Energy News Digest for December 13, 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

French Nuclear Giant Areva to Post Large Loss (Associated Press)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/12/12/financial/f090058S57.DTL

Washington State House Passes Bill to Aid Cle Elum Solar Project (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/12/12/1911068/house-passes-bill-to-aid-cle-elum.html

Washington State Lawmakers Announce $479M in Budget Cuts (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/washington-state-lawmakers-announce-479m-budget-cu/nFzxY/

Mason County PUD 3 Adopts $57 Million 2012 Budget - Renewable Energy Costs & Bonneville Power Administration Increase to Affect Local Rates (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=954

Big Spring Chinook Run Forecast for Columbia River (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/dec/12/big-spring-chinook-run-forecast-columbia-river/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• French Nuclear Giant Areva to Post Large Loss
• Household Electricity Bills Skyrocket
• Mason County PUD 3 Adopts $57 Million 2012 Budget - Renewable Energy Costs & Bonneville Power Administration Increase to Affect Local Rates
• Mason County PUD 1 Overnight Power Outage 12/19 - 12/20
• EPA To Unveil Stricter Rules For Power Plants
• Indiana - Ex-Regulatory Chief's Indictment is Latest Black Eye
• When Dogs, Roosters or Bulls Attack
• Big Spring Chinook Run Forecast for Columbia River
• Clark County Groups Receive $925,383 for Fish Projects
• Op/Ed - Federal Salmon Plan Stands Strong
• Northern California Oyster Farm Dispute Spreads to Capitol Hill
• Op/Ed - Shellfish: Restoring Past to Benefit Future
• Rare sighting of blue whales off Washington State Coast
• Belfair Sewer Project on Mason County Commission Agenda
• Stage 1 Burn Ban for Mason County
• Quality of Air? That’s as Murky as Western Sky
• Washington State House Passes Bill to Aid Cle Elum Solar Project
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratories Studies Storing Wind Power Underground
• Cow Manure to Power New King County Power Plant
• GridMobility Winner 2011 Cleantech Open Global Business Competition Smart Power Category
• Pacific Gas & Electric CEO Lays Off Solar Investor Group
• Wind Leading to Midwest Energy Transmission Congestion
• United Kingdom - Over-Reliance On Wind Farms 'Will Lead To Power Cuts'
• Wind Energy is Turning Out New Fields of Study in Texas
• New York - Trash Burner Ends Subsidy Bid
• Power Savings on Auto Pilot
• Energy Conservation Spurs LED Lighting Acceptance
• Top Five Energy Efficiency Smartphone Apps
• Canada Pulls Out of Kyoto Protocol
• Climate Strategists: To Cut Emissions, Focus On Forests
• Solar-Powered Seattle Home Uses Clever, Quirky Ways to be Green
• Electric Cars Trump Flex-Fuel Cars on Places to Fill Up
• The ‘Green’ Debate on Christmas Trees: Fresh vs. Fake?
• Washington, DC: We’ll See Your 1 Gig, Raise You 100 Gig
• Tweets Cause US Death Row Conviction to be Overturned
• Washington State Lawmakers Announce $479M in Budget Cuts
• Jay Inslee Faces Challenges in Washington State Governor’s Race
• Four Dead in Chopper Crash at Joint Base Lewis-McChord
• Occupy Portland Protesters Block Work at Three Port of Portland Terminals
• Boeing Lands Biggest Order in Its History
• Seattle Schools Face $50M in 'Glass Palace' Headquarters Debt
• Downtown Shelton Goes Retro with Revamped Neon Lights
• Conviction Upheld for Warden Metal Thief
• Editorial - State Of California Needs Mettle to Stop Metal Thieves
• FCC: TV Commercials Will Be A Lot Quieter One Year from Now

WORD OF THE DAY

Swivet • \ SWIV-utt\ • Noun - A state of extreme agitation

Anne was a-swivet

Over the loss of her trivet

Burn marks on the counter

From a hot pot encounter

Was said to be the cause of it

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

French Nuclear Giant Areva to Post Large Loss (Associated Press)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/12/12/financial/f090058S57.DTL

Household Electricity Bills Skyrocket (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/story/2011-12-13/electric-bills/51840042/1?csp=34news

Mason County PUD 3 Adopts $57 Million 2012 Budget - Renewable Energy Costs & Bonneville Power Administration Increase to Affect Local Rates (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=954

Mason County PUD 1 Overnight Power Outage 12/19 - 12/20 (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/19958-overnight-power-outage-1219-1220

EPA To Unveil Stricter Rules For Power Plants (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2011/12/13/143592187/epa-to-unveil-new-rules-for-power-plants

Indiana - Ex-Regulatory Chief's Indictment is Latest Black Eye: Former regulatory agency chairman is accused of having secret discussions with utility (Indianapolis Star, IN)

http://www.indystar.com/article/20111213/BUSINESS/112130315/Ex-IURC-chief-s-indictment-latest-black-eye-Duke-scandal

When Dogs, Roosters or Bulls Attack (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/industry/trends-reports-analyses/animals-attack-electric-co-op-workers/37163

FISH & WILDLIFE

Big Spring Chinook Run Forecast for Columbia River (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/dec/12/big-spring-chinook-run-forecast-columbia-river/

Clark County Groups Receive $925,383 for Fish Projects (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/dec/12/clark-county-groups-receive-925383-fish-projects/

Op/Ed - Federal Salmon Plan Stands Strong (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/columns/2011/12/federal-salmon-plan-stands-strong.html

Northern California Oyster Farm Dispute Spreads to Capitol Hill (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_19516880

Op/Ed - Shellfish: Restoring Past to Benefit Future (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://m.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/dec/09/my-turn-shellfish-restoring-past-to-benefit/

Rare sighting of blue whales off Washington State Coast (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Rare-sighting-of-blue-whales-off-Wash-coast-135520128.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Belfair Sewer Project on Mason County Commission Agenda (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/19961-belfair-water-project

Stage 1 Burn Ban for Mason County (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3493

Quality of Air? That’s as Murky as Western Sky (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/11/us/air-quality-difficult-to-gauge-in-dustier-american-west.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Washington State House Passes Bill to Aid Cle Elum Solar Project (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/12/12/1911068/house-passes-bill-to-aid-cle-elum.html

Pacific Northwest National Laboratories Studies Storing Wind Power Underground (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/12/11/1940973/pnnl-studies-storing-wind-power.html

Cow Manure to Power New King County Power Plant (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=592603

GridMobility Winner 2011 Cleantech Open Global Business Competition Smart Power Category (PR-Web)

http://www.prweb.com/releases/2011/12/prweb9027351.htm

Pacific Gas & Electric CEO Lays Off Solar Investor Group (San Francisco Business Times, CA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/2011/12/pge-ceo-lays-off-solar-investor-group.html

Wind Leading to Midwest Energy Transmission Congestion - Illinois, Indiana and Ohio, affecting both the Midwest Independent Transmission System Operator (MISO) and the PJM Interconnection Energy Biz Insider)

http://www.scoop.com/remote/article/include/305367707/53616c7465645f5f4178727db026ffd54f13001c90669ebda01a7cb2ee069057eb17ca3485842373

United Kingdom - Over-Reliance On Wind Farms 'Will Lead To Power Cuts' (The Telegraph, UK)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/politics/8949993/Over-reliance-on-wind-farms-will-lead-to-power-cuts.html

Wind Energy is Turning Out New Fields of Study in Texas (San Antonio Express-News, TX)

http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Wind-energy-is-turning-out-new-fields-of-study-in-2398759.php

New York - Trash Burner Ends Subsidy Bid - Environmental groups opposed aid extension designed for wind, solar (Albany Times-Union, NY)

http://www.timesunion.com/local/article/Trash-burner-ends-subsidy-bid-2393598.php

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Power Savings on Auto Pilot (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/13/business/marriott-in-deal-to-reduce-energy-use-at-hotels.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1323803244-im/Q0PPGkOTK+eRdOt2PFA

Energy Conservation Spurs LED Lighting Acceptance (EDN)

http://www.edn.com/article/520290-Energy_conservation_spurs_LED_lighting_acceptance.php

Top Five Energy Efficiency Smartphone Apps (Climate Progress)

http://thinkprogress.org/romm/2011/12/10/385006/top-5-energy-efficiency-smartphone-apps/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Canada Pulls Out of Kyoto Protocol (CBS News)

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-505245_162-57341730/canada-pulls-out-of-kyoto/

Climate Strategists: To Cut Emissions, Focus On Forests (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2011/12/10/143454111/climate-activists-to-cut-emissions-focus-on-forests?ft=1&f=7

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Solar-Powered Seattle Home Uses Clever, Quirky Ways to be Green (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2011/12/09/solar-powered-home-uses-clever-quirky.html

Electric Cars Trump Flex-Fuel Cars on Places to Fill Up (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/12/recharging-easier-to-find-for-electric-cars-than-e85-for-flex-fuel-cars/1

The ‘Green’ Debate on Christmas Trees: Fresh vs. Fake? (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/the-green-debate-on-christmas-trees-fresh-vs-fake/2011/12/07/gIQAk3mLjO_story.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Washington, DC: We’ll See Your 1 Gig, Raise You 100 Gig (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/broadband/d-c-well-see-your-1-gig-raise-you-100-gig/

Tweets Cause US Death Row Conviction to be Overturned (British Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-16108000

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Lawmakers Announce $479M in Budget Cuts (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/washington-state-lawmakers-announce-479m-budget-cu/nFzxY/

Jay Inslee Faces Challenges in Washington State Governor’s Race (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20111211/NEWS01/712119939#Jay-Inslee-faces-challenges-in-governor%26%23146s-race%0A

GENERAL NEWS

Four Dead in Chopper Crash at Joint Base Lewis-McChord (Northwest Cable News Network)

http://www.nwcn.com/news/135490743.html

Occupy Portland protesters block work at three Port of Portland terminals (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/12/occupy_portland_protestors_pre.html

Boeing Lands Biggest Order in Its History (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=592868

Seattle Schools Face $50M in 'Glass Palace' Headquarters Debt (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017001813_johnstanford13m.html

Downtown Shelton Goes Retro with Revamped Neon Lights (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://shelton.komonews.com/news/business/698772-downtown-shelton-goes-retro-revamped-neon-lights

Conviction Upheld for Warden Metal Thief (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/crime-fire/article_d718bf92-24e8-11e1-9984-0019bb2963f4.html

Editorial - State Of California Needs Mettle to Stop Metal Thieves (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/13/4118248/state-needs-mettle-to-stop-metal.html

FCC: TV Commercials Will Be A Lot Quieter One Year from Now (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2011/12/fcc-tv-commercials-will-be-a-lot-quieter-one-year-from-now.html

DIVERSIONS

North Korea is Threatening South Korea with "Psychological Warfare" Because of Christmas Lights

http://gizmodo.com/5867308/north-korea-is-threatening-south-korea-with-psychological-warfare-because-of-christmas-lights

Bell-Ringers Aim to Break National Record (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2011-12-11/salvation-army-bell/51799548/1?csp=34news

Here Is the Official Color of Next Year

http://gizmodo.com/5867074/here-is-the-official-color-of-next-year

Authorities Say Man Published Obituary for His Still-Living Mother to Get Paid Time Off

http://www.kwtx.com/news/headlines/Hey_Im_Not_Dead_Yet_135344888.html?ref=888

SONG OF THE DAY

George Harrison - It Don't Come Easy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4p5yzdCa2GE

Ringo Starr - It Don't Come Easy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pGlOUc0LTiE

Energy News Digest for December 12, 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

Supreme Court Hears Dispute Over Ownership of Montana’s Rivers (PBS)

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/law/july-dec11/scotus_12-07.html

Nuke Chief Who Opposes Yucca Accused of Damaging Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Associated Press)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/12/10/1748793/update-nuke-chief-who-opposes.html

Climate Conference Approves Landmark Deal (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2016988441_apafclimateconference.html

Top Five Places to Build a New Data Center - Hello Eastern Washington! (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/cloud/latimer-where-to-build-data-center/

Columnist - FERC Sends Message That Wind Power Has Priority in the Pacific Northwest (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/12/12/1913283/ferc-sends-message-that-wind-power.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Nuke Chief Who Opposes Yucca Accused of Damaging Nuclear Regulatory Commission
• Thieving Crew Clearing Out Houses, Pretending to be from Pacific Power
• New Twist: BPA Pays Customers to Consume More at Times of Plenty
• City Of Portland Tells Investors Utility Lawsuit Could Top $50 Million if it Loses on All Points
• Grant PUD Customers Help Share the Warmth
• Northeast States Cut Heating Aid to Poor
• Who’s Killing the Coal-Fired Power Plant?
• Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky & Texas are Top States in Terms of Toxic Power Plant Air Pollution
• Fracking: Pollution Finding Could Hurt Gas Drilling
• Hot Diggity Dams, They Store Lots of Energy
• The Future of the Electric Grid May be More Costly & Less Reliable
• Battersea Power Station - White Elephant for Sale in London, Again
• Nez Perce Hatchery Strategy Pays Big Dividends for Snake River Fall Chinook - Raises Big Questions for Pacific Northwest
• Columbia River Tribes Try Selective Fishing to Boost Catch without Harming Wild Salmon
• Hood Canal salmon projects total nearly $4 million
• Tightened Catch Limits Alarm Halibut Fisheries
• Op/Ed – Bill Taylor: Shellfish Growers Will Create Jobs & Help Clean Up Puget Sound
• New Rule on Endangered Species Would End State-By-State Listing for Threatened Plants, Animals
• Salmon Raised at Bellingham College Donated to Food Bank
• Supreme Court Hears Dispute Over Ownership of Montana’s Rivers
• Bonneville Power Administration Lake Plan Irks Pend Oreille Basin Commission
• California - Napa River Restoration Project Serves as Model
• Renewable Energy Thirst Fueled Wind Farms on Gusty Ridges
• Wind, Hydro Operations Create Balancing Act for Regulators
• Bat Deaths Mount near Wind Farms
• For Near Neighbors, Turbines a Noisy Prospect
• Wind Power Helps Keep Maryhill Museum in Business
• Columnist - FERC Sends Message That Wind Power Has Priority in the Pacific Northwest
• Editorial - Wind Wins & You Lose
• Stevens County - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle All In A Biomass Project
• North Carolina - US Fish & Wildlife Service Objects to Pantego Wind Farm
• Op/Ed - An Unfair Fight for Renewable Energies
• Reining In the ‘Soft Costs’ of Solar
• Eastside Organizations Expect Combined Savings of $482,000 through Puget Sound Energy Program
• Nonprofit’s Program Lets TV Viewers Tune in to Energy Savings
• Now Is the Perfect Time to Winterize Your Home
• Can Space Heaters Lower Your Energy Bill?
• Energy Efficiency First, Renewables Later
• Climate Conference Approves Landmark Deal
• Tennessee - Charging Stations for Electric Cars are Mostly Idle
• Electric Vehicles Carry Unfamiliar Challenges for Drivers & Mechanics
• Top Five Places to Build a New Data Center - Hello Eastern Washington!
• AT&T Sues FCC over Universal Service Fund Reform for Broadband
• Op/Ed - Bust the Broadband Trusts, Obama!
• University Place’s Credit Rating Downgraded
• Muni Bonds Still Safe, Tax-Free Option Despite Doomsday Talk
• Washington State Budget Cuts Cause Concerns over Digital Record Preservation
• Occupy Protests Underway at Portland, West Coast Ports
• Metal Theft Rates Spike, Harming Local Businesses & Schools
• Forbes: Washington Ranks No. 7 for Doing Business
• Outer Space Weather Forecast for Earth Contains Plenty of Solar Wind

WORD OF THE DAY

Zeitgeist • \ZITE-guy-st\ • Noun - The general intellectual, moral, and cultural climate of an era.

“This is just GREAT,” moaned 52-year old Abernathy to his aging bar pals. “The 40’s had the battle against fascism in World War Two; the 60’s had a social revolution and upheaval over Viet Nam; and what is MY generation’s Zeitgeist? – Disco!”

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

Nuke Chief Who Opposes Yucca Accused of Damaging Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Associated Press)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/12/10/1748793/update-nuke-chief-who-opposes.html

Thieving Crew Clearing Out Houses, Pretending to be from Pacific Power (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/Pacific-Power-thiev-135357233.html

New Twist: BPA Pays Customers to Consume More at Times of Plenty (AOL Energy News)

http://energy.aol.com/2011/12/09/new-twist-bpa-pays-customers-to-consume-more-at-times-of-plenty/

US to Seek Submersible Power Cable for 980-MW McNary (HydroWorld)

http://www.hydroworld.com/index/display/article-display.articles.hrhrw.tendersandnotices.tenders.2011.12.u_s_-to_seek_submersible.html.html

City Of Portland Tells Investors Utility Lawsuit Could Top $50 Million if it Loses on All Points (Oregonian, Portland)

http://blog.oregonlive.com/portlandcityhall/2011/12/city_tells_investors_utility_l.html

Grant PUD Customers Help Share the Warmth (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/article_0193603a-21c2-11e1-9831-001871e3ce6c.html

Northeast States Cut Heating Aid to Poor (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2016988333_apusheatingaidcuts.html

Who’s Killing the Coal-Fired Power Plant? (Politico)

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1211/69922.html

Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, Kentucky & Texas are Top States in Terms of Toxic Power Plant Air Pollution (Environmental Integrity)

http://www.environmentalintegrity.org/12_07_2011.php

Fracking: Pollution Finding Could Hurt Gas Drilling (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Latest-News-Wires/2011/1211/Fracking-Pollution-finding-could-hurt-gas-drilling

Hot Diggity Dams, They Store Lots of Energy (Kearney Hub, NE)

http://www.kearneyhub.com/news/opinion/article_6d9ba1bc-21bc-11e1-a5c0-0019bb2963f4.html

The Future of the Electric Grid May be More Costly & Less Reliable (AOL News)

http://energy.aol.com/2011/12/07/the-future-of-the-electric-grid-may-be-more-costly-and-less-reli/

Battersea Power Station - White Elephant for Sale in London, Again (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/10/business/global/londons-battersea-power-station-for-sale-again.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Nez Perce Hatchery Strategy Pays Big Dividends for Snake River Fall Chinook - Raises Big Questions for Pacific Northwest (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/12/nez_perce_hatchery_strategy_pa.html#cmpid=22290053

Columbia River Tribes Try Selective Fishing to Boost Catch without Harming Wild Salmon (High Country News)

http://www.hcn.org/issues/43.21/tribes-try-selective-fishing-to-boost-catch-without-harming-wild-salmon

Hood Canal Salmon Projects Total Nearly $4 Million (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/dec/11/hood-canal-salmon-projects-total-nearly-4/

Tightened Catch Limits Alarm Halibut Fisheries (Associated Press)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/dec/10/tightened-catch-limits-alarm-halibut-fisheries/

Op/Ed – Bill Taylor: Shellfish Growers Will Create Jobs & Help Clean Up Puget Sound (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/12/12/1910399/shellfish-growers-will-create.html

New Rule on Endangered Species Would End State-By-State Listing for Threatened Plants, Animals (Associated Press)

Http://Www.Washingtonpost.Com/Politics/New-Rule-On-Endangered-Species-Would-End-State-By-State-Listing-For-Threatened-Plants-Animals/2011/12/09/Giqawj9dio_Story.Html

Salmon Raised at Bellingham College Donated to Food Bank (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/12/11/1909891/salmon-raised-at-wa-college-donated.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Supreme Court Hears Dispute Over Ownership of Montana’s Rivers (PBS)

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/law/july-dec11/scotus_12-07.html

Bonneville Power Administration Lake Plan Irks Pend Oreille Basin Commission (Bonner County Daily Bee, Sandpoint, ID)

http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com/news/local/article_d28bcc5a-2301-11e1-90d5-0019bb2963f4.html

California - Napa River Restoration Project Serves as Model (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/10/MNKP1MAOVH.DTL

SPOKESMAN REVIEW IS ALL ABOUT WIND LAST WEEKEND

Renewable Energy Thirst Fueled Wind Farms on Gusty Ridges (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/dec/11/winds-of-change/

Wind, Hydro Operations Create Balancing Act for Regulators (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/dec/11/wind-hydro-operations-create-balancing-act-for/

Bat Deaths Mount near Wind Farms (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/dec/11/bat-deaths-mount-near-wind-farms/

For Near Neighbors, Turbines a Noisy Prospect (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/dec/11/for-near-neighbors-a-noisy-prospect/

Wind Power Helps Keep Maryhill Museum in Business (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/dec/11/wind-power-helps-keep-maryhill-museum-in-business/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Columnist - FERC Sends Message That Wind Power Has Priority in the Pacific Northwest (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/12/12/1913283/ferc-sends-message-that-wind-power.html

Editorial - Wind Wins & You Lose (Albany Democrat-Herald, OR)

http://democratherald.com/news/opinion/editorial/editorial-wind-wins-and-you-lose/article_cf6b8392-2286-11e1-a1b8-0019bb2963f4.html

Stevens County - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle All In A Biomass Project (AOL News)

http://energy.aol.com/2011/12/12/reduce-reuse-recycle-all-in-a-biomass-project/

North Carolina - US Fish & Wildlife Service Objects to Pantego Wind Farm “...filing did not stipulate what the impact might be but rather than a determination would require a scientific study which might take two to three years…” (Beaufort Observer, Washington, NC)

http://www.beaufortobserver.net/Articles-NEWS-and-COMMENTARY-c-2011-12-09-257498.112112-US-Fish-and-Wildlife-Service-objects-to-Pantego-wind-farm.html

Op/Ed - An Unfair Fight for Renewable Energies (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/an-unfair-fight-for-renewable-energies/2011/12/02/gIQA9lWrTO_story.html

Reining In the ‘Soft Costs’ of Solar (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/09/reining-in-the-soft-costs-of-solar/?partner=rss&emc=rss

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Eastside Organizations Expect Combined Savings of $482,000 through Puget Sound Energy Program (Electric Energy Online)

http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=162335

Nonprofit’s Program Lets TV Viewers Tune in to Energy Savings (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/dec/11/energy-forward-efficent-TVs/

Now Is the Perfect Time to Winterize Your Home (Electric Energy Online)

http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=162372

Can Space Heaters Lower Your Energy Bill? (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/The-Simple-Dollar/2011/1210/Can-space-heaters-lower-your-energy-bill

Energy Efficiency First, Renewables Later (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/willem-post/71771/energy-efficiency-first-renewables-later

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Climate Conference Approves Landmark Deal (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2016988441_apafclimateconference.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Tennessee - Charging Stations for Electric Cars are Mostly Idle (The Tennessean, Nashville)

http://www.tennessean.com/article/20111210/BUSINESS01/312100037/Charging-stations-for-electric-cars-are-mostly-idle

Electric Vehicles Carry Unfamiliar Challenges for Drivers & Mechanics (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/11/4112839/electric-vehicles-carry-unfamiliar.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Top Five Places to Build a New Data Center - Hello Eastern Washington! (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/cloud/latimer-where-to-build-data-center/

AT&T Sues FCC over Universal Service Fund Reform for Broadband - As Will the Cable Industry, State PUCs (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/ATT-Sues-FCC-Over-USF-Reform-117392

Op/Ed - Bust the Broadband Trusts, Obama! (Slate)

http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technocracy/2011/12/american_broadband_service_is_dreadful_why_won_t_obama_do_anything_about_it_.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

University Place’s Credit Rating Downgraded (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/12/12/1942060/university-places-credit-rating.html

Muni Bonds Still Safe, Tax-Free Option Despite Doomsday Talk (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/bonds/story/2011-12-10/cnbc-muni-bonds/51746650/1?csp=34money

Washington State Budget Cuts Cause Concerns over Digital Record Preservation (Seattle Post Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Budget-cuts-cause-concerns-over-digital-record-2393399.php

GENERAL NEWS

Occupy Protests Underway at Portland, West Coast Ports (Northwest Cable News)

http://www.nwcn.com/news/135440273.html

Metal Theft Rates Spike, Harming Local Businesses & Schools (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/metal-theft-rates-spike-harming-local-businesses-and-schools/article_d6de9d0a-245f-11e1-9986-001871e3ce6c.html

Forbes: Washington Ranks No. 7 for Doing Business (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/12/12/1910812/forbes-washington-ranks-no-7-for.html

Outer Space Weather Forecast for Earth Contains Plenty of Solar Wind (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/outer-space-weather-forecast-for-earth-contains-plenty-of-solar-wind/2011/12/05/gIQAmOZmpO_story.html

DIVERSIONS

Stolen Guitar Recovered in Vermont, Pearl Jam Autographs Gone

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/dec/12/stolen-guitar-recovered-in-vt-autographs-gone/

Follow-Up File - Dutch Firm Sorry For High-Rise Design Resembling 9/11 Attack

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Dutch-firm-sorry-for-design-resembling-9-11-attack-2396438.php

Louie Louie, Oh Babe, Where’s the $200,000?

http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/12/12/42141.htm

“Angry Birds” Developer Aims Slingshot at Playground

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/12/angrybirds-playgrounds-idUSL6E7NC1VE20111212

SONG OF THE DAY

Pearl Jam – Alive

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r5mrEAPMLk8