Energy News Digest for October 22, 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)

• Columbia Falls Aluminum to Shut Down “Indefinitely” Oct 31
• Columbia Falls Aluminum runs out of power options
• Energy Sources - Washington Target of “Dirty Little Secret” Tour
• Op/Ed - Clean-Energy Transition Promises Brighter Economic Prospects
• Fallen Tree Limb to Blame - Lake Cushman Electricity Restored
• What’s Behind Co-Op Rate Increases? Southern Montana, Yellowstone Valley offer different takes
• PG&E to Bakersfield: Weather, Not Smart Meters, Cause of Higher Power Bills
• PNGC Power Board of Directors Elects Officers
• Natural Gas Stocks Grow In Line With Expectations
• Vermont Senate Chief Questions Entergy Spinoff of Yankee Nuke Plant
• TransAlta Corporation to Release Q3 2009 Earnings October 27
• More Views on Salmon Adapting To Rivers Altered By Dams
• Fishing - Rain Means Rivers Produce Solid Catch
• Officials Say Pikeminnow Program Helping Salmon
• Three People Charged With Illegally Dealing Geoducks
• Seasonal Ladybug Swarms Pester Even Bug Experts
• Green River Flooding (if it happens) could Leave 800,000 without Sewage for Months
• New Limits on Industrial Stormwater in Washington
• Marine Reserve Plans Contested in California
• Thanks to Tax Breaks & Subsidies Solar Is Getting Cheap - Costs State by State
• Thinking Solar Power? It’s Never Been Cheaper
• Cle Elum Solar Energy Project to be Discussed Tonight
• Oregon - New Tualatin Plant Will Make Wind Turbines
• Kentucky Energy Regulators Reject Wind Surcharge
• Renewable Energy Firms Dash for Vermont Incentives
• South Dakota Dangles Wind Power Carrots
• Northwest States Energy Efficient but Others Are Catching Up
• Grays Harbor - Sea Level Rise Expert Says Our Coast Is In Store for Dramatic Changes
• Fewer Americans See Solid Evidence of Global Warming
• Editorial - Cap & Trade Could Be a Boon to New York
• International Climate Treaty Looks Unlikely
• Canada - Costly Push for Carbon Neutrality Comes At Time of Penny Pinching for Schools
• Rising Energy Costs Triggered By Cap-&-Trade Will Harm Low-Income Workers
• Company Plans to Call Lacey Home for ‘Green’ Cleaning Products Plant
• Plastic Bags Limited in San Francisco - Next Target Is Paper
• Microsoft Hopes for Fresh Start with Windows 7
• As Windows 7 Rolls Out: Four Things to Expect
• Microsoft Befriends Twitter in Google Search Duel
• Expedia to Close Tacoma Call Center
• Telecom Firms Face Net-Neutrality Defeat
• Carriers Eye Pay-As-You-Go Internet
• Canada Allows Internet “Throttling” As Last Resort
• Why the Great Internet Build Out Is Spurring Mergers & Acquisitions
• Comcast Internet Video Launching Before Year End, with a Catch
• Wal-Mart Takes Flak for Limited, Unlimited Wireless
• Swine Flu Blamed For Thurston County Man’s Death
• North Mason Teen Charged With Assault in Incident That Sent Man to Hospital
• U.S. Supreme Court: Ref. 71 Names to Remain Sealed for Now
• Washington School Funding Trial Nearing End
• Move to Cut Bremerton Mayor’s Salary is Rejected
• Lewis County - Elk Killed In Collision with Boisfort School Bus

WORD OF THE DAY

Strake • \STRAYK\ • noun – 1: a continuous band of hull planking or plates on a ship; also: the width of such a band 2: streak, stripe

Amber arose from her daily session of sunbathing on her Mexican vacation. She had found a pleasant spot to soak up the sun near a running fence at the resort. Unfortunately, the slatted fence endowed her lithe form with a straked appearance, which was not apparent until her return to Toronto. The tanned “zebra” effect was not a good look for her.

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

Columbia Falls Aluminum to Shut Down “Indefinitely” Oct 31 “…(officials) in Washington DC…meeting with the Department of Energy as well as Montana Congressional Delegation…all working towards helping the company…” (KAJ-TV, Kalispell, MT)
http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=11354305

Columbia Falls Aluminum runs out of power options (Daily Interlake, Kalispell)
http://www.dailyinterlake.com/news/local_montana/article_125eac66-bec9-11de-8ed2-001cc4c03286.html

Energy Sources - Washington Target of “Dirty Little Secret” Tour (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)
http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1048#

See a Breakdown of Fuel Mixes Here (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=537

Seattle Times Op/Ed - Clean-Energy Transition Promises Brighter Economic Prospects “…Renewable power isn’t “alternative energy” in the Northwest; hydropower & efficiency are exactly what make our power supplies so affordable now…”
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2010110988_guest22daudon.html?syndication=rss

Fallen Tree Limb to Blame - Lake Cushman Electricity Restored (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=608

What’s Behind Co-Op Rate Increases? Southern Montana, Yellowstone Valley offer different takes (Billings Gazette, MT)
http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_a80fe9cc-be98-11de-811a-001cc4c03286.html

PG&E to Bakersfield: Weather, Not Smart Meters, Cause of Higher Power Bills (Seeking Alpha)
http://seekingalpha.com/article/167958-pg-e-to-bakersfield-weather-not-smart-meters-cause-of-higher-power-bills?source=yahoo

PNGC Power Board of Directors Elects Officers (PNGC Power)
http://www.pngcpower.com/newsroom/news_releases.aspx?ID=56

Natural Gas Stocks Grow In Line With Expectations (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010117543_apusnaturalgasstorage.html?syndication=rss

Vermont Senate Chief Questions Entergy Spinoff of Yankee Nuke Plant (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010117204_apusentergyspinoff.html?syndication=rss

TransAlta Corporation to Release Q3 2009 Earnings October 27 (TransWorldNews)
http://www.transworldnews.com/NewsStory.aspx?id=131968&cat=1

FISH & WILDLIFE

More Views on Salmon Adapting To Rivers Altered By Dams (Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/10/more_views_on_salmon_adapting.html

Fishing - Rain Means Rivers Produce Solid Catch (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2010112774_fish22.html?syndication=rss

Officials Say Pikeminnow Program Helping Salmon (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010116982_apidpikeminnowprogram.html?syndication=rss

Three People Charged With Illegally Dealing Geoducks (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/925047.html

Seasonal Ladybug Swarms Pester Even Bug Experts (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2010108934_apusbuggedbyladybugs.html?syndication=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Green River Flooding (if it happens) could Leave 800,000 without Sewage for Months (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/21391613/detail.html

New Limits on Industrial Stormwater in Washington (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/1009974.html

Marine Reserve Plans Contested in California (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2281466~Marine_reserve_plans_contested_in_California.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Thanks to Tax Breaks & Subsidies Solar Is Getting Cheap - Costs State by State (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010108663_apusbargainsolarglance.html?syndication=rss

Thinking Solar Power? It’s Never Been Cheaper (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010108620_apusbargainsolar.html?syndication=rss

Cle Elum Solar Energy Project to be Discussed Tonight (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)
http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2009/10/21/solar-energy-project-to-be-discussed-tonight

Oregon - New Tualatin Plant Will Make Wind Turbines (Portland Tribune, OR)
http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=125617524013180400

Kentucky Energy Regulators Reject Wind Surcharge (The Gleaner, Henderson, KY)
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2009/oct/21/psc-rejects-wind-surcharge/

Renewable Energy Firms Dash for Vermont Incentives - A new renewable energy program has more applications than it can handle (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010107305_apusrenewableenergyvermont.html?syndication=rss

South Dakota Dangles Wind Power Carrots (Aberdeen News, SD)
http://www.aberdeennews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091020/FRONTPAGE/910200315

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Northwest States Energy Efficient but Others Are Catching Up (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/6063-northwest-states-energy-efficient-others-are-catching/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Grays Harbor - Sea Level Rise Expert Says Our Coast Is In Store for Dramatic Changes (Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/10/21/local_news/doc4adf49ec3bde3458867742.txt

Fewer Americans See Solid Evidence of Global Warming - Modest Support for “Cap & Trade” Policy (Pew Research Center)
http://people-press.org/report/556/global-warming

Wall Street Journal Editorial - Cap & Trade Could Be a Boon to New York
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB20001424052748704500604574481812686144826.html

International Climate Treaty Looks Unlikely (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2010102982_climate21.html

Canada - Costly Push for Carbon Neutrality Comes At Time of Penny Pinching for Schools (Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Costly+push+carbon+neutrality+comes+time+penny+pinching+schools/2125692/story.html

Rising Energy Costs Triggered By Cap-&-Trade Will Harm Low-Income Workers In Inner Cities (Baltimore Sun, MD)
http://www.baltimoresun.com/health/sns-200910220803mctnewsservbc-capandtrade-minoriti,0,7394488.story

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Company Plans to Call Lacey Home for ‘Green’ Cleaning Products Plant (Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/1010695.html

Plastic Bags Limited in San Francisco - Next Target Is Paper (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/21/MNUT1A8DSG.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Microsoft Hopes for Fresh Start with Windows 7 (Associated Press)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20091022/BIZ/710229938/-1/RSS03

As Windows 7 Rolls Out, 4 Things to Expect (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/10/21/as-windows-7-rolls-out-4-things-to-expect/

Microsoft Befriends Twitter in Google Search Duel (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010112948_apustecmicrosofttwitter2ndldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

Expedia to Close Tacoma Call Center (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/925039.html

Telecom Firms Face Net-Neutrality Defeat - Lobbying Blitz May Fall Short (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/21/AR2009102103944.html?wprss=rss_technology

Carriers Eye Pay-As-You-Go Internet - Amid Government Push to Open Networks, Some See Cover for Pricing Based on Usage (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748703816204574483674228258540.html

Canada Allows Internet “Throttling” As Last Resort (Yahoo! Tech)
http://tech.yahoo.com/news/nm/20091021/wr_nm/us_internet_traffic_3

Why the Great Internet Build Out Is Spurring Mergers & Acquisitions (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/10/22/why-the-great-internet-build-out-prompting-ma/

Comcast Internet Video Launching Before Year End - Though there are restrictions; like you must be using a Comcast modem (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Comcast-Internet-Video-Launching-Before-Year-End-105092

Wal-Mart Takes Flak for Limited, Unlimited Wireless (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Walmart-Takes-Flak-For-Limited-Unlimited-Wireless-105078

GENERAL NEWS

Swine Flu Blamed For Thurston County Man’s Death
http://www.kirotv.com/health/21363220/detail.html

North Mason Teen Charged With Assault in Incident That Sent Man to Hospital (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/oct/21/north-mason-teen-charged-with-assault-in-that-to/?partner=RSS

U.S. Supreme Court: Ref. 71 Names to Remain Sealed for Now (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010101080_webref71court21m.html

Washington School Funding Trial Nearing End (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010108460_apwaschoolmoney.html?syndication=rss

Move to Cut Bremerton Mayor’s Salary is Rejected (Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/1010568.html

Lewis County - Elk Killed In Collision With Boisfort School Bus (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/21392661/detail.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

Clerk Accused of Stealing $1M Lottery Ticket from Customer
http://www.kirotv.com/money/21362061/detail.html

Man Staged Nearly 100 Car Crashes in Cash Scam
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE59K3SX20091021?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

Planned Dog B&B Has Neighbors Howling - Residents Say There Would Be Too Much Noise
http://www.kirotv.com/family/21363134/detail.html

Man Robs Shop on Way to Interrogation: German Police
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20091020/od_nm/us_germany_thief

SONG OF THE DAY

Pink Floyd - Shine on You Crazy Diamond
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BLKiMbC6s2k