Tuesday, March 17, 2009

Energy News Digest for March 17, 2009

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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Stimulus Money Puts Clean Coal Projects on a Faster Track
- Scheduled Mason PUD 3 Power Outage in Oak Park Area This Morning
- State Legislators Miss the Mark with Argument against LNG Terminal
- Grant PUD Questions Heritage Center Price
- BPA Honors Outstanding Efforts And Accomplishments
- Electricity Thefts Surge In Bad Times
- NYPA: Forget White Plains, set up shop in Niagara
- Alcoa Cuts Dividend by 82% as It Tries to Cut Costs
- Cattle React To Magnetic Fields from Power Lines; Study Says
- Appeals Court Upholds Feds' Salmon Hatchery Policy
- California - Nature Conservancy Land Buy to Help Revive Coho
- Dam Sinkhole Raises Flooding Fears along Green River
- Oregon Ranchers Concerned With Water Rights Legislation
- Southern Idaho Groundwater Plan Dries Up Some Farmland
- Canadian Company Must Pay Costs in Lawsuit over Columbia Pollution
- Land Conservation Efforts Flourish across South Sound
- EPA Re-Evaluates 'Green Club' For Companies
- Water Tower Leak Puts On a Show in Oak Harbor
- Interior-FERC Feud over Offshore Renewables Winding Down
- Inside Washington: Rivalry Stymies Wind-Power Goal
- Regulators to Rethink Idaho Power Green Tags
- Green Wind Blowing At Walla Walla School
- Massachusetts Energy Siting Board Approves Cape Wind Certificates
- Cap-And-Trade Emissions Bill Dies in the House
- Myth Buster - Northwest Expert Illuminates on Climate Change
- Coen Brothers Join Debate: Can Coal Be Clean Energy?
- Big Telcos Drag Their Heels on Broadband Stimulus
- 8,000 Comcast User Passwords Exposed
- Comcast Phases In Areas for Converter Boxes
- Cisco Offers Its First Server Computer
- Tacoma, Olympia Newspapers Announce Layoffs
- Seattle Paper Shifts Entirely To the Web
- In Seattle, the World Still Turns, a Beacon in Memory of a Lost Newspaper
- Historic Front Pages from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer
- Bill Virgin, P-I Columnist - Class final: How to kill an American newspaper
- Weyerhaeuser Shuts Lumber Mills in Oregon, Oklahoma
- Clock Ticking on States to Spend Billions but Washington Still Writing the Rules
- Congress: Washington Ranks 14th in Congressional Clout

WORD OF THE DAY

Fendersmith • \FEND-err-smith \ • noun - a person employed to clean and repair the metal fenders before fireplaces in mansions, fine estates, or castles. In this archaic profession, the same person is usually also responsible for lighting and keeping the fire contained within the fireplace.

Prince Albert’s fingers shook dramatically as he moved the flame at the end of a long, wooden match towards the newspaper and kindling under the Yule log in the ceremonial fireplace. Only one thought ran through the amateur fendersmith’s mind: “If I blow this performance, I’ll truly be canned.”

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

Stimulus Money Puts Clean Coal Projects on a Faster Track (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/17/business/energy-environment/17coal.html?_r=1

Scheduled Mason County PUD No. 3 Power Outage in Oak Park Area This Morning (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6708/reftab/1632/t/SCHEDULED-POWER-OUTAGE-IN-OAK-PARK-AREA-THIS-MORNING/Default.aspx

Daily News Editorial - State Legislators Miss the Mark with Argument against LNG Terminal
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/03/17/editorial/doc49bee4a0232ca335164584.txt

Grant PUD Questions Heritage Center Price - Construction Costs Unknown (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/03/16/news/doc49be9cb499da5319198255.txt

BPA Honors Outstanding Efforts And Accomplishments - Winners of Administrator's Excellence Awards announced (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/260748/

Electricity Thefts Surge In Bad Times (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2009-03-16-electricity-thefts_N.htm

NYPA: Forget White Plains, set up shop in Niagara – Cheap Power is HERE! (Niagara Gazette, NY)
http://www.scoop.com/remote/article/include/79139682/53616c7465645f5fd5e2fb1fe21eb39879770302e6b6ffa0635d0c8697802b68

Alcoa Cuts Dividend by 82% as It Tries to Cut Costs (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/17/business/17alcoa.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Cattle React To Magnetic Fields from Power Lines; Study Says (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008870964_cows17.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Appeals Court Upholds Feds' Salmon Hatchery Policy (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/789580.html

You Can Read the Ruling Here (PDF File):
http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/opinions/view_subpage.php?pk_id=0000009417

California - Nature Conservancy Land Buy to Help Revive Coho (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/17/MNKA16F5S6.DTL&feed=rss.news

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Dam Sinkhole Raises Flooding Fears along Green River (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/41343402.html

Oregon Ranchers Concerned With Water Rights Legislation (Baker City Herald, OR)
http://www.bakercityherald.com/Local-News/Ranchers-concerned-with-water-rights-legislation

Southern Idaho Groundwater Plan Dries Up Some Farmland (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/789185.html

Teck Cominco Must Pay Colvilles' Costs in Lawsuit over Columbia River Pollution (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1908723~Teck_Cominco_must_pay_Colvilles__costs.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines

Land Conservation Efforts Flourish across South Sound (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/789686.html

EPA Re-Evaluates 'Green Club' For Companies (Seattle Times, I’m not just a customer…)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008870262_apepaprogram.html?syndication=rss

Water Tower Leak Puts On a Show in Oak Harbor (Whidbey News Times)
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/whidbey/wnt/news/41341879.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Interior-FERC Feud over Offshore Renewables Winding Down, Salazar Says (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/03/16/16greenwire-interiorferc-feud-over-offshore-renewables-win-10147.html

Inside Washington: Rivalry Stymies Wind-Power Goal (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008868934_apoffshorewinddispute.html?syndication=rss

Regulators to Rethink Idaho Power Green Tags (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/789331.html

Green Wind Blowing At Rogers - Students chipped in on the labor to help the school make way for a 53-foot wind turbine (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin)
http://union-bulletin.com/articles/2009/03/16/local_news/090316local02rogersturbine.txt

Massachusetts Energy Siting Board Approves Cape Wind Certificates (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/03/massachusetts-energy-siting-board-approves-cape-wind-certificates?src=rss

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Cap-And-Trade Emissions Bill Dies in the House - Remains Alive In the Senate (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/03/16/news/doc49be9cd81cf5e106055886.txt

Playing the Role of Myth Buster - Northwest Expert Illuminates on Climate Change (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/789688.html

Coen Brothers Join Debate: Can Coal Be Clean Energy? (Star-Tribune, Minneapolis, MN)
http://www.startribune.com/local/41349222.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aULPQL7PQLanchO7DiUr

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Big Telcos Drag Their Heels on Broadband Stimulus - Telecom giants are concerned that Washington's $8 billion plan to promote broadband access will force them to open their networks to other providers (BusinessWeek)
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/mar2009/tc20090316_000261.htm?campaign_id=yhoo

8,000 Comcast User Passwords Exposed - Comcast tells us only about 700 users impacted (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/8000-Comcast-User-Passwords-Exposed-101398

Comcast Phases In Areas for Converter Boxes (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_031609TTB-comcast-digitalES.40e720e9.html?rss

Cisco Offers Its First Server Computer (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/17/BUKD16GCT4.DTL&feed=rss.business

GENERAL NEWS

Tacoma, Olympia Newspapers Announce Layoffs (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/789426.html

Seattle Paper Shifts Entirely To the Web (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/17/business/media/17paper.html

In Seattle, the World Still Turns, a Beacon in Memory of a Lost Newspaper (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/17/us/17globe.html

Historic Front Pages from the Seattle Post-Intelligencer (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008870662_picovers.html?syndication=rss

Bill Virgin, P-I Columnist - Class final: How to kill an American newspaper
http://www.seattlepi.com/virgin/403824_virgin17.html

Weyerhaeuser Shuts Lumber Mills in Oregon, Oklahoma; Lumber Capacity Down 18 Percent (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008873561_weyerhaeuserplantclosure.html?syndication=rss

Clock Ticking on States to Spend Billions but Washington Still Writing Stimulus Rules (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008872195_whatnow.html?syndication=rss

Congress: Washington Ranks 14th in Congressional Clout (Tri-City Herald, Wa)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/511261.html?mi_email=Tri-City%20Herald_PM+%26+Breaking+News

DIVERSIONS

Robber's Heart-Attack Ploy Works Only Once
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/16/BADD16GCRI.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

Anti-Logger School Book Replaced In Grants Pass, OR
http://www.examiner.com/a-1908890~Anti_logger_school_book_replaced_in_Grants_Pass.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

After Dora Uproar, Nick and Mattel Soothe Moms
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090316/ap_on_en_tv/dora_for_tweens

Driving Lesson on Runway, Philippine Pilot Averts Crash
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090317/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_philippines_plane;_ylt=AveWS4MYUcneet99v1Gm.OPtiBIF

SONG OF THE DAY

Chase – Get it On
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YmX3uBsyEY8&feature=related

Monday, March 16, 2009

Energy News Digest for March 16, 2009

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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- PUD 3 Wraps up Power Restoration Efforts - Windy Weather Cause of Outages
- Cowlitz County - Wind Cuts Power to 3,100 PUD Customers
- Sunday’s Winds Create Trouble, Leave Many without Electricity
- New York – US Senator Schumer “Investigate NY electric rates”
- Canada - BC Hydro Rates To Rise 11 Per Cent by 2010
- Wireless Electricity, Not So Far Off
- PUD 3 Awards Students for Electricity-Related Projects at Science Fair
- Second Sea Lion Killed After State Finds Virus
- San Francisco Chronicle Editorial - Where Are the Salmon Solutions?
- Manila Clams Coming To Twanoh On Hood Canal
- Snowpack's Still Looking Light, but Incoming Weather Could Change That
- Lower Yakima Valley Well Water Concerns Addressed
- Dam Problem Increases Flood Risk in S. King County
- Chilean Town Withers in Free Market for Water
- Where is the Salish Sea?
- Everett Herald Op/Ed - Green Investments Will Sprout Huge Payoffs
- The Daily News Editorial - Time to Reshape Green-Energy Requirements
- Montana Renewable Energy Standards Facing Revision
- U.S. Senators Want $400 Million Spent On Wind Energy
- Lobbyists Say Wind Cuts Exposure to Fuel, Carbon Swings
- Battle Brewing Over Clean-Energy Delivery Grids
- Navy to Explore Turning Ocean Currents into Electrical Currents
- Stanwood Man Hopes Solar Power Pays Off
- Seattle Council Poised to Approve Rooftop Wind-Energy Generators
- Would You Want To Live Near A Wind Farm?
- Harnessing the Sun, With Help from Cities
- California Utility Prepares for Surge in Plug-In Electric Cars
- Manure Provides Green Power in Monroe
- Efficiency: Not Glam but Good at Saving Energy
- Stimulus-Funded ‘Green’ Jobs Triple Company’s Size in Puget Sound Region
- Pacific Gas and Electric energy-efficiency rebate program gets cash advance
- Governor's Emissions Tax Proposal Met with Opposition
- Lawmakers Thwart Gregoire's Cap-And-Trade Plan on Climate
- Seattle Times Editorial - Explain the Pause on a Key Climate-Change Bill
- Everett Herald Editorial - Curbing Greenhouse Gases: Show a Green Commitment
- An Army of Lobbyists Readies for Battle on the Climate Bill
- Latest Reports Reveal Carbon Market on Shaky Ground
- World Wide Web is 20 This Month
- Images: Berners-Lee and the Dawn of the Web
- Comcast Will Launch Wireless Internet Services Via Clearwire
- Alaska Internet Companies Hope Stimulus Is a Boon for the Bush
- Break out the Faraday Cages: Tacoma Cell Tower Dials up Resistance
- Last edition of print P-I set for Tuesday, Hearst says
- Seattle Times In Dire Trouble, Says Union Economist
- State Legislature: What's Hot, What's Not

WORD OF THE DAY

Feckless • \FECK-lus\ • adjective - 1: weak, ineffective 2: worthless, irresponsible

The windmills were still, their blades outstretched as if beseeching Aeolus, the Greek god of wind to stir them from their torpor. But the feckless winds would not come…not today. In the distance a dog barked. A nearby chorus of cricket song was almost a dirge for those whose computers were dark and silent…unable to allow access to their owners’ facebook accounts.

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

PUD 3 Wrapping up Power Restoration Efforts - Windy Weather Cause of Outages (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=523

Cowlitz County - Wind Cuts Power to 3,100 PUD Customers (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/03/16/area_news/doc49bddcd4b9cc8096826969.txt

Sunday’s Winds Create Trouble, Leave Many without Electricity (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/668011.html

New York – US Senator Schumer “Investigate NY electric rates” (Associated Press)
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--electricbills-ny0315mar15,0,201365.story

Canada - BC Hydro Rates To Rise 11 Per Cent by 2010 (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Hydro+rates+rise+cent+2010/1387410/story.html

Wireless Electricity, Not So Far Off (NY Times)
http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/13/wireless-electricity-not-so-far-off/?partner=rss&emc=rss

PUD 3 Awards Students for Electricity-Related Projects at Skookum Rotary's March 14 Science Fair (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=519

FISH & WILDLIFE

Second Sea Lion Killed After State Finds Virus (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20090314/NEWS02/703149989/

San Francisco Chronicle Editorial - Where Are the Salmon Solutions?
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/16/ED8316F0P9.DTL&feed=rss.opinion

Manila Clams Coming To Twanoh On Hood Canal - Settlement project could see 125,000 adults in 2-3 years (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/787104.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Hope in the Hills - Snowpack's Still Looking Light, but Incoming Weather Could Change That (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090313/NEWS04/703139969/0/BIZ01

Lower Yakima Valley Well Water Concerns Addressed (KNDU-TV, Yakima)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=10007859

Dam Problem Increases Flood Risk in S. King County (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1907176~Dam_problem_increases_flood_risk_in_S__King_County.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines

Chilean Town Withers in Free Market for Water (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/15/world/americas/15chile.html?_r=1

Where is the Salish Sea? (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008860075_apwasalishsea1stldwritethru.html

RENEWABLE & ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Everett Herald Op/Ed - Green Investments Will Sprout Huge Payoffs
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090314/OPINION03/703149996/-1/RSS05

The Daily News Editorial - Time to Reshape Green-Energy Requirements
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/03/16/editorial/doc49bc589e85575070445668.txt

Montana Renewable Energy Standards Facing Revision (Associated Press)
http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/renewable_energy_standards_facing_revision/8897/

U.S. Senators Want $400 Million Spent On Wind Energy (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE52C57B20090313

Lobbyists Say Wind Cuts Exposure to Fuel, Carbon Swings (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE52F1KE20090316

Battle Brewing Over Clean-Energy Delivery Grids (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/15/MNFV16FBEG.DTL&feed=rss.news

Navy to Explore Turning Ocean Currents into Electrical Currents (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/mar/16/navy-to-explore-turning-ocean-currents-into/?partner=RSS

Stanwood Man Hopes Solar Power Pays Off (Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090316/BIZ/703169968/-1/RSS03

Seattle Council Poised to Approve Rooftop Wind-Energy Generators (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008857934_windmills14m.html

As Interest in Small Wind Grows, So Does Resistance (Farmington Independent, MN)
http://www.farmingtonindependent.com/articles/index.cfm?id=11055&section=Minnesota%20News

Would You Want To Live Near A Wind Farm? “The mother of all NIMBYs” (High Country News, CO)
http://www.hcn.org/wotr/would-you-want-to-live-near-a-wind-far

Harnessing the Sun, With Help from Cities (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/15/science/earth/15solar.html

California Utility Prepares for Surge in Plug-In Electric Cars (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2009-03-15-plug-in-electric-cars_N.htm

Manure Provides Green Power in Monroe (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008857469_sundaybuzz15.html?syndication=rss

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Efficiency: Not Glam but Good at Saving Energy (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/13/BUTK16DMFF.DTL&type=business

Stimulus-Funded ‘Green’ Jobs Triple Company’s Size in Puget Sound Region (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/03/16/story4.html?b=1237176000%5E1794203

California - Pacific Gas and Electric energy-efficiency rebate program gets cash advance (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/14/BU0H16F0R6.DTL&feed=rss.business

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Governor's Emissions Tax Proposal Met with Opposition (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=10007794

Lawmakers Thwart Gregoire's Cap-And-Trade Plan on Climate (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008865324_capandtrade16m.html?syndication=rss

Seattle Times Editorial - Explain the Pause on a Key Climate-Change Bill
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2008855715_editb15green.html

Everett Herald Editorial - Curbing Greenhouse Gases: Show a Green Commitment
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090315/OPINION01/703159974/-1/RSS05

An Army of Lobbyists Readies for Battle on the Climate Bill (Yale Environment 360)
http://www.e360.yale.edu/content/feature.msp?id=2131

Latest Reports Reveal Carbon Market on Shaky Ground - Patchwork of initiatives across continent lack common ground (Daily Astorian, OR)
http://www.dailyastorian.com/Main.asp?SectionID=184&ArticleID=59213

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

World Wide Web is 20 This Month (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008865218_btweb16.html?syndication=rss

Images: Berners-Lee and the Dawn of the Web (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/2300-1023_3-10000532.html?tag=nl.e433

Comcast Will Launch Wireless Internet Services Via Clearwire - Portland will be the first city where Comcast will offer WiMAX service (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/123699570531920.xml&coll=7

Alaska Internet Companies Hope Stimulus Is a Boon for the Bush (Fairbanks News Miner, AK)
http://newsminer.com/news/2009/mar/16/internet-companies-hope-stimulus-boon-bush/

Break out the Faraday Cages: Tacoma Cell Tower Dials Up Resistance (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/668005.html

GENERAL NEWS

Last edition of print P-I set for Tuesday, Hearst says (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008867983_webpishutdown16.html

Seattle Times In Dire Trouble, Says Union Economist (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/03/16/daily4.html?ana=from_rss

State Legislature: What's Hot, What's Not (KIRO-Radio, Seattle)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=145452

DIVERSIONS

Estimating wind without an anemometer (wind gauge) Introducing the Beaufort Wind Scale
http://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2009/03/estimating-wind-without-anemometer-wind.html

Augusta Man Accused of Using Forklift To Move Car "In His Spot"
http://www.nbcaugusta.com/news/local/41186647.html

Stolen Bulldozer Buried At Texas Golf Course
http://www.kirotv.com/news/18925325/detail.html

Man Wants (to Use) Old Montana Street Bulbs to Grow Pot
http://www.examiner.com/a-1905712~Man_wants_old_Montana_street_bulbs_to_grow_pot.html?cid=rss-Montana_Headlines

Bikaraoke Steps Up to the Fitness Mike - an unholy mix of stationary biking and karaoke
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/16/DDES15VCDR.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

SONG OF THE DAY

Eric Clapton - Layla
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZEx9O9x8Jnw&feature=related

Eric Clapton – Layla (Acoustic)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoJbeewnq50&feature=related

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Estimating wind without an anemometer (wind guage)

The Beaufort Wind Scale is named after Sir Francis Beaufort, an admiral in the British Navy. He developed the scale in 1805 in order to estimate wind speed by noting how sails move in the wind. It turned out to be a great help and was later adapted for use on land.

Force 0
Strength: Calm 
Speed: Less than 1 mile per hour (mph) 
Observations: Tree leaves don't move, smoke rises vertically, sea is calm

Force 1 
Strength: Light Air 
Speed: 1-3 mph 
Observations: Tree leaves don't move, smoke drifts slowly, sea is lightly rippled

Force 2 
Strength: Slight Breeze 
Speed: 4-7 mph 
Observations: Tree leaves rustle, flags wave slightly, small wavelets or scale waves

Force 3 
Strength: Gentle Breeze 
Speed: 8-12 mph 
Observations: Leaves and twigs in constant motion, small flags extended, long un-breaking waves

Force 4 
Strength: Moderate Breeze 
Speed: 13-18 mph, 20-29 kph 
Observations: Small branches move, flags flap, waves with some whitecaps

Force 5 
Strength: Fresh Breeze 
Speed: 19-24 mph 
Observations: Small trees sway, flags flap and ripple, moderate waves with many whitecaps

Force 6 
Strength: Strong Breeze 
Speed: 25-31 mph 
Observations: Large branches sway, flags beat and pop, larger waves with regular whitecaps

Force 7 
Strength: Moderate Gale 
Speed: 32-38 mph 
Observations: Whole trees sway, large waves ("heaping sea")

Force 8 
Strength: Fresh Gale 
Speed: 39-46 mph 
Observations: Twigs break off trees, moderately high sea with blowing foam

Force 9 
Strength: Strong Gale 
Speed: 47-54 mph 
Observations: Branches break off trees, shingles blown from roofs, high crested waves

Force 10 
Strength: Whole Gale 
Speed: 55-63 mph 
Observations: Some trees blown down, damage to buildings, high churning white sea

Force 11 
Strength: Storm 
Speed: 64-74 mph
Observations: Widespread damage to trees and buildings, mountainous waves

Force 12 
Strength: Hurricane 
Speed: 75 mph or greater 
Observations: Severe and extensive damage

Friday, March 13, 2009

Energy News Digest for March 13, 2009

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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Grant County PUD Considers 3 Percent Rate Increase
- Grant PUD Reserves at Risk - Lower Stream Flows Blamed
- Chelan PUD to Appeal Whistleblower Decision
- Oregon - Wholesale Power Costs Major Issue for Coos Curry Electric
- Obama Admin Faces Power Grid vs. Public Lands Conundrum
- Warming Up: A Consumer Backlash against Rising Electricity Prices
- New York - Power Struggle Sparks St. Regis Mohawk Protest
- Wall Street Journal Op/Ed - There Is No Such Thing as Nuclear Waste
- FERC Issues Final EIS for Southern California Edison Hydro Projects
- Washington Chinook and Coho Runs Best in Years
- Coastal Coho Fishing Could Be Up This Year
- California Salmon Season Prospects Dim; Oregon Limited
- Sick Sea Lion Killed At Bonneville Dam
- NOAA Fisheries Proposes Protection for Pacific Smelt
- Columbia River Dredging Will Go At Full Blast
- Snohomish County PUD to Get $1M for Renewable Energy Projects
- Imperium Cuts 24 Jobs at Grays Harbor Biofuel Plant
- Vestas Wind Systems, Boeing join forces
- Europe’s Way of Encouraging Solar Power Arrives in the US
- Coal Plants May Add Solar Thermal Power
- PPL Providing More Clean, Renewable Electricity with Orono Hydro Plant
- Energy Pulse Commentary - Hydro Industry Seeks to Weaken Standards
- Pacific Gas & Electric Gets California Approval to Fund Smart Meters
- Connecticut – For Conservation Funds, Tax Proposed for Home Heating Oil
- Gray Areas Linger In Green Efforts
- Tribes Want to Talk To Governor about Climate Initiative
- Push to Reduce Greenhouse Gases Would Put a Price on Emitting Pollution
- Mason County Internet Provider Reports Phishing Attempts
- Everybody Wants a Cut of Broadband Stimulus Funds
- 2,000 Long Term Jobs at Stake in Belfair Sewer Project
- Oregon - From Dam Improvements to Mass Transit, Feds Pay
- Washington Department Could Be Renamed Commerce
- Moxee to Make Decision on Waste-Tire Plant Plan

WORD OF THE DAY

Flibbertigibbet • \flib-er-tee-JIB-ut\ • noun - A silly flighty person

How do you solve a problem like Maria?
How do you catch a cloud and pin it down?
How do you find a word that means Maria?
A flibbertigibbet! A will-o'-the wisp! A clown!

WORD ORIGIN FROM MERRIAM WEBSTER - "Flibbertigibbet" is one of many incarnations of the Middle English word "flepergebet," meaning "gossip" or "chatterer." It is a word created from sounds that were intended to represent meaningless chatter. Shakespeare apparently saw a devilish aspect to a gossipy chatterer; he used "flibbertigibbet" in King Lear as the name of a devil. This use never caught on, but the devilish connotation of the word reappeared over 200 years later when Sir Walter Scott used "Flibbertigibbet" as the nickname of an impish urchin in the novel Kenilworth. The impish meaning derived from Scott's character was short-lived and was laid to rest by the 19th-century's end, leaving us with only the "silly flighty person" meaning.

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

Grant County PUD Considers 3 Percent Rate Increase (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/03/12/news/doc49b9576510905200031978.txt

Grant PUD Reserves at Risk - Lower Stream Flows Blamed (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/03/12/news/doc49b957fa9aae0676532278.txt

Chelan PUD to Appeal Whistleblower Decision (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)
http://www.kpq.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=821

Oregon - Wholesale Power Costs Major Issue for Coos Curry Electric (Curry County Reporter, Gold Beach, OR)
http://www.currycountyreporter.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=4622

Obama Admin Faces Power Grid vs. Public Lands Conundrum (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/03/12/12greenwire-obama-admin-faces-21stcentury-grid-vs-public-l-10103.html

Warming Up: A Consumer Backlash against Rising Electricity Prices (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/03/12/12climatewire-warming-up-a-consumer-backlash-against-risin-10096.html

New York - Power Struggle Sparks St. Regis Mohawk Protest: over state’s diversion of electrical power set aside for the tribe's use (Indian Country Today)
http://www.scoop.com/remote/article/include/78806502/53616c7465645f5f2b08292712410b6dc927e0182963e0b1f04be603103d4b41

Wall Street Journal Op/Ed - There Is No Such Thing as Nuclear Waste
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123690627522614525.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

California – FERC Issues Final Environmental Impact Statement for Southern California Edison’s Big Creek Projects in the Upper San Joaquin River Watershed (FERC)
http://www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower/enviro/eis/2009/03-13-09.asp

FISH & WILDLIFE

Washington Chinook and Coho Runs Best in Years (Associated Press)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=144416

Coastal Coho Fishing Could Be Up This Year (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/mar/12/coastal-coho-fishing-could-be-up-this-year/

California Salmon Season Prospects Dim; Oregon Limited (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420ap_wa_disappearing_salmon.html

Sick Sea Lion Killed At Bonneville Dam (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420ap_or_sea_lion_killed.html

NOAA Fisheries Proposes Protection for Pacific Smelt (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1900791~NOAA_fisheries_proposes_protection_for_smelt.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Columbia River Dredging Will Go At Full Blast - Underwater explosives to tear apart mile of ancient lava flow (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20090313/NEWS02/703139922/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Snohomish County PUD to Get $1M for Renewable Energy Projects (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008852466_webpud13m.html

Imperium Cuts 24 Jobs at Grays Harbor Biofuel Plant (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/03/12/local_news/01news.txt

Vestas Wind Systems, Boeing join forces (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/03/09/daily42.html?ana=from_rss

Europe’s Way of Encouraging Solar Power Arrives in the US - pay homeowners and businesses top dollar for producing green energy (NY Times – Last time I looked it was already here…)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/13/business/energy-environment/13solar.html?ref=business

Coal Plants May Add Solar Thermal Power (Environmental Leader)
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/03/12/coal-plants-may-add-solar-thermal-power/

News Release - PPL Providing More Clean, Renewable Electricity with Restart of Orono Hydroelectric Plant: Project part of landmark salmon restoration agreement (PPL Maine)
http://www.pplweb.com/newsroom/newsroom+quick+links/news+releases/030909+PPL+restarts+Orono+dam.htm

Energy Pulse Commentary - Hydro Industry Seeks to Weaken Standards
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1968

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Pacific Gas & Electric Gets California Approval to Fund Smart Meters (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-BusinessofGreen/idUSTRE52C15720090313

Connecticut – For Conservation Funds, Tax Proposed for Home Heating Oil (Greenwich Time, CT)
http://www.greenwichtime.com/ci_11898589

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Gray Areas Linger In Green Efforts - Environmentalists worry new laws could stall progress (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/403543_climate13.html?source=rss

Tribes Want to Talk To Governor about Climate Initiative (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/03/12/local_news/05news.txt

Push to Reduce Greenhouse Gases Would Put a Price on Emitting Pollution (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/12/AR2009031203318.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Mason County Internet Provider Reports Phishing Attempts (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6665/reftab/1632/t/LOCAL-INTERNET-PROVIDER-REPORTS-PHISHING-ATTEMPTS/Default.aspx

Everybody Wants a Cut of Stimulus Funds - But not all rural broadband plans are created equal (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Everybody-Wants-a-Cut-Of-Stimulus-Funds-101355

GENERAL NEWS

2,000 Long Term Jobs at Stake - Mason County Wants Stimulus Funds for Belfair Sewer (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/mar/12/mason-county-wants-stimulus-funds-for-belfair/?partner=RSS

Oregon - From Dam Improvements to Mass Transit, Feds Pay (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1901453~From_dam_improvements_to_mass_transit__feds_pay.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Washington Department Could Be Renamed Commerce (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008853523_apwaxgrdepartmentofcommerce.html?syndication=rss

Moxee to Make Decision on Waste-Tire Plant Plan (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/2009/03/12/moxee-to-make-decision-on-waste-tire-plant-plan

DIVERSIONS

Used Couch for $27; Cat Included
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/403548_couchcat13.html?source=rss

Mom Who Bought Bogus Concert Tickets Gets Even
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_031309WAB-taylor-swift-KS.2f041d7a.html?rss?npc

Math Whiz, Dead for 450 Years, Gets TV Bill
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE52B5L120090312?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

Teen Gives Away Thousands in Cash He Found - Money Apparently Tossed By Drug Dealer
http://www.kirotv.com/money/18915379/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Dire Straits - Sultans of Swing
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SEULZIHru0

Thursday, March 12, 2009

Energy News Digest for March 12, 2009

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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Cold Spell Sets Puget Sound Energy Utility Records
- Portland General Electric Raises $175.9 Million
- Seattle Utilities Loosen Rule for Rate Assistance Eligibility
- Jumper's Daughter Thanks Grant PUD
- Bush May Have Set Back 'Clean Coal' Efforts by 10 Years, Report Says
- Maryland Regulators Ban Utility Shutoffs for Now
- Coho Forecast Bodes Well For Anglers, Businesses That Cater To Fishermen
- $7M Grant for Wildlife in Oregon, Idaho, Washington
- Centralia Votes to Join Salmon Partnership
- Gray Whales Return to Whidbey Waters
- Summer Water Might Be Below Normal
- Climate Change Accelerates Water Hunt in U.S. West
- Obama Signs U.S. Budget into Law; Oregon Gets $211 Million in Goodies
- Climate Change Course Reversed - Senate shelves efforts to limit CO2 emissions
- Green-Energy Changes a Difficult Balancing Act for Lawmakers
- Oregonians want green energy at any price, and that’s what we’re getting
- Renewable and Affordable - Green Answers, Blowing in the Wind
- Greenpeace Energy Report Projects Cheap, Clean Power - and more jobs
- Centralia OKs Energy Generation Ordinance
- Realtors Want Spending Paused on Port of Bremerton’s Energy Project
- Utah Will Spend Stimulus Cash on Clean-Energy Push
- U.S. Seeks to Spur Renewable Energy on Public Lands
- Too Many Old Stoves - Woodstoves Contribute to Air Quality Problems
- Energy Efficiency = New Era for Electric Utilities
- Electric Choice in Maryland Helps Smart-Grid Conservation
- WA Senate Wants to Study Any Cap-And-Trade Program
- Earth-Friendly Jobs Bill Passes State Senate
- Olympian Op/Ed - Climate Change Likely to Be Costly for Washington Residents
- Global Warming to Carry Big Costs for California
- The National Columnist - The Crumbling Case for Global Warming
- Planning For Future Must Consider Climate Change
- State of New York Eyes Global Warming in Project Reviews
- Comcast Is Now 3rd Largest U.S. Phone Company
- Google Turns Voicemail into Email
- Google's Openness Intensifies Focus on E-Mail Woes
- Faster Clearwire a Mixed Blessing
- West Texas Towns Get Fiber, Thank Verizon
- Wireless-Only Households State-By-State
- Wal-Mart to Enter Electronic Medical Records Arena
- Twitter As A Brand-Builder: Three Examples
- Mason County Sheriff Says Belfair Office ‘Absolutely Necessary'
- Pierce County Skipped Tens of Thousands of Property Inspections
- Another Delay in Mason County Property Tax Statements
- Washington State Patrol Investigating E-Mail
- Washington State Labor Council E-Mail
- Cutoff Day for Washington State Lawmakers
- White House Nominates Seattle Police Chief as Drug Czar
- Obama to States: Spend Stimulus Wisely - Or Else
- Simpson Closing Door Plant at Port Of Centralia
- State Agency Pays 10 Times More per Photocopy
- Webinar on Friday To Help Answer Hood Canal Bridge Closure Questions

WORD OF THE DAY

Acedia • \uh-SEE-dee-uh\ • noun - Apathy, boredom

Amelia stared out the window, the darkness of acedia overcoming her growing weariness with the ongoing chatter of her fellow workers who were in the ascending phase of a sugar high, fueled by toroidal-shaped, doughy pastries. Instead of focusing on the intricacies of filling out form 1524-B-ACE, she was flitting away from consciousness on a rainbow-colored unicorn.

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

Cold Spell Sets Puget Sound Energy Utility Records (Associated Press)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/403270_pse13.html?source=rss

Portland General Electric Raises $175.9 Million (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/03/09/daily30.html?ana=from_rss

Seattle Utilities Loosen Rule for Rate Assistance Eligibility (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/41135372.html

Jumper's Daughter Thanks Grant PUD (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/03/11/news/doc49b7f2316f398971573778.txt

Bush May Have Set Back 'Clean Coal' Efforts by 10 Years, Report Says (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/11/AR2009031102306.html?wprss=rss_politics

Maryland Regulators Ban Utility Shutoffs for Now (Associated Press)
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/03/11/ap6156267.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Coho Forecast Bodes Well For Anglers, Businesses That Cater To Fishermen (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/story/661157.html

$7M Grant for Wildlife in Oregon, Idaho, Washington (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1898295~_7M_grant_for_wildlife_in_Ore___Idaho__Wash_.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines

Centralia Votes to Join Salmon Partnership – Opponent dismisses group as “Big Ball of Fluff” (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.outdoorslc.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1236790066&archive=&start_from=&ucat=5&

Gray Whales Return to Whidbey Waters (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_031109WAB-gray-whales-KS.25d4c46e.html?rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Summer Water Might Be Below Normal (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1898304~Summer_water_might_be_below_normal.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines

Climate Change Accelerates Water Hunt in U.S. West (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE52900820090310?sp=true

Obama Signs U.S. Budget into Law; Oregon Gets $211 Million in Goodies (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/03/obama_signs_us_budget_into_law.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Climate Change Course Reversed - State Senate shelves efforts to limit CO2 emissions (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20090312/NEWS02/703129937/

Green-Energy Changes a Difficult Balancing Act for Lawmakers (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/03/12//area_news/doc49b8963b599fe653692973.txt

A Mighty Wind - Oregonians want green energy at any price, and that’s what we’re getting (Willamette Weekly)
http://wweek.com/columns/coverstory#35.18

Renewable and Affordable - Green Answers, Blowing in the Wind (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/11/AR2009031103831.html

Greenpeace Energy Report Projects Cheap, Clean Power -- and more jobs (Los Angeles Times, CA)
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2009/03/cheap-clean-pow.html

Centralia OKs Energy Generation Ordinance - provides an opportunity for residents to produce their own small-scale energy generating projects (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.outdoorslc.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1236789857&archive=&start_from=&ucat=5&

Realtors Want Spending Paused on Port's Kitsap Sustainable Energy and Economic Development Project (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/mar/11/realtors-want-spending-paused-on-seed/?partner=RSS

Utah Will Spend Stimulus Cash On Clean-Energy Push - Solar, wind, geothermal and biomass top the development list (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_11891417?source=most_viewed

U.S. Seeks to Spur Renewable Energy on Public Lands (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE52A64Q20090311

Too Many Old Stoves - Woodstoves Contribute to Air Quality Problems (Wild over Wood Smoke: Herald and News, Klamath Falls, OR)
http://www.heraldandnews.com/articles/2009/03/12/top_story/doc49b8abb8b67fc796024261.txt

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Energy Efficiency = New Era for Electric Utilities (Seeking Alpha)
http://seekingalpha.com/article/125173-energy-efficiency-new-era-for-electric-utilities

Baltimore Sun Columnist - Electric Choice in Maryland Helps Smart-Grid Conservation
http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/business/hancock/blog/2009/03/electric_choice_helps_smartgri.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

WA Senate Wants to Study Any Cap-And-Trade Program (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/784152.html

Earth-Friendly Jobs Bill Passes State Senate (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/915/story/505298.html?mi_email=Tri-City%20Herald_PM+%26+Breaking+News

Olympian Op/Ed - Climate Change Likely to Be Costly for Washington Residents
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/784154.html

Global Warming to Carry Big Costs for California (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/03/11/financial/f154111D00.DTL&feed=rss.business

The National Columnist - The Crumbling Case for Global Warming: Voters should ask politicians one simple question: ‘Why do you want to raise my energy prices?’ (Canada)
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2009/03/10/peter-foster-the-crumbling-case-for-global-warming.aspx

Planning For Future Must Consider Climate Change (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008847232_apsciclimatechange.html?syndication=rss

State of New York Eyes Global Warming in Project Reviews (NY Newsday)
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--greenhousegas-pro0311mar11,0,1970837.story

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Comcast Is Now 3rd Largest U.S. Phone Company (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/03/11/comcast-is-now-3rd-largest-us-phone-company/

Google Turns Voicemail into Email (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/12/AR2009031200367.html?wprss=rss_technology

Google's Openness Intensifies Focus on E-Mail Woes (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1898892~Google_s_openness_intensifies_focus_on_e_mail_woes.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Faster Clearwire a Mixed Blessing (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/brierdudley/2008844214_brier12.html?syndication=rss

West Texas Towns Get Fiber, Thank Verizon (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/03/11/west-texas-towns-get-fiber-thank-verizon/

Wireless-Only Households State-By-State (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008840547_apcellphoneonlystates.html?syndication=rss

Wal-Mart to Enter Electronic Medical Records Arena (Associated Press)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11887344

Twitter As A Brand-Builder: Three Examples (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10192490-2.html?tag=nl.e433

GENERAL NEWS

Mason County Sheriff Says Belfair Office ‘Absolutely Necessary' (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/mar/11/mason-county-sheriff-says-belfair-office/?partner=RSS

Pierce County Skipped Tens of Thousands of Property Inspections, Assessor Says (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/politics/2009/03/11/pierce_county_skipped_tens_of_thousands_

Another Delay in Mason County Property Tax Statements (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6656/reftab/1632/t/ANOTHER-DELAY-IN-PROPERTY-TAX-STATEMENTS/Default.aspx

Washington State Patrol Investigating E-Mail (Seattle Time)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008844278_apwaxgremailinvestigation7thldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

Washington State Labor Council e-mail (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008843314_webwslcemail11.html?syndication=rss

Cutoff Day for Washington State Lawmakers (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_031209WAB-AP-olympia-lawmakers-LJ.2a42723f.html?rss?npc

White House Nominates Seattle Police Chief as Drug Czar (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008840620_webdrugczar11m.html?syndication=rss

Obama to States: Spend Stimulus Wisely — Or Else (Associated Press)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11895902

Simpson Closing Door Plant at Port Of Centralia (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)
http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews/?SIMPSON-CLOSING-DOOR-ON-PORT-OF-CENTRALI=1&blockID=43992&feedID=410

State Agency Pays 10 Times More per Photocopy (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_031209BUB_agency-pays-more-photocopy-JM.29cef417.html?rss?npc

Webinar On Friday To Help Answer Hood Canal Bridge Closure Questions (Port Townsend Leader, WA)
http://www.ptleader.com/Main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=23644

DIVERSIONS

Oklahoma May Ban Eyeball Tattoos
http://www.kirotv.com/health/18905831/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_12pm&tmi=sea_12pm_1_02000103112009&ts=H

Mix-Up Sends Corpse, Not Fish, To Pet Store
http://www.kirotv.com/money/18904636/detail.html

Eastern Oregon Professor, Wife Say Drawing Hides Leonardo's Self-Portrait
http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2009/03/eastern_oregon_professor_wife.html

Man Survives Plunge over Niagara Falls
http://www.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/americas/03/11/niagara.plunge/index.html?eref=ib_topstories

SONG OF THE DAY

Tears for Fears - Everybody Wants to Rule the World
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ughqjbzx2Fk

Wednesday, March 11, 2009

Energy News Digest for March 11, 2009

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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Mason County PUD No. 3 Commission Adopts Average 3% Rate Increase
- Mason PUD (3) Approves Rate Increase
- Mason County PUD No. 3 Adopts 3% Rate Increase
- Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative Power Rate Hike Could Grow
- Lewis County Power Use Tops 1 Billion Kilowatts
- Lewis County PUD Urges Business to Support Dams
- Jobs expected to flow with planned upgrade at Lookout Point Dam
- CREDIT: Richland Electric Customers Get a Break on Bills
- Oregonian Op/Ed - BPA's Wright Thanks Congress for "A Miracle"
- Oregon Lumber Mill Sues PacifiCorp Over Grid Connection
- Idaho Power to Consult Residents on Oregon Power Line Plan
- Maryland - Rushing Into Energy Legislation Could Produce Nasty Shock
- Energy Department Made $500 Million Math Error on Clean Coal Project
- Coal to Give Way to Natural Gas for U.S. Electricity?
- 32 Vermont Towns Demand Closing of Yankee Nuclear Power Plant
- Virginia Man Pays His $350 Electric Bill in Pennies
- California Must Step Up to Save Salmon, Experts Tell Legislators
- Pacific Fishery Council Cuts Whiting Harvest
- Orcas Swim from Puget Sound to Monterey in 11 Days
- Lake Chelan Basin Snow runoff may be near all-time low
- Oregon’s US Senators Tout Dredging Projects in Bill
- Clallam County PUD Sewer System for Carlsborg Could Start 2011
- Wash. Senate Approves Measure on Energy Targets
- Seattle Times - Protect Initiative 937's Incentives for Renewable Power
- Grays Harbor Company Would Turn Wood Waste to Biofuel
- Wind Power Helps Lift Port of Longview to New Heights
- Tower of Power - Lewis County Lands Its First Wind Turbine
- Local Firm Plans to Harness The Pacific For Electricity
- Recession Has Taken Toll on Alternative Energy
- Alternative Power Revenue Soars
- Cleaner Trash-To-Energy Tech Hits the Ground
- WA Senate Passes Energy Efficiency Bill
- NW Energy Efficiency Alliance Named as Award Winner
- No Lights Policy Saves Energy and Birds
- US Utilities Gear Up For Fight over Climate-Law Revenue
- EPA Proposes National Greenhouse Gas Emissions Registry
- No Skepticism on the Energy Gap
- Telecom Firms Eager to Help U.S. Spend $7.2 Billion
- Broadband Infrastructure Meeting Standing Room Only
- Broadband Policy Plans Kicked Off in D.C.
- Hood Canal Bridge Project on Time
- Governor Gregoire Touts Commerce, Names New CTED Director
- Senate Passes 'Everything but Marriage' Bill
- Newspapers Would Get Tax Cut under House Bill
- Obama Considering Aerial Tanker Deal Delay

WORD OF THE DAY

Proliferate • \pruh-LIFF-er-rayt\ • verb - To grow or increase in number rapidly

Spontaneous generation was the only solution the PUD energy analyst had for the sudden proliferation of alternative energy “experts” that appeared seemingly out of thin air one morning. “It’s always windy here,” blustered one after a rare summer windstorm. “I’ll just dam this fish-bearing creek,” babbled another. “I’ve got a two-year supply of baked beans,” mumbled one gasbag.

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

Mason County PUD No. 3 Commission Adopts Average 3% Rate Increase (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=515

Mason PUD (3) Approves Rate Increase (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/782901.html

Mason County PUD No. 3 Adopts 3% Rate Increase (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6646/reftab/1632/Default.aspx

Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative Power Rate Hike Could Grow - Bonneville Power Administration might boost electricity rates more than it recently projected (Baker City Herald, OR)
http://www.bakercityherald.com/Local-News/Power-rate-hike-could-grow

Lewis County Power Use Tops 1 Billion Kilowatts (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.outdoorslc.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1236703809&archive=&start_from=&ucat=5&

Lewis County PUD Urges Business to Support Dams (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.outdoorslc.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1236704321&archive=&start_from=&ucat=5&

Hydroelectric Boost - Jobs Expected To Flow with Planned Upgrade at Lookout Point Dam (Salem Statesman-Journal, OR)
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/cityregion/9309431-41/story.csp

CREDIT: Richland Electric Customers Get a Break on Bills (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/504581.html

Oregonian Op/Ed - BPA's Wright Thanks Congress for "A Miracle"
http://blog.oregonlive.com/mapesonpolitics/2009/03/bpas_wright_thanks_congress_fo.html

Oregon Lumber Mill Sues PacifiCorp Over Grid Connection (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1895835~Lumber_mill_sues_PacifiCorp_over_grid_connection.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Idaho Power to Consult Residents on Oregon Power Line Plan (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1896590~Idaho_Power_to_consult_residents_on_Ore__line_plan.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Maryland - Rushing Into Energy Legislation Could Produce Nasty Shock (Baltimore Sun, MD)
http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-bz.hancock11mar11,0,4001160.column

Energy Department Made $500 Million Math Error on Clean Coal Project (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/11/science/earth/11coal.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Coal to Give Way to Natural Gas for U.S. Electricity? (Energy Current)
http://www.energycurrent.com/index.php?id=3&storyid=16587

Entergy Go Home! 32 Vermont Towns Demand Closing of Yankee Nuclear Power Plant (InfoShop News)
http://news.infoshop.org/article.php?story=2009entergy

Virginia Man Pays His $350 Electric Bill in Pennies (Hampton Roads, VA – Ha, Ha, Ha!)
http://hamptonroads.com.nyud.net/2009/03/virginia-man-pays-his-350-electric-bill-pennies

FISH & WILDLIFE

California Must Step Up to Save Salmon, Experts Tell Legislators (Sacramento Bee, CA – Wow! What was happening between 1995 and 2003?)
http://www.sacbee.com/378/story/1688882.html?mi_rss=Environment

Pacific Fishery Council Cuts Whiting Harvest (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1897635~Pacific_fishery_council_cuts_whiting_harvest.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines

Orcas Swim from Puget Sound to Monterey in 11 Days (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/782547.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Lake Chelan Basin Snow Runoff May Be Near All-Time Low (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090310/NEWS04/703109948/-1/NEWS90

Oregon’s US Senators Tout Dredging Projects in Bill (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1897068~Wyden__Merkley_tout_dredging_projects_in_bill.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Clallam County PUD Sewer System for Carlsborg Could Start Service in April 2011 (Sequim Gazette, WA)
http://www.sequimgazette.com/topstory/articleDetail.exm/Index/article/2009-03-11_PUD_sewer_system_for_Carlsborg__could_start_service_in_April_2011/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Wash. Senate Approves Measure on Energy Targets - Washington's largest utilities may get some breathing room in meeting new green-energy targets under a bill that passed the Senate Tuesday night (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008838512_apwaxgralternativeenergy.html?syndication=rss

Seattle Times Guest Columnist - Protect Initiative 937's Incentives for Renewable Power
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008837346_opinb11inslee.html?syndication=rss

Grays Harbor Company Would Turn Wood Waste to Biofuel (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/03/10/local_news/03news.txt

Wind Power Helps Lift Port of Longview to New Heights (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/03/10//area_news/doc49b5b5769a4e9718040286.txt

Tower of Power - Lewis County Lands Its First Wind Turbine (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.outdoorslc.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1236705734&archive=&start_from=&ucat=5&

Columbian Columnist - Local Firm Plans to Harness The Pacific For Electricity
http://columbian.com/article/20090311/OPINION03/703119994/-1/OPINION

Recession Has Taken Toll on Alternative Energy (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/10/BUVS16CRCG.DTL&feed=rss.business

Alternative Power Revenue Soars (Austin Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2009/03/09/daily23.html?ana=from_rss

Cleaner Trash-To-Energy Tech Hits the Ground (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10192431-54.html?tag=nl.e433

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

WA Senate Passes Energy Efficiency Bill (Associated Press)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=9981570

News Release - NW Energy Efficiency Alliance Named as 2009 ENERGY STAR(R) Partner of the Year (PR Newswire)
http://ca.sys-con.com/node/870579

No Lights Policy Saves Energy and Birds (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/environment/2009/march/No-Lights-Policy-Saves-Energy-and-Birds.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

US Utilities Gear Up For Fight over Climate-Law Revenue (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200903101524DOWJONESDJONLINE000699_FORTUNE5.htm

EPA Proposes National Greenhouse Gas Emissions Registry (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/10/AR2009031001445.html?nav=rss_email/components

No Skepticism on the Energy Gap (NY Times)
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/11/no-doubt-about-energy-gap/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Telecom Firms Eager to Help U.S. Spend $7.2 Billion (Reuters)
http://tech.yahoo.com/news/nm/20090310/wr_nm/us_broadband_usa_1

Broadband Infrastructure Meeting Standing Room Only - Agencies in charge of $7.2 billion begin process (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Broadband-Infrastructure-Meeting-Standing-Room-Only-101296

Broadband Policy Plans Kicked Off in D.C. (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/03/10/broadband-policy-plans-kicked-off-in-dc/

GENERAL NEWS

Hood Canal Bridge Project on Time (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008838806_webbridge11.html?syndication=rss

Governor Gregoire Touts Commerce, Names New CTED Director (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008837849_apwagovernorcommerce.html?syndication=rss

Senate Passes 'Everything but Marriage' Bill (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/41073467.html

Newspapers Would Get Tax Cut under House Bill (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008838490_webnewspapertaxcut11.html?syndication=rss

Obama Considering Aerial Tanker Deal Delay - Move on List of Possible Budget Cuts (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/10/AR2009031003627.html?wprss=rss_business

DIVERSIONS

Woman Hit with 14-Year-Old Traffic Ticket
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/18894241/detail.html

Is There Room For Colbert In Space?
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008838199_colbert11.html?syndication=rss

One-Eyed Filmmaker Conceals Camera in Prosthetic
http://tech.yahoo.com/news/ap/20090311/ap_on_hi_te/eu_eye_camera_6

Xcel Energy's Million-Dollar Bill Misprint a Shock
http://www.9news.com/rss/article.aspx?storyid=111390

SONG OF THE DAY

Long Distance Dedication for Steve Wright: Barry Manilow - It's A Miracle
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yTKVm6HY25s