Energy News Digest for May 30, 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 Council Opposes Coal-Export Terminals in Washington State (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018312356_coal30m.html

Hoopa Tribe Asks Federal Officials to Resume Klamath Dams Relicensing - May Speed Removal (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2012/05/hoopa_tribe_asks_federal_offic.html

Summer Ocean Salmon Fishing Could Be Memorable - Early signs indicate schools of Chinook are now cruising off the coast in fairly good numbers (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2018286121_outn27.html

Summer Ocean Salmon Fishing Could Be Memorable - Early signs indicate schools of Chinook are now cruising off the coast in fairly good numbers (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2018286121_outn27.html

Drug Debt a Likely Motive in Shelton Double-Homicide (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=685033

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Seattle City Council Opposes Coal-Export Terminals in Washington State
• Eugene Water & Electric Board to Cut 50 Jobs, Overtime
• Idaho Falls - Power Rates Possibly Changing for Local Consumers
• Snohomish PUD Looks to Dam Skykomish River for Power
• Snohomish PUD Ranked Among Top U.S. Utilities for Value – How Did It Get There?
• Op/Ed - California: Time to Try Electricity Deregulation Again
• Even in Coal Country, the Fight for an Industry
• Grid Operators Say Germany Must Invest $25 Billion
• Public Power - Will Minneapolis Follow Boulder in Challenging Xcel?
• US Senate Confirms Two FERC Nominees
• Utility Industry Groups Back NERC Proposal for Review of FERC Staff Audit
• Behind the Switch - Delivery of Electric Power Is a Vital Backbone to the Nation’s Economy
• Hoopa Tribe Asks Federal Officials to Resume Klamath Dams Relicensing - May Speed Removal
• Salmon from Infected Pens Sold for Compost and, Possibly, Food
• Summer Ocean Salmon Fishing Could Be Memorable
• Bonneville Dam Flows Configured to Limit Descaling of Central Idaho’s ESA-Listed Sockeye
• Mussel Infestation Threatens Pacific Northwest Waters
• Students Get an Electrifying Lesson with Fish
• Lower Elwha Road Failing Due to Dam-Removal Project
• Commissioning of Oregon Geothermal Power Plant to Begin
• Wind Farms Considering Detection Systems to Prevent Bird Deaths
• Greens Fight Mojave Desert Wind Farm
• On Clean Energy, Time to Follow Where Google, GE, Buffett Lead
• Is FERC Rule 1000 the Key to Getting Green Power to Market?
• Montana’s Flathead Co-op Bullish on Savings
• Apple Starts Selling the Nest Smart Thermostat
• New Street Lights for Ukiah’s State Street - Equipment is also ‘dark-sky compliant’
• China to Spend $27 Billion on Emission Cuts, Renewables
• Electric Car Makers Can Sell Credits in California
• Natural Gas Rebranded as Green Energy by the European Union
• Click! Paid to Put Up Disputed Tacoma Billboards
• Verizon FiOS Is Getting Insanely Fast 300Mbps Home Internet
• Google Chrome OS Lives on with Big Update, New Hardware
• Intel to Offer ‘Free’ Wi-Fi in Its Ultrabooks, Tablets
• Sophisticated Computer Virus “Flame” Hits Iran Hard
• Judge to Rule if Washington State Supermajority Tax Vote Lawsuit Should Go Forward
• Washington State Senator Zarelli Won’t Complete Current Term
• Incumbent Primary Losses Begin to Mount, May Approach Record
• Drug Debt a Likely Motive in Shelton Double-Homicide
• Washington State Economic Forecast Holds Steady
• Weather Service Money Shifting Problems Hit Agency

WORD OF THE DAY

Sprachgefühl • \SHPRAWK-guh-few-ul\ • noun - 1: the character of a language 2: an intuitive sense of what is linguistically appropriate.

Bobby had taken extensive language immersion classes, hoping that during his European vacation that he would not stand out as a painfully obvious tourist. His instructor knew that his student would fail miserably. “You just don’t have the sprachgefühl of the German language that native speakers do,” he intoned. And, to himself, “you’ll have to ditch the camera, clothes that absolutely scream ‘I am a tourist,’ and the penchant to only order burger and fries for every meal.”

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 Council Opposes Coal-Export Terminals in Washington State (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018312356_coal30m.html

Eugene Water & Electric Board to Cut 50 Jobs, Overtime - General manager cites feedback from customers concerned about continuing increases in utility bills (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

http://www.registerguard.com/web/newslocalnews/28125818-41/eweb-agency-gray-smith-costs.html.csp

Idaho Falls - Power Rates Possibly Changing for Local Consumers (KIDK-TV, Idaho Falls, ID)

http://www.localnews8.com/news/31127447/detail.html

Snohomish PUD Looks to Dam Skykomish River for Power (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018315558_skykomish30m.html

Snohomish PUD Ranked Among Top U.S. Utilities for Value – How Did It Get There? (Western Energy)

http://digital.apogee-mg.com/article/Snohomish+PUD+Ranked+Among+Top+U.S.+Utilities+for+Value+%E2%80%93+How+Did+It+Get+There%3F/1065951/111874/article.html

Op/Ed - California: Time to Try Electricity Deregulation Again (SF Chronicle – My Response?)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/30/EDDA1OP146.DTL

Even in Coal Country, the Fight for an Industry (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/30/business/energy-environment/even-in-kentucky-coal-industry-is-under-siege.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Grid Operators Say Germany Must Invest $25 Billion (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/Grid-operators-say-Germany-must-invest-25-billion-3594949.php

Public Power - Will Minneapolis Follow Boulder in Challenging Xcel? (Midwest Energy News)

http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2012/05/30/will-minneapolis-follow-boulder-in-challenging-xcel/

US Senate Confirms Two FERC Nominees (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/regulatory-watch/ferc/senate-confirms-ferc-nominees/44472

Utility Industry Groups Back NERC Proposal for Review of FERC Staff Audit (American Public Power Association)

http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppd/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=178490&issueID=23114

Behind the Switch - Delivery of Electric Power Is a Vital Backbone to the Nation’s Economy (Albert Lea Tribune, MN)

http://www.albertleatribune.com/2012/05/29/behind-the-switch/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Hoopa Tribe Asks Federal Officials to Resume Klamath Dams Relicensing - May Speed Removal (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2012/05/hoopa_tribe_asks_federal_offic.html

Summer Ocean Salmon Fishing Could Be Memorable - Early signs indicate schools of Chinook are now cruising off the coast in fairly good numbers (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2018286121_outn27.html

Salmon from Infected Pens Sold for Compost and, Possibly, Food (Northwest Cable News)

http://www.nwcn.com/news/155550185.html

Bonneville Dam Flows Configured to Limit Descaling of Central Idaho’s ESA-Listed Sockeye (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/420823.aspx

Mussel Infestation Threatens Pacific Northwest Waters (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/may/30/mussel-infestation-threatens-nw-waters/

Students Get an Electrifying Lesson with Fish (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/may/25/electrifying-lesson-helens-fish-students-STEM/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Lower Elwha Road Failing Due to Dam-Removal Project (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.konp.com/local/7920

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Commissioning of Oregon Geothermal Power Plant to Begin (Electric Light & Power)

http://www.elp.com/index/display/article-display.articles.electric-light-power.generation.2012.May.Commissioning_of_geothermal_power_plant_to_begin.QP129867.dcmp=rss.page=1.html

Wind Farms Considering Detection Systems to Prevent Bird Deaths (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-condor-radar2-20120528,0,2831784.story

Greens Fight Mojave Desert Wind Farm (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/05/30/46922.htm

On Clean Energy, Time to Follow Where Google, GE, Buffett Lead (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/manishbapna/2012/05/29/on-clean-energy-time-to-follow-where-google-ge-buffett-lead/

Is FERC Rule 1000 the Key to Getting Green Power to Market? (Windpower Engineering & Development)

http://www.windpowerengineering.com/policy/is-ferc-rule-1000-the-key-to-getting-green-power-to-market/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Montana’s Flathead Co-op Bullish on Savings (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/efficiency-conservation/consumer-outreach/montana-co-op-energy-saving-program/44498

Apple Starts Selling the Nest Smart Thermostat (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/cleantech/apple-starts-selling-the-nest-smart-thermostat/

New Street Lights for Ukiah’s State Street - Equipment is also ‘dark-sky compliant’ (Ukiah Daily Journal, CA)

http://www.ukiahdailyjournal.com/ci_20739706/new-energy-efficient-lights-state-street-ukiah

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

China to Spend $27 Billion on Emission Cuts, Renewables (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/05/24/us-china-energy-idUSBRE84N12C20120524

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Electric Car Makers Can Sell Credits in California (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/05/electric-car-makers-can-sell-credits-in-california/1?csp=34money

Natural Gas Rebranded as Green Energy by the European Union (Greenwise)

http://www.greenwisebusiness.co.uk/news/gas-rebranded-as-green-energy-by-eu-3352.aspx

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Click! Paid to Put Up Disputed Tacoma Billboards (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/05/29/2161004/click-paid-to-put-up-disputed.html

Verizon FiOS Is Getting Insanely Fast 300Mbps Home Internet (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/5914255/verizon-fios-is-getting-insanely-fast-300mbps-home-internet

Google Chrome OS Lives on with Big Update, New Hardware (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Horizons/2012/0530/Google-Chrome-OS-lives-on-with-big-update-new-hardware

Intel to Offer ‘Free’ Wi-Fi in Its Ultrabooks, Tablets (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/mobile/intel-to-offer-free-wi-fi-in-its-ultrabooks-tablets/

Sophisticated Computer Virus “Flame” Hits Iran Hard (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/may/30/sophisticated-computer-virus-hits-iran-hard/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Judge to Rule if Washington State Supermajority Tax Vote Lawsuit Should Go Forward (Associated Press)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/may/30/judge-to-rule-if-wa-tax-lawsuit-should-go-forward/

Washington State Senator Zarelli Won’t Complete Current Term (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/state-sen-zarelli-won-t-complete-current-term/article_1803d174-a9d0-11e1-8e95-001a4bcf887a.html

Incumbent Primary Losses Begin to Mount, May Approach Record (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/post/incumbent-primary-losses-begin-to-mount-may-approach-record/2012/05/30/gJQAB0lk1U_blog.html?wprss=rss_politics

GENERAL NEWS

Drug Debt a Likely Motive in Shelton Double-Homicide (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=685033

Washington State Economic Forecast Holds Steady (Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal, WA)

http://kpbj.com/business_weekly/2012-05-28/state_economic_forecast_holds_steady

Weather Service Money Shifting Problems Hit Agency (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Weather-service-money-shifting-problems-hit-agency-3593197.php

DIVERSIONS

Kansas Boy Buys Camera at Garage Sale, Finds Photo of Dead Uncle

http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/05/30/kansas-boy-buys-camera-at-garage-sale-finds-photo-of-dead-uncle/

Stay Connected While You Go: Bathrooms Go High-Tech

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2012-05-29/ibathroom-high-tech-bathrooms/55270584/1?csp=34tech

Too Cute or Too Weird? Couple Dresses Alike for 30 Years

http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-too-cute-or-too-weird-couple-dresses-alike-for-30-years-20120529,0,7214282.story

Man Breaks into Radio Station to Change the Channel

http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=4207

SONG OF THE DAY

Harry Chapin – WOLD

One nit to pick: radio stations west of the Mississippi River start with the letter “K”…East of  the river they start with “W” – Except KDKA in Pittsburgh – Therefore, WOLD in Boise, Idaho…come one Harry…

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x39T78vKpuE

Energy News Digest for May 29, 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

Intalco Smelter near Ferndale Gets Short-Term Power Contract Extension (Bellingham Herald, WA)

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/05/24/2534274/intalco-smelter-near-ferndale.html

Public Utility Districts to Team Up for New High-Voltage Power Line (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/may/25/puds-to-team-up-for-new-high-voltage-power-line/

Olympic Peninsula Being Woven with Broadband Fiber Lines to Speed Internet in Far Reaches (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20120529/NEWS/305299988/peninsula-being-woven-with-broadband-fiber-lines-to-speed-internet-in

Washington State’s First Appearance of Fish-Killing Virus Found at Bainbridge Salmon Farm (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/may/25/states-first-appearance-of-fish-killing-virus-at/

Cable, Plants May Trip Up Admiralty Inlet Turbine Project (Whidbey News Times, Coupeville, WA)

http://www.whidbeynewstimes.com/news/154229955.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Intalco Smelter near Ferndale Gets Short-Term Power Contract Extension
• Public Utility Districts to Team Up for New High-Voltage Power Line
• Lightning Hits Vancouver Home, Ricochets through Power Outlets
• Puget Sound Energy Offers Customers Incentives to Switch to Natural Gas Water Heating
• German Chancellor Merkel Pays a Price for Her Energy Policy Shift
• The Truth about Germany’s Nuclear Phase-Out
• A Tiny Florida Outpost Divides Over Getting on the Power Grid
• How Americans Use Energy, In Three Simple Charts
• Washington State’s First Appearance of Fish-Killing Virus Found at Bainbridge Salmon Farm
• Third British Columbia Fish Farm Quarantined after Deadly Virus Detected
• Sea Lions Starting to Leave Area
• Fish-slaughter: Sea Lions Guilty, As Charged
• Columbia River Gilnetters Fear Alaska Mine Could Hurt Business
• Upper Skagit’s Spring King Fishery Starts
• Run Estimates Allow Spring Chinook Fishing In NE Oregon’s Catherine Creek First Time In 34 Years
• Ferndale’s IMCO to Start Major Priest Rapids Fish Hatchery Renovation Project
• University of Idaho Posts Dam Files Online - Archives Reveal Spirited Debate over Dworshak Project
• Washington State Parks Teams with Grant County PUD to Open Columbia River Park Called The Cove
• Longview - Costly Sewer Fixes Coming Down the Pipe for Local Businesses
• Cable, Plants May Trip Up Admiralty Inlet Turbine Project
• Editorial - Strictly Business: Dark Battle over the Sun’s Power
• Are Solar, Wind & Marine Power Too Intermittent to be Useful?
• The Truth about Renewable Energy: Inexpensive, Reliable, and Inexhaustible
• Editorial - Cleaner Energy
• Xcel Energy Ends Upfront Cash Subsidies for Solar Panels
• Plug-In Solar Panels: Worth the Cost?
• What is Holding Back Solar Hot Water in the US?
• Geothermal Heat Pumps: The Next Generation
• US Cut Its Carbon Emissions in 2011 — But China Erased the Gains
• Sequoia Smog Damaging Pines, Redwood Seedlings
• Grants Fund Washington State Climate Change Work
• Editorial - Can Market For Clean-Air Credits Resist Profiteers?
• San Francisco-Based ECOtality Sues State Regulators over Electric Vehicle Charging Deal
• Rooftop Gardens May be Next Big Idea at Microsoft
• Olympic Peninsula Being Woven with Broadband Fiber Lines to Speed Internet in Far Reaches
• Developers Detail Hynix Plan to Convert Eugene-Area Complex into Data Center
• Bend Broadband Offers Fixed LTE in Oregon - Speeds up to 12 Mbps, Caps up to 50 GB
• Presidential Panel Urges More Flexible Use of Broadcast Spectrum
• White Space Broadband: Hope for Rural America?
• Facebook Ads Not So Lucrative
• Microsoft to Retire Windows Live Brand
• Computer Failure May Have Wiped Mukilteo’s Data
• Refinancing of Bonds Saves Cowlitz County More Than $800,000
• Police Identify Suspect in Shelton Murders
• Washington State Opens Up Liquor Sales; Prices Could Go Up
• Scotch Broom Sweeps Back In with a Vengeance

WORD OF THE DAY

Frenetic • \frih-NET-tick\ • Adjective - Frenzied, frantic

The three-o’clock return of the office staff from the nearby “Jitters” coffee stand was a constant source of entertainment for the floor supervisor. From his massive cubicle on the tenth floor of the glass and metal corporate castle, the boss watched his staff’s frenetic work as they bounced between the cubicles like the miniature football players on those Tudor Tru-Action Electric Football Games of his youth…only to crash and burn at 4:30.

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

Intalco Smelter near Ferndale Gets Short-Term Power Contract Extension (Bellingham Herald, WA)

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/05/24/2534274/intalco-smelter-near-ferndale.html

Public Utility Districts to Team Up for New High-Voltage Power Line (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/may/25/puds-to-team-up-for-new-high-voltage-power-line/

Lightning Hits Vancouver Home, Ricochets through Power Outlets (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/154818645.html

Puget Sound Energy Offers Customers Incentives to Switch to Natural Gas Water Heating (MarketWatch)

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/puget-sound-energy-offers-customers-incentives-to-switch-to-natural-gas-water-heating-2012-05-25

German Chancellor Merkel Pays a Price for Her Energy Policy Shift (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/29/world/europe/29iht-letter29.html

The Truth about Germany’s Nuclear Phase-Out - Ditching nuclear power has ripples in terms of carbon emissions, politics & culture that we can’t ignore (The Guardian, UK)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/blog/2012/may/28/truth-germany-nuclear-phase-out

A Tiny Florida Outpost Divides Over Getting on the Power Grid (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/28/us/no-name-key-electricity-plan-divides-residents.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

How Americans Use Energy, In Three Simple Charts (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/how-americans-use-energy-in-three-simple-charts/2012/05/27/gJQAMYlQuU_blog.html?wprss=rss_business

FISH & WILDLIFE

Washington State’s First Appearance of Fish-Killing Virus Found at Bainbridge Salmon Farm (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/may/25/states-first-appearance-of-fish-killing-virus-at/

Third British Columbia Fish Farm Quarantined after Deadly Virus Detected (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Third+fish+farm+quarantined+after+deadly+virus+detected/6684843/story.html

Sea Lions Starting to Leave Area (KBND Radio, Bend, OR)

http://www.kbnd.com/page.php?page_id=60248&article_id=12704

Fish-slaughter: Sea Lions Guilty, As Charged (Indian Country Today)

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/05/28/fish-slaughter-sea-lions-guilty-as-charged-115058

Columbia River Gilnetters Fear Alaska Mine Could Hurt Business (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/gilnetters-fear-mine-could-hurt-business/article_f59380e8-a93f-11e1-af7f-001a4bcf887a.html

Upper Skagit’s Spring King Fishery Starts (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/05/27/2159204/upper-skagits-spring-king-fishery.html

Run Estimates Allow Spring Chinook Fishing In NE Oregon’s Catherine Creek First Time In 34 Years (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/420821.aspx

Ferndale’s IMCO to Start Major Priest Rapids Fish Hatchery Renovation Project (Bellingham Herald, WA)

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/05/24/2535571/ferndales-imco-to-start-major.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

University of Idaho Posts Dam Files Online - Archives Reveal Spirited Debate over Dworshak Project (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/may/28/ui-posts-dam-files-online/

Washington State Parks Teams with Grant County PUD to Open Columbia River Park Called The Cove (Oregonian, Portland)

http://blog.oregonlive.com/terryrichard/2012/05/washington_state_parks_teams_w.html

Longview - Costly Sewer Fixes Coming Down the Pipe for Local Businesses (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/costly-sewer-fixes-coming-down-the-pipe-for-local-businesses/article_0a6fe444-a8f4-11e1-ab4b-0019bb2963f4.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Cable, Plants May Trip Up Admiralty Inlet Turbine Project (Whidbey News Times, Coupeville, WA)

http://www.whidbeynewstimes.com/news/154229955.html

Editorial - Strictly Business: Dark Battle over the Sun’s Power (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/may/27/dark-battle-over-the-suns-power/

Are Solar, Wind & Marine Power Too Intermittent to be Useful? (The Guardian, UK)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/may/29/intermittant-solar-wind-energy

The Truth about Renewable Energy: Inexpensive, Reliable, and Inexhaustible (Grist Online)

http://grist.org/renewable-energy/the-truth-about-renewable-energy-inexpensive-reliable-and-inexhaustible/

Editorial - Cleaner Energy (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/28/opinion/cleaner-energy.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Xcel Energy Ends Upfront Cash Subsidies for Solar Panels (Minneapolis-St Paul Business Journal, MN)

http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2012/05/25/xcel-energy-ends-subsidies-in-colorado.html

Plug-In Solar Panels: Worth the Cost? (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Consumer-Energy-Report/2012/0526/Plug-in-solar-panels-Worth-the-cost

What is Holding Back Solar Hot Water in the US? (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2012/05/what-is-holding-back-solar-hot-water-in-the-us?cmpid=rss

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Geothermal Heat Pumps: The Next Generation (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/tomkonrad/2012/05/25/geothermal-heat-pumps-the-next-generation/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

US Cut Its Carbon Emissions in 2011 — But China Erased the Gains (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/the-us-cut-its-carbon-emissions-in-2011--but-got-swamped-by-china/2012/05/25/gJQAiZEBqU_blog.html?wprss=rss_economy

Sequoia Smog Damaging Pines, Redwood Seedlings (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/28/state/n083115D73.DTL

Grants Fund Washington State Climate Change Work (Bellingham Herald, WA)

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/05/27/2538431/grants-fund-climate-change-work.html

Editorial - Can Market For Clean-Air Credits Resist Profiteers? (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/05/27/4517606/can-market-for-clean-air-credits.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

San Francisco-Based ECOtality Sues State Regulators over Electric Vehicle Charging Deal (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_20710643

Rooftop Gardens May be Next Big Idea at Microsoft (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=683777

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Olympic Peninsula Being Woven with Broadband Fiber Lines to Speed Internet in Far Reaches (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20120529/NEWS/305299988/peninsula-being-woven-with-broadband-fiber-lines-to-speed-internet-in

Developers Detail Hynix Plan to Convert Eugene-Area Complex into Data Center - While stressing a need for local incentives, a potential partner says a server farm there could employ hundreds (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

http://www.registerguard.com/web/newslocalnews/28130503-41/data-tusha-center-hynix-eugene.html.csp

Bend Broadband Offers Fixed LTE in Oregon - Speeds up to 12 Mbps, Caps up to 50 GB (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Bend-Broadband-Offers-Fixed-LTE-in-Oregon-119703

Presidential Panel Urges More Flexible Use of Broadcast Spectrum (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/26/technology/presidential-panel-urges-better-use-of-spectrum.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

White Space Broadband: Hope for Rural America? - A New Alternative Finally Starting to Emerge (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/White-Space-Broadband-Hope-for-Rural-America-119680

Facebook Ads Not So Lucrative (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/may/26/facebook-ads-not-so-lucrative/

Microsoft to Retire Windows Live Brand (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/morning_call/2012/05/microsoft-to-retire-windows-live-brand.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Computer Failure May Have Wiped Mukilteo’s Data - Police records, financial information & more was lost when Mukilteo’s computer system failed (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20120526/NEWS01/705269954

Refinancing of Bonds Saves Cowlitz County More Than $800,000 (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/refinancing-of-bonds-saves-cowlitz-county-more-than/article_a54eeb2e-a6f4-11e1-99bf-0019bb2963f4.html

GENERAL NEWS

Police Identify Suspect in Shelton Murders (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/31081-police-identify-suspect-in-shelton-murders

Washington State Opens Up Liquor Sales; Prices Could Go Up (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/05/28/2160354/wash-opens-up-liquor-sales-prices.html

Scotch Broom Sweeps Back In with a Vengeance - Invasive weed is so pervasive, crews have given up trying to fight it (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20120526/NEWS01/705269952

DIVERSIONS

Look Now for Venus to Cross the Sun, or Wait Another Century

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/29/science/space/venuss-transit-between-earth-and-sun-will-be-last-until-2117.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Australian Facebook Cash Image Leads to Robbery

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-18232613

Led Zeppelin II Dies of a Heart Attack

http://www.q13fox.com/news/ct-talk-led-zeppelin-ii-dies-0524-20120523,0,7047885.story

Drunken Alberta Man Survives after He’s Run Over by 26 Rail Cars

http://news.nationalpost.com/2012/05/24/drunken-alberta-man-survives-after-hes-run-over-by-26-rail-cars/

SONG OF THE DAY

The Grass Roots - Glory Bound

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fRQNjIcuX5c