Energy News Digest for July 15, 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

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

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

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Congress Could Breathe New Life into Yucca Repository (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/house_could_breathe_new_life_into_yucca_repository/

Moody’s: US Downgrade Would Trigger 7,000 Municipal Ratings Cuts “…Other top-rated issuers include…the Tennessee Valley Authority, and Bonneville Power Administration (Business Insider)

http://www.businessinsider.com/muni-scare-moodys-says-us-downgrade-would-trigger-7000-muni-ratings-cuts-2011-7

REC Silicon Suing Grant County over Taxes - $600 Million difference cited (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/business/article_2f3a4586-ad68-11e0-8980-001cc4c002e0.html

US Interior Secretary Ken Salazar Approves Central Oregon’s First Wind Energy Farm (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/07/central_oregons_first_wind_ene.html

Belfair Sewer Fallout – North Mason Sheriff’s Office Asked to Relocate (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/10627-sheriffs-dept-asked-to-relocate

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Congress Could Breathe New Life into Yucca Repository
• 55 More People Sue Pacific Gas & Electric over San Bruno Blast
• Pacific Gas & Electric Says It Won’t Blame San Bruno Blast Victims for Losses They Suffered in the Disaster
• San Francisco Threatens Suit over Pacific Gas & Electric, Calls Pipeline Regulation Lax
• Alaska - Governor Signs Bill Allowing Alaska Energy Authority to Pursue Major Dam Project
• Arizona - Cooperatives Join to Fight for Share of Hoover Power
• Lithuania Wins on Germany’s Nuclear Exit with Hitachi Offer
• 40 Fish Populations Subject to Overfishing, But Federal Officials Say Progress Being Made
• Reducing Fecal Coliform, Poisons Among Puget Sound Health Goals
• Yakima River Basin Water Flows Well Short of Record
• Why the Colorado River Stopped Flowing
• REC Silicon Suing Grant County over Taxes - $600 Million difference cited
• US Interior Secretary Ken Salazar Approves Central Oregon’s First Wind Energy Farm
• Vast Wind Energy Proposal Could Kill Endangered Birds
• Ameresco Quantum Partners with North Mason School District in Belfair, WA to Reduce Water Usage by over 50 Percent
• Talks End Between Xcel, City of Boulder, CO over Wind Farm
• Feds to Refine Plan on Solar Development Zones
• California - Solar Company Offers Prize to State’s Biggest Energy Hog
• Op/Ed - When It Comes to Health, Wind Power Blows Away the Alternative
• Puget Sound Energy Kicks Off Rock the Bulb Tour with Free Light Bulbs Saturday
• Energy Innovation & the Battle of the BULB
• Innovative Ideas to Keep Cool, Save Energy
• Study Shows Forests Have Bigger Role in Slowing Climate Change
• California State Rules to Power Growing Plug-in Car Market
• Portland Moving to Ban Plastic Bags at Stores
• Comcast Bans Heavy Internet User for One Year
• Google Earnings Jump as Social Network Hums
• Feel Bad About Your Broadband? Canada Has It Worse
• Amazon’s Sales-Tax Referendum Challenged by California Lawmakers
• Microsoft Accidentally Published New Social Project
• The Internet Is Changing How You Remember
• Moody’s: US Downgrade Would Trigger 7,000 Municipal Ratings Cuts
• Standard & Poor’s Warns of Downgrade if No Debt Deal Reached
• Moody’s Places US AAA Government Bond Rating & Related Ratings on Review for Possible Downgrade
• Belfair Sewer Fallout – North Mason Sheriff’s Office Asked to Relocate
• California Driver Pleads No Contest in Tumwater Tourists’ Deaths
• Oregon Arsonist in Earth Liberation Front Case Sentenced for Probation Violation
• Washington State Rep: Missing Sonics Costing State $100 Million Per Year
• ‘Home Alone’ Character Actor Roberts Blossom Dies

WORD OF THE DAY – SPECIAL EDITORIAL EDITION

Op/Ed - Four Reasons Why American Media Should Lowercase ‘Internet’ (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2011/0714/Four-reasons-why-American-media-should-lowercase-Internet/Usage-should-reflect-how-we-think-about-the-online-world

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

Congress Could Breathe New Life into Yucca Repository (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/house_could_breathe_new_life_into_yucca_repository/

55 More People Sue Pacific Gas & Electric over San Bruno Blast (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_18477877

Pacific Gas & Electric Says It Won’t Blame San Bruno Blast Victims for Losses They Suffered in the Disaster (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/07/13/BAKI1K9OJR.DTL

San Francisco Threatens Suit over Pacific Gas & Electric, Calls Pipeline Regulation Lax (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/07/14/BABA1KA5FJ.DTL

Alaska - Governor Signs Bill Allowing Alaska Energy Authority to Pursue Major Dam Project (Associated Press)

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/24e04ccbc1c6413a80beedf2cdec1cb8/AK--Susitna-Dam/

Arizona - Cooperatives Join to Fight for Share of Hoover Power (Douglas Dispatch, AZ)

http://www.douglasdispatch.com/articles/2011/07/14/news/doc4e1de4e9af9dc948638668.txt

Lithuania Wins on Germany’s Nuclear Exit with Hitachi Offer (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-14/lithuania-wins-on-germany-s-nuclear-exit-with-hitachi-s-offer.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

40 Fish Populations Subject to Overfishing, But Federal Officials Say Progress Being Made (Associated Press)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/40-fish-populations-subject-to-overfishing-but-federal-officials-say-progress-being-made/2011/07/14/gIQAQ2BXEI_story.html?wprss=rss_national

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Reducing Fecal Coliform, Poisons Among Puget Sound Health Goals (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/07/14/1745487/reducing-fecal-coliform-poisons.html

Yakima River Basin Water Flows Well Short of Record (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2011/07/07/yakima-river-basin-water-flows-well-short-of-record

Why the Colorado River Stopped Flowing (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow/2011/07/14/137821595/why-the-colorado-river-stopped-flowing

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

REC Silicon Suing Grant County over Taxes - $600 Million difference cited (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/business/article_2f3a4586-ad68-11e0-8980-001cc4c002e0.html

US Interior Secretary Ken Salazar Approves Central Oregon’s First Wind Energy Farm (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/07/central_oregons_first_wind_ene.html

Vast Wind Energy Proposal Could Kill Endangered Birds (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/14/us-wind-energy-cranes-idUSTRE76D76I20110714

Ameresco Quantum Partners with North Mason School District in Belfair, WA to Reduce Water Usage by over 50 Percent (News Release, Ameresco Quantum)

http://eon.businesswire.com/news/eon/20110713006065/en/Ameresco/ESPC/energy-savings-performance-contract

Talks End Between Xcel, City of Boulder, CO over Wind Farm (Minneapolis/St Paul Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2011/07/14/talks-end-xcel-boulder-over-wind-farm.html

Feds to Refine Plan on Solar Development Zones (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2015609638_apuswesternsolardevelopment.html

California - Solar Company Offers Prize to State’s Biggest Energy Hog (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_18470752

Op/Ed - When It Comes to Health, Wind Power Blows Away the Alternative (Huffington Post)

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/david-suzuki/wind-power_b_890796.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Puget Sound Energy Kicks Off Rock the Bulb Tour with Free Light Bulbs Saturday (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Puget-Sound-Energy-kicks-off-Rock-the-Bulb-Tour-with-free-light-bulbs-Saturday-125579558.html

Energy Innovation & the Battle of the BULB (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/post/energy-innovation-and-the-battle-of-the-bulb/2011/07/14/gIQARsXMEI_blog.html

Innovative Ideas to Keep Cool, Save Energy (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2011/07/14/137858521/innovative-ideas-to-keep-cool-save-energy?ft=1&f=2

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Study Shows Forests Have Bigger Role in Slowing Climate Change (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/14/us-climate-forests-idUSTRE76D5FJ20110714

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

California State Rules to Power Growing Plug-in Car Market (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/07/15/BU4O1KAKCL.DTL

Portland Moving to Ban Plastic Bags at Stores (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2015620177_apusplasticbagban.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Comcast Bans Heavy Internet User for One Year (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Comcast-bans-heavy-Internet-user-for-1-year-125604888.html

Google Earnings Jump as Social Network Hums (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/companies/earnings/2011-07-14-google-earnings-soar_n.htm?csp=34money

Feel Bad About Your Broadband? Canada Has It Worse (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/broadband/feel-bad-about-your-broadband-canada-has-it-worse/

Amazon’s Sales-Tax Referendum Challenged by California Lawmakers (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2015615125_amazoncalif15.html

Microsoft Accidentally Published New Social Project (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Microsoft-accidentally-published--125636873.html

The Internet Is Changing How You Remember (Seattle Post Intelligencer)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2011/07/14/the-internet-is-changing-how-you-remember/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Moody’s: US Downgrade Would Trigger 7,000 Municipal Ratings Cuts “…Other top-rated issuers include…the Tennessee Valley Authority, and Bonneville Power Administration (Business Insider)

http://www.businessinsider.com/muni-scare-moodys-says-us-downgrade-would-trigger-7000-muni-ratings-cuts-2011-7

Standard & Poor’s Warns of Downgrade if No Debt Deal Reached - Could raise borrowing costs…for loans that use the Treasury rate as a benchmark (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/15/us-sp-us-idUSTRE76E01S20110715

Moody’s Places US AAA Government Bond Rating & Related Ratings on Review for Possible Downgrade (Moody’s Investor Service)

http://www.moodys.com/research/Moodys-Places-US-Aaa-Government-Bond-Rating-and-Related-Ratings?lang=en&cy=global&docid=PR_221800

GENERAL NEWS

Belfair Sewer Fallout – North Mason Sheriff’s Office Asked to Relocate (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/10627-sheriffs-dept-asked-to-relocate

California Driver Pleads No Contest in Tumwater Tourists’ Deaths (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/theblotter/2015609998_calif_driver_pleads_no_contest.html

Oregon Arsonist in Earth Liberation Front Case Sentenced for Probation Violation (Associated Press)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/environment/oregon-arsonist-in-earth-liberation-front-case-sentenced-for-probation-violation/2011/07/15/gIQAXaS4FI_story.html?wprss=rss_national

Washington State Rep: Missing Sonics Costing State $100 Million Per Year (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/sports/28554376/detail.html

‘Home Alone’ Character Actor Roberts Blossom Dies (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/07/15/BA7S1KABE0.DTL

DIVERSIONS

Eden Wood, Six-Year-Old Beauty Queen, Retires from Pageant Circuit

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/07/14/eden-wood-six-year-old-beauty-queen-retires-from-pageant-circuit/

North Dakota Might Not Technically be a State

http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2011/07/14/north-dakota-might-not-technically-be-a-state/

Pyramid Brewing Admits It Made a Naming Mistake

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=514140

Aggressive Bee Swarms Torment California Neighborhood for Weeks, Kill Family Dog

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/aggressive-bee-swarms-torment-california-neighborhood-for-weeks-kill-family-dog/2011/07/15/gIQAAsBCGI_story.html?wprss=rss_national

SONG OF THE DAY

Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V8l5fthffiE

Energy News Digest for July 14, 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

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

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

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

‘Clean Coal’ Demo Put on Hold for Lack of Climate Policy (Associated Press)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2011-07-14-carbon-capture-clean-coal-aep_n.htm?csp=34money

Data Centers May Double Umatilla Electric Power Rates - Customers would foot the bill for jump to large utility (East Oregonian, Pendleton)

http://www.eastoregonian.com/news/data-centers-may-double-power-rates/article_e543309e-ad91-11e0-ab79-001cc4c002e0.html

Oregon’s Global Warming Commission Advocates Carbon Taxes (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/group-considers-taxing-carbon-footprint/

Douglas PUD to Chip in for Fiber Connections (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/jul/14/douglas-pud-to-chip-in-for-fiber-connections/

Port of Longview Seeks Investors for Solar Power Project (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_4c86e822-adb5-11e0-8137-001cc4c03286.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Data Centers May Double Umatilla Electric Power Rates
• A Dark Side to Inviting Data Centers to Your Community
• ‘Clean Coal’ Demo Put on Hold for Lack of Climate Policy
• Clark Public Utilities Receives JD Power & Associates Recognition for Electric Utilities Four Years in a Row
• Clark Public Utilities Ranked Tops in West in Customer Satisfaction
• Sacramento Municipal Utility District Second in Western Satisfaction Survey
• City of Vancouver Sued over Bonneville Power Administration Stormwater Bills
• Federal Agency Withdraws Plan for Montana, Idaho Power Line Route
• Montana-Dakota Utilities Power Line Route Approved by North Dakota PSC
• Path Appears Clear for Oil Pipeline from Canada
• July 15 & 16 – Mason PUD 3 Online Bill Pay Unavailable During System & Security Upgrades
• New York - If Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant Closes, Plenty of Challenges
• Tennessee Valley Authority Forced to Defend Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant
• Upper Columbia River Region Opens for Sockeye Fishing
• Petitioners Oppose White River Salmon Rearing Pond Plan
• Fishing for Dollars: Anglers Earn $1.2 Million for Pike Minnows
• Port of Longview Seeks Investors for Solar Power Project
• Oregon Wind Farms Seek End to Springtime Shutdowns
• Wind Speeds Elevated Across the US in Second Quarter of 2011
• Nebraska - The Big Potential of Small Scale Hydropower
• Marysville Schools Get Rebate for Energy Conservation
• Oregon’s Global Warming Commission Advocates Carbon Taxes
• Climate Change to Guide Dam Plans, Managers Say
• City of Seattle Spends More than $1M on Nissan Leaf Fleet
• Manson Man Runs Pickup Truck on Apple Ethanol
• Town Requires Filipino Couples to Plant Trees Before Marrying
• Douglas PUD to Chip in for Fiber Connections
• Emissions from Microsoft, Dell Data Centers’ Backup Generation Worry Residents
• Fisher Plaza, Home to KOMO News, Up for Sale
• Google+ Gains Members on Limited Invites
• Let’s Talk About the Broadband-Cap Gap
• FCC Plans to Crack Down on Phone Bill Mystery Fees
• Wi-Fi–Hacking Neighbor from Hell Sentenced to 18 Years
• Debt Ceiling: Moody’s Puts US on Notice
• Costco, Kemper Freeman & SEIU Putting Money on Initiatives
• Shelton’s Sanderson Field Hosts Landing of Boeing 737
• Tolls, Tolls, Tolls: Western Washington Drivers Will Probably See More
• California - Sierra Pacific Steps Up Sawmill Operations
• Olympia Anarchist’s Rental Home Vandalized Amid Photo Controversy
• Legislators Miss the Sonics, Want NBA Team for Seattle Area

WORD OF THE DAY

Chasten • \CHASE-sun\ • Verb - 1: to correct by punishment or suffering: discipline; also: purify 2a: to prune (as a work or style of art) of excess, pretense, or falsity: refine b: to cause to be more humble or restrained: subdue

Chastened for wrongs

Criminal seeks forgiveness

Past stands in the way

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

Data Centers May Double Umatilla Electric Power Rates - Customers would foot the bill for jump to large utility (East Oregonian, Pendleton)

http://www.eastoregonian.com/news/data-centers-may-double-power-rates/article_e543309e-ad91-11e0-ab79-001cc4c002e0.html

A Dark Side to Inviting Data Centers to Your Community (ZD Net News)

http://www.zdnet.com/blog/datacenter/a-dark-side-to-inviting-datacenters-to-your-community/923

‘Clean Coal’ Demo Put on Hold for Lack of Climate Policy (Associated Press)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2011-07-14-carbon-capture-clean-coal-aep_n.htm?csp=34money

Clark Public Utilities Receives JD Power & Associates Recognition for Electric Utilities Four Years in a Row - Customer-owned Utility Ranked Highest in Class for Customer Satisfaction (Clark Public Utilities)

http://www.clarkpublicutilities.com/aboutus/newsroom/archives/2011/071311news

Clark Public Utilities Ranked Tops in West in Customer Satisfaction (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/jul/14/utility-ranked-tops-west-customer-satisfaction/

Sacramento Municipal Utility District Second in Western Satisfaction Survey (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/14/3768507/smud-2nd-in-western-satisfaction.html

City of Vancouver Sued over Bonneville Power Administration Stormwater Bills - Feds say charges a tax, city maintains they’re legitimate fee (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/jul/13/vancouver-sued-over-bpa-stormwater-bills/

Federal Agency Withdraws Plan for Montana, Idaho Power Line Route (Native American Times)

http://nativetimes.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5705%3Afederal-agency-withdraws-plan-for-power-line-route&catid=56&Itemid=32

Montana-Dakota Utilities Power Line Route Approved by North Dakota PSC (Electric Light & Power)

http://www.elp.com/index/display/article-display.articles.electric-light-power.t-and_d.2011.07.Montana-Dakota_Utilities_power_line_route_approved_by_North_Dakota_PSC.QP129867.dcmp=rss.page=1.html

Path Appears Clear for Oil Pipeline from Canada (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2015603560_keystone14.html

July 15 & 16 – Mason PUD 3 Online Bill Pay Unavailable During System & Security Upgrades (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/Newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=887

NUCLEAR SCIENCE READING ROOM

New York - If Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant Closes, Plenty of Challenges “…experts are skeptical that new generators or transmission lines could be built…quickly in the New York …cumbersome regulatory environment…” (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/14/nyregion/closing-indian-point-plant-has-risks-experts-warn.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Tennessee Valley Authority Forced to Defend Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant (Memphis Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/blog/morning_call/2011/07/tva-forced-to-defend-browns-ferry.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Upper Columbia River Region Opens for Sockeye Fishing “…the Columbia River sockeye return has surpassed preseason expectation…” (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2015597577_upper_columbia_river_region_op.html

Petitioners Oppose White River Salmon Rearing Pond Plan - Conservationists say fish program will do damage to pristine waters (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/jul/13/petitioners-oppose-white-river-plan/

Fishing for Dollars: Anglers Earn $1.2 Million for Pike Minnows (South Lincoln County News, Waldport, OR)

http://www.southlincolncountynews.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=73&story_id=2312

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Port of Longview Seeks Investors for Solar Power Project (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_4c86e822-adb5-11e0-8137-001cc4c03286.html

Oregon Wind Farms Seek End to Springtime Shutdowns (Associated Press)

http://news.yahoo.com/ore-wind-farms-seek-end-springtime-shutdowns-163814229.html

Wind Speeds Elevated Across the US in Second Quarter of 2011 (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/3tier/news/article/2011/07/wind-speeds-elevated-across-the-us-in-q2-2011?cmpid=rss

Nebraska - The Big Potential of Small Scale Hydropower (York News-Times, NE)

http://www.yorknewstimes.com/articles/2011/07/14/editorials/doc4e1e6f81c5c7f207110281.txt

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Marysville Schools Get Rebate for Energy Conservation (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110622/NEWS01/706229899

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Oregon’s Global Warming Commission Advocates Carbon Taxes (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/group-considers-taxing-carbon-footprint/

Climate Change to Guide Dam Plans, Managers Say (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/climate-change-guide-dam-plans-managers-say/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

City of Seattle Spends More than $1M on Nissan Leaf Fleet (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/28540798/detail.html

Manson Man Runs Pickup Truck on Apple Ethanol (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015608760_apwaapplepower1stldwritethru.html

Town Requires Filipino Couples to Plant Trees Before Marrying (Gulf Times, United Arab Emirates)

http://gulftoday.ae/portal/ce9352f1-b058-472d-8079-6140548a8bfd.aspx

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Douglas PUD to Chip in for Fiber Connections (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/jul/14/douglas-pud-to-chip-in-for-fiber-connections/

Emissions from Microsoft, Dell Data Centers’ Backup Generation Worry Residents (PC World)

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/235698/emissions_from_microsoft_dell_data_centers_worry_residents.html

Fisher Plaza, Home to KOMO News, Up for Sale (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/125576338.html

Google+ Gains Members on Limited Invites (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/products/2011-07-13-google-plus-growth_n.htm?csp=34tech

Let’s Talk About the Broadband-Cap Gap (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/broadband/lets-talk-about-the-broadband-cap-gap/

FCC Plans to Crack Down on Phone Bill Mystery Fees (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/jul/14/fcc-plans-to-crack-down-on-phone-bill-mystery-fees/

Wi-Fi–Hacking Neighbor from Hell Sentenced to 18 Years (Wired Magazine – Note some PG 13 content)

http://www.wired.com/threatlevel/2011/07/hacking-neighbor-from-hell/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Debt Ceiling: Moody’s Puts US on Notice (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/money/28537206/detail.html

Costco, Kemper Freeman & SEIU Putting Money on Initiatives (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015603723_politicsnw14m.html

GENERAL NEWS

Shelton’s Sanderson Field Hosts Landing of Boeing 737 – Plan to be parted out by Aero Controls (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/10543-main-event-in-shelton

Tolls, Tolls, Tolls: Western Washington Drivers Will Probably See More (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/traffic/28540516/detail.html

California - Sierra Pacific Steps Up Sawmill Operations (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/14/3768450/sierra-pacific-steps-up-sawmill.html

Olympia Anarchist’s Rental Home Vandalized Amid Photo Controversy (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015608554_apwaanarchisthomevandalized.html

Legislators Miss the Sonics, Want NBA Team for Seattle Area (Puget Sound Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2011/07/13/legislators-miss-the-sonics-want-nba.html

DIVERSIONS

Man Tests Law by Claiming to be a `Pastafarian’

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/14/3769512/man-tests-law-by-claiming-to-be.html

Blind Dog Gets Its Own Guide Dog

http://www.kirotv.com/family/28533226/detail.html

Lucky Black Cat Survives 20-Story Plunge

http://www.kirotv.com/family/28547047/detail.html

Lawsuit: Chase Bank Declared Florida Woman Dead

http://www.kirotv.com/news/28522715/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Dean Martin - That’s Amore

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=69O4PXzAQ5Y