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)
- Olympian Editorial – Puget Sound Energy rate decision is important
- ENERGY: Regional task force meets Wednesday in Portland
- News Release – Climate and cost concerns reinvigorate NW energy efficiency efforts
- MONTANA – PPL Montana owes state rent for use of riverbeds
- Longview, WA marijuana operation's power theft difficult to estimate
- OREGON – Springfield utility chief gets raise, extension
- Gas Cost to Rise: Vectren Warns Price Could Increase 50 Percent By Winter
- National Electric Rate Comparisons
- Obama, McCain differ on energy policy
- Testing Politicians' Claims in the Energy Debate
- NEW YORK – Spanish Firm’s Bid for Maine-Based Electrical Utility Hits a Hurdle
- Groups to file suit over latest plan to balance imperiled salmon with the operation of hydroelectric dams
- CANADA – British Columbia wild salmon in short supply
- Project Succeeding to Relocate Caspian Terns to Help Protect Juvenile Salmon and Steelhead
- Two-ton salmon to beach on Capitol Hill
- Tiny, Clingy and Destructive, Mussel Makes Its Way West
- OREGON – Judge tells regulators to reconsider whether they have the power to regulate toxic algae
- OREGON – Rogue elements are imperiling our rivers
- MONTANA – Flathead Lake well below full pool
- Washington State Department of Ecology avoids layoffs by shuffling jobs
- Treatment plant to clean water, allow Lacey to restart well
- Intel team heads to Oregon for solar spin-off
- ALASKA – Juneau family has personal hydropower, lives off the grid
- NEW YORK – Solar energy future still bright in state
- KANSAS – Group explores issues with adding wind energy
- One megawatt of grid storage, 10 big flywheels
- Electric Hand Dryers vs. Paper Towels – How to keep your paws clean and green
- CANADA – Liberal carbon tax would hit home heating fuel, but not gas at the pumps
- San Jose Mercury News Editorial: Yahoo's drama ends in clear win - for Google
- PENNSYLVANIA – Philly Wi-Fi Network May Survive After All
- 2 years for Shelton, Washington couple in death of infant
- Weather Permitting – City of Shelton’s Northcliff Paving Set for Wednesday & Thursday
- Corn prices jump near $8 on fears of reduced crop
- Four Washington daily papers hit by McClatchy cuts – The Olympian; The Tacoma News Tribune; Tri-City Herald; and Bellingham Herald to be affected
- All charges dropped against suspect in LaCenter state lawmaker’ Spokane sex case
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Jaywalk • \JAY-walk\ • verb – To cross a street carelessly or in an illegal manner so as to be endangered by traffic
No example sentence today, but some fascinating history about the origin of the word:
Wikipedia – According to one historian, the earliest known use of the word jaywalker in print was in the Chicago Tribune in 1909. (The earliest citation in the Oxford English Dictionary is from 1917.) The term's dissemination was due in part to a deliberate effort by promoters of automobiles, such as local auto clubs and dealers, to redefine streets as places where pedestrians do not belong. It is a compound word of the words jay and walk; jay referring to a foolish rural person, a rube, unfamiliar with city ways. An alternative folk etymology refers the word to the letter "J", describing the line followed by the pedestrian - going parallel with the road when the other side is reached
Oxford English Dictionary Etymology (word origin) – What is the origin of the word 'jaywalking'? The complete Oxford English Dictionary traces the word jaywalker back to 1917 and labels it 'originally US'. There is a cross-reference to the word jay, which has a number of slang senses. The relevant one is 'a stupid or dull person, a simpleton. Also (as adjective) dull, unsophisticated; inferior, poor'. This is labeled 'US colloquial', and there is evidence of use from 1900. So persons who stupidly ignored traffic regulations were given (in Boston, it seems) this compact name.
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
Olympian Editorial – Puget Sound Energy rate decision is important (Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/478199.html
ENERGY: Regional task force meets Wednesday in Portland (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/214814.html
News Release – Climate and cost concerns reinvigorate NW energy efficiency efforts – Energy, business and government leaders join forces in forum tomorrow (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/212115/
MONTANA – PPL Montana owes state rent for use of riverbeds – Judge says PPL Montana must pay state more than $40 million in back rent for use of riverbeds (The Associated Press, via Yahoo! Finance)
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080617/mt_dams_lawsuit.html?.v=1
Longview, WA marijuana operation's power theft difficult to estimate (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/06/17/area_news/doc4857123a9f888989387752.txt
OREGON – Springfield utility chief gets raise, extension (Eugene Register Guard, OR)
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=112027&sid=4&fid=1
Gas Cost to Rise: Vectren Warns Price Could Increase 50 Percent by Winter (the Evansville Courier and Press, IL via RedOrbit)
http://www.redorbit.com/news/business/1421106/gas_cost_to_rise_vectren_warns_price_could_increase_50/index.html
National Electric Rate Comparisons (Renewable Energy World Online)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/ate/story?id=52761&src=rss
Obama, McCain differ on energy policy (CNN Money)
http://biz.yahoo.com/cnnm/080617/060908_candidates_energy.html?.v=3
Testing Politicians' Claims in the Energy Debate (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91573893&ft=1&f=3
NEW YORK – Spanish Firm’s Bid for Maine-Based Electrical Utility Hits a Hurdle (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/nyregion/17wind.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
FISH & WILDLIFE
Groups to file suit over latest plan to balance imperiled salmon with the operation of hydroelectric dams in the Columbia River basin (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/06/06172008_Groups-to-file-suit-over-latest-salmon-plan.cfm/
CANADA – British Columbia wild salmon in short supply (CTV News)
http://www.ctvbc.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20080616/BC_suzuki_salmon_080616/20080616/?hub=BritishColumbiaHome
Project Succeeding to Relocate Caspian Terns to Help Protect Juvenile Salmon and Steelhead in the Columbia River “…terns and cormorants annually consume more than 10 million juvenile salmon…” (Science Daily)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/06/080616133113.htm
Two-ton salmon to beach on Capitol Hill (The Oregonian, Portland, OR – Will someone PLEASE get some photos of folks coming out of the other end of this thing?)
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2008/06/2ton_salmon_to_beach_on_capito.html
Tiny, Clingy and Destructive, Mussel Makes Its Way West (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/science/17muss.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
OREGON – Judge tells regulators to reconsider whether they have the power to regulate toxic algae coming from behind hydroelectric dams on the Klamath River (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1444605~Judge_tells_regulators_to_reconsider_Klamath_algae.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Rogue elements are imperiling our rivers – Rafting while afraid of being shot for trespassing is a terrible way to run a river. And setting public policy stream by stream is a terrible way to run a state (The Oregonian, Portland, OR – Insert cinematic cultural reference here…)
http://www.oregonlive.com/editorials/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/1213392304202350.xml&coll=7
MONTANA – Flathead Lake well below full pool – PPL Montana's license to operate Kerr Dam calls for the lake to be at full pool by June 15, unless there are flood-control concerns (The Missoulian, Missoula, MT)
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/06/17/news/mtregional/news07.txt
Washington State Department of Ecology avoids layoffs by shuffling jobs – Agency avoids threatened layoffs in its water-quality program, in part by moving some affected workers to other agency positions (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/stateworkers/story/479893.html
Treatment plant to clean water, allow Lacey to restart well (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/480821.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Intel team heads to Oregon for solar spin-off (San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/17/BU6F11A5QF.DTL&feed=rss.business
ALASKA – Juneau family has personal hydropower, lives off the grid (Alaska Journal of Commerce)
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/061508/hom_20080615016.shtml
NEW YORK – Solar energy future still bright in state – Despite departure of DayStar, General Electric, TerraWatt and others work to capitalize on the growing demand for solar power (Albany Times-Union)
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=696279&category=BUSINESS
KANSAS – Group explores issues with adding wind energy – Proponents of wind energy say it can play an important -- and growing -- role in meeting Kansas' electricity needs. But others say wind's whims make it a bit player at best (Salina Journal, Salina KS)
http://www.saljournal.com/rdnews/story/wind-group-pre-6-16-08
One megawatt of grid storage, 10 big flywheels (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9968539-54.html
CONSERVATION
Electric Hand Dryers vs. Paper Towels – How to keep your paws clean and green (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2193740/?from=rss
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
CANADA – Liberal carbon tax would hit home heating fuel, but not gas at the pumps (Victoria Times-Colonist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=5b14d75b-c44d-420c-bd68-e9b8da077817
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
San Jose Mercury News Editorial: Yahoo's drama ends in clear win - for Google (San Jose, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9609830?source=rss
PENNSYLVANIA – Philly Wi-Fi Network May Survive After All (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Philly-WiFi-Network-May-Survive-After-All-95341
GENERAL NEWS
2 years for Shelton, Washington couple in death of infant – Couple who gave their fussy infant son a deadly concoction of adult medications have pleaded guilty (San Diego Union-Tribune)
http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/metro/20080617-9999-1m17plea.html
Weather Permitting – City of Shelton’s Northcliff Paving Set For Wednesday & Thursday (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/244/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
Corn prices jump near $8 on fears of reduced crop (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008000372_apcommoditiesreview.html?syndication=rss
Four Washington daily papers hit by McClatchy cuts – The Olympian; The Tacoma News Tribune; Tri-City Herald; and Bellingham Herald to be affected (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/367256_mcclatchy17.html?source=rss
All charges dropped against suspect in LaCenter state lawmaker’ Spokane sex case (The Associated Press, via the Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP06172008news330145.cfm
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Ghost Hunters Want to Search Retired Washington State Ferries
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16621599/detail.html
Leona Helmsley's Well-Heeled Dog Loses $10M
http://www.kirotv.com/money/16619921/detail.html
Over half of Hawaiian McDonald’s Drive Throughs Have Remote Order Takers In Texas
http://www.kirotv.com/money/16618333/detail.html
Date Palm Seed From Masada Sprouts – Seed was about 2,000 years old
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/17/science/17obseed.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Romanian village re-elects dead mayor
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL1626574720080616?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Fifth human foot washes up on Canada coast
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP06162008news330214.cfm
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
Energy News Digest for June 16, 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)
- Olympian Op/Ed – Steve Johnson: Should Thurston PUD start providing electricity to customers?
- BRITISH COLUMBIA – Undersea cable between Canada and Port Angeles gets permits
- MONTANA – Power line route for Mountain States Transmission Intertie project would abut wilderness
- MONTANA – Flathead aluminum plant may trim jobs
- Great Falls Tribune Op/Ed – The Montana Public Service Commission feels Montanans' energy pain
- Utilities raising price of power – Utilities across the USA are raising power prices up to 29%
- MICHIGAN – Group takes issue with energy bills
- And so it begins: NERC enforces compliance with electric reliability standards
- Cleaning Coal
- A powerful revival – Old One-Hundred year old Holtwood Hydroelectric Dam in Pennsylvania upgraded as electricity source
- SOUTH CAROLINA – Meter reader caught electricity thefts, Greer police say
- Alaska’s ‘golden goose’ is a fish – By branding its wild salmon as gourmet – and banning salmon farms
- Coeur d'Alene Tribe, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality finish management plan for Lake Coeur d'Alene
- Larger sockeye run on the Cedar River is on the horizon
- Columbia River Gorge – In the water, in the air, in the Great Divide
- Wind Power Touted for West Lewis County
- Grays Harbor County PUD officials say fears over Cosmopolis biomass cogeneration are unfounded
- CALIFORNIA – Utility finds foes to renewable energy line plan
- Congress urged to keep alternative energy booming
- A New Wind Power Design Good for Rural and Urban Environments
- Maine waters, wind touted as untapped energy
- New Jersey weighs bill encouraging alternative farm energy
- Jumping on the L.E.D. Bandwagon – Next stop, television
- China Increases Lead as Biggest Carbon Dioxide Emitter
- Days of bandwidth buffet on Internet appear to be numbered
- Google prepping broadband-monitoring tools
- Minnesota: An Internet backwater soon? Is the end of the Internet at hand?
- Kentucky city gets $1 million grant for fiber-optics
- The News Tribune Opinion – Online is forever, and it’s usually not private
- Good Grief Charlie Brown! Oil hits record near $140 a barrel on dollar, fire
- Thurston County Government – Poor planning led to budget woes
- Stimulating Confusion – As millions of taxpayers await checks, others find themselves with two
- Landscaper faces $163,000 bill for topping trees in Lacey public right of way
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Obeisance • \oh-BEE-sunss\ • noun – 1: a movement of the body made in token of respect or submission: bow *2: acknowledgment of another's superiority or importance: homage
“Kiss my grits,” shrilled the agitated Florence Jean Castleberry to the unruly customer at the diner counter. Unexpectedly, the grizzled truck driver immediately dropped to one knee in obeisance, gently removing the steaming bowl of hominy grits from the counter and planting a kiss on the gloppy goo.
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
Olympian Op/Ed – Steve Johnson: Should Thurston PUD start providing electricity to customers? (Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/columnists/story/478198.html
BRITISH COLUMBIA – Undersea cable between Canada and Port Angeles gets permits, but project delayed (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080615/NEWS/806150308
MONTANA – Power line route for Mountain States Transmission Intertie project would abut wilderness study area (Helena Independent Record)
http://www.helenair.com/articles/2008/06/14/top/80lo_080614_powerline.txt
MONTANA – Flathead aluminum plant may trim jobs – Job prospects appear to be tightening in the Flathead Valley, bad news for workers facing layoffs at Columbia Falls Aluminum Company “…’The futures prices are up around $105 or $110 per megawatt hour,’ far higher than the plant can afford, even with hefty subsidies from Bonneville Power Administration…” (The Missoulian)
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/06/16/news/local/news03.txt
Great Falls Tribune Op/Ed – The Montana Public Service Commission feels Montanans' energy pain and wants to ease it – The increasing costs of energy of all kinds are knocking holes in family and small business budgets all across the state of Montana
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080616/OPINION/806160304
Utilities raising price of power – Utilities across the USA are raising power prices up to 29%, mostly to pay for soaring fuel costs, but also to build new plants and refurbish an aging power grid (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2008-06-15-power-prices-rising_N.htm
MICHIGAN – Group takes issue with energy bills – Consumers Energy wants the state to limit its competition, a lobbying group alleges, so that it doesn't have to worry it will lose customers after bills increase next year. (Jackson Citizen Patriot, MI)
http://blog.mlive.com/citpat/2008/06/group_takes_issue_with_energy.html
And so it begins: NERC enforces compliance with electric reliability standards (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=330890&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss
Cleaning Coal (Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8kowu%5D%5Ckinnijq%5BThe%7DGL%7Dbfen%5Fv
A powerful revival – Old One-Hundred year old Holtwood Hydroelectric Dam in Pennsylvania upgraded as electricity source (The Baltimore Sun, MD)
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bay_environment/bal-te.md.dam15jun15,0,1291485.story
SOUTH CAROLINA – Meter reader caught electricity thefts, Greer police say (The Greenville News, SC)
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080616/NEWS01/806160310
FISH & WILDLIFE
Alaska’s ‘golden goose’ is a fish – By branding its wild salmon as gourmet – and banning salmon farms – this fishery is thriving sustainably (Christian Science Monitor)
http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2008/06/13/alaska’s-‘golden-goose’-is-a-fish/
Coeur d'Alene Tribe, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality finish management plan for Lake Coeur d'Alene (The Associated Press, via the Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/479768.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Larger sockeye run on the Cedar River is on the horizon (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2004477760_outn15.html?syndication=rss
Columbia River Gorge – In the water, in the air, in the Great Divide (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/O/relationships/index.ssf?/base/living/1213143904308420.xml&coll=7
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Wind Power Touted for West Lewis County – Blades of Energy: Consultant Presents Possibilities, With Pe Ell as Example Site (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/rss/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1213379719&archive=
Grays Harbor County PUD officials say fears over Cosmopolis biomass cogeneration are unfounded (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/06/13/local_news/03news.txt
CALIFORNIA – Utility finds foes to renewable energy line plan (The Associated Press)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hYJCibCIJ6_ZXcMaHIdu1DcYvyPQD91AKPAG0
Congress urged to keep alternative energy booming – Congress' decision not to put a price on carbon emissions this year probably won't slow the growth of wind and solar power, but failure to extend tax breaks for these renewable energy sources could. (Business First of Louisville)
http://louisville.bizjournals.com/extraedge/washingtonbureau/archive/2008/06/16/bureau1.html?market=louisville
A New Wind Power Design Good for Rural and Urban Environments (Voice of America)
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-06-10-voa14.cfm
Maine waters, wind touted as untapped energy (Bangor Daily News, ME)
http://bangornews.com/news/t/midmaine.aspx?articleid=165602&zoneid=182
New Jersey weighs bill encouraging alternative farm energy (The Associated Press, via the Charlotte Observer, NC)
http://www.charlotte.com/nation/story/671913.html
CONSERVATION
Jumping on the L.E.D. Bandwagon – Next stop, television (NY Times)
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/16/jumping-on-the-led-bandwagon/index.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
China Increases Lead as Biggest Carbon Dioxide Emitter (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/14/world/asia/14china.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Days of bandwidth buffet on Internet appear to be numbered (The NY Times, via The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/389451.html
Google prepping broadband-monitoring tools (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9968972-7.html
Minnesota: An Internet backwater soon? Is the end of the Internet at hand? (Minneapolis Star-Tribune)
http://www.startribune.com/business/19920264.html?location_refer=Business
Kentucky city gets $1 million grant for fiber-optics (WZTV, Nashville, TN)
http://www.wztv.com/template/inews_wire/wires.regional.tn/224fc391-www.fox17.com.shtml
The News Tribune Opinion – Online is forever, and it’s usually not private (Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/388898.html
GENERAL NEWS
Good Grief Charlie Brown! Oil hits record near $140 a barrel on dollar, fire (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004468388_apoilprices.html?syndication=rss
Thurston County Government – Poor planning led to budget woes – Thurston should have cut earlier, commissioner says (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/479106.html
Stimulating Confusion – As millions of taxpayers await checks, others find themselves with two (MarketWatch)
http://finance.yahoo.com/taxes/article/105233/Stimulating-Confusion
Where's Mine? About 30 million stimulus payments totaling more than $27 billion were sent to taxpayers in the two weeks ending May 9, the U.S. Treasury Department said Friday. (MarketWatch)
http://finance.yahoo.com/taxes/article/105054/Where?
Landscaper faces $163,000 bill for topping trees in Lacey public right of way (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/479904.html
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Help! Family Spam Is Crushing My Inbox! (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91402876&ft=1&f=10
Rare Coffee Sells For $15 Per Cup
http://www.kirotv.com/money/16599424/detail.html
Fighting crows halt trains in India's Bihar
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080616/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_india_crows;_ylt=ApC6ro_FihGn0MiA6L2wNpjtiBIF
Italian kidnaps ex-girlfriend to get ironing done
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080616/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_italy_kidnap;_ylt=AjFGsF9Pogy_Hfbj4uCnOartiBIF
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Olympian Op/Ed – Steve Johnson: Should Thurston PUD start providing electricity to customers?
- BRITISH COLUMBIA – Undersea cable between Canada and Port Angeles gets permits
- MONTANA – Power line route for Mountain States Transmission Intertie project would abut wilderness
- MONTANA – Flathead aluminum plant may trim jobs
- Great Falls Tribune Op/Ed – The Montana Public Service Commission feels Montanans' energy pain
- Utilities raising price of power – Utilities across the USA are raising power prices up to 29%
- MICHIGAN – Group takes issue with energy bills
- And so it begins: NERC enforces compliance with electric reliability standards
- Cleaning Coal
- A powerful revival – Old One-Hundred year old Holtwood Hydroelectric Dam in Pennsylvania upgraded as electricity source
- SOUTH CAROLINA – Meter reader caught electricity thefts, Greer police say
- Alaska’s ‘golden goose’ is a fish – By branding its wild salmon as gourmet – and banning salmon farms
- Coeur d'Alene Tribe, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality finish management plan for Lake Coeur d'Alene
- Larger sockeye run on the Cedar River is on the horizon
- Columbia River Gorge – In the water, in the air, in the Great Divide
- Wind Power Touted for West Lewis County
- Grays Harbor County PUD officials say fears over Cosmopolis biomass cogeneration are unfounded
- CALIFORNIA – Utility finds foes to renewable energy line plan
- Congress urged to keep alternative energy booming
- A New Wind Power Design Good for Rural and Urban Environments
- Maine waters, wind touted as untapped energy
- New Jersey weighs bill encouraging alternative farm energy
- Jumping on the L.E.D. Bandwagon – Next stop, television
- China Increases Lead as Biggest Carbon Dioxide Emitter
- Days of bandwidth buffet on Internet appear to be numbered
- Google prepping broadband-monitoring tools
- Minnesota: An Internet backwater soon? Is the end of the Internet at hand?
- Kentucky city gets $1 million grant for fiber-optics
- The News Tribune Opinion – Online is forever, and it’s usually not private
- Good Grief Charlie Brown! Oil hits record near $140 a barrel on dollar, fire
- Thurston County Government – Poor planning led to budget woes
- Stimulating Confusion – As millions of taxpayers await checks, others find themselves with two
- Landscaper faces $163,000 bill for topping trees in Lacey public right of way
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Obeisance • \oh-BEE-sunss\ • noun – 1: a movement of the body made in token of respect or submission: bow *2: acknowledgment of another's superiority or importance: homage
“Kiss my grits,” shrilled the agitated Florence Jean Castleberry to the unruly customer at the diner counter. Unexpectedly, the grizzled truck driver immediately dropped to one knee in obeisance, gently removing the steaming bowl of hominy grits from the counter and planting a kiss on the gloppy goo.
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
Olympian Op/Ed – Steve Johnson: Should Thurston PUD start providing electricity to customers? (Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/columnists/story/478198.html
BRITISH COLUMBIA – Undersea cable between Canada and Port Angeles gets permits, but project delayed (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080615/NEWS/806150308
MONTANA – Power line route for Mountain States Transmission Intertie project would abut wilderness study area (Helena Independent Record)
http://www.helenair.com/articles/2008/06/14/top/80lo_080614_powerline.txt
MONTANA – Flathead aluminum plant may trim jobs – Job prospects appear to be tightening in the Flathead Valley, bad news for workers facing layoffs at Columbia Falls Aluminum Company “…’The futures prices are up around $105 or $110 per megawatt hour,’ far higher than the plant can afford, even with hefty subsidies from Bonneville Power Administration…” (The Missoulian)
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/06/16/news/local/news03.txt
Great Falls Tribune Op/Ed – The Montana Public Service Commission feels Montanans' energy pain and wants to ease it – The increasing costs of energy of all kinds are knocking holes in family and small business budgets all across the state of Montana
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080616/OPINION/806160304
Utilities raising price of power – Utilities across the USA are raising power prices up to 29%, mostly to pay for soaring fuel costs, but also to build new plants and refurbish an aging power grid (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2008-06-15-power-prices-rising_N.htm
MICHIGAN – Group takes issue with energy bills – Consumers Energy wants the state to limit its competition, a lobbying group alleges, so that it doesn't have to worry it will lose customers after bills increase next year. (Jackson Citizen Patriot, MI)
http://blog.mlive.com/citpat/2008/06/group_takes_issue_with_energy.html
And so it begins: NERC enforces compliance with electric reliability standards (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=330890&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss
Cleaning Coal (Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8kowu%5D%5Ckinnijq%5BThe%7DGL%7Dbfen%5Fv
A powerful revival – Old One-Hundred year old Holtwood Hydroelectric Dam in Pennsylvania upgraded as electricity source (The Baltimore Sun, MD)
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/bay_environment/bal-te.md.dam15jun15,0,1291485.story
SOUTH CAROLINA – Meter reader caught electricity thefts, Greer police say (The Greenville News, SC)
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080616/NEWS01/806160310
FISH & WILDLIFE
Alaska’s ‘golden goose’ is a fish – By branding its wild salmon as gourmet – and banning salmon farms – this fishery is thriving sustainably (Christian Science Monitor)
http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2008/06/13/alaska’s-‘golden-goose’-is-a-fish/
Coeur d'Alene Tribe, Idaho Department of Environmental Quality finish management plan for Lake Coeur d'Alene (The Associated Press, via the Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/479768.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Larger sockeye run on the Cedar River is on the horizon (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2004477760_outn15.html?syndication=rss
Columbia River Gorge – In the water, in the air, in the Great Divide (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/O/relationships/index.ssf?/base/living/1213143904308420.xml&coll=7
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Wind Power Touted for West Lewis County – Blades of Energy: Consultant Presents Possibilities, With Pe Ell as Example Site (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/rss/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1213379719&archive=
Grays Harbor County PUD officials say fears over Cosmopolis biomass cogeneration are unfounded (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/06/13/local_news/03news.txt
CALIFORNIA – Utility finds foes to renewable energy line plan (The Associated Press)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hYJCibCIJ6_ZXcMaHIdu1DcYvyPQD91AKPAG0
Congress urged to keep alternative energy booming – Congress' decision not to put a price on carbon emissions this year probably won't slow the growth of wind and solar power, but failure to extend tax breaks for these renewable energy sources could. (Business First of Louisville)
http://louisville.bizjournals.com/extraedge/washingtonbureau/archive/2008/06/16/bureau1.html?market=louisville
A New Wind Power Design Good for Rural and Urban Environments (Voice of America)
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-06-10-voa14.cfm
Maine waters, wind touted as untapped energy (Bangor Daily News, ME)
http://bangornews.com/news/t/midmaine.aspx?articleid=165602&zoneid=182
New Jersey weighs bill encouraging alternative farm energy (The Associated Press, via the Charlotte Observer, NC)
http://www.charlotte.com/nation/story/671913.html
CONSERVATION
Jumping on the L.E.D. Bandwagon – Next stop, television (NY Times)
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/06/16/jumping-on-the-led-bandwagon/index.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
China Increases Lead as Biggest Carbon Dioxide Emitter (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/14/world/asia/14china.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Days of bandwidth buffet on Internet appear to be numbered (The NY Times, via The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/389451.html
Google prepping broadband-monitoring tools (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9968972-7.html
Minnesota: An Internet backwater soon? Is the end of the Internet at hand? (Minneapolis Star-Tribune)
http://www.startribune.com/business/19920264.html?location_refer=Business
Kentucky city gets $1 million grant for fiber-optics (WZTV, Nashville, TN)
http://www.wztv.com/template/inews_wire/wires.regional.tn/224fc391-www.fox17.com.shtml
The News Tribune Opinion – Online is forever, and it’s usually not private (Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/388898.html
GENERAL NEWS
Good Grief Charlie Brown! Oil hits record near $140 a barrel on dollar, fire (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004468388_apoilprices.html?syndication=rss
Thurston County Government – Poor planning led to budget woes – Thurston should have cut earlier, commissioner says (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/479106.html
Stimulating Confusion – As millions of taxpayers await checks, others find themselves with two (MarketWatch)
http://finance.yahoo.com/taxes/article/105233/Stimulating-Confusion
Where's Mine? About 30 million stimulus payments totaling more than $27 billion were sent to taxpayers in the two weeks ending May 9, the U.S. Treasury Department said Friday. (MarketWatch)
http://finance.yahoo.com/taxes/article/105054/Where?
Landscaper faces $163,000 bill for topping trees in Lacey public right of way (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/479904.html
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Help! Family Spam Is Crushing My Inbox! (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91402876&ft=1&f=10
Rare Coffee Sells For $15 Per Cup
http://www.kirotv.com/money/16599424/detail.html
Fighting crows halt trains in India's Bihar
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080616/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_india_crows;_ylt=ApC6ro_FihGn0MiA6L2wNpjtiBIF
Italian kidnaps ex-girlfriend to get ironing done
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080616/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_italy_kidnap;_ylt=AjFGsF9Pogy_Hfbj4uCnOartiBIF
Friday, June 13, 2008
Energy News Digest for June 13, 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)
- Experts debate role of hydropower in the Northwest
- News Release – Congressional Hearings on Hydropower
- Oregon PUC memo gives Liquefied Natural Gas supporters a boost
- CALIFORNIA – Company abandons liquid natural gas project in Long Beach
- Tacoma Public Utilities dedicates a $19 million building addition
- SOUTH CAROLINA – Duke Energy reports electricity thefts in Greer
- NEW YORK – Web Tool to Track Con Ed Power Failures
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution Opinion – Time for bold action on energy
- Seattle Times Op/Ed – Protect wild-salmon strongholds
- Bush Tries to Raid Salmon Disaster Funds
- Seattle City Light contributes to Skagit conservation project
- Extension of Chinook season on Yakima paying dividends
- New state law regulates whale watchers' distance
- Talking It Over: Mighty Columbia's long flow through the ages
- Longview switching to well water
- Where Does Water Come From: Part 3
- Tapping the oceans – Desalination turns salty water into fresh water
- Break in canal floods Prosser Cemetery
- In Eastern Iowa, the City That ‘Would Never Flood’ Goes 12 Feet Under
- Los Angeles Reservoir Covered With Balls To Protect Water
- Arizona Republic Opinion – Green energy will be costly for Arizonans
- Eco-friendly wind power's growth to deliver less-popular side effect: transmission lines
- Lessons Learned by Offshore Oil Industry Boost Offshore Wind Energy
- Taking Your Home Off The Grid – Is It A Good Idea For You?
- CALIFORNIA – Report turns up heat on AC installations
- Alaska village threatened by warming gets funding
- Yahoo makes Google ad deal; Microsoft talks fail
- Qwest exec sees growth in broadband
- Clearwire aims for 38 million users, $17.5B in revenue
- 200kbps Officially No Longer Qualifies As 'Broadband'
- Santa Fe Shoots Down 'Wireless Allergy' Group – Will move forward with Wi-Fi deployment
- AT&T weighs extra fee for Web's bandwidth hogs
- Secretive D.C. firm says corn growers' anti-Google letter is legit
- Relays For Life This Weekend
- Washington Department of Corrections faces federal suit over millions of dollars in unpaid overtime
- Which way out of rising gasoline costs?
- Exxon sells US gas stations to distributors
- A New Way to Guzzle Gas – Thieves are finding ingenious ways to steal gas
- A weather-beaten economy
- Belgian bid for Anheuser-Busch a bitter brew for U.S. politicians
- Vinyl shower curtains pose risk
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Triskaidekaphobia • \triss-kie-deck-uh-FOE-bee-uh\ • noun – Fear of the number 13
“Friday the Thirteenth, pshaw,” exclaimed Fergus. Triskaidekaphobia had never been a part of his foibles, until the day he unwittingly walked under a ladder while a black cat crossed his path…all while stepping on a crack in the sidewalk. His mother never forgave him for the pain it brought her. However, inexplicably, Fergus received a Christmas card from his mother’s chiropractor from that year on.
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
Experts debate role of hydropower in the Northwest (The Associated Press, via the Columbian, Vancouver, WA – See Corwin and Culbertson testimony in yesterday’s energy news digest…)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP06122008news328663.cfm
News Release – Congressional Hearings on Hydropower: America's leading renewable energy resource has bright future (National Hydropower Association)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/story?cid=3340&id=52776
Oregon PUC memo gives Liquefied Natural Gas supporters a boost – Regulators say liquefied natural gas terminals would help meet the region's demand, but those conclusions contradict an earlier department of energy position (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1213327510226630.xml&coll=7
CALIFORNIA – Company abandons liquid natural gas project in Long Beach (The Associated Press, via the San Luis Obispo Tribune)
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/348/story/380990.html
Tacoma Public Utilities dedicates a $19 million addition Wednesday to their administration building – Will house the Click! Network and transmission and distribution workers (The News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/387949.html
SOUTH CAROLINA – Duke Energy reports electricity thefts in Greer (The Greenville News, SC)
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080612/NEWS01/80612026
NEW YORK – Web Tool to Track Con Ed Power Failures (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/nyregion/13coned.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Opinion – Time for bold action on energy
http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/stories/2008/06/13/isaksoned.html
FISH & WILDLIFE
Seattle Times Op/Ed – Protect wild-salmon strongholds – This spring, the collapse of California's Sacramento Chinook salmon stocks has effectively shut down coastal salmon fisheries in Oregon
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2004474315_salmoped13.html?syndication=rss
Bush Tries to Raid Salmon Disaster Funds-- West Coast Members of Congress Send Stinging Letter (California Progress Report)
http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2008/06/bush_tries_to_r.html
Seattle City Light contributes to Skagit conservation project (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/366837_habitat13.html?source=rss
Extension of Chinook season on Yakima paying dividends (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/4903
New state law regulates whale watchers' distance (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/19875649.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Talking It Over: Mighty Columbia's long flow through the ages (The Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080612/NEWS04/729979897/1025/rss1025
Longview switching to well water – water supply will come from a giant aquifer deep below the Mint Farm Industrial Park rather than the Cowlitz River (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/06/13//area_news/doc48521556b6fd8963562752.txt
Where Does Water Come From: Part 3 (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3973
Tapping the oceans – Desalination turns salty water into fresh water. As concern over water’s scarcity grows, can it offer a quick technological fix? (The Economist Magazine)
http://www.economist.com/science/tq/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11484059
Break in canal floods Prosser Cemetery (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/901/story/211409.html
In Eastern Iowa, the City That ‘Would Never Flood’ Goes 12 Feet Under (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/us/13flood.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Los Angeles Reservoir Covered With Balls To Protect Water (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16586853/detail.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Arizona Republic Opinion – Green energy will be costly for Arizonans “…The reality check is this: Going green, particularly in a growing state such as Arizona, is likely to be very expensive…”
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/0612robb13.html
Eco-friendly wind power's growth to deliver less-popular side effect – You mean, these things need transmission lines? (MinnPost, Minneapolis, MN)
http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2008/06/13/2215/eco-friendly_wind_powers_growth_to_deliver_less-popular_side_effect
Lessons Learned by Offshore Oil Industry Boost Offshore Wind Energy (Renewable Energy World Online)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=52760&src=rss
Taking Your Home Off The Grid – Is It A Good Idea For You? (The Article Dashboard)
http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Taking-Your-Home-Off-The-Grid---Is-It-A-Good-Idea-For-You-/409365
CONSERVATION
CALIFORNIA – Report turns up heat on AC installations (East Bay Business Times)
http://www.bizjournals.com/eastbay/stories/2008/06/09/daily66.html?ana=from_rss
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Alaska village threatened by warming gets funding – One of Alaska's most eroded villages is getting more than $3 million in state aid to help it relocate to higher ground (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004474717_apvillageerosion.html?syndication=rss
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Yahoo makes Google ad deal; Microsoft talks fail (Reuters)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080613/tc_nm/yahoo_microsoft_dc_15
Qwest exec sees growth in broadband (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2008/06/06132008_Qwest-exec-sees-growth-in-broadband.cfm/
Clearwire aims for 38 million users, $17.5B in revenue (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/06/09/daily27.html?ana=from_rss
200kbps Officially No Longer Qualifies As 'Broadband' – New FCC data collection methodology becomes official (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/200kbps-Officially-No-Longer-Qualifies-As-Broadband-95253
Santa Fe Shoots Down 'Wireless Allergy' Group – Will move forward with Wi-Fi deployment (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Santa-Fe-Shoots-Down-Wireless-Allergy-Group-95251
AT&T weighs extra fee for Web's bandwidth hogs (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9573392?source=rss
Secretive D.C. firm says corn growers' anti-Google letter is legit (CNET News…say hello to the nice people, urged the ventriloquist to his puppet partner…)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-9966971-38.html
GENERAL NEWS
Relays For Life This Weekend (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/212/reftab/1632/Default.aspx
Washington Department of Corrections faces federal suit over millions of dollars in unpaid overtime (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/477166.html
Which way out of rising gasoline costs? (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2008-06-12-gasolineprices_N.htm?csp=34
Exxon sells US gas stations to distributors (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004473323_apexxonmobilgasstations.html?syndication=rss
A New Way to Guzzle Gas – Thieves are finding ingenious ways to steal gas from stations, pumps—and your car (Newsweek Magazine)
http://www.newsweek.com/id/141199?from=rss
A weather-beaten economy – The severe weather that has battered the interior US this year is taking an economic as well as a human toll (Christian Science Monitor)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20080613/ts_csm/aweather
Belgian bid for Anheuser-Busch a bitter brew for U.S. politicians (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004474352_beer13.html?syndication=rss
Vinyl shower curtains pose risk (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9573354?source=rss
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Friday 13th not more unlucky, study shows
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSHER25778420080612?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Men fillet Charlie the Tuna statue in Oregon
http://www.examiner.com/a-1438891~Men_fillet_Charlie_the_Tuna_statue_in_Oregon.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Boys Throw Rocks At Attempted Dog Snatchers
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16592737/detail.html
Anticlimax Alert – Contents of Oregon Cannery Safe Revealed
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3978
Soggy weather threatens B.C. pot crop, activist says – There's little hope for this dope.
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=6870c076-13ee-4c54-894a-7d2696e26910
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Experts debate role of hydropower in the Northwest
- News Release – Congressional Hearings on Hydropower
- Oregon PUC memo gives Liquefied Natural Gas supporters a boost
- CALIFORNIA – Company abandons liquid natural gas project in Long Beach
- Tacoma Public Utilities dedicates a $19 million building addition
- SOUTH CAROLINA – Duke Energy reports electricity thefts in Greer
- NEW YORK – Web Tool to Track Con Ed Power Failures
- Atlanta Journal-Constitution Opinion – Time for bold action on energy
- Seattle Times Op/Ed – Protect wild-salmon strongholds
- Bush Tries to Raid Salmon Disaster Funds
- Seattle City Light contributes to Skagit conservation project
- Extension of Chinook season on Yakima paying dividends
- New state law regulates whale watchers' distance
- Talking It Over: Mighty Columbia's long flow through the ages
- Longview switching to well water
- Where Does Water Come From: Part 3
- Tapping the oceans – Desalination turns salty water into fresh water
- Break in canal floods Prosser Cemetery
- In Eastern Iowa, the City That ‘Would Never Flood’ Goes 12 Feet Under
- Los Angeles Reservoir Covered With Balls To Protect Water
- Arizona Republic Opinion – Green energy will be costly for Arizonans
- Eco-friendly wind power's growth to deliver less-popular side effect: transmission lines
- Lessons Learned by Offshore Oil Industry Boost Offshore Wind Energy
- Taking Your Home Off The Grid – Is It A Good Idea For You?
- CALIFORNIA – Report turns up heat on AC installations
- Alaska village threatened by warming gets funding
- Yahoo makes Google ad deal; Microsoft talks fail
- Qwest exec sees growth in broadband
- Clearwire aims for 38 million users, $17.5B in revenue
- 200kbps Officially No Longer Qualifies As 'Broadband'
- Santa Fe Shoots Down 'Wireless Allergy' Group – Will move forward with Wi-Fi deployment
- AT&T weighs extra fee for Web's bandwidth hogs
- Secretive D.C. firm says corn growers' anti-Google letter is legit
- Relays For Life This Weekend
- Washington Department of Corrections faces federal suit over millions of dollars in unpaid overtime
- Which way out of rising gasoline costs?
- Exxon sells US gas stations to distributors
- A New Way to Guzzle Gas – Thieves are finding ingenious ways to steal gas
- A weather-beaten economy
- Belgian bid for Anheuser-Busch a bitter brew for U.S. politicians
- Vinyl shower curtains pose risk
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Triskaidekaphobia • \triss-kie-deck-uh-FOE-bee-uh\ • noun – Fear of the number 13
“Friday the Thirteenth, pshaw,” exclaimed Fergus. Triskaidekaphobia had never been a part of his foibles, until the day he unwittingly walked under a ladder while a black cat crossed his path…all while stepping on a crack in the sidewalk. His mother never forgave him for the pain it brought her. However, inexplicably, Fergus received a Christmas card from his mother’s chiropractor from that year on.
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
Experts debate role of hydropower in the Northwest (The Associated Press, via the Columbian, Vancouver, WA – See Corwin and Culbertson testimony in yesterday’s energy news digest…)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP06122008news328663.cfm
News Release – Congressional Hearings on Hydropower: America's leading renewable energy resource has bright future (National Hydropower Association)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/story?cid=3340&id=52776
Oregon PUC memo gives Liquefied Natural Gas supporters a boost – Regulators say liquefied natural gas terminals would help meet the region's demand, but those conclusions contradict an earlier department of energy position (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1213327510226630.xml&coll=7
CALIFORNIA – Company abandons liquid natural gas project in Long Beach (The Associated Press, via the San Luis Obispo Tribune)
http://www.sanluisobispo.com/348/story/380990.html
Tacoma Public Utilities dedicates a $19 million addition Wednesday to their administration building – Will house the Click! Network and transmission and distribution workers (The News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/387949.html
SOUTH CAROLINA – Duke Energy reports electricity thefts in Greer (The Greenville News, SC)
http://www.greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080612/NEWS01/80612026
NEW YORK – Web Tool to Track Con Ed Power Failures (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/nyregion/13coned.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Atlanta Journal-Constitution Opinion – Time for bold action on energy
http://www.ajc.com/opinion/content/opinion/stories/2008/06/13/isaksoned.html
FISH & WILDLIFE
Seattle Times Op/Ed – Protect wild-salmon strongholds – This spring, the collapse of California's Sacramento Chinook salmon stocks has effectively shut down coastal salmon fisheries in Oregon
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2004474315_salmoped13.html?syndication=rss
Bush Tries to Raid Salmon Disaster Funds-- West Coast Members of Congress Send Stinging Letter (California Progress Report)
http://www.californiaprogressreport.com/2008/06/bush_tries_to_r.html
Seattle City Light contributes to Skagit conservation project (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/366837_habitat13.html?source=rss
Extension of Chinook season on Yakima paying dividends (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/4903
New state law regulates whale watchers' distance (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/19875649.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Talking It Over: Mighty Columbia's long flow through the ages (The Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080612/NEWS04/729979897/1025/rss1025
Longview switching to well water – water supply will come from a giant aquifer deep below the Mint Farm Industrial Park rather than the Cowlitz River (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/06/13//area_news/doc48521556b6fd8963562752.txt
Where Does Water Come From: Part 3 (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3973
Tapping the oceans – Desalination turns salty water into fresh water. As concern over water’s scarcity grows, can it offer a quick technological fix? (The Economist Magazine)
http://www.economist.com/science/tq/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11484059
Break in canal floods Prosser Cemetery (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/901/story/211409.html
In Eastern Iowa, the City That ‘Would Never Flood’ Goes 12 Feet Under (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/13/us/13flood.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Los Angeles Reservoir Covered With Balls To Protect Water (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16586853/detail.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Arizona Republic Opinion – Green energy will be costly for Arizonans “…The reality check is this: Going green, particularly in a growing state such as Arizona, is likely to be very expensive…”
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/0612robb13.html
Eco-friendly wind power's growth to deliver less-popular side effect – You mean, these things need transmission lines? (MinnPost, Minneapolis, MN)
http://www.minnpost.com/stories/2008/06/13/2215/eco-friendly_wind_powers_growth_to_deliver_less-popular_side_effect
Lessons Learned by Offshore Oil Industry Boost Offshore Wind Energy (Renewable Energy World Online)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=52760&src=rss
Taking Your Home Off The Grid – Is It A Good Idea For You? (The Article Dashboard)
http://www.articledashboard.com/Article/Taking-Your-Home-Off-The-Grid---Is-It-A-Good-Idea-For-You-/409365
CONSERVATION
CALIFORNIA – Report turns up heat on AC installations (East Bay Business Times)
http://www.bizjournals.com/eastbay/stories/2008/06/09/daily66.html?ana=from_rss
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Alaska village threatened by warming gets funding – One of Alaska's most eroded villages is getting more than $3 million in state aid to help it relocate to higher ground (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004474717_apvillageerosion.html?syndication=rss
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Yahoo makes Google ad deal; Microsoft talks fail (Reuters)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080613/tc_nm/yahoo_microsoft_dc_15
Qwest exec sees growth in broadband (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2008/06/06132008_Qwest-exec-sees-growth-in-broadband.cfm/
Clearwire aims for 38 million users, $17.5B in revenue (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/06/09/daily27.html?ana=from_rss
200kbps Officially No Longer Qualifies As 'Broadband' – New FCC data collection methodology becomes official (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/200kbps-Officially-No-Longer-Qualifies-As-Broadband-95253
Santa Fe Shoots Down 'Wireless Allergy' Group – Will move forward with Wi-Fi deployment (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Santa-Fe-Shoots-Down-Wireless-Allergy-Group-95251
AT&T weighs extra fee for Web's bandwidth hogs (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9573392?source=rss
Secretive D.C. firm says corn growers' anti-Google letter is legit (CNET News…say hello to the nice people, urged the ventriloquist to his puppet partner…)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-9966971-38.html
GENERAL NEWS
Relays For Life This Weekend (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/212/reftab/1632/Default.aspx
Washington Department of Corrections faces federal suit over millions of dollars in unpaid overtime (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/477166.html
Which way out of rising gasoline costs? (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2008-06-12-gasolineprices_N.htm?csp=34
Exxon sells US gas stations to distributors (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004473323_apexxonmobilgasstations.html?syndication=rss
A New Way to Guzzle Gas – Thieves are finding ingenious ways to steal gas from stations, pumps—and your car (Newsweek Magazine)
http://www.newsweek.com/id/141199?from=rss
A weather-beaten economy – The severe weather that has battered the interior US this year is taking an economic as well as a human toll (Christian Science Monitor)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20080613/ts_csm/aweather
Belgian bid for Anheuser-Busch a bitter brew for U.S. politicians (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004474352_beer13.html?syndication=rss
Vinyl shower curtains pose risk (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9573354?source=rss
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Friday 13th not more unlucky, study shows
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSHER25778420080612?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Men fillet Charlie the Tuna statue in Oregon
http://www.examiner.com/a-1438891~Men_fillet_Charlie_the_Tuna_statue_in_Oregon.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Boys Throw Rocks At Attempted Dog Snatchers
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16592737/detail.html
Anticlimax Alert – Contents of Oregon Cannery Safe Revealed
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3978
Soggy weather threatens B.C. pot crop, activist says – There's little hope for this dope.
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=6870c076-13ee-4c54-894a-7d2696e26910
Thursday, June 12, 2008
Energy News Digest for June 12, 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)
- Skagit and Jefferson County Public utilities talk of supplying PSE customers
- Hearing on the Role of Hydropower – Congressional Testimony of Scott Corwin, Executive Director, Public Power Council
- Hearing on the Role of Hydropower – Congressional Testimony of Tim Culbertson, General Manager of Grant County PUD
- CANADA – B.C. Hydro evaluating gas-fired power plants
- US Department of Energy says natural-gas supplies rose last week
- CONNECTICUT – Three Companies To Build New 'Peaking' Power Plants
- Alcoa Shares Fall Sharply
- City of Aberdeen Utility tax hike proposed
- New face and pace of Truckee Donner Public Utility District
- New salmon treaty welcomed – Revisions to 1985 U.S.-Canada treaty await signatures
- West Coast lawmakers vow to save salmon-fishing subsidy
- West Coast trawlers may land share of fishery
- ALASKA – Deshka River king salmon go missing
- Judge's State of Washington water ruling a blow to builders
- Tacoma Water snubs water conservation billboards
- Hard to swallow – Do tiny quantities of drugs in Portland’s drinking water pose a threat to human health?
- CANADA – The Case for Selling Our Water
- The Olympian Editorial – The huge cost of big success for Columbia Basin water agreement
- Weyco’s Lewis County Clear-Cut Mudslide Could Prompt New Rules
- Pacific Power's legal concerns threaten to end Oregon's solar boom
- OREGON – Blocking Out The Sun – Utility giant eclipses Oregon solar generation
- CANADA – BC Hydro going green to power 500,000 homes
- NEW ZEALAND – Home-made power? It's a breeze
- CALIFORNIA – Power plant output from solar, biofuel
- MASSACHUSETTS – Municipal utilities pay $4M for Berkshire Wind project assets
- UNITED KINGDOM – Wave power scientist enthused by green energy
- San Francisco Chronicle Op/Ed – San Francisco should lead the way - build green
- MICHIGAN – Mackinac Bridge dimming lights to save energy
- Global Warming Man Made or Natural Cycle?
- Head for the Hills! Creatures Flee Global Warming
- Centralia Downtown Broadband Internet Pilot Suspended
- CALIFORNIA – Cities have to bid bye-bye to free Wi-Fi
- SAN FRANCISCO – Different sort of free Wi-Fi starts to thrive
- Verizon expands fast DSL to more areas
- NEW JERSEY – Service suffers as Verizon upgrades to fiber optics
- Cable Corn Farmer Sock Puppets Attack Google
- Olympia couple sues Port of Tacoma over acquisition of Maytown land
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Nadir • \NAY-deer\ • noun – 1: the point of the celestial sphere that is directly opposite the zenith and vertically downward from the observer 2: the lowest point
The fall at the wastewater treatment plant’s intake, and the succeeding journey would live forever in Ambrose’ memory. After careening down pipes and through trenches, he thought he had reached the nadir of his sloppy, gut-wrenching journey through the bowels of the facility. Upon hearing the whirling sounds emanating from the upcoming digesting tanks, he knew he was wrong.
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
Skagit and Jefferson County Public utilities talk of supplying PSE customers – Proposed sale to new investors raises concerns (Bellingham Herald, WA)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/438228.html
Hearing on the Role of Hydropower – Testimony of Scott Corwin, Executive Director, Public Power Council to the Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power Unites States House of Representatives
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3328108/Public-Power-Council-Testimony-to-US-House-of-Representatives-Committee-on-Natural-Resources-Subcommittee-on-Water-and-Power-?ga_from_send_to_friend=1
Hearing on the Role of Hydropower – Testimony of Tim Culbertson, General Manager of Grant County PUD to the Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power Unites States House of Representatives: “Hydropower: Providing 75% of America’s Current Renewable Energy. Exploring Its Role as a Continued Source of Clean, Renewable Energy for the Future”
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3328219/June-12-2008-Tim-Culbertson-Congressional-Testimony-on-Hydropower?ga_from_send_to_friend=1
CANADA – B.C. Hydro evaluating gas-fired power plants (Straight.com, Vancouver, BC)
http://www.straight.com/article-149336/bc-hydro-evaluating-gasfired-power-plants
US Department of Energy says natural-gas supplies rose last week (The Associated Press)
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080612/natural_gas_storage.html?.v=1
CONNECTICUT – Three Companies To Build New 'Peaking' Power Plants (The Hartford Courant)
http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-ctpeakpower0612.artjun12,0,4939600.story
Alcoa Shares Fall Sharply on Downgrade market disappointed with both the strategic direction and with the company’s near-term earnings because of high materials and energy costs (Reuters, via the NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/12/business/12alcoa.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
City of Aberdeen Utility tax hike proposed (The Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/06/12/local_news/02news.txt
New face and pace of Truckee Donner Public Utility District – General manager working to improve foundation (The Sierra Sun, CA)
http://www.sierrasun.com/article/20080612/NEWS/279156122/-1/rss03
FISH & WILDLIFE
New salmon treaty welcomed – Revisions to 1985 U.S.-Canada treaty await signatures (Bellingham Herald, WA)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/business/story/438222.html
West Coast lawmakers vow to save salmon-fishing subsidy – Officials are protesting a plan by the Bush administration to take $70 million from the $170 million approved in the farm bill (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004472266_salmon12m.html?syndication=rss
West Coast trawlers may land share of fishery (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/366751_fishlimits12.html?source=rss
ALASKA – Deshka River king salmon go missing – Return numbers are so low on the river, the state is considering restrictions (Anchorage Daily News, AK)
http://www.adn.com/fishing/story/434007.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Judge's State of Washington water ruling a blow to builders – The Legislature overstepped its boundaries by passing a law classifying developers as local governments when it comes to getting rights to pump drinking water out of the ground (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/366644_water12.html
Tacoma Water snubs water conservation billboards – Summer is coming – at least on the calendar – and that means it’s time for Tacoma Water to launch its annual conservation campaign (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/387018.html
Hard to swallow – Do tiny quantities of drugs in Portland’s drinking water pose a threat to human health? (Portland Tribune, OR)
http://www.portlandtribune.com/sustainable/story.php?story_id=121303862600044100
CANADA – The Case for Selling Our Water – Few suggestions raise our temperature faster than that we should sell any of it, especially to America (The Tyee, Vancouver, BC))
http://thetyee.ca/Books/2008/06/12/SellingWater/
The Olympian Editorial – The huge cost of big success for Columbia Basin water agreement (Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/126/story/475365.html
Weyco’s Lewis County Clear-Cut Mudslide Could Prompt New Rules – State-Commissioned Studies Will Be Considered in Possible Logging Policy Changes for Slopes (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/rss/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1213206310&archive=
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Pacific Power's legal concerns threaten to end Oregon's solar boom – About 80 percent of commercial solar projects could be at risk if they are found out of compliance with utility law (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1213241104179110.xml&coll=7
OREGON – Blocking Out The Sun – Utility giant eclipses Oregon solar generation – The explosive growth in Oregon solar-power projects has lurched to a halt, thanks to objections from a utility that has ironically been a strong proponent of developing renewable resources (Willamette Weekly, Portland, OR)
http://wweek.com/editorial/3431/11084/
CANADA – BC Hydro going green to power 500,000 homes – Largest ecofriendly power call in five years seeks wind, solar, hydro and other sources (The Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=69b04943-2f8f-4c87-aac9-8e07b002bdea
NEW ZEALAND – Home-made power? It's a breeze (The New Zealand Herald)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10515883
CALIFORNIA – Power plant output from solar, biofuel – You can't have solar energy without the sun, which makes nighttime and very rainy days something of a problem if you want electricity 24/7. (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9560899?source=rss
MASSACHUSETTS – Municipal utilities pay $4M for Berkshire Wind project assets (Boston Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2008/06/09/daily39.html?ana=from_rss
UNITED KINGDOM – Wave power scientist enthused by green energy (The Times of London)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/career_and_jobs/careers_in/careers_in_science/article4111684.ece
CONSERVATION
San Francisco Chronicle Op/Ed – San Francisco should lead the way - build green
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/12/EDCJ117IS6.DTL&feed=rss.opinion
MICHIGAN – Mackinac Bridge dimming lights to save energy (The Associated Press, via MLive.com)
http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/06/mackinac_bridge_dimming_lights.html
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Global Warming Man Made or Natural Cycle? (Adam’s View)
http://www.nolanchart.com/article4029.html
Head for the Hills! Creatures Flee Global Warming (Live Science)
http://www.livescience.com/animals/080612-mountain-species.html
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Centralia Downtown Broadband Internet Pilot Suspended – Underground: Power Line Work and Lack of Connectivity Halts Project; $500,000 Already Spent (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/rss/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1213205136&archive=
CALIFORNIA – Cities have to bid bye-bye to free Wi-Fi – The free municipal Wi-Fi dream appears to be coming to an end for a handful of Bay Area cities (San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/12/BU681140TT.DTL&feed=rss.business
SAN FRANCISCO – Different sort of free Wi-Fi starts to thrive (San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/12/MN6N117KJU.DTL&feed=rss.news
Verizon expands fast DSL to more areas (The Associated Press)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080612/ap_on_hi_te/tec_verizon_dsl_2
NEW JERSEY – Service suffers as Verizon upgrades to fiber optics (The Star-Ledger)
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/06/service_suffers_as_verizon_upg.html
Cable Corn Farmer Sock Puppets Attack Google – Weirdest headline of the year award (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Cable-Corn-Farmer-Sock-Puppets-Attack-Google-95199
GENERAL NEWS
Olympia couple sues Port of Tacoma over acquisition of Maytown land (The Olympian, via the News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/387071.html
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Jail break foiled by air vent
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSHER25787420080612?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Drivers turn to blow-up dolls, dogs dressed as children to beat traffic rules
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSHER25771920080612?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Swooping Crows Spook Workers at King County Building
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16573668/detail.html
SOTP? Crew Misspells Marker At Intersection – Misspelling Happened In Stockton, Calif.
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/16585691/detail.html
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Skagit and Jefferson County Public utilities talk of supplying PSE customers
- Hearing on the Role of Hydropower – Congressional Testimony of Scott Corwin, Executive Director, Public Power Council
- Hearing on the Role of Hydropower – Congressional Testimony of Tim Culbertson, General Manager of Grant County PUD
- CANADA – B.C. Hydro evaluating gas-fired power plants
- US Department of Energy says natural-gas supplies rose last week
- CONNECTICUT – Three Companies To Build New 'Peaking' Power Plants
- Alcoa Shares Fall Sharply
- City of Aberdeen Utility tax hike proposed
- New face and pace of Truckee Donner Public Utility District
- New salmon treaty welcomed – Revisions to 1985 U.S.-Canada treaty await signatures
- West Coast lawmakers vow to save salmon-fishing subsidy
- West Coast trawlers may land share of fishery
- ALASKA – Deshka River king salmon go missing
- Judge's State of Washington water ruling a blow to builders
- Tacoma Water snubs water conservation billboards
- Hard to swallow – Do tiny quantities of drugs in Portland’s drinking water pose a threat to human health?
- CANADA – The Case for Selling Our Water
- The Olympian Editorial – The huge cost of big success for Columbia Basin water agreement
- Weyco’s Lewis County Clear-Cut Mudslide Could Prompt New Rules
- Pacific Power's legal concerns threaten to end Oregon's solar boom
- OREGON – Blocking Out The Sun – Utility giant eclipses Oregon solar generation
- CANADA – BC Hydro going green to power 500,000 homes
- NEW ZEALAND – Home-made power? It's a breeze
- CALIFORNIA – Power plant output from solar, biofuel
- MASSACHUSETTS – Municipal utilities pay $4M for Berkshire Wind project assets
- UNITED KINGDOM – Wave power scientist enthused by green energy
- San Francisco Chronicle Op/Ed – San Francisco should lead the way - build green
- MICHIGAN – Mackinac Bridge dimming lights to save energy
- Global Warming Man Made or Natural Cycle?
- Head for the Hills! Creatures Flee Global Warming
- Centralia Downtown Broadband Internet Pilot Suspended
- CALIFORNIA – Cities have to bid bye-bye to free Wi-Fi
- SAN FRANCISCO – Different sort of free Wi-Fi starts to thrive
- Verizon expands fast DSL to more areas
- NEW JERSEY – Service suffers as Verizon upgrades to fiber optics
- Cable Corn Farmer Sock Puppets Attack Google
- Olympia couple sues Port of Tacoma over acquisition of Maytown land
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Nadir • \NAY-deer\ • noun – 1: the point of the celestial sphere that is directly opposite the zenith and vertically downward from the observer 2: the lowest point
The fall at the wastewater treatment plant’s intake, and the succeeding journey would live forever in Ambrose’ memory. After careening down pipes and through trenches, he thought he had reached the nadir of his sloppy, gut-wrenching journey through the bowels of the facility. Upon hearing the whirling sounds emanating from the upcoming digesting tanks, he knew he was wrong.
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
Skagit and Jefferson County Public utilities talk of supplying PSE customers – Proposed sale to new investors raises concerns (Bellingham Herald, WA)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/438228.html
Hearing on the Role of Hydropower – Testimony of Scott Corwin, Executive Director, Public Power Council to the Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power Unites States House of Representatives
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3328108/Public-Power-Council-Testimony-to-US-House-of-Representatives-Committee-on-Natural-Resources-Subcommittee-on-Water-and-Power-?ga_from_send_to_friend=1
Hearing on the Role of Hydropower – Testimony of Tim Culbertson, General Manager of Grant County PUD to the Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power Unites States House of Representatives: “Hydropower: Providing 75% of America’s Current Renewable Energy. Exploring Its Role as a Continued Source of Clean, Renewable Energy for the Future”
http://www.scribd.com/doc/3328219/June-12-2008-Tim-Culbertson-Congressional-Testimony-on-Hydropower?ga_from_send_to_friend=1
CANADA – B.C. Hydro evaluating gas-fired power plants (Straight.com, Vancouver, BC)
http://www.straight.com/article-149336/bc-hydro-evaluating-gasfired-power-plants
US Department of Energy says natural-gas supplies rose last week (The Associated Press)
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080612/natural_gas_storage.html?.v=1
CONNECTICUT – Three Companies To Build New 'Peaking' Power Plants (The Hartford Courant)
http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-ctpeakpower0612.artjun12,0,4939600.story
Alcoa Shares Fall Sharply on Downgrade market disappointed with both the strategic direction and with the company’s near-term earnings because of high materials and energy costs (Reuters, via the NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/12/business/12alcoa.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
City of Aberdeen Utility tax hike proposed (The Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/06/12/local_news/02news.txt
New face and pace of Truckee Donner Public Utility District – General manager working to improve foundation (The Sierra Sun, CA)
http://www.sierrasun.com/article/20080612/NEWS/279156122/-1/rss03
FISH & WILDLIFE
New salmon treaty welcomed – Revisions to 1985 U.S.-Canada treaty await signatures (Bellingham Herald, WA)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/business/story/438222.html
West Coast lawmakers vow to save salmon-fishing subsidy – Officials are protesting a plan by the Bush administration to take $70 million from the $170 million approved in the farm bill (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004472266_salmon12m.html?syndication=rss
West Coast trawlers may land share of fishery (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/366751_fishlimits12.html?source=rss
ALASKA – Deshka River king salmon go missing – Return numbers are so low on the river, the state is considering restrictions (Anchorage Daily News, AK)
http://www.adn.com/fishing/story/434007.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Judge's State of Washington water ruling a blow to builders – The Legislature overstepped its boundaries by passing a law classifying developers as local governments when it comes to getting rights to pump drinking water out of the ground (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/366644_water12.html
Tacoma Water snubs water conservation billboards – Summer is coming – at least on the calendar – and that means it’s time for Tacoma Water to launch its annual conservation campaign (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/387018.html
Hard to swallow – Do tiny quantities of drugs in Portland’s drinking water pose a threat to human health? (Portland Tribune, OR)
http://www.portlandtribune.com/sustainable/story.php?story_id=121303862600044100
CANADA – The Case for Selling Our Water – Few suggestions raise our temperature faster than that we should sell any of it, especially to America (The Tyee, Vancouver, BC))
http://thetyee.ca/Books/2008/06/12/SellingWater/
The Olympian Editorial – The huge cost of big success for Columbia Basin water agreement (Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/126/story/475365.html
Weyco’s Lewis County Clear-Cut Mudslide Could Prompt New Rules – State-Commissioned Studies Will Be Considered in Possible Logging Policy Changes for Slopes (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/rss/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1213206310&archive=
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Pacific Power's legal concerns threaten to end Oregon's solar boom – About 80 percent of commercial solar projects could be at risk if they are found out of compliance with utility law (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1213241104179110.xml&coll=7
OREGON – Blocking Out The Sun – Utility giant eclipses Oregon solar generation – The explosive growth in Oregon solar-power projects has lurched to a halt, thanks to objections from a utility that has ironically been a strong proponent of developing renewable resources (Willamette Weekly, Portland, OR)
http://wweek.com/editorial/3431/11084/
CANADA – BC Hydro going green to power 500,000 homes – Largest ecofriendly power call in five years seeks wind, solar, hydro and other sources (The Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=69b04943-2f8f-4c87-aac9-8e07b002bdea
NEW ZEALAND – Home-made power? It's a breeze (The New Zealand Herald)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10515883
CALIFORNIA – Power plant output from solar, biofuel – You can't have solar energy without the sun, which makes nighttime and very rainy days something of a problem if you want electricity 24/7. (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9560899?source=rss
MASSACHUSETTS – Municipal utilities pay $4M for Berkshire Wind project assets (Boston Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2008/06/09/daily39.html?ana=from_rss
UNITED KINGDOM – Wave power scientist enthused by green energy (The Times of London)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/life_and_style/career_and_jobs/careers_in/careers_in_science/article4111684.ece
CONSERVATION
San Francisco Chronicle Op/Ed – San Francisco should lead the way - build green
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/12/EDCJ117IS6.DTL&feed=rss.opinion
MICHIGAN – Mackinac Bridge dimming lights to save energy (The Associated Press, via MLive.com)
http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/06/mackinac_bridge_dimming_lights.html
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Global Warming Man Made or Natural Cycle? (Adam’s View)
http://www.nolanchart.com/article4029.html
Head for the Hills! Creatures Flee Global Warming (Live Science)
http://www.livescience.com/animals/080612-mountain-species.html
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Centralia Downtown Broadband Internet Pilot Suspended – Underground: Power Line Work and Lack of Connectivity Halts Project; $500,000 Already Spent (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/rss/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1213205136&archive=
CALIFORNIA – Cities have to bid bye-bye to free Wi-Fi – The free municipal Wi-Fi dream appears to be coming to an end for a handful of Bay Area cities (San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/12/BU681140TT.DTL&feed=rss.business
SAN FRANCISCO – Different sort of free Wi-Fi starts to thrive (San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/12/MN6N117KJU.DTL&feed=rss.news
Verizon expands fast DSL to more areas (The Associated Press)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080612/ap_on_hi_te/tec_verizon_dsl_2
NEW JERSEY – Service suffers as Verizon upgrades to fiber optics (The Star-Ledger)
http://www.nj.com/news/index.ssf/2008/06/service_suffers_as_verizon_upg.html
Cable Corn Farmer Sock Puppets Attack Google – Weirdest headline of the year award (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Cable-Corn-Farmer-Sock-Puppets-Attack-Google-95199
GENERAL NEWS
Olympia couple sues Port of Tacoma over acquisition of Maytown land (The Olympian, via the News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/387071.html
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Jail break foiled by air vent
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSHER25787420080612?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Drivers turn to blow-up dolls, dogs dressed as children to beat traffic rules
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSHER25771920080612?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Swooping Crows Spook Workers at King County Building
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16573668/detail.html
SOTP? Crew Misspells Marker At Intersection – Misspelling Happened In Stockton, Calif.
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/16585691/detail.html
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
Energy News Digest for June 11, 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)
- Fitch issues ratings on $209 million in Energy Northwest revenue bonds
- Chelan County PUD favors low, gradual rate increases
- Security hole exposes utilities to Internet attack
- CALIFORNIA – Pacific Gas & Electric to raise electric rates starting in October
- New euphemism for deregulation – Former Michigan Public Service Commissioners oppose sections of energy “re-monopolization” bills
- United Kingdom – Climate change: Carbon capture from power stations must start soon, say scientists
- Seattle Times Fishing Outlook – Summer salmon opportunities abound
- Canada – Speaker shoots down emergency Pacific Northwest salmon debate
- North Mason Residents Still Say Belfair Sewer Too Expensive
- Officials pledge international cooperation on Columbia River management
- After years of waiting, Columbia River water may finally flow
- Seattle Times Op/Ed – Jay Manning: Charting a new course toward a healthy Puget Sound
- Old law lets developers use old rules, thwarting Puget Sound protection, critics charge
- Oregon board says public has right to access the banks of the Rogue River
- Dam Fails, Homes Wiped Out in Wisconsin Flooding
- Lewis County PUD Finalizes Renewable Energy Purchase Requirement
- Wind power companies target Clark County in Washington State
- Reversing Winds: America's Rediscovery of Manufacturing
- San Jose Mercury News Editorial: Companies' creativity lifts cloud from solar power
- San Francisco Okays rebates for solar power systems
- IDAHO – More Money to Center for Advanced Energy Studies
- Forbes Op/Ed – Electric Cars: They Need Gas
- New York – Mayor Urges Energy Conservation as Teachers File Complaint over Heat
- Efficient energy for your home
- Strong Action Urged to Curb Warming
- WiFi Coming Soon in Chehalis – City Council Moves Forward With Plans to Offer Free Wireless Internet
- Chelan County PUD – What about fiber? Service not included in cost analysis
- TV-converter cards expiring before use – Coupon deadline extension urged
- Corn farmers take anti-Google fight to Washington
- Reports examine causes, victims of data breaches
- Living in the Clouds – Is computer software becoming obsolete?
- Manke Lumber Company – Indictments handed down in $2.5M Tacoma lumber mill embezzlement
- Thurston County asks departments to make cuts to relieve budget
- Woman secretly lives in other people's homes
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Corvée • \KOR-vay\ • noun – *1: unpaid labor (as toward constructing roads) due from a feudal vassal to his lord 2: labor exacted in lieu of taxes by public authorities especially for highway construction or repair
“You may, of course, avoid any costs we may charge for digging a trench for your underground service by your corvee,” sniffed the imperious gas company executive. “What? You mean I can get service installed cheaper if I dig my own ditch,” responded the exasperated customer. “Isn’t that what I just said,” responded the executive, peering down at his new victim customer over his half-moon pince nez glasses.
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
Fitch issues ratings on $209 million in Energy Northwest revenue bonds (BusinessWire)
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080610006629&newsLang=en
Chelan County PUD favors low, gradual rate increases (The Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080610/NEWS04/408025602/1005
Security hole exposes utilities to Internet attack (The Associated Press)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080611/ap_on_hi_te/hacking_utilities_2
CALIFORNIA – Pacific Gas & Electric to raise electric rates starting in October (East Bay Business Times)
http://www.bizjournals.com/eastbay/stories/2008/06/09/daily37.html?ana=from_rss
New euphemism for deregulation – Former Michigan Public Service Commissioners oppose sections of energy “re-monopolization” bills (Utility Automation & Engineering – with a bow to Samuel Insull)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=331308&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss
United Kingdom – Climate change: Carbon capture from power stations must start soon, say scientists (The Guardian)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jun/10/carboncapturestorage.carbonemissions
FISH & WILDLIFE
Seattle Times Fishing Outlook – Summer salmon opportunities abound
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2004469924_salmon11.html?syndication=rss
Canada – Speaker shoots down emergency Pacific Northwest salmon debate (The Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080610.BCFISH10/TPStory/TPNational/BritishColumbia/
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
North Mason Residents Still Say Belfair Sewer Too Expensive (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/196/reftab/1632/Default.aspx
Officials pledge international cooperation on Columbia River management (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)
http://www.spokesmanreview.com/breaking/story.asp?ID=15259
After years of waiting, water may finally flow – By next spring, the state Department of Ecology hopes to begin issuing new water rights from the Columbia River for the first time since the early 1990s (The Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080610/NEWS04/219884120/1008
Seattle Times Op/Ed – Jay Manning: Charting a new course toward a healthy Puget Sound
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2004470219_mannop11.html?syndication=rss
Old law lets developers use old rules, thwarting Puget Sound protection, critics charge (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004470172_vesting11m.html?syndication=rss
Oregon board says public has right to access the banks of the Rogue River (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1434825~Oregon_board_says_public_has_right_to_Rogue_River_banks.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Dam Fails, Homes Wiped Out in Wisconsin Flooding (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91372096&ft=1&f=3
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Lewis County PUD Finalizes Renewable Energy Purchase Requirement (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1213118872&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1
Wind power companies target Clark County in Washington State – The Larch Mountain turbine plan signals a shift from rural areas (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1213160103142250.xml&coll=7
Reversing Winds: America's Rediscovery of Manufacturing – Wind energy has already started to spur manufacturing growth in the U.S., but it can do much more (Renewable Energy World Online)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=52729&src=rss
San Jose Mercury News Editorial: Companies' creativity lifts cloud from solar power (San Jose, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9548825?source=rss
San Francisco Okays rebates for solar power systems (San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/11/BAJQ117AO1.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
IDAHO – More Money to Center for Advanced Energy Studies (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3960
Forbes Op/Ed – Electric Cars: They Need Gas
http://www.forbes.com/opinions/2008/06/10/gm-nissan-toyota-oped-cx_jf_0610flint.html
CONSERVATION
New York – Mayor Urges Energy Conservation as Teachers File Complaint over Heat (WNYC-FM, New York City)
http://www.wnyc.org/news/articles/101031
Efficient energy for your home – If you’re looking to increase the energy efficiency of your home there are some simple things to consider (WEAN-TV, Austin, TX)
http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=211087
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Strong Action Urged to Curb Warming (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/11/world/11climate.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
WiFi Coming Soon in Chehalis – City Council Moves Forward With Plans to Offer Free Wireless Internet (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/rss/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1213119382&archive=
Chelan County PUD – What about fiber? Service not included in cost analysis (The Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080610/NEWS04/998782380
TV-converter cards expiring before use – Coupon deadline extension urged (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/366569_tvcoupons11.html?source=rss
Corn farmers take anti-Google fight to Washington (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-9965555-38.html
Reports examine causes, victims of data breaches (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10789_3-9965670-57.html
Living in the Clouds – Is computer software becoming obsolete? (Newsweek Magazine)
http://www.newsweek.com/id/140864?from=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Manke Lumber Company – Indictments handed down in $2.5M Tacoma lumber mill embezzlement (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/06/09/daily17.html?ana=from_rss
Thurston County asks departments to make cuts to relieve budget (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/474811.html
Woman secretly lives in other people's homes (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_061008WAB_real_estate_burglar_KC.1e08ca67.html
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS
Politician ordered to anger counseling – Said that a pregnant rival’s baby could be born a demon
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN1144086120080611?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Women Flock To Bird Poop Facials – Excrement Sterilized With UV Light
http://www.kirotv.com/health/16571537/detail.html
Man Gets DWI After Riding Motorized Cooler – 'Cruzin Cooler' Can Go Up To 13 MPH
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/16559492/detail.html
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Fitch issues ratings on $209 million in Energy Northwest revenue bonds
- Chelan County PUD favors low, gradual rate increases
- Security hole exposes utilities to Internet attack
- CALIFORNIA – Pacific Gas & Electric to raise electric rates starting in October
- New euphemism for deregulation – Former Michigan Public Service Commissioners oppose sections of energy “re-monopolization” bills
- United Kingdom – Climate change: Carbon capture from power stations must start soon, say scientists
- Seattle Times Fishing Outlook – Summer salmon opportunities abound
- Canada – Speaker shoots down emergency Pacific Northwest salmon debate
- North Mason Residents Still Say Belfair Sewer Too Expensive
- Officials pledge international cooperation on Columbia River management
- After years of waiting, Columbia River water may finally flow
- Seattle Times Op/Ed – Jay Manning: Charting a new course toward a healthy Puget Sound
- Old law lets developers use old rules, thwarting Puget Sound protection, critics charge
- Oregon board says public has right to access the banks of the Rogue River
- Dam Fails, Homes Wiped Out in Wisconsin Flooding
- Lewis County PUD Finalizes Renewable Energy Purchase Requirement
- Wind power companies target Clark County in Washington State
- Reversing Winds: America's Rediscovery of Manufacturing
- San Jose Mercury News Editorial: Companies' creativity lifts cloud from solar power
- San Francisco Okays rebates for solar power systems
- IDAHO – More Money to Center for Advanced Energy Studies
- Forbes Op/Ed – Electric Cars: They Need Gas
- New York – Mayor Urges Energy Conservation as Teachers File Complaint over Heat
- Efficient energy for your home
- Strong Action Urged to Curb Warming
- WiFi Coming Soon in Chehalis – City Council Moves Forward With Plans to Offer Free Wireless Internet
- Chelan County PUD – What about fiber? Service not included in cost analysis
- TV-converter cards expiring before use – Coupon deadline extension urged
- Corn farmers take anti-Google fight to Washington
- Reports examine causes, victims of data breaches
- Living in the Clouds – Is computer software becoming obsolete?
- Manke Lumber Company – Indictments handed down in $2.5M Tacoma lumber mill embezzlement
- Thurston County asks departments to make cuts to relieve budget
- Woman secretly lives in other people's homes
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Corvée • \KOR-vay\ • noun – *1: unpaid labor (as toward constructing roads) due from a feudal vassal to his lord 2: labor exacted in lieu of taxes by public authorities especially for highway construction or repair
“You may, of course, avoid any costs we may charge for digging a trench for your underground service by your corvee,” sniffed the imperious gas company executive. “What? You mean I can get service installed cheaper if I dig my own ditch,” responded the exasperated customer. “Isn’t that what I just said,” responded the executive, peering down at his new victim customer over his half-moon pince nez glasses.
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
Fitch issues ratings on $209 million in Energy Northwest revenue bonds (BusinessWire)
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20080610006629&newsLang=en
Chelan County PUD favors low, gradual rate increases (The Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080610/NEWS04/408025602/1005
Security hole exposes utilities to Internet attack (The Associated Press)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080611/ap_on_hi_te/hacking_utilities_2
CALIFORNIA – Pacific Gas & Electric to raise electric rates starting in October (East Bay Business Times)
http://www.bizjournals.com/eastbay/stories/2008/06/09/daily37.html?ana=from_rss
New euphemism for deregulation – Former Michigan Public Service Commissioners oppose sections of energy “re-monopolization” bills (Utility Automation & Engineering – with a bow to Samuel Insull)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=331308&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss
United Kingdom – Climate change: Carbon capture from power stations must start soon, say scientists (The Guardian)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/jun/10/carboncapturestorage.carbonemissions
FISH & WILDLIFE
Seattle Times Fishing Outlook – Summer salmon opportunities abound
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2004469924_salmon11.html?syndication=rss
Canada – Speaker shoots down emergency Pacific Northwest salmon debate (The Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080610.BCFISH10/TPStory/TPNational/BritishColumbia/
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
North Mason Residents Still Say Belfair Sewer Too Expensive (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/196/reftab/1632/Default.aspx
Officials pledge international cooperation on Columbia River management (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)
http://www.spokesmanreview.com/breaking/story.asp?ID=15259
After years of waiting, water may finally flow – By next spring, the state Department of Ecology hopes to begin issuing new water rights from the Columbia River for the first time since the early 1990s (The Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080610/NEWS04/219884120/1008
Seattle Times Op/Ed – Jay Manning: Charting a new course toward a healthy Puget Sound
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2004470219_mannop11.html?syndication=rss
Old law lets developers use old rules, thwarting Puget Sound protection, critics charge (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004470172_vesting11m.html?syndication=rss
Oregon board says public has right to access the banks of the Rogue River (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1434825~Oregon_board_says_public_has_right_to_Rogue_River_banks.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Dam Fails, Homes Wiped Out in Wisconsin Flooding (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=91372096&ft=1&f=3
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Lewis County PUD Finalizes Renewable Energy Purchase Requirement (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1213118872&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1
Wind power companies target Clark County in Washington State – The Larch Mountain turbine plan signals a shift from rural areas (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1213160103142250.xml&coll=7
Reversing Winds: America's Rediscovery of Manufacturing – Wind energy has already started to spur manufacturing growth in the U.S., but it can do much more (Renewable Energy World Online)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=52729&src=rss
San Jose Mercury News Editorial: Companies' creativity lifts cloud from solar power (San Jose, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9548825?source=rss
San Francisco Okays rebates for solar power systems (San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/06/11/BAJQ117AO1.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
IDAHO – More Money to Center for Advanced Energy Studies (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3960
Forbes Op/Ed – Electric Cars: They Need Gas
http://www.forbes.com/opinions/2008/06/10/gm-nissan-toyota-oped-cx_jf_0610flint.html
CONSERVATION
New York – Mayor Urges Energy Conservation as Teachers File Complaint over Heat (WNYC-FM, New York City)
http://www.wnyc.org/news/articles/101031
Efficient energy for your home – If you’re looking to increase the energy efficiency of your home there are some simple things to consider (WEAN-TV, Austin, TX)
http://www.news8austin.com/content/top_stories/default.asp?ArID=211087
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Strong Action Urged to Curb Warming (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/11/world/11climate.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
WiFi Coming Soon in Chehalis – City Council Moves Forward With Plans to Offer Free Wireless Internet (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/rss/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1213119382&archive=
Chelan County PUD – What about fiber? Service not included in cost analysis (The Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080610/NEWS04/998782380
TV-converter cards expiring before use – Coupon deadline extension urged (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/366569_tvcoupons11.html?source=rss
Corn farmers take anti-Google fight to Washington (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-9965555-38.html
Reports examine causes, victims of data breaches (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10789_3-9965670-57.html
Living in the Clouds – Is computer software becoming obsolete? (Newsweek Magazine)
http://www.newsweek.com/id/140864?from=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Manke Lumber Company – Indictments handed down in $2.5M Tacoma lumber mill embezzlement (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/06/09/daily17.html?ana=from_rss
Thurston County asks departments to make cuts to relieve budget (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/474811.html
Woman secretly lives in other people's homes (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_061008WAB_real_estate_burglar_KC.1e08ca67.html
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS
Politician ordered to anger counseling – Said that a pregnant rival’s baby could be born a demon
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN1144086120080611?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Women Flock To Bird Poop Facials – Excrement Sterilized With UV Light
http://www.kirotv.com/health/16571537/detail.html
Man Gets DWI After Riding Motorized Cooler – 'Cruzin Cooler' Can Go Up To 13 MPH
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/16559492/detail.html
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