Energy News Digest for September 24, 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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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Four Killed, One Wounded in West Seattle Murder-Suicide (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/25134283/detail.html

California OKs Tougher Renewables Target (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68N0AX20100924

Citizens Hear about Simpson Biomass Co-Gen Project (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/3343-citizens-hear-about-simpson-biomass-co-gen-project

Tribes Say Draft Study on Salmon Hatchery Operations May Cut Fish (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/09/23/1180446/tribes-say-draft-study-may-cut.html

Chelan PUD Power Auction Nets $84 Million (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

http://www.kpq.com/9-22-10---PUD-Auction-nets--84-million--more-/8202569

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Chelan PUD Power Auction Nets $84 Million
• Aid Sought for Nuclear Plants – Will it Help Calvert Cliffs Project?
• Natural Gas Up on Storm Threat to Production
• Doctors, Miners Weigh in on Xcel Natural Gas Plan
• Two More Charged With Posing as San Bruno Natural Gas Blast Victims
• Montana - Switch to Underground Cable Benefits Whooping Cranes
• Canada - Ontario Consumers to Face Higher Electricity Bills from Profit-Boosting
• Canada - Ontario Energy Regulator Blamed for Sharp Rise in Hydro Bills
• Tribes Say Draft Study on Salmon Hatchery Operations May Cut Fish
• Fish Runs Rebounding, But Still Threatened
• Idaho Steelhead Return in Historic, Mood-Inflating Numbers
• Chinook Salmon Sport & Commercial Catches Spike Around Portland
• Commerce Chief: Fishery Penalties to be Reviewed
• EPA Unveils Plan to Reduce Columbia River’s Toxic Pollution
• EPA Threatens States over Chesapeake Bay Cleanup
• Thurston County’s Black Lake Unsafe, State Algae Tests Show
• Contamination Found in Ephrata Water
• Fluoridation Fracas - High Court Sides with Port Angeles in Initiatives
• Oklahoma - Tribe Can’t Intervene in Poultry Water Pollution Case
• California - Are Dust, Smoke & Diesel Exhaust Really Killing 9,200 a Year?
• California OKs Tougher Renewables Target
• Citizens Hear about Simpson Biomass Co-Gen Project
• Op/Ed - The Power of Biomass: A Bold Third Way for Boardman’s Future
• Wind Company Raises $18 Million for Pacific Northwest Transmission Space
• Previously on END - Huge Wind Turbine Farm Opens Off Coast of Southeast England
• Wind Energy Capacity in United Kingdom Now Greater Than Rest of the World Combined
• Op/Ed - Windfall in New York
• Op/Ed - 15 Reasons Wind Power Is Vastly Overrated
• The Battle of the Bulbs
• Utility Pros Fret over Consumers in Smart Grid
• Federal Grant to Support Climate Research Center
• The Future of Carbon Reporting
• Who Gets to Set Earth’s Thermostat?
• Top Northwest Firms Silent on Their Climate Impacts
• US Cities Tout Conservation, but Many Don’t Take Action
• CEO: No Verizon iPhone in Works
• Idaho - Otter Ad Says Alternative Energy Is Top Priority, Allred Says Governor Is Greenwashing Record
• DeMint Scolds Republican Colleagues on Murkowski’s Energy Committee Assignment
• Two Indicted in Oregon Initiative Fraud Charges
• Four Killed, One Wounded in West Seattle Murder-Suicide
• Small Fire in Hopper at Skookum Creek Tobacco Company
• Pair Face at Least 214 Theft Charges - Man also part of another ID investigation
• Reports Say Hawaii Roads among the Nations Roughest
• Washington & Oregon Avoid the “Rough Roads” List
• Ichiro First to 200 Hits in Ten Straight Years

WORD OF THE DAY

Disport • \dih-SPORT\ • - To play or amuse

The sea otters were the clowns of the aquatic show; leaping & disporting themselves before the slack-jawed audience as they waited for their treats…the sea otters, that is.

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

Chelan PUD Power Auction Nets $84 Million (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

http://www.kpq.com/9-22-10---PUD-Auction-nets--84-million--more-/8202569

Aid Sought for Nuclear Plants – Will it Help Calvert Cliffs Project? (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/23/aid-sought-for-nuclear-plants/

Natural Gas Up on Storm Threat to Production (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012976737_apusoilprices.html

Doctors, Miners Weigh in on Xcel Natural Gas Plan (Associated Press)

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2010/09/24/business-financial-administration-financial-impact-us-co-xcel-energy-power-plants_7957207.html

Two More Charged With Posing as San Bruno Natural Gas Blast Victims (Associated Press)

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/09/24/us/AP-US-Pipeline-Explosion-Fake-Victims.html

Montana - Switch to Underground Cable Benefits Whooping Cranes (Grand Forks Herald, MT)

http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/176659/group/homepage/

Canada - Ontario Consumers to Face Higher Electricity Bills from Profit-Boosting (Globe & Mail)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario/ontario-consumers-to-face-higher-electricity-bills-from-profit-boosting/article1721343/

Canada - Ontario Energy Regulator Blamed for Sharp Rise in Hydro Bills - Regulator has quietly shifted responsibility for building costly new electricity systems from investors to consumers (Globe & Mail)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/ontario/ontario-energy-regulator-blamed-for-sharp-rise-in-hydro-bills/article1721343/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Tribes Say Draft Study on Salmon Hatchery Operations May Cut Fish (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/09/23/1180446/tribes-say-draft-study-may-cut.html

Fish Runs Rebounding, But Still Threatened (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/sep/24/fish-runs-rebounding-still-threatened/

Idaho Steelhead Return in Historic, Mood-Inflating Numbers - This fall’s run on the Main Salmon is the best it’s been in 10 years. So stop complaining (New West)

http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/idaho_steelhead_return_in_historic_mood_inflating_numbers/C41/L41/

Chinook Salmon Sport & Commercial Catches Spike Around Portland (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/bill_monroe/index.ssf/2010/09/chinook_catches_spike_around_p.html

Commerce Chief: Fishery Penalties to be Reviewed (Associated Press)

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2010/09/23/us/AP-US-Fishery-Enforcement.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

EPA Unveils Plan to Reduce Columbia River’s Toxic Pollution (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2010/09/epa_unveils_plan_to_reduce_col.html

EPA Threatens States over Chesapeake Bay Cleanup (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/24/AR2010092402864.html

Thurston County’s Black Lake Unsafe, State Algae Tests Show (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/09/24/1380140/thurston-county-black-lake-unsafe.html

Contamination Found in Ephrata Water (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/article_a7b51e54-c75f-11df-9f51-001cc4c03286.html

Fluoridation Fracas - High Court Sides with Port Angeles in Initiatives (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=13206720

Oklahoma - Tribe Can’t Intervene in Poultry Water Pollution Case (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/09/23/30548.htm

California - Are Dust, Smoke & Diesel Exhaust Really Killing 9,200 a Year? (California Watch)

http://californiawatch.org/watchblog/are-dust-smoke-and-diesel-exhaust-really-killing-9200-year-5020

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

California OKs Tougher Renewables Target (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68N0AX20100924

Citizens Hear about Simpson Biomass Co-Gen Project (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/3343-citizens-hear-about-simpson-biomass-co-gen-project

Op/Ed - The Power of Biomass: A Bold Third Way for Boardman’s Future (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/09/the_power_of_biomass_a_bold_th.html

Wind Company Raises $18 Million for Pacific Northwest Transmission Space (KULR-TV, Billings, MT)

http://www.kulr8.com/news/state/103674044.html

Previously on END - Huge Wind Turbine Farm Opens Off Coast of Southeast England (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/business/energy-environment/24wind.html

Wind Energy Capacity in United Kingdom Now Greater Than Rest of the World Combined (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Latest-News-Wires/2010/0923/Wind-energy-capacity-in-UK-now-greater-than-rest-of-the-world-combined

Op/Ed - Windfall in New York (NY Times)

http://opinionator.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/20/windfall-in-new-york/?hp

Windfall Movie - Official Trailer (YouTube)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cBYjZG8O6qE

Op/Ed - 15 Reasons Wind Power Is Vastly Overrated (Kiowa County Signal, KS)

http://www.kiowacountysignal.com/opinions/x1916545674/15-reasons-wind-power-is-vastly-overrated

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

The Battle of the Bulbs (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/23/the-battle-of-the-bulbs/

Utility Pros Fret over Consumers in Smart Grid (CNET News)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20017348-54.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Federal Grant to Support Climate Research Center (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/09/23/1379602/federal-grant-to-support-climate.html

The Future of Carbon Reporting (Reuters)

http://blogs.reuters.com/environment/2010/09/the-future-of-carbon-reporting/

Who Gets to Set Earth’s Thermostat? (NY Times)

http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/who-gets-to-set-earths-thermostat/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Top Northwest Firms Silent on Their Climate Impacts (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

http://www.kuow.org/program.php?id=21460

US Cities Tout Conservation, but Many Don’t Take Action (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2010/09/survey-us-cities-conservation-/1

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

CEO: No Verizon iPhone in Works (San Francisco Business Times)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2010/09/20/daily58.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Idaho - Otter Ad Says Alternative Energy Is Top Priority, Allred Says Governor Is Greenwashing Record (LA Times, CA)

http://www.latimes.com/business/nationworld/wire/sns-ap-id-otter-alternative-energy,0,1698651.story

DeMint Scolds Republican Colleagues on Murkowski’s Energy Committee Assignment (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2012980945_apusalaskasenate.html

Two Indicted in Oregon Initiative Fraud Charges (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/13954-two-indicted-oregon-initiative-fraud-charges/

GENERAL NEWS

Four Killed, One Wounded in West Seattle Murder-Suicide (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/25134283/detail.html

Small Fire in Hopper at Skookum Creek Tobacco Company (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/3342-small-fire-in-hopper-at-skookum-creek-tobacco-company

Pair Face at Least 214 Theft Charges - Man also part of another ID investigation (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/09/24/1380133/pair-face-at-least-214-theft-charges.html

Reports Say Hawaii Roads among the Nations Roughest (KGMB-TV, HI)

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/Global/story.asp?S=13195830

Washington & Oregon Avoid the “Rough Roads” List (TRIP - Links to PDF File)

http://www.tripnet.org/national/Urban_Roads_PR_092210.pdf

Ichiro First to 200 Hits in Ten Straight Years (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68M4ZH20100924

DIVERSIONS

Oregon Woman Robbed Bank, Picked Up Kids (I can ONLY imagine what that day’s to-do list looked like)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/25117587/detail.html

Costumed Gorilla Stunts Drive Police Ape

http://www.kirotv.com/news/25114262/detail.html

Eddie Fisher Dies at 82

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE68N0M220100924

Sad Irony - Vancouver, Washington Trucker Killed When Meat Truck Hits Cow

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/103686309.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Eddie Fisher - Count Your Blessings

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O2Q5JRxNb8s