Energy News Digest for November 25, 2009

The Energy News Digest will be celebrating Thanksgiving with family and friends the rest of this week. May you all have the opportunity to do the same. May we all give thanks for our blessings, and learn from our hardships.

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)

• US Dept. of Energy Selects Pacific NW for $178M Smart Grid Demo
• 9-1-1 Not the Place for Power Outage Information
• Proposed BPA Substation Would Cut into Troutdale’s Development-Ready Land
• Enron & Others Pay for Roles in Manufactured Energy ‘Crisis’
• First in Six Years - Benton PUD to boost residential rates starting Jan. 1
• Some Douglas County Residents Billed for City Utility Tax
• Proposed 26.6 % Electric Rate Hike Sparks Worries in SD
• West Virginia Delays Power Line Decision until Feb. 2011
• Report: Indiana Power Plants Fourth Dirtiest in US - Washington 11th cleanest, Oregon 10th cleanest
• Pacific Gas & Electric Seeks Diablo Canyon Nuke License Renewal
• West Pennsylvania Nuclear Reactor Stops after ‘Unusual Event’
• Beyond Yucca: Experts Question Hanford’s Waste Treatment Plant
• Winter Electric Reliability Outlook Generally Good
• Florida’s Utility Regulators Focus on Ethics
• Salmon Plan Is Close, Judge Says
• Redden Says 2008 BiOp, New Adaptive Management Plan ‘A Good Piece Of Work’
• No Light at End of Fish Debate Tunnel
• Editorial: Our (endangered species) Laws Conflict
• Statement on the Federal Columbia River Power System Biological Opinion
• Washington Salmon Recovery Funding Board To Make $48 Million in Project Decisions
• Chelan PUD Boat Barrier to Protect New Fish Habitat
• Columbia River Ringold Steelhead Fishery Still Kicking Out Fish
• Invasive Snails Close Capitol Lake Boating
• Stormwater Projects Approved in Three Wash. Cities
• Which US States Make the Grade On Net-Metering?
• ‘US or Else’ Mentality Could Stymie Wind Energy Growth
• Wind Rights Whip Up Controversy
• Wave Energy Generator Pumps Power to Scotland
• Let Puget Sound Energy Manage Your Thermostat & Get Paid
• Avista Plans to Show off ‘Smart Grid’ in Pullman
• Avista Pushes Climate Bill - Business group lobbies for cap-and-trade
• California Takes Step to Limit Emissions
• Obama to Go to Copenhagen with Pledge of Emissions Cuts
• Poll Shows Fewer Americans Believe in Global Warming
• Editorial - PECO Should Pass Cap & Trade Windfall On To Its Customers
• Dead Sea Clings on for Dear Life
• FCC Chairman: Broadband Access Should Be Universal
• Despite Billions in Universal Service Fund Fees, U.S. Libraries Lack Bandwidth
• FCC Broadband Problem List Omits ‘No Competition,’ FCC Itself
• Comments On Net Neutrality Irk AT& T
• Clearwire Nabs $2.8 Billion in Additional Funding
• Can News Corp. Afford Calling Google’s Bluff?
• Mason County Fires HR Director
• Second Arrest Made in Murder of Former Belfair Resident
• Mason General Hospital Announced $33 Million Expansion
• After the Floods - Unraveling the Mystery behind the Northwest’s Scablands

WORD OF THE DAY

Accentuate • \ack-SENT-shuh-wait\ • noun – Accent, emphasize; also: intensify

A wonderful Thanksgiving sentiment from Mr. Johnny Mercer:

You’ve got to accentuate the positive
Eliminate the negative
And latch on to the affirmative
Don’t mess with Mister In-Between

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

US Dept. of Energy Selects Pacific NW for $178M Smart Grid Demo (Your Story)
http://www.your-story.org/doe-selects-nw-for-178m-smart-grid-demo-58647/

9-1-1 Not the Place for Power Outage Information (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)
http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews?9-1-1-Not-The-Place-for-Power-Outage-Inf=1&blockID=95028&feedID=410

Proposed BPA Substation Would Cut into Troutdale’s Development-Ready Land - Leaders concerned about impact of project (Gresham Outlook, OR)
http://www.theoutlookonline.com/news/story.php?story_id=125911092760962100

Enron & Others Pay for Roles in Manufactured Energy ‘Crisis’ (Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20091125/NEWS01/711259844

First in Six Years - Benton PUD to boost residential rates starting Jan. 1 (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/805587.html

Some Douglas County Residents Billed for City Utility Tax (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2009/nov/25/some-douglas-county-residents-billed-for-city-tax/

Proposed 26.6 % Electric Rate Hike Sparks Worries in SD (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010352451_apusbhprateincreasesouthdakota.html?syndication=rss

West Virginia Delays Power Line Decision until Feb. 2011 (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010345103_apusmultistatepowerlinewestvirginia.html?syndication=rss

Report: Indiana Power Plants Fourth Dirtiest in US - Washington 39, Oregon 40 (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010345749_apuspowerplantspollutionindiana.html?syndication=rss

Link to Environment America Report on Power Plants Is Here:
http://www.environmentamerica.org/home/reports/report-archives/global-warming-solutions/global-warming-solutions/americas-biggest-polluters-carbon-dioxide-emissions-from-power-plants-in-2009#tduTppMOy9H6e9Y0dyCUeg

Pacific Gas & Electric Seeks Diablo Canyon Nuke License Renewal (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/11/24/BUL61AQ0CA.DTL&type=business

West Pennsylvania Nuclear Reactor Stops after ‘Unusual Event’ (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010344624_apuswpanuclearreactor.html?syndication=rss

Beyond Yucca: Experts Question Hanford’s Waste Treatment Plant (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/6268-beyond-yucca-experts-question-hanfords-waste-treatment-plant/

Winter Electric Reliability Outlook Generally Good (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=123284

Florida’s Utility Regulators Focus on Ethics (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010347240_apusfloridapscethics.html?syndication=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Salmon Plan Is Close, Judge Says - But the federal government must decide whether it wants to reopen the process to make sure Obama administration additions are legal (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/984569.html

Redden Says 2008 BiOp, New Adaptive Management Plan ‘A Good Piece Of Work’ (Columbia Basin Bulletin)
http://www.cbbulletin.com/366278.aspx

No Light at End of Fish Debate Tunnel (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/6270-no-light-end-fish-debate-tunnel/

Albany Democrat Editorial: Our Laws Conflict
http://www.democratherald.com/news/opinion/editorial/article_460f3ede-d929-11de-a760-001cc4c002e0.html

Statement on the Federal Columbia River Power System Biological Opinion (Nat’l Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration)
http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2009/20091124_columbiariver.html

Washington Salmon Recovery Funding Board To Make $48 Million in Project Decisions (Columbia Basin Bulletin)
http://www.cbbulletin.com/366274.aspx

Chelan PUD Boat Barrier to Protect New Fish Habitat (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2009/nov/24/boat-barrier-to-protect-new-fish-habitat/

Columbia River Ringold Steelhead Fishery Still Kicking Out Fish (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2010344557_columbia_river_ringold_steelhe.html

Invasive Snails Close Capitol Lake Boating (Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/1048579.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Stormwater Projects Approved in Three Wash. Cities (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010344787_apwastimuluscleanwater.html?syndication=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Which US States Make the Grade On Net-Metering? (Reuters)
http://blogs.reuters.com/environment/2009/11/25/which-us-states-make-the-grade-on-net-metering/

‘US or Else’ Mentality Could Stymie Wind Energy Growth (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/11/wind-energy-components-should-not-necessarily-be-made-in-the-u-s-a-?cmpid=rss

Wind Rights Whip Up Controversy (KYFR-TV, Bismarck, ND)
http://www.kfyrtv.com/News_Stories.asp?news=35802

Wave Energy Generator Pumps Power to Scotland (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10404209-54.html?tag=nl.e703

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Let Puget Sound Energy Manage Your Thermostat & Get Paid (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/73372437.html

Avista Plans to Show off ‘Smart Grid’ in Pullman (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/nov/25/avista-plans-to-show-off-smart-grid-in-pullman/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Avista Pushes Climate Bill - Business group lobbies for cap-and-trade (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/nov/25/avista-pushes-climate-bill/

California Takes Step to Limit Emissions (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/25/science/earth/25climate.html

Obama to Go to Copenhagen with Pledge of Emissions Cuts (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/11/26/us/politics/26climate.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Poll Shows Fewer Americans Believe in Global Warming (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2009/11/24/ST2009112403099.html?hpid=topnews

Pottstown PA Mercury Editorial - PECO Should Pass Cap & Trade Windfall On To Its Customers
http://www.pottstownmercury.com/articles/2009/11/24/opinion/srv0000006862176.txt

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Dead Sea Clings on for Dear Life (The Telegraph, UK)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/expat/expatnews/6642474/Dead-Sea-clings-on-for-dear-life.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

FCC Chairman: Broadband Access Should Be Universal (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/11/25/financial/f051435S42.DTL&feed=rss.news

Despite Billions in Universal Service Fund Fees, U.S. Libraries Lack Bandwidth - Welcome to dysfunction junction (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Despite-Billions-In-USF-Fees-US-Libraries-Lack-Bandwidth-105633

FCC Broadband Problem List Omits ‘No Competition,’ FCC Itself - Surely decades of bad FCC policy carries some responsibility? (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/FCC-Broadband-Problem-List-Omits-No-Competition-FCC-Itself-105620

Comments On Net Neutrality Irk AT& T - White House official links the issue to censorship in China (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/11/24/AR2009112404175.html?wprss=rss_technology

Clearwire Nabs $2.8 Billion in Additional Funding - Now they just need to build the network, run it well, & add users (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Clearwire-Nabs-28-Billion-In-Additional-Funding-105642

Can News Corp. Afford Calling Google’s Bluff? (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-30684_3-10403830-265.html?tag=nl.e703

GENERAL NEWS

Mason County Fires HR Director (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://masoncountydailynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=705:mason-county-fires-hr-director&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

Second Arrest Made in Murder of Former Belfair Resident
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/nov/24/second-arrest-made-in-murder-of-former-belfair/?partner=RSS

Mason General Hospital Announced $33 Million Expansion (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://masoncountydailynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=703:mgh-announced-33-million-expansion&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

After the Floods - Unraveling the Mystery behind the Northwest’s Scablands (High Country News)
http://www.hcn.org/issues/41.20/after-the-floods

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

Police to Drop Theft Charges against Lehigh University Non-Tippers
http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/all-tip-charges-112309-cn,0,3955261.story

Scientific Proof That You Hate Christmas Creep (Note: there may be PG-13 language in the comments section)
http://consumerist.com/2009/11/scientific-proof-that-christmas-creep-is-evil.html

Conflict over Where Dogs Do Their Business Escalates in Lakewood
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/968298.html

Neighbor Calls for Break-In, Accidentally Busts Pot Grow
http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattle911/archives/186098.asp?source=pimail

SONG OF THE DAY

ZZ Top - I Thank You
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qa3vzkNUVa0