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.
WORD OF THE DAY
Nonchalant • \nahn-shuh-LAHNT\ • adjective – Having an air of easy unconcern or indifference
Derwood hummed a discordant, wandering tune as he strode through the ladies’ department at the local store. Although he was quivering with embarrassment, his promise to his wife to purchase new “foundation” garments drove him to act with utter nonchalance as he discussed the minutia of sizing and fit and laciness with the salesperson that was required by his visit to foreign soil.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Tacoma Public Utilities veteran will lead Tacoma Power (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/government/story/183569.html
Congressional Research Reports – Electric Transmission: Approaches for Energizing a Sagging Industry. The electric utility industry is inherently capital-intensive. At the same time, the industry must operate under a changing and sometimes unpredictable regulatory system at both the federal and state level. (These reports are what give most of the Congress their back of envelope understanding of these issues)
http://opencrs.cdt.org/document/RL33875
Energy transmission a problem in North Dakota – North Dakota wants to be the nation's electricity superstore, but it's having trouble finding a convenient location on the highway. (Bismarck Tribune)
http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2007/10/20/news/ndpowersup/141267.txt
Whatcom County PUD proposes hydro plant for Petersburg, Alaska (Alaska Public Radio)
http://aprn.org/2007/10/18/washington-county-proposes-hydro-plant-for-petersburg-alaska/
The Energy Challenge – Fight Against Coal Plants Draws Diverse Partners (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/20/business/20coal.html?_r=1&ex=1350619200&en=7fbd18302d538ead&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Hopes for coal gasification ride on one project (Reuters)
http://uk.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUKN1819484620071022
Windstorm tests improvements to Puget Sound Energy (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_101907WAB_power_outage_KS.188b27ac5.html
Energy Traders Avoid Scrutiny – As Commodities Market Grows, Oversight Is Slight. One year ago, a 32-year-old trader at a giant hedge fund named Amaranth held huge sway over the price the country paid for natural gas. Trading on unregulated commodity exchanges, he made risky bets that led to the fund's collapse -- and, according to a congressional investigation, higher gas bills for homeowners. But as another winter approaches, lawmakers and federal regulators have yet to set up a system to prevent another big fund from cornering a vital commodity market. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/20/AR2007102001203.html?nav=rss_business
FERC accepts court decision limiting refund authority over non-public utilities – The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) vacated each of the commission's California refund orders to the extent that they subject non-public utility entities to the commission's refund authority under the Federal Power Act. The action stems from a remand of a prior commission decision by the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit. (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/display_article/309723/22/ARTCL/none/none/1/FERC-accepts-court-decision-limiting-refund-authority-over-non-public-utilities/
Home-Heat Prices Are Flaring Up – Winter's Chill to Bring Higher Bills for Oil, Gas (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/19/AR2007101901439.html?nav=rss_nation
Speak your mind on LNG on Monday – The Clatsop County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing Monday to discuss a Houston company's plan to build a liquefied natural gas terminal on the Columbia River. (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/10/21/area_news/news02.txt
Arkansas – Utilities aim to lighten low-income users’ bills (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/205281/
Xcel Energy first utility to use soy oil in transformers (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/display_article/309375/22/ARTCL/none/none/1/Xcel-Energy-first-utility-to-use-soy-oil-in-transformers/
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Idaho – Troubled waters for Craig, Idaho ESA concerns rise amid senator's scandal (Magic Valley Times-News)
http://www.magicvalley.com/articles/2007/10/21/news/local_state/19127642.txt
Upper Columbia Spring Chinook Salmon and Steelhead Recovery Plan (Links to PDF File at Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, all 352 pages worth!)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/pdf/fishplan.pdf
Ten-Story Fish Slide To Make Its Way Up The Columbia River (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/ten-story-fish-slide-make-its-way-columbia-river/
Oregon – High river breaches earthen coffer dam. The first high-river flows of the season triggered the last stages of the removal of Marmot Dam on the Sandy River Friday, breaching the earthen coffer dam that held back water during Portland General Electric's demolition activities. (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-999930~High_river_breaches_earthen_coffer_dam.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
STEELHEAD SEASON OPENING – For the first time in ten years, a steelhead season on the Wenatchee River opens Monday. The season is made possible by a strong return of steelhead. Doug Ward with the State Department of Fish and Wildlife says the object of the season is to remove hatchery bred steelhead. Rules for the fishery are available on the department's website. (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee)
Out of Stilly, a likely record humpy – The main-stem Stillaguamish reasserted itself as a major salmon producer recently, putting out what will likely prove to be a new state and world record "humpy." (The Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071018/SPORTS/710180043/1004/sports
California oyster Farm Sparks Fight Among Environmentalists – An oyster farm may be closed down in a few years because it is located in a potential wilderness area. The dispute is between two different kinds of environmentalists -- those who support pure wilderness, and those who believe the wilderness can be used in a sustainable way. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15445775&ft=1&f=17
Here’s your tax credit – Bush nature plan for the birds, fish (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2003964955_bush21.html?syndication=rss
Atlanta may go dry in 90 days (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003963415_drought20.html
The Future Is Drying Up (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/21/magazine/21water-t.html?_r=1&ex=1350705600&en=2b95b51a3405ec4b&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
San Francisco Chronicle Editorial – Dry times ahead - even for the Bay Area. With its mild climate and breathtaking views, it's easy to think the San Francisco Bay Area is immune from California's water problems. But the region faces its own share of water challenges, and its economy and lifestyle are no less reliant on water than any other part of the state. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/21/EDN6ST769.DTL&feed=rss.opinion
Inch by Inch, Great Lakes Shrink, and Cargo Carriers Face Losses (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/22/nyregion/22oswego.html?ex=1350705600&en=d9e005bd60f97b87&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Future of artesian well lies with city – Anyone traversing State Avenue in downtown Olympia near the intersection of Adams Street in recent weeks would be hard-pressed to miss the artesian well flowing behind a chain-link fence on a freshly barren lot that belongs to the state Department of Transportation. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/249215.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
BPA – Regional power supplier plugging into wind energy. The region's largest wholesaler of electrical power is plugging into a new wind-energy project, part of a multi-year plan to substantially increase wind's contribution to the grid. (The Missoulian)
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2007/10/22/news/local/news03.txt
Massachusetts – Cape Cod Commission denies proposed wind farm in Nantucket Sound (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, via PowerMarketers.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CgglsxpoYTnk%23%3A%40%24bfem%5Ev
Solar-Home Designers Say Novelty Has Worn Off (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15460462&ft=1&f=2
Canola's golden promise for biodiesel loses luster – Oregon farmers face obstacles despite government incentives and green buzz (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/119285615573440.xml&coll=7
Farm Bill Crucial for U.S. Renewable Policy (Renewable Energy Access)
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50340&src=rss
CONSERVATION
Late start to publicity dims L.A. lights-out conservation event (The Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/breakingnews/ci_7243026?nclick_check=1
California – Not quite a blackout, but a good turnout for Lights Out event (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/21/BA5ISTN8T.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
California – Energy neutral homes urged. The PUC adopts targets emphasizing efficiency for new construction. (Lost Angeles Times)
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-fi-puc19oct19,1,743086.story?track=rss&ctrack=1&cset=true
Bismarck Tribune Opinion – Energy use, conservation inseparable
http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2007/10/21/news/opinion/editorials/141257.txt
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
California to sue Bush administration over law to limit emissions (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/20/MNU2ST4SS.DTL&feed=rss.news
Carbon offsets a budding business – Participation by U.S. companies, individuals is voluntary, but growing (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_7241862?nclick_check=1
Who's the greenest of them all? Members of low-carbon-living groups can be tough on each other's choices
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/21/MN6ESTILU.DTL&feed=rss.news
Greening Up Baby – For the Eco-Conscious Parent, How to Be Gentle on the Earth and the Wallet. Those cute little feet sure do make a big carbon footprint. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/20/AR2007102000111.html?nav=rss_business
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Grant County PUD, former employee settle lawsuit for $150,000 – The Grant County Public Utility District agreed to pay former employee Steven Beckett $150,000 to settle claims of wrongful termination and a Public Disclosure Act violation. (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2007/10/19/news/news02.txt
Yahoo confirms new Bellevue office – Engineering branch leases 115,000 square feet of space (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/336187_yahoo20.html
Software Notebook: Web giants get cozy in Seattle area – Microsoft, Google, Yahoo share supply of engineers. It's official, Seattle: The Web titans have arrived. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/336309_software22.html?source=rss
California – Capital's (sic) Wi-Fi hopes hit snag. Consortium chosen to build system seeks additional financing. (Sacramento Bee, may require free registration)
http://www.sacbee.com/103/story/446488.html
AT&T Is Latest to Sue Vonage Over Patent – The Internet telephone company Vonage Holdings Corporation disclosed yesterday that it was the target of yet another patent lawsuit from a telephone company, in this case AT&T. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/20/technology/20phone.html?ex=1350619200&en=0736b44fd3f0c4dc&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
New Hampshire – Fiber-optic customers wonder what deal will mean for them. The dazzling TV commercials Verizon has been running for FiOS, its fiber-optic multimedia service, can be painful for New Hampshire residents to watch, since Verizon long ago ditched plans to bring its own version of TV to the state. But for the thousands of people in area communities who have FiOS in their homes for voice and Internet service, the real anxiety comes from seeing commercials about FairPoint’s proposed takeover of Verizon phone service here. (Nashua Telegraph)
http://www.nashuatelegraph.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071021/NEWS01/71021003/-1/news
Web 2.0 Summit: Big Media Defiant Against Internet Threat – Why be a dinosaur? CBS and Comcast say getting TV clips out to Web users through YouTube or Facebook brings additional viewers to the full-length shows. (InfoWeek)
http://www.informationweek.com/story/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=202404948&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_News
What’s Online – I Want My Web TV (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/20/technology/20online.html?ex=1350619200&en=a34f39dccc07b063&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Ahhh, Semantics – Don’t like Net Neutrality? What about “Structural Separation?” (ZDNet)
http://blogs.zdnet.com/ip-telephony/?p=2621
E-mail-free Fridays a silly idea (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003963297_ptinbo20.html?syndication=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Bus vandalism closes schools in Snoqualmie (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/10715156.html
Voters to decide on clinic needs – Voters in Mason County will decide on a Shelton mayor, new school board members, several tax increases and whether to create a second hospital district in the Nov. 6 election. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/249222.html
Pruning trees helps to keep them upright and saves money in the long run (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=7239895
Running Start program is running colleges into red – High school? Who needs it? It turns out that so many high-school students are also taking college classes that it is costing the community-college system nearly $35 million a year. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/education/2003963480_runningstart20m.html?syndication=rss
Seattle Times editorial columnist – Stormin' Norman (Catching up with Norm Dicks)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003962945_sundaydicks21.html
Wenatchee – Changes afoot at KPQ with new ownership. The transition from being a family-owned to corporate-owned media outlet has caused some shake-ups at KPQ radio including relocating the station and abruptly cutting ties Friday with a popular on-air personality. (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071020/NEWS04/710200005/1001/rss1001
DIVERSIONS
"Mythbusters" put roaches' radiation resistance to test at Hanford – Can you save yourself by jumping in a falling elevator? Is a penny dropped from the top of the Empire State Building lethal? Would cockroaches survive a nuclear holocaust that killed everything else?
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003963482_roaches20m.html
New Zealand Brewer Offers Lifetime Beer Supply For Return Of Laptop
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14378761/detail.html
Surgeons Get Sweet On Honey To Heal Wounds – Bee Product Never Spoils, Reduces Inflammation
http://www.kirotv.com/health/14377266/detail.html
The wedding's off -- see you in court! Instead of walking down the aisle of a church, a former New York couple will traipse down the aisle of a court room to settle a fight over a $48,800 diamond engagement ring.
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN1820524420071019?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Pentagon's record contract: a recording error – The U.S. Defense Department said on Thursday it was awarding what might have been its richest-ever single contract at $24 billion, but it erred by a factor of 1,000.
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN1841645120071019?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Monday, October 22, 2007
Friday, October 19, 2007
News Digest for October 19, 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.
WORD OF THE DAY
Bete Noire • \bet-NWAR\ • noun – a person or thing strongly detested or avoided
It was a lazy, warm summer day. Agnew was lounging in his hammock, listening to his favorite “Percy Faith” album. Just as the strings started to zoom upwards to the final climax of the beautified version of “LA Woman”, his neighbor, Albert started his gas-powered leaf blower. Long considered his bete noire at the neighborhood block parties, Agnew’s hatred for Albert was cemented forever as spilled lemonade pooled in the hammock under his ample, pillowed posterior.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
WIND STORM HAS MINIMAL IMPACT TO MASON COUNTY – Mason County saw minimal impact from Thursday's high winds. Just under 300 customers of Mason County PUD No. 3 were affected by the storm. According to the P.U.D., their linemen, call center personnel and engineering staff worked quickly to restore electricity last night in the fastest and safest manner. Most of the Mason County PUD No. 3 customers who were affected by the outage were along the Pickering Road and in the Mason Lake area. Otherwise, there were small, scattered outages throughout the county. An unofficial survey of weather stations in and near Mason County showed gusts yesterday of 28 mph at the Mountain View Substation in Shelton, 45 mph at Sanderson Field, 32 mph in the Matlock area, 31 at Lake Limerick, 40 mph in Belfair, and 46 mph in Brinnon. This was the first of the fall and winter storms that are expected to visit Washington State over the next several months. Customers are urged to take steps to be prepared if inclement weather causes a power outage or presents a danger to their homes. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Seattle - Kite boarder dies in windstorm; thousands lose power – The first big storm of the season blew into Seattle on Thursday with a punch that knocked out power to more than 280,000 residences and businesses throughout the Puget Sound region beginning mid-afternoon. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, great photo!)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/335991_wind19.html?source=rss
Seattle - Thousands still without power, but we're back to "typical Northwest blustery" weather – In the aftermath of Thursday's brief but powerful windstorm that left a kite surfer dead and also knocked a tree onto a Kent woman, many woke up today to restored power and mild showers. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003962018_webwindstorm19m.html?syndication=rss
Snohomish County – Storm packs a punch: Thousands lose power (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071019/NEWS01/710190077
Scattered outages remain for PSE customers (The Olympian, Includes Mason PUD 3 Report)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/247923.html
Pierce County – Wind takes trees, power – If you’re reading this, you survived the first storm of the fall. Luckily, the casualties Thursday were mainly trees, power lines, after-school activities and commutes. (The News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/182739.html
Kitsap County Takes 'Hardest' Hit in Storm; 26,000 Customers Lose Power – Thursday's windstorm knocked out power to more than 26,000 homes, according to a spokeswoman at Puget Sound Energy. (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/oct/19/kitsap-takes-hardest-hit-storm-26000-customers-los/
Grays Harbor County – Harbor hit by first windy winter storm. It’s begun. The messy, wet, toad-strangling weather that will be the norm for months, blew in from the Pacific this morning, knocking out power in some areas. (The Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/10/18/local_news/03news.txt
Grays Harbor County PUD hires former radio news director Liz Anderson for communications spot (The Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/10/18/local_news/12news.txt
Power Plant Rejected Over Carbon Dioxide For First Time – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment yesterday became the first government agency in the United States to cite carbon dioxide emissions as the reason for rejecting an air permit for a proposed coal-fired electricity generating plant, saying that the greenhouse gas threatens public health and the environment. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/18/AR2007101802452.html?nav=rss_email/components
Vote near on new S.F. power generating plant – After years of debate, San Francisco may soon build a fossil-fuel power plant in a controversial gambit to replace an older one. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/19/BUBOSSF48.DTL
Carbon Sequestration Part of Coal Generation's Future (Energy Pulse Commentary)
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1584
Utah – Legislators or nuclear power businessmen? Critics say they can't be both (Salt Lake Tribune)
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_7200144
Cyberthreats said to be increasing against electric grid, other critical power facilities (Associated Press via the International Tribune)
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/17/america/NA-GEN-US-Power-Grid-Security.php
News Whiz – ISO New England Releases Annual Power System Assessment (PR-Inside)
http://www.pr-inside.com/iso-new-england-releases-annual-power-r256127.htm
New Jersey – Man admits role in energy rebate fraud. A third man pleaded guilty Thursday to his role a scheme that prosecutors said siphoned $11.5 million from a state energy rebate program through bogus or inflated invoices.
http://www.abcmoney.co.uk/news/192007147747.htm
Copper prices spur crime wave – There's a mighty fortress look to St. Paul's AME Church, but appearances have provided no bulwark against thieves stripping copper tubing from the church's air conditioning units and ripping off electrical wires. (Chicago Tribune)
http://www.grandhaventribune.com/paid/290093793124663.bsp
Australia – Moves to help cut power use. Tasmanians will be urged to cut their power use to cope with spiraling electricity prices. Power prices will jump by 15 per cent next year, adding $182 a year to the average bill. (The Mercury)
http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,22612581-3462,00.html
Liberia – Liberia: LEC On Anti-Power Theft Campaign. The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) has launched a major campaign against power theft leading to the seizure of several electrical wires that were subsequently burnt yesterday. (The Inquirer, Monrovia)
http://allafrica.com/stories/200710190731.html
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Idaho Power sues federal government over water rights (Associated Press, Via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/247441.html
Montana – Trout Return to Once-Contaminated Creek. Silver Bow Creek, contaminated for more than a century by tailings and other mine waste, appears to be responding to environmental cleanup. (The Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-997115~Trout_Return_to_Once_Contaminated_Creek.html?cid=rss-Montana_Headlines
Chinook, sturgeon fishing improving – Rain falling this week will have an impact on rivers, unlike the last round of precipitation which fell and was absorbed the dry ground, raising water levels only marginally. Now that the ground is saturated, rainfall will go into the rivers. (The News-Register, McMinnville, OR)
http://www.newsregister.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=227329
Legislative Committee Tackles Economic Impact Of Fishing And Hunting (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/legislative-committee-tackles-economic-impact-fishing-and-hunting/
Olympia – LOTT rates to go up in 2008. LOTT Alliance sewer ratepayers will see their first rate increase since 1999 when the new year rolls around. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/247659.html
Deforest Your Mailbox (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/fashion/18ROW.html?ex=1350360000&en=ab2c83c5d3ecbf7d&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Foul weather delays Oregon State wave energy testing – Stormy fall weather has delayed part of the testing Oregon State University scientists had scheduled for an electricity-generating wave buoy. (Corvallis Gazette-Times)
http://www.gtconnect.com/articles/2007/10/19/news/community/3aaa05_elektrobuoys.txt
Ironing Out Bumps In Wind Turbine Output – As Texas’ electric grid operator prepares to add power lines for carrying future wind-generated energy, an electrical engineer at The University of Texas at Austin is developing improved methods for determining the extent to which power from a wind farm can displace a conventional power plant, and how best to regulate varying wind power. (Carbon Free)
http://www.carbonfree.co.uk/cf/news/wk42-07-0005.htm
Indiana – Wabash Valley Power Association Adds New Renewable Power Sources (Inside Indiana Business)
http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=26022
Massachusetts – Cape Wind denied cable access in Yarmouth (Mass High Tech: The Journal of New England Technology)
http://www.bizjournals.com/masshightech/stories/2007/10/15/daily51.html?ana=from_rss
CONSERVATION
Lights Out LA! It's Time To Conserve Energy – To encourage people to conserve energy, Los Angeles officials are asking residents to turn off non-essential lights from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday. (KCAL-TV, Studio City, CA)
http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_291175521.html
Some cities try going 'green' with blackouts – On Saturday evening, it's "Lights out San Francisco," where people will voluntary turn off lights for an hour. The aim is to raise awareness of light pollution and the energy wasted by lights left on. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1019/p01s05-ussc.html
Connecticut – New lights said to save schools money and energy – What started with a simple meeting between employees of the Board of Education and an energy consultant has blossomed into a major savings of both energy and money in Wilton’s public schools. (Wilton Bulletin)
http://www.acorn-online.com/news/publish/wilton/23977.shtml
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Historic bill in Senate to fight warming – A bipartisan group of senators, borrowing heavily from California's efforts to fight climate change, fired the starting gun on what's expected to be a long global-warming debate in Congress with a proposal for limits on greenhouse gases affecting every major segment of the nation's economy. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/19/MNKCSSD3I.DTL
Giving climate change the business – I believe it was radical climatologist Bob Dylan who first opined, "You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows." Listen to the global-warming debate; the conversation has taken a sharp turn. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003960794_lance19.html?syndication=rss
New Coast Guard Task in Arctic’s Warming Seas (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/19/us/19arctic.html?_r=1&ex=1350532800&en=133b8cbb5e502cc4&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Penguins Urge Green Travel – Traveling by Motor coach Can Help Save Their Habitats from Climate Change (WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee)
http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/tech/10669056.html
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Comcast blocks some subscriber Internet traffic – Comcast Corp. actively interferes with attempts by some of its high-speed Internet subscribers to share files online, a move that runs counter to the tradition of treating all types of Net traffic equally. (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komotv.com/news/10669666.html
Connecticut – Blumenthal: AT&T wasting its time on litigation. Despite a recent federal court ruling, AT&T still refuses to apply for a cable license in Connecticut and state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal refuses to let the company get away with it. (Legal Newsline)
http://www.legalnewsline.com/news/202688-blumenthal-att-wasting-its-time-on-litigation
Illinois – City moves to block Lightspeed. West Chicago Monday became one of the first among many local municipalities expected to pass an ordinance protecting city rights of way from a new AT&T service. (The Daily Herald)
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=58051&src=140
FCC chair proposes looser controls on media ownership (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003959208_webfcc18.html?syndication=rss
Google's 3rd-quarter profit hurdles expectations – Google's third-quarter profit soared 46 percent to hurdle the enormous expectations that have elevated the Internet search leader's stock price by more than $100 during the past month. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003960286_webgoogle18.html?syndication=rss
In California, a Second Internet Gold Rush – At the Web 2.0 conference here in 2005 -- back before Google had paid $1.65 billion for YouTube and people were talking about valuations for Facebook of $15 billion -- Zach Coelius, a precocious 25-year-old who had snuck into the hall without paying, stepped up to the microphone and asked the speaker for a bit of career advice. Start a company, replied Rupert Murdoch. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/18/AR2007101802462.html?nav=rss_business
GENERAL NEWS
PDC wants court to clarify ruling – The state Public Disclosure Commission wants the state Supreme Court to clarify its recent decision that struck down a law against candidates lying about other candidates in political campaigns. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/247637.html
WA high court: Workers due more pay for time in car – Workers in a wide range of service jobs could be in line for more money - or fewer shots at the company car - after the state Supreme Court's ruling that some commuters must be paid for their drive time, lawyers said. (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/246975.html
Weyerhaeuser to mothball 3 plants, cites weak demand – Lumber and paper producer Weyerhaeuser Co. said Thursday it will indefinitely mothball three plants before the end of 2007 because of weak customer demand amid a sagging housing market. (Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP10192007news217712.cfm
It’s not just a hassle in Olympia – Traffic Circle Has Drivers in a Spin, Some Motorists Avoid the Area. How do you get around a roundabout? For some drivers in Southern Maryland, that has suddenly become a pressing question. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/17/AR2007101702412.html?nav=rss_metro
DIVERSIONS
Man Knocked Out Before He Could Use His ‘Lethal Weapons' (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration – Why does this remind me of “Uncle Rico” from Napoleon Dynamite?)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/oct/17/man-knocked-out-before-he-could-use-his-weapons/
Humbug! Sea-Tac avoiding religious Christmas decorations. No Christmas trees, nativity scenes or menorahs this holiday season at Sea-Tac Airport. Not even Santa Claus.
http://www.examiner.com/a-998548~Sea_Tac_avoiding_religious_Christmas_decorations.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Gregoires to dress up as penguins. Brilliant! Well, so much for Harry Potter or Optimus Prime. Gov. Chris Gregoire announced yesterday that she and husband Mike will dress ups as penguins from the movie Happy Feet.
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/blogs/mulick/v-rss/story/9391682p-9304648c.html
The Comcast Hammer Granny – Washington Post spotlights disgruntled user...
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/The-Comcast-Hammer-Granny-88577
WORD OF THE DAY
Bete Noire • \bet-NWAR\ • noun – a person or thing strongly detested or avoided
It was a lazy, warm summer day. Agnew was lounging in his hammock, listening to his favorite “Percy Faith” album. Just as the strings started to zoom upwards to the final climax of the beautified version of “LA Woman”, his neighbor, Albert started his gas-powered leaf blower. Long considered his bete noire at the neighborhood block parties, Agnew’s hatred for Albert was cemented forever as spilled lemonade pooled in the hammock under his ample, pillowed posterior.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
WIND STORM HAS MINIMAL IMPACT TO MASON COUNTY – Mason County saw minimal impact from Thursday's high winds. Just under 300 customers of Mason County PUD No. 3 were affected by the storm. According to the P.U.D., their linemen, call center personnel and engineering staff worked quickly to restore electricity last night in the fastest and safest manner. Most of the Mason County PUD No. 3 customers who were affected by the outage were along the Pickering Road and in the Mason Lake area. Otherwise, there were small, scattered outages throughout the county. An unofficial survey of weather stations in and near Mason County showed gusts yesterday of 28 mph at the Mountain View Substation in Shelton, 45 mph at Sanderson Field, 32 mph in the Matlock area, 31 at Lake Limerick, 40 mph in Belfair, and 46 mph in Brinnon. This was the first of the fall and winter storms that are expected to visit Washington State over the next several months. Customers are urged to take steps to be prepared if inclement weather causes a power outage or presents a danger to their homes. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Seattle - Kite boarder dies in windstorm; thousands lose power – The first big storm of the season blew into Seattle on Thursday with a punch that knocked out power to more than 280,000 residences and businesses throughout the Puget Sound region beginning mid-afternoon. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, great photo!)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/335991_wind19.html?source=rss
Seattle - Thousands still without power, but we're back to "typical Northwest blustery" weather – In the aftermath of Thursday's brief but powerful windstorm that left a kite surfer dead and also knocked a tree onto a Kent woman, many woke up today to restored power and mild showers. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003962018_webwindstorm19m.html?syndication=rss
Snohomish County – Storm packs a punch: Thousands lose power (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071019/NEWS01/710190077
Scattered outages remain for PSE customers (The Olympian, Includes Mason PUD 3 Report)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/247923.html
Pierce County – Wind takes trees, power – If you’re reading this, you survived the first storm of the fall. Luckily, the casualties Thursday were mainly trees, power lines, after-school activities and commutes. (The News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/182739.html
Kitsap County Takes 'Hardest' Hit in Storm; 26,000 Customers Lose Power – Thursday's windstorm knocked out power to more than 26,000 homes, according to a spokeswoman at Puget Sound Energy. (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/oct/19/kitsap-takes-hardest-hit-storm-26000-customers-los/
Grays Harbor County – Harbor hit by first windy winter storm. It’s begun. The messy, wet, toad-strangling weather that will be the norm for months, blew in from the Pacific this morning, knocking out power in some areas. (The Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/10/18/local_news/03news.txt
Grays Harbor County PUD hires former radio news director Liz Anderson for communications spot (The Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/10/18/local_news/12news.txt
Power Plant Rejected Over Carbon Dioxide For First Time – The Kansas Department of Health and Environment yesterday became the first government agency in the United States to cite carbon dioxide emissions as the reason for rejecting an air permit for a proposed coal-fired electricity generating plant, saying that the greenhouse gas threatens public health and the environment. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/18/AR2007101802452.html?nav=rss_email/components
Vote near on new S.F. power generating plant – After years of debate, San Francisco may soon build a fossil-fuel power plant in a controversial gambit to replace an older one. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/19/BUBOSSF48.DTL
Carbon Sequestration Part of Coal Generation's Future (Energy Pulse Commentary)
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1584
Utah – Legislators or nuclear power businessmen? Critics say they can't be both (Salt Lake Tribune)
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_7200144
Cyberthreats said to be increasing against electric grid, other critical power facilities (Associated Press via the International Tribune)
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/10/17/america/NA-GEN-US-Power-Grid-Security.php
News Whiz – ISO New England Releases Annual Power System Assessment (PR-Inside)
http://www.pr-inside.com/iso-new-england-releases-annual-power-r256127.htm
New Jersey – Man admits role in energy rebate fraud. A third man pleaded guilty Thursday to his role a scheme that prosecutors said siphoned $11.5 million from a state energy rebate program through bogus or inflated invoices.
http://www.abcmoney.co.uk/news/192007147747.htm
Copper prices spur crime wave – There's a mighty fortress look to St. Paul's AME Church, but appearances have provided no bulwark against thieves stripping copper tubing from the church's air conditioning units and ripping off electrical wires. (Chicago Tribune)
http://www.grandhaventribune.com/paid/290093793124663.bsp
Australia – Moves to help cut power use. Tasmanians will be urged to cut their power use to cope with spiraling electricity prices. Power prices will jump by 15 per cent next year, adding $182 a year to the average bill. (The Mercury)
http://www.news.com.au/mercury/story/0,22884,22612581-3462,00.html
Liberia – Liberia: LEC On Anti-Power Theft Campaign. The Liberia Electricity Corporation (LEC) has launched a major campaign against power theft leading to the seizure of several electrical wires that were subsequently burnt yesterday. (The Inquirer, Monrovia)
http://allafrica.com/stories/200710190731.html
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Idaho Power sues federal government over water rights (Associated Press, Via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/247441.html
Montana – Trout Return to Once-Contaminated Creek. Silver Bow Creek, contaminated for more than a century by tailings and other mine waste, appears to be responding to environmental cleanup. (The Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-997115~Trout_Return_to_Once_Contaminated_Creek.html?cid=rss-Montana_Headlines
Chinook, sturgeon fishing improving – Rain falling this week will have an impact on rivers, unlike the last round of precipitation which fell and was absorbed the dry ground, raising water levels only marginally. Now that the ground is saturated, rainfall will go into the rivers. (The News-Register, McMinnville, OR)
http://www.newsregister.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=227329
Legislative Committee Tackles Economic Impact Of Fishing And Hunting (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/legislative-committee-tackles-economic-impact-fishing-and-hunting/
Olympia – LOTT rates to go up in 2008. LOTT Alliance sewer ratepayers will see their first rate increase since 1999 when the new year rolls around. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/247659.html
Deforest Your Mailbox (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/fashion/18ROW.html?ex=1350360000&en=ab2c83c5d3ecbf7d&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Foul weather delays Oregon State wave energy testing – Stormy fall weather has delayed part of the testing Oregon State University scientists had scheduled for an electricity-generating wave buoy. (Corvallis Gazette-Times)
http://www.gtconnect.com/articles/2007/10/19/news/community/3aaa05_elektrobuoys.txt
Ironing Out Bumps In Wind Turbine Output – As Texas’ electric grid operator prepares to add power lines for carrying future wind-generated energy, an electrical engineer at The University of Texas at Austin is developing improved methods for determining the extent to which power from a wind farm can displace a conventional power plant, and how best to regulate varying wind power. (Carbon Free)
http://www.carbonfree.co.uk/cf/news/wk42-07-0005.htm
Indiana – Wabash Valley Power Association Adds New Renewable Power Sources (Inside Indiana Business)
http://www.insideindianabusiness.com/newsitem.asp?ID=26022
Massachusetts – Cape Wind denied cable access in Yarmouth (Mass High Tech: The Journal of New England Technology)
http://www.bizjournals.com/masshightech/stories/2007/10/15/daily51.html?ana=from_rss
CONSERVATION
Lights Out LA! It's Time To Conserve Energy – To encourage people to conserve energy, Los Angeles officials are asking residents to turn off non-essential lights from 8 p.m. to 9 p.m. Saturday. (KCAL-TV, Studio City, CA)
http://cbs2.com/topstories/local_story_291175521.html
Some cities try going 'green' with blackouts – On Saturday evening, it's "Lights out San Francisco," where people will voluntary turn off lights for an hour. The aim is to raise awareness of light pollution and the energy wasted by lights left on. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1019/p01s05-ussc.html
Connecticut – New lights said to save schools money and energy – What started with a simple meeting between employees of the Board of Education and an energy consultant has blossomed into a major savings of both energy and money in Wilton’s public schools. (Wilton Bulletin)
http://www.acorn-online.com/news/publish/wilton/23977.shtml
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Historic bill in Senate to fight warming – A bipartisan group of senators, borrowing heavily from California's efforts to fight climate change, fired the starting gun on what's expected to be a long global-warming debate in Congress with a proposal for limits on greenhouse gases affecting every major segment of the nation's economy. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/19/MNKCSSD3I.DTL
Giving climate change the business – I believe it was radical climatologist Bob Dylan who first opined, "You don't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blows." Listen to the global-warming debate; the conversation has taken a sharp turn. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2003960794_lance19.html?syndication=rss
New Coast Guard Task in Arctic’s Warming Seas (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/19/us/19arctic.html?_r=1&ex=1350532800&en=133b8cbb5e502cc4&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Penguins Urge Green Travel – Traveling by Motor coach Can Help Save Their Habitats from Climate Change (WTMJ-TV, Milwaukee)
http://www.todaystmj4.com/news/tech/10669056.html
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Comcast blocks some subscriber Internet traffic – Comcast Corp. actively interferes with attempts by some of its high-speed Internet subscribers to share files online, a move that runs counter to the tradition of treating all types of Net traffic equally. (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komotv.com/news/10669666.html
Connecticut – Blumenthal: AT&T wasting its time on litigation. Despite a recent federal court ruling, AT&T still refuses to apply for a cable license in Connecticut and state Attorney General Richard Blumenthal refuses to let the company get away with it. (Legal Newsline)
http://www.legalnewsline.com/news/202688-blumenthal-att-wasting-its-time-on-litigation
Illinois – City moves to block Lightspeed. West Chicago Monday became one of the first among many local municipalities expected to pass an ordinance protecting city rights of way from a new AT&T service. (The Daily Herald)
http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=58051&src=140
FCC chair proposes looser controls on media ownership (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003959208_webfcc18.html?syndication=rss
Google's 3rd-quarter profit hurdles expectations – Google's third-quarter profit soared 46 percent to hurdle the enormous expectations that have elevated the Internet search leader's stock price by more than $100 during the past month. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003960286_webgoogle18.html?syndication=rss
In California, a Second Internet Gold Rush – At the Web 2.0 conference here in 2005 -- back before Google had paid $1.65 billion for YouTube and people were talking about valuations for Facebook of $15 billion -- Zach Coelius, a precocious 25-year-old who had snuck into the hall without paying, stepped up to the microphone and asked the speaker for a bit of career advice. Start a company, replied Rupert Murdoch. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/18/AR2007101802462.html?nav=rss_business
GENERAL NEWS
PDC wants court to clarify ruling – The state Public Disclosure Commission wants the state Supreme Court to clarify its recent decision that struck down a law against candidates lying about other candidates in political campaigns. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/247637.html
WA high court: Workers due more pay for time in car – Workers in a wide range of service jobs could be in line for more money - or fewer shots at the company car - after the state Supreme Court's ruling that some commuters must be paid for their drive time, lawyers said. (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/246975.html
Weyerhaeuser to mothball 3 plants, cites weak demand – Lumber and paper producer Weyerhaeuser Co. said Thursday it will indefinitely mothball three plants before the end of 2007 because of weak customer demand amid a sagging housing market. (Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP10192007news217712.cfm
It’s not just a hassle in Olympia – Traffic Circle Has Drivers in a Spin, Some Motorists Avoid the Area. How do you get around a roundabout? For some drivers in Southern Maryland, that has suddenly become a pressing question. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/17/AR2007101702412.html?nav=rss_metro
DIVERSIONS
Man Knocked Out Before He Could Use His ‘Lethal Weapons' (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration – Why does this remind me of “Uncle Rico” from Napoleon Dynamite?)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/oct/17/man-knocked-out-before-he-could-use-his-weapons/
Humbug! Sea-Tac avoiding religious Christmas decorations. No Christmas trees, nativity scenes or menorahs this holiday season at Sea-Tac Airport. Not even Santa Claus.
http://www.examiner.com/a-998548~Sea_Tac_avoiding_religious_Christmas_decorations.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Gregoires to dress up as penguins. Brilliant! Well, so much for Harry Potter or Optimus Prime. Gov. Chris Gregoire announced yesterday that she and husband Mike will dress ups as penguins from the movie Happy Feet.
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/blogs/mulick/v-rss/story/9391682p-9304648c.html
The Comcast Hammer Granny – Washington Post spotlights disgruntled user...
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/The-Comcast-Hammer-Granny-88577
Thursday, October 18, 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.
WORD OF THE DAY – A “TWO-FER” TODAY
Aghast • \uh-GAST\ • adjective – Struck with terror, amazement, or horror: shocked
Allegory • \ALL-uh-goree\ • noun – 1: the expression by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions of truths or generalizations about human existence; also: an instance (as in a story or painting) of such expression 2: a symbolic representation: emblem
Albert was aghast. He had organized a conference in Bodega Bay to discuss Alfred Hitchcock’s use of birds in his movies as an allegory for coming chaos and death. Unfortunately, as the presentation began, the attendees were attacked from all sides by diving, darting birds. They ranged from barn swallows to lumbering, awkward domesticated turkeys. The former school mistress could not help but smile as she watched from her house next door “you brought the birds…you’re evil,” she murmured under her breath, stifling a hysterical cackle.
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
WIND ADVISORY ISSUED – The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory, which is in effect from two this afternoon to 11 tonight. Winds will increase this afternoon right ahead of an incoming weather system. South winds in the 10 to 20 mph range will increase to 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 40 mph between 2 PM and 8 PM. The winds will decrease significantly after 11 PM. Winds this strong can snap small tree branches, topple small or shallow-rooted trees and cause local power outages. Motorists, especially those with high profile vehicles, should be alert for sudden strong cross winds. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
"Significant wind event" due, so don't blow it off – Prepare to chase down knocked-over garbage cans and deal with flickering lights later today — forecasters say a windstorm is headed for Western Washington. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003958304_windstorm18m.html?syndication=rss
Storms Bearing Down On Northwest – KIRO 7 Eyewitness News meteorologist Rick VanCise said the National Weather Service has issued a high wind watch for Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14360046/detail.html
Get Ready For Big Storm, Officials Say (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/weather/14364246/detail.html
La Niña good news for skiers, farmers – Tropical system is expected to bring snow and cold weather to the Northwest this winter. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/186832.html
Prepare for wind storm power outages (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_101707WAB_wind_storm_preview_power_TP.17e159b8f.html
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Coal plans hit snags – At least 16 coal-fired power plant proposals nationwide have been scrapped in recent months, and more than three dozen have been delayed, as utilities face increasing pressure due to concerns over global warming and rising construction costs. (Associated Press via the Jackson Hole Star-Tribune)
http://www.jacksonholestartrib.com/articles/2007/10/18/news/wyoming/f9c6aaaec106f1318725737700821ad7.txt
North Carolina – Merger savings under fire at Duke hearing – A lawyer at the Duke Energy Carolinas' N.C. rate hearings argued Wednesday that the company seriously underestimated its merger savings, allowing Duke Energy Corp. shareholders to profit at the expense of utility customers. (Charlotte Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2007/10/15/daily30.html?ana=from_rss
Electricity Plan Advances to Public – Four-State Power Line Called Necessary to Address Energy Needs. The operator of the mid-Atlantic region's electricity grid approved yesterday a high-voltage power transmission line that would begin in Northern Virginia and cut across Southern Maryland before going under the Chesapeake Bay and ending in New Jersey. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/17/AR2007101702439.html?nav=rss_metro
News Release – FERC improves market transparency in New England – The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission today approved a proposal from ISO New England Inc. (ISO-NE) and the New England Power Pool that will help improve market transparency by reducing the lag time for posting of demand bid and supply offer data (FERC)
http://www.ferc.gov/news/news-releases/2007/2007-4/10-18-07-E-13.asp
Texas – PUC Responds To Meter Reader Complaints; access to meters is the issue (KPRC-TV, Houston)
http://www.click2houston.com/news/14353606/detail.html
FERC’s Winter 2007/2008 – Energy Market Assessment (Links to PDF File)
http://www.ferc.gov/market-oversight/mkt-views/2007/10-18-07.pdf
Creative Bill Presentment Contributes to the Bottom Line (Energy Pulse Commentary)
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1583
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
While industries clean up, wildfires spew mercury – Oregon blazes release far more of the element than factories, a study says. Most of the toxic mercury spewed into the air in Oregon does not come from smokestacks that face tightening pollution rules, but from smoky wildfires that are getting more frequent and more intense with global warming. (The Oregonian – So then, what does this say about burning biomass for electricity generation?)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/119267792896220.xml&coll=7
New Battle of Logging vs. Spotted Owls Looms in West – A 1990s’ truce that quieted the bitter wars between loggers and environmentalists in the Pacific Northwest is in danger of collapse. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/us/18owl.html?_r=1&ei=5088&en=abd455191c7b5fa8&ex=1350446400&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1192726807-Yscdt59Idp+Lwhu/VhmNbA
Bottled water leaves some cities with a bad taste – Backlash against bottled water is spreading, prompting bans on the plastic bottles at city-sponsored events in some communities, their removal from restaurant menus and campaigns urging the use of tap water instead. (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-10-17-bottled-water_N.htm
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Northwest's largest solar-power site about to come on line – The sun peeked through the clouds Thursday above the Wild Horse solar power project atop Whisky Dick Mountain near Ellenburg. (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakima-herald.com/page/dis/290075315846184
Idaho – Elmore wind power projects move forward. Idaho Power and Energy Vision get the PUC's OK for interconnection deals. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/business/story/185695.html
CONSERVATION
Gripes over Bush's first energy-efficiency upgrade – The new standard for electrical transformers, announced Friday, will save less energy than utilities had expected. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1017/p02s03-usec.html
Canada – Energy critic says less demand for power this summer proves conservation works (Oilweek Magazine)
http://www.oilweek.com/news.asp?ID=11955
How Hiring an Energy Inspector Can Save You Money – Auditors ferret out funky accounting at corporations. Can they also find the energy culprits in my home? (The Street.Com – She paid $175 for an audit that PUD 3 provides as a free service)
http://www.thestreet.com/s/how-hiring-an-energy-inspector-can-save-you-money/newsanalysis/clean-energy-news/10384728.html
Awesome Cool Homework Tool – Use Con Edison Kids Web Site to Get Ahead (Market Wire, via CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0317184.htm
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
How can you predict global warming if you can't predict rain? Some say climate change is part of a complex natural cycle – so complex, in fact, that it can't be forecast. Are current climate models reliable?
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1018/p14s01-wogi.html
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
‘Google effect’ spreads money around globe (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/181866.html
GENERAL NEWS
Man wins right to have nativity scene in Capitol Rotunda (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/246108.html
Canada – Safety panel concerned about pot use by B.C. ferry crews. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is worried about marijuana use by British Columbia ferry crew members, based on interviews after a fatal ferry sinking last year. (Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003956644_webferrypot17m.html?syndication=rss
DIVERSIONS
From the institute of colorful language – Swearing At Work Is OK, Study Finds. British University Finds Swearing Can Benefit Employers
http://www.kirotv.com/money/14366871/detail.html
Killer swimwear! Mystery underwear stymies Guantanamo investigators
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSNASUA170120071018?feedType=nl&feedName=ustopnewsearly
Alleged purse-snatcher drops phone – When a teenage boy allegedly grabbed a 63-year-old woman's purse and ran off, he might have escaped arrest. That is, if he hadn't dropped his cell phone.
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2007/10/10172007_Alleged-purse-snatcher-drops-phone.cfm?newsletter=2
Colbert Consulted Parties Before Announcing Run – Stephen Colbert — who announced plans to run for the presidency, though only in South Carolina, on his Comedy Central show Tuesday night — is serious enough about the stunt that his staff reached out to the state’s Democratic and Republican committees in advance of his declaration.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/arts/television/18colb.html?ex=1350446400&en=0ceea37a8ed8dcff&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
WORD OF THE DAY – A “TWO-FER” TODAY
Aghast • \uh-GAST\ • adjective – Struck with terror, amazement, or horror: shocked
Allegory • \ALL-uh-goree\ • noun – 1: the expression by means of symbolic fictional figures and actions of truths or generalizations about human existence; also: an instance (as in a story or painting) of such expression 2: a symbolic representation: emblem
Albert was aghast. He had organized a conference in Bodega Bay to discuss Alfred Hitchcock’s use of birds in his movies as an allegory for coming chaos and death. Unfortunately, as the presentation began, the attendees were attacked from all sides by diving, darting birds. They ranged from barn swallows to lumbering, awkward domesticated turkeys. The former school mistress could not help but smile as she watched from her house next door “you brought the birds…you’re evil,” she murmured under her breath, stifling a hysterical cackle.
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
WIND ADVISORY ISSUED – The National Weather Service has issued a wind advisory, which is in effect from two this afternoon to 11 tonight. Winds will increase this afternoon right ahead of an incoming weather system. South winds in the 10 to 20 mph range will increase to 20 to 30 mph with gusts to 40 mph between 2 PM and 8 PM. The winds will decrease significantly after 11 PM. Winds this strong can snap small tree branches, topple small or shallow-rooted trees and cause local power outages. Motorists, especially those with high profile vehicles, should be alert for sudden strong cross winds. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
"Significant wind event" due, so don't blow it off – Prepare to chase down knocked-over garbage cans and deal with flickering lights later today — forecasters say a windstorm is headed for Western Washington. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003958304_windstorm18m.html?syndication=rss
Storms Bearing Down On Northwest – KIRO 7 Eyewitness News meteorologist Rick VanCise said the National Weather Service has issued a high wind watch for Thursday from 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14360046/detail.html
Get Ready For Big Storm, Officials Say (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/weather/14364246/detail.html
La Niña good news for skiers, farmers – Tropical system is expected to bring snow and cold weather to the Northwest this winter. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/186832.html
Prepare for wind storm power outages (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_101707WAB_wind_storm_preview_power_TP.17e159b8f.html
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Coal plans hit snags – At least 16 coal-fired power plant proposals nationwide have been scrapped in recent months, and more than three dozen have been delayed, as utilities face increasing pressure due to concerns over global warming and rising construction costs. (Associated Press via the Jackson Hole Star-Tribune)
http://www.jacksonholestartrib.com/articles/2007/10/18/news/wyoming/f9c6aaaec106f1318725737700821ad7.txt
North Carolina – Merger savings under fire at Duke hearing – A lawyer at the Duke Energy Carolinas' N.C. rate hearings argued Wednesday that the company seriously underestimated its merger savings, allowing Duke Energy Corp. shareholders to profit at the expense of utility customers. (Charlotte Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2007/10/15/daily30.html?ana=from_rss
Electricity Plan Advances to Public – Four-State Power Line Called Necessary to Address Energy Needs. The operator of the mid-Atlantic region's electricity grid approved yesterday a high-voltage power transmission line that would begin in Northern Virginia and cut across Southern Maryland before going under the Chesapeake Bay and ending in New Jersey. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/17/AR2007101702439.html?nav=rss_metro
News Release – FERC improves market transparency in New England – The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission today approved a proposal from ISO New England Inc. (ISO-NE) and the New England Power Pool that will help improve market transparency by reducing the lag time for posting of demand bid and supply offer data (FERC)
http://www.ferc.gov/news/news-releases/2007/2007-4/10-18-07-E-13.asp
Texas – PUC Responds To Meter Reader Complaints; access to meters is the issue (KPRC-TV, Houston)
http://www.click2houston.com/news/14353606/detail.html
FERC’s Winter 2007/2008 – Energy Market Assessment (Links to PDF File)
http://www.ferc.gov/market-oversight/mkt-views/2007/10-18-07.pdf
Creative Bill Presentment Contributes to the Bottom Line (Energy Pulse Commentary)
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1583
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
While industries clean up, wildfires spew mercury – Oregon blazes release far more of the element than factories, a study says. Most of the toxic mercury spewed into the air in Oregon does not come from smokestacks that face tightening pollution rules, but from smoky wildfires that are getting more frequent and more intense with global warming. (The Oregonian – So then, what does this say about burning biomass for electricity generation?)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/119267792896220.xml&coll=7
New Battle of Logging vs. Spotted Owls Looms in West – A 1990s’ truce that quieted the bitter wars between loggers and environmentalists in the Pacific Northwest is in danger of collapse. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/us/18owl.html?_r=1&ei=5088&en=abd455191c7b5fa8&ex=1350446400&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1192726807-Yscdt59Idp+Lwhu/VhmNbA
Bottled water leaves some cities with a bad taste – Backlash against bottled water is spreading, prompting bans on the plastic bottles at city-sponsored events in some communities, their removal from restaurant menus and campaigns urging the use of tap water instead. (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2007-10-17-bottled-water_N.htm
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Northwest's largest solar-power site about to come on line – The sun peeked through the clouds Thursday above the Wild Horse solar power project atop Whisky Dick Mountain near Ellenburg. (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakima-herald.com/page/dis/290075315846184
Idaho – Elmore wind power projects move forward. Idaho Power and Energy Vision get the PUC's OK for interconnection deals. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/business/story/185695.html
CONSERVATION
Gripes over Bush's first energy-efficiency upgrade – The new standard for electrical transformers, announced Friday, will save less energy than utilities had expected. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1017/p02s03-usec.html
Canada – Energy critic says less demand for power this summer proves conservation works (Oilweek Magazine)
http://www.oilweek.com/news.asp?ID=11955
How Hiring an Energy Inspector Can Save You Money – Auditors ferret out funky accounting at corporations. Can they also find the energy culprits in my home? (The Street.Com – She paid $175 for an audit that PUD 3 provides as a free service)
http://www.thestreet.com/s/how-hiring-an-energy-inspector-can-save-you-money/newsanalysis/clean-energy-news/10384728.html
Awesome Cool Homework Tool – Use Con Edison Kids Web Site to Get Ahead (Market Wire, via CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/marketwire/0317184.htm
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
How can you predict global warming if you can't predict rain? Some say climate change is part of a complex natural cycle – so complex, in fact, that it can't be forecast. Are current climate models reliable?
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1018/p14s01-wogi.html
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
‘Google effect’ spreads money around globe (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/181866.html
GENERAL NEWS
Man wins right to have nativity scene in Capitol Rotunda (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/246108.html
Canada – Safety panel concerned about pot use by B.C. ferry crews. The Transportation Safety Board of Canada is worried about marijuana use by British Columbia ferry crew members, based on interviews after a fatal ferry sinking last year. (Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003956644_webferrypot17m.html?syndication=rss
DIVERSIONS
From the institute of colorful language – Swearing At Work Is OK, Study Finds. British University Finds Swearing Can Benefit Employers
http://www.kirotv.com/money/14366871/detail.html
Killer swimwear! Mystery underwear stymies Guantanamo investigators
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSNASUA170120071018?feedType=nl&feedName=ustopnewsearly
Alleged purse-snatcher drops phone – When a teenage boy allegedly grabbed a 63-year-old woman's purse and ran off, he might have escaped arrest. That is, if he hadn't dropped his cell phone.
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2007/10/10172007_Alleged-purse-snatcher-drops-phone.cfm?newsletter=2
Colbert Consulted Parties Before Announcing Run – Stephen Colbert — who announced plans to run for the presidency, though only in South Carolina, on his Comedy Central show Tuesday night — is serious enough about the stunt that his staff reached out to the state’s Democratic and Republican committees in advance of his declaration.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/18/arts/television/18colb.html?ex=1350446400&en=0ceea37a8ed8dcff&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Wednesday, October 17, 2007
News Digest for October 17, 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.
WORD OF THE DAY
Enmity • \EN-muh-tee\ • noun – Positive, active, and typically mutual hatred or ill will
The tension in the room was so thick you could have cut it with a knife. Ambrose stalked into the meeting room, his handlebar moustache projecting further than normal due to the build-up of wax he had used to twirl the ends into question marks. Dagwood entered last, his enmity for his opponent in the moustache contest clearly showing in his dark, scowling face. His Fu Manchu moustache dangled to nearly his waist. “I don’t need no stinkin’ props to win this contest,” he howled at Ambrose. “Yeah,” shot back Ambrose. “It’s one thing to have a moustache, but it’s quite another to know what do do with it!”
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
News Release – Possibly Blustery Weather This Thursday - PUD 3 Urges Preparation
The National Weather Service has issued a special weather statement regarding potentially windy weather this Thursday. (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/News/display.asp?NewsID=367
Wild windstorm may be on the way – Seattle could be hit with a wild windstorm Thursday, but how severe the winds will be depends on where the storm goes on Wednesday, a National Weather Service spokesman said. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/335746_weather17.html
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Electricity Overseer Says Grid Must Grow – Resistance to New Lines Called a Threat – The electric-power industry in the mid-Atlantic region and other parts of the nation is not keeping up with long-term demand, the industry's reliability organization warned yesterday in its annual assessment. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/16/AR2007101601943.html?nav=rss_business
Investment in U.S. power grid needed – The watchdog that oversees North America's power grid says the full promise of renewable fuels cannot be harnessed without first building more power lines that can carry this cleaner energy to consumers. (Associated Press via the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat)
http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20071016/NEWS/710160364/1036/BUSINESS01
News Release – We’re doing a GREAT job! New Reports Show ISOs and RTOs Provide Tangible Benefits. ISO/RTO Council Issues Reports on Markets, Demand Response, Renewables (ISO/RTO Council)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=76061
New Chelan County PUD power contract for Alcoa – 17-year deal would create 60 new jobs, start up third pot line at Wenatchee Works New power contract for Alcoa (Wenatchee Herald, nice shot of the eight-inch thick contract documents!)
http://www.wenworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071016/NEWS04/710160052/1001
Okanogan County PUD board ponders new $6 million headquarters – PUD commissioners and staff took a field trip Oct. 9 to look over the possible site for a new headquarters by traipsing in the weeds just behind the current facility. (Omak Chronicle)
http://www.omakchronicle.com/nws/n071016a.shtml
Snohomish County PUD chief now makes $308,407 – General manager Steve Klein received a raise of 22.7 percent to make his salary competitive. (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071017/NEWS01/710170035&news01ad=1
AEP developing CO2-capture technology at Oklahoma plant (Columbus Business First)
http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/10/15/daily15.html?ana=from_rss
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Montana – Federal Agencies Oppose Lowering Flood Stage – Ask Bill Michalk or any farmer about the thousands of dollars in crops they have lost over the years from overbank flooding during spring runoff when the Libby Dam is kept higher, and you'll hear a familiar echo: Lower the flood stage on the Kootenai River two feet. (Rural Northwest)
http://www.ruralnorthwest.com/artman/publish/article_7840.shtml
Lake Superior in the Midst of a Drought – Water levels in the three upper Great Lakes are wavering far below normal, but Lake Superior, the northernmost lake, is already at a record low for this time of year. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15353639&ft=1&f=3
KID's budget hit with shortfall – Kennewick Irrigation District has about $500,000 less in its budget than officials thought. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/v-rss/story/9385291p-9298647c.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
BPA exec supports governor's decision on wind farm – In a meeting with the Herald editorial board this week Bonneville Power Administration Executive Steve Wright was asked what he thought of Gov. Chris Gregoire's recent decision to approve a wind project near Ellensburg even though it had been rejected by Kittitas County. (Chris Mulick, Tri City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/blogs/mulick/v-rss/story/9384160p-9297525c.html
PacifiCorp unit opposes mandatory renewable standard in Utah – PacifiCorp's Rocky Mountain Power subsidiary and Utah's municipal and cooperative utilities are opposing a renewable portfolio standard for the state, according to a report released Monday. (Platts Energy News)
http://www.platts.com/HOME/News/6525912.xml?sub=HOME&p=HOME/News&
Grays Harbor County PUD to study using methane from treatment plant for power (The Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/10/16/local_news/02news.txt
In Washington, D.C., it takes a village to build a solar house – There are green buildings, and then there are really green buildings. (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9798161-7.html
CONSERVATION
A loophole could dim impact in proposed energy-saving bill – New legislation is slated to phase out inefficient bulbs, but efficiency groups are concerned a loophole could diminish impact. “…new legislation would phase out energy-intensive incandescent bulbs on the basis of their size and shape rather than on the amount of power they draw…. manufacturers could easily skirt the phase-out by changing slightly the shape of their incandescent offerings dramatically reducing the measure's benefits...” (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1016/p02s02-uspo.html
Get the right CFLs for your home (The Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071016/BLOG15/71016005/-1/RSS01
Why your electric bill is so high – Don't be fooled. Appliances on 'sleep' mode still suck power. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1016/p09s01-coop.html
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Forbes Magazine’s America's Greenest States – “…On top: Vermont, Oregon and Washington. All have low carbon dioxide emissions per capita (or "carbon footprints")…”
http://www.forbes.com/2007/10/16/environment-energy-vermont-biz-beltway-cx_bw_mm_1017greenstates.html?feed=rss_news
Warming's Costs to Top Its Benefits, Study Says – The costs of climate change to the United States will outweigh its benefits, according to a new University of Maryland study. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/16/AR2007101601773.html?nav=rss_nation
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Clearwire draws closer to mobile – Clearwire is taking another step closer toward a high-speed wireless Internet service that can be used on the go. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003955477_clearwire17.html
Small Steps at Yahoo Bear Fruit – Jerry Yang’s plan for reviving the fortunes of Yahoo, the company he co-founded and now runs, does not involve the kind of shock therapy for which some investors had hoped. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/17/business/media/17yahoo.html?ex=1350360000&en=d06013cebe97ebd8&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Former Mason County Resident, convicted of local 1996 murder – Escaped murderer caught at motel. A convicted murderer who escaped from a privately run prison in Arizona has been captured in Spokane. (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/10605707.html
GROUND BREAKING FOR NEW MASON COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS SHOP SET – Mason County is holding a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Public Works Facility being constructed on 42 acres on the northwest corner of the intersection of U.S. Highway 101 and State Route 102. The ceremony is set for 11am Monday. This new shop will consolidate all Public Works employees (administration, Emergency Management, Roads, and vehicle maintenance) in one location. Cost of the new facility is $15 Million and is being paid for through a 20-year loan from the State Treasurer. Again, the ground breaking for Mason County new Public Works facility is 11am Monday at the corner of U.S. Highway 101 and Highway 102 (Dayton Airport Road). (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Port Townsend council kills salary increase proposal for itself – Citing a squeeze on city revenues, Port Townsend City Council members rejected proposed council salary raises that would have made them eligible for participation in the state retirement program. (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20071017/NEWS/710170305
DIVERSIONS
Cell Phone Phantoms Haunt Addicted Users – Cell phone addicts and BlackBerry junkies say they feel a telltale vibration on their hipbones when they're not wearing the device, or they hear their cell phone ringing even if they've left it at home. The experience is so common that it is now being called "Ringxiety." (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15323419&ft=1&f=17
A Death in the Funny Pages Stirs Controversy (NY Times)
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/a-death-in-the-funny-pages-stirs-controversy/index.html?ex=1350273600&en=1b4bf750cc9262c3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Well, this is @%$^#^ - Woman Cited For Swearing At Toilet In Her Home. Talk about a potty mouth. A Scranton woman who allegedly shouted profanities at her overflowing toilet within earshot of a neighbor was cited for disorderly conduct, authorities said.
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14351708/detail.html
Four Charged In Theft Of Giant Key Sculptures
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14351780/detail.html
Toothpicks On Field Sideline Football Game – Prank Causes Game To Be Moved. Thousands of toothpicks caused a big problem for the Tawas Braves high school football team.
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14350211/detail.html
WORD OF THE DAY
Enmity • \EN-muh-tee\ • noun – Positive, active, and typically mutual hatred or ill will
The tension in the room was so thick you could have cut it with a knife. Ambrose stalked into the meeting room, his handlebar moustache projecting further than normal due to the build-up of wax he had used to twirl the ends into question marks. Dagwood entered last, his enmity for his opponent in the moustache contest clearly showing in his dark, scowling face. His Fu Manchu moustache dangled to nearly his waist. “I don’t need no stinkin’ props to win this contest,” he howled at Ambrose. “Yeah,” shot back Ambrose. “It’s one thing to have a moustache, but it’s quite another to know what do do with it!”
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
News Release – Possibly Blustery Weather This Thursday - PUD 3 Urges Preparation
The National Weather Service has issued a special weather statement regarding potentially windy weather this Thursday. (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/News/display.asp?NewsID=367
Wild windstorm may be on the way – Seattle could be hit with a wild windstorm Thursday, but how severe the winds will be depends on where the storm goes on Wednesday, a National Weather Service spokesman said. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/335746_weather17.html
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Electricity Overseer Says Grid Must Grow – Resistance to New Lines Called a Threat – The electric-power industry in the mid-Atlantic region and other parts of the nation is not keeping up with long-term demand, the industry's reliability organization warned yesterday in its annual assessment. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/16/AR2007101601943.html?nav=rss_business
Investment in U.S. power grid needed – The watchdog that oversees North America's power grid says the full promise of renewable fuels cannot be harnessed without first building more power lines that can carry this cleaner energy to consumers. (Associated Press via the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat)
http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20071016/NEWS/710160364/1036/BUSINESS01
News Release – We’re doing a GREAT job! New Reports Show ISOs and RTOs Provide Tangible Benefits. ISO/RTO Council Issues Reports on Markets, Demand Response, Renewables (ISO/RTO Council)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=76061
New Chelan County PUD power contract for Alcoa – 17-year deal would create 60 new jobs, start up third pot line at Wenatchee Works New power contract for Alcoa (Wenatchee Herald, nice shot of the eight-inch thick contract documents!)
http://www.wenworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071016/NEWS04/710160052/1001
Okanogan County PUD board ponders new $6 million headquarters – PUD commissioners and staff took a field trip Oct. 9 to look over the possible site for a new headquarters by traipsing in the weeds just behind the current facility. (Omak Chronicle)
http://www.omakchronicle.com/nws/n071016a.shtml
Snohomish County PUD chief now makes $308,407 – General manager Steve Klein received a raise of 22.7 percent to make his salary competitive. (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071017/NEWS01/710170035&news01ad=1
AEP developing CO2-capture technology at Oklahoma plant (Columbus Business First)
http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/10/15/daily15.html?ana=from_rss
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Montana – Federal Agencies Oppose Lowering Flood Stage – Ask Bill Michalk or any farmer about the thousands of dollars in crops they have lost over the years from overbank flooding during spring runoff when the Libby Dam is kept higher, and you'll hear a familiar echo: Lower the flood stage on the Kootenai River two feet. (Rural Northwest)
http://www.ruralnorthwest.com/artman/publish/article_7840.shtml
Lake Superior in the Midst of a Drought – Water levels in the three upper Great Lakes are wavering far below normal, but Lake Superior, the northernmost lake, is already at a record low for this time of year. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15353639&ft=1&f=3
KID's budget hit with shortfall – Kennewick Irrigation District has about $500,000 less in its budget than officials thought. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/v-rss/story/9385291p-9298647c.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
BPA exec supports governor's decision on wind farm – In a meeting with the Herald editorial board this week Bonneville Power Administration Executive Steve Wright was asked what he thought of Gov. Chris Gregoire's recent decision to approve a wind project near Ellensburg even though it had been rejected by Kittitas County. (Chris Mulick, Tri City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/blogs/mulick/v-rss/story/9384160p-9297525c.html
PacifiCorp unit opposes mandatory renewable standard in Utah – PacifiCorp's Rocky Mountain Power subsidiary and Utah's municipal and cooperative utilities are opposing a renewable portfolio standard for the state, according to a report released Monday. (Platts Energy News)
http://www.platts.com/HOME/News/6525912.xml?sub=HOME&p=HOME/News&
Grays Harbor County PUD to study using methane from treatment plant for power (The Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/10/16/local_news/02news.txt
In Washington, D.C., it takes a village to build a solar house – There are green buildings, and then there are really green buildings. (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9798161-7.html
CONSERVATION
A loophole could dim impact in proposed energy-saving bill – New legislation is slated to phase out inefficient bulbs, but efficiency groups are concerned a loophole could diminish impact. “…new legislation would phase out energy-intensive incandescent bulbs on the basis of their size and shape rather than on the amount of power they draw…. manufacturers could easily skirt the phase-out by changing slightly the shape of their incandescent offerings dramatically reducing the measure's benefits...” (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1016/p02s02-uspo.html
Get the right CFLs for your home (The Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071016/BLOG15/71016005/-1/RSS01
Why your electric bill is so high – Don't be fooled. Appliances on 'sleep' mode still suck power. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1016/p09s01-coop.html
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Forbes Magazine’s America's Greenest States – “…On top: Vermont, Oregon and Washington. All have low carbon dioxide emissions per capita (or "carbon footprints")…”
http://www.forbes.com/2007/10/16/environment-energy-vermont-biz-beltway-cx_bw_mm_1017greenstates.html?feed=rss_news
Warming's Costs to Top Its Benefits, Study Says – The costs of climate change to the United States will outweigh its benefits, according to a new University of Maryland study. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/16/AR2007101601773.html?nav=rss_nation
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Clearwire draws closer to mobile – Clearwire is taking another step closer toward a high-speed wireless Internet service that can be used on the go. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003955477_clearwire17.html
Small Steps at Yahoo Bear Fruit – Jerry Yang’s plan for reviving the fortunes of Yahoo, the company he co-founded and now runs, does not involve the kind of shock therapy for which some investors had hoped. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/17/business/media/17yahoo.html?ex=1350360000&en=d06013cebe97ebd8&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Former Mason County Resident, convicted of local 1996 murder – Escaped murderer caught at motel. A convicted murderer who escaped from a privately run prison in Arizona has been captured in Spokane. (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/10605707.html
GROUND BREAKING FOR NEW MASON COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS SHOP SET – Mason County is holding a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Public Works Facility being constructed on 42 acres on the northwest corner of the intersection of U.S. Highway 101 and State Route 102. The ceremony is set for 11am Monday. This new shop will consolidate all Public Works employees (administration, Emergency Management, Roads, and vehicle maintenance) in one location. Cost of the new facility is $15 Million and is being paid for through a 20-year loan from the State Treasurer. Again, the ground breaking for Mason County new Public Works facility is 11am Monday at the corner of U.S. Highway 101 and Highway 102 (Dayton Airport Road). (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Port Townsend council kills salary increase proposal for itself – Citing a squeeze on city revenues, Port Townsend City Council members rejected proposed council salary raises that would have made them eligible for participation in the state retirement program. (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20071017/NEWS/710170305
DIVERSIONS
Cell Phone Phantoms Haunt Addicted Users – Cell phone addicts and BlackBerry junkies say they feel a telltale vibration on their hipbones when they're not wearing the device, or they hear their cell phone ringing even if they've left it at home. The experience is so common that it is now being called "Ringxiety." (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15323419&ft=1&f=17
A Death in the Funny Pages Stirs Controversy (NY Times)
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/a-death-in-the-funny-pages-stirs-controversy/index.html?ex=1350273600&en=1b4bf750cc9262c3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Well, this is @%$^#^ - Woman Cited For Swearing At Toilet In Her Home. Talk about a potty mouth. A Scranton woman who allegedly shouted profanities at her overflowing toilet within earshot of a neighbor was cited for disorderly conduct, authorities said.
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14351708/detail.html
Four Charged In Theft Of Giant Key Sculptures
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14351780/detail.html
Toothpicks On Field Sideline Football Game – Prank Causes Game To Be Moved. Thousands of toothpicks caused a big problem for the Tawas Braves high school football team.
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14350211/detail.html
Tuesday, October 16, 2007
News Digest for October 16, 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.
WORD OF THE DAY
Fervid • \FER-vid\ • adjective – 1: very hot: burning *2: marked by often extreme intensity of feeling
Irving Berlin was stumped. He just couldn’t work up a fervid enthusiasm for his latest composition. “We’re having a cold wave…an arctic-like cold wave,” he hummed over the keyboard. “Golly, that just doesn’t swing,” he moaned.
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
Oregon – PacifiCorp hopes to deliver a jolt. The utility wants a threatened 2.5% rate increase to nudge ratepayers into seeking changes “…the company doesn't want customers to feel gouged, but it has no choice other than to surcharge customers until legislators change the controversial utility tax law..” (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1192343206203830.xml&coll=7
Seattle – Tower worker shocked, hospitalized with burns (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/335617_shock16.html?source=rss
News Release – Fitch Rates Cowlitz, Washington PUD $63.49MM Electric Distribution System Revs, 2007 'A-' (Fitch Ratings, Via Yahoo! Finance)
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/071015/20071015006339.html?.v=1
News Release – North American Electricity Demand Continues to Outpace Resource Growth; Reliability Concerns Remain. California, Rocky Mountain states, New England, Texas, Southwest and Midwest United States; and Western Canada; are areas of concern (North American Electric Reliability Corporation)
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/071016/netu082.html?.v=23
A ‘Circuit of the Future’ That Keeps Blackouts Brief and Local Is Tried in California (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/business/16electric.html?ex=1350187200&en=707845c638798760&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Australia – Racing to the aid of king coal. Climate change is the Achilles heel of the Australian resources boom that both coal companies and Australian governments are fully aware of but prefer not to acknowledge or address. (The Courier-Mail, Queensland)
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22596694-27197,00.html
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Surrogate Fish Could Save Endangered Brethren – When Japanese scientists found a way to make one species of fish lay the eggs of another, some dismissed the work as a genetic parlor trick. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15287000&ft=1&f=17
UW scientists create pollution-sucking trees – Rabbit gene helps poplars neutralize chemicals quickly. …while the poplars could benefit cleanup projects, they raise a multitude of ecological and ethical concerns. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer – Not the mention the fact that they breed like, well, rabbits!)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/335572_transgenic16.html
Southeast facing "ongoing water crisis" Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003952706_drought16.html
Vancouver Island, BC – Province tells Tofino to treat sewage discharge. Sewage treatment is moving to the front of line for Tofino. (Victoria Times Columnist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=9f12efe2-c6cc-42ed-9369-7f146df2b1d6&k=31365
Oregon – Group seeks tougher penalties for killing birds. Frustrated by the sentences of two Portland-area pigeon hobbyists who tried to kill protected hawks and raptors, the Audubon Society of Portland wants Congress to establish more severe penalties for killing migratory birds. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1192497933261450.xml&coll=7
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Winds of change may blow on Rattlesnake Mountain – Wind power prospectors once again are poking around Rattlesnake Mountain. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/v-rss/story/9381539p-9294925c.html
PacifiCorp to Build Second Marengo Wind Facility – PacifiCorp subsidiary Pacific Power last week announced a new 70.2-MW wind project near its recently completed Marengo facility in the hills near Dayton, Washington. Construction on the Marengo II project will begin this month. (Renewable Energy Access.com)
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50282&src=rss
Oregon State University wave energy buoy bobs according to plan (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1192497912261450.xml&coll=7
CONSERVATION
Don't Let High Heating Costs Melt Your Budget – It's going to be expensive staying warm this winter. (The Street.com)
http://www.thestreet.com/s/dont-let-high-heating-costs-melt-your-budget/funds/saving-money/10384527.html?puc=googlefi
News Release – Prepare Now before Winter Increases Your Energy Costs (PECO)
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,199663.shtml
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Scientists Wary of Iron as Proposed Climate Fix – Two companies say the best way to slow global warming is to dump iron into the oceans. Some scientists, however, have serious doubts. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15298749
Even as economy lags, corporate 'green' push may advance – Companies used to shelve environmental initiatives when times got tough, but now, with oil so expensive, spending on green projects is expected to accelerate. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1015/p01s02-usec.html
Peace likely to erode alongside glaciers, coasts – Shortages will bring wars, experts say (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/335381_climate13.html?source=rss
Proposal would measure projects' impact on climate change – Builders in Seattle would be required to identify the impact of large projects on climate change if legislation by City Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck wins approval. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2003952779_greenhouse16m.html?syndication=rss
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Tektronix Bought Out By East Coast Conglomerate – Oregon's tech sector today is watching one of its founding members move away. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/tektronix-bought-out-east-coast-conglomerate/
Comcast to raise cable rates by 4.2 percent (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2007/10/15/daily8.html?ana=from_rss
AOL to cut 2,000 jobs – The 20 percent staff cut adds to the 5,000 layoffs last fall as the Internet company transitions from access provider to online advertising company. (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/2007/10/15/news/companies/AOL.ap/index.htm?eref=ib_topstories
Washington Post Editorial – The Web grows up; Internet services shouldn't be a tax-free zone.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/15/AR2007101501373.html?nav=rss_opinions
Broadcasters unveil digital TV campaign (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_101507BUB_future_tv_KC.174359fb8.html
Connecticut – State Says AT&T Needs Cable License; Orders Company to Stop Signing Up Customers for TV Service (The Hartford Courant)
http://www.courant.com/business/hc-att-1015,0,7352347.story?coll=hc_tab01_layout
Verizon Letter on Privacy Stirs Debate – Verizon Wireless, one of the nation’s largest cell phone carriers, has stirred up controversy with a letter it sent to customers recently telling them that it would begin sharing information from their calling records with its “affiliates, agents and parent companies.” (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/business/16phone.html?ex=1350187200&en=528c62515ff42013&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Memorial for sky divers planned – Friends and family of the pilot and nine sky divers killed in the Oct. 7 White Pass plane crash have planned a public memorial for the dead, as federal investigators continue their efforts to determine what caused the plane to go down in the Cascades. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/335623_skydivers16.html?source=rss
State applies for I-5 permits – Relief for drivers on the crowded eight-mile stretch of Interstate 5 between Grand Mound and Maytown is a step closer after a Thurston County permit hearing Monday on a $70 million to $90 million freeway widening project. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/244685.html
Oregon – Superior Lumber Arsonists: Burned by their own fire. Cases wrap up for eco-arsonists who attacked Superior Lumber (The News Review, Roseburg, OR)
http://www.newsreview.info/article/20071014/NEWS/71013005/-1/NEWS
That's Senator McDermott to you – As expected, state Rep. Joe McDermott, D-West Seattle, was appointed to the Senate this afternoon to replace Erik Poulsen, who is stepping down to work for the Washington PUD Association. (Chris Mulick, Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/blogs/mulick/v-rss/story/9381874p-9295263c.html
Silly String Is Shipped Off to Iraq – About 80,000 cans of Silly String will be shipped to Iraq, where troops use it to detect trip wires on bombs. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/nyregion/16string.html?ex=1350187200&en=f7282984996d0ba3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Trouble brewing for small beer makers over hops shortage (Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP10162007news215815.cfm?newsletter=10
DIVERSIONS
Hardee's Unveils 920-Calorie Burrito – The people who brought you the Monster Thickburger and the 1,100-calorie salad are at it again — this time for breakfast.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/10/15/financial/f113609D38.DTL&feed=rss.news
Paging Charlie Chaplin! Veteran Puts Hitler's Globe Up for Sale – Days after the end of World War II, an American soldier entering the wreckage of Adolf Hitler's mountain stronghold found that fierce Allied bombing had left the "Eagle's Nest" in ruins.
http://www.examiner.com/a-990883~Veteran_Puts_Hitler_s_Globe_Up_for_Sale.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
Great news! They're stealing our books! The Frankfurt Book Fair has an indicator to help publishers gauge public interest in the new offerings presented at the annual exhibition -- the unofficial "most stolen book" index.
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL142392220071016?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest
Craigslist advertiser pleads guilty – A 28-year-old woman accused of placing a Craigslist ad that led to her aunt’s house being gutted earlier this year pleaded guilty Monday.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/180133.html
Bridezilla! A Bride Sues Her Florist Over Pastel Hydrangeas. The wedding bouquet has barely faded and already an Upper East Side bride has regrets — not because she married, but because of the flowers.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/nyregion/16flowers.html?_r=1&ex=1350273600&en=44ae21eb600c7395&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
WORD OF THE DAY
Fervid • \FER-vid\ • adjective – 1: very hot: burning *2: marked by often extreme intensity of feeling
Irving Berlin was stumped. He just couldn’t work up a fervid enthusiasm for his latest composition. “We’re having a cold wave…an arctic-like cold wave,” he hummed over the keyboard. “Golly, that just doesn’t swing,” he moaned.
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
Oregon – PacifiCorp hopes to deliver a jolt. The utility wants a threatened 2.5% rate increase to nudge ratepayers into seeking changes “…the company doesn't want customers to feel gouged, but it has no choice other than to surcharge customers until legislators change the controversial utility tax law..” (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1192343206203830.xml&coll=7
Seattle – Tower worker shocked, hospitalized with burns (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/335617_shock16.html?source=rss
News Release – Fitch Rates Cowlitz, Washington PUD $63.49MM Electric Distribution System Revs, 2007 'A-' (Fitch Ratings, Via Yahoo! Finance)
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/071015/20071015006339.html?.v=1
News Release – North American Electricity Demand Continues to Outpace Resource Growth; Reliability Concerns Remain. California, Rocky Mountain states, New England, Texas, Southwest and Midwest United States; and Western Canada; are areas of concern (North American Electric Reliability Corporation)
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/071016/netu082.html?.v=23
A ‘Circuit of the Future’ That Keeps Blackouts Brief and Local Is Tried in California (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/business/16electric.html?ex=1350187200&en=707845c638798760&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Australia – Racing to the aid of king coal. Climate change is the Achilles heel of the Australian resources boom that both coal companies and Australian governments are fully aware of but prefer not to acknowledge or address. (The Courier-Mail, Queensland)
http://www.news.com.au/couriermail/story/0,23739,22596694-27197,00.html
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Surrogate Fish Could Save Endangered Brethren – When Japanese scientists found a way to make one species of fish lay the eggs of another, some dismissed the work as a genetic parlor trick. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15287000&ft=1&f=17
UW scientists create pollution-sucking trees – Rabbit gene helps poplars neutralize chemicals quickly. …while the poplars could benefit cleanup projects, they raise a multitude of ecological and ethical concerns. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer – Not the mention the fact that they breed like, well, rabbits!)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/335572_transgenic16.html
Southeast facing "ongoing water crisis" Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003952706_drought16.html
Vancouver Island, BC – Province tells Tofino to treat sewage discharge. Sewage treatment is moving to the front of line for Tofino. (Victoria Times Columnist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=9f12efe2-c6cc-42ed-9369-7f146df2b1d6&k=31365
Oregon – Group seeks tougher penalties for killing birds. Frustrated by the sentences of two Portland-area pigeon hobbyists who tried to kill protected hawks and raptors, the Audubon Society of Portland wants Congress to establish more severe penalties for killing migratory birds. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1192497933261450.xml&coll=7
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Winds of change may blow on Rattlesnake Mountain – Wind power prospectors once again are poking around Rattlesnake Mountain. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/v-rss/story/9381539p-9294925c.html
PacifiCorp to Build Second Marengo Wind Facility – PacifiCorp subsidiary Pacific Power last week announced a new 70.2-MW wind project near its recently completed Marengo facility in the hills near Dayton, Washington. Construction on the Marengo II project will begin this month. (Renewable Energy Access.com)
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50282&src=rss
Oregon State University wave energy buoy bobs according to plan (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1192497912261450.xml&coll=7
CONSERVATION
Don't Let High Heating Costs Melt Your Budget – It's going to be expensive staying warm this winter. (The Street.com)
http://www.thestreet.com/s/dont-let-high-heating-costs-melt-your-budget/funds/saving-money/10384527.html?puc=googlefi
News Release – Prepare Now before Winter Increases Your Energy Costs (PECO)
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/news_press_release,199663.shtml
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Scientists Wary of Iron as Proposed Climate Fix – Two companies say the best way to slow global warming is to dump iron into the oceans. Some scientists, however, have serious doubts. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15298749
Even as economy lags, corporate 'green' push may advance – Companies used to shelve environmental initiatives when times got tough, but now, with oil so expensive, spending on green projects is expected to accelerate. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1015/p01s02-usec.html
Peace likely to erode alongside glaciers, coasts – Shortages will bring wars, experts say (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/335381_climate13.html?source=rss
Proposal would measure projects' impact on climate change – Builders in Seattle would be required to identify the impact of large projects on climate change if legislation by City Councilmember Peter Steinbrueck wins approval. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2003952779_greenhouse16m.html?syndication=rss
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Tektronix Bought Out By East Coast Conglomerate – Oregon's tech sector today is watching one of its founding members move away. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/tektronix-bought-out-east-coast-conglomerate/
Comcast to raise cable rates by 4.2 percent (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2007/10/15/daily8.html?ana=from_rss
AOL to cut 2,000 jobs – The 20 percent staff cut adds to the 5,000 layoffs last fall as the Internet company transitions from access provider to online advertising company. (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/2007/10/15/news/companies/AOL.ap/index.htm?eref=ib_topstories
Washington Post Editorial – The Web grows up; Internet services shouldn't be a tax-free zone.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/15/AR2007101501373.html?nav=rss_opinions
Broadcasters unveil digital TV campaign (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_101507BUB_future_tv_KC.174359fb8.html
Connecticut – State Says AT&T Needs Cable License; Orders Company to Stop Signing Up Customers for TV Service (The Hartford Courant)
http://www.courant.com/business/hc-att-1015,0,7352347.story?coll=hc_tab01_layout
Verizon Letter on Privacy Stirs Debate – Verizon Wireless, one of the nation’s largest cell phone carriers, has stirred up controversy with a letter it sent to customers recently telling them that it would begin sharing information from their calling records with its “affiliates, agents and parent companies.” (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/business/16phone.html?ex=1350187200&en=528c62515ff42013&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Memorial for sky divers planned – Friends and family of the pilot and nine sky divers killed in the Oct. 7 White Pass plane crash have planned a public memorial for the dead, as federal investigators continue their efforts to determine what caused the plane to go down in the Cascades. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/335623_skydivers16.html?source=rss
State applies for I-5 permits – Relief for drivers on the crowded eight-mile stretch of Interstate 5 between Grand Mound and Maytown is a step closer after a Thurston County permit hearing Monday on a $70 million to $90 million freeway widening project. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/244685.html
Oregon – Superior Lumber Arsonists: Burned by their own fire. Cases wrap up for eco-arsonists who attacked Superior Lumber (The News Review, Roseburg, OR)
http://www.newsreview.info/article/20071014/NEWS/71013005/-1/NEWS
That's Senator McDermott to you – As expected, state Rep. Joe McDermott, D-West Seattle, was appointed to the Senate this afternoon to replace Erik Poulsen, who is stepping down to work for the Washington PUD Association. (Chris Mulick, Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/blogs/mulick/v-rss/story/9381874p-9295263c.html
Silly String Is Shipped Off to Iraq – About 80,000 cans of Silly String will be shipped to Iraq, where troops use it to detect trip wires on bombs. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/nyregion/16string.html?ex=1350187200&en=f7282984996d0ba3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Trouble brewing for small beer makers over hops shortage (Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP10162007news215815.cfm?newsletter=10
DIVERSIONS
Hardee's Unveils 920-Calorie Burrito – The people who brought you the Monster Thickburger and the 1,100-calorie salad are at it again — this time for breakfast.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/10/15/financial/f113609D38.DTL&feed=rss.news
Paging Charlie Chaplin! Veteran Puts Hitler's Globe Up for Sale – Days after the end of World War II, an American soldier entering the wreckage of Adolf Hitler's mountain stronghold found that fierce Allied bombing had left the "Eagle's Nest" in ruins.
http://www.examiner.com/a-990883~Veteran_Puts_Hitler_s_Globe_Up_for_Sale.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
Great news! They're stealing our books! The Frankfurt Book Fair has an indicator to help publishers gauge public interest in the new offerings presented at the annual exhibition -- the unofficial "most stolen book" index.
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL142392220071016?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest
Craigslist advertiser pleads guilty – A 28-year-old woman accused of placing a Craigslist ad that led to her aunt’s house being gutted earlier this year pleaded guilty Monday.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/180133.html
Bridezilla! A Bride Sues Her Florist Over Pastel Hydrangeas. The wedding bouquet has barely faded and already an Upper East Side bride has regrets — not because she married, but because of the flowers.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/nyregion/16flowers.html?_r=1&ex=1350273600&en=44ae21eb600c7395&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
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