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)
- Eugene Register Guard Opinion – Sharing BPA’s benefits
- Most utilities behind BPA rebate proposal
- Energy Northwest ditches project to bury emissions
- Nuclear ‘Renaissance’ Takes Root in Idaho
- Okanogan PUD comes to aid of flooded towns
- Grant County PUD plans for retiring workers
- California – Sacramento County to offer utility-tax rebate to major users
- Sport anglers in N. Idaho irked about gillnetting season
- Stillaguamish Tribe hoping grant money will save Chinook salmon
- Canadian salmon facing another poor year, report predicts
- Calif. Faces Water Limits over Threatened Smelt
- Global Warming Jeopardizes Norway's Fish Farms
- Can wind be groomed to become a dependable source of electricity?
- How Electric Cars Could Save the Grid
- Tumwater area green building in works
- Conservation by Fiat – Portland slows down on green rules
- Flat-screen TVs devour electricity, jack up energy bills
- NFL Plans to Offset Super Bowl's Carbon Footprint
- Analysts find Qwest's Montana profits excessive
- For a Price: Bremerton Ferry Riders Get Access to Wi-Fi
- Texting while driving illegal Jan. 1
- Voters may settle family leave
- Deputies Spread Thin in the Thick of North Mason
- Olympia area house fire uncovers large drug operation
- Dicks played role as backer of Wilson's crusade
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Rescind • \rih-SIND\ • verb – 1: to take away: remove *2: take back: cancel 3: to make void (as an act) by action of the enacting authority or a superior authority: repeal
“Getting toothpaste back into the tube,” expounded the physics teacher, “is probably easier than rescinding an uncontrolled nuclear reactor. But for extra credit, write a 2,000 word essay on which of these is the more annoying of the two.” He said. “You have ten minutes.”
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Eugene Register Guard Opinion – Sharing BPA’s benefits. The Northwest’s investor-owned utilities and their publicly owned counterparts have long argued over access to low-cost electricity from the Bonneville Power Administration.
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=40477&sid=5&fid=1
Most utilities behind BPA rebate proposal – Tri-City utilities are mostly supporting a Bonneville Power Administration plan to offer short-term rebates while working on a resolution to a long-running dispute between public and private utilities over federal benefits. (Tri-Cities Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/story/9536593p-9447596c.html
Energy Northwest ditches project to bury emissions – Energy Northwest is abandoning plans to consider injecting some carbon dioxide emissions underground at its proposed Pacific Mountain Energy Center near Kalama. (Tri City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/story/9540855p-9452083c.html
Nuclear ‘Renaissance’ Takes Root in Idaho (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3435
Okanogan PUD comes to aid of flooded towns (Omak Chronicle)
http://www.omakchronicle.com/nws/n071225b.shtml
Grant County PUD plans for retiring workers – Thirteen PUD workers are participating in a special 18-month-long employee development program launched last summer for the first time. (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2007/12/26/news/news02.txt
Tiny drop in power bills for Pacific Gas & Electric residential customers (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/27/MN7MU503D.DTL&feed=rss.news
From Southwest to Northeast: Electricity supplier gets PSC approval – A California company has been certified to become the fourth electricity supplier to residents in the Delmarva Power service area. (The News Journal, Wilmington, Delaware)
http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071227/BUSINESS/712270345
California – Sacramento County to offer utility-tax rebate to major users: Program is tied to expansion or capital improvement projects. Sacramento County hopes to lure manufacturers and other businesses by offering utility-tax rebates to big electricity users. (Sacramento Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2007/12/24/story7.html?ana=from_rss
New Zealand – More energy please, but keep it clean (Stuff.com)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4337210a13.html
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Sport anglers in N. Idaho irked about gillnetting season (Lewiston Tribune, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1120063~Sport_anglers_in_N__Idaho_irked_about_gillnetting_season.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
Stillaguamish Tribe hoping grant money will save Chinook salmon –Few of the Northwest's struggling salmon runs are as close to extinction as the Chinook that spawn in the south fork of the Stillaguamish River. (Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP12252007news252874.cfm?newsletter=10
Canadian salmon facing another poor year, report predicts – There's a vast ocean and many months stretching between now and when salmon runs start to return to the British Columbia coast in 2008. (Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20071226.BCSALMON26/TPStory/National
Calif. Faces Water Limits over Threatened Smelt (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17625090&ft=1&f=1001
Look out lutefisk – Global Warming Jeopardizes Norway's Fish Farms (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17638050&ft=1&f=3
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Grooming Wind – Can wind be groomed to become a dependable source of electricity? (Energy Pulse Commentary)
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1632
How Electric Cars Could Save the Grid (Discovery Channel News)
http://dsc.discovery.com/news/2007/12/27/electric-car-grid.html?dcitc=w19-502-ak-0000
CONSERVATION
Green-built building in works – A South Sound developer plans a second green-built office building in Tumwater (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/business/story/310207.html
Conservation by Fiat – Portland slows down on green rules – It was a bombshell to Portland homebuilders when city officials announced at a Chicago conference last month that every new building in the city would be taxed unless it reached a higher level of energy efficiency. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/119872771684060.xml&coll=7
Flat-screen TVs devour electricity, jack up energy bills – Most consumers aren't aware of the added costs before they trade in their old sets for plasma ones (Salt Lake Tribune)
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_7803524?source=rss
Hillsborough Schools Given Assignment: Save Energy – With an electric bill expected to top $40 million this year, the Hillsborough County School District has turned to a team of five men and a few posses of students. (The Tampa Tribune)
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2007/dec/26/me-patrols-help-knock-down-energy-use/
Electricity Costs Attacked Through XML – A power consortium that distributes a mix of "green" and conventional electricity is implementing an XML-based settlements system that drives costs out of power distribution. (InformationWeek)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/cmp/20071227/tc_cmp/205203201
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
NFL Plans to Offset Super Bowl's Carbon Footprint (National Public Radio – OK, so what about CO2 from fans, flatulence from those chili-nacho-cheese concoctions-and the hot air from bloviating sports “experts” leading up to the actual game)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17625113&ft=1&f=2
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Analysts find Qwest's Montana profits excessive (Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1121276~Analysts_find_Qwest_s_Montana_profits_excessive.html?cid=rss-Montana_Headlines
For a Price: Bremerton Ferry Riders Get Access to Wi-Fi (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/dec/26/bremerton-ferry-riders-get-access-to-wi-fi/
Cisco Green Plan Looks Beyond Routers – Cisco Systems wants to turn the enterprise data network into an electricity meter. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/idg/IDG_002570DE00740E18002573B700743F90.html?ex=1356238800&en=6386c8c2fe79d2b6&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Texting while driving illegal Jan. 1 – A law making it illegal to send text messages while driving in Washington goes into effect Jan. 1, and state troopers plan to vigorously enforce the rule. (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_122607WAB_texting_driver_KS.54291df9.html
Voters may settle family leave – A state lawmaker says she is open to sending a tax package to voters that would create a long-term means to pay for the state's new paid-family leave program. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/310239.html
Deputies Spread Thin in the Thick of North Mason (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/dec/26/deputies-spread-thin-in-north-masons-thick/
Olympia area house fire uncovers large drug operation (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/310260.html
Dicks played role as backer of Wilson's crusade – U.S. Rep. Norm Dicks never served in the military. But he was a bona fide lieutenant in "Charlie Wilson's War." (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004091397_dickscharlie25m.html
KGY, port in lease renewal talks (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/business/story/309076.html
DIVERSIONS
Man, 60, sues boy, 8, over ski collision – A 60-year-old man is taking an 8-year-old boy and his dad to court, claiming the boy caused a ski-slope collision that left the older man with a shoulder injury.
http://www.boston.com/news/odd/articles/2007/12/20/man_60_sues_boy_8_over_ski_collision/
Soccer referee pulls out red card, then a gun
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN2635269520071226?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Kyrgyzstan touted as ideal delivery hub for Santa
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSEIC47011920071224?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Man spends Christmas Eve stuck in septic tank
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071227/NEWS02/92748209/-1/RSS01
Thursday, December 27, 2007
Friday, December 21, 2007
Energy News Digest for December 21, 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)
- Goodbye wet fall; hello wet winter
- Chelan County PUD – Rock Island Dam gets a new turbine
- Broken bearing halts McNary
- The Astorian Editorial – Selling out the river for California
- Baltimore Sun Columnist – Electricity honey pot is starting to stink
- Electricity Planning: Disband the Ontario Power Authority
- On Salmon flow rider: Craig Thwarted by Senate Democrats
- Monster Drano Lake spring Chinook run forecast
- Birds dying from lead poisoning in Western Washington
- Study shows hunting and fishing have huge impact on state economy
- Pacific Grove's low-tech seal proposal: Pot-banging
- Columbian Editorial – In our view: Puget Sound cleanup – This won't be easy
- Grant could mean lower water costs for Monitor residents
- Idaho – Twin Fall farmers reduce sediment in canals
- The answer is not blowin' in the wind this time
- Powerful conservation motivation: Electric-bill elevation
- Washington State will sue EPA over emission decision
- Oregon Governor promises legal fight over auto emissions
- Denial of State Emissions Plan Was Foreshadowed
- Staff at EPA supported California's attempt to reduce car emission
- News Tribune Opinion – An indefensible veto of state clean air rules
- Eco-friendly Portland State University plans to hire 'green' professors
- World's next outsourcing hub: Kenya?
- Nearly $100 million wasted by Port of Seattle
- Tissue mill's closing ends era for Bellingham
- US Senator Cantwell losing top two staffers
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Passel • \PASS-ul\ • noun – A large number or amount
A passel of presents pummeled the palace on the peninsula. “Golly Santa,” exclaimed Comet, “think that your package ejection system has a few bugs in it.” You’d better stick to the chimney delivery system for now.”
Merry Christmas to all. The Energy News Digest will be enjoying a few hot toddies on the 24th and 26th. It will return, bleary-eyed and jolly on the 27th.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
Goodbye wet fall; hello wet winter – Love it or hate it, it's here. Winter. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/306054.html
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Chelan County PUD – Rock Island Dam gets a new turbine. Rock Island Dam got an early holiday gift Tuesday afternoon in the form of a shiny new runner turbine complete with never-before-used blades that give off that new electron smell. (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071220/NEWS04/499252110/1002
Broken bearing halts McNary – Replacement power costs Northern Wasco PUD $8,000 per day. A broken thrust bearing has kept the PUD’s hydropower plant at McNary Dam shut down since mid-November, forcing the utility to buy higher priced power elsewhere. (The Dalles Chronicle)
http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2007/12/news12-20-07-01.shtml
The Astorian Editorial – Selling out the river for California. Gov. Kulongoski protects our world while Commissioners give it away
http://www.dailyastorian.info/main.asp?SectionID=23&SubSectionID=392&ArticleID=47767
Baltimore Sun Columnist – Electricity honey pot is starting to stink
http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-bz.hancock21dec21,0,7741295.column
Canada – Electricity Planning: Disband the Ontario Power Authority; panel urges (Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20071221.POWER21/TPStory/TPNational/Ontario/
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Craig Thwarted by Senate Democrats – Senate Democrats thwarted Idaho Sen. Larry Craig's bid to use a federal spending bill to dictate water flow for Northwest salmon. (Associated Press)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gnfp00LWLPx-wi2HGIDsFIuBkbNgD8TLE2980
Monster Drano Lake spring Chinook run forecast – No matter which forecasting methodology the state biologists use, the result is the same: a record-high 36,800 spring Chinook salmon are predicted to enter the Columbia River headed for Drano Lake in Skamania County. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/sports/localNews/2007/12/12202007_Monster-Drano-Lake-spring-chinook-run-forecast.cfm?newsletter=1
Birds dying from lead poisoning in Western Washington – Several swans have shown up dead of lead poisoning in Western Washington, and researchers think it's being caused by Judson Lake in Whatcom County. (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_122007WAB_swan_dead_lead_TP.364992d5.html
Study shows hunting and fishing have huge impact on state economy – A new study says people who hunt and fish have a $1.4 billion dollar annual impact on the Washington economy. (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Tri Cities)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=7526470
California – Pacific Grove's low-tech seal proposal: Pot-banging (The Examiner.com – now I’ve got a mental image that I can’t get out of my head, thanks a lot pal…)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1117942~Pacific_Grove_s_low_tech_seal_proposal__Pot_banging.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
Columbian Editorial – In our view: This won't be easy. Puget Sound cleanup effort is under way, but Chesapeake example is discouraging
http://www.columbian.com/opinion/news/2007/12/12202007_In-our-view-This-wont-be-easy.cfm?newsletter=5
Grant could mean lower water costs for Monitor residents – The Chelan County PUD on Wednesday received a federal grant that could lead to lower costs for residents who will be served by its Monitor water project. (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071220/NEWS04/310052217/1001/rss1001
Idaho – Twin Fall farmers reduce sediment in canals – Less sediment has improved water quality for endangered species, spared farmers from having to repair clogged irrigation equipment and saved the company from pricey cleanup bills, canal officials said. (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/305747.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Maryland – Cumberland Times-News Op/Ed – The answer is not blowin' in the wind this time “…a critical analysis of the workings of our region's electricity grid reveals that industrial wind energy development within Appalachia belies its "green" reputation…” (And another 25 cents to Robert Zimmerman)
http://www.times-news.com/opinion/local_story_355120115.html?keyword=secondarystory
Introducing the Solar Tree – The streets of Europe could soon be lit by solar energy due to the fact that a solar tree prototype recently passed a key test phase. (Renewable Energy Access)
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50934&src=rss
CONSERVATION
Charleston Post & Courier Commentary – Powerful conservation motivation: Electric-bill elevation
http://www.charleston.net/news/2007/dec/09/powerful_conservation_motivation_electri24488/
Japan's Energy Demand to Fall in 2008 on Conservation (Bloomberg News)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=akllffkwduh0
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Washington State will sue EPA over emission decision – Several others joining against federal agency (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/344414_epa21.html?source=rss
Oregon Governor promises legal fight over auto emissions (Ashland Daily Tidings)
http://www.dailytidings.com/2007/1220/stories/1220_greenhouse.php
Denial of State Emissions Plan Was Foreshadowed – The Bush administration’s decision to deny California the right to regulate greenhouse gases from vehicles exploded like a grenade here and in California. But it was hiding in plain sight for weeks. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/21/washington/21emissions.html?ei=5088&en=27a467e0e2987243&ex=1355893200&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1198260160-fM6ATg+iqaRw7UmozbeX9w
Staff at EPA supported California's attempt to reduce car emission – Administrator reportedly overruled the unanimous opinion of his legal and technical staff in blocking California's effort to cut greenhouse gases from vehicles - a new revelation that California officials say shows his decision was based on politics, not the law. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/21/MNOUU26JN.DTL&tsp=1
News Tribune Opinion – An indefensible veto of state clean air rules. Is it the Environmental Protection Agency – or the Emissions Protection Agency?
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/235354.html
Eco-friendly Portland State University plans to hire 'green' professors – Half of a $2 million boost in funding will pay for the new faculty (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/stories/index.ssf?/base/news/1198166106294430.xml&coll=7
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
U.K. gov't urged to adopt codes for broadband service – users concerned that they are being short-changed over broadband speeds. (Network World)
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2007/121907-uk-govt-urged-to-adopt.html
World's next outsourcing hub: Kenya? (Christian Science Monitor)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20071221/ts_csm/ocallcenter_1
Colorado – Glenwood city council looks into expanding broadband (Glenwood Springs Post-Independent)
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20071221/VALLEYNEWS/448683357
GENERAL NEWS
Nearly $100 million wasted by Port of Seattle, state says – A state audit Thursday blasted the Port of Seattle for shoddy management of construction contracts, which auditors say wasted $97 million in public money, violated competitive-bidding laws, and left the Port "vulnerable to fraud, waste and abuse." (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004085652_portaudit21m.html?syndication=rss
Tissue mill's closing ends era for Bellingham “…in December 2000, electricity prices spiked to $3,500 a megawatt hour, and Georgia-Pacific shut down its Bellingham mills for three days. The company ended up closing its pulp mill for good the following March…” (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004085609_mill21m.html?syndication=rss
US Senator Cantwell losing top two staffers – Chief of staff Michael Meehan and Katharine Lister, the deputy staff chief, are both leaving; a year after Cantwell won a convincing re-election. (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_122107WAB_cantwell_staff_leaving_LJ.39a94fee.html
Stewart and Colbert to Return without Writers – Comedy Central’s pair of popular news satirists, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, will return to their television shows on Jan. 7, two months after production was suspended because of a writers’ strike. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/21/business/media/21strike.html?_r=1&ex=1355979600&en=e55d8d03b14dce21&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
DIVERSIONS
Blue Man Seeks Acceptance
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=5843725
Revealed: The seven great "medical myths"
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSARM15505420071221?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews&pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0
Passport office in need of spellcheck spell check
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN2017925520071220?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Chocolate fuels a carbon-negative voyage from England to Timbuktu – While others eat their way through advent calendars this Christmas season, two Britons are doing something quite different with their chocolate: using it to drive across the Sahara.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20071221/ts_csm/obiotruck
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Goodbye wet fall; hello wet winter
- Chelan County PUD – Rock Island Dam gets a new turbine
- Broken bearing halts McNary
- The Astorian Editorial – Selling out the river for California
- Baltimore Sun Columnist – Electricity honey pot is starting to stink
- Electricity Planning: Disband the Ontario Power Authority
- On Salmon flow rider: Craig Thwarted by Senate Democrats
- Monster Drano Lake spring Chinook run forecast
- Birds dying from lead poisoning in Western Washington
- Study shows hunting and fishing have huge impact on state economy
- Pacific Grove's low-tech seal proposal: Pot-banging
- Columbian Editorial – In our view: Puget Sound cleanup – This won't be easy
- Grant could mean lower water costs for Monitor residents
- Idaho – Twin Fall farmers reduce sediment in canals
- The answer is not blowin' in the wind this time
- Powerful conservation motivation: Electric-bill elevation
- Washington State will sue EPA over emission decision
- Oregon Governor promises legal fight over auto emissions
- Denial of State Emissions Plan Was Foreshadowed
- Staff at EPA supported California's attempt to reduce car emission
- News Tribune Opinion – An indefensible veto of state clean air rules
- Eco-friendly Portland State University plans to hire 'green' professors
- World's next outsourcing hub: Kenya?
- Nearly $100 million wasted by Port of Seattle
- Tissue mill's closing ends era for Bellingham
- US Senator Cantwell losing top two staffers
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Passel • \PASS-ul\ • noun – A large number or amount
A passel of presents pummeled the palace on the peninsula. “Golly Santa,” exclaimed Comet, “think that your package ejection system has a few bugs in it.” You’d better stick to the chimney delivery system for now.”
Merry Christmas to all. The Energy News Digest will be enjoying a few hot toddies on the 24th and 26th. It will return, bleary-eyed and jolly on the 27th.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
Goodbye wet fall; hello wet winter – Love it or hate it, it's here. Winter. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/306054.html
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Chelan County PUD – Rock Island Dam gets a new turbine. Rock Island Dam got an early holiday gift Tuesday afternoon in the form of a shiny new runner turbine complete with never-before-used blades that give off that new electron smell. (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071220/NEWS04/499252110/1002
Broken bearing halts McNary – Replacement power costs Northern Wasco PUD $8,000 per day. A broken thrust bearing has kept the PUD’s hydropower plant at McNary Dam shut down since mid-November, forcing the utility to buy higher priced power elsewhere. (The Dalles Chronicle)
http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2007/12/news12-20-07-01.shtml
The Astorian Editorial – Selling out the river for California. Gov. Kulongoski protects our world while Commissioners give it away
http://www.dailyastorian.info/main.asp?SectionID=23&SubSectionID=392&ArticleID=47767
Baltimore Sun Columnist – Electricity honey pot is starting to stink
http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-bz.hancock21dec21,0,7741295.column
Canada – Electricity Planning: Disband the Ontario Power Authority; panel urges (Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20071221.POWER21/TPStory/TPNational/Ontario/
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Craig Thwarted by Senate Democrats – Senate Democrats thwarted Idaho Sen. Larry Craig's bid to use a federal spending bill to dictate water flow for Northwest salmon. (Associated Press)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gnfp00LWLPx-wi2HGIDsFIuBkbNgD8TLE2980
Monster Drano Lake spring Chinook run forecast – No matter which forecasting methodology the state biologists use, the result is the same: a record-high 36,800 spring Chinook salmon are predicted to enter the Columbia River headed for Drano Lake in Skamania County. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/sports/localNews/2007/12/12202007_Monster-Drano-Lake-spring-chinook-run-forecast.cfm?newsletter=1
Birds dying from lead poisoning in Western Washington – Several swans have shown up dead of lead poisoning in Western Washington, and researchers think it's being caused by Judson Lake in Whatcom County. (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_122007WAB_swan_dead_lead_TP.364992d5.html
Study shows hunting and fishing have huge impact on state economy – A new study says people who hunt and fish have a $1.4 billion dollar annual impact on the Washington economy. (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Tri Cities)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=7526470
California – Pacific Grove's low-tech seal proposal: Pot-banging (The Examiner.com – now I’ve got a mental image that I can’t get out of my head, thanks a lot pal…)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1117942~Pacific_Grove_s_low_tech_seal_proposal__Pot_banging.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
Columbian Editorial – In our view: This won't be easy. Puget Sound cleanup effort is under way, but Chesapeake example is discouraging
http://www.columbian.com/opinion/news/2007/12/12202007_In-our-view-This-wont-be-easy.cfm?newsletter=5
Grant could mean lower water costs for Monitor residents – The Chelan County PUD on Wednesday received a federal grant that could lead to lower costs for residents who will be served by its Monitor water project. (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071220/NEWS04/310052217/1001/rss1001
Idaho – Twin Fall farmers reduce sediment in canals – Less sediment has improved water quality for endangered species, spared farmers from having to repair clogged irrigation equipment and saved the company from pricey cleanup bills, canal officials said. (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/305747.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Maryland – Cumberland Times-News Op/Ed – The answer is not blowin' in the wind this time “…a critical analysis of the workings of our region's electricity grid reveals that industrial wind energy development within Appalachia belies its "green" reputation…” (And another 25 cents to Robert Zimmerman)
http://www.times-news.com/opinion/local_story_355120115.html?keyword=secondarystory
Introducing the Solar Tree – The streets of Europe could soon be lit by solar energy due to the fact that a solar tree prototype recently passed a key test phase. (Renewable Energy Access)
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50934&src=rss
CONSERVATION
Charleston Post & Courier Commentary – Powerful conservation motivation: Electric-bill elevation
http://www.charleston.net/news/2007/dec/09/powerful_conservation_motivation_electri24488/
Japan's Energy Demand to Fall in 2008 on Conservation (Bloomberg News)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=akllffkwduh0
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Washington State will sue EPA over emission decision – Several others joining against federal agency (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/344414_epa21.html?source=rss
Oregon Governor promises legal fight over auto emissions (Ashland Daily Tidings)
http://www.dailytidings.com/2007/1220/stories/1220_greenhouse.php
Denial of State Emissions Plan Was Foreshadowed – The Bush administration’s decision to deny California the right to regulate greenhouse gases from vehicles exploded like a grenade here and in California. But it was hiding in plain sight for weeks. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/21/washington/21emissions.html?ei=5088&en=27a467e0e2987243&ex=1355893200&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1198260160-fM6ATg+iqaRw7UmozbeX9w
Staff at EPA supported California's attempt to reduce car emission – Administrator reportedly overruled the unanimous opinion of his legal and technical staff in blocking California's effort to cut greenhouse gases from vehicles - a new revelation that California officials say shows his decision was based on politics, not the law. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/21/MNOUU26JN.DTL&tsp=1
News Tribune Opinion – An indefensible veto of state clean air rules. Is it the Environmental Protection Agency – or the Emissions Protection Agency?
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/235354.html
Eco-friendly Portland State University plans to hire 'green' professors – Half of a $2 million boost in funding will pay for the new faculty (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/oregonian/stories/index.ssf?/base/news/1198166106294430.xml&coll=7
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
U.K. gov't urged to adopt codes for broadband service – users concerned that they are being short-changed over broadband speeds. (Network World)
http://www.networkworld.com/news/2007/121907-uk-govt-urged-to-adopt.html
World's next outsourcing hub: Kenya? (Christian Science Monitor)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20071221/ts_csm/ocallcenter_1
Colorado – Glenwood city council looks into expanding broadband (Glenwood Springs Post-Independent)
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20071221/VALLEYNEWS/448683357
GENERAL NEWS
Nearly $100 million wasted by Port of Seattle, state says – A state audit Thursday blasted the Port of Seattle for shoddy management of construction contracts, which auditors say wasted $97 million in public money, violated competitive-bidding laws, and left the Port "vulnerable to fraud, waste and abuse." (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004085652_portaudit21m.html?syndication=rss
Tissue mill's closing ends era for Bellingham “…in December 2000, electricity prices spiked to $3,500 a megawatt hour, and Georgia-Pacific shut down its Bellingham mills for three days. The company ended up closing its pulp mill for good the following March…” (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004085609_mill21m.html?syndication=rss
US Senator Cantwell losing top two staffers – Chief of staff Michael Meehan and Katharine Lister, the deputy staff chief, are both leaving; a year after Cantwell won a convincing re-election. (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_122107WAB_cantwell_staff_leaving_LJ.39a94fee.html
Stewart and Colbert to Return without Writers – Comedy Central’s pair of popular news satirists, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, will return to their television shows on Jan. 7, two months after production was suspended because of a writers’ strike. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/21/business/media/21strike.html?_r=1&ex=1355979600&en=e55d8d03b14dce21&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
DIVERSIONS
Blue Man Seeks Acceptance
http://abclocal.go.com/kfsn/story?section=news/local&id=5843725
Revealed: The seven great "medical myths"
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSARM15505420071221?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews&pageNumber=1&virtualBrandChannel=0
Passport office in need of spellcheck spell check
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN2017925520071220?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Chocolate fuels a carbon-negative voyage from England to Timbuktu – While others eat their way through advent calendars this Christmas season, two Britons are doing something quite different with their chocolate: using it to drive across the Sahara.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20071221/ts_csm/obiotruck
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Energy News Digest for December 20, 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)
- Avista's WA electric, natural gas bills to increase Jan. 1
- Mason County PUD 1 Approves 2008 Budgets - Rate Increases For Water Only
- Grant County PUD budget approved
- Northern Wasco County PUD – BPA payback means PUD rate cut
- Franklin PUD Commissioner Appointed To National Policy Council
- Energy Bill Passes with Inslee Provisions Included
- Missouri Governor rejects key sections of Midwestern energy accord
- California – Calpine gets OK to reorganize
- Heating Oil Costs Strain State, Federal Aid Programs
- Washington Post Editorial – A Nuclear Site Is Breached
- Making the Case for Nuclear Power
- Oregonian Op/Ed – Who pays the price for dam removal?
- Nez Perce tribe authorizes steelhead gillnet season
- Kansas Threatens to Sue Nebraska Over Use of a River
- California Farmers to Get One-Third Less Water
- Cowlitz is among Western Washington rivers fishing wel
- Benton County district gets $91,000 grant to help salmon
- Clallam County PUD water rates going up
- Clark County lawn care plan: almost every lawn in the county will get its water from bathtub drains, dishwashers and rooftop gutters
- Greater Victoria rated 'high risk' polluter
- Corn farm runoff leads to trouble in Gulf of Mexico
- Makah Bay Offshore Wave Pilot Project: FERC issues first license for Hydrokinetic Energy Project
- Yakima – Hearing Examiner takes second look at proposed tire recycling plant
- Energy Law Leaves Out Wind, Solar Tax Credits
- Kempthorne taps Boise resident for national wind panel
- Measure signed by Bush means fluorescent bulbs are more likely to brighten the future
- E.P.A. Says 17 States Can’t Set Emission Rules
- Ancient Warming Caused Huge Spike in Temps
- Tax Hike to Help Environment a Hard Sell
- Do Women Who Find Ferrari Drivers Sexy Contribute to Global Warming?
- Provo, Utah, overhauls iProvo muni fiber model
- Seattle Times Op/Ed – Network neutrality
- F.T.C. Clears Google-DoubleClick Deal
- Municipal bonds hit by mortgage fallout
- Port of Portland to close on Troutdale Alcoa site
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Modus Operandi • \MOE-dus opp-er-RAND-ee\ • noun – A method of procedure; especially: a distinct pattern or method of operation that indicates or suggests the work of a single criminal in more than one crime
“No gentlemen, we are not dealing with a crazed criminal here,” purred Detective Poirot as he absentmindedly stroked his moustache. “What we have here is a person who is so fixed in their modus operandi that they would not change their ways even if confronted with the most secure lock box in the world.” “Non, mon ami, your lunches have not been stolen by a wayward squirrel, crazed dog, or even a trained capuchin monkey…they have been stolen by only one person….your copy repairman: Rick!” (Insert surprised gasp here)
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Avista's WA electric, natural gas bills to increase Jan. 1 (Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1114064~Avista_s_WA_electric__natural_gas_bills_to_increase_Jan__1.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
MASON COUNTY PUD No. 1 APPROVES 2008 BUDGETS - RATE INCREASES FOR WATER ONLY – The Mason County P.U.D. No. 1 Board of Commissioners has approved the District's 2008 water and electric budgets. The 2008 electric budget has projected revenues of $5,554,555 and does NOT reflect an increase in rates. The 2008 water budget has a 3% increase in water rates that is included in the District's ten year comprehensive business plan that was approved in 2003. Projected revenues for the water budget next year are $1,046,500. The 2008 budgets include a half time FTE in the electric operations department and a half time FTE in the water operations department. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Grant County PUD budget approved – Substations, fiber and turbines included (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2007/12/19/news/news01.txt
Northern Wasco County PUD – BPA payback means PUD rate cut. $1.5 million refund would be stretched over 10 months (The Dalles Chronicle)
http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2007/12/news12-19-07-01.shtml
News Release – FRANKLIN PUD COMMISSIONER GORDON APPOINTED TO NATIONAL POLICY COUNCIL – Franklin PUD Commissioner Bill Gordon was appointed to the American Public Power Association Policy Makers Council for the second consecutive year. In this role, Commissioner Gordon represents Northwest public power members on this national Council; his nomination was endorsed by both Benton and Douglas PUDs. Its purpose is to advance the public policy interests of its members and their customers, and provide member services to ensure adequate, reliable electricity at a reasonable price with the proper protection of the environment. “This is a great honor and opportunity for Bill and for Franklin PUD”, stated Franklin PUD Manager, Jean Ryckman. On behalf of the Board of Commissioners and the Franklin PUD staff, we congratulate Commissioner Gordon and wish him continued success.” (Franklin County PUD)
Energy Bill Passes with Inslee Provisions Included (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/dec/18/energy-bill-passes-with-inslee-provisions/
Bill could affect state's permit process for coal plants: Congressional bill could force changes in how Texas permits power plants (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, via Power Markets Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5ChiooonmVTnkw11rbfem%5Ev
Blunt rejects key sections of Midwestern energy accord – Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt has dismissed major parts of the Midwestern Governors Association’s energy pact that would establish greenhouse gas reduction goals and require greater reliance on renewable electricity sources. (The Kansas City Star)
http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics/story/411222.html
California – Calpine gets OK to reorganize. San Jose energy firm set to emerge from bankruptcy after two years (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_7767633?source=rss&nclick_check=1
Heating Oil Costs Strain State, Federal Aid Programs – Heating oil prices are up sharply this winter. In Maine — where 80 percent of homes are heated with oil or kerosene — people are struggling to heat their homes. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17416038&ft=1&f=2
California – Natural gas plan alarms residents. Firm proposes using an underground site – beneath businesses, homes – for storage, and paying neighbors. (Sacramento Bee, may require free registration)
http://www.sacbee.com/294/story/576881.html
Washington Post Editorial – A Nuclear Site Is Breached. An underreported attack on a South African nuclear facility last month demonstrates the high risk of theft of nuclear materials by terrorists or criminals.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/19/AR2007121901857.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns
Making the Case for Nuclear Power – a review of A Brighter Tomorrow: Fulfilling the Promise of Nuclear Energy (The Heartland Institute,)
http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=16389
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Oregonian Op/Ed – Who pays the price for dam removal? Pat Reiten, president of Pacific Power.
http://www.oregonlive.com/commentary/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/1198108506290780.xml&coll=7
Nez Perce tribe authorizes steelhead gillnet season – The Nez Perce Tribe in northern Idaho has started a commercial gillnetting season on portions of the Snake and Clearwater rivers. (Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1113965~Nez_Perce_tribe_authorizes_steelhead_gillnet_season.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
Kansas Threatens to Sue Nebraska Over Use of a River – Kansas threatened a court fight Wednesday unless Nebraska reduced the amount of water it took from the Republican River and paid an undetermined amount for allegedly taking too much water in the past. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/us/20water.html?ex=1355806800&en=6e5f61f62015676f&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
California Farmers to Get One-Third Less Water – Farmers across Southern California are bracing for a 30 percent cut in the amount of water they get for their crops. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17416015&ft=1&f=2
Cowlitz is among Western Washington rivers fishing well (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/outdoors/story/304994.html
Benton County district gets $91,000 grant to help salmon – The Benton County Conservation District is getting $91,000 from the state to help salmon survive in the lower Yakima River. (Tri-Cities Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/v-rss/story/9527816p-9438618c.html
Clallam County PUD water rates going up (KONP Radio, Port Angeles)
http://www.konp.com/local/3316
Clark County lawn care plan: Use wastewater – If you like drinking from the garden hose or playing in the sprinkler, enjoy it while you can. Nobody's talking about actually outlawing such fun. But Clark County's latest ideas for holding down stormwater runoff assume that by 2050, almost every lawn in the county will get its water from bathtub drains, dishwashers and rooftop gutters. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2007/12/12202007_County-lawn-care-plan-Use-wastewater.cfm?newsletter=2
Greater Victoria rated 'high risk' polluter – Greater Victoria is a "high risk" sewage polluter and, regardless of the debate in the community, will be forced to build treatment plants by 2020 (Victoria Times-Colonist – Well, Duh!)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=f8ba5fff-33a0-4979-b8c8-5a46e9912595&k=51505
Corn farm runoff leads to trouble in Gulf of Mexico – Nitrogen from fertilizer flows to Mississippi River, then Gulf of Mexico, where oxygen depletion kills sea animals (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_7767615?source=rss
White Pass halts expansion work pending ruling – The White Pass Ski Area has agreed to halt work on a major expansion project until a federal judge rules on an appeal by environmental groups seeking to block it. (Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP12202007news250627.cfm?newsletter=10
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
News Release – for the Makah Bay Offshore Wave Pilot Project: FERC issues first license for Hydrokinetic Energy Project (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)
http://www.ferc.gov/news/news-releases/2007/2007-4/12-20-07-H-1.asp
Yakima – Hearing Examiner takes second look at proposed tire recycling plant. Proposed plan would turn recycled tires into biodiesel fuel at the proposed site. (KNDO/KNDU, Tri-Cities)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=7522223
Energy Law Leaves Out Wind, Solar Tax Credits – While the new energy bill delivers good news to those in the ethanol business, it disappoints many in the business of cultivating alternative energy sources — such as wind, solar and geothermal power. (National Public Radio – “Windustry?”, good grief…at least they didn’t use “blowin’ in the wind”)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17416001&ft=1&f=2
Kempthorne taps Boise resident for national wind panel – Rich Rayhill will be part of a committee tasked with coming up with guidelines to protect wildlife. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/business/story/242058.html
U.S. Energy Bill Mandate for Corn-Free Ethanol Presents Huge Opportunity, Challenge for Industry (Canadian Business)
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/market_news/article.jsp?content=D8TK1TD83
Lock 7 Hydro Partners to Be Primary Supplier for LG&E and KU Green Energy Program – Group will become the primary supplier of renewable energy credits (RECs) for Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities companies. The Mother Ann Lee Hydroelectric Station on the Kentucky River at Lock and Dam 7 will generate the RECs. (Market Wire, via Power Marketers Online – Nice to know that someone thinks hydropower is a renewable resource)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5Chiqpmqv%5BTnkw11rbfem%5Ev
CONSERVATION
Lighting a new path to energy efficiency – Measure signed by Bush means fluorescent bulbs are more likely to brighten the future (Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chronicle/5392696.html
Tennessee – Attorney general fines Hendersonville energy saving companies (The Tennesseean, Nashville)
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071219/BUSINESS01/71219084
The Green House as Classroom (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/garden/20show.html?ex=1355893200&en=c6eb16b37b42019f&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
E.P.A. Says 17 States Can’t Set Emission Rules – The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday denied California and 16 other states the right to set their own standards for carbon dioxide emissions from automobiles. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/washington/20epa.html?_r=1&ex=1355893200&en=139426ab611e3fc1&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Ancient Warming Caused Huge Spike in Temps, Study Says – What started out as a moderate global warm-up about 55 million years ago triggered a massive injection of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that sent temperatures skyrocketing, a new study says. (National Geographic)
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/12/071219-ancient-warming.html
Tax Hike to Help Environment a Hard Sell – A so-called carbon tax would put a price on any carbon released into the atmosphere. But even for the greenest voters, a tax increase that would help the environment is likely to be a hard sell. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17441683&ft=1&f=3
Do Women Who Find Ferrari Drivers Sexy Contribute to Global Warming? (Wired Magazine)
http://blog.wired.com/cars/2007/12/women-who-find.html
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Provo, Utah, overhauls iProvo muni fiber model – High churn leads iProvo to hire consultants. The city council of Provo, Utah, is conferring with consultants it hired this month to help determine why its fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network isn’t performing as hoped and to overhaul the model. (Telephony Online)
http://telephonyonline.com/home/news/iprovo_municipal_fiber_121907/index.html
Seattle Times Op/Ed – Network neutrality Freedom of expression at risk
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2004083050_openmic20.html?syndication=rss
Seattle Times Op/Ed – Network neutrality Hysteria makes for bad law
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2004083048_broadband20.html?syndication=rss
F.T.C. Clears Google-DoubleClick Deal – The go-ahead from the Federal Trade Commission clears the way for a formidable combination in the burgeoning online advertising sector. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/technology/AP-Google-DoubleClick-Antitrust.html?ex=1355893200&en=efaae96e4344b592&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Ohio – Fiber a resource, not a revelation – Completed in 2002 at a cost of roughly $6 million, Butler County's fiber optic ring was touted as a high-tech lure to new business. (The Oxford Press)
http://www.oxfordpress.com/news/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/12/19/hjn122007fiberopticinside.html
Wi-Fi Mesh Lights Up Mecca for Hajj – The millions of pilgrims in Mecca this week for the Hajj, an annual gathering of Muslims, can stay connected thanks to a temporary Wi-Fi mesh network covering a large part of the city. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/idg/IDG_002570DE00740E18882573B5007AC5BA.html?ex=1355893200&en=fac659cc72e46ac7&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Storm aid to state boosted – FEMA doubles counties to 12, expands relief (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/344206_storms20.html?source=rss
Seven Corps workers back from Midwest – A group from the local U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office assisted with storm-relief efforts. (Union Bulletin, Walla Walla)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2007/12/19/local_news/local05.txt
Municipal bonds hit by mortgage fallout – Like toxic waste dumped into a city's sewer system, the subprime debacle is seeping into virtually every nook and cranny of the nation's financial markets, polluting sectors that seemed far removed from home mortgages. Today's case in point: municipal bonds. (The San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/20/BU0BU1GHR.DTL&feed=rss.business
Port of Portland to close on Troutdale Alcoa site – Alcoa will lead the cleanup of the parcel slated for shipping and manufacturing (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/119812471951190.xml&coll=7
DIVERSIONS
Eco-boat powered by human fat attempts round the world speed record
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=503419&in_page_id=1770
Woman goes to doctor to show Social Security she is alive
http://www.examiner.com/a-1115687~Woman_goes_to_doctor_to_show_Social_Security_she_is_alive.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Lottery money returned to real winners
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=557fd46f-8d55-4e4b-8a0c-abb5709b38ad&k=87041
Thieves Saw Off More Than 500 Parking Meters
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14898345/detail.html
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Avista's WA electric, natural gas bills to increase Jan. 1
- Mason County PUD 1 Approves 2008 Budgets - Rate Increases For Water Only
- Grant County PUD budget approved
- Northern Wasco County PUD – BPA payback means PUD rate cut
- Franklin PUD Commissioner Appointed To National Policy Council
- Energy Bill Passes with Inslee Provisions Included
- Missouri Governor rejects key sections of Midwestern energy accord
- California – Calpine gets OK to reorganize
- Heating Oil Costs Strain State, Federal Aid Programs
- Washington Post Editorial – A Nuclear Site Is Breached
- Making the Case for Nuclear Power
- Oregonian Op/Ed – Who pays the price for dam removal?
- Nez Perce tribe authorizes steelhead gillnet season
- Kansas Threatens to Sue Nebraska Over Use of a River
- California Farmers to Get One-Third Less Water
- Cowlitz is among Western Washington rivers fishing wel
- Benton County district gets $91,000 grant to help salmon
- Clallam County PUD water rates going up
- Clark County lawn care plan: almost every lawn in the county will get its water from bathtub drains, dishwashers and rooftop gutters
- Greater Victoria rated 'high risk' polluter
- Corn farm runoff leads to trouble in Gulf of Mexico
- Makah Bay Offshore Wave Pilot Project: FERC issues first license for Hydrokinetic Energy Project
- Yakima – Hearing Examiner takes second look at proposed tire recycling plant
- Energy Law Leaves Out Wind, Solar Tax Credits
- Kempthorne taps Boise resident for national wind panel
- Measure signed by Bush means fluorescent bulbs are more likely to brighten the future
- E.P.A. Says 17 States Can’t Set Emission Rules
- Ancient Warming Caused Huge Spike in Temps
- Tax Hike to Help Environment a Hard Sell
- Do Women Who Find Ferrari Drivers Sexy Contribute to Global Warming?
- Provo, Utah, overhauls iProvo muni fiber model
- Seattle Times Op/Ed – Network neutrality
- F.T.C. Clears Google-DoubleClick Deal
- Municipal bonds hit by mortgage fallout
- Port of Portland to close on Troutdale Alcoa site
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Modus Operandi • \MOE-dus opp-er-RAND-ee\ • noun – A method of procedure; especially: a distinct pattern or method of operation that indicates or suggests the work of a single criminal in more than one crime
“No gentlemen, we are not dealing with a crazed criminal here,” purred Detective Poirot as he absentmindedly stroked his moustache. “What we have here is a person who is so fixed in their modus operandi that they would not change their ways even if confronted with the most secure lock box in the world.” “Non, mon ami, your lunches have not been stolen by a wayward squirrel, crazed dog, or even a trained capuchin monkey…they have been stolen by only one person….your copy repairman: Rick!” (Insert surprised gasp here)
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Avista's WA electric, natural gas bills to increase Jan. 1 (Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1114064~Avista_s_WA_electric__natural_gas_bills_to_increase_Jan__1.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
MASON COUNTY PUD No. 1 APPROVES 2008 BUDGETS - RATE INCREASES FOR WATER ONLY – The Mason County P.U.D. No. 1 Board of Commissioners has approved the District's 2008 water and electric budgets. The 2008 electric budget has projected revenues of $5,554,555 and does NOT reflect an increase in rates. The 2008 water budget has a 3% increase in water rates that is included in the District's ten year comprehensive business plan that was approved in 2003. Projected revenues for the water budget next year are $1,046,500. The 2008 budgets include a half time FTE in the electric operations department and a half time FTE in the water operations department. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Grant County PUD budget approved – Substations, fiber and turbines included (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2007/12/19/news/news01.txt
Northern Wasco County PUD – BPA payback means PUD rate cut. $1.5 million refund would be stretched over 10 months (The Dalles Chronicle)
http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2007/12/news12-19-07-01.shtml
News Release – FRANKLIN PUD COMMISSIONER GORDON APPOINTED TO NATIONAL POLICY COUNCIL – Franklin PUD Commissioner Bill Gordon was appointed to the American Public Power Association Policy Makers Council for the second consecutive year. In this role, Commissioner Gordon represents Northwest public power members on this national Council; his nomination was endorsed by both Benton and Douglas PUDs. Its purpose is to advance the public policy interests of its members and their customers, and provide member services to ensure adequate, reliable electricity at a reasonable price with the proper protection of the environment. “This is a great honor and opportunity for Bill and for Franklin PUD”, stated Franklin PUD Manager, Jean Ryckman. On behalf of the Board of Commissioners and the Franklin PUD staff, we congratulate Commissioner Gordon and wish him continued success.” (Franklin County PUD)
Energy Bill Passes with Inslee Provisions Included (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/dec/18/energy-bill-passes-with-inslee-provisions/
Bill could affect state's permit process for coal plants: Congressional bill could force changes in how Texas permits power plants (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, via Power Markets Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5ChiooonmVTnkw11rbfem%5Ev
Blunt rejects key sections of Midwestern energy accord – Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt has dismissed major parts of the Midwestern Governors Association’s energy pact that would establish greenhouse gas reduction goals and require greater reliance on renewable electricity sources. (The Kansas City Star)
http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics/story/411222.html
California – Calpine gets OK to reorganize. San Jose energy firm set to emerge from bankruptcy after two years (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_7767633?source=rss&nclick_check=1
Heating Oil Costs Strain State, Federal Aid Programs – Heating oil prices are up sharply this winter. In Maine — where 80 percent of homes are heated with oil or kerosene — people are struggling to heat their homes. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17416038&ft=1&f=2
California – Natural gas plan alarms residents. Firm proposes using an underground site – beneath businesses, homes – for storage, and paying neighbors. (Sacramento Bee, may require free registration)
http://www.sacbee.com/294/story/576881.html
Washington Post Editorial – A Nuclear Site Is Breached. An underreported attack on a South African nuclear facility last month demonstrates the high risk of theft of nuclear materials by terrorists or criminals.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/19/AR2007121901857.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns
Making the Case for Nuclear Power – a review of A Brighter Tomorrow: Fulfilling the Promise of Nuclear Energy (The Heartland Institute,)
http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=16389
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Oregonian Op/Ed – Who pays the price for dam removal? Pat Reiten, president of Pacific Power.
http://www.oregonlive.com/commentary/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/1198108506290780.xml&coll=7
Nez Perce tribe authorizes steelhead gillnet season – The Nez Perce Tribe in northern Idaho has started a commercial gillnetting season on portions of the Snake and Clearwater rivers. (Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1113965~Nez_Perce_tribe_authorizes_steelhead_gillnet_season.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
Kansas Threatens to Sue Nebraska Over Use of a River – Kansas threatened a court fight Wednesday unless Nebraska reduced the amount of water it took from the Republican River and paid an undetermined amount for allegedly taking too much water in the past. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/us/20water.html?ex=1355806800&en=6e5f61f62015676f&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
California Farmers to Get One-Third Less Water – Farmers across Southern California are bracing for a 30 percent cut in the amount of water they get for their crops. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17416015&ft=1&f=2
Cowlitz is among Western Washington rivers fishing well (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/outdoors/story/304994.html
Benton County district gets $91,000 grant to help salmon – The Benton County Conservation District is getting $91,000 from the state to help salmon survive in the lower Yakima River. (Tri-Cities Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/v-rss/story/9527816p-9438618c.html
Clallam County PUD water rates going up (KONP Radio, Port Angeles)
http://www.konp.com/local/3316
Clark County lawn care plan: Use wastewater – If you like drinking from the garden hose or playing in the sprinkler, enjoy it while you can. Nobody's talking about actually outlawing such fun. But Clark County's latest ideas for holding down stormwater runoff assume that by 2050, almost every lawn in the county will get its water from bathtub drains, dishwashers and rooftop gutters. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2007/12/12202007_County-lawn-care-plan-Use-wastewater.cfm?newsletter=2
Greater Victoria rated 'high risk' polluter – Greater Victoria is a "high risk" sewage polluter and, regardless of the debate in the community, will be forced to build treatment plants by 2020 (Victoria Times-Colonist – Well, Duh!)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=f8ba5fff-33a0-4979-b8c8-5a46e9912595&k=51505
Corn farm runoff leads to trouble in Gulf of Mexico – Nitrogen from fertilizer flows to Mississippi River, then Gulf of Mexico, where oxygen depletion kills sea animals (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_7767615?source=rss
White Pass halts expansion work pending ruling – The White Pass Ski Area has agreed to halt work on a major expansion project until a federal judge rules on an appeal by environmental groups seeking to block it. (Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP12202007news250627.cfm?newsletter=10
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
News Release – for the Makah Bay Offshore Wave Pilot Project: FERC issues first license for Hydrokinetic Energy Project (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)
http://www.ferc.gov/news/news-releases/2007/2007-4/12-20-07-H-1.asp
Yakima – Hearing Examiner takes second look at proposed tire recycling plant. Proposed plan would turn recycled tires into biodiesel fuel at the proposed site. (KNDO/KNDU, Tri-Cities)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=7522223
Energy Law Leaves Out Wind, Solar Tax Credits – While the new energy bill delivers good news to those in the ethanol business, it disappoints many in the business of cultivating alternative energy sources — such as wind, solar and geothermal power. (National Public Radio – “Windustry?”, good grief…at least they didn’t use “blowin’ in the wind”)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17416001&ft=1&f=2
Kempthorne taps Boise resident for national wind panel – Rich Rayhill will be part of a committee tasked with coming up with guidelines to protect wildlife. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/business/story/242058.html
U.S. Energy Bill Mandate for Corn-Free Ethanol Presents Huge Opportunity, Challenge for Industry (Canadian Business)
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/market_news/article.jsp?content=D8TK1TD83
Lock 7 Hydro Partners to Be Primary Supplier for LG&E and KU Green Energy Program – Group will become the primary supplier of renewable energy credits (RECs) for Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities companies. The Mother Ann Lee Hydroelectric Station on the Kentucky River at Lock and Dam 7 will generate the RECs. (Market Wire, via Power Marketers Online – Nice to know that someone thinks hydropower is a renewable resource)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5Chiqpmqv%5BTnkw11rbfem%5Ev
CONSERVATION
Lighting a new path to energy efficiency – Measure signed by Bush means fluorescent bulbs are more likely to brighten the future (Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chronicle/5392696.html
Tennessee – Attorney general fines Hendersonville energy saving companies (The Tennesseean, Nashville)
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071219/BUSINESS01/71219084
The Green House as Classroom (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/garden/20show.html?ex=1355893200&en=c6eb16b37b42019f&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
E.P.A. Says 17 States Can’t Set Emission Rules – The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday denied California and 16 other states the right to set their own standards for carbon dioxide emissions from automobiles. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/washington/20epa.html?_r=1&ex=1355893200&en=139426ab611e3fc1&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Ancient Warming Caused Huge Spike in Temps, Study Says – What started out as a moderate global warm-up about 55 million years ago triggered a massive injection of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that sent temperatures skyrocketing, a new study says. (National Geographic)
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/12/071219-ancient-warming.html
Tax Hike to Help Environment a Hard Sell – A so-called carbon tax would put a price on any carbon released into the atmosphere. But even for the greenest voters, a tax increase that would help the environment is likely to be a hard sell. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17441683&ft=1&f=3
Do Women Who Find Ferrari Drivers Sexy Contribute to Global Warming? (Wired Magazine)
http://blog.wired.com/cars/2007/12/women-who-find.html
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Provo, Utah, overhauls iProvo muni fiber model – High churn leads iProvo to hire consultants. The city council of Provo, Utah, is conferring with consultants it hired this month to help determine why its fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network isn’t performing as hoped and to overhaul the model. (Telephony Online)
http://telephonyonline.com/home/news/iprovo_municipal_fiber_121907/index.html
Seattle Times Op/Ed – Network neutrality Freedom of expression at risk
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2004083050_openmic20.html?syndication=rss
Seattle Times Op/Ed – Network neutrality Hysteria makes for bad law
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2004083048_broadband20.html?syndication=rss
F.T.C. Clears Google-DoubleClick Deal – The go-ahead from the Federal Trade Commission clears the way for a formidable combination in the burgeoning online advertising sector. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/technology/AP-Google-DoubleClick-Antitrust.html?ex=1355893200&en=efaae96e4344b592&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Ohio – Fiber a resource, not a revelation – Completed in 2002 at a cost of roughly $6 million, Butler County's fiber optic ring was touted as a high-tech lure to new business. (The Oxford Press)
http://www.oxfordpress.com/news/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/12/19/hjn122007fiberopticinside.html
Wi-Fi Mesh Lights Up Mecca for Hajj – The millions of pilgrims in Mecca this week for the Hajj, an annual gathering of Muslims, can stay connected thanks to a temporary Wi-Fi mesh network covering a large part of the city. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/idg/IDG_002570DE00740E18882573B5007AC5BA.html?ex=1355893200&en=fac659cc72e46ac7&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Storm aid to state boosted – FEMA doubles counties to 12, expands relief (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/344206_storms20.html?source=rss
Seven Corps workers back from Midwest – A group from the local U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office assisted with storm-relief efforts. (Union Bulletin, Walla Walla)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2007/12/19/local_news/local05.txt
Municipal bonds hit by mortgage fallout – Like toxic waste dumped into a city's sewer system, the subprime debacle is seeping into virtually every nook and cranny of the nation's financial markets, polluting sectors that seemed far removed from home mortgages. Today's case in point: municipal bonds. (The San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/20/BU0BU1GHR.DTL&feed=rss.business
Port of Portland to close on Troutdale Alcoa site – Alcoa will lead the cleanup of the parcel slated for shipping and manufacturing (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/119812471951190.xml&coll=7
DIVERSIONS
Eco-boat powered by human fat attempts round the world speed record
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=503419&in_page_id=1770
Woman goes to doctor to show Social Security she is alive
http://www.examiner.com/a-1115687~Woman_goes_to_doctor_to_show_Social_Security_she_is_alive.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Lottery money returned to real winners
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=557fd46f-8d55-4e4b-8a0c-abb5709b38ad&k=87041
Thieves Saw Off More Than 500 Parking Meters
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14898345/detail.html
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Energy News Digest for December 19, 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)
- Electricity Restored to Collins Lake Substation After Construction Crane Touches Power line
- Power Agreement Bonneville offers utility $9.5 million, with strings attached
- Bonneville payments ‘not relief, this is a trap,’ Grays Harbor County PUD says
- Local briefly: Snohomish County PUD won't yet decide on refund for $19 million
- Ratepayers may see BPA credit restored
- Stripped of Renewable Energy Mandates – House, 314-100, Passes Broad Energy Bill
- Walla Walla – Power plant siting in spotlight
- Idaho – Nuke plant developer will meet with public
- Texas vows to attract other carbon-capture plants
- Oregon Governor cites problems with federal analysis of gas terminal
- Grant County PUD names new treasurer
- One Enron Case Settled
- Ameren Illinois Utilities Issue Warning on Dangers of Copper Theft
- Mason County PUD No. 3 makes Last Reconnections from December 3 Storm
- Pact resolves 6-year battle over Ellensburg-area creek
- Puget Sound cleanup gets more federal funding than expected
- The Olympian Opinion – Environmental lobby looks to exert clout
- West Sound Utility District Hears From Public on Rate Hike
- City of Longview sets steep water and sewer rate hikes
- Resident fights Orting utility tax hike
- Southwest May Pipe In Water from Great Lakes
- New ethanol goal offers challenge, opportunity for biofuel industry
- Chevron sued over funding of biodiesel plant – Partner firm says oil giant stopped
- Sparks flying over Pennsylvania’s energy future
- Lighten the power load during Christmas season
- Montana – Climate change report aired.
- Clean-air agency wants to ban burning in yards
- Pizza Boxes Are Power Hogs
- FCC approves controversial media ownership rule
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Plebiscite • \PLEB-uh-site\ • noun – a vote by which the people of an entire country or district express an opinion for or against a proposal especially on a choice of government or ruler
“The ballots have been sent out. Like Noah sending the dove and the Raven to search for dry land we will soon know if the subjects like what I’ve suggested, or will continue to be restless,” mused the white-bearded king as he gazed from his tower, overlooking his lovely city of rivers. Unfortunately, calling for a plebiscite on naming the ‘cane toad’ as the Australian amphibian was like asking for an indulgence for a beer belch in church.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
News Release – Electricity Restored to Collins Lake Substation After Construction Crane Touches Power line (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/News/display.asp?NewsID=400
Power Agreement Bonneville offers utility $9.5 million, with strings attached – Clark Public Utilities could get a one-time $9.5 million payout from the Bonneville Power Administration under a proposal announced Monday by the BPA. But there's a lot of uncertainty about the deal. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2007/12/12182007_Power-Agreement-Bonneville-offers-utility-95-million-with-strings-attached.cfm
Bonneville payments ‘not relief, this is a trap,’ Grays Harbor County PUD says. Commissioners called the plan “absurd,” and rejected the interim proposal. (Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/12/18/local_news/03news.txt
Local briefly: Snohomish County PUD won't yet decide on refund for $19 million (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071219/NEWS01/710003258/-1/news01
Ratepayers may see BPA credit restored (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/page/dis/299999521904786
President Bush Signs Energy Bill (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/19/AR2007121900815.html?nav=rss_email/components
Energy bill to save 'billions' – President Bush signed into law Wednesday legislation that will bring more fuel-efficient vehicles into auto showrooms and require wider use of ethanol, calling it "a major step" toward energy independence and easing global warming. (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-12-18-fuel-economy_N.htm?csp=34
Stripped of Renewable Energy Mandates – House, 314-100, Passes Broad Energy Bill; Bush Plans to Sign It (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/19/washington/19energy.html?ei=5088&en=2f23e7ad81fc4185&ex=1355720400&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1198090893-AMjoU60bMvG1GwWBWLpkew
Walla Walla – Power plant siting in spotlight – Whether a power plant will be allowed in the heavy industrial area remains to be seen. (Union-Bulletin, Walla Walla)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2007/12/19/local_news/local04.txt
Idaho – Nuke plant developer will meet with public. As Payette ponders the proposed facility, the state debates who should be making decisions on where to put power plants. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/242279.html
N.J. sues Pa. power plant, claims excessive amounts of air pollution drift across state line (International Herald Tribune)
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/19/america/Pollution-Suit.php
Texas vows to attract other carbon-capture plants (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUKN1851451520071218?rpc=44
Oregon Governor cites problems with federal analysis of gas terminal (Associated Press, via the Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1112665~Governor_cites_problems_with_federal_analysis_of_gas_terminal.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Grant County PUD names new treasurer – Grant County PUD commissioners named Jim Bunch last week to the permanent position of treasurer/controller. (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2007/12/18/news/news05.txt
One Enron Case Settled (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/19/business/19enron.html?ex=1355720400&en=26ba475fbf6ef41d&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
News Release – Ameren Illinois Utilities Issue Warning on Dangers of Copper Theft. Public can Help Curb this Deadly Crime (Ameren Illinois, via Yahoo! Finance)
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/071219/aqw071.html?.v=33
News Release – Last Reconnections from December 3 Storm - Governmental Cooperation Applauded for Effort (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/News/display.asp?NewsID=398
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Pact resolves 6-year battle over Ellensburg-area creek – Farmers, environmentalists to restore fish runs without impeding irrigation (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/344121_creek19.html
Puget Sound cleanup gets more federal funding than expected (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/303998.html
The Olympian Opinion – Environmental lobby looks to exert clout
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/303883.html
West Sound Utility District Hears From Public on Rate Hike – Dennis Briggs doesn't mind paying more for sewer service, he just doesn't want to pay the same amount as a family of eight. (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/dec/18/west-sound-utility-district-hears-from-public-on/
City of Longview sets steep water and sewer rate hikes – Longview residents' utility bills will jump early next year as the city prepares to fund expensive upgrades to its aging water and sewer treatment systems. (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/12/19//area_news/doc4768c7e199144001446087.txt
Resident fights Orting utility tax hike – After the Orting City Council raises utility taxes, a resident who wanted to force a public vote on the issue was told he was too late. But he’s not through fighting. (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/233284.html
Southwest May Pipe In Water from Great Lakes – Drought-choked southwestern states are considering piping in water from the Great Lakes. Getting the go-ahead on such a plan wouldn't be easy, however. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17354828&ft=1&f=17
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Does the passage of the stripped-down Energy Bill mean that momentum is lost for renewables? (Renewable Energy Access)
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50920&src=rss
New ethanol goal offers challenge, opportunity for biofuel industry (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004081388_ethanol19.html?syndication=rss
Chevron sued over funding of biodiesel plant – Partner firm says oil giant stopped paying (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/19/BUJDU0VQ0.DTL&feed=rss.business
Sparks flying over Pennsylvania’s energy future – With Gov. Rendell and Senate Republicans $200 million apart, the biofuels-and-conservation effort is lagging. (Philly.com)
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20071219_Sparks_flying_over_Pa_s_energy_future.html
CONSERVATION
Lighten the power load during Christmas season (The Star Phoenix, Regina)
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/business/story.html?id=c4342fd7-e661-4076-a30a-8e37ad35357f
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Montana – Climate change report aired. Montana accounts for just 0.6 percent of America's greenhouse gas emissions, but the average Montanan contributes almost double the amount of greenhouse gas as the average American. (Billings Gazette)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/12/19/news/local/28-climatereport.txt
Clean-air agency wants to ban burning in yards – Burning garden leftovers, grass clippings, downed trees and other woody debris would be banned in rural Snohomish County under a proposal by clean-air officials. (Everett Herald – Check out the chart!)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071219/NEWS01/611452862&news01ad=1
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Pizza Boxes Are Power Hogs – As everyone knows, you get what you pay for. That maxim certainly holds true for Internet infrastructure, especially when it comes to servers. (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2007/12/18/pizza-boxes-are-power-hogs/
FCC approves controversial media ownership rule – The Federal Communications Commission, overturning a 32-year-old ban, voted Tuesday to allow broadcasters in the nation's 20 largest media markets to also own a newspaper. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004080133_webfcc18.html?syndication=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Oregon Gets Short Shrift In Congress' Final Days – President George Bush said Wednesday he will sign a hard-fought energy bill compromise. The bill sets higher mileage standards for cars, but for many Oregonians it's a disappointment. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/oregon-gets-short-shrift-congress-final-days/
DIVERSIONS
"Don't Tase Me, Bro" tops Reuters '07 memorable quote list
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN1959512020071219
Bride In Toilet Paper Dress To Tie Knot In Restroom
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14890478/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000312192007&ts=H
Judge Sides With Man Fired For Posting 'Dilbert' Comic In Office
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14890514/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000312192007&ts=H
Choir drops 'Christmas' from carol – Teachers' Decision; Children to sing: 'Soon it will be festive day'
http://www.nationalpost.com/newsletter/story.html?id=181191
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Electricity Restored to Collins Lake Substation After Construction Crane Touches Power line
- Power Agreement Bonneville offers utility $9.5 million, with strings attached
- Bonneville payments ‘not relief, this is a trap,’ Grays Harbor County PUD says
- Local briefly: Snohomish County PUD won't yet decide on refund for $19 million
- Ratepayers may see BPA credit restored
- Stripped of Renewable Energy Mandates – House, 314-100, Passes Broad Energy Bill
- Walla Walla – Power plant siting in spotlight
- Idaho – Nuke plant developer will meet with public
- Texas vows to attract other carbon-capture plants
- Oregon Governor cites problems with federal analysis of gas terminal
- Grant County PUD names new treasurer
- One Enron Case Settled
- Ameren Illinois Utilities Issue Warning on Dangers of Copper Theft
- Mason County PUD No. 3 makes Last Reconnections from December 3 Storm
- Pact resolves 6-year battle over Ellensburg-area creek
- Puget Sound cleanup gets more federal funding than expected
- The Olympian Opinion – Environmental lobby looks to exert clout
- West Sound Utility District Hears From Public on Rate Hike
- City of Longview sets steep water and sewer rate hikes
- Resident fights Orting utility tax hike
- Southwest May Pipe In Water from Great Lakes
- New ethanol goal offers challenge, opportunity for biofuel industry
- Chevron sued over funding of biodiesel plant – Partner firm says oil giant stopped
- Sparks flying over Pennsylvania’s energy future
- Lighten the power load during Christmas season
- Montana – Climate change report aired.
- Clean-air agency wants to ban burning in yards
- Pizza Boxes Are Power Hogs
- FCC approves controversial media ownership rule
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Plebiscite • \PLEB-uh-site\ • noun – a vote by which the people of an entire country or district express an opinion for or against a proposal especially on a choice of government or ruler
“The ballots have been sent out. Like Noah sending the dove and the Raven to search for dry land we will soon know if the subjects like what I’ve suggested, or will continue to be restless,” mused the white-bearded king as he gazed from his tower, overlooking his lovely city of rivers. Unfortunately, calling for a plebiscite on naming the ‘cane toad’ as the Australian amphibian was like asking for an indulgence for a beer belch in church.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
News Release – Electricity Restored to Collins Lake Substation After Construction Crane Touches Power line (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/News/display.asp?NewsID=400
Power Agreement Bonneville offers utility $9.5 million, with strings attached – Clark Public Utilities could get a one-time $9.5 million payout from the Bonneville Power Administration under a proposal announced Monday by the BPA. But there's a lot of uncertainty about the deal. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2007/12/12182007_Power-Agreement-Bonneville-offers-utility-95-million-with-strings-attached.cfm
Bonneville payments ‘not relief, this is a trap,’ Grays Harbor County PUD says. Commissioners called the plan “absurd,” and rejected the interim proposal. (Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/12/18/local_news/03news.txt
Local briefly: Snohomish County PUD won't yet decide on refund for $19 million (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071219/NEWS01/710003258/-1/news01
Ratepayers may see BPA credit restored (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/page/dis/299999521904786
President Bush Signs Energy Bill (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/19/AR2007121900815.html?nav=rss_email/components
Energy bill to save 'billions' – President Bush signed into law Wednesday legislation that will bring more fuel-efficient vehicles into auto showrooms and require wider use of ethanol, calling it "a major step" toward energy independence and easing global warming. (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-12-18-fuel-economy_N.htm?csp=34
Stripped of Renewable Energy Mandates – House, 314-100, Passes Broad Energy Bill; Bush Plans to Sign It (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/19/washington/19energy.html?ei=5088&en=2f23e7ad81fc4185&ex=1355720400&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1198090893-AMjoU60bMvG1GwWBWLpkew
Walla Walla – Power plant siting in spotlight – Whether a power plant will be allowed in the heavy industrial area remains to be seen. (Union-Bulletin, Walla Walla)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2007/12/19/local_news/local04.txt
Idaho – Nuke plant developer will meet with public. As Payette ponders the proposed facility, the state debates who should be making decisions on where to put power plants. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/242279.html
N.J. sues Pa. power plant, claims excessive amounts of air pollution drift across state line (International Herald Tribune)
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/19/america/Pollution-Suit.php
Texas vows to attract other carbon-capture plants (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUKN1851451520071218?rpc=44
Oregon Governor cites problems with federal analysis of gas terminal (Associated Press, via the Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1112665~Governor_cites_problems_with_federal_analysis_of_gas_terminal.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Grant County PUD names new treasurer – Grant County PUD commissioners named Jim Bunch last week to the permanent position of treasurer/controller. (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2007/12/18/news/news05.txt
One Enron Case Settled (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/19/business/19enron.html?ex=1355720400&en=26ba475fbf6ef41d&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
News Release – Ameren Illinois Utilities Issue Warning on Dangers of Copper Theft. Public can Help Curb this Deadly Crime (Ameren Illinois, via Yahoo! Finance)
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/071219/aqw071.html?.v=33
News Release – Last Reconnections from December 3 Storm - Governmental Cooperation Applauded for Effort (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/News/display.asp?NewsID=398
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Pact resolves 6-year battle over Ellensburg-area creek – Farmers, environmentalists to restore fish runs without impeding irrigation (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/344121_creek19.html
Puget Sound cleanup gets more federal funding than expected (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/303998.html
The Olympian Opinion – Environmental lobby looks to exert clout
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/303883.html
West Sound Utility District Hears From Public on Rate Hike – Dennis Briggs doesn't mind paying more for sewer service, he just doesn't want to pay the same amount as a family of eight. (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/dec/18/west-sound-utility-district-hears-from-public-on/
City of Longview sets steep water and sewer rate hikes – Longview residents' utility bills will jump early next year as the city prepares to fund expensive upgrades to its aging water and sewer treatment systems. (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/12/19//area_news/doc4768c7e199144001446087.txt
Resident fights Orting utility tax hike – After the Orting City Council raises utility taxes, a resident who wanted to force a public vote on the issue was told he was too late. But he’s not through fighting. (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/233284.html
Southwest May Pipe In Water from Great Lakes – Drought-choked southwestern states are considering piping in water from the Great Lakes. Getting the go-ahead on such a plan wouldn't be easy, however. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17354828&ft=1&f=17
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Does the passage of the stripped-down Energy Bill mean that momentum is lost for renewables? (Renewable Energy Access)
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50920&src=rss
New ethanol goal offers challenge, opportunity for biofuel industry (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004081388_ethanol19.html?syndication=rss
Chevron sued over funding of biodiesel plant – Partner firm says oil giant stopped paying (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/19/BUJDU0VQ0.DTL&feed=rss.business
Sparks flying over Pennsylvania’s energy future – With Gov. Rendell and Senate Republicans $200 million apart, the biofuels-and-conservation effort is lagging. (Philly.com)
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20071219_Sparks_flying_over_Pa_s_energy_future.html
CONSERVATION
Lighten the power load during Christmas season (The Star Phoenix, Regina)
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/business/story.html?id=c4342fd7-e661-4076-a30a-8e37ad35357f
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Montana – Climate change report aired. Montana accounts for just 0.6 percent of America's greenhouse gas emissions, but the average Montanan contributes almost double the amount of greenhouse gas as the average American. (Billings Gazette)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/12/19/news/local/28-climatereport.txt
Clean-air agency wants to ban burning in yards – Burning garden leftovers, grass clippings, downed trees and other woody debris would be banned in rural Snohomish County under a proposal by clean-air officials. (Everett Herald – Check out the chart!)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071219/NEWS01/611452862&news01ad=1
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Pizza Boxes Are Power Hogs – As everyone knows, you get what you pay for. That maxim certainly holds true for Internet infrastructure, especially when it comes to servers. (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2007/12/18/pizza-boxes-are-power-hogs/
FCC approves controversial media ownership rule – The Federal Communications Commission, overturning a 32-year-old ban, voted Tuesday to allow broadcasters in the nation's 20 largest media markets to also own a newspaper. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004080133_webfcc18.html?syndication=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Oregon Gets Short Shrift In Congress' Final Days – President George Bush said Wednesday he will sign a hard-fought energy bill compromise. The bill sets higher mileage standards for cars, but for many Oregonians it's a disappointment. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/oregon-gets-short-shrift-congress-final-days/
DIVERSIONS
"Don't Tase Me, Bro" tops Reuters '07 memorable quote list
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN1959512020071219
Bride In Toilet Paper Dress To Tie Knot In Restroom
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14890478/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000312192007&ts=H
Judge Sides With Man Fired For Posting 'Dilbert' Comic In Office
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14890514/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000312192007&ts=H
Choir drops 'Christmas' from carol – Teachers' Decision; Children to sing: 'Soon it will be festive day'
http://www.nationalpost.com/newsletter/story.html?id=181191
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Energy News Digest for December 18, 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)
- BPA offers interim fixes to utilities
- Puget Sound Energy – Merger Takes Another Step
- Domenici – Another Push for Nuclear Power.
- Officials pick site for carbon-free coal plant
- Walla Walla Union Bulletin Editorial – Judge goes too far in trying to manage dams
- Columbia Basin water plan includes $5.9M for 2 tribes
- More Water Coming To Wenatchee River Watershed
- News Tribune Opinion – The miracle at Swan Creek.
- Literally and Figuratively – Storm brings windfall to paper mill in Hoquiam
- California backers of targets for renewable energy can gather signatures
- Pacific Gas & Electric agrees to buy power from Canadian firm's proposed 'wave park'
- Another wave energy effort pitched for Humboldt coast
- Food and Fuel Compete for Land
- Light Bulbs, Gasoline Will Change with U.S. Energy Bill Passage
- Chelan County PUD Joins Emissions Trading Exchange
- High-tech brings rural towns back to life
- FCC set to decide on Media-ownership today
- $200,000 Cut From City Of Shelton’s Budget Prior To Adoption
- Energy prices mostly to blame for inflation
- Car crashes into Olympia's Oyster House
- Cantwell aide leaving – Michael Meehan
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Toady • \TOH-dee\ • noun – One who flatters in the hope of gaining favors: sycophant
The board room was packed with second tier employees, hanging on every word of the cigar-chomping Chief Executive Officer. “Jump,” he barked. “How high,” the toadies replied. “Speak,” he bellowed. The entire room erupted into an echoing “Woof,” after which one very tiny voice (Michigan Frog) piped “ribbet!”
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
BPA offers interim fixes to utilities – The agency would pay $131 million to private companies, resulting in rate relief for some customers (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1197953915239690.xml&coll=7
News Release – BPA proposes to get cash flowing back to Northwest utilities (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/186560/
Residential Exchange – Snohomish County PUD earns $19 million refund. The Bonneville Power Administration wants to write Snohomish County PUD a $19 million check, a refund of sorts for overcharging for the electricity it sells the utility. (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071218/NEWS01/677732266
UTILITY MERGER TAKES ANOTHER STEP – Puget Sound Energy (PSE), a regulated utility providing electric and natural gas service to the Puget Sound region, and a consortium of North American infrastructure investors today filed an application with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission to request approval in connection with the proposed merger of Puget Energy that was announced on Oct. 26. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Puget Energy did solicit other acquisition proposals from approximately 20 potential purchasers, including U.S. utility companies, non-U.S. utility companies, other energy companies and infrastructure investors. No proposal was received that could reasonably be expected to result in a proposal superior to the definitive merger agreement with the consortium. Under the terms of the merger agreement, the consortium will acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Puget Energy for $30 per share in cash, subject to the approval of Puget Energy's shareholders and certain regulatory approvals. The initial phase, Reynolds noted, involved the sale to the consortium of 12.5 million shares for an aggregate offering price of approximately $296 million. This infusion will fund PSE's ongoing construction program and working capital needs. The parties are continuing their efforts to complete the merger by the second half of 2008. (South Sound Business Examiner)
Domenici – Another Push for Nuclear Power. Senator Wants to Expand Federal Loan Guarantees for Plants (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/17/AR2007121701886.html?nav=rss_business
Officials pick site for carbon-free coal plant (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-12-18-coal-plant_N.htm?csp=34
Montana – Mystic Lake Project near Fishtail. FERC Iissues First Hydroelectric License Using Integrated Licensing Process
http://www.ferc.gov/news/news-releases/2007/2007-4/12-17-07.asp
United Kingdom – Householders face higher energy bills. Householders face higher energy bills in the New Year as npower becomes the latest provider to raise gas and electricity prices. (The Telegraph)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/12/18/cmenergy118.xml
How's your customer service fitness? Take this quiz to find out (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/display_article/315049/22/ARTCL/none/none/1/How's-your-customer-service-fitness?-Take-this-quiz-to-find-out/
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Walla Walla Union Bulletin Editorial – Judge goes too far in trying to manage dams
It is particularly concerning because Judge James Redden seems to be fixated on breaching the Snake River dams. (Thanks to Ruthann Mogen for the tip)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2007/12/16/opinion/daily_editorial/edit01.txt
New water agreement reached for Lake Roosevelt – Two Native American tribes joined farm, environmental, business and governmental interests Monday in reaching agreement on a plan to draw down Lake Roosevelt by one foot in a normal year to shore up supplies for fish and farms. (Tri-Cities Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/story/9526004p-9436794c.html
Columbia Basin water plan includes $5.9M for 2 tribes (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004079447_water18m.html?syndication=rss
MORE WATER COMING TO WENATCHEE RIVER WATERSHED – A new state rule will make more water available in the Wenatchee River watershed over the next 20 years. The rule changes approved last week by the state Department of Ecology will outline how water will be managed in the future, making additional water available for city and domestic uses, while at the same time improving protection of stream flows and existing water rights. (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee)
Southeastern Governors to Devise Drought Strategy (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17344704&ft=1&f=3
News Tribune Opinion – The miracle at Swan Creek. Not many city dwellers actually get to watch spawning salmon without leaving town. But Tacomans – and anyone else in these parts – can watch this marvel amazingly close to home.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/232473.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Literally and Figuratively – Storm brings windfall to paper mill in Hoquiam (Daily World, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1109815~Storm_brings_windfall_to_paper_mill_in_Hoquiam.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
California backers of targets for renewable energy can gather signatures – Backers of a state ballot initiative to require a significant boost in renewable energy used by all utilities in California can begin collecting signatures, the secretary of state announced Monday. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/18/BAQBU07T0.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
Oregon – Wave energy firm shows promising financial growth (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2007/12/17/daily6.html?ana=from_rss
Pacific Gas & Electric agrees to buy power from Canadian firm's proposed 'wave park' (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/12/18/MNEKU05V9.DTL
Another wave energy effort pitched for Humboldt coast (Times Standard, Eureka)
http://www.times-standard.com/ci_7749241?source=most_viewed
Start-Up Sells Solar Panels at Lower-Than-Usual Cost (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/technology/18solar.html?ex=1355634000&en=091b06819623f9d0&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Food and Fuel Compete for Land (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/business/18food.html?ei=5088&en=0f476f8f558d3d5e&ex=1355634000&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1197997751-LzNLJ35n3+qUFVZQ7fosIg
News Release – Progress Energy Florida Signs Contract for Second Waste-Wood Plant (Progress Energy, via Yahoo! Finance)
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/071218/cltu056.html?.v=101
CONSERVATION
Light Bulbs, Gasoline Will Change with U.S. Energy Bill Passage – The light bulbs in almost every U.S. home and the gasoline in many cars will be altered by energy legislation that the U.S. House of Representatives is set to pass today. (Bloomberg Business News)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=aUtyQS4TtgxQ&refer=india
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
CHELAN COUNTY P.U.D. JOINS EMISSIONS TRADING EXCHANGE – The Chelan County P.U.D. will join an exchange that will allow a portion of the power generated at Rocky Reach Dam to be traded to offset greenhouse gas emissions from other sources. With P.U.D. commissioners voting Monday to join the Chicago Climate Exchange, about 1.75 million megawatt hours generated at Rocky Reach since 2003 are eligible to be traded as carbon offset credits, which could be worth about $1.7 million to the P.U.D. (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee)
Seattle Post Intelligencer Columnist – Tote up your carbon footprint. Carbon is the new guilt.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/343901_carbon18.html?source=rss
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
High-tech brings rural towns back to life (Christian Science Monitor)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20071218/ts_csm/arurtech
FCC: Nebraska Ranks Second in DSL Internet Deployment (SW Nebraska News – Ed Note: FCC surveys have been reported to be excessively optimistic about broadband penetration. Take this one with a grain of salt.)
http://www.swnebr.net/newspaper/cgi-bin/articles/articlearchiver.pl?162645
Minnesota – Wi-Fi firm faces legal action over delays in St. Louis Park. The groundbreaking solar-powered, citywide wireless Internet service has run into constant delays. The City Council will vote Monday on its options. (Minneapolis/St. Paul Star-Tribune)
http://www.startribune.com/local/west/12523816.html
FCC set to decide on Media-ownership today (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004079559_fcc18.html?syndication=rss
GENERAL NEWS
$200,000 CUT FROM CITY OF SHELTON’S BUDGET PRIOR TO ADOPTION – The Shelton City Commission has adopted the City's budget for 2008. The budget totals more than $55.8 Million ($55,865,168). This is $200,000 less than the budget presented last week during the City Commission's budget hearing. Due to a reduction in the projected development, city staff had to cut several things out of next year's budget. This includes $75,000 from the Street Fund, $70,000 in the Police Department, $50,000 in Park maintenance, nearly $26,500 from recreation, and several public information items such as the "Tollie" news letter and the radio show "Focus on Shelton." The specific details of the cuts are still being worked out but one police officer position will not be filled in 2008, and possibly a halftime employee in the Parks Department could be laid off. Department heads are still working with their departments on the specific cuts. The City Commission will look at the 2008 budget quarterly next year and make adjustments as needed, as well as plan for 2009. Some of the City's long term budgeting plans are contracting for fire services, going to voters for a tax increase, and if all else fails, service reductions. Mayor John Tarrant called the budget a wake up call. Commissioner Mike Byrne said the cuts get the city by for now but 2009 could be a real disaster. And Commissioner Dawn Pannell said the budget is the most fiscally responsible thing the City can do right now. Copies of the City of Shelton's 2008 Budget are available at the Shelton Civic Center. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Energy prices mostly to blame for inflation (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004079369_inflation18.html?syndication=rss
Car crashes into Olympia's Oyster House (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/12576911.html
Cantwell aide leaving – Michael Meehan, Sen. Maria Cantwell's chief of staff and architect of her 2006 re-election victory, will leave the job at the end of next month. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2004079439_postmanblog18m.html?syndication=rss
DIVERSIONS
Fortune Magazine’s 101 Dumbest Moments in Business. Ah, what a dumb year it was! Fortune chose the absolutely dumbest of the dumb that the gods of fate and humor delivered into our laps - and yours - this past year
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/fortune/0712/gallery.101_dumbest.fortune/index.html
Man Drives Through Car Wash During Police Chase
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14872753/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000312172007&ts=H
Money Found Hidden In Walls During Home's Renovation – A contractor who helped discover bundles of cash totaling $182,000 hidden behind bathroom walls says the homeowner should turn the money over to him -- or at least share it.
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14872735/detail.html
1914 Christmas Card Defines Snail Mail – Intended Recipient Deceased
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14873042/detail.html
City's Christmas Tree Comes From Cemetery – Employee Remorseful About Cutting Down Tree
http://www.kirotv.com/holidays/14854695/detail.html
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- BPA offers interim fixes to utilities
- Puget Sound Energy – Merger Takes Another Step
- Domenici – Another Push for Nuclear Power.
- Officials pick site for carbon-free coal plant
- Walla Walla Union Bulletin Editorial – Judge goes too far in trying to manage dams
- Columbia Basin water plan includes $5.9M for 2 tribes
- More Water Coming To Wenatchee River Watershed
- News Tribune Opinion – The miracle at Swan Creek.
- Literally and Figuratively – Storm brings windfall to paper mill in Hoquiam
- California backers of targets for renewable energy can gather signatures
- Pacific Gas & Electric agrees to buy power from Canadian firm's proposed 'wave park'
- Another wave energy effort pitched for Humboldt coast
- Food and Fuel Compete for Land
- Light Bulbs, Gasoline Will Change with U.S. Energy Bill Passage
- Chelan County PUD Joins Emissions Trading Exchange
- High-tech brings rural towns back to life
- FCC set to decide on Media-ownership today
- $200,000 Cut From City Of Shelton’s Budget Prior To Adoption
- Energy prices mostly to blame for inflation
- Car crashes into Olympia's Oyster House
- Cantwell aide leaving – Michael Meehan
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Toady • \TOH-dee\ • noun – One who flatters in the hope of gaining favors: sycophant
The board room was packed with second tier employees, hanging on every word of the cigar-chomping Chief Executive Officer. “Jump,” he barked. “How high,” the toadies replied. “Speak,” he bellowed. The entire room erupted into an echoing “Woof,” after which one very tiny voice (Michigan Frog) piped “ribbet!”
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
BPA offers interim fixes to utilities – The agency would pay $131 million to private companies, resulting in rate relief for some customers (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1197953915239690.xml&coll=7
News Release – BPA proposes to get cash flowing back to Northwest utilities (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/186560/
Residential Exchange – Snohomish County PUD earns $19 million refund. The Bonneville Power Administration wants to write Snohomish County PUD a $19 million check, a refund of sorts for overcharging for the electricity it sells the utility. (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071218/NEWS01/677732266
UTILITY MERGER TAKES ANOTHER STEP – Puget Sound Energy (PSE), a regulated utility providing electric and natural gas service to the Puget Sound region, and a consortium of North American infrastructure investors today filed an application with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission to request approval in connection with the proposed merger of Puget Energy that was announced on Oct. 26. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Puget Energy did solicit other acquisition proposals from approximately 20 potential purchasers, including U.S. utility companies, non-U.S. utility companies, other energy companies and infrastructure investors. No proposal was received that could reasonably be expected to result in a proposal superior to the definitive merger agreement with the consortium. Under the terms of the merger agreement, the consortium will acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Puget Energy for $30 per share in cash, subject to the approval of Puget Energy's shareholders and certain regulatory approvals. The initial phase, Reynolds noted, involved the sale to the consortium of 12.5 million shares for an aggregate offering price of approximately $296 million. This infusion will fund PSE's ongoing construction program and working capital needs. The parties are continuing their efforts to complete the merger by the second half of 2008. (South Sound Business Examiner)
Domenici – Another Push for Nuclear Power. Senator Wants to Expand Federal Loan Guarantees for Plants (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/17/AR2007121701886.html?nav=rss_business
Officials pick site for carbon-free coal plant (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-12-18-coal-plant_N.htm?csp=34
Montana – Mystic Lake Project near Fishtail. FERC Iissues First Hydroelectric License Using Integrated Licensing Process
http://www.ferc.gov/news/news-releases/2007/2007-4/12-17-07.asp
United Kingdom – Householders face higher energy bills. Householders face higher energy bills in the New Year as npower becomes the latest provider to raise gas and electricity prices. (The Telegraph)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/12/18/cmenergy118.xml
How's your customer service fitness? Take this quiz to find out (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/display_article/315049/22/ARTCL/none/none/1/How's-your-customer-service-fitness?-Take-this-quiz-to-find-out/
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Walla Walla Union Bulletin Editorial – Judge goes too far in trying to manage dams
It is particularly concerning because Judge James Redden seems to be fixated on breaching the Snake River dams. (Thanks to Ruthann Mogen for the tip)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2007/12/16/opinion/daily_editorial/edit01.txt
New water agreement reached for Lake Roosevelt – Two Native American tribes joined farm, environmental, business and governmental interests Monday in reaching agreement on a plan to draw down Lake Roosevelt by one foot in a normal year to shore up supplies for fish and farms. (Tri-Cities Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/story/9526004p-9436794c.html
Columbia Basin water plan includes $5.9M for 2 tribes (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004079447_water18m.html?syndication=rss
MORE WATER COMING TO WENATCHEE RIVER WATERSHED – A new state rule will make more water available in the Wenatchee River watershed over the next 20 years. The rule changes approved last week by the state Department of Ecology will outline how water will be managed in the future, making additional water available for city and domestic uses, while at the same time improving protection of stream flows and existing water rights. (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee)
Southeastern Governors to Devise Drought Strategy (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17344704&ft=1&f=3
News Tribune Opinion – The miracle at Swan Creek. Not many city dwellers actually get to watch spawning salmon without leaving town. But Tacomans – and anyone else in these parts – can watch this marvel amazingly close to home.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/232473.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Literally and Figuratively – Storm brings windfall to paper mill in Hoquiam (Daily World, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1109815~Storm_brings_windfall_to_paper_mill_in_Hoquiam.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
California backers of targets for renewable energy can gather signatures – Backers of a state ballot initiative to require a significant boost in renewable energy used by all utilities in California can begin collecting signatures, the secretary of state announced Monday. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/18/BAQBU07T0.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
Oregon – Wave energy firm shows promising financial growth (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2007/12/17/daily6.html?ana=from_rss
Pacific Gas & Electric agrees to buy power from Canadian firm's proposed 'wave park' (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/12/18/MNEKU05V9.DTL
Another wave energy effort pitched for Humboldt coast (Times Standard, Eureka)
http://www.times-standard.com/ci_7749241?source=most_viewed
Start-Up Sells Solar Panels at Lower-Than-Usual Cost (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/technology/18solar.html?ex=1355634000&en=091b06819623f9d0&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Food and Fuel Compete for Land (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/business/18food.html?ei=5088&en=0f476f8f558d3d5e&ex=1355634000&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1197997751-LzNLJ35n3+qUFVZQ7fosIg
News Release – Progress Energy Florida Signs Contract for Second Waste-Wood Plant (Progress Energy, via Yahoo! Finance)
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/071218/cltu056.html?.v=101
CONSERVATION
Light Bulbs, Gasoline Will Change with U.S. Energy Bill Passage – The light bulbs in almost every U.S. home and the gasoline in many cars will be altered by energy legislation that the U.S. House of Representatives is set to pass today. (Bloomberg Business News)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=aUtyQS4TtgxQ&refer=india
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
CHELAN COUNTY P.U.D. JOINS EMISSIONS TRADING EXCHANGE – The Chelan County P.U.D. will join an exchange that will allow a portion of the power generated at Rocky Reach Dam to be traded to offset greenhouse gas emissions from other sources. With P.U.D. commissioners voting Monday to join the Chicago Climate Exchange, about 1.75 million megawatt hours generated at Rocky Reach since 2003 are eligible to be traded as carbon offset credits, which could be worth about $1.7 million to the P.U.D. (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee)
Seattle Post Intelligencer Columnist – Tote up your carbon footprint. Carbon is the new guilt.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/343901_carbon18.html?source=rss
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
High-tech brings rural towns back to life (Christian Science Monitor)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20071218/ts_csm/arurtech
FCC: Nebraska Ranks Second in DSL Internet Deployment (SW Nebraska News – Ed Note: FCC surveys have been reported to be excessively optimistic about broadband penetration. Take this one with a grain of salt.)
http://www.swnebr.net/newspaper/cgi-bin/articles/articlearchiver.pl?162645
Minnesota – Wi-Fi firm faces legal action over delays in St. Louis Park. The groundbreaking solar-powered, citywide wireless Internet service has run into constant delays. The City Council will vote Monday on its options. (Minneapolis/St. Paul Star-Tribune)
http://www.startribune.com/local/west/12523816.html
FCC set to decide on Media-ownership today (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004079559_fcc18.html?syndication=rss
GENERAL NEWS
$200,000 CUT FROM CITY OF SHELTON’S BUDGET PRIOR TO ADOPTION – The Shelton City Commission has adopted the City's budget for 2008. The budget totals more than $55.8 Million ($55,865,168). This is $200,000 less than the budget presented last week during the City Commission's budget hearing. Due to a reduction in the projected development, city staff had to cut several things out of next year's budget. This includes $75,000 from the Street Fund, $70,000 in the Police Department, $50,000 in Park maintenance, nearly $26,500 from recreation, and several public information items such as the "Tollie" news letter and the radio show "Focus on Shelton." The specific details of the cuts are still being worked out but one police officer position will not be filled in 2008, and possibly a halftime employee in the Parks Department could be laid off. Department heads are still working with their departments on the specific cuts. The City Commission will look at the 2008 budget quarterly next year and make adjustments as needed, as well as plan for 2009. Some of the City's long term budgeting plans are contracting for fire services, going to voters for a tax increase, and if all else fails, service reductions. Mayor John Tarrant called the budget a wake up call. Commissioner Mike Byrne said the cuts get the city by for now but 2009 could be a real disaster. And Commissioner Dawn Pannell said the budget is the most fiscally responsible thing the City can do right now. Copies of the City of Shelton's 2008 Budget are available at the Shelton Civic Center. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Energy prices mostly to blame for inflation (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004079369_inflation18.html?syndication=rss
Car crashes into Olympia's Oyster House (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/12576911.html
Cantwell aide leaving – Michael Meehan, Sen. Maria Cantwell's chief of staff and architect of her 2006 re-election victory, will leave the job at the end of next month. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2004079439_postmanblog18m.html?syndication=rss
DIVERSIONS
Fortune Magazine’s 101 Dumbest Moments in Business. Ah, what a dumb year it was! Fortune chose the absolutely dumbest of the dumb that the gods of fate and humor delivered into our laps - and yours - this past year
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/fortune/0712/gallery.101_dumbest.fortune/index.html
Man Drives Through Car Wash During Police Chase
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14872753/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000312172007&ts=H
Money Found Hidden In Walls During Home's Renovation – A contractor who helped discover bundles of cash totaling $182,000 hidden behind bathroom walls says the homeowner should turn the money over to him -- or at least share it.
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14872735/detail.html
1914 Christmas Card Defines Snail Mail – Intended Recipient Deceased
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14873042/detail.html
City's Christmas Tree Comes From Cemetery – Employee Remorseful About Cutting Down Tree
http://www.kirotv.com/holidays/14854695/detail.html
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