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.
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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES
Op/Ed - EPA Biomass Decision Could Put Washington Jobs at Risk (Seattle Times)
Wind Energy Maintains Popular Support Amidst “Eyesore” Concerns (Northwest Public Radio)
Energy Northwest - Columbia Generating Station License Up for Renewal (Associated Press)
NoaNet & Jefferson PUD - Talks Portend High-Speed Internet for All Jefferson Residents (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
Energy Northwest - Columbia Generating Station License Up for Renewal (Associated Press)
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
· Energy Northwest - Columbia Generating Station License Up for Renewal
· Virginia - Dominion Reduces Power IN Reactor at North Anna Nuclear Plant Due to Condenser Leaks
· Minnesota House Panel Votes to Undo Nuclear Power Ban
· Oregon – Central Electric Cooperative Begins Installing ‘Smart Meters’
· Avista Contributes $500,000 to Support Human Care Service Programs
· Oil Hovers Above $89 as Traders Eye Alaska Pipeline Leak
· Alcoa Posts 4Q Profit & Sales Jump as Earnings Season Begins
· Tennessee Valley Authority’s Website Recognized as One of the Government’s Top Five
· Panel Weighs Possibilities for Chinook Salmon; Group Will Inform US Interior Secretary on Klamath Dam Removal
· Lewis County - No Prison for Developer Behind ‘Largest Wetland Violation’ in State History
· City of Spokane OKs Incinerator Deal - County Has Final Say on Trash Contract
· A Glass of Seawater. Hold the Salt - How Eco-Friendly is Desalination?
· Germany Kills 140 Dioxin-Contaminated Pigs
· Op/Ed - EPA Biomass Decision Could Put Washington Jobs at Risk
· Seattle Steam Powers Downtown Buildings
· Everett - Kimberly Clark Hosts Biomass Combined Heat & Power Plant Tour
· Wind Energy Maintains Popular Support Amidst “Eyesore” Concerns
· Wind Power Growing in Texas
· China’s Galloping Wind Market
· Solar Panels - China Buys Norwegian Unit: Elkem Bought for Nearly $2 Billion
· California - Bay Area Firms to Build Solar Plants in Utility Deal
· New York - Underwater Turbines Set to Light Up the City at New Plant in East River
· Editorial – Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs: Maybe Not Such a Bright Idea
· Northeast US Saw Record Heat in 2010
· No Sales for Bainbridge Island Electric Car Dealership
· NoaNet & Jefferson PUD - Talks Portend High-Speed Internet for All Jefferson Residents
· Chelan PUD Switches Fiber Optic Splicing Contractors over Bid Concerns
· At Last, iPhone Comes to Verizon
· Microsoft Says Leader of Server Division to Depart
· First-Day Gloom in Olympia – Washington State Legislative Session Began Monday
· Motion to Block Seating of New Washington State Senator Fails
· No Repercussions, So Far, for Washington State Senator Jim Kastama
· Sheldon Votes Against Party Leadership, but Just Once
· Greens’ State Agenda: Try, Try Again
· California - Three Accused Bell Officials Want Cash-Strapped City to Pay Their Legal Bills
· Winter Storm Warning in Effect for Tonight
· Ex-Sequim Resident Among Dead in Tucson Shootings; Man Died While Shielding Wife from Hail of Bullets
· Family Charged ‘Death Tax’ for Baby Who Lived One Hour
WORD OF THE DAY
Woebegone • \WOE-bih-gahn\ • adjective - Strongly afflicted with woe: woeful 2: exhibiting great woe, sorrow, or misery 3: being in a sorry state
Barty’s “Droopy Dog” expression was directly related to the negative Friday inventory of toroidal pastry available in the staff break room. Through the afternoon, his woebegone expression haunted the staff member who had been ordered by the supervisor to reduce the weekly purchase as a battle of the beltline. The only substitute was a box of stale “Triscuits,” a poor substitute for the doughy, sugar loaded pastry that haunted Barty’s lonely afternoon vigil.
SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Energy Northwest - Columbia Generating Station License Up for Renewal (Associated Press)
Virginia - Dominion Reduces Power IN Reactor at North Anna Nuclear Plant Due to Condenser Leaks (The Republic, Columbus, IN)
Minnesota House Panel Votes to Undo Nuclear Power Ban (Associated Press)
Oregon – Central Electric Cooperative Begins Installing ‘Smart Meters’: Changeover Will Take until 2013; Soon, Check Usage Online (KTVZ TV, Bend, OR)
Avista Contributes $500,000 to Support Human Care Service Programs (Electric Energy Online)
Oil Hovers Above $89 as Traders Eye Alaska Pipeline Leak (Associated Press)
Alcoa Posts 4Q Profit & Sales Jump as Earnings Season Begins (USA Today)
Tennessee Valley Authority’s Website Recognized as One of the Government’s Top Five (Electric Energy Online)
FISH & WILDLIFE
Panel Weighs Possibilities for Chinook Salmon; Group Will Inform US Interior Secretary on Klamath Dam Removal (Eureka Times Standard, CA)
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Lewis County - No Prison for Developer Behind ‘Largest Wetland Violation’ in State History (Seattle Times)
City of Spokane OKs Incinerator Deal - County Has Final Say on Trash Contract (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)
A Glass of Seawater. Hold the Salt - How Eco-Friendly is Desalination? (Slate Magazine)
Germany Kills 140 Dioxin-Contaminated Pigs (Associated Press)
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Op/Ed - EPA Biomass Decision Could Put Washington Jobs at Risk (Seattle Times)
Seattle Steam Powers Downtown Buildings (Biomass Magazine)
Everett - Kimberly Clark Hosts Biomass Combined Heat & Power Plant Tour (Biomass Magazine)
Wind Energy Maintains Popular Support Amidst “Eyesore” Concerns (Northwest Public Radio)
Wind Power Growing in Texas (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, TX)
China’s Galloping Wind Market (NY Times)
Solar Panels - China Buys Norwegian Unit: Elkem Bought for Nearly $2 Billion (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Latest-News-Wires/2011/0111/Solar-panels-China-buys-Norwegian-unit
California - Bay Area Firms to Build Solar Plants in Utility Deal (SF Chronicle)
New York - Underwater Turbines Set to Light Up the City at New Plant in East River (New York Daily News)
CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY
Editorial – Compact Fluorescent Light Bulbs: Maybe Not Such a Bright Idea (The Daily Townsman, Cranbrook, BC)
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Northeast US Saw Record Heat in 2010 (USA Today)
BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI
No Sales for Bainbridge Island Electric Car Dealership (Olympian, WA)
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
NoaNet & Jefferson PUD - Talks Portend High-Speed Internet for All Jefferson Residents (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
Chelan PUD Switches Fiber Optic Splicing Contractors over Bid Concerns (Wenatchee World, WA)
At Last, iPhone Comes to Verizon (CNET News)
Microsoft Says Leader of Server Division to Depart (Associated Press)
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
First-Day Gloom in Olympia – Washington State Legislative Session Began Monday (Seattle Times)
Motion to Block Seating of New Washington State Senator Fails (Oregon Public Radio)
No Repercussions, So Far, for Washington State Senator Jim Kastama (Olympian, WA)
Sheldon Votes Against Party Leadership, but Just Once (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
Greens’ State Agenda: Try, Try Again (Crosscut Seattle)
California - Three Accused Bell Officials Want Cash-Strapped City to Pay Their Legal Bills (Los Angeles Times, CA)
GENERAL NEWS
Winter Storm Warning in Effect for Tonight (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
Ex-Sequim Resident Among Dead in Tucson Shootings; Man Died While Shielding Wife from Hail of Bullets (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
Family Charged ‘Death Tax’ for Baby Who Lived One Hour (KING-TV, Seattle)
DIVERSIONS
The Explanation for a Climatological Curiosity
Ancient Winery Dates Back 6,000 Years - Earliest Known Winery Found in Armenian Cave
The .22 Caliber Sneeze: Italian Man Ejects Bullet from Nose
The Da Vinci Code, Cracked? Expert Says She Knows Where Mona Lisa Was Painted
SONG OF THE DAY
Van Morrison - Wonderful Remark
