Energy News Digest for April 28, 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

Cape Wind is a Go - Feds OK First US Offshore Wind Farm (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011722698_apuscapewind.html?syndication=rss

US Supreme Court Hears Dispute on Washington Initiative Petition Signers’ Names (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011718902_apussupremecourtdomesticpartnership.html?syndication=rss

TransAlta, Phasing Out Coal in Washington State, Says Coal Still Key to Alberta (Canadian Press)

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/headline_news/article.jsp?content=b271332417

Biomass Brouhaha - Information on ADAGE Preliminary Application Conference Available Online (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.net/news/1980-information-on-adage-preliminary-application-conference-available-online

Shelton Park District Creation Gets Nearly 52% (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.net/news/1983-shelton-park-district-creation-gets-nearly-52

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         TransAlta, Phasing Out Coal in Washington State, Says Coal Still Key to Alberta

·         New Idaho Nuke Plant Clears First Hurdle

·         Centralia City Light Rate Hikes Proposed

·         Sempra Energy to Pay $410m to Settle Energy Suits Stemming from California Energy Crisis

·         British Columbia Clean Energy Act Will Spark Debate

·         Public Utilities (sic) District to Trim Trees on Old Belfair Highway

·         Quebec to Invest Billions to Boost Hydropower Capacity

·         Iowa Governor Signs Bill Initiating Study for State’s Second Nuclear Plant

·         Forbes Commentary - Springtime for Nukes

·         Natural Gas Supply, Jobs & Technique Debate Booming

·         FERC Clarifies Which Employees May be Shared Across Divisions of Power Companies

·         Sacramento Municipal Utility District Names Two New Executives

·         Columbia River Tribal Chinook Fishing Begins

·         Tribal Fishermen Selling Catch on Columbia River

·         Earn Cash & Save Salmon – Pikeminnow Season is Here

·         NOAA Fisheries Protects 3 Pacific Northwest Rockfish

·         Malfunction in Mabton Sends Raw Sewage into River

·         Washington State Grant to Help Vader’s Ailing Water System

·         Corps Finds Tri-City Levees at Risk of Seepage

·         State Reissues Air Permit for Port Townsend Mill

·         Cape Wind is a Go - Feds OK First US Offshore Wind Farm

·         Biomass Brouhaha - Information on ADAGE Preliminary Application Conference Available Online

·         Vestas Has Surprise Loss as Credit Crunch Cuts Orders

·         Solar Sales to Soar, But Will Profits Follow?

·         Wisconsin - Kids’ Health Focus of Biomass Critics

·         Colorado - The Deaths of Lodgepole Pine Trees Have a Silver Lining

·         Sacramento Municipal Utility District to Buy Geothermal Energy from Vulcan

·         Western Kansas Power Line Project Would Allow More Wind Energy

·         RENEW Wisconsin: Renewable Energy Not Responsible for MGE Rate Increase

·         NY Times Op/Ed - Power from Trash

·         NY Times Op/Ed - And Power from Sewage, Too

·         President Obama Touts New Energy as Rural Jobs Maker

·         Swapping the Lights, Brimming With Savings

·         EPA Makes Its Case on Climate Change

·         Green Groups Divided over US Climate Bill Stand Off

·         On Climate Certainty & Climate Credibility

·         CO2 Tax Evasion Case - Deutsche Bank, RWE Raided in German Probe

·         Cities Offer Discounts on Green Mowers

·         Seattle Times Op/Ed - Time for FCC to Reclassify Broadband to Ensure Internet Remains a Democratic Medium

·         Comcast Continues to Beat Telcos in Broadband Growth

·         US Supreme Court Hears Dispute on Washington Initiative Petition Signers’ Names

·         Washington Post Editorial - Names on Referendum Petitions Should Not be Shielded

·         Traveling Seattle Parks Superintendent Resigns

·         Shelton Park District Creation Gets Nearly 52%

·         Lake Cushman EMS Levy Passing

·         Informant in Olympia Council Member Pot Case Speaks Up

·         Census Workers to Begin Visiting Homes on May 1

·         Vet Battles Home Owners’ Association over Flag Fine - Ex-soldier claims law is on his side

·         Found Alive: The Loch Ness Monster of the Pacific Northwest Prairie. Alas, It Disappoints

·         Sad Meals? California County Trims Toys in Meals to Cut Fat

WORD OF THE DAY

Agent Provocateur • \AY-jent - pro-vock-uh-TERR\ • - One employed to associate with suspected persons & by pretending sympathy with their aims to incite them to some incriminating action.

Stir the pot buddy

You agent provocateur

Then flee the county

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

TransAlta, Phasing Out Coal in Washington State, Says Coal Still Key to Alberta (Canadian Press)

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/headline_news/article.jsp?content=b271332417

New Idaho Nuke Plant Clears First Hurdle (NW Public Radio)

http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=7207

Centralia City Light Rate Hikes Proposed (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews?Centralia-City-Light-Rate-Hikes-Proposed=1&blockID=224169&feedID=410

Sempra Energy to Pay $410m to Settle Energy Suits Stemming from California Energy Crisis (ABC News)

http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=10499907

British Columbia Clean Energy Act Will Spark Debate (Vancouver Sun, BC)

http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html

Public Utilities (sic) District to Trim Trees on Old Belfair Highway (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/apr/27/public-utilities-district-to-trim-trees-on-old/?partner=RSS

Quebec to Invest Billions to Boost Hydropower Capacity (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/04/quebec-to-invest-billions-to-boost-hydropower-capacity?cmpid=rss

Iowa Governor Signs Bill Initiating Study for State’s Second Nuclear Plant (Associated Press)

http://www.kcci.com/politics/23290727/detail.html

Forbes Commentary - Springtime for Nukes: Previous springs have brought bad news to nuclear power advocates. Not so this year

http://www.forbes.com/2010/04/27/loan-guarantees-manufacturing-technology-nuclear-power.html?feed=rss_technology_breakthroughs

Natural Gas Supply, Jobs & Technique Debate Booming (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/environment/2010-04-28-naturalgas28_CV_N.htm

FERC Clarifies Which Employees May be Shared Across Divisions of Power Companies (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/04/23/26698.htm

Sacramento Municipal Utility District Names Two New Executives (Sacramento Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2010/04/26/daily34.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Columbia River Tribal Chinook Fishing Begins (The Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/bill_monroe/index.ssf/2010/04/tribal_chinook_fishing_begins.html

Tribal Fishermen Selling Catch on Columbia River (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/04/27/tribal-fishermen-selling-catch-on-columbia-river

Earn Cash & Save Salmon – Pikeminnow Season is Here (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/531823/

NOAA Fisheries Protects 3 Pacific Northwest Rockfish (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/04/27/1220348/noaa-fisheries-protects-3-rockfish.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Malfunction in Mabton Sends Raw Sewage into River (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/04/27/malfunction-in-mabton-sends-raw-sewage-into-yakima-river

Washington State Grant to Help Vader’s Ailing Water System (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/04/28/1221027/vader-grant-to-help-citys-ailing.html

Corps Finds Tri-City Levees at Risk of Seepage (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011722586_apwatricitylevees.html?syndication=rss

State Reissues Air Permit for Port Townsend Mill (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/04/28/1221573/state-reissues-air-permit-for.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Cape Wind is a Go - Feds OK First US Offshore Wind Farm (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011722698_apuscapewind.html?syndication=rss

Biomass Brouhaha - Information on ADAGE Preliminary Application Conference Available Online (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.net/news/1980-information-on-adage-preliminary-application-conference-available-online

Vestas Has Surprise Loss as Credit Crunch Cuts Orders (Bloomberg)

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-04-28/vestas-has-surprise-loss-as-credit-crunch-cuts-orders-update3-.html

Solar Sales to Soar, But Will Profits Follow? (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63P5LX20100426

Wisconsin - Kids’ Health Focus of Biomass Critics (Wausau Daily Herald, WI)

http://www.wausaudailyherald.com/article/20100428/WDH0101/4280683/1581&located=rss

Colorado - The Deaths of Lodgepole Pine Trees Have a Silver Lining: A California firm is making them into biofuel (Denver Post, CO)

http://www.denverpost.com/technology/ci_14964107

Sacramento Municipal Utility District to Buy Geothermal Energy from Vulcan (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/04/smud-to-buy-geothermal-energy-from-vulcan?cmpid=rss

Western Kansas Power Line Project Would Allow More Wind Energy (Wichita Eagle, KS)

http://www.kansas.com/2010/04/28/1289479/western-kansas-power-line-project.html

RENEW Wisconsin: Renewable Energy Not Responsible for MGE Rate Increase (Wisconsin Politics)

http://wispolitics.com/index.iml?Article=194453

NY Times Op/Ed - Power from Trash

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/28/opinion/28steisel.html

NY Times Op/Ed - And Power from Sewage, Too

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/28/opinion/28george.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

President Obama Touts New Energy as Rural Jobs Maker (New York Daily News, NY)

http://www.nydailynews.com/blogs/dc/2010/04/obama-touts-new-energy-as-rura.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Swapping the Lights, Brimming With Savings (Iowa City Press Citizen, IA)

http://www.press-citizen.com/article/20100428/NEWS01/4280335/1079/news01/Swapping-the-lights-brimming-with-savings

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

EPA Makes Its Case on Climate Change (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/27/e-p-a-makes-its-case-on-climate-change/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Green Groups Divided over US Climate Bill Stand Off (The Guardian, UK)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/apr/28/climate-bill-lindsey-graham-standoff

On Climate Certainty & Climate Credibility (NY Times)

http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/27/on-climate-certainty-and-climate-credibility/?partner=rss&emc=rss

CO2 Tax Evasion Case - Deutsche Bank, RWE Raided in German Probe (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601130&sid=aIPHlf4UHkqU

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Cities Offer Discounts on Green Mowers (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2010-04-27-mower-exchange_N.htm

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Seattle Times Op/Ed - Time for FCC to Reclassify Broadband to Ensure Internet Remains a Democratic Medium

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2011717345_guest28karr.html?syndication=rss

Comcast Continues to Beat Telcos in Broadband Growth (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Comcast-Continues-To-Beat-Telcos-In-Broadband-Growth-108112

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

US Supreme Court Hears Dispute on Washington Initiative Petition Signers’ Names (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011718902_apussupremecourtdomesticpartnership.html?syndication=rss

Washington Post Editorial - Names on Referendum Petitions Should Not be Shielded

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/04/27/AR2010042704579.html?nav=rss_opinions

Traveling Seattle Parks Superintendent Resigns (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/04/27/1220381/traveling-seattle-parks-superintendent.html

GENERAL NEWS

Shelton Park District Creation Gets Nearly 52% (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.net/news/1983-shelton-park-district-creation-gets-nearly-52

Lake Cushman EMS Levy Passing (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.net/news/1982-lake-cushman-ems-levy-passing

Informant in Olympia Council Member Pot Case Speaks Up (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/04/28/1221011/hyer-informant-speaks-up.html

Census Workers to Begin Visiting Homes on May 1 (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/apr/27/census-workers-begin-visiting-homes-may-1/

Vet Battles Home Owners’ Association over Flag Fine - Ex-soldier claims law is on his side (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/04/28/1221010/vet-battles-association-over-flag.html

Found Alive: The Loch Ness Monster of the Pacific Northwest Prairie. Alas, It Disappoints (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/28/science/earth/28earthworm.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Sad Meals? California County Trims Toys in Meals to Cut Fat (Associated Press)

http://www.examiner.com/a-2601152~California_county_trims_toys_in_meals_to_cut_fat.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

DIVERSIONS

Meth Suspect Neck-Deep in Manure, Still Can’t Hide from Cops

http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-504083_162-20003296-504083.html

Joe Boxer Owner Buys Rights to ‘Peanuts’ for $175 Million

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/04/28/1221040/joe-boxer-owner-buys-rights-to.html

Removal of California Memorial Cross Blocked by US Supreme Court

http://www.latimes.com/news/la-cross28-m,0,6701400.story?track=rss

Police Say Vomiting Dog Causes Car Accident

http://www.kirotv.com/news/23282500/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Vince Guaraldi - Linus & Lucy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgoPl35n_AY