Energy News Digest for July 2, 2009

The energy news digest will be taking Friday, July 3 off as part of its celebration of Independence Day. “Light and get away….with loud report!”

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)

• Kalispel Tribe, Pend Oreille PUD Agree On New Dam License
• California - Sacramento Municipal Utility District Pulls Plug on Huge Power Line Plan
• NY Man Killed Trying To Saw Through Downed Power Line
• U.S. Gives Up To $408 Million to "Clean Coal" Projects
• Exelon Raises Hostile Bid For NRG Energy to $7.5 Billion
• Chelan PUD Commissioner Ann Congdon captures 4th pole-climbing title
• Talk to Your Kids about Electrical Safety
• Colville Nation to Fund NE Washington Hatchery for Year
• Summer Chinook Numbers Crossing Bonneville Dam Are Relatively Low
• Avian Sea Lions - Idaho Fish & Game Plan to Kill Pelicans Hits Obstacles
• Winter Snowpack Melts Into Waterfalls
• Army Corps of Engineers: Howard Hanson Dam Weak
• California - Hetch Hetchy Dam Rebuild Bill Pulled From Agenda
• Mason County Seeking Bids for Belfair Sewer Project
• Putting Wind To Work - Arkansas has a ways to go
• Massachusetts - State Draws Zones for Coast Wind Farms
• Transalta's Vision for Wind Power
• Energy Efficient: Simple, Accessible and Possible
• Oregon - An Energy Windfall
• California - Cupertino Looks At Stimulus Money to Help Reduce City's Utility Bills
• California - Palo Alto Tries LED Streetlights to Cut Energy Use
• Lewis County - Power Providers Debate Impact of Climate Measure
• 42% Say Climate Change Bill Will Hurt the Economy
• G.O.P. Aims at Lawmakers over Energy Votes
• Atlanta Journal-Constitution Op/Ed - Cap and Trade Will Be Tax and Fail
• Biden Unveils Broadband Stimulus
• Government Enforces the Status Quo with Broadband Stimulus Bucks
• Space Data Maps Broadband Signals From Altitude
• FaceBook Grows Into New Home in Palo Alto's Power Neighborhood
• Microsoft, RealNetworks, Yahoo Sued By Music Labels
• CompuServe Classic Says Goodnight
• Structure Fire in Potlatch Sends Six to the Hospital; Shuts Down 101
• Expert: Missing McCleary Girl Likely Went With Someone She Knew
• Hot, Dry Washington Could Make For Fiery Fourth
• Mason County Cuts Budget Director to Shore up Deficit
• Northwest Drivers Using Less Gas
• Newspapers Get Tax Break during Bad Times
• Seattle Police Investigating City Worker for Suspected Computer Theft
• Warehouse Glitch Delays State’s Booze Delivery
• With Budgets Tight, Less Flash for the Fourth
• Seattle Times Op/Ed - Washington's Timid Cell Phone Ban
• Economic Free Fall Shakes Caribbean – Aluminum woes part of problem
• Awkward! – King County Exec. Rivals Show Up At Hutchison News Conference

WORD OF THE DAY

Avian • \Ā-vee-un\ • adjective – Of, relating to, or derived from birds.

“Skyrockets in flight, avian delight!” The exhausted songwriter threw his pen onto the music sheet with disgust. “No one’s gonna buy a song with lyrics like this,” he opined. Fortunately, the wadded up sheet music wound up in the hands of Bill Danoff…and the rest is my conjecture of history.

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

Kalispel Tribe, Pend Oreille PUD Agree On New Dam License (Associated Press)
http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=10163459&Call=Email&Format=HTML

California - Sacramento Municipal Utility District Pulls Plug on Huge Power Line Plan (Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://www.sacbee.com/1089/story/1994514.html

NY Man Killed Trying To Saw Through Downed Power Line – Officials chased the man away from the line several times before he fetched the saw from his house (NY Newsday)
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--angrymanelectrocu0627jun27,0,7186194.story

U.S. Gives Up To $408 Million to "Clean Coal" Projects
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE5604S520090701

Exelon Raises Hostile Bid For NRG Energy to $7.5 Billion (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSTRE56127M20090702?feedType=nl&feedName=usbusinessearly

Chelan PUD Commissioner Ann Congdon captures 4th pole-climbing title (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090701/NEWS04/707019962?Congdon-captures-4th-pole-climbing-title

Talk to Your Kids about Electrical Safety - Keep Your Kids Safe This Summer with Oncor’s Electrical Safety Tips (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=114882

FISH & WILDLIFE

Colville Nation to Fund NE Washington Hatchery for Year (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/jul/02/colvilles-to-fund-hatchery-for-year/

Summer Chinook Numbers Crossing Bonneville Dam Are Relatively Low (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2009/07/the_guides_forecast_summer_chi.html

Avian Sea Lions - Idaho Fish & Game Plan to Kill Pelicans Hits Obstacles (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/898633.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Winter Snowpack Melts Into Waterfalls - A record hot June and a winter snowpack more than 2,000 percent of normal in places have combined to detonate an explosion of waterfalls this summer in the Central Cascades (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/outdoors/2009409904_waterfall02m.html

Army Corps of Engineers: Howard Hanson Dam Weak (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19921562/detail.html

California - Hetch Hetchy Dam Rebuild Bill Pulled From Agenda (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/07/02/BAEE18HJAO.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

Mason County Seeking Bids for Belfair Sewer Project (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7683/reftab/1632/t/COUNTY-SEEKING-BIDS-FOR-BELFAIR-SEWER-PROJECT/Default.aspx

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Putting Wind To Work - Arkansas has a ways to go (Arkansas Times, Littlerock)
http://www.arktimes.com/Articles/ArticleViewer.aspx?ArticleID=a83208ce-1d62-4c83-8663-6d6cb6aec1b7

Massachusetts - State Draws Zones for Coast Wind Farms - Aims to protect sensitive areas of sea (Boston Globe)
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/07/01/state_plan_could_bring_wind_farms_near_coast/

Transalta's Vision for Wind Power (New Brunswick Business Journal)
http://nbbusinessjournal.canadaeast.com/journal/article/716424

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Energy Efficient: Simple, Accessible and Possible (The Astorian, OR)
http://www.dailyastorian.com/Main.asp?SectionID=176&ArticleID=62184

Oregon - An Energy Windfall: Medford single mom of four wins a home makeover from the Energy Trust that may cut her power bills in half (The Mail Tribune, Medford, OR)
http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090702/NEWS/907020325/-1/rss01

California - Cupertino Looks At Stimulus Money to Help Reduce City's Utility Bills (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12734387?nclick_check=1

California - Palo Alto Tries LED Streetlights to Cut Energy Use (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12738512?nclick_check=1

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Lewis County - Power Providers Debate Impact of Climate Measure (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/articles/2009/07/01/news/doc4a4bac0740a89062406477.txt

42% Say Climate Change Bill Will Hurt the Economy (Rasmussen Reports)
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/environment/42_say_climate_change_bill_will_hurt_the_economy

G.O.P. Aims at Lawmakers over Energy Votes (NY Times)
http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/07/01/gop-aims-at-lawmakers-over-energy-votes/

Atlanta Journal-Constitution Op/Ed - Cap and Trade Will Be Tax and Fail
http://www.ajc.com/services/content/printedition/2009/07/02/wingfielded0702.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Biden Unveils Broadband Stimulus - Loan applications start July 14 for underserved ambitions (Broadband Reports – 768 kbps download? 200 kbps upload? What is this?)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Biden-Unveils-Broadband-Stimulus-103224

Government Enforces the Status Quo with Broadband Stimulus Bucks (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/07/01/government-enforces-the-status-quo-with-broadband-stimulus-bucks/

Space Data Maps Broadband Signals From Altitude (Phoenix Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2009/06/29/daily58.html?ana=from_rss

FaceBook Grows Into New Home in Palo Alto's Power Neighborhood (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12729574

Microsoft, RealNetworks, Yahoo Sued By Music Labels (Bloomberg News)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoft/2009409349_webmusicsuit01.html?syndication=rss

CompuServe Classic Says Goodnight - Original version of online service quietly passes on (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Compuserve-Classic-Says-Goodnight-103225

GENERAL NEWS

Structure Fire in Potlatch Sends Six to the Hospital; Shuts Down 101 (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/7687/reftab/1632/t/STRUCTURE-FIRE-IN-POTLATCH-SENDS-SIX-TO-THE-HOSPITAL-AND-SHUTS-DOWN-101/Default.aspx

Expert: Missing McCleary Girl Likely Went With Someone She Knew (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.nwcn.com/topstories/stories/NW_070109WAB-mccleary-KS.260ea8b9.html

Hot, Dry Washington Could Make For Fiery Fourth (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009411221_apwafourthfires.html?syndication=rss

Mason County Cuts Budget Director to Shore up Deficit (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/jul/01/mason-county-cuts-budget-director-to-shore-up/?partner=RSS

Northwest Drivers Using Less Gas (Associated Press)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=10633512

Newspapers Get Tax Break during Bad Times (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/49699922.html

Seattle Police Investigating City Worker for Suspected Computer Theft (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/407789_computers02.html?source=rss

Warehouse Glitch Delays State’s Booze Delivery (Associated Press)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/633043.html

With Budgets Tight, Less Flash for the Fourth – Vancouver, WA won’t have any fireworks display, Washougal Steps In (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/07/02/us/02fourth.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Seattle Times Op/Ed - Washington's Timid Cell Phone Ban: Lackluster Results Suggest A Tougher Law
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2009408641_joni02.html?syndication=rss

Economic Free Fall Shakes Caribbean - In Jamaica, plunging demand for aluminum products has triggered layoffs and cuts in production at bauxite plants (Miami Herald, FL)
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/americas/story/1123866.html

Awkward! – King County Exec. Rivals Show Up At Hutchison News Conference (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2009409619_execrace02m0.html?syndication=rss

DIVERSIONS

British Man Begins Aussie Island Dream Job
http://www.kirotv.com/travelgetaways/19911213/detail.html

Police: Robbers Hit NY Gas Station, Run Out Of Gas
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19916889/detail.html

So The Honeymoon Is Over? Married & Divorced on the Same Day!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090625/od_nm/us_wedding_odd;_ylt=AvVPquGVr9d_T5PO1xQ8bXUSH9EA;_ylu=X3oDMTJsbXBjMjZ2BGFzc2V0A25tLzIwMDkwNjI1L3VzX3dlZGRpbmdfb2RkBHBvcwMxMgRzZWMDeW5fcGFnaW5hdGVfc3VtbWFyeV9saXN0BHNsawNzb3RoZWhvbmV5bW8-

Ukrainians Want Village Named After Michael Jackson
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090701/od_afp/entertainmentusmusicjacksonukraineoffbeat_20090701114614;_ylt=AoIt1SGxBdFuCNdjb4nFPx6gOrgF;_ylu=X3oDMTNnNG1ucm1hBGFzc2V0A2FmcC8yMDA5MDcwMS9lbnRlcnRhaW5tZW50dXNtdXNpY2phY2tzb251a3JhaW5lb2ZmYmVhdARwb3MDOQRzZWMDeW5fcGFnaW5hdGVfc3VtbWFyeV9saXN0BHNsawN1a3JhaW5pYW5zd2E-

Over $980 Meal - Rome Restaurant Pays Price after Tourist Rip-Off
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090702/od_afp/italyjapantourismrestaurantoffbeat_20090702150544;_ylt=ApoygfFKdZPCNnCl9i7SHoigOrgF;_ylu=X3oDMTM5cW9tN2FxBGFzc2V0A2FmcC8yMDA5MDcwMi9pdGFseWphcGFudG91cmlzbXJlc3RhdXJhbnRvZmZiZWF0BHBvcwMxBHNlYwN5bl9wYWdpbmF0ZV9zdW1tYXJ5X2xpc3QEc2xrA3JvbWVyZXN0YXVyYQ--

SONG OF THE DAY

Tchaikovsky - 1812 Overture (Finale - with REAL cannons! And Bells!)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2W1Wi2U9sQ

1812 Overture
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1812_Overture