Energy News Digest for December 8, 2008

300th Blog Posting!

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)

- Oregon Congressman Sees Change In BPA Leadership
- Wind At Back, BPA Chief Looks Ahead
- Oregon Public Utility Commission Delays Trojan Refund to PGE Customers
- State of California Explores Deregulation Of Electricity Market
- Mason County PUD No. 3 Commission Holding Budget Hearing Tuesday
- Congressional Research Reports - Power Plants: Characteristics and Costs
- Landowners fear leaks and losing their livelihood to gas pipeline
- E-Board Approves Oregon Energy Assistance
- Power Company Seeks To Use Missouri River for Electricity
- Tacoma Power, Tacoma Water Bond Ratings Upgraded
- $400,000 past Due: Electric Bill Mix Up By Ameren and MISO Costs Hannibal, MO
- Texas - Mr. Frugal: On Autopay, Tab for Electricity Went Wild
- United Kingdom Energy Firm 'Won't Pass On Savings'
- Is Salmon Survival Research Emotionally or Scientifically Motivated
- Bellingham Herald - New Science May Change Tactics to Save Salmon
- Spring Chinook Plan Will Be Presented At December 11 Forum
- Monitoring Gaps Endanger Salmon Runs
- Oregon Expert Tries To Solve Salmon Shark Deaths
- Awaiting Klamath Dam Removal
- Olympian Editorial - Puget Sound Partnership Must Live Up To Promises
- Water Issue Hits Home for Cattle, Dairy Farms
- Oregon - Aquifer Storage Could Ease Water Shortage
- Illegal Dams: Chelan Area Golf Course Pond Makes High-Risk List
- Safe Drinking Water Act: Regulatory and Legislative Issues
- Economists Raise Doubts About Alternative-Energy Spending
- Grays Harbor/Pacific Counties - Wind-Wind Project for Coastal Community Action Program
- Oregon - Coos Bay Pair Push Wind Turbine Project
- Wind Turbine Prototype Provides Birds Some Protection
- Michigan - Locally Made Wind Turbines to Create Jobs
- Geothermal Founder Files $50 Million Suit
- Energy-Efficient Lights Help Spread Holiday Cheer during Tough Times
- Does Daylight Saving Time Save Electricity?
- Green? You Ain't Seen Nothing, Yet
- Boeing Brews Up Algae, a Promising Fuel of the Future
- Plans Delayed For Biodiesel Crop
- U.S. Criticizes, U.N. Defends Global Carbon Trading System
- News Coverage of Climate Entering ‘Trance’?
- Presidential Transition Timing Hits Climate Talks
- No Fiber Shortage in Quincy - Port Dispels Rumor
- Broadband is Key to Obama’s Recovery Plan
- Wi-Fi Defends the Home Turf
- Seven Alarm Fire - Fatal Fire South of Kamilche
- Hoquiam Plywood Mill Suspends Operation
- Seattle Times Columnist - 2009 Outlook: It's Gloomy For Our Region
- British Columbia Coroner Matches Pair of Mysterious Feet

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

WORD OF THE DAY

Excrescence • \icks-KRESS-ents\ • noun - 1: a projection or outgrowth especially when abnormal 2: a disfiguring, extraneous, or unwanted mark or part: blot 3: by-product

Dagwood was looking forward to his job interview, but knew even before the first question that he was going to fail. His prospective new boss had a unique excrescence on his forehead…a growth reminiscent of a two foot long unicorn horn. All Dagwood could think about during the entire interview was whether or not he would be able to toss his hat onto the horn-like protuberance if he were hired.

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

Oregon Congressman Sees Change In BPA Leadership - The legislator says he's talked to Obama's transition team about a stronger focus on renewable energy (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1228530317257150.xml&coll=7

Wind At Back, BPA Chief Looks Ahead (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf?/base/business/122854471511170.xml&coll=7

Oregon Public Utility Commission Delays Trojan Refund to PGE Customers (Oregon Public Radio)
http://news.opb.org/article/3723-puc-delays-trojan-refund-pge-customers/

State of California Explores Deregulation Of Electricity Market - The move would allow retail users to shop around for best prices, but some link that policy to the 2000-01 energy crisis (Los Angeles Times, CA)
http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-dereg8-2008dec08,0,3100711.story?track=rss

Mason County PUD No. 3 Commission Holding Budget Hearing Tuesday Afternoon (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/5746/reftab/1632/Default.aspx?t=P.U.D.-3-COMMISSION-HOLDING-BUDGET-HEARING-TUESDAY-AFTERNOON

Congressional Research Reports - Power Plants: Characteristics and Costs
http://opencrs.com/document/RL34746

Energy independence: Not So Fast - Landowners fear leaks and losing their livelihood to gas pipeline (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf?/base/business/122853571865990.xml&coll=7

E-Board Approves Oregon Energy Assistance (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1729088~E_Board_approves_Ore__energy_assistance.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Power Company Seeks To Use Missouri River for Electricity (Kansas City Star, MO)
http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/926584.html

Tacoma Power, Tacoma Water Bond Ratings Upgraded (Tacoma Daily Index, WA)
http://www.tacomadailyindex.com/portals-code/list.cgi?paper=88&cat=23&id=1436235&more=0

Missouri - $400,000 past Due: Electric Bill Mix Up By Ameren and MISO Costs Hannibal (WGEM-TV, Quincy, IL)
http://www.wgem.com/global/story.asp?s=9467387

Texas - Mr. Frugal: On Autopay, Tab for Electricity Went Wild (Dallas Morning News, TX)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/dn/latestnews/stories/120808dnmetmrfrugal.36329f1.html

United Kingdom Energy Firm 'Won't Pass On Savings' “…firm has said suppliers will not pass on all of the savings they make on cheaper wholesale gas and electricity to consumers…” (The Evening Standard, UK)
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23598110-details/Energy+firm+'won't+pass+on+savings'/article.do

FISH & WILDLIFE

Is Salmon Survival Research Emotionally or Scientifically Motivated (KMVT-TV, ID)
http://www.kmvt.com/news/local/35612969.html

Bellingham Herald Editorial - New Science May Change Tactics to Save Salmon
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/615/story/703392.html

Columbia River Spring Chinook Plan Will Be Presented At December 11 Forum (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/12/08/this_day/doc4938629e90ff2411331986.txt

Monitoring Gaps Endanger Salmon Runs - Lack of accurate stock information leads to overfishing, scientists say (Victoria Times Colonist)
http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Monitoring+gaps+endanger+salmon+runs+study/1030232/story.html

Oregon Expert Tries To Solve Salmon Shark Deaths (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2008/12/oregon_expert_tries_to_solve_s.html

Awaiting Klamath Dam Removal (Indian Country Today)
http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/national/northwest/35306394.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Olympian Editorial - Puget Sound Partnership Must Live Up To Promises
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/687675.html

Water Issue Hits Home for Cattle, Dairy Farms – Claim a misinterpretation of stock watering law from the state Department of Ecology (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/12/05/news/nw4.12.5.08.txt

Oregon - Aquifer Storage Could Ease Water Shortage (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1730993~Aquifer_storage_could_ease_water_shortage.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Illegal Dams: Chelan Area Golf Course Pond Makes High-Risk List (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081206/NEWS04/712069874/1001/rss1001

Congressional Research Reports - Safe Drinking Water Act: Selected Regulatory and Legislative Issues
http://opencrs.com/document/RL34201

RENEWABLE ENERGY & CONSERVATION

Economists Raise Doubts About Alternative-Energy Spending (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/environment/2008-12-04-greenjobs_N.htm

Grays Harbor/Pacific Counties - Wind-Wind Project for Coastal Community Action Program (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/12/07/local_news/01news.txt

Electricity Is Blowing In The Wind - Coos Bay pair push wind turbine project (Another quarter for Bob Zimmerman - The World, Bandon, OR)
http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2008/12/07/news/doc493a439f7cc8f976728809.txt

Wind Turbine Prototype Provides Birds Some Protection (The World, Bandon, OR)
http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2008/12/07/news/doc493a3efea1af6243731976.txt

Michigan - Locally Made Wind Turbines to Create Jobs (Muskegon Chronicle, MI)
http://www.mlive.com/chronicle/news/index.ssf/2008/12/locally_produced_wind_turbines.html

Geothermal Founder Files $50 Million Suit (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1729096~Geothermal_founder_files__50_million_suit.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Energy-Efficient Lights Help Spread Holiday Cheer during Tough Times (Detroit Free Press, MI)
http://www.freep.com/article/20081206/NEWS05/81206027/-1/rss07

Does Daylight Saving Time Save Electricity? (Resource Investor)
http://www.resourceinvestor.com/pebble.asp?relid=48507

Green? You Ain't Seen Nothing, Yet – “…what if someone came up with a financial incentive to refit every house, every building, every green inch of Oregon…” (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/steve_duin/index.ssf?/base/news/122853572865990.xml&coll=7

Boeing Brews Up Algae, a Promising Fuel of the Future (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/560281.html

Plans Delayed For Biodiesel Crop Camelina (Associated Press)
http://columbian.com/article/20081207/NEWS06/312079982/-1/NLstatenews

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

U.S. Criticizes, U.N. Defends Global Carbon Trading System (NY Times)
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/05/us-criticizes-un-defends-global-carbon-trading-system/?partner=rss&emc=rss

News Coverage of Climate Entering ‘Trance’? (NY Times)
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/12/05/back-to-media-trance-on-climate/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Transition's Timing Hits Climate Talks - U.S. Delegates Report to Bush, Not Obama (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/07/AR2008120702426.html?wpisrc=newsletter

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

No Fiber Shortage in Quincy - Port Dispels Rumor (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081207/NEWS04/712089986

Broadband is Key to Obama’s Recovery Plan (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/12/06/broadband-is-key-to-obamas-recovery-plan/

Wi-Fi Defends the Home Turf (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/12/05/wi-fi-defends-the-home-turf/

GENERAL NEWS

Seven Alarm Fire - Fatal Fire South of Kamilche (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/5749/reftab/1632/t/FATAL-FIRE-SOUTH-OF-KAMILCHE/Default.aspx

Hoquiam Plywood Mill Suspends Operation (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/18212522/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_12pm&tmi=sea_12pm_-1_02000112052008&ts=H

Seattle Times Columnist - 2009 Outlook: It's Gloomy For Our Region. Economists rarely agree on anything, but this time is different: 2009 will offer little, if any, relief from a recession that is already officially a year old
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/jontalton/2008478136_biztaltoncol07.html

British Columbia Coroner Matches Pair of Mysterious Feet (Associated Press)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_120608WAB_mystery_feet_KS.39c8bc2d.html?npc

DIVERSIONS

Was High School Girl Possessed In Class? Girl Spoke In Tongues, Made Predictions For Future
http://www.kirotv.com/education/18209396/detail.html

Woman Sues Sports Bar after Getting Stuck In Toilet
http://www.kirotv.com/news/18212497/detail.html

Christmas History: Fascinating Facts behind Festive Traditions
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2008/12/07/christmas-history-fascinating-facts-behind-festive-traditions-115875-20953664/

Frugal Farmer Leaves $2m to His Tiny Pennsylvania Church
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081208/ap_on_fe_st/odd_frugal_farmer_s_estate;_ylt=AuSq65Qx2MSz03vUQEjspTPtiBIF