Thursday, August 6, 2009

Energy News Digest for August 6, 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)

• Yesterday’s amendments to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling (Dec 17, 2008) on the Bonneville Power Administration's deals with direct service industries (DSI's).
• Columbia Generating Station Goes Off-Line After Fire
• Montana - Highwood Coal Power Option 'Off the Table'
• Northern Wasco County PUD Will Analyze Rate Impacts
• Minnesota Rate Increase to Keep Up With Renewable Energy Mandate
• New TVA Electric Plant May Unlock Tennessee’s Natural Gas Potential
• Texas - Transformer Move Damages Hwy 277
• Good returns expected for Columbia salmon season
• NY Times Editorial - Fisheries Back From the Brink
• Washington Post - Signs of Life
• State Of California Creates Network of Marine Reserves
• Olympia Oyster: An Oyster to Fight for
• Two Dead Rodents Lead To Firings - Protected Species
• Dozens Sickened In Kitsap County Lakes
• Bottled Water Waste Piling Up at Airport Security
• On the Fairway, New Lessons in Saving Water
• Op/Ed - Pacific County Wind Farm the Right Choice in the Right Spot
• Oregon, Washington to Be Electric Car Test Market
• Car Charging Stations Coming To Seattle
• Pickens Plan Still Kickin’
• Renewable Energy Can't be an Afterthought in the Quest to Meet Climate Goals
• Pasco Green Power Company Ordered To Shut Down
• Oregon Renewable Energy Company to Move Headquarters to Florida
• Company Criticized By Vegetarians for Using Waste Meat to Generate Electricity
• Energy Adviser: Conservation Makes Sense for Everyone
• Arizona - School Districts Work to Trim Energy Costs
• 'Fragile Compromise' of Power Plant CEOs in Doubt
• Editorial - Rural Democrats Flex Muscle In Congress
• Climate Change - How Bills Get So Bad
• A Repulsive Side Effect of Going Green
• Mason General Hospital Named 2009 Most Wired Hospital
• Hacker Attack Shuts Down Twitter
• Colorado - Public Vote on Fiber Still Up In Air
• Return of the Net Neutrality Sock Puppets
• Comcast Adds Just 65,000 New Broadband Customers in Q2
• Comcast Profit Up; Basic Video Subscribers Down
• Comcast Speeds Up Its Superfast Broadband Deployment
• Taxable Retails Sales Up In Shelton But Down in Mason County
• Firefighters Aim to Keep Constance Fire from Moving East to Brinnon
• Baird to Skip Town Hall, 'Lynch' Mentality
• Hastings to Speak At Aug. 12 Chamber Event
• Montesano Mill Gets Government Help after Its Threats to Move to Lewis County
• US Forecasters Lower Atlantic Hurricane Outlook
• Reuters Implores AP to 'Stop Whining'

WORD OF THE DAY

Philology • \fuh-LOLL-uh-gee\ • noun – 1: the study of literature and of disciplines relevant to literature or to language as used in literature 2a: linguistics; especially: historical and comparative linguistics b: the study of human speech especially as the vehicle of literature and as a field of study that sheds light on cultural history

Although I consider the attic which is my brain a pretty good storehouse for the game of Trivial Pursuit, this otherwise useless information has a broad gap. My affinity for philology is poorly developed. I am a voracious reader, but retaining the nuances and meanings of literature is a talent I have yet to develop…at least when it comes to the romantic foibles of characters such as Heathcliff and Catherine in Wuthering Heights.

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

Here's a link to yesterday’s amendments to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling (Dec 17, 2008) on the Bonneville Power Administration's deals with direct service industries (DSI's).

"...the panel has unanimously voted to deny the Bonneville Power Administration’s Petition for Panel Rehearing and Port Townsend Paper Corporation’s Petition for Panel Rehearing. The petitions for panel rehearing are DENIED. No further petitions for rehearing or rehearing en banc may be filed..."

Please note: this links to a 62 page PDF File (Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals)
http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/opinions/view_subpage.php?pk_id=0000009834

Columbia Generating Station Goes Off-Line After Fire (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/672277.html

Montana - Highwood Coal Power Option 'Off the Table' (Great Falls Tribune, MT)
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20090806/NEWS01/908060305

Northern Wasco County PUD Will Analyze Rate Impacts (The Dalles Chronicle, OR)
http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2009/08/news08-05-09-04.shtml

To Keep Up With Renewable Energy Mandate - Minnesota Power Seeks another Rate Increase (WDIO-TV, Duluth, MN)
http://www.wdio.com/article/stories/S1069280.shtml?cat=10335

News Release - New TVA Electric Plant May Unlock Tennessee’s Natural Gas Potential (Tennessee Oil & Gas Association)
http://www.finanznachrichten.de/nachrichten-2009-08/14612033-new-tva-electric-plant-may-unlock-tennessee-s-natural-gas-potential-004.htm

Texas - Transformer Move Damages Hwy 277 (Abilene Reporter News, TX)
http://www.reporternews.com/news/2009/aug/05/transformer-damages-highway-277/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Good returns expected for Columbia salmon season (Associated Press)
http://www.kgw.com/sharedcontent/APStories/stories/D99SU0SO2.html

NY Times Editorial - Fisheries Back From the Brink
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/opinion/06thu3.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Washington Post - Signs of Life: An experiment allows oysters to make a comeback in part of the Chesapeake Bay watershed
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/05/AR2009080503267.html?nav=rss_opinions

State Of California Creates Network of Marine Reserves (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/08/05/MNI619406P.DTL&feed=rss.news

An Oyster to Fight for - Bringing BC's native Olympia back from the brink and on to the table (The Tyee, British Columbia)
http://thetyee.ca/Life/2009/08/06/OysterToFightFor/

Two Dead Rodents Lead To Firings - Protected Species: Chipmunks found killed by nails at work site (Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/932107.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Dozens Sickened In Kitsap County Lakes (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_080509WAB-kitsap-lakes-sickness-SW.af550d2c.html?rss

Bottled Water Waste Piling Up at Airport Security - Aviation Chief Wants To Reduce Waste-Hauling Costs (Chicago Sun-Times, IL)
http://www.suntimes.com/news/transportation/1702033,airport-plastic-bottle-liquid-ohare-midway-080509.article

On the Fairway, New Lessons in Saving Water (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/06/science/earth/06golf.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Op/Ed - Pacific County Wind Farm the Right Choice in the Right Spot
http://www.seattlepi.com/letters/index.asp?entryID=396

Oregon, Washington to Be Electric Car Test Market (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/5567-oregon-washington-be-electric-car-test-market/

Car Charging Stations Coming To Seattle (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=197332

Pickens Plan Still Kickin’ - T. Boone Pickens says he's still got the wind at his back and is ready to lead America toward energy independence (Newsweek Magazine)
http://www.newsweek.com/id/210561?from=rss

Renewable Energy Can't be an Afterthought in the Quest to Meet Climate Goals (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/mnEnergy/idUS355955617020090805

Pasco Green Power Company Ordered To Shut Down (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/5560-green-power-company-ordered-shut-down/

Oregon Renewable Energy Company to Move Headquarters to Florida (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/08/03/daily27.html?ana=from_rss

United Kingdom - Tesco Criticized By Vegetarians for Using Waste Meat to Generate Electricity (The Telegraph, UK)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/epic/tsco/5979939/Tesco-criticised-by-vegetarians-for-using-waste-meat-to-generate-electricity.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Energy Adviser: Conservation Makes Sense for Everyone (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20090806/LIVING/708069998/Energy+Adviser++Conservation+makes+sense+for+everyone

Arizona - School Districts Work to Trim Energy Costs (Arizona Republic)
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/local/articles/2009/08/06/20090806wvaguagreen0806.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

'Fragile Compromise' of Power Plant CEOs in Doubt as Senate Climate Debate Nears (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/08/05/05climatewire-fragile-compromise-of-power-plant-ceos-in-do-68966.html

Atlanta Journal-Constitution Editorial - Rural Democrats Flex Muscle In Congress
http://www.ajc.com/opinion/rural-democrats-flex-muscle-109339.html

Climate Change - How Bills Get So Bad (Washington Post)
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/postpartisan/2009/08/how_bills_get_so_bad.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

A Repulsive Side Effect of Going Green (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/52555077.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Mason General Hospital Named 2009 Most Wired Hospital (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7965/reftab/1632/t/MASON-GENERAL-HOSPITAL-NAMED-2009-MOST-WIRED-HOSPITAL-/Default.aspx

Hacker Attack Shuts Down Twitter (Associated Press)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_13004278

Colorado - Public Vote on Fiber Still Up In Air (Fort Morgan Times, CO)
http://www.fortmorgantimes.com/ci_12997386

Return of the Net Neutrality Sock Puppets - The junk scientists at the Heartland Institute ride again (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Return-Of-The-Net-Neutrality-Sock-Puppets-103789

Comcast Adds Just 65,000 New Broadband Customers in Q2 - COO: Our marketing dollars went toward digital transition (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Comcast-Adds-Just-65000-New-Broadband-Customers-In-Q2-103807

Comcast Profit Up; Basic Video Subscribers Down (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSTRE57525M20090806?feedType=nl&feedName=usbeforethebell

Comcast Speeds Up Its Superfast Broadband Deployment (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/08/06/comcast-speeds-up-its-superfast-broadband-deployment/

GENERAL NEWS

Taxable Retails Sales Up In Shelton But Down in Mason County (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7968/reftab/1632/t/TAXABLE-RETAILS-SALES-UP-IN-SHELTON-BUT-DOWN-IN-MASON-COUNTY/Default.aspx

Firefighters Aim to Keep Constance Fire from Moving East to Brinnon (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090806/news/308069989

Baird to Skip Town Hall 'Lynch' Mentality - Olympia Tea Party organizer says ‘Democracy can be messy and raucous’ But does it have to be? (Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/932112.html

Hastings to Speak At Aug. 12 Chamber Event (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/business/story/670244.html?mi_email=Tri-City%20Herald_PM+%26+Breaking+News

Montesano Mill Gets Government Help after Its Threats to Move to Lewis County (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/articles/2009/08/05/news//doc4a79d2ee30823485862089.txt

US Forecasters Lower Atlantic Hurricane Outlook (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/08/06/national/a075037D88.DTL&feed=rss.business

Reuters Implores AP to 'Stop Whining' (Gawker - Note: comments may contain some colorful language, like “blue” language…)
http://gawker.com/5331057/reuters-implores-ap-to-stop-whining

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

Man Arrested After Barking At Police Dog
http://www.kirotv.com/news/20293672/detail.html

RadioShack to Become Just 'The Shack'
http://www.kirotv.com/money/20292506/detail.html

Sailor Solved Parking Frustrations by Towing Away Car, Police Say
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090805/NEWS01/708059730/-1/RSS02

Ten Promotional Stunts That Horribly Backfired
http://finance.yahoo.com/career-work/article/107451/10-promotional-stunts-that-horribly-backfired.html?mod=career-leadership

SONG OF THE DAY

Appalachian Spring – NPR 100 Most Important American Musical Works Of The 20th Century
http://www.npr.org/ramfiles/atc/20001113.atc.06.rmm

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Ninth Circuit Court Ruling on BPA/Direct Service Industry Deals

Here's a link to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruling today on the Bonneville Power Administration's deals with direct service industries (DSI's) in the Pacific Northwest. More likely in tomorrow's edition of the energy news digest.

Please note: this links to a 65 page PDF File

Opinion for: PACIFIC NORTHWEST V. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY

Energy News Digest for August 5, 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)

• Portland General Electric Facing Lower Earnings & Pressure for More Renewable Power
• Avista Corp. Reports Second Quarter Results
• Yakama Nation Starts Producing Its Own Electricity
• US Senate Denies Obama Bid to Ax Rural Energy Grants
• Chelan PUD’s Debt Is Heading Toward The $1 Billion Barrier
• Northwest Natural Gas to Cut Up To 100 Jobs
• Planned Power Outage for Mason County PUD 1 Customers
• Two More to Be Charged In Great Lakes Energy Electric Coop Embezzlement
• Critics Take New Step to Block Kansas Coal Plant
• United Kingdom Told to Triple Nuclear Share of Power Generation
• Rep. Jim McDermott Wants to Study Snake River Dam Removal
• Hastings to Fight McDermott Snake River Dam Bill
• Ex-Governors Urge White House to Address Columbia Salmon Runs
• Editorial - Prepare For Dam Removal
• Everett & Mukilteo Volunteers Hope to Turn Tires into Salmon
• Vote On California Marine Preserves Roiled By Board Shake-Up
• After Decades in Seattle, NOAA Vessels to Ship Out
• The NOAA Exodus: What Went Wrong?
• Gregoire Says Start Conserving Water
• Three Running for Position with Little-Known Belfair Water District
• Radon Rises Into Thurston County
• Teddy Roosevelt: Seattle's Pioneer Environmentalist?
• Editorial - No ‘Winner’ Needed: When it comes to wind turbines & birds
• Solar Energy Firm Eyes Vancouver, WA
• Snohomish PUD Closer To Tidal Power
• Oregon - Biodiesel Blending Latest Effort by State
• BPA Sponsors Wind Forecast Competition
• Bills Would Boost Renewable Energy, Storage
• Op/Ed – Biomass: Clean, Renewable Answer to Energy Challenges
• Colorado - Xcel Drops Proposed Solar-Power Fee
• How Will Utilities Make Money as Photovoltaics Continue to Grow?
• Is Biogas the Way to San Jose's Energy Independence?
• Canada - Winds of Change Rock Wolfe Island
• United Kingdom - Wind Turbine Firm Vestas Wins Order to End Sit-In
• Spokane Habitat Affiliate Wins Funding For ‘Green’ Homes
• Energy Bill - Real Estate Industry Blocks Disclosure of Building Energy Use
• Utah's Four-Day Workweek Cuts Energy Use 13 Percent
• Nova Scotia Power Can't Tap Consumers for Conservation-Related Losses
• Dividing the Loot from Cap & Trade
• House Bill Will Spur 20% Electricity-Price Hike by 2030
• US Consumers Spared Big Costs in Climate Bill
• Climate Change Astroturf - Additional Forged Letters to Congress Uncovered
• PNNL: Lab to Get $5.7 Million for Climate Change Research, Smart Grid Wor
• Waterworld - Response to Climate Change: Seasteading
• Wiring Rural America: Which Technology Is Best?
• Microsoft to Hire At Least 400 Yahoo Workers
• Pacific Northwest - Four-State Cooperative Sets Sights on Rural Broadband
• European Union Reasserts Lead in Broadband Connections
• White House Struggles To Fill Cyber Czar Post
• Nobody's Complaining About Comcast's New Throttling
• Can Free Web Applications Lead To Revenue?
• Wash. Fire Crews Brace for New Storms
• State Patrol Says Troopers with Fake Diplomas Should Be Fired
• Small Construction Mistake at Port of Seattle May Cost $1 Million
• Federal Indian Official Meets With Tribes at Kamilche
• Free Speech Dilemma in Port Angeles Council Race
• Congressman Jim McDermott Is Hiring

WORD OF THE DAY

Idee Fixe • \ee-DAY - Feex\ • noun - An idea that dominates one's mind especially for a prolonged period: obsession

Like a fanboy with a fully-restored, digitally-mastered version of the 1978 “Star Wars Holiday Special”, Dilbert’s idée fixe was the upcoming release of the new “G-I Joe” movie. He had bundled his collection of posable dolls (still in their original, unopened packaging) to the theater to camp out for the first, prime seat to watch the movie…two weeks before the show was to start.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast & 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

Portland General Electric Facing Lower Earnings & Pressure for More Renewable Power (Oregon Public Radio)
http://news.opb.org/article/5544-pge-facing-lower-earnings-and-pressure-more-renewable-power/

Avista Corp. Reports Second Quarter Results (PR Newswire)
http://news.prnewswire.com/DisplayReleaseContent.aspx?ACCT=104&STORY=/www/story/08-05-2009/0005072085&EDATE

Yakama Nation Starts Producing Its Own Electricity (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)
http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2009/08/03/tribe-starts-producing-its-own-power

High Energy Cost Grant Program - US Senate Denies Obama Bid to Ax Rural Energy Grants (Associated Press)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gBPaHA8wyvhZsKWPW8Uxp30QpfqgD99RMQR00

Chelan PUD’s Debt Is Heading Toward The $1 Billion Barrier (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090804/NEWS04/708049929?PUD%E2%80%99-s-debt-is-heading-toward-the-$1-billion-barrier

Northwest Natural Gas to Cut Up To 100 Jobs (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/08/03/daily20.html?ana=from_rss

Planned Power Outage for Mason County PUD 1 Customers (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7946/reftab/1632/Default.aspx

Two More to Be Charged In Great Lakes Energy Electric Cooperative Embezzlement (Gaylord Herald Times, MI)
http://www.gaylordheraldtimes.com/articles/2009/08/04/news/local_news/doc4a785845b6a31735669877.txt

Critics Take New Step to Block Kansas Coal Plant (Associated Press)
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/08/04/ap6736359.html

United Kingdom Told to Triple Nuclear Share of Power Generation (Bloomberg News)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601102&sid=a_Zqy214Vb58

FISH & WILDLIFE

Rep. Jim McDermott Wants to Study Snake River Dam Removal (Seattle Times Politics)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2009597282_rep_jim_mcdermott_wants_study.html

Hastings to Fight McDermott Snake River Dam Bill (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009597369_apwasnakeriverdams.html?syndication=rss

Ex-Governors Urge White House to Address Columbia Salmon Runs (Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/exgovernors_urge_white_house_t.html

Eugene Register-Guard Editorial - Prepare For Dam Removal - Bill would require agencies to analyze impacts
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/sevendays/18127861-35/story.csp

Everett & Mukilteo Volunteers Hope to Turn Tires into Salmon (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_080409WAB-everett-tires-KS.aa89ff60.html?rss

Vote On California Marine Preserves Roiled By Board Shake-Up (Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://www.sacbee.com/capitolandcalifornia/story/2083556.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

After Decades in Seattle, NOAA Vessels to Ship Out (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009599893_ships05m.html

The NOAA Exodus: What Went Wrong? (Crosscut Seattle)
http://crosscut.com/2009/08/05/bellingham/19152/

Gregoire Says Start Conserving Water (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=196576

Three Running for Position with Little-Known Belfair Water District (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/aug/03/three-running-for-position-with-little-known/

Radon Rises Into Thurston County - Home testing kit finds unsafe level of the radioactive gas (Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/929720.html

Teddy Roosevelt: Seattle's Pioneer Environmentalist? (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://www.seattlepi.com/connelly/408988_joel05.html?source=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Columbian Editorial - No ‘Winner’ Needed: When it comes to wind turbines and birds, the interests of both can be protected
http://columbian.com/article/20090805/OPINION02/708059971/-1/OPINION

Solar Energy Firm Eyes Vancouver, WA - Port could be home to panel plant with as many as 100 workers (Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20090804/BIZ01/708049969/-1/BIZ

Snohomish PUD Closer To Tidal Power (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_080409WAB-snoco-tidal-power-SW.aa79bbab.html?rss

Oregon - Biodiesel Blending Latest Effort by State (East Oregonian, Pendleton, OR)
http://eastoregonian.com/main.asp?FromHome=1&TypeID=1&ArticleID=96147&SectionID=13&SubSectionID=48

BPA Sponsors Wind Forecast Competition - First-of-its-kind prediction model will boost Pacific Northwest renewable energy (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/298373/

Bills Would Boost Renewable Energy, Storage (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/mnGreenInvesting/idUS391422471520090804

Boston Globe Op/Ed – Biomass: Clean, Renewable Answer to Energy Challenges
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/letters/articles/2009/08/04/clean_renewable_answer_to_energy_challenges/

Colorado - Xcel Drops Proposed Solar-Power Fee (Denver Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2009/08/03/daily31.html?ana=from_rss

How Will Utilities Make Money as Photovoltaics Continue to Grow? (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/08/how-will-utilities-make-money-as-pv-continues-to-grow?cmpid=rss

Is Biogas the Way to San Jose's Energy Independence? (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/environment/2009-08-03-biogas-san-jose_N.htm

Canada - Winds of Change Rock Wolfe Island (Toronto Star, Ontario)
http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/article/676248

United Kingdom - Wind Turbine Firm Vestas Wins Order to End Sit-In (The Independent, UK)
http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/second-turbine-plant-occupied-as-row-escalates-1767029.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Spokane Habitat Affiliate Wins Funding For ‘Green’ Homes (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/aug/04/spokane-habitat-affiliate-wins-funding-green-homes/

Energy Bill - The Real Estate Industry Quietly Removes a Label Showing Energy Use of Older Buildings (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/08/04/04climatewire-the-real-estate-industry-quietly-removes-a-la-8072.html

Utah's Four-Day Workweek Cuts Energy Use 13 Percent (Associated Press)
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/08/05/ap6743475.html

Canada - Nova Scotia Power Can't Tap Consumers for Conservation-Related Losses (Chronicle-Herald, Halifax, NS)
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Front/9012809.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Dividing the Loot from Cap & Trade (Washington Post)
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/hearing/2009/08/dividing_the_loot_from_cap_and.html?hpid=news-col-blog

Energy Information Administration - House Bill Will Spur 20% Electricity-Price Hike by 2030 (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/08/04/04greenwire-house-bill-will-spur-20-electricity-price-hike-28686.html

US Consumers Spared Big Costs in Climate Bill (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE5736PY20090804

Climate Change Astroturf - Additional Forged Letters to Congress Uncovered (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/04/AR2009080402223.html?nav=rss_email/components

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

PNNL: Lab to Get $5.7 Million for Climate Change Research, Smart Grid Work (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/670653.html

Waterworld - Response to Climate Change: Seasteading (Mother Jones Magazine)
http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2009/08/response-climate-change-seasteading

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Wiring Rural America: Which Technology Is Best? (BusinessWeek)
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/aug2009/tc2009083_226117.htm

Microsoft to Hire At Least 400 Yahoo Workers (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/08/04/financial/f150922D03.DTL&feed=rss.business

Pacific Northwest - Four-State Broadband Cooperative Sets Sights on Rural Broadband Network (The Journal – who are these guys?)
http://thejournal.com/articles/2009/08/04/4-state-broadband-cooperative-sets-sights-on-rural-broadband-network.aspx

European Union Reasserts Lead in Broadband Connections (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/05/technology/internet/05broadband.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

White House Struggles To Fill Cyber Czar Post (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2009598474_apuscyberstruggles.html?syndication=rss

Nobody's Complaining About Comcast's New Throttling - And that's a good thing, because there's more where that came from (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Nobodys-Complaining-About-Comcasts-New-Throttling-103755

Can Free Web Applications Lead To Revenue? (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111527079&ft=1&f=3

GENERAL NEWS

Wash. Fire Crews Brace for New Storms (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/930353.html

State Patrol Says Troopers with Fake Diplomas Should Be Fired (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/52398642.html

Small Construction Mistake at Port of Seattle May Cost $1 Million (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009599889_portmistake05m.html

Federal Indian Official Meets With Tribes at Kamilche (Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090805/NEWS01/708059792

Free Speech Dilemma - KONP keeps Petersen mum after opponent Mania threatens action (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090805/NEWS/308059992

Congressman Jim McDermott Is Hiring “…under no circumstances refer to scheduler Elizabeth Becton as ‘Liz’…” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/175356.asp?source=pimail

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

Stolen $20,000 Bottle of Wine Found
http://www.kirotv.com/news/20276451/detail.html

Family Video of Child Driving Prompts Probe
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE5734IE20090804?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest

Zoo Pelican Swallows Cell Phone
http://www.examiner.com/a-2152774~Zoo_pelican_swallows_cell_phone.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines

Welsh Whiskey Has Healing Properties?
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sidelinechatter/2009599440_chat05.html?syndication=rss

SONG OF THE DAY

Emmylou Harris - Two More Bottles of Wine
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TU97vLkxxtY

Tuesday, August 4, 2009

Energy News Digest for August 4, 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)

• Lawsuits Filed Over 2007 Egg Drop Accident - Avista worker died
• BPA Proposes Reduced Rate to Port Townsend Paper Mill
• Power Costs Could Go Up (23 Percent) In Eastern Oregon
• Chelan PUD Strikes 3-Year Deal with Union
• Clallam PUD Approves Bid for Carlsborg Warehouse
• Portland General Electric’s Second Quarter Revenue, Profits Decline
• BPA Invites Feedback on Proposed Transmission Line Replacement Project at Grand Coulee Dam
• Environment, Economy - TVA Posts $167M Loss in Third Quarter
• Without Nuclear Power & "Clean Coal," Cost to Meet Emissions Goal Could Double
• Kansas - Lawsuit Seeks Coal Plant Review
• Salmon Bill Would Put Removal of Snake River Dams Back on Table
• US Senator Mike Crapo - Salmon Tour to Showcase Efforts for Endangered Fish & Local Economy
• Record Rainbow Yanked From Snake River
• Orting Hatchery Coming Back To Life
• Hatchery Staff Battled To Save Salmon Fry
• Kootenai Tribe Restoring Sturgeon Habitat
• The War on Seagulls Continues At State Ferry Terminals
• California - Sea Lions Swarm Long-Abandoned Seal Rocks
• Oysters Are on the Rebound in the Chesapeake Bay
• Giant Vortex Of Floating Trash Swirling In Pacific
• Sun Will Help Power Nine Portland Schools
• LEDs: As Energy Efficient as Compact Fluorescents
• The Smart Grid: Is It Worth It?
• Scenarios: Fate of Climate Change Bill in Congress
• Greenhouse Gas Legislation - Congressional Research Reports
• Nobel Halo Fades Fast for Climate Change Panel
• Water Waste Shame of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Company
• Washington State Gov’t Data Center Plan Moves Ahead
• FCC Chair Touts Broadband as Top Priority
• The Struggle to Stay Wired, in a Hotel Room or a Crisis
• Microsoft's Bing Gains Another 1 Percent of U.S. Search
• Help Arrives To Help Battle Olympic National Park Fires
• Brush Fire in Shelton Quickly Controlled
• Hoquiam mill reopens after 8 months
• More Time to Comment on Shelton/Mason County U-G-A Agreement
• Typo Turns Woman's Life Upside Down

WORD OF THE DAY

Cimmerian • \sih-MEER-ee-un\ • adjective – Very dark or gloomy

It was late…too late. Francis was tip-toeing through the living room of his house, trying to grope his way through the Cimmerian darkness towards the bedroom. His hopes to slide into bed without waking his wife failed miserably as his tender, bare foot came down hard on one of his childrens’ wayward Lego blocks. The resulting screams woke not only his wife, but the neighbors on either side of the home.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast & 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

Lawsuits Filed Over 2007 Egg Drop Accident - Avista worker died during school lesson in Othello (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/08/03/news/doc4a77769f37850297095314.txt

Bonneville Power Administration Proposes Reduced Rate to Port Townsend Paper Mill (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090804/news/308049989

Power Costs Could Go Up (23 Percent) In Eastern Oregon (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/07/27/daily64.html?ana=from_rss

Chelan PUD Strikes 3-Year Deal with Union (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090803/NEWS04/708039904/1001/NEWS04

Clallam PUD Approves Bid for Carlsborg Warehouse (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090804/news/308049995

Portland General Electric’s Second Quarter Revenue, Profits Decline (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/08/03/daily4.html?ana=from_rss

BPA Invites Public to Provide Feedback on Proposed Transmission Line Replacement Project at Grand Coulee Dam (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/297879/

Environment, Economy - TVA Posts $167M Loss in Third Quarter (Memphis Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/stories/2009/08/03/daily3.html?ana=from_rss

Without Nuclear Power & "Clean Coal," Cost To Meet Emissions Goal Could Double (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/08/03/BULF193ADP.DTL&feed=rss.business

Kansas - Lawsuit Seeks Coal Plant Review (Topeka Capital Journal)
http://www.cjonline.com/news/state_government/2009-08-03/lawsuit_seeks_coal_plant_review

FISH & WILDLIFE

Salmon Bill Would Put Removal of Snake River Dams Back on Table (Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/08/salmon_bill_would_put_removal.html

US Senator Mike Crapo - Salmon Tour to Showcase Efforts For Endangered Fish & Local Economy: Watershed project shows funding, partnerships working (US Senator Mike Crapo, Idaho)
http://crapo.senate.gov/media/newsreleases/release_full.cfm?id=233106

Record Rainbow Yanked From Snake River (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/929890.html

Orting Hatchery Coming Back To Life (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/832881.html

Hatchery Staff Battled To Save Salmon Fry (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/832883.html

Kootenai Tribe Restoring Sturgeon Habitat (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/929195.html

The War on Seagulls Continues At State Ferry Terminals (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009593739_seagulls04m.html

California - Sea Lions Swarm Long-Abandoned Seal Rocks (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/08/03/MN111910I2.DTL&feed=rss.news

Oysters Are on the Rebound in the Chesapeake Bay (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/04/science/04oyster.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Giant Vortex Of Floating Trash Swirling In Pacific (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2009593728_garbage04.html?syndication=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Sun Will Help Power Nine Portland Schools (Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2009/08/sun_will_help_power_nine_portl.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

LEDs: As Energy Efficient as Compact Fluorescents (NY Times)
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/08/04/leds-as-energy-efficient-as-compact-fluorescents/?partner=rss&emc=rss

The Smart Grid: Is It Worth It? (Energy Pulse Commentary)
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=2117

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Scenarios: Fate of Climate Change Bill in Congress (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/vcCandidateFeed7/idUSTRE5724HX20090803

Greenhouse Gas Legislation: Summary & Analysis of H.R. 2454 as Passed by the House of Representatives (Congressional Research Reports)
http://opencrs.com/document/R40643/

Nobel Halo Fades Fast for Climate Change Panel (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/04/science/earth/04clima.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Water Waste Shame of Ben & Jerry’s Ice Cream Company (Wandsworth Guardian, UK)
http://www.wandsworthguardian.co.uk/news/4521700.Water_waste_shame_of_eco_friendly_ice_cream_company/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Washington State Gov’t Data Center Plan Moves Ahead - $180 million piece of project ignores state’s technology problem, says legislator (Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/929723.html

FCC Chair Touts Broadband as Top Priority (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12985485

The Struggle to Stay Wired, in a Hotel Room or a Crisis (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/04/business/04road.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Microsoft's Bing Gains Another 1 Percent of U.S. Search (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSTRE57222G20090803?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest

GENERAL NEWS

Help Arrives To Help Battle Olympic National Park Fires (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090804/NEWS/308049997

Brush Fire in Shelton Quickly Controlled (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7951/reftab/1896/t/BRUSH-FIRE-IN-SHELTON-QUICKLY-CONTROLED/Default.aspx

Hoquiam mill reopens after 8 months (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_080309WAB-hoquiam-plywood-mill-TP.a4d1bbc1.html?rss

More Time to Comment on Shelton/Mason County U-G-A Agreement (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7950/reftab/1896/t/MORE-TIME-TO-COMMENT-ON-SHELTON-U-G-A-AGREEMENT/Default.aspx

Typo Turns Woman's Life Upside Down (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/money/20267306/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_7am&tmi=sea_7am_1_09000108042009&ts=H

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

Jobless NYC Woman Sues College for $70K in Tuition
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090803/ap_on_fe_st/us_odd_jobless_grad_sues;_ylt=Aq2PS6qkBb7i4FTYqENObpTtiBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTJ0aGt0aWMyBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwODAzL3VzX29kZF9qb2JsZXNzX2dyYWRfc3VlcwRjcG9zAzUEcG9zAzIEc2VjA3luX2hlYWRsaW5lX2xpc3QEc2xrA2pvYmxlc3NueWN3bw--

Mother Finds Own Child for Sale Online
http://www.kirotv.com/news/20263403/detail.html

Vermont Says Man Must Give Up Pet Moose
http://www.kirotv.com/news/20236771/detail.html

Oregon Park Dropping Torture Reference From Name - Switching the name from Lloyd Knox Water Board Park to simply Lloyd Knox Park
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/52433467.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Chicago - Saturday in the Park
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nWxA3e9f6rY

Monday, August 3, 2009

Energy News Digest for August 3, 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: Plan To Sell Energy to Aluminum Smelters Draws Ire of Franklin PUD
• Snohomish PUD and AIG Duking It Out In New York Courtroom
• Grays Harbor County PUD Power Rates Won’t Go Up This Year
• BPA Sets Rules to Deal with "Explosive" Power Growth
• Columnist - Hydro Projects Hold Much Promise
• News Release - Puget Sound Energy Files Updated Energy Strategy
• BPA Power Line Installation; WSDOT Pavement Repairs Will Impact Traffic This Week
• Natural Gas Pipeline Proposal Topic Of Fed Meetings
• Op/Ed - California should revive nuclear energy option
• If Nuclear Power Has a More Promising Future…
• Pacific Gas & Electric Workers Get $17.25 Million in OT Case
• Texas - Electricity customers may pay for Oncor Smart meters
• Electric Distribution Co-Ops Report Strong Performance during Downturn
• Northern Wasco County PUD Building Expansion Project Nears End
• Bill Opens Possibility of Lower Snake River Dam Removal
• Redfish Lake Sockeye Making A Comeback After Near Extinction
• Fall Salmon Season Opens Today In Columbia River Basin
• Alaska - Declining King Salmon Run Devastating to River Villages
• Town on Columbia, Tribes Clash Over 1855 Treaty
• Quotas on the Way to Oregon Fisheries, Bolstering Stocks
• BPA Plans Public Meeting On Hatchery Changes
• Kittitas County - Lawmakers Address Exempt Well Moratorium
• Idaho Water Officials Enforce Curtailment Order
• Tribes Combine Science, Canoes for Water Quality
• Utility Raises Cleanup Cost in Tennessee
• Wildlife Hinders (Radar Ridge) Wind Farm Strategy
• Sage Grouse Unlikely Focus Of Wyoming Wind Wars
• Montana Wind Farm Taking Toll on Bats, Birds
• Oregon Governor Signals Intent to Veto Rollback of Wind Energy Tax Breaks
• $100 Million - Kittitas Solar Plant Could Be Super Expensive
• Rep Inslee - House Will Get another Shot at Feed-In Tariffs
• Offshore Windmills Hold Clean-Energy Promise
• Oregon – Port Of Morrow's Bio-Gen Power Plant Finds Buyer
• Editorial – Renewable Energy: Power Co-Ops Should Quit Whining
• Renewable Energy - The Transmission Question
• Alaska – Home Wind Turbine Looks Good As Energy Costs Rise
• Weak Economy Makes Solar Panels More Affordable to Homeowners
• EPA Ranks Top 20 On-Site Green Power Producers
• $23 Million for Weatherization Work Spreads Across Washington State
• Taking Energy Credit Where It's Due
• Feds Warn About Misleading Claims of Benefits from Energy-Saving Devices
• Duke Energy Elbows Co-ops for Carbon Permits in Climate Measure
• Clean-Tech Is On the Rebound from a Steep Plunge in Investments
• Op/Ed - Falling Behind On Green Tech
• Clearwire to Launch WiMAX in 10 U.S. Cities
• Kitsap County Backs Out of Agreement for High-Tech Development
• Cable Industry: Our Awesomeness Cannot Be Denied
• Wildfire Contained In Mason County
• Fires in Olympics Prompts More Trail Closures
• Judge To Consider WaMu Exec's 'Golden Parachutes'
• Weyerhaeuser's Quarterly Loss Widens
• Bank Teller Tackles Suspected Robber, Gets Canned
• AP newsman Rory Marshall dead at 54

WORD OF THE DAY – THE HAIKU VERSION

Ideate • \EYE-dee-ate\ • verb – To form an idea or conception of - to form an idea

Ideate a Plan
Put it into Motion Now
Seemed Right at the Time

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: Plan To Sell Energy to Aluminum Smelters Draws Ire of Franklin PUD (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/1406/story/667771.html

Snohomish PUD and AIG Duking It Out In New York Courtroom (Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090801/NEWS01/708019920

Grays Harbor County PUD Power Rates Won’t Go Up This Year (Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/07/31/local_news/doc4a732e2e65b2c975321488.txt

BPA Sets Rules to Deal with "Explosive" Power Growth (Power Engineering)
http://pepei.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ARTCL&PUBLICATION_ID=6&ARTICLE_ID=367212&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss

Spokesman Review Columnist - Hydro Projects Hold Much Promise
http://www.pennenergy.com/index/articles/newsdisplay/s-133672955.html

News Release - Puget Sound Energy Files Updated Energy Strategy with State Regulators (BusinessWire)
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/worldenergysource/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20090730005203&newsLang=en

BPA Power Line Installation; WSDOT Pavement Repairs Will Impact Traffic This Week (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7938/reftab/1632/t/POWER-LINE-INSTALLATION-AND-PAVEMENT-REPAIRS-WILL-IMPACT-TRAFFIC-THIS-WEEK/Default.aspx

Natural Gas Pipeline Proposal Topic Of Fed Meetings - It would run along Washington side of Columbia River Gorge (Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20090803/NEWS02/708039982

Sacramento Bee Op/Ed - California should revive nuclear energy option
http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/story/2078569.html

If Nuclear Power Has a More Promising Future ... Seth Grae Wants to Be the One Leading the Charge (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/07/24/AR2009072401847.html?nav=rss_email/components

Pacific Gas & Electric Workers Get $17.25 Million in OT Case (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12969243?nclick_check=1

Texas - Electricity customers may pay for Oncor Smart meters: Whether it was Oncor's $93 million mistake or the Public Utility Commission's, electricity customers will probably end up paying for it (Dallas Morning News, TX)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/DN-oncor_03bus.ART.State.Edition1.3cf2fb0.html

Electric Distribution Co-Ops Report Strong Performance during Downturn (Penn Energy)
http://www.pennenergy.com/index/articles/display/367251/s-articles/s-utility-automation-engineering-td/s-industry-news/s-electric-distribution-co-ops-report-strong-performance-during-downturn.html

Northern Wasco County PUD Building Expansion Project Nears End (Dalles Chronicle, OR)
http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2009/07/news07-31-09-02.shtml

FISH & WILDLIFE

Bill Opens Possibility of Lower Snake River Dam Removal (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/northwest/story/830620.html

Redfish Lake Sockeye Making A Comeback After Near Extinction (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2009583916_outn02.html?syndication=rss

Fall Salmon Season Opens Today In Columbia River Basin (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/outdoors/story/830573.html

Alaska - Declining King Salmon Run Devastating to River Villages: Three years of weak returns raise questions on bycatch (Anchorage Daily News, AK)
http://www.adn.com/money/industries/fishing/story/885663.html

Town on Columbia, Tribes Clash Over 1855 Treaty (Associated Press)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_or_fishing_rights.html

Quotas on the Way to Oregon Fisheries, Bolstering Stocks (Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/08/quotas_on_the_way_to_oregon_fi.html

BPA Plans Public Meeting On Hatchery Changes - Events provide for community input on upgrades and improvements (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/297389/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Kittitas County - Lawmakers Address Exempt Well Moratorium (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/07/31/news/doc4a737a3aa8672358898415.txt

Idaho Water Officials Enforce Curtailment Order (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/927857.html

Tribes Combine Science, Canoes for Water Quality (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_paddling_for_science.html?source=pimail

Utility Raises Cleanup Cost in Tennessee (Associated Press)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/02/us/02tennessee.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Wildlife Hinders Wind Farm Strategy - Turbines not the obvious "winner" state initially thought (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20090802/NEWS02/708029968/Wildlife+hinders+wind+farm+strategy

Sage Grouse Unlikely Focus Of Wyoming Wind Wars (Reuters)
http://in.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idINTRE5720AF20090803

Montana Wind Farm Taking Toll on Bats, Birds (Associated Press)
http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_ef85f7f5-8bf2-5263-9915-5cd16c3cab6c.html

Oregon Governor Signals Intent to Veto Rollback of Wind Energy Tax Breaks “...They don't employ very many people and they send most of their power to California…” (Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2009/07/kulongoski_signals_intent_to_v.html

$100 Million - Kittitas Solar Plant Could Be Super Expensive (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/408805_solarplant3.html?source=rss

Rep Inslee - House Will Get another Shot at Feed-In Tariffs (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/08/03/03greenwire-house-will-get-another-shot-at-feed-in-tariffs-70749.html

Offshore Windmills Hold Clean-Energy Promise (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/08/02/BA0Q18ABIT.DTL&feed=rss.news

Oregon – Port Of Morrow's Bio-Gen Power Plant Finds Buyer (East Oregonian, Pendleton, OR)
http://eastoregonian.com/main.asp?FromHome=1&TypeID=1&ArticleID=96068&SectionID=13&SubSectionID=48

Fargo Forum Editorial – Renewable Energy: The Power Co-Ops Should Quit Whining
http://www.inforum.com/event/article/id/248547/

The Transmission Question - There will be no magic involved in adding new renewable energy to the electricity mix (EnergyBiz Insider)
http://www.scoop.com/remote/article/include/104988765/53616c7465645f5ff99a2eb05b194f8087766c98003ea9a176e1be2836949b2d

Alaska – Home Wind Turbine Looks Good As Energy Costs Rise (Anchorage Daily News, AK)
http://www.adn.com/3221/story/884945.html

Weak Economy Makes Solar Panels More Affordable to Homeowners (LA Times)
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-cover-solar2-2009aug02,0,7808025.story

EPA Ranks Top 20 On-Site Green Power Producers (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/mnEnergy/idUS176651644220090731

Here’s the Top-20 List; two are in Oregon
http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/top20onsite.htm

Top 20 Local Government
http://www.epa.gov/greenpower/toplists/top20localgov.htm

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

$23 Million for Weatherization Work Spreads Across Washington State (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009584131_weatherize02m.html

Taking Energy Credit Where It's Due (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/business/story/668315.html

Feds Warn About Misleading Claims of Benefits from Energy-Saving Devices (Federal Trade Commission)
http://www.ftc.gov/opa/2002/04/energysurf2002.shtm

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Duke Energy Elbows Co-ops for Carbon Permits in Climate Measure (Bloomberg News)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aQQH_8kliSTU

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Clean-Tech Is On the Rebound from a Steep Plunge in Investments (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12969563

Washington Post Op/Ed - Falling Behind On Green Tech
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/02/AR2009080201563.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Clearwire to Launch WiMAX in 10 U.S. Cities - The markets include Boise, Idaho; Bellingham, Wash. (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/08/03/clearwire-to-launch-wimax-in-10-u-s-cities-in-september/

Kitsap County Backs Out of Agreement for High-Tech Development near Kitsap Lake (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/jul/30/county-backs-out-of-agreement-for-planned-near/

Cable Industry: Our Awesomeness Cannot Be Denied - NCTA says cable efforts have saved consumers $35 billion EVERY YEAR (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Cable-Industry-Our-Awesomeness-Cannot-Be-Denied-103702

GENERAL NEWS

Wildfire Contained In Mason County (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/20259941/detail.html

Fires in Olympics Prompts More Trail Closures
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/aug/02/fires-in-olympics-prompts-more-trail-closures/?partner=RSS

Judge To Consider WaMu Exec's 'Golden Parachutes' (NW Cable News)
http://www.nwcn.com/topstories/stories/NW_080309WAB-wamu-golden-parachutes-SW.a3bdcbe8.html

Weyerhaeuser's Quarterly Loss Widens (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/07/31/business/AP-US-Earns-Weyerhaeuser.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Bank Teller Tackles Suspected Robber, Gets Canned (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/52271217.html

AP newsman Rory Marshall dead at 54 (Sorry to see this today in the SF Chronicle. I always liked sending feeds to Rory. He seemed like such a good guy.)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/08/02/national/a162757D47.DTL&feed=rss.business

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

Raccoons Infest Storage Unit, and Company Won't Pay For Damage
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/columnists/chi-thu-problem-public-storage-jul30,0,2048166.column

Phone Lost 4 Days At Sea Found, Recharged, Returned
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE56U4A920090731?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

Ukuleles Have Gone Viral
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-ukuleles25-2009jul25,0,5302658.story

New York Post Sends In the Clown – The Newspaper made the phrase “media circus” literal when it hired a clown to roam the corridors of the New York State Capitol
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/03/business/media/03clown.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

SONG OF THE DAY

Judy Collins - Send in the Clowns
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g5yG1Dy5b4A

Roger Whittaker - Send in the Clowns (I like Roger Whittaker, but this version will haunt your dreams for weeks!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z7TriKN-8i8

Friday, July 31, 2009

Energy News Digest for July 31, 2009

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Grays Harbor PUD Financial Analysis Determines Utility to Face Significantly Increased Costs
• Inland Power to Delay Rate Increase until Next Spring
• Grant PUD to Invest In Nuclear Power Study
• Northern Wasco County PUD Sets Power Record
• Montana - Judge Reaffirms That City Must Turn Over Southern Montana Electric Generation-Related Papers
• Ohio - Ormet Aluminum Files Layoff Notice for All Workers
• Op/Ed - Help Avoid Job Losses at Ormet
• Sector Snap: Utilities Rated "Neutral" On Outlook
• In Canadian Hydro Move TransAlta Puts Its Credit Rating First
• Constellation Energy Earnings Plummet to $28.3 Million in 2nd Quarter
• Energy Regulator Pushes Back Review of Constellation Energy-EDF Deal
• One in Ten Americans Say They Are Knowledgeable Where Electricity Comes From
• Fish for Dinner: Overfishing Easing In Some Areas
• Scientists Who Debated On Fisheries Team Up For Comprehensive Study
• Imperiled Fisheries Make a Comeback, Study Shows
• Op/Ed - It’s Harvest! It’s Harvest! It’s Harvest!
• Idaho Sockeye Start To Trickle In - At least 30 ‘red fish’ have arrived
• Montana – Yellowtail Dam Problem Gets Fish Stranded
• Fall Fishing Ramps up Saturday
• Oregon - Record Kokanee at Wallowa Lake Comes With a Down Side
• End May Be Near In Kittitas Wells Dispute
• Idaho Orders Shut Down Of Groundwater Wells
• Oregon Views Aired On Biomass Power Plant
• Heat Wave Demonstrates Limitations to Wind Power
• Becalmed - After a record year, America’s wind industry is suffering growing pains
• North Carolina - Utilities Chase Distant Winds: Critics cry foul
• New York Wind Energy Corruption Probe Reaches Vermont
• Developers Set To Equip Wind-Powered Home
• British Columbia Green Power Gets Red Light
• Solar Integration - PV Powered, Portland General Electric Receive Up To $3M
• Big Price Rise for Western Australia Users of Renewable Energy
• Efficiency Drive Could Cut Energy Use 23% by 2020, Study Finds
• Free Light Bulb Promotion Comes to Kitsap This Week
• Summer Conservation Program Helps Youths Make a Different Kind of Green
• Chicago - South Side Solar Plant Closer to Reality
• Op/Ed: The Folly Of 'Magical Solutions' For Targeting Carbon Emissions
• Google Voice Ban Is Clear Network Neutrality Violation
• Gunman in Wal-Mart Robbery Pleads Guilty
• Time running out for Shelton’s Historic St. Edwards Church
• Teenager Drowns In Kitsap County
• Dosewallips Area - Peninsula Cools Off, While Constance Fire Spreads
• Threshold Met - Anti-Gay Initiative: 137,689 Signatures, Sec of State Says
• Pot Operation Busted In Lincoln County Cornfield
• Increasing Postal Deficits Intensify Talks on Solution
• Editorial - Lost Money Is Teachable Moment for Evergreen

WORD OF THE DAY

Mohair • \MOH-hair\ • noun - A fabric or yarn made wholly or in part of the long silky hair of the Angora goat; also: this hair

Say, Candy and Ronnie, have you seen them yet
But they’re so spaced out,
B-B-B-Bennie and the Jetssssssss
Oh but they’re weird and they’re wonderful
Oh Bennie she’s really keen
She’s got electric boots, a mohair suit
You know I read it in a magazine
B-B-B-Bennie and the Jetssssssss

WEATHER

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

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Grays Harbor PUD Financial Analysis Determines Utility to Face Significantly Increased Costs (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)
http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=721

Inland Power to Delay Rate Increase until Next Spring (Spokane Journal of Business)
http://www.spokanejournal.com/article.php?id=4978

Grant PUD to Invest In Nuclear Power Study (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090730/NEWS04/707309881

Northern Wasco County PUD Sets Power Record (Dalles Chronicle, OR)
http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2009/07/news07-30-09-02.shtml

Montana - Judge Reaffirms That City Must Turn Over Southern Montana Electric Generation-Related Papers (Great Falls Tribune, MT)
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20090731/NEWS01/907310316/1002/news01

Ohio - Ormet Aluminum Files Layoff Notice for All Workers “…Ormet has been embroiled in a battle with alumina supplier…accused of failing to deliver raw materials…The company (has also been) granted an electricity rate reduction from American Electric Power…” (Marietta Times, OH)
http://www.mariettatimes.com/page/content.detail/id/514611.html?nav=5002

Wheeling News Register Op/Ed - Help Avoid Job Losses at Ormet
http://www.theintelligencer.net/page/content.detail/id/526579.html?nav=511

Sector Snap: Utilities Rated "Neutral" On Outlook (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009570695_apusutilitiessectorsnap.html?syndication=rss

In Canadian Hydro Move TransAlta Puts Its Credit Rating First (The Financial Post, Canada)
http://www.financialpost.com/story.html?id=1847282

Constellation Energy Earnings Plummet to $28.3 Million in 2nd Quarter (Baltimore Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2009/07/27/daily59.html?ana=from_rss

Maryland Energy Regulator Pushes Back Review of Constellation Energy-EDF Deal (Baltimore Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2009/07/27/daily56.html?ana=from_rss

One in Ten Americans Say They Are Knowledgeable Where Electricity Comes From (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=367084&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Fish for Dinner: Overfishing Easing In Some Areas (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009570347_apusscisavingseafood.html?syndication=rss

Scientists Who Debated On Fisheries Team Up For Comprehensive Study (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009572947_fisheries31m.html?syndication=rss

Imperiled Fisheries Make a Comeback, Study Shows – Harvest Control Works (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=111376512&ft=1&f=2

Othello Outlook Op/Ed - It’s Harvest! It’s Harvest! It’s Harvest!
http://othellooutlook.com/?p=3613

Idaho Sockeye Start To Trickle In - At least 30 ‘red fish’ have arrived in the Sawtooth Valley so far (Idaho Mountain Express & Guide, Sun Valley)
http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005127213

Montana – Yellowtail Dam Problem Gets Fish Stranded, Loss of Trout Blamed On Malfunctioning Gate (Billings Gazette, MT)
http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_5dc82da8-7d92-11de-b517-001cc4c002e0.html

Fall Fishing Ramps up Saturday (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20090730/SPORTS04/907309988

Oregon - Record Kokanee at Wallowa Lake Comes With a Down Side (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/bill_monroe/index.ssf/2009/07/record_kokanee_at_wallowa_lake.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

End May Be Near In Kittitas Wells Dispute (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/925596.html

Idaho Orders Shut Down Of Groundwater Wells (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/926021.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Oregon Views Aired On Biomass Power Plant - A proposed wood-fired boiler at a local sawmill is either a great new source of sustainable electricity…or a burdensome polluter that will sicken neighbors and foul the air (Eugene Register Guard, OR)
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/updates/17958982-55/story.csp

Heat Wave Demonstrates Limitations to Wind Power (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/mnEnergy/idUS86005469820090731

Becalmed - After a record year, America’s wind industry is suffering growing pains (The Economist)
http://www.economist.com/businessfinance/displaystory.cfm?story_id=14140349

North Carolina - Utilities Chase Distant Winds: Critics cry foul over buying of renewable energy credits (News & Observer, Raleigh, NC)
http://www.newsobserver.com/business/story/1628333.html

New York Wind Energy Corruption Probe Reaches Vermont (Rutland Herald, VT)http://www.rutlandherald.com/article/20090731/NEWS03/907310367/0/NEWS02

Developers Set To Equip Wind-Powered Home (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20090731/BIZ01/707319976/-1/BIZ

British Columbia Green Power Gets Red Light (Surrey Leader, BC)
http://www.bclocalnews.com/surrey_area/surreyleader/business/Green_power_gets_red_light.html

Solar Integration - PV Powered, Portland General Electric Receive Up To $3M (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/07/27/daily47.html?ana=from_rss

Big Price Rise for Western Australia Users of Renewable Energy (Perth Sunday Times, Australia)
http://www.news.com.au/perthnow/story/0,21598,25864647-2761,00.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Efficiency Drive Could Cut Energy Use 23% by 2020, Study Finds (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/30/business/energy-environment/30energy.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Free Light Bulb Promotion Comes to Kitsap This Week (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/jul/30/free-light-bulb-promotion-comes-to-kitsap-this/?partner=RSS

Summer Conservation Program Helps Youths Make a Different Kind of Green (Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, CA)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/environment/ci_12938558?source=rss&nclick_check=1

Chicago - South Side Solar Plant Closer to Reality (Chicago Public Radio)
http://www.chicagopublicradio.org/Content.aspx?audioID=35853

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

United Kingdom – Guardian Op/Ed: The Folly Of 'Magical Solutions' For Targeting Carbon Emissions
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/jul/31/network-climate-change

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Google Voice Ban Is Clear Network Neutrality Violation - And both AT&T and Apple should share the blame (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Google-Voice-Ban-Is-Clear-Network-Neutrality-Violation-103692

GENERAL NEWS

Gunman in Wal-Mart Robbery Pleads Guilty (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=195017

Time running out for Shelton’s Historic St. Edwards Church (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7920/reftab/1632/Default.aspx

Teenager Drowns In Kitsap County (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/20232799/detail.html

Dosewallips Area - Peninsula Cools Off, While Constance Fire Spreads (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090731/news/307319991

Threshold Met - Anti-Gay Initiative: 137,689 Signatures, Sec of State Says (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/175049.asp?source=pimail

Pot Operation Busted In Lincoln County Cornfield (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/jul/30/pot-operation-busted-lincoln-county-cornfield/

Increasing Postal Deficits Intensify Talks on Solution (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/30/business/30postal.html?_r=1&ref=business

Olympian Editorial - Lost Money Is Teachable Moment for Evergreen
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/926289.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

Texting Is 23-Times Riskier Than Using Cell Phone While Driving
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2009/07/texting-vs-cell-phone-risk-dangers-while-driving.html?EXTKEY=I91ECON&CMP=OTC-ConsumeristLinks

34 Hospitalized After Co-Worker Sprays Perfume
http://www.kirotv.com/news/20226511/detail.html

Stolen Sand? Mexico Shuts Cancun Beach
http://www.kirotv.com/travelgetaways/20232586/detail.html

Tiger Flees Magic Act Into Vegas Streets - Residents Reported Seeing Tiger Wandering Streets
http://www.kirotv.com/travelgetaways/20233293/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Jefferson Starship - Ride the Tiger
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIufUOm_cWY