Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Energy News Digest for June 27, 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

Federal Court Rules Washington State Energy Standards Are Tough, but Legal (Courthouse News Service)

Editorial - Columbia Generating Station Deserved Its Nuclear License Renewal (Oregonian, Portland)

Natural Gas Gold Rush: Is Your State Next? (USA Today)

How Foul is Your Favorite Beach? (NY Times)

Bainbridge Island City Hall goes solar (Bainbridge Island Review, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Editorial - Columbia Generating Station Deserved Its Nuclear License Renewal
  • Natural Gas Gold Rush: Is Your State Next?
  • Northwest Gas & Power Groups Commend Planned FERC Workshops but Stress Regional Differences
  • Democrats Introduce Bill to Boost Hydro Dam Efficiency
  • Benton PUD Warns of New Phone Scam
  • Mason County PUD 3 Commission Report for June 26, 2012
  • Safety in the Spotlight at Rocky Reach Dam Event
  • Matanuska Electric Association Builds Alaska Power Plant
  • Texans Urged to Conserve Energy as Power Demand Surges
  • Vermont Yankee Nuclear Plant Can Continue Operating
  • Inquiry on Nuclear Chief Finds No Rules Were Broken
  • Aluminum Giant Alcoa Finds New Markets in Green Tech Economy
  • Canada - Bird Populations Diving, Report Says
  • Small Signs of Life Along Formerly Flooded Elwha River
  • Spread of Deadly Fungus Threatens Bat Species
  • How Foul is Your Favorite Beach?
  • Bainbridge Island City Hall Goes Solar
  • Arizona - Company to Get Energy Credits for Burning Trash
  • Controversy Dogs Cleveland’s Waste-To-Energy Ambitions
  • Wood-Fueled Plant Brings Jobs to East Texas
  • Federal Court Rules Washington State Energy Standards Are Tough, but Legal
  • Editorial - Alive but Not Kicking: Oregon Sustainability Center
  • Apple Looking to Build $1 Billion Nevada Data Center by Year’s End
  • Groups Plan Super Wi-Fi Network in Rural College Towns
  • Washington State above Average in Voter Turnout
  • Investigation Continues after Belfair Firework Explosion
  • Officials Warn About Safety Before Fireworks Sales Start Thursday
  • Colorado Wildfire Intensifies, Consumes 15,000 Acres
  • Seven Shot Outside Federal Way Bar, One Dies
  • $12.3 billion Hanford plant sees new costs, delays
  • House Rejects Bid to Slash Rural Airline Subsidies
WORD OF THE DAY

Desideratum • \dih-sid-er-ROT-tum\ • Noun - Something desired as essential

For Barty, his daily dose of Star Trek trivia was considered his desideratum, like water to a thirsty man, food to the hungry. Needless to say, Barty needed to take the advice of William Shatner. (See appx 4:00 mark) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeS4tVFbNNk

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Editorial - Columbia Generating Station Deserved Its Nuclear License Renewal (Oregonian, Portland)

Natural Gas Gold Rush: Is Your State Next? (USA Today)

Northwest Gas & Power Groups Commend Planned FERC Workshops but Stress Regional Differences (MarketWatch)

Democrats Introduce Bill to Boost Hydro Dam Efficiency (Electric Light & Power)

Benton PUD Warns of New Phone Scam (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Mason County PUD 3 Commission Report for June 26, 2012 (Mason County PUD No. 3)

Safety in the Spotlight at Rocky Reach Dam Event (Wenatchee World, WA)

Matanuska Electric Association Builds Alaska Power Plant (Electric Light & Power)

Texans Urged to Conserve Energy as Power Demand Surges (KSAT-TV, San Antonio, TX)

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Plant Can Continue Operating (Power Engineering)

Inquiry on Nuclear Chief Finds No Rules Were Broken (NY Times)

Aluminum Giant Alcoa Finds New Markets in Green Tech Economy (Forbes Magazine)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Canada - Bird Populations Diving, Report Says: Coastal survey shows declining count among some species (Vancouver Sun, BC)

Small Signs of Life Along Formerly Flooded Elwha River (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Spread of Deadly Fungus Threatens Bat Species (USA Today)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

How Foul is Your Favorite Beach? (NY Times)

Here’s the Link to Washington State’s Survey (Natural Resources Defense Council)

Here’s the Link to Oregon’s Survey (Natural Resources Defense Council)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Bainbridge Island City Hall goes solar (Bainbridge Island Review, WA)

Arizona - Company to Get Energy Credits for Burning Trash (Arizona Republic, Phoenix)

Controversy Dogs Cleveland’s Waste-To-Energy Ambitions (Midwest Energy News)

Wood-Fueled Plant Brings Jobs to East Texas (KBMT-TV, Beaumont, TX)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Federal Court Rules Washington State Energy Standards Are Tough, but Legal (Courthouse News Service)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Editorial - Alive but Not Kicking: Oregon Sustainability Center (Oregonian, Portland)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Apple Looking to Build $1 Billion Nevada Data Center by Year’s End (Gigaom)

Groups Plan Super Wi-Fi Network in Rural College Towns (PC World)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State above Average in Voter Turnout (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

Investigation Continues after Belfair Firework Explosion (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Officials Warn About Safety Before Fireworks Sales Start Thursday (Seattle Times)

Colorado Wildfire Intensifies, Consumes 15,000 Acres (Reuters)

Seven Shot Outside Federal Way Bar, One Dies (Associated Press)

$12.3 billion Hanford plant sees new costs, delays (Associated Press)

House Rejects Bid to Slash Rural Airline Subsidies (Associated Press)

DIVERSIONS

Students Set New Human-Powered Helicopter Flight Record

Acclaimed Screenwriter Nora Ephron Dead at 71

Bronx’s Butt Woman Is Going to Prison

Alien Attack! Americans Pick Obama over Romney to Battle Invasion from Space

SONG OF THE DAY

Les Crane – Desiderata