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.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
-Disaster declarations bring federal help to flooded Washington
-Links to local papers in Grays Harbor and Lewis Counties
-Avista to pay fines for accident that left one dead
-Columbian Guest Op/Ed – Kalama plant neither coal nor defeated
-Pacific Gas & Electric vs. Bonneville Power Administration (BPA wins)
-Energy bill hits road bump in Senate
-NorthWestern Energy Announces Settlement Agreement With Montana Consumer Counsel
-Columbia River salmon plan isn't looking good
-Negotiating the Klamath – Settlement may in the air
-Salmon survival could be affected by storm damage
-Alaska salmon haul a season for the books: fourth-largest ever
-Clallam Public Utility District to hold meetings on water, sewer rate hikes
-Focus airborne soot rules on the source
-Alcoa's Wenatchee Smelter receives approval for renewable, hydropower supply agreement
-Efforts to Harvest Ocean’s Energy Open New Debate Front
-Wind power project good fit for Skamania, official says
-City of Olympia Nixes Free Wi-Fi
-Columbian Editorial – In our view: Fix flood problems or accept them
-Did development, logging set the stage for disaster?
-In Depth – We just keep rebuilding on valuable, unsafe land.
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Imprecate • \IM-prih-kayt\ • verb – to invoke evil on: curse
“Bubble, bubble, toilet trouble,” intoned the three witches over their steaming cauldron. They weren’t really evil, just annoying. They never did imprecate anyone seriously. The worst they ever did was to place a curse on the Coca Cola executive who thought coming up with a “new Coke” campaign was an outstanding idea.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
Disaster declarations bring federal help to flooded Washington – covers six counties so far -- Grays Harbor, Kitsap, Lewis, Mason, Pacific and Thurston. FEMA may help pay for emergency measures and debris removal. (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1096114~Disaster_declarations_bring_federal_help_to_flooded_Washington.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Link here to the Daily World in Aberdeen for Grays Harbor storm recovery news:
http://www.thedailyworld.com/local_news/
Link here to the Chronicle in Centralia for Lewis County storm recovery news:
http://www.chronline.com/index.php
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Avista to pay fines for accident that left one dead – Avista Utilities confirmed Thursday morning their plans to pay all fines associated with an accident at an Othello elementary school May 31. (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2007/12/07/news/news03.txt
Columbian Guest Op/Ed – Kalama plant neither coal nor defeated. If you read last week's guest column in this space you might think a coal plant at the Port of Kalama had been defeated; you would be wrong on both counts. (By Brad Peck, Energy Northwest)
http://www.columbian.com/opinion/news/2007/12/12092007_Kalama-plant-neither-coal-nor-defeated.cfm
Pacific Gas & Electric vs Bonneville Power Administration – Supreme Court turns down PG&E appeal: case that centers on whether federal energy regulators have authority over municipalities. (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/newstex/AFX-0013-21561224.htm
Energy bill hits road bump in Senate – Senate Democrats searched for a compromise on energy legislation as Republican leaders made clear Friday they will oppose oil industry taxes and a mandate for utilities to use more wind and solar-generated electricity. (Associated Press)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071208/ap_on_go_co/congress_energy_21
Senate To Rework Ambitious Energy Bill – Vehicle Fuel Efficiency Expected to Be the Focus (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/07/AR2007120700856.html?nav=rss_business
NY Times Commentary – Stuck on Coal, and Stuck for Words in a High-Tech World
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/04/science/earth/04comm.html?ex=1354424400&en=85825cd960dc6487&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
News Release – NorthWestern Energy Announces Settlement Agreement With Montana Consumer Counsel. Preliminary rate settlements reached in South Dakota and Nebraska (NorthWestern Energy, via Yahoo! Finance)
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/071207/aqf084.html?.v=16
Artists' suit against Snohomish police moved – A civil-rights lawsuit alleging Snohomish city police illegally detained an artist for photographing power lines has been moved to U.S. District Court in Seattle. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004055885_civilrights06m.html?syndication=rss
PJM opposes Duquesne Light pull out request (Pittsburgh Business Times)
http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2007/12/03/daily29.html?ana=from_rss
News Release – PPM Energy Completes Purchase of 506 MW Klamath Cogeneration Plant (PPM Energy, via Yahoo! Finance)
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/071205/20071205005988.html?.v=1
Fraud trial for ex-El Paso natural gas traders begins (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUKN0562476420071205?rpc=44
Wisconsin Supreme Court upholds nearly $533,000 award in stray voltage case. The court sustained the award to Marathon County dairy farmers who claimed a power company's stray voltage hurt their cows' milk production. (Associated Press, via the Capitol Times)
http://www.madison.com/tct/news/260679
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Judge: Columbia River salmon plan isn't looking good (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2007/12/12082007_Judge-Salmon-plan-isnt-looking-good.cfm/
Negotiating the Klamath – Farmers, fishermen, Native Americans and environmentalists could be near a breakthrough on talks about removing four Klamath River dams to restore salmon runs and water health (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/119709150477660.xml&coll=7
Fishing Salmon survival affected – While chances of going river fishing are pretty much washed out for at least a week, many are concerned about the long-term ramifications of young salmon survival due to the massive flooding. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2004055715_fish06.html
Alaska salmon haul a season for the books: fourth-largest ever – 2007: The catch has an estimated value of $374 million. (Anchorage Daily News)
http://www.adn.com/money/story/9510743p-9421489c.html
Kokanee salmon carcasses in Lake Stevens -- and environmentalists celebrate (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071206/NEWS01/712060047/-1/RSS01
Dams meet opposition – A water conservation coalition sent a letter Friday to the Washington State Legislature asking them to oppose new dams and support common-sense water solutions for the state’s Columbia River region. (The Othello Outlook)
http://othellooutlook.com/cgi-bin/outlook/get_story.cgi?story=Story_1&dir=12062007
American Indian artifacts found near Beebe Springs – Fish restoration, roadside park project put on hold (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071208/NEWS04/712080021/1001
Alcoa to clean PCB-tainted river shoreline – A PCB-tainted stretch of Columbia River shoreline will be cleaned to the highest level that's technically feasible, state regulators announced Thursday. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2007/12/12072007_Alcoa-to-clean-PCB-tainted-river-shoreline.cfm?newsletter=1
Clallam Public Utility District to hold meetings on water, sewer rate hikes – The public will have three chances next week to comment on water and sewer rate increases to be proposed by the Clallam County Public Utility District. (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20071208/NEWS/712080302
Low-flow toilets are next on the green agenda – New models boast a lot more flush (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/342867_toilets10.html
Focus airborne soot rules on the source – The state’s new attack on dangerous airborne soot has drawn far too large a target within Pierce County. (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/224754.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Alcoa's Wenatchee Smelter receives approval for renewable, hydropower supply agreement for 17 years (Trading Markets: underline added)
http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/894825/
Efforts to Harvest Ocean’s Energy Open New Debate Front (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/08/us/08waves.html?ex=1354770000&en=be88f93795deeed9&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Wind power project good fit for Skamania, official says (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2007/12/12092007_Wind-power-project-good-fit-for-Skamania-official-says.cfm
Branching Out – SDS Lumber Co. and Broughton Lumber Co. looking at wind power diversification (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2007/12/12092007_Branching-Out.cfm
Texas – Wind farm plan dropped; Gillespie residents cheer decision. NRG Energy has decided to abandon plans to build wind turbines in Gillespie County, a move hailed this week by county residents and local officials. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5ChgmokqqSSkiw11rbfem%5Ev
Giant offshore wind farms to supply half of UK power (London Times)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article3022277.ece
Renewable Energy Portfolios Standards and Transmission Reliability: Can Demand Response Be a Solution? (PowerMarketers Industry Publications)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8kowu%5D%5Chgmtwpq%5BSkiw11rbfem%5Ev
CONSERVATION
Maine: Students win state energy savings contest (Portland Press-Herald)
http://news.mainetoday.com/updates/019492.html
Hydro Quebec shelves smart meters – Hydro Quebec is backing away from a major government initiative that would have reduced electricity consumption in the province, CBC News has learned.
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2007/12/10/qc-hydrosmart1210.html
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Congressional Research Reports – State Greenhouse Gas Emissions: Comparison and Analysis (Once again, the Pacific Northwest comes out smelling great!)
http://opencrs.cdt.org/document/RL34272
Canada said to be Fort Knox of carbon – Boreal forests crucial as carbon storehouses, environmentalists say (Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=b55d3d7d-3cc5-4a58-b0f8-c7dd42e8b7ac
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Olympia nixes free Wi-Fi idea (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/294573.html
Cable to link Florence, Oregon and Alaska – Greater computer bandwith is headed to Florence but it may be awhile before locals have access to it. An Alaska telecommunications company has announced that it will run a fiber optic cable from the coastal town of Homer south to Oregon next year. (The Register-Guard)
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=31519&sid=2&fid=1
GENERAL NEWS
Columbian Editorial – In our view: Fix It or Accept It. This time, the parties must decide what, if anything, to do about flood problem
http://www.columbian.com/opinion/news/2007/12/12072007_In-our-view-Fix-It-or-Accept-It.cfm?newsletter=5
Did development, logging set the stage for disaster? (Seattle Times)
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=flood09m&date=20071209
In Depth – We just keep rebuilding on valuable, unsafe land. After the second catastrophic flood to hit the Northwest in 11 years, the communities of Tillamook and Chehalis, Wash., once again face the hazards of living and growing in the heart of a natural flood zone. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1197102325288610.xml&coll=7
View from Weyerhaeuser's chief economist (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/225515.html
Strow quitting Legislature – Rising Republican wants more time with family, less with politics (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/342819_legislator08.html?source=rss
Lobbyist corps, state reach agreement on rent – Washington's lobbyist corps has agreed to pay $7,000 in back rent at the Capitol out of $24,494 owed and will pay the remainder later. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/293738.html
DIVERSIONS
From the “more than one way to skin a cat” department – Flag Burning Nixed Because Of Air Pollution Concerns. The state is unlikely to grant a permit to a man who wants to burn a Mexican flag on the steps of the state Capitol, because of air pollution concerns.
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14801929/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
How Dictionaries Define Publicity: The Word of the Year (ed note: Locavore? Yeah. Right….)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/10/business/media/10oxford.html?ex=1354942800&en=4f48337195000101&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Business: The Lump of Coal Awards – A big helping of holiday jeers (My favorite is the “Happy Meal” month…open a $250 account and get a happy meal! Wheee!)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/09/BUSUTQA2M.DTL&feed=rss.business
Led Zeppelin to Return to Stage
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/12/10/entertainment/e043422S51.DTL&feed=rss.news
Monday, December 10, 2007
Friday, December 7, 2007
Energy News Digest for December 7, 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.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Mason County PUD No. 3 completes restoration of electricity to customers
- Grays Harbor PUD Power Outage Update
- Avista cited for Othello boom-truck death
- PacifiCorp labels coal a no-go for new plants
- Utility examines possible site for nuclear plant in SW Idaho
- $1 billion lawsuit claims Klamath dams produce hazardous waste
- EPA objects to parts of Spokane River draft sewage permits
- Wave Power: Balance fishing and renewable power needs
- Old wood stoves pumping out pollution along with heat
- Montana – 'Brownout' reduces energy consumption by 6.6 percent
- LED street lighting: the Light at Night Falls Bright
- Climate change could mean more massive downpours
- San Francisco mayor proposes 'carbon tax
- Comcast's shares take a battering
- Funding, feuding put Lewis County flood project on hold
- Trucks rolling on freeway
- 19 in WA town taken to hospital for carbon monoxide poisoning
- WA Board of Health recommends carbon monoxide detectors
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Aficionado • \uh-FISH-ee-uh-nah-doe\ • noun – a person who likes, knows about, and appreciates a usually fervently pursued interest or activity
“Hand me that set of pliers,” squealed Anthony. Being the foremost historical aficionado of Dolly Parton’s series sequined dress evolution he could not resist pulling some rhinestones from the rare “Porter Waggoner/Dolly Parton appearance” at the Grand Old Opry. His friend Ambrose, standing watch in the wax museum, was sure that ‘Tony’s interest in Dolly’s costumes was NOT related to their design or architecture.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
News Release – Mason County PUD No. 3 completes restoration of electricity to customers affected by December 3 storm (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/News/display.asp?NewsID=395
Shelton – KMAS Radio’s Extreme Weather Page (for extreme weather addicts)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/badweather.htm
Flood Damage Estimates in Millions (Kitsap Sun, includes Mason County Estimates)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2007/dec/06/flooding-damage-estimates-in-millions/
News Release – Grays Harbor PUD Power Outage Update (Grays Harbor County PUD)
https://www.ghpud.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=314&Itemid=150
Clallam County line crews helping in other parts of western Washington (KONP Radio, Port Angeles)
http://www.konp.com/local/3290
Here’s a link to the Daily News in Aberdeen – all storm, all the time
http://www.thedailyworld.com/local_news/
Here’s a link to the Chronicle in Centralia – Even more storm and flooding information, including I-5 conditions
http://www.chronline.com/index.php
News Release – BPA partnering with utilities to get lights back on (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/185379/
Avista cited for Othello boom-truck death – The state fined Avista Utilties for an incident when an Othello man fell to his death from a boom truck on May 31. (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2007/12/07/news/news02.txt
PacifiCorp labels coal a no-go for new plants – The utility says its long-range plans will look elsewhere for resources to generate electric power (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/119700331683500.xml&coll=7
Idaho – Utility examines possible site for nuclear plant in SW Idaho. A large utility is considering building its first nuclear power plant Payette County, northwest of Boise, a company official says. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/531/story/228682.html
Energy bill includes 4 years of timber payments to rural counties (Eugene Register Guard)
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WST_TIMBER_COUNTIES_OROL-?SITE=OREUG&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Artists' suit against Snohomish police moved – A civil-rights lawsuit alleging Snohomish city police illegally detained an artist for photographing power lines has been moved to U.S. District Court in Seattle. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004055885_civilrights06m.html
Maryland – PSC wants role in utilities: Senators are told that deregulation can't meet Md.'s power needs. Utility regulators yesterday presented lawmakers with a new model for electric regulation in Maryland, reinforcing the widespread view in Annapolis that competitive markets have failed to deliver benefits to consumers. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, via Power Marketers.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5ChgghhltYSjhw11rbfem%5Ev
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
$1 billion lawsuit claims Klamath dams produce hazardous waste (Eugene Register Guard)
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WST_KLAMATH_DAMS_OROL-?SITE=OREUG&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
EPA objects to parts of Spokane River draft sewage permits – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency objects to portions of draft sewage discharge permits that the state Department of Ecology issued for several cities and mills on the Spokane River. (Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP12072007news244026.cfm?newsletter=10
Oregon – State will investigate windsurfers' health issues. Officials hope to find answers after two decades of complaints along the Columbia River (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/11969133179330.xml&coll=7
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Columbian Editorial – In our view: Wave Power? Balance fishing and renewable power needs
http://www.columbian.com/opinion/news/2007/12/12042007_In-our-view-Wave-Power.cfm?newsletter=1
Old wood stoves pumping out pollution along with heat – Oregon links wood along with wind and solar energy as renewable energy because it avoids using oil, coal or natural gas, said Ann Grim of the Oregon Department of Energy. (Associated Press, via the Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1089184~Old_wood_stoves_pumping_out_pollution_along_with_heat.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Kansas – 1978 law at center of wind-power profit debate. Some of the state's top utility lawyers battled Wednesday over whether Westar Energy should get a chance to earn extra profit for adding wind power to the electric system that serves 674,000 customers. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, via Power Marketers.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5ChgiioxuVSjhw11rbfem%5Ev
CONSERVATION
Montana – 'Brownout' reduces energy consumption by 6.6 percent. The planned "Billings Brownout" Thursday evening reduced energy usage by about 6.6 percent according to NorthWestern Energy. (The Billings Gazette)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/12/07/news/local/23-brownout.txt
LED street lighting: the Light at Night Falls Bright – Welland, Ontario has launched the first phase of its LED lighting scheme and has installed 47 luminaires from Relume (LEDs Magazine)
http://www.ledsmagazine.com/news/4/12/10
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Climate change could mean more massive downpours – Record-setting storms like the one Sunday and Monday that flooded the Northwest could become more of the norm as climate change skews our region's rainfall patterns and leads to more of these massive deluges as compared to the typical drizzle. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/342268_stormwater05.html
San Francisco mayor proposes 'carbon tax' to curb global warming (Associated Press, via the Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1089505~San_Francisco_mayor_proposes__carbon_tax__to_curb_global_warming.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Comcast's shares take a battering – In a bad year for cable stocks, Comcast's fall has been downright ugly. (The Associated Press, via the Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1196908003154260.xml&coll=7
GENERAL NEWS
Funding, feuding put flood project on hold – When Washington lawmakers in 2003 approved an ambitious plan — the "nickel gas tax" package — to repair state highways, tucked inside was $30 million to help corral the Chehalis River. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004053251_stormnickel05m.html
Trucks rolling on freeway – If all goes as planned, the Washington state Department of Transportation will reopen Interstate 5 to passenger vehicles today. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/292841.html
19 in WA town taken to hospital for carbon monoxide poisoning – The Ocean Shores police chief says 19 people - 18 adults and one child - have been taken to a hospital for treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning after becoming sick at an IGA grocery store in the Washington coast town. (Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP12062007news243319.cfm?newsletter=10
WA Board of Health recommends carbon monoxide detectors (Associated Press, via the Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1092131~WA_Board_of_Health_recommends_carbon_monoxide_detectors.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Veteran Tri-Cities legislator hit with record ethics fine (Wow! Four-thousand bucks – The Associated Press, via the Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1089654~Veteran_Tri_Cities_legislator_hit_with_record_ethics_fine.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
(Includes Belfair Residents) Ten private investigators charged with illegal dirt-digging (Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP12072007news244027.cfm?newsletter=10
State-paid divorce lawyers not a right – People who are going through divorce proceedings do not have the right to a lawyer paid by the state, the state Supreme Court ruled on Thursday. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/342490_divorce07.html
Customers line up for tiny Smart car (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/motoring/2004053270_smartcar05.html
DIVERSIONS
Oh man! Grocery Store Issues Apology after Advertising Hams as Chanukah Food (um…pork products ARE NOT kosher foods)
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14799483/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000212072007&ts=H
Olympia Boy Wins $10k For Toy Roller Coaster Design
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14799617/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000212072007&ts=H
"Dead" canoeist's photo genuine, says wife – The wife of a man who was presumed to have drowned five years ago in a canoeing accident has told British newspapers that a photo of them taken together in Panama last year was genuine.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071206/od_nm/canoeist1_dc;_ylt=AkU8PO1vlFtDjNlf9OL10d7tiBIF
Bush says dial 1-800-OOPS for housing help – U.S. homeowners who could face crippling mortgage payments will have a hard time getting help if they call a telephone number President George W. Bush recommended on Thursday -- he gave them the wrong number.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071206/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_usa_subprime_bush_number;_ylt=AiPHXcrkQt8mT0qzL_A9TrXtiBIF
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Mason County PUD No. 3 completes restoration of electricity to customers
- Grays Harbor PUD Power Outage Update
- Avista cited for Othello boom-truck death
- PacifiCorp labels coal a no-go for new plants
- Utility examines possible site for nuclear plant in SW Idaho
- $1 billion lawsuit claims Klamath dams produce hazardous waste
- EPA objects to parts of Spokane River draft sewage permits
- Wave Power: Balance fishing and renewable power needs
- Old wood stoves pumping out pollution along with heat
- Montana – 'Brownout' reduces energy consumption by 6.6 percent
- LED street lighting: the Light at Night Falls Bright
- Climate change could mean more massive downpours
- San Francisco mayor proposes 'carbon tax
- Comcast's shares take a battering
- Funding, feuding put Lewis County flood project on hold
- Trucks rolling on freeway
- 19 in WA town taken to hospital for carbon monoxide poisoning
- WA Board of Health recommends carbon monoxide detectors
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Aficionado • \uh-FISH-ee-uh-nah-doe\ • noun – a person who likes, knows about, and appreciates a usually fervently pursued interest or activity
“Hand me that set of pliers,” squealed Anthony. Being the foremost historical aficionado of Dolly Parton’s series sequined dress evolution he could not resist pulling some rhinestones from the rare “Porter Waggoner/Dolly Parton appearance” at the Grand Old Opry. His friend Ambrose, standing watch in the wax museum, was sure that ‘Tony’s interest in Dolly’s costumes was NOT related to their design or architecture.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
News Release – Mason County PUD No. 3 completes restoration of electricity to customers affected by December 3 storm (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/News/display.asp?NewsID=395
Shelton – KMAS Radio’s Extreme Weather Page (for extreme weather addicts)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/badweather.htm
Flood Damage Estimates in Millions (Kitsap Sun, includes Mason County Estimates)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2007/dec/06/flooding-damage-estimates-in-millions/
News Release – Grays Harbor PUD Power Outage Update (Grays Harbor County PUD)
https://www.ghpud.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=314&Itemid=150
Clallam County line crews helping in other parts of western Washington (KONP Radio, Port Angeles)
http://www.konp.com/local/3290
Here’s a link to the Daily News in Aberdeen – all storm, all the time
http://www.thedailyworld.com/local_news/
Here’s a link to the Chronicle in Centralia – Even more storm and flooding information, including I-5 conditions
http://www.chronline.com/index.php
News Release – BPA partnering with utilities to get lights back on (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/185379/
Avista cited for Othello boom-truck death – The state fined Avista Utilties for an incident when an Othello man fell to his death from a boom truck on May 31. (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2007/12/07/news/news02.txt
PacifiCorp labels coal a no-go for new plants – The utility says its long-range plans will look elsewhere for resources to generate electric power (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/119700331683500.xml&coll=7
Idaho – Utility examines possible site for nuclear plant in SW Idaho. A large utility is considering building its first nuclear power plant Payette County, northwest of Boise, a company official says. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/531/story/228682.html
Energy bill includes 4 years of timber payments to rural counties (Eugene Register Guard)
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WST_TIMBER_COUNTIES_OROL-?SITE=OREUG&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
Artists' suit against Snohomish police moved – A civil-rights lawsuit alleging Snohomish city police illegally detained an artist for photographing power lines has been moved to U.S. District Court in Seattle. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004055885_civilrights06m.html
Maryland – PSC wants role in utilities: Senators are told that deregulation can't meet Md.'s power needs. Utility regulators yesterday presented lawmakers with a new model for electric regulation in Maryland, reinforcing the widespread view in Annapolis that competitive markets have failed to deliver benefits to consumers. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, via Power Marketers.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5ChgghhltYSjhw11rbfem%5Ev
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
$1 billion lawsuit claims Klamath dams produce hazardous waste (Eugene Register Guard)
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WST_KLAMATH_DAMS_OROL-?SITE=OREUG&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
EPA objects to parts of Spokane River draft sewage permits – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency objects to portions of draft sewage discharge permits that the state Department of Ecology issued for several cities and mills on the Spokane River. (Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP12072007news244026.cfm?newsletter=10
Oregon – State will investigate windsurfers' health issues. Officials hope to find answers after two decades of complaints along the Columbia River (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/11969133179330.xml&coll=7
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Columbian Editorial – In our view: Wave Power? Balance fishing and renewable power needs
http://www.columbian.com/opinion/news/2007/12/12042007_In-our-view-Wave-Power.cfm?newsletter=1
Old wood stoves pumping out pollution along with heat – Oregon links wood along with wind and solar energy as renewable energy because it avoids using oil, coal or natural gas, said Ann Grim of the Oregon Department of Energy. (Associated Press, via the Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1089184~Old_wood_stoves_pumping_out_pollution_along_with_heat.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Kansas – 1978 law at center of wind-power profit debate. Some of the state's top utility lawyers battled Wednesday over whether Westar Energy should get a chance to earn extra profit for adding wind power to the electric system that serves 674,000 customers. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, via Power Marketers.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5ChgiioxuVSjhw11rbfem%5Ev
CONSERVATION
Montana – 'Brownout' reduces energy consumption by 6.6 percent. The planned "Billings Brownout" Thursday evening reduced energy usage by about 6.6 percent according to NorthWestern Energy. (The Billings Gazette)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/12/07/news/local/23-brownout.txt
LED street lighting: the Light at Night Falls Bright – Welland, Ontario has launched the first phase of its LED lighting scheme and has installed 47 luminaires from Relume (LEDs Magazine)
http://www.ledsmagazine.com/news/4/12/10
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Climate change could mean more massive downpours – Record-setting storms like the one Sunday and Monday that flooded the Northwest could become more of the norm as climate change skews our region's rainfall patterns and leads to more of these massive deluges as compared to the typical drizzle. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/342268_stormwater05.html
San Francisco mayor proposes 'carbon tax' to curb global warming (Associated Press, via the Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1089505~San_Francisco_mayor_proposes__carbon_tax__to_curb_global_warming.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Comcast's shares take a battering – In a bad year for cable stocks, Comcast's fall has been downright ugly. (The Associated Press, via the Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1196908003154260.xml&coll=7
GENERAL NEWS
Funding, feuding put flood project on hold – When Washington lawmakers in 2003 approved an ambitious plan — the "nickel gas tax" package — to repair state highways, tucked inside was $30 million to help corral the Chehalis River. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004053251_stormnickel05m.html
Trucks rolling on freeway – If all goes as planned, the Washington state Department of Transportation will reopen Interstate 5 to passenger vehicles today. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/292841.html
19 in WA town taken to hospital for carbon monoxide poisoning – The Ocean Shores police chief says 19 people - 18 adults and one child - have been taken to a hospital for treatment of carbon monoxide poisoning after becoming sick at an IGA grocery store in the Washington coast town. (Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP12062007news243319.cfm?newsletter=10
WA Board of Health recommends carbon monoxide detectors (Associated Press, via the Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1092131~WA_Board_of_Health_recommends_carbon_monoxide_detectors.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Veteran Tri-Cities legislator hit with record ethics fine (Wow! Four-thousand bucks – The Associated Press, via the Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1089654~Veteran_Tri_Cities_legislator_hit_with_record_ethics_fine.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
(Includes Belfair Residents) Ten private investigators charged with illegal dirt-digging (Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP12072007news244027.cfm?newsletter=10
State-paid divorce lawyers not a right – People who are going through divorce proceedings do not have the right to a lawyer paid by the state, the state Supreme Court ruled on Thursday. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/342490_divorce07.html
Customers line up for tiny Smart car (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/motoring/2004053270_smartcar05.html
DIVERSIONS
Oh man! Grocery Store Issues Apology after Advertising Hams as Chanukah Food (um…pork products ARE NOT kosher foods)
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14799483/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000212072007&ts=H
Olympia Boy Wins $10k For Toy Roller Coaster Design
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14799617/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000212072007&ts=H
"Dead" canoeist's photo genuine, says wife – The wife of a man who was presumed to have drowned five years ago in a canoeing accident has told British newspapers that a photo of them taken together in Panama last year was genuine.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071206/od_nm/canoeist1_dc;_ylt=AkU8PO1vlFtDjNlf9OL10d7tiBIF
Bush says dial 1-800-OOPS for housing help – U.S. homeowners who could face crippling mortgage payments will have a hard time getting help if they call a telephone number President George W. Bush recommended on Thursday -- he gave them the wrong number.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071206/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_usa_subprime_bush_number;_ylt=AiPHXcrkQt8mT0qzL_A9TrXtiBIF
Tuesday, December 4, 2007
Energy News Digest for December 4, 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
Genius Loci • \JEEN-yus – LOW-sigh\ • noun – 1: the pervading spirit of a place 2: a tutelary deity of a place
Ambrose lazily swirled his plastic spoon in his nightly serving of “Pork and Beans”. Dreamily he reached out and touched the base of his chipped, plastic Porky Pig statue that had represented the Genius Loci of his family for over forty years. “Oh Porky,” he intoned. “Please don’t think any less of me when I say that I LOVE eating this little square of pork fat swimming at the top of my daily dose of high fiber beans.” Porky remained stoic, just as he had for many other house guests over the years.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
KMAS Radio’s “Extreme Weather” page. Includes road, power and weather updates (Shelton/Mason County)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/badweather.htm
Devastating Storm (That pretty much says it all for the coast – Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/12/03/local_news/001news.txt
Storm drenches region; rescuers "overwhelmed" – Efforts will resume today to rescue people from flood-stricken homes in Southwest Washington after Monday's regionwide storm killed two, severed major highways, isolated communities and closed scores of roads and businesses. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004051245_stormmainbar04.html
Wind, rain lash Pacific Northwest, then target Midwest (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/2007-12-03-northwest-storm_N.htm?csp=34
Flooding closes Interstate 5, isolates some communities - Showers expected to abate after tonight (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/289521.html
Thousands Stranded Due to North Mason Flooding (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/dec/04/thousands-stranded-due-to-north-mason-flooding/
Grays Harbor County cut off (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/289516.html
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
News Release – Mason County PUD No. 3 linemen joined by Peninsula Power & Light and Snohomish County PUD in power restoration efforts. Access to Lake Cushman hindered by Skokomish River flooding (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/News/display.asp?NewsID=384
Clallam County’s west end power out; isolated by road closures (KONP Radio, Port Angeles)
http://www.konp.com/local/3278
Douglas PUD budget anticipates no rate increase – Douglas County PUD commissioners have approved a 2008 budget that includes no rate increases and a slightly faster build-out of its fiber-optics network. (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071130/NEWS04/71130008/1025/rss1025
Chelan County PUD approves Alcoa power deal – PUD commissioners today approved a 17-year contract that Alcoa officials say will expand production, add 60 jobs and secure the future of the Wenatchee Works aluminum smelter. (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071203/NEWS04/71203017/1001
Gas, electrical bills could go up – Puget Sound Energy told state regulators Monday it wants to raise electrical rates 9.5 percent and natural gas rates 5.3 percent to pay for new generating capacity, energy supplies and pipes and wires needed to serve its growing customer base. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/342144_pugetenergy04.html
North Carolina – Duke Energy told to cut electricity rates. State regulators said today that Duke Energy must cut its electricity rates for North Carolina customers by 3.4 percent in January. (The News-Observer)
http://www.newsobserver.com/business/story/803297.html
Baltimore Sun Op/Ed – Reregulating power
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/bal-ed.psc03dec03,0,1861419.story?track=rss
Michigan – Keep clean coal plants for state's power needs. Michigan's energy needs and its business recruitment efforts will be harmed by environmentalists who continue tilting at windmills. They want to ban the construction of new coal plants in the state but haven't come up with legitimate alternatives. (The Detroit News)
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071202/OPINION01/712020301/1008
Failed Nevada Experimental Energy Plant Costs Millions (Canadian Business)
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/market_news/article.jsp?content=D8TA3NHG2
Buffett bets $2.1bn on utility sector (MSNBC)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22084799/
Arizona – Federal plan for transmission lines draws ire (The Business Journal of Phoenix)
http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2007/12/03/story9.html?ana=from_rss
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Endangered species questions expand – The Interior Department's inspector general will expand an investigation into the alleged political manipulation of decisions on 18 endangered species, including the northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet and bull trout. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/119648315871510.xml&coll=7
Coho still abundant in rivers; steelhead on their way (Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/11/30/this_day/doc47503724cfbaf534038781.txt
Another dismal season forecast for British Columbia salmon – Things are going from bad to worse for Pacific salmon.
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=df0c48b0-db3f-4bc4-a05d-efd12c54aead
Oregon – Trout back in Diamond Lake after tui chub poisoning. With Diamond Lake free of the invasive tui chub, fishermen say the trout they are catching are fatter and longer than they have been in decades. (Associated Press, via the Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1084489~Trout_back_in_Diamond_Lake_after_tui_chub_poisoning.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Ambitious wind farm idea pushes on in gorge – An energy developer from New York is moving forward with a project to build a gargantuan wind farm along the Columbia River in Gilliam and Morrow counties. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1196742332287410.xml&coll=7
Unfouling dirty garbage trucks – Portland-area governments are taking the first steps toward cleaning up old and dirty diesel engines, drafting new requirements that would cut the toxic particulates spewed into the air but also would raise garbage rates and contractor costs. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/119665233143050.xml&coll=7
As fuel prices rise, rural Alaska looks at alternative energy (Anchorage Daily News)
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/ap_alaska/story/9494111p-9405007c.html
Electric cars could act as batteries for the energy grid (New Scientist)
http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/energy-fuels/dn13000-electric-cars-could-act-as-batteries-for-the-energy-grid-.html
CONSERVATION
News Release – FERC Hydrokinetic Energy Project Policy Statement allows conditioned licensing – The policy statement covers projects that use currents, waves and tides to generate renewable electric energy. (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)
http://www.ferc.gov/news/news-releases/2007/2007-4/11-30-07.asp
Texas mayors promote fluorescents as 'state bulb' (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSEIC34772620071203?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Power firms accused of emissions trade cheating (The Guardian, United Kingdom)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/dec/03/climatechange.greenpolitics1
Should Couples Stay Together For Planet? Divorce Adds $6.9B In Energy Costs In U.S. A Year (Associated Press, Via KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/family/14763071/detail.html
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Google may bid to lose – Auction for wireless airwaves is next month (Bloomberg News, via the Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/342160_googleauction04.html?source=rss
DIVERSIONS
Thief hopes ironworkers don't find him
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071204/ap_on_fe_st/odd_funeral_thief;_ylt=Ap6yMi8KNSrgq9633DVd3GLtiBIF
Driver passes test, then hits building
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071204/ap_on_fe_st/odd_hit_the_wall;_ylt=Ai7ejZBn1Gg9NKJaNYjyyivtiBIF
China says moon pictures not faked from NASA – China has dismissed Internet gossip that its first photo of the moon taken from a lunar orbiter might have been plagiarized from NASA, local media said on Monday.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071203/od_nm/moon_dc;_ylt=Au6EZ9UqpO3Dggy79xCtBNvtiBIF
Man accused of stealing plane to impress – A man accused of stealing a twin-engine plane and driving it down the taxiway staged the stunt while he was drunk to impress his girlfriend, police said.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071204/ap_on_fe_st/stolen_plane;_ylt=ApLJ_0.l.vbgJi0db0Zx7jLtiBIF
"Naughty" nations in a coal lot of trouble in Bali
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071203/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_bali_award;_ylt=AkNILM3C1vGA_4I.FCVYoErtiBIF
WORD OF THE DAY
Genius Loci • \JEEN-yus – LOW-sigh\ • noun – 1: the pervading spirit of a place 2: a tutelary deity of a place
Ambrose lazily swirled his plastic spoon in his nightly serving of “Pork and Beans”. Dreamily he reached out and touched the base of his chipped, plastic Porky Pig statue that had represented the Genius Loci of his family for over forty years. “Oh Porky,” he intoned. “Please don’t think any less of me when I say that I LOVE eating this little square of pork fat swimming at the top of my daily dose of high fiber beans.” Porky remained stoic, just as he had for many other house guests over the years.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
KMAS Radio’s “Extreme Weather” page. Includes road, power and weather updates (Shelton/Mason County)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/badweather.htm
Devastating Storm (That pretty much says it all for the coast – Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/12/03/local_news/001news.txt
Storm drenches region; rescuers "overwhelmed" – Efforts will resume today to rescue people from flood-stricken homes in Southwest Washington after Monday's regionwide storm killed two, severed major highways, isolated communities and closed scores of roads and businesses. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004051245_stormmainbar04.html
Wind, rain lash Pacific Northwest, then target Midwest (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/2007-12-03-northwest-storm_N.htm?csp=34
Flooding closes Interstate 5, isolates some communities - Showers expected to abate after tonight (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/289521.html
Thousands Stranded Due to North Mason Flooding (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/dec/04/thousands-stranded-due-to-north-mason-flooding/
Grays Harbor County cut off (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/289516.html
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
News Release – Mason County PUD No. 3 linemen joined by Peninsula Power & Light and Snohomish County PUD in power restoration efforts. Access to Lake Cushman hindered by Skokomish River flooding (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/News/display.asp?NewsID=384
Clallam County’s west end power out; isolated by road closures (KONP Radio, Port Angeles)
http://www.konp.com/local/3278
Douglas PUD budget anticipates no rate increase – Douglas County PUD commissioners have approved a 2008 budget that includes no rate increases and a slightly faster build-out of its fiber-optics network. (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071130/NEWS04/71130008/1025/rss1025
Chelan County PUD approves Alcoa power deal – PUD commissioners today approved a 17-year contract that Alcoa officials say will expand production, add 60 jobs and secure the future of the Wenatchee Works aluminum smelter. (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071203/NEWS04/71203017/1001
Gas, electrical bills could go up – Puget Sound Energy told state regulators Monday it wants to raise electrical rates 9.5 percent and natural gas rates 5.3 percent to pay for new generating capacity, energy supplies and pipes and wires needed to serve its growing customer base. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/342144_pugetenergy04.html
North Carolina – Duke Energy told to cut electricity rates. State regulators said today that Duke Energy must cut its electricity rates for North Carolina customers by 3.4 percent in January. (The News-Observer)
http://www.newsobserver.com/business/story/803297.html
Baltimore Sun Op/Ed – Reregulating power
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/bal-ed.psc03dec03,0,1861419.story?track=rss
Michigan – Keep clean coal plants for state's power needs. Michigan's energy needs and its business recruitment efforts will be harmed by environmentalists who continue tilting at windmills. They want to ban the construction of new coal plants in the state but haven't come up with legitimate alternatives. (The Detroit News)
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071202/OPINION01/712020301/1008
Failed Nevada Experimental Energy Plant Costs Millions (Canadian Business)
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/market_news/article.jsp?content=D8TA3NHG2
Buffett bets $2.1bn on utility sector (MSNBC)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22084799/
Arizona – Federal plan for transmission lines draws ire (The Business Journal of Phoenix)
http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2007/12/03/story9.html?ana=from_rss
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Endangered species questions expand – The Interior Department's inspector general will expand an investigation into the alleged political manipulation of decisions on 18 endangered species, including the northern spotted owl, marbled murrelet and bull trout. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/119648315871510.xml&coll=7
Coho still abundant in rivers; steelhead on their way (Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/11/30/this_day/doc47503724cfbaf534038781.txt
Another dismal season forecast for British Columbia salmon – Things are going from bad to worse for Pacific salmon.
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=df0c48b0-db3f-4bc4-a05d-efd12c54aead
Oregon – Trout back in Diamond Lake after tui chub poisoning. With Diamond Lake free of the invasive tui chub, fishermen say the trout they are catching are fatter and longer than they have been in decades. (Associated Press, via the Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1084489~Trout_back_in_Diamond_Lake_after_tui_chub_poisoning.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Ambitious wind farm idea pushes on in gorge – An energy developer from New York is moving forward with a project to build a gargantuan wind farm along the Columbia River in Gilliam and Morrow counties. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1196742332287410.xml&coll=7
Unfouling dirty garbage trucks – Portland-area governments are taking the first steps toward cleaning up old and dirty diesel engines, drafting new requirements that would cut the toxic particulates spewed into the air but also would raise garbage rates and contractor costs. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/119665233143050.xml&coll=7
As fuel prices rise, rural Alaska looks at alternative energy (Anchorage Daily News)
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/ap_alaska/story/9494111p-9405007c.html
Electric cars could act as batteries for the energy grid (New Scientist)
http://environment.newscientist.com/channel/earth/energy-fuels/dn13000-electric-cars-could-act-as-batteries-for-the-energy-grid-.html
CONSERVATION
News Release – FERC Hydrokinetic Energy Project Policy Statement allows conditioned licensing – The policy statement covers projects that use currents, waves and tides to generate renewable electric energy. (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)
http://www.ferc.gov/news/news-releases/2007/2007-4/11-30-07.asp
Texas mayors promote fluorescents as 'state bulb' (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSEIC34772620071203?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Power firms accused of emissions trade cheating (The Guardian, United Kingdom)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2007/dec/03/climatechange.greenpolitics1
Should Couples Stay Together For Planet? Divorce Adds $6.9B In Energy Costs In U.S. A Year (Associated Press, Via KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/family/14763071/detail.html
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Google may bid to lose – Auction for wireless airwaves is next month (Bloomberg News, via the Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/342160_googleauction04.html?source=rss
DIVERSIONS
Thief hopes ironworkers don't find him
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071204/ap_on_fe_st/odd_funeral_thief;_ylt=Ap6yMi8KNSrgq9633DVd3GLtiBIF
Driver passes test, then hits building
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071204/ap_on_fe_st/odd_hit_the_wall;_ylt=Ai7ejZBn1Gg9NKJaNYjyyivtiBIF
China says moon pictures not faked from NASA – China has dismissed Internet gossip that its first photo of the moon taken from a lunar orbiter might have been plagiarized from NASA, local media said on Monday.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071203/od_nm/moon_dc;_ylt=Au6EZ9UqpO3Dggy79xCtBNvtiBIF
Man accused of stealing plane to impress – A man accused of stealing a twin-engine plane and driving it down the taxiway staged the stunt while he was drunk to impress his girlfriend, police said.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071204/ap_on_fe_st/stolen_plane;_ylt=ApLJ_0.l.vbgJi0db0Zx7jLtiBIF
"Naughty" nations in a coal lot of trouble in Bali
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071203/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_bali_award;_ylt=AkNILM3C1vGA_4I.FCVYoErtiBIF
Friday, November 30, 2007
Energy News Digest for November 30, 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.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Possible Wild Weather in Store for Puget Sound
- Deal lined up for BPA payments (Oh, Really?)
- TransAlta sees big future in 'carbon-neutral' energy
- Oregon governor says he is open to LNG plants
- Tennessee Valley Authority Gives CEO $1M Pay Raise
- Lance Dickie, Seattle Times editorial columnist – Fish and dams: Tell it to the judge.
- Kitsap Sun Op/Ed Page – SALMON: Don't Remove Dams, Kill Birds
- Seattle P-I Dateline Earth – Top chefs want NW salmon saved for diners
- Lower Columbia sturgeon appear on downward trend
- Columbian Editorial – In our view: Pesky Parakeets.
- Idaho water hearings begin with trout farm complaints
- Oil company BP pleads guilty to environmental crime
- Clark County might enter wind power market
- Ethanol Craze Cools
- Ethanol Producers Combine as Price Drop Hits Corn Belt
- 150 Global Firms Seek Mandatory Cuts in Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Eco-Friendly Product Claims Often Misleading
- Illinois – $25 million network to aid rural hospitals
- Colorado – Denver International Airport sets Wi-Fi free.
- New Hampshire – Economic panel concerned with Verizon sale.
- Lawmakers restore 1% property tax cap
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Lares and Penates • \LAIR-eez-end-puh-NAY-teez\ • noun – 1: household gods *2: personal or household effects
“The Italian family down the street returned to the ‘old country’ two years ago,” mused Donald. “Who can forget all the stuff that was in the house? Lares and Penates they called it when they rolled out their house wares at the moving sale. Funny sounding name for a bunch of bric-a-brac.”
Did you know? The phrase "lares and penates" is at home in the elevated writings of scholars. A classicist could tell you that Lares and Penates were Roman gods once worshipped as guardians of the household, and an avid Walpolian might be able to tell you that his or her favorite author (Horace Walpole) is credited with first domesticating the phrase to refer to a person's possessions. In the centuries since Walpole used "lares and penates" in a 1775 letter to the English poet William Mason, the phrase has become solidly established in the English language, and it continues to be used by authors and journalists today.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
Possible Wild Weather in Store for Puget Sound This Weekend – Kitsap County and the surrounding areas could be hit with anything from snow to heavy rain to strong winds this weekend through Monday, according to forecasters who are warily eyeing an approaching combination of weather systems. (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/nov/29/possible-wild-weather-store-puget-sound-weekend/
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Deal lined up for BPA payments – A tentative deal has been reached that would restore Bonneville Power Administration payments to private utilities, including Puget Sound Energy, for a share of the region's low-cost hydropower. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/285748.html
Smells like a news release to me – BRIEF: Idaho Power rates are among the lowest in the U.S. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, via Power Markets Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5ChekmmvwXUok%22EN%26bfem%5Ev
TransAlta sees big future in 'carbon-neutral' energy (London Free Press)
http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Business/2007/11/29/4694004-sun.html
Oregon governor says he is open to LNG plants – Gov. Ted Kulongoski is open to the idea of liquefied natural gas terminals, but he has told state agencies to "fully assert Oregon's concerns and interests" as they are considered, according to a memo to state agency directors (Ashland Daily Tidings, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1076256~Oregon_governor_says_he_is_open_to_LNG_plants.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
HELP WITH HEATING FROM MASON COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT TWO – Mason County Fire District Two wants everyone to be warm and safe this winter. With the high cost of fuel, people with limited income may have difficulty keeping their homes warm. According to Fire District Two's Public Educator, Ryan Cloud, there is help available: the National Fuel Funds Network. The National Fuel Funds Network is a broad-based organization dedicated to increasing resources to meet the energy needs of financially struggling residents across the country. It consists of more than 300 non-profit organizations, government agencies and utilities that raise and distribute more than $100 million annually in charitably-donated home energy assistance for families in need. George Coling who directs the National Fuel Funds Organization says that the support of the network comes through private donations. Fuel funds can fill in the gap if a family has used up federal assistance, but faces a shut-off of their electricity. In some cases this assistance can pay a past-due bill or give a client an energy credit that lasts one month, or longer, if that is what is necessary to keep the lights on and the heater running. To find out more about the National Fuel Funds Network, call 1-202-824-0660 or click on their website, www.nationalfuelfund.org. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Mason County PUD No. 3 Project Share (energy bill assistance for low-income customers) information can be found here:http://www.masonpud3.org/Customer/Projectshare.asp
Tennessee Valley Authority Gives CEO $1M Pay Raise – TVA Gives CEO $1M Pay Raise to Reach $2.7M Total Compensation (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/apwire/7275378d591a23698c091adcfefaa47d.htm
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Lance Dickie, Seattle Times editorial columnist – Fish and dams: Tell it to the judge. Federal authorities would rather tug on Superman's cape than muss the robes of U.S. District Judge James Redden.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2004043226_lance30.html
Kitsap Sun Op/Ed Page – SALMON: Don't Remove Dams, Kill Birds (May require free registration)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2007/nov/30/salmon-dont-remove-dams-kill-birds/
Seattle P-I Dateline Earth – Top chefs want NW salmon saved for diners
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/environment/archives/126849.asp
Dredging should help anglers at Cowlitz – One of the best summer steelhead fishing spots in the lower Columbia River is getting a new lease on life. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/sports/localNews/2007/11/11292007_Dredging-should-help-anglers-at-Cowlitz.cfm?newsletter=1
Lower Columbia sturgeon appear on downward trend – The population of legal-size sturgeon in the lower Columbia River appears to be continuing on a gradual, decade-long decline. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/sports/localNews/2007/11/11292007_Lower-Columbia-sturgeon-appear-on-downward-trend.cfm?newsletter=1
Columbia River summit to address pollution – A bistate organization will convene a conference in early January in Vancouver to address toxic contamination in the Columbia River. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2007/11/11292007_Columbia-River-summit-to-address-pollution.cfm?newsletter=2
Columbian Editorial – In our view: Pesky Parakeets. Rousting birds from their roost was unpleasant but necessary chore
http://www.columbian.com/opinion/news/2007/11/11292007_In-our-view-Pesky-Parakeets.cfm
Idaho water hearings begin with trout farm complaints (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/285425.html
News Tribune Editorial – Snub of Lake Tapps cities doesn’t shore up trust. The Cascade Water Alliance is doing a poor job of assuring concerned east Pierce County residents that it would be a good steward of Lake Tapps.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/216929.html
Oil company BP pleads guilty to environmental crime and other energy-related misdeeds – The Alaska subsidiary of oil giant BP PLC pleaded guilty today to a federal environmental crime for failing to prevent a crude spill in America's largest oil field. (Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004042575_weboil29m.html?syndication=rss
China Says Three Gorges Dam Is Not Responsible for Landslides (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/28/world/asia/28gorges.html?ex=1353906000&en=a5ff72e334ce58ce&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Clark County might enter wind power market – Hoping to cut costs and balance its contributions to global warming, Clark County's government is thinking about dipping a toe into the growing wind power business.
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2007/11/11292007_County-might-enter-wind-power-market.cfm?newsletter=2
Ethanol Craze Cools – As Doubts Multiply Claims for Environment, Energy Use Draw Fire; Fighting on the Farm (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119621238761706021.html?mod=rss_Page_One
Those darn price signals! Ethanol Producers Combine as Price Drop Hits Corn Belt – VeraSun Energy, one of the nation's largest ethanol producers, agreed to acquire US BioEnergy, as falling prices are prompting consolidation among producers of the gasoline additive. (Bloomberg News, via the Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/29/AR2007112902206.html?nav=rss_business
A Motivating Force for Wind Energy: Galicia, Spain – With no end to increased energy consumption in sight and a growing concern surrounding climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, the growth opportunity for wind farms, and firms, is significant. In fact, few industries today have grown as quickly as the wind energy market. (Energy Pulse Commentary)
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1614
CONSERVATION
Maryland – Teens target energy-saving in home audits (Baltimore Sun)
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/howard/bal-ho.neighbors30nov30,0,5862942.story
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
150 Global Firms Seek Mandatory Cuts in Greenhouse Gas Emissions – A sizable fraction of the international business community launched an effort to press for mandatory cuts in greenhouse gas emissions yesterday, on the eve of a major round of climate negotiations set to begin Monday in Bali. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/29/AR2007112902039.html?nav=rss_nation
Eco-Friendly Product Claims Often Misleading (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16754919&ft=1&f=3
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Illinois – $25 million network to aid rural hospitals – Just as you can download full-length movies with speedy broadband Internet service at home, small hospitals in rural Illinois soon will be able to quickly send MRI scans and consult distant Chicagoland doctors through a new fiber-optic health network. (The Beacon News)
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/672576,2_1_AU29_NIU_S1.article
Colorado – Denver International Airport sets Wi-Fi free. An airport spokesman says wireless Internet use has risen tenfold since DIA dropped the fee early this month. (The Denver Post, via Baller/Herbst)
http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_7585581
New Hampshire – Economic panel concerned with Verizon sale. The Rochester Economic Development Commission says it's "seriously concerned" with the $2.7 billion sale of Verizon's northern New England landlines to FairPoint Communications because the move could slow efforts to provide faster broadband access to businesses and homes. (Rochester Times)
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071130/GJNEWS04/711300073
GENERAL NEWS
Lawmakers restore 1% property tax cap – Special session called to revive I-747 limit (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/341706_special30.html
DNR says it catches cedar thieves – Two men were arrested in the early hours of the morning today in connection to the theft of more than $20,000 worth of timber along a rural logging road east of Moclips, according to Dave Christiansen, the state Department of Natural Resources’ coast district manager for the Olympic region. (Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/11/29/local_news/07news.txt
DIVERSIONS
What else could go wrong – Ice, downed power line hamstrings firefighters
http://www.examiner.com/a-1077774~Ice__downed_power_line_hamstrings_firefighters.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Police: Thief Not Brightest Bulb on Tree
http://www.examiner.com/a-1077164~Police__Thief_Not_Brightest_Bulb_on_Tree.html?cid=rss-Montana_Headlines
Footprints seen around Mt.Everest stoke Yeti mystery
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071130/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_nepal_yeti;_ylt=AibcxSZUYVjKLjm0L2ps0lvtiBIF
Italian farmer fined 200 (about $300) euros over noisy rooster
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071128/od_afp/italyanimalnoiseoffbeat_071128152720;_ylt=Ap5LapCn1_wao6kBNE0VNxWgOrgF
Humanoid robot teaches dentists to feel people's pain – Japan's future dentists may soon be able to better appreciate patients' pain by training on a humanoid robot that can mumble "ouch" when the drill hits a nerve.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071128/od_afp/lifestylejapantechnologyrobothealthoffbeat_071128094545;_ylt=Ap7MZBnCNXCHVZOcMpWxgbagOrgF
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Possible Wild Weather in Store for Puget Sound
- Deal lined up for BPA payments (Oh, Really?)
- TransAlta sees big future in 'carbon-neutral' energy
- Oregon governor says he is open to LNG plants
- Tennessee Valley Authority Gives CEO $1M Pay Raise
- Lance Dickie, Seattle Times editorial columnist – Fish and dams: Tell it to the judge.
- Kitsap Sun Op/Ed Page – SALMON: Don't Remove Dams, Kill Birds
- Seattle P-I Dateline Earth – Top chefs want NW salmon saved for diners
- Lower Columbia sturgeon appear on downward trend
- Columbian Editorial – In our view: Pesky Parakeets.
- Idaho water hearings begin with trout farm complaints
- Oil company BP pleads guilty to environmental crime
- Clark County might enter wind power market
- Ethanol Craze Cools
- Ethanol Producers Combine as Price Drop Hits Corn Belt
- 150 Global Firms Seek Mandatory Cuts in Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Eco-Friendly Product Claims Often Misleading
- Illinois – $25 million network to aid rural hospitals
- Colorado – Denver International Airport sets Wi-Fi free.
- New Hampshire – Economic panel concerned with Verizon sale.
- Lawmakers restore 1% property tax cap
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Lares and Penates • \LAIR-eez-end-puh-NAY-teez\ • noun – 1: household gods *2: personal or household effects
“The Italian family down the street returned to the ‘old country’ two years ago,” mused Donald. “Who can forget all the stuff that was in the house? Lares and Penates they called it when they rolled out their house wares at the moving sale. Funny sounding name for a bunch of bric-a-brac.”
Did you know? The phrase "lares and penates" is at home in the elevated writings of scholars. A classicist could tell you that Lares and Penates were Roman gods once worshipped as guardians of the household, and an avid Walpolian might be able to tell you that his or her favorite author (Horace Walpole) is credited with first domesticating the phrase to refer to a person's possessions. In the centuries since Walpole used "lares and penates" in a 1775 letter to the English poet William Mason, the phrase has become solidly established in the English language, and it continues to be used by authors and journalists today.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
Possible Wild Weather in Store for Puget Sound This Weekend – Kitsap County and the surrounding areas could be hit with anything from snow to heavy rain to strong winds this weekend through Monday, according to forecasters who are warily eyeing an approaching combination of weather systems. (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/nov/29/possible-wild-weather-store-puget-sound-weekend/
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Deal lined up for BPA payments – A tentative deal has been reached that would restore Bonneville Power Administration payments to private utilities, including Puget Sound Energy, for a share of the region's low-cost hydropower. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/285748.html
Smells like a news release to me – BRIEF: Idaho Power rates are among the lowest in the U.S. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, via Power Markets Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5ChekmmvwXUok%22EN%26bfem%5Ev
TransAlta sees big future in 'carbon-neutral' energy (London Free Press)
http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Business/2007/11/29/4694004-sun.html
Oregon governor says he is open to LNG plants – Gov. Ted Kulongoski is open to the idea of liquefied natural gas terminals, but he has told state agencies to "fully assert Oregon's concerns and interests" as they are considered, according to a memo to state agency directors (Ashland Daily Tidings, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1076256~Oregon_governor_says_he_is_open_to_LNG_plants.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
HELP WITH HEATING FROM MASON COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT TWO – Mason County Fire District Two wants everyone to be warm and safe this winter. With the high cost of fuel, people with limited income may have difficulty keeping their homes warm. According to Fire District Two's Public Educator, Ryan Cloud, there is help available: the National Fuel Funds Network. The National Fuel Funds Network is a broad-based organization dedicated to increasing resources to meet the energy needs of financially struggling residents across the country. It consists of more than 300 non-profit organizations, government agencies and utilities that raise and distribute more than $100 million annually in charitably-donated home energy assistance for families in need. George Coling who directs the National Fuel Funds Organization says that the support of the network comes through private donations. Fuel funds can fill in the gap if a family has used up federal assistance, but faces a shut-off of their electricity. In some cases this assistance can pay a past-due bill or give a client an energy credit that lasts one month, or longer, if that is what is necessary to keep the lights on and the heater running. To find out more about the National Fuel Funds Network, call 1-202-824-0660 or click on their website, www.nationalfuelfund.org. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Mason County PUD No. 3 Project Share (energy bill assistance for low-income customers) information can be found here:http://www.masonpud3.org/Customer/Projectshare.asp
Tennessee Valley Authority Gives CEO $1M Pay Raise – TVA Gives CEO $1M Pay Raise to Reach $2.7M Total Compensation (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/apwire/7275378d591a23698c091adcfefaa47d.htm
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Lance Dickie, Seattle Times editorial columnist – Fish and dams: Tell it to the judge. Federal authorities would rather tug on Superman's cape than muss the robes of U.S. District Judge James Redden.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2004043226_lance30.html
Kitsap Sun Op/Ed Page – SALMON: Don't Remove Dams, Kill Birds (May require free registration)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2007/nov/30/salmon-dont-remove-dams-kill-birds/
Seattle P-I Dateline Earth – Top chefs want NW salmon saved for diners
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/environment/archives/126849.asp
Dredging should help anglers at Cowlitz – One of the best summer steelhead fishing spots in the lower Columbia River is getting a new lease on life. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/sports/localNews/2007/11/11292007_Dredging-should-help-anglers-at-Cowlitz.cfm?newsletter=1
Lower Columbia sturgeon appear on downward trend – The population of legal-size sturgeon in the lower Columbia River appears to be continuing on a gradual, decade-long decline. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/sports/localNews/2007/11/11292007_Lower-Columbia-sturgeon-appear-on-downward-trend.cfm?newsletter=1
Columbia River summit to address pollution – A bistate organization will convene a conference in early January in Vancouver to address toxic contamination in the Columbia River. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2007/11/11292007_Columbia-River-summit-to-address-pollution.cfm?newsletter=2
Columbian Editorial – In our view: Pesky Parakeets. Rousting birds from their roost was unpleasant but necessary chore
http://www.columbian.com/opinion/news/2007/11/11292007_In-our-view-Pesky-Parakeets.cfm
Idaho water hearings begin with trout farm complaints (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/285425.html
News Tribune Editorial – Snub of Lake Tapps cities doesn’t shore up trust. The Cascade Water Alliance is doing a poor job of assuring concerned east Pierce County residents that it would be a good steward of Lake Tapps.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/216929.html
Oil company BP pleads guilty to environmental crime and other energy-related misdeeds – The Alaska subsidiary of oil giant BP PLC pleaded guilty today to a federal environmental crime for failing to prevent a crude spill in America's largest oil field. (Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004042575_weboil29m.html?syndication=rss
China Says Three Gorges Dam Is Not Responsible for Landslides (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/28/world/asia/28gorges.html?ex=1353906000&en=a5ff72e334ce58ce&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Clark County might enter wind power market – Hoping to cut costs and balance its contributions to global warming, Clark County's government is thinking about dipping a toe into the growing wind power business.
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2007/11/11292007_County-might-enter-wind-power-market.cfm?newsletter=2
Ethanol Craze Cools – As Doubts Multiply Claims for Environment, Energy Use Draw Fire; Fighting on the Farm (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119621238761706021.html?mod=rss_Page_One
Those darn price signals! Ethanol Producers Combine as Price Drop Hits Corn Belt – VeraSun Energy, one of the nation's largest ethanol producers, agreed to acquire US BioEnergy, as falling prices are prompting consolidation among producers of the gasoline additive. (Bloomberg News, via the Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/29/AR2007112902206.html?nav=rss_business
A Motivating Force for Wind Energy: Galicia, Spain – With no end to increased energy consumption in sight and a growing concern surrounding climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, the growth opportunity for wind farms, and firms, is significant. In fact, few industries today have grown as quickly as the wind energy market. (Energy Pulse Commentary)
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1614
CONSERVATION
Maryland – Teens target energy-saving in home audits (Baltimore Sun)
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/howard/bal-ho.neighbors30nov30,0,5862942.story
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
150 Global Firms Seek Mandatory Cuts in Greenhouse Gas Emissions – A sizable fraction of the international business community launched an effort to press for mandatory cuts in greenhouse gas emissions yesterday, on the eve of a major round of climate negotiations set to begin Monday in Bali. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/29/AR2007112902039.html?nav=rss_nation
Eco-Friendly Product Claims Often Misleading (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16754919&ft=1&f=3
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Illinois – $25 million network to aid rural hospitals – Just as you can download full-length movies with speedy broadband Internet service at home, small hospitals in rural Illinois soon will be able to quickly send MRI scans and consult distant Chicagoland doctors through a new fiber-optic health network. (The Beacon News)
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/672576,2_1_AU29_NIU_S1.article
Colorado – Denver International Airport sets Wi-Fi free. An airport spokesman says wireless Internet use has risen tenfold since DIA dropped the fee early this month. (The Denver Post, via Baller/Herbst)
http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_7585581
New Hampshire – Economic panel concerned with Verizon sale. The Rochester Economic Development Commission says it's "seriously concerned" with the $2.7 billion sale of Verizon's northern New England landlines to FairPoint Communications because the move could slow efforts to provide faster broadband access to businesses and homes. (Rochester Times)
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071130/GJNEWS04/711300073
GENERAL NEWS
Lawmakers restore 1% property tax cap – Special session called to revive I-747 limit (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/341706_special30.html
DNR says it catches cedar thieves – Two men were arrested in the early hours of the morning today in connection to the theft of more than $20,000 worth of timber along a rural logging road east of Moclips, according to Dave Christiansen, the state Department of Natural Resources’ coast district manager for the Olympic region. (Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/11/29/local_news/07news.txt
DIVERSIONS
What else could go wrong – Ice, downed power line hamstrings firefighters
http://www.examiner.com/a-1077774~Ice__downed_power_line_hamstrings_firefighters.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Police: Thief Not Brightest Bulb on Tree
http://www.examiner.com/a-1077164~Police__Thief_Not_Brightest_Bulb_on_Tree.html?cid=rss-Montana_Headlines
Footprints seen around Mt.Everest stoke Yeti mystery
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071130/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_nepal_yeti;_ylt=AibcxSZUYVjKLjm0L2ps0lvtiBIF
Italian farmer fined 200 (about $300) euros over noisy rooster
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071128/od_afp/italyanimalnoiseoffbeat_071128152720;_ylt=Ap5LapCn1_wao6kBNE0VNxWgOrgF
Humanoid robot teaches dentists to feel people's pain – Japan's future dentists may soon be able to better appreciate patients' pain by training on a humanoid robot that can mumble "ouch" when the drill hits a nerve.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071128/od_afp/lifestylejapantechnologyrobothealthoffbeat_071128094545;_ylt=Ap7MZBnCNXCHVZOcMpWxgbagOrgF
Thursday, November 29, 2007
Energy News Digest for November 29, 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.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Snow Possible Beginning Saturday
- Mason County PUD No. 3 voices concerns to BPA
- Energy Northwest will pursue $1.5 billion plant in Kalama
- Montana – NorthWestern, counsel eye deal on rate hike request.
- Three Linked to Enron Fraud Plead Guilty
- Congressional negotiators Close In on Energy Measure
- New Administrator for Southwestern Power Administration started career at BPA
- Clark County – Wild parakeets' nests destroyed
- Senator to keep EPA focused on Duwamish
- Top scientists: Klamath salmon need more water
- California – New Sacramento delta water diversion debate bubbles up.
- Clean-tech startups in state attract record investment
- Yahoo prepares to open data center in Quincy
- U.S. not up to speed on broadband
- Passing 1% property tax limit may not stop local districts
- Shelton’s First Street Closed For Gas Contamination Clean Up
- Fire shuts key Canada-U.S. pipeline
- Port Orchard – Protesters Plan Rally Outside Soldier's Funeral.
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Cetacean • \SIT-ay-shee-un\ • noun – Any of an order (Cetacea) of aquatic mostly marine mammals that includes the whales, dolphins, porpoises, and related forms and that have a torpedo-shaped nearly hairless body, paddle-shaped forelimbs but no hind limbs, one or two nares opening externally at the top of the head, and a horizontally flattened tail used for locomotion
Alfred stood along the Columbia River, mouth agape. The cetacean show of an Orca whale chasing a sea lion, which was chasing a salmon into the Bonneville Dam fish ladder was ludicrous. The best part to Alfred was the whale tour boat that was valiantly trying to keep up with the unfolding spectacle. The tour boat operator continued to bellow that this was all a part of nature’s circle of life…and that no dams were hurt in the production of the show.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
SNOW POSSIBLE BEGINNING SATURDAY – The National Weather Service is saying that snow is possible beginning Saturday. Forecasters say a northerly flow will drive colder and drier Canadian air south into Western Washington Friday and Friday night. A surface low pressure system is expected to form off the south coast of Vancouver Island on Saturday and spread moisture into the cool air mass in place over Western Washington. Rain and snow showers are expected to develop Saturday afternoon and increase Saturday night. Locations away from the water and especially with a little elevation will have the best chance of some light snow accumulations. Temperatures near the water will be marginal to support all snow with a rain and snow mix. At this time, it is too soon to tell how much snow accumulation will occur. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
News Release – BPA offers safety tips, urges caution for series of storms headed to the region (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/183792/
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
MASON COUNTY PUD NO. 3 VOICES CONCERNS TO B-P-A – Officials with Mason County P.U.D. No. 3 voiced their concerns with the Bonneville Power Administration. Tuesday during the P.U.D. 3 Board of Commissioners' meeting, two account executives from the B-P-A, Kirsten Watts and Lynn Aspass, briefed the P.U.D. on a variety of subjects including the utility's transmission request for Nine Canyon, Bonneville's “Network Open Season”, long-term regional dialogue, tiered rates, and the recent court ruling against the B-P-A relating to payments to investor owned utilities. P.U.D. officials told Watts and Aspass that they do not believe Bonneville is listening to them, that the B-P-A is not following the rules, and they feel that some of what Bonneville is requiring public utilities to sign is blackmail. Watts and Aspass told the P.U.D. they have noted the concerns and will take them back to Bonneville officials. The P.U.D. will need to sign a new contract with B-P-A by December of next year. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Energy Northwest will pursue $1.5 billion plant in Kalama – Energy Northwest will continue its effort to build a $1.5 billion petcoke/ coal gasification plant at the Port of Kalama, but its next move is unclear. (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/11/29/area_news/doc474eeea711509337891613.txt
Montana – NorthWestern, counsel eye deal on rate hike request. NorthWestern Energy and the state lawyer representing utility consumers are trying to strike a deal on the company's $42 million annual rate hike request, with the consumer counsel angling for a smaller increase. (The Missoulian)
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2007/11/28/news/local/znews04.txt
Three Linked to Enron Fraud Plead Guilty – Three British bankers who were set to go to trial for their roles in a fraudulent scheme with former Enron chief financial officer Andrew S. Fastow changed their pleas to guilty on Wednesday. (Associated Press, via the Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/28/AR2007112802358.html?nav=rss_business
Negotiators Close In on Energy Measure – Bill Raises Ethanol, Efficiency Targets; Fuel Credits for Auto Industry at Issue (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/28/AR2007112802582.html?nav=rss_business
Coal-fired power plants are opposed: 7 proposed or being considered in state – While Gov. Jennifer Granholm is in California hawking Michigan's capabilities as a center of new energy technology, seven new coal-fueled power plants are formally proposed or under serious discussion in Michigan. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News via Power Marketers Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5ChehkhgpZUnj%22EN%26bfem%5Ev
Dept. of Energy Names New Administrator for Southwestern Power Administration – …selection of Jon Worthington as the new Administrator of the Southwestern Area Power Administration (Started his career at BPA) (The News Blaze)
http://newsblaze.com/story/20071128163233tsop.nb/newsblaze/TOPSTORY/Top-Stories.html
Municipal Bond Deals Squeezed By Credit Crisis – The widening credit crunch is making it harder for cities and school systems to get money for buildings, ballparks and other vital projects (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/28/AR2007112802486.html?nav=rss_business
Utilities address next generation of customer care -- web-self service (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/display_article/313186/22/ARTCL/none/none/1/Utilities-address-next-generation-of-customer-care----web-self-service/
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Clark County – Wild parakeets' nests destroyed (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2007/11/11282007_Wild-parakeets-nests-destroyed.cfm?newsletter=1
49 bird species in state on watch list (McClatchy Newspapers, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/284689.html
Senator to keep EPA focused on Duwamish – Murray calls polluted river city's 'dark secret' (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/341561_duwamish29.html
Top scientists: Klamath salmon need more water – More water should be released down the Klamath River to help salmon while studies are honed to provide for better management (Times-Standard, Eureka, CA)
http://www.times-standard.com/ci_7587851
California – New Sacramento delta water diversion debate bubbles up. A state advisory panel is expected this week to rekindle debate over one of the hottest political issues in state history - a peripheral canal to divert water around the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta largely for use in Southern California. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/11/29/MNVATKJ7V.DTL
Pick your river carefully for big salmon – River fishing wasn't too bad in Western Washington last week. Not all rivers were kicking out fish, but in rivers that were, angling was steady and consistent. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/outdoors/story/284834.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Clean-tech startups in state attract record investment – Washington clean-tech startups attracted record venture capital during the first nine months of the year, positioning the state as the fourth-biggest beneficiary of clean-tech dollars. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/341375_cleantech28.html?source=rss
Plugging in to renewables – Google Inc. could stand as Exhibit A for the argument that the United States can retain economic leadership in the 21st century. (Eugene Register Guard)
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=28875&sid=1&fid=1
(Illinois) Governor announces Lincoln’s Tomb going green – Geothermal heating and cooling system to be installed at Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site to reduce energy usage, increase visitor comfort (Illinois Governor’s Office)
http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=1&RecNum=6463
CONSERVATION
Santa rewards those who conserve (News Review: Green Guide)
http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Content?oid=602599
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Global Warming Blamed for Bird Species Extinction (Half Life Online)
http://www.halflifesource.com/news/2007/11/29/article10250.htm
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Yahoo prepares to open data center in Quincy (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004041356_brier29.html?syndication=rss
U.S. not up to speed on broadband – Lawmakers want to know where availability is low to help the nation keep up internationally. The federal government's latest annual report on the availability of high-speed Internet service throughout the country contains 19 pages of detailed data -- pie charts, bar graphs, maps and column upon column of numbers and percentages. Most of them are useless. (LA Times)
http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-fi-broadband28nov28,1,2389351.story?coll=la-headlines-technology&ctrack=1&cset=true
'The Future of the Internet--and How to Stop It' – Restrictive tools and rash approaches to security challenges are endangering the health of the online ecosystem, an Oxford University researcher warned Wednesday. (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/News.com-talk-The-Future-of-the-Internet-and-How-to-Stop-It/8301-10784_3-9825477-7.html?part=dht
GENERAL NEWS
Passing 1% property tax limit may not stop local districts – Proposed fix for loophole is sham, Eyman says (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/341517_special29.html
SHELTON’S FIRST STREET CLOSED FOR GAS CONTAMINATION CLEAN UP – First Street in downtown Shelton was closed this morning to allow crews to remove gas contaminated soil from the Franklin Street intersection. According the Shelton City Engineer Mike Michael, the closure is from Railroad Avenue to Cedar Street. Traffic is being detoured to Front Street. This closure will last for up to seven working days. Motorists should be aware of this closure and plan accordingly as traffic in downtown Shelton will likely be more congested while this work is being completed. Again, First Street is closed between Railroad and Cedar in downtown Shelton. Businesses in the area are open. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Fire shuts key Canada-U.S. pipeline (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSN2865270520071129?feedType=nl&feedName=usbusinessearly
Port Orchard – Protesters Plan Rally Outside Soldier's Funeral. A group of protesters from Kansas are planning a rally outside a local soldier’s funeral in Port Orchard Friday afternoon. (KIRO-TV, Seattle – and yes…it’s THOSE protesters)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14718137/detail.html
Sanctions lead to free-speech fight – Republican state Rep. Jim Dunn is claiming a right of free speech as he fights back against House leaders who stripped him of committee assignments and ordered him into counseling. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/284693.html
Seattle radio host Larry Nelson dies (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/285039.html
DIVERSIONS
Oregon woman loses long-time Christmas tree, but not the stump
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004042225_webxmastreestolen29.html?syndication=rss
America's Music: A Rural Dance Tradition in Twilight – In the isolated farmland counties of eastern Nebraska, polka helps tie people together.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/29/arts/music/29polka.html?ex=1353992400&en=bcacc85b5adcb77a&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Police say two's a crowd – When does a legitimate Russian political protest become an illegal gathering? Answer: When a second person joins in to spoil it.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071129/od_nm/vote_crowds_dc;_ylt=AjIdKyEXxrjLln1bMU1k56DtiBIF
Thief makes off with 180 Guinness kegs
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071129/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_ireland_guinness;_ylt=Amno13za2Y3dmNidMlbf8KntiBIF
You won't believe what befell this lady
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071129/ap_on_fe_st/odd_scattered_cash;_ylt=AmVuZJVG_yelyLs_wGVby7vtiBIF
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Snow Possible Beginning Saturday
- Mason County PUD No. 3 voices concerns to BPA
- Energy Northwest will pursue $1.5 billion plant in Kalama
- Montana – NorthWestern, counsel eye deal on rate hike request.
- Three Linked to Enron Fraud Plead Guilty
- Congressional negotiators Close In on Energy Measure
- New Administrator for Southwestern Power Administration started career at BPA
- Clark County – Wild parakeets' nests destroyed
- Senator to keep EPA focused on Duwamish
- Top scientists: Klamath salmon need more water
- California – New Sacramento delta water diversion debate bubbles up.
- Clean-tech startups in state attract record investment
- Yahoo prepares to open data center in Quincy
- U.S. not up to speed on broadband
- Passing 1% property tax limit may not stop local districts
- Shelton’s First Street Closed For Gas Contamination Clean Up
- Fire shuts key Canada-U.S. pipeline
- Port Orchard – Protesters Plan Rally Outside Soldier's Funeral.
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Cetacean • \SIT-ay-shee-un\ • noun – Any of an order (Cetacea) of aquatic mostly marine mammals that includes the whales, dolphins, porpoises, and related forms and that have a torpedo-shaped nearly hairless body, paddle-shaped forelimbs but no hind limbs, one or two nares opening externally at the top of the head, and a horizontally flattened tail used for locomotion
Alfred stood along the Columbia River, mouth agape. The cetacean show of an Orca whale chasing a sea lion, which was chasing a salmon into the Bonneville Dam fish ladder was ludicrous. The best part to Alfred was the whale tour boat that was valiantly trying to keep up with the unfolding spectacle. The tour boat operator continued to bellow that this was all a part of nature’s circle of life…and that no dams were hurt in the production of the show.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
SNOW POSSIBLE BEGINNING SATURDAY – The National Weather Service is saying that snow is possible beginning Saturday. Forecasters say a northerly flow will drive colder and drier Canadian air south into Western Washington Friday and Friday night. A surface low pressure system is expected to form off the south coast of Vancouver Island on Saturday and spread moisture into the cool air mass in place over Western Washington. Rain and snow showers are expected to develop Saturday afternoon and increase Saturday night. Locations away from the water and especially with a little elevation will have the best chance of some light snow accumulations. Temperatures near the water will be marginal to support all snow with a rain and snow mix. At this time, it is too soon to tell how much snow accumulation will occur. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
News Release – BPA offers safety tips, urges caution for series of storms headed to the region (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/183792/
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
MASON COUNTY PUD NO. 3 VOICES CONCERNS TO B-P-A – Officials with Mason County P.U.D. No. 3 voiced their concerns with the Bonneville Power Administration. Tuesday during the P.U.D. 3 Board of Commissioners' meeting, two account executives from the B-P-A, Kirsten Watts and Lynn Aspass, briefed the P.U.D. on a variety of subjects including the utility's transmission request for Nine Canyon, Bonneville's “Network Open Season”, long-term regional dialogue, tiered rates, and the recent court ruling against the B-P-A relating to payments to investor owned utilities. P.U.D. officials told Watts and Aspass that they do not believe Bonneville is listening to them, that the B-P-A is not following the rules, and they feel that some of what Bonneville is requiring public utilities to sign is blackmail. Watts and Aspass told the P.U.D. they have noted the concerns and will take them back to Bonneville officials. The P.U.D. will need to sign a new contract with B-P-A by December of next year. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Energy Northwest will pursue $1.5 billion plant in Kalama – Energy Northwest will continue its effort to build a $1.5 billion petcoke/ coal gasification plant at the Port of Kalama, but its next move is unclear. (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/11/29/area_news/doc474eeea711509337891613.txt
Montana – NorthWestern, counsel eye deal on rate hike request. NorthWestern Energy and the state lawyer representing utility consumers are trying to strike a deal on the company's $42 million annual rate hike request, with the consumer counsel angling for a smaller increase. (The Missoulian)
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2007/11/28/news/local/znews04.txt
Three Linked to Enron Fraud Plead Guilty – Three British bankers who were set to go to trial for their roles in a fraudulent scheme with former Enron chief financial officer Andrew S. Fastow changed their pleas to guilty on Wednesday. (Associated Press, via the Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/28/AR2007112802358.html?nav=rss_business
Negotiators Close In on Energy Measure – Bill Raises Ethanol, Efficiency Targets; Fuel Credits for Auto Industry at Issue (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/28/AR2007112802582.html?nav=rss_business
Coal-fired power plants are opposed: 7 proposed or being considered in state – While Gov. Jennifer Granholm is in California hawking Michigan's capabilities as a center of new energy technology, seven new coal-fueled power plants are formally proposed or under serious discussion in Michigan. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News via Power Marketers Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5ChehkhgpZUnj%22EN%26bfem%5Ev
Dept. of Energy Names New Administrator for Southwestern Power Administration – …selection of Jon Worthington as the new Administrator of the Southwestern Area Power Administration (Started his career at BPA) (The News Blaze)
http://newsblaze.com/story/20071128163233tsop.nb/newsblaze/TOPSTORY/Top-Stories.html
Municipal Bond Deals Squeezed By Credit Crisis – The widening credit crunch is making it harder for cities and school systems to get money for buildings, ballparks and other vital projects (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/28/AR2007112802486.html?nav=rss_business
Utilities address next generation of customer care -- web-self service (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/display_article/313186/22/ARTCL/none/none/1/Utilities-address-next-generation-of-customer-care----web-self-service/
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Clark County – Wild parakeets' nests destroyed (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2007/11/11282007_Wild-parakeets-nests-destroyed.cfm?newsletter=1
49 bird species in state on watch list (McClatchy Newspapers, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/284689.html
Senator to keep EPA focused on Duwamish – Murray calls polluted river city's 'dark secret' (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/341561_duwamish29.html
Top scientists: Klamath salmon need more water – More water should be released down the Klamath River to help salmon while studies are honed to provide for better management (Times-Standard, Eureka, CA)
http://www.times-standard.com/ci_7587851
California – New Sacramento delta water diversion debate bubbles up. A state advisory panel is expected this week to rekindle debate over one of the hottest political issues in state history - a peripheral canal to divert water around the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta largely for use in Southern California. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/11/29/MNVATKJ7V.DTL
Pick your river carefully for big salmon – River fishing wasn't too bad in Western Washington last week. Not all rivers were kicking out fish, but in rivers that were, angling was steady and consistent. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/outdoors/story/284834.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Clean-tech startups in state attract record investment – Washington clean-tech startups attracted record venture capital during the first nine months of the year, positioning the state as the fourth-biggest beneficiary of clean-tech dollars. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/341375_cleantech28.html?source=rss
Plugging in to renewables – Google Inc. could stand as Exhibit A for the argument that the United States can retain economic leadership in the 21st century. (Eugene Register Guard)
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=28875&sid=1&fid=1
(Illinois) Governor announces Lincoln’s Tomb going green – Geothermal heating and cooling system to be installed at Lincoln Tomb State Historic Site to reduce energy usage, increase visitor comfort (Illinois Governor’s Office)
http://www.illinois.gov/PressReleases/ShowPressRelease.cfm?SubjectID=1&RecNum=6463
CONSERVATION
Santa rewards those who conserve (News Review: Green Guide)
http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Content?oid=602599
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Global Warming Blamed for Bird Species Extinction (Half Life Online)
http://www.halflifesource.com/news/2007/11/29/article10250.htm
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Yahoo prepares to open data center in Quincy (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004041356_brier29.html?syndication=rss
U.S. not up to speed on broadband – Lawmakers want to know where availability is low to help the nation keep up internationally. The federal government's latest annual report on the availability of high-speed Internet service throughout the country contains 19 pages of detailed data -- pie charts, bar graphs, maps and column upon column of numbers and percentages. Most of them are useless. (LA Times)
http://www.latimes.com/technology/la-fi-broadband28nov28,1,2389351.story?coll=la-headlines-technology&ctrack=1&cset=true
'The Future of the Internet--and How to Stop It' – Restrictive tools and rash approaches to security challenges are endangering the health of the online ecosystem, an Oxford University researcher warned Wednesday. (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/News.com-talk-The-Future-of-the-Internet-and-How-to-Stop-It/8301-10784_3-9825477-7.html?part=dht
GENERAL NEWS
Passing 1% property tax limit may not stop local districts – Proposed fix for loophole is sham, Eyman says (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/341517_special29.html
SHELTON’S FIRST STREET CLOSED FOR GAS CONTAMINATION CLEAN UP – First Street in downtown Shelton was closed this morning to allow crews to remove gas contaminated soil from the Franklin Street intersection. According the Shelton City Engineer Mike Michael, the closure is from Railroad Avenue to Cedar Street. Traffic is being detoured to Front Street. This closure will last for up to seven working days. Motorists should be aware of this closure and plan accordingly as traffic in downtown Shelton will likely be more congested while this work is being completed. Again, First Street is closed between Railroad and Cedar in downtown Shelton. Businesses in the area are open. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Fire shuts key Canada-U.S. pipeline (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSN2865270520071129?feedType=nl&feedName=usbusinessearly
Port Orchard – Protesters Plan Rally Outside Soldier's Funeral. A group of protesters from Kansas are planning a rally outside a local soldier’s funeral in Port Orchard Friday afternoon. (KIRO-TV, Seattle – and yes…it’s THOSE protesters)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14718137/detail.html
Sanctions lead to free-speech fight – Republican state Rep. Jim Dunn is claiming a right of free speech as he fights back against House leaders who stripped him of committee assignments and ordered him into counseling. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/284693.html
Seattle radio host Larry Nelson dies (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/285039.html
DIVERSIONS
Oregon woman loses long-time Christmas tree, but not the stump
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004042225_webxmastreestolen29.html?syndication=rss
America's Music: A Rural Dance Tradition in Twilight – In the isolated farmland counties of eastern Nebraska, polka helps tie people together.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/29/arts/music/29polka.html?ex=1353992400&en=bcacc85b5adcb77a&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Police say two's a crowd – When does a legitimate Russian political protest become an illegal gathering? Answer: When a second person joins in to spoil it.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071129/od_nm/vote_crowds_dc;_ylt=AjIdKyEXxrjLln1bMU1k56DtiBIF
Thief makes off with 180 Guinness kegs
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071129/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_ireland_guinness;_ylt=Amno13za2Y3dmNidMlbf8KntiBIF
You won't believe what befell this lady
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20071129/ap_on_fe_st/odd_scattered_cash;_ylt=AmVuZJVG_yelyLs_wGVby7vtiBIF
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