Energy News Digest for December 22, 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

EPA Unveils 'Historic' Air Pollution Rules. Can Power Industry Cope? (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2011/1221/EPA-unveils-historic-air-pollution-rules.-Can-power-industry-cope

Environmental Groups Sue US over Flood Management - Concerns over Fish & Wildlife (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017066748_apwaflooddevelopmentlawsuit2ndldwritethru.html

Oregon - Initial Ocean Zoning Maps Hem in Wave Energy Developers (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

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

Federal Stimulus - Wireless Internet for Whole City, Port Angeles City Council Decides (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20111222/news/312229989/wireless-internet-for-whole-city-port-angeles-city-council-decides

Christmas Could Be Turning Point in Washington State Weather (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017067862_apwachristmasweather.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• EPA Unveils 'Historic' Air Pollution Rules. Can Power Industry Cope?
• What the EPA’s New Rules on Coal-Plant Toxics Mean for the Pacific Northwest
• New EPA Rule on Coal Plant Pollution Adds Uncertainty to Future of Portland General Electric's Boardman Plant
• Feds Seeks Contractors for Emergency Gate Work at 980-MW McNary Dam
• Kittitas County PUD to Fix Issues without Outside Auditor
• Idaho Power Finishes Meter Upgrades
• Maryland - Pepco fined $1 million by Public Service Commission: Days after Asking for Rate Hike
• Massachusetts Governor Hits NStar on Outages - New demand could zap Northeast Utilities merger
• Federal Regulators Approve Nuclear Reactor Design for First New Plant in a Generation
• US Natural Gas Supplies Shrank Last Week
• Environmental Groups Sue US over Flood Management - Concerns over Fish & Wildlife
• Avista - Trucking Trout to Their Native Streams
• Arsenic-Laced Dirt Carted Off as Crews Replace Yards in North Everett
• LOTT Buys Olympia Brewery Land for Future Treatment Plant
• Oregon - Corps Estimates at Least $3.5 Million Needed to Repair Parts of Willamette Falls Locks
• Oregon - Initial Ocean Zoning Maps Hem in Wave Energy Developers
• Wind Developer Get Reprieve for Eastern Idaho Projects
• Minnesota Wind Turbine Project Prompts Federal Subsidy Battle
• California - Public Schools are Finding Learning Opportunities
• Maryland’s Chicken Poop: So Powerful it Can Electrify a Prison
• Save Energy, Unplug the Beer Fridge
• US Aids British Probe of Hacked Climate-Scientist Emails
• Carbon Emission Fees for Flights Upheld
• Seattle Building Solar Picnic Shelters With Your Donations
• Federal Stimulus - Wireless Internet for Whole City, Port Angeles City Council Decides
• More Than 1,000 Federal Data Center Closures Planned by 2015
• This Norwegian Data Center Is Built in a Cave and Cooled by Fjords
• Amazon Finalizes Deal to Open Two Centers in Tennessee
• Microsoft Pulling Out of Consumer Electronics Show after 2012 Event
• Rhapsody Tops 1 Million Subscribers in US
• China Hack of Chamber of Commerce Highlights ‘Spear-Phishing’ Dangers
• No Drama This Year over Holiday Displays Near Washington State Capitol Campus
• Christmas Could Be Turning Point in Washington State Weather
• Winter Solstice: Time to Celebrate Brighter Days Ahead
• King Tides Return to Western Washington
• Business Burglaries Plague Belfair; Detectives Net Suspect
• GEICO Overcharged 25,000 Customers, Gets Fined
• Astronomers Say Earth May Have Two Moons Right Now

WORD OF THE DAY

Pied–à–terre • \pee-yay-deh-TERR\ • Noun - A temporary or second lodging

“Excuse me, did you just say what I thought you said?” snorted the power supply manager of the New York resort community to the itinerant energy analyst. “Of course not,” came the short response. “I just said that you had so many customers with a vacation home, a ‘pied–à–terre,’ that a larger daily charge would help make up for their lower consumption. What did you think I said, something naughty?”

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

EPA Unveils 'Historic' Air Pollution Rules. Can Power Industry Cope? (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2011/1221/EPA-unveils-historic-air-pollution-rules.-Can-power-industry-cope

What the EPA’s New Rules on Coal-Plant Toxics Mean for the Pacific Northwest (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://earthfix.opb.org/energy/article/what-the-epas-new-rules-on-coal-plant-toxics-means/

New EPA Rule on Coal Plant Pollution Adds Uncertainty to Future of Portland General Electric's Boardman Plant (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/12/new_epa_rule_on_coal_plant_pol.html

Feds Seeks Contractors for Emergency Gate Work at 980-MW McNary Dam (HydroWorld)

http://www.hydroworld.com/index/display/article-display.articles.hrhrw.tendersandnotices.tenders.2011.12.u_s_-seeks_contractors0.html.html

Kittitas County PUD to Fix Issues without Outside Auditor (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

http://www.dailyrecordnews.com/news/kittitas-county-pud-to-fix-issues-without-outside-auditor/article_524ae078-2c0a-11e1-959c-0019bb2963f4.html

Idaho Power Finishes Meter Upgrades (Twin Falls Times-News, ID)

http://magicvalley.com/news/local/twin-falls/idaho-power-finishes-meter-upgrades/article_faf88d7f-e039-5636-b0d9-c2f3936f6aa3.html

Maryland - Pepco fined $1 million by Public Service Commission: Days after Asking for Rate Hike (WJLA-TV, Washington, DC)

http://www.wjla.com/articles/2011/12/pepco-fined-1-million-by-public-service-commission-70620.html

Massachusetts Governor Hits NStar on Outages - New demand could zap Northeast Utilities merger (Boston Herald, MA)

http://bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1390364&position=0

Federal Regulators Approve Nuclear Reactor Design for First New Plant in a Generation (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/industries/federal-regulators-approve-nuclear-reactor-design-for-first-new-plant-in-a-generation/2011/12/22/gIQADRLbBP_story.html?wprss=rss_national

US Natural Gas Supplies Shrank Last Week (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/US-natural-gas-supplies-shrank-last-week-2419945.php

FISH & WILDLIFE

Environmental Groups Sue US over Flood Management - Concerns over Fish & Wildlife (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017066748_apwaflooddevelopmentlawsuit2ndldwritethru.html

Avista - Trucking Trout to Their Native Streams (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/12/22/trucking-the-trout-to-their-native-streams/?partner=rss&emc=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Arsenic-Laced Dirt Carted Off as Crews Replace Yards in North Everett (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20111222/news01/712229940/-1/

LOTT Buys Olympia Brewery Land for Future Treatment Plant (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/12/22/1922309/lott-buys-brewery-land-for-future.html

Oregon - Corps Estimates at Least $3.5 Million Needed to Repair Parts of Willamette Falls Locks, But Other Problems Could Prevent Reopening (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/west-linn/index.ssf/2011/12/corps_estimates_at_least_35_mi.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Oregon - Initial Ocean Zoning Maps Hem in Wave Energy Developers (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

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

Wind Developer Get Reprieve for Eastern Idaho Projects (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2011/12/22/rockybarker/wind_developer_get_repreive_eastern_idaho_projects

Minnesota Wind Turbine Project Prompts Federal Subsidy Battle (Scripps News Service)

http://www.scrippsnews.com/node/66228

California - Public Schools are Finding Learning Opportunities (Monterrey County Weekly, CA)

http://www.montereycountyweekly.com/news/2011/dec/22/bright-spots/

Maryland’s Chicken Poop: So Powerful it Can Electrify a Prison (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/rosenwald-md/post/marylands-chicken-poop-so-powerful-it-can-electrify-a-prison/2011/12/22/gIQARjCaBP_blog.html?wprss=rosenwald-md

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Save Energy, Unplug the Beer Fridge (Sydney Morning Herald, Australia)

http://www.smh.com.au/environment/energy-smart/save-energy-unplug-the-beer-fridge-20111221-1p5pb.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

US Aids British Probe of Hacked Climate-Scientist Emails (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2017066496_climatehacking21.html

Carbon Emission Fees for Flights Upheld (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/22/business/global/court-upholds-europes-plan-to-charge-airlines-for-carbon-emissions.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Seattle Building Solar Picnic Shelters With Your Donations (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=597724

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Federal Stimulus - Wireless Internet for Whole City, Port Angeles City Council Decides (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20111222/news/312229989/wireless-internet-for-whole-city-port-angeles-city-council-decides

More Than 1,000 Federal Data Center Closures Planned by 2015 (Washington Business Journal, DC)

www.bizjournals.com/washington/breaking_ground/2011/12/more-than-1000-federal-data-center.html

This Norwegian Data Center Is Built in a Cave and Cooled by Fjords (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/5870367/this-norwegian-data-center-is-built-in-a-cave-and-cooled-by-fjords

Amazon Finalizes Deal to Open Two Centers in Tennessee (Associated Press)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/dec/22/amazon-finalizes-deal-to-open-2-centers-in-tenn/

Microsoft Pulling Out of Consumer Electronics Show after 2012 Event (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/microsoft-pulling-out-of-consumer-electronics-show-after-2012-event/2011/12/21/gIQAC0uFAP_story.html?wprss=rss_technology

Rhapsody Tops 1 Million Subscribers in US (Associated Press)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2011-12-22/rhapsody-subscribers/52159318/1?csp=34tech

China Hack of Chamber of Commerce Highlights ‘Spear-Phishing’ Dangers (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/china-hack-of-chamber-of-commerce-highlights-spear-phishing-dangers/2011/12/21/gIQAia709O_story.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

No Drama This Year over Holiday Displays Near Washington State Capitol Campus (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/12/22/1954760/christians-jews-atheists-all-get.html

GENERAL NEWS

Christmas Could Be Turning Point in Washington State Weather (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017067862_apwachristmasweather.html

Winter Solstice: Time to Celebrate Brighter Days Ahead (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2011/1222/Winter-solstice-time-to-celebrate-brighter-days-ahead

King Tides Return to Western Washington (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/King-tides-return-to-Western-Washington-136069253.html

Business Burglaries Plague Belfair; Detectives Net Suspect (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/dec/21/business-burglaries-plague-belfair-detectives/

GEICO Overcharged 25,000 Customers, Gets Fined (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/GEICO-overcharged-25-000-customers-gets-fined-2417829.php

Astronomers Say Earth May Have Two Moons Right Now - A big one and a tiny one (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2011/12/21/astronomers-say-earth-may-have-two-moons-right-now/

DIVERSIONS

NORAD Santa Trackers Stand by for Another Big Day

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/NORAD-Santa-trackers-stand-by-for-another-big-day-2419344.php

Margarine Still Missing After Stolen Truck Found

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2017070185_apusmissingmargarine.html

Mistletoe Gets the Kiss-Off

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/22/garden/a-mistletoe-shortage-threatens-a-holiday-kissing-tradition.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Plump Passengers Prompt Change on Washington Ferries

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/dec/21/plump-passengers-prompt-change-washington-ferries/

SONG OF THE DAY

Bette Midler - On a Slow Boat to China

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=49wLAmd2INs

Energy News Digest for December 21, 2011

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

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

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

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Op/Ed - BPA & Wind Developers: Federal Energy Ruling is Wrong for Our Region (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/12/bpa_and_wind_developers_federa.html

Well Owners Want PacifiCorp to Pay More for Damage Done by Removal of Condit Dam (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/12/well_owners_want_pacificorps_t.html

Editorial - Who Controls Montana’s Rivers? (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/21/opinion/who-controls-montanas-rivers.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Grant County PUD Adds $1.5 Million for Fiber Delivery (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/ephrata/article_b220dbbe-2b2f-11e1-844a-0019bb2963f4.html

Clean Energy & Mass Transit - Casualties of the Payroll Tax Fight (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/clean-energy-and-mass-transit--casualties-of-the-payroll-tax-fight/2011/12/20/gIQAjvtM7O_blog.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Op/Ed - BPA & Wind Developers: Federal Energy Ruling is Wrong for Our Region
• President signs Rep. Napolitano's Hoover Dam bill
• Hydropower Outlook 2012: Continued Large-scale Development in North America
• Mason PUD 3 - Tree Trimming on Cloquallum Road to begin Dec 27
• Lassen Municipal Utility District – 2012 Student Art Calendar Contest
• Mark Purdy: Power outage puts black mark on Candlestick
• Well Owners Want PacifiCorp to Pay More for Damage Done by Removal of Condit Dam
• Gresham, Oregon - Restoration Projects Bring Coho Back to Johnson Creek
• Pacific Northwest Tribes Propose Plan to Preserve Pacific Lamphrey
• In Great Lakes States, a Divide over the Asian Carp
• Editorial - Who Controls Montana’s Rivers?
• Approval of Ordinance on Belfair Sewer Delayed
• Belfair Water District Seeks $72,000 Re-imbursement from Former Employee
• Olympia’s Yauger Park Stormwater Complex Passes Test
• Clean Energy & Mass Transit - Casualties of the Payroll Tax Fight
• SolarWorld Persists With Trade Case against China, Rejecting Request to Withdraw Complaint
• Olympia, Lacey Need 19 More Green Power Enrollees
• Solar Power Advocate Takes to Edmonds Roof to Promote Cooperative
• Wisconsin's Biggest Wind Farm Goes Online
• Wind Industry Accused of Blowing Off Worker Safety Rule
• Op/Ed - Americans Want Renewable Energy. What's Stopping Them?
• United Kingdom Solar Plants Boom Ahead of Subsidies Cut
• Congress Keeps Incandescent Light Bulbs Burning, For Now
• Do Lighting Standard Delays Threaten Consumer Choice?
• Habitat for Humanity Focuses on Green Homes
• Scientists Mark 1/3 of a Century of Satellite Climate Data
• Are Electric Cars Losing Their Spark?
• Grant County PUD Adds $1.5 Million for Fiber Delivery
• Chelan PUD Fiber Upgrade Causes Hours-Long Internet Outage
• Oregon Congressman Greg Walden in Middle of Fight over 'Net Neutrality' & Communications Regulation
• Firefox, Google Renew Search Deal
• Forget Ethernet, Researchers Want Data Centers to Go Wireless
• Gregoire Signs Washington State Budget, Seeks Timeline on More Cuts
• Washington State Department Of Corrections Loses Most Jobs This Round
• Former Skamania County Auditor Faces Felony Charges
• Misuse of Funds Alleged - Western Washington University Admissions Director Fired
• Jobless Numbers Fall Throughout South Sound – Mason County Drops To 9.7 Percent
• Unemployment Fell in 43 States in November
• Nearly Five Percent Increase - City of Shelton Sewer Rate Hearing
• San Antonio Official T.C. Broadnax is Tacoma's Next City Manager
• University of Washington Ecoterror Arsonist Pleads Guilty
• Port of Shelton Port Meeting Didn't Go as Planned
• Police Need New Go-To Car after Ford Stops Making Crown Victorias

WORD OF THE DAY

Wreak • \REEK\ • Verb - 1: to cause the infliction of (vengeance or punishment) 2: to give free play or course to (malevolent feeling) 3: bring about, cause

“Good grief,” opined Samuel Morse to his illiterate assistant. “It’s ‘what hath God wrought,’ you ninny. Not, ‘what hath god wreaked’.”

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

Op/Ed - BPA & Wind Developers: Federal Energy Ruling is Wrong for Our Region (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/12/bpa_and_wind_developers_federa.html

President signs Rep. Napolitano's Hoover Dam bill - Five percent of the electricity will be set aside for use by "new entities" including Native American tribes, irrigation districts, electric cooperatives and others (Whittier Daily News, CA)

http://www.whittierdailynews.com/news/ci_19589082

Hydropower Outlook 2012: Continued Large-scale Development in North America (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/12/hydropower-outlook-2012-continued-large-scale-development?cmpid=rss

Mason PUD 3 - Tree Trimming on Cloquallum Road to begin Dec 27 (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/Newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=955

Lassen Municipal Utility District – 2012 Student Art Calendar Contest (Lassen Municipal Utility District)

http://www.lmud.org/studentArtContest.aspx

Mark Purdy: Power outage puts black mark on Candlestick “…Santa Clara – new home for 49ers - Silicon Valley Power, has a reliability rating "that ranks in the top quartile nationally, more than four times better than the Bay Area county average…” (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_19582926

FISH & WILDLIFE

Well Owners Want PacifiCorp to Pay More for Damage Done by Removal of Condit Dam (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/12/well_owners_want_pacificorps_t.html

Gresham, Oregon - Restoration Projects Bring Coho Back to Johnson Creek

http://news.opb.org/article/restoration-projects-bring-coho-back-johnson-creek/

Pacific Northwest Tribes Propose Plan to Preserve Pacific Lamphrey - Several hundred caught each year at Willamette Falls (Portland Tribune, OR)

http://www.portlandtribune.com/sustainable/story.php?story_id=132433015021188200

In Great Lakes States, a Divide over the Asian Carp (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/21/us/in-great-lakes-states-a-divide-over-the-asian-carp.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Editorial - Who Controls Montana’s Rivers? (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/21/opinion/who-controls-montanas-rivers.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Approval of Ordinance on Belfair Sewer Delayed (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/dec/20/approval-of-ordinance-on-belfair-sewer-delayed/

Belfair Water District Seeks $72,000 Re-imbursement from Former Employee (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/20471-belfair-water-district-re-imbursement

Olympia’s Yauger Park Stormwater Complex Passes Test (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/12/21/1921069/stormwater-complex-passes-test.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Clean Energy & Mass Transit - Casualties of the Payroll Tax Fight (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/clean-energy-and-mass-transit--casualties-of-the-payroll-tax-fight/2011/12/20/gIQAjvtM7O_blog.html

SolarWorld Persists With Trade Case against China, Rejecting Request to Withdraw Complaint (Oregonian, Portland)

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

Olympia, Lacey Need 19 More Green Power Enrollees (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/12/20/1920774/olympia-lacey-need-19-more-pse.html

Solar Power Advocate Takes to Edmonds Roof to Promote Cooperative (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20111220/news01/712209888/-1/rss02

Wisconsin's Biggest Wind Farm Goes Online (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, WI)

http://www.jsonline.com/business/wisconsins-biggest-wind-farm-goes-online-nj3gulu-135971363.html

Wind Industry Accused of Blowing Off Worker Safety Rule (Fair Warning)

http://www.fairwarning.org/2011/12/wind-industry-accused-of-blowing-off-worker-safety-rule/

Op/Ed - Americans Want Renewable Energy. What's Stopping Them? (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/nathanaelgreene/72918/americans-want-renewable-energy-why-norquist-trying-stop-them

United Kingdom Solar Plants Boom Ahead of Subsidies Cut (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/12/21/us-britain-solar-installations-idUSTRE7BK13K20111221

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Congress Keeps Incandescent Light Bulbs Burning, For Now (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20111221/NEWS01/712219886

Do Lighting Standard Delays Threaten Consumer Choice? (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/geoffrey-styles/72866/do-lighting-standard-delays-threaten-consumer-choice

Habitat for Humanity Focuses on Green Homes (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2011/12/habitat-for-humanity-focuses-on-green.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Scientists Mark 1/3 of a Century of Satellite Climate Data (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2011/12/satellite-temperature-data-global-warming-climate-change/1?csp=34tech

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Are Electric Cars Losing Their Spark? (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/story/2011-12-20/electric-cars-problems/52131810/1?csp=34money

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Grant County PUD Adds $1.5 Million for Fiber Delivery (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/ephrata/article_b220dbbe-2b2f-11e1-844a-0019bb2963f4.html

Chelan PUD Fiber Upgrade Causes Hours-Long Internet Outage (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/dec/21/pud-fiber-upgrade-causes-hours-long-internet/

Oregon Congressman Greg Walden in Middle of Fight over 'Net Neutrality' & Communications Regulation (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/mapes/index.ssf/2011/12/greg_walden_in_middle_of_fight.html

Firefox, Google Renew Search Deal (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/firefox-google-renew-search-deal/2011/12/20/gIQAdUKg7O_story.html

Forget Ethernet, Researchers Want Data Centers to Go Wireless (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/cloud/forget-ethernet-researchers-want-data-centers-to-go-wireless/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Gregoire Signs Washington State Budget, Seeks Timeline on More Cuts (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017057670_apwaspecialsessionbudget.html

Washington State Department Of Corrections Loses Most Jobs This Round (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/12/21/1953391/doc-loses-most-jobs-this-round.html

Former Skamania County Auditor Faces Felony Charges - Accused of racking up thousands of dollars of travel expenses and then shredding documents relating to his expenditures (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/dec/20/former-skamania-county-auditor-face-felony-charges/

Misuse of Funds Alleged - Western Washington University Admissions Director Fired (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/12/21/1921673/western-washington-admissions.html

GENERAL NEWS

Jobless Numbers Fall Throughout South Sound – Mason County Drops To 9.7 Percent (South Sound Business Examiner)

http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/jobless-numbers-fall-south-sound

Unemployment Fell in 43 States in November (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2017054697_apusstateunemployment.html

Nearly Five Percent Increase - City of Shelton Sewer Rate Hearing (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/20469-city-sewer-rate-hearing-122011

San Antonio Official T.C. Broadnax is Tacoma's Next City Manager (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/12/20/1953113/san-antonio-official-tc-broadnax.html

University of Washington Ecoterror Arsonist Pleads Guilty (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/dec/21/ecoterror-arsonist-pleads-guilty/

Port of Shelton Port Meeting Didn't Go as Planned (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/20470-port-meeting-didnt-go-as-planned

Police Need New Go-To Car after Ford Stops Making Crown Victorias (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20111221/news01/712219884/-1/rss02

DIVERSIONS

Pragmatic - Merriam Webster's Word of the Year

http://www.q13fox.com/news/ct-tribu-words-work-mercurial-20111221,0,7361975.story

Ferndale Miracle Accepted by Vatican

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=597355

Schnmo to Lambo & Back Again - Man Crashes Lamborghini Six Hours after Winning It

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/dec/21/man-crashes-lamborghini-6-hours-after-winning-it/

Orson Welles’ Academy Award for ‘Citizen Kane’ Screenplay Auctioned for $861,000

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/orson-welles-academy-award-for-citizen-kane-screenplay-auctioned-for-861000/2011/12/20/gIQARxAK8O_story.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Citizen Kane Suite - Soundtrack by Bernard Herrmann

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t0sPzQWCHPE