Energy News Digest for December 16, 2009

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• City of Shelton May Turn Out Lights to Save Money

• Mason PUD 3 Commission Adopts 2010 Budget - No Retail Rate Increase

• Clark Public Utilities Cranks Up Electricity Production to Meet Demand

• Idaho Power Reports New Record for Winter Power

• Clark County residents protest new BPA line

• Columbian Editorial – Productive BPA Protest Rally

• Daily News Op/Ed - BPA Rushed Planning of Power Line

• New Substation Necessary - ‘Project Chinook’ Near Moses Lake Could Mean 200 Jobs

• Chelan PUD Settles Discrimination Suit for $500,000

• Clallam PUD Gets Enron Refunds

• Two More Seek Appointment to Jefferson County PUD Board

• BPA Seeks Senior Vice President for Power Services

• Washington State Watchdog Hands Out Clean Audits to Whatcom PUD

• Keizer City Councilors Interested in Power Plant Proposal

• Colorado - State Regulators Delay Power Line Decision

• Exxon Mobil Makes $29 Billion Bet on Natural Gas

• Georgia - Burned Man Still Hospitalized after Electric Shock

• Coalition Forms to Fight Klamath River Agreement

• Upcoming Cowlitz Sport Smelt Season Again Could Be Slim

• Bull Trout May Return to Clackamas River

• Washington State Tribe Loses Ruling on Treaty Fishing Rights

• 10 Million Gallons of Wastewater Spills into Elliott Bay

• Sewage-Soaked Madison Valley Residents Sue Seattle

• Forest Service Fined $12,000 for Smoke from Yakima Area Controlled Burn

• Panel Says Great Lakes Not Losing Extra Water Due to Dredging

• Phasing Out Wind Farm Tax Credit Divides Oregon Groups

• TV Washington Feature on Marbled Murrelet Tonight (Wednesday) at 7 PM

• Oregon - Troutdale mayor seeks stimulus assistance for wind project

• Wyoming Allows More Comment on Wind Recommendations

• Kansas - Sunflower Wind Is Suing Turbine Blade Supplier

• Contractor’s 100th Windmill Goes Up in Maine

• Report Says Wind Farms Annoying But Not Harmful

• L.A. Utility Shelves Plans for Solar Farm near Salton Sea

• NY Energy Plan Pushes Conservation, Solar & Wind

• Tampa Electric Allowed to Charge Customers Premium Prices for Solar Energy

• As California Greens, Northwest Power Gains

• Energy-Efficient Traffic Lights Can’t Melt Snow

• ‘Smart’ Device Makers: Variable Electricity Rates Needed

• US Dept. of Energy DOE Wants Water Heated More Efficiently

• Bellevue Family Cuts Power Consumption, Gains $7,500

• Frustration Mounts in Copenhagen as Talks Stall

• Police Beat Back Massed Climate Protesters

• Turning Carbon into Cash

• In Duluth, Carbon Offset Boosts the Holiday Cheer

• Study Says Big Impact of the Plug-In Hybrid Will Be Decades Away

• Soft Cheese for a Clean Planet - A foodie’s guide to planet-friendly fromage

• Quincy Hums With Data Centers & Tax Dollars, Say Summit Speakers

• Bend Broadband Launches Nation’s Fastest Wireless Service

• Privacy concerns close Pierce County septic Web page after personal data found

• F.T.C. Accuses Intel of Trying to Stifle Competition

• The Europe/Microsoft Browser Battle Ends

• Google & Bing Keep Rising While Yahoo Drops Again

• McDonald’s to Lift Fee for Internet Access

• Boeing Dreamliner Finally Takes Flight

• Washington Unemployment Rate Steady at 9.2

• Naveed Haq Guilty in Jewish Center

• Traffic Stop Nets $1.5 Million in

• Cantwell Irked With NOAA over Planned Move

• Congress - Doumit Considering Run for Baird

• Mason County Floral Greens

WORD OF THE DAY

Modicum • \MOD-ih-kum\ • noun - A small portion: a limited quantity

The debate over how much rum was necessary for the best hot butter rum quickly fractured the elves on Christmas Eve. The original Santa-approved recipe called for a “modicum” of the warming alcoholic liquid. One of the two camps defined that as meaning half a shot glass. The other, rosy-cheeked advocates called for “whatever feels right.”

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast & 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

City of Shelton May Turn Out Lights to Save Money (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.nwcn.com/news/washington/Shelton-may-turn-out-lights-to-save-money-79348202.html

Mason PUD 3 Commission Adopts 2010 Budget - No Retail Rate Increase Anticipated (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=645

Clark Public Utilities Cranks Up Electricity Production to Meet Demand (Columbian, Vancouver, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2009/dec/12/utility-cranks-up-electricity-production-to-meet/

Idaho Power Reports New Record for Winter Power (Associated Press)

http://www.examiner.com/a-2372953~Idaho_Power_reports_new_record_for_winter_power.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines

Clark County residents protest new BPA line (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010512708_apwabpaline.html?syndication=rss

Columbian Editorial – Productive BPA Protest Rally: Residents speak up, BPA listens & the power line discussion continues (Vancouver, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2009/dec/16/productive-rally/

Daily News Op/Ed - BPA Rushed Planning of Power Line (Longview, WA)

http://www.tdn.com/news/opinion/article_b658faf4-e7ca-11de-9381-001cc4c03286.html

New Substation Necessary - ‘Project Chinook’ Near Moses Lake Could Mean 200 Jobs (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/12/15/news/doc4b280f4e27117653301276.txt

Chelan PUD Settles Discrimination Suit for $500,000 (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2009/dec/15/chelan-pud-settles-discrimination-suit-for-500000/

Clallam PUD Gets Enron Refunds (Sequim Gazette, WA)

http://search.sequimgazette.com/news/article.exm/2009-12-16_pud_gets_enron_refunds

Two More Seek Appointment to Jefferson County PUD Board (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20091215/news/312159992

BPA Seeks Senior Vice President for Power Services (Renewable Energy World)

http://jobs.renewableenergyworld.com/careers/jobsearch/detail/jobId/21535075/viewType/rss

Washington State Watchdog Hands Out Clean Audits to Whatcom PUD, City of Blaine (Bellingham Herald, WA)

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/477/story/1205452.html

Keizer City Councilors Interested in Power Plant Proposal (Keizer Times, OR)

http://www.keizertimes.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=12128

Colorado - State Regulators Delay Power Line Decision (Pueblo Chieftain, CO)

http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2009/12/16/business/local/doc4b286d44ab502162424556.txt

Exxon Mobil Makes $29 Billion Bet on Natural Gas (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010509447_exxonxto15.html

Georgia - Burned Man Still Hospitalized after Electric Shock – Was trying to restore his disconnected electrical service (Augusta Chronicle, GA)

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/latest/lat_703985.shtml?v=1540

FISH & WILDLIFE

Coalition Forms to Fight Klamath River Agreement (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/12/coalition_forms_to_fight_klama.html

Upcoming Cowlitz Sport Smelt Season Again Could Be Slim (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews?Upcoming-Sport-Smelt-Season-Again-Could-=1&blockID=103986&feedID=410

Bull Trout May Return to Clackamas River (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/12/14/Bull_Trout_May_Return_to_Clackamas_River.htm

Washington State Tribe Loses Ruling on Treaty Fishing Rights (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/12/14/Tribe_Loses_Ruling_on_Treaty_Fishing_Rights.htm

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

10 Million Gallons of Wastewater Spills into Elliott Bay (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/10-million-gallons-of-wastewater-spills-into-Elliott-Bay-79334422.html

Sewage-Soaked Madison Valley Residents Sue Seattle (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/413272_madisonvalley14.html?source=pimail

Forest Service Fined $12,000 for Smoke from Yakima Area Controlled Burn (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2009/12/15/forest-service-fined-12-000-for-smoke-from-controlled-burn

Panel Says Great Lakes Not Losing Extra Water Due to Dredging (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010521073_apusgreatlakeserosion.html?syndication=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Phasing Out Wind Farm Tax Credit Divides Oregon Groups (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2009/12/phasing_out_wind_farm_tax_cred.html

TV Washington Feature on Marbled Murrelet Tonight (Wednesday) at 7 PM (TV Washington)

http://www.tvw.org/search/theimpact.cfm?eventtype=1&CFID=3101507&CFTOKEN=85585796&bhcp=1

Oregon - Troutdale Mayor Seeks Stimulus Assistance for Wind Project (Daily Journal of Commerce, OR)

http://djcoregon.com/news/2009/12/14/troutdale-mayor-seeks-stimulus-assistance-for-wind-project/

Wyoming Allows More Comment on Wind Recommendations (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010521641_apuswindenergywildlifewyoming.html?syndication=rss

Kansas - Sunflower Wind Is Suing Turbine Blade Supplier (Hutchinson News, KS)

http://www.hutchnews.com/Newsbriefs/wind2009-12-14T20-58-58

Contractor’s 100th Windmill Goes Up in Maine (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010521235_apmewind100thtower.html?syndication=rss

Report Says Wind Farms Annoying But Not Harmful (Vancouver Sun, BC)

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Wind+farms+annoying+harmful+Report/2344246/story.html

L.A. Utility Shelves Plans for Solar Farm Near Salton Sea – Utility is troubled by the costs of the project (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-la-solar16-2009dec16,0,2282198.story

NY Energy Plan Pushes Conservation, Solar & Wind (Associated Press)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ihzA7tP3Wfr_FRwIstgZCKlrt0NwD9CK0EJ80

Tampa Electric Allowed to Charge Customers Premium Prices for Solar Energy (St. Petersburg Times, SFL)

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/energy/tampa-electric-can-charge-customers-premium-prices-for-solar-energy-psc/1059048

CONSERVATION

As California Greens, Northwest Power Gains (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2009/12/15/energy-utilities/19443/

Energy-Efficient Traffic Lights Can’t Melt Snow (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121498684&ft=1&f=3

‘Smart’ Device Makers: Variable Electricity Rates Needed (CNET News)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10414993-54.html

US Dept. of Energy DOE Wants Water Heated More Efficiently (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/12/14/DOE_Wants_Water_Heated_More_Efficiently.htm

Bellevue Family Cuts Power Consumption, Gains $7,500 (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/video/featured-videos/Bellevue-Family-Drops-Power-Gains-7500-79357037.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Frustration Mounts in Copenhagen as Talks Stall (Time Magzine)

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1929071_1929070_1948020,00.html

Police Beat Back Massed Climate Protesters (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/17/science/earth/17climate.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Turning Carbon into Cash - How the carbon-offsets market is turning Wall Street traders & an African stove maker into unlikely business partners.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/226941?from=rss

In Duluth, Carbon Offset Boosts the Holiday Cheer (Duluth News Tribune, MN)

http://wcco.com/wireapnewsmn/In.Duluth.paying.2.1369106.html

BARELL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Study Says Big Impact of the Plug-In Hybrid Will Be Decades Away (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/15/business/15hybrid.html

Soft Cheese for a Clean Planet - A foodie’s guide to planet-friendly fromage (Slate Magazine)

http://www.slate.com/id/2237779/?from=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Quincy Hums With Data Centers & Tax Dollars, Say Summit Speakers (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2009/dec/14/quincy-hums-with-data-centers-and-tax-dollars-say/

Bend Broadband Launches Nation’s Fastest Wireless Service (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Bend-Broadband-Launches-Nations-Fastest-Wireless-Service-106018

Privacy concerns close Pierce County septic Web page after personal data found (News Tribune, Tacoma)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/government/story/995705.html

F.T.C. Accuses Intel of Trying to Stifle Competition (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/17/technology/companies/17chip.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

The Europe/Microsoft Browser Battle Ends (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2009/12/16/the-europemicrosoft-browser-battle-ends/

Google & Bing Keep Rising While Yahoo Drops Again (NY Times)

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/16/google-and-bing-keep-rising-while-yahoo-drops-again/?partner=rss&emc=rss

McDonald’s to Lift Fee for Internet Access (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010516210_apusmcdonaldswifi1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

GENERAL NEWS

Boeing Dreamliner Finally Takes Flight (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/1072523.html

Washington Unemployment Rate Steady at 9.2 Percent (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010513682_apwawashjobless1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

Naveed Haq Guilty in Jewish Center Shooting (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010513302_apusjewishcentershooting4thldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

Traffic Stop Nets $1.5 Million in Cocaine (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010516830_webcocaine15.html?syndication=rss

Cantwell Irked With NOAA over Planned Move (Puget Sound Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/12/14/daily20.html

Congress - Doumit Considering Run for Baird Seat (Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)

http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/12/15/local_news/doc4b27daa88e656970200325.txt

Mason County Floral Greens - Making the Arrangements for a World Market (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/dec/12/making-the-arrangements-for-a-world-market/?partner=RSS

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

Man Turns Christmas Lights Into Guitar Hero Game

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-10414561-71.html?tag=nl.e703

AP Exclusive: Tourists Enjoy White House Breakfast

http://www.kirotv.com/politics/21977124/detail.html

Sonic Manager Arrested on Charges of Cooking Meth at Restaurant

http://www.slashfood.com/2009/12/11/sonic-meth-bust/

Kelso: Bowhunter Shoots Prowler in Buttocks with Arrow

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/995710.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Harry Nilsson - Me & My Arrow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tgL4p4d1Yo

Energy News Digest for December 11, 2009

The Energy News Digest will be taking a holiday on Monday, December 14. Back with Presents on the 15th.

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)

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

· Last Month’s Storms unlike Most That Hit Area, Clallam PUD Says
· Clallam PUD Says Underground Lines Only One Option for Cutting Storm Outages
· The Climate Conundrum over Nuclear Energy
· Huge Columbia River Spring Chinook Run Forecast
· Editorial - Coho Are Back From the Brink
· US Congress - Salmon-Recovery Funds Restored to Senate Bill
· NOAA to Move Faster to Reform Commercial Fishing
· Opposition Builds against BPA Proposal to Manage Level of Lake Pend Oreille
· Judge Tentatively Invalidates West Water Pact
· Kittitas County - Environmental Questions Await Proposed Solar Farm
· Ellensburg Residents Invest in Solar Power Park
· Quake Threat Leads Swiss to Close Geothermal Project
· Virginia County Allows Residents to Use Wind Power
· In Energy Innovation, Everything New Is Old Again
· Kitsap & Mason County Homes Get a Weatherizing Boost, Courtesy of Enron
· Richland Looking To Help Eligible Seniors with Heating Bills
· Holiday Lights Are a Low Concern for Pacific NW Power Producers
· Utah - Rocky Mountain Power Urges Customers to Conserve
· New Year’s Energy Resolutions That Really Pay Off
· Cap & Rebate - Cantwell Proposes New Approach to Climate Issue
· Senators Revise Climate Bill to Court GOP Support
· Seattle Charges Up the Electric Cars
· Northern Plains Corn Ethanol Uses More Water
· Port Angeles - Internet Restored for Many Area Residents
· Read It & Weep: Ephrata ISP Hits 114 Mbps, $45 Per Month
· Utah - Brigham City approves bond for fiber-optic network UTOPIA
· Cable Industry Gets Confused By First Amendment
· Cox: Our Non-Fiber Network Is In Fact Fiber
· Winter Storm on the Way
· Feds say El Nino Changes in Pacific Getting Stronger
· Two Challengers Declare Run for Baird’s Congressional Seat
· Editorial - Politicians Have Raided Timber Payment Program to Serve Their Own Interests
· Costco Will Resume Carrying Coca-Cola Products

WORD OF THE DAY

Namby-pamby • \nam-bee-PAM-bee\ • adjective - 1: lacking in character or substance: insipid *2: weak, indecisive

“But I really don’t want to shave today,” whined the public information officer during his floating holiday. “Shave anyway you namby pamby,” the reflection growled back.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast & 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

Last Month’s Storms unlike Most That Hit Area, Clallam PUD Says (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20091211/news/312119988

Clallam PUD Says Underground Lines Only One Option for Cutting Storm Outages (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20091211/news/312119989

The Climate Conundrum over Nuclear Energy (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121309061&ft=1&f=3

FISH & WILDLIFE

Huge Columbia River Spring Chinook Run Forecast (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2010477902_regr11.html

Wenatchee World Editorial - Coho Are Back From the Brink
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2009/dec/09/coho-are-back-from-the-brink/

US Congress - Salmon-Recovery Funds Restored to Senate Bill (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20091210/NEWS02/712109946/

NOAA to Move Faster to Reform Commercial Fishing (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010472504_apusfishingcatchshares.html?syndication=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Opposition Builds against BPA Proposal to Manage Level of Lake Pend Oreille (Bonner County Daily Bee, Sandpoint, ID)
http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com/articles/2009/12/10/news/doc4b209c8826507444789140.txt

Judge tentatively invalidates West water pact (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2366875~Judge_tentatively_invalidates_West_water_pact.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Kittitas County - Environmental Questions Await Proposed Solar Farm (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/413046_Solar09.html

Ellensburg Residents Invest in Solar Power Park (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_ellensburg_solar_power.html

Quake Threat Leads Swiss to Close Geothermal Project (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/11/science/earth/11basel.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Virginia County Allows Residents to Use Wind Power (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010482201_apusalbemarlewindpowervirginia.html?syndication=rss

In Energy Innovation, Everything New Is Old Again - Most Alternative Fuel Technologies Have Roots in Long-Ago Discoveries; Scarcity of ‘Killer Apps’ Slows Progress (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126048948482786623.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTTopStories

CONSERVATION

Kitsap & Mason County Homes Get a Weatherizing Boost, Courtesy of Enron (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/dec/10/kitsap-homes-get-a-weatherizing-boost-courtesy/

Richland Looking To Help Eligible Seniors with Heating Bills (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=11656636

Holiday Lights Are a Low Concern for Pacific NW Power Producers (KUOW, Seattle)
http://kuow.org/program.php?id=18980

Utah - Rocky Mountain Power Urges Customers to Conserve, Reduce Demand on System (Deseret News, Salt Lake City, UT)
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705350538/Rocky-Mountain-Power-urges-Utah-customer-to-conserve-reduce-demand-on-system.html

New Year’s Energy Resolutions That Really Pay Off (Associated Press)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gahfc9_l2JRPn0ZL3LJ4tTn_iKgwD9CH9VUG0

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Cap & Rebate - Cantwell Proposes New Approach to Climate Issue (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/news/local/Cantwell-proposes-new-approach-to-climate-issue-79070902.html

Senators Revise Climate Bill to Court GOP Support (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/12/10/national/w132433S26.DTL&feed=rss.news

BARELL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Seattle Charges Up the Electric Cars (The Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/1067554.html

Northern Plains Corn Ethanol Uses More Water (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010478414_apusfarmsceneethanolwater.html?syndication=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Port Angeles - Internet Restored for Many Area Residents (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.konp.com/local/5323

Read It & Weep: Ephrata ISP Hits 114 Mbps, $45 Per Month (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/technologybrierdudleysblog/2010476648_read_it_and_weep_ephrata_isp_h.html

Utah - Brigham City approves bond for fiber-optic network UTOPIA (Deseret News, Salt Lake City, UT)
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705350794/Brigham-City-approves-bond-for-fiber-optic-network-UTOPIA.html

Cable Industry Gets Confused By First Amendment - Apparently, anti-competitive behavior is a constitutional right (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Cable-Industry-Gets-Confused-By-First-Amendment-105939

Cox: Our Non-Fiber Network Is In Fact Fiber - Cable industry somewhat ashamed of coaxial use (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Cox-Our-NonFiber-Network-Is-In-Fact-Fiber-105933

GENERAL NEWS

Winter Storm on the Way (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://tdn.com/news/article_878cfeec-e611-11de-9899-001cc4c03286.html

Feds say El Nino Changes in Pacific Getting Stronger (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2010472782_apuselnino.html?syndication=rss

Two Challengers Declare Run for Baird’s Congressional Seat (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2010473018_bevyofgopchallengersmullingrunforbrianbairdssoontobevacatedcongr.html?syndication=rss

Daily News Editorial - Politicians Have Raided Timber Payment Program to Serve Their Own Interests
http://tdn.com/news/opinion/article_4451f574-e530-11de-af26-001cc4c002e0.html

Costco Will Resume Carrying Coca-Cola Products (Associated Press)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=11655182

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

Teen Racks Up $21K Cell Phone Bill
http://www.kirotv.com/money/21933125/detail.html

Mozart’s Music May Help Preemies Gain Weight
http://www.kirotv.com/health/21921151/detail.html

Seattle High School Drug Counselor Indicted on Drug Charges
http://www.king5.com/news/local/Seattle-high-school-drug-counselor-indicted-on-drug-charges-79083867.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Elton John - Cold as Christmas (In the Middle of the Year)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgX5aupUoRw

Energy News Digest for December 10, 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)

· Pacific Northwest Power Consumption Peaks during Cold Weather
· Mason County PUD No. 3 Releases 2010 Budget
· Apartment Residents Displaced by Transformer Fire
· Jefferson PUD Gives Self 90 Days to Fill Vacancy
· Nine Undersea Routes Mapped for Power Grid
· Shattuck: Constellation Doing Away with Golden Parachutes
· City of San Antonio Nervous about Nuke Plant Expansion
· Jefferson PUD Commissioner’s View Applauded at Port Townsend
· Canada - Sockeye decline linked to climate change
· Canadian Scientists Call For More Cautious Salmon Harvest
· Hood Canal Salmon Hatchery May Face Closure
· Idaho’s Nez Perce Ship Coho Eggs to Oregon
· Leavenworth Hatchery Workers Host Ice-Breakers This Time Of Year
· Experiment to Test Killing One Owl to Help Another
· Why Is Capitol Lake Lower? To See If Cold Kills Snails
· Kittitas County - Environmental Questions Await Proposed Solar Farm
· Solar Power Coming to a Store near You
· Op/Ed - NIMBY Desert Dwellers Are Equal-Opportunity Naysayers
· Judge Halts West Virginia Wind Farm Due to Endangered Bats
· Indiana Regulators Order Greater Conservation Push
· U.S. Negotiator Dismisses Reparations for Climate
· Researcher’s Lie Could Threaten California Diesel Rules
· Op/Ed - We’ll Become A Can’t-Do Nation If We Listen To Clean-Energy Defeatists
· Oregon - Bankrupt Ethanol Plant Sells For $15M
· Seattle Gets First Peek At Nissan Electric Car
· Stimulus Funds Possible for Grant PUD Fiber
· Part of the Daily American Diet, 34 Gigabytes of Data
· AT&T to Urge Customers to Use Less Wireless
· Clearwire Suffers Five Hour
· Deep Freeze Continues as Flurries Possible in North Sound
· Carbon Monoxide Kills One In Portland, Ore., Home
· Wash. Rep. Baird says he will not seek re-election
· Hood Canal - Marine Mammals Set to Guard US Submarine Base
· Papa John’s Swamped in Police Officer Pizza Fundraiser

WORD OF THE DAY

Mugwump • \MUG-wump \ • noun – 1: a bolter from the Republican party in 1884 2: a person who is independent (as in politics) or who remains undecided or neutral

From Massachusett mugquomp, muggumquomp war leader

“Will you PLEASE make up your mind about your menu choice,” Mindy shouted one morning at her hesitant husband in the local hash-house. “Had I known you were such a mugwump I would have never married you,” she frumped.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast & 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

Pacific Northwest Power Consumption Peaks during Cold Weather (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=253779

Mason County PUD No. 3 Releases 2010 Budget (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://masoncountydailynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=815:pud-3-releases-2010-budget-&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

Apartment Residents Displaced by Transformer Fire (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010472201_webauburn10m.html?syndication=rss

Jefferson PUD Gives Self 90 Days to Fill Vacancy (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20091210/news/312109989

Nine Undersea Routes Mapped for Power Grid (Pacific Business News)
http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2009/12/07/daily21.html?ana=from_rss

Shattuck: Constellation Doing Away with Golden Parachutes (Baltimore Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2009/12/07/daily26.html?ana=from_rss

City of San Antonio Nervous about Nuke Plant Expansion (Courthouse News)
http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/12/09/City_Nervous_About_Nuke_Plant_Expansion.htm

Jefferson PUD Commissioner’s View Applauded at Port Townsend Forum on Open Government (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20091210/NEWS/312109986

FISH & WILDLIFE

Canada - Sockeye decline linked to climate change - Change in ocean conditions in 2007 likely behind mass death of stocks (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/12/09/bc-scientists-sockeye-climate-change.html?ref=rss

Canadian Scientists Call For More Cautious Salmon Harvest - Government needs to conduct more research to uncover cause of declining Fraser returns, think tank says (Globe and Mail, Canada)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/scientists-call-for-more-cautious-salmon-harvest/article1395120/

Hood Canal Salmon Hatchery May Face Closure (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20091210/news/312109985

Idaho’s Nez Perce Ship Coho Eggs to Oregon (Associated Press)
http://www.kpvi.com/global/story.asp?s=11653997

Leavenworth Hatchery Workers Host Ice-Breakers This Time Of Year (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2009/dec/09/hatchery-workers-host-ice-breakers-this-time-of/

Experiment to Test Killing One Owl to Help Another (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010467666_apusowlvsowl1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

Why Is Capitol Lake Lower? To See If Cold Kills Snails (Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/1065444.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Kittitas County - Environmental Questions Await Proposed Solar Farm (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/413046_Solar09.html?source=rss

Solar Power Coming to a Store near You (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010467926_apusdiysolar.html?syndication=rss

Los Angeles Times Op/Ed - NIMBY Desert Dwellers Are Equal-Opportunity Naysayers
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-lewis10-2009dec10,0,4418624.story

Judge Halts West Virginia Wind Farm Due to Endangered Bats (ABC News)
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=9294527

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Indiana Regulators Order Greater Conservation Push (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/12/10/financial/f082510S57.DTL&feed=rss.business

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

U.S. Negotiator Dismisses Reparations for Climate (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/10/science/earth/10climate.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Researcher’s Lie Could Threaten California Diesel Rules (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/12/09/MNQR1B123E.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Seattle Times Op/Ed - We’ll Become A Can’t-Do Nation If We Listen To Clean-Energy Defeatists
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2010462842_harrop10.html?syndication=rss

Oregon - Bankrupt Ethanol Plant Sells For $15M (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/12/07/daily27.html

Seattle Gets First Peek At Nissan Electric Car (Seattle Tmes)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010468141_electriccars10m.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Stimulus Funds Possible for Grant PUD Fiber (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/12/09/news/doc4b2033a518ecd924350423.txt

Part of the Daily American Diet, 34 Gigabytes of Data (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/10/technology/10data.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

AT&T to Urge Customers to Use Less Wireless Data (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/10/technology/companies/10iphone.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Clearwire Suffers Five Hour Outage - In half a dozen of the company’s launch markets (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Clearwire-Suffers-Five-Hour-Outage-105903

GENERAL NEWS

Deep Freeze Continues as Flurries Possible in North Sound (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/weather/21906662/detail.html

Carbon Monoxide Kills One In Portland, Ore., Home (NW Cable News)
http://www.nwcn.com/news/78943637.html

Wash. Rep. Baird says he will not seek re-election
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/1065280.html

Hood Canal - Marine Mammals Set to Guard US Submarine Base (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/science/2009/dec/Marine-Mammals-Set-to-Guard-US-Submarine-Base.html

Papa John’s Swamped in Police Officer Pizza Fundraiser (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010467133_webpizza09m.html?syndication=rss

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

No Eggo Shortage for Costco Members
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_13954531?nclick_check=1

WSDOT Says “Bah, Humbug” To Poulsbo Christmas Lights
http://www.king5.com/news/local/WSDOT-says-bahumbug-to-Christmas-lights-78942702.html

Man, 93, Adopts 64-Year-Old Foster Son
http://www.kirotv.com/news/21907362/detail.html

Dog Missing 3 Weeks Found In Storm Drain
http://www.kirotv.com/family/21901255/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Greg Lake - I Believe in Father Christmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O_fCs5Buwg

Energy News Digest for December 9, 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)

· Winter Storm Strains Western Power Grid
· Puget Sound Energy Says Natural Gas Use Hit Record during Cold Snap
· Grant PUD Dam Shutdown Comes Down To Human
· Cowlitz PUD Commissioners OK 2010 Budget
· Clark Public Utility's Budget Lacks Rate Hike for Customers
· No Cushion in Chelan PUD’s 2010 Budget
· Chelan PUD Seeks More Stability by Selling Power Forward
· Jefferson PUD Commission Has Third Applicant for Vacancy
· Portland General Electric Gets $200 Million Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility
· Detroit Edison Offers Winter Storm Tips
· Grant PUD, Landowners Talk Salmon Recovery
· Group Consolidates Data on Columbia Basin's Fish, Wildlife
· Millions in U.S. Drink Dirty Water, Records Show
· Port of Olympia Sued Over Budd Inlet Pollution
· Council Says Portland Harbor Pollution Contaminating Fish and Wildlife
· Concerns Arise Over Plans to Fluctuate Lake Pend Oreille Levels
· GE Chief Hopes Copenhagen Leads To US Clean Energy
· FERC Sticks It to Midwest ISO Wind Developers
· Editorial - The Clean Energy Potential in Our Backyard
· Nickels: Seattle's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Down
· Study Says Biodiesel Kaput Without Fed Tax Credit
· Op/Ed - Building a Broadband Future
· Google Teams with Washington Post, NY Times To Create Online Tool
· Washington Pays Tribute to Slain Officers
· December Freeze Drops To Record Lows
· Yakima River Ice Buildup Brings Warning
· Mason County Commission Adopts 2010 Budget & Half Property Tax Levy
· Olympia Council Budget Includes Utility-Tax Increase
· Bills Would Push More National Forest Thinning
· Sen. McCain Blasts Hanford Spending as Wasteful

WORD OF THE DAY

Privy • \PRIV-vee\ • adjective – 1a: private, withdrawn b: secret 2: belonging or relating to a person in one's individual rather than official capacity 3: admitted as one sharing in a secret

Privy • \PRIV-vee\ • noun – An outhouse

The small, restless child at the remote Renaissance Festival started a familiar dance as his father frantically started looking for the nearest privy. Sir George, in reality an accountant at the local brewery, silently beckoned the beleaguered father to his side. “I will make thee privy to one of the best kept secrets on these grounds,” the bewhiskered faux knight rasped. “The chamber you seek is meant only for nobles, but if you are in desperate need, ye will find it behind the leather mug booth near the faire entrance.”

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast & 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

Winter Storm Strains Western Power Grid (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010462809_apuspowergridutah.html?syndication=rss

Puget Sound Energy Says Natural Gas Use Hit Record during Cold Snap (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/12/07/daily21.html

Grant PUD Dam Shutdown Comes Down To Human Error (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2009/dec/09/dam-shutdown-comes-down-to-human-error/

Cowlitz PUD Commissioners OK 2010 Budget (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/news/article_f4611080-e472-11de-950b-001cc4c002e0.html

Clark Public Utility's Budget Lacks Rate Hike for Customers (Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20091209/NEWS02/712099959/

No Cushion in Chelan PUD’s 2010 Budget - But budget can’t hold for next year, board warns (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2009/dec/08/no-cushion-in-puds-2010-plan-but-budget-cant-hold/

Chelan PUD Seeks More Stability by Selling Power Forward (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2009/dec/08/chelan-pud-seeks-more-stability-by-selling-power/

Jefferson PUD Commission Has Third Applicant for Vacancy (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20091209/NEWS/312099990

Portland General Electric Gets $200 Million Unsecured Revolving Credit Facility (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/12/07/daily18.html

Detroit Edison Offers Winter Storm Tips (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=124182

FISH & WILDLIFE

Grant PUD, Landowners Talk Salmon Recovery (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/12/08/news/doc4b1edcd33832b978428738.txt

Group Consolidates Data on Columbia Basin's Fish, Wildlife (East Oregonian, Pendleton)
http://eastoregonian.com/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=48&ArticleID=101098

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Millions in U.S. Drink Dirty Water, Records Show (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/business/energy-environment/08water.html?ref=todayspaper&utm_source=AllTodaysNewsRSS

Port of Olympia Sued Over Budd Inlet Pollution (Associated Press)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/78799107.html

Council Says Portland Harbor Pollution Contaminating Fish and Wildlife (Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/12/portland_harbor_pollution_cont.html

Concerns Arise Over Plans to Fluctuate Lake Pend Oreille Levels (Idaho Business Review)
http://www.idahobusiness.net/archive.htm/2009/12/08/Concerns-arise-over-plans-to-fluctuate-Lake-Pend-Oreille-levels

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

GE Chief Hopes Copenhagen Leads To US Clean Energy (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010454266_apscgechiefclemson.html?syndication=rss

FERC Sticks It to Midwest ISO Wind Developers (North American Windpower)
http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2009/12/08/ferc-sticks-it-to-midwest-iso-wind-developers/

SF Chronicle Editorial - The Clean Energy Potential in Our Backyard
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/12/08/ED2U1B0MM8.DTL

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Nickels: Seattle's Greenhouse Gas Emissions Down (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/187615.asp?source=pimail

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Study Says Biodiesel Kaput Without Fed Tax Credit (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010462391_apusbiodieselstudynorthdakota.html?syndication=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

The Hill Op/Ed - Building a Broadband Future
http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/technology/71193-building-a-broadband-future

Google Teams with Washington Post, NY Times To Create Online Tool (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/12/08/AR2009120802319.html?wprss=rss_business

GENERAL NEWS

Washington Pays Tribute to Slain Officers (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/21902332/detail.html

December Freeze Drops To Record Lows (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/news/local/Bone-chilling-temperatures-drop-to-record-lows-78867762.html

Yakima River Ice Buildup Brings Warning (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/821968.html

Mason County Commission Adopts 2010 Budget & Half Property Tax Levy (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://masoncountydailynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=807:mason-county-commission-adopts-2010-budget-a-half-property-tax-levy&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

Olympia Council Budget Includes Utility-Tax Increase (Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/1064192.html

Bills Would Push More National Forest Thinning (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010457055_apornationalforestthinning1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

Sen. Mccain Blasts Hanford Spending as Wasteful (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010462562_webstimulus09.html?syndication=rss

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

German Coffee Tax Collection Costs Dwarf Revenue
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5B74ED20091208?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

Iowa Kmart Workers Open Tin Can, Find $10,000
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/12/07/national/a143015S19.DTL&tsp=1

Geminid Meteor Shower to Peak This Weekend
http://www.examiner.com/a-2361566~Geminid_meteor_shower_to_peak_this_weekend.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Firefighters Rescue Boy Whose Tongue Stuck To Pole
http://columbian.com/article/20091209/NEWS02/912099993/

SONG OF THE DAY

Bobby Hebb - Sunny
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9EzFCkb8CU

Energy News Digest for December 8, 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)

• Dec 8 - Oak Park Power Outage
• December 8 - PUD 3 Commission to Hold Hearing on 2010 Budget
• Puget Sound Energy Ready for Surge in Power Demand
• Avista Energy Traders’ Awards Upheld
• Idaho Power on Track to Deliver Shock to Residential Customers
• California Judge Backs Rate Hike for Power Misers
• California - Report Blasts Marin County Public Power Proposal
• Report Says Fairbanks, South Central Could See Big Savings with Central Utility
• US Hydropower Consumption Increases 4%
• Survey Says State Regulators Like Nuclear Power
• “Sticker Shock” A Concern in Nuclear Power
• Was Electric Deregulation Beneficial?
• Texas’ electricity market ranked first in North America
• Tennessee Valley Authority Says Repair Work Will Kill Fish
• Pollution - Dark Side of a Natural Gas Boom
• Kittitas County - Desert Claim Wind Power Project in Governor’s Hands Now
• Construction to Start on Oregon Wave Energy Project
• Wind Power - Vestas to Suspend Production, Furlough Workers at Colorado Plant
• An Effort to Spread Green Power to Coasts
• Putting a Lot of Energy into Energy Conservation
• New Analysis Says Global Warming Is Not Slowing
• Obama, Dem Efforts on Climate Cooled Off
• Op/Ed - Electricity Sector’s Priorities on Climate Change
• Washington Algae Research Gets $2M Boost
• Finding New Power for Old Tractors in Electricity
• Google Introduces Real-Time Results, Photo Search
• Yahoo, Microsoft Finalize Search Deal
• The Bandwidth Hog Does Not Exist
• Washington Cold Spell Could Turn Into Weekend Snow
• Wood Stove Blamed for Kelso House Fire
• Thousands to Honor Fallen Lakewood Officers Today
• Shelton City Commission Holds Final Hearing on 2010 Budget
• Mason County Commission to Hold Continued Budget Hearing Tonight
• US Settles Royalty Dispute with Indian Tribes
• State Rep. Wood Says He’ll Retire at End of Seventh Term
• Capitol Tree Lights up Taxpayers for $13,272
• Giant Waves Crash on Hawaii’s Beaches
• Ad Campaign Tries to Elevate ‘Made in China’ Tag’s Cachet

WORD OF THE DAY

Leviathan • \luh-VYE-uh-thun\ • noun - 1: the political state; especially: a totalitarian state having a vast bureaucracy *2: something large or formidable

The legend of the mysterious Potholes Reservoir leviathan ranged far and wide in bass fishing circles. The mythical creature was said to have a mouth big enough to gobble down small children, and reportedly stalked Canadian geese for fun. In the end, it turned out to be Albert, his scuba-diving second cousin, and a large, fiberglass bass sculpture stolen from the local bait shop many years ago.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast & 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

Dec 8 - Oak Park Power Outage (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=639

December 8, 6:00 PM - PUD 3 Commission to Hold Hearing on 2010 Budget (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=632

Puget Sound Energy Ready for Surge in Power Demand (Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/1062871.html

Avista Energy Traders’ Awards Upheld (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/dec/08/in-brief-avista-traders-awards-upheld/

Idaho Power on Track to Deliver Shock to Residential Customers (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=123889

California Judge Backs Rate Hike for Power Misers - Ruling says San Diego Gas & Electric’s plan follows state law (San Diego Union-Tribune, CA)
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/dec/08/judge-backs-rate-hike-power-misers/

California - Report Blasts Marin County Public Power Proposal (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/12/08/BA071B0HM0.DTL

Alaska - Report Says Fairbanks, South Central Could See Big Savings with Central Utility (Fairbanks Daily News Miner, AK)
http://newsminer.com/pages/full_story/push?article-Report+says+Fairbanks-+Southcentral+could+see+big+savings+with+central+utility%20&id=5033116-Report+says+Fairbanks-+Southcentral+could+see+big+savings+with+central+utility&instance=home_lead_story

US Hydropower Consumption Increases 4% - In Washington & Oregon, the top hydropower-producing states, consumption decreased slightly (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/12/u-s-hydropower-consumption-increases-4-percent?cmpid=rss

Survey Says State Regulators Like Nuclear Power (Power Engineering)
http://pepei.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=6&ARTICLE_ID=371541&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss

“Sticker Shock” A Concern in Nuclear Power (Electricity Forum)
http://www.electricityforum.com/news/dec09/Stickershockofnuclearpoweraconcern.html

Was Electric Deregulation Beneficial? (Standard Speaker, Hazleton, PA)
http://www.standardspeaker.com/news/was-electric-deregulation-beneficial-1.466811

Texas’ Electricity Market Ranked First In North America (Fort Worth Star Telegram, TX)
http://www.star-telegram.com/business/story/1815892.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Tennessee Valley Authority Says Repair Work Will Kill Fish (Associated Press) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010448739_apustvafishkilltennessee.html?syndication=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Pollution - Dark Side of a Natural Gas Boom (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/business/energy-environment/08fracking.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Kittitas County - Desert Claim Wind Power Project in Governor’s Hands Now (The Daily Record, Ellensburg, WA)
http://www.kvnews.com/articles/2009/12/07/news/doc4b1d4fdabbde9950322720.txt

Construction to Start on Oregon Wave Energy Project (KPIC-TV, Roseburg, OR)
http://www.kpic.com/news/local/78701082.html

Wind Power - Vestas to Suspend Production, Furlough Workers at Colorado Plant (Portland Business Journal)
http://portland.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/12/07/daily11.html?ana=from_rss&utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%253A+bizj_portland+%2528Portland+Business+Journal%2529&utm_content=Google+Reader

An Effort to Spread Green Power to Coasts (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/08/business/energy-environment/08grid.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Putting a Lot of Energy into Energy Conservation (KUOW Radio, Seattle)
http://kuow.org/program.php?id=18954

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

New Analysis Says Global Warming Is Not Slowing (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/09/science/earth/09climate.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Obama, Dem Efforts on Climate Cooled Off (Associated Press)
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20091208/OPINION/912080307/1049

The Hill Op/Ed - Electricity Sector’s Priorities on Climate Change
http://thehill.com/opinion/op-ed/71023-electricity-sectors-priorities-on-climate-change

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Washington Algae Research Gets $2M Boost (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/12/07/daily6.html

Finding New Power for Old Tractors in Electricity (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/12/08/financial/f000103S22.DTL&feed=rss.business

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Google Introduces Real-Time Results, Photo Search (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/archives/187476.asp?source=pimail

Yahoo, Microsoft Finalize Search Deal (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30684_3-10409809-265.html?tag=nl.e703

The Bandwidth Hog Does Not Exist - One blogger offers an invitation for ISPs to prove otherwise (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/The-Bandwidth-Hog-Does-Not-Exist-105809

GENERAL NEWS

Washington Cold Spell Could Turn Into Weekend Snow (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/1063331.html

Wood Stove Blamed for Kelso House Fire; officials urge caution with home heating (Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/12/07//area_news/doc4b1dc29cc75d6801268247.txt

Thousands to Honor Fallen Lakewood Officers Today (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/news/local/Thousands-to-honor-fallen-Lakewood-officers-78771187.html

Shelton City Commission Holds Final Hearing on 2010 Budget (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://masoncountydailynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=798:shelton-city-commission-holds-final-hearing-on-2010-budget&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

Mason County Commission to Hold Continued Budget Hearing Tonight (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://masoncountydailynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=797:mason-county-commission-to-hold-continued-budget-hearing-tonight-tuesday&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

US Settles Royalty Dispute with Indian Tribes (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010453226_apusindianmoney1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

State Rep. Wood Says He’ll Retire at End of Seventh Term (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/dec/08/wood-says-hell-retire-at-end-of-seventh-term/

Capitol Tree Lights up Taxpayers for $13,272 - ‘Holiday tree’ erected under new policy (Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/1062864.html

Giant Waves Crash on Hawaii’s Beaches (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2010449372_apushighwaveshawaii.html?syndication=rss

Ad Campaign Tries to Elevate ‘Made in China’ Tag’s Cachet (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010450393_chinaimage08.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

Muppets engage the Web with ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/dec/06/muppets-engage-the-web-with-bohemian-rhapsody/

After 50 years, UK ministry shuts down UFO unit
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5B416X20091205?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

City Opts for ‘Charlie Brown’ Christmas Tree
http://www.kirotv.com/holidays/21807400/detail.html

What Do Cats Do Home Alone? Cat Cams Have Answers - 22% of Time Spent Looking Out Windows
http://www.kirotv.com/family/21799186/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Leon RedBone & Zooey Deschanel - Baby Its Cold Outside
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QJWSDeP4k-M