Energy News Digest for March 25, 2010

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.

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TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Outrage over BPA’s Proposed High Tension Power Lines

·         Montana - Power Developer Pays for Priority on Transmission Lines

·         Chinese Grad Student Describes Cascade-based Attack on America’s Power Grid

·         Boardman Coal-Fired Power Plant - An Opportunity for Solutions

·         Vermont Nuke Plant Says Radioactive Leak Plugged

·         Nuclear Plant Ban Survives Challenge in Minnesota Senate

·         NY Regulators Reject Entergy Nuclear Spinoff

·         Entergy Wants to Keep Nuclear Option in Louisiana

·         Utah Coal Opponents Pleased Power Plant To Be Fired By Gas

·         Natural Gas Price Drops to Record Low

·         California - Pacific Gas & Electric Proposal Could Hike Rates in Bay Area

·         SF Chronicle Editorial - Pacific Gas & Electric’s Rate Change a Bad Idea

·         $2 Million Energy Theft - Pet Food Company Owners Charged in Utility Scheme

·         Itron, Lockheed to Merge Smart Meter Software

·         Nat’l Hydropower Ass’n Applauds DOE-DOI-Army Corps Plan to Promote Hydropower

·         Artist Sues Hoover Dam Store over Souvenir Sales

·         State May Change Rules on Damage Done by Wildlife

·         Light Dims on British Columbia’s Wild Spotted Owls

·         Platforms Offered to Ospreys in Thurston County

·         Washington State Extends Kittitas Well Moratorium

·         Consumer Group Launches Campaign in Clackamas against Nestle Water Facility

·         Oregon - Dry Winter Leaves Docks Dry

·         Tacoma Utility Board Opts for More Expensive Water Filtration System

·         Seattle Times Op/Ed - Washington Lawmakers Environmental Work Is Not Complete

·         Is Burning Wood the Green Way to Healthier State Forests

·         Canada - ‘Green Energy’ Project to Burn Railway Ties Stymied by Kamloops Protesters

·         Vancouver Investor to Gain from Sale of PV Powered

·         Massachusetts - Feds Hear Final Comments on Cape Wind

·         China Trouncing US in Clean Energy Investing

·         GE to Invest $453 Million in European Offshore Wind

·         US Utilities Increase Energy Efficiency Programs 43% to $5.3B

·         Austin Texas Aiming for a Grid Makeover

·         Tax Tips: Go Green, Save Green

·         UN Says Forests Are Still Disappearing

·         California Seems Likely to Profit from New Global Warming Law

·         Scientist: Don’t Blame Cows for Climate Change

·         High-Tech Garbage Cans Could Mean Big Savings for Kitsap County

·         Countdown to “Free” Renewable Energy from Sewage Begins

·         Boom, Boom, out Go the Lights for Earth Hour

·         SF Chronicle Op/Ed - Wanted: Green Talent

·         Study Says One-Third of Americans Use Library Computers

·         Qwest Seeks Stimulus Money to Expand Broadband

·         Qwest Wants $350 Million from Uncle Sam to Deploy VDSL

·         Telecom Giant Challenges FCC Role in Broadband

·         Google Hit with China Fallout

·         A conversation with FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski

·         The Deadline is Tomorrow, but Google Fiber is Already Changing Towns

·         Group Rallies for Spokane to be Google Test Site

·         Florida - Lakeland Wants to be Google’s Test City for Fiber Optics

·         Gregoire Warns of Bigger Budget Cuts - 20 percent cuts if Legislature can’t agree

·         Governor’s Budget Office Squeezes McKenna’s Spending

·         Hoodsport Bank Robber Found Guilty

·         Over Pot Charges - Olympia Resident Looks to Recall Charged City Councilman Hyer

·         Killed Chehalis Music Teacher Had Been Drinking

·         Port of Shelton Continues Cleaning Up Mason County Fairgrounds

·         $371K Penalty for King County in Disclosure Lawsuit

·         Wisconsin College Says New E-Mail Font Will Save Money – In Printing Costs

WORD OF THE DAY

Impious • \IMP-ee-us\ • Adjective - Not pious: lacking in reverence or proper respect

Before entering the moist, mossy enclave known as the “Sea Lion Cave,” Brandy was required by Canonical law to symbolically place a Chinook Salmon into the mouth of a bronze sea lion statue. She did not mean to be impious, but not having room in her pocket for a large, dead anadromous fish, she gave the only thing she had: a lint-covered “Swedish Fish.”

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

Outrage over BPA’s Proposed High Tension Power Lines (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.koinlocal6.com/mostpopular/story/Outrage-over-BPAs-proposed-high-tension-power/jicwfN4zDkiq73navEMLHQ.cspx

Montana - Power Developer Pays for Priority on Transmission Lines (Associated Press)

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_0f4b518a-37cf-11df-93c4-001cc4c002e0.html

Chinese Grad Student Describes Cascade-based Attack on America’s Power Grid (Daily Tech)

http://www.dailytech.com/Chinese+Grad+Student+Describes+Cascadebased+Attack+on+Americas+Power+Grid/article17951.htm

Boardman Coal-Fired Power Plant - An Opportunity for Solutions (Examiner.Com)

http://www.examiner.com/x-40889-Portland-Sustainable-Living-Examiner~y2010m3d23-Boardman-coalfired-power-plant--an-opportunity-for-solutions?cid=edition-by-channel-rss-Portland-Home_and_Living

Vermont Nuke Plant Says Radioactive Leak Plugged (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011436281_apusvermontyankee.html?syndication=rss

Nuclear Plant Ban Survives Challenge in Minnesota Senate (Pioneer Press, St Paul, MN)

http://www.twincities.com/business/ci_14752230?source=rss

NY Regulators Reject Entergy Nuclear Spinoff (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011439720_apnyentergyspinoff.html?syndication=rss

Entergy Wants to Keep Nuclear Option in Louisiana (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62M36U20100323

Utah Coal Opponents Pleased Power Plant to be Fired by Gas “…environmentalists have too much sway in energy policies, basically dictating to companies what & where they can build…It’s like the nuclear power industry that was just brought to a halt [in the 1970s]...” (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)

http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_14743251?source=rss

Natural Gas Price Drops to Record Low (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011436368_apoilprices.html?syndication=rss

California - Pacific Gas & Electric Proposal Could Hike Rates in Bay Area (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/breaking-news/ci_14750530

SF Chronicle Editorial - Pacific Gas & Electric’s Rate Change a Bad Idea

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/24/EDAI1CKND0.DTL

$2 Million Energy Theft - Pet Food Company Owners Charged in Utility Scheme (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011431188_apuspetfoodtheftcharges.html?syndication=rss

Itron, Lockheed to Merge Smart Meter Software (Associated Press)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/mar/25/itron-lockheed-merge-smart-meter-software/

Nat’l Hydropower Ass’n Applauds DOE-DOI-Army Corps Plan to Promote Hydropower (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/national-hydropower-association/news/article/2010/03/nha-applauds-doe-doi-army-corps-plan-to-promote-hydropower

Artist Sues Hoover Dam Store over Souvenir Sales (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/03/25/25875.htm

FISH & WILDLIFE

State May Change Rules on Damage Done by Wildlife (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011432314_wildlifedamage25.html?syndication=rss

Light Dims on British Columbia’s Wild Spotted Owls (Vancouver Sun, BC)

http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Light+dims+wild+spotted+owls/2722270/story.html

Platforms Offered to Ospreys in Thurston County (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011439738_apwaospreynestingplatforms.html?syndication=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Washington State Extends Kittitas Well Moratorium (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/03/24/1183615/wash-extends-kittitas-well-moratorium.html

Consumer Group Launches Campaign in Clackamas against Nestle Water Facility in Columbia Gorge (The Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/index.ssf/2010/03/consumer_group_launches_campai.html

Oregon - Dry Winter Leaves Docks Dry: Most of the reservoirs in the Willamette Basin won’t fill this spring, but electricity rates won’t be affected (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/cityregion/24595430-41/percent-normal-full-reservoirs-creek.csp

Tacoma Utility Board Opts for More Expensive Water Filtration System (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/03/25/1122561/tacoma-water-opts-for-more-expensive.html

Seattle Times Op/Ed - Washington Lawmakers Environmental Work Is Not Complete

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2011431180_guest25fritts.html?syndication=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Is Burning Wood the Green Way to Healthier State Forests (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2010/03/25/environment/19668/

Canada - ‘Green Energy’ Project to Burn Railway Ties Stymied by Kamloops Protesters (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/green-energy-project-to-burn-railway-ties-stymied-by-kamloops-protesters/article1511364/

Vancouver Investor to Gain from Sale of PV Powered (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/mar/24/vancouver-investor-gain-sale-pv-powered/

Massachusetts - Feds Hear Final Comments on Cape Wind (Cape Cod Times, MA)

http://www.capecodonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100323/NEWS/3230318/-1/SPECIAL01

China Trouncing US in Clean Energy Investing (CNN Money)

http://money.cnn.com/2010/03/25/news/international/china_energy_spending/

GE to Invest $453 Million in European Offshore Wind - Aims to mass produce 4MW offshore wind turbines by 2012 (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSLDE62O0L620100325?type=marketsNews

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

US Utilities Increase Energy Efficiency Programs 43% to $5.3B (Environmental Leader)

http://www.environmentalleader.com/2010/03/25/u-s-utilities-increase-energy-efficiency-programs-43-to-5-3b/

Austin Texas Aiming for a Grid Makeover (NY Times)

http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/25/austin-unveils-steps-for-grid-makeover/

Tax Tips: Go Green, Save Green (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2010/03/tax-tips-go-green-save-green.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

UN Says Forests Are Still Disappearing (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2011433130_apeuundisappearingforest.html?syndication=rss

California Seems Likely to Profit from New Global Warming Law (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/mar/24/california-seems-likely-to-profit-from-new-global/

Scientist: Don’t Blame Cows for Climate Change (CNN)

http://www.cnn.com/2010/TECH/science/03/24/meat.industry.global.warming/index.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

High-Tech Garbage Cans Could Mean Big Savings for Kitsap County (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/mar/24/high-tech-garbage-cans-could-mean-big-savings/?partner=RSS

Countdown to “Free” Renewable Energy from Sewage Begins (Clean Technica)

http://cleantechnica.com/2010/03/24/countdown-to-free-renewable-energy-from-sewage-begins/

Boom, Boom, out Go the Lights for Earth Hour (Grand Rapids Press, MI)

http://www.mlive.com/living/grand-rapids/index.ssf/2010/03/boom_boom_out_go_the_lights_fo.html

SF Chronicle Op/Ed - Wanted: Green Talent

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/03/25/ED3L1CKOT6.DTL&feed=rss.opinion

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Study Says One-Third of Americans Use Library Computers (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011432166_libraries25.html?syndication=rss

Qwest Seeks Stimulus Money to Expand Broadband (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011436285_apcoqwestbroadband.html?syndication=rss

Qwest Wants $350 Million from Uncle Sam to Deploy VDSL - After spending millions to fight municipal fiber deployments (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Qwest-Wants-350-Million-From-Uncle-Sam-To-Deploy-VDSL-107562

Telecom Giant Challenges FCC Role in Broadband (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/24/AR2010032403106.html?wprss=rss_technology

Google Hit with China Fallout - Telecom partners in the People’s Republic abandon search giant amid censorship controversy (Information Week)

http://www.informationweek.com/news/internet/google/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=224200329&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_News

A conversation with FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski (CNET News)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-30966_3-20001044-262.html

GA-GA FOR GOOGLE

The Deadline is Tomorrow, but Google Fiber is Already Changing Towns (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2010/03/25/the-deadline-is-tomorrow-but-google-fiber-is-already-changing-towns/

Group Rallies for Spokane to be Google Test Site (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/mar/25/gaga-for-google/

Florida - Lakeland Wants to be Google’s Test City for Fiber Optics (The Lakeland Ledger, FL)

http://www.theledger.com/article/20100324/NEWS/3245070/1410?Title=Lakeland-Wants-to-Be-Google-s-Test-City-for-Fiber-Optics

GENERAL NEWS

Gregoire Warns of Bigger Budget Cuts - 20 percent: Broad slashes if Legislature can’t agree (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/03/25/1122579/gregoire-warns-of-bigger-cuts.html

Governor’s Budget Office Squeezes McKenna’s Spending - Health care fight: Lawmakers might block use of state money on lawsuit (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/03/25/1122538/governors-budget-office-squeezes.html

Hoodsport Bank Robber Found Guilty (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/1703-hoodsport-bank-robber-found-guilty

Over Pot Charges - Olympia Resident Looks to Recall Charged City Councilman Hyer (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/03/25/1183902/olympia-resident-looks-to-recall.html

Killed Chehalis Music Teacher Had Been Drinking (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011436101_apwabanddirectorkilled.html?syndication=rss

Port of Shelton Continues Cleaning Up Mason County Fairgrounds (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/1701-port-continues-cleaning-up-fairgrounds

$371K Penalty for King County in Disclosure Lawsuit (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011439607_publicrecords26m.html?syndication=rss

Wisconsin College Says New E-Mail Font Will Save Money – In Printing Costs (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011439362_apuscheaperemailfont.html?syndication=rss

DIVERSIONS

Something Foul Is Afoot in Connecticut Girl’s Sneakers

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2011433234_apoddrottensneakers.html?syndication=rss

Firefighters Blame Rat’s Nest for Truck Blaze

http://www.kirotv.com/news/22949225/detail.html

Fugitive Missing for 38 Years Found Running Chapel

http://www.examiner.com/a-2544588~Fugitive_missing_for_38_years_found_running_chapel.html?cid=rss-Montana_Headlines

SONG OF THE DAY

Pat Travers - Boom Boom (Out Go the Lights)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oBf1e6WWWA0