Energy News Digest for April 24, 2012

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

Tribal Group Claims Sea Lions Munch More Salmon than Previously Thought (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://earthfix.opb.org/flora-and-fauna/article/tribal-group-claims-sea-lions-munch-more-salmon-th/

Editorial - Grand Coulee Dam Project is Much Needed (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2012/04/23/2079025/dam-project-is-much-needed.html

Comments Sought on Mount Baker Geothermal Leasing (Bellingham Herald, WA)

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/04/23/2493448/comments-sought-on-mount-baker.html

Greenpeace Lauds Quincy as ‘Green’ Data Center Site - points to area’s access to hydropower via Grant County PUD (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/business/tech/article_2c5789e6-8b2f-11e1-a849-001a4bcf887a.html

Port Angeles Adjusting to High-Tech Electricity Metering (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20120424/NEWS/304249987/port-angeles-adjusting-to-high-tech-electricity-metering

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Editorial - Grand Coulee Dam Project is Much Needed
• Workers Building Big Dam in Amazon Plan Strike
• Port Angeles Adjusting to High-Tech Electricity Metering
• Snohomish County PUD Warning of Scam Targeting Utility Customers
• Energy Northwest Video Ad Promotes Nuclear Energy as Clean
• Cub Scouts Plant Trees in Kennewick – Thanks to Benton PUD
• California Nuclear Plant Developing Plan to go Back Online
• Massachusetts - NRC to Hear Public Comment on Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant
• Nuclear Waste: Why is DOE Collecting Fees for ‘Program That Isn’t Doing Very Much’? – Judge
• California - Downed Power Line Electrocutes San Mateo Man
• Illinois - ComEd Files Smart Meter Deployment Plan
• Tribal Group Claims Sea Lions Munch More Salmon than Previously Thought
• Improved Oregon Stock Means More Salmon near Washington State
• Fisheries Scientists Redefine the Salmon Debate by Trumpeting More ‘Spill’
• Oyster Hatchery to be Built at Manchester Research Station
• First Group of Endangered Butterflies Hatches in Belfair-Area Prison
• Belfair Water District Gets $1.9 Million Loan
• City of Shelton’s Sewer System Upgrades Wins State Award
• Oregon - Conservation Group Challenges Bend’s Water Plans
• ‘Taking the Waste Out of Wastewater’
• Comments Sought on Mount Baker Geothermal Leasing
• Washington State Gubernatorial Candidate Jay Inslee Talks Clean Energy in Visit to Tri-Cities
• Partners Sought to Invest in Solar Panels at King County Facilities
• California Lawsuit Says Wind Energy Industry Hurts Condors
• California - Discovery of Indian Artifacts Complicates Genesis Solar Project
• First Solar Execs Accused of Inside Trading
• Earth Day Technology: The Spray-On Solar Panel?
• Pennsylvania - Water Company Uses Flow to Make Electricity
• The Skinny on Gadgets’ Growing Energy Appetite
• British Columbia Greenhouse Uses Captured Carbon Dioxide to Grow Food
• Greenpeace Lauds Quincy as ‘Green’ Data Center Site
• The DSL Death March Continues…
• Four Social Media Principles You Must Remember
• Washington State Legislature: Balance of Power in State Senate Could Tip Toward Republicans in Next Election
• Not Guilty Plea in Lake Cushman Fatal Shooting
• Highway 3 Slide Light near Shelton in Place through Summer
• Vintner Vituperation - Governor Backs Washington ‘Fine’ Wine over California ‘Jug’ Wine
• Teens Getting Drunk Off Hand Sanitizer
• Seattle Tops Popularity List of US Cities

WORD OF THE DAY

Kowtow • \COW-tow (sounds like the sound in ouch)\ • Verb - 1: to show obsequious deference: fawn 2: to kneel and touch the forehead to the ground in token of homage, worship, or deep respect

From Merriam-Webster - “Kowtow” originated as a noun referring to the act of kneeling and touching one’s head to the ground as a salute or act of worship to a revered authority. In traditional China this ritual was performed by commoners making requests to the local magistrate, by the emperor to the shrine of Confucius, or by foreign representatives appearing before the emperor to establish trade relations. (In the late 18th century, some Western nations resisted performing the ritual, which acknowledged the Chinese emperor as the “son of heaven.”) The word “kowtow” derives from Chinese “koutou,” formed by combining the verb “kou” (“to knock”) with the noun “tou” (“head”). The noun had arrived in English by 1804, and the earliest evidence for the verb dates from 1826.

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

Editorial - Grand Coulee Dam Project is Much Needed (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2012/04/23/2079025/dam-project-is-much-needed.html

Workers Building Big Dam in Amazon Plan Strike (Associated Press)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/04/20/international/i140848D07.DTL

Port Angeles Adjusting to High-Tech Electricity Metering (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20120424/NEWS/304249987/port-angeles-adjusting-to-high-tech-electricity-metering

Snohomish County PUD Warning of Scam Targeting Utility Customers (My Edmonds News, WA)

http://myedmondsnews.com/2012/04/pud-warning-of-scam-targeting-utility-customers/

Energy Northwest Video Ad Promotes Nuclear Energy as Clean (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/04/23/1913472/nuclear-energy-northwest-promotes.html

Cub Scouts Plant Trees in Kennewick – Thanks to Benton PUD (KVEW Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.kvewtv.com/article/2012/apr/23/cub-scouts-plant-trees-kennewick/

California Nuclear Plant Developing Plan to go Back Online (Associated Press)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/04/23/national/a153419D24.DTL

Massachusetts - NRC to Hear Public Comment on Seabrook Nuclear Power Plant (Newburyport News, MA)

http://www.newburyportnews.com/local/x2086604148/NRC-to-hear-public-comment

Nuclear Waste: Why is DOE Collecting Fees for ‘Program That Isn’t Doing Very Much’? – Judge (E&E Publishing)
http://www.eenews.net/public/Greenwire/2012/04/20/2

California - Downed Power Line Electrocutes San Mateo Man (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_20450179

Illinois - ComEd Files Smart Meter Deployment Plan (Electric Light & Power)

http://www.elp.com/index/display/article-display.articles.electric-light-power.meetering.2012.April.ComEd_files_smart_meter_deployment_plan.QP129867.dcmp=rss.page=1.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Tribal Group Claims Sea Lions Munch More Salmon than Previously Thought (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://earthfix.opb.org/flora-and-fauna/article/tribal-group-claims-sea-lions-munch-more-salmon-th/

Improved Oregon Stock Means More Salmon near Washington State (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Improved-Ore-stock-means-more-salmon-near-Wash-148386665.html

Fisheries Scientists Redefine the Salmon Debate by Trumpeting More ‘Spill’ (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2012/04/22/2087353/saving-salmon-without-removing.html

Oyster Hatchery to be Built at Manchester Research Station (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/apr/20/oyster-hatchery-to-be-built-at-manchester/

First Group of Endangered Butterflies Hatches in Belfair-Area Prison (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=4085

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Belfair Water District Gets $1.9 Million Loan (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/?p=4658

City of Shelton’s Sewer System Upgrades Wins State Award (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/?p=4640

Oregon - Conservation Group Challenges Bend’s Water Plans (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/conservation-group-challenges-bends-water-plans/

‘Taking the Waste Out of Wastewater’ (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/22/opinion/sunday/taking-the-waste-out-of-wastewater.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Comments Sought on Mount Baker Geothermal Leasing (Bellingham Herald, WA)

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/04/23/2493448/comments-sought-on-mount-baker.html

Washington State Gubernatorial Candidate Jay Inslee Talks Clean Energy in Visit to Tri-Cities (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/04/24/1914844/inslee-talks-clean-energy-in-visit.html

Partners Sought to Invest in Solar Panels at King County Facilities (Enumclaw Patch, WA)

http://enumclaw.patch.com/articles/partners-sought-to-invest-in-solar-panels-at-king-county-facilities

California Lawsuit Says Wind Energy Industry Hurts Condors (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_20457235

California - Discovery of Indian Artifacts Complicates Genesis Solar Project (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-solar-bones-20120424,0,1894725.story

First Solar Execs Accused of Inside Trading (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/04/24/45891.htm

Earth Day Technology: The Spray-On Solar Panel? (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/2012/0422/Earth-Day-technology-the-spray-on-solar-panel

Pennsylvania - Water Company Uses Flow to Make Electricity (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)

http://www.post-gazette.com/stories/local/neighborhoods-north/water-company-uses-flow-to-make-electricity-632685/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

The Skinny on Gadgets’ Growing Energy Appetite (CNET News)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-57418123-54/the-skinny-on-gadgets-growing-energy-appetite/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

British Columbia Greenhouse Uses Captured Carbon Dioxide to Grow Food (Vancouver Sun, BC)

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=d43c5810-81d1-40e0-9837-0b8d48ca01a0

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Greenpeace Lauds Quincy as ‘Green’ Data Center Site - points to area’s access to hydropower via Grant County PUD (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/business/tech/article_2c5789e6-8b2f-11e1-a849-001a4bcf887a.html

The DSL Death March Continues…. (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/broadband/the-dsl-death-march-continues/

Four Social Media Principles You Must Remember (New Mexico Business Weekly)

http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/blog/socialmadness/2012/04/four-social-media-principles-you-must.html?s=print

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Legislature: Balance of Power in State Senate Could Tip Toward Republicans in Next Election (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/04/washington_legislature_balance.html

GENERAL NEWS

Not Guilty Plea in Lake Cushman Fatal Shooting (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/?p=4638

Highway 3 Slide Light near Shelton in Place through Summer (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/?p=4644

Vintner Vituperation - Governor Backs Washington ‘Fine’ Wine over California ‘Jug’ Wine (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Jug-Wine-Vs-Washingtons-Fine-Wine-148626995.html

Teens Getting Drunk Off Hand Sanitizer (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2018054762_sanitzerdrunk24.html

Seattle Tops Popularity List of US Cities (Public Policy Polling)

http://www.publicpolicypolling.com/main/2012/04/seattle-tops-popularity-list-of-us-cities.html

DIVERSIONS

Alaska Distiller Making Hemp Seed Vodka

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20120420/BIZ/704209702

Does This Woman Have the Perfect Face?

http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2012/04/23/does-this-woman-have-the-perfect-face/

Bulldog Licks Competition in Beauty Contest

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/apr/24/bulldog-licks-competition-in-beauty-contest/

Company Aims to Strike it Rich by Mining Asteroids

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2018055320_apussciasteroidmining.html

SONG OF THE DAY

The Beatles - I’ve Just Seen a Face

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SbKGsEK_T9g

Energy News Digest for April 20, 2012

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

International Agreement Helps Northwest Fish & Power (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.bpa.gov/corporate/BPANews/ArticleTemplate.cfm?ArticleId=article-20120419-01

Greenpeace Hangs Banner from Amazon Building in Protest of the Cloud (KCPQ-TV, Tacoma/Seattle)

http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-greenpeace-goes-after-amazon-microsofts-cloud-services-20120419,0,3440989.story

Lacey, Olympia Tied for 14th in Contest Boosting Conservation (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2012/04/20/2075743/lacey-olympia-tied-for-14th-in.html

Two-Headed Trout Spur Scrutiny of Mine Pollution (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/two-headed_trout_spur_scrutiny_of_mine_pollution/

Washington State Government to Cut another 1,266 Jobs (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Washington-state-to-cut-another-1266-jobs--148215355.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• International Agreement Helps Northwest Fish & Power
• Delayed Hanford Waste Decision Nettles Washington State Regulators
• Suspect Trapped by Downed Power Lines after Snohomish County Chase
• PUD 3 to Conduct Tree Trimming near Collins Lake - Project Begins April 23, 2012
• Third Grays Harbor PUD Candidate Announces
• California - Federal Court Hears Arguments on Hayward Power Plant Permit
• Smart Meter Opt Out Options Grow in California
• Pedernales Electric Cooperative to Stop Hanging Festival Signs on Utility Poles
• Two-Headed Trout Spur Scrutiny of Mine Pollution
• Spill Causes Die-Off of Salmon in Nooksack River
• Killer Whales Facing an Airborne Threat
• Meetings to Help Shape Murrelet Strategy Next Month
• Bats Rebound in New York Caves First Hit by White-Nose
• Sequoia Cloning Project Plants Seed of a Second Old-Growth Forest
• Floating Wind Turbines Could Get Great Lakes Test
• Co-op Ties Tennessee Valley Authority to Huge Solar Farm
• Lacey, Olympia Tied for 14th in Contest Boosting Conservation
• New Fridges Could Save Minnesota Renters Cold Cash - And Help the Environment
• Oregon's Low-Carbon Fuel Standard Faces Legislative, Legal Hurdles
• 287 Coastal Energy Facilities at Risk from Sea Level Rise
• Honda Seeks to Reverse Hybrid Owner's Small Claims Award
• Greenpeace Hangs Banner from Amazon Building in Protest of the Cloud
• Carriers Warn of Crisis in Mobile Spectrum
• Parties Seek New US Supreme Court Challenge on Top Two Primary System
• Washington State Government to Cut another 1,266 Jobs
• Last Chance to Bid on Washington State Liquor Stores
• Swarm of Mini Earthquakes Recorded Throughout Western Washington State
• Wee Little Gig Harbor Called a ‘Best Small Town’

WORD OF THE DAY

Somnolent • \SOMM-nuh-lunt\ • Adjective - 1: of a kind likely to induce sleep 2a: inclined to or heavy with sleep: drowsy b: sleepy

Perhaps practicing on himself in the mirror was not the best approach for the locally heralded hypnotist. His somnolent patter was too effective, as the last thing he remembered prior to a two week slumber were the words “you are getting very sleepy…”

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

International Agreement Helps Northwest Fish & Power (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.bpa.gov/corporate/BPANews/ArticleTemplate.cfm?ArticleId=article-20120419-01

Delayed Hanford Waste Decision Nettles Washington State Regulators (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

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

Suspect Trapped by Downed Power Lines after Snohomish County Chase (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20120419/NEWS01/704199890

PUD 3 to Conduct Tree Trimming near Collins Lake - Project Begins April 23, 2012 (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/Newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=1018

Third Grays Harbor PUD Candidate Announces (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

http://www.thedailyworld.com/sections/news/local/third-pud-candidate-announces.html

California - Federal Court Hears Arguments on Hayward Power Plant Permit (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_20437917

Smart Meter Opt Out Options Grow in California (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/namarchetti/82846/smart-meter-opt-out-options-grow-california

Pedernales Electric Cooperative to Stop Hanging Festival Signs on Utility Poles (River Cities Daily Tribune, Marble Falls, TX)

http://dailytrib.com/news/marble-falls-news/14896-pec-to-stop-hanging-festival-signs-on-utility-poles

FISH & WILDLIFE

Two-Headed Trout Spur Scrutiny of Mine Pollution (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/two-headed_trout_spur_scrutiny_of_mine_pollution/

Spill Causes Die-Off of Salmon in Nooksack River (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018027000_apwafishkill.html

Killer Whales Facing an Airborne Threat (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018025831_orcas20m.html

Meetings to Help Shape Murrelet Strategy Next Month (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

http://www.thedailyworld.com/sections/news/local/meetings-help-shape-murrelet-strategy-next-month.html

Bats Rebound in New York Caves First Hit by White-Nose (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Bats-rebound-in-NY-caves-first-hit-by-white-nose-3494886.php

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Sequoia Cloning Project Plants Seed of a Second Old-Growth Forest (San Francisco Business Times, CA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/2012/04/sequoia-cloning-project-plants-seed-of.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Floating Wind Turbines Could Get Great Lakes Test (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018026526_apmioffshorewindgreatlakes.html

Co-op Ties Tennessee Valley Authority to Huge Solar Farm (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/uncategorized/west-tennessee-solar-farm-co-op-ties/42870

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Lacey, Olympia Tied for 14th in Contest Boosting Conservation (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2012/04/20/2075743/lacey-olympia-tied-for-14th-in.html

New Fridges Could Save Minnesota Renters Cold Cash - And Help the Environment (Duluth News-Tribune, MN)

http://www.duluthnewstribune.com/event/article/id/229153/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Oregon's Low-Carbon Fuel Standard Faces Legislative, Legal Hurdles (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2012/04/oregons_low-carbon_fuel_standa.html

287 Coastal Energy Facilities at Risk from Sea Level Rise (Grist Online)

http://grist.org/list/287-coastal-energy-facilities-at-risk-from-sea-level-rise/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Honda Seeks to Reverse Hybrid Owner's Small Claims Award (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/story/2012-04-20/honda-civic-hybrid-lawsuit/54424346/1?csp=34news

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Greenpeace Hangs Banner from Amazon Building in Protest of the Cloud (KCPQ-TV, Tacoma/Seattle)

http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-greenpeace-goes-after-amazon-microsofts-cloud-services-20120419,0,3440989.story

Carriers Warn of Crisis in Mobile Spectrum (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/18/technology/mobile-carriers-warn-of-spectrum-crisis-others-see-hyperbole.html?_r=1

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Parties Seek New US Supreme Court Challenge on Top Two Primary System (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2012/04/20/2076037/2-parties-ask-high-court-to-hear.html

GENERAL NEWS

Washington State Government to Cut another 1,266 Jobs (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Washington-state-to-cut-another-1266-jobs--148215355.html

Last Chance to Bid on Washington State Liquor Stores (Associated Press)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=664558

Swarm of Mini Earthquakes Recorded Throughout Western Washington State (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/W-Washington-quake-storm--148190295.html

Wee Little Gig Harbor Called a ‘Best Small Town’ (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2012/04/19/wee-little-gig-harbor-called-a-best-small-town/

DIVERSIONS

Levon Helm, Key Member of the Band, Dies at 71

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/apr/19/levon-helm-key-member-band-dies-71/

Stolen Cameras Transmit Images of Alleged Thieves

http://www.thedailyworld.com/sections/news/local/stolen-cameras-transmit-images-alleged-thieves.html

New Zealand Woman's Coca-Cola Habit Cited in Death

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2018026331_apasnewzealandcocacoladeath.html

Starbucks Debugs Its Frappuccinos

http://www.nwcn.com/news/Starbucks-debugs-its-frappuccinos-148132655.html

SONG OF THE DAY

The Band - The Weight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sjCw3-YTffo