Energy News Digest for November 4, 2011

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

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

Return of Standard Time Means Getting Back That Hour of Sleep Lost Last Spring (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/return-of-standard-time-means-getting-back-that-hour-of-sleep-lost-last-spring/2011/11/04/gIQA0YpzlM_story.html?wprss=rss_national

Biggest Jump Ever Seen in Global Warming Gases (Associated Press)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/story/2011-11-03/huge-increase-in-global-warming-gasses/51065082/1

Idaho - Activists: Wind Energy Projects Mean Power Bill Hikes (KIFI-TV, Idaho Falls, ID)

http://www.localnews8.com/news/29679170/detail.html

Study: Toxics in Puget Sound Come from All of Us (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/133184228.html

Unable to Pay Bill, Michigan City Turns Off Lights “…elected officials not only turned off 1,000 streetlights. They had them ripped out - bulbs, poles and all…” (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/nov/03/unable-pay-bill-mich-city-turns-lights/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Unable to Pay Bill, Michigan City Turns Off Lights
• A Smart Pacific Northwest Power Grid? The Potential vs. Reality
• Op/Ed - Shale Gas Revolution
• Part of Sun Turns into Stormy ‘Benevolent Monster’
• Saber-Toothed Squirrel from Age of Dinosaurs Discovered
• Debris Fills White Salmon River After Dam Breach
• Let the Learning Begin: Elwha Restoration a Living Laboratory
• A Thousand Rainbow Trout Arrive at Kamiakin High School
• California Farmers Face Off over Water Proposals Some Believe Would Hurt Delta Area to Help South
• Asian Carp Invasion: Can We Fish Our Way Out of the Problem?
• Study: Toxics in Puget Sound Come from All of Us
• Japan’s Tsunami Debris Headed for Washington, Likely to Hit in Late ‘13
• EPA to Probe ‘Fracking’s’ Toll on Drinking Water
• Fatal Sewer Line Accident in North Texas
• America’s Greatest Outdoor Spots? Obama Picks 100- Includes Spots in the Pacific Northwest
• Idaho - Activists: Wind Energy Projects Mean Power Bill Hikes
• Beacon Power: We’re Broke, But We’re No Solyndra
• First Solar Brings German Solar Plant to Full Production
• California Utilities Worry Biogas Won’t Qualify as Renewable
• Solar Intermittency: How Big is the Problem?
• Lightning Is Nemesis of Windmills, Threatening Japan’s Renewable Energy Campaign
• Winner of Northwest ENERGY STAR® Homes’ $25,000 Welcome Home Campaign Prize Announced – Clark Public Utilities Customer
• China to Phase Out Energy-Inefficient Light Bulbs
• Biggest Jump Ever Seen in Global Warming Gases
• Birds Fly in the Face of Climate Change Expectations
• NASA Sees Giant Crack Forming in Antarctic Glacier
• Global Carbon Markets in Doldrums
• Report Outlines Oregon's Clean Energy Economy Leadership
• Welsh: Recycling Meets Green Building
• Facebook Getting Friendly with Seattle, Ready to Expand
• Colorado - Comcast, CenturyLink Fail to Stop Longmont Fibe
• Amazingly, AOL Still Has 3.5 Million Dialup Subscribers
• 115 Washington State Mayors (Including Shelton’s Tarrant) Call Budget Cuts ‘Intolerable’
• PDF of Washington Mayors’ letter
• Washington State - Representative Hudgins to Run for Secretary of State, Senator Pridemore for State Auditor
• Autumn’s Gloomy Days Are Washington State AG McKenna’s Springtime
• Return of Standard Time Means Getting Back That Hour of Sleep Lost Last Spring
• Possible Fire Bombing Investigated in Satsop
• Boys & Girls Club Curtailing Some North Mason Programs
• Shelton School District Bond Refinance Saves Taxpayers
• Son of Missing Mom Gets Ransom Note Demanding $250,000
• Gregoire Sends Inmates to Help Amid Washington State Apple-Picker Shortage
• Redmond Rejects Red-Light Ticketing Cameras
• Family Sued After Second Serious Injury from Buried Grape Residue

WORD OF THE DAY

Onomatopoeia • \awn-uh-mah-tuh-PEE-yuh\ • Noun - 1: the naming of a thing or action by a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it (as buzz, hiss) 2: the use of words whose sound suggests the sense

Fred was the company’s resident Onomatopoeian. He had trouble describing things with words, so he instead communicated through clicks, flabby mouth noises and other bodily actions or “sounds” which represented the information he needed to convey. Surprisingly, it worked rather well.

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

Unable to Pay Bill, Michigan City Turns Off Lights “…elected officials not only turned off 1,000 streetlights. They had them ripped out - bulbs, poles and all…” (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/nov/03/unable-pay-bill-mich-city-turns-lights/

A Smart Pacific Northwest Power Grid? The Potential vs. Reality (Oregon Public Radio)

http://ecotrope.opb.org/2011/11/a-smart-nw-power-grid-the-potential-vs-reality/

Op/Ed - Shale Gas Revolution (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/04/opinion/brooks-the-shale-gas-revolution.html?_r=1&src=recg

Part of Sun Turns into Stormy ‘Benevolent Monster’ (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2016682521_apusscistormysun.html

Saber-Toothed Squirrel from Age of Dinosaurs Discovered (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2011/1103/Saber-toothed-squirrel-from-age-of-dinosaurs-discovered

FISH & WILDLIFE

Debris Fills White Salmon River After Dam Breach (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/11/03/1862771/debris-fills-white-salmon-river.html

Let the Learning Begin: Elwha Restoration a Living Laboratory (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/fieldnotes/2016687583_let_the_learning_begin_elwha_restoration_a_living_laboratory.html?syndication=rss

A Thousand Rainbow Trout Arrive at Kamiakin High School (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.kndu.com/story/15956603/a-thousand-rainbow-trout-arrive-at-kamiakin-high-school

California Farmers Face Off over Water Proposals Some Believe Would Hurt Delta Area to Help South (Associated Press)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/industries/calif-farmers-face-off-over-water-proposals-some-believe-would-hurt-delta-area-to-help-south/2011/11/04/gIQAPGDtkM_story.html?wprss=rss_national

Asian Carp Invasion: Can We Fish Our Way Out of the Problem? (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2011/1104/Asian-carp-invasion-Can-we-fish-our-way-out-of-the-problem

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Study: Toxics in Puget Sound Come from All of Us (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/133184228.html

Japan’s Tsunami Debris Headed for Washington, Likely to Hit in Late ‘13 (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/11/03/1891755/japans-tsunami-debris-headed-for.html

EPA to Probe ‘Fracking’s’ Toll on Drinking Water (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2016678713_apusepagasdrilling.html

Fatal Sewer Line Accident in North Texas (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2016678439_apussewerlinerescue.html

America’s Greatest Outdoor Spots? Obama Picks 100- Includes Spots in the Pacific Northwest (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/11/americas-greatest-outdoor-spots-feds-pick-top-100/1?csp=34news

PDF File of the Report (Department of the Interior)

http://www.doi.gov/news/pressreleases/upload/ago50statereport.pdf

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Idaho - Activists: Wind Energy Projects Mean Power Bill Hikes (KIFI-TV, Idaho Falls, ID)

http://www.localnews8.com/news/29679170/detail.html

Beacon Power: We’re Broke, But We’re No Solyndra (CNET News)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-20128637-92/beacon-power-were-broke-but-were-no-solyndra/?tag=nl.e724

First Solar Brings German Solar Plant to Full Production (Phoenix Business Journal, AZ)

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/news/2011/11/03/first-solar-brings-german-solar-plant.html

California Utilities Worry Biogas Won’t Qualify as Renewable (Waste Business Journal)

http://www.wastebusinessjournal.com/news/wbj20111101D.htm

Solar Intermittency: How Big is the Problem? (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/11/solar-intermittency-how-big-is-the-problem?cmpid=rss

Lightning Is Nemesis of Windmills, Threatening Japan’s Renewable Energy Campaign (Mainichi Daily News, Japan)

http://mdn.mainichi.jp/mdnnews/news/20111104p2a00m0na006000c.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Winner of Northwest ENERGY STAR® Homes’ $25,000 Welcome Home Campaign Prize Announced – Clark Public Utilities Customer (MarketWatch)

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/winner-of-northwest-energy-star-homes-25000-welcome-home-campaign-prize-announced-2011-11-03

China to Phase Out Energy-Inefficient Light Bulbs (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/China-to-phase-out-energy-inefficient-light-bulbs-2251691.php

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Biggest Jump Ever Seen in Global Warming Gases (Associated Press)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/story/2011-11-03/huge-increase-in-global-warming-gasses/51065082/1

Birds Fly in the Face of Climate Change Expectations (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/11/03/no-one-size-fits-all-for-climate-change/?partner=rss

NASA Sees Giant Crack Forming in Antarctic Glacier (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2016678751_apussciantarcticcrack.html

Global Carbon Markets in Doldrums (The Daily Star)

http://www.thedailystar.net/newDesign/news-details.php?nid=209195

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Report outlines Oregon's clean energy economy leadership (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2011/11/report-outlines-oregons-clean-energy.html

Welsh: Recycling Meets Green Building (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2011/11/welsh-recycling-meets-green-building.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Facebook Getting Friendly with Seattle, Ready to Expand (Techflash)

http://techflash.com/seattle/2011/11/facebook-expanding-in-seattle.html

Colorado - Comcast, CenturyLink Fail to Stop Longmont Fiber: City Will be Allowed to Use its Own Fiber Network (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Comcast-CenturyLink-Fail-to-Stop-Longmont-Fiber-116895

Amazingly, AOL Still Has 3.5 Million Dialup Subscribers (Splatf)

http://www.splatf.com/2011/11/aol-dialup-charts/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

115 Washington State Mayors (Including Shelton’s Tarrant) Call Budget Cuts ‘Intolerable’ (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/11/03/1862921/115-wash-mayors-call-budget-cuts.html

PDF of Washington Mayors’ letter (Association of Washington Cities)

http://www.awcnet.org/portals/0/documents/legislative/110311LtrGovCityStateRevenueSharingSigs.pdf

Washington State - Representative Hudgins to Run for Secretary of State, Senator Pridemore for State Auditor (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2016683076_rep_hudgins_to_run_for_secreta.html

Autumn’s Gloomy Days Are Washington State AG McKenna’s Springtime (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/connelly/article/Autumn-s-gloomy-days-are-McKenna-s-springtime-2251030.php

GENERAL NEWS

Return of Standard Time Means Getting Back That Hour of Sleep Lost Last Spring (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/return-of-standard-time-means-getting-back-that-hour-of-sleep-lost-last-spring/2011/11/04/gIQA0YpzlM_story.html?wprss=rss_national

Possible Fire Bombing Investigated in Satsop (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3322

Boys & Girls Club Curtailing Some North Mason Programs (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/17610-boys-a-girls-club-curtailing-nm-programs

Shelton School District Bond Refinance Saves Taxpayers (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/17611-shelton-bond-refinance-saves-taxpayers

Son of Missing Mom Gets Ransom Note Demanding $250,000 (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/133218878.html

Gregoire Sends Inmates to Help Amid Washington State Apple-Picker Shortage (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/11/03/1891792/amid-shorage-of-apple-pickers.html

Redmond Rejects Red-Light Ticketing Cameras (Associated Press)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/nov/04/redmond-rejects-red-light-ticketing-cameras/

Family Sued After Second Serious Injury from Buried Grape Residue (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2011/11/03/family-sued-after-second-serious-injury-from-buried-grape-residue

DIVERSIONS

Germany: Cleaning Woman Damages Sculpture

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2016684917_apeugermanyscrubbedart.html

No More ‘Relaxation Brownies’ at the Pumps

http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/11/04/41196.htm

Seattle Pastor Mark Driscoll Says Yoga Is Demonic

http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2011/11/03/seattle-pastor-mark-driscoll-says-yoga-is-demonic/

Oregon Balloonist Headed to Iraq for ‘Dream’ Flight

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/nov/04/oregon-balloonist-headed-to-iraq-for-dream-flight/

SONG OF THE DAY

Van Morrison - Cleaning Windows

www.youtube.com/watch?v=ae7Eix2s0zw

Energy News Digest for November 3, 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

Portland General Electric Reports Third Quarter 2011 Financial Results (MarketWatch)

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/portland-general-electric-reports-third-quarter-2011-financial-results-2011-11-03

Talk of New Snohomish PUD Dam on Skykomish River Above Sunset Falls Resisted (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20111103/NEWS01/711039965/-1/news01

Study: Oregon Biomass Tax Credit Led to $12M in Economic Activity (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2011/11/study-biomass-tax-credit-led-to-12m.html

Nisqually Tribe Closes Coho Fishery Early After Weak Run (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/11/03/1862229/tribe-closes-coho-fishery-early.html

Six Arrested & Pepper Spray Deployed in Occupy Seattle Protests (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Occupy-Seattle-takes-aim-at--133116923.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Portland General Electric Reports Third Quarter 2011 Financial Results
• Talk of New Snohomish PUD Dam on Skykomish River Above Sunset Falls Resisted
• Port Angeles Council Oks $8-Per-Month Utility Rate Increase
• BC Hydro Can’t Post a Loss, Chief Says
• Pacific Gas & Electric Reveals $400 Million Spending Plan to Improve Operations, Customer Service
• 1 Million Still Without Electricity in Storm-Battered Northeast
• Northeast US Politicians Fired Up over Outages
• Preparing for Emergencies
• Colorado - Xcel’s Feeling No Love in Boulder, But Lights Will Stay On
• Texas Drought Endangers Power Projects
• Duke Energy Posts 30 Percent Drop in Third Quarter Profit
• Prepaid Electric Meters Worry Iowa Consumer Groups
• US Natural Gas Supplies Grew Last Week
• United Kingdom - Fracking ‘Probable’ Cause of Lancashire Quakes
• Nisqually Tribe Closes Coho Fishery Early After Weak Run
• Vancouver Island - Thousands of Salmon Arrive in Goldstream
• After Condit Dam Breaching - Officials Warn River Is Dangerous
• The Grand Experiment: A Seattle Times talk on Elwha Restoration
• Cantwell Wants Plan for Floating Japan Debris
• Hood Canal Award Winners Named
• Study: Oregon Biomass Tax Credit Led to $12M in Economic Activity
• Vancouver Biomass Protesters Brave the Cold
• Idaho Congressman Labrador Wants to Ax Green Energy Incentives
• Pacific Northwest States in Top Ten for Wind Power
• Facebook to Use Solar Power for Electricity, Water
• Solar Array Latest Addition to Farm
• Massachusetts - Evergreen Solar Asset Auction Cleared to Go Forward
• A Trade War with China Will Decimate US Solar
• The Mysterious Link Between Bats & Wind Turbines
• Canada - Calgary Residents Outraged About School’s Wind Turbine Plans
• Wind Turbine 2.0 Works Harder Without Making You Hear All About It
• Puget Sound Energy’s Fridgeasaurus Selects Three Winners in Efficient Appliance Sweepstakes
• EPA’s Biggest (Energy) Loser? Florida College’s Garage Wins
• Nest’s Smart Thermostat Sold Out Until 2012
• Researchers Say Climate Change Is Changing Pacific Northwest Forest Structure as Well
• North Dakota Sues Minnesota over Next Generation Anti-Global Warming Law
• Mexico Pleads for US, China Agreement on Climate
• All-Electric Ford Focus Goes on Sale in Seattle
• Halloween’s Pumpkins Turned into Power for Homes
• From Poop to Plastic? New Innovations in BioPlastics
• Sheep Lawn Mowers, & Other Go-Getters
• Senate May Be Nearing Vote on Net Neutrality
• Op/Ed - A Co-op Role in Rural Broadband
• Amazon Now Sees a Profit in Becoming Tax Collector
• Apple Concedes Problem with iPhone 4S Battery
• The End of an Era: Internet Explorer Drops Below 50% of Web Usage
• Clipper Employee Commits an E-Mail Gaffe
• Poll: How Long Is Too Long to Use Starbucks WiFi?
• Washington State Senator Pridemore to Run for State Auditor’s Post
• Arizona Justice Tapped for 9th Circuit Vacancy
• Six Arrested & Pepper Spray Deployed in Occupy Seattle Protests
• Researchers: La Niña ‘Pretty Friendly’ to Pacific Northwest Interests
• British Columbia to Clamp Down on Metal Theft by Making it Harder to Sell
• Oregon, Washington Drivers Among the Nation’s Safest, Study Finds

WORD OF THE DAY

Ruction • \RUCK-shun\ • Noun – 1: noisy fight 2: disturbance, uproar

Occupy Wall Street

The ruction and angst prevail

Penthouse view of tents

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

Portland General Electric Reports Third Quarter 2011 Financial Results (MarketWatch)

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/portland-general-electric-reports-third-quarter-2011-financial-results-2011-11-03

Talk of New Snohomish PUD Dam on Skykomish River Above Sunset Falls Resisted (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20111103/NEWS01/711039965/-1/news01

Port Angeles Council Oks $8-Per-Month Utility Rate Increase (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20111103/news/311039998/port-angeles-council-oks-8-per-month-utility-rate-increase

BC Hydro Can’t Post a Loss, Chief Says (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/business/Hydro+post+loss+chief+says/5648429/story.html

Pacific Gas & Electric Reveals $400 Million Spending Plan to Improve Operations, Customer Service (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_19256327

1 Million Still Without Electricity in Storm-Battered Northeast (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/storms/winter/story/2011-11-02/northeast-snowstorm-power-outages/51049138/1?csp=34news

Northeast US Politicians Fired Up over Outages “…utility critics said the damage was worse because the cash-strapped National Grid has almost completely stopped cutting back the trees that grow close to power lines…” (Boston Herald, MA)

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/politics/view/2011_1102pols_fired_up_over_outages_coakley_brown_join_public_in_outrage/

Preparing for Emergencies (Fox News)

http://www.foxnews.com/health/2011/11/02/preparing-for-emergencies/

Colorado - Xcel’s Feeling No Love in Boulder, But Lights Will Stay On (Denver Business Journal, CO)

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/earth_to_power/2011/11/earth-energy-xcels-feeling-no-love.html

Texas Drought Endangers Power Projects (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2016669585_apusvanishingwaterenergy.html

Duke Energy Posts 30 Percent Drop in Third Quarter Profit (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2016674926_apusearnsdukeenergy.html

Prepaid Electric Meters Worry Iowa Consumer Groups (KGRC-TV, Cedar Rapids, IA)

http://www.kcrg.com/news/local/Prepaid-Electric-Meters-Worry-Iowa-Consumer-Groups-133162543.html

US Natural Gas Supplies Grew Last Week (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2016678423_apusnaturalgasstorage.html

United Kingdom - Fracking ‘Probable’ Cause of Lancashire Quakes (The Guardian, UK)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/nov/02/fracking-cause-lancashire-quakes

FISH & WILDLIFE

Nisqually Tribe Closes Coho Fishery Early After Weak Run (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/11/03/1862229/tribe-closes-coho-fishery-early.html

Vancouver Island - Thousands of Salmon Arrive in Goldstream (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Thousands+salmon+arrive+Goldstream/5650033/story.html

After Condit Dam Breaching - Officials Warn River Is Dangerous (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/nov/02/officials-warn-river-is-dangerous/

The Grand Experiment: A Seattle Times talk on Elwha Restoration (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/fieldnotes/2016678330_the_grand_experiment_a_seattle_times_talk_on_elwha_restoration.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Cantwell Wants Plan for Floating Japan Debris (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016674184_tsunamidebris03m.html

Hood Canal Award Winners Named (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/nov/02/hood-canal-award-winners-named/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Study: Oregon Biomass Tax Credit Led to $12M in Economic Activity (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2011/11/study-biomass-tax-credit-led-to-12m.html

Vancouver Biomass Protesters Brave the Cold (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/weblogs/local-politics/2011/nov/02/biomass-protesters-brave-the-cold/

Idaho Congressman Labrador Wants to Ax Green Energy Incentives (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/nov/03/labrador-wants-ax-green-energy-incentives/

Pacific Northwest States in Top Ten for Wind Power (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://earthfix.opb.org/energy/article/wa-or-wind-installations-rank-no-6-and-7/

Facebook to Use Solar Power for Electricity, Water (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/02/BUA41LP7D0.DTL

Solar Array Latest Addition to Farm (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/solar_array_latest_addition_to_farm/

Massachusetts - Evergreen Solar Asset Auction Cleared to Go Forward (Boston Business Journal, MA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/news/2011/11/03/evergreen-solar-asset-auction-to-proceed.html

A Trade War with China Will Decimate US Solar (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/arnoharris/68409/china-trade-war-will-decimate-us-solar-jobs-and-businesses

The Mysterious Link Between Bats & Wind Turbines (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, MN)

http://www.startribune.com/local/blogs/133080763.html

Canada - Calgary Residents Outraged About School’s Wind Turbine Plans (Canada.Com)

http://www.canada.com/technology/Calgary+residents+outraged+about+school+wind+turbine+plans/5648270/story.html

Wind Turbine 2.0 Works Harder Without Making You Hear All About It (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/5855220/wind-turbine-20-works-harder-without-making-you-hear-all-about-it

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Puget Sound Energy’s Fridgeasaurus Selects Three Winners in Efficient Appliance Sweepstakes (BusinessWire)

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20111102006588/en/Puget-Sound-Energy%E2%80%99s-Fridgeasaurus-Selects-Winners-Efficient

EPA’s Biggest (Energy) Loser? Florida College’s Garage Wins (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/11/epas-biggest-loser-florida-college-cuts-energy-use/1?csp=34tech

Nest’s Smart Thermostat Sold Out Until 2012 (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/cleantech/nests-smart-thermostat-sold-out-until-2012/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Researchers Say Climate Change Is Changing Pacific Northwest Forest Structure as Well (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/11/researchers_say_climate_change.html

North Dakota Sues Minnesota over Next Generation Anti-Global Warming Law (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-11-02/north-dakota-sues-minnesota-over-next-generation-anti-global-warming-law.html

Mexico Pleads for US, China Agreement on Climate (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/11/03/us-g20-durban-idUSTRE7A21WB20111103

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

All-Electric Ford Focus Goes on Sale in Seattle (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016670092_ford03m.html

Halloween’s Pumpkins Turned into Power for Homes (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/11/halloweens-pumpkins-generate-power-/1?csp=34money

From Poop to Plastic? New Innovations in BioPlastics (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/energynow/68349/poop-plastic

Sheep Lawn Mowers, & Other Go-Getters (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/03/garden/sheep-lawn-mowers-and-other-go-getters.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Senate May Be Nearing Vote on Net Neutrality (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-tech/post/senate-may-be-nearing-vote-on-net-neutrality/2011/11/02/gIQAyfr1fM_blog.html?wprss=post-tech

Op/Ed - A Co-op Role in Rural Broadband (Electric Co-Op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/newsmakers/co-op-voices/a-co-op-role-in-rural-broadband/35963

Amazon Now Sees a Profit in Becoming Tax Collector (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2016674316_amazontax03.html

Apple Concedes Problem with iPhone 4S Battery (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2011-11-02/apple-acknowledges-iphone-battery-problems/51049458/1?csp=34money

The End of an Era: Internet Explorer Drops Below 50% of Web Usage (Ars Technica)

http://arstechnica.com/microsoft/news/2011/11/the-end-of-an-era-internet-explorer-drops-below-50-percent-of-web-usage.ars

Clipper Employee Commits an E-Mail Gaffe (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/11/01/BA321LP7AJ.DTL

Poll: How Long Is Too Long to Use Starbucks WiFi?

http://www.king5.com/news/local/How-long-is-too-long-to-use-Starbucks-WiFi-133007703.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Senator Pridemore to Run for State Auditor’s Post (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/nov/02/pridemore-run-state-auditors-post/

Arizona Justice Tapped for 9th Circuit Vacancy (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/11/03/41178.htm

GENERAL NEWS

Six Arrested & Pepper Spray Deployed in Occupy Seattle Protests (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Occupy-Seattle-takes-aim-at--133116923.html

Researchers: La Niña ‘Pretty Friendly’ to Pacific Northwest Interests (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/researchers_la-nina-pretty-friendly-to-nw-interests/

British Columbia to Clamp Down on Metal Theft by Making it Harder to Sell (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/bill+aims+curtail+copper+theft/5641533/story.html

Oregon, Washington Drivers Among the Nation’s Safest, Study Finds (Oregonian, Portland)

http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting/2011/11/oregon_washington_drivers_amon.html

DIVERSIONS

iPad 2 Gets an $8 Million Cretaceous Makeover with Dino Bones, Diamonds & Gold

http://www.engadget.com/2011/10/31/ipad-2-gets-an-8-million-cretaceous-makeover-with-dino-bones-d/

Bill Gates More Powerful Than Pope, Forbes Says

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Bill-Gates-more-powerful-than-Pope-Forbes-says-133092383.html

Self-Styled Superhero Phoenix Jones Loses His Job

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/133133893.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Joan Baez - Diamonds & Rust

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bpD5_c2j1OM