Energy News Digest for April 25, 2011

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Winter Returns to the Pacific Northwest with Wind, Rain, & Snow (Seattle Post Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Winter-returns-Wind-rain-snow-1351199.php

EPA Takes Control of North Dakota’s Air Quality Program (Bismarck Tribune, ND)

http://www.bismarcktribune.com/news/local/article_9265480e-6d12-11e0-a956-001cc4c03286.html

Invasive Species: Are Scientists Fighting a Losing Battle? (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014867172_invasive25m.html

Amazon’s Cloud is Back, But Still Hazy (CNN Money)

http://money.cnn.com/2011/04/25/technology/amazon_cloud/index.htm

New York Internet Case Underscores Importance Of Secure Wi-Fi (Associated Press)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/04/25/1639035/case-underscores-importance-of.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Port Townsend Paper Mill Locks in Low-Cost Power for Another Two Years

·         SW Washington State Coal Plant Will Shut Down in 14 Years

·         Southern Montana Electric Increases Wholesale Rates for Co-Op Members

·         Portland General Electric Seeks Input on Power Request

·         Illinois - Clinton Nuclear Plant Running Out of Space for Spent Fuel

·         Nuclear Reactors, Residents & Risk

·         Apples ‘n Oranges - Japan Needs $150 Billion in Solar Panels by 2020 – To Replace Nuclear

·         Tennessee Valley Authority Showcases Melton Hill Dam Enhancements

·         Big Battery - The Landing Mall Display Harbinger of Power Storage Project in Port Angeles

·         Invasive Species: Are Scientists Fighting a Losing Battle?

·         Inland Waterbird Colonies Show Unexpectedly High Predation Rate on Specific, Listed Salmonid Stocks

·         Dredging vs. Salmon in Portland’s Willamette Harbor

·         Cold, Rushing Rivers Likely to Create Frigid Start to Chinook Season

·         What the Federal Delisting for Wolves Means for Oregon’s Packs, Ranchers

·         Dam Leak Leaves Sultan Reservoir Dry

·         Corps of Engineers Approves Hanford Reach Interpretive Center

·         Urban Buildings Unplug from Water Grid

·         Alaska - Wind Farm Struggles to Sign Up Energy Utilities

·         Idaho PUC Considers What’s Next for Idaho’s Green Energy

·         Wisconsin Loves Wind Power, But for the Right Reasons?

·         General Electric Says Wind Turbine Demand Fell Last Year

·         Solar: California’s New Gold Rush

·         Environmentalists, Green Industries at Odds over San Bernardino County Desert Development

·         Wind & Solar - Upside to Duke Energy from Renewable Projects

·         Easier To Track Renewable Energy Sources at New Cal Independent System Operator HQ

·         Op/Ed - Save Money with the Help of a Free Energy Savings Kit

·         On Earth Day, More Green Light Bulbs

·         Richland School District Finding Energy Efficient Ways to Balance Its Budget

·         EPA Takes Control of North Dakota’s Air Quality Program

·         A Separation on Power - For Six states, regulating greenhouse gas is a matter for the courts, but the Supreme Court thinks it’s the EPA’s job

·         Texas Fires Push Climate Change Hot Buttons

·         Forget Carbon Dioxide; This Pollution Fight is Over Noise

·         French Project to Turn Dog Poop into Fertilizer

·         Amazon’s Cloud is Back, But Still Hazy

·         Wireless Carriers Grapple with Spectrum Shortage

·         Vancouver, Clark County Review Comcast Deals

·         New York Internet Case Underscores Importance of Secure Wi-Fi

·         Port Angeles Fiber Optics - State Attorney General Will Take No Action against Former Mayor after State Auditor’s Report

·         AT&T Starts Selling ‘Cell Tower in a Suitcase’

·         Microhoo? - Might Microsoft be Interested (Again) in Buying Yahoo?

·         Olympia’s Odd Couple Craft Bipartisan Washington State Budget

·         Washington State Legislature’s Special Session to Start with Two Plans Full of Cuts

·         End-of-Session Washington State Legislative Summary

·         Winter Returns to the Pacific Northwest with Wind, Rain, & Snow

·         Wind Advisory for South Puget Sound & Hood Canal

·         Six Dead in Early Easter Fire in Vancouver, WA

·         Washington State - Time to Remove Studded Tires

·         Fire Ravages Downtown Olympia Warehouse; Fireworks Heard Hours before Blaze

·         Pot Wars: Private Land New Frontier in California

·         Vatican Investigating Possible Miracle in Washington State

WORD OF THE DAY

Irreprehensible • \ih-rep-ree-HENSE-ih-bull\ • Adjective - Beyond reproach: deserving no censure

“Your irreprehensible comment about my motives was unwarranted, irregardless of its intent,” intoned the hard-pressed administrative assistant to the manager. Somewhere in the distance a dog barked…followed by the popping sound of a grammarian’s head exploding.

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

Port Townsend Paper Mill Locks in Low-Cost Power for Another Two Years (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA – A ‘Thank You’ note to public power would be nice here…)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110424/news/304249984/port-townsend-paper-mill-locks-in-low-cost-power-for-another-two-years

SW Washington State Coal Plant Will Shut Down in 14 Years (Northwest Public Radio)

http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=8693

Southern Montana Electric Increases Wholesale Rates for Co-Op Members (Associated Press)

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20110425/NEWS01/110425006/SME-increases-wholesale-rates-co-op-members

Portland General Electric Seeks Input on Power Request (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2011/04/pge-seeks-input-on-power-request.html

Illinois - Clinton Nuclear Plant Running Out of Space for Spent Fuel (Peoria Journal-Star, IL)

http://www.pjstar.com/news/x128432495/Nuclear-plant-in-Clinton-running-out-of-space-for-spent-fuel

Nuclear Reactors, Residents & Risk - A world population analysis reveals the locations that could put the most people in danger should a nuclear accident occur (Nature)

http://www.nature.com/news/2011/110421/full/472400a.html

Apples ‘n Oranges - Japan Needs $150 Billion in Solar Panels by 2020 – To Replace Nuclear (Bloomberg News)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/04/24/BUK21J5K8K.DTL

Snake Causes Easter Sunday Power Outage for Thousands of Pepco Customers (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/snake_causes_easter_sunday_power_outage_for_thousands_of_pepco_customers/2011/04/24/AFEuDPdE_story.html

Tennessee Valley Authority Showcases Melton Hill Dam Enhancements (WBIR-TV, Knoxville, TN)

http://www.wbir.com/news/article/167065/2/TVA-showcases-Melton-Hill-Dam-enhancements

Big Battery - The Landing Mall Display Harbinger of Power Storage Project in Port Angeles (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110424/NEWS/304249998/the-landing-mall-display-harbinger-of-power-storage-project-in-port

FISH & WILDLIFE

Invasive Species: Are Scientists Fighting a Losing Battle? (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014867172_invasive25m.html

Inland Waterbird Colonies Show Unexpectedly High Predation Rate on Specific, Listed Salmonid Stocks (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/407842.aspx

Dredging vs. Salmon in Portland’s Willamette Harbor (Oregon Public Radio)

http://news.opb.org/article/dredging-vs-salmon-portlands-willamette-harbor/

Cold, Rushing Rivers Likely to Create Frigid Start to Chinook Season (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://sportsyakima.com/2011/04/cold-rushing-rivers-likely-to-create-frigid-start-to-chinook-season/

What the Federal Delisting for Wolves Means for Oregon’s Packs, Ranchers (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2011/04/what_the_federal_delisting_for_wolves_means_for_oregons_packs_ranchers.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Dam Leak Leaves Sultan Reservoir Dry (Everett Herald, WA)

http://heraldnet.com/article/20110423/NEWS01/704239965

Corps of Engineers Approves Hanford Reach Interpretive Center (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.kndu.com/story/14487414/hanford-reach-interpretive-center-closer-to

Urban Buildings Unplug from Water Grid (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/04/24/1627592/urban-buildings-unplug-from-water.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Alaska - Wind Farm Struggles to Sign Up Energy Utilities (Anchorage Daily News, AK)

http://www.adn.com/2011/04/23/1825086/wind-farm-struggles-to-sign-up.html

Idaho PUC Considers What’s Next for Idaho’s Green Energy (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

http://www.renewablesbiz.com/article/11/04/idaho-puc-considers-whats-next-idahos-green-energy

Wisconsin Loves Wind Power, But for the Right Reasons? (Midwestern Energy News)

http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2011/04/22/poll-wisconsin-loves-wind-power-but-for-the-right-reasons/

General Electric Says Wind Turbine Demand Fell Last Year (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/24/idUS51840164220110424

Solar: California’s New Gold Rush - Green energy offers the prospect of an economic boon, but some worry the environmental, cultural cost is too high (The Desert Sun, Palm Springs, CA)

http://www.mydesert.com/article/20110424/NEWS07/104240320/1013/news07/Solar-California-s-new-gold-rush

Environmentalists, Green Industries at Odds over San Bernardino County Desert Development (San Bernardino Sun, CA)

http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_17913058

Wind & Solar - Upside to Duke Energy from Renewable Projects (NASDAQ)

http://community.nasdaq.com/News/2011-04/upside-to-duke-energy-from-renewable-projects.aspx?storyid=72396

Easier To Track Renewable Energy Sources at New Cal Independent System Operator HQ (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/23/3573198/easier-to-track-renewable-enery.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Op/Ed - Save Money with the Help of a Free Energy Savings Kit (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/opinion/article_fee1e152-6dfa-11e0-b598-001cc4c002e0.html

On Earth Day, More Green Light Bulbs (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/04/green-lighting-earth-day/1?csp=34money

Richland School District Finding Energy Efficient Ways to Balance Its Budget (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.kndu.com/story/14498182/rsd-finding-energy-efficient-ways-to-balance-its-budget

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

EPA Takes Control of North Dakota’s Air Quality Program (Bismarck Tribune, ND)

http://www.bismarcktribune.com/news/local/article_9265480e-6d12-11e0-a956-001cc4c03286.html

A Separation on Power - For Six states, regulating greenhouse gas is a matter for the courts, but the Supreme Court thinks it’s the EPA’s job. (Bend Bulletin, OR)

http://www.bendbulletin.com/article/20110424/NEWS0107/104240316/

Texas Fires Push Climate Change Hot Buttons (Hamilton Spectator, Ontario)

http://www.thespec.com/news/world/article/521512--texas-fires-push-climate-change-hot-buttons

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Forget Carbon Dioxide; This Pollution Fight is Over Noise - Mount Rainier National Park Flight Fight Hits Turbulence

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/04/25/1639007/park-flight-fight-hits-turbulence.html

French Project to Turn Dog Poop into Fertilizer (Bloomberg News – Guess the movie: “Monsieur, I have to poop!” Answer: the small, white poodle in “What Women Want”)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/04/23/BU9Q1J5A9B.DTL

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Amazon’s Cloud is Back, But Still Hazy (CNN Money)

http://money.cnn.com/2011/04/25/technology/amazon_cloud/index.htm

Wireless Carriers Grapple with Spectrum Shortage (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/04/24/1638191/wireless-carriers-grapple-with.html

Vancouver, Clark County Review Comcast Deals - 15-year agreements due to expire at end of 2012; early resolution targeted (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/apr/25/city-county-review-comcast-deals/

New York Internet Case Underscores Importance of Secure Wi-Fi (Associated Press)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/04/25/1639035/case-underscores-importance-of.html

Port Angeles Fiber Optics - State Attorney General Will Take No Action against Former Mayor after State Auditor’s Report (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110421/NEWS/110429996/state-attorney-general-will-take-no-action-against-former-pa-mayor

AT&T Starts Selling ‘Cell Tower in a Suitcase’ (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014868460_apustectechbitcelltowerinasuitcase.html

Microhoo? - Might Microsoft be Interested (Again) in Buying Yahoo? (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/2011/04/22/might-microsoft-be-interested-again-in-buying-yahoo/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Olympia’s Odd Couple Craft Bipartisan Washington State Budget (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014859069_oddcouple24m.html

Washington State Legislature’s Special Session to Start with Two Plans Full of Cuts (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/04/24/1638055/special-session-to-start-with.html

End-of-Session Washington State Legislative Summary (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/04/24/1627327/end-of-session-legislative-summary.html

GENERAL NEWS

Winter Returns to the Pacific Northwest with Wind, Rain, & Snow (Seattle Post Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Winter-returns-Wind-rain-snow-1351199.php

Wind Advisory for South Puget Sound & Hood Canal (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/Newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=856

Six Dead in Early Easter Fire in Vancouver, WA (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014867325_apusvancouverfatalfire1stldwritethru.html

Washington State - Time to Remove Studded Tires (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/story/14507020/time-to-remove-studded-tires

Fire Ravages Downtown Olympia Warehouse; Fireworks Heard Hours before Blaze – Olympia FIREPLACE & Spa (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/04/24/1627676/fire-destoys-warehouse-behind.html

Pot Wars: Private Land New Frontier in California (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/04/24/MNO41J376E.DTL

Vatican Investigating Possible Miracle in Washington State (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/120521004.html

DIVERSIONS

500-Year-Old Book Surfaces in Utah - Despite Age, Book May Only Fetch $50,000

http://www.kirotv.com/money/27657159/detail.html

Feeling Down? Study Suggests You May Want to Avoid Places Where Everyone Else is Happy

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/feeling_down_study_suggests_you_may_want_to_avoid_places_where_everyone_else_is_happy/2011/04/25/AFHSqWgE_story.html

A Head-Scratcher: Police Say Burglars Steal ‘Valuable’ Hair from Chicago Business

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/a_head_scratcher_police_say_burglars_steal_valuable_hair_from_chicago_business/2011/04/25/AF7NGFgE_story.html

Reno Man Reunited With Cat That Vanished Four Years Ago & Turned Up on Oregon Coast

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2011/04/reno_man_reunited_with_cat_which_vanished_4_years_ago_and_turned_up_on_oregon_coast.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Danny O’Keefe - Good Time Charlie’s Got the Blues

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YP3pIPp8P8

Energy News Digest for April 22, 2011

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:

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Washington State Bill to Phase Out Coal Burning Goes to Governor (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=14492149

Bonneville Power Administration to Provide Low-Cost Power to Port Townsend Paper - Wholesale power contract saves 300 jobs (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/1070843/

Amazon Server Failures Darken ‘Cloud’ Outlook (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014841260_amazon22.html

Spring Chinook Begin to Arrive in Idaho (Northwest Public Radio)

http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=8684

No Break This Spring at the Gas Pump (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014838485_apusgaspricestravel.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Bonneville Power Administration to Provide Low-Cost Power to Port Townsend Paper

·         Washington State Bill to Phase Out Coal Burning Goes to Governor

·         Oregon - Local Developer Eyes Power Plant Project

·         Montana Power Lines - Governor to Amend Eminent Domain Bill

·         Another Dog Shocked by Faulty Metal Plate in Seattle

·         Tree Trimming Near Panther Lake- Project Begins April 25

·         Few Spots Available for Elwha Powerhouse Tours

·         Arizona – Palo Verde: Nuclear Regulatory Commission Extends Life of Largest US Nuclear Station

·         Maryland - Licensing Board Deals Blow to Calvert Cliffs 3 Nuclear Power Plant Proposal

·         Pacific Gas & Electric Executive Resigns in Wake of California Pipeline Blast

·         Greenpeace Occupies Rig in Arctic Drilling Protest

·         Spring Chinook Begin to Arrive in Idaho

·         Environmental Group Will Sue to Protect Walrus

·         Columbia River Gorge Commission Faces Prospect of Serious Cuts

·         Oregon - Get Ready to Say Bye-Bye to Business Energy Tax Credit

·         Canada Hydropower: Liquid Cornerstone

·         Homes’ Solar Panels Often Boost Values

·         Harnessing Energy from the Oceans

·         What’s In a Carbon Footprint? Depends

·         United Kingdom Issues Warning as Smog Forms Over London

·         Heating Oil Phase-Out Part of New York City Clean-Air Plan

·         What Went Wrong for Cap-And-Trade?

·         It Isn’t Easy Being ‘Green’ on Cleaning When Money’s Tight

·         Ballard’s Rain Gardens: A Green Experiment Gone Wrong

·         Oregon Businesses Try to Green Their Practices, in Ways Little & Large

·         Amazon Server Failures Darken ‘Cloud’ Outlook

·         City Of Port Angeles Moving Ahead With “Mesh Network”

·         Greenpeace Presses for Renewable Power at Data Centers

·         Google Oklahoma Data Center to Get Boost from Wind Farm

·         Report: Apple, Google Collecting Location Data on Users

·         Budget Overshadows Environment in Olympia

·         Washington State Medical Pot Bill Now Will Test Veto Threat

·         No Break This Spring at the Gas Pump

·         Man Falls in Olympic National Park While Researching Glacier

·         At Monroe Dairy Farm, Every Day Is Earth Day

·         Charge: Metal Thief Found Shirtless in Seattle Animal Testing Lab

·         Oregon - Senate Bill Redefines ‘Possession’ of Internet Images

WORD OF THE DAY

Primordial • \PRIME-or-dee-ull\ • Adjective - 1a: first created or developed: primeval b: existing in or persisting from the beginning c: earliest formed in the growth of an individual or organ 2: fundamental, primary

The first soup and sandwich shop in town did a booming business…even with the slightly odd name of “Primordial Soup.”

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

Bonneville Power Administration to Provide Low-Cost Power to Port Townsend Paper - Wholesale power contract saves 300 jobs (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/1070843/

Washington State Bill to Phase Out Coal Burning Goes to Governor (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=14492149

Oregon - Local Developer Eyes Power Plant Project - Chuck Sides hopes to win PGE bid to build on Keizer site (Salem Statesman-Journal, OR)

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20110421/NEWS/104210344/Local-developer-eyes-power-plant-project

Montana Power Lines - Governor to Amend Eminent Domain Bill (Helena Independent Record, MT)

http://helenair.com/news/article_188ceb70-6bde-11e0-8392-001cc4c03286.html

Another Dog Shocked by Faulty Metal Plate in Seattle (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/120436774.html

Tree Trimming Near Panther Lake- Project Begins April 25 (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/Newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=855

Few Spots Available for Elwha Powerhouse Tours (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110422/news/304229990/few-spots-available-for-elwha-powerhouse-tours

Arizona – Palo Verde: Nuclear Regulatory Commission Extends Life of Largest US Nuclear Station (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/21/us-usa-nuclear-paloverde-idUSTRE73K7PV20110421

Maryland - Licensing Board Deals Blow To Calvert Cliffs 3 Nuclear Power Plant Proposal (Baynet, MD)

http://www.thebaynet.com/news/index.cfm/fa/viewstory/story_ID/22192

Pacific Gas & Electric Executive Resigns in Wake of California Pipeline Blast (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014840858_apuspipelineexplosion.html

Greenpeace Occupies Rig in Arctic Drilling Protest (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014846324_apeuturkeygreenpeaceoilrig.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Spring Chinook Begin to Arrive in Idaho (Northwest Public Radio)

http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=8684

Environmental Group Will Sue to Protect Walrus (Associated Press)

http://mobile.newsminer.com/bookmark/12882432-Environmental-group-will-sue-to-protect-walrus

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Columbia River Gorge Commission Faces Prospect of Serious Cuts (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/apr/21/columbia-river-gorge-commission-faces-prospect-of/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Oregon - Get Ready to Say Bye-Bye to Business Energy Tax Credit (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2011/04/get-ready-to-say-bye-bye-to-betc.html

Canada Hydropower: Liquid Cornerstone “…Canada is bent on producing more, driven by its vast potential for hydropower generation & demands for more clean energy in the US…” (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/04/canada-hydropower-liquid-cornerstone?cmpid=rss

Homes’ Solar Panels Often Boost Values (SF Chronicle CA)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/04/21/BUJ61J4J4K.DTL

Harnessing Energy from the Oceans (Environmental Expert)

http://www.environmental-expert.com/resultEachPressRelease.aspx?cid=23745&codi=234733&lr=1

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

What’s In a Carbon Footprint? Depends (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/environment/whats_in_a_carbon_footprint_depends/2011/04/20/AF2qwyKE_story.html

United Kingdom Issues Warning as Smog Forms Over London (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/UK-issues-warning-as-smog-forms-over-London-1348226.php

Heating Oil Phase-Out Part of New York City Clean-Air Plan (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014835393_apusgreennyc.html

What Went Wrong for Cap-And-Trade? (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/what_went_wrong_for_cap_and_trade/2011/04/13/AFgEYqHE_blog.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

It Isn’t Easy Being ‘Green’ on Cleaning When Money’s Tight (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2014841388_green22.html

Ballard’s Rain Gardens: A Green Experiment Gone Wrong “…residents are not pleased… worry that the swamped gardens are a drowning hazard for young children, a breeding ground for mosquitoes & a flaw that will lower property values…” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/environment/article/Ballard-s-rain-gardens-A-bad-green-experiment-1345766.php

Oregon Businesses Try to Green Their Practices, in Ways Little & Large (Oregonian, Portland)

http://blog.oregonlive.com/pdxgreen/2011/04/oregon_businesses_try_to_green.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Amazon Server Failures Darken ‘Cloud’ Outlook (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014841260_amazon22.html

City Of Port Angeles Moving Ahead With “Mesh Network” - The city is using a federal grant to build it (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.konp.com/local/6822

Greenpeace Presses for Renewable Power at Data Centers (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – BTW, Greenpeace offsets fossil fuel energy at ITS data centers with the purchase of carbon offsets)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/04/22/1636016/greenpeace-presses-for-renewable.html

Google Oklahoma Data Center to Get Boost from Wind Farm (CNET)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20056113-54.html

Report: Apple, Google Collecting Location Data on Users (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/technologylive/post/2011/04/report-apple-google-collecting-location-data-on-users/1?csp=34tech

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Budget Overshadows Environment in Olympia - But conservation groups earn a big win with phase-out of coal plant (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/apr/22/budget-overshadows-environment-in-olympia/

Washington State Medical Pot Bill Now Will Test Veto Threat (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/04/22/1635962/medical-pot-bill-now-will-test.html

GENERAL NEWS

No Break This Spring at the Gas Pump (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014838485_apusgaspricestravel.html

Man Falls in Olympic National Park While Researching Glacier (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.konp.com/local/6826

At Monroe Dairy Farm, Every Day Is Earth Day (Everett Herald, WA – Dairy-Aire…smells like money!)

http://heraldnet.com/article/20110422/NEWS01/704229913/-1/COMM

Charge: Metal Thief Found Shirtless in Seattle Animal Testing Lab (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Charge-Metal-thief-found-shirtless-in-Seattle-1345903.php

Oregon - Senate Bill Redefines ‘Possession’ of Internet Images (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/senate-bill-redefines-possession-internet-images/

DIVERSIONS

Washington Teen Fakes Pregnancy as School Project

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014846445_apusfaketeenpregnancy.html

Termites Eat Up Millions of Indian Rupees in Bank

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/04/21/international/i231054D95.DTL

It’s a Small World After All - A slide show of aerial photography, from pigeon-mounted cameras to Apollo 17 & beyond

http://www.slate.com/id/2291710/

SONG OF THE DAY

BJ Thomas – Rock ‘N Roll Lullaby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=niIW7Ns2HJw