Energy News Digest for July 1, 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

Jefferson County Milestone: PUD Signs Power Pact with Bonneville Power Administration (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20100701/news/307019996/jefferson-milestone-pud-signs-power-pact-with-bonneville

Puget Sound Energy Names Kimberly Harris New President (Puget Sound Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2010/06/28/daily29.html

Seafood Watch Program Further Defines Which Salmon to Avoid - Drew a distinction between Oregon-caught salmon from the Columbia River (a “good alternative” because Columbia fish stocks are in moderately healthy condition) & salmon from the Sacramento River (Examiner.com)

http://www.examiner.com/x-54816-Seafood-Examiner~y2010m6d30-Seafood-Watch-Program-further-defines-which-salmon-to-avoid

Clark County Mulling Downtown Vancouver Biomass Plant - Commissioners OK $225K feasibility study (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/jul/01/county-mulling-downtown-biomass-plant-commissioner/

2009 Sees No Growth in CO2; First Time since 1992 (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012254131_apeunetherlandsco2emissions.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Jefferson County Milestone: PUD Signs Power Pact with Bonneville Power Administration

·         Puget Sound Energy Names Kimberly Harris New President

·         Pennsylvania - Duquesne Light Names Richard Riazzi President & CEO

·         Chelan Port Wants Power-Rate Cuts for Industry

·         Edmonds Pot Raid Stuns Neighbors - Growers stole electricity fromSnohomish PUD

·         Portland General Electric - Tempers Sizzling over Plan for New Power Lines

·         Avista Rate Hikes Would Hit Older Idahoans the Hardest

·         Montana Denies NorthWestern’s Rate Hike Request

·         Cantwell: Energy Bill Coming, But How Strong?

·         Grant PUD Starts Archeology Project - Part of relicensing requirements

·         Colorado - Xcel Switches on Hybrid Solar-Coal Power Plant

·         Florida – State Committee Axes Two More Members Who Rejected Electricity Rate Hikes

·         Seafood Watch Program Further Defines Which Salmon to Avoid – Columbia Salmon OK

·         Greenpeace Flying Blimp over Costco to Draw Attention to Fish-Buying Practices

·         Canada - Observers Cautious on Potential Big Sockeye Run

·         “The Other Red Meat” - Pork Industry Defeats Copycat Salmon Slogan

·         Great Lakes - Lawmakers Seek to Speed Efforts to Stop Asian Carp

·         Feds Consider Birth Control for Oregon’s Wild Horses

·         At the New York Harbor School, Growing Oysters for Credit

·         Bonneville Power Administration Explains Rationale behind Lake Pend Oreille Level Request

·         Municipal Wells in Klamath Basin Town Run Dry

·         Clark County Mulling Downtown Vancouver Biomass Plant

·         Wood-Fired Power Plant - ADAGE Provides More Answers to Questions from May Forum

·         Oregon - A Pilot Project Pays Customers to Generate Solar Power

·         From Wave to Hydro to Biomass - Oregon Grants $158,000 for Renewable Energy Studies

·         SW Washington Renewables Plan Starts Now

·         Op/Ed - Renewable Energy Can be an Economic Engine

·         Nevada - Costs of Renewable Energy Will be Disclosed after State Ruling

·         Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance to Deliver Technical Assistance for Federal Energy Efficiency ARRA Grantees

·         2009 Sees No Growth in CO2; First Time since 1992

·         US Senate Candidate Says California Climate Law is Killing Jobs

·         Arctic Could be a Tipping Point for Warming

·         For $13.5 Million LOTT Clean Water Alliance Goes Green in New Office

·         Editorial - Garbage Argument: Burn, Bury, or Recycle?

·         Swiss Team Postpones Solar Plane Night Flight

·         Man-Made Global Warming Started With Ancient Hunters

·         Into the Great Green Beyond

·         Clearwire to Launch Faster Service in Yakima Valley

·         Baker City Data Center Job Requires Some Heavy Lifting

·         Editorial - The Price of Broadband Politics

·         Is Broadband a Basic Right? Finland Says Yes!

·         Microsoft Hangs Up on Poor-Selling Kin Phones

·         Mason County Video Voters’ Guide – Meet the Candidates

·         Washington State Income Tax Initiative Steps Closer to Ballot

·         Builders Turn in 340,000 Signatures for Workers’ Comp Initiative

·         Poll Points to Murray - Rossi Senate Showdown

·         Op/Ed - State Faces Fiscal Day of Reckoning for State Employee Contracts

·         Pacific Northwest Drivers Using More Gasoline

·         Portland Police Re-Opening Gore Investigation

·         Snoqualmie Pass - Missing Hiker Found Dead With Dog Sitting at His Side

·         Washington State Sued over Exemption of British Columbia Residents from Sales Tax

WORD OF THE DAY

Apostasy • \uh-PAWSS-stuss-ee\ • noun - 1: renunciation of a religious faith 2: abandonment of a previous loyalty

Mr. Bronte’s secret apostasy was revealed almost by accident. As the quality control agent in charge of label glue at the canned vegetable factory, he had complete charge of the colorful paper that heralded the nationally recognized brands over the generic beans and corn that issued from his company. Unbeknownst to his overseers, he had been paid millions under the table to switch the labels when the two product lines diverged. He was caught “red handed” by one of the canning specialists during the Wednesday run of sliced beets.

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

Jefferson County Milestone: PUD Signs Power Pact with Bonneville Power Administration (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20100701/news/307019996/jefferson-milestone-pud-signs-power-pact-with-bonneville

Puget Sound Energy Names Kimberly Harris New President (Puget Sound Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2010/06/28/daily29.html

Pennsylvania - Duquesne Light Names Richard Riazzi President & CEO (Pittsburgh Business Times)

http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2010/06/28/daily34.html

Chelan Port Wants Power-Rate Cuts for Industry - Stressed they don’t want to lure data centers (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/jun/30/chelan-port-wants-power-rate-cuts-for-industry/

Edmonds Pot Raid Stuns Neighbors - Growers stole electricity from the Snohomish PUD by illegally tapping into power lines (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100701/NEWS01/707019904

Portland General Electric - Tempers Sizzling over Plan for New Power Lines (Clackamas Review, OR)

http://www.clackamasreview.com/news/story.php?story_id=127784696753119000

Avista Rate Hikes Would Hit Older Idahoans the Hardest (Electric Energy Online)

http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=137056

Montana Denies NorthWestern’s Rate Hike Request (Bloomberg BusinessWeek)

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9GLMJH00.htm

Cantwell: Energy Bill Coming, But How Strong? (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/212986.asp

Grant PUD Starts Archeology Project - Part of relicensing requirements (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/local/article_a421f14d-9f50-5dda-979a-59d1b748391d.html

Colorado - Xcel Switches on Hybrid Solar-Coal Power Plant (Denver Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2010/06/28/daily40.html

Florida – State Committee Axes Two More Members Who Rejected Electricity Rate Hikes (St Petersburg Times, FL)

http://www.tampabay.com/news/committee-axes-two-more-psc-members-who-balked-at-electricity-rate-hikes/1106191

FISH & WILDLIFE

Seafood Watch Program Further Defines Which Salmon to Avoid - Drew a distinction between Oregon-caught salmon from the Columbia River (a “good alternative” because Columbia fish stocks are in moderately healthy condition) & salmon from the Sacramento River (Examiner.com)

http://www.examiner.com/x-54816-Seafood-Examiner~y2010m6d30-Seafood-Watch-Program-further-defines-which-salmon-to-avoid

Greenpeace Flying Blimp over Costco to Draw Attention to Fish-Buying Practices (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012249240_costcoseafood01.html

Canada - Observers Cautious on Potential Big Sockeye Run (Tri-City News, BC)

http://www.bclocalnews.com/tri_city_maple_ridge/tricitynews/news/97524419.html

“The Other Red Meat” - Pork Industry Defeats Copycat Salmon Slogan (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/07/01/28544.htm

Great Lakes - Lawmakers Seek to Speed Efforts to Stop Asian Carp (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012244449_apusasiancarpgreatlakes.html

Feds Consider Birth Control for Oregon’s Wild Horses (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/06/_blm_plan_could_dramatically_c.html

At the New York Harbor School, Growing Oysters for Credit (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/30/dining/30harbor.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Bonneville Power Administration Explains Rationale behind Lake Pend Oreille Level Request (Bonner County Bee, Sandpoint, ID)

http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com/articles/2010/06/29/news/doc4c26c5361c6fb564692242.txt

Municipal Wells in Klamath Basin Town Run Dry (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/7749-municipal-wells-klamath-basin-town-run-dry/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Clark County Mulling Downtown Vancouver Biomass Plant - Commissioners OK $225K feasibility study (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/jul/01/county-mulling-downtown-biomass-plant-commissioner/

Wood-Fired Power Plant - ADAGE Provides More Answers to Questions from May Forum (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/2585-adage-provides-more-answer-to-questions-not-answered-may-27th

Oregon - A Pilot Project Pays Customers to Generate Solar Power (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2010/06/a_pilot_project_starting_thurs.html

From Wave to Hydro to Biomass - Oregon Grants $158,000 for Renewable Energy Studies (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2010/06/oregon_grants_158000_for_renewable_energy_study.html

SW Washington Renewables Plan Starts Now - Expert on siting such energy facilities says region must look to future (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/jul/01/renewables-plan-starts-now/

Op/Ed - Renewable Energy Can be an Economic Engine (Cleveland Plain Dealer, Ohio)

http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/06/renewable_energy_can_be_an_eco.html

Nevada - Costs of Renewable Energy Will be Disclosed after State Ruling (Las Vegas Review-Journal, NV)

http://www.lvrj.com/business/costs-of-renewable-energy-will-be-disclosed-after-puc-ruling-97519169.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance to Deliver Technical Assistance for Federal Energy Efficiency ARRA Grantees (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/06/30/2860429/northwest-energy-efficiency-alliance.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

2009 Sees No Growth in CO2; First Time since 1992 (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012254131_apeunetherlandsco2emissions.html

US Senate Candidate Says California Climate Law is Killing Jobs (Associated Press)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hWADm_mtEucB70EkgjBRt29WaJbgD9GLVPRG1

Arctic Could be a Tipping Point for Warming (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2010/06/arctic-could-be-a-tipping-point-for-warming/1?csp=34tech

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

For $13.5 Million LOTT Clean Water Alliance Goes Green in New Office - Building uses recycled materials, vegetated roofs & efficient lighting (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/07/01/1290975/lott-goes-green-in-new-office.html

Editorial - Garbage Argument: Burn, Bury, or Recycle? (The Tyee, Canada)

http://thetyee.ca/Opinion/2010/07/01/GarbageArgument/

Swiss Team Postpones Solar Plane Night Flight (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012251253_apeuswitzerlandsolaradventure.html

Man-Made Global Warming Started With Ancient Hunters (R&D Magazine)

http://www.rdmag.com/News/Feeds/2010/06/environment-man-made-global-warming-started-with-ancient-hunte/

Into the Great Green Beyond (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/30/into-the-big-green-beyond/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Clearwire to Launch Faster Service in Yakima Valley (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/06/30/clearwire-to-launch-faster-service-in-valley

Baker City Data Center Job Requires Some Heavy Lifting (Baker City Herald, OR)

http://www.bakercityherald.com/Business/Data-center-job-requires-some-heavy-lifting

Editorial - The Price of Broadband Politics (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/30/opinion/30wed2.html

Is Broadband a Basic Right? Finland Says Yes! (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2010/07/01/is-broadband-a-basic-right-finland-says-yes/

Microsoft Hangs Up on Poor-Selling Kin Phones (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012249432_brier01.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Mason County Video Voters’ Guide – Meet the Candidates (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.youtube.com/user/KMAS1030#p/u

Washington State Income Tax Initiative Steps Closer to Ballot (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012251095_apwaincometaxinitiative.html

Builders Turn in 340,000 Signatures for Workers’ Comp Initiative (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/213062.asp

Poll Points to Murray - Rossi Senate Showdown (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/POL-Poll-points-to-Murray-Rossi-showdown-97533579.html

Op/Ed - State Faces Fiscal Day of Reckoning for State Employee Contracts (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2012249122_guest01williams.html

GENERAL NEWS

Pacific Northwest Drivers Using More Gasoline (Associated Press)

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

Portland Police Re-Opening Gore Investigation (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2012251099_apusgoresexallegation.html

Snoqualmie Pass - Missing Hiker Found Dead With Dog Sitting at His Side (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Missing-hikers-body-may-have-been-found-97497824.html

Washington State Sued over Exemption of British Columbia Residents from Sales Tax (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012252028_apwabritishcolumbiataxes.html?syndication=rss

DIVERSIONS

Oldest US Postal Worker Retires at 95

http://www.kirotv.com/news/24098873/detail.html

Put a Shine on That **** - Pampers Offers Designer-Brand Diapers

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g8fWRCZxYGdM5ItQEYA0uGkkeogAD9GLLS600

Prehistoric ‘Killer’ Sperm Whale Packed the Biggest Ever Bite (The Telegraph, UK)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/dinosaurs/7863573/Prehistoric-killer-sperm-whale-packed-the-biggest-ever-bite.html

Maggots Force Plane Back to Gate in Atlanta

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012248297_apusmaggotsonplane.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Joe Cocker - The Letter

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xraj86LNgYc

Energy News Digest for June 30, 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

Riazzi quits Chelan PUD (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/jun/30/riazzi-quits-pud/

Administration Cannot Drop Bid for Nuclear Waste Dump in Nevada, Panel Finds (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/30/science/earth/30nuke.html?src=mv

Chelan PUD Could Rejoin State Lobby Group (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/jun/30/chelan-pud-could-rejoin-state-lobby-group/

Wind Farms Fight Headwinds West of the Cascades (Northwest Public Radio)

http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=7470

Washington State Initiatives Face Friday Deadline (Associated Press)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/06/30/1246835/initiatives-face-friday-deadline.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Riazzi quits Chelan PUD

·         Washington State Approves Grant PUD Substation Funding

·         Yucca Mountain - Nuclear Waste Dump Process Back on Track

·         Administration Cannot Drop Bid for Nuclear Waste Dump in Nevada, Panel Finds

·         Chelan PUD Could Rejoin State Lobby Group

·         Bonneville Power Administration Says Highway 101 Trees at Reedsport ‘Dangerous’

·         Cancer Fight – Mason PUD 3 Employees Raise Funds for Relay for Life

·         Oregon Utilities: Natural Gas Prices Look Stable, Rate Increases Unlikely

·         The Dirt on Coal - Clearing Oregon’s Air

·         Senators Willing to Scale Back Energy Bill

·         Utah - Critics Question State’s Handling of Energy Report

·         For New Gas Turbine – Florida Power & Light Plans to Ask for Rate Increase

·         Pumped Hydro Debacle - Ameren Sues Energy Insurance Mutual over Taum Sauk Claims

·         Kansas City Loses Appeal on Sales Tax for Electricity Use

·         Big Return This Year for Spring Chinook

·         Salmon Returns to Columbia River Look Good So Far

·         Canada - High Salmon Numbers Promise Great Season

·         State: Oregon Salmon Safe & Sustainable

·         Editorial - Shellfish Companies Need to Take Boundaries Seriously

·         Key Washington Lawmaker Responds to Sanitary Shellfish Report

·         Groups Sue over Sage Grouse Protections

·         Researchers Ponder Missing Water Layer in Hood Canal

·         Officials Closing in on Rates & Connection Fees for Belfair Sewers

·         Plan Would Save Capitol Lake

·         Alaska - Environmental Groups Lose Bid to Halt Logging

·         Wind Farms Fight Headwinds West of the Cascades

·         General Electric Invests in Idaho Wind Project

·         MIT Says Military Can Cut Wind Turbine Interference with Oregon Radar

·         Canada - Windmills Kill More Birds

·         Wind Turbine Blade Comes to DC with Message from Americans to Federal Policymakers

·         Connecticut - City of Shelton Taking Slow Approach to Wind Power

·         Vestas Gets Order for 139 Turbines for Colorado Wind Farm

·         Grant PUD Discusses Possible Solar Plant

·         Congressman Blumenauer’s Bill Would Boost Geothermal Energy Development

·         United Kingdom - Green Property: Solar Electricity

·         Study Says Smart Meters Alone Not Enough to Save

·         Climate Change - Scientists from Mars Face Public from Venus

·         Democrats Prepared to Scale Back Climate Proposal, Kerry Says

·         North Dakota - Supporters Tout Broadband Network for Researchers

·         Washington State Initiatives Face Friday Deadline

·         Workers’ Comp Initiative Steps Closer to Ballot

·         Two State Agencies Tell Workers to Stay Home Tuesday

·         Washington State School Chief Compares Salary to Mariners Player

·         Ninth Circuit Punts Retiree Insurance Payment Case to California Justices

·         Lake Cushman Murder - Candlelight Vigil for Slain Girl Tonight

·         Belfair Sewer Work Closes Section of Highway 300

·         Airbus Subsidies Illegal, WTO Report Says

·         Olympia Peace Activist Wins $248,817 in Attorneys’ Fees

·         NOAA Botched Decision to Move Seattle Fleet to Oregon, Audit Finds

·         Supreme Court to Rule on Retaliation against Friends of Employees Who Claim Discrimination

·         Traveling to Arizona? Take a Passport, Says ACLU

WORD OF THE DAY

Eructation • \ir-uck-TAY-shun\ • noun - An act or instance of belching

“Most impressive,” noted the Episcopalian priest when the dainty, elderly, white-haired maiden emitted an unexpected and echoing eructation of the first order in the middle of his sermon. The performance did not go without note, as the congregation was kept on edge for the remainder of the half-hour homily…expecting an encore.

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

Riazzi quits Chelan PUD (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/jun/30/riazzi-quits-pud/

Washington State Approves Grant PUD Substation Funding - Could serve BMW parts maker (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/local/article_cf5dd9f2-949c-54f1-a990-b017a853a69b.html

Yucca Mountain - Nuclear Waste Dump Process Back on Track (Associated Press)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/06/29/1074274/yucca-nuclear-waste-dump-process.html

Administration Cannot Drop Bid for Nuclear Waste Dump in Nevada, Panel Finds (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/30/science/earth/30nuke.html?src=mv

Chelan PUD Could Rejoin State Lobby Group (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/jun/30/chelan-pud-could-rejoin-state-lobby-group/

Bonneville Power Administration Says Highway 101 Trees at Reedsport ‘Dangerous’ - Power company plans to remove tall firs at city entrance (Umpqua Post, Reedsport, OR)

http://www.theumpquapost.com/articles/2010/06/30/local_news/doc4c2ad7c999c65991201439.txt

Cancer Fight – Mason PUD 3 Employees Raise Funds for Relay for Life (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=737

Oregon Utilities: Natural Gas Prices Look Stable, Rate Increases Unlikely (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2010/06/utilities_natural_gas_prices_l.html

The Dirt on Coal - Clearing Oregon’s Air (Sightline)

http://daily.sightline.org/daily_score/archive/2010/06/29/cold-turkey-on-coal

Senators Willing to Scale Back Energy Bill (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012235591_apusobamaenergy.html

Utah - Critics Question State’s Handling of Energy Report (KSL-TV, Salt Lake City, UT)

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=11372355

For New Gas Turbine – Florida Power & Light Plans to Ask for Rate Increase: The utility will ask state regulators to pass on to customers the costs of a new $900 million power plant (South Florida Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, FL)

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-fpl-rates-plant-20100629,0,7909203.story

Pumped Hydro Debacle - Ameren Sues Energy Insurance Mutual over Taum Sauk Claims (St. Louis Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2010/06/28/daily18.html

Kansas City Loses Appeal on Sales Tax for Electricity Use (Kansas City Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2010/06/28/daily18.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Big Return This Year for Spring Chinook (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012240038_salmon30m.html

Salmon Returns to Columbia River Look Good So Far - Additional promising signs for later this year & next (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/722183/

Canada - High Salmon Numbers Promise Great Season (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/columnists/High+salmon+numbers+promise+great+season/3219835/story.html

State: Oregon Salmon Safe & Sustainable (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.kgw.com/news/local/Group-wants-you-to-avoid-eating-some-Oregon-salmon-97411029.html

Editorial - Shellfish Companies Need to Take Boundaries Seriously (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/06/30/1289668/shellfish-companies-need-to-take.html

Key Washington Lawmaker Responds to Sanitary Shellfish Report (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/key-washington-lawmaker-responds-sanitary-shellfish-report/

Groups Sue over Sage Grouse Protections (Deseret News, Salt Lake City, UT)

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700044197/Groups-sue-over-sage-grouse-protections.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Researchers Ponder Missing Water Layer in Hood Canal (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/jun/29/researchers-ponder-missing-water-layer-in-hood/

Officials Closing in on Rates & Connection Fees for Belfair Sewers (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/2565-officials-closing-in-on-rates-and-connection-fees-for-belfair-sewers

Plan Would Save Capitol Lake - Group issues report that calls for public-private partnership to fix problems (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/06/30/1289634/plan-would-save-lake.html

Alaska - Environmental Groups Lose Bid to Halt Logging (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/06/29/28480.htm

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Wind Farms Fight Headwinds West of the Cascades (Northwest Public Radio)

http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=7470

General Electric Invests in Idaho Wind Project (Associated Press)

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9GL0IS00.htm

MIT Says Military Can Cut Wind Turbine Interference with Oregon Radar (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/06/mit_says_military_can_cut_wind.html

Canada - Windmills Kill More Birds (National Post)

http://www.nationalpost.com/Windmills+kill+more+birds/3218558/story.html

Wind Turbine Blade Comes to DC with Message from Americans to Federal Policymakers (Market Watch)

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/wind-turbine-blade-comes-to-dc-with-message-from-americans-to-federal-policymakers-we-want-action-on-clean-energy-now-2010-06-29?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Connecticut - City of Shelton Taking Slow Approach to Wind Power (New Haven Register, CT)

http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2010/06/30/news/valley/bb5shwind063010.txt

Vestas Gets Order for 139 Turbines for Colorado Wind Farm (Canadian Business Online)

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/market_news/article.jsp?content=D9GLLDFG0

Grant PUD Discusses Possible Solar Plant (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/local/article_6557b54e-4dac-5ec1-83e5-197c589f1983.html

Congressman Blumenauer’s Bill Would Boost Geothermal Energy Development (Portland Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2010/06/28/daily14.html

United Kingdom - Green Property: Solar Electricity (The Telegraph, UK)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/greenproperty/7859184/Green-property-solar-electricity.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Study Says Smart Meters Alone Not Enough to Save (Associated Press)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jrDWxD4DC-l59pqD11E5k0sC89GgD9GL666G0

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Climate Change - Scientists from Mars Face Public from Venus (NY Times)

http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/29/scientists-from-mars-face-public-from-venus/

Democrats Prepared to Scale Back Climate Proposal, Kerry Says (Bloomberg BusinessWeek)

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-30/democrats-prepared-to-scale-back-climate-proposal-kerry-says.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

North Dakota - Supporters Tout Broadband Network for Researchers (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=12728100

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Initiatives Face Friday Deadline (Associated Press)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/06/30/1246835/initiatives-face-friday-deadline.html

Workers’ Comp Initiative Steps Closer to Ballot (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/06/30/1290186/workers-comp-initiative-steps.html

Two State Agencies Tell Workers to Stay Home Tuesday (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/06/30/1246827/agencies-tell-workers-to-stay.html

Washington State School Chief Compares Salary to Mariners Player – Too Low (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012245067_apwadornspaycheck1stldwritethru.html

Ninth Circuit Punts Retiree Insurance Payment Case to California Justices - Lawsuit challenging practice of requiring retirees, but not active employees, to pay the bulk of their health insurance premiums (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/06/29/28482.htm

GENERAL NEWS

Lake Cushman Murder - Candlelight Vigil for Slain Girl Tonight (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/2568-candlelight-vigil-for-slain-girl-tonight

Belfair Sewer Work Closes Section of Highway 300 (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/jun/29/sewer-work-closes-section-of-highway-300/

Airbus Subsidies Illegal, WTO Report Says (Associated Press)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100630/BIZ/100639998/-1/rss03

Olympia Peace Activist Wins $248,817 in Attorneys’ Fees - Anti-war: He was arrested on way to 2007 anti-war protest (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/06/30/1289647/olympia-activist-wins-248817-in.html

NOAA Botched Decision to Move Seattle Fleet to Oregon, Audit Finds (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012239196_noaa30m.html

Supreme Court to Rule on Retaliation against Friends of Employees Who Claim Discrimination (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_15400941

Traveling to Arizona? Take a Passport, Says ACLU (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2012245046_webaclu30.html?syndication=rss

DIVERSIONS

Blind Taste Test: Costco Generic Beer About as Good as Brand Name

http://consumerist.com/2010/06/blind-taste-test-costco-generic-beer-about-as-good-as-brand-name-beer.html

Distilleries Make Meat-Flavored Vodkas

http://www.kirotv.com/news/24078318/detail.html

Errors Found in Mass. School’s Test - Spelling, Grammatical, Factor Errors Found

http://www.kirotv.com/education/24081814/detail.html

Seattle Woman’s Gerbil - Water Bottle Simile Wins Bad Writing Contest

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Seattle-writer-wins-2010-bad-writing-contest-97407869.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Celtic Legends - Irish Drinking Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpOoPQ6JmbM