Energy News Digest for July 29, 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.

 

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

 

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

 

Bonneville Power Administration Balances Wind Services with Cost for Developers (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/07/bpa_balances_wind_services_wit.html

 

Invasive Mussels Pose Threat to Dams (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012475261_mussels29.html

 

Ex-Enron CEO Skilling Seeks Release on Bail after Supreme Court Ruling (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/28/AR2010072806473.html

 

Kittitas County Residents Have Their Say on Ecology’s Ban on Wells (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/07/28/kittitas-co-residents-have-their-say-on-ecology-s-ban-on-wells

 

Evergreen State College Considers Wood Power - Campus to study process called biomass gasification (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/07/28/1317760/evergreen-considers-wood-power.html

 

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

 

·         Bonneville Power Administration Balances Wind Services with Cost for Developers

·         Invasive Mussels Pose Threat to Dams

·         Columbia Snake River System Shut Down to Barges Soon

·         Ex-Enron CEO Skilling Seeks Release on Bail after Supreme Court Ruling

·         Idaho - Challis Council Hears Salmon River Electric Plans

·         Group Seeks to Stall Montana Coal Railroad

·         Editorial - Clark Public Utilities Commissioner: Barnes, Lyons - Top two choices for utility commissioner

·         Illinois - Wary of ‘Smart’ Meters

·         Constellation Energy Cuts Spending on Areva Nuclear Reactor Venture

·         Iowa - Alcoa’s Davenport Works to Recall 159 Employees

·         Power & Light - Getting Iraqis & Afghans on the grid could have helped build peace

·         Key Base of Ocean Food Web Dropping Dramatically

·         New Rules & Increased Enforcement for Skokomish River as Salmon Fishing Opens Sunday

·         Klamath Farmers Will be Paid to Save Water for Fish

·         Salmon: Judge Won’t Stop Rogue River Dam Removal

·         Bald Eagle Comeback Pressures Coastal Seabirds

·         All Clallam Beaches Closed to Shellfish Harvesting

·         Wildlife Officials Seek Men Who Shot Ten Seagulls

·         Feds, Farmers Create Habitats for Migrating Birds

·         Kittitas County Residents Have Their Say on Ecology’s Ban on Wells

·         EPA Releases Data on Local Toxics

·         Pasco Dedicates New Water Treatment Plant

·         Lawsuit Filed to Stop Hawaiian Trash Bound for Washington State

·         Evergreen State College Considers Wood Power

·         Massachusetts - Fight Gears Up on Biomass

·         Study Says Pacific Northwest Poised to Lead Clean-Energy Transition

·         California’s Clean Energy Future Threatened by Federal Delays, State Officials Say

·         Editorial - California Policy Could Blow Hard: California’s energy policies now affect the Northwest in significant ways

·         Warning to Michigan Manufacturers: Nothing Easy About Getting into Wind Energy

·         Energy Subsidies - Good & Bad

·         Builders Try to Prove Green Homes Can be Affordable

·         State-Level Politics Could Threaten Western Climate Initiative

·         Scientists Say Global Warming Is Continuing

·         State of the Climate: Hottest Decade on Record

·         Snowmageddon - Washington, DC Record Snow in 2010 Not Due to Global Warming

·         Wind Drives Growing Use of Batteries

·         Mason General Hospital Named “Most Wired” Again – Thanks in Part to Public Broadband

·         Lower Costs, Better Technology Enable Portland Hospitals to Extend Telemedicine Links Across Oregon

·         White House Proposal Would Ease FBI Access to Records of Internet Activity

·         FCC: Broadband Mission Not Accomplished

·         Who is the World’s Biggest Broadband Company? Find Out

·         Washington Special Session More & More Unlikely

·         35^th District Democrat Draws Opposition - Tim Sheldon Facing Write-In Foe

·         Sixth & Final Initiative Added to Washington State’s November Ballot

·         Education - Why Washington Stumbled in “Race to the Top”

·         Bond Sale a Plus for State - Results: estimated $3.7 million savings

·         Washington State Residents Paid $105 in Taxes per $1,000 in Income

·         Fife to Pay $23,500 for Help in Finding Next City Manager

·         Are Public Pension Funds Sustainable?

·         Fire at Skokomish Tribal Police Department under Investigation

·         Missing West Seattle Sailor’s Body Recovered in Afghanistan

·         Belfair Company Fined for Mining Mistake

·         Engineer Raises Safety Concerns at Hanford

·         Washington State’s Move to Restrict Pain Killers Puts Onus on Doctors

·         Unusual bunch of foes to postal rate increase unites as Affordable Mail Alliance

·         Doomsday Shelters Making a Comeback

 

WORD OF THE DAY

 

Averse • \uh-VERS\ • adjective - Having an active feeling of repugnance or distaste

 

Adverse • \add-VERS\ • adjective - 1: acting against or in a contrary direction: hostile 2a: opposed to one’s interests

 

“Here ya go sonny,” blared the beefy barkeep, offering a thick slice of haggis to Dilton, a diminutive customer in the dark, smoky Scottish pub. “I must choke back my aversion to this local dish or face the consequences,” he said to himself through clenched teeth. Even so, his reaction to the baked internal organs of the ancient sheep was not the expected adverse expulsion of his own stomach contents…to the contrary, he actually liked it.

 

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

 

Bonneville Power Administration Balances Wind Services with Cost for Developers (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/07/bpa_balances_wind_services_wit.html

 

Invasive Mussels Pose Threat to Dams (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012475261_mussels29.html

 

Columbia Snake River System Shut Down to Barges Soon (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/99435684.html

 

Ex-Enron CEO Skilling Seeks Release on Bail after Supreme Court Ruling (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/28/AR2010072806473.html

 

Idaho - Challis Council Hears Salmon River Electric Plans (Challis Messenger, ID)

http://www.challismessenger.com/index.php?accnum=story-5-20100729

 

Group Seeks to Stall Montana Coal Railroad (Associated Press)

http://www.examiner.com/a-2747599~Group_seeks_to_stall_Mont__coal_railroad.html

 

Editorial - Clark Public Utilities Commissioner: Barnes, Lyons - Top two choices for utility commissioner (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/jul/28/barnes-lyons/

 

Illinois - Wary of ‘Smart’ Meters: as ComEd launches its pilot program, users elsewhere raise accuracy, health issues (Chicago Tribune, IL)
http://www.suntimes.com/business/2546014,CST-NWS-SMART29.article

 

Constellation Energy Cuts Spending on Areva Nuclear Reactor Venture (News & Advance, Lynchburg, VA)

http://www2.newsadvance.com/business/2010/jul/28/constellation-energy-cuts-spending-areva-reactor-v-ar-353679/

 

Iowa - Alcoa’s Davenport Works to Recall 159 Employees (Quad City Times, Davenport, IA)

http://qctimes.com/news/local/article_acd6e77a-9a5d-11df-8a92-001cc4c002e0.html

 

Power & Light - Getting Iraqis & Afghans on the grid could have helped build peace, but the Americans couldn’t quite deliver (Newsweek Magazine)

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/07/28/power-and-light.html

 

FISH & WILDLIFE

 

Key Base of Ocean Food Web Dropping Dramatically (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012469177_apbcusscidecliningplankton.html

 

New Rules & Increased Enforcement for Skokomish River as Salmon Fishing Opens Sunday (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/2832-new-rules-and-increased-enforcement-for-skokomish-river-as-salmon-fishing-opens-sunday-

 

Klamath Farmers Will be Paid to Save Water for Fish (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/9906-klamath-farmers-will-be-paid-save-water-fish/

 

Salmon: Judge Won’t Stop Rogue River Dam Removal (Associated Press)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/07/28/1109807/salmon-judge-wont-stop-rogue-river.html

 

Bald Eagle Comeback Pressures Coastal Seabirds (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/9831-bald-eagle-comeback-pressures-coastal-seabirds/

 

All Clallam Beaches Closed to Shellfish Harvesting (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.konp.com/local/5995

 

Wildlife Officials Seek Men Who Shot Ten Seagulls (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/24421309/detail.html

 

Feds, Farmers Create Habitats for Migrating Birds (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012475995_apusgulfoilspillmigratorybirds.html

 

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

 

Kittitas County Residents Have Their Say on Ecology’s Ban on Wells (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/07/28/kittitas-co-residents-have-their-say-on-ecology-s-ban-on-wells

 

EPA Releases Data on Local Toxics (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2012468781_apusepatoxics.html

 

Pasco Dedicates New Water Treatment Plant (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/07/28/1109598/pasco-dedicates-new-water-treatment.html

 

Lawsuit Filed to Stop Hawaiian Trash Bound for Washington State (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_shipping_trash.html

 

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

 

Evergreen State College Considers Wood Power - Campus to study process called biomass gasification (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/07/28/1317760/evergreen-considers-wood-power.html

 

Massachusetts - Fight Gears Up on Biomass (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/29/fight-gears-up-on-biomass/

 

Study Says Pacific Northwest Poised to Lead Clean-Energy Transition “…well suited to make the switch to clean-energy sources…it has a relatively small part of its energy generation portfolio coming from coal & nuclear power…” Note: wouldn’t that mean that we’re already there? (Sustainable Oregon)

http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2010/07/study_northwest_poised_to_lead_clean-energy_transition.html

 

California’s Clean Energy Future Threatened by Federal Delays, State Officials Say (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jul/28/business/la-fi-solar-energy-20100728

 

Editorial - California Policy Could Blow Hard: California’s energy policies now affect the Northwest in significant ways, & the impacts, somehow, will trickle down to ratepayers (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/jul/28/california-policy-could-blow-hard/

 

Warning to Michigan Manufacturers: Nothing Easy About Getting into Wind Energy (Grand Rapids Press, MI)

http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2010/07/summit_warning_to_michigan_man.html

 

Energy Subsidies - Good & Bad (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/29/opinion/29thu3.html

 

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

 

Builders Try to Prove Green Homes Can be Affordable (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2010/07/builder-homes-produce-energy/1

 

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

 

State-Level Politics Could Threaten Western Climate Initiative (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/9870-state-level-politics-could-threaten-western-climate-initiative/

 

Scientists Say Global Warming Is Continuing (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012469549_apusscistateoftheclimate.html

 

State of the Climate: Hottest Decade on Record (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/28/state-of-the-climate-hottest-decade-ever/

 

Snowmageddon - Washington, DC Record Snow in 2010 Not Due to Global Warming (Washington Post)

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitalweathergang/2010/07/last_winters_snowstorms_not_ca.html

 

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

 

Wind Drives Growing Use of Batteries (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/28/business/energy-environment/28storage.html

 

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

 

Mason General Hospital Named “Most Wired” Again - Thanks to Public Broadband (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/2834-mason-general-hospital-named-most-wired-again

 

Lower Costs, Better Technology Enable Portland Hospitals to Extend Telemedicine Links Across Oregon (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2010/07/lower_costs_better_technology.html

 

White House Proposal Would Ease FBI Access to Records of Internet Activity (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/28/AR2010072806141.html

 

FCC: Broadband Mission Not Accomplished - And it won’t be until the FCC addresses competition (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/FCC-Broadband-Mission-Not-Accomplished-109627

 

Who is the World’s Biggest Broadband Company? Find Out (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2010/07/28/top-ten-broadband-providers/

 

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

 

Washington Special Session More & More Unlikely (Northwest Public Radio)

http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=7602

 

35^th District Democrat Draws Opposition - Tim Sheldon Facing Write-In Foe (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/07/29/1319039/democrat-draws-opposition.html

 

Sixth & Final Initiative Added to Washington State’s November Ballot (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012475170_initiative29.html

 

Education - Why Washington Stumbled in “Race to the Top” (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=347926

 

Bond Sale a Plus for State - Results of latest sale provide rare bit of good news: estimated $3.7 million savings (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/07/29/1319037/bond-sale-a-plus-for-state.html

 

Washington State Residents Paid $105 in Taxes per $1,000 in Income (Puget Sound Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2010/07/26/daily22.html

 

Fife to Pay $23,500 for Help in Finding Next City Manager (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/07/29/1281452/fife-city-to-pay-23500-to-help.html

 

Are Public Pension Funds Sustainable? (Nat’l Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128828518&ft=1&f=2

 

GENERAL NEWS

 

Fire at Skokomish Tribal Police Department under Investigation (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/24436445/detail.html

 

Missing West Seattle Sailor’s Body Recovered in Afghanistan (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Missing-Renton-sailors-body-recovered-in-Afghanistan-99537234.html

 

Belfair Company Fined for Mining Mistake (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/jul/28/belfair-company-fined-for-mining-mistake/

 

Engineer Raises Safety Concerns at Hanford (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99512309.html

 

Washington State’s Move to Restrict Pain Killers Puts Onus on Doctors (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/29/business/29pain.html

 

Unusual bunch of foes to postal rate increase unites as Affordable Mail Alliance (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/28/AR2010072805908.html

 

Doomsday Shelters Making a Comeback (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-07-28-doomsday28_ST_N.htm

 

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

 

Detectives Investigate ‘Extreme Domestic Dispute’

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012468700_apwaextremedomesticdispute1stldwritethru.html

 

Cats That Look Like Hitler Bemuse, Annoy - Website Popularity Spikes After Mentions by Colbert

http://www.kirotv.com/news/24421904/detail.html

 

Chihuahua Takes on Black Bear

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Chihuahua-charges-black-bear-and-survives-99442504.html

 

Competitive Lock picking Growing in US Popularity

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012475940_apuscompetitivelockpicking.html

 

SONG OF THE DAY

 

Steely Dan - I.G.Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PfBYsII_Jw

Energy News Digest for July 28, 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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

US Senate Introduces Pared-Down Energy Bill (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2010/07/reid-energy-bill-/1

Clark Public Utilities Electric Rate Hike May be Coming Down Line (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/jul/28/electric-rate-hike-may-be-coming-down-line-clark-p/

Columbia River Summer Steelhead Catches Nearing Record Size for July (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2012462970_columbia_river_summer_steelhea_1.html

US Wind Power Installations Drop in First Half of 2010 (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66Q58I20100727

Georgia - Feces-Burning Power Plant Riles Neighbors (WYFF, Greenville, SC)

http://www.wyff4.com/r/24417223/detail.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         US Senate Introduces Pared-Down Energy Bill

·         Senate Energy Bill Draws Widespread Criticism

·         Stripped Down Energy Bill Leaves out ‘Cap & Trade’

·         Energy Bill, Focusing on Conservation, Can’t Shake Calls for Renewable Energy Standard

·         Clark Public Utilities Electric Rate Hike May be Coming Down Line

·         Grant PUD Cuts $28 Million

·         Montana - Mission Valley Power Rates to Increase

·         Grant PUD Pursues $266,000 Tax Refund

·         Clatskanie PUD, One of the Lowest-Cost Electricity Providers in the World, Focuses on Smart Grids & Sustainable Solutions

·         Contractor for Mason PUD 3 Operations Center Recognized for Safety

·         Editorial - There’s Opportunity for the Chelan County PUD

·         New Mexico - Socorro Electric Cooperative Trustees Re-Think Lawsuit against Members

·         Indiana - US Accuses Electricity Co-op of Polluting

·         Smart Grid Technology Vulnerable to Attack, Experts Say

·         Bond Market Players Unruffled by BAB Exclusion

·         Canada - Toronto Hydro Utilities Warn of Price Shock

·         United Kingdom - Energy Revolution Could Put Bills Up by a Third

·         Columbia River Summer Steelhead Catches Nearing Record Size for July

·         Op/Ed - Tribes & Salmon: The Tradition Continues

·         With Some BPA Help - Western Pond Turtles Return to the Columbia River Gorge

·         Environmentalists, Loggers Push New Wilderness Deal in Northeast Washington

·         Entiat Seeks Funding for New Park

·         US Wind Power Installations Drop in First Half of 2010

·         A Rough Year for Wind

·         Hawaii - Kahuku Wind Farm Lands $117 Million Loan Guarantee

·         Op/Ed - Massachusetts: The Great Wind Power Bait & Switch

·         Market Value of Biomass Electricity to Reach $53 Billion by 2020

·         Time to Scale Back Renewable Energy Incentives for the Wealthy?

·         Congress Could Spur the Southeast’s Renewable Energy Use, Industry Says

·         New Hampshire Utility Seeks Approval of Wood Plant Power Deal

·         Georgia - Feces-Burning Power Plant Riles Neighbors

·         Analysis: Canada Clean Power Push Faces Labor Shortage

·         United Kingdom - Deal Is Close for Southampton Biomass Energy Plant

·         Solar Panels Vs. Historic Districts: a Conflict We Need to Resolve

·         Arizona Utilities Told to Help People Cut Energy Use

·         Western Climate Initiative Offers Cap & Trade

·         Don’t Forget Reliability in Climate Change: N. American Electric Reliability Corporation

·         Science Matters: Climate Change & Water Are Inextricably Linked

·         Chevy Volt Will Cost $41,000 before Tax Credits

·         Washington One of Nissan Electric Car First Markets

·         Akamai: US 16th in Broadband Speed - Average US Connection Speed is 4.7 Mbps

·         Corporate America, You’re Not Ready for Internal Clouds!

·         Healthiest State for Kids - New Hampshire, Study Says: Washington 11^th, Oregon 18^th

·         Baseball - Portland Beavers May Head to California

WORD OF THE DAY (Hump-Day Haiku)

Poetaster • \POE-uh-tass-ter\ • noun - An inferior poet

Orange has no rhyme

Poetaster tries ever

His words are like poop

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 Senate Introduces Pared-Down Energy Bill (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2010/07/reid-energy-bill-/1

Senate Energy Bill Draws Widespread Criticism (CNBC)

http://www.cnbc.com/id/38455236

Stripped Down Energy Bill Leaves Out ‘Cap & Trade’ (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Politics/2010/0727/Stripped-down-energy-bill-leaves-out-cap-and-trade

Energy Bill, Focusing on Conservation, Can’t Shake Calls for Renewable Energy Standard (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2010/07/28/28climatewire-energy-bill-focusing-on-conservation-cant-sh-62734.html

Clark Public Utilities Electric Rate Hike May be Coming Down Line (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/jul/28/electric-rate-hike-may-be-coming-down-line-clark-p/

Grant PUD Cuts $28 Million (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/article_68cb089e-99cd-11df-85c9-001cc4c002e0.html

Montana - Mission Valley Power Rates to Increase (KAJ-TV, Kalispell, MT)

http://www.kaj18.com/news/mission-valley-power-rates-to-increase/

Grant PUD Pursues $266,000 Tax Refund (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/article_0a233ef2-99cc-11df-8153-001cc4c002e0.html

Clatskanie PUD, One of the Lowest-Cost Electricity Providers in the World, Focuses on Smart Grids & Sustainable Solutions (Energy Digital)

http://www.energydigital.com/press-releases/clatskanie-pud-one-lowest-cost-electricity-providers-world-focuses-smart-grids-and-su

Contractor for Mason PUD 3 Operations Center Recognized for Safety (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=751

Editorial - There’s Opportunity for the Chelan County PUD (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/jul/27/theres-opportunity-for-the-pud/

New Mexico - Socorro Electric Cooperative Trustees Re-Think Lawsuit against Members (El Defensor Chieftain, Socorro, NM)

http://www.dchieftain.com/dc/index.php/news/1816-trustees-re-think-lawsuit.html

Indiana - US Accuses Electricity Co-op of Polluting (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/07/28/29172.htm

Smart Grid Technology Vulnerable to Attack, Experts Say - Utility companies scramble to install technology without heeding security warnings (McClatchy News Service)

http://www.statesman.com/news/local/smart-grid-technology-vulnerable-to-attack-experts-say-826545.html

Bond Market Players Unruffled by BAB Exclusion (The Bond Buyer)

http://www.bondbuyer.com/issues/119_392/bab_exclusion-1015306-1.html

Canada - Toronto Hydro Utilities Warn of Price Shock (Toronto Star, Ontario)

http://www.thestar.com/article/841415--hydro-utilities-warn-of-price-shock

United Kingdom - Energy Revolution Could Put Bills Up by a Third (The Telegraph, UK)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/7913610/Energy-revolution-could-put-bills-up-by-a-third.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Columbia River Summer Steelhead Catches Nearing Record Size for July (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2012462970_columbia_river_summer_steelhea_1.html

Op/Ed - Tribes & Salmon: The Tradition Continues (The Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/07/tribes_and_salmon_the_traditio.html

With Some BPA Help - Western Pond Turtles Return to the Columbia River Gorge (The Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2010/07/western_pond_turtles_return_to_1.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Environmentalists, Loggers Push New Wilderness Deal in Northeast Washington (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012464368_wilderness28m.html

Entiat Seeks Funding for New Park - Chelan PUD plans a $6.8 million renovation at Entiat Park, along with a $1.4 million trail (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/jul/27/entiat-seeks-funding-for-new-park/

California - Marin Board Approves Own Desalination Measure (Associated Press)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/07/27/state/n095557D69.DTL

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

US Wind Power Installations Drop in First Half of 2010 (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66Q58I20100727

A Rough Year for Wind (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/07/a-rough-year-for-wind

Hawaii - Kahuku Wind Farm Lands $117 Million Loan Guarantee (Honolulu Star-Advertiser, HI)

http://www.staradvertiser.com/business/businessnews/20100728_Kahuku_wind_farm_lands_117M_loan_guarantee.html

Op/Ed - Massachusetts: The Great Wind Power Bait & Switch (Boston Glove, MA)

http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/oped/articles/2010/07/28/the_great_wind_power_bait_and_switch/

Market Value of Biomass Electricity to Reach $53 Billion by 2020 (Sustainable Business)

http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/20740

Time to Scale Back Renewable Energy Incentives for the Wealthy? (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2010/07/time-to-scale-back-renewable-energy-incentives-for-the-wealthy

Congress Could Spur the Southeast’s Renewable Energy Use, Industry Says (Washington Independent)

http://washingtonindependent.com/92655/congress-could-spur-the-southeasts-renewable-energy-use-industry-says

New Hampshire Utility Seeks Approval of Wood Plant Power Deal (Associated Press)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38430057/ns/business-oil_and_energy

Georgia - Feces-Burning Power Plant Riles Neighbors (WYFF, Greenville, SC)

http://www.wyff4.com/r/24417223/detail.html

Analysis: Canada Clean Power Push Faces Labor Shortage (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE66Q50420100727

United Kingdom - Deal Is Close for Southampton Biomass Energy Plant (The Daily Echo, Southampton, UK)

http://www.dailyecho.co.uk/news/8296483.Deal_is_close_for_Southampton_biomass_energy_plant/

Solar Panels Vs. Historic Districts: A Conflict We Need to Resolve (Scientific American)

http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=solar-panels-vs-historic-district-a-2010-07-28

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Arizona Utilities Told to Help People Cut Energy Use (Arizona Republic, Phoenix)

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2010/07/28/20100728biz-efficient0728.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Western Climate Initiative Offers Cap & Trade (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=12877713

Don’t Forget Reliability in Climate Change: N. American Electric Reliability Corporation (Financial Times of London, UK)

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/Developmental-Issues/articleshow/6228935.cms

Science Matters: Climate Change & Water Are Inextricably Linked (Winnipeg Free Press, Manitoba)

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/greenpage/environment/science-matters-climate-change-and-water-are-inextricably-linked--99480509.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Chevy Volt Will Cost $41,000 before Tax Credits (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2010/07/chevy-volt-will-cost-41000-before-tax-rebate/1

Washington One of Nissan Electric Car First Markets (Puget Sound Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2010/07/26/daily16.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Akamai: US 16th in Broadband Speed - Average US Connection Speed is 4.7 Mbps (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Akamai-US-16th-In-Broadband-Speed-109597

Corporate America, You’re Not Ready for Internal Clouds! (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2010/07/27/corporate-america-youre-not-ready-for-internal-clouds/

GENERAL NEWS

Healthiest State for Kids - New Hampshire, Study Says: Washington 11^th, Oregon 18^th (Associated Press)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/38417221/ns/health-kids_and_parenting/?GT1=43001

Baseball - Portland Beavers May Head to California (Portland Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2010/07/26/daily17.html

DIVERSIONS

Garage Sale Find Called Pricey Ansel Adams Lot - California man paid $45 for glass negatives which may fetch $200 million

http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/38432829/ns/today-entertainment/

Daughter Urges Oklahoma Voters to Not Vote for Father

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hLbW57WUMY9IH4CM6z3_A2maa3KgD9H719S80

Teen Cheerleader Tackles Theft Suspect - 16-Year-Old in Strapless Dress Slams Man to Ground

http://www.kirotv.com/news/24422145/detail.html

Pot Reviewer Gets Paid to Get High - Denver Man One of Country’s First Medical Marijuana Critics

http://www.kirotv.com/news/24422897/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Ringo Starr - Photograph

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rGuPfCD9kdk