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)
- Puget Sound Energy's rate increase under scrutiny – Groups fault new request by utility
- Montana – Highwood power plant group ousts Billings electric co-op
- Nation's Attorneys General Gather in Idaho for Energy Summit
- Wire theft case yields federal charges
- Wire thieves leave hazardous waste at Idaho campsites
- Oregon – Liquefied Natural Gas foes fear 'bait and switch' changes
- New York – Broadwater Will Ask U.S. to Authorize Gas Terminal
- Baltimore Sun Blog – Why deregulation is an electric-company bonanza
- Coal price hikes boost electric rates, more increases coming
- What's true, false about coal
- News Release – California ISO Issues 2008 Summer Assessment
- Wintry weather boosts Wisconsin Energy profit
- Five more sea lions trapped at Bonneville Dam
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer Op/Ed – Salmon decline is a wake-up call
- Condit Dam reservoir is fish hotspot
- Flying fish
- Drop that salmon! How to eat seafood ethically
- Shipper to pay for illegal ocean dumping
- Bainbridge Island Survey Shows Residents Concerned About Water
- Water raises concerns on Bainbridge, but is there a problem?
- Farmers fret over icy Oregon lakes
- In face of criticism, Oregon leaders stand by push for ethanol
- NW Biodiesel Producers Squeezed by Prices
- Biodiesel plants idled by rising soybean prices
- The Ethanol Cure's Side Effects
- Florida – Let solar power compete on cost
- Power struggle: Wind vs. sun hotly debated
- Paper Recycling—Is It Worth It? Landfills, recycling, and incineration
- Want a plug-in hybrid? Get in line for a battery
- Cold cash for an old fridge
- Creating a Methane-Free Cow
- FCC dealt setback in broadband-over-power-lines push
- Vietnam now has ‘Intel inside
- Metal thieves’ latest target has fire districts on high alert
- Port of Vancouver tries to force Alcoa to table
- Weyerhaeuser loses finished alder case; vows appeal
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Cognizable • \KAHG-nuh-zuh-bul\ • adjective – *1: capable of being judicially heard and determined 2: capable of being known
“Will our wholesale power rates go up,” asked the eager power supply manager at a public utility. “Difficult to say,” intoned the fortune teller at the local fair. “There’s no cognizable way to peer into the inner workings of THAT black box,” she droned…all the while demanding her $100 fee.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Puget Sound Energy's rate increase under scrutiny – Groups fault new request by utility (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/360963_pse29.html
Montana – Highwood power plant group ousts Billings electric co-op – The group trying to build Montana’s first major coal-burning power plant in more than a generation has removed a Billings-area electric cooperative from its ranks (Helena Independent Record)
http://www.helenair.com/articles/2008/04/29/top/65st_080429_coop.txt
Nation's Attorneys General Gather in Idaho for Energy Summit (Northwest Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3810
Wire theft case yields federal charges – Three local men have been indicted federally in connection with the theft of more than 3,500 pounds of telephone wire from several locations in Cowlitz County (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/04/29//area_news/doc481667bd3d372301526285.txt
Wire thieves leave hazardous waste at Idaho campsites – A sharp increase has been reported in illegal burning of wire insulation on public lands throughout the West. (The Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/433097.html
Oregon – Liquefied Natural Gas foes fear 'bait and switch' changes – As federal regulators work to complete their final environmental review of the Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas terminal, LNG opponents argue several changes to the project plans are not being addressed. (The Daily Astorian)
http://www.dailyastorian.info/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=398&ArticleID=50879&TM=60029.62
New York – Broadwater Will Ask U.S. to Authorize Gas Terminal – An energy company will appeal to the Commerce Department in its bid to build the world’s first floating liquefied natural gas terminal in Long Island Sound (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/29/nyregion/29terminal.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Baltimore Sun Blog – Why deregulation is an electric-company bonanza
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/business/hancock/blog/2008/04/why_deregulation_is_an_electri.html
Coal price hikes boost electric rates, more increases coming (The Associated Press)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hfCNnB9UPK_bnuqHRDjTjqotOQ4gD90B2H680
What's true, false about coal – Whether to build new coal-fired power plants in western Kansas has turned into one of the hottest political power struggles in decades (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CjprqmmqUUnjt9K%22bfen%5Fv
News Release – California ISO Issues 2008 Summer Assessment (California ISO, via Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=88594
Wintry weather boosts Wisconsin Energy profit (The Business Journal of Milwaukee)
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/04/28/daily16.html?ana=from_rss
FISH & WILDLIFE
Five more sea lions trapped at Bonneville Dam (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/04/04292008_Five-more-sea-lions-trapped-at-Bonneville-Dam.cfm/
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Op/Ed – Salmon decline is a wake-up call – It is hard to find the silver lining in a situation as dire as the collapse of wild salmon off the Oregon and California coasts
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/360943_salmon29.html
Condit Dam reservoir is fish hotspot (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/sports/localNews/2008/04/04282008_Condit-Dam-reservoir-is-fish-hotspot.cfm?newsletter=1
Condit Dam is on the removal list. Here’s a link to the Wikipedia listing
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Condit_Hydroelectric_Project
Flying fish – Doug Malone of Battle Ground on Sunday visited Lucia Falls on the East Fork of the Lewis River and came away with photos of fish forging their way up the waterfall (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/04292008news310753.cfm/
Drop that salmon! With the days of indiscriminate fish consumption long gone, food writer Taras Grescoe explains how to eat seafood ethically (Salon Online)
http://www.salon.com/mwt/feature/2008/04/29/bottomfeeder/index.html?source=rss
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Shipper to pay for illegal ocean dumping (The Oregonian, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1365159~Shipper_to_pay_for_illegal_ocean_dumping.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Bainbridge Island Survey Shows Residents Concerned About Water (Kitsap Sun)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/apr/25/bi-survey-shows-residents-concerned-about-water/
Water raises concerns on Bainbridge, but is there a problem? Ensuring that Bainbridge Island has an adequate water supply came out as the top concern among all the issues that worry island residents, according to a yet-to-be-released survey (Kitsap Sun)
http://blogs.kitsapsun.com/kitsap/waterways/archive/2008/04/water_raises_concerns_on_bainb.html
Farmers fret over icy Oregon lakes – Anglers also face trials from lack of snowmelt in higher elevations (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1209174909105040.xml&coll=7
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
In face of criticism, Oregon leaders stand by push for ethanol – As food prices rise, ethanol's consumption of corn comes in for scrutiny (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1209345914235720.xml&coll=7
NW Biodiesel Producers Squeezed by Prices – Alternative fuel prices rising nearly as fast as fossil fuels (Northwest Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3804
Biodiesel plants idled by rising soybean prices – The rising price of soybeans is putting the squeeze on biodiesel producers, leading some to close down operations. (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9930000-54.html?tag=nl.e433
The Ethanol Cure's Side Effects (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/28/AR2008042802401.html?nav=rss_business
Florida – Let solar power compete on cost – Some have advocated that developers of solar energy be allowed to jump to the head of the line and take 3 percent of the state's energy sales without regard to cost (Tallahassee Democrat)
http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080428/OPINION05/804280306/1006/OPINION
Power struggle: Wind vs. sun hotly debated (Arkansas Democrat Gazette)
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Business/224176/
Paper Recycling—Is It Worth It? Landfills, recycling, and incineration. (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2190164/?from=rss
Want a plug-in hybrid? Get in line for a battery (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9930421-54.html?tag=nl.e703
CONSERVATION
Cold cash for an old fridge (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080429/NEWS01/302614421/-1/news01
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Creating a Methane-Free Cow – By now we all know that cows produce methane when they digest grass, and that methane is a big contributor to global warming. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=90031367
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
FCC dealt setback in broadband-over-power-lines push (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9930223-7.html?tag=nl.e433
Vietnam now has ‘Intel inside – Intel’s billion-dollar Vietnam bet along the Hanoi Highway – its biggest semiconductor manufacturing plant ever – is rising up from the flatlands of former rice fields (The News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/347241.html
GENERAL NEWS
Metal thieves’ latest target has fire districts on high alert (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/04/04292008_Metal-thieves-latest-target-has-fire-districts-on-high-alert.cfm/
Port of Vancouver tries to force Alcoa to table – The Port of Vancouver is asking a judge to force Alcoa Inc. to arbitration as the local agency tries to close on the purchase of Alcoa property in the Vancouver Lake lowlands near the Columbia River (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2008/04/04292008_Port-tries-to-force-Alcoa-to-table.cfm/
Weyerhaeuser loses finished alder case; vows appeal (Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1365200~Weyerhaeuser_loses_finished_alder_case__vows_appeal.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
DIVERSIONS
Losing weight, 300-Pound Inmate Complains Jail Doesn't Feed Him Well
http://www.kirotv.com/health/16034180/detail.html
So, you don't like the color, right? Government official dismantles $268,000 sculpture over color
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN2931874320080429?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
People urged to chip in for hydroelectric project
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL2955933420080429?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Want Lower Gas Prices? Man Says Try Prayer
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/16032135/detail.html
Dude! Like, Those Ads Live Forever
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/27/arts/television/27itzk.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Tuesday, April 29, 2008
Monday, April 28, 2008
Energy News Digest for April 28, 2008
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)
- Oregon metal thieves hit six electrical substations
- Oregon – BPA looks into power line vandalism near St. Helens
- Talks on nuclear power revived in Washington as climate changes
- Maryland – The Path is Cleared and Paved for New Nuclear Reactor in Calvert
- Canadian uranium ban rankles industry groups
- Controversy Continues Over Washington Heat Stroke Rule
- Energy expert to assess Juneau crisis
- Aquila will pay Cass County $1.8M in power plant flap
- Incumbent, challenger vie for Eugene Water & Electric Board seat
- Arizona opposes plan for interstate power line
- Coal Replaces Gas in California Power Plant
- Candidates Perform the Coal Dance
- Application to Export Electric Energy; Minnesota Power
- Sea lion removal expected to resume today
- Sea lions removed in bid to save salmon
- No more salmon for pesky sea lions
- Jumbo squid invade coast off Northwest – Aggressive animals may threaten salmon, divers
- State restricts fall Chinook fishing – Regulations released for lower Columbia
- Sacramento Bee Op/Ed – A fisherman’s view of the salmon crisis
- Cities pay for water rights
- Scientists: Rescue plan for Sound falls short
- Humming Praises for the Wild Bee
- NBC – Today Show’s story about the Grand Coulee Dam
- Grays Harbor County PUD’s role with mill complex
- Mission: Transmission – Harvesting the breeze is trickier than it sounds
- Major Idaho Wind Farm Project Approved by Bingham County Planning and Zoning Commission
- Expert touts wind energy in Montana State University/Great Falls presentation
- Canada – Sewage could heat 30,000 Victoria homes, says expert
- Cut your gadgets' appetite for electricity
- PCs on sleep mode would save power and the climate, PDX Green says
- New Canadian light bulb standards may push up prices
- Lowering Your Energy Costs
- Action Line: Why should customers pay for Pacific Gas & Electric smart meters?
- Register-Pajaronian Op/Ed – School district should drop energy consultant
- A Vote for the 'Right to Tumble Dry' Movement
- Governors protest against federal emissions plan
- Wall Street Journal Opinion – The Real Cost of Tackling Climate Change
- REI explores the environmental cost of eco-tourism
- Geoengineered cooling of planet would have 'perilous effects'
- Time's up for Yahoo; what will Microsoft do next?
- Facebook’s Insatiable Hunger for Hardware
- IBM’s Plan to Slash Massive Power Needs
- Report clears adviser's role in wireless auction
- Starbucks rolls out AT&T Wi-Fi service
- Mills struggle as home construction slow, lumber prices fall
- Snoqualmie Indians feuding over control of tribe
- Want to Unseat Congressman Hastings? Good Luck
- Group Wants To Make Eastern Oregon Its Own State
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Timbre • \TAM-burr or TIM-burr\ • noun – The quality given to a sound by its overtones: as a: the resonance by which the ear recognizes and identifies a voiced speech sound b: the quality of tone distinctive of a particular singing voice or musical instrument.
Joel was so excited. His new, mahogany ukulele had arrived from Michigan….and on the first strum he found the timbre of the diminutive instrument quite pleasing. “Wow,” he enthused. “The resonance is outstanding! Well, as resonant as this dinky little wooden box can be.” The employees in the offices around quickly became tired of the incessant, tinny strains of “My Funny Valentine.”
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Oregon metal thieves hit six electrical substations – Criminals have turned to electrical substations in Linn County, risking their lives (Albany Democrat-Herald, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1359855~Oregon_metal_thieves_hit_electrical_substations.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Oregon – BPA looks into power line vandalism near St. Helens (The Oregonian)
http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/04/bpa_looks_into_power_line_vand.html
Talks on nuclear power revived in Washington as climate changes (Tri City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/901/story/167995.html
Maryland – The Path is Cleared and Paved for New Nuclear Reactor in Calvert (Bay Media Services)
http://www.thebaynet.com/news/index.cfm/fa/viewstory/story_ID/8332
Canadian uranium ban rankles industry groups – But it may come as no surprise: A British Columbia official says groups were told last year of the coming prohibition (The Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080426.BCURANIUM26/TPStory/National
Controversy Continues Over Washington Heat Stroke Rule (Oregon Public Radio)
http://news.opb.org/article/controversy-continues-over-washington-heat-stroke-rule/
Energy expert to assess Juneau crisis (The Associated Press, via KTVA-TV, Anchorage)
http://www.ktva.com/alaskanews/ci_9075799
Aquila will pay Cass County $1.8M in power plant flap – Plant built without county approval. (Kansas City Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2008/04/21/daily44.html?ana=from_rss
Incumbent, challenger vie for Eugene Water & Electric Board seat – When John Simpson first sought election to EWEB four years ago, he pledged to himself that he would serve for a total of 12 years – voters willing. (The Register-Guard)
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=96435&sid=4&fid=1
Arizona opposes plan for interstate power line – A California utility may be first to apply to build under a 2005 law (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1209182114294350.xml&coll=7
Coal Replaces Gas in California Power Plant – Searles Valley Minerals Operations Inc. (SVM) is located in the California high desert near the town of Trona (Power Engineering)
http://pepei.pennnet.com/display_article/326577/6/ARTCL/none/none/1/Coal-Replaces-Gas-in-California-Power-Plant/
Candidates Perform the Coal Dance – Four of the seven remaining presidential primaries are in big coal-producing states. This forces Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to walk a fine line, balancing concerns about global warming with concerns about energy (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89984931
Application to Export Electric Energy; Minnesota Power (transit route includes Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1443769/
FISH & WILDLIFE
Sea lion removal expected to resume today (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/04/04282008_Sea-lion-removal-expected-to-resume-today.cfm/
Sea lions removed in bid to save salmon – Alternative was to put them down since they're feeding on threatened fish (MSNBC)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24352029/
No more salmon for pesky sea lions – Salmon isn’t on the menu at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, but for the next couple of weeks Tacoma’s zoo will host a bunch of sea lions with expensive tastes (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/345000.html
Jumbo squid invade coast off Northwest – Aggressive animals may threaten salmon, divers (Bellingham Herald)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/255/story/392822.html
State restricts fall Chinook fishing – Regulations released for lower Columbia (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/outdoors/story/430780.html
Sacramento Bee Op/Ed – A fisherman’s view of the salmon crisis (The Sacramento Bee)
http://www.sacbee.com/110/story/894138.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Cities pay for water rights – Price insufficient, brewery owner says. The cities of Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater have taken formal possession of the water rights held by the former Olympia brewery. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/430521.html
Scientists: Rescue plan for Sound falls short – The latest blueprint to rescue Puget Sound fails to deal with the biggest source of pollution, scientists charge (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/360706_stormwater26.html
Humming Praises for the Wild Bee (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/24/garden/24garden.html?ex=1367121600&en=f64a9a4937c790fe&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
NBC – Today Show’s story about the Grand Coulee Dam (NBC, accessible via WPUDA web site)
http://www.wpuda.org/
PUD’s role with mill complex – The Grays Harbor PUD must do some nimble legal footwork to make sure its plan to generate power at the Cosmopolis Pulp mill doesn’t run afoul of the law, state officials said (Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/04/27/local_news/02news.txt
Mission: Transmission – Harvesting the breeze is trickier than it sounds. “BANANA” is the wind industry’s bitter motto for its farms—meaning Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anyone. Most people do not want to see or hear a wind farm, just as they want to stay clear of other power plants (The Economist Magazine)
http://www.economist.com/world/international/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11114962
News Release – Major Idaho Wind Farm Project Approved by Bingham County Planning and Zoning Commission (Ridgeline Energy, via PR Newswire)
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/04-24-2008/0004800051&EDATE=
Expert touts wind energy in Montana State University/Great Falls presentation (Great Falls Tribune)
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080428/NEWS01/804280301
Canada – Sewage could heat 30,000 Victoria homes, says expert – Greater Victoria flushes enough energy down its sewage pipes each day to heat at least 30,000 homes, says a Seattle expert hired as a consultant by the Capital Regional District (Victoria Times Colonist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=a2ec96f0-6886-4fac-8796-4a8e7342d508&k=21516
CONSERVATION
Cut your gadgets' appetite for electricity (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004377719_btsoho28.html?syndication=rss
PCs on sleep mode would save power and the climate, PDX Green says – Estimates say 90 percent of the machines don't make use of the technology they already have (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1208996730180240.xml&coll=7
New Canadian light bulb standards may push up prices (Victoria Times-Colonist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=2db780e8-40c8-46ff-a7ce-bd959c46edb4&k=86644
Lowering Your Energy Costs – Summer is fast approaching, and for many Americans, with the heat comes a higher energy bill (CBS News)
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/27/personalfinance/main4048845.shtml
Action Line: Why should customers pay for Pacific Gas & Electric smart meters? (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9081354?source=rss
Register-Pajaronian Op/Ed – School district should drop energy consultant (Watsonville, CA)
http://www.register-pajaronian.com/V2_news_articles.php?heading=0&story_id=4155&page=77
A Vote for the 'Right to Tumble Dry' Movement – Environmentalists want people to curb their use of tumble dryers. But some refuse to let go of their dryer sheets (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89979943&ft=1&f=10
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Governors protest against federal emissions plan – Gov. Schwarzenegger and 11 others (including Washington State) say in a letter to President Bush that a greenhouse gas proposal for autos is 'an end run around 40 years of precedent.' (Los Angeles Times)
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fiw-fuel25apr25,1,3802594.story
Wall Street Journal Opinion – The Real Cost of Tackling Climate Change
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120934459094348617.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
REI explores the environmental cost of eco-tourism (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004375890_sundaybuzz27.html
Geoengineered cooling of planet would have 'perilous effects' (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9928831-54.html?tag=nl.e433
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Time's up for Yahoo; what will Microsoft do next? (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoft/2004374944_microsoftyhoo26.html
Facebook’s Insatiable Hunger for Hardware (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/04/25/facebooks-insatiable-hunger-for-hardware/
IBM’s Plan to Slash Massive Power Needs – IBM, the granddaddy of computing, uses 5 billion kilowatt hours to power its data center operations each year (Earth2Tech)
http://earth2tech.com/2008/04/25/ibms-plan-to-slash-massive-power-needs/
Report clears adviser's role in wireless auction – An investigation has cleared a for-profit adviser of any blame for tripping up U.S. government plans to create a wireless network that could be shared with emergency workers (Reuters, via Yahoo! Finance)
http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/080425/wireless_auction.html?.v=2
Starbucks rolls out AT&T Wi-Fi service (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/04/21/daily50.html?ana=from_rss
GENERAL NEWS
Mills struggle as home construction slow, lumber prices fall (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080428/BIZ/443353548/-1/RSS01
Snoqualmie Indians feuding over control of tribe (The Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/432454.html
Want to Unseat Congressman Hastings? Good Luck (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3796
Group Wants To Make Eastern Oregon Its Own State (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16010613/detail.html
DIVERSIONS
After Losing Job, Ex-Mayor In Dognap Scandal Loses The Dog
http://www.kirotv.com/news/15994942/detail.html
Buddy The 'Beautiful Bulldog' Excels At Sleeping, Snoring
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/15968904/detail.html
Louisiana Panel Blocks Anti-Droopy Pants Bill
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/15968923/detail.html
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Oregon metal thieves hit six electrical substations
- Oregon – BPA looks into power line vandalism near St. Helens
- Talks on nuclear power revived in Washington as climate changes
- Maryland – The Path is Cleared and Paved for New Nuclear Reactor in Calvert
- Canadian uranium ban rankles industry groups
- Controversy Continues Over Washington Heat Stroke Rule
- Energy expert to assess Juneau crisis
- Aquila will pay Cass County $1.8M in power plant flap
- Incumbent, challenger vie for Eugene Water & Electric Board seat
- Arizona opposes plan for interstate power line
- Coal Replaces Gas in California Power Plant
- Candidates Perform the Coal Dance
- Application to Export Electric Energy; Minnesota Power
- Sea lion removal expected to resume today
- Sea lions removed in bid to save salmon
- No more salmon for pesky sea lions
- Jumbo squid invade coast off Northwest – Aggressive animals may threaten salmon, divers
- State restricts fall Chinook fishing – Regulations released for lower Columbia
- Sacramento Bee Op/Ed – A fisherman’s view of the salmon crisis
- Cities pay for water rights
- Scientists: Rescue plan for Sound falls short
- Humming Praises for the Wild Bee
- NBC – Today Show’s story about the Grand Coulee Dam
- Grays Harbor County PUD’s role with mill complex
- Mission: Transmission – Harvesting the breeze is trickier than it sounds
- Major Idaho Wind Farm Project Approved by Bingham County Planning and Zoning Commission
- Expert touts wind energy in Montana State University/Great Falls presentation
- Canada – Sewage could heat 30,000 Victoria homes, says expert
- Cut your gadgets' appetite for electricity
- PCs on sleep mode would save power and the climate, PDX Green says
- New Canadian light bulb standards may push up prices
- Lowering Your Energy Costs
- Action Line: Why should customers pay for Pacific Gas & Electric smart meters?
- Register-Pajaronian Op/Ed – School district should drop energy consultant
- A Vote for the 'Right to Tumble Dry' Movement
- Governors protest against federal emissions plan
- Wall Street Journal Opinion – The Real Cost of Tackling Climate Change
- REI explores the environmental cost of eco-tourism
- Geoengineered cooling of planet would have 'perilous effects'
- Time's up for Yahoo; what will Microsoft do next?
- Facebook’s Insatiable Hunger for Hardware
- IBM’s Plan to Slash Massive Power Needs
- Report clears adviser's role in wireless auction
- Starbucks rolls out AT&T Wi-Fi service
- Mills struggle as home construction slow, lumber prices fall
- Snoqualmie Indians feuding over control of tribe
- Want to Unseat Congressman Hastings? Good Luck
- Group Wants To Make Eastern Oregon Its Own State
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Timbre • \TAM-burr or TIM-burr\ • noun – The quality given to a sound by its overtones: as a: the resonance by which the ear recognizes and identifies a voiced speech sound b: the quality of tone distinctive of a particular singing voice or musical instrument.
Joel was so excited. His new, mahogany ukulele had arrived from Michigan….and on the first strum he found the timbre of the diminutive instrument quite pleasing. “Wow,” he enthused. “The resonance is outstanding! Well, as resonant as this dinky little wooden box can be.” The employees in the offices around quickly became tired of the incessant, tinny strains of “My Funny Valentine.”
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Oregon metal thieves hit six electrical substations – Criminals have turned to electrical substations in Linn County, risking their lives (Albany Democrat-Herald, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1359855~Oregon_metal_thieves_hit_electrical_substations.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Oregon – BPA looks into power line vandalism near St. Helens (The Oregonian)
http://blog.oregonlive.com/breakingnews/2008/04/bpa_looks_into_power_line_vand.html
Talks on nuclear power revived in Washington as climate changes (Tri City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/901/story/167995.html
Maryland – The Path is Cleared and Paved for New Nuclear Reactor in Calvert (Bay Media Services)
http://www.thebaynet.com/news/index.cfm/fa/viewstory/story_ID/8332
Canadian uranium ban rankles industry groups – But it may come as no surprise: A British Columbia official says groups were told last year of the coming prohibition (The Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080426.BCURANIUM26/TPStory/National
Controversy Continues Over Washington Heat Stroke Rule (Oregon Public Radio)
http://news.opb.org/article/controversy-continues-over-washington-heat-stroke-rule/
Energy expert to assess Juneau crisis (The Associated Press, via KTVA-TV, Anchorage)
http://www.ktva.com/alaskanews/ci_9075799
Aquila will pay Cass County $1.8M in power plant flap – Plant built without county approval. (Kansas City Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2008/04/21/daily44.html?ana=from_rss
Incumbent, challenger vie for Eugene Water & Electric Board seat – When John Simpson first sought election to EWEB four years ago, he pledged to himself that he would serve for a total of 12 years – voters willing. (The Register-Guard)
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=96435&sid=4&fid=1
Arizona opposes plan for interstate power line – A California utility may be first to apply to build under a 2005 law (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1209182114294350.xml&coll=7
Coal Replaces Gas in California Power Plant – Searles Valley Minerals Operations Inc. (SVM) is located in the California high desert near the town of Trona (Power Engineering)
http://pepei.pennnet.com/display_article/326577/6/ARTCL/none/none/1/Coal-Replaces-Gas-in-California-Power-Plant/
Candidates Perform the Coal Dance – Four of the seven remaining presidential primaries are in big coal-producing states. This forces Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to walk a fine line, balancing concerns about global warming with concerns about energy (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89984931
Application to Export Electric Energy; Minnesota Power (transit route includes Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1443769/
FISH & WILDLIFE
Sea lion removal expected to resume today (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/04/04282008_Sea-lion-removal-expected-to-resume-today.cfm/
Sea lions removed in bid to save salmon – Alternative was to put them down since they're feeding on threatened fish (MSNBC)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/24352029/
No more salmon for pesky sea lions – Salmon isn’t on the menu at Point Defiance Zoo & Aquarium, but for the next couple of weeks Tacoma’s zoo will host a bunch of sea lions with expensive tastes (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/345000.html
Jumbo squid invade coast off Northwest – Aggressive animals may threaten salmon, divers (Bellingham Herald)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/255/story/392822.html
State restricts fall Chinook fishing – Regulations released for lower Columbia (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/outdoors/story/430780.html
Sacramento Bee Op/Ed – A fisherman’s view of the salmon crisis (The Sacramento Bee)
http://www.sacbee.com/110/story/894138.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Cities pay for water rights – Price insufficient, brewery owner says. The cities of Lacey, Olympia and Tumwater have taken formal possession of the water rights held by the former Olympia brewery. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/430521.html
Scientists: Rescue plan for Sound falls short – The latest blueprint to rescue Puget Sound fails to deal with the biggest source of pollution, scientists charge (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/360706_stormwater26.html
Humming Praises for the Wild Bee (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/24/garden/24garden.html?ex=1367121600&en=f64a9a4937c790fe&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
NBC – Today Show’s story about the Grand Coulee Dam (NBC, accessible via WPUDA web site)
http://www.wpuda.org/
PUD’s role with mill complex – The Grays Harbor PUD must do some nimble legal footwork to make sure its plan to generate power at the Cosmopolis Pulp mill doesn’t run afoul of the law, state officials said (Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/04/27/local_news/02news.txt
Mission: Transmission – Harvesting the breeze is trickier than it sounds. “BANANA” is the wind industry’s bitter motto for its farms—meaning Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anyone. Most people do not want to see or hear a wind farm, just as they want to stay clear of other power plants (The Economist Magazine)
http://www.economist.com/world/international/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11114962
News Release – Major Idaho Wind Farm Project Approved by Bingham County Planning and Zoning Commission (Ridgeline Energy, via PR Newswire)
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/04-24-2008/0004800051&EDATE=
Expert touts wind energy in Montana State University/Great Falls presentation (Great Falls Tribune)
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080428/NEWS01/804280301
Canada – Sewage could heat 30,000 Victoria homes, says expert – Greater Victoria flushes enough energy down its sewage pipes each day to heat at least 30,000 homes, says a Seattle expert hired as a consultant by the Capital Regional District (Victoria Times Colonist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=a2ec96f0-6886-4fac-8796-4a8e7342d508&k=21516
CONSERVATION
Cut your gadgets' appetite for electricity (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004377719_btsoho28.html?syndication=rss
PCs on sleep mode would save power and the climate, PDX Green says – Estimates say 90 percent of the machines don't make use of the technology they already have (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1208996730180240.xml&coll=7
New Canadian light bulb standards may push up prices (Victoria Times-Colonist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=2db780e8-40c8-46ff-a7ce-bd959c46edb4&k=86644
Lowering Your Energy Costs – Summer is fast approaching, and for many Americans, with the heat comes a higher energy bill (CBS News)
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/04/27/personalfinance/main4048845.shtml
Action Line: Why should customers pay for Pacific Gas & Electric smart meters? (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9081354?source=rss
Register-Pajaronian Op/Ed – School district should drop energy consultant (Watsonville, CA)
http://www.register-pajaronian.com/V2_news_articles.php?heading=0&story_id=4155&page=77
A Vote for the 'Right to Tumble Dry' Movement – Environmentalists want people to curb their use of tumble dryers. But some refuse to let go of their dryer sheets (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89979943&ft=1&f=10
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Governors protest against federal emissions plan – Gov. Schwarzenegger and 11 others (including Washington State) say in a letter to President Bush that a greenhouse gas proposal for autos is 'an end run around 40 years of precedent.' (Los Angeles Times)
http://www.latimes.com/business/printedition/la-fiw-fuel25apr25,1,3802594.story
Wall Street Journal Opinion – The Real Cost of Tackling Climate Change
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120934459094348617.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
REI explores the environmental cost of eco-tourism (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004375890_sundaybuzz27.html
Geoengineered cooling of planet would have 'perilous effects' (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9928831-54.html?tag=nl.e433
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Time's up for Yahoo; what will Microsoft do next? (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoft/2004374944_microsoftyhoo26.html
Facebook’s Insatiable Hunger for Hardware (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/04/25/facebooks-insatiable-hunger-for-hardware/
IBM’s Plan to Slash Massive Power Needs – IBM, the granddaddy of computing, uses 5 billion kilowatt hours to power its data center operations each year (Earth2Tech)
http://earth2tech.com/2008/04/25/ibms-plan-to-slash-massive-power-needs/
Report clears adviser's role in wireless auction – An investigation has cleared a for-profit adviser of any blame for tripping up U.S. government plans to create a wireless network that could be shared with emergency workers (Reuters, via Yahoo! Finance)
http://biz.yahoo.com/rb/080425/wireless_auction.html?.v=2
Starbucks rolls out AT&T Wi-Fi service (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/04/21/daily50.html?ana=from_rss
GENERAL NEWS
Mills struggle as home construction slow, lumber prices fall (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080428/BIZ/443353548/-1/RSS01
Snoqualmie Indians feuding over control of tribe (The Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/432454.html
Want to Unseat Congressman Hastings? Good Luck (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3796
Group Wants To Make Eastern Oregon Its Own State (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16010613/detail.html
DIVERSIONS
After Losing Job, Ex-Mayor In Dognap Scandal Loses The Dog
http://www.kirotv.com/news/15994942/detail.html
Buddy The 'Beautiful Bulldog' Excels At Sleeping, Snoring
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/15968904/detail.html
Louisiana Panel Blocks Anti-Droopy Pants Bill
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/15968923/detail.html
Friday, April 25, 2008
Energy News Digest for April 25, 2008
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)
- Area Counties Broach Question: Who Should Provide Electricity?
- Chelan County PUD lays second power cable across Lake Chelan
- State works to stop Juneau energy crisis
- Air emissions spike in Juneau with increased diesel use
- Is Nuclear Energy Our Best Hope?
- Cost of nuclear plant fuels battle in the Carolinas
- Greenpeace founder now backs nuclear power
- Oregon – Liquefied Natural Gas pipeline officials, opponents debate natural gas development plan
- Maryland – Braving a Switch In Utility Service
- Maryland – Balancing energy needs
- ISO New England: Summer heat won't sap area power supply
- Australia – There's a price to pay for power sell-off
- Why national parks, coal-fired power plants may be neighbors
- Cutoffs and Pleas for Aid Rise With Heat Costs
- Pacific Gas and Electric’s attack on CCA
- Court of Appeal Unanimously Denies South San Joaquin Irrigation District's Bid to Takeover Pacific Gas & Electric without Approval
- Agents trap salmon-eating sea lions in the Columbia River
- Downer: Don't bank on finding salmon in the streams
- Ready, set, fish! This weekend (April 26-27) is one of the biggest of the year for local fisherman
- Snake River fishery set for April 26 – Strong Chinook returns in the Snake River
- California – Fishing limits or ban advised for 24 zones
- That Dam Bill – Ratepayers and regulators want Portland General Electric to explain a land donation
- Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Snowpack poised to refresh parched West
- Washington Dairy Sued For Air Pollution
- Canada – Vancouver Island sewage work halted amid war of words with province
- Taking the blame for eco-woes
- Tacoma News Tribune Editorial – A once-dirty pulp mill soon to sell clean power
- Puget Sound Energy inks deal for manure power
- Birds Got to Fly – but look out for those windmills
- Japan's Wind-Power Problem
- Can renewable energy make a dent in fossil fuels?
- The Tri-Cities – Earth Month: Alternative energy fair, other events this week
- Standby power cut a big saver
- Greenhouse gases growing faster than ever, report says
- Utah – Herald Poll: Time to sell the fiber?
- Qwest unveils DSL with speedier downloads
- Charges dropped in 2005 vehicular homicide case against Shelton man
- High gas prices outgrow analog gas pumps
- Washington State tree fruit frost damage worst in years
- Global rice squeeze hitting U.S. consumers
- Cowlitz County – Sheriff's office seeks help catching metal thieves
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Avatar • \AV-uh-tar\ • noun – 1: the incarnation of a Hindu deity (as Vishnu) 2a: an incarnation in human form b: an embodiment (as of a concept or philosophy) often in a person *3: an electronic image that represents and is manipulated by a computer user (as in a computer game)
In the poorest-selling video game of all time: “The Unawakening: Hibernating Mammals”, Fredo’s avatar was the unfortunate rodent, jerboa from the continent of Africa. Needless to say, the activity level of the game was less than riveting.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Area Counties Broach Question: Who Should Provide Electricity? Jefferson County voters may get the opportunity in November to decide whether their local government should go into the electricity business (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/apr/24/area-counties-broach-question-who-should-provide/
Chelan County PUD lays second power cable across Lake Chelan (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080424/NEWS04/920623623
State works to stop Juneau energy crisis – With avalanches having severed Juneau from its source of cheap hydro power, a high-level state disaster cabinet is looking for ways to help the town cope with a sudden spike in power costs. (The Associated Press, via the Daily News Miner, Fairbanks)
http://newsminer.com/news/2008/apr/24/state-works-stop-juneau-energy-crisis/
Air emissions spike in Juneau with increased diesel use (Juneau Empire)
http://juneauempire.com/stories/042408/loc_271769846.shtml
Is Nuclear Energy Our Best Hope? Despite its negative image, nuclear energy may be the most efficient and realistic means of meeting the rapidly-growing demand for power in the United States (Discover Magazine)
http://discovermagazine.com/2008/may/02-is-nuclear-energy-our-best-hope
Cost of nuclear plant fuels battle – Price of new plants in North and South Carolina would be ammunition for opponents -- if utilities didn't hold info close (News and Observer)
http://www.newsobserver.com/business/story/1048035.html
Greenpeace founder now backs nuclear power – Patrick Moore tells the Boise chamber that the world must wean itself from fossil fuels to reduce greenhouse gases. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/360625.html
Oregon – Liquefied Natural Gas pipeline officials, opponents debate natural gas development plan (News Review, Roseburg)
http://www.newsreview.info/article/20080423/NEWS/449790758
Maryland – Braving a Switch In Utility Service – Energy Choice Offers Savings, Renewable Sources (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/24/AR2008042403567.html?nav=rss_business
Maryland – Balancing energy needs – Maryland regulators are considering exemptions for a proposed Calvert County power plant and other generators from a regional auction of carbon credits that is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (Baltimore Sun)
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.environment25apr25,0,5951495.story
ISO New England: Summer heat won't sap area power supply (Boston Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2008/04/21/daily49.html?ana=from_rss
Australia – There's a price to pay for power sell-off “…government is now considering whether to remove price caps on electricity and gas when they expire at the end of this year….customers could benefit further from cheaper prices and a wider range of energy products if the price caps were removed….” (Here comes the Easter Bunny! Sydney Morning Herald)
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/theres-a-price-to-pay-for-power-selloff/2008/04/25/1208743251912.html
Why national parks, coal-fired power plants may be neighbors – Air-quality experts worry that proposed changes to clean-air regulations may allow developers to build the plants near pristine areas (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0424/p13s02-sten.html
Cutoffs and Pleas for Aid Rise With Heat Costs – After struggling with soaring heating costs through the winter, millions of Americans are behind on electric and gas bills, and a record number of families could face energy shut-offs over the next two months, according to state energy officials and utilities around the country (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/25/us/25heating.html?_r=1&ex=1366862400&en=c5406b9b1c6725c3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Pacific Gas and Electric’s attack on CCA – It's a bit odd (if not terribly surprising) that the San Francisco Chronicle ran a front-page story April 16 on public power and alternatives to Pacific Gas and Electric Co. — and almost entirely ignored what's going on in the paper's hometown (San Francisco Bay Guardian)
http://www.sfbg.com/entry.php?entry_id=6204&catid=4&volume_id=317&issue_id=375&volume_num=42&issue_num=30
News Release – Court of Appeal Unanimously Denies South San Joaquin Irrigation District's Bid to Takeover Pacific Gas & Electric without Approval (Pacific Gas & Electric, via PR Newswire)
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/04-23-2008/0004799015&EDATE=
FISH & WILDLIFE
Agents trap salmon-eating sea lions in the Columbia River (The Associated Press)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iXwhDeGupcvrmnzHSeibNnBgeTpwD908SVVO0
Downer: Don't bank on finding salmon in the streams (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/04/25/this_day/doc481165777c975877670368.txt
Ready, set, fish! This weekend (April 26-27) is one of the biggest of the year for local fisherman -- the opening of Trout Season (My Northwest.com)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=49015
Snake River fishery set for April 26 – Strong returns in the Snake River have allowed the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to open a spring Chinook fishery below Hells Canyon Dam (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1359220~Snake_River_fishery_set_for_April_26.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
California – Fishing limits or ban advised for 24 zones (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9050737?source=rss
That Dam Bill – Ratepayers and regulators want Portland General Electric to explain a land donation – Blowing up a dam is fun. Figuring out who should pay and how much? Not so much fun (Willamette Weekly)
http://wweek.com/editorial/3424/10832/
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (Links to PDF File) – Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Oregon James A. Redden, District Judge, Presiding. Argued and Submitted June 1, 2006—San Francisco, California; Filed April 9, 2007; Amended April 24, 2008 – “…consolidated appeals bring us once more to the Pacific Northwest, for another round in the complex and long running battle over salmon and steelhead listed under the Endangered Species Act…”
http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/ca9/newopinions.nsf/58B35E9D60BF9F5A8825743500007558/$file/0635011.pdf?openelement
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Snowpack poised to refresh parched West (Associated Press, via the Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080424/NEWS04/583653340/1025/rss1025
Washington Dairy Sued For Air Pollution (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/washington-dairy-sued-air-pollution/
Canada – Vancouver Island sewage work halted amid war of words with province – CRD accused of 'playing politics' after it demands treatment report (Victoria Times Colonist Ed Note: meanwhile, untreated sewage continues to flow into the Strait of Juan De Fuca)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=33e5f089-6875-4537-99fe-dd88ef65292e&k=25289
Taking the blame for eco-woes – During the 1980s, Canadians typically blamed corporations for many of the world's environmental ills. But today, they have another target as eco-villain: themselves (The Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080424.wpoll24/BNStory/National/home
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Tacoma News Tribune Editorial – A once-dirty pulp mill soon to sell clean power – There’s lots to like about Simpson’s decision to sink $100 million into a new “green” power plant at its Tideflats pulp mill
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/344164.html
Puget Sound Energy inks deal for manure power (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004371066_webpuget24.html?syndication=rss
Birds Got to Fly – the Fish and Wildlife Service's Wind Turbine Guidelines Advisory Committee will get public comments and assist green businesses with avoiding and minimizing the turbines' effects on nature (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/23/AR2008042303447.html
Japan's Wind-Power Problem – In the country that hosted the Kyoto Protocol and wrote the book on solar policy, the wind-power industry has ground almost to a halt. Among the culprits: policy, cost and technology challenges. (Green Tech Media)
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/japans-wind-power-problem-828.html
Can renewable energy make a dent in fossil fuels? (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9928068-54.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20
The Tri-Cities – Earth Month: Alternative energy fair, other events this week (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/163860.html
CONSERVATION
Standby power cut a big saver – Reducing power consumed by switched-off electronics or appliances in Canadian households could save enough energy to meet the annual electricity needs of every home in New Brunswick. (The Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=5f87bed9-02f2-4804-9a2e-3c3d1806a987
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Greenhouse gases growing faster than ever, report says – Increases in methane and carbon dioxide of particular concern (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/24/MNOU10AJ4N.DTL
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Utah – Herald Poll: Time to sell the fiber? The pressure is mounting on Provo city and the UTOPIA cities to think about putting a "for sale" sign on their broadband networks (The Daily Herald, Provo)
http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/263917/3/
Qwest unveils DSL with speedier downloads (The Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2008/04/04252008_Qwest-unveils-DSL-with-speedier-downloads.cfm/
GENERAL NEWS
Charges dropped in 2005 vehicular homicide case against Shelton man (Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/04/24/local_news/10news.txt
High gas prices outgrow analog gas pumps – Old style analog gas and fuel pumps are creating some new problems, thanks to the rapidly increasing prices for gas and diesel. If you are out of diesel in places like Dayton or Matlock, you are also out of luck. (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/18157479.html
Frost damage worst in years – Frost damage to Washington tree fruit buds in the last week was the worst in years, but crops were going to be so large that it will just reduce them to last year’s volumes, industry officials say. (The Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080424/NEWS04/816595669/1001/rss1001
Global rice squeeze hitting U.S. consumers – The climbing global price of rice and other staples shows no sign of leveling off, given caps placed on exports and various supply-side squeezes (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/25/BUUR10AOLH.DTL&feed=rss.business
Cowlitz County – Sheriff's office seeks help catching metal thieves (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/04/25//area_news/doc48115e1c8c786385243073.txt
DIVERSIONS
NASA's top 10 views of Earth
http://www.news.com/2300-11397_3-6237965-1.html?tag=nl.e434
Argument Over 'Top Model' TV Show Ends In Stabbing
http://www.kirotv.com/news/15983995/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
Hemlines doing their part for the economy – Tough times call for short skirts
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/360526_shortskirts25.html?source=rss
Pittsburgh Subway Station Tile Mural Worth $15 Million
http://www.kirotv.com/news/15979221/detail.html
Iowa Shelter Dog Nurses 9 Kittens – Shelter Workers Say Lilly Lou Immediately Took To 'Pittens'
http://www.kirotv.com/family/15972844/detail.html
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Area Counties Broach Question: Who Should Provide Electricity?
- Chelan County PUD lays second power cable across Lake Chelan
- State works to stop Juneau energy crisis
- Air emissions spike in Juneau with increased diesel use
- Is Nuclear Energy Our Best Hope?
- Cost of nuclear plant fuels battle in the Carolinas
- Greenpeace founder now backs nuclear power
- Oregon – Liquefied Natural Gas pipeline officials, opponents debate natural gas development plan
- Maryland – Braving a Switch In Utility Service
- Maryland – Balancing energy needs
- ISO New England: Summer heat won't sap area power supply
- Australia – There's a price to pay for power sell-off
- Why national parks, coal-fired power plants may be neighbors
- Cutoffs and Pleas for Aid Rise With Heat Costs
- Pacific Gas and Electric’s attack on CCA
- Court of Appeal Unanimously Denies South San Joaquin Irrigation District's Bid to Takeover Pacific Gas & Electric without Approval
- Agents trap salmon-eating sea lions in the Columbia River
- Downer: Don't bank on finding salmon in the streams
- Ready, set, fish! This weekend (April 26-27) is one of the biggest of the year for local fisherman
- Snake River fishery set for April 26 – Strong Chinook returns in the Snake River
- California – Fishing limits or ban advised for 24 zones
- That Dam Bill – Ratepayers and regulators want Portland General Electric to explain a land donation
- Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals
- Snowpack poised to refresh parched West
- Washington Dairy Sued For Air Pollution
- Canada – Vancouver Island sewage work halted amid war of words with province
- Taking the blame for eco-woes
- Tacoma News Tribune Editorial – A once-dirty pulp mill soon to sell clean power
- Puget Sound Energy inks deal for manure power
- Birds Got to Fly – but look out for those windmills
- Japan's Wind-Power Problem
- Can renewable energy make a dent in fossil fuels?
- The Tri-Cities – Earth Month: Alternative energy fair, other events this week
- Standby power cut a big saver
- Greenhouse gases growing faster than ever, report says
- Utah – Herald Poll: Time to sell the fiber?
- Qwest unveils DSL with speedier downloads
- Charges dropped in 2005 vehicular homicide case against Shelton man
- High gas prices outgrow analog gas pumps
- Washington State tree fruit frost damage worst in years
- Global rice squeeze hitting U.S. consumers
- Cowlitz County – Sheriff's office seeks help catching metal thieves
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Avatar • \AV-uh-tar\ • noun – 1: the incarnation of a Hindu deity (as Vishnu) 2a: an incarnation in human form b: an embodiment (as of a concept or philosophy) often in a person *3: an electronic image that represents and is manipulated by a computer user (as in a computer game)
In the poorest-selling video game of all time: “The Unawakening: Hibernating Mammals”, Fredo’s avatar was the unfortunate rodent, jerboa from the continent of Africa. Needless to say, the activity level of the game was less than riveting.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Area Counties Broach Question: Who Should Provide Electricity? Jefferson County voters may get the opportunity in November to decide whether their local government should go into the electricity business (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/apr/24/area-counties-broach-question-who-should-provide/
Chelan County PUD lays second power cable across Lake Chelan (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080424/NEWS04/920623623
State works to stop Juneau energy crisis – With avalanches having severed Juneau from its source of cheap hydro power, a high-level state disaster cabinet is looking for ways to help the town cope with a sudden spike in power costs. (The Associated Press, via the Daily News Miner, Fairbanks)
http://newsminer.com/news/2008/apr/24/state-works-stop-juneau-energy-crisis/
Air emissions spike in Juneau with increased diesel use (Juneau Empire)
http://juneauempire.com/stories/042408/loc_271769846.shtml
Is Nuclear Energy Our Best Hope? Despite its negative image, nuclear energy may be the most efficient and realistic means of meeting the rapidly-growing demand for power in the United States (Discover Magazine)
http://discovermagazine.com/2008/may/02-is-nuclear-energy-our-best-hope
Cost of nuclear plant fuels battle – Price of new plants in North and South Carolina would be ammunition for opponents -- if utilities didn't hold info close (News and Observer)
http://www.newsobserver.com/business/story/1048035.html
Greenpeace founder now backs nuclear power – Patrick Moore tells the Boise chamber that the world must wean itself from fossil fuels to reduce greenhouse gases. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/360625.html
Oregon – Liquefied Natural Gas pipeline officials, opponents debate natural gas development plan (News Review, Roseburg)
http://www.newsreview.info/article/20080423/NEWS/449790758
Maryland – Braving a Switch In Utility Service – Energy Choice Offers Savings, Renewable Sources (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/24/AR2008042403567.html?nav=rss_business
Maryland – Balancing energy needs – Maryland regulators are considering exemptions for a proposed Calvert County power plant and other generators from a regional auction of carbon credits that is designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (Baltimore Sun)
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-md.environment25apr25,0,5951495.story
ISO New England: Summer heat won't sap area power supply (Boston Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2008/04/21/daily49.html?ana=from_rss
Australia – There's a price to pay for power sell-off “…government is now considering whether to remove price caps on electricity and gas when they expire at the end of this year….customers could benefit further from cheaper prices and a wider range of energy products if the price caps were removed….” (Here comes the Easter Bunny! Sydney Morning Herald)
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/theres-a-price-to-pay-for-power-selloff/2008/04/25/1208743251912.html
Why national parks, coal-fired power plants may be neighbors – Air-quality experts worry that proposed changes to clean-air regulations may allow developers to build the plants near pristine areas (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0424/p13s02-sten.html
Cutoffs and Pleas for Aid Rise With Heat Costs – After struggling with soaring heating costs through the winter, millions of Americans are behind on electric and gas bills, and a record number of families could face energy shut-offs over the next two months, according to state energy officials and utilities around the country (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/25/us/25heating.html?_r=1&ex=1366862400&en=c5406b9b1c6725c3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Pacific Gas and Electric’s attack on CCA – It's a bit odd (if not terribly surprising) that the San Francisco Chronicle ran a front-page story April 16 on public power and alternatives to Pacific Gas and Electric Co. — and almost entirely ignored what's going on in the paper's hometown (San Francisco Bay Guardian)
http://www.sfbg.com/entry.php?entry_id=6204&catid=4&volume_id=317&issue_id=375&volume_num=42&issue_num=30
News Release – Court of Appeal Unanimously Denies South San Joaquin Irrigation District's Bid to Takeover Pacific Gas & Electric without Approval (Pacific Gas & Electric, via PR Newswire)
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/04-23-2008/0004799015&EDATE=
FISH & WILDLIFE
Agents trap salmon-eating sea lions in the Columbia River (The Associated Press)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iXwhDeGupcvrmnzHSeibNnBgeTpwD908SVVO0
Downer: Don't bank on finding salmon in the streams (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/04/25/this_day/doc481165777c975877670368.txt
Ready, set, fish! This weekend (April 26-27) is one of the biggest of the year for local fisherman -- the opening of Trout Season (My Northwest.com)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=49015
Snake River fishery set for April 26 – Strong returns in the Snake River have allowed the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife to open a spring Chinook fishery below Hells Canyon Dam (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1359220~Snake_River_fishery_set_for_April_26.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
California – Fishing limits or ban advised for 24 zones (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9050737?source=rss
That Dam Bill – Ratepayers and regulators want Portland General Electric to explain a land donation – Blowing up a dam is fun. Figuring out who should pay and how much? Not so much fun (Willamette Weekly)
http://wweek.com/editorial/3424/10832/
Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals (Links to PDF File) – Appeal from the United States District Court for the District of Oregon James A. Redden, District Judge, Presiding. Argued and Submitted June 1, 2006—San Francisco, California; Filed April 9, 2007; Amended April 24, 2008 – “…consolidated appeals bring us once more to the Pacific Northwest, for another round in the complex and long running battle over salmon and steelhead listed under the Endangered Species Act…”
http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/ca9/newopinions.nsf/58B35E9D60BF9F5A8825743500007558/$file/0635011.pdf?openelement
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Snowpack poised to refresh parched West (Associated Press, via the Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080424/NEWS04/583653340/1025/rss1025
Washington Dairy Sued For Air Pollution (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/washington-dairy-sued-air-pollution/
Canada – Vancouver Island sewage work halted amid war of words with province – CRD accused of 'playing politics' after it demands treatment report (Victoria Times Colonist Ed Note: meanwhile, untreated sewage continues to flow into the Strait of Juan De Fuca)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=33e5f089-6875-4537-99fe-dd88ef65292e&k=25289
Taking the blame for eco-woes – During the 1980s, Canadians typically blamed corporations for many of the world's environmental ills. But today, they have another target as eco-villain: themselves (The Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080424.wpoll24/BNStory/National/home
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Tacoma News Tribune Editorial – A once-dirty pulp mill soon to sell clean power – There’s lots to like about Simpson’s decision to sink $100 million into a new “green” power plant at its Tideflats pulp mill
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/344164.html
Puget Sound Energy inks deal for manure power (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004371066_webpuget24.html?syndication=rss
Birds Got to Fly – the Fish and Wildlife Service's Wind Turbine Guidelines Advisory Committee will get public comments and assist green businesses with avoiding and minimizing the turbines' effects on nature (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/23/AR2008042303447.html
Japan's Wind-Power Problem – In the country that hosted the Kyoto Protocol and wrote the book on solar policy, the wind-power industry has ground almost to a halt. Among the culprits: policy, cost and technology challenges. (Green Tech Media)
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/japans-wind-power-problem-828.html
Can renewable energy make a dent in fossil fuels? (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9928068-54.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20
The Tri-Cities – Earth Month: Alternative energy fair, other events this week (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/163860.html
CONSERVATION
Standby power cut a big saver – Reducing power consumed by switched-off electronics or appliances in Canadian households could save enough energy to meet the annual electricity needs of every home in New Brunswick. (The Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=5f87bed9-02f2-4804-9a2e-3c3d1806a987
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Greenhouse gases growing faster than ever, report says – Increases in methane and carbon dioxide of particular concern (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/24/MNOU10AJ4N.DTL
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Utah – Herald Poll: Time to sell the fiber? The pressure is mounting on Provo city and the UTOPIA cities to think about putting a "for sale" sign on their broadband networks (The Daily Herald, Provo)
http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/263917/3/
Qwest unveils DSL with speedier downloads (The Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2008/04/04252008_Qwest-unveils-DSL-with-speedier-downloads.cfm/
GENERAL NEWS
Charges dropped in 2005 vehicular homicide case against Shelton man (Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/04/24/local_news/10news.txt
High gas prices outgrow analog gas pumps – Old style analog gas and fuel pumps are creating some new problems, thanks to the rapidly increasing prices for gas and diesel. If you are out of diesel in places like Dayton or Matlock, you are also out of luck. (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/18157479.html
Frost damage worst in years – Frost damage to Washington tree fruit buds in the last week was the worst in years, but crops were going to be so large that it will just reduce them to last year’s volumes, industry officials say. (The Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080424/NEWS04/816595669/1001/rss1001
Global rice squeeze hitting U.S. consumers – The climbing global price of rice and other staples shows no sign of leveling off, given caps placed on exports and various supply-side squeezes (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/25/BUUR10AOLH.DTL&feed=rss.business
Cowlitz County – Sheriff's office seeks help catching metal thieves (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/04/25//area_news/doc48115e1c8c786385243073.txt
DIVERSIONS
NASA's top 10 views of Earth
http://www.news.com/2300-11397_3-6237965-1.html?tag=nl.e434
Argument Over 'Top Model' TV Show Ends In Stabbing
http://www.kirotv.com/news/15983995/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
Hemlines doing their part for the economy – Tough times call for short skirts
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/360526_shortskirts25.html?source=rss
Pittsburgh Subway Station Tile Mural Worth $15 Million
http://www.kirotv.com/news/15979221/detail.html
Iowa Shelter Dog Nurses 9 Kittens – Shelter Workers Say Lilly Lou Immediately Took To 'Pittens'
http://www.kirotv.com/family/15972844/detail.html
Thursday, April 24, 2008
Energy News Digest for April 24, 2008
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)
- Europe Turns Back to Coal, Raising Climate Fear
- Benton PUD OKs 1-year temporary rate credit
- Clallam, Whatcom PUDs join Energy NW
- Whatcom County PUD joins larger supplier – No extra power available yet
- BPA Settlement means PenLight members can relax
- Oregon – LNG proponents tout minimal impacts
- Tom Flint runs for re-election to Grant County PUD Board
- California – Pacific Gas and Electric gets OK to build power plant in valley
- About $100 Each to New York City Customers in ’06 Blackout
- Restoring an Afghan Dam in a Taliban Stronghold
- Dead Krill Reported in Hood Canal
- Oregon fishermen wait for federal salmon fishery failure declaration
- Fishermen hit hard by closure of West Coast salmon fishing
- Humane Society gets partial victory in fight to save sea lions
- Emergency motion filed to stay killing of Bonneville Dam Sea Lions
- California – Species survival – Big fish calls attention to salmon crisis
- Save Our Wild Salmon Op/Ed: Bushies not wild about wild salmon
- Beachside Homeowners Clash with “Sea Farmers” over Geoduck Harvesting
- Terra Blanca Winery & Vineyards earns salmon-safe designation
- A big, new growth management plan is already outgrown
- For Bronx Water Plant Being Built 10 Stories Down, a Towering Price Tag
- Simpson Investment Co. will build power plant at Tacoma Tideflats mill
- Going Green: Tide runs high for harnessing ocean power
- Puget Sound Energy power challenge contest aims for more green energy
- News Release – Portland General Electric’s Residential Green Power Program No. 1 for Third Year
- Earth Day vote means solar, other upgrades for Clark County buildings
- Group says wind energy an economic boon in Ohio
- Sacramento Bee Op/Ed: Greens like idea of renewable energy, balk at the reality
- Portland General Electric seeks more renewable power
- Biofuels Falling Out of Favor in Germany
- Congressional Research Reports – Food Price Inflation: Causes and Impacts
- Montana – Sacajawea kids give school C-plus in conservation
- Et tu Diogenes – Finding the world's greenest person
- Free wireless Internet coming to Moses Lake
- Utah – Councils mull UTOPIA fiber-optic financing
- Colorado – Glenwood Springs voters OK further examination of fiber-optic network expansion
- Colorado – Better use of fiber optics would cost
- Comcast tries to blunt complaints over service and system performance
- Broadband is the Best Way to Save Environment
- Dogs thwart attempted assault on Hoodsport woman
- Olympia man drowns in diving accident
- Tolls considered for Puget Sound highways
- Park's petroglyph moves on
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Inanition • \in-uh-NISH-un\ • noun – 1: the exhausted condition that results from lack of food and water *2: the absence or loss of social, moral, or intellectual vitality or vigor
Alfredo always wondered why the businesses in his town shuttered themselves at 4:30 each evening…not to open again until 10:00 the following morning. He had always thought that this odd arrangement of business hours had led to the inanition of the local business climate. It turns out that the reason the businesses didn’t do that well was because each one tried to sell the same cheaply made trinkets to the jaded tourists that occasionally rolled into the dusty little town after taking the wrong exit from the interstate highway. It also didn’t help that the only motel in town was owned by the mysterious Norman Bates, further winnowing the customer base.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Europe Turns Back to Coal, Raising Climate Fears (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/23/world/europe/23coal.html?ex=1366689600&en=7350eac89a46ac57&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Benton PUD OKs 1-year temporary rate credit (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/901/story/164478.html
Clallam, Whatcom PUDs join Energy NW (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/901/story/165480.html
Whatcom County PUD joins larger supplier – No extra power available yet (Bellingham Herald)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/business/story/389778.html
BPA Settlement means PenLight members can relax (Peninsula Gateway, Gig Harbor)
http://www.gateline.com/104/story/1240.html
Oregon – LNG proponents tout minimal impacts (The World, Coos Bay)
http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2008/04/22/news/doc480e1df924f01461050527.txt
Tom Flint runs for re-election to Grant County PUD Board (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/04/23/news/news03.txt
California – Pacific Gas and Electric gets OK to build power plant in valley –The company won permission from California energy regulators on Wednesday to build a $673 million, gas-burning power plant in Colusa County (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/24/BUNC10AM9K.DTL&feed=rss.business
About $100 Each to New York City Customers in ’06 Blackout (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/24/nyregion/24coned.html?_r=1&ex=1366776000&en=624ad6b14e6be419&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Restoring an Afghan Dam in a Taliban Stronghold – Dam built nearly 50 years ago by United States (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89821168&ft=1&f=3
FISH & WILDLIFE
Dead Krill Reported in Hood Canal (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/apr/23/dead-krill-reported-in-hood-canal/
Oregon fishermen wait for federal salmon fishery failure declaration (Tillamook Headlight Herald)
http://tillamookheadlightherald.com/main.asp?SectionID=8&SubSectionID=8&ArticleID=9310
Fishermen hit hard by closure of West Coast salmon fishing – Drastic federal action to try to save Chinook salmon is latest move in ongoing battle (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0423/p13s01-sten.html
Humane Society gets partial victory in fight to save sea lions (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/360391_sealions24.html
Emergency motion filed to stay killing of Bonneville Dam Sea Lions (Links to PDF file on Ninth Circuit web site)
http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/ca9/newopinions.nsf/DFD97497C4E5228688257434007CC8CD/$file/0835305o.pdf?openelement
California – Species survival – Big fish calls attention to salmon crisis (Chico News & Review)
http://www.newsreview.com/chico/Content?oid=657964
Save Our Wild Salmon Op/Ed: Bushies not wild about wild salmon – On the Bush administration's deal for Columbia and Snake River salmon and steelhead (Grist Online)
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/4/22/16225/1323
Beachside Homeowners Clash with “Sea Farmers” over Geoduck Harvesting (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3767
Terra Blanca Winery & Vineyards earns salmon-safe designation (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/bizbeat/story/164694.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
A big, new growth management plan is already outgrown (Crosscut Seattle)
http://www.crosscut.com/politics-government/13638/A+big%2C+new+growth+management+plan+is+already+outgrown/
For Bronx Water Plant Being Built 10 Stories Down, a Towering Price Tag (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/24/nyregion/24water.html?ex=1366776000&en=5bfdad10826e3b88&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Simpson Investment Co. will build power plant at Tacoma Tideflats mill – Tacoma’s biggest forest products company is entering a new business: green power (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/343258.html
Going Green: Tide runs high for harnessing ocean power – British Columbia firm is among three testing turbines in Bay of Fundy (which has the highest and lowest tide differences in the world, Victoria Times-Colonist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=872f353a-6174-424d-a6ab-048c4433f97b&k=91835
Puget Sound Energy power challenge contest aims for more green energy (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/environment/story/427461.html
News Release – Portland General Electric’s Residential Green Power Program No. 1 for Third Year – Utility Moves up in Other National Rankings (Business Wire)
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/moreover/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080422006711&newsLang=en
Earth Day vote means solar, other upgrades for Clark County buildings (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/04/04232008_Earth-Day-vote-means-solar-other-upgrades-for-county-buildings.cfm
Group says wind energy an economic boon in Ohio (Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/5727020.html
Sacramento Bee Op/Ed: Greens like idea of renewable energy, balk at the reality “…opposition follows an odd pattern of supporting green policies in a macro sense, only to oppose specific projects that would implement their larger vision…”
http://www.sacbee.com/378/story/882652.html
Portland General Electric seeks more renewable power (Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1355955~PGE_seeks_more_renewable_power.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Biofuels Falling Out of Favor in Germany (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89893155&ft=1&f=2
Congressional Research Reports – Food Price Inflation: Causes and Impacts “…(1) demand for corn for ethanol is competing with food and feed for acreage…”
http://opencrs.cdt.org/document/RS22859
CONSERVATION
Montana – Sacajawea kids give school C-plus in conservation (Bozeman Daily Chronicle)
http://bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2008/04/24/news/20energy.txt
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Et tu Diogenes – Finding the world's greenest person – A Canadian professor has launched an online contest to find the world's greenest person (CBC News)
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/04/21/bc-green-person-contest.html
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Free wireless Internet coming to Moses Lake (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/04/23/news/news04.txt
Utah – Councils mull UTOPIA fiber-optic financing (The Daily Herald)
http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/263379/
Colorado – Glenwood Springs voters OK further examination of fiber-optic network expansion – Mayor is encouraged by ‘decisive margin’ (Glenwood Springs Post Independent)
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20080423/VALLEYNEWS/785030529
Colorado – Better use of fiber optics would cost – Fort Morgan has invested a substantial amount of money in a fiber optic network that is greatly underused (Fort Morgan Times)
http://www.fortmorgantimes.com/articles/2008/04/23/news/local_news/fmcc%20work%204-23.txt
Comcast tries to blunt complaints over service and system performance (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/343270.html
Broadband is the Best Way to Save Environment – It was Earth Day this past weekend, the day on which we celebrate Mother Nature and get ourselves charged up about doing more to protect her (Apprising)
http://www.app-rising.com/gdblog/2008/04/broadband_is_the_best_way_to_s.html
GENERAL NEWS
Dogs thwart attempted assault on Hoodsport woman (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/428021.html
Olympia man drowns in diving accident (Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP04242008news308525.cfm?newsletter=10
Tolls considered for Puget Sound highways (Seattle Times, via the Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1357711~Tolls_considered_for_Puget_Sound_highways.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Park's petroglyph moves on – The Squaxin Island tribe reclaimed a connection to its roots Wednesday, retrieving a 10-ton granite rock with ancient tribal petroglyphs from its longtime perch at Tumwater Falls Park. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/428316.html
DIVERSIONS
Not all :) as informal writing creeps into teen assignments
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080424/ap_on_hi_te/teen_writing_2
Coming In From the Cold – A century after Ian Fleming's birth, a British museum reveals some of the secrets in the life of the creator of James Bond
http://www.newsweek.com/id/133446?from=rss
Family Stuck With House Possibly Built On Dump – Massachusetts Family Demands Answers From Town, Builder
http://www.kirotv.com/money/15971151/detail.html
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Europe Turns Back to Coal, Raising Climate Fear
- Benton PUD OKs 1-year temporary rate credit
- Clallam, Whatcom PUDs join Energy NW
- Whatcom County PUD joins larger supplier – No extra power available yet
- BPA Settlement means PenLight members can relax
- Oregon – LNG proponents tout minimal impacts
- Tom Flint runs for re-election to Grant County PUD Board
- California – Pacific Gas and Electric gets OK to build power plant in valley
- About $100 Each to New York City Customers in ’06 Blackout
- Restoring an Afghan Dam in a Taliban Stronghold
- Dead Krill Reported in Hood Canal
- Oregon fishermen wait for federal salmon fishery failure declaration
- Fishermen hit hard by closure of West Coast salmon fishing
- Humane Society gets partial victory in fight to save sea lions
- Emergency motion filed to stay killing of Bonneville Dam Sea Lions
- California – Species survival – Big fish calls attention to salmon crisis
- Save Our Wild Salmon Op/Ed: Bushies not wild about wild salmon
- Beachside Homeowners Clash with “Sea Farmers” over Geoduck Harvesting
- Terra Blanca Winery & Vineyards earns salmon-safe designation
- A big, new growth management plan is already outgrown
- For Bronx Water Plant Being Built 10 Stories Down, a Towering Price Tag
- Simpson Investment Co. will build power plant at Tacoma Tideflats mill
- Going Green: Tide runs high for harnessing ocean power
- Puget Sound Energy power challenge contest aims for more green energy
- News Release – Portland General Electric’s Residential Green Power Program No. 1 for Third Year
- Earth Day vote means solar, other upgrades for Clark County buildings
- Group says wind energy an economic boon in Ohio
- Sacramento Bee Op/Ed: Greens like idea of renewable energy, balk at the reality
- Portland General Electric seeks more renewable power
- Biofuels Falling Out of Favor in Germany
- Congressional Research Reports – Food Price Inflation: Causes and Impacts
- Montana – Sacajawea kids give school C-plus in conservation
- Et tu Diogenes – Finding the world's greenest person
- Free wireless Internet coming to Moses Lake
- Utah – Councils mull UTOPIA fiber-optic financing
- Colorado – Glenwood Springs voters OK further examination of fiber-optic network expansion
- Colorado – Better use of fiber optics would cost
- Comcast tries to blunt complaints over service and system performance
- Broadband is the Best Way to Save Environment
- Dogs thwart attempted assault on Hoodsport woman
- Olympia man drowns in diving accident
- Tolls considered for Puget Sound highways
- Park's petroglyph moves on
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Inanition • \in-uh-NISH-un\ • noun – 1: the exhausted condition that results from lack of food and water *2: the absence or loss of social, moral, or intellectual vitality or vigor
Alfredo always wondered why the businesses in his town shuttered themselves at 4:30 each evening…not to open again until 10:00 the following morning. He had always thought that this odd arrangement of business hours had led to the inanition of the local business climate. It turns out that the reason the businesses didn’t do that well was because each one tried to sell the same cheaply made trinkets to the jaded tourists that occasionally rolled into the dusty little town after taking the wrong exit from the interstate highway. It also didn’t help that the only motel in town was owned by the mysterious Norman Bates, further winnowing the customer base.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Europe Turns Back to Coal, Raising Climate Fears (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/23/world/europe/23coal.html?ex=1366689600&en=7350eac89a46ac57&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Benton PUD OKs 1-year temporary rate credit (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/901/story/164478.html
Clallam, Whatcom PUDs join Energy NW (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/901/story/165480.html
Whatcom County PUD joins larger supplier – No extra power available yet (Bellingham Herald)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/business/story/389778.html
BPA Settlement means PenLight members can relax (Peninsula Gateway, Gig Harbor)
http://www.gateline.com/104/story/1240.html
Oregon – LNG proponents tout minimal impacts (The World, Coos Bay)
http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2008/04/22/news/doc480e1df924f01461050527.txt
Tom Flint runs for re-election to Grant County PUD Board (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/04/23/news/news03.txt
California – Pacific Gas and Electric gets OK to build power plant in valley –The company won permission from California energy regulators on Wednesday to build a $673 million, gas-burning power plant in Colusa County (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/24/BUNC10AM9K.DTL&feed=rss.business
About $100 Each to New York City Customers in ’06 Blackout (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/24/nyregion/24coned.html?_r=1&ex=1366776000&en=624ad6b14e6be419&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Restoring an Afghan Dam in a Taliban Stronghold – Dam built nearly 50 years ago by United States (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89821168&ft=1&f=3
FISH & WILDLIFE
Dead Krill Reported in Hood Canal (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/apr/23/dead-krill-reported-in-hood-canal/
Oregon fishermen wait for federal salmon fishery failure declaration (Tillamook Headlight Herald)
http://tillamookheadlightherald.com/main.asp?SectionID=8&SubSectionID=8&ArticleID=9310
Fishermen hit hard by closure of West Coast salmon fishing – Drastic federal action to try to save Chinook salmon is latest move in ongoing battle (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0423/p13s01-sten.html
Humane Society gets partial victory in fight to save sea lions (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/360391_sealions24.html
Emergency motion filed to stay killing of Bonneville Dam Sea Lions (Links to PDF file on Ninth Circuit web site)
http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/ca9/newopinions.nsf/DFD97497C4E5228688257434007CC8CD/$file/0835305o.pdf?openelement
California – Species survival – Big fish calls attention to salmon crisis (Chico News & Review)
http://www.newsreview.com/chico/Content?oid=657964
Save Our Wild Salmon Op/Ed: Bushies not wild about wild salmon – On the Bush administration's deal for Columbia and Snake River salmon and steelhead (Grist Online)
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/4/22/16225/1323
Beachside Homeowners Clash with “Sea Farmers” over Geoduck Harvesting (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3767
Terra Blanca Winery & Vineyards earns salmon-safe designation (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/bizbeat/story/164694.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
A big, new growth management plan is already outgrown (Crosscut Seattle)
http://www.crosscut.com/politics-government/13638/A+big%2C+new+growth+management+plan+is+already+outgrown/
For Bronx Water Plant Being Built 10 Stories Down, a Towering Price Tag (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/24/nyregion/24water.html?ex=1366776000&en=5bfdad10826e3b88&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Simpson Investment Co. will build power plant at Tacoma Tideflats mill – Tacoma’s biggest forest products company is entering a new business: green power (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/343258.html
Going Green: Tide runs high for harnessing ocean power – British Columbia firm is among three testing turbines in Bay of Fundy (which has the highest and lowest tide differences in the world, Victoria Times-Colonist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=872f353a-6174-424d-a6ab-048c4433f97b&k=91835
Puget Sound Energy power challenge contest aims for more green energy (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/environment/story/427461.html
News Release – Portland General Electric’s Residential Green Power Program No. 1 for Third Year – Utility Moves up in Other National Rankings (Business Wire)
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/moreover/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080422006711&newsLang=en
Earth Day vote means solar, other upgrades for Clark County buildings (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/04/04232008_Earth-Day-vote-means-solar-other-upgrades-for-county-buildings.cfm
Group says wind energy an economic boon in Ohio (Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/5727020.html
Sacramento Bee Op/Ed: Greens like idea of renewable energy, balk at the reality “…opposition follows an odd pattern of supporting green policies in a macro sense, only to oppose specific projects that would implement their larger vision…”
http://www.sacbee.com/378/story/882652.html
Portland General Electric seeks more renewable power (Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1355955~PGE_seeks_more_renewable_power.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Biofuels Falling Out of Favor in Germany (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89893155&ft=1&f=2
Congressional Research Reports – Food Price Inflation: Causes and Impacts “…(1) demand for corn for ethanol is competing with food and feed for acreage…”
http://opencrs.cdt.org/document/RS22859
CONSERVATION
Montana – Sacajawea kids give school C-plus in conservation (Bozeman Daily Chronicle)
http://bozemandailychronicle.com/articles/2008/04/24/news/20energy.txt
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Et tu Diogenes – Finding the world's greenest person – A Canadian professor has launched an online contest to find the world's greenest person (CBC News)
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/04/21/bc-green-person-contest.html
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Free wireless Internet coming to Moses Lake (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/04/23/news/news04.txt
Utah – Councils mull UTOPIA fiber-optic financing (The Daily Herald)
http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/263379/
Colorado – Glenwood Springs voters OK further examination of fiber-optic network expansion – Mayor is encouraged by ‘decisive margin’ (Glenwood Springs Post Independent)
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20080423/VALLEYNEWS/785030529
Colorado – Better use of fiber optics would cost – Fort Morgan has invested a substantial amount of money in a fiber optic network that is greatly underused (Fort Morgan Times)
http://www.fortmorgantimes.com/articles/2008/04/23/news/local_news/fmcc%20work%204-23.txt
Comcast tries to blunt complaints over service and system performance (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/343270.html
Broadband is the Best Way to Save Environment – It was Earth Day this past weekend, the day on which we celebrate Mother Nature and get ourselves charged up about doing more to protect her (Apprising)
http://www.app-rising.com/gdblog/2008/04/broadband_is_the_best_way_to_s.html
GENERAL NEWS
Dogs thwart attempted assault on Hoodsport woman (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/428021.html
Olympia man drowns in diving accident (Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP04242008news308525.cfm?newsletter=10
Tolls considered for Puget Sound highways (Seattle Times, via the Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1357711~Tolls_considered_for_Puget_Sound_highways.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Park's petroglyph moves on – The Squaxin Island tribe reclaimed a connection to its roots Wednesday, retrieving a 10-ton granite rock with ancient tribal petroglyphs from its longtime perch at Tumwater Falls Park. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/428316.html
DIVERSIONS
Not all :) as informal writing creeps into teen assignments
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080424/ap_on_hi_te/teen_writing_2
Coming In From the Cold – A century after Ian Fleming's birth, a British museum reveals some of the secrets in the life of the creator of James Bond
http://www.newsweek.com/id/133446?from=rss
Family Stuck With House Possibly Built On Dump – Massachusetts Family Demands Answers From Town, Builder
http://www.kirotv.com/money/15971151/detail.html
Wednesday, April 23, 2008
Energy News Digest for April 23, 2008
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)
- United Kingdom – Soaring energy prices fuelling a domestic crisis
- These days, all natural gas pipelines lead to small towns in Klamath County, such as Malin
- Oregonian Op/Ed – Pointing fingers won't save any fish
- Terry Flores’ NY Times Op/Ed Letter – The Salmon Problem
- Sacramento Bee Editorial: Ocean reserves will rebuild fish populations
- Hatchery salmon returns may offset low wild fish quotas in 2008
- Bellingham Technical College seeks funds for new hatchery facility
- Fishing – All’s slow with lake trout season looming
- Yakama tribal spokesman voices concerns about Black Rock
- New Chelan County PUD reservoir planned for north Wenatchee
- Montana – Wind farm markets expansion
- Changing the Current – State Environmental Laws Drive Power Producers to Renewable Resources
- News Release – PSE Selects Five Puget Sound-Area Schools for Solar Power Installation Grants
- Need a job? Green-collar opportunities await
- Washington PUD Association Headquarters Earns LEED Platinum Rating From U.S. Green Building Council
- Don’t Trash Compact Fluorescents
- Maryland – Montgomery Aims to Make Green Homes Mandatory
- LED light bulbs: Are you ready to make the switch?
- Slump forces locals to rethink financial commitment to greenness
- Carbon Offsets – Who's tracking the trackers?
- Montana – State orders more study of emissions
- Hold the Carbon: Cafeterias Focus on Green Fare
- AAA sells tags to boost eco-friendly energy
- Grant County PUD Fiber installation costs to increase
- Net-neutrality law not necessary now, FCC chairman says
- Yahoo Reports Jump in Profit; Suitor Microsoft Is Unimpressed
- Show Us Your 50Mbps! Minneapolis customers show off their sweet, delicious speed, cost: $150 per month
- Two Shelton Schools Locked Down While Police Arrest Robbery Suspects
- Global food crisis poses unpalatable options
- Rice shortage hits home in Seattle
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Truculent • \TRUCK-yuh-lunt\ • adjective – *1: feeling or displaying ferocity: cruel, savage 2: deadly, destructive 3: scathingly harsh: vitriolic 4: aggressively self-assertive: belligerent
At the laughing comments about his “vintage” Yugo hatchback, Franze’s face slowly froze into a mask-like, bulldog expression. “I’ll challenge your AMC Pacer to a drag race any day,” he raged, his truculent, protective manner overtaking what started as a polite conservation about jumper cables, baling wire and duct tape.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
United Kingdom – Soaring energy prices fuelling a domestic crisis (The Scotsman)
http://news.scotsman.com/politics/Soaring-energy-prices-fuelling-a.4010070.jp
These days, all natural gas pipelines lead to small towns in Klamath County, such as Malin – Hearings on two of three pipelines will be this week (Herald and News)
http://www.heraldandnews.com/articles/2008/04/22/viewpoints/op-ed/doc480d8300aea60889759919.txt
FISH & WILDLIFE
Oregonian Op/Ed – Pointing fingers won't save any fish
http://www.oregonlive.com/commentary/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/120890851648840.xml&coll=7
Terry Flores’ NY Times Op/Ed Letter – The Salmon Problem
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/22/opinion/lweb22salmon.html?ref=opinion
Sacramento Bee Editorial: Ocean reserves will rebuild fish populations
http://www.sacbee.com/110/story/879188.html
Hatchery salmon returns may offset low wild fish quotas in 2008 (Alaska Public Radio)
http://aprn.org/2008/04/21/hatchery-salmon-returns-may-offset-low-wild-fish-quotas-in-2008/
Bellingham Technical College seeks funds for new hatchery facility – Fisheries technology building in disrepair. A slanted second floor is only one of the structural problems plaguing the home of the college (Bellingham Herald)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/386678.html
Fishing – All’s slow with lake trout season looming (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/outdoors/story/342304.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Yakama tribal spokesman voices concerns about Black Rock (Yakima Herald Republic)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/3416
New Chelan County PUD reservoir planned for north Wenatchee – the tank will ensure adequate fire suppression and water supplies in northern Wenatchee for at least 50 years (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080422/NEWS04/390852912
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Montana – Wind farm markets expansion – NWE's declining of offer opens energy to other potential buyers (Billings Gazette)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/04/22/news/state/21-windexpansion.txt
Changing the Current – State Environmental Laws Drive Power Producers to Renewable Resources (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/21/AR2008042103004.html
News Release – PSE Selects Five Puget Sound-Area Schools for Solar Power Installation Grants (Puget Sound Energy, via BusinessWire)
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080423005349&newsLang=en
Need a job? Green-collar opportunities await – Living green is more than a necessity. It's more than a trend. It's a job opportunity. (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080423/BIZ/297111397/-1/RSS01
CONSERVATION
WASHINGTON PUD ASSOCIATION HEADQUARTERS EARNS LEED PLATINUM RATING FROM U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL – The Washington Public Utility Districts Association’s new solar-powered headquarters building in Olympia has received “Platinum” certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. The WPUDA headquarters, which boasts the largest rooftop solar installation in the state, is the first new-construction office building in Washington to achieve Platinum certification – the highest rating possible under the LEED program. The LEED Green Building Rating System is a voluntary, nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance “green” buildings. The program recognizes sustainability is five areas of human and environmental health: site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. WPUDA is a trade association representing 27 public utility districts across the state that provide electricity, water and sewer services and wholesale telecommunications to more than 1.5 million people. Public utility districts are customer-owned utilities governed by locally elected boards of commissioners. (Washington PUD Association)
Don’t Trash Compact Fluorescents (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3784
Maryland – Montgomery Aims to Make Green Homes Mandatory (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/22/AR2008042202839.html?nav=rss_email/components
LED light bulbs: Are you ready to make the switch? (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9923048-54.html?tag=nl.e703
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Slump forces locals to rethink financial commitment to greenness – Organic this and locally-raised that can sometimes cost more than alternatives (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/special/outlook/index.ssf?/base/news/1207704385182110.xml&coll=7
Carbon Offsets – Who's tracking the trackers? Although standards agencies are moving to bring order to the carbon offset business, it's still an unregulated industry (The Globe and Mail, Canada)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080422.green-offsets-0422/BNStory/greensolutions/home
Montana – State orders more study of emissions (Great Falls Tribune)
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080422/NEWS01/804220304/1002
Hold the Carbon: Cafeterias Focus on Green Fare (National Public Radio – Ed. Note: the Lichtenstein-like graphic looks like it was ripped off from Tacoma Power’s conservation calendars)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89836312&ft=1&f=17
AAA sells tags to boost eco-friendly energy (Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2008/04/04232008_AAA-sells-tags-to-boost-eco-friendly-energy.cfm/
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Grant County PUD Fiber installation costs to increase (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/04/22/news/news01.txt
Net-neutrality law not necessary now, FCC chairman says (Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004367125_fccnet23.html?syndication=rss
Yahoo Reports Jump in Profit; Suitor Microsoft Is Unimpressed (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/22/AR2008042202054.html?nav=rss_technology
Show Us Your 50Mbps! Minneapolis customers show off their sweet, delicious speed, cost: $150 per month (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Show-Us-Your-50Mbps-93814
GENERAL NEWS
TWO SHELTON SCHOOLS LOCKED DOWN WHILE POLICE ARREST ROBBERY SUSPECTS – Shelton High School and Oakland Bay Junior High School were locked down Tuesday afternoon while police looked for and arrested two robbery suspects. According to officials, about 2:30pm officers responded to a report of the theft of a purse in the parking lot of Fred Meyer on Wallace Kneeland Boulevard. Two suspects fled on foot, one into the parking lot at the Junior High. As a precaution, the schools were locked down while officers apprehended the suspects without incident. The lockdown was then lifted. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Global food crisis poses unpalatable options (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004367259_foodcrisis23.html
Rice shortage hits home in Seattle (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004367150_riceshortage23m.html
DIVERSIONS
Priest Carried Aloft By Balloons Missing – Search Resumes Off Brazil's Southern Atlantic Coast
http://www.kirotv.com/news/15959648/detail.html
Pizza Hut delivers pink slip to employee held at gunpoint – A Republican state lawmaker called on Iowans Friday to boycott Pizza Hut restaurants after the company fired a Des Moines delivery driver who shot an armed robber last month.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080419/NEWS/804190326
Man Turns Bike Into Solar-Powered Vehicle
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/15966657/detail.html
Lost Rings Dug Out Of Disney World's Trash – Mass. Couple Mistakenly Throws Rings Away
http://www.kirotv.com/family/15958912/detail.html
39 Whirlpool workers suspended over smoking lies
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/23/suspended.smokers.ap/index.html?eref=ib_topstories
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- United Kingdom – Soaring energy prices fuelling a domestic crisis
- These days, all natural gas pipelines lead to small towns in Klamath County, such as Malin
- Oregonian Op/Ed – Pointing fingers won't save any fish
- Terry Flores’ NY Times Op/Ed Letter – The Salmon Problem
- Sacramento Bee Editorial: Ocean reserves will rebuild fish populations
- Hatchery salmon returns may offset low wild fish quotas in 2008
- Bellingham Technical College seeks funds for new hatchery facility
- Fishing – All’s slow with lake trout season looming
- Yakama tribal spokesman voices concerns about Black Rock
- New Chelan County PUD reservoir planned for north Wenatchee
- Montana – Wind farm markets expansion
- Changing the Current – State Environmental Laws Drive Power Producers to Renewable Resources
- News Release – PSE Selects Five Puget Sound-Area Schools for Solar Power Installation Grants
- Need a job? Green-collar opportunities await
- Washington PUD Association Headquarters Earns LEED Platinum Rating From U.S. Green Building Council
- Don’t Trash Compact Fluorescents
- Maryland – Montgomery Aims to Make Green Homes Mandatory
- LED light bulbs: Are you ready to make the switch?
- Slump forces locals to rethink financial commitment to greenness
- Carbon Offsets – Who's tracking the trackers?
- Montana – State orders more study of emissions
- Hold the Carbon: Cafeterias Focus on Green Fare
- AAA sells tags to boost eco-friendly energy
- Grant County PUD Fiber installation costs to increase
- Net-neutrality law not necessary now, FCC chairman says
- Yahoo Reports Jump in Profit; Suitor Microsoft Is Unimpressed
- Show Us Your 50Mbps! Minneapolis customers show off their sweet, delicious speed, cost: $150 per month
- Two Shelton Schools Locked Down While Police Arrest Robbery Suspects
- Global food crisis poses unpalatable options
- Rice shortage hits home in Seattle
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Truculent • \TRUCK-yuh-lunt\ • adjective – *1: feeling or displaying ferocity: cruel, savage 2: deadly, destructive 3: scathingly harsh: vitriolic 4: aggressively self-assertive: belligerent
At the laughing comments about his “vintage” Yugo hatchback, Franze’s face slowly froze into a mask-like, bulldog expression. “I’ll challenge your AMC Pacer to a drag race any day,” he raged, his truculent, protective manner overtaking what started as a polite conservation about jumper cables, baling wire and duct tape.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
United Kingdom – Soaring energy prices fuelling a domestic crisis (The Scotsman)
http://news.scotsman.com/politics/Soaring-energy-prices-fuelling-a.4010070.jp
These days, all natural gas pipelines lead to small towns in Klamath County, such as Malin – Hearings on two of three pipelines will be this week (Herald and News)
http://www.heraldandnews.com/articles/2008/04/22/viewpoints/op-ed/doc480d8300aea60889759919.txt
FISH & WILDLIFE
Oregonian Op/Ed – Pointing fingers won't save any fish
http://www.oregonlive.com/commentary/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/120890851648840.xml&coll=7
Terry Flores’ NY Times Op/Ed Letter – The Salmon Problem
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/22/opinion/lweb22salmon.html?ref=opinion
Sacramento Bee Editorial: Ocean reserves will rebuild fish populations
http://www.sacbee.com/110/story/879188.html
Hatchery salmon returns may offset low wild fish quotas in 2008 (Alaska Public Radio)
http://aprn.org/2008/04/21/hatchery-salmon-returns-may-offset-low-wild-fish-quotas-in-2008/
Bellingham Technical College seeks funds for new hatchery facility – Fisheries technology building in disrepair. A slanted second floor is only one of the structural problems plaguing the home of the college (Bellingham Herald)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/386678.html
Fishing – All’s slow with lake trout season looming (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/outdoors/story/342304.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Yakama tribal spokesman voices concerns about Black Rock (Yakima Herald Republic)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/3416
New Chelan County PUD reservoir planned for north Wenatchee – the tank will ensure adequate fire suppression and water supplies in northern Wenatchee for at least 50 years (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080422/NEWS04/390852912
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Montana – Wind farm markets expansion – NWE's declining of offer opens energy to other potential buyers (Billings Gazette)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/04/22/news/state/21-windexpansion.txt
Changing the Current – State Environmental Laws Drive Power Producers to Renewable Resources (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/21/AR2008042103004.html
News Release – PSE Selects Five Puget Sound-Area Schools for Solar Power Installation Grants (Puget Sound Energy, via BusinessWire)
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080423005349&newsLang=en
Need a job? Green-collar opportunities await – Living green is more than a necessity. It's more than a trend. It's a job opportunity. (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080423/BIZ/297111397/-1/RSS01
CONSERVATION
WASHINGTON PUD ASSOCIATION HEADQUARTERS EARNS LEED PLATINUM RATING FROM U.S. GREEN BUILDING COUNCIL – The Washington Public Utility Districts Association’s new solar-powered headquarters building in Olympia has received “Platinum” certification under the U.S. Green Building Council’s Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design program. The WPUDA headquarters, which boasts the largest rooftop solar installation in the state, is the first new-construction office building in Washington to achieve Platinum certification – the highest rating possible under the LEED program. The LEED Green Building Rating System is a voluntary, nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction and operation of high performance “green” buildings. The program recognizes sustainability is five areas of human and environmental health: site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality. WPUDA is a trade association representing 27 public utility districts across the state that provide electricity, water and sewer services and wholesale telecommunications to more than 1.5 million people. Public utility districts are customer-owned utilities governed by locally elected boards of commissioners. (Washington PUD Association)
Don’t Trash Compact Fluorescents (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3784
Maryland – Montgomery Aims to Make Green Homes Mandatory (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/22/AR2008042202839.html?nav=rss_email/components
LED light bulbs: Are you ready to make the switch? (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9923048-54.html?tag=nl.e703
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Slump forces locals to rethink financial commitment to greenness – Organic this and locally-raised that can sometimes cost more than alternatives (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/special/outlook/index.ssf?/base/news/1207704385182110.xml&coll=7
Carbon Offsets – Who's tracking the trackers? Although standards agencies are moving to bring order to the carbon offset business, it's still an unregulated industry (The Globe and Mail, Canada)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080422.green-offsets-0422/BNStory/greensolutions/home
Montana – State orders more study of emissions (Great Falls Tribune)
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080422/NEWS01/804220304/1002
Hold the Carbon: Cafeterias Focus on Green Fare (National Public Radio – Ed. Note: the Lichtenstein-like graphic looks like it was ripped off from Tacoma Power’s conservation calendars)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89836312&ft=1&f=17
AAA sells tags to boost eco-friendly energy (Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2008/04/04232008_AAA-sells-tags-to-boost-eco-friendly-energy.cfm/
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Grant County PUD Fiber installation costs to increase (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/04/22/news/news01.txt
Net-neutrality law not necessary now, FCC chairman says (Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004367125_fccnet23.html?syndication=rss
Yahoo Reports Jump in Profit; Suitor Microsoft Is Unimpressed (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/22/AR2008042202054.html?nav=rss_technology
Show Us Your 50Mbps! Minneapolis customers show off their sweet, delicious speed, cost: $150 per month (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Show-Us-Your-50Mbps-93814
GENERAL NEWS
TWO SHELTON SCHOOLS LOCKED DOWN WHILE POLICE ARREST ROBBERY SUSPECTS – Shelton High School and Oakland Bay Junior High School were locked down Tuesday afternoon while police looked for and arrested two robbery suspects. According to officials, about 2:30pm officers responded to a report of the theft of a purse in the parking lot of Fred Meyer on Wallace Kneeland Boulevard. Two suspects fled on foot, one into the parking lot at the Junior High. As a precaution, the schools were locked down while officers apprehended the suspects without incident. The lockdown was then lifted. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Global food crisis poses unpalatable options (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004367259_foodcrisis23.html
Rice shortage hits home in Seattle (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004367150_riceshortage23m.html
DIVERSIONS
Priest Carried Aloft By Balloons Missing – Search Resumes Off Brazil's Southern Atlantic Coast
http://www.kirotv.com/news/15959648/detail.html
Pizza Hut delivers pink slip to employee held at gunpoint – A Republican state lawmaker called on Iowans Friday to boycott Pizza Hut restaurants after the company fired a Des Moines delivery driver who shot an armed robber last month.
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080419/NEWS/804190326
Man Turns Bike Into Solar-Powered Vehicle
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/15966657/detail.html
Lost Rings Dug Out Of Disney World's Trash – Mass. Couple Mistakenly Throws Rings Away
http://www.kirotv.com/family/15958912/detail.html
39 Whirlpool workers suspended over smoking lies
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/04/23/suspended.smokers.ap/index.html?eref=ib_topstories
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