Energy News Digest for March 25, 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)

 

·         Oregonian Columnist - The Case against Fowler's Bonanza

·         Anderson Island’s Underwater Puget Sound Power Cable Repairs Taking Extra Time

·         For Utility Meters: Nearly $34 Million Coming to Kitsap, Other Regional Bases

·         New York Power Authority Scraps Rate Hike Plans

·         California - Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant Restarts Reactor

·         Thefts of Electricity and Natural Gas from Utilities Are Increasing

·         Illinois - Utilities Customers May Get Natural Gas Relief

·         Smart Grid Leadership: The Top Ten “Smartest” States in 2009

·         Utilities Can Play a Critical Role in Economic Recovery

·         Hundreds of Killer Whales Seen In Gulf of Mexico

·         What We Need Is 'One Orca, One Vote'

·         Conservation Group Buys Easement to Help Salmon

·         Feds Could Pay For Half of New Ocean Shores Water Plant

·         Lawmakers Debate Clean-Energy Initiative Changes

·         Who Owns the Wind? An Emerging Public Policy Issue

·         U.S. Paper Makers Seek Renewable Energy Credit

·         Some See Daylight at Last for U.S. Feed-In Tariffs

·         Wells Fargo Finances Solar Projects

·         Oregonian Op/Ed - Insuring Ourselves against Energy Uncertainty

·         Marysville Kid Leads Energy-Saving Charge

·         Xcel Energy Launches Home Energy-Efficiency Programs

·         Global Warming Giving Nuclear New Claim to Clean

·         Lake Wenatchee-Area Residents Demand PUD Fiber

·         Risk Factor Could Affect Broadband Stimulus Payouts

·         Cables Of Madison County - Voters in Highland to Weigh Fiber-Optics

·         Sprint Will Roll out Wimax Service in 10 Cities in 2009

·         Union Members Approve Strike at AT&T

·         Mason County Making Additional Cuts to Keep a Balanced Budget

·         South Kitsap Woman Gets 18 Years for Panther Lake Killing

·         Promotion Gives Simpson Investment Company New Chief

·         Lumber Demand Expected To Hit Historic Low

·         Heavy Mountain Snow Creates Fierce Driving Conditions

·         Scaled-Back School Levy May Go to North Mason Voters

·         Senate Approves Former Wash Governor Locke for Commerce

 

WORD OF THE DAY

 

Edentulous • \ee-DEN-chuh-luss\ • adjective - Having no teeth: toothless

 

The lions looked fierce, prowling the moat that surrounded the disgraced energy trading company…the sounds of occasional growls and grunts reaching the ears of startled pedestrians casually passing by on the raised sidewalk. “No need to fear ‘em,” whispered the fantastically garbed doorman. “Since we bought then from the energy regulators, we were sure that they were edentulous.”

 

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

 

Oregonian Columnist - The Case against Fowler's Bonanza: Former Portland General Electric Chief gets $4.5 million going-away present

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/steve_duin/index.ssf?/base/news/1237607708116510.xml&coll=7

 

Anderson Island’s Underwater Puget Sound Power Cable Repairs Taking Extra Time (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/687170.html

 

For Utility Meters: Nearly $34 Million Coming to Kitsap, Other Regional Bases (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/mar/24/nearly-34-million-coming-to-kitsap-other-bases/?partner=RSS

 

New York Power Authority Scraps Rate Hike Plans (The Business Review)

http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/stories/2009/03/23/daily25.html?ana=from_rss

 

California - Diablo Canyon Nuclear Plant Restarts Reactor (Examiner.com)

http://www.examiner.com/a-1923989~Diablo_Canyon_nuclear_plant_restarts_reactor.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

 

Thefts of Electricity and Natural Gas from Utilities Are Increasing (Kansas City Star)

http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1104948.html

 

Illinois - Utilities Customers May Get Natural Gas Relief (The Telegraph, Alton, IL Ed. Note: Ha! Ha! This is one of my favorite headlines of the day!)

http://www.thetelegraph.com/news/gas_24888___article.html/natural_customers.html

 

Smart Grid Leadership: The Top Ten “Smartest” States in 2009 (Smart Grid News)

http://www.smartgridnews.com/artman/publish/commentary/Smart_Grid_Leadership_The_Top_Ten_Smartest_States_in_2009-546.html

 

New Jersey - PSEG Says Utilities Can Play a Critical Role in Economic Recovery (Electric Energy Online)

http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&id=107950

 

FISH & WILDLIFE

 

Hundreds of Killer Whales Seen In Gulf of Mexico (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/798057.html

 

What We Need Is 'One Orca, One Vote' - It’s hard to save Puget Sound when we're rummaging under the couch for spare change (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2009/03/20/puget-sound/18919/

 

Conservation Group Buys Easement to Help Salmon (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_id_salmon_easement.html

 

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

 

Feds Could Pay For Half of New Ocean Shores Water Plant (The Daily World)

http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/03/24/local_news/04news.txt

 

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

 

Lawmakers Debate Clean-Energy Initiative Changes (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/41797367.html

 

Who Owns the Wind? An Emerging Public Policy Issue (Energy Pulse)

http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1984

 

U.S. Paper Makers Seek Renewable Energy Credit (Associated Press)

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/03/24/ap6208016.html

 

Some See Daylight at Last for U.S. Feed-In Tariffs (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/03/24/24greenwire-some-see-daylight-at-last-for-us-feedin-tariff-10271.html

 

Wells Fargo Finances Solar Projects (Los Angeles Business from bizjournals)

http://www.bizjournals.com/losangeles/stories/2009/03/23/daily15.html?ana=from_rss

 

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

 

Oregonian Op/Ed - Insuring Ourselves against Energy Uncertainty

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/03/insuring_ourselves_against_ene.html

 

Marysville Kid Leads Energy-Saving Charge (Everett Herald, WA)

http://heraldnet.com/article/20090325/NEWS01/703259789

 

Xcel Energy Launches Home Energy-Efficiency Programs (Denver Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2009/03/23/daily32.html?ana=from_rss

 

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

 

Global Warming Giving Nuclear New Claim to Clean (ASSOCIATED PRESS)

http://www.citizen-times.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=200990325030

 

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

 

Lake Wenatchee-Area Residents Demand PUD Fiber (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090324/NEWS04/703249957?Lake-Wenatchee-area-residents-demand-PUD-fiber

 

Risk Factor Could Affect Broadband Stimulus Payouts (C/NET News)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10203585-38.html?tag=nl.e703

 

Cables Of Madison County - Voters in Highland to Weigh Fiber-Optics (St Louis Dispatch, MO) 
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/sciencemedicine/story/05F4EC7DC35B9F8C86257584001894F1?OpenDocument

 

Sprint Will Roll out Wimax Service in 10 Cities in 2009 – Including Seattle & Portland (Kansas City Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2009/03/23/daily22.html?ana=from_rss

 

Union Members Approve Strike At AT&T (The Business Journal of Milwaukee)

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/03/23/daily27.html?ana=from_rss

 

GENERAL NEWS

 

Mason County Making Additional Cuts to Keep a Balanced Budget (KMAS Radio, Shelton)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6791/reftab/1632/t/COUNTY-MAKING-ADDITIONAL-CUTS-TO-KEEP-A-BALANCED-BUDGET/Default.aspx

 

South Kitsap Woman Gets 18 Years for Panther Lake Killing (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/mar/24/south-kitsap-woman-gets-18-years-for-panther/?partner=RSS

 

Promotion Gives Simpson Investment Company New Chief (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/687425.html

 

Lumber Demand Expected To Hit Historic Low (Puget Sound Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/03/23/daily23.html?ana=from_rss

 

Heavy Mountain Snow Creates Fierce Driving Conditions (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/weather/19009867/detail.html

 

Scaled-Back School Levy May Go to North Mason Voters (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/mar/24/scaled-back-school-levy-may-go-to-north-mason/?partner=RSS

 

Senate Approves Former Wash Governor Locke for Commerce (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008888361_aplockecommerce.html?syndication=rss

 

DIVERSIONS

 

More Americans Go Fishing As Recession Deepens

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090319/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_usa_fishing_feature;_ylt=AkFywg2Hm1KS1PYA6ur50TXtiBIF

 

Bernie Madoff's Jail Number Is a Queens Man's Lotto Winner

http://www.nydailynews.com/money/2009/03/23/2009-03-23_bernie_madoffs_pain_is_a_queens_mans_gai.html

 

Washington State Capitol Cutback Hits Flowers Too

http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/798053.html

 

Romantic Teen Seeks Prom Date, Gets Cops Instead

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090325/ap_on_fe_st/odd_prom_problem;_ylt=Am_GFu8BJQcbDK4m.v4VfSXtiBIF

 

Guard Fired After Locking New Hire In With Inmate

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090325/ap_on_fe_st/odd_guard_fired_prank;_ylt=Ajx99VmdgatKvzYPRoUvXAvtiBIF

 

SONG OF THE DAY

 

Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run (Studio, 1975)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f3t9SfrfDZM

 

Bruce Springsteen - Born To Run (Live, Acoustic)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mfzov0Cq90o

Energy News Digest for March 24, 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)

- Intalco Says Plant Could Close Without Power Deal
- Natural Gas, Suddenly Abundant, Is Cheaper
- Tribes Want Policies to Help Them Aid Nation’s Hydropower Needs
- Tribes, Environmentalists Fight E. Idaho Gas Plant
- Detroit Electric bills may jump 11 % this year
- Michigan Residents Worried Energy Rate Hikes Will Leave Them in Dark
- DTE Energy CEO gets compensation of $7M in 2008
- Minn. Farmers, Rural Electric Associations at Odds
- Power to the People: 7 Ways to Fix the Grid, Now
- Birds vs. Utilities: In This Springtime Battle, the Parakeets Appear to Be Winning
- Why Don't We Bury More Power Lines?
- Cedar River Salmon Recovery Project Falls Apart
- Salmon and Culverts at Heart of Legal Battle between Tribes, Washington State
- 2017 Is just around the Corner - Time is running out for salmon
- NY Times Op-Ed - Cat Got Your Fish?
- NOAA Set for Larger Policy Role under First Female Chief
- NOAA Chief Believes in Science as Social Contract
- Bremerton in Line to Get $6 Million for Water Quality
- Livestock Water Bills Go Nowhere
- New Oregon Water Rules May Cost Bend $22M
- Grays Harbor County PUD Looking at Local Hydro Projects
- Clark PUD Nears 20-Year Deal to Buy Wind Power
- Renewable Energy vs. Wilderness - Environmentalists in a Clash of Goals
- California Senator Seeks to Block Solar Power from Desert Lands
- In Fight Over Clean Energy, Will 'Environmentalists' Stand With Science?
- Oregon - Wind Farm Proposed Near Helix
- 'Green' Energy Threatens B.C. Rivers, Report Warns
- The Price of Being Green
- North Central Washington Braces for an Alternative Energy Future
- Detroit News Editorial - Editorial: Consumers will pay costs of going green
- The Dirty Green (Transmission) Line
- In A Sluggish Economy, Wind Energy Is Strong
- Are Microwave Ovens Good for the Environment?
- Montana - Energy Conservation Discussed In Helena
- Of Clean Tech and Thomas Edison
- E.P.A. Moves toward Regulating Greenhouse Gases
- Climate Change 'Big Priority' For Energy Commission Chief
- GOP Re-Names Climate Change Bill - Now It's an 'Energy Tax'!
- Washington Post Editorial - Regulating Carbon
- Climate Change Myths and Facts
- Chicago taxpayers on hook for carbon credits that do little to fight global warming
- Climate Change Comes To Your Backyard
- 2009 Oregon Legislature - Area to Thrive Despite Climate Change
- EPA: Global Warming Threatens Public Health, Welfare
- Urban Residents Generate Lower Co2 Emissions than Suburbanites
- "Unafraid" Of Internet, China Appears to Block YouTube
- Oregon Woman Dies after Diving Accident near Hoodsport
- Expect Traffic To Double On Highway 101 During Bridge Closure
- Earmark for Weather Radar Delights Pros, Amateurs
- Red Flags That Muni Investors Can’t See?
- Legislators to Use Their Newsletters to Campaign For A Tax Increase?
- Senator Proposes Nonprofit Status for Newspapers
- Colbert Wins NASA Space Station Name Contest
- Boy Accused of Flatulence, Banned From Bus
- Dog Eats Cash, Owner Picks up Deposits

WORD OF THE DAY

Ignoble • \ig-NOH-bul\ • adjective – 1: Of low birth or common origin *2: characterized by baseness, lowness, or meanness

Darkness seeped into the sparely furnished sitting room in London’s east end. Two scurrilous looking men were conferring in low tones, their battered and stained teacups clinking like gunshots in the silent domicile. Their ignoble motives were obvious to the short-lived housefly, who hovered over the hastily drawn bomb plans that had been scrawled on the wrinkled, discolored piece of foolscap on the table.

(Hello Bulwer-Lytton Prize Committee!)

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

Intalco Says Plant Could Close Without Power Deal (The Bellingham Herald, WA)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/839687.html

Natural Gas, Suddenly Abundant, Is Cheaper (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/21/business/energy-environment/21gas.html?_r=1&th&emc=th

Tribes Want Policies to Help Them Aid Nation’s Hydropower Needs (Indian Country Today)
http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/politics/41561732.html

Tribes, Environmentalists Fight E. Idaho Gas Plant (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/797193.html

Detroit Electric bills may jump 11 % this year - users could pay an average of $7-$10 more a month by July (The Detroit News, MI)
http://www.detnews.com/article/20090323/BIZ/903230384/1409/Electric+bills+may+jump+11+++this+year

Michigan Residents Worried Energy Rate Hikes Will Leave Them in Dark (WLNS-TV, Lansing, MI)
http://www.wlns.com/Global/story.asp?S=10060023&nav=menu25_2

DTE Energy CEO gets compensation of $7M in 2008 (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/03/23/financial/f165816D75.DTL&feed=rss.business

Minn. Farmers, Rural Electric Associations at Odds (Associated Press)
http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/ap/index.cfm?page=view&id=D97278NG2

Power to the People: 7 Ways to Fix the Grid, Now (Wired Magazine)
http://www.wired.com/science/discoveries/magazine/17-04/gp_intro

Birds vs. Utilities: In This Springtime Battle, the Parakeets Appear to Be Winning (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/22/nyregion/connecticut/22birdsct.html?_r=1

Why Don't We Bury More Power Lines? (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/03/why-dont-we-bury-more-power-lines?src=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Cedar River Salmon Recovery Project Falls Apart (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/18975303/detail.html

Salmon and Culverts at Heart of Legal Battle between Tribes, Washington State (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/mar/21/salmon-and-culverts-heart-legal-battle-between-tri/?partner=RSS

2017 Is just around the Corner - Time is running out for salmon (High Country News, CO)
http://www.hcn.org/wotr/2017-is-just-around-the-corner

NY Times Op-Ed - Cat Got Your Fish? The use of wild fish in animal feed is a serious problem for the world’s food systems (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/22/opinion/22greenberg.html

NOAA Set for Larger Policy Role under First Female Chief (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/20/AR2009032003295.html?wprss=rss_politics

NOAA Chief Believes in Science as Social Contract (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/24/science/earth/24prof.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Bremerton in Line to Get $6 Million for Water Quality (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/mar/23/bremerton-on-short-list-to-receive-6-million-for/

Livestock Water Bills Go Nowhere (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/legislature/story/793174.html

New Oregon Water Rules May Cost Bend $22M - State considering changes to drinking water systems to comply with EPA rules (Bend Bulletin, OR)
http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090320/NEWS0107/903200404/-1/rss

RENEWABLE & ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Grays Harbor County PUD Looking at Local Hydro Projects (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/03/23/local_news/01news.txt

Clark PUD Nears 20-Year Deal to Buy Wind Power (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20090324/NEWS02/703249957/

Renewable Energy vs. Wilderness - Environmentalists in a Clash of Goals (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/24/science/earth/24ecowars.html

California Senator seeks to block solar power from desert lands (Associated Press)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090321/NEWS02/703219921/1025/rss1025

Canada - In The Fight Over Clean Energy, Will 'Environmentalists' Stand With Science? (Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.vancouversun.com/Technology/fight+over+clean+energy+will+environmentalists+stand+with+science/1419071/story.html

Oregon - Wind Farm Proposed Near Helix (East Oregonian, Hermiston, OR)
http://www.eastoregonian.info/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=48&ArticleID=90444&TM=40821.76

'Green' Energy Threatens B.C. Rivers, Report Warns - Run-of-river power proposals that divert streams feared a significant impact on wildlife habitat (Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.vancouversun.com/Technology/Green+energy+threatens+rivers+report+warns/1417712/story.html

The Price of Being Green - Can we still afford to invest in an environmentally friendly economy? (Newsweek Magazine)
http://www.newsweek.com/id/190710?from=rss

North Central Washington Braces for an Alternative Energy Future (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090320/NEWS04/703219996/-1/BIZ?Power-for-the-people--NCW-braces-for-an-alternative-energy-future

Detroit News Editorial - Editorial: Consumers will pay costs of going green
http://www.detnews.com/article/20090324/OPINION01/903240323/1008/Editorial++Consumers+will+pay+costs+of+going+green

The Dirty Green (Transmission) Line - Erecting new transmission lines for solar and wind power is a boon to coal-burning utilities and a drain on our wallets. What's an environmentalist to do? (Salon Magazine)
http://www.salon.com/env/feature/2009/03/23/power_lines/

In A Sluggish Economy, Wind Energy Is Strong (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ARTCL&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=357010&C=ENVIR&dcmp=rss

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Are Microwave Ovens Good for the Environment? Nuking your food to save the planet (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2214466/?from=rss

Montana - Energy Conservation Discussed In Helena (KTVQ-TV, Billings, MT)
http://www.ktvq.com/Global/story.asp?S=10060577

Of Clean Tech and Thomas Edison (NY Times)
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/24/of-clean-tech-and-thomas-edison/?partner=rss&emc=rss

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

E.P.A. Moves toward Regulating Greenhouse Gases (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/24/science/earth/24epa.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Climate Change 'Big Priority' For Energy Commission Chief (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/20/AR2009032003194.html?hpid=moreheadlines

GOP Re-Names Climate Change Bill - Now It's an 'Energy Tax'! (Talking Points Memo – PG 13 warning for possible toxic language in comment section)
http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/03/gopers-re-name-climate-change-bill----now-its-an-energy-tax.php

Washington Post Editorial - Regulating Carbon: EPA rules under the Clean Air Act aren't the way to do the job
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/23/AR2009032302024.html?nav=rss_opinions

Climate Change Myths and Facts (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/20/AR2009032002660.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns

Chicago's 'Green' Promise Fades - Chicago taxpayers on hook for carbon credits that do little to fight global warming (Chicago Tribune)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-daley-green-power-bd22-mar22,0,6177898.story

Climate Change Comes To Your Backyard (The Daily Climate)
http://wwwp.dailyclimate.org/tdc-newsroom/usda/climate-change-comes-to-your-backyard

2009 Oregon Legislature - Area to Thrive Despite Climate Change (Salem Statesman Journal, OR)
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20090320/LEGISLATURE/903200328/1001

EPA: Global Warming Threatens Public Health, Welfare (NY Times)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/23/AR2009032301068.html?wprss=rss_politics

Urban Residents Generate Lower Co2 Emissions than Suburbanites (So why don’t we get a break? Yale Environment 360)
http://e360.yale.edu/content/digest.msp?id=1799

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

"Unafraid" Of Internet, China Appears to Block YouTube (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSTRE52N1VN20090324?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest

GENERAL NEWS

Oregon Woman Dies after Diving Accident near Hoodsport (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/mar/23/oregon-woman-dies-after-diving-accident-near/?partner=RSS

Expect Traffic To Double On Highway 101 During Bridge Closure - public forum is Wednesday in Quilcene (Port Townsend Leader, WA)
http://www.ptleader.com/Main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=23727

Earmark for Weather Radar Delights Pros, Amateurs (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008902423_weather22m.html?syndication=rss

Red Flags That Muni Investors Can’t See? (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/22/business/22gret.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Are Legislators Trying To Clear The Way To Use Their Newsletters To Campaign For A Tax Increase This Fall? (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://blogs.thenewstribune.com/politics/2009/03/24/are_legislators_trying_to_clear_the_way_

Senator Proposes Nonprofit Status for Newspapers (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008914628_apnonprofitnewspapers.html?syndication=rss

DIVERSIONS

Colbert Wins NASA Space Station Name Contest
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hVxsBGs7scxZSkcCE1cL2B4BlECAD974D8800

PG-13 For Scatological References - Boy Accused of Flatulence, Banned From Bus
http://www.kirotv.com/education/18973133/detail.html

Another Biomass-Related Story - Dog Eats Cash, Owner Picks Up Deposits: Doggie Downs $400 in Overtime Pay
http://www.kirotv.com/money/18974287/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

The Beatles - With A Little Help from My Friends (1967 – Original)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jBDF04fQKtQ

Joe Cocker - With a Little Help from My Friends (1968 – Cover)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ekta6EKhb2g

Energy News Diget for March 23, 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)

 

-  Report: Smart-Grid Hackers Could Cause Blackouts

-  Energy Northwest Representative to Speak at Mason County PUD No. 3

-  Energy Secretary Serves under a Microscope

-  Texas Commission to Weigh Merits of Coal, Petcoke-Fired Plant

-  Blackmouth Season Wide Open in Puget Sound

-  Water System Scammers Hit South Oregon

-  City Victoria’s $2-Billion Sewage Treatment Question

-  Potential Changes to Initiative Alarm Supporters of Clean Energy

-  Klickitat County Gets Its Wind Back

-  State Of New York Has Mixed Success with Renewable Program

-  Decoupling: Stimulus Bill Encourages Changes in Energy Production

-  Consumers Can Sabotage Their Energy Conservation Efforts

-  With Economy In A Rut, Is Now The Right Time For State's Global-Warming Law?

-  Metered Bandwidth Trend Spreads to India

-  Mason County Looks At Cuts In Face of $1 Million Deficit

-  More Than 8,000 Jobs May Be Lost In State Budget Cuts

-  Alaska's Mount Redoubt Erupting

-  It Was A Typical Northwest Winter

-  Ore. Christmas Tree Business Makes A Lot Of Green

 

WORD OF THE DAY

 

Truncated • \TRUNK-ayt-ed\ • transitive verb – 1a: cut short: curtailed b: lacking an expected or normal element at the beginning or end

 

Today’s truncated news digest is the direct result of the failed, ineffective attempt by the editor to send an attachment from their home computer to their work account. I am sad.

 

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

 

Report: Smart-Grid Hackers Could Cause Blackouts (C/NET News)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10201651-83.html?tag=newsEditorsPicksArea.0

 

Energy Northwest Representative to Speak at Mason County PUD No. 3 Meeting (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6764/reftab/1632/Default.aspx

 

Energy Secretary Serves under a Microscope (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/23/us/politics/23chu.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

 

Texas Commission to Weigh Merits of Coal, Petcoke-Fired Plant (SNL Financial)

http://www.snl.com/interactivex/article.aspx?CdId=A-9230411-11885

 

FISH & WILDLIFE

 

Blackmouth Season Wide Open in Puget Sound (The Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/bill_monroe/index.ssf/2009/03/blackmouth_season_wide_open_in.html

 

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

 

Water System Scammers Hit South Oregon (Examiner.com)

http://www.examiner.com/a-1919182~Water_system_scammers_hit_S__Oregon.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

 

City Victoria’s $2-Billion Sewage Treatment Question (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/Technology/billion+sewage+question/1415940/story.html

 

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

 

Potential Changes to Initiative Alarm Supporters of Clean Energy (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/795083.html

 

Klickitat County Gets Its Wind Back (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/795476.html

 

State Of New York Has Mixed Success with Renewable Program (NY Newsday)

http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--renewableenergy0322mar22,0,6849284.story

 

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

 

Decoupling: Stimulus Bill Encourages Changes in Energy Production (Cape Cod Times, MA)

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090322/NEWS/90322003

 

Consumers Can Sabotage Their Energy Conservation Efforts (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2009-03-22-energysavings_N.htm

 

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

 

California - With Economy In A Rut, Is Now The Right Time For State's Global-Warming Law? (San Jose Mercury News)

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11962352?nclick_check=1

 

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

 

Metered Bandwidth Trend Spreads to India (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2009/03/22/metered-bandwidth-trend-spreads-to-india/

 

GENERAL NEWS

 

Mason County Looks At Cuts In Face of $1 Million Deficit (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/mar/20/mason-county-looks-at-cuts-in-face-of-1-million/?partner=RSS

 

More Than 8,000 Jobs May Be Lost In State Budget Cuts (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/795080.html

 

Alaska's Mount Redoubt Erupting (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/18990119/detail.html?treets=sea&tml=sea_break&ts=T&tmi=sea_break_1_04160103232009

 

It Was A Typical Northwest Winter – Gray And Wet (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/683385.html

 

Ore. Christmas Tree Business Makes A Lot Of Green (Examiner.com)

http://www.examiner.com/a-1919737~Ore__Christmas_tree_business_makes_a_lot_of_green.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

 

DIVERSIONS

 

On This Day: Patrick Henry Delivers Liberty or Death Speech

http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/March/On-This-Day--Patrick-Henry-Delivers-Liberty-or-Death-Speech.html

 

More Americans Go Fishing As Recession Deepens

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090319/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_usa_fishing_feature;_ylt=AozAkgTrjHQ6ZjmCkvRU4CHtiBIF

 

Man Loses Tooth as Bowlers Brawl over Etiquette

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090320/ap_on_fe_st/odd_bowling_ball_brawl;_ylt=AtnISX6nl9ZEemmERr4oaNztiBIF

 

AIG Sparks "Lifestyles of the Rich & Infamous" Tour

http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE52M4RC20090323

 

SONG OF THE DAY

 

Dusty Springfield - Son of a Preacher Man (Original – 1968)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hthiLHVAMho

 

Tina Turner - Son of a Preacher Man (1974)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AfVM3p_6tQM

Energy News Digest for March 20, 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)

- TransAlta Tax Bill Appears to Be Dead
- New York Cautionary Tale: Power Authority Pushes Plan to Hike Electric Rates
- California woman can't sue PG&E for power line injury
- Maryland Electricity - Outrage fires up regulation sentiment
- Michigan - 16 Accused of Stealing Gas, Electricity
- Feds join Oregon lawsuit against LNG location
- President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts
- Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Closes Chehalis River to Fishing
- Salmon Season Options a Good Omen for Westport Anglers
- Stranded Sturgeon Die near Stanwood
- New head of NOAA says science will guide policy
- Lewis County Dam Study Moves Forward
- Engineer: No band-aid for sinkhole at Howard Hansen Dam
- 90 water permits granted by state in Grant County
- Data shows drop in toxic pollution in Washington
- Reclaimed water adds life to Carnation wetland
- Lawmakers vow to fund North Idaho lake plan
- Editorial - Time to Reshape Washington State’s Green-Energy Requirements
- Alternative Energy Quest Endangering Birds
- Company eyes wind farms on Horse Heaven Hills
- Oregon Counties share wind expertise
- New wind farms take Kansas’ wind capacity past 1,000 megawatts
- When ‘clean’ cars charge up on ‘dirty’ electricity
- Manmade biomass coal offers storage and fuel
- SMUD to Buy 1.5-MW of Landfill Gas Power
- Energy Department Issues First Renewable-Energy Loan Guarantee
- State Of Indiana Pouring $132M into Energy Conservation
- Carbon-Market Backers Split Over Obama Climate Plan
- Q&A: Tom Brokaw's New Global Warming Documentary
- FCC Commissioner Adelstein to Move to USDA Internet grant program
- Two Men Rob Shelton KFC, Duct Tape Employees, Customer
- North Mason Medical Clinic Ribbon Cutting Set; Clinic Opens Next Month
- Seattle Times Columnist - Defining success for Gary Locke as commerce secretary

WORD OF THE DAY

Vatic • \VAT-ik\ • adjective - Prophetic, oracular

“Why you’re a reg’lar Nostradamus,” howled Abner’s slack-jawed friend. Abner’s vatic talent was nothing more than a cruel trick. He knew that nine out of ten times he could guess that women would come out of the women’s bathroom and men from the other. His unsophisticated friend was unaware of the meaning of the iconic men and women’s signs on the new-fangled bathrooms in the shopping mall.

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

TransAlta Bill Appears to Be Dead - Legislation Would Have Revoked Company's Tax Incentives Dating Back to Deal in 1997 (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.outdoorslc.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1237483265&archive=&start_from=&ucat=5&

New York Cautionary Tale: Power Authority Pushes Plan to Hike Electric Rates “…plan to "sweep" nearly $500 million from the agency to help balance the state budget – promised rates would not be affected and that the authority could afford the financial bailout…” (Buffalo News, NY)
http://www.buffalonews.com/258/story/613098.html

California Supreme Court: Santa Clara County woman can't sue PG&E for power line injury “…boy touched a power line on her property with a metal pole while trying to retrieve a kite…” (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11951364?nclick_check=1

Maryland Electricity - Outrage fires up regulation sentiment: Constellation executives call millions in payouts necessary (Baltimore Sun)
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-te.bz.constellation20mar20,0,670696.story

Michigan - 16 Accused of Stealing Gas, Electricity (WWJ, Detroit, MI)
http://www.wwj.com/16-Accused-Of-Stealing-Gas--Electricity/4051547

Feds join Oregon lawsuit against LNG location (Associated Press)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=10039243

President Obama Announces More Key Administration Posts - Jon Wellinghoff, Chairman of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission; Suedeen G. Kelly, Nominee for Commissioner of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission;
http://www.whitehouse.gov/the_press_office/President-Obama-Announces-More-Key-Administration-Posts-3/19/09/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife Closes Chehalis River to Fishing (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.outdoorslc.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1237565932&archive=&start_from=&ucat=5&

Salmon Season Options a Good Omen for Westport Anglers (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/outdoors/letstalkfishing/story/786780.html

Stranded Sturgeon Die near Stanwood (Associated Press)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090320/NEWS01/703209754

New head of NOAA says science will guide policy (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1915145~New_head_of_NOAA_says_science_will_guide_policy.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Lewis County Dam Study Moves Forward - Flood Authority Members Hammer Out Last-Minute Compromise with Tribe for $250,000 in Funding (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.outdoorslc.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1237569683&archive=&start_from=&ucat=5&

Engineer: No band-aid for sinkhole at Howard Hansen Dam (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/41539562.html

90 water permits granted by state in Grant County – Users will receive roughly 9.8 billion gallons of water as a result of new permits (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/03/19/news/doc49c29ff63813f517976100.txt

Data shows drop in toxic pollution in Washington (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=147129

Reclaimed water adds life to Carnation wetland (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_031909ENB-wetland-from-sewage-SW.4ee47c12.html?rss

Lawmakers vow to fund North Idaho lake plan (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/792889.html

RENEWABLE & ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

The Daily News Editorial - Time to Reshape Washington State’s Green-Energy Requirements “The heavy-handed mandates this law imposes are costly, illogical and unnecessary…”
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/03/19/editorial/doc49bc589e85575070445668.txt

Alternative Energy Quest Endangering Birds (Associated Press)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hVUQIuHIGT3qVaTvUFWL7bPaf9WwD9719J481

Company eyes wind farms on Horse Heaven Hills (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)
http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2009/03/19/company-eyes-wind-farms-on-horse-heaven-hills

Oregon Counties share wind expertise (Baker City Herald, OR)
http://www.bakercityherald.com/Local-News/Counties-share-wind-expertise

Kansas - New wind farms take state's wind capacity past 1,000 megawatts a year (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008887249_apkansaswindpower.html

When ‘clean’ cars charge up on ‘dirty’ electricity - EarthTalk: Coal-generated power is still cleaner, cheaper than gasoline, experts say (Christian Science Monitor)
http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2009/03/20/when-‘clean’-cars-charge-up-on-‘dirty’-electricity/

Manmade biomass coal offers storage and fuel (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17912_3-10200246-72.html?tag=nl.e433

SMUD to Buy 1.5-MW of Landfill Gas Power - California, United States (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/03/smud-to-buy-1-5-mw-of-landfill-gas-power?src=rss

Energy Department Issues First Renewable-Energy Loan Guarantee (NY Times)
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/20/energy-department-issues-first-renewable-energy-loan-guarantee/?partner=rss&emc=rss

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

State Of Indiana Pouring $132M into Energy Conservation (Indianapolis Star, IN)
http://www.indystar.com/article/20090320/NEWS05/903200403

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Carbon-Market Backers Split Over Obama Climate Plan (Bloomberg News)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601109&sid=aWtk7Zcr.FUE&refer=news

Q&A: Tom Brokaw's New Global Warming Documentary (Time Magazine)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/time/20090317/hl_time/08599188566000

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

FCC Commissioner Adelstein To Move To USDA Internet grant program (NASDAQ)
http://www.nasdaq.com/aspxcontent/NewsStory.aspx?cpath=20090320\ACQDJON200903201855DOWJONESDJONLINE000843.htm&&mypage=newsheadlines&title=FCC%20Commissioner%20Adelstein%20To%20Move%20To%20USDA

GENERAL NEWS

Two Men Rob Shelton KFC, Duct Tape Employees, Customer (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/793718.html

North Mason Medical Clinic Ribbon Cutting Set; Clinic Opens Next Month (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6744/reftab/1632/Default.aspx

Seattle Times Columnist - Defining success for Gary Locke as commerce secretary
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/jontalton/2008890273_biztaltoncol20.html?syndication=rss

DIVERSIONS

Arlington Woman Blames Devil For Church Theft –“Satan had a big part in the theft”
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=10036295

Baggy-Trousered Teen Fined For Cheeky Flash
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE52I6XG20090319?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest

Flammable Water Pours from Faucets in Colorado Home
http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/03/20/flammable-water-pours-from-faucets-in-colorado-home/

Monty Python's “Holy Hand Grenade” Sparks Bomb Scare in London
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/Europe/2009/march/Monty-Python-Holy-Hand-Grenade-Sparks-Bomb-Scare.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Patti Smith – Because the Night (1978)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=px__SsVXX_0

Natalie Merchant – Because the Night (1993)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=go74JqAbXWo