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)
- U.S. Supreme Court rules against Snohomish PUD
- Jefferson County public power: Petitions arrive; study approved; talk set
- Port Townsend Leader Letters – PUD: service before profit
- Puget Energy merger: 'What's in it for me?'
- Seattle Times Opinion – More light at City Light
- Power Plant Sale Ends Lewis County Tax Fight
- DOE says natural gas supplies rose last week
- AUSTRALIA – Two shocks for electricity price
- “No Worries, Mate” – Oh, the Irony: FERC Chair Joe Kelliher in Sydney, Australia: Energy Competition And Regulation: The U.S. Experience”
- Duke Energy Ohio asks for electric delivery rate hike
- Go, fish! Yakamas hope to re-establish self-sustaining salmon runs in Yakima River Basin
- Angler's paradise: Chinook, Sockeye and Shad — oh my!
- Sockeye return in surprising numbers
- Ocean Coho season to open Sunday
- Jefferson County wastewater treatment to cost at least $50 million
- Wind Power Scouted On Lewis County Hilltops
- Delaware wind farm power project gets green light
- Kill Your Air Conditioner
- California unveils ambitious climate plan
- Environmentalists to sue EPA over park haze
- Grant County PUD eyes increase in wholesale fiber optic rates
- Proposed Grant County PUD fiber rates may stall sheriff's project
- Kirkland's new "Googleplex" unveiled to the public
- Internet panel explores sweeping new domain rules
- The new geek chic: Data centers
- Why Deploy Fiber To The Home When You Can Pretend You Do?
- Latinos and low-income residents fall behind in growing digital divide
- Summer finally evident in heat forecast this weekend
- Thieves target farm diesel supplies as prices soar
- Oregon Reviews Response to Winter Storms
- CANADA – Wire thieves halt railway freight service on Vancouver Island
- Washington 28th in amount of taxes paid among states
- Olympia woman sentenced in "Nigerian check scam"
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Nocebo • \\noh-SEE-boh\ • noun – A harmless substance that when taken by a patient is associated with harmful effects due to negative expectations or the psychological condition of the patient
Eyore’s trembling hoof reached for the unlabeled pill. He had expected the drug trial to include the REAL remedy and a placebo, either of which he thought would make him feel, or at least THINK he felt better. What he didn’t expect was the likelihood of a third option: a nacebo, which would actually make him think he felt worse. “Woe is me,” whined the downcast donkey.
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
U.S. Supreme Court rules against Snohomish PUD (Associated Press, via KPAX-TV, Missoula, MT)
http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=8559585&nav=menu227_7
Here’s the ruling from the Supreme Court in Morgan Stanley Capital Group Inc. v. Public Util. Dist. No. 1 of Snohomish County (SCOTUS – Links to PDF File)
http://www.supremecourtus.gov/opinions/07pdf/06-1457.pdf
Jefferson County public power: Petitions arrive; study approved; talk set – It's likely that the question of whether Jefferson County's power system should be public or private will be on the Nov. 4 general election ballot (Port Townsend Leader, Port Townsend, WA)
http://www.ptleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&SubSectionID=55&ArticleID=21226&TM=58028.7
Port Townsend Leader Letters – PUD: service before profit (Port Townsend, WA)
http://www.ptleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=21240&TM=53877.66
Puget Energy merger: 'What's in it for me?' (Seattle Post-Intelligencer Columnist, Bill Virgin)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/virgin/368376_virgin26.html?source=rss
Seattle Times Opinion – More light at City Light – The Seattle City Council's recent confirmation of the City Light superintendent seemed interminable at times, but in the end, a unanimous vote puts a solid check mark on the performance of Jorge Carrasco (Seattle, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2008017532_confirmed26.html
POWER PLANT SALE ENDS LEWIS COUNTY TAX FIGHT – Lewis County is claiming victory in a $6.5 million tax battle with Chehalis Power. The owners of the natural gas fired plant south of Chehalis had challenged the tax assessments. Lewis County Assessor, Dianne Dorey, reports the court fight was dropped was after the announcement of the plant’s sale to Pacific Corp. (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)
DOE says natural gas supplies rose last week (The Associated Press)
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080626/natural_gas_storage.html?.v=1
AUSTRALIA – Two shocks for electricity price (Sydney Morning Herald)
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/two-shocks-for-electricity-price/2008/06/26/1214472673419.html
“No Worries, Mate” – Oh, the Irony: FERC Chair Joe Kelliher in Sydney, Australia: Energy Competition And Regulation: The U.S. Experience” “…U.S. experience: competition policy has been a success – assured security of electricity and gas supply at reasonable cost for 25 years…” (Links to PDF File – Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)
http://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/Files/20080626085138-australia-6-26-08.pdf
Duke Energy Ohio asks for electric delivery rate hike (Business Courier of Cincinnati)
http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2008/06/23/daily31.html?ana=from_rss
FISH & WILDLIFE
Go, fish! Yakamas hope to re-establish self-sustaining salmon runs in Yakima River Basin (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/5215
Angler's paradise: Chinook, Sockeye and Shad — oh my! (Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2008017841_fish26.html
Sockeye return in surprising numbers (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/sports/localNews/2008/06/06262008_Sockeye-return-in-surprising-numbers.cfm/
Ocean Coho season to open Sunday (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/sports/localNews/2008/06/06262008_Ocean-coho-season-to-open-Sunday.cfm/
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Jefferson County wastewater teatment related to Tri-Area sewer project to cost at least $50 million (The Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080626/NEWS/806260303
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
WIND POWER SCOUTED ON LEWIS COUNTY HILLTOPS – Lewis County ’s hilltops are being scouted by companies for possible wind farms. An east coast based firm is now working to place test equipment on Weyerhaeuser land near Pe Ell, and Morton. Everpower Renewables says they generally use wind turbines that are 260-feet high. The turbines could be stationed on logged off hilltops. The company says they have agreements with landowners in several Southwest Washington counties including Grays Harbor, and Pacific. (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)
Delaware wind farm power project gets green light – Legislation to allow an offshore wind farm breezed through the Delaware legislature Wednesday and was quickly signed into law (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008017870_apwindpower.html?syndication=rss
CONSERVATION
Kill Your Air Conditioner (Time Magazine)
http://www.time.com/time/politics/article/0,8599,1818028,00.html
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
California unveils ambitious climate plan (Reuters)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080626/ts_nm/california_climate_dc_3
Environmentalists to sue EPA over park haze – Environmentalists took steps on Wednesday to sue the Environmental Protection Agency for failing to compel states to clean up the haze plaguing the nation's parks, wildlife refuges and wilderness areas (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008017458_apepaparkhaze.html?syndication=rss
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Grant County PUD eyes increase in wholesale fiber optic rates (The Star of Grand Coulee, Coulee City. WA)
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?BRD=1013&dept_id=387713&newsid=19802493&PAG=461&rfi=9
Proposed Grant County PUD fiber rates may stall sheriff's project (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/06/25/news/news04.txt
Kirkland's new "Googleplex" unveiled to the public (Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008017965_google26m.html?syndication=rss
Internet panel explores sweeping new domain rules (The Associated Press, via the San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9697908?source=rss
The new geek chic: Data centers (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13953_3-9977049-80.html
Why Deploy Fiber To The Home When You Can Pretend You Do? Cable operators pretend that having fiber in a network is the same as FTTH (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Why-Deploy-Fiber-To-The-Home-When-You-Can-Pretend-You-Do-95578?nocomment=1
Latinos and low-income residents fall behind in growing digital divide (Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, CA)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_9695591?source=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Summer finally evident in heat forecast this weekend (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/489418.html
Thieves target farm diesel supplies as prices soar (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008018387_apfarmscenedieseltheft.html?syndication=rss
Oregon Reviews Response to Winter Storms (Northwest Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=4022
CANADA – Wire thieves halt railway freight service on Vancouver Island – Electrical cables were stripped from both locomotives in Nanaimo (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=1ed5536d-2381-49cf-a2ec-5d59e9843a37
Washington 28th in amount of taxes paid among states – Number 1 taxer: Wyoming (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/bizbeat/story/221214.html
Olympia woman sentenced in "Nigerian check scam" (Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008018089_fedbankscam26m.html?syndication=rss
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Pigeon hernias – Drugs, phones wing their way to prisoners
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN2537507920080625?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Pigeons and PETA Pose Problems for Wimbledon
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/sports/May-June-08/Pigeons-and-PETA-Pose-Problems-for-Wimbledon.html
Police: Boy, 7, Drove Grandma's Car to Mall – Motorist Follows Boy, Takes Keys Away
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/16707040/detail.html
Teen Averages 15,000 Text Messages A Month – Texting May Be Reason For Cell Phone's Damage
http://www.kirotv.com/family/16706346/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=irresistible
Thursday, June 26, 2008
Wednesday, June 25, 2008
Energy News Digest for June 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)
- BPA studying PUD’s proposal for Cosmopolis Mill cogeneration
- BPA Administrator tours Cosmopolis mill, meets with Grays Harbor County PUD
- Petitions seeking vote on switching East Jefferson electricity to PUD submitted
- Union Bulletin Opinion – Sequestration experiment poses risks to Valley
- Home Depot Offers Recycling for Compact Fluorescent Bulbs
- BPA to Rebuild 60-year-old Power Line Serving Southeast Idaho
- Chelan County PUD to city of Wenatchee: Give our parks some space
- Hanke to run unopposed for Clark Public Utilities commission
- Port Angeles electric utility crew places in competition
- Report sees big jump in energy, fossil fuel use
- VIRGINIA – Debating Coal's Cost in Rural Va.
- OHIO – West Siders Fight Duke Energy Tree Chopping
- TENNESSEE – More People Can't Pay Their Electric Bill
- Rethinking the Country Life as Energy Costs Rise
- Sockeye in good supply as Columbia season ends
- Klamath River – Biologists Say Plan To Balance Water Needs Will Jeopardize Salmon
- ALASKA – Yukon River king salmon subsistence fishery curtailed
- Group offers Oregon a taste of salmon conservation
- Where Have All the Fish Gone?
- Research looks to save sturgeon, boost caviar
- Changing the course of the Naches River
- IDAHO – Water plan released for Lake Coeur d'Alene
- Clallam County moves closer to sewers for Carlsborg
- U.S. mayors vote to phase out bottled water consumption
- Los Angeles utility alleges Colo. Company, CH2M Hill charged too much
- FLORIDA – Florida Power & Light green energy program misleading
- Hopes of breathing life into wind power
- Solar panels, clothesline help family slash energy bills
- OREGON – Multnomah County buildings may get solar panels
- A cheaper way to get solar power installed
- Too cloudy for solar race 'world' record
- Seattle Times Opinion –Saving energy, one megawatt at a time
- Casinos going green to save energy, money
- Tailpipes, cows expand Idaho's carbon footprint
- San Francisco Chronicle, Op/Ed – $600 million think tank is not a solution to global warming
- CANADA – Liberals go positive with idyllic carbon tax ads
- Carbon Cap and Trade—The Balancing Act
- The Great Barbecue Debate – Is charcoal bad for the planet?
- Charter User Monitoring Plans Suspended
- Broad coalition backs universal broadband
- Report Insists U.S. Must Have Widespread 100Mbps By 2012
- Cox Explores Fiber To The Home
- Yahoo bounces back on news of Microsoft talks
- When it comes to new jobs, Seattle is the leading cybercity
- Justices Cut Damages Award in Exxon Valdez Spill
- Poking along in the left lane? Prepare to pay
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Procrustean • \pruh-KRUSS-tee-un\ • adjective – 1: of, relating to, or typical of Procrustes *2: marked by arbitrary often ruthless disregard of individual differences or special circumstances
Amber was insistent with the nosy store clerk that the dress foisted upon her did NOT fit. In her best procrustean manner, the clerk urged Amber to suck in her gut, wiggle into the dress and “accept it for the size it is.” “After all, sniffed the snooty clerk, fashion knows no size.” “Tell that to Tyra Banks,” muttered the irritated Amber.
WORD ORIGIN – MERRIAM WEBSTER DICTIONARY: Procrustes was one of many villains defeated by the Greek hero Theseus. According to Greek mythology, Procrustes was a robber who killed his victims in a most cruel and unusual way. He made them lie on an iron bed and would force them to fit the bed by cutting off the parts that hung off the ends or by stretching those people who were too short. Something "Procrustean," therefore, takes no account of individual differences but cruelly and mercilessly makes everything the same. And a "procrustean bed" is a scheme or pattern into which someone or something is arbitrarily forced.
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
BPA studying PUD’s proposal for Cosmopolis Mill cogeneration – Governor Gregoire and BPA’s Wright show up for fact-finding session (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/06/23/local_news/01news.txt
BPA Administrator tours Cosmopolis mill, meets with Grays Harbor County PUD (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA Note: some awkward moments here…)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/06/24/local_news/02news.txt
Petitions seeking vote on switching East Jefferson electricity to PUD submitted (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080625/NEWS/806250306
Union Bulletin Opinion – Sequestration experiment poses risks to Valley – We are not yet convinced the benefits (Walla Walla, WA)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2008/06/25/opinion/daily_editorial/080624editorial.txt
Home Depot Offers Recycling for Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/business/24recycling.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
BPA to Rebuild 60-year-old Power Line Serving Southeast Idaho (Transmission & Distribution World)
http://tdworld.com/overhead_transmission/bpa-rebuilding-idaho-line-0806/
Chelan County PUD to city of Wenatchee: Give our parks some space (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080624/NEWS04/958887966
Hanke to run unopposed for Clark Public Utilities commission (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2008/06/06252008_Hanke-to-run-unopposed-for-utility-commission.cfm/
Port Angeles electric utility crew places in competition (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.konp.com/local/3759
Report sees big jump in energy, fossil fuel use (The Associated Press, via the Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/488542.html
VIRGINIA – Debating Coal's Cost in Rural Va. – Utility's Plans for Plant Meet Opposition in Fuel-Rich Region (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/24/AR2008062401552.html?nav=rss_email/components
OHIO – West Siders Fight Duke Energy Tree Chopping (WKRC, Cincinnati, OH)
http://www.local12.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=eff5fc06-e83f-45f9-9a00-a248d3e1e5a5
TENNESSEE – More People Can't Pay Their Electric Bill (WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN)
http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=8551621
Rethinking the Country Life as Energy Costs Rise (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/25/business/25exurbs.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
FISH & WILDLIFE
Sockeye in good supply as Columbia season ends “…The 122,510 sockeye counted at Bonneville Dam through Monday is a record through that date…” (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/outdoors/story/396994.html
Klamath River – Biologists Say Plan To Balance Water Needs Will Jeopardize Salmon (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2402-biologists-say-plan-balance-water-needs-will-jeopardize-salmon/
ALASKA – Yukon River king salmon subsistence fishery curtailed (The Anchorage Daily News-Miner, AK)
http://newsminer.com/news/2008/jun/23/yukon-river-king-salmon-subsistence-fishery-curtai/
Group offers Oregon a taste of salmon conservation – It's not often you get invited to a tasting event for a species the organizers are looking to save (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/121349491081990.xml&coll=7
Where Have All the Fish Gone? The collapse of America’s West Coast salmon fishery has an eerily familiar ring to it. Are the oceans dying? (The Trumpet, Philadelphia Church of God)
http://www.thetrumpet.com/index.php?q=5265.0.106.0
Research looks to save sturgeon, boost caviar (The Lewiston Tribune, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1454937~Research_looks_to_save_sturgeon__boost_caviar.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Changing the course of the Naches River – part of a decade long $36 million plan to alter the flood plain (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/5168
IDAHO – Water plan released for Lake Coeur d'Alene (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1457009~Water_plan_released_for_Lake_Coeur_d_Alene.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
Clallam County moves closer to sewers for Carlsborg – signing its side of an agreement with the Clallam County Public Utility District. (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080624/NEWS/806240306
U.S. mayors vote to phase out bottled water consumption (The Associated Press, via the San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9674981?source=rss
Los Angeles utility alleges Colo. Company, CH2M Hill charged too much (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1458059~LA_utility_alleges_Colo__company_charged_too_much.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
FLORIDA – Florida Power & Light green energy program misleading – Report shows most of the money went toward administrative and marketing costs (The Associated Press, via Forbes Magazine Online)
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/06/24/ap5149016.html
Hopes of breathing life into wind power (Financial Times, UK)
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/32cab738-3ccf-11dd-b958-0000779fd2ac.html
Solar panels, clothesline help family slash energy bills (CNN Technology)
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/06/20/solar.house/
OREGON – Multnomah County buildings may get solar panels (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/06/23/daily23.html?ana=from_rss
A cheaper way to get solar power installed (The San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/25/BU8O11EDAK.DTL&feed=rss.business
Too cloudy for solar race 'world' record (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080623/NEWS04/905633452/1005
CONSERVATION
Seattle Times Opinion –Saving energy, one megawatt at a time (Seattle, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2008013512_conserved24.html
Casinos going green to save energy, money (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008015759_apgreencasinos.html?syndication=rss
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Tailpipes, cows expand Idaho's carbon footprint – Greenhouse gas emissions grew 30% from 1990 to 2005, thanks mainly to dairy expansion (The Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/eyepiece/story/423614.html
San Francisco Chronicle, Op/Ed – $600 million think tank is not a solution to global warming (San Francisco, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/24/EDUM11CN9H.DTL&feed=rss.opinion
CANADA – Liberals go positive with idyllic carbon tax ads (The National)
http://www.nationalpost.com/newsletter/story.html?id=608609
Carbon Cap and Trade—The Balancing Act (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=93304
The Great Barbecue Debate – Is charcoal bad for the planet? “…because the substance is made from trees, it can actually be carbon neutral in the end…” (Slate Magazine – has it REALLY come to this?)
http://www.slate.com/id/2193873/?from=rss
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Charter User Monitoring Plans Suspended – 'Enhanced user experience' apparently not so enhanced (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Charter-User-Monitoring-Plans-Suspended-95551
Broad coalition backs universal broadband – New campaign seeks to spread message that high-speed service is necessity of modern life (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9689148?source=rss
Report Insists U.S. Must Have Widespread 100Mbps By 2012 – And needs to consider having 1Gbps service by 2015 to stay competitive (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Report-Insists-US-Must-Have-Widespread-100Mbps-By-2012-95568
Cox Explores Fiber To The Home – Primarily for new home developments (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Cox-Explores-Fiber-To-The-Home-95527
Yahoo bounces back on news of Microsoft talks – Companies reportedly exploring limited deal (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/368287_msftyahoo25.html
When it comes to new jobs, Seattle is the leading cybercity – 127,700 tech workers rise from dot-com ashes (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/368176_cybercities24.html
GENERAL NEWS
Justices Cut Damages Award in Exxon Valdez Spill (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Scotus-Exxon-Valdez.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Poking along in the left lane? Prepare to pay (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/20656789.html
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Blackbirds Blamed For Dive-Bomb Attacks
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16686229/detail.html
House Thief Arrested After Falling Asleep During Burglary
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16696677/detail.html
Campers survive close call as old growth tree topples at state park
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/20973024.html
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- BPA studying PUD’s proposal for Cosmopolis Mill cogeneration
- BPA Administrator tours Cosmopolis mill, meets with Grays Harbor County PUD
- Petitions seeking vote on switching East Jefferson electricity to PUD submitted
- Union Bulletin Opinion – Sequestration experiment poses risks to Valley
- Home Depot Offers Recycling for Compact Fluorescent Bulbs
- BPA to Rebuild 60-year-old Power Line Serving Southeast Idaho
- Chelan County PUD to city of Wenatchee: Give our parks some space
- Hanke to run unopposed for Clark Public Utilities commission
- Port Angeles electric utility crew places in competition
- Report sees big jump in energy, fossil fuel use
- VIRGINIA – Debating Coal's Cost in Rural Va.
- OHIO – West Siders Fight Duke Energy Tree Chopping
- TENNESSEE – More People Can't Pay Their Electric Bill
- Rethinking the Country Life as Energy Costs Rise
- Sockeye in good supply as Columbia season ends
- Klamath River – Biologists Say Plan To Balance Water Needs Will Jeopardize Salmon
- ALASKA – Yukon River king salmon subsistence fishery curtailed
- Group offers Oregon a taste of salmon conservation
- Where Have All the Fish Gone?
- Research looks to save sturgeon, boost caviar
- Changing the course of the Naches River
- IDAHO – Water plan released for Lake Coeur d'Alene
- Clallam County moves closer to sewers for Carlsborg
- U.S. mayors vote to phase out bottled water consumption
- Los Angeles utility alleges Colo. Company, CH2M Hill charged too much
- FLORIDA – Florida Power & Light green energy program misleading
- Hopes of breathing life into wind power
- Solar panels, clothesline help family slash energy bills
- OREGON – Multnomah County buildings may get solar panels
- A cheaper way to get solar power installed
- Too cloudy for solar race 'world' record
- Seattle Times Opinion –Saving energy, one megawatt at a time
- Casinos going green to save energy, money
- Tailpipes, cows expand Idaho's carbon footprint
- San Francisco Chronicle, Op/Ed – $600 million think tank is not a solution to global warming
- CANADA – Liberals go positive with idyllic carbon tax ads
- Carbon Cap and Trade—The Balancing Act
- The Great Barbecue Debate – Is charcoal bad for the planet?
- Charter User Monitoring Plans Suspended
- Broad coalition backs universal broadband
- Report Insists U.S. Must Have Widespread 100Mbps By 2012
- Cox Explores Fiber To The Home
- Yahoo bounces back on news of Microsoft talks
- When it comes to new jobs, Seattle is the leading cybercity
- Justices Cut Damages Award in Exxon Valdez Spill
- Poking along in the left lane? Prepare to pay
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Procrustean • \pruh-KRUSS-tee-un\ • adjective – 1: of, relating to, or typical of Procrustes *2: marked by arbitrary often ruthless disregard of individual differences or special circumstances
Amber was insistent with the nosy store clerk that the dress foisted upon her did NOT fit. In her best procrustean manner, the clerk urged Amber to suck in her gut, wiggle into the dress and “accept it for the size it is.” “After all, sniffed the snooty clerk, fashion knows no size.” “Tell that to Tyra Banks,” muttered the irritated Amber.
WORD ORIGIN – MERRIAM WEBSTER DICTIONARY: Procrustes was one of many villains defeated by the Greek hero Theseus. According to Greek mythology, Procrustes was a robber who killed his victims in a most cruel and unusual way. He made them lie on an iron bed and would force them to fit the bed by cutting off the parts that hung off the ends or by stretching those people who were too short. Something "Procrustean," therefore, takes no account of individual differences but cruelly and mercilessly makes everything the same. And a "procrustean bed" is a scheme or pattern into which someone or something is arbitrarily forced.
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
BPA studying PUD’s proposal for Cosmopolis Mill cogeneration – Governor Gregoire and BPA’s Wright show up for fact-finding session (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/06/23/local_news/01news.txt
BPA Administrator tours Cosmopolis mill, meets with Grays Harbor County PUD (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA Note: some awkward moments here…)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/06/24/local_news/02news.txt
Petitions seeking vote on switching East Jefferson electricity to PUD submitted (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080625/NEWS/806250306
Union Bulletin Opinion – Sequestration experiment poses risks to Valley – We are not yet convinced the benefits (Walla Walla, WA)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2008/06/25/opinion/daily_editorial/080624editorial.txt
Home Depot Offers Recycling for Compact Fluorescent Bulbs (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/24/business/24recycling.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
BPA to Rebuild 60-year-old Power Line Serving Southeast Idaho (Transmission & Distribution World)
http://tdworld.com/overhead_transmission/bpa-rebuilding-idaho-line-0806/
Chelan County PUD to city of Wenatchee: Give our parks some space (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080624/NEWS04/958887966
Hanke to run unopposed for Clark Public Utilities commission (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2008/06/06252008_Hanke-to-run-unopposed-for-utility-commission.cfm/
Port Angeles electric utility crew places in competition (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.konp.com/local/3759
Report sees big jump in energy, fossil fuel use (The Associated Press, via the Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/488542.html
VIRGINIA – Debating Coal's Cost in Rural Va. – Utility's Plans for Plant Meet Opposition in Fuel-Rich Region (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/24/AR2008062401552.html?nav=rss_email/components
OHIO – West Siders Fight Duke Energy Tree Chopping (WKRC, Cincinnati, OH)
http://www.local12.com/news/local/story.aspx?content_id=eff5fc06-e83f-45f9-9a00-a248d3e1e5a5
TENNESSEE – More People Can't Pay Their Electric Bill (WTVF-TV, Nashville, TN)
http://www.newschannel5.com/Global/story.asp?S=8551621
Rethinking the Country Life as Energy Costs Rise (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/25/business/25exurbs.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
FISH & WILDLIFE
Sockeye in good supply as Columbia season ends “…The 122,510 sockeye counted at Bonneville Dam through Monday is a record through that date…” (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/outdoors/story/396994.html
Klamath River – Biologists Say Plan To Balance Water Needs Will Jeopardize Salmon (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2402-biologists-say-plan-balance-water-needs-will-jeopardize-salmon/
ALASKA – Yukon River king salmon subsistence fishery curtailed (The Anchorage Daily News-Miner, AK)
http://newsminer.com/news/2008/jun/23/yukon-river-king-salmon-subsistence-fishery-curtai/
Group offers Oregon a taste of salmon conservation – It's not often you get invited to a tasting event for a species the organizers are looking to save (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/121349491081990.xml&coll=7
Where Have All the Fish Gone? The collapse of America’s West Coast salmon fishery has an eerily familiar ring to it. Are the oceans dying? (The Trumpet, Philadelphia Church of God)
http://www.thetrumpet.com/index.php?q=5265.0.106.0
Research looks to save sturgeon, boost caviar (The Lewiston Tribune, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1454937~Research_looks_to_save_sturgeon__boost_caviar.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Changing the course of the Naches River – part of a decade long $36 million plan to alter the flood plain (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/5168
IDAHO – Water plan released for Lake Coeur d'Alene (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1457009~Water_plan_released_for_Lake_Coeur_d_Alene.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
Clallam County moves closer to sewers for Carlsborg – signing its side of an agreement with the Clallam County Public Utility District. (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080624/NEWS/806240306
U.S. mayors vote to phase out bottled water consumption (The Associated Press, via the San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9674981?source=rss
Los Angeles utility alleges Colo. Company, CH2M Hill charged too much (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1458059~LA_utility_alleges_Colo__company_charged_too_much.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
FLORIDA – Florida Power & Light green energy program misleading – Report shows most of the money went toward administrative and marketing costs (The Associated Press, via Forbes Magazine Online)
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/06/24/ap5149016.html
Hopes of breathing life into wind power (Financial Times, UK)
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/32cab738-3ccf-11dd-b958-0000779fd2ac.html
Solar panels, clothesline help family slash energy bills (CNN Technology)
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/06/20/solar.house/
OREGON – Multnomah County buildings may get solar panels (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/06/23/daily23.html?ana=from_rss
A cheaper way to get solar power installed (The San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/25/BU8O11EDAK.DTL&feed=rss.business
Too cloudy for solar race 'world' record (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080623/NEWS04/905633452/1005
CONSERVATION
Seattle Times Opinion –Saving energy, one megawatt at a time (Seattle, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2008013512_conserved24.html
Casinos going green to save energy, money (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008015759_apgreencasinos.html?syndication=rss
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Tailpipes, cows expand Idaho's carbon footprint – Greenhouse gas emissions grew 30% from 1990 to 2005, thanks mainly to dairy expansion (The Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/eyepiece/story/423614.html
San Francisco Chronicle, Op/Ed – $600 million think tank is not a solution to global warming (San Francisco, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/24/EDUM11CN9H.DTL&feed=rss.opinion
CANADA – Liberals go positive with idyllic carbon tax ads (The National)
http://www.nationalpost.com/newsletter/story.html?id=608609
Carbon Cap and Trade—The Balancing Act (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=93304
The Great Barbecue Debate – Is charcoal bad for the planet? “…because the substance is made from trees, it can actually be carbon neutral in the end…” (Slate Magazine – has it REALLY come to this?)
http://www.slate.com/id/2193873/?from=rss
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Charter User Monitoring Plans Suspended – 'Enhanced user experience' apparently not so enhanced (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Charter-User-Monitoring-Plans-Suspended-95551
Broad coalition backs universal broadband – New campaign seeks to spread message that high-speed service is necessity of modern life (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9689148?source=rss
Report Insists U.S. Must Have Widespread 100Mbps By 2012 – And needs to consider having 1Gbps service by 2015 to stay competitive (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Report-Insists-US-Must-Have-Widespread-100Mbps-By-2012-95568
Cox Explores Fiber To The Home – Primarily for new home developments (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Cox-Explores-Fiber-To-The-Home-95527
Yahoo bounces back on news of Microsoft talks – Companies reportedly exploring limited deal (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/368287_msftyahoo25.html
When it comes to new jobs, Seattle is the leading cybercity – 127,700 tech workers rise from dot-com ashes (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/368176_cybercities24.html
GENERAL NEWS
Justices Cut Damages Award in Exxon Valdez Spill (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Scotus-Exxon-Valdez.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Poking along in the left lane? Prepare to pay (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/20656789.html
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Blackbirds Blamed For Dive-Bomb Attacks
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16686229/detail.html
House Thief Arrested After Falling Asleep During Burglary
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16696677/detail.html
Campers survive close call as old growth tree topples at state park
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/20973024.html
Monday, June 23, 2008
Energy News Digest for June 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)
- Seattle Times Editorial – Block PSE sale
- The News Tribune Editorial – Puget Sound Energy deal is a dicey
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer Opinion – Puget Sound Energy: A dubious plan
- Jefferson County PUD awards contract to study proposal to provide electricity service
- Grant County PUD eyes new coal plant
- And the Lobbyists Dance – Pacific Gas & Electric spent nearly $2 million lobbying o
- NEW YORK – Some Severance Deals at the New York Power Authority Required Silence
- Poll: Nuclear power could be the answer
- Duke Energy’s Jim Rogers – A Green Coal Baron?
- NORTH CAROLINA – Duke Energy wants to team up with cities to bury power lines
- OREGON – Northwest Natural's big pipes, big dreams
- Opposition mounts to clean air change affecting parks
- VIRGINIA – Power plant is ground zero in battle of energy vs. environment
- News Release – FERC Chair’s statement on cost of electric generation staff presentation
- Chicago Tribune OpEd – Meeting Illinois' energy needs
- NEW ZEALAND – Electricity Commission called to account
- The Fuss Over Fish – Lesley Stahl Reports On The Debate On What To Do To Protect Endangered Salmon
- Wenatchee World Editorial – Still caught in the salmon cycle
- News Release – Spring Chinook returns to Columbia River maintain healthy numbers
- Columbia's spring Chinook run has improved (
- OREGON – Salmon solution? Tribal hatchery mimics wild habitat to give Coho a fighting chance
- Bering Sea pollock fleet faces closure over salmon
- Alarmist Headline of the Day – Wild Salmon to be Extinct in 10 Years
- Ebola-Like Virus Threatens Great Lakes Fishing Industry
- Fish-eating Indians have crucial stake in clean Columbia River
- Supreme Court to Review Decision on Navy Sonar Use and Its Potential Harm to Dolphins and Whales
- Rural water transfers worry some across state
- Saving Puget Sound is an economic problem
- Clark County, WA – Two cities, two agencies clash over sewer plans
- Capacity Issues – Olympia Neighborhood Has A Stinky Problem
- City of Port Angeles adding chemical to fight copper in water
- Economy puts a plug in bottled water use
- Northwest Whitewater Rafters Loving The Huge Snowpack
- Google, Not Ghosts, Behind Creepy View of Chesapeake
- OREGON – Biofuel from Scotch Broom?
- Daily News Opinion – Ethanol rush may be doing more harm than good
- CALIFORNIA – Green energy fund is nearly out of steam
- Pay Per kilowatt-hour – Taking startup costs out of home solar
- Geothermal meetings set in energy-hungry West
- Renewable Energy a 'Finance-driven' Industry
- OREGON – Oregon farmer cuts costs with wind power
- OREGON – Morrow County approves special tax program for Willow Creek Wind Farm
- East Valley Tribune Editorial – Renewable Energy: Raising the bar, raising the costs
- UNITED KINGDOM – Homemade energy to prop up grid
- Puget Sound area ponders a future with a 'new green economy'
- Group urges energy conservation
- NW Energy Experts Say it's Time to Run, Not Walk, Towards a New Era in Energy Efficiency
- Everett Herald Opinion – When they do go out, compact fluorescent bulbs need recycling
- The New Trophy Home, Small and Ecological
- Ways to Conserve Energy and Lower Bills
- Years Later, Climatologist Renews His Call for Action
- CANADA – A carbon plan, budget and campaign platform rolled into one
- Quincy suffers a setback as a server-farm center – Data dreams go bust
- Okanogan County, WA – Loomis residents seek wireless Internet service
- Portland's Free Wi-Fi Network Going Off Line
- MINNESOTA – Carver County thinks a ring (of fiber optics) may woo business
- Cable ads attacking Verizon confuse consumers
- Once an Internet Giant, InfoSpace Dismantles Itself
- CANADA – Bell Canada Subject to Country’s Biggest-Ever Takeover
- Online bandwidth hogs to be cut off at trough?
- New technology could reduce power in data centers by 80 percent
- Technology worker shortage has businesses, educators worried
- NBC service will show Olympic events via computer
- Fading La Niña Clears Way For Summer Warmup
- Senate panel OKs $2 M for radar station on Washington coast
- Iconoclastic Comic George Carlin Dies at 71
- “When does checking e-mail after hours constitute working overtime?”
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Iconoclast • \eye-CON-uh-klast\ • noun Etymology: Medieval Latin iconoclastes, from Middle Greek eikonoklastEs, literally, image destroyer 1: a person who destroys religious images or opposes their veneration 2: a person who attacks settled beliefs or institutions
Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, Samuel Clemens (AKA “Mark Twain”), and other famous iconoclastic humorists lined the corridor leading to the comic afterlife. “Quiet everyone,” shouted Pryor. “George Carlin is on the way.”
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
Seattle Times Editorial – Block PSE sale – The proposed leveraged buyout of Puget Sound Energy by foreign investors should be blocked as harmful to the public interest (Seattle, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2008009433_pugetenergyed22.html?syndication=rss
The News Tribune Editorial – Puget Sound Energy deal is a dicey – This is one the commissioners can’t afford to get wrong. Reliable service and reasonable power and natural gas rates for more than 1.7 million customers, most of them in the Puget Sound region, depend on it. (Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/394744.html
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Opinion – Puget Sound Energy: A dubious plan (Seattle WA)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/367834_pugeted.html?source=rss
Jefferson County PUD awards contract to study proposal to provide electricity service (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080621/NEWS/806210305
Grant County PUD eyes new coal plant – Proposed project could be another energy source (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/06/20/news/news02.txt
And the Lobbyists Dance – Pacific Gas & Electric spent nearly $2 million lobbying on climate change, energy issues in first quarter (The Associated Press)
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080623/pg_e_lobbying.html?.v=1
NEW YORK – Some Severance Deals at the New York Power Authority Required Silence – At least 19 employees were required to keep secret the circumstances of their departures in order to obtain severance pay or benefits (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/22/nyregion/22disclosure.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Poll: Nuclear power could be the answer (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/06/16/daily38.html?ana=from_rss
Duke Energy’s Jim Rogers – A Green Coal Baron? (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/22/magazine/22Rogers-t.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
NORTH CAROLINA – Duke Energy wants to team up with cities to bury power lines (Triangle Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2008/06/23/story8.html?ana=from_rss
OREGON – Northwest Natural's big pipes, big dreams – Liquefied Natural Gas terminals: The gas company dares to be dull with storage and pipelines but still ends up in a fight (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/121394310569470.xml&coll=7
Opposition mounts to clean air change affecting parks – Critics fear the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will adopt a rule in the waning days of the Bush administration that will make it easier to build coal-fired power plants near national parks (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008010447_apcleanairparks.html?syndication=rss
VIRGINIA – Power plant is ground zero in battle of energy vs. environment (The Virginia Pilot, Hampton Roads, VA)
http://hamptonroads.com/2008/06/power-plant-ground-zero-battle-energy-vs-environment
News Release – FERC Chair’s statement on cost of electric generation staff presentation “… FERC and state commissions are regulating in a high-cost environment; the U.S. needs massive investments in new electricity generation, transmission, and distribution; we are beginning to confront climate change challenge…” (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)
http://www.ferc.gov/news/statements-speeches/kelliher/2008/06-19-08-kelliher-A-3.asp
Chicago Tribune OpEd – Meeting Illinois' energy needs (Chicago, IL)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-vp0619lettersbriefs0jun19,0,750023.story
NEW ZEALAND – Electricity Commission called to account – We put a collective $230 million on the table to prevent a repeat of winter 2003 when power shortages threatened and prices skyrocketed and what do we get? (Stuff.com, New Zealand)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4592553a13.html
FISH & WILDLIFE
The Fuss Over Fish – Lesley Stahl Reports On The Debate On What To Do To Protect Endangered Salmon – regurgitated story from 2000, with minimal follow up reporting (CBS News, 60 Minutes)
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/20/60minutes/main4198581.shtml
Wenatchee World Editorial – Still caught in the salmon cycle – Salmon politics in the Northwest follow a rhythmical pattern, a predictable cycle, the Pacific biennial litigious oscillation (Wenatchee, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080619/OP03/984453274/1025/rss1025
News Release – Spring Chinook returns to Columbia River maintain healthy numbers – Ocean conditions, hydro system improvements credited with these solid fish returns (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/212535/
Columbia's spring Chinook run has improved (KIRO News Radio, Seattle)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=67091
OREGON – Salmon solution? Tribal hatchery mimics wild habitat to give Coho a fighting chance (Corvallis Gazette-Times, OR)
http://gazettetimes.com/articles/2008/06/22/news/top_story/1aaa01_salmon.txt
Bering Sea pollock fleet faces closure over salmon (The Associated Press, via the San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/06/22/financial/f122207D96.DTL&feed=rss.business
Alarmist Headline of the Day – Wild Salmon to be Extinct in 10 Years (Natural News)
http://www.naturalnews.com/023491.html
Ebola-Like Virus Threatens Great Lakes – Killing fish and threatening the $4 billion commercial and sport fishing industry (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/environment/May-June-08/Ebola-like-Virus-Threatens-Great-Lakes-.html
Fish-eating Indians have crucial stake in clean Columbia River (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/06/06222008_Fisheating-Indians-have-crucial-stake-in-clean-Columbia-River.cfm/
Supreme Court to Review Decision on Navy Sonar Use and Its Potential Harm to Dolphins and Whales (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16684325/detail.html?treets=sea&tml=sea_break&ts=T&tmi=sea_break_1_09530106232008
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Rural water transfers worry some across state – Local officials fear transferring the rights to water and letting it flow hundreds of miles downriver will dry out their rural farming community (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008011149_water22.html?syndication=rss
Saving Puget Sound is an economic problem – The laws and regulations that protect it from the most egregious dumping work pretty well, but the only way to finance the prevention of non-point-source pollution is to impose fees (Crosscut, Seattle, WA)
http://crosscut.com/puget-sound/15225/Saving+Puget+Sound+is+an+economic+problem/
Clark County, WA – Two cities, two agencies clash over sewer plans (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/06/06222008_Two-cities-two-agencies-clash-over-sewer-plans.cfm/
Capacity Issues – Olympia Neighborhood Has A Stinky Problem (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16674603/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
City of Port Angeles adding chemical to fight copper in water (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.konp.com/local/3745
Economy puts a plug in bottled water use – More consumers are turning to tap water to save money and help the environment (The Associated Press, via the Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1213925136105530.xml&coll=7
Northwest Whitewater Rafters Loving The Huge Snowpack (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2398-northwest-whitewater-rafters-loving-huge-snowpack/
Google, Not Ghosts, Behind Creepy View of Chesapeake (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/20/AR2008062002896.html?nav=rss_technology
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
OREGON – Biofuel from Scotch Broom? Tillamook farmer's son takes on cream of science crop – Hayden Bush scores bronze at an international competition (The Oregonian, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1213928718210880.xml&coll=7
Daily News Opinion – Ethanol rush may be doing more harm than good (Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/06/23/editorial/doc485c2d296ca61614539361.txt
CALIFORNIA – Green energy fund is nearly out of steam (San Francisco Business Times)
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2008/06/23/story14.html?ana=from_rss
Pay Per kilowatt-hour – Taking startup costs out of home solar (East Bay Business Times)
http://www.bizjournals.com/eastbay/stories/2008/06/23/story3.html?ana=from_rss
Geothermal meetings set in energy-hungry West (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1450437~Geothermal_meetings_set_in_energy_hungry_West.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
Renewable Energy a 'Finance-driven' Industry (Renewable Energy World Online)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=52854&src=rss
OREGON – Oregon farmer cuts costs with wind power (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/367982_smallwind23.html?source=rss
OREGON – Morrow County approves special tax program for Willow Creek Wind Farm “…without it, Oregon would be one of the most expensive places to site a wind farm…” (The East Oregonian, Pendleton, OR)
http://www.eastoregonian.info/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=48&ArticleID=79319&TM=73256.79
East Valley Tribune Editorial – Raising the bar, raising the costs “…the state should further disrupt free markets and take even more money out of everyone's wallet in order to pursue the dream of a renewable energy economy…” (Phoenix, AZ)
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/119095
UNITED KINGDOM – Homemade energy to prop up grid (The Times of London)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article4187635.ece
Puget Sound area ponders a future with a 'new green economy' (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/367796_bluegreenjobs20.html
CONSERVATION
Group urges energy conservation – Energy experts convened in Portland last week to start work on a renewed effort to achieve energy conservation in homes, offices and industries of the Northwest. (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/486321.html
NW Energy Experts Say it's Time to Run, Not Walk, Towards a New Era in Energy Efficiency
"…We face a rapidly changing energy landscape. The cost of alternative generating resources, like wind power, is rising…" - Steve Wright, BPA administrator (Salem-News, OR)
http://www.salem-news.com/articles/june192008/energy_oregon_6-19-08.php
Everett Herald Opinion – When they do go out, compact fluorescent bulbs need recycling (Everett, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080623/OPINION01/241851950/-1/RSS05
The New Trophy Home, Small and Ecological (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/22/us/22leed.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Ways to Conserve Energy and Lower Bills (National Public Radio, Talk of the Nation – 40 Minutes)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91742292
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Years Later, Climatologist Renews His Call for Action (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/23/science/earth/23climate.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
CANADA – A carbon plan, budget and campaign platform rolled into one (The National Post)
http://www.nationalpost.com/newsletter/story.html?id=599705
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Quincy suffers a setback as a server-farm center – Data dreams go bust (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/06/23/story2.html?ana=from_rss
Okanogan County, WA – Loomis residents seek wireless service – Okanogan County PUD commissioners heard recently that Loomis residents are still hoping to get wireless Internet access to their area “…The natives are restless…” (The Omak Chronicle, WA)
http://www.omakchronicle.com/nws/n080621a.shtml
Portland's Free Wi-Fi Network Going Off Line (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2390-portlands-free-wi-fi-network-going-line/
MINNESOTA – Carver County thinks a ring (of fiber optics) may woo business – The ring would connect 80 to 100 sites or agencies, allowing for ultra-fast transmission and sharing of files and data (Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN)
http://www.startribune.com/local/west/20551244.html?location_refer=Entertainment
Cable ads attacking Verizon confuse consumers – Claims about Comcast fiber network don’t reveal hybrid nature of the system (The Associated Press)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gY_prL0mK0WtSLkO1_ZuBxNDDVJgD91DVA680
Once an Internet Giant, InfoSpace Dismantles Itself (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/23/technology/23infospace.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
CANADA – Bell Canada Subject to Country’s Biggest-Ever Takeover (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/business/May-June-08/Bell-Canada-Subject-to-Country-s-Biggest-Ever-Takeover[2].html
Online bandwidth hogs to be cut off at trough? The era of carefree, unlimited Internet browsing and downloading might be coming to an end (The San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/23/BU9V11CIVA.DTL&feed=rss.business
New technology could reduce power in data centers by 80 percent (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9973268-54.html
Technology worker shortage has businesses, educators worried (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008010515_apwatechworkershortage.html?syndication=rss
NBC service will show Olympic events via computer (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2008012365_apolynbccomputercoverage.html?syndication=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Fading La Niña Clears Way For Summer Warmup (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=4016
Senate panel OKs $2 M for radar station on Washington coast (The Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008009981_radar21m.html
Say a naughty word in tribute today – George Carlin mourned as counterculture hero (The Associated Press)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080623/ap_on_en_tv/obit_george_carlin_24
Iconoclastic Comic George Carlin Dies at 71 (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91791901&ft=1&f=3
“When does checking e-mail after hours constitute working overtime?” ABC and Writers Skirmish Over After-Hours E-Mail (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/23/business/media/23abc.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Hound of Heaven! More Dog Owners Performing 'Holy Muttrimony' – Dog weddings are the latest wave in the larger phenomenon of pet owners treating their animals like their children
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/international/May-June-08/More-Dog-Owners-Performing--Holy-Muttrimony-.html
'
World's Ugliest Dog' Crowned
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16675469/detail.html
Cat May Be To Blame For 15K Losing Power – Driver Swerves To Miss Cat, Hits Pole
http://www.kirotv.com/money/16680866/detail.html
Man beats gunman with fan, wrestles away shotgun
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/20641429.html
Has modern life killed the semicolon?
http://www.slate.com/id/2194087/?from=rss
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Seattle Times Editorial – Block PSE sale
- The News Tribune Editorial – Puget Sound Energy deal is a dicey
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer Opinion – Puget Sound Energy: A dubious plan
- Jefferson County PUD awards contract to study proposal to provide electricity service
- Grant County PUD eyes new coal plant
- And the Lobbyists Dance – Pacific Gas & Electric spent nearly $2 million lobbying o
- NEW YORK – Some Severance Deals at the New York Power Authority Required Silence
- Poll: Nuclear power could be the answer
- Duke Energy’s Jim Rogers – A Green Coal Baron?
- NORTH CAROLINA – Duke Energy wants to team up with cities to bury power lines
- OREGON – Northwest Natural's big pipes, big dreams
- Opposition mounts to clean air change affecting parks
- VIRGINIA – Power plant is ground zero in battle of energy vs. environment
- News Release – FERC Chair’s statement on cost of electric generation staff presentation
- Chicago Tribune OpEd – Meeting Illinois' energy needs
- NEW ZEALAND – Electricity Commission called to account
- The Fuss Over Fish – Lesley Stahl Reports On The Debate On What To Do To Protect Endangered Salmon
- Wenatchee World Editorial – Still caught in the salmon cycle
- News Release – Spring Chinook returns to Columbia River maintain healthy numbers
- Columbia's spring Chinook run has improved (
- OREGON – Salmon solution? Tribal hatchery mimics wild habitat to give Coho a fighting chance
- Bering Sea pollock fleet faces closure over salmon
- Alarmist Headline of the Day – Wild Salmon to be Extinct in 10 Years
- Ebola-Like Virus Threatens Great Lakes Fishing Industry
- Fish-eating Indians have crucial stake in clean Columbia River
- Supreme Court to Review Decision on Navy Sonar Use and Its Potential Harm to Dolphins and Whales
- Rural water transfers worry some across state
- Saving Puget Sound is an economic problem
- Clark County, WA – Two cities, two agencies clash over sewer plans
- Capacity Issues – Olympia Neighborhood Has A Stinky Problem
- City of Port Angeles adding chemical to fight copper in water
- Economy puts a plug in bottled water use
- Northwest Whitewater Rafters Loving The Huge Snowpack
- Google, Not Ghosts, Behind Creepy View of Chesapeake
- OREGON – Biofuel from Scotch Broom?
- Daily News Opinion – Ethanol rush may be doing more harm than good
- CALIFORNIA – Green energy fund is nearly out of steam
- Pay Per kilowatt-hour – Taking startup costs out of home solar
- Geothermal meetings set in energy-hungry West
- Renewable Energy a 'Finance-driven' Industry
- OREGON – Oregon farmer cuts costs with wind power
- OREGON – Morrow County approves special tax program for Willow Creek Wind Farm
- East Valley Tribune Editorial – Renewable Energy: Raising the bar, raising the costs
- UNITED KINGDOM – Homemade energy to prop up grid
- Puget Sound area ponders a future with a 'new green economy'
- Group urges energy conservation
- NW Energy Experts Say it's Time to Run, Not Walk, Towards a New Era in Energy Efficiency
- Everett Herald Opinion – When they do go out, compact fluorescent bulbs need recycling
- The New Trophy Home, Small and Ecological
- Ways to Conserve Energy and Lower Bills
- Years Later, Climatologist Renews His Call for Action
- CANADA – A carbon plan, budget and campaign platform rolled into one
- Quincy suffers a setback as a server-farm center – Data dreams go bust
- Okanogan County, WA – Loomis residents seek wireless Internet service
- Portland's Free Wi-Fi Network Going Off Line
- MINNESOTA – Carver County thinks a ring (of fiber optics) may woo business
- Cable ads attacking Verizon confuse consumers
- Once an Internet Giant, InfoSpace Dismantles Itself
- CANADA – Bell Canada Subject to Country’s Biggest-Ever Takeover
- Online bandwidth hogs to be cut off at trough?
- New technology could reduce power in data centers by 80 percent
- Technology worker shortage has businesses, educators worried
- NBC service will show Olympic events via computer
- Fading La Niña Clears Way For Summer Warmup
- Senate panel OKs $2 M for radar station on Washington coast
- Iconoclastic Comic George Carlin Dies at 71
- “When does checking e-mail after hours constitute working overtime?”
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Iconoclast • \eye-CON-uh-klast\ • noun Etymology: Medieval Latin iconoclastes, from Middle Greek eikonoklastEs, literally, image destroyer 1: a person who destroys religious images or opposes their veneration 2: a person who attacks settled beliefs or institutions
Lenny Bruce, Richard Pryor, Samuel Clemens (AKA “Mark Twain”), and other famous iconoclastic humorists lined the corridor leading to the comic afterlife. “Quiet everyone,” shouted Pryor. “George Carlin is on the way.”
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
Seattle Times Editorial – Block PSE sale – The proposed leveraged buyout of Puget Sound Energy by foreign investors should be blocked as harmful to the public interest (Seattle, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2008009433_pugetenergyed22.html?syndication=rss
The News Tribune Editorial – Puget Sound Energy deal is a dicey – This is one the commissioners can’t afford to get wrong. Reliable service and reasonable power and natural gas rates for more than 1.7 million customers, most of them in the Puget Sound region, depend on it. (Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/394744.html
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Opinion – Puget Sound Energy: A dubious plan (Seattle WA)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/367834_pugeted.html?source=rss
Jefferson County PUD awards contract to study proposal to provide electricity service (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080621/NEWS/806210305
Grant County PUD eyes new coal plant – Proposed project could be another energy source (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/06/20/news/news02.txt
And the Lobbyists Dance – Pacific Gas & Electric spent nearly $2 million lobbying on climate change, energy issues in first quarter (The Associated Press)
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080623/pg_e_lobbying.html?.v=1
NEW YORK – Some Severance Deals at the New York Power Authority Required Silence – At least 19 employees were required to keep secret the circumstances of their departures in order to obtain severance pay or benefits (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/22/nyregion/22disclosure.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Poll: Nuclear power could be the answer (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/06/16/daily38.html?ana=from_rss
Duke Energy’s Jim Rogers – A Green Coal Baron? (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/22/magazine/22Rogers-t.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
NORTH CAROLINA – Duke Energy wants to team up with cities to bury power lines (Triangle Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2008/06/23/story8.html?ana=from_rss
OREGON – Northwest Natural's big pipes, big dreams – Liquefied Natural Gas terminals: The gas company dares to be dull with storage and pipelines but still ends up in a fight (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/121394310569470.xml&coll=7
Opposition mounts to clean air change affecting parks – Critics fear the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency will adopt a rule in the waning days of the Bush administration that will make it easier to build coal-fired power plants near national parks (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008010447_apcleanairparks.html?syndication=rss
VIRGINIA – Power plant is ground zero in battle of energy vs. environment (The Virginia Pilot, Hampton Roads, VA)
http://hamptonroads.com/2008/06/power-plant-ground-zero-battle-energy-vs-environment
News Release – FERC Chair’s statement on cost of electric generation staff presentation “… FERC and state commissions are regulating in a high-cost environment; the U.S. needs massive investments in new electricity generation, transmission, and distribution; we are beginning to confront climate change challenge…” (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)
http://www.ferc.gov/news/statements-speeches/kelliher/2008/06-19-08-kelliher-A-3.asp
Chicago Tribune OpEd – Meeting Illinois' energy needs (Chicago, IL)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-vp0619lettersbriefs0jun19,0,750023.story
NEW ZEALAND – Electricity Commission called to account – We put a collective $230 million on the table to prevent a repeat of winter 2003 when power shortages threatened and prices skyrocketed and what do we get? (Stuff.com, New Zealand)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4592553a13.html
FISH & WILDLIFE
The Fuss Over Fish – Lesley Stahl Reports On The Debate On What To Do To Protect Endangered Salmon – regurgitated story from 2000, with minimal follow up reporting (CBS News, 60 Minutes)
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/06/20/60minutes/main4198581.shtml
Wenatchee World Editorial – Still caught in the salmon cycle – Salmon politics in the Northwest follow a rhythmical pattern, a predictable cycle, the Pacific biennial litigious oscillation (Wenatchee, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080619/OP03/984453274/1025/rss1025
News Release – Spring Chinook returns to Columbia River maintain healthy numbers – Ocean conditions, hydro system improvements credited with these solid fish returns (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/212535/
Columbia's spring Chinook run has improved (KIRO News Radio, Seattle)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=67091
OREGON – Salmon solution? Tribal hatchery mimics wild habitat to give Coho a fighting chance (Corvallis Gazette-Times, OR)
http://gazettetimes.com/articles/2008/06/22/news/top_story/1aaa01_salmon.txt
Bering Sea pollock fleet faces closure over salmon (The Associated Press, via the San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/06/22/financial/f122207D96.DTL&feed=rss.business
Alarmist Headline of the Day – Wild Salmon to be Extinct in 10 Years (Natural News)
http://www.naturalnews.com/023491.html
Ebola-Like Virus Threatens Great Lakes – Killing fish and threatening the $4 billion commercial and sport fishing industry (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/environment/May-June-08/Ebola-like-Virus-Threatens-Great-Lakes-.html
Fish-eating Indians have crucial stake in clean Columbia River (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/06/06222008_Fisheating-Indians-have-crucial-stake-in-clean-Columbia-River.cfm/
Supreme Court to Review Decision on Navy Sonar Use and Its Potential Harm to Dolphins and Whales (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16684325/detail.html?treets=sea&tml=sea_break&ts=T&tmi=sea_break_1_09530106232008
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Rural water transfers worry some across state – Local officials fear transferring the rights to water and letting it flow hundreds of miles downriver will dry out their rural farming community (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008011149_water22.html?syndication=rss
Saving Puget Sound is an economic problem – The laws and regulations that protect it from the most egregious dumping work pretty well, but the only way to finance the prevention of non-point-source pollution is to impose fees (Crosscut, Seattle, WA)
http://crosscut.com/puget-sound/15225/Saving+Puget+Sound+is+an+economic+problem/
Clark County, WA – Two cities, two agencies clash over sewer plans (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/06/06222008_Two-cities-two-agencies-clash-over-sewer-plans.cfm/
Capacity Issues – Olympia Neighborhood Has A Stinky Problem (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16674603/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
City of Port Angeles adding chemical to fight copper in water (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.konp.com/local/3745
Economy puts a plug in bottled water use – More consumers are turning to tap water to save money and help the environment (The Associated Press, via the Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1213925136105530.xml&coll=7
Northwest Whitewater Rafters Loving The Huge Snowpack (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2398-northwest-whitewater-rafters-loving-huge-snowpack/
Google, Not Ghosts, Behind Creepy View of Chesapeake (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/20/AR2008062002896.html?nav=rss_technology
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
OREGON – Biofuel from Scotch Broom? Tillamook farmer's son takes on cream of science crop – Hayden Bush scores bronze at an international competition (The Oregonian, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1213928718210880.xml&coll=7
Daily News Opinion – Ethanol rush may be doing more harm than good (Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/06/23/editorial/doc485c2d296ca61614539361.txt
CALIFORNIA – Green energy fund is nearly out of steam (San Francisco Business Times)
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2008/06/23/story14.html?ana=from_rss
Pay Per kilowatt-hour – Taking startup costs out of home solar (East Bay Business Times)
http://www.bizjournals.com/eastbay/stories/2008/06/23/story3.html?ana=from_rss
Geothermal meetings set in energy-hungry West (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1450437~Geothermal_meetings_set_in_energy_hungry_West.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
Renewable Energy a 'Finance-driven' Industry (Renewable Energy World Online)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=52854&src=rss
OREGON – Oregon farmer cuts costs with wind power (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/367982_smallwind23.html?source=rss
OREGON – Morrow County approves special tax program for Willow Creek Wind Farm “…without it, Oregon would be one of the most expensive places to site a wind farm…” (The East Oregonian, Pendleton, OR)
http://www.eastoregonian.info/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=48&ArticleID=79319&TM=73256.79
East Valley Tribune Editorial – Raising the bar, raising the costs “…the state should further disrupt free markets and take even more money out of everyone's wallet in order to pursue the dream of a renewable energy economy…” (Phoenix, AZ)
http://www.eastvalleytribune.com/story/119095
UNITED KINGDOM – Homemade energy to prop up grid (The Times of London)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article4187635.ece
Puget Sound area ponders a future with a 'new green economy' (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/367796_bluegreenjobs20.html
CONSERVATION
Group urges energy conservation – Energy experts convened in Portland last week to start work on a renewed effort to achieve energy conservation in homes, offices and industries of the Northwest. (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/486321.html
NW Energy Experts Say it's Time to Run, Not Walk, Towards a New Era in Energy Efficiency
"…We face a rapidly changing energy landscape. The cost of alternative generating resources, like wind power, is rising…" - Steve Wright, BPA administrator (Salem-News, OR)
http://www.salem-news.com/articles/june192008/energy_oregon_6-19-08.php
Everett Herald Opinion – When they do go out, compact fluorescent bulbs need recycling (Everett, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080623/OPINION01/241851950/-1/RSS05
The New Trophy Home, Small and Ecological (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/22/us/22leed.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Ways to Conserve Energy and Lower Bills (National Public Radio, Talk of the Nation – 40 Minutes)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91742292
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Years Later, Climatologist Renews His Call for Action (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/23/science/earth/23climate.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
CANADA – A carbon plan, budget and campaign platform rolled into one (The National Post)
http://www.nationalpost.com/newsletter/story.html?id=599705
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Quincy suffers a setback as a server-farm center – Data dreams go bust (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/06/23/story2.html?ana=from_rss
Okanogan County, WA – Loomis residents seek wireless service – Okanogan County PUD commissioners heard recently that Loomis residents are still hoping to get wireless Internet access to their area “…The natives are restless…” (The Omak Chronicle, WA)
http://www.omakchronicle.com/nws/n080621a.shtml
Portland's Free Wi-Fi Network Going Off Line (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2390-portlands-free-wi-fi-network-going-line/
MINNESOTA – Carver County thinks a ring (of fiber optics) may woo business – The ring would connect 80 to 100 sites or agencies, allowing for ultra-fast transmission and sharing of files and data (Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN)
http://www.startribune.com/local/west/20551244.html?location_refer=Entertainment
Cable ads attacking Verizon confuse consumers – Claims about Comcast fiber network don’t reveal hybrid nature of the system (The Associated Press)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gY_prL0mK0WtSLkO1_ZuBxNDDVJgD91DVA680
Once an Internet Giant, InfoSpace Dismantles Itself (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/23/technology/23infospace.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
CANADA – Bell Canada Subject to Country’s Biggest-Ever Takeover (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/business/May-June-08/Bell-Canada-Subject-to-Country-s-Biggest-Ever-Takeover[2].html
Online bandwidth hogs to be cut off at trough? The era of carefree, unlimited Internet browsing and downloading might be coming to an end (The San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/23/BU9V11CIVA.DTL&feed=rss.business
New technology could reduce power in data centers by 80 percent (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9973268-54.html
Technology worker shortage has businesses, educators worried (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008010515_apwatechworkershortage.html?syndication=rss
NBC service will show Olympic events via computer (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2008012365_apolynbccomputercoverage.html?syndication=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Fading La Niña Clears Way For Summer Warmup (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=4016
Senate panel OKs $2 M for radar station on Washington coast (The Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008009981_radar21m.html
Say a naughty word in tribute today – George Carlin mourned as counterculture hero (The Associated Press)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080623/ap_on_en_tv/obit_george_carlin_24
Iconoclastic Comic George Carlin Dies at 71 (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91791901&ft=1&f=3
“When does checking e-mail after hours constitute working overtime?” ABC and Writers Skirmish Over After-Hours E-Mail (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/23/business/media/23abc.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Hound of Heaven! More Dog Owners Performing 'Holy Muttrimony' – Dog weddings are the latest wave in the larger phenomenon of pet owners treating their animals like their children
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/international/May-June-08/More-Dog-Owners-Performing--Holy-Muttrimony-.html
'
World's Ugliest Dog' Crowned
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16675469/detail.html
Cat May Be To Blame For 15K Losing Power – Driver Swerves To Miss Cat, Hits Pole
http://www.kirotv.com/money/16680866/detail.html
Man beats gunman with fan, wrestles away shotgun
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/20641429.html
Has modern life killed the semicolon?
http://www.slate.com/id/2194087/?from=rss
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Energy News Digest for June 19, 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)
- Petition for Jefferson County PUD electrical authority vote almost ready, organizer says
- Puget Sound Energy cuts ribbon on new downtown Port Townsend office
- Puget Energy buyout rejection recommended
- Puget Sound Energy sale gets two strikes
- Chelan County PUD extends sale date for Cashmere power system
- Seattle City Council members back keeping City Light chief
- McCain Sets Goal of 45 New Nuclear Reactors by 2030
- 'Smart meters' May Soon be Outdated
- Pickens: Gas, wind power key to nation's energy future
- Natural gas price is nearing record
- CANADA – Vancouver air quality officials will do what they can to stop power plant boost
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer Editorial – Salmon: Right this time?
- Federal bills would expand Oregon wilderness and salmon protection
- Greenpeace gives grocery chains failing grades on seafood buying practices
- History Be Damned: wild West bounties won’t save the Snake River runs
- Sturgeon fishing steps up to fill gap left by steelhead
- Brewery water in hands of panel
- City of Port Angeles looking into copper levels in water
- King County's Brightwater costs up; sewer rates to rise, too
- GE Study Finds Tax Revenues from Wind Farms Offset Tax Incentive
- CALIFORNIA – News Release – REC Solar to Host Walnut Creek Solar Challenge
- Trash-fed generator deployed in Iraq
- TEXAS – Spike in electricity demand prompts conservation alert
- NEW ZEALAND – Lights out for old style bulb
- Canadian Carbon tax won't raise gas prices, sources say
- NORTH CAROLINA – Mighty, mighty broadband
- Yahoo launches 2 new e-mail domains
- "Today's 'Bandwidth Hog' is Tomorrow's Average User"
- MASSACHUSETTS – Selectmen quiz Verizon reps on boxes on poles
- Building a Better Browser: Firefox Keeps Innovating
- Electronics Trafficking Ring Revealed
- Midwest Flooding Could Be Act of Man
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Recurring • \rih-KURR-ring\ • verb – 1: To happen, come up, or show up again or repeatedly 2: to return to one's attention or memory 3: to return in thought or discourse.
Willie the wildebeest awoke with a start. The recurring dream that had haunted his dark nights had returned. In his nocturne wanderings, he had been transformed into a humanoid biped, wandering aimlessly in packs of hundreds through concrete jungles…going hither and thither…not knowing the destination, or the reason for his travels. “The horror, the horror,” he muttered.
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
Petition for Jefferson County PUD electrical authority vote almost ready, organizer says (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080619/NEWS/806190308
Puget Sound Energy cuts ribbon on new downtown Port Townsend office (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080619/NEWS/806190303
Puget Energy buyout rejection recommended – Staff at two state agencies recommend buyout rejection (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/367479_puget19.html?source=rss
Puget Sound Energy sale gets two strikes – Utilities and Transportation Commission staff, consumer agent recommend against deal (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/482981.html
Chelan County PUD extends sale date for Cashmere power system (Wenatchee World, WA)http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080618/NEWS04/658698908
Seattle City Council members back keeping City Light chief – Despite “communications, appreciation issues” (Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008005690_citylight19m.html?syndication=rss
McCain Sets Goal of 45 New Nuclear Reactors by 2030 (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/19/us/politics/19nuke.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
'Smart meters' May Soon be Outdated (LA Times): Screw-up Illustrates PR Challenge (Energy Strategies Blog – Seattle Times)
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/energy/archives/141432.asp?from=blog_last3
Pickens: Gas, wind power key to nation's energy future (Houston Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2008/06/16/daily33.html?ana=from_rss
Natural gas price is nearing record (Augusta Chronicle, ME)
http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/061508/met_462257.shtml
CANADA – Vancouver air quality officials will do what they can to stop power plant boost (Macroworld Investor)
http://www.mworld.com/m/m.w?lp=GetStory&id=310692671
FISH & WILDLIFE
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Editorial – Salmon: Right this time? It sounds unlikely, but maybe the answer will be yes
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/367495_rivered.html?source=rss
Federal bills would expand Oregon wilderness and salmon protection (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1448288~Bills_would_expand_Oregon_wilderness_and_salmon_protection.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Greenpeace gives grocery chains failing grades on seafood buying practices (The Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008005520_seafood19.html
History Be Damned: Wild west bounties won’t save the Snake River runs (The Source Weekly, Bend OR)
http://www.tsweekly.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2946&Itemid=75
Sturgeon fishing steps up to fill gap left by steelhead (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/outdoors/story/482955.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Brewery water in hands of panel – A little-known volunteer board will determine how much of the water that was once the main ingredient in Olympia Beer will one day flow through the faucets of utility customers in the county's three largest cities (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/483023.html
City of Port Angeles looking into copper levels in water (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.konp.com/local/3738
Brightwater costs up; sewer rates to rise, too – King County's $1.8 billion cost estimate for the Brightwater sewage-treatment plant understates the likely cost by at least $41 million (The Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008005688_brightwater19m.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
GE Study Finds Tax Revenues from Wind Farms Offset Tax Incentive (Renewable Energy World Online)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=52825&src=rss
CALIFORNIA – News Release – REC Solar to Host Walnut Creek Solar Challenge (REC Solar)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/story?id=52818&src=rss
Trash-fed generator deployed in Iraq (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9972359-54.html
CONSERVATION
TEXAS – Spike in electricity demand prompts conservation alert (The Houston Chronicle, TX)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5845375.html
NEW ZEALAND – Lights out for old style bulb – Old fashioned light bulbs are set to be switched off in a new initiative aimed at cutting New Zealand's power bills (TV New Zealand)
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411368/1850650
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Canadian Carbon tax won't raise gas prices, sources say (The Globe and Mail – and it will make you taller, better looking, and a better dancer!)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080618.CARBON18//TPStory/Environment
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
NORTH CAROLINA – Mighty, mighty broadband – The small city of Wilson is leading the way in providing faster, cheaper Internet service (Independent Weekly, Durham, NC)
http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A259848
Yahoo launches 2 new e-mail domains (Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2008/06/16/daily53.html?ana=from_rss
"Today's 'Bandwidth Hog' is Tomorrow's Average User" (Apprising, via Baller/Herbst)
http://app-rising.com/2008/06/todays_bandwidth_hog_is_tomorr.html
MASSACHUSETTS – Selectmen quiz Verizon reps on boxes on poles (Marblehead Reporter, MA)
http://www.wickedlocal.com/marblehead/news/x19918962/Selectmen-quiz-Verizon-reps-on-boxes-on-poles
Building a Better Browser: Firefox Keeps Innovating (Washington Post, DC)http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/18/AR2008061802731.html?nav=rss_technology
GENERAL NEWS
Electronics Trafficking Ring Revealed – The last of four men suspected to be part of a ring that stole thousands of dollars turned himself in yesterday (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/rss/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1213811130&archive=
Flooding Could Be Act of Man – As the Midwest landscape is altered, the ability of ground to absorb water is diminished, experts say (Washington Post, DC)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/18/AR2008061803371.html?nav=rss_email/components
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Woman Sues Victoria's Secret For Thong Injury – Says Metal Piece Flew Off, Struck Eye
http://www.kirotv.com/money/16644963/detail.html
Skunks Cause $75,000 In Damage To Home – Skunks Chew Through Utility Room
http://www.kirotv.com/money/16643918/detail.html
"Curse of the Fuwa" fulfilled by Chinese floods – Floods sweeping southern China seem to have fulfilled the final stanza of an Internet curse involving Beijing's Olympic mascots
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080619/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_china_curse;_ylt=AqHSY4rEbftGE_NqlWnJbartiBIF
German court rules fear of letters is no excuse – Phobia of official letters
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080618/ap_on_fe_st/odd_germany_letter_phobia;_ylt=AkRuJnMmVMk4d5hQ7e6s1LDtiBIF
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Petition for Jefferson County PUD electrical authority vote almost ready, organizer says
- Puget Sound Energy cuts ribbon on new downtown Port Townsend office
- Puget Energy buyout rejection recommended
- Puget Sound Energy sale gets two strikes
- Chelan County PUD extends sale date for Cashmere power system
- Seattle City Council members back keeping City Light chief
- McCain Sets Goal of 45 New Nuclear Reactors by 2030
- 'Smart meters' May Soon be Outdated
- Pickens: Gas, wind power key to nation's energy future
- Natural gas price is nearing record
- CANADA – Vancouver air quality officials will do what they can to stop power plant boost
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer Editorial – Salmon: Right this time?
- Federal bills would expand Oregon wilderness and salmon protection
- Greenpeace gives grocery chains failing grades on seafood buying practices
- History Be Damned: wild West bounties won’t save the Snake River runs
- Sturgeon fishing steps up to fill gap left by steelhead
- Brewery water in hands of panel
- City of Port Angeles looking into copper levels in water
- King County's Brightwater costs up; sewer rates to rise, too
- GE Study Finds Tax Revenues from Wind Farms Offset Tax Incentive
- CALIFORNIA – News Release – REC Solar to Host Walnut Creek Solar Challenge
- Trash-fed generator deployed in Iraq
- TEXAS – Spike in electricity demand prompts conservation alert
- NEW ZEALAND – Lights out for old style bulb
- Canadian Carbon tax won't raise gas prices, sources say
- NORTH CAROLINA – Mighty, mighty broadband
- Yahoo launches 2 new e-mail domains
- "Today's 'Bandwidth Hog' is Tomorrow's Average User"
- MASSACHUSETTS – Selectmen quiz Verizon reps on boxes on poles
- Building a Better Browser: Firefox Keeps Innovating
- Electronics Trafficking Ring Revealed
- Midwest Flooding Could Be Act of Man
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Recurring • \rih-KURR-ring\ • verb – 1: To happen, come up, or show up again or repeatedly 2: to return to one's attention or memory 3: to return in thought or discourse.
Willie the wildebeest awoke with a start. The recurring dream that had haunted his dark nights had returned. In his nocturne wanderings, he had been transformed into a humanoid biped, wandering aimlessly in packs of hundreds through concrete jungles…going hither and thither…not knowing the destination, or the reason for his travels. “The horror, the horror,” he muttered.
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
Petition for Jefferson County PUD electrical authority vote almost ready, organizer says (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080619/NEWS/806190308
Puget Sound Energy cuts ribbon on new downtown Port Townsend office (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080619/NEWS/806190303
Puget Energy buyout rejection recommended – Staff at two state agencies recommend buyout rejection (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/367479_puget19.html?source=rss
Puget Sound Energy sale gets two strikes – Utilities and Transportation Commission staff, consumer agent recommend against deal (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/482981.html
Chelan County PUD extends sale date for Cashmere power system (Wenatchee World, WA)http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080618/NEWS04/658698908
Seattle City Council members back keeping City Light chief – Despite “communications, appreciation issues” (Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008005690_citylight19m.html?syndication=rss
McCain Sets Goal of 45 New Nuclear Reactors by 2030 (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/19/us/politics/19nuke.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
'Smart meters' May Soon be Outdated (LA Times): Screw-up Illustrates PR Challenge (Energy Strategies Blog – Seattle Times)
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/energy/archives/141432.asp?from=blog_last3
Pickens: Gas, wind power key to nation's energy future (Houston Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2008/06/16/daily33.html?ana=from_rss
Natural gas price is nearing record (Augusta Chronicle, ME)
http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/061508/met_462257.shtml
CANADA – Vancouver air quality officials will do what they can to stop power plant boost (Macroworld Investor)
http://www.mworld.com/m/m.w?lp=GetStory&id=310692671
FISH & WILDLIFE
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Editorial – Salmon: Right this time? It sounds unlikely, but maybe the answer will be yes
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/367495_rivered.html?source=rss
Federal bills would expand Oregon wilderness and salmon protection (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1448288~Bills_would_expand_Oregon_wilderness_and_salmon_protection.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Greenpeace gives grocery chains failing grades on seafood buying practices (The Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008005520_seafood19.html
History Be Damned: Wild west bounties won’t save the Snake River runs (The Source Weekly, Bend OR)
http://www.tsweekly.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=2946&Itemid=75
Sturgeon fishing steps up to fill gap left by steelhead (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/outdoors/story/482955.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Brewery water in hands of panel – A little-known volunteer board will determine how much of the water that was once the main ingredient in Olympia Beer will one day flow through the faucets of utility customers in the county's three largest cities (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/483023.html
City of Port Angeles looking into copper levels in water (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.konp.com/local/3738
Brightwater costs up; sewer rates to rise, too – King County's $1.8 billion cost estimate for the Brightwater sewage-treatment plant understates the likely cost by at least $41 million (The Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008005688_brightwater19m.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
GE Study Finds Tax Revenues from Wind Farms Offset Tax Incentive (Renewable Energy World Online)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=52825&src=rss
CALIFORNIA – News Release – REC Solar to Host Walnut Creek Solar Challenge (REC Solar)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/story?id=52818&src=rss
Trash-fed generator deployed in Iraq (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9972359-54.html
CONSERVATION
TEXAS – Spike in electricity demand prompts conservation alert (The Houston Chronicle, TX)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/metropolitan/5845375.html
NEW ZEALAND – Lights out for old style bulb – Old fashioned light bulbs are set to be switched off in a new initiative aimed at cutting New Zealand's power bills (TV New Zealand)
http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411368/1850650
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Canadian Carbon tax won't raise gas prices, sources say (The Globe and Mail – and it will make you taller, better looking, and a better dancer!)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080618.CARBON18//TPStory/Environment
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
NORTH CAROLINA – Mighty, mighty broadband – The small city of Wilson is leading the way in providing faster, cheaper Internet service (Independent Weekly, Durham, NC)
http://www.indyweek.com/gyrobase/Content?oid=oid%3A259848
Yahoo launches 2 new e-mail domains (Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2008/06/16/daily53.html?ana=from_rss
"Today's 'Bandwidth Hog' is Tomorrow's Average User" (Apprising, via Baller/Herbst)
http://app-rising.com/2008/06/todays_bandwidth_hog_is_tomorr.html
MASSACHUSETTS – Selectmen quiz Verizon reps on boxes on poles (Marblehead Reporter, MA)
http://www.wickedlocal.com/marblehead/news/x19918962/Selectmen-quiz-Verizon-reps-on-boxes-on-poles
Building a Better Browser: Firefox Keeps Innovating (Washington Post, DC)http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/18/AR2008061802731.html?nav=rss_technology
GENERAL NEWS
Electronics Trafficking Ring Revealed – The last of four men suspected to be part of a ring that stole thousands of dollars turned himself in yesterday (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/rss/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1213811130&archive=
Flooding Could Be Act of Man – As the Midwest landscape is altered, the ability of ground to absorb water is diminished, experts say (Washington Post, DC)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/18/AR2008061803371.html?nav=rss_email/components
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Woman Sues Victoria's Secret For Thong Injury – Says Metal Piece Flew Off, Struck Eye
http://www.kirotv.com/money/16644963/detail.html
Skunks Cause $75,000 In Damage To Home – Skunks Chew Through Utility Room
http://www.kirotv.com/money/16643918/detail.html
"Curse of the Fuwa" fulfilled by Chinese floods – Floods sweeping southern China seem to have fulfilled the final stanza of an Internet curse involving Beijing's Olympic mascots
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080619/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_china_curse;_ylt=AqHSY4rEbftGE_NqlWnJbartiBIF
German court rules fear of letters is no excuse – Phobia of official letters
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080618/ap_on_fe_st/odd_germany_letter_phobia;_ylt=AkRuJnMmVMk4d5hQ7e6s1LDtiBIF
Wednesday, June 18, 2008
Energy News Digest for June 18, 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)
- Grays Harbor PUD – Bonneville classification could sink deal for cogeneration at Cosmopolis Pulp Mill
- Final vote set for 17-year Chelan PUD-Alcoa power contract
- Michigan utility may face scrutiny over response to outages
- Grays Harbor County PUD bills will change
- McNary Dam to hold open house
- Energy Pulse Commentary – "Politics": How Do Regulators Respond?
- Port Angeles workers "round up" utiilty awards try at lineman rodeo
- U.S. plan to balance Northwest salmon and dams is challenged
- Columbia producing lots of sockeye, Chinook
- Federal agencies to evaluate state of the nation's water
- Plain ol’ tap water now all the rage
- Study: Solar energy cost will plummet by 2025
- Senate blocks debate of clean energy tax credits
- Nev. senator seeks renewable energy development
- FERC approves NYISO plan to integrate wind power
- FLORIDA – Soaring utility bills in Tallahassee spark conservation efforts
- OREGON – Governor Kulongoski Says Improving Energy Efficiency Is Vital
- Avoid being 'green-washed'
- Class Tests Carbon Trading, With Troubling Results “…as students put in a position to manipulate the market do so all on their own…”
- CANADA – Most oppose carbon tax
- Congressional Research Service – Climate Change: Current Issues and Policy Tools
- GEORGIA – Thieves target cable amplifier boxes
- Verizon speeding up FiOS Internet service
- We Heart Data Center Engineers
- North Mason Schools to Seek Bond, and Levy, in 2009
- Former L&I Director of The Safety And Compliance Section Admits Supplying Drugs To Teen
- Public Servants Flee Tough Oregon Ethics Laws
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Mansuetude • \MAN-swih-tood\ • noun – The quality or state of being gentle: meekness, tameness
The sweet little wildcat’s apparent mansuetude was belied by the constant twitching of its stubby tail. Unfortunately for Ambrose, and fortunately for his reconstructive surgeon, it was noticed too late to avoid the inevitable lashing out of the irritated cat.
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
Grays Harbor PUD – Bonneville classification could sink deal for cogeneration at Cosmopolis Pulp Mill (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/06/17/local_news/03news.txt
Final vote set for 17-year Chelan PUD-Alcoa power contract (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080617/NEWS04/310508503
Michigan utility may face scrutiny over response to outages (The Associated Press, via AOL Money & Finance)
http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/mich-utility-may-face-scrutiny-over/n20080613183609990004?cid=1214
Grays Harbor County PUD bills will change (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/06/17/local_news/02news.txt
McNary Dam to hold open house – Non-U.S. citizens who want to see secured areas of the dam must register by Friday (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2008/06/17/local_news/080617local03mcnarydamtour.txt
Energy Pulse Commentary – "Politics": How Do Regulators Respond?
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1768
Port Angeles workers "round up" utiilty awards try at lineman rodeo (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.konp.com/local/3733
FISH & WILDLIFE
U.S. plan to balance Northwest salmon and dams is challenged – Conservation and fishing groups file complaint in court (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/367379_salmondams18.html
Columbia producing lots of sockeye, Chinook (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)http://www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/outdoors/story/391876.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Federal agencies to evaluate state of the nation's water (The Associated Press, via the Contra Costa Times, Walnut Grove, CA)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_9617248?source=rss
Plain ol’ tap water now all the rage (The Associated Press, via the News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/391896.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Study: Solar energy cost will plummet by 2025 (Nashville Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/stories/2008/06/16/daily28.html?ana=from_rss
Senate blocks debate of clean energy tax credits (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN1730263720080617
Nev. senator seeks renewable energy development (The Associated Press, via Forbes.com)
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/06/18/ap5128877.html
FERC approves NYISO plan to integrate wind power (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=331960&C=ENVIR&dcmp=rss
CONSERVATION
FLORIDA – Soaring utility bills in Tallahassee spark conservation efforts (The Tallahassee Democrat, FL)http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080618/BREAKINGNEWS/80616013
OREGON – Governor Kulongoski Says Improving Energy Efficiency Is Vital (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2363-kulongoski-says-improving-energy-efficiency-vital/
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Avoid being 'green-washed' (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/20181229.html
Class Tests Carbon Trading, With Troubling Results “…as students put in a position to manipulate the market do so all on their own…” (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91625716&ft=1&f=3
CANADA – Most oppose carbon tax – Anti-tax sentiment a potential threat to Liberals ahead of election, pollster says (The Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=0c50aa7d-d414-4eb6-8b86-843d2ef28cad
Congressional Research Service – Climate Change: Current Issues and Policy Tools
http://opencrs.cdt.org/document/RL34513
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
GEORGIA – Thieves target cable amplifier boxes – Comcast equipment taken from Cobb neighborhoods (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, GA)
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/metro/cobb/stories/2008/06/17/cable_box_thefts.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=13
Verizon speeding up FiOS Internet service (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008003218_verizonfios18.html?syndication=rss
We Heart Data Center Engineers (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/06/17/we-heart-data-center-engineers/
GENERAL NEWS
North Mason Schools to Seek Bond, and Levy, in 2009 (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/jun/17/north-mason-schools-to-seek-bond-and-levy-in/
Former L&I Director of The Safety And Compliance Section Admits Supplying Drugs To Teen (KIRO-TV, Seattle, WA)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16637600/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
Public Servants Flee Tough Oregon Ethics Laws (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91606626&ft=1&f=2
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Arkansas city releases shelter dogs into national forest
http://www.helena-arkansas.com/news/x1470883524/Arkansas-city-releases-shelter-dogs-into-national-forest
Reel fast: New track ready for riding lawnmower races
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080618/NEWS/806180301
Lemonade Stand Robbery Goes Sour – Suspect Arrested On Felony Charge
http://www.kirotv.com/family/16631621/detail.html
Sometimes it rains cement
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSHAR75844520080617?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Teacher fired for running from quake school “…Paging George Costanza…”
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN1735552720080617?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Grays Harbor PUD – Bonneville classification could sink deal for cogeneration at Cosmopolis Pulp Mill
- Final vote set for 17-year Chelan PUD-Alcoa power contract
- Michigan utility may face scrutiny over response to outages
- Grays Harbor County PUD bills will change
- McNary Dam to hold open house
- Energy Pulse Commentary – "Politics": How Do Regulators Respond?
- Port Angeles workers "round up" utiilty awards try at lineman rodeo
- U.S. plan to balance Northwest salmon and dams is challenged
- Columbia producing lots of sockeye, Chinook
- Federal agencies to evaluate state of the nation's water
- Plain ol’ tap water now all the rage
- Study: Solar energy cost will plummet by 2025
- Senate blocks debate of clean energy tax credits
- Nev. senator seeks renewable energy development
- FERC approves NYISO plan to integrate wind power
- FLORIDA – Soaring utility bills in Tallahassee spark conservation efforts
- OREGON – Governor Kulongoski Says Improving Energy Efficiency Is Vital
- Avoid being 'green-washed'
- Class Tests Carbon Trading, With Troubling Results “…as students put in a position to manipulate the market do so all on their own…”
- CANADA – Most oppose carbon tax
- Congressional Research Service – Climate Change: Current Issues and Policy Tools
- GEORGIA – Thieves target cable amplifier boxes
- Verizon speeding up FiOS Internet service
- We Heart Data Center Engineers
- North Mason Schools to Seek Bond, and Levy, in 2009
- Former L&I Director of The Safety And Compliance Section Admits Supplying Drugs To Teen
- Public Servants Flee Tough Oregon Ethics Laws
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Mansuetude • \MAN-swih-tood\ • noun – The quality or state of being gentle: meekness, tameness
The sweet little wildcat’s apparent mansuetude was belied by the constant twitching of its stubby tail. Unfortunately for Ambrose, and fortunately for his reconstructive surgeon, it was noticed too late to avoid the inevitable lashing out of the irritated cat.
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
Grays Harbor PUD – Bonneville classification could sink deal for cogeneration at Cosmopolis Pulp Mill (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/06/17/local_news/03news.txt
Final vote set for 17-year Chelan PUD-Alcoa power contract (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080617/NEWS04/310508503
Michigan utility may face scrutiny over response to outages (The Associated Press, via AOL Money & Finance)
http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/mich-utility-may-face-scrutiny-over/n20080613183609990004?cid=1214
Grays Harbor County PUD bills will change (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/06/17/local_news/02news.txt
McNary Dam to hold open house – Non-U.S. citizens who want to see secured areas of the dam must register by Friday (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2008/06/17/local_news/080617local03mcnarydamtour.txt
Energy Pulse Commentary – "Politics": How Do Regulators Respond?
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1768
Port Angeles workers "round up" utiilty awards try at lineman rodeo (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.konp.com/local/3733
FISH & WILDLIFE
U.S. plan to balance Northwest salmon and dams is challenged – Conservation and fishing groups file complaint in court (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/367379_salmondams18.html
Columbia producing lots of sockeye, Chinook (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)http://www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/outdoors/story/391876.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Federal agencies to evaluate state of the nation's water (The Associated Press, via the Contra Costa Times, Walnut Grove, CA)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_9617248?source=rss
Plain ol’ tap water now all the rage (The Associated Press, via the News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/391896.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Study: Solar energy cost will plummet by 2025 (Nashville Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/nashville/stories/2008/06/16/daily28.html?ana=from_rss
Senate blocks debate of clean energy tax credits (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSN1730263720080617
Nev. senator seeks renewable energy development (The Associated Press, via Forbes.com)
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/06/18/ap5128877.html
FERC approves NYISO plan to integrate wind power (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=331960&C=ENVIR&dcmp=rss
CONSERVATION
FLORIDA – Soaring utility bills in Tallahassee spark conservation efforts (The Tallahassee Democrat, FL)http://www.tallahassee.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080618/BREAKINGNEWS/80616013
OREGON – Governor Kulongoski Says Improving Energy Efficiency Is Vital (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2363-kulongoski-says-improving-energy-efficiency-vital/
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Avoid being 'green-washed' (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/20181229.html
Class Tests Carbon Trading, With Troubling Results “…as students put in a position to manipulate the market do so all on their own…” (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91625716&ft=1&f=3
CANADA – Most oppose carbon tax – Anti-tax sentiment a potential threat to Liberals ahead of election, pollster says (The Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=0c50aa7d-d414-4eb6-8b86-843d2ef28cad
Congressional Research Service – Climate Change: Current Issues and Policy Tools
http://opencrs.cdt.org/document/RL34513
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
GEORGIA – Thieves target cable amplifier boxes – Comcast equipment taken from Cobb neighborhoods (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, GA)
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/metro/cobb/stories/2008/06/17/cable_box_thefts.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=13
Verizon speeding up FiOS Internet service (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008003218_verizonfios18.html?syndication=rss
We Heart Data Center Engineers (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/06/17/we-heart-data-center-engineers/
GENERAL NEWS
North Mason Schools to Seek Bond, and Levy, in 2009 (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/jun/17/north-mason-schools-to-seek-bond-and-levy-in/
Former L&I Director of The Safety And Compliance Section Admits Supplying Drugs To Teen (KIRO-TV, Seattle, WA)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16637600/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
Public Servants Flee Tough Oregon Ethics Laws (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91606626&ft=1&f=2
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Arkansas city releases shelter dogs into national forest
http://www.helena-arkansas.com/news/x1470883524/Arkansas-city-releases-shelter-dogs-into-national-forest
Reel fast: New track ready for riding lawnmower races
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080618/NEWS/806180301
Lemonade Stand Robbery Goes Sour – Suspect Arrested On Felony Charge
http://www.kirotv.com/family/16631621/detail.html
Sometimes it rains cement
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSHAR75844520080617?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Teacher fired for running from quake school “…Paging George Costanza…”
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN1735552720080617?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
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