Monday, February 4, 2013

Energy News Digest for February 4, 2013


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.

Note that as some newspapers migrate to a “paywall” system of access, some articles may not be available without forking over some cold hard credit card cash. However, some sites will allow a certain number of story accesses per month before holding out their hand. Sorry if this is an inconvenience.

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THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

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

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Super Bowl Extravaganza Hit by Power Failure (Reuters)

Bonneville Power Administration’s Steve Wright Says Goodbye after 12 Years as Administrator (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

At Shelton Presentation - BPA Administrator Educates Community about Hydroelectricity: Outgoing administrator lauds hydropower (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Investigators Begin to Test Other Electrical Parts on the 787 (NY Times)

Solar Development Absorbing California Farmland (Associated Press)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Super Bowl Extravaganza Hit by Power Failure
  • Blackout Is a Boon for Super Bowl Ratings
  • Bonneville Power Administration’s Steve Wright Says Goodbye after 12 Years as Administrator
  • At Shelton Presentation - BPA Administrator Educates Community about Hydroelectricity
  • Op/Ed - Bonneville Power Administration’s Power Line Decision Will Cost Everyone
  • Cowlitz PUD Documents Shed Light on Events Surrounding GM’s Firing
  • Thurston County Not Much Better Off a Year after Big Snowstorm
  • Editorial - Thumbs Up to Energy Northwest for Record-Breaking Year
  • Regulated Energy Companies Top of Washington State Consumer Complaint List
  • Vancouver School Wins Nation’s Largest Regional Science Bowl, For 2nd Year
  • Trade Groups Sue to Stop Collection of Federal Nuclear Waste Fee
  • Energy Companies & Landowners Are Clashing over Property Rights
  • U-S Energy Secretary Chu’s Resignation Memo
  • Tennessee Public Utility CEOs Rake in Six-Figure Salaries
  • Hundreds Watch as San Diego Power Plant Imploded
  • Fewer Early Columbia Chinook Expected
  • Final Brief Filed in Appeals Court Challenge to Council’s Northwest Power Plan, Fish Mitigation
  • Washington State Bill Would Allow Counties to Ban Fish Farming
  • Hundreds of Miles of Forest Streams for Fish Habitat Are Re-Opening
  • Solar Development Absorbing California Farmland
  • Arizona - Cuts to Renewable-Energy Incentives Blasted
  • Ocean Energy on the Move in the Pacific Northwest
  • Four Reasons Why it’s a Bad Argument to Say Cats Kill More Birds Than Wind Turbines
  • Energy Efficiency First – Olympia Home Energy Audits & Performance Contracting
  • City of Kennewick to Get Rebate for Conserving Energy
  • Big Switch Under Way in U-S Energy Use: Report
  • Coal-Burning Utilities Seek a Role in EPA Rule-Making on Greenhouse Gas Emissions
  • Pacific Northwest Paying High Price for Carbon Emissions
  • Beer Helps Power Alaskan Brewery
  • Cellulose Fuel Slow to Start Pumping, But This May Be the Year
  • Regulators Working to Fix Scam-Ridden U-S Biofuel Program
  • Op/Ed - Chelan PUD Working Hard to Fix the Fiber
  • Click! Gets Deal with Fisher Broadcasting
  • Speedy Fiber Has Kansas City All Googley
  • How Sports Networks Inflate Your TV Bill
  • Investigators Begin to Test Other Electrical Parts on the 787
  • Grapeview School District Asks Voters to Approve $12.5 Million Bond
  • WSP Trooper Testing Draws Nearly 100 Hopefuls

WORD OF THE DAY

Redolent • \RED-duh-lunt\ • Adjective - 1: exuding fragrance: aromatic 2a: full of a specified fragrance: scented b: evocative, suggestive

“Little Trees”; Axe Spray
Old cars and teen angst on show
Redolent device

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Super Bowl Extravaganza Hit by Power Failure (Reuters)

Blackout Is a Boon for Super Bowl Ratings (NY Times)

Bonneville Power Administration’s Steve Wright Says Goodbye after 12 Years as Administrator (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

At Shelton Presentation - BPA Administrator Educates Community about Hydroelectricity: Outgoing administrator lauds hydropower (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Op/Ed - Bonneville Power Administration’s Power Line Decision Will Cost Everyone (Longview Daily News, WA)

Cowlitz PUD Documents Shed Light on Events Surrounding GM’s Firing (Longview Daily News, WA)

Thurston County Not Much Better Off a Year after Big Snowstorm - Generators needed to keep shelters open when South Sounders are displaced (Olympian, WA)

Editorial - Thumbs Up to Energy Northwest for Record-Breaking Year (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Regulated Energy Companies Top of Washington State Consumer Complaint List (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Vancouver School Wins Nation’s Largest Regional Science Bowl, For 2nd Year - Sponsored by Bonneville Power Administration (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

Trade Groups Sue to Stop Collection of Federal Nuclear Waste Fee (American Public Power Association)

Energy Companies & Landowners Are Clashing over Property Rights (Forbes Magazine)

U-S Energy Secretary Chu’s Resignation Memo (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Tennessee Public Utility CEOs Rake in Six-Figure Salaries (Watchdog.Org)

Hundreds Watch as San Diego Power Plant Imploded (Associated Press)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Fewer Early Columbia Chinook Expected (Bellingham Herald, WA)

Final Brief Filed in Appeals Court Challenge to Council’s Northwest Power Plan, Fish Mitigation (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

Washington State Bill Would Allow Counties to Ban Fish Farming (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Hundreds of Miles of Forest Streams for Fish Habitat Are Re-Opening (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Solar Development Absorbing California Farmland (Associated Press)

Arizona - Cuts to Renewable-Energy Incentives Blasted: Enviros, solar officials fear AZ panel’s move could hurt industry (Arizona Daily Star, Tucson)

Ocean Energy on the Move in the Pacific Northwest - Oregon Adopts New Rules, FERC Finds No Significant Environmental Impacts for Snohomish PUD’s Admiralty Inlet Tidal Project (GTH Energy & Natural Resources Law Blog) http://www.energynaturalresourceslaw.com/2013/01/ocean-energy-on-the-move-in-the-northwest-oregon-adopts-new-rules-snohomish-pud-files-eis-on-admiral.html

Four Reasons Why it’s a Bad Argument to Say Cats Kill More Birds Than Wind Turbines (KCET-TV, Burbank, CA)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Energy Efficiency First – Olympia Home Energy Audits & Performance Contracting: Improving Your Comfort, Health & Bottom Line (Thurston Talk, Olympia, WA)

City of Kennewick to Get Rebate for Conserving Energy (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Big Switch Under Way in U-S Energy Use: Report (Bloomberg News)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Coal-Burning Utilities Seek a Role in EPA Rule-Making on Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Washington Post)

Pacific Northwest Paying High Price for Carbon Emissions (Grist Online)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Beer Helps Power Alaskan Brewery (Associated Press)

Cellulose Fuel Slow to Start Pumping, But This May Be the Year (Seattle Times, WA)

Regulators Working to Fix Scam-Ridden U-S Biofuel Program (Renewable Energy World)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Op/Ed - Chelan PUD Working Hard to Fix the Fiber (Wenatchee World, WA)

Click! Gets Deal with Fisher Broadcasting (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

Speedy Fiber Has Kansas City All Googley (Seattle Times, WA)

How Sports Networks Inflate Your TV Bill (USA Today)

GENERAL NEWS

Investigators Begin to Test Other Electrical Parts on the 787 (NY Times)

Grapeview School District Asks Voters to Approve $12.5 Million Bond (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

WSP Trooper Testing Draws Nearly 100 Hopefuls (Northwest Cable News Network)

DIVERSIONS

Did Beyonce Flash an Illuminati Sign? Why Did the Superdome Power Go Out? Your Super Bowl Mysteries, Solved!

Etch a Sketch Inventor Andre Cassagnes Dies in France at Age of 86

Student Project Helps Disabled Kitten Walk

British Man’s Dog Sniffs out Smelly Whale Secretion worth Thousands

SONG OF THE DAY

Sketches of Spain