Energy News Digest for March 24, 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)

- Power Rates to Increase in North Mason
- Fired treasurer sues Grant County PUD for $3 million
- Monday Update: Rebate or credit? Cowlitz PUD mulls pleasant decision
- Clark Public Utilities repair service backers angry over loss of guaranteed hot water and appliance repair services
- DOE to evict Rattlesnake Mountain tenants
- Energy answers need healthy dose of innovation
- Proposed Oregon natural gas pipeline raises environmental concerns
- Suspected Montana copper thieves in jail
- Kansas Governor Vetoes Bill to Revive 2 Coal-Fired Plants
- Ohio – Coal, a bridge to the future
- Logan company: Hydroelectric plant could solve Utah's energy problems
- Mid-Atlantic Grid Monitors to Be Independent
- Florida Power & Light Company Will Fully Cooperate With FERC Investigation into Feb. 26 Outage
- 'Corridors' of power are finding resistance
- Judge rejects suit over Puget Sound salmon fishing
- The Sea Lion Dilemma: Feast or Salmon?
- California – Scientists try to explain dismal salmon run
- Commerce Department to consider West Coast salmon disaster
- San Francisco Chronicle Editorial – What Will It Take To Save The Salmon?
- Spokane – Two dams’ future uncertain
- State cracking down on illegal frost-control dams
- BPA emerges as a force for conservation
- Is the boom over for alternative energy – or just getting started?
- Air Force prods Wall St. to invest in coal-to-fuel plants
- Minnesota – Wood-burning plant embroiled in politics
- Green McMansions: Oxymoron? Maybe not
- Pay-to-save energy plans often being cheated
- UC Davis global warming researcher paints dire picture for Lake Tahoe
- Lofty Pledge to Cut Emissions Comes With Caveat in Norway
- Starbucks sows carbon farmers
- Utah Telecommunications projects – UTOPIA wants to reissue bonds
- South Carolina – Loftis questions Internet availability study
- Hopes for Wireless Cities Fade as Internet Providers Pull Out
- Sebastopol, California – Cancer-Concerned Citizens Block Public Wireless Network
- Seattle Post Intelligencer Op/Ed – How does our Internet garden grow?
- Comcast, Time Warner cable cry foul on Verizon
- Yahoo pays price for good deed to Google
- Anti-virus firms face tougher, faster pace
- $2 million fund to be set up for Web startups
- Shelton unhappy with leader
- Grant County EDC sues former bookkeeper
- Lt. Gov. Brad Owen to be knighted
- Grays Harbor County man guilty of metal theft
- Bear's collapse "Enron all over again"

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

WORD OF THE DAY

Antediluvian • \an-tih-dih-LOO-vee-un\ • adjective – 1: of or relating to the period before the flood described in the Bible 2a: made, evolved, or developed a long time ago *b: extremely primitive or outmoded

The keys crackled, sounding like a mad tap-dancer, only to be temporarily silenced by the aged accountant pulling the handle on his manual Victor adding machine. The regression to the antediluvian technology was hastened that fateful day by constant computer network problems at the accounting firm. The date was henceforth marked on the calendar as “Green Eyeshades Day”.

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

Power Rates to Increase in North Mason (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/mar/21/power-rates-to-increase-in-north-mason/

Fired treasurer sues Grant County PUD for $3 million (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080322/NEWS04/53703651/1006/NEWS03

Monday Update: Rebate or credit? Cowlitz PUD mulls pleasant decision (Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/03/24/area_news/10164652.txt

Clark Public Utilities repair service backers angry over loss of guaranteed hot water and appliance repair services (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/03/03212008_Repair-service-backers-angry.cfm?newsletter=2

DOE to evict Rattlesnake Mountain tenants – The Department of Energy has notified 12 agencies, including the nonprofit that owns the Rattlesnake Mountain Observatory, that they must move from the mountain. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/901/story/134741.html

Energy answers need healthy dose of innovation (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080323/BIZ/840558098

Proposed Oregon natural gas pipeline raises environmental concerns (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1206159922292990.xml&coll=7

Suspected copper thieves in jail – Two Hungry Horse men were arrested Thursday in connection with the theft of copper wire from a Flathead Electric Cooperative substation. (The Daily Inter Lake, Kalispell)
http://www.dailyinterlake.com/articles/2008/03/22/news/news02.txt

Kansas Governor Vetoes Bill to Revive 2 Coal-Fired Plants (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/22/us/22kansas.html?_r=1&ei=5088&en=ff6f12f5cfbc3c6a&ex=1364097600&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1206374503-m6qnZTGRPGMGK+Pe1sJ+Hw

Ohio – Coal, a bridge to the future – Ohio has a premier role in developing tomorrow's cleaner energy, a goal we all share (The Athens Messenger)
http://www.athensmessenger.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=274&ArticleID=9258&TM=37589.65

Logan company: Hydroelectric plant could solve Utah's energy problems (Salt Lake Tribune)
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_8675462?source=rss

Mid-Atlantic Grid Monitors to Be Independent – Monitors will be moved outside the control of the grid's operator after a probe into the alleged silencing of an internal critic. (Associated Press, via the Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/21/AR2008032102840.html?nav=rss_technology

One would hope so – Florida Power & Light Company Will Fully Cooperate With FERC Investigation into Feb. 26 Outage (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=86027

'Corridors' of power are finding resistance – The nation's electric grid needs beefing up, but critics say a federal plan is too big and ignores clean energy sources. (Los Angeles Times)
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/asection/la-na-corridors24mar24,1,3609470.story

WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT

Judge rejects suit over Puget Sound salmon fishing (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/356039_salmon22.html?source=oys

The Sea Lion Dilemma: Feast or Salmon? The hunter may soon become the hunted at Bonneville Dam (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/03/03232008_The-Sea-Lion-Dilemma-Feast-or-Salmon.cfm/

California – Scientists try to explain dismal salmon run (The San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/24/MN1BVMR10.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

Commerce Department to consider West Coast salmon disaster (The Associated Press)
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/W/WST_SALMON_DISASTER_OROL-?SITE=ORKLA&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

San Francisco Chronicle Editorial – What Will It Take To Save The Salmon?
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/23/EDP3VG03D.DTL&feed=rss.opinion

Two dams’ future uncertain – Sullivan Lake, a high-traffic camping and boating spot in northeastern Washington’s Selkirk Mountains, owes part of its popularity to two small dams. (Spokesman Review, Spokane)
http://www.spokesmanreview.com/breaking/story.asp?ID=14253

State cracking down on illegal frost-control dams (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080321/NEWS04/384099125/1001/rss1001

BPA emerges as a force for conservation – The federal power agency is funding habitat restoration in the valley (Corvallis Gazette Times)
http://www.gazettetimes.com/articles/2008/03/23/news/community/1aaa03_bpa.txt

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Is the boom over for alternative energy – or just getting started? Think long term for solar and wind investments, three experts say. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0321/p25s07-wmgn.html

Air Force prods Wall St. to invest in coal-to-fuel plants (Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1295117~Air_Force_prods_Wall_St__to_invest_in_coal_to_fuel_plants.html?cid=rss-Montana_Headlines

Minnesota – Wood-burning plant embroiled in politics – As a controversial wood-burning power plant proposed for south Minneapolis nears a key deadline, the project faces critical questions. (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CjikpqqtYUgc%216%3C%22bfen%5Fv

S.F. Mayor Gavin Newsom Makes Waves (GreenTech Media)
http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/sf-mayor-gavin-newsom-makes-waves-710.html

News Release – Renewable Industry Association Asks Congress to Direct DOE to Follow New Law: DOE needs direction to implement new geothermal energy law (Geothermal Energy Association)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/story?id=51930&src=rss

CONSERVATION

Green McMansions: Oxymoron? Maybe not (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/120607176316560.xml&coll=7

Pay-to-save energy plans often being cheated (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2008-03-23-energy-conservation-fraud_N.htm

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

UC Davis global warming researcher paints dire picture for Lake Tahoe (Sacramento Bee, may require free registration)
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/804318.html

Lofty Pledge to Cut Emissions Comes With Caveat in Norway – But as the details of the plan have emerged, environmental groups and politicians say the feat relies too heavily on sleight-of-hand accounting and huge donations to environmental projects abroad, rather than meaningful emissions reductions. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/22/world/europe/22norway.html?th&emc=th

Starbucks sows carbon farmers – The coffee giant wants to help farmers tap into the fast-growing $70 billion carbon credit business (Fortune Magazine)
http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/20/news/companies/gunther_starbucks.fortune/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Utah Telecommunications projects – UTOPIA wants to reissue bonds, set term at 32 years – Move will lower interest rate and give agency about $20 million more (Salt Lake Tribune, via Baller/Herbst)
http://origin.sltrib.com/ci_8645697

South Carolina – Loftis questions Internet availability study – Local legislator says state report may overstate coverage by broadband service (The Greenville News, via Baller/Herbst)
http://greenvilleonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080321/BUSINESS/803210328/1004/NEWS01

Hopes for Wireless Cities Fade as Internet Providers Pull Out – The excited momentum has sputtered to a standstill, tripped up by unrealistic ambitions and technological glitches. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/22/us/22wireless.html?th&emc=th

Sebastopol, California – Cancer-Concerned Citizens Block Public Wireless Network – Wi-Fi radiation fears convince city to stop building small public network (Broadband Reports – comment section may contain PG-13 language)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/CancerConcerned-Citizens-Block-Public-Wireless-Network-92895

Seattle Post Intelligencer Op/Ed – How does our Internet garden grow?
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/355996_firstperson24.html?source=rss

Comcast, Time Warner cable cry foul on Verizon (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/telecom/2008-03-23-phone-cable-wars-Verizon_N.htm?csp=N008

Yahoo pays price for good deed to Google (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004301567_yahoo24.html?syndication=rss

Anti-virus firms face tougher, faster pace (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004301558_btworkviruses24.html

$2 million fund to be set up for Web startups (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/356131_founders24.html?source=rss

GENERAL NEWS

Shelton unhappy with leader – Five unions representing city of Shelton employees are calling for the resignation of city administrator Dave O'Leary. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/397585.html

Grant County EDC sues former bookkeeper – Accused of embezzling $186,533 (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/03/21/news/news03.txt

Lt. Gov. Brad Owen to be knighted – Word came just after noon that his Excellency Lt. Gov. Brad Owen has been chosen by the King of Spain to be knighted (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/944/story/134319.html

Man guilty of metal theft – A 32-year-old Westport man with a long history of offenses received a sentence of almost 21/2 years for selling stolen scrap metal. (Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/03/23/local_news/05news.txt

Bear's collapse "Enron all over again" (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004299713_bear23.html

DIVERSIONS

Stranger than fiction: Suspect blames erratic driving on Oreo cookie
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080324/NEWS02/467922121/-1/RSS01

Counterfeiters ‘Washing’ $5 Bills, Making Them $50s; Lincoln’s Visage Remains
http://www.chronline.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1206298666&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&

Dog Prays at Japanese Zen Temple
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/ODD_PRAYING_DOG?SITE=ORKLA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2008-03-24-07-25-40

Man Declared Dead Feels 'Pretty Good'
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/N/NOT_DEAD?SITE=ORKLA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2008-03-24-10-09-55

1986 Message in Bottle Drifts 1,735 Mi.
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/M/MESSAGE_IN_A_BOTTLE?SITE=ORKLA&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT&CTIME=2008-03-23-23-52-25