Energy News Digest for March 10, 2011

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

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices: http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Wind Advisory Issued (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2287:wind-advisory-issued-&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=106

Energy Northwest Sues to Suspend Nuclear Fuel Fee (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=14226575

Federal Panel Adopts Options for Ocean Salmon Sport Fisheries (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

http://www.ptleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&SubSectionID=55&ArticleID=28834

Oregon State Legislature - This Session’s Magic Words: Woody Biomass (Inside Oregon)

http://www.cfm-online.com/state-lobbying-blog/2011/3/7/this-sessions-magic-words-woody-biomass.html

Washington State Lawmakers Still Have to Face $5 Billion Deficit (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014449080_apwaxgrwherethingsstand1stldwritethru.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Energy Northwest Sues to Suspend Nuclear Fuel Fee

·         Lewis County - PacificCorp Pays $1 Million in 2010 Property Taxes

·         Idaho - City of Rupert Weighs Electric-Rate Settlement

·         Montana - Bill Clarifies Co-Ops’ Supply Boundaries

·         Wind Shortfalls Make Grid Guys Nervous

·         Benton PUD Honored for Tree Practices

·         Mason PUD 3 Commission cancels March 22 meeting, rescheduled for March 29

·         A Fear of Fracking May Slow Natural Gas Trend

·         Can the Media Get Energy Stories Right?

·         Federal Panel Adopts Options for Ocean Salmon Sport Fisheries

·         In Pinedale, Wyoming, Residents Adjust to Air Pollution

·         Oregon State Legislature - This Session’s Magic Words: Woody Biomass

·         Katana Wind Tower Plant Brings Workers Back On

·         Environmental Groups Object to Biomass Plant

·         Vermont Firm to Delay Pownal Wood Power Plant Project Due to Local Opposition

·         Conservation the Cheapest Way to Meet Rising Demand for Energy

·         Light Bulb Law Faces Challenge in Congress

·         EPA: Energy Star TVs Must Use 40% Less Energy

·         When Energy Efficiency Sullies the Environment

·         American Public Power Association: We Need More Energy Efficient Building Codes

·         At House EPA Hearing, Both Sides Claim Science

·         Environment: Is Nitrogen the New Carbon? Calculate Your N-Print

·         Demand for Electric Cars Climbs as Gas Prices Soar

·         Ouch! Portland Commuters Aren’t So Green

·         Does It Matter What Sort of Electricity Powers Your Data Center?

·         Congressional Panel Votes to Repeal New FCC Internet Rules

·         Call Center Company Inaugurates Lacey Facility

·         Washington State Lawmakers Still Have to Face $5 Billion Deficit

·         Seattle City Officials Taking Cues from Portland

·         Wind Advisory Issued

·         Shelton Woman Injured - Man Jailed on Felony Charges After Crash Near Olympia

·         Shelton Police Chief Leaving

·         ‘Son of Satan’ Moved to Prison Near Shelton

·         Spokane MLK Day Bomb Suspect Linked to Hate Group

·         Costco Sues State over $3 Million in Unclaimed Customer Rebates

·         WSU Nuclear Reactor Marks 50th Year

WORD OF THE DAY

Cantankerous • \kan-TANK-uh-russ\ • Adjective - Difficult or irritating to deal with

Cantankerous: see Lionel Barrymore as “Henry Potter” in “It’s a Wonderful Life.”

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

Energy Northwest Sues to Suspend Nuclear Fuel Fee (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=14226575

Lewis County - PacificCorp Pays $1 Million in 2010 Property Taxes (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews?PacificCorp-pays-1-million-in-2010-prope=1&blockID=436516&feedID=410

Idaho - City of Rupert Weighs Electric-Rate Settlement (Twin Falls Times-News, ID)

http://www.magicvalley.com/news/local/mini-cassia/article_3fd7fef4-4af0-11e0-9f8e-001cc4c03286.html

Montana - Bill Clarifies Co-Ops’ Supply Boundaries (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20110310/NEWS01/103100309

Wind Shortfalls Make Grid Guys Nervous (EnergyBiz)

http://www.energybiz.com/article/11/02/wind-shortfalls-make-grid-guys-nervous

Benton PUD Honored for Tree Practices (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/03/10/1401949/benton-pud-honored-for-tree-practices.html

Mason PUD 3 Commission cancels March 22 meeting, rescheduled for March 29 (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/Newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=837

A Fear of Fracking May Slow Natural Gas Trend (Houston Chronicle, TX)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/7464943.html

Can the Media Get Energy Stories Right? (Midwest Energy News)

http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2011/03/01/can-the-media-get-energy-stories-right/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Federal Panel Adopts Options for Ocean Salmon Sport Fisheries (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

http://www.ptleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&SubSectionID=55&ArticleID=28834

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

In Pinedale, Wyoming, Residents Adjust to Air Pollution (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/10/us/10smog.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Oregon State Legislature - This Session’s Magic Words: Woody Biomass (Inside Oregon)

http://www.cfm-online.com/state-lobbying-blog/2011/3/7/this-sessions-magic-words-woody-biomass.html

Katana Wind Tower Plant Brings Workers Back On (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/article_033055b6-49ae-11e0-b734-001cc4c002e0.html

Environmental Groups Object to Biomass Plant (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, WI)

http://www.jsonline.com/business/117622118.html

Vermont Firm to Delay Pownal Wood Power Plant Project Due to Local Opposition (Associated Press)

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/d8bad573cd6e4a769ecbef13264aeb6c/VT--Biomass-Plants/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Conservation the Cheapest Way to Meet Rising Demand for Energy (Vancouver Sun, BC)

http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Conservation+cheapest+meet+rising+demand+energy/4389176/story.html

Light Bulb Law Faces Challenge in Congress (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2011-03-10-lightbulbs10_ST_N.htm?csp=34tech

EPA: Energy Star TVs Must Use 40% Less Energy (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/03/epa-energy-star-tvs-40-more-efficient/1?csp=34tech

When Energy Efficiency Sullies the Environment (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/08/science/08tier.html

American Public Power Association: We Need More Energy Efficient Building Codes (Electric Light & Power)

http://www.elp.com/index/display/article-display/1353998730/articles/electric-light-power/energy-efficiency/2011/03/APPA__We_need_more_energy_efficient_building_codes.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

At House EPA Hearing, Both Sides Claim Science (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/09/science/earth/09climate.html

Environment: Is Nitrogen the New Carbon? Calculate Your N-Print (Associated Press)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/03/10/1401958/environment-is-nitrogen-the-new.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Demand for Electric Cars Climbs as Gas Prices Soar (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Gas-prices-up-electric-cars-demand-up-117386418.html

Ouch! Portland Commuters Aren’t So Green (Sustainable Oregon)

http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2011/03/portland-commuters-arent-so-green.html?ana=from_rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Does It Matter What Sort of Electricity Powers Your Data Center? (ZD-Net News)

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/green/does-it-matter-what-sort-of-electricity-powers-your-data-center/16628

Congressional Panel Votes to Repeal New FCC Internet Rules (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/03/09/financial/f135037S13.DTL

Call Center Company Inaugurates Lacey Facility - 614 work there already, & that’s expected to increase (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/03/10/1573133/call-center-company-inaugurates.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Lawmakers Still Have to Face $5 Billion Deficit (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014449080_apwaxgrwherethingsstand1stldwritethru.html

Seattle City Officials Taking Cues from Portland (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=440832

GENERAL NEWS

Wind Advisory Issued (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2287:wind-advisory-issued-&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=106

Shelton Woman Injured - Man Jailed on Felony Charges After Crash Near Olympia (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/03/09/1573030/man-jailed-on-felony-charges-after.html

Shelton Police Chief Leaving (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2284:police-chief-leaving&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=106

‘Son of Satan’ Moved to Prison Near Shelton (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/27139238/detail.html

Spokane MLK Day Bomb Suspect Linked to Hate Group (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/27135286/detail.html

Costco Sues State over $3 Million in Unclaimed Customer Rebates (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/436767_costco.html

WSU Nuclear Reactor Marks 50th Year (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/mar/10/wsu-nuclear-reactor-marks-50th-year/

DIVERSIONS

Wrong-Number Text Leads to Aberdeen Drug Bust

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/03/09/1572490/wrong-number-text-leads-to-aberdeen.html

Want the Youthful Look of a Twilight Star? ‘Vampire Face-Lifts’ Are Out There

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/03/08/want-the-youthful-look-of-a-twilight-star-vampire-face-lifts-are-out-there/

People Are Paying Farmers to Let Pet Dogs Herd Sheep

http://consumerist.com/2011/03/people-are-paying-farmers-to-let-their-dogs-herd-sheep.html

‘In God We Trust’ suit rejected by Supreme Court

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/03/07/BAFV1I5O19.DTL

SONG OF THE DAY

Preston Reed: Slap Funk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WI29XhoejBE

Energy News Digest for March 9, 2011

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

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices: http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

High Wind Warning for Pacific County (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2488

Thieves Steal Copper from Mason County PUD 3 (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2150:thieves-steal-copper-from-pud-3-&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=106

Port Angeles to Begin Installing ‘Smart’ Electricity Meters in May (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110309/news/303099993/port-angeles-to-begin-installing-8216-smart-8217-meters-in-may

Congressman Hastings Makes Another Run After Gluttonous Sea Lions (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2014436024_hastingsgoesaftergluttonoussealionsagain.html

Portland General Electric Moving Forward on Biomass Testing for Boardman (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2011/03/pge-moving-forward-on-biomass-testing.html?ana=from_rss

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Thieves Steal Copper from Mason County PUD 3

·         Port Angeles to Begin Installing ‘Smart’ Electricity Meters in May

·         Puget Sound Energy Crew Inadvertently Knocks Out Power to 2,100 Tumwater Customers

·         Mason PUD 3 Ops Center Rising Like Stonehenge

·         Could Smart Electric Meters be A Dumb Idea?

·         Policies & Regulations: What’s So Hard about Licensing a Pumped-Storage Project?

·         Electrical Dangers Highlighted At Magic Show For First Graders

·         Sun Powers Granite Falls Kids & Their Cars

·         Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ on - Fracking Has Added another Problem

·         Medical Professionals Rallying Against Coal

·         Duke CEO: Indiana E-Mails “May Suggest” Improper Contact

·         Rising Temperature in Fraser River Affecting Salmon Population

·         Lower Deschutes River in Oregon to Open for Spring Chinook Fishing

·         Congressman Hastings Makes Another Run After Gluttonous Sea Lions

·         Bill Would Allow Tribes to Kill Salmon-Eating Sea Lions

·         Huge Fish Kill Fills a Marina Near Los Angeles

·         Portland General Electric Moving Forward on Biomass Testing for Boardman

·         Wind Is Delivering Economic Benefits to British Columbia

·         Wind Energy’s Overblown Prospects

·         Op/Ed - Pricey (Renewable) Power in the Mix

·         New Report Reveals Renewable Energy’s “Minor Role” in Australian Electricity Prices

·         Chelan County PUD Continues to Improve Conservation; So Far One of the Best Years

·         How Smart Is ‘Power Smart’, BC Hydro’s Try at Saving Energy?

·         On Our Radar: $2 Billion Carbon Bill for European Airlines

·         Oregon - Definition of ‘Sustainable’ Expands: Speakers Emphasize New Methods of ‘Going Green’

·         Still, 70 % is a Big Number - Now It’s Just 70 Percent, Chelan PUD Decides

·         Fewer Customers Can Access Fiber Optics, New Math Shows

·         High Wind Warning for Pacific County

·         Shelton Man Injured on Bremerton Bridge Job Dies

·         It’s Official - President Obama Nominates Gary Locke for Ambassador to China

·         Shelton Man with Snake Lobbies Against Narrowed ‘Service Animal’ Definition

·         Starbucks Celebrates Turning 40 with New Logo, Coffee, Sweets

·         NW Today: Vancouver UFO Identified as Kite with Lights

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

Thieves Steal Copper from Mason County PUD 3 (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2150:thieves-steal-copper-from-pud-3-&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=106

Port Angeles to Begin Installing ‘Smart’ Electricity Meters in May (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110309/news/303099993/port-angeles-to-begin-installing-8216-smart-8217-meters-in-may

Puget Sound Energy Crew Inadvertently Knocks Out Power to 2,100 Tumwater Customers (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/03/08/1570914/pse-crew-inadvertently-knocks.html

Mason PUD 3 Ops Center Rising Like Stonehenge (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2149:ops-center-rising-like-stonehenge&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=106

Could Smart Electric Meters be A Dumb Idea? (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2011-03-09-smartmeter09_ST_N.htm?csp=34money

Policies & Regulations: What’s So Hard about Licensing a Pumped-Storage Project? (HydroWorld)

http://www.hydroworld.com/index/display/article-display/4848499482/articles/hydro-review/volume-30/issue-2/article/policies-regulations-whats-so-hard-about-licensing-a-pumped-storage-project.html

Electrical Dangers Highlighted At Magic Show for First Graders (WRDW-TV, Augusta, GA)

http://www.wrdw.com/schools/headlines/Electrical_dangers_highlighted_at_magic_show_for_first_graders_117573063.html

Sun Powers Granite Falls Kids & Their Cars (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110308/NEWS01/703089961

Whole Lotta Shakin’ Goin’ on - Fracking Has Added another Problem (Motley Fool)

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2011/03/07/fracking-has-added-another-problem.aspx

Medical Professionals Rallying Against Coal (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/03/09/1571880/medical-professionals-rallying.html

Duke CEO: Indiana e-mails “may suggest” improper contact (Charlotte Observer, NC)

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2011/03/08/2122196/duke-ceo-indiana-e-mails-may-suggest.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Rising Temperature in Fraser River Affecting Salmon Population (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/rising-temperature-in-fraser-river-affecting-salmon-population/article1934591/

Lower Deschutes River in Oregon to Open for Spring Chinook Fishing (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2014436047_lower_deschutes_river_to_open.html

Congressman Hastings Makes Another Run After Gluttonous Sea Lions (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2014436024_hastingsgoesaftergluttonoussealionsagain.html

Bill Would Allow Tribes to Kill Salmon-Eating Sea Lions (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/75157-bill-would-allow-tribes-kill-salmon-eating-sea-lions/

Huge Fish Kill Fills a Marina Near Los Angeles (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2011/03/08/us/AP-US-Fish-Die-Off.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Portland General Electric Moving Forward on Biomass Testing for Boardman (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2011/03/pge-moving-forward-on-biomass-testing.html?ana=from_rss

Wind Is Delivering Economic Benefits to British Columbia (Vancouver Sun, BC)

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Wind+delivering+economic+benefits/4407729/story.html

Wind Energy’s Overblown Prospects (Forbes Magazine)

http://blogs.forbes.com/larrybell/2011/03/08/wind-energys-overblown-prospects/

Op/Ed - Pricey (Renewable) Power in the Mix (Raleigh News Observer, NC)

http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/03/09/1038566/pricey-power-in-the-mix.html

New Report Reveals Renewable Energy’s “Minor Role” in Australian Electricity Prices (Energy Matters)

http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=1386

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Chelan County PUD Continues to Improve Conservation; So Far One of the Best Years (NCW-TV)

http://www.ncwtv.com/news/local/Chelan-County-PUD-continues-to-improve-conservation-so-far-one-of-the-best-years-117580818.html

How Smart Is ‘Power Smart’, BC Hydro’s Try at Saving Energy? (The Tyee, Canada)

http://thetyee.ca/News/2011/03/09/HowSmartIsPowerSmart/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

On Our Radar: $2 Billion Carbon Bill for European Airlines (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/03/08/on-our-radar-2-billion-carbon-bill-for-european-airlines/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Oregon - Definition of ‘Sustainable’ Expands: Speakers Emphasize New Methods of ‘Going Green’ (Salem Statesman Journal, OR)
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20110309/NEWS/103090413/Definition-sustainable-expands

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Still, 70 % is a Big Number - Now It’s Just 70 Percent, Chelan PUD Decides

Fewer Customers Can Access Fiber Optics, New Math Shows (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/mar/08/now-its-just-70-percent-pud-decides-fewer/

GENERAL NEWS

High Wind Warning for Pacific County (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2488

Shelton Man Injured on Bremerton Bridge Job Dies (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/03/09/1571646/bremerton-shelton-man-injured.html

It’s Official - President Obama Nominates Gary Locke for Ambassador to China (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/27131760/detail.html

Shelton Man with Snake Lobbies Against Narrowed ‘Service Animal’ Definition (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/03/09/1576225/olympia-man-with-snake-lobbies.html

Starbucks Celebrates Turning 40 with New Logo, Coffee, Sweets (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014436565_starbucks09.html

NW Today: Vancouver UFO Identified as Kite with Lights (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/mar/09/nw-today-vancouver-ufo-identified-kite-lights/

DIVERSIONS

King’s Speech Producer’s Toddler Drops Oscar Statuette

http://au.news.yahoo.com/entertainment/a/-/article/8971743/kings-speech-producers-toddler-drops-oscar-statue

Exposed! Bank Robber Busted by Forgotten, Um, Human Waste - 27-Year-Old, Accomplice Hid Inside Bank Vault for 3 Days

http://www.kirotv.com/news/27134533/detail.html

Pot Growers Use Alligator to Protect Stash

http://www.kirotv.com/news/27131536/detail.html

Rising Cotton Costs Make Paper Money More Expensive to Print

http://consumerist.com/2011/03/rising-cotton-costs-make-paper-money-more-expensive-to-print.html

SONG OF THE DAY

The Kinks - Hollywood Blvd/Celluloid Heroes (I love playing this on the ukulele!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdFqyXXiz8c