Energy News Digest for May 7, 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

Mayor to Propose Seattle City Light Rate Increase of 28% Over 6 Years (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018156311_citylight07m.html

Seattle Pulls Plug on Its Broadband Network (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2018149915_brier07.html

Surprising Results: Overall Stream Temperature Trends in Pacific Northwest Don’t Parallel Climate-Related Trends (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/420172.aspx

Former Govt. Scientist Claims He Was Fired for His Klamath Dam Views (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/former-govt-scientist-claims-he-was-fired-his-klamath-dam-views/

Belfair Man Dies in Tree-Cutting Accident (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/may/06/belfair-man-dies-in-tree-cutting-accident/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Mayor to Propose Seattle City Light Rate Increase of 28% Over Six Years
• Idaho Power Rate Hikes Likely This Summer
• Layoffs among Eugene Water & Electric Board Options
• Editorial - Converting Thurston County Power Supply to PUD No Easy (Or Cheap) Task
• Northwest Natural Gas Might Get Rate Decrease Instead if Increase
• Tennessee Valley Authority Reports $267 Million Loss for Six-Month Period, Expects Loss for the Year
• Duke Energy Net Drops 42 Percent on Power Plant Costs
• Federal Appeals Court Denies California Challenge to Power Plant
• Record Gas Use by US Utilities Fails to Drive Up Price: Energy
• Amid Brazil’s Rush to Develop Amazon River Basin Dam, Workers Resist
• Suspected Copper Thieves Caught in PG&E Yard in San Carlos
• Former Govt. Scientist Claims He Was Fired for His Klamath Dam Views
• Op/Ed - Some Dams Should Come Down, But Not Snake River Dams
• Human Fishing Shown to Have Little Effect on Orcas
• Pend Oreille River Pike Thinning Continues
• Tony Floor Looks at the Influence Congressman Norm Dicks Made on Salmon Management.
• EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson on Clean Water Act, Coal, Natural Gas & Portland
• Editorial - When the Wind Blows, We Pay
• The End of Clean Energy Subsidies?
• Wind Power Layoffs Mounting While Congress Remains Gridlocked
• Op/Ed - Balance of Power: Clean Energy & Desert Wildlife
• On Our Radar: Birds & Wind Turbines
• Michigan’s Green Energy Ballot Proposal Joins Unlikely Allies
• Canada - The Jury’s Back: Green Power is Too Expensive
• Hurrah for Benton PUD - Port of Kennewick to Change 176 Light Fixtures; Will Save Buildings $3,900 A Year
• Four Smart Thermostats That Save Money & Energy
• Surprising Results: Overall Stream Temperature Trends in Pacific Northwest Don’t Parallel Climate-Related Trends
• Heartland Pulls Billboard on Global Warming
• Dinosaurs Passing Wind May Have Caused Climate Change
• Washington State’s Greens & the Governor: A Partnership Going Up In Smoke?
• The Environmental Impact of Your Pointless Googling
• Giant Plant Tags Tell You How to Care for Streetlights, Hydrants & Mailboxes
• Seattle Pulls Plug on Its Broadband Network
• Cities Build Their Own, Faster Broadband Networks
• Attempt to Overhaul Colorado Telecom Subsidy Fails
• Folks without Landlines May be Out of Loop in Emergency
• Yahoo Facing Shareholder Showdown over CEO’s Fate
• Midday Scan: Is Lisa Brown Eyeing the Governorship of Washington State?
• Washington State Auditor Sonntag’s Fights for Accountability Irk Fellow Democrats
• Belfair Man Dies in Tree-Cutting Accident
• Standing Water Damages Roof at Simpson Door Plant
• Washington State’s Students Face Tuition Hike
• Washington State Road Crews Hope to Open Scenic Highways Soon
• Man Spies Own Scrap Metal at Recycling Plant; Relative Arrested
• Jet Powered Race Car - Eagle Stops in Shelton
• ‘Goober Pyle’ Lindsey Dies after Brief Illness

WORD OF THE DAY

Satiety• \suh-TYE-uht-tee\ • Noun - 1: the quality or state of being fed or gratified to or beyond capacity: surfeit, fullness 2: the revulsion or disgust caused by overindulgence or excess

NOTE THIS: The reference below is not for the weak of heart, or delicate ears. You have been warned!!!

Satiety: See “Mr. Creosote Blows Up” from the Monty Python film, “The Meaning of Life.”

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

Mayor to Propose Seattle City Light Rate Increase of 28% Over Six Years (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018156311_citylight07m.html

Idaho Power Rate Hikes Likely This Summer (Boise State Public Radio, ID)

http://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/post/idaho-power-rate-hikes-likely-summer

Layoffs among Eugene Water & Electric Board Options - The utility is struggling to close a $1.2 million projected shortfall for 2012 & more in 2013 (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

http://www.registerguard.com/web/newslocalnews/28019579-41/eweb-utility-robertson-employees-million.html.csp

Editorial - Converting Thurston County Power Supply to PUD No Easy (Or Cheap) Task (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2012/05/06/2094577/converting-power-supply-to-pud.html

Northwest Natural Gas Might Get Rate Decrease Instead if Increase (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2012/05/northwest_natural_gas_might_ge.html

Tennessee Valley Authority Reports $267 Million Loss for Six-Month Period, Expects Loss for the Year (Huntsville Times, AL)

http://blog.al.com/huntsville-times-business/2012/05/tva_reports_267_million_for_si.html

Duke Energy Net Drops 42 Percent on Power Plant Costs (Bloomberg News)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/05/BU7C1OB7ET.DTL

Federal Appeals Court Denies California Challenge to Power Plant (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_20550629/federal-appeals-court-denies-chabot-challenge-power-plant

Record Gas Use by US Utilities Fails to Drive Up Price: Energy (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-05-06/record-gas-use-by-u-s-utilities-fails-to-drive-up-price-energy.html

Nuclear-Free Japan Braces for Severe Power Shortages (Reuters – oh, & look: the protest signs are in English…)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/06/us-nuclear-japan-idUSBRE84405820120506

Amid Brazil’s Rush to Develop Amazon River Basin Dam, Workers Resist (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/06/world/americas/brazils-rush-to-develop-hydroelectric-power-brings-unrest.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Suspected Copper Thieves Caught in PG&E Yard in San Carlos (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_20553616

FISH & WILDLIFE

Former Govt. Scientist Claims He Was Fired for His Klamath Dam Views (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/former-govt-scientist-claims-he-was-fired-his-klamath-dam-views/

Op/Ed - Some Dams Should Come Down, But Not Snake River Dams (Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal)

http://kpbj.com/business_daily/2012-05-07/some_dams_should_come_down_but_not_snake_river_dams

Human Fishing Shown to Have Little Effect on Orcas (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/may/06/human-fishing-shown-to-have-little-effect-on/

Pend Oreille River Pike Thinning Continues (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/may/06/pend-oreille-river-pike-thinning-continues/

Tony Floor Looks at the Influence Congressman Norm Dicks Made on Salmon Management (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2018147106_tony_floor_looks_at_the_influe.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson on Clean Water Act, Coal, Natural Gas & Portland (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2012/05/epa_administrator_lisa_jackson.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Editorial - When the Wind Blows, We Pay (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/may/05/when-the-wind-blows-we-pay/

The End of Clean Energy Subsidies? (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/06/opinion/sunday/the-end-of-clean-energy-subsidies.html

Wind Power Layoffs Mounting While Congress Remains Gridlocked (Examiner)

http://www.examiner.com/article/wind-power-layoffs-mounting-while-congress-remains-gridlocked

Op/Ed - Balance of Power: Clean Energy & Desert Wildlife (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/toddwoody/2012/05/03/balance-of-power-clean-energy-and-desert-wildlife/

On Our Radar: Birds & Wind Turbines (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/04/on-our-radar-birds-and-wind-turbines/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Michigan’s Green Energy Ballot Proposal Joins Unlikely Allies (Associated Press)

http://www.southbendtribune.com/news/sbt-20120506sbtmicha-05-02-20120506,0,7789267.story

Canada - The Jury’s Back: Green Power is Too Expensive (The Province, Vancouver, BC)

http://www.theprovince.com/technology/jury+back+green+power+expensive/6574239/story.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Hurrah for Benton PUD - Port of Kennewick to Change 176 Light Fixtures; Will Save Buildings $3,900 A Year (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/05/07/1931009/port-of-kennewick-to-change-176.html

Four Smart Thermostats That Save Money & Energy (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/story/2012-05-06/smart-thermostats/54750056/1?csp=34tech

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Surprising Results: Overall Stream Temperature Trends in Pacific Northwest Don’t Parallel Climate-Related Trends (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/420172.aspx

Heartland Pulls Billboard on Global Warming (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/04/a-new-tactic-for-climate-skeptics/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Dinosaurs Passing Wind May Have Caused Climate Change (The Telegraph, UK)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/science/dinosaurs/9250032/Dinosaurs-passing-wind-may-have-caused-climate-change.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Washington State’s Greens & the Governor: A Partnership Going Up In Smoke? (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2011/05/26/washington-governor/20949/Washington-states-greens-gov-partnership-going-up/

The Environmental Impact of Your Pointless Googling (Fast Coexist)

http://www.fastcoexist.com/1679794/the-environmental-impact-of-your-pointless-googling

Giant Plant Tags Tell You How to Care for Streetlights, Hydrants & Mailboxes (Grist Online)

http://grist.org/list/giant-plant-tags-tell-you-how-to-care-for-streetlights-hydrants-and-mailboxes/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Seattle Pulls Plug on Its Broadband Network (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2018149915_brier07.html

Cities Build Their Own, Faster Broadband Networks (National League of Cities)

http://www.nlc.org/news-center/nations-cities-weekly/articles/2012/may/cities-build-their-own-faster-broadband-networks

Attempt to Overhaul Colorado Telecom Subsidy Fails (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/Attempt-to-overhaul-Colorado-telecom-subsidy-fails-3535040.php

Folks without Landlines May be Out of Loop in Emergency (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/may/05/folks-without-landlines-may-be-out-of-loop/

Yahoo Facing Shareholder Showdown over CEO’s Fate (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2018157034_apusyahooaheadofthebell.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Midday Scan: Is Lisa Brown Eyeing the Governorship of Washington State? (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2012/05/04/media/108358/midday-scan-friday-draft/

Washington State Auditor Sonntag’s Fights for Accountability Irk Fellow Democrats (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2011/06/13/washington-governor/21007/Auditor-Sonntags-fights-for-accountability-irk-fel/

GENERAL NEWS

Belfair Man Dies in Tree-Cutting Accident (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/may/06/belfair-man-dies-in-tree-cutting-accident/

Standing Water Damages Roof at Simpson Door Plant (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=4133

Washington State’s Students Face Tuition Hike (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2012/05/04/2093148/wa-students-get-set-for-another.html

Washington State Road Crews Hope to Open Scenic Highways Soon (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018141948_apwamountainpasses1stldwritethru.html

Man Spies Own Scrap Metal at Recycling Plant; Relative Arrested (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/man-spies-own-scrap-metal-at-recycling-plant-relative-arrested/article_cf4a0edc-964a-11e1-b92e-001a4bcf887a.html

Jet Powered Race Car - Eagle Stops in Shelton (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/29626-eagle-stops-in-shelton

‘Goober Pyle’ Lindsey Dies after Brief Illness (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/may/07/goober-pyle-lindsey-dies-after-brief-illness/

DIVERSIONS

Watch: Dog’s Owner Returns from War

http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/05/03/watch-dogs-owner-returns-from-war/

Over Germany’s Surrender - AP Apologizes to Bend Family of Fired WWII Reporter

http://news.opb.org/article/ap-apologizes-bend-family-fired-wwii-reporter/

Concern in New Zealand over ‘Possum’ Drinking Craze

http://www.google.com/hostednews/afp/article/ALeqM5hOxsByF78Bw9iWza-dpQXNDKQwgg?docId=CNG.8d5b758de9e350282571a0c6dc1155a3.591

We’re Doing What? Cowlitz Tribe Takes Ownership of I-5 Sculptures

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2018150649_sculptures06.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Charlie Daniels - Drinking My Baby Goodbye

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

Energy News Digest for May 4, 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

EPA E-Mails on Anti-Pollution Rules Reveal Agency’s Frustration with White House (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/epa-e-mails-on-anti-pollution-rules-reveal-agencys-frustration-with-white-house/2012/05/03/gIQAYeQDzT_story.html?wprss=rss_politics

Southern Oregon University Dorms Strain Ashland Conservation Program - Green features eligible for $180,000 in rebates, leaving little for other, smaller projects in city (Ashland Daily Tidings, OR)

http://www.dailytidings.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120504/NEWS02/205040305

Irrigation District, Bonneville Power Administration Partner to Recharge Aquifer (Twin Falls Times-News, ID)

http://magicvalley.com/news/local/6d09ea4f-c7b7-5c04-973c-1defb5ed02bf.html

Feds Set New Drilling Rules for Hydraulic Fracturing (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/may/04/interior-sets-new-rules-hydraulic-fracturing/

Democratic Senate Leader Lisa Brown Will Not Seek Reelection – Story touches on Initiative 937 (PubliCola)

http://publicola.com/2012/05/03/democratic-senate-leader-lisa-brown-will-not-seek-reelection/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Feds Set New Drilling Rules for Hydraulic Fracturing
• Wyoming - Federal Coal Sales in Powder River Basin Draw Suit
• Bonneville Power Administration; Montana-to-Washington Transmission System Upgrade Project EIS
• Ted Simpson, Clallam Public Utility District Commissioner Eyes Re-Election
• Landmarks: Nine Mile Falls Dam at Core of Enclave
• ‘Bridges Being Built’ By BPA’s Personnel Exchange with Tribes
• Minneapolis Hydro Plant Shows Existing Dam Potential
• Ohio - License Hearing on Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Plan Planned May 18
• Class Calls New Jersey Utility Come-On a Scam
• Final Alternative Site Dedicated to Replace Drowned Celilo Falls & Other Lost Fisheries
• Op/Ed - Balancing Power Needs & The Environment: What James Redden Says on Salmon Recovery Still Matters
• Irrigation District, Bonneville Power Administration Partner to Recharge Aquifer
• Managing the Wind
• How Wind Power Fits into Our Energy Diet
• Colorado - Vestas Workers Could Learn Fate by Summer
• First Solar Restructuring Leads to Loss of $449 Million
• Few Businesses Buying Solar Panels
• China is Stealing America’s Solar Manufacturing Industry. Should We Fight Back Or Rejoice?
• Southern Oregon University Dorms Strain Ashland Conservation Program
• Pacific Light Lands $3 Million for LED Technology
• Mason County PUD 3 Energy Conservation Featured on KMAS
• A Power Hungry Generation
• EPA E-Mails on Anti-Pollution Rules Reveal Agency’s Frustration with White House
• British Columbia Rethinks Its Pioneering Carbon Tax
• Greenland Losing Ice Fast, But Not Runaway Pace
• Plant-Based Biofuels Expand With Tech Advances
• Charitable Bottled Water Comes to Portland
• Broadcasters Withdraw “White Spaces” Challenge
• USDA Accepting Broadband Grant Applications
• Finding the Broadband Pipes for Rural Telemedicine
• It’s Not Easy Being Green: Data Center Edition
• Criticism Rains Down Over Cloud Data Centers
• Democratic Senate Leader Lisa Brown Will Not Seek Reelection – Story touches on Initiative 937
• Washington State Senate Majority Leader Stepping Down, May Run Statewide in Future
• Washington State Senate - Billig Announces for Brown Seat
• Women suing Washington State AG McKenna over Federal Health Care Law
• Dicks & Murray Drop Portion of Wild Olympics Proposal, Close in on Legislation
• Goodbye La Nina: Will Drought, Hurricanes Also Go?
• Almost $1 Million Found in Storage in Oregon in Navy Scam Case
• Hood Canal School Selects New Superintendent: Shawn Batstone
• Federal Lawmakers Push for Vote to Limit Post Office Closures
• Manhole Lid Theft is on the Rise
• A Stunning, New Social Media Tactic: Handwritten Notes

WORD OF THE DAY

Bon Vivant • \bahn-vee-VAHNT\ • Noun - A person having cultivated, refined, & sociable tastes especially in respect to food & drink.

Like a blind kingdom where a one-eyed man is king, Derwent was considered the backwater town’s bon vivant: just because he drank his beer from a glass and not the bottle. “Fancy,” mused the bartender whenever he carefully poured the amber-colored brew for his customer, “next thing you’ll know he’ll want it cold.”

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

Feds Set New Drilling Rules for Hydraulic Fracturing (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/may/04/interior-sets-new-rules-hydraulic-fracturing/

Wyoming - Federal Coal Sales in Powder River Basin Draw Suit (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/Federal-coal-sales-in-Powder-River-Basin-draw-suit-3532544.php

Bonneville Power Administration; Montana-to-Washington Transmission System Upgrade Project EIS (Zecco)

https://research.zecco.com/research/quotes/stock-news/story.asp?key=100-124u4613-1&lastPage=quote_snapshot&mcsymbol=undefined

Ted Simpson, Clallam Public Utility District Commissioner Eyes Re-Election (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20120504/news/305049990/clallam-public-utility-district-commissioner-eyes-re-election

Landmarks: Nine Mile Falls Dam at Core of Enclave - Brick cottages housed workers at hydro plant (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/may/03/dam-at-core-of-enclave/

‘Bridges Being Built’ By BPA’s Personnel Exchange with Tribes (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.bpa.gov/corporate/BPANews/ArticleTemplate.cfm?ArticleId=article-20120503-01

Minneapolis Hydro Plant Shows Existing Dam Potential (Midwest Energy News)

http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2012/05/04/minneapolis-hydro-plant-shows-existing-dam-potential/

Ohio - License Hearing on Davis-Besse Nuclear Power Plan Planned May 18 (Toledo Blade, OH)

http://www.toledoblade.com/local/2012/05/04/License-hearing-on-Davis-Besse-planned-May-18.html

Class Calls New Jersey Utility Come-On a Scam (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/05/04/46237.htm

FISH & WILDLIFE

Final Alternative Site Dedicated to Replace Drowned Celilo Falls & Other Lost Fisheries (Indian Country Today Media Network)

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/05/02/final-alternative-site-dedicated-to-replace-drowned-celilo-falls-and-other-lost-fisheries-111110

Op/Ed - Balancing Power Needs & The Environment: What James Redden Says on Salmon Recovery Still Matters (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/05/balancing_power_needs_and_the.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Irrigation District, Bonneville Power Administration Partner to Recharge Aquifer (Twin Falls Times-News, ID)

http://magicvalley.com/news/local/6d09ea4f-c7b7-5c04-973c-1defb5ed02bf.html

Managing the Wind (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2012/05/managing-the-wind?cmpid=rss

How Wind Power Fits into Our Energy Diet (Grist Online – the reaching for a metaphor edition)

http://grist.org/wind-power/how-wind-power-fits-into-our-energy-diet/

Colorado - Vestas Workers Could Learn Fate by Summer (Pueblo Chieftain, CO)

http://www.chieftain.com/business/local/vestas-workers-could-learn-fate-by-summer/article_afe45f4c-9597-11e1-a751-001a4bcf887a.html

First Solar Restructuring Leads to Loss of $449 Million (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2018135630_apusearnsfirstsolar2ndldwritethru.html

Few Businesses Buying Solar Panels (Austin Business Journal, TX)

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/print-edition/2012/05/04/few-businesses-buying-solar-panels.html

China is Stealing America’s Solar Manufacturing Industry. Should We Fight Back Or Rejoice? (Slate Magazine)

http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2012/05/green_jobs_how_china_and_solyndra_left_america_s_solar_power_companies_fighting_each_other_for_scraps_.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Southern Oregon University Dorms Strain Ashland Conservation Program - Green features eligible for $180,000 in rebates, leaving little for other, smaller projects in city (Ashland Daily Tidings, OR)

http://www.dailytidings.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20120504/NEWS02/205040305

Pacific Light Lands $3 Million for LED Technology (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2012/05/pacific-light-lands-3m-for-led.html

Mason County PUD 3 Energy Conservation Featured on KMAS (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/Newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=1026

A Power Hungry Generation - Few generations have been as dependent on electricity as Gen Y, however new research has found the energy conservation message might not be getting through (Phys.Org)

http://phys.org/news/2012-05-power-hungry.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

EPA E-Mails on Anti-Pollution Rules Reveal Agency’s Frustration with White House (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/epa-e-mails-on-anti-pollution-rules-reveal-agencys-frustration-with-white-house/2012/05/03/gIQAYeQDzT_story.html?wprss=rss_politics

British Columbia Rethinks Its Pioneering Carbon Tax (National Geographic Magazine)

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2012/05/120503-british-columbia-reviews-carbon-tax/

Greenland Losing Ice Fast, But Not Runaway Pace (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Greenland-losing-ice-fast-but-not-runaway-pace-3531790.php

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Plant-Based Biofuels Expand With Tech Advances (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2012/05/plant-based-biofuels-could-power-nearly-a-third-of-vehicles/1?csp=34money

Charitable Bottled Water Comes to Portland (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2012/05/charitable-bottled-water-comes-to.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Broadcasters Withdraw “White Spaces” Challenge (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/03/entertainment-us-fcc-broadcasters-spectr-idUSBRE84217520120503

USDA Accepting Broadband Grant Applications (Western Farm Press)

http://westernfarmpress.com/equipment/usda-accepting-broadband-grant-applications

Finding the Broadband Pipes for Rural Telemedicine (Search Health IT)

http://searchhealthit.techtarget.com/news/2240149739/Finding-the-broadband-pipes-for-rural-telemedicine

It’s Not Easy Being Green: Data Center Edition (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/cloud/its-not-easy-being-green-data-center-edition/

Criticism Rains Down Over Cloud Data Centers (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2012/05/criticism-rains-down-over-cloud-data-centers?cmpid=rss

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Democratic Senate Leader Lisa Brown Will Not Seek Reelection – Story touches on Initiative 937 (PubliCola)

http://publicola.com/2012/05/03/democratic-senate-leader-lisa-brown-will-not-seek-reelection/

Washington State Senate Majority Leader Stepping Down, May Run Statewide in Future (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/wash._senate_majority_leader_stepping_down_may_run_statewide_in_future/

Washington State Senate - Billig Announces for Brown Seat (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2012/05/03/2091823/billig-announces-for-brown-seat.html

Women suing Washington State AG McKenna over Federal Health Care Law (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Women-suing-McKenna-over-federal-health-care-law-150048185.html

GENERAL NEWS

Dicks & Murray Drop Portion of Wild Olympics Proposal, Close in on Legislation (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=4130

Goodbye La Nina: Will Drought, Hurricanes Also Go? (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2018131646_apusscilanina.html

Almost $1 Million Found in Storage in Oregon in Navy Scam Case (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2012/05/almost_1_million_cash_found_in.html

Hood Canal School Selects New Superintendent: Shawn Batstone (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/?p=5075

Federal Lawmakers Push for Vote to Limit Post Office Closures (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/04/us-usa-postal-house-idUSBRE84300H20120504

Manhole Lid Theft is on the Rise (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/04/nyregion/thieves-take-con-eds-manhole-covers.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

A Stunning, New Social Media Tactic: Handwritten Notes (NY Times)

http://boss.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/04/a-stunning-new-social-media-tactic-handwritten-notes/?partner=rss&emc=rss

DIVERSIONS

Frozen Cows Stuck in Cabin Will Be Carved Up Rather Than Exploded

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_20540157

Lost parakeet tells Japanese police its home address

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2012/05/lost-parakeet-tells-japanese-police-where-it-lives/1?csp=34news

Canada’s Last Penny to be Produced Today

http://www.timescolonist.com/business/Canada+last+penny+produced+Friday/6560441/story.html

Ohio deputy gets fired for making inmates dance

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2018128270_apusdancingdemanddeputyfired.html

SONG OF THE DAY

The Beach Boys - Dance, Dance, Dance

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