Energy News Digest for April 30, 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

BPA Defends Need for New Line in Southwest Washington (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011744165_apwabpatransmissionline.html?syndication=rss

Oil from Spill Is Reported to Have Reached the Coast (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/01/us/01gulf.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Pikeminnow Aren’t Only Good-Looking, They’re Valuable (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://www.tdn.com/lifestyles/article_404042a0-53e0-11df-b5b7-001cc4c002e0.html

Missing McCleary Girl’s Investigation Stepped Up - Reward Now $25,000 (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/04/30/1168806/missing-girls-investigation-stepped.html

Former Shelton Police Officer Announces Candidacy for Mason County Commissioner (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/1992-former-shelton-cop-announces-candidacy-for-mason-county-commissioner

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         BPA Defends Need for New Line in Southwest Washington

·         Oil from Spill Is Reported to Have Reached the Coast

·         Possible Political Fall out from US Oil Spill

·         Natural Gas Prices Tumble with Growing Supplies

·         Virginia - Utility to Kick in $27.5 Million to Avoid ‘Rate Shock’

·         Idaho - Salmon River Electric Cooperative Annual Meeting Updates Members on Electric Power Delivery

·         Picture Gallery - Franklin PUD’s Solar Concert

·         Study Says ‘Clean Coal’ Plants Would Create Thousands of Jobs in Illinois

·         Nuclear Industry to Hire for Growth, Retirements

·         Areva to Work on California Nuclear Plant

·         Montenegrins Storm Aluminum Factory over Layoffs

·         May is National Electrical Safety Month

·         Pikeminnow Aren’t Only Good-Looking, They’re Valuable

·         Fishing Report: Still Plenty of Spots to Catch Spring Chinook

·         Judge Sets Aside Washington State Standards for Salmon Farms

·         New Catch Rules to Shake Up New England Fishing Industry

·         Judge Rebuffs Initial Sage Grouse Lawsuit

·         EPA Launches Web Site Listing Water Polluters

·         Report: Wood, Wind Could Help Meet Rural Alaska Energy Needs

·         Michigan - Traverse City Utility Takes Another Step Toward Wood-Based Power

·         Wisconsin - Environmentalists Criticize Energy Bill over Trash Burning

·         Massachusetts Treasurer Says Cape Wind Is ‘Not the Real Solution’ to State’s Energy Needs

·         New York Wind Farm Still Hasn’t Made $6.7 Million Payment in Lieu of Taxes

·         Iowa - Alliant Official Says Wind Energy Is Not Cheaper

·         Baltimore Sun Columnist - Wind Energy Still Expensive, Relatively Rare

·         Answer to High Electric Bills Could be Blowing in the Wind

·         NY Times Op/Ed - American Power Act

·         Includes Energy Efficiency Money - State Makes Good on Money for Port Angeles Mill

·         Global Warming: A Market Proposal Even Libertarians Would Love

·         The Dark Side of Cloud Computing: Soaring Carbon Emissions

·         Greenpeace Lauds Cisco on Climate, Chides Google

·         Want to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint? Move to San Francisco

·         No “Grid Lock” Expected from Electric Transportation

·         Hybrids & Plug-Ins: Cleaner? Yes. Cheaper? Depends.

·         Stimulus Money Helps Bring Car Battery Maker to Portland

·         Alleys Could be Seattle’s “Green Lungs”

·         Visualizing CO2: Making Emissions Tangible to Change Behavior

·         Vermont Ponders More Monitoring of Worker Web Surfing

·         People Start to Realize the National Broadband Plan Has a Broadband Tax

·         Why Your (Renewable Energy) Organization Should be Blogging

·         Former Shelton Police Officer Announces Candidacy for Mason County Commissioner

·         Americans Connecting With Government Online, Pew Finds

·         Missing McCleary Girl’s Investigation Stepped Up - Reward Now $25,000

·         Census Workers to Begin Ringing Doorbells Saturday

·         Taxable Retail Sales Down in Mason County Last Year

·         Your Personal Biomass Project - New $1 Cigarette Tax Starts Tomorrow in Washington

·         Volunteers, Parents Turned Away from School Beautification Project

·         Harley-Davidson May Leave Wisconsin if Costs Don’t Fall

·         Math Error Blamed – California Health Insurance Firm Withdraws Rate Increase Request

·         NASA: Some of Moon’s Craters May be Electrified

WORD OF THE DAY

Spelunker • \spih-LUNK-er\ • noun - One who makes a hobby of exploring & studying caves

Kevin imagined himself a famous spelunker…braving spiders & other mysterious creatures underneath the historic Matlock home as he conducted another free energy audit.

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

BPA Defends Need for New Line in Southwest Washington (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011744165_apwabpatransmissionline.html?syndication=rss

Oil from Spill Is Reported to Have Reached the Coast (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/05/01/us/01gulf.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Possible Political Fall out from US Oil Spill - Spill in the Gulf of Mexico could undermine support for offshore drilling (Reuters – Golly, “understated headline of the day” department)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE63S2LR20100429

Natural Gas Prices Tumble with Growing Supplies (Associated Press)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2010/04/29/financial/f121221D82.DTL&feed=rss.business

Virginia - Utility to Kick in $27.5 Million to Avoid ‘Rate Shock’ (North Virginia Daily, Strasberg, VA)

http://www.nvdaily.com/news/2010/04/utility-to-kick-in-275-million-to-avoid-rate-shock.php

Idaho - Salmon River Electric Cooperative Annual Meeting Updates Members on Electric Power Delivery (Challis Messenger, ID)

http://www.challismessenger.com/index.php?accnum=story-26-20100429

Picture Gallery - Franklin PUD’s Solar Concert (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/04/29/995929/gallery-solar-sounds.html

Study Says ‘Clean Coal’ Plants Would Create Thousands of Jobs in Illinois (Carbondale Southern, IL)

http://thesouthern.com/news/local/state-and-regional/article_2027174c-539e-11df-aea8-001cc4c03286.html

Nuclear Industry to Hire for Growth, Retirements (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011740855_apusnuclearcareers.html?syndication=rss

Areva to Work on California Nuclear Plant (The Electricity Forum)

http://www.electricityforum.com/news/apr10/ArevatoworkonCalifornianuclearplant.html

Montenegrins Storm Aluminum Factory over Layoffs (Bloomberg News)

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9FDCRE00.htm

May is National Electrical Safety Month (Electric Energy Online)

http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=132678

FISH & WILDLIFE

Pikeminnow Aren’t Only Good-Looking, They’re Valuable (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://www.tdn.com/lifestyles/article_404042a0-53e0-11df-b5b7-001cc4c002e0.html

Fishing Report: Still Plenty of Spots to Catch Spring Chinook (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://www.tdn.com/lifestyles/article_4336d284-53e1-11df-8b57-001cc4c002e0.html

Judge Sets Aside Washington State Standards for Salmon Farms (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/92478914.html

New Catch Rules to Shake Up New England Fishing Industry (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011744313_apmafishingregulations.html?syndication=rss

Judge Rebuffs Initial Sage Grouse Lawsuit (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2010/apr/29/judge-rebuffs-initial-sage-grouse-lawsuit/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

EPA Launches Web Site Listing Water Polluters (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/04/30/26876.htm

Here’s a link to the website – beware of popup bureaucrats… (Environmental Protection Agency)

http://www.epa-echo.gov/echo/ancr/us/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Report: Wood, Wind Could Help Meet Rural Alaska Energy Needs (Fairbanks News Miner, AK)

http://newsminer.com/view/full_story/7254229/article-Report--Wood--wind-could-aid-rural-power?instance=home_news_window_left_bullets

Michigan - Traverse City Utility Takes Another Step Toward Wood-Based Power (Traverse City Messenger, MI)

http://michiganmessenger.com/37317/traverse-city-utility-takes-another-step-toward-wood-based-power

Wisconsin - Environmentalists Criticize Energy Bill over Trash Burning (Wisconsin State Journal)

http://host.madison.com/wsj/news/local/govt_and_politics/article_02175e00-53f4-11df-999f-001cc4c03286.html

Massachusetts Treasurer Says Cape Wind Is ‘Not the Real Solution’ to State’s Energy Needs (Boston Globe, MA)

http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2010/04/_a_day_after_th.html

New York Wind Farm Still Hasn’t Made $6.7 Million Payment in Lieu of Taxes (Watertown Daily Times, NY)

http://www.watertowndailytimes.com/article/20100428/NEWS04/304289881

Iowa - Alliant Official Says Wind Energy Is Not Cheaper (The Daily Gate, Keokuk, IA)

http://www.dailygate.com/articles/2010/04/28/news/doc4bd858c4d4ce9441809970.txt

Baltimore Sun Columnist - Wind Energy Still Expensive, Relatively Rare

http://weblogs.baltimoresun.com/business/hancock/blog/2010/04/wind_energy_still_expensive_re.html

Answer to High Electric Bills Could be Blowing in the Wind (KWTX-TV, Waco Texas – another 25 cents in royalties to Bob Zimmerman)

http://www.kwtx.com/home/headlines/92366044.html

NY Times Op/Ed - American Power Act

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/30/opinion/30brooks.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Includes Energy Efficiency Money - State Makes Good on Money for Port Angeles Mill (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.konp.com/local/5729

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Global Warming: A Market Proposal Even Libertarians Would Love (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Money/Green-Economics/2010/0429/Global-warming-a-market-proposal-even-libertarians-would-love

The Dark Side of Cloud Computing: Soaring Carbon Emissions (The Guardian, UK)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2010/apr/30/cloud-computing-carbon-emissions

Greenpeace Lauds Cisco on Climate, Chides Google (CNET News)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20003584-54.html

Want to Reduce Your Carbon Footprint? Move to San Francisco (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Money/Green-Economics/2010/0429/Want-to-reduce-your-carbon-footprint-Move-to-San-Francisco

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

No “Grid Lock” Expected from Electric Transportation (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/apr/29/no-grid-lock-expected-from-electric-transportation/

Hybrids & Plug-Ins: Cleaner? Yes. Cheaper? Depends. (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/apr/29/hybrids-and-plug-ins-cleaner-yes-cheaper-depends/

Stimulus Money Helps Bring Car Battery Maker to Portland (Oregon Public Radio)

http://news.opb.org/article/7231-stimulus-money-helps-bring-battery-maker-portland/

Alleys Could be Seattle’s “Green Lungs” (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=315401

Visualizing CO2: Making Emissions Tangible to Change Behavior (Solve Climate)

http://solveclimate.com/blog/20100429/visualizing-co2-making-emissions-tangible-change-behavior

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Vermont Ponders More Monitoring of Worker Web Surfing (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011739013_apusworkplacepornviewing.html?syndication=rss

People Start to Realize the National Broadband Plan Has a Broadband Tax (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/People-Start-To-Realize-The-Broadband-Plan-Has-a-Broadband-Tax-108171

Why Your (Renewable Energy) Organization Should be Blogging (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2010/04/why-your-renewable-energy-organization-should-be-blogging?cmpid=rss

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Former Shelton Police Officer Announces Candidacy for Mason County Commissioner (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/1992-former-shelton-cop-announces-candidacy-for-mason-county-commissioner

Americans Connecting With Government Online, Pew Finds (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_14983761

GENERAL NEWS

Missing McCleary Girl’s Investigation Stepped Up - Reward Now $25,000 (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/04/30/1168806/missing-girls-investigation-stepped.html

Census Workers to Begin Ringing Doorbells Saturday (KIRO Radio, Seattle)

http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=315743

Taxable Retail Sales Down in Mason County Last Year (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/2000-taxable-retail-sales-down-in-mason-county-last-year

Your Personal Biomass Project - New $1 Cigarette Tax Starts Tomorrow in Washington (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/New-1-cigarette-tax-starts-tomorrow-in-Washington-92500004.html

Volunteers, Parents Turned Away from School Beautification Project (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Volunteers-and-parents-told-No-Thanks----this-is-union-work-92469624.html

Harley-Davidson May Leave Wisconsin if Costs Don’t Fall (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2011738797_apwiharleycostcuts.html?syndication=rss

Math Error Blamed – California Health Insurance Firm Withdraws Rate Increase Request (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/04/30/BA711D73TF.DTL&feed=rss.news

NASA: Some of Moon’s Craters May be Electrified (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2010/0429/NASA-Some-of-moon-s-craters-may-be-electrified

DIVERSIONS

Average Woman Dates 24 Men to Find ‘Mr. Right’

http://www.kirotv.com/news/23318715/detail.html

Ex-Fiancé Sues over $17K Engagement Ring

http://www.kirotv.com/news/23318305/detail.html

Pack of Raccoons Invade Wisconsin Home

http://www.kirotv.com/news/23317740/detail.html

Snopes.Com Says It’s True! Square Watermelons Hit US Markets

http://www.slashfood.com/2010/04/29/square-watermelons-hit-us-markets/

SONG OF THE DAY

Gary Lewis & The Playboys - This Diamond Ring

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oPeUNxV4O1E