Energy News Digest for April 26, 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

Salt River Project to March to Different Drummer - Chief financial officer Bonsall is promoted to utility's top spot (Arizona Republic, Phoenix, AZ)

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/2011/04/27/20110427biz-srp0427.html

Hydro, Wind Battling for Grid Space - Each Is Producing to Excess, Tilting Legal Balance of Power (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/apr/26/hydro-wind-battling-for-grid-space/

Is dioxin leaking into Olympia’s Budd Inlet? – High levels in storm drain sediment cause concern (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/04/27/1630498/is-dioxin-leaking-into-budd-inlet.html

State DOC Discusses Grand Mound Reception Center Possibility (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews?State-DOC-discusses-Grand-Mound-receptio=1&blockID=511032&feedID=410

CenturyLink Gets Cloud Boost with $2.5 Billion Savvis Buy (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/27/us-savvis-centurylink-idUSTRE73Q32D20110427

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Salt River Project to March to Different Drummer - Chief financial officer Bonsall is promoted to utility's top spot

·         Carrasco to Stay at Seattle City Light

·         Flashback - SRP narrows GM search to five candidates (Steve Wright of BPA & Jorge Carrasco were on the list)

·         Hydro, Wind Battling for Grid Space - Each Is Producing to Excess, Tilting Legal Balance of Power

·         Permits OK'd for Puget Sound Energy to Reroute Power Line through Lakewood

·         Alternate Energy Holdings’ Proposed Idaho Nuclear Power Plant Begins Final Hearings

·         State of Montana OKs NorthWestern Electricity Rate Settlement

·         California – Pacific Gas & Electric Creates a 'Delay List' for Customers Concerned About SmartMeters

·         Less Haze Expected in Grand Canyon from Plant

·         Vermont Electric Cooperative board rejects deal with Vermont Yankee

·         Salmon: Running the Gauntlet

·         Is dioxin leaking into Olympia’s Budd Inlet?

·         Hanson Dam's Mysteries Solved

·         Myths about Large-scale Solar Threaten Public Lands

·         Colorado - Constitution Invoked against Renewable Law

·         Maryland - Environmentalists Urge O’Malley to Veto Waste-To-Energy Bill

·         Utility-Backed Renewable Energy Bill Now ‘Dead’ In the Florida Legislature

·         Traditional Incandescent Bulbs on Their Way Out Starting January 1

·         Saskatchewan - Canadian Government Approves $1.24 Billion Carbon Capture Project

·         Recession Briefly Axed Greenhouse Gases in 2009

·         Poll: 85 Percent of US Customers Want an Electric Vehicle

·         Turn Sweat into Watts: The Green Gym in Oregon Where Your Workout Generates Energy

·         CenturyLink Gets Cloud Boost with $2.5 Billion Savvis Buy

·         Google: We're in Kansas City to Make Money - Project Isn't Just a 1 Gbps 'Petri Dish'

·         Move Server Farms to Desert? Data Is Easier to Move Than Power, After All

·         Consumer Reports Explores Pros of Fiber Optics

·         Lack of Funding Stops the Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence

·         Spyware Cleaners, Accused Of Scams, Agree to Follow Law

·         Washington State House Gets Amendment to Limit State's Debt

·         Paid Sick Leave Proposal Building Steam among Seattle Workers

·         State DOC Discusses Grand Mound Reception Center Possibility

·         Overwrought Vancouver Father Set Fire That Killed Him, Five Children, Source Says

·         Thieves Cut Fuel Lines, Siphon Gas at Thurston County Facilities

·         New Tree for County – Replaces Removed Red Cedar near Courthouse

·         Poll: Working Boomers Say Age a Plus at Office

WORD USAGE TIP OF THE DAY

From Daily Writing Tips: http://www.dailywritingtips.com/

Is “Alright” All Right?

In 1965, The Who told us “The Kids are Alright,” spawning generations of the use of alright in music.

In 2004, The Killers said “Everything Will be Alright,” Jennifer Lopez was “Gonna Be Alright” in 2002, and Janet Jackson said it was “alright with me” in 1989. The examples go on and on, leaving us to wonder if, in fact, “alright” is all right.

Scholars and grammarians are constantly debating the question of alright vs. all right. In common usage, all right is a synonym for okay or satisfactory, as in “Are you all right?” However, it can also mean “all correct”, as in, “My answers on the test were all right.”

In some circles, alright has become an accepted usage interchangeable with most uses of all right, particularly in dialogue:

    Rob, do you want to come to the party with me?

    Alright.

Generally, most editors and teachers don’t think “alright” is all right. If you’re in doubt, it’s best to stick with the more widely accepted two-word “all right,” especially in formal academic or professional writing.

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

Salt River Project to March to Different Drummer - Chief financial officer Bonsall is promoted to utility's top spot (Arizona Republic, Phoenix, AZ)

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/2011/04/27/20110427biz-srp0427.html

Carrasco to Stay at Seattle City Light (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2014882204_carrasco_to_stay_at_city_light.html

Flashback - SRP narrows GM search to five candidates (Steve Wright of BPA & Jorge Carrasco were on the list) (Arizona Republic, Phonenix)

http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/2011/03/29/20110329srp-narrows-general-manager-search-five-candidates.html

Hydro, Wind Battling for Grid Space - Each Is Producing to Excess, Tilting Legal Balance of Power (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/apr/26/hydro-wind-battling-for-grid-space/

Permits OK'd for Puget Sound Energy to Reroute Power Line through Lakewood (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/04/27/1641638/permits-okd-for-power-line-reroute.html

Alternate Energy Holdings’ Proposed Idaho Nuclear Power Plant Begins Final Hearings (Electric Energy Online)

http://www.elp.com/index/display/article-display.articles.electric-light-power.generation.nuclear.2011.04.AEHI_s_proposed_Idaho_nuclear_power_plant_begins_final_hearings.QP129867.dcmp=rss.page=1.html

State of Montana OKs NorthWestern Electricity Rate Settlement (Associated Press)

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_edc0c7fc-7062-11e0-b81b-001cc4c002e0.html

California – Pacific Gas & Electric Creates a 'Delay List' for Customers Concerned About SmartMeters (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_17928402

Less Haze Expected in Grand Canyon from Plant (Associated Press)

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/04/26/business-us-navajo-generating-station-arizona_8435100.html

Vermont Electric Cooperative board rejects deal with Vermont Yankee (Burlington Free Press, VT)

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20110426/NEWS02/110426030/Vermont-Electric-Cooperative-rejects-Vermont-Yankee-agreement

FISH & WILDLIFE

Salmon: Running the Gauntlet (Public Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/salmon-running-the-gauntlet/introduction/6546/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Is dioxin leaking into Olympia’s Budd Inlet? – High levels in storm drain sediment cause concern (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/04/27/1630498/is-dioxin-leaking-into-budd-inlet.html

Hanson Dam's Mysteries Solved - Green River: Engineers turn detective, find and fix threatening conditions (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/04/27/1630515/hanson-dams-mysteries-solved.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Myths about Large-scale Solar Threaten Public Lands (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/04/myths-about-large-scale-solar-threaten-public-lands?cmpid=rss

Colorado - Constitution Invoked against Renewable Law (EnergyBiz Insider)

http://www.scoop.com/remote/article/include/241071658/53616c7465645f5f7ff1bfe99df06a256272982d6a63c19fffe3d844c86b4c2132cc590625b92d69

Maryland - Environmentalists Urge O’Malley to Veto Waste-To-Energy Bill (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/politics/environmentalists_urge_omalley_to_veto_waste_to_energy_bill/2011/04/26/AFZxthtE_story.html

Utility-Backed Renewable Energy Bill Now ‘Dead’ In the Florida Legislature (Florida Independent)

http://floridaindependent.com/28222/utility-backed-renewable-energy-bill-now-dead-in-the-florida-legislature

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Traditional Incandescent Bulbs on Their Way Out Starting January 1 (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/environment/2011-04-26-new-light-bulbs_n.htm

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Saskatchewan - Canadian Government Approves $1.24 Billion Carbon Capture Project (Electric Light & Power)

http://www.elp.com/index/display/article-display.articles.electric-light-power.generation.coal.2011.04.Canadian_government_approves__1_24_billion_carbon_capture_project.QP129867.dcmp=rss.page=1.html

Recession Briefly Axed Greenhouse Gases in 2009 (Reuters)

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/sns-rt-environment-us-climtre73q5k0-20110427,0,6314488.story

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Poll: 85 Percent of US Customers Want an Electric Vehicle (Electric Light & Power)

http://www.elp.com/index/display/article-display.articles.electric-light-power.renewable-energy.phev.2011.04.Poll__85_percent_of_U_S__customers_want_an_electric_vehicle.QP129867.dcmp=rss.page=1.html

Turn Sweat into Watts: The Green Gym in Oregon Where Your Workout Generates Energy (The Daily Mail, United Kingdom)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1380785/Oregons-green-gym-YOUR-workout-generates-energy.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

CenturyLink Gets Cloud Boost with $2.5 Billion Savvis Buy (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/27/us-savvis-centurylink-idUSTRE73Q32D20110427

Google: We're in Kansas City to Make Money - Project Isn't Just a 1 Gbps 'Petri Dish' (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Google-Were-in-Kansas-City-To-Make-Money-113926

Move Server Farms to Desert? Data Is Easier to Move Than Power, After All (Discover Magazine)

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2011/04/27/move-server-farms-to-desert-data-is-easier-to-move-than-power-after-all/

Consumer Reports Explores Pros of Fiber Optics (KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA)

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/7_on_your_side&id=8095927

Lack of Funding Stops the Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/faster-forward/post/lack_of_funding_stops_the_search_for_extra_terrestial_intelligence/2011/04/26/AFhGF3rE_blog.html

Spyware Cleaners, Accused Of Scams, Agree to Follow Law (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Spyware-cleaners-accused-of-scams-agree-to-1353456.php

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State House Gets Amendment to Limit State's Debt (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014882528_apwaxgrspecialsession1stldwritethru.html

Paid Sick Leave Proposal Building Steam among Seattle Workers (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Paid-sick-leave-proposal-building-steam-among-Seattle-workers--120748149.html

GENERAL NEWS

State DOC Discusses Grand Mound Reception Center Possibility (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews?State-DOC-discusses-Grand-Mound-receptio=1&blockID=511032&feedID=410

Overwrought Vancouver Father Set Fire That Killed Him, Five Children, Source Says (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/clark-county/index.ssf/2011/04/overwrought_vancouver_father_set_fire_that_killed_him_five_children_source_says.html

Thieves Cut Fuel Lines, Siphon Gas at Thurston County Facilities (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/27687731/detail.html

New Tree for County – Replaces Removed Red Cedar near Courthouse (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/5448-new-tree-for-county

Poll: Working Boomers Say Age a Plus at Office (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014878306_apusappollboomersatwork.html

DIVERSIONS

Oh No! Clippy Is Back! Microsoft Has Brought Clippy, Everyone’s Despised/Favorite Helper from Office, Back from the Dead

http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/2011/04/26/oh-no-clippy-is-back/

Pint-Sized Powerhouse: Little Thor Packs a Major Wallop in VW Ad Parody

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/04/26/pint-sized-powerhouse-little-thor-packs-a-major-wallop-in-vw-ad-parody/

Jury Acquits Man in 99-Cent Hot Dog Theft in Cheney

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014888495_hotdog27m.html

Is it wrong to put your child on a leash

http://communities.canada.com/vancouversun/blogs/parenting/archive/2011/04/25/leash-debate.aspx

SONG OF THE DAY

Thin Lizzy - The Boys are Back in Town

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQo1HIcSVtg

Energy News Digest for April 26, 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

Wednesday/Thursday - Heavy Rain, Snow, Thunderstorms in Forecast (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Heavy-rain-snow-thunderstorms-in-forecast-1352808.php

Report: Climate Change Worsens Western Water Woes (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014871348_apuswesternriversclimatechange.html

Power Peak Could Mean Lowered Income for Columbia River PUDs (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/apr/25/power-peak-could-mean-lowered-income-for-puds/

Environmental Fight over Burning Wood at Nippon Paper Industries’ Port Angeles Paper Plant (Puget Sound Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/2011/04/environmental-fight-over-burning-wood.html

Court Finds California Klamath Basin Salmon Protections Wanting (Associated Press)

http://www.pe.com/ap_news/California/OR_Klamath_Coho_Ruling_569227C.shtml

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Power Peak Could Mean Lowered Income for Columbia River PUDs

·         Arizona - Strange Bedfellows Join Forces to Kill Transmission Power-Line-Siting Bill

·         Colorado - Pueblo Nuclear Plant Rejected

·         California - $31 Million Natural Gas Power Plant Built at John Wayne Airport

·         Sacramento Municipal Utility District Gets $1 Million Smart Grid Grant

·         Pacific Gas & Electric We’ll Pay All of Outgoing CEO’s $35 Million Retirement, Not Ratepayers

·         Chelan PUD Going Paperless

·         Ontario Sold Power at a Loss on Earth Day

·         Bizarrely Enough, Hydropower Not Considered Renewable Energy in California

·         Backing Up Wind - Danish DONG Teams with Gazprom in Gas-Fired Power

·         FERC Seeking Access to Electronic Tagging Data from NERC

·         Court Finds California Klamath Basin Salmon Protections Wanting

·         Oregon Legislature Considers Springtime Restrictions on Columbia Salmon Fishing

·         San Juan Islands Chinook Fishery Going Out with a Bang of Big Fish

·         British Columbia Residents Consider Salmon a Cultural Touchstone, Survey Finds

·         Spring Drawdown Bares Shores of Lake Roosevelt

·         More Time Asked for Public to Study $5 Billion Washington State Water Plan

·         ‘The Dam Is In Fine Shape. It Is Just Not Retaining Water’

·         State of Oregon Preparing New Rules for Graywater Use

·         Environmental Fight over Burning Wood at Nippon Paper Industries’ Port Angeles Paper Plant

·         Biomass is the Heat of the Moment in Germany

·         Duke Energy Suspends ‘Rooftop Solar’ Effort after Fire

·         In Oakland, a Creative Strategy for Financing the City’s Solar Roofs

·         North Carolina - Solar Power Producers Want Customer Access to Sell Electricity Directly to Homeowners & Businesses

·         Solar Panels to go 3D

·         Michigan - Consumers Energy Asks For Permission to Lower Customer Bills by Relying on Wind Power Instead of Solar

·         Unlikely Polluters - ‘Green’ Energy Not Always So Clean

·         Report: Climate Change Worsens Western Water Woes

·         Report: Climate Change to Sap Utah Water Supply

·         EPA: Clean Air Act Not ‘Ideal’ to Regulate Carbon, Jackson Says

·         Electric Vehicle Stations Charging Into Clark County

·         Electric Car Backers Focus on Conquering ‘Range Anxiety’

·         Editorial - Electric Car Tax Measure a Reasonable First Step

·         Measure to Mandate More Room for Egg-Laying Hens May End Up on 2012 Oregon Ballot

·         Portlandia - Is The Chicken Local?

·         FCC To Give Broadband Deployment Failing Grade

·         Satellite Broadband Pushes for Universal Service Fund Money

·         New York - Broadband Access In Tompkins At Issue

·         Gigahertz? No! What Matters Is the User Experience

·         Special Session

·         Former Washington State Legislator Jim Jacks Says Alcoholism Prompted Mid-Session Resignation

·         Snow Thursday?

·         Wednesday/Thursday - Heavy Rain, Snow, Thunderstorms in Forecast

·         Tacoma Teen Charged In Fire at Historic Point Defiance Pagoda

·         Shelton Hills Rezone Approved

·         Oregon, Washington Governors Pick I-5’s Columbia River Bridge Design

·         Catalytic Converter Thefts on the Rise

·         Phoebe Snow, ‘Poetry Man’ Singer, Dies At 60

WORD OF THE DAY

Ensconce • \in-SKONSS\ • Verb - 1: to place or hide securely: conceal 2: to establish or settle firmly, comfortably, or snugly

“You’ve got one chance with this,” shouted the grizzled sergeant over the whistling winds, and growling engines of the paratroopers’ fragile training craft. “Now GO…GO…GO…” But the fresh-faced new recruit did not budge…ensconced in his seat as if held down by super glue. Which he was; much to the amusement of his fellow soldiers.

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

Power Peak Could Mean Lowered Income for Columbia River PUDs (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/apr/25/power-peak-could-mean-lowered-income-for-puds/

Arizona - Strange Bedfellows Join Forces to Kill Transmission Power-Line-Siting Bill (Arizona Daily Star, Tucson)

http://azstarnet.com/news/science/environment/article_eae4c3ce-bcbd-5db5-aca9-68ecbb7a4d0b.html

Colorado - Pueblo Nuclear Plant Rejected (Denver Business Journal, CO)

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/morning_call/2011/04/pueblo-nuclear-plant-rejected.html

California - $31 Million Natural Gas Power Plant Built at John Wayne Airport (Orange County Register, CA)

http://articles.ocregister.com/2011-04-24/news/29472660_1_power-plant-electric-grid-natural-gas-fired

Sacramento Municipal Utility District Gets $1 Million Smart Grid Grant (Sacramento Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2011/04/25/smud-gets-1m-smart-grid-grant.html

Pacific Gas & Electric We’ll Pay All of Outgoing CEO’s $35 Million Retirement, Not Ratepayers (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_17926358

Chelan PUD Going Paperless (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

http://www.kpq.com/4-25-11---Chelan-PUD-going-Paperless--more-/9698559

Ontario Sold Power at a Loss on Earth Day – “…That’s the way we celebrate Earth Day in Ontario…said energy consultant Tom Adams…” (C-News, Canada)

http://cnews.canoe.ca/CNEWS/Canada/2011/04/25/18063541.html

Bizarrely Enough, Hydropower Not Considered Renewable Energy in California (California Independent Voter Network – Join the club, buddy…)

http://caivn.org/article/2011/04/26/bizarrely-enough-hydropower-not-considered-renewable-energy-california

Backing Up Wind - Danish DONG Teams with Gazprom in Gas-Fired Power (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/26/dong-gazprom-idUSLDE73P0LI20110426

FERC Seeking Access to Electronic Tagging Data from NERC (Renew Grid)

http://www.renewgridmag.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.6660

FISH & WILDLIFE

Court Finds California Klamath Basin Salmon Protections Wanting (Associated Press)

http://www.pe.com/ap_news/California/OR_Klamath_Coho_Ruling_569227C.shtml

Oregon Legislature Considers Springtime Restrictions on Columbia Salmon Fishing (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/oregon-coast/index.ssf/2011/04/legislature_considers_springti.html

San Juan Islands Chinook Fishery Going Out with a Bang of Big Fish (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2014878129_san_juan_islands_chinook_fishe.html

British Columbia Residents Consider Salmon a Cultural Touchstone, Survey Finds (Globe & Mail)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/bc-residents-consider-salmon-a-cultural-touchstone-survey-finds/article1998476/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Spring Drawdown Bares Shores of Lake Roosevelt (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/apr/24/spring-drawdown-bares-shores-of-lake-roosevelt/

More Time Asked for Public to Study $5 Billion Washington State Water Plan (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2011/04/25/more-time-asked-for-public-to-study-5b-water-plan

‘The Dam Is In Fine Shape. It Is Just Not Retaining Water’ (KOMO-TV, Seattle – Yes I can see…um, what?)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/120666474.html

State of Oregon Preparing New Rules for Graywater Use “…trying to help people interested in capturing so-called “gently used” water for other purposes…” (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/deq-preparing-new-rules-graywater-use/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Environmental Fight over Burning Wood at Nippon Paper Industries’ Port Angeles Paper Plant (Puget Sound Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/2011/04/environmental-fight-over-burning-wood.html

Biomass is the Heat of the Moment in Germany - Alpine region leads fight against volatile oil prices with wood-fuelled heating systems (The Independent, Ireland)

http://www.independent.ie/farming/biomass-is-the-heat-of-the-moment-in-germany-2629098.html

Duke Energy Suspends ‘Rooftop Solar’ Effort after Fire (Charlotte Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/power_city/2011/04/duke-energy-suspends-rooftop-solar.html

In Oakland, a Creative Strategy for Financing the City’s Solar Roofs - Sell Solar Tiles to Locals for $100 a Pop & Install Them on Public Buildings (Solve Climate)

http://solveclimate.com/news/20110422/oakland-creative-strategy-financing-citys-solar-roofs

North Carolina - Solar Power Producers Want Customer Access to Sell Electricity Directly to Homeowners & Businesses (Raleigh News & Observer, NC)

http://www.newsobserver.com/2011/04/26/1154158/solar-would-vie-with-utilities.html

Solar Panels to go 3D - Solar panels firm uses 3D technologies from fiber optics to create more efficient solar panels (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Latest-News-Wires/2011/0425/Solar-panels-to-go-3D

Michigan - Consumers Energy Asks For Permission to Lower Customer Bills by Relying on Wind Power Instead of Solar (Jackson Citizen Pilot, MI)

http://www.mlive.com/business/jackson-lansing/index.ssf/2011/04/consumers_energy_asks_for_perm.html

Unlikely Polluters - ‘Green’ Energy Not Always So Clean (iWatch News)

http://www.iwatchnews.org/2011/04/26/4338/unlikely-polluters

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Report: Climate Change Worsens Western Water Woes (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014871348_apuswesternriversclimatechange.html

Report: Climate Change to Sap Utah Water Supply (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/51690000-90/utah-percent-report-river.html.csp

EPA: Clean Air Act Not ‘Ideal’ to Regulate Carbon, Jackson Says (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-26/clean-air-act-not-ideal-to-regulate-carbon-jackson-says-1-.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Electric Vehicle Stations Charging Into Clark County – “…Clark Public Utilities will be watching development of Level 3 chargers closely, because of how they may affect electrical transformers…” (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/apr/26/vehicle-stations-charging-into-county/

Electric Car Backers Focus on Conquering ‘Range Anxiety’ (Connecticut Mirror, Hartford)

http://www.ctmirror.org/story/12346/electric-car-backers-focus-conquering-range-anxiety

Editorial - Electric Car Tax Measure a Reasonable First Step (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/apr/26/editorial-electric-car-tax-measure-a-reasonable/

Measure to Mandate More Room for Egg-Laying Hens May End Up on 2012 Oregon Ballot (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/04/measure_to_mandate_more_room_f.html

Portlandia - Is The Chicken Local? (YouTube)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErRHJlE4PGI

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

FCC To Give Broadband Deployment Failing Grade - Ignoring the Fact That They’re Partially Responsible (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/FCC-To-Give-Broadband-Deployment-Failing-Grade-113921

Satellite Broadband Pushes for Universal Service Fund Money - Please Ignore Our Overpriced, Capped, Slow Service (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Satellite-Broadband-Pushes-for-USF-Funds-113912

New York - Broadband Access In Tompkins At Issue - More obstacles to universal broadband access exist in Tompkins County than portrayed (Ithaca Journal, NY)
http://www.theithacajournal.com/article/20110425/NEWS01/104250356/Broadband-access-Tompkins-issue

Gigahertz? No! What Matters Is the User Experience (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2011/04/25/horsepower-gigahertz-no-what-matters-is-the-user-experience/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Lawmakers to Begin Budget-Focused Special Session (Northwest Cable News Network)

http://www.nwcn.com/news/Washington-state-lawmakers-to-begin-special-session-today-120701239.html

Former Washington State Legislator Jim Jacks Says Alcoholism Prompted Mid-Session Resignation (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/clark-county/index.ssf/2011/04/former_washington_legislator_jim_jacks_says_alcoholism_prompted_mid-session_resignation.html

GENERAL NEWS

Snow Thursday? (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/5368-snow-thursday

Wednesday/Thursday - Heavy Rain, Snow, Thunderstorms in Forecast (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Heavy-rain-snow-thunderstorms-in-forecast-1352808.php

Tacoma Teen Charged In Fire at Historic Point Defiance Pagoda (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/04/26/1629205/teen-charged-in-fire-at-historic.html

Shelton Hills Rezone Approved (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/5364-shelton-hills-rezone-approved

Oregon, Washington Governors Pick I-5’s Columbia River Bridge Design (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014871323_aporcolumbiariverbridge2ndldwritethru.html

Catalytic Converter Thefts on the Rise (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2011-04-25-catalytic-converter-thefts.htm?csp=34money

Phoebe Snow, ‘Poetry Man’ Singer, Dies At 60 (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/04/26/1629586/phoebe-snow-who-sang-1975-hit.html

DIVERSIONS

Everett: Next Roller Derby Capital of the Pacific Northwest?

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/120518679.html

Hubris - High-Ranking Rhode Island Lawmaker Faces Connecticut Drug Charge

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hQZTY6cZDqZGZoIuK0j-liVXqnNw?docId=752ae20652cb4175b982874a8adfb094

NY Judge Fumes at Defendant Who Was Freed for Heart Transplant, but Won’t Quit Smoking

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/ny_judge_fumes_at_defendant_who_was_freed_for_heart_transplant_but_wont_quit_smoking/2011/04/25/AFQOKEkE_story.html

World’s last typewriter factory has just 500 left (Business Standard)

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/World-s-last-typewriter-factory-has-just-500-left-1352016.php

SONG OF THE DAY

Every Night - Phoebe Snow

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