Energy News Digest for March 17, 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)

- Man severely burned inside Orcas Island substation
- News Release – Public invited to comment on BPA's electricity rate-setting process
- Idaho Power Co. seeks rate changes
- Hanford waste could go to Idaho
- Electricity use holds flat – Ashland's electricity use per person has dropped slightly since 1982
- The Power Drain – The Pinch At Home: Many Residents Stung By High Cost of Utilities
- Michigan – Electrical energy: State needs to create stability for utilities
- Changing and challenging winds in the power industry
- FERC rules on Sacramento Public Utilities’ projects
- News Release – BPA holding open houses to stress danger posed by trees and power lines
- Snohomish County PUD Names New Attorney
- Shutdown on salmon a major blow to anglers
- California Chinook Salmon Vanish Without a Trace
- West Coast salmon season imperiled by low stocks
- Cushman Dam water release will aid salmon
- Hood Canal – Young Steelhead Return to Familiar Waters
- Makah 'treaty warriors': Heroes or criminals?
- More testing sought for water
- Power from the people: Aberdeen lacks “gas”
- U.S. on the Verge of a Small Hydro Boom?
- Arizona Star Op/Ed – Say no to reneging on energy standards
- Energy portfolio in question – Some officials say local renewable energy projects better than buying credits
- Bright ideas in solar energy
- Switching off incandescents a no-brainer?
- Tri-City Herald Op/Ed – Dani Doane: Light bulbs: An illuminating accident
- Montana – Green and lean: Carbon-neutral home results in $28 February power bill
- Carbon-Trading Exchange Opens in New York
- The greening of Wall Street: environment's pot of gold?
- Canada – National carbon tax gets nod
- Wenatchee – Is it really greener here?
- Portland's gold standard for green meetings
- Corvallis named greenest city in U.S.
- Maryland lawmakers seek to speed rural Web access
- Taxpayers may be asked to help pay for political campaigns
- Metal thieves strike air conditioning units

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

WORD OF THE DAY

Fruition • \froo-ISH-un\ • noun – 1: pleasurable use or possession: enjoyment 2a: the state of bearing fruit *b: realization

Time was running out. All his years of practicing three point shots would hinge on his left corner shot…the fruition of his efforts was not to be, however, as a power outage reset Antonio’s NBA video game with two seconds left on the game clock. “Curses,” he fumed under his breath as he was forced to return to work in his cubicle on his first quarter reports.

From Merriam-Webster Dictionary – "Fruition" must come from the word "fruit," right? Not exactly. "Fruition" and "fruit" are related (both ultimately come from the Latin verb "frui," meaning "to enjoy"), but they were derived independently. The original meaning of "fruition" had nothing to do with fruit. Rather, when the term was first used in the early 15th century, it meant only "pleasurable use or possession." Not until the 19th century did "fruition" develop a second meaning, "the state of bearing fruit," possibly as the result of a mistaken assumption that "fruition" evolved from "fruit." The "state of bearing fruit" sense was followed quickly by the figurative application to anything that can be "realized" and metaphorically bear fruit, such as a plan or a project.

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

Man severely burned inside Orcas Island substation (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/16727266.html

News Release – Public invited to comment on BPA's electricity rate-setting process (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/195351/

Idaho Power Co. seeks rate changes – Idaho Power wants a new fee to pay for conservation and an adjustment in power rates. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/business/story/324392.html

Hanford waste could go to Idaho (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/355263_hanford17.html?source=rss

Electricity use holds flat – Ashland's electricity use per person has dropped slightly since 1982, even as average electricity use has jumped significantly in Oregon and the United States. (Ashland Daily Tidings)
http://www.dailytidings.com/2008/0315/stories/0315_electricity.php

The Power Drain – The Pinch At Home: Many Residents Stung By High Cost of Utilities (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/15/AR2008031501014.html?nav=rss_nation

Michigan – Electrical energy: State needs to create stability for utilities, closely evaluate plans (Livingston Daily Press & Argus)
http://www.dailypressandargus.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080317/OPINION01/803170308/1014/OPINION

Changing and challenging winds in the power industry – It's an awkward time in the energy business. Coal is plentiful, but coal-gas generation is carbon-spewing, and the body politic won't tolerate that. (Crosscut Seattle)
http://www.crosscut.com/politics-government/12625/Changing+and+challenging+winds+in+the+power+industry/

FERC rules on Sacramento Public Utilities’ projects – Final Environmental Impact Statement for the Upper American River Projects (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)
http://www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower/enviro/eis/2008/03-14-08.asp

News Release – BPA holding open houses to stress danger posed by trees and power lines – Policy change resulting in additional tree removal will be explained (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/195240/

SNOHOMISH COUNTY PUD NAMES NEW ATTORNEY – Snohomish County PUD named Anne Spangler as its new general counsel. Spanger has more than 25 years of experience as an attorney, most recently as chief counsel for Tacoma Public Utilities. Her background includes work for the city of Tacoma, the Seattle city attorney and the Washington state attorney general. Spangler holds a bachelor's degree in anthropology from Reed College and a law degree with honors from the University of California's Hastings College of Law in San Francisco. She begins her new post May 5. (Everett Herald)

WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT

Shutdown on salmon a major blow to anglers – Final decisions on options will be adopted in April (Salem Statesman Journal)
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080316/NEWS/803160307

California Chinook Salmon Vanish Without a Trace (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/17/science/earth/17salmon.html?_r=1&ex=1363492800&en=8e708979a1f2a936&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

West Coast salmon season imperiled by low stocks (Christian Science Monitor)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20080317/ts_csm/asalmon

Water release will aid salmon – Tacoma Power, Skokomish tribe reach deal on dam (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/391040.html

Hood Canal – Young Steelhead Return to Familiar Waters (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2008/mar/16/steelhead-get-boost-in-hamma-hamma-river/

Makah 'treaty warriors': Heroes or criminals? Whaling case has political implications for all U.S. tribes (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/355205_makah17.html?source=rss

More testing sought for water (The Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/391037.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Power from the people: Aberdeen lacks “gas” – A Grays Harbor County PUD study to see if Aberdeen’s wastewater could generate power determined that the city doesn’t produce enough methane gas to make the conversion worthwhile. (The Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/03/14/local_news/02news.txt

U.S. on the Verge of a Small Hydro Boom? (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=51858&src=rss

Arizona Star Op/Ed – Say no to reneging on energy standards – U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/business/229856.php

Energy portfolio in question – Some officials say local renewable energy projects better than buying credits (The Coloradan)
http://www.coloradoan.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080317/NEWS01/803170322

Bright ideas in solar energy (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004286878_btsoho17.html?syndication=rss

CONSERVATION

Switching off incandescents a no-brainer? (Toronto Star)
http://www.thestar.com/Business/article/346692

Tri-City Herald Op/Ed – Dani Doane: Light bulbs: An illuminating accident – The Heritage Foundation
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/987/story/119707.html

Montana – Green and lean: Carbon-neutral home results in $28 February power bill (The Missoulian)
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/03/16/news/top/news01.txt

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Carbon-Trading Exchange Opens in New York (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88382450&ft=1&f=3

The greening of Wall Street: environment's pot of gold? (The Economist Magazine, via the Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/355065_greenonline17.html?source=rss

Canada – National carbon tax gets nod from Dion – Liberal leader says levy on gasoline and other fuels would fight warming (Victoria Times-Colonist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=0094730b-b485-4040-bd07-645fa0cb5e2e&k=74706

Is it really greener here? It's been nearly a year since Wenatchee found itself in a surprising national spotlight, being named the fifth-greenest city in America. (The Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080315/NEWS04/661595410

City's gold standard for green meetings – Portland is counting on its long-standing "green" reputation to help it become the destination of choice for people who want to meet in an eco-friendly place. (The Oregonian – Just don’t pay attention to that darned fuel mix report)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1205465133259710.xml&coll=7

Corvallis named greenest city in U.S. (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/03/10/daily39.html?ana=from_rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Maryland lawmakers seek to speed rural Web access (The News Journal. Wilmington, Delaware)
http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080315/NEWS/80315004

GENERAL NEWS

Taxpayers may be asked to help pay for political campaigns (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/355246_pubmoney17.asp?source=rss

China-bound copper thefts stop Australian trains – With stopped trains, stolen phone lines and pilfered power cables, Australians are paying a hefty price for China's pre-Olympic building boom
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080313/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_australia_china_copper;_ylt=AmJs3zHR.k.volps8MAcSVftiBIF

Metal thieves strike air conditioning units (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/03/03142008_Metal-thieves-strike-air-conditioning-units.cfm?newsletter=1

DIVERSIONS

Accountant loses $600,000 grape lawsuit – He tried to sue British retail chain Marks & Spencer after he slipped on a grape and injured himself
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080313/od_nm/court_grape_dc;_ylt=AnivFlZ2E0JnJEsZgLGpJn3tiBIF

Engagement ring ends up gone with the wind – Helium-filled balloon not the best delivery device…
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080314/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_britain_engagement;_ylt=AspfQEFSOa9fGaLcRaM_frDtiBIF

Discipline despite Calif. bus rescue – A 15-year-old girl who stopped an out-of-control school bus she was riding on was handed a Saturday detention instead because she was skipping school.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080316/ap_on_fe_st/odd_school_bus_drama;_ylt=ApltMu1ZHRtzUQELpb4nOqTtiBIF

`Ben Franklin,' `Betsy Ross' to marry
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080315/ap_on_fe_st/odd_revolutionary_marriage;_ylt=AuKvXGpiA0cKVhvBt5SeXoDtiBIF