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)
- Objections aired over Puget Sound Energy takeover plan
- Puget Sound Energy and Whidbey PUD advocates butt heads at community forum
- Whidbey PUD supporters regroup following split
- Shades of Port Townsend – Puget Sound Energy to open Freeland office on Whidbey Island
- MONTANA – Grant County PUD nixes power purchase from proposed Great Falls coal plant
- Governor says Oregon can't count on feds for energy answers
- Thurston County Cable, electric bills set to rise
- CounterPunch Commentary – Power, Profits and the Future of the Columbia River
- Idaho Power: Equipment failure led to wildfire
- Northwest Natural Gas seeks 31% rate hike
- Plentiful natural gas predicted for winter
- Meanwhile… Prepare Now For Higher Heating Bills
- UTAH – Surge in Natural Gas Has Utah Driving Cheaply
- TEXAS – Energy companies: Relief from high electricity prices may be on the way
- UNITED KINGDOM – More suppliers raise energy bills
- Snake River dams enter political picture
- OREGON – Fish biologist paints different salmon view
- Union Bulletin Editorial – Judge's actions on salmon case show need to find new judge
- CANADA – Wolves 'prefer salmon to deer'
- State to fine Taylor Shellfish for using public aquatic lands
- At Hanford Reach, nuclear plant preserved nature
- Nearly 100 suspected illegal dams discovered in North Central Washington
- E. coli detected in Sequim-area water system
- Hold the soda: Wapato Lake loses acidity
- Cowlitz PUD moves ahead with Harvest Wind plan
- PenLight: $50 million for wind
- Grays Harbor County PUD wants more information before riding wave bandwagon
- Wind farm plans clash with pristine site in eastern Oregon
- OREGON – State asks whether wind farm projects are separate
- Low Air Pressure from Wind Turbines Killing Bats
- Olympian Editorial – Offshore wind turbines are a good idea
- Port of Longview shifts from logs to wind turbines
- Will the solar boom's glow dim?
- MICHIGAN – Residents may pay more green power costs
- Wind, solar energy built on temporary tax breaks
- Energy Pulse Commentary – Wind Credit Blown Off Course
- Experts wary of Pickens' clean-energy plan
- Wind power stored in underground caverns
- Longview man's wind turbine project on hold as county irons out zoning issues
- Gasification: Toledo Man Generates Power With Wood Scraps
- A Futuristic Energy Plan, 100 Years in the Making
- Developer building homes with solar panels
- Freezers sell like hot cakes as penny pinchers buy bulk
- 10 easy steps to energy conservation
- Congressional Research Reports – Capturing CO2 from Coal-Fired Power Plants
- Oil Group Joins Alaska in Suing To Overturn Polar Bear Protection
- UN Says Glaciers Under Threat
- Seattle Times Columnist – Go green one bite at a time
- CANADA – Victoria's 'green' footprint praised
- Google takes aim at Microsoft with new Web browser
- Microsoft releases beta version of Internet Explorer 8
- News Release – Fiber-Optic Access Now Available to 25,000 in Chelan County
- No PUD fiber-optic cable in Concrete
- 10 Things to Know and Hate About Metered Broadband
- 5 Devices That Spell Trouble For Your Comcast Bandwidth Cap
- West Richland police to get new wireless network
- Lack of interest means an end to Wi-Fi at state rest areas
- NEW YORK – Violations cited in Verizon fiber installations
- Why Run FTTH When You Can Pretend You Do?
- Internet Traffic Begins to Bypass the U.S. – The era of the American Internet is ending
- Top 10 rules for combating cyber attacks
- Washington State woman charged in Kansas State highway worker deaths goes on trial
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Insouciance • \in SUE-see-unts\ • noun – lighthearted unconcern: nonchalance
The horror unseen: Abercrombie’s insouciance was bound to be his undoing. Gaily walking through the Grizzly bear infested forest, his light coating of clover honey was intended to add freshness to his daily routine (and cover his chronic trouble with body odor). Unfortunately, his apparent unconcern about his surroundings and fragrance turned him into a tasty snack that afternoon.
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
Objections aired over Puget Sound Energy takeover plan (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/business/story/561862.html
Puget Sound Energy and Whidbey PUD advocates butt heads at community forum (Whidbey News Time Reporter, Oak Harbor, WA)
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/news/27676554.html
Whidbey PUD supporters regroup following split (The Whidbey Examiner, Coupeville, WA)
http://www.whidbeyexaminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=1670&TM=62019.98
Shades of Port Townsend – Puget Sound Energy to open Freeland office on Whidbey Island (Whidbey Examiner)
http://www.stpns.net/view_article.html?articleId=109510843654164910456
MONTANA – Grant County PUD nixes power purchase from proposed Great Falls coal plant (Great Falls Tribune, MT)
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080829/NEWS01/808290323
Governor says Oregon can't count on feds for energy answers “…renewable energy will not be able to satisfy Oregon's demand for energy…we may have to accept solutions that are not to everyone's liking…” (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2008/08/kulongoski_says_oregon_cant_co.html
Thurston County Cable, electric bills set to rise (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/566597.html
CounterPunch Commentary – Power, Profits and the Future of the Columbia River: Killing Salmon With Paul O'Neill
http://www.counterpunch.org/stclair08232008.html
Idaho Power: Equipment failure led to wildfire (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1559899~Idaho_Power__Equipment_failure_led_to_wildfire.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
Northwest Natural Gas seeks 31% rate hike (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/08/08302008_Northwest-Natural-seeks-31-rate-hike.cfm/
Plentiful natural gas predicted for winter: Low summer demand pushes price down (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5ClkhowqiRUokt%3EEvbfen%5Fv
Meanwhile… Prepare Now For Higher Heating Bills “…even with the recent drop in natural gas prices, this winter’s heating costs may still be higher than last year’s…” (KFOR, Lincoln, NE)
http://www.kfor1240.com/news/index.html?id=14121
UTAH – Surge in Natural Gas Has Utah Driving Cheaply (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/business/30gascars.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
TEXAS – Energy companies: Relief from high electricity prices may be on the way “…if your bill was $200 in Houston, you’d have paid just $92 in Austin. Austin’s electricity is still regulated…” (KHOU-TV, Houston, TX)
http://www.khou.com/news/local/stories/khou082808_tnt_electricity_prices_houston.1f7fcd28.html?npc
UNITED KINGDOM – More suppliers raise energy bills (Financial Times of London)
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6ea35b6c-7621-11dd-99ce-0000779fd18c.html?nclick_check=1
FISH & WILDLIFE
Snake River dams enter political picture (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420ap_wst_dam_politics.html
OREGON – Fish biologist paints different salmon view – Northern Wasco County PUD hears why salmon recovery is divisive issue (The Dalles Chronicle, OR)
http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2008/08/news08-29-08-08.shtml
Union Bulletin Editorial – Judge's actions on salmon case show need to find new judge (Walla Walla, WA, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008145405_guestedits29.html?syndication=rss
CANADA – Wolves 'prefer salmon to deer' (Ottawa Citizen)
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=55ad755d-bdde-4b22-bbe3-572a3897ef69
State to fine Taylor Shellfish for using public aquatic lands (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/377129_geoduck30.html?source=rss
At Hanford Reach, nuclear plant preserved nature (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2008133554_onlywa23reach.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Nearly 100 suspected illegal dams discovered in North Central Washington – Property owners have until Sunday to report structures (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080829/NEWS04/708299933/1001/rss1001
E. coli detected in Sequim-area water system (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080901/NEWS/809010304
Hold the soda: Wapato Lake loses acidity – Antacids won’t be needed to neutralize the waters of Tacoma’s Wapato Lake (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/465849.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Cowlitz PUD moves ahead with Harvest Wind plan (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/08/27/area_news/doc48b4ba383f8a3898590276.txt
PenLight: $50 million for wind – Cooperative utility to generate joint power with farm near Goldendale (The Peninsula Gateway, Gig Harbor, WA)
http://www.gateline.com/104/story/2200.html
Grays Harbor County PUD wants more information before riding wave bandwagon (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/08/28/local_news/05news.txt
Wind farm plans clash with pristine site in eastern Oregon (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/08/wind_farm_plans_clash_with_pri.html
OREGON – State asks whether wind farm projects are separate – Critics say the proposals were divided to avoid scrutiny “…Any project with a capacity of 105 megawatts or more triggers review by the state…” (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1220232313187480.xml&coll=7
Low Air Pressure from Wind Turbines Killing Bats (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/environment/July-August-08/Low-Air-Pressure-From-Wind-Turbines-Killing-Bats.html
Olympian Editorial – Offshore wind turbines are a good idea (Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/562794.html
Port of Longview shifts from logs to wind turbines (The Associated Press, via the Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP09012008news359617.cfm
Will the solar boom's glow dim? A Dutch analyst says global panel manufacturing capacity is well ahead of demand “…Some solar companies are laying off workers as government incentives approach expiration…” (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1219969533233630.xml&coll=7
MICHIGAN – Residents may pay more green power costs (The Associated Press Writer)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g2e5AQD7ML_eqdbngkE2_6EiyZPAD92TEQ080
Wind, solar energy built on temporary tax breaks (The Associated Press Writer, via the Las Cruces Sun-News, CA)
http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_10356195
Energy Pulse Commentary – Wind Credit Blown Off Course
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1815
Experts wary of Pickens' clean-energy plan (The San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/01/MNO512K43O.DTL
Wind power stored in underground caverns (The San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/31/BULF12IKMU.DTL&feed=rss.business
Longview man's wind turbine project on hold as county irons out zoning issues (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/08/28/top_story/doc48b4aaa80b9a3376013349.txt
Old Technology, Reborn – Gasification: Toledo Man Generates Power With Wood Scraps (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/storylife.php?subaction=showfull&id=1220080954&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&
A Futuristic Energy Plan, 100 Years in the Making (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/23/nyregion/23about.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Developer building homes with solar panels (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_082208WAB_solar_panel_program_LJ.214ace0a.html
CONSERVATION
Freezers sell like hot cakes as penny pinchers buy bulk “...shoppers bought more than 1.1 million freezers during the first six months of the year…” (The Associated Press, via the News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/464538.html
10 easy steps to energy conservation (The Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=c2dad8ec-9c22-4d19-8c4f-0bb90ff98049
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Congressional Research Reports – Capturing CO2 from Coal-Fired Power Plants: Challenges for a Comprehensive Strategy
http://opencrs.cdt.org/document/RL34621
Oil Group Joins Alaska in Suing To Overturn Polar Bear Protection (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/30/AR2008083001538.html?nav=rss_nation
UN Says Glaciers Under Threat (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/environment/July-August-08/UN-Says-Glaciers-Under-Threat.html
Seattle Times Columnist – Go green one bite at a time “…There's a lot of green fatigue…people are tired of it..."
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nicolebrodeur/2008152456_brodeur02m.html
CANADA – Victoria's 'green' footprint praised (The Victoria Times-Colonist) http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=7aa1a4d8-2986-429c-b8a6-ae40f2476892
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Google takes aim at Microsoft with new Web browser (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1565379~Google_takes_aim_at_Microsoft_with_new_Web_browser.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
Microsoft releases beta version of Internet Explorer 8 (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008150882_internetexplorer01.html?syndication=rss
News Release – Fiber-Optic Access Now Available to 25,000 in Chelan County (Yahoo! News)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20080827/pl_usnw/fiber_optic_access_now_available_to25000_in_chelan_county__wash
No PUD fiber-optic cable in Concrete (KAPS Radio, Mount Vernon, WA)
http://www.kapsradio.com/2008/08/27/no-fiber-optic-cable-in-concrete/
10 Things to Know and Hate About Metered Broadband (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/08/29/10-things-to-know-and-hate-about-metered-broadband/
5 Devices That Spell Trouble For Your Comcast Bandwidth Cap (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/08/29/5-devices-that-spell-trouble-for-your-comcast-bandwidth-cap/
West Richland police to get new wireless network thanks to Lockheed Martin (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/kennewick_pasco_richland/story/301201.html
Lack of interest means an end to Wi-Fi at state rest areas (The Associated Press, via the News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/467500.html
NEW YORK – Violations cited in Verizon fiber installations – The state found that more than half of Verizon installations inspected on Long Island violated national electric standards (Newsday, NY)
http://www.newsday.com/services/newspaper/printedition/friday/business/ny-bzfios295821058aug29,0,1934813.story
Why Run FTTH When You Can Pretend You Do? “…cable operators have been running ads that confuse customers into thinking network fiber is the same thing as fiber to the home…” (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Why-Run-FTTH-When-You-Can-Pretend-You-Do-97296?nocomment=1
Internet Traffic Begins to Bypass the U.S. – The era of the American Internet is ending (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/business/30pipes.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Top 10 rules for combating cyber attacks (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ARTCL&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=337707&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Washington State woman charged in Kansas State highway worker deaths goes on trial (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008152973_apksroadcrewfatals1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss
DIVERSIONS-ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER
Human-powered gym relies on sweat, willpower
http://www.komonews.com/news/27754084.html
Don't take "holy" water from Lourdes onto pope’s plane
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080828/od_nm/water_odd_dc;_ylt=AmXRiX2ZB46i5aTusgSlD7rtiBIF
Dutch say Pisa no longer Europe's most leaning tower
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080828/od_nm/tower_odd_dc;_ylt=AlJYAIrjwaT.TYUdej6b883tiBIF
Disposable diaper breaks fall, saves child's life
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080829/ap_on_fe_st/odd_saved_by_diaper;_ylt=Al5xWsxF5vDU4hORM7opTgztiBIF
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Programming Notice
The energy news digest will be on vacation August 14 – September 1. It will return tanned, rested and relaxed on September 2.
Energy News Digest for August 13, 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)
- Puget Energy defends its takeover bid
- Puget Sound Energy takeover by Whidbey Island PUD seen as costly
- Port Townsend Leader Editorial: Public power?
- Substation Saboteur – Orca avenger to plead guilty to misdemeanor
- U.S. power grid in better shape 5 years after blackout
- Five years after blackout, promises made to conserve energy mostly forgotten
- UTAH – Officials trying to stop ballot initiative for a coal plant simply was written wrong incorrectly
- 6 tips to keep utility e-mails from damaging customer relationships
- Northwest conservationists bristle over U.S. move on species act
- 3 pesticides singled out in report as threat to salmon
- Oregon Senate Republicans Adjust Columbia Water Plans
- OREGON – Senate Republicans and Democrats spar on selling Pacific Northwest water
- Dream on: Exporting Columbia River water to the Southwest is a pipe dream
- Idaho sewage could affect Spokane water source
- Clark Public Utilities borrows $13.1 million for water projects
- Oregon to suspend action on Rogue River public/private ownership claim
- Lake Tahoe clearer, but report mostly bleak
- NEW ZEALAND – Backyard turbines in energy proposal
- WYOMING – Candidates focus on alternative energy
- Grist Online Commentary – Solar discord: The New York Times blows the solar PV story
- CANADA – Sparking electricity savings Youngsters attend first energy camp
- Candidates Call Climate Change An 'Urgent' Priority
- Global Warming Will Do Little To Change Hurricane Activity
- Why We Need Fat Pipes: The Top 5 Bandwidth-Hungry Apps
- Average U.S. Upload Speed: 435kbps – CWA Union test site suggests things could be much better
- Time Warner Cable Blamed For Gamers’ Internet Interference
- OREGON – Testimony tells of planning flaws for Oregon’s data headquarters
- Lawmakers Urge F.C.C. to Move forward With ‘Free’ Plan
- America's biggest nannies – You're on the list, Seattle
- Auditor: State agencies should improve debt collection efforts
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Giddy • \GID-dee\ • adjective – 1a: dizzy b: causing dizziness c: whirling rapidly 2a: lightheartedly silly: frivolous b: joyfully elated: euphoric
The nattily-clad CEO skipped to the stage to give his presentation to the shareholders. Tossing predictions of future peace and love within the organization like so many bouquets of flowers, the giddy presenter didn’t realize until it was too late that he had failed to read the cross-legged, arms-folded, head-bowed body language of his audience.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Puget Energy defends its takeover bid (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008109904_pugetenergy13.html
Puget Sound Energy takeover by Whidbey Island PUD seen as costly (PNW Local News)
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/news/26886769.html
Port Townsend Leader Editorial: Public power?
http://www.ptleader.com/Main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=35&ArticleID=21563
Substation Saboteur – Orca avenger to plead guilty to misdemeanor (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/26901379.html
U.S. power grid in better shape 5 years after blackout (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2008-08-12-blackout-power-outage_N.htm
Five years after blackout, promises made to conserve energy mostly forgotten (Oilweek, Canada)
http://www.oilweek.com/news.asp?ID=18037
UTAH – Officials trying to stop ballot initiative for a coal plant simply was written wrong incorrectly (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10183978?source=rss
6 tips to keep utility e-mails from damaging customer relationships (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=336903&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss
FISH & WILDLIFE
Northwest conservationists bristle over U.S. move on species act – Federal streamlining could harm salmon, critics say (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1218513316163110.xml&coll=7
3 pesticides singled out in report as threat to salmon (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/374719_salmon13.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Oregon Senate Republicans Adjust Columbia Water Plans (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2801-senate-republicans-adjust-columbia-water-plans/
OREGON – Senate Republicans and Democrats spar on selling Pacific Northwest water (PolitickerOR)
http://www.politickeror.com/brittenchase/2321/senate-republicans-and-democrats-spar-selling-oregon-water
Daily Astorian Editorial – Dream on: Exporting Columbia River water to the Southwest is a pipe dream
http://www.dailyastorian.info/main.asp?SectionID=23&SubSectionID=392&ArticleID=53455&TM=26639.71
Idaho sewage could affect Spokane water source (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1534877~Idaho_sewage_could_affect_Spokane_water_source.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
Clark Public Utilities borrows $13.1 million for water projects (The Columbian, Vancouver, OR)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2008/08/08132008_Utility-borrows-131-million-for-water-projects.cfm/
Oregon to suspend action on Rogue River public/private ownership claim (The Mail Tribune, Medford, OR via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1535057~Oregon_to_suspend_action_on_Rogue_ownership_claim.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Lake Tahoe clearer, but report mostly bleak (The San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/12/BARD129KFF.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
NEW ZEALAND – Backyard turbines in energy proposal (New Zealand Herald)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10526933
WYOMING – Candidates focus on alternative energy (Casper Star Tribune, WY)
http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2008/08/13/news/wyoming/doc48a31490eea76092528870.txt
Grist Online Commentary – Solar discord: The New York Times blows the solar PV story
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/8/12/161045/075
CONSERVATION
CANADA – Sparking electricity savings Youngsters attend first energy camp (The Hamilton Spectator, Ontario)
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/417669
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Candidates Call Climate Change An 'Urgent' Priority (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93562705
Global Warming Will Do Little To Change Hurricane Activity, According To New Model (Science Daily)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080812160615.htm
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Why We Need Fat Pipes: The Top 5 Bandwidth-Hungry Apps (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/08/12/why-we-need-fat-pipes-the-top-5-bandwidth-hungry-apps/
Average U.S. Upload Speed: 435kbps – CWA Union test site suggests things could be much better (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Average-US-Upload-Speed-435kbps-96949
Time Warner Cable Blamed For Internet Interference – Rabid players of the "World of Warcraft" videogame are fighting mad over mysterious lags in their Roadrunner Internet connections, which they claim, are messing with their ability to play the wildly popular online game (The New York Post)
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08102008/business/twc_blamed_for_internet_interference_123880.htm
OREGON – Testimony tells of planning flaws for Oregon’s data headquarters – In a hearing, Oregon lawmakers learn lessons from the state's flawed $64 million computer center (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1218601565133970.xml&coll=7
Lawmakers Urge F.C.C. to Move forward With ‘Free’ Plan “…wirelss auction required the winner to use a specified amount of spectrum for free wireless Internet access…” (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/idg/IDG_852573C400693880882574A20063E358.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
GENERAL NEWS
America's biggest nannies – You're on the list, Seattle (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008109118_harrop13.html
Auditor: State agencies should improve debt collection efforts (The Associated Press, via the Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP08132008news352170.cfm?newsletter=10
DIVERSIONS-ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER
Health Department on Notice – Employee Takes Bath in Burger King Utensil Sink
http://www.whiotv.com/news/17161955/detail.html
Olympic opening uses girl's voice, not face “…The real singer wasn't good looking enough for the ceremony…”
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/540576.html
What's That Smell? Fair Ride Runs On Manure – Powering Ride 'Celebration' Of Dairy Farmers' Efforts
http://www.kirotv.com/family/17176722/detail.html
Man Pays For Most Of Truck With Coins – Ohio Man Says He Doesn't Trust Banks, Paper Money
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/17179798/detail.html
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Puget Energy defends its takeover bid
- Puget Sound Energy takeover by Whidbey Island PUD seen as costly
- Port Townsend Leader Editorial: Public power?
- Substation Saboteur – Orca avenger to plead guilty to misdemeanor
- U.S. power grid in better shape 5 years after blackout
- Five years after blackout, promises made to conserve energy mostly forgotten
- UTAH – Officials trying to stop ballot initiative for a coal plant simply was written wrong incorrectly
- 6 tips to keep utility e-mails from damaging customer relationships
- Northwest conservationists bristle over U.S. move on species act
- 3 pesticides singled out in report as threat to salmon
- Oregon Senate Republicans Adjust Columbia Water Plans
- OREGON – Senate Republicans and Democrats spar on selling Pacific Northwest water
- Dream on: Exporting Columbia River water to the Southwest is a pipe dream
- Idaho sewage could affect Spokane water source
- Clark Public Utilities borrows $13.1 million for water projects
- Oregon to suspend action on Rogue River public/private ownership claim
- Lake Tahoe clearer, but report mostly bleak
- NEW ZEALAND – Backyard turbines in energy proposal
- WYOMING – Candidates focus on alternative energy
- Grist Online Commentary – Solar discord: The New York Times blows the solar PV story
- CANADA – Sparking electricity savings Youngsters attend first energy camp
- Candidates Call Climate Change An 'Urgent' Priority
- Global Warming Will Do Little To Change Hurricane Activity
- Why We Need Fat Pipes: The Top 5 Bandwidth-Hungry Apps
- Average U.S. Upload Speed: 435kbps – CWA Union test site suggests things could be much better
- Time Warner Cable Blamed For Gamers’ Internet Interference
- OREGON – Testimony tells of planning flaws for Oregon’s data headquarters
- Lawmakers Urge F.C.C. to Move forward With ‘Free’ Plan
- America's biggest nannies – You're on the list, Seattle
- Auditor: State agencies should improve debt collection efforts
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Giddy • \GID-dee\ • adjective – 1a: dizzy b: causing dizziness c: whirling rapidly 2a: lightheartedly silly: frivolous b: joyfully elated: euphoric
The nattily-clad CEO skipped to the stage to give his presentation to the shareholders. Tossing predictions of future peace and love within the organization like so many bouquets of flowers, the giddy presenter didn’t realize until it was too late that he had failed to read the cross-legged, arms-folded, head-bowed body language of his audience.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Puget Energy defends its takeover bid (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008109904_pugetenergy13.html
Puget Sound Energy takeover by Whidbey Island PUD seen as costly (PNW Local News)
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/news/26886769.html
Port Townsend Leader Editorial: Public power?
http://www.ptleader.com/Main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=35&ArticleID=21563
Substation Saboteur – Orca avenger to plead guilty to misdemeanor (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/26901379.html
U.S. power grid in better shape 5 years after blackout (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2008-08-12-blackout-power-outage_N.htm
Five years after blackout, promises made to conserve energy mostly forgotten (Oilweek, Canada)
http://www.oilweek.com/news.asp?ID=18037
UTAH – Officials trying to stop ballot initiative for a coal plant simply was written wrong incorrectly (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10183978?source=rss
6 tips to keep utility e-mails from damaging customer relationships (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=336903&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss
FISH & WILDLIFE
Northwest conservationists bristle over U.S. move on species act – Federal streamlining could harm salmon, critics say (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1218513316163110.xml&coll=7
3 pesticides singled out in report as threat to salmon (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/374719_salmon13.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Oregon Senate Republicans Adjust Columbia Water Plans (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2801-senate-republicans-adjust-columbia-water-plans/
OREGON – Senate Republicans and Democrats spar on selling Pacific Northwest water (PolitickerOR)
http://www.politickeror.com/brittenchase/2321/senate-republicans-and-democrats-spar-selling-oregon-water
Daily Astorian Editorial – Dream on: Exporting Columbia River water to the Southwest is a pipe dream
http://www.dailyastorian.info/main.asp?SectionID=23&SubSectionID=392&ArticleID=53455&TM=26639.71
Idaho sewage could affect Spokane water source (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1534877~Idaho_sewage_could_affect_Spokane_water_source.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
Clark Public Utilities borrows $13.1 million for water projects (The Columbian, Vancouver, OR)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2008/08/08132008_Utility-borrows-131-million-for-water-projects.cfm/
Oregon to suspend action on Rogue River public/private ownership claim (The Mail Tribune, Medford, OR via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1535057~Oregon_to_suspend_action_on_Rogue_ownership_claim.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Lake Tahoe clearer, but report mostly bleak (The San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/12/BARD129KFF.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
NEW ZEALAND – Backyard turbines in energy proposal (New Zealand Herald)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10526933
WYOMING – Candidates focus on alternative energy (Casper Star Tribune, WY)
http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2008/08/13/news/wyoming/doc48a31490eea76092528870.txt
Grist Online Commentary – Solar discord: The New York Times blows the solar PV story
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/8/12/161045/075
CONSERVATION
CANADA – Sparking electricity savings Youngsters attend first energy camp (The Hamilton Spectator, Ontario)
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/417669
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Candidates Call Climate Change An 'Urgent' Priority (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93562705
Global Warming Will Do Little To Change Hurricane Activity, According To New Model (Science Daily)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080812160615.htm
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Why We Need Fat Pipes: The Top 5 Bandwidth-Hungry Apps (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/08/12/why-we-need-fat-pipes-the-top-5-bandwidth-hungry-apps/
Average U.S. Upload Speed: 435kbps – CWA Union test site suggests things could be much better (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Average-US-Upload-Speed-435kbps-96949
Time Warner Cable Blamed For Internet Interference – Rabid players of the "World of Warcraft" videogame are fighting mad over mysterious lags in their Roadrunner Internet connections, which they claim, are messing with their ability to play the wildly popular online game (The New York Post)
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08102008/business/twc_blamed_for_internet_interference_123880.htm
OREGON – Testimony tells of planning flaws for Oregon’s data headquarters – In a hearing, Oregon lawmakers learn lessons from the state's flawed $64 million computer center (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1218601565133970.xml&coll=7
Lawmakers Urge F.C.C. to Move forward With ‘Free’ Plan “…wirelss auction required the winner to use a specified amount of spectrum for free wireless Internet access…” (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/idg/IDG_852573C400693880882574A20063E358.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
GENERAL NEWS
America's biggest nannies – You're on the list, Seattle (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008109118_harrop13.html
Auditor: State agencies should improve debt collection efforts (The Associated Press, via the Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP08132008news352170.cfm?newsletter=10
DIVERSIONS-ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER
Health Department on Notice – Employee Takes Bath in Burger King Utensil Sink
http://www.whiotv.com/news/17161955/detail.html
Olympic opening uses girl's voice, not face “…The real singer wasn't good looking enough for the ceremony…”
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/540576.html
What's That Smell? Fair Ride Runs On Manure – Powering Ride 'Celebration' Of Dairy Farmers' Efforts
http://www.kirotv.com/family/17176722/detail.html
Man Pays For Most Of Truck With Coins – Ohio Man Says He Doesn't Trust Banks, Paper Money
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/17179798/detail.html
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Energy News Digest for August 12, 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)
- Statewide PUD study touts tax payments by those which provide electricity
- Chelan County PUD Power Future
- IDAHO – Nuclear developer says it’s moving forward in Idaho despite losses
- OHIO – State says lessons didn't stick for utilities after outages in 2003
- TEXAS – Houston wins a dubious honor: Its power prices are higher than those in Dallas
- MISSOURI – Cass County prepares final OK of Aquila plant
- Copper thefts rising across nation
- Endangered Species Act Changes Give Agencies More Say
- For a Recently Plumbed Neighborhood, Validation in a Verdict
- Oregon runs faster to catch the wind
- Kennewick Company Working On A New Way To Capture The Sun’s Energy
- 3 million bulbs distributed; now, how to get rid of them
- The good news: we’re meeting our conservation goals! The bad news: it’s because the factories are shuttered!
- Juneau continues applying conservation lessons learned in power emergency
- Tree climbing: climate change causes move up the mountain
- Study: Climate change to produce extreme rains
- Broadband Growth Rate Plummets
- Cable takes bigger bite of Internet business
- It’s Showtime for Tiered Broadband
- States may tax iTunes, other digital downloads
- Newsflash: Congress Discovers that Web Firms Track Data
- Mice that roared: Logitech’s computer peripherals drive booming growth
- Off Beat: Effort to earn cell tower revenue never flags
- City Of Shelton’s 2009 Budget Looks “Dismal”
- Highway Three Study between Shelton and Bremerton
- Teenage bear hunter to face manslaughter charge
- Woman Chases Neighbors With Machete, Dies In Bizarre Fire
- State's high business ranking by Forbes touted, then disputed
- Food industry seeks signatures to toss city's bag fee
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Homily • \HAH-muh-lee\ • noun – 1: a usually short sermon *2: a lecture or discourse on or of a moral theme 3: an inspirational catchphrase; also: platitude
The $12,000 a show lecturer droned on and on. His homily on the virtues of living in a hut made of sticks and wearing bark clothing to reduce his “carbon footprint” began to wear on the money-paying attendees. “I think his best contribution to reducing CO2 emissions would be for him to shut up,” muttered Al to his seatmate in the climate-controlled auditorium.
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
Statewide PUD study touts tax payments by those which provide electricity (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080812/NEWS/808120307
CHELAN COUNTY PUD POWER FUTURE – Chelan County PUD commissioners this afternoon adopted the utility's Integrated Resource Plan. PUD officials say the plan shows that Chelan County PUD will have plenty of resources to meet expected power load for the next 10 years, thanks to its three hydroelectric projects and its share of the Nine-Canyon wind farm project operated by Energy Northwest near Kennewick. The plan is required by the state and can be updated at any time new information becomes available. (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)
IDAHO – Nuclear developer says it’s moving forward in Idaho despite losses (The Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/466714.html
OHIO – State says lessons didn't stick for utilities after outages in 2003 (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via the Power Marketing Association)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CkqpljgjTTfct%3EEvbfen%5Fv
TEXAS – Houston wins a dubious honor: Its power prices are higher than those in Dallas; figures indicate (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via the Power Marketing Association)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CkqphkqpUTfct%3EEvbfen%5Fv
MISSOURI – Cass County prepares final OK of Aquila plant (Kansas City Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2008/08/11/daily7.html?ana=from_rss
Copper thefts rising across nation, Wabash Valley: Thieves targeting metal? Even utility pole ground wires (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via the Power Marketing Association)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CkqphoxuWTfct%3EEvbfen%5Fv
FISH & WILDLIFE
Endangered Species Act Changes Give Agencies More Say (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/11/AR2008081102299.html?nav=rss_email/components
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
For a Recently Plumbed Neighborhood, Validation in a Verdict (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/12/us/12ohio.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Oregon runs faster to catch the wind – The amount of wind power produced along the blustery Columbia Gorge is expected to more than triple in coming years (The Bend Bulletin, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008106953_windpower12.html?syndication=rss
Kennewick Company Working On A New Way To Capture The Sun’s Energy (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2796-kennewick-company-working-new-way-capture-suns-energy/
CONSERVATION
3 million bulbs distributed; now, how to get rid of them (The Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008106909_lightbulbs12m.html?syndication=rss
The good news: we’re meeting our conservation goals! The bad news: it’s because the factories are shuttered! Factory closures help cut Windsor power consumption (The Windsor Star, Canada)
http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=0beb5c17-7730-4259-9017-0a7bbff5b3a9
Juneau continues applying conservation lessons learned in power emergency (Alaska Public Radio)
http://aprn.org/2008/08/11/juneau-continues-applying-conservation-lessons-learned-in-power-emergency/
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Tree climbing: climate change causes move up the mountain (Scientific American)
http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=tree-climbing-climate-change-causes-2008-08-11
Study: Climate change to produce extreme rains (Christian Science Monitor)
http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2008/08/12/study-climate-change-to-produce-extreme-rains/
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Broadband Growth Rate Plummets – Second quarter additions worst yet (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Broadband-Growth-Rate-Plummets-96925
Cable takes bigger bite of Internet business – Comcast signs more customers than AT&T, Verizon combined The Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080812/BIZ/657279730/-1/rss03
It’s Showtime for Tiered Broadband (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/08/11/its-showtime-for-tiered-broadband/
States may tax iTunes, other digital downloads (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10013327-38.html?tag=nl.e703
Newsflash: Congress Discovers that Web Firms Track Data (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/08/12/newsflash-congress-discovers-that-web-firms-track-data/
Mice that roared: Logitech’s computer peripherals drive booming growth (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2008/08/08112008_Mice-that-roared-Logitechs-computer-peripherals-drive-booming-growth.cfm?newsletter=1
Off Beat: Effort to earn cell tower revenue never flags (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/08/08112008_Off-Beat-Effort-to-earn-cell-tower-revenue-never-flags.cfm?newsletter=2
GENERAL NEWS
City Of Shelton’s 2009 Budget Looks “Dismal”; $600,000 Hole (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/780/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
Highway Three Study between Shelton and Bremerton – DOT Wants to Ready Local Highways for Heavier Traffic (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/aug/11/dot-wants-ready-local-highways-heavier-traffic/
Teenage bear hunter to face manslaughter charge (Skagit Valley Herald, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1532951~Teenage_bear_hunter_to_face_manslaughter_charge.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Woman Chases Neighbors With Machete, Dies In Bizarre Fire (KIRO-TV, Seattle, WA)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17165378/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
State's high business ranking by Forbes touted, then disputed (The Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/915/story/272991.html
Food industry seeks signatures to toss city's bag fee (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/374525_bags12.html
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Spilled Cash Starts Free-For-All on California Freeway
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17159128/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=irresistible
Trail Of Cheetohs Leads To Snack Thieves In Minnesota
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17159210/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=irresistible
Winnie-the-Pooh held for robbery?
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUST27183520080812?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Those Four Irresistible Strings – Suddenly there’s something irresistible again about ukuleles
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/fashion/10ukulele.html?_r=1&oref=slogin#
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Statewide PUD study touts tax payments by those which provide electricity
- Chelan County PUD Power Future
- IDAHO – Nuclear developer says it’s moving forward in Idaho despite losses
- OHIO – State says lessons didn't stick for utilities after outages in 2003
- TEXAS – Houston wins a dubious honor: Its power prices are higher than those in Dallas
- MISSOURI – Cass County prepares final OK of Aquila plant
- Copper thefts rising across nation
- Endangered Species Act Changes Give Agencies More Say
- For a Recently Plumbed Neighborhood, Validation in a Verdict
- Oregon runs faster to catch the wind
- Kennewick Company Working On A New Way To Capture The Sun’s Energy
- 3 million bulbs distributed; now, how to get rid of them
- The good news: we’re meeting our conservation goals! The bad news: it’s because the factories are shuttered!
- Juneau continues applying conservation lessons learned in power emergency
- Tree climbing: climate change causes move up the mountain
- Study: Climate change to produce extreme rains
- Broadband Growth Rate Plummets
- Cable takes bigger bite of Internet business
- It’s Showtime for Tiered Broadband
- States may tax iTunes, other digital downloads
- Newsflash: Congress Discovers that Web Firms Track Data
- Mice that roared: Logitech’s computer peripherals drive booming growth
- Off Beat: Effort to earn cell tower revenue never flags
- City Of Shelton’s 2009 Budget Looks “Dismal”
- Highway Three Study between Shelton and Bremerton
- Teenage bear hunter to face manslaughter charge
- Woman Chases Neighbors With Machete, Dies In Bizarre Fire
- State's high business ranking by Forbes touted, then disputed
- Food industry seeks signatures to toss city's bag fee
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Homily • \HAH-muh-lee\ • noun – 1: a usually short sermon *2: a lecture or discourse on or of a moral theme 3: an inspirational catchphrase; also: platitude
The $12,000 a show lecturer droned on and on. His homily on the virtues of living in a hut made of sticks and wearing bark clothing to reduce his “carbon footprint” began to wear on the money-paying attendees. “I think his best contribution to reducing CO2 emissions would be for him to shut up,” muttered Al to his seatmate in the climate-controlled auditorium.
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
Statewide PUD study touts tax payments by those which provide electricity (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080812/NEWS/808120307
CHELAN COUNTY PUD POWER FUTURE – Chelan County PUD commissioners this afternoon adopted the utility's Integrated Resource Plan. PUD officials say the plan shows that Chelan County PUD will have plenty of resources to meet expected power load for the next 10 years, thanks to its three hydroelectric projects and its share of the Nine-Canyon wind farm project operated by Energy Northwest near Kennewick. The plan is required by the state and can be updated at any time new information becomes available. (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)
IDAHO – Nuclear developer says it’s moving forward in Idaho despite losses (The Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/466714.html
OHIO – State says lessons didn't stick for utilities after outages in 2003 (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via the Power Marketing Association)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CkqpljgjTTfct%3EEvbfen%5Fv
TEXAS – Houston wins a dubious honor: Its power prices are higher than those in Dallas; figures indicate (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via the Power Marketing Association)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CkqphkqpUTfct%3EEvbfen%5Fv
MISSOURI – Cass County prepares final OK of Aquila plant (Kansas City Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2008/08/11/daily7.html?ana=from_rss
Copper thefts rising across nation, Wabash Valley: Thieves targeting metal? Even utility pole ground wires (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via the Power Marketing Association)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CkqphoxuWTfct%3EEvbfen%5Fv
FISH & WILDLIFE
Endangered Species Act Changes Give Agencies More Say (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/11/AR2008081102299.html?nav=rss_email/components
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
For a Recently Plumbed Neighborhood, Validation in a Verdict (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/12/us/12ohio.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Oregon runs faster to catch the wind – The amount of wind power produced along the blustery Columbia Gorge is expected to more than triple in coming years (The Bend Bulletin, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008106953_windpower12.html?syndication=rss
Kennewick Company Working On A New Way To Capture The Sun’s Energy (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2796-kennewick-company-working-new-way-capture-suns-energy/
CONSERVATION
3 million bulbs distributed; now, how to get rid of them (The Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008106909_lightbulbs12m.html?syndication=rss
The good news: we’re meeting our conservation goals! The bad news: it’s because the factories are shuttered! Factory closures help cut Windsor power consumption (The Windsor Star, Canada)
http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=0beb5c17-7730-4259-9017-0a7bbff5b3a9
Juneau continues applying conservation lessons learned in power emergency (Alaska Public Radio)
http://aprn.org/2008/08/11/juneau-continues-applying-conservation-lessons-learned-in-power-emergency/
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Tree climbing: climate change causes move up the mountain (Scientific American)
http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=tree-climbing-climate-change-causes-2008-08-11
Study: Climate change to produce extreme rains (Christian Science Monitor)
http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2008/08/12/study-climate-change-to-produce-extreme-rains/
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Broadband Growth Rate Plummets – Second quarter additions worst yet (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Broadband-Growth-Rate-Plummets-96925
Cable takes bigger bite of Internet business – Comcast signs more customers than AT&T, Verizon combined The Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080812/BIZ/657279730/-1/rss03
It’s Showtime for Tiered Broadband (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/08/11/its-showtime-for-tiered-broadband/
States may tax iTunes, other digital downloads (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10013327-38.html?tag=nl.e703
Newsflash: Congress Discovers that Web Firms Track Data (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/08/12/newsflash-congress-discovers-that-web-firms-track-data/
Mice that roared: Logitech’s computer peripherals drive booming growth (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2008/08/08112008_Mice-that-roared-Logitechs-computer-peripherals-drive-booming-growth.cfm?newsletter=1
Off Beat: Effort to earn cell tower revenue never flags (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/08/08112008_Off-Beat-Effort-to-earn-cell-tower-revenue-never-flags.cfm?newsletter=2
GENERAL NEWS
City Of Shelton’s 2009 Budget Looks “Dismal”; $600,000 Hole (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/780/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
Highway Three Study between Shelton and Bremerton – DOT Wants to Ready Local Highways for Heavier Traffic (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/aug/11/dot-wants-ready-local-highways-heavier-traffic/
Teenage bear hunter to face manslaughter charge (Skagit Valley Herald, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1532951~Teenage_bear_hunter_to_face_manslaughter_charge.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Woman Chases Neighbors With Machete, Dies In Bizarre Fire (KIRO-TV, Seattle, WA)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17165378/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
State's high business ranking by Forbes touted, then disputed (The Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/915/story/272991.html
Food industry seeks signatures to toss city's bag fee (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/374525_bags12.html
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Spilled Cash Starts Free-For-All on California Freeway
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17159128/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=irresistible
Trail Of Cheetohs Leads To Snack Thieves In Minnesota
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17159210/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=irresistible
Winnie-the-Pooh held for robbery?
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUST27183520080812?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Those Four Irresistible Strings – Suddenly there’s something irresistible again about ukuleles
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/fashion/10ukulele.html?_r=1&oref=slogin#
Monday, August 11, 2008
Energy News Digest for August 11, 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)
- Get Mason County PUD No. 3 statements electronically
- Mason County PUD No. 1 Holding Workshop, Regular Meeting & Rate Hearing
- Portland General Electric gives analysts optimistic view of earnings, future growth
- Avista to trim Idaho price hikes
- CANADA – B.C. Hydro tiered rate plan a jolt for Islanders
- UNITED KINGDOM – Telegraph Op/Ed – Future of UK's energy supply is dark indeed
- OREGON – Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal Opponents Sue Energy Commission Over Mailing List
- Windfall tax lets Alaska rake in billions from Big Oil
- Everett Herald Op/Ed – Next president to face tough energy choices
- Comparing McCain, Obama energy plans
- Nuclear Power – Tennessee Valley Authority looks to expand base of power production
- MICHIGAN – Lower electricity sales cited in energy-reform debate
- TEXAS – Governor's council urges Texas to stick with deregulated power market
- Hartford Courant Editorial – Market Only Fueled Power Prices
- Sockeye aplenty in Lake Wenatchee means quick limits
- IDAHO – Don't equate strong sockeye return with recovery
- Early Alaska salmon harvest below forecast
- Signs point to monster return for California salmon
- Colville Tribes to explain net fishing project to test different methods to live-capture and release summer Chinook salmon
- Hearing will focus on plan to kill unwanted fish in ponds near Moses Lake
- Oregon's Diamond Lake gets another fish threat
- Companies promote sustainable seafood
- Time for Oregon to cash in Columbia water?
- New Washington State rules on stormwater ordered
- Inadequate policing puts state's water quality in jeopardy
- Enterprise fund no-no – Brightwater sewage plant payments illegal, lawsuit claims
- A Tall, Cool Drink of ... Sewage? Consider re-use of water
- Lake Powell's level highest in 6 years
- Studying Great Salt Lake’s High Mercury Levels
- CALIFORINIA – Monterey desalination plant approved
- Wind power turbines whip up health fears
- CALIFORNIA – Proposal to harness wind power off Mendocino coast worries fishing industry
- ALASKA – Power struggle – City of St Paul & power producer can’t reach agreement on wind power output
- MONTANA – Flathead County discovers power of trash
- Idaho Power to buy energy from dairy
- Big-box retail stores make use of the roof with solar
- GEORGIA – Green energy a tough sell
- FLORIDA – Mandates on the use of renewable energy would have a profound impact on the environment
- Ethanol cuts Idaho fuel tax revenue
- The Daily News Editorial – Rush to ethanol is doing more harm than good
- Detroit Free Press Op/Ed – Renewable Energy Law
- MICHIGAN – Residents say waste-to-energy plan stinks
- Port of Sacramento energized by cargo for wind farm
- Exec: 'Hybrids may not be all that special,' Nissan to focus on electric
- MONTANA – Going back to basics to save on energy
- Wyoming launches energy conservation program
- The Columbia Journalism Review's Division over Dissent – Is global warming now beyond debate?
- Quincy moves forward, data centers may not
- Portland’s Wi-Fi is dead; antennas live on
- San Francisco Case Shows Vulnerability Of Data Networks
- Internet security patch flawed
- VIRGINIA – Fiber ads not all that they seem?
- CALIFORNIA – AT&T utility-box plan hits a snag
- Weaving a Tighter Web 2.0
- Hard-Wired – The advantages of a land-line telephone in a mobile world
- Boeing may not re-bid for tanker contract
- Online Petition Asking Mason County To Rezone Property For Washington Renaissance Faire
- Four from GOP, 3 Democrats try for seats in 35th District
- Drug dealers buy vineyards to hide pot
- Hullabaloo over Hempfest – Intercity Transit bus ad featuring marijuana leaf upsets some
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Divagate • \DYE-vuh-gayt\ • verb – To wander or stray from a course or subject: diverge, digress
Professor Dalgleish’s class was at a loss. What began as a lecture on obscure coins of the Roman Empire had somehow divagated into a romping cabaret-like show featuring dancing girls and sideshow barkers shouting unintelligible patter that seemed to be centered on the professor’s prized collection of old Washington State tax tokens. Surreal would be an understatement.
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
Get Mason County PUD No. 3 statements electronically (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/765/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
Mason County PUD No. 1 Holding Workshop, Regular Meeting & Rate Hearing Tuesday (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/768/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
Portland General Electric gives analysts optimistic view of earnings, future growth (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1218160526323390.xml&coll=7
Avista to trim Idaho price hikes (The Associated Press, via the Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/537680.html
CANADA – B.C. Hydro tiered rate plan a jolt for Islanders – Watchdogs say Vancouver Island faces steep leap in electricity costs by 2010 (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=e3ffd618-a479-4328-980d-efdb861da9a6
UNITED KINGDOM – Telegraph Op/Ed – Future of UK's energy supply is dark indeed
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/08/10/do1007.xml
OREGON – Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal Opponents Sue Energy Commission Over Mailing List (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2786-lng-opponents-sue-energy-commission-over-mailing-list/
Windfall tax lets Alaska rake in billions from Big Oil – While others candidates debate the wisdom of a windfall tax on oil companies, Alaska has already imposed one, hauling in billions of dollars in new revenue for the state treasury (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008103325_alaskatax07.html
Everett Herald Op/Ed – Next president to face tough energy choices
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080809/BIZ/975462124/-1/rss03
Comparing McCain, Obama energy plans (The Associated Press)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080809/ap_on_el_pr/energy_next_president_highlights_1
Nuclear Power – Tennessee Valley Authority looks to expand base of power production (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CkqokmnmSSljt%3EEvbfen%5Fv
MICHIGAN – Lower electricity sales cited in energy-reform debate (Crain’s Detroit Business)
http://crainsdetroit.com/article/20080811/SUB/808110356/1069
TEXAS – Governor's council urges Texas to stick with deregulated power market (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CkqohgmnRSljt%3EEvbfen%5Fv
Hartford Courant Editorial – Market Only Fueled Power Prices “…Connecticut's electric bills are still too high…” (Connecticut)
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-electric0810.artaug10,0,22143.story
FISH & WILDLIFE
Sockeye aplenty in Lake Wenatchee means quick limits (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/1358/story/269505.html
IDAHO – Don't equate strong sockeye return with recovery – The fish have survived 2 near extinctions and now are on track for the largest run in years, but they aren't sustainable yet (The Idaho Statesman, Boise ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/102/story/465449.html
Early Alaska salmon harvest below forecast (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/26830024.html
Signs point to monster return for California salmon “…Scientists blamed the fall of salmon stocks primarily on a lack of marine food production…” (The San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/09/SP1B127626.DTL
Colville Tribes to explain net fishing project to test different methods to live-capture and release summer Chinook salmon (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080807/NEWS04/237381795/1025/rss1025
Hearing will focus on plan to kill unwanted fish in 40 small ponds near Moses Lake (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080809/NEWS04/857914840/1025/rss1025
Oregon's Diamond Lake gets another fish threat (The Associated Press, via examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1531085~Oregon_s_Diamond_Lake_gets_another_fish_threat.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Companies promote sustainable seafood – Californians have seen salmon fishing shut down this summer because of dwindling runs of king salmon. But California's salmon industry isn't the only fishery in crisis (The San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/10/BUSR11UVMT.DTL&feed=rss.business
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Time for Oregon to cash in Columbia water? Either the Northwest sells or the thirsty Southwest starts moving here; so now what? (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1218263105159940.xml&coll=7
New rules on stormwater ordered – Developers building everything from homes to shopping centers could soon be forced to take extensive steps to control runoff (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008101883_stormwater09m0.html
Inadequate policing puts state's water quality in jeopardy – Fees now fund less than half of staff necessary to monitor pollution (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/374396_ecology11.html?source=rss
Enterprise fund no-no – Brightwater payments illegal, lawsuit claims – Two water and sewer districts claim that King County broke the law by using sewer-rate proceeds for non-sewer purposes (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008101888_sewerrate09m.html?syndication=rss
A Tall, Cool Drink of ... Sewage? Consider re-use of water: “Toilet to the Tap” (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/magazine/10wastewater-t.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Lake Powell's level highest in 6 years – A sign that the Colorado River is recovering from one of the worst dry spells ever (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008104842_ndig11.html?syndication=rss
Studying Great Salt Lake’s High Mercury Levels (The Associated Press, via the NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/science/earth/10saltlake.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
CALIFORINIA – Monterey desalination plant approved (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1529385~Monterey_desalination_plant_approved.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Wind whips up health fears – Hundreds of giant turbines in the Oregon desert will bring power, but residents nearby raise concerns about health effects and an end to their quiet way of life (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/outdoors/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1218250522129010.xml&coll=7
CALIFORNIA – Proposal to harness wind power off Mendocino coast worries fishing industry (The Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/1146712.html
ALASKA – Power struggle – City of St Paul & power producer can’t reach agreement on wind power output (The Associated Press, via Anchorage Daily News, AK)
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/489190.html
MONTANA – Flathead County discovers power of trash – Flathead Electric Co-op and Flathead County have forged a partnership to turn a potent greenhouse gas produced at a local landfill into electricity. (Great Falls Tribune, MT)
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080810/NEWS01/808100310
Idaho Power to buy energy from dairy (The Associated Press, via the Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/538825.html
Big-box retail stores make use of the roof with solar (The NY T98mes, via the News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/440806.html
GEORGIA – Green energy a tough sell – Georgia Power charges nearly highest rates in country for green (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, GA)
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/metro/stories/2008/08/10/green_energy_georgia.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=13
FLORIDA – Mandates on the use of renewable energy would have a profound impact on the environment, but at what cost? (The Miami Herald, FL)
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/environment/economics/story/634419.html
Ethanol cuts Idaho fuel tax revenue – More blended fuel is being sold, and the alcohol portion isn't subject to the state's gas tax (The Associated Press, via the Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/business/story/462287.html
The Daily News Editorial – Rush to ethanol is doing more harm than good (Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/08/11/editorial/doc489f1c8179120816208751.txt
Detroit Free Press Op/Ed – Renewable Energy Law – Will lawmakers' fears cost state new energy policy? Bills could lure business, create jobs in Michigan (Michigan)
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080810/COL06/808100458
MICHIGAN – Residents say waste-to-energy plan stinks – The idea sounded novel: Convert the droppings from more than a million turkeys into enough energy to power a feed plant (The Grand Rapids Press, MI)
http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-43/121834895531850.xml&coll=6
Port of Sacramento energized by cargo for wind farm (Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://www.sacbee.com/103/story/1143675.html
Exec: 'Hybrids may not be all that special,' Nissan to focus on electric (The Associated Press, via the San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10138494?source=rss
CONSERVATION
MONTANA – Going back to basics to save on energy – Some residents have found a way to battle bulging energy costs by abandoning their modern gizmos and going back to basics (The Missoulian, MT)http://missoulian.com/articles/2008/08/11/news/local/news04.txt
Wyoming launches energy conservation program (Casper Tribune, WY)
http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2008/08/09/ap-state-wy/d92esta80.txt
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
The Columbia Journalism Review's Division over Dissent – Is global warming now beyond debate? (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2197130/?from=rss
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Quincy moves forward, data centers may not (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080808/NEWS04/987453366
Portland’s Wi-Fi is dead; antennas live on – City worries that taxpayers could get stuck with the bill for removal (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/121824871892410.xml&coll=7
San Francisco Case Shows Vulnerability Of Data Networks – Arrest Spurs Other Cities to Boost Security (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/10/AR2008081001802.html?nav=rss_nation
Internet security patch flawed (The New York Times, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/374261_hacking09.html
VIRGINIA – Fiber ads not all that they seem? How much fiber-optic cable do you really need? (The Freelance Star, Fredericksburg, VA)
http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2008/082008/08092008/401405
CALIFORNIA – AT&T utility-box plan hits a snag- the company withdrew its application to place 850 large utility boxes housing fiber-optic technology on sidewalks throughout San Francisco (The Examiner)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1529889~Utility_box_plan_hits_a_snag.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
Weaving a Tighter Web 2.0 (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/09/AR2008080900141.html?nav=rss_technology
Hard-Wired – The advantages of a land-line telephone in a mobile world (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2197160/?from=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Boeing may not re-bid for tanker contract (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/26832099.html
Online Petition Asking Mason County To Rezone Property For Washington Renaissance Faire (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/760/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
Four from GOP, 3 Democrats try for seats in 35th District (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/537013.html
Drug dealers buy vineyards to hide pot (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008100792_apwapotfarmers.html?syndication=rss
Hullabaloo over Hempfest – Intercity Transit bus ad featuring marijuana leaf upsets some (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/537617.html
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Roadshow: Crazy stunts motorists pull
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10148704?source=rss
Gravity, erosion rob Utah park of popular arch
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/08/10/arch.collapse.ap/index.html?eref=ib_topstories
Spanish shopkeeper finds Homer Simpson euro
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080808/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_homersimpson_euro_spain;_ylt=AnS1Qv.8JcUtM0I0ujZkBNXtiBIF
Grandma arrested for driving with child on roof
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080807/ap_on_fe_st/odd_child_car_ride;_ylt=ArFCnwlRltayhdAK0Ruc1XTtiBIF
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Get Mason County PUD No. 3 statements electronically
- Mason County PUD No. 1 Holding Workshop, Regular Meeting & Rate Hearing
- Portland General Electric gives analysts optimistic view of earnings, future growth
- Avista to trim Idaho price hikes
- CANADA – B.C. Hydro tiered rate plan a jolt for Islanders
- UNITED KINGDOM – Telegraph Op/Ed – Future of UK's energy supply is dark indeed
- OREGON – Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal Opponents Sue Energy Commission Over Mailing List
- Windfall tax lets Alaska rake in billions from Big Oil
- Everett Herald Op/Ed – Next president to face tough energy choices
- Comparing McCain, Obama energy plans
- Nuclear Power – Tennessee Valley Authority looks to expand base of power production
- MICHIGAN – Lower electricity sales cited in energy-reform debate
- TEXAS – Governor's council urges Texas to stick with deregulated power market
- Hartford Courant Editorial – Market Only Fueled Power Prices
- Sockeye aplenty in Lake Wenatchee means quick limits
- IDAHO – Don't equate strong sockeye return with recovery
- Early Alaska salmon harvest below forecast
- Signs point to monster return for California salmon
- Colville Tribes to explain net fishing project to test different methods to live-capture and release summer Chinook salmon
- Hearing will focus on plan to kill unwanted fish in ponds near Moses Lake
- Oregon's Diamond Lake gets another fish threat
- Companies promote sustainable seafood
- Time for Oregon to cash in Columbia water?
- New Washington State rules on stormwater ordered
- Inadequate policing puts state's water quality in jeopardy
- Enterprise fund no-no – Brightwater sewage plant payments illegal, lawsuit claims
- A Tall, Cool Drink of ... Sewage? Consider re-use of water
- Lake Powell's level highest in 6 years
- Studying Great Salt Lake’s High Mercury Levels
- CALIFORINIA – Monterey desalination plant approved
- Wind power turbines whip up health fears
- CALIFORNIA – Proposal to harness wind power off Mendocino coast worries fishing industry
- ALASKA – Power struggle – City of St Paul & power producer can’t reach agreement on wind power output
- MONTANA – Flathead County discovers power of trash
- Idaho Power to buy energy from dairy
- Big-box retail stores make use of the roof with solar
- GEORGIA – Green energy a tough sell
- FLORIDA – Mandates on the use of renewable energy would have a profound impact on the environment
- Ethanol cuts Idaho fuel tax revenue
- The Daily News Editorial – Rush to ethanol is doing more harm than good
- Detroit Free Press Op/Ed – Renewable Energy Law
- MICHIGAN – Residents say waste-to-energy plan stinks
- Port of Sacramento energized by cargo for wind farm
- Exec: 'Hybrids may not be all that special,' Nissan to focus on electric
- MONTANA – Going back to basics to save on energy
- Wyoming launches energy conservation program
- The Columbia Journalism Review's Division over Dissent – Is global warming now beyond debate?
- Quincy moves forward, data centers may not
- Portland’s Wi-Fi is dead; antennas live on
- San Francisco Case Shows Vulnerability Of Data Networks
- Internet security patch flawed
- VIRGINIA – Fiber ads not all that they seem?
- CALIFORNIA – AT&T utility-box plan hits a snag
- Weaving a Tighter Web 2.0
- Hard-Wired – The advantages of a land-line telephone in a mobile world
- Boeing may not re-bid for tanker contract
- Online Petition Asking Mason County To Rezone Property For Washington Renaissance Faire
- Four from GOP, 3 Democrats try for seats in 35th District
- Drug dealers buy vineyards to hide pot
- Hullabaloo over Hempfest – Intercity Transit bus ad featuring marijuana leaf upsets some
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Divagate • \DYE-vuh-gayt\ • verb – To wander or stray from a course or subject: diverge, digress
Professor Dalgleish’s class was at a loss. What began as a lecture on obscure coins of the Roman Empire had somehow divagated into a romping cabaret-like show featuring dancing girls and sideshow barkers shouting unintelligible patter that seemed to be centered on the professor’s prized collection of old Washington State tax tokens. Surreal would be an understatement.
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
Get Mason County PUD No. 3 statements electronically (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/765/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
Mason County PUD No. 1 Holding Workshop, Regular Meeting & Rate Hearing Tuesday (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/768/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
Portland General Electric gives analysts optimistic view of earnings, future growth (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1218160526323390.xml&coll=7
Avista to trim Idaho price hikes (The Associated Press, via the Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/537680.html
CANADA – B.C. Hydro tiered rate plan a jolt for Islanders – Watchdogs say Vancouver Island faces steep leap in electricity costs by 2010 (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=e3ffd618-a479-4328-980d-efdb861da9a6
UNITED KINGDOM – Telegraph Op/Ed – Future of UK's energy supply is dark indeed
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/08/10/do1007.xml
OREGON – Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal Opponents Sue Energy Commission Over Mailing List (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2786-lng-opponents-sue-energy-commission-over-mailing-list/
Windfall tax lets Alaska rake in billions from Big Oil – While others candidates debate the wisdom of a windfall tax on oil companies, Alaska has already imposed one, hauling in billions of dollars in new revenue for the state treasury (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008103325_alaskatax07.html
Everett Herald Op/Ed – Next president to face tough energy choices
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080809/BIZ/975462124/-1/rss03
Comparing McCain, Obama energy plans (The Associated Press)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080809/ap_on_el_pr/energy_next_president_highlights_1
Nuclear Power – Tennessee Valley Authority looks to expand base of power production (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CkqokmnmSSljt%3EEvbfen%5Fv
MICHIGAN – Lower electricity sales cited in energy-reform debate (Crain’s Detroit Business)
http://crainsdetroit.com/article/20080811/SUB/808110356/1069
TEXAS – Governor's council urges Texas to stick with deregulated power market (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CkqohgmnRSljt%3EEvbfen%5Fv
Hartford Courant Editorial – Market Only Fueled Power Prices “…Connecticut's electric bills are still too high…” (Connecticut)
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-electric0810.artaug10,0,22143.story
FISH & WILDLIFE
Sockeye aplenty in Lake Wenatchee means quick limits (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/1358/story/269505.html
IDAHO – Don't equate strong sockeye return with recovery – The fish have survived 2 near extinctions and now are on track for the largest run in years, but they aren't sustainable yet (The Idaho Statesman, Boise ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/102/story/465449.html
Early Alaska salmon harvest below forecast (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/26830024.html
Signs point to monster return for California salmon “…Scientists blamed the fall of salmon stocks primarily on a lack of marine food production…” (The San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/09/SP1B127626.DTL
Colville Tribes to explain net fishing project to test different methods to live-capture and release summer Chinook salmon (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080807/NEWS04/237381795/1025/rss1025
Hearing will focus on plan to kill unwanted fish in 40 small ponds near Moses Lake (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080809/NEWS04/857914840/1025/rss1025
Oregon's Diamond Lake gets another fish threat (The Associated Press, via examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1531085~Oregon_s_Diamond_Lake_gets_another_fish_threat.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Companies promote sustainable seafood – Californians have seen salmon fishing shut down this summer because of dwindling runs of king salmon. But California's salmon industry isn't the only fishery in crisis (The San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/10/BUSR11UVMT.DTL&feed=rss.business
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Time for Oregon to cash in Columbia water? Either the Northwest sells or the thirsty Southwest starts moving here; so now what? (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1218263105159940.xml&coll=7
New rules on stormwater ordered – Developers building everything from homes to shopping centers could soon be forced to take extensive steps to control runoff (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008101883_stormwater09m0.html
Inadequate policing puts state's water quality in jeopardy – Fees now fund less than half of staff necessary to monitor pollution (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/374396_ecology11.html?source=rss
Enterprise fund no-no – Brightwater payments illegal, lawsuit claims – Two water and sewer districts claim that King County broke the law by using sewer-rate proceeds for non-sewer purposes (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008101888_sewerrate09m.html?syndication=rss
A Tall, Cool Drink of ... Sewage? Consider re-use of water: “Toilet to the Tap” (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/magazine/10wastewater-t.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Lake Powell's level highest in 6 years – A sign that the Colorado River is recovering from one of the worst dry spells ever (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008104842_ndig11.html?syndication=rss
Studying Great Salt Lake’s High Mercury Levels (The Associated Press, via the NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/science/earth/10saltlake.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
CALIFORINIA – Monterey desalination plant approved (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1529385~Monterey_desalination_plant_approved.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Wind whips up health fears – Hundreds of giant turbines in the Oregon desert will bring power, but residents nearby raise concerns about health effects and an end to their quiet way of life (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/outdoors/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1218250522129010.xml&coll=7
CALIFORNIA – Proposal to harness wind power off Mendocino coast worries fishing industry (The Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/1146712.html
ALASKA – Power struggle – City of St Paul & power producer can’t reach agreement on wind power output (The Associated Press, via Anchorage Daily News, AK)
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/489190.html
MONTANA – Flathead County discovers power of trash – Flathead Electric Co-op and Flathead County have forged a partnership to turn a potent greenhouse gas produced at a local landfill into electricity. (Great Falls Tribune, MT)
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080810/NEWS01/808100310
Idaho Power to buy energy from dairy (The Associated Press, via the Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/538825.html
Big-box retail stores make use of the roof with solar (The NY T98mes, via the News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/440806.html
GEORGIA – Green energy a tough sell – Georgia Power charges nearly highest rates in country for green (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, GA)
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/metro/stories/2008/08/10/green_energy_georgia.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=13
FLORIDA – Mandates on the use of renewable energy would have a profound impact on the environment, but at what cost? (The Miami Herald, FL)
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/environment/economics/story/634419.html
Ethanol cuts Idaho fuel tax revenue – More blended fuel is being sold, and the alcohol portion isn't subject to the state's gas tax (The Associated Press, via the Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/business/story/462287.html
The Daily News Editorial – Rush to ethanol is doing more harm than good (Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/08/11/editorial/doc489f1c8179120816208751.txt
Detroit Free Press Op/Ed – Renewable Energy Law – Will lawmakers' fears cost state new energy policy? Bills could lure business, create jobs in Michigan (Michigan)
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080810/COL06/808100458
MICHIGAN – Residents say waste-to-energy plan stinks – The idea sounded novel: Convert the droppings from more than a million turkeys into enough energy to power a feed plant (The Grand Rapids Press, MI)
http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-43/121834895531850.xml&coll=6
Port of Sacramento energized by cargo for wind farm (Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://www.sacbee.com/103/story/1143675.html
Exec: 'Hybrids may not be all that special,' Nissan to focus on electric (The Associated Press, via the San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10138494?source=rss
CONSERVATION
MONTANA – Going back to basics to save on energy – Some residents have found a way to battle bulging energy costs by abandoning their modern gizmos and going back to basics (The Missoulian, MT)http://missoulian.com/articles/2008/08/11/news/local/news04.txt
Wyoming launches energy conservation program (Casper Tribune, WY)
http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2008/08/09/ap-state-wy/d92esta80.txt
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
The Columbia Journalism Review's Division over Dissent – Is global warming now beyond debate? (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2197130/?from=rss
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Quincy moves forward, data centers may not (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080808/NEWS04/987453366
Portland’s Wi-Fi is dead; antennas live on – City worries that taxpayers could get stuck with the bill for removal (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/121824871892410.xml&coll=7
San Francisco Case Shows Vulnerability Of Data Networks – Arrest Spurs Other Cities to Boost Security (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/10/AR2008081001802.html?nav=rss_nation
Internet security patch flawed (The New York Times, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/374261_hacking09.html
VIRGINIA – Fiber ads not all that they seem? How much fiber-optic cable do you really need? (The Freelance Star, Fredericksburg, VA)
http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2008/082008/08092008/401405
CALIFORNIA – AT&T utility-box plan hits a snag- the company withdrew its application to place 850 large utility boxes housing fiber-optic technology on sidewalks throughout San Francisco (The Examiner)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1529889~Utility_box_plan_hits_a_snag.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
Weaving a Tighter Web 2.0 (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/09/AR2008080900141.html?nav=rss_technology
Hard-Wired – The advantages of a land-line telephone in a mobile world (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2197160/?from=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Boeing may not re-bid for tanker contract (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/26832099.html
Online Petition Asking Mason County To Rezone Property For Washington Renaissance Faire (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/760/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
Four from GOP, 3 Democrats try for seats in 35th District (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/537013.html
Drug dealers buy vineyards to hide pot (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008100792_apwapotfarmers.html?syndication=rss
Hullabaloo over Hempfest – Intercity Transit bus ad featuring marijuana leaf upsets some (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/537617.html
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Roadshow: Crazy stunts motorists pull
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10148704?source=rss
Gravity, erosion rob Utah park of popular arch
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/08/10/arch.collapse.ap/index.html?eref=ib_topstories
Spanish shopkeeper finds Homer Simpson euro
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080808/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_homersimpson_euro_spain;_ylt=AnS1Qv.8JcUtM0I0ujZkBNXtiBIF
Grandma arrested for driving with child on roof
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080807/ap_on_fe_st/odd_child_car_ride;_ylt=ArFCnwlRltayhdAK0Ruc1XTtiBIF
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