Energy News Digest for August 10, 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

US Senator Murray (Washington State) is Chosen as a Leader of Deficit Panel (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/10/us/politics/10panel.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Palouse Wind Named Defendant in Wind Farm Case (Renewables Biz)

http://www.renewablesbiz.com/article/11/08/palouse-wind-named-defendant-wind-farm-case

Wind Power a ‘Dud’ During Last Week’s Heat Wave (Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives)

http://www.ohioruralelectric.coop/news/2011/08/01/wind-power-a-dud-during-last-weeks-heat-wave

“Megaloads” Big for Port of Pasco & Local Economy (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/127347203.html

Aberdeen Biodiesel Plant Humming 24 Hours a Day (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015869496_apwabiodieselplant1stldwritethru.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• “Megaloads” Big for Port of Pasco & Local Economy
• Longview Coal Export Flap - Groups Sue Millennium over Alleged Clean Water Act Violations
• After Three Years of Red, Chelan County PUD is Back in Black
• Douglas County PUD Lineman Recovering from High-Voltage Jolt
• Editorial – Columbia Falls Aluminum: Lucy & the Aluminum Football
• Contract Approved for Grant PUD Manager
• Meet Pacific Gas & Electric’s new CEO: Anthony Earley, Jr.
• Sacramento Municipal Utility District Bond Rating Upgraded
• Tennessee Valley Authority Loses Notch (Downgraded) in S&P Backwash
• Mason County PUD 3 - Shelton Springs Tree Trimming: Thursday
• Solar Storms: New Solar Flare is Largest in Years
• Texas - Repairs Left Power Grid Vulnerable
• EPA Rule Forces Duke Energy to Close Another Coal Plant
• $2 Billion Hit - New Nuclear Policy Takes Toll on German Utility’s Results
• Feds Say Westinghouse Electric’s New Reactor Design is Safe, Sets Stage for Approval
• New Mexico - Taos Kit Cason Command Center Seeks Tenants; Electric Cooperative on Hook for 10K A Month
• No Obama, But Movie Star & Former US Senator Coming to Port Angeles for Start of Dam Removals 
• Northern Pikeminnow Reward Catch Levels Dropped Off This Past Week
• Winthrop, WA - Salmon-Safe Farm Celebration Planned for Aug. 21
• Oregon – Bridge Creek Project Aims to Enhance Habitat, Fish Passage
• Slow & Steady Goes the Effort to Restore the Columbia River Gorge’s Western Pond Turtles
• Mason County Sells Bonds for Belfair Sewer Project
• LOTT Expected to Hike Sewer Fees
• Water Wars - Northern California Counties Denied Priority Water Rights
• Palouse Wind Named Defendant in Wind Farm Case
• Wind Power a ‘Dud’ During Last Week’s Heat Wave
• Critics Turn Up Heat on Seattle Wood Burner
• Tanana - Tiny City in Yukon Takes a Giant Renewable Step
• Montana - Visitors Study Renewable-Energy Projects
• Oregon’s Public Universities Plan to Go Solar
• Grape Solar Now Available in Home Depot
• Balancing the Grid with Pumped Storage
• Efficiency, Renovations Are New Focus for Habitat for Humanity of Kitsap
• Edmonds a Leader in Conservation after Recent Honors
• Imparting Energy Smarts to Young Consumers
• Polar Bear Scientist Faces New Questions
• Aberdeen Biodiesel Plant Humming 24 Hours a Day
• Ford Focus Electric to Come with Home Solar Option
• Colorado - Skeptics Question Viability of Beetle Kill Industry
• Clean Energy to Power Star Trek Theme Park
• Cable, Satellite Companies Lose Record Number of Subscribers
• Police Investigate Verizon Sabotage Claims
• Clearwire May Be in Trouble - And Sprint Frankly May Not Give a Damn
• Anonymous Says It Will Take Down Facebook on November 5
• Apparently, Small ISPs & Rural Telcos Love Google Apps
• Sacramento Municipal Utility District Ranked in List of Best Places to Work for IT
• US Senator Murray (Washington State) is Chosen as a Leader of Deficit Panel
• Market Issues Don’t Worry State Pension Plan Managers
• Fed to Keep Interest Rate Near Zero for Two Years
• Plane above Wall Street: ‘Thanks for the Downgrade. You Should All Be Fired’
• Special Session for Washington State Legislature?
• Oregon State Archivists Warn of Lack of Preparedness
• Fatal Crash Near Belfair
• Belfair Woman Dies in Crash Near Victor
• New Radar Weather Station Looking Off Washington State Coast
• Researchers, UW Scientists Forecast Volcano Eruption
• Washington State Drivers Top List for Those Who Buckle Up
• Shelton’s Newest FM Signal Has Local License, Local Programming
• Tri-Cities: Geek Central? We’re 11th on a National List

WORD OF THE DAY

Sarcophagus • \sar-KOFF-uh-guss\ • Noun - A stone coffin; broadly: coffin

Word Origin from Merriam-Webster

Body-eating coffins might sound like the stuff of horror films, but “flesh-eating stone” does play a role in the etymology of “sarcophagus.” That creepy-sounding phrase is a literal translation of “sarkophagos,” the Greek word that underlies our English term. It’s not clear whether the Romans truly believed that a certain type of limestone from the region around Troy would dissolve flesh (and thus was desirable for making coffins). That assertion came from Roman scholar Pliny the Elder, but he also reported such phenomena as dog-headed people and elephants who wrote Greek. But there’s no doubt that the ancient Greek word for the limestone, “sarkophagos,” was formed by combining “sark-,” meaning “flesh,” with a derivative of “phagein,” a verb meaning “to eat.”

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

“Megaloads” Big for Port of Pasco & Local Economy (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/127347203.html

Longview Coal Export Flap - Groups Sue Millennium over Alleged Clean Water Act Violations (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_ce213a80-c2e2-11e0-98b8-001cc4c002e0.html

After Three Years of Red, Chelan County PUD is Back in Black (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/aug/09/after-three-years-of-red-pud-is-back-in-black/

Douglas County PUD Lineman Recovering from High-Voltage Jolt (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/aug/09/east-wenatchee/

Editorial – Columbia Falls Aluminum: Lucy & the Aluminum Football (Flathead Beacon, Kalispell, MT)

http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/lucy_and_the_aluminum_football/24183/

Contract Approved for Grant PUD Manager (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/aug/10/ephrata/

Meet Pacific Gas & Electric’s new CEO: Anthony Earley, Jr. (Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, CA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2011/08/09/meet-pges-new-ceo-anthony-earley-jr.html

Sacramento Municipal Utility District Bond Rating Upgraded (Sacramento Business Journal, CA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2011/08/10/smud-bond-rating-upgraded.html

Tennessee Valley Authority Loses Notch (Downgraded) in S&P Backwash (Chattanooga Times Free Press, TN)

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/aug/10/c1-tva-loses-notch-in-sp-backwash/

Mason County PUD 3 - Shelton Springs Tree Trimming: Thursday (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/12222-shelton-springs-tree-trimmingthursday

Solar Storms: New Solar Flare is Largest in Years (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2011/0810/Solar-storms-New-solar-flare-is-largest-in-years

Texas - Repairs Left Power Grid Vulnerable: As demand soared last week, many plants couldn’t contribute (Houston Chronicle, TX)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/energy/7690729.html

EPA Rule Forces Duke Energy to Close Another Coal Plant (Charlotte Business Journal, NC)

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/power_city/2011/08/epa-rule-forces-duke-energy-to-close.html

$2 Billion Hit - New Nuclear Policy Takes Toll on German Utility’s Results (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/10/business/global/new-nuclear-policy-takes-toll-on-german-utilitys-results.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Feds Say Westinghouse Electric’s New Reactor Design is Safe, Sets Stage for Approval (Associated Press)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/nrc-staff-report-westinghouse-electrics-new-reactor-design-is-safe-sets-stage-for-approval/2011/08/09/gIQAh4n84I_story.html?wprss=rss_national

New Mexico - Taos Kit Cason Command Center Seeks Tenants; Electric Cooperative on Hook for 10K A Month (Taos News, NM)

http://taosnews.com/articles/2011/08/09/news/doc4e3bf22414101679787103.txt

FISH & WILDLIFE

No Obama, But Movie Star & Former US Senator Coming to Port Angeles for Start of Dam Removals (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110810/news/308109987/no-obama-but-movie-star-and-former-us-senator-coming-to-port

Northern Pikeminnow Reward Catch Levels Dropped Off This Past Week (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2015869244_northern_pikeminnow_reward_cat_5.html

Winthrop, WA - Salmon-Safe Farm Celebration Planned for Aug. 21 (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/aug/10/salmon-safe-farm-celebration-planned-for-aug-21/

Oregon – Bridge Creek Project Aims to Enhance Habitat, Fish Passage (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

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

Slow & Steady Goes the Effort to Restore the Columbia River Gorge’s Western Pond Turtles (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/08/slow_and_steady_goes_the_effor.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Mason County Sells Bonds for Belfair Sewer Project (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/12218-county-sells-bonds-for-belfair-sewer-project

LOTT Expected to Hike Sewer Fees (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/08/10/1755549/lott-expected-to-hike-sewer-fees.html

Water Wars - Northern California Counties Denied Priority Water Rights (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/08/09/38858.htm

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Palouse Wind Named Defendant in Wind Farm Case (Renewables Biz)

http://www.renewablesbiz.com/article/11/08/palouse-wind-named-defendant-wind-farm-case

Wind Power a ‘Dud’ During Last Week’s Heat Wave (Ohio Rural Electric Cooperatives)

http://www.ohioruralelectric.coop/news/2011/08/01/wind-power-a-dud-during-last-weeks-heat-wave

Critics Turn Up Heat on Seattle Wood Burner (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Critics-Turn-Up-Heat-On-Seattle-Wood-Burner-127330208.html

Tanana - Tiny City in Yukon Takes a Giant Renewable Step “...By harvesting local wood for energy, the city is becoming more efficient & self-sufficient. The plan is to reap wider benefits by sharing their experience with other rural communities…”  (Huffington Post)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/bill-chameides/tanana---tiny-city-in-yuk_b_922723.html

Montana - Visitors Study Renewable-Energy Projects (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20110810/NEWS01/108100312/Visitors-study-renewable-energy-projects

Oregon’s Public Universities Plan to Go Solar (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/oregons-public-universities-plan-go-solar/

Grape Solar Now Available in Home Depot (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2011/08/grape-solar-now-available-in-home-depot.html

Balancing the Grid with Pumped Storage (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/08/balancing-the-grid-with-pumped-storage?cmpid=rss

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Efficiency, Renovations Are New Focus for Habitat for Humanity of Kitsap (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/aug/09/energy-efficiency-renovations-are-new-focus-for/

Edmonds a Leader in Conservation after Recent Honors (The Weekly Herald, Edmonds, WA)

http://heraldnet.com/article/20110810/TWH01/708109921/-1/News

Imparting Energy Smarts to Young Consumers (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/08/10/imparting-energy-smarts-to-young-consumers/?partner=rss&emc=rss

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Polar Bear Scientist Faces New Questions (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2011/08/10/139276565/polar-bear-scientist-faces-new-questions?ft=1&f=3

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Aberdeen Biodiesel Plant Humming 24 Hours a Day (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015869496_apwabiodieselplant1stldwritethru.html

Ford Focus Electric to Come with Home Solar Option (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/08/ford-focus-solar-panels-sunpower/1?csp=34money

Colorado - Skeptics Question Viability of Beetle Kill Industry (Real Aspen, CO)

http://www.realaspen.com/article/769/Skeptics-question-viability-of-beetle-kill-industry

Clean Energy to Power Star Trek Theme Park (Silicon Republic)

http://www.siliconrepublic.com/green-tech/item/23076-clean-energy-to-power-star/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Cable, Satellite Companies Lose Record Number of Subscribers (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2011-08-10-cable-satellite_n.htm?csp=34money

Police Investigate Verizon Sabotage Claims (WCVB-TV, Boston, MA)

http://www.thebostonchannel.com/r/28809030/detail.html

Clearwire May Be in Trouble - And Sprint Frankly May Not Give a Damn (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Clearwire-May-Be-in-Trouble-115607

Anonymous Says It Will Take Down Facebook on November 5 (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/faster-forward/post/anonymous-says-it-will-take-down-facebook-on-nov-5/2011/08/09/gIQAfWMX6I_blog.html?wprss=faster-forward

Apparently, Small ISPs & Rural Telcos Love Google Apps (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/broadband/apparently-small-isps-and-rural-telcos-love-google-apps/

Sacramento Municipal Utility District Ranked in List of Best Places to Work for IT (Sacramento Business Journal, CA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2011/08/09/smud-ranked-best-it-workplaces.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

US Senator Murray (Washington State) is Chosen as a Leader of Deficit Panel (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/08/10/us/politics/10panel.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Market Issues Don’t Worry State Pension Plan Managers (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/08/09/1755382/market-issues-dont-worry-state.html

Fed to Keep Interest Rate Near Zero for Two Years (Associated Press)

http://www.nwcn.com/news/Fed-to-keep-interest-rate-near-zero-for-2-years-127319978.html

Plane above Wall Street: ‘Thanks for the Downgrade. You Should All Be Fired’ (Gawker – Beware of PG-13 language in the comment section)

http://gawker.com/5829315/plane-above-wall-street-thanks-for-the-downgrade-you-should-all-be-fired

Special Session for Washington State Legislature? (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

http://www.kpq.com/08-10-11-Special-Session---more-/10594014

Oregon State Archivists Warn of Lack of Preparedness (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

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

GENERAL NEWS

Fatal Crash Near Belfair (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/12225-fatal-crash-in-north-mason

Belfair Woman Dies in Crash Near Victor (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/12217-belfair-woman-dies-in-crash-near-victor

New Radar Weather Station Looking Off Washington State Coast (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015865338_apwacoastaldopplerradar.html

Researchers, UW Scientists Forecast Volcano Eruption (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=527783

Washington State Drivers Top List for Those Who Buckle Up (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/theblotter/2015863217_washington_drivers_top_list_fo.html

Shelton’s Newest FM Signal Has Local License, Local Programming (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/12151-kool-1043-fm

Tri-Cities: Geek Central? We’re 11th on a National List (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/127455368.html

DIVERSIONS

Biologists Grow Replacement Sphincters in Mice

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/sciencefair/post/2011/08/biologists-grow-replacement-sphincters-in-mice/1?csp=34news

Extreme Couponer Arrested for Stealing 185 Newspapers

http://www.ksdk.com/news/article/270531/71/Jamie-VanSicker-arrested-for-stealing-newspapers

Are These Really the 25-Best Ice Cream Shops in the Country?

http://consumerist.com/2011/08/are-these-really-the-25-best-ice-cream-shops-in-the-country.html

Girl Can’t Stop Giggling After Brain Surgery

http://www.kirotv.com/health/28821912/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Neil Sedaka - Laughter in the Rain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SsYIiY2wnyU

Energy News Digest for August 9, 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

Jefferson County PUD Seeks Federal Loan of Millions to Buy Puget Sound Energy’s Electrical System (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110809/news/308099992/jefferson-pud-seeks-federal-loan-of-millions-to-buy-pse-8217-s

Thieves Hit Bonneville Power Administration Substation in Tacoma for the Third Time - Reward Offered (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/1157503/

US Senator Cantwell: Judge Has Spoken On Columbia River Salmon (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2011/08/08/feds-judge-has-spoken-on-columbia-r-salmon-cantwell/

City of Tacoma Insists Finances OK, After Erroneous S & P Report (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=527672

Oregon - Washington County Fires Contractor after Residents Complain of Errant Roadside Spraying (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/north-of-26/index.ssf/2011/08/washington_county_fires_contractor_after_residents_complain_of_errant_roadside_spraying.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Jefferson County PUD Seeks Federal Loan of Millions to Buy Puget Sound Energy’s Electrical System
• Thieves Hit Bonneville Power Administration Substation in Tacoma for the Third Time
• Oil Companies Seek to Move Megaloads in Washington State
• Texas Working to Avoid Blackouts from Summer Heat
• New Jersey - Police Say Residents Stole Power from Church
• Japan Utility Records Massive Loss from Disaster
• Obama Administration Calls for Improved Fuel Standards for Big Vehicles
• New Transmission Rule Could Force Consumers to Pay More
• New York - Niagara “Hard Hats” to mark 50th Anniversary of Hydro Project
• US Senator Cantwell: Judge Has Spoken On Columbia River Salmon
• World's Largest Dam Removal Project on the Elwha River
• Vancouver Island Natives Sue Canada over Fish
• California - Marine Mammal Center Releases Its 10,000th Rescued Sea Lion
• Land Purchase to Benefit Skokomish River Restoration
• Oregon - Washington County Fires Contractor after Residents Complain of Errant Roadside Spraying
• Bats & Birds Face Serious Threats from Growth of Wind Energy
• Wind Turbines in the High Desert
• Solar Companies Learn to Play Nice with Environmentalists
• After Aiming Too High, Spain Renews Solar Push
• Canada - BC Hydro Announces Four New Bioenergy Projects
• Michigan - Biomass Power Station to Get Tons of Debris from Storm
• Landfill Gas Will Power Nation's First 'Green Marine Corps' Base
• Will Oceans' Tides Supply Endless Electricity?
• Wallula Carbon Sequestration Project Experiments with Basalt
• 2011 Rankings: Oregon, Iowa, Arizona are Alternative Energy Leaders
• Ikea stores to run on 80% renewable energy by 2015
• How Green are the Devices that Stream Netflix & Hulu?
• French Duck Fat Puts Gourmet Spin on Biodiesel
• Microsoft Says Hotmail Spam Down 90% Since All-Time High
• Facebook’s Prineville Data Center - Social Desert
• How the Cool Night Air of the Desert Led Facebook to Prineville, Oregon
• Governor Gregoire Warns Washington State Agencies of Deeper Cuts
• North Olympic Peninsula Washington State Lawmakers Split Over Voluntary Pay Cuts
• California Governor Signs Bill Giving Electoral Votes to Winner of Popular Presidential Vote
• Smile - Benton County Adds Web Cams for Election Transparency
• City of Shelton to Seek Sales Tax Increase for Police
• Some City of Tacoma Bonds Downgraded
• City of Tacoma Insists Finances OK, After Erroneous S & P Report
• Northwest Companies Drop Along With Rest of Stock Market
• S&P’s Real Victims: Cash-Strapped Cities?
• Structure Fire in Lilliwaup- UPDATE
• Puget Sound Area Controlled Burns Will Continue for a While
• New Radar Will Boost Tracking Of Storms Nearing Washington's Coast
• Shelton Girl Wins Statewide Essay Contest on Death with Dignity Law
• FBI: DNA Test Did Not Match DB Cooper Suspect

WORD OF THE DAY

Diluvial • \du-LOO-vee-ull\ • Adjective - Of, relating to, or brought about by a flood

“Yippee!” squealed Noah as his ark shot down the opposite side of a 30 foot swell. “Well,” sighed his wife Emzara, “I’m just happy Noah hasn’t let this diluvial setback affect his sense of humor.”

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

Jefferson County PUD Seeks Federal Loan of Millions to Buy Puget Sound Energy’s Electrical System (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110809/news/308099992/jefferson-pud-seeks-federal-loan-of-millions-to-buy-pse-8217-s

Thieves Hit Bonneville Power Administration Substation in Tacoma for the Third Time - Reward Offered (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/1157503/

Oil Companies Seek to Move Megaloads in Washington State (Associated Press)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/aug/08/oil-companies-seek-to-move-megaloads-in-wash/

Texas Working to Avoid Blackouts from Summer Heat (Associated Press)

http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/tx/7689091.html

New Jersey - Police Say Residents Stole Power from Church (Vineland Daily Journal, NJ)

http://www.thedailyjournal.com/article/20110809/NEWS01/108090311

Japan Utility Records Massive Loss from Disaster (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2015857257_apasjapanearnstepco.html

Obama Administration Calls for Improved Fuel Standards for Big Vehicles (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/08/obama_administration_calls_for.html

New Transmission Rule Could Force Consumers to Pay More (Energy Central-PR Newswire)

http://www.energycentral.com/news/en/21028859/New-Transmission-Rule-Could-Force-Consumers-to-Pay-More

New York - Niagara “Hard Hats” to mark 50^th Anniversary of Hydro Project (Buffalo Business First, NY)

http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/news/2011/08/08/niagara-hard-hats-to-mark-50th.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

US Senator Cantwell: Judge Has Spoken On Columbia River Salmon (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2011/08/08/feds-judge-has-spoken-on-columbia-r-salmon-cantwell/

World's Largest Dam Removal Project on the Elwha River (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/In-The-Mouth-Of-The-Elwha-127278693.html

Vancouver Island Natives Sue Canada over Fish (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/08/09/38834.htm

California - Marine Mammal Center Releases Its 10,000th Rescued Sea Lion (Associated Press)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/08/sea-lion-release-marine-mammal-center_n_921706.html#s325244

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Land Purchase to Benefit Skokomish River Restoration (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/aug/08/land-purchase-to-benefit-skokomish-restoration/

Oregon - Washington County Fires Contractor after Residents Complain of Errant Roadside Spraying (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/north-of-26/index.ssf/2011/08/washington_county_fires_contractor_after_residents_complain_of_errant_roadside_spraying.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Bats & Birds Face Serious Threats from Growth of Wind Energy (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2011/08/08/08climatewire-bats-and-birds-face-serious-threats-from-gro-10511.html?pagewanted=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Wind Turbines in the High Desert (The Desert Sun, Palm Springs, CA)

http://greenenergy.mydesert.com/2011/08/08/wind-turbines-in-the-high-desert/

Solar Companies Learn to Play Nice with Environmentalists (GigaOm)

http://gigaom.com/cleantech/solar-companies-learn-to-play-nice-with-environmentalists/

After Aiming Too High, Spain Renews Solar Push (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2011/08/09/139225022/after-aiming-too-high-spain-renews-solar-push?ft=1&f=3

Canada - BC Hydro Announces Four New Bioenergy Projects (iStock Analyst)

http://www.istockanalyst.com/business/news/5345489/bc-hydro-announces-four-new-bioenergy-projects

Michigan - Biomass Power Station to Get Tons of Debris from Storm (Associated Press)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-mi-stormdebris-power,0,5485753.story

Landfill Gas Will Power Nation's First 'Green Marine Corps' Base (Talking Points Memo)

http://idealab.talkingpointsmemo.com/2011/08/landfill-gas-will-power-nations-first-green-marine-corps-base.php

Will Oceans' Tides Supply Endless Electricity? (Miami Herald, FL)
http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/08/09/v-fullstory/2351359/will-oceans-tides-supply-endless.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Wallula Carbon Sequestration Project Experiments with Basalt (Northwest Public Radio)

http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=9229

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

2011 Rankings: Oregon, Iowa, Arizona are Alternative Energy Leaders (Business Facilities)

http://www.businessfacilities.com/news/2011-rankings-oregon-iowa-arizona-are-alt-energy-leaders.php

Ikea stores to run on 80% renewable energy by 2015 (Geek.com)

http://www.geek.com/articles/news/ikea-stores-to-run-on-80-renewable-energy-by-2015-2011089/

How Green are the Devices that Stream Netflix & Hulu?

http://gigaom.com/video/energy-consumption-of-connected-devices/

French Duck Fat Puts Gourmet Spin on Biodiesel (Reuters)

http://news.yahoo.com/french-duck-fat-puts-gourmet-spin-biodiesel-164635689.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Microsoft Says Hotmail Spam Down 90% Since All-Time High (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/2011/08/08/microsoft-says-hotmail-spam-down-90-since-all-time-high/

Facebook’s Prineville Data Center - Social Desert (The Economist)

http://www.economist.com/blogs/babbage/2011/08/data-centres

How the Cool Night Air of the Desert Led Facebook to Prineville, Oregon (GeekWire)

http://www.geekwire.com/2011/cool-night-air-desert-led-facebook-prineville-oregon

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Governor Gregoire Warns Washington State Agencies of Deeper Cuts (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/08/09/1754276/gregoire-warns-agencies-of-cuts.html

North Olympic Peninsula Washington State Lawmakers Split Over Voluntary Pay Cuts (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110809/NEWS/308099993/north-olympic-peninsula-lawmakers-split-over-voluntary-pay-cuts

California Governor Signs Bill Giving Electoral Votes to Winner of Popular Presidential Vote (Associated Press)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/campaigns/gov-brown-signs-bill-giving-califs-electoral-votes-to-winner-of-popular-presidential-vote/2011/08/08/gIQAvKD92I_story.html?wprss=rss_national

Smile - Benton County Adds Web Cams for Election Transparency (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/127290848.html

GENERAL NEWS

City of Shelton to Seek Sales Tax Increase for Police (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/12141-city-to-seek-sales-tax-increase

Some City of Tacoma Bonds Downgraded – Early reports did not provide the entire story…when it proclaimed that the city had its credit rating on debt downgraded by Standard & Poor’s (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/08/09/1775924/news-brief-09tacbonds.html

City of Tacoma Insists Finances OK, After Erroneous S & P Report (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=527672

Northwest Companies Drop Along With Rest of Stock Market (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2015855264_nwstocks09.html

S&P’s Real Victims: Cash-Strapped Cities? (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/sandps-real-victim-cash-strapped-cities/2011/08/08/gIQAG4vL3I_blog.html?wprss=ezra-klein

Structure Fire in Lilliwaup- UPDATE (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/12139-structure-fire-in-lilliwaup-update

Puget Sound Area Controlled Burns Will Continue for a While (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/08/09/1754288/burns-will-continue-for-a-while.html

New Radar Will Boost Tracking Of Storms Nearing Washington's Coast (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/New-radar-will-boost-tracking-of-storms-nearing-1777391.php

Shelton Girl Wins Statewide Essay Contest on Death with Dignity Law (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2914

FBI: DNA Test Did Not Match DB Cooper Suspect (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015855653_apusdbcooper1stldwritethru.html

DIVERSIONS

Rocky Mountain High: Move to Name Colorado Mountain Peak for John Denver Hits Snag

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/rocky-mountain-high-move-to-name-colorado-mountain-peak-for-john-denver-hits-snag/2011/08/08/gIQAaHX52I_story.html?wprss=rss_national

Mystery Almost Solved: Orange Goo near Remote Alaska Village ID’d As Eggs of Unknown Species

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/mystery-almost-solved-orange-goo-near-remote-alaska-village-idd-as-eggs-of-unknown-species/2011/08/08/gIQAHpjx2I_story.html?wprss=rss_national

Wandering Anteater Returns to Rainier Home after Run through the Woods

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_2c2713d2-c227-11e0-9670-001cc4c03286.html

Perseid Meteor Shower: Best Times to See the 'Shooting Stars'

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2011/0809/Perseid-meteor-shower-Best-times-to-see-the-shooting-stars

SONG OF THE DAY

Boy Meets Girl - Waiting for a Star to Fall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FRm6lXCG1kw