Energy News Digest for May 14, 2010

Editor’s Note: The news digest will be taking a jaunt down the Oregon Coast through May 18. Mo’s, here we come….

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

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Centralia Steam Plant - Feds Say Power Plant Deal Not Enough to Reduce Smog (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011860559_apwapowerplanthaze1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

At Bonneville Dam, Sea Lions Continue to Munch Endangered Salmon - Despite hazing & a lethal injection program (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2010/05/at_bonneville_dam_the_sea_lion.html

Stelle Named Federal Fisheries Boss (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/205791.asp?source=rss

Radar Ridge - PUDs Worry Bird Will Stop Wind Farm in Tracks (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://www.tdn.com/news/local/article_005ad864-5ebf-11df-ba54-001cc4c03286.html

Branding Iron Dad Mum after Jury Acquits Him of Felony Charge (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20100514/NEWS/305149993

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Centralia Steam Plant - Feds Say Power Plant Deal Not Enough to Reduce Smog

·         Pacific Gas & Electric Apologizes Again for PR Misstep

·         Black Hills Power’s Wyoming Customers Will Pay 32 Percent More

·         New York – Low Cost Power Program Set to Expire

·         Climate Change Bill Could Put Aluminum Restarts at Risk

·         Duke Energy Gets $204 Million in Stimulus Funding

·         28 Die as Bus Touches High-Voltage Wire in India

·         Utilities Offer Tips to Help Prevent Dog Bites When Gas & Electric Employees Visit

·         Draft Energy Bill Inadvertently Opens Door for Coops, Governments to Serve as Conduit Borrowers on Tax-Exempt & Build America Bond Deals

·         At Bonneville Dam, Sea Lions Continue to Munch Endangered Salmon

·         Stelle Named Federal Fisheries Boss

·         Stelle Expected to Get His Old Job at NOAA Fisheries Back

·         Springers: Strong Salmon Run on the Columbia

·         Tangled Washington Whale Takes Off

·         Minnesota, Tribe Battle over Fishing

·         Let the Hype Begin - Copper River Salmon Flies to Seattle

·         West Coast Senators Seek Ban on Pacific Offshore Drilling

·         Canada - Cork Pushed Deeper into Bulk Water Exports

·         Radar Ridge - PUDs Worry Bird Will Stop Wind Farm in Tracks

·         Not Every Decision Will Please Everyone: Astoria is planning for a world of backyard electricity generation

·         Three Vancouver Companies Join Wind Energy Delegation

·         Wind Power Growth in China’s Deserts Ignored Financial Risks

·         Virginia - Grant Would Fund Biomass Research Center

·         Chevron Breaks Ground on Solar Plant

·         Blue Sky, Other Green Energy Programs Get High Participation Rates in Oregon

·         UN Science Chief Defends Climate Panel, Welcomes Review

·         Utilities See Bright Side to New Senate Energy Legislation

·         Warming Imperils Lizards, Scientists Warn

·         Homebuilders Will Showcase ‘Green’ Models in Liberty Lake

·         What has 18 wheels & employs 600,000 people?

·         Michigan - Grads Finding Green Jobs Hard to Land

·         Nissan Sees Profits in New Electric Leaf

·         ‘I Capped the Well Competition’

·         Boulder, Colo., a Magnet for High-Tech Start-Ups

·         FCC Chief Tries to Sell Cable Industry on Broadband Regulation

·         Cellphones Now Used More for Data than for Calls

·         Mason County Political Season Nearing as Several Plan to Run for Office

·         State Auditor Sonntag Will Run for Governor if Gregoire Leaves

·         Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals - Disputed Judicial Nominee Advances on Party-Line Vote

·         Maryland May Regulate Campaign Use of Social Media

·         Branding Iron Dad Mum after Jury Acquits Him of Felony Charge

·         Student Says ‘Kill List’ Exists at Washington State School

·         Feds: Olympia Man Made 1,500 Lewd Phone Calls

·         Fugitive Busted Through FaceBook Pleads Guilty

·         State’s Top Economist Sees the Light at the End of the Recession

·         Expect No Warnings from State Patrol When New Cellphone Law Starts Next Month

·         Key Peninsula In Danger Of Losing Only Ambulance

·         KCPQ-TV News Director Quits over Delay in Playing Videotape of Alleged Cop Abuse

·         The 18-Wheeler Recovery

·         Seattle Is the Most Miserable Sports City, Says Forbes

·         Little Dog Chases off Burglar Who Broke into Olympia House (Olympian, WA)

WORD OF THE DAY

Flambé • \flom-BAY\ • adjective - Dressed or served covered with flaming liquor

Freddy was sure that his culinary efforts would delight his Hawaiian visitors. Unfortunately, his “Spam Flambé” did nothing but elicit looks of horror from his guests as the flames of the burning brandy wafted a pungent odor throughout the dining room.

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

Centralia Steam Plant - Feds Say Power Plant Deal Not Enough to Reduce Smog (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011860559_apwapowerplanthaze1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

Pacific Gas & Electric Apologizes Again for PR Misstep - This time for letter that included information on how to opt out of Marin’s independent power program & rejoin PG&E (San Francisco Business Times)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2010/05/10/daily71.html

Black Hills Power’s Wyoming Customers Will Pay 32 Percent More (Rapid City Journal, SD)

http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/article_bea59eee-5f05-11df-b707-001cc4c03286.html

New York – Low Cost Power Program Set to Expire: “…Program provides low-cost electricity to businesses & nonresidential users expires Saturday; companies could see sharply higher energy bills as a result...” (Buffalo News, NY)

http://www.buffalonews.com/2010/05/14/1050088/power-program-set-to-expire.html

Climate Change Bill Could Put Aluminum Restarts at Risk “…most domestic smelters will face a 25- to 35-percent increase in electricity costs…” (American Metal Market)

http://www.amm.com/login/amm-*/2010-05-13__18-45-08.html/Climate+change+bill+could+put+aluminum+restarts+at+risk

Duke Energy Gets $204 Million in Stimulus Funding (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011859218_apapfnusdukeenergystimulusfunds.html?syndication=rss

28 Die as Bus Touches High-Voltage Wire in India – Do NOT get off the bus! (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2011861935_apasindiaelectrocution.html?syndication=rss

Utilities Offer Tips to Help Prevent Dog Bites When Gas & Electric Employees Visit (Electric Energy Online)

http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=133795

Draft Energy Bill Inadvertently Opens Door for Coops, Governments to Serve as Conduit Borrowers on Tax-Exempt & Build America Bond Deals (The Bond Buyer)

http://www.bondbuyer.com/issues/119_341/electric_cooperatives_babs_conduit-1012112-1.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

At Bonneville Dam, Sea Lions Continue to Munch Endangered Salmon - Despite hazing & a lethal injection program (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2010/05/at_bonneville_dam_the_sea_lion.html

Stelle Named Federal Fisheries Boss (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/205791.asp?source=rss

Stelle Expected to Get His Old Job at NOAA Fisheries Back (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)

http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2010/04/20/rockybarker/stelle_expect_get_his_old_job_noaa_fisheries_back#ixzz0npvJAKZj

Springers: Strong Salmon Run on the Columbia (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/05/13/1013025/springers-strong-salmon-run-on.html

Tangled Washington Whale Takes Off (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011865150_apwatangledwhale1stld.html?syndication=rss

Minnesota, Tribe Battle over Fishing (Nat’l Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126805545&ft=1&f=2

Let the Hype Begin - Copper River Salmon Flies to Seattle (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011864596_apwacopperriversalmon.html?syndication=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

West Coast Senators Seek Ban on Pacific Offshore Drilling (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011860851_oildrill14m.html?syndication=rss

Canada - Cork Pushed Deeper into Bulk Water Exports (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Bulk+water+exports+prohibited+under+Canada+border+regulations/3023398/story.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Radar Ridge - PUDs Worry Bird Will Stop Wind Farm in Tracks (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://www.tdn.com/news/local/article_005ad864-5ebf-11df-ba54-001cc4c03286.html

Daily Astorian Editorial - Not Every Decision Will Please Everyone: Astoria is planning for a world of backyard electricity generation

http://www.dailyastorian.info/main.asp?SectionID=23&SubSectionID=392&ArticleID=70366

Three Vancouver Companies Join Wind Energy Delegation - Will pitch Southwest Washington as a hub for wind energy component manufacturing & repair (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/may/13/three-vancouver-companies-join-wind-energy-delegat/

Wind Power Growth in China’s Deserts Ignored Financial Risks (The Guardian, UK)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/may/14/wind-power-china-desert

Virginia - Grant Would Fund Biomass Research Center (Tidewater News, VA)

http://www.tidewaternews.com/news/2010/may/14/grant-would-fund-biomass-research-center/

Chevron Breaks Ground on Solar Plant (New Mexico Business Weekly)

http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/stories/2010/05/10/daily51.html

Blue Sky, Other Green Energy Programs Get High Participation Rates in Oregon (Oregonian, Portland)

http://blog.oregonlive.com/pdxgreen/2010/05/blue_sky.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

UN Science Chief Defends Climate Panel, Welcomes Review (Associated Press)

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/globalwarming/2010-05-14-united-nations-climate-panel_N.htm

Utilities See Bright Side to New Senate Energy Legislation (Las Vegas Sun, NV)

http://www.lasvegassun.com/news/2010/may/14/utilities-see-bright-side-new-senate-energy-legisl/

Warming Imperils Lizards, Scientists Warn (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/14/warming-imperils-lizards-scientists-warn/?partner=rss&emc=rss

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Homebuilders Will Showcase ‘Green’ Models in Liberty Lake (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/may/14/homebuilders-will-showcase-green-models-in/

What has 18 wheels & employs 600,000 people? The American Power Act subsidizes natural gas for the trucking industry (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Money/The-Reformed-Broker/2010/0514/What-has-18-wheels-and-employs-600-000-people

Michigan - Grads Finding Green Jobs Hard to Land: Stimulus Funds Provide Training, But Openings Few in State (Detroit News, MI)

http://detnews.com/article/20100513/BIZ/5130450/Grads-finding-green-jobs-hard-to-land#ixzz0notH9rd1#ixzz0notH9rd1

Nissan Sees Profits in New Electric Leaf (Associated Press)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/05/14/BUG81DE4NU.DTL&feed=rss.business

‘I Capped the Well Competition’ (NY Times)

http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/i-capped-the-well-competition/?partner=rss&emc=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Boulder, Colo., a Magnet for High-Tech Start-Ups (NY Times – what is that photo” A U-2 album cover? Joshua Tree?)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/14/business/14boulder.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

FCC Chief Tries to Sell Cable Industry on Broadband Regulation (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2010/05/13/fcc-chief-tries-to-sell-cable-industry-on-broadband-regulation/

Cellphones Now Used More for Data than for Calls (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/14/technology/personaltech/14talk.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Mason County Political Season Nearing as Several Plan to Run for Office (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/2152-political-season-nearing-as-several-plan-to-run-for-office

State Auditor Sonntag Will Run for Governor if Gregoire Leaves (Publicola)

http://www.publicola.net/2010/05/13/state-auditor-sonntag-will-run-for-governor-if-gregoire-leaves/

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals - Disputed Judicial Nominee Advances on Party-Line Vote (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/14/us/politics/14liu.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Maryland May Regulate Campaign Use of Social Media (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011864755_apusmdsocialmediacampaignrules.html?syndication=rss

GENERAL NEWS

Branding Iron Dad Mum after Jury Acquits Him of Felony Charge (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20100514/NEWS/305149993

Student Says ‘Kill List’ Exists at Washington State School (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011861397_apwaspanawayschoolstabbing.html?syndication=rss

Feds: Olympia Man Made 1,500 Lewd Phone Calls (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/419995_spoof13.html?source=rss

Fugitive Busted Through FaceBook Pleads Guilty (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011862029_apusfacebookbust.html?syndication=rss

State’s Top Economist Sees the Light at the End of the Recession (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/may/13/states-top-economist-sees-the-light-at-the-end/?partner=RSS

Expect No Warnings from State Patrol When New Cellphone Law Starts Next Month (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://blog.thenewstribune.com/crime/2010/05/14/expect-no-warnings-from-wsp-when-new-cellphone-law-starts-next-month/

Key Peninsula in Danger of Losing Only Ambulance (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/93735884.html

KCPQ-TV News Director Quits over Delay in Playing Videotape of Alleged Cop Abuse (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011860859_kcpq14m.html?syndication=rss

The 18-Wheeler Recovery - What trucking statistics—yes, trucking—can tell us about the economy (Newsweek Magazine)

http://www.newsweek.com/id/238011

Seattle Is the Most Miserable Sports City, Says Forbes (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Seattle-is-the-most-miserable-sports-city-says-Forbes-93705474.html

Little Dog Chases off Burglar Who Broke into Olympia House (Olympian, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/05/13/1184480/little-riki-to-the-rescue.html

DIVERSIONS

“Sell it & They Will Come” - Field of Dreams Site for Sale

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2011861932_apusfieldofdreams.html?syndication=rss

China Scientists Say Cigarette Butts Protect Steel

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011861018_apasscichinarecyclingcigarettebutts.html?syndication=rss

‘Little Orphan Annie’ Comic Strip Ending After 85 Years

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_15080005

20,000 Pieces of Mail End Up in Pennsylvania Carrier’s Garage

http://www.kirotv.com/money/23555206/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Field of Dreams Soundtrack - The Cornfield

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

Energy News Digest for May 13, 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

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

California - Pacific Gas & Electric Acknowledges Thousands of Inaccurate SmartMeter Bills (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_15057399

$40 Million Salmon Hatchery Planned at Chief Joseph Dam – Funded by Bonneville Power Administration (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=12471348

Conservation Groups in Oregon Seek Wind Energy Ban on Steens Mountain (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2010/05/conservation_groups_seeks_wind.html

Cape Wind Foes Eye Law - May sue over Massachusetts ‘green’ energy-buying mandate (Boston Herald, MA)

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view/20100513cape_wind_foes_eye_law_may_sue_over_massachusetts_green_energy-buying_mandate/

Senate Gets Climate & Energy Bill, Modified by the Gulf Spill (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/science/earth/13climate.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         California - Pacific Gas & Electric Acknowledges Thousands of Inaccurate SmartMeter Bills

·         California Utility Learns Painful PR Lesson

·         Spokesman Review Op/Ed - For Hanford to Improve, Yucca Must be an Option

·         Moody’s Investor Service Upgrades Mason County PUD No. 3 Bond Rating

·         Pacific Gas & Electric Will Reverse Opt-Outs by Marin County Electricity Customers

·         Des Moines Register Op/Ed - Look to Electric Co-Ops as a Model for America Today

·         Financing: Using Stimulus Funds to Advance Hydro Development

·         Kentucky - Environmental Groups Challenge Permit for East Kentucky Power Plant

·         Duke Energy Expects Coal Costs to Rise

·         Virginia - American Electric Power Tackles Cost Issues

·         New York Power Grid Faces Rules Impact

·         North Dakota Oil Patch Continues Path of Record Production

·         Texas - Family Hit with $8,000 Energy Bill

·         Online Bill Paying Rises to 64 Percent

·         $40 Million Salmon Hatchery Planned at Chief Joseph Dam

·         New Orting Salmon Hatchery Would be Flood-Free

·         Yakima County - Cowiche Creek Fish Plan Loses Backing of Irrigation District

·         Douglas County - Farmland Designated for Wildlife in Washington & Colorado

·         BP Caves to Pressure, Releases First Video of Oil Gushing into Gulf

·         Army Corps Increasing Green River Flow

·         Washington State Auditor Questions Spending by Puget Sound Cleanup Group

·         Power Problems at Mabton’s Treatment Plant Are Fixed

·         Clallam PUD Cooperative Wind Farm on Shaky Ground

·         Grays Harbor PUD Uncertain About Radar Ridge Wind Farm

·         Conservation Groups in Oregon Seek Wind Energy Ban on Steens Mountain

·         Cape Wind Foes Eye Law - May sue over Massachusetts ‘green’ energy-buying mandate

·         Boston Globe Editorial - Though Wind Power Isn’t Free, Benefits Justify Extra Cost

·         Wind Turbine Blade Petition Hits Ohio

·         Snohomish County’s Solar Project Under Construction

·         Grant Program Opens for Oregon Wave Energy Hydro Projects

·         Traverse City Light & Power Biomass Plant Site Won’t Fly

·         Special Report: The Pennsylvania Incinerator That May Burn Municipal Investors

·         Vancouver Sun Op/Ed - Clean Energy: You Get What You Pay For

·         Explosive Growth for LED Lights in Next Decade, Report Says

·         Curbing Kilowatts in Private Buildings

·         Nevada Regulators & Utility Debate Saving Money or Electricity

·         Avista Selected as 2009 Utility Company of the Year by Unified Foodservice

·         Senate Gets Climate & Energy Bill, Modified by the Gulf Spill

·         Energy Bill Aimed to Stem Global Warming, Create Jobs

·         States Wary of New Climate Change Bill

·         Big Utilities Weigh in on New Climate Change Bill, the American Power Act

·         NY Times Op/Ed - A Bad Bet on Carbon

·         Environmental Protection Agency Moves to Regulate Smokestack Greenhouse Gases

·         Green Practices Conflict with Homeowner Association Rules

·         Schwarzenegger Backs California as Hub for Green Jobs

·         Will the Chevy Volt get its juice from Google?

·         Cincinnati Bell Buys Data Center Operator CyrusOne

·         Verizon to Fulfill 4G Promise to Rural Americans?

·         German Court: Secure Your Hotspot or be Fined

·         Eight Websites You (Really Do) Need to Stop Building

·         Gregoire Headed to DC to be Solicitor General?

·         Soda Wholesalers Weighing Tax-Rollback Initiative

·         Infant Taken from Local Hospital Found in Idaho

·         Union Man Found Dead in his Home

·         Jury to Decide Fate of Man Who Branded Children like Cattle

·         $1.1 Million Settlement over I-5 Cable Barriers

·         Fired for Not Being ‘Pretty & Flirtatious’ Enough?

·         Emerging Gulf of Mexico Oil Rig Evidence Shows Lack of Regulation

WORD OF THE DAY

Faustian • \FOW-stee-un\ • adjective - Of, relating to, resembling or suggesting Faust; especially: made or done for present gain without regard for future cost or consequences

Abernathy’s trembling hands reached out for the “holy grail” of tiddlywinks aficionados: a sixteenth century, dime-sized chip of ivory that belonged to Brian “The Thumb” Hudson-Trimble..a giant in early professional tiddlywinks circles. Unfortunately for Abernathy, he was forced to make a Faustian bargain: since all new chips are made from plastic, he could not use the famed piece in any competition.

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

California - Pacific Gas & Electric Acknowledges Thousands of Inaccurate SmartMeter Bills (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_15057399

California Utility Learns Painful PR Lesson (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2010/05/cali-utility-learns-painful-pr-lesson?cmpid=rss

Spokesman Review Op/Ed - For Hanford to Improve, Yucca Must be an Option

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/may/13/for-hanford-to-improve-yucca-must-be-an-option/

Moody’s Investor Service Upgrades Mason County PUD No. 3 Bond Rating (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/2137-moodys-investor-service-upgrades-mason-county-pud-no-3-bond-rating

Pacific Gas & Electric Will Reverse Opt-Outs by Marin County Electricity Customers - Some may have been influenced by questionable PG&E tactics (San Francisco Business Times)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2010/05/10/daily46.html

Des Moines Register Op/Ed - Look to Electric Co-Ops as a Model for America Today

http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20100513/OPINION01/5130340/-1/HAWKEYE_INSIDER/Guest-column-Look-to-electric-co-ops-as-a-model-for-America-today

Financing: Using Stimulus Funds to Advance Hydro Development (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/05/financing-using-stimulus-funds-to-advance-hydro-development?cmpid=rss

Kentucky - Environmental Groups Challenge Permit for East Kentucky Power Plant “…urged the cooperative to look instead at renewable fuels & other ways to persuade customers to use less electricity…” (Lexington Herald-Leader, KY)

http://www.kentucky.com/2010/05/12/1262247/environmental-groups-challenge.html

Duke Energy Expects Coal Costs to Rise (Triangle Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2010/05/10/daily38.html

Virginia - American Electric Power Tackles Cost Issues: Putting some generating units on standby & reducing its work force (Roanoke Times, VA)

http://www.roanoke.com/business/wb/246619

New York Power Grid Faces Rules Impact - NYISO president warns that new regulations could reduce reliability (Albany Times-Union, NY)

http://www.timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=930574&category=BUSINESS

North Dakota Oil Patch Continues Path of Record Production (Associated Press)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/05/13/financial/f092505D83.DTL&feed=rss.business

Texas - Family Hit with $8,000 Energy Bill - Data Entry Error Blamed for Huge Undercharge (Associated Press)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/23541243/detail.html

Online Bill Paying Rises to 64 Percent (Washington Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2010/05/10/daily46.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

$40 Million Salmon Hatchery Planned at Chief Joseph Dam – Funded by Bonneville Power Administration (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=12471348

New Orting Salmon Hatchery Would be Flood-Free (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/05/13/1184520/new-hatchery-would-be-flood-free.html

Yakima County - Cowiche Creek Fish Plan Loses Backing of Irrigation District (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/05/12/cowiche-creek-fish-plan-loses-backing-of-irrigation-district

Douglas County - Farmland Designated for Wildlife in Washington & Colorado (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011849642_apcowildlifeconservation.html?syndication=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

BP Caves to Pressure, Releases First Video of Oil Gushing into Gulf (Yahoo! News)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ynews/ynews_sc2031

Army Corps Increasing Green River Flow (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/05/13/1237440/army-corps-increasing-green-river.html

Washington State Auditor Questions Spending by Puget Sound Cleanup Group (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011850790_pugetsound13m.html?syndication=rss

Power Problems at Mabton’s Treatment Plant Are Fixed (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=12472953

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Clallam PUD Cooperative Wind Farm on Shaky Ground (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.konp.com/local/5763

Grays Harbor PUD Uncertain About Radar Ridge Wind Farm (Associated Press)

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

Conservation Groups in Oregon Seek Wind Energy Ban on Steens Mountain (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2010/05/conservation_groups_seeks_wind.html

Cape Wind Foes Eye Law - May sue over Massachusetts ‘green’ energy-buying mandate (Boston Herald, MA)

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/us_politics/view/20100513cape_wind_foes_eye_law_may_sue_over_massachusetts_green_energy-buying_mandate/

Boston Globe Editorial - Though Wind Power Isn’t Free, Benefits Justify Extra Cost

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2010/05/13/though_wind_power_isnt_free_benefits_justify_extra_cost/

Wind Turbine Blade Petition Hits Ohio - Wind turbine blade stirs Columbus residents to think about renewable energy (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/05/wind-turbine-blade-petition-hits-ohio?cmpid=rss

Snohomish County’s Solar Project Under Construction (Lake Stevens Journal, WA)

http://www.lakestevensjournal.com/county-state/article.exm/2010-05-13_county_s_solar_project_under_construction

Grant Program Opens for Oregon Wave Energy Hydro Projects (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/05/grant-program-opens-for-oregon-wave-energy-hydro-projects?cmpid=rss

Traverse City Light & Power Biomass Plant Site Won’t Fly - Airport Visibility Issues Force Utility Officials to Find New Place to Build (Traverse City Eagle, MI)

http://record-eagle.com/local/x433567646/L-P-biomass-plant-site-wont-fly

Special Report: The Pennsylvania Incinerator That May Burn Municipal Investors (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE64B2PM20100512

Vancouver Sun Op/Ed - Clean Energy: You Get What You Pay For

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Clean+energy+what/3021960/story.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Explosive Growth for LED Lights in Next Decade, Report Says (SolveClimate)

http://solveclimate.com/blog/20100513/explosive-growth-led-lights-next-decade-report-says

Curbing Kilowatts in Private Buildings - Commercial structures offer huge potential for energy savings (Portland Tribune, OR)

http://www.portlandtribune.com/sustainable/story.php?story_id=127367760436959400

Nevada Regulators & Utility Debate Saving Money or Electricity (Las Vegas Review, NV)

http://www.lvrj.com/business/nevada-power-co_-debates-saving-money-or-electricity-93629564.html

Avista Selected as 2009 Utility Company of the Year by Unified Foodservice Purchasing Co-Op (Electric Energy Online)

http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=133643

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Senate Gets Climate & Energy Bill, Modified by the Gulf Spill (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/science/earth/13climate.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Energy Bill Aimed to Stem Global Warming, Create Jobs (Associated Press)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h5iS14YOIUrpdmPuNylwKcVpSnmAD9FLJMQ00

States Wary of New Climate Change Bill (Nat’l Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126789527&ft=1&f=3

Big Utilities Weigh in on New Climate Change Bill, the American Power Act (CleanTechnica)

http://cleantechnica.com/2010/05/12/big-utilities-weigh-in-on-new-climate-change-bill-the-american-power-act/

NY Times Op/Ed - A Bad Bet on Carbon

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/13/opinion/13bryce.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Environmental Protection Agency Moves to Regulate Smokestack Greenhouse Gases (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2011855644_apusepagreenhousegases.html?syndication=rss

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Green Practices Conflict with Homeowner Association Rules (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2010-05-12-green-conflict_N.htm

Schwarzenegger Backs California as Hub for Green Jobs (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/05/13/2746982/greenhub-apoisdfopau-sdiopf-aopsidf.html

Will the Chevy Volt get its juice from Google? (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Horizons/2010/0512/Will-the-Chevy-Volt-get-its-juice-from-Google

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Cincinnati Bell Buys Data Center Operator CyrusOne (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011850243_apuscincinnatibellcyrusoneacquisition.html?syndication=rss

Verizon to Fulfill 4G Promise to Rural Americans? (CNET News)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-30686_3-20004859-266.html?tag=nl.e703

German Court: Secure Your Hotspot or be Fined - Musician sued vacationing user for unsecured hotspot (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/German-Court-Secure-Your-Hotspot-Or-Be-Fined-108363

Eight Websites You (Really Do) Need to Stop Building (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2010/05/11/8-websites-you-really-do-need-to-stop-building/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Gregoire Headed to DC to be Solicitor General? - Governor reportedly not interested in being solicitor general (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/05/13/1184535/gregoire-headed-to-dc.html

Soda Wholesalers Weighing Tax-Rollback Initiative (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2011851089_soda_wholesalers_weighing_tax-.html?syndication=rss

GENERAL NEWS

Infant Taken from Local Hospital Found in Idaho (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/419953_baby12.html?source=rss

Union Man Found Dead in his Home (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/2138-union-man-found-dead-in-his-home

Jury to Decide Fate of Man Who Branded Children like Cattle - Children Said They Wanted It (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20100513/NEWS/305139990

$1.1 Million Settlement over I-5 Cable Barriers (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100513/NEWS01/705139943/-1/rss02

Fired for Not Being ‘Pretty & Flirtatious’ Enough? Former Bremerton City Employee Says Yes in Lawsuit (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/may/12/fired-for-not-being-pretty-and-flirtatious-city/?partner=RSS

Emerging Gulf of Mexico Oil Rig Evidence Shows Lack of Regulation (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011852107_apusgulfoilspill.html?syndication=rss

DIVERSIONS

Paper Company Plans Campaign to Encourage Kids to Print Things Out (Note - Comment section may contain PG-13 language)

http://consumerist.com/2010/05/paper-company-plans-campaign-to-encourage-kids-to-print-things-out.html

Entiat Woman Solves Mystery of Message in a Bottle

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011850264_entiat13.html?syndication=rss

Hotel ATM Dispenses Gold Bars, Gold Coins

http://www.kirotv.com/money/23530034/detail.html

Subway’s Lawyers Tell Rest of World to Stop Selling “Footlong” Sandwiches

http://consumerist.com/2010/05/subways-lawyers-tell-rest-of-world-to-stop-selling-footlong-sandwiches.html

SONG OF THE DAY

John Stewart - Gold

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJiDRiCM1Fo