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)
- LaGrande Observer Editorial – Keep a lid on natural gas hikes
- Chief Joseph Dam workers deployed to Atlanta for Ike, Hanna relief
- Environmental Compatibility Clean Coal Technology
- Wild-Oyster Reefs In Trouble
- Sockeye Salmon Returns – Photo-Op Journalism
- Waning Eastern Washington water source subject of meetings
- Dredging Capitol Lake more expensive than estuary
- Bonney Lake Water fees could be refunded
- CALIFORNIA – State gets serious about deepening drought
- EPA limits lawnmower emissions to stem pollution
- Renewable energy's biggest wish – tax breaks
- Al Gore's impossible plan for 100% renewable energy
- ALASKA – Wind turbines are popping up in Valley
- Weather puts German offshore wind farm on hold
- Ethanol: energy's golden child dodges more darts
- PENNSYLVANIA – Churches feel the heat over energy costs
- CANADA – Price a key factor in energy conservation
- Asian soot, smog may boost global warming in US
- Carbon cap and trade could backfire on the environment
- Ashland, Oregon Fiber Network chief resigns
- Comcast appeals FCC traffic-blocking ruling
- Qwest Stops Offering Support Via E-mail
- Was EarthLink's failed citywide Wi-Fi a blessing in disguise?
- Boeing's 'chances of dodging a strike look bleak'
- $4.8 million Hanford verdict award upheld
- Cosmopolis Police get a raise — when local pulp mill sells
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Haptic • \HAP-tick\ • adjective – 1: relating to or based on the sense of touch 2: characterized by a predilection for the sense of touch
Joe returned from his date determined to wear barbed wire clothing the next time, if there was another outing. His close-talking, haptic date had to be warned several times to sit on her own side of the table at dinner. Even after an “accidental” jab with his salad fork, the clueless dinner partner was unable or unwilling to get the message.
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
LaGrande Observer Editorial – Keep a lid on natural gas hikes (Oregon)
http://www.lagrandeobserver.com/Opinion/Editorials/Keep-a-lid-on-natural-gas-hikes
Chief Joseph Dam workers deployed to Atlanta for Ike, Hanna relief (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080904/NEWS04/709059992
Energy Pulse Commentary – Environmental Compatibility Clean Coal Technology
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1818
FISH & WILDLIFE
Wild-Oyster Reefs In Trouble (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=94290434&ft=1&f=2
Mountain Express Editorial – Sockeye Salmon Returns – Photo-Op Journalism (Sun Valley, ID)
http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005122525
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Waning Eastern Washington water source subject of meetings (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/09/04/news/news05.txt
Dredging Capitol Lake more expensive than estuary (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/572981.html
Bonney Lake Water fees could be refunded – The city improperly charged developer for hookups, court says (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/472324.html
CALIFORNIA – State gets serious about deepening drought (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/05/BAJT12OAMA.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
EPA limits lawnmower emissions to stem pollution (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008158370_apmowerssmog.html?syndication=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Renewable energy's biggest wish – Despite promises of massive investment projects and fancy prizes, lawmakers are skimping on the one thing the renewable energy industry says it needs most - tax breaks (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/2008/09/05/news/economy/renewable_tax_credit/index.htm?section=money_latest
Statesman Journal Op/Ed – Al Gore's impossible plan for 100% renewable energy (Salem, OR)
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080905/OPINION/80831010/1049/OPINION
ALASKA – Wind turbines are popping up in Valley – Residents try to cope with high costs even though a 2005 study panned wind power (Anchorage Daily News)
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/516710.html
Weather puts German offshore wind farm on hold (International Herald Tribune)
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2008/09/04/europe/EU-Germany-Windfarm-Delayed.php
Ethanol: energy's golden child dodges more darts (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008158610_apethanolsluster.html?syndication=rss
CONSERVATION
PENNSYLVANIA – Churches feel the heat over energy costs (The Observer-Reporter, Washington, PA)
http://www.observer-reporter.com/OR/Story/09-05-church-energy-workshop
CANADA – Price a key factor in energy conservation (Edmonton Journal, AB)
http://www.canada.com/edmontonjournal/news/story.html?id=9072c178-efdd-4f23-aabc-9e9e357426c9
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Asian soot, smog may boost global warming in US (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008158926_apscioverlookedwarming.html?syndication=rss
Register Guard Op/Ed – Carbon cap and trade could backfire on the environment (Eugene, OR)
http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005122525
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Ashland, Oregon Fiber Network chief resigns (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1571893~Ashland__Ore___Fiber_Network_chief_resigns.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Comcast appeals FCC traffic-blocking ruling (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10033376-38.html?tag=nl.e703
Qwest Stops Offering Support Via E-mail (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Qwest-Stops-Offering-Support-Via-Email-97495
Was EarthLink's failed citywide Wi-Fi a blessing in disguise? (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10033386-94.html?tag=nl.e703
GENERAL NEWS
Boeing's 'chances of dodging a strike look bleak' (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/travel/flights/item.aspx?type=blog&ak=55178724.blog
$4.8 million Hanford verdict award upheld – High court backs pipefitters fired for raising safety issue (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/377853_hanford05.html?source=rss
Cosmopolis Police get a raise — when local pulp mill sells (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/09/04/local_news/07news.txt
DIVERSIONS-ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER
Spokane man's suit claims popcorn led to lung disease – 'I would eat four to six bags a day'
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/377905_diacetyl05.html?source=rss
Family Racks Up $19,370 Cell Phone Bill
http://www.kirotv.com/money/17390103/detail.html
Texas UPS driver goes 1 million miles, no crashes
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080905/ap_on_fe_st/odd_million_miler_driver;_ylt=Ah9WuX_RMpI96UWym8rifDbtiBIF
Musical taste "defines personality"
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080905/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_britain_music;_ylt=AgFyx2dtZfxofnt_FlFtZUbtiBIF
Boy doles out hundreds of fake $20 bills at school
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080905/ap_on_fe_st/odd_fake_money_school;_ylt=Agy8AIRCeiU1iW761NjjbEztiBIF
Black bear busts secret Utah pot farm
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/odd_bear_pot_farm;_ylt=AomrPjZ8jGB_K5CtVUTFUsvtiBIF
Friday, September 5, 2008
Thursday, September 4, 2008
Energy News Digest for September 4, 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)
- Whidbey Island – Road crews remove illegal anti-PUD signs
- Chelan County PUD to reorganize after two top executives resign
- OREGON – Sisters To Go Dark For Six Hours To Convert to 115,000 Volt Transmission
- UTAH – Rocky Mountain Power warns of service cuts if rates aren't boosted
- Jury says San Diego Gas & Electric negligent in helicopter crash
- US Department of Energy says natural gas supplies rose last week
- NEW YORK – Spain’s Iberdrola will be allowed to acquire Energy East
- No heating funds available yet
- It takes a big rake to keep Rock Island Dam clean
- The faster side of Grays Harbor PUD Commissioner Tom Casey
- Plans to shoot sea lions get judge's approval
- CANADA – Fraser River in decline – We're killing too many salmon, and it's time to take the blame
- The end of Snoqualmie steelhead?
- Fishing -- Stocking feat – Keeping fish in high lakes requires plenty of leg work
- Facing Deadly Fish Virus, Chile Introduces Salmon Farm Reforms
- Area rivers show solid numbers of Coho, Chinook catches
- MONTANA – Bulkhead to plug 2 broken head gates at Hebgen Dam
- NEW HAMPSHIRE – Merrimack Village Dam’s removal opens up waters
- WISCONSIN – Lake Delton Disaster Victims Target Village For Possible Legal Action
- Assessing the Value of Small Wind Turbines
- CONNECTICUT – Added State Aid Reinstates 600 Energy-Efficiency Projects
- San Francisco Chronicle Editorial – Legislature needs to ease CFL disposal
- 19-Square-Mile Ice Sheet Breaks Loose in Canada
- Seattle Post Intelligencer Columnist – Hot air over global warming
- CANADA – Power producers out to show they are part of the solution to greenhouse gas emissions
- Play-Based Education Used to Teach Conservation
- Are mechanical pencils better for the environment than the regular wooden kind?
- Verizon will finally start offering its fiber-optic "FiOS" TV service next week in the Puget Sound
- MONTANA – Fiber optics project covers 20-mile stretch between Libby, Troy
- More Carriers Upgrading Long-Haul Networks
- Will Qwest Come Clean About Usage Cap Like Comcast?
- FCC To Stop Collecting Phone Reliability Data
- Contract rejected, but no strike at Boeing for now
- Investigation Continues Into Human Remains Found Near Collins Lake
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Consonant • \ CONN-suh-nunt\ • adjective – 1: being in agreement or harmony: free from elements making for discord 2: marked by musical consonances 3: having similar sounds 4: relating to or exhibiting consonance: resonant.
Bertrand was known as the reluctant lemming. As his fellow, furry rodents rushed along towards a long drop off a nearby cliff into the sea, Bert decided he would not act in consonant with his brethren. Instead he lazed in the sun, snacking on bulbs and sedges as the high-pitched cries of the other lemmings faded in the distance.
WICKIPEDIA: On occasion, and particularly in the case of the Norway lemmings in Scandinavia, large migrating groups will reach a cliff overlooking the ocean. They will stop until the urge to press on causes them to jump off the cliff and start swimming, sometimes to exhaustion and death. Lemmings are also often pushed into the sea as more and more lemmings arrive at the shore.
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
Whidbey Island – Road crews remove illegal anti-PUD signs (The Whidbey Examiner, Coupeville)
http://www.stpns.net/view_article.html?articleId=109510843665075710467
Chelan County PUD to reorganize after two top executives resign (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/NEWS04/709039866
OREGON – Sisters To Go Dark For Six Hours To Convert to 115,000 Volt Transmission - Switch Requires Outage (KOHD-TV, Bend)
http://kohd.com/news/local/41570
UTAH – Rocky Mountain Power warns of service cuts if rates aren't boosted – The ultimatum: Give us the money we want or we won't give you the electricity you need (The Salt Lake Tribune, UT)
http://www.sltrib.com/business/ci_10366780?source=rss
Jury says San Diego Gas & Electric negligent in helicopter crash (Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1568835~Jury_says_SDG_E_negligent_in_helicopter_crash.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
US Department of Energy says natural gas supplies rose last week (The Associated Press)
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080904/natural_gas_storage.html?.v=2
NEW YORK – Spain’s Iberdrola will be allowed to acquire Energy East – Deal to Double Wind Power in the State (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/04/nyregion/04power.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
No heating funds available yet (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/7300
It takes a big rake to keep Rock Island Dam clean (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/NEWS04/709039896
The faster side of Grays Harbor PUD Commissioner Tom Casey (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/08/23/profile/profile.txt
FISH & WILDLIFE
Plans to shoot sea lions get judge's approval (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/27854199.html
CANADA – Fraser River in decline – We're killing too many salmon, and it's time to take the blame (Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080903.BCHUME03/TPStory/Sports
The end of Snoqualmie steelhead? (The Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080904/SPORTS/709049948/1008/SPORTS02
Fishing -- Stocking feat – Keeping fish in high lakes requires plenty of leg work (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/7305
Facing Deadly Fish Virus, Chile Introduces Salmon Farm Reforms (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/04/world/americas/04chile.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Area rivers show solid numbers of Coho, Chinook catches (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/outdoors/story/572445.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
MONTANA – Bulkhead to plug 2 broken head gates at Hebgen Dam (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/apwire/538849ba3d8369caadaf11ad04876a4e.htm
NEW HAMPSHIRE – Merrimack Village Dam’s removal opens up waters (Merrimack Journal, NH)
http://www.cabinet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080904/MERRIMACK01/809049995/-1/merrimack01
WISCONSIN – Lake Delton Disaster Victims Target Village For Possible Legal Action – Property Owners Had Homes, Land Damage When Lake Emptied (WISC-TV, Madison, WI)
http://www.channel3000.com/news/17391253/detail.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Assessing the Value of Small Wind Turbines (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/04/business/04wind.html?adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1220547965-gyIeMrDyEBlLMfeMV4dlFQ
CONSERVATION
CONNECTICUT – Added State Aid Reinstates 600 Energy-Efficiency Projects (The Hartford Courant, CT)
http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-energyfund0904.artsep04,0,3152849.story?track=rss
San Francisco Chronicle Editorial – Legislature needs to ease CFL disposal
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/04/EDAR12MQGP.DTL&feed=rss.opinion
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
19-Square-Mile Ice Sheet Breaks Loose in Canada (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Arctic-Ice-Shelf.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Seattle Post Intelligencer Columnist – Hot air over global warming
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/377622_hotair04.html?source=rss
CANADA – Power producers out to show they are part of the solution to greenhouse gas emissions (The Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=8eb98a17-e5fb-43f5-9199-d7df599407d2&k=89884
Play-Based Education Used to Teach Conservation (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/international/Sept-08/Play-Based-Education-Used-to-Teach-Conservation.html
Are mechanical pencils better for the environment than the regular wooden kind? (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2199138/?from=rss
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Verizon will finally start offering its fiber-optic "FiOS" TV service next week in the Puget Sound region (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008157366_brier04.html
MONTANA – Fiber optics project covers 20-mile stretch between Libby, Troy (The Western News, Libby MT)
http://www.thewesternnews.com/articles/2008/09/03/news/news03.txt
More Carriers Upgrading Long-Haul Networks “…and Alaska Communications Systems is beefing up the potential bandwidth between Alaska and Oregon…” (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/09/04/more-carriers-upgrading-long-haul-networks/
Will Qwest Come Clean About Usage Cap Like Comcast?
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Will-Qwest-Come-Clean-About-Usage-Cap-Like-Comcast-97450
FCC To Stop Collecting Phone Reliability Data (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/FCC-To-Stop-Collecting-Phone-Reliability-Data-97466
GENERAL NEWS
Contract rejected, but no strike at Boeing for now – Machinists union agrees to continue talks for 48 hours (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/377581_boeinglabor04.html
Investigation Continues Into Human Remains Found Near Collins Lake (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/4947/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
DIVERSIONS-ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER
Woman eyes skydive record over Everest
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080902/od_nm/everest_dc;_ylt=AtZ5nClWtroOclaw9SELc7jtiBIF
"Cremated" father reunited with family
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080904/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_britain_cremation;_ylt=AqKE8iyJ0eiVrb3Iq0JQWbztiBIF
Americans pick pet over partner for desert island
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080904/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_usa_pets;_ylt=At2lEvgYlqRmCaV_28jYQTHtiBIF
Angry Argentine commuters torch train in rush hour
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080904/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_argentina_train;_ylt=AkYqMfVxVCDdaP6aRT2hO1btiBIF
Elephant beats heroin habit with detox
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080904/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_china_elephant;_ylt=AnDKjcvD8LZ9.iqzj667ChLtiBIF
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Whidbey Island – Road crews remove illegal anti-PUD signs
- Chelan County PUD to reorganize after two top executives resign
- OREGON – Sisters To Go Dark For Six Hours To Convert to 115,000 Volt Transmission
- UTAH – Rocky Mountain Power warns of service cuts if rates aren't boosted
- Jury says San Diego Gas & Electric negligent in helicopter crash
- US Department of Energy says natural gas supplies rose last week
- NEW YORK – Spain’s Iberdrola will be allowed to acquire Energy East
- No heating funds available yet
- It takes a big rake to keep Rock Island Dam clean
- The faster side of Grays Harbor PUD Commissioner Tom Casey
- Plans to shoot sea lions get judge's approval
- CANADA – Fraser River in decline – We're killing too many salmon, and it's time to take the blame
- The end of Snoqualmie steelhead?
- Fishing -- Stocking feat – Keeping fish in high lakes requires plenty of leg work
- Facing Deadly Fish Virus, Chile Introduces Salmon Farm Reforms
- Area rivers show solid numbers of Coho, Chinook catches
- MONTANA – Bulkhead to plug 2 broken head gates at Hebgen Dam
- NEW HAMPSHIRE – Merrimack Village Dam’s removal opens up waters
- WISCONSIN – Lake Delton Disaster Victims Target Village For Possible Legal Action
- Assessing the Value of Small Wind Turbines
- CONNECTICUT – Added State Aid Reinstates 600 Energy-Efficiency Projects
- San Francisco Chronicle Editorial – Legislature needs to ease CFL disposal
- 19-Square-Mile Ice Sheet Breaks Loose in Canada
- Seattle Post Intelligencer Columnist – Hot air over global warming
- CANADA – Power producers out to show they are part of the solution to greenhouse gas emissions
- Play-Based Education Used to Teach Conservation
- Are mechanical pencils better for the environment than the regular wooden kind?
- Verizon will finally start offering its fiber-optic "FiOS" TV service next week in the Puget Sound
- MONTANA – Fiber optics project covers 20-mile stretch between Libby, Troy
- More Carriers Upgrading Long-Haul Networks
- Will Qwest Come Clean About Usage Cap Like Comcast?
- FCC To Stop Collecting Phone Reliability Data
- Contract rejected, but no strike at Boeing for now
- Investigation Continues Into Human Remains Found Near Collins Lake
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Consonant • \ CONN-suh-nunt\ • adjective – 1: being in agreement or harmony: free from elements making for discord 2: marked by musical consonances 3: having similar sounds 4: relating to or exhibiting consonance: resonant.
Bertrand was known as the reluctant lemming. As his fellow, furry rodents rushed along towards a long drop off a nearby cliff into the sea, Bert decided he would not act in consonant with his brethren. Instead he lazed in the sun, snacking on bulbs and sedges as the high-pitched cries of the other lemmings faded in the distance.
WICKIPEDIA: On occasion, and particularly in the case of the Norway lemmings in Scandinavia, large migrating groups will reach a cliff overlooking the ocean. They will stop until the urge to press on causes them to jump off the cliff and start swimming, sometimes to exhaustion and death. Lemmings are also often pushed into the sea as more and more lemmings arrive at the shore.
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
Whidbey Island – Road crews remove illegal anti-PUD signs (The Whidbey Examiner, Coupeville)
http://www.stpns.net/view_article.html?articleId=109510843665075710467
Chelan County PUD to reorganize after two top executives resign (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/NEWS04/709039866
OREGON – Sisters To Go Dark For Six Hours To Convert to 115,000 Volt Transmission - Switch Requires Outage (KOHD-TV, Bend)
http://kohd.com/news/local/41570
UTAH – Rocky Mountain Power warns of service cuts if rates aren't boosted – The ultimatum: Give us the money we want or we won't give you the electricity you need (The Salt Lake Tribune, UT)
http://www.sltrib.com/business/ci_10366780?source=rss
Jury says San Diego Gas & Electric negligent in helicopter crash (Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1568835~Jury_says_SDG_E_negligent_in_helicopter_crash.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
US Department of Energy says natural gas supplies rose last week (The Associated Press)
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080904/natural_gas_storage.html?.v=2
NEW YORK – Spain’s Iberdrola will be allowed to acquire Energy East – Deal to Double Wind Power in the State (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/04/nyregion/04power.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
No heating funds available yet (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/7300
It takes a big rake to keep Rock Island Dam clean (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080903/NEWS04/709039896
The faster side of Grays Harbor PUD Commissioner Tom Casey (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/08/23/profile/profile.txt
FISH & WILDLIFE
Plans to shoot sea lions get judge's approval (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/27854199.html
CANADA – Fraser River in decline – We're killing too many salmon, and it's time to take the blame (Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080903.BCHUME03/TPStory/Sports
The end of Snoqualmie steelhead? (The Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080904/SPORTS/709049948/1008/SPORTS02
Fishing -- Stocking feat – Keeping fish in high lakes requires plenty of leg work (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/7305
Facing Deadly Fish Virus, Chile Introduces Salmon Farm Reforms (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/04/world/americas/04chile.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Area rivers show solid numbers of Coho, Chinook catches (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/outdoors/story/572445.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
MONTANA – Bulkhead to plug 2 broken head gates at Hebgen Dam (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/apwire/538849ba3d8369caadaf11ad04876a4e.htm
NEW HAMPSHIRE – Merrimack Village Dam’s removal opens up waters (Merrimack Journal, NH)
http://www.cabinet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080904/MERRIMACK01/809049995/-1/merrimack01
WISCONSIN – Lake Delton Disaster Victims Target Village For Possible Legal Action – Property Owners Had Homes, Land Damage When Lake Emptied (WISC-TV, Madison, WI)
http://www.channel3000.com/news/17391253/detail.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Assessing the Value of Small Wind Turbines (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/04/business/04wind.html?adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1220547965-gyIeMrDyEBlLMfeMV4dlFQ
CONSERVATION
CONNECTICUT – Added State Aid Reinstates 600 Energy-Efficiency Projects (The Hartford Courant, CT)
http://www.courant.com/news/local/hc-energyfund0904.artsep04,0,3152849.story?track=rss
San Francisco Chronicle Editorial – Legislature needs to ease CFL disposal
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/04/EDAR12MQGP.DTL&feed=rss.opinion
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
19-Square-Mile Ice Sheet Breaks Loose in Canada (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/world/AP-Arctic-Ice-Shelf.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Seattle Post Intelligencer Columnist – Hot air over global warming
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/377622_hotair04.html?source=rss
CANADA – Power producers out to show they are part of the solution to greenhouse gas emissions (The Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=8eb98a17-e5fb-43f5-9199-d7df599407d2&k=89884
Play-Based Education Used to Teach Conservation (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/international/Sept-08/Play-Based-Education-Used-to-Teach-Conservation.html
Are mechanical pencils better for the environment than the regular wooden kind? (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2199138/?from=rss
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Verizon will finally start offering its fiber-optic "FiOS" TV service next week in the Puget Sound region (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008157366_brier04.html
MONTANA – Fiber optics project covers 20-mile stretch between Libby, Troy (The Western News, Libby MT)
http://www.thewesternnews.com/articles/2008/09/03/news/news03.txt
More Carriers Upgrading Long-Haul Networks “…and Alaska Communications Systems is beefing up the potential bandwidth between Alaska and Oregon…” (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/09/04/more-carriers-upgrading-long-haul-networks/
Will Qwest Come Clean About Usage Cap Like Comcast?
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Will-Qwest-Come-Clean-About-Usage-Cap-Like-Comcast-97450
FCC To Stop Collecting Phone Reliability Data (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/FCC-To-Stop-Collecting-Phone-Reliability-Data-97466
GENERAL NEWS
Contract rejected, but no strike at Boeing for now – Machinists union agrees to continue talks for 48 hours (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/377581_boeinglabor04.html
Investigation Continues Into Human Remains Found Near Collins Lake (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/4947/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
DIVERSIONS-ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER
Woman eyes skydive record over Everest
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080902/od_nm/everest_dc;_ylt=AtZ5nClWtroOclaw9SELc7jtiBIF
"Cremated" father reunited with family
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080904/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_britain_cremation;_ylt=AqKE8iyJ0eiVrb3Iq0JQWbztiBIF
Americans pick pet over partner for desert island
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080904/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_usa_pets;_ylt=At2lEvgYlqRmCaV_28jYQTHtiBIF
Angry Argentine commuters torch train in rush hour
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080904/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_argentina_train;_ylt=AkYqMfVxVCDdaP6aRT2hO1btiBIF
Elephant beats heroin habit with detox
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080904/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_china_elephant;_ylt=AnDKjcvD8LZ9.iqzj667ChLtiBIF
Wednesday, September 3, 2008
Energy News Digest for September 3, 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)
- Anti-PUD group pops up on Whidbey
- Seattle Times Columnist – It's not the first time light's flickering on a public takeover of private power
- Port Townsend Leader Editorial: PUD power forums set
- Socialism: Yes or No?
- CALIFORNIA – San Francisco girds for its biggest public power fight yet
- 4 utilities study study upgrading 500-kV Montana system for wind power transmission
- Tennessee Valley Authority plans to ax private security guards at nuclear plants
- CALIFORNIA – Utility violations led to deadly October fires
- September is National Preparedness Month
- High Salmon Returns Prompt Celebration
- Larger crop of sockeye return to Redfish Lake this year
- Volunteers Keep Watch Over North Mason Salmon Runs
- Deal reached in effort to aid Kootenai sturgeon
- South Fork Snake flows highest in decades
- Herald-Republic Editorial – Examine all water storage options before choosing
- $220 Million – EPA vetoes Mississippi Delta flood control project
- Wind Power May Gain Footing off Coast of U.S.
- UNITED KINGDOM – Wind power: Economic insanity of the Government's renewable energy strategy
- Weyerhaeuser lets AltaRock explore geothermal potential of its land
- Florida Power and Light's Green Mountain fiasco
- ARIZONA – Quest for renewables pits green vs. green
- CANADA – Two-tier Hydro billing zaps the power-thirsty
- MASSACHUSETTS – Lights out, conservation on for city's tall towers
- Seattle P-I Columnist – Global warming: Western U.S. feels the heat
- Surging B.C. glacier threatens to block river
- Evergreen draws acclaim for green practices
- IOWA – Data center means local tech improvements
- FCC eyes empty TV channels for broadband
- Woman Arrested For Threatening To Hold Internet Technician Hostage
- Police: Six dead; at least two wounded in NW Washington
- Escaped Wash. prison inmate arrested in Nevada
- Felled Tree Injures Man At Eastside Construction Project
- Boeing workers to vote today on new contract
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Roman à clef • \ roe-MAWN-a-clay\ • noun – A novel in which real persons or actual events figure under disguise
Norberto’s second novel was a thinly disguised narrative of the seamy office politics in the place where he worked. So thinly disguised were the characters in the quickly-penned roman à clef that their names were all just one letter off from those of his co-workers. Don became Ron; Sarah became Barah, and so on. Regardless, Norberto was clueless as to the sudden cold shoulder he received from his colleagues at the book-signing party.
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
Anti-PUD group pops up on Whidbey (South Whidbey Record, Langley, WA)
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/news/27768509.html
Seattle Times Columnist – It's not the first time light's flickering on a public takeover of private power
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008154524_rams03.html
Port Townsend Leader Editorial: PUD power forums set
http://www.ptleader.com/Main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=35&ArticleID=21690
Socialism: Yes or No? (Seattle Weekly)
http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2008/09/socialism_yes_or_no.php
CALIFORNIA – San Francisco girds for its biggest public power fight yet – Eleven times since the 1920s, San Francisco voters have had their say on public power. And 11 times, they've voted it down (San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/03/BA5P12AHE0.DTL
4 utilities study study upgrading 500-kV Montana system for wind power transmission “…NorthWestern Energy… Puget Sound Energy, PacifiCorp and Portland General Electric…” (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/apwire/ea0e0cbf5293a268e5bb7fa5c8f57dab.htm
Tennessee Valley Authority plans to ax private security guards at nuclear plants (The Tennessean, Nashville, TN)
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080902/NEWS/80902033/1001/NEWS
CALIFORNIA – Utility violations led to deadly October fires (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1567953~Calif__Utility_violations_led_to_deadly_Oct__fires.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
September is National Preparedness Month (KNDO-TV, Tri Cities)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=8933949
FISH & WILDLIFE
High Salmon Returns Prompt Celebration “…Idaho Governor Butch Otter will lead a sockeye celebration on Tuesday…” (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=4255
Larger crop of sockeye return to Redfish Lake this year – Officials released 56 sockeye into Redfish Lake, and more could soon follow (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/102/story/491513.html
Volunteers Keep Watch Over North Mason Salmon Runs (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/sep/02/volunteers-keep-watch-over-salmon-runs/?partner=RSS
Deal reached in effort to aid Kootenai sturgeon – Huge fish hasn't spawned since the mid-1970s (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/377533_sturgeon03.html?source=rss
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
South Fork Snake flows highest in decades (The Associated Press, the Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/570497.html
Herald-Republic Editorial – Examine all water storage options before choosing (Yakima, WA)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/7269
$220 Million – EPA vetoes Mississippi Delta flood control project (The Associated Press, via the Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/02/AR2008090202680.html?nav=rss_nation
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Wind Power May Gain Footing off Coast of U.S. – Federal Government Prepares to Lease Tracts for Turbines (The Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122040089460493157.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
UNITED KINGDOM – Wind power: Economic insanity of the Government's renewable energy strategy (The Telegraph, UK)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/09/03/eawind103.xml
Weyerhaeuser lets AltaRock explore geothermal potential of its land (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008153329_webaltarock02.html?syndication=rss
Florida Power and Light's Green Mountain fiasco (Saint Petersburg Times, FL)
http://blogs.tampabay.com/energy/2008/09/fpls-green-moun.html
ARIZONA – Quest for renewables pits green vs. green (The Arizona Star)
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/biz-technology/255237
CONSERVATION
CANADA – Two-tier Hydro billing zaps the power-thirsty – You'll pay higher rate if you go over 1,350 kilowatt hours on your two-month bill (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/story.html?id=018402e1-3bbb-4387-a44a-08150cfd3f50
MASSACHUSETTS – Lights out, conservation on for city's tall towers (The Boston Globe)
http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2008/09/03/lights_out_conservation_on_for_citys_tall_towers/
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Seattle P-I Columnist – Global warming: Western U.S. feels the heat
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/connelly/377472_Joel03.html
Surging B.C. glacier threatens to block river (The Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=43fb3910-d5cf-434c-94fe-abd4790915f4
Evergreen draws acclaim for green practices – Publications extol college's efforts to push sustainability (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/569503.html
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
IOWA – Data center means local tech improvements (The Times-Republican, Marshalltown, IA)
http://www.timesrepublican.com/page/content.detail/id/509829.html?nav=5005
FCC eyes empty TV channels for broadband (San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/03/BU4912K381.DTL&feed=rss.business
Woman Arrested For Threatening To Hold Internet Technician Hostage (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Woman-Arrested-For-Threatening-To-Hold-Tech-Hostage-97434
GENERAL NEWS
Police: Six dead; at least two wounded in NW Washington (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008154842_apwaskagitshooting.html?syndication=rss
Escaped Wash. prison inmate arrested in Nevada (The Associated Press, via the Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP09032008news360195.cfm?newsletter=10
Felled Tree Injures Man At Eastside Construction Project (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17372790/detail.html
Boeing workers to vote today on new contract (The Associated Press)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080903/ap_on_bi_ge/boeing_machinists
DIVERSIONS-ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER
Fewer Firefly Sightings Indicate Drop in Population
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/science/July-August/Fewer-Firefly-Sightings-Indicate-Drop-in-Population.html
Don LaFontaine, Movie Trailer Voiceover King, Dies
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/entertainment/September-October-08/Don-LaFontaine--Movie-Trailer-Voiceover-King--Dies.html
Cat Hitchhikes 75 Miles In Owner's Spare Tire
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/17374556/detail.html
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Anti-PUD group pops up on Whidbey
- Seattle Times Columnist – It's not the first time light's flickering on a public takeover of private power
- Port Townsend Leader Editorial: PUD power forums set
- Socialism: Yes or No?
- CALIFORNIA – San Francisco girds for its biggest public power fight yet
- 4 utilities study study upgrading 500-kV Montana system for wind power transmission
- Tennessee Valley Authority plans to ax private security guards at nuclear plants
- CALIFORNIA – Utility violations led to deadly October fires
- September is National Preparedness Month
- High Salmon Returns Prompt Celebration
- Larger crop of sockeye return to Redfish Lake this year
- Volunteers Keep Watch Over North Mason Salmon Runs
- Deal reached in effort to aid Kootenai sturgeon
- South Fork Snake flows highest in decades
- Herald-Republic Editorial – Examine all water storage options before choosing
- $220 Million – EPA vetoes Mississippi Delta flood control project
- Wind Power May Gain Footing off Coast of U.S.
- UNITED KINGDOM – Wind power: Economic insanity of the Government's renewable energy strategy
- Weyerhaeuser lets AltaRock explore geothermal potential of its land
- Florida Power and Light's Green Mountain fiasco
- ARIZONA – Quest for renewables pits green vs. green
- CANADA – Two-tier Hydro billing zaps the power-thirsty
- MASSACHUSETTS – Lights out, conservation on for city's tall towers
- Seattle P-I Columnist – Global warming: Western U.S. feels the heat
- Surging B.C. glacier threatens to block river
- Evergreen draws acclaim for green practices
- IOWA – Data center means local tech improvements
- FCC eyes empty TV channels for broadband
- Woman Arrested For Threatening To Hold Internet Technician Hostage
- Police: Six dead; at least two wounded in NW Washington
- Escaped Wash. prison inmate arrested in Nevada
- Felled Tree Injures Man At Eastside Construction Project
- Boeing workers to vote today on new contract
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Roman à clef • \ roe-MAWN-a-clay\ • noun – A novel in which real persons or actual events figure under disguise
Norberto’s second novel was a thinly disguised narrative of the seamy office politics in the place where he worked. So thinly disguised were the characters in the quickly-penned roman à clef that their names were all just one letter off from those of his co-workers. Don became Ron; Sarah became Barah, and so on. Regardless, Norberto was clueless as to the sudden cold shoulder he received from his colleagues at the book-signing party.
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
Anti-PUD group pops up on Whidbey (South Whidbey Record, Langley, WA)
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/news/27768509.html
Seattle Times Columnist – It's not the first time light's flickering on a public takeover of private power
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008154524_rams03.html
Port Townsend Leader Editorial: PUD power forums set
http://www.ptleader.com/Main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=35&ArticleID=21690
Socialism: Yes or No? (Seattle Weekly)
http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2008/09/socialism_yes_or_no.php
CALIFORNIA – San Francisco girds for its biggest public power fight yet – Eleven times since the 1920s, San Francisco voters have had their say on public power. And 11 times, they've voted it down (San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/03/BA5P12AHE0.DTL
4 utilities study study upgrading 500-kV Montana system for wind power transmission “…NorthWestern Energy… Puget Sound Energy, PacifiCorp and Portland General Electric…” (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/apwire/ea0e0cbf5293a268e5bb7fa5c8f57dab.htm
Tennessee Valley Authority plans to ax private security guards at nuclear plants (The Tennessean, Nashville, TN)
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080902/NEWS/80902033/1001/NEWS
CALIFORNIA – Utility violations led to deadly October fires (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1567953~Calif__Utility_violations_led_to_deadly_Oct__fires.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
September is National Preparedness Month (KNDO-TV, Tri Cities)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=8933949
FISH & WILDLIFE
High Salmon Returns Prompt Celebration “…Idaho Governor Butch Otter will lead a sockeye celebration on Tuesday…” (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=4255
Larger crop of sockeye return to Redfish Lake this year – Officials released 56 sockeye into Redfish Lake, and more could soon follow (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/102/story/491513.html
Volunteers Keep Watch Over North Mason Salmon Runs (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/sep/02/volunteers-keep-watch-over-salmon-runs/?partner=RSS
Deal reached in effort to aid Kootenai sturgeon – Huge fish hasn't spawned since the mid-1970s (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/377533_sturgeon03.html?source=rss
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
South Fork Snake flows highest in decades (The Associated Press, the Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/570497.html
Herald-Republic Editorial – Examine all water storage options before choosing (Yakima, WA)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/7269
$220 Million – EPA vetoes Mississippi Delta flood control project (The Associated Press, via the Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/02/AR2008090202680.html?nav=rss_nation
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Wind Power May Gain Footing off Coast of U.S. – Federal Government Prepares to Lease Tracts for Turbines (The Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB122040089460493157.html?mod=googlenews_wsj
UNITED KINGDOM – Wind power: Economic insanity of the Government's renewable energy strategy (The Telegraph, UK)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/09/03/eawind103.xml
Weyerhaeuser lets AltaRock explore geothermal potential of its land (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008153329_webaltarock02.html?syndication=rss
Florida Power and Light's Green Mountain fiasco (Saint Petersburg Times, FL)
http://blogs.tampabay.com/energy/2008/09/fpls-green-moun.html
ARIZONA – Quest for renewables pits green vs. green (The Arizona Star)
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/biz-technology/255237
CONSERVATION
CANADA – Two-tier Hydro billing zaps the power-thirsty – You'll pay higher rate if you go over 1,350 kilowatt hours on your two-month bill (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/story.html?id=018402e1-3bbb-4387-a44a-08150cfd3f50
MASSACHUSETTS – Lights out, conservation on for city's tall towers (The Boston Globe)
http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2008/09/03/lights_out_conservation_on_for_citys_tall_towers/
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Seattle P-I Columnist – Global warming: Western U.S. feels the heat
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/connelly/377472_Joel03.html
Surging B.C. glacier threatens to block river (The Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=43fb3910-d5cf-434c-94fe-abd4790915f4
Evergreen draws acclaim for green practices – Publications extol college's efforts to push sustainability (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/569503.html
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
IOWA – Data center means local tech improvements (The Times-Republican, Marshalltown, IA)
http://www.timesrepublican.com/page/content.detail/id/509829.html?nav=5005
FCC eyes empty TV channels for broadband (San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/03/BU4912K381.DTL&feed=rss.business
Woman Arrested For Threatening To Hold Internet Technician Hostage (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Woman-Arrested-For-Threatening-To-Hold-Tech-Hostage-97434
GENERAL NEWS
Police: Six dead; at least two wounded in NW Washington (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008154842_apwaskagitshooting.html?syndication=rss
Escaped Wash. prison inmate arrested in Nevada (The Associated Press, via the Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP09032008news360195.cfm?newsletter=10
Felled Tree Injures Man At Eastside Construction Project (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17372790/detail.html
Boeing workers to vote today on new contract (The Associated Press)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080903/ap_on_bi_ge/boeing_machinists
DIVERSIONS-ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER
Fewer Firefly Sightings Indicate Drop in Population
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/science/July-August/Fewer-Firefly-Sightings-Indicate-Drop-in-Population.html
Don LaFontaine, Movie Trailer Voiceover King, Dies
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/entertainment/September-October-08/Don-LaFontaine--Movie-Trailer-Voiceover-King--Dies.html
Cat Hitchhikes 75 Miles In Owner's Spare Tire
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/17374556/detail.html
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Energy News Digest for September 2, 2008
All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Objections aired over Puget Sound Energy takeover plan
- Puget Sound Energy and Whidbey PUD advocates butt heads at community forum
- Whidbey PUD supporters regroup following split
- Shades of Port Townsend – Puget Sound Energy to open Freeland office on Whidbey Island
- MONTANA – Grant County PUD nixes power purchase from proposed Great Falls coal plant
- Governor says Oregon can't count on feds for energy answers
- Thurston County Cable, electric bills set to rise
- CounterPunch Commentary – Power, Profits and the Future of the Columbia River
- Idaho Power: Equipment failure led to wildfire
- Northwest Natural Gas seeks 31% rate hike
- Plentiful natural gas predicted for winter
- Meanwhile… Prepare Now For Higher Heating Bills
- UTAH – Surge in Natural Gas Has Utah Driving Cheaply
- TEXAS – Energy companies: Relief from high electricity prices may be on the way
- UNITED KINGDOM – More suppliers raise energy bills
- Snake River dams enter political picture
- OREGON – Fish biologist paints different salmon view
- Union Bulletin Editorial – Judge's actions on salmon case show need to find new judge
- CANADA – Wolves 'prefer salmon to deer'
- State to fine Taylor Shellfish for using public aquatic lands
- At Hanford Reach, nuclear plant preserved nature
- Nearly 100 suspected illegal dams discovered in North Central Washington
- E. coli detected in Sequim-area water system
- Hold the soda: Wapato Lake loses acidity
- Cowlitz PUD moves ahead with Harvest Wind plan
- PenLight: $50 million for wind
- Grays Harbor County PUD wants more information before riding wave bandwagon
- Wind farm plans clash with pristine site in eastern Oregon
- OREGON – State asks whether wind farm projects are separate
- Low Air Pressure from Wind Turbines Killing Bats
- Olympian Editorial – Offshore wind turbines are a good idea
- Port of Longview shifts from logs to wind turbines
- Will the solar boom's glow dim?
- MICHIGAN – Residents may pay more green power costs
- Wind, solar energy built on temporary tax breaks
- Energy Pulse Commentary – Wind Credit Blown Off Course
- Experts wary of Pickens' clean-energy plan
- Wind power stored in underground caverns
- Longview man's wind turbine project on hold as county irons out zoning issues
- Gasification: Toledo Man Generates Power With Wood Scraps
- A Futuristic Energy Plan, 100 Years in the Making
- Developer building homes with solar panels
- Freezers sell like hot cakes as penny pinchers buy bulk
- 10 easy steps to energy conservation
- Congressional Research Reports – Capturing CO2 from Coal-Fired Power Plants
- Oil Group Joins Alaska in Suing To Overturn Polar Bear Protection
- UN Says Glaciers Under Threat
- Seattle Times Columnist – Go green one bite at a time
- CANADA – Victoria's 'green' footprint praised
- Google takes aim at Microsoft with new Web browser
- Microsoft releases beta version of Internet Explorer 8
- News Release – Fiber-Optic Access Now Available to 25,000 in Chelan County
- No PUD fiber-optic cable in Concrete
- 10 Things to Know and Hate About Metered Broadband
- 5 Devices That Spell Trouble For Your Comcast Bandwidth Cap
- West Richland police to get new wireless network
- Lack of interest means an end to Wi-Fi at state rest areas
- NEW YORK – Violations cited in Verizon fiber installations
- Why Run FTTH When You Can Pretend You Do?
- Internet Traffic Begins to Bypass the U.S. – The era of the American Internet is ending
- Top 10 rules for combating cyber attacks
- Washington State woman charged in Kansas State highway worker deaths goes on trial
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Insouciance • \in SUE-see-unts\ • noun – lighthearted unconcern: nonchalance
The horror unseen: Abercrombie’s insouciance was bound to be his undoing. Gaily walking through the Grizzly bear infested forest, his light coating of clover honey was intended to add freshness to his daily routine (and cover his chronic trouble with body odor). Unfortunately, his apparent unconcern about his surroundings and fragrance turned him into a tasty snack that afternoon.
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
Objections aired over Puget Sound Energy takeover plan (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/business/story/561862.html
Puget Sound Energy and Whidbey PUD advocates butt heads at community forum (Whidbey News Time Reporter, Oak Harbor, WA)
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/news/27676554.html
Whidbey PUD supporters regroup following split (The Whidbey Examiner, Coupeville, WA)
http://www.whidbeyexaminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=1670&TM=62019.98
Shades of Port Townsend – Puget Sound Energy to open Freeland office on Whidbey Island (Whidbey Examiner)
http://www.stpns.net/view_article.html?articleId=109510843654164910456
MONTANA – Grant County PUD nixes power purchase from proposed Great Falls coal plant (Great Falls Tribune, MT)
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080829/NEWS01/808290323
Governor says Oregon can't count on feds for energy answers “…renewable energy will not be able to satisfy Oregon's demand for energy…we may have to accept solutions that are not to everyone's liking…” (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2008/08/kulongoski_says_oregon_cant_co.html
Thurston County Cable, electric bills set to rise (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/566597.html
CounterPunch Commentary – Power, Profits and the Future of the Columbia River: Killing Salmon With Paul O'Neill
http://www.counterpunch.org/stclair08232008.html
Idaho Power: Equipment failure led to wildfire (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1559899~Idaho_Power__Equipment_failure_led_to_wildfire.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
Northwest Natural Gas seeks 31% rate hike (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/08/08302008_Northwest-Natural-seeks-31-rate-hike.cfm/
Plentiful natural gas predicted for winter: Low summer demand pushes price down (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5ClkhowqiRUokt%3EEvbfen%5Fv
Meanwhile… Prepare Now For Higher Heating Bills “…even with the recent drop in natural gas prices, this winter’s heating costs may still be higher than last year’s…” (KFOR, Lincoln, NE)
http://www.kfor1240.com/news/index.html?id=14121
UTAH – Surge in Natural Gas Has Utah Driving Cheaply (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/business/30gascars.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
TEXAS – Energy companies: Relief from high electricity prices may be on the way “…if your bill was $200 in Houston, you’d have paid just $92 in Austin. Austin’s electricity is still regulated…” (KHOU-TV, Houston, TX)
http://www.khou.com/news/local/stories/khou082808_tnt_electricity_prices_houston.1f7fcd28.html?npc
UNITED KINGDOM – More suppliers raise energy bills (Financial Times of London)
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6ea35b6c-7621-11dd-99ce-0000779fd18c.html?nclick_check=1
FISH & WILDLIFE
Snake River dams enter political picture (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420ap_wst_dam_politics.html
OREGON – Fish biologist paints different salmon view – Northern Wasco County PUD hears why salmon recovery is divisive issue (The Dalles Chronicle, OR)
http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2008/08/news08-29-08-08.shtml
Union Bulletin Editorial – Judge's actions on salmon case show need to find new judge (Walla Walla, WA, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008145405_guestedits29.html?syndication=rss
CANADA – Wolves 'prefer salmon to deer' (Ottawa Citizen)
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=55ad755d-bdde-4b22-bbe3-572a3897ef69
State to fine Taylor Shellfish for using public aquatic lands (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/377129_geoduck30.html?source=rss
At Hanford Reach, nuclear plant preserved nature (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2008133554_onlywa23reach.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Nearly 100 suspected illegal dams discovered in North Central Washington – Property owners have until Sunday to report structures (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080829/NEWS04/708299933/1001/rss1001
E. coli detected in Sequim-area water system (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080901/NEWS/809010304
Hold the soda: Wapato Lake loses acidity – Antacids won’t be needed to neutralize the waters of Tacoma’s Wapato Lake (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/465849.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Cowlitz PUD moves ahead with Harvest Wind plan (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/08/27/area_news/doc48b4ba383f8a3898590276.txt
PenLight: $50 million for wind – Cooperative utility to generate joint power with farm near Goldendale (The Peninsula Gateway, Gig Harbor, WA)
http://www.gateline.com/104/story/2200.html
Grays Harbor County PUD wants more information before riding wave bandwagon (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/08/28/local_news/05news.txt
Wind farm plans clash with pristine site in eastern Oregon (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/08/wind_farm_plans_clash_with_pri.html
OREGON – State asks whether wind farm projects are separate – Critics say the proposals were divided to avoid scrutiny “…Any project with a capacity of 105 megawatts or more triggers review by the state…” (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1220232313187480.xml&coll=7
Low Air Pressure from Wind Turbines Killing Bats (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/environment/July-August-08/Low-Air-Pressure-From-Wind-Turbines-Killing-Bats.html
Olympian Editorial – Offshore wind turbines are a good idea (Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/562794.html
Port of Longview shifts from logs to wind turbines (The Associated Press, via the Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP09012008news359617.cfm
Will the solar boom's glow dim? A Dutch analyst says global panel manufacturing capacity is well ahead of demand “…Some solar companies are laying off workers as government incentives approach expiration…” (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1219969533233630.xml&coll=7
MICHIGAN – Residents may pay more green power costs (The Associated Press Writer)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g2e5AQD7ML_eqdbngkE2_6EiyZPAD92TEQ080
Wind, solar energy built on temporary tax breaks (The Associated Press Writer, via the Las Cruces Sun-News, CA)
http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_10356195
Energy Pulse Commentary – Wind Credit Blown Off Course
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1815
Experts wary of Pickens' clean-energy plan (The San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/01/MNO512K43O.DTL
Wind power stored in underground caverns (The San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/31/BULF12IKMU.DTL&feed=rss.business
Longview man's wind turbine project on hold as county irons out zoning issues (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/08/28/top_story/doc48b4aaa80b9a3376013349.txt
Old Technology, Reborn – Gasification: Toledo Man Generates Power With Wood Scraps (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/storylife.php?subaction=showfull&id=1220080954&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&
A Futuristic Energy Plan, 100 Years in the Making (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/23/nyregion/23about.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Developer building homes with solar panels (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_082208WAB_solar_panel_program_LJ.214ace0a.html
CONSERVATION
Freezers sell like hot cakes as penny pinchers buy bulk “...shoppers bought more than 1.1 million freezers during the first six months of the year…” (The Associated Press, via the News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/464538.html
10 easy steps to energy conservation (The Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=c2dad8ec-9c22-4d19-8c4f-0bb90ff98049
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Congressional Research Reports – Capturing CO2 from Coal-Fired Power Plants: Challenges for a Comprehensive Strategy
http://opencrs.cdt.org/document/RL34621
Oil Group Joins Alaska in Suing To Overturn Polar Bear Protection (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/30/AR2008083001538.html?nav=rss_nation
UN Says Glaciers Under Threat (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/environment/July-August-08/UN-Says-Glaciers-Under-Threat.html
Seattle Times Columnist – Go green one bite at a time “…There's a lot of green fatigue…people are tired of it..."
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nicolebrodeur/2008152456_brodeur02m.html
CANADA – Victoria's 'green' footprint praised (The Victoria Times-Colonist) http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=7aa1a4d8-2986-429c-b8a6-ae40f2476892
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Google takes aim at Microsoft with new Web browser (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1565379~Google_takes_aim_at_Microsoft_with_new_Web_browser.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
Microsoft releases beta version of Internet Explorer 8 (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008150882_internetexplorer01.html?syndication=rss
News Release – Fiber-Optic Access Now Available to 25,000 in Chelan County (Yahoo! News)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20080827/pl_usnw/fiber_optic_access_now_available_to25000_in_chelan_county__wash
No PUD fiber-optic cable in Concrete (KAPS Radio, Mount Vernon, WA)
http://www.kapsradio.com/2008/08/27/no-fiber-optic-cable-in-concrete/
10 Things to Know and Hate About Metered Broadband (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/08/29/10-things-to-know-and-hate-about-metered-broadband/
5 Devices That Spell Trouble For Your Comcast Bandwidth Cap (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/08/29/5-devices-that-spell-trouble-for-your-comcast-bandwidth-cap/
West Richland police to get new wireless network thanks to Lockheed Martin (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/kennewick_pasco_richland/story/301201.html
Lack of interest means an end to Wi-Fi at state rest areas (The Associated Press, via the News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/467500.html
NEW YORK – Violations cited in Verizon fiber installations – The state found that more than half of Verizon installations inspected on Long Island violated national electric standards (Newsday, NY)
http://www.newsday.com/services/newspaper/printedition/friday/business/ny-bzfios295821058aug29,0,1934813.story
Why Run FTTH When You Can Pretend You Do? “…cable operators have been running ads that confuse customers into thinking network fiber is the same thing as fiber to the home…” (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Why-Run-FTTH-When-You-Can-Pretend-You-Do-97296?nocomment=1
Internet Traffic Begins to Bypass the U.S. – The era of the American Internet is ending (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/business/30pipes.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Top 10 rules for combating cyber attacks (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ARTCL&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=337707&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Washington State woman charged in Kansas State highway worker deaths goes on trial (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008152973_apksroadcrewfatals1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss
DIVERSIONS-ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER
Human-powered gym relies on sweat, willpower
http://www.komonews.com/news/27754084.html
Don't take "holy" water from Lourdes onto pope’s plane
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080828/od_nm/water_odd_dc;_ylt=AmXRiX2ZB46i5aTusgSlD7rtiBIF
Dutch say Pisa no longer Europe's most leaning tower
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080828/od_nm/tower_odd_dc;_ylt=AlJYAIrjwaT.TYUdej6b883tiBIF
Disposable diaper breaks fall, saves child's life
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080829/ap_on_fe_st/odd_saved_by_diaper;_ylt=Al5xWsxF5vDU4hORM7opTgztiBIF
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Objections aired over Puget Sound Energy takeover plan
- Puget Sound Energy and Whidbey PUD advocates butt heads at community forum
- Whidbey PUD supporters regroup following split
- Shades of Port Townsend – Puget Sound Energy to open Freeland office on Whidbey Island
- MONTANA – Grant County PUD nixes power purchase from proposed Great Falls coal plant
- Governor says Oregon can't count on feds for energy answers
- Thurston County Cable, electric bills set to rise
- CounterPunch Commentary – Power, Profits and the Future of the Columbia River
- Idaho Power: Equipment failure led to wildfire
- Northwest Natural Gas seeks 31% rate hike
- Plentiful natural gas predicted for winter
- Meanwhile… Prepare Now For Higher Heating Bills
- UTAH – Surge in Natural Gas Has Utah Driving Cheaply
- TEXAS – Energy companies: Relief from high electricity prices may be on the way
- UNITED KINGDOM – More suppliers raise energy bills
- Snake River dams enter political picture
- OREGON – Fish biologist paints different salmon view
- Union Bulletin Editorial – Judge's actions on salmon case show need to find new judge
- CANADA – Wolves 'prefer salmon to deer'
- State to fine Taylor Shellfish for using public aquatic lands
- At Hanford Reach, nuclear plant preserved nature
- Nearly 100 suspected illegal dams discovered in North Central Washington
- E. coli detected in Sequim-area water system
- Hold the soda: Wapato Lake loses acidity
- Cowlitz PUD moves ahead with Harvest Wind plan
- PenLight: $50 million for wind
- Grays Harbor County PUD wants more information before riding wave bandwagon
- Wind farm plans clash with pristine site in eastern Oregon
- OREGON – State asks whether wind farm projects are separate
- Low Air Pressure from Wind Turbines Killing Bats
- Olympian Editorial – Offshore wind turbines are a good idea
- Port of Longview shifts from logs to wind turbines
- Will the solar boom's glow dim?
- MICHIGAN – Residents may pay more green power costs
- Wind, solar energy built on temporary tax breaks
- Energy Pulse Commentary – Wind Credit Blown Off Course
- Experts wary of Pickens' clean-energy plan
- Wind power stored in underground caverns
- Longview man's wind turbine project on hold as county irons out zoning issues
- Gasification: Toledo Man Generates Power With Wood Scraps
- A Futuristic Energy Plan, 100 Years in the Making
- Developer building homes with solar panels
- Freezers sell like hot cakes as penny pinchers buy bulk
- 10 easy steps to energy conservation
- Congressional Research Reports – Capturing CO2 from Coal-Fired Power Plants
- Oil Group Joins Alaska in Suing To Overturn Polar Bear Protection
- UN Says Glaciers Under Threat
- Seattle Times Columnist – Go green one bite at a time
- CANADA – Victoria's 'green' footprint praised
- Google takes aim at Microsoft with new Web browser
- Microsoft releases beta version of Internet Explorer 8
- News Release – Fiber-Optic Access Now Available to 25,000 in Chelan County
- No PUD fiber-optic cable in Concrete
- 10 Things to Know and Hate About Metered Broadband
- 5 Devices That Spell Trouble For Your Comcast Bandwidth Cap
- West Richland police to get new wireless network
- Lack of interest means an end to Wi-Fi at state rest areas
- NEW YORK – Violations cited in Verizon fiber installations
- Why Run FTTH When You Can Pretend You Do?
- Internet Traffic Begins to Bypass the U.S. – The era of the American Internet is ending
- Top 10 rules for combating cyber attacks
- Washington State woman charged in Kansas State highway worker deaths goes on trial
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Insouciance • \in SUE-see-unts\ • noun – lighthearted unconcern: nonchalance
The horror unseen: Abercrombie’s insouciance was bound to be his undoing. Gaily walking through the Grizzly bear infested forest, his light coating of clover honey was intended to add freshness to his daily routine (and cover his chronic trouble with body odor). Unfortunately, his apparent unconcern about his surroundings and fragrance turned him into a tasty snack that afternoon.
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
Objections aired over Puget Sound Energy takeover plan (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/business/story/561862.html
Puget Sound Energy and Whidbey PUD advocates butt heads at community forum (Whidbey News Time Reporter, Oak Harbor, WA)
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/news/27676554.html
Whidbey PUD supporters regroup following split (The Whidbey Examiner, Coupeville, WA)
http://www.whidbeyexaminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=1670&TM=62019.98
Shades of Port Townsend – Puget Sound Energy to open Freeland office on Whidbey Island (Whidbey Examiner)
http://www.stpns.net/view_article.html?articleId=109510843654164910456
MONTANA – Grant County PUD nixes power purchase from proposed Great Falls coal plant (Great Falls Tribune, MT)
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080829/NEWS01/808290323
Governor says Oregon can't count on feds for energy answers “…renewable energy will not be able to satisfy Oregon's demand for energy…we may have to accept solutions that are not to everyone's liking…” (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2008/08/kulongoski_says_oregon_cant_co.html
Thurston County Cable, electric bills set to rise (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/566597.html
CounterPunch Commentary – Power, Profits and the Future of the Columbia River: Killing Salmon With Paul O'Neill
http://www.counterpunch.org/stclair08232008.html
Idaho Power: Equipment failure led to wildfire (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1559899~Idaho_Power__Equipment_failure_led_to_wildfire.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
Northwest Natural Gas seeks 31% rate hike (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/08/08302008_Northwest-Natural-seeks-31-rate-hike.cfm/
Plentiful natural gas predicted for winter: Low summer demand pushes price down (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5ClkhowqiRUokt%3EEvbfen%5Fv
Meanwhile… Prepare Now For Higher Heating Bills “…even with the recent drop in natural gas prices, this winter’s heating costs may still be higher than last year’s…” (KFOR, Lincoln, NE)
http://www.kfor1240.com/news/index.html?id=14121
UTAH – Surge in Natural Gas Has Utah Driving Cheaply (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/business/30gascars.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
TEXAS – Energy companies: Relief from high electricity prices may be on the way “…if your bill was $200 in Houston, you’d have paid just $92 in Austin. Austin’s electricity is still regulated…” (KHOU-TV, Houston, TX)
http://www.khou.com/news/local/stories/khou082808_tnt_electricity_prices_houston.1f7fcd28.html?npc
UNITED KINGDOM – More suppliers raise energy bills (Financial Times of London)
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/6ea35b6c-7621-11dd-99ce-0000779fd18c.html?nclick_check=1
FISH & WILDLIFE
Snake River dams enter political picture (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420ap_wst_dam_politics.html
OREGON – Fish biologist paints different salmon view – Northern Wasco County PUD hears why salmon recovery is divisive issue (The Dalles Chronicle, OR)
http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2008/08/news08-29-08-08.shtml
Union Bulletin Editorial – Judge's actions on salmon case show need to find new judge (Walla Walla, WA, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008145405_guestedits29.html?syndication=rss
CANADA – Wolves 'prefer salmon to deer' (Ottawa Citizen)
http://www.canada.com/ottawacitizen/news/story.html?id=55ad755d-bdde-4b22-bbe3-572a3897ef69
State to fine Taylor Shellfish for using public aquatic lands (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/377129_geoduck30.html?source=rss
At Hanford Reach, nuclear plant preserved nature (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2008133554_onlywa23reach.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Nearly 100 suspected illegal dams discovered in North Central Washington – Property owners have until Sunday to report structures (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080829/NEWS04/708299933/1001/rss1001
E. coli detected in Sequim-area water system (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080901/NEWS/809010304
Hold the soda: Wapato Lake loses acidity – Antacids won’t be needed to neutralize the waters of Tacoma’s Wapato Lake (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/465849.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Cowlitz PUD moves ahead with Harvest Wind plan (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/08/27/area_news/doc48b4ba383f8a3898590276.txt
PenLight: $50 million for wind – Cooperative utility to generate joint power with farm near Goldendale (The Peninsula Gateway, Gig Harbor, WA)
http://www.gateline.com/104/story/2200.html
Grays Harbor County PUD wants more information before riding wave bandwagon (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/08/28/local_news/05news.txt
Wind farm plans clash with pristine site in eastern Oregon (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/08/wind_farm_plans_clash_with_pri.html
OREGON – State asks whether wind farm projects are separate – Critics say the proposals were divided to avoid scrutiny “…Any project with a capacity of 105 megawatts or more triggers review by the state…” (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1220232313187480.xml&coll=7
Low Air Pressure from Wind Turbines Killing Bats (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/environment/July-August-08/Low-Air-Pressure-From-Wind-Turbines-Killing-Bats.html
Olympian Editorial – Offshore wind turbines are a good idea (Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/562794.html
Port of Longview shifts from logs to wind turbines (The Associated Press, via the Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP09012008news359617.cfm
Will the solar boom's glow dim? A Dutch analyst says global panel manufacturing capacity is well ahead of demand “…Some solar companies are laying off workers as government incentives approach expiration…” (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1219969533233630.xml&coll=7
MICHIGAN – Residents may pay more green power costs (The Associated Press Writer)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g2e5AQD7ML_eqdbngkE2_6EiyZPAD92TEQ080
Wind, solar energy built on temporary tax breaks (The Associated Press Writer, via the Las Cruces Sun-News, CA)
http://www.lcsun-news.com/ci_10356195
Energy Pulse Commentary – Wind Credit Blown Off Course
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1815
Experts wary of Pickens' clean-energy plan (The San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/01/MNO512K43O.DTL
Wind power stored in underground caverns (The San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/31/BULF12IKMU.DTL&feed=rss.business
Longview man's wind turbine project on hold as county irons out zoning issues (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/08/28/top_story/doc48b4aaa80b9a3376013349.txt
Old Technology, Reborn – Gasification: Toledo Man Generates Power With Wood Scraps (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/storylife.php?subaction=showfull&id=1220080954&archive=&start_from=&ucat=2&
A Futuristic Energy Plan, 100 Years in the Making (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/23/nyregion/23about.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Developer building homes with solar panels (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_082208WAB_solar_panel_program_LJ.214ace0a.html
CONSERVATION
Freezers sell like hot cakes as penny pinchers buy bulk “...shoppers bought more than 1.1 million freezers during the first six months of the year…” (The Associated Press, via the News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/464538.html
10 easy steps to energy conservation (The Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=c2dad8ec-9c22-4d19-8c4f-0bb90ff98049
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Congressional Research Reports – Capturing CO2 from Coal-Fired Power Plants: Challenges for a Comprehensive Strategy
http://opencrs.cdt.org/document/RL34621
Oil Group Joins Alaska in Suing To Overturn Polar Bear Protection (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/30/AR2008083001538.html?nav=rss_nation
UN Says Glaciers Under Threat (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/environment/July-August-08/UN-Says-Glaciers-Under-Threat.html
Seattle Times Columnist – Go green one bite at a time “…There's a lot of green fatigue…people are tired of it..."
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nicolebrodeur/2008152456_brodeur02m.html
CANADA – Victoria's 'green' footprint praised (The Victoria Times-Colonist) http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=7aa1a4d8-2986-429c-b8a6-ae40f2476892
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Google takes aim at Microsoft with new Web browser (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1565379~Google_takes_aim_at_Microsoft_with_new_Web_browser.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
Microsoft releases beta version of Internet Explorer 8 (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008150882_internetexplorer01.html?syndication=rss
News Release – Fiber-Optic Access Now Available to 25,000 in Chelan County (Yahoo! News)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/usnw/20080827/pl_usnw/fiber_optic_access_now_available_to25000_in_chelan_county__wash
No PUD fiber-optic cable in Concrete (KAPS Radio, Mount Vernon, WA)
http://www.kapsradio.com/2008/08/27/no-fiber-optic-cable-in-concrete/
10 Things to Know and Hate About Metered Broadband (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/08/29/10-things-to-know-and-hate-about-metered-broadband/
5 Devices That Spell Trouble For Your Comcast Bandwidth Cap (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/08/29/5-devices-that-spell-trouble-for-your-comcast-bandwidth-cap/
West Richland police to get new wireless network thanks to Lockheed Martin (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/kennewick_pasco_richland/story/301201.html
Lack of interest means an end to Wi-Fi at state rest areas (The Associated Press, via the News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/467500.html
NEW YORK – Violations cited in Verizon fiber installations – The state found that more than half of Verizon installations inspected on Long Island violated national electric standards (Newsday, NY)
http://www.newsday.com/services/newspaper/printedition/friday/business/ny-bzfios295821058aug29,0,1934813.story
Why Run FTTH When You Can Pretend You Do? “…cable operators have been running ads that confuse customers into thinking network fiber is the same thing as fiber to the home…” (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Why-Run-FTTH-When-You-Can-Pretend-You-Do-97296?nocomment=1
Internet Traffic Begins to Bypass the U.S. – The era of the American Internet is ending (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/30/business/30pipes.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Top 10 rules for combating cyber attacks (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ARTCL&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=337707&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Washington State woman charged in Kansas State highway worker deaths goes on trial (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008152973_apksroadcrewfatals1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss
DIVERSIONS-ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER
Human-powered gym relies on sweat, willpower
http://www.komonews.com/news/27754084.html
Don't take "holy" water from Lourdes onto pope’s plane
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080828/od_nm/water_odd_dc;_ylt=AmXRiX2ZB46i5aTusgSlD7rtiBIF
Dutch say Pisa no longer Europe's most leaning tower
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080828/od_nm/tower_odd_dc;_ylt=AlJYAIrjwaT.TYUdej6b883tiBIF
Disposable diaper breaks fall, saves child's life
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080829/ap_on_fe_st/odd_saved_by_diaper;_ylt=Al5xWsxF5vDU4hORM7opTgztiBIF
Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Programming Notice
The energy news digest will be on vacation August 14 – September 1. It will return tanned, rested and relaxed on September 2.
Energy News Digest for August 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)
- Puget Energy defends its takeover bid
- Puget Sound Energy takeover by Whidbey Island PUD seen as costly
- Port Townsend Leader Editorial: Public power?
- Substation Saboteur – Orca avenger to plead guilty to misdemeanor
- U.S. power grid in better shape 5 years after blackout
- Five years after blackout, promises made to conserve energy mostly forgotten
- UTAH – Officials trying to stop ballot initiative for a coal plant simply was written wrong incorrectly
- 6 tips to keep utility e-mails from damaging customer relationships
- Northwest conservationists bristle over U.S. move on species act
- 3 pesticides singled out in report as threat to salmon
- Oregon Senate Republicans Adjust Columbia Water Plans
- OREGON – Senate Republicans and Democrats spar on selling Pacific Northwest water
- Dream on: Exporting Columbia River water to the Southwest is a pipe dream
- Idaho sewage could affect Spokane water source
- Clark Public Utilities borrows $13.1 million for water projects
- Oregon to suspend action on Rogue River public/private ownership claim
- Lake Tahoe clearer, but report mostly bleak
- NEW ZEALAND – Backyard turbines in energy proposal
- WYOMING – Candidates focus on alternative energy
- Grist Online Commentary – Solar discord: The New York Times blows the solar PV story
- CANADA – Sparking electricity savings Youngsters attend first energy camp
- Candidates Call Climate Change An 'Urgent' Priority
- Global Warming Will Do Little To Change Hurricane Activity
- Why We Need Fat Pipes: The Top 5 Bandwidth-Hungry Apps
- Average U.S. Upload Speed: 435kbps – CWA Union test site suggests things could be much better
- Time Warner Cable Blamed For Gamers’ Internet Interference
- OREGON – Testimony tells of planning flaws for Oregon’s data headquarters
- Lawmakers Urge F.C.C. to Move forward With ‘Free’ Plan
- America's biggest nannies – You're on the list, Seattle
- Auditor: State agencies should improve debt collection efforts
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Giddy • \GID-dee\ • adjective – 1a: dizzy b: causing dizziness c: whirling rapidly 2a: lightheartedly silly: frivolous b: joyfully elated: euphoric
The nattily-clad CEO skipped to the stage to give his presentation to the shareholders. Tossing predictions of future peace and love within the organization like so many bouquets of flowers, the giddy presenter didn’t realize until it was too late that he had failed to read the cross-legged, arms-folded, head-bowed body language of his audience.
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
Puget Energy defends its takeover bid (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008109904_pugetenergy13.html
Puget Sound Energy takeover by Whidbey Island PUD seen as costly (PNW Local News)
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/news/26886769.html
Port Townsend Leader Editorial: Public power?
http://www.ptleader.com/Main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=35&ArticleID=21563
Substation Saboteur – Orca avenger to plead guilty to misdemeanor (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/26901379.html
U.S. power grid in better shape 5 years after blackout (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2008-08-12-blackout-power-outage_N.htm
Five years after blackout, promises made to conserve energy mostly forgotten (Oilweek, Canada)
http://www.oilweek.com/news.asp?ID=18037
UTAH – Officials trying to stop ballot initiative for a coal plant simply was written wrong incorrectly (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10183978?source=rss
6 tips to keep utility e-mails from damaging customer relationships (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=336903&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss
FISH & WILDLIFE
Northwest conservationists bristle over U.S. move on species act – Federal streamlining could harm salmon, critics say (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1218513316163110.xml&coll=7
3 pesticides singled out in report as threat to salmon (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/374719_salmon13.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Oregon Senate Republicans Adjust Columbia Water Plans (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2801-senate-republicans-adjust-columbia-water-plans/
OREGON – Senate Republicans and Democrats spar on selling Pacific Northwest water (PolitickerOR)
http://www.politickeror.com/brittenchase/2321/senate-republicans-and-democrats-spar-selling-oregon-water
Daily Astorian Editorial – Dream on: Exporting Columbia River water to the Southwest is a pipe dream
http://www.dailyastorian.info/main.asp?SectionID=23&SubSectionID=392&ArticleID=53455&TM=26639.71
Idaho sewage could affect Spokane water source (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1534877~Idaho_sewage_could_affect_Spokane_water_source.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
Clark Public Utilities borrows $13.1 million for water projects (The Columbian, Vancouver, OR)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2008/08/08132008_Utility-borrows-131-million-for-water-projects.cfm/
Oregon to suspend action on Rogue River public/private ownership claim (The Mail Tribune, Medford, OR via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1535057~Oregon_to_suspend_action_on_Rogue_ownership_claim.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Lake Tahoe clearer, but report mostly bleak (The San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/12/BARD129KFF.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
NEW ZEALAND – Backyard turbines in energy proposal (New Zealand Herald)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10526933
WYOMING – Candidates focus on alternative energy (Casper Star Tribune, WY)
http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2008/08/13/news/wyoming/doc48a31490eea76092528870.txt
Grist Online Commentary – Solar discord: The New York Times blows the solar PV story
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/8/12/161045/075
CONSERVATION
CANADA – Sparking electricity savings Youngsters attend first energy camp (The Hamilton Spectator, Ontario)
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/417669
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Candidates Call Climate Change An 'Urgent' Priority (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93562705
Global Warming Will Do Little To Change Hurricane Activity, According To New Model (Science Daily)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080812160615.htm
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Why We Need Fat Pipes: The Top 5 Bandwidth-Hungry Apps (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/08/12/why-we-need-fat-pipes-the-top-5-bandwidth-hungry-apps/
Average U.S. Upload Speed: 435kbps – CWA Union test site suggests things could be much better (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Average-US-Upload-Speed-435kbps-96949
Time Warner Cable Blamed For Internet Interference – Rabid players of the "World of Warcraft" videogame are fighting mad over mysterious lags in their Roadrunner Internet connections, which they claim, are messing with their ability to play the wildly popular online game (The New York Post)
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08102008/business/twc_blamed_for_internet_interference_123880.htm
OREGON – Testimony tells of planning flaws for Oregon’s data headquarters – In a hearing, Oregon lawmakers learn lessons from the state's flawed $64 million computer center (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1218601565133970.xml&coll=7
Lawmakers Urge F.C.C. to Move forward With ‘Free’ Plan “…wirelss auction required the winner to use a specified amount of spectrum for free wireless Internet access…” (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/idg/IDG_852573C400693880882574A20063E358.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
GENERAL NEWS
America's biggest nannies – You're on the list, Seattle (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008109118_harrop13.html
Auditor: State agencies should improve debt collection efforts (The Associated Press, via the Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP08132008news352170.cfm?newsletter=10
DIVERSIONS-ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER
Health Department on Notice – Employee Takes Bath in Burger King Utensil Sink
http://www.whiotv.com/news/17161955/detail.html
Olympic opening uses girl's voice, not face “…The real singer wasn't good looking enough for the ceremony…”
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/540576.html
What's That Smell? Fair Ride Runs On Manure – Powering Ride 'Celebration' Of Dairy Farmers' Efforts
http://www.kirotv.com/family/17176722/detail.html
Man Pays For Most Of Truck With Coins – Ohio Man Says He Doesn't Trust Banks, Paper Money
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/17179798/detail.html
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Puget Energy defends its takeover bid
- Puget Sound Energy takeover by Whidbey Island PUD seen as costly
- Port Townsend Leader Editorial: Public power?
- Substation Saboteur – Orca avenger to plead guilty to misdemeanor
- U.S. power grid in better shape 5 years after blackout
- Five years after blackout, promises made to conserve energy mostly forgotten
- UTAH – Officials trying to stop ballot initiative for a coal plant simply was written wrong incorrectly
- 6 tips to keep utility e-mails from damaging customer relationships
- Northwest conservationists bristle over U.S. move on species act
- 3 pesticides singled out in report as threat to salmon
- Oregon Senate Republicans Adjust Columbia Water Plans
- OREGON – Senate Republicans and Democrats spar on selling Pacific Northwest water
- Dream on: Exporting Columbia River water to the Southwest is a pipe dream
- Idaho sewage could affect Spokane water source
- Clark Public Utilities borrows $13.1 million for water projects
- Oregon to suspend action on Rogue River public/private ownership claim
- Lake Tahoe clearer, but report mostly bleak
- NEW ZEALAND – Backyard turbines in energy proposal
- WYOMING – Candidates focus on alternative energy
- Grist Online Commentary – Solar discord: The New York Times blows the solar PV story
- CANADA – Sparking electricity savings Youngsters attend first energy camp
- Candidates Call Climate Change An 'Urgent' Priority
- Global Warming Will Do Little To Change Hurricane Activity
- Why We Need Fat Pipes: The Top 5 Bandwidth-Hungry Apps
- Average U.S. Upload Speed: 435kbps – CWA Union test site suggests things could be much better
- Time Warner Cable Blamed For Gamers’ Internet Interference
- OREGON – Testimony tells of planning flaws for Oregon’s data headquarters
- Lawmakers Urge F.C.C. to Move forward With ‘Free’ Plan
- America's biggest nannies – You're on the list, Seattle
- Auditor: State agencies should improve debt collection efforts
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Giddy • \GID-dee\ • adjective – 1a: dizzy b: causing dizziness c: whirling rapidly 2a: lightheartedly silly: frivolous b: joyfully elated: euphoric
The nattily-clad CEO skipped to the stage to give his presentation to the shareholders. Tossing predictions of future peace and love within the organization like so many bouquets of flowers, the giddy presenter didn’t realize until it was too late that he had failed to read the cross-legged, arms-folded, head-bowed body language of his audience.
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
Puget Energy defends its takeover bid (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008109904_pugetenergy13.html
Puget Sound Energy takeover by Whidbey Island PUD seen as costly (PNW Local News)
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/news/26886769.html
Port Townsend Leader Editorial: Public power?
http://www.ptleader.com/Main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=35&ArticleID=21563
Substation Saboteur – Orca avenger to plead guilty to misdemeanor (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/26901379.html
U.S. power grid in better shape 5 years after blackout (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2008-08-12-blackout-power-outage_N.htm
Five years after blackout, promises made to conserve energy mostly forgotten (Oilweek, Canada)
http://www.oilweek.com/news.asp?ID=18037
UTAH – Officials trying to stop ballot initiative for a coal plant simply was written wrong incorrectly (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10183978?source=rss
6 tips to keep utility e-mails from damaging customer relationships (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=336903&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss
FISH & WILDLIFE
Northwest conservationists bristle over U.S. move on species act – Federal streamlining could harm salmon, critics say (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1218513316163110.xml&coll=7
3 pesticides singled out in report as threat to salmon (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/374719_salmon13.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Oregon Senate Republicans Adjust Columbia Water Plans (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2801-senate-republicans-adjust-columbia-water-plans/
OREGON – Senate Republicans and Democrats spar on selling Pacific Northwest water (PolitickerOR)
http://www.politickeror.com/brittenchase/2321/senate-republicans-and-democrats-spar-selling-oregon-water
Daily Astorian Editorial – Dream on: Exporting Columbia River water to the Southwest is a pipe dream
http://www.dailyastorian.info/main.asp?SectionID=23&SubSectionID=392&ArticleID=53455&TM=26639.71
Idaho sewage could affect Spokane water source (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1534877~Idaho_sewage_could_affect_Spokane_water_source.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
Clark Public Utilities borrows $13.1 million for water projects (The Columbian, Vancouver, OR)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2008/08/08132008_Utility-borrows-131-million-for-water-projects.cfm/
Oregon to suspend action on Rogue River public/private ownership claim (The Mail Tribune, Medford, OR via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1535057~Oregon_to_suspend_action_on_Rogue_ownership_claim.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Lake Tahoe clearer, but report mostly bleak (The San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/12/BARD129KFF.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
NEW ZEALAND – Backyard turbines in energy proposal (New Zealand Herald)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10526933
WYOMING – Candidates focus on alternative energy (Casper Star Tribune, WY)
http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2008/08/13/news/wyoming/doc48a31490eea76092528870.txt
Grist Online Commentary – Solar discord: The New York Times blows the solar PV story
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/8/12/161045/075
CONSERVATION
CANADA – Sparking electricity savings Youngsters attend first energy camp (The Hamilton Spectator, Ontario)
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/417669
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Candidates Call Climate Change An 'Urgent' Priority (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93562705
Global Warming Will Do Little To Change Hurricane Activity, According To New Model (Science Daily)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080812160615.htm
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Why We Need Fat Pipes: The Top 5 Bandwidth-Hungry Apps (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/08/12/why-we-need-fat-pipes-the-top-5-bandwidth-hungry-apps/
Average U.S. Upload Speed: 435kbps – CWA Union test site suggests things could be much better (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Average-US-Upload-Speed-435kbps-96949
Time Warner Cable Blamed For Internet Interference – Rabid players of the "World of Warcraft" videogame are fighting mad over mysterious lags in their Roadrunner Internet connections, which they claim, are messing with their ability to play the wildly popular online game (The New York Post)
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08102008/business/twc_blamed_for_internet_interference_123880.htm
OREGON – Testimony tells of planning flaws for Oregon’s data headquarters – In a hearing, Oregon lawmakers learn lessons from the state's flawed $64 million computer center (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1218601565133970.xml&coll=7
Lawmakers Urge F.C.C. to Move forward With ‘Free’ Plan “…wirelss auction required the winner to use a specified amount of spectrum for free wireless Internet access…” (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/idg/IDG_852573C400693880882574A20063E358.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
GENERAL NEWS
America's biggest nannies – You're on the list, Seattle (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008109118_harrop13.html
Auditor: State agencies should improve debt collection efforts (The Associated Press, via the Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP08132008news352170.cfm?newsletter=10
DIVERSIONS-ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER
Health Department on Notice – Employee Takes Bath in Burger King Utensil Sink
http://www.whiotv.com/news/17161955/detail.html
Olympic opening uses girl's voice, not face “…The real singer wasn't good looking enough for the ceremony…”
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/540576.html
What's That Smell? Fair Ride Runs On Manure – Powering Ride 'Celebration' Of Dairy Farmers' Efforts
http://www.kirotv.com/family/17176722/detail.html
Man Pays For Most Of Truck With Coins – Ohio Man Says He Doesn't Trust Banks, Paper Money
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/17179798/detail.html
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