Energy News Digest for January 19, 2010

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)

•  BPA, Corps Table Request to Fluctuate the Level of Lake Pend Oreille This Winter

•  TransAlta Tax Break Targeted by Dems

•  Portland General Electric Mulls Biomass if Boardman Closes

•  BPA Hopes to Build New Eastern Washington Transmission Line

•  Hearing Set for Proposed Maine Transmission Line

•  An Idaho County Moves Closer to Allowing a Nuclear Plant

•  A Nuclear Critic Draws a Lesson from France’s Success

•  Montana's Bruce Measure Named New NPCC Chair, Washington's Wallace Vice-Chair

•  Recession To Blame For Drop In Electric Output

•  Florida - Battle over What Power Companies Can Charge

•  Funding Suspended for $10-Billion in Florida Electric Projects

•  Canada - Shocker: We Don't Pay Enough for Electricity

•  University of Tennessee to Ask Tennessee Valley Authority for Lower Rates

•  Monday's Wind Knocks Out Power to About 1,000

•  Grays Harbor - Howler of a Storm KOs Power in Some Areas

•  Windy Weather Leaves Some in the Dark - At Least for a Few Hours

•  High Winds Rake Snohomish County, Cut Power

•  Cowlitz PUD Restores Power To 7,200 After High Winds Hit Region

•  Wild Weather Leaves Thousands without Power Overnight

•  Wind Leaves Kitsap Homes in the Dark

•  High Winds Knock Out Power in Western Washington

•  'This Is What You Get When You Have a Beach'

•  Northwest Power & Conservation Council Endorses BPA Funding for $28 Million in Tribal 'Fish Accord' Projects

•  Leavenworth Fish Hatchery Loses Most Fed Funding

•  Idaho Set to Move Forward on Hatchery Plan to Increase Snake River Sockeye Smolt Production

•  Winter Steelhead Having a Strong Run

•  Salmon Fishery Fails in Alaska, Tied to Climate

•  Saving Delta Is at Core of New California Water Policy

•  Oregon Deals With One of Worst Wild Goose Problems in Nation

•  Justices Won't Close Great Lakes Shipping Locks to Keep Out Carp

•  Work on Belfair Sewers Begins

•  PUD 1 Holding Water Use Efficiency Workshop Wednesday

•  Seattle's Sewers Are Getting Clogged With Grease

•  Idaho - Minidoka Dam repairs could cost $50 million, take three years

•  Columbian Editorial - The Power of ‘Bio’

•  Montana Landowners, Developers Laying Groundwork for Community Wind Farm

•  Texas Judge Orders Halt to Work on Wind Transmission Project

•  Dallas Morning News Editorial: Wind Energy's Future Still Strong in Texas

•  Muskegon Chronicle Editorial - Lessons from the Wind

•  Editorial - Renewable Energy: Wisconsin Pays More if the State Fails to Act

•  Solar subsidy cuts in Germany

•  Arizona - Amid State's Push for Solar Power, Water-Supply Worries Arise

•  Breaking the Planet? Geothermal Drilling Safeguards Imposed

•  Seattle Company Promising Portable Power Plants

•  A Boost for LED Lighting Development

•  Boston Globe Editorial - Why Wait? Save Energy Now

•  U.N. Panel’s Glacier Warning Is Criticized as Exaggerated

•  As Climate Warms, What Will Our Rivers Do?

•  Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels' Green Agenda Wasn't Enough

•  Pastors in Pacific Northwest Find Focus in ‘Green’

•  Found: Missing Broadband Stimulus Funds!

•  What the Net Neutrality Filings Say

•  Broadband Traffic in a Jam on Wireless Expressway

•  Skype Steals Even More Minutes from Phone Companies

•  Google Probing Possible Inside Help on Attack

•  Google Denies Leaving China, Seeks Negotiations

•  FCC Orders Wireless Mike Modifications

•  Judge Ben Settle’s Ruling - Supreme Court to Hear Case on Disclosure of Names on a Petition

•  Congressman Hastings Seeks Fairness in USFS Lease Fees for Cabins

•  Bill Would Make Boeing Say It Cares About Washington

•  Investigators: Local College (Evergreen) Pays for Home to Sit Empty & Unused

•  Cyberbullying Leads to Suspension of 28 Middle-Schoolers at McClure

•  Plug Being Pulled on Decades-Old Marine Navigation System

•  Will Snow Be An Olympic No-Show in Vancouver?

•  Get Ready to Pay for Your NYT Fix

WORD OF THE DAY

Noetic • \noh-ET-ik\ • adjective - of, relating to, or based on the intellect

As far as the noetic capabilities of the common toad, the horned toad is considered the Einstein of the amphibian kingdom.

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

BPA, Corps Table Request to Fluctuate the Level of Lake Pend Oreille This Winter (Bonner County Daily Bee, Sandpoint, ID)

http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com/articles/2010/01/16/news/doc4b51662dd11a3104753295.txt

TransAlta Tax Break Targeted by Dems - Senate Bill Would Strip Coal Plant of Millions of Dollars in Exemptions (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

http://www.chronline.com/articles/2010/01/16/news//doc4b515e81851d8398412892.txt

Portland General Electric Mulls Biomass if Boardman Closes (Portland Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2010/01/11/daily52.html

BPA Hopes to Build New Eastern Washington Transmission Line (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/yahoonews/story/868322.html

Hearing Set for Proposed Maine Transmission Line (Associated Press)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/01/19/financial/f081049S43.DTL

An Idaho County Moves Closer to Allowing a Nuclear Plant (NW Public Radio)

http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=6688

A Nuclear Critic Draws a Lesson from France’s Success (NY Times)

http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/19/a-nuclear-critic-draws-a-lesson-from-frances-success/

Montana's Bruce Measure Named New NPCC Chair, Washington's Wallace Vice-Chair (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/372973.aspx

Recession To Blame For Drop In Electric Output (Power Engineer)

http://pepei.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=6&ARTICLE_ID=372492&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss

Florida - Battle over What Power Companies Can Charge Doesn't End With Recent Rate Denials (St Petersburg Times, FL)

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/energy/battle-over-what-power-companies-can-charge-doesnt-end-with-recent-rate/1065230

Funding Suspended for $10-Billion in Florida Electric Projects (Clean Skies)

http://www.cleanskies.com/articles/funding-suspended-florida-electric-projects

Canada - Shocker: We Don't Pay Enough for Electricity (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/shocker-we-dont-pay-enough-for-electricity/article1434557/

University of Tennessee to Ask Tennessee Valley Authority for Lower Rates to Deal With Increased Energy Costs (WHNT-TV, Huntsville, AL)

http://www.whnt.com/news/sns-ap-tn--ut-energycosts,0,5323509.story

MLK DAY STORM NEWS

Monday's Wind Knocks Out Power to About 1,000 (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1125:mondays-wind-knocks-out-power-to-about-1000&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

Grays Harbor - Howler of a Storm KOs Power in Some Areas (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)

http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2010/01/18/local_news/doc4b54ade243ac7980546928.txt

Windy Weather Leaves Some in the Dark - At Least for a Few Hours (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20100119/news/301199993

High Winds Rake Snohomish County, Cut Power (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100119/NEWS01/701199909/-1/rss02

Cowlitz PUD Restores Power To 7,200 after High Winds Hit Region (The Daily News, Longview, WA)

http://www.tdn.com/news/local/article_93952d48-044a-11df-82ff-001cc4c002e0.html

Wild Weather Leaves Thousands without Power Overnight (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews?Wild-Weather-Leaves-Thousands-Without-Po=1&blockID=124314&feedID=410

Wind Leaves Kitsap Homes in the Dark (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/jan/18/wind-storm-leaves-kitsap-in-the-dark/?partner=RSS

High Winds Knock Out Power in Western Washington (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010825555_apwawinds2ndldwritethru.html

'This Is What You Get When You Have a Beach' (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/82025187.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Northwest Power & Conservation Council Endorses BPA Funding for $28 Million in Tribal 'Fish Accord' Projects (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/372983.aspx

Leavenworth Fish Hatchery Loses Most Fed Funding (Associated Press)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/81792162.html

Idaho Set to Move Forward on Hatchery Plan to Increase Snake River Sockeye Smolt Production (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/372976.aspx

Winter Steelhead Having a Strong Run - State officials want anglers to catch as many as possible (Salem Statesman Journal, OR)

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20100117/GREEN/1170329/-1/green

Salmon Fishery Fails in Alaska, Tied to Climate (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/01/18/23799.htm

Saving Delta Is at Core of New California Water Policy (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2010829795_apuscaliforniawaterdeltadecline.html

Oregon Deals With One of Worst Wild Goose Problems in Nation (Associated Press)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Oregon-deals-with-one-of-worst-wild-goose-problems-in-nation-81927552.html

Justices Won't Close Great Lakes Shipping Locks to Keep Out Carp (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2010831560_apussupremecourtasiancarp.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Work on Belfair Sewers Begins (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1104:work-on-belfair-sewers-begins-monday&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

PUD 1 Holding Water Use Efficiency Workshop Wednesday (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1119:pud-1-holding-water-use-efficiency-workshop-wednesday&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

Seattle's Sewers Are Getting Clogged With Grease (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/414191_grease18.html

Idaho - Minidoka Dam repairs could cost $50 million, take three years (Magic Valley Times-News, Twin Falls, ID)

http://www.magicvalley.com/news/local/article_a8cffaa1-af29-5785-bcf9-5116b9615737.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Columbian Editorial - The Power of ‘Bio’: Pacific Northwest is showing the way for cutting-edge technologies

http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/jan/19/the-power-of-bio/

Montana Landowners, Developers Laying Groundwork for Community Wind Farm (Billings Gazette, MT)

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_8e390e86-0266-11df-8bc2-001cc4c002e0.html

Texas Judge Orders Halt to Work on Wind Transmission Project (Houston Chronicle, TX)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/energy/6818579.html

Dallas Morning News Editorial: Wind Energy's Future Still Strong in Texas

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/opinion/editorials/stories/DN-boone_18edi.State.Edition1.225c139.html

Muskegon Chronicle Editorial - Lessons from the Wind

http://www.mlive.com/opinion/muskegon/index.ssf/2010/01/editorial_lessons_from_the_win.html

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Editorial - Renewable Energy: Wisconsin Pays More if the State Fails to Act

http://www.jsonline.com/news/opinion/81790272.html

Solar subsidy cuts in Germany (Biofuels Watch)

http://www.biofuelswatch.com/solar-subsidy-cuts-in-germany/

Arizona - Amid State's Push for Solar Power, Water-Supply Worries Arise (Arizona Republic, Phoenix)

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2010/01/17/20100117water-solar0117.html

Breaking the Planet? Geothermal Drilling Safeguards Imposed (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/16/science/earth/16alta.html

Seattle Company Promising Portable Power Plants (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Seattle-company-promising-portable-power-plants-82007337.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

A Boost for LED Lighting Development (NY Times)

http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/18/a-boost-for-led-lighting-development/

Boston Globe Editorial - Why Wait? Save Energy Now

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2010/01/18/why_wait_save_energy_now/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

U.N. Panel’s Glacier Warning Is Criticized as Exaggerated (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/19/science/earth/19climate.html

As Climate Warms, What Will Our Rivers Do? (Seattle Post Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/414357_rivers19.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels' Green Agenda Wasn't Enough (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/pacificnw/2010724154_pacificpgonickels17.html

Pastors in Pacific Northwest Find Focus in ‘Green’ (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/16/us/16church.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Found: Missing Broadband Stimulus Funds! (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2010/01/15/found-missing-broadband-stimulus-funds/

What the Net Neutrality Filings Say (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2010/01/15/what-the-net-neutrality-filings-say/

Broadband Traffic in a Jam on Wireless Expressway (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/1032169.html

Skype Steals Even More Minutes from Phone Companies (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2010/01/19/skype-still-snatching-minutes-from-international-carriers/

Google Probing Possible Inside Help on Attack (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60H1J620100118

Google Denies Leaving China, Seeks Negotiations (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE60E0BC20100117

FCC Orders Wireless Mike Modifications (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/16/technology/16wireless.html

GENERAL NEWS

Judge Ben Settle’s Ruling - Supreme Court to Hear Case on Disclosure of Names on a Petition (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/15/AR2010011503764.html?wprss=rss_politics

Congressman Hastings Seeks Fairness in USFS Lease Fees for Cabins (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/01/15/01-16-10-cabins

Bill Would Make Boeing Say It Cares About Washington (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010807161_sundaybuzz17.html

Investigators: Local College (Evergreen) Pays for Home to Sit Empty & Unused (NW Cable News)

http://www.nwcn.com/news/Investigators-Local-college-pays-for-home-to-sit-empty-and-unused-81992452.html

Cyberbullying Leads to Suspension of 28 Middle-Schoolers at McClure (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010807798_mcclure16m.html

Plug Being Pulled on Decades-Old Marine Navigation System (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2010818829_apusnavigationsystemshelved.html

Will Snow Be An Olympic No-Show in Vancouver? (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/olympics/2010822477_snow17m.html

Get Ready to Pay for Your NYT Fix (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2010/01/get-ready-to-pay-for-your-nyt-fix.html

DIVERSIONS

Santa Cruz Developer Arrested after Allegedly Felling Neighbors' Trees to Get Clearer View of the Coast

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_14216281

Nevermore? Mystery Visitor Misses Poe's Birthday

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2010829935_apuspoemysteryvisitor.html

Men Get Financial Boost from Marriage, Data Show

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/jan/19/men-get-financial-boost-from-marriage-data-show/

US Faith Group Sends Hundreds of Solar-Powered Bibles to Haiti

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/01/us-faith-group-sends-hundreds-of-solar-powered-bibles-to-haiti/1

SONG OF THE DAY

Handel - Water Music, Air

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0bHwyK0zfs

Energy News Digest for January 15, 2010

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

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

•  TransAlta Under Fire - Despite Technological Efforts, Legal & Political Wrangling Makes Future Uncertain for Coal-Fired Facility

•  Portland General Electric Plan Suggests Shorter Time Frame to Close Boardman Coal Plant

•  Commission Adopts Idaho Power Rate Moratorium Agreement

•  Downed Power Lines Stop Issaquah School Bus

•  Mason PUD 3 to Conduct Tree Trimming

•  British Columbia Firms Wasting Power to Get Cheaper Rates, Says Utility

•  Turmoil in Power Sector - Falling Electricity Demand Trips Up Utilities’ Plans for Infrastructure Projects

•  Entergy Corp. Sues Fed Agency in Katrina Flooding

•  Virginia Regulators OK Appalachian Power Surcharge for Environmental Compliance & Reliability

•  Forget Wind; Pickens Turns Focus to Gas

•  Two Former Electric Providers Face Hefty Texas Fines

•  United Kingdom - Efforts to Halt Salmon Decline

•  Judge Voids Landmark California Water Agreement

•  Oregon - EPA Says No to Portland’s Open Reservoirs

•  Water Conservation – The Why & How for Homeowners

•  US Energy Department Probing Hanford Waste Burial

•  Seattle P-I Columnist - Vanquishing Victoria’s POOP Problem

•  Biomass - Stevens County Company Has State Energy Tie

•  Olympian Editorial - Everyone Wins With Biomass Initiatives

•  Not in Anyone’s Backyard - Protect the environment or create renewable energy?

•  Iberdrola Signs Biggest Wind Power Deal Yet

•  Ill Wind Buffets General Electric Energy Unit

•  Wind Turbines Don’t Operate in Cold

•  Adobe Systems Goes for Wind Power

•  Micron Cuts Deal With Australian Solar Energy Company

•  E-Waste Recycler Lights up Path to Strong Profits

•  Illinois Utilities Can’t Seem to Get Consumers to Track Electricity Use

•  SMUD Rewards Sacramento State for Energy Efficiency

•  How to Keep the Cold from Icing up Profit

•  North Dakota vs. Minnesota: Dust-Up over Carbon

•  US Official Says Talks on Emissions Show Promise

•  Oregon - Local Expert Ready to Talk about Climate Change

•  Australia - A Wholesale Climate Fraud? Not Here

•  Latest in Environmental Standards: Green Roads

•  FCC Looks at Ways to Assert Authority Over Web Access

•  Microsoft’s Browser Flaw Exposed Google to Hackers

•  Follow the Law, China Tells Internet Companies

•  Google Gobbles Ever More of Search Share

•  Verizon: Talk Is Cheap, Data Is Mandatory for Most

•  Skype to FCC: Keep Internet Open & Neutral

•  New York - Wyoming County May Create a Fiber-Optic System

•  As Predicted, Comcast Usage Meter Expands

•  No Injuries When Pioneer School Bus Slides into Ditch

•  Heavy Rain Brings Flood Watch to Western Washington

•  Haitian Earthquake - Good News for One Family, More Waiting for Another

•  Mason County Deputies Capture Kidnapping Suspect

•  Life Sentence for Seattle Jewish Office Shooting

•  Taxable Retail Sales Down in Mason County

•  Marijuana Bills: ‘It’s Not about Fighting for Your Right to Party’

•  High-Speed Jet Keeps Eye on West Coast Storms

WORD OF THE DAY

Doldrums • \DOLE-drums\ • noun - 1: a spell of listlessness or despondency 2: often capitalized: a part of the ocean near the equator abounding in calms, squalls, and light shifting winds 3: a state or period of inactivity, stagnation, or slump

The drops of rain splattered against Donny’s office window. The rhythm of the pelting deluge worked as a hypnotic drug, dragging the usually energetic accountant into a listless bout of the doldrums.

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

TransAlta Under Fire - Despite Technological Efforts, Legal & Political Wrangling Makes Future Uncertain for Coal-Fired Facility (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

http://www.chronline.com/articles/2010/01/15/news//doc4b4f5e1c56ebd535240605.txt

Portland General Electric Plan Suggests Shorter Time Frame to Close Boardman Coal Plant (The Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2010/01/pge_moves_to_close_boardman_co.html

Commission Adopts Idaho Power Rate Moratorium Agreement (Idaho Business Review)

http://www.idahobusiness.net/archive.htm/2010/01/14/Commission-adopts-Idaho-Power-rate-moratorium-agreement

Downed Power Lines Stop Issaquah School Bus “…They (were kept) inside the bus, which is the safest place…” (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Downed-power-lines-stop-Issaquah-SD-school-bus-81718187.html

Mason PUD 3 to Conduct Tree Trimming on Turnow Dr, Ford Rd, & Spaulding Rd (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/Newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=664

British Columbia Firms Wasting Power to Get Cheaper Rates, Says Utility (Vancouver Sun, BC)

http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/firms+wasting+power+cheaper+rates+says+utility/2443159/story.html

Turmoil in Power Sector - Falling Electricity Demand Trips Up Utilities’ Plans for Infrastructure Projects (Wall Street Journal)

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704675104575001322373417024.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_5

Entergy Corp. Sues Fed Agency in Katrina Flooding (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010795024_apusentergykatrinadamages.html

Virginia Regulators OK Appalachian Power Surcharge for Environmental Compliance & Reliability (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010802119_apussccapcosurchargevirginia.html

Forget Wind; Pickens Turns Focus to Gas (NY Times)

http://dealbook.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/01/14/forget-wind-pickens-turns-focus-to-gas/

Two Former Electric Providers Face Hefty Texas Fines (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010802296_apustexaspucpenalties.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

United Kingdom - Efforts to Halt Salmon Decline (British Broadcasting Corporation, UK)

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/scotland/8461380.stm

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Judge Voids Landmark California Water Agreement (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010800693_apuscaliforniawater.html

Oregon - EPA Says No to Portland’s Open Reservoirs (The Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/01/epa_says_no_to_portlands_open.html

Water Conservation – The Why & How for Homeowners (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Bright-Green/2010/0114/Water-conservation-the-why-and-how-for-homeowners

US Energy Department Probing Hanford Waste Burial (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010802409_apwahanfordburialmystery.html

Seattle P-I Columnist - Vanquishing Victoria’s POOP Problem

http://www.seattlepi.com/connelly/414247_joel15.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Biomass - Stevens County Company Has State Energy Tie (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/jan/15/stevens-county-company-has-state-energy-tie/

Olympian Editorial - Everyone Wins With Biomass Initiatives

http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/1102223.html

Not in Anyone’s Backyard - Protect the environment or create renewable energy? A new bill shows they’re far from the same thing (Newsweek)

http://www.newsweek.com/id/230681

Iberdrola Signs Biggest Wind Power Deal Yet (Portland Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2010/01/11/daily35.html

Ill Wind Buffets General Electric Energy Unit - Company loses patent ruling & a big turbine order is cut in half (The Times Union, Albany, NY)

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=888705&category=BUSINESS

Wind Turbines Don’t Operate in Cold - Though wind turbines utilize North Dakota’s plentiful gusts to generate energy, some agency officials say they are shut down in times of extreme temperature (Dickinson Press, ND)

http://www.thedickinsonpress.com/event/article/id/31387/

Adobe Systems Goes for Wind Power (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/15/BUO71BI9AT.DTL

Micron Cuts Deal With Australian Solar Energy Company (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)

http://www.idahostatesman.com/business/story/1042301.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

E-Waste Recycler Lights up Path to Strong Profits (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010797330_apakerecyclingbusiness.html

Illinois Utilities Can’t Seem to Get Consumers to Track Electricity Use (Chicago Tribune, IL)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-electric-use-jan13-,0,6684769.story

SMUD Rewards Sacramento State for Energy Efficiency (MSNBC Money)

http://news.moneycentral.msn.com/provider/providerarticle.aspx?feed=ACBJ&date=20100115&id=10990689

How to Keep the Cold from Icing up Profit (Associated Press)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100115/BIZ/701159914/1005

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

North Dakota vs. Minnesota: Dust-Up over Carbon - North Dakota is none too pleased with Minnesota as a deadline nears for what North Dakota claims will be a tax on coal-fired electricity (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, MN)

http://www.startribune.com/business/81606907.html?elr=KArksc8P:Pc:UUUHDYaGEP7eyckcUr

US Official Says Talks on Emissions Show Promise (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/15/science/earth/15climate.html

Oregon - Local Expert Ready to Talk about Climate Change (The World, Bandon, OR)

http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2010/01/13/news/local_expert_ready_to_talk_about_climate_change_30b.txt

Australia - A Wholesale Climate Fraud? Not Here (The Australian)

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/opinion/a-wholesale-climate-fraud-not-here/story-e6frg6zo-1225819884224

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Latest in Environmental Standards: Green Roads (KPLU Radio, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain/article/0/1/1599246/KPLU.Local.News/Latest.in.Environmental.Standards.Green.Roads

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

FCC Looks at Ways to Assert Authority Over Web Access (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/14/AR2010011404717.html

Microsoft’s Browser Flaw Exposed Google to Hackers (Associated Press)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/01/14/financial/f163159S37.DTL

Follow the Law, China Tells Internet Companies (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/15/world/asia/15beijing.html

Google Gobbles Ever More of Search Share (San Francisco Business Times)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2010/01/11/daily62.html

Verizon: Talk Is Cheap, Data Is Mandatory for Most (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2010/01/15/verizon-talk-is-cheap-data-is-mandatory-for-most/

Skype to FCC: Keep Internet Open & Neutral (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2010/01/14/skype-to-fcc-keep-internet-open-neutral/

New York - Wyoming County May Create a Fiber-Optic System (The Daily News, Batavia, NY)

http://www.thedailynewsonline.com/articles/2010/01/14/news/6375967.txt

As Predicted, Comcast Usage Meter Expands - Beta enters additional Pacific Northwest markets (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/As-Predicted-Comcast-Usage-Meter-Expands-106407

GENERAL NEWS

No Injuries When Pioneer School Bus Slides into Ditch (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1097:no-injuries-when-bus-slides-into-ditch&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

Heavy Rain Brings Flood Watch to Western Washington (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/weather/22246099/detail.html

Haitian Earthquake - Good News for One Family, More Waiting for Another (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/81644807.html

Mason County Deputies Capture Kidnapping Suspect (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/22238691/detail.html

Life Sentence for Seattle Jewish Office Shooting (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=11822268

Taxable Retail Sales Down in Mason County (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1089:taxable-retail-sales-down-in-mason-county&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

Marijuana Bills: ‘It’s Not about Fighting for Your Right to Party’ (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/1027817.html

High-Speed Jet Keeps Eye on West Coast Storms - Japan-based plane will monitor North Pacific for data to aid forecasting (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/1102167.html

DIVERSIONS

Oscar Mayer Says Goodbye to Wiener Song (Nat’l Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122599414&ft=1&f=3

Peeing Puppy Results in a Lawsuit

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/01/15/23720.htm

Was the Yugo Really the Worst Car Ever? A new book explains why the tiny automobile was so reviled.

http://www.slate.com/id/2241530/

SONG OF THE DAY

Fleetwood Mac – Landslide

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f46rv5EWbAU