News Digest for October 30, 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

Sanguineous • \san-GWIN-ee-us\ • adjective – 1: bloodred *2: of, relating to, or involving bloodshed: bloodthirsty 3: of, relating to, or containing blood

Albert was unhappy with his Halloween costume. Freda had assured him that by dressing as Caesar Augustus he would be symbolically wearing the “royal purple”. “But it has more of a sanguineous hue,” he whined to his beloved. “Be quiet,” Freda snapped. “Royal purple was more a figure of speech in those days.”

WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Jefferson PUD leaders to look at taking over electricity service from PSE – Jefferson County Public Utility District leaders see Friday's acquisition of Puget Energy Inc., parent company of Puget Sound Energy, as a possible opportunity to provide electricity to most of East Jefferson County. (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20071030/NEWS/710300307

Montana utility OKs $3 million in rebates – Record-setting revenues this year prompted Flathead Electric Cooperative’s board of trustees to approve $3 million in rebates to its electricity customers. (The Daily Inter Lake)
http://www.dailyinterlake.com/articles/2007/10/30/news/news02.txt

Oregon – Northern Wasco County PUD explores power options; Regional alliance may offer alternatives. The PUD mostly likely will be looking for regional assistance as it explores the uncertain future of Pacific Northwest power supplies. (The Dalles Chronicle)
http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2007/10/news10-29-07-01.shtml

Power Rates Could Be Going Up In Idaho – Don't forget to turn off the lights next time you leave your house because it could cost you more money. (KIFI-TV, Idaho Falls)
http://www.idaho8.com/Global/story.asp?S=6407943&nav=menu554_10_1

Budget error teaches tough lesson to the Kennewick Irrigation District – KID recently discovered a bookkeeping error that leaves it with about $500,000 less than expected. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/opinions/v-rss/story/9417513p-9330191c.html

News Release – BPA's Steve Hickok elected chairman of the members of the North American Electric Reliability Corporation (NERC) (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/180359/

Alaska – Plan to tap lake angers Petersburg residents – Residents of Petersburg are hammering local officials about a proposed hydroelectric power project. They’re not happy, and neither are some members of the Whatcom County Council in Washington state, which covers Bellingham. (Anchorage Daily News)
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/9415345p-9328061c.html

TVA plans to build 2 nuclear reactors – The Tennessee Valley Authority is expected to file an application, perhaps as early as today, with the Nuclear Regulatory Commission to build two new nuclear-power reactors at a site in Alabama. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003982614_ndig30.html?syndication=rss

World's coal habit growing (The Associated Press)
http://www.yorkdispatch.com/business/ci_7321091

Iraq – Iraqi dam still a flood risk, report says. The top U.S. military commander in Iraq warned Prime Minister Nouri Maliki in May that the country's biggest dam, just up the Tigris River from the northern city of Mosul, is at risk of collapse, putting the city's 1.7 million people in danger of being inundated by a 65-foot flood wave. (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_7320257?source=rss&nclick_check=1

Pennsylvania – Allegheny Power files deregulation plan – Allegheny Power, a division of Allegheny Energy Inc., announced today that it has filed a proposed plan with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission as part of its transition to electricity deregulation. (Pittsburgh Business Times)
http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2007/10/29/daily5.html?ana=from_rss

Energy Dept. Audit Finds Overcharges On Contracts – The Los Alamos National Laboratory paid millions of dollars in questionable charges to a contractor affiliated with KBR, according to a recent audit by the Energy Department's inspector general. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/29/AR2007102902038.html?nav=rss_business

WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT

California commission recommends ripping out Klamath Dams – California Energy Commission analysts urged Oregon, California and Washington to deny any requests from PacifiCorp to increase electricity rates to help pay for upgrading Klamath dams. (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003982261_webdams29.html?syndication=rss

The Columbian Opinion – In our view: Help for Salmon. Third removable fish weir arrives at Snake River dam to aid fish migration
http://www.columbian.com/opinion/news/2007/10/10292007_In-our-view-Help-for-Salmon.cfm?newsletter=1

California – Central Valley salmon largely absent from fall run - but why? This year's Central Valley fall salmon run is worrying both fishermen and biologists, who say fewer of the prized Chinook are out in the ocean or making it up the rivers to spawn. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/10/30/MNAAT2VTR.DTL

Olympia’s utility rates might rise Jan. 1 – Households in Olympia would pay $7.58 more every other month for utilities next year under a proposal the Olympia City Council is considering. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/257053.html

Aquifer efforts 'turn corner' – Federal support has begun to rally for efforts to bring more groundwater to the Odessa Subarea. (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2007/10/29/news/news04.txt

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

$200 Million for Electric Cars? Software industry hotshot Shai Agassi has a well-funded plan to shake up the auto industry with a new approach to the electric car (MSNBC)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/21544170/

Google's love for solar may extend to other renewables – When it comes to bragging rights and solar power, Google's on top: it has the largest corporate installation of solar-powered electricity yet. (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9807330-7.html

When Will Congress Pass Tax Credits for Renewable Energy? (Renewable Energy Access)
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50427&src=rss

Converting Food Crops Into Fuel 'Crime Against Humanity' (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/un-calls-converting-food-crops-fuel-crime-against-humanity/

CONSERVATION

State Recognizes Navy's Efforts to Save Energy – Local bases cleaned up in the latest Navy-wide energy conservation competition and got a nice pat on the back for their efforts Monday from Gov. Chris Gregoire. (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/oct/29/state-recognizes-navys-efforts-to-save-energy/

News Release – JC Penney Stores Become First to Earn New ENERGY STAR Retail Rating – EPA Recognizes Four Washington State JCPenney Stores for Superior Energy Performance and Environmental Protection
http://home.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20071030006039&newsLang=en

News Release – Con Edison Offers Energy- and Money-Saving Tips for Winter. Natural Gas Supplies Adequate for Coming Heating Season (MarketWire)
http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=785984

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Study: Seattle exceeding goal to fight global warming (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_103007ENBseattle_global_warming_LJ.1bf367673.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Home phone line repairs slowed – As phone companies spend billions on souped-up broadband and wireless services, they're struggling with basic home phone line repairs. (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/telecom/2007-10-28-phone-repairs_N.htm

Fiber Makers to Benefit From ISP Bandwidth Woes (Seeking Alpha)
http://seekingalpha.com/article/51966-fiber-makers-to-benefit-from-isp-bandwidth-woes

GENERAL NEWS

Shelton clothier to move to Tumwater – Heated-apparel maker’s new home to be finished in June. Mason County manufacturer Gerbing’s Heated Clothing Inc. is coming to Tumwater next summer so that it can consolidate its operations under one roof, the company CEO said Monday. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/business/story/257018.html

Canadian dollar jumps to 47-year high – Flaherty announces economic update due Tuesday as loonie hits US$1.05 in Monday trading (The Victoria Times-Colonist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=1d4868c3-828f-4114-b43b-5609db570079&k=16508

California – Cal can boot all tree-sitters, judge says. UC officials can remove all the tree-sitters at Memorial Stadium, even if police can't identify the protesters by name, a judge ruled Monday. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/10/30/BAUTT2TJO.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

DIVERSIONS

Science on the Web: Don't Try This at Home – Two million YouTube viewers recently sought the answer to the question, "Can water burn?"
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/10/25/AR2007102502258.html?nav=rss_technology

Toddler Wouldn't Leave Plane Crash Wreckage Without Teddy Bear
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14451459/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news

At 79, he’s still clowning around – For decades, he delighted fans as the starring clown in “The J.P. Patches Show,” one of the longest-running local live TV shows in the country. Now Chris Wedes, 79, is battling blood cancer.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/191024.html

When a Penny Is More Than Just a Penny – When people toss quarters and dimes into tip jars or feed them into vending machines, chances are they are less interested in form than function.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/10/30/washington/30coin.html?ex=1351396800&en=1b72b3b4f0521a99&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss