Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Energy News Digest for December 1, 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

Cowlitz PUD Commissioners Hear Support for Tiered Rate Structure at Public Hearing (Longview Daily News, WA)

Clark PUD Commissioners Consider Cash Reserve for Utility - Recent Rate Hike Would Fund Cushion (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Columbia Shipping to Close for River Lock Repairs (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

State Reports Say Oregon Faces Big Challenges from Global Warming (Oregonian, Portland)

With Clallam PUD Help - Sequim Switches Traffic Lights to Save Power (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

  • Cowlitz PUD Commissioners Hear Support for Tiered Rate Structure at Public Hearing
  • Clark PUD Commissioners Consider Cash Reserve for Utility
  • Pennsylvania - Seneca Indian Nation Pursues Hydropower License
  • Texas - Opening Statements Start in Pedernales Electric Cooperative Trial
  • Undersea Cable Ends San Fran’s Power Grid Isolation, Provides Cleaner Power
  • How the Recession Reshaped US Electricity Production
  • Ontario - Liberals Launch Energy Offensive over Rates, Strategy
  • Stuxnet: Ahmadinejad Admits Cyberweapon Hit Iran Nuclear Program
  • Farmers & Cattlemen Want Species Delisted
  • Anger, Conflict Helped Shape Canadian Salmon Policy, Inquiry Told
  • Columbia Shipping to Close for River Lock Repairs
  • Mason County Offering Financing to Connect to Belfair Sewer
  • Regents Delay Vote; University of Montana Plans Listening Sessions on Biomass
  • Climate Change Takes Wind Out of Energy Sails
  • Bill Makes Building of Wind Turbines on Land Almost Impossible in New Jersey
  • Colorado - Duke Energy’s Kit Carson Wind Project Begins Producing Electricity
  • North Dakota - Harnessing Wind to Help the Economy
  • Iowa wind energy industry supports 2,300 Iowa jobs
  • A Solar Installation Spree as the Deadline for Federal Grants Approaches
  • With Clallam PUD Help - Sequim Switches Traffic Lights to Save Power
  • State Reports Say Oregon Faces Big Challenges from Global Warming
  • End Ethanol Subsidies, Senators Say
  • Midwest Emerges as Center for Clean Energy
  • Study Warns Against Hyping Carbon-Fixing Biochar
  • After Qwest/CenturyLink Merger, Seattle to Become Regional Headquarters
  • Chattanooga Approves $30 Million Incentives for Amazon.Com
  • FCC Preparing to Vote on Network Neutrality Rules
  • FCC Chairman Outlines Broadband Framework
  • FCC Investigates “Toll Booth” Complaint Against Comcast
  • It’s Comcast Rate Hike Season Again
  • FCC Moves to Free Up TV Airwaves for Internet Use
  • Kansas - Topeka Shows Google Love With Downtown Celebration
  • State Tax Revenues Across the Country Rise for 3rd Straight Quarter
  • Washington Governor Gregoire Considering Budget Gimmick to “Save” $240 Million
  • Department of Revenue - Gov. Gregoire Appoints Suzan DelBene to Cabinet
  • Washington State Legislative District 25 Recount Gets Going
  • Murray to Lead Democratic Effort in 2012 Races
  • The Mayor of the Soapbox: Why McGinn Is Fighting With Seattle’s Council on Legislative Agenda
  • Washington Governor Proposes Special Legislative Session to Balance State Budget
  • Shelton Wal-Mart Manager Arrested for Theft
  • Thieves Hit Seattle AIDS Support Group on Eve of World AIDS Day
  • Gregoire Fuming over Cigarette Ads Featuring Seattle Landmarks (KING-TV, Seattle)

WORD OF THE DAY

Risible • \RIZZ-uh-bull\ • Adjective – 1a: capable of laughing b: disposed to laugh 2: arousing or provoking laughter; especially: laughable 3: associated with, relating to, or used in laughter

The Smith’s new baby was an endless source of delight for the new parents. Most endearing was the little bundle of joy’s risible nature. Just the wiggling of a finger of the child’s belly elicited peals of laughter. “Not only does he look like Winston Churchill,” exulted Mr. Smith. “He even laughs like him!”

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast & Weather Alerts

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES


Clark PUD Commissioners Consider Cash Reserve for Utility - Recent Rate Hike Would Fund Cushion (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Pennsylvania - Seneca Indian Nation Pursues Hydropower License: Seeks control of a hydropower operation in a move toward economic diversity that Seneca leaders say would also right a historic wrong (Associated Press)

Texas - Opening Statements Start in Pedernales Electric Cooperative Trial - Former Manager facing felony charges (KXAN-TV, Austin, TX)

Undersea Cable Ends San Fran’s Power Grid Isolation, Provides Cleaner Power (NY Times)

How the Recession Reshaped US Electricity Production (Reuters)

Ontario - Liberals Launch Energy Offensive over Rates, Strategy (Toronto Star, Ontario)

Stuxnet: Ahmadinejad Admits Cyberweapon Hit Iran Nuclear Program (Christian Science Monitor)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Farmers & Cattlemen Want Species Delisted – Including Gray Wolf & Northern Spotted Owl (Courthouse News Service)

Anger, Conflict Helped Shape Canadian Salmon Policy, Inquiry Told (Globe & Mail, Canada)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT


Mason County Offering Financing to Connect to Belfair Sewer (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Regents Delay Vote; University of Montana Plans Listening Sessions on Biomass Gasification Boiler (The Missoulian, MT)

Climate Change Takes Wind Out of Energy Sails - SFU researcher finds wind speeds slowed since 1950s (Vancouver Sun, BC)

Bill Makes Building of Wind Turbines on Land Almost Impossible in New Jersey (Jersey.Com)

Colorado - Duke Energy’s Kit Carson Wind Project Begins Producing Electricity (Trading Markets)

North Dakota - Harnessing Wind to Help the Economy: Boosting production would create $2B in activity, thousands of jobs (Sioux Falls Argus-Leader, SD)

Iowa wind energy industry supports 2,300 Iowa jobs (Cedar Rapids Gazette, IA)

A Solar Installation Spree as the Deadline for Federal Grants Approaches (NY Times)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY



CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT


BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

End Ethanol Subsidies, Senators Say (NY Times)

Midwest Emerges as Center for Clean Energy (NY Times)

Study Warns Against Hyping Carbon-Fixing Biochar (CNET News)

TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY

After Qwest/CenturyLink Merger, Seattle to Become Regional Headquarters (Puget Sound Business Journal)

Chattanooga Approves $30 Million Incentives for Amazon.Com (Associated Press)

FCC Preparing to Vote on Network Neutrality Rules (Associated Press)

FCC Chairman Outlines Broadband Framework (NY Times)

FCC Investigates “Toll Booth” Complaint Against Comcast (NY Times)

It’s Comcast Rate Hike Season Again - Oregon TV, Internet viewers notified of price increases (Broadband Reports)

FCC Moves to Free Up TV Airwaves for Internet Use (GigaOM)

Kansas - Topeka Shows Google Love With Downtown Celebration (KTKA-TV, Topeka, KS)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

State Tax Revenues Across the Country Rise for 3rd Straight Quarter (Associated Press)

Washington Governor Gregoire Considering Budget Gimmick to “Save” $240 Million (Seattle Times)

Department of Revenue - Gov. Gregoire Appoints Suzan DelBene to Cabinet (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

Washington State Legislative District 25 Recount Gets Going (Olympian, WA)

Murray to Lead Democratic Effort in 2012 Races (Associated Press)

The Mayor of the Soapbox: Why McGinn Is Fighting With Seattle’s Council on Legislative Agenda - We are once again treated to a public display of just how irrelevant Seattle has become in Olympia (Crosscut Seattlre)

GENERAL NEWS

Washington Governor Proposes Special Legislative Session to Balance State Budget (KING-TV, Seattle)

Shelton Wal-Mart Manager Arrested for Theft (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Thieves Hit Seattle AIDS Support Group on Eve of World AIDS Day (KING-TV, Seattle)

Gregoire Fuming over Cigarette Ads Featuring Seattle Landmarks (KING-TV, Seattle)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

Red Bees Mystery Leads to Maraschino Cherry Factory

Marysville Church Sheltering Honeybees

French Woman Stuck in Bathroom for Three Weeks

Computer Calculates the Most Boring News Day Ever

SONG OF THE DAY

James Taylor - How Sweet It Is