Energy News Digest for November 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.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Possible Wild Weather in Store for Puget Sound
- Deal lined up for BPA payments (Oh, Really?)
- TransAlta sees big future in 'carbon-neutral' energy
- Oregon governor says he is open to LNG plants
- Tennessee Valley Authority Gives CEO $1M Pay Raise
- Lance Dickie, Seattle Times editorial columnist – Fish and dams: Tell it to the judge.
- Kitsap Sun Op/Ed Page – SALMON: Don't Remove Dams, Kill Birds
- Seattle P-I Dateline Earth – Top chefs want NW salmon saved for diners
- Lower Columbia sturgeon appear on downward trend
- Columbian Editorial – In our view: Pesky Parakeets.
- Idaho water hearings begin with trout farm complaints
- Oil company BP pleads guilty to environmental crime
- Clark County might enter wind power market
- Ethanol Craze Cools
- Ethanol Producers Combine as Price Drop Hits Corn Belt
- 150 Global Firms Seek Mandatory Cuts in Greenhouse Gas Emissions
- Eco-Friendly Product Claims Often Misleading
- Illinois – $25 million network to aid rural hospitals
- Colorado – Denver International Airport sets Wi-Fi free.
- New Hampshire – Economic panel concerned with Verizon sale.
- Lawmakers restore 1% property tax cap

These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest

WORD OF THE DAY

Lares and Penates • \LAIR-eez-end-puh-NAY-teez\ • noun – 1: household gods *2: personal or household effects

“The Italian family down the street returned to the ‘old country’ two years ago,” mused Donald. “Who can forget all the stuff that was in the house? Lares and Penates they called it when they rolled out their house wares at the moving sale. Funny sounding name for a bunch of bric-a-brac.”

Did you know? The phrase "lares and penates" is at home in the elevated writings of scholars. A classicist could tell you that Lares and Penates were Roman gods once worshipped as guardians of the household, and an avid Walpolian might be able to tell you that his or her favorite author (Horace Walpole) is credited with first domesticating the phrase to refer to a person's possessions. In the centuries since Walpole used "lares and penates" in a 1775 letter to the English poet William Mason, the phrase has become solidly established in the English language, and it continues to be used by authors and journalists today.

WEATHER

Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944

Possible Wild Weather in Store for Puget Sound This Weekend – Kitsap County and the surrounding areas could be hit with anything from snow to heavy rain to strong winds this weekend through Monday, according to forecasters who are warily eyeing an approaching combination of weather systems. (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/nov/29/possible-wild-weather-store-puget-sound-weekend/

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Deal lined up for BPA payments – A tentative deal has been reached that would restore Bonneville Power Administration payments to private utilities, including Puget Sound Energy, for a share of the region's low-cost hydropower. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/285748.html

Smells like a news release to me – BRIEF: Idaho Power rates are among the lowest in the U.S. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, via Power Markets Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5ChekmmvwXUok%22EN%26bfem%5Ev

TransAlta sees big future in 'carbon-neutral' energy (London Free Press)
http://lfpress.ca/newsstand/Business/2007/11/29/4694004-sun.html

Oregon governor says he is open to LNG plants – Gov. Ted Kulongoski is open to the idea of liquefied natural gas terminals, but he has told state agencies to "fully assert Oregon's concerns and interests" as they are considered, according to a memo to state agency directors (Ashland Daily Tidings, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1076256~Oregon_governor_says_he_is_open_to_LNG_plants.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

HELP WITH HEATING FROM MASON COUNTY FIRE DISTRICT TWO – Mason County Fire District Two wants everyone to be warm and safe this winter. With the high cost of fuel, people with limited income may have difficulty keeping their homes warm. According to Fire District Two's Public Educator, Ryan Cloud, there is help available: the National Fuel Funds Network. The National Fuel Funds Network is a broad-based organization dedicated to increasing resources to meet the energy needs of financially struggling residents across the country. It consists of more than 300 non-profit organizations, government agencies and utilities that raise and distribute more than $100 million annually in charitably-donated home energy assistance for families in need. George Coling who directs the National Fuel Funds Organization says that the support of the network comes through private donations. Fuel funds can fill in the gap if a family has used up federal assistance, but faces a shut-off of their electricity. In some cases this assistance can pay a past-due bill or give a client an energy credit that lasts one month, or longer, if that is what is necessary to keep the lights on and the heater running. To find out more about the National Fuel Funds Network, call 1-202-824-0660 or click on their website, www.nationalfuelfund.org. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)

Mason County PUD No. 3 Project Share (energy bill assistance for low-income customers) information can be found here:http://www.masonpud3.org/Customer/Projectshare.asp

Tennessee Valley Authority Gives CEO $1M Pay Raise – TVA Gives CEO $1M Pay Raise to Reach $2.7M Total Compensation (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/apwire/7275378d591a23698c091adcfefaa47d.htm

WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT

Lance Dickie, Seattle Times editorial columnist – Fish and dams: Tell it to the judge. Federal authorities would rather tug on Superman's cape than muss the robes of U.S. District Judge James Redden.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2004043226_lance30.html

Kitsap Sun Op/Ed Page – SALMON: Don't Remove Dams, Kill Birds (May require free registration)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2007/nov/30/salmon-dont-remove-dams-kill-birds/

Seattle P-I Dateline Earth – Top chefs want NW salmon saved for diners
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/environment/archives/126849.asp

Dredging should help anglers at Cowlitz – One of the best summer steelhead fishing spots in the lower Columbia River is getting a new lease on life. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/sports/localNews/2007/11/11292007_Dredging-should-help-anglers-at-Cowlitz.cfm?newsletter=1

Lower Columbia sturgeon appear on downward trend – The population of legal-size sturgeon in the lower Columbia River appears to be continuing on a gradual, decade-long decline. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/sports/localNews/2007/11/11292007_Lower-Columbia-sturgeon-appear-on-downward-trend.cfm?newsletter=1

Columbia River summit to address pollution – A bistate organization will convene a conference in early January in Vancouver to address toxic contamination in the Columbia River. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2007/11/11292007_Columbia-River-summit-to-address-pollution.cfm?newsletter=2

Columbian Editorial – In our view: Pesky Parakeets. Rousting birds from their roost was unpleasant but necessary chore
http://www.columbian.com/opinion/news/2007/11/11292007_In-our-view-Pesky-Parakeets.cfm

Idaho water hearings begin with trout farm complaints (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/285425.html

News Tribune Editorial – Snub of Lake Tapps cities doesn’t shore up trust. The Cascade Water Alliance is doing a poor job of assuring concerned east Pierce County residents that it would be a good steward of Lake Tapps.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/216929.html

Oil company BP pleads guilty to environmental crime and other energy-related misdeeds – The Alaska subsidiary of oil giant BP PLC pleaded guilty today to a federal environmental crime for failing to prevent a crude spill in America's largest oil field. (Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004042575_weboil29m.html?syndication=rss

China Says Three Gorges Dam Is Not Responsible for Landslides (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/11/28/world/asia/28gorges.html?ex=1353906000&en=a5ff72e334ce58ce&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Clark County might enter wind power market – Hoping to cut costs and balance its contributions to global warming, Clark County's government is thinking about dipping a toe into the growing wind power business.
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2007/11/11292007_County-might-enter-wind-power-market.cfm?newsletter=2

Ethanol Craze Cools – As Doubts Multiply Claims for Environment, Energy Use Draw Fire; Fighting on the Farm (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119621238761706021.html?mod=rss_Page_One

Those darn price signals! Ethanol Producers Combine as Price Drop Hits Corn Belt – VeraSun Energy, one of the nation's largest ethanol producers, agreed to acquire US BioEnergy, as falling prices are prompting consolidation among producers of the gasoline additive. (Bloomberg News, via the Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/29/AR2007112902206.html?nav=rss_business

A Motivating Force for Wind Energy: Galicia, Spain – With no end to increased energy consumption in sight and a growing concern surrounding climate change and greenhouse gas emissions, the growth opportunity for wind farms, and firms, is significant. In fact, few industries today have grown as quickly as the wind energy market. (Energy Pulse Commentary)
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1614

CONSERVATION

Maryland – Teens target energy-saving in home audits (Baltimore Sun)
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/howard/bal-ho.neighbors30nov30,0,5862942.story

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

150 Global Firms Seek Mandatory Cuts in Greenhouse Gas Emissions – A sizable fraction of the international business community launched an effort to press for mandatory cuts in greenhouse gas emissions yesterday, on the eve of a major round of climate negotiations set to begin Monday in Bali. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/11/29/AR2007112902039.html?nav=rss_nation

Eco-Friendly Product Claims Often Misleading (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=16754919&ft=1&f=3

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Illinois – $25 million network to aid rural hospitals – Just as you can download full-length movies with speedy broadband Internet service at home, small hospitals in rural Illinois soon will be able to quickly send MRI scans and consult distant Chicagoland doctors through a new fiber-optic health network. (The Beacon News)
http://www.suburbanchicagonews.com/beaconnews/news/672576,2_1_AU29_NIU_S1.article

Colorado – Denver International Airport sets Wi-Fi free. An airport spokesman says wireless Internet use has risen tenfold since DIA dropped the fee early this month. (The Denver Post, via Baller/Herbst)
http://www.denverpost.com/business/ci_7585581

New Hampshire – Economic panel concerned with Verizon sale. The Rochester Economic Development Commission says it's "seriously concerned" with the $2.7 billion sale of Verizon's northern New England landlines to FairPoint Communications because the move could slow efforts to provide faster broadband access to businesses and homes. (Rochester Times)
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071130/GJNEWS04/711300073

GENERAL NEWS

Lawmakers restore 1% property tax cap – Special session called to revive I-747 limit (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/341706_special30.html

DNR says it catches cedar thieves – Two men were arrested in the early hours of the morning today in connection to the theft of more than $20,000 worth of timber along a rural logging road east of Moclips, according to Dave Christiansen, the state Department of Natural Resources’ coast district manager for the Olympic region. (Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/11/29/local_news/07news.txt

DIVERSIONS

What else could go wrong – Ice, downed power line hamstrings firefighters
http://www.examiner.com/a-1077774~Ice__downed_power_line_hamstrings_firefighters.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines

Police: Thief Not Brightest Bulb on Tree
http://www.examiner.com/a-1077164~Police__Thief_Not_Brightest_Bulb_on_Tree.html?cid=rss-Montana_Headlines

Footprints seen around Mt.Everest stoke Yeti mystery
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20071130/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_nepal_yeti;_ylt=AibcxSZUYVjKLjm0L2ps0lvtiBIF

Italian farmer fined 200 (about $300) euros over noisy rooster
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071128/od_afp/italyanimalnoiseoffbeat_071128152720;_ylt=Ap5LapCn1_wao6kBNE0VNxWgOrgF

Humanoid robot teaches dentists to feel people's pain – Japan's future dentists may soon be able to better appreciate patients' pain by training on a humanoid robot that can mumble "ouch" when the drill hits a nerve.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20071128/od_afp/lifestylejapantechnologyrobothealthoffbeat_071128094545;_ylt=Ap7MZBnCNXCHVZOcMpWxgbagOrgF