Energy News Digest for March 22, 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)

·         Public Support for Nuclear Power at New Peak

·         MidAmerican Customers May See Increased Rates Help Finance Nuke Plant Study

·         New York - $160 Million Claim over Electric Rates

·         Canada - Ontario Hydro Bills Increase to Cover Green Energy Program

·         Mason PUD 3 Awards Students for Electricity-Related Projects at Skookum Rotary’s March 20 Science Fair

·         Squirrel Cuts off Electricity to 3,900 in Kalispell

·         Tallahassee Promoting Smart Grid Technology, But Not Everyone’s Onboard

·         Smart Grid Data: Too Much for Privacy, Not Enough for Innovation?

·         Hatchery Steelhead Program to End in Upper Cowlitz

·         Oregon Researchers Studying Newly Discovered Sturgeon Spawning Area in Willamette River

·         Oregonian Op/Ed - What don’t we know about the Columbia salmon plan?

·         Feds Want Input on Pacific Salmon & Steelhead Populations

·         US Supreme Court Refuses Second Asian Carp Injunction Request

·         Snowpack ‘Pretty Darn Low’

·         EPA to Issue Stricter Drinking Water Standards

·         Tacoma Utility Board Weighs 19% Water Rate Hike

·         Bringing Water to the Odessa Area

·         California Water Pollution Regulator Failed to Disclose Husband’s Ties to Wastewater Dischargers

·         Biomass Subsidies Threaten Oregon Wood Plants’ Supplies

·         Minnesota - Koochiching County Officials to Recruit Biomass Working Group

·         Illinois Could Would Define Tire Burning as Renewable Energy

·         North Carolina - Burnt Tires Earn Energy Credit

·         United Kingdom’s Feeble Wind Farms Fail to Hit Full Power

·         Michigan - Offshore Wind Turbines Promise Jobs & Prosperity

·         Ohio - Wind Farm Researches Ways to Cut Bat Deaths

·         Desert Sun Op/Ed, Palm Springs, CA - Tour of Windmills Make a Skeptic a Believer

·         Texas - Wind Power Uses Ground-Breaking Radar System for Protection of Wildlife

·         California - Chevron to Reveal Solar Test Facility

·         Oregon Town Uses Geothermal Energy to Stay Warm

·         Snohomish County Sets Energy Conservation Record

·         Consumers Buy More Efficient Refrigerators, but Keep the Old Ones Humming

·         EPA, DOE Announce New Steps to Strengthen ENERGY STAR

·         Tapping the Energy Absorbed by the Ground

·         Some Simple Fixes Made Our House More Energy Efficient

·         Using Social Marketing to Promote Energy Efficiency & Conservation

·         Group Formed to Sell Consumers on Smart Grid

·         Missouri - Is It Time to Go Tankless?

·         California Godfather of Energy Efficiency May Measure Up for Real

·         Carbon Sequestration in Cement - Mixing in Some Carbon

·         Fire Can be Good for Global Warming

·         Hillsboro Hopes Its Electric Charging Stations Entice Alternative-Energy Industry

·         Light Goes out on Toshiba’s 120 Year Old Incandescent Bulb Production Line

·         Wenatchee World Editorial - Data Center Bill Is a Jobs-Maker

·         Texas – City of Richardson Weighs Incentives for Data Center

·         NY Times Op-Ed - Ending the Internet’s Trench Warfare

·         Chinese Media Launches New Attack on Google

·         Portland Dials Up for Google

·         Sioux City to Lobby for Google Project

·         Google Fiber Is the PR Gift That Keeps on Giving

·         Lawmakers weigh expanded powers for tax collectors

·         Washington Congressional Delegation - In DC’s Toxic Mix, a Serial Murder Leads to Bipartisanship

·         Nisqually Land Trust & Capitol Land Trusts Make Every Donated Dollar Count

·         Seattle Tops List of Riskiest Cyber Crime Cities

·         Gregoire Names Jill Satran Deputy Chief of Staff

·         Alcohol & Croquet…a Dangerous Combination

WORD OF THE DAY

Verdure • \VER-jer\ • noun - 1: the greenness of growing vegetation; also: such vegetation itself 2: a condition of health & vigor

The verdure of Bartholomew’s perfectly coifed hair was amazing. It had sprung up overnight like the rampant growth of a tropical jungle. Unfortunately the chinstrap as an instant giveaway. “You shoulda got your toupee from Morrie’s,” twanged his shady business partner.

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

Public Support for Nuclear Power at New Peak (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/22/AR2010032201333.html

MidAmerican Customers May See Increased Rates Help Finance Nuke Plant Study (Electricity Forum)

http://www.electricityforum.com/news/mar10/MidAmericancustomersmayhelpfinancestudy.html

New York - $160 Million Claim over Electric Rates - Morgan Stanley & KeySpan accused of conspiring to inflate Consolidated Edison customers’ electric bills (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/03/22/25774.htm

Canada - Ontario Hydro Bills Increase to Cover Green Energy Program (CTV News)

http://ottawa.ctv.ca/servlet/an/local/CTVNews/20100321/OTT_green_energy_100321/20100321/?hub=OttawaHome

Mason PUD 3 Awards Students for Electricity-Related Projects at Skookum Rotary’s March 20 Science Fair (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=699

Squirrel Cuts off Electricity to 3,900 in Kalispell (Flathead Beacon, Kalispell, MT)

http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/squirrel_cuts_off_electricity_to_3900_in_kalispell/16713/

Tallahassee Promoting Smart Grid Technology, But Not Everyone’s Onboard (Tallahassee Democrat, FL)

http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20100321/BREAKINGNEWS/100320003/City-promoting-Smart-Grid-technology--but-not-everyone-s-onboard

Smart Grid Data: Too Much for Privacy, Not Enough for Innovation? (Earth2Tech)

http://earth2tech.com/2010/03/22/smart-grid-data-too-much-for-privacy-not-enough-for-innovation/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Hatchery Steelhead Program to End in Upper Cowlitz (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_48de3e64-34b7-11df-904c-001cc4c03286.html

Oregon Researchers Studying Newly Discovered Sturgeon Spawning Area in Willamette River (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/380589.aspx

Oregonian Op/Ed - What don’t we know about the Columbia salmon plan?

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/03/what_dont_we_know_about_the_co.html

Feds Want Input on Pacific Salmon & Steelhead Populations (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/03/19/25734.htm

US Supreme Court Refuses Second Asian Carp Injunction Request (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011409540_apussupremecourtasiancarp.html?syndication=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Snowpack ‘Pretty Darn Low’ - Drier than usual winter adds up to bad news for hydro power generators, farmers (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/03/21/1117954/snowpack-pretty-darn-low.html

EPA to Issue Stricter Drinking Water Standards (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011409667_apusepadrinkingwater.html?syndication=rss

Tacoma Utility Board Weighs 19% Water Rate Hike (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/03/21/1117955/board-weighs-19-water-rate-hike.html

Bringing Water to the Odessa Area (NW Public Radio)

http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=7028

California Water Pollution Regulator Failed to Disclose Husband’s Ties to Wastewater Dischargers (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2010/03/21/2622315/water-pollution-regulator-failed.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Biomass Subsidies Threaten Oregon Wood Plants’ Supplies (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2010/03/biomass_subsidies_threaten_ore.html

Minnesota - Koochiching County Officials to Recruit Biomass Working Group (International Falls Daily Journal, MN)

http://www.ifallsdailyjournal.com/news/business-news/keda-board-recruit-biomass-working-group-katie-kolt-hall-staff-writer-103

Illinois Could Would Define Tire Burning as Renewable Energy - Legislation would add tire incineration to law boosting wind & solar energy (Chicago Tribune, IL)

http://www.chicagotribune.com/health/ct-met-tire-burning-20100320,0,2538589.story

North Carolina - Burnt Tires Earn Energy Credit (Raleigh News & Observer, NC)

http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/03/21/399685/burnt-tires-earn-energy-credit.html

United Kingdom’s Feeble Wind Farms Fail to Hit Full Power (The Times of London, UK)

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article7069938.ece

Michigan - Offshore Wind Turbines Promise Jobs & Prosperity, But Would Michigan be Sacrificing Natural Beauty for Nothing? (Muskegon Chronicle, MI)

http://www.mlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/03/offshore_wind_turbines_promise.html

Ohio - Wind Farm Researches Ways to Cut Bat Deaths (Columbus Dispatch, OH)

http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/03/22/wind-farm-researches-ways-to-cut-bat-deaths.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=101&title=Wind+farm+researches+ways+to+cut+bat+deaths

Desert Sun Op/Ed, Palm Springs, CA - Tour of Windmills Make a Skeptic a Believer

http://www.mydesert.com/article/20100321/COLUMNS26/3210310/1026/news12

Texas - Wind Power Uses Ground-Breaking Radar System for Protection of Wildlife (REVE)

http://www.evwind.es/noticias.php?id_not=4804

California - Chevron to Reveal Solar Test Facility (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/03/22/1180677/chevron-to-reveal-solar-test-facility.html

Oregon Town Uses Geothermal Energy to Stay Warm (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2011406843_geothermal22.html?syndication=rss

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Snohomish County Sets Energy Conservation Record (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/business/Snohomish-County-sets-energy-record-88695457.html

Consumers Buy More Efficient Refrigerators, but Keep the Old Ones Humming (NY Times)

http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/19/consumers-buy-more-efficient-refrigerators-but-keep-the-old-ones-humming/

EPA, DOE Announce New Steps to Strengthen ENERGY STAR (Environmental Expert)

http://www.environmental-expert.com/resultEachPressRelease.aspx?cid=11245&codi=158123

Tapping the Energy Absorbed by the Ground (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/mar/20/going-geothermal-for-energy-efficiency/?partner=RSS

Some Simple Fixes Made Our House More Energy Efficient (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/03/19/AR2010031906389.html

Using Social Marketing to Promote Energy Efficiency & Conservation (Environmental Leader)

http://www.environmentalleader.com/2010/03/22/using-social-marketing-to-promote-energy-efficiency-and-conservation/

Group Formed to Sell Consumers on Smart Grid (CNET News)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20000782-54.html

Missouri - Is It Time to Go Tankless? A new hot water heater can save you money (St Joseph News-Press, MO)

http://www.stjoenews.net/news/2010/mar/22/it-time-go-tankless/

California Godfather of Energy Efficiency May Measure Up for Real (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2011392153_rosenfeld20.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Carbon Sequestration in Cement - Mixing in Some Carbon (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/22/business/energy-environment/22cement.html?hpw

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Fire Can be Good for Global Warming (Nat’l Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=124980708&ft=1&f=1001

Hillsboro Hopes Its Electric Charging Stations Entice Alternative-Energy Industry (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/hillsboro/index.ssf/2010/03/hillsboro_hopes_its_electric_charging_stations_entice_new_industry.html

Light Goes out on Toshiba’s 120 Year Old Incandescent Bulb Production Line (Triple Pundit)

http://www.triplepundit.com/2010/03/toshiba-incandescant-bulb/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Wenatchee World Editorial - Data Center Bill Is a Jobs-Maker

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/mar/20/data-center-bill-is-a-jobs-maker/

Texas – City of Richardson Weighs Incentives for Data Center (Dallas Morning News, TX)

http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-richtif_22met.ART.State.Edition1.4c80e8b.html

NY Times Op-Ed - Ending the Internet’s Trench Warfare

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/21/opinion/21Benkler.html

Chinese Media Launches New Attack on Google (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62L14V20100322?feedType=nl&feedName=ustopnewsearly

GA-GA FOR GOOGLE

Portland Dials Up for Google (Portland Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2010/03/15/daily39.html

Sioux City to Lobby for Google Project (Sioux City Journal, IA)

http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/article_24eea4f8-347e-5dd5-b374-1449f655589c.html

Google Fiber Is the PR Gift That Keeps on Giving - While carriers warn that already-disappointed people will be...disappointed? (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Google-Fiber-Is-The-PR-Gift-That-Keeps-On-Giving-107468

GENERAL NEWS

Lawmakers weigh expanded powers for tax collectors – No unfettered power: see BPA reimbursement payments (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://www.tdn.com/news/local/article_0d654b56-34b8-11df-95f8-001cc4c03286.html

Washington Congressional Delegation - In DC’s Toxic Mix, a Serial Murder Leads to Bipartisanship (McClatchy Newspapers)

http://www.mcclatchydc.com/2010/03/21/90742/washingtons-smith-reichert-lend.html

Nisqually Land Trust & Capitol Land Trusts Make Every Donated Dollar Count (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/03/21/1179766/land-trusts-make-every-donated.html

Seattle Tops List of Riskiest Cyber Crime Cities (NW Cable News)

http://www.nwcn.com/news/Seattle-tops-list-of-riskiest-cyber-crime-cities-88825027.html

Gregoire Names Jill Satran Deputy Chief of Staff (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/03/22/1181148/gregoire-names-jill-satran-deputy.html

Alcohol & Croquet…a Dangerous Combination - Shelton Man Jailed after Assaulting Another with a Croquet Mallet (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/1682-shelton-man-jailed-after-assaulting-another-with-a-croquet-mallet

DIVERSIONS

Library Book Is Returned - 45 Years Late

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE62I2PB20100319?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest

From Hot Springs to a Big Stink - Paso Robles Will Soon Begin Filling in Its ‘Hole from Hell,’

http://www.latimes.com/news/la-me-pit22-2010mar22,0,7310945.story?track=rss

Arizona Salon Owner Fights Fish Pedicure Ban

http://www.kirotv.com/news/22908971/detail.html

Twin Boys Suspended over Haircuts

http://www.kirotv.com/education/22901812/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Robert Preston - Marian the Librarian

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AnFv29iPACc