Energy News Digest for October 21, 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

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

BC Hydro Plays NAFTA Card in Bid to Win Green Status in California - Energy-trading arm claims clean-energy exemption for US power supplier is discriminatory (Vancouver Sun, BC)

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Hydro+plays+NAFTA+card+green+status+California/5586278/story.html

Most Energy-Efficient State? California No Longer Tops List - Massachusetts takes the top spot, California takes second place, followed by New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Connecticut & Maryland (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/10/most-energy-efficient-state-calif-no-longer-tops-list/1?csp=34money

Winter Forecast Cold, Wet With Increased Mountain Snow for Northwest (Associated Press)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Winter-forecast-calls-for-cold-wet--132247018.html

Inspection Prompts Pacific Gas & Electric to Examine Overhead Electrical Lines - inspectors had falsely claimed to have checked underground electrical gear (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_19159663

Plan for Huge Fish Farm in Strait of Juan de Fuca Roils the Waters (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016565085_fishfarms21m.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• BC Hydro Plays NAFTA Card in Bid to Win Green Status in California
• Inspection Prompts Pacific Gas & Electric to Examine Overhead Electrical Lines
• Grays Harbor PUD Looks to Sell “Pain In The” Turbines
• Utility Worker in East Texas Electrocuted
• Sacramento Municipal Utility District Won’t Install Highway 50 Solar Panels
• Virginia - Dominion Says Nuclear Reactors Ready to Restart
• GOP Candidates’ Backing of Yucca Closure Draws Anger in Washington State
• Lines Go Up to Ferry Wind Energy to Major Cities
• US Natural Gas Supplies Grew Last Week
• Summary Box: Copper Prices Fall On Demand Worries
• Folk Icon’s Time at Bonneville Power Administration Celebrated in Film
• On This Day: Thomas Edison Develops Incandescent Light Bulb
• How The New Mars Rover’s Power Supply Works - This Sucker’s Nuclear!
• Plan for Huge Fish Farm in Strait of Juan de Fuca Roils the Waters
• Closures Implemented for Breach of White Salmon River’s Condit Dam
• Pacific Gas & Electric, Sempra Get Approvals for Western US Solar Deals
• Despite Solyndra’s Collapse, Other Government Bets Pay Off
• Solyndra Puts Off Asset Auction Until November 18
• Energy Storage Key for Wind Power Producers
• $165 Million Biomass-Fired Plant Earmarked for Heart of Oil Country
• The Biomass Carbon Debate: When to Start Counting
• Renewable Energy Development: Smaller Projects That Think Big
• United Kingdom Boosts Support for Marine, Biomass Power
• United Kingdom - Japanese Firm to Test Tide-Power System in Orkney
• Japan Eyes Renewable Energy Deregulation: Report
• Most Energy-Efficient State? California No Longer Tops List
• California Approves Carbon Market Rules
• A Skeptical Physicist Ends Up Confirming Climate Data
• Clark County Electric Vehicles Generating Buzz
• Beyond Green: A Net-Zero College Community
• Getting That Last Mile Coax Run Can Be Costly
• Seattle City Income Tax? A Resolution as Symbol
• White House Adds to ‘Excess’ Federal Properties List
• Winter Forecast Cold, Wet With Increased Mountain Snow for Northwest
• Two Floating ‘Mystery Feet’ Linked to Canadian Woman
• Seattle - Alaskan Way Viaduct Nine-Day Closure Begins Tonight
• Mason County Ballots in the Mail for November 8 General Election
• Washington’s Wine Industry Feeling the Squeeze of Cold Weather
• 23 WA companies named in Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500

WORD OF THE DAY

QWERTY • \KWERT-tee\ • Noun - A standard typewriter or computer keyboard - called also QWERTY keyboard.

I know you just looked down at your keyboard.

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

BC Hydro Plays NAFTA Card in Bid to Win Green Status in California - Energy-trading arm claims clean-energy exemption for US power supplier is discriminatory (Vancouver Sun, BC)

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Hydro+plays+NAFTA+card+green+status+California/5586278/story.html

Inspection Prompts Pacific Gas & Electric to Examine Overhead Electrical Lines - inspectors had falsely claimed to have checked underground electrical gear (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_19159663

Grays Harbor PUD Looks to Sell “Pain In The” Turbines (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3263&

Utility Worker in East Texas Electrocuted (Associated Press)

http://abclocal.go.com/ktrk/story?section=news/state&id=8399419

Sacramento Municipal Utility District Won’t Install Highway 50 Solar Panels – High bid, complex right of way issues cited (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/21/3992155/smud-wont-install-hwy-50-solar.html

Virginia - Dominion Says Nuclear Reactors Ready to Restart (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2016569473_apusearthquakenuclearplant.html

GOP Candidates’ Backing of Yucca Closure Draws Anger in Washington State (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/10/20/1873376/gop-candidates-backing-of-yucca.html

Lines Go Up to Ferry Wind Energy to Major Cities (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/21/us/lines-go-up-to-ferry-wind-energy-to-major-cities.html

US Natural Gas Supplies Grew Last Week (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/US-natural-gas-supplies-grew-last-week-2227924.php

Summary Box: Copper Prices Fall On Demand Worries (Associated Press)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/10/20/financial/f131854D56.DTL

Folk Icon’s Time at Bonneville Power Administration Celebrated in Film (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/folk-icons-time-bpa-celebrated-film/

On This Day: Thomas Edison Develops Incandescent Light Bulb (Finding Dulcinea)

http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/Oct/Thomas-Edison-Develops-Incandescent-Light-Bulb.html

How The New Mars Rover’s Power Supply Works - This Sucker’s Nuclear! (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/5851853/how-the-new-mars-rovers-power-supply-works-this-suckers-nuclear

FISH & WILDLIFE

Plan for Huge Fish Farm in Strait of Juan de Fuca Roils the Waters (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016565085_fishfarms21m.html

Closures Implemented for Breach of White Salmon River’s Condit Dam (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.koinlocal6.com/news/local/story/Closures-implemented-for-breach-of-White-Salmon/lF5OawV8kEWbmdYfTMwQMw.cspx

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Pacific Gas & Electric, Sempra Get Approvals for Western US Solar Deals (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-20/pg-e-sempra-get-approvals-for-western-u-s-solar-deals-1-.html

Despite Solyndra’s Collapse, Other Government Bets Pay Off (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2016552524_solar20.html

Solyndra Puts Off Asset Auction Until November 18 (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/20/BUKG1LJO33.DTL

Energy Storage Key for Wind Power Producers - Profit would increase if electricity delivered on demand, study finds (Edmonton Journal, AB)

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/Energy+storage+wind+power+producers/5578396/story.html

$165 Million Biomass-Fired Plant Earmarked for Heart of Oil Country (Renewable Energy Magazine)

http://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/energias/renovables/index/pag/biomass/colleft/colright/biomass/tip/articulo/pagid/17538/botid/74/

The Biomass Carbon Debate: When to Start Counting (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/10/the-biomass-carbon-debate-when-to-start-counting

Renewable Energy Development: Smaller Projects That Think Big (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/10/renewable-energy-development-smaller-projects-that-think-big?cmpid=rss

United Kingdom Boosts Support for Marine, Biomass Power (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/20/britain-renewables-review-idUSL5E7LK3OW20111020

United Kingdom - Japanese Firm to Test Tide-Power System in Orkney (Scotsman, UK)

http://www.scotsman.com/news/environment/japanese_firm_to_test_tide_power_system_in_orkney_1_1921991

Japan Eyes Renewable Energy Deregulation: Report (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/20/us-japan-energy-idUSTRE79J0G020111020

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Most Energy-Efficient State? California No Longer Tops List - Massachusetts takes the top spot, California takes second place, followed by New York, Oregon, Vermont, Washington, Rhode Island, Minnesota, Connecticut & Maryland (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/10/most-energy-efficient-state-calif-no-longer-tops-list/1?csp=34money

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

California Approves Carbon Market Rules (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/21/us-carbon-california-idUSTRE79K00U20111021

A Skeptical Physicist Ends Up Confirming Climate Data (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/a-skeptical-physicist-ends-up-confirming-climate-data/2011/10/20/gIQA6viC1L_blog.html?wprss=ezra-klein

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Clark County Electric Vehicles Generating Buzz - Officials told cars could serve many purposes in county (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/oct/20/electric-vehicles-generating-buzz/

Beyond Green: A Net-Zero College Community (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/21/beyond-green-a-net-zero-college-community/?partner=rss&emc=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Getting That Last Mile Coax Run Can Be Costly - Time Warner Wants $20,000 for 2,583 Feet of Cable (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Getting-That-Last-Mile-Coax-Run-Can-Be-Costly-116676

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Seattle City Income Tax? A Resolution as Symbol (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016565191_cityincometax21m.html

White House Adds to ‘Excess’ Federal Properties List (Puget Sound Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/morning_call/2011/10/white-house-adds-to-excess-federal.html

GENERAL NEWS

Winter Forecast Cold, Wet With Increased Mountain Snow for Northwest (Associated Press)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Winter-forecast-calls-for-cold-wet--132247018.html

Two Floating ‘Mystery Feet’ Linked to Canadian Woman (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/132249913.html

Seattle - Alaskan Way Viaduct Nine-Day Closure Begins Tonightn (Northwest Cable News)

http://www.nwcn.com/news/alaskan-way-viaduct-closure-begins-friday-132306578.html

Mason County Ballots in the Mail for November 8 General Election (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/16742-general-election-november-8-2011

Washington’s Wine Industry Feeling the Squeeze of Cold Weather (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2011/10/21/agriculture/21445/Washington-s-wine-industry-feeling-the-squeeze-of-cold-weather-/

23 WA companies named in Deloitte’s Technology Fast 500 (Puget Sound Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/morning_call/2011/10/23-wa-companies-named-in-deloittes.html

DIVERSIONS

A Smelly Spot: Luvs Diaper Commercial Voted ‘Worst Ad in America’

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/10/20/a-smelly-spot-luvs-diaper-commercial-voted-worst-ad-in-america/

Tattooed Barbie? No Way, Some Say

http://www.kirotv.com/news/29549022/detail.html

Streaking Referee Starts Brawl at UCLA-Arizona Game

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=565445

Man Jailed After Trying to Turn Feces into Gold – Burns down Entire Block in Effort

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/man-jailed-after-trying-to-turn-faeces-into-gold-.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Shirley Bassey – Goldfinger

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

Energy News Digest for October 20, 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

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

SolarWorld, Facing Fight for Survival, Seeks Tariffs on Cheap Chinese Solar Products Flooding the US (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/10/solarworld_facing_fight_for_su.html

US Senators Seek New Study of Deadly Pacific Salmon Virus (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2016552470_senators.html

BC Hydro Boss Resigns after 16 Months on Job (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/sports/Hydro+boss+resigns+after+months/5579309/story.html

The Columbia River's Extreme Math (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonbruner/2011/10/20/the-columbia-rivers-extreme-math-infographic/

Utilities Want You To Go Ductless - They tout incentives and savings on monthly bills as reasons to ditch baseboards (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/10/20/1844919/utilities-want-you-to-go-ductless.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• BC Hydro Boss Resigns after 16 Months on Job
• The Columbia River's Extreme Math
• Oregon - Rate Increase Protesters Gather Outside Eugene Water & Electric Board
• Customers Think Rates Too High, But Love Columbia River PUD
• Mason County Recreation Area Infield Project – Mason County PUD 3 helps with volunteer replacement of light poles
• Public Power Push - Xcel Says Boulder Customers Could Lose Solar Rebates If 2B, 2C Pass
• Energy Department Altered Loan-Related Releases
• US Senators Seek New Study of Deadly Pacific Salmon Virus
• Salmon Virus - Knot of Worry Tightens for Fishermen
• Salmon Catch Falls Short of Expectations
• Grant/Chelan PUDs to Pay for Fish Hatchery in Canada
• Steelhead Fishing worth a Try Below Wells Dam in Columbia River
• Humptulips Hatchery Needs Help
• Op/Ed - Saving Salmon: Sea Lions Aren't the Enemy
• It's Orca Time in Central Puget Sound
• EPA Signs Off on New Oregon Water Quality Rules - Strictest in the Nation
• Washington State to Issue Rules to Spell Out Strategies to Curb Runoff
• Largest Ocean Science Project in US History Launches Soon Off Oregon Coast
• Oregon - Bend Moves Forward with Controversial Water Upgrades
• From the Washer to the Sea: Plastic Pollution
• SolarWorld, Facing Fight for Survival, Seeks Tariffs on Cheap Chinese Solar Products Flooding the US
• SolarWorld May Extend China Fight to Europe
• Sharp Solar Adds Products, Jobs
• Council Approves Skamania County Whistling Ridge Wind Farm with Limits
• Pennsylvania - Bat Carcass Stops Wind Farm's Nighttime Operation
• Is Wind Worth It?
• California State Treasurer Defends Tax Break for Energy Firms
• Is NIMBYism a Threat to Small-Scale Renewables?
• From Coal to Biomass for Some Virginia Power
• Utilities Want You To Go Ductless
• Oregon - Sleuth Seeks to Slash Home Heating Bills
• A Social Energy Network Turns to Solar Chargers & Shopping
• California Poised to Finalize 'Cap-And-Trade' Plan
• Ultra-Green Seattle Office Project Draws Corporate HQ, Complaints
• What a Fight for Broadband Tells Us about Democracy
• Novell vs. Microsoft in Utah Antitrust Trial over Windows 95; Bill Gates Expected to Testify
• Wireless Group Seeks to Block San Francisco Phone Radiation Warning Law
• Murray Fundraising Down Since Appointment
• Costco's $22M for Liquor Initiative Sets Record
• Former Washington State Trooper Ronda Reynold's Death Ruled Homicide
• Washington State Loses 18,000 Jobs in September, Mostly Government
• Psychedelic Mushrooms Targeted in Federal Raid near McCleary
• Seattle Ranks among Most Innovative Cities in US
• Portland Ranked Second Angriest City in America - Seattle Ranked Third

WORD OF THE DAY

Aesopian • \ee-SOAP-pee-un\ • Adjective - 1: of, relating to, or characteristic of Aesop or his fables 2: conveying an innocent meaning to an outsider but a hidden meaning to a member of a conspiracy or underground movement

“Oh, what a sweet little kitten,” cooed the visitor to the Smith Estates. As her hand extended to pat the aggressively cute little ball of fluff, the admirer would have been horrified by the eventual outcome of her shrill mouthings of wonder. Behind those liquid eyes, under the huge, radar-like ears raged the Aesopian mind of a kitten who would be king. Needless to say, the Smith Estates used their entire stock of ‘Band-Aids’ in the aftermath of the encounter.

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

BC Hydro Boss Resigns after 16 Months on Job (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/sports/Hydro+boss+resigns+after+months/5579309/story.html

The Columbia River's Extreme Math (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonbruner/2011/10/20/the-columbia-rivers-extreme-math-infographic/

Oregon - Rate Increase Protesters Gather Outside Eugene Water & Electric Board (KMTR-TV, Springfield, OR)

http://www.kmtr.com/news/local/story/Protesters-gather-outside-EWEB/vnRtoYj6GUeQOjAYuPhc2g.cspx

Customers Think Rates Too High, But Love Columbia River PUD (St Helens Chronicle, OR)

http://thechronicleonline.com/news/article_8f632a96-fa6f-11e0-8004-001cc4c002e0.html

Mason County Recreation Area Infield Project – Mason County PUD 3 helps with volunteer replacement of light poles (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/16444-mcra-infield-project

Public Power Push - Xcel Says Boulder Customers Could Lose Solar Rebates If 2B, 2C Pass (Energy Boom)

http://www.energyboom.com/policy/xcel-says-boulder-customers-could-lose-solar-rebates-if-2b-2c-pass

Energy Department Altered Loan-Related Releases (CNBC)

http://www.cnbc.com/id/44963294

FISH & WILDLIFE

US Senators Seek New Study of Deadly Pacific Salmon Virus (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2016552470_senators.html

Salmon Virus - Knot of Worry Tightens for Fishermen (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/20/science/20salmon.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Salmon Catch Falls Short of Expectations - Oregon fishermen are disappointed in a season that many had forecast to be a banner year (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

http://registerguard.com/web/newslocalnews/27042636-57/salmon-fish-newport-oregon-season.html.csp

Grant/Chelan PUDs to Pay for Fish Hatchery in Canada (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/oct/19/puds-paying-for-canadian-fish-hatchery/

Steelhead Fishing worth a Try Below Wells Dam in Columbia River (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2016552928_steelhead_worth_a_try_below_we.html

Humptulips Hatchery Needs Help (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3260

Op/Ed - Saving Salmon: Sea Lions Aren't the Enemy (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/10/saving_salmon_sea_lions_arent.html

It's Orca Time in Central Puget Sound (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/fieldnotes/2016557688_its_orca_time_in_puget_sound.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

EPA Signs Off on New Oregon Water Quality Rules - Strictest in the Nation (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/10/epa_signs_off_on_new_oregon_wa.html

Washington State to Issue Rules to Spell Out Strategies to Curb Runoff (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/132180658.html

Largest Ocean Science Project in US History Launches Soon Off Oregon Coast (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2011/10/largest_ocean_science_project.html

Oregon - Bend Moves Forward with Controversial Water Upgrades (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/bend-moves-forward-controversial-water-upgrades/

From the Washer to the Sea: Plastic Pollution (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/19/from-the-washer-to-the-sea-plastic-pollution/?partner=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

SolarWorld, Facing Fight for Survival, Seeks Tariffs on Cheap Chinese Solar Products Flooding the US (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/10/solarworld_facing_fight_for_su.html

SolarWorld May Extend China Fight to Europe (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/morning_call/2011/10/after-us-trade-complaint-solarworld.html

Sharp Solar Adds Products, Jobs - Business recently relocated to Camas from S. California (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/oct/19/sharp-solar-adds-products-jobs/

Council Approves Skamania County Whistling Ridge Wind Farm with Limits (Hood River News, OR)
http://www.hoodrivernews.com/ns/news-headlines/8114/council-approves-whistling-ridge-wind-farm-with-limits

Pennsylvania - Bat Carcass Stops Wind Farm's Nighttime Operation (Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, PA)

http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/news/regional/s_762797.html

Is Wind Worth It? (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/19/is-wind-worth-it/?partner=rss&emc=rss

California State Treasurer Defends Tax Break for Energy Firms (Associated Press)

http://articles.boston.com/2011-10-19/business/30298570_1_tax-break-program-sales-tax-bigger-risk

Is NIMBYism a Threat to Small-Scale Renewables? (Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/energynow/67358/nimbyisms-threat-small-scale-renewables

From Coal to Biomass for Some Virginia Power (CNET News)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20122558-54/from-coal-to-biomass-for-some-virginia-power/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Utilities Want You To Go Ductless - They tout incentives and savings on monthly bills as reasons to ditch baseboards (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/10/20/1844919/utilities-want-you-to-go-ductless.html

Oregon - Sleuth Seeks to Slash Home Heating Bills (Baker City Herald, OR)

http://www.bakercityherald.com/Local-News/Sleuth-seeks-to-slash-home-heating-bills

A Social Energy Network Turns to Solar Chargers & Shopping (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/cleantech/a-social-energy-network-turns-to-solar-chargers-shopping/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

California Poised to Finalize 'Cap-And-Trade' Plan (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2016553416_apuscaliforniagreenhousegases.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Ultra-Green Seattle Office Project Draws Corporate HQ, Complaints (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016552908_skanska20.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

What a Fight for Broadband Tells Us about Democracy (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/broadband/what-a-fight-for-broadband-tells-us-about-democracy/

Novell vs. Microsoft in Utah Antitrust Trial over Windows 95; Bill Gates Expected to Testify (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/novell-vs-microsoft-in-utah-antitrust-trial-over-windows-95-bill-gates-expected-to-testify/2011/10/19/gIQAvNBexL_story.html?wprss=rss_national

Wireless Group Seeks to Block San Francisco Phone Radiation Warning Law (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-20/wireless-group-seeks-to-block-san-francisco-phone-radiation-warning-law.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Murray Fundraising Down Since Appointment (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016552262_murray20m.html

Costco's $22M for Liquor Initiative Sets Record (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016553052_costco20m.html

GENERAL NEWS

Former Washington State Trooper Ronda Reynold's Death Ruled Homicide (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016552959_reynolds20m.html

Washington State Loses 18,000 Jobs in September, Mostly Government (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/10/19/1844220/wash-loses-18000-jobs-in-september.html

Psychedelic Mushrooms Targeted in Federal Raid near McCleary (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/29533893/detail.html

Seattle Ranks among Most Innovative Cities in US (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=564461

Portland Ranked Second Angriest City in America - Seattle Ranked Third (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/2011/10/portland-ranks-no2-angriest-city.html

DIVERSIONS

From the Statue of Liberty to the Park of Dissent: Occupy Wall Street Becomes NYC Tourist Stop

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/from-the-statue-of-liberty-to-the-park-of-dissent-occupy-wall-street-becomes-nyc-tourist-stop/2011/10/20/gIQAOVXbzL_story.html?wprss=rss_economy

How Can I Avoid Static Electricity Shocks in Cold, Dry Weather?

http://gizmodo.com/5851408/how-can-i-avoid-static-shocks-in-the-winter

T-Mobile Sends Customer $200,000 Bill - Woman's Brother Who Is Deaf, Also Mute, Rang Up Charges Unknowingly

http://www.kirotv.com/technology/29527915/detail.html

Burlington Escapee Falls into Police Chief's Office

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016546190_apwaceilingescape.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Muppet Show - For What it's Worth

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1m0yCM5uhQU

Energy News Digest for October 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

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

$10 Million Bird Bond May Doom Naselle Wind Farm - Contingency Fund Too Much For Pacific PUD & Other Developers (Chinook Observer, Long Beach, WA)

http://www.chinookobserver.com/news/local/mil-bird-bond-may-doom-naselle-wind-farm/article_fccae9ca-f9e3-11e0-8064-001cc4c03286.html

TransAlta Preparing to Retrofit Plant to Control Haze Creating Emissions (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2011/10/transalta-preparing-to-retrofit-plant.html

Northwest Open Access Network (NoaNet) to Bring Cable Internet to Rural Areas (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/oct/19/nonprofit-bring-cable-internet-rural-areas/

Legal Battle over Use of Sludge Could Lengthen Due to Second Trial (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_53e4d6d8-f85b-11e0-8821-001cc4c002e0.html

Subsidized Charging Stations: Will Electric Vehicles Follow? (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://ecotrope.opb.org/2011/10/subsidized-charging-stations-will-evs-follow/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• TransAlta Preparing to Retrofit Plant to Control Haze Creating Emissions
• Umatilla Electric Puts $15M Loan into Regional Power Lines
• Obama Pushes Power Line Project
• Port Angeles Residents to Pay More for Utilities Next Year
• Snohomish PUD Harvests Power with New Hydropower Project
• How FERC Order 1000 Could Affect Hydro
• The Lesson from Solyndra: It’s Time to Deregulate the Energy Market
• New York - Studies Clash on the Impact of Closing Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant
• America’s Largest Coal Power Plant Burns 11 Million Tons of Bituminous a Year
• Seattle City Light Restores Historic Ladder Creek Light Show
• In Salmon vs. Mining Alaska Voters Say No to Pebble Mine
• Jellyfish Washing Into Puget Sound
• Legal Battle over Use of Sludge Could Lengthen Due to Second Trial
• Regulations Block LOTT Plant Plans - Reclaimed Water Expansion Challenged
• $10 Million Bird Bond May Doom Naselle Wind Farm
• California Has One in Four US Solar Energy Jobs, Study Says
• Oregon Eighth In Nation for Solar Jobs
• Solar Market Scouts for Cash as Subsidies Fade
• California’s Green Tax Breaks in Question
• Sharp Solar Launches First Products Since Camas Move
• Texas Sets Wind Power Record as Coastal Wind Grows
• Grays Harbor County Cities to Get Energy Frugal
• Plugging in the Power of Social Networking
• Global Warming a Threat to Polar Bears? Judge Orders Review of US Rule
• Starbucks Worries that Climate Change is Putting World’s Coffee Supply at Risk
• Subsidized Charging Stations: Will Electric Vehicles Follow?
• Can Electric Cars Actually Save Electricity?
• As City Plants Trees, Some Say a Million Are Too Many
• World’s 100 Best Clean Tech Companies? Surprises Await
• Northwest Open Access Network (NoaNet) to Bring Cable Internet to Rural Areas
• Ballmer: We’re Beating Google in the Cloud
• Creators of Stuxnet Computer Worm May be Active Again
• BlackBerry Outage Linked to Massive Drop in Traffic Crashes
• Social Media a Growing Source Of Concern Among Firms, Litigation Survey Finds
• Auditor: State Workers Used State Time, Computers for Personal Gain
• Tacoma Defends Decision on Canadian Hire to Upgrade Website
• Warrants Served in Lindsey Baum Case
• Two Central Kitsap Boys Arrested After Gun Found at Elementary School
• North Mason School District Taking Voters’ Pulse on Possible Higher Taxes
• Chinese Airline Cancels Order for 24 Boeing 787s
• Postal Service Raising Rates
• Medieval Hobbyist Accused of Forcing Daughter to Swordfight

WORD OF THE DAY

Mnemonic • \nih-MAW-nick\ • Adjective - Assisting or designed to assist memory

Mnemonic device

Password protected account

Forgot secret word

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

TransAlta Preparing to Retrofit Plant to Control Haze Creating Emissions (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2011/10/transalta-preparing-to-retrofit-plant.html

Umatilla Electric Puts $15M Loan into Regional Power Lines (East Oregonian, Pendleton, OR)

http://www.eastoregonian.com/news/local_news/umatilla-electric-puts-m-loan-into-regional-power-lines/article_6c531e94-f9b6-11e0-bb37-001cc4c03286.html

Obama Pushes Power Line Project (Wyoming Business Report)

http://www.wyomingbusinessreport.com/article.asp?id=60176

Port Angeles Residents to Pay More for Utilities Next Year (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20111019/news/310199983/port-angeles-residents-to-pay-more-for-utilities-next-year

Snohomish PUD Harvests Power with New Hydropower Project (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20111019/news01/710199810/-1/rss02

How FERC Order 1000 Could Affect Hydro (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/10/how-ferc-order-1000-could-affect-hydro?cmpid=rss

The Lesson from Solyndra: It’s Time to Deregulate the Energy Market (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-innovations/the-lesson-from-solyndra-its-time-to-deregulate-the-energy-market/2011/09/14/gIQANaBFrL_story.html?wprss=rss_national

New York - Studies Clash on the Impact of Closing Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/18/nyregion/studies-clash-on-impact-of-indian-point-shutdown.html?_r=2&ref=nyregion

America’s Largest Coal Power Plant Burns 11 Million Tons of Bituminous a Year (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/5850299/americas-largest-coal-power-plant-burns-11-million-tons-of-bituminous-a-year

Seattle City Light Restores Historic Ladder Creek Light Show (Electric Energy Online)

http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=161170

FISH & WILDLIFE

In Salmon vs. Mining Alaska Voters Say No to Pebble Mine (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2016533320_apuspebblemine.html

Jellyfish Washing Into Puget Sound (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/10/17/1682960/western-wa-jellyfish-washing-into.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Legal Battle over Use of Sludge Could Lengthen Due to Second Trial (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_53e4d6d8-f85b-11e0-8821-001cc4c002e0.html

Regulations Block LOTT Plant Plans - Reclaimed Water Expansion Challenged (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/10/19/1843613/regulations-block-lott-plant-plans.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

$10 Million Bird Bond May Doom Naselle Wind Farm - Contingency Fund Too Much For Pacific PUD & Other Developers (Chinook Observer, Long Beach, WA)

http://www.chinookobserver.com/news/local/mil-bird-bond-may-doom-naselle-wind-farm/article_fccae9ca-f9e3-11e0-8064-001cc4c03286.html

California Has One in Four US Solar Energy Jobs, Study Says (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_19135321

Oregon Eighth In Nation for Solar Jobs (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2011/10/oregon-eighth-in-nation-for-solar-jobs.html

Solar Market Scouts for Cash as Subsidies Fade (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/18/us-solar-finance-idUSTRE79H6FB20111018

California’s Green Tax Breaks in Question (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_19134411

Sharp Solar Launches First Products Since Camas Move (Portland Business Journal, OR)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/morning_call/2011/10/sharp-solar-launches-first-product.html

Texas Sets Wind Power Record as Coastal Wind Grows (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/18/us-utilities-texas-wind-idUSTRE79H5ZL20111018

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Grays Harbor County Cities to Get Energy Frugal (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3240

Plugging in the Power of Social Networking (Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/bcolander/67301/plugging-power-social-networking

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Global Warming a Threat to Polar Bears? Judge Orders Review of US Rule (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2011/1018/Global-warming-a-threat-to-polar-bears-Judge-orders-review-of-US-rule.

Starbucks Worries that Climate Change is Putting World’s Coffee Supply at Risk (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/29509802/detail.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Subsidized Charging Stations: Will Electric Vehicles Follow? (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://ecotrope.opb.org/2011/10/subsidized-charging-stations-will-evs-follow/

Can Electric Cars Actually Save Electricity? (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/do-regular-cars-use-more-electricity-than-electric-cars/2011/10/17/gIQAiF67rL_blog.html

As City Plants Trees, Some Say a Million Are Too Many (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/19/nyregion/new-york-planting-a-million-treestoo-many-some-say.html

World’s 100 Best Clean Tech Companies? Surprises Await (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/10/worlds-best-clean-tech-companies/1?csp=34tech

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Northwest Open Access Network (NoaNet) to Bring Cable Internet to Rural Areas (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/oct/19/nonprofit-bring-cable-internet-rural-areas/

Ballmer: We’re Beating Google in the Cloud (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/cloud/ballmer-google-cloud/

Creators of Stuxnet Computer Worm May be Active Again (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_19143325

BlackBerry Outage Linked to Massive Drop in Traffic Crashes (StreetsBlog)

http://www.streetsblog.org/2011/10/17/blackberry-outage-linked-to-massive-drop-in-traffic-crashes/

Social Media a Growing Source Of Concern - And Discovery - Among Firms, Litigation Survey Finds (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/2011/10/social-media-a-growing-source-of.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Auditor: State Workers Used State Time, Computers for Personal Gain (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/132107783.html

Tacoma Defends Decision on Canadian Hire to Upgrade Website (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/10/18/1869266/tacoma-defends-decision-on-hire.html

GENERAL NEWS

Warrants Served in Lindsey Baum Case (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/10/19/1843649/mccleary-warrants-served-in-lindsey.html

Two Central Kitsap Boys Arrested After Gun Found at Elementary School (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/oct/18/two-central-kitsap-boys-arrested-after-gun-found-e/

North Mason School District Taking Voters’ Pulse on Possible Higher Taxes (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/oct/18/north-mason-school-district-taking-voters-pulse/

Chinese Airline Cancels Order for 24 Boeing 787s (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/29512550/detail.html

Postal Service Raising Rates (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_19139492

Medieval Hobbyist Accused of Forcing Daughter to Swordfight (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016536518_swordfight19m.html

DIVERSIONS

Amazon Sued over Revealing Actress’ Age

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20111018/biz/111019840/-1/rss03

US Senate Saves the Potato on School Lunch Menus

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/19/us/politics/potatoes-get-senate-protection-on-school-lunch-menus.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Seattle Company Rewards Entire Staff With Free Trip to Mexico

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=563747

115-Year-Old Electric Car Gets Same 40 Miles to the Charge as Chevy Volt

http://dailycaller.com/2011/10/14/114-year-old-electric-car-gets-same-40-miles-to-the-charge-as-chevy-volt/

SONG OF THE DAY

Rolling Stones - Mothers Little Helper (What a Drag it is Getting Old)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tfGYSHy1jQs