Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Programming Notice
The energy news digest will be on vacation August 14 – September 1. It will return tanned, rested and relaxed on September 2.
Energy News Digest for August 13, 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)
- Puget Energy defends its takeover bid
- Puget Sound Energy takeover by Whidbey Island PUD seen as costly
- Port Townsend Leader Editorial: Public power?
- Substation Saboteur – Orca avenger to plead guilty to misdemeanor
- U.S. power grid in better shape 5 years after blackout
- Five years after blackout, promises made to conserve energy mostly forgotten
- UTAH – Officials trying to stop ballot initiative for a coal plant simply was written wrong incorrectly
- 6 tips to keep utility e-mails from damaging customer relationships
- Northwest conservationists bristle over U.S. move on species act
- 3 pesticides singled out in report as threat to salmon
- Oregon Senate Republicans Adjust Columbia Water Plans
- OREGON – Senate Republicans and Democrats spar on selling Pacific Northwest water
- Dream on: Exporting Columbia River water to the Southwest is a pipe dream
- Idaho sewage could affect Spokane water source
- Clark Public Utilities borrows $13.1 million for water projects
- Oregon to suspend action on Rogue River public/private ownership claim
- Lake Tahoe clearer, but report mostly bleak
- NEW ZEALAND – Backyard turbines in energy proposal
- WYOMING – Candidates focus on alternative energy
- Grist Online Commentary – Solar discord: The New York Times blows the solar PV story
- CANADA – Sparking electricity savings Youngsters attend first energy camp
- Candidates Call Climate Change An 'Urgent' Priority
- Global Warming Will Do Little To Change Hurricane Activity
- Why We Need Fat Pipes: The Top 5 Bandwidth-Hungry Apps
- Average U.S. Upload Speed: 435kbps – CWA Union test site suggests things could be much better
- Time Warner Cable Blamed For Gamers’ Internet Interference
- OREGON – Testimony tells of planning flaws for Oregon’s data headquarters
- Lawmakers Urge F.C.C. to Move forward With ‘Free’ Plan
- America's biggest nannies – You're on the list, Seattle
- Auditor: State agencies should improve debt collection efforts
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Giddy • \GID-dee\ • adjective – 1a: dizzy b: causing dizziness c: whirling rapidly 2a: lightheartedly silly: frivolous b: joyfully elated: euphoric
The nattily-clad CEO skipped to the stage to give his presentation to the shareholders. Tossing predictions of future peace and love within the organization like so many bouquets of flowers, the giddy presenter didn’t realize until it was too late that he had failed to read the cross-legged, arms-folded, head-bowed body language of his audience.
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 defends its takeover bid (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008109904_pugetenergy13.html
Puget Sound Energy takeover by Whidbey Island PUD seen as costly (PNW Local News)
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/news/26886769.html
Port Townsend Leader Editorial: Public power?
http://www.ptleader.com/Main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=35&ArticleID=21563
Substation Saboteur – Orca avenger to plead guilty to misdemeanor (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/26901379.html
U.S. power grid in better shape 5 years after blackout (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2008-08-12-blackout-power-outage_N.htm
Five years after blackout, promises made to conserve energy mostly forgotten (Oilweek, Canada)
http://www.oilweek.com/news.asp?ID=18037
UTAH – Officials trying to stop ballot initiative for a coal plant simply was written wrong incorrectly (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10183978?source=rss
6 tips to keep utility e-mails from damaging customer relationships (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=336903&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss
FISH & WILDLIFE
Northwest conservationists bristle over U.S. move on species act – Federal streamlining could harm salmon, critics say (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1218513316163110.xml&coll=7
3 pesticides singled out in report as threat to salmon (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/374719_salmon13.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Oregon Senate Republicans Adjust Columbia Water Plans (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2801-senate-republicans-adjust-columbia-water-plans/
OREGON – Senate Republicans and Democrats spar on selling Pacific Northwest water (PolitickerOR)
http://www.politickeror.com/brittenchase/2321/senate-republicans-and-democrats-spar-selling-oregon-water
Daily Astorian Editorial – Dream on: Exporting Columbia River water to the Southwest is a pipe dream
http://www.dailyastorian.info/main.asp?SectionID=23&SubSectionID=392&ArticleID=53455&TM=26639.71
Idaho sewage could affect Spokane water source (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1534877~Idaho_sewage_could_affect_Spokane_water_source.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
Clark Public Utilities borrows $13.1 million for water projects (The Columbian, Vancouver, OR)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2008/08/08132008_Utility-borrows-131-million-for-water-projects.cfm/
Oregon to suspend action on Rogue River public/private ownership claim (The Mail Tribune, Medford, OR via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1535057~Oregon_to_suspend_action_on_Rogue_ownership_claim.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Lake Tahoe clearer, but report mostly bleak (The San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/12/BARD129KFF.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
NEW ZEALAND – Backyard turbines in energy proposal (New Zealand Herald)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10526933
WYOMING – Candidates focus on alternative energy (Casper Star Tribune, WY)
http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2008/08/13/news/wyoming/doc48a31490eea76092528870.txt
Grist Online Commentary – Solar discord: The New York Times blows the solar PV story
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/8/12/161045/075
CONSERVATION
CANADA – Sparking electricity savings Youngsters attend first energy camp (The Hamilton Spectator, Ontario)
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/417669
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Candidates Call Climate Change An 'Urgent' Priority (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93562705
Global Warming Will Do Little To Change Hurricane Activity, According To New Model (Science Daily)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080812160615.htm
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Why We Need Fat Pipes: The Top 5 Bandwidth-Hungry Apps (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/08/12/why-we-need-fat-pipes-the-top-5-bandwidth-hungry-apps/
Average U.S. Upload Speed: 435kbps – CWA Union test site suggests things could be much better (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Average-US-Upload-Speed-435kbps-96949
Time Warner Cable Blamed For Internet Interference – Rabid players of the "World of Warcraft" videogame are fighting mad over mysterious lags in their Roadrunner Internet connections, which they claim, are messing with their ability to play the wildly popular online game (The New York Post)
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08102008/business/twc_blamed_for_internet_interference_123880.htm
OREGON – Testimony tells of planning flaws for Oregon’s data headquarters – In a hearing, Oregon lawmakers learn lessons from the state's flawed $64 million computer center (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1218601565133970.xml&coll=7
Lawmakers Urge F.C.C. to Move forward With ‘Free’ Plan “…wirelss auction required the winner to use a specified amount of spectrum for free wireless Internet access…” (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/idg/IDG_852573C400693880882574A20063E358.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
GENERAL NEWS
America's biggest nannies – You're on the list, Seattle (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008109118_harrop13.html
Auditor: State agencies should improve debt collection efforts (The Associated Press, via the Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP08132008news352170.cfm?newsletter=10
DIVERSIONS-ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER
Health Department on Notice – Employee Takes Bath in Burger King Utensil Sink
http://www.whiotv.com/news/17161955/detail.html
Olympic opening uses girl's voice, not face “…The real singer wasn't good looking enough for the ceremony…”
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/540576.html
What's That Smell? Fair Ride Runs On Manure – Powering Ride 'Celebration' Of Dairy Farmers' Efforts
http://www.kirotv.com/family/17176722/detail.html
Man Pays For Most Of Truck With Coins – Ohio Man Says He Doesn't Trust Banks, Paper Money
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/17179798/detail.html
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Puget Energy defends its takeover bid
- Puget Sound Energy takeover by Whidbey Island PUD seen as costly
- Port Townsend Leader Editorial: Public power?
- Substation Saboteur – Orca avenger to plead guilty to misdemeanor
- U.S. power grid in better shape 5 years after blackout
- Five years after blackout, promises made to conserve energy mostly forgotten
- UTAH – Officials trying to stop ballot initiative for a coal plant simply was written wrong incorrectly
- 6 tips to keep utility e-mails from damaging customer relationships
- Northwest conservationists bristle over U.S. move on species act
- 3 pesticides singled out in report as threat to salmon
- Oregon Senate Republicans Adjust Columbia Water Plans
- OREGON – Senate Republicans and Democrats spar on selling Pacific Northwest water
- Dream on: Exporting Columbia River water to the Southwest is a pipe dream
- Idaho sewage could affect Spokane water source
- Clark Public Utilities borrows $13.1 million for water projects
- Oregon to suspend action on Rogue River public/private ownership claim
- Lake Tahoe clearer, but report mostly bleak
- NEW ZEALAND – Backyard turbines in energy proposal
- WYOMING – Candidates focus on alternative energy
- Grist Online Commentary – Solar discord: The New York Times blows the solar PV story
- CANADA – Sparking electricity savings Youngsters attend first energy camp
- Candidates Call Climate Change An 'Urgent' Priority
- Global Warming Will Do Little To Change Hurricane Activity
- Why We Need Fat Pipes: The Top 5 Bandwidth-Hungry Apps
- Average U.S. Upload Speed: 435kbps – CWA Union test site suggests things could be much better
- Time Warner Cable Blamed For Gamers’ Internet Interference
- OREGON – Testimony tells of planning flaws for Oregon’s data headquarters
- Lawmakers Urge F.C.C. to Move forward With ‘Free’ Plan
- America's biggest nannies – You're on the list, Seattle
- Auditor: State agencies should improve debt collection efforts
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Giddy • \GID-dee\ • adjective – 1a: dizzy b: causing dizziness c: whirling rapidly 2a: lightheartedly silly: frivolous b: joyfully elated: euphoric
The nattily-clad CEO skipped to the stage to give his presentation to the shareholders. Tossing predictions of future peace and love within the organization like so many bouquets of flowers, the giddy presenter didn’t realize until it was too late that he had failed to read the cross-legged, arms-folded, head-bowed body language of his audience.
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 defends its takeover bid (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008109904_pugetenergy13.html
Puget Sound Energy takeover by Whidbey Island PUD seen as costly (PNW Local News)
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/news/26886769.html
Port Townsend Leader Editorial: Public power?
http://www.ptleader.com/Main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=35&ArticleID=21563
Substation Saboteur – Orca avenger to plead guilty to misdemeanor (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/26901379.html
U.S. power grid in better shape 5 years after blackout (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2008-08-12-blackout-power-outage_N.htm
Five years after blackout, promises made to conserve energy mostly forgotten (Oilweek, Canada)
http://www.oilweek.com/news.asp?ID=18037
UTAH – Officials trying to stop ballot initiative for a coal plant simply was written wrong incorrectly (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10183978?source=rss
6 tips to keep utility e-mails from damaging customer relationships (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=336903&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss
FISH & WILDLIFE
Northwest conservationists bristle over U.S. move on species act – Federal streamlining could harm salmon, critics say (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1218513316163110.xml&coll=7
3 pesticides singled out in report as threat to salmon (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/374719_salmon13.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Oregon Senate Republicans Adjust Columbia Water Plans (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2801-senate-republicans-adjust-columbia-water-plans/
OREGON – Senate Republicans and Democrats spar on selling Pacific Northwest water (PolitickerOR)
http://www.politickeror.com/brittenchase/2321/senate-republicans-and-democrats-spar-selling-oregon-water
Daily Astorian Editorial – Dream on: Exporting Columbia River water to the Southwest is a pipe dream
http://www.dailyastorian.info/main.asp?SectionID=23&SubSectionID=392&ArticleID=53455&TM=26639.71
Idaho sewage could affect Spokane water source (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1534877~Idaho_sewage_could_affect_Spokane_water_source.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
Clark Public Utilities borrows $13.1 million for water projects (The Columbian, Vancouver, OR)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2008/08/08132008_Utility-borrows-131-million-for-water-projects.cfm/
Oregon to suspend action on Rogue River public/private ownership claim (The Mail Tribune, Medford, OR via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1535057~Oregon_to_suspend_action_on_Rogue_ownership_claim.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Lake Tahoe clearer, but report mostly bleak (The San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/12/BARD129KFF.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
NEW ZEALAND – Backyard turbines in energy proposal (New Zealand Herald)
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/section/1/story.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10526933
WYOMING – Candidates focus on alternative energy (Casper Star Tribune, WY)
http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2008/08/13/news/wyoming/doc48a31490eea76092528870.txt
Grist Online Commentary – Solar discord: The New York Times blows the solar PV story
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2008/8/12/161045/075
CONSERVATION
CANADA – Sparking electricity savings Youngsters attend first energy camp (The Hamilton Spectator, Ontario)
http://www.thespec.com/News/Local/article/417669
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Candidates Call Climate Change An 'Urgent' Priority (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93562705
Global Warming Will Do Little To Change Hurricane Activity, According To New Model (Science Daily)
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/08/080812160615.htm
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Why We Need Fat Pipes: The Top 5 Bandwidth-Hungry Apps (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/08/12/why-we-need-fat-pipes-the-top-5-bandwidth-hungry-apps/
Average U.S. Upload Speed: 435kbps – CWA Union test site suggests things could be much better (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Average-US-Upload-Speed-435kbps-96949
Time Warner Cable Blamed For Internet Interference – Rabid players of the "World of Warcraft" videogame are fighting mad over mysterious lags in their Roadrunner Internet connections, which they claim, are messing with their ability to play the wildly popular online game (The New York Post)
http://www.nypost.com/seven/08102008/business/twc_blamed_for_internet_interference_123880.htm
OREGON – Testimony tells of planning flaws for Oregon’s data headquarters – In a hearing, Oregon lawmakers learn lessons from the state's flawed $64 million computer center (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1218601565133970.xml&coll=7
Lawmakers Urge F.C.C. to Move forward With ‘Free’ Plan “…wirelss auction required the winner to use a specified amount of spectrum for free wireless Internet access…” (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/idg/IDG_852573C400693880882574A20063E358.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
GENERAL NEWS
America's biggest nannies – You're on the list, Seattle (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008109118_harrop13.html
Auditor: State agencies should improve debt collection efforts (The Associated Press, via the Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP08132008news352170.cfm?newsletter=10
DIVERSIONS-ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER
Health Department on Notice – Employee Takes Bath in Burger King Utensil Sink
http://www.whiotv.com/news/17161955/detail.html
Olympic opening uses girl's voice, not face “…The real singer wasn't good looking enough for the ceremony…”
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/540576.html
What's That Smell? Fair Ride Runs On Manure – Powering Ride 'Celebration' Of Dairy Farmers' Efforts
http://www.kirotv.com/family/17176722/detail.html
Man Pays For Most Of Truck With Coins – Ohio Man Says He Doesn't Trust Banks, Paper Money
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/17179798/detail.html
Tuesday, August 12, 2008
Energy News Digest for August 12, 2008
All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Statewide PUD study touts tax payments by those which provide electricity
- Chelan County PUD Power Future
- IDAHO – Nuclear developer says it’s moving forward in Idaho despite losses
- OHIO – State says lessons didn't stick for utilities after outages in 2003
- TEXAS – Houston wins a dubious honor: Its power prices are higher than those in Dallas
- MISSOURI – Cass County prepares final OK of Aquila plant
- Copper thefts rising across nation
- Endangered Species Act Changes Give Agencies More Say
- For a Recently Plumbed Neighborhood, Validation in a Verdict
- Oregon runs faster to catch the wind
- Kennewick Company Working On A New Way To Capture The Sun’s Energy
- 3 million bulbs distributed; now, how to get rid of them
- The good news: we’re meeting our conservation goals! The bad news: it’s because the factories are shuttered!
- Juneau continues applying conservation lessons learned in power emergency
- Tree climbing: climate change causes move up the mountain
- Study: Climate change to produce extreme rains
- Broadband Growth Rate Plummets
- Cable takes bigger bite of Internet business
- It’s Showtime for Tiered Broadband
- States may tax iTunes, other digital downloads
- Newsflash: Congress Discovers that Web Firms Track Data
- Mice that roared: Logitech’s computer peripherals drive booming growth
- Off Beat: Effort to earn cell tower revenue never flags
- City Of Shelton’s 2009 Budget Looks “Dismal”
- Highway Three Study between Shelton and Bremerton
- Teenage bear hunter to face manslaughter charge
- Woman Chases Neighbors With Machete, Dies In Bizarre Fire
- State's high business ranking by Forbes touted, then disputed
- Food industry seeks signatures to toss city's bag fee
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Homily • \HAH-muh-lee\ • noun – 1: a usually short sermon *2: a lecture or discourse on or of a moral theme 3: an inspirational catchphrase; also: platitude
The $12,000 a show lecturer droned on and on. His homily on the virtues of living in a hut made of sticks and wearing bark clothing to reduce his “carbon footprint” began to wear on the money-paying attendees. “I think his best contribution to reducing CO2 emissions would be for him to shut up,” muttered Al to his seatmate in the climate-controlled auditorium.
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
Statewide PUD study touts tax payments by those which provide electricity (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080812/NEWS/808120307
CHELAN COUNTY PUD POWER FUTURE – Chelan County PUD commissioners this afternoon adopted the utility's Integrated Resource Plan. PUD officials say the plan shows that Chelan County PUD will have plenty of resources to meet expected power load for the next 10 years, thanks to its three hydroelectric projects and its share of the Nine-Canyon wind farm project operated by Energy Northwest near Kennewick. The plan is required by the state and can be updated at any time new information becomes available. (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)
IDAHO – Nuclear developer says it’s moving forward in Idaho despite losses (The Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/466714.html
OHIO – State says lessons didn't stick for utilities after outages in 2003 (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via the Power Marketing Association)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CkqpljgjTTfct%3EEvbfen%5Fv
TEXAS – Houston wins a dubious honor: Its power prices are higher than those in Dallas; figures indicate (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via the Power Marketing Association)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CkqphkqpUTfct%3EEvbfen%5Fv
MISSOURI – Cass County prepares final OK of Aquila plant (Kansas City Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2008/08/11/daily7.html?ana=from_rss
Copper thefts rising across nation, Wabash Valley: Thieves targeting metal? Even utility pole ground wires (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via the Power Marketing Association)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CkqphoxuWTfct%3EEvbfen%5Fv
FISH & WILDLIFE
Endangered Species Act Changes Give Agencies More Say (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/11/AR2008081102299.html?nav=rss_email/components
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
For a Recently Plumbed Neighborhood, Validation in a Verdict (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/12/us/12ohio.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Oregon runs faster to catch the wind – The amount of wind power produced along the blustery Columbia Gorge is expected to more than triple in coming years (The Bend Bulletin, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008106953_windpower12.html?syndication=rss
Kennewick Company Working On A New Way To Capture The Sun’s Energy (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2796-kennewick-company-working-new-way-capture-suns-energy/
CONSERVATION
3 million bulbs distributed; now, how to get rid of them (The Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008106909_lightbulbs12m.html?syndication=rss
The good news: we’re meeting our conservation goals! The bad news: it’s because the factories are shuttered! Factory closures help cut Windsor power consumption (The Windsor Star, Canada)
http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=0beb5c17-7730-4259-9017-0a7bbff5b3a9
Juneau continues applying conservation lessons learned in power emergency (Alaska Public Radio)
http://aprn.org/2008/08/11/juneau-continues-applying-conservation-lessons-learned-in-power-emergency/
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Tree climbing: climate change causes move up the mountain (Scientific American)
http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=tree-climbing-climate-change-causes-2008-08-11
Study: Climate change to produce extreme rains (Christian Science Monitor)
http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2008/08/12/study-climate-change-to-produce-extreme-rains/
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Broadband Growth Rate Plummets – Second quarter additions worst yet (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Broadband-Growth-Rate-Plummets-96925
Cable takes bigger bite of Internet business – Comcast signs more customers than AT&T, Verizon combined The Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080812/BIZ/657279730/-1/rss03
It’s Showtime for Tiered Broadband (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/08/11/its-showtime-for-tiered-broadband/
States may tax iTunes, other digital downloads (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10013327-38.html?tag=nl.e703
Newsflash: Congress Discovers that Web Firms Track Data (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/08/12/newsflash-congress-discovers-that-web-firms-track-data/
Mice that roared: Logitech’s computer peripherals drive booming growth (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2008/08/08112008_Mice-that-roared-Logitechs-computer-peripherals-drive-booming-growth.cfm?newsletter=1
Off Beat: Effort to earn cell tower revenue never flags (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/08/08112008_Off-Beat-Effort-to-earn-cell-tower-revenue-never-flags.cfm?newsletter=2
GENERAL NEWS
City Of Shelton’s 2009 Budget Looks “Dismal”; $600,000 Hole (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/780/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
Highway Three Study between Shelton and Bremerton – DOT Wants to Ready Local Highways for Heavier Traffic (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/aug/11/dot-wants-ready-local-highways-heavier-traffic/
Teenage bear hunter to face manslaughter charge (Skagit Valley Herald, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1532951~Teenage_bear_hunter_to_face_manslaughter_charge.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Woman Chases Neighbors With Machete, Dies In Bizarre Fire (KIRO-TV, Seattle, WA)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17165378/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
State's high business ranking by Forbes touted, then disputed (The Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/915/story/272991.html
Food industry seeks signatures to toss city's bag fee (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/374525_bags12.html
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Spilled Cash Starts Free-For-All on California Freeway
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17159128/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=irresistible
Trail Of Cheetohs Leads To Snack Thieves In Minnesota
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17159210/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=irresistible
Winnie-the-Pooh held for robbery?
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUST27183520080812?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Those Four Irresistible Strings – Suddenly there’s something irresistible again about ukuleles
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/fashion/10ukulele.html?_r=1&oref=slogin#
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Statewide PUD study touts tax payments by those which provide electricity
- Chelan County PUD Power Future
- IDAHO – Nuclear developer says it’s moving forward in Idaho despite losses
- OHIO – State says lessons didn't stick for utilities after outages in 2003
- TEXAS – Houston wins a dubious honor: Its power prices are higher than those in Dallas
- MISSOURI – Cass County prepares final OK of Aquila plant
- Copper thefts rising across nation
- Endangered Species Act Changes Give Agencies More Say
- For a Recently Plumbed Neighborhood, Validation in a Verdict
- Oregon runs faster to catch the wind
- Kennewick Company Working On A New Way To Capture The Sun’s Energy
- 3 million bulbs distributed; now, how to get rid of them
- The good news: we’re meeting our conservation goals! The bad news: it’s because the factories are shuttered!
- Juneau continues applying conservation lessons learned in power emergency
- Tree climbing: climate change causes move up the mountain
- Study: Climate change to produce extreme rains
- Broadband Growth Rate Plummets
- Cable takes bigger bite of Internet business
- It’s Showtime for Tiered Broadband
- States may tax iTunes, other digital downloads
- Newsflash: Congress Discovers that Web Firms Track Data
- Mice that roared: Logitech’s computer peripherals drive booming growth
- Off Beat: Effort to earn cell tower revenue never flags
- City Of Shelton’s 2009 Budget Looks “Dismal”
- Highway Three Study between Shelton and Bremerton
- Teenage bear hunter to face manslaughter charge
- Woman Chases Neighbors With Machete, Dies In Bizarre Fire
- State's high business ranking by Forbes touted, then disputed
- Food industry seeks signatures to toss city's bag fee
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Homily • \HAH-muh-lee\ • noun – 1: a usually short sermon *2: a lecture or discourse on or of a moral theme 3: an inspirational catchphrase; also: platitude
The $12,000 a show lecturer droned on and on. His homily on the virtues of living in a hut made of sticks and wearing bark clothing to reduce his “carbon footprint” began to wear on the money-paying attendees. “I think his best contribution to reducing CO2 emissions would be for him to shut up,” muttered Al to his seatmate in the climate-controlled auditorium.
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
Statewide PUD study touts tax payments by those which provide electricity (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080812/NEWS/808120307
CHELAN COUNTY PUD POWER FUTURE – Chelan County PUD commissioners this afternoon adopted the utility's Integrated Resource Plan. PUD officials say the plan shows that Chelan County PUD will have plenty of resources to meet expected power load for the next 10 years, thanks to its three hydroelectric projects and its share of the Nine-Canyon wind farm project operated by Energy Northwest near Kennewick. The plan is required by the state and can be updated at any time new information becomes available. (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)
IDAHO – Nuclear developer says it’s moving forward in Idaho despite losses (The Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/466714.html
OHIO – State says lessons didn't stick for utilities after outages in 2003 (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via the Power Marketing Association)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CkqpljgjTTfct%3EEvbfen%5Fv
TEXAS – Houston wins a dubious honor: Its power prices are higher than those in Dallas; figures indicate (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via the Power Marketing Association)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CkqphkqpUTfct%3EEvbfen%5Fv
MISSOURI – Cass County prepares final OK of Aquila plant (Kansas City Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2008/08/11/daily7.html?ana=from_rss
Copper thefts rising across nation, Wabash Valley: Thieves targeting metal? Even utility pole ground wires (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via the Power Marketing Association)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CkqphoxuWTfct%3EEvbfen%5Fv
FISH & WILDLIFE
Endangered Species Act Changes Give Agencies More Say (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/11/AR2008081102299.html?nav=rss_email/components
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
For a Recently Plumbed Neighborhood, Validation in a Verdict (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/12/us/12ohio.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Oregon runs faster to catch the wind – The amount of wind power produced along the blustery Columbia Gorge is expected to more than triple in coming years (The Bend Bulletin, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008106953_windpower12.html?syndication=rss
Kennewick Company Working On A New Way To Capture The Sun’s Energy (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2796-kennewick-company-working-new-way-capture-suns-energy/
CONSERVATION
3 million bulbs distributed; now, how to get rid of them (The Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008106909_lightbulbs12m.html?syndication=rss
The good news: we’re meeting our conservation goals! The bad news: it’s because the factories are shuttered! Factory closures help cut Windsor power consumption (The Windsor Star, Canada)
http://www.canada.com/windsorstar/news/story.html?id=0beb5c17-7730-4259-9017-0a7bbff5b3a9
Juneau continues applying conservation lessons learned in power emergency (Alaska Public Radio)
http://aprn.org/2008/08/11/juneau-continues-applying-conservation-lessons-learned-in-power-emergency/
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Tree climbing: climate change causes move up the mountain (Scientific American)
http://www.sciam.com/blog/60-second-science/post.cfm?id=tree-climbing-climate-change-causes-2008-08-11
Study: Climate change to produce extreme rains (Christian Science Monitor)
http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2008/08/12/study-climate-change-to-produce-extreme-rains/
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Broadband Growth Rate Plummets – Second quarter additions worst yet (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Broadband-Growth-Rate-Plummets-96925
Cable takes bigger bite of Internet business – Comcast signs more customers than AT&T, Verizon combined The Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080812/BIZ/657279730/-1/rss03
It’s Showtime for Tiered Broadband (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/08/11/its-showtime-for-tiered-broadband/
States may tax iTunes, other digital downloads (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10013327-38.html?tag=nl.e703
Newsflash: Congress Discovers that Web Firms Track Data (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/08/12/newsflash-congress-discovers-that-web-firms-track-data/
Mice that roared: Logitech’s computer peripherals drive booming growth (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2008/08/08112008_Mice-that-roared-Logitechs-computer-peripherals-drive-booming-growth.cfm?newsletter=1
Off Beat: Effort to earn cell tower revenue never flags (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/08/08112008_Off-Beat-Effort-to-earn-cell-tower-revenue-never-flags.cfm?newsletter=2
GENERAL NEWS
City Of Shelton’s 2009 Budget Looks “Dismal”; $600,000 Hole (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/780/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
Highway Three Study between Shelton and Bremerton – DOT Wants to Ready Local Highways for Heavier Traffic (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/aug/11/dot-wants-ready-local-highways-heavier-traffic/
Teenage bear hunter to face manslaughter charge (Skagit Valley Herald, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1532951~Teenage_bear_hunter_to_face_manslaughter_charge.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Woman Chases Neighbors With Machete, Dies In Bizarre Fire (KIRO-TV, Seattle, WA)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17165378/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
State's high business ranking by Forbes touted, then disputed (The Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/915/story/272991.html
Food industry seeks signatures to toss city's bag fee (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/374525_bags12.html
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Spilled Cash Starts Free-For-All on California Freeway
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17159128/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=irresistible
Trail Of Cheetohs Leads To Snack Thieves In Minnesota
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17159210/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=irresistible
Winnie-the-Pooh held for robbery?
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUST27183520080812?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Those Four Irresistible Strings – Suddenly there’s something irresistible again about ukuleles
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/fashion/10ukulele.html?_r=1&oref=slogin#
Monday, August 11, 2008
Energy News Digest for August 11, 2008
All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Get Mason County PUD No. 3 statements electronically
- Mason County PUD No. 1 Holding Workshop, Regular Meeting & Rate Hearing
- Portland General Electric gives analysts optimistic view of earnings, future growth
- Avista to trim Idaho price hikes
- CANADA – B.C. Hydro tiered rate plan a jolt for Islanders
- UNITED KINGDOM – Telegraph Op/Ed – Future of UK's energy supply is dark indeed
- OREGON – Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal Opponents Sue Energy Commission Over Mailing List
- Windfall tax lets Alaska rake in billions from Big Oil
- Everett Herald Op/Ed – Next president to face tough energy choices
- Comparing McCain, Obama energy plans
- Nuclear Power – Tennessee Valley Authority looks to expand base of power production
- MICHIGAN – Lower electricity sales cited in energy-reform debate
- TEXAS – Governor's council urges Texas to stick with deregulated power market
- Hartford Courant Editorial – Market Only Fueled Power Prices
- Sockeye aplenty in Lake Wenatchee means quick limits
- IDAHO – Don't equate strong sockeye return with recovery
- Early Alaska salmon harvest below forecast
- Signs point to monster return for California salmon
- Colville Tribes to explain net fishing project to test different methods to live-capture and release summer Chinook salmon
- Hearing will focus on plan to kill unwanted fish in ponds near Moses Lake
- Oregon's Diamond Lake gets another fish threat
- Companies promote sustainable seafood
- Time for Oregon to cash in Columbia water?
- New Washington State rules on stormwater ordered
- Inadequate policing puts state's water quality in jeopardy
- Enterprise fund no-no – Brightwater sewage plant payments illegal, lawsuit claims
- A Tall, Cool Drink of ... Sewage? Consider re-use of water
- Lake Powell's level highest in 6 years
- Studying Great Salt Lake’s High Mercury Levels
- CALIFORINIA – Monterey desalination plant approved
- Wind power turbines whip up health fears
- CALIFORNIA – Proposal to harness wind power off Mendocino coast worries fishing industry
- ALASKA – Power struggle – City of St Paul & power producer can’t reach agreement on wind power output
- MONTANA – Flathead County discovers power of trash
- Idaho Power to buy energy from dairy
- Big-box retail stores make use of the roof with solar
- GEORGIA – Green energy a tough sell
- FLORIDA – Mandates on the use of renewable energy would have a profound impact on the environment
- Ethanol cuts Idaho fuel tax revenue
- The Daily News Editorial – Rush to ethanol is doing more harm than good
- Detroit Free Press Op/Ed – Renewable Energy Law
- MICHIGAN – Residents say waste-to-energy plan stinks
- Port of Sacramento energized by cargo for wind farm
- Exec: 'Hybrids may not be all that special,' Nissan to focus on electric
- MONTANA – Going back to basics to save on energy
- Wyoming launches energy conservation program
- The Columbia Journalism Review's Division over Dissent – Is global warming now beyond debate?
- Quincy moves forward, data centers may not
- Portland’s Wi-Fi is dead; antennas live on
- San Francisco Case Shows Vulnerability Of Data Networks
- Internet security patch flawed
- VIRGINIA – Fiber ads not all that they seem?
- CALIFORNIA – AT&T utility-box plan hits a snag
- Weaving a Tighter Web 2.0
- Hard-Wired – The advantages of a land-line telephone in a mobile world
- Boeing may not re-bid for tanker contract
- Online Petition Asking Mason County To Rezone Property For Washington Renaissance Faire
- Four from GOP, 3 Democrats try for seats in 35th District
- Drug dealers buy vineyards to hide pot
- Hullabaloo over Hempfest – Intercity Transit bus ad featuring marijuana leaf upsets some
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Divagate • \DYE-vuh-gayt\ • verb – To wander or stray from a course or subject: diverge, digress
Professor Dalgleish’s class was at a loss. What began as a lecture on obscure coins of the Roman Empire had somehow divagated into a romping cabaret-like show featuring dancing girls and sideshow barkers shouting unintelligible patter that seemed to be centered on the professor’s prized collection of old Washington State tax tokens. Surreal would be an understatement.
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
Get Mason County PUD No. 3 statements electronically (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/765/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
Mason County PUD No. 1 Holding Workshop, Regular Meeting & Rate Hearing Tuesday (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/768/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
Portland General Electric gives analysts optimistic view of earnings, future growth (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1218160526323390.xml&coll=7
Avista to trim Idaho price hikes (The Associated Press, via the Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/537680.html
CANADA – B.C. Hydro tiered rate plan a jolt for Islanders – Watchdogs say Vancouver Island faces steep leap in electricity costs by 2010 (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=e3ffd618-a479-4328-980d-efdb861da9a6
UNITED KINGDOM – Telegraph Op/Ed – Future of UK's energy supply is dark indeed
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/08/10/do1007.xml
OREGON – Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal Opponents Sue Energy Commission Over Mailing List (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2786-lng-opponents-sue-energy-commission-over-mailing-list/
Windfall tax lets Alaska rake in billions from Big Oil – While others candidates debate the wisdom of a windfall tax on oil companies, Alaska has already imposed one, hauling in billions of dollars in new revenue for the state treasury (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008103325_alaskatax07.html
Everett Herald Op/Ed – Next president to face tough energy choices
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080809/BIZ/975462124/-1/rss03
Comparing McCain, Obama energy plans (The Associated Press)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080809/ap_on_el_pr/energy_next_president_highlights_1
Nuclear Power – Tennessee Valley Authority looks to expand base of power production (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CkqokmnmSSljt%3EEvbfen%5Fv
MICHIGAN – Lower electricity sales cited in energy-reform debate (Crain’s Detroit Business)
http://crainsdetroit.com/article/20080811/SUB/808110356/1069
TEXAS – Governor's council urges Texas to stick with deregulated power market (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CkqohgmnRSljt%3EEvbfen%5Fv
Hartford Courant Editorial – Market Only Fueled Power Prices “…Connecticut's electric bills are still too high…” (Connecticut)
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-electric0810.artaug10,0,22143.story
FISH & WILDLIFE
Sockeye aplenty in Lake Wenatchee means quick limits (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/1358/story/269505.html
IDAHO – Don't equate strong sockeye return with recovery – The fish have survived 2 near extinctions and now are on track for the largest run in years, but they aren't sustainable yet (The Idaho Statesman, Boise ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/102/story/465449.html
Early Alaska salmon harvest below forecast (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/26830024.html
Signs point to monster return for California salmon “…Scientists blamed the fall of salmon stocks primarily on a lack of marine food production…” (The San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/09/SP1B127626.DTL
Colville Tribes to explain net fishing project to test different methods to live-capture and release summer Chinook salmon (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080807/NEWS04/237381795/1025/rss1025
Hearing will focus on plan to kill unwanted fish in 40 small ponds near Moses Lake (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080809/NEWS04/857914840/1025/rss1025
Oregon's Diamond Lake gets another fish threat (The Associated Press, via examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1531085~Oregon_s_Diamond_Lake_gets_another_fish_threat.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Companies promote sustainable seafood – Californians have seen salmon fishing shut down this summer because of dwindling runs of king salmon. But California's salmon industry isn't the only fishery in crisis (The San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/10/BUSR11UVMT.DTL&feed=rss.business
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Time for Oregon to cash in Columbia water? Either the Northwest sells or the thirsty Southwest starts moving here; so now what? (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1218263105159940.xml&coll=7
New rules on stormwater ordered – Developers building everything from homes to shopping centers could soon be forced to take extensive steps to control runoff (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008101883_stormwater09m0.html
Inadequate policing puts state's water quality in jeopardy – Fees now fund less than half of staff necessary to monitor pollution (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/374396_ecology11.html?source=rss
Enterprise fund no-no – Brightwater payments illegal, lawsuit claims – Two water and sewer districts claim that King County broke the law by using sewer-rate proceeds for non-sewer purposes (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008101888_sewerrate09m.html?syndication=rss
A Tall, Cool Drink of ... Sewage? Consider re-use of water: “Toilet to the Tap” (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/magazine/10wastewater-t.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Lake Powell's level highest in 6 years – A sign that the Colorado River is recovering from one of the worst dry spells ever (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008104842_ndig11.html?syndication=rss
Studying Great Salt Lake’s High Mercury Levels (The Associated Press, via the NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/science/earth/10saltlake.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
CALIFORINIA – Monterey desalination plant approved (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1529385~Monterey_desalination_plant_approved.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Wind whips up health fears – Hundreds of giant turbines in the Oregon desert will bring power, but residents nearby raise concerns about health effects and an end to their quiet way of life (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/outdoors/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1218250522129010.xml&coll=7
CALIFORNIA – Proposal to harness wind power off Mendocino coast worries fishing industry (The Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/1146712.html
ALASKA – Power struggle – City of St Paul & power producer can’t reach agreement on wind power output (The Associated Press, via Anchorage Daily News, AK)
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/489190.html
MONTANA – Flathead County discovers power of trash – Flathead Electric Co-op and Flathead County have forged a partnership to turn a potent greenhouse gas produced at a local landfill into electricity. (Great Falls Tribune, MT)
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080810/NEWS01/808100310
Idaho Power to buy energy from dairy (The Associated Press, via the Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/538825.html
Big-box retail stores make use of the roof with solar (The NY T98mes, via the News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/440806.html
GEORGIA – Green energy a tough sell – Georgia Power charges nearly highest rates in country for green (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, GA)
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/metro/stories/2008/08/10/green_energy_georgia.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=13
FLORIDA – Mandates on the use of renewable energy would have a profound impact on the environment, but at what cost? (The Miami Herald, FL)
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/environment/economics/story/634419.html
Ethanol cuts Idaho fuel tax revenue – More blended fuel is being sold, and the alcohol portion isn't subject to the state's gas tax (The Associated Press, via the Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/business/story/462287.html
The Daily News Editorial – Rush to ethanol is doing more harm than good (Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/08/11/editorial/doc489f1c8179120816208751.txt
Detroit Free Press Op/Ed – Renewable Energy Law – Will lawmakers' fears cost state new energy policy? Bills could lure business, create jobs in Michigan (Michigan)
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080810/COL06/808100458
MICHIGAN – Residents say waste-to-energy plan stinks – The idea sounded novel: Convert the droppings from more than a million turkeys into enough energy to power a feed plant (The Grand Rapids Press, MI)
http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-43/121834895531850.xml&coll=6
Port of Sacramento energized by cargo for wind farm (Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://www.sacbee.com/103/story/1143675.html
Exec: 'Hybrids may not be all that special,' Nissan to focus on electric (The Associated Press, via the San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10138494?source=rss
CONSERVATION
MONTANA – Going back to basics to save on energy – Some residents have found a way to battle bulging energy costs by abandoning their modern gizmos and going back to basics (The Missoulian, MT)http://missoulian.com/articles/2008/08/11/news/local/news04.txt
Wyoming launches energy conservation program (Casper Tribune, WY)
http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2008/08/09/ap-state-wy/d92esta80.txt
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
The Columbia Journalism Review's Division over Dissent – Is global warming now beyond debate? (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2197130/?from=rss
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Quincy moves forward, data centers may not (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080808/NEWS04/987453366
Portland’s Wi-Fi is dead; antennas live on – City worries that taxpayers could get stuck with the bill for removal (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/121824871892410.xml&coll=7
San Francisco Case Shows Vulnerability Of Data Networks – Arrest Spurs Other Cities to Boost Security (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/10/AR2008081001802.html?nav=rss_nation
Internet security patch flawed (The New York Times, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/374261_hacking09.html
VIRGINIA – Fiber ads not all that they seem? How much fiber-optic cable do you really need? (The Freelance Star, Fredericksburg, VA)
http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2008/082008/08092008/401405
CALIFORNIA – AT&T utility-box plan hits a snag- the company withdrew its application to place 850 large utility boxes housing fiber-optic technology on sidewalks throughout San Francisco (The Examiner)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1529889~Utility_box_plan_hits_a_snag.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
Weaving a Tighter Web 2.0 (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/09/AR2008080900141.html?nav=rss_technology
Hard-Wired – The advantages of a land-line telephone in a mobile world (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2197160/?from=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Boeing may not re-bid for tanker contract (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/26832099.html
Online Petition Asking Mason County To Rezone Property For Washington Renaissance Faire (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/760/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
Four from GOP, 3 Democrats try for seats in 35th District (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/537013.html
Drug dealers buy vineyards to hide pot (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008100792_apwapotfarmers.html?syndication=rss
Hullabaloo over Hempfest – Intercity Transit bus ad featuring marijuana leaf upsets some (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/537617.html
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Roadshow: Crazy stunts motorists pull
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10148704?source=rss
Gravity, erosion rob Utah park of popular arch
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/08/10/arch.collapse.ap/index.html?eref=ib_topstories
Spanish shopkeeper finds Homer Simpson euro
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080808/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_homersimpson_euro_spain;_ylt=AnS1Qv.8JcUtM0I0ujZkBNXtiBIF
Grandma arrested for driving with child on roof
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080807/ap_on_fe_st/odd_child_car_ride;_ylt=ArFCnwlRltayhdAK0Ruc1XTtiBIF
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Get Mason County PUD No. 3 statements electronically
- Mason County PUD No. 1 Holding Workshop, Regular Meeting & Rate Hearing
- Portland General Electric gives analysts optimistic view of earnings, future growth
- Avista to trim Idaho price hikes
- CANADA – B.C. Hydro tiered rate plan a jolt for Islanders
- UNITED KINGDOM – Telegraph Op/Ed – Future of UK's energy supply is dark indeed
- OREGON – Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal Opponents Sue Energy Commission Over Mailing List
- Windfall tax lets Alaska rake in billions from Big Oil
- Everett Herald Op/Ed – Next president to face tough energy choices
- Comparing McCain, Obama energy plans
- Nuclear Power – Tennessee Valley Authority looks to expand base of power production
- MICHIGAN – Lower electricity sales cited in energy-reform debate
- TEXAS – Governor's council urges Texas to stick with deregulated power market
- Hartford Courant Editorial – Market Only Fueled Power Prices
- Sockeye aplenty in Lake Wenatchee means quick limits
- IDAHO – Don't equate strong sockeye return with recovery
- Early Alaska salmon harvest below forecast
- Signs point to monster return for California salmon
- Colville Tribes to explain net fishing project to test different methods to live-capture and release summer Chinook salmon
- Hearing will focus on plan to kill unwanted fish in ponds near Moses Lake
- Oregon's Diamond Lake gets another fish threat
- Companies promote sustainable seafood
- Time for Oregon to cash in Columbia water?
- New Washington State rules on stormwater ordered
- Inadequate policing puts state's water quality in jeopardy
- Enterprise fund no-no – Brightwater sewage plant payments illegal, lawsuit claims
- A Tall, Cool Drink of ... Sewage? Consider re-use of water
- Lake Powell's level highest in 6 years
- Studying Great Salt Lake’s High Mercury Levels
- CALIFORINIA – Monterey desalination plant approved
- Wind power turbines whip up health fears
- CALIFORNIA – Proposal to harness wind power off Mendocino coast worries fishing industry
- ALASKA – Power struggle – City of St Paul & power producer can’t reach agreement on wind power output
- MONTANA – Flathead County discovers power of trash
- Idaho Power to buy energy from dairy
- Big-box retail stores make use of the roof with solar
- GEORGIA – Green energy a tough sell
- FLORIDA – Mandates on the use of renewable energy would have a profound impact on the environment
- Ethanol cuts Idaho fuel tax revenue
- The Daily News Editorial – Rush to ethanol is doing more harm than good
- Detroit Free Press Op/Ed – Renewable Energy Law
- MICHIGAN – Residents say waste-to-energy plan stinks
- Port of Sacramento energized by cargo for wind farm
- Exec: 'Hybrids may not be all that special,' Nissan to focus on electric
- MONTANA – Going back to basics to save on energy
- Wyoming launches energy conservation program
- The Columbia Journalism Review's Division over Dissent – Is global warming now beyond debate?
- Quincy moves forward, data centers may not
- Portland’s Wi-Fi is dead; antennas live on
- San Francisco Case Shows Vulnerability Of Data Networks
- Internet security patch flawed
- VIRGINIA – Fiber ads not all that they seem?
- CALIFORNIA – AT&T utility-box plan hits a snag
- Weaving a Tighter Web 2.0
- Hard-Wired – The advantages of a land-line telephone in a mobile world
- Boeing may not re-bid for tanker contract
- Online Petition Asking Mason County To Rezone Property For Washington Renaissance Faire
- Four from GOP, 3 Democrats try for seats in 35th District
- Drug dealers buy vineyards to hide pot
- Hullabaloo over Hempfest – Intercity Transit bus ad featuring marijuana leaf upsets some
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Divagate • \DYE-vuh-gayt\ • verb – To wander or stray from a course or subject: diverge, digress
Professor Dalgleish’s class was at a loss. What began as a lecture on obscure coins of the Roman Empire had somehow divagated into a romping cabaret-like show featuring dancing girls and sideshow barkers shouting unintelligible patter that seemed to be centered on the professor’s prized collection of old Washington State tax tokens. Surreal would be an understatement.
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
Get Mason County PUD No. 3 statements electronically (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/765/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
Mason County PUD No. 1 Holding Workshop, Regular Meeting & Rate Hearing Tuesday (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/768/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
Portland General Electric gives analysts optimistic view of earnings, future growth (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1218160526323390.xml&coll=7
Avista to trim Idaho price hikes (The Associated Press, via the Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/537680.html
CANADA – B.C. Hydro tiered rate plan a jolt for Islanders – Watchdogs say Vancouver Island faces steep leap in electricity costs by 2010 (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=e3ffd618-a479-4328-980d-efdb861da9a6
UNITED KINGDOM – Telegraph Op/Ed – Future of UK's energy supply is dark indeed
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2008/08/10/do1007.xml
OREGON – Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal Opponents Sue Energy Commission Over Mailing List (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2786-lng-opponents-sue-energy-commission-over-mailing-list/
Windfall tax lets Alaska rake in billions from Big Oil – While others candidates debate the wisdom of a windfall tax on oil companies, Alaska has already imposed one, hauling in billions of dollars in new revenue for the state treasury (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008103325_alaskatax07.html
Everett Herald Op/Ed – Next president to face tough energy choices
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080809/BIZ/975462124/-1/rss03
Comparing McCain, Obama energy plans (The Associated Press)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080809/ap_on_el_pr/energy_next_president_highlights_1
Nuclear Power – Tennessee Valley Authority looks to expand base of power production (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CkqokmnmSSljt%3EEvbfen%5Fv
MICHIGAN – Lower electricity sales cited in energy-reform debate (Crain’s Detroit Business)
http://crainsdetroit.com/article/20080811/SUB/808110356/1069
TEXAS – Governor's council urges Texas to stick with deregulated power market (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CkqohgmnRSljt%3EEvbfen%5Fv
Hartford Courant Editorial – Market Only Fueled Power Prices “…Connecticut's electric bills are still too high…” (Connecticut)
http://www.courant.com/news/opinion/editorials/hc-electric0810.artaug10,0,22143.story
FISH & WILDLIFE
Sockeye aplenty in Lake Wenatchee means quick limits (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/1358/story/269505.html
IDAHO – Don't equate strong sockeye return with recovery – The fish have survived 2 near extinctions and now are on track for the largest run in years, but they aren't sustainable yet (The Idaho Statesman, Boise ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/102/story/465449.html
Early Alaska salmon harvest below forecast (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/26830024.html
Signs point to monster return for California salmon “…Scientists blamed the fall of salmon stocks primarily on a lack of marine food production…” (The San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/09/SP1B127626.DTL
Colville Tribes to explain net fishing project to test different methods to live-capture and release summer Chinook salmon (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080807/NEWS04/237381795/1025/rss1025
Hearing will focus on plan to kill unwanted fish in 40 small ponds near Moses Lake (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080809/NEWS04/857914840/1025/rss1025
Oregon's Diamond Lake gets another fish threat (The Associated Press, via examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1531085~Oregon_s_Diamond_Lake_gets_another_fish_threat.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Companies promote sustainable seafood – Californians have seen salmon fishing shut down this summer because of dwindling runs of king salmon. But California's salmon industry isn't the only fishery in crisis (The San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/10/BUSR11UVMT.DTL&feed=rss.business
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Time for Oregon to cash in Columbia water? Either the Northwest sells or the thirsty Southwest starts moving here; so now what? (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1218263105159940.xml&coll=7
New rules on stormwater ordered – Developers building everything from homes to shopping centers could soon be forced to take extensive steps to control runoff (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008101883_stormwater09m0.html
Inadequate policing puts state's water quality in jeopardy – Fees now fund less than half of staff necessary to monitor pollution (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/374396_ecology11.html?source=rss
Enterprise fund no-no – Brightwater payments illegal, lawsuit claims – Two water and sewer districts claim that King County broke the law by using sewer-rate proceeds for non-sewer purposes (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008101888_sewerrate09m.html?syndication=rss
A Tall, Cool Drink of ... Sewage? Consider re-use of water: “Toilet to the Tap” (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/magazine/10wastewater-t.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Lake Powell's level highest in 6 years – A sign that the Colorado River is recovering from one of the worst dry spells ever (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008104842_ndig11.html?syndication=rss
Studying Great Salt Lake’s High Mercury Levels (The Associated Press, via the NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/10/science/earth/10saltlake.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
CALIFORINIA – Monterey desalination plant approved (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1529385~Monterey_desalination_plant_approved.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Wind whips up health fears – Hundreds of giant turbines in the Oregon desert will bring power, but residents nearby raise concerns about health effects and an end to their quiet way of life (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/outdoors/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1218250522129010.xml&coll=7
CALIFORNIA – Proposal to harness wind power off Mendocino coast worries fishing industry (The Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/1146712.html
ALASKA – Power struggle – City of St Paul & power producer can’t reach agreement on wind power output (The Associated Press, via Anchorage Daily News, AK)
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/489190.html
MONTANA – Flathead County discovers power of trash – Flathead Electric Co-op and Flathead County have forged a partnership to turn a potent greenhouse gas produced at a local landfill into electricity. (Great Falls Tribune, MT)
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080810/NEWS01/808100310
Idaho Power to buy energy from dairy (The Associated Press, via the Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/538825.html
Big-box retail stores make use of the roof with solar (The NY T98mes, via the News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/440806.html
GEORGIA – Green energy a tough sell – Georgia Power charges nearly highest rates in country for green (The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, GA)
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/metro/stories/2008/08/10/green_energy_georgia.html?cxtype=rss&cxsvc=7&cxcat=13
FLORIDA – Mandates on the use of renewable energy would have a profound impact on the environment, but at what cost? (The Miami Herald, FL)
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/environment/economics/story/634419.html
Ethanol cuts Idaho fuel tax revenue – More blended fuel is being sold, and the alcohol portion isn't subject to the state's gas tax (The Associated Press, via the Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/business/story/462287.html
The Daily News Editorial – Rush to ethanol is doing more harm than good (Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/08/11/editorial/doc489f1c8179120816208751.txt
Detroit Free Press Op/Ed – Renewable Energy Law – Will lawmakers' fears cost state new energy policy? Bills could lure business, create jobs in Michigan (Michigan)
http://www.freep.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080810/COL06/808100458
MICHIGAN – Residents say waste-to-energy plan stinks – The idea sounded novel: Convert the droppings from more than a million turkeys into enough energy to power a feed plant (The Grand Rapids Press, MI)
http://www.mlive.com/news/grpress/index.ssf?/base/news-43/121834895531850.xml&coll=6
Port of Sacramento energized by cargo for wind farm (Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://www.sacbee.com/103/story/1143675.html
Exec: 'Hybrids may not be all that special,' Nissan to focus on electric (The Associated Press, via the San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10138494?source=rss
CONSERVATION
MONTANA – Going back to basics to save on energy – Some residents have found a way to battle bulging energy costs by abandoning their modern gizmos and going back to basics (The Missoulian, MT)http://missoulian.com/articles/2008/08/11/news/local/news04.txt
Wyoming launches energy conservation program (Casper Tribune, WY)
http://www.casperstartribune.net/articles/2008/08/09/ap-state-wy/d92esta80.txt
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
The Columbia Journalism Review's Division over Dissent – Is global warming now beyond debate? (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2197130/?from=rss
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Quincy moves forward, data centers may not (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080808/NEWS04/987453366
Portland’s Wi-Fi is dead; antennas live on – City worries that taxpayers could get stuck with the bill for removal (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/121824871892410.xml&coll=7
San Francisco Case Shows Vulnerability Of Data Networks – Arrest Spurs Other Cities to Boost Security (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/10/AR2008081001802.html?nav=rss_nation
Internet security patch flawed (The New York Times, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/374261_hacking09.html
VIRGINIA – Fiber ads not all that they seem? How much fiber-optic cable do you really need? (The Freelance Star, Fredericksburg, VA)
http://fredericksburg.com/News/FLS/2008/082008/08092008/401405
CALIFORNIA – AT&T utility-box plan hits a snag- the company withdrew its application to place 850 large utility boxes housing fiber-optic technology on sidewalks throughout San Francisco (The Examiner)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1529889~Utility_box_plan_hits_a_snag.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
Weaving a Tighter Web 2.0 (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/09/AR2008080900141.html?nav=rss_technology
Hard-Wired – The advantages of a land-line telephone in a mobile world (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2197160/?from=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Boeing may not re-bid for tanker contract (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/26832099.html
Online Petition Asking Mason County To Rezone Property For Washington Renaissance Faire (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/760/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
Four from GOP, 3 Democrats try for seats in 35th District (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/537013.html
Drug dealers buy vineyards to hide pot (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008100792_apwapotfarmers.html?syndication=rss
Hullabaloo over Hempfest – Intercity Transit bus ad featuring marijuana leaf upsets some (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/537617.html
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Roadshow: Crazy stunts motorists pull
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10148704?source=rss
Gravity, erosion rob Utah park of popular arch
http://www.cnn.com/2008/US/08/10/arch.collapse.ap/index.html?eref=ib_topstories
Spanish shopkeeper finds Homer Simpson euro
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080808/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_homersimpson_euro_spain;_ylt=AnS1Qv.8JcUtM0I0ujZkBNXtiBIF
Grandma arrested for driving with child on roof
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080807/ap_on_fe_st/odd_child_car_ride;_ylt=ArFCnwlRltayhdAK0Ruc1XTtiBIF
Friday, August 8, 2008
Energy News Digest for August 8, 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)
- TransAlta Rejects Buyout Offer
- Mason County PUD No. 1 Holding Rate Hearing Next Tuesday
- Pacific Power may boost rates by up to 8.5 percent
- Tennessee Valley Authority to hike rates 10%-20%
- Oregon Rural Electric Cooperatives warned of higher power prices
- First female Journeyman Meterman at Franklin PUD
- BPA lines damaged by firearms; repairs could cost up to $40,000
- MONTANA – Crow Tribe strikes deal for $7B coal project
- Inside Look at a McNary Dam Turbine
- PENNSYLVANIA – PPL Electric Utilities to Offer Rate Phase-In Option to Customers
- Rising energy prices stoke natural gas proposals
- Texas competitiveness council urges staying with deregulated power market
- WISCONSIN – Utilities, opponents reach $105 million deal over power plant
- AUSTRALIA – Electricity sparks talks
- Tri-City Herald Editorial – Sockeye get past their dam problem
- Anglers swarm to Lake Wenatchee sockeye fishery
- Washington State outlines changes for hatcheries on Columbia River tributaries
- Mossyrock Hatchery Faces Closure
- Tribes in long effort to restore Noocksack Chinook
- Sewer Progress Focus of Healthy Hood Canal Celebration
- New Watermaster Assigned to the Columbia River Basin
- Private Dams in Washington State Under Scrutiny
- Understaffed Oregon is behind in green project approvals
- EPA Rejects Texas' Call To Cut Ethanol Mandate
- South Idaho ethanol plant tries to rein in smell
- Geothermal Could Boost Oregon's Energy Business
- Solar Highway Tested in Oregon
- CONNECTICUT – The sun supplies this couple's electricity
- Researchers Harness Wind Energy with Kites
- Save a Buck: Free showerhead can help cut your water bill
- CONNECTICUT – Energy-saving effort runs out of steam
- VIRGINIA – 'Smart' Climate Controls Would Heat Up Energy Conservation
- CANADA – Consider increasing carbon tax, B.C. urged
- Seattle Times Op/Ed – Hot and bothered by global warming
- Study: Global warming to bring more rain
- Data center plans on hold during wait for Grant County PUD dark fiber
- Clearwire posts loss despite revenue increase
- Reporters booted from hacker conference for hacking
- Google believes $1 billion investment in AOL is crumbling
- New Report Says Tiered Broadband Bad, Unlikely
- Vonage Subscriber Growth At A Standstill
- Man Arrested After Standoff in Timberlakes
- Bremerton coffee operator labeled purveyor of smut
- How Bremerton's ‘Pastiegate' Flap Got Too Big for Its Britches
- Taste of Hood Canal Returns to Belfair
- Suspects in Vancouver cemetery brass thefts arrested
- Oregon Debates Why Counties Are Hurting For Cash
- Survey: Public divided on in-flight cell phone use
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Vexillology • vecks-sill-AHL-u-jee\ • noun – The study of flags
Barney’s head exploded. Investigators could only surmise that upon being confronted with the enormity of seeing all 193 flags in front of the United Nations building that the amateur vexillologist was overwhelmed by the sight.
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
TransAlta Rejects Buyout Offer – No Thanks: Canadian Power Giant Says Proposal Undervalues Company’s Worth (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/rss/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1218130376&archive=
Mason County PUD No. 1 Holding Rate Hearing Next Tuesday (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/740/reftab/1632/Default.aspx
Pacific Power may boost rates by up to 8.5 percent (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/bizbeat/story/264796.html
Tennessee Valley Authority to hike rates 10%-20% (Memphis Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/stories/2008/08/04/daily37.html?ana=from_rss
OREGON – Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association official warns of higher power prices (Baker City Herald, OR)
http://www.bakercityherald.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=7077
First female Journeyman Meterman at Franklin PUD (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/bizbeat/story/265995.html
BPA lines damaged by firearms; repairs could cost up to $40,000 (The Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/219995/
MONTANA – Crow Tribe strikes deal for $7B coal project (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1527311~Crow_Tribe_strikes_deal_for__7B_coal_project.html?cid=rss-Montana_Headlines
Inside Look at a McNary Dam Turbine (KNDO-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=8801946
PENNSYLVANIA – PPL Electric Utilities to Offer Rate Phase-In Option to Customers – advance payments would offset future rate hikes (MarketWatch)
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/ppl-electric-utilities-offer-rate/story.aspx?guid=%7B234D7584-0047-437D-B0A3-E12180789184%7D&dist=hppr
Rising energy prices stoke natural gas proposals – Despite a political debate over terminal projects, there's no guarantee consumers will get a break (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/121808130758960.xml&coll=7
Texas competitiveness council urges staying with deregulated power market (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5Ckqnllis%5BSkit%3EEvbfen%5Fv
WISCONSIN – Utilities, opponents reach $105 million deal over power plant (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CkqnlmmrWSkit%3EEvbfen%5Fv
AUSTRALIA – Electricity sparks talks – Government says it will save $15 billion under its plan to lease its power stations and sell all but the poles and wire assets (The Canberra Times, Australia)
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/electricity-sparks-talks/1238724.aspx
FISH & WILDLIFE
Tri-City Herald Editorial – Sockeye get past their dam problem – Apparently, sockeye salmon don't know about the dams. They are back in record numbers this year.
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/962/story/266557.html
Anglers swarm to Lake Wenatchee sockeye fishery (The Associated Press, via the Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP08082008news350211.cfm
Washington State outlines changes for local hatcheries on lower Columbia River tributaries (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/08/08/this_day/doc489bba820d931215601063.txt
Mossyrock Hatchery Faces Closure – Friends of the Cowlitz Protesting to Department of Fish and Wildlife (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/rss/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1218049459&archive=
Tribes in long effort to restore Noocksack Chinook (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008098060_apwanooksackchinook.html?syndication=rss
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Sewer Progress Focus of Healthy Hood Canal Celebration (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/aug/06/sewer-progress-focus-healthy-hood-canal-celebratio/
New Watermaster Assigned to the Columbia River Basin (KNDO-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=8802678
PRIVATE DAMS UNDER SCRUTINY – Owners of small reservoirs built without Department of Ecology permits have until September first to schedule a state safety inspection of their dams. Dam safety supervisor Doug Johnson says dam owners who report by the September first deadline won't face fines. Johnson says Grant County is the leading county in Washington for dams without permits, with more than 70. The department scanned aerial photos from around the state to identify such dams and found more than 370 hazardous dams. Johnson says 22 of the dams are high risk — meaning there is at least one home located downstream. The leading county for potentially hazardous dams is Yakima, with 48. Johnson says dam owners who schedule inspections with Ecology this month can avoid fines of up to five thousand dollars a day. For more information, contact the D.O.E. at (360) 407-6623. (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Understaffed Oregon is behind in green project approvals – Time is running out for companies to earn tax breaks for energy-efficient works (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1218077727303660.xml&coll=7
EPA Rejects Texas' Call To Cut Ethanol Mandate (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93408965&ft=1&f=3
South Idaho ethanol plant tries to rein in smell (The Associated Press, via the Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/535288.html
Geothermal Could Boost Oregon's Energy Business (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2781-geothermal-could-boost-oregons-energy-business/
Solar Highway Tested in Oregon (Northwest Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=4171
CONNECTICUT – The sun supplies this couple's electricity (The Ridgefield Press, CT)
http://www.acorn-online.com/joomla15/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6345:the-sun-supplies-this-couples-electricity&catid=46:rfd-local&Itemid=25
Researchers Harness Wind Energy with Kites (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/science/July-August/Researchers-Harness-Wind-Energy-With-Kites.html
CONSERVATION
Save a Buck: Free showerhead can help cut your water bill (The Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080808/NEWS01/199722374/-1/rss02
CONNECTICUT – Energy-saving effort runs out of steam (The Advocate, Norwalk, CT)
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/norwalkadvocate/ci_10135012
VIRGINIA – 'Smart' Climate Controls Would Heat Up Energy Conservation (University of Virginia Today)
http://www.virginia.edu/uvatoday/newsRelease.php?id=6019
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
CANADA – Consider increasing carbon tax, B.C. urged – Houses for sale should carry ratings of energy efficiency: advisory group (The Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=c175b233-68ff-45bf-b42c-21b0dab48b55
Seattle Times Op/Ed – Hot and bothered by global warming
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008096354_climateop07.html?syndication=rss
Study: Global warming to bring more rain (Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, CA)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_10131535?source=rss
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Data center plans on hold during wait for Grant County PUD dark fiber (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/08/07/news/news03.txt
Clearwire posts loss despite revenue increase (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/374080_localearns08.html?source=rss
Reporters booted from hacker conference for hacking (The Associated Press via the San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10136747?source=rss
Google believes $1 billion investment in AOL is crumbling (The Associated Press via the San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10136758?source=rss
New Report Says Tiered Broadband Bad, Unlikely (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/08/07/new-report-says-tiered-broadband-bad-but-unlikely/
Vonage Subscriber Growth At A Standstill – But they aren't losing so many customers either (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Vonage-Subscriber-Growth-At-A-Standstill-96802
GENERAL NEWS
Man Arrested After Standoff in Timberlakes (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/746/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
Bremerton coffee operator labeled purveyor of smut (KIRO Radio, Seattle)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=79859
How Bremerton's ‘Pastiegate' Flap Got Too Big for Its Britches (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/aug/07/how-the-145pastiegate-scandal-got-too-big-for/
Taste of Hood Canal Returns to Belfair (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/aug/06/taste-hood-canal-returns-belfair/
Suspects in Vancouver cemetery brass thefts arrested (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/08/08072008_Suspects-in-brass-thefts-arrested.cfm?newsletter=2
Oregon Debates Why Counties Are Hurting For Cash (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93389830&ft=1&f=2
Survey: Public divided on in-flight cell phone use – The friendly skies are not so affable when it comes to using cell phones on commercial airliners (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008083969_apairplanescellphones.html?syndication=rss
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Landlord Drives Hummer Into Home To Get Rent
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/17119696/detail.html
Huge chicken sculpture crosses the road, then abandoned by thief
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008099793_apwabrieflystolenrooster.html?syndication=rss
Urine bottles: Another result of high fuel prices?
http://www.examiner.com/a-1526794~Urine_bottles__Another_result_of_high_fuel_prices_.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Preacher, 71, Convicted For Road Rage – Man Waved Gun, Cursed At Another Driver
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/17120347/detail.html
The Schrammie: Mason County Bureaucrats vs. 'erotic' baristas
http://www.komonews.com/news/26346684.html
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- TransAlta Rejects Buyout Offer
- Mason County PUD No. 1 Holding Rate Hearing Next Tuesday
- Pacific Power may boost rates by up to 8.5 percent
- Tennessee Valley Authority to hike rates 10%-20%
- Oregon Rural Electric Cooperatives warned of higher power prices
- First female Journeyman Meterman at Franklin PUD
- BPA lines damaged by firearms; repairs could cost up to $40,000
- MONTANA – Crow Tribe strikes deal for $7B coal project
- Inside Look at a McNary Dam Turbine
- PENNSYLVANIA – PPL Electric Utilities to Offer Rate Phase-In Option to Customers
- Rising energy prices stoke natural gas proposals
- Texas competitiveness council urges staying with deregulated power market
- WISCONSIN – Utilities, opponents reach $105 million deal over power plant
- AUSTRALIA – Electricity sparks talks
- Tri-City Herald Editorial – Sockeye get past their dam problem
- Anglers swarm to Lake Wenatchee sockeye fishery
- Washington State outlines changes for hatcheries on Columbia River tributaries
- Mossyrock Hatchery Faces Closure
- Tribes in long effort to restore Noocksack Chinook
- Sewer Progress Focus of Healthy Hood Canal Celebration
- New Watermaster Assigned to the Columbia River Basin
- Private Dams in Washington State Under Scrutiny
- Understaffed Oregon is behind in green project approvals
- EPA Rejects Texas' Call To Cut Ethanol Mandate
- South Idaho ethanol plant tries to rein in smell
- Geothermal Could Boost Oregon's Energy Business
- Solar Highway Tested in Oregon
- CONNECTICUT – The sun supplies this couple's electricity
- Researchers Harness Wind Energy with Kites
- Save a Buck: Free showerhead can help cut your water bill
- CONNECTICUT – Energy-saving effort runs out of steam
- VIRGINIA – 'Smart' Climate Controls Would Heat Up Energy Conservation
- CANADA – Consider increasing carbon tax, B.C. urged
- Seattle Times Op/Ed – Hot and bothered by global warming
- Study: Global warming to bring more rain
- Data center plans on hold during wait for Grant County PUD dark fiber
- Clearwire posts loss despite revenue increase
- Reporters booted from hacker conference for hacking
- Google believes $1 billion investment in AOL is crumbling
- New Report Says Tiered Broadband Bad, Unlikely
- Vonage Subscriber Growth At A Standstill
- Man Arrested After Standoff in Timberlakes
- Bremerton coffee operator labeled purveyor of smut
- How Bremerton's ‘Pastiegate' Flap Got Too Big for Its Britches
- Taste of Hood Canal Returns to Belfair
- Suspects in Vancouver cemetery brass thefts arrested
- Oregon Debates Why Counties Are Hurting For Cash
- Survey: Public divided on in-flight cell phone use
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Vexillology • vecks-sill-AHL-u-jee\ • noun – The study of flags
Barney’s head exploded. Investigators could only surmise that upon being confronted with the enormity of seeing all 193 flags in front of the United Nations building that the amateur vexillologist was overwhelmed by the sight.
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
TransAlta Rejects Buyout Offer – No Thanks: Canadian Power Giant Says Proposal Undervalues Company’s Worth (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/rss/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1218130376&archive=
Mason County PUD No. 1 Holding Rate Hearing Next Tuesday (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/740/reftab/1632/Default.aspx
Pacific Power may boost rates by up to 8.5 percent (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/bizbeat/story/264796.html
Tennessee Valley Authority to hike rates 10%-20% (Memphis Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/stories/2008/08/04/daily37.html?ana=from_rss
OREGON – Oregon Rural Electric Cooperative Association official warns of higher power prices (Baker City Herald, OR)
http://www.bakercityherald.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=7077
First female Journeyman Meterman at Franklin PUD (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/bizbeat/story/265995.html
BPA lines damaged by firearms; repairs could cost up to $40,000 (The Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/219995/
MONTANA – Crow Tribe strikes deal for $7B coal project (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1527311~Crow_Tribe_strikes_deal_for__7B_coal_project.html?cid=rss-Montana_Headlines
Inside Look at a McNary Dam Turbine (KNDO-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=8801946
PENNSYLVANIA – PPL Electric Utilities to Offer Rate Phase-In Option to Customers – advance payments would offset future rate hikes (MarketWatch)
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/ppl-electric-utilities-offer-rate/story.aspx?guid=%7B234D7584-0047-437D-B0A3-E12180789184%7D&dist=hppr
Rising energy prices stoke natural gas proposals – Despite a political debate over terminal projects, there's no guarantee consumers will get a break (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/121808130758960.xml&coll=7
Texas competitiveness council urges staying with deregulated power market (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5Ckqnllis%5BSkit%3EEvbfen%5Fv
WISCONSIN – Utilities, opponents reach $105 million deal over power plant (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CkqnlmmrWSkit%3EEvbfen%5Fv
AUSTRALIA – Electricity sparks talks – Government says it will save $15 billion under its plan to lease its power stations and sell all but the poles and wire assets (The Canberra Times, Australia)
http://www.canberratimes.com.au/news/local/news/general/electricity-sparks-talks/1238724.aspx
FISH & WILDLIFE
Tri-City Herald Editorial – Sockeye get past their dam problem – Apparently, sockeye salmon don't know about the dams. They are back in record numbers this year.
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/962/story/266557.html
Anglers swarm to Lake Wenatchee sockeye fishery (The Associated Press, via the Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP08082008news350211.cfm
Washington State outlines changes for local hatcheries on lower Columbia River tributaries (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/08/08/this_day/doc489bba820d931215601063.txt
Mossyrock Hatchery Faces Closure – Friends of the Cowlitz Protesting to Department of Fish and Wildlife (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/rss/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1218049459&archive=
Tribes in long effort to restore Noocksack Chinook (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008098060_apwanooksackchinook.html?syndication=rss
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Sewer Progress Focus of Healthy Hood Canal Celebration (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/aug/06/sewer-progress-focus-healthy-hood-canal-celebratio/
New Watermaster Assigned to the Columbia River Basin (KNDO-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=8802678
PRIVATE DAMS UNDER SCRUTINY – Owners of small reservoirs built without Department of Ecology permits have until September first to schedule a state safety inspection of their dams. Dam safety supervisor Doug Johnson says dam owners who report by the September first deadline won't face fines. Johnson says Grant County is the leading county in Washington for dams without permits, with more than 70. The department scanned aerial photos from around the state to identify such dams and found more than 370 hazardous dams. Johnson says 22 of the dams are high risk — meaning there is at least one home located downstream. The leading county for potentially hazardous dams is Yakima, with 48. Johnson says dam owners who schedule inspections with Ecology this month can avoid fines of up to five thousand dollars a day. For more information, contact the D.O.E. at (360) 407-6623. (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Understaffed Oregon is behind in green project approvals – Time is running out for companies to earn tax breaks for energy-efficient works (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1218077727303660.xml&coll=7
EPA Rejects Texas' Call To Cut Ethanol Mandate (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93408965&ft=1&f=3
South Idaho ethanol plant tries to rein in smell (The Associated Press, via the Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/535288.html
Geothermal Could Boost Oregon's Energy Business (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2781-geothermal-could-boost-oregons-energy-business/
Solar Highway Tested in Oregon (Northwest Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=4171
CONNECTICUT – The sun supplies this couple's electricity (The Ridgefield Press, CT)
http://www.acorn-online.com/joomla15/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=6345:the-sun-supplies-this-couples-electricity&catid=46:rfd-local&Itemid=25
Researchers Harness Wind Energy with Kites (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/science/July-August/Researchers-Harness-Wind-Energy-With-Kites.html
CONSERVATION
Save a Buck: Free showerhead can help cut your water bill (The Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080808/NEWS01/199722374/-1/rss02
CONNECTICUT – Energy-saving effort runs out of steam (The Advocate, Norwalk, CT)
http://www.stamfordadvocate.com/norwalkadvocate/ci_10135012
VIRGINIA – 'Smart' Climate Controls Would Heat Up Energy Conservation (University of Virginia Today)
http://www.virginia.edu/uvatoday/newsRelease.php?id=6019
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
CANADA – Consider increasing carbon tax, B.C. urged – Houses for sale should carry ratings of energy efficiency: advisory group (The Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=c175b233-68ff-45bf-b42c-21b0dab48b55
Seattle Times Op/Ed – Hot and bothered by global warming
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008096354_climateop07.html?syndication=rss
Study: Global warming to bring more rain (Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, CA)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_10131535?source=rss
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Data center plans on hold during wait for Grant County PUD dark fiber (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/08/07/news/news03.txt
Clearwire posts loss despite revenue increase (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/374080_localearns08.html?source=rss
Reporters booted from hacker conference for hacking (The Associated Press via the San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10136747?source=rss
Google believes $1 billion investment in AOL is crumbling (The Associated Press via the San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10136758?source=rss
New Report Says Tiered Broadband Bad, Unlikely (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/08/07/new-report-says-tiered-broadband-bad-but-unlikely/
Vonage Subscriber Growth At A Standstill – But they aren't losing so many customers either (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Vonage-Subscriber-Growth-At-A-Standstill-96802
GENERAL NEWS
Man Arrested After Standoff in Timberlakes (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/746/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
Bremerton coffee operator labeled purveyor of smut (KIRO Radio, Seattle)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=79859
How Bremerton's ‘Pastiegate' Flap Got Too Big for Its Britches (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/aug/07/how-the-145pastiegate-scandal-got-too-big-for/
Taste of Hood Canal Returns to Belfair (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/aug/06/taste-hood-canal-returns-belfair/
Suspects in Vancouver cemetery brass thefts arrested (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/08/08072008_Suspects-in-brass-thefts-arrested.cfm?newsletter=2
Oregon Debates Why Counties Are Hurting For Cash (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=93389830&ft=1&f=2
Survey: Public divided on in-flight cell phone use – The friendly skies are not so affable when it comes to using cell phones on commercial airliners (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008083969_apairplanescellphones.html?syndication=rss
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Landlord Drives Hummer Into Home To Get Rent
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/17119696/detail.html
Huge chicken sculpture crosses the road, then abandoned by thief
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008099793_apwabrieflystolenrooster.html?syndication=rss
Urine bottles: Another result of high fuel prices?
http://www.examiner.com/a-1526794~Urine_bottles__Another_result_of_high_fuel_prices_.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Preacher, 71, Convicted For Road Rage – Man Waved Gun, Cursed At Another Driver
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/17120347/detail.html
The Schrammie: Mason County Bureaucrats vs. 'erotic' baristas
http://www.komonews.com/news/26346684.html
Wednesday, August 6, 2008
Energy News Digest for August 6, 2008 - the "Hi, Guy" edition
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)
- State attorney still opposes sale of Puget Energy to international investors
- Another public utility district takeover of Puget Sound Energy?
- 10th District legislative race focuses on healthcare, ferries, PUD
- Covington
- Mossyrock Dam turbine gets heart transplant to improve efficiency
- Grays Harbor County PUD move surprises Rayonier
- Overhead lines going underground in historic downtown Port Townsend
- North Texans feeling little relief from electricity deregulation
- Spurred by bills, Texans search for ways to cut electricity use
- Home Energy Prices Are Expected to Soar
- McCain, Obama promote nuclear energy plans
- Yucca Mountain Price Tag Up, Hanford Affected?
- IDAHO – Sockeye surge materializes in upper Salmon
- Sockeye Complete Epic Journey to Central Idaho
- Sockeye season starts Wednesday for Lake Wenatchee
- Salmon fishing opens in the upper Okanogan River and lower Similkameen River
- CANADA – Salmon becoming a rarity on Yukoners' tables
- Ocean salmon fishing getting better, lake trout might do the same
- The Olympian Editorial – Puget Sound assets total at least $243 billion
- Water, land values, development – Eastern Oregon vineyard owners, wheat growers clash over land use
- Sequim water, sewer rates might rise as much as 20% next year
- Wind and wave energy project for coastal Grays Harbor County gets fed approval
- The wind blows less when wind power is needed most
- Pickens bringing case for more wind energy to Nebraska
- L.A. Times Editorial – A boon for Pickens, not for America
- Kohl's expanding solar power program to Oregon
- Oregon Tech Looks to Be World's First Fully-Geothermal Campus
- Energy crops key to biofuels growth
- Seattle P-I Columnist – Conserving energy isn't sexy
- Johnson Controls taps new heating and electricity sources for existing buildings
- An Energy Diet for Power-Hungry Household PCs
- Scientists focus anew on livestock's role in climate change
- San Francisco on course for emissions reduction goal
- San Francisco to Vote on Clean Energy City Charter on November Ballot
- Vancouver Sun Op/Ed – British Columbia's carbon tax doesn't let 'polluters' off
- E-Mail Hacking Case Could Redefine Online Privacy
- 300 million votes at Yahoo miscalculated
- HughesNet Offers New 5Mbps Satellite Broadband Service
- In-Flight Broadband Cheat Sheet
- Giant online security hole getting fixed, slowly
- California cities explore fiber options
- Massachusetts Signs New Broadband Law
- Smog alert as local temperatures climb toward 90
- 11 charged in data theft of 41 million credit and debit cards
- Alaska Air says customers' credit cards misused
- Mason County – Attendance & Revenues Up At 2008 Fair & Rodeo
- City (of Tumwater) up against 7-figure shortfall
- Bush designates I-5 Bridge replacement as high priority
- HP pledges strong Vancouver, WA presence despite Oregon inkjet layoffs
- Four Tons Worth – Two arrested in Woodland metal-theft investigation
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Visage • \VIZ-zedge\ • noun – 1: the face, countenance, or appearance of a person or sometimes an animal 2: aspect, appearance
Sidney hummed absently while brushing his teeth, unaware until it was too late that the medicine cabinet had swung open to reveal the jolly visage of his next door neighbor, Chuck McCann. “Hi guy!” exclaimed Chuck, “fancy meeting you here after all these years.” MONA!
No. 94 on Drew Babb's 100 Greatest TV Spots of All Time – Right Guard/"Mona": God knows why we love this sad sack Sidney, standing at his bathroom sink crying out for his wife, Mona! (Wouldn't you cry out too if your medicine cabinet opened into your neighbor's bathroom?) Love the hail-fellow-well-met neighbor, played by Chuck McCann, who greets our schmoe with, Hi, Guy! This campaign pooled into a series in which we get to know Sidney's wife and kid. And the neighbor's kid, too.
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
State attorney still opposes sale of Puget Energy to international investors – Too much debt to allow sale, says state AG's Public Counsel (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008094442_puget060.html?syndication=rss
Another public utility district takeover of Puget Sound Energy? As in 1941, so in 2008 (Examiner.com – You gotta see the photo!)
http://www.examiner.com/x-479-Seattle-History-Examiner~y2008m8d4-PSE
10th District legislative race focuses on healthcare, ferries, PUD (South Whidbey Record, Coupeville, WA)
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/news/26318319.html
BPA transmission lines threatened – Wood debris pile burning in Covington (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_080608WAB_covington_fire_LJ.1d5c3d2d.html?npc
Mossyrock Dam turbine gets heart transplant to improve efficiency (The News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/435491.html
Grays Harbor County PUD move surprises Rayonier (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/08/05/local_news/02news.txt
Overhead lines going underground in historic downtown Port Townsend (The Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080806/NEWS/808060303
North Texans feeling little relief from electricity deregulation (Dallas Morning News, TX)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-summerbills_06met.ART.State.Edition2.4dd3e56.html
Spurred by bills, Texans search for ways to cut electricity use (Dallas Morning News, TX)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/080608dnbusefficiency.40f4d3e.html
Home Energy Prices Are Expected to Soar (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/06/business/06fuel.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
McCain, Obama promote nuclear energy plans (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-08-05-mccain-nuclear_N.htm?csp=34
Yucca Mountain Price Tag Up, Hanford Affected? (Northwest Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=4163
FISH & WILDLIFE
IDAHO – Sockeye surge materializes in upper Salmon – Sixty-three sockeye salmon made it to the Redfish Lake area by Monday (Idaho Mountain Express, Sun Valley, ID)
http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005121978
Sockeye Complete Epic Journey to Central Idaho (Northwest Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=4161
Sockeye season starts Wednesday for Lake Wenatchee (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/NEWS04/767775786/1006/NEWS03
Salmon fishing opens in the upper Okanogan River and lower Similkameen River (The Omak Chronicle, WA)
http://www.omakchronicle.com/spt/s080805j.shtml
CANADA – Salmon becoming a rarity on Yukoners' tables (CBC News)
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2008/08/05/yukon-fish.html?ref=rss
Ocean salmon fishing getting better, lake trout might do the same (The News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/outdoors/story/435526.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
The Olympian Editorial – Puget Sound assets total at least $243 billion (Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/532407.html
Water, land values, development – Eastern Oregon vineyard owners, wheat growers clash over land use (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2008/08/eastern_oregon_vineyard_owners.html
Sequim water, sewer rates might rise as much as 20% next year (The Peninsual Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080806/NEWS/808060305
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Wind and wave energy project for coastal Grays Harbor County gets fed approval (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/08/05/local_news/06news.txt
The wind blows less when wind power is needed most (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CkptuuqmTSigt%3EEvbfen%5Fv
Pickens bringing case for more wind energy to Nebraska (The Associated Press)
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080806/ne_pickens_nebraska.html?.v=1
L.A. Times Editorial – A boon for Pickens, not for America – T. Boone Pickens' proposals to wean the country off foreign oil could provide more benefit to Iran than to the U.S.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oew-luft6-2008aug06,0,3336586.story
Kohl's expanding solar power program to Oregon (The Business Journal of Milwaukee, OR)
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/08/04/daily31.html?ana=from_rss
Oregon Tech Looks to Be World's First Fully-Geothermal Campus (Oregon Public Radio)
http://news.opb.org/article/2760-oregon-tech-would-be-worlds-first-fully-geothermal-campus/
Energy crops key to biofuels growth (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10005414-54.html?tag=nl.e433
CONSERVATION
Seattle P-I Columnist – Conserving energy isn't sexy
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/373621_herbertonline06.html?source=rss
OHIO – Energy alternatives – Johnson Controls taps new heating and electricity sources for existing buildings (The Columbus Dispatch, OH)
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/08/06/solar_power.ART_ART_08-06-08_C8_IAAUP7H.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=101
An Energy Diet for Power-Hungry Household PCs (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/06/technology/06green.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Scientists focus anew on livestock's role in climate change (The Chicago Tribune, via the Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/FOOD/280098011/-1/FEA
San Francisco on course for emissions reduction goal (The San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/05/BAIB125JQO.DTL&feed=rss.news
San Francisco to Vote on Clean Energy City Charter on November Ballot: Why is "Green" Mayor Gavin Newsom Opposed? (Environmental News Network)
http://www.enn.com/energy/article/37837
Vancouver Sun Op/Ed – British Columbia's carbon tax doesn't let 'polluters' off (Canada)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=e8f3ea1b-1ce4-4820-862e-76317ce7f0ab&k=14954
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
E-Mail Hacking Case Could Redefine Online Privacy – A federal appeals court in California is reviewing a lower court's definition of "interception" in the digital age (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/05/AR2008080503421.html?nav=rss_technology
300 million votes at Yahoo miscalculated – Outcome of election unchanged as revised count cements disdain (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/373741_yahoo06.html?source=rss
HughesNet Offers New 5Mbps Service – Fastest satellite broadband tier ever offered (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/HughesNet-Offers-New-5Mbps-Service-96755
In-Flight Broadband Cheat Sheet (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/08/05/in-flight-broadband-cheat-sheet/
Giant online security hole getting fixed, slowly (The Associated Press)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080805/ap_on_hi_te/tec_internet_security_hole_2
California cities explore fiber options – Loma Linda may share system with GT to help it win business (San Bernardino Sun, CA)
http://www.sbsun.com/ci_10109656?source=rss
Massachusetts Signs New Broadband Law – Aimed at helping 95 communities with little or no broadband (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Massachusetts-Signs-New-Broadband-Law-96737
GENERAL NEWS
Smog alert as local temperatures climb toward 90 (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/373614_weather06.html
11 charged in data theft of 41 million credit and debit cards – retailers' wireless networks hacked into (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10112727?source=rss
Alaska Air says customers' credit cards misused – About 1,500 people who bought tickets from Alaska or Horizon airlines have been notified their credit cards were misused. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008095135_apalaskaaircreditcards.html?syndication=rss
Mason County – Attendance & Revenues Up At 2008 Fair & Rodeo (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/732/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
City (of Tumwater) up against 7-figure shortfall (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/533083.html
Bush designates I-5 Bridge replacement as high priority (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/08/08052008_Bush-designates-I5-Bridge-replacement-as-high-priority.cfm
HP pledges strong Vancouver, WA presence despite Oregon inkjet layoffs (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2008/08/08052008_HP-pledges-strong-local-presence.cfm?newsletter=1
Four Tons Worth – Two arrested in Woodland metal-theft investigation (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/08/06//area_news/doc489943a255e3d625540009.txt
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Man Dials 911, Complains His Sub Had No Sauce
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17099847/detail.html
Dying for a salad? Try a dash of this – Chef accidentally recommends a potentially deadly plant in organic salads
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080804/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_britain_poison;_ylt=AkVK8QpZOVaLI4uADR9pzwztiBIF
Inflatable church looks to lure Italian beachgoers
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080805/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_italy_beach_church;_ylt=AoD6eA2idy8PhMzXkHUYD8jtiBIF
For developers of Bend’s Shire, ‘dream’ is over – The village-themed concept in southeast Bend patterned after J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” series
http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080731/BIZ0102/807310374/1041&nav_category=
Man Presumed Dead In 1976 Colo. Flood Found Alive
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17099899/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=irresistible
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- State attorney still opposes sale of Puget Energy to international investors
- Another public utility district takeover of Puget Sound Energy?
- 10th District legislative race focuses on healthcare, ferries, PUD
- Covington
- Mossyrock Dam turbine gets heart transplant to improve efficiency
- Grays Harbor County PUD move surprises Rayonier
- Overhead lines going underground in historic downtown Port Townsend
- North Texans feeling little relief from electricity deregulation
- Spurred by bills, Texans search for ways to cut electricity use
- Home Energy Prices Are Expected to Soar
- McCain, Obama promote nuclear energy plans
- Yucca Mountain Price Tag Up, Hanford Affected?
- IDAHO – Sockeye surge materializes in upper Salmon
- Sockeye Complete Epic Journey to Central Idaho
- Sockeye season starts Wednesday for Lake Wenatchee
- Salmon fishing opens in the upper Okanogan River and lower Similkameen River
- CANADA – Salmon becoming a rarity on Yukoners' tables
- Ocean salmon fishing getting better, lake trout might do the same
- The Olympian Editorial – Puget Sound assets total at least $243 billion
- Water, land values, development – Eastern Oregon vineyard owners, wheat growers clash over land use
- Sequim water, sewer rates might rise as much as 20% next year
- Wind and wave energy project for coastal Grays Harbor County gets fed approval
- The wind blows less when wind power is needed most
- Pickens bringing case for more wind energy to Nebraska
- L.A. Times Editorial – A boon for Pickens, not for America
- Kohl's expanding solar power program to Oregon
- Oregon Tech Looks to Be World's First Fully-Geothermal Campus
- Energy crops key to biofuels growth
- Seattle P-I Columnist – Conserving energy isn't sexy
- Johnson Controls taps new heating and electricity sources for existing buildings
- An Energy Diet for Power-Hungry Household PCs
- Scientists focus anew on livestock's role in climate change
- San Francisco on course for emissions reduction goal
- San Francisco to Vote on Clean Energy City Charter on November Ballot
- Vancouver Sun Op/Ed – British Columbia's carbon tax doesn't let 'polluters' off
- E-Mail Hacking Case Could Redefine Online Privacy
- 300 million votes at Yahoo miscalculated
- HughesNet Offers New 5Mbps Satellite Broadband Service
- In-Flight Broadband Cheat Sheet
- Giant online security hole getting fixed, slowly
- California cities explore fiber options
- Massachusetts Signs New Broadband Law
- Smog alert as local temperatures climb toward 90
- 11 charged in data theft of 41 million credit and debit cards
- Alaska Air says customers' credit cards misused
- Mason County – Attendance & Revenues Up At 2008 Fair & Rodeo
- City (of Tumwater) up against 7-figure shortfall
- Bush designates I-5 Bridge replacement as high priority
- HP pledges strong Vancouver, WA presence despite Oregon inkjet layoffs
- Four Tons Worth – Two arrested in Woodland metal-theft investigation
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Visage • \VIZ-zedge\ • noun – 1: the face, countenance, or appearance of a person or sometimes an animal 2: aspect, appearance
Sidney hummed absently while brushing his teeth, unaware until it was too late that the medicine cabinet had swung open to reveal the jolly visage of his next door neighbor, Chuck McCann. “Hi guy!” exclaimed Chuck, “fancy meeting you here after all these years.” MONA!
No. 94 on Drew Babb's 100 Greatest TV Spots of All Time – Right Guard/"Mona": God knows why we love this sad sack Sidney, standing at his bathroom sink crying out for his wife, Mona! (Wouldn't you cry out too if your medicine cabinet opened into your neighbor's bathroom?) Love the hail-fellow-well-met neighbor, played by Chuck McCann, who greets our schmoe with, Hi, Guy! This campaign pooled into a series in which we get to know Sidney's wife and kid. And the neighbor's kid, too.
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
State attorney still opposes sale of Puget Energy to international investors – Too much debt to allow sale, says state AG's Public Counsel (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008094442_puget060.html?syndication=rss
Another public utility district takeover of Puget Sound Energy? As in 1941, so in 2008 (Examiner.com – You gotta see the photo!)
http://www.examiner.com/x-479-Seattle-History-Examiner~y2008m8d4-PSE
10th District legislative race focuses on healthcare, ferries, PUD (South Whidbey Record, Coupeville, WA)
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/news/26318319.html
BPA transmission lines threatened – Wood debris pile burning in Covington (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_080608WAB_covington_fire_LJ.1d5c3d2d.html?npc
Mossyrock Dam turbine gets heart transplant to improve efficiency (The News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/435491.html
Grays Harbor County PUD move surprises Rayonier (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/08/05/local_news/02news.txt
Overhead lines going underground in historic downtown Port Townsend (The Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080806/NEWS/808060303
North Texans feeling little relief from electricity deregulation (Dallas Morning News, TX)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-summerbills_06met.ART.State.Edition2.4dd3e56.html
Spurred by bills, Texans search for ways to cut electricity use (Dallas Morning News, TX)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/080608dnbusefficiency.40f4d3e.html
Home Energy Prices Are Expected to Soar (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/06/business/06fuel.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
McCain, Obama promote nuclear energy plans (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/politics/election2008/2008-08-05-mccain-nuclear_N.htm?csp=34
Yucca Mountain Price Tag Up, Hanford Affected? (Northwest Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=4163
FISH & WILDLIFE
IDAHO – Sockeye surge materializes in upper Salmon – Sixty-three sockeye salmon made it to the Redfish Lake area by Monday (Idaho Mountain Express, Sun Valley, ID)
http://www.mtexpress.com/index2.php?ID=2005121978
Sockeye Complete Epic Journey to Central Idaho (Northwest Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=4161
Sockeye season starts Wednesday for Lake Wenatchee (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/NEWS04/767775786/1006/NEWS03
Salmon fishing opens in the upper Okanogan River and lower Similkameen River (The Omak Chronicle, WA)
http://www.omakchronicle.com/spt/s080805j.shtml
CANADA – Salmon becoming a rarity on Yukoners' tables (CBC News)
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2008/08/05/yukon-fish.html?ref=rss
Ocean salmon fishing getting better, lake trout might do the same (The News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/outdoors/story/435526.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
The Olympian Editorial – Puget Sound assets total at least $243 billion (Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/532407.html
Water, land values, development – Eastern Oregon vineyard owners, wheat growers clash over land use (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2008/08/eastern_oregon_vineyard_owners.html
Sequim water, sewer rates might rise as much as 20% next year (The Peninsual Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080806/NEWS/808060305
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Wind and wave energy project for coastal Grays Harbor County gets fed approval (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/08/05/local_news/06news.txt
The wind blows less when wind power is needed most (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CkptuuqmTSigt%3EEvbfen%5Fv
Pickens bringing case for more wind energy to Nebraska (The Associated Press)
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080806/ne_pickens_nebraska.html?.v=1
L.A. Times Editorial – A boon for Pickens, not for America – T. Boone Pickens' proposals to wean the country off foreign oil could provide more benefit to Iran than to the U.S.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-oew-luft6-2008aug06,0,3336586.story
Kohl's expanding solar power program to Oregon (The Business Journal of Milwaukee, OR)
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/08/04/daily31.html?ana=from_rss
Oregon Tech Looks to Be World's First Fully-Geothermal Campus (Oregon Public Radio)
http://news.opb.org/article/2760-oregon-tech-would-be-worlds-first-fully-geothermal-campus/
Energy crops key to biofuels growth (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10005414-54.html?tag=nl.e433
CONSERVATION
Seattle P-I Columnist – Conserving energy isn't sexy
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/373621_herbertonline06.html?source=rss
OHIO – Energy alternatives – Johnson Controls taps new heating and electricity sources for existing buildings (The Columbus Dispatch, OH)
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/business/stories/2008/08/06/solar_power.ART_ART_08-06-08_C8_IAAUP7H.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=101
An Energy Diet for Power-Hungry Household PCs (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/08/06/technology/06green.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Scientists focus anew on livestock's role in climate change (The Chicago Tribune, via the Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080805/FOOD/280098011/-1/FEA
San Francisco on course for emissions reduction goal (The San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/08/05/BAIB125JQO.DTL&feed=rss.news
San Francisco to Vote on Clean Energy City Charter on November Ballot: Why is "Green" Mayor Gavin Newsom Opposed? (Environmental News Network)
http://www.enn.com/energy/article/37837
Vancouver Sun Op/Ed – British Columbia's carbon tax doesn't let 'polluters' off (Canada)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=e8f3ea1b-1ce4-4820-862e-76317ce7f0ab&k=14954
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
E-Mail Hacking Case Could Redefine Online Privacy – A federal appeals court in California is reviewing a lower court's definition of "interception" in the digital age (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/08/05/AR2008080503421.html?nav=rss_technology
300 million votes at Yahoo miscalculated – Outcome of election unchanged as revised count cements disdain (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/373741_yahoo06.html?source=rss
HughesNet Offers New 5Mbps Service – Fastest satellite broadband tier ever offered (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/HughesNet-Offers-New-5Mbps-Service-96755
In-Flight Broadband Cheat Sheet (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/08/05/in-flight-broadband-cheat-sheet/
Giant online security hole getting fixed, slowly (The Associated Press)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080805/ap_on_hi_te/tec_internet_security_hole_2
California cities explore fiber options – Loma Linda may share system with GT to help it win business (San Bernardino Sun, CA)
http://www.sbsun.com/ci_10109656?source=rss
Massachusetts Signs New Broadband Law – Aimed at helping 95 communities with little or no broadband (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Massachusetts-Signs-New-Broadband-Law-96737
GENERAL NEWS
Smog alert as local temperatures climb toward 90 (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/373614_weather06.html
11 charged in data theft of 41 million credit and debit cards – retailers' wireless networks hacked into (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10112727?source=rss
Alaska Air says customers' credit cards misused – About 1,500 people who bought tickets from Alaska or Horizon airlines have been notified their credit cards were misused. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008095135_apalaskaaircreditcards.html?syndication=rss
Mason County – Attendance & Revenues Up At 2008 Fair & Rodeo (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/732/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
City (of Tumwater) up against 7-figure shortfall (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/533083.html
Bush designates I-5 Bridge replacement as high priority (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/08/08052008_Bush-designates-I5-Bridge-replacement-as-high-priority.cfm
HP pledges strong Vancouver, WA presence despite Oregon inkjet layoffs (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2008/08/08052008_HP-pledges-strong-local-presence.cfm?newsletter=1
Four Tons Worth – Two arrested in Woodland metal-theft investigation (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/08/06//area_news/doc489943a255e3d625540009.txt
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Man Dials 911, Complains His Sub Had No Sauce
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17099847/detail.html
Dying for a salad? Try a dash of this – Chef accidentally recommends a potentially deadly plant in organic salads
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080804/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_britain_poison;_ylt=AkVK8QpZOVaLI4uADR9pzwztiBIF
Inflatable church looks to lure Italian beachgoers
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080805/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_italy_beach_church;_ylt=AoD6eA2idy8PhMzXkHUYD8jtiBIF
For developers of Bend’s Shire, ‘dream’ is over – The village-themed concept in southeast Bend patterned after J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” series
http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080731/BIZ0102/807310374/1041&nav_category=
Man Presumed Dead In 1976 Colo. Flood Found Alive
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17099899/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=irresistible
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