Energy News Digest for November 23, 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)

• 11,000 Lose Power after Storm Hammers Pacific County
• Seattle’s Power Price Jolt - Electricity-Rate Increase Sparks Fears for Some Firms
• Idaho Power’s Cloud Seeding Efforts Keep Water Flowing over Dams
• “Green Jobs” Likely in Idaho, Perhaps Driven by More Hydro Power
• Setbacks Stall Finish of China’s Massive Dam Project
• California - Utility Shut-Offs Soar for Poor Pacific Gas & Electric Customers
• Help With Heating Bills Late To Arrive This Year
• Much-Discussed ‘Nuclear Renaissance’ Slow To Arrive
• Higher Wyoming Rates - Don’t Blame Wind, Officials Say
• Rocky Mountain Power - Utility chief talks challenges at Wyoming Forum
• California Utility Wins OK for More Transmission
• Poised for Powerful Growth
• Redden Letters Pose Procedural, Substantive Questions for Monday’s BiOp Hearing
• Federal Judge Takes Third Swing at NW Salmon Plan
• Oregonian Op/Ed - Pact Marks Joint Effort to Go Forward for Northwest Fish
• Daily News Editorial - No Reason to Drag out Salmon Fight
• Arguing, Still, Over Columbia River Dams
• Salmon Debate: Learning the Lessons of the Pahsimeroi River
• Save the Salmon by Eating Salmon
• Grant PUD Fish Plan Raises Natural Questions
• Fish Aren’t Out Of Water
• Salmon Center Embraces New Belfair Farm Home
• California - Bid to Rejuvenate Salmon Will Protect Trees near Streams
• Frozen Salmon over Fresh? Why, It’s Better for the Planet That Way
• California Fisherman Arrested in Sea Lion Shooting
• Great Lakes - Asian Carp May Have Breached Electronic Barrier
• Tap water beats bottled in Oregon environmental study
• First Flows from San Joaquin River Restoration Stop below Mendota Dam
• As Sewers Fill, Waste Poisons Waterways
• Bio-Fuel Growth Raises Concerns about Forests
• Wind Blades Fall In School Yard
• The Answer Is Blowing In the (Small) Wind
• BC Hydro Advances 36 Hydroelectric Projects in Clean Power Call
• Report Suggests Public Wants ‘Go Slow’ Approach on Wave Energy in Northwest
• Markey Proposes Renewable Energy Tax Credit for Utilities
• Energy Efficiency Stimulus Funds Coming for Grays Harbor Cities
• It Will Take Three Cities To Change These Light Bulbs
• Energy Codes & the WA State Building Code Council
• How Will California’s New TV Energy Standards Affect You?
• NY Saves $3.1 Million in Energy Efficiency Program
• Kettering Engineer Cuts Power Use in Open Coolers
• Hackers Leak E-Mails, Stoke Climate Debate
• Hacked E-Mail Is New Fodder for Climate Dispute
• In the Trenches on Climate Change, Hostility among Foes
• Outlook: Extreme - As the Planet Warms, Look for More Extremes
• What’s the greenest way to get home for Thanksgiving?
• California Recycling Program Is On the Rocks
• City Of Eugene Seeks To Sustain ‘Green’ Manager’s Future
• U.S., Internet’s Inventor, Lags in Web Access
• Spain Declares Broadband A Legal Right
• FCC Hints At Return to Open Access
• Broadband over Powerline’s Poster Child Pulling the Plug
• Google’s Past Failures Offer Perspective on Chrome OS Release
• Survey Shows Data Theft on the Rise
• California Police Arrest Woman, 20, in Killing of Belfair Native
• New Tahuya River Bridge Nears Completion
• Spokane, Cda Residents Get Head Start on Snow Supplies
• Tumwater Takes Steps to Curb Light Pollution
• State Pays Connell $11 Million for Prison Impact
• Judge Says July 4 Fireworks Don’t Need Environmental Review
• Little Creek Casino Gets New Chief Executive, GM
• Schafer-Lake Sylvia park meeting draws 40
• Washington Wine Named Best In the World
• Colorado to Review Governor’s Taxpayer-Paid Lobbyists Practice

WORD OF THE DAY

Forlorn • \fore-LORNE\ • Adjective – 1a: bereft, forsaken b: sad and lonely because of isolation or desertion: desolate 2: being in poor condition: miserable, wretched 3: nearly hopeless

Add a dash of a cheating girlfriend; a broken down pickup truck; a forlorn landscape with swirling dust; a six-pack of warm beer…shake vigorously, and you have an instant country music song.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast & 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

11,000 Lose Power after Storm Hammers Pacific County (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/71055757.html

Seattle’s Power Price Jolt - New Year’s Electricity-Rate Increase Sparks Fears for Some Firms (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/11/23/story1.html?ana=from_rss

Calling Burt Lancaster - Idaho Power’s Cloud Seeding Efforts Keep Water Flowing over Dams - and may save you money (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/978705.html

“Green Jobs” Likely in Idaho, Perhaps Driven by More Hydro Power, State Agency Says (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/environment/story/981073.html

Setbacks Stall Finish of China’s Massive Dam Project (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120291176&ft=1&f=10

California - Utility Shut-Offs Soar for Poor Pacific Gas & Electric Customers (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/11/20/MNEL1ANIO7.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

Help With Heating Bills Late To Arrive This Year (Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20091123/NEWS01/711239916/-1/rss02

Much-Discussed ‘Nuclear Renaissance’ Slow To Arrive (Oregon Public Radio)
http://news.opb.org/article/6255-much-discussed-nuclear-renaissance-slow-arrive/

Higher Rates - Don’t Blame Wind, Officials Say - Contention is that renewable portfolio standards in other states are driving up rates in Wyoming, where there is no such requirement (Caspar Tribune, WY)
http://trib.com/news/state-and-regional/article_af78e2cb-a668-5ecd-8106-e6623cafb774.html

Rocky Mountain Power - Utility chief talks challenges at Wyoming Forum (Wyoming Business Report)
http://www.wyomingbusinessreport.com/article.asp?id=103088

California Utility Wins OK for More Transmission (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUSN2024463020091120

Poised for Powerful Growth - MYR Group sees stimulus boost for firm’s electrical transmission work (Chicago Sun Times, IL)
http://www.suntimes.com/business/pincus/1898922,CST-FIN-pincus23.article

FISH & WILDLIFE

Redden Letters Pose Procedural, Substantive Questions for Monday’s BiOp Hearing (Columbia Basin Bulletin)
http://www.cbbulletin.com/365822.aspx

Federal Judge Takes Third Swing at NW Salmon Plan (Associated Press)
http://www.king5.com/news/local/Federal-judge-takes-third-swing-at-NW-salmon-plan-70714902.html

Oregonian Op/Ed - Pact Marks Joint Effort to Go Forward for Northwest Fish
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/11/pact_marks_joint_effort_to_go.html

Daily News Editorial - No Reason to Drag out Salmon Fight
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/11/22/editorial/doc4b088c4ced0ca097751034.txt

Arguing, Still, Over Columbia River Dams (Crosscut Seattle)
http://crosscut.com/blog/crosscut/19201/

Salmon Debate: Learning the Lessons of the Pahsimeroi River (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/LocalNews/story/983340.html

Save the Salmon by Eating Salmon (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://www.seattlepi.com/connelly/412524_joel23.html?source=rss

Grant PUD Fish Plan Raises Natural Questions (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2009/nov/21/fish-plan-raises-natural-questions/

Fish Aren’t Out Of Water - Dave Brown’s Wild Fish Rescue transports first load to Salmon Creek (Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20091122/NEWS02/711229957/

Salmon Center Embraces New Belfair Farm Home (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/nov/22/salmon-center-embraces-new-farm-home/?partner=RSS

California - Bid to Rejuvenate Salmon Will Protect Trees near Streams (Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/2341714.html

Frozen Salmon over Fresh? Why, It’s Better for the Planet That Way (Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/11/frozen_salmon_over_fresh_why_i.html

California Fisherman Arrested in Sea Lion Shooting (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2010326960_apussealionshooting.html?syndication=rss

Great Lakes - Asian Carp May Have Breached Electronic Barrier (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010319812_apusasiancarp.html?syndication=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Tap Water Beats Bottled In Oregon Environmental Study (Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/11/oregon_environmental_study_fin.html

First Flows from San Joaquin River Restoration Stop below Mendota Dam (Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://www.sacbee.com/capitolandcalifornia/story/2340633.html

As Sewers Fill, Waste Poisons Waterways (NT Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/23/us/23sewer.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Bio-Fuel Growth Raises Concerns about Forests (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010334503_apusforestsasfuel.html?syndication=rss

Wind Blades Fall In School Yard - Children sent home after 50ft turbine collapsed (Press & Journal, UK)
http://www.pressandjournal.co.uk/Article.aspx/1492247?UserKey=

The Answer Is Blowing In the (Small) Wind (Wall Street Journal – OK, only 15 cents for Bob Zimmerman this time)
http://blogs.wsj.com/venturecapital/2009/11/20/the-answer-is-blowing-in-the-small-wind/?mod=rss_WSJBlog

BC Hydro Advances 36 Hydroelectric Projects in Clean Power Call (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/11/bc-hydro-advances-36-hydroelectric-projects-in-clean-power-call?cmpid=rss

Report Suggests Public Wants ‘Go Slow’ Approach on Wave Energy in Northwest (Columbia Basin Bulletin)
http://www.cbbulletin.com/365815.aspx

Markey Proposes Renewable Energy Tax Credit for Utilities (The Coloradoan)
http://www.coloradoan.com/article/20091123/NEWS01/91122008/Markey-proposes-renewable-energy-tax-credit-for-utilities

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Energy Efficiency Stimulus Funds Coming for Grays Harbor Cities (Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/11/20/local_news/doc4b06e00548068478332486.txt

It Will Take Three Cities To Change These Light Bulbs - Stimulus-funded project will save energy (Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20091122/NEWS02/711229967/

Energy Codes & the WA State Building Code Council - Boldly going where legislators fear to tread (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/x-28764-Seattle-Green-Building-Examiner~y2009m11d21-Energy-Codes-and-the-WA-State-Building-Code-Council--Boldly-going-where-legislators-fear-to-tread

How Will California’s New TV Energy Standards Affect You? (Christian Science Monitor)
http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2009/11/20/how-will-californias-new-tv-energy-standards-affect-you/

NY Saves $3.1 Million in Energy Efficiency Program (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/11/22/financial/f100947S54.DTL&feed=rss.business

Kettering Engineer Cuts Power Use in Open Coolers (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010330452_apmicoolconservation1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Hackers Leak E-Mails, Stoke Climate Debate - Hackers posted hundreds of private e-mails & documents online - stoking debate over whether some scientists have overstated the case for man-made climate change (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010324598_apeuclimatehackedemails.html?syndication=rss

Hacked E-Mail Is New Fodder for Climate Dispute (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/21/science/earth/21climate.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

In the Trenches on Climate Change, Hostility among Foes - Stolen e-mails reveal venomous feelings toward skeptics (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/21/AR2009112102186.html?nav=rss_email/components

Outlook: Extreme - As the planet warms, look for more floods where it’s already wet & deeper drought where water is scarce (National Geographic)
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2009/04/changing-rains/kolbert-text/1

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Trains vs. Planes vs. Automobiles - What’s the greenest way to get home for Thanksgiving? (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2236185/?from=rss

California Recycling Program Is On the Rocks - Program of recycling beverage bottles & cans mired in debt & litigation (Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/2340449.html

City Of Eugene Seeks To Sustain ‘Green’ Manager’s Future (Eugene Register Guard, OR)
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/cityregion/23365440-46/story.csp

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

U.S., Internet’s Inventor, Lags in Web Access
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=120652957

Spain Declares Broadband A Legal Right - Everyone must get 1 Mbps service by 2011 (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Spain-Declares-Broadband-A-Legal-Right-105578

FCC Hints At Return to Open Access - Companies are of course, annoyed (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/FCC-Hints-At-Return-To-Open-Access-105589

Broadband over Powerline’s Poster Child Pulling the Plug - Years later BPL’s proponents have gone, but shoddy city network remains (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Broadband-Over-Powerlines-Poster-Child-Pulling-The-Plug-105576

Google’s Past Failures Offer Perspective on Chrome OS Release (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/11/21/googles-past-failures-offer-perspective-on-chrome-os-release/

Survey Shows Data Theft on the Rise (Boston Business Journal)
http://boston.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2009/11/23/daily1.html?ana=from_rss

GENERAL NEWS

California Police Arrest Woman, 20, in Killing of Belfair Native (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/nov/20/california-police-arrest-woman-20-killing-belfair-/?partner=RSS

New Tahuya River Bridge Nears Completion (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/nov/19/new-tahyua-river-bridge-nears-completion/?partner=RSS

Spokane, Cda Residents Get Head Start on Snow Supplies (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/nov/20/spokane-cda-residents-get-head-start-snow-supplies/

Tumwater Takes Steps To Curb Light Pollution - Requires most new, replaced outdoor lights to be shielded & directed downward (Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/1046070.html

State Pays Connell $11 Million for Prison Impact (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010336629_apwaconnellprison.html?syndication=rss

Judge Says July 4 Fireworks Don’t Need Environmental Review (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=244949

Little Creek Casino Gets New Chief Executive, GM (Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/1044485.html

Schafer-Lake Sylvia park meeting draws 40 (Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/1046083.html

Washington Wine Named Best In the World (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/archives/185845.asp?source=pimail

Colorado to Review Taxpayer-Paid Lobbyists Practice - Governor paid $1.1 million to lobby state lawmakers (ABC News)
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=9140664

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

College Students Arrested for Not Paying Tip
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20091119_College_students_arrested_for_not_paying_tip.html

Man Uses Excavator in Destructive Rampage
http://www.kirotv.com/news/21673933/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_12pm&tmi=sea_12pm_1_02000211202009&ts=H

Group Decries Saturated Fat in Movie Popcorn
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2010308573_apusfeafoodfattypopcorn.html

Sneakin’ Lizards! Reptile Smuggler Arrested At LAX
http://www.examiner.com/a-2332823~Sneakin__Lizards__Reptile_smuggler_arrested_at_LAX.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Canadian Woman Loses Benefits over Facebook Photo
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2010328471_apcncanadafacebookinsurance.html?syndication=rss

SONG OF THE DAY

Popcorn - Hot Butter
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9N4ckFN96-k