Energy News Digest for April 19, 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

Jefferson County Approves Franchise to Puget Sound Energy; Action Predates Planned PUD Takeover (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110419/news/304199995/county-approves-franchise-to-pse-action-predates-planned-pud-takover

Bonneville Power Administration Pulls Back on Plan to Shut Off Wind (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2011/04/bpa-pulls-back-on-plan-to-shut-off-wind.html

Oregon - Google, Others Join Controversial Shepherds Flat Wind Farm Near Arlington (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/04/google_others_join_controversi.html

Washington State Senate Passes $4.8 Billion in Cuts (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/04/19/1631692/senate-passes-48-billion-in-cuts.html

Vermont Public Service Board Approves 26-Year, Hydro-Quebec Power Deal “...the Vermont Legislature enacted a bill that classifies electricity from large Quebec dams as renewable energy…” (Canadian Business)

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/market_news/article.jsp?content=D9MM8ING0

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Jefferson County Approves Franchise to Puget Sound Energy; Action Predates Planned PUD Takeover

·         Chelan PUD Financial Plan - On Track to Drop Debt to 171 Million Dollars by 2015

·         Northwest Power & Conservation Council Gives Nod to 100 Projects

·         The Clean Economy - David Kaplan, Grid Technologist at Snohomish County

·         Legal Renewable - Vermont Public Service Board Approves 26-Year, Hydro-Quebec Power Deal

·         Kansas - Judge Zaps Coal-Fired Electric Plant

·         Editorial - The United States Can’t Afford to Scrap Nuclear Power

·         Laos Defers Decision to Build 1st Dam on Lower Mekong River in Face of Opposition

·         Mob Sets Fires in Protest of India Nuclear Plant

·         Oops! Peco Double Charges 17,000 Customers

·         ‘Friendly’ Nanaimo Dog Traps BC Hydro Worker Up His Pole for an Hour

·         Desire to Work Never Flags for this 91-Year-Old (

·         At The Foot of the Bonneville Dam, Researchers Track Voracious Sea Lions Feeding on Spring Chinook

·         Vancouver Island - Tanker Spill Casts Doubt on Future of Goldstream River Salmon Run

·         California - Thousands of Fish Die in Ventura Harbor

·         Once Endangered, Peregrine Falcons Thrive in Portland’s Urban Landscape, Audubon Finds

·         Safeway Scales the ‘Seafood Scorecard’ by Greenpeace

·         City of Spokane Pays $300,000 to Settle PCB Claim - Chemical Flows into River from Storm Drains

·         Bonneville Power Administration Pulls Back on Plan to Shut Off Wind

·         Oregon - Google, Others Join Controversial Shepherds Flat Wind Farm Near Arlington

·         Massachusetts - Federal Agency Approves Building, Operations Plan for Offshore Wind Farm, Nation’s First

·         Wind Power Company Disputes Alleged SCADA Hack

·         Oregon - Wilsonville City Council Approves SoloPower Subsidies

·         Here Comes the Sun: Rooftop Solar Panels Will Power Boeing Assembly Plant

·         Energy Department Announces $2.1 Billion Loan Guarantee for Mojave Desert Solar Project

·         Salt River Project Plan to Buy Renewable Energy Credits Criticized

·         New Study: Forcing Oregonians to Purchase Renewable Energy Proves Costly

·         Oregon - Corvallis Will Use Grant to Reduce Energy Use

·         Block Cuts Electricity Use By 15% by Chalking Meter Readings on Street

·         Obama Joins Energy Industry to Fight Climate Change Suits Challenging EPA

·         Canada - Carbon Credits Could Be a Billion-Dollar Industry

·         City Slicker vs. Country Bumpkin: Who Has a Smaller Carbon Footprint?

·         Pay Now, Pay Later: A State-by-State Assessment of the Costs of Climate Change

·         Electric Vehicles Gaining Steam in South Sound

·         Electric Cars Likely to Spark New ‘Smart Grid’

·         11,600 Solar Cells Power Experimental Four-Seat Aircraft

·         For Young Environmental Activists, Obama’s Now the One to Pressure

·         How Green is My Wintergreen? Assessing the Environmental Impact of Chewing Gum

·         Cowlitz Tribal Program - 200 Sign Up for Free Internet, Laptop

·         Oregon - Frontier Now Ignoring Complaints About FiOS TV Hikes

·         Google Launches Map Maker in the US

·         Dropbox Marks 25 Million Storing Data in Cloud

·         Hulu Booms, But Its Owners Aren’t Wholly Pleased

·         Washington State Senate Passes $4.8 Billion in Cuts

·         Website: Where Did My Tax Dollars Go?

·         OPEC: No Shortage of Crude Oil in Market

·         Navy Wants to Build New Wharf for Missile Loading on Hood Canal

·         Even After Missteps Credit Raters Wield Much Power

·         Mariners Hand Out 5,000 Bags of Soil

·         McDonald’s Grimaces at Happy Meal Lawsuit - Parents Can Always Tell Kids “No”

WORD OF THE DAY

Lithe • \LIE-th\ • Adjective - 1: easily bent or flexed 2: characterized by easy flexibility and grace; also: athletically slim

The blurred white arrow

Released from the archer’s lithe bow

Split the apple, yum

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 Approves Franchise to Puget Sound Energy; Action Predates Planned PUD Takeover (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110419/news/304199995/county-approves-franchise-to-pse-action-predates-planned-pud-takover

Chelan PUD Financial Plan - On Track to Drop Debt to 171 Million Dollars by 2015 (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

http://www.kpq.com/4-18-11---PUD-FInancial-Plan--more-/9648377

Northwest Power & Conservation Council Gives Nod to 100 Projects (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/04/16/1630980/power-council-gives-nod-to-100.html

The Clean Economy - David Kaplan, Grid Technologist at Snohomish County PUD (Sustainable Industries)

http://sustainableindustries.com/articles/2011/04/clean-electric-economy

Vermont Public Service Board Approves 26-Year, Hydro-Quebec Power Deal “...the Vermont Legislature enacted a bill that classifies electricity from large Quebec dams as renewable energy…” (Canadian Business)

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/market_news/article.jsp?content=D9MM8ING0

Kansas - Judge Zaps Coal-Fired Electric Plant (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/04/19/35900.htm

Editorial - The United States Can’t Afford to Scrap Nuclear Power (McClatchy Newspapers)

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/04/16/3004689/the-united-states-cant-afford.html

Laos Defers Decision to Build 1st Dam on Lower Mekong River in Face of Opposition (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/laos_defers_decision_to_build_1st_dam_on_lower_mekong_river_in_face_of_opposition/2011/04/19/AF1jwo3D_story.html

Mob Sets Fires in Protest of India Nuclear Plant (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014812901_apasindianuclearprotest.html

Oops! Peco Double Charges 17,000 Customers (Philadelphia Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2011/04/18/peco-doubles-automatic-withdrawals-of.html

‘Friendly’ Nanaimo Dog Traps BC Hydro Worker Up His Pole for an Hour (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Friendly+Nanaimo+traps+Hydro+worker+pole+hour/4630835/story.html

Desire to Work Never Flags for this 91-Year-Old (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014809684_flagger19.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

At The Foot of the Bonneville Dam, Researchers Track Voracious Sea Lions Feeding on Spring Chinook (Oregonian, Portland)

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

Vancouver Island - Tanker Spill Casts Doubt on Future of Goldstream River Salmon Run: Gasoline ‘killed most of the things in its way’ (Vancouver Sun, BC)

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Tanker+spill+casts+doubt+future+Goldstream+River+salmon/4637843/story.html

California - Thousands of Fish Die in Ventura Harbor (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_17880871

Once Endangered, Peregrine Falcons Thrive in Portland’s Urban Landscape, Audubon Finds (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/04/peregrine_falcons_find_portlan.html

Safeway Scales the ‘Seafood Scorecard’ by Greenpeace (USA Today)

http://yourlife.usatoday.com/fitness-food/story/2011/04/Safeway-scales-the-seafood-scorecard-by-Greenpeace/46223498/1?csp=34news

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

City of Spokane Pays $300,000 to Settle PCB Claim - Chemical Flows into River from Storm Drains (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/apr/19/city-pays-300000-to-settle-pcb-claim/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Bonneville Power Administration Pulls Back on Plan to Shut Off Wind (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2011/04/bpa-pulls-back-on-plan-to-shut-off-wind.html

Oregon - Google, Others Join Controversial Shepherds Flat Wind Farm Near Arlington (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/04/google_others_join_controversi.html

Massachusetts - Federal Agency Approves Building, Operations Plan for Offshore Wind Farm, Nation’s First (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/interior_sec_salazar_in_mass_to_reveal_details_about_cape_wind_construction_operation_plans/2011/04/18/AF19om1D_story.html

Wind Power Company Disputes Alleged SCADA Hack (SC Magazine)

http://www.scmagazineus.com/wind-power-company-disputes-alleged-scada-hack/article/200961/

Oregon - Wilsonville City Council Approves SoloPower Subsidies - $11 Million In Incentives (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/wilsonville/index.ssf/2011/04/wilsonville_city_council_appro.html

Here Comes the Sun: Rooftop Solar Panels Will Power Boeing Assembly Plant (Charleston Post & Courier, SC)

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/2011/apr/19/boeing-goes-green-solar-panels/

Energy Department Announces $2.1 Billion Loan Guarantee for Mojave Desert Solar Project (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_17875239

Salt River Project Plan to Buy Renewable Energy Credits Criticized - Green-Energy Source Could be Outside Arizona (Arizona Republic, Phoenix)

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/2011/04/18/20110418biz-srp0419.html

New Study: Forcing Oregonians to Purchase Renewable Energy Proves Costly (Cascade Policy Institute)

http://cascadepolicy.org/news/2011/03/10/new-study-forcing-oregonians-to-purchase-renewable-energy-proves-costly/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Oregon - Corvallis Will Use Grant to Reduce Energy Use (Oregonian, Portland)

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

Block Cuts Electricity Use By 15% by Chalking Meter Readings on Street (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2011/04/block-cuts-electricity-use-by-15-by-chalking-meter-readings-on-street.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Obama Joins Energy Industry to Fight Climate Change Suits Challenging EPA (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-19/white-house-joins-aep-to-fight-climate-lawsuits-with-epa-off-its-duff-.html

Canada - Carbon Credits Could Be a Billion-Dollar Industry (Vancouver Sun, BC – I can smell the derivatives from here…)

http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Carbon+credits+could+billion+dollar+industry/4637677/story.html

City Slicker vs. Country Bumpkin: Who Has a Smaller Carbon Footprint? (Live Science)

http://www.livescience.com/13772-city-slicker-country-bumpkin-smaller-carbon-footprint.html

Pay Now, Pay Later: A State-by-State Assessment of the Costs of Climate Change (PR Newswire)

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/pay-now-pay-later-a-state-by-state-assessment-of-the-costs-of-climate-change-120183074.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Electric Vehicles Gaining Steam in South Sound (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/04/18/1630420/electric-vehicles-gaining-steam.html

Electric Cars Likely to Spark New ‘Smart Grid’ (Mcclatchy News Service)

http://www.sentinelsource.com/business/business_news/electric-cars-likely-to-spark-new-smart-grid/article_ad545c38-8d8f-514a-83a9-12a25fa25cee.html

11,600 Solar Cells Power Experimental Four-Seat Aircraft (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/04/19/BUPL1J2T2R.DTL

For Young Environmental Activists, Obama’s Now the One to Pressure (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-obama-volunteers-20110417,0,2423842.story

How Green is My Wintergreen? Assessing the Environmental Impact of Chewing Gum (Slate Magazine)

http://www.slate.com/id/2291040/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Cowlitz Tribal Program - 200 Sign Up for Free Internet, Laptop (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews?200-sign-up-for-free-Internet-laptop-=1&blockID=506889&feedID=410

Oregon - Frontier Now Ignoring Complaints About FiOS TV Hikes (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Frontier-Now-Ignoring-Complaints-About-FiOS-TV-Hikes-113783

Google Launches Map Maker in the US (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/faster-forward/post/google_launches_map_maker_in_the_us/2011/04/19/AFN43l4D_blog.html

Dropbox Marks 25 Million Storing Data in Cloud (SF Chronicle, CA)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/04/18/BUD21J2U31.DTL

Hulu Booms, But Its Owners Aren’t Wholly Pleased (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014794390_bthulu18.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Senate Passes $4.8 Billion in Cuts (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/04/19/1631692/senate-passes-48-billion-in-cuts.html

Website: Where Did My Tax Dollars Go?

http://www.wheredidmytaxdollarsgo.com/

GENERAL NEWS

OPEC: No Shortage of Crude Oil in Market (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014809212_opecoilmarkets19.html

Navy Wants to Build New Wharf for Missile Loading on Hood Canal (Associated Press)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/27589315/detail.html

Even After Missteps Credit Raters Wield Much Power (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014808229_apusdebtratingagencies.html

Mariners Hand Out 5,000 Bags of Soil (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/5000-Mariners-fans-leave-Safeco-Field-with-soil-120182309.html

McDonald’s Grimaces at Happy Meal Lawsuit - Parents Can Always Tell Kids “No” (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/19/usa-mcdonalds-idUSN1824989420110419

DIVERSIONS

Ladies & Gentlemen, the (New) Beetle (Ha! Ha! You’re hoping we all know the Ed Sullivan Cultural Reference to this…”)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014802995_apusredesignedbeetle.html

Belly Dancing Sinks NYC Woman’s Disability Claim

http://www.kirotv.com/news/27576002/detail.html

Pat Benatar: Still Rocking Despite Her Kids’ Embarrassment

http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=464314

T-Mobile Royal Wedding Dance Video Goes Viral

http://www.nwcn.com/news/Royal-Wedding-dance-video-goes-viral-120170489.html

SONG OF THE DAY

The Beatles - First Ed Sullivan Show Appearance, Feb 9, 1964 (Full)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=quuTx_YqL6Q

Energy News Digest for April 18, 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

Mason County PUD No. 1 Says NO to BPA (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/4695-pud-1-says-no-to-bpa

Future of Proposed Cle Elum Area Solar-Power Plant Looks Dim (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014793500_solarproject17m.html

Port Angeles - Appeal of Nippon’s Biomass Permit Dismissed (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110417/news/304179984/appeal-of-nippon-8217-s-biomass-permit-dismissed

New Climate Change Case Headed to Supreme Court (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/New-climate-change-case-headed-to-Supreme-Court-1340687.php

Officials: No Nuclear Risk to North Pacific Fish (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/120060084.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Mason County PUD No. 1 Says NO to BPA

·         Controversy over Longview Coal Terminal

·         Pacific Northwest Nuclear Power Plant Prepared for Quake?

·         Entergy Files Lawsuit to Keep Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant Open Past 2012

·         SmartMeters Hit Obstacles in Downtown San Francisco

·         Canada – BC Hydro Tries to Outsmart Power Thieves

·         Feds Give Positive Eco Review to US-Canada Pipeline

·         New Warning of Poisonous Chemicals in Natural Gas ‘Hydrofracking’

·         Op/Ed - Texas a Model for Electricity Competition

·         US FERC Went Beyond Its Authority with Demand Response Rule, Groups Say

·         La Nina May Bring Big Salmon Season

·         Sandy River Hatchery Jumps to Center of Pacific Northwest’s Salmon Debate

·         Breakdown of West Coast Ocean Sport Salmon Fisheries

·         Public Utility Districts Tracking Sturgeon Habits

·         Montana - Flathead Hatchery Aims to Revive Westslope Cutthroat Trout

·         Biologists Ponder Options for Pend Oreille River Pike Boom

·         1,300 Pacific Northwest Wolves to Come Off Endangered List

·         Trail Project Could Help Heal the Skokomish River

·         Environmental Concerns Sparked by Oak Harbor Sewer Plant Siting

·         Could Shift from Whatcom PUD - Ferndale Council to Consider Bid for Well-Water Project

·         Hydraulic Oil Spill Friday near Othello Contained – Grant PUD Makes Fast Response

·         Future of Proposed Cle Elum Area Solar-Power Plant Looks Dim

·         Oregon - Solopower Hopeful over Wilsonville Deal

·         Mojave Desert: Balance the Needs of Solar Power & Tortoises

·         Couple Builds Solar-Powered Home with Help from Google

·         Rooftop Solar Power to the People?

·         Port Angeles - Appeal of Nippon’s Biomass Permit Dismissed

·         Idaho - Wind Energy Developer Won’t Drop Projects

·         California Company Inks Deal with Montana Wind Farm

·         Anonymous Hacker Claims He Broke Into Wind Turbine Systems

·         Home Energy Upgrades Are Latest Shade of Green

·         New Climate Change Case Headed to Supreme Court

·         The Day Global Warming Comes to the Supreme Court

·         Editorial - Supreme Court Should Reject Climate Change Nuisance Suit

·         Online Calculator Allows Households to Track Carbon Footprint

·         Stupid California Tricks

·         Plastic Bag Ban Struggles to Gain Votes in Salem

·         Automakers Promote Hydrogen Cars; Obama Administration Remains Skeptical

·         Video: The Finnish-Built, Wood Burning El Camino

·         Facebook Unveils Prineville Data Center

·         Facebook Turns to a Little Solar for Its Data Center

·         Google Shuttering Google Videos

·         Net Neutrality: End of the Web as We Know It?

·         Washington’s Governor’s Race Is Going to Be a Donnybrook

·         Incumbent US Senator Cantwell Raises $1.3 Million for Re-Election Bid

·         Presidential Candidates Embrace Facebook, Twitter, YouTube

·         Cantwell Blames Speculators for Sharp Hike in Gas Prices

·         Parking Pay Stations ‘Hated’ in Downtown Olympia

·         Rodent Pellets to be Banned in Washington

·         Space Needle: ‘The Doodle That Changed Seattle Forever’

WORD OF THE DAY

Biophilia • \bye-oh-FILL-ee-uh\ • Noun - A hypothetical human tendency to interact or be closely associated with other forms of life in nature

“Lo, I am one with the lion’s pride,” exulted the wool-clad environmental enthusiast, stepping from his shiny, black Range Rover into the hot environment of the circling, big cats. His ill-conceived biophilia would soon make him into multiple parts INSIDE the pride. And the circle of life continued on the arid plains of Africa.

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

Mason County PUD No. 1 Says NO to BPA (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/4695-pud-1-says-no-to-bpa

Controversy over Longview Coal Terminal (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Battle-over-Longview-coal-terminal-a-matter-of-trust-119958214.html

Pacific Northwest Nuclear Power Plant Prepared for Quake? (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.kndu.com/story/14243597/power-plant-prepared-for-quake

Entergy Files Lawsuit to Keep Vermont Yankee Nuclear Power Plant Open Past 2012 (Associated Press)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/entergy_corp_files_lawsuit_to_keep_vermont_yankee_nuclear_power_plant_open_past_2012/2011/04/18/AFn37syD_story.html

SmartMeters Hit Obstacles in Downtown San Francisco (SF Chronicle, CA)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/04/16/BU961J1QIL.DTL

Canada – BC Hydro Tries to Outsmart Power Thieves (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Hydro+tries+outsmart+power+thieves/4625908/story.html

Feds Give Positive Eco Review to US-Canada Pipeline (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/04/state-dept-us-canada-pipeline-/1?csp=34money

New Warning of Poisonous Chemicals in Natural Gas ‘Hydrofracking’ (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2011/0417/New-warning-of-poisonous-chemicals-in-natural-gas-hydrofracking

Op/Ed - Texas a Model for Electricity Competition (Houston Chronicle, TX)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/7524989.html

US FERC Went Beyond Its Authority with Demand Response Rule, Groups Say (PLATTS)

http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/ElectricPower/6002830

FISH & WILDLIFE

Officials: No Nuclear Risk to North Pacific Fish (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/120060084.html

La Nina May Bring Big Salmon Season (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=465056

Sandy River Hatchery Jumps to Center of Pacific Northwest’s Salmon Debate (Oregonian, Portland)

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

Breakdown of West Coast Ocean Sport Salmon Fisheries (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2014792737_breakdown_of_west_coast_ocean.html

Public Utility Districts Tracking Sturgeon Habits (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/lifestyles/article_c795fe6c-66f8-11e0-a567-001cc4c03286.html

Montana - Flathead Hatchery Aims to Revive Westslope Cutthroat Trout (The Missoulian, MT)

http://missoulian.com/news/local/article_35f647fc-697b-11e0-b18a-001cc4c03286.html

Biologists Ponder Options for Pend Oreille River Pike Boom (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/apr/17/northern-explosion/

1,300 Pacific Northwest Wolves to Come Off Endangered List (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/1300_wolves_to_come_off_endangered_list/2011/04/17/AFXR7LwD_story.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Trail Project Could Help Heal the Skokomish River (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/apr/16/trail-project-could-help-heal-skokomish/

Environmental Concerns Sparked by Oak Harbor Sewer Plant Siting (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/sound/article/Environmental-concerns-sparked-by-Oak-Harbor-1341293.php

Could Shift from Whatcom PUD - Ferndale Council to Consider Bid for Well-Water Project (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/04/16/1627951/ferndale-council-to-consider-bid.html

Hydraulic Oil Spill Friday near Othello Contained – Grant PUD Makes Fast Response (Associated Press)

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/04/17/1972498/hydraulic-oil-spill-friday-near.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Future of Proposed Cle Elum Area Solar-Power Plant Looks Dim (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014793500_solarproject17m.html

Oregon - Solopower Hopeful over Wilsonville Deal (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2011/04/solopower-hopeful-over-wilsonville-deal.html

Mojave Desert: Balance the Needs of Solar Power & Tortoises - California’s deserts are prized by clean energy providers. But fragile ecosystems must be protected. (Chicago Tribune, IL)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/la-ed-tortoise-20110416,0,3370043.story

Couple Builds Solar-Powered Home with Help from Google (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2011-04-15-google-solar-home.htm?csp=34tech

Rooftop Solar Power to the People? (Miller McCune)

http://www.miller-mccune.com/science-environment/rooftop-solar-power-to-the-people-29885/

Port Angeles - Appeal of Nippon’s Biomass Permit Dismissed (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110417/news/304179984/appeal-of-nippon-8217-s-biomass-permit-dismissed

Idaho - Wind Energy Developer Won’t Drop Projects: Company Had Fought For Tax Rebate (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/apr/18/company-wont-drop-projects/

California Company Inks Deal with Montana Wind Farm (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_17864162

Anonymous Hacker Claims He Broke Into Wind Turbine Systems (ComputerWorld)

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9215879/Anonymous_hacker_claims_he_broke_into_wind_turbine_systems

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Home Energy Upgrades Are Latest Shade of Green (San Diego Union Tribune, CA)

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/apr/16/home-energy-upgrades-are-new-shade-green-movement/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

New Climate Change Case Headed to Supreme Court (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/New-climate-change-case-headed-to-Supreme-Court-1340687.php

The Day Global Warming Comes to the Supreme Court (The Atlantic)

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/04/the-day-global-warming-comes-to-the-supreme-court/237347/

Editorial - Supreme Court Should Reject Climate Change Nuisance Suit (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2011/0418/Supreme-Court-should-reject-climate-change-nuisance-suit

Online Calculator Allows Households to Track Carbon Footprint (Science Daily)

http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/04/110415163527.htm

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Stupid California Tricks (Hot Air)

http://hotair.com/greenroom/archives/2011/04/17/stupid-california-tricks/

Plastic Bag Ban Struggles to Gain Votes in Salem (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/plastic-bag-ban-struggles-gain-votes-salem/

Automakers Promote Hydrogen Cars; Obama Administration Remains Skeptical (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/automakers_promote_hydrogen_cars_obama_administration_remains_skeptical/2011/04/13/AFnQ84iD_story.html

Video: The Finnish-Built, Wood Burning El Camino (Gas 2.0 – But will it kill you with a single exposure?)

http://gas2.org/2011/04/15/video-the-finnish-built-wood-burning-el-camino/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Facebook Unveils Prineville Data Center (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/04/facebook_unveils_prineville_da.html

Facebook Turns to a Little Solar for Its Data Center (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/cleantech/facebook-turns-to-a-little-solar-for-its-data-center/

Google Shuttering Google Videos (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/faster-forward/post/google_shuttering_google_videos/2011/04/18/AFduK9yD_blog.html

Net Neutrality: End of the Web as We Know It? (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/smallbusiness/columnist/abrams/2011-04-15-net-neutrality-small-business.htm?csp=34money

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington’s Governor’s Race Is Going to Be a Donnybrook (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2011/04/18/elections/20819/Washington-s-governors-race-is-going-to-be-a-donnybrook/

Incumbent US Senator Cantwell Raises $1.3 Million for Re-Election Bid (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/04/15/1617952/cantwell-raises-12-million-for.html

Presidential Candidates Embrace Facebook, Twitter, YouTube (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_17872042

GENERAL NEWS

Cantwell Blames Speculators for Sharp Hike in Gas Prices (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014801880_gasprices18m.html

Parking Pay Stations ‘Hated’ in Downtown Olympia - Kiosks drawing many complaints while missing revenue targets (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/04/18/1620500/pay-stations-hated.html

Rodent Pellets to be Banned in Washington (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/119951604.html

Space Needle: ‘The Doodle That Changed Seattle Forever’ (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/120025789.html

DIVERSIONS

Now Arriving in Alabama: Your Lost Luggage

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_17848995

Aspiring Astronaut Spends Two Weeks of Mars on Earth

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110418/news01/704189904/-1/rss02

Would You Pay $6,400 for a Toilet?

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/04/18/would-you-pay-6400-for-a-toilet/

Wrong Statue of Liberty on US stamp

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110416/biz/704169937/-1/rss03

SONG OF THE DAY

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain - Life on Mars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nW0ACEOEq6w