The Energy News Digest

Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Energy News Digest for April 15, 2009

Tuesday, April 14, 2009

Energy News Digest for April 14, 2009

Monday, April 13, 2009

Energy News Digest for April 13, 2009

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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Homes That Use Natural Gas for Heat Could Save Big
- Even In Hydro-Rich Northwest, Coal Still Major Power Source
- Challenged To Find Budget Cuts, Grays Harbor PUD Addresses Aberdeen
- Seattle City Council: No Utility Hikes In '09
- Oregon Electrical Co-Op Increases Its Rates
- Kalispell Tribe, Pend Oreille County PUD Agree On New Dam License
- Avista Warns Of Safety Line Break Nine Mile Dam North of Spokane
- Company Considering Hydro Project in N. Idaho
- BPA to Hold Smart Grid Workshop to Develop Regional Plan
- New ‘Smart Grid’ Will Change How Energy Goes From Plants to Homes
- PPL Chief's Compensation Slips 3.6 Percent in 2008
- Good Salmon News for State, Not So For California, Oregon
- Coho Seasons Comeback on the Oregon Coast
- What's Killing California's Salmon?
- Miners Lose Bid to Stop Tribal Salmon Fishing
- New Weir Helps Fish at Little Goose Dam
- Fish Stocking in North Cascades Lakes Set To End
- Lewis County Survey: Twin City Support Strong for Dam, Levies
- Skamania County Dam near Carson Will Be Removed This Summer
- Nisqually Delta Conservation Efforts Take a Big Step Forward
- WATER: Supply Outlook Good in Eastern Washington
- TVA Rejects Many Requests as It Buys Land Tainted by Coal-Ash Spill
- News Tribune - Tacoma Deserves Fair Treatment in Green Energy Bill
- Grays Harbor PUD Asks City Hall for Help on Small Hydro Bill
- Reinvent Grid For Shifty Bursts Of Wind
- Wind Power: Texas Is King, But Iowa Breezes Past California
- Backyard Windmills
- European Wind Energy Manufacturers Look to Oklahoma
- Biomass Brouhaha - Clean-Air Agency Makes Burn-Ban Violators Feel Heat
- Seattleites Call For Change in Biodiesel Industry
- Report: Ethanol Raises Cost Of Nutrition Programs
- San Francisco Renewable Power Plant Proposed For Farallones
- Disclosing a Home’s Energy Efficiency
- Big Tax Breaks for Energy Efficiency
- Who Will Get U.S. Millions In Energy Aid?
- Unplug Your Electronics, Save Money
- Md. To Redirect Cap-And-Trade Revenues
- A Carbon Cap Will Create More Jobs
- Editorial - Cap-And-Trade Bill Could Devastate Manufacturing
- Cost Is a Key Issue for Caps on Carbon
- Toronto Star Editorial - Costing Green Energy
- Expert: Don't 'Rinky-Dink around the Margins' Of Climate Change
- Australia May Have Climate Lessons for the U.S.
- Changing Environmental Tide Demands B.C. Lobbyist in Washington
- Sabey Continues Data Center Talks In Quincy
- FCC Plan: Free High-Speed Net Access across U.S.
- With Greater Broadband Speeds Come Greater Demand on Networks
- Scuttling Network Sabotage
- Bad Scenarios for The Smart-Grid Concept
- Fear of Viruses Could Be Causing PC Attacks: Report
- California - City Of Palo Alto’s Fiber Dreams Still Flickering
- Father of Fiber Optics Explains How It Began
- Co-Working: A Room Not Of Their Own
- Facebook, MySpace & Twitter: Free Advertising That Works
- 'Open Season' Comment Just Fine by Some Mason County Residents
- Taxable Retail Sales Down In Mason County
- Twittering all the rage on Capitol Hill

WORD OF THE DAY

Lickerish • \LIK-uh-rish\ • adjective - 1: greedy, desirous *2: lecherous

Bradley’s intense competitive streak would be his undoing. As he hammered each volley of the ping-pong ball at his diminutive opponent, the throng of onlookers gasped with derision. It was one thing to have a lickerish sense of victory and the destruction of an opponent. But to take it out on his eight year old child was one step too far. After the final set, the crowd rushed the table tennis equipment and folded Bradley into it. He was not found until the next week’s church youth group gathering.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Homes That Use Natural Gas for Heat Could Save Big (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009020382_apnaturalgasglut.html?syndication=rss

Even In Hydro-Rich Northwest, Coal Still Major Power Source (Oregon Public Radio)
http://news.opb.org/article/4742-even-hydro-rich-northwest-coal-still-major-power-source/

Challenged To Find Budget Cuts, Grays Harbor PUD Manager Addresses Aberdeen City Council (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/04/11/local_news/doc49e05bae0b8eb785859535.txt

Seattle City Council: No Utility Hikes In '09 (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/166037.asp?source=pimail

Oregon Electrical Co-Op Increases Its Rates - Utilities are reacting to higher prices expected from the source of their power (Eugene Register Guard)
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/cityregion/11635595-41/story.csp

Kalispell Tribe, Pend Oreille County PUD Agree On New Dam License (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_dam_deal.html?source=mypi

Avista Warns Of Safety Line Break Nine Mile Dam North of Spokane (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009031439_apwalakebreak.html?syndication=rss

Company Considering Hydro Project in N. Idaho (The Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/817185.html

BPA to Hold Smart Grid Workshop to Develop Regional Plan (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/267031/

New ‘Smart Grid’ Will Change How Energy Goes From Plants to Homes (Holland Sentinel, MI)
http://www.hollandsentinel.com/news/x711735212/New-smart-grid-will-change-how-energy-goes-from-plants-to-homes

PPL Chief's Compensation Slips 3.6 Percent in 2008 (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009014003_appapplcorpexecutivecompensation.html?syndication=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Good Salmon News for State, Not So For California, Oregon (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090409/NEWS03/704099838/1024/rss1024

Coho Seasons Comeback on the Oregon Coast (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/bill_monroe/index.ssf/2009/04/coho_seasons_comeback_on_the_o.html

What's Killing California's Salmon? (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102997037&ft=1&f=7

Miners Lose Bid to Stop Tribal Salmon Fishing (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/816303.html

New Weir Helps Fish at Little Goose Dam (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/northwest/story/707702.html

Fish Stocking In North Cascades Lakes Set To End (Associated Press)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=155237

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Lewis County Survey: Twin City Support Strong for Dam, Levies (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)
http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews/?Survey-Twin-City-Support-Strong-for-Dam-=1&blockID=48982&feedID=410

Skamania County Dam near Carson Will Be Removed This Summer (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20090412/NEWS02/704129960/

Nisqually Delta Conservation Efforts Take a Big Step Forward (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/707558.html

WATER: Supply outlook good in Eastern Washington (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/540626.html

Tennessee Valley Authority Rejects Many Requests as It Buys Land Tainted by Coal-Ash Spill (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/us/12spill.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

RENEWABLE & ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

News Tribune Editorial - Tacoma Deserves Fair Treatment in Green Energy Bill
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/706877.html

Grays Harbor PUD Asks City Hall for Help on Small Hydro Bill (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/04/11/local_news/doc49e05b242befd250718005.txt

To Reinvent Grid for Shifty Bursts of Wind, Energy Overseers Must Rejigger Supply and Demand (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/04/13/focus2.html?ana=from_rss

Wind Power: Texas Is King, But Iowa Breezes Past California (Associated Press)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iCCigqHwXLg0T4Qo1ExfgpLg-1TQD97H5D0O1

Backyard Windmills (WHYY Philadelphia, PA)
http://whyy.org/cms/news/health-science/2009/04/12/backyard-windmills/6025

European Wind Energy Manufacturers Look to Oklahoma Energy Current)
http://www.energycurrent.com/index.php?id=3&storyid=17347

Biomass Brouhaha - Clean-Air Agency Makes Burn-Ban Violators Feel Heat (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009029132_air13m.html?syndication=rss

Seattleites Call For Change in Biodiesel Industry (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_041109WAB-biodiesel-KS.c692a6fd.html?rss

Report: Ethanol Raises Cost Of Nutrition Programs (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2009014114_apfoodcostsethanol.html?syndication=rss

San Francisco Renewable Power Plant Proposed For Farallones (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/11/BUAP170KCO.DTL&feed=rss.business

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Disclosing a Home’s Energy Efficiency (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/10/AR2009041001404.html

Big Tax Breaks for Energy Efficiency (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/11/BU6L170I4F.DTL&feed=rss.business

Who Will Get U.S. Millions In Energy Aid? (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/government/story/706833.html

Unplug Your Electronics, Save Money (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/12/BUHS170INS.DTL&feed=rss.business

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Md. To Redirect Cap-And-Trade Revenues - Critics say rebates will short-circuit goals (Bloomberg News)
http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090411/BUSINESS/904110308/1003

A Carbon Cap Will Create More Jobs (Miami Herald, FL)
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/environment/story/997500.html

Journal-Sentinel Editorial - Cap-And-Trade Bill Could Devastate Manufacturing (Milwaukee, WI)
http://www.jsonline.com/business/42829987.html

Cost Is a Key Issue for Caps on Carbon (Tampa Tribune, FL)
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/apr/12/bz-cost-is-a-key-issue-for-caps-on-carbon/news-money/

Toronto Star Editorial - Costing Green Energy
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/617332

Expert: Don't 'Rinky-Dink around The Margins' Of Climate Change “…"The polar ice caps are melting…and we're banning plastic bags…'You have got to be kidding me!'" (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/405057_green11.html?source=pimail

Australia May Have Climate Lessons for the U.S. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/04/10/10climatewire-australia-may-have-climate-lessons-for-the-u-10506.html

Changing Environmental Tide Demands B.C. Place a Lobbyist in Washington (Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.vancouversun.com/business/fp/Changing+environmental+tide+demands+place+lobbyist+Washington/1490734/story.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Sabey Continues Data Center Talks In Quincy - Buildings could go up later this year (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/04/10/news/doc49df737bc0b2b617679833.txt

FCC Plan: Free High-Speed Net Access across U.S. (Associated Press)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090411/BIZ/704119968/-1/RSS03

With Greater Broadband Speeds Come Greater Demand On Networks (Seattle Times)http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009021892_ptmacc11.html?syndication=rss

Scuttling Network Sabotage - Telecommunication companies are fighting vandals who use simple tools that can cut off service to thousands (Associated Press)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090411/BIZ/704119966/-1/RSS03

Bad Scenarios for The Smart-Grid Concept - Commentary: Cable cuts in Bay Area look like someone's testing network (MarketWatch)
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/bad-scenarios-smart-grid-concept/story.aspx?guid={4F799BF6-C977-4CE5-BA8A-6958108C6206}&dist=msr_1

Fear of Viruses Could Be Causing PC Attacks: Report (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN0749083820090408?feedType=nl&feedName=ustechnology

California - City Of Palo Alto’s Fiber Dreams Still Flickering (Palo Alto Online)
http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/show_story.php?id=11913

Father of Fiber Optics Explains How It Began (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/10/MNGD170HIH.DTL

Co-Working: A Room Not Of Their Own (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2009/04/coworking_a_room_not_of_their.html

Facebook, MySpace & Twitter: Free Advertising That Works (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities)
http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/42880792.html

GENERAL NEWS

'Open Season' Comment Just Fine by Some Mason County Residents (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/42840257.html

Taxable Retail Sales Down In Mason County (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6962/reftab/1632/t/TAXABLE-RETAIL-SALES-DOWN-IN-MASON-COUNTY/Default.aspx

Twittering All the Rage on Capitol Hill (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009028644_bttwitter13.html

DIVERSIONS

‘The Real Spinal Tap’
http://www.newsweek.com/id/193490?from=rss

Neighbors Say 'Barney' the Purple House Lowers Property Values
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090412/news/304129978

Hammer Time for Cell Phone Used To Run Up $5K Bill
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090410/ap_on_fe_st/odd_phone_bill;_ylt=Aj13YqSDc0RpCHEP9cjgdnTtiBIF

Swedish Parishioners Unveil Lego Statue of Jesus
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090412/ap_on_fe_st/eu_sweden_lego_jesus_statue;_ylt=An_eEc1AiL_HMKGDUaIOHFHtiBIF

SONG OF THE DAY

Spinal Tap – Stonehenge (PG-13 for some ‘adult’ language)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXGbwIkvh38

Friday, April 10, 2009

Energy News Digest for April 10, 2009

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Energy News Digest for April 9, 2009

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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Grays Harbor County PUD Board Seeks Cutback Options
- British Columbia Seeking Intervener Status on Okanogan Dam Proposal
- Oregon Legislative Bills Oppose Idaho Power Line
- PUD 3 Tree Trimming On Shelton-Matlock Road Begins Monday
- Fifteen Percent - Pacific Power seeks new rate hike
- Nation's Oldest Nuclear Power Plant Gets New License
- Cantwell Optimistic For Green Energy Jobs
- Report: Cyber-Spies Hack U.S. Electricity Grid
- Sleeping guards cost Florida Power & Light $130,000
- Calif. Chinook Fishing Season Halted Again
- Oregon Coast Commercial Salmon Season Curtailed Again
- Salmon Anglers Will See a Big Expansion of Select Fisheries in Puget Sound
- Federal regulators deny protection to Calif. Smelt
- California Cows Create Healthy Habitat for Endangered Shrimp
- Pierce County Weighs Action on Rising River Sediment
- National Post Editorial - Wind Power Is a Complete Disaster
- Corndoggle - How did Oregon’s largest producer of “green” fuel fail so fast?
- Standard-Times Op/Ed - Realities of renewables
- Why Are Home Renewable Energy Systems Still So Expensive?
- Green Energy Subsidies Could Cost Jobs
- Windmill Blades to Come Through Port Of Olympia This Week
- Free Press Op/Ed - Give A Dam about Canadian Run-Of-River
- Canada - B.C. Hydro Not Interested in Nanaimo Turbine Energy
- The “Smart Grid:” How Smart?
- Energy Adviser: Shrink your carbon footprint
- White House May Postpone Auctioning Emissions
- Science Chief Discusses Climate Strategy
- World Can Halt Global Warming, Activist Says
- Carbon Market Is Closely Watching the U.S.
- Climate Legislation Sends Chill through Areas Fueled by Coal
- Boston Globe Editorial - A carbon cap with teeth
- Maryland to Rebate Cap and Trade Money to Consumers
- Winnipeg Sun Editorial - Hot Air over Greenhouse Gases
- Geoengineering Explored To Fight Global Warming
- T-Mobile Launches Douglas County’s First Data Center
- Stat Shot: Fiber to the Home
- Cisco to Buy Tidal as Part of Its Data Center Rush
- There's No Data to Prove Metered Billing Is Necessary
- Google releases upgrade to its App Engine
- Australia Vs. U.S. In Broadband Stimulus Plans
- Effort Underway to Save Belfair Bypass from State Scrap Heap
- Insurance to Pay Fines over Record Requests for Mason County
- Olympia area could get some of Sea-Tac's traffic
- Motorcycle Fatalities Prompt Warning

WORD OF THE DAY

Tontine • \TAWN-teen\ • noun – 1: an annuity scheme in which subscribers share a common fund with the benefit of survivorship, the survivors' shares being increased as the subscribers die, until the whole goes to the last survivor

It was the end of the march. The final World War I veteran who had made a pact with his friends many years ago in the muddy fields of France held the dusty bottle of cognac in his wrinkled hands. It seemed ironic to him, that of all those who made the tontine pact that the bottle’s amber contents would be his alone to savor in the twilight years of his life. Ironic in that he had lived his entire existence as a teetotaler.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Grays Harbor County PUD Board Seeks Cutback Options (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/04/08/local_news/doc49dcec5580a36561743207.txt

British Columbia Seeking Intervener Status on Okanogan Dam Proposal (Keremeos Review, BC)
http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_similkameen/keremeosreview/news/42638892.html

Oregon Legislative Bills Oppose Idaho Power Line (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/814413.html

PUD 3 Tree Trimming On Shelton-Matlock Road Begins Monday (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6935/reftab/1632/t/TREE-TRIMMING-ON-SHELTON-MATLOCK-ROAD-BEGINS-MONDAY/Default.aspx

Fifteen Percent - Pacific Power seeks new rate hike (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/2009/04/08/pacific-power-seeks-new-rate-hike

Nation's Oldest Nuclear Power Plant - Feds OK New 20 Year License For NJ Facility (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008954850_apoystercreekrelicensing.html?syndication=rss

Cantwell Optimistic For Green Energy Jobs (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/814214.html

Report: Cyber-Spies Hack U.S. Electricity Grid (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102887291&ft=1&f=2

Sleeping guards cost Florida Power & Light $130,000 (Associated Press)
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/miami/sfl-florida-power-and-light-fine-bn040809,0,3688460.story?track=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Calif. Chinook Fishing Season Halted Again (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1951303~Calif__chinook_fishing_season_halted_again.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Oregon Coast Commercial Salmon Season Curtailed Again (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/04/oregon_coast_commercial_salmon.html

Salmon Anglers Will See a Big Expansion of Select Fisheries in Puget Sound (Seattle Times)
http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/reeltimenorthwest/2009/04/08/salmon_anglers_will_see_a_big.html

Federal regulators deny protection to Calif. Smelt (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1950805~Federal_regulators_deny_protection_to_Calif__fish.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

California Cows Create Healthy Habitat for Endangered Shrimp (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1950542~Cows_create_healthy_habitat_for_endangered_shrimp.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Pierce County Weighs Action on Rising River Sediment (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/702728.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

National Post Editorial - Wind Power Is a Complete Disaster “…the world’s most wind-intensive nation, with more than 6,000 turbines generating 19% of its electricity, has yet to close a single fossil-fuel plant…” (Canada)
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fpcomment/archive/2009/04/08/wind-power-is-a-complete-disaster.aspx

Corndoggle - How did Oregon’s largest producer of “green” fuel fail so fast? (Willamette Weekly, OR)
http://wweek.com/editorial/3522/12412/

Standard-Times Op/Ed - Realities of renewables: Wind, solar lag far behind in economics of oil (San Angelo, TX)
http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2009/apr/09/realities-of-renewables/

Welcome to the “Bleeding Edge:” Why Are Renewable Energy Systems for Homeowners Still So Expensive? (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/04/why-are-renewable-energy-systems-for-homeowners-still-so-expensive?src=rss

Green Energy Subsidies Could Cost Jobs (KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO)
http://www.coloradoconnection.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=284575

Windmill Blades to Come Through Port Of Olympia This Week (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/business/story/813694.html

Free Press Op/Ed - Give A Dam about Canadian Run-Of-River (100 Mile House Free Press, BC)
http://www.bclocalnews.com/opinion/42634812.html

Canada - B.C. Hydro Not Interested in Nanaimo Turbine Energy - Technology doesn't meet policies for buying electricity (Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Hydro+interested+Nanaimo+turbine+energy/1247674/story.html

The “Smart Grid:” How Smart? Technology will run it and clean electricity will power it (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/04/how-smart?src=rss

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Energy Adviser: Shrink your carbon footprint (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20090409/LIVING/704099998

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

White House May Postpone Auctioning Emissions (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/08/AR2009040802467.html?hpid=topnews

Science Chief Discusses Climate Strategy - Obama Adviser Hints at Compromise on Cap-and-Trade Emission Allowances (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/08/AR2009040802467.html?wprss=rss_politics

World Can Halt Global Warming, Activist Says (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/04/world_can_halt_global_warming.html

Carbon Market Is Closely Watching the U.S. (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10215704-38.html

Climate Legislation Sends Chill through Areas Fueled by Coal (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/09/us/09coal.html?_r=1&hpw

Boston Globe Editorial - A carbon cap with teeth
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2009/04/09/a_carbon_cap_with_teeth/

Maryland to Rebate Cap and Trade Money to Consumers (The Business Insider)
http://www.businessinsider.com/maryland-to-rebate-cap-and-trade-money-to-consumers-2009-4

Winnipeg Sun Editorial - Hot Air over Greenhouse Gases (Canada)
http://www.winnipegsun.com/comment/columnists/lorrie_goldstein/2009/04/09/9060341-sun.html

Geoengineering Explored To Fight Global Warming (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/814218.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

T-Mobile Launches Douglas County’s First Data Center – Douglas PUD Power Makes It Go! (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090408/NEWS04/704089958/-1/WEATHER?T-Mobile-launches-Douglas-County-s-first-data-center

Stat Shot: Fiber to the Home (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/04/08/stat-shot-fiber-to-the-home/

Cisco to Buy Tidal as Part of Its Data Center Rush (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/04/09/cisco-to-buy-tidal-as-part-of-its-data-center-rush/

There's No Data to Prove Metered Billing Is Necessary - Journalists start crunching numbers, call Time Warner plan 'obscene' (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Theres-No-Data-To-Prove-Metered-Billing-Is-Necessary-101824

Google releases upgrade to its App Engine (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12101209?nclick_check=1

Australia Vs. U.S. In Broadband Stimulus Plans (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10215603-38.html

GENERAL NEWS

Effort Underway to Save Belfair Bypass From State Scrap Heap (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/apr/08/effort-underway-to-save-belfair-bypass-from-heap/?partner=RSS

Insurance to Pay Fines over Record Requests for Mason County (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6940/reftab/1632/t/INSURANCE-TO-PAY-RECORDS-FINES-FOR-MASON-COUNTY/Default.aspx

Olympia area could get some of Sea-Tac's traffic - Neighbors worry about more noise, bigger planes (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/814215.html

Motorcycle Fatalities Prompt Warning (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_040809WAB-motorcycle-safety-warning-TP.b5cb6388.html?rss

DIVERSIONS

Clowning around Pays off For Circus Hopefuls
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE53784T20090408?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

Not Such A G'Day - How Yellow Tail Crushed The Australian Wine Industry
http://www.slate.com/id/2215153/?from=rss

Relish This: Semitrailer Spills Hot Dogs
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/19129977/detail.html

Castaway Canine Home after Months at Sea
http://www.kirotv.com/family/19122495/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Eric Burdon and War - Spill the Wine (1970)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7_U-zj2gfE

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Energy News Digest for April 8, 2009

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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Electricity Grid in U.S. Penetrated by Spies
- Energy Outlook 2050: Lower Carbon, But Not So Renewable
- Power Restored to Area near Yakima, Wash.
- Dangling Power Lines Trap Seattle Crash Victim
- Oregon- Hearing could affect Idaho Power Co. line
- Planning Starts for ‘Smart Grid’ Projects
- Rural Colorado Co-Ops Duke It out over Tiered Electricity Rates
- Safety Team Warns Of 'Catastrophic' Wiring in Iraq
- Fishery Managers Set Columbia River Gillnet Season
- Oregon- Removal of Rogue River Dam Spells End of Bitter Battle
- Walla Walla Salmon Projects In Line for Funds
- Cowlitz Still Producing Steelhead Salmon
- Environmental Group Claims Lower Snake 3rd Most Endangered River
- Chelan PUD Water Project under Budget
- Dozens of theories for creation of Mima Mounds
- Bill in Legislature Could Increase Some Water, Sewer Bills
- Texas- Debate Continues Over Wind Energy Tax Deals
- Daily Mail Editorial- Americans Need Reliable Electricity
- Applied Materials' $1.9 Billion Solar Panel Deal Trimmed Back
- Myths and Realities of Renewable Energy
- Energy Secretary Backs Clean-Coal Investments
- Regional U.S. Carbon Markets May Merge
- Energy Secretary Chu on climate threat: Earth is like the Titanic
- NY Times Op/Ed- Show Us the Ball
- Climate Legislation With a Sweetener for Taxpayers
- New Data Show Rapid Arctic Ice Decline
- FCC Broadband Proposal May Miss Out on Stimulus
- 2009: The FCC Finally Makes a Broadband Plan
- Metered Broadband Kills Jobs & May Violate 1st Amendment
- Due To Budget Shortfall, Mason County Commission Denies Contracts
- Grays Harbor County Looks To Cut More Jobs
- Port of Shelton Commission ousts Miles from Chairmanship
- Vancouver Columbian Newspaper May Face Foreclosure
- Alcoa Lost $497 Million in First Quarter
- Pollen delivers allergy season on time

WORD OF THE DAY

Nescience • \NESH-unts\ • noun - Lack of knowledge or awareness; ignorance

Barnabas was the envy of the second floor steno pool. As he blithely glided through his day, he was unaware of the economic turmoil or politics that constantly flailed at his troubled colleagues. Many of his co-workers marveled at his equanimity in the face of life altering, ulcer-inducing pressures in the plastic ukulele factory. His calmness wasn’t zen-like nor an inner peace…it was pure nescience. He had no idea what was going on around him at any time, whatsoever.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Electricity Grid in U.S. Penetrated by Spies (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123914805204099085.html

Energy Outlook 2050: Lower Carbon, But Not So Renewable (NY Times)
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/energy-outlook-2050-lower-carbon-but-not-so-renewable/

Power Restored to Area near Yakima, Wash. (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009002435_apwafireoutage1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

Dangling Power Lines Trap Seattle Crash Victim (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009006032_apwapowerlinecrash.html?syndication=rss

Oregon - Hearing could affect Idaho Power Co. line (Baker City Herald, OR)
http://www.bakercityherald.com/Local-News/Hearing-could-affect-Idaho-Power-Co-line

Planning Starts for ‘Smart Grid’ Projects (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/4706-planning-starts-smart-grid-projects/

Rural Colorado Co-Ops Duke It out over Bill to Allow Tiered Electricity Rates (Colorado Independent – Hey EWEB, check out the meter face in the story photo!)
http://coloradoindependent.com/25897/rural-co-ops-duke-it-out-over-bill-to-allow-tiered-electricity-rates

Safety Team Warns Of 'Catastrophic' Wiring in Iraq (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2009004316_apelectrocutionsiraq.html?syndication=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Fishery Managers Set Columbia River Gillnet Season (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/04/07//area_news/doc49dad42a72a80108009255.txt

Oregon - Removal of Rogue River Dam Spells End of Bitter Battle (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/812684.html

Walla Walla Salmon Projects In Line for Funds (Walla Walla Union Bulletin)
http://union-bulletin.com/articles/2009/04/07/local_news/090407local01snakeriverstimulus.txt

Cowlitz Still Producing Steelhead Salmon (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/outdoors/story/702800.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Environmental Group Claims Lower Snake 3rd Most Endangered River (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009000859_webdams07.html?syndication=rss

Chelan PUD Water Project under Budget (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090407/NEWS04/704079893/1001/NEWS04

Dozens of theories for creation of Mima Mounds (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090407/NEWS03/704079970/1025/rss1025

Bill in Legislature Could Increase Some Water, Sewer Bills (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/apr/07/bill-in-legislature-could-increase-some-water/?partner=RSS

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Texas - Debate Continues Over Wind Energy Tax Deals (KWES-TV, Midland, TX)
http://www.newswest9.com/Global/story.asp?S=10148064&nav=menu505_2

Daily Mail Editorial - Americans Need Reliable Electricity (Charleston, WV)
http://www.dailymail.com/Opinion/Editorials/2009040788765

Applied Materials' $1.9 Billion Solar Panel Deal Trimmed Back To $250 Million (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12090539

Myths and Realities of Renewable Energy (Smart Grid Newsletters)
http://www.smartgridnews.com/artman/publish/commentary/Myths_and_Realities_of_Renewable_Energy-556.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Energy Secretary Backs Clean-Coal Investments (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123913664020498157.html

Regional U.S. Carbon Markets May Merge (Reuters)
http://uk.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUKTRE5366TN20090407

Energy Secretary Chu on climate threat: Earth is like the Titanic (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/greenenergy/ci_12092138?nclick_check=1

NY Times Op/Ed - Show Us the Ball “…Since the opponents of cap-and-trade are going to pillory it as a tax anyway, why not go for the real thing — a simple, transparent, economy-wide carbon tax?...”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/opinion/08friedman.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Climate Legislation With a Sweetener for Taxpayers - Entrepreneur's Vision Inspires Proposal for a Pollution Dividend (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/07/AR2009040703998.html?hpid=topnews

New Data Show Rapid Arctic Ice Decline - Proportion of Thicker, More Persistent Winter Cover Is the Lowest on Record (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/06/AR2009040601634.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

FCC Broadband Proposal May Miss Out on Stimulus - Networks May Be Built Ahead of Policies (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/07/AR2009040703996.html?wprss=rss_technology

2009: The FCC Finally Makes a Broadband Plan - Now the real test: shaking off lobbyist influence (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/2009-The-FCC-Finally-Makes-A-Broadband-Plan-101787

Congressman: Metered Broadband Kills Jobs & May Violate 1st Amendment (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/04/08/congressman-metered-broadband-kills-jobs-may-violate-1st-amendment/

GENERAL NEWS

Due To Budget Shortfall, Mason County Commission Denies Contracts (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6927/reftab/1632/t/DUE-TO-BUDGET-SHORTFALL-COUNTY-DENIES-CONTRACTS/Default.aspx

Grays Harbor County Looks To Cut More Jobs (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/813433.html

Stroke of State: Port of Shelton Commission outs Miles from Chairmanship (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6926/reftab/1632/t/NEW-PORT-OF-SHELTON-COMMISSION-CHAIR---MILES-OUSTED/Default.aspx

Vancouver Columbian Newspaper May Face Foreclosure (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009000311_apwanewspaperforeclosure1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

Alcoa Lost $497 Million in First Quarter “…excess supplies of aluminum worldwide…further production cuts are needed to match falling orders…the actual market decline will be twice as much as Alcoa projected…” (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/04/07/financial/f132142D84.DTL&feed=rss.business

Pollen delivers allergy season on time (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2009003730_allergy08m0.html?syndication=rss

DIVERSIONS

Motorist Survives Three Accidents in an Hour
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE53653820090407?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

Woman Calls 911 over Lack of Shrimp in Fried Rice
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090408/ap_on_fe_st/odd_skimp_on_shrimp;_ylt=AoyWBU3vM2i.bFU50SpzC97tiBIF

Fox To Make Reality TV Show Out Of Company Layoffs
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090408/ap_on_en_tv/tv_fox_layoff_show;_ylt=Asn58YcIByaw8Ji5gzppqv7tiBIF

Almost Half of French Approve of Locking Up Bosses
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090407/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_france_bosses;_ylt=AsIS2yFmdCk9bEhNiO1C9lftiBIF

SONG OF THE DAY

Night on Bald Mountain - Fantasia 1940 (Nightmare Food for Kids)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gd2YKyEImY