at Home

Stolen Bass Guitar Recovered in Ocean Shores - Owned by ‘Bad Company’ Band Member

Transit of Venus: Skywatchers Rejoice in Rare Space Event

SONG OF THE DAY

Bad Company - Bad Company