Energy News Digest for April 18, 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)

- Federal regulator clears Puget Energy sale
- NorthWestern Energy – Power company says carbon tax muddies plans
- NHA Recognizes Five Hydropower Projects for Extraordinary Achievement – Chelan PUD & Seattle City Light among honorees
- DOE Announces Membership of New Electricity Advisory Committee – Ed. Note: Vicky Van Zandt from BPA is on the board
- New Jersey's energy future may include new nuclear plant
- Abundant clean energy in your backyard –new natural gas discoveries in the United States
- How many gallons of water do you need to power a light bulb?
- Oregon, Washington allowed to kill salmon-eating sea lions
- PacifiCorp to limit turbines to help endangered Klamath fish
- Oregon Counties Considering New Dam In Coast Range
- Group names Oregon's Rogue River to threatened rivers list
- Tribe asks to halt new Mason County wells
- Montana – Tribes' water claims wind through process
- Southern California water wholesaler sued over drought allocation plan
- A Communal Drug Test via the Sewer
- The Eugene Water & Electric Board stakes ownership claim White Creek in wind farm
- Why British Columbia is failing to exploit its full potential of generating clean electricity
- Wisconsin Public Service Corporation may buy hydroelectric power from Canada
- San Jose solar-panel maker SunPower profits up nearly 1,000 percent
- California – Marin County, Pacific Gas & Electric fight shapes up over green power
- Tri City Herald Op/Ed – Ethanol subsidies a double-whammy
- Australia – Oil man's profit bid in green energy
- PUD 3 Providing Compact Fluorescent Bulb Recycling
- Breaking the Efficiency Gridlock – The Smart Grid could fix a big obstacle to efficiency—us
- Oceans are absorbing less carbon dioxide
- Green With Envy – Seven things Portland should do if we’re serious about being green
- Devastation in the Legislature – Climate Change In Our Rivers And Oceans
- FCC wrangles over 'Net neutrality' issue
- Google Revenue Beats Expectation, Shares Surge
- AT&T Still Predicts 2010 Internet Demise
- If snow shows, it will set record – Inch forecast for Friday would be Seattle's latest ever
- Attorney General says no gas price gouging in Washington State
- Washington is a ‘fuel island,’ driving pump prices higher
- Meanwhile: NW drivers cutting back big time on gas consumption
- Flu season was worst in 4 years
- USDA Nails Wolf Haven Director With 35 violations of the Federal Animal Welfare Act
- Copper prices soar to record on Chile strike, then retreat
- A warning for those recycling electronics
- Venting Seattle Mayor Nickels suggests secession

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

WORD OF THE DAY

semelparous • \seh-MEL-puh-rus\ • adjective – Reproducing or breeding only once in a lifetime

“OK folks, you have only one chance at this, so make it your best effort,” warbled the hatchery manager to her tiny charges as they swam out into the river on their long trip to the sea. “It’s the return trip I’m looking forward to,” she said of her semalparous “children”.

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

Federal regulator clears Puget Energy sale – The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved Thursday the proposed takeover of Puget Energy by a group of Australian and Canadian investors (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004355924_webpugetsound17.html?syndication=rss

NorthWestern Energy – Power company says carbon tax muddies plans – told regulators Wednesday that rising fuel costs and the potential for carbon taxes are making it difficult to map the utility's energy future. (Associated Press, via Forbes Magazine)
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/04/17/ap4902772.html

Chelan PUD receives award from the National Hydropower Association for security improvements (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080417/NEWS04/592549491/1025/rss1025

News Release – NHA Recognizes Five Hydropower Projects for Extraordinary Achievement – Chelan PUD & Seattle City Light among honorees (National Hydropower Association)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/story?id=52211

U.S. Department of Energy announces new “Texas-Heavy” Electricity Advisory Committee (Dallas Morning News)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/041808dnbuscommittee.72756825.html

Here’s the news release – DOE Announces Membership of New Electricity Advisory Committee – Ed. Note: Vicky Van Zandt from BPA is on the board (US Department of Energy)
http://www.energy.gov/news/6158.htm

New Jersey's energy future may include new nuclear plant (Asbury Park Press)
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080418/NEWS0301/804180371

Abundant clean energy in your backyard – New technologies and higher prices are leading to big new natural gas discoveries in the United States (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/2008/04/17/news/economy/natural_gas/index.htm?section=money_latest

How many gallons of water do you need to power a light bulb? “…geothermal and hydroelectric energy use the least amount of water, while nuclear plants use the most…” (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9921125-54.html?tag=nl.e433

FISH & WILDLIFE

Oregon, Washington allowed to kill salmon-eating sea lions “…shooting the animals would harm Columbia River kayakers and others who have relationships with individual sea lions…” (Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=9bdbfe1d-8b90-4a26-bbbd-478078cfab6d

PacifiCorp to limit turbines to help endangered Klamath fish (Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1346416~PacifiCorp_to_limit_turbines_to_help_endangered_Klamath_fish.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Oregon Counties Considering New Dam In Coast Range – Twenty years after a dam was removed from the Upper Siletz River, officials in Polk and Lincoln Counties are considering a new dam to help supply drinking water (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/counties-considering-new-dam-coast-range/

Group names Oregon's Rogue River to threatened rivers list (Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1346533~Group_names_Oregon_s_Rogue_River_to_threatened_rivers_list.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Tribe asks to halt new Mason County wells – Squaxins say water withdrawal could hurt Johns Creek (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/421730.html

Montana – Tribes' water claims wind through process – Federal funding remains most difficult issue in negotiations (Billings Gazette)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/04/17/news/state/48-waterclaims.txt

Southern California water wholesaler sued over drought allocation plan (Los Angeles Times, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1347883~SoCal_water_wholesaler_sued_over_drought_allocation_plan.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

A Communal Drug Test via the Sewer – In Oregon, a team of scientists is making an ambitious attempt to figure out which illegal drugs residents are using (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89723389&ft=1&f=17

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

The Eugene Water & Electric Board stakes ownership claim White Creek in wind farm – EWEB moved to broaden its energy portfolio Tuesday when commissioners agreed to buy part ownership in a proposed wind farm in Washington State. (Eugene Register Guard)
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=94113&sid=4&fid=2

Straight.com Commentary – Why British Columbia is failing to exploit its full potential of generating clean electricity
http://www.straight.com/article-140989/why-bcis-failing-exploit-its-full-potential-generating-clean-electricity

Wisconsin Public Service Corporation may buy hydroelectric power from Canada – includes 500-megawatt purchase of electric capacity, energy and renewable attributes “…carbon-neutral electric resource into our supply portfolio…” (The Business Journal of Milwaukee)
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/04/14/daily44.html?ana=from_rss

San Jose solar-panel maker SunPower profits up nearly 1,000 percent (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8958842?source=rss

California – Marin County, Pacific Gas & Electric fight shapes up over green power (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CjnqoqqmTTlit9K%22bfen%5Fv

Tri City Herald Op/Ed – Ethanol subsidies a double-whammy “…ethanol leads only to higher food prices and greater greenhouse gas emissions…”
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/987/story/159358.html

Australia – Oil man's profit bid in green energy – Legendary Texas oil man T. Boone Pickens has gone green with a plan to spend $10.7 billion to build the world's biggest wind farm -- but he expects to turn a buck. (The Australian)
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23562609-5005200,00.html

CONSERVATION

PUD 3 PROVIDING COMPACT FLUORESCENT BULB RECYCLING – Mason County PUD No. 3 will be offering its customers a place to recycle compact fluorescent light bulbs. The use of these energy efficient bulbs has increased and PUD 3 officials say it is logical that customers be given a way to conveniently and safely recycle burned out bulbs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs contain a small amount of mercury - five milligrams - and need to be disposed of properly so the PUD has partnered with the City of Shelton and Mason County to recycle the bulbs with a certified recycling firm in Seattle. Customers can take their burned out compact fluorescent light bulbs to the PUD offices in Shelton or Belfair. Those bulbs will then be taken to the County's recycling station on Eells Hill Road. When bringing bulbs in for recycling, customers are asked to place them carefully in the correct slot as damaged or broken bulbs will not be accepted. Officials believe this recycling opportunity will be as popular and successful as the PUD's battery recycling. Compact fluorescent light bulbs can last up to 10,000 hours and use 70% less electricity than conventional incandescent bulbs that only last 1,000 hours. KMAS (Radio, Shelton)

Breaking the Efficiency Gridlock – The Smart Grid could fix a big obstacle to efficiency—us (Mother Jones Magazine)
http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2008/05/breaking-the-efficiency-gridlock.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Oceans are absorbing less carbon dioxide (The Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=c3df8849-d928-43b0-ad9e-0779a37b4609

Green With Envy – Seven things Portland should do if we’re serious about being green “…Portland had one contaminated site for every 34 people, making us the country’s third “most toxic” city…” OUCH! (Willamette Weekly)
http://wweek.com/editorial/3423/10806/

Devastation in the Legislature – Climate Change In Our Rivers And Oceans (Eugene Weekly)
http://www.eugeneweekly.com/2008/04/17/coverstory3.html

TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

FCC wrangles over 'Net neutrality' issue (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004353381_apinternetregulation.html?syndication=rss

Google Revenue Beats Expectation, Shares Surge
http://news.yahoo.com/s/cmp/20080418/tc_cmp/207400425

AT&T Still Predicts 2010 Internet Demise – But don't worry, they're spending a lot of money to keep you safe (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/ATT-Still-Predicts-2010-Internet-Demise-93700

GENERAL NEWS

If snow shows, it will set record – Inch forecast for Friday would be Seattle's latest ever (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/359569_snow18.html

Attorney General says no gas price gouging in Washington State (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/04/14/daily28.html?ana=from_rss

Washington is a ‘fuel island,’ driving pump prices higher (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/338510.html

Meanwhile: NW drivers cutting back big time on gas consumption (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_041708WAB_northwest_gas_consumption_study_TP.72a2abcc.html

Flu season was worst in 4 years (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/422828.html

USDA Nails Wolf Haven Director With 35 violations of the Federal Animal Welfare Act (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/15917448/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news

Copper prices soar to record on Chile strike, then retreat (Associated Press, via the San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/04/16/financial/f112744D18.DTL&feed=rss.business

A warning for those recycling electronics – Concerns are raised about where junk taken to free events ends up (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/359577_computer18.html?source=rss

Venting Seattle Mayor Nickels suggests secession Ed. Note: watch, as I roll my eyes, “…We have rural legislators making decisions on things like the viaduct and whether we can keep our city safe…” (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2004357406_mayors18m.html?syndication=rss

DIVERSIONS

Oregon man who claimed dog was imposter reunited with right pooch
http://www.examiner.com/a-1346806~Man_who_claimed_dog_was_imposter_reunited_with_right_pooch.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Stanford law prof takes on 'Potter' – Think Lord Voldemort was scary? You should meet his lawyers.
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8965866?source=rss

Teensy thief crawls in mail flap
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL1870795220080418?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

Get the right name and open doors for your child
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL1747226920080417?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews