Energy News Digest for February 23, 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)

·         Grays Harbor – Satsop Power Plant Expansion Clears One Hurdle

·         Tri-City Leaders to File Yucca Lawsuit Next Week

·         Oregon Investigates Texas Trucking Company, Oregon Nonprofit Over Energy Tax Credits

·         Oregon - Idaho Power rules affect landowners along Brownlee Reservoir

·         New Jersey - Oyster Creek Nuclear Plant Not Detrimental to Aquatic Life

·         Arizona - Lawmakers Mull Nuclear Power as Renewable Source

·         California - Chino Hills Continues Fight Over Edison Transmission Line

·         SF Chronicle Op/Ed - Clean-Energy Plan Could Fuel Higher Rates

·         Connecticut - Suit Alleges Power Plant Ignored Safety Procedures

·         Georgia - Heavy Rain Boosts Thurmond Dam Power Output

·         Applications for Help on Heat Bills Rise by 15%

·         Minneapolis Woman Says $1,600 Water Bill Must be Mistake

·         SF Chronicle Editorial - A Dam Deal: “Hasta La Vista, Klamath Dams”

·         Will Columbia-Snake River Salmon be Saved?

·         Pelican Die-Off Blamed on Disappearance of Fish

·         California - Hard Times for Young Sea Lions

·         California –To Help Steelhead Feds May Spend $7.5 Million on New Fish Ladder

·         Ecology Denies Second Petition to Close Johns Creek Basin

·         City of Shelton to Apply for Loan to Bring Shelton Springs Water Source Back Online

·         Port Angeles Paper Mill’s Water Will be Protected During Elwa River Restoration

·         Anacortes, Skagit PUD Customers Asked to Use Less Water

·         Ocean Power Technologies Begins Wave Power Farm Development Off Oregon Coast

·         If Wyoming Taxes Green Energy, Green Energy Can Go Elsewhere

·         Mojave Desert Solar Project Gets Tentative OK for US Loan Aid

·         California State Senate - Bill Would Speed California Energy Projects

·         Massachusetts - Alliance, Cape Wind Spar over Cost Savings Report

·         Maine - Portland Lawmaker Asks About Possible Conflict of Interest

·         FAQ - Bloom’s Power Plant in a Box?

·         Benton PUD Customers to Get Free Light Bulbs

·         The Efficient Life: The Light Bulb Dilemma

·         Cash-for-Clunkers Rebates Offered on New Appliances

·         Utilities Finding Peer Pressure a Powerful Motivator

·         EPA Plans to Phase in Regulation of Emissions

·         Coal-State Democrats Oppose Global-Warming Rules

·         Natural Gas as a Climate Fix Sparks Friction

·         NY Times Editorial - Climate Change

·         Washington Post Op/Ed - Global Warming Advocates Ignore the Boulders

·         Iceberg Ahead - Climate scientists who play fast & loose with the facts

·         Pacific Northwest Green Homes Sell for More & Faster Than Other Homes

·         Congressional Scorecard: Washington State’s “Green” D.C. Delegation

·         Seattle to Go Carbon Neutral?

·         The Trouble With Kibbles - The Environmental Impact of Pet Food

·         RUS Selects 11 Projects for BIP Broadband Stimulus Funds

·         Broadband Stimulus Funding Moves at a Dial-Up Pace

·         Palo Alto Drops Stimulus Bid, Pinning Fiber Hopes on Google

·         Palo Alto, Seattle, Utah in Line for Google Fiber

·         Portland Prepares Its Pitch for Google’s Fiber Network

·         California - Ventura Vying to be Google Test City

·         US to Unveil Broadband Plan Mar 17, Sees Barriers

·         FCC Takes a Close Look at the Unwired

·         Surprise! Cost, Digital Literacy at Heart of Broadband Gap

·         Broadband Carriers Speak out Against FCC Regulation

·         WiFi Hotspots Especially Hot During Power Outage

·         Washington Senate Democrats Want Sales Tax Hike

·         State Senate Approves I-960 Suspension for the Third Time

·         Washington Senate Proposes Transportation Budget

·         Mom Searching for Missing McCleary Daughter Ordered to Pay Back Unemployment

·         Seattle’s Traffic Remains Ninth-Worst in US

·         Joel Hyer - Still the Nominee Despite Pot Charge

·         Audit Report Confirms Clallam County Treasurer Department Theft in Excess of $600K

·         Voters to Decide on Benton County Seat

·         News Tribune Editorial - Stakes Are High & Time Is Short in Hanford Cleanup

·         Deal to Sell Hummer to China Company Nears Collapse

WORD OF THE DAY

Logomachy • \loh-GAH-muh-kee\ • noun - 1: a dispute over or about words *2: a controversy marked by verbiage

Ira was upset with his brother George. “I’m the one who does the word smithing, you schmuck,” he growled. If I want to write a song about logomachy, it’s up to you to come up with some catchy jingle.”

Fred Astaire - Lets Call the Whole Thing Off (you say tomato, I say tomato….)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJz7bIl0kRw

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

Grays Harbor – Satsop Power Plant Expansion Clears One Hurdle (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)

http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2010/02/22/local_news/doc4b82d35a01854913940248.txt

Tri-City Leaders to File Yucca Lawsuit Next Week (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/02/22/912195/hanford-tri-city-leaders-to-file.html

Oregon - State Investigates Texas Trucking Company, Oregon Nonprofit Over Energy Tax Credits (The Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2010/02/state_investigates_texas_truck.html

Oregon - Idaho Power rules affect landowners along Brownlee Reservoir (Baker City Herald, OR)

http://www.bakercityherald.com/Local-News/Idaho-Power-rules-affect-landowners-along-Brownlee

New Jersey - Oyster Creek Nuclear Plant Not Detrimental to Aquatic Life (Asbury Park Press, NJ)

http://www.app.com/article/20100221/OPINION/2210326/1028/OPINION&source=rss

Arizona - Lawmakers Mull Nuclear Power as Renewable Source (Phoenix Business Journal)

http://sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/othercities/phoenix/stories/2010/02/22/story3.html?b=1266814800^2912891

California - Chino Hills Continues Fight Over Edison Transmission Line (Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, CA)

http://www.contracostatimes.com/california/ci_14452261

SF Chronicle Op/Ed - Clean-Energy Plan Could Fuel Higher Rates

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/02/22/BA2R1C4EIO.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

Connecticut - Suit Alleges Power Plant Ignored Safety Procedures (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011156045_apuspowerplantexplosion.html?syndication=rss

Georgia - Heavy Rain Boosts Thurmond Dam Power Output (The Augusta Chronicle, GA)

http://chronicle.augusta.com/news/metro/2010-02-22/heavy-rain-boosts-thurmond-dam-power-output?v=1266882485

Applications for Help on Heat Bills Rise by 15% (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/us/23fuel.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Minneapolis Woman Says $1,600 Water Bill Must be Mistake - City Believes It’s Accurate (Gazette News)

http://gazetteonline.com/blogs/news-hawk/2010/02/22/minneapolis-woman-says-1600-water-bill-must-be-mistake-city-believes-its-accurate

FISH & WILDLIFE

SF Chronicle Editorial - A Dam Deal: “Hasta La Vista, Klamath Dams”

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/02/20/EDKL1C49DS.DTL&feed=rss.opinion

Will Columbia-Snake River Salmon be Saved? (Huffington Post)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/anna-brones/will-columbia-snake-river_b_471508.html

Pelican Die-Off Blamed on Disappearance of Fish (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2010%2F02%2F23%2FBA0E1C5HKS.DTL&type=newsbayarea&utm_source=AllTodaysNewsRSS

California - Hard Times for Young Sea Lions (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_14446309

California –To Help Steelhead Feds May Spend $7.5 Million on New Fish Ladder (Associated Press)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/02/22/state/n162800S74.DTL&feed=rss.business

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Ecology Denies Second Petition to Close Johns Creek Basin - Squaxins to Appeal to Governor (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/1429-ecology-denies-second-petition-to-close-johns-creek-basin-squaxins-to-appeal-to-governor

City of Shelton to Apply for Loan to Bring Shelton Springs Water Source Back Online (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/1426-city-to-apply-for-loan-to-bring-shelton-springs-water-source-back-online

Port Angeles Paper Mill’s Water Will be Protected During Elwa River Restoration (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)

http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2010/02/22/local_news/doc4b82d3a1daa94483723434.txt

Anacortes, Skagit PUD Customers Asked to Use Less Water (Skagit Valley Herald, Mt Vernon, WA)

http://www.goskagit.com/home/article/anacortes_pud_customers_asked_to_use_less_water/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Ocean Power Technologies Begins Wave Power Farm Development Off Oregon Coast (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/02/ocean-power-technologies-begins-wave-power-farm-development-off-oregon-coast?cmpid=rss

If Wyoming Taxes Green Energy, Green Energy Can Go Elsewhere (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Money/Green-Economics/2010/0222/If-Wyoming-taxes-green-energy-green-energy-can-go-elsewhere

Mojave Desert Solar Project Gets Tentative OK for US Loan Aid (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011156950_apussolarshowdown.html?syndication=rss

California State Senate - Bill Would Speed California Energy Projects (Associated Press)

http://www.examiner.com/a-2488884~Senate_bill_would_speed_California_energy_projects.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Massachusetts - Alliance, Cape Wind Spar over Report Claiming Savings from Wind Farm (The Enterprise, Falmouth, MA)

http://www.capenews.net/communities/region/news/234

Maine - Portland Lawmaker Asks About Possible Conflict of Interest (Portland Press-Herald, ME)

http://www.pressherald.com/news/lawmaker-asks-about-possible-conf-lict-of-interest_2010-02-22.html

FAQ - Bloom’s Power Plant in a Box? (C/NET News)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-13924_3-10457646-64.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Benton PUD Customers to Get Free Light Bulbs (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/02/20/1081198/customers-to-get-free-light-bulbs.html

The Efficient Life: The Light Bulb Dilemma - Do I have to use compact fluorescent bulbs? (Slate Magazine)

http://www.slate.com/id/2245350/?from=rss

Cash-for-Clunkers Rebates Offered on New Appliances (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2010-02-23-energyrebates23_ST_N.htm

Utilities Finding Peer Pressure a Powerful Motivator (NY Times)

http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/02/22/utilities-finding-peer-pressure-a-powerful-motivator/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

EPA Plans to Phase in Regulation of Emissions (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/business/energy-environment/23epa.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Coal-State Democrats Oppose Global-Warming Rules (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011154105_apusclimatechangesenate.html?syndication=rss

Natural Gas as a Climate Fix Sparks Friction (Nat’l Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=123993850&ft=1&f=3

NY Times Editorial - Climate Change “…(can) the world can ever get its act together on global warming…”

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/22/opinion/22mon1.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Washington Post Op/Ed - Global Warming Advocates Ignore the Boulders

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/19/AR2010021903046.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns

Iceberg Ahead - Climate scientists who play fast & loose with the facts are imperiling not just their profession but the planet (Newsweek Magazine)

http://www.newsweek.com/id/233887?from=rss

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Pacific Northwest Green Homes Sell for More & Faster Than Other Homes (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2010/02/green-homes-sell-for-more-and-faster-than-rest-of-the-market/1

Congressional Scorecard: Washington State’s “Green” D.C. Delegation (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/195201.asp?source=pimail

Seattle to Go Carbon Neutral? (Grist Magazine)

http://www.grist.org/article/2010-02-22-seattle-to-go-carbon-neutral/

The Trouble With Kibbles - The Environmental Impact of Pet Food (Slate Magazine – and 25 cents goes to David Gerrold)

http://www.slate.com/id/2244902/?from=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

RUS Selects 11 Projects for BIP Broadband Stimulus Funds (Lightwave Online)

http://www.lightwaveonline.com/fttx/news/RUS-selects-11-projects-for-BIP-broadband-stimulus-funds-85000082.html

Broadband Stimulus Funding Moves at a Dial-Up Pace (New Mexico Business Weekly)

http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/stories/2010/02/22/story7.html

Palo Alto Drops Stimulus Bid, Pinning Fiber Hopes on Google (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_14453220

Palo Alto, Seattle, Utah in Line for Google Fiber (Electronista)

http://www.electronista.com/articles/10/02/22/multiple.cities.want.1gbps.fiber.test/

Portland Prepares Its Pitch for Google’s Fiber Network (The Oregonian, Portland)

http://blog.oregonlive.com/siliconforest/2010/02/portland_prepares_its_pitch_fo.html

California - Ventura Vying to be Google Test City (Ventura County Star, CA)

http://www.vcstar.com/news/2010/feb/22/NxxfcVCouncil23/

US to Unveil Broadband Plan Mar 17, Sees Barriers – FCC will submit broadband plan to Congress on Mar 17 (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2224640220100223

FCC Takes a Close Look at the Unwired (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/23/technology/internet/23net.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Surprise! Cost, Digital Literacy at Heart of Broadband Gap (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2010/02/22/surprise-cost-digital-literacy-at-heart-of-broadband-gap/

Broadband Carriers Speak out Against FCC Regulation (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/02/22/AR2010022204890.html?wprss=rss_technology

WiFi Hotspots Especially Hot During Power Outage (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_14428050

GENERAL NEWS

Washington Senate Democrats Want Sales Tax Hike (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011161564_apwaxgrstatebudget1stld.html?syndication=rss

State Senate Approves I-960 Suspension for the Third Time (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/feb/22/state-senate-approves-i-960-suspension-third-time/

Washington Senate Proposes Transportation Budget (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011156509_apwaxgrtransportationbudget1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

Mom Searching for Missing McCleary Daughter Ordered to Pay Back Unemployment (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/22639498/detail.html

Seattle’s Traffic Remains Ninth-Worst in US (Puget Sound Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2010/02/22/daily8.html

Joel Hyer - Still the Nominee Despite Pot Charge (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2011158408_stillthenomineedespitepotcharge.html?syndication=rss

Audit Report Confirms Clallam County Treasurer Department Theft in Excess of $600K (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.konp.com/local/5548

Voters to Decide on Benton County Seat (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011161623_apwabentoncountyseat.html?syndication=rss

News Tribune Editorial - Stakes Are High & Time Is Short in Hanford Cleanup

http://tdn.com/news/opinion/article_a917e5d6-1fff-11df-87ec-001cc4c002e0.html

Deal to Sell Hummer to China Company Nears Collapse (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/24/business/global/24hummer.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

DIVERSIONS

Superman’s Debut Comic Book Issue Sells for $1M - Rare Comic Originally Cost 10 Cents

http://www.kirotv.com/entertainment/22634019/detail.html

Arson Suspect Caught After Bragging About Blaze - Man Allegedly Told Hairdresser About Crime

http://www.kirotv.com/news/22625528/detail.html

Woman Finds $17,500 Check from 1978 - Unclaimed Insurance Check

http://www.kirotv.com/money/22625099/detail.html

Ohio Man Bulldozes $350K Home to Avoid Foreclosure

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011159242_apusoddforeclosurebulldozer.html?syndication=rss

A Job, but There’s a Catch: A 1,000-Mile Commute

http://www.kirotv.com/news/22630484/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Drive- The Cars

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zqC3KF3fT84