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.
WORD OF THE DAY
Thesaurus • \thih-SOR-us\ • noun – *1: treasury, storehouse 2a: a book of words or of information about a particular field or set of concepts; especially: a book of words and their synonyms b: a list of subject headings or descriptors usually with a cross-reference system for use in the organization of a collection of documents for reference and retrieval
“You’re a regular walkin’, talkin’ thesaurus,” Albert told his friend Erasmus. “Pshaw,” exclaimed Razzy. “You flatter me; exalt me to a higher plane; exaggerate my lexicogical skills; etcetera, etcetera, etcetera…”
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Ethics panel dismisses complaints against Clatskanie PUD –The Oregon Government Ethics Commission on Friday dismissed complaints against members of the Clatskanie PUD Board for executive sessions that critics say violated the state's open meetings law. (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/09/18/area_news/news08.txt
Avista to lower natural gas prices in Washington, Idaho (Associated Press via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/220524.html
South Dakota – Utilities withdraw from power plant project. Two Minnesota utilities have withdrawn support for a coal-fired power plant project. (Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2007/09/17/daily10.html?ana=from_rss
Building a Dam in a Bid to End Afghan Instability (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/18/world/asia/18dam.html?ex=1347768000&en=096b31516339610c&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
News Release – Electricity Coalition Urges FERC to Keep Focused Scope of Rulemaking, Not Disrupt Effective Existing Market Structures. COMPETE, a coalition representing 171 electricity stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, generators, transmission owners, trade associations and economic development corporations, filed comments with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) urging the commission to continue its efforts to make energy markets more efficient and open to competition. (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=74034
Energy Pulse Commentary – Snow White vs. Green Goddess. Energy mirror on the wall, who's the greenest of them all? For years it seemed to be natural gas: no SOX, no NOX, no waste disposal problem.
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1566
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
News Release – USA. Senator Reid requests salmon passage at Hells Canyon Dams. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to require fish passage at the Hells Canyon Complex on the Snake River as a condition of renewing the dams' federal operating license. (BYM Marine Environment News)
http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=15419
Sept. 17 Rocky Barker's blog: Reid's entry in to Northwest salmon-dam politics comes as Craig pushed out – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s demand to federal energy regulators that they require fish passage on the Hells Canyon dams when they get a new license has salmon advocates cheering. But just as they warn Congress against passing a rider that they say would limit the amount of water flushed out of Idaho to aid salmon, they are backing Nevada Democrat Reid for mostly other reasons. (The Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/160778.html
Alarm sounds for young Coho – Juvenile Coho salmon are disappearing at an alarming rate before they can migrate out of South Sound, according to a three-year study by the Squaxin Island tribe. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/220263.html
Columbia River will close to Chinook retention in WA, OR – Effective on Wednesday, sport fishermen on the Columbia River will be required to release any Chinook salmon they catch below the Bonneville Dam for the remainder of the season. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP09182007news199069.cfm?newsletter=1
Anglers stage ‘fish-in’ to protest late season – Dozens of Harbor-area sport fishermen staged a “fish-in” at Morrison Riverfront Park in Aberdeen Sunday to protest the late opening of the fall Coho salmon run in the Chehalis River. (The Daily News, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/09/17/local_news/02news.txt
Conservation overkill? To Protect Cutthroat, the South Fork of the Flathead to be Poisoned. The west slope cutthroat trout. It sounds like the most drastic of measures—killing an entire natural fishery in order to replace it with another. (New West, Missoula)
http://www.newwest.net/city/article/bpa_mfwp_set_to_begin_hybrid_trout_removal_next_month/C8/L8/
Jefferson County – Big crowd douses clean water district hearing. A public hearing Monday on a proposed clean water district for East Jefferson County was postponed after only a few comments were heard - all in opposition. (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070918/NEWS/709180304
Wealthy newcomers drive up sewer bills for all – Residents of northern Clackamas County can expect sewer bills to rise nearly 50 percent in the next year or two and much more later, mainly to subsidize people moving into some of the wealthiest and fastest-growing suburbs in Oregon. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/118999951464490.xml&coll=7
Water rule open houses slated – The rule sets limits for new exempt wells in rural areas. Homeowners, real estate agents, builders and others concerned about a new water rule can quiz experts and regulators on the topic this week at a pair of open houses. (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2007/09/17/local_news/local01.txt
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Recyclers Used to Burning Rubber Are Now Idling – A new industry that recycles old tires into fuel, saving companies millions of dollars and reducing a billion-tire national stockpile, is in limbo after a U.S. appeals court tossed out some federal clean-air rules. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/17/AR2007091701879.html?nav=rss_business
CONSERVATION
State of California regulators propose developing energy self-sufficiency by 2020 – All new housing developments in California should be so energy-efficient by the year 2020 that they could produce all the power they need on their own, state regulators proposed Monday. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/18/BUMKS7VTF.DTL&feed=rss.business
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Suit Blaming Automakers Over Gases Is Dismissed – The courts do not have the authority or the expertise to decide injury lawsuits concerning global warming, a federal judge in San Francisco ruled yesterday in dismissing a suit brought by the State of California against six car companies. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/18/us/18pollute.html?ex=1347768000&en=31c69b1fa287de5c&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Qwest on cusp of city cable – Cable TV competition may finally be coming to Portland (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1190048102144840.xml&coll=7
Google threat comes in no uncertain terms – The dozens of entrepreneurs gathered for an exclusive high-tech conference Monday all hope to dazzle the crowd with their ingenuity. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/332045_googlechallenger18.html?source=rss
GENERAL NEWS
SHELTON MAN FOUND DEAD IN HENDERSON INLET – A Shelton man was found dead in Henderson Inlet Monday. According to Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock, 44-year-old Robert E. Hope was found tangled in the lines of a dinghy tied to a small sailboat that washed up Monday afternoon. A kayaker found Hope. An autopsy is schedule for today but the Thurston County Sheriff's Office says there was nothing suspicious about Hope's death. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Thieves Black Out Silverdale Intersection – Thieves stole wire from a traffic signal at Newberry Hill Road just off Highway 3 early Monday morning. (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/sep/17/thieves-black-out-silverdale-intersection/
Lobbyists owe rent, will leave Capitol – Group faces $15,000 bill. Lobbyists have lost their office privileges at the state Capitol — at least until they pay back rent. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/220227.html
DIVERSIONS
Men, wash your hands: one-third don't in bathroom – The gender gap has widened when it comes to hygiene, according to the latest stakeout by the "hand-washing police. " One-third of men didn't.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003889812_dirtyhands18.html
Someone Tries to Sell Belgium on eBay – Hidden among the porcelain fox hounds and Burberry tablecloths on sale at eBay.be this week was an unusual item: "For Sale: Belgium, a Kingdom in three parts ... free premium: the king and his court (costs not included)."
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/09/18/international/i072241D19.DTL&feed=rss.news
Nebraska State Senator Sues God – The defendant in a state senator's lawsuit is accused of causing untold death and horror and threatening to cause more still. He can be sued in Douglas County, the legislator claims, because He's everywhere.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/17/AR2007091701500.html?nav=rss_politics
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
News Digest for September 17, 2007
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.
WORD OF THE DAY
Salubrious • \suh-LOO-bree-us\ • adjective – favorable to or promoting health or well-being
“C’mon dear, just take the spoonful of medicine like a good boy,” cooed Derwent’s mother. Even as a inarticulate child the boy knew that all salubrious brews smelled awful. “If only she’d give that dreck to me with a spoonful of sugar…the medicine would go down a lot better,” his inner voice intoned.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Test may map way for power project – On a larger scale; the test could lead to a new way to capture carbon dioxide that will play into where future power plants can be placed. A test that could be a key part of a $2 billion power project as well as a new tool to fight global warming may literally be going down early next year. (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2007/09/16/local_news/local03.txt
New York Subpoenas 5 Energy Companies – Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo of New York has opened an investigation of five large energy companies, questioning whether their plans to build coal-fired power plants pose undisclosed financial risks that their investors should know about. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/16/nyregion/16greenhouse.html?ex=1347595200&en=f8258946c5bd70b0&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Chelan County PUD surplus power sales double budgeted estimate – Public meetings focus on rate hikes, despite soaring revenues. Randy Lowe, executive manager of energy resources, reported that the PUD is having a good year so far in wholesale sales. (Leavenworth Echo)
http://www.leavenworthecho.com/main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=18
Buffett, Gates, Pickens May Profit From Texas Power Shortage – Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and Boone Pickens expect to profit from the rising electricity prices paid by the 23 million people of Texas. (Bloomberg News Service)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aq3kc7fAgq6k&refer=home
Commentary: Nuclear is risky; energy conservation is proven – From a limited perspective, it may appear that additional energy generation from nuclear power is necessary because of San Antonio's burgeoning population. (San Antonio Express-News)
http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/stories/MYSA091607.05H.nukecomment.21e1847.html
Public dollars at work – The man who oversees the Northwest's only nuclear plant is the Tri-Cities' best-paid public official. (Tri0City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/v-rss/story/9307934p-9222406c.html
Nuclear Jobs – The nation's largest federally-owned utility plans to go on a hiring binge. The Tennessee Valley Authority says that it likely needs to bring on thousands of employees to construct and operate a slew of nuclear power plants that may get built in the Southeast. (PowerMarketers Industry Publications)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8kowu%5D%5Cfiqpjpz%5BTif%27%40%3E%20bfem%5E%21
Alaska – Force utilities to cooperate, MEA requests. It's now or never for utility cooperatives between Homer and Fairbanks to combine generation plans and tie together South-central Alaska energy consumers, Matanuska Electric Association administrators say. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News via PowerMarketers.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CfiplntuYTkh%27%40%3E%20bfem%5Ev
Alaska – Tanana will experiment with conversion to propane. Tanana is teaming up with the state on an ambitious demonstration project to use propane from the North Slope for heating, hot water, electricity and more. (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/9301520p-9215991c.html
Douglas Dam keeps up with technology – From its beginnings powering the development of the atomic bomb to recent upgrades that help protect the environment and streamline energy production, Douglas Dam has a long history of innovation. (Mountain News)
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18823152&BRD=1211&PAG=461&dept_id=169689&rfi=6
News Release – LPPC calls for full review of wholesale competition in organized markets
Net consumer benefits must be Commission’s priority. “…Claiming that organized markets have resulted in a “substantial transfer of wealth from customers to the generation sector…” (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=73890
SITECRAFTING TO BUILD TACOMA PUBLIC UTILITIES’ WEB SITE – Tacoma Public Utilities recently announced it has awarded the redesign and development of its main Web site, plus sites for its three operating divisions — Tacoma Power, Tacoma Water and Tacoma Rail — to Tacoma-based SiteCrafting Inc. Plans include an updated design, and development of a robust platform and custom content management system for Tacoma Public Utilities. The project also includes an online permitting application that will allow the utility's business customers to view existing inspections related to permits they have applied for. Users will be able to request a change to or cancellation of an inspection appointment and request new inspections for existing permits. The four sites are scheduled to launch in February, with the online permitting application following. (South Sound Business Examiner)
Oregon – Economic developer to join Central Lincoln PUD management team (Newport News-Times)
http://www.newportnewstimes.com/articles/2007/09/14/news/news08.txt
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Salmon plan's critics locked on single issue – Critics of the latest salmon recovery plan instantly dismissed it as more of the same. The problem, of course, is that the proposal doesn't call for breaching dams, and anything less is anathema to these true believers. Their knee-jerk position, however, is scientifically suspect and politically futile. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/opinions/story/9310024p-9224496c.html
Salmon Spawn Baby Trout in Experiment – Papa salmon plus mama salmon equals ... baby trout? Japanese researchers put a new spin on surrogate parenting as they engineered one fish species to produce another, in a quest to preserve endangered fish. (The Associated Press)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iS0bkNVyP_1oJP3zej74PRJnsWAQ
Tough season for Columbia river tribal fishermen (KATU-TV, Portland)
http://www.katu.com/news/local/9815426.html
First big step in Elwha Dam removal taken – Federal, city and tribal officials marked the start of a project necessary for the planned removal of the Elwha River dams Friday. (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070916/NEWS/709160306
An 'Offal' Meal for Idaho Trout – Cow manure and fish guts and maggots. It could all soon be dinner - if you're an Idaho rainbow trout. (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-934251~An__Offal__Meal_for_Idaho_Trout.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
The Olympian Editorial – Capitol Lake study needs timely finish. The lake vs. estuary debate continues to divide this community as it has divided the committee assigned to decide whether to leave man-made Capitol Lake as it is, or remove the Fifth Avenue dam and let the lake revert to a marine estuary. "We've been dinking around with this for 10 years. It's time to get it done."
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/217213.html
Water issues separate cranberry growers, landowner – To cranberry growers, Johnson Creek's water gurgling from the hills through stands of alder trees and cranberry bogs on its short trip to the ocean is "liquid gold." (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-938043~Water_issues_separate_cranberry_growers__landowner.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Oregonians throwing away more than ever – Since Oregon passed the nation's first bottle bill in the early 1970s it has been touted as a leader in recycling. (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-938952~Oregonians_throwing_away_more_than_ever.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
RENEWABLEALTERNATIVE ENERGY
The renewable energy future – Wind farms and solar energy have great potential -- but there are still clouds on the horizon. (Los Angeles Times. And Robert Zimmerman gets another 25 cents)
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-ed-renewable17sep17,1,2388408.story?coll=la-news-comment&ctrack=1&cset=true
New York – Bidder has new interest in Long Island wind farm. Weeks after Long Island Power Authority chairman Kevin Law said he would terminate a planned 40-turbine wind farm off the South Shore, a second bidder for the project is expressing renewed interest in taking it on. (Newsday)
http://mobile.newsday.com/detail.jsp?key=68813&rc=business
Solar farm at sewage plant will be studied – Medford's City Council has approved exploring construction of a 15-acre, 11,000-panel solar farm at the regional sewage treatment plant. (The Associated Press)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/331971_solarfarm17.html?source=rss
The alternatives to alternative energy – Entrepreneurs look beyond solar and wind, to algae, giant kites, lightning (MSNBC)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20729466/
Ethanol sparks food fight between corn growers and buyers (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/331869_ethanoldivide17.html?source=rss
S.F. nonprofit's energy vision lights Nicaraguan villages' future – Wind, solar power sources provided free to remote areas (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/16/MNLRRUS15.DTL&feed=rss.news
CONSERVATION
San Francisco Chronicle Editorial – A bright way to cut energy. State energy regulators just issued a decision allowing commercial building owners to charge tenants based on the amount of electricity each tenant actually uses.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/09/17/EDRHS6GO0.DTL
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
The Olympian Editorial – Climate change event mishandled. Surely the Olympia City Council could have found a better use for the $25,000 they will spend to bring two environmental authors to town next month for a lecture on climate change.
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/217844.html
State's emissions measure faces federal challenge – Washington state's effort to help control global warming could suffer a serious setback later this year when federal regulators are expected to block new standards designed to reduce by nearly one-third greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/218609.html
Wenatchee World Editorial – Dreaming a carbon fantasy
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070914/OP02/109140003/1025/rss1025
One Answer to Global Warming: A New Tax (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/16/business/16view.html?ex=1347595200&en=c01f67013fa7eb6e&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Is California the world's last best hope against climate change? When it comes to energy, California has often been seen as the Promised Land. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/16/IN3ERM8TK.DTL&feed=rss.opinion
Evangelicals and environmentalists are surprising allies – Creation care divides evangelicals in Idaho and the nation, and a Boise congregation and its pastor are among those at the heart of the debate. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/eyepiece/story/160565.html
Canada – Fuel incentive fad is eco-foolish: “…What concerns me…is the way the provincial and federal governments pick winners and losers on my behalf in the name of waging war on global warming.” (Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=272f21f2-c817-44a0-966d-66bfdf2f27b2
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
EU Court Dismisses Microsoft Appeal, Upholds $613M Fine – A European court has dealt a major blow to Microsoft, upholding a lower court ruling that the company is an abusive monopoly out to bury the competition. (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/technology/14129898/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
Web 2.0 market may be slowing – There are some preliminary signs that investors in Web 2.0 startups may be taking a breather. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/331868_web17.html
Seattle Times Editorial – Free the Internet ...
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2003885124_netned16.html
Seattle Times Editorial... Build broadband: the Internet is an important conduit to commerce and innovation, a medium that has wildly exciting communication potential. Yet, the United States' paltry broadband network lags behind most of the industrialized world.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2003885128_broded16.html
Sharing could use community to provide free Wi-Fi – The recent collapse of San Francisco's plan to provide free Wi-Fi has spawned a new, community-based effort that could provide a model for other cities that have found themselves in the same situation. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/17/BUA4S6EB7.DTL
Cable vs. Satellite TV Slugfest – But Watch Out for Fiber Optic. While Cable and Satellite continue their battle in the ever-crowded race among TV service providers, the newest TV entrant – Fiber Optics – appears ready to come on strong. (Seeking Alpha)
http://seekingalpha.com/article/47138-cable-vs-satellite-tv-slugfest-but-watch-out-for-fiber-optic
Back to School: Reading, Writing and Internet Safety – As students return to school in Virginia, there's something new in their curriculum. Virginia is the first state to require public schools to teach Internet safety. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14427020&ft=1&f=3
GENERAL NEWS
Execs in scandal at Met Mortgage settle with SEC – Several key figures in the Metropolitan Mortgage & Securities accounting scandal have agreed to settle lawsuits filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003887992_metmortgage17.html?syndication=rss
Two Wash. murderers escape from prison (Townsend, 37, was convicted of arson and murder in the shooting death of Gerald Harkins in Mason County.) KOMO-TV, Seattle
http://www.komotv.com/news/9830167.html
FATAL CRASH ON HIGHWAY 3 – A Grapeview man died Sunday night in a single vehicle crash on Highway 3 south Allyn. According to the State Patrol, 43-year-old Edward L. Koller was southbound on SR-3 in a 1993 Chrysler LaBaron about 8:30pm. Near the intersection with Grapeview Loop Road North, the Chrysler crossed the northbound lane and left the roadway to the left, coming to rest on the northbound embankment about 20 feet from the highway. Koller was transported to Mason General Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Cause of the crash is under investigation. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
USA Today – At 25, ‘McPaper’ Is All Grown Up (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/17/business/media/17gannett.html?ex=1347681600&en=c4915eabb084a0e0&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
DIVERSIONS
Man in China dies after three-day Internet session – A Chinese man dropped dead after playing Internet games for three consecutive days, state media said on Monday, as China seeks to wean Internet addicts offline.
http://www.news.com/Man+in+China+dies+after+three-day+Internet+session/2100-1043_3-6208313.html?tag=fd_nbs_ent
Duck! Here comes Super Teacher! A Japanese teacher who threw a chair at his students was named "super teacher" by the local board of education
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUST13778120070917?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
"Dead" man wakes up under autopsy knife
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN149975820070917?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Baboon adopts chicken at zoo
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL147902220070917?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
WORD OF THE DAY
Salubrious • \suh-LOO-bree-us\ • adjective – favorable to or promoting health or well-being
“C’mon dear, just take the spoonful of medicine like a good boy,” cooed Derwent’s mother. Even as a inarticulate child the boy knew that all salubrious brews smelled awful. “If only she’d give that dreck to me with a spoonful of sugar…the medicine would go down a lot better,” his inner voice intoned.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Test may map way for power project – On a larger scale; the test could lead to a new way to capture carbon dioxide that will play into where future power plants can be placed. A test that could be a key part of a $2 billion power project as well as a new tool to fight global warming may literally be going down early next year. (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2007/09/16/local_news/local03.txt
New York Subpoenas 5 Energy Companies – Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo of New York has opened an investigation of five large energy companies, questioning whether their plans to build coal-fired power plants pose undisclosed financial risks that their investors should know about. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/16/nyregion/16greenhouse.html?ex=1347595200&en=f8258946c5bd70b0&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Chelan County PUD surplus power sales double budgeted estimate – Public meetings focus on rate hikes, despite soaring revenues. Randy Lowe, executive manager of energy resources, reported that the PUD is having a good year so far in wholesale sales. (Leavenworth Echo)
http://www.leavenworthecho.com/main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=18
Buffett, Gates, Pickens May Profit From Texas Power Shortage – Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and Boone Pickens expect to profit from the rising electricity prices paid by the 23 million people of Texas. (Bloomberg News Service)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aq3kc7fAgq6k&refer=home
Commentary: Nuclear is risky; energy conservation is proven – From a limited perspective, it may appear that additional energy generation from nuclear power is necessary because of San Antonio's burgeoning population. (San Antonio Express-News)
http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/stories/MYSA091607.05H.nukecomment.21e1847.html
Public dollars at work – The man who oversees the Northwest's only nuclear plant is the Tri-Cities' best-paid public official. (Tri0City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/v-rss/story/9307934p-9222406c.html
Nuclear Jobs – The nation's largest federally-owned utility plans to go on a hiring binge. The Tennessee Valley Authority says that it likely needs to bring on thousands of employees to construct and operate a slew of nuclear power plants that may get built in the Southeast. (PowerMarketers Industry Publications)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8kowu%5D%5Cfiqpjpz%5BTif%27%40%3E%20bfem%5E%21
Alaska – Force utilities to cooperate, MEA requests. It's now or never for utility cooperatives between Homer and Fairbanks to combine generation plans and tie together South-central Alaska energy consumers, Matanuska Electric Association administrators say. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News via PowerMarketers.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CfiplntuYTkh%27%40%3E%20bfem%5Ev
Alaska – Tanana will experiment with conversion to propane. Tanana is teaming up with the state on an ambitious demonstration project to use propane from the North Slope for heating, hot water, electricity and more. (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/9301520p-9215991c.html
Douglas Dam keeps up with technology – From its beginnings powering the development of the atomic bomb to recent upgrades that help protect the environment and streamline energy production, Douglas Dam has a long history of innovation. (Mountain News)
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18823152&BRD=1211&PAG=461&dept_id=169689&rfi=6
News Release – LPPC calls for full review of wholesale competition in organized markets
Net consumer benefits must be Commission’s priority. “…Claiming that organized markets have resulted in a “substantial transfer of wealth from customers to the generation sector…” (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=73890
SITECRAFTING TO BUILD TACOMA PUBLIC UTILITIES’ WEB SITE – Tacoma Public Utilities recently announced it has awarded the redesign and development of its main Web site, plus sites for its three operating divisions — Tacoma Power, Tacoma Water and Tacoma Rail — to Tacoma-based SiteCrafting Inc. Plans include an updated design, and development of a robust platform and custom content management system for Tacoma Public Utilities. The project also includes an online permitting application that will allow the utility's business customers to view existing inspections related to permits they have applied for. Users will be able to request a change to or cancellation of an inspection appointment and request new inspections for existing permits. The four sites are scheduled to launch in February, with the online permitting application following. (South Sound Business Examiner)
Oregon – Economic developer to join Central Lincoln PUD management team (Newport News-Times)
http://www.newportnewstimes.com/articles/2007/09/14/news/news08.txt
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Salmon plan's critics locked on single issue – Critics of the latest salmon recovery plan instantly dismissed it as more of the same. The problem, of course, is that the proposal doesn't call for breaching dams, and anything less is anathema to these true believers. Their knee-jerk position, however, is scientifically suspect and politically futile. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/opinions/story/9310024p-9224496c.html
Salmon Spawn Baby Trout in Experiment – Papa salmon plus mama salmon equals ... baby trout? Japanese researchers put a new spin on surrogate parenting as they engineered one fish species to produce another, in a quest to preserve endangered fish. (The Associated Press)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iS0bkNVyP_1oJP3zej74PRJnsWAQ
Tough season for Columbia river tribal fishermen (KATU-TV, Portland)
http://www.katu.com/news/local/9815426.html
First big step in Elwha Dam removal taken – Federal, city and tribal officials marked the start of a project necessary for the planned removal of the Elwha River dams Friday. (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070916/NEWS/709160306
An 'Offal' Meal for Idaho Trout – Cow manure and fish guts and maggots. It could all soon be dinner - if you're an Idaho rainbow trout. (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-934251~An__Offal__Meal_for_Idaho_Trout.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
The Olympian Editorial – Capitol Lake study needs timely finish. The lake vs. estuary debate continues to divide this community as it has divided the committee assigned to decide whether to leave man-made Capitol Lake as it is, or remove the Fifth Avenue dam and let the lake revert to a marine estuary. "We've been dinking around with this for 10 years. It's time to get it done."
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/217213.html
Water issues separate cranberry growers, landowner – To cranberry growers, Johnson Creek's water gurgling from the hills through stands of alder trees and cranberry bogs on its short trip to the ocean is "liquid gold." (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-938043~Water_issues_separate_cranberry_growers__landowner.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Oregonians throwing away more than ever – Since Oregon passed the nation's first bottle bill in the early 1970s it has been touted as a leader in recycling. (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-938952~Oregonians_throwing_away_more_than_ever.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
RENEWABLEALTERNATIVE ENERGY
The renewable energy future – Wind farms and solar energy have great potential -- but there are still clouds on the horizon. (Los Angeles Times. And Robert Zimmerman gets another 25 cents)
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-ed-renewable17sep17,1,2388408.story?coll=la-news-comment&ctrack=1&cset=true
New York – Bidder has new interest in Long Island wind farm. Weeks after Long Island Power Authority chairman Kevin Law said he would terminate a planned 40-turbine wind farm off the South Shore, a second bidder for the project is expressing renewed interest in taking it on. (Newsday)
http://mobile.newsday.com/detail.jsp?key=68813&rc=business
Solar farm at sewage plant will be studied – Medford's City Council has approved exploring construction of a 15-acre, 11,000-panel solar farm at the regional sewage treatment plant. (The Associated Press)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/331971_solarfarm17.html?source=rss
The alternatives to alternative energy – Entrepreneurs look beyond solar and wind, to algae, giant kites, lightning (MSNBC)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20729466/
Ethanol sparks food fight between corn growers and buyers (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/331869_ethanoldivide17.html?source=rss
S.F. nonprofit's energy vision lights Nicaraguan villages' future – Wind, solar power sources provided free to remote areas (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/16/MNLRRUS15.DTL&feed=rss.news
CONSERVATION
San Francisco Chronicle Editorial – A bright way to cut energy. State energy regulators just issued a decision allowing commercial building owners to charge tenants based on the amount of electricity each tenant actually uses.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/09/17/EDRHS6GO0.DTL
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
The Olympian Editorial – Climate change event mishandled. Surely the Olympia City Council could have found a better use for the $25,000 they will spend to bring two environmental authors to town next month for a lecture on climate change.
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/217844.html
State's emissions measure faces federal challenge – Washington state's effort to help control global warming could suffer a serious setback later this year when federal regulators are expected to block new standards designed to reduce by nearly one-third greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/218609.html
Wenatchee World Editorial – Dreaming a carbon fantasy
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070914/OP02/109140003/1025/rss1025
One Answer to Global Warming: A New Tax (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/16/business/16view.html?ex=1347595200&en=c01f67013fa7eb6e&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Is California the world's last best hope against climate change? When it comes to energy, California has often been seen as the Promised Land. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/16/IN3ERM8TK.DTL&feed=rss.opinion
Evangelicals and environmentalists are surprising allies – Creation care divides evangelicals in Idaho and the nation, and a Boise congregation and its pastor are among those at the heart of the debate. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/eyepiece/story/160565.html
Canada – Fuel incentive fad is eco-foolish: “…What concerns me…is the way the provincial and federal governments pick winners and losers on my behalf in the name of waging war on global warming.” (Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=272f21f2-c817-44a0-966d-66bfdf2f27b2
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
EU Court Dismisses Microsoft Appeal, Upholds $613M Fine – A European court has dealt a major blow to Microsoft, upholding a lower court ruling that the company is an abusive monopoly out to bury the competition. (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/technology/14129898/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
Web 2.0 market may be slowing – There are some preliminary signs that investors in Web 2.0 startups may be taking a breather. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/331868_web17.html
Seattle Times Editorial – Free the Internet ...
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2003885124_netned16.html
Seattle Times Editorial... Build broadband: the Internet is an important conduit to commerce and innovation, a medium that has wildly exciting communication potential. Yet, the United States' paltry broadband network lags behind most of the industrialized world.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2003885128_broded16.html
Sharing could use community to provide free Wi-Fi – The recent collapse of San Francisco's plan to provide free Wi-Fi has spawned a new, community-based effort that could provide a model for other cities that have found themselves in the same situation. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/17/BUA4S6EB7.DTL
Cable vs. Satellite TV Slugfest – But Watch Out for Fiber Optic. While Cable and Satellite continue their battle in the ever-crowded race among TV service providers, the newest TV entrant – Fiber Optics – appears ready to come on strong. (Seeking Alpha)
http://seekingalpha.com/article/47138-cable-vs-satellite-tv-slugfest-but-watch-out-for-fiber-optic
Back to School: Reading, Writing and Internet Safety – As students return to school in Virginia, there's something new in their curriculum. Virginia is the first state to require public schools to teach Internet safety. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14427020&ft=1&f=3
GENERAL NEWS
Execs in scandal at Met Mortgage settle with SEC – Several key figures in the Metropolitan Mortgage & Securities accounting scandal have agreed to settle lawsuits filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003887992_metmortgage17.html?syndication=rss
Two Wash. murderers escape from prison (Townsend, 37, was convicted of arson and murder in the shooting death of Gerald Harkins in Mason County.) KOMO-TV, Seattle
http://www.komotv.com/news/9830167.html
FATAL CRASH ON HIGHWAY 3 – A Grapeview man died Sunday night in a single vehicle crash on Highway 3 south Allyn. According to the State Patrol, 43-year-old Edward L. Koller was southbound on SR-3 in a 1993 Chrysler LaBaron about 8:30pm. Near the intersection with Grapeview Loop Road North, the Chrysler crossed the northbound lane and left the roadway to the left, coming to rest on the northbound embankment about 20 feet from the highway. Koller was transported to Mason General Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Cause of the crash is under investigation. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
USA Today – At 25, ‘McPaper’ Is All Grown Up (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/17/business/media/17gannett.html?ex=1347681600&en=c4915eabb084a0e0&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
DIVERSIONS
Man in China dies after three-day Internet session – A Chinese man dropped dead after playing Internet games for three consecutive days, state media said on Monday, as China seeks to wean Internet addicts offline.
http://www.news.com/Man+in+China+dies+after+three-day+Internet+session/2100-1043_3-6208313.html?tag=fd_nbs_ent
Duck! Here comes Super Teacher! A Japanese teacher who threw a chair at his students was named "super teacher" by the local board of education
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUST13778120070917?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
"Dead" man wakes up under autopsy knife
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN149975820070917?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Baboon adopts chicken at zoo
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL147902220070917?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Thursday, September 13, 2007
News Digest for September 13, 2007
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.
WORD OF THE DAY
Schmegegge • \skmuh-JEGG\ • noun – (Yiddish) baloney; hot air; nonsense; hokum, meaninglessness, nonsense, nonsensicality, bunk
“You little Mensch,” warbled the Rabbi to the trembling Hebrew school student. “Rosh Hashanah began at sundown last night. Anyone who says different is just spouting schmegegge”
You may also want to look up the word mensch. It’s easy and fun. Happy new year everybody!
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Power prices set to surge – From expensive construction costs to uncertainty over global warming laws, experts say electricity bills are only headed higher. (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/2007/09/11/news/economy/power_prices/index.htm?section=money_mostpopular
LEWIS COUNTY PUD LOAD GROWTH IS UP – Here’s another sign of Lewis County’s expansion. The demand for power is up sharply at the Lewis County PUD. The so-called “load growth” is up 10 percent. Local power providers describe that as “aggressive." The pervious year’s load growth was 6 percent. A large share of the growth comes from the Cardinal Glass plants. It’s also from the new I-5 retailers in Chehalis, and new housing. (KELA Radio, Centralia/Chehalis)
Oregon – Availability of power is Coos-Curry Electrical Cooperative’s biggest future issue. The biggest issue facing the CCEC in the years to come is not the building of the new transmission line to Brookings, nor who will be the next general manager, but something much more basic. (Curry County Reporter)
http://www.currycountyreporter.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=2905
Rural electric chief warns of energy challenges – A “perfect storm” is brewing, with the converging issues of climate change and growth in demand for electricity, the CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association said Wednesday in La Crosse. (La Crosse Tribune)
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2007/09/13/news/z14rceo13.txt
Clatskanie Prepares to Sell $19.5 Million in Bonds for System Expansion and Improvements (Clatskanie Chief)
http://www.stpns.net/view_article.html?articleId=53748672103255823
Okanogan – Fire burns in Manila Creek area of reservation. “…Fire officials are working with Ferry County PUD to shut down power to most of Keller as the fire is burning wooden power poles. The length of the outage is unknown. (Omak Chronicle)
http://www.omakchronicle.com/nws/n070912b.shtml
Hopes Dim for Measures to Conserve Energy – The prospect of a comprehensive energy package’s emerging from Congress this fall is rapidly receding, held up by technical hurdles and policy disputes between the House and the Senate and within the parties. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/13/washington/13energy.html?ex=1347336000&en=1d87ab359dda3a80&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
TVA readies petition for new type reactors – On the site of Alabama's biggest unfinished construction site, the Tennessee Valley Authority is developing plans for a new type of nuclear reactor it hopes will be cheaper and safer than those built in the 1970s. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News via PowerMarketers.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CfikgoonXTgd%27%40%3E%20bfem%5Ev
North Dakota – Carbon dioxide has become most profitable byproduct: Carbon dioxide once spewed freely from the metallic jumble of smokestacks and towers at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant. Now, almost seven years later, carbon dioxide is the most profitable of a lineup of byproducts sold to supplement revenues from the sale of synthetic natural gas. (The Forum)
http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=178061&forumcomm_check_return&freebie_check&CFID=53586288&CFTOKEN=55700986&jsessionid=8830220026d34d848347
New Orleans – Businessman Avoids Jail in Dispute With Utility. A Texas businessman avoided jail Wednesday in a dispute with Entergy, the Louisiana electric utility holding company, when a judge approved his letter of apology to the company’s chief executive. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/13/business/13pole.html?ex=1347336000&en=641a90d58dd03917&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Makah leaders apologize to federal officials – Leaders of the Makah Indian tribe were in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday and expressed regret to federal officials and members of Congress for the unauthorized killing of a gray whale off the coast of Washington state. (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/9747717.html
San Juan County strengthens orca protection laws (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_091207WAB_orca_ordinance_KS.c8849ee0.html
Craig's parting shot hurts NW salmon (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/331389_craigsalmon13.html
Dredging project at full throttle – A fleet of five dredges is scouring the Columbia River bottom in the biggest deployment of manpower since Congress authorized the long-sought project to deepen the river's channel for bigger, modern ships. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/09132007news196704.cfm
However…3-year effort to fortify jetties nears its end – A deeper upriver channel is useless if ships can't pass through the notoriously rough Columbia River bar. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/09132007news196731.cfm
Fishing – Salmon fishing options abound (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2003881931_fishing13.html
Prison's leak costs state $220,000 Agency will pay City of Monroe for 19 million gallons of water – The state Department of Corrections has agreed to pay the city for 19 million gallons of water lost through a leaky pipe at its prison complex. (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20070913/NEWS01/109130043
Groundbreaking set for Elwha water treatment plant (KONP Radio, Port Angeles)
http://www.konp.com/local/3089
Problem dams on the rise in US (Christian Science Monitor)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20070913/ts_csm/adam
Water bottle company uses Clallam County PUD well – The only water bottle company in Jefferson County that delivers to homes and businesses gets its water from a Clallam County Public Utility District well in Sequim.
http://www.ptleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=21&SubSectionID=21&ArticleID=18716&TM=35995.77
Washington State recycling plan could be poison for other countries (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/331364_computer12.html?source=rss
Ecology fines Manke Lumber Co. $16,000 – A Tacoma Tideflats sawmill and wood-pellet producer has been fined $16,000 for violations of its stormwater discharge permit, officials said. (The News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/154954.html
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Emerald People's Utility District `walks the talk' on solar – The shamrock-colored roof atop the EPUD headquarters just got a little greener. This even though 90 black panels - each 5 feet long - now obscure much of EPUD's green metal roof. (The Register-Guard)
http://www.registerguard.com/news/2007/09/12/b1.bz.epud.0912.p1.php?section=business
Discount retailer Costco making solar conversions – Costco is looking to turn Hawaiian sunshine into electricity in order to save on costs. (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/215979.html
CONSERVATION
How to build political backing for a better light bulb – It's a bright idea: Get one of the Senate's biggest skeptics of the causes of global warming to co-sponsor legislation that encourages conservation. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2003882080_bulb13.html
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Federal judge gives boost to states on limiting vehicle emissions (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/09/13/MNK2S4PLM.DTL
Olympia dips into coffers to bring high-profile warming experts to town “…The council will pay each speaker $12,500 — plus travel and lodging costs — from discretionary funds…” (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/216025.html
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Google in Oregon: Mother Nature Meets the Data Center (Information Week, thanks to the tip from John Bennett)
http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2007/08/google_in_orego.html;jsessionid=MUZLGMKHW0NEYQSNDLRSKH0CJUNN2JVN?queryText=google+is+building+data+centers
And here are the pictures of the mysterious “Google Complex” and its environs
http://www.informationweek.com/galleries/showGallery.jhtml;jsessionid=5YVE1EY4SE2HYQSNDLRSKH0CJUNN2JVN?galleryID=62&noCache=true
Qwest pulls bid to ease price rules – Qwest withdrew a petition with federal regulators late Tuesday that sought to ease restrictions on what the Baby Bell can charge competitors for access to its communications network. (Denver Post)
http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_6865782
Columnist Timothy Karr – Exposing the Justice Department's Hit Job against an Open Internet (The Huffington Post)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/timothy-karr/exposing-the-justice-depa_b_64170.html
At Home, Cheaper Alternatives to Office – In the workplace, Microsoft Office is as inevitable as drawn-out meetings and bad coffee. But Microsoft's combination of Word, Excel and PowerPoint is not the only way to write, crunch numbers or prepare slideshows. And for home users, it isn't even the best way anymore. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/12/AR2007091202268.html?nav=rss_technology
GENERAL NEWS
Man dies after falling almost 70 feet from tree in Spokane, WA (KREM-TV, Spokane via the Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP09132007news196525.cfm
DIVERSIONS
Can't quit chocolate? Don't fret, it's no addiction
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSGOR25158820070912
Surfer rescues dog swept off Mich. Pier
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070913/ap_on_fe_st/surfer_saves_dog;_ylt=AnRh2aIs.86O5IiqFcX8GlLtiBIF
Woman drives stolen car to courthouse
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070912/ap_on_fe_st/odd_stolen_car;_ylt=AnsBa08l01CxP8ywd0CDfpLtiBIF
Couple tries to name child '@'
http://www.cnn.com/2007/funnynews/08/16/strange.name.reut/index.html
WORD OF THE DAY
Schmegegge • \skmuh-JEGG\ • noun – (Yiddish) baloney; hot air; nonsense; hokum, meaninglessness, nonsense, nonsensicality, bunk
“You little Mensch,” warbled the Rabbi to the trembling Hebrew school student. “Rosh Hashanah began at sundown last night. Anyone who says different is just spouting schmegegge”
You may also want to look up the word mensch. It’s easy and fun. Happy new year everybody!
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Power prices set to surge – From expensive construction costs to uncertainty over global warming laws, experts say electricity bills are only headed higher. (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/2007/09/11/news/economy/power_prices/index.htm?section=money_mostpopular
LEWIS COUNTY PUD LOAD GROWTH IS UP – Here’s another sign of Lewis County’s expansion. The demand for power is up sharply at the Lewis County PUD. The so-called “load growth” is up 10 percent. Local power providers describe that as “aggressive." The pervious year’s load growth was 6 percent. A large share of the growth comes from the Cardinal Glass plants. It’s also from the new I-5 retailers in Chehalis, and new housing. (KELA Radio, Centralia/Chehalis)
Oregon – Availability of power is Coos-Curry Electrical Cooperative’s biggest future issue. The biggest issue facing the CCEC in the years to come is not the building of the new transmission line to Brookings, nor who will be the next general manager, but something much more basic. (Curry County Reporter)
http://www.currycountyreporter.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=2905
Rural electric chief warns of energy challenges – A “perfect storm” is brewing, with the converging issues of climate change and growth in demand for electricity, the CEO of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association said Wednesday in La Crosse. (La Crosse Tribune)
http://www.lacrossetribune.com/articles/2007/09/13/news/z14rceo13.txt
Clatskanie Prepares to Sell $19.5 Million in Bonds for System Expansion and Improvements (Clatskanie Chief)
http://www.stpns.net/view_article.html?articleId=53748672103255823
Okanogan – Fire burns in Manila Creek area of reservation. “…Fire officials are working with Ferry County PUD to shut down power to most of Keller as the fire is burning wooden power poles. The length of the outage is unknown. (Omak Chronicle)
http://www.omakchronicle.com/nws/n070912b.shtml
Hopes Dim for Measures to Conserve Energy – The prospect of a comprehensive energy package’s emerging from Congress this fall is rapidly receding, held up by technical hurdles and policy disputes between the House and the Senate and within the parties. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/13/washington/13energy.html?ex=1347336000&en=1d87ab359dda3a80&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
TVA readies petition for new type reactors – On the site of Alabama's biggest unfinished construction site, the Tennessee Valley Authority is developing plans for a new type of nuclear reactor it hopes will be cheaper and safer than those built in the 1970s. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News via PowerMarketers.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CfikgoonXTgd%27%40%3E%20bfem%5Ev
North Dakota – Carbon dioxide has become most profitable byproduct: Carbon dioxide once spewed freely from the metallic jumble of smokestacks and towers at the Great Plains Synfuels Plant. Now, almost seven years later, carbon dioxide is the most profitable of a lineup of byproducts sold to supplement revenues from the sale of synthetic natural gas. (The Forum)
http://www.in-forum.com/articles/index.cfm?id=178061&forumcomm_check_return&freebie_check&CFID=53586288&CFTOKEN=55700986&jsessionid=8830220026d34d848347
New Orleans – Businessman Avoids Jail in Dispute With Utility. A Texas businessman avoided jail Wednesday in a dispute with Entergy, the Louisiana electric utility holding company, when a judge approved his letter of apology to the company’s chief executive. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/13/business/13pole.html?ex=1347336000&en=641a90d58dd03917&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Makah leaders apologize to federal officials – Leaders of the Makah Indian tribe were in Washington, D.C., on Wednesday and expressed regret to federal officials and members of Congress for the unauthorized killing of a gray whale off the coast of Washington state. (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/9747717.html
San Juan County strengthens orca protection laws (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_091207WAB_orca_ordinance_KS.c8849ee0.html
Craig's parting shot hurts NW salmon (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/331389_craigsalmon13.html
Dredging project at full throttle – A fleet of five dredges is scouring the Columbia River bottom in the biggest deployment of manpower since Congress authorized the long-sought project to deepen the river's channel for bigger, modern ships. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/09132007news196704.cfm
However…3-year effort to fortify jetties nears its end – A deeper upriver channel is useless if ships can't pass through the notoriously rough Columbia River bar. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/09132007news196731.cfm
Fishing – Salmon fishing options abound (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2003881931_fishing13.html
Prison's leak costs state $220,000 Agency will pay City of Monroe for 19 million gallons of water – The state Department of Corrections has agreed to pay the city for 19 million gallons of water lost through a leaky pipe at its prison complex. (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20070913/NEWS01/109130043
Groundbreaking set for Elwha water treatment plant (KONP Radio, Port Angeles)
http://www.konp.com/local/3089
Problem dams on the rise in US (Christian Science Monitor)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20070913/ts_csm/adam
Water bottle company uses Clallam County PUD well – The only water bottle company in Jefferson County that delivers to homes and businesses gets its water from a Clallam County Public Utility District well in Sequim.
http://www.ptleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=21&SubSectionID=21&ArticleID=18716&TM=35995.77
Washington State recycling plan could be poison for other countries (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/331364_computer12.html?source=rss
Ecology fines Manke Lumber Co. $16,000 – A Tacoma Tideflats sawmill and wood-pellet producer has been fined $16,000 for violations of its stormwater discharge permit, officials said. (The News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/154954.html
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Emerald People's Utility District `walks the talk' on solar – The shamrock-colored roof atop the EPUD headquarters just got a little greener. This even though 90 black panels - each 5 feet long - now obscure much of EPUD's green metal roof. (The Register-Guard)
http://www.registerguard.com/news/2007/09/12/b1.bz.epud.0912.p1.php?section=business
Discount retailer Costco making solar conversions – Costco is looking to turn Hawaiian sunshine into electricity in order to save on costs. (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/215979.html
CONSERVATION
How to build political backing for a better light bulb – It's a bright idea: Get one of the Senate's biggest skeptics of the causes of global warming to co-sponsor legislation that encourages conservation. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2003882080_bulb13.html
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Federal judge gives boost to states on limiting vehicle emissions (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/09/13/MNK2S4PLM.DTL
Olympia dips into coffers to bring high-profile warming experts to town “…The council will pay each speaker $12,500 — plus travel and lodging costs — from discretionary funds…” (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/216025.html
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Google in Oregon: Mother Nature Meets the Data Center (Information Week, thanks to the tip from John Bennett)
http://www.informationweek.com/blog/main/archives/2007/08/google_in_orego.html;jsessionid=MUZLGMKHW0NEYQSNDLRSKH0CJUNN2JVN?queryText=google+is+building+data+centers
And here are the pictures of the mysterious “Google Complex” and its environs
http://www.informationweek.com/galleries/showGallery.jhtml;jsessionid=5YVE1EY4SE2HYQSNDLRSKH0CJUNN2JVN?galleryID=62&noCache=true
Qwest pulls bid to ease price rules – Qwest withdrew a petition with federal regulators late Tuesday that sought to ease restrictions on what the Baby Bell can charge competitors for access to its communications network. (Denver Post)
http://www.denverpost.com/headlines/ci_6865782
Columnist Timothy Karr – Exposing the Justice Department's Hit Job against an Open Internet (The Huffington Post)
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/timothy-karr/exposing-the-justice-depa_b_64170.html
At Home, Cheaper Alternatives to Office – In the workplace, Microsoft Office is as inevitable as drawn-out meetings and bad coffee. But Microsoft's combination of Word, Excel and PowerPoint is not the only way to write, crunch numbers or prepare slideshows. And for home users, it isn't even the best way anymore. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/12/AR2007091202268.html?nav=rss_technology
GENERAL NEWS
Man dies after falling almost 70 feet from tree in Spokane, WA (KREM-TV, Spokane via the Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP09132007news196525.cfm
DIVERSIONS
Can't quit chocolate? Don't fret, it's no addiction
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSGOR25158820070912
Surfer rescues dog swept off Mich. Pier
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070913/ap_on_fe_st/surfer_saves_dog;_ylt=AnRh2aIs.86O5IiqFcX8GlLtiBIF
Woman drives stolen car to courthouse
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070912/ap_on_fe_st/odd_stolen_car;_ylt=AnsBa08l01CxP8ywd0CDfpLtiBIF
Couple tries to name child '@'
http://www.cnn.com/2007/funnynews/08/16/strange.name.reut/index.html
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
News Digest for September 12, 2007
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.
WORD OF THE DAY
Sisyphean • \sis-uh-FEE-un\ • adjective – of or related to Sisyphus - a legendary king of Corinth condemned eternally to repeat the cycle of rolling a heavy rock up a hill in Hades only to have it roll down again as it nears the top
Unto the young Pat Wood the Sisyphean task of ramming electricity deregulation down the throats of unwilling states was given. In some remote and gullible lands, the daunting task of this errant knight was successful, but the results were horrendous. Like the multi-headed hydra confronted by Hercules in one of his 12 labors, Sir Wood found that his legacy may be more of a patch of thorns instead of a rose garden of delight. “Watch how you roll,” advised the sage Duke McCullough, “or the rock may roll over thee.”
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
2008 will be warmest in 100 years, Farmer's Almanac says – The Old Farmer's Almanac says it used time-honored, complex calculations to predict that 2008 will be the warmest year in a century, along with a bit of folklore — years that end in "8" have weird weather.
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20070912/NEWS02/109120036/-1/RSS01
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Montana – Great Falls coal plant to move forward. A proposed coal-fired power plant that would provide electricity for at least 60,000 people in central and south-central Montana doesn't need financing help from the city of Great Falls to succeed, its developer said this week. (The Missoulian)
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2007/09/12/news/local/news04.txt
TVA in good shape despite problems, CEO says – To provide electricity to its nearly 9 million customers, the Tennessee Valley Authority smashes atoms, burns coal and gas, and uses water. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News via PowerMarketers.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CfhrrpoqYTfc%27%40%3E%20bfem%5E%21
New Orleans – Businessman Ordered Jailed in Dispute with Utility. A judge ordered a businessman jailed Tuesday in an unusual case involving a corroded light pole, an injured street vendor and what the businessman calls a vindictive utility company. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/12/business/12pole.html?ex=1347249600&en=230c7dea251e43a9&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
San Francisco Chronicle Guest Commentary: Christine Todd Whitman – Nuclear energy needs to grow. Summer - a time for vacations, the beach, fun in the sun - and high electricity bills. “…Relative to other sources for electricity, nuclear power has the lowest production cost per kilowatt hour. The average fuel cost for nuclear plants last year was 0.45 cents/kwh, compared to 1.36 cents/kwh for coal and 3.44 cents/kwh for natural gas…”
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/09/12/EDJQS3523.DTL
Astorian Editorial – Is the fix in on LNG at Bradwood? It is time for Kulongoski and other coast governors to set a standard. You are not alone if you were surprised at the Clatsop County Planning Commission's favorable decision on NorthernStar's land-use application to build a liquefied natural gas terminal at Bradwood.
http://dailyastorian.info/main.asp?SectionID=23&SubSectionID=392&ArticleID=45153
Cowlitz PUD lowers rate for low income, disabled clients (The Daly News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/09/12/area_news/news07.txt
Minnesota – Utilities step up power shut-offs: Xcel, CenterPoint find more customers behind on their bills. After Ana Rodriguez lost her job in January, she had the electricity to her house in St. Paul's West Seventh Street neighborhood shut off by Xcel Energy, not once, not twice, but three times.
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CfhqpjhhRTfc%27%40%3E%20bfem%5E%21
Illinois – Ameren Customers to Receive Rebates (Forbes)
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/09/10/ap4099660.html
The Winner's Circle – Lobbyists are amassing on Capitol Hill. Energy legislation is pending. It's not just any bill. It's one that will touch every dimension of the sector from the greenies to the fossil fuel factions to the nuclear power sector. (EnergyBiz Insider via PowerMarketers.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8kowu%5D%5CfhqupovZTfc%27%40%3E%20bfem%5E%21
Tip-from Samuel Insull – A Rebuttal to Dr. Hogan: "Looking for the 'Voom’ – Earlier this year, Dr. William Hogan issued a paper on the regulation of wholesale electricity markets titled, "Acting in Time: Regulating Wholesale Electricity Markets". Mr. McCullough has written a rebuttal to Dr. Hogan's paper noting that the market set-up favored by Dr. Hogan will not reduce price volatility, and does little to encourage the investments needed to meet our nation's growing demand. (Links to PDF File)
http://www.mresearch.com/pdfs/326.pdf
Colorado – Burying lines could go to voters. Mayor John Hickenlooper is backing a plan to ask Denver voters next year whether or not they would pay to bury power lines that run through city parks. (Rocky Mountain News)
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5695125,00.html
Energy Pulse Commentary – Mega Hydraulic Storage for Future Power Generation
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1560
Started by faulty electrical work in home – A little extra something in the smoke at Oakland home fire. Firefighters battling a blaze at a home in the Oakland hills this morning discovered a marijuana-growing operation, authorities said. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/12/MNFOS3J6M.DTL
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Seattle Times guest columnist: Cathy McMorris Rodgers – Salmon and dams can coexist on the Snake River
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003879882_mcmorris12.html
News Release via KCBI, Boise – Congress Urged to Oppose Anti-Salmon Measure
http://www.2news.tv/news/local/9721292.html
British Columbia Hydro reservoir levels near all-time high – BC Hydro reservoir levels are at their fourth highest level on record thanks to this spring's unusually high snowpack. (Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=21c542c5-c66b-4549-8946-fd9d72983bb1&k=44625
California Officials Tackle a Toothy Lake Predator – For the last decade, California has waged a Sisyphean battle against the northern pike, a fish and a voracious eating machine. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/12/us/12pike.html?ex=1347249600&en=d770926bff423846&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Water Board Tours Fish Habitat Projects – Members of the Idaho Water Resource Board (IWRB) toured fish habitat projects in the Stanley Basin last Thursday during a work session prior to the Boards regularly scheduled meeting. (KBCI, Boise)
http://www.2news.tv/news/local/9732977.html
On the Washington Coast – Science: Effort to revive bird population blossoms (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/09102007news194982.cfm
Chelan County PUD looks to tap into new aquifer – The Chelan County PUD will study an aquifer near Beebe Bridge to see if it's large enough to help alleviate demand on the Wenatchee area's water supply. (The Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070911/NEWS04/709110329/1001/rss1001
Surprise offer for Lake Tapps – The cities of Auburn, Bonney Lake and Sumner are expected to submit a joint proposal to Puget Sound Energy today to buy Lake Tapps as a potential domestic water source. (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/153982.html
Consultant to study Hoquiam’s dam issue – The City Council approved $6,000 on Monday to hire a consultant in the city’s quest to bring down the Little Hoquiam River dam in the city’s watershed. (Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/09/11/local_news/08news.txt
Water crisis squeezes California's economy – A recent federal ruling to reduce the amount of water that flows through the delta is likely to boost food prices and trim jobs in agriculture. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0912/p02s01-ussc.html
Restoring original waterways – Nason Creek to flow into historic channel for first time in 50 years Restoring original waterways (The Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070911/NEWS04/709110331/1025/rss1025
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Massachusetts – More spin at Cape Wind hearing: No new ideas heard
http://www.townonline.com/barnstable/homepage/x1875627698
Arizona – County supervisors set to OK backyard wind towers. When William and Janeen Scharf sought permission to install a Southwest Windpower turbine at their Doney Park home this summer, a Coconino County board turned them down. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News via PowerMarketers.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CfhprmknUTfc%27%40%3E%20bfem%5E%21
CONSERVATION
Power companies get incentive to save kilowatts – “…three states are launching programs to conserve energy and curb global warming while preserving utility profits. Idaho has enacted the nation's boldest plan to encourage efficiency by guaranteeing that utilities won't sacrifice profits by sel ing less electricity…”
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CfhqnoqqYTfc%27%40%3E%20bfem%5E%21
Federal Efficiency Standards Result In Less Efficient Washers – As of January, the Department of Energy requires washer makers to use 21% less energy, but some makers are meeting the standards by decreasing how well their products actually wash clothes, according to Consumer Reports. (The Consumerist. Note: the comments section may contain PG-13 language)
http://consumerist.com/consumer/department-of-energy/federal-efficiency-standards-result-in-less-efficient-washers-298601.php
New Zealand – Government blasted over DIY 'death traps'. Aluminum foil stapled under the floors of houses as insulation could become a death trap and the Government has done little to warn of the dangers, says a coroner.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/sundaystartimes/auckland/4199279a6467.html
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Nevada regulators reject GHG emissions standard for power plants – Nevada regulators on Friday rejected a proposal to stop approving new coal-fired power plants and adopt a carbon dioxide emissions standard that essentially would bar conventional coal-fired plants from being built. (Platts News Service)
http://www.platts.com/Electric%20Power/News/6466093.xml?src=Electric%20Powerrssheadlines1
Climate Change's Great Divide – Lawmakers Favor Carbon Caps, Trading; Economists Prefer a Tax. The biggest political battle in Washington over climate change may not pit Democrats against Republicans. Instead, it could be economists versus politicians. (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118955082446224332.html
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Official: 'Massive' Damage to China from Hacking – Charge Seen as Response to Reports of Chinese Hacking in Western Countries (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/12/AR2007091200791.html?nav=rss_nation
Digital Voice: Whether You Want It or Not, It’s Comcastic! Consumers are up in arms about Comcast's latest innovation: Want It or Not Digital Voice. (Turn.Org)
http://www.turn.org/article.php?id=599
Congressional Research Service – The Transition to Digital Television: Is America Ready?
http://opencrs.com/document/RL34165
Internet Users Join Search for Steve Fossett – In Nevada, the search for missing aviator Steve Fossett goes on — and now thousands of amateurs are joining in from their desks. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14332329&ft=1&f=3
News Release – The Catch-22 of Powering Today's Corporate Data Centers – Consulting Firm Report Offers Multi-Pronged Route Away From the Power Drain (PR NewsWire via Yahoo News)
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070912/aqw145.html?.v=15
GENERAL NEWS
BRUSH FIRE IN DAYTON AREA – Fire crews remain on the scene of a brush fire in the Dayton area. According to the State Department of Natural Resources, the fire on Martin Road near Mill Five is contained and about 17 acres in size. Just about all fire departments in Mason County and the DNR responded to the blaze that was reported about 7:30 Tuesday night. The cause of the fire on Green Diamond Resource Company land is under investigation. Three engines, two tenders and three ten-person inmate crews from Mission Creek Corrections Center will be on the scene today. No other details are available. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Horizon Air cancels many flights – Horizon Air, one of the busiest carriers at Portland International Airport and other regional airports, is canceling more than 100 flights today to carry out emergency inspections of landing gear on many of its aircraft. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/09122007news196010.cfm
Feds tab I-5 as 'corridor of the future' – The U.S. Department of Transportation has named Interstate 5 as a "corridor of the future" and is providing millions of dollars to upgrade I-5 from Washington to California. (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2007/09/10/daily13.html?ana=from_rss
Case of the missing gift cards: Mail carrier is stung – A video and transmitter lead to a worker scheduled to plead guilty
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1189475714222580.xml&coll=7
Get healthy or else: More firms are imposing health surcharges on out-of-shape workers (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20070912/BIZ/109120015
DIVERSIONS
No clucking in Soap Lake – An ordinance to allow chickens in the city limits failed with a 2-5 vote during a Wednesday night Soap Lake City Council meeting. (But a huge Lava Lamp? You Bet!)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2007/09/11/news/news04.txt
(No prehensile toes yet!) UC to ask for removal of tree-sitters: University tells judge that the protesters have become dangerous – UC Berkeley will ask a judge today to order the removal of more than a dozen tree-sitters from an oak grove near Memorial Stadium. (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_6870399?source=rss&nclick_check=1
Bank robber uses own check in robbery
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070912/ap_on_fe_st/odd_bumbling_robber;_ylt=AlVmcFY4M.jfw9mpGReTn1vtiBIF
Mugger in Germany foiled by blind judo expert – A blind judo expert astounded a mugger by pinning him to the ground after he tried to steal his cigarettes
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/oukoe_uk_germany_blind;_ylt=As4pA8bgULMKujbPiZfFUl7tiBIF
WORD OF THE DAY
Sisyphean • \sis-uh-FEE-un\ • adjective – of or related to Sisyphus - a legendary king of Corinth condemned eternally to repeat the cycle of rolling a heavy rock up a hill in Hades only to have it roll down again as it nears the top
Unto the young Pat Wood the Sisyphean task of ramming electricity deregulation down the throats of unwilling states was given. In some remote and gullible lands, the daunting task of this errant knight was successful, but the results were horrendous. Like the multi-headed hydra confronted by Hercules in one of his 12 labors, Sir Wood found that his legacy may be more of a patch of thorns instead of a rose garden of delight. “Watch how you roll,” advised the sage Duke McCullough, “or the rock may roll over thee.”
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
2008 will be warmest in 100 years, Farmer's Almanac says – The Old Farmer's Almanac says it used time-honored, complex calculations to predict that 2008 will be the warmest year in a century, along with a bit of folklore — years that end in "8" have weird weather.
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20070912/NEWS02/109120036/-1/RSS01
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Montana – Great Falls coal plant to move forward. A proposed coal-fired power plant that would provide electricity for at least 60,000 people in central and south-central Montana doesn't need financing help from the city of Great Falls to succeed, its developer said this week. (The Missoulian)
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2007/09/12/news/local/news04.txt
TVA in good shape despite problems, CEO says – To provide electricity to its nearly 9 million customers, the Tennessee Valley Authority smashes atoms, burns coal and gas, and uses water. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News via PowerMarketers.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CfhrrpoqYTfc%27%40%3E%20bfem%5E%21
New Orleans – Businessman Ordered Jailed in Dispute with Utility. A judge ordered a businessman jailed Tuesday in an unusual case involving a corroded light pole, an injured street vendor and what the businessman calls a vindictive utility company. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/12/business/12pole.html?ex=1347249600&en=230c7dea251e43a9&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
San Francisco Chronicle Guest Commentary: Christine Todd Whitman – Nuclear energy needs to grow. Summer - a time for vacations, the beach, fun in the sun - and high electricity bills. “…Relative to other sources for electricity, nuclear power has the lowest production cost per kilowatt hour. The average fuel cost for nuclear plants last year was 0.45 cents/kwh, compared to 1.36 cents/kwh for coal and 3.44 cents/kwh for natural gas…”
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/09/12/EDJQS3523.DTL
Astorian Editorial – Is the fix in on LNG at Bradwood? It is time for Kulongoski and other coast governors to set a standard. You are not alone if you were surprised at the Clatsop County Planning Commission's favorable decision on NorthernStar's land-use application to build a liquefied natural gas terminal at Bradwood.
http://dailyastorian.info/main.asp?SectionID=23&SubSectionID=392&ArticleID=45153
Cowlitz PUD lowers rate for low income, disabled clients (The Daly News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/09/12/area_news/news07.txt
Minnesota – Utilities step up power shut-offs: Xcel, CenterPoint find more customers behind on their bills. After Ana Rodriguez lost her job in January, she had the electricity to her house in St. Paul's West Seventh Street neighborhood shut off by Xcel Energy, not once, not twice, but three times.
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CfhqpjhhRTfc%27%40%3E%20bfem%5E%21
Illinois – Ameren Customers to Receive Rebates (Forbes)
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2007/09/10/ap4099660.html
The Winner's Circle – Lobbyists are amassing on Capitol Hill. Energy legislation is pending. It's not just any bill. It's one that will touch every dimension of the sector from the greenies to the fossil fuel factions to the nuclear power sector. (EnergyBiz Insider via PowerMarketers.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8kowu%5D%5CfhqupovZTfc%27%40%3E%20bfem%5E%21
Tip-from Samuel Insull – A Rebuttal to Dr. Hogan: "Looking for the 'Voom’ – Earlier this year, Dr. William Hogan issued a paper on the regulation of wholesale electricity markets titled, "Acting in Time: Regulating Wholesale Electricity Markets". Mr. McCullough has written a rebuttal to Dr. Hogan's paper noting that the market set-up favored by Dr. Hogan will not reduce price volatility, and does little to encourage the investments needed to meet our nation's growing demand. (Links to PDF File)
http://www.mresearch.com/pdfs/326.pdf
Colorado – Burying lines could go to voters. Mayor John Hickenlooper is backing a plan to ask Denver voters next year whether or not they would pay to bury power lines that run through city parks. (Rocky Mountain News)
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_5695125,00.html
Energy Pulse Commentary – Mega Hydraulic Storage for Future Power Generation
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1560
Started by faulty electrical work in home – A little extra something in the smoke at Oakland home fire. Firefighters battling a blaze at a home in the Oakland hills this morning discovered a marijuana-growing operation, authorities said. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/12/MNFOS3J6M.DTL
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Seattle Times guest columnist: Cathy McMorris Rodgers – Salmon and dams can coexist on the Snake River
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003879882_mcmorris12.html
News Release via KCBI, Boise – Congress Urged to Oppose Anti-Salmon Measure
http://www.2news.tv/news/local/9721292.html
British Columbia Hydro reservoir levels near all-time high – BC Hydro reservoir levels are at their fourth highest level on record thanks to this spring's unusually high snowpack. (Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=21c542c5-c66b-4549-8946-fd9d72983bb1&k=44625
California Officials Tackle a Toothy Lake Predator – For the last decade, California has waged a Sisyphean battle against the northern pike, a fish and a voracious eating machine. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/12/us/12pike.html?ex=1347249600&en=d770926bff423846&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Water Board Tours Fish Habitat Projects – Members of the Idaho Water Resource Board (IWRB) toured fish habitat projects in the Stanley Basin last Thursday during a work session prior to the Boards regularly scheduled meeting. (KBCI, Boise)
http://www.2news.tv/news/local/9732977.html
On the Washington Coast – Science: Effort to revive bird population blossoms (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/09102007news194982.cfm
Chelan County PUD looks to tap into new aquifer – The Chelan County PUD will study an aquifer near Beebe Bridge to see if it's large enough to help alleviate demand on the Wenatchee area's water supply. (The Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070911/NEWS04/709110329/1001/rss1001
Surprise offer for Lake Tapps – The cities of Auburn, Bonney Lake and Sumner are expected to submit a joint proposal to Puget Sound Energy today to buy Lake Tapps as a potential domestic water source. (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/153982.html
Consultant to study Hoquiam’s dam issue – The City Council approved $6,000 on Monday to hire a consultant in the city’s quest to bring down the Little Hoquiam River dam in the city’s watershed. (Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/09/11/local_news/08news.txt
Water crisis squeezes California's economy – A recent federal ruling to reduce the amount of water that flows through the delta is likely to boost food prices and trim jobs in agriculture. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0912/p02s01-ussc.html
Restoring original waterways – Nason Creek to flow into historic channel for first time in 50 years Restoring original waterways (The Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070911/NEWS04/709110331/1025/rss1025
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Massachusetts – More spin at Cape Wind hearing: No new ideas heard
http://www.townonline.com/barnstable/homepage/x1875627698
Arizona – County supervisors set to OK backyard wind towers. When William and Janeen Scharf sought permission to install a Southwest Windpower turbine at their Doney Park home this summer, a Coconino County board turned them down. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News via PowerMarketers.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CfhprmknUTfc%27%40%3E%20bfem%5E%21
CONSERVATION
Power companies get incentive to save kilowatts – “…three states are launching programs to conserve energy and curb global warming while preserving utility profits. Idaho has enacted the nation's boldest plan to encourage efficiency by guaranteeing that utilities won't sacrifice profits by sel ing less electricity…”
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CfhqnoqqYTfc%27%40%3E%20bfem%5E%21
Federal Efficiency Standards Result In Less Efficient Washers – As of January, the Department of Energy requires washer makers to use 21% less energy, but some makers are meeting the standards by decreasing how well their products actually wash clothes, according to Consumer Reports. (The Consumerist. Note: the comments section may contain PG-13 language)
http://consumerist.com/consumer/department-of-energy/federal-efficiency-standards-result-in-less-efficient-washers-298601.php
New Zealand – Government blasted over DIY 'death traps'. Aluminum foil stapled under the floors of houses as insulation could become a death trap and the Government has done little to warn of the dangers, says a coroner.
http://www.stuff.co.nz/stuff/sundaystartimes/auckland/4199279a6467.html
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Nevada regulators reject GHG emissions standard for power plants – Nevada regulators on Friday rejected a proposal to stop approving new coal-fired power plants and adopt a carbon dioxide emissions standard that essentially would bar conventional coal-fired plants from being built. (Platts News Service)
http://www.platts.com/Electric%20Power/News/6466093.xml?src=Electric%20Powerrssheadlines1
Climate Change's Great Divide – Lawmakers Favor Carbon Caps, Trading; Economists Prefer a Tax. The biggest political battle in Washington over climate change may not pit Democrats against Republicans. Instead, it could be economists versus politicians. (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB118955082446224332.html
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Official: 'Massive' Damage to China from Hacking – Charge Seen as Response to Reports of Chinese Hacking in Western Countries (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/12/AR2007091200791.html?nav=rss_nation
Digital Voice: Whether You Want It or Not, It’s Comcastic! Consumers are up in arms about Comcast's latest innovation: Want It or Not Digital Voice. (Turn.Org)
http://www.turn.org/article.php?id=599
Congressional Research Service – The Transition to Digital Television: Is America Ready?
http://opencrs.com/document/RL34165
Internet Users Join Search for Steve Fossett – In Nevada, the search for missing aviator Steve Fossett goes on — and now thousands of amateurs are joining in from their desks. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14332329&ft=1&f=3
News Release – The Catch-22 of Powering Today's Corporate Data Centers – Consulting Firm Report Offers Multi-Pronged Route Away From the Power Drain (PR NewsWire via Yahoo News)
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/070912/aqw145.html?.v=15
GENERAL NEWS
BRUSH FIRE IN DAYTON AREA – Fire crews remain on the scene of a brush fire in the Dayton area. According to the State Department of Natural Resources, the fire on Martin Road near Mill Five is contained and about 17 acres in size. Just about all fire departments in Mason County and the DNR responded to the blaze that was reported about 7:30 Tuesday night. The cause of the fire on Green Diamond Resource Company land is under investigation. Three engines, two tenders and three ten-person inmate crews from Mission Creek Corrections Center will be on the scene today. No other details are available. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Horizon Air cancels many flights – Horizon Air, one of the busiest carriers at Portland International Airport and other regional airports, is canceling more than 100 flights today to carry out emergency inspections of landing gear on many of its aircraft. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/09122007news196010.cfm
Feds tab I-5 as 'corridor of the future' – The U.S. Department of Transportation has named Interstate 5 as a "corridor of the future" and is providing millions of dollars to upgrade I-5 from Washington to California. (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2007/09/10/daily13.html?ana=from_rss
Case of the missing gift cards: Mail carrier is stung – A video and transmitter lead to a worker scheduled to plead guilty
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1189475714222580.xml&coll=7
Get healthy or else: More firms are imposing health surcharges on out-of-shape workers (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20070912/BIZ/109120015
DIVERSIONS
No clucking in Soap Lake – An ordinance to allow chickens in the city limits failed with a 2-5 vote during a Wednesday night Soap Lake City Council meeting. (But a huge Lava Lamp? You Bet!)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2007/09/11/news/news04.txt
(No prehensile toes yet!) UC to ask for removal of tree-sitters: University tells judge that the protesters have become dangerous – UC Berkeley will ask a judge today to order the removal of more than a dozen tree-sitters from an oak grove near Memorial Stadium. (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_6870399?source=rss&nclick_check=1
Bank robber uses own check in robbery
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070912/ap_on_fe_st/odd_bumbling_robber;_ylt=AlVmcFY4M.jfw9mpGReTn1vtiBIF
Mugger in Germany foiled by blind judo expert – A blind judo expert astounded a mugger by pinning him to the ground after he tried to steal his cigarettes
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/oukoe_uk_germany_blind;_ylt=As4pA8bgULMKujbPiZfFUl7tiBIF
Tuesday, September 11, 2007
News Digest for September 11, 2007
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.
WORD OF THE DAY
Aplomb • \uh-PLAHM\ • noun – complete and confident composure or self-assurance: poise
Albert was amazed at the aplomb with which his professor withstood scathing questions from the skeptical students about his contention that the earth was flat, and balanced on the back of a large turtle named “Fred”. It wasn’t until halfway through the class that the reason for the professor’s imperturbability was known: he had fallen fast asleep, with both eyes wide open.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
MASON PUD 3 PIONEER SUBSTATION DE-ENERGIZED, POWER QUICKLY RESTORED – Mason County PUD No. 3 acted quickly to restore electricity to customers served by the Pioneer substation after a circuit switcher at the facility opened this morning. Approximately 5,800 customers were affected by the outage which occurred at about 10:00 a.m. Power was restored within 40 minutes. PUD 3 personnel are investigating the cause.
CHELAN COUNTY PUD RATES GOING UP – Chelan County PUD commissioners Monday approved a five percent increase for electric rates, a nine percent increase in water and sewer rates and increased the wholesale fiber-optic rates charged to service providers by two percent. The increases take effect January first of next year, and will be considered annually as part of the PUD budget. For the average residential PUD power customer, the increase means their electric bill will go up by three dollars a month. (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee)
Cowlitz County PUD embarks on $10 million meter project (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/09/11/area_news/news12.txt
Idaho Statesman Q&A – Newsmaker: Interest in nuclear power returns
http://www.idahostatesman.com/business/story/155371.html
Alaska – Rushing into coal: Borough right to scrutinize power plant plans. Matanuska Electric Association is eager to build a coal-fired power plant outside Palmer. (Anchorage Daily News)
http://www.adn.com/opinion/view/story/9292013p-9206498c.html
Iowa – 500 turn out for anti-power plant rally (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News via PowerMarketers.com – Even the “Punkinator” was there! “…a pressurized pumpkin-shooting cannon for the kids)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CfhospnuZTeb%27%40%3E%20bfem%5Ev
Los Angeles – Audit called for city's aging power system: Two Los Angeles city council members plan to ask their colleagues today to authorize an audit of the city's aging power system, which buckled because of prolonged air conditioning use during the recent heat wave. (Daily News Wire Services)
http://www.dailynews.com/ci_6861230?source=most_emailed
Canada – Thieves scale crane to steal copper wiring. Thieves have gone to great heights to steal copper wiring in Cape Breton. (CBC News)
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2007/09/11/copper-theft.html
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Makah on 'damage control' mission – Team heads to D.C. to talk about illegal gray whale hunt (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/331122_makah11.html
Skokomish River Delta – Dike Removal Project Frees Tides. Watching the salt water lap his shoes, Keith Dublanica, senior land planner for the Skokomish Tribe, decided it was time to move from the Skokomish River tidelands to higher ground Monday afternoon. (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/sep/10/moving-to-higher-ground/
Vote gives geoduck rules new life – A proposal to regulate geoduck farming along Pierce County shorelines was revived and reinforced Monday with the unanimous backing of a County Council committee. (The News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/153162.html
New Aquifer Planned For Kennewick (KNDO-TV, Tri Cities)
http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=7054645
Port Townsend City Council wants no part of county's proposed clean water district –Saying Jefferson County's clean water district fee proposal is financially flawed, the City Council on Monday night approved telling county commissioners that the city wants to opt out. (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070911/NEWS/709110304
Unknown Water Leak Leads To Big Bill – Chuck Willis, who lives on a lake near Duvall, says he and his wife are careful with water. They have water-saving toilets and appliances and have planted natural landscaping requiring little irrigation. So he thinks his latest water bill for $4,000 is all wet. (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/money/14085481/detail.html
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Gregoire's decision on wind farm coming soon – Gov. Chris Gregoire said this morning she plans to announce her decision about whether to permit the controversial Kittitas Valley Wind Power Project as soon as this week. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/blogs/mulick/v-rss/story/9292377p-9206882c.html
Utility Will Use Batteries to Store Wind Power – American Electric Power, a coal-burning utility company that is looking for ways to connect more wind power to its grid, plans to announce on Tuesday that it will install huge banks of high-technology batteries. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/11/business/11battery.html?ex=1347163200&en=ee88fae7cab8ea85&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Energy Pulse Commentary – Dispatchable Wind: Enabling Wind to Play a Mainstream Role in Power Production. The conventional wind industry has done a terrific job at reducing the cost of extracting energy out of the wind, but has not yet been able to shape wind power production to meet grid demands and secure a good price for its power.
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1556
Farmers tout alfalfa as fuel – Alfalfa producers throughout the country are bucking the notion that hay is for horses and hoping the ethanol industry will see that hay can provide horsepower as well. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/v-rss/story/9293795p-9208281c.html
Oregon – Lake County envisions renewal in renewable energy. Geothermal, biomass and solar could turn the ranching and timber area into a power exporter (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1189392919193610.xml&coll=7
Mass Marketing Solar to Colorado Residents – Metropolitan Denver and Boulder Home Depot's to offer complete, installed solar electric home power systems. (RenewableEnergyAccess.com)
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=49897&src=rss
CONSERVATION
Florida – Seminole schools power down on electricity for big savings. Seminole County schools usually like to be first in everything, but their leaders are unhappy with being ranked as the most power-hungry district in Central Florida. (Orlando Sentinel)
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/seminole/orl-cutcosts1107sep11,0,1628382.story
Energy efficient appliances should be made compulsory, says UN expert (International Herald-Tribune)
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/09/11/asia/AS-GEN-Malaysia-Climate-Change.php
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Climate-change paradox: Greenhouse gas is Big Oil boon – With enough CO2 injected into declining oil fields, the US could see its petroleum reserves quadruple. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0911/p03s03-wogi.html
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Broadcasters fight high-speed Internet transmission – Television broadcasters on Monday launched a Washington, D.C.-area advertising campaign to fight a technology-industry proposal to transmit high-speed Internet service over unused airwaves. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003878603_nettvfight11.html
GENERAL NEWS
State GOP Holds High Hopes for the 35th District (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/sep/10/state-gop-holds-high-hopes-for-the-35th-district/
Congressional Report Service – Older Workers: Employment and Retirement Trends
http://opencrs.com/document/RL30629
DIVERSIONS
Would-be Burglar Runs Off With No Loot, No Clothes
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14082977/detail.html
Teen's yearbook photo banned for flower (“props aren’t allowed”)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070911/ap_on_fe_st/odd_yearbook_photo;_ylt=AuQYUlp4N0OZD0yc7BN.8vztiBIF
Man charged after drive-through dispute
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070910/ap_on_fe_st/odd_fast_food_attack;_ylt=AnfLOQ2yyFdRoeeLRzNnLoPtiBIF
German town ditches traffic lights to cut accidents – A town council in Germany has decided the best way of improving road safety is to remove all traffic lights and stop signs downtown.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070910/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_germany_traffic;_ylt=AvHESv.DNmR1b0C.TauczkjtiBIF
WORD OF THE DAY
Aplomb • \uh-PLAHM\ • noun – complete and confident composure or self-assurance: poise
Albert was amazed at the aplomb with which his professor withstood scathing questions from the skeptical students about his contention that the earth was flat, and balanced on the back of a large turtle named “Fred”. It wasn’t until halfway through the class that the reason for the professor’s imperturbability was known: he had fallen fast asleep, with both eyes wide open.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
MASON PUD 3 PIONEER SUBSTATION DE-ENERGIZED, POWER QUICKLY RESTORED – Mason County PUD No. 3 acted quickly to restore electricity to customers served by the Pioneer substation after a circuit switcher at the facility opened this morning. Approximately 5,800 customers were affected by the outage which occurred at about 10:00 a.m. Power was restored within 40 minutes. PUD 3 personnel are investigating the cause.
CHELAN COUNTY PUD RATES GOING UP – Chelan County PUD commissioners Monday approved a five percent increase for electric rates, a nine percent increase in water and sewer rates and increased the wholesale fiber-optic rates charged to service providers by two percent. The increases take effect January first of next year, and will be considered annually as part of the PUD budget. For the average residential PUD power customer, the increase means their electric bill will go up by three dollars a month. (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee)
Cowlitz County PUD embarks on $10 million meter project (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/09/11/area_news/news12.txt
Idaho Statesman Q&A – Newsmaker: Interest in nuclear power returns
http://www.idahostatesman.com/business/story/155371.html
Alaska – Rushing into coal: Borough right to scrutinize power plant plans. Matanuska Electric Association is eager to build a coal-fired power plant outside Palmer. (Anchorage Daily News)
http://www.adn.com/opinion/view/story/9292013p-9206498c.html
Iowa – 500 turn out for anti-power plant rally (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News via PowerMarketers.com – Even the “Punkinator” was there! “…a pressurized pumpkin-shooting cannon for the kids)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CfhospnuZTeb%27%40%3E%20bfem%5Ev
Los Angeles – Audit called for city's aging power system: Two Los Angeles city council members plan to ask their colleagues today to authorize an audit of the city's aging power system, which buckled because of prolonged air conditioning use during the recent heat wave. (Daily News Wire Services)
http://www.dailynews.com/ci_6861230?source=most_emailed
Canada – Thieves scale crane to steal copper wiring. Thieves have gone to great heights to steal copper wiring in Cape Breton. (CBC News)
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/nova-scotia/story/2007/09/11/copper-theft.html
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Makah on 'damage control' mission – Team heads to D.C. to talk about illegal gray whale hunt (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/331122_makah11.html
Skokomish River Delta – Dike Removal Project Frees Tides. Watching the salt water lap his shoes, Keith Dublanica, senior land planner for the Skokomish Tribe, decided it was time to move from the Skokomish River tidelands to higher ground Monday afternoon. (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/sep/10/moving-to-higher-ground/
Vote gives geoduck rules new life – A proposal to regulate geoduck farming along Pierce County shorelines was revived and reinforced Monday with the unanimous backing of a County Council committee. (The News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/153162.html
New Aquifer Planned For Kennewick (KNDO-TV, Tri Cities)
http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=7054645
Port Townsend City Council wants no part of county's proposed clean water district –Saying Jefferson County's clean water district fee proposal is financially flawed, the City Council on Monday night approved telling county commissioners that the city wants to opt out. (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070911/NEWS/709110304
Unknown Water Leak Leads To Big Bill – Chuck Willis, who lives on a lake near Duvall, says he and his wife are careful with water. They have water-saving toilets and appliances and have planted natural landscaping requiring little irrigation. So he thinks his latest water bill for $4,000 is all wet. (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/money/14085481/detail.html
RENEWABLE ENERGY
Gregoire's decision on wind farm coming soon – Gov. Chris Gregoire said this morning she plans to announce her decision about whether to permit the controversial Kittitas Valley Wind Power Project as soon as this week. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/blogs/mulick/v-rss/story/9292377p-9206882c.html
Utility Will Use Batteries to Store Wind Power – American Electric Power, a coal-burning utility company that is looking for ways to connect more wind power to its grid, plans to announce on Tuesday that it will install huge banks of high-technology batteries. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/11/business/11battery.html?ex=1347163200&en=ee88fae7cab8ea85&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Energy Pulse Commentary – Dispatchable Wind: Enabling Wind to Play a Mainstream Role in Power Production. The conventional wind industry has done a terrific job at reducing the cost of extracting energy out of the wind, but has not yet been able to shape wind power production to meet grid demands and secure a good price for its power.
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1556
Farmers tout alfalfa as fuel – Alfalfa producers throughout the country are bucking the notion that hay is for horses and hoping the ethanol industry will see that hay can provide horsepower as well. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/v-rss/story/9293795p-9208281c.html
Oregon – Lake County envisions renewal in renewable energy. Geothermal, biomass and solar could turn the ranching and timber area into a power exporter (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1189392919193610.xml&coll=7
Mass Marketing Solar to Colorado Residents – Metropolitan Denver and Boulder Home Depot's to offer complete, installed solar electric home power systems. (RenewableEnergyAccess.com)
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=49897&src=rss
CONSERVATION
Florida – Seminole schools power down on electricity for big savings. Seminole County schools usually like to be first in everything, but their leaders are unhappy with being ranked as the most power-hungry district in Central Florida. (Orlando Sentinel)
http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/seminole/orl-cutcosts1107sep11,0,1628382.story
Energy efficient appliances should be made compulsory, says UN expert (International Herald-Tribune)
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/09/11/asia/AS-GEN-Malaysia-Climate-Change.php
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Climate-change paradox: Greenhouse gas is Big Oil boon – With enough CO2 injected into declining oil fields, the US could see its petroleum reserves quadruple. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0911/p03s03-wogi.html
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Broadcasters fight high-speed Internet transmission – Television broadcasters on Monday launched a Washington, D.C.-area advertising campaign to fight a technology-industry proposal to transmit high-speed Internet service over unused airwaves. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003878603_nettvfight11.html
GENERAL NEWS
State GOP Holds High Hopes for the 35th District (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/sep/10/state-gop-holds-high-hopes-for-the-35th-district/
Congressional Report Service – Older Workers: Employment and Retirement Trends
http://opencrs.com/document/RL30629
DIVERSIONS
Would-be Burglar Runs Off With No Loot, No Clothes
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14082977/detail.html
Teen's yearbook photo banned for flower (“props aren’t allowed”)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070911/ap_on_fe_st/odd_yearbook_photo;_ylt=AuQYUlp4N0OZD0yc7BN.8vztiBIF
Man charged after drive-through dispute
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070910/ap_on_fe_st/odd_fast_food_attack;_ylt=AnfLOQ2yyFdRoeeLRzNnLoPtiBIF
German town ditches traffic lights to cut accidents – A town council in Germany has decided the best way of improving road safety is to remove all traffic lights and stop signs downtown.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070910/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_germany_traffic;_ylt=AvHESv.DNmR1b0C.TauczkjtiBIF
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