Energy News Digest for April 20, 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)

- WA Legis. Debates Clean-Energy Initiative Changes
- Power Deal Is Key to Intalco Survival
- Natural Gas: A Cleaner Option, But Still a Fossil Fuel
- Congress to Pass Energy Bill This Year: White House
- Mason County PUD No. 3 Has Clean Mix of Energy Sources
- PUD 3 Mix of Energy Resources a Breath of Fresh Air
- Energy NW Wash Columbia Reduced For Unplanned Work
- Chelan PUD is ready For another Rate Talk
- California May Warm To B.C. Private Power Producers
- Consumers Start Feeling Higher Costs Of Clean Fuel
- Memphians Pay Ninth Lowest COMBINED Utility Bill In U.S.
- California - Fearing Wildfires, Utility Plans Power Shutdowns
- TVA Seeks Dismissal of Lawsuits in Tenn. Ash Spill
- Texas Company: We Want Nation's Radioactive Waste
- Baltimore Sun Editorial - Deregulation Power Failure
- Texas - Locking In Electricity Prices: Save a Lot - Or Pay the Price
- Spring Chinook Return In Droves to Wind and Klickitat Rivers, Drano Lake
- Report: Judge Wants Dam Removal as an Option for Salmon
- Salmon Recovery Projects Praised
- Stimulus Money Pays For Klamath Dam Removal Study
- Columbia Salmon Harvest Solution Proposed By Congressman
- PBS Program 'Frontline' Takes a Look at Puget Sound
- Skookumchuck Dam - Any Flood Control Possibilities Come With Limits
- Omak Creek Project To Get Stimulus Money
- Chelan, WA - Aging of Water Mains Is Becoming Hard to Ignore
- For the Electric Grid, Renewable Goals Pose Daunting Task
- NERC Study: Operation/Planning Of Nation's Power System
- Montana - Schweitzer Signs Renewable Energy Bill
- Salem Statesman Op/Ed – Renewable Energy: Market intervention overkill
- Congressmen Will Look At Timber for Clean Energy, Jobs
- Idaho Wind Farm Gets 20-Year Purchase Agreement
- Desert Clash in West over Solar Potential, Water
- Solar Down But Not Out, Report Says
- Marine Power Not Ready For Prime Time, Experts Say
- Fat Burner - An Old Power Plant Site Is Getting New Life
- A (Mill) Wind Blows Afoul of Weather Radar
- Conservation Mandates: Hot Debate Ahead on Berkeley's Energy Plans
- Great Wolf Lodge Receives Green Seal
- The Stimulus Bill and Energy
- Carbon Emissions Pose Danger, EPA Finds
- No ‘Subprime Carbon’ Investments for Senator Cantwell
- Seattle Times Editorial - More Tools Pending For Climate Change
- Oregon - Climate changes in Capitol
- Studies Suggest Northwest Smog Could Ease As Warming Worsens
- A Plan for U.S. Emissions to Be Buried Under Sea
- Florida - The Great (Green) Debate in Churches
- Carriers Aim to Keep Rural Broadband under Their Thumb
- As Costs Fall, Companies Push to Raise Internet Price
- Rural Areas Increasingly Underserved By Telecommunications
- Manassas Tries to Keep Dying BPL Network Alive
- Deal Brings TV Shows and Movies to YouTube
- Oracle Agrees to Acquire Sun Microsystems
- Plugged-In Hotels Ring In More Guests
- London Data Center to Power Local Community
- Older Generations Adopting New Technologies Faster Than Young
- Port Of Shelton Hires Dobson as New Executive Director
- Belfair Celebrates Opening of New Branch of Harrison Hospital
- New Weather Tower Approved For Olympic Nat Park
- Olympia Rethinks Seattle Artist's Bronze 'Bubble' Art

WORD OF THE DAY

Scintilla • \sin-TILL-uh \ • noun – Spark, trace

Try as he might, Monty could not find a scintilla of evidence that ancient aliens were responsible for the Mima Mounds, or the “Earth Pimples” as he called them.

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

WA Legis. Debates Clean-Energy Initiative Changes - Environmentalists will have to reboot their compromise on changes to a voter-approved clean energy initiative (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008918002_apwaxgrrenewableenergy1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

Power Deal Is Key to Intalco Survival – BPA proposal suggests Intalco bill be cut by 22 percent when aluminum prices are low. Alcoa wants a 42 percent cut (Bellingham Herald, WA – I thought Alcoa said it was market conditions and low commodity prices?)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/876343.html

Natural Gas: A Cleaner Option, But Still a Fossil Fuel (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/4804-natural-gas-offers-am-cleaner-option-its-still-fossil-fuel/

Congress to Pass Energy Bill This Year: White House (Reuters)
http://uk.reuters.com/article/usPoliticsNews/idUKTRE53I1OO20090419

Mason County PUD No. 3 Has Clean Mix of Energy Sources (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7009/reftab/1632/Default.aspx

PUD 3 Mix of Energy Resources a Breath of Fresh Air (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=537

Energy NW Wash Columbia Reduced For Unplanned Work (Reuters)
http://uk.reuters.com/article/oilRpt/idUKN1735309820090417

Chelan PUD Is Ready For another Rate Talk (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090417/NEWS04/704179946/1001/NEWS04

California May Warm To B.C. Private Power Producers (Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.vancouversun.com/business/California+warm+private+power+producers/1508256/story.html

Consumers Start Feeling Higher Costs Of Clean Fuel - Clean energy has a dirty secret: It isn't cheap (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/environment/2009-04-19-higher-cost-clean-energy_N.htm

Memphians Pay Ninth Lowest COMBINED Utility Bill In U.S. (Memphis Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/stories/2009/04/13/daily40.html?ana=from_rss

A Link to the Summary of the Memphis Report is here (Links to PDF File)
http://www.mlgw.com/images/RateComparison.pdf

California - Fearing Wildfires, Utility Plans Power Shutdowns (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/17/us/17electric.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

TVA Seeks Dismissal of Lawsuits in Tenn. Ash Spill (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/04/17/national/a141140D11.DTL&feed=rss.business

Texas Company: We Want Nation's Radioactive Waste (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/04/17/financial/f122943D88.DTL&feed=rss.business

Baltimore Sun Editorial - Power failure: By rejecting re-regulation Maryland lawmakers have left the state's energy policies in a muddle
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/opinion/editorial/bal-ed.power19apr19,0,1289245.story

Texas - Locking In Electricity Prices: Save a Lot - Or Pay the Price (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009082610_aplockinginprices.html?syndication=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Spring Chinook Return In Droves to Wind and Klickitat Rivers, Drano Lake (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2009081930_outn19.html?syndication=rss

Report: Judge Wants Dam Removal as an Option for Salmon (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/04/report_judge_wants_dam_removal.html

Salmon Recovery Projects Praised (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/712093.html

Stimulus Money Pays For Klamath Dam Removal Study (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/823466.html

Lower Columbia River salmon harvest solution proposed by Oregon congressman (Seattle Times)
http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/reeltimenorthwest/2009/04/16/lower_columbia_river_salmon_ha.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

PBS Program 'Frontline' Takes a Look at Puget Sound (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_041609WAB-frontline-puget-sound-SW.dfbcca61.html?rss

Skookumchuck Dam - Any Flood Control Possibilities Come With Limits Upstream: TransAlta Spokesman Dispels Misconceptions (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.outdoorslc.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1239989995&archive=&start_from=&ucat=5&

Omak Creek Project To Get Stimulus Money (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/822109.html

Chelan, WA - Aging of Water Mains Is Becoming Hard to Ignore (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/18/us/18water.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

For the Electric Grid, Renewable Goals Pose Daunting Task (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/04/16/16climatewire-national-renewable-power-goals-pose-daunting-10547.html

NERC study: Operation/planning of nation's power system needs big changes to integrate intermittent energy sources (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=359453&C=ENVIR&dcmp=rss

Montana - Schweitzer Signs Renewable Energy Bill (The Missoulian, MT)
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2009/04/17/news/mtregional/news20.txt

Salem Statesman Op/Ed – Renewable Energy: Market intervention overkill
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20090419/OPINION/90418016/1049/OPINION

Congressmen Will Look At Timber for Clean Energy, Jobs (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/04/a_moribund_timber_industry_cou.html

Idaho Wind Farm Gets 20-Year Purchase Agreement (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/822294.html

Desert Clash in West over Solar Potential, Water (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1968151~Desert_clash_in_West_over_solar_potential__water.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Solar Down But Not Out, Report Says (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12168616

Marine Power Not Ready For Prime Time, Experts Say (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/04/15/15greenwire-marine-power-not-ready-for-prime-time-experts-10525.html

Fat Burner - An old power plant site is getting new life from a plan to create electricity by burning waste vegetable oil and animal byproducts (Houston Chronicle, TX)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/front/6380763.html

A (Mill) Wind Blows Afoul of Weather Radar (Minneapolis Star Tribune, MN)
http://www.startribune.com/local/43253962.html?elr=KArks:DCiUHc3E7_V_nDaycUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

California - Hot Debate Ahead on Berkeley's Energy Plans - Within the next few years, the city is likely to mandate that all homes meet strict energy standards (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/18/MNLE174GD5.DTL&feed=rss.news

Great Wolf Lodge Receives Green Seal (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.outdoorslc.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1240059234&archive=&start_from=&ucat=5&

The Stimulus Bill and Energy (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103183502

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Carbon Emissions Pose Danger, EPA Finds - Agency’s move lays the foundation for expanding US regulation of thousands of companies (Christian Science Monitor)
http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2009/04/17/carbon-emissions-pose-danger-epa-finds/

No ‘Subprime Carbon’ Investments for Her - Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell is joining those questioning the consensus approach on climate change. She fears the effect of a carbon-trading market (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/government/story/713839.html

Seattle Times Editorial - More Tools Pending For Climate Change
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2009086386_edita20climate.html?syndication=rss

Oregon - Climate changes in Capitol: The economic chill leaves lawmakers cool to such ideas for fighting global warming as a carbon cap or tax (Eugene Register Guard)
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/updates/11979633-55/story.csp

Studies Suggest Northwest Smog Could Ease As Warming Worsens (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009078930_airpollute18m.html?syndication=rss

A Plan for U.S. Emissions to Be Buried Under Sea (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/18/business/energy-environment/18clean.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Florida - The Great (Green) Debate in Churches: Some believers are balancing the green trend with "creation care." (Jacksonville Times Union, FL)
http://www.jacksonville.com/lifestyles/values_and_religion/2009-04-19/story/the_great_green_debate_in_churches

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Carriers Aim to Keep Rural Broadband under Their Thumb (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/04/17/carriers-aim-to-keep-rural-broadband-under-their-thumb/

As Costs Fall, Companies Push to Raise Internet Price (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/20/business/20isp.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Minnesota - Rural Areas Increasingly Underserved By Telecommunications (Timberjay Newspapers)
http://www.timberjay.com/current.php?article=5271

Manassas Tries to Keep Dying BPL Network Alive - BPL industry's poster child for technology now on life support (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Manassas-Tries-To-Keep-Dying-BPL-Network-Alive-101951

Deal Brings TV Shows and Movies to YouTube (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/17/business/media/17youtube.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Oracle Agrees to Acquire Sun Microsystems (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/21/technology/companies/21sun.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Plugged-In Hotels Ring In More Guests (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE53F42520090416?feedType=nl&feedName=ustechnology

London Data Center to Power Local Community (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10221437-54.html?tag=nl.e433

O'Brien: Older Generations Adopting New Technologies Faster Than Young (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12159990

GENERAL NEWS

Port Of Shelton Hires Dobson as New Executive Director (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7010/reftab/1632/t/PORT-OF-SHELTON-HIRES-DOBSON-AS-NEW-EXECUTIVE-DIRECTOR-/Default.aspx

Belfair Celebrates Opening of New Branch of Harrison Hospital (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/apr/17/belfair-celebrates-opening-of-new-branch-of/?partner=RSS

New Weather Tower Approved For Olympic Nat Park (Associated Press)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=10196068

Olympia Rethinks Seattle Artist's Bronze 'Bubble' Art (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009088042_webbubble20m.html?syndication=rss

DIVERSIONS

Baby Pythons Escape During Flight in Australia - Snakes on Plane Not Found
http://www.kirotv.com/travelgetaways/19194008/detail.html

Man Accused of Using Vet Headstones for Patio
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19196457/detail.html

English Village May Use Potholes For Speed Control
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/19195528/detail.html

SpongeBob: Still Soaking Up Ratings after 10 Years
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=103170924&ft=1&f=3

SONG OF THE DAY

Perfect music for today:

Crystal Blue persuasion - Tommy James & the Shondells
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LN38vED24Eg