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.
HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES
Over Energy Subsidy Dispute - Alcoa to Temporarily Curb Aluminum Output in Italy “…Alcoa has complained about high power prices in Italy…Italy’s parliament approved a power decree offering favorable conditions to some industrial consumers to convince Alcoa to keep its Italian plants working…” (Reuters)
Central Russian Hydropower Plant Blast Kills Two, Wounds One (Associated Press)
Grays Harbor PUD Has “Big Question Mark” on Radar Ridge Wind Project (Aberdeen
US Senate’s Climate Bill Makes Its Debut (NY Times)
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
· Over Energy Subsidy Dispute - Alcoa To Temporarily Curb Aluminum Output in Italy
· Talks Between ‘Car Guys’ Got Jefferson PUD-PSE Deal Rolling
· Port Townsend Leader Op/Ed - Jefferson PUD Foresees Benefits of Community-Based Power
· Port Townsend Leader Op/Ed - PUD Zapped Customers in East Jefferson County
· Central Russian Hydropower Plant Blast Kills Two, Wounds One
· Snowpack Isn’t Helping Chelan PUD’s Melting Budget
· Natural Gas Complements Renewables
· Kootenai Electric Lines Hit by Avista Crews
· Grays Harbor PUD Commissioner, Seely Won’t Run for Re-Election
· Texas
· West Coast Salmon Fishing to be Monitored
· Summer Steelhead Season Still On
· Chehalis River Dam Plan Pitched To Grays Harbor County
· Chesapeake Bay Settlement Has EPA Agreeing To Enforce Pollution Reduction Goals
· Grays Harbor PUD Has “Big Question Mark” on Radar Ridge Wind Project
· Developer Adage Hopeful on Two US $250 Million Biopower Plants
· Indiana - Regulators to Hear Comments on Scottsburg Biomass Project
· Panel OKs Plan to Burn Biomass at University of Wisconsin
· Columbian Editorial - Analyzing Biomass: Cutting-Edge Power Industry Is Taking Hold in Proposed Pacific Northwest Projects
· Biomass Magazine Op/Ed - Biomass Power is a Natural Fit
· Air Quality: Moses Lake
· Idaho Presents Itself as the ‘Green Energy State
· Kennewick Company, Infinia to Get $3 Million for Solar Battery Research
· Everett
· Solar Stampede Prompts Temporary Halt for New Jersey
· Oregon
· Philips Offers LED Replacement for 60-Watt Bulb
· US Senate’s Climate Bill Makes Its Debut
· NY Times Analysis - The American Power Act
· Glacier National Park
· Microsoft Gets More Aggressive With Free Software
· US Broadband Demand Bounces Back
· Zoom! Zoom! Why Our Insatiable Need for Broadband Equals Bigger Pipes
· Cable Worries about Web Video as Fee Disputes Grow
· One in Four Households with Cell Phone, No Landline
· Tax Bills in 2009 at Lowest Level since 1950
· Public Gets First Look at Mason General Hospital Expansion & Remodel Plans
· Sequim Man on Trial for Branding Children “Like Cattle”
· C-17 Workers Strike Boeing in Long Beach , California
· Libyan Jet Crash Kills 103, Boy Only Survivor
· Acquisition of 1,300 Acres Would Expand Dosewallips State Park
· Swarms of Grasshoppers Predicted To Plague the West This Year
· Drifting Satellite Threatens US Cable Programming
· Thieves Steal Controversial War Memorial Cross in Mojave Desert
· Peter Frampton Concerts Cancelled in Shelton , WA
WORD OF THE DAY
Arbiter • \ARE-bet-ter\ • noun - 1: a person with power to decide a dispute: judge 2: a person or agency whose judgment or opinion is considered authoritative
“How unfortunate,” mused Betty to her rain-soaked, fashion-conscious friends, “that our fashion disaster would be caused by the new paper-dress trend.” It would figure that the arbiter of the latest fashion craze was the New York Times.
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Over Energy Subsidy Dispute - Alcoa To Temporarily Curb Aluminum Output in Italy “…Alcoa has complained about high power prices in Italy…Italy’s parliament approved a power decree offering favorable conditions to some industrial consumers to convince Alcoa to keep its Italian plants working…” (Reuters)
Talks Between ‘Car Guys’ Got Jefferson PUD-PSE Deal Rolling - Some residents question $103 million price tag for power utility (Port Townsend Leader, WA)
Port Townsend Leader Op/Ed - Jefferson PUD Foresees Benefits of Community-Based Power
Port Townsend Leader Op/Ed - PUD Zapped Customers in East Jefferson County
Central Russian Hydropower Plant Blast Kills Two, Wounds One (Associated Press)
Snowpack Isn’t Helping Chelan PUD’s Melting Budget (Wenatchee World, WA)
Natural Gas Complements Renewables “…Wind & solar only provide enough power in Oregon Oregon
Kootenai Electric Lines Hit by Avista Crews (Spokesman-Review, Spokane , WA
Grays Harbor PUD Commissioner, Seely Won’t Run for Re-Election (Aberdeen
FISH & WILDLIFE
West Coast Salmon Fishing to be Monitored (Courthouse News Service)
Summer Steelhead Season Still On (Oregonian, Portland
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Chesapeake Bay Settlement Has EPA Agreeing To Enforce Pollution Reduction Goals (Washington
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Grays Harbor PUD Has “Big Question Mark” on Radar Ridge Wind Project (Aberdeen
Developer Adage Hopeful on Two US $250 Million Biopower Plants (Recharge)
Indiana - Regulators to Hear Comments on Scottsburg Biomass Project (Louisville Courier-Journal , KY
Panel OKs Plan to Burn Biomass at University of Wisconsin Power Plant (Wisconsin State
Columbian Editorial - Analyzing Biomass: Cutting-Edge Power Industry Is Taking Hold in Proposed Pacific Northwest Projects
Biomass Magazine Op/Ed - Biomass Power is a Natural Fit
Air Quality: Moses Lake
Idaho Presents Itself as the ‘Green Energy State’ “…Idaho’s decision not to require renewable portfolio standards may turn out to help the state’s green energy industry…utilities forced to adopt the earliest green energy technology may get locked into less-efficient, more costly technology…” (Idaho Statesman, Boise , ID
Kennewick Company, Infinia to Get $3 Million for Solar Battery Research (Tri-City Herald, WA)
Solar Stampede Prompts Temporary Halt for New Jersey
http://sunpluggers.com/news/solar-stampede-prompts-temporary-halt-for-new-jersey-rebate-program-0500
CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY
Philips Offers LED Replacement for 60-Watt Bulb (CNET News)
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
US Senate’s Climate Bill Makes Its Debut (NY Times)
NY Times Analysis - The American Power Act
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Microsoft Gets More Aggressive With Free Software (USA
US Broadband Demand Bounces Back (GigaOM)
Zoom! Zoom! Why Our Insatiable Need for Broadband Equals Bigger Pipes (GigaOM)
Cable Worries about Web Video as Fee Disputes Grow (Reuters)
One in Four Households with Cell Phone, No Landline (Associated Press)
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
Tax Bills in 2009 at Lowest Level since 1950 (USA
GENERAL NEWS
Public Gets First Look at Mason General Hospital Expansion & Remodel Plans (KMAS Radio, Shelton , WA
Sequim Man on Trial for Branding Children “Like Cattle” (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2011844639_apwabrandingchildren.html?syndication=rss
C-17 Workers Strike Boeing in Long Beach , California
Libyan Jet Crash Kills 103, Boy Only Survivor (Reuters)
Acquisition of 1,300 Acres Would Expand Dosewallips State Park (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton , WA
Swarms of Grasshoppers Predicted To Plague the West This Year (Oregonian, Portland
Drifting Satellite Threatens US Cable Programming (Associated Press)
Thieves Steal Controversial War Memorial Cross in Mojave Desert - Reward Offered (Christian Science Monitor)
Peter Frampton Concerts Cancelled in Shelton , WA & AZ (KBKW-Radio, Aberdeen , WA
DIVERSIONS
Water Well Drillers Strike Oil in Small South Dakota Town
Judge says Elderly Sister Can Keep Lottery Prize – Woman Doesn’t Have to Share with Feuding Sibling
Man, 22, Accused of Posing as Student - Led Basketball Team To State Playoffs
Moth-Munching Bird Finds Perch at Twins Ballpark
SONG OF THE DAY
Neil Young – Old Man
