Energy News Digest for March 25, 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)

- Canadian tribes oppose 260-foot dam near Oroville
- Region's PUDs affected by Bear Stearns' crash – Chelan and Grant County PUD
- Lakeview customers to get free power thanks to BPA Settlement
- Idaho Power proposes rate increase of 1.4% to pay for a new natural gas plant
- Wait for transmission may be getting shorter
- Idaho Governor signs tax break bills for Idaho enrichment plant
- Northern Wasco County PUD building expansion gains planning OK
- The clock is ticking on safety compliance for the power industry
- Suit filed to halt killing of sea lions in Columbia River
- Coastal Oregon lawmakers call for more time on marine reserves
- Tower aims to get fish migrating on Deschutes again
- Threatened Fish Return To Tributary of Willamette River
- Will Toxins Lead to Removal of Klamath River Dams?
- Tribal whalers reject plea deal in Washington
- Sea squirts taking over Puget Sound
- Boistfort Valley Water customers celebrate clean water
- Oregon Governor Pushes Solar, Renewable Power Tax Credits
- Solar, wind tax credits may expire
- Redwoods in solar fight to get the ax
- Money Troubles Stall Green Town Project
- California – Couple starts up solar program
- Britain's chief environment scientist says government should slow rush to encourage biofuels
- Carbon Reduction Strategy: Renewable Portfolio Standard Versus Cap and Trade
- No need to wait; Start energy conservation before lights go out Saturday
- Montana – Governor Schweitzer backs national car rules
- Do Trees Worsen Droughts?
- Link to Global Warming in Frogs’ Disappearance Is Challenged
- Lorne Gunter: Perhaps The Climate Change Models Are Wrong
- Citigroup says Microsoft likely to raise Yahoo offer
- Satellite radio merger gets antitrust OK
- New York – Fiber Optic Line Brings Newton Falls into High Speed Era
- Arkansas – Road agency’s sole optic-fiber use questioned
- Wi-Fi Killed My Baby! California town gives in to fear
- San Jose Mercury News Editorial: FCC auction delivers on access, not competition
- New AT&T Filters Eating Legit E-mail
- Shelton City Commission Not Seek Administrator Resignation
- Sheldon to Seek Second Term as Commissioner
- Shelton-Mason County Chamber Of Commerce Joins Realtors In Max Tax For Streets
- Storm Brews Over Adding Wind Coverage to Federal Flood Program
- Good pay, steady work, few takers as young people spurn the trades

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

WORD OF THE DAY

Lederhosen • \LAY-der-hose-un\ • noun – Leather shorts often with suspenders worn especially in Bavaria

Friederich felt self-conscious about his watering routine. Even though he lived in Leavenworth, he still drew stares and catcalls as he daily watered his lawn: standing proudly with his garden hose, resplendent in his bright green lederhosen.

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

Canadian tribes oppose 260-foot dam near Oroville – Indian bands oppose unofficial plans by the Okanogan County PUD to build a dam for hydroelectric power and water storage that would flood tribal lands in Canada (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080324/NEWS04/965921874/1008/NEWS03

Region's PUDs affected by Bear Stearns' crash – Chelan and Grant County PUD officials were optimistic Monday, despite pending dealings with hard-hit investment bank Bear Stearn (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080324/BIZ/595008783

Lakeview customers to get free power thanks to BPA Settlement (South Sound Business Examiner)
http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/lakeview-customers-to-power/

Idaho Power proposes rate increase of 1.4% to pay for a new natural gas plant near Mountain Home. (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CjilrsonVUjf%216%3C%22bfen%5Fv

Wait for transmission may be getting shorter (Sustainable Industries)
http://www.sustainableindustries.com/breakingnews/16908021.html

Idaho Governor signs tax break bills for Idaho enrichment plant (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/398309.html

Northern Wasco County PUD building expansion gains planning OK – Utility has been growing says official (The Dalles Chronicle)
http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2008/03/news03-24-08-03.shtml

The clock is ticking on safety compliance for the power industry – The 2007 National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) requires all power generating utilities to perform Arc-Flash assessments by January 1, 2009 (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ARTCL&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=323819&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss

Energy Pulse Commentary – Management In Real Life: Top Communicators
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1702

WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT

Suit filed to halt killing of sea lions in Columbia River (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/398288.html

Coastal Oregon lawmakers call for more time on marine reserves (Daily Astorian, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1298949~Coastal_lawmakers_call_for_more_time_on_marine_reserves.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Tower aims to get fish migrating on Deschutes again – A PGE-backed fish collector would steer salmon and steelhead past Round Butte Dam (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1206329115310600.xml&coll=7

Threatened Fish Return To Tributary of Willamette River (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/threatened-fish-return-tryon-creek/

Will Toxins Lead to Removal of Klamath River Dams? (Northwest Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3723

Tribal whalers reject plea deal in Washington (Associated Press Writer, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/398040.html

Sea squirts taking over Puget Sound – Filter feeders have earned bad name in world's marinas (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/356310_seasquirts25.html?source=rss

Boistfort Valley Water customers celebrate clean water (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_032408WAB_boistfort_water_boil_LJ.21114830.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Oregon Governor Pushes Solar, Renewable Power Tax Credits (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/governor-pushes-solar-renewable-power-tax-credits/

Solar, wind tax credits may expire – Federal wind and solar tax credits will expire this year and cost the Bay Area much-needed jobs and economic investment (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_8689656?source=rss

Redwoods in solar fight to get the ax – Lawmaker introduces bill in hopes of avoiding such battles in the future (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_8689628?source=rss

Money Troubles Stall Green Town Project – The goal: to become the first U.S. community to meet all electricity and gas needs through renewable energy by using everything from farm waste to sewage (The Associated Press)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j3-gjPKhajSxfPrnEY7EB4zYszBQD8VK16M01

California – Couple starts up solar program (The Union-Democrat)
http://www.uniondemocrat.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=26128

Britain's chief environment scientist says government should slow rush to encourage biofuels (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8678322?source=rss

$10 million quest for a practical 100-mpg car (Christian Science Monitor)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20080324/ts_csm/agreencar

Carbon Reduction Strategy: Renewable Portfolio Standard Versus Cap and Trade (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/ate/story?id=51786&src=rss

CONSERVATION

No need to wait; Start energy conservation before lights go out Saturday (Peterborough Examiner)
http://www.thepeterboroughexaminer.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=956169

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Montana – Governor Schweitzer backs national car rules (The Associated Press, via the Billings Gazette)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/03/23/news/state/42-schweitzer.txt

Do Trees Worsen Droughts? Scientists are studying whether trees may actually worsen drought conditions by siphoning off the water table and releasing the moisture into the atmosphere (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=88984769&ft=1&f=2

Link to Global Warming in Frogs’ Disappearance Is Challenged (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/25/science/25frog.html?_r=1&ex=1364184000&en=6ea2242b749b5d37&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

Lorne Gunter: Perhaps The Climate Change Models Are Wrong (National Post, Canada)
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fullcomment/archive/2008/03/24/lorne-gunter-perhaps-the-climate-change-models-are-wrong.aspx

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Citigroup says Microsoft likely to raise Yahoo offer (Reuters, via Yahoo! News)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080325/tc_nm/yahoo_research_citigroup_dc_2

Satellite radio merger gets antitrust OK (Reuters, via Yahoo! News)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080325/tc_nm/xm_sirius_antitrust_dc_12

New York – Fiber Optic Line Brings Newton Falls into High Speed Era (WNYF-TV, Watertown/Carthage)
http://www.wwnytv.net/index.php/2008/03/21/fiber-optic-line-brings-newton-falls-into-high-speed-era/

Arkansas – Road agency’s sole optic-fiber use questioned – Members of a legislative technology panel on Monday questioned whether the state Highway and Transportation Department is hoarding fiber-optic cable when it could be used to help others in the state (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette)
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/News/220806

Wi-Fi Killed My Baby! California town gives in to fear (Broadband Reports – Comments may include PG-13 language)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/WiFi-Killed-My-Baby-92938

San Jose Mercury News Editorial: FCC auction delivers on access, not competition
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8688788?source=rss

New AT&T Filters Eating Legit E-mail (Broadband Reports – Comment section may contain some salty language)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/New-ATT-Filters-Eating-Legit-Email-92959

GENERAL NEWS

SHELTON CITY COMMISSION NOT SEEK ADMINISTRATOR RESIGNATION – The Shelton City Commission will NOT seek City Administrator Dave O'Leary's resignation. One week after five City of Shelton employee unions announced their vote of “No Confidence” in O'Leary, the City Commissioners said they found no indication of a need for his resignation or dismissal. Commissioner Mike Byrne read a prepared statement during Monday's City Commission meeting that explained he found “little substance” in the unions' demands. Byrne also reiterated that the City's financial situation was the result of decreasing revenues and an increased demand for service not the mismanagement of the City Administrator. He went on to summarize what the City has done and is doing to make it through the next few years and how they have created a business plan for the rest of 2008, 2009 and 2010. That plan will be released during a commission retreat on Wednesday. Commissioner Dawn Pannell echoed Byrne saying she was “disappointed” in the employees who demanded O'Leary's resignation last week and that those people should have come to the Commission first. Mayor John Tarrant said he will continue to do what is best for the City. The Commission retreat begins at 8:30am and will be held in the meeting room at the Shelton Library, the William G. Reed Library. The retreat is open to the public. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)

Sheldon to Seek Second Term as Commissioner – State Sen. Tim Sheldon, D-Potlatch, announced Monday that he will run for another term as Mason County commissioner (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2008/mar/24/sheldon-to-seek-second-term-on-mason-county/

SHELTON-MASON COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOINS REALTORS IN MAX TAX FOR STREETS – The Shelton Mason County Chamber of Commerce has joined the Mason County Association of Realtors in asking the City of Shelton to seek approval of a maximum property tax levy lid lift to fund street maintenance. The City plans on asking voters in August to approve a one-year “Show Me” tax of $500,000. This would fix about 40 blocks of streets. The City would then ask voters for another $500,000 in subsequent years. The Chamber's Board of Trustee agreed with the Realtors that this amount would NOT be enough and voters would NOT support the measure in August or during future elections. The Chamber and the Realtors believe that in order to fix all residential streets, the max tax measure sent to voters last fall is the best option. Both entities also suggest that a Citizens Advisory Group be formed to help educate voters on the benefits of the tax and help the City with which streets should be fixed and when. The City Commissioners have already taken action to place the “Show Me” tax on the August Primary Ballot but said they would discuss the “Max Tax” during their retreat Wednesday. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)

Storm Brews Over Adding Wind Coverage to Federal Flood Program (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/24/AR2008032402450.html?nav=rss_politics

Good pay, steady work, few takers as young people spurn the trades (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/356181_trades24.html

DIVERSIONS

Gophers notch a win in man-rodent battle
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN2432304520080324?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

Urinal Bags Don't Sit Well With Union – Union Says Qwest Supervisor Tried To Shorten Bathroom Breaks
http://www.kirotv.com/money/15664343/detail.html

Man allegedly steals church's copper gutter; while Easter services were taking place
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080325/ap_on_fe_st/odd_church_gutter_theft;_ylt=AkSWOcGdssodToOGkFbc1L_tiBIF

Dubai restaurant gives discount for bugs
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080325/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_emirates_bugs;_ylt=ApZgM7zmXfxZSx0wi0acylTtiBIF