Tuesday, November 30, 2010

Energy News Digest for November 30, 2010

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

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

Storm bringing gusty winds, rain & snow to Western Washington (KING-TV, Seattle)

Integrating Wind & Water Power, an Increasingly Tough Balancing Act – Mason PUD 3, Flathead Electric, Milton-Freewater featured (NY Times)

Seattle City Light Workers Sue Seattle, Allege Anti-Gay Retaliation (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

Five Year Fishing Moratorium Proposed for Elwha River (Associated Press)

Editorial - Route Aside, Bonneville Power Administration Transmission Line Vital to Region (Longview Daily News, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Freak Windstorm Knocks Out Power in East Clallam County
·         Integrating Wind & Water Power, an Increasingly Tough Balancing Act
·         Editorial - Route Aside, Bonneville Power Administration Transmission Line Vital to Region
·         Seattle City Light Workers Sue Seattle, Allege Anti-Gay Retaliation
·         Woman to Sue Seattle City Light over Dog’s Electrocution
·         Oregon Iron Works of Vancouver Finished with John Day Dam Gate
·         Free Mason County PUD 3 Calendars for 2011 Now Available
·         Pump Failure Shuts Down Connecticut Nuclear Power Plant
·         Breaking Away from Coal
·         Florida - Whistleblower Fallout over Asbestos Safety
·         Five Year Fishing Moratorium Proposed for Elwha River
·         EPA Not Enforcing Restrictions on Pesticide Use Near Northwest Salmon Streams, Suit Charges
·         Study Says Fish Hatcheries Contribute $2 Billion to West’s Economy
·         The Sea Otter’s Fate in California
·         Sage-Grouse Map Could Help Avoid Wind Farm Fights
·         Oregonians Fight Willamette River Dredge Fill at Hayden Island
·         Cause of Skagit PUD Water Main Break Unknown, 1.5 Million Gallons Spilled
·         Duke Completes 51-Megawatt Wind Farm in Colorado
·         Wisconsin - Xcel Halts Biomass Plant in Ashland:
·         Texas - Climate Plan Comes with $6.2 Million Cost to City of Austin
·         On Our Radar: US Senators Seek Extension of Clean Power Grants
·         New York - Homeowners Slow to Turn on Green Power
·         United Kingdom Likely to Miss Green Energy Targets
·         Solar, Wind Made Up 80% of German Capacity Installed Last Year
·         California Energy-Saving Standards under Scrutiny
·         One Scientist’s Hobby: Recreating the Ice Age
·         Dayton, WA Lights Up Street, Park with Green Energy
·         GM to Hire 1,000 to Boost Electric Vehicle Efforts
·         Forget Net Neutrality, Comcast Might Break the Web
·         Arizona Authorities Clear Centurylink, Qwest Deal
·         WikiLeaks Says It Was Under Powerful Cyberattack
·         Gregoire Wants Legislature to Balance Budget Quickly
·         Computer Work Delays WA Unemployment Checks Two Days
·         Jeanette Hayner, Political Trailblazer, Dies
·         Storm bringing gusty winds, rain & snow to Western Washington
·         Flood Advisory Continues for the Skokomish River
·         Hoodsport Woman Dies after Heart Attack & Crash on 101 at Dayton-Airport Road
·         Arson Fire Destroys Shelton House
·         Tumwater Call Center Fire Leaves Jobs at Risk
·         Ore. Terror Suspect Pleads Innocent in Car Bomb Plot
·         Fuel - Pump Prices Fall with the Onset of Winter Months
·         Port Townsend Radio Stations Looking Forward to First Broadcasts
·         Gold Search under Study in Okanogan County
·         Christmas Tree Farms May be Thing of the Past

WORD OF THE DAY

Frenetic • \frih-NET-ick\ • Adjective - Frenzied, frantic.

The small terrier ran at a frenetic pace, up and down the stairs, showing its joy at the return of its master…after a one minute absence.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Freak Windstorm Knocks Out Power in East Clallam County (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

Integrating Wind & Water Power, an Increasingly Tough Balancing Act – Mason PUD 3, Flathead Electric, Milton-Freewater featured (NY Times)

Editorial - Route Aside, Bonneville Power Administration Transmission Line Vital to Region (Longview Daily News, WA)

Seattle City Light Workers Sue Seattle, Allege Anti-Gay Retaliation (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

Woman to Sue Seattle City Light over Dog’s Electrocution (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

Oregon Iron Works of Vancouver Finished with John Day Dam Gate (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Free Mason County PUD 3 Calendars for 2011 Now Available (Mason County PUD No. 3)

Pump Failure Shuts Down Connecticut Nuclear Power Plant (Associated Press)

Breaking Away from Coal (NY Times)

Florida - Whistleblower Fallout over Asbestos Safety: County to Address Rift at Wiscon Utilities Office - In the spring, county utilities workers were called out for what seemed like a routine pipe repair, but it turned out to be something more (Tampa Tribune, FL)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Five Year Fishing Moratorium Proposed for Elwha River (Associated Press)

EPA Not Enforcing Restrictions on Pesticide Use Near Northwest Salmon Streams, Suit Charges (Oregonian, Portland)

Study Says Fish Hatcheries Contribute $2 Billion to West’s Economy (New West)

The Sea Otter’s Fate in California (NY Times)

Sage-Grouse Map Could Help Avoid Wind Farm Fights (Reuters)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Oregonians Fight Willamette River Dredge Fill at Hayden Island (Courthouse News Service)

Cause of Skagit PUD Water Main Break Unknown, 1.5 Million Gallons Spilled (Skagit Valley Herald, Mount Vernon, WA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Duke Completes 51-Megawatt Wind Farm in Colorado (Bloomberg Businessweek)

Wisconsin - Xcel Halts Biomass Plant in Ashland: Sharp increase in costs of gasification plant cited (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, WI)

Texas - Climate Plan Comes with $6.2 Million Cost to City of Austin - City departments must use only renewable energy by 2012, according to landmark 2007 climate plan (Austin American Statesman, TX)

On Our Radar: US Senators Seek Extension of Clean Power Grants (NY Times)

New York - Homeowners Slow to Turn on Green Power (Albany Times-Union, NY)

United Kingdom Likely to Miss Green Energy Targets (Reuters)

Solar, Wind Made Up 80% of German Capacity Installed Last Year (Bloomberg News)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

California Energy-Saving Standards under Scrutiny (Bloomberg News)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

One Scientist’s Hobby: Recreating the Ice Age (Associated Press)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Dayton, WA Lights Up Street, Park with Green Energy (Tri-City Herald, WA)

GM to Hire 1,000 to Boost Electric Vehicle Efforts (USA Today)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Forget Net Neutrality, Comcast Might Break the Web (GigaOM)

Arizona Authorities Clear Centurylink, Qwest Deal (Bloomberg News)

WikiLeaks Says It Was Under Powerful Cyberattack (Associated Press)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Gregoire Wants Legislature to Balance Budget Quickly (KING-TV, Seattle)

Computer Work Delays WA Unemployment Checks Two Days (Associated Press)

Jeanette Hayner, Political Trailblazer, Dies (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

Storm bringing gusty winds, rain & snow to Western Washington (KING-TV, Seattle)

Flood Advisory Continues for the Skokomish River (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Hoodsport Woman Dies after Heart Attack & Crash on 101 at Dayton-Airport Road (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Arson Fire Destroys Shelton House (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Tumwater Call Center Fire Leaves Jobs at Risk - Nearly 600 employees have the option to shuttle to Federal Way (Olympian, WA)

Ore. Terror Suspect Pleads Innocent in Car Bomb Plot (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

Fuel - Pump Prices Fall with the Onset of Winter Months (Associated Press)

Port Townsend Radio Stations Looking Forward to First Broadcasts (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Gold Search under Study in Okanogan County (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Christmas Tree Farms May be Thing of the Past (KING-TV, Seattle)

DIVERSIONS

Electrician Stuns Art World with Trove of Picassos

“Nutty Narrows” Sandbaggers Help Restore Squirrels’ Safe Passage near Longview Civic Center

Head of Washington State Potato Group Ends All-Spud Diet

Man Charged for Dropping Cruise Ship Anchor

Pennsylvania Woman Rescued from Pickup Stuck in Tree Top

SONG OF THE DAY

Jimmy Buffett - Son of a Son of a Sailor

Monday, November 29, 2010

Energy News Digest for November 29, 2010

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

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

Storm Rolling in with Rain, Wind, and Snow – “…Tuesday: Rain. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 47. South southwest wind between 17 & 20 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%...” (Seattle Post Intelligencer)

Plenty of Salmon in the Sea, But a Struggle to Find Food - Hatchery fish add to growing population, taxing ocean’s resources

Cowlitz PUD Pondering Best Way to Raise Rates (Longview Daily News, WA)

Coalition Files Appeal of Port Townsend Mill Biomass Permit (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

News Release - Simpson Shelton Biomass Facility Awards Construction Contract (Adolfson, Peterson, Inc)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Cowlitz PUD Pondering Best Way to Raise Rates
·         Editorial – Cowlitz PUD Sales Job on Need for Utility Rate Hike a Tall Task
·         Snohomish County PUD Warns of Higher Bills
·         Grant County PUD Rates May Increase by $7
·         Chelan County PUD Might Delay Raises, Extend Surcharge
·         Power Line on Bus Traps Passengers Inside
·         In Kitsap, People with Underground Lines Are the Last to Get Power Back
·         Map of Bonneville Power Administration’s Proposed Transmission Line Available Online
·         Power Line Project Faces Challenges in California Valley
·         Mick Shutt, Longtime Voice of Clark Public Utilities, Retires
·         Susitna Dam Project Continues Alaska’s March toward Self-Sustaining Power
·         Illinois - Tenaska’s ‘Clean Coal’ Power Plant Gets Jolt with Bill
·         Massachusetts - Old Power Plant Begins to Break Spell over Salem
·         Germany Passes Law on Extending the Lifespans of Nuclear Power Plants
·         Texas – Pedernales Electric Co-Op’s Former Chief Is Set for Trial Today
·         Plenty of Salmon in the Sea, But a Struggle to Find Food
·         Editorial - Columbia River Hatcheries Need Better Options
·         Fewer Wardens; Poaching, Fishing Violations Rise
·         Coalition Files Appeal of Port Townsend Mill Biomass Permit
·         News Release - Simpson Shelton Biomass Facility Awards Construction Contract
·         Tapping into Tides for Electricity
·         Editorial - Leave Room for Wave Energy
·         Big Idaho Utility Signs Wind Energy Deal
·         Wisconsin Biomass Power Plant at Juncture - Hearings Will Address We Energies Proposal
·         Oregon - Energy Upgrades Qualify Pacific Stainless for $32k Columbia River PUD Rebate
·         How Much Are Those Christmas Lights Costing Me?
·         Eastern States Diverting Money from Regional Climate Initiative
·         Obama’s Climate Agenda Shifts as GOP Takes over House
·         As Nations Dither on Climate Change, Big Cities Step Up
·         Waves Getting Taller, Stronger - Some Scientists Say Cause Is Climate Change
·         Extreme Weather - A Climate Whodunit: Science Nails the Blame Game
·         Phil Mote, Oregon State University Climate Scientist, Weathers the Storm
·         Will a Flood of Tiny Sensors Help Us Cut Emissions?
·         Secondhand Smoke Kills 600,000 a Year Worldwide
·         Comcast Suffers Major East Coast Outage - DNS server related
·         FCC Mulls Web Traffic Rules for December Meeting
·         LUS Fiber Beats Back Cox/CTC Lawsuit
·         Linking Pockets of Europe to High-Speed Internet
·         Google Grows, and Works to Retain Nimble Minds
·         Technology Notebook: Facebook Closes in on ‘Face’ Trademark
·         Washington State Legislature - Dems Still in Control, But GOP Makes Gains
·         Editorial - The Battle over Municipal Bonds
·         Shelton Mayor Awarded Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership
·         Imagine a Saturday Without Mail
·         Flood Watch in Effect for Skokomish River
·         Storm Rolling in with Rain, Wind, and Snow
·         NOAA Has Been Right so Far, Predicts More Storms
·         Dozens Escape Fire at Tumwater Call Center
·         Suspect in Oregon Bomb Plot Is Called Confused
·         Navy’s Trident Nuclear Warheads Hit the Highway, Bound for Texas
·         Carbon-Monoxide Poisoning of 14 a Reminder of Briquette Danger
·         Fired over Fixed Parking Tickets - Ex-Court Worker’s $256,000 Award Reversed
·         Leslie Nielsen of ‘Naked Gun’ Fame Dies at Age 84 - ‘Shirley, he will be missed’

WORD OF THE DAY

Beaucoup • \BOE-koo\ • adjective - Great in quantity or amount: many, much

Barty and Mildred were enjoying their holiday in France. Barty, however, was sowing a crop of bad will with his “jocularity” at each small, snooty street café he visited. “Mercy Buckets,” he would shout at the retreating waiters & waitresses, chortling into his after dinner espresso. His mangling of “thanks much” resulted in beaucoup trouble at the last night’s dinner, as a “clumsy” busboy “tripped” and cascaded dirty dishes and soapy rinse water over Barty’s finest evening wear.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Cowlitz PUD Pondering Best Way to Raise Rates (Longview Daily News, WA)

Editorial – Cowlitz PUD Sales Job on Need for Utility Rate Hike a Tall Task (Longview Daily News, WA)

Snohomish County PUD Warns of Higher Bills (Everett Herald, WA)

Grant County PUD Rates May Increase by $7 (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

Chelan County PUD Might Delay Raises, Extend Surcharge (Lake Chelan Mirror, WA)

Power Line on Bus Traps Passengers Inside (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

In Kitsap, People with Underground Lines Are the Last to Get Power Back (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

Map of Bonneville Power Administration’s Proposed Transmission Line Available Online (Longview Daily News, WA)

Power Line Project Faces Challenges in California Valley (NY Times)

Mick Shutt, Longtime Voice of Clark Public Utilities, Retires - Spokesman helped customers keep up with complex system (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Susitna Dam Project Continues Alaska’s March toward Self-Sustaining Power (Juneau Empire, AK)

Illinois - Tenaska’s ‘Clean Coal’ Power Plant Gets Jolt with Bill (Crain’s Chicago Business)

Massachusetts - Old Power Plant Begins to Break Spell over Salem (Associated Press)

Germany Passes Law on Extending the Lifespans of Nuclear Power Plants (Deutsch World)

Texas – Pedernales Electric Co-Op’s Former Chief Is Set for Trial Today (Austin American-Statesman, TX)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Plenty of Salmon in the Sea, But a Struggle to Find Food - Hatchery fish add to growing population, taxing ocean’s resources

Editorial - Columbia River Hatcheries Need Better Options (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Fewer Wardens; Poaching, Fishing Violations Rise (Associated Press)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Coalition Files Appeal of Port Townsend Mill Biomass Permit (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

News Release - Simpson Shelton Biomass Facility Awards Construction Contract (Adolfson, Peterson, Inc)

Tapping into Tides for Electricity (Seattle Times)

Editorial - Leave Room for Wave Energy (Oregonian, Portland)

Big Idaho Utility Signs Wind Energy Deal (Reuters)

Wisconsin Biomass Power Plant at Juncture - Hearings Will Address We Energies Proposal (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, WI)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Oregon - Energy Upgrades Qualify Pacific Stainless for $32k Columbia River PUD Rebate (South County Spotlight, Portland, OR)

How Much Are Those Christmas Lights Costing Me? (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Eastern States Diverting Money from Regional Climate Initiative (NY Times)

Obama’s Climate Agenda Shifts as GOP Takes over House (USA Today)

As Nations Dither on Climate Change, Big Cities Step Up (Seattle Times)

Waves Getting Taller, Stronger - Some Scientists Say Cause Is Climate Change (Olympian, WA)

Extreme Weather - A Climate Whodunit: Science Nails the Blame Game (TIME Magazine)

Phil Mote, Oregon State University Climate Scientist, Weathers the Storm Growing Around Global Warming (Oregonian, Portland)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Will a Flood of Tiny Sensors Help Us Cut Emissions? (NY Times)

Secondhand Smoke Kills 600,000 a Year Worldwide (USA Today)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Comcast Suffers Major East Coast Outage - DNS server related, no explanation given (Broadband Reports)

FCC Mulls Web Traffic Rules for December Meeting

LUS Fiber Beats Back Cox/CTC Lawsuit - Sleazy incumbent games in the bayou continue... (Broadband Reports)

Linking Pockets of Europe to High-Speed Internet

Google Grows, and Works to Retain Nimble Minds (NY Times)

Technology Notebook: Facebook Closes in on ‘Face’ Trademark (Everett Herald, WA)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Legislature - Dems Still in Control, But GOP Makes Gains (Associated Press)

Editorial - The Battle over Municipal Bonds (Washington Post)

Shelton Mayor Awarded Advanced Certificate of Municipal Leadership (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Imagine a Saturday Without Mail (National Public Radio)

GENERAL NEWS

Flood Watch in Effect for Skokomish River (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Storm Rolling in with Rain, Wind, and Snow – “…Tuesday: Rain. The rain could be heavy at times. High near 47. South southwest wind between 17 & 20 mph, with gusts as high as 32 mph. Chance of precipitation is 90%...” (Seattle Post Intelligencer)

NOAA Has Been Right so Far, Predicts More Storms (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

Dozens Escape Fire at Tumwater Call Center (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

Suspect in Oregon Bomb Plot Is Called Confused (NY Times)

Navy’s Trident Nuclear Warheads Hit the Highway, Bound for Texas (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Carbon-Monoxide Poisoning of 14 a Reminder of Briquette Danger (Seattle Times)

Fired over Fixed Parking Tickets - Ex-Court Worker’s $256,000 Award Reversed (Seattle Times)

Leslie Nielsen of ‘Naked Gun’ Fame Dies at Age 84 - ‘Shirley, he will be missed’ (Christian Science Monitor)

DIVERSIONS

When the Software is the Sportswriter

Teenage Boys Survive 50 Days Adrift in South Pacific

Christo’s Art Project in Colorado Provoking Lively Debate

‘12 Days of Christmas’ Items’ Cost Nears $100,000

SONG OF THE DAY

Naked Gun Main Theme