Energy News Digest for December 1, 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)

- Sobering storm – Grays Harbor December Storm Retrospective
- Ohio - Mandates driving surge to the river for hydropower
- Holidays Take Energy – Budget Billing can Help
- Utility Taxes Enacted In East Wenatchee
- NorthWestern Energy to Share Property Tax Refund with Customers
- Ben Settle to Receive PUD Association Lifetime Achievement Award
- Texas – Conflicting Power Reports Battle it Out
- S.F. Supervisors Kill Mayor's Plan to Retrofit Polluting Power Plant
- Oregon vineyards, others embroiled in natural gas debate
- Canada's oil-sands boom creates vast riches and a dirty footprint
- Volatile Heating Oil Prices Make Heads Spin
- Water over The Dam: Oregon wants to spill more for salmon
- Dalles Dam - A Big Wall for Small Fish
- Tracking network spills secrets of NW salmon
- Salt Lake Tribune Op/Ed - Klamath dam-removal pact bodes well for Snake
- Seattle Times Op/Ed - Rep. John Dingell's legacy for Northwest fish
- Oregon's Chinook dreams
- Oregon fishers focus on tuna, halibut
- Seattle Times Editorial - The End of the Beginning for Puget Sound Cleanup
- Stalled Chesapeake Cleanup: Back to the future on cleaning the bay
- Daily News Editorial - Deeper Columbia River, stronger economy
- Yakima Valley Reservoir Report Due on Black Rock
- Troubled waters: Kennewick Irrigation District facing difficult times
- Our Northwest Water Part Two: Farming and the Columbia Basin
- Longview City Employee Reports Water Theft
- Olympian Editorial - Support for Downtown Artesian Well Has Dried Up
- Feds, state must try harder to agree on Hanford cleanup
- Western Governors to Obama: Act Quickly On Energy
- Portland offers $12.5 million to woo Vestas Wind Systems
- Avista Corp. to put wind farm on hold
- Canada - Epcor Utilities Proposes B.C. Wind-Power Facility
- A Land Rush in Wyoming Spurred by Wind Power
- Wind Farms Fanning Health Hazard?
- New wave power development offers promise of cheap, green energy
- Billings Begins Test Wells to Squeeze Gas from Garbage
- Seattle City Light Exceeds Energy Savings Goal
- Biodiesel sold overseas still gets U.S. tax credit
- Girding up for plug-ins: Groups seek power system management
- Tesla Roadster - Only the Rich Can Afford It. Should Taxpayers Back It?
- Deck the Halls with Energy-Efficient Lights
- Climate Change Targets Will Push Up Energy Prices
- Bad Times Ahead for Broadband?
- Qwest Brings Back $15 DSL
- Clearwire to sell WiMax under "Clear" brand
- Time Warner Sues AT&T For Vandalism
- Data centers are good focus for energy conservation efforts
- Online schools make gains
- The Internet at Work: Distraction or Productivity Tool?
- Cuts Could Scale Back Deputies' Coverage of Mason County
- Recycling Fees May Rise As Demand; Prices Drop
- Copper’s Every Dip Is Felt in Arizona
- Federal Stimulus Package Will Aid State
- NY Times Cabinet Watch - The New Team: John A. Kitzhaber
- IRS Pares Down Mileage Rates

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

WORD OF THE DAY

Lodestar • \LOAD-star\ • noun - One that serves as an inspiration, model, or guide

The literal, albeit archaic, meaning of “lodestar” is “a star that leads or guides; especially: the North Star.” (The first half of the word derives from the Middle English word “lode,” meaning “course.”)

His realization that woefully outdated generational references and a hyper-nerdish wardrobe were not to his best advantage, Bertrand began to question using Steve Erkle has his cultural and professional lodestar.

Steve Erkle (Wikipedia)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Urkel

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

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Sobering storm – Grays Harbor December Storm Retrospective (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/11/30/local_news/01news.txt

Ohio - Mandates driving surge to the river for hydropower (Associated Press)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jnT5JvI1U424begO53ePHvAyC0KgD94PFB4O0

Holidays Take Energy – Budget Billing can Help (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=9419541

Utility Taxes Enacted In East Wenatchee - taxes on electricity, natural gas, telephones and cell phones (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)
http://www.kpq.com/modules.php?name=News&file=article&sid=476

NorthWestern Energy to Share Property Tax Refund with Customers (MarketWatch)
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/NorthWestern-Energy-Share-Property-Tax/story.aspx?guid=%7B2C6FDF3B-A137-481F-A98C-CC7188205C8B%7D

Ben Settle to Receive PUD Association Lifetime Achievement Award (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/5697/reftab/1632/title/BEN_SETTLE_TO_RECEIVE_LIFETIME_ACHIEVEMENT_AWARD/Default.aspx

Texas – Conflicting Power Reports Battle it Out “…residential electricity rates in the state have risen faster since deregulation laws were passed than rates in all other states that allow competition…” (Houston Chronicle, TX)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/6136140.html

S.F. Supervisors Kill Mayor's Plan to Retrofit Polluting Power Plant (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/26/BAPM14C7CE.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

Oregon vineyards, others embroiled in natural gas debate (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/11/oregon_vineyards_others_embroi.html

Canada's oil-sands boom creates vast riches and a dirty footprint (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008451114_oilsands30.html?syndication=rss

Volatile Heating Oil Prices Make Heads Spin (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008446350_apheatingoilvolatilewintersummarybox.html?syndication=rss

Mason County PUD No. 3 Hires Line Superintendent (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/5680/reftab/1632/Default.aspx?title=P.U.D._3_HIRES_LINE_SUPERINTENDENT

FISH & WILDLIFE

Water over The Dam: Oregon wants to spill more for salmon (Associated Press)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2008/11/water_over_the_dam_oregon_want.html

Dalles Dam - A Big Wall for Small Fish: Corps hopes spill wall will keep predators away from young salmon (The Dalles Chronicle, OR)
http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2008/11/news11-30-08-01.shtml

Tracking network spills secrets of NW salmon (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/553257.html

Salt Lake Tribune Op/Ed - Klamath dam-removal pact bodes well for Snake
http://www.sltrib.com/opinion/ci_11096119

Seattle Times Op/Ed - Rep. John Dingell's legacy for Northwest fish: Dingell's love of one of our fish, the steelhead trout, and his firm grip on energy policy nearly 30 years ago profoundly affected the way we conduct the electricity business in our region
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008447156_opin29royer.html

Oregon's Chinook dreams (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/O/index.ssf/2008/11/oregons_chinook_dreams.html

Oregon fishers focus on tuna, halibut (Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20081201/BIZ/712019949/-1/RSS03

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Seattle Times Editorial - The End of the Beginning for Puget Sound Cleanup
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008445408_opin28lance.html

Washington Post Editorial - Stalled Chesapeake Cleanup: Back to the future on cleaning the bay
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/24/AR2008112402189.html?nav=rss_opinions

Daily News Editorial - Deeper Columbia River, stronger economy
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/11/30/editorial/doc49307b7116e79658981757.txt

Yakima Valley Reservoir Report Due on Black Rock (Associated Press)
http://columbian.com/article/20081128/NEWS06/311289987/-1/NEWS

Troubled waters: Kennewick Irrigation District facing difficult times (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/kennewick_pasco_richland/story/401079.html

Our Northwest Water Part Two: Farming and the Columbia Basin (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=4646

Longview City Employee Reports Water Theft (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/11/28//area_news/doc492f988378d7c623323266.txt

Olympian Editorial - Support for Downtown Artesian Well Has Dried Up
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/676118.html

Seattle Times Editorial - Feds, state must try harder to agree on Hanford cleanup
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2008445404_edit28hanford.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY & CONSERVATION

Western Governors to Obama: Act Quickly On Energy (Associated Press)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081128/ap_on_re_us/energy_western_governors_4

Portland offers $12.5 million to woo Vestas Wind Systems (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/12/portland_offers_125_million_to.html

Avista Corp. to put wind farm on hold (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1718706~Avista_Corp__to_put_wind_farm_on_hold.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines

Canada - Epcor Utilities Proposes B.C. Wind-Power Facility (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=0ecf5496-28af-4088-813a-2350413e60f9

A Land Rush in Wyoming Spurred by Wind Power (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/28/us/28wind.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Wind Farms Fanning Health Hazard? (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/34503059.html

New wave power development offers promise of cheap, green energy (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/x-243-Progressive-Politics-Examiner~y2008m11d30-wave-power

Montana - Billings Begins Test Wells to Squeeze Gas from Garbage (Associated Press)
http://missoulian.com/articles/2008/12/01/news/mtregional/news08.txt

Seattle City Light Exceeds Energy Savings Goal (Seattle City Light)
http://www.seattle.gov/light/news/newsreleases/detail.asp?ID=9079

Biodiesel sold overseas still gets U.S. tax credit - Exports helped keep some companies afloat during price fluctuations (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/390056_biodiesel01.html?source=rss

Girding up for plug-ins: Groups seek power system management (Idaho Business Review)
http://www.idahobusiness.net/archive.htm/2008/12/01/Girding-up-for-plugins-Groups-seek-power-system-management

Tesla Roadster - Only the Rich Can Afford It. Should Taxpayers Back It? (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/business/30digi.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Deck the Halls with Energy-Efficient Lights (Chicago Tribune, IL)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/classified/realestate/advice/chi-energy-home_chomes_1128nov28,0,3685167.story

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

United Kingdom - Climate Change Targets Will Push Up Energy Prices (The Daily Telegraph, UK)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/earthnews/3539418/Climate-change-targets-will-push-up-energy-prices.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Bad Times Ahead for Broadband? (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/12/01/bad-times-ahead-for-broadband/

Qwest Brings Back $15 DSL - New promotions in face of sour economy, cable competition (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Qwest-Brings-Back-15-DSL-99333

Clearwire to sell WiMax under "Clear" brand (Associated Press)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=9436866

Time Warner Sues AT&T For Vandalism - Things get touchy in Texas (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Time-Warner-Sues-ATT-For-Vandalism-99350

Data centers are good focus for energy conservation efforts (Houston Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2008/12/01/focus7.html?ana=from_rss

Online schools make gains - Enrollment jumps as students enjoy benefits of telecommuting to school (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/681234.html

The Internet at Work: Distraction or Productivity Tool? (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/technology/2008/November/The-Internet-at-Work-Distraction-or-Productivity-Tool.html

GENERAL NEWS

Cuts Could Scale Back Deputies' Coverage of Mason County (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/nov/28/cuts-could-scale-back-deputies-coverage-of-mason/?partner=RSS

Recycling Fees May Rise As Demand; Prices Drop (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008454122_recycle29m.html

Copper’s Every Dip Is Felt in Arizona (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/28/business/28copper.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Federal Stimulus Package Will Aid State - Rescue program puts emphasis on creating jobs (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/389795_projects28.html

NY Times Cabinet Watch - The New Team: John A. Kitzhaber
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/30/us/politics/30web-kitzhaber.html?_r=1

IRS Pares Down Mileage Rates (Dayton Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2008/11/24/daily30.html?ana=from_rss

DIVERSIONS

Man Sues Ex-Fiancée over Engagement Ring
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/Americas/2008/November/Man-Sues-Ex-Fiancee-Over-Engagement-Ring.html

Drunken-Driving Suspect Runs over Self - Suspect Leads Police on Chase
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/18150905/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=irresistible

Eleanor Rigby document fetches $177,000
http://www.reuters.com/article/entertainmentNews/idUSTRE4AQ80220081127?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest

Airport draws smiles with 'recombobulation area'
http://www.jsonline.com/news/milwaukee/29452504.html