Energy News Digest for March 4, 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)

- Grays Harbor County PUD unhappy with Bonneville Power Administration’s interim payment offer
- Lewis County PUD Is Owed Money By The Feds
- Farm bureau to address Grant County PUD rates
- Montana – Rural Utilities Service explains funding pullout for power plant
- Quid Pro Quo – Alcoa to invest $1.2B to expand Quebec output
- Maryland – Constellation Energy files suit against state over $386M in rebates
- Baltimore Sun Op/Ed – The energy answer: nuclear power
- Oil pain seeping everywhere
- U.S. to permit $5.2B pipeline from Canada
- Salmon woes linked to weather
- What It Will Take to Save the Wild Salmon
- Sleeper Bill on Hood Canal Septics Raise Concern
- State sets an ambitious pace for Sound cleanup
- Oregon – An uneasy coexistence – The bull trout and Kokanee salmon
- Montana – Nez Perce Buffalo Hunt Ends After Dustup
- Bill would make N. Idaho water adjudication voluntary
- Southern States May Take Water Dispute to Court
- Tidal energy: Is it too costly?
- California – Pacific Gas & Electric taps cows for clean power
- Ethanol Demand, Prices Boost Farm Communities
- Cattle Farmers Pay Price for Ethanol Boom
- Fuel cells make power for homes in Japan
- 3TIER Releases Global Wind Map
- Wartsila Power Plant Uses Brewery Spent Grain
- Saving energy on Tennessee Valley Authority’s to-do list
- Microsoft Touts Energy-Saving Software
- Climate change won't wait for Oregon
- Global Warming Skeptics Insist Humans Not at Fault
- Cool View of Science at Meeting on Warming
- NY Times Editorial – Confessions on Climate
- U.S. Eighth in Fiber to the Home Deployment
- Verizon FiOS "Free LCD TV" Promotion Resulting In A Lot Of Angry Customers
- $100,000 Reward Offered In Street Of Dreams Fire
- Ecoterror resurfaces with Seattle arsons
- City Of Shelton Recreation Program Funding Back In Budget
- Shelton City Staff Working On Budget Issues
- City Of Shelton Has Ordinance Mandating Use Of City Water
- Baird to seek sixth term in Congress
- Ex-State Economist Sohn makes treasurer bid official
- Report Ranks Best, Worst State Governments Washington in top three best

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

WORD OF THE DAY

Éclat • \ay-KLAH\ • noun – 1: ostentatious display: publicity *2: dazzling effect: brilliance
3a: brilliant or conspicuous success b: praise, applause

Abercrombie was the first graduate of the William Shatner College of Theatrical Knowledge. As such, it was expected that his acting would take on a level of éclat that could RIVAL, or at least EQUAL the ACTING of the schools founder.

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

Grays Harbor County PUD unhappy with Bonneville Power Administration’s interim payment offer (The Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/03/03/local_news/02news.txt

LEWIS COUNTY PUD IS OWED MONEY BY THE FEDS – The Bonneville Power Administration owes the Lewis County PUD money. If the local power provider takes part, the settlement could be used to pay for renewable power. The local non-profit is facing millions of dollars in costs to purchase wind power after voters approved I-937. The BPA funds would help settle a dispute over access to cheap federal hydropower. (KELA Radio, Centralia/Chehalis)

Farm bureau to address Grant County PUD rates – Members of the Grant County Farm Bureau plan to attend a Grant County Public Utility District meeting Wednesday about possible rate increases. (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/03/03/news/news01.txt

Montana – Rural Utilities Service explains funding pullout for power plant – Top federal officials Monday said concerns over rising construction costs, legal challenges and other potential delays led them to pull the plug on financing for the proposed Highwood Generating Station (Great Falls Tribune)
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080304/NEWS01/803040301/1002

Quid Pro Quo – Alcoa to invest $1.2B to expand Quebec output (Pittsburgh Business Times)
http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2008/03/03/daily15.html?ana=from_rss

Maryland – Constellation Energy files suit against state over $386M in rebates (Baltimore Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2008/03/03/daily9.html?ana=from_rss

Baltimore Sun Op/Ed – The energy answer: While the governor and others in Annapolis are demanding cuts in electricity consumption, there's a better way: increasing the supply through nuclear power
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/oped/bal-op.nukes04mar04,0,5878928.story

Oil pain seeping everywhere – The price of oil gushed to a record high Monday, spreading dangerously to factories, groceries, gas stations and every citizen's pocketbook. (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004258206_oilprice04.html

U.S. to permit $5.2B pipeline from Canada – A TransCanada and ConocoPhillips-owned pipeline would transport 590,000 barrels of oil daily through seven U.S. states (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/2008/03/03/news/economy/CanadaUS_oil.ap/index.htm?source=yahoo_quote

WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT

Salmon woes linked to weather (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004258296_salmon04m.html?syndication=rss

What It Will Take to Save the Wild Salmon (AlterNet – Remove the dams, without a mention of harvest levels)
http://www.alternet.org/water/78567/

Sleeper Bill on Hood Canal Septics Raise Concern (Kitsap Sun)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2008/mar/03/sleeper-bill-on-septics-raises-concern/

State sets an ambitious pace for Sound cleanup (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080304/NEWS/803040307

Oregon – An uneasy coexistence – The bull trout, an endangered species, is the predator. The much smaller and more prolific Kokanee, its prey. Biologists are looking to support both (Bend Bulletin)
http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080304/NEWS0107/803040403/1001&nav_category=

Montana – Nez Perce Buffalo Hunt Ends After Dustup (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/nez-perce-buffalo-hunt-ends-after-dustup/

Bill would make N. Idaho water adjudication voluntary – At issue are water rights for a half dozen water basins and two aquifers that supply the northern third of the state. (Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP03042008news287501.cfm

Southern States May Take Water Dispute to Court (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=87877844&ft=1&f=3

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Tidal energy: Is it too costly? (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080303/NEWS01/781359222&news01ad=1

California – Pacific Gas & Electric taps cows for clean power. A new project will turn manure into energy for 50,000 customers (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_8447551?source=rss&nclick_check=1

Ethanol Demand, Prices Boost Farm Communities (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=87782087&ft=1&f=3

Cattle Farmers Pay Price for Ethanol Boom (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=87877874&ft=1&f=3

Fuel cells make power for homes in Japan (Associated Press)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080303/ap_on_hi_te/fuel_cell_home_2

3TIER Releases Global Wind Map (Renewable Energy Access)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=51738&src=rss

Wartsila Power Plant Uses Brewery Spent Grain (Renewable Energy Access)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=51737&src=rss

CONSERVATION

Saving energy on Tennessee Valley Authority’s to-do list – Federal utility to hold public meetings to help educate public (Knoxville News Sentinel)
http://knoxnews.com/news/2008/mar/04/saving-energy-on-tvas-to-do-list/

Microsoft Touts Energy-Saving Software (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/idg/IDG_002570DE00740E18C1257401004EB725.html?ex=1362373200&en=869c0adc2aec1e9f&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Climate change won't wait for Oregon – Emissions must decline or business and the environment will suffer, a panel says (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1204599316251180.xml&coll=7

Global Warming Skeptics Insist Humans Not at Fault (Washington Post)
http://tinyurl.com/2g5sc8

Cool View of Science at Meeting on Warming (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/04/science/earth/04climate.html?_r=1&ex=1362373200&en=a6c2c84b49053dea&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

NY Times Editorial – Confessions on Climate
http://tinyurl.com/2pgas6

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

U.S. Eighth in Fiber to the Home Deployment (Broadband Reports – Comment section may include PG-13 language)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/US-Eighth-in-FTTH-Deployment-92345

Verizon FiOS "Free LCD TV" Promotion Resulting In A Lot Of Angry Customers (The Consumerist – Comment section may include PG-13 language)
http://consumerist.com/363118/verizon-fios-free-lcd-tv-promotion-resulting-in-a-lot-of-angry-customers

GENERAL NEWS

$100,000 Reward Offered In Street Of Dreams Fire (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/15479741/detail.html

Ecoterror resurfaces with Seattle arsons – The destruction of four luxury homes Monday suggests the involvement of the extremist Earth Liberation Front. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0304/p01s16-usgn.html

CITY OF SHELTON RECREATION PROGRAM FUNDING BACK IN BUDGET – The Shelton City Commission has approved placing almost $26,500 back in the City's 2008 budget to fund recreation programs that were originally cut. These funds are coming from additional revenues in the form of increased user fees, added programs, and sponsorships, and donations from non-profit organizations and businesses in the future. According to Commissioner Mike Byrne, City staff came up with the ideas to maintain these recreation services. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)

SHELTON CITY STAFF WORKING ON BUDGET ISSUES – City of Shelton officials continue to work on budget issues facing the City. Administrator Dave O'Leary has been making presentations to service clubs explaining the City's situation. He has made a presentation to City staff. O'Leary will be meeting with department heads this month in order to create a worst case scenario for the City and come up with a plan to deal with the revenue shortfall. O'Leary plans to make recommendations to the Shelton City Commission during a retreat on March 26th. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)

CITY OF SHELTON HAS ORDINANCE MANDATING USE OF CITY WATER – The City of Shelton has updated its ordinance that mandates residents connect to the City's Water System. This is the second time City staff has drafted this ordinance. The first ordinance created some concerns, which the latest draft addresses. This ordinance establishes a service territory which is within 300 feet of a water main and establishes an appeal process for areas where it just isn't cost effective to hook to the water system. There are also provisions in the ordinance that allow people to have an exempt well to be used for irrigation. The Shelton City Commission is expected to adopt the ordinance at its next meeting. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)

Baird to seek sixth term in Congress (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/03/03042008_Baird-to-seek-sixth-term-in-Congress.cfm/

Ex-forecaster Sohn makes treasurer bid official – The state's newly retired revenue forecaster, ChangMook Sohn, ended speculation Monday and announced he is running for state treasurer as a Democrat. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/378152.html

Report Ranks Best, Worst State Governments – Utah, Virginia and Washington state have the most effective state governments in the country (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/politics/15476015/detail.html

DIVERSIONS

Report: Jagger target of Hells Angels murder plot
http://www.cnn.com/2008/SHOWBIZ/Music/03/03/britain.jaggerplot.ap/index.html?eref=ib_topstories

Leap Day Cash Giveaway Turns Into Free-For-All At Park
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/15475308/detail.html

Me, and him are gonna party on National Grammer Day
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_030308LIF_grammar_day_SW.1c1f0dc4.html