Energy News Digest for November 12, 2008

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- The metals market has “characteristics of a vacuum” (um, it sucks?) Intalco faces new round of job cuts
- Grant PUD gets $66.6 million in power auction
- Clark Public Utilities faces $21 million shortfall
- Utilities hunker down for tough year ahead
- Utah – Options reconsidered for proposed coal plant
- Montana – Award given in Flathead copper theft cases
- Court rules for Navy in dispute over sonar, whales
- S.F. Chronicle Editorial – A promising share-the-catch plan for California fisheries
- Pro-commercial gillnetting presentation planned
- Fishing on the Cowlitz – Anglers Flock to Barrier Dam for Silver Salmon
- The Real Price of Farmed Salmon
- Kitsap PUD Educator Recognized at the State Level
- City of Shelton to Increase Sewer Rates
- Sewage problems hit Everett homes
- Twin City Utility Rates Flow Up
- Wood, I Wouldn't – It's better to heat your home with gas than with trees
- Wood stove violations could result in fines
- PSE orders 22 wind turbines for Wild Horse expansion
- Certain Green Industries Have Job Openings
- Solar Projects On Oregon's Horizon -- But What Role For Consumers?
- Maryland – City turns on methane energy at Back River plant
- For Africa, ‘Energy From Dirt’
- News Release – Reducing Emissions by Using Renewable Energy Sources Harms Transmission Grid
- Investing in Renewable Energy Funds
- Home Heating Costs Boosted By Leaky Ducts
- Energy efficiency moving into homes
- Connecticut – State To Charge $75 For Home Energy Audits
- Alaska – Group encourages local churches to focus on energy conservation
- Climate change effect on oceans causing sea change
- Al Gore details five-step plan to clean electricity
- Alaska permafrost study reveals larger global warming problem
- Colorado - Little financial risk in Glenwood Springs' fiber-optic expansion
- Is our Internet future in danger? Signs point to a bandwidth shortage
- Verizon DSL Customers Getting Free Upgrades
- Wisconsin Realizes Franchise 'Reform' Was a Con
- Vonage Still Struggling With Defecting Customers
- Like Roaches, Broadband over Powerline Doesn’t Go Away
- How Do Consumers Choose Wi-Fi Hotspots?
- Tanker spills buttermilk at Olympia
- Martian dust storm saps power from NASA rover

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

WORD OF THE DAY

Horripilation • \haw-rip-uh-LAY-shuhn\ • noun – The act or process of the hair bristling on the skin, as from cold or fear; goose flesh

Although he was unaware of its meaning, Fredo was the victim on an instant onset of horripilation at the Cuban New Year’s Eve party. It all started with an innocent kiss from his younger brother…followed by the chilling “I know it was you Fredo…” Everything after that, except for the little hairs on the back of his neck standing up was a blur.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?textField1=47.213805&textField2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=Shelton%2C%20WA%2C%20USA

Dozens of flood warnings issued as rain pelts Northwest (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/34327399.html

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Intalco faces new round of job cuts “…The industry is in surplus and has experienced an unprecedented fall in aluminum prices over a very short period of time…” (Bellingham Herald, WA)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/255/story/661665.html

Grant PUD gets $66.6 million in power auction (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081112/NEWS04/711121569

Clark Public Utilities faces $21 million shortfall – But customers may not have to bear entire burden (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20081110/BIZ01/711119977/-1/BIZ

Utilities hunker down for tough year ahead (Associated Press)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jhFVM7usYPr2ltDK3OAe19WanZZQD94C9V5G1

Utah – Options reconsidered for proposed coal plant: Company says it's going to think about switching to natural gas power (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10961057?source=rss

Montana – Award given in Flathead copper theft cases (KAJ Radio, Kalispell, MT)
http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=9326205

FISH & WILDLIFE

Court rules for Navy in dispute over sonar, whales (Associated Press)
http://columbian.com/article/20081112/NEWS06/311129989/-1/NEWS

S.F. Chronicle Editorial – A promising share-the-catch plan for California fisheries
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/12/EDGL142D36.DTL&feed=rss.opinion

Pro-commercial gillnetting presentation planned – Panel also will discuss Mid-Columbia Steelhead Recovery Plan on Friday (Statesman-Journal, Salem, OR)
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20081112/OUTDOORS/811120394/1034/SPORTS

Fishing on the Cowlitz – Anglers Flock to Barrier Dam for Silver Salmon (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/rss/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1226340310&archive=

The Real Price of Farmed Salmon (Environmental News Network)
http://www.enn.com/wildlife/article/38619

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Kitsap PUD Educator Recognized at the State Level (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/nov/10/kitsap-pud-educator-recognized-at-the-state/

City of Shelton to Increase Sewer Rates (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/5535/reftab/1896/title/CITY_TO_INCREASE_SEWER_RATES/Default.aspx

Sewage problems hit Everett homes (Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20081108/NEWS01/711089928/-1/RSS02

Twin City Utility Rates Flow Up – Centralia Plans To Implement Higher Rates Tuesday; Chehalis Might Delay Needed Spike (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/rss/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1226426111&archive=

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Wood, I Wouldn't – It's better to heat your home with gas than with trees (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2204252/?from=rss

Wood stove violations could result in fines (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20081110/NEWS02/711119969/-1/NEWS

PSE orders 22 wind turbines for expansion of its Wild Horse Wind and Solar facility (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/11/10/daily9.html?ana=from_rss

Certain Green Industries Have Job Openings (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96890387&ft=1&f=3

Solar Projects On Oregon's Horizon -- But What Role For Consumers? (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/3522-solar-projects-oregons-horizon-what-role-consumers/

Maryland – City turns on methane energy at Back River plant (Baltimore Sun, MD)
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_city/bal-plant1110,0,2622892.story?track=rss

For Africa, ‘Energy From Dirt’ (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/11/giving/11AFRICA.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss&oref=slogin

News Release – Reducing Emissions by Using Renewable Energy Sources Harms Transmission Grid (American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity – it MUST be true!)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=100690

Investing in Renewable Energy Funds (Renewable Energy World – Howzabout some renewable energy derivatives: carbon credits anyone?)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/ate/story?id=54049&src=rss

CONSERVATION

Home Heating Costs Boosted By Leaky Ducts (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/money/17958691/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news

Energy efficiency moving into homes – In a lousy market, some builders are banking on houses that save on power (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1226294798221180.xml&coll=7

Connecticut – State To Charge $75 For Home Energy Audits (Hartford Courant, CT
http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-homeaudit1111.artnov11,0,594704.story

Alaska – Group encourages local churches to focus on energy conservation (Anchorage News Miner, AK)http://newsminer.com/news/2008/nov/12/group-encourages-local-churches-focus-energy-conse/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Climate change effect on oceans causing sea change (Contra Cost Times, Walnut Creek, CA)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_10956914?source=rss

Al Gore details five-step plan to clean electricity (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10092364-54.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20

Alaska permafrost study reveals larger global warming problem (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, AK)
http://newsminer.com/news/2008/nov/11/new-permafrost-study-reveals-larger-global-warming/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Colorado - Little financial risk in Glenwood Springs' fiber-optic expansion (Glenwood Springs Post-Independent, CO)
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20081110/VALLEYNEWS/811109998/1083&ParentProfile=1074&title=Consultant:%20Little%20financial%20risk%20in%20Glenwood%20Springs'%20fiber-optic%20expansion%20

Is our Internet future in danger? Signs point to a bandwidth shortage, and avoiding that may mean you'll pay more for broadband usage (InfoWorld)
http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/11/11/46FE-broadband-limits_1.html

Verizon DSL Customers Getting Free Upgrades – Entry level tier speed jumping from 768kbps to 1.5Mbps (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Verizon-DSL-Customers-Getting-Free-Upgrades-99002

Wisconsin Realizes Franchise 'Reform' Was a Con (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Wisconsin-Realizes-Franchise-Reform-Was-a-Con-98982

Vonage Still Struggling With Defecting Customers – As cable VoIP continues to eat their lunch (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Vonage-Still-Struggling-With-Defecting-Customers-99007

Like Roaches, Broadband over Powerline Doesn’t Go Away (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/11/11/like-roaches-broadband-over-powerline-doesnt-go-away/

How Do Consumers Choose Wi-Fi Hotspots? (Seeking Alpha)
http://seekingalpha.com/article/105630-how-do-consumers-choose-wi-fi-hotspots?source=yahoo

GENERAL NEWS

Tanker spills buttermilk at Olympia (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1686185~Tanker_spills_buttermilk_at_Olympia.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines

Martian dust storm saps power from NASA rover – Sunshine blocked from reaching its solar panels (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/387460_space12.html

DIVERSIONS

Dog Droppings Clog Sewers In Portland, Maine
http://www.kirotv.com/money/17954703/detail.html

Man's body found in paper bale at Idaho plant
http://www.examiner.com/a-1684901~Man_s_body_found_in_paper_bale_at_Idaho_plant.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines

Missing cat back in California home after 13 years
http://www.examiner.com/a-1686090~Missing_cat_back_in_California_home_after_13_years.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Bowling Ball Spares Teen from Bullet – Police Searching For Five Suspects
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17948994/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=irresistible