Friday, May 15, 2009

Energy News Digest for May 15, 2009

The energy news digest is taking a li’l ol’ vacation down the Oregon coast May 18 & 19. Let’s hope sneaker waves and angry seal mommies aren’t among the dangers! All new stories will return on Wednesday, May 20.

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)

- Andrew Munro Named President of National Hydropower Association
- Former Montana Governor Joins Avista Board
- Fed Energy Chief Announces Billions for Clean Coal
- Areva Nuclear Fuel Plant Celebrates 40 Years in Richland
- Yucca Mountain: Dead and costly
- Oregon - Copper Wire Stolen From BPA Facility in Gold Beach
- Nine Cents per kWh – Montana Power Rates Lowest Since Summer
- Illinois - Ameren may seek rate increase to recoup storm recovery costs
- Utah's Energy Outlook is Surging
- California Raises Net Metering Cap to 10%
- A Way To Save Salmon, Or Just A Shift In Who Gets To Catch And Kill Them?
- Oregonian Op/Ed - Columbia River Salmon: Selective Fishing for All
- Chief Joseph Hatchery gets green light
- Restoring the River of Life
- Let the Hype Begin - Copper River Salmon Shipment Lands in Seattle
- A Little Taste of Fish, Bugs and Stream Work
- Chasing Rainbows, and Their Cousins, on North Carolina’s Trout Trail
- Olympian Editorial - Taylor, DNR Can Put Shellfish Case behind Them
- Gas Barge Scrapes Hull at the Dalles Lock
- Daily News Editorial - Channel-Deepening Finish Line in Sight
- East Oregon Snowpack Higher Than Average
- EPA Sued For Not Combating Ocean Acidification
- Tribe Remains Silent on N. Idaho Land Swap
- Corporate Green Supplants Corporate Greed
- In California, Desalination of Seawater as a Test Case
- Solar and Wind Groups Lobby FERC to Lead Grid Expansion
- Power Plants Eye North Florida Forests for Green Fuel
- Climate Change: Garbage Gets Fresh Look as Source of Energy
- Florida Town Closes the Loop on Poop Power
- Supporting Alternative Energy Companies Cuts Carbon Emissions
- 'Green' Light Bulbs Poison Workers
- Experts: Energy Vampires A Growing Threat
- LEDs, Lighting Efficiency, and the Rebound Effect
- House Approves 'Green Schools' Bill
- Study Halves Prediction of Rising Seas
- Congressional Climate Legislation Finds Democratic Opponents
- Ads Target Key Votes on Climate Bill
- Wall Street Journal Editorial - Indiana Says 'No Thanks' to Cap and Trade
- NY Times Op-Ed - Empire of Carbon
- Verizon May Reach 80% FiOS Penetration
- Verizon Deal Not Likely To Cost Jobs, Officials Say
- The Rise of the Rural Super Telco
- Frustration, Distress over Google Outage
- Shelton-Based Airplane - Report Rules Out Icing in 2007 Crash of Skydiver's Plane
- G.M. Notifying 1,100 Dealers That They Will Be Dropped
- GM Won't Release List of Dealers Cut From Corporate Network
- Map: Chrysler Dealers - Who's Getting Shut Down
- Port Of Tacoma Could Lay Off 20 Percent of Staff
- Mason County Taxable Retail Sales Down
- Rapid Rise in Some WASL Scores Suspicious
- Hood Canal - Navy to Study 2nd Trident Weapons Wharf at Bangor
- Kitsap Commissioners Moving Slowly on Forest Zoning Issue
- Gregoire: 'We Want To Be the Home of Aerospace'
- Effort to Oust Portland Mayor Kicks Off

WORD OF THE DAY

Unctuous • \UNK-choo-uss\ • adjective - 1. Of the nature or quality of an unguent or ointment; fatty; oily; greasy 2. Having a smooth, greasy feel, as certain minerals. 3. Insincerely or excessively suave or ingratiating in manner or speech; marked by a false or smug earnestness or agreeableness.

After spending four excruciating hours listening to the unctuous sales pitch from a “no money down” real estate shyster, Ambrose left the meeting with three things: a headache crying out for the strongest remedy he could find; a cheap combination flashlight, radio, can opener, espresso maker; and a strong desire for a long, hot shower with plenty of soap.

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

Andrew Munro Named President of National Hydropower Association (Columbia Basin herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/05/14/news/doc4a0c617a1b8bc468716338.txt

Former Montana Governor Joins Avista Board (Associated Press)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=10363490

Fed Energy Chief Announces Billions for Clean Coal (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/05/15/national/w092716D66.DTL&feed=rss.business

Areva Nuclear Fuel Plant Celebrates 40 Years in Richland (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=10366175

Yucca Mountain: Dead and costly - Killing major federal projects is easier said than done (Associated Press)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090514/NEWS02/705149878/1024/rss1024

Oregon - Copper Wire Stolen From BPA Facility in Gold Beach (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/05/copper_wire_is_stolen_from_bpa.html

Nine Cents per kWh – Montana Power Rates Lowest Since Summer (Billings Gazette, MT)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2009/05/15/news/state/30-power.txt

Illinois - Ameren May Seek Rate Increase to Recoup Storm Recovery Costs (The Southern, Carbondale IL)
http://www.southernillinoisan.com/articles/2009/05/14/breaking_news/doc4a0cacfe8afec518149967.txt

Utah's Energy Outlook is Surging (Deseret News, Salt Lake City, UT)
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,705303601,00.html

California Raises Net Metering Cap to 10% (Seeking Alpha)
http://seekingalpha.com/article/137842-california-raises-net-metering-cap-to-10

FISH & WILDLIFE

Oregonian Op/Ed - A Way To Save Salmon, Or Just A Shift In Who Gets To Catch And Kill Them?
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/05/comment_of_the_day_4.html

Oregonian Op/Ed - Columbia River Salmon: Selective Fishing for All
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/05/columbia_river_salmon_selectiv.html

Chief Joseph Hatchery Gets Green Light (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090514/NEWS04/705149892?Chief-Joseph-Hatchery-gets-green-light

Restoring the River of Life - Undoing years of damage done by hydropower dams is a daunting task (Mother Nature Network)
http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/wilderness-resources/stories/restoring-the-river-of-life

Let the Hype Begin - Copper River Salmon Shipment Lands in Seattle (Associated Press)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_051509FOB-AP-copper-river-salmon-LJ.6711648.html?rss

A Little Taste of Fish, Bugs and Stream Work (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090514/NEWS04/705149863/1001/NEWS04

Chasing Rainbows, and Their Cousins, on North Carolina’s Trout Trail (NY Times)
http://travel.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/travel/escapes/15fly.html?partner=rss&emc=rsshttp://travel.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/travel/escapes/15fly.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Olympian Editorial - Taylor, DNR Can Put Shellfish Case behind Them
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/851521.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Gas Barge Scrapes Hull at the Dalles Lock (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/851992.html

Daily News Editorial - Channel-Deepening Finish Line in Sight (Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/05/15/editorial/doc4a0cacacb75ec696775370.txt

East Oregon Snowpack Higher Than Average (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2015785~E__Oregon_snowpack_higher_than_average.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

EPA Sued For Not Combating Ocean Acidification (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009220782_apwaimpairedocean.html?syndication=rss

Tribe Remains Silent on N. Idaho Land Swap (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/851829.html

Corporate Green Supplants Corporate Greed (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/168730.asp?source=pimail

In California, Desalination of Seawater as a Test Case (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/science/earth/15water.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Solar and Wind Groups Lobby FERC to Lead Grid Expansion (GreenTechGrid)
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/solar-and-wind-groups-lobby-ferc-to-lead-grid-expansion-5750/

Power Plants Eye North Florida Forests for Green Fuel - Companies are turning to trees as a green fuel as coal power becomes more expensive (Florida Times-Union, Jacksonville, FL – ya know, there’s a reason that there’s not much of “Sherwood Forest” left in England…)
http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-05-15/story/power_plants_eye_north_florida_forests_for_green_fuel

Climate Change: Garbage Gets Fresh Look as Source of Energy (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124233937494621157.html#mod=rss_whats_news_us_business

Florida Town Closes the Loop on Poop Power (Fast Company, scatological headlines always make me smile…)
http://www.fastcompany.com/blog/ariel-schwartz/sustainability/florida-town-closes-loop-poop-power

Supporting Alternative Energy Companies Cuts Carbon Emissions (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/x-7048-Seattle-Green-Business-Examiner~y2009m5d15-Supporting-alternative-energy-companies-cuts-carbon-emissions

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

'Green' Light Bulbs Poison Workers - Hundreds of factory staff are being made ill by mercury used in bulbs destined for the West (The Times of London, UK)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/asia/article6211261.ece

Experts: Energy Vampires A Growing Threat (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/environment/stories/NW_051409ENV-energy-vampires-KS.34ad8f8.html

LEDs, Lighting Efficiency, and the Rebound Effect (Electronics, Design, Strategy News)
http://www.edn.com/blog/1470000147/post/1960044596.html

House Approves 'Green Schools' Bill (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104145841&ft=1&f=1001

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Study Halves Prediction of Rising Seas (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/science/earth/15antarctica.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Congressional Climate Legislation Finds Democratic Opponents (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104155967&ft=1&f=2

Ads Target Key Votes on Climate Bill (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124233900613221129.html

Wall Street Journal Editorial - Indiana Says 'No Thanks' to Cap and Trade: No honest person thinks this will make a dent in climate change.
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124234844782222081.html

NY Times Op-Ed - Empire of Carbon
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/15/opinion/15krugman.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Verizon May Reach 80% FiOS Penetration - Now that they've offloaded pesky rural customers to Frontier (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Verizon-May-Reach-80-FiOS-Penetration-102454

Verizon Deal Not Likely To Cost Jobs, Officials Say (The Herald, Everett, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090514/BIZ/705149761/-1/RSS03

The Rise of the Rural Super Telco - Frontier, Centurytel, Fairpoint: the future of rural America? (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/The-Rise-Of-The-Rural-Super-Telco-102469

Frustration, Distress over Google Outage (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/15/BUPE17KKIJ.DTL&feed=rss.business

GENERAL NEWS

Shelton-Based Airplane - Report Rules Out Icing in 2007 Crash of Skydiver's Plane (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7259/reftab/1632/t/REPORT-RULES-OUT-ICING-IN-2007-CRASH-OF-SKYDIVER-S-PLANE-/Default.aspx

G.M. Notifying 1,100 Dealers That They Will Be Dropped (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/16/business/16auto.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

GM Won't Release List of Dealers Cut From Corporate Network (Trading Markets)
http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2330804/

Map: Chrysler Dealers - Who's Getting Shut Down (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/news/specials/storysupplement/chryslerdealerclosings/CA.html

Port Of Tacoma Could Lay Off 20 Percent of Staff Port Of Tacoma Could Lay Off 20 Percent of Staff (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19466533/detail.html

Mason County Taxable Retail Sales Down (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7258/reftab/1632/t/TAXABLE-RETAIL-SALES-DOWN-IN-COUNTY/Default.aspx

Rapid Rise in Some WASL Scores Suspicious (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19464935/detail.html

Hood Canal - Navy to Study 2nd Trident Weapons Wharf at Bangor (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/851897.html

Kitsap Commissioners Moving Slowly on Forest Zoning Issue - What would happen if they allow growth to quadruple in some of the most remote, forested areas of the county (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/may/14/kitsap-commissioners-moving-slowly-on-forest/?partner=RSS

Gregoire: 'We Want To Be the Home of Aerospace' (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/45057622.html

Effort to Oust Portland Mayor Kicks Off (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/45059917.html

DIVERSIONS

Students, Prom Suspended After Food Fight
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19463141/detail.html

Father Arrested For Allegedly Forcing Son's Tattoo
http://www.examiner.com/a-2015926~Father_arrested_for_allegedly_forcing_son_s_tattoo.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Fishy Selling Practices At Kansas City Restaurants: 85% Of The Fish On The Menu Is Not The Fish On The Menu (Note: comments section may contain PG-13 language)
http://consumerist.com/5254115/fishy-selling-practices-at-kansas-city-restaurants-85-of-the-fish-on-the-menu-is-not-the-fish-on-the-menu

Bogus Trend of the Week: Raising Backyard Chickens The press lays dozens and dozens of eggs.
http://www.slate.com/id/2218390/?from=rss

Woman Sues Cemetery Owner Claiming Pet Monkey's Grave Wasn't Neat and Tidy
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12372369

SONG OF THE DAY

Gin Blossoms - Found Out About You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_tXShNtyvRs&feature=PlayList&p=33D6477AB666D53D&index=0

Thursday, May 14, 2009

Energy News Digest for May 14, 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)

- Chronicle Editorial - Dams Once Again Being Considered Across Washington State
- Hydropower May Be the Solution to Energy Storage Problem
- Montana - Rainbow Dam upgrade still planned
- Penlight’s Rates an Investment for the Future
- California - State Has Enough Electricity for Summer
- Florida - Osprey Nest Causes Power Outage on Marco Island
- BPA Seeks More Smart Grid Projects Partners
- Women in Trades Career Fair Encourages Girls to “Go Green”
- Bonneville Jack Salmon Counts On Record Rate
- N.W. Lawmakers Fight To Save Salmon Fund
- West Linn: The "Aluminum Hatch" Ebbs and Flows With the Willamette's Fisheries
- Oregon - State Will Stock South Fork of Yamhill River for First Time in a Decade
- Ringold Area Bank Salmon Fishery on Columbia River to Close Soon
- Comments Sought On Proposed Hatchery and Fishery Reform Policy
- Washington State Dept of Fish and Wildlife Announces Layoffs
- A Few More Winters Before Howard Hanson Dam Fixed
- Rising Calls to Regulate California Groundwater
- San Diego Water Board OKs Huge Desalination Plant
- Feds Hunt for Former Water Company Worker in $9 Million Theft
- The Next Big Thing in Wind: Slow Wind, Huge Turbines
- Coyote Ridge Prison near Connell is Using Solar Panels to Save Energy
- Wave Power Coming On Slow Rollers
- Utah - Utility's Energy-Credit Program Draws Multitudes
- Mason County PUD No. 3 and EDC Promote Conservation Programs
- Tapping Into Students' Brain Power
- Sequim to Conduct Climate Change Survey
- Climate Policy Tracker Tracks Progress in 33 States
- Will BC Premier's Win Bring The Carbon Tax Back To Life?
- The Top 10 Green Living Myths
- Google Glitch Disrupts Search Engine, E-Mail
- Comcast's Digital Transition Creates Digital Confusion
- The Internet Apocalypse Is Ahead Of Schedule
- Oregon - State Radio Upgrade Faces Disconnect
- Cisco To Supply Clearwire With Wimax Devices
- FCC Hits Streets to Publicize Digital TV Switch
- Evergreen State College Missing Costly Gadgets
- Olympia Rock Station to Shift to All News

WORD OF THE DAY

Bludge • \BLUJ\ • verb - 1: to avoid work or responsibility *2: to get something from or live on another by imposing on hospitality or good nature: sponge.

The sharp knock on the front door rang throughout the house like a rifle shot. It was Christmas, and “Sparky” knew it was time for the annual visit of his bludging relatives.

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

Chronicle Editorial - Dams Once Again Being Considered Across Washington State
http://www.chronline.com/articles/2009/05/13/opinion/our_views/doc4a0b0871a13a9031444992.txt

Hydropower May Be the Solution to Energy Storage Problem (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/4974-hydropower-may-be-solution-energy-storage-problem/

Montana - Rainbow Dam Upgrade Still Planned (Associated Press)
http://www.abcmontana.com/news/state/44986632.html

Penlight’s Rates an Investment for the Future (Peninsula Gateway, Gig Harbor, WA)
http://www.gateline.com/opinion/story/4196.html

California - State has enough electricity for summer (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/14/BU7V17K67U.DTL&feed=rss.business

Florida - Osprey Nest Causes Power Outage on Marco Island (Fort Myers News-Press, FL)
http://www.news-press.com/article/20090513/NEWS01/90513046/1075

BPA Seeks More Smart Grid Projects Partners (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/05/11/daily40.html?ana=from_rss

Women in Trades Career Fair Encourages Girls to “Go Green” (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/273772/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Bonneville Jack Salmon Counts On Record Rate (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/bill_monroe/index.ssf/2009/05/bonneville_jack_salmon_counts.html

N.W. Lawmakers Fight To Save Salmon Fund - Regional members of Congress appeal to Locke to preserve fish & habitat program (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20090513/NEWS02/705139956/N.W.+lawmakers+fight+to+save+salmon+fund

West Linn: The "Aluminum Hatch" Ebbs and Flows With the Willamette's Fisheries (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/index.ssf/2009/05/west_linn_the_aluminum_hatch_e.html

Oregon - State Will Stock South Fork of Yamhill River for First Time in a Decade (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/05/state_will_stock_south_fork_of.html

Ringold Area Bank Salmon Fishery on Columbia River to Close Soon (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2009217065_ringold_area_bank_salmon_fishe.html

Comments Sought On Proposed Hatchery and Fishery Reform Policy (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2009217080_comments_sought_on_proposed_ha.html

Washington State Dept of Fish and Wildlife Announces Layoffs (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/44939997.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

A Few More Winters Before Howard Hanson Dam Fixed (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/44910072.html

Rising Calls to Regulate California Groundwater (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/14/science/earth/14aquifer.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

San Diego Water Board OKs Huge Desalination Plant (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2014138~San_Diego_water_board_OKs_huge_desalination_plant.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Feds Hunt for Former Water Company Worker in $9 Million Theft (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/05/14/BA4U17KGAE.DTL&feed=rss.news

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

The Next Big Thing in Wind: Slow Wind, Huge Turbines (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10233108-54.html

Coyote Ridge Prison near Connell is Using Solar Panels to Save Energy (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=10358886

Wave Power Coming On Slow Rollers (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/4972-wave-power-coming-slow-rollers/

Utah - Utility's Energy-Credit Program Draws Multitudes (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)
http://www.sltrib.com/business/ci_12364152

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Mason County PUD No. 3 and EDC Promote Conservation Programs (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7246/reftab/1632/t/PUD-3-AND-EDC-PROMOTE-CONSERVATION-PROGRAMS/Default.aspx

Tapping Into Students' Brain Power - Program Looks to Classrooms for Ideas on Reducing Energy Use (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/13/AR2009051301481.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Sequim to Conduct Climate Change Survey; Forks Slow In Addressing Issue (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090513/news/305139995

Climate Policy Tracker Tracks Progress in 33 States (Environmental Leader)
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2009/05/14/climate-policy-tracker-tracks-progress-in-33-states/

Canada - Will B.C. Premier's Win Bring The Carbon Tax Back To Life? (Globe And Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20090514.wbcelectionclimate14art22282/BNStory/politics/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20090514.wbcelectionclimate14art22282

The Top 10 Green Living Myths (Christian Science Monitor)
http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2009/05/13/the-top-10-green-living-myths/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Google Glitch Disrupts Search Engine, E-Mail (Associated Press)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12369406

Comcast's Digital Transition Creates Digital Confusion (Associated Press)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12364064

The Internet Apocalypse Is Ahead Of Schedule (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/The-Internet-Apocalypse-Is-Ahead-Of-Schedule-102431

Oregon - State Radio Upgrade Faces Disconnect (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/05/state_radio_upgrade_faces_disc.html

Cisco To Supply Clearwire With Wimax Devices (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/05/13/financial/f194219D01.DTL&feed=rss.business

FCC Hits Streets to Publicize Digital TV Switch (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/13/AR2009051302107.html?wprss=rss_technology

GENERAL NEWS

College Missing Costly Gadgets - Evergreen: Audit Shows $100,000 in Equipment Lost (The Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/849134.html

Olympia Rock Station to Shift to All News - The Eagle: Owners sign deal with Seattle’s KOMO; 10 to 15 employees of 97.7 FM will lose their jobs (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/business/story/849181.html#Comments_Container

DIVERSIONS

Funky Office Fridge Sends 7 to Hospital - Hazmat Team Responds to Clean Up Old Lunches, Disinfectant
http://www.kirotv.com/health/19445205/detail.html

$20,000 - Postal Worker Accused of Stealing, Selling Stamps
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19439741/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Donovan - Sunshine Superman
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uD0NFCVQTqs&feature=related

Wednesday, May 13, 2009

Energy News Digest for May 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)

- Okanogan PUD pays $75,000 for 2005 Methow fire
- Maintenance Fluke to Blame For April 23 Skagit Power Outage
- Chelan County PUD Still Seeing Red in Budget
- Two Regional Coal Companies to Merge in $2 Billion Deal
- Illinois - Rock Energy Files Lawsuit against Village of Rockton Acquisition
- High Growth Reported for Nuclear Energy Technologies Worldwide
- Smart Grid Electricity Costs Less, Wastes Less
- Survey Uncovers Utilities' Main Priorities
- Fisheries Managers Revising Salmon Projections
- NW Power Council OKs Colville Fish Hatchery
- Puget Sound Energy Salmon-Protection Efforts Receive National Recognition
- Hood Canal Sport Shrimp Season Extended to Include This Saturday
- Climate Change Cutting Wash. Cascade Snowpack
- Stimulus Money To Help Finish Columbia Deepening
- Idaho Cuts Water Quality Monitoring Program
- Washington Post Editorial - Federal Action on the Bay
- California - Judge Rules Desalinization Plant Decision Was Appropriate
- Turning Off Wind Turbines Saves Bats
- Oregon - Clean Energy Is a Breeze - Small wind turbines spin interest
- Alaska - Winds of Change Slow to Come to Seward
- United Kingdom- $3B pledge jump-starts massive offshore wind project
- Pacific Gas & Electric Strikes Huge Solar Power Deal With BrightSource
- Maine - Paper Mill Officials Lobby for Fuel Credit
- The Forgotten Piece of the Smart Grid: Energy Storage
- Bubble Trouble - Pacific Ethanol Considers Bankruptcy
- Chelan PUD’s Weatherization Loans Losing Out
- Cell Phones, TVs Undo Efficiency Gains: Study
- For LED Technology - Idaho seeks stimulus money for Micron
- Democrats to Relax House Emissions Bill
- OMB Criticizes EPA Finding on Greenhouse Gases
- White House Memo Challenges EPA Finding on Warming
- Tallying Climate Bill’s Cost to Consumers
- Carbon Geography of the United States
- Chehalis Pulls Plug on Citywide Wi-Fi Project
- Verizon Selling Washington Rural Phone Line Business to Frontier
- F.C.C.: Landline Number Move Should Take 1 Day, Not 4
- Data Storage Opens Up New Source of Work for IT Firms
- Rackspace Posts 21 Percent Hike in First-Quarter Earnings
- After a Shaky 2008, U.S. Broadband Growth Picks Up
- New Docs Show FCC Glossed Over BPL Flaws
- Ask.com CEO Leaving; President to Take Over Role
- Google Unveils A Series of New Search Features
- Washington Econ Forecasters Say Turning Point Near
- Gov OKs Tax Cut for Newspapers
- Columbia River Gorge panel braces for budget cuts
- Oregon Electronics Recycling Has Too Much Junk

WORD OF THE DAY

Clamor • \CLAM-err\ • noun - 1a: noisy shouting b: a loud continuous noise 2: insistent public expression (as of support or protest)

The doors of the “Price Cut” stores were rattling and bending inwards at locations throughout the country the day after Thanksgiving. The press of howling, ravenous shoppers clamoring for the new “Kick Me Elmo” doll was much greater than the cynical toy manufacturer had hoped.

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

Okanogan PUD pays $75,000 for 2005 Methow fire - PUD denies negligence in fire started by dead tree falling on power line (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090512/NEWS04/705129968/-1/PRINTINDEX?Okanogan-PUD-pays-$75-000-for-2005-Methow-fire-

Maintenance Fluke to Blame For April 23 Skagit Power Outage (Associated Press)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=10355658

Chelan County PUD Still Seeing Red in Budget (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090512/NEWS04/705129960/1001/NEWS04

Two Regional Coal Companies to Merge in $2 Billion Deal (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/12/AR2009051202032.html?wprss=rss_business

Illinois - Rock Energy Files Lawsuit against Village of Rockton Acquisition (WREX-TV, Rockford, IL)
http://www.wrex.com/Global/story.asp?S=10342104

High Growth Reported for Nuclear Energy Technologies Worldwide (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=362051&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss

Smart Grid Electricity Costs Less, Wastes Less (The Tennessean)
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090513/NEWS01/905130412/Smart+grid+electricity+costs+less++wastes+less

Survey Uncovers Utilities' Main Priorities (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=362015&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Fisheries Managers Revising Salmon Projections (Associated Press)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/05/fisheries_managers_revising_sa.html

NW Power Council OKs Colville Fish Hatchery (The Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/848999.html

News Release - Puget Sound Energy Salmon-Protection Efforts Receive National Recognition (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&id=111417

Hood Canal Sport Shrimp Season Extended to Include This Saturday (Port Townsend Leader, WA)
http://www.ptleader.com/Main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=24181

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Climate Change Cutting Wash. Cascade Snowpack (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/848848.html

Stimulus Money to Help Finish Columbia Deepening (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009215294_apwacolumbiadredging.html?syndication=rss

Idaho Cuts Water Quality Monitoring Program (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/849626.html

Washington Post Editorial - Federal Action on the Bay: President Obama wades into the Chesapeake
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/12/AR2009051203232.html?nav=rss_opinions

California - Judge Rules Desalinization Plant Decision Was Appropriate (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009213088_apuscalifdesalinationplant.html?syndication=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Turning Off Wind Turbines Saves Bats (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/05/11/daily21.html?ana=from_rss

Oregon - Clean Energy Is a Breeze - Small wind turbines spin interest from homeowners, schools, city (The Astorian, OR)
http://www.dailyastorian.com/Main.asp?SectionID=2&ArticleID=60840

Alaska - Winds of Change Slow to Come to Seward (KTUU, Anchorage, AK)
http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=10351955

United Kingdom- $3B pledge jump-starts massive offshore wind project (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/05/12/12greenwire-3b-pledge-jump-starts-massive-offshore-wind-pr-19116.html

Pacific Gas & Electric Strikes Huge Solar Power Deal With BrightSource (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12359880

Maine - Paper Mill Officials Lobby for Fuel Credit (Mainebiz.com)
http://www.mainebiz.biz/news44572.html

The Forgotten Piece of the Smart Grid: Energy Storage (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/05/13/the-forgotten-piece-of-the-smart-grid-energy-storage/

Bubble Trouble - Pacific Ethanol Considers Bankruptcy (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/05/11/daily28.html?ana=from_rss

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Chelan PUD’s Weatherization Loans Losing Out - wants to get out of the home weatherization-loan business, commissioners learned (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090512/NEWS04/705129927/1025/rss1025

Cell Phones, TVs Undo Efficiency Gains: Study (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE54C4K420090513

For LED Technology - Idaho seeks stimulus money for Micron (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/849740.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Democrats to Relax House Emissions Bill - Deal Courts Industrial-State Votes (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/12/AR2009051203962.html?wprss=rss_business

OMB Criticizes EPA Finding on Greenhouse Gases (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104065600&ft=1&f=2

White House Memo Challenges EPA Finding on Warming (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2009210631_apusepaclimate.html?syndication=rss

Tallying Climate Bill’s Cost to Consumers (NY Times)
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/05/13/tallying-climate-bills-cost-to-consumers/

Carbon Geography of the United States (The Guardian, UK)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/feedarticle/8504944

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Chehalis Pulls Plug on Citywide Wi-Fi Project - Council Member Calls Implementation of Plan a ‘Fiasco’ as City Looks to Recoup Only $5,000 of $26,000 Investment (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/articles/2009/05/13/news//doc4a09c28aebd40825348265.txt

Verizon Selling Washington Rural Phone Line Business to Frontier (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/05/11/daily37.html?ana=from_rss

F.C.C.: Landline Number Move Should Take 1 Day, Not 4 (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/05/13/technology/AP-US-TEC-FCC-Number-Portability.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Data Storage Opens Up New Source of Work for IT Firms - Contractors Shift Focus to Cloud Computing, Virtualization (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/11/AR2009051103378.html?wprss=rss_technology

Rackspace Posts 21 Percent Hike in First-Quarter Earnings (San Antonio Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2009/05/11/daily15.html?ana=from_rss

After a Shaky 2008, U.S. Broadband Growth Picks Up (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/05/13/after-a-shaky-2008-u-s-broadband-growth-picks-up/

New Docs Show FCC Glossed Over BPL Flaws - Surprising, well, nobody (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/New-Docs-Show-FCC-Glossed-Over-BPL-Flaws-102422

Ask.com CEO Leaving; President to Take Over Role (Associated Press)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12352895

Google Unveils A Series of New Search Features (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009213345_googlerefine13.html?syndication=rss

GENERAL NEWS

Washington Econ Forecasters Say Turning Point Near (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009214801_apwastateeconomy.html?syndication=rss

Gov OKs Tax Cut for Newspapers (Associated Press)
http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/44843807.html

Columbia River Gorge panel braces for budget cuts - Effort to measure conditions faces uncertain future (The Columbian, Vancouver, OR)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20090513/NEWS02/705139954/Gorge+panel+braces+for+budget+cuts

Oregon Electronics Recycling Has Too Much Junk (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2012987~Oregon_electronics_recycling_has_too_much_junk.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

DIVERSIONS

“Titanic” Stars Aid the Disaster’s Last Survivor
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/Europe/2009/may/Titanic-Stars-Aid-Last-Survivor.html

A “Finger of God” Story - Rowdy Partier Bangs on Neighbor's Door, Gets a Big Surprise
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/44883537.html

Top Baby Names in Washington? Ethan, Olivia
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/05/11/daily31.html?ana=from_rss

SONG OF THE DAY

Bill Withers - use me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g3hBYTkI-sE

Tuesday, May 12, 2009

Energy News Digest for May 12, 2009

This is the 400th Energy News Digest Post on this Blog!

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.

The news digest is also available at the following web site:
http://www.energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Second Open House on Mason County PUD No. 3 Johns Prairie Operations Center
- Brother, Can You Spare a Dam?
- Klickitat County Wants Natural Gas Explorers to Carry More Insurance
- Former Enron CEO Skilling appeals to Supreme Court
- Allegheny Energy Pulling Out of Virginia
- United Kingdom - Anglesey Aluminum Starts the Fight to Save Jobs
- Spring Chinook Numbers Shrink
- Students Release Salmon into Columbia River
- Crayfish Season under Way in Lake Washington
- Chelan/Grant PUDs to Benefit - Ecology Uses Recovery Money to Reduce Emissions
- Chesapeake Bay Cleanup: Will The Stewards Unveil A More Realistic Plan?
- Oregon Solar Bill Creates Industry Conflict
- Wind Turbine Technology Gets Bigger and Better
- How Wind Energy Financing Models Are Changing
- Blackfoot, Idaho Clears Way for Wind Turbines in City
- North Carolina - Windmill Owner Fascinated By Power
- Schott Solar Opens Plant despite Downturn
- Nevada Legislature Debates Renewable Energy
- Tennessean Editorial - State Must Persevere On Renewable Energy
- Texas - Bankruptcy Latest Blow to Biofuels Sector
- Weatherization Funds Evaporating - Two months ago, it seemed like a boon
- Oregon - House Scales Back Business Deductions for Energy Projects
- Stimulus Offers Tax Credit for Energy Efficiency
- Nation’s Green 'Czar' Pushes Jobs, Community-Building
- Detroit Free Press - Make Efficiency Incentives a Key Part of Energy Plan
- Congress Pushes Cap and Trade, But Just 24% Know What It Is
- Waxman to Push Global Warming Bill without Allowing Subcommittee Vote
- The Influence Game: Firms Exact Climate Price
- Federal Climate Change Legislation=$624 Billion in Tax Revenue
- A Difference Of Opinion; County, Cities Go Own Ways on Climate Change
- Some See Energy Bill Helping Money Grow On Trees
- Canada – Saskatchewan Gov’t Cuts Emissions Goal to Aid Its Utility
- We Need an FCC Chief and We Need Him Now
- Microsoft Bond Sale: $3.75 Billion Offering
- AirTran Airways joins the Wi-Fi crowd
- California - Palo Alto Council Talks Broadband, Rail with Congresswoman
- City of Shelton Rejects Liquor License Recommendation for Downtown Bar
- Olympia Parking Costs May Climb – May end downtown free zone
- Death of 97.7, the Eagle - KOMO Newsradio to Be Heard On FM and AM
- NY Times Editorial - Sharing Congress’s Research

WORD OF THE DAY

Bastion • \BASS-chun\ • noun – 1: a projecting part of a fortification 2: a fortified area or position 3: stronghold

In the distance a dog barked, a sliver of moonlight pierced the leaves in the small copse that had become a hiding spot for the last of their kind. The small band of humans huddled at the small trickle of water that marked the headwaters of a mighty salmon stream. Their last stand at the bastion of biped dominance would be remembered by their anadromous, finned foes as the “Battle of the Headwaters.” Climate change, rising waters, dam removal, the elimination of irrigation, genetic mutations from hatchery/wild spawn, the siphoning of capital from other needs all combined to create an evolved salmon species that not only had a sentience, but also a sense of entitlement over their former masters. The progression took so long to evidence itself that the “Salmon Apocalypse” was well underway before humans could react. (With all due respect to the creators of “Planet of the Apes”)

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

Second Open House on Mason County PUD No. 3 Johns Prairie Operations Center Today In Belfair (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7224/reftab/1632/Default.aspx

Brother, Can You Spare a Dam? (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/2009/05/brother_can_you_spare_a_dam.html

Klickitat County Wants Natural Gas Explorers to Carry More Insurance (Associated Press)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_gas_exploration.html?source=pimail

Former Enron CEO Skilling appeals to Supreme Court (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009207861_apenronskillingappeal.html?syndication=rss

Allegheny Energy Pulling Out of Virginia (Winchester Star, VA)
http://www.winchesterstar.com/showarticle_new.php?sID=6&foldername=20090506&file=allegheny_article.html

United Kingdom - Anglesey Aluminum Starts the Fight to Save Jobs (The Daily Post, UK)
http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2009/05/12/anglesey-aluminium-starts-the-fight-to-save-jobs-55578-23600188/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Spring Chinook Numbers Shrink (Lewiston Tribune, ID)
http://www.lmtribune.com/breaking-news/993/

Students Release Salmon into Columbia River (KNDU-TV, Tri Cities, WA)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=10341279

Crayfish Season under Way in Lake Washington, and Many Other Lakes and Streams (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2009207304_crayfish_season_underway_in_ma.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Chelan/Grant PUDs to Benefit - Ecology Uses Recovery Money to Reduce Emissions (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090511/NEWS04/705119948

Washington Post Editorial - Chesapeake Bay Cleanup: Will the stewards of the waterway unveil a more realistic plan?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/11/AR2009051102612.html?nav=rss_opinions

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Oregon Solar Bill Creates Industry Conflict (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/05/oregon-solar-bill-creates-industry-conflict?cmpid=rss

Wind Turbine Technology Gets Bigger and Better (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/05/wind-turbine-technology-gets-bigger-and-better?cmpid=rss

How Wind Energy Financing Models Are Changing (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/05/models-have-changed-but-wind-energy-finance-remains-active?cmpid=rss

Blackfoot, Idaho Clears Way for Wind Turbines in City (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/848416.html

North Carolina - Windmill Owner Fascinated By Power (The Fayetteville Observer, NC)
http://www.fayobserver.com/article?id=326137

Schott Solar Opens Plant despite Downturn (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10237445-54.html?tag=nl.e703

Nevada Legislature Debates Renewable Energy (Reno Gazette-Journal, NV)
http://www.rgj.com/article/20090511/NEWS11/90511034/1321/NEWS

Tennessean Editorial - State Must Persevere On Renewable Energy
http://www.tennessean.com/article/20090512/OPINION01/905120314/1008/State+must+persevere+on+renewable+energy

Texas - Bankruptcy Latest Blow to Biofuels Sector (San Antonio Express-News, TX)
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/44749967.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Weatherization Funds Evaporating - Two months ago, it seemed like a boon. Now, federal stimulus money aimed at boosting home weatherization projects looks more like a buoy (Tri-City Herald, via the News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/northwest/story/738814.html

Oregon - House Scales Back Business Deductions for Energy Projects: Makers of plug-in cars gain eligibility (The Statesman Journal, Salem, OR)
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20090512/LEGISLATURE/905120322/1042/STATE

Stimulus Offers Tax Credit for Energy Efficiency (National Public Radio: Good story, but BTW, the reporter incorrectly identifies Puget Sound Energy as a public utility)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=104047348

Nation’s Green 'Czar' Pushes Jobs, Community-Building (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103456763&ft=1&f=3

Detroit Free Press Editorial - Make Efficiency Incentives a Key Part of Energy Plan
http://www.freep.com/article/20090512/OPINION01/905120327

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Congress Pushes Cap and Trade, But Just 24% Know What It Is (Rasmussen Reports)
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/environment/congress_pushes_cap_and_trade_but_just_24_know_what_it_is

Waxman to Push Global Warming Bill without Allowing Subcommittee Vote (Washington Examiner, DC)
http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/politics/Waxman-to-push-global-warming-bill-without-allowing-subcommittee-vote_05_12-44750477.html

The Influence Game: Firms Exact Climate Price - Utilities, steelmakers and oil industry lobbyists have tried to ease the pain of President Barack Obama's push to curb global warming, and they've gotten an early return on the millions of dollars they've spent influencing Congress (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2009206361_apusclimatelobbying.html?syndication=rss

Federal Climate Change Legislation to Generate $624 Billion in Tax Revenue (Examiner.Com)
http://www.examiner.com/x-219-Denver-Weather-Examiner~y2009m5d12-Climate-change-legislation-to-generate-624-billion-in-tax-revenue

A Difference Of Opinion; County, Cities Go Own Ways on Climate Change (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090512/news/305129996

Some See Energy Bill Helping Money Grow On Trees (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/05/11/11greenwire-some-see-energy-bill-helping-money-grow-on-tre-10572.html

Canada – Saskatchewan Gov’t Cuts Emissions Goal to Aid Its Utility (The Canadian Press)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090512.SASK12ISLART2145/TPStory/National

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

We Need an FCC Chief and We Need Him Now (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/05/11/we-need-an-fcc-chief-and-we-need-him-now/

Microsoft Bond Sale: $3.75 Billion Offering (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoft/2009208820_microsoftdebt12.html

AirTran Airways joins the Wi-Fi crowd (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/05/12/financial/f073113D96.DTL&feed=rss.business

California - Palo Alto Council Talks Broadband, Rail with Congresswoman Anna Eshoo (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12348744

GENERAL NEWS

City of Shelton Rejects Liquor License Recommendation for Downtown Bar – Cites drunkenness, traffic hazards, impaired drivers (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7226/reftab/1632/t/CITY-NOT-RECOMMENDING-LIQUOR-LICENSE-RENEWAL-FOR-BIG-E-S/Default.aspx

Olympia Parking Costs May Climb - City Council to discuss ending downtown free zone (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/848041.html

Death of 97.7, the Eagle - KOMO Newsradio to Be Heard On FM and AM (KOMO Radio, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/44725407.html

NY Times Editorial - Sharing Congress’s Research
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/12/opinion/12tue3.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

You Can Find A Bunch Of These Congressional Research Reports Here:
http://opencrs.com/

DIVERSIONS

Girls Find Music from Buffett and His Ukuleles (Check out the video of his visit at the bottom of the story)
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE5455O220090506?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews&rpc=69&sp=true

Perhaps Not the Brightest Of Vandals...
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/theblotter/2009210271_perhaps_not_the_brightest_of_v.html?syndication=rss

Privy Probers Plumb Depths of 19th-Century Life in Sacramento
http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1853155.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Phish - Bouncing Around the Room
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EfdcHOtAxhY&feature=PlayList&p=2EE0726F98F9A582&index=0&playnext=1

Monday, May 11, 2009

Energy News Digest for May 11, 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.

http://www.energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Mason County Public Utility District Considering $41 Million Expansion
- Snohomish County PUD Thinking Small Dams
- Hydropower Doesn't Count As Green Energy, But Some Say It Should
- Hydropower: It's Renewable, But Is It Green?
- A Look Back At the Washington State Legislative Session
- POWER: Columbia Generating Station Shut Down For Refueling
- Kalama Coal Plant Gives Way To Greener Ideas
- Kyrgyzstan Ambassador Tours Rocky Reach Dam, Tree Top
- Puget Sound Energy Request Gas Rate Decrease
- Montana Alberta Tie Line developers cautious despite recent victory
- Prominent Power Lines Dim Green Enthusiasm for Some
- Wyoming - We're getting a Clean-Coal Facility
- Tennessee Valley Authority Utilities' New Co-Op Could Cut Power Bills
- Cost Of S.C. Nuke Plant Has Duke In Search For Partner
- Flipping Nuclear Power Back On - For investors, many nuclear options
- NOAA: Mild Solar Storm Season Predicted
- Officials Fret Bonneville Salmon Count Accuracy
- Good News, Bad News on Spring Chinook Fishing
- Oregon Considers Planting Salmon Eggs
- Big Birds in Snohomish County Getting Protection from Power Lines
- British Columbia - Rescue Group Struggles To Deal with Bird Electrocutions
- Eld Inlet Duck Hunting Leads to Dispute
- Abalone Are Treasured — Nearly To Extinction Locally
- Chelan PUD: Clean-Water Guru Thrives On His Connections
- Agency Proposes Puget Sound Aquatic Reserve
- Grays Harbor “Green” Projects Survive
- Mason County PUD No. 3 Holding Hearing on SEPA Policies and Procedures
- Weed Whackers Can Spew Some Serious Pollutants
- Springtime Smoke in Siberia Is Our Arctic Haze
- Save Birds by Promoting Wind Energy
- Noise protesters howling about wind farms
- Detroit News, Op/Ed - Bigger Isn't Better For Wind Power
- Wind Energy Finds New Backers from Automakers’ Woes
- Mafia Link to Sicily Wind Farms Probed
- Wyoming - Landowners: Slow Down Wind Energy
- Green Energy: Rooftop Unit Generates Electricity in Moderate Wind
- Ethanol Industry’s 15% Solution Raises Concerns
- Stimulus Money to Go to Washington State Energy Efficiency
- Industry Looks to LED Bulbs for the Home
- Cut Energy Use, Make Your Home Efficient With Easy Steps
- Smart Meters: Monitoring A Cleaner, Greener Grid
- What Will Carbon Caps Cost?
- Oregon State House gives Kulongoski a victory on greenhouse gases
- Oregon’s Governor- Straight Talk, or Unhelpful Scolding?
- House Dems Edge Closer To Consensus on Climate and Energy Bill
- ‘Kill Bill’ Climate Strategy Plays like Old Movie
- Chevron’s O’Reilly: Cap-and-Trade Means ‘Pre-Industrial Economy’
- China Hydropower "Subprime Carbon" Flood May Slow
- Australia - Carbon Market's Disappearing Act
- Agro-Forestry Study May Open Carbon Market to Poor
- Though Rural, Clallam County Attacks Climate Change
- Will the Sun’s Decreased Activity Mean another Little Ice Age?
- As Data Centers Suck Up Energy Industry Looks to Turn Down the Heat
- Microsoft looking to cut data center power bills
- There's a Downside to Letting Go Of Your Landline
- Metered Internet Likely On Way
- UTOPIA Launches North America’s Fastest Residential Internet Connection
- Utopia Hits 100Mbps - First to 100Mbps, but not really
- Tennessee - No Profit yet For Jackson Energy Authority Telecom Division
- Minnesota - A Bubble of Broadband Spending
- Washington Reports First Death of Person with Swine Flu
- Peel 'Em And Weep: First-Class Stamps Rise 2 Cents
- Repairs to Temporary Tahuya River Bridge Finished
- E-Mails Show outside Influence on Yakima Budget Process
- Lakewood Might Check Legal Status of Its City Workers
- Gregoire on the Spot Over Performance Audits
- California Fires Sparked by Power Tool, Officials Say
- Md. Town's Bid for Economic Stimulus Starts a Fight

WORD OF THE DAY

Sandbag • \SAND-bag \ • verb – 1: to bank, stop up, or weight with sandbags 2a: to hit or stun with or as if with a sandbag b: to treat unfairly or harshly *3: to conceal or misrepresent one's true position, potential, or intent especially in order to take advantage of

The dark, surging water of “Pressure Creek” kept rising, its oily surface hiding the destructive power pummeling the ever-higher pile of sandbags placed on the riverbank. As the velvety darkness fell on the “bucket-brigade” of volunteers, the foreman on the growing levee fell, sandbagged into unconsciousness by an unknown assailant. Suddenly atop the improvised dam appeared a man in deep purple robes, the fabric spangled with diamonds that shone like starlight on the darkest night. “Do not be afraid,” he bellowed to the sweaty, begrimed workers, “The waters will not pass this point.” Fortunately, the dark toil did not abate, as the experienced flood survivors knew that the peculiar “Lord of the Rings” fanboy was merely trying to sandbag them into believing that he was one of the mysterious wizards of middle-earth.

(What a long walk for a little weird humor…)

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

Mason County Public Utility District Considering $41 Million Expansion (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/may/10/mason-county-utility-district-considering-41/

Snohomish County PUD Thinking Small Dams - PUD wants 10 new mini-dams; environmentalists see trouble (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_small_dams.html?source=mypi

Hydropower Doesn't Count As Green Energy, But Some Say It Should (Everett Herald, WA)
http://heraldnet.com/article/20090510/NEWS01/705109905

Hydropower: It's Renewable, But Is It Green? (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/4953-hydropower-its-renewable-it-green/

A Look Back At the Washington State Legislative Session (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/local/story/736742.html

POWER: Columbia Generating Station Shut Down For Refueling (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/572547.html

Kalama Coal Plant Gives Way To Greener Ideas (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/05/11//area_news/doc4a06613db3c88933983777.txt

Kyrgyzstan Ambassador Tours Rocky Reach Dam, Tree Top (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090509/NEWS04/705099956/-1/FAM?Kyrgyzstan-ambassador-tours-Rocky-Reach-Dam--Tree-Top

Puget Sound Energy Request Gas Rate Decrease (Associated Press)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_pse_rates.html?source=mypi

Montana Alberta Tie Line developers cautious despite recent victory, but other transmission lines are in the works (Great Falls Tribune, MT)
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20090510/NEWS01/905100301/1002/news01/MATL+developers+cautious+despite+recent+victory++but+other+transmission+lines+are+in+the+works

Prominent Power Lines Dim Green Enthusiasm for Some (Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1850173.html

Wyoming - We're getting a Clean-Coal Facility (Wyoming Tribune Eagle, Cheyenne, WY)
http://www.wyomingnews.com/articles/2009/05/09/news/20local_05-09-09.txt

Tennessee Valley Authority Utilities' New Co-Op Could Cut Power Bills, But At A Price (The Tennessean)
http://www.wbir.com/news/local/story.aspx?storyid=87216&catid=2

Cost Of S.C. Nuke Plant Has Duke In Search For Partner - Company could drop the $11 billion project if it can’t share financial risk (Charlotte Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2009/05/11/story8.html?ana=from_rss

Flipping Nuclear Power Back On - For investors, many nuclear options. But tread carefully. (Barron’s Online)
http://online.barrons.com/article/SB124182248204002189.html?mod=googlenews_barrons

NOAA: Mild Solar Storm Season Predicted (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=361685&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Officials Fret Bonneville Salmon Count Accuracy (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/bill_monroe/index.ssf/2009/05/officials_fret_bonneville_salm.html

Good News, Bad News on Spring Chinook Fishing For Some Columbia River Tributaries (Seattle Times)
http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/reeltimenorthwest/2009/05/09/good_news_bad_news_on_spring_c.html

Oregon Considers Planting Salmon Eggs (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2008008~Oregon_considers_planting_salmon_eggs.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Big Birds in Snohomish County Getting Protection from Power Lines (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_050809WAB-birds-power-lines-KS.7da3178.html?rss

British Columbia - Rescue Group Struggles To Deal with Bird Electrocutions (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)
http://www.timescolonist.com/Technology/Rescue+group+struggles+deal+with+bird+electrocutions/1581900/story.html

Eld Inlet Duck Hunting Leads to Dispute - Homeowners seek controlled zone, ban (The Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/846314.html

Abalone Are Treasured — Nearly To Extinction Locally: Today, so few of the shellfish remain that scientists with kitchen utensils and model-train glue are trying to mate survivors in a lab (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009202083_abalone10m.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Chelan PUD: Clean-Water Guru Thrives On His Connections (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090508/NEWS04/705089974/0/NEWS03?Clean-water-guru-thrives-on-his-connections

Agency Proposes Puget Sound Aquatic Reserve - Environment: Plan safeguards thousands of acres of marine habitat in Nisqually Reach-Anderson Island area (The Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/845534.html

Grays Harbor “Green” Projects Survive (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/05/10/local_news/doc4a0526e0b6b6f058519173.txt

Mason County PUD No. 3 Holding Hearing on SEPA Policies and Procedures (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7211/reftab/1632/Default.aspx

Weed Whackers Can Spew Some Serious Pollutants (South Coast Today, MA)
http://www.southcoasttoday.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090510/LIFE/905100310

Springtime Smoke in Siberia Is Our Arctic Haze (Anchorage Daily News, AK)
http://www.adn.com/life/alaskana/story/789948.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Save Birds by Promoting Wind Energy - A new study shows that wind farms and nuclear power plants are substantially better for avian wildlife than fossil-fueled power stations (Scitizen)
http://scitizen.com/screens/blogPage/viewBlog/sw_viewBlog.php?idTheme=14&idContribution=2731

Noise protesters howling about wind farms (Toronto Star, Ontario, Canada)
http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/632161

Detroit News, Op/Ed - Bigger Isn't Better For Wind Power
http://www.detnews.com/article/20090511/OPINION01/905110318/1008/Bigger-isn-t-better-for-wind-power

Wind Energy Finds New Backers from Automakers’ Woes (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/847232.html

Mafia Link to Sicily Wind Farms Probed (Financial Times of London)
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/f828472c-390c-11de-8cfe-00144feabdc0.html

Wyoming - Landowners: Slow Down Wind Energy (Caspar Star-Tribune, WY)
http://www.trib.com/articles/2009/05/09/news/energy/doc4a062e8428e62605633140.txt

Green Energy: Rooftop Unit Generates Electricity in Moderate Wind (Control Engineering)
http://www.controleng.com/article/CA6657104.html?industryid=48514


Ethanol Industry’s 15% Solution Raises Concerns (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/10/automobiles/10ETHANOL.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Stimulus Money to Go to Washington State Energy Efficiency (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/government/story/735935.html

Industry Looks to LED Bulbs for the Home (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/11/technology/11led.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Cut Energy Use, Make Your Home Efficient With Easy Steps (Associated Press)
http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-energy-efficiency-0511,0,195607.story

Smart Meters: Monitoring A Cleaner, Greener Grid - How would they work, who benefits — and who will pay? (The Guardian, UK)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/may/11/smart-meters

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

What Will Carbon Caps Cost? “…Portland General Electric…warned of rate increases as much as 120% to meet carbon cap targets that may be enforced in Oregon…” (Motley Fool)
http://www.fool.com/investing/dividends-income/2009/05/08/what-will-carbon-caps-cost.aspx

Oregon State House gives Kulongoski a victory on greenhouse gases (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/05/house_gives_kulongoski_a_victo.html

Oregon’s Governor- Straight Talk, or Unhelpful Scolding? (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/05/11/business/energy-environment/11iht-green11.html

House Dems Edge Closer To Consensus on Climate and Energy Bill (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/05/11/11climatewire-house-dems-edge-closer-to-consensus-on-clima-10572.html

‘Kill Bill’ Climate Strategy Plays like Old Movie (Bloomberg News)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601039&sid=aSSAAFtlyE2c&refer=home

Chevron’s O’Reilly: Cap-and-Trade Means ‘Pre-Industrial Economy’ (Wall Street Journal)
http://blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/2009/05/08/chevrons-oreilly-cap-and-trade-means-pre-industrial-economy/#mod=yahoo_hs

China Hydropower "Subprime Carbon" Flood May Slow – “…China’s booming hydropower sector is facing mounting criticism for generating "subprime carbon" credits from projects that don't need extra earnings to succeed, raising the risk of tougher rules and putting billions of dollars of clean energy investments at risk…” (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-BusinessofGreen/idUSTRE5452AI20090506

Australia - Carbon Market's Disappearing Act (The Australian)
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/business/story/0,28124,25457368-5005200,00.html

Agro-Forestry Study May Open Carbon Market to Poor (Reuters)
http://www.alertnet.org/thenews/newsdesk/LB352772.htm

Though Rural, Clallam County Attacks Climate Change (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090511/news/305119996

Will the Sun’s Decreased Activity Mean another Little Ice Age? (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/science/2009/may/Will-the-Sun-s-Decreased-Activity-Mean-Another-Little-Ice-Age-.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

As Data Centers Suck Up Energy, Money, Tech Industry Looks to Turn Down the Heat (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoft/2009204767_greendata11.html?syndication=rss

Microsoft looking to cut data center power bills - $3.4 million electrical bill last year to operate data center in Quincy (Associated Press)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/northwest/story/737926.html

There's a Downside to Letting Go Of Your Landline (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12318854

Metered Internet Likely On Way (McClatchy Newspapers)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009204491_btisps11.html?syndication=rss

UTOPIA Launches North America’s Fastest Residential Internet Connection (Consumer Electronics Net) “…The customer, in Layton , Utah , is setting records by connecting his home to the first symmetrical, non-shared 100 Mbps fiber-optic Internet connection in the United States …” Ed. Note: I think I’ve got some customers using Public Utility District wholesale fiber in the Pacific Northwest that would like to challenge that assumption…
http://audiovideo.consumerelectronicsnet.com/articles/viewarticle.jsp?id=738634

Utopia Hits 100Mbps - First to 100Mbps, but not really – PUD’s in Washington State have been wholesaling 100Mbps for almost a decade… (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Utopia-Hits-100Mbps-102365?r=773

Tennessee - No Profit yet For Jackson Energy Authority Telecom Division (Jackson Sun, TN)
http://www.jacksonsun.com/article/20090510/NEWS01/905100315

Minnesota - A Bubble of Broadband Spending - Network equipment operator Clearfield of Plymouth is on hold while potential federal stimulus-plan spenders connect the dots (Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN)
http://www.startribune.com/business/44610777.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DUvDE7aL_V_BD77:DiiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

GENERAL NEWS

Washington Reports First Death Of Person With Swine Flu (Associated Press)
http://columbian.com/article/20090509/NEWS02/705099938/

Peel 'Em And Weep: First-Class Stamps Rise 2 Cents (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2009200627_apuspostalrates.html?syndication=rss

Repairs to Temporary Tahuya River Bridge Finished (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7199/reftab/1632/t/REPAIRS-TO-TEMPORARY-TAHUYA-RIVER-BRIDGE-FINISHED/Default.aspx

Online Consultation: E-Mails Show outside Influence on Yakima Budget Process - Documents reveal Business Times' Bruce Smith worked behind the scenes with council allies (Yakima Herald Republic)
http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2009/05/07/e-mails-show-outside-influence-on-yakima-budget-process

Lakewood Might Check Legal Status of Its City Workers (Associated Press)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_051109WAB-lakewood-city-workers-LJ.15d6b5b0.html?rss

Gregoire on the Spot Over Performance Audits (Crosscut Seattle)
http://crosscut.com/blog/crosscut/18947/

California Fires Sparked by Power Tool, Officials Say (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/05/10/us/AP-US-Wildfires.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Md. Town's Bid for Economic Stimulus Starts a Fight - U.S. Funds Sought for Development Project's Sewage Plant (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/05/10/AR2009051002138.html?nav=rss_email/components

DIVERSIONS

Woman Who Kept Mom's Body and Benefits Charged
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE5473JM20090508?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

China - Lost Tourist Search Turns Up Seven Corpses
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE5473KR20090508?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

"Honest Pint" Bill Passes Oregon House
http://www.examiner.com/a-2005427~_Honest_pint__bill_passes_Ore__House.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Mom Accused in Little League Assault
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_051009WAB-mom-arrested-SW.11e139f9.html?rss

SONG OF THE DAY

Pieces of April - Three Dog Night
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UEo0btreHi4