News Digest for September 28, 2007

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.

WORD OF THE DAY

Faute de Mieux • \foe-duh-MURE\ • adverb – for lack of something better or more desirable

Brandon loved “Jolt Cola”. One day while dozing through another philosophy exam he was horrified to learn that his mother had provided him with generic, store brand cola. Through shaking hands and cold sweats, he thanked the lord for his No-Doze tablets that in combination with the syrupy brew he guzzled faute de mieux.

WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269

La Nina expected to make months ahead wet, cold – More snow and windstorms likely (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/229350.html

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Mason County PUD No. 3 Newsletter for October – Supporting Northwest Salmon: We All Pay; PUD 3 Supports Green Dams, Blue Skies Program; Fuel Mix Disclosure Notification, Hydropower helps minimize Pacific Northwest “Carbon Footprint”; Daylight Savings Time Ends November 4 (Links to PDF File)
http://www.masonpud3.org/News/Newsletter.pdf

Nuclear power surge coming – With this week's application to build a new nuclear plant – the first such filing in nearly 30 years – the industry says the US is on the verge of a nuclear power renaissance. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20070928/ts_csm/anukedawn

LA Times Guest Editorial – Nukes still work when the sun doesn't shine and the wind doesn't blow. UC Riverside professor critiques Times editorial on solar and wind power
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oew-white27sep27,0,6999790.story?coll=la-opinion-center

California – Nuclear plant testing gets OK: Fresno's waste water could benefit project. The Fresno City Council approved testing for a proposed nuclear power plant, even though construction of one is prohibited under state law. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News via PowerMarketers.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CfkprooqSUmi%27%40%3E%20bfem%5E%21

TVA to add gas-fired generator – Five years after scrapping plans for a natural gas plant in Tullahoma, Tenn., at a $150 million loss, the Tennessee Valley Authority is expected today to authorize building a similar gas-fired plant elsewhere in Tennessee. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News via PowerMarketers.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CfkssstwZUmi%27%40%3E%20bfem%5E%21

Oklahoma – EDITORIAL: Next generation: States eye plans to cut power usage. Among the several peripheral issues in a recent noisy debate over a large power plant are conservation and efficiency. Are Oklahoma's public utilities doing enough to promote a lowering of demand for electricity as an alternative to increasing supply? (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News via PowerMarketers.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CfksrpqoSUmi%27%40%3E%20bfem%5E%21

Survey Of State Utility Regulators Documents Retreat From Deregulation – A new nationwide survey confirms a dramatic reversal of support among state utility regulators for deregulated energy markets. In fact, one third of regulators in currently competitive states say they are now seriously considering re-regulating utilities in their jurisdictions, according to this survey. (Power Online)
http://www.poweronline.com/content/news/article.asp?docid={A040313C-6A21-4748-84F1-0EC22B47CC0A}&VNETCOOKIE=NO

TVA board approves $9.7 billion budget (Memphis Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/stories/2007/09/24/daily25.html?ana=from_rss

Northern Wasco County PUD considers building expansion – the PUD took a first step toward expanding its 10-year-old building “…Construction with an eye toward energy conservation and solar power are part of that initial concept…” (The Dalles Chronicle)
http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2007/09/news09-27-07-02.shtml

WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT

Toxic algae moves from PacifiCorp reservoirs into Klamath River – Authorities will be posting the Klamath River in Northern California next week to warn of high concentrations of toxic blue-green algae that can harm people and pets that swim in or drink tainted waters. (The Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-959748~Toxic_algae_moves_from_PacifiCorp_reservoirs_into_Klamath_River.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

California – Coalition plans to sue government, power firm to save delta smelt – Angered by a decision to cut water allocations to save the delta smelt, a group of officials representing agricultural water agencies announced plans Thursday to sue the government, a power generation plant and maybe others they contend are responsible for the demise of the fish. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/28/BAOASFMVE.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

Kittitas County conservation projects awarded more than $5 million in grants (The Daily Record)
http://www.kvnews.com/articles/2007/09/28/news/doc46fad516803ad827849707.txt

No Single Source to Blame – Future looks hazy for gorge air quality – Several dozen of the nation’s most prominent air quality experts gathered in this Columbia Gorge town under clear, sunny skies Tuesday to share and debate six years’ worth of studies on the sources of persistent gorge haze. (The Columbian)
http://columbian.com/news/localNews/2007/09/09262007news203743.cfm

MASON COUNTY P.U.D. 1 TO DISCUSS SYSTEM UPGRADES AND POSSIBLE RATE IMPACTS FOR CANAL MUTUAL WATER SYSTEM CUSTOMERS – The Mason County P.U.D. No. 1 board of Commissioners is holding its next meeting at the Hoodsport Fire Hall Tuesday. The regular meeting is set to begin at 4pm. A public hearing for Canal Mutual Water System customers is scheduled for 6pm Tuesday. During the hearing, P.U.D. 1 officials will discuss improvements to the system and associated costs that will reflect an increase in customers' monthly facilities charge. Again, that's a hearing before the Mason County P.U.D. No. 1 Commissioners on rate increases for the Canal Mutual Water System, 6pm Tuesday at the Hoodsport Fire Hall. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)

Cities won’t get Lake Tapps – for now. Auburn, Bonney Lake and Sumner will have to wait their turn to try to buy Lake Tapps and its valuable water from Puget Sound Energy. (The News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/166654.html

Restoring the natural flow at Cathlamet refuge “…a $5.15 million federal project slated to begin next summer should help boost endangered salmon populations by restoring adequate river connections to eight sloughs in the refuge…” (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/228839.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Latest Oregon plant going online burning methane from landfill – A new power plant is going online in Southern Oregon that produces electricity from methane gas drawn off a landfill. (The Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-960120~Latest_Ore__plant_going_online_burning_methane_from_landfill.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

PG&E to Become Nation's Biggest Solar Utility (Green Wombat)
http://blogs.business2.com/greenwombat/2007/09/pge-to-buy-a-gi.html?section=money_technology

Nevada Senator Calls for National Renewable Energy Zones – New legislation urges U.S. to invest in new transmission lines to bring renewable energy to the grid. (RenewableEnergyAccess.com)
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50100

CONSERVATION

5 (sic) Signs The Computer Industry Is Finally Going Green – With New Technology And Exciting Announcements, The Wired World Is Taking On Its Toxic, Energy-Hungry Legacy. (The Daily Green)
http://www.thedailygreen.com/2007/09/28/5-signs-the-computer-industry-is-finally-going-green/7316/

United Kingdom – Standby Saturday campaigns to stop overnight energy wastage – Standby Saturday, 20th October 2007, will see the first nationwide overnight switch-off of non-essential electrical appliances (PR-GB)
http://pr-gb.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=23556&Itemid=9

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

At Its Session on Warming, U.S. Is Seen to Stand Apart (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/28/washington/28climate.html?ei=5088&en=f78f94854320489e&ex=1348632000&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1190997151-LJJchu/2+dLSG5YygR2EsA

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

'Innovation zones' vying for cash – Next week, Washington plans to kick off one of its new economic development strategies -- the promotion of industry clusters -- by designating several geographic areas for special attention and money. (Seattle Times)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/333465_innovation28.html?source=rss

Wyoming – Powell keeps working away at fiber optics plan. After missing the chance to start construction this summer on a municipally owned fiber optic telecommunications network, backers of the plan say they are optimistic they can strike a deal to finance the project by next spring. (Billings Gazette)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/09/28/news/wyoming/20-fiberoptics.txt

Burlington, N.C. – Who doesn't have high-speed internet in Alamance County? (Burlington Times)
http://www.thetimesnews.com/news/access_6194___article.html/percent_county.html

Ohio – Toledo mayor seeks moratorium on telecom boxes. The proliferation of large metal cabinets for telecommunications equipment placed in the city's right-of-way by AT&T has prompted a request for a moratorium. (The Toledo Blade)
http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070926/NEWS16/709260406

Fios in Your Neighborhood? Don't Ask Verizon – You'd be a little crazy to shop for a home without considering the Internet, phone and TV options waiting in a new neighborhood. But good luck finding that out, especially when it comes to new services. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/26/AR2007092602468.html?nav=rss_technology

GENERAL NEWS

ROBBERY ATTEMPT AT SHELTON ATM – Shelton Police are looking for three men suspected in an attempted robbery early this morning at the Bank of America at Fourth and Franklin in downtown Shelton. The incident occurred at about 5:45 as the victim was using the A-T-M at the bank and was hit over the head from behind. The victim chased the suspects on foot before they fled in a green Toyota Corolla, which was last seen heading west on Franklin. License plate number is reported as 285 WKI. Any one who sees this vehicle or has any information should call 9-1-1. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)

DIVERSIONS

The 50 Worst Cars of All Time (This is great…thanks to Jay Himlie for the tip!)
http://www.time.com/time/specials/2007/1,28757,1658545,00.html

Navy To Remedy Swastika-Shaped Barracks – View Of Navy Buildings From Air Resembles Nazi Symbol
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14220127/detail.html

Yuck! Jones Soda bottles the grime and stink of the NFL – Ever wonder what the Seahawks' locker room tastes like after a big game?
http://www.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP09282007news204780.cfm

Snacks laced with marijuana shipped to Seattle (How ironic! Getting the munchies while EATING munchies!)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_092707WAB_pot_candy_bust_TP.11887d1f1.html