Energy News Digest for June 17, 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)

- Avista Reaches Settlement in Idaho Electric and Natural Gas Rate Requests
- Southern Idaho Commissioners Leave Nuke Project in Limbo
- Government to Guarantee Loans for Nuclear Power Plants
- Funds to Shut Nuclear Plants Fall Short
- Audit Faults TVA Response to Coal Ash Spill
- Iowa - Alliant, Co-Ops Consider Natural Gas to Replace Canceled Coal Plant
- Alaska - Matanuska Electric Association Board Fires General Manager
- Kansas - Error Causes Spikes in Electricity Bills
- Ohio - Utility upgrade costs need controls
- Qwest Seeks New ‘Smart Grid’ Markets
- Avoid Electrical Dangers with These Simple Steps
- Prison for Elma Man for Cutting down Eagle's Nest
- News Release - Puget Sound Energy’s Fish-Enhancement Efforts
- Clallam County PUD - Carlsborg Sewer System Completion In 2012
- Stimulus Money, Loan Pay for Olympia Area Water Project
- Olympian Editorial - Turning Capitol Lake into Estuary Will Harm Local Economy
- Water Supplies at Risk from Fires in Dead Forests
- Tractors Clog California Freeway in Water Cuts Protest
- Don't Feel Bad About Taking Long Showers And Driving Fast Cars
- Wood-To-Energy Projects Get Stimulus Dollars
- Oregon May Trim Tax Subsidies for Wind Farms
- Clean-Energy Windmills a 'Dirty Business' For Farmers in Mexico
- Wind Farm Protestors Fly Blimp to Show How High Turbines Would Be
- Feds Playing Catch-up As States Take Renewable Energy Lead
- PPL Executive: U.S. Renewable Power Goals Too Aggressive
- Waiting for that Spark - Metals demand in markets for wind, solar and other renewable energy sources
- Washington Post Editorial - Critical Biomass
- Idaho - Hoku Reaffirms Commitment to Polysilicon Plant
- Iowa Moves Ahead With Underground Energy Storage
- Earth Talk: The Most Energy-Efficient Way to Heat a Cup of Water
- House May Vote On Climate Change Bill Next Week
- Legislators Framing Climate Bills Hold Energy Stock
- Taxman May Go After Carbon Permits under Climate Bill
- Utilities Could Cash In On Climate Bill
- Portland Officials Release Climate Action Plan
- Detroit News Op/Ed - Cap-And-Trade Bill Creates Green Jobs
- Scientists: Global Warming Is Real, and It Is Only Getting Worse
- The FCC Finally Gets a New Boss
- Microsoft Files Lawsuit over "Click Fraud"
- Twitter Is a Player in Iran's Drama
- Opera Lets Browser Be Used As A Server
- Mason County Cuts Director of Operations
- Unemployment Rate Down In Mason County
- Portland Area Has Largest Unemployment Hike
- Police Investigating 'Bump and Go Posse' Crashes
- Group Shows Support For Dosewallips Road Plan
- Vandals Use Herbicide to Kill Lawns, Trees, Shrubs
- Green Thumbs with Sticky Fingers: Plant Thieves Strike Seattle Yards, Parks
- French Fries Behind Half-Dozen Home Fires In Tacoma Area
- FDA: Zicam Nasal Products Can Destroy Sense of Smell

WORD OF THE DAY

Henceforth • \HENSS-fourth \ • adverb – From this point on

“I am tired of my commonplace name,” sighed Bill to his drinking mates at pub. “Henceforth, you shall call me ‘Dirk Squarejaw’,” pronounced the diminutive circus performer.

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

News Release - Avista Reaches Settlement in Idaho Electric and Natural Gas Rate Requests (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=113993

Southern Idaho Commissioners Leave Nuke Project in Limbo (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/883031.html

Government to Guarantee Loans for Nuclear Power Plants - $18.5 billion in loan guarantees for the construction of new nuclear power plants to four utilities (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/17/AR2009061701699.html?wprss=rss_business

Funds to Shut Nuclear Plants Fall Short (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2009345426_apusnuclearfundsshortfall.html?syndication=rss

Audit Faults TVA Response to Coal Ash Spill (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/06/16/national/a174926D77.DTL&feed=rss.business

Iowa - Alliant, Co-Ops Consider Natural Gas to Replace Canceled Coal Plant (The Gazette, Cedar Rapids, IA)
http://www.gazetteonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090617/BUSINESS/706179956/1007

Alaska - Matanuska Electric Association Board Fires General Manager (Anchorage Daily News, AK)
http://community.adn.com/adn/node/141826

Kansas - Error Causes Spikes in Electricity Bills: Kaw Valley Electric cooperative says customers must pay difference (Topeka Capital-Journal, KS)
http://www.cjonline.com/news/local/2009-06-16/error_causes_spikes_in_bills

Ohio - Utility upgrade costs need controls: Ohio's utility watchdog says she'll fight for more accountability from giant utility companies as they convert to green energy and extended cell phone, wireless and broadband coverage (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009345816_apohutilitywatchdog.html?syndication=rss

Qwest Seeks New ‘Smart Grid’ Markets (Denver Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2009/06/15/daily36.html?ana=from_rss

Avoid Electrical Dangers with These Simple Steps (The Daily Comet, Lafourche Parish, LA)
http://www.dailycomet.com/article/20090616/ARTICLES/906161001/1008?Title=Avoid-electrical-dangers-with-these-simple-steps

FISH & WILDLIFE

Prison for Elma Man for Cutting down Eagle's Nest (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/883252.html

News Release - Puget Sound Energy’s Fish-Enhancement Efforts Contribute to Record number of Salmon Heading to Sea (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=114019

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Clallam County PUD - Carlsborg Sewer System Envisioned for Completion In 2012 (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090617/news/306179985

Stimulus Money, Loan Pay for Olympia Area Water Project - LOTT: $2.6 million plan aims to deliver reclaimed water to golf course (The Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/883739.html

Olympian Editorial - Turning Capitol Lake into Estuary Will Harm Local Economy
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/883792.html

Water Supplies at Risk from Fires in Dead Forests (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009345481_apusbeetlesforests2ndldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

Tractors Clog California Freeway in Water Cuts Protest (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2071592~Tractors_clog_Calif_freeway_in_water_cuts_protest.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Lazy Environmentalist Says Don't Feel Bad About Taking Long Showers And Driving Fast Cars (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/topNews/idUSTRE55F5OI20090617?feedType=nl&feedName=ustopnewsearly

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Wood-To-Energy Projects Get Stimulus Dollars (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/5227-wood-energy-projects-get-stimulus-dollars/

Oregon May Trim Tax Subsidies for Wind Farms - Backers say the measure could save the state $20 million; others say it could discourage new business (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1245205520197300.xml&coll=7

Clean-Energy Windmills a 'Dirty Business' For Farmers in Mexico (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/environment/2009-06-16-mexico-wind-power_N.htm

United Kingdom - Wind Farm Protestors Fly Blimp to Show How High Turbines Would Be (Horncastle Target, UK)
http://www.thisislincolnshire.co.uk/horncastle/news/Wind-farm-protestors-fly-blimp-high-turbines/article-1083710-detail/article.html

Feds Playing Catch-up As States Take Renewable Energy Lead (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/06/feds-playing-catch-up-as-states-take-renewable-energy-lead?cmpid=rss

PPL Executive: U.S. Renewable Power Goals Too Aggressive (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-BusinessofGreen/idUSTRE55F74J20090616

Waiting for that Spark - Metals demand in markets for wind, solar and other renewable energy sources will be among the first to take off once the economy improves (Metal Center News)
http://www.metalcenternews.com/2009/5May/May2009Alternative%20Energy.html

Washington Post Editorial - Critical Biomass: Can Congress avoid a renewable-energy boondoggle?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/16/AR2009061602796.html

Idaho - Hoku Reaffirms Commitment to Polysilicon Plant (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/883124.html

Iowa Moves Ahead With Underground Energy Storage (Chicago Tribune, IL)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/chi-ap-ia-undergroundenergy,0,3978460.story

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Earth Talk: The Most Energy-Efficient Way to Heat a Cup of Water - When choosing among the microwave or a gas or electric stove top, the answer may surprise you. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2009/06/16/earth-talk-the-most-energy-efficient-way-to-heat-a-cup-of-water/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

House May Vote On Climate Change Bill Next Week (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE55F5UC20090616

Legislators Framing Climate Bills Hold Energy Stock (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB124519704993421187.html

Taxman May Go After Carbon Permits under Climate Bill (Bloomberg News)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=a3l04BwN.TIM

Utilities Could Cash In On Climate Bill - Legislation requiring heavy investment in clean technologies should actually boost utilities' profits (Forbes Magazine)
http://www.forbes.com/2009/06/16/aep-global-warming-business-energy-utilities.html

Portland Officials Release Climate Action Plan (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/5223-portland-officials-release-climate-action-plan/

Detroit News Op/Ed - Cap-And-Trade Bill Creates Green Jobs: Legislation balances employment with warming fight
http://www.detnews.com/article/20090617/OPINION03/906170314/Cap-and-trade-bill-creates-green-jobs

Scientists: Global Warming Is Real, and It Is Only Getting Worse (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/outdoors/2009348033_warming17.html?syndication=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

The FCC Finally Gets a New Boss - Julius Genachowski to be appointed today (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/The-FCC-Finally-Gets-A-New-Boss-102987

Microsoft Files Lawsuit over "Click Fraud" (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE55F1UM20090616?feedType=nl&feedName=ustechnology

Twitter Is a Player in Iran's Drama - State Dept. Asked Site to Keep Running (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/06/16/AR2009061603391.html?nav=rss_email/components

Opera Lets Browser Be Used As A Server (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/06/17/BUDV18876M.DTL&feed=rss.business

GENERAL NEWS

Mason County Cuts Operations Director Position (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7549/reftab/1632/t/COUNTY-CUTS-OPERATIONS-DIRECTOR-POSITION/Default.aspx

Mason County Cuts Director of Operations (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/jun/16/mason-county-cuts-director-of-operations/?partner=RSS

Unemployment Rate Down In Mason County (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7547/reftab/1632/t/UNEMPLOYMENT-RATE-DOWN-IN-MASON-COUNTY/Default.aspx

Portland Area Has Largest Unemployment Hike (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/06/15/daily27.html?ana=from_rss

Police Investigating 'Bump and Go Posse' Crashes - Police believe intoxicated man, 45, caused three hit-and-runs
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/883727.html

Group Shows Support For Dosewallips Road Plan; Expected Foes Are No-Shows (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090617/news/306179993

Vandals Use Herbicide to Kill Lawns, Trees, Shrubs (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19769013/detail.html

Green Thumbs with Sticky Fingers: Plant Thieves Strike Seattle Yards, Parks (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/homegarden/2009347306_planttheft17m.html?syndication=rss

French Fries Behind Half-Dozen Home Fires In Tacoma Area (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009349214_frenchfryfires18m.html?syndication=rss

FDA: Zicam Nasal Products Can Destroy Sense of Smell (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2009347314_zicam17.html?syndication=rss

DIVERSIONS

Calling PeeWee Herman - Collectors Scramble To Save Reptiles during House Fire
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19760072/detail.html

Student Denied Diploma after Blowing Kiss
http://www.kirotv.com/education/19766393/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000106162009&ts=H

Ohioans Ticketed For Parking in Own Driveways - Law Bans Parking On Unpaved Surfaces
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19764866/detail.html

Man Who Fears Flying Spending Month on Plane - Mark Malkoff Spending June Living On Plane
http://www.kirotv.com/travelgetaways/19757722/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Fats Waller - Ain't Misbehavin' (Stormy Weather 1943)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UWViLtPQMzo&feature=related