July 24, 2009 - Energy News Digest takes a County Fair Hiatus

The original energy news digest will be at the Mason County Fair this weekend, sweltering in the heat, but still enjoying fair treats like pronto pups, shaved ice and curly fries! With an extra helping of Lipitor tonight.

The news digest will return Monday morning with fresh and saucy stories for your dining and dancing pleasure.

In the meantime, here’s a little treat for those of use hunkering down for the upcoming heat wave!

Buster Poindexter - Hot Hot Hot
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OaZMOW7ggXw

Energy News Digest for July 23, 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)

• BPA to Raise Rates; Tri-City Suppliers May Follow
• BPA Announces Power Rate Hikes - Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative
• Lewis PUD & Centralia - Energy Northwest Gets 2 New Members
• Oroville Dam test malfunction injures 5, shuts down power, water flow
• Massachusetts - Plan for prepaid electricity rejected
• Editorial - Aid for Electricity: Rural Residents Spared a Painful Change
• Natural Gas Producers Hedge Investments
• Norwegian Aluminum Supplier Norsk Hydro Posts 73 Pct Q2 Profit Tumble
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission to Press Ahead With Yucca Mtn Review
• Upper Columbia River Sockeye Fishery A Blast
• Chinook Season Starts To Slow In Puget Sound
• Pacific Northwest Sea Otters Rebound From Extermination
• Work Starts Monday on Shelton Park Sewer Pump Station
• Hidden Cost of Seattle's Bottled Water Ban
• Ex-California Water Company Employee Accused of Trying To Embezzle $9 Million Arrested In U.K.
• Manure Means Money to Handlers Gathered In Iowa
• Montana - Lightning takes down 127-Foot Wind Blade at Judith Gap
• Washington State Wind Power Blowing South
• Slow, Costly and Often Dangerous Road to Wind Power
• Harvesting Clean Energy along the Road
• Texas - Landowners Advised To ‘Be Careful’ With Wind Turbine Pacts
• Inside A Small Wind-Turbine Beta Test
• United Kingdom - Sit-In Turbine Workers on Isle of Wight Fenced In
• PNNL 'Smart' Technology Helps Homeowners Reduce Grid Stress
• Light-Bulb Drive a 'Win-Win' Project for Lumberjacks, Monarchs
• Oregon Climate Bills Signed In Green Setting
• Energy-Cost Safeguards Sought For Climate Bill
• Climate Change Tax Unpopular Among Americans, Survey Shows
• U.N. Expert: Use of Carbon Tariffs Will Backfire
• Op/Ed - Don't Pass Bills You Don't Read
• Group Gives $300,000 More to Fight Seattle Bag Fee
• Washington State's New Data Center: Wait Just A Minute!
• Microsoft Milestone: Windows 7 Completed
• Lake Chelan - Stehekin to Get Phone Service
• Fire Danger in Hot, Dry Parts of Washington
• Elma - One Killed When Small Plane Hits Power Lines
• Wal-Mart Will Pay Millions to Washington State Workers Forced To Skip Breaks

WORD OF THE DAY

Pachydermatous • \pack-ih-DER-muh-tuss\ • adjective - 1: of or relating to the pachyderms 2a: thick, thickened b: callous, insensitive

The shady, backroom doctor promised that the injection of stem cells from a baby elephant would provide Ambrose with the famed pachydermatous memory traits. “You will never forget again,” crowed the doctor as he drove home the first hypodermic needle. Days later Ambrose found strong memories fixed in his mind…but they were all about tender leaves from the savannahs and frolicking mud-baths in retreating water holes of the furthest reaches of Africa. While he could remember locations of the best rough-barked trees for scratching his behind, he couldn’t remember where he left his keys the day before.

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

BPA to Raise Rates; Tri-City Suppliers May Follow (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/915/story/655929.html

BPA Announces Power Rate Hikes - not certain how the hike will affect power bills for Oregon Trail Electric Cooperative customers (Baker City Herald, OR)
http://www.bakercityherald.com/Local-News/OTEC-expects-to-announce-soon-how-much-local-customers-rates-will-rise

Lewis PUD & Centralia - Energy Northwest Gets 2 New Members (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/918309.html

Oroville Dam test malfunction injures 5, shuts down power, water flow (Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://www.sacbee.com/1089/story/2046988.html

Massachusetts - Plan for prepaid electricity rejected: State says utility proposal is unfair to low-income clients (Boston Globe, MA)
http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2009/07/23/mass_rejects_utilitys_prepayment_plan_for_low_income_customers/

Anchorage Daily News Editorial - Aid for Electricity: Rural Residents Spared a Painful Change
http://www.adn.com/opinion/view/story/873400.html

Natural Gas Producers Hedge Investments (New Brunswick Business Journal)
http://nbbusinessjournal.canadaeast.com/transcript/article/734091

Norwegian Aluminum Supplier Norsk Hydro Posts 73 Pct Q2 Profit Tumble “…production in 2009 will be 26 percent of what it was in 2008…” (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009518505_apeunorwayearnsnorskhydro.html?syndication=rss

Nuclear Regulatory Commission to Press Ahead With Yucca Mtn Review (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2009511900_apusnrcchairmaninterview.html?syndication=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Upper Columbia River Sockeye Fishery A Blast (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2009519350_upper_columbia_river_sockeye_f.html

Chinook Season Starts To Slow In Puget Sound (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2009519935_fish23.html?syndication=rss

Pacific Northwest Sea Otters Rebound From Extermination (KPLU-Radio, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain/article/0/1/1533643/KPLU.Local.News/Sea.Otters.Rebound.From.Extermination

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Work Starts Monday on Shelton Park Sewer Pump Station (Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/918534.html

Hidden Cost of Seattle's Bottled Water Ban - Mayor Nickel’s Pledge Plagued by Delays, Plumbing Improvements (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/20132778/detail.html

Ex-California Water Company Employee Accused of Trying To Embezzle $9 Million Arrested In U.K. (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12890778

Manure Means Money to Handlers Gathered In Iowa (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2009521407_apusfarmscenemidwestmanure.html?syndication=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Montana - Lightning takes down 127-Foot Wind Blade at Judith Gap (Great Falls Tribune, MT)
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20090723/NEWS01/907230301

Washington State Wind Power Blowing South (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/2009/07/washington_wind_power_blowing_south.html?surround=lfn

Slow, Costly and Often Dangerous Road to Wind Power - On America’s highways, wind turbines may be the ultimate oversize load (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/23/business/energy-environment/23turbine.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Harvesting Clean Energy along the Road (NY Times)
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/23/harvesting-clean-energy-along-the-road/

Texas - Landowners Advised To ‘Be Careful’ With Wind Turbine Pacts (Fredericksburg Standard, TX)
http://fredericksburgstandard.com/articles/2009/07/22/news/03news.txt

Inside A Small Wind-Turbine Beta Test (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10291704-54.html?tag=nl.e703

United Kingdom - Sit-In Turbine Workers on Isle of Wight Fenced In (Wind Watch)
http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2009/07/22/sit-in-turbine-workers-fenced-in/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

PNNL 'Smart' Technology Helps Homeowners Reduce Grid Stress (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=366672&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss

Light-Bulb Drive a 'Win-Win' Project for Lumberjacks, Monarchs (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/07/23//area_news/doc4a67be37c17e9826240307.txt

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Oregon Climate Bills Signed In Green Setting (Register-Guard, Eugene, OR)
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/cityregion/17529673-41/story.csp

Energy-Cost Safeguards Sought For Climate Bill (Pioneer Press, St Paul, MN)
http://www.twincities.com/business/ci_12894917

Climate Change Tax Unpopular Among Americans, Survey Shows (Epoch Times)
http://www.theepochtimes.com/n2/content/view/19996/

U.N. Expert: Use of Carbon Tariffs Will Backfire (Associated Press)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090722/NEWS02/707229917/1025/rss1025

CNN Op/Ed - Don't Pass Bills You Don't Read
http://www.cnn.com/2009/POLITICS/07/23/chaffetz.cap.bill/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Group Gives $300,000 More to Fight Seattle Bag Fee (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/51434802.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Washington State's New Data Center: Wait Just A Minute! (Crosscut Seattle)
http://crosscut.com/blog/crosscut/19024/

Microsoft Milestone: Windows 7 Completed (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/brierdudley/2009520588_brier23.html?syndication=rss

Lake Chelan - Stehekin to Get Phone Service (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/918378.html

GENERAL NEWS

Fire Danger in Hot, Dry Parts of Washington (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009525006_apwahotweather.html?syndication=rss

Elma - One Killed When Small Plane Hits Power Lines (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/51429262.html

Wal-Mart Will Pay Millions to Washington State Workers Forced To Skip Breaks (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/51409262.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

Taco Bell Ad Star Gidget the Chihuahua Dies At 15
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2009519174_apusobittacobelldog.html?syndication=rss

Goat's Crowning As King of Ireland in Doubt
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE56L56220090722?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest

World's first camel-milk chocolates going global
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090721/od_nm/us_chocolate_camel_odd

New Service Lets Jews Tweet A Prayer to God
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2009521795_apmlisraelprayertweets.html?syndication=rss

SONG OF THE DAY

Linda Ronstadt - Someone to Lay Down Beside Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=41IAef2Jwf0&NR=1

Karla Bonoff - Someone to Lay Down Beside Me
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C96oDES_Tpw&feature=related

Energy News Digest for July 22, 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)

• News Release - BPA Announces Rate Changes
• BizJournal - BPA Announces Increased Rates
• BPA Rate Impacts - Seattle City Light
• Rate Increases Coming From BPA - Tacoma Power
• BPA To Raise Rates To Utilities - Clark Public Utilities
• Washington State Pushed To Limit TransAlta Emissions
• Class Action Suit Filed Against Jefferson PUD Over Port Townsend Taxes
• Portland General Electric Lowers Earnings Outlook for 2009
• San Diego Power Will Be Cut During Wildfire Threat
• Alaska - Golden Valley Electric Association to Work on Coal Plant
• A Nuclear Power Plant with a View
• Iowa Approves Controversial Electrical Service Limiters
• New Mexico – Utility Spokesman: Birds Caused Outage
• California - 'dual status' is an issue at Lassen Municipal Utility District
• Idaho Poised For another Big Sockeye Run
• Meetings Focus On Lamprey Recovery
• Editorial - Swift Resolution Needed In Shellfish Flap
• Eco-Trendy Sienna Ray & Co. Creates Salmon Skin Handbags
• Demand for Costly Easement Appraisal Angers Jefferson PUD
• Haven Lake - Differences Set Aside, Weeds Pulled at North Mason Lake
• Kittitas County Seeks Repeal of Water Rule
• In Sumas River, Asbestos Flows Freely
• Wind Power Throws a Curve at the BPA
• Bonneville Power Administration Institutes Lower Wind Integration Rate
• Gregoire: Clean Energy Key to 'Living Wage Jobs'
• Texas Wind Power - In the Line of Ire
• Solar Air Conditioners to Chill California Utility
• Vehicle-To-Grid Technology Gains Some Traction
• NOVEC Adds Apogee Interactive HomeEnergySuite to Website
• NY Times Editorial - Climate Loopholes
• Talking Renewable Energy: a Cognitive Dissonance
• U.S. Green Jobs Seen Taking Years of Planning
• The State of Wireless Broadband: 225M Subscribers & Growing
• FCC: Your Broadband Comments Weren't Helpful
• Yahoo Sees Boost in Q2 Profit to $143M
• Yahoo Eyeing Sale of Hotjobs, Yahoo Small Business
• Chinese Worker Commits Suicide over Missing iPhone Prototype
• $6,000 Reward for Info on Missing McCleary Girl
• Standout Summer to Bring More Heat
• Heat Killed Dogs Left in Olympia Car for 5 Hours
• Asia Darkens Under Longest Solar Eclipse of Century

WORD OF THE DAY

Whirling Dervish • \WHIR-ling DERR-vish\ • noun – A member of a Turkish order of dervishes, or Sufis, whose ritual consists in part of a highly stylized whirling dance.

A fraternity of Sufis (Muslim mystics) founded in Konya (Qonya), Anatolia, by the Persian Sufi poet Rumi (d. 1273), whose popular title mawlana (Arabic: "our master") gave the order its name. The order, propagated throughout Anatolia, controlled Konya and environs by the 15th century and in the 17th century appeared in Constantinople (Istanbul). European travelers identified the Mawlawiyah as dancing (or whirling) dervishes, based on their observations of the order's ritual prayer (dhikr), performed spinning on the right foot to the accompaniment of musical instruments.

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

BPA Announces Rate Changes - Keeping Rates Low And Facilitating Wind Development Remain Top Priorities (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/292435/

BPA Announces Increased Rates “…first power rate increase since 2002 - Ed Note: leaving out Cost Recovery Adjustment Clauses, of course…” (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/07/20/daily25.html

BPA Rate Impacts - Seattle City Light Bills to Rise 2.3 Percent (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009512906_bpa22m.html

Rate Increases Coming From BPA - None will immediately affect customers of Tacoma Power, but might affect customers of Puget Sound Energy (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/818170.html

BPA To Raise Rates To Utilities - Clark Public Utilities uncertain if customers will see bills increase (Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20090722/BIZ01/707229956/-1/BIZ

Washington State Pushed To Limit TransAlta Emissions - Clean air agency says it doesn't have legal authority to act (Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20090722/NEWS02/707229944/

Class Action Suit Filed Against Jefferson PUD Over Port Townsend Taxes (Port Townsend Leader, WA)
http://www.ptleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=36&SubSectionID=55&ArticleID=24741&TM=42825.95

Portland General Electric Lowers Earnings Outlook for 2009 (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/07/20/daily32.html?ana=from_rss

San Diego Power Will Be Cut During Wildfire Threat (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2130746~San_Diego_power_will_be_cut_during_wildfire_threat.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Alaska - Golden Valley Electric Association to Work on Coal Plant (Fairbanks Daily News Miner, AK)
http://newsminer.com/news/2009/jul/21/gvea-aidea-work-coal-plant/

A Nuclear Power Plant with a View - How do energy companies decide where to build new reactors? (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2223291/?from=rss

Iowa Approves Controversial Electrical Service Limiters (Cedar Rapids Gazette, IA)
http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090721/BUSINESS/707219926/1007

New Mexico – Utility Spokesman: Birds Caused Outage (Quay County Sun, Tucumcari, NM)
http://www.qcsunonline.com/news/birds-7406-utility-blame.html

California - Commission seeks an answer to 'dual status' issue at Lassen Municipal Utility District: Living in one district, but purchasing electricity from another supplier (Lassen County News, CA)
http://www.lassennews.com/News_Story.edi?sid=5668

FISH & WILDLIFE

Idaho Poised For another Big Sockeye Run (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/916798.html

Meetings Focus On Lamprey Recovery (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009517945_apwapacificlamprey.html?syndication=rss

Olympian Editorial - Swift Resolution Needed In Shellfish Flap
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/917429.html

Eco-Trendy Sienna Ray & Co. Creates Salmon Skin Handbags (NewsWire)
http://www.newswiretoday.com/news/54377/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Demand for Costly Easement Appraisal Angers Jefferson PUD (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090722/NEWS/307229992

Haven Lake - Differences Set Aside, Weeds Pulled at North Mason Lake (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/jul/21/differences-set-aside-weeds-pulled-at-north-lake/?partner=RSS

Kittitas County Seeks Repeal of Water Rule (Associated Press)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=10765822

In Sumas River, Asbestos Flows Freely (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/51362132.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Wind Power Throws a Curve at the BPA (Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2009/07/wind_power_throws_a_curve_at_t.html

Bonneville Power Administration Institutes Lower Wind Integration Rate (North American Wind Power)
http://www.nawindpower.com/e107_plugins/content/content_lt.php?content.4332

Gregoire: Clean Energy Key to 'Living Wage Jobs' (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/174190.asp?source=pimail

Texas - In the Line of Ire: Wind Power Wanted, But Getting Here from There Proves Touchy (Wind Watch)
http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2009/07/22/in-the-line-of-ire-wind-power-wanted-but-getting-here-from-there-proves-touchy/

Solar Air Conditioners to Chill California Utility (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10292069-54.html

Vehicle-To-Grid Technology Gains Some Traction (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/07/22/22climatewire-vehicle-to-grid-technology-gains-some-tracti-50378.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

NOVEC Adds Apogee Interactive HomeEnergySuite to Website (Earth Times)
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/novec-adds-apogee-interactive-homeenergysuite-to-website,900056.shtml

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

NY Times Editorial - Climate Loopholes
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/22/opinion/22wed11.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Talking Renewable Energy: a Cognitive Dissonance (New West)
http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/talking_renewable_energy_a_cognitive_dissonance/C37/L37/

U.S. Green Jobs Seen Taking Years of Planning (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSTRE56K5YY20090721

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

The State of Wireless Broadband: 225M Subscribers & Growing (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/07/21/for-now-hspa-rules-the-wireless-broadband/

FCC: Your Broadband Comments Weren't Helpful - Broadband plan leader complains of sloppy, vague suggestions... (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Levin-Your-Broadband-Comments-Werent-Helpful-103555

Yahoo Sees Boost in Q2 Profit to $143M (Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2009/07/20/daily38.html?ana=from_rss

Yahoo Eyeing Sale of Hotjobs, Yahoo Small Business (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSTRE56L0ZC20090722?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest

Chinese Worker Commits Suicide over Missing iPhone Prototype (Associated Press)
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/07/22/technology/AP-AS-China-iPhone-Suicide.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

GENERAL NEWS

$6,000 Reward for Info on Missing McCleary Girl (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=191455

Standout Summer to Bring More Heat (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009512798_weather22m.html?syndication=rss

Heat Killed Dogs Left in Olympia Car for 5 Hours – owner was using store’s free internet service (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/20136284/detail.html

Asia Darkens Under Longest Solar Eclipse of Century (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE56L08420090722?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

Study: Barking Dogs Aren't Saying Much
http://www.kirotv.com/family/20126530/detail.html

New York – State Workers Accused of Creating Secret ‘Party Lounge’
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/22/nyregion/22lounge.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Brawl Breaks Out in South Korean Parliament
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/07/22/world/AP-AS-SKorea-Brawling-Lawmakers.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Workers Lock up Execs in New French 'Bossnappings'
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/07/22/financial/f064727D71.DTL&feed=rss.business#ixzz0M0KuMIEb

SONG OF THE DAY

Three Dog Night - Out in the Country
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hq8gjqKIzuI

Energy News Digest for July 21, 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)

• Local Power Providers Brace for BPA Rate Hike
• Mysterious Electrical Sparks Stump Vancouver Firefighters
• California Dreaming? - Stimulus Helps Bring Calif. Petcoke Plant Closer to Reality
• California - Pacific Gas and Electric, Citing Infrastructure, Seeks Rate Hikes
• Op/Ed - Power Line Project Doomed By Poor Planning, Communication
• North Carolina - Businesses fight ruling on utility charge
• Is Submetering Fair? One Building’s Case
• Smart Meter Market in Limbo after 2009's First Quarter
• Costs and Benefits of Smart Meters and the Smart Grid
• July 24-26 - PUD 3 to Promote Electrical Safety at Mason County Fair
• Idaho Plans Chinook Salmon Release
• Troopers Accused Of Killing Baby Seagulls
• Olympia-Area Cities Step Closer to Ex-Brewery’s Water
• BC Mining Plan Threatens Sumas, WA Water
• From Energy to Recreation - NOAA Chief Says New Ocean Uses Creating Conflicts
• Trend Worsening For Pollutant in 16 National Parks
• US Wind Market is Weaker than in 2008
• Oregon No. 12 in Wind Power Added in 2008
• Town of Dayton Pushes Blue Sky Renewable Energy Program
• Report: Wind Power Faces Turbulence
• New York Wind Power: Developers Should Pay Full Taxes
• Governors Call for Carbon-Neutral Buildings by 2030
• Is the Sun Missing Its Spots?
• Global Warming Creates Power Struggle in Arctic
• Carbon Offset Smackdown
• U.S. Says China Must "Pay" To Cut Greenhouse Gases
• Medical Records at Kitsap Hospitals, Clinics Going From Reams to Bytes
• Forrester Reports Spike in Internet Users
• Kansas Spreads Rural Broadband Internet Access
• Editorial - Is It Better To Bing That Google?
• Yahoo Jazzes up Home Page with Major Makeover
• Yahoo Board Member Icahn Wants Microsoft Deal
• AOL Tries To Recapture That Start-Up Feeling
• Netgear Routers to Measure Internet Consumption
• The Kiln-Dried Nature of Washington's Fire Season
• U.S. Withheld Data on Risks of Distracted Driving
• Gregoire Ignores Her Own Travel Ban
• WA among Last States to Allow Driver’s Licenses for Illegal Immigrants
• Fighting-For-Life Fair: King County Passes off Fair Baton

WORD OF THE DAY

Nyctalopia • \nick-tuh-LOE-pee-yah\ • noun - reduced visual capacity in faint light (as at night): night blindness

The creeping twilight was anathema to Derwood. His nyctalopia greatly diminished his quality of life and intake of adult beverages at parties. Because of the dimly lit backyard barbeques so favored by his friends, he was unable to determine what was placed in his outstretched hand until he took that first, fateful sip. More often than not, it was a disappointing exercise.

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

Local Power Providers Brace for BPA Rate Hike (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)
http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews?Local-Power-Provider-Braces-for-BPA-Rate=1&blockID=64963&feedID=410

Mysterious Electrical Sparks Stump Vancouver Firefighters - Stray voltage flows into 5 homes through outlets (Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20090721/NEWS02/707219988/

California Dreaming? - Stimulus Helps Bring Calif. Petcoke Plant Closer to Reality “…National Resources Defense Council says the plant's design, known as "integrated gasification combined cycle," is one of the most promising technologies available for burning fossil fuels…” (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/07/20/20greenwire-stimulus-helps-bring-calif-petcoke-plant-close-79134.html

California - Pacific Gas and Electric, Citing Infrastructure, Seeks Rate Hikes (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/20/BU6P18S69D.DTL&feed=rss.business#ixzz0LuRb0FEC

San Jose Mercury News Op/Ed - Power Line Project Doomed By Poor Planning, Communication
http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_12878271

North Carolina - Businesses fight ruling on utility charge: Some major customers say they're exempt from charges for a utility-grid upgrade (News and Observer, Raleigh, NC)
http://www.newsobserver.com/business/story/1615105.html

Is Submetering Fair? One Building’s Case (NY Times)
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/21/is-submetering-fair-one-buildings-case/

Smart Meter Market in Limbo after 2009's First Quarter (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ARTCL&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=366531&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss

Costs and Benefits of Smart Meters and the Smart Grid (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ARTCL&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=366538&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss

July 24-26 - PUD 3 to Promote Electrical Safety at Mason County Fair (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=579

FISH & WILDLIFE

Idaho Plans Chinook Salmon Release (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/916664.html

Troopers Accused Of Killing Baby Seagulls – um, seagull chicks (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_072009WAB-troopers-seagulls-KC.5ecab71c.html?rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Olympia-Area Cities Step Closer to Ex-Brewery’s Water (Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/916355.html

BC Mining Plan Threatens Sumas, WA Water (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_072009WAB-sumas-water-supply-TP.5d2882a9.html?rss

From Energy to Recreation - NOAA Chief Says New Ocean Uses Creating Conflicts
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2009505813_apusoceanplanning.html?syndication=rss

Trend Worsening For Pollutant in 16 National Parks (Associated Press)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=10755581

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

US Wind Market is Weaker than in 2008 (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/07/us-wind-market-is-weaker-than-in-2008?cmpid=rss

Oregon No. 12 in Wind Power Added in 2008 (Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/07/jamie_francis_the_oregonianwin.html

Town of Dayton Pushes Blue Sky Renewable Energy Program (Union-Bulletin, Walla Walla, WA)
http://union-bulletin.com/articles/2009/07/20/local_news/090720local05bluesky.txt

Report: Wind Power Faces Turbulence (Business First of Columbus)
http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2009/07/20/daily5.html

New York Wind Power: Developers Should Pay Full Taxes (Watertown Daily Times, NY)
http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20090721/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Governors Call for Carbon-Neutral Buildings by 2030 (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/07/20/20greenwire-governors-call-for-carbon-neutral-buildings-by-63515.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Is the Sun Missing Its Spots? (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/21/science/space/21sunspot.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Global Warming Creates Power Struggle in Arctic (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/international/2009/july/Global-Warming-Creates-Power-Struggle-in-Arctic.html

Carbon Offset Smackdown - Maybe carbon offsetting isn't as fool-proofed as many businesses would like people to believe (Mother Nature Network)
http://www.mnn.com/earth-matters/energy/stories/carbon-offset-smackdown

U.S. Says China Must "Pay" To Cut Greenhouse Gases (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE56K0IZ20090721

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Medical Records at Kitsap Hospitals, Clinics Going From Reams to Bytes (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/jul/20/medical-records-at-kitsap-hospitals-clinics-from/?partner=RSS

Forrester Reports Spike in Internet Users (Boston Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2009/07/20/daily15.html?ana=from_rss

Kansas Spreads Rural Broadband Internet Access (Kansas City Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2009/07/20/daily13.html?ana=from_rss

SF Chronicle Editorial - Is It Better To Bing That Google?
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/21/EDH118QU2J.DTL&feed=rss.opinion

Yahoo Jazzes up Home Page with Major Makeover (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/07/20/financial/f180126D24.DTL&feed=rss.business#ixzz0LuRSy58R

Yahoo Board Member Icahn Wants Microsoft Deal (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE56H0C420090718?feedType=nl&feedName=ustechnology

AOL Tries To Recapture That Start-Up Feeling (Associated Press)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12878130

Netgear Routers to Measure Internet Consumption (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/07/20/financial/f131403D65.DTL&feed=rss.business

GENERAL NEWS

The Kiln-Dried Nature of Washington's Fire Season (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_072009WAB-fire-season-SW.5cda9e15.html?rss

U.S. Withheld Data on Risks of Distracted Driving (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/21/technology/21distracted.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Gregoire Ignores Her Own Travel Ban (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/5446-gregoire-ignores-her-own-travel-ban/

Washington among Last States to Allow Driver’s Licenses for Illegal Immigrants (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/articles/2009/07/20/news//doc4a64a6bbe1e8f085313534.txt

Fighting-For-Life Fair: King County Passes off Fair Baton (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/5445-fighting-life-fair

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

Threatened With Layoffs, French Factory Workers Threaten Explosion (Web In France Magazine)
http://www.webinfrance.com/threatened-with-layoffs-french-factory-workers-threaten-explosion-720.html

Slytherin Influences? Pot-Growing 'Harry Potter' Actor Gets Community Service
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12882637

Apple Downplays Fiery iPod Incidents
http://www.kirotv.com/money/20089894/detail.html

German Police Catch Underwear Thief
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE56J53920090720?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest

SONG OF THE DAY

Ohio Players- Fire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KY1bZs8XJNQ

Energy News Digest for July 20, 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)

• BPA Proposal Looks Like It Will Keep Ferndale-Area Intalco Smelter Going
• Intalco: New BPA Deal Will Allow Us to Stay Open
• West Virginia - Retraining of former Century Aluminum workers an uphill climb
• Astoria, Ore.: County Commissioners Again OK Gas Terminal
• Orcas Power & Light Cooperative Fuel Mix: 95% Greenhouse Gas Free
• Adjustments to raise Avista rates in Idaho slightly
• Portland General Electric Names New Vice Presidents
• Senator Says TVA's Future Should Include More Nuclear, Conservation
• Nuclear - The Renewable With Power
• Nuclear Power - What the Rest of the World Can Teach America
• Tennessee Valley Authority Increases Hazard Ratings on Coal Ash Sites
• Maryland - Baltimore could build own power plants
• IGCC Plant Fracas - Mississippi Power Corrects Erroneous Information
• TransAlta to Launch Offer for Canadian Hydro Developers
• Michigan Electric Cooperative Embezzlement Case Update
• Smart Grid is the Scam of the Century
• Texas Lineman's Rodeo Showcases Skills, Teamwork
• Op/Ed –BPA Speaks: The Northwest Salmon Debate
• Analysis: Fish & Energy Needs Clash in Midwest
• Montana Trout Rebounding
• Op/Ed - Restoring a Northwest Jewel: Hemlock Dam's Removal
• Columbia Tribal Fish Commission Names Nez Perce Chairwoman
• California - No Way to Guard New Ocean Sanctuaries
• Annual Milfoil Removal Begins At Chelan PUD Parks
• Columbia River Channel Money Gets House OK
• Op/Ed - Be Green about Water by Going Slow With the Flow
• As The Wind Blows - BPA Tries To Grapple With Wind Supply
• Radar Ridge wind farm by 2010?
• News Photos: More Wind Components at Port Of Longview
• Wind Farm Foes Describe the Noise - No Peace & Quiet
• Seattle City Light RFP Seeks 50 MW of Green Power
• Idaho – Federal Money to Expand Boise's Geothermal System
• Inventive Colville Man Gives Life to Wood-To-Energy Technology
• Congress Shows Overwhelming Support for Hydro
• Kansas - Bowersock Leaders Planning To Build a New Hydro Plant
• Hydropower in Europe: Current Status, Future Opportunities
• United Kingdom - Green Dream Runs Low on Power
• Free Light Bulbs for PSE Customers
• Conservation to Be Chelan PUD’s Focus for Stimulus Funding
• A New Enforcer in Buildings, the Energy Inspector
• North Carolina - Wal-Mart Wants Out Of Energy Conservation Surcharge
• House Climate Bill Was Flooded With Last-Minute Changes
• Lobbyists Lining Up For Shot At Climate Bill
• Pollution Credits Are Hot Issue in Climate Bill
• Op/Ed - Global Warming Believers Aren't About Science
• Ozone Hole Fallout - Chemicals That Eased One Woe Worsen Another
• Obama's Parks Pick Would Face Challenges
• Poll: Seattle Disposable Bag Tax Is Going Down
• Data Center Cooling – Quincy’s Reclaimed Water Flowing at Microsoft
• The Hidden Cost of the Cloud - Bandwidth Charges
• 4 1/2 Ways to Deal with Data during Cloudbursts
• Qwest Doubles Top Broadband Speed in Some Cities
• Yahoo & Microsoft Said to Be Closer to Search Deal
• Microsoft's New Mantra: Save People Money
• Are The Stars Aligning For Telemedicine's Success?
• As Media Grow, FCC Looks Ahead
• Shelton Woman Dies In Crash On McCreavy Road
• Thurston County: Two Die In SUV Wreck on State Route 8
• Shelton City Commission: Building Moratorium & Transportation Plan
• Afghanistan - Captured U.S. Soldier Is 23-Year-Old NW Man
• California Sprouts Marijuana 'Green Rush'
• Oregon to Allow Farmers to Grow Hemp
• 40 Years Later, Moon Still Giant Leap for Mankind

WORD OF THE DAY

Déjà vu • \DAY-zhu -voo\ • noun – 1a: the illusion of remembering scenes and events when experienced for the first time b: a feeling that one has seen or heard something before 2: something overly or unpleasantly familiar

The Army Corps of Engineers biologist had fled the fish wars of the Pacific Northwest for the Idyllic climate of the White River Basin. Until, that is, the fateful day came when his project became the target of an environmental organization accusing his employer of damaging fish runs.

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

BPA proposal looks like it will keep Ferndale-area Intalco smelter going (The Bellingham Herald, WA)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/255/story/992947.html

Intalco: New BPA Deal Will Allow Us to Stay Open (The Bellingham Herald, WA)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/latestheadlines/story/992911.html

West Virginia - Retraining of former Century Aluminum workers an uphill climb: Since the Century Aluminum plant near Ravenswood closed five months ago and threw 650 people out of work…promised placement programs have had few tangible successes (Charleston Daily Mail, WV)
http://www.dailymail.com/Business/200907190324

Astoria, Ore.: County Commissioners Again OK Gas Terminal (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/815238.html

Orcas Power & Light Cooperative Fuel Mix: 95% Greenhouse Gas Free (Islands Weekly, Lopez Island, WA)
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/sanjuans/isw/news/51059437.html

Adjustments to raise Avista rates in Idaho slightly (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA - There goes the residential exchange…)
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/jul/17/adjustments-raise-avista-rates-idaho-slightly/

Portland General Electric Names New Vice Presidents (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/07/20/daily3.html?ana=from_rss

Tenn. Senator Says TVA's Future Should Include More Nuclear, Conservation (WHNT-TV, Huntsville, AL)
http://www.whnt.com/news/sns-ap-tn--tva-alexander,0,1721226.story

Nuclear - The Renewable With Power (Tampa Bay Tribune, FL)
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/jul/19/co-nuclear---the-renewable-with-power/news-opinion-commentary/

Energy Dependence - What the Rest of the World Can Teach America in Its Return to Nuclear Power (Newsweek Magazine)
http://www.newsweek.com/id/207235?from=rss

Tennessee Valley Authority Increases Hazard Ratings on Coal Ash Sites (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/18/science/earth/18ash.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Maryland - Baltimore could build own power plants: Details are scant; aim is to lower residents’ energy bills (Baltimore Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2009/07/20/story2.html?ana=from_rss

IGCC Plant Fracas - Mississippi Power Corrects Erroneous Information by the Sierra Club (WebWire)
http://www.webwire.com/ViewPressRel.asp?aId=99545

TransAlta to Launch Offer for Canadian Hydro Developers (Proactive Investors)
http://www.proactiveinvestors.com/companies/news/1906/transalta-to-launch-c455-all-cash-offer-for-canadian-hydro-developers-1906.html

Michigan Electric Cooperative Embezzlement Case Update (Petosky News-Review, MI)
http://www.petoskeynews.com/articles/2009/07/17/news/doc4a607aea1ddad043030800.txt

Smart Grid is the Scam of the Century (Gerson Lehman Group)
http://www.glgroup.com/News/Smart-Grid-is-the-Scam-of-the-Century-41531.html

Texas Lineman's Rodeo Showcases Skills, Teamwork (San Antonio Express News, TX)
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/51102377.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Oregonian Op/Ed –BPA Speaks: The Northwest Salmon Debate
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/07/the_northwest_salmon_debate.html

Analysis: Fish And Energy Needs Clash in Midwest (Associated Press – As Dean Boyer of WPUDA points out “Déjà vu”)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/business/6536696.html

Montana Trout Rebounding - Famed River’s Rainbows Had Been Decimated by Whirling Disease (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/jul/20/montana-trout-rebounding/

Columbian Op/Ed - Restoring a Northwest Jewel: Hemlock Dam's removal victory for steelhead, those who love nature
http://columbian.com/article/20090719/OPINION03/707199994/-1/OPINION

Columbia Tribal Fish Commission Names Nez Perce Chairwoman (Associated Press)
http://www.ktvz.com/Global/story.asp?S=10745707

California - No Way to Guard New Ocean Sanctuaries, State Game Wardens Say - It seems a contradiction: State game wardens oppose creating 30 new ocean sanctuaries on California's coast to protect sensitive fisheries (Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/2036097.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Annual Milfoil Removal Begins At Chelan PUD Parks (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090718/NEWS04/707189944/1001/NEWS04

Columbia River Channel Money Gets House OK (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20090718/NEWS02/707189964/

Seattle Times Op/Ed - Be Green about Water by Going Slow With the Flow
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2009492253_ecoconsumer18m.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

As The Wind Blows - BPA Tries To Grapple With Wind Supply (East Oregonian, Pendleton, OR)
http://eastoregonian.com/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=48&ArticleID=95469

Radar Ridge wind farm by 2010? (National Wind Watch)
http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2008/11/11/radar-ridge-wind-farm-by-2010/

News Photos: More Wind Components at Port Of Longview (Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/07/17//area_news/doc4a60c898eb334150132063.txt

Wind Farm Foes Describe the Noise - No Peace And Quiet: Effect of 50 Turbines 'Almost Unbearable' (Watertown Daily Times, NY)
http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20090717/NEWS03/307179968/0/FRONTPAGE

Seattle City Light RFP Seeks 50 MW of Green Power (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/energy/archives/173968.asp?source=rss

Idaho - Money to Expand Boise's Geothermal System Included In Department Of Energy Bill (Idaho Statesman, Boise)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/boise/story/837403.html

Inventive Colville Man Gives Life to Wood-To-Energy Technology (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/jul/19/inventive-colville-man-gives-life-to-wood-to/

Congress Shows Overwhelming Support for Hydro (Renewable Energy News)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/national-hydropower-association/news/article/2009/07/congress-shows-overwhelming-support-for-hydro?cmpid=rss

Kansas - Bowersock Leaders Planning To Build a New Hydro-Electric Power Plant (Lawrence Journal-World, KS)
http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2009/jul/17/bowersock-leaders-planning-build-news-hydro-electr/?city_local

Hydropower in Europe: Current Status, Future Opportunities (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/07/hydropower-in-europe-current-status-future-opportunities?cmpid=rss

United Kingdom - Green Dream Runs Low on Power: The closure of a turbine plant on the Isle of Wight is symbolic of a dangerously becalmed renewables sector
http://www.guardian.co.uk/business/2009/jul/19/wind-power-isle-wight

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Free Light Bulbs for PSE Customers (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/bellevueblog/2009491159_freebulbsforpsecustomers.html?syndication=rss

Conservation to Be Chelan PUD’s Focus for Stimulus Funding (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090717/NEWS04/707179969?Conservation-to-be-PUD%E2%80%99-s-focus-for-stimulus-funding

A New Enforcer in Buildings, the Energy Inspector (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/18/business/energy-environment/18codes.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

North Carolina - Wal-Mart Wants Out Of Energy Conservation Surcharge (Triangle Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2009/07/20/story3.html?ana=from_rss

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

House Climate Bill Was Flooded With Last-Minute Changes - Many provisions were narrowly focused to help certain industries. Expect more of the same in the Senate (LA Times)
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-climate-fineprint20-2009jul20,0,5210778.story

Lobbyists Lining Up For Shot At Climate Bill (The Hill)
http://thehill.com/leading-the-news/lobbyists-lining-up-for-shot-at-climate-bill-2009-07-19.html

Pollution Credits Are Hot Issue in Climate Bill (Des Moines Register, IA)
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/article/20090720/BUSINESS/907200320/-1/LIFE04

Salem Statesman Journal Op/Ed - Global Warming Believers Aren't About Science
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20090718/OPINION/907180309/1049

Ozone Hole Fallout - Chemicals That Eased One Woe Worsen Another (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/19/AR2009071901817.html?nav=rss_email/components

Obama's Parks Pick Would Face Challenges (Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/915351.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Poll: Seattle Disposable Bag Tax Is Going Down (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/173976.asp?source=pimail

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Data Center Cooling – Quincy’s Reclaimed Water Flowing at Microsoft (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090717/NEWS04/707189984/1025/rss1025

The Hidden Cost of the Cloud - Bandwidth Charges: Microsoft is spending hundreds of millions of dollars to build out its next generation of data centers to host its cloud computing offering (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/07/17/the-hidden-cost-of-the-cloud-bandwidth-charges/

4 1/2 Ways to Deal with Data during Cloudbursts (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/07/19/4-12-ways-to-deal-with-data-during-cloudbursts/

Qwest Doubles Top Broadband Speed in Some Cities (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009503722_apustectechbitqwestinternet.html?syndication=rss

Yahoo and Microsoft Said to Be Closer to Search Deal (NY Times)
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/17/yahoo-and-microsoft-closer-to-a-partnership/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Microsoft's New Mantra: Save People Money (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoft/2009500612_microsoftsales20.html?syndication=rss

Are The Stars Aligning For Telemedicine's Succcess? (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1001_3-10290067-92.html?tag=nl.e703

As Media Grow, FCC Looks Ahead - Agency's New Chief Is a Product of the Information Age (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/19/AR2009071901826.html?wprss=rss_business

GENERAL NEWS

Shelton Woman Dies In Crash On McCreavy Road (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7824/reftab/1632/t/WOMAN-DIES-IN-CRASH-ON-MCREAVY-ROAD/Default.aspx

Thurston County: Two Die In SUV Wreck On State Route 8 (Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/915348.html

Shelton City Commission Holding Hearings On Building Moratorium And Transportation Plan Tonight (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7823/reftab/1632/t/CITY-COMMISSION-HOLDING-HEARINGS-ON-BUILDING-MORATORIUM-AND-TRANSPORTATION-PLAN-TONIGHT/Default.aspx

Afghanistan - Captured U.S. Soldier Is 23-Year-Old NW Man (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/51137282.html

California Sprouts Marijuana 'Green Rush' (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2125347~California_sprouts_marijuana__green_rush_.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Oregon to Allow Farmers to Grow Hemp (Associated Press)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_071909ORB-AP-oregon-hemp-SW.58b8ac37.html?rss?npc

40 Years Later, Moon Still Giant Leap for Mankind (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009500005_apusscimoonanniversary.html?syndication=rss

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

Neil Armstrong's $10.50 Check Sells For $27K
http://www.kirotv.com/money/20075293/detail.html

North Carolina Man Calls 911 to Report He's Robbing Bank
http://www.kirotv.com/news/20077952/detail.html

Boys Will Be Boys - Idaho Wrestlers Told To Abandon Bikini Tops
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_071909IDN-bikini-boys-SW.57eac57b.html?rss

Waller Of '60s Pop Duo Peter and Gordon Dies At 64
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12875727

SONG OF THE DAY

A World without Love - Peter & Gordon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_lJPUKTchI

Lady Godiva - Peter & Gordon
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v_lJPUKTchI

Energy News Digest for July 17, 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)

• Jefferson Utility Takeover Negotiations Conducted Out Of Public's Eye
• Clark Public Utilities Looks Good - Residential customer satisfaction
• Industrial Users Mull Grant County PUD Rate Proposal
• BPA Invites Public Feedback on Grand Coulee Transmission Line Replacement
• Fitch Rates Chelan County PUD's $68MM Various New Money Issues 'AA+’
• Seattle City Light: Big Power Lines To Stay
• Texas - Power Line Plans Alarm Hill Country Residents
• Pacific Gas & Electric Says 1920s Power Line Sparked S.F. Fire
• Natural Gas Reserves Increase As Expected
• NEW DEVELOPMENT: Strategies for Tapping Hydro’s Potential
• Hearing Examiner to Take Up Clallam County Salmon Pond Plan
• Editorial - Stop the suction dredging of state's rivers
• Temporary Halt to New Wells in Upper Kittitas County
• Kessler Seeks Answers from Ecology on Water Rules for Streamflow
• Seattle Reservoirs to Be Majorly (Sic) Re-Done After Leaks Found
• Manchester Sewer Plant Tops State Ratings
• Limits on Oregon Logging Are Reinstated
• Tribal Canoes to Watch Puget Sound
• Black Goop Floating Off Arctic Coast Identified As Algae
• Oregon Supreme Court Backs More Columbia Gorge Protection
• Honolulu Mayor Looks To Block Transport Of Trash To Longview
• Editorial - Kittitas County Is Keen On Green
• Unites States Becomes World Leader in Wind Power
• U.S. Looks to Rediscover Hydropower as Untapped Energy Source
• Colorado Electricity Co-Ops Oppose More State Regulation
• Texas - All Austinites May Soon Shoulder Extra Green Energy Costs
• United Kingdom - Don’t Blow Our £100 Billion ($164b US) On Wind Power
• United Kingdom - Green Light For £500m ($819m US) Biomass Plant
• California - Onions Produce Tears And Energy At An Oxnard Plant
• Smart Grid Project May Help Milton-Freewater Businesses Lower Their Utility Bills
• Are Consumers Ready For The Smart Grid?
• States Awash In Stimulus Money to Weatherize Homes
• American and China Pledge to Study Energy-Efficient Building Practices
• Renewable Energy 101: How Do I Install A Solar Powered Attic Vent Fan?
• Chelan PUD - Putting Hydro to Work in Green Markets
• Editorial - Federal Climate Bill Will Intensify Oregon's Recession
• U.S. Lawmakers Debate Climate Bills' Economic Impact
• Consumer Groups Push Senate on Climate Bill's Rate-Protection Language
• Will Regional Climate Change Efforts Drive National Climate Change
• Climate change taking toll on Glacier National Park
• Seattle Tops America's 'Green' Cities (Thanks to HYDRO!)
• Google Gets Shifty With Its Data Center Operations
• Study Shows Broadband Access Translates To $32B to Consumers
• Vermont & New Hampshire - Fairpoint Investigations Loom
• CableOrganizer.com Issues Top Five Reasons to Choose Fiber Optics
• Web’s Anonymity Makes Cyberattack Hard to Trace
• Bremerton Man Severely Injured While Making Fireworks
• Seattle's Light Rail Officially Takes Off On Saturday
• Herald joins forces with Yahoo!

WORD OF THE DAY

Omnibus • \AHM-nih-bus\ • adjective - 1: of, relating to, or providing for many things at once 2: containing or including many items

“I’m goin’ home,” sulked the goth teenager to his fresh-faced preppy girlfriend. “Well then take all your stuff and go!” she sqeaked tossing vinyl records battered copies of ‘Catcher in the Rye” and many other manner of things onto the nearby omnibus bus.

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

Jefferson Utility Takeover Negotiations Conducted Out Of Public's Eye (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090717/NEWS/307179991

Clark Public Utilities Looks Good - Residential customers' satisfaction with electric utilities rising (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=366340&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss

Industrial Users Mull Grant County PUD Rate Proposal (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/07/16/news/doc4a5faf88870c0634757493.txt

BPA Invites Public Feedback On Proposed Transmission Line Replacement Project At Grand Coulee Dam (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/289293/

Fitch Rates Chelan County PUD's $68MM Various New Money Issues 'AA+’ (PR-Inside)
http://www.pr-inside.com/fitch-rates-chelan-county-pud-wa-s-r1394716.htm

Seattle City Light: Big Power Lines To Stay (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/50981937.html

Texas - Power Line Plans Alarm Hill Country Residents (San Antonio Express News, TX)
http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/50985747.html

Pacific Gas & Electric Says 1920s Power Line Sparked S.F. Fire (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/16/BAHQ18P8CR.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

Natural Gas Reserves Increase As Expected (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009482895_apusnaturalgasstorage.html?syndication=rss

NEW DEVELOPMENT: Strategies for Tapping Hydro’s Potential (Hydro Review)
http://www.hydroworld.com/index/display/article-display/366364/s-articles/s-hydro-review/s-volume-28/s-issue-5/s-feature-articles/s-new-development-strategies-for-tapping-hydrorsquos-potential.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Hearing Examiner to Take Up Clallam County Salmon Pond Plan (KONP Radio, Port Angeles)
http://www.konp.com/local/4933

SF Chronicle Editorial - Stop the suction dredging of state's rivers
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/16/EDUJ18Q1A8.DTL&feed=rss.opinion

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Temporary Halt to New Wells in Upper Kittitas County (Associated Press)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=10741491

Kessler Seeks Answers from Ecology on Water Rules for Streamflow (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090716/news/307169986

Seattle Reservoirs To Be Majorly (Sic) Re-Done After Leaks Found (Seattle Times – Majorly?)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009485902_reservoir17m.html?syndication=rss

Manchester Sewer Plant Tops State Ratings (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/jul/16/manchester-sewer-plant-tops-state-ratings/?partner=RSS

Limits on Oregon Logging Are Reinstated (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/17/science/earth/17forest.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Tribal Canoes to Watch Puget Sound (Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090717/NEWS01/707179908/-1/RSS02

Black Goop Floating Off Arctic Coast Identified As Algae (Anchorage Daily News, AK)
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/867160.html

Oregon Supreme Court Backs More Columbia Gorge Protection (Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/07/oregon_supreme_court_backs_mor.html

RENEWABLE & ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Honolulu Mayor Looks To Block Transport Of Trash To Longview – Wants it for waste-to-energy plant (Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/07/16/area_news//doc4a5f94896b11f875275080.txt

Yakima Herald-Republic Editorial - Kittitas County Is Keen On Green -- And So Are We
http://www.pennenergy.com/index/articles/newsdisplay/s-133057189.html

Unites States Becomes World Leader in Wind Power (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12852693

U.S. Looks to Rediscover Hydropower as Untapped Energy Source “…A Department of Energy study found 130,000 sites that could provide small-scale hydropower…” (Popular Mechanics)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/g/a/2009/07/16/hearstmaggreen397387.DTL

Colorado Electricity Co-Ops Oppose More State Regulation - Clean-energy advocates say oversight would increase use of renewables (Durango Herald, CO)
http://durangoherald.com/sections/News/2009/07/17/Coops_oppose_more_state_regulation/

Texas - All Austinites May Soon Shoulder Extra Green Energy Costs: To meet ambitious renewable energy goals, city must find a way to pay for them. (Austin American-Statesman, TX)
http://www.statesman.com/news/content/news/stories/local/2009/07/17/0717greenchoice.html

United Kingdom - Don’t Blow Our £100 Billion ($164b US) On Wind Power: Instead of pouring money into renewable energy, we should invest in technology that will really tackle climate change (Financial Times of London, UK)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/columnists/guest_contributors/article6717079.ece

United Kingdom - Green Light For £500m ($819m US) Biomass Plant (Financial Times of London, UK)
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/68166e66-71a1-11de-a821-00144feabdc0.html?nclick_check=1

California - Onions Produce Tears And Energy At An Oxnard Plant (LA Times)
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-onions-fuel17-2009jul17,1,6891708.story

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Smart Grid Project May Help Milton-Freewater Businesses Lower Their Utility Bills (Union Bulletin, Walla Walla, WA)
http://union-bulletin.com/articles/2009/07/15/local_news/090715local07strictly.txt

Are Consumers Ready For The Smart Grid? (CNN)
http://www.cnn.com/2009/TECH/ptech/07/16/cnet.smart.grid/

States Awash In Stimulus Money to Weatherize Homes (Associated Press)
http://www.seattlepi.com/national/1110ap_us_stimulus_weatherizing_homes.html?source=rss

American and China Pledge to Study Energy-Efficient Building Practices (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/17/world/asia/17beijing.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Renewable Energy 101: How Do I Install A Solar Powered Attic Vent Fan? (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/x-14744-LA-Renewable-Energy-Examiner~y2009m7d16-Renewable-Energy-101-How-do-I-install-a-solar-powered-attic-vent-fan

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Chelan PUD - Putting Hydro to Work in Green Markets: Participation in the Chicago Climate Exchange has earned Chelan County Public Utility District more than $900,000 in financing and helped the utility emphasize that hydropower is an important, emissions-free source of renewable energy (Hydro Review)
http://www.hydroworld.com/index/display/article-display/366366/s-articles/s-hydro-review/s-volume-28/s-issue-5/s-feature-articles/s-carbon-trading-putting-hydro-to-work-in-green-markets.html

Salem Statesman Journal Editorial - Federal Climate Bill Will Intensify Oregon's Recession
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20090717/OPINION/907170309/1049

U.S. Lawmakers Debate Climate Bills' Economic Impact (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE56F4ZH20090716

Consumer Groups Push Senate on Climate Bill's Rate-Protection Language “…residential customers deserve treatment parallel to that being given to big business…” (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/07/16/16greenwire-consumer-groups-push-senate-on-climate-bills-r-55475.html

Will Regional Climate Change Efforts Drive National Climate Change (Energy Pulse)
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=2092

Climate change taking toll on Glacier National Park (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13772_3-10288113-52.html?tag=nl.e703

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Seattle Tops America's 'Green' Cities “…the city relies on hydroelectric plants for 90 percent of its power (which has helped keep Seattle's air quality high)…” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/173823.asp

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Google Gets Shifty With Its Data Center Operations (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/07/16/google-gets-shifty-with-its-data-center-operations/

Study Shows Broadband Access Translates To $32B To Consumers (Austin Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2009/07/13/daily21.html

For A Mildly Vulgar Translation about What the Above Story Means, Visit the Consumerist
http://consumerist.com/5315796/consumers-get-32-billion-more-than-they-bargained-for-with-broadband-says-study

Fairpoint Investigations Loom - Vermont, New Hampshire consumer advocates want inquiries (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Fairpoint-Investigations-Loom-103480

CableOrganizer.com Issues Top Five Reasons to Choose Fiber Optic Cabling (TCM Net)
http://dark-fiber.tmcnet.com/topics/dark-fiber/articles/60108-cableorganizercom-issues-top-five-reasons-choose-fiber-optic.htm

Web’s Anonymity Makes Cyberattack Hard to Trace (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/17/technology/17cyber.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

GENERAL NEWS

Bremerton Man Severely Injured While Making Fireworks (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_071609WAB-bremerton-explosion-KC.4a395eda.html?rss?npc

Seattle's Light Rail Officially Takes Off On Saturday (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_071709WAB-light-rail-SW.4c3e1b11.html?rss?npc

Herald joins forces with Yahoo! (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/915/story/648331.html?mi_email=Tri-City%20Herald_PM+%26+Breaking+News

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

Man Fends Off Wyoming Lion Attack with Chainsaw
http://www.examiner.com/a-2122203~Man_fends_off_Wyo__lion_attack_with_chainsaw.html?cid=rss-Montana_Headlines

Man Locks Himself in Train Station Locker, Nearly Suffocates
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090717/od_nm/us_germany_locker_odd;_ylt=AuB_W2rSZTY75obpiD6l74vtiBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTJxdmM4NDgzBGFzc2V0A25tLzIwMDkwNzE3L3VzX2dlcm1hbnlfbG9ja2VyX29kZARwb3MDMwRzZWMDeW5fYXJ0aWNsZV9zdW1tYXJ5X2xpc3QEc2xrA2FuZHdoeWRpZHRoZQ--

Cannes Bans Nudists after Yacht Club Complains
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090717/od_nm/us_nudists_odd;_ylt=AmlTsYPQX0wbR8tEISoh1VLtiBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTJqcWlpZ3RsBGFzc2V0A25tLzIwMDkwNzE3L3VzX251ZGlzdHNfb2RkBHBvcwM1BHNlYwN5bl9hcnRpY2xlX3N1bW1hcnlfbGlzdARzbGsDY2FubmVzYmFuc251

NY Teen Torches Car (BMW) He Hated
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090717/ap_on_fe_st/us_odd_teen_hates_car;_ylt=Ai5SQy4FTodTx2p2Nk0b0xLtiBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTJydWhkajMyBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwNzE3L3VzX29kZF90ZWVuX2hhdGVzX2NhcgRwb3MDMTEEc2VjA3luX2FydGljbGVfc3VtbWFyeV9saXN0BHNsawNwb2xpY2VueXRlZW4-

Artist's Nazi Saluting-Gnome Sparks Police Probe
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090717/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_germany_nazi_salute;_ylt=AlzFLi9YpCUsxh_pUK9uSeHtiBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTMydm1kNjNtBGFzc2V0A25tLzIwMDkwNzE3L291a29lX3VrX2dlcm1hbnlfbmF6aV9zYWx1dGUEcG9zAzE3BHNlYwN5bl9hcnRpY2xlX3N1bW1hcnlfbGlzdARzbGsDYXJ0aXN0MzlzbmF6

SONG OF THE DAY

Bruce Springsteen - I'm on Fire
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xzQvGz6_fvA