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
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
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