Energy News Digest for October 13, 2010

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:
https://twitter.com/energydigest

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

Puget Sound Energy Fined for Mishandling Customer Accounts (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/10/12/1401436/pse-fined-for-mishandling-customer.html

Public Utility Districts Paving Way for Kalama Energy Center (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_9aca54e8-d696-11df-a920-001cc4c002e0.html

BPA Makes $864 million Payment to US Treasury (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2068

Oregon Ranks No. 3 for Energy Efficiency – Washington 6; California 1 (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2010/10/oregon_ranks_no_3_for_energy_efficiency.html

Moses Lake - REC Silicon Celebrates Expansion (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/business/article_f299a1be-d647-11df-b3d4-001cc4c002e0.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Puget Sound Energy Fined for Mishandling Customer Accounts

·         Public Utility Districts Paving Way for Kalama Energy Center

·         Montana - NorthWestern Energy Seeks Five Percent Hike to Pay for New Power Plant

·         Despite Poor Economic Year, BPA Makes Payment to US Treasury

·         Condit Dam Removal from White Salmon River Gets Key Certification

·         Duke Energy Investigates E-Mails in Indiana Hiring

·         How Natural Gas Flexes Its Muscles

·         Heating Costs Cool, Giving Homeowners Some Relief

·         Op/Ed - Factories Pay Price for Using Green Power, Twice

·         State-by-State Report on Clean Energy Actions

·         Op/Ed - Maine Voices: Co-Ops Keep Businesses Rooted in Their Communities

·         Protection for Bull Trout Habitat Expanded in West

·         Grant PUD to Share Site Plan for White River Fish Project

·         $16.4 Million Tribal Fisheries Project Brings Jobs to the Olympic Peninsula

·         Capitol Lake Dredging Draws Support

·         Three Counties Consider Chehalis River Basin Flood District

·         Moses Lake - REC Silicon Celebrates Expansion

·         Modesto Irrigation District Rejects Biomass Burner – Lawsuit in the Offing?

·         State of Montana Awards Wood Biomass Energy Projects

·         North Carolina - Duke Can Use Trees to Fuel Coal-Fired Power Plants

·         Biomass More Efficient for Energy than Ethanol

·         Illinois - Will County to Harness Methane for Energy

·         Oregon Ranks No. 3 for Energy Efficiency – Washington 6; California 1

·         Battle Ground Public Schools Get $850,000 Grant for Energy Conservation

·         Canada - Class Notes: Light Bulb Moments

·         A Climate Proposal Beyond Cap & Trade

·         China Highlights Climate Change Efforts

·         Iowa - Student Group Wants Coal-Free Campus; Officials Say Goal Not Realistic

·         In Defense of Wood Heat

·         Time to Find a Second Earth, World Wildlife Federation Says

·         Ancient Animal Urine Offers Insight into Climate Change

·         Maine Begins Construction of Massive Fiber Network

·         Government Accounting Office Says High US Broadband Prices Hindering Adoption

·         Chelan PUD - Provider Rates for Fiber Optic Network to Increase

·         Paying Your ISP…Just to Pay Your ISP

·         Free Public Wi-Fi Networks: Neither Free, Nor Public, nor Wi-Fi

·         Ninth Circuit Upholds State Campaign Finance Laws

·         Washington State Says More Than a Dozen Hotline Calls About City of Langley Inspired Audit

·         World Celebrates as Trapped Miners Emerge in Chile

·         Truck Crashes on Pickering Road; Shelton Man Dies

·         King County Health Department Warns About Deadly Mushrooms

·         Uncertainty about China’s Mineral Exports Could Benefit Idaho Mines

WORD OF THE DAY

Erstwhile • \ERST-while\ • adverb - In the past: formerly

The grizzled old-timer acrobatically shifted the quid of tobacco in his cheek to the other side, sending a shot of “snooze-juice” careening with a clang off the rim of the nearby spittoon. “It all began on a cold, windy ridge north of Leavenworth,” he began. “My erstwhile friend and companion had lost a shoe and couldn’t move on…so I had to shoot ‘im.” “Your mining partner?” gasped his pre-teen great grand-daughter. “Naw,” the elder spat, sending another tobacco bomb arcing towards the spittoon. “It were my old mule ‘Francis.’ Best friend I ever had.”

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 Fined for Mishandling Customer Accounts (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/10/12/1401436/pse-fined-for-mishandling-customer.html

Public Utility Districts Paving Way for Kalama Energy Center (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_9aca54e8-d696-11df-a920-001cc4c002e0.html

Montana - NorthWestern Energy Seeks Five Percent Hike to Pay for New Power Plant (Helena Independent Record, MT)

http://helenair.com/news/article_c3d96b9e-d68c-11df-93c5-001cc4c03286.html

BPA Makes $864 million Payment to US Treasury (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2068

Despite Poor Economic Year, BPA Makes Payment to US Treasury - US taxpayers get return on their investment in the Pacific Northwest (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/919695/

Condit Dam Removal from White Salmon River Gets Key Certification (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/oct/13/condit-dam-removal-gets-key-certification/

Duke Energy Investigates E-Mails in Indiana Hiring (Triangle Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2010/10/11/daily30.html

How Natural Gas Flexes Its Muscles (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/13/AR2010101304012.html

Heating Costs Cool, Giving Homeowners Some Relief (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013139360_apuswinterheatingoutlook.html

Op/Ed - Factories Pay Price for Using Green Power, Twice (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/commentary/jeff-rubins-smaller-world/factories-pay-price-for-using-green-power-twice/article1753253/

State-by-State Report on Clean Energy Actions (Sustainable Business)

http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/21214

Link to Report on Clean Energy is Here (Washington State is on Page 162):

http://www.nga.org/Files/pdf/1008CLEANENERGY.PDF

Op/Ed - Maine Voices: Co-Ops Keep Businesses Rooted in Their Communities (Portland Press-Herald, ME)

http://www.pressherald.com/opinion/co-ops-keep-businesses-rooted-in-their-communities_2010-10-13.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Protection for Bull Trout Habitat Expanded in West (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2010/10/protection_for_bull_trout_habitat_expanded_in_west.html

Grant PUD to Share Site Plan for White River Fish Project (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/oct/12/grant-pud-to-share-site-plan-for-white-river-fish/

$16.4 Million Tribal Fisheries Project Brings Jobs to the Olympic Peninsula (Indian Country Today)

http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/national/northwest/164-million-tribal-project-brings-jobs-to-the-peninsula-104770924.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Capitol Lake Dredging Draws Support - State of Washington will seek funds for project’s design, permits (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/10/13/1401874/capitol-lake-dredging-draws-support.html

Three Counties Consider Chehalis River Basin Flood District (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013139218_apwachehalisflooddistrict.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Moses Lake - REC Silicon Celebrates Expansion (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/business/article_f299a1be-d647-11df-b3d4-001cc4c002e0.html

Modesto Irrigation District Rejects Biomass Burner - Project partners talk about suing irrigation district (Modesto Bee, CA)

http://www.modbee.com/2010/10/12/1380884/midrejects-biomass-burner.html

State of Montana Awards Wood Biomass Energy Projects (Associated Press)

http://www.nbcmontana.com/news/25368930/detail.html

North Carolina - Duke Can Use Trees to Fuel Coal-Fired Power Plants (Charlotte Observer, NC)

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/10/12/1757065/duke-can-use-trees-to-fuel-power.html

Biomass More Efficient for Energy than Ethanol (Stock & Land)

http://sl.farmonline.com.au/news/state/agribusiness-and-general/general/biomass-more-efficient-than-ethanol/1967887.aspx

Illinois - Will County to Harness Methane for Energy (Chicago Tribune, IL)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/southsouthwest/ct-x-s-landfill-energy-1013-20101013,0,223985.story

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Oregon Ranks No. 3 for Energy Efficiency – Washington 6; California 1 (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2010/10/oregon_ranks_no_3_for_energy_efficiency.html

See the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy Report Here:

http://www.aceee.org/sector/state-policy/scorecard

Battle Ground Public Schools Get $850,000 Grant for Energy Conservation (Oregonian, Portland)

http://blog.oregonlive.com/my-vancouver/2010/10/bg_public_schools_get_850000_grant_for_e.html

Canada - Class Notes: Light Bulb Moments (Vancouver Courier, BC)

http://www.vancourier.com/technology/Light+bulb+moments/3663456/story.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

A Climate Proposal Beyond Cap & Trade (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/13/business/economy/13leonhardt.html

China Highlights Climate Change Efforts (Associated Press)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20101009/ap_on_sc/as_china_going_green

Iowa - Student group wants coal-free campus; officials say goal not realistic (Ames Tribune, IA)

http://amestrib.com/articles/2010/10/12/ames_tribune/news/doc4cb46bd3e88a0077644768.txt

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

In Defense of Wood Heat - Why not burn trees where they’ll do some good…in your woodstove? (High Country News)

http://www.hcn.org/hcn/articles/in-defense-of-wood-heat

Time to Find a Second Earth, World Wildlife Federation Says (Syndey Morning Herald, Australia)

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/time-to-find-a-second-earth-wwf-says-20101013-16k7i.html

Ancient Animal Urine Offers Insight into Climate Change (SiFy.com)

http://sify.com/news/ancient-animal-urine-offers-insight-into-climate-change-news-international-kknmahbbbfj.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Maine Begins Construction of Massive Fiber Network - $32 million & 1,100 miles of dark fiber (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Maine-Begins-Construction-Of-Massive-Fiber-Network-110852

Government Accounting Office Says High US Broadband Prices Hindering Adoption - And High U.S. Broadband Prices Are Due to Limited Competition (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/GAO-High-US-Broadband-Prices-Hindering-Adoption-110849

Chelan PUD - Provider Rates for Fiber Optic Network to Increase: Higher Speeds Coming Here by December (Lake Chelan Mirror, WA)

http://www.lakechelanmirror.com/main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=3002

Paying Your ISP…Just to Pay Your ISP - The most recent trend in obnoxious fees (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Paying-Your-ISP-Just-To-Pay-Your-ISP-110866

Free Public Wi-Fi Networks: Neither Free, Nor Public, nor Wi-Fi (Time Magazine)

http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/10/12/free-public-wifi-networks-neither-free-nor-public-nor-wifi/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Ninth Circuit Upholds State Campaign Finance Laws (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/104819229.html

Washington State Says More Than a Dozen Hotline Calls About City of Langley Inspired Audit (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/sound/428280_sound104706924.html

GENERAL NEWS

World Celebrates as Trapped Miners Emerge in Chile (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/10/world_celebrates_as_rescues_tr.html

Truck Crashes on Pickering Road; Shelton Man Dies (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/3522-truck-crashes-on-pickering-road-shelton-man-dies-

King County Health Department Warns About Deadly Mushrooms (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Health-officials-issue-warning-after-death-cap-mushroom-poisoning-reported-104796674.html

Uncertainty about China’s Mineral Exports Could Benefit Idaho Mines (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/15494-uncertainty-about-chinas-mineral-exports-could-benefit-idaho-mines/

DIVERSIONS

Store Owner May be Cited for Large Painting in Downtown Walla Walla

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=13313169

Man Brings Tips on Beating Lie Detector to WSP Job Interview…Doesn’t Get the Job

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Man-brings-tips-on-beating-lie-detector-to-WSP-job-interview-104808689.html

Poll Says Seahawks Are NFL’s Second-Least Popular Team

http://www.kirotv.com/news/25380454/detail.html

Armless Pianist Plays With Toes to Win “China’s Got Talent”

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20101012/od_nm/us_pianist

SONG OF THE DAY

DEVO - Working in a Coalmine

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WF-ofT4wAO8

Energy News Digest for October 12, 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

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices: https://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Deepwater Energy Transmission - Google to Invest in Offshore Wind Power Project (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013136786_apusgoogleoffshorewind.html

Oregon – Offshore Wind Turbines: This Could be on the Horizon (Tillamook Headlight-Herald, OR)

http://tillamookheadlightherald.com/news/article_6ee9eb7e-d0d6-11df-8a7b-001cc4c03286.html

Port Angeles – Washington State House Candidates Support Biomass Project (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20101012/news/310129992/state-house-candidates-support-biomass-project

Op/Ed - Not the Time for Another Seattle City Light Rate Increase (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2013134881_guest12cohen.html

Washington Secretary of State Predicts 66 Percent Turnout (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/10/11/1400344/wa-secretary-of-state-predicts.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Op/Ed - Not the Time for Another Seattle City Light Rate Increase

·         Constellation Pullout from Maryland Nuclear Venture Leaves Industry Future Uncertain

·         Michigan - Black Substance on Saginaw Bay Homes Raising Questions about Nearby Power Plant

·         Deepwater Energy Transmission - Google to Invest in Offshore Wind Power Project

·         Three Top Officials Leaving in US Department of Energy Management Exodus

·         Entergy Cooperating With Government Probe in Four States

·         California - Pilot Snags Glider in Placer County Power Lines

·         United Kingdom - Rogue Engineer Supplied Dodgy Power to 1,500 Homes

·         Port Angeles – Washington State House Candidates Support Biomass Project

·         University Of Montana Plans Biomass-Fired Steam Boiler to Heat Campus

·         Oregon – Offshore Wind Turbines: This Could be on the Horizon

·         Snohomish County Experiments With Tidal Energy

·         PacifiCorp the Customer - Duke Energy completes Wyoming wind project

·         Pennsylvania Man Dies at South Dakota Wind Farm Construction Site

·         Offshore Wind Power Line Wins Praise, and Backing

·         AREVA Launches Offshore Wind Venture

·         US Wind Developers See Price of Output Easing

·         Minnesota – Waste to Energy Incinerator Could Be Latest Service Cut In Red Wing

·         Use of Poultry Waste for Electricity Derailed

·         Researchers Use Drilling Data to Find a Geothermal Hot Spot in West Virginia

·         United Kingdom - Firm Scraps Plan for Biomass Power Station in Hull

·         Bonneville Power Administration Tests Out Heat Pump Water Heaters in Pacific Northwest

·         Billions and Billions Served: How Population Affects Climate Change

·         In Europe, Companies Work the Angles on the Carbon Trade

·         California's Green-Jobs Numbers Paint a Mixed Picture

·         California’s Green Nightmare

·         Minnesota Ethanol Plants' Price is Pollution

·         Portland Fashion Week Brings Megawatt Style; With a Solar-Powered Twist

·         FCC Chairman: Why We Need More Wireless Spectrum

·         Comcast Cuts the Cable, Rolls Out 2,000 Xfinity Wi-Fi Hotspots

·         Washington Secretary of State Predicts 66 Percent Turnout

·         Many Northwest Counties Struggle to Provide Basic Services

·         Seattle City Workers Agree to Take Pay Cut

·         Report Warns of Coming Wave of Municipal Pension Shortfalls

·         Including Shelton Store Employee - Puget Sound-Area Store Clerks Convicted of Lottery Felonies

·         North Mason Chamber Selects New President/CEO

·         Downstream from Howard Hansen Damn (Sic), Residents Prepare for Floods

·         Western Vintners Hope Late Harvest Makes Fine Wine

·         Corn Crunch Means Costliest Beef Since 1980s

·         Seattle Would Fine for Unwelcome Yellow Pages Book

·         Study Says 71% of Tweets Are Ignored

WORD OF THE DAY

Gimcrack• \JIM-crack\ • noun - A showy object of little use or value

“Here comes another prize locust,” fumed the utility staffer at the county fair. “It never ceases to amaze me how the cheapest gimcrack attracts people to my booth.”

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

Op/Ed - Not the Time for Another Seattle City Light Rate Increase (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2013134881_guest12cohen.html

Constellation Pullout from Maryland Nuclear Venture Leaves Industry Future Uncertain (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2010/10/11/11climatewire-constellation-pullout-from-md-nuclear-ventur-82774.html

Michigan - Black Substance on Saginaw Bay Homes Raising Questions about Nearby Power Plant (Bay City Times, MI)

http://www.mlive.com/news/bay-city/index.ssf/2010/10/post_36.html

Deepwater Energy Transmission - Google to Invest in Offshore Wind Power Project (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013136786_apusgoogleoffshorewind.html

Three Top Officials Leaving in US Department of Energy Management Exodus (Energy Daily)

http://www.theenergydaily.com/publications/er/Three-Top-Officials-Leaving-In-DOE-Management-Exodus_5164.html

Entergy Cooperating With Government Probe in Four States (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013138355_apusentergyjusticeprobe.html

California - Pilot Snags Glider in Placer County Power Lines (Associated Press)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/10/11/state/n091406D67.DTL

United Kingdom - Rogue Engineer Supplied Dodgy Power to 1,500 Homes (The Register, UK)

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2010/10/12/dodgy_electricity/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Port Angeles – Washington State House Candidates Support Biomass Project (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20101012/news/310129992/state-house-candidates-support-biomass-project

University Of Montana Plans Biomass-Fired Steam Boiler to Heat Campus (Clark Fork Chronicle, MT)

http://www.clarkforkchronicle.com/article.php/20101011110501421

Oregon – Offshore Wind Turbines: This Could be on the Horizon (Tillamook Headlight-Herald, OR)

http://tillamookheadlightherald.com/news/article_6ee9eb7e-d0d6-11df-8a7b-001cc4c03286.html

Snohomish County Experiments With Tidal Energy (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=376507

PacifiCorp the Customer - Duke Energy completes Wyoming wind project (Charlotte Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2010/10/11/daily4.html

Pennsylvania Man Dies at South Dakota Wind Farm Construction Site (KSFY, Sioux Falls, SD)

http://www.ksfy.com/Global/story.asp?S=13306273

Offshore Wind Power Line Wins Praise, and Backing (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/12/science/earth/12wind.html

AREVA Launches Offshore Wind Venture (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/10/areva-launches-offshore-wind-venture

US Wind Developers See Price of Output Easing (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE69A3V320101012

Minnesota – Waste to Energy Incinerator Could Be Latest Service Cut In Red Wing (Minnesota Public Radio)

http://minnesota.publicradio.org/display/web/2010/10/12/ground-level-cities-in-crisis-red-wing/

Use of Poultry Waste for Electricity Derailed (Raleigh News & Observer, NC)

http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/10/12/735461/use-of-poultry-waste-derailed.html

Researchers Use Drilling Data to Find a Geothermal Hot Spot in West Virginia (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/11/AR2010101104508.html

United Kingdom - Firm Scraps Plan for Biomass Power Station in Hull (British Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-11522820

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Bonneville Power Administration Tests Out Heat Pump Water Heaters in Pacific Northwest (Brighter Energy)

http://www.brighterenergy.org/17448/news/heat-efficiency/bpa-tests-out-heat-pump-water-heaters-in-pacific-northwest/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Billions and Billions Served: How Population Affects Climate Change (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2010/10/population-growth-urbanization-climate-change-carbon-emissions-global-warming-/1?csp=34tech

In Europe, Companies Work the Angles on the Carbon Trade (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/10/11/business/energy-environment/11green.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

California's Green-Jobs Numbers Paint a Mixed Picture (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/10/12/3097036/californias-green-jobs-numbers.html

California’s Green Nightmare (American Spectator)

http://spectator.org/archives/2010/10/11/californias-green-nightmare

Minnesota Ethanol Plants' Price is Pollution (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, MN)

http://www.startribune.com/local/104746614.html

Portland Fashion Week Brings Megawatt Style; With a Solar-Powered Twist (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/living/index.ssf/2010/10/portland_fashion_week_brings_m.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

FCC Chairman: Why We Need More Wireless Spectrum (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2010/10/11/fcc-chairman-whitespaces/

Comcast Cuts the Cable, Rolls Out 2,000 Xfinity Wi-Fi Hotspots (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2010/10/11/comcast-cuts-the-cable-rolls-out-2000-xfinity-wi-fi-hotspots/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington Secretary of State Predicts 66 Percent Turnout (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/10/11/1400344/wa-secretary-of-state-predicts.html

Many Northwest Counties Struggle to Provide Basic Services (Northwest Public Radio)

http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=7895

Seattle City Workers Agree to Take Pay Cut - Well, actually a cut in cost of living increases (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/City-Workers-Take-Pay-Cut-104729839.html

Report Warns of Coming Wave of Municipal Pension Shortfalls (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/10/12/AR2010101200044.html

GENERAL NEWS

Including Shelton Store Employee - Puget Sound-Area Store Clerks Convicted of Lottery Felonies (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/10/12/1378503/store-clerks-convicted-of-lottery.html

North Mason Chamber Selects New President/CEO (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/3505-north-mason-chamber-selects-new-presidentceo

Downstream from Howard Hansen Damn (Sic), Residents Prepare for Floods (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=376526

Western Vintners Hope Late Harvest Makes Fine Wine (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013131873_apusfoodandfarmlategrapes2ndldwritethru.html

Corn Crunch Means Costliest Beef Since 1980s (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013135360_foodprices12.html

Seattle Would Fine for Unwelcome Yellow Pages Book (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013138383_apwayellowpagesoption.html

Study Says 71% of Tweets Are Ignored (Time Magazine)

http://newsfeed.time.com/2010/10/12/study-71-percent-of-tweets-are-ignored/

DIVERSIONS

Name of Town's Sewage Boat? Not Poop Sloop

http://www.kirotv.com/news/25355047/detail.html

Washington Surrogate Mom Opens Business in Oregon

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=13308881

Kitsap County Inmate Fixes Jail 'Good Time' Calculations

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/10/12/1401087/kitsap-inmate-fixes-jail-good.html

Study Abroad Likely to Increase College Drinking

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_study_abroad_alcohol.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Beach Boys – Sloop John B.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fdov2UIjUpY