Energy News Digest for June 23, 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

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

TransAlta deal with state attracts criticism - Environmental groups say it doesn’t go far enough (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/06/23/1281511/transalta-deal-with-state-attracts.html

With Numbers Up, Sockeye Season May Hit Columbia (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/06/23/1237684/with-numbers-up-sockeye-season.html

Some Columbia Basin Wells Likely to Go Dry (Yakima Herald Republic)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/06/22/some-columbia-basin-wells-are-likely-to-go-dry-lawmakers-told

Dueling Views among Audubon Organizations over Radar Ridge Wind Farm (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2010/06/22/local_news/doc4c20fcf41d3bb003056939.txt

Mason County Commission Asked Again to Hold ADAGE Advisory Ballot (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/2495-mason-county-commission-asked-again-to-hold-adage-advisory-ballot

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• TransAlta Deal with State Attracts Criticism
• Canada - Phase out of Coal? TransAlta Responds to Policy Announcement on Coal Plants
• Chelan PUD Financial Plan Approved
• New York - Talks over Power Program Discount Power Program for Businesses Hit Impasse
• Vermont Nuke Plant Says Flaw Led to Radioactive Leak
• Nebraska Nuclear Power Plant Declares Low-Level Emergency State
• Florida Power & Light FPL faces $70,000 fine over Nuke Plant
• Natural Gas Prices Drop for Third Straight Day
• Editorial - Dumb Decision on Smart Meters
• Pickens: Americans Ready for Ten-Year Energy Plan
• Sockeye Surging
• With Numbers Up, Sockeye Season May Hit Columbia
• Federal Agencies Announce Next Three Years of Fish Protection Projects
• Couple ‘Rescues’ Baby Seal, But Does More Harm Than Good
• Chinook Tribe First Salmon Ceremony: Blessings Abound for Sacred Salmon
• Some Columbia Basin Wells Likely to Go Dry
• Tri-Cities Irrigation Water is Coming Back On
• Montana - Recent Rains Wash Away Fears of Low Water Levels in Flathead Lake
• Carlsborg Development Hinges on Lawsuit, Sewer System
• Wahkiakum County to Pursue Ban on Sewage Sludge Fertilizer
• Vancouver Island Sewage Treatment - Esquimalt Councilors ‘Appalled’ by Sewage-Plant Plan
• Dueling Views among Audubon Organizations over Radar Ridge Wind Farm

·         A Murrelet Magician for Radar Ridge?

·         Threatened Bird Might Blow Down Radar Ridge Wind Farm

·         Mason County Commission Asked Again to Hold ADAGE Advisory Ballot

·         Port of Shelton Looking at Phone Survey Instead of Advisory Ballot on ADAGE

·         Massachusetts - Opponents of Biomass Burn Plant Subsidies Eye Ballot Alternative

·         Michigan - Traverse City Utility Commissions Study on Health Effects of Biomass

·         Q-and-A: Woody Biomass, Pros & Cons

·         Montana Public Service Commission Won’t Set Wind Project’s Rate

·         Pacific Northwesterners Sunny about Alternative Energy

·         Editorial – Nevada: Tell Us about the Unseen Cost of Wind & Solar Power, Too

·         Offshore Embarrassment: Shoddy Parts Trip Up Major North Sea Wind Farm

·         Stimulus Funds Pay for Energy-Saving Windows at Kitsap Courthouse

·         New Washington Building Energy Standards Delayed

·         Voters to Decide on California Global Warming Law

·         Op/Ed - Utilities Can Lead Way on Energy

·         In (Qualified) Praise of Utility-Only Cap-&-Trade

·         Enviro Groups Circulate Memo to Attack Former GOP Climate Ally

·         UN Climate Panel Names Authors for Fifth Report

·         California Considers Mandating Energy Storage

·         Data Center Bill Passage Celebrated

·         Editorial - Crowd Celebrates Boom in Data Center Construction

·         Energy Star for Data Centers is First Definitive Green Data Center Rating

·         FCC Takes Beating over Closed Door Net Neutrality Meeting

·         FCC Denies Qwest Application to Deregulate Lines

·         Frontier Sues over Google Voice

·         Verizon Sued by Wisconsin AG for Billing Non-Verizon Customers

·         As Phone Business Shrinks, Phone Companies Consolidate

·         Sorry Fiber Fans, I’ve Got Some Bad News

·         Editorial - ‘It’s a Great Time to Build Things,’ so Olympia is Seizing Moment

·         Washington Initiatives Face July 2 Deadline

·         Op/Ed - Bloviating Aside, The Election Will be Decided by Who Votes

·         Nuclear: Department of Energy Contractor Settles Fraud Allegation

·         Calling Treasure Hunters of All Ages to Mason County

WORD OF THE DAY

Episodic • \epp-ih-SOD-ick\ • adjective - 1: made up of separate especially loosely connected episodes 2: having the form of an episode 3: of or limited in duration or significance to a particular episode: temporary 4: occurring, appearing, or changing at usually irregular intervals

The clerk of the board was getting fed up with the episodic nature of her commission meetings; especially the behavior of the board president. Just as the board was ready to make a decision, the board chair tended to halt all action; table the motion until the next meeting; and advise all the attendees to return for the final decision “in the next exciting episode of: ‘Commissioners In Action’.” That would account for the repeated minute entry that had to be changed at each meeting from “Commissioners Inaction,” to “Commissioners in Action.”

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

TransAlta Deal with State Attracts Criticism - Environmental groups say it doesn’t go far enough (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/06/23/1281511/transalta-deal-with-state-attracts.html

Canada - Phase out of Coal? TransAlta Responds to the Federal Government’s Recent Policy Announcement on Coal-Fired Electricity Generation (Market Watch)

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/transalta-responds-to-the-federal-governments-recent-policy-announcement-on-coal-fired-electricity-generation-2010-06-23-110370?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Chelan PUD Financial Plan Approved (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/jun/22/chelan-pud-financial-plan-approved/

New York - Talks over Power Program Discount Power Program for Businesses Hit Impasse

(The Business Review ofAlbany)

http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/stories/2010/06/21/daily15.html

Vermont Nuke Plant Says Flaw Led to Radioactive Leak (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012178933_apusvermontyankee.html

Nebraska Nuclear Power Plant Declares Low-Level Emergency State (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012178183_apnenebraskafloodingnukeplant.html

Florida Power & Light FPL faces $70,000 fine over Nuke Plant (South Florida Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/stories/2010/06/21/daily13.html

Natural Gas Prices Drop for Third Straight Day (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012178493_apoilprices.html

Editorial - Dumb Decision on Smart Meters (Baltimore Sun, MD)

http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/bs-ed-smart-meters-20100622,0,7179138.story

Pickens: Americans Ready for Ten-Year Energy Plan (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012180779_apuspickensalternativeenergy.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Sockeye Surging (Lewiston Tribune, ID)

http://www.lmtribune.com/blogs/2010/06/22/scrawl-of-the-wild/sockeye-surging/

With Numbers Up, Sockeye Season May Hit Columbia (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/06/23/1237684/with-numbers-up-sockeye-season.html

Federal Agencies Announce Next Three Years of Fish Protection Projects (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/688839/

Couple ‘Rescues’ Baby Seal, But Does More Harm Than Good (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Couple-rescues-baby-seal-but-does-more-harm-than-good-96933899.html

Chinook Tribe First Salmon Ceremony: Blessings Abound for Sacred Salmon (Chinook Observer, Long Beach, WA)

http://www.chinookobserver.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=34627

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Some Columbia Basin Wells Likely to Go Dry (Yakima Herald Republic)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/06/22/some-columbia-basin-wells-are-likely-to-go-dry-lawmakers-told

Tri-Cities Irrigation Water is Coming Back On (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=12696171

Montana - Recent Rains Wash Away Fears of Low Water Levels in Flathead Lake (The Missoulian, MT)

http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/article_b312c296-7e7c-11df-aaf6-001cc4c002e0.html

Carlsborg Development Hinges on Lawsuit, Sewer System - Clallam PUD won’t go forward with the sewer plans until half the funding is in place (Sequim Gazette, WA)

http://search.sequimgazette.com/news/article.exm/2010-06-23_carlsborg_development_hinges_on_lawsuit,_sewer_system

Wahkiakum County to Pursue Ban on Sewage Sludge Fertilizer (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_09eb3d5e-7e6a-11df-8c04-001cc4c03286.html

Vancouver Island Sewage Treatment - Esquimalt Councilors ‘Appalled’ by Sewage-Plant Plan (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Esquimalt+councillors+appalled+sewage+plant+plan/3183805/story.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Dueling Views among Audubon Organizations over Radar Ridge Wind Farm (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2010/06/22/local_news/doc4c20fcf41d3bb003056939.txt

A Murrelet Magician for Radar Ridge? (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2010/06/22/local_news/doc4c20fa99101a2188250615.txt

Threatened Bird Might Blow Down Radar Ridge Wind Farm (Chinook Observer, Long Beach, WA)

http://www.chinookobserver.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=34625

Mason County Commission Asked Again to Hold ADAGE Advisory Ballot (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/2495-mason-county-commission-asked-again-to-hold-adage-advisory-ballot

Port of Shelton Looking at Phone Survey Instead of Advisory Ballot on ADAGE (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/2498-port-of-shelton-looking-at-phone-survey-instead-of-advisory-ballot-on-adage

Massachusetts - Opponents of Biomass Burn Plant Subsidies Eye Ballot Alternative (Boston Herald, MA)

http://www.bostonherald.com/business/technology/general/view.bg?articleid=1263356&srvc=business&position=recent

Michigan - Traverse City Utility Commissions Study on Health Effects of Biomass (Michigan Messenger)

http://michiganmessenger.com/38974/traverse-city-utility-commissions-study-on-health-effects-of-biomass

Q-and-A: Woody Biomass, Pros & Cons (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/22/q-and-a-woody-biomass-pros-and-cons/

Montana Public Service Commission Won’t Set Wind Project’s Rate (Billings Gazette, MT)

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_8dd0b2d8-7e89-11df-82dc-001cc4c002e0.html

Pacific Northwesterners Sunny about Alternative Energy “…poll shows broad support for expanding the portfolio of the region’s energy sources…it’s a different story when it comes to actually being willing to pay for alternative energy…” (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/7684-northwesterners-sunny-about-alternative-energy/

Editorial – Nevada: Tell Us about the Unseen Cost of Wind & Solar Power, Too (Las Vegas Review-Journal, NV)

http://www.lvrj.com/blogs/mitchell/Tell_us_about_the_unseen_cost_of_wind_and_solar_power_too.html?ref=074

Offshore Embarrassment: Shoddy Parts Trip Up Major North Sea Wind Farm (Wind Watch)

http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2010/06/22/offshore-embarrassment-shoddy-parts-trip-up-major-north-sea-wind-farm/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Stimulus Funds Pay for Energy-Saving Windows at Kitsap Courthouse (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/jun/22/stimulus-funds-pay-for-energy-saving-windows-at/

New Washington Building Energy Standards Delayed (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012179206_apwaenergyefficiency1stldwritethru.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Voters to Decide on California Global Warming Law (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012181900_apuscaliforniaclimatelaw.html

Op/Ed - Utilities Can Lead Way on Energy (Politico)

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0610/38851.html

In (Qualified) Praise of Utility-Only Cap-&-Trade (Council on Foreign Relations)

http://blogs.cfr.org/levi/2010/06/21/in-qualified-praise-of-utility-only-cap-and-trade/

Enviro Groups Circulate Memo to Attack Former GOP Climate Ally (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2010/06/23/23climatewire-enviro-groups-circulate-memo-to-attack-former-6105.html

UN Climate Panel Names Authors for Fifth Report (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012183319_apununclimatepanel.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

California Considers Mandating Energy Storage (Grist Magazine)

http://www.grist.org/article/california-considers-mandating-energy-storage/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Data Center Bill Passage Celebrated (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/article_4f5a66f2-7e57-11df-a045-001cc4c03286.html

Editorial - Crowd Celebrates Boom in Data Center Construction (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/jun/22/crowd-celebrates-boom-in-data-center-construction/

Energy Star for Data Centers is First Definitive Green Data Center Rating (Search Data Center)

http://searchdatacenter.techtarget.com/news/article/0,289142,sid80_gci1515453,00.html

FCC Takes Beating over Closed Door Net Neutrality Meeting (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/FCC-Takes-Beating-Over-Closed-Door-Net-Neutrality-Meeting-109020

FCC Denies Qwest Application to Deregulate Lines (Phoenix Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2010/06/21/daily25.html

Frontier Sues over Google Voice (Sacramento Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2010/06/21/daily17.html

Verizon Sued by Wisconsin AG for Billing Non-Verizon Customers (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Verizon-Sued-By-Wisconsin-AG-For-Billing-NonVerizon-Customers-109021

As Phone Business Shrinks, Phone Companies Consolidate (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2010/06/as_phone_business_shrinks_phon.html

Sorry Fiber Fans, I’ve Got Some Bad News (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2010/06/22/sorry-fiber-fans-ive-got-some-bad-news/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Editorial - ‘It’s a Great Time to Build Things,’ so Olympia is Seizing Moment “…Every time the city opens bids for a new contract, city officials are awestruck. The bids are routinely 20 percent, 30 percent, 40 percent below the engineering estimate…” (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/06/23/1281560/its-a-great-time-to-build-things.html

Washington Initiatives Face July 2 Deadline (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012179163_apwainitiativedeadline.html

Op/Ed - Bloviating Aside, The Election Will be Decided by Who Votes (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2012181712_guest23elway.html

GENERAL NEWS

Nuclear: Department of Energy Contractor Settles Fraud Allegation (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/06/22/1064847/nuclear-doe-contractor-settles.html

Calling Treasure Hunters of All Ages to Mason County (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/jun/22/calling-treasure-hunters-all-ages-mason-county/

DIVERSIONS

Pork Board Squeals over Imaginary Unicorn Meat

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012178915_apusoddunicornmeat.html?syndication=rss

Let the Flame Wars Begin - Cheerleading Expert: It’s Not a Competitive Sport

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2012181330_apvoltitleixcheerleading.html

Saudi to Flog 15 Men, Women for Mingling at Party

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2012178309_apmlsaudiflogging.html

Man Fraudulently Claims $33,000 Tie Collection Stolen

http://www.komonews.com/news/96903074.html

SONG OF THE DAY

The Irish Rovers - The Unicorn Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EPsuOEH1fY

Energy News Digest for June 22, 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

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Goldmark Takes DNR Fight with McKenna to Supremes (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/spincontrol/2010/jun/21/goldmark-takes-fight-mckenna-supremes/

Chelan PUD to withdraw from Washington PUD Association (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/jun/22/chelan-pud-to-withdraw-from-state-lobby-group/

Washington State & TransAlta Reach Deal on Mercury, Haze (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/96858819.html

Uh-Oh - Obama’s Carbon Plans May be Scaled Back to Focus on Electricity Sector (Bloomberg BusinessWeek)

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-21/obama-s-carbon-plans-may-be-scaled-back-to-electricity-sector.html

Quincy: Tax Breaks for Data Centers Could Mean More High-Tech Growth (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/06/21/1279830/tax-breaks-could-mean-more-high.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Goldmark Takes DNR Fight with McKenna to Supremes

·         DNR Commissioner Tries to Force AG’s Help in Court

·         KUOW Podcast - Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna

·         Chelan PUD to withdraw from Washington PUD Association

·         Washington State & TransAlta Reach Deal on Mercury, Haze

·         High River Flows Put Electric Grid to Test

·         Idaho - Avista to Open Post Falls Dam Gates

·         San Francisco Public Power Plan Hits Snag

·         Montana - Open Meetings: Billings Gazette sues Southern Montana Electric Cooperative

·         Ohio Nuclear Plant to Replace Cracked Reactor Head

·         Up the Pole: Daughter Follows in Lineman Father’s Footsteps

·         Arrival of Summer Prompts Safety Reminder from Puget Sound Energy

·         State Agency Can be Sued as a “Person” in Endangered Salmon Species Case

·         California - 16.5 Million Baby Salmon Released into San Pablo Bay

·         Everett’s Mayor Still Promoting City Water

·         Is Requiring In-State Renewable Energy Generation Unconstitutional?

·         California Deal Brings $100 Million for Home Solar Financing

·         Europe Sees Solar Power Imported from Sahara in Five Years

·         Alaska Emerges as Unlikely Renewable Energy Pioneer

·         Op/Ed - Renewables Alone Cannot Power Vermont

·         Massachusetts Study Recognizes Significant Benefits of Biomass Thermal Energy

·         Gearing Up for an Industrial Biomass Boom

·         Missouri University Power Plant Nationally Recognized as Environmentally Friendly Facility

·         What Will Rising Electricity Rates Mean to Clean Energy?

·         Turbines Start Spinning at Iberdrola Renovables Largest Wind Farm in the World

·         Editorial - Referendum 52: Judge’s Ruling Corrects Lawmakers’ Faulty Wording on Title for School Energy Bond Measure

·         Uh-Oh - Obama’s Carbon Plans May be Scaled Back to Focus on Electricity Sector

·         Columnist - A Utilities-Only Cap-&-Trade

·         Op/Ed - Global Warming Strategist Scores New York Times Coup over Poll Questions

·         Ocean ‘Conveyor Belt’ Isn’t as Simple as It Sounds

·         News Release - New Study Reaffirms Scientific Consensus on Climate Change

·         Quincy: Tax Breaks for Data Centers Could Mean More High-Tech Growth

·         The Green Gold Rush over Iceland’s Data Centers

·         States to Investigate Google Data Collection

·         Verizon Readies Home Energy & Security Services

·         The Big Shift: The Rise of Cloud Computing

·         US Supreme Court Decision on R-71 Signatures Could Come Thursday or Monday

·         Utah Supreme Court: Online Petition Signatures OK

·         Two Arrested After High-Speed Chase Through Shelton Monday

·         Shelton Store Employee Jailed in State Lottery Sting

·         Mason County: Fire Destroys Timberlakes Home

·         Boys Burning Ants Start Tri-Cities Wildfire

·         Benton County Roads Will Stay Unpainted Indefinitely

WORD OF THE DAY

Desuetude • \DESS-wih-tood\ • noun - Discontinuance from use or exercise

While most of his colleagues’ typewriters had fallen into desuetude, other than to fill in an occasional multi-part form, Montgomery used his every day. He called it his “instant print-out word processor.”

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

Goldmark Takes DNR Fight with McKenna to Supremes (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/spincontrol/2010/jun/21/goldmark-takes-fight-mckenna-supremes/

DNR Commissioner Tries to Force AG’s Help in Court (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012174536_apwagoldmarkmckennadispute.html

KUOW Podcast - Washington Attorney General Rob McKenna (KUOW Radio, Seattle – links to MP3 file - Program aired at 9:00 AM)

http://www.kuow.org/podcast/WeekdayA20100622.mp3

Chelan PUD to withdraw from Washington PUD Association (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/jun/22/chelan-pud-to-withdraw-from-state-lobby-group/

Washington State & TransAlta Reach Deal on Mercury, Haze (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/96858819.html

High River Flows Put Electric Grid to Test (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/7634-high-riverflows-put-electric-grid-test/

Idaho - Avista to Open Post Falls Dam Gates (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/jun/21/avista-open-post-falls-dam-gates/

San Francisco Public Power Plan Hits Snag (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/06/22/BU4U1E2OA6.DTL

Montana - Open Meetings: Billings Gazette sues Southern Montana Electric Cooperative (Billings Gazette, MT)

http://billingsgazette.com/news/local/crime-and-courts/article_efd9d7b4-7dbe-11df-bd28-001cc4c002e0.html

Ohio Nuclear Plant to Replace Cracked Reactor Head (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012178033_apusreactorrepairs.html

Up the Pole: Daughter Follows in Lineman Father’s Footsteps - Hundreds turn out for annual lineman rodeo competition (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/jun/21/up-the-pole-daughter-follows-in-fathers-footsteps/

Arrival of Summer Prompts Safety Reminder from Puget Sound Energy (Electric Energy Online)

http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=136533

FISH & WILDLIFE

State Agency Can be Sued as a “Person” in Endangered Salmon Species Case (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/06/21/28253.htm

California - 16.5 Million Baby Salmon Released into San Pablo Bay (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_15344214

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Everett’s Mayor Still Promoting City Water - A deal with a bottler fell through, but the idea has surfaced again online (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100621/NEWS01/706219979/0/SPORTS07

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Is Requiring In-State Renewable Energy Generation Unconstitutional? (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2010/06/is-in-state-generation-unconstitutional

California Deal Brings $100 Million for Home Solar Financing (CNET News)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20008277-54.html

Europe Sees Solar Power Imported from Sahara in Five Years (Reuters)

http://af.reuters.com/article/topNews/idAFJOE65K02F20100621

Alaska Emerges as Unlikely Renewable Energy Pioneer (Business Green)

http://www.businessgreen.com/business-green/news/2265145/alaska-emerges-unlikely

Op/Ed - Renewables Alone Cannot Power Vermont (Montpelier Times-Argus, VT – Biomass provides 83% of the current 70 MW of qualifying renewable energy in Vermont)

http://www.timesargus.com/article/20100622/OPINION04/6220304

Massachusetts Study Recognizes Significant Benefits of Biomass Thermal Energy (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/biomass-thermal-energy-council-btec/news/article/2010/06/massachusetts-study-recognizes-significant-benefits-of-biomass-thermal-energy

Gearing Up for an Industrial Biomass Boom (GreenTech Media)

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/gearing-up-for-a-biomass-boom/

Missouri University Power Plant Nationally Recognized as Environmentally Friendly Facility “…plant uses coal, gas, tire-derived fuel & biomass to produce both steam & electricity…” (Columbia Missourian, MO)

http://www.columbiamissourian.com/stories/2010/06/21/mu-power-plant-recognized-nationally/

What Will Rising Electricity Rates Mean to Clean Energy? (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2010/06/what-will-rising-electricity-rates-mean-to-cllean-energy

Turbines Start Spinning at Iberdrola Renovables Largest Wind Farm in the World (Renewable Energy Magazine)

http://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/paginas/Contenidosecciones.asp?ID=9&Cod=5634&Tipo=&Nombre=Wind%20Power%20News

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Editorial - Referendum 52: Judge’s Ruling Corrects Lawmakers’ Faulty Wording on Title for School Energy Bond Measure (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/06/21/1279155/judges-ruling-corrects-lawmakers.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Uh-Oh - Obama’s Carbon Plans May be Scaled Back to Focus on Electricity Sector (Bloomberg BusinessWeek)

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-21/obama-s-carbon-plans-may-be-scaled-back-to-electricity-sector.html

Columnist - A Utilities-Only Cap-&-Trade (Washington Post)

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/ezra-klein/2010/06/a_utilities-only_cap-and-trade.html

Op/Ed - Global Warming Strategist Scores New York Times Coup over Poll Questions (Financial Post, Canada)

http://opinion.financialpost.com/2010/06/21/lawrence-solomon-global-warming-strategist-scores-new-york-times-coup/

Ocean ‘Conveyor Belt’ Isn’t as Simple as It Sounds (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2010/0621/Ocean-conveyor-belt-isn-t-as-simple-as-it-sounds

News Release - New Study Reaffirms Scientific Consensus on Climate Change (Union of Concerned Scientists)

http://www.ucsusa.org/news/press_release/study-scientific-consensus-climate-change-411.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Quincy: Tax Breaks for Data Centers Could Mean More High-Tech Growth (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/06/21/1279830/tax-breaks-could-mean-more-high.html

The Green Gold Rush over Iceland’s Data Centers “…abundant hydropower & geothermal power, Iceland can offer data center services powered by 100 percent clean power…” (Earth2Tech)

http://earth2tech.com/2010/06/21/the-green-gold-rush-over-icelands-data-centers/

States to Investigate Google Data Collection (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/22/technology/22google.html

Verizon Readies Home Energy & Security Services (CNET News)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20008354-54.html

The Big Shift: The Rise of Cloud Computing (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2010/06/22/cloud-computing/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

US Supreme Court Decision on R-71 Signatures Could Come Thursday or Monday (Seattle Post Intelligencer)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/211891.asp

Utah Supreme Court: Online Petition Signatures OK (Associated Press)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100622/ap_on_hi_te/us_online_signatures

GENERAL NEWS

Two Arrested After High-Speed Chase Through Shelton Monday (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/06/22/1280617/2-arrested-after-high-speed-chase.html

Shelton Store Employee Jailed in State Lottery Sting (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/06/22/1280224/shelton-store-employee-jailed.html

Mason County: Fire Destroys Timberlakes Home (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/2490-fire-destroys-timberlakes-home

Boys Burning Ants Start Tri-Cities Wildfire (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012177889_apwaburningants.html

Benton County Roads Will Stay Unpainted Indefinitely (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/06/21/1063265/traffic-roads-unpainted.html

DIVERSIONS

Food Fight - Sister Attacks Brother over Butter vs. Margarine

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/06/21/1063458/odd-sister-attacks-brother-over.html

Did Michelangelo Draw a Brain in God’s Neck?

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=127990450&ft=1&f=2

Painter Misspells Wisconsin Town’s Name on Tower

http://www.kirotv.com/money/23961243/detail.html

Leonard Nimoy Honored by the Town of Vulcan

http://www.csmonitor.com/From-the-news-wires/2010/0621/Leonard-Nimoy-honored-by-the-town-of-Vulcan

SONG OF THE DAY

Emerson Lake & Palmer – Jerusalem (From the album “Brain Salad Surgery”)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CN11bI1_sZo

Greg Lake – Still You Turn Me On (From the album “Brain Salad Surgery”)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yoxHGxQw9ws