Tuesday, October 14, 2008

Energy News Digest for October 14, 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)

- B.C. Hydro still investigating source of blackout on Vancouver Island
- Political winds buffet California ballot measures on energy
- Avista to lower gas prices
- Third company enters Oregon liquefied natural gas race
- Effective tips for dealing with emotional utility customers
- New study: 80 percent of utilities have substation automation programs underway
- Oregon – A man-made solution to salmon's man-made crisis
- Bi-State commission to discuss salmon allocation
- Rossi promises salmon summit during Kelso rally
- Sea lions in Port San Luis playing havoc with marinas throughout the west
- Patches of Oregon savanna being restored
- Walla Walla: Septic users in line for fines
- Florida – Bottled water firm steamed about Miami-Dade water ads
- A Gust of Green Jobs – could “green jobs” ride to the rescue of industrial America?
- Bill Virgin: 'Green jobs' won't be the answer for every economy
- Ellensburg-Area Teachers Tour Renewable Energy Facilities
- Wave energy device test is success
- Greater Portland-Vancouver's Low Electricity Rates and Business Tax Climate Make It a Top Competitor for Solar
- Canada – Wind power close to reality in northern BC
- Missouri to vote on alternative energy issue
- Businesses bank on solar power
- Nuclear Power: The Safe and Easy Way
- Seattle P-I Guest Columnists – Green building is environmental solution
- Fiscal woes could delay climate change efforts
- Bad weather was good for Alaska glaciers
- Rising Temperatures May Dry Up Peat Bogs, Causing Carbon Release
- Microsoft exec touts technology for rural business
- Massachusetts – Panel to launch fiber-optic pitch
- Microsoft's failed Yahoo bid now looks like lucky miss
- Negotiations between Boeing, Machinists collapse
- Mason County Commissioners Calm Deputy's Fear of Lay Offs
- King County to Cut 400 Jobs
- Olympia port to sue anti-war protesters
- To Stimulate Development, City of Shelton Asked To Waive Some Utility Charges
- Washington Paid Family Leave Program on Indefinite Hold
- Morris challenged by Green Party candidate in Washington State House race
- At Indian Call Centers, another View of U.S.
- Saddled With Debt, Some Decide to Torch Vehicles

These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest

WORD OF THE DAY

Posse • \PAH-see\ • noun – *1: a large group often with a common interest 2: a body of persons summoned by a sheriff to assist in preserving the public peace usually in an emergency 3: a group of people temporarily organized to make a search (as for a lost child) 4: one’s attendants or associates

‘Fredo strode confidently into the boardroom, his posse in tow, intent of facing down a takeover of his board game empire by the game behemoth ‘Milton Bradley’. Unfortunately for ‘Fredo, he did not count on a breakfast buffet line set up just outside the mammoth wood and glass doors of the meeting room, where all his backers had detoured. It was only after he heard the booming slam of the doors that he realized he was all alone…one against the best twelve lawyers in all gamedom.

WORD ORIGINS FROM MERRIAM-WEBSTER ONLINE: "Posse" started out as a technical term in law, part of the term "posse comitatus," which in Medieval Latin meant "power or authority of the county." As such, it referred to a group of citizens summoned by a sheriff to preserve the public peace as allowed for by law. "Preserving the public peace" so often meant hunting down a supposed criminal that "posse" eventually came to mean any group organized to make a search or embark on a mission. In even broader use it can refer to any group, period. Sometimes nowadays that group is a gang or a rock band but it can as easily be any group -- of politicians, models, architects, tourists, children, or what have you -- acting in concert.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?textField1=47.213805&textField2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=Shelton%2C%20WA%2C%20USA

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Canada – B.C. Hydro still investigating source of blackout on Vancouver Island: 200,000 homes lose electricity (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=e495343e-8f84-4119-8820-85a86770db16

Political winds buffet California ballot measures on energy (Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://pubsys.sacbee.com/294/story/1235833.html

Avista to lower gas prices (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/10/13/daily10.html?ana=from_rss

Third company enters Oregon liquefied natural gas race (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1636966~Third_company_enters_Ore__LNG_race.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Effective tips for dealing with emotional utility customers (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=342233&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss

New study: 80 percent of utilities have substation automation programs underway (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=342559&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Oregon – A man-made solution to salmon's man-made crisis (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/10/a_manmade_solution_to_salmons.html

Bi-State commission to discuss salmon allocation (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008264735_aporfishcommission.html?syndication=rss

Rossi promises salmon summit during Kelso rally (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/10/14/area_news/doc48f3e93b42824046946568.txt

Sea lions in Port San Luis playing havoc with marinas throughout the West Coast (The Tribune, San Luis Obispo, CA)
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/news/local/story/497151.html

Patches of Oregon savanna being restored – Project has raised some concerns “…the Bonneville Power Administration and the Forest Restoration Partnership helped pay for it…” (Argus Observer, Ontario, OR)
http://www.argusobserver.com/articles/2008/10/13/news/doc48f3824c9731b364137739.txt

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Walla Walla: Septic users in line for fines – The city has put about 350 people and businesses on notice (Union Bulletin)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2008/10/13/local_news/081013local01septic.txt

Florida – Bottled water firm steamed about Miami-Dade water ads (Miami Herald)
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami-dade/story/723788.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

A Gust of Green Jobs – could “green jobs”, so beloved of presidential candidates, ride to the rescue of industrial America? (NY Times)
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/10/13/a-gust-of-green-jobs/?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Bill Virgin: 'Green jobs' won't be the answer for every economy (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/virgin/383092_virgin14.html

Ellensburg-Area Teachers Tour Renewable Energy Facilities (KNDO-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=9164959

Wave energy device test is success (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/10/13/daily6.html?ana=from_rss

Greater Portland-Vancouver's Low Electricity Rates, Skilled Workforce and Business Tax Climate Make It a Top Competitor for Solar, New Study Shows (MarketWatch)
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/greater-portland-vancouvers-low-electricity-rates/story.aspx?guid=%7B1A29C5FD-3864-4BF9-ACE7-883BDE06C9DD%7D&dist=hppr

Canada – Wind power close to reality in northern BC: Proponents say 8 turbine towers will be turning by January (Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=440a1d28-0cb3-4ef7-b038-5df1c803b619

Missouri to vote on alternative energy issue – Proposition would require 3 utilities to meet alternative energy targets (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/apwire/df7826a72309dbd802d009b087cf3dc6.htm

Businesses bank on solar power (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10064819-54.html?tag=nl.e703

Nuclear Power: The Safe and Easy Way (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/reinsider/story?id=53803&src=rss

CONSERVATION

Seattle P-I Guest Columnists – Green building is environmental solution
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/383102_greenbuilding14.html?source=rss

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Fiscal woes could delay climate change efforts (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/13/MNO313EQ65.DTL

Bad weather was good for Alaska glaciers (Anchorage Daily News)
http://www.adn.com/news/environment/story/555283.html

Rising Temperatures May Dry Up Peat Bogs, Causing Carbon Release (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/14/science/14obpeat.html?_r=2&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin&oref=slogin

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Microsoft exec touts technology for rural business (Associated Press)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/30928209.html

Massachusetts – Panel to launch fiber-optic pitch (Berkshire Eagle Staff, Pittsfield, MA)
http://www.berkshireeagle.com/ci_10708294?source=most_emailed

Microsoft's failed Yahoo bid now looks like lucky miss (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008263357_webballmer14.html?syndication=rss

GENERAL NEWS

Negotiations between Boeing, Machinists collapse – Job security is biggest stumbling block in contract talks; strike now in second month (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/383153_boeingstrike14.html

Mason County Commissioners Calm Deputy's Fear of Lay Offs (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/5286/reftab/1896/Default.aspx

King County to Cut 400 Jobs (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17706021/detail.html

Olympia port to sue anti-war protesters (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008264737_webprotestsuits14m.html?syndication=rss

To Stimulate Development, City of Shelton Asked To Waive Some Utility Charges (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/5285/reftab/1896/Default.aspx

Washington Paid Family Leave Program on Indefinite Hold Because Of Budget Woes (Oregon Public Radio)
http://news.opb.org/article/3277-washington-paid-family-leave-program-hold/

Morris challenged by Green Party candidate in Washington State House race (Bellingham Herald, WA)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/605492.html

At Indian Call Centers, another View of U.S. – As Economy Falters, Debt Collectors Hear Sobering Stories from the Land of Plenty (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/13/AR2008101302701.html?nav=rss_business

Saddled With Debt, Some Decide to Torch Vehicles (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/12/AR2008101202255.html?nav=rss_nation

DIVERSIONS

More than 100 sick as too many Chinese cooks spoil broth – added rust remover because it “needed more flavor”
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE49C73B20081013?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

Philomath moves toward killing turkeys (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1636927~Philomath_moves_toward_killing_turkeys.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Rolling Stone ends large format after 4 decades
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/10/14/entertainment/e064114D25.DTL&feed=rss.business

Monday, October 13, 2008

Energy News Digest for October 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)

- BPA proposes long-term deal for Intalco “…review and comment period is more than a formality…”
- BPA seeks public comment on proposed agreement with Alcoa
- Some in Jefferson County think PUD takeover of electricity service too costly
- Port Angeles – Cross-Strait power transmission cable almost ready to go
- Lawmakers (Rep. Doc Hastings and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers) say dams producing renewable
- Heating bills: Will yours get bigger?
- NW Natural will ask for 14 percent residential rate rise
- Texas – TXU Energy parent puts Hurricane Ike losses at about $25M
- United Kingdom – Coal demand revives Welsh mines
- Fisheries ruling to protect salmon, steelhead, Orcas also affects builders
- Salmon Spawning Above White Salmon’s Condit Dam First Time In 100 Years
- Agencies Seek Lake Pend Oreille Drawdown Scenarios To Aid Kokanee, Bull Trout
- Outlook, Washington – Hidden Wells, dirty water
- Some Dungeness River users to get more water than others in the future
- Olympic National Park seeking comment on third treatment plant; proposal linked to Elwha Dam removal plan
- Managing with wind and water – BPA
- Olympia’s regional wastewater utility to reuse gas for heating
- Sewage Is Flush With Hidden Energy Potential, Speaker Says
- Wind power purchase to help Benton Public Utilities (sic) District meet renewable energy mandate
- Oregon's green-collar work force prepares to switch on SolarWorld factory
- Garbage will soon stop going to waste at Eastside landfill
- Renewable energy added to WSU class list
- Biodiesel Producer Seeks More Investment – Imperium restructuring with new investment
- Gadgets use a lot of power, but here are tips to save on energy costs
- Whatcom County couple has lived green for 26 years
- Climate change may usher in different scene on Mount Rainier
- Calfiornia – City of Lompoc looks to cut costs on broadband
- FCC report negates free Internet interference claims
- City of London gets blanket Wi-Fi
- Municipal Bonds Hurt By Credit Crisis
- Unwanted subdivisions are our modern-day ghost towns
- The Olympian to print in Tacoma
- Residents turn to stashes of jewelry to raise quick cash

These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest

WORD OF THE DAY

Hypocorism • \high-POCK-kuh-rizz-zum\ • noun – 1: a pet name 2: the use of pet names

George Bush is well known for his tendency for hypocorism when dealing with friends and foes alike. Much to the displeasure (I would assume) of his close friend and confidant, Karl Rove. (You’re gonna have to look this one up on your own…)

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?textField1=47.213805&textField2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=Shelton%2C%20WA%2C%20USA

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

BPA proposes long-term deal for Intalco “…review and comment period is more than a formality: BPA administrator Steve Wright will have to weigh…comments seriously before making a final decision on the matter…” (The Bellingham Herald, WA)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/latestheadlines/story/599970.html

News Release – BPA seeks public comment on proposed agreement with Alcoa (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/232076/

Static in the power line: Some in Jefferson County think PUD takeover of electricity service too costly (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20081012/NEWS/810129995

Port Angeles – Cross-Strait power transmission cable almost ready to go (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20081013/news/310139996

Lawmakers (Rep. Doc Hastings and Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers) say dams producing renewable energy (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/kennewick_pasco_richland/story/346595.html

Heating bills: Will yours get bigger? Natural gas costs are expected to rise, while electricity bills will likely remain about the same (Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20081012/NEWS01/710129867&news01ad=1

Oregon – NW Natural will ask for 14 percent residential rate rise: Home heating costs in central Oregon could see a 5 percent jump while rates may drop in the south (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1223697313194100.xml&coll=7

Texas – TXU Energy parent puts Hurricane Ike losses at about $25M (Quick.com)
http://www.quickdfw.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/101008dnbusefh.f6e5fac6.html

United Kingdom – Coal demand revives Welsh mines: Deep under a pine-covered mountain, men clamber into red overalls and heavy boots, strap on lamps and attach sensors that check gas levels (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008259905_coal13.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Fisheries ruling to protect salmon, steelhead, Orcas also affects builders (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/616737.html

Salmon Spawning Above White Salmon’s Condit Dam First Time In 100 Years (Columbia Basin Bulletin)
http://www.cbbulletin.com/299084.aspx

Agencies Seek Lake Pend Oreille Drawdown Scenarios To Aid Kokanee, Bull Trout (Columbia Basin Bulletin)
http://www.cbbulletin.com/299081.aspx

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Outlook, Washington – Hidden Wells, dirty water (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/2008/10/11/hidden-wells-dirty-water

Some Dungeness River users to get more water than others in the future (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20081012/NEWS/810129989

Olympic National Park seeking comment on third treatment plant; proposal linked to Elwha Dam removal plan (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20081012/news/310129998

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Managing with wind and water – BPA - Elliot Mainzer takes the key role in developing energy agency policy on climate change, planning and renewables (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/122361992047050.xml&coll=7

Olympia’s regional wastewater utility to reuse gas for heating – Methane produced by plant will be converted to energy for new building (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/616604.html

Sewage Is Flush With Hidden Energy Potential, Speaker Says (Ha…Ha…Ha! Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/oct/11/speaker-sewage-holds-hidden-energy-potential/

Wind power purchase to help Benton Public Utilities (sic) District meet renewable energy mandate (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/kennewick_pasco_richland/story/345715.html

Oregon's green-collar work force prepares to switch on SolarWorld factory in Hillsboro –
The 480,000-square-foot plant stood idle for years until German company renovated it (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1223700909307470.xml&coll=7

Garbage will soon stop going to waste at Eastside landfill – Waste Management plans to turn methane gas from the East Wenatchee landfill into electricity starting in 2010 (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081011/NEWS04/710119858

Renewable energy added to WSU class list (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/kennewick_pasco_richland/story/348096.html

Biodiesel Producer Seeks More Investment – Imperium restructuring with new investment;
Key contract still waiting for official approval (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/382978_imperium13.html

CONSERVATION

Gadgets use a lot of power, but here are tips to save on energy costs (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10709400?source=rss

Whatcom County couple has lived green for 26 years (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/507000.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Climate change may usher in different scene on Mount Rainier (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/kennewick_pasco_richland/story/348098.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Calfiornia – City of Lompoc looks to cut costs on broadband (The Lompoc Record, CA)
http://www.lompocrecord.com/articles/2006/02/21/news/news01.txt

FCC report negates free Internet interference claims (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10063866-94.html?tag=nl.e703

City of London gets blanket Wi-Fi (ZD-Net)
http://www.zdnet.com.au/news/communications/soa/City-of-London-gets-blanket-Wi-Fi/0,130061791,139239370,00.htm?omnRef=http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/72205

GENERAL NEWS

Municipal Bonds Hurt By Credit Crisis (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95664754

Unwanted subdivisions are our modern-day ghost towns – Skamania County builder David Bennett figured developing a subdivision along the Columbia Gorge was a can't-miss opportunity… (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/dannywestneat/2008254629_danny11m.html

The Olympian to print in Tacoma (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/business/story/615567.html

Residents turn to stashes of jewelry to raise quick cash – Average payout about $140 for precious metals at event (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/business/story/615554.html

DIVERSIONS

Santas coming early to Indiana town to sign oath
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081012/ap_on_fe_st/odd_santa_claus_oath;_ylt=AmuxY00SLUI6HOagyClA5v3tiBIF

Woman accused of serving pot-laced cake to guest
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081011/ap_on_fe_st/odd_marijuana_cake;_ylt=Akn2eiJO8KKYSRyfpfKyzo7tiBIF

Cambodian couple saw house in half in divorce
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/as_odd_cambodia_unique_divorce;_ylt=Aios6tXELJ5sYKDZMvrcYEjtiBIF

Thieves make off with Austrian church organ pipes – To be sold as scrap
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081013/od_afp/austriametaltheftoffbeat_081013161457;_ylt=AtKrpm2TfxGKGDxOQgMW5U2gOrgF

Friday, October 10, 2008

Energy News Digest for October 10, 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)

- Olympian Editorial – Prepare for severe weather
- Washington PUD Association: “Sell to public utilities, group before selling the company to foreign investors”
- Throwing the switch on PCBs – Bonneville Power, EPA celebrate
- Group Formally Calls Off TransAlta Purchase, For Now
- More natural gas prospecting on horizon in the Columbia Basin
- Con Ed Worker Killed in Brooklyn Manhole Explosion
- News Release – Fitch Rates Snohomish PUD No. 1
- Former EPA chief Whitman discusses nuclear energy
- Two Endorsements of Nuclear Power, but Sharp Differences on Details
- Memo recounts boat rescue on Grant County PUD reservoir
- Eaton Electrical wins $1.8M contract for power plants near Yakima
- Puget Sound Shellfish Growers Still Face Uncertainty over Tribal Settlement
- Seattle trawlers may face new limits on Pollock fishery
- Ferry County PUD's New Power Source Ends Company’s Diesel Fumes
- Indian Tribes See Profit in Harnessing the Wind for Power
- Solar tax incentives run into credit freeze
- Wood chipping away at coal as source for generating electricity
- Pint-Size Eco-Police, Making Parents Proud and Sometimes Crazy
- Green news harvest: Ill winds for carbon trading
- Minnesota Town Fights For Right To Fiber
- Belfair Residents Killed, Injured – Pipe Bomb Found in Truck That Caused Fatal Highway 3 Crash
- Signals Coming to Tahuya River Bridge

These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest

WORD OF THE DAY

Fifth column • \FIFTH-KAH-lum\ • noun – a group of secret sympathizers or supporters of an enemy that engage in espionage or sabotage within defense lines or national borders

The erratic personality of the new employee at the Hershey chocolate plant began to worry his supervisors. “If I didn’t know better,” the boss mused, “I’d think those late night phone calls and secret text messages were a part of a ‘fifth column’ tactic by the Mars company to steal our new formula for chocolate.”

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?textField1=47.213805&textField2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=Shelton%2C%20WA%2C%20USA

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Olympian Editorial – Prepare for severe weather (Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/613930.html

Washington PUD Association: “Sell to public utilities, group before selling the company to foreign investors” (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/504399.html

Throwing the switch on PCBs – Bonneville Power, EPA celebrate toxic compound’s removal from capacitors (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20081010/NEWS02/710109959

Group Formally Calls Off TransAlta Purchase, For Now (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)
http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews/?Group-Formally-Calls-Oss-TransAlta-Purch=1&blockID=15359&feedID=410

More natural gas prospecting on horizon in the Columbia Basin (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/2008/10/09/more-natural-gas-prospecting-on-horizon

Con Ed Worker Killed in Brooklyn Manhole Explosion (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/10/nyregion/10manhole.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

News Release – Fitch Rates Snohomish PUD No. 1 (Washington) System Revs 'F1+'; Upgrades L-T to 'AA-' (MarketWatch)
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/fitch-rates-snohomish-pud-no/story.aspx?guid=%7BFB371E78-0423-4C1B-82C1-B8B9CD99CE50%7D&dist=hppr

Former EPA chief Whitman discusses nuclear energy – says public will have to be sold on nuclear power (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/apwire/daef491fea5952ce5a62b774df02d280.htm

Two Endorsements of Nuclear Power, but Sharp Differences on Details (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/10/us/politics/10nuclear.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Memo recounts boat rescue on Grant County PUD reservoir – Group receives awards (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/10/09/news/5news10.09.08.txt

Eaton Electrical wins $1.8M USBR contract for work at Chandler and Roza power plants near Yakima (Water Power Magazine)
http://www.waterpowermagazine.com/story.asp?sectioncode=130&storyCode=2051152

FISH & WILDLIFE

Puget Sound Shellfish Growers Still Face Uncertainty over Tribal Settlement (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/oct/09/shellfish-growers-still-face-uncertainty/?partner=RSS

Seattle trawlers may face new limits on Pollock fishery – The biggest fishery for Seattle-based trawler fleets is likely to face cuts next year as the Pollock population declines (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008246672_pollock100.html?syndication=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Ferry County PUD's New Power Source Ends Columbia River Carbonates Quarry Diesel Fumes (Environmental Protection Online)
http://www.eponline.com/articles/68332/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Indian Tribes See Profit in Harnessing the Wind for Power (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/10/us/10wind.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Solar tax incentives run into credit freeze (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/10/10/BUM013EB9I.DTL&feed=rss.business

Wood chipping away at coal as source for generating electricity (The Associated Press)
http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_10682450?source=rss

CONSERVATION

Pint-Size Eco-Police, Making Parents Proud and Sometimes Crazy (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/10/nyregion/10green.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Green news harvest: Ill winds for carbon trading (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10063166-54.html?tag=nl.e703

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Minnesota Town Fights For Right To Fiber – TDS Telecom loses battle over bond funding (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Minnesota-Town-Fights-For-Right-To-Fiber-98320

GENERAL NEWS

Belfair Residents Killed, Injured – Pipe Bomb Found in Truck That Caused Fatal Highway 3 Crash (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/oct/09/one-dead-in-highway-3-crash-that-uncovered-pipe/?partner=RSS

Signals Coming to Tahuya River Bridge (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/oct/09/signals-coming-to-tahuya-river-bridge/?partner=RSS

DIVERSIONS

Online sweethearts turn out to be neighbors
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081008/od_afp/lifestylebritaininternetromanceoffbeat_081008155044;_ylt=Alrd0jgW0EZGpErSGbNRjISgOrgF

Man to hold 'I was stupid' sign outside Wis. Plant
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081010/ap_on_fe_st/odd_stupid_sign;_ylt=Aq.pahyTWN9wZ9ez.KpsHOHtiBIF

'Drugs underwear' theory fails to wash with Indian court
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081010/od_afp/indiacrimedrugscourtoffbeat_081010052751

Norwegian politician quits over hotline to fortune-tellers
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081009/od_afp/norwaypoliticsoffbeat_081009185809;_ylt=AqwJz5lqjOmExOxfWeCnAH.gOrgF

Strong-arm robber in Mich. ends up $30 in the hole
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081010/ap_on_fe_st/odd_robber_strong_armed;_ylt=AsRc4Gg6knD1W91M91EYddztiBIF

Thursday, October 9, 2008

Energy News Digest October 9, 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 Sound Energy electric rates drop, gas rises
- Puget Sound Energy's chief executive addresses foreign ownership, bonus, other issues
- Jefferson County PUD and Electricity – Proposition 1 Q&A
- Port Townsend Leader Editorial – (Jefferson County) Public power idea worth exploring
- Pacific Power rate hike in Wash. reduced by credit
- Two arrested in attempted Grays Harbor County PUD wire theft
- Douglas County PUD adopts budget – No rate increase expected
- Idahoans struggle to pay utility bills
- Chelan County PUD’s offer for new financial executive: ‘Low $200,000s
- Illinois – New Illinois Cooperative Energy looks to become Ameren rival
- Be Prepared Before a Storm Hits
- Voith Siemens Hydro Receives $26.2 Million in New Contract Award
- How Electric Deregulation Could Change Our Energy Future
- Salmon case allowed to move forward
- Fishing Early chum salmon arriving in Puget Sound rivers
- Canadian government faces suit over killer whales
- Oregon’s marine reserve proposals get cold shoulder
- Squamish, BC – Eco-battle emerging over fish and multibillion-dollar resort
- NOAA, Supreme Court Focus On Marine Mammals
- No more free tours at Glen Canyon dam
- Cantwell hears wishes of green power firms
- How T. Boone Pickens' Energy Plan Just Got Killed
- Energy efficiency improves with new Mount Rainier visitor center
- Pacific Northwest Energy Efficiency Taskforce on track to help accelerate conservation
- Snohomish County PUD program helps businesses cut costs
- Lower energy demand amid economic slowdown could lead to savings
- Canada – City firm's street light dimmer saves energy:
- California – Carbon traders or corporate raiders?
- New Broadband Data Bill Forgets The Broadband Data
- Wyoming – Are data centers in our future?
- Fast, Citywide WiFi Launches In Baltimore
- Cold snap to grip Western Washington
- Columbian newspaper could file bankruptcy
- Olympian Editorial – Haigh, Finn best choices in 35th District

These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?textField1=47.213805&textField2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=Shelton%2C%20WA%2C%20USA

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Puget Sound Energy electric rates drop, gas rises – State regulators have taken two actions that will result in lower electricity bills for Puget Sound Energy residential customers, while natural gas bills will rise (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008242047_apwapserates.html

Puget Sound Energy's chief executive addresses foreign ownership, bonus, other issues – PSE has been surprised by criticism (Oh, Really? Port Townsend Leader, WA)
http://www.ptleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&SubSectionID=55&ArticleID=22019&TM=44365.43

Jefferson County PUD and Electricity – Proposition 1 Q&A (Port Townsend Leader, WA)
http://www.ptleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&SubSectionID=55&ArticleID=22018&TM=44365.43

Port Townsend Leader Editorial – (Jefferson County) Public power idea worth exploring
http://www.ptleader.com/Main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=35&ArticleID=22052

Pacific Power rate hike in Wash. reduced by credit (Associated Press)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=9148475

Two arrested in attempted Grays Harbor County PUD wire theft (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_100908WAB_hoquiam_wire_theft_attempt_SW.f735ca46.html

Douglas County PUD adopts budget – No rate increase expected (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee)
http://www.kpq.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=297

Idahoans struggle to pay utility bills – Idaho Power is seeing a big increase in uncollectible accounts, and the rising cost of energy could mean a long, cold winter for many. But help is available Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/526605.html

Chelan County PUD’s offer for new financial executive: ‘Low $200,000s (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081008/NEWS04/710089958

Illinois – New Illinois Cooperative Energy looks to become Ameren rival (Associated Press )
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-il-electricity-amere,0,3996780.story

Be Prepared Before a Storm Hits – Winter Weather: Officials Urge Planning For Power Outages Before They Hit (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/rss/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1223487966&archive=

Voith Siemens Hydro Receives $26.2 Million in New Contract Awards – Lookout Point Dam in Lowell, OR and Folsom Dam in Folsom, CA (Market Watch)
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/voith-siemens-hydro-receives-262/story.aspx?guid=%7BFD53025C-811E-4ADA-86B7-FE0D137234CD%7D&dist=hppr

How Electric Deregulation Could Change Our Energy Future (BlogCritic Magazine)
http://blogcritics.org/archives/2008/10/07/063918.php

FISH & WILDLIFE

Salmon case allowed to move forward – Plaintiffs claim the government allows overfishing of protected salmon runs (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/382433_salmon09.html

Fishing Early chum salmon arriving in Puget Sound rivers (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2008242278_fish09.html

Canadian government faces suit over killer whales (Associated Press)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hPbnlwKQHoqQCTCd2ZFlciqfBZAQD93MLL2O0

Oregon’s marine reserve proposals get cold shoulder (Eugene Register Guard, OR)
http://www.registerguard.com/web/news/549537//story.csp

Squamish, BC – Eco-battle emerging over fish and multibillion-dollar resort – Steelhead stream threatened by ski hill, report says. Developer disagrees (Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=925fe169-d9fb-4302-b539-664648537296&k=9507

NOAA, Supreme Court Focus On Marine Mammals – Ship Speed Limited; Sonar Use Debated (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/10/08/AR2008100801992.html?nav=rss_nation

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

No more free tours at Glen Canyon dam – Fee will be charged starting in January to tour the massive Glen Canyon dam near Arizona-Utah border (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2008241405_webglencanyon08.html?syndication=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Cantwell hears wishes of green power firms (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20081009/NEWS02/710099947/-1/news

How T. Boone Pickens' Energy Plan Just Got Killed (AlterNet)
http://www.alternet.org/environment/100806/how_t._boone_pickens'_energy_plan_just_got_killed/

CONSERVATION

Energy efficiency improves with new Mount Rainier visitor center (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/612799.html

News Release – Pacific Northwest Energy Efficiency Taskforce on track to help accelerate conservation (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/231723/

Snohomish County PUD program helps businesses cut costs, earn rebates (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20081009/BIZ/710099921/1005

Canada – Lower energy demand amid economic slowdown could lead to savings (Canadian Press)
http://ca.news.yahoo.com/s/capress/081008/national/ont_economy_energy_1

Canada – City firm's street light dimmer saves energy: Streetlight's wireless Internet device could cut B.C. city power bills by 40% (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/business/story.html?id=45329a7a-e58f-4975-8ddb-af7de62330c9

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

California – Carbon traders or corporate raiders? Environmentalists debate the merits of the state’s greenhouse-gas reduction proposal (Sacramento News-Review)
http://www.newsreview.com/sacramento/Content?oid=868436

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

New Broadband Data Bill Forgets The Broadband Data – And a significant amount of the originally included funding (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/New-Broadband-Data-Bill-Forgets-The-Broadband-Data-98300

Wyoming – Are data centers in our future? (Gillette News-Record, WY)
http://www.gillettenewsrecord.com/articles/2008/10/09/news/tuesday/news02.txt

Fast, Citywide WiFi Launches In Baltimore (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95545746&ft=1&f=3

GENERAL NEWS

Cold snap to grip Western Washington (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_100908WXB_cold_weather_coming_SW.f78804bd.html

Columbian newspaper could file bankruptcy (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/10/06/daily27.html?ana=from_rss

Olympian Editorial – Haigh, Finn best choices in 35th District (Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/612470.html

DIVERSIONS

100-ton crane aids in cat rescue
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_100808WAB_cat_rescue_KS.f3188e76.html?npc

Blonde Sues L'Oreal Over Brown Dye – Case Dismissed
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/17661245/detail.html

Bremerton's ‘Little Elvis' Wows King-Loving Crowds
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/oct/03/bremertons-145little-elvis-wows-kitsaps-king/?partner=RSS

Stolen Ore. truck recovered after 22 years
http://www.examiner.com/a-1629990~Stolen_Ore__truck_recovered_after_22_years.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Judge Sentences Rap Music Fan To Bach, Beethoven
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/17671702/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000310092008&ts=H

Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Energy news Digest for October 8, 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)

- Tribe loses legal bid to oust power plant from Snoqualmie Falls
- Washington State threatens to sue FERC over Bradwood Landing decision
- Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative trims rates slightly
- TransAlta Upbeat About Company’s Future
- Canada – Labor Disputes Ongoing at TransAlta Alberta Power Plants
- Maryland State Agency Greenlights Power Line in Rural North Virginia
- Maine PUC fines utility for violating safety regulations
- Wall Street Could Jolt Utilities
- Killer whales threatened by salmon shortage
- Oregon State employees come to aid of salmon in Sandy River
- Douglas PUD wins award from Canada for fish computer program
- Birdwatchers flock to Oregon to see rare bird
- New York – Beavers: Dam good for songbirds
- Port Angeles gains title to water plant linked to Elwha River dam removal
- Cosmopolis pulp mill picture gets muddier
- Oregon – Klondike III and IIIa wind turbines spin up
- Whatcom County considers allowing wind turbine towers without notice
- Waste wood to heat downtown Seattle buildings
- South Carolina – New plant in Newberry to make electricity from wood
- Pacific Gas and Electric Company Interconnects 25,000th Net Metered Solar Customer
- Army plans 500-megawatt solar thermal farm
- Winter heating: how to stay safe
- Homeowners can pocket more cash on energy-saving improvements
- Massachusetts – Peabody energy conservation event cancelled due to lack of interest
- Map reveals species most at risk from climate change
- Consumers 'must think about carbon'
- Microsoft: U.S. Broadband Policy 'Total Failure'
- No reports of problems, but American Airlines will filter Internet service
- Washington State worker jobs at risk with 1% cut
- Mason County Commission Asks Departments To Not Look To Reduce Staff (sic)
- Man jumps to death from Capitol Boulevard Bridge
- Alcoa Profit Falls 52%; Buyback Plan Ends

These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest

WORD OF THE DAY

Glom • \GLAHM\ • verb – *1: take, steal 2: seize, catch

Frances sighed and rolled her eyes as the large party of customers sauntered out of the “Keg Restaurant.” After double helpings each of “Keg Classic” dinners, along with large desserts, their glomming onto handfuls of chocolate mints from the jar near the exit nearly pushed her exasperation over the edge. “What, no toothpicks,” she shouted at their retreating figures.

WORD ORGIN FROM MIRRIAM-WEBSTER – It's a classic case of glomming: Americans seized on "glaum" (a term from Scots dialect that basically means "grab") and appropriated it as our own, changing it to "glom" in the process. "Glom" first meant "steal" (as in the purse-snatching, robber kind of stealing), but over time that meaning got stretched. Today, "glom" often figuratively extends that original "steal" sense. A busy professional might glom a weekend getaway, for example. "Glom" also appears frequently in the phrase "glom on to," which can mean "to appropriate for one's own use" ("glom on to another's idea"); "to grab hold of" ("glom on to the last cookie"); or "to latch on to" ("glom on to an opinion" or "glom on to an influential friend").

WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?textField1=47.213805&textField2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=Shelton%2C%20WA%2C%20USA

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Tribe loses bid to oust power plant from Snoqualmie Falls (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/382206_snoqualmiefalls08.html?source=rss

Here’s a link to the tribe vs. FERC/PSE/Dept. of Ecology ruling (Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals)
http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/ca9/newopinions.nsf/0EEDA5BD9FF3798E882574DB0058A488/$file/0572739.pdf?openelement

Washington State threatens to sue FERC over Bradwood Landing Liquefied Natural Gas decision (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/10/08//area_news/doc48ec1e306ebb4460640059.txt

Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative trims rates slightly – Customers will enjoy a small break starting with their October electric bill (Baker City Herald)
http://www.bakercityherald.com/2008100177757/News/Business/OTEC-trims-rates-slightly

TransAlta Upbeat About Company’s Future (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/rss/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1223401022&archive=

Canada – Labor Disputes Ongoing at TransAlta Alberta Power Plants (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=98435

Maryland State Agency Greenlights Power Line in Rural North Virginia (Washington Post)
http://loudounextra.washingtonpost.com/news/2008/oct/07/regulators-approve-power-line-proposal/

Maine PUC fines utility – Northern Utilities must pay a $2 million fine for violating safety regulations (Portland Press-Herald, ME)
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=214460&ac=PHnws

Wall Street Could Jolt Utilities (Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8kowu%5D%5CmjmopwwZSki%23%3A%40%24bfen%5Fv

FISH & WILDLIFE

Killer whales threatened by salmon shortage – Lack food may be reason for changes in behaviour (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=82ffec21-a2ef-488a-b16b-385da014c34f&k=15724

Oregon State employees come to aid of salmon in Sandy River – Persistence pays off for Sandy River Chinook program (Gresham Outlook, OR)
http://www.theoutlookonline.com/news/story.php?story_id=122343048632165500

Douglas PUD wins award from Canada – PUD funded a computer program that helps save fish by calculating the best time to release water from a dam (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081007/NEWS04/810070280

Birdwatchers flock to Oregon to see rare bird – Wood Sandpiper is rarely seen in U.S.; hundreds of birders rush to lake near Eugene to see it (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/outdoors/2008239841_webbirdwatch08.html?syndication=rss

New York – Beavers: Dam good for songbirds (EurekAlert)
http://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2008-10/wcs-bdg100808.php

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Port Angeles gains title to water plant linked to Elwha River dam removal (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20081008/NEWS/810080311

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Cosmopolis pulp mill picture gets muddier – Grays Harbor PUD seeks output from cogeneration (The Daily World)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/10/07/local_news/02news.txt

Oregon – Klondike III and IIIa wind turbines spin up (Dalles Chronicle, OR)
http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2008/10/news10-07-08-01.shtml

Whatcom County considers allowing wind turbine towers without notice (Bellingham Herald, WA)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/591963.html

Waste wood to heat downtown Seattle buildings (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008238613_biomass08m.html

South Carolina – New plant in Newberry to make electricity from wood: “Burn, baby, burn” might be the new energy chant in Newberry County as plans were announced Tuesday for a biomass energy plant that generates electricity by burning wood waste (The State, Columbia, SC)
http://www.thestate.com/business/story/547952.html?RSS=business

News Release – Pacific Gas and Electric Company Interconnects 25,000th Net Metered Solar Customer in Northern and Central California (PR NewsWire)
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/081008/aqw084.html?.v=66

Army plans 500-megawatt solar thermal farm (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10060244-54.html?tag=nl.e703

CONSERVATION

Winter heating: how to stay safe – As the weather turns cooler, fireplaces, wood stoves and other home heaters should be cleaned and inspected before use (Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20081008/NEWS01/710089816/-1/RSS02

Homeowners can pocket more cash on energy-saving improvements (Lebanon Express, OR)
http://www.lebanon-express.com/articles/2008/10/08/news/regional/region01energy.txt

Massachusetts – Peabody energy conservation event cancelled due to lack of interest (The Daily Item, Lynn, MA)
http://www.thedailyitemoflynn.com/articles/2008/10/07/news/news11.txt

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Map reveals species most at risk from climate change (New Scientist)
http://environment.newscientist.com/article/dn14899-map-reveals-species-most-at-risk-from-climate-change.html?DCMP=ILC-hmts&nsref=news2_head_dn14899

Consumers 'must think about carbon' (Low Carbon Economy)
http://www.lowcarboneconomy.com/community_content/_low_carbon_news/2452/consumers_'must_think_about_carbon'

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Microsoft: U.S. Broadband Policy 'Total Failure' – As country sinks in global penetration, price broadband rankings (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Microsoft-US-Broadband-Policy-Total-Failure-98275

No reports of problems, but American Airlines will filter Internet service (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/502483.html

GENERAL NEWS

Washington State worker jobs at risk with 1% cut – Gregoire orders across-the-board spending reduction from agencies (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/611448.html

Mason County Commission Asks Departments To Not Look To Reduce Staff (sic) (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/5236/reftab/1896/Default.aspx

Man jumps to death from Capitol Boulevard Bridge – Death from span is fourth in 10 years; state has no plans to add safety measures (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/611429.html

Alcoa Profit Falls 52%; Buyback Plan Ends (Associated Press)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/08/business/08alcoa.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

DIVERSIONS

10-Year-Old Driving Van Crashes Going 90 MPH – 2 Other Children, 2 Adults In Van
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/17654951/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=irresistible

Woof and Worship: Church Welcomes Pious Pets
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17643108/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=irresistible

Crackdown on tight trousers cancelled
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE4978DS20081008?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

Mom brings rabid bat to school, lets kids touch it
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081008/ap_on_re_us/rabid_bat_school;_ylt=AoJwZii7h_Fwz3Xlcsm8jHbtiBIF

Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Energy News Digest for October 7, 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)

- Fall storm blows into Washington
- Blustery night leads to chilly day – Includes wind speeds
- Port Townsend council hints at city electric utility if voters disenfranchise PSE
- Clallam County PUD commissioner argues against 3% electricity rate increase
- AP Enterprise: In bad economy, power cutoffs soar
- Energy Department warns of higher heating costs
- Real estate roundup: BPA leases Vancouver space
- Edmonds neighbors pitch fit over new metal pole
- Texas – Reliant Energy says it may look for a buyer
- Michigan Governor signs energy package into law: more renewables
- United Kingdom – UK to run out of electricity this winter
- What the Heck Is "Clean Coal"? It depends whom you ask
- Nashville Electric Service‘s bill “round up” charitable program under fire
- Fall Is the Ideal Time for Planting: Plant the Right Tree in the Right Place
- Canada – Report blames Ottawa for British Columbia sockeye peril
- Ten Best and Worst Fish to Eat For the Environment
- 315 miles of Idaho rivers up for protection – Major hurdle is water rights
- Geothermal energy development gathers steam
- A New Flexibility with Thin Solar Cells
- Oregon Celebrates the State's Newest Wind Power Projects
- New Jersey – We'll become a world leader in wind power
- Olympia retiree builds solar bike
- UN calls for review on biofuel subsidies
- Washington State energy policies score well – State ranked No. 6 in national report
- A Gift from the ’70s: Energy Lessons
- ComEd: Fight Global Warming One Pledge, One Light Bulb at a Time
- 'Green-tech' industry could create local jobs, report says
- Wholesale Internet Bandwidth Prices Keep Falling
- The candidates click on broadband
- Philly network build out continues, Portland’s Wi-Fi access points face cold winter
- Illinois – Highland fiber-optic system viable
- Pennsylvania – High speed Internet service slow in coming to rural areas
- Washington State starts 4-day work weeks
- Skokomish Tribe Proposing a Marina in Potlatch
- City of Shelton considers transportation impact fees for new developments
- Digging (Six Feet Under) For Scrap Metal
- Experts Urge Homeowners to Protect Trees from Wind

These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest

WORD OF THE DAY

Puissant • \PWISS-unt\ • adjective – Of great force or vigor: strong, powerful

Alfred staggered away from the door, gasping for air. His neighbor, Gomer, had just come from the local garlic festival, where he had enjoyed the pungent herb in all its many permutations. Unfortunately, Gomer’s pores had begun emitting puissant waves of garlic odor, miasma-like throughout the neighborhood. Weeks later, Alfred still experienced faint, wafting odors that made him shudder in remembrance of that fateful day.

WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?textField1=47.213805&textField2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=Shelton%2C%20WA%2C%20USA

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Fall storm blows into Washington (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_100708WXB_wind_washington_LJ.ec32f670.html?npc

Blustery night leads to chilly day – Includes wind speeds (KOMO-TV, Seatle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/30560249.html

Port Townsend council hints at city electric utility if voters disenfranchise PSE (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20081007/NEWS/810070305

Clallam County PUD commissioner argues against 3% electricity rate increase (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20081007/NEWS/810070307

AP Enterprise: In bad economy, power cutoffs soar (Associated Press)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5gxa6CESVTg4kMwjUstZFvjd1VKzAD93L5MV00

Energy Department warns of higher heating costs (The Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008235093_apwinterheating.html?syndication=rss

Real estate roundup: BPA leases Vancouver space (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/10/06/daily2.html?ana=from_rss

Edmonds neighbors pitch fit over new metal pole – Displeased by pole's aesthetics, some residents say their opinions weren't considered (The Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20081007/NEWS01/710079894/-1/rss02

Texas – Reliant Energy says it may look for a buyer (Dallas Morning News, TX)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-reliant_07bus.ART0.State.Edition1.39949d4.html

Michigan – Governor signs energy package into law: Includes greater use of renewable sources (The Associated Press)
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/081007/mi_energy_granholm.html?.v=1

United Kingdom – UK to run out of electricity this winter (The Inquirer, UK)
http://www.theinquirer.net/gb/inquirer/news/2008/10/07/uk-run-electricity-winter

What the Heck Is "Clean Coal"? It depends whom you ask. (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2201661/?from=rss

Nashville Electric Service‘s bill “round up” charitable program under fire (The Consumerist)
http://consumerist.com/5059692/nashville-electric-service-donates-to-charity-with-customers-money-but-not-their-permission

News Release – Fall Is the Ideal Time for Planting: PECO Says Plant the Right Tree in the Right Place (BusinessWire)
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/081007/20081007005888.html?.v=1

FISH & WILDLIFE

Canada – Report blames Ottawa for British Columbia sockeye peril (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=4029d241-bb61-44f1-8812-c16d5a858cca

Ten Eco Worst Fish to Eat – Six: Atlantic Farmed Salmon
http://green.msn.com/Articles/article.aspx?aid=650&GT1=45002&page=6

Ten Eco Best Fish to Eat – Five: Oysters (Farmed)
http://green.msn.com/Articles/article.aspx?aid=649&GT1=45002&page=5

Ten Eco Best Fish to Eat – Seven: Salmon, Wild (Alaska)
http://green.msn.com/Articles/article.aspx?aid=649&GT1=45002&page=7

Ten Eco Best Fish to Eat – Nine: Trout, Rainbow (Farmed)
http://green.msn.com/Articles/article.aspx?aid=649&GT1=45002&page=9

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

315 miles of Idaho rivers are up for protection – The major hurdle to designating Wild and Scenic Rivers is water rights “…Senator Church began his river conservation efforts in the 1950s after he saw thousands of salmon die when Idaho Power erected its Hells Canyon dams...” (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/524588.html

Hells Canyon Dam (Wikipedia)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hells_Canyon_Dam

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Geothermal energy development gathers steam (The Associated Press)
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/081007/wst_geothermal_conference.html?.v=1

A New Flexibility with Thin Solar Cells (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/07/science/07obsola.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

News Release –Oregon Elected Officials and Sherman County Community Celebrate the State's Newest Wind Power Projects (MarketWatch)
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/renewable-energy-leaders-oregon-elected/story.aspx?guid=%7B06B164A6-3628-495A-BE79-294795D27926%7D&dist=hppr

New Jersey – We'll become a world leader in wind power: New Jersey is powering up an ambitious plan to become a world leader in the use of wind-generated energy “Ed Note: NJ and every other state in the union…” (The Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008234842_apwindpower.html?syndication=rss

Olympia retiree builds solar bike (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008234411_solarbike07.html?syndication=rss

UN calls for review on biofuel subsidies (The Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/10/07/financial/f020729D21.DTL&feed=rss.business

CONSERVATION

Washington State energy policies score well – State ranked No. 6 in national report (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/environment/story/610086.html

Here’s a link to the conservation report (Links to PDF File at American Council for Energy Efficiency Economy)
http://www.aceee.org/pubs/e086_es.pdf

A Gift from the ’70s: Energy Lessons (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/10/07/science/07tier.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

News Release – ComEd Urges Customers to Fight Global Warming One Pledge, One Light Bulb at a Time (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=98359

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

'Green-tech' industry could create local jobs, report says (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/382038_energy07.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Wholesale Internet Bandwidth Prices Keep Falling (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/10/07/wholesale-internet-bandwidth-prices-keep-falling/

The candidates click on broadband – The US needs to boost fast Internet access. Fortunately, both presidential candidates agree (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/1006/p08s01-comv.html

Updates: Philly network build out continues, Portland’s Wi-Fi access points face cold winter (MuniWIreless)
http://www.muniwireless.com/2008/10/05/philly-network-buildout-continues-portland-stalled/

Illinois – Highland fiber-optic system viable: Startup costs put at $15.7 million (Belleville News Democrat, IL)
http://www.bnd.com/news/local/story/492510.html

Pennsylvania – High speed Internet service slow in coming to rural areas (Clarion County News, PA)
http://www2.theclarionnews.com/General_News/74915.shtml

GENERAL NEWS

Washington State starts 4-day work weeks – Several agencies try out schedule in cost-saving effort (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/610085.html

Skokomish Tribe Proposing a Marina in Potlatch (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/oct/06/potlatch-marina-floated-as-idea/?partner=RSS

City of Shelton considers transportation impact fees for new developments (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/5222/reftab/1896/Default.aspx

Digging (Six Feet Under) For Scrap Metal – The scrap metal crime wave that has been gripping much of the country is getting worse and a little weird (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95440401

Experts Urge Homeowners to Protect Trees from Wind (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities)
http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/30497204.html

DIVERSIONS

Fla. Fairgoers Catch Toddler Dropped From Ride
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/17634510/detail.html

Skydivers make unprecedented jump over Everest
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081005/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_nepal_everest_skydive;_ylt=Alt_7bB1jPgjW65wstk5wJ7tiBIF

Farmer carves out Calif. record with huge pumpkin
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081005/ap_on_fe_st/odd_giant_pumpkin;_ylt=Ai_kZuV4QZTtnG8a.yQX70LtiBIF

English judges' wigs get the chop
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081003/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_britain_wigs;_ylt=Ahagup.y3kzOlZa8zsd2aNbtiBIF