Energy News Digest for October 31, 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

Salmon BiOp Challengers Request Court Appoint Settlement Judge, Science Panel for Remand (Columbia Basin Bulletin,)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/413581.aspx

In Colorado, a Power Struggle With the Power Company (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/30/us/boulder-seeks-to-take-power-from-the-power-company.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Idaho Wind Companies Get Second Chance to Build Projects - A federal ruling means renewable energy projects may get built in Idaho despite rejection last year (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/10/30/1859100/wind-companies-get-2nd-chance.html

Obama's Energy Loan Review May Rope in Electric-Car Makers (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/10/obamas-energy-loan-review-may-rope-in-electric-car-makers/1?csp=34money

FCC Overhauls a Telephone Subsidy (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/28/business/fcc-overhauls-fund-for-broadband-service.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• In Colorado, a Power Struggle With the Power Company
• Kimberly-Clark Buys Generating Equipment from Snohomish PUD for $26.5M
• Oregon - Lane County Utility Bill Aid Could Be Slashed
• Montana - Beartooth Electric Delays Decision on Rate Increase, Plans to Hire Lawyer
• Oregon - Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative Begins Process to Return Unclaimed Capital Credits
• Sleeping Driver Blamed for Redmond Area Crash, Fire, Power Outage
• Intalco Workers Approve New Contract, Avert Strike at Ferndale Smelter
• Avista Electric Customers to See Drop in Bill?
• Fitch Rates Klickitat PUD's 2011A & 2011B Bonds 'A-'; Outlook to Negative
• Puget Sound Energy Reduces Natural Gas Bills
• Northwest Natural Gas rates to drop Nov. 1
• Bavaria to Swap Nuclear for Fossil Energy
• Salmon BiOp Challengers Request Court Appoint Settlement Judge, Science Panel for Remand
• Should Salmon Farms Move Inland?
• Editorial - A Shadow Falls on Salmon
• Better Video: National Geographic Films Condit Dam Breaching
• Belfair Water District Cash Flow Problem
• Idaho Wind Companies Get Second Chance to Build Projects
• Swauk Ranch Wind-Power Project OK'd - But Much More Work is Required
• Wind Farm Will Harvest Palouse’s Bounty
• Vestas Plunges Most in Eight Years After Cutting Forecasts
• Massachusetts - Federal Appeals Court Deals Cape Wind Blow
• Shohomish PUD’s Jackson Hydro Receives Low Impact Certification
• More Than 200 Hear Biomass Opponent in Port Townsend
• Colorado Biomass - Aspen Qualifies for $32M Grant for Renewable Energy Efforts
• Solar Panels Provide Jolt to Bremerton High Science Class
• Clean Energy 'Gold Rush' in Mojave Spurs Backlash
• US Government Dollars Not Enough to Save Beacon Power from Bankruptcy
• South Dakota - Hyde County Wind Project on Hold - Customer Uncertainty Stalls Plans
• Cut Heating Bills by 30% by Adding Insulation
• Editorial - Washington State: Other States Could Learn from Our Efforts to Save Energy
• Pacific Northwest Utilities, Energy Efficiency Groups Help Shift Consumers to Most Efficient TVs
• Factoring Energy Efficiency into a Home's Value
• Countries Must Plan for Climate Refugees
• Obama's Energy Loan Review May Rope in Electric-Car Makers
• Op/Ed - Why Oregon Can Lead the Green Business Revolution
• FCC Overhauls a Telephone Subsidy
• FCC Clears Up Its Powerline Broadband Rules
• Big Data, Speed and the Future of Computing
• Digital-Streaming Fees to Get Spookier
• Google Redesign In Search of Apple-Like Cool
• Challenge of Ruling Lands McKenna in New Beef
• Washington Poll Shows Liquor Privatization Initiative Leading
• Heavy Snow in Northeast, When Will Northwest Snow Arrive?
• Experts Warn: Prepare for Higher Landslide Risk This Winter
• Washington Apple Growers Scrambling to Find Workers
• The Most & Least Expensive Places in Washington

WORD OF THE DAY

Impetuous • \im-PETCH-uh-wuss\ • Adjective - 1: marked by impulsive vehemence or passion 2: marked by force and violence of movement or action

“Ah, yes; the impetuous actions of our youngsters,” cackled the grizzled railroad engineer to his fireman. “Remember last year when the young fella running in the switching yard tripped over a lever and sent four trains bound for Seattle to Spokane 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

In Colorado, a Power Struggle With the Power Company (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/30/us/boulder-seeks-to-take-power-from-the-power-company.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Kimberly-Clark Buys Generating Equipment from Snohomish PUD for $26.5M (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20111031/NEWS01/710319899

Oregon - Lane County Utility Bill Aid Could Be Slashed: Cuts in the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program are to blame (Eugene Register Guard, OR)

http://www.registerguard.com/web/newslocalnews/27079041-41/assistance-income-winter-county-federal.html.csp

Montana - Beartooth Electric Delays Decision on Rate Increase, Plans to Hire Lawyer (Billings Gazette, MT)

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_55bace9a-0ca6-5de9-ad0e-bd0743606d63.html

Oregon - Coos-Curry Electric Cooperative Begins Process to Return Unclaimed Capital Credits (Curry County Reporter, Gold Beach, OR)

http://www.currycountyreporter.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=7881

Sleeping Driver Blamed for Redmond Area Crash, Fire, Power Outage (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/29636338/detail.html

Intalco Workers Approve New Contract, Avert Strike at Ferndale Smelter - Looks like they wanted a little sugar for helping to lobby Bonneville Power Administration (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/10/28/1883993/intalco-workers-voting-on-new.html

Avista Electric Customers to See Drop in Bill? (KAYU-TV, Spokane, WA)

http://www.myfoxspokane.com/kayu-avista-electric-customers-to-see-drop-in-bill-20111028,0,986457.story

Fitch Rates Klickitat PUD's 2011A & 2011B Bonds 'A-'; Outlook to Negative (iStock Analyst)

http://www.istockanalyst.com/business/news/5507664/fitch-rates-klickitat-pud-wa-s-2011a-taxable-2011b-electric-sys-revs-a-outlook-to-negative

Puget Sound Energy Reduces Natural Gas Bills (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2011/10/puget-sound-energy-reduces-natural-gas.html

Northwest Natural Gas rates to drop Nov. 1 (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/oct/28/northwest-natural-gas-rates-to-drop/

Bavaria to Swap Nuclear for Fossil Energy (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/breakthroughinstitut/67951/bavaria-swap-nuclear-fossil-energy

FISH & WILDLIFE

Salmon BiOp Challengers Request Court Appoint Settlement Judge, Science Panel for Remand (Columbia Basin Bulletin,)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/413581.aspx

Should Salmon Farms Move Inland? (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/28/should-salmon-farms-move-inland/

Editorial - A Shadow Falls on Salmon (Oregonian, Portland)

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

Better Video: National Geographic Films Condit Dam Breaching (Sightline Daily)

http://daily.sightline.org/2011/10/28/better-video-national-geographic-films-condit-dam-breaching/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Belfair Water District Cash Flow Problem (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/17295-belfair-water-district-cash-flow-problem

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Idaho Wind Companies Get Second Chance to Build Projects - A federal ruling means renewable energy projects may get built in Idaho despite rejection last year (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/10/30/1859100/wind-companies-get-2nd-chance.html

Swauk Ranch Wind-Power Project OK'd - But Much More Work is Required (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

http://www.dailyrecordnews.com/news/swauk-ranch-wind-power-project-ok-d/article_3f3b370c-01b3-11e1-82e1-001cc4c03286.html

Wind Farm Will Harvest Palouse’s Bounty (Earth Techling)

http://www.earthtechling.com/2011/10/wind-farm-will-harvest-palouses-bounty/

Vestas Plunges Most in Eight Years After Cutting Forecasts (Bloomberg Business Week)

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2011-10-31/vestas-plunges-most-in-eight-years-after-cutting-forecasts.html

Massachusetts - Federal Appeals Court Deals Cape Wind Blow (Boston Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/real_estate/2011/10/federal-appeals-court-deals-cape-wind.html

Shohomish PUD’s Jackson Hydro Receives Low Impact Certification (Snohomish Times, WA)

http://www.snohomishtimes.com/snohomishNEWS.cfm?inc=story&newsID=1972

More Than 200 Hear Biomass Opponent in Port Townsend (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20111028/NEWS/310289996/more-than-200-hear-biomass-opponent-in-port-townsend

Colorado Biomass - Aspen Qualifies for $32M Grant for Renewable Energy Efforts (Lufkin Daily News, CO)

http://lufkindailynews.com/business/article_6cf550a0-01d7-11e1-9f3a-001cc4c002e0.html

Solar Panels Provide Jolt to Bremerton High Science Class (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/oct/28/solar-panels-provide-jolt-to-bremerton-high/

Clean Energy 'Gold Rush' in Mojave Spurs Backlash (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/2011/1031/Clean-energy-gold-rush-in-Mojave-spurs-backlash

US Government Dollars Not Enough to Save Beacon Power from Bankruptcy (Boston Business Journal, MA)

www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2011/10/31/beacon-power-declares-bankruptcy.html

South Dakota - Hyde County Wind Project on Hold - Customer Uncertainty Stalls Plans (Sioux Falls Argus-Leader, SD)

http://www.argusleader.com/article/20111030/NEWS/110300325/1001

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Cut Heating Bills by 30% by Adding Insulation (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20111030/biz/710309973/-1/rss03

Editorial - Washington State: Other States Could Learn from Our Efforts to Save Energy (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/10/29/1856570/other-states-could-learn-from.html

Pacific Northwest Utilities, Energy Efficiency Groups Help Shift Consumers to Most Efficient TVs (Clean Technica)

http://cleantechnica.com/2011/10/31/northwest-utilities-energy-efficiency-groups-help-shift-consumers-to-most-efficient-tvs/

Factoring Energy Efficiency into a Home's Value (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-harney-20111030,0,69866.story

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Countries Must Plan for Climate Refugees (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/28/uk-climate-resettlement-idUSLNE79R02G20111028

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Obama's Energy Loan Review May Rope in Electric-Car Makers (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/10/obamas-energy-loan-review-may-rope-in-electric-car-makers/1?csp=34money

Op/Ed - Why Oregon Can Lead the Green Business Revolution (Oregonian, Portland)

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

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

FCC Overhauls a Telephone Subsidy (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/28/business/fcc-overhauls-fund-for-broadband-service.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

FCC Clears Up Its Powerline Broadband Rules - But It's Too Little Too Late For the 'Great Broadband Hope' (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/FCC-Clears-Up-Their-Powerline-Broadband-Rules-116803

Big Data, Speed and the Future of Computing (NY Times)

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/31/big-data-speed-and-the-future-of-computing/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Digital-Streaming Fees to Get Spookier (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2016652395_brier31.html

Google Redesign In Search of Apple-Like Cool (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2016643819_btgoogledesign31.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Challenge of Ruling Lands McKenna in New Beef (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016652940_mckenna31m.html

Washington Poll Shows Liquor Privatization Initiative Leading (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/politics/29637004/detail.html

GENERAL NEWS

Heavy Snow in Northeast, When Will Northwest Snow Arrive? (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=570150

Experts Warn: Prepare for Higher Landslide Risk This Winter (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/132888068.html

Washington Apple Growers Scrambling to Find Workers (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016652587_farmlabor31m.html

The Most & Least Expensive Places in Washington (Associated Press)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/oct/30/the-most-and-least-expensive-places-in-washington/

DIVERSIONS

Pizza Crusade: Domino's Managers Charged With Burning Down Rival Papa John's Store

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/10/30/pizza-crusade-dominos-managers-charged-with-burning-down-rival-papa-johns-store/

'Dentally Defective Rat': Canadian Lawmaker Rails against Beaver as National Symbol

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/10/31/dentally-defective-rat-canadian-lawmaker-rails-against-beaver-as-national-symbol/

'Miracle Dog' Survives Gas Chamber

http://www.kirotv.com/news/29636412/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Electric Light Orchestra - I'm Alive

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3CR8DMFfFs8

Energy News Digest for October 27, 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

Huge Hole in Condit Dam’s Base Sets White Salmon River Free - It’s the second-tallest dam ever to be breached in the US (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/oct/26/huge-hole-dams-base-sets-white-salmon-river-free/

Feds Will Redirect Phone Subsidy to Broadband (Kansas City Business Journal, MO)
http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/blog/morning_call/2011/10/feds-will-redirect-phone-subsidy-to.html

WaferTech to Save Cool $200K on Power - New energy-efficient system’s $1.6 million cost largely publicly financed (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/oct/26/wafertech-to-save-cool-200k-on-power/

Citizens Groups Propose New Route for Bonneville Power Administration Transmission Line (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_4c27be1a-002b-11e1-b190-001cc4c03286.html

Huge Solar Power Plants Are Blooming In California’s Southern Deserts (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_19200152

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Citizens Groups Propose New Route for Bonneville Power Administration Transmission Line
• Nippon Paper Mill Won’t be Charged Base Electrical Rate, Port Angeles Council Decides
• Douglas County PUD Distribution Budget Adopted
• Idaho - Extra Hydro for Black Canyon Diversion Dam
• Itron to Close Six Sites, Cut Jobs - Liberty Lake Location, Workers Not Affected
• TransAlta Officially Opens US Headquarters in Olympia
• Bad Wiring Blamed for Yakima House Fire
• Indiana - Duke Executives Testify About Plant’s Out-Of-Hand Costs
• Higher Electric Prices, Lower Reliability Expected in Texas
• US Natural Gas Supplies Grew Last Week
• Japan Gets Electricity Wake-Up Call
• Dressing Up Power Lines Comes With Limits
• Huge Hole in Condit Dam’s Base Sets White Salmon River Free
• Condit Dam Breaching Required a Lot of Preparation, Planning on Tight Schedule
• With A Boom & A Flash of Light, Condit Dam is Breached & White Salmon River Unleashed
• Video: Breaching the Condit Dam
• Drifting Along, Tumbleweeds Are Piling Up Across the Plains
• Huge Solar Power Plants Are Blooming In California’s Southern Deserts
• Mapping a Future for Tidal Energy
• New Google Map Reveals US Geothermal Resources Ten Times Greater than Coal
• The Rebirth of Renewable Energy
• WaferTech to Save Cool $200K on Power
• Local Volunteers Weatherize Home for Future Low-Income Buyer
• The Daily Show - Jon Stewart Makes Fun of Seattle Weatherization Program
• Editorial - Carbon Credits Like Medieval Indulgences
• Pacific Ethanol Profits from Record Sales
• Feds Will Redirect Phone Subsidy to Broadband
• CenturyLink Cable Cut for Second Time near Pasco
• Facebook’s Swedish data center mostly powered by clean energy
• Oregon Officials Run Afoul of Facebook Over Data Center Taxes
• Tennessee US Senator Crafting Legislation for Amazon, Online Retailers
• Thunder in Them Thar Clouds
• Union Opposes Washington State Governor’s Suggestion to Cut Benefits
• Washington State Pares 5,700 Government Jobs in Past Four Years
• 47 Percent ‘Turnout’ Predicted or Washington State Election
• Public Records Penalty - Garnishment for Belfair Water District
• Three Corrections Officers Fired at Monroe Prison Following Jayme Biendl’s Death
• Radioactive Used Cars Turn Up for Sale in Japan

WORD OF THE DAY

Hoyden • \HOY-dunn\ • Noun - A girl or woman of saucy, boisterous, or carefree behavior

Amazonians

The ultimate hoyden clan

Don’t cross them buddy

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

Citizens Groups Propose New Route for Bonneville Power Administration Transmission Line (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_4c27be1a-002b-11e1-b190-001cc4c03286.html

Nippon Paper Mill Won’t be Charged Base Electrical Rate, Port Angeles Council Decides (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20111027/news/310279987/nippon-won-8217-t-be-charged-base-electrical-rate-port-angeles

Douglas County PUD Distribution Budget Adopted (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

http://www.kpq.com/10-27-11-Douglas-County-PUD-Distribution-Budget-Ad/11312709

Idaho - Extra Hydro for Black Canyon Diversion Dam (Water Power Magazine)

http://www.waterpowermagazine.com/story.asp?sectioncode=130&storyCode=2060988

Itron to Close Six Sites, Cut Jobs - Liberty Lake Location, Workers Not Affected (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/oct/27/itron-to-close-six-sites-cut-jobs/

TransAlta Officially Opens US Headquarters in Olympia (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/10/27/1853740/transalta-officially-opens-us.html

Bad Wiring Blamed for Yakima House Fire (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2011/10/27/bad-wiring-blamed-for-yakima-house-fire

Indiana - Duke Executives Testify About Plant’s Out-Of-Hand Costs (Indianapolis Star, IN)

http://www.indystar.com/article/20111026/BUSINESS/110260404/1003/BUSINESS

Higher Electric Prices, Lower Reliability Expected in Texas (Dallas Business Journal, TX)

http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/blog/morning_call/2011/10/higher-electric-prices-lower.html

US Natural Gas Supplies Grew Last Week (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/US-natural-gas-supplies-grew-last-week-2239019.php

Japan Gets Electricity Wake-Up Call (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/business/energy-environment/japan-gets-electricity-wake-up-call.html?_r=1

Dressing Up Power Lines Comes With Limits (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/27/world/europe/dressing-up-power-lines-comes-with-limits-in-denmark.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Huge Hole in Condit Dam’s Base Sets White Salmon River Free - It’s the second-tallest dam ever to be breached in the US (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/oct/26/huge-hole-dams-base-sets-white-salmon-river-free/

Condit Dam Breaching Required a Lot of Preparation, Planning on Tight Schedule - Salmon were captured, relocated (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/oct/26/dam-breaching-required-a-lot-of-preparation-planni/

With A Boom & A Flash of Light, Condit Dam is Breached & White Salmon River Unleashed (Oregonian, Portland)

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

Video: Breaching the Condit Dam (YouTube)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0lWbcT5gfY0

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Drifting Along, Tumbleweeds Are Piling Up Across the Plains (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/28/us/tumbleweeds-are-piling-up-across-the-plains.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Huge Solar Power Plants Are Blooming In California’s Southern Deserts (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_19200152

Mapping a Future for Tidal Energy - Snohomish PUD is studying an underwater site at Admiralty Inlet to build tidal generators (Daily Journal of Commerce, Seattle)

http://www.djc.com/news/ae/12034595.html

New Google Map Reveals US Geothermal Resources Ten Times Greater than Coal (Talking Points Memo)

http://idealab.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/10/new-google-map-reveals-us-geothermal-resources-10-times-coal.php

The Rebirth of Renewable Energy (Cable News Network)

http://www.cnn.com/2011/10/27/opinion/yergin-renewable-energy-rebirth/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

WaferTech to Save Cool $200K on Power - New energy-efficient system’s $1.6 million cost largely publicly financed (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/oct/26/wafertech-to-save-cool-200k-on-power/

Local Volunteers Weatherize Home for Future Low-Income Buyer (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/1226975/

The Daily Show - Jon Stewart Makes Fun of Seattle Weatherization Program (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2011/10/26/jon-stewart-makes-fun-of-seattles-jobs-program/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Editorial - Carbon Credits Like Medieval Indulgences (National Post, Canada)

http://opinion.financialpost.com/2011/10/26/carbon-credits-like-medieval-indulgences/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Pacific Ethanol Profits from Record Sales (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/27/4009940/pacific-ethanol-profits-from-record.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Feds Will Redirect Phone Subsidy to Broadband (Kansas City Business Journal, MO)
http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/blog/morning_call/2011/10/feds-will-redirect-phone-subsidy-to.html

CenturyLink Cable Cut for Second Time near Pasco (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.kndu.com/story/15881733/centurylink-cable-cut-for-second-day-near-pasco

Facebook’s Swedish data center mostly powered by clean energy – “…Good old hydropower (water & dams), which is still the hands-down cheapest kind of clean power available…” (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/cleantech/facebooks-swedish-data-center-mostly-powered-by-clean-energy/

Oregon Officials Run Afoul of Facebook Over Data Center Taxes (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2011/10/oregon_tax_officials_run_afoul.html

Tennessee US Senator Crafting Legislation for Amazon, Online Retailers (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2011/10/26/tennessee-senator-crafting-legislation.html

Thunder in Them Thar Clouds (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/techchron/2011/10/26/thunder-in-them-thar-clouds/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Union Opposes Washington State Governor’s Suggestion to Cut Benefits (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016617443_union27m.html

Washington State Pares 5,700 Government Jobs in Past Four Years (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/morning_call/2011/10/washington-state-pares-5700-jobs-in.html

47 Percent ‘Turnout’ Predicted or Washington State Election (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/10/27/1854033/47-percent-turnout-predicted-for.html

GENERAL NEWS

Public Records Penalty - Garnishment for Belfair Water District (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/17115-garnishment-for-belfair-water-district-

Three Corrections Officers Fired at Monroe Prison Following Jayme Biendl’s Death (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/29596047/detail.html

Radioactive Used Cars Turn Up for Sale in Japan (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/10/radioactive-used-cars-turn-up-on-sale-in-japan/1?csp=34money

DIVERSIONS

Airline Finds Long-Lost Cat In Airport - Jack the Cat’s Plight at JFK Became Online Sensation

http://www.kirotv.com/news/29592828/detail.html

Whopping Fine in Italy on Parked Car Dating Back to 208 AD

http://ca.news.yahoo.com/whopping-fine-italy-parked-car-dating-back-208-161005163.html

Why Would Thieves Steal A Bridge?

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/magazine-15344442

With Uniforms & Budget in Poor Repair, Oregon High School Band Marches On, Casually

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/with-uniforms-and-budget-in-poor-repair-oregon-high-school-band-marches-on-casually/2011/10/20/gIQA1ulV1L_story.html?wprss=rss_national

SONG OF THE DAY

For all those Condi Dam explosion watchers:

Pat Travers - Boom Boom (Out Go the Lights) Studio Version

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBf1e6WWWA0

Energy News Digest for October 26, 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

Noon Explosion Will Breach Condit Dam on Wednesday - Nearby roads, waterways airspace will be closed much of day (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/oct/26/explosion-will-breach-condit-dam-nearby-roads-wate/

Clark PUD Raises Home Electricity Rates Some 3.9% - Customers won’t feel the bite during the next two years (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/oct/25/residential-customers-of-clark-pud-to-pay-39-more/

Tightening of Boiler-Pollution Rules Could Be Trouble for Northwest Mills (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/10/25/1879117/tightening-of-boiler-pollution.html

Sun Sets on Three Norwegian Solar Plants as Renewable Energy Corporation Falls Short (Reuters)

http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL5E7LP1SW20111026

A Carbon Culprit: Rivers and Streams (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/26/a-carbon-culprit-rivers-and-streams/?partner=rss&emc=rss

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Clark PUD Raises Home Electricity Rates Some 3.9%
• Cowlitz County PUD Commissioners Approve Rate Increase
• Pacific County PUD Customers Facing Rate Increase
• Pacific County Electricity Rates on the Rise as Temps Fall
• Peninsula Light Company Plans Rate Hike for Spring
• City of Richland Power Rate Increase Expected in 2012
• Healthy Chelan PUD Budget Includes Fiber Optics
• Fitch Rates Chelan PUD's $164.4 Million Consolidated System Revenue Bonds at 'AA+'; Outlook Negative
• Beartooth Electric to Fight Southern Montana Electric Cooperative Bankruptcy Filing
• Member Co-Ops React to Southern Montana Electric Cooperative Filing for Bankruptcy
• Itron Laying Off 750 Worldwide
• Texas - Proposed Austin Energy Electric Rate Increases Target Poor, Could Hamper Conservation, Critics Say
• On the Front Lines of the Power Grid
• Noon Explosion Will Breach Condit Dam on Wednesday
• Condit Dam to be Demolished Wednesday
• Study: More Species in Washington State, British Columbia Need Protection
• Pikeminnow Anglers Earn Big Dollars & Save Salmon
• White Nose Syndrome: Fungus Fingered as Bat Killer
• PETA Sues SeaWorld Parks for 'Enslaving' Orcas
• China Takes a Loss to Get Ahead in the Business of Fresh Water
• Tightening of Boiler-Pollution Rules Could Be Trouble for Northwest Mills
• National Opponent of Biomass to Speak in Port Townsend
• Sun Sets on Three Norwegian Solar Plants as Renewable Energy Corporation Falls Short
• More Problems in Solar Sector: Bellwether Firm First Solar Ousts CEO, Stock Plummets
• Solar Jobs Report Shows 6.8% Growth over 2010
• US Installs Over 1,200 MW of Wind Power in the Third Quarter
• Alaska Energy Test Showed Power Use Cut by About 1-2 Percent
• A Carbon Culprit: Rivers and Streams
• White Roofs May Actually Add to Global Warming
• Coca Cola’s New Look: Polar-Bear White
• Smart Electric Grid Yields Jobs, Report Says
• A Breath of Fresh Canned Air - A Promising Solution to Chemical Dusting Canisters
• Telecom Chief Slams Interest Groups for FCC Lobbying
• Op/Ed - Fulfilling the Promise: Extending the Benefits of Broadband to Consumers in Rural America 
• Apple Building Solar Farm for North Carolina Data Center
• Google Opens Internet Research Institute
• A Decade On, Windows XP Is Still the World’s Most-Used Desktop OS
• Former Manager Charged With Stealing $250K from Seattle Schools
• Former Washington State Senator Alex Deccio Dies in Yakima
• Jay Inslee, Candidate for WA Governor, Chats With Grist about Clean Energy & Coal Ports
• Mason County Unemployment Up
• Federal Grant for Mason Transit Center
• US Road Travel Falls to Lowest Levels Since 2003
• People at Increased Risk of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Winter

WORD OF THE DAY

Pediculous • \pih-DIK-yuh-luss\ • Adjective - Infested with lice: lousy

“Scuse, me…pardon me…gangway,” shouted Ambrose on his way to a nearby Boots Pharmacy; plowing his way through a crowd of drawling Americans whom had made Trafalgar Square a pediculous mass of babbling, pointing and photo-snapping tourists.

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

Clark PUD Raises Home Electricity Rates Some 3.9% - Customers won’t feel the bite during the next two years (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/oct/25/residential-customers-of-clark-pud-to-pay-39-more/

Cowlitz County PUD Commissioners Approve Rate Increase - Vow to go after $9 million owed for sales of wind energy to California utilities (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_91feedb6-ff75-11e0-b79e-001cc4c03286.html

Pacific County PUD Customers Facing Rate Increase (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kxro.wordpress.com/2011/10/26/pacific-county-pud-customers-facing-rate-increase/

Pacific County Electricity Rates on the Rise as Temps Fall (Chinook Observer, Long Beach, WA)

http://www.chinookobserver.com/news/electricity-rates-on-the-rise-as-temps-fall/article_0997ada6-ff5b-11e0-a464-001cc4c03286.html

Peninsula Light Company Plans Rate Hike for Spring - Penlight will increase its rates for all classes of service next spring (Peninsula Gateway, Gig Harbor, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/10/25/1879508/peninsula-light-co-plans-rate.html

City of Richland Power Rate Increase Expected in 2012 (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/10/26/1693804/power-rate-increase-expected-in.html

Healthy Chelan PUD Budget Includes Fiber Optics (Lake Chelan Mirror, WA)

http://lakechelanmirror.com/main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=5066

Fitch Rates Chelan PUD's $164.4 Million Consolidated System Revenue Bonds at 'AA+'; Outlook Negative (Market Watch)

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fitch-rates-chelan-puds-wa-1644mm-2011c-consolidated-sys-rev-bonds-at-aa-outlook-negative-2011-10-25

Beartooth Electric to Fight Southern Montana Electric Cooperative Bankruptcy Filing (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20111025/NEWS01/111025005/Beartooth-Electric-fight-SME-bankruptcy-filing

Member Co-Ops React to Southern Montana Electric Cooperative Filing for Bankruptcy (KFBB-TV, Great Falls, MT)

http://www.kfbb.com/news/local/Member-Co-ops-React-to-SME-Filing-for-Bankruptcy--132596013.html

Itron Laying Off 750 Worldwide (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2011/10/26/itron-laying-off-750-worldwide.html

Texas - Proposed Austin Energy Electric Rate Increases Target Poor, Could Hamper Conservation, Critics Say (Austin American-Statesman, TX)
http://www.statesman.com/news/local/proposed-electric-rate-increases-target-poor-could-hamper-1934092.html

On the Front Lines of the Power Grid (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/26/business/energy-environment/behind-the-power-grid-humans-with-high-stakes-jobs.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Noon Explosion Will Breach Condit Dam on Wednesday - Nearby roads, waterways airspace will be closed much of day (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/oct/26/explosion-will-breach-condit-dam-nearby-roads-wate/

Condit Dam to be Demolished Wednesday - White Salmon River project to be third-largest dam removal in the country (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016606447_condit26m.html

Study: More Species in Washington State, British Columbia Need Protection (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/10/26/1852793/study-more-species-in-wash-bc.html

Pikeminnow Anglers Earn Big Dollars & Save Salmon (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/1226499/

White Nose Syndrome: Fungus Fingered as Bat Killer (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2011/10/white-nose-syndrome-fungus-fingered-as-bat-killer/1?csp=34news

PETA Sues SeaWorld Parks for 'Enslaving' Orcas (TIME Magazine)

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/10/26/peta-sues-seaworld-parks-for-enslaving-orcas/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

China Takes a Loss to Get Ahead in the Business of Fresh Water (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/26/world/asia/china-takes-loss-to-get-ahead-in-desalination-industry.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Tightening of Boiler-Pollution Rules Could Be Trouble for Northwest Mills (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/10/25/1879117/tightening-of-boiler-pollution.html

National Opponent of Biomass to Speak in Port Townsend (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20111025/NEWS/111029985/national-opponent-of-biomass-to-speak-in-port-townsend

Sun Sets on Three Norwegian Solar Plants as Renewable Energy Corporation Falls Short (Reuters)

http://af.reuters.com/article/commoditiesNews/idAFL5E7LP1SW20111026

More Problems in Solar Sector: Bellwether Firm First Solar Ousts CEO, Stock Plummets (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_19189930

Solar Jobs Report Shows 6.8% Growth over 2010 (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/10/solar-jobs-report-shows-6-8-growth-over-2010?cmpid=rss

US Installs Over 1,200 MW of Wind Power in the Third Quarter (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/25/us-utilities-awea-wind-idUSTRE79O6SQ20111025

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Alaska Energy Test Showed Power Use Cut by About 1-2 Percent (Anchorage Daily News, AK)

http://www.adn.com/2011/10/25/2138370/energy-test-showed-power-use-cut.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

A Carbon Culprit: Rivers and Streams (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/26/a-carbon-culprit-rivers-and-streams/?partner=rss&emc=rss

White Roofs May Actually Add to Global Warming (Discover Magazine)

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2011/10/20/white-roofs-may-actually-add-to-global-warming/

Coca Cola’s New Look: Polar-Bear White (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/25/idUS203460485020111025

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Smart Electric Grid Yields Jobs, Report Says (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/25/BU2V1LM5CB.DTL

A Breath of Fresh Canned Air - A Promising Solution to Chemical Dusting Canisters (Sightline Daily)

http://daily.sightline.org/2011/10/26/a-breath-of-fresh-canned-air/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Telecom Chief Slams Interest Groups for FCC Lobbying (The Hill, Washington, DC)

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/189717-telecom-chief-slams-interest-groups-for-fcc-lobbying

Op/Ed - Fulfilling the Promise: Extending the Benefits of Broadband to Consumers in Rural America (US Telecom Broadband Association)

http://www.ustelecom.org/Video_Blogs/Blog/index.php/2011/10/25/fulfilling-the-promise-extending-the-benefits-of-broadband-to-consumers-in-rural-america/

Apple Building Solar Farm for North Carolina Data Center (Gigaom)

http://gigaom.com/cleantech/apple-building-solar-farm-for-data-center/

Google Opens Internet Research Institute (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Google-opens-Internet-research-institute-2235492.php

A Decade On, Windows XP Is Still the World’s Most-Used Desktop OS (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/5853388/a-decade-on-windows-xp-is-still-the-worlds-most+used-desktop-os

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Former Manager Charged With Stealing $250K from Seattle Schools (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=567321

Former Washington State Senator Alex Deccio Dies in Yakima (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/10/26/1852761/former-washington-sen-deccio-dies.html

Jay Inslee, Candidate for WA Governor, Chats With Grist about Clean Energy & Coal Ports (Grist Online)

http://www.grist.org/election-2012/2011-10-25-jay-inslee-candidate-washington-governor-clean-energy-coal-ports

GENERAL NEWS

Mason County Unemployment Up (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/17030-mason-county-unemployment-up

Federal Grant for Mason Transit Center (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/17032-federal-grant-for-mason-transit-center

US Road Travel Falls to Lowest Levels Since 2003 (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/10/us-road-travel-falls-to-lowest-levels-since-2003/1?csp=34money

People at Increased Risk of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning in Winter (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.kndu.com/story/15874432/increased-risk-for-carbon-monoxide-poisoning-in-winter

DIVERSIONS

Fake Maple Syrup Sours Sweet Image - New York's U.S. senators seek federal felony for passing off the cheap stuff as the real thing

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Fake-maple-syrup-sours-sweet-image-2229085.php

69 Photos that Pull Your Eyes from Their Sockets

http://gizmodo.com/5853078/69-photos-that-pull-your-eyes-from-their-sockets

Beleaguered Flight Crews Could Soon Bunk With the Cargo

http://gizmodo.com/5853249/beleaguered-flight-crews-could-soon-bunk-with-the-cargo

Seven Filthy Things You Shouldn’t Touch on Your Way to Work

http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2011/10/25/seven-filthy-things-you-shouldnt-touch-on-your-way-to-work/#1521-1

SONG OF THE DAY

Willie Nelson - Moonlight in Vermont

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ulyOQXjCso