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)
* Petition for Jefferson PUD to take over electricity service at 25% of goal
* Andy Wappler Leaving KIRO-TV For Puget Sound Energy
* Energy policy is costly for Oregon dairy farmers
* Fitch Rates Chelan County Public Utility Dist $48M 'AA'; Outlook Positive
* Liquefied Natural Gas debate tests Oregon's 'green' mettle
* California – Supreme Court: State casts a wary eye on deregulation
* Over Deregulation Flap – Constellation, BGE suffer another credit ratings blow
* Energy market deregulation will prove a godsend for New York
* Washington Post Editorial – The Demise of FutureGen
* Energy crisis making way for 'nuclear renaissance'
* Carbon-emission cuts – Nuclear, coal energy renewable?
* As Nuclear Waste Languishes, Expense to U.S. Rises
* Going green encourages customers to adopt electronic billing
* Olympian’s special series – Toxic runoff silent killer
* Seattle Times Editorial – Puget Sound: the silent crisis
* 12-day salmon season set for lower Columbia
* Early forecast for Columbia Coho is cloudy
* Pesticide Brew Spells Trouble for Salmon
* Alcoa petitions to dredge PCB-polluted sediment from Columbia River
* Seattle Post-Intelligencer – Opinion – Oceans: Dead zone threats
* Delay Of Report Is Blamed On Politics – Document Suggests Public Health Risks Near Great Lakes
* Southwest lakes may dry up, study says
* S.F. renewable energy startup looks to launch portfolio with hydro power
* Unfortunately for this company: FERC nixes initial application for McKenzie River hydro plants
* Canada – Private River Power Draws Diverse Foes. 'Run of river' project underway on Ashlu river. 'Green' claims disputed
* Wind blowing money farmers' way
* Cantwell: Tax law key to wind power
* Wind 'credits' not as green as they seem
* Oregon's largest wind project awaits approval
* Oregon – Utilities seek proposals for renewable energy
* Cape Wind gathers force – Impact report fills the sails of wind turbine effort
* California – Altamont wind farm could be model
* Austin American Statesman – Opinion: How to balance wind power and wildlife
* Why should Scotland pay the price of England's renewable-energy deficit?
* Massachusetts – Provision could allow building of wind farm
* Geothermal energy gaining steam, but its future is up for debate
* Iowa – Environment may force change in geothermal energy systems
* After damning biofuels study, ethanol advocates fight back
* NY Times Editorial – That Newfangled Light Bulb.
* Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs): Issues with Use and Disposal
* Turned-off devices still can waste money, energy
* National Energy Rebate Fund Scam
* Washington State Legislature considers bill to spend more on urban trees
* Tri-City Herald – Opinion: Science favors action to ease global warming
* N.H. city prepares for worst as warming fears rise
* Scientists Would Turn Greenhouse Gas Into Gasoline
* America's Most Wired Cities
* Costly wireless program could hold up census
* Seattle not quite ready for conversion to digital TV
* Meteor seen across wide swath of Pacific Northwest
* Kessler concedes defeat on taping bill for government executive sessions
* New Data: Grays Harbor County Winds topped 133 mph during Dec. 2-3 storm
* WA House passes bill expanding tribal police jurisdiction
* Tribes are state's new high rollers — in business
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Esplanade • \ESS-pluh-nahd\ • noun – A level open stretch of paved or grassy ground; especially: one designed for walking or driving along a shore
“Seaside was beautiful,” exclaimed Dagwood. “we walked along the esplanade, had corn dogs and cotton candy….then jostled it all together with rides on the bumper cars.”
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
Petition for Jefferson PUD to take over electricity service at 25% of goal (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080217/NEWS/802170304
Andy Wappler Leaving KIRO-TV For Puget Sound Energy – Andy Wappler, KIRO 7's Chief Meteorologist, is leaving the station after 14 years to join Puget Sound Energy, where he will promote the company's renewable energy and conservation efforts. (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/15316769/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
Energy policy is costly for Oregon dairy farmers – North Coast dairy farmers are feeling the effects of a U.S. energy policy push toward corn-based ethanol.The upside to corn-based ethanol production is U.S. independence from foreign oil. But one of the downsides is a higher corn price for dairy farmers and others who raise livestock. (Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1226180~Energy_policy_is_costly_for_Oregon_dairy_farmers.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Fitch Rates Chelan County Public Utility Dist $48M 'AA'; Outlook Positive (Yahoo! Finance)
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/080215/20080215005796.html?.v=1
Liquefied Natural Gas debate tests Oregon's 'green' mettle – The governor's request for a big-picture energy analysis could get steamrolled by the feds (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1203148505263150.xml&coll=7
California – State casts a wary eye on deregulation. The U.S. Supreme Court will hear arguments today about whether the high-priced energy contracts signed amid the crisis can be reopened to make sure the rates are fair. (Los Angeles Times)
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-power19feb19,1,3604410.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
Over Deregulation Flap – Constellation, BGE suffer another credit ratings blow (Baltimore Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2008/02/18/story10.html?ana=from_rss
Energy market deregulation will prove a godsend for New York (NY Daily News)
http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2008/02/19/2008-02-19_energy_market_deregulation_will_prove_a_.html?ref=rss
Washington Post Editorial – The Demise of FutureGen. The cancellation of a clean-coal project shows there's no silver bullet for climate change.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/15/AR2008021503186.html?nav=rss_opinions
Energy crisis making way for 'nuclear renaissance' – Global warming fears, rising fuel prices spur the comeback (Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/5546778.html
Carbon-emission cuts – Nuclear, coal energy renewable? (Salt Lake Tribune)
http://www.sltrib.com/ci_8301202?source=rss
As Nuclear Waste Languishes, Expense to U.S. Rises (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/17/us/17nuke.html?ex=1361077200&en=a9541a71ab30f7aa&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Going green encourages customers to adopt electronic billing (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ARTCL&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=320304&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Olympian’s special series – Toxic runoff silent killer. Every time it rains, pollution pours into Puget Sound.
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/361799.html
Seattle Times Editorial – Puget Sound: the silent crisis
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2004184778_pugeted16.html
12-day salmon season set for lower Columbia – Sport anglers will get 12 precious days of spring chinook fishing in the lower Columbia River, Oregon and Washington fish managers decided Friday. (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/02/16/area_news/10113533.txt
Early forecast for Columbia Coho is cloudy – The Columbia River Coho forecast was recently released, and anglers shouldn't expect off-the-charts fishing in the ocean this summer. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2004186746_outn17.html
Pesticide Brew Spells Trouble for Salmon (ScienceNow Magazine)
http://sciencenow.sciencemag.org/cgi/content/full/2008/216/2
Alcoa petitions to dredge PCB-polluted sediment from Columbia River – The company will dredge 36,000 cubic yards of PCB-tainted sediment from a heavily polluted stretch of Columbia River shoreline in Vancouver (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/02/02172008_Alcoa-petitions-to-dredge-PCB-polluted-sediment.cfm/
Seattle Post-Intelligencer – Opinion – Oceans: Dead zone threats
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/351533_oceaned.html?source=rss
Delay Of Report Is Blamed On Politics – Document Suggests Public Health Risks Near Great Lakes (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/17/AR2008021702186.html?nav=rss_email/components
Southwest lakes may dry up, study says – Climate change, growing demand for water could drain two reservoirs by 2021, scientists say (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_8288804?source=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
S.F. renewable energy startup looks to launch portfolio with hydro power (East Bay Business Times)
http://www.bizjournals.com/eastbay/stories/2008/02/18/focus4.html?ana=from_rss
Unfortunately for this company: FERC nixes initial application for McKenzie River hydro plants (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-23/120320184589510.xml&storylist=orlocal
Canada – Private River Power Draws Diverse Foes. 'Run of river' project underway on Ashlu river. 'Green' claims disputed. (The Tyee)
http://thetyee.ca/News/2008/02/19/RunOfRiver/
Wind blowing money farmers' way (The Oregonian, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004188910_windcosts19.html?syndication=rss
Cantwell: Tax law key to wind power (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/02/19/top_story/10117261.txt
Wind 'credits' not as green as they seem – Buyers don't purchase renewable energy, just Wall Street certificates (The News Journal, Delaware)
http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080218/NEWS/802180323/1003/BUSINESS
Oregon's largest wind project awaits approval – Developer describes Shepherds Flat project between Ione and Arlington
http://www.eastoregonian.info/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=48&ArticleID=73417&TM=72237.05
Oregon – Utilities seek proposals for renewable energy. Pacific Power, PGE look for projects to help meet mandate (Portland Tribune)
http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=120337016858737800
Cape Wind gathers force – Impact report fills the sails of wind turbine effort (Mass High Tech: The Journal of New England Technology)
http://www.bizjournals.com/masshightech/stories/2008/02/18/focus1.html?ana=from_rss
California – Altamont wind farm could be model (East Bay Business Times)
http://www.bizjournals.com/eastbay/stories/2008/02/18/focus1.html?ana=from_rss
Austin American Statesman – Opinion: How to balance wind power and wildlife
http://www.statesman.com/opinion/content/editorial/stories/02/14/0214hoffman_edit.html
United Kingdom – Why should Scotland pay the price of England's renewable-energy deficit? (The Scotsman)
http://news.scotsman.com/opinion/Why-should-Scotland-pay-the.3790045.jp
Massachusetts – Provision could allow building of wind farm – Large wind farms could be constructed in state waters under legislation passed by the Massachusetts House of Representatives Wednesday that critics said could aid a controversial wind energy project in Buzzards Bay. (Boston Globe)
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/02/15/provision_could_allow_building_of_wind_farm/
Geothermal energy gaining steam, but its future is up for debate – Northern California's Geyser Country Is Hotbed Of Electricity Generation (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_8287942
Iowa – Environment may force change in geothermal energy systems (The Gazette, Cedar Rapids)
http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080218/NEWS/139454510
After damning biofuels study, ethanol advocates fight back (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9873207-54.html?part=dht&tag=nl.e433
Toronto Star – Thirst for green energy has its cost. Alternate fuels need more water, and the U.S. is bound to look north
http://www.thestar.com/sciencetech/Environment/article/304355
CONSERVATION
NY Times Editorial – That Newfangled Light Bulb. Across the world, consumers are being urged to stop buying outdated incandescent light bulbs and switch to new spiral fluorescent bulbs, which use about 25 percent of the energy and last 10 times longer.
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/17/opinion/17sun3.html?ref=opinion
Congressional Research Reports – Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs (CFLs): Issues with Use and Disposal
http://opencrs.cdt.org/document/RS22807
Turned-off devices still can waste money, energy (Arizona Republic)
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/arizonaliving/articles/0218energyvampire0218.html
Power player: This device sniffs out electricity hogs (Chicago Tribune)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/features/home/chi-0217avguyfeb17,1,6455954.story?ctrack=1&cset=true
National Energy Rebate Fund Scam – Some window installers are offering what sounds like a great deal, a 50% off rebate (KUTV, Utah via the Consumerist)
http://consumerist.com/356907/national-energy-rebate-fund-scam
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Washington State Legislature considers bill to spend more on urban trees (Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/02/17//area_news/10113498.txt
Here’s a link to the bill: see section 23
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2007-08/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/House/2844.HBA%2008.pdf
Here’s a link to the bill analysis (PDF File)
http://apps.leg.wa.gov/documents/billdocs/2007-08/Pdf/Bill%20Reports/House/2844.HBA%2008.pdf
Tri-City Herald – Opinion: Science favors action to ease global warming
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/962/story/94432.html
N.H. city prepares for worst as warming fears rise (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/weather/climate/globalwarming/2008-02-17-keene-prepares_N.htm?csp=34
Scientists Would Turn Greenhouse Gas Into Gasoline (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/19/science/19carb.html?_r=2&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
America's Most Wired Cities (MSN)
http://tech.msn.com/news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=6132556&icid=tg6132556>1=10938
Costly wireless program could hold up census (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004186649_census17.html
Wireless Philadelphia: An update from its CEO (MuniWireless)
http://www.muniwireless.com/applications/digital-inclusion/2008/02/15/wireless-philadelphia-an-update-from-its-ceo/
Cable, satellite operators look to gain subscribers – Analog television signals will end in about one year (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/business/story/361287.html
Seattle not quite ready for conversion to digital TV (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/02/18/daily4.html?ana=from_rss
GENERAL NEWS
Meteor seen across wide swath of Pacific Northwest (Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP02192008news280453.cfm
Kessler concedes defeat on taping bill for government executive sessions — for this year (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080219/NEWS/802190304
New Data: Grays Harbor County Winds topped 133 mph during Dec. 2-3 storm (Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/02/18/local_news/02news.txt
WA House passes bill expanding tribal police jurisdiction (Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP02192008news280376.cfm
Tribes are state's new high rollers — in business (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004186688_tribes17m.html
DIVERSIONS
Runaway Kitten Found After 25 Days In NYC Subway Tunnels
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/15332528/detail.html
Mensa Head Lists Smartest Shows Ever – 'House,' 'NCIS,' 'Law & Order' Among Current Shows Picked
http://www.kirotv.com/entertainment/15311126/detail.html
Scientists find 'Devil Toad' fossil
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080219/ap_on_fe_st/giant_frog;_ylt=AsOJLjewwrAgXqxwaCpNtHvtiBIF
German puts out cigarette with fire extinguisher – A virulent anti-smoker in Germany was so angry when his girlfriend lit up he emptied a fire extinguisher to put out the cigarette, caking her and their apartment in powder.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080219/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_germany_smoker;_ylt=AvjBUhSXsugi30BtgQ1pS7PtiBIF
New Zealand record charts go to the dogs – a song audible only to dogs has topped New Zealand record charts, and is looking to go global.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080218/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_newzealand;_ylt=AhNoWKlQE5sVK84n4ktuaWvtiBIF
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
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