Energy News Digest for March 30, 2010

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)

·         Wind Generates Eastern Washington/Idaho Problems

·         Southern Montana Electric Cooperative Critics Get Some Answers about Power Costs

·         Oregon - Bonneville Power to Replace Transmission Line between Bandon & Gold Beach

·         Colorado House Passes Bill to Spur Utilities to Switch from Coal to Gas

·         Colorado Gas-Coal Fight Could Preview National Battle

·         Oregon – City of Dalles Eyes Increased Franchise Fees: Budget shortfall in the city’s street fund may ultimately lead to a hike in local electrical rates

·         San Jose Mercury News Op/Ed - Two-Thirds Vote Should be Needed to Let Government Start a Utility

·         Lawrence to Become First City in Kansas to Get Smart Electricity Meters

·         Zanesville Times-Recorder Op/Ed - Electric Utility Industry is Heading into a ‘Perfect Storm’

·         Atlantic City Electric Urges Customers to be Safe This Spring

·         Canada - Warm Water Partly Cause of Fraser River Salmon Decline, Study Finds

·         Gill-Netting on Lower Columbia River is on for Tuesday; Sport Fishing Closed

·         Canada - Calls to Save BC Salmon from Across the Pond

·         Electric Power Research Institute Seeks Test Site for Fish Friendly Hydropower Turbine

·         Campaign Launched Against Nestle Waters Proposed Cascade Locks Plant

·         Groups Say They Intend to Sue over Sage Grouse

·         Part of PUD 3 Tree Program - Mason County Conservation District & Shelton High Students Enhance Oakland Bay Shoreline Habitat

·         Trash Bound for Mainland Keeps Piling Up in Hawaii

·         Montana - Region Continues Move toward Wind Development

·         Small Wind Group Begins Site Assessor Training

·         California - ‘Free Solar’ Scam: Sunnyvale Man Sentenced to Eight Months in Jail

·         California - Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative Opens New Cogeneration Power Plant

·         Ohio - Benefits, Peril Seen in Energy Transition

·         Electric Tankless Water Heater Manufacturers Form Coalition

·         Can Carbon ‘Cap & Trade’ Make a Comeback?

·         EPA Phases in Permits for Greenhouse Gas Pollution

·         EPA Delays Plants’ Pollution Permits

·         Among Weathercasters, Doubt on Warming

·         Professor Criticized for Climate Change Work Says Research Holds Up

·         Energy Secretary Steven Chu on the Nation’s Energy Future

·         Public to Get Look at Simpson Tacoma Community ‘Footprint’

·         Coal Fuels Much of Internet “Cloud”, Says Greenpeace

·         “Judge Not, That Ye be Judged…” Greenpeace Loses Round Two in Tiff with Facebook

·         Nissan Prices Its First Electric Car at Roughly $25K

·         Pearl Jam Giving $210,000 to Offset Carbon Emissions

·         The Press Realizes the FiOS Party is Over

·         Sweden Predicts the Future of Broadband & It May Scare You

·         Parts of Cleveland Getting 1 Gbps, for Free

·         Maine Rejects Radiation Warning Labels on Cell Phones

·         More Than $34,000 Poorer, Puyallup Goes Back to Free Parking

·         Recession Creating More Washington State Highway Projects This Season

·         Cause of Simpson’s Shelton Waterfront Fire Likely from “Hot Work”

·         Worker Killed in Port Angeles Conveyor Accident

·         Home Being Washed Away on Washington Coast

·         Storm Damage 2010: States Ring Up the Cost

·         Lt. Governor Talks about Underage Drinking at Shelton Town Hall Meeting

·         Moses Lake Officials Hopeful about BMW Announcement

·         Nine Charged With Bullying Teen Who Killed Herself

·         Chinese Court Hands Down Stiff Sentences to Four Mining Company Employees

·         Washington Post Poll: Majority Support Cutting Saturday Mail

WORD OF THE DAY

Fecund • \FECK-und\ • adjective - 1: fruitful in offspring or vegetation: prolific

2: intellectually productive or inventive to a marked degree

Barty’s fevered, fecund mind was in overdrive. He was the workhorse in the Menlo Park facility headed by the famed Thomas Edison. Unfortunately for Barty, he was never given the really BIG projects. He normally got assignments like, come up with an idea for “strike anywhere matches,” or a way to keep maple syrup from running down the outside of the jug. “What I don’t do in flashy inventions,” he was wont to say, “I make up for in quantity!”

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

Wind Generates Eastern Washington/Idaho Problems - Area socked with gusts that down power lines (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/mar/30/wind-generates-problems/

Southern Montana Electric Cooperative Critics Get Some Answers about Power Costs (Billings Gazette, MT)

http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/article_57bc1178-3bbe-11df-8c33-001cc4c002e0.html

Oregon - Bonneville Power to Replace Transmission Line between Bandon & Gold Beach (Bandon World, OR)

http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2010/03/30/news/doc4bb0da4be3cd6644558610.txt

Colorado House Passes Bill to Spur Utilities to Switch from Coal to Gas (SNL Financial)

http://www.snl.com/Interactivex/article.aspx?CdId=A-10939346-10292

Colorado Gas-Coal Fight Could Preview National Battle (KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO)

http://www.newsfirst5.com/news/colorado-gas-coal-fight-could-preview-national-battle/

Oregon – City of Dalles Eyes Increased Franchise Fees: Budget shortfall in the city’s street fund may ultimately lead to a hike in local electrical rates (Dalles Chronicle, OR)

http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2010/03/news03-28-10-02.shtml

San Jose Mercury News Op/Ed - Two-Thirds Vote Should be Needed to Let Government Start a Utility

http://www.mercurynews.com/opinion/ci_14765813

Lawrence to Become First City in Kansas to Get Smart Electricity Meters (Lawrence Journal-World)

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2010/mar/30/lawrence-become-first-city-kansas-get-smart-electr/?city_local

Zanesville Times-Recorder Op/Ed - Electric Utility Industry is Heading into a ‘Perfect Storm’

http://www.zanesvilletimesrecorder.com/article/20100328/OPINION03/3280348/1014/OPINION

Atlantic City Electric Urges Customers to be Safe This Spring - Steer clear of overhead & underground utility lines (Electric Energy Online)

http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=130509

FISH & WATER

Canada - Warm Water Partly Cause of Fraser River Salmon Decline, Study Finds (Globe & Mail)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/warm-water-partly-cause-of-salmon-decline-study-finds/article1516741/

Gill-Netting on Lower Columbia River is on for Tuesday; Sport Fishing Closed (The Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/bill_monroe/index.ssf/2010/03/gill-netting_on_lower_columbia_1.html

Canada - Calls to Save BC Salmon from Across the Pond (Globe & Mail)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/calls-to-save-salmon-from-across-the-pond/article1515880/

Electric Power Research Institute Seeks Test Site for Fish Friendly Hydropower Turbine (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/03/electric-power-research-institute-seeks-test-site-for-fish-friendly-hydropower-turbine?cmpid=rss

Campaign Launched Against Nestle Waters Proposed Cascade Locks Plant (The Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2010/03/campaign_launched_against_nest.html

ECOLOGY & THE ENVIRONMENT

Groups Say They Intend to Sue over Sage Grouse (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=12223061

Part of PUD 3 Tree Program - Mason County Conservation District & Shelton High Students Enhance Oakland Bay Shoreline Habitat (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=701

Trash Bound for Mainland Keeps Piling Up in Hawaii (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=12221912

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Montana - Region Continues Move toward Wind Development (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20100328/REPOSITORY/3290320

Small Wind Group Begins Site Assessor Training (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/mar/30/small-wind-group-begins-site-assessor-training/

California - ‘Free Solar’ Scam: Sunnyvale Man Sentenced to Eight Months in Jail

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_14779545

California - Plumas-Sierra Rural Electric Cooperative Opens New Cogeneration Power Plant (Lassen County News, CA)

http://www.lassennews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5766:psrec-opens-new-cogeneration-power-plant&catid=2:lassencountynewsheadline&Itemid=1

Ohio - Benefits, Peril Seen in Energy Transition (Toledo Blade, OH)

http://www.toledoblade.com/article/20100327/NEWS16/3270366/-1/RSS

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Electric Tankless Water Heater Manufacturers Form Coalition to Achieve ENERGY STAR® Certification (Business Wire)

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/home/permalink/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20100329006648&newsLang=en

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Can Carbon ‘Cap & Trade’ Make a Comeback? The recession has dampened enthusiasm for cap-&-trade legislation (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Money/Green-Economics/2010/0329/Can-carbon-cap-and-trade-make-a-comeback

EPA Phases in Permits for Greenhouse Gas Pollution (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62S4JT20100329

EPA Delays Plants’ Pollution Permits (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/30/science/earth/30emissions.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Among Weathercasters, Doubt on Warming (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/30/science/earth/30warming.html?th&emc=th

Professor Criticized for Climate Change Work Says Research Holds Up, but There are Questions (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/03/30/1135437/professor-criticized-for-climate.html

Energy Secretary Steven Chu on the Nation’s Energy Future (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/29/AR2010032901892.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Public to Get Look at Simpson Tacoma Community ‘Footprint’ (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/03/30/1128603/tacoma-public-to-get-look-at-simpson.html

Coal Fuels Much of Internet “Cloud”, Says Greenpeace (Reuters)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20100330/wr_nm/us_climate_internet

“Judge Not, That Ye be Judged…” Greenpeace Loses Round Two in Tiff with Facebook (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS101997167220100309

Nissan Prices Its First Electric Car at Roughly $25K (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/30/AR2010033001693.html?nav=rss_email/components

Pearl Jam Giving $210,000 to Offset Carbon Emissions (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/89435157.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

The Press Realizes the FiOS Party is Over - But doesn’t quite see the bigger picture yet (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/The-Press-Realizes-The-FiOS-Party-Is-Over-107639

Sweden Predicts the Future of Broadband & It May Scare You (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2010/03/29/sweden-predicts-the-future-of-broadband-and-it-may-scare-you/

Parts of Cleveland Getting 1 Gbps, for Free (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Parts-Of-Cleveland-Getting-1-Gbps-For-Free-107623

Maine Rejects Radiation Warning Labels on Cell Phones (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Maine-Rejects-Radiation-Warning-Labels-on-Cell-Phones-107631

GOVERNANCE

More Than $34,000 Poorer, Puyallup Goes Back to Free Parking - ‘No real benefit’: City Council votes to end deal with company that managed garage (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/03/30/1128601/more-than-34000-poorer-puyallup.html

GENERAL NEWS

Recession Creating More Washington State Highway Projects This Season (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Recession-actually-creating-more-WA-highway-projects.html

Cause of Simpson’s Shelton Waterfront Fire Likely from “Hot Work”; Repairs Underway (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/1742-cause-of-simpson-fire-likely-from-hot-work-repairs-underway

Worker Killed in Port Angeles Conveyor Accident (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/03/30/1189552/worker-killed-in-port-angeles.html

Home Being Washed Away on Washington Coast (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/22994258/detail.html

Storm Damage 2010: States Ring Up the Cost (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0329/Storm-damage-2010-States-ring-up-the-cost

Lt. Governor Talks about Underage Drinking at Shelton Town Hall Meeting (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/1740-lt-governor-talks-about-underage-drinking-at-shelton-town-hall-meeting

Moses Lake Officials Hopeful about BMW Announcement - Grant County PUD involved in talks (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2010/03/29/news/doc4bb12c6d7020b810311659.txt

Nine Charged With Bullying Teen Who Killed Herself (Associated Press)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/mar/30/nine-charged-with-bullying-teen-who-killed-herself/

Chinese Court Hands Down Stiff Sentences to Four Mining Company Employees (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/30/world/asia/30riotinto.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Washington Post Poll: Majority Support Cutting Saturday Mail

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/federal-eye/2010/03/postal_service_details_saturda.html

DIVERSIONS

Junk Food Addiction May be Clue to Obesity

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62R23O20100328

Feds: Woman Posed as FBI Agent, ‘Hired’ Neighbors

http://www.kirotv.com/news/22988936/detail.html

Two Survive ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ Crash in Burien

http://www.kirotv.com/news/22996404/detail.html

Washington State School Leader Warns About Dangerous New Fire Fad – Kids lighting themselves on fire with “industrial-strength” body spray

http://www.king5.com/news/local/WA-school-leader-warns-about-dangerous-new-fire-fad-89509967.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Tori Amos - Smells Like Teen Spirit

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcHNZVrxEts

Energy News Digest for March 29, 2010

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)

·         Spring Storm Brings Gusty Winds, Heavy Rain & Outages

·         Grays Harbor PUD Won’t Join Effort to Bring Nuclear Power Back to Washington State

·         Centralia’s 5.5 Percent Rate Hike Covers Improvements & BPA’s Rate Hike for Utilities

·         $24 Million in Improvements Needed for Centralia City Light through 2014

·         Centralia City Light: Unique & Not for Sale

·         Flathead Electric Cooperative Board Opts Against Joining Portland Cooperative

·         Flathead Electric Cooperative Rate Increase Approved

·         Texas - Couple Sues Oncor for Fraud over Smart Meter Billing

·         Associated Press Exclusive: `Smart’ Meters Have Security Holes

·         FERC’s Fingers in the Pie - Grant PUD to Discuss Future of Crescent Bar Monday

·         Yucca Mountain Out: Hanford Nuke Waste Has Nowhere to Go

·         Alcoa Spends $340,000 Lobbying in 4th Quarter

·         Exelon Spent $1M Lobbying Government in 4Q on Nuclear Power, Climate Change

·         Power Generator AEP Spent $2.3 Million in Fourth Quarter Lobbying

·         Avista Social Media Man Talks His Trade - Dan Kolbet Represents Utility on Twitter, Online Forums

·         Reputations at Stake, Companies Try to Alter Word of Mouth Online

·         An Oil Spill Could be ‘Catastrophic’ for British Columbia Orcas

·         Fish-Friendly Hydro Turbines on the Drawing Board

·         Oregonian Editorial - Finding the Right Fit for Big Ships, Small Fish

·         Water Conservation: It’s a Fixture at LOTT

·         Portland Sewer, Water Rates Lack Third-Party Check

·         Birds in Conflict: Bald Eagles Attack Colonies of Herons across Western Washington

·         Grasshopper Outlook Strikes Fear on Western Range

·         Oregon - Emerald People’s Utility District’s Power Plant Falls Short of Great Expectations

·         Innovators Hope to Build Plant in Montana to Turn Trees, Shoes into Fuel

·         A Hitch for Wind Power in Wyoming & the Rest of the West

·         South Dakota Governor Vetoes Tax Refund for Wind Energy Projects

·         At Least 3 Kansas Wind Farms in Works

·         Putting Wind-Generated Power Where It’s Needed

·         Oregon in Good, But Not Great Shape for Wave Energy

·         Wisconsin - Renewables Doable But Costly, Klappa Says

·         How Non-Profits Are Using Social Marketing to Promote Energy Conservation

·         Getting Paid to Save Energy, Recycle? Incentives Expand

·         Oregon Candidate for Governor - Kitzhaber: Focus on Energy Conservation First

·         Navy’s Pacific Northwest Energy-Saving Project Getting Under Way

·         Seattle Times Op/Ed - Beyond Climate Change

·         Shareholder Questions Duke Energy’s Green-Friendly Lobbying

·         Lack of Ice (is) Killing Seals

·         Corvallis Weighs ‘Green’ Fees – Up to $5.60 per month

·         Spokane Earth Hour Event Turns into Face-Off

·         Governor Signs Data Center Bill - Includes Rural Areas

·         How Broadband Can be the Backbone for a Green Economy

·         Policy Makers, Businesses Debate Fed Role in Cloud Computing

·         US Concerned by Australian Internet Filter Plan

·         Google Will Choose Fiber Test Location by Year’s End

·         Vancouver WA Vies for New Google Broadband

·         Portland in Running for Google’s Network

·         Governor Signs New Contribution Limits for Local Elections

·         Lawsuit over Illegal Executive Sessions Costs Arlington Schools $29,000

·         Utah Governor OKs Eminent Domain Use on Federal Land

·         Obama Tags Federal Trial Court Judge for 9th Circuit Court Nomination

·         Another Warmer Than Normal Winter Reported

·         nday Morning

·         Mason County Commission Holding Briefings Monday, Special Meeting in Belfair Tuesday

·         Hoodsport Man’s Spine Fractured in Car Crash

·         Gregoire Signs New Law Allowing Cops to Pull over People Talking on Cell Phones

·         Olympia City Council - Man Wrote Letter Promising ‘More Dirt’ to Hyer

·         Ethics Probe Begun for Ex Evergreen State College Professor

·         Grant County - Washington State Appears to Win BMW Carbon Fiber Plant

WORD OF THE DAY

Discombobulate • \ \ • Verb - Upset, confuse

The house of mirrors had trapped the two teen-aged vandals. Intent on wreaking carnage on the small, traveling carnival…the instead became the victims of the enchanted structure. Their every turn seemed to discombobulate them more…that is, until the evil clown appeared, sending the pair into fits of shrieking as he performed balloon animals until dawn.

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

Spring Storm Brings Gusty Winds, Heavy Rain & Outages (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/Spring-storm-hits-Washington-with-high-winds-rain-and-outages-89387652.html

Grays Harbor PUD Won’t Join Effort to Bring Nuclear Power Back to Washington State (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)

http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2010/03/26/local_news/doc4bacf3f6b0c6e289928901.txt

Centralia’s 5.5 Percent Rate Hike Covers Improvements & BPA’s Rate Hike for Utilities (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

http://chronline.com/news/article_42c3740a-3902-11df-89a2-001cc4c002e0.html

$24 Million in Improvements Needed for Centralia City Light through 2014 (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

http://chronline.com/news/article_0f3ceec6-3903-11df-9ebe-001cc4c002e0.html

Centralia City Light: Unique & Not for Sale (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

http://chronline.com/news/article_3d150488-3902-11df-9488-001cc4c002e0.html

Flathead Electric Cooperative Board Opts Against Joining Portland Cooperative (Flathead Beacon, Kalispell, MT)

http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/fec_board_opts_against_joining_portland_cooperative/16840/

Flathead Electric Cooperative Rate Increase Approved (Daily Interlake, Kalispell, MT)

http://www.dailyinterlake.com/news/local_montana/article_61a62162-394b-11df-9787-001cc4c002e0.html

Texas - Couple Sues Oncor for Fraud over Smart Meter Billing (Dallas Morning News, TX)

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/industries/energy/stories/032709dnbussmartsuit.3db6395.html

Associated Press Exclusive: `Smart’ Meters Have Security Holes

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100326/ap_on_hi_te/us_tec_smart_grid_hacking

FERC’s Fingers in the Pie - Grant PUD to Discuss Future of Crescent Bar Monday (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/mar/26/grant-pud-to-discuss-future-of-crescent-bar-monday/

Yucca Mountain Out: Hanford Nuke Waste Has Nowhere to Go (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011467984_yucca29m.html?syndication=rss

Alcoa Spends $340,000 Lobbying in 4th Quarter - Bonneville Power Association, & cap-and-trade & international trade (Associated Press)

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9EMIPV80.htm

Exelon Spent $1M Lobbying Government in 4Q on Nuclear Power, Climate Change (Associated Press)

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Exelon-spent-1M-lobbying-apf-2520589436.html?x=0&.v=1

Power Generator AEP Spent $2.3 Million in Fourth Quarter Lobbying - climate, carbon capture (Associated Press)

http://www.sfexaminer.com/economy/power-generator-aep-spent-23-million-in-fourth-quarter-lobbying-on-climate-carbon-capture-89164462.html

Avista Social Media Man Talks His Trade - Dan Kolbet Represents Utility on Twitter, Online Forums (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/mar/29/dan_at_avista/

Reputations at Stake, Companies Try to Alter Word of Mouth Online

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/28/AR2010032802905.html?wprss=rss_business

FISH & WATER

An Oil Spill Could be ‘Catastrophic’ for British Columbia Orcas (Vancouver Sun, BC)

http://www.vancouversun.com/news/spill+could+catastrophic+British+Columbia+killer+whales/2710417/story.html

Fish-Friendly Hydro Turbines on the Drawing Board (KPLU Radio, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain/article/1/0/1629094/KPLU.Local.News/Fish-Friendly.Hydro.Turbines.On.the.Drawing.Board

Oregonian Editorial - Finding the Right Fit for Big Ships, Small Fish

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/03/finding_the_right_fit_for_big_1.html

Water Conservation: It’s a Fixture at LOTT - Wastewater group keeps hundreds of thousands of gallons out of sewer system by swapping old equipment for new (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/03/29/1188149/water-conservation-its-a-fixture.html

Portland Sewer, Water Rates Lack Third-Party Check (The Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/03/portland_sewer_water_rates_lac.html

ECOLOGY & THE ENVIRONMENT

Birds in Conflict: Bald Eagles Attack Colonies of Herons across Western Washington (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011454352_eagleheron27m.html

Grasshopper Outlook Strikes Fear on Western Range (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011465001_apusgrasshopperoutbreak.html?syndication=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Oregon - Emerald People’s Utility District’s Power Plant Falls Short of Great Expectations (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/cityregion/24528949-57/emerald-power-county-landfill-utility.csp

Innovators Hope to Build Plant in Montana to Turn Trees, Shoes into Fuel (The Missoulian, MT)

http://www.missoulian.com/news/local/article_0b5f6d2a-3a29-11df-8b58-001cc4c002e0.html

A Hitch for Wind Power in Wyoming & the Rest of the West (Newsweek Magazine)

http://www.newsweek.com/id/235578

South Dakota Governor Vetoes Tax Refund for Wind Energy Projects (Associated Press)

http://rapidcityjournal.com/news/article_6b416464-38ee-11df-9d3a-001cc4c03286.html

At Least 3 Kansas Wind Farms in Works (Wichita Eagle, KS)

http://www.kansas.com/2010/03/28/1244777/at-least-3-wind-farms-in-works.html

Putting Wind-Generated Power Where It’s Needed - Wind energy is gaining interest & funding, but delivering the electricity it generates requires more transmission lines (Chicago Tribune, IL)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-biz-0328-wind-transmission-20100328,0,5855733.story

Oregon in Good, But Not Great Shape for Wave Energy (Oregon Public Radio)

http://news.opb.org/article/6997-oregon-good-not-great-shape-wave-energy/

Wisconsin - Renewables Doable But Costly, Klappa Says (The Business Journal of Milwaukee)

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2010/03/22/daily70.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

How Non-Profits Are Using Social Marketing to Promote Energy Conservation (TriplePundit)

http://www.triplepundit.com/2010/03/how-non-profits-are-using-social-marketing-to-promote-energy-conservation/

Getting Paid to Save Energy, Recycle? Incentives Expand (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2010/03/getting-paid-to-save-energy-recycle-incentives-expand/1

Oregon Candidate for Governor - Kitzhaber: Focus on Energy Conservation First (The Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/03/kitzhaber_focus_on_energy_cons.html

Navy’s Pacific Northwest Energy-Saving Project Getting Under Way (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/mar/28/navy-energy-saving-project-getting-under-way/?partner=RSS

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Seattle Times Op/Ed - Beyond Climate Change: Reframing the Dialogue over Environmental Issues

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2011453141_guest28wallace.html?syndication=rss

Shareholder Questions Duke Energy’s Green-Friendly Lobbying - Vote at annual meeting to focus on power producer’s support of cap-and-trade (Charlotte Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2010/03/29/story13.html

Lack of Ice (is) Killing Seals (Vancouver Sun, BC)

http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Lack+killing+seals/2735308/story.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Corvallis Weighs ‘Green’ Fees – Up to $5.60 per month for each household for sustainability programs (Albany Democrat-Herald, OR)

http://www.democratherald.com/news/local/article_85df4aac-390c-11df-924d-001cc4c002e0.html

Spokane Earth Hour Event Turns into Face-Off (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/mar/27/earth-hour-event-turns-face-/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Governor Signs Data Center Bill - Includes Rural Areas (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2010/03/26/news/doc4bad1dd1ca4be214495164.txt

How Broadband Can be the Backbone for a Green Economy (Earth2Tech)

http://earth2tech.com/2010/03/25/how-broadband-can-be-the-backbone-for-a-green-economy/

Policy Makers, Businesses Debate Fed Role in Cloud Computing (Washington Post)

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/posttech/2010/03/what.html

US Concerned by Australian Internet Filter Plan (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_14778546

GA-GA OVER GOOGLE

Google Will Choose Fiber Test Location by Year’s End - Received responses from roughly 1,100 speed-crazed communities (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Google-Will-Choose-Fiber-Test-Location-By-Years-End-107604

Vancouver WA Vies for New Google Broadband - Among 600 communities seeking ultra-fast network (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/mar/27/city-vies-for-new-google-broadband-vancouver-among/

Portland in Running for Google’s Network (Portland Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2010/03/22/daily37.html

GOVERNANCE

Governor Signs New Contribution Limits for Local Elections (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://blog.thenewstribune.com/politics/2010/03/26/governor-signs-new-contribution-limits-for-local-elections/

Lawsuit over Illegal Executive Sessions Costs Arlington Schools $29,000 (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100329/NEWS01/703299919/-1/RSS02

Utah Governor OKs Eminent Domain Use on Federal Land (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2011465070_apusutahfederalland.html?syndication=rss

Obama Tags Federal Trial Court Judge for 9th Circuit Court Nomination (Associated Press)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/mar/27/obama-tags-federal-trial-court-judge-for-9th/

GENERAL NEWS

Another Warmer Than Normal Winter Reported (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011450130_apussciwarmwinter.html?syndication=rss

Shelton Waterfront - Fire in Simpson Mill Building Sunday Morning (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/1729-fire-in-a-simpson-mill-building-sunday-morning-

Mason County Commission Holding Briefings Monday, Special Meeting in Belfair Tuesday (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/1730-mason-county-commission-holding-briefings-monday-special-meeting-in-belfair-tuesday

Hoodsport Man’s Spine Fractured in Car Crash (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/03/28/1187783/hoodsport-mans-spine-fractured.html

Gregoire Signs New Law Allowing Cops to Pull over People Talking on Cellphones (Associated Press)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100326/NEWS01/100329885/-1/rss02

Olympia City Council - Man Wrote Letter Promising ‘More Dirt’ to Hyer before Recall Request (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/03/27/1125266/man-wrote-to-hyer-before-recall.html

Ethics Probe Begun for Ex Evergreen State College Professor - Audit had found he could not account for $50,000 he collected for study-abroad program (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/03/26/1185197/ethics-probe-begun-for-ex-prof.html

Grant County - Washington State Appears to Win BMW Carbon Fiber Plant (Puget Sound Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2010/03/22/daily41.html

DIVERSIONS

CIA Concludes Study of UFOs Futile — Who’d Trust Findings?

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011460719_ufos28m.html?syndication=rss

Police: Drunken Driver Called 911 on Herself - Suspect Chatted With Dispatchers for 20 Minutes

http://www.kirotv.com/news/22972241/detail.html

Door to Afterlife from Ancient Tomb Found

http://www.kirotv.com/news/22985871/detail.html

Wi-Fi Anxiety: Man Sues Neighbor to Shut off Electronics - The Santa Fe plaintiff claims to suffer from ‘electromagnetic sensitivities’ set off by cell phones, routers & other electronic devices.

http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/la-na-hometown-santa-fe28-2010mar28,0,7549400.story

SONG OF THE DAY

Byrds - Mr. Spaceman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gy2w0GJDfLs