Energy News Digest for April 5, 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

Clallam PUD Puts Decision on BPA Settlement on Hold (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110405/news/304059996/clallam-pud-puts-decision-on-bpa-settlement-on-hold

City of Shelton to Reissue Determination on Simpson Biomass Plant (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/3978-city-to-reissue-determination-on-simpson-biomass

The Evergreen State College Biomass Project Torpedoed - Questions doom plan to use forest debris to heat college (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/04/05/1604568/biomass-project-torpedoed.html

Op/Ed – Tribes Saving Columbia Salmon: Reversing Salmon Decline One Population at a Time (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/04/saving_columbia_salmon_reversi.html

US Nuclear Output Falls Near Lowest in Year as Reactors Refuel (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-04/u-s-nuclear-output-falls-near-lowest-in-year-as-reactors-refuel.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Clallam PUD Puts Decision on BPA Settlement on Hold

·         Puget Sound Energy unveils 2011 update to Integrated Resource Plan

·         Scammers Targeting Seattle City Light Customers

·         Grant PUD Says Crescent Bar Islanders Have Wrong Court

·         Germany Now Imports Energy after Taking Nuclear Power Plants Off the Grid

·         Feds Call on Natural Gas Industry to Repair Aging Pipelines

·         1.85 Billion Barrels Later, North Dakota’s Oil Patch Turns 60

·         Gulf Oil Rig Owner Apologizes for Calling 2010 ‘Best Year for Safety’ Ever

·         US Nuclear Output Falls Near Lowest in Year as Reactors Refuel

·         California’s Diablo Nuke Plant Reactor Back in Service after Weeklong Shutdown

·         Safety of Vermont Nuclear Power Plant Cables Questioned

·         Radiation 101: How Far Will Radioactive Water Leaking From Nuclear Plant Go?

·         It’s Sea Lion vs. Salmon in the Columbia River

·         Managing Salmon in Idaho’s Salmon River is Complicated

·         Op/Ed – Tribes Saving Columbia Salmon: Reversing Salmon Decline One Population at a Time

·         Coalition Brings Fight for Alaska’s Bristol Bay Fish to Washington DC

·         USGS Scientist Proposes That Migrating Birds ‘Hear’ Their Way Home

·         Hearings to Collect Environmental Concerns on Yakima River Basin Water Plan

·         Nevadans’ Ire Over ‘Big Bully’ California’s Regulations May Fracture Tahoe Land Agency

·         Two Missing in Huge Tennessee Sewage Plant Spill

·         City of Shelton to Reissue Determination on Simpson Biomass Plant

·         The Evergreen State College Biomass Project Torpedoed

·         Turbines Going Up on Southeast Washington Wind Farm

·         California - Contra Costa County Supervisor Raises Concerns about Safety of Planned New Turbines

·         T. Boone Pickens Abandons Plan for Giant Texas Wind Farm

·         Suit Filed over Colorado Clean Energy Standard

·         Editorial - Hydropower: The Original Green Energy

·         Juhl Wind Says Japan’s Nuclear Problems Bode Well for Its Wind-Power Products

·         United Kingdom - Lack of Wind Saw Scottish Land-Based Turbines Idle for Four-Fifths of 2010

·         United Kingdom - Wind Turbine Threat to Bat Populations Costing Farmers Billions Each Year

·         Chelan PUD - Cutting Power Pays Off: Wenatchee couple wins $500 in PUD energy saving contest

·         With ‘Riders,’ GOP Seeks to Undo Obama Environmental Policies

·         UN Says Arctic Ozone Layer at an Unprecedented Low

·         Electric Cars Likely to Spark New ‘Smart Grid’

·         Electric Vehicles: Where Do the Emissions Go?

·         Paris Sewers to Heat Schools, President’s Palace

·         FCC’s Clyburn Not Keen on Anti-Community Fiber Bills

·         Verizon Agrees to $93M Settlement for False Billing to Federal Agency

·         Targeted Nature of Email Breach Worries Experts

·         Kansas - Hospital’s ‘Paperless’ System Looks to Speed Health Services

·         California Bill Would Collect Taxes from Online Sales

·         Washington State’s House Dems Outline Plan to close $5 Billion State Budget Shortfall

·         Think Tank Sues Washington State Governor in Public Records Case

·         Local Projects Get Nod in Proposed Washington State House Budget

·         Two Dead After I-5 Pursuit Ends Near Tumwater

·         Missing Belfair Man Located

·         FAA Will Call for 737 Inspections

·         Cost of Driving Has Risen 3.4%, Study Finds

·         Studded Tires Still OK in Washington State, Not in Oregon

WORD OF THE DAY

Ruritanian • \rur-uh-TAY-nee-un\ • Adjective - Of, relating to, or having the characteristics of an imaginary place of high romance

Did you know – Merriam-Webster Online

In 1894, British author Anthony Hope published The Prisoner of Zenda (one of my favorite movies), a novel set in the mythical kingdom of Ruritania. Within two years of the novel’s publication, George Bernard Shaw had seen fit to use “Ruritanian” as a generic adjective. Romantic or fanciful places or things have been “Ruritanian” ever since.

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

Clallam PUD Puts Decision on BPA Settlement on Hold (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110405/news/304059996/clallam-pud-puts-decision-on-bpa-settlement-on-hold

Puget Sound Energy unveils 2011 update to Integrated Resource Plan - More energy efficiency, wind power & ‘peaking’ resources needed by utility (Electric Energy Online)

http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=152284

Scammers Targeting Seattle City Light Customers (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattle911/2011/04/04/scammers-targeting-city-light-customers/

Grant PUD Says Crescent Bar Islanders Have Wrong Court (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/apr/04/grant-pud-says-islanders-have-wrong-court-utility/

Germany Now Imports Energy after Taking Nuclear Power Plants Off the Grid (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/utilities-germany-now-imports-energy-after-taking-nuclear-power-plants-off-the-grid/2011/04/04/AFNqMNaC_story.html

Feds Call on Natural Gas Industry to Repair Aging Pipelines (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_17771965

1.85 Billion Barrels Later, North Dakota’s Oil Patch Turns 60 (Associated Press)

http://www.bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/article_602635b8-5ed7-11e0-ae98-001cc4c03286.html

Gulf Oil Rig Owner Apologizes for Calling 2010 ‘Best Year for Safety’ Ever (CNN)

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/US/04/04/gulf.spill.bonuses/index.html

NUCLEAR SCIENCE READING ROOM

US Nuclear Output Falls Near Lowest in Year as Reactors Refuel (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-04/u-s-nuclear-output-falls-near-lowest-in-year-as-reactors-refuel.html

California’s Diablo Nuke Plant Reactor Back in Service after Weeklong Shutdown (Associated Press)

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/e8b1e238503f4f13963bdd2171d32954/CA--Diablo-Canyon-Nuclear-Plant/

Safety of Vermont Nuclear Power Plant Cables Questioned (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014681458_apusvermontyankee.html

Radiation 101: How Far Will Radioactive Water Leaking From Nuclear Plant Go? (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2011/0405/Radiation-101-How-far-will-radioactive-water-leaking-from-nuclear-plant-go

FISH & WILDLIFE

It’s Sea Lion vs. Salmon in the Columbia River (Anchorage Daily News, AK)

http://www.adn.com/2011/04/03/1790701/its-sea-lion-vs-salmon-in-the.html

Managing Salmon in Idaho’s Salmon River is Complicated (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/outdoors/2011/apr/04/managing-salmon-idahos-salmon-river-complicated/

Op/Ed – Tribes Saving Columbia Salmon: Reversing Salmon Decline One Population at a Time (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/04/saving_columbia_salmon_reversi.html

Coalition Brings Fight for Alaska’s Bristol Bay Fish to Washington DC (Associated Press)

http://newsminer.com/bookmark/12585543

USGS Scientist Proposes That Migrating Birds ‘Hear’ Their Way Home (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_17753701

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Hearings to Collect Environmental Concerns on Yakima River Basin Water Plan (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2011/04/04/hearings-to-collect-environmental-concerns-on-basin-water-plan

Nevadans’ Ire Over ‘Big Bully’ California’s Regulations May Fracture Tahoe Land Agency (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_17752478

Two Missing in Huge Tennessee Sewage Plant Spill (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014688592_apussewagespill.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

City of Shelton to Reissue Determination on Simpson Biomass Plant (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/3978-city-to-reissue-determination-on-simpson-biomass

The Evergreen State College Biomass Project Torpedoed - Questions doom plan to use forest debris to heat college (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/04/05/1604568/biomass-project-torpedoed.html

Turbines Going Up on Southeast Washington Wind Farm (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/04/04/1604094/turbines-going-up-on-southeast.html

California - Contra Costa County Supervisor Raises Concerns about Safety of Planned New Turbines (Oakland Tribune, CA)

http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_17755390

T. Boone Pickens Abandons Plan for Giant Texas Wind Farm (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2009/07/08/1600865/t-boone-pickens-abandons-plan.html

Suit Filed over Colorado Clean Energy Standard (KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO)

http://www.newsfirst5.com/news/suit-filed-over-colorado-clean-energy-standard/

Editorial - Hydropower: The Original Green Energy (Merced Sun-Star, CA)

http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2011/04/04/1838145/our-view-hydropower-the-original.html

Juhl Wind Says Japan’s Nuclear Problems Bode Well for Its Wind-Power Products (Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2011/04/01/juhl-loses-money-but-japan-nuclear.html

United Kingdom - Lack of Wind Saw Scottish Land-Based Turbines Idle for Four-Fifths of 2010 (The Scotsman, UK)

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Lack-of-wind-saw-Scottish.6744476.jp

United Kingdom - Wind Turbine Threat to Bat Populations Costing Farmers Billions Each Year (The Daily Mail, UK)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1372235/Wind-turbine-threat-bat-populations-costing-farmers-billions-year.html?ITO=1490

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Chelan PUD - Cutting Power Pays Off: Wenatchee couple wins $500 in PUD energy saving contest (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/apr/04/cutting-power-pays/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

With ‘Riders,’ GOP Seeks to Undo Obama Environmental Policies (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2011/0405/With-riders-GOP-seeks-to-undo-Obama-environmental-policies

UN Says Arctic Ozone Layer at an Unprecedented Low (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/04/un_says_arctic_ozone_layer_at.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Electric Cars Likely to Spark New ‘Smart Grid’ (Bellingham Herald)

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/04/04/1950907/electric-cars-likely-to-spark.html

Electric Vehicles: Where Do the Emissions Go? (Huffington Post)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lucia-greenweiskel/electric-vehicles-where-d_b_843895.html

Paris Sewers to Heat Schools, President’s Palace (Reuters)

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/paris-sewers-to-heat-schools-presidents-palace/637609.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

FCC’s Clyburn Not Keen on Anti-Community Fiber Bills (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/FCCs-Clyburn-Not-Keen-on-AntiCommunity-Fiber-Bills-113546

Verizon Agrees to $93M Settlement for False Billing to Federal Agency (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-tech/post/verizon_agrees_to_93m_settlement_for_false_billing_to_gsa/2011/04/05/AFvS6YjC_blog.html

Targeted Nature of Email Breach Worries Experts (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014678578_apusdatabreach.html

Kansas - Hospital’s ‘Paperless’ System Looks to Speed Health Services (Hutchinson News, KS)

http://hutchnews.com/Localregional/PROMISE-CPOE--1

California Bill Would Collect Taxes from Online Sales (Associated Press)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/04/04/state/n165840D33.DTL

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State’s House Dems Outline Plan to close $5 Billion State Budget Shortfall (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014681563_housebudget05m.html

Think Tank Sues Washington State Governor in Public Records Case (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/04/04/1604150/govs-office-sued-for-public-records.html

Local Projects Get Nod in Proposed Washington State House Budget (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/apr/04/local-projects-get-nod-in-proposed-house-budget/

GENERAL NEWS

Two Dead After I-5 Pursuit Ends Near Tumwater (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/One-dead-in-I-5-pursuit-near-Tumwater-119246419.html

Missing Belfair Man Located (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/3895-missing-belfair-man-located

FAA Will Call for 737 Inspections (Associated Press)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/04/05/1613054/faa-will-call-for-737-inspections.html

Cost of Driving Has Risen 3.4%, Study Finds (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2011-04-04-costs-of-driving-rise.htm?csp=34money

Studded Tires Still OK in Washington State, Not in Oregon (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Studded-tires-still-OK-in-WA-not-in-OR-119247264.html

DIVERSIONS

Massachusetts Man Uses Fake Leg to Take Down Armed Robber

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/04/01/state/n075103D04.DTL

Washington DC Squirrel Week: Are They Craftier Than We Realize?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc_squirrel_week_are_they_craftier_than_we_realize/2011/04/03/AF6ilKdC_story.html

Genetically Modified Cows Produce ‘Human’ Milk

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/agriculture/geneticmodification/8423536/Genetically-modified-cows-produce-human-milk.html

Professor Arrested for Shutting Student’s Laptop in Class (Note: PG-13 to R rated language in the comments section)

http://gawker.com/#!5788610/professor-arrested-for-shutting-students-laptop-in-class

SONG OF THE DAY

Transylvania Mania - Young Frankenstein

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52AODL2J0TU

Energy News Digest for April 4, 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

Energy Northwest Begins Planned Outage at Columbia Generating Station (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/04/03/1434133/power-energy-northwest-begins.html

Clallam PUD, City of Port Angeles to Consider Bonneville Power’s Settlement Offer (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110404/NEWS/304049994/clallam-pud-city-of-port-angeles-to-consider-bonneville-powers

Washington State Delays Prison Processing Center Decision (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_bbdb72c0-5cce-11e0-8bcc-001cc4c03286.html

Over Renewable Energy Amendments - Washington State Senators Leave Key Budget Hearing in Protest (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Wash-senators-leave-key-budget-hearing-in-protest-119155699.html

Snake River Dams to Begin Spilling for Salmon, Steelhead (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA – Includes photo of Lower Granite Dam, last dam with fish passage on the snake)

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/outdoors/2011/apr/01/snake-river-dams-begin-spilling-salmon-steelhead/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Clallam PUD, City of Port Angeles to Consider Bonneville Power’s Settlement Offer

·         Report Reveals Hydro Potential at Existing Dams In the US

·         Ice Harbor Dam Offers More Tours

·         Montana - Columbia Falls Hit By Layoffs, But Manages to Grow By Leaps & Bounds

·         Utah - Power Rates to Rise as Energy Demands Offset Savings

·         New York City Electric Bills to Soar 12%

·         Rhode Island Residential Electric Bills to Drop 16.5%

·         For Pepco, Maryland Legislature Could be a Paper Tige

·         Bill on Arizona Power-Line Routes Raises Concern

·         Gulf Oil Spill Aftermath - Transocean Gives Safety Bonuses Despite Deaths

·         Carbon Monoxide - Ohio Landlord Charged in Fume Deaths of 4 Tenants

·         Energy Northwest Begins Planned Outage at Columbia Generating Station

·         Op/Ed - Setting The Record Straight About Washington’s Commercial Nuclear Reactor

·         Atomic Snowflakes - Only Two U.S. Nuclear Sites Are In Compliance With Federal Fire Regulations

·         Interview: Steven Chu - The Energy Secretary & Nobel Prize-Winning Physicist Talks Nuclear Power After Japan, & Being a Nerd

·         Snake River Dams to Begin Spilling for Salmon, Steelhead

·         States Could Keep the Lower Columbia River Spring Chinook Fishery Open Longer

·         New Rules to Protect Fish Are Clear as Mud, Cities Say

·         Fishmonger Sentenced for Falsely Labeled Salmon

·         Captive Broodstock Program Has Endangered Coho Returning to California’s Russian River

·         Water Rates, Plan on Tap - Shelton City Commission Meets Tonight

·         Second Front Opened in Bainbridge Island Utility Battle – Kitsap PUD held up as good example

·         Marysville Tries to Avoid Vote on Snohomish County PUD Water Deal

·         New Bill Restricts Fertilizers for Lawns

·         Willamette River - Ross Island Restoration Could Take a Decade Longer Than Planned

·         California - Dams Seem Like a Simple Idea, But Are Harder to Plan & Build

·         Chesapeake Bay Supporters Keeping Close Eye on Federal Budget Battle, GOP Riders on EPA

·         Over Renewable Energy Amendments - Washington State Senators Leave Key Budget Hearing in Protest

·         Biomass Talk in Port Townsend Canceled; New Date Not Selected

·         Editorial - California Energy Mandates Ignore Real World

·         Editorial - California Powers Ahead on Green Energy

·         Anchorage City Utilities Offer for Wind Power Criticized as Low

·         North Dakota Wind Project Scrapped On Possible Threat to Bird Species

·         Maryland - Lawmakers Weigh Incentives for Trash-Burning Energy Plants

·         Pennsylvania - Willingboro Council Rejects Solar Project Bids

·         Save Energy with Mason County PUD 3 Rebate & Incentive Programs

·         Tax Increases Not a Popular Solution for Greenhouse Gas Problem

·         EPA Chief: History Will Judge Congress Harshly if Climate Rules Are Axed

·         Editorial - Cutting Carbon: A Better Approach to Energy Policy

·         Activists at UN Climate Change Conference Call for Renewable, Not Nuclear, Energy

·         Tesla, Other Electric Vehicles Poised to Enter the Mainstream

·         Will Buying an Electric Car Make an Environmental Difference?

·         Ethanol Pork Cows Most GOP Contenders

·         New Name for Qwest Won’t Debut Until May

·         AT&T To Spend $19 Billion on Network in 2011

·         More Customers Exposed as Big Data Breach Grows

·         Communications & Technology Subcommittee Passes Broadband Scrutiny Bill

·         Twitter Tax Deal Creates Classic San Francisco Row

·         Facebook Landing Team Transports Company Culture

·         Washington State Measure Aimed at Enticing Older Teachers to Retire

·         Geographic Center of Washington State Population Up for Debate

·         Oregon Treasurer Ted Wheeler Seeks to Shield Employees, Keep Travel Information Secret

·         Elderly Belfair Man Missing Since Friday

·         Washington State Delays Prison Processing Center Decision

·         Washington State Mulls Prisoner Release to Save Money

·         Port Of Vancouver Dodges Coal, Embraces Potash

WORD OF THE DAY

Meshuggener • \muh-SHUG-uhner\ • Noun – A foolish or crazy person

“Good Grief!” Exclaimed the vaudeville hall booking agent. “We asked for ‘Charlie McCarthy,’ and that meshuggener Edgar Bergen has the audacity to bring ‘Mortimer Snerd’ instead.”

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

Clallam PUD, City of Port Angeles to Consider Bonneville Power’s Settlement Offer (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110404/NEWS/304049994/clallam-pud-city-of-port-angeles-to-consider-bonneville-powers

Report Reveals Hydro Potential at Existing Dams In the US (International Water Power)

http://www.waterpowermagazine.com/story.asp?sectioncode=130&storyCode=2059275

Ice Harbor Dam Offers More Tours (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=14369248

Montana - Columbia Falls Hit By Layoffs, But Manages to Grow By Leaps & Bounds (The Missoulian, MT)

http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/article_8d2740ee-5daa-11e0-99f6-001cc4c002e0.html

Utah - Power Rates to Rise as Energy Demands Offset Savings (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home2/51481376-183/power-electricity-percent-utah.html.csp

New York City Electric Bills to Soar 12% “…typical apartment resident’s electric bill of $74 -- based on 250 kilowatt hours of power each month -- will go up to $86…” (New York Post, NY)

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/hey_you_fuse_you_lose_usdxtYyIrgGtXmAeGGk6xH

Rhode Island Residential Electric Bills to Drop 16.5% (Providence Journal, RI)

http://www.projo.com/news/content/CHEAPER_ELECTRIC_04-01-11_ABNA55N_v21.1a1d86e.html

For Pepco, Maryland Legislature Could be a Paper Tiger “…Despite…public uproar over Pepco’s chronic power outages…there’s a substantial risk that the Maryland legislature isn’t going to do enough to force the utility to keep the lights on…” (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/for_pepco_maryland_legislature_could_be_a_paper_tiger/2011/04/01/AFbgonQC_story.html

Bill on Arizona Power-Line Routes Raises Concern (Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, AZ)

http://azstarnet.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_c241b2af-3a46-564b-9236-74b80715ce17.html

Gulf Oil Spill Aftermath - Transocean Gives Safety Bonuses Despite Deaths (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014667914_apustransoceanexecutivecompensation.html

Carbon Monoxide - Ohio Landlord Charged in Fume Deaths of 4 Tenants (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014662272_apuscarbonmonoxidedeaths.html

NUCLEAR SCIENCE READING ROOM

Energy Northwest Begins Planned Outage at Columbia Generating Station (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/04/03/1434133/power-energy-northwest-begins.html

Op/Ed - Setting The Record Straight About Washington’s Commercial Nuclear Reactor (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2014662349_guest02reddemann.html

Atomic Snowflakes - Only Two U.S. Nuclear Sites Are In Compliance With Federal Fire Regulations (The Atlantic)

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/04/atomic-snowflakes/73227/

Interview: Steven Chu - The Energy Secretary & Nobel Prize-Winning Physicist Talks Nuclear Power After Japan, & Being a Nerd (Newsweek Magazine)

http://www.newsweek.com/2011/04/03/interview-steven-chu.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Snake River Dams to Begin Spilling for Salmon, Steelhead (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA – Includes photo of Lower Granite Dam, last dam with fish passage on the snake)

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/outdoors/2011/apr/01/snake-river-dams-begin-spilling-salmon-steelhead/

States Could Keep the Lower Columbia River Spring Chinook Fishery Open Longer (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2014670260__washington_and_oregon_fisheri.html

New Rules to Protect Fish Are Clear as Mud, Cities Say (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110403/news01/704039942/-1/rss02

Fishmonger Sentenced for Falsely Labeled Salmon (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/119096344.html

Captive Broodstock Program Has Endangered Coho Returning to California’s Russian River (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/407066.aspx

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Water Rates, Plan on Tap - Shelton City Commission Meets Tonight (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/3857-city-commission-meets-tonight

Second Front Opened in Bainbridge Island Utility Battle – Kitsap PUD held up as good example of water utility (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/apr/01/second-front-opened-in-bainbridge-island-utility/

Marysville Tries to Avoid Vote on Snohomish County PUD Water Deal (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110402/NEWS01/704029884/-1/NEWS

New Bill Restricts Fertilizers for Lawns (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/apr/02/new-bill-restricts-fertilizers-for-lawns/

Willamette River - Ross Island Restoration Could Take a Decade Longer Than Planned (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/04/ross_island_restoration_could.html

California - Dams Seem Like a Simple Idea, But Are Harder to Plan & Build (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/04/3525638/dams-seem-like-a-simple-idea-but.html

Chesapeake Bay Supporters Keeping Close Eye on Federal Budget Battle, GOP Riders on EPA (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/chesapeake_bay_supporters_keeping_close_eye_on_federal_budget_battle_gop_riders_on_epa/2011/04/02/AFLXNVMC_story.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Over Renewable Energy Amendments - Washington State Senators Leave Key Budget Hearing in Protest (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Wash-senators-leave-key-budget-hearing-in-protest-119155699.html

Biomass Talk in Port Townsend Canceled; New Date Not Selected (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110403/news/304039993/biomass-talk-in-port-townsend-canceled-new-date-not-selected

Editorial - California Energy Mandates Ignore Real World “…NIMBY activism has blocked more renewable projects than coal-fired power plants…” (San Diego Union-Tribune, CA)

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/apr/03/energy-mandates-have-feel-of-make-believe/

Editorial - California Powers Ahead on Green Energy (SF Chronicle, CA)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/04/02/EDEI1H58NH.DTL

Anchorage City Utilities Offer for Wind Power Criticized as Low (Anchorage Daily News, AK)

http://www.adn.com/2011/03/31/1786099/city-utilitys-offer-for-wind-power.html

North Dakota Wind Project Scrapped On Possible Threat to Bird Species (NASDAQ)

http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=201104011714dowjonesdjonline000439&title=wind-project-scrapped-on-possible-threat-to-bird-species

Maryland - Lawmakers Weigh Incentives for Trash-Burning Energy Plants (Baltimore Sun, MD)

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-04-01/features/bs-gr-waste2energy-20110401_1_renewable-energy-renewable-sources-offshore-wind

Pennsylvania - Willingboro Council Rejects Solar Project Bids (Philadelphia Inquirer, PA)

http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/burlington_county_times_news/solar-project-bids-rejected/article_885d9de7-4899-5845-a89c-97fa833d52f4.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Save Energy with Mason County PUD 3 Rebate & Incentive Programs (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/Newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=851

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Tax Increases Not a Popular Solution for Greenhouse Gas Problem (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/tax-increases-not-popular-solution-greenhouse-gas-problem/

EPA Chief: History Will Judge Congress Harshly if Climate Rules Are Axed (The Hill)

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/153437-epa-chief-history-will-judge-congress-harshly-if-climate-rules-are-axed

Editorial - Cutting Carbon: A Better Approach to Energy Policy (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/cutting_carbon_a_better_approach_to_energy_policy/2011/03/30/AFTl1kJC_story.html

Activists at UN Climate Change Conference Call for Renewable, Not Nuclear, Energy (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/activists-at-un-climate-change-conference-call-for-renewable-not-nuclear-energy/2011/04/03/AFxRekTC_story.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Tesla, Other Electric Vehicles Poised to Enter the Mainstream (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_17764005

Will Buying an Electric Car Make an Environmental Difference? (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_17767977

Ethanol Pork Cows Most GOP Contenders (Real Clear Politics)

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2011/04/01/ethanol_pork_subsidy_cowers_most_2012_gop_contenders_iowa_caucus_109413.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

New Name for Qwest Won’t Debut Until May (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/apr/02/klasjdflkajsdlfkjs/

AT&T To Spend $19 Billion on Network in 2011 (Jacksonville Business Journal, FL)

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2011/04/01/att-to-spend-19b-on-network-in-2011.html

More Customers Exposed as Big Data Breach Grows (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/04/us-citi-capitalone-data-idUSTRE7321PI20110404

Communications & Technology Subcommittee Passes Broadband Scrutiny Bill (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-tech/post/communications_and_technology_subcommittee_passes_broadband_scrutiny_bill/2011/04/01/AFgGa5HC_blog.html

Twitter Tax Deal Creates Classic San Francisco Row (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Twitter-tax-deal-creates-classic-San-Francisco-row-1319592.php

Facebook Landing Team Transports Company Culture (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/04/03/1610825/facebook-landing-team-transports.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Measure Aimed at Enticing Older Teachers to Retire (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=14371740

Geographic Center of Washington State Population Up for Debate (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014663720_populationcenter02m.html

Oregon Treasurer Ted Wheeler Seeks to Shield Employees, Keep Travel Information Secret (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/04/oregon_state_treasurer_ted_whe.html

GENERAL NEWS

Elderly Belfair Man Missing Since Friday (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Elderly-Belfair-man-missing-since-Friday-119157014.html

Washington State Delays Prison Processing Center Decision (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_bbdb72c0-5cce-11e0-8bcc-001cc4c03286.html

Washington State Mulls Prisoner Release to Save Money (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/119147009.html

Port Of Vancouver Dodges Coal, Embraces Potash - The port decided to export the fertilizer instead of the fossil fuel (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/apr/03/dodging-coal-embracing-potash-the-port-of-vancouve/

DIVERSIONS

Cheaters Believe They’re That Good, Even When They’re Not

http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2011/03/cheaters-believe-theyre-that-good-even-when-theyre-not.ars

PETA Wants Bible to be More Animal Friendly

http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=452756

We Explore the Wild & Wacky World of the Squirrel

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/we_explore_the_wild_and_wacky_world_of_the_squirrel/2011/04/01/AFnEXoXC_story.html

Too Real Means Too Creepy in New Disney Animation

http://www.komonews.com/news/tech/119184599.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Ray Charles - Your Cheatin’ Heart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNEInaOsK6I

Hank William Sr - Your Cheatin’ Heart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS4LCoh0VGQ

Op/Ed - Setting the record straight about Washington's commercial nuclear reactor (Seattle Times, WA)

Setting the record straight about Washington's commercial nuclear reactor