Wednesday, August 8, 2012

Energy News Digest for August 8, 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

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Link to Mason County Auditor’s Office – Lxn Results

Consumer-Owned Utilities Weigh In on Next Head of the Bonneville Power Administration (Northwest Public Power Association)

Alternative Power, Idaho Utilities Scuffle at PUC Hearing (Associated Press)

Funding for an Untapped Renewable Resource: Woody Biomass on Public Lands (KPLU Radio, Tacoma, WA)

Report Recommends Changes at California Salmon Hatcheries (Sacramento Bee, CA)

Rackspace near $2 Million Deal to Buy 99 Acres for Data Center at the Port of Morrow (Oregonian, Portland)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Consumer-Owned Utilities Weigh In on Next Head of the Bonneville Power Administration
  • Thurston County PUD Race Result Sets Up Public Power to be Big Election Issue
  • Op/Ed - No Promise Thurston PUD Could Improve Service
  • Portland General Electric’s Second-Quarter Earnings Increase on Lower Energy Costs
  • Alaska Electric Cooperative Can't Shield Records from Pot Probe
  • Feds Claim Smoking Brush Cutters Caused California Wildfire
  • Lump of Coal: Promising Montana Mine Deal Hits Headwinds
  • Drawn to Magnets - Chelan County PUD’s Weekly Summer Science Program
  • Reports: NRC Freezes New Reactors, License Renewals
  • Emails Give Peek into Duke Energy CEO Ouster
  • Pacific Gas & Electric Reports $128 Million San Bruno-Related Costs
  • Maryland - Pepco Will Ask for Another Rate Hike This Year
  • House Bill Would Promote Hydro Power, Block Changes to Power Marketing Administrations
  • Natural Gas Giant Tries to Shift Gears
  • Report Recommends Changes at California Salmon Hatcheries
  • Warm Water Stalls Snake River Steelhead
  • Thousands of Fish Die as Midwest Streams Heat Up
  • Tiny River Monsters Threaten California Waters
  • A Clear & Present Danger: How Glass Kills Birds
  • LOTT Water Conservation Reduces Pressure on Olympia Drinking-Water Supplies
  • Obligation for Chelan River Kayaking Reduced in New Agreement With American Whitewater
  • Alternative Power, Idaho Utilities Scuffle at PUC Hearing
  • Funding for an Untapped Renewable Resource: Woody Biomass on Public Lands
  • Vermont - Police Arrest Six Who Were Blocking Wind Construction
  • U-S Wind Power Hits 50 Gigawatts Milestone, But Future Unclear
  • Oregon Defines Acreage Where Controversial Canola Can Be Grown
  • Hemp Advocates Tout Potential Jobs In Effort to Gain Support
  • Rackspace near $2 Million Deal to Buy 99 Acres for Data Center at the Port of Morrow
  • Link to Mason County Auditor’s Office – Lxn Results
  • Overall Wrap - McKenna, Inslee, Advance to General Election
  • Legislative District 35 - State Representative Pos. 1
  • Legislative District 35 - State Representative Pos. 2
  • Driscoll, Kilmer Advance in Race to Succeed Norm Dicks
  • Heck, Muri Advance in Newly Formed 10th District
  • Statewide Races - Drew vs. Wyman Likely; Nickels Out
  • Expect $4 Gas after California Refinery Fire, Experts Say
  • Log Exports to China Drop Sharply, Improving the Timber Supply to Northwest Mills
  • Hot Spell Heats Up Northwest Wildfire Activity
WORD OF THE DAY

Wanderjahr • \VAHN-derr-yar\ • Noun – 1: a year or period of travel, especially following one's schooling and before practicing a profession 2: (formerly) a year in which an apprentice traveled and improved his skills before settling down to the practice of his trade

“I want a wanderjahr,” whined the bright eyed debutant to her prim, tight-lipped mother. “Dear,” purred her gaunt, leathery-faced mother (who reeked of Marlboros and stale ‘Arpege’ perfume) “I need you here, watching over me and doing all my little chores.” (Good God, what is this example sentence; a bad rip off of “Mommy Dearest?” Must stop before going further…gack!)

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Consumer-Owned Utilities Weigh In on Next Head of the Bonneville Power Administration (Northwest Public Power Association)

Thurston County PUD Race Result Sets Up Public Power to be Big Election Issue (Olympian, WA)

Op/Ed - No Promise Thurston PUD Could Improve Service (Olympian, WA)

Portland General Electric’s Second-Quarter Earnings Increase on Lower Energy Costs (Oregonian, Portland)

Alaska Electric Cooperative Can't Shield Records from Pot Probe (Courthouse News Service)

Feds Claim Smoking Brush Cutters Caused California Wildfire (Courthouse News Service)

Lump of Coal: Promising Montana Mine Deal Hits Headwinds (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Drawn to Magnets - Chelan County PUD’s Weekly Summer Science Program (Wenatchee World, WA)

Reports: NRC Freezes New Reactors, License Renewals (Electric Light & Power)

Emails Give Peek into Duke Energy CEO Ouster (Charlotte Business Journal, NC)

Pacific Gas & Electric Reports $128 Million San Bruno-Related Costs (SF Chronicle, CA)

Maryland - Pepco Will Ask for Another Rate Hike This Year (Washington Post)

House Bill Would Promote Hydro Power, Block Changes to Power Marketing Administrations (American Public Power Association)

Natural Gas Giant Tries to Shift Gears (National Public Radio)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Report Recommends Changes at California Salmon Hatcheries (Sacramento Bee, CA)

Warm Water Stalls Snake River Steelhead (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Thousands of Fish Die as Midwest Streams Heat Up (Associated Press)

Tiny River Monsters Threaten California Waters (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

A Clear & Present Danger: How Glass Kills Birds (National Public Radio)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

LOTT Water Conservation Reduces Pressure on Olympia Drinking-Water Supplies (Olympian, WA)

Obligation for Chelan River Kayaking Reduced in New Agreement With American Whitewater (North Central Washington TV)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Alternative Power, Idaho Utilities Scuffle at PUC Hearing (Associated Press)

Funding for an Untapped Renewable Resource: Woody Biomass on Public Lands (KPLU Radio, Tacoma, WA)

Vermont - Police Arrest Six Who Were Blocking Wind Construction (Associated Press)

U-S Wind Power Hits 50 Gigawatts Milestone, But Future Unclear (The Business Journals)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Oregon Defines Acreage Where Controversial Canola Can Be Grown (Oregonian, Portland)

Hemp Advocates Tout Potential Jobs In Effort to Gain Support (Washington Post)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Rackspace near $2 Million Deal to Buy 99 Acres for Data Center at the Port of Morrow (Oregonian, Portland)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Link to Mason County Auditor’s Office – Lxn Results

Overall Wrap - McKenna, Inslee, Advance to General Election (Associated Press)

Legislative District 35 - State Representative Pos. 1

Legislative District 35 - State Representative Pos. 2

Driscoll, Kilmer Advance in Race to Succeed Norm Dicks (KING-TV, Seattle)

Heck, Muri Advance in Newly Formed 10th District (Associated Press)

Statewide Races - Drew vs. Wyman Likely; Nickels Out (Seattle Times)

GENERAL NEWS

Expect $4 Gas after California Refinery Fire, Experts Say (KING-TV, Seattle)

Log Exports to China Drop Sharply, Improving the Timber Supply to Northwest Mills (Oregonian, Portland)

Hot Spell Heats Up Northwest Wildfire Activity (Northwest Public Radio)

DIVERSIONS

Papa John's: 'Obamacare' Will Raise Pizza Prices (insert joke about “healthy pizza” here)

The Single Most Awesome Photographer at the Olympics

Alaska Airlines Plane Wing Note 'Not Appropriate'

SONG OF THE DAY

Marvin Hamlisch – End Credits - Sophie's Choice Soundtrack

Marvin Hamlisch – A Chorus Line – One