News Digest for August 10, 2007

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.

EDITOR’S NOTE

The News Digest will be on vacation August 13 through August 24. Kokanee brewery here I come!

WORD OF THE DAY

Ailurophile • \eye-LOOR-uh-file\ • noun – A cat fancier: a lover of cats

Norma was instantly on the alert. At some point during her talk about the drinking bowl habits of kittens, a low, warbling purring was heard in the audience. As a pre-eminent ailurophile, she quickly spotted the culprit: a poorly disguised cat in the front row who had found the catnip in the workshop’s gift bags.

WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Washington State agency may certify Kalama gasification plant – A state commission will consider certifying a proposed 680-megawatt coal gasification power plant at the Port of Kalama, over the objections of the state Attorney General's Office. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/08092007news180712.cfm

Biomass Cofiring – Cofiring is a near term, low-cost option for efficiently and cleanly converting biomass to electricity by adding biomass as a partial substitute fuel in high-efficiency coal boilers. (Links to PDF file at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory)
http://www.nrel.gov/docs/fy00osti/28009.pdf

The Canadian Province of Ontario walks tightrope on plan to end coal use – Ontario aims to close its last coal-fired power plant in 2014 and become the only jurisdiction in North America to completely phase out coal, a strategy that some critics deride as reckless and others say is overly timid. (Reuters)
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/national/story.html?id=7a30372a-770b-44c3-a41d-6c895319ea36&k=74197

California – Engineers' union warns of more blackouts: Pacific Gas & Electric criticizes claim of its failings amid contract talks. A union that represents Pacific Gas and Electric Co. engineers warned Thursday that the utility is understaffed, running behind on maintenance and may suffer more blackouts like the one that recently struck downtown San Francisco. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/08/10/BUQDRG75T.DTL&feed=rss.business

Victorville, CA – Past in play for power plant – Disturbance of archaeological sites is a possibility during the construction of the city's massive new hybrid gas-solar power plant north of the airport. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5BnuqkoqlSSmkt%3EEvbfem%5Ev

Shocking electricity prices follow deregulation (USA Today, check out the God-like picture that goes along with this story!)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2007-08-09-power-prices_N.htm

Georgia – High temperatures putting strain on power plants (Gainesville Times)
http://www.gainesvilletimes.com/news/stories/20070809/localnews/189504.shtml

News Release – Avista Corp. Board Declares Common Stock Dividend: Board authorizes preferred stock dividend (PR Newswire)
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/08-09-2007/0004642581&EDATE=

News Release – Demand Response Sets New Record in PJM Interconnection Consumers' Voluntary Reductions in Use Help Stretch Power Supplies During Emergency (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=72038

WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT

FUNDS TO REPAIRING DAMAGE ALONG SKOKOMISH RIVER – The Skokomish River is the top priority of a coalition of groups working together to improve water quality and fishing conditions. The Skokomish Tribe has received $150,000 from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency as part of a cleanup fund to repair decades of logging damage in the Olympic National Forest and to repair landslide areas that are compromising fish and wildlife habitat. According to Ron Figlar Barnes, with the Skokomish Tribe, the federal money should speed up the cleanup. The tribe is one of 20 organizations and agencies working together on the restoration effort. They have a three-year plan that includes not only the river, but the entire Olympic National Forest. It includes about 16-million dollars worth of restoration work. The Skokomish Tribe has jurisdiction over much of the river, which runs through its reservation. The coalition is called the Skokomish Watershed Action Team ("SWAT") and includes Mason County, the Olympic Forest Coalition, the Wilderness Society, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Washington Department of Ecology. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)

Fast Detection ID Technology Keeps Tabs On Millions Of Salmon – Cattle aren’t the only ones sporting high-tech identity tags. In the Pacific Northwest, salmon migrating from fresh waters in the Columbia River Basin to the Pacific might as well be on a leash. (Cattle Network)
http://www.cattlenetwork.com/cattle_identification_Content.asp?ContentID=151285

Groups meet to update Walden on Walla Walla River Basin plan – A $200,000 feasibility study will provide the groups with information they need to better manage the basin. (Walla Walla Union Bulletin)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2007/08/09/local_news/local02.txt

Columbia River halibut fishery to close in Oregon and Washington – The Columbia River halibut sports fishery will close at one minute before midnight on Sunday (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-873795~Columbia_River_halibut_fishery_to_close_in_Ore___Wash_.html

Head start for hard shells – Zoo-grown Western pond turtles are released in the Columbia gorge area. Supporters include Woodland Park Zoo, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and the Bonneville Power Administration. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1186712723111830.xml&coll=7

CONSERVATION & RENEWABLE ENERGY

Idaho Silicon Plant – Hoku picks contractor for Idaho plant. Hoku Scientific said Thursday it has hired a Washington-based company to build its production plant in Pocatello, Idaho. (Pacific Business News)
http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2007/08/06/daily39.html?ana=from_rss

New York – Cost prompts calls for end to wind power plan. With a report from LIPA about the financial feasibility of its offshore wind-energy project due out in weeks, two state senators are calling on the authority to immediately scuttle the costly plans. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5BnuqpuopZSmkt%3EEvbfem%5Ev

Energy geeks compete for coolest solar home – Upcoming Solar Decathlon contest will judge 20 solar-powered homes built by college students. Right behind the solar car on every environmentalist's wish list is a home powered entirely by the sun. (CNET News)
http://news.com.com/Energy+geeks+compete+for+coolest+solar+home/2100-11392-6201743.html?part=dht&tag=nl.e703

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Maryland – Pollution, without all that guilt: Silver Spring nonprofit sells 'offsets' to carbon dioxide, but some are skeptical (The Baltimore Sun)
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bay_environment/bal-md.carbon04aug04,0,1207585.story

Canada – Good news on climate change: We're using a lot less water. Conservation measures credited (The Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=3d51b5e0-2fb9-411f-a178-ff9cfdff52ca

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Oregon Governor Kulongoski says no to OMSI, wireless funding. Some money would have gone to the Oregon Wireless Interoperability Network. (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2007/08/06/daily43.html?ana=from_rss

GENERAL NEWS

FIRE IN DOWNTOWN SHELTON APARTMENT – A small fire in a second floor unit displaced residents of the apartments at 101 Railroad Avenue Thursday night. According to Shelton Fire Chief Jim Ghiglione, the fire was reported at 7pm and was controlled by the building's sprinkler system and fire crews from Shelton Fire, Mason County Fire District Four and Mason County Fire District 11. However, the sprinkler system caused a problem with the building's fire alarm panel so residents were displaced. Many were able to find shelter with friends or relatives, while others were given Red Cross Vouchers allowing them to stay at a hotel. Those residents should be back in their apartments later today or tomorrow morning. No injuries were reported and the cause of the fire is being investigated. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)

Countdown to I-5 gridlock – Starting tonight at 10 p.m., I-5 through Seattle shuts down to two lanes for repair work, causing chaos for the next 19 days. (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_081007WAB_i5_crunch_countdown_LJ.1ddb7497.html

Cash infusion accelerates Pacific Northwest logging – The Bush administration action pushes cutting to a high not seen in years (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/118662993461110.xml&coll=7

North Mason School District Looks to End Year With $456,000 Balance (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/aug/09/nm-school-district-looks-to-end-year-with-456000/

DIVERSIONS

Clerk Grabs Shotgun Robber Left On Counter – A robber's clumsy pursuit of cash left him staring at the barrel of his own shotgun after he set it on the convenience store counter and the clerk snatched it up, officials said.
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/13857684/detail.html

Snake's Decapitated Head Bites Man – A man was bitten by the decapitated head of a rattlesnake on his property near Prosser.
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/13857618/detail.html

Lava lamp crop circle appears near Soap Lake – Resident estimates object 999 feet long
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2007/08/09/news/news01.txt

Ore. woman loses her $1 million jackpot – A judge ruled that a woman who used a stolen credit card to buy a winning scratch-it ticket has no right to the $1 million prize.
http://www.examiner.com/a-874397~Ore__woman_loses_her__1_million_jackpot.html

Wienermobile gets parking ticket
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070810/ap_on_fe_st/wienermobile_ticketed;_ylt=AtC4EM9KOvyHzaBPIllEnlLtiBIF

Teen burned after lighting fire near gas – An 18-year-old man was severely burned Thursday after he lit a flame while trying to steal gasoline from a riding lawnmower.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070810/ap_on_fe_st/odd_theft_backfires;_ylt=AhYu6SC95QVegvE_Z6qNipztiBIF

News Digest for August 9, 2007

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.

EDITOR’S NOTE

The News Digest will be on vacation August 13 through August 24. Some ‘Loonies’ and ‘Toonies’ are in the offing…

WORD OF THE DAY

Transpontine • \trans-PAHN-tyne\ • adjective – *1: situated on the farther side of a bridge 2 British: situated on the south side of the Thames

After crossing three bridges in his search for a fancy haggis restaurant, Dagwood had to admit that his last river crossing had placed the business of his desire on the transpontine side of the Willamette River.

WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

News Release – Congress overwhelmingly supports hydropower as renewable. In a stunning 402-9 vote, the House sent a clear message of support for the nation's hydropower resources when it voted to reaffirm its recognition of hydropower as a renewable energy resource. (National Hydropower Association)
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/partner/story;jsessionid=64531CD56F2C8B1448675059DB02F5CD?id=49602&src=rss

Here’s a link to the text of the bill:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/D?c110:34:./temp/~c1109lwWGA::

State council questions go-ahead for coal gasification plant – A state agency agreed Wednesday to begin the legal process to permit Energy Northwest's proposed coal gasification plant near Kalama over strong objections that its carbon reduction plan isn't a plan at all. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/v-rss/story/9205376p-9121647c.html

Power sales won't stave off Chelan County PUD rate hikes – The good news: The Chelan County PUD's wholesale power revenues are more than 300 percent above expectations through the first half of 2007. The bad news: That's still not enough to avoid rate hikes slated for 2008. (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070808/NEWS04/708080342/1001/rss1001

Workers at Seattle City Light give communication poor marks in survey – But most satisfied with their jobs (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/326883_light09.html?source=rss

Heat is on for TVA – Electricity use in the Tennessee Valley jumped to a record high Tuesday as Chattanoogans sweltered through the hottest day so far this year. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5BnunmnjkSSljt%3EEvbfem%5Ev

Heat prompts brownout in US Mid-Atlantic (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUKN0838112920070808?rpc=44

News Release – PJM Orders Mid-Atlantic Voltage Reductions as Heat Wave Continues
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=71951

A Sudden Storm Brings New York City to Its Knees – A brief but fierce storm drenched the New York region just before the morning rush yesterday, paralyzing the transit system, flooding major thoroughfares, cutting off electricity to thousands of homes and causing confusion that lingered through a humid, sweaty day. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/08/09/nyregion/09storm.html?ex=1344312000&en=4e704a8f6cb53509&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Ohio – Electricity bills put more heat on users: Costs may go up 19%, but there's no power shortage. Expect the hot summer weather to burn a hole in your pocket. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5BnunnsroSSljt%3EEvbfem%5Ev

The Baltimore Sun Jay Hancock column: Let's see why grid watchdog barked – Don't do it, Mid-Atlantic States. Don't accept the electric grid's offer to settle your complaint. Don't let the dirty secrets that have begun to emerge get covered up.
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5BnumlusqWSljt%3EEvbfem%5Ev

Oklahoma coal plant foes lose court ruling – The Oklahoma Supreme Court turned back an effort Tuesday to stop a set of regulatory hearings on a proposed $1.8 billion coal-fired power plant.
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5BnuniopmTSljt%3EEvbfem%5Ev

Meanwhile, in Kentucky – Judge rejects coal plant permit: says state erred in granting document. An enormous coal-burning power plant planned near Mammoth Cave was dealt a setback by a Kentucky court yesterday. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5BnumknppSSljt%3EEvbfem%5Ev

Canada – Former Amaranth trader cries foul over FERC accusations – Brian Hunter, the former trader at Amaranth Advisors LLC, says he considered stepping down as president of his new Calgary-based hedge fund, Solengo Capital Advisors, because it has become "paralyzed" in the face of accusations by U.S. regulators. (Globe and Mail)
http://ctv2.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20070808.wramaranth08/business/Business/businessBN/ctv-business

WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT

Albany, Oregon Democrat-Herald – Keep science in its place: In Washington, Democrats on the House Natural Resources Committee this week examined whether the Bush administration — namely Vice President Cheney — had exerted undue political influence in the dispute over Klamath Basin water in 2001. (Thanks to Terry Flores for the tip)
http://www.democratherald.com/articles/2007/08/02/news/opinion/4edi01_science.txt

Canada – Warming threatens crucial Fraser habitat, study says. The Fraser River delta could lose up to one-third of its tidal marshes -- critical habitat for both juvenile salmon and waterfowl -- during this century due to rising sea levels resulting from global warming (Victoria Times-Colonist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=dd4c38f1-3c76-473b-8087-77f189885652&k=58325

San Francisco Bay – Petitions say more Delta fish in trouble – Another dwindling Delta population fish should be added to the list of endangered species, environmentalists contend in petitions filed Wednesday. (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_6581226?source=rss&nclick_check=1

Involves Jefferson County PUD Project – State spurns funding for Beckett Point archaeology; Kessler 'surprised'. The state Department of Ecology denied Jefferson County a $250,000 grant to help fund an archaeological study and other work related to a Beckett Point septic system project where Native American remains were found in late May. (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070809/NEWS/708090306

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Guest Columnist – Oil spills from a shellfish grower's view: Brett W. Bishop, If our generation can come to terms with the threat that pollution poses to clean waters, another generation can grow clams in Little Skookum Bay. If we fail and water quality is lost, we are finished.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/326840_shellfish.html?source=rss

Experts seek the cause of 'river nose' – An advocacy group tests the Columbia River to try to pin down the source of recreationists' illnesses (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/118654354239720.xml&coll=7

Canada – B.C.'s coal bed dreams inch ahead amid border impasse – As two coal-based mining projects begin to move ahead in British Columbia, an effort by the province and neighbouring Montana to work together on the environmental effects of mining has cooled off. (The Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20070808.RFLATOUT08/TPStory/TPBusiness/BritishColumbia/

CONSERVATION & RENEWABLE ENERGY

Washington state agency approves wind farm for 2nd time – For a second time, a Washington state agency has recommended that the governor approve a proposed central Washington wind farm despite objections from Kittitas County citizens and officials. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP08092007news180442.cfm

Tri-City Herald, Chris Mulick Blog – Controversial wind project again sent to governor
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/blogs/mulick/v-rss/story/9203537p-9120029c.html

Report: Wind energy demand up; problems hamper industry (Minneapolis-Saint Paul Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2007/08/06/daily26.html?ana=from_rss

Guest Opinion – Cape Wind issue dogs U.S. Senator Kennedy (Cape Cod Today)
http://www.capecodtoday.com/blogs/index.php/Patrick/2007/08/09/repsonse_to_senator_kennedy_unabridged

The Daily Show Covers Cape Wind – In a recent broadcast, Comedy Central's Daily Show covered the proposed Cape Wind project to be located in Nantucket Sound. Daily Show correspondent Jason Jones takes a humorous look at the issues surrounding the controversial wind power project. (RenewableEnergyAccess.com)
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=49585&src=rss

Critiques of House energy bill – Most environmental groups applaud, but the legislation's requirement for renewable sources of electricity is one main point of contention. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/0809/p05s01-wogi.html

Michigan – City may invest $1 million to save on energy costs: Muskegon Heights officials are planning to invest $1 million to make city hall, the police and fire departments and downtown library more energy efficient. (Muskegon Chronicle)
http://www.mlive.com/news/muchronicle/index.ssf?/base/news-12/1186672696220730.xml&coll=8

Bodman: DoE will have conservation plan in place by next year – The U.S. Department of Energy will have its plan for cutting energy use ready by next year, Energy Secretary Samuel W. Bodman said Wednesday. (The Associated Press)
http://www.nola.com/newsflash/louisiana/index.ssf?/base/news-33/118660292261970.xml&storylist=louisiana

Lure of high corn prices adds to farmers' hesitancy to consider grasses as alternative ethanol crop – As researchers look for alternatives to corn as sources to make ethanol, many farmers remain hesitant to start growing other crops. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5BnunjooqXSljt%3EEvbfem%5Ev

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Australia – Rural climate change skeptics shock kayaker
http://www.abc.net.au/rural/news/content/2007/s2000795.htm

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Data centers suck down energy, mostly for cooling – New processors, virtualization could help (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/326868_greentech09.html?source=rss

San Francisco Bay Guardian Editorial – Say goodbye to Earthlink. Supervisors ought to immediately pursue plans for a municipal broadband network
http://www.sfbg.com/printable_entry.php?entry_id=4183

Md. Panel Grills Verizon Over Delays in Repairs – Maryland regulators demanded an explanation from Verizon officials yesterday of why hundreds of customers have waited days and even weeks for telephone repairs this year, exceeding the state standard for missed service appointments for five months running. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/08/AR2007080802295.html?nav=rss_technology

Google Isn't Always The Best Search Choice – Google has turned into a household verb, but that doesn't make it the last word in Web search. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/08/08/AR2007080802311.html?nav=rss_technology

GENERAL NEWS

Wash. Marine released early in case of slain Iraqi civilian – Two Marines who pleaded guilty to criminal charges related to the death of an Iraqi civilian have been released from military prison four months early. “…Jerry Shumate Jr., of Matlock, Wash…sentenced to 21 months in prison as part of plea deals which…admitted to aggravated assault and conspiracy to obstruct justice. They were released Monday to "ensure fair treatment," the Marines said in a statement.
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/9040382.html

Northwest Wheat Farmers Get Best Price in Decades (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3102

Audit Slams Politicians' European Vacation – A group of Kitsap County politicians we caught taking a 17-day, tax-funded junket to Europe has just been reprimanded by the State Auditor. (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/13849974/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_7am&tmi=sea_7am_1_09000308092007&ts=H

Judge refuses to dismiss suit against title insurance firms “…report said that insurers regularly broke a state cap on inducements to real estate middlemen who could steer buyers their way, driving up policy costs…” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/326909_title09.html

DIVERSIONS

Giant Lego man found in Dutch sea
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL0787011420070808?feedType=RSS

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it's a baby…A New Zealand couple is looking to call their newborn son Superman -- but only because their chosen name of 4Real has been rejected by the government registry.
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSWEL7556320070808?feedType=RSS

Who Flung Poo? Farmer attacks police with muck spreader
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL0828771820070808?feedType=RSS

Do I have to draw a map for you? As many as 11 million British motorists are unable to read a basic road map, according to a survey released Monday.
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL0545572920070807