Energy News Digest for April 3, 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)

- French Energy Workers To Strike On April 9
- Another Salmon-Eating Sea Lion Dies near Bonneville Dam
- More New Homes for Salmon-Eating Terns
- Canada - Herring Spawning Again In Once-Toxic False Creek
- Judge Orders Protection Review For Idaho Fish In Big Lost River
- Mountain Snowpack Mixed Blessing For Seattle
- Inconsistent Snow Pack Could Help, Hurt Local Utilities
- Revisiting The Columbia River Treaty
- The Water-War Myth - Spike those stories about water disputes
- LA Water Agency May Be Ordered To Pay Nearly $30M In overcharges
- Moses Lake - REC Stops Production at New Polysilicon Plant
- California Rejects B.C.'S Green Power Claims
- Calif. Desert Becomes Home For Renewable Energy
- Eugene Register-Guard Op/Ed - Wood Isn’t A Wise Choice For Energy
- Wind Turbines Could More Than Meet U.S. Electricity Needs
- TVA Agrees To Pursue Renewable Energy Purchases
- Dominion Virginia Power Seeking Rate Increase
- Xcel Seeks To Raise Colo. Rates For Conservation
- Oregon Woodland Owners Consider Selling Carbon Credits
- Warring Over Warming – The Political War Over Global Warming
- Can’t Bear Global Warming? Sue the bastards!
- Massachusetts - Carbon Copying? Regional success of cap and trade
- Seattle Times Op/Ed - G-20: The Environmental Price Is Not Right
- Consumers Can Be Fickle When Choosing What’s ‘Green’
- Save The Planet: Get Rid of Your Cat
- Google in talks to buy Twitter for more than $250M
- IBM To Teleworkers: Pay For Your Own Broadband
- Is Fairpoint Headed For Disaster?
- Cloud Storage May Mean Fat Pipes For All
- Breaking the Cable Company's Bundles
- Washington State's Execution Team Resigns
- Mason County Must Pay $145,000 In Records Dispute
- There Will Be No Mason County Renaissance for This Faire
- Criticism Of Olympia Art Project Bubbling Over

WORD OF THE DAY

Feign • \FAYN\ • verb - 1: to give a false appearance of: induce as a false impression 2: to assert as if true: pretend

While you feign working in your cubicle today, make up your own sentence of the day. It’s easy and fun!

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

French Energy Workers To Strike On April 9 (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssUtilitiesElectric/idUSL325681520090403

FISH & WILDLIFE

Another Salmon-Eating Sea Lion Dies near Bonneville Dam (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/04/another_salmoneating_sea_lion.html

More New Homes for Salmon-Eating Terns (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/04/scientists_will_use_decoys_and.html

Canada - Herring Spawning Again In Once-Toxic False Creek (Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.vancouversun.com/Herring+spawning+again+False+Creek/1452656/story.html

Judge Orders Protection Review For Idaho Fish In Big Lost River (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1940782~Judge_orders_protection_review_for_Idaho_fish.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Mountain Snowpack Mixed Blessing For Seattle (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/404547_watershed02.html?source=rss

Inconsistent Snow Pack Could Help, Hurt Local Utilities (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_040209WAB-cascades-snowpack-utilities-TP.979b8d47.html?rss

Revisiting The Columbia River Treaty (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/4676-revisiting-columbia-river-treaty/

The Water-War Myth - Spike those stories about water disputes leading to armed combat. (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2215263/?from=rss

LA Water Agency May Be Ordered To Pay Nearly $30M In overcharges (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1941026~LA_water_agency_may_be_ordered_to_pay_nearly__30M.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Moses Lake - REC Stops Production at New Polysilicon Plant (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/04/rec-stops-production-at-new-polysilicon-plant?src=rss

California Rejects B.C.'S Green Power Claims - State senate says run-of-river hydro projects here are too big to qualify under its renewable energy bill (The Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www2.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=fea563b3-0589-4d4a-8c75-f1488eb8d2e2&k=47024

Calif. Desert Becomes Home For Renewable Energy (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102679730&ft=1&f=3

Eugene Register-Guard Op/Ed - Wood Isn’t A Wise Choice For Energy
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/opinion/10924254-47/story.csp

Wind Turbines Could More Than Meet U.S. Electricity Needs, Report Says (Los Angeles Times – Even when they’re not spinning?)
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-energy3-2009apr03,0,7532220.story

TVA Agrees To Pursue Renewable Energy Purchases (Associated Press)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iyRJogISPixC0I8hrO46cxlkjnCQD97AG9IG0

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Dominion Virginia Power Seeking Rate Increase for Electric Infrastructure, Energy Conservation Programs (Fox Business News)
http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/markets/industries/energy/dominion-virginia-power-seeking-rate-increase-electric-infrastructure-energy/

Xcel Seeks To Raise Colo. Rates For Conservation (Associated Press)
http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_12055705

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Oregon Woodland Owners Consider Selling Carbon Credits (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/04/oregon_woodland_owners_conside.html

Warring Over Warming – The Political War Over Global Warming Is Getting Louder On Capitol Hill (Boston Globe, MA)
http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2009/04/warring_over_wa.html

Can’t Bear Global Warming? Sue the bastards! (Eugene Weekly, OR)
http://www.eugeneweekly.com/2009/04/02/coverstory.html

Massachusetts - Carbon Copying? Regional success of cap and trade system may model national effort (Boston Business Journal)
http://boston.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2009/04/06/story1.html?b=1238990400^1805239

Seattle Times Op/Ed - G-20: The Environmental Price Is Not Right
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008967150_opinc02friedman.html?syndication=rss

Consumers Can Be Fickle When Choosing What’s ‘Green’ (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/697512.html

Save The Planet: Get Rid of Your Cat - Evidence is mounting that having a cat isn't very green (Crosscut Seattle)
http://crosscut.com/2009/04/02/mossback/18925/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Google in talks to buy Twitter for more than $250M (Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2009/03/30/daily81.html?ana=from_rss

IBM To Teleworkers: Pay For Your Own Broadband - Company cost cutting measure could save it millions (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/IBM-To-Teleworkers-Pay-For-Your-Own-Broadband-101702

Is Fairpoint Headed For Disaster? Frustrations mount, while Verizon walks away smiling (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Is-Fairpoint-Headed-For-Disaster-101703

Cloud Storage May Mean Fat Pipes For All (Gigaom)
http://gigaom.com/2009/04/02/why-we-need-fat-pipes-cloud-storage/

Breaking the Cable Company's Bundles (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/03/AR2009040300817.html?wprss=rss_business

GENERAL NEWS

Washington State's Execution Team Resigns (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/807377.html

Mason County Must Pay $145,000 In Records Dispute (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/807645.html

There Will Be No Mason County Renaissance for This Faire (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/apr/02/there-will-be-no-mason-county-renaissance-for/?partner=RSS

Criticism Of Olympia Art Project Bubbling Over (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_040209WAB-olympia-bubble-art-TP.98281b23.html?rss

DIVERSIONS

Angry French Workers Take Their Bosses Hostage
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/03/business/global/03iht-labor.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Cat on NY TV News Truck's Roof Becomes the Story
http://www.kirotv.com/family/19071736/detail.html

Woman Follows GPS Onto Snowmobile Trail
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/19070770/detail.html

Could Music Be the Next Great Cure?
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/health/2009/april/Could-Music-Be-the-Next-Great-Cure.html

SONG OF THE DAY

The Cure - Just Like Heaven (Sponsored by the “Hair Club for Goths”)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z-nkSGg0lk4

Energy News Digest for April 2, 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)

- PNW Coal Power Plant Cuts Deal to Cut Mercury & Regional Haze
- As Winter Drags Into Spring, Many Need Help Keeping Heat on
- Sacramento Utility (SMUD) Could Boost Rates 13 Percent
- Itron Says U.S. Smart Meter Projects On Track
- Pacific Gas & Electric CEO Receives $8.7M in 2008 Compensation
- Nuclear Reactor’s Life Is Prolonged in New Jersey
- Ohio - Business Rebate Lawsuit against Duke Energy Dismissed
- Can you imagine 3 TONS of FOOD?? Cowlitz PUD employees can
- Obama Administration Wants New Spotted-Owl Plan
- Puget Sound Energy Investing $50 Million on New Hatchery
- Steelhead Fishing Heats Up In Western Washington Rivers
- Ecology Agency Finds Dioxin in Shelton’s Oakland Bay
- Idaho Senate Clears Dispute over Snake River Water Rights
- At Solar Silicon Plant - Two REC Employees Sent To Hospital
- Oregon - Biodiesel Stuck in Storage Instead Of the Tank
- Ohio - FirstEnergy to Convert Plant Units to Burn Biomass
- Large Turbine Blade Factory Slated for Wisconsin Rapids
- Environmentalist Group Report Praises Renewables over Nuclear
- Google Shows Alternative Energy Firms the Way
- 2009 Oregon and Washington ENERGY STAR Award Winners
- E.U. Carbon Trading System “Shows Signs” of Working
- Washington Post Op/Ed - Climate Change's Dim Bulbs
- Report: Qwest's Long-Haul Network for Sale
- Mason County PUD No. 3 Connects Southside School to Fiber Network
- The Ugly Truth about Broadband: Upload Speeds
- Snohomish County PUD Finds the Power of Virtual Backups
- Snow Forecast for Lake Cushman - Especially Tonight
- WA Senate Democrats Introduce Income Tax Bill
- Mason County to Present Plan for Belfair Roads
- Allyn-Area Fire District Asks for Levy Increase
- King Co. Asks Supreme Court to Undo Public Records Act Ruling
- New Accounting Rules for Mortgage-Backed Securities

WORD OF THE DAY

Diaphanous • \dye-AF-uh-nus\ • adjective - *1: of so fine a texture as to be transparent 2: characterized by extreme delicacy of form: ethereal 3: insubstantial, vague

Derwood turned away from his computer, blushing at the sight. He was intimately aware of the inner workings of the wondrous machine, but had never seen it in such a revealing way. The cold, tan metal cover had been stripped away, replaced with a fine, diaphanous metal mesh. The whirring fans, blinking lights and clattering sounds were too much for Derwood to bear, as he quietly slunk from the room, vowing to avert his eyes whenever he needed to use the computer to check email or cruise the internet.

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

PNW Coal Power Plant Cuts Deal to Cut Mercury & Regional Haze (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/4664-coal-power-plant-cuts-deal-cut-mercury-regional-haze/

As Winter Drags Into Spring, Many Need Help Keeping Heat on (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/apr/01/as-winter-drags-into-spring-many-need-help-heat/?partner=RSS

Sacramento Utility (SMUD) Could Boost Rates 13 Percent (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1937492~Sacramento_utility_could_boost_rates_13_percent.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Itron Says U.S. Smart Meter Projects On Track (Reuters)
http://uk.reuters.com/article/behindTheScenes/idUKTRE53103B20090402

Pacific Gas & Electric CEO Receives $8.7M in 2008 Compensation (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1937967~PG_E_CEO_receives__8_7M_in_2008_compensation.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Nuclear Reactor’s Life Is Prolonged in New Jersey (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/02/science/earth/02nuclear.html

Ohio - Business Rebate Lawsuit against Duke Energy Dismissed (Business Courier of Cincinnati)
http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2009/03/30/daily55.html?ana=from_rss

3 Tons of Food! - Can you imagine 3 TONS of FOOD?? Cowlitz PUD employees can (Valley Bugler, Longview, WA)
http://www.valleybugler.com/2009/04/3-tons-of-food/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Obama Administration Wants New Spotted-Owl Plan (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008966135_webowl01m.html?syndication=rss

Puget Sound Energy Investing $50 Million on New Hatchery, Fish Trap to Further Aid Baker River Salmon (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&id=108583

Steelhead Fishing Heats Up In Western Washington Rivers (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/outdoors/story/806655.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Ecology Agency Finds Dioxin in Oakland Bay - Shellfish Harvested There Still Safe To Eat, Health Officials Say (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/806674.html

In Dispute over Water Rights on the Snake River, Idaho Senate Committee Passes Swan Falls Dam Bills (Associated Press Writer)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/806394.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

At Solar Silicon Plant - Two REC Employees Sent To Hospital; Chemical Release Reported (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/04/01/news/doc49d3cbe954957441355960.txt

Oregon - Biodiesel Stuck in Storage Instead Of the Tank: Lawmakers consider kick starting mandate for petroleum blends (Salem Statesman Journal, OR)
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20090401/GREEN/304010006

Ohio - FirstEnergy to Convert Plant Units to Burn Biomass (Associated Press)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ii2n7vvRFIy81WbsRNHWFeLXXrowD979UBM01

Large Turbine Blade Factory Slated for Wisconsin Rapids (The Business Journal Of Milwaukee)
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2009/03/30/daily51.html?ana=from_rss

Environmentalist Group Report Praises Renewable Energy over Nuclear (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/31/AR2009033104619.html

Google Shows Alternative Energy Firms the Way (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/01/MNH216R1OL.DTL

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

2009 Oregon and Washington ENERGY STAR Award Winners (Environmental Protection Agency)
http://yosemite.epa.gov/opa/admpress.nsf/0/03bb68b6db72241b8525758b005979f3?OpenDocument

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

E.U. Carbon Trading System “Shows Signs” of Working “…Most of the decline was from falling industrial and electricity production…” (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/02/business/global/02climate.html?_r=1

Washington Post Op/Ed - Climate Change's Dim Bulbs
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/01/AR2009040103042.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Report: Qwest's Long-Haul Network for Sale (Denver Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2009/03/30/daily52.html?ana=from_rss

Mason County PUD No. 3 Connects Southside School to Fiber Network (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=535

The Ugly Truth about Broadband: Upload Speeds (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/04/02/the-ugly-truth-about-broadband-upload-speeds/

News Release – Snohomish County PUD Finds the Power of Virtual Backups (Eweek)
http://www.eweek.com/c/a/Virtualization/Public-Utility-Finds-the-Power-of-Virtual-Backups-210212/

GENERAL NEWS

Snow Forecast for Lake Cushman - Especially Tonight, Rain Elsewhere (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6867/reftab/1632/t/SNOW-FORECAST-FOR-LAKE-CUSHMAN---ESPECIALLY-TONIGHT-RAIN-ELSEWHERE/Default.aspx

WA Senate Democrats Introduce Income Tax Bill - 1 Percent Income Tax On People Making More Than $500,000 A Year (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008971850_webincometax02m.html?syndication=rss

Mason County to Present Plan for Belfair Roads (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/apr/01/mason-county-to-present-plan-for-belfair-roads/?partner=RSS

Allyn-Area Fire District Asks for Levy Increase (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/apr/01/allyn-area-fire-district-asks-for-levy-increase/?partner=RSS

King Co. Asks Supreme Court to Undo Public Records Act Ruling (Associated Press)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=10114685

New Accounting Rules for Mortgage-Backed Securities (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN0235590020090402

DIVERSIONS

Twin Twitchers: Connecticut Pet Shop Has 2-Nosed Bunny
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090402/ap_on_fe_st/odd_two_nosed_bunny;_ylt=ArN0KvOLVO7OWj69hqTPTE3tiBIF

Man Crashes into House, Says He Was Just Trying To 'Blow Off Some Steam'
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/42304752.html

Computer Addiction A Growing Problem
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/42296677.html

Man Cries after Attempt to Rob Liquor Store Fails
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090402/ap_on_fe_st/odd_crying_robbery_suspect;_ylt=AkoPH0coKPPMdlIvrTxDnXbtiBIF

SONG OF THE DAY

Jimi Hendrix - All Along the Watchtower (Cover, 1968)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=14qTXRkAKr8

Bob Dylan - All Along the Watchtower (Original, 1967)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jkok1Z4WJuY&feature=related

All Along the Watchtower - Wikipedia
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/All_Along_the_Watchtower

Energy News Digest for April 1, 2009 - Mostly Fool Free

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)

- Windy Conditions Tuesday Cause Mason County Power Outages
- PUD Directs Rate Hike Ire at Bonneville Power
- Wenatchee World Op/Ed – Chelan PUD: The Unlikely Has Happened
- Franklin PUD Office Expanding
- Alcoa to Reduce Production at New York Plant
- Alcoa Stock Up On Upgrade, Takeover Speculation
- Aluminum Assistance - Sverdlovsk Governor Stands Up for RusAl
- China Increases Tax Rebates for Steel, Aluminum and Copper
- McCain to Push Yucca Closure, Ratepayer Refunds
- Scientists Take another Stab at Nuclear Fusion
- Job Losses from Obama Green Stimulus Foreseen in Spanish Study
- PG&E Reminds Customers to Call before You Dig
- Tucson Electric Power Offers Spring Electrical Safety Tips
- Court Sides with Power Plants over Fish
- Salmon Seasons Strong
- Columbian Editorial - Saving Salmon
- Humane Society Again Sues to Stop the Columbia River Sea Lion Cull
- NY Times Editorial - State of the Birds
- Lewis County: Revised Flood Bill 'A Disaster'
- Congressmen Want More Water for California Farmers
- Franklin PUD Going Solar
- Wind Turbine Project Brings Jobs to Tri-Cities Region
- Duke Launches Wyoming Wind-Power Project
- Green-Tech Investment Dollars Plummet
- Green Power Purchases Targeted To Wind, Solar
- Pacific Ethanol Posts $146M Loss in 2008
- US Senate Panel Debates Energy Efficiency Bills
- LED Lights Could Save Some San Jose Streets from Dark Streets
- Save Money – Insulate
- Democrats Unveil Ambitious Global Warming Bill
- Highlights of Draft Bill to Curb Global Warming
- House Climate Bill Aims to Please Environmental and Business Interests
- Coal Is Winner Even In 'Green' Congress
- Scientists: Less Ice on Great Lakes during Winter
- Editor's Column: Climate Change Means Less Lawn Mowing
- Experts See Early Activity from Conficker Worm
- Anti-Community Broadband Bills Return
- More Snow in the Forecast
- Belfair Man Injured in Shooting near Lake Cushman
- Mason County Continuing Discussions on Budget Reductions
- Budget Negotiators in Olympia Now Must Work Out Deal
- Washington State Auditor: Budget Change Unfair to Voters
- Mason County Moving Forward with Repairs to Storm Damaged Roads
- Commerce Secretary Sounds Off On Trade, Census
- Sports-Talk Radio Wars Begin in Seattle on Opening Day
- U.S. Plans to Drop Case against Former Senator from Alaska

WORD OF THE DAY

Funner • \FUNN-err \ • noun – 1: providing more entertainment, amusement, or enjoyment 2: full of fun: more pleasant

The scraping of sharpening stone against metal, the twanging of new strings being tested on yew-wood bows, the barking of captains and generals drifted over the field of battle at Lexicographer’s Pass. The battle would be joined under dark, looming clouds over whether the armed forces would have more fun in their fierce vocation…or if the coming clash would be funner for them all. Let the carnage begin.

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

Windy Conditions Tuesday Cause Mason County Power Outages (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=533

PUD Directs Rate Hike Ire at Bonneville Power (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/03/31/local_news/01news.txt

Wenatchee World Op/Ed – Chelan PUD: The Unlikely Has Happened
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090331/OP03/703319869/-1/OP

Franklin PUD Office Expanding (Tri City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/915/story/528791.html

Alcoa to Reduce Production at New York Plant (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/03/31/financial/f132557D34.DTL&feed=rss.business

Alcoa Stock Up On Upgrade, Takeover Speculation (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/innovationNews/idUSTRE52U6GF20090331

Aluminum Assistance - Sverdlovsk Governor Stands Up for RusAl (Moscow Times, Russia)
http://www.themoscowtimes.com/article/600/42/375842.htm

China Increases Tax Rebates for Steel, Aluminum and Copper (MetalMiner)
http://agmetalminer.com/2009/03/31/china-increases-tax-rebates-for-many-steel-aluminum-and-copper/

McCain to Push Yucca Closure, Ratepayer Refunds (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/03/31/31greenwire-mccain-to-push-yucca-closure-ratepayer-refunds-10365.html

Scientists Take another Stab at Nuclear Fusion (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/01/MN7M16QB7I.DTL&feed=rss.news

Job Losses from Obama Green Stimulus Foreseen in Spanish Study - For every new position that depends on energy price supports, at least 2.2 jobs in other industries will disappear (Bloomberg News)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a2PHwqAs7BS0

Pacific Gas and Electric Company Reminds Customers to Call before You Dig (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&id=108452

Tucson Electric Power Offers Spring Electrical Safety Tips (FOX Business)
http://www.foxbusiness.com/story/tep-offers-spring-electrical-safety-tips/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Court Sides with Power Plants over Fish (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/nationworld/story/805705.html

Salmon Seasons Strong (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/03/31/local_news/04news.txt

Columbian Editorial - Saving Salmon: Scientific review group releases report with new ideas for protecting wild fish runs
http://columbian.com/article/20090401/OPINION02/704019961/-1/OPINION

Humane Society Again Sues to Stop the Columbia River Sea Lion Cull (PlanetSave)
http://planetsave.com/blog/2009/03/30/hsus-again-sues-to-block-the-columbia-river-sea-lion-cull/

NY Times Editorial - State of the Birds
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/01/opinion/01wed3.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Lewis County: Revised Flood Bill 'A Disaster' - Sen. Swecker Says Flood District Legislation He Sponsored Has Been Hijacked (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.outdoorslc.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1238519965&archive=&start_from=&ucat=5&

Congressmen Want More Water for California Farmers (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/03/31/financial/f121418D94.DTL&feed=rss.business

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Franklin PUD Going Solar (KNDO-TV, Tri Cities, WA)
http://www.kndo.com/Global/story.asp?S=10103914&nav=menu484_2

Wind Turbine Project Brings Jobs to Tri-Cities Region (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/kennewick_pasco_richland/story/527117.html

Duke Launches Wyoming Wind-Power Project (Triangle Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2009/03/30/daily32.html?ana=from_rss

Green-Tech Investment Dollars Plummet (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10209122-54.html?tag=nl.e703

Green Power Purchases Targeted To Wind, Solar (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2009-03-31-renewable-green-energy_N.htm

Pacific Ethanol Posts $146M Loss in 2008 (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/03/30/daily24.html?ana=from_rss

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

US Senate Panel Debates Energy Efficiency Bills (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE52U5C720090331

LED Lights Could Save Some San Jose Streets from Dark Streets (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12039787

Save Money – Insulate (The Valley Bugler, Longview, WA)
http://www.valleybugler.com/2009/04/save-money-insulate/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Democrats Unveil Ambitious Global Warming Bill (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/01/us/politics/01energycnd.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Highlights of Draft Bill to Curb Global Warming (Associated Press)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iHbTSzis_eQXMAddhWjPVkM2Nb4QD9796UN00

House Climate Bill Aims to Please Environmental and Business Interests (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/31/AR2009033103683.html

Coal Is Winner Even In 'Green' Congress (Washington Times)
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/mar/31/congress-goes-green-but-holds-on-to-coal/

Scientists: Less Ice on Great Lakes during Winter (Associated Press)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12042131

Editor's Column: Climate Change Means Less Lawn Mowing (Whidbey News-Times)
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/whidbey/wnt/opinion/42212812.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Experts See Early Activity from Conficker Worm (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/01/technology/internet/01virus.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Anti-Community Broadband Bills Return - Carriers take aim at North Carolina – again (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/AntiCommunity-Broadband-Bills-Return-101645

GENERAL NEWS

More Snow in the Forecast (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/topstories/stories/NW_033109WXB-gusty-winds-power-outages-TP.8cd6c207.html

Belfair Man Injured in Shooting near Lake Cushman (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/mar/31/belfair-man-injured-shooting-near-lake-cushman/?partner=RSS

Mason County Continuing Discussions on Budget Reductions (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6853/reftab/1632/t/COUNTY-CONTINUING-DISCUSSIONS-ON-BUDGET-REDUCTIONS/Default.aspx

Budget Negotiators in Olympia Now Must Work Out Deal (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008958723_housebudget01m0.html

Washington State Auditor: Change Unfair to Voters - Lawmakers' plan would take revenue citizens designated for audits to fund other programs
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/805397.html

Mason County Moving Forward With Repairs to Roads Damaged by December 2007 Storm (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6852/reftab/1632/t/COUNTY-MOVING-FORWARD-WITH-REPAIRS-TO-ROADS-DAMAGED-BY-DECEMBER-2007-STORM-/Default.aspx

Commerce Secretary Sounds Off On Trade, Census (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102572731&ft=1&f=2

Sports-Talk Radio Wars Begin in Seattle on Opening Day (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2008958798_radio01.html?syndication=rss

U.S. Plans to Drop Case against Former Senator from Alaska (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/04/01/washington/AP-Stevens-Justice.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

DIVERSIONS

Domino's Accidentally Gives Away 11,000 Pizzas in Bailout Promotion
http://consumerist.com/5193012/dominos-accidentally-gives-away-11000-pizzas-in-bailout-promotion

Game Causes Bomb Threat, Evacuations
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19054797/detail.html

2 Men Catch Toddler after 40-Foot Fall
http://www.kirotv.com/family/19049687/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Earth Wind & Fire - Shining Star/Head To The Sky @ Nobel Peace Prize Concert?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GhYDjO2f0eY

Energy News Digest for March 31, 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)

- The Columbian Editorial - Modernize, but be fair
- Baker City Herald Editorial - Keep Power Line Out Of Baker County
- PGE Urban Arborist Dedicated To Healthy Trees, Safe Power
- Australia - Sydney Blackout Exposes Anti-Terror Network Flaw
- Electrical 'Smart Grid' Not Yet Smart Enough to Block Hackers
- Massachusetts Utilities Plan To Let Consumers Watch Energy Use
- Alaska's 2009 Salmon Harvest Is Projected To Increase
- Camas Well Project Will Aid Salmon
- Federal Agency Won't Defend Bush's Bull Trout Cuts
- Obama Signs Landmark Wilderness Bill; Restoration of Key California River Included
- REC Silicon's Moses Lake Plant Starts Up
- US Congress - Waxman outlines renewable electricity goals
- FirstLook Used By More Than 25,000 Renewable Energy Prospectors
- Is Wasting Energy Uncivilized?
- Federal Funds Can Help Alaska Fulfill Its Energy Destiny
- House Democrats Introduce Cap-and-Trade, ‘Clean Energy’ Bill
- Global Warming and Climate Change: Facts and Hype
- Times-Mail Op/Ed - Guest Column: Carbon Control Carries Costs
- Microsoft Hires Yahoo Exec to Head Online Services Data-Center Unit
- Spam Back to 94% of All E-Mail
- Incidents Of Internet Crime Rising
- Tech Firms Seek to Get Agencies on Board with Cloud Computing
- Microsoft to Pull the Plug on Encarta
- My Painfully Poky Week with IE 8
- State Senate Wants Big Cuts - McNeil Island Prison Could Close
- 7,000 Jobs Could Be Axed To Close $9 Billion Budget Gap
- State House, Senate Budget Paths Diverge
- State House Legislators like Their Roads Budget
- Critics Slam Microsoft Bridge as Waste Of Stimulus Money
- City of Shelton Seeking Snow Removal Cost Reimbursement
- Alaska Proposes Oil Surcharge on Washington State
- NY Times Editorial - A Champion for the Census?

WORD OF THE DAY

Perennial • \puh-REN-ee-ul\ • adjective - 1: present at all seasons of the year 2: continuing to live from year to year *3: recurring regularly: permanent

Monte whispered to his shriveling coneflowers, “I’ll see you in the spring!” “Not if we see you first,” croaked the eldest of the perennial flowers with its final breath of fall.

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

The Columbian Editorial - Modernize, but be fair: Converting to renewable energy sources is a good idea, but compromise has big flaws
http://columbian.com/article/20090331/OPINION02/703319988/-1/OPINION

Baker City Herald Editorial - Message to PUC: Keep Power Line Out Of Baker County
http://www.bakercityherald.com/Local-News/Message-to-PUC-Keep-power-line-out-of-Baker-County

PGE Urban Arborist Dedicated To Healthy Trees, Safe Power (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/4639-pge-urban-arborist-dedicated-healthy-trees-safe-power/

Australia - Sydney Blackout Exposes Anti-Terror Network Flaw (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/03/31/international/i063800D42.DTL&feed=rss.business

Electrical 'Smart Grid' Not Yet Smart Enough to Block Hackers (Fox News)
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,511648,00.html

Massachusetts Utilities Plan To Let Consumers Watch Energy Use (Boston Globe, MA)
http://www.boston.com/business/technology/articles/2009/03/31/utilities_plan_to_let_consumers_watch_energy_use/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Alaska's 2009 Salmon Harvest Is Projected To Increase (SitNews, Ketchikan, AK)
http://www.sitnews.us/LaineWelch/033009_fish_factor.html

Camas Well Project Will Aid Salmon - With stimulus funds likely, city advances long-term water plan (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20090331/NEWS02/703319974/

Federal Agency Won't Defend Bush's Bull Trout Cuts (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/803922.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Obama Signs Landmark Wilderness Bill; Restoration of Key California River Included (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12032734?nclick_check=1

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

REC Silicon's Moses Lake Plant Starts Up (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/03/rec-silicons-moses-lake-plant-starts-up?src=rss

US Congress - Waxman Outlines Renewable Electricity Goals (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE52U05820090331

News Release - FirstLook Used By More Than 25,000 Renewable Energy Prospectors (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/3tier-4561/news/article/2009/03/55116?src=rss

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Is Wasting Energy Uncivilized? (NY Times)
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/31/is-wasting-energy-uncivilized/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Federal Funds Can Help Alaska Fulfill Its Energy Destiny (Anchorage Daily News, AK)
http://www.adn.com/opinion/compass/story/742040.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

House Democrats Introduce Cap-and-Trade, ‘Clean Energy’ Bill (CNS News)
http://www.cnsnews.com/public/content/article.aspx?RsrcID=45900

Global Warming And Climate Change: Facts And Hype (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/x-6503-Ft-Lauderdale-Science-News-Examiner~y2009m3d31-Climate-change-global-warming-and-all-the-hype

Times-Mail Op/Ed - Guest Column: Carbon Control Carries Costs (Indiana)
http://www.tmnews.com/stories/2009/03/31/columns.nw-515070.tms

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Microsoft Hires Yahoo Exec to Head Online Services Data-Center Unit (Bloomberg News)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoft/2008951863_webyahoo31.html?syndication=rss

Spam Back to 94% of All E-Mail (NY Times)
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/31/spam-back-to-94-of-all-e-mail/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Incidents Of Internet Crime Rising (Associated Press)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090331/BIZ/703319890/-1/RSS03

Tech Firms Seek to Get Agencies on Board with Cloud Computing (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/30/AR2009033002848.html?nav=rss_email/components

Microsoft to Pull the Plug on Encarta (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_033009TTB-Encarta-ES.88c2fb45.html?rss

My painfully poky week with IE 8 (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-17939_109-10207661-2.html?tag=nl.e703

GENERAL NEWS

State Senate Wants Big Cuts - McNeil Island Prison Could Close (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/government/story/693593.html

7,000 Jobs Could Be Axed to Close $9 Billion Budget Gap - Education takes a big hit in plan from Senate Democrats (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/804031.html

State House, Senate Budget Paths Diverge (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/693455.html

State House Legislators like Their Roads Budget (Associated Press)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/government/story/693641.html

Critics Slam Microsoft Bridge as Waste of Stimulus Money (CNN Money)
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/03/31/bridge.microsoft/index.html?eref=ib_topstories

City of Shelton Seeking Snow Removal Cost Reimbursement (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6838/reftab/1632/t/CITY-SEEKING-SNOW-REMOVAL-COST-REIMBURSEMENT/Default.aspx

Alaska Proposes Oil Surcharge on Washington State (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008951769_apakxgrfueltax1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

NY Times Editorial - A Champion for the Census? Gary Locke, the new commerce secretary, is off to a good start
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/31/opinion/31tue2.html?_r=1

DIVERSIONS

Man Driving His bar Stool Charged with DUI after Drinking 15 Beers and Crashing
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12036606

Jimi Hendrix Childhood Home Dismantled In Renton
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_033109WAB-AP-jimi-hendrix-home-LJ.8c33a813.html?rss

IRS Agent Admits Cheating On His Own Taxes
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/804391.html

Napping Jetblue Baggage Handler Flies From New York To Boston in the Cargo Hold
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12036921

SONG OF THE DAY

It’s an Incredibles Day! - The Incredits
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wnTSsIAcaOw&feature=PlayList&p=2D1F01FC577D3431&index=18

Energy News Digest for March 30, 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)

- Severe Solar Flares Could Cause Catastrophic Power Outage
- Anderson Island Power Nearly Restored
- Grays Harbor County PUD Not Likely To See Layoffs, Furlough Days
- U.S. Carbon Cap to Raise Power Prices 15 to 30 Percent: Moody's
- Ratepayer Advocates Want Portland General Electric Rate Rule Suspended
- State Bill Would OK New King County Utility, Property Taxes
- Aberdeen Street Lights a Point of Contention with Grays Harbor PUD
- Chelan PUD Commissioner Bolz Recovering After Bypass Surgery
- U.S. Senate Energy Policy Markup Begins; Heavy Lifting Is Weeks Away
- Gauging the Prospects for Nuclear Power in the Obama Era
- California Restarts Daily Electricity Auction
- Steller Sea Lions Gobbling Up Sturgeon below Bonneville Dam
- Biologists Call For Changes to Columbia River Salmon Hatcheries
- Some Push for New Talks on Columbia River Treaty
- Fish Managers Seek Comments on 2009 Ocean Salmon Seasons
- NOAA’s Fisheries Service Proposes Listing Pacific Smelt as Threatened Species
- Thick Snowpack Promises Ample Water Supply
- Four East Oregon Possible Dam Sites Selected For Irrigation and Recreation
- Big Bill for Small Ponds: Ecology Notifies Property Owners of Unsafe Dams
- Boil Water Advisory for Lewis County Towns
- Loggers Try to Adapt to Greener Economy
- Olympian Editorial - Lawmakers Must Not Roll Back Initiative
- 'Not One Benefit for Me' - Hartman: Turbines are little more than hot air
- Longview Man Finally Gets Wind Turbine Permit
- Snohomish County Warming To Solar Power
- Solar Water Heater Company Fueled By Power Purchase Pacts
- Cost Works against Renewable Energy Sources in Time of Recession
- Despite Economy, Prospects for Green Energy Remain Strong
- Longview Gets $165,000 for Energy Efficiency Projects
- Energy Department Maps Efficiency Money
- Pacific Northwest Utilities Push Energy-Efficient Ductless Heat Pump
- Pilot Project Offers Efficient Electric Heating System Incentive
- Do New Bulbs Save Energy if They Don’t Work?
- For The White House, Not So Easy Being Greener
- Oregon Carbon Tax Proposal Heats Up
- Critics Blast Earth Hour, But Support Conservation
- Environmentalists Hail Earth Hour As A Big Success
- Among Climate Scientists, a Dispute over ‘Tipping Points’
- Climate Lobbying In D.C. Attracts Texans
- The UN Makes It Official: Global Warming Hysteria Is All About Redistributing Wealth
- Conficker Worm Threat to Grow On Wednesday
- Rural Broadband Vs. Red Tape
- Comcast Sues Maryland Wireless Internet Provider for Bandwidth Theft
- Iowa Governor Trolling For Microsoft Facility
- Charter Says Bankruptcy Won’t Affect Speed Upgrades
- Average Global Download Speed: 1.5Mbps
- Hood Canal Woman Saves Kayaker
- BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Is Belfair Ready to Get Twitterfied?
- Some Politicians Have Trouble Adapting To the Web
- Winter Hangs On, Studded Tires Still Must Come Off
- Your Survival Guide Around The Hood Canal Bridge
- Idaho Lawmakers Take Aim at Metal Thieves
- Weyerhaeuser CEO Gets 2008 Pay Valued At $4.7M
- Dirt-Weary Spokane Turns To Bootleg Detergent
- Faulty Pot-Growing Equipment May Have Caused Fire
- Jewels Forged In the Depression

WORD OF THE DAY

Symbiosis • \sim-bee-OH-sis\ • noun - 1: the living together in close association of two dissimilar organisms especially when mutually beneficial *2: a cooperative relationship

In the silent depths of the clear blue water, the torpedo-like, gray bulk of the shark sliced through the water, the remora fish in close proximity…awaiting the crumbs from the table in their symbiotic relationship with the remorseless hunter of the deep.

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

Severe Solar Flares Could Cause Catastrophic Power Outage in United States (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/science/2009/march/Severe-Solar-Flares-Could-Cause-Catastrophic-Power-Outage-in-United-States.html

Anderson Island Power Nearly Restored (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/42094952.html

Grays Harbor County PUD Not Likely To See Layoffs, Furlough Days (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/03/28/local_news/03news.txt

U.S. Carbon Cap to Raise Power Prices 15 to 30 Percent: Moody's (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE52O02420090325

Ratepayer Advocates Want Portland General Electric Rate Rule Suspended (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1931561~Ratepayer_advocates_want_PGE_rate_rule_suspended.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

State Bill Would OK New King County Utility, Property Taxes (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008942273_kingbudget29m.html?syndication=rss

Aberdeen Street Lights a Point of Contention with Grays Harbor PUD (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/03/29/local_news/04news.txt

Chelan County PUD Commissioner Bolz Recovering After Bypass Surgery (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090327/NEWS04/703289996/1004/rss1004

U.S. Senate Energy Policy Markup Begins, but Heavy Lifting Is Weeks Away (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/03/30/30greenwire-senate-committee-markup-begins-but-heavy-lifti-10337.html

Gauging the Prospects for Nuclear Power in the Obama Era (US News & World Report)
http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/energy/2009/03/27/gauging-the-prospects-for-nuclear-power-in-the-obama-era.html

California Restarts Daily Electricity Auction (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123837040945167681.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Steller Sea Lions Gobbling Up Sturgeon below Bonneville Dam (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/03/sturgeon_and_sea_lions.html

Biologists Call For Changes to Columbia River Salmon Hatcheries (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008938569_hatcheryreform28m.html

Some Push for New Talks on Columbia River Treaty (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_columbia_treaty.html

Fish Managers Seek Comments on 2009 Ocean Salmon Seasons (The Umpqua Post, OR)
http://www.theumpquapost.com/articles/2009/03/29/local_news/doc49d02d0acd538794603331.txt

NOAA’s Fisheries Service Proposes Listing Pacific Smelt as Threatened Species (Indian Country Today)
http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/global/canada/41839602.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Thick Snowpack Promises Ample Water Supply (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/42080622.html

Four East Oregon Possible Dam-Building Sites Selected For Irrigation and Recreation (Baker City Herald, OR)
http://www.bakercityherald.com/Local-News/Four-possible-dam-building-sites-selected

Big Bill for Small Ponds: Ecology Notifies Property Owners of Unsafe Dams (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090329/news/303299991

Map of Hazardous Dams (WA Dept. Of Ecology – Links to PDF File)
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/dams/Images/hhd_hhdsd_121908.pdf

Boil Water Advisory for Lewis County Towns (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19039667/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_7am&tmi=sea_7am_1_09000103302009&ts=H

Loggers Try to Adapt to Greener Economy (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/business/energy-environment/29forests.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Olympian Editorial - Lawmakers Must Not Roll Back Initiative (937)
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/802956.html

'Not One Benefit for Me' - Hartman: Turbines are little more than hot air (Wichita Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/stories/2009/03/30/story1.html?ana=from_rss

Longview Man Finally Gets Wind Turbine Permit (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/03/30//area_news/doc49d055673c75a815620683.txt

Snohomish County Warming To Solar Power - Small projects are going up around the county, funded in part by donations from PUD customers (The Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090330/NEWS01/903299966/-1/RSS02

Solar Water Heater Company Fueled By Power Purchase Pacts (Sacramento Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2009/03/30/story8.html?ana=from_rss

Cost Works against Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources in Time of Recession (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/business/energy-environment/29renew.html

Despite Economy, Prospects for Green Energy Remain Strong (Yale Environment 360)
http://e360.yale.edu/content/feature.msp?id=2135

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Longview Gets $165,000 for Energy Efficiency Projects (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/03/27//area_news/doc49cc6cb3d14ad546861470.txt

Energy Department Maps Efficiency Money (NY Times)
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/30/energy-department-maps-efficiency-money/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Pacific Northwest Utilities Push Energy-Efficient Ductless Heat Pump (Examiner.Com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1932734~Utilities_push_energy_efficient_ductless_heat_pump.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Pilot Project Offers Efficient Electric Heating System Incentive (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/updates/10593877-55/story.csp

Do New Bulbs Save Energy if They Don’t Work? (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/28/business/energy-environment/28bulbs.html

For The White House, Not So Easy Being Greener (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2008943667_apgreeningthewhitehouse.html?syndication=rss

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Oregon Carbon Tax Proposal Heats Up (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/03/23/daily50.html?ana=from_rss

Critics Blast Earth Hour, But Support Conservation (The Daily Journal, Tupelo, MI)
http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=287670&pub=1&div=News

Environmentalists Hail Earth Hour As A Big Success (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/03/27/national/a014140D20.DTL&feed=rss.news

Among Climate Scientists, a Dispute over ‘Tipping Points’ (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/weekinreview/29revkin.html

Climate Lobbying In D.C. Attracts Texans - Employment Surges in Area Where State’s Energy Industry Has a Huge Stake (Houston Chronicle, TX)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/6349271.html

The UN Makes It Official: Global Warming Hysteria Is All About Redistributing Wealth (Fox News)
http://foxforum.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/03/27/sheppard_global_warming_un/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Conficker Worm Threat to Grow On Wednesday (Associated Press)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/691008.html

Rural Broadband Vs. Red Tape - Fed agencies square off on how to spend $7 billion to bring the Net to 'unserved' areas. Let the squabbling begin. (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/2009/03/27/technology/rural_broadband.fortune.fortune/index.htm?source=yahoo_quote

Comcast Sues Maryland Wireless Internet Provider for Bandwidth Theft - Man uses 35 residential accounts to fuel wireless business (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Comcast-Sues-Maryland-WISP-for-Bandwidth-Theft-101616

Iowa Governor Trolling For Microsoft Facility (Associated Press)
http://www.seattlepi.com/business/404392_msft28.html?source=rss

Charter Says Bankruptcy Won’t Affect Speed Upgrades (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/03/27/charter-says-bankruptcy-wont-affect-speed-upgrades/

Average Global Download Speed: 1.5Mbps - U.S. ranked 17th with average downstream speed of 3.9Mbps (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Average-Global-Download-Speed-15Mbps-101594

GENERAL NEWS

Hood Canal Woman Saves Kayaker (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6815/reftab/1632/t/HOOD-CANAL-WOMAN-SAVES-KAYAKER/Default.aspx

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Is Belfair Ready to Get Twitterfied? (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/mar/29/is-belfair-ready-for-twitter/?partner=RSS

Some Politicians Have Trouble Adapting To the Web (KIRO Radio, Seattle)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=150413

Winter Hangs On, Studded Tires Still Must Come Off (Associated Press)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=150410

Your Survival Guide Around The Hood Canal Bridge (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090329/NEWS/303299993

Idaho Lawmakers Take Aim at Metal Thieves (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/800887.html

Weyerhaeuser CEO Gets 2008 Pay Valued At $4.7M (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/03/30/financial/f074003D70.DTL&feed=rss.business

Dirt-Weary Spokane Turns To Bootleg Detergent (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/41995552.html

Faulty Pot-Growing Equipment May Have Caused Fire (Examiner.Com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1931740~Faulty_pot_growing_equipment_may_have_caused_fire.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Jewels Forged In the Depression (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/O/index.ssf/2009/03/jewels_forged_in_the_depressio.html

DIVERSIONS

Sink Hole Swallows Girl During Ballgame
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19027865/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000103272009&ts=H

Top Road Rule Myths!
http://www.kirotv.com/traffic/19045223/detail.html

Cheese Beats Baboon Metaphysics in Odd Book Prize
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE52Q4EK20090327?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

'Dumbest Criminal' Nabbed In Cop Convention Holdup
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090328/ap_on_fe_st/odd_police_convention_robbery;_ylt=AjaswAis_Fp53WQ.gu9Ni3ztiBIF

SONG OF THE DAY

Vivaldi - Spring (From the Four Seasons – a little late for the start of spring, but maybe a hopeful offering)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSw7CcAXPWk

Energy News Digest for March 27, 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)

- Bill Revives Idea of Shifting Portland General Electric to Public Ownership
- Enron's Skilling Resentencing Hearing Set For July
- Idaho Power Ready to Make Oregon Transmission Case
- Ohio’s Consumer Counsel Seeks Freeze on AEP’s Retroactive Rate Hike
- Support for Nuclear Energy Remains High, New Survey Finds
- Tucson Citizen Op/Ed - The Nuclear Option
- Grants Help Restore Fish Habitat in Oregon, Washington
- Proposal Would Curb Columbia River Gillnetters
- Salmon Oddity Rears Its Heads Once Again in Central Kitsap Classroom
- A Win-Win Idaho Water Deal - Settlement of 2 long Idaho Power disputes
- Oregon’s Legislative "Odd Couple" Tackles Water Issues
- Idaho Governor, Tribe Sign Lake Coeur d'Alene Plan
- Seattle Times Guest Columnist - Beyond Puget Sound
- 60 Die as Dam Breaks Near Jakarta
- Northwest Utilities Warn Green Energy May Raise Rates
- Oregon Wind Farms Whip up Noise, Health Concerns
- Los Angeles Times Editorial - Feinstein's Desert Protection Plan
- Tidal Energy Company Withdraws Permit Request
- Water Worries Shape Local Energy Decisions
- Montana Bill Seeks to Turn Slash into ‘Renewable Biomass'
- A U.S. Federal Renewable Portfolio Standard: Potentials and Pitfalls
- Does D.C. Get Energy Independence? Pickens Is Of Two Minds
- Vestas Breaks Ground in Colorado for Manufacturing Plant
- Renewable Energy Will Boost Software Demand, Says Greenpeace
- Mason County Tribes Getting Stimulus Money for Energy Projects
- Wash Cities, Counties to Get $56 Million for Energy
- STIMULUS: Tri-Cities to receive $1.3 million for energy conservation
- Kitsap County Eligible for Stimulus Money for Energy Efficiency
- NY Times Editorial - The First Green Step
- Ethanol Investors Try To Derail California's Carbon-Emissions Proposal
- Lights Out in 84 Countries for Earth Hour 2009
- Charter Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
- Verizon Leases Fiber For Wireless Backhaul
- Ad Watchdog: Cablevision Internet Not 'Fastest'
- Twitter To Seek Revenue from Businesses
- Google to Lay Off 200 in Latest Round of Cuts
- Spring Storm Headed This Way
- Police: Man Adds Meth to Wife's Water to Give Her Energy
- Seven Indicted In State's Biggest Mortgage-Fraud Scheme
- Thurston Deputies' Union Plans to Sue County

WORD OF THE DAY

Jaunty • \JON-tee\ • noun – Sprightly in manner or appearance: lively

“You are an absolute peacock!” exclaimed Antoine to his friend Archie. “With that jaunty pirate hat all the girls at the party will be asking for your phone number!”

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

Bill Revives Idea of Shifting Portland General Electric to Public Ownership (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/4616-bill-revives-idea-shifting-pge-public-ownership/

Enron's Skilling Resentencing Hearing Set For July (Associated Press)http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/03/26/national/a213606D01.DTL&feed=rss.business

Idaho Power Ready to Make Oregon Transmission Case (Baker City Herald. OR)
http://www.bakercityherald.com/Local-News/Idaho-Power-ready-to-make-case-to-PUC

Ohio’s Consumer Counsel Seeks Freeze on AEP’s Retroactive Rate Hike (Dayton Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2009/03/23/daily73.html?ana=from_rss

Support for Nuclear Energy Remains High, New Survey Finds (Utility Automation and Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=357361&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss

Tucson Citizen Op/Ed - The Nuclear Option
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/opinion/113017.php

FISH & WILDLIFE

Grants Help Restore Fish Habitat in Oregon, Washington (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/03/a_45000_grant_will_help.html

Proposal Would Curb Columbia River Gillnetters (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/news-30/123810927833930.xml&storylist=orlocal

Salmon Oddity Rears Its Heads Once Again in Central Kitsap Classroom (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/mar/26/salmon-oddity-rears-its-heads-again-in-central/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

A Win-Win Idaho Water Deal - The settlement of 2 long Idaho Power Co. disputes will help the utility, electricity users, Eastern Idaho farmers and salmon (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/environment/story/711932.html

Swan Falls Dam – “…JD Strike & Swan Falls dams combined to become the first artificial barrier to anadromous fish migration up the Snake River…” (Wikipedia)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_Falls_Dam

Oregon’s Legislative "Odd Couple" Tackles Water Issues (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/4614-legislative-odd-couple-tackles-water-issues/

Idaho Governor, Tribe Sign Lake Coeur d'Alene Plan (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1926725~Otter__tribe_sign_Lake_Coeur_d_Alene_plan.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines

Seattle Times Guest Columnist - Beyond Puget Sound: Ten ideas for saving the Salish Sea
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008930827_opinc27gaydos.html

60 Die as Dam Breaks Near Jakarta (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/28/world/asia/28indo.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Northwest Utilities Warn Green Energy May Raise Rates (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/4611-northwest-utilities-warn-green-energy-may-raise-rates/

Oregon Wind Farms Whip up Noise, Health Concerns (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/03/oregon_wind_farms_whip_up_nois.html

Los Angeles Times Editorial - Feinstein's Desert Protection Plan: A proposal by Sen. Dianne Feinstein could pit those who want to preserve desert land against those who want to use it for solar and wind energy projects.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-ed-desert27-2009mar27,0,3252665.story

Tidal Energy Company Withdraws Permit Request (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/tidal-energy-company-withdraws-permit-request/

Water Worries Shape Local Energy Decisions - Scarcity Forces Electricity Companies to Rethink Power-Plant Plans, Providing an Opening for Renewable Sources (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123802383042842123.html

Montana Bill Seeks to Turn Slash into ‘Renewable Biomass' (The Missoulian, MT)
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2009/03/27/news/local/news05.txt

A U.S. Federal Renewable Portfolio Standard: Potentials and Pitfalls (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/03/a-federal-renewable-portfolio-standard-potentials-and-pitfalls?src=rss

Does D.C. Get Energy Independence? Pickens Is Of Two Minds (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10787_3-10205110-60.html?tag=nl.e433

Vestas Breaks Ground in Colorado for Manufacturing Plant (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/03/vestas-breaks-ground-in-colorado-sells-tower-facility-in-scotland?src=rss

Renewable Energy Will Boost Software Demand, Says Greenpeace (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/idgGreenComputing/idUS389974836820090327

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Mason County Tribes Getting Stimulus Money for Energy Projects (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6809/reftab/1632/t/TRIBES-GETTING-STIMULUS-MONEY-FOR-ENERGY-PROJECTS/Default.aspx

Wash Cities, Counties to Get $56 Million for Energy (KIRO Radio, Seattle, WA)
http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/41954877.html

STIMULUS: Tri-Cities to receive $1.3 million for energy conservation (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/523084.html

Kitsap County Eligible for Stimulus Money for Energy Efficiency (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/mar/26/county-eligible-for-stimulus-money-for-energy/?partner=RSS

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

NY Times Editorial - The First Green Step: Fighting global warming starts with a greenhouse gas registry.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/26/AR2009032603469.html?nav=rss_opinions

Ethanol Investors Try To Derail California's Carbon-Emissions Proposal (Los Angeles Times, CA)
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-ethanol27-2009mar27,0,6273025.story

Lights Out in 84 Countries for Earth Hour 2009 (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2008933256_apearthhour.html?syndication=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Charter Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy - Charter CEO: Good news, everybody! (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Charter-Files-Chapter-11-Bankruptcy-101592

Verizon Leases Fiber For Wireless Backhaul - Looks to recoup multi-billion FiOS and core network investment (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Verizon-Leases-Fiber-For-Wireless-Backhaul-101591

Ad Watchdog: Cablevision Internet Not 'Fastest' - Cablevision should stop saying it's the 'fastest' Internet provider “…should also stop saying it has ‘America's most advanced fiber optic network’…” (Associated Press)
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Ad-watchdog-Cablevision-apf-14765443.html

Twitter To Seek Revenue from Businesses (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE52P0BP20090326?feedType=nl&feedName=ustechnology

Google to Lay Off 200 in Latest Round of Cuts (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12003406?nclick_check=1

GENERAL NEWS

Spring Storm Headed This Way (KIRO Radio, Seattle)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=149714

Police: Man Adds Meth to Wife's Water to Give Her Energy (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_032609WAB-water-spiked-with-meth-TP.72af820d.html?rss?npc

Seven Indicted In State's Biggest Mortgage-Fraud Scheme (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008932579_mortgage27m.html

Thurston Deputies' Union Plans to Sue County (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_032609WAB-thurston-sheriff-staffing-lawsuit-TP.72e57ca3.html?rss?npc

DIVERSIONS

Ariz. Man Accused of Performing Illegal Weddings
http://www.kirotv.com/family/19020324/detail.html

Clallam Bay Prison Smoke Traced To Inmate Cooking In Toilet
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008929266_webtoiletcooking26m.html?syndication=rss

Federal Way Police Chief in Fender Bender While Surfing Web
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/41931762.html

Woman Arrested 3 Times in 3 Days for Drunk Driving
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090327/ap_on_fe_st/odd3_owis_3_days;_ylt=Ak9Nq7Ysmqq8GW7VFz6Z_kHtiBIF

SONG OF THE DAY (The quarter for Bob Zimmerman Edition)

Bob Dylan - Blowing in the Wind
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4nPJ-YYHBc

Sam Cooke-Blowing in the Wind (This is my pick)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYWDgeVqP2U