Friday, December 28, 2012

Energy News Digest for December 28, 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

Chelan PUD Storm Cleanup Is in the Millions (Wenatchee World, WA)

Developers of Wind Farms Run a Race against the Calendar (NY Times)

Idaho Power Uses Cloud Seeding to Enhance Winter Snowpack (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

Call Center Companies See Potential in Inland Pacific Northwest (Associated Press)

Developers of Wind Farms Run a Race against the Calendar (NY Times)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Chelan PUD Storm Cleanup Is in the Millions
  • Idaho Power Uses Cloud Seeding to Enhance Winter Snowpack
  • Clark Public Utilities Outgoing Commissioner: We Always Put Customers First
  • Southern Company Faces Risks on Mississippi Clean Coal Power Plant
  • Spring Chinook Forecast Almost Half Less of Last Year’s Return in Tributaries Above Bonneville Dam
  • Hood Canal Council Faces Scrutiny from Mason County Commissioners
  • Turning Christmas Trees into Salmon Habitat
  • Oregon - Snapping Turtles Nearly Eradicated From Beaverton’s Koll Center Wetlands
  • Mason County Boil Water Advisory Lifted
  • EPA Chief Resigns: Declared Carbon Dioxide a Pollutant
  • Developers of Wind Farms Run a Race against the Calendar
  • Wind Energy: Boom Sputters as Industry Tax Credit is Set to Expire
  • California - Panel Approves Biomass Project near Truckee
  • Alaska - Biomass Saves Big Bucks to Heat, Power Rural Schools
  • Ocean Energy Contenders Race to Market
  • Carbon Taxes Make Ireland Even Greener
  • GigaOM’s Top Ten Cleantech Posts of 2012
  • Call Center Companies See Potential in Inland Pacific Northwest
  • Our Broadband Coverage Maps Still Stink - Threatening Funding For Under-Connected States
  • North Carolina among States Where Telecom Companies, Legislatures Limit Broadband, Bloomberg Reports
  • Everyone Spent Christmas Day Activating Their Shiny New Gadgets & Downloading Apps
  • Editorial - Norm Dicks: Embodiment of a Better Congress
  • Washington State Lt. Governor Owen to Start Peace Talks in Senate Friday
  • Storm Rakes Half of Nation; Arkansas Still Dark
  • Washington Ending Year with Drier Weather
  • Three Flu Deaths Already Reported in Washington State
  • New Mason County Commissioner Neatherlin Sworn In
  • Public Meetings for Managing Wilderness Areas in Olympic National Park
  • Washington State Fines Insurance Company Aetna $1 Million
  • Washington State’s Minimum Wage Goes Up on New Year’s Day
  • Deep in the Woods, Pot Growing Thrives

WORD OF THE DAY

Thrall • \thrawl\ • Noun - 1a: a servant slave: bondman; also: serf b : a person in moral or mental servitude 2a: a state of servitude or submission b: a state of complete absorption

Terry Jacks singing
The earworm holds me in thrall
Save me; please help me

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Chelan PUD Storm Cleanup Is in the Millions (Wenatchee World, WA)

Idaho Power Uses Cloud Seeding to Enhance Winter Snowpack (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

Clark Public Utilities Outgoing Commissioner: We Always Put Customers First (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Southern Company Faces Risks on Mississippi Clean Coal Power Plant (Associated Press)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Spring Chinook Forecast Almost Half Less of Last Year’s Return in Tributaries Above Bonneville Dam (Seattle Times)

Hood Canal Council Faces Scrutiny from Mason County Commissioners (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Turning Christmas Trees into Salmon Habitat (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Oregon - Snapping Turtles Nearly Eradicated From Beaverton’s Koll Center Wetlands (Oregonian, Portland)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Mason County Boil Water Advisory Lifted (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

EPA Chief Resigns: Declared Carbon Dioxide a Pollutant (Forbes Magazine)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Developers of Wind Farms Run a Race against the Calendar (NY Times)

Wind Energy: Boom Sputters as Industry Tax Credit is Set to Expire (Christian Science Monitor)

California - Panel Approves Biomass Project near Truckee (Sacramento Bee, CA)

Alaska - Biomass Saves Big Bucks to Heat, Power Rural Schools (Alaska Journal of Commerce)

Ocean Energy Contenders Race to Market (Renewable Energy World)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Carbon Taxes Make Ireland Even Greener (NY Times)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

GigaOM’s Top Ten Cleantech Posts of 2012 (GigaOM)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Call Center Companies See Potential in Inland Pacific Northwest (Associated Press)

Our Broadband Coverage Maps Still Stink - Threatening Funding For Under-Connected States (Broadband Reports)

North Carolina among States Where Telecom Companies, Legislatures Limit Broadband, Bloomberg Reports (Mountain Express, Ashville, NC)

Everyone Spent Christmas Day Activating Their Shiny New Gadgets & Downloading Apps (Consumerist)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Editorial - Norm Dicks: Embodiment of a Better Congress - To understand what Washington will lose when Norm Dicks leaves Congress five days from now, you have to meet the man (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

Washington State Lt. Governor Owen to Start Peace Talks in Senate Friday (Olympian, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

Storm Rakes Half of Nation; Arkansas Still Dark (Associated Press)

Washington Ending Year with Drier Weather (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

Three Flu Deaths Already Reported in Washington State (Associated Press)

New Mason County Commissioner Neatherlin Sworn In (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Public Meetings for Managing Wilderness Areas in Olympic National Park (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Washington State Fines Insurance Company Aetna $1 Million (Associated Press)

Washington State’s Minimum Wage Goes Up on New Year’s Day (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

Deep in the Woods, Pot Growing Thrives (USA Today)

DIVERSIONS

So, You Find Certain Words Annoying? Whatever

Mason Now Top Boy Name in Washington; Sophia Still Tops for Girls

Wild Dolphins Giving Gifts to Humans is a Real Thing That Happens

Judge Orders Parents Away from Daughter - To her, Mom & Dad are stalkers who tracked calls & keystrokes

SONG OF THE DAY

The Bee Gees – Words