News Digest for October 17, 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

Enmity • \EN-muh-tee\ • noun – Positive, active, and typically mutual hatred or ill will

The tension in the room was so thick you could have cut it with a knife. Ambrose stalked into the meeting room, his handlebar moustache projecting further than normal due to the build-up of wax he had used to twirl the ends into question marks. Dagwood entered last, his enmity for his opponent in the moustache contest clearly showing in his dark, scowling face. His Fu Manchu moustache dangled to nearly his waist. “I don’t need no stinkin’ props to win this contest,” he howled at Ambrose. “Yeah,” shot back Ambrose. “It’s one thing to have a moustache, but it’s quite another to know what do do with it!”

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

News Release – Possibly Blustery Weather This Thursday - PUD 3 Urges Preparation
The National Weather Service has issued a special weather statement regarding potentially windy weather this Thursday. (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/News/display.asp?NewsID=367

Wild windstorm may be on the way – Seattle could be hit with a wild windstorm Thursday, but how severe the winds will be depends on where the storm goes on Wednesday, a National Weather Service spokesman said. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/335746_weather17.html

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Electricity Overseer Says Grid Must Grow – Resistance to New Lines Called a Threat – The electric-power industry in the mid-Atlantic region and other parts of the nation is not keeping up with long-term demand, the industry's reliability organization warned yesterday in its annual assessment. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/16/AR2007101601943.html?nav=rss_business

Investment in U.S. power grid needed – The watchdog that oversees North America's power grid says the full promise of renewable fuels cannot be harnessed without first building more power lines that can carry this cleaner energy to consumers. (Associated Press via the Santa Rosa Press-Democrat)
http://www1.pressdemocrat.com/article/20071016/NEWS/710160364/1036/BUSINESS01

News Release – We’re doing a GREAT job! New Reports Show ISOs and RTOs Provide Tangible Benefits. ISO/RTO Council Issues Reports on Markets, Demand Response, Renewables (ISO/RTO Council)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=76061

New Chelan County PUD power contract for Alcoa – 17-year deal would create 60 new jobs, start up third pot line at Wenatchee Works New power contract for Alcoa (Wenatchee Herald, nice shot of the eight-inch thick contract documents!)
http://www.wenworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071016/NEWS04/710160052/1001

Okanogan County PUD board ponders new $6 million headquarters – PUD commissioners and staff took a field trip Oct. 9 to look over the possible site for a new headquarters by traipsing in the weeds just behind the current facility. (Omak Chronicle)
http://www.omakchronicle.com/nws/n071016a.shtml

Snohomish County PUD chief now makes $308,407 – General manager Steve Klein received a raise of 22.7 percent to make his salary competitive. (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071017/NEWS01/710170035&news01ad=1

AEP developing CO2-capture technology at Oklahoma plant (Columbus Business First)
http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2007/10/15/daily15.html?ana=from_rss

WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT

Montana – Federal Agencies Oppose Lowering Flood Stage – Ask Bill Michalk or any farmer about the thousands of dollars in crops they have lost over the years from overbank flooding during spring runoff when the Libby Dam is kept higher, and you'll hear a familiar echo: Lower the flood stage on the Kootenai River two feet. (Rural Northwest)
http://www.ruralnorthwest.com/artman/publish/article_7840.shtml

Lake Superior in the Midst of a Drought – Water levels in the three upper Great Lakes are wavering far below normal, but Lake Superior, the northernmost lake, is already at a record low for this time of year. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15353639&ft=1&f=3

KID's budget hit with shortfall – Kennewick Irrigation District has about $500,000 less in its budget than officials thought. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/v-rss/story/9385291p-9298647c.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

BPA exec supports governor's decision on wind farm – In a meeting with the Herald editorial board this week Bonneville Power Administration Executive Steve Wright was asked what he thought of Gov. Chris Gregoire's recent decision to approve a wind project near Ellensburg even though it had been rejected by Kittitas County. (Chris Mulick, Tri City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/blogs/mulick/v-rss/story/9384160p-9297525c.html

PacifiCorp unit opposes mandatory renewable standard in Utah – PacifiCorp's Rocky Mountain Power subsidiary and Utah's municipal and cooperative utilities are opposing a renewable portfolio standard for the state, according to a report released Monday. (Platts Energy News)
http://www.platts.com/HOME/News/6525912.xml?sub=HOME&p=HOME/News&

Grays Harbor County PUD to study using methane from treatment plant for power (The Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/10/16/local_news/02news.txt

In Washington, D.C., it takes a village to build a solar house – There are green buildings, and then there are really green buildings. (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9798161-7.html

CONSERVATION

A loophole could dim impact in proposed energy-saving bill – New legislation is slated to phase out inefficient bulbs, but efficiency groups are concerned a loophole could diminish impact. “…new legislation would phase out energy-intensive incandescent bulbs on the basis of their size and shape rather than on the amount of power they draw…. manufacturers could easily skirt the phase-out by changing slightly the shape of their incandescent offerings dramatically reducing the measure's benefits...” (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1016/p02s02-uspo.html

Get the right CFLs for your home (The Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071016/BLOG15/71016005/-1/RSS01

Why your electric bill is so high – Don't be fooled. Appliances on 'sleep' mode still suck power. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2007/1016/p09s01-coop.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Forbes Magazine’s America's Greenest States – “…On top: Vermont, Oregon and Washington. All have low carbon dioxide emissions per capita (or "carbon footprints")…”
http://www.forbes.com/2007/10/16/environment-energy-vermont-biz-beltway-cx_bw_mm_1017greenstates.html?feed=rss_news

Warming's Costs to Top Its Benefits, Study Says – The costs of climate change to the United States will outweigh its benefits, according to a new University of Maryland study. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/16/AR2007101601773.html?nav=rss_nation

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Clearwire draws closer to mobile – Clearwire is taking another step closer toward a high-speed wireless Internet service that can be used on the go. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003955477_clearwire17.html

Small Steps at Yahoo Bear Fruit – Jerry Yang’s plan for reviving the fortunes of Yahoo, the company he co-founded and now runs, does not involve the kind of shock therapy for which some investors had hoped. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/17/business/media/17yahoo.html?ex=1350360000&en=d06013cebe97ebd8&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

GENERAL NEWS

Former Mason County Resident, convicted of local 1996 murder – Escaped murderer caught at motel. A convicted murderer who escaped from a privately run prison in Arizona has been captured in Spokane. (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/10605707.html

GROUND BREAKING FOR NEW MASON COUNTY PUBLIC WORKS SHOP SET – Mason County is holding a groundbreaking ceremony for the new Public Works Facility being constructed on 42 acres on the northwest corner of the intersection of U.S. Highway 101 and State Route 102. The ceremony is set for 11am Monday. This new shop will consolidate all Public Works employees (administration, Emergency Management, Roads, and vehicle maintenance) in one location. Cost of the new facility is $15 Million and is being paid for through a 20-year loan from the State Treasurer. Again, the ground breaking for Mason County new Public Works facility is 11am Monday at the corner of U.S. Highway 101 and Highway 102 (Dayton Airport Road). (KMAS Radio, Shelton)

Port Townsend council kills salary increase proposal for itself – Citing a squeeze on city revenues, Port Townsend City Council members rejected proposed council salary raises that would have made them eligible for participation in the state retirement program. (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20071017/NEWS/710170305

DIVERSIONS

Cell Phone Phantoms Haunt Addicted Users – Cell phone addicts and BlackBerry junkies say they feel a telltale vibration on their hipbones when they're not wearing the device, or they hear their cell phone ringing even if they've left it at home. The experience is so common that it is now being called "Ringxiety." (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=15323419&ft=1&f=17

A Death in the Funny Pages Stirs Controversy (NY Times)
http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2007/10/16/a-death-in-the-funny-pages-stirs-controversy/index.html?ex=1350273600&en=1b4bf750cc9262c3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Well, this is @%$^#^ - Woman Cited For Swearing At Toilet In Her Home. Talk about a potty mouth. A Scranton woman who allegedly shouted profanities at her overflowing toilet within earshot of a neighbor was cited for disorderly conduct, authorities said.
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14351708/detail.html

Four Charged In Theft Of Giant Key Sculptures
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14351780/detail.html

Toothpicks On Field Sideline Football Game – Prank Causes Game To Be Moved. Thousands of toothpicks caused a big problem for the Tawas Braves high school football team.
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14350211/detail.html