Energy News Digest for June 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

Riazzi quits Chelan PUD (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/jun/30/riazzi-quits-pud/

Administration Cannot Drop Bid for Nuclear Waste Dump in Nevada, Panel Finds (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/30/science/earth/30nuke.html?src=mv

Chelan PUD Could Rejoin State Lobby Group (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/jun/30/chelan-pud-could-rejoin-state-lobby-group/

Wind Farms Fight Headwinds West of the Cascades (Northwest Public Radio)

http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=7470

Washington State Initiatives Face Friday Deadline (Associated Press)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/06/30/1246835/initiatives-face-friday-deadline.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Riazzi quits Chelan PUD

·         Washington State Approves Grant PUD Substation Funding

·         Yucca Mountain - Nuclear Waste Dump Process Back on Track

·         Administration Cannot Drop Bid for Nuclear Waste Dump in Nevada, Panel Finds

·         Chelan PUD Could Rejoin State Lobby Group

·         Bonneville Power Administration Says Highway 101 Trees at Reedsport ‘Dangerous’

·         Cancer Fight – Mason PUD 3 Employees Raise Funds for Relay for Life

·         Oregon Utilities: Natural Gas Prices Look Stable, Rate Increases Unlikely

·         The Dirt on Coal - Clearing Oregon’s Air

·         Senators Willing to Scale Back Energy Bill

·         Utah - Critics Question State’s Handling of Energy Report

·         For New Gas Turbine – Florida Power & Light Plans to Ask for Rate Increase

·         Pumped Hydro Debacle - Ameren Sues Energy Insurance Mutual over Taum Sauk Claims

·         Kansas City Loses Appeal on Sales Tax for Electricity Use

·         Big Return This Year for Spring Chinook

·         Salmon Returns to Columbia River Look Good So Far

·         Canada - High Salmon Numbers Promise Great Season

·         State: Oregon Salmon Safe & Sustainable

·         Editorial - Shellfish Companies Need to Take Boundaries Seriously

·         Key Washington Lawmaker Responds to Sanitary Shellfish Report

·         Groups Sue over Sage Grouse Protections

·         Researchers Ponder Missing Water Layer in Hood Canal

·         Officials Closing in on Rates & Connection Fees for Belfair Sewers

·         Plan Would Save Capitol Lake

·         Alaska - Environmental Groups Lose Bid to Halt Logging

·         Wind Farms Fight Headwinds West of the Cascades

·         General Electric Invests in Idaho Wind Project

·         MIT Says Military Can Cut Wind Turbine Interference with Oregon Radar

·         Canada - Windmills Kill More Birds

·         Wind Turbine Blade Comes to DC with Message from Americans to Federal Policymakers

·         Connecticut - City of Shelton Taking Slow Approach to Wind Power

·         Vestas Gets Order for 139 Turbines for Colorado Wind Farm

·         Grant PUD Discusses Possible Solar Plant

·         Congressman Blumenauer’s Bill Would Boost Geothermal Energy Development

·         United Kingdom - Green Property: Solar Electricity

·         Study Says Smart Meters Alone Not Enough to Save

·         Climate Change - Scientists from Mars Face Public from Venus

·         Democrats Prepared to Scale Back Climate Proposal, Kerry Says

·         North Dakota - Supporters Tout Broadband Network for Researchers

·         Washington State Initiatives Face Friday Deadline

·         Workers’ Comp Initiative Steps Closer to Ballot

·         Two State Agencies Tell Workers to Stay Home Tuesday

·         Washington State School Chief Compares Salary to Mariners Player

·         Ninth Circuit Punts Retiree Insurance Payment Case to California Justices

·         Lake Cushman Murder - Candlelight Vigil for Slain Girl Tonight

·         Belfair Sewer Work Closes Section of Highway 300

·         Airbus Subsidies Illegal, WTO Report Says

·         Olympia Peace Activist Wins $248,817 in Attorneys’ Fees

·         NOAA Botched Decision to Move Seattle Fleet to Oregon, Audit Finds

·         Supreme Court to Rule on Retaliation against Friends of Employees Who Claim Discrimination

·         Traveling to Arizona? Take a Passport, Says ACLU

WORD OF THE DAY

Eructation • \ir-uck-TAY-shun\ • noun - An act or instance of belching

“Most impressive,” noted the Episcopalian priest when the dainty, elderly, white-haired maiden emitted an unexpected and echoing eructation of the first order in the middle of his sermon. The performance did not go without note, as the congregation was kept on edge for the remainder of the half-hour homily…expecting an encore.

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

Riazzi quits Chelan PUD (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/jun/30/riazzi-quits-pud/

Washington State Approves Grant PUD Substation Funding - Could serve BMW parts maker (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/local/article_cf5dd9f2-949c-54f1-a990-b017a853a69b.html

Yucca Mountain - Nuclear Waste Dump Process Back on Track (Associated Press)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/06/29/1074274/yucca-nuclear-waste-dump-process.html

Administration Cannot Drop Bid for Nuclear Waste Dump in Nevada, Panel Finds (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/06/30/science/earth/30nuke.html?src=mv

Chelan PUD Could Rejoin State Lobby Group (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/jun/30/chelan-pud-could-rejoin-state-lobby-group/

Bonneville Power Administration Says Highway 101 Trees at Reedsport ‘Dangerous’ - Power company plans to remove tall firs at city entrance (Umpqua Post, Reedsport, OR)

http://www.theumpquapost.com/articles/2010/06/30/local_news/doc4c2ad7c999c65991201439.txt

Cancer Fight – Mason PUD 3 Employees Raise Funds for Relay for Life (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=737

Oregon Utilities: Natural Gas Prices Look Stable, Rate Increases Unlikely (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2010/06/utilities_natural_gas_prices_l.html

The Dirt on Coal - Clearing Oregon’s Air (Sightline)

http://daily.sightline.org/daily_score/archive/2010/06/29/cold-turkey-on-coal

Senators Willing to Scale Back Energy Bill (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012235591_apusobamaenergy.html

Utah - Critics Question State’s Handling of Energy Report (KSL-TV, Salt Lake City, UT)

http://www.ksl.com/?nid=148&sid=11372355

For New Gas Turbine – Florida Power & Light Plans to Ask for Rate Increase: The utility will ask state regulators to pass on to customers the costs of a new $900 million power plant (South Florida Sentinel, Fort Lauderdale, FL)

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/business/fl-fpl-rates-plant-20100629,0,7909203.story

Pumped Hydro Debacle - Ameren Sues Energy Insurance Mutual over Taum Sauk Claims (St. Louis Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2010/06/28/daily18.html

Kansas City Loses Appeal on Sales Tax for Electricity Use (Kansas City Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/stories/2010/06/28/daily18.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Big Return This Year for Spring Chinook (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012240038_salmon30m.html

Salmon Returns to Columbia River Look Good So Far - Additional promising signs for later this year & next (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/722183/

Canada - High Salmon Numbers Promise Great Season (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/columnists/High+salmon+numbers+promise+great+season/3219835/story.html

State: Oregon Salmon Safe & Sustainable (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.kgw.com/news/local/Group-wants-you-to-avoid-eating-some-Oregon-salmon-97411029.html

Editorial - Shellfish Companies Need to Take Boundaries Seriously (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/06/30/1289668/shellfish-companies-need-to-take.html

Key Washington Lawmaker Responds to Sanitary Shellfish Report (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/key-washington-lawmaker-responds-sanitary-shellfish-report/

Groups Sue over Sage Grouse Protections (Deseret News, Salt Lake City, UT)

http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700044197/Groups-sue-over-sage-grouse-protections.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Researchers Ponder Missing Water Layer in Hood Canal (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/jun/29/researchers-ponder-missing-water-layer-in-hood/

Officials Closing in on Rates & Connection Fees for Belfair Sewers (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/2565-officials-closing-in-on-rates-and-connection-fees-for-belfair-sewers

Plan Would Save Capitol Lake - Group issues report that calls for public-private partnership to fix problems (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/06/30/1289634/plan-would-save-lake.html

Alaska - Environmental Groups Lose Bid to Halt Logging (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/06/29/28480.htm

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Wind Farms Fight Headwinds West of the Cascades (Northwest Public Radio)

http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=7470

General Electric Invests in Idaho Wind Project (Associated Press)

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/financialnews/D9GL0IS00.htm

MIT Says Military Can Cut Wind Turbine Interference with Oregon Radar (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/06/mit_says_military_can_cut_wind.html

Canada - Windmills Kill More Birds (National Post)

http://www.nationalpost.com/Windmills+kill+more+birds/3218558/story.html

Wind Turbine Blade Comes to DC with Message from Americans to Federal Policymakers (Market Watch)

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/wind-turbine-blade-comes-to-dc-with-message-from-americans-to-federal-policymakers-we-want-action-on-clean-energy-now-2010-06-29?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Connecticut - City of Shelton Taking Slow Approach to Wind Power (New Haven Register, CT)

http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2010/06/30/news/valley/bb5shwind063010.txt

Vestas Gets Order for 139 Turbines for Colorado Wind Farm (Canadian Business Online)

http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/market_news/article.jsp?content=D9GLLDFG0

Grant PUD Discusses Possible Solar Plant (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/local/article_6557b54e-4dac-5ec1-83e5-197c589f1983.html

Congressman Blumenauer’s Bill Would Boost Geothermal Energy Development (Portland Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2010/06/28/daily14.html

United Kingdom - Green Property: Solar Electricity (The Telegraph, UK)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/greenproperty/7859184/Green-property-solar-electricity.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Study Says Smart Meters Alone Not Enough to Save (Associated Press)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jrDWxD4DC-l59pqD11E5k0sC89GgD9GL666G0

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Climate Change - Scientists from Mars Face Public from Venus (NY Times)

http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/06/29/scientists-from-mars-face-public-from-venus/

Democrats Prepared to Scale Back Climate Proposal, Kerry Says (Bloomberg BusinessWeek)

http://www.businessweek.com/news/2010-06-30/democrats-prepared-to-scale-back-climate-proposal-kerry-says.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

North Dakota - Supporters Tout Broadband Network for Researchers (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=12728100

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Initiatives Face Friday Deadline (Associated Press)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/06/30/1246835/initiatives-face-friday-deadline.html

Workers’ Comp Initiative Steps Closer to Ballot (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/06/30/1290186/workers-comp-initiative-steps.html

Two State Agencies Tell Workers to Stay Home Tuesday (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/06/30/1246827/agencies-tell-workers-to-stay.html

Washington State School Chief Compares Salary to Mariners Player – Too Low (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012245067_apwadornspaycheck1stldwritethru.html

Ninth Circuit Punts Retiree Insurance Payment Case to California Justices - Lawsuit challenging practice of requiring retirees, but not active employees, to pay the bulk of their health insurance premiums (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/06/29/28482.htm

GENERAL NEWS

Lake Cushman Murder - Candlelight Vigil for Slain Girl Tonight (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/2568-candlelight-vigil-for-slain-girl-tonight

Belfair Sewer Work Closes Section of Highway 300 (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/jun/29/sewer-work-closes-section-of-highway-300/

Airbus Subsidies Illegal, WTO Report Says (Associated Press)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20100630/BIZ/100639998/-1/rss03

Olympia Peace Activist Wins $248,817 in Attorneys’ Fees - Anti-war: He was arrested on way to 2007 anti-war protest (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/06/30/1289647/olympia-activist-wins-248817-in.html

NOAA Botched Decision to Move Seattle Fleet to Oregon, Audit Finds (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012239196_noaa30m.html

Supreme Court to Rule on Retaliation against Friends of Employees Who Claim Discrimination (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_15400941

Traveling to Arizona? Take a Passport, Says ACLU (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2012245046_webaclu30.html?syndication=rss

DIVERSIONS

Blind Taste Test: Costco Generic Beer About as Good as Brand Name

http://consumerist.com/2010/06/blind-taste-test-costco-generic-beer-about-as-good-as-brand-name-beer.html

Distilleries Make Meat-Flavored Vodkas

http://www.kirotv.com/news/24078318/detail.html

Errors Found in Mass. School’s Test - Spelling, Grammatical, Factor Errors Found

http://www.kirotv.com/education/24081814/detail.html

Seattle Woman’s Gerbil - Water Bottle Simile Wins Bad Writing Contest

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Seattle-writer-wins-2010-bad-writing-contest-97407869.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Celtic Legends - Irish Drinking Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IpOoPQ6JmbM