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.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Mason County Candidate Filings (Includes Mason County PUD No. 1 and PUD No. 3 filings)
- Two File for Lewis County PUD Position
- ELECTIONS: Candidates sign up to appear on primary ballot
- Raising rates: Public speaks, Chelan PUD listens
- Montana – Montgomery Energy extols benefits of gas-fired plants
- Port Townsend chamber manager quits to join Puget Sound Energy
- These poles were made for climbing – High-voltage job turned competition June 21
- Energy Rules Enrich Power Companies, Bilk Customers, Regulators Say
- Maryland Public Service Commission going after $2 billion from electric grid operator
- Regulators: Duke Energy Can't Raise Rates Because Of Drought
- Nevada nuclear dump application filed Tuesday
- Pinched at pump, consumers warm to energy plants
- San Francisco Chronicle Op/Ed – Power industry needs visionary leadership
- New report: Utilities increase Web-based offerings for customer self-service
- Where Have All the Fish Gone?
- West Coast fishermen offered 'pieces of silver'
- Black Rock Reservoir proponents outline plan details
- National Marine Fisheries Service completes environmental impact statement on Neah Bay whaling
- Pollution outflows to Sound routinely allowed
- At Fort Lewis – Glitch releases up to 180,000 gallons of partially-treated water into Puget Sound
- Kitsap County – Plans to Reuse Wastewater Move Forward
- In Spain, Water Is a New Battleground
- Abundant snowpack promises long Oregon, Washington white-water season
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer Op/Ed – Bottled water important to health
- Texas wind farms choked off from grid due to insufficient power lines
- Arizona-New Mexico power corridor for renewable energy launches
- GE sees solar becoming $1 bln business
- Vestas chooses Houston over Portland
- McMinnville farmer plants turbine, power costs blow away
- Vertical-axis wind turbine spins into business
- Who’s Resuscitating the Electric Car?
- Biofuel Sends Cost of Beer Rising
- Pacific Gas & Electric pays to offset Democrats' carbon emissions
- Federal Carbon Bill's Hurdles: Price Tag, Stiff Opposition
- National Post Commentary – British Columbia’s carbon tax is anything but neutral
- NASA Downplayed Climate Studies, Monitor Says
- Good News From the South Pole? Does growing sea ice in Antarctica bode well for the future?
- Iowa Has The Most FTTH Providers? 40 Networks in various stages of development
- Time Warner Cable Broadband Tiers Lead to Fears
- Will Metered Broadband Make You Switch Your ISP?
- Bell Canada Fires Up The Spin Doctors – We're not anti-competitive, we're just plain awesome
- Experts Revive Debate over Cell Phones and Cance
- M-80 explodes in Washington girl's hand
- California – ATM card thieves have struck statewide – Using card skimmers
- California – Metal thieves take $190,000 worth of aluminum from grower
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Malaise • \muh-LAYZ\ • noun – 1: an indefinite feeling of debility or lack of health often indicative of or accompanying the onset of an illness *2: a vague sense of mental or moral ill-being
“MMMMMM, yummy mayonnaise on my ham and cheese sandwich,” gushed Danforth at his high school reunion picnic. In what was to become known as the “Riverdale Moldy Mayonnaise Malaise” Danny and his classmates would soon be elbowing for position at the one port-a-potty that the overwhelmed organizers had rented for the occasion.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Mason County Candidate Filings (Includes Mason County PUD No. 1 and PUD No. 3 filings)
http://wei.secstate.wa.gov/MASON/ELECTIONS/Pages/CandidateFilings.aspx
Two File for Lewis County PUD Position – Kennedy Challenges Kostick for Electrical Utility Post (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1212429488&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&
ELECTIONS: Candidates sign up to appear on primary ballot (Tri-City Herald, includes Benton, Franklin, Grant PUDs)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/201279.html
Raising rates: Public speaks, Chelan PUD listens (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080603/NEWS04/17610179/1001
Montana – Montgomery Energy extols benefits of gas-fired plants (Great Falls Tribune)
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080603/NEWS01/806030310
Port Townsend chamber manager quits to join Puget Sound Energy – accepts position of community partnerships manager with Puget Sound Energy. PSE is facing a possible challenge to its expiring electricity franchise in East Jefferson County (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA – Any connection? Inquiring minds want to know!)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080603/NEWS/548844856
These poles were made for climbing – High-voltage job turned competition June 21: Linemen will climb, rescue, install (The Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080602/NEWS04/133407446/1005
Energy Rules Enrich Power Companies, Bilk Customers, Regulators Say – Electricity customers in Maryland and the District will overpay for power by more than $1.9 billion (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/02/AR2008060201996.html?nav=rss_email/components
Maryland Public Service Commission going after $2 billion from electric grid operator (Baltimore Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2008/06/02/daily7.html?ana=from_rss
Regulators: Duke Energy Can't Raise Rates Because Of Drought (The Associated Press, via WXII-TV, Winston-Salem, NC)
http://www.wxii12.com/news/16472493/detail.html?rss=gws&psp=news
Nevada nuclear dump application filed Tuesday (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2004453295_apyuccamountain.html?syndication=rss
Pinched at pump, consumers warm to energy plants – Survey finds less opposition to nuclear, clean coal but refineries still loathed (Market Watch)
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/story.aspx?guid=%7BC08205F2%2D7426%2D4D7A%2DA140%2DBE2E87D1FB95%7D&siteid=rss
San Francisco Chronicle Op/Ed – Power industry needs visionary leadership
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/03/EDEC111PKU.DTL&feed=rss.opinion
New report: Utilities increase Web-based offerings for customer self-service (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=330472&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss
FISH & WILDLIFE
Where Have All the Fish Gone? The collapse of America’s West Coast Salmon fishery has an eerily familiar ring to it. Are the oceans dying? (Trumpet.com)
http://www.thetrumpet.com/index.php?q=5197.3473.0.0
Fishermen offered 'pieces of silver' – The U.S. is offering local fishermen $30 million to get out of the lucrative west coast Chinook troll fishery (Richmond News, Canada)
http://www.canada.com/richmondnews/news/story.html?id=82413830-aadf-41d1-9d4e-c2f359de483d
Black Rock Reservoir proponents outline plan details – Backers try to garner interest among tribal members by showing fishing benefits (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/4615
National Marine Fisheries Service completes environmental impact statement on Neah Bay whaling (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004453961_whaling03m.html?syndication=rss
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Pollution outflows to Sound routinely allowed – Offshore mixing zones dilute toxic substances (Seattle Post-Intelligencer – Et Tu, Victoria?)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/365545_pugetsound03.html?source=rss
At Fort Lewis – Glitch releases up to 180,000 gallons of partially-treated water into Puget Sound (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/466769.html
Kitsap County – Plans to Reuse Wastewater Move Forward (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/jun/02/plans-to-reuse-wastewater-move-forward/
In Spain, Water Is a New Battleground – Spurred on by global warming and poorly planned development, swaths of Spain are turning into desert (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/03/world/europe/03dry.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Abundant snowpack promises long Oregon, Washington white-water season (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/121236998911330.xml&coll=7
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Op/Ed – Bottled water important to health
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/365501_bottledwater03.html?source=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Texas wind farms choked off from grid due to insufficient power lines – Thousands of wind turbines in the US are sitting idle or failing to meet their full generating capacity (The Independent, United Kingdom)
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/texas-wind-farms-choked-off-from-grid-due-to-insufficient-power-lines-838979.html
Arizona-New Mexico power corridor for renewable energy launches with Salt River Project, other players (Phoenix Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2008/06/02/daily15.html?ana=from_rss
GE sees solar becoming $1 bln business (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/IndiaInvestment08/idUSN0227159320080602
Vestas chooses Houston over Portland – Wind energy firm announces it iss establishing a new research center in Houston (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/06/02/daily12.html?ana=from_rss
McMinnville farmer plants turbine, power costs blow away – A wind tower yields a bumper crop of energy for family farm (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1212375321161940.xml&coll=7
Vertical-axis wind turbine spins into business (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9956965-54.html
Who’s Resuscitating the Electric Car? An electric car in Britain is making headway in the fight against fuel. Will it take off, and is the electric car really good for the environment? (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/technology/May-June-08/Who-s-Resuscitating-the-Electric-Car.html
Biofuel Sends Cost of Beer Rising (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/money/16463952/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Pacific Gas & Electric pays to offset Democrats' carbon emissions (Examiner.com – Insert bad political pun here)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1420448~PG_E_pays_to_offset_Democrats__carbon_emissions.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Federal Carbon Bill's Hurdles: Price Tag, Stiff Opposition (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91098289&ft=1&f=3
National Post Commentary – British Columbia’s carbon tax is anything but neutral
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/06/02/maureen-bader-b-c-s-carbon-tax-is-anything-but-neutral.aspx
NASA Downplayed Climate Studies, Monitor Says (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91087076&ft=1&f=2
Good News From the South Pole? Does growing sea ice in Antarctica bode well for the future? (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2192730/?from=rss
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Iowa Has The Most FTTH Providers? 40 Networks in various stages of development (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Iowa-Has-The-Most-FTTH-Providers-94954
Time Warner Cable Broadband Tiers Lead to Fears (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/06/02/time-warner-cable-broadband-tiers-lead-to-fears/
Will Metered Broadband Make You Switch Your ISP? (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/06/03/metered-broadband-will-you-switch-your-carriers/
Bell Canada Fires Up The Spin Doctors – We're not anti-competitive, we're just plain awesome (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Bell-Canada-Fires-Up-The-Spin-Doctors-94924
Experts Revive Debate over Cell Phones and Cancer (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/03/health/03well.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
GENERAL NEWS
M-80 explodes in Washington girl's hand (The Associated Press, via the Columbian, Vancouver, WA)http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP06032008news324310.cfm
California – ATM card thieves have struck statewide – Using card skimmers, group may have stolen more than $45,000 in San Jose alone (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/valley/ci_9424966?nclick_check=1
California – Metal thieves take $190,000 worth of aluminum from grower (The Santa Cruz Sentinel, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1421739~Metal_thieves_take__190_000_worth_of_aluminum_from_grower.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
DIVERSIONS
Man jailed for faking his death
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSPAT26223520080602?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
The Claim: Drinking Flat Soda Can Ease an Upset Stomach
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/03/health/03real.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Spell-Check Run Amok Changes Names In School Yearbook
http://www.kirotv.com/education/16460101/detail.html
Colbert tells grads: Please don't change the world
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080603/ap_on_en_tv/people_colbert;_ylt=AkQjAFVanlUzPkwL3DjoZ_DtiBIF
London underground drinks party ends in mayhem – Thousands of revelers were marking the last day of drinking alcohol on the tube
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080602/od_nm/tube_odd_dc;_ylt=AgvtRfsMQ_ZC.sByTckOyIDtiBIF
Tuesday, June 3, 2008
Monday, June 2, 2008
Energy News Digest for June 2, 2008
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.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Reductions Sought in Puget Sound Energy’s Rate Hikes
- Hosted by PUDs – Ex-Greenpeace president discusses future energy
- Students learn about the Columbia River's power
- Canada – Homeowners threaten blockades to stop power lines
- Complaint: Electricity Buyers Overpaying In Maryland
- Michigan may raise residents' electric bills up to 15 percent to help businesses
- Missouri – Utilities plan to fight 40% natural gas rate-increase request
- Energy firms mix message – Investors told of riches, public of rule hardships
- California – Fishers struggle with salmon shutdown
- Program pays anglers for catching squawfish (Ahem, Pikeminnow)
- The river gives, and the river takes
- Many of LA River’s tributaries could lose protections
- Charlotte, Duke Energy will fight S.C. water suit
- United Kingdom – Microgeneration could rival nuclear power, report shows
- Geothermal Electricity Booming in Germany
- How to harvest solar power? Beam it down from space!
- 25 cheap ways to keep your house cooler
- Energy adviser: Solar water heating works, even in Northwest
- Tennessee gobbles up energy – Despite heavy use, Tennessee Valley Authority returns focus to conservation
- Climate Bill Underlines Obstacles to Capping Greenhouse Gases
- Climate-change bill: how it works and key players involved
- Using climate change to expand government's grip
- Who’d be stuck with the greenhouse gas bill?
- Mid-Columbia group says going green can save cash too
- Internet running out of addresses
- Cable Companies and Modem Vendors Fight Patent Troll
- Colorado – Glenwood Springs fiber-optic partnership gets bad reception
- How to Fix Muni Wi-Fi
- Teens await arrest after Comcast attack
- Some Shun Wireless Internet – Some Claim to Have a Physical Aversion to Wireless Internet
- Can broadband do right by customers?
- Teen Dies In Crash On Harstine Island
- Mason County Sheriff – Three Hikers Injured on Mount Ellinor in Olympic National Forest
- North Mason County – Piecing Together What December's Floodwaters Tore Apart
- Oregon – Credit Card 'Surcharge' at pump adds to gas pains
- On the road? Don't talk to the hand – Starting July 1
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Hors de combat • \or-doo-kom-BAH\ • adjective or adverb – Out of combat: disabled
“How unfortunate,” mused the bank manager. Even with the constant barrage of information regarding the expected ferocity of the upcoming flu season, he had warned his tellers NOT to get their shots this year because it would mean their absence for about ten minutes each on one day. The chickens were coming home to roost, as fully two thirds of his employees spent weeks on end hors de combat with the flu…which was introduced by a particularly sick customer one fateful day.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Reductions Sought in Puget Sound Energy’s Rate Hikes –The public counsel's office and the state Utilities and Transportation Commission staff recommend cuts in proposed electricity and natural-gas rates for customers of Puget Sound Energy (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/365293_pse31.html
Hosted by PUDs – Ex-Greenpeace president discusses future energy (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/05/30/news/news06.txt
Students learn about the Columbia River's power – PUD program gives students a look at fish and energy production (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080530/NEWS04/779431543/1005
Canada – Homeowners threaten blockades to stop power lines (The Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=41850154-53c3-44a5-bc4a-eab3454cf456
Complaint: Electricity Buyers Overpaying In Maryland (WJZ-TV, Baltimore, MD)
http://wjz.com/local/overpaying.electricity.BGE.2.737416.html
Michigan may raise residents' electric bills up to 15 percent to help businesses (The Chicago Tribune)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-mi-powerstruggle-rat,0,3899092.story
Missouri – Utilities plan to fight 40% natural gas rate-increase request (Springfield News Leader)
http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080529/BREAKING01/80529031/-1/RSS
Energy firms mix message – Investors told of riches, public of rule hardships (Rocky Mountain News)
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jun/02/energy-firms-mix-message/?partner=yahoo_headlines
FISH & WILDLIFE
California – Fishers struggle with salmon shutdown – Salmon fishers are reeling from canceled season (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_9448434?source=rss
Program pays anglers for catching squawfish (Seattle Times – Uh Oh….someone call the politically correct police!)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2004450364_outn01.html
The river gives, and the river takes – The deaths of three Yakama fishermen highlight the risks they take on the Columbia (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/4565
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Many of LA River’s tributaries could lose protections (Lost Angeles Times, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1418520~Many_of_LA_river_s_tributaries_could_lose_protections.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
Charlotte, Duke Energy will fight S.C. water suit (Hickory Daily Record)
http://www.hickoryrecord.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=HDR%2FMGArticle%2FHDR_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173355591493&path=!news!localnews
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
United Kingdom – Microgeneration could rival nuclear power, report shows – buildings equipped with solar, wind and other micro power equipment (The Guardian)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jun/02/renewableenergy.alternativeenergy?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront
Geothermal Electricity Booming in Germany (Renewable Energy World Online)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=52588&src=rss
How to harvest solar power? Beam it down from space! (CNN International)
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/05/30/space.solar/?iref=intlOnlyonCNN
CONSERVATION
25 cheap ways to keep your house cooler (MSN Money)
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/SaveMoney/25cheapWaysToKeepYourHouseCooler.aspx
Energy adviser: Solar water heating works, even in Northwest (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/lifehome/lifeHomeNews/2008/05/06012008_Energy-adviser-Solar-water-heating-works-even-in-Northwest.cfm?newsletter=1
Tennessee gobbles up energy – Despite heavy use, Tennessee Valley Authority returns focus to conservation (The Tennessean)
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080601/GREEN02/806010420/1006/NEWS01
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Climate Bill Underlines Obstacles to Capping Greenhouse Gases (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/31/AR2008053102471.html?nav=rss_business
Climate-change bill: how it works and key players involved (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/01/MNEF111GNL.DTL&feed=rss.news
Using climate change to expand government's grip (George Will, via the Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080601/OPINION04/538848305/-1/RSS05
Who’d be stuck with the greenhouse gas bill? – From higher electric bills to more expensive gasoline (The Associated Press, via the News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/378230.html
Mid-Columbia group says going green can save cash too (Tri-City Herald – Jim Henson royalty alert…)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/901/story/200347.html
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Internet running out of addresses – Current system, IPv4, has just 700 million –16% – available (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/365383_webaddresses02.html?source=rss
Cable Companies and Modem Vendors Fight Patent Troll – Patent firm seeks millions of dollars from all major cable companies (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Cable-Companies-and-Modem-Vendors-Fight-Patent-Troll-94914
Colorado – Glenwood Springs fiber-optic partnership gets bad reception: Neither Comcast nor Qwest eager to join city (The Post Independent, Glenwood Springs, CO)
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20080602/VALLEYNEWS/624766601
How to Fix Muni Wi-Fi (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/06/01/how-to-fix-muni-wi-fi/
Teens await arrest after Comcast attack (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9956165-7.html
Some Shun Wireless Internet – Some Claim to Have a Physical Aversion to Wireless Internet (ABC News)
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/AllergiesNews/story?id=4939565&page=1
Can broadband do right by customers? (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9956244-7.html
GENERAL NEWS
Teen Dies In Crash On Harstine Island (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/109/reftab/1632/Default.aspx
Mason County Sheriff – Three Hikers Injured on Mount Ellinor in Olympic National Forest (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16451313/detail.html
North Mason County – Piecing Together What December's Floodwaters Tore Apart (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/jun/01/piecing-together-what-flood-waters-tore-apart/
Oregon – Credit Card 'Surcharge' at pump adds to gas pains (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1212207928199860.xml&coll=7
On the road? Don't talk to the hand – Starting July 1, talking on a hand-held cell phone while driving will be illegal without a headset or hands-free device (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://us.mg1.mail.yahoo.com/dc/launch?.rand=2hd5egubp01r6
DIVERSIONS
Japanese man discovers woman living in his closet
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSCOO06330120080530?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Fox News worker sues over bedbugs in office
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN3043167820080530?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
New Zealander Fined For Using a Hedgehog in Assault
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/16437382/detail.html
New York Town Lifts Clothesline Ban – Ban Instituted Six Years Ago
http://www.kirotv.com/family/16436431/detail.html
Julius Pierpoint Patches, your statue is almost ready
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080602/NEWS01/69168406/-1/RSS02
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Reductions Sought in Puget Sound Energy’s Rate Hikes
- Hosted by PUDs – Ex-Greenpeace president discusses future energy
- Students learn about the Columbia River's power
- Canada – Homeowners threaten blockades to stop power lines
- Complaint: Electricity Buyers Overpaying In Maryland
- Michigan may raise residents' electric bills up to 15 percent to help businesses
- Missouri – Utilities plan to fight 40% natural gas rate-increase request
- Energy firms mix message – Investors told of riches, public of rule hardships
- California – Fishers struggle with salmon shutdown
- Program pays anglers for catching squawfish (Ahem, Pikeminnow)
- The river gives, and the river takes
- Many of LA River’s tributaries could lose protections
- Charlotte, Duke Energy will fight S.C. water suit
- United Kingdom – Microgeneration could rival nuclear power, report shows
- Geothermal Electricity Booming in Germany
- How to harvest solar power? Beam it down from space!
- 25 cheap ways to keep your house cooler
- Energy adviser: Solar water heating works, even in Northwest
- Tennessee gobbles up energy – Despite heavy use, Tennessee Valley Authority returns focus to conservation
- Climate Bill Underlines Obstacles to Capping Greenhouse Gases
- Climate-change bill: how it works and key players involved
- Using climate change to expand government's grip
- Who’d be stuck with the greenhouse gas bill?
- Mid-Columbia group says going green can save cash too
- Internet running out of addresses
- Cable Companies and Modem Vendors Fight Patent Troll
- Colorado – Glenwood Springs fiber-optic partnership gets bad reception
- How to Fix Muni Wi-Fi
- Teens await arrest after Comcast attack
- Some Shun Wireless Internet – Some Claim to Have a Physical Aversion to Wireless Internet
- Can broadband do right by customers?
- Teen Dies In Crash On Harstine Island
- Mason County Sheriff – Three Hikers Injured on Mount Ellinor in Olympic National Forest
- North Mason County – Piecing Together What December's Floodwaters Tore Apart
- Oregon – Credit Card 'Surcharge' at pump adds to gas pains
- On the road? Don't talk to the hand – Starting July 1
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Hors de combat • \or-doo-kom-BAH\ • adjective or adverb – Out of combat: disabled
“How unfortunate,” mused the bank manager. Even with the constant barrage of information regarding the expected ferocity of the upcoming flu season, he had warned his tellers NOT to get their shots this year because it would mean their absence for about ten minutes each on one day. The chickens were coming home to roost, as fully two thirds of his employees spent weeks on end hors de combat with the flu…which was introduced by a particularly sick customer one fateful day.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Reductions Sought in Puget Sound Energy’s Rate Hikes –The public counsel's office and the state Utilities and Transportation Commission staff recommend cuts in proposed electricity and natural-gas rates for customers of Puget Sound Energy (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/365293_pse31.html
Hosted by PUDs – Ex-Greenpeace president discusses future energy (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/05/30/news/news06.txt
Students learn about the Columbia River's power – PUD program gives students a look at fish and energy production (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080530/NEWS04/779431543/1005
Canada – Homeowners threaten blockades to stop power lines (The Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=41850154-53c3-44a5-bc4a-eab3454cf456
Complaint: Electricity Buyers Overpaying In Maryland (WJZ-TV, Baltimore, MD)
http://wjz.com/local/overpaying.electricity.BGE.2.737416.html
Michigan may raise residents' electric bills up to 15 percent to help businesses (The Chicago Tribune)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-mi-powerstruggle-rat,0,3899092.story
Missouri – Utilities plan to fight 40% natural gas rate-increase request (Springfield News Leader)
http://www.news-leader.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080529/BREAKING01/80529031/-1/RSS
Energy firms mix message – Investors told of riches, public of rule hardships (Rocky Mountain News)
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2008/jun/02/energy-firms-mix-message/?partner=yahoo_headlines
FISH & WILDLIFE
California – Fishers struggle with salmon shutdown – Salmon fishers are reeling from canceled season (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_9448434?source=rss
Program pays anglers for catching squawfish (Seattle Times – Uh Oh….someone call the politically correct police!)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2004450364_outn01.html
The river gives, and the river takes – The deaths of three Yakama fishermen highlight the risks they take on the Columbia (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/4565
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Many of LA River’s tributaries could lose protections (Lost Angeles Times, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1418520~Many_of_LA_river_s_tributaries_could_lose_protections.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
Charlotte, Duke Energy will fight S.C. water suit (Hickory Daily Record)
http://www.hickoryrecord.com/servlet/Satellite?pagename=HDR%2FMGArticle%2FHDR_BasicArticle&c=MGArticle&cid=1173355591493&path=!news!localnews
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
United Kingdom – Microgeneration could rival nuclear power, report shows – buildings equipped with solar, wind and other micro power equipment (The Guardian)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jun/02/renewableenergy.alternativeenergy?gusrc=rss&feed=networkfront
Geothermal Electricity Booming in Germany (Renewable Energy World Online)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=52588&src=rss
How to harvest solar power? Beam it down from space! (CNN International)
http://edition.cnn.com/2008/TECH/science/05/30/space.solar/?iref=intlOnlyonCNN
CONSERVATION
25 cheap ways to keep your house cooler (MSN Money)
http://articles.moneycentral.msn.com/SavingandDebt/SaveMoney/25cheapWaysToKeepYourHouseCooler.aspx
Energy adviser: Solar water heating works, even in Northwest (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/lifehome/lifeHomeNews/2008/05/06012008_Energy-adviser-Solar-water-heating-works-even-in-Northwest.cfm?newsletter=1
Tennessee gobbles up energy – Despite heavy use, Tennessee Valley Authority returns focus to conservation (The Tennessean)
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080601/GREEN02/806010420/1006/NEWS01
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Climate Bill Underlines Obstacles to Capping Greenhouse Gases (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/31/AR2008053102471.html?nav=rss_business
Climate-change bill: how it works and key players involved (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/01/MNEF111GNL.DTL&feed=rss.news
Using climate change to expand government's grip (George Will, via the Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080601/OPINION04/538848305/-1/RSS05
Who’d be stuck with the greenhouse gas bill? – From higher electric bills to more expensive gasoline (The Associated Press, via the News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/378230.html
Mid-Columbia group says going green can save cash too (Tri-City Herald – Jim Henson royalty alert…)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/901/story/200347.html
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Internet running out of addresses – Current system, IPv4, has just 700 million –16% – available (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/365383_webaddresses02.html?source=rss
Cable Companies and Modem Vendors Fight Patent Troll – Patent firm seeks millions of dollars from all major cable companies (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Cable-Companies-and-Modem-Vendors-Fight-Patent-Troll-94914
Colorado – Glenwood Springs fiber-optic partnership gets bad reception: Neither Comcast nor Qwest eager to join city (The Post Independent, Glenwood Springs, CO)
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20080602/VALLEYNEWS/624766601
How to Fix Muni Wi-Fi (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/06/01/how-to-fix-muni-wi-fi/
Teens await arrest after Comcast attack (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9956165-7.html
Some Shun Wireless Internet – Some Claim to Have a Physical Aversion to Wireless Internet (ABC News)
http://abcnews.go.com/Health/AllergiesNews/story?id=4939565&page=1
Can broadband do right by customers? (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9956244-7.html
GENERAL NEWS
Teen Dies In Crash On Harstine Island (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/109/reftab/1632/Default.aspx
Mason County Sheriff – Three Hikers Injured on Mount Ellinor in Olympic National Forest (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16451313/detail.html
North Mason County – Piecing Together What December's Floodwaters Tore Apart (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/jun/01/piecing-together-what-flood-waters-tore-apart/
Oregon – Credit Card 'Surcharge' at pump adds to gas pains (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1212207928199860.xml&coll=7
On the road? Don't talk to the hand – Starting July 1, talking on a hand-held cell phone while driving will be illegal without a headset or hands-free device (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://us.mg1.mail.yahoo.com/dc/launch?.rand=2hd5egubp01r6
DIVERSIONS
Japanese man discovers woman living in his closet
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSCOO06330120080530?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Fox News worker sues over bedbugs in office
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN3043167820080530?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
New Zealander Fined For Using a Hedgehog in Assault
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/16437382/detail.html
New York Town Lifts Clothesline Ban – Ban Instituted Six Years Ago
http://www.kirotv.com/family/16436431/detail.html
Julius Pierpoint Patches, your statue is almost ready
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080602/NEWS01/69168406/-1/RSS02
Friday, May 30, 2008
Energy News Digest for May 30, 2008
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.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Energy Northwest Columbia reactor slips to 85 pct
- Jury Rejects TransAlta Claim in Crane Trial
- Airway marker on high voltage lines shot out
- Fitch Rates Eugene Water and Electric Board, Oregon Electric Utility 'A+'; Outlook Stable
- Mason County PUD No. 3 Tree Trimming On The South Shore To Begin Tuesday
- Calpine Corp. rejects NRG Energy bid
- The Energy Challenge – Mounting Costs Slow the Push for Clean Coal
- Climate Enters Debate over Nuclear Power
- Texans can expect high summer electric bills
- Marylanders for Reliable Power mobilizes to push for energy grid upgrades
- Large businesses decry power rate hike in Maryland
- Another Story About IDT Energy's Door-To-Door Scams
- Spring Chinook season extended through June
- Upper Willamette closes for Chinook
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife puts Chinook in Powder River
- Canadian smelter spills acid into Columbia River
- Klamath Falls, Ore., officials concerned about levee leaks
- Seattle Times Op/Ed – Rainwater harvesting: Washington ahead of California
- Trader sues biodiesel maker Imperium, seeking millions
- British Columbia firm hopes to harness California wind
- Turbine makers generate profits
- Wind power outlook weak in Europe, report says
- Interest in Southwest Washington wind farms blows in
- The big chill on carbon offsets –lawmakers should consult the UN's abysmal record in this slippery type of trading
- Washington Post Columnist – Carbon Chastity
- Washington Post Columnist – Letting Cap-and-Trade Work
- Under Pressure, White House Issues Climate Change Report
- Home energy use contributes more to Washington, D.C. area's carbon footprint than traffic
- You emit what you eat (Snicker, chortle, giggle, hee hee!)
- F.C.C. Considering Free High-Speed Internet Network Plan
- Hackers raid Comcast Web portal
- Kevin Martin Defends Shoddy Broadband Record
- Time Warner Cable Pretends Cable Is Fiber
- Media Defender's PR Problem Gets Worse
- State Senator Linda Parlette Announces Decision To Run Again
- State Senator Mike Hewitt announces run for third term
- Arrests made in Ephrata for scrap metal thefts
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Garrulous • \GAIR-uh-lus\ • adjective – 1: pointlessly or annoyingly talkative *2: wordy
Edward was spellbound. The amateur saxophonist had heard about diaphragmatic breathing, and how it could be used to extend a held note almost indefinitely. Until now he had not seen it in practice. The long-winded, garrulous diatribe by the Flat Earth Society’s main spokesman went on for at least fifteen minutes…with no apparent pause for a breath.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Energy Northwest Columbia reactor slips to 85 pct (Reuters)
http://in.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idINN2945224920080529
Jury Rejects TransAlta Claim in Crane Trial (The Chronicle, Centralia)
http://www.chronline.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1212083341&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&
Airway marker on high voltage lines shot out – Federal government offers reward for information on Cathlamet vandalism (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/05/30/area_news/doc483f8d87c2f09921176473.txt
Fitch Rates Eugene Water and Electric Board, Oregon Electric Utility 'A+'; Outlook Stable (BusinessWire)
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080529006206&newsLang=en
Mason County PUD No. 3 Tree Trimming On The South Shore To Begin Tuesday (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/93/reftab/1632/Default.aspx
Calpine Corp. rejects NRG Energy bid (Houston Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2008/05/26/daily31.html?ana=from_rss
The Energy Challenge – Mounting Costs Slow the Push for Clean Coal (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/30/business/30coal.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Climate Enters Debate over Nuclear Power (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/30/business/30nuke.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Texans can expect high summer electric bills (The Dallas Morning News)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/053008dnbuswholesalepower.3eb22724.html
Marylanders for Reliable Power mobilizes to push for energy grid upgrades (Baltimore Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2008/05/26/daily28.html?ana=from_rss
Large businesses decry power rate hike in Maryland (Washington Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2008/05/26/daily25.html?ana=from_rss
Another Story About IDT Energy's Door-To-Door Scams (The Consumerist – Note: comment section may include PG-13 language)
http://consumerist.com/tag/scams/?i=5011647&t=another-story-about-idt-energys-door+to+door-scams
FISH & WILDLIFE
Spring Chinook season extended through June (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/4530
Upper Willamette closes for Chinook (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/fishing/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1212114332258500.xml&coll=7
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife puts Chinook in Powder River “…the trap below Hells Canyon Dam caught more fish than Oregon and Idaho hatcheries needed for this year's Chinook crop…” (Baker City Herald, via the Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1415245~ODFW_puts_chinook_in_Powder_River.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Canadian smelter spills acid into Columbia River (The Associated Press, via the Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1415853~Canadian_smelter_spills_acid_into_Columbia_River.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Klamath Falls, Ore., officials concerned about levee leaks (KFLS Radio, via the Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1415934~Klamath_Falls__Ore___officials_concerned_about_levee_leaks.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Seattle Times Op/Ed – Rainwater harvesting: Washington ahead of California
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/365081_wateronline30.html?source=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Trader sues biodiesel maker Imperium, seeking millions (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004447055_imperium30.html?syndication=rss
British Columbia firm hopes to harness California wind (The Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080530.RWESTERN30/TPStory/Business
Turbine makers generate profits (The Financial Post, Canada – They like those renewable energy mandates!)
http://www.financialpost.com/money/story.html?id=550916
Wind power outlook weak in Europe, report says (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9954873-54.html
Interest in wind farms blows in – Southwest Washington is likely to see wind turbines on the horizon thanks to burgeoning demand for renewable energy in the region (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/05/05292008_Interest-in-wind-farms-blows-in.cfm?newsletter=1
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
The big chill on carbon offsets – Before Congress attacks global warming with a cap on greenhouse gases – and then allows firms to pollute if they buy "carbon offsets" elsewhere – lawmakers should consult the UN's abysmal record in this slippery type of trading (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0529/p08s01-comv.html
Washington Post Columnist – Carbon Chastity – The First Commandment of the Church of the Environment
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/29/AR2008052903266.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns
Washington Post Columnist – Letting Cap-and-Trade Work – How Free Credits Increase the Cost of Cutting Carbon Emissions
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/29/AR2008052903263.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns
Under Pressure, White House Issues Climate Change Report (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/30/washington/30climate.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Home energy use contributes more to Washington, D.C. area's carbon footprint than traffic (Washington Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2008/05/26/daily38.html?ana=from_rss
You emit what you eat (Nature Reports – What an unfortunate, but biologically correct, headline!)
http://www.nature.com/climate/2008/0806/full/climate.2008.49.html
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
F.C.C. Considering Free High-Speed Internet Network Plan (The Associated Press, via the NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Internet-Service-FCC.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Hackers raid Comcast Web portal (The Denver Post)
http://www.denverpost.com/extremes/ci_9415709
Kevin Martin Defends Shoddy Broadband Record – You apparently have to put his failure in full context (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Kevin-Martin-Defends-Shoddy-Broadband-Record-94857
Time Warner Cable Pretends Cable Is Fiber – Guess it's cheaper than upgrading “…who needs to upgrade…when you can just confuse customers into thinking that hybrid fiber/coax connections are the same thing as fiber to the home?...” (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Time-Warner-Cable-Pretends-Cable-Is-Fiber-94845
Media Defender's PR Problem Gets Worse – After they knock a legitimate video website offline (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Media-Defenders-PR-Problem-Gets-Worse-94851
GENERAL NEWS
STATE SENATOR LINDA PARLETTE ANNOUNCES DECISION TO RUN AGAIN – 12th District State Senator Linda Evans Parlette announced on today's KPQ morning update that she plans to seek a third term. Parlette says there are a number of challenges facing the area that if re-elected she will continue to work on. One of the biggest facing our area is the rise in assessments of property values. (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee)
State Senator Mike Hewitt announces run for third term (The Union Bulletin, Walla Walla)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2008/05/30/local_news/080529local06hewittannounce.txt
Arrests made in Ephrata for scrap metal thefts (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/05/29/news/news02.txt
DIVERSIONS
Condoleezza Rice enlists in Kiss Army fan club
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080530/ap_en_ot/people_rice_kiss
Researchers Say Stonehenge Was a Family Burial Ground – Conclusion Runs Counter to Long-Held Theories
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/29/AR2008052901973.html?nav=rss_nation
Flight hopping boy won't face new charges
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_053008WAB_semaj_no_new_charges_JM.43ac69df.html
Man's Quirky Marriage Proposal Triggers UFO Alert
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16425828/detail.html
Town's Mayor, A Dog, Dies At Age 12
http://www.kirotv.com/family/16425878/detail.html
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Energy Northwest Columbia reactor slips to 85 pct
- Jury Rejects TransAlta Claim in Crane Trial
- Airway marker on high voltage lines shot out
- Fitch Rates Eugene Water and Electric Board, Oregon Electric Utility 'A+'; Outlook Stable
- Mason County PUD No. 3 Tree Trimming On The South Shore To Begin Tuesday
- Calpine Corp. rejects NRG Energy bid
- The Energy Challenge – Mounting Costs Slow the Push for Clean Coal
- Climate Enters Debate over Nuclear Power
- Texans can expect high summer electric bills
- Marylanders for Reliable Power mobilizes to push for energy grid upgrades
- Large businesses decry power rate hike in Maryland
- Another Story About IDT Energy's Door-To-Door Scams
- Spring Chinook season extended through June
- Upper Willamette closes for Chinook
- Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife puts Chinook in Powder River
- Canadian smelter spills acid into Columbia River
- Klamath Falls, Ore., officials concerned about levee leaks
- Seattle Times Op/Ed – Rainwater harvesting: Washington ahead of California
- Trader sues biodiesel maker Imperium, seeking millions
- British Columbia firm hopes to harness California wind
- Turbine makers generate profits
- Wind power outlook weak in Europe, report says
- Interest in Southwest Washington wind farms blows in
- The big chill on carbon offsets –lawmakers should consult the UN's abysmal record in this slippery type of trading
- Washington Post Columnist – Carbon Chastity
- Washington Post Columnist – Letting Cap-and-Trade Work
- Under Pressure, White House Issues Climate Change Report
- Home energy use contributes more to Washington, D.C. area's carbon footprint than traffic
- You emit what you eat (Snicker, chortle, giggle, hee hee!)
- F.C.C. Considering Free High-Speed Internet Network Plan
- Hackers raid Comcast Web portal
- Kevin Martin Defends Shoddy Broadband Record
- Time Warner Cable Pretends Cable Is Fiber
- Media Defender's PR Problem Gets Worse
- State Senator Linda Parlette Announces Decision To Run Again
- State Senator Mike Hewitt announces run for third term
- Arrests made in Ephrata for scrap metal thefts
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Garrulous • \GAIR-uh-lus\ • adjective – 1: pointlessly or annoyingly talkative *2: wordy
Edward was spellbound. The amateur saxophonist had heard about diaphragmatic breathing, and how it could be used to extend a held note almost indefinitely. Until now he had not seen it in practice. The long-winded, garrulous diatribe by the Flat Earth Society’s main spokesman went on for at least fifteen minutes…with no apparent pause for a breath.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Energy Northwest Columbia reactor slips to 85 pct (Reuters)
http://in.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idINN2945224920080529
Jury Rejects TransAlta Claim in Crane Trial (The Chronicle, Centralia)
http://www.chronline.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1212083341&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&
Airway marker on high voltage lines shot out – Federal government offers reward for information on Cathlamet vandalism (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/05/30/area_news/doc483f8d87c2f09921176473.txt
Fitch Rates Eugene Water and Electric Board, Oregon Electric Utility 'A+'; Outlook Stable (BusinessWire)
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080529006206&newsLang=en
Mason County PUD No. 3 Tree Trimming On The South Shore To Begin Tuesday (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/93/reftab/1632/Default.aspx
Calpine Corp. rejects NRG Energy bid (Houston Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2008/05/26/daily31.html?ana=from_rss
The Energy Challenge – Mounting Costs Slow the Push for Clean Coal (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/30/business/30coal.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Climate Enters Debate over Nuclear Power (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/30/business/30nuke.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Texans can expect high summer electric bills (The Dallas Morning News)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/053008dnbuswholesalepower.3eb22724.html
Marylanders for Reliable Power mobilizes to push for energy grid upgrades (Baltimore Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2008/05/26/daily28.html?ana=from_rss
Large businesses decry power rate hike in Maryland (Washington Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2008/05/26/daily25.html?ana=from_rss
Another Story About IDT Energy's Door-To-Door Scams (The Consumerist – Note: comment section may include PG-13 language)
http://consumerist.com/tag/scams/?i=5011647&t=another-story-about-idt-energys-door+to+door-scams
FISH & WILDLIFE
Spring Chinook season extended through June (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/4530
Upper Willamette closes for Chinook (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/fishing/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/1212114332258500.xml&coll=7
Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife puts Chinook in Powder River “…the trap below Hells Canyon Dam caught more fish than Oregon and Idaho hatcheries needed for this year's Chinook crop…” (Baker City Herald, via the Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1415245~ODFW_puts_chinook_in_Powder_River.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Canadian smelter spills acid into Columbia River (The Associated Press, via the Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1415853~Canadian_smelter_spills_acid_into_Columbia_River.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Klamath Falls, Ore., officials concerned about levee leaks (KFLS Radio, via the Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1415934~Klamath_Falls__Ore___officials_concerned_about_levee_leaks.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Seattle Times Op/Ed – Rainwater harvesting: Washington ahead of California
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/365081_wateronline30.html?source=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Trader sues biodiesel maker Imperium, seeking millions (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004447055_imperium30.html?syndication=rss
British Columbia firm hopes to harness California wind (The Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080530.RWESTERN30/TPStory/Business
Turbine makers generate profits (The Financial Post, Canada – They like those renewable energy mandates!)
http://www.financialpost.com/money/story.html?id=550916
Wind power outlook weak in Europe, report says (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9954873-54.html
Interest in wind farms blows in – Southwest Washington is likely to see wind turbines on the horizon thanks to burgeoning demand for renewable energy in the region (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/05/05292008_Interest-in-wind-farms-blows-in.cfm?newsletter=1
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
The big chill on carbon offsets – Before Congress attacks global warming with a cap on greenhouse gases – and then allows firms to pollute if they buy "carbon offsets" elsewhere – lawmakers should consult the UN's abysmal record in this slippery type of trading (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0529/p08s01-comv.html
Washington Post Columnist – Carbon Chastity – The First Commandment of the Church of the Environment
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/29/AR2008052903266.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns
Washington Post Columnist – Letting Cap-and-Trade Work – How Free Credits Increase the Cost of Cutting Carbon Emissions
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/29/AR2008052903263.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns
Under Pressure, White House Issues Climate Change Report (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/30/washington/30climate.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Home energy use contributes more to Washington, D.C. area's carbon footprint than traffic (Washington Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2008/05/26/daily38.html?ana=from_rss
You emit what you eat (Nature Reports – What an unfortunate, but biologically correct, headline!)
http://www.nature.com/climate/2008/0806/full/climate.2008.49.html
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
F.C.C. Considering Free High-Speed Internet Network Plan (The Associated Press, via the NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/business/AP-Internet-Service-FCC.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Hackers raid Comcast Web portal (The Denver Post)
http://www.denverpost.com/extremes/ci_9415709
Kevin Martin Defends Shoddy Broadband Record – You apparently have to put his failure in full context (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Kevin-Martin-Defends-Shoddy-Broadband-Record-94857
Time Warner Cable Pretends Cable Is Fiber – Guess it's cheaper than upgrading “…who needs to upgrade…when you can just confuse customers into thinking that hybrid fiber/coax connections are the same thing as fiber to the home?...” (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Time-Warner-Cable-Pretends-Cable-Is-Fiber-94845
Media Defender's PR Problem Gets Worse – After they knock a legitimate video website offline (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Media-Defenders-PR-Problem-Gets-Worse-94851
GENERAL NEWS
STATE SENATOR LINDA PARLETTE ANNOUNCES DECISION TO RUN AGAIN – 12th District State Senator Linda Evans Parlette announced on today's KPQ morning update that she plans to seek a third term. Parlette says there are a number of challenges facing the area that if re-elected she will continue to work on. One of the biggest facing our area is the rise in assessments of property values. (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee)
State Senator Mike Hewitt announces run for third term (The Union Bulletin, Walla Walla)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2008/05/30/local_news/080529local06hewittannounce.txt
Arrests made in Ephrata for scrap metal thefts (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/05/29/news/news02.txt
DIVERSIONS
Condoleezza Rice enlists in Kiss Army fan club
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080530/ap_en_ot/people_rice_kiss
Researchers Say Stonehenge Was a Family Burial Ground – Conclusion Runs Counter to Long-Held Theories
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/05/29/AR2008052901973.html?nav=rss_nation
Flight hopping boy won't face new charges
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_053008WAB_semaj_no_new_charges_JM.43ac69df.html
Man's Quirky Marriage Proposal Triggers UFO Alert
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16425828/detail.html
Town's Mayor, A Dog, Dies At Age 12
http://www.kirotv.com/family/16425878/detail.html
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Energy News Digest for May 29, 2008
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.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- TransAlta Crane Accident Case Winds Down
- Hearing Set for Chehalis Power Plant Sale
- Chelan PUD ratepayers to have say in setting rates
- Liquefied Natural Gas supporters state their case to Oregon
- Global Demand Squeezing Natural Gas Supply
- Blame the birds for Northern Wasco PUD power outage
- National Power pulls plug, drops customers – Some 15,000 former National Power Co. customers affected
- Hartford Courant Editorial – Politicians Let Electricity Bills Short-Circuit
- Kansas – Westar seeks 15 percent hike in electric rates
- North Carolina commissioners oppose Alcoa 50-year license for Yadkin River project
- Tennessee Woman Dies in Iron Lung After Power Failure
- Call Before You Dig – Pacific Gas & Electric crew accidentally causes nitrogen gas leak
- Energy Pulse Commentary – Keep Your Utility Customers on the Line
- Wenatchee World Opinion – Good work for salmon at sea
- Chinook fishery opens Sunday
- Anglers find steelhead run has been picking up for summer
- Draft EIS for Makah whaling unveiled
- Humpback whale delights Tacoma spectators
- New study links aquifer warming to Columbia River
- Spring cleaning – Awash with mountain snowmelt, area rivers have swept tons of debris downstream
- Centralia to Hike Utility Rates – Consultants: Increase Water Rates by 20 Percent, Wastewater by 14 Percent
- Geothermal prospector hopes to tap central Oregon's Newberry Crater
- Montana – Views on wind farm sought
- US Department of Energy to invest $2.3 million to Idaho renewable energy zones
- The Sacramento Municipal Utility District gives Sacramento County more than $300,000 in solar incentives
- Winery goes solar with 'Floatovoltaics'
- Home economics 101 – …you have a lot of control over how much gas, electricity and water you consume
- Carbon footprint: Seattle is 6th-best in U.S. – Hydropower gives us an edge in disputed study
- Puget Sound area among the greenest in the nation
- Chelan, Douglas and Grant County PUDs host controversial Greenpeace founder
- Pressure On Senators To Support Climate Change Bill Grows
- Climate Change Could Negatively Impact U.S. Crops
- How Fast Is Your State's Broadband? Who knew that Delaware was a broadband juggernaut?
- Centurytel Finally Tells Users Their Browsing History's For Sale
- Small Wyoming Town To Be Better Connected Than Many Cities
- Yahoo: We’re not ‘under siege’ – But CEO acknowledges partnership with Microsoft being discussed
- The Real Fight Over Fake News – “The Daily Show” is a bellwether for the evolution of Internet video
- 7 Tower Deaths in 5 Weeks – Three of which were on AT&T projects
- NW Businesses Look For Ways To Save On Fuel
- Idaho Primary Picks Candidates To Replace US Senator Larry Craig
- Copper Wire Stolen From East Bremerton Business
- Wood theft means jail time
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Arriviste • \a-rih-VEEST\ • noun – One that is a new and uncertain arrival (as in social position or artistic endeavor)
The stockholders’ meeting dropped into stunned silence. The former public power executive, the energy company’s designated arriviste, had casually remarked that perhaps the well-being of customers should come before profits. After the deathly silence, hearty laughter ensued.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
TransAlta Crane Accident Case Winds Down – Centralia Plant: Attorney Hopes Jury Will Award $21 Million For Lost Revenue (The Chronicle, Centralia)
http://www.chronline.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1211998239&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&
Hearing Set for Chehalis Power Plant Sale – Natural Gas Facility: State Board to Discuss Permit Transfer from Suez-Tractebel to PacifiCorp (The Chronicle, Centralia)
http://www.chronline.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1211998118&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&
Chelan PUD ratepayers to have say in setting rates (The Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080528/NEWS04/716488754/1001
Liquefied Natural Gas supporters state their case to Oregon (The Examiner)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1413617~LNG_supporters_state_their_case_to_Ore_.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Global Demand Squeezing Natural Gas Supply (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/29/business/29gas.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Blame the birds for Northern Wasco PUD power outage – Persistent nesting pair creates power tangle downtown heading into Memorial Day weekend (The Dalles Chronicle)
http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2008/05/news05-28-08-02.shtml
National Power pulls plug, drops customers – Some 15,000 former National Power Co. customers are in the process of being switched to two other Houston electricity providers (Houston Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2008/05/26/daily19.html?ana=from_rss
Hartford Courant Editorial – Politicians Let Electricity Bills Short-Circuit
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-panzarella0529.artmay29,0,671804.story
Kansas – Westar seeks 15 percent hike in electric rates – It will cost an additional $10 a month to cover the costs of new power plants and wind farms and to help the company recover from winter storms (Associated Press, via Yahoo! News)
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080528/ks_westar_rate_hike.html?.v=1
North Carolina commissioners oppose Alcoa 50-year license for Yadkin River project (Pittsburgh Business Times)
http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2008/05/26/daily16.html?ana=from_rss
Tennessee Woman Dies in Iron Lung After Power Failure (Fox News)
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,359304,00.html
Call Before You Dig – Pacific Gas & Electric crew accidentally causes nitrogen gas leak in north San Jose (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9413969?source=rss
Energy Pulse Commentary – Keep Your Utility Customers on the Line
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1747
FISH & WILDLIFE
Wenatchee World Opinion – Good work for salmon at sea “…there are three possibilities for their ultimate fate: They can simply disappear, which happens to a great many for reasons not understood. They can survive all these travails and tortures and return to their native stream to spawn. Or, they can be caught, sold and eaten….”
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080528/OP03/473390065/1025/rss1025
Chinook fishery opens Sunday (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2004444600_fish29.html
Anglers find steelhead run has been picking up for summer (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/outdoors/story/462639.html
Draft EIS for Makah whaling unveiled (KONP Radio, Port Angeles)
http://www.konp.com/local/3666
Humpback whale delights Tacoma spectators (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_052808ENB_humpback_whale_tacoma_KC.3c867d1e.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
New study links aquifer warming to Columbia River (The Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080528/NEWS04/410875836
Spring cleaning – Awash with mountain snowmelt, area rivers have swept tons of debris downstream, making for hazardous boating and lots of scooping at Columbia River dams (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080528/NEWS04/349275065/1001
Centralia to Hike Utility Rates – Consultants: Increase Water Rates by 20 Percent, Wastewater by 14 Percent (The Chronicle, Centralia)
http://www.chronline.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1211998640&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Geothermal prospector hopes to tap central Oregon's Newberry Crater – Increased demand and higher electricity costs energize Davenport Power's plans, but past environmental concerns remain (The Oregonian – will supporters send opponents a case of BANANAS “Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything”)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1212035131177450.xml&coll=7
Montana – Views on wind farm sought – Travelers driving Interstate 90 west of Big Timber may one day glimpse wind turbines at the Coyote Wind project (The Billings Gazette)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/05/28/news/state/37-windfarms.txt
US Department of Energy to invest $2.3 million to Idaho renewable energy zones (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=330010&C=ENVIR&dcmp=rss
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District gives Sacramento County more than $300,000 in solar incentives (Sacramento Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2008/05/26/daily18.html?ana=from_rss
Winery goes solar with 'Floatovoltaics' (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/29/MNFS10VCNQ.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
CONSERVATION
Home economics 101 – Fixed costs aside, you have a lot of control over how much gas, electricity and water you consume every month (Colorado Springs Gazette)
http://www.gazette.com/articles/economics_36784___article.html/home_.html
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Carbon footprint: Seattle is 6th-best in U.S. – Hydropower gives us an edge in disputed study “…Oregon, Washington and Idaho also have relatively cheap energy, but have ‘a conservation ethic’ that means they waste less of it…” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/364940_footprint29.html?source=rss
Puget Sound area among the greenest in the nation (KIRO Radio, Seattle)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=59364
Here’s a link to the Brookings Institute Study (Links to PDF File)
http://media.kentucky.com/smedia/2008/05/29/08/carbonfootprint_brief.source.prod_affiliate.79.pdf
Chelan, Douglas and Grant County PUDs host controversial Greenpeace founder (The Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080528/NEWS04/831056337/1005
Pressure On Senators To Support Climate Change Bill Grows – Six days before a major bill to address climate change is expected to hit the floor of the U.S. Senate (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2199-pressure-senators-support-climate-change-bill-grows/
Climate Change Could Negatively Impact U.S. Crops (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/environment/May-June-08/Climate-Change-Could-Negatively-Impact-U-S--Crops.html
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
How Fast Is Your State's Broadband? Who knew that Delaware was a broadband juggernaut (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/How-Fast-Is-Your-States-Broadband-94832
Centurytel Finally Tells Users Their Browsing History's For Sale – Trial may move into full NebuAD launch starting in July (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Centurytel-Finally-Tells-Users-Their-Browsing-Historys-For-Sale-94829
Small Wyoming Town To Be Better Connected Than Many Cities – Powell, Wyoming, Population 5,500, breaks ground on fiber project (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Small-Wyoming-Town-To-Be-Better-Connected-Than-Many-Cities-94814
Yahoo: We’re not ‘under siege’ – But CEO acknowledges partnership with Microsoft being discussed (The Associated Press, via the News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/375339.html
The Real Fight Over Fake News – “The Daily Show” is a bellwether for the evolution of Internet video (NY Times)
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/29/the-real-fight-over-fake-news/index.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
7 Tower Deaths in 5 Weeks – Three of which were on AT&T projects (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/7-Tower-Deaths-In-5-Weeks-94803
GENERAL NEWS
NW Businesses Look For Ways To Save On Fuel – We might be at a “tipping point.” Gas has gotten so expensive that companies are changing how they do business – to save on fuel (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2197-nw-businesses-look-ways-save-fuel/
Idaho Primary Picks Candidates To Replace US Senator Larry Craig (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2195-idaho-primary-picks-candidates-replace-sen-craig/
Copper Wire Stolen From East Bremerton Business (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/may/28/copper-wire-stolen-from-east-bremerton-business/
Wood theft means jail time – A 37-year-old Amanda Park man was sentenced to more than a year in prison Monday for trying to sell timber stolen from Rayonier property (The Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/05/28/local_news/03news.txt
DIVERSIONS
Mars Weather Report from the Phoenix Space Probe
http://www.space.gc.ca/asc/eng/exploration/phoenix_weather1.asp
Potty-Mouths On Job Get Thumbs-Down In Poll – More than 80 percent of executives are averse to working with a foul-mouthed colleague, an online poll finds
http://www.kirotv.com/money/16414016/detail.html
Magazine Names Unhealthiest Drinks – Healthy-Seeming Liquids Can Pack Calories
http://www.kirotv.com/health/16413443/detail.html
Twin, separated at birth, sues for mix-up
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080528/od_nm/twin_dc;_ylt=AhJCMEdWKNDf_316hwCo.e3tiBIF
Japanese scientists create microscopic noodle bowl (Insert diet food portion joke here…)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080529/ap_on_sc/odd_japan_smallest_ramen_bowl;_ylt=AkPS4orZDyjpG7s38bURW0DtiBIF
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- TransAlta Crane Accident Case Winds Down
- Hearing Set for Chehalis Power Plant Sale
- Chelan PUD ratepayers to have say in setting rates
- Liquefied Natural Gas supporters state their case to Oregon
- Global Demand Squeezing Natural Gas Supply
- Blame the birds for Northern Wasco PUD power outage
- National Power pulls plug, drops customers – Some 15,000 former National Power Co. customers affected
- Hartford Courant Editorial – Politicians Let Electricity Bills Short-Circuit
- Kansas – Westar seeks 15 percent hike in electric rates
- North Carolina commissioners oppose Alcoa 50-year license for Yadkin River project
- Tennessee Woman Dies in Iron Lung After Power Failure
- Call Before You Dig – Pacific Gas & Electric crew accidentally causes nitrogen gas leak
- Energy Pulse Commentary – Keep Your Utility Customers on the Line
- Wenatchee World Opinion – Good work for salmon at sea
- Chinook fishery opens Sunday
- Anglers find steelhead run has been picking up for summer
- Draft EIS for Makah whaling unveiled
- Humpback whale delights Tacoma spectators
- New study links aquifer warming to Columbia River
- Spring cleaning – Awash with mountain snowmelt, area rivers have swept tons of debris downstream
- Centralia to Hike Utility Rates – Consultants: Increase Water Rates by 20 Percent, Wastewater by 14 Percent
- Geothermal prospector hopes to tap central Oregon's Newberry Crater
- Montana – Views on wind farm sought
- US Department of Energy to invest $2.3 million to Idaho renewable energy zones
- The Sacramento Municipal Utility District gives Sacramento County more than $300,000 in solar incentives
- Winery goes solar with 'Floatovoltaics'
- Home economics 101 – …you have a lot of control over how much gas, electricity and water you consume
- Carbon footprint: Seattle is 6th-best in U.S. – Hydropower gives us an edge in disputed study
- Puget Sound area among the greenest in the nation
- Chelan, Douglas and Grant County PUDs host controversial Greenpeace founder
- Pressure On Senators To Support Climate Change Bill Grows
- Climate Change Could Negatively Impact U.S. Crops
- How Fast Is Your State's Broadband? Who knew that Delaware was a broadband juggernaut?
- Centurytel Finally Tells Users Their Browsing History's For Sale
- Small Wyoming Town To Be Better Connected Than Many Cities
- Yahoo: We’re not ‘under siege’ – But CEO acknowledges partnership with Microsoft being discussed
- The Real Fight Over Fake News – “The Daily Show” is a bellwether for the evolution of Internet video
- 7 Tower Deaths in 5 Weeks – Three of which were on AT&T projects
- NW Businesses Look For Ways To Save On Fuel
- Idaho Primary Picks Candidates To Replace US Senator Larry Craig
- Copper Wire Stolen From East Bremerton Business
- Wood theft means jail time
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Arriviste • \a-rih-VEEST\ • noun – One that is a new and uncertain arrival (as in social position or artistic endeavor)
The stockholders’ meeting dropped into stunned silence. The former public power executive, the energy company’s designated arriviste, had casually remarked that perhaps the well-being of customers should come before profits. After the deathly silence, hearty laughter ensued.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
TransAlta Crane Accident Case Winds Down – Centralia Plant: Attorney Hopes Jury Will Award $21 Million For Lost Revenue (The Chronicle, Centralia)
http://www.chronline.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1211998239&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&
Hearing Set for Chehalis Power Plant Sale – Natural Gas Facility: State Board to Discuss Permit Transfer from Suez-Tractebel to PacifiCorp (The Chronicle, Centralia)
http://www.chronline.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1211998118&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&
Chelan PUD ratepayers to have say in setting rates (The Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080528/NEWS04/716488754/1001
Liquefied Natural Gas supporters state their case to Oregon (The Examiner)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1413617~LNG_supporters_state_their_case_to_Ore_.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Global Demand Squeezing Natural Gas Supply (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/29/business/29gas.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Blame the birds for Northern Wasco PUD power outage – Persistent nesting pair creates power tangle downtown heading into Memorial Day weekend (The Dalles Chronicle)
http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2008/05/news05-28-08-02.shtml
National Power pulls plug, drops customers – Some 15,000 former National Power Co. customers are in the process of being switched to two other Houston electricity providers (Houston Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2008/05/26/daily19.html?ana=from_rss
Hartford Courant Editorial – Politicians Let Electricity Bills Short-Circuit
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-panzarella0529.artmay29,0,671804.story
Kansas – Westar seeks 15 percent hike in electric rates – It will cost an additional $10 a month to cover the costs of new power plants and wind farms and to help the company recover from winter storms (Associated Press, via Yahoo! News)
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080528/ks_westar_rate_hike.html?.v=1
North Carolina commissioners oppose Alcoa 50-year license for Yadkin River project (Pittsburgh Business Times)
http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2008/05/26/daily16.html?ana=from_rss
Tennessee Woman Dies in Iron Lung After Power Failure (Fox News)
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,359304,00.html
Call Before You Dig – Pacific Gas & Electric crew accidentally causes nitrogen gas leak in north San Jose (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9413969?source=rss
Energy Pulse Commentary – Keep Your Utility Customers on the Line
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1747
FISH & WILDLIFE
Wenatchee World Opinion – Good work for salmon at sea “…there are three possibilities for their ultimate fate: They can simply disappear, which happens to a great many for reasons not understood. They can survive all these travails and tortures and return to their native stream to spawn. Or, they can be caught, sold and eaten….”
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080528/OP03/473390065/1025/rss1025
Chinook fishery opens Sunday (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2004444600_fish29.html
Anglers find steelhead run has been picking up for summer (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/outdoors/story/462639.html
Draft EIS for Makah whaling unveiled (KONP Radio, Port Angeles)
http://www.konp.com/local/3666
Humpback whale delights Tacoma spectators (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_052808ENB_humpback_whale_tacoma_KC.3c867d1e.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
New study links aquifer warming to Columbia River (The Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080528/NEWS04/410875836
Spring cleaning – Awash with mountain snowmelt, area rivers have swept tons of debris downstream, making for hazardous boating and lots of scooping at Columbia River dams (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080528/NEWS04/349275065/1001
Centralia to Hike Utility Rates – Consultants: Increase Water Rates by 20 Percent, Wastewater by 14 Percent (The Chronicle, Centralia)
http://www.chronline.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1211998640&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Geothermal prospector hopes to tap central Oregon's Newberry Crater – Increased demand and higher electricity costs energize Davenport Power's plans, but past environmental concerns remain (The Oregonian – will supporters send opponents a case of BANANAS “Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything”)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1212035131177450.xml&coll=7
Montana – Views on wind farm sought – Travelers driving Interstate 90 west of Big Timber may one day glimpse wind turbines at the Coyote Wind project (The Billings Gazette)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/05/28/news/state/37-windfarms.txt
US Department of Energy to invest $2.3 million to Idaho renewable energy zones (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=330010&C=ENVIR&dcmp=rss
The Sacramento Municipal Utility District gives Sacramento County more than $300,000 in solar incentives (Sacramento Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2008/05/26/daily18.html?ana=from_rss
Winery goes solar with 'Floatovoltaics' (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/05/29/MNFS10VCNQ.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
CONSERVATION
Home economics 101 – Fixed costs aside, you have a lot of control over how much gas, electricity and water you consume every month (Colorado Springs Gazette)
http://www.gazette.com/articles/economics_36784___article.html/home_.html
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Carbon footprint: Seattle is 6th-best in U.S. – Hydropower gives us an edge in disputed study “…Oregon, Washington and Idaho also have relatively cheap energy, but have ‘a conservation ethic’ that means they waste less of it…” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/364940_footprint29.html?source=rss
Puget Sound area among the greenest in the nation (KIRO Radio, Seattle)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=59364
Here’s a link to the Brookings Institute Study (Links to PDF File)
http://media.kentucky.com/smedia/2008/05/29/08/carbonfootprint_brief.source.prod_affiliate.79.pdf
Chelan, Douglas and Grant County PUDs host controversial Greenpeace founder (The Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080528/NEWS04/831056337/1005
Pressure On Senators To Support Climate Change Bill Grows – Six days before a major bill to address climate change is expected to hit the floor of the U.S. Senate (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2199-pressure-senators-support-climate-change-bill-grows/
Climate Change Could Negatively Impact U.S. Crops (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/environment/May-June-08/Climate-Change-Could-Negatively-Impact-U-S--Crops.html
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
How Fast Is Your State's Broadband? Who knew that Delaware was a broadband juggernaut (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/How-Fast-Is-Your-States-Broadband-94832
Centurytel Finally Tells Users Their Browsing History's For Sale – Trial may move into full NebuAD launch starting in July (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Centurytel-Finally-Tells-Users-Their-Browsing-Historys-For-Sale-94829
Small Wyoming Town To Be Better Connected Than Many Cities – Powell, Wyoming, Population 5,500, breaks ground on fiber project (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Small-Wyoming-Town-To-Be-Better-Connected-Than-Many-Cities-94814
Yahoo: We’re not ‘under siege’ – But CEO acknowledges partnership with Microsoft being discussed (The Associated Press, via the News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/375339.html
The Real Fight Over Fake News – “The Daily Show” is a bellwether for the evolution of Internet video (NY Times)
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/29/the-real-fight-over-fake-news/index.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
7 Tower Deaths in 5 Weeks – Three of which were on AT&T projects (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/7-Tower-Deaths-In-5-Weeks-94803
GENERAL NEWS
NW Businesses Look For Ways To Save On Fuel – We might be at a “tipping point.” Gas has gotten so expensive that companies are changing how they do business – to save on fuel (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2197-nw-businesses-look-ways-save-fuel/
Idaho Primary Picks Candidates To Replace US Senator Larry Craig (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2195-idaho-primary-picks-candidates-replace-sen-craig/
Copper Wire Stolen From East Bremerton Business (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/may/28/copper-wire-stolen-from-east-bremerton-business/
Wood theft means jail time – A 37-year-old Amanda Park man was sentenced to more than a year in prison Monday for trying to sell timber stolen from Rayonier property (The Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/05/28/local_news/03news.txt
DIVERSIONS
Mars Weather Report from the Phoenix Space Probe
http://www.space.gc.ca/asc/eng/exploration/phoenix_weather1.asp
Potty-Mouths On Job Get Thumbs-Down In Poll – More than 80 percent of executives are averse to working with a foul-mouthed colleague, an online poll finds
http://www.kirotv.com/money/16414016/detail.html
Magazine Names Unhealthiest Drinks – Healthy-Seeming Liquids Can Pack Calories
http://www.kirotv.com/health/16413443/detail.html
Twin, separated at birth, sues for mix-up
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080528/od_nm/twin_dc;_ylt=AhJCMEdWKNDf_316hwCo.e3tiBIF
Japanese scientists create microscopic noodle bowl (Insert diet food portion joke here…)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080529/ap_on_sc/odd_japan_smallest_ramen_bowl;_ylt=AkPS4orZDyjpG7s38bURW0DtiBIF
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Energy News Digest for May 28, 2008
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.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Richland residents won't see rebate for electricity until at least August
- Barbed Wire Doesn't Stop Lewis County Wire Thieves
- In Vermont, a Debate Swirls Around an Aging Nuclear Plant
- Activist group sues to stop Florida Power & Light plant
- State of Vermont releases draft energy plan
- United Kingdom – Blackouts hit hundreds of thousands as generators fail
- Energy Pulse Commentary – Deregulation: 'Oh Captain, My Captain!' Who's Charting the Course?
- Kitsap Salmon Projects Struggle With Delays, Costs
- Canada – The long road home for Fraser River sockeye
- Lawsuit Challenges City And Developer Water Rights
- Woodland looking into repairs to keep Horseshoe Lake at proper levels
- Cantwell, Inslee focus on acidic oceans at Seattle hearing
- Environmentalists Overpowering Developers in Fight to Save Natural Areas
- Portland General Electric launches renewable energy Web site
- Renewable Energy in the U.S.: Sneaking in the Backdoor or Walking Through the Front?
- Putting wind to work on farms
- Hybrids are hot, but some drivers are concerned about the high cost of replacing that gas-saving battery
- Duke Energy to debut 'smart meters' in Indiana
- Illinois – Incentives provide buzz to energy-efficiency effort
- Get used to high food costs, water shortages – Climate report offers a dire look at next 50 years in U.S.
- Seattle Post Intelligencer Editorial – Global Warming: At critical mass
- Study examines underground carbon dioxide storage in northeastern British Columbia
- Seattle Times Guest Columnist – A step in the right direction on national climate policy
- Everett Herald Editorial – Fast Internet service shouldn't be urban-only
- Report: State of Broadband According to Akamai
- Study: Web-video viewers to top 1 billion by 2013
- Wireless Broadband Boosts Economy
- Kansas – Cable system ushers in digital era
- Dell misled customers, judge rules
- AT&T Utility Cabinets in Connecticut Need Landowner Approval
- Agreement may mean end of cable set-top boxes
- Mason County: Family dog found shot 6 times
- State Senator Dan Swecker faces open-heart surgery
- Dow Chemicals: Country in "true energy crisis"; ups prices
- King County’s investing tactics faulted
- Metal jungle gym stolen from Kelso school
- Walla Walla District of Army Corps of Engineers to get new commander
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Heliolatry • \hee-lee-AH-luh-tree\ • noun – Sun worship
“Boy, those ancient religions and their sun worship,” scoffed Tiffani to her deeply tanned companion. “How they would have the gall to worship the sun as a god and arrange their lives around its heavenly path is beyond me,” she sighed as she slathered on another layer of sunscreen to ward off the affects of another four hours spent on sunbathing. Her unwitting heliolatry would be her undoing ten years later.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Richland residents won't see rebate for electricity until at least August (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/901/story/196184.html
BARBED WIRE DOESN'T STOP LEWIS COUNTY WIRE THIEVES – It seems wire thieves will stop at nothing, including stealing thousands of feet of barbed wire to get at the copper wire. Someone took off with 6,000 feet of barb wire fence during the theft off the Fisher Road in the Winlock area. It had been tied to the copper wire belonging to the Lewis County PUD. (KELA Radio, Centralia)
In Vermont, a Debate Swirls Around an Aging Nuclear Plant – After part of a cooling tower collapsed last August, the company that runs it blamed rotting wooden timbers that it had failed to inspect properly (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/business/28nuke.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Activist group sues to stop Florida Power & Light plant (South Florida Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2008/05/26/daily10.html?ana=from_rss
State of Vermont releases draft energy plan (Burlington Free Press)
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080528/NEWS01/805280314/1009
United Kingdom – Blackouts hit hundreds of thousands as generators fail – Seven power stations shut down. The unscheduled stoppages were regarded as an unprecedented sign of the fragility of Britain’s power infrastructure (The Times Online)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article4016552.ece
Energy Pulse Commentary – 'Oh Captain, My Captain!' Who's Charting the Course? “…With the pending expiration of rate caps in states that embarked on restructuring…We are all going to be paying more for electricity. A lot more….”
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1752
FISH & WILDLIFE
Kitsap Salmon Projects Struggle With Delays, Costs (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/may/27/kitsap-salmon-projects-struggle-with-delays/
Canada – The long road home for Fraser River sockeye (Chilliwack Progress)
http://www.bclocalnews.com/opinion/19285674.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Lawsuit Challenges City And Developer Water Rights – Environmentalists and tribes are challenging the water rights of cities and home-builders granted under a 2003 Washington State law (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2181-lawsuit-challenges-city-and-developer-water-rights/
Woodland looking into repairs to keep Horseshoe Lake at proper levels (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/05/28//area_news/doc483cc03ff1c5f342166496.txt
Cantwell, Inslee focus on acidic oceans at Seattle hearing (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004442320_pugetsound28m.html?syndication=rss
Environmentalists Overpowering Developers in Fight to Save Natural Areas (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/environment/May-June-08/Environmentalists-Overpowering-Developers-in-Fight-to-Save-Natural-Areas.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Portland General Electric launches renewable energy Web site (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/05/26/daily10.html?ana=from_rss
Renewable Energy in the U.S.: Sneaking in the Backdoor or Walking Through the Front? (Renewable Energy World Online)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/recolumnists/story?id=52490
Putting wind to work on farms – Financing company MMA Renewable Ventures is branching into wind energy, betting places like family farms are underserved (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9952638-54.html
Assaulted Batteries – Hybrids are hot, but some drivers are concerned about the high cost of replacing that gas-saving battery (Newsweek Magazine – Wow, the editor had to REALLY reach for that PUN-ishing headline)
http://www.newsweek.com/id/138808?from=rss
CONSERVATION
Duke Energy to debut 'smart meters' in Indiana (Business Courier of Cincinnati)
http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2008/05/26/daily19.html?ana=from_rss
Illinois – Incentives provide buzz to energy-efficiency effort (The Chicago Tribune)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-wed-notebook-comed-ameren-may28,0,6496458.story
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Get used to high food costs, water shortages – Climate report offers a dire look at next 50 years in U.S. (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/364800_climate28.html?source=rss
Seattle Post Intelligencer Editorial – Global Warming: At critical mass
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/364777_g2g8ed.html?source=rss
Study examines underground carbon dioxide storage in northeastern British Columbia
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=28b15589-844e-46f4-9d26-c265c15b5c15
Seattle Times Guest Columnist – A step in the right direction on national climate policy
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2004442764_golden28.html?syndication=rss
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Everett Herald Editorial – Fast Internet service shouldn't be urban-only
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080528/OPINION01/489599619/-1/rss05
Report: State of Broadband According to Akamai (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/05/27/report-state-of-broadband-according-to-akamai/
Study: Web-video viewers to top 1 billion by 2013 (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9952659-7.html
Wireless Broadband Boosts Economy (NY Times)
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/27/wireless-broadband-boosts-economy/index.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Kansas – Cable system ushers in digital era: Company won’t leave analog TVs behind (Lawrence Journal & World)
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/may/28/cable_system_ushers_digital_era/
Dell misled customers, judge rules – Conduct called 'bait advertising' (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/364808_dell28.html?source=rss
AT&T Utility Cabinets in Connecticut Need Landowner Approval – CT Attorney General applauds anti 'lawn fridge' ruling (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/ATT-VRADs-in-CT-Need-Landowner-Approval-94782
Agreement may mean end of cable set-top boxes (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9394886?source=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Mason County: Family dog found shot 6 times (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/19309024.html
State Senator Dan Swecker faces open-heart surgery (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/461598.html
Dow Chemicals: Country in "true energy crisis"; ups prices (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/05/28/financial/f054806D81.DTL&feed=rss.business
King County’s investing tactics faulted – The County must take "rapid and forceful action" to bring its troubled $4.5 billion investment pool up to industry standards “…Investments totaling $207 million are in default…” (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004442314_investments28m.html?syndication=rss
Metal jungle gym stolen from Kelso school (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/05/28//area_news/doc483cc8dbba181588482052.txt
Walla Walla District of Army Corps of Engineers to get new commander (The Union Bulletin, Walla Walla)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2008/05/27/local_news/080527local03corps.txt
DIVERSIONS
"Flintstones" arrested in car emissions protest
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN2737843420080527?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Pot bust gone awry – Boy, they REALLY make tourists feel welcome here!
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUST16792520080527?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Hair Patrol: Barber Ticketed For Monday Work
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/16403332/detail.html
Car Chase Scenes Race For Title Of Greatest
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/16332399/detail.html
Lawmakers Are Telling People to Pull Up Their Pants – Saggy pants may be a fashion trend, but lawmakers and school officials around the U.S. say the fad is indecent and want it banned
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/politics/May-June-08/Lawmakers-Are-Telling-People-to-Pull-Up-Their-Pants.html
Car Surfing Lands Man In Hospital, Police Say “…a classic case of what happens with alcohol, a vehicle and stupidity…"
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16408537/detail.html
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Richland residents won't see rebate for electricity until at least August
- Barbed Wire Doesn't Stop Lewis County Wire Thieves
- In Vermont, a Debate Swirls Around an Aging Nuclear Plant
- Activist group sues to stop Florida Power & Light plant
- State of Vermont releases draft energy plan
- United Kingdom – Blackouts hit hundreds of thousands as generators fail
- Energy Pulse Commentary – Deregulation: 'Oh Captain, My Captain!' Who's Charting the Course?
- Kitsap Salmon Projects Struggle With Delays, Costs
- Canada – The long road home for Fraser River sockeye
- Lawsuit Challenges City And Developer Water Rights
- Woodland looking into repairs to keep Horseshoe Lake at proper levels
- Cantwell, Inslee focus on acidic oceans at Seattle hearing
- Environmentalists Overpowering Developers in Fight to Save Natural Areas
- Portland General Electric launches renewable energy Web site
- Renewable Energy in the U.S.: Sneaking in the Backdoor or Walking Through the Front?
- Putting wind to work on farms
- Hybrids are hot, but some drivers are concerned about the high cost of replacing that gas-saving battery
- Duke Energy to debut 'smart meters' in Indiana
- Illinois – Incentives provide buzz to energy-efficiency effort
- Get used to high food costs, water shortages – Climate report offers a dire look at next 50 years in U.S.
- Seattle Post Intelligencer Editorial – Global Warming: At critical mass
- Study examines underground carbon dioxide storage in northeastern British Columbia
- Seattle Times Guest Columnist – A step in the right direction on national climate policy
- Everett Herald Editorial – Fast Internet service shouldn't be urban-only
- Report: State of Broadband According to Akamai
- Study: Web-video viewers to top 1 billion by 2013
- Wireless Broadband Boosts Economy
- Kansas – Cable system ushers in digital era
- Dell misled customers, judge rules
- AT&T Utility Cabinets in Connecticut Need Landowner Approval
- Agreement may mean end of cable set-top boxes
- Mason County: Family dog found shot 6 times
- State Senator Dan Swecker faces open-heart surgery
- Dow Chemicals: Country in "true energy crisis"; ups prices
- King County’s investing tactics faulted
- Metal jungle gym stolen from Kelso school
- Walla Walla District of Army Corps of Engineers to get new commander
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Heliolatry • \hee-lee-AH-luh-tree\ • noun – Sun worship
“Boy, those ancient religions and their sun worship,” scoffed Tiffani to her deeply tanned companion. “How they would have the gall to worship the sun as a god and arrange their lives around its heavenly path is beyond me,” she sighed as she slathered on another layer of sunscreen to ward off the affects of another four hours spent on sunbathing. Her unwitting heliolatry would be her undoing ten years later.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Richland residents won't see rebate for electricity until at least August (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/901/story/196184.html
BARBED WIRE DOESN'T STOP LEWIS COUNTY WIRE THIEVES – It seems wire thieves will stop at nothing, including stealing thousands of feet of barbed wire to get at the copper wire. Someone took off with 6,000 feet of barb wire fence during the theft off the Fisher Road in the Winlock area. It had been tied to the copper wire belonging to the Lewis County PUD. (KELA Radio, Centralia)
In Vermont, a Debate Swirls Around an Aging Nuclear Plant – After part of a cooling tower collapsed last August, the company that runs it blamed rotting wooden timbers that it had failed to inspect properly (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/28/business/28nuke.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Activist group sues to stop Florida Power & Light plant (South Florida Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2008/05/26/daily10.html?ana=from_rss
State of Vermont releases draft energy plan (Burlington Free Press)
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080528/NEWS01/805280314/1009
United Kingdom – Blackouts hit hundreds of thousands as generators fail – Seven power stations shut down. The unscheduled stoppages were regarded as an unprecedented sign of the fragility of Britain’s power infrastructure (The Times Online)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article4016552.ece
Energy Pulse Commentary – 'Oh Captain, My Captain!' Who's Charting the Course? “…With the pending expiration of rate caps in states that embarked on restructuring…We are all going to be paying more for electricity. A lot more….”
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1752
FISH & WILDLIFE
Kitsap Salmon Projects Struggle With Delays, Costs (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/may/27/kitsap-salmon-projects-struggle-with-delays/
Canada – The long road home for Fraser River sockeye (Chilliwack Progress)
http://www.bclocalnews.com/opinion/19285674.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Lawsuit Challenges City And Developer Water Rights – Environmentalists and tribes are challenging the water rights of cities and home-builders granted under a 2003 Washington State law (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2181-lawsuit-challenges-city-and-developer-water-rights/
Woodland looking into repairs to keep Horseshoe Lake at proper levels (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/05/28//area_news/doc483cc03ff1c5f342166496.txt
Cantwell, Inslee focus on acidic oceans at Seattle hearing (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004442320_pugetsound28m.html?syndication=rss
Environmentalists Overpowering Developers in Fight to Save Natural Areas (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/environment/May-June-08/Environmentalists-Overpowering-Developers-in-Fight-to-Save-Natural-Areas.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Portland General Electric launches renewable energy Web site (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/05/26/daily10.html?ana=from_rss
Renewable Energy in the U.S.: Sneaking in the Backdoor or Walking Through the Front? (Renewable Energy World Online)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/recolumnists/story?id=52490
Putting wind to work on farms – Financing company MMA Renewable Ventures is branching into wind energy, betting places like family farms are underserved (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9952638-54.html
Assaulted Batteries – Hybrids are hot, but some drivers are concerned about the high cost of replacing that gas-saving battery (Newsweek Magazine – Wow, the editor had to REALLY reach for that PUN-ishing headline)
http://www.newsweek.com/id/138808?from=rss
CONSERVATION
Duke Energy to debut 'smart meters' in Indiana (Business Courier of Cincinnati)
http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/stories/2008/05/26/daily19.html?ana=from_rss
Illinois – Incentives provide buzz to energy-efficiency effort (The Chicago Tribune)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-wed-notebook-comed-ameren-may28,0,6496458.story
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Get used to high food costs, water shortages – Climate report offers a dire look at next 50 years in U.S. (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/364800_climate28.html?source=rss
Seattle Post Intelligencer Editorial – Global Warming: At critical mass
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/364777_g2g8ed.html?source=rss
Study examines underground carbon dioxide storage in northeastern British Columbia
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=28b15589-844e-46f4-9d26-c265c15b5c15
Seattle Times Guest Columnist – A step in the right direction on national climate policy
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2004442764_golden28.html?syndication=rss
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Everett Herald Editorial – Fast Internet service shouldn't be urban-only
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080528/OPINION01/489599619/-1/rss05
Report: State of Broadband According to Akamai (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/05/27/report-state-of-broadband-according-to-akamai/
Study: Web-video viewers to top 1 billion by 2013 (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9952659-7.html
Wireless Broadband Boosts Economy (NY Times)
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/05/27/wireless-broadband-boosts-economy/index.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Kansas – Cable system ushers in digital era: Company won’t leave analog TVs behind (Lawrence Journal & World)
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2008/may/28/cable_system_ushers_digital_era/
Dell misled customers, judge rules – Conduct called 'bait advertising' (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/364808_dell28.html?source=rss
AT&T Utility Cabinets in Connecticut Need Landowner Approval – CT Attorney General applauds anti 'lawn fridge' ruling (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/ATT-VRADs-in-CT-Need-Landowner-Approval-94782
Agreement may mean end of cable set-top boxes (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9394886?source=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Mason County: Family dog found shot 6 times (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/19309024.html
State Senator Dan Swecker faces open-heart surgery (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/461598.html
Dow Chemicals: Country in "true energy crisis"; ups prices (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/05/28/financial/f054806D81.DTL&feed=rss.business
King County’s investing tactics faulted – The County must take "rapid and forceful action" to bring its troubled $4.5 billion investment pool up to industry standards “…Investments totaling $207 million are in default…” (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004442314_investments28m.html?syndication=rss
Metal jungle gym stolen from Kelso school (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/05/28//area_news/doc483cc8dbba181588482052.txt
Walla Walla District of Army Corps of Engineers to get new commander (The Union Bulletin, Walla Walla)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2008/05/27/local_news/080527local03corps.txt
DIVERSIONS
"Flintstones" arrested in car emissions protest
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN2737843420080527?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Pot bust gone awry – Boy, they REALLY make tourists feel welcome here!
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUST16792520080527?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Hair Patrol: Barber Ticketed For Monday Work
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/16403332/detail.html
Car Chase Scenes Race For Title Of Greatest
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/16332399/detail.html
Lawmakers Are Telling People to Pull Up Their Pants – Saggy pants may be a fashion trend, but lawmakers and school officials around the U.S. say the fad is indecent and want it banned
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/politics/May-June-08/Lawmakers-Are-Telling-People-to-Pull-Up-Their-Pants.html
Car Surfing Lands Man In Hospital, Police Say “…a classic case of what happens with alcohol, a vehicle and stupidity…"
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16408537/detail.html
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