The Energy News Digest

Friday, September 4, 2009

Energy News Digest for September 4, 2009

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Energy News Digest for September 3, 2009

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Energy News Digest for September 2, 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)

• Washington Nuclear Plant Goes Back Online
• California Watching Wildfire Threat to Power Grid
• Puget Sound Energy Seeks Electricity Rate Hike
• Snohomish PUD to Raise Rates for Commercial Customers
• Eugene - Rates, Commissioner’s Arrest Get EWEB’s Attention
• Idaho Power to Build Natural Gas Plant
• Class Action Suit Claims San Diego Gas & Electric Cheats on Billing
• Oregon - Liquefied Natural Gas Opponents Appeal Clatsop County Decision to State
• Ameren Power Outage Info Goes Mobile
• Dam Safety: Investigating Failures of Post-Tensioned Anchors
• Tribes Agree To Fishing Closure in Tarboo Bay to Help Protect Coho Salmon Run
• California – American River Salmon Festival Canceled This Year
• Group Hopes To Expand Restoration Work on the Columbia River Estuary
• Eight Seabirds Found Mowed down on Beach near Gearhart
• Scientists Discuss 'Ambitious Effort' to Fix Hood Canal
• Washington State Delays Olympia Brewery Water Rights Decision
• California - The Water Wars: San Francisco Bay and the delta are dying
• Oregon Tops in Clean-Energy Stimulus Funds
• Leave No Wind Farm Behind - Iberdrola Renewables Receives $300M Stimulus Grants
• Columnist - Renewable Energy: ‘Buy California’ Fight Heats Up
• Editorial - California Legislature Should Reject Utilities' Demands, Pass Clean-Energy Law
• Richland Lab to Study Ocean, River Power
• Whidbey Tides May Churn Electricity
• Canola Good for Bio-Fuels, But Dangerous For Other Crops
• Biomass Electricity More Efficient than Ethanol, Researchers Say
• The Impact of Electric Vehicles on the Power Grid
• Ecos Consulting Sold To Advantage IQ
• Vast Shift in Bird Species Expected From Warming
• British Columbia Budget Bites into Green Programs
• Potential Seen For Climate Insurance in Tourism
• The Beginning of Richland's Broadband Backbone
• Barely Broadband - Internet Providers Seek Low Broadband Bar
• Qwest Sees 100 Gbps in Its (Long Haul) Future
• Connected Nation Wins Florida Mapping Bid
• WhiteFi: Broadcasting Wireless Internet over TV Airwaves
• Comcast Raising Rates in Washington By 3 Percent
• Ebay Sells Skype, Ending Ill-Fated Match
• Sun's Server Share Hit As Antitrust Scrutiny Looms
• Sony Ships PCs with Google Web Browser Installed
• Study Finds Web No Equalizer for Civic Engagement
• Mason County Sex Predator Won't Be Released
• Fire Destroys Condominium Recreation Center in Mason County
• Shelton Mayor Asks Mason County for Credit If Road Levy Shift Is Approved
• BP Makes "Giant" Oil Find in Gulf of Mexico
• Twitter, Texting Could Help Families in Disasters
• Vernon Stoner - Sequim Gets New City Manager

WORD OF THE DAY

Inordinate • \in-OR-dun-ut\ • adjective - exceeding reasonable limits: immoderate

What was supposed to be a simple installation of a computer program became an epic adventure for Billy. He was especially galled by the inordinate amount of time it took to get through to technical support – two hours – before being told that they had closed two minutes before the technician picked up the phone. “I look forward to speaking with you tomorrow,” chirped the cheerful propeller head.

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

Washington Nuclear Plant Goes Back Online (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/957337.html

California Watching Wildfire Threat to Power Grid (Reuters)
http://www.insurancejournal.com/news/west/2009/09/01/103426.htm

Puget Sound Energy Seeks Electricity Rate Hike (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/sep/01/pse-seeks-electricity-rate-hike/

Snohomish PUD to Raise Rates for Commercial Customers (Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090902/BIZ/709029940/-1/RSS03

Eugene - Rates, Commissioner’s Arrest Get EWEB’s Attention (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/cityregion/19543029-41/story.csp

Idaho Power to Build Natural Gas Plant (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/957287.html

Class Action Suit Claims San Diego Gas & Electric Cheats on Billing (Courthouse News)
http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/09/01/Class_Claims_SDG&E_Cheats_on_Billing.htm

Oregon - Liquefied Natural Gas Opponents Appeal Clatsop County Decision To State (Daily Astorian, OR)
http://www.dailyastorian.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=398&ArticleID=63735&TM=64997.22

Ameren Power Outage Info Goes Mobile (St. Louis Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2009/08/31/daily33.html?ana=from_rss

Dam Safety: Investigating Failures of Post-Tensioned Anchors (Hydro Review)
http://www.hydroworld.com/index/display/article-display/2797948588/s-articles/s-hydro-review-worldwide/s-volume-17/s-Issue_4/s-articles/s-Dam_Safety__Investigating_Failures_of_Post-Tensioned_Anchors.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Tribes Agree To Fishing Closure in Tarboo Bay to Help Protect Coho Salmon Run (Port Townsend Leader, WA)
http://www.ptleader.com/Main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=25046

California – American River Salmon Festival Canceled This Year: Cost and Lack of Fish Cited (Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/2154565.html

Group Hopes To Expand Restoration Work on the Columbia River Estuary (Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/09/group_hopes_to_expand_restorat.html

Eight Seabirds Found Mowed down on Beach near Gearhart (Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/08/slaughter_of_seabirds_continue.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Scientists Discuss 'Ambitious Effort' to Fix Hood Canal (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/sep/01/scientists-discuss-ambitious-effort-to-fix-hood/?partner=RSS

Washington State Delays Olympia Brewery Water Rights Decision (Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/957527.html

California - The Water Wars: San Francisco Bay and the delta are dying. Salmon runs are collapsing. Droughts are getting worse. And big agriculture still wants more water (SF Bay Guardian)
http://www.sfbg.com/entry.php?entry_id=9088

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Oregon Tops in Clean-Energy Stimulus Funds (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/5739-oregon-tops-windpower-stimulus-funds/

Leave No Wind Farm Behind - Iberdrola Renewables Receives $300M Stimulus Grants (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/08/31/daily23.html?ana=from_rss

Sacramento Bee Columnist - Renewable Energy: ‘Buy California’ Fight Heats Up
http://www.sacbee.com/capitolandcalifornia/story/2154412.html

San Jose Mercury News Editorial - California Legislature Should Reject Utilities' Demands, Pass Clean-Energy Law
http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_13250505

Richland Lab to Study Ocean, River Power (Associated Press)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=11029456

Whidbey Tides May Churn Electricity (Whidbey News-Times)
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/whidbey/wnt/news/56664277.html

Canola Good for Bio-Fuels, But Dangerous For Other Crops (Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2009/08/canola_good_for_biofuels_but_d.html

Biomass Electricity More Efficient than Ethanol, Researchers Say (Power Magazine)
http://www.powermag.com/renewables/waste_to_energy/Biomass-Electricity-More-Efficient-than-Ethanol-Researchers-Say_2142.html

The Impact of Electric Vehicles on the Power Grid (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/x-12791-SF-Green-Careers-Examiner~y2009m9d1-The-impact-of-electric-vehicles-on-the-power-grid

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Ecos Consulting Sold To Advantage IQ (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/08/31/daily20.html?ana=from_rss

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Vast Shift in Bird Species Expected From Warming (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/01/MNBT19E450.DTL&feed=rss.news

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

British Columbia Budget Bites into Green Programs (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/09/01/bc-victoria-vancouver-budget-green-environment-programs.html?ref=rss

Potential Seen For Climate Insurance in Tourism (Reuters)
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKLNE58102Y20090902

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

The Beginning of Richland's Broadband Backbone (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/56668882.html

Barely Broadband - Internet Providers Seek Low Broadband Bar (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/internetNews/idUSTRE5806LY20090902?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest

Qwest Sees 100 Gbps in Its (Long Haul) Future (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/09/02/qwest-sees-the-future-and-its-100gbps-for-the-long-haul/

Connected Nation Wins Florida Mapping Bid - Despite being twice as expensive as closest alternative (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Connected-Nation-Wins-Florida-Mapping-Bid-104264

WhiteFi: Broadcasting Wireless Internet over TV Airwaves (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/archives/177725.asp?source=pimail

Comcast Raising Rates in Washington By 3 Percent (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/technologybrierdudleysblog/2009786819_comcast_raising_rates_in_washi.html?syndication=rss

Ebay Sells Skype, Ending Ill-Fated Match (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/09/02/BU1819GU5U.DTL&feed=rss.business

Sun's Server Share Hit As Antitrust Scrutiny Looms (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/09/01/financial/f210525D69.DTL&feed=rss.business

Sony Ships PCs with Google Web Browser Installed (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009787868_apustectechbitgooglesony.html?syndication=rss

Study Finds Web No Equalizer for Civic Engagement (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/09/01/financial/f110447D52.DTL&feed=rss.business

GENERAL NEWS

Mason County Sex Predator Won't Be Released (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_090109WAB-cherry-sex-offender-release-TP.13a55cf75.html?rss

Fire Destroys Condominium Recreation Center in Mason County (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/sep/01/fire-destroys-condominum-recreation-center-mason-c/?partner=RSS

Shelton Mayor Asks Mason County for Credit If Road Levy Shift Is Approved (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/8128/reftab/1632/t/MAYOR-ASKS-COUNTY-FOR-CREDIT-IF-ROAD-LEVY-SHIFT-IS-APPROVED/Default.aspx

BP Makes "Giant" Oil Find in Gulf of Mexico (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSTRE58133V20090902?feedType=nl&feedName=usbusinessearly

Twitter, Texting Could Help Families in Disasters (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2009785942_apusdisastersocialmedia.html?syndication=rss

Vernon Stoner - Sequim Gets New City Manager (KONP Radio, Port Angeles)
http://www.konp.com/local/5072

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

Gator On the Loose In Salmon Creek - Two-foot-long creature likely an abandoned exotic pet
http://columbian.com/article/20090902/NEWS02/709029945/

Honolulu Seeking To Ban 'BO' On Buses
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/09/01/national/a142409D91.DTL&feed=rss.business

SONG OF THE DAY

John Fogerty - Change in the weather
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=r0QvsgwGBJY

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

Energy News Digest for September 1, 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)

• Puget Sound Energy Natural-Gas Rates May Fall 17%
• BPA - $32M Power Deal Doesn't Add Up, 9th Circuit Rules
• Avista Seeks Oregon Natural Gas Rate Cut
• Eugene Natural Gas Prices to Decline, But Electricity’s Going Up
• Great Falls Plans to Write off Some of Its $2.3 Million Power Plant Investment as Losses
• Tacoma Power Scores Fifth In Region on J.D. Power Survey
• Grid Lock: New Transmission Lines Key for Clean Energy–And Coal
• Siberia Dam Accident Could Aid Aluminum Industry
• Wisconsin - Lawsuits Seek Payment from Manitowoc Aluminum Mill
• Climate Change Bill to Boost Nuclear Plants
• Editorial - Obama’s Plan B for Nuke Waste: Hanford
• United Kingdom Is ‘Facing 70s-Style Blackouts’
• Op/Ed - Collaborating For Salmon
• Op/Ed - Washington View: Breaching Snake River dams will return farmland to desert
• Editorial - New Salmon Voices Are Welcome
• Columbia River & Tributaries Fish Reports
• Mussel Invasion Closes In On Northwest Waters
• The Art in Returning A Stream to Its Natural State
• Kingco May Declare Green River Flood Emergency
• Editorial - Great Lakes Rescue
• Editorial - Tax Dollars Blowin' in the Wind
• Editorial - Not Blowing Smoke: The reality of wind energy shows promise of living up to the hype
• Europe’s Ban on Old-Style Light Bulbs Begins
• Hoarding Energy-Guzzling Bulbs Ahead Of European Union Ban
• Firm's Hybrid Bulbs Put Spotlight on Incandescents
• Compact Fluorescent Bulbs Shine in Tests
• EPA To Declare Carbon Dioxide a Dangerous Pollutant
• U.S. Climate Change Bill Hits New Senate Delay
• US Agriculture Interests Split Over Energy Bill
• Op/Ed - ‘Cap & Trade’ Will Hit Montana Hard
• Venture Firm’s ‘Green’ Funds Top $1 Billion
• California - Palo Alto Plans for Electric Car Boom
• Key Milestones in the Development of Internet
• Report: Microsoft Hosts Weekly 'Screw Google' Meetings
• Surprise! Wi-Fi Alliance Says Travelers Want Wi-Fi on Planes
• Referendum to Overturn Gay Partnership Law Makes Ballot
• Wash. Panel Wants Repeal of Lawmaker Public Records Exemption
• St. Edwards "Unwavering" In Sale of Former Shelton Church Building
• Modeled on PUD 3 Program – Shelton City Employees Raise Funds for S-O-S Program
• Recession Trims Seattle Traffic Congestion 8%

WORD OF THE DAY

Animadversion • \an-uh-mad-VER-zhun\ • noun – *1: a critical & usually censorious remark - often used with "on" 2: adverse criticism

It was a surreal moment. In a room full of energy analysts, it was expected that the power marketers would walk the “party line” of their corporate bosses. That’s what made the animadversion of the XYZ Energy representative (who blurted out Tourettes fashion) that he wasn’t interested in price equity, his company just wanted to squeeze all the utilities for as much as they could get. The ensuing, jaw-dropping silence was deafening.

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

Puget Sound Energy Natural-Gas Rates May Fall 17% “…the utility also has a separate, & unrelated, request pending before the utilities commission that would increase rates next year…” (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009782277_gasrates01m.html

BPA - $32M Power Deal Doesn't Add Up, 9th Circuit Rules (Courthouse News Service)
http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/08/31/$32M_Power_Deal_Doesn_t_Add_Up_9th_Circuit_Rules.htm

Avista Seeks Oregon Natural Gas Rate Cut (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/08/31/daily8.html?ana=from_rss

Eugene Natural Gas Prices to Decline, But Electricity’s Going Up (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/cityregion/19459044-41/story.csp

Great Falls Plans to Write off Some of Its $2.3 Million Power Plant Investment as Losses (Great Falls Tribune, MT)
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20090901/NEWS01/909010301/City-plans-to-write-off-some-of-its--2.3-million-as-losses

Tacoma Power Scores Fifth In Region on J.D. Power Survey (Tacoma Public Utilities)
http://www.mytpu.org/newsroom/power-news/tacoma-power-scores.htm

Grid Lock: New Transmission Lines Key for Clean Energy–And Coal (Wall Street Journal)
http://blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/2009/08/31/grid-lock-new-transmission-lines-key-for-clean-energy-and-coal/

Siberia Dam Accident Could Aid Aluminum Industry (Yahoo! Finance)
http://uk.biz.yahoo.com/18082009/323/siberia-dam-accident-aid-aluminum-industry.html

Wisconsin - Lawsuits Seek Payment From Manitowoc Aluminum Mill – Disputes over services rendered but not paid for or metal that has gone missing (Herald Times Reporter, Manitowoc, WI)
http://www.htrnews.com/article/20090901/MAN0101/909010489/1984/MAN04

Climate Change Bill to Boost Nuclear Plants (Washington Times)
http://washingtontimes.com/news/2009/sep/01/climate-change-bill-to-boost-nuclear-plants/

News Tribune Editorial - Obama’s Plan B for Nuke Waste: Hanford
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/863291.html

United Kingdom Is ‘Facing 70s-Style Blackouts’ - Report casts doubt over the Government's pledge that renewable sources can make up for lower output from nuclear & coal (Press Association, UK)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ukpress/article/ALeqM5jGxxCQiHSsrWH_wMcfxmR-cRfyGw

FISH & WILDLIFE

Oregonian Op/Ed - Collaborating For Salmon
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/08/collaborating_for_salmon.html

Columbian Op/Ed - Washington View: Breaching Snake River dams will return farmland to desert
http://columbian.com/article/20090818/BIZ01/708189998/-1/BIZ

Astorian Editorial - New Salmon Voices Are Welcome: Lower river joint fisheries commission can be a constructive force
http://www.dailyastorian.info/main.asp?SectionID=23&SubSectionID=392&ArticleID=63709&TM=56871.56

Columbia River & Tributaries Fish Reports (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2009781639_columbia_river_and_tributaries.html

Mussel Invasion Closes In On Northwest Waters - threaten to gum up the dams that produce the region's cheap electricity (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/outdoors/2009776836_mussels31.html

The Art in Returning A Stream to Its Natural State (Bend Bulletin, OR)
http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090831/NEWS0107/908310372/-1/rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Kingco May Declare Green River Flood Emergency (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009785728_apwagreenriverflooding.html?syndication=rss

NY Times Editorial - Great Lakes Rescue “…the lakes still suffer — from lingering industrial pollution, toxics like mercury, deteriorating wetlands &, more recently, invasive species that have devastated the fishing industry & fouled shorelines…”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/opinion/01tue3.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Oregonian Editorial - Tax Dollars Blowin' in the Wind “…Oregon taxpayers are paying an unnecessarily high price to encourage clean renewable energy…”
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/08/tax_dollars_blowin_in_the_wind.html

Columbian Editorial - Not Blowing Smoke: The reality of wind energy shows promise of living up to the hype
http://columbian.com/article/20090901/OPINION02/709019986/-1/OPINION

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Europe’s Ban on Old-Style Light Bulbs Begins (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/business/energy-environment/01iht-bulb.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Hoarding Energy-Guzzling Bulbs Ahead Of European Union Ban (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE57U4WT20090831?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest

Firm's Hybrid Bulbs Put Spotlight on Incandescents (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112407832&ft=1&f=2

Compact Fluorescent Bulbs Shine in Tests (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=112416464&ft=1&f=2

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

EPA To Declare Carbon Dioxide a Dangerous Pollutant (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/08/31/MNM219GIJD.DTL&feed=rss.news

U.S. Climate Change Bill Hits New Senate Delay (Reuters)
http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKWBT01311020090831

US Agriculture Interests Split Over Energy Bill (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/09/01/financial/f000050D77.DTL&feed=rss.business

Missoulian Op/Ed - ‘Cap & Trade’ Will Hit Montana Hard
http://www.missoulian.com/news/opinion/columnists/article_1d300018-9700-11de-bffa-001cc4c03286.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Venture Firm’s ‘Green’ Funds Top $1 Billion (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/09/01/business/01khosla.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

California - Palo Alto Plans for Electric Car Boom (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_13244410?nclick_check=1

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Key Milestones in The Development Of Internet (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009779438_apustecinternetat40timeline.html?syndication=rss

Report: Microsoft Hosts Weekly 'Screw Google' Meetings (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/archives/177866.asp?source=pimail

Surprise! Wi-Fi Alliance Says Travelers Want Wi-Fi on Planes (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/08/31/surprise-wi-fi-alliance-says-travelers-want-wi-fi-on-planes/

GENERAL NEWS

Referendum to Overturn Gay Partnership Law Makes Ballot (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/20653666/detail.html

Wash. Panel Wants Repeal of Lawmaker Public Records Exemption (Associated Press)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_sunshine_committee.html?source=pimail

St. Edwards "Unwavering" In Sale of Former Shelton Church Building (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/8115/reftab/1632/Default.aspx

Modeled on PUD 3 Program – Shelton City Employees Raise Funds for S-O-S Program (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/8121/reftab/1632/t/CITY-EMPLOYEES-RAISE-FUNDS-FOR-S-O-S-PROGRAM/Default.aspx

Recession Trims Seattle Traffic Congestion 8% (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009785888_webtraffic01m.html?syndication=rss

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

Detroit Mailman Charged After Thousands of Pieces Found
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_13240728

Teacher Accused of Selling Grades for Cash - Students Told Money Went To Charity
http://www.kirotv.com/news/20653270/detail.html

Ohio Judge Silences Defendant with Duct Tape
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090901/ap_on_re_us/us_odd_defendant_s_mouth_taped;_ylt=Apf.SQNEiUem6SAg_7rCEg3tiBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTJ2N2h1MTdhBGFzc2V0A2FwLzIwMDkwOTAxL3VzX29kZF9kZWZlbmRhbnRfc19tb3V0aF90YXBlZARjcG9zAzEEcG9zAzEEc2VjA3luX3RvcF9zdG9yeQRzbGsDb2hpb2p1ZGdlc2ls

“Too Tall” Chinese Basketball Player Sparks Fan Violence
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090827/od_nm/us_china_violence;_ylt=Ag2EJBVuez4BUvrfIei.Z9ntiBIF;_ylu=X3oDMTJtM2RzaW9sBGFzc2V0A25tLzIwMDkwODI3L3VzX2NoaW5hX3Zpb2xlbmNlBHBvcwM1BHNlYwN5bl9hcnRpY2xlX3N1bW1hcnlfbGlzdARzbGsDcXVvdHRvb3RhbGxx

SONG OF THE DAY

Make Me Lose Control - Eric Carmen (Just don’t get any of this bubblegum in your hair, Eric – BTW, George Lucas wants his white Thunderbird from America Graffiti back…)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zajTU5h_YGM

Monday, August 31, 2009

Energy News Digest for August 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)

• Alcoa’s Energy Deal with Bonneville Quashed by Court
• Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. Still Striving For Power Deal
• DJ Ormet to Double Aluminum Cuts but Then Keep 09 Output Steady
• Tennessee - Life after Alcoa: Layoffs Lead To New Opportunity
• Okanogan PUD - Shanker’s Bend Dam Proposal Draws Opposition
• Clark Public Utilities Expansion Is In the Works
• Northern Wasco County PUD rates to rise
• PacifiCorp’s Customers Could See Lower Rate Increase
• Pennsylvania - Cooperative Plans to Buy Electricity as Rate Caps Expire
• Road Ruts Frustrates BPA, Costly To Customers
• North Dakota - Electric Coop Works to Meet Oil Patch Demand
• Will South Carolina Run Out of Energy?
• Utilities Seek Stimulus Money for Energy Projects
• Northwest Energy Test May Have National Impact
• NY Nuke Reactor Back Online After Shutdown
• Lawmakers Warn Of De Facto Nuclear Dumping
• Op/Ed - Energy reform must include nuclear
• Op/Ed - Region-Based Energy Solutions Make Sense
• Electricity Cooperatives' Record Weighed in Health-Care Debate
• Editorial - Dam McDermott
• Mess Left by Skokomish River Anglers Closes Shellfish Harvesting
• Pink Salmon Invasion Continues As Humpies Keep Biting
• Snake River Opens Sept. 1 for Fall Chinook Fishing
• DesChutes River Salmon Get A Traditional Hello
• The Sockeye Run in Kenai: 'For Us, It's Shopping'
• Canada - Hotter Water Linked To Poor Sockeye Returns
• Ask Eric: How Old Are Salmon When They Spawn?
• California - Fresno Fundraiser Offers Endangered Smelt on Menu
• Graceful Herons Plague Central Washington Backyards
• Pro-Wolf Group Urges Idaho Potato Boycott
• Clallam PUD Water Managers Ask For Conservation
• Bottled Water Price War Is Heating Up
• Company Plans Biomass Power Project in Longview
• Editorial - Biomass Plan Energizes Mint Farm, Region
• WoodPellets.com Stocks Coffers For Winter
• Public Meetings Set On Lower Snake River Wind Energy Project
• Wyoming - Duke Energy to Build Ninth U.S. Wind Farm
• California - Out-Of-State Power Projects Criticized
• California Condors, Wind Farms on Collision Course
• Winning Over the 'Nimby Blockade'
• Op/Ed - It's Time to Treat Wind Power Like A Grownup
• Cloud of Questions - Doubts Surround Proposed Cle Elum Solar Facility
• Brier Home's Roof Soaks Up Rays
• Flathead Electric Cooperative at Forefront of Renewable Energy
• From Poplar to Ethanol: Plant Could Help Save Northwest's Biofuels Industry
• Stimulus Package Aims To Aid Slumping Appliance Industry
• Some Buildings Not Living Up to Green Label
• Save the Light Bulb! Compact fluorescents don't produce quality light
• Editorial - Snake River Dams: Don’t Forget the Carbon
• Environmentalists Slow to Adjust in Climate Debate
• A High Cost to Deal with Climate Shift
• Carbon Cuts Won’t Work - It's Time We Considered Alternatives
• North Mason Chamber Leads the Way to Green Business
• Does Seattle Have Enough Spark For Electric Cars?
• Making Way for Electric Cars
• Obama’s Green Dream Team
• How Can I Tell When A Product Is Being Greenwashed?
• 2,200 Applied For Broadband Stimulus Funds
• Infinera Helps Bring Broadband to Grant County Residents
• As Net Turns 40, Barriers Threaten Open Growth
• Comcast Wins Appeal of FCC Ownership Cap
• Microsoft Office's Biggest Competitor is…Office
• Wash. Latest State to Be Sued For Full Support of School Dollars
• Yellow Jackets Get Aggressive During Fall Search for Food
• Ex-Shelton Prep Standout Signs Deal With S.F. Giants
• Washington State Governor Says 'No Thanks' To Mystery Laptop Order
• Fresh Air in the Muni Securities Market

WORD OF THE DAY

Empyreal • \em-pye-REE-ul\ • adjective - 1: of or relating to the firmament: celestial 2: sublime

With little or no light from towns and farms, the sparkling, empyral canopy of stars spanned the heavens from horizon to horizon. For the first time in his life, Dagwood was able to see why the “Milky Way” got its name.

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

Alcoa’s Energy Deal with Bonneville Quashed by Court “…amounted to a “gift” that demonstrated unsound business practice…” (Bloomberg)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=aYU03D8RlWEY

Here is the 9th Circuit Ruling: Opinion For Pacific Northwest Generating C V. BPA
http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/opinions/view_subpage.php?pk_id=0000009910

Columbia Falls Aluminum Co. Still Striving For Power Deal (The Daily Interlake, Kalispell, MT)
http://dailyinterlake.com/articles/2009/08/30/news/local_montana/news_8748391332_04.txt

DJ Ormet to Double Aluminum Cuts but Then Keep 09 Output Steady (Trading Markets)
http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/2488423/

Tennessee - Life after Alcoa: Layoffs Lead To New Opportunity For Owners of All American Clean Out (Blount Today, Marysville TN)
http://www.blounttoday.com/news/2009/aug/31/layoffs-lead-new-opportunity-owners-all-american-c/

Okanogan PUD - Shanker’s Bend Dam Proposal Draws Opposition (Omak Chronicle, WA)
http://www.omakchronicle.com/nws/n090828a.shtml

Clark Public Utilities Expansion Is In the Works - New space set to open this year, remodeled building in the spring (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20090825/BIZ01/708259963/-1/BIZ

Northern Wasco County PUD rates to rise - Utility will not pass on BPA rate increase (Dalles Chronicle, OR)
http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2009/08/news08-28-09-03.shtml

PacifiCorp’s Customers Could See Lower Rate Increase (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/697392.html

Pennsylvania - Cooperative Plans to Buy Electricity as Rate Caps Expire “…You might have 25 percent, 35 percent, 45 percent. It's all over the map…” (Reading Eagle, PA)
http://www.readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=154726

Road Ruts Frustrates BPA, Costly To Customers (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)
http://www.katu.com/news/local/54882091.html

North Dakota - Electric Coop Works to Meet Oil Patch Demand (Associated Press)
http://www.kxmc.com/News/429163.asp

Will South Carolina Run Out of Energy? (WCIV-TV, Charleston, SC)
http://cfc.wciv.com/affinity/affarticle.cfm?id=331

Utilities Seek Stimulus Money for Energy Projects (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/5723-utilities-seek-stimulus-money-energy-projects/

Northwest Energy Test May Have National Impact (Oregon Daily Journal of Commerce)
http://djcoregon.com/news/2009/08/28/northwest-energy-test-may-have-national-impact/

NY Nuke Reactor Back Online After Shutdown (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009775768_apusindianpoint.html?syndication=rss

Lawmakers Warn Of De Facto Nuclear Dumping - With facilities already in place, Hanford, others might get waste (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/862036.html

Oregonian Op/Ed - Energy reform must include nuclear
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/08/energy_reform.html

Oregonian Op/Ed - Region-Based Energy Solutions Make Sense
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/08/regionbased_energy_solutions_m.html

Electricity Cooperatives' Record Weighed in Health-Care Debate (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/26/AR2009082603485.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Columbia Basin Herald Editorial - Dam McDermott
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/08/27/editorials/doc4a96f5e0d738c409952318.txt

Mess Left by Skokomish River Anglers Closes Shellfish Harvesting (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/953898.html

Pink Salmon Invasion Continues As Humpies Keep Biting In Puget Sound, Rivers (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/story/860480.html

Snake River Opens Sept. 1 for Fall Chinook Fishing (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)
http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=859

DesChutes River Salmon Get A Traditional Hello - Fish and Wildlife officials expect 10,700 Chinook to make the swim this year (The Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/954644.html

The Sockeye Run in Kenai: 'For Us, It's Shopping' (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009772350_alaskafishing30.html?syndication=rss

Canada - Hotter Water Linked To Poor Sockeye Returns (Straight.com)
http://www.straight.com/article-249317/hotter-water-linked-poor-sockeye-returns

Ask Eric: How Old Are Salmon When They Spawn? (Detroit Free Press. MI)
http://www.freep.com/article/20090827/SPORTS10/908270466/1365/SPORTS/Ask-Eric--How-old-are-salmon-when-they-spawn

California - Fresno Fundraiser Offers Endangered Smelt on Menu (Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://www.sacbee.com/capitolandcalifornia/story/2149481.html

Graceful Herons Plague Central Washington Backyards (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009777219_apwabackyardherons.html

Pro-Wolf Group Urges Idaho Potato Boycott (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009770503_apidpotatoboycott.html?syndication=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Clallam PUD Water Managers Ask For Conservation; Fairview System at Stage 3 Alert (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090831/news/308319990

Bottled Water Price War Is Heating Up (Consumerist)
http://consumerist.com/5349415/bottled-water-price-war-is-heating-up

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Company Plans Biomass Power Project in Longview (Associated Press)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_biomass_plant.html?source=pimail

Daily News Editorial - Biomass Plan Energizes Mint Farm, Region
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/08/31/editorial/doc4a9ab6f0aa631020249167.txt

WoodPellets.com Stocks Coffers For Winter (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10319550-54.html?tag=nl.e703

Public Meetings Set On Lower Snake River Wind Energy Project (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA)
http://union-bulletin.com/articles/2009/08/29/local_news/090830fwind.txt

Wyoming - Duke Energy to Build Ninth U.S. Wind Farm (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS106717+31-Aug-2009+PRN20090831

California - Out-Of-State Power Projects Criticized: Utilities trying to meet mandate for renewables, outsourcing renewable power irks some activists (Modesto Bee, CA)
http://www.modbee.com/local/story/835079.html

California Condors, Wind Farms on Collision Course (Wind Watch)
http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2009/08/31/california-condors-wind-farms-on-collision-course/

Winning Over the 'Nimby Blockade' (British Broadcasting Corporation)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/science/nature/8223048.stm

East Oregonian Op/Ed - It's Time to Treat Wind Power Like A Grownup
http://eastoregonian.com/main.asp?SectionID=14&SubSectionID=50&ArticleID=97078&TM=49816.13

Cloud of Questions - Doubts Surround Proposed Cle Elum Solar Facility (Daily Record, Ellensburg, WA)
http://www.kvnews.com/articles/2009/08/29/news//doc4a98c8189cc91196487164.txt

Brier Home's Roof Soaks Up Rays - Solar panels will provide all its electricity — and maybe some to share (Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090830/NEWS01/708309862/-1/RSS02

Flathead Electric Cooperative at Forefront of Renewable Energy (Flathead Beacon, Kalispell, MT)
http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/flathead_electric_cooperative_at_forefront_of_renewable_energy/12635/

From Poplar to Ethanol: Plant Could Help Save Northwest's Biofuels Industry (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009772319_ethanol30m.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Stimulus Package Aims To Aid Slumping Appliance Industry (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_083009BUB-appliance-program-KS.1313f96b8.html?rss?npc

Some Buildings Not Living Up to Green Label (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/31/science/earth/31leed.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Save the Light Bulb! Compact fluorescents don't produce good quality light (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052970203706604574377171050647330.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

News Tribune Editorial - Snake River Dams: Don’t Forget the Carbon
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/852123.html

Environmentalists Slow to Adjust in Climate Debate - Opponents Seize Initiative as Senate Bill Nears “…It seems that environmentalists are struggling in a fight they have spent years setting up…” (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/30/AR2009083002606.html?wprss=rss_business

A High Cost to Deal with Climate Shift (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/31/business/energy-environment/31iht-green31.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Carbon Cuts Won’t Work - It's Time We Considered Alternatives (Newsweek Magazine)
http://www.newsweek.com/id/214244

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

North Mason Chamber Leads the Way to Green Business (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/aug/19/north-mason-chamber-leads-way-green-business/?partner=RSS

Does Seattle Have Enough Spark For Electric Cars? City is part of biggest electric vehicle experiment in history
http://www.seattlepi.com/transportation/409537_electriccars28.html?source=rss

Making Way for Electric Cars (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/30/realestate/30posting.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Obama’s Green Dream Team - The men and women who have the power and budgets to clean up the environment and, more important, have the ear of the president (Newsweek Magazine)
http://www.newsweek.com/id/213865?from=rss

How Can I Tell When A Product Is Being Greenwashed? (Consumerist)
http://consumerist.com/5346634/how-can-i-tell-when-a-product-is-being-greenwashed

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

2,200 Applied For Broadband Stimulus Funds - Anonymous reviewers now get to work digging through applications (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/2200-Applied-For-Broadband-Stimulus-Funds-104146

News Release - Infinera Helps Bring Broadband to Grant County Residents - Public Utility Offers Fiber to the Home for Rural Areas (MarketWatch)
http://www.marketwatch.com/story/infinera-helps-bring-broadband-to-grant-county-residents-2009-08-28

As Net Turns 40, Barriers Threaten Open Growth (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/08/30/BUBB19F7VQ.DTL&feed=rss.business

Comcast Wins Appeal of FCC Ownership Cap - Largest Provider Can Grow Even Bigger (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/08/28/AR2009082803271.html?wprss=rss_business

Microsoft Office's Biggest Competitor? Office (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/archives/177688.asp?source=pimail

GENERAL NEWS

Wash. Latest State to Be Sued For Full Support of School Dollars (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009775747_apwawashingtonschoollawsuit1stldwritethru.html

Yellow Jackets Get Aggressive During Fall Search for Food (Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/955332.html

Ex-Shelton Prep Standout Signs Deal With S.F. Giants (The Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/highschoolsports/story/952875.html

Washington Governor Hit - State Govs Saying 'No Thanks' To Mystery Laptops (Associated Press)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jQ_OIxkYqPGoqo9rCk3ENETanvhgD9AC52B03

Fresh Air in the Muni Market - The municipal bond market may finally be coming out of the Dark Ages (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/08/30/business/30gret.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

Ikea Defends Its New Catalog Typeface – Says it never expected such a backlash after switching typeface in its latest catalog (News Digest is Verdana)
http://www.kirotv.com/money/20632051/detail.html

Hoquiam Considers Chicken Crackdown (KIRO Radio, Seattle)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=206392

Cognitive Dissonance Theater - Pot May Protect Brain from Booze
http://www.kirotv.com/health/20597907/detail.html

Land Mine Found In Cincinnati Home
http://www.kirotv.com/news/20646651/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

You Win Again - Hank Williams
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6w2aRoJueUs

Friday, August 14, 2009

Energy News Digest on Vacation

From August 17 – 28 the energy news digest will be learning some new accents in Canada, and then trying to avoid the insidious migration of sand to every part of the vehicle during a visit to Seaside, OR.

The news digest will return tanned, rested and relaxed on August 31.

Best Regards,

Joel Myer