Wednesday, June 24, 2009

Energy News Digest for June 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)

- Chelan PUD to Replace Bonds with New
- Chelan PUD to Offer Billing Online By January
- Wall Street Journal Op/Ed - The New Nuclear Revolution
- Court Rules against NE States in Power Grid Suit
- Wildfire Protection – San Diego Votes against Utility's Power Shutoff Plan
- Oregon - Savage Rapids Lesson: Removing Dams No Easy Task
- Snohomish County Restoring Salmon Habitat
- Canadian Fisheries Report Find Colder Ocean Water Good for Salmon
- Alaska Biologists Eye Ocean Shifts' Effect on Salmon
- Backyard Beekeepers Could Help Save Periled Population
- NYC Beekeepers Swarm City Hall to Protest Ban
- State Officials Issue Final Report on Yakima River Basin Water Needs
- Water Seeping Through Howard Hanson Dam Is Picking Up Speed
- Carlsborg Sewer Costs Raise Residents' Concerns
- Proposal Would Raise Stormwater Utility Rates
- Get the Dulcolax - Second Boring Machine Stuck In Kingco Sewage Tunnel
- Proposed Skamania County Wind Farm Intrusion To Hikers?
- Oregon - Umatilla County to Weigh Barring Turbines from Blue Mountains
- Land Use Fuels Wind Debate
- U.S. Awards Exploratory Leases for Offshore Wind
- Experts Say Wind Energy Key to Oklahoma Economy
- Baird Becomes Maverick On Federal Energy Bill
- Solar Industry to See Faster Than Expected Growth
- Ocean Renewable Energy Has Huge Potential But Not Without Giant Hurdles
- Energy Dept Sees Renewable Energy Loan Rules Soon
- Meltdown 101: Where Are The Renewable Energy Jobs?
- Seattle's Biodiesel Producer Hoping For a Comeback
- Deep in Bedrock, Clean Energy and Quake Fears
- Vermont School District Shifts to Wood Pellets
- Editorial - Green Politicians Thrive When Economy Goes South
- Tropical Plant Shows Promise as Biomass Energy Source
- Recycling Refrigerators Saves Money and the Environment
- Microsoft Debuts Power Conservation Website
- Vote Set on House Climate Bill
- Lobbying Frenzy Begins as House Climate Bill Heads for Floor
- Farm Groups Prevail as House Climate Bill Puts USDA in Charge of Ag Offsets
- Putting A Financial Spin On Global Warming
- Pennsylvania Utilities, Industry Lining Up Behind Clean-Energy Act
- Op/Ed - Reduce Carbon Emissions Now: Focus On Vehicle Emissions
- Fighting Climate Change at Mount Rainier and Other National Parks
- Maryland - Lawmakers Get Lesson on Global Warming and the Bay
- Cable TV’s Big Worry: Taming the Web
- Japan Offers Faster Speeds, Lower Prices than US, Report Documents
- Cost-Cutting - Mason County Eliminates Director of Budget and Finance Position
- Mason County Reaps Benefits of Bidding Climate
- Tahuya Paramedic Service Hangs in Balance as Contract Runs Out
- State Supreme Court Hears Library Filter Arguments
- Seattle Restaurant Owner Paid Workers to Enter Into Sham Marriages
- Including Bauxite - China Hoarding Building Blocks to Recovery, U.S. Charges

WORD OF THE DAY

Cavalcade • \kav-ul-KAYD\ • noun – 1a: a procession of riders or carriages b: a procession of vehicles or ships 2: a dramatic sequence or procession: series

Alfred came stumbling into the room; his bumbling entrance reminded his friend Bert of a crazed kind of “Rube Golberg” machine. The arrival was nothing more than a cavalcade of tripping, pratfalls, apologies, breaking glass, and the distant sound of a screeching cat.

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

Chelan PUD to Replace Bonds with New (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090623/NEWS04/706239968

Chelan PUD to Offer Billing Online By January (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090623/NEWS04/706239950/0/SPORTS04?Chelan-PUD-to-offer-billing-online-by-January

Wall Street Journal Op/Ed - The New Nuclear Revolution. Safe fission power is our future; if regulators allow it.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124580572129645069.html

Court Rules against NE States in Power Grid Suit (Associated Press)
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/06/23/ap6578437.html

Wildfire Protection – San Diego votes against utility's power shutoff plan (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2084121~SD_supes_vote_against_utility_s_power_shutoff_plan.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

FISH & WILDLIFE

Oregon - Savage Rapids Lesson: Removing Dams No Easy Task (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/5281-savage-rapids-lesson-removing-dams-no-easy-task/

Snohomish County Restoring Salmon Habitat - Some farmers are opposed to the loss of farmland on Smith Island (Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090624/NEWS01/706249791/-1/RSS02

Canadian Fisheries Report Find Colder Ocean Water Good for Salmon (Seattle Times)
http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/reeltimenorthwest/2009/06/23/canadian_fisheries_report_foun.html

Alaska Biologists Eye Ocean Shifts' Effect on Salmon (Fairbanks News Miner)
http://newsminer.com/news/2009/jun/23/biologists-wonder-if-ocean-shifts-affect-salmon/

Backyard Beekeepers Could Help Save Periled Population (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/48963471.html

NYC Beekeepers Swarm City Hall to Protest Ban (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009374828_apusnycbeekeepersabuzz2ndldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

State Officials Issue Final Report on Yakima River Basin Water Needs (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/2009/06/23/ecology-officials-issue-final-report-on-yakima-river-basin-water-needs

Water Seeping Through Howard Hanson Dam Is Picking Up Speed (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009376179_leakingdam24m.html?syndication=rss

Carlsborg Sewer Costs Raise Residents' Concerns (Sequim Gazette)
http://www.sequimgazette.com/topstory/articleDetail.exm/Index/article/2009-06-24_Carlsborg_sewer_costs_raise_residents__concerns/

Proposal Would Raise Stormwater Utility Rates - Clean Water Act: Requires monitoring, pollution prevention (The Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/890438.html

Get the Dulcolax - Second Boring Machine Stuck In Kingco Sewage Tunnel (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009377511_apwasewagetunnel.html?syndication=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Proposed Skamania County Wind Farm Intrusion To Hikers? (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20090624/NEWS02/706249957/Proposed+wind+farm+intrusion+to+hikers

Oregon - Umatilla County to Weigh Barring Turbines from Blue Mountains (Associated Press)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/06/umatilla_county_to_weigh_barri.html

Land Use Fuels Wind Debate (Boston Herald)
http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view/20090624land_use_fuels_wind_debate/srvc=business&position=recent_bullet

U.S. Awards Exploratory Leases for Offshore Wind (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE55M6G920090623

Experts Say Wind Energy Key to Oklahoma Economy (Associated Press)
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/06/23/ap6578750.html

Baird Becomes Maverick On Federal Energy Bill; Warns It Hurts Local Biomass Effort (The Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/politicsblog/story/890263.html

Solar Industry to See Faster Than Expected Growth (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009372808_apussolarutilities.html?syndication=rss

Ocean Renewable Energy Has Huge Potential But Not Without Giant Hurdles (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/06/ocean-renewable-energy-has-huge-potential-but-not-without-giant-hurdles?cmpid=rss

Energy Dept Sees Renewable Energy Loan Rules Soon (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssTechMediaTelecomNews/idUSN236811620090623

Meltdown 101: Where Are The Renewable Energy Jobs? (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009373936_apusmeltdown101greenjobs.html?syndication=rss

Seattle's Biodiesel Producer Hoping For a Comeback (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_062309ENB_seattle-biodiesel-imperium-JM.1c3054b2.html?rss

Deep in Bedrock, Clean Energy and Quake Fears (NY Times – Honey, I broke the planet!)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/business/energy-environment/24geotherm.html?hp

Vermont School District Shifts to Wood Pellets (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/06/vermont-school-district-shifts-to-wood-pellets?cmpid=rss

Denver Post Editorial - Green Politicians Thrive When Economy Goes South
http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_12673389

Tropical Plant Shows Promise as Biomass Energy Source (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/5283-tropical-plants-shows-promise-biomass-energy-source/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Recycling Refrigerators Saves Money and the Environment (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_062409WAB-refrigerator-recycling-LJ.1104f16.html

Microsoft Debuts Power Conservation Website (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/24/AR2009062401017.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Vote Set on House Climate Bill - Cap-and-Trade Legislation Advances Despite Some Resistance (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2009/06/23/ST2009062303474.html

Lobbying Frenzy Begins as House Climate Bill Heads for Floor (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/06/23/23greenwire-lobbying-frenzy-begins-as-house-climate-bill-he-7715.html

Farm Groups Prevail as House Climate Bill Puts USDA in Charge of Ag Offsets (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/06/24/24climatewire-farm-groups-prevail-as-house-climate-bill-pu-24287.html

Putting A Financial Spin On Global Warming - Climate change is a potential environmental disaster; but it's also potentially an economic opportunity. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105834436&ft=1&f=3

Pennsylvania Utilities, Industry Lining Up Behind Clean-Energy Act (Philadelphia Business Today)
http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20090624_PhillyDeals__Pa__utilities__industry_lining_up_behind_clean-energy_act.html

Salem Statesman-Journal Op/Ed - Reduce Carbon Emissions Now: Focus On Vehicle Emissions
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20090624/OPINION/906240464/1049

Fighting Climate Change at Mount Rainier and Other National Parks (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/outdoors/2009375042_webnationalparks23.html?syndication=rss

Maryland - Lawmakers Get Lesson on Global Warming and the Bay: With House vote looming, Chesapeake serves as site for hearing (Baltimore Sun)
http://www.baltimoresun.com/features/green/bal-md.bay24jun24,0,2096064.story

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Cable TV’s Big Worry: Taming the Web (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/business/media/24pay.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Japan Offers Faster Speeds, Lower Prices than US, Report Documents (Broadband Census)
http://broadbandcensus.com/2009/06/japan-offers-faster-speeds-lower-prices-than-us-report-documents/

GENERAL NEWS

Cost-Cutting - Mason County Eliminates Director of Budget and Finance Position (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7620/reftab/1632/t/COUNTY-ELIMINATES-DIRECTOR-OF-BUDGET-AND-FINANCE-POSITION/Default.aspx

Mason County Reaps Benefits of Bidding Climate (Kmas Radio, Shelton, Wa)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7618/reftab/1632/t/COUNTY-REAPS-BENEFITS-OF-BIDDING-CLIMATE/Default.aspx

Tahuya Paramedic Service Hangs in Balance as Contract Runs Out (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/jun/23/tahuya-paramedic-service-hangs-in-balance-as-out/?partner=RSS

State Supreme Court Hears Library Filter Arguments (Associated Press)
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/jun/24/court-hears-library-filter-arguments/

Seattle Restaurant Owner Paid Workers to Enter Into Sham Marriages (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19835937/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_4pm&tmi=sea_4pm_1_06000206232009&ts=H

Including Bauxite - China Hoarding Building Blocks to Recovery, U.S. Charges (Globe and Mail, Canada)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/world/china-hoarding-building-blocks-to-recovery-us-charges/article1194438/

DIVERSIONS

Woman Says Money Too Fake To Be Felony - worked with counterfeiters to pass off photocopied $100 bills in the store in exchange for gift cards
http://www.kirotv.com/politics/19822595/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000106232009&ts=H

Fifteen Los Angeles Students Denied Diplomas after Protesting Planned Teacher Layoffs
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12673203

Kids' "Power Station" Sparks Radiation Alert
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE55M6ME20090623?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest

Turkey Lands in Manure Truck's Cab, Causing Crash
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090624/ap_on_fe_st/us_odd_turkey_truck_crash;_ylt=AuBZCUAD4j5RP0Y1BXPAL3XtiBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTM0NDZsOWxuBGFzc2V0Ay9hcC8yMDA5MDYyNC9hcF9vbl9mZV9zdC91c19vZGRfdHVya2V5X3RydWNrX2NyYXNoBHBvcwMxBHNlYwN5bl9oZWFkbGluZV9saXN0BHNsawN0dXJrZXlsYW5kc2k-

SONG OF THE DAY

Steve Miller Band - Take the Money and Run
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fFGZufk4HFs

Tuesday, June 23, 2009

Energy News Digest for June 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)

- Thieves Hit BPA Potlatch Substation near Hoodsport. Reward Offered
- Snohomish PUD To Seek Rate Increases More Often
- Oregon Forces Pollution Cuts at Portland General Electric Coal Plant
- Utah - US Needs 100 More Nuclear Power Plants
- Study Says Wyoming Coal Essential to Energy Future
- Seattle Garbage Truck Brings Down Power Pole
- National Lightning Safety Awareness Week
- Rogue River - Oregon Dam Deconstruction Takes Break for Fish
- NY Times Editorial - Ocean Rescue from Overfishing
- Report Critical Of Point Reyes Seashore's Take on Farms
- Contract for Shelton’s Kneeland Park Pump Station Awarded
- Oregon - Klamath Dams Removal Bill Goes To Governor
- Could Cowlitz Surges Fix Silt Problems?
- Justices Say Waste Can Be Dumped in Alaska Lake
- Portland General Electric Begins Generation at Biglow Canyon Wind Farm
- Funds Scarce For Alternative Energy Projects
- Can Wind Power Get Up to Speed?
- Wind, (The Myth Of) Backup Power and Emissions
- Solar Project Meets Bigger Foe than Cloudy Skie
- San Jose Closer to Being First U.S. City with Biogas Plant
- Energy Conservation - Stimulus Makes Local Impact
- Columbia Credit Union Earns Green Design Honor
- California Startup's Prefab Homes Aim for Zero Energy Bills
- Eco-Consultants Help Navigate Green Minefield
- Oakland Green Job Corps Grads Get To Work
- House Climate Bill Remains in Holding Pattern
- Word Games Could Threaten Climate Bill
- U.S. Climate Fix To Cost Consumers $175 a Year
- Montana Crowd Protests Cap-And-Trade Proposal (
- United Kingdom - Deforestation Plan for Britain Splits Green Groups
- Ancient Drought and Rapid Cooling Drastically Altered Climate
- Microsoft Hires Yahoo Data Center Exec
- Yahoo to Write Down As Much As $34M for Layoffs
- MySpace to Cut Two-Thirds of Staff Outside U.S.
- A Weak Spot in Our Cyber Defenses
- Grandmas Tell AT&T: We Don't Want Metered Billing Either
- Web Browser Enters a Golden Age
- Shot Across the Bow over Cost Savings for Fire Service
- Washington Highway Funds Stretch
- Bids Lower Than Expected For Idaho Road Projects
- Four Kids Sicced Pit Bull on Women in SeaTac, Cops Say
- Washington State's Top Prisons Doctor Quit Over Execution Policy
- State Audit Rips Apart King County
- Montana City Ends Policy Seeking Internet Passwords
- Editorial - Oregon Follows Suit on Metal Theft Laws
- The Wonder of Mars in Its Seasonal Glory

WORD OF THE DAY

Gumption • \GUMP-shun\ • noun – 1: common sense, horse sense 2: enterprise, initiative

Expertly guiding his team of six horses, the wizened stagecoach driver suspiciously eyed the fresh-faced guard assigned to watch over the chest of gold nuggets stashed under the wildly swaying seat. He absently shifted his quid of chewing tobacco and spat at a hovering fly, all the time wondering of the guard, nicknamed “Buttercup,” would have the gumption to protect the treasure on board the coach, or flee at the first sign of robbers or restive natives.

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

Copper Thieves Hit Potlatch Substation, BPA Offers $25,000 Reward for Info (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_062209WAB-bonnevile-copper-thieves-TP.17040c7d.html

Thieves Hit BPA Potlatch Substation near Hoodsport. Reward Offered (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=562

Snohomish PUD To Seek Rate Increases More Often - Officials say the move would help them maintain the power grid better (Everett Herald, WA)
http://heraldnet.com/article/20090623/NEWS01/706239910

Oregon Forces Pollution Cuts at Portland General Electric's Coal-Fired Power Plant (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/06/oregon_forces_pollution_cuts_a.html

Utah - US Needs 100 More Nuclear Power Plants: But with Yucca Mountain plan dead, what to do with the hot waste piling up across the country? (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_12666571

Study Says Wyoming Coal Essential to Energy Future (Associated Press)
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/06/22/ap6573521.html

Seattle Garbage Truck Brings Down Power Pole (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19821251/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_4pm&tmi=sea_4pm_1_06000206222009&ts=H

National Lightning Safety Awareness Week (KNDU-TV, Tri Cities, WA)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=10573262

FISH & WILDLIFE

Rogue River - Oregon Dam Deconstruction Takes Break for Fish (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2080924~Ore__dam_deconstruction_takes_break_for_fish.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

NY Times Editorial - Ocean Rescue: Most of the world’s important commercial fish species have been declining for years. The biggest cause of the deterioration in ocean health…is overfishing
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/22/opinion/22mon1.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Report Critical Of Point Reyes Seashore's Take on Farms – Including Aquaculture? (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12663374

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Contract for Shelton’s Kneeland Park Pump Station Awarded (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7604/reftab/1632/t/CONTRACT-FOR-KNEELAND-PARK-PUMP-STATION-AWARDED/Default.aspx

Oregon - Klamath Dams Removal Bill Goes To Governor (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2081587~Klamath_dams_removal_bill_goes_to_governor.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Could Cowlitz Surges Fix Silt Problems? Mossyrock Dam: Corps Exploring Several Options for Managing Tons of Sediment from Mount St. Helens (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/articles/2009/06/22/news//doc4a3fc0e52b8db967649388.txt

Justices Say Waste Can Be Dumped in Alaska Lake (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/23/us/23alaska.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Portland General Electric Begins Power Generation at Biglow Canyon Wind Farm (iStock Analyst)
http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/3277097

Funds Scarce For Alternative Energy Projects (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/06/22/local_news/doc4a3fd056ec579567846160.txt

Can Wind Power Get Up to Speed? (Time Magazine)
http://www.time.com/time/health/article/0,8599,1906507,00.html

Wind, (The Myth Of) Backup Power and Emissions (Energy Pulse)
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=2078

Solar Project Meets Bigger Foe than Cloudy Skies: The Air Force - Opposition to Plant Highlights Hurdles Facing Renewable Energy (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/19/AR2009061903404.html?wprss=rss_business

San Jose Closer to Being First U.S. City with Biogas Plant (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12650797

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Energy Conservation - Stimulus Makes Local Impact (The Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/889253.html

Columbia Credit Union Earns Green Design Honor (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20090623/BIZ01/706239988/-1/BIZ

California Startup's Prefab Homes Aim for Zero Energy Bills (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/22/BURR187SSG.DTL&feed=rss.news

Eco-Consultants Help Navigate Green Minefield (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/22/BUTR18A1KA.DTL&feed=rss.business

Oakland Green Job Corps Grads Get To Work (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/22/BUJP18BMCL.DTL&feed=rss.news

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

House Climate Bill Remains in Holding Pattern (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/06/22/22climatewire-house-climate-bill-remains-in-holding-patter-56278.html

Word Games Could Threaten Climate Bill (Politico.com)
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0609/24059.html

U.S. Climate Fix To Cost Consumers $175 a Year: CBO (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE55L57O20090622

Montana Crowd Protests Cap-And-Trade Proposal (Billings Gazette, MT)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2009/06/23/news/local/26-protest.txt

United Kingdom - Deforestation Plan for Britain Which Has Split Green Groups: cutting down trees to enhance wildlife habitat? (The Telegraph, UK)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/5300490/Deforestation-plan-for-Britain-which-has-split-green-groups.html

Ancient Drought and Rapid Cooling Drastically Altered Climate (US News & World Report)
http://www.usnews.com/articles/science/2009/06/22/ancient-drought-and-rapid-cooling-drastically-altered-climate.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Microsoft Hires Yahoo Data Center Exec (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/06/22/daily11.html?ana=from_rss

Yahoo to Write Down As Much As $34M for Layoffs (Associated Press)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12648681

MySpace to Cut Two-Thirds of Staff Outside U.S. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/24/technology/companies/24myspace.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

A Weak Spot in Our Cyber Defenses (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/22/AR2009062202485.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns

Grandmas Tell AT&T: We Don't Want Metered Billing Either - 'We grandmothers know a rip off when we seen one...' (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Grandmas-Tell-ATT-We-Dont-Want-Metered-Billing-Either-103080

Web Browser Enters a Golden Age (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12625109

GENERAL NEWS

Shot Across the Bow - City of Shelton Sending Letter to Dist. Five Inquiring About Cost Savings for Fire Service (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7607/reftab/1632/t/CITY-SENDING-LETTER-TO-FIRE-FIVE-INQUIRING-ABOUT-COST-SAVINGS-FOR-FIRE-SERVICE/Default.aspx

Washington Highway Funds Stretch - Lower-than-expected bids mean money left over for additional projects (The News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/787150.html

Bids Lower Than Expected For Idaho Road Projects (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/888802.html

Four Kids Sicced Pit Bull on Women In SeaTac, Cops Say (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009371116_pitbull23m.html

Washington State's Top Prisons Doctor Quit Over Execution Policy (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009370884_deathpenalty23m.html?syndication=rss

State Audit Rips Apart King County (KIRO Radio, Seattle)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=181400

Montana City Ends Policy Seeking Internet Passwords (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2082538~Mont__city_ends_policy_seeking_Internet_passwords.html?cid=rss-Montana_Headlines

Columbian Editorial - Oregon Follows Suit: New law that cracks down on metal thieves brings state in line with Washington (Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20090623/OPINION02/706239994/-1/OPINION

The Wonder of Mars in Its Seasonal Glory (The Independent, UK)
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/science/the-wonder-of-mars-in-its-seasonal-glory-1714144.html

DIVERSIONS

Which Way to Bay? Baby Sea Lion Rescued On Freeway
http://www.examiner.com/a-2081445~Which_way_to_Bay__Baby_sea_lion_rescued_on_freeway.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Sorry, Paul Simon, Kodak's Taking Kodachrome Away
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12663537

Mind Your BlackBerry or Mind Your Manners
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/22/us/22smartphones.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Woman Puts Man in Sleeper Hold, Stops Bank Heist
http://www.examiner.com/a-2081948~Woman_puts_man_in_sleeper_hold__stops_bank_heist.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

SONG OF THE DAY Expected AND Unexpected

Paul Simon - Kodachrome
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hSXKjHDKkY

Paul Simon - Still Crazy After All These Years
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=46bkXgxb66E

Monday, June 22, 2009

Energy News Digest for June 22, 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)

- Jefferson PUD, Puget Sound Energy to Begin Formal Discussions on Electricity Transfer
- Grays Harbor PUD - Distribution of Refunds from BPA Overpayment Depended On Timing
- Ephrata Delays Grant PUD Transmission Line Opinion
- Planned Power Outage for North Shore Road to Accommodate County Road Repairs
- Linemen Compete In Fifth-Annual Rodeo
- Lab Testing Itron Meters’ Security
- Op/Ed - Efficiency, Renewable Energy Better Bets Than Gambling Anew On Nuclear Power
- Editorial - Pedernales Electric Cooperative: Many enablers led to indictments in scandal
- Michigan Customers, Utilities Feel Heat As Unpaid Bills Mount
- Op/Ed - Electricity Choices Benefit Consumers
- Editorial - Public Power Too Risky For Larkspur (Novato, CA)
- Editorial - A New TVA Energy Strategy
- Under House Energy Bill, Coal Won't Be Going Away
- Has the salmon debate changed?
- Summer Salmon Fishing Should Be Great
- Hood Canal Summer Chum Recovering, but Still Face Some Challenges
- Gulf of Alaska's Salmon Become Scarce As Ocean Currents Shift
- NOAA Issues Recovery Plan for Lake Ozette Fish
- Obama Climate Change Report Discusses Pacific Salmon
- Omak Creek - Tribes Welcome Back First Salmon
- Future Up In Air for Olympia Bat Colony
- Many Green-Friendly Bills Don't Make the Cut in Oregon
- Op/Ed - Protecting Oregon's Water (I’m lookin’ at you Nestle!)
- Hanford Workers Clean Up Chemical-Filled Pipeline near Columbia River
- County, Chelan/Grant PUDs Studying Slime in Lake Wenatchee
- Sustainable Is Now the Word in Klamath County
- Colorado’s Yampa River Runs with Possibility and Protest
- Rekindling Wood Energy in America
- Oregon’s Loggers See Potential in Waste Wood
- The Switch: Could Oregon’s Trees Make Us Energy Exporter?
- Editorial - Slow Down the Rush of Siting Wind Turbines in Our Blue Mountains
- Many Roadblocks to Getting Wind Energy Going On Great Lakes
- Wind Power Blocked By 'Glass Ceiling'
- Small Wind Turbines See Gust in Sales, Thanks In Part to Tax Credits
- Hawaii Paying Nearly Twice Market Rate For Solar Power
- Washington State Has Steady Growth in Clean Energy Jobs
- Port Orchard Sewage Plant's Gas Helps It Move Away From the Grid
- Op/Ed - Washington State Must Not Delay Biodiesel Goals
- Drawn by the Glow of Greener Streets
- GE Water Heater Cuts Energy Use in Half
- Fight over Greenhouse Gases Comes to Montana
- Critics Fault Climate-Change Legislation
- Climate Change Bill's Effect on Midwest Debated
- “Burpless” Cows Attribute Success to Omega 3 Rich Diet
- 'Synthetic Tree' Claims To Catch Carbon in the Air
- Boxlight: A Poulsbo Parable of Boom, Bust ... and Bounceback?
- Editorial - A Broadband Vision for the Federal Communications Commission
- The Metered Billing Fight Is About To Get Ugly
- Better Connections: Phone Co-Op Brings Tech to Homes
- Port Angeles - Human Remains Found At Elwha Dam Removal Site
- Tribe Settles Lawsuits over Port Angeles Burial Site
- Navy Holding Hearings on New Hood Canal Bangor Wharf
- Columnist - Don't Try To Intimidate People Who Sign Initiative Petitions
- Washington State Lawmakers' Expenses Tallied
- Mammoth Report Faults Seattle Street-Division Managers

WORD OF THE DAY

Oologist • \oh-ALL-uh-just\ • noun – 1: a person specializing in the study of birds' eggs 2: a collector of birds' eggs

On the farm, we were all amateur oologists, sneaking from nest to nest to gather the still-warm eggs from gently clucking hens.

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

Jefferson PUD, Puget Sound Energy to Begin Formal Discussions on Electricity Transfer (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090621/news/306219990

Grays Harbor PUD - Distribution of Refunds from BPA Overpayment Depended On Timing (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/06/21/local_news/doc4a3dcd1ca0c3e628124286.txt

Ephrata Delays Grant PUD Transmission Line Opinion (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/06/19/news/doc4a3c0493667c8074394881.txt

Planned Power Outage for North Shore Road to Accommodate County Road Repairs (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7579/reftab/1632/t/PLANNED-POWER-OUTAGE-FOR-NORTH-SHORE-ROAD-TO-ACCOMMODATE-COUNTY-ROAD-REPAIRS/Default.aspx

Linemen Compete In Fifth-Annual Rodeo (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090622/NEWS04/706229966/-1/PRINTINDEX?Linemen-compete-in-fifth-annual-rodeo

Lab Testing Itron Meters’ Security - Goal is to protect U.S. power grid from attack (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/jun/20/lab-testing-itron-meters-security/

Seattle Times Op/Ed - Efficiency, Renewable Energy Better Bets Than Gambling Anew On Nuclear Power
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2009360789_guest20patton.html

Austin American-Statesman Editorial - Pedernales Electric Cooperative: Many enablers led to indictments in scandal (Texas)
http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/editorial/stories/2009/06/20/0620pec_edit.html

Michigan Customers, Utilities Feel Heat As Unpaid Bills Mount (Detroit Free Press, MI)
http://www.freep.com/article/20090622/NEWS06/906220353/Customers++utilities+feel+heat+as+unpaid+bills+mount

Baltimore Sun Op/Ed - Electricity Choices Benefit Consumers
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.energy22jun22,0,5970948.story

Marin Independent Journal - Public Power Too Risky For Larkspur (Novato, CA)
http://www.marinij.com/opinion/ci_12662492

Chattanooga Times Free Press Editorial - A New TVA Energy Strategy
http://timesfreepress.com/news/2009/jun/21/6-21-t1-a-new-tva-energy-strategy/?opiniontimes

Under House Energy Bill, Coal Won't Be Going Away (Los Angeles Times)
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-coal22-2009jun22,0,6722721.story

FISH & WILDLIFE

Has the salmon debate changed? Breaching dams seems no more likely under a new administration. But the fervor for keeping them has died down, too, and that opens the door for discussion (The Idaho Statesman, Boise – Um, Rocky, your headline is belied by your editorial content: “…two-thirds of voters oppose breaching the dams…”)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/809447.html

Summer Salmon Fishing Should Be Great (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2009363985_outn21.html

Hood Canal Summer Chum Recovering, but Still Face Some Challenges (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/jun/20/hood-canal-summer-chum-recovering-but-still-face/

Gulf of Alaska's Salmon Become Scarce As Ocean Currents Shift (Anchorage Daily News, AK)
http://www.adn.com/outdoors/fishing/story/838015.html

NOAA Issues Recovery Plan for Lake Ozette Fish (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090622/news/306229987

Obama Climate Change Report Discusses Pacific Salmon (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/06/obama_climate_change_report_di.html

Omak Creek - Tribes Welcome Back First Salmon (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090620/NEWS04/706209954

Future Up In Air For Olympia Bat Colony - Restoration plan might jeopardize roost of thousands (The Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/888267.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Many Green-Friendly Bills Don't Make the Cut in Oregon (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/06/many_greenfriendly_bills_dont.html

Oregonian Op/Ed - Protecting Oregon's Water (I’m lookin’ at you Nestle!)
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/06/protecting_oregons_water.html

Hanford Workers Clean Up Chemical-Filled Pipeline near Columbia River (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/northwest/story/786243.html

County, Chelan/Grant PUDs Studying Slime in Lake Wenatchee (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090619/NEWS04/706199950/1001/NEWS04

Sustainable Is Now the Word in Klamath County (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2009/06/klamath_falls_theres_no.html

Colorado’s Yampa River Runs with Possibility and Protest (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=105334111&ft=1&f=3

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Rekindling Wood Energy in America - If not properly crafted, new renewable electricity policies will waste biomass energy (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/06/rekindling-wood-energy-in-america?cmpid=rss

Oregon’s Loggers See Potential in Waste Wood - Jobs, energy may be created from slash piles (Associated Press)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/785507.html

The Switch: Could Oregon’s Trees Make Us Energy Exporter? (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/5268-switch-could-oregons-trees-make-us-energy-exporter/

East Oregonian Editorial - Slow Down the Rush of Siting Wind Turbines in Our Blue Mountains
http://eastoregonian.com/main.asp?SectionID=14&SubSectionID=50&ArticleID=94268

Many Roadblocks to Getting Wind Energy Going On Great Lakes (The Muskegon Chronicle, MI)
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2009/06/many_roadblocks_to_getting_win.html

Wind Power Blocked By 'Glass Ceiling' - Aging transmission system mutes vast potential in S.D. (Argus Leader, Sioux Falls, SD)
http://www.argusleader.com/article/20090622/NEWS/906220329/1001

Small Wind Turbines See Gust in Sales, Thanks In Part to Tax Credits (Finance & Commerce)
http://www.finance-commerce.com/article.cfm/2009/06/20/Small-wind-turbines-see-gust-in-sales-thanks-in-part-to-tax-credits

Hawaii Paying Nearly Twice Market Rate For Solar Power - Officials locked in price that's twice as much as current consumer rate (Honolulu Advertiser, HI)
http://www.honoluluadvertiser.com/article/20090621/NEWS01/906210372/Hawaii+paying+nearly+twice+market+rate+for+solar+power+

Washington State Has Steady Growth in Clean Energy Jobs (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=10565902

Port Orchard Sewage Plant's Gas Helps It Move Away From the Grid (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/jun/19/sewage-plants-gas-helps-it-move-away-from-the/?partner=RSS

Seattle Times Op/Ed - Washington State Must Not Delay Biodiesel Goals
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2009367152_guest22plaza.html?syndication=rss

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Drawn by the Glow of Greener Streets - Despite Costs, Md. Town Seeks LED Street Lamps (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/21/AR2009062101945.html

GE Water Heater Cuts Energy Use in Half (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/mnGreenGadgets/idUS343668364920090622

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Fight over Greenhouse Gases Comes to Montana (Billings Gazette, MT – A hot air balloon, how ironic)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2009/06/20/news/local/18-greenhouse.txt

Critics Fault Climate-Change Legislation (Hearst Newspapers)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/21/MNCE18AEOP.DTL&feed=rss.news

Climate Change Bill's Effect on Midwest Debated - Some see states suffering; others see economic benefit (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, WI)
http://www.jsonline.com/business/48736377.html

“Burpless” Cows Attribute Success to Omega 3 Rich Diet (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/x-11634-Hartford-Vegetarian-Examiner~y2009m6d22-Burpless-cows-attribute-success-to-Omega-3-rich-diet

'Synthetic Tree' Claims To Catch Carbon in the Air “…Half of your emissions come from small, distributed sources where collection at the site is either impossible or impractical…” (CNN Technology)
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/science/06/22/synthetic.tree.climate.change.ccs/index.html#cnnSTCText

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Boxlight: A Poulsbo Parable of Boom, Bust ... and Bounceback? (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/jun/20/new-boxlight-comes-from-the-unwinding-of-the-old/?partner=RSS

Seattle Times Editorial - A Broadband Vision for the Federal Communications Commission
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorials/2009367150_edit22feds.html?syndication=rss

The Metered Billing Fight Is About To Get Ugly - Think tanks, astroturfers and policy flaks fire up unreality engines (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/The-Metered-Billing-Fight-Is-About-To-Get-Ugly-103043

Better Connections: Phone Co-Op Brings Tech to Homes (San Antonio Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2009/06/22/focus3.html?ana=from_rss

GENERAL NEWS

Port Angeles - Human Remains Found At Elwha Dam Removal Site (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.konp.com/local/4860

Tribe Settles Lawsuits over Port Angeles Burial Site (Indian Country Today)
http://indiancountrynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1665&Itemid=72

Navy Holding Hearings on New Hood Canal Bangor Wharf (Associated Press)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=10571964

Seattle Times Columnist - Don't Try To Intimidate People Who Sign Initiative Petitions
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2009360799_ryan21.html

Washington State Lawmakers' Expenses Tallied (The Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/887643.html

Mammoth Report Faults Seattle Street-Division Managers (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2009362606_cityreport20m.html

DIVERSIONS

Ah, a Relaxing Cruise: Women Assault Cops in Melee On Cruise Ship
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/48732602.html

Indiana Lawyer Found Asleep In Neighbor’s Trash Can
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19801669/detail.html

Dutch Muggers Caught On Google Street View Camera
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE55I38C20090619?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest

SONG OF THE DAY

Sweet - Ballroom Blitz
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrBDivsSe3k

Friday, June 19, 2009

Energy News Digest for June 19, 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)

- Avista Dams Relicensed - Avista plan reflects new emphasis on recreation, environment
- Hastings Leads Efforts for Yucca Mountain Money
- Portland General Electric Expands Board
- California State Senator Asks for Probe of Blackouts in San Francisco
- Janitor Gets Six Years in Tennessee Nuclear Parts Theft
- Sick California Sea Lions Present a Mystery
- Crapo Warns He'll Filibuster Clean Water Bill
- Plankton Bloom Colors Hood Canal
- Olympian Editorial - Sound Cleanup Will Go Better With Victoria On Board
- Water Quality Institute Invites Students
- Cowlitz PUD Shares National Wind Power Award for White Creek Development
- California State Regulators Approve Rooftop Solar Panel Plan
- A Move to Put the Union Label on Solar Power Plants
- California - Pacific Gas & Electric Opposes Two Solar-Power Bills
- Feds: Wind Farms Trick Radar
- City of Seattle Halts Biodiesel Purchases, Looks For Greener Fuel
- Oil Giants Filling Up On Troubled Ethanol Plants
- New Windows Can Lower Your Energy Bill, but Might Not Boost Your Bottom Line
- Reps. Waxman, Peterson Inch Closer to Consensus on Climate Bill
- House Republicans Courted On Climate Change Bill
- Rural Electric Co-ops Threaten Climate Deal
- Eastern U.S. States Raise $104.2 Million in Carbon Auction
- Global Warming: Want To See Northwest Impacts? Just Look Around
- Central Idaho Town to Keep Free Wireless Internet
- New York - Yahoo Data Center Deal Tied To Verizon Line
- China Disables Some Google Functions
- Microsoft Readies Free PC Security Software
- Microsoft CEO Says Bing Off To Good Start
- First Sign of Return Fire from Google
- Search-Engine Rankings Released for May
- Overnight Western Washington Rain Ends Record-Tying 29-Day Streak
- On The Watch for El Niño - Drier-than-normal days lead up to summer in South Sound
- Gregoire Orders Deeper Cutting - State revenue forecast shrinks by $500 million
- Shelton-Mason County Chamber Selects Next Executive Director
- State Senator Parlette headed to Canada
- Oklahoma Senator Cries Pork Over Washington State's Stimulus Funds
- North Carolina Safety Violation - Inquiry into Fatal Slim-Jim Factory Blast
- Montana - City Of Bozeman Asks Applicants for Personal Internet Passwords
- Supreme Court Decision Endangers Ruling on L&I Public Records Request and Penalty

WORD OF THE DAY

Trine • \TRĪNE\ • noun – 1: a group of three: triad 2: the trine astrological aspect of two celestial bodies

Alex was at a loss. He was wrapping up his soon to be book about a trio of French musketeers and their adventures. Mrs. Dumas was stuck on making it simple, “Just call it the ‘Three Musketeers’,” she shrieked from the kitchen, “It’s the simplest solution.” But Alex still wasn’t sure. He’d been toying with something different. “Her suggestion makes it sound like some futuristic candy-bar,” he grumped. “The Trine Musketeers just sounds so much more magical.”

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

Power Play: Avista Dams Relicensed - Avista plan reflects new emphasis on recreation, environment (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/jun/19/power-play/

Hastings Leads Efforts for Yucca Mountain Money (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/618413.html

Portland General Electric Expands Board (Portland Business Journal “…it goes to eleven…”)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/06/15/daily48.html?ana=from_rss

California State Senator Asks for Probe of Blackouts in San Francisco (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/19/BA38189U3D.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

Janitor Gets Six Years in Tennessee Nuclear Parts Theft (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/06/18/national/a122956D07.DTL&feed=rss.business

FISH & WILDLIFE

Sick California Sea Lions Present a Mystery (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/19/MNV81886FR.DTL&feed=rss.news

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Crapo Warns He'll Filibuster Clean Water Bill (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/885768.html

Plankton Bloom Colors Hood Canal (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/jun/17/plankton-bloom-colors-hood-canal/

Olympian Editorial - Sound Cleanup Will Go Better With Victoria On Board
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/886059.html

Water Quality Institute Invites Students (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/06/18/news/doc4a3ac2b5326f3811916183.txt

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Cowlitz PUD Shares National Wind Power Award for White Creek Development (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/06/19/area_news/doc4a3b216295581147166672.txt

California State Regulators Approve Rooftop Solar Panel Plan (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2076525~State_regulators_approve_rooftop_solar_panel_plan.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

A Move to Put the Union Label on Solar Power Plants (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/19/business/energy-environment/19unions.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

California - Pacific Gas & Electric Opposes Two Solar-Power Bills (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12620166

Feds: Wind Farms Trick Radar (The Sun Journal, Lewistown, ME)
http://www.sunjournal.com/story/322630-3/RiverValley/Feds_Wind_farms_trick_radar/

City Of Seattle Halts Biodiesel Purchases, Looks For Greener Fuel - 'Not all biodiesels are the same' (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/407384_fuel19.html?source=rss

Oil Giants Filling Up On Troubled Ethanol Plants (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009357460_ethanolplants190.html?syndication=rss

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

New Windows Can Lower Your Energy Bill, but Might Not Boost Your Bottom Line (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/19/AR2009061901424.html?wprss=rss_business

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Reps. Waxman, Peterson Inch Closer to Consensus on Climate Bill (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/06/19/19climatewire-reps-waxman-peterson-inch-closer-to-consensu-32658.html

House Republicans Courted On Climate Change Bill (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE55H6EV20090618

Rural Electric Co-ops Threaten Climate Deal (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/06/19/19climatewire-rural-electric-co-ops-threaten-climate-deal-98492.html

Eastern U.S. States Raise $104.2 Million in Carbon Auction (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-BusinessofGreen/idUSTRE55I3EN20090619

Seattle P-I Columnist - Global Warming: Want To See Northwest Impacts? Just Look Around
http://www.seattlepi.com/connelly/407375_joel19.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Central Idaho Town to Keep Free Wireless Internet (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/885535.html

New York - Yahoo Data Center Deal Tied To Verizon Line (Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal)
http://sanjose.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2009/06/15/daily56.html?ana=yfcpc

China Disables Some Google Functions (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/20/world/asia/20beijing.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Microsoft Readies Free PC Security Software (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/06/18/financial/f132244D72.DTL&feed=rss.business

Microsoft CEO Says Bing Off To Good Start (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/archives/171540.asp?source=pimail

First Sign of Return Fire from Google (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/archives/171553.asp?source=pimail

Search-Engine Rankings Released for May (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/archives/171541.asp?source=pimail

GENERAL NEWS

Overnight Western Washington Rain Ends Record-Tying 29-Day Streak (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009358728_webdryspell19m.html?syndication=rss

On The Watch for El Niño - Drier-than-normal days lead up to summer in South Sound (The Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/886017.html

Gregoire Orders Deeper Cutting - State revenue forecast shrinks by $500 million (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/jun/19/gregoire-orders-deeper-cutting/

Shelton-Mason County Chamber Selects Next Executive Director (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7562/reftab/1632/t/CHAMBER-SELECTS-NEXT-EXECUTIVE-DIRECTOR-/Default.aspx

State Senator Parlette headed to Canada (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090618/NEWS04/706189946/1001/NEWS04

Oklahoma Senator Cries Pork Over Washington State's Stimulus Funds (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/48571947.html

North Carolina Safety Violation - Inquiry Into Fatal Slim-Jim Factory Blast (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/19/us/19brfs-INQUIRYINTOF_BRF.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Montana - City Of Bozeman Asks Applicants for Personal Internet Passwords (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2077097~City_asks_applicants_for_Internet_passwords.html?cid=rss-Montana_Headlines

Supreme Court Decision Endangers Ruling on L&I Public Records Request and Penalty (The News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/783721.html

DIVERSIONS

Unveiling the Blinking Phone Dress
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE55H47I20090618?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

Man Dressing as Dead Mother Is Latest Twist on Collecting Deceased Relatives’ Benefits
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/Americas/2009/June/Man-Dresses-as-Dead-Mother-in-Six-Year-Fraud-Scheme.html

Man Surprised By Python on Toilet
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19776863/detail.html

GPS Makers to Use Homer Simpson's Voice
http://www.kirotv.com/technology/19777078/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

John Fred and His Playboy Band – Judy in Disguise (Trippy Fantasia Mash-Up)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1JCmKIXF7Fg

Thursday, June 18, 2009

Energy News Digest for June 18, 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)

- US Senate Panel Approves Energy Bill
- Senate Panel Backs Renewable Power Rules, Drilling
- Estimate Places Natural Gas Reserves 35% Higher
- Duke Energy to Build Nuclear Plant in Ohio
- Peninsula Gateway Op/Ed - Our Energy, Our Future
- Deal Keeps Lights On In Northwest Alaska Village
- Seattle 911 - How Can I Get A Streetlight Fixed To Deter Crime?
- Tennessee Senate Urges TVA to Finalize Alcoa Contract
- Texas - Two Indicted After Pedernales Electric Cooperative Investigation
- Here’s Why Electricity Deregulation Is Bad for Virginia’s Economy
- Supreme Court Rejects Ruling on Retrial of Enron Executive
- Columbia River Sockeye Counts Rising
- June Hogs Arrive - Over-The-Bank Sales of Summer Chinook Salmon Started This Week
- Salmon Fishing Closing on Three Idaho Rivers
- Changing Commercial Fishing
- Irony is thy Name - Klamath River Tribes Will Kick off SalmonAid with Traditional Salmon Bake
- Feds Says Protection for Marbled Murrelet Should Stay
- Low Tides Mean It's Time To Go After Shellfish
- Idaho - Flows at Shoshone Falls to Rise Again
- Good Data on Water Runs Dry in Oregon
- Grant PUD Shoreline Plan Meeting Draws Crescent Bar Residents
- BPA Brings More Wind Power into Northwest Grid
- BPA Upgrades System to Ship Wind Power to Clark
- 3TIER encourages a cautionary response to a recent study claiming U.S. wind speeds have slowed
- Green-Backed Ventures Mean More Greenbacks
- Clean-Energy Bond Program Faces Lackluster Record
- Tide Is Going out for Marine Energy around Britain’s Coasts
- European Solar Power from African Deserts?
- Canada Offers Renewable Subsidy to Pulp and Paper Industry
- New FERC Study Assesses State-By-State Potential for Demand Response
- PECO Tips Can Help You Stay Cool, Save Money and Be Green This Summer
- Examiner.Com Columnist - Can 'Cap And Trade' Solve Global Warming?
- Elderly and Poor Starting To Narrow Broadband Service Gap
- Regulators Seem Eager to Repeat Fairpoint Mistakes with Frontier
- Telecom’s Titanic Shift: How the Mighty Have Fallen
- Congressman Files Bill to Stop Tiered Broadband Pricing
- State Treasury to Take $482m Hit Through 2011
- Kitsap County Stands to Get Some Green for Green Projects
- Slump Dashes Oregon Dreams of Californians
- Eddie Bauer Files for Bankruptcy Protection
- Seattle Spring Dry Spell Ties Record
- Ryan Leaf Arrested On Texas Charges at US-Canada Border
- Sustainable Prison System Grows
- Plant Thieves Targeting Japanese Maple Trees

WORD OF THE DAY

Otiose • \OH-shee-ose \ • adjective – 1: producing no useful result: futile 2: being at leisure: idle 3: lacking use or effect: functionless

Bert was becoming extremely frustrated with his purchase. It became exceeding obvious to him after 30 seconds of bailing, that a papier mache bucket was the most otiose object in his rowboat. Perhaps less useful than the sunscreen he insisted on bringing into the gales of winter on Puget Sound.

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

US Senate Panel Approves Energy Bill (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/18/us/politics/18energy.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Senate Panel Backs Renewable Power Rules, Drilling (Bloomberg News)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a3RNMWPhmUKM

Estimate Places Natural Gas Reserves 35% Higher (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/18/business/energy-environment/18gas.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Duke Energy to Build Nuclear Plant in Ohio (Triangle Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2009/06/15/daily48.html?ana=from_rss

Peninsula Gateway Op/Ed - Our Energy, Our Future (Gig Harbor, WA)
http://www.gateline.com/opinion/story/4428.html

Deal Keeps Lights On In Northwest Alaska Village (Fairbanks News Miner, AK)
http://newsminer.com/news/2009/jun/17/deal-keeps-lights-northwest-alaska-village/

Seattle 911 - How Can I Get A Streetlight Fixed To Deter Crime? (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattle911/archives/171380.asp?source=pimail

Tennessee Senate Urges TVA to Finalize Alcoa Contract (Blount Today, TN)
http://www.blounttoday.com/news/2009/jun/17/tennessee-senate-urges-tva-finalize-alcoa-contract/

Texas - Two Indicted After Pedernales Electric Cooperative Investigation (KEYE-TV, Austin, TX)
http://www.keyetv.com/content/news/topnews/story/Two-indicted-after-Pedernales-Cooperative/Gjv9XP36OU250g1qfDSXiQ.cspx

Here’s Why Electricity Deregulation Is Bad for Virginia’s Economy (Culpepper Star Exponent, VA)
http://www.starexponent.com/cse/news/opinion/columnists/article/heres_why_electricity_deregulation_is_bad_for_virginias_economy/37695/

Supreme Court Rejects Ruling on Retrial of Enron Executive (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/19/business/19bizcourt.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Columbia River Sockeye Counts Rising (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2009352345_columbia_river_sockeye_counts.html

June Hogs Arrive - Over-The-Bank Sales of Summer Chinook Salmon Started This Week (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20090617/NEWS02/706179940/June+Hogs+Arrive

Salmon Fishing Closing on Three Idaho Rivers “…anglers have harvested about 95 percent of the state's harvest share…” (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/885226.html

Changing Commercial Fishing (The Columbian, Vancouver, OR)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20090617/SPORTS04/706189978/Changing+commercial+fishing

Irony is thy Name - Klamath River Tribes Will Kick off SalmonAid with Traditional Salmon Bake “…takes place as California fish populations are in their greatest crisis ever…” (IndyBay, SF)
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/06/17/18602157.php

Feds Says Protection for Marbled Murrelet Should Stay (Associated Press)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=10551772

Low Tides Mean It's Time To Go After Shellfish - The lowest tides of the season are this week in Puget Sound, and clams, oysters and crab are available in most areas (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2009351738_fish18.html?syndication=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Idaho - Flows at Shoshone Falls to Rise Again (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/885202.html

Good Data on Water Runs Dry in Oregon (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/06/archive_oregons_water_issues.html

Grant PUD Shoreline Plan Meeting Draws Crescent Bar Residents (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/06/18/news/doc4a381762ea844605179934.txt

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

BPA Brings More Wind Power into Northwest Grid - New $3.7-million line and upgrade supports new wind project and jobs (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/281827/

BPA Upgrades System to Ship Wind Power to Clark (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20090618/NEWS02/906179970/

3TIER encourages a cautionary response to a recent study claiming U.S. wind speeds have slowed (3Tier)
http://www.3tier.com/en/news-events/publications

Green-Backed Ventures Mean More Greenbacks (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/business/2009/june/Chin-Up-in-the-Downswing-Green-Backed-Ventures-Mean-More-Greenbacks.html

Clean-Energy Bond Program Faces Lackluster Record (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200906171454DOWJONESDJONLINE000791_FORTUNE5.htm

Tide Is Going out for Marine Energy around Britain’s Coasts - It is exciting the most interest in the country's tidal systems since King Canute told the waves off the south coast to desist. (London Evening Standard, UK)
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard-business/article-23709134-details/Tide+is+going+out+for+marine+energy+around+Britain+s+coasts/article.do

European Solar Power from African Deserts? (NY Times)
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/06/18/european-solar-power-from-african-deserts/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Canada Offers Renewable Subsidy to Pulp and Paper Industry (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/18/business/global/18paper.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

New FERC Study Assesses State-By-State Potential for Demand Response (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)
http://www.ferc.gov/news/news-releases/2009/2009-2/06-18-09.asp

PECO Tips Can Help You Stay Cool, Save Money and Be Green This Summer (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=114116

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Examiner.Com Columnist - Can 'Cap And Trade' Solve Global Warming?
http://www.examiner.com/x-10660-Eau-Claire-County-Liberal-Examiner~y2009m6d17-Can-cap-and-trade-solve-global-warming

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Elderly and Poor Starting To Narrow Broadband Service Gap (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/06/17/financial/f133514D56.DTL&feed=rss.business

Regulators Seem Eager to Repeat Fairpoint Mistakes with Frontier - Ohio state consumer advocate raises questions that will be summarily ignored (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Regulators-Seem-Eager-To-Repeat-Fairpoint-Mistakes-With-Frontier-103006

Telecom’s Titanic Shift: How the Mighty Have Fallen (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/06/18/telecoms-titanic-shift-how-the-mighty-have-fallen/

Congressman Files Bill to Stop Tiered Broadband Pricing (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/06/17/ny-congressman-massa-files-bill-to-stop-tiered-broadband-pricing/

GENERAL NEWS

State Treasury to Take $482m Hit Through 2011 (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19791060/detail.html?treets=sea&tml=sea_break&ts=T&tmi=sea_break_1_12540106182009

Kitsap County Stands to Get Some Green for Green Projects (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/jun/17/kitsap-stands-to-get-some-green-for-green/?partner=RSS

Slump Dashes Oregon Dreams of Californians (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/18/us/18oregon.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Eddie Bauer Files For Bankruptcy Protection (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009350032_apuseddiebauerbankruptcy.html?syndication=rss

Seattle Spring Dry Spell Ties Record (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_061809WAB-dry-spell-LJ.b29396.html?rss

Ryan Leaf Arrested On Texas Charges at US-Canada Border (Associated Press)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=10551132

Sustainable Prison System Grows - Environment: Tons of produce used (The Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/884925.html

Plant Thieves Targeting Japanese Maple Trees (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/06/18//area_news/doc4a39d2b603e33344637016.txt

DIVERSIONS

Dungeons & Dragons Maker Sues over Handbooks
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=10551468

Clerk's Phone in Shirt Stops Knife to Chest - Clerk Then Shoots Robbery Suspect With Gun
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19783202/detail.html

Florida City to Workers: Wear Underwear, Deodorant
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19790956/detail.html

PETA Wishes Obama Hadn't Swatted That Fly - PETA Sends Obama Bug Humane Bug Catcher
http://www.kirotv.com/politics/19784490/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Frank Sinatra - Fly Me to the Moon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b3pv_GKDEec&feature=PlayList&p=ABCCC051FF42CA20&playnext=1&playnext_from=PL&index=45