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)
- IDAHO – State to fight elimination of credit on electric customers' bills
- OREGON – Power provider will pay Ashland $812,915
- Grant County PUD discusses energy plans – Conservation, focus on renewable sources slated
- Anonymous tipster rewarded $4,000 for information about Flathead wire theft
- Manager: Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative has plenty of options
- MARYLAND – State must protect Baltimore Gas & Electric customers
- PENNSYLVANIA – PPL takes next step toward potential new nuclear plant
- On this Day: First Hydroelectric Plant Opens
- A building ban near rivers? Feds call for moratorium in bid to protect salmon, orcas
- Documentary reaches for heart of matters with Snake River dams
- Oregon fisherman faces hefty fine
- Invisibly Emptied Oceans
- Water shortage declared for Fairview area of Clallam PUD
- Construction on Spokane's Waste Water Treatment Plant Waiting for EPA Phosphorus Allowance
- OKLAHOMA – Judge rules against bird waste injunction
- US Lawmakers at Impasse on Incentives for Renewable Energy
- Study: Wave energy could have impact on ocean, species
- Xcel to use wood chips for electricity at northern Wisconsin plant
- Snohomish County PUD offers tips on how to prepare for winter
- As power costs climb, homeowner and agency among those exploring way to save, create energy
- MICHIGAN – DTE Energy Offers Tips to Help Manage Winter Heating Costs
- Northeast Initiative Carbon Sale Raises $40 Million
- Ballmer sees global crisis hitting Microsoft
- Microsoft, Washington state sue over 'scareware' pop-up ads
- Congress poised to pass Internet radio legislation
- Historic Sell-Off Hits Market
- Investors see new villains in WaMu drama
- Shelton City Commission Gets Preliminary 2009 Budget
- Snow falling on Mars
- 'Grapes Of Wrath' And The Politics of Book Burning
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Consigliere • \kohn-sil-YEH-reh\ • noun – Counselor, adviser
“Don’t sign it!” barked the utility attorney into the ear of the board chairman. “I’ve read every line, and unless you want to have electrodes attached to your ears, you’ll slowly pull the pen away from the paper.” It was at that moment that the utility board had their first qualms about hiring an attorney who had the word consigliere as a part of his firm’s name: Hagen, Hagen and Hagen, ‘Peace-Time Consiglieres.’
The word "consigliere" comes from Italian and has been a part our language since 1615; it was originally used of someone who served on a council in Italy. Currently, it is most commonly used to designate advisers to the Mafia -- a use that first appeared in English in a document from a 1963 session of the U.S. Senate. It is also often used generally of a political or financial adviser, or any other trusted adviser for that matter.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
IDAHO – State to fight elimination of credit on electric customers' bills (Idaho Statesman, Boise)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/235/story/518682.html
OREGON – Power provider will pay Ashland $812,915 (Ashland Daily Tidings, OR)
http://www.dailytidings.com/2008/0929/stories/0929_bonneville.php
Grant County PUD discusses energy plans – Conservation, focus on renewable sources slated (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/09/29/news/news02.txt
Anonymous tipster rewarded $4,000 for information about Flathead wire theft (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/230171/
Manager: Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative has plenty of options (Baker City Herald , OR)
http://www.bakercityherald.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=7403
MARYLAND – State must protect Baltimore Gas & Electric customers (Baltimore Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2008/09/29/editorial1.html?b=1222660800^1706647&brthrs=1
PENNSYLVANIA – PPL takes next step toward potential new nuclear plant (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=340969&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss
On this Day: First Hydroelectric Plant Opens – On Sept. 30, 1882, the world’s first hydroelectric power plant began operation in Wisconsin, producing enough energy to supply three buildings. (Finding Dulcinea – Ed. Note: Great Grandpa Theodore had a micro hydro plant also – “…In 1905, an electric dynamo was attached to a waterwheel, (at the Myer homestead in Alpha Prairie) producing the first electricity in rural Lewis County.)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/September-October-08/On-this-Day--First-Hydroelectric-Plant-Opens.html
FISH & WILDLIFE
A building ban near rivers? Feds call for moratorium in bid to protect salmon, orcas (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/381087_endangered30.html?source=rss
Documentary reaches for heart of matters with Snake River dams – ‘River Ways' has been praised as a fair, balanced approach to the issue (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2008/09/29/local_news/080929local03snakeriverfilm.txt
Oregon fisherman faces hefty fine (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1613762~Ore__fisherman_faces_hefty_fine.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Invisibly Emptied Oceans (NY Times)
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/30/emptied-oceans/?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Water shortage declared for Fairview area of Clallam PUD (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080930/NEWS/809300305
Construction on Spokane's Waste Water Treatment Plant Waiting for EPA Phosphorus Allowance (Northwest Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=4376
OKLAHOMA – Judge rules against bird waste injunction – State sought to stop 13 Arkansas poultry companies from disposing of bird waste in the Illinois River watershed (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008215013_apfarmscenepoultrylitter.html?syndication=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
US Lawmakers at Impasse on Incentives for Renewable Energy (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/30/washington/30energy.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Study: Wave energy could have impact on ocean, species (Portland Business Journal, OR)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/09/29/daily9.html?ana=from_rss
Xcel to use wood chips for electricity at northern Wisconsin plant (Pioneer Press, St. Paul, MN)
http://www.twincities.com/news/ci_10598267?source=rss
CONSERVATION
Snohomish County PUD offers tips on how to prepare for winter (Everett Herald, WA)
http://heraldnet.com/article/20080930/NEWS01/709309904
TENNESSEE – As power costs climb, homeowner and agency among those exploring way to save, create energy (Knoxville News Sentinel, TN)
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/sep/28/efficient-frontier/
MICHIGAN – DTE Energy Offers Tips to Help Manage Winter Heating Costs (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=97883
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Carbon Sale Raises $40 Million – Northeast Initiative, First in Nation, Seeks to Curb Emissions (Washington Post – This doesn’t seem like all that much money, relatively speaking)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/29/AR2008092903414.html?nav=rss_business
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Ballmer sees global crisis hitting Microsoft (Reuters)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080930/tc_nm/us_microsoft_ballmer_7
Microsoft, Washington state sue over 'scareware' pop-up ads (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10053565-83.html?tag=nl.e703
Congress poised to pass Internet radio legislation (Associated Press)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10592727?source=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Historic Sell-Off Hits Market (The Associated Press)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/381110_wallstreet30.html
Investors see new villains in WaMu drama (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/virgin/381074_virgin30.html
Shelton City Commission Gets Preliminary Look At 2009 Budget (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/5169/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
Snow falling on Mars – NASA"s Phoenix spacecraft has discovered evidence of past water at its Martian landing site and spotted falling snow for the first time, scientists reported Monday. (Associated Press)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10593180?source=rss
'Grapes Of Wrath' And The Politics of Book Burning – Sept. 29 marks the beginning of the American Library Association's annual "Banned Books Week" (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=95190615&ft=1&f=3
DIVERSIONS
Instant Ipecac – Iowa Woman Drinks Bat-Infused Coffee: Woman Finds Bat In Coffee Filter
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/17578911/detail.html
Follow Up File – Charge Dropped Against Man Accused of Passing Gas
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17565471/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=irresistible
Prisoners allowed to order out restaurant food
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE48S5V320080929?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Move over priests-Nepal state names "living goddess"
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE48S5W420080929?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday, September 29, 2008
Energy News Digest for Setpember 29, 2008
All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Oregonian Editorial – Settle the dispute over Bonneville's benefits
- Many Pacific Power customers eagerly await credit, blast BPA
- Idaho regulators oppose power credit reduction
- Seattle Mayor Nickels: No change in '09 electricity rates
- Public electricity issue
- CANADA – Too costly to hook up to northern B.C. power line: Yukon Energy
- CANADA – Streams go to work for green power sector
- Cowlitz PUD to enlarge storage yard
- NEWS RELEASE – BPA's strategic planning efforts get big boost
- NEWS RELEASE – Detroit Edison Boosts Rewards for Copper Theft Info
- Oregon biologists want public views on plans to save Columbia steelhead
- B.C.'s fish-farm authority petitioned in court: Fish control should return to federal hands
- OREGON – Logs in streams help fish
- More water for Odessa – First new water released in 20 years
- State grants funds for new North Central Washington water storage
- Boise water project gets big boost
- IDAHO – Exploring options for Minnidoka Dam near Rupert
- Boil-Water Advisory Lifted for Lake Symington System's Users in Kitsap County
- Filtration system would clean up polluted runoff
- Bottled Water at Issue in Great Lakes – Conservation and Commerce Clash
- Editorial – California took on energy crisis, now it faces water crisis
- Seeing flaws in California’s green initiatives
- OREGON – Solar-cell factory to bring 200 jobs
- Advancing Biomass in California
- UNITED KINGDOM – Major plans for tidal energy farm
- Demonstration homes to use zero net energy
- 'Turn homes green' to cut bills
- 5 Startups Putting Wireless To Work for Energy
- Administration Official Talks Stewardship, Carbon Markets
- VoIP system users can be targeted in attacks
- Google Goes to Washington, Gearing Up to Put Its Stamp on Government
- Net Neutrality: An American Problem
- Company offers stipend for workers to buy computers
- Newborn left on Federal Way church steps
- No driveway carwashes, Washington State says
- Metal thieves strike Oregon military cemetery
- E-mail, Internet get mixed reviews in work study
- Shelton Highclimber Band Takes First Place In Silverdale
- Converted shipping containers touted as ideal low-income homes
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Hirsute • \HER-soot\ • adjective – 1: hairy 2: covered with coarse stiff hairs
To “Jo-Jo, the Dog-Faced Boy,” the dramatic drop-off in attendance to his spectacular vaudeville shows was inexplicable. However, to his admirers the cause of disinterest was as clear as the nose on the performer’s formerly hirsute face. They could now see it, especially after his unfortunate corporate sponsorship by “Nair”.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Oregonian Editorial – Settle the dispute over Bonneville's benefits (Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2008/09/settle_the_dispute_over_bonnev.html
Many Pacific Power customers eagerly await credit – The heartburn for Pacific Power is a provision in the BPA plan that requires investor-owned utilities like Pacific, Avista in Spokane and Puget Sound Energy to repay what the agency sees as excess credits over the past seven years. (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)
http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/8000
Idaho regulators oppose power credit reduction – The Idaho Public Utilities Commission: “it will pursue all available legal remedies to address ‘this punitive and egregious error.’” (Idaho Business Review – Must…avoid…kneejerk…reaction…to this story…)
http://www.idahobusiness.net/archive.htm/2008/09/26/Idaho-regulators-oppose-power-credit-reduction
Seattle Mayor Nickels: No change in '09 electricity rates – While the City Council considers steep increases for water and garbage rates, Seattle customers will not see a change (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008208260_electric27m.html
Public electricity issue (KAPS Radio, Mount Vernon)
http://www.kapsradio.com/2008/09/25/public-electricity-issue/
CANADA – Too costly to hook up to northern B.C. power line: Yukon Energy (CBC News)
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2008/09/29/yukon-bcline.html?ref=rss
CANADA – Streams go to work for green power sector: Run-of-river hydroelectric facilities currently provide about 10% to 15% of BC Hydro's electricity (Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=b0088e08-f4cd-469f-b863-bc1ba517aa0a
Cowlitz PUD to enlarge storage yard (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/09/28//area_news/10437694.txt
NEWS RELEASE – BPA's strategic planning efforts get big boost: Elliot Mainzer is the new BPA executive vice president for Corporate Strategy (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/230076/
NEWS RELEASE – Detroit Edison Boosts Rewards for Copper Theft Info: Tips needed to thwart safety, service reliability problems (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=97805
FISH & WILDLIFE
Oregon biologists want public views on plans to save Columbia steelhead (Wallowa County Chieftain, Enterprise, OR)
http://www.wallowacountychieftain.info/main.asp?SectionID=9&SubSectionID=61&ArticleID=17015&TM=51201.88
CANADA – B.C.'s fish-farm authority petitioned in court: Fish control should return to federal hands, group says (The Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080929.wbcfish28/BNStory/National/home
OREGON – Logs in streams help fish (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1611416~Logs_in_streams_help_fish.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
More water for Odessa – First new water released in 20 years (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/09/28/news/news06.txt
State grants funds for new North Central Washington water storage – $10.94 million to go for reservoirs (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080926/NEWS04/709269898/1025/rss1025
Boise water project gets big boost – A state Department of Ecology grant will help pay for a system that will store cold water in winter for use in summertime cooling (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2008/09/28/local_news/0809281boise%20water.txt
IDAHO – Exploring options for Minnidoka Dam near Rupert (Ag Weekly)
http://www.agweekly.com/articles/2008/09/28/news/ag_news/news01.txt
Boil-Water Advisory Lifted for Lake Symington System's Users in Kitsap County (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/sep/28/boil-water-advisory-lifted-for-lake-symington/?partner=RSS
Filtration system would clean up polluted runoff – Project designed to protect Sound (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/380927_stormwater29.html
Bottled Water at Issue in Great Lakes – Conservation and Commerce Clash (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/28/AR2008092802997.html?nav=rss_business
San Francisco Chronicle Editorial – California took on energy crisis, now it faces water crisis
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/28/EDTI136772.DTL
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Seeing flaws in green initiatives – California has 2 ballot measures that don't get everyone onboard (The Houston Chronicle, TX)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/energy/6026289.html
OREGON – Solar-cell factory to bring 200 jobs – Salem officials hope Sanyo plant will attract others (Salem Statesman-Journal)
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080926/NEWS/809260348/1001
Advancing Biomass in California (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/reinsider/story?id=53644&src=rss
UNITED KINGDOM – Major plans for tidal energy farm – A major tidal energy project is being planned for waters off the coast of Northern Ireland and Scotland (British Broadcasting Corporation)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7640842.stm
CONSERVATION
Demonstration homes to use zero net energy – Innovations will boost prices for Issaquah townhouses 5 to 10 percent (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/380972_energy29.html
'Turn homes green' to cut bills (The Press Association, United Kingdom)
http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5g8x_O8Zs4jP-7mGVBcM9Dr8vXjbA
5 Startups Putting Wireless To Work for Energy (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/09/25/5-startups-putting-wireless-to-work-for-energy/
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Administration Official Talks Stewardship, Carbon Markets (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/3162-administration-official-talks-stewardship-carbon-markets/
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
VoIP system users can be targeted in attacks (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10052393-83.html?tag=nl.e703
Google Goes to Washington, Gearing Up to Put Its Stamp on Government (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/28/AR2008092802216.html?nav=rss_technology
Net Neutrality: An American Problem – Australian ISPs say America needs to learn from them (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Net-Neutrality-An-American-Problem-98048
Company offers stipend for workers to buy computers – Maintenance becomes employees' responsibility (Associated Press)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/380871_byocomputer29.html?source=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Newborn left on Federal Way church steps (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008212040_baby29m.html
No driveway carwashes, Washington State says (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-09-28-car-wash_N.htm?csp=34
Metal thieves strike Oregon military cemetery (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1610685~Metal_thieves_strike_Ore__military_cemetery.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
E-mail, Internet get mixed reviews in work study (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/494544.html
Shelton Highclimber Band Takes First Place In Silverdale (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/5163/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
Converted shipping containers touted as ideal low-income homes (Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080928/BIZ/709289946/-1/RSS03
DIVERSIONS
Twins who swapped roles charged with fraud
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE48P66N20080926?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Oregon Hospital Tells Grandfather He's Pregnant – Hospital Administrator Blames Errant Keystroke
http://www.kirotv.com/family/17568295/detail.html
Driver with $2 million speeding fines nabbed
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE48P68F20080926?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
This is wrong on so many levels: Clowns take it all off -- except the nose --for 2009 Naked Clown Calendar
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10578489?source=rss
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Oregonian Editorial – Settle the dispute over Bonneville's benefits
- Many Pacific Power customers eagerly await credit, blast BPA
- Idaho regulators oppose power credit reduction
- Seattle Mayor Nickels: No change in '09 electricity rates
- Public electricity issue
- CANADA – Too costly to hook up to northern B.C. power line: Yukon Energy
- CANADA – Streams go to work for green power sector
- Cowlitz PUD to enlarge storage yard
- NEWS RELEASE – BPA's strategic planning efforts get big boost
- NEWS RELEASE – Detroit Edison Boosts Rewards for Copper Theft Info
- Oregon biologists want public views on plans to save Columbia steelhead
- B.C.'s fish-farm authority petitioned in court: Fish control should return to federal hands
- OREGON – Logs in streams help fish
- More water for Odessa – First new water released in 20 years
- State grants funds for new North Central Washington water storage
- Boise water project gets big boost
- IDAHO – Exploring options for Minnidoka Dam near Rupert
- Boil-Water Advisory Lifted for Lake Symington System's Users in Kitsap County
- Filtration system would clean up polluted runoff
- Bottled Water at Issue in Great Lakes – Conservation and Commerce Clash
- Editorial – California took on energy crisis, now it faces water crisis
- Seeing flaws in California’s green initiatives
- OREGON – Solar-cell factory to bring 200 jobs
- Advancing Biomass in California
- UNITED KINGDOM – Major plans for tidal energy farm
- Demonstration homes to use zero net energy
- 'Turn homes green' to cut bills
- 5 Startups Putting Wireless To Work for Energy
- Administration Official Talks Stewardship, Carbon Markets
- VoIP system users can be targeted in attacks
- Google Goes to Washington, Gearing Up to Put Its Stamp on Government
- Net Neutrality: An American Problem
- Company offers stipend for workers to buy computers
- Newborn left on Federal Way church steps
- No driveway carwashes, Washington State says
- Metal thieves strike Oregon military cemetery
- E-mail, Internet get mixed reviews in work study
- Shelton Highclimber Band Takes First Place In Silverdale
- Converted shipping containers touted as ideal low-income homes
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Hirsute • \HER-soot\ • adjective – 1: hairy 2: covered with coarse stiff hairs
To “Jo-Jo, the Dog-Faced Boy,” the dramatic drop-off in attendance to his spectacular vaudeville shows was inexplicable. However, to his admirers the cause of disinterest was as clear as the nose on the performer’s formerly hirsute face. They could now see it, especially after his unfortunate corporate sponsorship by “Nair”.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Oregonian Editorial – Settle the dispute over Bonneville's benefits (Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2008/09/settle_the_dispute_over_bonnev.html
Many Pacific Power customers eagerly await credit – The heartburn for Pacific Power is a provision in the BPA plan that requires investor-owned utilities like Pacific, Avista in Spokane and Puget Sound Energy to repay what the agency sees as excess credits over the past seven years. (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)
http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/8000
Idaho regulators oppose power credit reduction – The Idaho Public Utilities Commission: “it will pursue all available legal remedies to address ‘this punitive and egregious error.’” (Idaho Business Review – Must…avoid…kneejerk…reaction…to this story…)
http://www.idahobusiness.net/archive.htm/2008/09/26/Idaho-regulators-oppose-power-credit-reduction
Seattle Mayor Nickels: No change in '09 electricity rates – While the City Council considers steep increases for water and garbage rates, Seattle customers will not see a change (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008208260_electric27m.html
Public electricity issue (KAPS Radio, Mount Vernon)
http://www.kapsradio.com/2008/09/25/public-electricity-issue/
CANADA – Too costly to hook up to northern B.C. power line: Yukon Energy (CBC News)
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/north/story/2008/09/29/yukon-bcline.html?ref=rss
CANADA – Streams go to work for green power sector: Run-of-river hydroelectric facilities currently provide about 10% to 15% of BC Hydro's electricity (Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=b0088e08-f4cd-469f-b863-bc1ba517aa0a
Cowlitz PUD to enlarge storage yard (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/09/28//area_news/10437694.txt
NEWS RELEASE – BPA's strategic planning efforts get big boost: Elliot Mainzer is the new BPA executive vice president for Corporate Strategy (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/230076/
NEWS RELEASE – Detroit Edison Boosts Rewards for Copper Theft Info: Tips needed to thwart safety, service reliability problems (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=97805
FISH & WILDLIFE
Oregon biologists want public views on plans to save Columbia steelhead (Wallowa County Chieftain, Enterprise, OR)
http://www.wallowacountychieftain.info/main.asp?SectionID=9&SubSectionID=61&ArticleID=17015&TM=51201.88
CANADA – B.C.'s fish-farm authority petitioned in court: Fish control should return to federal hands, group says (The Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080929.wbcfish28/BNStory/National/home
OREGON – Logs in streams help fish (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1611416~Logs_in_streams_help_fish.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
More water for Odessa – First new water released in 20 years (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/09/28/news/news06.txt
State grants funds for new North Central Washington water storage – $10.94 million to go for reservoirs (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080926/NEWS04/709269898/1025/rss1025
Boise water project gets big boost – A state Department of Ecology grant will help pay for a system that will store cold water in winter for use in summertime cooling (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2008/09/28/local_news/0809281boise%20water.txt
IDAHO – Exploring options for Minnidoka Dam near Rupert (Ag Weekly)
http://www.agweekly.com/articles/2008/09/28/news/ag_news/news01.txt
Boil-Water Advisory Lifted for Lake Symington System's Users in Kitsap County (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/sep/28/boil-water-advisory-lifted-for-lake-symington/?partner=RSS
Filtration system would clean up polluted runoff – Project designed to protect Sound (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/380927_stormwater29.html
Bottled Water at Issue in Great Lakes – Conservation and Commerce Clash (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/28/AR2008092802997.html?nav=rss_business
San Francisco Chronicle Editorial – California took on energy crisis, now it faces water crisis
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/28/EDTI136772.DTL
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Seeing flaws in green initiatives – California has 2 ballot measures that don't get everyone onboard (The Houston Chronicle, TX)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/energy/6026289.html
OREGON – Solar-cell factory to bring 200 jobs – Salem officials hope Sanyo plant will attract others (Salem Statesman-Journal)
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080926/NEWS/809260348/1001
Advancing Biomass in California (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/reinsider/story?id=53644&src=rss
UNITED KINGDOM – Major plans for tidal energy farm – A major tidal energy project is being planned for waters off the coast of Northern Ireland and Scotland (British Broadcasting Corporation)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7640842.stm
CONSERVATION
Demonstration homes to use zero net energy – Innovations will boost prices for Issaquah townhouses 5 to 10 percent (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/380972_energy29.html
'Turn homes green' to cut bills (The Press Association, United Kingdom)
http://ukpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5g8x_O8Zs4jP-7mGVBcM9Dr8vXjbA
5 Startups Putting Wireless To Work for Energy (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/09/25/5-startups-putting-wireless-to-work-for-energy/
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Administration Official Talks Stewardship, Carbon Markets (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/3162-administration-official-talks-stewardship-carbon-markets/
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
VoIP system users can be targeted in attacks (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1009_3-10052393-83.html?tag=nl.e703
Google Goes to Washington, Gearing Up to Put Its Stamp on Government (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/28/AR2008092802216.html?nav=rss_technology
Net Neutrality: An American Problem – Australian ISPs say America needs to learn from them (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Net-Neutrality-An-American-Problem-98048
Company offers stipend for workers to buy computers – Maintenance becomes employees' responsibility (Associated Press)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/380871_byocomputer29.html?source=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Newborn left on Federal Way church steps (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008212040_baby29m.html
No driveway carwashes, Washington State says (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2008-09-28-car-wash_N.htm?csp=34
Metal thieves strike Oregon military cemetery (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1610685~Metal_thieves_strike_Ore__military_cemetery.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
E-mail, Internet get mixed reviews in work study (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/494544.html
Shelton Highclimber Band Takes First Place In Silverdale (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/5163/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
Converted shipping containers touted as ideal low-income homes (Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080928/BIZ/709289946/-1/RSS03
DIVERSIONS
Twins who swapped roles charged with fraud
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE48P66N20080926?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Oregon Hospital Tells Grandfather He's Pregnant – Hospital Administrator Blames Errant Keystroke
http://www.kirotv.com/family/17568295/detail.html
Driver with $2 million speeding fines nabbed
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE48P68F20080926?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
This is wrong on so many levels: Clowns take it all off -- except the nose --for 2009 Naked Clown Calendar
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10578489?source=rss
Friday, September 26, 2008
Energy News Digest for September 26, 2008
All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- BPA deal will cut electric bills for most Whatcom County residents
- BPA move should lower electric bills for many in the region
- Jefferson County Democratic Party endorses PUD power
- Puget Energy's sale still opposed by consumer advocate
- PSE gas rate to rise 10.4 percent – Average monthly increase to customers will be $8.49
- City of Longview reaps $600,000 windfall from sale of energy plant to Puget Sound Energy
- Nuclear power gaining support Wisconsin Utility meeting discusses energy sources
- Pickens' natural gas nation
- Tri-City Herald Editorial – Addition of Idaho tribes benefits salmon accord
- Fall Chinook seasons set on Snake, Columbia Rivers
- Skokomish River – Fisheries' team transports salmon to spawning spots
- Seattle Times Guest Columnists – Salmon: Learning to love a Northwest icon
- OREGON – Sandy River system partnership spawns better salmon habitat
- Shooting of sea lion in Willamette River launches inquiry
- WA Ecology Plan to End Columbia River Water Standoff
- Wallula aquifer project receives state grant
- Enviros angry as Washington State allows more Columbia River water use
- E.coli found in some Kitsap County water
- Call for Sound protection focuses on land
- State conservation coalition releases rankings of Thurston, Mason grants
- State Official: Car Washing Is Not Banned
- Oregon Company Claims to Harvest Electricity from Newport area Ocean Waves
- Small Wind Energy on the Rise in US
- Local politico, businessman seeks new wind turbine
- To Save Energy, Cities Darken Street Lights
- Saving Some Green – Tips on Cutting Your Winter Heating Bill
- NY Man Takes Conservation to the Extreme
- Ten states put pollution credits up for sale
- Washington Post Editorial – A Carbon Market: The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative does what Washington couldn't or wouldn't
- Wenatchee World Editorial – Cutting carbon is never simple
- Cities get help with carbon tax: Province will reimburse municipalities in return for carbon-neutrality pledge
- Interior News Columnist – British Columbia energy security trumps climate
- Global warming pollution increases three percent
- Portland General Electric looks at coal plant carbon dioxide to grow algae
- Climate-Change Program Gets New Funds and Home
- Clallam County Internet service to be disrupted for some on Saturday
- NoaNet to Repair Fiber Cable between Shelton and Olympia – No Major Outage Expected
- EarthLink cuts staff
- WaMu becomes biggest bank to fail in US history
- JPMorgan Chase buys WaMu assets after FDIC seizure
- Smaller Banks Thrive Out of the Fray of Crisis
- Brinnon Group seeks reconsideration from state board on 'mega-resort'
- Ben Settle Ruling in the News – Federal court tosses Vancouver's casino suit
- Timberland Regional Library District will make cuts, ask voters for more in taxes
- Teacher allowed to divert union dues to charity
- On this Day: Nixon and JFK Appear in First Televised Presidential Debate
- King County Goes Too Far Trading Brains, Supreme Court Says
- Huckleberry shortage increases chances of bear encounters
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Today’s word of the day has a stand in this Friday; it’s a surprise visit from its cousin “phrase of the day”!
“STEAL MY THUNDER” – John Dennis, 1709
The Story behind It: John Dennis, English critic and playwright, invented a new way of simulating the sound of thunder on stage and used the method in one of his plays, Appius and Virginia. Dennis "made" thunder by using "troughs of wood with stops in them" instead of the large mustard bowls usually employed. The thunder was a great success, but Dennis's play was a dismal failure. The manager at Drury Lane, where the play was performed, canceled its run after only a few performances. A short time later, Dennis returned to Drury Lane to see Shakespeare's Macbeth. As he sat in the pit, he was horrified to discover that his method of making thunder was being used. Jumping to his feet, Dennis screamed at the audience, "That's my thunder, by God! The villains will not play my play but they steal my thunder." -- From Trivia-Library.com
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
BPA deal will cut electric bills for most Whatcom County residents (Bellingham Herald, WA)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/569121.html
BPA move should lower electric bills for many in the region (Bend Bulletin, OR)
http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080925/BIZ0102/809250375/1001/NEWS01&nav_category=
Jefferson County Democratic Party endorses PUD power (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080926/NEWS/809260305
Puget Energy's sale still opposed by consumer advocate (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008201631_pugetenergy25.html
PSE gas rate to rise 10.4 percent – Average monthly increase to customers will be $8.49 (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/597019.html
City of Longview reaps $600,000 windfall from sale of energy plant to Puget Sound Energy (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/09/26//area_news/doc48dc8935b6fab723182055.txt
Nuclear power gaining support Wisconsin Utility meeting discusses energy sources (Green Bay Gazette, WI)
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080926/GPG03/809260640/1247
Pickens' natural gas nation (Report on Business, Canada)
http://www.reportonbusiness.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080925.wboone0925/BNStory/Business/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20080925.wboone0925
FISH & WILDLIFE
Tri-City Herald Editorial – Addition of Idaho tribes benefits salmon accord
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/962/story/328664.html
Fall Chinook seasons set on Snake, Columbia Rivers (The Associated Press)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/380518_chinook26.html
Skokomish River – Fisheries' team transports salmon to spawning spots (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/595647.html
Seattle Times Guest Columnists – Salmon: Learning to love a Northwest icon
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008203350_opin26conserve.html?syndication=rss
OREGON – Sandy River system partnership spawns better salmon habitat (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2008/09/helicopter_logs_revive_salmon.html
Shooting of sea lion in Willamette River launches inquiry (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/09/shooting_of_sea_lion_in_willam.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
WA Ecology Plan to End Columbia River Water Standoff (Northwest Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=4363
Wallula aquifer project receives state grant (Tri –City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/915/story/328679.html
Enviros angry as Washington State allows more Columbia River water use (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/environment/archives/149671.asp?from=blog_last3
E.coli found in some Kitsap County water (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_092508WAB_kitsap_county_boil_order_TP.b0e6e166.html?npc
Call for Sound protection focuses on land (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/380648_sound26.html?source=rss
State conservation coalition releases rankings of Thurston, Mason grants – Nearly $4.3 Million for Mason (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/597004.html
State Official: Car Washing Is Not Banned (KIRO-TV, Seattle, WA)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17556589/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Oregon Company Claims to Harvest Electricity from Newport area Ocean Waves (Northwest Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=4362
Small Wind Energy on the Rise in US (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=53666&src=rss
Local politico, businessman seeks new wind turbine (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.konp.com/local/4047
CONSERVATION
To Save Energy, Cities Darken Street Lights (New York Times)
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/26/to-save-energy-cities-darken-street-lights/?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Saving Some Green – Tips on Cutting Your Winter Heating Bill (KVEW-TV, Tri Cities, WA)
http://www.kvewtv.com/news/?sect_rank=1§ion_id=1&story_id=9044
NY Man Takes Conservation to the Extreme (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/environment/Sept-Octo/NY-Man-Takes-Conservation-to-the-Extreme.html
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Ten states put pollution credits up for sale (Associated Press)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_10561692?source=rss
Washington Post Editorial – A Carbon Market: The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative does what Washington couldn't or wouldn't
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/24/AR2008092402958.html?nav=rss_opinions
Wenatchee World Editorial – Cutting carbon is never simple
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080924/OP03/709247886/1025/rss1025
CANADA – Cities get help with carbon tax: Province will reimburse municipalities in return for carbon-neutrality pledge (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=f73274d8-1090-455c-bfaf-088144d3fc1c
Interior News Columnist – British Columbia energy security trumps climate (Smithers, BC)
http://www.bclocalnews.com/bc_north/interior-news/opinion/29757009.html
Global warming pollution increases three percent (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008202067_apwarmingemissions.html?syndication=rss
Portland General Electric looks at coal plant carbon dioxide to grow algae (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2008/09/pge_looks_at_coal_plant_co2_to.html
Climate-Change Program Gets New Funds and Home (New York Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/science/earth/25climate.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Internet service to be disrupted for some on Saturday – BPA to move fiber optic lines (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080926/NEWS/809260308
NEWS RELEASE – NoaNet to Repair Fiber Cable between Shelton and Olympia – No Major Outage Expected (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/News/display.asp?NewsID=465
EarthLink cuts staff (Atlanta Business Chronicle)
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2008/09/22/daily74.html?ana=from_rss
GENERAL NEWS
WaMu becomes biggest bank to fail in US history (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008203237_apwashingtonmutualfuture.html?syndication=rss
JPMorgan Chase buys WaMu assets after FDIC seizure (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008204456_apwashingtonmutualfuture7thldwritethru.html?syndication=rss
Smaller Banks Thrive Out of the Fray of Crisis – People Shift Money From Wall St. to Main St. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/25/AR2008092504155.html?nav=rss_business
Brinnon Group seeks reconsideration from state board on 'mega-resort' (Port Townsend Leader, WA)
http://www.ptleader.com/Main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=21933
Ben Settle Ruling in the News – Federal court tosses Vancouver's casino suit (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20080925/NEWS02/809249893
Timberland Regional Library District will make cuts, ask voters for more in taxes (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/597466.html
Teacher allowed to divert union dues to charity (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20080926/NEWS02/809259914/-1/news
On this Day: Nixon and JFK Appear in First Televised Presidential Debate (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/September-October-08/On-This-Day--Nixon-and-JFK-Appear-in-First-Televised-Presidential-Debate.html
King County Goes Too Far Trading Brains, Supreme Court Says – High Court Rules Unanimously Against Brain Harvesting Program (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17555983/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
Huckleberry shortage increases chances of bear encounters (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080925/NEWS04/709259942/1001/rss1001
DIVERSIONS
Hot Dogs Outside Philly Ballpark Cause Bomb Scare
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17556167/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=irresistible
Accused Of Passing Gas, Man Charged With Battery
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17556180/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=irresistible
Man Hit By Car, Then Train 6 Hours Later
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17549884/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=irresistible
Swiss man flies over English Channel on jet wing
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/09/25/international/i082419D20.DTL&feed=rss.news
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- BPA deal will cut electric bills for most Whatcom County residents
- BPA move should lower electric bills for many in the region
- Jefferson County Democratic Party endorses PUD power
- Puget Energy's sale still opposed by consumer advocate
- PSE gas rate to rise 10.4 percent – Average monthly increase to customers will be $8.49
- City of Longview reaps $600,000 windfall from sale of energy plant to Puget Sound Energy
- Nuclear power gaining support Wisconsin Utility meeting discusses energy sources
- Pickens' natural gas nation
- Tri-City Herald Editorial – Addition of Idaho tribes benefits salmon accord
- Fall Chinook seasons set on Snake, Columbia Rivers
- Skokomish River – Fisheries' team transports salmon to spawning spots
- Seattle Times Guest Columnists – Salmon: Learning to love a Northwest icon
- OREGON – Sandy River system partnership spawns better salmon habitat
- Shooting of sea lion in Willamette River launches inquiry
- WA Ecology Plan to End Columbia River Water Standoff
- Wallula aquifer project receives state grant
- Enviros angry as Washington State allows more Columbia River water use
- E.coli found in some Kitsap County water
- Call for Sound protection focuses on land
- State conservation coalition releases rankings of Thurston, Mason grants
- State Official: Car Washing Is Not Banned
- Oregon Company Claims to Harvest Electricity from Newport area Ocean Waves
- Small Wind Energy on the Rise in US
- Local politico, businessman seeks new wind turbine
- To Save Energy, Cities Darken Street Lights
- Saving Some Green – Tips on Cutting Your Winter Heating Bill
- NY Man Takes Conservation to the Extreme
- Ten states put pollution credits up for sale
- Washington Post Editorial – A Carbon Market: The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative does what Washington couldn't or wouldn't
- Wenatchee World Editorial – Cutting carbon is never simple
- Cities get help with carbon tax: Province will reimburse municipalities in return for carbon-neutrality pledge
- Interior News Columnist – British Columbia energy security trumps climate
- Global warming pollution increases three percent
- Portland General Electric looks at coal plant carbon dioxide to grow algae
- Climate-Change Program Gets New Funds and Home
- Clallam County Internet service to be disrupted for some on Saturday
- NoaNet to Repair Fiber Cable between Shelton and Olympia – No Major Outage Expected
- EarthLink cuts staff
- WaMu becomes biggest bank to fail in US history
- JPMorgan Chase buys WaMu assets after FDIC seizure
- Smaller Banks Thrive Out of the Fray of Crisis
- Brinnon Group seeks reconsideration from state board on 'mega-resort'
- Ben Settle Ruling in the News – Federal court tosses Vancouver's casino suit
- Timberland Regional Library District will make cuts, ask voters for more in taxes
- Teacher allowed to divert union dues to charity
- On this Day: Nixon and JFK Appear in First Televised Presidential Debate
- King County Goes Too Far Trading Brains, Supreme Court Says
- Huckleberry shortage increases chances of bear encounters
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Today’s word of the day has a stand in this Friday; it’s a surprise visit from its cousin “phrase of the day”!
“STEAL MY THUNDER” – John Dennis, 1709
The Story behind It: John Dennis, English critic and playwright, invented a new way of simulating the sound of thunder on stage and used the method in one of his plays, Appius and Virginia. Dennis "made" thunder by using "troughs of wood with stops in them" instead of the large mustard bowls usually employed. The thunder was a great success, but Dennis's play was a dismal failure. The manager at Drury Lane, where the play was performed, canceled its run after only a few performances. A short time later, Dennis returned to Drury Lane to see Shakespeare's Macbeth. As he sat in the pit, he was horrified to discover that his method of making thunder was being used. Jumping to his feet, Dennis screamed at the audience, "That's my thunder, by God! The villains will not play my play but they steal my thunder." -- From Trivia-Library.com
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
BPA deal will cut electric bills for most Whatcom County residents (Bellingham Herald, WA)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/569121.html
BPA move should lower electric bills for many in the region (Bend Bulletin, OR)
http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080925/BIZ0102/809250375/1001/NEWS01&nav_category=
Jefferson County Democratic Party endorses PUD power (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080926/NEWS/809260305
Puget Energy's sale still opposed by consumer advocate (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008201631_pugetenergy25.html
PSE gas rate to rise 10.4 percent – Average monthly increase to customers will be $8.49 (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/597019.html
City of Longview reaps $600,000 windfall from sale of energy plant to Puget Sound Energy (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/09/26//area_news/doc48dc8935b6fab723182055.txt
Nuclear power gaining support Wisconsin Utility meeting discusses energy sources (Green Bay Gazette, WI)
http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080926/GPG03/809260640/1247
Pickens' natural gas nation (Report on Business, Canada)
http://www.reportonbusiness.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080925.wboone0925/BNStory/Business/?page=rss&id=RTGAM.20080925.wboone0925
FISH & WILDLIFE
Tri-City Herald Editorial – Addition of Idaho tribes benefits salmon accord
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/962/story/328664.html
Fall Chinook seasons set on Snake, Columbia Rivers (The Associated Press)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/380518_chinook26.html
Skokomish River – Fisheries' team transports salmon to spawning spots (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/595647.html
Seattle Times Guest Columnists – Salmon: Learning to love a Northwest icon
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008203350_opin26conserve.html?syndication=rss
OREGON – Sandy River system partnership spawns better salmon habitat (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2008/09/helicopter_logs_revive_salmon.html
Shooting of sea lion in Willamette River launches inquiry (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/09/shooting_of_sea_lion_in_willam.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
WA Ecology Plan to End Columbia River Water Standoff (Northwest Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=4363
Wallula aquifer project receives state grant (Tri –City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/915/story/328679.html
Enviros angry as Washington State allows more Columbia River water use (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://blog.seattlepi.nwsource.com/environment/archives/149671.asp?from=blog_last3
E.coli found in some Kitsap County water (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_092508WAB_kitsap_county_boil_order_TP.b0e6e166.html?npc
Call for Sound protection focuses on land (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/380648_sound26.html?source=rss
State conservation coalition releases rankings of Thurston, Mason grants – Nearly $4.3 Million for Mason (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/597004.html
State Official: Car Washing Is Not Banned (KIRO-TV, Seattle, WA)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17556589/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Oregon Company Claims to Harvest Electricity from Newport area Ocean Waves (Northwest Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=4362
Small Wind Energy on the Rise in US (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=53666&src=rss
Local politico, businessman seeks new wind turbine (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.konp.com/local/4047
CONSERVATION
To Save Energy, Cities Darken Street Lights (New York Times)
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/26/to-save-energy-cities-darken-street-lights/?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Saving Some Green – Tips on Cutting Your Winter Heating Bill (KVEW-TV, Tri Cities, WA)
http://www.kvewtv.com/news/?sect_rank=1§ion_id=1&story_id=9044
NY Man Takes Conservation to the Extreme (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/environment/Sept-Octo/NY-Man-Takes-Conservation-to-the-Extreme.html
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Ten states put pollution credits up for sale (Associated Press)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_10561692?source=rss
Washington Post Editorial – A Carbon Market: The Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative does what Washington couldn't or wouldn't
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/24/AR2008092402958.html?nav=rss_opinions
Wenatchee World Editorial – Cutting carbon is never simple
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080924/OP03/709247886/1025/rss1025
CANADA – Cities get help with carbon tax: Province will reimburse municipalities in return for carbon-neutrality pledge (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=f73274d8-1090-455c-bfaf-088144d3fc1c
Interior News Columnist – British Columbia energy security trumps climate (Smithers, BC)
http://www.bclocalnews.com/bc_north/interior-news/opinion/29757009.html
Global warming pollution increases three percent (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008202067_apwarmingemissions.html?syndication=rss
Portland General Electric looks at coal plant carbon dioxide to grow algae (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2008/09/pge_looks_at_coal_plant_co2_to.html
Climate-Change Program Gets New Funds and Home (New York Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/25/science/earth/25climate.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Internet service to be disrupted for some on Saturday – BPA to move fiber optic lines (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080926/NEWS/809260308
NEWS RELEASE – NoaNet to Repair Fiber Cable between Shelton and Olympia – No Major Outage Expected (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/News/display.asp?NewsID=465
EarthLink cuts staff (Atlanta Business Chronicle)
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2008/09/22/daily74.html?ana=from_rss
GENERAL NEWS
WaMu becomes biggest bank to fail in US history (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008203237_apwashingtonmutualfuture.html?syndication=rss
JPMorgan Chase buys WaMu assets after FDIC seizure (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008204456_apwashingtonmutualfuture7thldwritethru.html?syndication=rss
Smaller Banks Thrive Out of the Fray of Crisis – People Shift Money From Wall St. to Main St. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/25/AR2008092504155.html?nav=rss_business
Brinnon Group seeks reconsideration from state board on 'mega-resort' (Port Townsend Leader, WA)
http://www.ptleader.com/Main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=21933
Ben Settle Ruling in the News – Federal court tosses Vancouver's casino suit (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20080925/NEWS02/809249893
Timberland Regional Library District will make cuts, ask voters for more in taxes (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/597466.html
Teacher allowed to divert union dues to charity (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20080926/NEWS02/809259914/-1/news
On this Day: Nixon and JFK Appear in First Televised Presidential Debate (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/September-October-08/On-This-Day--Nixon-and-JFK-Appear-in-First-Televised-Presidential-Debate.html
King County Goes Too Far Trading Brains, Supreme Court Says – High Court Rules Unanimously Against Brain Harvesting Program (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17555983/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
Huckleberry shortage increases chances of bear encounters (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080925/NEWS04/709259942/1001/rss1001
DIVERSIONS
Hot Dogs Outside Philly Ballpark Cause Bomb Scare
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17556167/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=irresistible
Accused Of Passing Gas, Man Charged With Battery
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17556180/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=irresistible
Man Hit By Car, Then Train 6 Hours Later
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17549884/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=irresistible
Swiss man flies over English Channel on jet wing
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/09/25/international/i082419D20.DTL&feed=rss.news
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
Energy News Digest for September 24, 2008
The news digest will be in transit on Thursday, September 25. It will return Friday, September 26.
All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- BPA's plan to allot power comes under fire
- BPA restarts Residential Exchange Program
- NEWS RELEASE – BPA restarts Residential Exchange Program
- Grays Harbor County PUD should see $5 million check from power agency
- Regional power gurus say there's enough electricity to run Pacific Northwest
- Whidbey PUD plan up for debate
- Chelan PUD gets FERC approval for Alcoa Power sales
- Clallam County PUD offers to buy former Carlsborg Costco site
- Cashmere power grid sale postponed a month
- Financial Confusion Might Help Prevent TransAlta Buyout
- NEW MEXICO – New higher electricity rates needed to prepare for energy future
- BPA Power Rates to Increase to Support Fish Habitat
- Snake River fall Chinook fishery may open Thursday
- California legislation would measure how much water is bottled
- Senate Passes Renewable Energy Tax Credits, Bill Moves Back to House
- Snohomish County PUD tidal energy plan gets $1.2 million boost
- Clallam County PUD to host segment of National Solar Tour
- Northwest companies keeping close eye on energy tax credits
- Snohomish Co. churns out homegrown, homemade fuel
- Oregon gets filling stations for electrical cars
- Solar Panels Are Vanishing – Stolen – Only to Reappear on the Internet
- MICHIGAN – Debate continues over effectiveness of new renewable energy mandates
- NEW YORK – Wind Farm Site Considered 10 Miles from Queens Shore
- PENNSYLVANIA – Time is running out on conservation measures
- Western cap and trade initiative faces obstacles
- Sun's wind and output on extended dimmer switch
- IDAHO – Boise takes steps to trim its carbon footprint
- BP scientist: To cut oil use, make carbon expensive
- NASA Launches Rubber Ducks to Research Glacier Interior
- Cisco Tries to Break Out of the Data Center Role
- T-Mobile to sell Google phone for $179 on Oct. 22
- Verizon Has No Plans To Cap, Throttle – Fiber gives them breathing room
- Family of boy hit by shrapnel seeks $47 million
- Scoring mistake by state agency: Vancouver loses $12.5 million
- Hiker summons help with ham radio
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Interloper • \in-ter-LOH-per\ • noun – One that intrudes in a place or sphere of activity
Fran and Fred’s elopement was going well, until an unexpected interloper showed up: Fran’s mother.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
BPA's plan to allot power comes under fire – Ratepayer advocates call the plans a massive transfer of wealth from Oregon to Washington (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1222226720206720.xml&coll=7
BPA restarts Residential Exchange Program (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/09/22/daily24.html?ana=from_rss
NEWS RELEASE – BPA restarts Residential Exchange Program (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/229024/
Grays Harbor County PUD should see $5 million check from power agency – Officials say the payment is a fraction of what the utility has coming and they may still sue to get the rest (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/09/23/local_news/03news.txt
Regional power gurus say there's enough electricity to run Pacific Northwest for short term, but long term is less certain (The Missoulian, MT)
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/09/23/bnews//br13.txt
Whidbey PUD plan up for debate (The Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080924/NEWS01/709249784
Chelan PUD gets FERC approval for Alcoa Power sales (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee)
http://www.kpq.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=242
Clallam County PUD offers to buy former Carlsborg Costco site (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.konp.com/local/4034
Cashmere power grid sale postponed a month (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080923/NEWS04/709239970/1001
Financial Confusion Might Help Prevent TransAlta Buyout (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)
http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews/?Financial-Confusion-Might-Help-Prevent-T=1&blockID=14332&feedID=410
NEW MEXICO – New higher electricity rates needed to prepare for energy future: higher costs to meet future demand and the need for cleaner energy sources (Canadian Business)
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/market_news/article.jsp?content=D93CFT800
FISH & WILDLIFE
BPA Power Rates to Increase to Support Fish Habitat (Northwest Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=4351
Snake River fall Chinook fishery may open Thursday (The Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1603438~Snake_River_fall_chinook_fishery_may_open_Thursday.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
California legislation would measure how much water is bottled (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/23/ED1U133LLP.DTL&feed=rss.opinion
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Senate Passes Renewable Energy Tax Credits, Bill Moves Back to House (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=53660&src=rss
Snohomish County PUD tidal energy plan gets $1.2 million boost (Stanwood Camano News, WA)
http://www.scnews.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=87&twindow=Default&mad=No&sdetail=131&wpage=&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=2790&hn=scnews&he=.com
Clallam County PUD to host segment of National Solar Tour (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.konp.com/local-events/4029
Northwest companies keeping close eye on energy tax credits – Bill could be lifeline for those investing in renewable sources (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/380267_renewables24.html
Snohomish Co. churns out homegrown, homemade fuel (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/29662129.html
Oregon gets filling stations for electrical cars (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1601825~Ore__gets_filling_stations_for_electrical_cars.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Solar Panels Are Vanishing – Stolen – Only to Reappear on the Internet (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/24/technology/24solar.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
MICHIGAN – Debate continues over effectiveness of new renewable energy mandates (Ann Arbor Business Review)
http://www.mlive.com/businessreview/annarbor/index.ssf/2008/09/debate_continues_over_new_rene.html
NEW YORK – Wind Farm Site Considered 10 Miles from Queens Shore (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/24/nyregion/24wind.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
CONSERVATION
PENNSYLVANIA – Time is running out on conservation measures (News of Delaware County, PA)
http://www.newsofdelawarecounty.com/WebApp/appmanager/JRC/SingleWeekly;!-147845757?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pg_wk_article&r21.pgpath=%2FNDC%2FOpinion&r21.content=%2FNDC%2FOpinion%2FHeadlineList_Story_2470305
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Western cap and trade initiative faces obstacles (The Examiner)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1603519~Western_cap_and_trade_initiative_faces_obstacles.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Sun's wind and output on extended dimmer switch (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008198074_apsciweaksun.html?syndication=rss
IDAHO – Boise takes steps to trim its carbon footprint – The city has an 'anti-idling' policy and is expanding geothermal utilities. More ambitious ideas remain on the horizon (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/eyepiece/story/512358.html
BP scientist: To cut oil use, make carbon expensive (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10047746-54.html?tag=nl.e703
NASA Launches Rubber Ducks to Research Glacier Interior (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/science/September-October/NASA-Launches-Rubber-Ducks-to-Research-Glacier-Interior.html
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Cisco Tries to Break Out of the Data Center Role (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/24/technology/24cisco.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
T-Mobile to sell Google phone for $179 on Oct. 22 (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008197394_webgooglephone23.html?syndication=rss
Verizon Has No Plans To Cap, Throttle – Fiber gives them breathing room -- For the moment (Brfoadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Verizon-Has-No-Plans-To-Cap-Throttle-97950
GENERAL NEWS
Family of boy hit by shrapnel seeks $47 million – not from cannon owner, but from rescue crews and 911 dispatchers (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/29532769.html
Scoring mistake by state agency: Vancouver loses $12.5 million (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1603047~Scoring_mistake__Vancouver_loses__12_5_million.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Hiker summons help with ham radio – 'It's just a stroke of luck that turned out great' (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/380213_hamradio24.html?source=rss
DIVERSIONS
Personalities – Washingtonians open to new ideas
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=90197
Mill Creek librarian keeps word, eats worms – Be careful what you promise.
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080923/NEWS01/709239908/-1/RSS02
NJ farm flings pumpkins with giant catapult
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080924/ap_on_fe_st/odd_pumpkin_catapult;_ylt=AoXj69CiV8ZvlfeWO5jZ9_ftiBIF
15 train robbers killed by poison gas
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE48M2VX20080923?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- BPA's plan to allot power comes under fire
- BPA restarts Residential Exchange Program
- NEWS RELEASE – BPA restarts Residential Exchange Program
- Grays Harbor County PUD should see $5 million check from power agency
- Regional power gurus say there's enough electricity to run Pacific Northwest
- Whidbey PUD plan up for debate
- Chelan PUD gets FERC approval for Alcoa Power sales
- Clallam County PUD offers to buy former Carlsborg Costco site
- Cashmere power grid sale postponed a month
- Financial Confusion Might Help Prevent TransAlta Buyout
- NEW MEXICO – New higher electricity rates needed to prepare for energy future
- BPA Power Rates to Increase to Support Fish Habitat
- Snake River fall Chinook fishery may open Thursday
- California legislation would measure how much water is bottled
- Senate Passes Renewable Energy Tax Credits, Bill Moves Back to House
- Snohomish County PUD tidal energy plan gets $1.2 million boost
- Clallam County PUD to host segment of National Solar Tour
- Northwest companies keeping close eye on energy tax credits
- Snohomish Co. churns out homegrown, homemade fuel
- Oregon gets filling stations for electrical cars
- Solar Panels Are Vanishing – Stolen – Only to Reappear on the Internet
- MICHIGAN – Debate continues over effectiveness of new renewable energy mandates
- NEW YORK – Wind Farm Site Considered 10 Miles from Queens Shore
- PENNSYLVANIA – Time is running out on conservation measures
- Western cap and trade initiative faces obstacles
- Sun's wind and output on extended dimmer switch
- IDAHO – Boise takes steps to trim its carbon footprint
- BP scientist: To cut oil use, make carbon expensive
- NASA Launches Rubber Ducks to Research Glacier Interior
- Cisco Tries to Break Out of the Data Center Role
- T-Mobile to sell Google phone for $179 on Oct. 22
- Verizon Has No Plans To Cap, Throttle – Fiber gives them breathing room
- Family of boy hit by shrapnel seeks $47 million
- Scoring mistake by state agency: Vancouver loses $12.5 million
- Hiker summons help with ham radio
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Interloper • \in-ter-LOH-per\ • noun – One that intrudes in a place or sphere of activity
Fran and Fred’s elopement was going well, until an unexpected interloper showed up: Fran’s mother.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
BPA's plan to allot power comes under fire – Ratepayer advocates call the plans a massive transfer of wealth from Oregon to Washington (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1222226720206720.xml&coll=7
BPA restarts Residential Exchange Program (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/09/22/daily24.html?ana=from_rss
NEWS RELEASE – BPA restarts Residential Exchange Program (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/229024/
Grays Harbor County PUD should see $5 million check from power agency – Officials say the payment is a fraction of what the utility has coming and they may still sue to get the rest (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/09/23/local_news/03news.txt
Regional power gurus say there's enough electricity to run Pacific Northwest for short term, but long term is less certain (The Missoulian, MT)
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/09/23/bnews//br13.txt
Whidbey PUD plan up for debate (The Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080924/NEWS01/709249784
Chelan PUD gets FERC approval for Alcoa Power sales (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee)
http://www.kpq.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=242
Clallam County PUD offers to buy former Carlsborg Costco site (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.konp.com/local/4034
Cashmere power grid sale postponed a month (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080923/NEWS04/709239970/1001
Financial Confusion Might Help Prevent TransAlta Buyout (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)
http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews/?Financial-Confusion-Might-Help-Prevent-T=1&blockID=14332&feedID=410
NEW MEXICO – New higher electricity rates needed to prepare for energy future: higher costs to meet future demand and the need for cleaner energy sources (Canadian Business)
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/market_news/article.jsp?content=D93CFT800
FISH & WILDLIFE
BPA Power Rates to Increase to Support Fish Habitat (Northwest Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=4351
Snake River fall Chinook fishery may open Thursday (The Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1603438~Snake_River_fall_chinook_fishery_may_open_Thursday.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
California legislation would measure how much water is bottled (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/23/ED1U133LLP.DTL&feed=rss.opinion
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Senate Passes Renewable Energy Tax Credits, Bill Moves Back to House (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=53660&src=rss
Snohomish County PUD tidal energy plan gets $1.2 million boost (Stanwood Camano News, WA)
http://www.scnews.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=87&twindow=Default&mad=No&sdetail=131&wpage=&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=2790&hn=scnews&he=.com
Clallam County PUD to host segment of National Solar Tour (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.konp.com/local-events/4029
Northwest companies keeping close eye on energy tax credits – Bill could be lifeline for those investing in renewable sources (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/380267_renewables24.html
Snohomish Co. churns out homegrown, homemade fuel (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/29662129.html
Oregon gets filling stations for electrical cars (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1601825~Ore__gets_filling_stations_for_electrical_cars.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Solar Panels Are Vanishing – Stolen – Only to Reappear on the Internet (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/24/technology/24solar.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
MICHIGAN – Debate continues over effectiveness of new renewable energy mandates (Ann Arbor Business Review)
http://www.mlive.com/businessreview/annarbor/index.ssf/2008/09/debate_continues_over_new_rene.html
NEW YORK – Wind Farm Site Considered 10 Miles from Queens Shore (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/24/nyregion/24wind.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
CONSERVATION
PENNSYLVANIA – Time is running out on conservation measures (News of Delaware County, PA)
http://www.newsofdelawarecounty.com/WebApp/appmanager/JRC/SingleWeekly;!-147845757?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=pg_wk_article&r21.pgpath=%2FNDC%2FOpinion&r21.content=%2FNDC%2FOpinion%2FHeadlineList_Story_2470305
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Western cap and trade initiative faces obstacles (The Examiner)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1603519~Western_cap_and_trade_initiative_faces_obstacles.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Sun's wind and output on extended dimmer switch (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008198074_apsciweaksun.html?syndication=rss
IDAHO – Boise takes steps to trim its carbon footprint – The city has an 'anti-idling' policy and is expanding geothermal utilities. More ambitious ideas remain on the horizon (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/eyepiece/story/512358.html
BP scientist: To cut oil use, make carbon expensive (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10047746-54.html?tag=nl.e703
NASA Launches Rubber Ducks to Research Glacier Interior (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/science/September-October/NASA-Launches-Rubber-Ducks-to-Research-Glacier-Interior.html
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Cisco Tries to Break Out of the Data Center Role (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/24/technology/24cisco.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
T-Mobile to sell Google phone for $179 on Oct. 22 (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008197394_webgooglephone23.html?syndication=rss
Verizon Has No Plans To Cap, Throttle – Fiber gives them breathing room -- For the moment (Brfoadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Verizon-Has-No-Plans-To-Cap-Throttle-97950
GENERAL NEWS
Family of boy hit by shrapnel seeks $47 million – not from cannon owner, but from rescue crews and 911 dispatchers (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/29532769.html
Scoring mistake by state agency: Vancouver loses $12.5 million (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1603047~Scoring_mistake__Vancouver_loses__12_5_million.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Hiker summons help with ham radio – 'It's just a stroke of luck that turned out great' (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/380213_hamradio24.html?source=rss
DIVERSIONS
Personalities – Washingtonians open to new ideas
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=90197
Mill Creek librarian keeps word, eats worms – Be careful what you promise.
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080923/NEWS01/709239908/-1/RSS02
NJ farm flings pumpkins with giant catapult
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080924/ap_on_fe_st/odd_pumpkin_catapult;_ylt=AoXj69CiV8ZvlfeWO5jZ9_ftiBIF
15 train robbers killed by poison gas
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE48M2VX20080923?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Energy News Digest for September 23, 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)
- Douglas County PUD launches $151 million rehab of Wells Dam
- Columbian Guest Columnist –We’re buying power; let us shop for renewable bargains
- Houston customers may have to help cover electricity grid repairs from Hurricane Ike
- TEXAS – Dallas-Fort Worth residents likely to see higher winter heating bills
- Winter may worsen energy costs
- MidAmerican Energy Reaches Agreement to Purchase Constellation Energy for $4.7B
- NEW YORK – On its 10th anniversary, Long Island Power Authority faces shadow of debt
- FROM BPA TOWER – COPPER WIRE WORTH $6,000 IS STOLEN
- FLORIDA – Power 'Police' On The Hunt For Electricity Thieves
- ALASKA – No kings encountered during weekly survey: Coho fishing worsens
- California tribe fears losing land if Shasta Dam is raised
- OREGON – Kellogg-for-Coho Initiative planned for Milwaukie
- Ban Near on Diverting Water From Great Lakes
- Three plead guilty to cutting down cedars in Olympic National Forest
- Green energy projects face heightened scrutiny as U.S. cleans up credit mess
- Even With $2.5 Million Grant, The Kitsap Sustainable Energy and Economic Development Project Must Pass More Hurdles
- Off Oregon's coast, wave power makes a splash
- Power From the Restless Sea Stirs the Imagination
- Senate to vote on extending energy tax credits
- DOE Announces First Marine Energy Grants – Some PNW utilities and organizations to benefit
- B.C. study to help bats survive wind farms
- Could a plan to use wind to produce a third of the power for New York City affect weather
- OREGON – Ashland changes solar power policy
- State-Level Policies Work; Utilities and States Issue RFPs for Renewable Energy
- Now it's easier to recycle fluorescent bulbs in the Puget Sound area
- On The First Day Of Fall, PECO Reminds Customers To Prepare For Winter Bills
- Carbon Cap And Trade Framework Unveiled
- CANADA – Rural schools call for carbon-tax rebate
- Utilities shrink the role of coal on global-warming worries
- Portland Again Tops a Sustainable Cities List
- Microsoft data 'nerve center' opens in Texas
- Verizon Slowly Revisiting FiOS Installs For Grounding Issues
- The Real Reason Wireless Broadband Costs More, for Less
- Microsoft says it will buy back $40 billion in stock, raise dividend
- Mason County courts twice spurned warrants for Olympic Peninsula gunman
- New/Old Federalism – Feds might ask states for money
- Poore vs. Simpson Paper (9th Circuit Court of Appeals, links to PDF)
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Bon mot • \bone-MOE\ • noun – Etymology: French, literally, good word – A clever remark: witticism
Donatello was the company clown. One could always count on him to toss out bon mots like so much candy thrown to children from Kiwanis floats in so many local parades. Unfortunately, his humor was his ultimate undoing, as he joked one to many times with the safety officer about who was brave (or dumb) enough to stick their tongue into a light socket.
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
Douglas County PUD launches $151 million rehab of Wells Dam (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080922/NEWS04/709239998
Columbian Guest Columnist –We’re buying power; let us shop for bargains – lI-937 proponents told voters their goal was to replace carbon-based electricity with renewable energy But the fine print of I-937 makes it virtually impossible to meet that goal. (Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20080923/BIZ01/809229977/-1/biz
TEXAS – Ike could increase power bills for years to come: Houston customers may have to help cover electricity grid repairs (Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hurricane/ike/6014950.html
TEXAS – Dallas-Fort Worth residents likely to see higher winter heating bills (Dallas Morning News)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/092208dnbusgasprices.195f42a.html
Winter may worsen energy costs (McClatchy Washington News Bureau)
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/200/story/52936.html
MidAmerican Energy Reaches Agreement to Purchase Constellation Energy for $4.7B (Street Insider)
http://www.streetinsider.com/Mergers+and+Acquisitions/MidAmerican+Energy+Reaches+Agreement+to+Purchase+Constellation+Energy+%28CEG%29+for+%244.7B/4006061.html
NEW YORK – On its 10th anniversary, Long Island Power Authority faces shadow of debt – As it marks a decade of existence, the faces a sobering reality: Its costly past is crimping its future ambitious (Newsday)
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny-lilipa0923,0,3002966.story
FROM BPA TOWER – COPPER WIRE WORTH $6,000 IS STOLEN – Thieves stole 100 feet of copper wire used to ground a radio tower on Capitol Peak, the Thurston County Sheriff's Office reported Monday. The theft occurred between Sept. 16 and Thursday, Lt. Chris Mealy said. The estimated value of the wire was $6,000. The thieves cut two holes in the chain-link fence that secured the tower, causing another $500 in damage. The tower was located off Forest Service Road B2000 in Capitol State Forest. The owner is the Bonneville Power Administration. Anyone with information can call Thurston County Crime Stoppers at 360-493-2222 or the Sheriff's Office at 360-786-5500.
FLORIDA – Power 'Police' On The Hunt For Electricity Thieves (The Tampa Tribune)
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/sep/22/power-police-hunt-electricity-thieves-tampa-area/
FISH & WILDLIFE
ALASKA – No kings encountered during weekly survey: Coho fishing worsens, halibut improves (The Juneau Empire, AK)
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/092308/spo_335887644.shtml
California tribe fears losing land if Shasta Dam is raised (Associated Press)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g0LnGTCL1_UxZ8fy8dHxPR4_uGkgD93CF3TG0
OREGON – Kellogg-for-Coho Initiative planned for Milwaukie (Daily Journal of Commerce, Portland, OR)
http://www.djcoregon.com/articleDetail.htm/2008/09/23/Kellogg-Creek-revitalization-planned-for-Milwaukie
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Ban Near on Diverting Water From Great Lakes (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/us/23lakes.html?adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1222149602-dEzhV9v2nt99ZULVurdsSA
Three plead guilty to cutting down cedars in Olympic National Forest – some of the trees were over 600 years old (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/29513439.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Green energy projects face heightened scrutiny as U.S. cleans up credit mess (Environmental News Network)
http://www.enn.com/business/article/38245
Even With $2.5 Million Grant, The Kitsap Sustainable Energy and Economic Development Project Must Pass More Hurdles (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/sep/22/even-with-25-million-grant-seed-must-pass-more/?partner=RSS
Off Oregon's coast, wave power makes a splash (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/09/off_oregons_coast_wave_power_m.html
Power From the Restless Sea Stirs the Imagination (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/business/23tidal.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Senate to vote on extending energy tax credits (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE48M0QI20080923
DOE Announces First Marine Energy Grants – Some PNW utilities and organizations to benefit (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=53648&src=rss
B.C. study to help bats survive wind farms (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008197125_apwstcanadawindfarmsbats.html?syndication=rss
Q & A: Wind Power – Could a plan being explored to use wind to produce a third of the power for New York City affect weather systems? (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/science/23qna.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
OREGON – Ashland changes solar power policy (Associated Press)
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OR_SOLAR_ASHLAND_OROL-?SITE=ORKLA&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
State-Level Policies Work; Utilities and States Issue RFPs for Renewable Energy (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=53608&src=rss
CONSERVATION
Now it's easier to recycle fluorescent bulbs in the Puget Sound area (Everett Herald, WA)
http://heraldnet.com/article/20080923/NEWS01/709239922
On The First Day Of Fall, PECO Reminds Customers To Prepare For Winter Bills (MarketWatch)
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/first-day-fall-peco-reminds/story.aspx?guid=%7B46AAC112-B75A-469E-BFA6-0D48AC225EBD%7D&dist=hppr
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Carbon Cap And Trade Framework Unveiled (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/3112-carbon-cap-and-trade-framework-unveiled/
CANADA – Rural schools call for carbon-tax rebate – Says the new toll is bleeding money from classrooms and undermining the province's lofty education goals (Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080922.BCCARBON22/TPStory/TPNational/BritishColumbia/
Utilities shrink the role of coal on global-warming worries (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2008-09-21-coal_N.htm?csp=34
Portland Again Tops a Sustainable Cities List (NY Times)
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/22/portland-again-tops-a-sustainable-cities-list/?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Microsoft data 'nerve center' opens in Texas – Servers help company compete with Google (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/380091_msftdata23.html?source=rss
Verizon Slowly Revisiting FiOS Installs For Grounding Issues – Of 15% of NY installs, 59% failed to meet code (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Verizon-Slowly-Revisiting-FiOS-Installs-For-Grounding-Issues-97907
The Real Reason Wireless Broadband Costs More, for Less (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/09/22/the-real-reason-wireless-broadband-costs-more-for-less/
Microsoft says it will buy back $40 billion in stock, raise dividend – Low interest rates persuade company to take on debt (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/380063_msftbuyback23.html?source=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Mason County courts twice spurned warrants for Olympic Peninsula gunman (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080923/NEWS/809230305
New/Old Federalism – Feds might ask states for money (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/government/story/488734.html
Poore vs. Simpson Paper (9th Circuit Court of Appeals, links to PDF) Former employees of Simpson Paper Company, which owned and operated the Evergreen Mill in West Linn, Oregon until it was closed for economic reasons in 1996.
http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/ca9/newopinions.nsf/42CF02DCA0A38F55882574CC00572D84/$file/0536060.pdf?openelement
DIVERSIONS
Penny's look to change for first time in 50 years
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008196768_penny23.html
Colleges to "heliparents": Welcome! Now go home – Universities Say Too Much Involvement Bad for Kids
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10531792?source=rss
New Zealand's election campaign goes to the dogs
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080923/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_newzealand_election_dog;_ylt=AgV.UzqKULFKgZ1yKC323BjtiBIF
Elvis Is Alive Museum up for sale again on eBay
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080922/ap_on_fe_st/odd_elvis_museum;_ylt=AkILnM41wHXK3NT2tsWAEqLtiBIF
Chinese go online with food safety jokes
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080923/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_china_milk_internet;_ylt=AiORM.0VtWME2vqda5fZpe3tiBIF
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Douglas County PUD launches $151 million rehab of Wells Dam
- Columbian Guest Columnist –We’re buying power; let us shop for renewable bargains
- Houston customers may have to help cover electricity grid repairs from Hurricane Ike
- TEXAS – Dallas-Fort Worth residents likely to see higher winter heating bills
- Winter may worsen energy costs
- MidAmerican Energy Reaches Agreement to Purchase Constellation Energy for $4.7B
- NEW YORK – On its 10th anniversary, Long Island Power Authority faces shadow of debt
- FROM BPA TOWER – COPPER WIRE WORTH $6,000 IS STOLEN
- FLORIDA – Power 'Police' On The Hunt For Electricity Thieves
- ALASKA – No kings encountered during weekly survey: Coho fishing worsens
- California tribe fears losing land if Shasta Dam is raised
- OREGON – Kellogg-for-Coho Initiative planned for Milwaukie
- Ban Near on Diverting Water From Great Lakes
- Three plead guilty to cutting down cedars in Olympic National Forest
- Green energy projects face heightened scrutiny as U.S. cleans up credit mess
- Even With $2.5 Million Grant, The Kitsap Sustainable Energy and Economic Development Project Must Pass More Hurdles
- Off Oregon's coast, wave power makes a splash
- Power From the Restless Sea Stirs the Imagination
- Senate to vote on extending energy tax credits
- DOE Announces First Marine Energy Grants – Some PNW utilities and organizations to benefit
- B.C. study to help bats survive wind farms
- Could a plan to use wind to produce a third of the power for New York City affect weather
- OREGON – Ashland changes solar power policy
- State-Level Policies Work; Utilities and States Issue RFPs for Renewable Energy
- Now it's easier to recycle fluorescent bulbs in the Puget Sound area
- On The First Day Of Fall, PECO Reminds Customers To Prepare For Winter Bills
- Carbon Cap And Trade Framework Unveiled
- CANADA – Rural schools call for carbon-tax rebate
- Utilities shrink the role of coal on global-warming worries
- Portland Again Tops a Sustainable Cities List
- Microsoft data 'nerve center' opens in Texas
- Verizon Slowly Revisiting FiOS Installs For Grounding Issues
- The Real Reason Wireless Broadband Costs More, for Less
- Microsoft says it will buy back $40 billion in stock, raise dividend
- Mason County courts twice spurned warrants for Olympic Peninsula gunman
- New/Old Federalism – Feds might ask states for money
- Poore vs. Simpson Paper (9th Circuit Court of Appeals, links to PDF)
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Bon mot • \bone-MOE\ • noun – Etymology: French, literally, good word – A clever remark: witticism
Donatello was the company clown. One could always count on him to toss out bon mots like so much candy thrown to children from Kiwanis floats in so many local parades. Unfortunately, his humor was his ultimate undoing, as he joked one to many times with the safety officer about who was brave (or dumb) enough to stick their tongue into a light socket.
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
Douglas County PUD launches $151 million rehab of Wells Dam (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080922/NEWS04/709239998
Columbian Guest Columnist –We’re buying power; let us shop for bargains – lI-937 proponents told voters their goal was to replace carbon-based electricity with renewable energy But the fine print of I-937 makes it virtually impossible to meet that goal. (Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20080923/BIZ01/809229977/-1/biz
TEXAS – Ike could increase power bills for years to come: Houston customers may have to help cover electricity grid repairs (Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/hurricane/ike/6014950.html
TEXAS – Dallas-Fort Worth residents likely to see higher winter heating bills (Dallas Morning News)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/092208dnbusgasprices.195f42a.html
Winter may worsen energy costs (McClatchy Washington News Bureau)
http://www.mcclatchydc.com/200/story/52936.html
MidAmerican Energy Reaches Agreement to Purchase Constellation Energy for $4.7B (Street Insider)
http://www.streetinsider.com/Mergers+and+Acquisitions/MidAmerican+Energy+Reaches+Agreement+to+Purchase+Constellation+Energy+%28CEG%29+for+%244.7B/4006061.html
NEW YORK – On its 10th anniversary, Long Island Power Authority faces shadow of debt – As it marks a decade of existence, the faces a sobering reality: Its costly past is crimping its future ambitious (Newsday)
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/ny-lilipa0923,0,3002966.story
FROM BPA TOWER – COPPER WIRE WORTH $6,000 IS STOLEN – Thieves stole 100 feet of copper wire used to ground a radio tower on Capitol Peak, the Thurston County Sheriff's Office reported Monday. The theft occurred between Sept. 16 and Thursday, Lt. Chris Mealy said. The estimated value of the wire was $6,000. The thieves cut two holes in the chain-link fence that secured the tower, causing another $500 in damage. The tower was located off Forest Service Road B2000 in Capitol State Forest. The owner is the Bonneville Power Administration. Anyone with information can call Thurston County Crime Stoppers at 360-493-2222 or the Sheriff's Office at 360-786-5500.
FLORIDA – Power 'Police' On The Hunt For Electricity Thieves (The Tampa Tribune)
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2008/sep/22/power-police-hunt-electricity-thieves-tampa-area/
FISH & WILDLIFE
ALASKA – No kings encountered during weekly survey: Coho fishing worsens, halibut improves (The Juneau Empire, AK)
http://www.juneauempire.com/stories/092308/spo_335887644.shtml
California tribe fears losing land if Shasta Dam is raised (Associated Press)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5g0LnGTCL1_UxZ8fy8dHxPR4_uGkgD93CF3TG0
OREGON – Kellogg-for-Coho Initiative planned for Milwaukie (Daily Journal of Commerce, Portland, OR)
http://www.djcoregon.com/articleDetail.htm/2008/09/23/Kellogg-Creek-revitalization-planned-for-Milwaukie
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Ban Near on Diverting Water From Great Lakes (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/us/23lakes.html?adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1222149602-dEzhV9v2nt99ZULVurdsSA
Three plead guilty to cutting down cedars in Olympic National Forest – some of the trees were over 600 years old (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/29513439.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Green energy projects face heightened scrutiny as U.S. cleans up credit mess (Environmental News Network)
http://www.enn.com/business/article/38245
Even With $2.5 Million Grant, The Kitsap Sustainable Energy and Economic Development Project Must Pass More Hurdles (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/sep/22/even-with-25-million-grant-seed-must-pass-more/?partner=RSS
Off Oregon's coast, wave power makes a splash (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/09/off_oregons_coast_wave_power_m.html
Power From the Restless Sea Stirs the Imagination (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/business/23tidal.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Senate to vote on extending energy tax credits (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/politicsNews/idUSTRE48M0QI20080923
DOE Announces First Marine Energy Grants – Some PNW utilities and organizations to benefit (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=53648&src=rss
B.C. study to help bats survive wind farms (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008197125_apwstcanadawindfarmsbats.html?syndication=rss
Q & A: Wind Power – Could a plan being explored to use wind to produce a third of the power for New York City affect weather systems? (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/09/23/science/23qna.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
OREGON – Ashland changes solar power policy (Associated Press)
http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/OR_SOLAR_ASHLAND_OROL-?SITE=ORKLA&SECTION=STATE&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT
State-Level Policies Work; Utilities and States Issue RFPs for Renewable Energy (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=53608&src=rss
CONSERVATION
Now it's easier to recycle fluorescent bulbs in the Puget Sound area (Everett Herald, WA)
http://heraldnet.com/article/20080923/NEWS01/709239922
On The First Day Of Fall, PECO Reminds Customers To Prepare For Winter Bills (MarketWatch)
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/first-day-fall-peco-reminds/story.aspx?guid=%7B46AAC112-B75A-469E-BFA6-0D48AC225EBD%7D&dist=hppr
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Carbon Cap And Trade Framework Unveiled (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/3112-carbon-cap-and-trade-framework-unveiled/
CANADA – Rural schools call for carbon-tax rebate – Says the new toll is bleeding money from classrooms and undermining the province's lofty education goals (Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080922.BCCARBON22/TPStory/TPNational/BritishColumbia/
Utilities shrink the role of coal on global-warming worries (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2008-09-21-coal_N.htm?csp=34
Portland Again Tops a Sustainable Cities List (NY Times)
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/09/22/portland-again-tops-a-sustainable-cities-list/?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Microsoft data 'nerve center' opens in Texas – Servers help company compete with Google (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/380091_msftdata23.html?source=rss
Verizon Slowly Revisiting FiOS Installs For Grounding Issues – Of 15% of NY installs, 59% failed to meet code (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Verizon-Slowly-Revisiting-FiOS-Installs-For-Grounding-Issues-97907
The Real Reason Wireless Broadband Costs More, for Less (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/09/22/the-real-reason-wireless-broadband-costs-more-for-less/
Microsoft says it will buy back $40 billion in stock, raise dividend – Low interest rates persuade company to take on debt (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/380063_msftbuyback23.html?source=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Mason County courts twice spurned warrants for Olympic Peninsula gunman (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080923/NEWS/809230305
New/Old Federalism – Feds might ask states for money (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/government/story/488734.html
Poore vs. Simpson Paper (9th Circuit Court of Appeals, links to PDF) Former employees of Simpson Paper Company, which owned and operated the Evergreen Mill in West Linn, Oregon until it was closed for economic reasons in 1996.
http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/ca9/newopinions.nsf/42CF02DCA0A38F55882574CC00572D84/$file/0536060.pdf?openelement
DIVERSIONS
Penny's look to change for first time in 50 years
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008196768_penny23.html
Colleges to "heliparents": Welcome! Now go home – Universities Say Too Much Involvement Bad for Kids
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10531792?source=rss
New Zealand's election campaign goes to the dogs
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080923/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_newzealand_election_dog;_ylt=AgV.UzqKULFKgZ1yKC323BjtiBIF
Elvis Is Alive Museum up for sale again on eBay
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080922/ap_on_fe_st/odd_elvis_museum;_ylt=AkILnM41wHXK3NT2tsWAEqLtiBIF
Chinese go online with food safety jokes
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080923/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_china_milk_internet;_ylt=AiORM.0VtWME2vqda5fZpe3tiBIF
Monday, September 22, 2008
Energy News Digest for September 22, 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)
- Energy Northwest turns to natural gas
- Power resources topic of meeting – Grant County PUD plans to push for power conservation
- Pacific Power rates going up?
- Avista rate increases challenged
- Joe Kelliher’s forecast is for electricity rates to keep on rising
- Whidbey Island public power debate set
- Fluid debate over gas supply
- Building nuclear plants may push Tennessee Valley Authority debt limit
- State to honor Wenatchee Valley workers for heroic acts
- Nisqually Tribe helps to restore 300 acres for juvenile salmon
- City of Tacoma looks to plot long-term strategy for afflicted Wapato Lake
- Scientists monitor growing Lake Erie algae bloom
- University of California hits tree-sitters with expensive surprise
- Simpson's evolution – Company moves from pulp and paper to lumber and energy
- Growing Number of Wind Farms Demand Labor
- Kitsap Sustainable Energy and Economic Development Project Wins $2.5 Million Federal Grant
- Richland net metering project – Going green pays for homeowner
- California Public Utilities Commission says no to renewable energy measure
- N.Y. Tests Turbines to Produce Power – City Taps Current Of the East River
- Human Waste Used As Manure For Switchgrass Crops Turned To Biofuel
- Are tankless (natural gas) water heaters worth the cost?
- NEW HAMPSHIRE – Church’s energy forum offers homeowners’ advice
- Oklahoma residents kill their lights to save energy
- First US greenhouse gas auction set for Thursday
- Environmentalists see flaws in pollution credit program
- Help offered to replace wood stoves
- OREGON – Redmond couple told Qwest tech cut phone line
- Google browser's tracking feature alarms developers, privacy advocates
- Another Small Citywide Wi-Fi Network Fades Out
- Connect Maine: 90% Broadband Penetration by 2010
- Comcast to Install Speed Bumps for Bandwidth Hogs
- Two dead in crash in Shelton, drinking suspected
- Cache found on Olympic Peninsula shooter, including slain officer's service weapon
- Mistake stalls Washington State development grants
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Magus • \MAY-guss\ • noun – 1a: a member of a hereditary priestly class among the ancient Medes and Persians often capitalized: one of the traditionally three wise men from the East paying homage to the infant Jesus 2: magician, sorcerer
“Do not refer to us as the information technology staff any longer,” announced the Elbonian computer technician. “We are now the Microsoft Magus (Or is it Magi), protectors of data; and miracle workers with software.”
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
Energy Northwest turns to natural gas – ENW is expected to unveil a plan within the next two months for a natural gas plant at the Port of Kalama, according to a state energy official (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/09/22//area_news/10427264.txt
Power resources topic of meeting – Grant County PUD plans to push for power conservation by supporting a state incentive in January to pay for solar water heaters in homes and businesses (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/09/19/news/news04.txt
Pacific Power rates going up? (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/7817
Avista rate increases challenged (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1596762~Avista_rate_increases_challenged.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Joe Kelliher’s forecast is for electricity rates to keep on rising (The Telegram and Gazette, Worcester, MA)
http://www.telegram.com/article/20080920/NEWS/809200345/1116
Whidbey Island public power debate set (Whidbey Examiner, Coupeville, WA)
http://www.whidbeyexaminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=1729&TM=59588.92
Fluid debate over gas supply – A look at the Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas terminal planned for the Columbia River. What's the project (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1221792914291940.xml&coll=7
Building nuclear plants may push Tennessee Valley Authority debt limit (The Associated Press)
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080918/BUSINESS/809180340/1003/business
State to honor Wenatchee Valley workers for heroic acts – Two Chelan PUD employees rescued a man from drowning… (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080920/NEWS04/709209868
FISH & WILDLIFE
Nisqually Tribe helps to restore 300 acres for juvenile salmon (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/590189.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
City of Tacoma looks to plot long-term strategy for afflicted Wapato Lake (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/487452.html
Scientists monitor growing Lake Erie algae bloom – Giant floating fields of algae are back in strength this year on Lake Erie and scientists are trying to figure out why (The Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008192142_apboomingalgaebloom.html?syndication=rss
University of California hits tree-sitters with expensive surprise (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/22/BAUB131HLG.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Simpson's evolution – Company moves from pulp and paper to lumber and energy (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/488148.html
Growing Number of Wind Farms Demand Labor (KEPR-TV, Pasco, WA)
http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/28675034.html
Kitsap Sustainable Energy and Economic Development Project Wins $2.5 Million Federal Grant (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/sep/19/seed-project-wins-25-million-federal-grant/?partner=RSS
Richland net metering project – Going green pays for homeowner (Tri City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/kennewick_pasco_richland/story/322775.html
California Public Utilities Commission says no to renewable energy measure (Sacramento Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2008/09/15/daily86.html?ana=from_rss
N.Y. Tests Turbines to Produce Power – City Taps Current Of the East River (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/19/AR2008091903729.html?nav=rss_nation
Human Waste Used As Manure For Switchgrass Crops Turned To Biofuel (KNDO-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=9043139
CONSERVATION
Are tankless (natural gas) water heaters worth the cost? (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/consumer/28449824.html
NEW HAMPSHIRE – Church’s energy forum offers homeowners’ advice (The Cabinet, Milford, NH)
http://www.cabinet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080920/MILFORD01/809199909
Oklahoma residents kill their lights to save energy (Oklahoma University Daily)
http://www.oudaily.com/news/2008/sep/22/residents-kill-their-lights-save-energy/
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
First US greenhouse gas auction set for Thursday (Associated Press)
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080921/carbon_auction.html?.v=1
Environmentalists see flaws in pollution credit program – Western states: Advocates say credit auctions would raise money for needed work (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1221787512166630.xml&coll=7
Help offered to replace wood stoves – A state agency has $160,000 available to coax people out of their old, smoke-spewing heaters (The Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080920/NEWS01/709209918/-1/RSS02
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
OREGON – Redmond couple told Qwest tech cut phone line – Phone utility investigating report of disgruntled worker (KTVZ-TV, Bend OR)
http://www.ktvz.com/global/story.asp?s=9043160&ClientType=Printable
Google browser's tracking feature alarms developers, privacy advocates – But web surfers can opt out, sort of (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10510989?source=rss
Another Small Citywide Wi-Fi Network Fades Out – Boynton Beach throws in the towel (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Another-Small-Citywide-WiFi-Network-Fades-Out-97877
Connect Maine: 90% Broadband Penetration by 2010 – Can the state of Maine meet its broadband goals? (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Connect-ME-90-Broadband-Penetration-by-2010-97898
Comcast to Install Speed Bumps for Bandwidth Hogs (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/09/19/comcast-installs-speed-bumps-for-bandwidth-hogs/
GENERAL NEWS
Two dead in crash in Shelton, drinking suspected (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1599679~2_dead_in_crash_in_Shelton__drinking_suspected.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Cache found on Olympic Peninsula shooter, including slain forest officer's service weapon (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080922/NEWS/809220307
Mistake stalls Washington State development grants – It was big money for Vancouver, Mount Vernon, Yakima and Whitman County: millions of dollars to help with redevelopment efforts (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/379918_waterfront20.html?source=rss
DIVERSIONS
Woman named Bacon wins Idaho hog-calling title
http://www.examiner.com/a-1599544~Woman_named_Bacon_wins_Idaho_hog_calling_title.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
Wis. man convicted of robbing toddler's piggy bank
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080919/ap_on_fe_st/odd_piggy_bank_robbery;_ylt=Aox60sI4_uTYkyevY5Y4KCPtiBIF
SoCal officials to pave over music-making asphalt
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/odd_musical_road;_ylt=AorFacB3lI4QPhzqX2bMIdvtiBIF
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Energy Northwest turns to natural gas
- Power resources topic of meeting – Grant County PUD plans to push for power conservation
- Pacific Power rates going up?
- Avista rate increases challenged
- Joe Kelliher’s forecast is for electricity rates to keep on rising
- Whidbey Island public power debate set
- Fluid debate over gas supply
- Building nuclear plants may push Tennessee Valley Authority debt limit
- State to honor Wenatchee Valley workers for heroic acts
- Nisqually Tribe helps to restore 300 acres for juvenile salmon
- City of Tacoma looks to plot long-term strategy for afflicted Wapato Lake
- Scientists monitor growing Lake Erie algae bloom
- University of California hits tree-sitters with expensive surprise
- Simpson's evolution – Company moves from pulp and paper to lumber and energy
- Growing Number of Wind Farms Demand Labor
- Kitsap Sustainable Energy and Economic Development Project Wins $2.5 Million Federal Grant
- Richland net metering project – Going green pays for homeowner
- California Public Utilities Commission says no to renewable energy measure
- N.Y. Tests Turbines to Produce Power – City Taps Current Of the East River
- Human Waste Used As Manure For Switchgrass Crops Turned To Biofuel
- Are tankless (natural gas) water heaters worth the cost?
- NEW HAMPSHIRE – Church’s energy forum offers homeowners’ advice
- Oklahoma residents kill their lights to save energy
- First US greenhouse gas auction set for Thursday
- Environmentalists see flaws in pollution credit program
- Help offered to replace wood stoves
- OREGON – Redmond couple told Qwest tech cut phone line
- Google browser's tracking feature alarms developers, privacy advocates
- Another Small Citywide Wi-Fi Network Fades Out
- Connect Maine: 90% Broadband Penetration by 2010
- Comcast to Install Speed Bumps for Bandwidth Hogs
- Two dead in crash in Shelton, drinking suspected
- Cache found on Olympic Peninsula shooter, including slain officer's service weapon
- Mistake stalls Washington State development grants
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Magus • \MAY-guss\ • noun – 1a: a member of a hereditary priestly class among the ancient Medes and Persians often capitalized: one of the traditionally three wise men from the East paying homage to the infant Jesus 2: magician, sorcerer
“Do not refer to us as the information technology staff any longer,” announced the Elbonian computer technician. “We are now the Microsoft Magus (Or is it Magi), protectors of data; and miracle workers with software.”
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
Energy Northwest turns to natural gas – ENW is expected to unveil a plan within the next two months for a natural gas plant at the Port of Kalama, according to a state energy official (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/09/22//area_news/10427264.txt
Power resources topic of meeting – Grant County PUD plans to push for power conservation by supporting a state incentive in January to pay for solar water heaters in homes and businesses (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/09/19/news/news04.txt
Pacific Power rates going up? (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/7817
Avista rate increases challenged (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1596762~Avista_rate_increases_challenged.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Joe Kelliher’s forecast is for electricity rates to keep on rising (The Telegram and Gazette, Worcester, MA)
http://www.telegram.com/article/20080920/NEWS/809200345/1116
Whidbey Island public power debate set (Whidbey Examiner, Coupeville, WA)
http://www.whidbeyexaminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=1729&TM=59588.92
Fluid debate over gas supply – A look at the Bradwood Landing liquefied natural gas terminal planned for the Columbia River. What's the project (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1221792914291940.xml&coll=7
Building nuclear plants may push Tennessee Valley Authority debt limit (The Associated Press)
http://www.montgomeryadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080918/BUSINESS/809180340/1003/business
State to honor Wenatchee Valley workers for heroic acts – Two Chelan PUD employees rescued a man from drowning… (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080920/NEWS04/709209868
FISH & WILDLIFE
Nisqually Tribe helps to restore 300 acres for juvenile salmon (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/590189.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
City of Tacoma looks to plot long-term strategy for afflicted Wapato Lake (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/487452.html
Scientists monitor growing Lake Erie algae bloom – Giant floating fields of algae are back in strength this year on Lake Erie and scientists are trying to figure out why (The Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008192142_apboomingalgaebloom.html?syndication=rss
University of California hits tree-sitters with expensive surprise (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/09/22/BAUB131HLG.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Simpson's evolution – Company moves from pulp and paper to lumber and energy (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/488148.html
Growing Number of Wind Farms Demand Labor (KEPR-TV, Pasco, WA)
http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/28675034.html
Kitsap Sustainable Energy and Economic Development Project Wins $2.5 Million Federal Grant (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/sep/19/seed-project-wins-25-million-federal-grant/?partner=RSS
Richland net metering project – Going green pays for homeowner (Tri City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/kennewick_pasco_richland/story/322775.html
California Public Utilities Commission says no to renewable energy measure (Sacramento Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2008/09/15/daily86.html?ana=from_rss
N.Y. Tests Turbines to Produce Power – City Taps Current Of the East River (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/09/19/AR2008091903729.html?nav=rss_nation
Human Waste Used As Manure For Switchgrass Crops Turned To Biofuel (KNDO-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=9043139
CONSERVATION
Are tankless (natural gas) water heaters worth the cost? (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/consumer/28449824.html
NEW HAMPSHIRE – Church’s energy forum offers homeowners’ advice (The Cabinet, Milford, NH)
http://www.cabinet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080920/MILFORD01/809199909
Oklahoma residents kill their lights to save energy (Oklahoma University Daily)
http://www.oudaily.com/news/2008/sep/22/residents-kill-their-lights-save-energy/
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
First US greenhouse gas auction set for Thursday (Associated Press)
http://biz.yahoo.com/ap/080921/carbon_auction.html?.v=1
Environmentalists see flaws in pollution credit program – Western states: Advocates say credit auctions would raise money for needed work (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1221787512166630.xml&coll=7
Help offered to replace wood stoves – A state agency has $160,000 available to coax people out of their old, smoke-spewing heaters (The Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080920/NEWS01/709209918/-1/RSS02
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
OREGON – Redmond couple told Qwest tech cut phone line – Phone utility investigating report of disgruntled worker (KTVZ-TV, Bend OR)
http://www.ktvz.com/global/story.asp?s=9043160&ClientType=Printable
Google browser's tracking feature alarms developers, privacy advocates – But web surfers can opt out, sort of (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_10510989?source=rss
Another Small Citywide Wi-Fi Network Fades Out – Boynton Beach throws in the towel (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Another-Small-Citywide-WiFi-Network-Fades-Out-97877
Connect Maine: 90% Broadband Penetration by 2010 – Can the state of Maine meet its broadband goals? (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Connect-ME-90-Broadband-Penetration-by-2010-97898
Comcast to Install Speed Bumps for Bandwidth Hogs (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/09/19/comcast-installs-speed-bumps-for-bandwidth-hogs/
GENERAL NEWS
Two dead in crash in Shelton, drinking suspected (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1599679~2_dead_in_crash_in_Shelton__drinking_suspected.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Cache found on Olympic Peninsula shooter, including slain forest officer's service weapon (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080922/NEWS/809220307
Mistake stalls Washington State development grants – It was big money for Vancouver, Mount Vernon, Yakima and Whitman County: millions of dollars to help with redevelopment efforts (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/379918_waterfront20.html?source=rss
DIVERSIONS
Woman named Bacon wins Idaho hog-calling title
http://www.examiner.com/a-1599544~Woman_named_Bacon_wins_Idaho_hog_calling_title.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
Wis. man convicted of robbing toddler's piggy bank
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080919/ap_on_fe_st/odd_piggy_bank_robbery;_ylt=Aox60sI4_uTYkyevY5Y4KCPtiBIF
SoCal officials to pave over music-making asphalt
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/odd_musical_road;_ylt=AorFacB3lI4QPhzqX2bMIdvtiBIF
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