Energy News Digest for January 8, 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

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

•  Latest Chapter in TransAlta vs Environmentalists

•  Freeze on Energy Assistance Program Leaving Some Out in the Cold

•  Four Dead in Missouri ABB Factory Shooting

•  ABB Shooting: Economy May Play Role in Workplace Violence

•  Google Applies to Become Electricity Marketer

•  Alaska - Legislators Hope to Bar Utilities from Charging for Their Mistakes

•  Alaska - Fitch Affirms Chugach Electric Association Bonds at ‘A-’; Outlook Stable

•  Community Bids to Bypass Investor-Owned Utilities Facing Hurdles in California

•  Benton PUD Program Raises Money for Needy

•  Schumer Slams National Grid’s Outsourcing Plan

•  California - Jarvis Taxpayers Group is Suing Sacramento over Utility Fund Uses

•  Final Klamath Basin Agreement Released

•  News Release - Klamath Settlement Agreements Finalized

•  Proposed Rules Would Restrict Boating in Orca Feeding Areas

•  Last Hurrah for Smelt?

•  Seattle City Light Awarded $40,000 Grant for Salmon Habitat Restoration

•  Could Include Lewis PUD Dams - Baird Begins Final Push on Flooding

•  BPA Sheds Some Light on Its Proposal to Fluctuate the Level of Lake Pend Oreille

•  Editorial - It’s Time to Get Control of Pills Contaminating Water

•  Portland City Council’s Wind Turbine Exemption Draws Fire

•  Bellingham Waterfront Wind Gear Is First Step to Wind Power

•  Renewable Energy Awards Finalists Unveiled - Tacoma Power, SMUD in the Mix

•  Businesses Oppose Wisconsin Clean Energy Plan

•  United Kingdom - National Grid ‘Unable to Cope with Wind Farm Expansion’

•  German Wind Farm Growth Threatens Power Grid

•  Clean Energy Sources: Sun, Wind & Subsidies

•  Canada - The High Cost of Green Power

•  When Will Renewable Energy Companies Overtake Traditional Energy Companies?

•  Southern Idaho Ethanol Plant Resumes Operations

•  Weatherization Grants Available from Both Mason County PUDs

•  Benton PUD Smart Meter Installs in High Gear

•  Debate: Do Smart Meters Curb Energy Use?

•  Community Energy Efficiency Program Starts in Ravenna

•  News Release - Puget Sound Energy Helps Local Schools Maximize New State Energy Grants

•  Op/Ed - Climategate: You Should Be Steamed

•  It’s Cold Outside; What Happened to Global Warming?

•  Nissan Turns New Leaf with All-Electric Wager

•  Study Raises Cost Estimate for Electric Cars

•  Olympic Tourists Asked to Buy Carbon Offsets

•  Finding Mars in Alaska

•  ‘Frozen Gore’ Sculpture Fuels Debate in Alaska

•  Op/Ed - Municipal Fiber Needs More FDR Localism, Fewer State Bans

•  Comcast, FCC Take Net Neutrality Dispute to Court

•  FCC’s Underwhelming-Looking Broadband Plan Also Tardy

•  Go Daddy Hiring for Iowa Data Center

•  TV at CES 2010 Runs on Wireless Electricity

•  Cash-strapped Washington State to Consider Job Furloughs

•  EPA Proposes Nation’s Strictest Smog Levels Ever

•  Palo Alto Settles Cell Phone Crash Lawsuit for $1.5 Million

•  Driven to Distraction - Despite Risks, Internet Creeps Onto Car Dashboards

•  Silicon Valley Firm Launches New Smartphone App to Gather Initiative Signatures

•  Canadian TV Coverage of the Vancouver Olympics Won’t Be Available Here

•  Integrity Concerns Force Fox to Postpone Child Quiz Show

WORD OF THE DAY

Orangery • \OAR-unj-ree\ • noun - A protected place and especially a greenhouse for growing oranges in cool climates

Florida may be a natural orangery, but every once in a while God leaves the screen door open during cold weather. Enjoy your orange juice now!

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

Latest Chapter in TransAlta vs Environmentalists (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews?Latest-Chapter-in-TransAlta-vs-Environme=1&blockID=113778&feedID=410

Freeze on Energy Assistance Program Leaving Some Out in the Cold (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=11787742

Four Dead in Missouri ABB Factory Shooting (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6063D420100107

ABB Shooting: Economy May Play Role in Workplace Violence (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Society/2010/0107/ABB-shooting-Economy-may-play-role-in-workplace-violence

Google Applies to Become Electricity Marketer (PC World)

http://www.pcworld.com/article/186371/google_applies_to_become_electricity_marketer.html

Alaska - Legislators Hope to Bar Utilities from Charging for Their Mistakes (KTUU-TV, Anchorage, AK)

http://www.ktuu.com/Global/story.asp?S=11788700

Alaska - Fitch Affirms Chugach Electric Association Bonds at ‘A-’; Outlook Stable (EarthTimes)

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/fitch-affirms-chugach-electric-association,1111614.shtml

Community Bids to Bypass Investor-Owned Utilities Facing Hurdles in California (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2010/01/07/07greenwire-community-bids-to-bypass-utilities-facing-hurdl-1763.html

Benton PUD Program Raises Money for Needy (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/yahoonews/story/855414.html

Schumer Slams National Grid’s Outsourcing Plan - 200 IT jobs in peril at energy company’s upstate New York offices (Information Week)

http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/privacy/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=222300075&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_News

California - Jarvis Taxpayers Group is Suing Sacramento over Utility Fund Uses (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/1089/story/2445705.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Final Klamath Basin Agreement Released (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2010/01/final_klamath_basin_agreement.html

News Release - Klamath Settlement Agreements Finalized (IndyBay, CA)

http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2010/01/08/18634710.php

Proposed Rules Would Restrict Boating in Orca Feeding Areas (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010738153_orca08m.html

Last Hurrah for Smelt? (The Daily News, Longview, WA)

http://www.tdn.com/lifestyles/article_72fb2398-fbef-11de-9a50-001cc4c03286.html

Seattle City Light Awarded $40,000 Grant for Salmon Habitat Restoration (Electric Energy Online)

http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=125286

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Could Include Lewis PUD Dams - Baird Begins Final Push on Flooding: Congressman Will Make Recommendations in House to Help Flood Control Projects (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

http://www.chronline.com/articles/2010/01/07/news/doc4b4623c7ebcc3567901177.txt

BPA Sheds Some Light on Its Proposal to Fluctuate the Level of Lake Pend Oreille (Bonner County Daily Bee, Sandpoint ID)

http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com/articles/2010/01/07/news/doc4b45899329d81431340262.txt

Olympian Editorial - It’s Time to Get Control of Pills Contaminating Water

http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/1094388.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Portland City Council’s Wind Turbine Exemption Draws Fire (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/6501-councils-wind-turbines-exemption-draws-fire/

Bellingham Waterfront Wind Gear Is First Step to Wind Power (Bellingham Herald, WA)

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/477/story/1234505.html

Excellence in Renewable Energy Awards Finalists Unveiled - Tacoma Power’s Mossyrock Hydro Rebuild & SMUD’s 1.2-MW Solar Share Program are among winners (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/renewable-energy-world-conference-expo-north-america-2769/news/article/2010/01/excellence-in-renewable-energy-awards-finalists-unveiled

Businesses Oppose Wisconsin Clean Energy Plan (ABC News)

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=9503476

United Kingdom - National Grid ‘Unable to Cope with Wind Farm Expansion’ As Nine New Sites Get Go-Ahead (The Daily Mail, UK)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1241548/National-Grid-able-cope-new-wind-farms-say-energy-experts.html

German Wind Farm Growth Threatens Power Grid, Handelsblatt Says (Bloomberg)

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601100&sid=a8fZszpT3FyU

Clean Energy Sources: Sun, Wind & Subsidies - As Governments Increase Spending & Support for Renewable Power, Even Fans Wonder if Aid Could Be More Efficient (Wall Street Journal)

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126290539750320495.html?mod=WSJ_WSJ_US_News_6

Canada - The High Cost of Green Power - Ontario’s market prices are down, but bills are rising for residents, who are shouldering the cost of the province’s clean energy plan (Globe & Mail)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/the-high-cost-of-green-power/article1423423/

When Will Renewable Energy Companies Overtake Traditional Energy Companies? (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/01/when-will-renewable-energy-companies-overtake-traditional-energy-companies?cmpid=rss

Southern Idaho Ethanol Plant Resumes Operations (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010742450_apusethanolplantrestartidaho.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Weatherization Grants Available from Both Mason County PUDs (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1028:weatherization-grants-available-from-both-puds&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

Benton PUD Smart Meter Installs in High Gear (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/northwest/story/1020754.html

Debate: Do Smart Meters Curb Energy Use? (Nat’l Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122350735&ft=1&f=3

Community Energy Efficiency Program Starts in Ravenna (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=266851

News Release - Puget Sound Energy Helps Local Schools Maximize New State Energy Grants (EarthTimes)

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/pse-helps-local-schools-maximize,1111397.shtml

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Seattle P-I Op/Ed - Climategate: You Should Be Steamed

http://www.seattlepi.com/opinion/413976_climategate08.html?source=mypi

It’s Cold Outside; What Happened to Global Warming? (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Bright-Green/2010/0107/It-s-cold-outside.-What-happened-to-global-warming

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Nissan Turns New Leaf with All-Electric Wager (Bloomberg News)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010737397_nissanelectric08.html

Study Raises Cost Estimate for Electric Cars (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/08/business/energy-environment/08auto.html

Olympic Tourists Asked to Buy Carbon Offsets (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/01/07/bc-2010-olympic-carbon-offsets.html

Finding Mars in Alaska (Alaska Dispatch)

http://www.alaskadispatch.com/dispatches/features/3563-finding-mars-in-alaska

‘Frozen Gore’ Sculpture Fuels Debate in Alaska (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2010737662_apusfrozenalgore.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Ars Technica Op/Ed - Municipal Fiber Needs More FDR Localism, Fewer State Bans

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/01/municipal-fiber-needs-more-fdr-localism-fewer-state-bans.ars

Comcast, FCC Take Net Neutrality Dispute to Court (Associated Press)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100108/ap_on_hi_te/us_tec_comcast_fcc_internet_rules

FCC’s Underwhelming-Looking Broadband Plan Also Tardy (Ars Technica)

http://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/news/2010/01/fccs-underwhelming-looking-broadband-plan-also-tardy.ars

Go Daddy Hiring for Iowa Data Center (Phoenix Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/stories/2010/01/04/daily52.html

TV at CES 2010 Runs on Wireless Electricity (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/08/BUSU1BF0MV.DTL&feed=rss.news

GENERAL NEWS

Cash-strapped Washington State to Consider Job Furloughs - Senate leader suggests day off per month (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/government/story/1019176.html

EPA Proposes Nation’s Strictest Smog Levels Ever (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010738336_smog08.html

Palo Alto Settles Cell Phone Crash Lawsuit for $1.5 Million (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_14146194

Driven to Distraction - Despite Risks, Internet Creeps Onto Car Dashboards (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/07/technology/07distracted.html

Silicon Valley Firm Launches New Smartphone App to Gather Initiative Signatures (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_14128248

Canadian TV Coverage of the Vancouver Olympics Won’t Be Available Here (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/olympics/2010738218_olytv08.html

Integrity Concerns Force Fox to Postpone Child Quiz Show (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/08/business/media/08genius.html

DIVERSIONS

Sunbeam, Magnifying Glass Set Fire in Wyoming Home

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2010726748_apusoddmagnifyingglassfire.html

Speeding motorist fined $290,000

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6063XO20100107

Spokane couple collects cans to pay for wedding

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

Ewww! Scientists Say Half of All Soda Fountains Harbor Fecal Bacteria

http://consumerist.com/2010/01/scientists-say-half-of-all-soda-fountains-harbor-fecal-bacteria.html

SONG OF THE DAY

The Wubbulous World of Dr. Seuss - Clean Up Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qrayvR3CknA