The Energy News Digest: March 2009

Tuesday, March 31, 2009

Energy News Digest for March 31, 2009

Monday, March 30, 2009

Energy News Digest for March 30, 2009

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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Severe Solar Flares Could Cause Catastrophic Power Outage
- Anderson Island Power Nearly Restored
- Grays Harbor County PUD Not Likely To See Layoffs, Furlough Days
- U.S. Carbon Cap to Raise Power Prices 15 to 30 Percent: Moody's
- Ratepayer Advocates Want Portland General Electric Rate Rule Suspended
- State Bill Would OK New King County Utility, Property Taxes
- Aberdeen Street Lights a Point of Contention with Grays Harbor PUD
- Chelan PUD Commissioner Bolz Recovering After Bypass Surgery
- U.S. Senate Energy Policy Markup Begins; Heavy Lifting Is Weeks Away
- Gauging the Prospects for Nuclear Power in the Obama Era
- California Restarts Daily Electricity Auction
- Steller Sea Lions Gobbling Up Sturgeon below Bonneville Dam
- Biologists Call For Changes to Columbia River Salmon Hatcheries
- Some Push for New Talks on Columbia River Treaty
- Fish Managers Seek Comments on 2009 Ocean Salmon Seasons
- NOAA’s Fisheries Service Proposes Listing Pacific Smelt as Threatened Species
- Thick Snowpack Promises Ample Water Supply
- Four East Oregon Possible Dam Sites Selected For Irrigation and Recreation
- Big Bill for Small Ponds: Ecology Notifies Property Owners of Unsafe Dams
- Boil Water Advisory for Lewis County Towns
- Loggers Try to Adapt to Greener Economy
- Olympian Editorial - Lawmakers Must Not Roll Back Initiative
- 'Not One Benefit for Me' - Hartman: Turbines are little more than hot air
- Longview Man Finally Gets Wind Turbine Permit
- Snohomish County Warming To Solar Power
- Solar Water Heater Company Fueled By Power Purchase Pacts
- Cost Works against Renewable Energy Sources in Time of Recession
- Despite Economy, Prospects for Green Energy Remain Strong
- Longview Gets $165,000 for Energy Efficiency Projects
- Energy Department Maps Efficiency Money
- Pacific Northwest Utilities Push Energy-Efficient Ductless Heat Pump
- Pilot Project Offers Efficient Electric Heating System Incentive
- Do New Bulbs Save Energy if They Don’t Work?
- For The White House, Not So Easy Being Greener
- Oregon Carbon Tax Proposal Heats Up
- Critics Blast Earth Hour, But Support Conservation
- Environmentalists Hail Earth Hour As A Big Success
- Among Climate Scientists, a Dispute over ‘Tipping Points’
- Climate Lobbying In D.C. Attracts Texans
- The UN Makes It Official: Global Warming Hysteria Is All About Redistributing Wealth
- Conficker Worm Threat to Grow On Wednesday
- Rural Broadband Vs. Red Tape
- Comcast Sues Maryland Wireless Internet Provider for Bandwidth Theft
- Iowa Governor Trolling For Microsoft Facility
- Charter Says Bankruptcy Won’t Affect Speed Upgrades
- Average Global Download Speed: 1.5Mbps
- Hood Canal Woman Saves Kayaker
- BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Is Belfair Ready to Get Twitterfied?
- Some Politicians Have Trouble Adapting To the Web
- Winter Hangs On, Studded Tires Still Must Come Off
- Your Survival Guide Around The Hood Canal Bridge
- Idaho Lawmakers Take Aim at Metal Thieves
- Weyerhaeuser CEO Gets 2008 Pay Valued At $4.7M
- Dirt-Weary Spokane Turns To Bootleg Detergent
- Faulty Pot-Growing Equipment May Have Caused Fire
- Jewels Forged In the Depression

WORD OF THE DAY

Symbiosis • \sim-bee-OH-sis\ • noun - 1: the living together in close association of two dissimilar organisms especially when mutually beneficial *2: a cooperative relationship

In the silent depths of the clear blue water, the torpedo-like, gray bulk of the shark sliced through the water, the remora fish in close proximity…awaiting the crumbs from the table in their symbiotic relationship with the remorseless hunter of the deep.

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

Severe Solar Flares Could Cause Catastrophic Power Outage in United States (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/science/2009/march/Severe-Solar-Flares-Could-Cause-Catastrophic-Power-Outage-in-United-States.html

Anderson Island Power Nearly Restored (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/42094952.html

Grays Harbor County PUD Not Likely To See Layoffs, Furlough Days (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/03/28/local_news/03news.txt

U.S. Carbon Cap to Raise Power Prices 15 to 30 Percent: Moody's (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE52O02420090325

Ratepayer Advocates Want Portland General Electric Rate Rule Suspended (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1931561~Ratepayer_advocates_want_PGE_rate_rule_suspended.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

State Bill Would OK New King County Utility, Property Taxes (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008942273_kingbudget29m.html?syndication=rss

Aberdeen Street Lights a Point of Contention with Grays Harbor PUD (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/03/29/local_news/04news.txt

Chelan County PUD Commissioner Bolz Recovering After Bypass Surgery (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090327/NEWS04/703289996/1004/rss1004

U.S. Senate Energy Policy Markup Begins, but Heavy Lifting Is Weeks Away (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/03/30/30greenwire-senate-committee-markup-begins-but-heavy-lifti-10337.html

Gauging the Prospects for Nuclear Power in the Obama Era (US News & World Report)
http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/energy/2009/03/27/gauging-the-prospects-for-nuclear-power-in-the-obama-era.html

California Restarts Daily Electricity Auction (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123837040945167681.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Steller Sea Lions Gobbling Up Sturgeon below Bonneville Dam (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/03/sturgeon_and_sea_lions.html

Biologists Call For Changes to Columbia River Salmon Hatcheries (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008938569_hatcheryreform28m.html

Some Push for New Talks on Columbia River Treaty (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_columbia_treaty.html

Fish Managers Seek Comments on 2009 Ocean Salmon Seasons (The Umpqua Post, OR)
http://www.theumpquapost.com/articles/2009/03/29/local_news/doc49d02d0acd538794603331.txt

NOAA’s Fisheries Service Proposes Listing Pacific Smelt as Threatened Species (Indian Country Today)
http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/global/canada/41839602.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Thick Snowpack Promises Ample Water Supply (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/42080622.html

Four East Oregon Possible Dam-Building Sites Selected For Irrigation and Recreation (Baker City Herald, OR)
http://www.bakercityherald.com/Local-News/Four-possible-dam-building-sites-selected

Big Bill for Small Ponds: Ecology Notifies Property Owners of Unsafe Dams (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090329/news/303299991

Map of Hazardous Dams (WA Dept. Of Ecology – Links to PDF File)
http://www.ecy.wa.gov/programs/wr/dams/Images/hhd_hhdsd_121908.pdf

Boil Water Advisory for Lewis County Towns (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19039667/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_7am&tmi=sea_7am_1_09000103302009&ts=H

Loggers Try to Adapt to Greener Economy (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/business/energy-environment/29forests.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Olympian Editorial - Lawmakers Must Not Roll Back Initiative (937)
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/802956.html

'Not One Benefit for Me' - Hartman: Turbines are little more than hot air (Wichita Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/stories/2009/03/30/story1.html?ana=from_rss

Longview Man Finally Gets Wind Turbine Permit (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/03/30//area_news/doc49d055673c75a815620683.txt

Snohomish County Warming To Solar Power - Small projects are going up around the county, funded in part by donations from PUD customers (The Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090330/NEWS01/903299966/-1/RSS02

Solar Water Heater Company Fueled By Power Purchase Pacts (Sacramento Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2009/03/30/story8.html?ana=from_rss

Cost Works against Alternative and Renewable Energy Sources in Time of Recession (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/business/energy-environment/29renew.html

Despite Economy, Prospects for Green Energy Remain Strong (Yale Environment 360)
http://e360.yale.edu/content/feature.msp?id=2135

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Longview Gets $165,000 for Energy Efficiency Projects (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/03/27//area_news/doc49cc6cb3d14ad546861470.txt

Energy Department Maps Efficiency Money (NY Times)
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/03/30/energy-department-maps-efficiency-money/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Pacific Northwest Utilities Push Energy-Efficient Ductless Heat Pump (Examiner.Com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1932734~Utilities_push_energy_efficient_ductless_heat_pump.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Pilot Project Offers Efficient Electric Heating System Incentive (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/updates/10593877-55/story.csp

Do New Bulbs Save Energy if They Don’t Work? (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/28/business/energy-environment/28bulbs.html

For The White House, Not So Easy Being Greener (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2008943667_apgreeningthewhitehouse.html?syndication=rss

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Oregon Carbon Tax Proposal Heats Up (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/03/23/daily50.html?ana=from_rss

Critics Blast Earth Hour, But Support Conservation (The Daily Journal, Tupelo, MI)
http://www.djournal.com/pages/story.asp?ID=287670&pub=1&div=News

Environmentalists Hail Earth Hour As A Big Success (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/03/27/national/a014140D20.DTL&feed=rss.news

Among Climate Scientists, a Dispute over ‘Tipping Points’ (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/29/weekinreview/29revkin.html

Climate Lobbying In D.C. Attracts Texans - Employment Surges in Area Where State’s Energy Industry Has a Huge Stake (Houston Chronicle, TX)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/politics/6349271.html

The UN Makes It Official: Global Warming Hysteria Is All About Redistributing Wealth (Fox News)
http://foxforum.blogs.foxnews.com/2009/03/27/sheppard_global_warming_un/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Conficker Worm Threat to Grow On Wednesday (Associated Press)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/691008.html

Rural Broadband Vs. Red Tape - Fed agencies square off on how to spend $7 billion to bring the Net to 'unserved' areas. Let the squabbling begin. (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/2009/03/27/technology/rural_broadband.fortune.fortune/index.htm?source=yahoo_quote

Comcast Sues Maryland Wireless Internet Provider for Bandwidth Theft - Man uses 35 residential accounts to fuel wireless business (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Comcast-Sues-Maryland-WISP-for-Bandwidth-Theft-101616

Iowa Governor Trolling For Microsoft Facility (Associated Press)
http://www.seattlepi.com/business/404392_msft28.html?source=rss

Charter Says Bankruptcy Won’t Affect Speed Upgrades (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/03/27/charter-says-bankruptcy-wont-affect-speed-upgrades/

Average Global Download Speed: 1.5Mbps - U.S. ranked 17th with average downstream speed of 3.9Mbps (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Average-Global-Download-Speed-15Mbps-101594

GENERAL NEWS

Hood Canal Woman Saves Kayaker (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6815/reftab/1632/t/HOOD-CANAL-WOMAN-SAVES-KAYAKER/Default.aspx

BUSINESS SPOTLIGHT: Is Belfair Ready to Get Twitterfied? (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/mar/29/is-belfair-ready-for-twitter/?partner=RSS

Some Politicians Have Trouble Adapting To the Web (KIRO Radio, Seattle)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=150413

Winter Hangs On, Studded Tires Still Must Come Off (Associated Press)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=150410

Your Survival Guide Around The Hood Canal Bridge (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090329/NEWS/303299993

Idaho Lawmakers Take Aim at Metal Thieves (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/800887.html

Weyerhaeuser CEO Gets 2008 Pay Valued At $4.7M (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/03/30/financial/f074003D70.DTL&feed=rss.business

Dirt-Weary Spokane Turns To Bootleg Detergent (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/41995552.html

Faulty Pot-Growing Equipment May Have Caused Fire (Examiner.Com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1931740~Faulty_pot_growing_equipment_may_have_caused_fire.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Jewels Forged In the Depression (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/O/index.ssf/2009/03/jewels_forged_in_the_depressio.html

DIVERSIONS

Sink Hole Swallows Girl During Ballgame
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19027865/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000103272009&ts=H

Top Road Rule Myths!
http://www.kirotv.com/traffic/19045223/detail.html

Cheese Beats Baboon Metaphysics in Odd Book Prize
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE52Q4EK20090327?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

'Dumbest Criminal' Nabbed In Cop Convention Holdup
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090328/ap_on_fe_st/odd_police_convention_robbery;_ylt=AjaswAis_Fp53WQ.gu9Ni3ztiBIF

SONG OF THE DAY

Vivaldi - Spring (From the Four Seasons – a little late for the start of spring, but maybe a hopeful offering)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iSw7CcAXPWk

Friday, March 27, 2009

Energy News Digest for March 27, 2009

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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Bill Revives Idea of Shifting Portland General Electric to Public Ownership
- Enron's Skilling Resentencing Hearing Set For July
- Idaho Power Ready to Make Oregon Transmission Case
- Ohio’s Consumer Counsel Seeks Freeze on AEP’s Retroactive Rate Hike
- Support for Nuclear Energy Remains High, New Survey Finds
- Tucson Citizen Op/Ed - The Nuclear Option
- Grants Help Restore Fish Habitat in Oregon, Washington
- Proposal Would Curb Columbia River Gillnetters
- Salmon Oddity Rears Its Heads Once Again in Central Kitsap Classroom
- A Win-Win Idaho Water Deal - Settlement of 2 long Idaho Power disputes
- Oregon’s Legislative "Odd Couple" Tackles Water Issues
- Idaho Governor, Tribe Sign Lake Coeur d'Alene Plan
- Seattle Times Guest Columnist - Beyond Puget Sound
- 60 Die as Dam Breaks Near Jakarta
- Northwest Utilities Warn Green Energy May Raise Rates
- Oregon Wind Farms Whip up Noise, Health Concerns
- Los Angeles Times Editorial - Feinstein's Desert Protection Plan
- Tidal Energy Company Withdraws Permit Request
- Water Worries Shape Local Energy Decisions
- Montana Bill Seeks to Turn Slash into ‘Renewable Biomass'
- A U.S. Federal Renewable Portfolio Standard: Potentials and Pitfalls
- Does D.C. Get Energy Independence? Pickens Is Of Two Minds
- Vestas Breaks Ground in Colorado for Manufacturing Plant
- Renewable Energy Will Boost Software Demand, Says Greenpeace
- Mason County Tribes Getting Stimulus Money for Energy Projects
- Wash Cities, Counties to Get $56 Million for Energy
- STIMULUS: Tri-Cities to receive $1.3 million for energy conservation
- Kitsap County Eligible for Stimulus Money for Energy Efficiency
- NY Times Editorial - The First Green Step
- Ethanol Investors Try To Derail California's Carbon-Emissions Proposal
- Lights Out in 84 Countries for Earth Hour 2009
- Charter Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy
- Verizon Leases Fiber For Wireless Backhaul
- Ad Watchdog: Cablevision Internet Not 'Fastest'
- Twitter To Seek Revenue from Businesses
- Google to Lay Off 200 in Latest Round of Cuts
- Spring Storm Headed This Way
- Police: Man Adds Meth to Wife's Water to Give Her Energy
- Seven Indicted In State's Biggest Mortgage-Fraud Scheme
- Thurston Deputies' Union Plans to Sue County

WORD OF THE DAY

Jaunty • \JON-tee\ • noun – Sprightly in manner or appearance: lively

“You are an absolute peacock!” exclaimed Antoine to his friend Archie. “With that jaunty pirate hat all the girls at the party will be asking for your phone number!”

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

Bill Revives Idea of Shifting Portland General Electric to Public Ownership (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/4616-bill-revives-idea-shifting-pge-public-ownership/

Enron's Skilling Resentencing Hearing Set For July (Associated Press)http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/03/26/national/a213606D01.DTL&feed=rss.business

Idaho Power Ready to Make Oregon Transmission Case (Baker City Herald. OR)
http://www.bakercityherald.com/Local-News/Idaho-Power-ready-to-make-case-to-PUC

Ohio’s Consumer Counsel Seeks Freeze on AEP’s Retroactive Rate Hike (Dayton Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/stories/2009/03/23/daily73.html?ana=from_rss

Support for Nuclear Energy Remains High, New Survey Finds (Utility Automation and Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=357361&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss

Tucson Citizen Op/Ed - The Nuclear Option
http://www.tucsoncitizen.com/daily/opinion/113017.php

FISH & WILDLIFE

Grants Help Restore Fish Habitat in Oregon, Washington (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/03/a_45000_grant_will_help.html

Proposal Would Curb Columbia River Gillnetters (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/news-30/123810927833930.xml&storylist=orlocal

Salmon Oddity Rears Its Heads Once Again in Central Kitsap Classroom (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/mar/26/salmon-oddity-rears-its-heads-again-in-central/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

A Win-Win Idaho Water Deal - The settlement of 2 long Idaho Power Co. disputes will help the utility, electricity users, Eastern Idaho farmers and salmon (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/environment/story/711932.html

Swan Falls Dam – “…JD Strike & Swan Falls dams combined to become the first artificial barrier to anadromous fish migration up the Snake River…” (Wikipedia)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Swan_Falls_Dam

Oregon’s Legislative "Odd Couple" Tackles Water Issues (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/4614-legislative-odd-couple-tackles-water-issues/

Idaho Governor, Tribe Sign Lake Coeur d'Alene Plan (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1926725~Otter__tribe_sign_Lake_Coeur_d_Alene_plan.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines

Seattle Times Guest Columnist - Beyond Puget Sound: Ten ideas for saving the Salish Sea
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008930827_opinc27gaydos.html

60 Die as Dam Breaks Near Jakarta (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/03/28/world/asia/28indo.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Northwest Utilities Warn Green Energy May Raise Rates (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/4611-northwest-utilities-warn-green-energy-may-raise-rates/

Oregon Wind Farms Whip up Noise, Health Concerns (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/03/oregon_wind_farms_whip_up_nois.html

Los Angeles Times Editorial - Feinstein's Desert Protection Plan: A proposal by Sen. Dianne Feinstein could pit those who want to preserve desert land against those who want to use it for solar and wind energy projects.
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/la-ed-desert27-2009mar27,0,3252665.story

Tidal Energy Company Withdraws Permit Request (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/tidal-energy-company-withdraws-permit-request/

Water Worries Shape Local Energy Decisions - Scarcity Forces Electricity Companies to Rethink Power-Plant Plans, Providing an Opening for Renewable Sources (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123802383042842123.html

Montana Bill Seeks to Turn Slash into ‘Renewable Biomass' (The Missoulian, MT)
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2009/03/27/news/local/news05.txt

A U.S. Federal Renewable Portfolio Standard: Potentials and Pitfalls (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/03/a-federal-renewable-portfolio-standard-potentials-and-pitfalls?src=rss

Does D.C. Get Energy Independence? Pickens Is Of Two Minds (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10787_3-10205110-60.html?tag=nl.e433

Vestas Breaks Ground in Colorado for Manufacturing Plant (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/03/vestas-breaks-ground-in-colorado-sells-tower-facility-in-scotland?src=rss

Renewable Energy Will Boost Software Demand, Says Greenpeace (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/idgGreenComputing/idUS389974836820090327

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Mason County Tribes Getting Stimulus Money for Energy Projects (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6809/reftab/1632/t/TRIBES-GETTING-STIMULUS-MONEY-FOR-ENERGY-PROJECTS/Default.aspx

Wash Cities, Counties to Get $56 Million for Energy (KIRO Radio, Seattle, WA)
http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/41954877.html

STIMULUS: Tri-Cities to receive $1.3 million for energy conservation (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/523084.html

Kitsap County Eligible for Stimulus Money for Energy Efficiency (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/mar/26/county-eligible-for-stimulus-money-for-energy/?partner=RSS

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

NY Times Editorial - The First Green Step: Fighting global warming starts with a greenhouse gas registry.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/26/AR2009032603469.html?nav=rss_opinions

Ethanol Investors Try To Derail California's Carbon-Emissions Proposal (Los Angeles Times, CA)
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-ethanol27-2009mar27,0,6273025.story

Lights Out in 84 Countries for Earth Hour 2009 (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2008933256_apearthhour.html?syndication=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Charter Files Chapter 11 Bankruptcy - Charter CEO: Good news, everybody! (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Charter-Files-Chapter-11-Bankruptcy-101592

Verizon Leases Fiber For Wireless Backhaul - Looks to recoup multi-billion FiOS and core network investment (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Verizon-Leases-Fiber-For-Wireless-Backhaul-101591

Ad Watchdog: Cablevision Internet Not 'Fastest' - Cablevision should stop saying it's the 'fastest' Internet provider “…should also stop saying it has ‘America's most advanced fiber optic network’…” (Associated Press)
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Ad-watchdog-Cablevision-apf-14765443.html

Twitter To Seek Revenue from Businesses (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE52P0BP20090326?feedType=nl&feedName=ustechnology

Google to Lay Off 200 in Latest Round of Cuts (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12003406?nclick_check=1

GENERAL NEWS

Spring Storm Headed This Way (KIRO Radio, Seattle)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=149714

Police: Man Adds Meth to Wife's Water to Give Her Energy (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_032609WAB-water-spiked-with-meth-TP.72af820d.html?rss?npc

Seven Indicted In State's Biggest Mortgage-Fraud Scheme (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008932579_mortgage27m.html

Thurston Deputies' Union Plans to Sue County (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_032609WAB-thurston-sheriff-staffing-lawsuit-TP.72e57ca3.html?rss?npc

DIVERSIONS

Ariz. Man Accused of Performing Illegal Weddings
http://www.kirotv.com/family/19020324/detail.html

Clallam Bay Prison Smoke Traced To Inmate Cooking In Toilet
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008929266_webtoiletcooking26m.html?syndication=rss

Federal Way Police Chief in Fender Bender While Surfing Web
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/41931762.html

Woman Arrested 3 Times in 3 Days for Drunk Driving
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090327/ap_on_fe_st/odd3_owis_3_days;_ylt=Ak9Nq7Ysmqq8GW7VFz6Z_kHtiBIF

SONG OF THE DAY (The quarter for Bob Zimmerman Edition)

Bob Dylan - Blowing in the Wind
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A4nPJ-YYHBc

Sam Cooke-Blowing in the Wind (This is my pick)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FYWDgeVqP2U

Thursday, March 26, 2009

Energy News Digest for March 26, 2009

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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

· BPA Official Says Power Grid Needs to Become More Flexible

· Economy May Be Putting Wire Thieves Out of Business

· Poor Economy Means Seattle Streetlamps Taking Longer To Repair

· Montana - City of Great Falls May Hire Firm to Vet Energy Future

· State of Texas aims to avoid repeat of Ike-like outages

· Yucca Mountain Flattened

· Cushman Project Increases Streamflow for Skokomish River

· Baker City Herald Editorial - Salmon Sensibility

· Gill Net Bills in Salem!

· Wenatchee World Editorial - Salmon Are Coming, They Say

· Idaho - Fish & Game Sets Chinook Seasons

· Looking for a river open to fishing? Head to the Cowlitz

· Spirit Lake’s No-Fishing Sign Still Up

· Gray Whales Making Pit Stop in Puget Sound

· Centralia Supports Lewis County Dam Idea

· Mike Sharar, Former Director of LOTT, Dies At Age 61

· California - Plan to restore San Joaquin River approved

· Initiative 937 Has Needed Legislative Fixing Since the Day It Hit the Books

· Shine Is Off the Solar Power Industry

· Sarasota, FL Herald Tribune Op/Ed - Subsidies help lower solar costs

· Leaving PCs on Overnight Costs Companies $2.8B a Year

· Canada - Smart Meters Banned in Ontario Apartments

· Obama Makes Bold Climate Bill Prediction: 'We'll Get It Done'

· Coke to Darken Signs for ‘Earth Hour’

· City Of Richland Considers Using Fiber Optics

· Heartland Institute: What Broadband Problem?

· Keep Connected Nation Far Away From Stimulus Money

· Medical Journal Calls into Question Plan for Digital Health Records

· Old Computer System May Contribute To State Budget Woes

WORD OF THE DAY

Dross • \DRAHSS\ • noun - 1: the scum that forms on the surface of molten metal 2: waste or foreign matter: impurity 3: something that is base, trivial, or inferior

Norbert emerged from his bath feeling more soiled than when he went in. As the youngest of four children, he had the last shot at the murky bathwater on Saturday’s “bath day.” He was especially unhappy about the floating dross left over from his brother Ike, who earlier in the day had an unfortunate encounter with the manure lagoon behind the large, red barn.

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

BPA Official Tells Community Leaders Power Grid Needs to Become More Flexible (The Daily News, Longview, WA)

http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/03/26//area_news/doc49cb158ae68a2434479414.txt

Economy May Be Putting Wire Thieves Out of Business (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_032509WAB-copper-thefts-down-TP.6dd698f0.html?rss

Poor Economy Means Seattle Streetlamps Taking Longer To Repair (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_032509WAB-street-lights-seattle-KC.70046506.html?rss

Montana - City of Great Falls May Hire Firm to Vet Energy Future (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20090326/NEWS01/903260308/1002/news01

State of Texas aims to avoid repeat of Ike-like outages - state utility regulators get the power to nudge electric companies into hardening their delivery systems against widespread power outages (Houston Chronicle, TX)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6342650.html

Yucca Mountain Flattened (EnergyBiz Insider)

http://www.scoop.com/remote/article/include/81238532/53616c7465645f5f2f13c7bcd6ce1767a6a11ae4666a9e1bbfbca66ab008f50c

FISH & WILDLIFE

Let It Flow, Let It Flow, Let It Flow - Cushman Project Increases Streamflow for Skokomish River for improved salmon habitat (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/688597.html

Baker City Herald Editorial - Salmon Sensibility

http://www.bakercityherald.com/Editorials/Salmon-sensibility

Gill Net Bills in Salem! The Oregon Legislature is paying more than lip service to altering the way salmon are harvested on the Columbia River (The Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/bill_monroe/index.ssf/2009/03/gill_net_bills_in_salem.html

Wenatchee World Editorial - Salmon Are Coming, They Say

http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090325/OP02/703259907/-1/OP

Idaho - Fish & Game Sets Chinook Seasons - Department will set rules for the upper Salmon River in May (Idaho Mountain Express, Sun Valley)

http://www.mtexpress.com/vu_breaking_story.php?bid=6945

Looking for a river open to fishing? Head to the Cowlitz (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/outdoorshighlight/story/799085.html

Spirit Lake’s No-Fishing Sign Still Up (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/688598.html

Gray Whales Making Pit Stop In Puget Sound (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_032509WAB-gray-whales-KS.6d8a9814.html?rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Centralia Supports Lewis County Dam Idea (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

http://www.outdoorslc.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1238002188&archive=&start_from=&ucat=5&

Mike Sharar, Former Director of LOTT, Dies At Age 61 (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/799073.html

California - Plan to restore San Joaquin River approved (San Francisco Chronicle, CA)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/03/26/MNTD16N3QD.DTL

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

News Tribune Editorial - Initiative 937 Has Needed Legislative Fixing Since The Day It Hit The Books

http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/688640.html

Shine Is Off the Solar Power Industry - Falling energy prices undermined willingness to invest (The Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/business/story.html?id=1421533

Sarasota, FL Herald Tribune Op/Ed - Subsidies help lower solar costs “…Our factory in Oregon uses hydroelectric power…”

http://www.heraldtribune.com/article/20090326/COLUMNIST/903261018/2127?Title=Subsidies-help-lower-solar-costs

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Leaving PCs on Overnight Costs Companies $2.8B a Year (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/environment/2009-03-25-pc-power-company-costs_N.htm?csp=34

Canada - Smart Meters Banned in Ontario Apartments: Energy board bars use in rentals after tenants complained of landlords off-loading hydro costs (Toronto Star, Ontario)

http://www.thestar.com/article/607832

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Obama Makes Bold Climate Bill Prediction: 'We'll Get It Done' (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/03/25/25climatewire-obama-makes-bold-capandtrade-prediction-well-10277.html

Coke to Darken Signs for ‘Earth Hour’ (Atlanta Business Chronicle)

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2009/03/23/daily66.html?ana=from_rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

City Of Richland Considers Using Fiber Optics (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/northwest/story/687780.html

Heartland Institute: What Broadband Problem? PR junk science firm returns with five year old argument using discredited FCC stats (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Heartland-Institute-What-Broadband-Problem-101564

Keep Connected Nation Far Away From Stimulus Money - Consumer advocates warn group is a con, but is anybody listening? (Broadband Reports)