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)
- Jefferson PUD board discounts numbers in Puget Sound Energy-backed study
- Skagit County PUD electricity vote
- Pacific Power seeks rate hike
- Puget Sound Energy Eyeing Three New Sources of Long-Term Power Supply
- BPA in the Spotlight – Energy: Upgrading the grid
- IDAHO – Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative grows with the upper valley
- Heating Oil Costs Are Rising
- Heating-oil customers facing difficult choices are eyeing other energy sources
- American Electric Power Company asks for 15% rate hike each of next three years
- Los Angeles OKs tiered rate system for summer electricity use
- CALIFORNIA – Special inspection scheduled for San Onofre nuclear plant
- Tennessee Valley Authority’s CEO says trust the agency
- FERC Chairman testifies on state of nation’s transmission grid
- Taylor Shellfish, neighbors, state will talk about remedy
- Lake Wenatchee getting closer to sockeye season
- Feds to study effect of pesticides on NW salmon
- ALASKA – Warming waters pose threats to Alaska salmon
- Water bottling company makes its pitch to Orting
- Duckabush, Dosewallips flood plan advisory meeting
- OREGON – Complications delay Lake Oswego sewer project
- CANADA – Warming means more raw sewage in local water
- A 'Dead Zone' in The Gulf of Mexico
- New Tools Emerge in Global Fight for Clean Water
- Are The Enhanced Bottled Waters Worth It?
- Renewable Energy Tax Credit Legislation Voted Down
- Wind overtakes water in Britain's green energy mix
- Renewing Urban Communities through Renewable Energy
- NORTH CAROLINA – As critics scowl, Duke praises Save-a-Watt
- Maryland Residents Asked To Cut Energy Use
- Trying to Curb Global Heat, U.N. to Turn Up Its Own
- Oregon Joins With Four Other States: Threaten to Sue E.P.A.
- Statesman-Journal Editorial – How's your lawn's carbon footprint?
- CenturyTel posts lower second quarter profit
- DSL Takes A Beating – Telcos post worst quarterly additions in DSL history
- CANADA – Bell Outlines Plan To Cap Wholesalers
- Yo FCC! Are You Doing Anything About Metered Broadband?
- NYC Trying To Fill Broadband Black Holes
- Exxon Mobil second quarter profit sets US record
- Price tag set for former Olympia brewery
- Copper thief targets radiation equipment
- Fungus Could Help Stem Worldwide Threat to Bees
- Bonneville turning off KBSG, will simulcast KIRO signal at 97.3 FM
- Racy Espresso Stand Planned For Belfair Tops Commission Meeting
- Tech firm pays $10,000 in fines for dumping hundreds of rebate requests
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Pusillanimous • \pyoo-suh-LAN-uh-muhs \ • adjective – Lacking in courage and resolution; contemptibly fearful; cowardly.
Unbeknownst to many Frank L. Baum scholars, the idea of the “Cowardly Lion” was not the author’s first choice for his book, “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”. For many weeks, much to the displeasure of his editor, Baum insisted that the third companion for Dorothy be called the “Pusillanimous Penguin”. The editor won out, and the rest is history.
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
Jefferson PUD board discounts numbers in Puget Sound Energy-backed study (The Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080731/NEWS/807310305
Skagit County PUD electricity vote (KAPS Radio, Mount Vernon, WA)http://www.kapsradio.com/2008/07/30/pud-electricity-vote/
Pacific Power seeks rate hike – The utility wants to raise rates 15 percent for more than 125,000 customers (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2008/07/30/local_news/080730local02ratehike.txt
Puget Sound Energy Eyeing Three New Sources of Long-Term Power Supply – 'Short List' from Request-for-Proposals Process Features More Wind Energy (Centre DailyTimes)
http://www.centredaily.com/business/story/745575.html
BPA in the Spotlight – Energy: Upgrading the grid – Electricity grids must cope with rising demand and complexity in a changing world (Nature News Online)
http://www.nature.com/news/2008/080730/full/454570a.html
IDAHO – Fall River Rural Electric Cooperative grows with the upper valley (The Standard Journal, Rexburg, ID)
http://rexburgstandardjournal.com/articles/2008/07/30/news/32.txt
Heating Oil Costs Are Rising (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)
http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews/?Heating-Oil-Costs-Are-Rising=1&blockID=11352&feedID=410
Heating-oil customers facing difficult choices are eyeing other energy sources (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008082735_heatingoil31m.html?syndication=rss
OHIO – American Electric Power Company asks for 15% rate hike each of next three years (Business First of Columbus)
http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2008/07/28/daily25.html?ana=from_rss
CALIFORNIA – Los Angeles OKs tiered rate system for summer electricity use (The Los Angeles Times)
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-electric31-2008jul31,0,2179926.story
CALIFORNIA – Special inspection scheduled for San Onofre nuclear plant (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1514492~Special_inspection_scheduled_for_San_Onofre_plant.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
Tennessee Valley Authority’s CEO says trust the agency (The Tennessean, Nashville, TN)
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080729/NEWS02/80729175/1009/NEWS02
NEWS RELEASE – FERC Chairman Joseph T. Kelliher testifies on the state of our nation’s transmission grid before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission – Links to PDF File)
http://www.ferc.gov/EventCalendar/Files/20080731102123-Chairmantestimony.pdf
FISH & WILDLIFE
Taylor Shellfish, neighbors, state will talk about remedy (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/525838.html
Lake Wenatchee getting closer to sockeye season (The Yakima Herald-Republic , WA)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/6318
Feds to study effect of pesticides on NW salmon (The Associated Press, via the Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP07312008news346966.cfm
ALASKA – Warming waters pose threats to Alaska salmon, could reorder marine ecosystems (Anchorage News Miner)
http://newsminer.com/news/2008/jul/31/warming-waters-pose-threats-alaska-salmon-could-re/
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Water bottling company makes its pitch to Orting – Orting City Council members are continuing talks with a Nestle subsidiary about building a bottled-water plant in town – less than a month after Enumclaw officials sent the company packing (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/429342.html
Duckabush, Dosewallips flood plan advisory meeting is Thursday in Brinnon (Port Townsend Leader, WA)http://www.ptleader.com/Main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=21481
OREGON – Complications delay Lake Oswego sewer project – The contractor pulls out and the city, facing a lawsuit threat, eyes a private property (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1217388378194540.xml&coll=7
CANADA – Warming means more raw sewage in local water (The Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=e7f6720b-210e-4162-8582-0c996099e5fd
A 'Dead Zone' in The Gulf of Mexico – Scientists Say Area That Cannot Support Some Marine Life Is Near Record Size (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/30/AR2008073002943.html?nav=rss_nation
New Tools Emerge in Global Fight for Clean Water (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/international/July-08/New-Tools-Emerge-in-Global-Fight-for-Clean-Water.html
Are The Enhanced Bottled Waters Worth It? (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/money/17044255/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Renewable Energy Tax Credit Legislation Voted Down in U.S. Senate (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=53210&src=rss
UNITED KINGDOM – Wind overtakes water in Britain's green energy mix (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSL152895220080731
Renewing Urban Communities through Renewable Energy – Solar Living Institute trains urban youth in solar installation (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/story?id=53212&src=rss
CONSERVATION
NORTH CAROLINA – As critics scowl, Duke praises Save-a-Watt (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5Ckpqqomu%5BVgb%7DGJ%7Bbfen%5Fv
Maryland Residents Asked To Cut Energy Use (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93032462&ft=1&f=3
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Trying to Curb Global Heat, U.N. to Turn Up Its Own (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/31/world/31nations.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Oregon Joins With Four Other States and New York City Threaten to Sue E.P.A. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/us/AP-EPA-Emissions-Challenge.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Statesman-Journal Editorial – How's your lawn's carbon footprint? (Salem, OR – and while we’re at it, what about natural gas water heaters, natural gas central heating, breathing, flatulence….)
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080731/OPINION/807310347/1049
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
CenturyTel posts lower second quarter profit – CenturyTel posts lower 2nd-quarter profit as settlement gain boosts year-ago results (The Associated Press)
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080731/earns_centurytel.html?.v=1
DSL Takes A Beating – Telcos post worst quarterly additions in DSL history (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/DSL-Takes-A-Beating-96580
CANADA – Bell Outlines Plan To Cap Wholesalers – Just in case regulators don't allow them to throttle (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Bell-Outlines-Plan-To-Cap-Wholesalers-96589
Yo FCC! Are You Doing Anything About Metered Broadband? (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/07/30/fcc-metered-broadban/
NYC Trying To Fill Broadband Black Holes – City committee still talking about options, nearly three years later (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/NYC-Trying-To-Fill-Broadband-Black-Holes-96572
GENERAL NEWS
Exxon Mobil second quarter profit sets US record, shares fall – Even though the earnings set a record, the results fell short of expectations (The Associated Press)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080731/ap_on_bi_ge/earns_exxon_mobil_18
Price tag set for former Olympia brewery (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/526395.html
Copper thief targets radiation equipment (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1514431~Copper_thief_targets_radiation_equipment.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
Fungus Could Help Stem Worldwide Threat to Bees (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/environment/July-August-08/Fungus-Could-Help-Stem-Worldwide-Threat-to-Bees.html
Bonneville turning off KBSG, will simulcast KIRO signal at 97.3 FM (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/07/28/daily19.html?ana=from_rss
Racy Espresso Stand Planned For Belfair Tops Mason County's Fifth Tuesday Meeting (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/683/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
Tech firm pays $10,000 in fines for dumping hundreds of rebate requests (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10044432?source=rss
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Portland cop fired for lying about weight-loss surgery – said she was having gall bladder surgery
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/372819_copsurgery31.html?source=rss
The Great Vegan Honey Debate – Is honey the dairy of the insect world?
http://www.slate.com/id/2196205/?from=rss
Lost Letter Makes Its Way Back Home 60 Years Later
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17038582/detail.html
44-Pound Cat Needs A New Home In New Jersey
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17038563/detail.html
For pictures of this cat, go here:
http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,24107945-2,00.html
Hidden Van Gogh revealed in color by scientists
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSKUA05713520080730?feedType=nl&feedName=ustechnology
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
Energy News Digest for July 30, 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)
- East Jefferson pocketbook shock seen by PSE-funded study
- Supporters of PUD electrical service say they don't believe PSE study
- Avista requests increase in electric power cost adjustment surcharge
- Workers recovering after explosion at natural gas well near Bickleton, WA
- Squirrel to blame for downtown Kennewick blackout
- Chehalis woman arrested for theft of copper wire
- Cosmopolis mill a step closer to reopening
- TEXAS – Sierra Club to sue Energy Future Holdings over Mercury
- Ex-Enron Official to Pay Millions to Settle charges
- CANADA – Decline in Fraser River sockeye run pits First Nations against sport fishery
- CANADA – Showdown set over declining sockeye stocks
- Salmon fishing heats up near Pateros
- OREGON – Groups jockey for ocean-issue leverage
- Oregon's Sandy River successfully reinvents itself after dam removal
- IDAHO – State starts study of key aquifer
- Western governors urge federal Pacific plan – No Drilling
- Public Encouraged To Comment on Geothermal Energy Development
- Portland General Electric reveals electric charging stations
- Florida energy regulators pull plug on renewables program
- Florida Looks to the Sea for Energy
- Can We Run The World Off The Sun?
- Vermont's Unique Approach to Curbing Energy Use
- MONTANA – Report outlines warming in region
- 7-square-mile ice sheet breaks loose in Canada
- Comcast Illegally Interfered With Web File-Sharing Traffic
- Oregon data center touts savings that don't add up
- Comcast Earnings Prove Broadband Growth Slowing
- IOC admits Internet censorship deal with China
- Frontier Imposes 5 GB Cap For DSL
- With Security at Risk, a Push to Patch the Web
- San Francisco Techie Accused of Holding Network Hostage
- Welcome to the PS3 Data Center
- Asphalt shortage cuts paving in WA counties
- Probe: Fed employees may have bought fake degrees
- Aluminum company might bring 900 jobs to Vancouver
- Utah man electrocuted at Idaho hospital
- Found in vineyards – Yakima Valley pot problem keeps growing
- Seattle Times Op/Ed – Why Seattle's bag tax is a bad idea
- IDAHO – Officials investigating source of mercury found at apartment
- Delta To Double Baggage Fees
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Asperse • \uh-SPURSS\ • verb – 1: to sprinkle; especially: to sprinkle with holy water *2: to attack with evil reports or false or injurious charges
“Take that…and THAT,” shouted Bradford at his tiddlywinks opponent. Along with his constant bumping of the table, Bradford aspersed his opponent’s manicure; his sunglasses…even the cloud of his adversary’s AXE body spray that enveloped the playing area like a miasmatic cloud of musk-scented fog.
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
East Jefferson pocketbook shock seen by PSE-funded study if PUD takes over electricity service (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080730/NEWS/807300306
Supporters of PUD electrical service say they don't believe PSE study (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080730/NEWS/807300307
Avista requests increase in electric power cost adjustment surcharge (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA via MSNBC)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25887631/
Workers recovering after explosion at natural gas well near Bickleton, WA (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/256309.html
Squirrel to blame for downtown Kennewick blackout (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/256366.html
Chehalis woman arrested for theft of copper wire (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/07/30/area_news/doc48900d6bd5560980543778.txt
Cosmopolis mill a step closer to reopening (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/07/29/local_news/02news.txt
TEXAS – Sierra Club to sue Energy Future Holdings over Mercury Emissions (Dallas Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2008/07/28/daily22.html?ana=from_rss
Ex-Enron Official to Pay Millions to Settle charges that he used inside information to profit illegally from sales of thousands of shares of company stock (The Associated Press, via the NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/30/business/30enron.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
FISH & WILDLIFE
CANADA – Decline in Fraser River sockeye run pits First Nations against sport fishery (The Canadian Press)
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jfGVfEpl6uy6AawZax2Phcc9QnwA
CANADA – Showdown set over declining sockeye stocks (The Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080729.wsockeye_fight0729/BNStory/National/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20080729.wsockeye_fight0729
Salmon fishing heats up near Pateros – Chinook fishing has picked up on the main stem Columbia River above Wells Dam (The Omak Chronicle, WA)
http://www.omakchronicle.com/spt/s080729h.shtml
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
OREGON – Groups jockey for ocean-issue leverage (Tillamook Headlight-Herald, OR)
http://tillamookheadlightherald.com/Main.asp?SectionID=8&SubSectionID=8&ArticleID=9946
Oregon's Sandy River successfully reinvents itself after dam removal – Scientists are impressed how fast the river is digesting Marmot Dam sediment (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1217390121239080.xml&coll=7
IDAHO – State starts study of key aquifer (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1511102~State_starts_study_of_key_N__Idaho_aquifer.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Western governors urge federal Pacific plan – want to keep new oil drilling rigs out of their waters and spend more money on programs to restore the health of the Pacific Ocean (Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, CA)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_10037231?source=rss
Public Encouraged To Comment on Geothermal Energy Development on Federal Lands (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2695-public-encouraged-comment-geothermal-energy-development-federal-lands/
Portland General Electric reveals electric charging stations (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/07/28/daily22.html?ana=from_rss
Florida energy regulators pull plug on renewables program – Customers who enrolled in Florida Power & Light's Sunshine Energy Program to help develop renewable energy apparently were getting a lot less than what they bargained for (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2008/07/28/daily26.html?ana=from_rss
Florida Looks to the Sea for Energy – Undersea Turbines May Convert Powerful Current to Electricity (ABC News)
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/AheadoftheCurve/story?id=5473958&page=1
Can We Run The World Off The Sun? (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93029434&ft=1&f=17
CONSERVATION
Vermont's Unique Approach to Curbing Energy Use (National Public Radio – To Pacific Northwesterners, is this really new?)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92987505&ft=1&f=3
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
MONTANA – Report outlines warming in region (The Missoulian, MT)
http://missoulian.com/articles/2008/07/30/news/mtregional/news09.txt
7-square-mile ice sheet breaks loose in Canada (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008079735_apcanadaarcticiceshelf.html?syndication=rss
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Comcast Illegally Interfered With Web File-Sharing Traffic, FCC Says (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/29/AR2008072902077.html?nav=rss_business
Oregon data center touts savings that don't add up – The state's new data center is either an award-winning innovation that is saving Oregon taxpayers millions or it's a multimillion-dollar mistake (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1217301959122300.xml&coll=7
Comcast Earnings Prove Broadband Growth Slowing (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/07/30/comcast-earnings-prove-broadband-growth-slowing/
IOC admits Internet censorship deal with China (Reuters)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080730/ts_nm/olympics_dc_8
Frontier Imposes 5 GB Cap For DSL – Declares anything more 'unreasonable' (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Frontier-Imposes-5-GB-Cap-For-DSL-96546
With Security at Risk, a Push to Patch the Web (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/30/technology/30flaw.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
San Francisco Techie Accused of Holding Network Hostage (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93041374&ft=1&f=2
Welcome to the PS3 Data Center (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/07/29/welcome-to-the-ps3-data-center/
GENERAL NEWS
Asphalt shortage cuts paving in WA counties (The Associated Press, via the Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP07302008news346600.cfm
Probe: Fed employees may have bought fake degrees (Associated Press, via the Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP07302008news346629.cfm?newsletter=10
Aluminum company might bring 900 jobs to Vancouver (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/07/07302008_Aluminum-company-might-bring-900-jobs-to-Vancouver.cfm/
Utah man electrocuted at Idaho hospital (The Associated Press, via the Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/525048.html
Yakima Valley pot problem keeps growing – Once again, thousands of plants seized in Lower Valley vineyards (The Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/6291
Seattle Times Op/Ed – Why Seattle's bag tax is a bad idea
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008080185_bagtaxop30.html
IDAHO – Officials still investigating source of mercury found at apartment (The Associated Press, via the Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/525004.html
Delta To Double Baggage Fees – Charge Applies To Second Bag Checked In (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/money/17036342/detail.html
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
B.O. in bars only slightly less smelly than swine production site, study says
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/bizbeat/story/255486.html
Lacey mail carrier lobbies for kilt equality
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008080654_kiltman30m.html?syndication=rss
Muscle cars, cosmetic surgery, vacations and a kitchen countertop – Company card abuser pleads guilty to fraud
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/30/BAIB121VDU.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
Eating Bugs Keeps Lost Exterminator Alive – Man Survives 4 Days On Termites, Other Insects
http://www.kirotv.com/health/17036279/detail.html
'Extreme Makeover' Home Faces Foreclosure – $450,000 House Used As Collateral For Business Loan
http://www.kirotv.com/entertainment/17036879/detail.html
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- East Jefferson pocketbook shock seen by PSE-funded study
- Supporters of PUD electrical service say they don't believe PSE study
- Avista requests increase in electric power cost adjustment surcharge
- Workers recovering after explosion at natural gas well near Bickleton, WA
- Squirrel to blame for downtown Kennewick blackout
- Chehalis woman arrested for theft of copper wire
- Cosmopolis mill a step closer to reopening
- TEXAS – Sierra Club to sue Energy Future Holdings over Mercury
- Ex-Enron Official to Pay Millions to Settle charges
- CANADA – Decline in Fraser River sockeye run pits First Nations against sport fishery
- CANADA – Showdown set over declining sockeye stocks
- Salmon fishing heats up near Pateros
- OREGON – Groups jockey for ocean-issue leverage
- Oregon's Sandy River successfully reinvents itself after dam removal
- IDAHO – State starts study of key aquifer
- Western governors urge federal Pacific plan – No Drilling
- Public Encouraged To Comment on Geothermal Energy Development
- Portland General Electric reveals electric charging stations
- Florida energy regulators pull plug on renewables program
- Florida Looks to the Sea for Energy
- Can We Run The World Off The Sun?
- Vermont's Unique Approach to Curbing Energy Use
- MONTANA – Report outlines warming in region
- 7-square-mile ice sheet breaks loose in Canada
- Comcast Illegally Interfered With Web File-Sharing Traffic
- Oregon data center touts savings that don't add up
- Comcast Earnings Prove Broadband Growth Slowing
- IOC admits Internet censorship deal with China
- Frontier Imposes 5 GB Cap For DSL
- With Security at Risk, a Push to Patch the Web
- San Francisco Techie Accused of Holding Network Hostage
- Welcome to the PS3 Data Center
- Asphalt shortage cuts paving in WA counties
- Probe: Fed employees may have bought fake degrees
- Aluminum company might bring 900 jobs to Vancouver
- Utah man electrocuted at Idaho hospital
- Found in vineyards – Yakima Valley pot problem keeps growing
- Seattle Times Op/Ed – Why Seattle's bag tax is a bad idea
- IDAHO – Officials investigating source of mercury found at apartment
- Delta To Double Baggage Fees
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Asperse • \uh-SPURSS\ • verb – 1: to sprinkle; especially: to sprinkle with holy water *2: to attack with evil reports or false or injurious charges
“Take that…and THAT,” shouted Bradford at his tiddlywinks opponent. Along with his constant bumping of the table, Bradford aspersed his opponent’s manicure; his sunglasses…even the cloud of his adversary’s AXE body spray that enveloped the playing area like a miasmatic cloud of musk-scented fog.
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
East Jefferson pocketbook shock seen by PSE-funded study if PUD takes over electricity service (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080730/NEWS/807300306
Supporters of PUD electrical service say they don't believe PSE study (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080730/NEWS/807300307
Avista requests increase in electric power cost adjustment surcharge (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA via MSNBC)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/25887631/
Workers recovering after explosion at natural gas well near Bickleton, WA (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/256309.html
Squirrel to blame for downtown Kennewick blackout (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/256366.html
Chehalis woman arrested for theft of copper wire (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/07/30/area_news/doc48900d6bd5560980543778.txt
Cosmopolis mill a step closer to reopening (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/07/29/local_news/02news.txt
TEXAS – Sierra Club to sue Energy Future Holdings over Mercury Emissions (Dallas Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2008/07/28/daily22.html?ana=from_rss
Ex-Enron Official to Pay Millions to Settle charges that he used inside information to profit illegally from sales of thousands of shares of company stock (The Associated Press, via the NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/30/business/30enron.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
FISH & WILDLIFE
CANADA – Decline in Fraser River sockeye run pits First Nations against sport fishery (The Canadian Press)
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5jfGVfEpl6uy6AawZax2Phcc9QnwA
CANADA – Showdown set over declining sockeye stocks (The Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080729.wsockeye_fight0729/BNStory/National/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20080729.wsockeye_fight0729
Salmon fishing heats up near Pateros – Chinook fishing has picked up on the main stem Columbia River above Wells Dam (The Omak Chronicle, WA)
http://www.omakchronicle.com/spt/s080729h.shtml
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
OREGON – Groups jockey for ocean-issue leverage (Tillamook Headlight-Herald, OR)
http://tillamookheadlightherald.com/Main.asp?SectionID=8&SubSectionID=8&ArticleID=9946
Oregon's Sandy River successfully reinvents itself after dam removal – Scientists are impressed how fast the river is digesting Marmot Dam sediment (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1217390121239080.xml&coll=7
IDAHO – State starts study of key aquifer (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1511102~State_starts_study_of_key_N__Idaho_aquifer.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Western governors urge federal Pacific plan – want to keep new oil drilling rigs out of their waters and spend more money on programs to restore the health of the Pacific Ocean (Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, CA)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_10037231?source=rss
Public Encouraged To Comment on Geothermal Energy Development on Federal Lands (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2695-public-encouraged-comment-geothermal-energy-development-federal-lands/
Portland General Electric reveals electric charging stations (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/07/28/daily22.html?ana=from_rss
Florida energy regulators pull plug on renewables program – Customers who enrolled in Florida Power & Light's Sunshine Energy Program to help develop renewable energy apparently were getting a lot less than what they bargained for (Tampa Bay Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/stories/2008/07/28/daily26.html?ana=from_rss
Florida Looks to the Sea for Energy – Undersea Turbines May Convert Powerful Current to Electricity (ABC News)
http://abcnews.go.com/Technology/AheadoftheCurve/story?id=5473958&page=1
Can We Run The World Off The Sun? (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93029434&ft=1&f=17
CONSERVATION
Vermont's Unique Approach to Curbing Energy Use (National Public Radio – To Pacific Northwesterners, is this really new?)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92987505&ft=1&f=3
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
MONTANA – Report outlines warming in region (The Missoulian, MT)
http://missoulian.com/articles/2008/07/30/news/mtregional/news09.txt
7-square-mile ice sheet breaks loose in Canada (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008079735_apcanadaarcticiceshelf.html?syndication=rss
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Comcast Illegally Interfered With Web File-Sharing Traffic, FCC Says (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/29/AR2008072902077.html?nav=rss_business
Oregon data center touts savings that don't add up – The state's new data center is either an award-winning innovation that is saving Oregon taxpayers millions or it's a multimillion-dollar mistake (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1217301959122300.xml&coll=7
Comcast Earnings Prove Broadband Growth Slowing (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/07/30/comcast-earnings-prove-broadband-growth-slowing/
IOC admits Internet censorship deal with China (Reuters)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080730/ts_nm/olympics_dc_8
Frontier Imposes 5 GB Cap For DSL – Declares anything more 'unreasonable' (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Frontier-Imposes-5-GB-Cap-For-DSL-96546
With Security at Risk, a Push to Patch the Web (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/30/technology/30flaw.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
San Francisco Techie Accused of Holding Network Hostage (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93041374&ft=1&f=2
Welcome to the PS3 Data Center (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/07/29/welcome-to-the-ps3-data-center/
GENERAL NEWS
Asphalt shortage cuts paving in WA counties (The Associated Press, via the Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP07302008news346600.cfm
Probe: Fed employees may have bought fake degrees (Associated Press, via the Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP07302008news346629.cfm?newsletter=10
Aluminum company might bring 900 jobs to Vancouver (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/07/07302008_Aluminum-company-might-bring-900-jobs-to-Vancouver.cfm/
Utah man electrocuted at Idaho hospital (The Associated Press, via the Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/525048.html
Yakima Valley pot problem keeps growing – Once again, thousands of plants seized in Lower Valley vineyards (The Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/6291
Seattle Times Op/Ed – Why Seattle's bag tax is a bad idea
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008080185_bagtaxop30.html
IDAHO – Officials still investigating source of mercury found at apartment (The Associated Press, via the Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/525004.html
Delta To Double Baggage Fees – Charge Applies To Second Bag Checked In (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/money/17036342/detail.html
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
B.O. in bars only slightly less smelly than swine production site, study says
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/bizbeat/story/255486.html
Lacey mail carrier lobbies for kilt equality
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008080654_kiltman30m.html?syndication=rss
Muscle cars, cosmetic surgery, vacations and a kitchen countertop – Company card abuser pleads guilty to fraud
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/30/BAIB121VDU.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
Eating Bugs Keeps Lost Exterminator Alive – Man Survives 4 Days On Termites, Other Insects
http://www.kirotv.com/health/17036279/detail.html
'Extreme Makeover' Home Faces Foreclosure – $450,000 House Used As Collateral For Business Loan
http://www.kirotv.com/entertainment/17036879/detail.html
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Energy News Digest for July 29, 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)
- Jefferson County PUD commissioners meet with PSE reps today
- East Jefferson voters to decide on electricity future: PSE or PUD
- Puget Sound Energy Sounds off – Seattle Times Editorial
- Expect heat over utility bill increases
- Energy Northwest nuclear task force dissolved
- Court dismisses Klamath farmers’ bid for cheap power
- CONNECTICUT – Nuclear Power Key To Containing Energy Costs
- NEW YORK – Long Island Power Authority 's program energy project tests has mixed results
- The Columbian Editorial – Oceans in Jeopardy
- Oakland Bay Study Continued
- Seattle Times Editorial – What price Puget Sound?
- CANADA – Stormwater is fouling our beaches
- Reality Check for Plug-In Disciples
- MICHIGAN – Paying the power bill: Utilities seek tax breaks alternative-energy
- NEWS RELEASE – Solar Power Helps Protect PSE's Natural Gas System
- Biofuels driving world food prices: World Bank
- NORTH CAROLINA – Critics of 'Save-a-Watt' says it's all about profit
- WEST VIRGINIA – Energy conservation should be priority
- Climate Experts Tussle Over Details
- Utah Broadband – Locals Try To Keep Utopia Afloat:
- 'Data deluge' is coming, academics warned
- The Brookings Plan for Rural Broadband
- Washington Post Op/Ed – Who Should Solve This Internet Crisis?
- FCC's McDowell: The Internet Will Stop If You Regulate Comcast
- FCC works to settle debate over new Web technology
- Latest get-rich dream: flipping Web sites
- Brush Fire Reported In Timberlakes
- North Mason School Board Opts for Costlier Bond
- Renaissance Faire canceled after illegal logging
- City of Seattle OKs 20-cent fee on plastic, paper bags
- Oregon Statewide Recycling Program Causing Concern
- Judge allows plane-hopping Tacoma boy to go home
- Spokane newspaper posts names of those it says bought degrees
- Hoquiam Woman Accused Of Stealing $80K Of Church Money
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Impecunious • \im-pih-KYOO-nee-uss\ • adjective – Having very little or no money usually habitually: penniless
Albert shuddered when his boss invited the impecunious accountant to join the group for lunch. Al knew that at the end of the meal, the interloper would display a dismayed look and bemoan the fact that his wallet “must be in his other pants”.
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
Jefferson County PUD commissioners meet with PSE reps on Wednesday (Port Townsend Leader, WA)
http://www.ptleader.com/Main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=21454
East Jefferson voters to decide on electricity future: PSE or PUD (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080729/NEWS/807290303
Puget Sound Energy Sounds off – Seattle Times Editorial – New investors will help PSE meet region's growing energy needs
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008078287_pseop29.html
Expect heat over utility bill increases (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/virgin/372520_virgin29.html
Energy Northwest nuclear task force dissolved – ENW has ended the work of a committee studying new nuclear power technologies and cut off its funding at the request of the Bonneville Power Administration (The Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/901/story/255078.html
Court dismisses Klamath farmers’ bid for cheap power (The Associated Press, via Ag Weekly)
http://www.agweekly.com/articles/2008/07/28/news/ag_news/news40.txt
CONNECTICUT – Nuclear Power Key To Containing Energy Costs (The Hartford Courant, CT)
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-perry0729.artjul29,0,5033942.story
NEW YORK – Long Island Power Authority 's program energy project tests has mixed results – LIPA has kept up a lively program of testing a bizarrely diverse, and sometimes costly, range of energy projects (NewsDay, NY)
http://www.newsday.com/services/newspaper/printedition/monday/longisland/ny-lilipa205771316jul21,0,87078.story
FISH & WILDLIFE
The Columbian Editorial – Oceans in Jeopardy (Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/opinion/news/2008/07/07292008_In-our-view-Oceans-in-Jeopardy.cfm/
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
OAKLAND BAY STUDY CONTINUED – The Washington Department of Ecology has extended the time frame for public input on its planned study of possible contamination in Mason County's Oakland Bay. The comment period will now end Aug. 11. The study examines test sites to look for potential contamination sites. It follows prior sampling results that identified the presence of wood waste and several chemical contaminants in Shelton Harbor. Ecology proposes taking sediment and wood waste samples in various locations in Oakland Bay, Shelton Harbor and Hammersley Inlet. Part of the study involves analyzing shellfish tissue samples from Oakland Bay. Ecology will issue a report of the study's findings in mid 2009. (South Sound Business Examiner)
Seattle Times Editorial – What price Puget Sound? The value Earth Economics places on Puget Sound, but we are not sure what to make of it, nor of the eco-accounting behind it.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2008073512_notebookbr28.html
CANADA – Stormwater is fouling our beaches: Road runoff contains chemicals and human waste (The Victoria Times Colonist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=34f8a3a6-b6c2-4c7e-a9bd-4402f8332084
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Reality Check for Plug-In Disciples – Common Use of the Hybrids Is Years Away (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10005390?source=rss
MICHIGAN – Paying the power bill: Utilities seek tax breaks as state looks to flip the switch for alternative-energy systems (Crain’s Detroit Business)
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20080728/SUB/807280303/1068
NEWS RELEASE – Solar Power Helps Protect PSE's Natural Gas System (Puget Sound Energy, via ElectricNet)
http://www.electricnet.com/article.mvc/Solar-Power-Helps-Protect-PSEs-Natural-Gas-0001?atc~c=771+s=773+r=001+l=a&VNETCOOKIE=NO
Biofuels driving world food prices: World Bank (Reuters)
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=290bd326-728c-40e3-b6d1-0178f9544f68
CONSERVATION
NORTH CAROLINA – Critics of 'Save-a-Watt' says it's all about profit: Duke Energy sees energy program as a national model (Trading Markets)
http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1784881/
WEST VIRGINIA – Energy conservation should be priority, W.Va. lawmakers told (Charleston Gazette, WV)
http://wvgazette.com/News/200807280622
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Climate Experts Tussle Over Details. Public Gets Whiplash. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/29/science/earth/29clim.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Utah Broadband – Locals Try To Keep Utopia Afloat: New citizen-advisory board (U-CAN) formed (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Locals-Try-To-Keep-Utopia-Afloat-96515
'Data deluge' is coming, academics warned – Microsoft raises subject at annual Faculty Summit (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/372525_msftresearch29.html
The Brookings Plan for Rural Broadband (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/07/28/the-brookings-plan-for-rural-broadband/
Washington Post Op/Ed – Who Should Solve This Internet Crisis?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/27/AR2008072701172.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns
FCC's McDowell: The Internet Will Stop If You Regulate Comcast – Guess we know which way he's going to vote on Friday (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/FCCs-McDowell-The-Internet-Will-Stop-If-You-Regulate-Comcast-96484
FCC works to settle debate over new Web technology – Companies hope to convince the FCC that it can use these unlicensed airwaves, but broadcasters are fearful of interference (The Washington Post, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008076709_whitespaces28.html
Latest get-rich dream: flipping Web sites (The NY Times, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008078932_webflippers290.html
GENERAL NEWS
Brush Fire Reported In Timberlakes (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/663/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
North Mason School Board Opts for Costlier Bond (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/jul/28/north-mason-opts-for-costlier-bond-to-fund-new/
Renaissance Faire canceled after illegal logging at Key (actually, Tahuya) Peninsula site (the News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/426921.html
City of Seattle OKs 20-cent fee on plastic, paper bags – Council also outlaws foam food and drink containers (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/372566_bags29.html
Oregon Statewide Recycling Program Causing Concern (KNDO-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=8752568
Judge allows plane-hopping Tacoma boy to go home (The Associated Press, via the Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP07292008news346195.cfm?newsletter=10
Spokane newspaper posts names of those it says bought degrees (The Associated Press, via the Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP07292008news346121.cfm?newsletter=10
Hoquiam Woman Accused Of Stealing $80K Of Church Money (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17019959/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_7am&tmi=sea_7am_1_09000207292008&ts=H
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Unwitting gardener tends marijuana plants
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL567319920080728?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest
Friday's remote solar eclipse will be on Internet
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008077498_apsolareclipse.html?syndication=rss
Illinois – Misspellings, grammar errors put Cook County “Good News” magazine on ice
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/1076365,CST-NWS-mag27.article
In defense of ukuleles
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/arts/la-ca-defenseukelele27-2008jul27,0,6312266.story
Women Lift Car off Pinned Mechanic – Man Pinned By Volkswagen Beetle
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/17014119/detail.html
House Sold Out From Under Owner for $500 – City Sells Man's House for $500, Claims It Was Mistake
http://www.kirotv.com/money/17024620/detail.html
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Jefferson County PUD commissioners meet with PSE reps today
- East Jefferson voters to decide on electricity future: PSE or PUD
- Puget Sound Energy Sounds off – Seattle Times Editorial
- Expect heat over utility bill increases
- Energy Northwest nuclear task force dissolved
- Court dismisses Klamath farmers’ bid for cheap power
- CONNECTICUT – Nuclear Power Key To Containing Energy Costs
- NEW YORK – Long Island Power Authority 's program energy project tests has mixed results
- The Columbian Editorial – Oceans in Jeopardy
- Oakland Bay Study Continued
- Seattle Times Editorial – What price Puget Sound?
- CANADA – Stormwater is fouling our beaches
- Reality Check for Plug-In Disciples
- MICHIGAN – Paying the power bill: Utilities seek tax breaks alternative-energy
- NEWS RELEASE – Solar Power Helps Protect PSE's Natural Gas System
- Biofuels driving world food prices: World Bank
- NORTH CAROLINA – Critics of 'Save-a-Watt' says it's all about profit
- WEST VIRGINIA – Energy conservation should be priority
- Climate Experts Tussle Over Details
- Utah Broadband – Locals Try To Keep Utopia Afloat:
- 'Data deluge' is coming, academics warned
- The Brookings Plan for Rural Broadband
- Washington Post Op/Ed – Who Should Solve This Internet Crisis?
- FCC's McDowell: The Internet Will Stop If You Regulate Comcast
- FCC works to settle debate over new Web technology
- Latest get-rich dream: flipping Web sites
- Brush Fire Reported In Timberlakes
- North Mason School Board Opts for Costlier Bond
- Renaissance Faire canceled after illegal logging
- City of Seattle OKs 20-cent fee on plastic, paper bags
- Oregon Statewide Recycling Program Causing Concern
- Judge allows plane-hopping Tacoma boy to go home
- Spokane newspaper posts names of those it says bought degrees
- Hoquiam Woman Accused Of Stealing $80K Of Church Money
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Impecunious • \im-pih-KYOO-nee-uss\ • adjective – Having very little or no money usually habitually: penniless
Albert shuddered when his boss invited the impecunious accountant to join the group for lunch. Al knew that at the end of the meal, the interloper would display a dismayed look and bemoan the fact that his wallet “must be in his other pants”.
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
Jefferson County PUD commissioners meet with PSE reps on Wednesday (Port Townsend Leader, WA)
http://www.ptleader.com/Main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=21454
East Jefferson voters to decide on electricity future: PSE or PUD (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080729/NEWS/807290303
Puget Sound Energy Sounds off – Seattle Times Editorial – New investors will help PSE meet region's growing energy needs
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008078287_pseop29.html
Expect heat over utility bill increases (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/virgin/372520_virgin29.html
Energy Northwest nuclear task force dissolved – ENW has ended the work of a committee studying new nuclear power technologies and cut off its funding at the request of the Bonneville Power Administration (The Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/901/story/255078.html
Court dismisses Klamath farmers’ bid for cheap power (The Associated Press, via Ag Weekly)
http://www.agweekly.com/articles/2008/07/28/news/ag_news/news40.txt
CONNECTICUT – Nuclear Power Key To Containing Energy Costs (The Hartford Courant, CT)
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-perry0729.artjul29,0,5033942.story
NEW YORK – Long Island Power Authority 's program energy project tests has mixed results – LIPA has kept up a lively program of testing a bizarrely diverse, and sometimes costly, range of energy projects (NewsDay, NY)
http://www.newsday.com/services/newspaper/printedition/monday/longisland/ny-lilipa205771316jul21,0,87078.story
FISH & WILDLIFE
The Columbian Editorial – Oceans in Jeopardy (Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/opinion/news/2008/07/07292008_In-our-view-Oceans-in-Jeopardy.cfm/
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
OAKLAND BAY STUDY CONTINUED – The Washington Department of Ecology has extended the time frame for public input on its planned study of possible contamination in Mason County's Oakland Bay. The comment period will now end Aug. 11. The study examines test sites to look for potential contamination sites. It follows prior sampling results that identified the presence of wood waste and several chemical contaminants in Shelton Harbor. Ecology proposes taking sediment and wood waste samples in various locations in Oakland Bay, Shelton Harbor and Hammersley Inlet. Part of the study involves analyzing shellfish tissue samples from Oakland Bay. Ecology will issue a report of the study's findings in mid 2009. (South Sound Business Examiner)
Seattle Times Editorial – What price Puget Sound? The value Earth Economics places on Puget Sound, but we are not sure what to make of it, nor of the eco-accounting behind it.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2008073512_notebookbr28.html
CANADA – Stormwater is fouling our beaches: Road runoff contains chemicals and human waste (The Victoria Times Colonist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=34f8a3a6-b6c2-4c7e-a9bd-4402f8332084
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Reality Check for Plug-In Disciples – Common Use of the Hybrids Is Years Away (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10005390?source=rss
MICHIGAN – Paying the power bill: Utilities seek tax breaks as state looks to flip the switch for alternative-energy systems (Crain’s Detroit Business)
http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20080728/SUB/807280303/1068
NEWS RELEASE – Solar Power Helps Protect PSE's Natural Gas System (Puget Sound Energy, via ElectricNet)
http://www.electricnet.com/article.mvc/Solar-Power-Helps-Protect-PSEs-Natural-Gas-0001?atc~c=771+s=773+r=001+l=a&VNETCOOKIE=NO
Biofuels driving world food prices: World Bank (Reuters)
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=290bd326-728c-40e3-b6d1-0178f9544f68
CONSERVATION
NORTH CAROLINA – Critics of 'Save-a-Watt' says it's all about profit: Duke Energy sees energy program as a national model (Trading Markets)
http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/1784881/
WEST VIRGINIA – Energy conservation should be priority, W.Va. lawmakers told (Charleston Gazette, WV)
http://wvgazette.com/News/200807280622
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Climate Experts Tussle Over Details. Public Gets Whiplash. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/29/science/earth/29clim.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Utah Broadband – Locals Try To Keep Utopia Afloat: New citizen-advisory board (U-CAN) formed (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Locals-Try-To-Keep-Utopia-Afloat-96515
'Data deluge' is coming, academics warned – Microsoft raises subject at annual Faculty Summit (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/372525_msftresearch29.html
The Brookings Plan for Rural Broadband (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/07/28/the-brookings-plan-for-rural-broadband/
Washington Post Op/Ed – Who Should Solve This Internet Crisis?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/07/27/AR2008072701172.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns
FCC's McDowell: The Internet Will Stop If You Regulate Comcast – Guess we know which way he's going to vote on Friday (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/FCCs-McDowell-The-Internet-Will-Stop-If-You-Regulate-Comcast-96484
FCC works to settle debate over new Web technology – Companies hope to convince the FCC that it can use these unlicensed airwaves, but broadcasters are fearful of interference (The Washington Post, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008076709_whitespaces28.html
Latest get-rich dream: flipping Web sites (The NY Times, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008078932_webflippers290.html
GENERAL NEWS
Brush Fire Reported In Timberlakes (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/663/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
North Mason School Board Opts for Costlier Bond (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/jul/28/north-mason-opts-for-costlier-bond-to-fund-new/
Renaissance Faire canceled after illegal logging at Key (actually, Tahuya) Peninsula site (the News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/426921.html
City of Seattle OKs 20-cent fee on plastic, paper bags – Council also outlaws foam food and drink containers (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/372566_bags29.html
Oregon Statewide Recycling Program Causing Concern (KNDO-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=8752568
Judge allows plane-hopping Tacoma boy to go home (The Associated Press, via the Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP07292008news346195.cfm?newsletter=10
Spokane newspaper posts names of those it says bought degrees (The Associated Press, via the Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP07292008news346121.cfm?newsletter=10
Hoquiam Woman Accused Of Stealing $80K Of Church Money (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17019959/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_7am&tmi=sea_7am_1_09000207292008&ts=H
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Unwitting gardener tends marijuana plants
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL567319920080728?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest
Friday's remote solar eclipse will be on Internet
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008077498_apsolareclipse.html?syndication=rss
Illinois – Misspellings, grammar errors put Cook County “Good News” magazine on ice
http://www.suntimes.com/news/politics/1076365,CST-NWS-mag27.article
In defense of ukuleles
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/news/arts/la-ca-defenseukelele27-2008jul27,0,6312266.story
Women Lift Car off Pinned Mechanic – Man Pinned By Volkswagen Beetle
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/17014119/detail.html
House Sold Out From Under Owner for $500 – City Sells Man's House for $500, Claims It Was Mistake
http://www.kirotv.com/money/17024620/detail.html
Monday, July 28, 2008
Energy News Digest for July 28, 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)
- FERC renews Cowlitz PUD's hydroelectric lease
- Puget Sound Energy buys 125 megawatt Sumas natural gas-fired power plant
- Chelan County PUD Power line repairs to top $1 million
- Grant PUD approves contract for FERC-mandated security
- New Tribune Editorial – What’s the price of public service?
- Wenatchee Word Editorial – Our World: Grand Coulee celebration
- Hartford Courant Commentary – State's Electricity Picture Brightening
- Salt Lake Tribune Op/Ed – A full portfolio of resources can ease the energy crunch
- Portland Press-Herald Editorial – Maine should get off the grid
- "Hot Stick" Shields Body From High Voltage
- Columbia teems with new species
- Rocky Barker – First sockeye comes home to Idaho
- Wapato fish die a day after lake treatment to kill toxin-producing algae
- Tri-City Herald Editorial – New water makes our food, economy grow
- Idaho Water Accounting
- Oregon to have world's largest wind farm
- Winds of change fill new career
- Wenatchee World Editorial – Talking It Over: Taking a closer look at wind power
- Houston Chronicle Letters –Is it an ill wind blowing?
- Daily News Editorial – Surprising testimony should propel energy-policy discourse
- Building Bridges in the Wood Pellet Heating Industry
- Data Centers That Will Follow the Sun and Chase the Wind
- BPA will reimburse Power Save costs
- Fans of L.E.D.’s Say This Bulb’s Time Has Come
- VIRGINIA – 'Green' easy for companies to tout but hard to guarantee
- East Wenatchee – Eastside data center lands another tenant
- Eugene chip plant Hynix will close, erasing 1,400 jobs
- Russia, The Final Frontier For Data Centers?
- FCC Majority Plans To Punish Comcast For Throttling
- Time to drop cable television?
- Phones Without Homes
- Fresno Wants Citywide Wireless But Doesn’t Want To Pay
- Broadband in 3/4 of U.S. Homes By 2012
- Olympia man charged in attack on trees
- CALIFORNIA – Scrap Dealer charged in Sacramento water meter scandal
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Xanadu • \ZAN-uh-doo\ • noun – An idyllic, exotic, or luxurious place
“Ahh,…whenever I hear the word Xanadu I think of the former glory of the Mongol Empire,” sighed Bataar. “I think of Charles Foster Kane!” shouted Jim Gettys, “I imagine Olivia Newton John, resplendent in spandex,” said Sonny Malone in a dreamy, far away voice.
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
FERC renews Cowlitz PUD's hydroelectric lease (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/07/25/area_news/doc48893d80212f9356412244.txt
Puget Sound Energy buys 125 megawatt Sumas natural gas-fired power plant (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008077761_apwapugetenergysumas.html?syndication=rss
Chelan County PUD Power line repairs to top $1 million (The Wenatchee World, WA)http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080725/NEWS04/98861046/1005
Grant PUD approves contract for FERC-mandated security (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/07/25/news/news02.txt
New Tribune Editorial – What’s the price of public service? Fears of a talent drain at Tacoma Public Utilities put pressure on city leaders over potential raises (Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/424907.html
Wenatchee Word Editorial – Our World: Grand Coulee celebration
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080726/NEWS04/815319348/1001/rss1001
Hartford Courant Commentary – State's Electricity Picture Brightening – Just a few years ago, Connecticut's electricity system was on the federal watch list of areas in need of improvement
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/commentary/hc-commentaryvanwelie0727.artjul27,0,3623169.story
Salt Lake Tribune Op/Ed – A full portfolio of resources can ease the energy crunch – Rocky Mountain Power and Questar Gas rate increase requests before the Utah Public Service Commission would add about $20 a month to the typical customer's energy bills (Salt Lake City, UT)
http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_10006756
Portland Press-Herald Editorial – Maine should get off the grid
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=201262&ac=PHedi
"Hot Stick" Shields Body From High Voltage (KNDO-TV, Tri Cities, WA)http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=8733828
FISH & WILDLIFE
Columbia teems with new species – Altered habitat makes invaders feel at home (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/outdoors/story/521010.html
Rocky Barker – First sockeye comes home to Idaho (The Idaho Statesman, Boise ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/environment/story/452344.html
Wapato fish die a day after lake treatment to kill toxin-producing algae (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/424910.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Tri-City Herald Editorial – New water makes our food, economy grow – With her recent actions on Mid-Columbia water projects, Gov. Chris Gregoire has done something positive and important for our region
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/962/story/253385.html
Idaho Water Accounting (Northwest Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=4131
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Oregon to have world's largest wind farm – A state energy panel has approved building what developers say would be the world's largest single wind farm in Gilliam and Morrow counties (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008075554_windfarm27m.html?syndication=rss
Winds of change fill new career (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Post-Intelligencer – 25 cents to Klaus Meine of the Scorpions)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/372356_windfixers28.html?source=rss
Wenatchee World Editorial – Talking It Over: Taking a closer look at wind power
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080724/NEWS04/85287057/1025/rss1025
Houston Chronicle Letters –Is it an ill wind blowing? (Houston, TX)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/5908983.html
Daily News Editorial – Surprising testimony should propel energy-policy discourse – Oilman T. Boone Pickens was on Capitol Hill last week advocating energy alternatives to the fossil fuels that made him rich (Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/07/27/editorial/doc488b911a349e5667362794.txt
Building Bridges in the Wood Pellet Heating Industry (PelletSales.com)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/story?id=53171&src=rss
Data Centers That Will Follow the Sun and Chase the Wind (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/07/25/data-centers-that-will-follow-the-sun-and-chase-the-wind/
CONSERVATION
BPA will reimburse Power Save costs – The Bonneville Power Administration will reimburse the total cost of a power-saving energy management product called Faronics Power Save (The Statesman-Journal, Salem, OR)
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080728/BUSINESS/807280315
Fans of L.E.D.’s Say This Bulb’s Time Has Come (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/28/technology/28led.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
VIRGINIA – 'Green' easy for companies to tout but hard to guarantee (The Virginian Pilot)
http://hamptonroads.com/2008/07/green-easy-companies-tout-hard-guarantee
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
East Wenatchee – Eastside data center lands another tenant (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080728/BIZ/928125542
Eugene chip plant Hynix will close, erasing 1,400 jobs – Employees will be told today of the memory chip plant's closure, which ranks among Oregon's biggest layoffs this decade (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1216869903314710.xml&coll=7
Russia, The Final Frontier For Data Centers? (GigaOM)http://gigaom.com/2008/07/27/russia-data-centers/
FCC Majority Plans To Punish Comcast For Throttling – Official vote pending announcement next week (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/FCC-Majority-Plans-To-Punish-Comcast-For-Throttling-96436
Time to drop cable television? Not so fast (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN2429877920080724?feedType=nl&feedName=ustechnology
Phones Without Homes – What's really killing the land-line telephone business? (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2195765/?from=rss
Fresno Wants Citywide Wireless But Doesn’t Want To Pay – Lots of rules in the RFP but no offer of payment (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Fresno-Wants-Citywide-Wireless-But-Doesnt-Want-To-Pay-96462
Broadband in 3/4 of U.S. Homes By 2012 – According to the latest new report (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Broadband-in-34-of-US-Homes-By-2012-96459
GENERAL NEWS
Olympia man charged in attack on trees (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/520047.html
CALIFORNIA – Scrap Dealer charged in Sacramento water meter scandal (Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://www.sacbee.com/1089/story/1107726.html
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
'Addicted' to Being Buried in Trash? Man Arrested at Silverdale Dump
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/jul/24/man-looking-for-trash-arrested-for-theft/
Labrador 'runs' for mayor of Fairhope, Alaska
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080728/ap_on_fe_st/odd_fido_for_mayor;_ylt=AvK932y0PrtMC2YgiNkqkK3tiBIF
German police officers are mistaken for strippers
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080728/ap_on_fe_st/odd_germany_police_strippers;_ylt=AnHjfEIQ8cNdebfVTIC8dKTtiBIF
The bride wore dart launchers at Comic-Con wedding
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080726/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_comiccon_wedding;_ylt=AidP_CTfSsapA3TpqD7ZEATtiBIF
Eel drink goes on sale for Japan's hot summer
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080728/ap_on_fe_st/odd_japan_eel_drink;_ylt=AsdU3xRTAXPFnzAIN8T.kKHtiBIF
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- FERC renews Cowlitz PUD's hydroelectric lease
- Puget Sound Energy buys 125 megawatt Sumas natural gas-fired power plant
- Chelan County PUD Power line repairs to top $1 million
- Grant PUD approves contract for FERC-mandated security
- New Tribune Editorial – What’s the price of public service?
- Wenatchee Word Editorial – Our World: Grand Coulee celebration
- Hartford Courant Commentary – State's Electricity Picture Brightening
- Salt Lake Tribune Op/Ed – A full portfolio of resources can ease the energy crunch
- Portland Press-Herald Editorial – Maine should get off the grid
- "Hot Stick" Shields Body From High Voltage
- Columbia teems with new species
- Rocky Barker – First sockeye comes home to Idaho
- Wapato fish die a day after lake treatment to kill toxin-producing algae
- Tri-City Herald Editorial – New water makes our food, economy grow
- Idaho Water Accounting
- Oregon to have world's largest wind farm
- Winds of change fill new career
- Wenatchee World Editorial – Talking It Over: Taking a closer look at wind power
- Houston Chronicle Letters –Is it an ill wind blowing?
- Daily News Editorial – Surprising testimony should propel energy-policy discourse
- Building Bridges in the Wood Pellet Heating Industry
- Data Centers That Will Follow the Sun and Chase the Wind
- BPA will reimburse Power Save costs
- Fans of L.E.D.’s Say This Bulb’s Time Has Come
- VIRGINIA – 'Green' easy for companies to tout but hard to guarantee
- East Wenatchee – Eastside data center lands another tenant
- Eugene chip plant Hynix will close, erasing 1,400 jobs
- Russia, The Final Frontier For Data Centers?
- FCC Majority Plans To Punish Comcast For Throttling
- Time to drop cable television?
- Phones Without Homes
- Fresno Wants Citywide Wireless But Doesn’t Want To Pay
- Broadband in 3/4 of U.S. Homes By 2012
- Olympia man charged in attack on trees
- CALIFORNIA – Scrap Dealer charged in Sacramento water meter scandal
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Xanadu • \ZAN-uh-doo\ • noun – An idyllic, exotic, or luxurious place
“Ahh,…whenever I hear the word Xanadu I think of the former glory of the Mongol Empire,” sighed Bataar. “I think of Charles Foster Kane!” shouted Jim Gettys, “I imagine Olivia Newton John, resplendent in spandex,” said Sonny Malone in a dreamy, far away voice.
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
FERC renews Cowlitz PUD's hydroelectric lease (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/07/25/area_news/doc48893d80212f9356412244.txt
Puget Sound Energy buys 125 megawatt Sumas natural gas-fired power plant (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008077761_apwapugetenergysumas.html?syndication=rss
Chelan County PUD Power line repairs to top $1 million (The Wenatchee World, WA)http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080725/NEWS04/98861046/1005
Grant PUD approves contract for FERC-mandated security (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/07/25/news/news02.txt
New Tribune Editorial – What’s the price of public service? Fears of a talent drain at Tacoma Public Utilities put pressure on city leaders over potential raises (Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/424907.html
Wenatchee Word Editorial – Our World: Grand Coulee celebration
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080726/NEWS04/815319348/1001/rss1001
Hartford Courant Commentary – State's Electricity Picture Brightening – Just a few years ago, Connecticut's electricity system was on the federal watch list of areas in need of improvement
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/commentary/hc-commentaryvanwelie0727.artjul27,0,3623169.story
Salt Lake Tribune Op/Ed – A full portfolio of resources can ease the energy crunch – Rocky Mountain Power and Questar Gas rate increase requests before the Utah Public Service Commission would add about $20 a month to the typical customer's energy bills (Salt Lake City, UT)
http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_10006756
Portland Press-Herald Editorial – Maine should get off the grid
http://pressherald.mainetoday.com/story.php?id=201262&ac=PHedi
"Hot Stick" Shields Body From High Voltage (KNDO-TV, Tri Cities, WA)http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=8733828
FISH & WILDLIFE
Columbia teems with new species – Altered habitat makes invaders feel at home (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/outdoors/story/521010.html
Rocky Barker – First sockeye comes home to Idaho (The Idaho Statesman, Boise ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/environment/story/452344.html
Wapato fish die a day after lake treatment to kill toxin-producing algae (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/424910.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Tri-City Herald Editorial – New water makes our food, economy grow – With her recent actions on Mid-Columbia water projects, Gov. Chris Gregoire has done something positive and important for our region
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/962/story/253385.html
Idaho Water Accounting (Northwest Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=4131
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Oregon to have world's largest wind farm – A state energy panel has approved building what developers say would be the world's largest single wind farm in Gilliam and Morrow counties (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008075554_windfarm27m.html?syndication=rss
Winds of change fill new career (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Post-Intelligencer – 25 cents to Klaus Meine of the Scorpions)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/372356_windfixers28.html?source=rss
Wenatchee World Editorial – Talking It Over: Taking a closer look at wind power
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080724/NEWS04/85287057/1025/rss1025
Houston Chronicle Letters –Is it an ill wind blowing? (Houston, TX)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/5908983.html
Daily News Editorial – Surprising testimony should propel energy-policy discourse – Oilman T. Boone Pickens was on Capitol Hill last week advocating energy alternatives to the fossil fuels that made him rich (Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/07/27/editorial/doc488b911a349e5667362794.txt
Building Bridges in the Wood Pellet Heating Industry (PelletSales.com)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/story?id=53171&src=rss
Data Centers That Will Follow the Sun and Chase the Wind (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/07/25/data-centers-that-will-follow-the-sun-and-chase-the-wind/
CONSERVATION
BPA will reimburse Power Save costs – The Bonneville Power Administration will reimburse the total cost of a power-saving energy management product called Faronics Power Save (The Statesman-Journal, Salem, OR)
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080728/BUSINESS/807280315
Fans of L.E.D.’s Say This Bulb’s Time Has Come (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/28/technology/28led.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
VIRGINIA – 'Green' easy for companies to tout but hard to guarantee (The Virginian Pilot)
http://hamptonroads.com/2008/07/green-easy-companies-tout-hard-guarantee
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
East Wenatchee – Eastside data center lands another tenant (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080728/BIZ/928125542
Eugene chip plant Hynix will close, erasing 1,400 jobs – Employees will be told today of the memory chip plant's closure, which ranks among Oregon's biggest layoffs this decade (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1216869903314710.xml&coll=7
Russia, The Final Frontier For Data Centers? (GigaOM)http://gigaom.com/2008/07/27/russia-data-centers/
FCC Majority Plans To Punish Comcast For Throttling – Official vote pending announcement next week (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/FCC-Majority-Plans-To-Punish-Comcast-For-Throttling-96436
Time to drop cable television? Not so fast (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN2429877920080724?feedType=nl&feedName=ustechnology
Phones Without Homes – What's really killing the land-line telephone business? (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2195765/?from=rss
Fresno Wants Citywide Wireless But Doesn’t Want To Pay – Lots of rules in the RFP but no offer of payment (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Fresno-Wants-Citywide-Wireless-But-Doesnt-Want-To-Pay-96462
Broadband in 3/4 of U.S. Homes By 2012 – According to the latest new report (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Broadband-in-34-of-US-Homes-By-2012-96459
GENERAL NEWS
Olympia man charged in attack on trees (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/520047.html
CALIFORNIA – Scrap Dealer charged in Sacramento water meter scandal (Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://www.sacbee.com/1089/story/1107726.html
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
'Addicted' to Being Buried in Trash? Man Arrested at Silverdale Dump
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/jul/24/man-looking-for-trash-arrested-for-theft/
Labrador 'runs' for mayor of Fairhope, Alaska
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080728/ap_on_fe_st/odd_fido_for_mayor;_ylt=AvK932y0PrtMC2YgiNkqkK3tiBIF
German police officers are mistaken for strippers
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080728/ap_on_fe_st/odd_germany_police_strippers;_ylt=AnHjfEIQ8cNdebfVTIC8dKTtiBIF
The bride wore dart launchers at Comic-Con wedding
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080726/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_comiccon_wedding;_ylt=AidP_CTfSsapA3TpqD7ZEATtiBIF
Eel drink goes on sale for Japan's hot summer
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080728/ap_on_fe_st/odd_japan_eel_drink;_ylt=AsdU3xRTAXPFnzAIN8T.kKHtiBIF
Thursday, July 24, 2008
Energy News Digest for July 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.
The news digest is also available at the following web site:
http://www.energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Puget Energy buyers agree to trim debt, raise low-income assistance
- Seattle Times Editorial – Concessions not enough to seal PSE deal
- Whidbey pushes for its own public utility district
- TransAlta Ponders Takeover Response
- Natural gas rates may skyrocket
- MONTANA – Higher Winter Energy Bills
- Port Townsend paper mill lays off 14, cites rising cost of energy, materials
- Alaska Senate considers new pipeline
- 9th Circuit – California Department of Water Resources V. Powerex Corp
- TEXAS – Have power prices hit a peak?
- Tennessee Congressman calls for refunds for customers from electricity cooperatives
- Coal and gas could power Maryland energy complex
- Former Westar officials ask judge to dismiss remaining counts
- CHINA – Final protest as village cleared for China's Three Gorges dam
- Sockeye return to Columbia in record numbers
- Costs shake up salmon bakes
- Seattle cement plants puff out toxic mercury
- News Tribune Editorial – Hands off that rain – it’s state property
- REC Silicon secures $1 billion in contracts for the supply of monosilane gas
- California green energy proposal has thin support
- Buzz up! Plug-in hybrids generate buzz in San Jose
- Save a Buck: Simple changes save power
- Western Climate Initiative – Proposal regulates carbon emissions
- "Greenhouse" bees spread disease to wild bees
- U.S. Has No Idea How Wired For Broadband It Is
- Microsoft exec who led Yahoo buyout team to leave
- Google's Cerf: Baby Bells Act Like Tots Having Tantrums
- Simpson Door workers in McCleary vote to authorize strike
- Credit Unions Claim Stability Amid U.S. Economy Crisis
- Pair with wire raise suspicions
- Jury awards Selah woman $171,000 in eminent domain case
- Goats To Begin Clearing Work For The City of Shelton
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Sub Rosa • \SUB – ROE-zah\ • adverb – In confidence: secretly
Dante thought that he had been receiving sub rosa financial advice via the closed captioning function on his TV while watching Suze Orman on the Teevee. That is, until his neighbor pointed out that the subtitles exactly matched the words coming out of Orman’s mouth.
Etymology: New Latin, literally, under the rose; from the ancient association of the rose with secrecy
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
Puget Energy buyers agree to trim debt, raise low-income assistance (The Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008069600_puget240.html
Seattle Times Editorial – Concessions not enough to seal PSE deal
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2008069361_nopsedealed24.html
Whidbey pushes for its own public utility district – Proponents say a public utility district can provide better electricity rates and service (The Everett Herald, WA)
http://heraldnet.com/article/20080724/NEWS01/510347379
TransAlta Ponders Takeover Response – Power Company Stock Rises After Friday’s $7.8 Billion Acquisition Offer (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/rss/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1216835169&archive=
Natural gas rates may skyrocket (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/07/07232008_Natural-gas-rates-may-skyrocket.cfm?newsletter=2
MONTANA – Higher Winter Energy Bills (KECI-TV, Missoula, MT)
http://www.keci.com/montana_news.php?id=ffe259e36b894b74c507d157a6155b86
Port Townsend paper mill lays off 14, cites rising cost of energy, materials (The Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080724/NEWS/807240308
Alaska Senate considers new pipeline – House approves license to seek permit for 1,715-mile, gas-carrying structure (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/372000_pipeline24.html?source=rss
9th Circuit – California Department of Water Resources V. Powerex Corp (Links to PDF File)
http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/ca9/newopinions.nsf/D93429B06E2B32288825748D007A2B00/$file/0615285.pdf?openelement
TEXAS – Have power prices hit a peak? Some electric retailers in Texas reduce rates after natural gas cost takes a tumble (The Houston Chronicle, TX)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hotstories/5904589.html
Tennessee Congressman Cooper calls for refunds for customers from electricity cooperatives – Urges TVA policy change (The Tennessean, Nashville, TN)http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080722/NEWS02/807220369/1009/NEWS
Coal and gas could power Maryland energy complex (The Associated Press, via the Williamson Daily News, WV)
http://www.williamsondailynews.com/articles/2008/07/23/news/doc48872986ba73a402117943.txt
Former Westar CEO, strategy officer ask federal judge to dismiss remaining counts against them (Canadian Business)
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/market_news/article.jsp?content=D922VLV02
CHINA – Final protest as village cleared for China's Three Gorges dam (Canda.com)
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=ff91aa96-b663-4dfa-8d98-de04c3c46a3e
San Francisco Chronicle Op/Ed – ‘Progressive’ power play – Rather than retrofit Mirant plant to run on cleaner power, four supervisors want to build more fossil fuel plants (SF, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/24/EDED11TSTU.DTL&feed=rss.opinion
FISH & WILDLIFE
Sockeye return to Columbia in record numbers (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1503312~Sockeye_return_to_Columbia_in_record_numbers.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Costs shake up salmon bakes (The News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/soundlife/story/420848.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Seattle cement plants puff out toxic mercury – Two Seattle cement plants puff out as much as 100 pounds of mercury each year, according to the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and the companies (The Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008069635_cement24m0.html
News Tribune Editorial – Hands off that rain – it’s state property – The question wouldn’t have occurred to most of us: Who owns the rain? (Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/422059.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
REC Silicon secures $1 billion in contracts for the supply of monosilane gas to major gas distributors (The Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/07/23/news/news03.txt
California green energy proposal has thin support – 63% of those who had a view on it favor a California ballot measure that would require half the state's electricity to come from renewable sources by 2025, BUT 82% of those interviewed said they did not know of the measure. (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/environment/2008-07-24-proposition-7-not-recognized_N.htm?csp=34
Buzz up! Plug-in hybrids generate buzz in San Jose (San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/23/BU6711TF9S.DTL&feed=rss.business
CONSERVATION
Save a Buck: Simple changes save power (The Everett Herald)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/23/BU6711TF9S.DTL&feed=rss.business
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Western Climate Initiative – Proposal regulates carbon emissions (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/07/21/daily34.html?ana=from_rss
"Greenhouse" bees spread disease to wild bees (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSN2232266420080723?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
U.S. Has No Idea How Wired For Broadband It Is – Only ten of the nation's fifty states engaged in finding out (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/US-Has-No-Idea-How-Wired-For-Broadband-It-Is-96312
Microsoft exec who led Yahoo buyout team to leave (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/517274.html
Google's Cerf: Baby Bells Act Like Tots Having Tantrums – Neutrality fight leaves bad blood between industry giants (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Googles-Cerf-Baby-Bells-Act-Like-Tots-Having-Tantrums-96305
GENERAL NEWS
Simpson Door workers in McCleary vote to authorize strike (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/07/23/local_news/07news.txt
Credit Unions Claim Stability Amid U.S. Economy Crisis (KNDO-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=8723230
Pair with wire raise suspicions (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/07/23/local_news/10news.txt
Jury awards Selah woman $171,000 in eminent domain case (The Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/6079
Goats To Begin Clearing Work For The City of Shelton (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/618/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
NZ judge backs girl over 'embarrassing' name: Talula Does the Hula from Hawaii
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/07/24/odd.names/index.html?eref=ib_topstories
Teacher Lasts 20 Hours On Carnival Ride, Wins $1K
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/16965961/detail.html
Police Catch Man Who Lost Weight to Squeeze Out Of Jail
http://www.kirotv.com/health/16963636/detail.html
NY Man Earning $100K Lived In Company Paint Shed
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/16966046/detail.html
Underwear chicken dare puts man in hospital
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSSYD22974420080723?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest
The news digest is also available at the following web site:
http://www.energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Puget Energy buyers agree to trim debt, raise low-income assistance
- Seattle Times Editorial – Concessions not enough to seal PSE deal
- Whidbey pushes for its own public utility district
- TransAlta Ponders Takeover Response
- Natural gas rates may skyrocket
- MONTANA – Higher Winter Energy Bills
- Port Townsend paper mill lays off 14, cites rising cost of energy, materials
- Alaska Senate considers new pipeline
- 9th Circuit – California Department of Water Resources V. Powerex Corp
- TEXAS – Have power prices hit a peak?
- Tennessee Congressman calls for refunds for customers from electricity cooperatives
- Coal and gas could power Maryland energy complex
- Former Westar officials ask judge to dismiss remaining counts
- CHINA – Final protest as village cleared for China's Three Gorges dam
- Sockeye return to Columbia in record numbers
- Costs shake up salmon bakes
- Seattle cement plants puff out toxic mercury
- News Tribune Editorial – Hands off that rain – it’s state property
- REC Silicon secures $1 billion in contracts for the supply of monosilane gas
- California green energy proposal has thin support
- Buzz up! Plug-in hybrids generate buzz in San Jose
- Save a Buck: Simple changes save power
- Western Climate Initiative – Proposal regulates carbon emissions
- "Greenhouse" bees spread disease to wild bees
- U.S. Has No Idea How Wired For Broadband It Is
- Microsoft exec who led Yahoo buyout team to leave
- Google's Cerf: Baby Bells Act Like Tots Having Tantrums
- Simpson Door workers in McCleary vote to authorize strike
- Credit Unions Claim Stability Amid U.S. Economy Crisis
- Pair with wire raise suspicions
- Jury awards Selah woman $171,000 in eminent domain case
- Goats To Begin Clearing Work For The City of Shelton
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Sub Rosa • \SUB – ROE-zah\ • adverb – In confidence: secretly
Dante thought that he had been receiving sub rosa financial advice via the closed captioning function on his TV while watching Suze Orman on the Teevee. That is, until his neighbor pointed out that the subtitles exactly matched the words coming out of Orman’s mouth.
Etymology: New Latin, literally, under the rose; from the ancient association of the rose with secrecy
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
Puget Energy buyers agree to trim debt, raise low-income assistance (The Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008069600_puget240.html
Seattle Times Editorial – Concessions not enough to seal PSE deal
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2008069361_nopsedealed24.html
Whidbey pushes for its own public utility district – Proponents say a public utility district can provide better electricity rates and service (The Everett Herald, WA)
http://heraldnet.com/article/20080724/NEWS01/510347379
TransAlta Ponders Takeover Response – Power Company Stock Rises After Friday’s $7.8 Billion Acquisition Offer (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/rss/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1216835169&archive=
Natural gas rates may skyrocket (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/07/07232008_Natural-gas-rates-may-skyrocket.cfm?newsletter=2
MONTANA – Higher Winter Energy Bills (KECI-TV, Missoula, MT)
http://www.keci.com/montana_news.php?id=ffe259e36b894b74c507d157a6155b86
Port Townsend paper mill lays off 14, cites rising cost of energy, materials (The Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080724/NEWS/807240308
Alaska Senate considers new pipeline – House approves license to seek permit for 1,715-mile, gas-carrying structure (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/372000_pipeline24.html?source=rss
9th Circuit – California Department of Water Resources V. Powerex Corp (Links to PDF File)
http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/ca9/newopinions.nsf/D93429B06E2B32288825748D007A2B00/$file/0615285.pdf?openelement
TEXAS – Have power prices hit a peak? Some electric retailers in Texas reduce rates after natural gas cost takes a tumble (The Houston Chronicle, TX)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hotstories/5904589.html
Tennessee Congressman Cooper calls for refunds for customers from electricity cooperatives – Urges TVA policy change (The Tennessean, Nashville, TN)http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080722/NEWS02/807220369/1009/NEWS
Coal and gas could power Maryland energy complex (The Associated Press, via the Williamson Daily News, WV)
http://www.williamsondailynews.com/articles/2008/07/23/news/doc48872986ba73a402117943.txt
Former Westar CEO, strategy officer ask federal judge to dismiss remaining counts against them (Canadian Business)
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/market_news/article.jsp?content=D922VLV02
CHINA – Final protest as village cleared for China's Three Gorges dam (Canda.com)
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=ff91aa96-b663-4dfa-8d98-de04c3c46a3e
San Francisco Chronicle Op/Ed – ‘Progressive’ power play – Rather than retrofit Mirant plant to run on cleaner power, four supervisors want to build more fossil fuel plants (SF, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/24/EDED11TSTU.DTL&feed=rss.opinion
FISH & WILDLIFE
Sockeye return to Columbia in record numbers (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1503312~Sockeye_return_to_Columbia_in_record_numbers.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Costs shake up salmon bakes (The News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/soundlife/story/420848.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Seattle cement plants puff out toxic mercury – Two Seattle cement plants puff out as much as 100 pounds of mercury each year, according to the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency and the companies (The Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008069635_cement24m0.html
News Tribune Editorial – Hands off that rain – it’s state property – The question wouldn’t have occurred to most of us: Who owns the rain? (Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/422059.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
REC Silicon secures $1 billion in contracts for the supply of monosilane gas to major gas distributors (The Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/07/23/news/news03.txt
California green energy proposal has thin support – 63% of those who had a view on it favor a California ballot measure that would require half the state's electricity to come from renewable sources by 2025, BUT 82% of those interviewed said they did not know of the measure. (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/environment/2008-07-24-proposition-7-not-recognized_N.htm?csp=34
Buzz up! Plug-in hybrids generate buzz in San Jose (San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/23/BU6711TF9S.DTL&feed=rss.business
CONSERVATION
Save a Buck: Simple changes save power (The Everett Herald)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/23/BU6711TF9S.DTL&feed=rss.business
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Western Climate Initiative – Proposal regulates carbon emissions (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/07/21/daily34.html?ana=from_rss
"Greenhouse" bees spread disease to wild bees (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSN2232266420080723?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
U.S. Has No Idea How Wired For Broadband It Is – Only ten of the nation's fifty states engaged in finding out (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/US-Has-No-Idea-How-Wired-For-Broadband-It-Is-96312
Microsoft exec who led Yahoo buyout team to leave (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/517274.html
Google's Cerf: Baby Bells Act Like Tots Having Tantrums – Neutrality fight leaves bad blood between industry giants (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Googles-Cerf-Baby-Bells-Act-Like-Tots-Having-Tantrums-96305
GENERAL NEWS
Simpson Door workers in McCleary vote to authorize strike (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/07/23/local_news/07news.txt
Credit Unions Claim Stability Amid U.S. Economy Crisis (KNDO-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=8723230
Pair with wire raise suspicions (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/07/23/local_news/10news.txt
Jury awards Selah woman $171,000 in eminent domain case (The Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/6079
Goats To Begin Clearing Work For The City of Shelton (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/618/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
NZ judge backs girl over 'embarrassing' name: Talula Does the Hula from Hawaii
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/07/24/odd.names/index.html?eref=ib_topstories
Teacher Lasts 20 Hours On Carnival Ride, Wins $1K
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/16965961/detail.html
Police Catch Man Who Lost Weight to Squeeze Out Of Jail
http://www.kirotv.com/health/16963636/detail.html
NY Man Earning $100K Lived In Company Paint Shed
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/16966046/detail.html
Underwear chicken dare puts man in hospital
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSSYD22974420080723?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest
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