Energy News Digest for January 9, 2012

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

Shrinking Glaciers on Mount Adams Signal Growing Water Problem (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2012/01/07/shrinking-glaciers-on-mount-adams-signal-growing-water-problem

Bonneville Power Administration Asks Feds to Reconsider Dispute Pitting Wind Farms against Dams (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2012/01/bpa_asks_feds_to_reconsider_di.html

Pacific Power Rate Increase Too High, Washington State Says (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2012/01/06/pacific-power-rate-increase-too-high-state-says

Oregon Wind Farm a First under New Eagle Kill Rules (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2017179273_apuswindfarmeagles.html

SCOTUS - Justices Criticize EPA’s Dealings with Idaho Homeowners (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/jan/09/justices-criticize-epas-dealings-idaho-homeowners/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Bonneville Power Administration Asks Feds to Reconsider Dispute Pitting Wind Farms against Dams
• Bonneville Power Administration Seeks Clarification & Rehearing on FERC Order on Environmental Redispatch
• Op/Ed – Bonneville Power Administration Practices: Federal Action Enforces Fairness in Electricity System
• Pacific Power Rate Increase Too High, Washington State Says
• Public Gets Say on Grand Coulee Dam Rehab’s Impact to Local Schools
• Grays Harbor - Willis Will Run, PUD Commissioner Casey Will Not
• Precision Castparts Sues Portland General Electric for Alleged Losses Due to Power Outage in May
• Columbia River PUD gives $20,000
• Alaska Energy Authority Moves a Step Forward on Susitna Dam
• Oklahoma - Woman Can’t Pay Bill, Says Will Die without Power
• Canada - A Decade after Deregulation, Alberta’s Electricity Prices are Soaring
• Editorial - Meters are Smart, Not Scary, Florida Power & Light Says
• Oregon’s Worst Invasive Species Include Mussels, Hawkweed & Feral Pigs
• Selective Salmon Fisheries Have Proved to be a Big Hit
• Canadian Salmon Probe Nets Supplier - ‘Sustainable’ Seafood Firm Caught Up in Native Fishery Investigation
• Dog Trained as Ultimate Whale Pooper Snooper
• Disease Decimating Plains Deer
• Shrinking Glaciers on Mount Adams Signal Growing Water Problem
• Army Corps Receives Funding to Raise Toutle Dam by Ten Feet
• Oregon Wind Farm a First under New Eagle Kill Rules
• Renewable Energy Projects in California Go Unused
• California - Ocean Waves Power a Prototype Generator at Newport Beach
• Biomass & Electricity, Part One
• Main Governor: Renewable Energy Mandate Pads Pockets of Special Interests
• Groups Lock Horns over Missouri’s Green Energy Future
• Did Renewables Overtake Nuclear Power In 2011? Sort Of “…The vast bulk of “renewable” power in the United States still comes from large-scale hydropower…”
• United Kingdom - Wind Farms Earn £1 Million ($1.5 M US) to Shut Down Over Christmas & New Year Gales
• Olympia Federal Savings Belfair Branch Earns LEED Gold Certification
• Kennewick Buying Street Lights, Touting Money Savings
• Wild Weather Hits Latin America
• Next Ice Age not Likely Before 1,500 Years: Study
• Op/Ed - Ineffective Eco-Fads & Unproductive New Taxes Put Carbon Reductions at Risk
• America’s Sad Love Affair with the Electric Car
• Monroe Will Get Charging Station for Electric Cars
• Oregon Test Plant Tries Turning Wood into Ethanol
• Seattle - Nickels, McGinn Have Different Green Visions for City
• British Columbia - Vancouver Tax Hike Drives Home Message That Cars Have No Place Downtown
• Don’t Run Your own Data Center if You’re a Public Infrastructure-As-A-Service Provider
• In Olympia, Volatile Mix of Budget, Social Issues
• Gonzalez Joining Washington State Supreme Court
• New Entry in Running for Washington State Lieutenant Governor
• SCOTUS - Justices Criticize EPA’s Dealings with Idaho Homeowners
• Mason Commissioners to Vote on Belfair Sewer Ordinance
• Alaska Town Tries to Dig Out after Three Weeks of Relentless Snow
• Higher Fees to Play Sports Leaves Kids on Sidelines
• He’s Given His Weight in Blood

WORD OF THE DAY

Tome • \TOME\ • Noun - 1: a volume forming part of a larger work 2: book; especially: a large or scholarly book

Trying to impress is country brethren about the vast population of his big city, the speaker droned on about his family’s telephone book, a weighty tome his parents used as a booster seat. Unfortunately, the story lost a great deal in its translation, as residents of the sleepy little plains town had not seen a phone book any bigger than a temperance tract. “Don’t see how you can reach the table with something that thin,” drawled the local telephone operator to her seat-mate.

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 Asks Feds to Reconsider Dispute Pitting Wind Farms against Dams (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2012/01/bpa_asks_feds_to_reconsider_di.html

Bonneville Power Administration Seeks Clarification & Rehearing on FERC Order on Environmental Redispatch (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/1270551/

Op/Ed – Bonneville Power Administration Practices: Federal Action Enforces Fairness in Electricity System (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/01/bpa_practices_federal_action_e.html

Pacific Power Rate Increase Too High, Washington State Says (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2012/01/06/pacific-power-rate-increase-too-high-state-says

Public Gets Say on Grand Coulee Dam Rehab’s Impact to Local Schools (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/jan/06/public-to-get-say-on-dam-rehabs-impact-to-local/

Grays Harbor - Willis Will Run, PUD Commissioner Casey Will Not (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3604

Precision Castparts Sues Portland General Electric for Alleged Losses Due to Power Outage in May (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2012/01/precision_castparts_sues_pge_f.html

Columbia River PUD gives $20,000 (Coast River Business Journal, Astoria, OR)

http://www.crbizjournal.com/news/article_937f064e-3909-11e1-b7c1-001871e3ce6c.html

Alaska Energy Authority Moves a Step Forward on Susitna Dam (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/01/07/1974052/energy-authority-moves-a-step.html

Oklahoma - Woman Can’t Pay Bill, Says Will Die without Power (KFOR-TV, Oklahoma City, OK)

http://www.kfor.com/news/local/kfor-woman-cant-pay-bill-says-will-die-without-power-20120106,0,900006.story

Canada - A Decade after Deregulation, Alberta’s Electricity Prices are Soaring (Calgary Herald, Alberta)

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/alberta/decade+after+deregulation+Alberta+electricity+prices+soaring/5959960/story.html

Editorial - Meters are Smart, Not Scary, Florida Power & Light Says (Fort Meyers News Press, FL)

http://www.news-press.com/article/20120109/COLUMNISTS40/301090028/Meters-smart-not-scary-FPL-says

FISH & WILDLIFE

Oregon’s Worst Invasive Species Include Mussels, Hawkweed & Feral Pigs (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2012/01/oregons_worst_invasive_species.html

Selective Salmon Fisheries Have Proved to be a Big Hit (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2017186198_outn08.html

Canadian Salmon Probe Nets Supplier - ‘Sustainable’ Seafood Firm Caught Up in Native Fishery Investigation (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/business/Salmon+probe+nets+supplier/5961915/story.html

Dog Trained as Ultimate Whale Pooper Snooper (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2012/01/07/144752385/dog-trained-as-ultimate-whale-pooper-snooper?ft=1&f=2

Disease Decimating Plains Deer (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/jan/09/disease-decimating-plains-deer/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Shrinking Glaciers on Mount Adams Signal Growing Water Problem (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2012/01/07/shrinking-glaciers-on-mount-adams-signal-growing-water-problem

Army Corps Receives Funding to Raise Toutle Dam by Ten Feet (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/corps-receives-funding-to-raise-toutle-dam-by-feet/article_0eeae89a-3a61-11e1-83e5-001871e3ce6c.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Oregon Wind Farm a First under New Eagle Kill Rules (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2017179273_apuswindfarmeagles.html

Renewable Energy Projects in California Go Unused (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-parks-solar-20120109,0,1759062.story

California - Ocean Waves Power a Prototype Generator at Newport Beach (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-the-wedge-electric-20120109,0,1686759.story

Biomass & Electricity, Part One (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/09/biomass-and-electricity-part-one/

Main Governor: Renewable Energy Mandate Pads Pockets of Special Interests (Associated Press)

http://bangordailynews.com/2012/01/07/politics/lepage-renewable-energy-mandate-pads-pockets-of-special-interests/

Groups Lock Horns over Missouri’s Green Energy Future (St Louis Dispatch, MO)

http://www.stltoday.com/business/local/groups-spar-over-missouri-s-green-energy-future/article_b585b91a-38a3-11e1-8ba5-0019bb30f31a.html

Did Renewables Overtake Nuclear Power In 2011? Sort Of “…The vast bulk of “renewable” power in the United States still comes from large-scale hydropower…” (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/did-renewables-overtake-nuclear-power-in-2011-sort-of/2012/01/06/gIQA7rMOfP_blog.html

United Kingdom - Wind Farms Earn £1 Million ($1.5 M US) to Shut Down Over Christmas & New Year Gales (The Telegraph, UK)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/windpower/8999822/Wind-farms-earn-1m-to-shut-down-over-Christmas-and-New-Year-gales.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Olympia Federal Savings Belfair Branch Earns LEED Gold Certification (South Sound Business Examiner)

http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/ofs-belfair-branch-earns-leed

Kennewick Buying Street Lights, Touting Money Savings (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/Kennewick-buying-street-lights-touting-money-savings-136809998.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Wild Weather Hits Latin America (Associated Press)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5h9djSn_5ztnCW-5ccJL5reBRKrLw?docId=64a54c20222e4a8b8c9b0fd45333f30c

Next Ice Age not Likely Before 1,500 Years: Study (Reuters)

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2012/01/09/us-ice-age-emissions-idUKTRE80814T20120109

Op/Ed - Ineffective Eco-Fads & Unproductive New Taxes Put Carbon Reductions at Risk (Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal, WA)

http://kpbj.com/business_weekly/2012-01-09/ineffective_eco_fads_and_unproductive_new_taxes_put_carbon_reductions_at_

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

America’s Sad Love Affair with the Electric Car (Motley Fool)

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2012/01/06/americas-sad-love-affair-with-the-electric-car.aspx

Monroe Will Get Charging Station for Electric Cars (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20120109/news01/701099923/-1/

Oregon Test Plant Tries Turning Wood into Ethanol (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2017179342_zeachem7.html

Seattle - Nickels, McGinn Have Different Green Visions for City (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017186338_newkyoto08m.html

British Columbia - Vancouver Tax Hike Drives Home Message That Cars Have No Place Downtown (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/bc-politics/vancouver-tax-hike-drives-home-message-that-cars-have-no-place-downtown/article2294684/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Don’t Run Your own Data Center if You’re a Public Infrastructure-As-A-Service Provider (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/cloud/baillie-public-iaas/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

In Olympia, Volatile Mix of Budget, Social Issues (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017186663_session08m.html

Gonzalez Joining Washington State Supreme Court (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2012/01/09/1941514/gonzalez-joining-washington-state.html

New Entry in Running for Washington State Lieutenant Governor (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/01/08/1974126/3-want-to-be-lieutenant-governor.html

GENERAL NEWS

SCOTUS - Justices Criticize EPA’s Dealings with Idaho Homeowners (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/jan/09/justices-criticize-epas-dealings-idaho-homeowners/

Mason Commissioners to Vote on Belfair Sewer Ordinance (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/jan/06/mason-commissioners-to-vote-on-belfair-sewer/

Alaska Town Tries to Dig Out after Three Weeks of Relentless Snow (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2012/0109/Alaska-town-tries-to-dig-out-after-three-weeks-of-relentless-snow

Higher Fees to Play Sports Leaves Kids on Sidelines (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017186317_paytoplay08m.html

He’s Given His Weight in Blood (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/jan/08/hes-given-his-weight-in-blood/

DIVERSIONS

‘Idiot’ Thieves Dump Rare Coin Collection into Coinstar Machine, Get Only $450

http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-idiot-thieves-dump-rare-coin-collection-into-coinstar-machine-get-only-450-20120106,0,377858.story

With All Eyes on Their Ears, Lobe Stretchers Snip

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2012%2F01%2F06%2FMNTV1MI77P.DTL

‘No Pants’ Light Rail Ride: Seattle Goes Pantless for a Day

http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2012/01/08/no-pants-light-rail-ride-seattle-goes-pantless-for-a-day/

Actress Who Sued Amazon over Age IDs Herself – Still Somewhat Unknown

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Actress-who-sued-Amazon-over-age-IDs-herself-2446758.php

SONG OF THE DAY

Bruce Springsteen - Blinded By the Light

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yjxbOe7p8C0

Manfred Mann's Earth Band - Blinded By the Light

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2-GqYkwjTM

Energy News Digest for January 6, 2012

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

Seattle City Light’s Top Money Man Bids Adieu - Amidst a contentious round of rate-setting & strategic planning, the utility’s respected chief financial officer takes another job (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2012/01/06/energy-utilities/21768/City-Light-s-top-money-man-bids-adieu/

A Huge Waste of Energy - Half of Washington’s Energy Goes Up in Smoke; Mostly Transportation (Sightline)

http://daily.sightline.org/2012/01/05/a-huge-waste-of-energy/

Hoku Flirts With Losing Idaho Electric Power, Nasdaq Listing (Pacific Business Journal, HI)

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/blog/2012/01/hoku-flirts-with-losing-electric.html

Washington State Completes Weatherization & Energy Efficiency Projects (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2012/01/05/1936824/state-completes-weatherization.html

Washington State Governor to Bypass Attorney General, Seek Ruling on Tax Voting (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Gregoire-to-bypass-McKenna-seek-ruling-on-tax-voting-136780273.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Seattle City Light’s Top Money Man Bids Adieu
• A Huge Waste of Energy - Half of Washington’s Energy Goes Up in Smoke; Mostly Transportation
• BC Hydro Hit in $35,000 Underground Copper-Wire Heist
• Alcoa to Permanently Close Idled Aluminum Smelter in Tennessee, Trim a Texas Operation
• Alaska - Fitch Affirms Chugach Electric Association ‘A-’ Rating; Outlook Revised to Positive
• Power Generation at Missouri River Dams Rebounds
• Federal Regulators Say Ohio Nuclear Reactor Safe Despite Not Knowing Cause of Concrete Cracks
• Michigan - Entergy’s Palisades Nuclear Power Plant Offline for Maintenance
• Cross State Air Pollution Rule Stayed In Court Ruling: Policy Community Divided
• Be Sure That Call from the Electric Company Isn’t a Scam
• Pennsylvania - Peco Planning Winter Tree Trimming to Avoid Outages
• California Marine Biologist Who Runs Popular Whale-Watching Tour Accused of Feeding Killer Whale
• Snowy Owls That Gained Fame as Harry Potter’s Companion Migrating to US from Arctic Habitat
• California Reservoir Rental - Water from Yosemite is Still Cheap, For Now
• Hoku Flirts With Losing Idaho Electric Power, Nasdaq Listing
• Idaho Power Wants Utilities Commission to Intervene in Potential Trash-To-Energy Sale
• Henry Red Cloud: A Solar Warrior for Native America
• Washington State Completes Weatherization & Energy Efficiency Projects
• Dairy Farm Audits Reduce Energy Costs 10% to 35%
• 19,000 Rebates Paid in Tennessee for Energy Appliances
• New Year’s Resolution: Monitor Your Electricity Usage!
• California Appeals Judge’s Low-Carbon Fuels Ruling
• Carbon Dioxide Super-Scrubber? Potential Good News in Global Warming Fight
• Retreat of Sea Ice Fuels Spike in Seal Deaths, Study Finds
• Report: Clean Tech Investments Surged in 2011
• Olympic Medical Center Gets Federal Grant for Education, Telemedicine Link
• NOAA Moves to Cloud-Based Email
• Washington State Governor to Bypass Attorney General, Seek Ruling on Tax Voting
• Washington State Sen. Prentice Won’t Seek Re-Election
• SW Washington Coastal County Prepares for Tsunami Debris
• Wild Olympic Peninsula Debate Hits Legislative Sendoff
• Washington State Outpost Draws Those Hungry for Slap of Sea Spray

WORD OF THE DAY

Incommunicado • \inn-kuh-myoon-nu-KAH-doe\ • Adverb/Adjective - Without means of communication: in a situation or state not allowing communication

“No cell phone coverage on this side of the peninsula means I’m incommunicado in Cabo,” chucked Amos.

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

Seattle City Light’s Top Money Man Bids Adieu - Amidst a contentious round of rate-setting & strategic planning, the utility’s respected chief financial officer takes another job (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2012/01/06/energy-utilities/21768/City-Light-s-top-money-man-bids-adieu/

A Huge Waste of Energy - Half of Washington’s Energy Goes Up in Smoke; Mostly Transportation (Sightline)

http://daily.sightline.org/2012/01/05/a-huge-waste-of-energy/

BC Hydro Hit in $35,000 Underground Copper-Wire Heist (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/Hydro+underground+copper+wire+heist/5953343/story.html

Alcoa to Permanently Close Idled Aluminum Smelter in Tennessee, Trim a Texas Operation “…Aluminum prices have fallen by about one-fourth since April…Alcoa has faced higher energy & raw-material costs…” (Associated Press)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/industries/alcoa-to-permanently-close-idled-aluminum-smelter-in-tennessee-trim-a-texas-operation/2012/01/05/gIQA6KcMdP_story.html?wprss=rss_national

Alaska - Fitch Affirms Chugach Electric Association ‘A-’ Rating; Outlook Revised to Positive (MarketWatch)

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fitch-affirms-chugach-electric-association-a-rating-outlook-revised-to-positive-2012-01-05

Power Generation at Missouri River Dams Rebounds (Associated Press)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-nd-missouririverpowe,0,482094.story

Federal Regulators Say Ohio Nuclear Reactor Safe Despite Not Knowing Cause of Concrete Cracks (Associated Press)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/industries/nuclear-regulators-ohio-utility-meeting-thursday-to-discuss-concrete-cracks-found-at-reactor/2012/01/05/gIQA3tdCdP_story.html?wprss=rss_national

Michigan - Entergy’s Palisades Nuclear Power Plant Offline for Maintenance (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2017175336_apusnuclearplantoutageminnesota.html

Cross State Air Pollution Rule Stayed In Court Ruling: Policy Community Divided (AOL News)

http://energy.aol.com/2012/01/04/cross-state-air-pollution-rule-stayed-in-court-ruling-policy-co/

Be Sure That Call from the Electric Company Isn’t a Scam (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2012/01/be-sure-that-call-from-the-electric-company-isnt-a-scam.html

Pennsylvania - Peco Planning Winter Tree Trimming to Avoid Outages (Philadelphia Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2012/01/05/peco-planning-winter-tree-trimming-to.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

California Marine Biologist Who Runs Popular Whale-Watching Tour Accused of Feeding Killer Whale (Associated Press)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/calif-marine-biologist-who-runs-popular-whale-watching-tour-accused-of-feeding-killer-whale/2012/01/05/gIQA4XMQdP_story.html?wprss=rss_national

Snowy Owls That Gained Fame as Harry Potter’s Companion Migrating to US from Arctic Habitat (Associated Press)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/snowy-owls-that-gained-fame-as-harry-potters-companion-migrating-to-us-from-arctic-habitat/2012/01/05/gIQAI6LNdP_story.html?wprss=rss_national

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

California Reservoir Rental - Water from Yosemite is Still Cheap, For Now (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/06/us/proposal-would-raise-rent-on-hetch-hetchy-reservoir.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Hoku Flirts With Losing Idaho Electric Power, Nasdaq Listing (Pacific Business Journal, HI)

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/blog/2012/01/hoku-flirts-with-losing-electric.html

Idaho Power Wants Utilities Commission to Intervene in Potential Trash-To-Energy Sale (Renewables Biz)

http://www.renewablesbiz.com/article/12/01/idaho-power-wants-utilities-commission-intervene-potential-trash-energy-sale

Henry Red Cloud: A Solar Warrior for Native America (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Making-a-difference/Change-Agent/2012/0106/Henry-Red-Cloud-a-solar-warrior-for-native-America

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Washington State Completes Weatherization & Energy Efficiency Projects (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2012/01/05/1936824/state-completes-weatherization.html

Dairy Farm Audits Reduce Energy Costs 10% to 35% (Ag Web)

http://www.agweb.com/article/dairy_farm_audits_reduce_energy_costs_10_to_35/

19,000 Rebates Paid in Tennessee for Energy Appliances (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2017175365_apusenergyrebatestennessee.html

New Year’s Resolution: Monitor Your Electricity Usage! (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/petertroast/73659/new-years-resolution-monitor-your-electricity-usage

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

California Appeals Judge’s Low-Carbon Fuels Ruling (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2017167393_apuslowcarbonfuelscalifornia.html

Carbon Dioxide Super-Scrubber? Potential Good News in Global Warming Fight (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2012/0105/Carbon-dioxide-super-scrubber-Potential-good-news-in-global-warming-fight

Retreat of Sea Ice Fuels Spike in Seal Deaths, Study Finds (Vancouver Sun, BC)

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/technology/Seal+pups+dying+alarming+rate/5947257/story.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Report: Clean Tech Investments Surged in 2011 (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2012/01/report-clean-tech-investments-soar-despite-economy/1?csp=34news

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Olympic Medical Center Gets Federal Grant for Education, Telemedicine Link (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.konp.com/local/7554

NOAA Moves to Cloud-Based Email (Washington Business Journal, DC)

http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/fedbiz_daily/2012/01/noaa-moves-to-cloud-based-email.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Governor to Bypass Attorney General, Seek Ruling on Tax Voting (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Gregoire-to-bypass-McKenna-seek-ruling-on-tax-voting-136780273.html

Washington State Sen. Prentice Won’t Seek Re-Election (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017171238_prentice06m.html

GENERAL NEWS

SW Washington Coastal County Prepares for Tsunami Debris (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017167203_apwatsunamiflotsam.html

Wild Olympic Peninsula Debate Hits Legislative Sendoff (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3603

Washington State Outpost Draws Those Hungry for Slap of Sea Spray (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/06/us/washington-outpost-draws-those-seeking-slap-of-sea-spray.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

DIVERSIONS

When Apple Orchards Become Personal Power Plants

http://gizmodo.com/5873443/when-apple-orchards-become-personal-power-plants

Police: Man Used Skeleton to Cheat HOV Lane

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=604877

Five Jedi Mind Tricks for Managers in the New Year

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-innovations/five-jedi-mind-tricks-for-managers-in-the-new-year/2012/01/05/gIQA0bj4cP_story.html?wprss=rss_national

HS Basketball Video Shows Power of Social Media (To be honest, I’ve called BB for radio for 27 years & have seen many fouls – flagrant & otherwise – much harder & egregious than those depicted here)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/jan/05/high-school-basketball-video-shows-power-of/

SONG OF THE DAY

Pat Benetar – Hit Me With Your Best Shot

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=boww2CMtOo4