Energy News Digest for February 11, 2008

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)

* BPA starts process to reestablish residential exchange program
* Chelan County PUD predicts below-average spring runoff
* Deep snowpack may make for high river levels
* Rainfall Shortages Threaten Costa Rica Power
* NY Times Editorial – Clean Power or Dirty Coal?
* U.S. nuclear plant safety checks system under fire
* Nuclear Energy Institute: U.S. nuke plants set records for production, efficiency in 2007
* Energy-pricing lawsuit looks for jolt in courtroom
* Texas state rep sought electric industry's aid in getting bills passed
* Appellate Panel Rejects E.P.A. Emission Limits
* Lawmakers seek boost in ‘green collar’ jobs
* United Kingdom – Energy firms in row with regulator over smart meters
* New guidelines give sport salmon anglers a boost
* Accidental Chinook catch among Pollock is an issue
* Salmon rapidly vanishing on Willamette Rive
* Numbers Can Tell a Story About Puget Sound
* California – Fishers lead effort to keep species off hook
* S-F Chronicle Op/Ed – Fewer fishers, hunters bad news for wildlife
* Oregon – A region's vitality, melting away
* Ecology, Kennewick Irrigation District have plan for Red Mountain water
* Calif. Farmers Struggle with Reduced Water Supply
* Coming to Chehalis: 50 Solar Panel Jobs
* Kelso man erects his own wind turbine
* Tri-City Herald Editorial – Using ag byproducts for fuel makes sense
* North Dakota utilities plan power line to move electricity from wind projects
* Clean-energy companies fueling a N. Colorado revival
* Solar-Home Community: Good Idea, Bad Location?
* Ethanol's effects bother boaters
* Oregon offers renewable energy law class
* Wenatchee World Editorial – Don' let your light shine, up
* Consumer test - home energy monitors
* Congressman Baird says conserve energy for your country
* California regulators put price on emissions
* Press Pass column: Climate-change plan has business leaders worried
* Don’t Let the Green Grass Fool You – Suburbia’s impact on climate change
* What does green mean? Today's eco-speak defined
* Yahoo Rejects Microsoft's $44.6B Bid
* Ethics complaint filed over Clearwire tower in Medina
* Millions may have digital TV reception troubles
* Plugging Into a Community That Clicks
* Bill to tape closed sessions revived
* Wire thefts along I-5 a growing problem

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

WORD OF THE DAY

Sitzmark • \SITS-mark\ • noun – A depression left in the snow by a skier falling backward

“A most impressive sitzmark,” thought Marc Anthony as he helped Jennifer Lopez from her landing spot after a cushioned fall on the ski slope.

WEATHER

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

(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

BPA starts process to reestablish residential exchange program. (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1210214~BPA_starts_process_to_reestablish_residential_exchange_program_.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

News release – BPA starts process to re-establish the residential exchange program: Proposal includes lowering rates for public utilities (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/191646/

Chelan County PUD predicts below-average spring runoff (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080208/NEWS04/769807666/1025/rss1025

Deep snowpack may make for high river levels – Snow has been stacking up on Washington's peaks, with depths and water content as much as 130 percent of average, making this winter a potential repeat of 1996 when high spring melts pushed rivers over the banks. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/901/story/86763.html

Rainfall Shortages Threaten Costa Rica Power “…Perhaps most impressive, the nation produces more than 80 percent of its electricity in hydroelectric plants, which emit no greenhouse gases….” (National Public Radio…Hello! Hydroelectricity=clean, renewable, emissions free energy…Hello!)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18832252&ft=1&f=3

NY Times Editorial – Clean Power or Dirty Coal?
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/10/opinion/10sun2.html?ex=1360386000&en=29dadabea15edfbb&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

U.S. nuclear plant safety checks system under fire – Congress and two states scrutinize the relicensing process after a federal audit found problems with safety documents. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0208/p02s01-usgn.html

Nuclear Energy Institute: U.S. nuke plants set records for production, efficiency in 2007 (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=319524&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss

Congressional Research Reports – Managing the Nuclear Fuel Cycle: Policy Implications of Expanding Global Access to Nuclear Power
http://opencrs.com/document/RL34234

Energy-pricing lawsuit looks for jolt in courtroom – As companies settle energy crisis claims, California ratepayers are looking for their piece of the pie (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1210767~Energy_pricing_lawsuit_looks_for_jolt_in_courtroom.html?cid=rss-San_Francisco

Texas state rep sought electric industry's aid in getting bills passed – The powerful chairman of a regulatory committee asked the electric industry to get its lobbyists to help push his bills through the state Legislature. (Dallas Morning News)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/texassouthwest/stories/DN-king_11bus.ART.State.Edition1.39fe4e4.html

Ohio – Duke Energy lawsuit won't affect rate increases, officials say (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CikjmmknTSljy30qbfen%5Fv

Appellate Panel Rejects E.P.A. Emission Limits – A three-judge federal appeals panel in Washington struck down on Friday the Environmental Protection Agency limits on mercury emissions from coal-fired power plants. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/09/washington/09mercury.html?_r=1&ex=1360299600&en=859111271587c108&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

Lawmakers seek boost in ‘green collar’ jobs – In a town still reeling from the closure of a massive coal mine, dozens of Lewis County students train each year to work in the energy industry, immersing themselves in the intricacies of power generation and plant design. (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/business/story/353893.html

United Kingdom – Energy firms in row with regulator over smart meters (The Guardian)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2008/feb/11/householdbills.utilities

Wenatchee World Editorial Board – Here is the bright side (Kudos given to Chelan County PUD)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080209/OP02/744243490/-1/OP

Oregon governor's aide thinking big on energy (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1202442917230730.xml&coll=7

WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT

New guidelines give sport anglers a boost – Lower Columbia River sport anglers will see more time on the water for spring Chinook, while still managing to stay within conservation needs, after the state Fish and Wildlife Commission approved new guidelines for the upcoming fishing season. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2004174510_outn10.html

Accidental Chinook catch among Pollock is an issue (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004173286_salmon09m.html

Salmon rapidly vanishing on Willamette River (KATO-TV, Portland)
http://www.katu.com/news/outdoors/15497641.html

News Release – Pacific Salmon Forum Releases 2007 Interim Research Findings: Findings Do Not Support Claim of Wild Salmon Extinction (Market Wire)
http://www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=819327

Numbers Can Tell a Story About Puget Sound – A team of scientists is trying to paint a picture of Puget Sound with numbers. (Kitsap Sun, free registration may be required)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2008/feb/10/numbers-can-tell-a-story-about-puget-sound/

California – Fishers lead effort to keep species off hook. No-fishing zones to be created with idea of helping sea creature populations rebound (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_8223806?source=rss

S-F Chronicle Op/Ed – Fewer fishers, hunters bad news for wildlife
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/09/HOCJS5KMA.DTL

Mussels top the list of Oregon's least wanted – They can devastate ecosystems and economies (Statesman Journal)
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080210/INVASIVE06/802100309/1034

Congressional Research Reports – San Joaquin River Restoration Settlement
http://opencrs.com/document/RL34237

Oregon – A region's vitality, melting away – Hood River farmers thought the water flowing from shrinking Mt. Hood glaciers was essential to their prized fruit crops; new OSU research shows just how essential (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1202696711100340.xml&coll=7

Ecology, Kennewick Irrigation District have plan for Red Mountain water – The Department of Ecology and KID are working to exchange water rights to provide the district with enough water to irrigate portions of Red Mountain. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/901/story/83482.html

Calif. Farmers Struggle with Reduced Water Supply (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18816288&ft=1&f=2

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Coming to Chehalis: 50 Solar Panel Jobs – Industrial Park: Expansion Bumps Cardinal Glass’ Lewis County Workforce to More Than 300 (The Chronicle, Centralia)
http://www.chronline.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1202497636&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&

Kelso man erects his own wind turbine (Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/02/09/top_story/10101540.txt

Tri-City Herald Editorial – Using ag byproducts for fuel makes sense – We're going to pay the Department of Energy a compliment today. Yep, that's right. It's not Hanford-related but it's a compliment all the same.
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/962/story/85071.html

Firm Tries New Tactic for Md. Wind Power (Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/5525250.html

North Dakota utilities plan power line to move electricity from wind projects (Bismarck Tribune)
http://bismarcktribune.com/articles/2008/02/10/news/state/148224.txt

Tri-State Neighbor Op-Ed: U.S. needs to prioritize wind energy in 2008 – Energy policy is changing in this country, and South Dakota is perfectly positioned to contribute to, and benefit from, that change.
http://www.tristateneighbor.com/articles/2008/02/10/tri_state_news/columnists/news32.txt

Green power – More homeowners gain access to cleaner energy (Baltimore Sun)
http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/realestate/bal-bz.ml.green10feb10,0,2918386.story

Clean-energy companies fueling a N. Colorado revival – Business and academic leaders sound off on how they're trying to make the area a hub of alternative-power development. (Denver Post)
http://www.denverpost.com/ci_8212838?source=rss

Solar-Home Community: Good Idea, Bad Location? (Wall Street Journal)
http://blogs.wsj.com/developments/2008/02/08/solar-home-community-good-idea-bad-location/?mod=googlenews_wsj

Ethanol's effects bother boaters – If not managed right, the mandatory fuel supplement can stall engines and corrode or dissolve parts (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1202527511198220.xml&coll=7

Oregon offers renewable energy law class (Daily Journal of Commerce, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1212542~Oregon_offers_renewable_energy_law_class.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

News Release – Red Tape is Stifling Growth in the Solar Power Sector “…All issues considered, solar's growth is dependent on rising energy prices…” (Renewable Energy Access)
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/partner/story;jsessionid=188A976D4E862C5F9E5BC2D003718830?id=51419&src=rss

CONSERVATION

Wenatchee World Editorial – Don' let your light shine, up
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080208/OP03/661921801/-1/OP

Consumer test - home energy monitors – Julia Hailes, author of the best-selling Green Consumer Guide - gets to grips with a selection of energy meters (The Telegraph, United Kingdom)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/main.jhtml?xml=/earth/2008/02/08/eaenergy108.xml

Daily News, Longview – Congressman tells what you can do for your country – Brian Baird says slashing energy consumption would do three things: put savings into people's pockets, cut energy prices and show the world that Americans are serious about reducing carbon emissions.
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/02/11/editorial/10101097.txt

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

California regulators put price on emissions – Air district wants thousands of firms to pay fees based on greenhouse gases (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_8216807?source=rss

Press Pass column: Climate-change plan has business leaders worried (Victoria Times-Colonist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=58cf2f92-3923-4f3f-bb9f-745eea4f6805&k=40378

Don’t Let the Green Grass Fool You – “…the problem with suburbs, many environmentalists say, is not an issue of light bulbs. In the end, the very things that make suburban life attractive also disproportionately contribute to global warming…” (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/10/fashion/10suburbs.html?ex=1360386000&en=25f8f983d35ac155&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

The Sun Also Sets – Climate Change: Not every scientist is part of Al Gore's mythical "consensus." Scientists worried about a new ice age seek funding to better observe something bigger than your SUV — the sun. (Investor's Business Daily)
http://ibdeditorial.com/IBDArticles.aspx?id=287279412587175

What does green mean? Today's eco-speak defined (Austin Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2008/02/11/focus4.html?ana=from_rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Yahoo Officially Rejects Microsoft Takeover Offer (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/11/technology/11cnd-yahoo.html?_r=1&ex=1360472400&en=1952875072f8b2c9&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

Yahoo Rejects Microsoft's $44.6B Bid (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004176483_apmicrosoftyahoo11.html?syndication=rss

Ethics complaint filed over Clearwire tower in Medina – Wireless Internet provider's gift to police had no building permit (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/350765_tower11.html?source=rss

Millions may have digital TV reception troubles – Nearly 6 million people with digital receivers may still lose TV signals when digital-only broadcasts begin next February, a new study says. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/915/story/87415.html

Plugging Into a Community That Clicks – many homeowner and civic associations are turning to Web sites as their key communication tool. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/08/AR2008020801941.html?nav=rss_business

GENERAL NEWS

Bill to tape closed sessions revived
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/02/02082008_Bill-to-tape-closed-sessions-revived.cfm?newsletter=2

Levy lid mistake targeted by bill
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/02/02082008_Levy-lid-mistake-targeted-by-bill.cfm?newsletter=2

Wave of support building for new coastal weather radar (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004174706_radar10m.html?syndication=rss

Wire thefts along I-5 a growing problem (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/280188.html

DIVERSIONS

Judge Apologizes To Man Hounded 17 Years For Twin Brother's Traffic Tickets
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/15254590/detail.html

PETA opposes tribute to fried chicken – Animals rights advocates are squawking at a measure that would make fried chicken Kentucky's official picnic food (Have you noticed that the music bed for KENTUCKY Fried Chicken ads is the riff from “Sweet Home ALABAMA”)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080209/ap_on_fe_st/odd_picnic_squawk;_ylt=AsZb69X_paZJrsElm_b7qdTtiBIF

You mean I wasn't supposed to get 20's? An employee of a Valparaiso Wal-Mart has been charged with theft for repeatedly making purchases to get change from a self-service cash register that was dispensing $20 bills instead of $1 bills.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080209/ap_on_fe_st/odd_cash_theft;_ylt=AvShPdiJQxNPJ.iXjzWGUWTtiBIF

J.P. Patches: The Northwest's favorite clown for 50 years
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080210/NEWS01/281773053/-1/RSS01

Mendelssohn's 'Wedding March' at 150 (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18822541&ft=1&f=10