Energy News Digest for April 20, 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

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

British Columbia – Site C Dam on Peace River Laying Groundwork for Surge In Energy Exports “...The biggest market, however, is California, & the province is seeking to persuade state legislators to allow larger power projects to qualify for renewable power premiums…” (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/site-c-dam-laying-groundwork-for-surge-in-energy-exports/article1541339/?cmpid=rss1

Bonneville Power Administration Will Bring Efficiency Proposals to Pasco Meeting (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/04/21/984875/bpa-will-bring-efficiency-proposals.html

Questions & Concerns about Shelton Biomass Project Monopolize Meetings (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/1923-questions-a-concerns-about-biomass-project-monopolize-meetings

Washington Voters Could See Income Tax Initiative (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011656907_incometax21m.html?syndication=rss

One Dead after Seattle-Based Fishing Boat Sinks (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/23216495/detail.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         British Columbia – Site C Dam on Peace River Laying Groundwork for Surge In Energy Exports

·         British Columbia – Peace River’s Site C Dam Criticized by Environmental Groups

·         BPA Considering Alternative Site for New Substation

·         Judge Investigating Claims of Oregon Misconduct by Liquefied Natural Gas Companies

·         Lynnwood Votes to Tax More Utilities

·         Oregon - Reward for ‘Chainsaw Chicken’ Vandal

·         Nine Companies Win Bid for Huge Amazon Dam Project

·         Obama Administration Decides to Continue Spring Dam Spills for Salmon

·         Idaho Statesmen Editorial - Salmon: & Good Day, & & Good Decision, for Idaho Fish

·         Chinook Observer Editorial: Good Salmon News, But Troubling Signs

·         Trout Season Opens on Saturday

·         Orcas Going Through Mini Baby Boom

·         Washington Dept of Ecology Proposes Quality Actions for Snake River Tributaries

·         Idaho Blew off Clean Water Act, Group Says

·         Oregon’s Environmental Prosecutor Suddenly Resigns

·         Questions & Concerns about Shelton Biomass Project Monopolize Meetings

·         Michigan – Traverse City Commission Hears Biomass Concerns

·         New England Wood Pellet Sells Boiler Subsidiary

·         Ohio - $500 Million Hydroelectric Plant Work Starts May 1

·         California - One Injured Wind-Farm Worker Remains Hospitalized

·         Minnesota - Goodhue County Wind Farm Decision Delayed

·         Wind Energy Reduces Electricity Prices, Says Independent Study

·         Solar Power Company Looking Elsewhere

·         Evergreen Solar Still Haunted by German Venture

·         Virginia - Loudoun Supervisors Approve Hybrid Energy Plant

·         Bonneville Power Administration Will Bring Efficiency Proposals to Pasco Meeting

·         Seattle to Get $20M in Fed Energy Funds

·         Senator Kerry Hints at Changes in US Climate Bill

·         White House: Climate Bill ‘Doable’ This Year

·         Longview Daily News Op/Ed - Why Cleaner Air Could Speed Global Warming

·         Buying Carbon Offsets May Ease Eco-Guilt But Not Global Warming

·         Carbon Offsets: How a Vatican Forest Failed to Reduce Global Warming

·         How Not to Get Greenwashed

·         Report Says Undersea Telecoms Cables Face Growing Risks

·         Average US Broadband Speed: 3.8Mbps

·         Skype by the Numbers: It’s Really Big

·         Washington Post Columnist - Our Challenge: Keeping the Internet Open

·         Our Tech-Savvy Supreme Court – Not

·         Microsoft Sponsors New Web Font Standard

·         Washington Voters Could See Income Tax Initiative

·         One Dead after Seattle-Based Fishing Boat Sinks

·         Another Car Ends Up In Goldsborough Creek

·         European Skies Open but Airline Schedules Scrambled

·         Third of Applicants Fail WSP Cadet Physical Test

·         Clerk Arrested In Undercover Lottery Sting

·         2010 Census Response Rate Surprisingly Close to 2000 Rate

·         Census Says Women Equal to Men in Advanced Degrees

·         Pay Dispute May Sink Seattle Hydroplane Races

WORD OF THE DAY

Tousle • \TOW-zul\ • verb - Dishevel, rumple

“Here’s a dime for your troubles, sonny,” the elderly tycoon rasped to his assistant. “And don’t forget to get a shave and a haircut,” the oldster demanded as he tousled the young man’s hair. Comparatively, though, the young man was 55 years old, and well on his way to not requiring haircuts (other than the meticulous routine he carried out to retain his impressive comb over.)

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

British Columbia – Site C Dam on Peace River Laying Groundwork for Surge In Energy Exports “...The biggest market, however, is California, and the province is seeking to persuade state legislators to allow larger power projects to qualify for renewable power premiums…” (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/site-c-dam-laying-groundwork-for-surge-in-energy-exports/article1541339/?cmpid=rss1

British Columbia – Peace River’s Site C Dam Criticized by Environmental Groups (CBC)

http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2010/04/19/bc-site-c-reaction.html

BPA Considering Alternative Site for New Substation (Longview Daily News, WA)a

http://www.tdn.com/news/local/article_97ad342c-4ce1-11df-8af2-001cc4c002e0.html

Judge Investigating Claims of Oregon Misconduct by Liquefied Natural Gas Companies (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/7174-judge-investigating-claims-misconduct-lng-companies/

Lynnwood Votes to Tax More Utilities (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100420/NEWS01/100429987/-1/rss02

Oregon - Reward for ‘Chainsaw Chicken’ Vandal (NW Cable News)

http://www.nwcn.com/news/Reward-for-Chainsaw-Chicken-vandal-91707849.html

Nine Companies Win Bid for Huge Amazon Dam Project (Associated Press)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gOmjsdsbVVWGuWZNrXPK-XMBn9iwD9F719H01

FISH & WILDLIFE

Obama Administration Decides to Continue Spring Dam Spills for Salmon (Magic Valley Times News, Twin Falls, ID)

http://www.magicvalley.com/news/local/article_e24a81ff-81ed-568e-ae1a-cd05ec553416.html

Idaho Statesmen Editorial - Salmon: & Good Day, & & Good Decision, for Idaho Fish

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2010/04/21/1161968/a-good-day-and-a-good-decision.html

Chinook Observer Editorial: Good Salmon News, But Troubling Signs

http://www.chinookobserver.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=2&ArticleID=33707

Trout Season Opens on Saturday (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=311533

Orcas Going Through Mini Baby Boom (Seattle Post Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/418740_orcas20.html?source=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Washington Dept of Ecology Proposes Quality Actions for Snake River Tributaries (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/04/19/982201/ecology-proposes-quality-actions.html

Idaho Blew off Clean Water Act, Group Says (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/04/21/26592.htm

Oregon’s Environmental Prosecutor Suddenly Resigns (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/7173-oregons-environmental-prosecutor-suddenly-resigns/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Questions & Concerns about Shelton Biomass Project Monopolize Meetings (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/1923-questions-a-concerns-about-biomass-project-monopolize-meetings

Michigan – Traverse City Commission Hears Biomass Concerns (Travis City Record-Eagle, MI)

http://record-eagle.com/local/x1270806979/Commission-hears-biomass-concerns

New England Wood Pellet Sells Boiler Subsidiary (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/04/new-england-wood-pellet-sells-boiler-subsidiary?cmpid=rss

Ohio - $500 Million Hydroelectric Plant Work Starts May 1 (Fairfield Echo, OH)

http://www.fairfield-echo.com/news/fairfield-news/-500m-hydroelectric-plant-work-starts-may-1-500m-hydroelectric-plant-work-starts-may-1-663010.html?cxtype=rss_local-news

California - One Injured Wind-Farm Worker Remains Hospitalized (San Diego Times-Union, CA)

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2010/apr/20/one-worker-in-campo-accident-remains-hospitalized/

Minnesota - Goodhue County Wind Farm Decision Delayed (Rochester Post Bulletin, MN)

http://www.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?z=2&a=448500

Wind Energy Reduces Electricity Prices, Says Independent Study (PR NewsWire – It also makes you taller, ten pounds lighter & better looking)

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/wind-energy-reduces-electricity-prices-says-independent-study-91682739.html

Solar Power Company Looking Elsewhere (Colorado Springs Gazette, CO)

http://www.gazette.com/articles/colorado-97421-solar-company.html

Evergreen Solar Still Haunted by German Venture (Boston Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2010/04/19/daily14.html

Virginia - Loudoun Supervisors Approve Hybrid Energy Plant (Washington Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/stories/2010/04/19/daily33.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Bonneville Power Administration Will Bring Efficiency Proposals to Pasco Meeting (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/04/21/984875/bpa-will-bring-efficiency-proposals.html

Seattle to Get $20M in Fed Energy Funds (Puget Sound Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2010/04/19/daily20.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Senator Kerry Hints at Changes in US Climate Bill (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSN2011485220100421

White House: Climate Bill ‘Doable’ This Year (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2011656021_apusclimatebillcongress.html?syndication=rss

Longview Daily News Op/Ed - Why Cleaner Air Could Speed Global Warming

http://tdn.com/news/opinion/article_b92b8656-4cca-11df-a81c-001cc4c002e0.html

Buying Carbon Offsets May Ease Eco-Guilt But Not Global Warming (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2010/0420/Buying-carbon-offsets-may-ease-eco-guilt-but-not-global-warming

Carbon Offsets: How a Vatican Forest Failed to Reduce Global Warming (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2010/0420/Carbon-offsets-How-a-Vatican-forest-failed-to-reduce-global-warming

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

How Not to Get Greenwashed (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/how-not-to-get-greenwashed/article1539147/?cmpid=rss1

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Report Says Undersea Telecoms Cables Face Growing Risks (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63J3LV20100420

Average US Broadband Speed: 3.8Mbps - Delaware remains the country’s fastest state at 7.6 Mbps (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Average-US-Broadband-Speed-38Mbps-107992

Skype by the Numbers: It’s Really Big (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2010/04/20/skype-q4-2009-number/

Washington Post Columnist - Our Challenge: Keeping the Internet Open

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/20/AR2010042002866.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns

Our Tech-Savvy Supreme Court – Not (Wall Street Journal)

http://blogs.wsj.com/law/2010/04/19/our-tech-savvy-supreme-court/

Microsoft Sponsors New Web Font Standard (CNET News)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-30685_3-20002919-264.html?tag=nl.e703

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington Voters Could See Income Tax Initiative (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011656907_incometax21m.html?syndication=rss

GENERAL NEWS

One Dead after Seattle-Based Fishing Boat Sinks (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/23216495/detail.html

Another Car Ends Up In Goldsborough Creek (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/1924-another-car-ends-up-in-goldsborough-creek

European Skies Open but Airline Schedules Scrambled (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63E1TM20100421?feedType=nl&feedName=ustopnewsearly

Third of Applicants Fail WSP Cadet Physical Test (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/04/20/1212617/third-of-applicants-fail-wsp-cadet.html

Clerk Arrested In Undercover Lottery Sting - Investigator was paid $50 for ticket worth $20,000 (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/04/21/1213178/clerk-arrested-in-undercover-lottery.html

2010 Census Response Rate Surprisingly Close to 2000 Rate (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/census/2010-04-20-census-participation-rate_N.htm

Census Says Women Equal to Men in Advanced Degrees (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/apr/20/census-says-women-equal-men-advanced-degrees/

Pay Dispute May Sink Seattle Hydroplane Races (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/04/20/1212346/pay-dispute-may-sink-seattle-hydroplane.html

DIVERSIONS

Briton ‘Gets Chinese Accent after Bad Migraine’

http://news.malaysia.msn.com/weird-news/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4041625

No Success Yet With Birth Control for Feral Hogs

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011658179_apusfoodandfarmwildhogs.html?syndication=rss

Third of US Teens with Phones Text 100 Times a Day

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63J0K220100420

Nat King Cole: An Incandescent Voice

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=126110985

SONG OF THE DAY

T’pau - China in Your Hand

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dryTf2O8rpM