The Energy News Digest: Energy News Digest for November 10, 2010

Wednesday, November 10, 2010

Energy News Digest for November 10, 2010

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

The Energy News Digest will be spending November 12 with its favorite WW II veteran. It will return November 15.

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 to Propose Lower Rates – Actually lower rate increases -

But ratepayers will get less certainty in return (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/11/10/1246224/power-company-to-propose-lower.html

Seattle City Light Customers Brace for Proposed Rate Hikes (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/429899_citylight09.html

PUD 3 to Assist Low-Income Customers; Reach Compromise on Ops Center Change Orders (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/news/3760-pud-3-to-assist-low-income-customers-reach-compromise-on-ops-center-change-orders

Pacific Gas & Electric Suspends Executive Who Used Fake Name to Infiltrate SmartMeter Foes (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_16566346

Washington State Lawmaker Wants State Senate to Reject Her Successor (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013387513_apwaprimarycomplaint2ndldwritethru.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

· Bonneville Power Administration to Propose Lower Rates – Actually lower rate increases -

· But ratepayers will get less certainty in return

· Bonneville Power Administration Looks at Rate Hike Next Year

· Bonneville Power Administration Talks to Benton & Franklin PUD’s About Rate Increases

· Seattle City Light Customers Brace for Proposed Rate Hikes

· PUD 3 to Assist Low-Income Customers; Reach Compromise on Ops Center Change Orders

· Mason PUD 3 Enron Settlement Funds to be Used for Low Income Customer Assistance

· Pacific Gas & Electric Suspends Executive Who Used Fake Name to Infiltrate SmartMeter Foes

· Key leader selected for Centralia City Light

· Editorial - Arizona Public Service Coal-Plant Plan Benefits All

· Oil Companies Increasingly Eye Natural Gas

· United Kingdom - New Dark Age on Our Streets: Up to 75% of Councils Are Dimming the Lights to Save Money

· Canadian Sockeye Inquiry Swamped by Documents

· Oregon Filmmaker Hopes to Offer New Perspective on Salmon Issue

· NOAA Sets Conditions for Northwest Navy Sonar Use

· US Army Corps Lays Out Plan to Study Asian Carp

· Hoquiam Getting Fluoridated Water, For Now, From Aberdeen

· Clallam County - Carlsborg Residents Uneasy About Sewer Proposal

· Portland: Five Feet at a Time, Big Pipe Tunneling on $1.4 Billion Project Finishes Ahead of Schedule

· Study Says Rising Temperatures Threaten Wind Energy

· Trailer Report: Hauling Wind Turbines

· DTE Energy Services to Convert California Coal Plant near Bakersfield to Biomass Fuel

· Texas - Electric Co-Op Applies for Construction Loan for Biomass Power Plant

· Rooftop Solar Power Systems Best Way to Cut Electricity Bills

· Satellite to Beam Solar Power to Earth, a La Bond Movie

· Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs Cutting Energy Costs Despite Higher Price

· The Smart Grid Could Help You be Smarter About Your Home Electricity Use

· The Environmental Movement’s Winter of Discontent

· Paul Norman Discusses Hydroelectric, Solar, and Wind Energy in the Northwest

· Ethanol Industry Coping With Higher Corn Prices

· Google Announces ‘Instant Previews’ Search Feature

· Ask.Com Laying Off 130 Workers in Search Retreat

· Washington State Lawmaker Wants State Senate to Reject Her Successor

· Washington State Legislature: Instead of Chopp, Speaker Miloscia?

· Barnes Wins Tight Race for Clark PUD Commissioner

· Squeaker: Benton Judge Race Narrows to One Vote

· Washington Liquor Control Board Bans Alcoholic Energy Drinks

· State to Warn Thousands about Shorter Unemployment Benefits

· Police: Three Arrested in Puget Sound ATM Fraud Ring

· Hearing Set for Mason County’s 2011 Budget

· Boeing’s South Carolina Incentive Package for Training Has $3 Million Deficit

· Western Lumber Production on the Upswing

· US Supreme Court Hears Dispute over Sales Tax on “Free” Phone

· California ‘Mystery Missile’ Ignites Debate: Friend, Foe, or Faux?

· Portland, Seattle Among Least-Stressed Cities, Says Forbes

WORD OF THE DAY

Sylvan • \SILL-vun\ • Adjective – 1a: living or located in the woods or forest b: of, relating to, or characteristic of the woods or forest 2a: made, shaped, or formed of woods or trees b: abounding in woods, groves, or trees: wooded

Chirping birds, a babbling brook, and the earthy, mossy smell of the forest…lit by filtered sunshine welcomed visitors to Bambi’s sylvan paradise.

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 to Propose Lower Rates – Actually lower rate increases -

But ratepayers will get less certainty in return (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/11/10/1246224/power-company-to-propose-lower.html

Bonneville Power Administration Looks at Rate Hike Next Year (The Daily Interlake, Kalispell, MT)

http://www.dailyinterlake.com/news/local_montana/article_3b0e55b6-ec82-11df-9792-001cc4c03286.html

Bonneville Power Administration Talks to Benton & Franklin PUD’s About Rate Increases (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=13474932

Seattle City Light Customers Brace for Proposed Rate Hikes (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/429899_citylight09.html

PUD 3 to Assist Low-Income Customers; Reach Compromise on Ops Center Change Orders (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/news/3760-pud-3-to-assist-low-income-customers-reach-compromise-on-ops-center-change-orders

Mason PUD 3 Enron Settlement Funds to be Used for Low Income Customer Assistance (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/Newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=797

Pacific Gas & Electric Suspends Executive Who Used Fake Name to Infiltrate SmartMeter Foes (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_16566346

Key leader selected for Centralia City Light (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews?Key-leader-selected-for-Centralia-City-L=1&blockID=349624&feedID=410

Editorial - Arizona Public Service Coal-Plant Plan Benefits All (Arizona Republic, Phoenix, AZ)

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/2010/11/10/20101110wed1-10.html

Oil Companies Increasingly Eye Natural Gas (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013387901_apusbigoilbiggas.html

United Kingdom - New Dark Age on Our Streets: Up to 75% of Councils Are Dimming the Lights to Save Money (The Daily Mail, UK)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1328243/Up-75-cent-councils-dimming-street-lights-save-money.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Canadian Sockeye Inquiry Swamped by Documents (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/sockeye-inquiry-swamped-by-documents/article1791840/

Oregon Filmmaker Hopes to Offer New Perspective on Salmon Issue (KBNW Radio, Bend, OR)

http://www.mycentraloregon.com/news/local/1303211/Oregon-Filmmaker-Hopes-To-Offer-New-Perspective-On-Salmon-Issue.html

NOAA Sets Conditions for Northwest Navy Sonar Use

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=13472591

US Army Corps Lays Out Plan to Study Asian Carp (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013385476_apusasiancarpgreatlakes.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Hoquiam Getting Fluoridated Water, For Now, From Aberdeen (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=13472836

Clallam County - Carlsborg Residents Uneasy About Sewer Proposal (Sequim Gazette, WA)

http://www.sequimgazette.com/news/article.exm/2010-11-10_carlsborg_residents_uneasy_about_sewer_proposal

Portland: Five Feet at a Time, Big Pipe Tunneling on $1.4 Billion Project Finishes Ahead of Schedule (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2010/11/city_hall_five_feet_at_a_time.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Study Says Rising Temperatures Threaten Wind Energy (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2010/11/09/science-wind-climate-change-temperatures.html

Trailer Report: Hauling Wind Turbines (Heavy Duty Trucking Magazine)

http://www.truckinginfo.com/news/news-detail.asp?news_id=71896

DTE Energy Services to Convert California Coal Plant near Bakersfield to Biomass Fuel (Brighter Energy)

http://www.brighterenergy.org/19137/news/bioenergy/dte-to-convert-california-coal-plant-to-biomass-fuel/

Texas - Electric Co-Op Applies for Construction Loan for Biomass Power Plant (Beaumont Enterprise, TX)

http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/local/electric_co-op_applies_for_construction_loan_for_bio_mass_power_plant.html

Rooftop Solar Power Systems Best Way to Cut Electricity Bills (Energy Matters)

http://www.energymatters.com.au/index.php?main_page=news_article&article_id=1168

Satellite to Beam Solar Power to Earth, a La Bond Movie (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2010/1109/Satellite-to-beam-solar-power-to-Earth-a-la-Bond-movie

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs Cutting Energy Costs Despite Higher Price (WMBF-TV, Myrtle Beach, SC)

http://www.wmbfnews.com/story/13472824/cfl-bulbs-cutting-energy-costs-despite-higher-price

The Smart Grid Could Help You be Smarter About Your Home Electricity Use (Grist Online)

http://www.grist.org/article/2010-11-09-The-smart-grid-could-help-you-be-smarter-about-your-electricity-

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

The Environmental Movement’s Winter of Discontent (Newsweek Magazine – and 25 cents to John Steinbeck)

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/11/09/the-environmental-movement-s-winter-of-discontent.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Paul Norman Discusses Hydroelectric, Solar, and Wind Energy in the Northwest (Clean Energy Authority)

http://www.cleanenergyauthority.com/solar-energy-news/paul-norman-interview-110910/

Ethanol Industry Coping With Higher Corn Prices (Lincoln Journal-Star, NE)

http://journalstar.com/news/local/article_d6ef7b6e-ec59-11df-9635-001cc4c002e0.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Google Announces ‘Instant Previews’ Search Feature (Associated Press)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/11/09/state/n060122S93.DTL

Ask.Com Laying Off 130 Workers in Search Retreat - The layoffs in New Jersey & China will reduce Ask.Com’s work force of about 400 employees by nearly one-third (Bloomberg News)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/11/09/financial/f141542S00.DTL

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Lawmaker Wants State Senate to Reject Her Successor (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013387513_apwaprimarycomplaint2ndldwritethru.html

Washington State Legislature: Instead of Chopp, Speaker Miloscia? (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2013388360_speaker_miloscia.html

Barnes Wins Tight Race for Clark PUD Commissioner (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/nov/09/barnes-wins-tight-race-for-pud-commissioner/

Squeaker: Benton Judge Race Narrows to One Vote (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/11/09/1245225/squeaker-benton-judge-race-narrows.html

GENERAL NEWS

Washington Liquor Control Board Bans Alcoholic Energy Drinks (KIRO-TV, Seattle)