Energy News Digest for February 12, 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
* Colorado/Kansas state line big factor in coal plant proposals
* Alliant eyes offset for emissions in Iowa
* How Will Virginia Keep the Lights On?
* Idaho – Owyhee may suspend planning for nuclear plant
* Report Warns of Threat to Campus Reactors
* Thurston County scrap-metal sting results in 1 citation
* New book on dam construction
* News Release – PUD 3 to conduct tree trimming along Highway 106
* Heat Costs Create Hardships for Landlords, Tenants
* Snowpack makes water supply look solid
* Drought Has Georgia Revisiting Border Dispute
* Canada – New fish farm study cites crash in salmon, trout populations
* Elk Herds Upsetting Ecosystems In Parks
* Battle Pits Solar Energy Against Trees
* How green is my building?
* Monthly utility bill typically reveals little
* Polar ice pack loss may break 2007 record
* Carbon offsets: Of Turnips and Tulips and Carbon
* High-tech giants seeking massive tax break – Eastern Washington server farms could get $1 billion state exemption
* Yahoo playing hard to get? Company might be seeking better price from Microsoft
* Demand for Video Reshaping Internet
* FCC Commissioner: Make broadband 'a higher priority'
* EarthLink's citywide Wi-Fi biz for sale
* Again, BlackBerrys Are Disrupted by a Technical Snag
* Mason County: Belco To Expand Operations
* Increase In Shelton Utility Bills Coming
* City Of Shelton To Go Back To Voters To Fund Streets
* City Of Shelton Park Maintenance To Be Cut
* Port of Olympia on board with plan for Portland flights
* Bill proposes "scarlet letter" for DUIs: bright-yellow license plates

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

WORD OF THE DAY

Philippic • \ fuh-LIP-ick\ • noun – A discourse or declamation full of bitter condemnation: tirade

The house was dark and quiet. The only indications of occupancy were the glowing embers on the tip of Alphonse’s expensive Turkish cigarette as he sat alone in his darkened study. In the distance, a dog barked. Suddenly his wild-haired wife burst into the room, spewing white flame retardant from an ancient fire extinguisher and howling a philippic against the dangers of smoking…”especially in MY house,” she thundered.

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 plan could lower Tri-City electric rates (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/901/story/88295.html

BPA starts process to reestablish residential exchange program. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/news-23/120252384120770.xml&storylist=orlocal

Colorado/Kansas state line big factor in coal plant proposals (Knight Ridder Business News, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CikplhquWTgdy30qbfen%5Fv

Alliant eyes offset for emissions in Iowa (Capital Times – hmm, shut down two old plants, convert another to natural gas, build windmills...is that OK?)
http://www.madison.com/tct/business/271635

How Will Virginia Keep the Lights On? (Red Orbit)
http://www.redorbit.com/news/business/1251093/how_will_virginia_keep_the_lights_on/

Idaho – Owyhee may suspend planning for nuclear plant – The county says it is owed a $50,000 processing fee by the company that wants to build the energy facility near Bruneau. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/292745.html

Report Warns of Threat to Campus Reactors – The risks of a terrorist attack on a nuclear reactor on a college campus, and the potential consequences, have been underestimated (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/12/us/12nuclear.html?ex=1360472400&en=3b96ba371e34686f&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Thurston County scrap-metal sting results in 1 citation (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/business/story/356513.html

New book on dam construction – A new book of pictures of the construction of Grand Coulee Dam and the Columbia Basin Project comes from Arcadia Publishing as part of the Images of America series. (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080211/NEWS04/621020854

News Release – PUD 3 to conduct tree trimming along Highway 106 - Project begins February 19 (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/News/display.asp?NewsID=408

Heat Costs Create Hardships for Landlords, Tenants (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18905438&ft=1&f=3

News Release – U.S. Department of Labor Announces $10 Million Competition to Build Skilled Trades Careers in Energy Industry (Transmission and Distribution World)
http://tdworld.com/etrain/news_highlights/department-of-labor-energy-skilled-labor-development/

WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT

Snowpack makes water supply look solid (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004177649_snow12m.html

Drought Has Georgia Revisiting Border Dispute – Flawed 1818 Survey Left State a Mile Short of Tennessee River (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/09/AR2008020902283.html?nav=rss_nation

Canada – New fish farm study cites crash in salmon, trout populations (The Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=1b30ef0f-90b3-41eb-907d-7f83625fe07c

Elk Herds Upsetting Ecosystems In Parks – Officials Favor Shooting to Restore Natural Balance (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/10/AR2008021002215.html?nav=rss_nation

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Battle Pits Solar Energy Against Trees – One homeowner in San Francisco has asked his neighbor to chop down his redwood trees because their shadow is interfering with his solar panels. (National Public Radio – Note: the solar panels were installed after trees were planted.)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=18905405&ft=1&f=3

CONSERVATION

How green is my building? Like your refrigerator, worthy commercial structures receive the EPA's Energy Star mark (Boston Globe)
http://www.boston.com/realestate/news/articles/2008/02/12/how_green_is_my_building/

Monthly utility bill typically reveals little – Utilities are turning to a new tool to help consumers conserve energy and cut costs: the monthly bill. (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/news/display_news_story.cfm?Section=WireNews&Category=HOME&NewsID=157466

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Polar ice pack loss may break 2007 record – Ocean currents, global warming and wind combine to leave the Arctic ice fragile. (Anchorage Daily News)
http://www.adn.com/front/story/312401.html

Carbon offsets: Of Turnips and Tulips and Carbon (Energy Pulse Commentary)
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1667

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

High-tech giants seeking massive tax break – Eastern Washington server farms could get $1 billion state exemption (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/350898_taxbreaks12.html?source=rss

Yahoo playing hard to get? Company might be seeking better price from Microsoft (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/350910_msftyahoo12.html

Demand for Video Reshaping Internet – In 1995, the first warning was raised: The throngs of people swarming to the Internet would overwhelm the system in 1996. For more than a decade, that fear has proven untrue. Until right about now. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004176745_apshapingtheinternet11.html?syndication=rss

FCC Commissioner: Make broadband 'a higher priority' – FCC, FTC say U.S. needs to push fast connections (Daily Camera, Boulder, CO)
http://dailycamera.com/news/2008/feb/11/commissioner-make-broadband-a-higher-priority/

EarthLink's citywide Wi-Fi biz for sale (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-10784_3-9867634-7.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-5

Again, BlackBerrys Are Disrupted by a Technical Snag – For the second time in less than a year, a technical failure on Monday idled the thumbs of many BlackBerry users by severing their wireless link to e-mail and the Web. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/12/technology/12rim.html?_r=1&ex=1360558800&en=f255373947a81d87&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

GENERAL NEWS

MASON COUNTY: BELCO TO EXPAND OPERATIONS – Belco Forest Products will expand soon with 16 new jobs, bringing its total employment in Shelton to 61, announced Matt Matayoshi, executive director of Mason County Economic Development Council. Matayoshi credited the expansion by the Tacoma-based facia board manufacturer to previous efforts by the Port of Shelton, Mason County and the Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board to build a waterline. The waterline was needed so Belco could build a new coating facility in Shelton last year. At that time, Belco had added 15 workers for the new facility. "That's real exciting news for us," Matayoshi said of the new jobs. (South Sound Business Examiner)

INCREASE IN SHELTON UTILITY BILLS COMING – City of Shelton residents will see an increase on their utility bills. According to Cathy Beierle, Director of Financial Service for the City, customers will see a 4% increase in their water bill and a 9% increase in their sewer bill. These new rates went into effect the first of the year. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)

CITY OF SHELTON TO GO BACK TO VOTERS TO FUND STREETS – The City of Shelton plans to again ask voters to approve a property tax increase to fund street repairs. However, this time they plan to ask for what is being called a "Show Me Tax." The plan is to ask for $500,000 and repair 40 blocks of streets. According to the City's Administrator, Dave O'Leary, if approved the City can demonstrate their intentions to repair streets. This would be a tax for one year and the City could ask residents for another $500,000 the next year and continue the cycle. The intent is to ask voters in August. The Shelton City Commission was briefed on this plan Monday and needs to approve a resolution reserving space on the August Primary Ballot. Action on that resolution could be approved during the City Commission's next meeting. Also during Monday's study session, the Mason County Association of Realtors said they would be willing to help fund a pollster to find out exactly what residents want and help relay that message to voters through the ballot measure. Cost of a professional pollster is at least $6,000 but could be more depending on how many questions are asked. The City Commission will continue discussion on this plan and possibly take action on the resolution at 6pm next Tuesday. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)

CITY OF SHELTON PARK MAINTENANCE TO BE CUT – The City of Shelton will be cutting back on its park maintenance this year due to budget constraints. Monday, Steve Goins, Director of the City's Department of Community and Economic Development, told the City Commission about the Parks Department's plans for this year. There are currently three fulltime employees in the Parks Department. The plan is to maintain that number until the Lead retires in September. The City will also NOT be hiring any summer help. This reduced staff will impact maintenance on the City's Parks and other facilities but keep them open. The other option is to close some facilities. Because of the limited staff, residents will see some reduced service such as trash pickup, weeding and edging, mowing, watering and special event support. According to Goins, staff has an obligation to maintain playground equipment and ball fields that are rented but the grass may be higher than the public has seen in the past and there may be brown spots during the heat of the summer. Goins told the Commissioner staff will do the best they can with their limited resources. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)

Port of Olympia on board with plan for Portland flights (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/356546.html

Bill proposes "scarlet letter" for DUIs: bright-yellow license plates (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2004177709_drunkdriving12m.html?syndication=rss

DIVERSIONS

Oregon man arrested on his way to court — at 130 mph
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004176736_webspeeder11m.html?syndication=rss

Lawyer Charged With Assault For Forceful Handshake
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/15272025/detail.html

Body-builders pluck stranded car from ditch
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN1128302020080211?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

Indonesian train roof riders to be sprayed
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN0627891520080211?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews