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.
Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices: http://twitter.com/energydigest
HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES
Region’s Snowpacks Are About Average (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)
Bill Virgin: Don’t Count on Cheap Energy - The Northwest has lived for decades on a legacy of cheap hydropower, supplemented by relatively cheap coal, even cheap conservation (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
Intalco Fires up Idled Ferndale-Area Aluminum Smelter Line “…smelter that has been one of the few in the region to survive the ‘dwindling’ regional power surplus…” (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
Report: La Nina Weakening; Still Expected to Last Till Spring (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
Much to Learn About Orcas - In the Battle to Save Orcas & Salmon, Fishing Gets Caught in the Middle (Olympian, WA)
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
· Region’s Snowpacks Are About Average
· Bill Virgin: Don’t Count on Cheap Energy
· Intalco Fires up Idled Ferndale-Area Aluminum Smelter Line
· Pay Dispute at Play in Picketing at Alcoa Wenatchee Works
· Jobs, Health Argued at TransAlta Hearing
· Obama Administration to Push for Small ‘Modular’ Nuclear Reactors
· British Columbia’s Westshore Provides Glimpse of Longview’s Potential Future with Coal
· Op/Ed – Electricity Transmission: Bonneville Power Administration Ought to Take the High Road
· Meetings Will Air Details of Mega Electricity Transmission Line in Utah
· Energy Budget Calls for Cuts in Several Programs
· Bonneville Power Administration Donates ATVs to Save Lives in Rugged Skamania County
· Nebraska Public Power District to Offer Voluntary, Early Retirement Program
· Rising electricity costs could drive industry away from Germany
· Much to Learn About Orcas - In the Battle to Save Orcas & Salmon, Fishing Gets Caught in the Middle
· Fertilizers Boost Declining Vancouver Island Fish Populations
· Salmon in the Classroom May be Saved from Becoming Extinct
· The Reckoning: A Looming Decision on Endangered Salmon Will Set the Stage for Momentous Battles over the Future
· Editorial - New York Myopia? O Oysters
· New Puget Sound Partnership Leader Ready to ‘Roll Up Sleeves’
· Klickitat PUD - White Salmon Sees Water as Key to Growth
· Southwestern US Water: Going, Going, Gone?
· Oregon - Owner Worries Lakeview Geothermal Energy Project Could Stop Old Perpetual, Take Water from Resort Hot Springs
· Op/Ed - Biomass: A Financially & Environmentally Sustainable Way to Manage the State’s Resources
· California - Proposed Wood-Fired Power Plant in Weed Poses Problem; Suit Could Affect Redding
· Oregon - Emerald People’s Utility District Recovers Record Amount of Landfill Gas
· In Holland, Land of Windmills, Flap over Wind Farm
· Rooftop Pipe-Dream - Be Wary of the Booming Market for Pint-Sized, Roof-Mounted Windmills
· California - Energy Bill Would Exclude Desert
· Calculating the True Cost of Solar Electricity
· Home Energy Sleuths Find Clues
· Large Dams Can Alter Climate, Affect Rainfall
· Drivers Express Interest in Hybrids, But Many Don’t Buy
· Green Smoke Screen - Supporters of “Green Energy” Like to Say It Will Create More Jobs. They’re Wrong
· US Approves Corn Modified for Ethanol
· North Central Washington State Hospitals Win Telemedicine Grant
· Broadband Stimulus Spat - Kansas Broadband Debate Crosses Party Lines
· New Wireless System Won’t Need Cell Towers
· The Dirty Little Secrets of Search
· Yahoo! Data Center’s Goat Video Nominated for Award
· New Digital Divide Seen for Minorities on Internet
· States Aim Ax at Health Cost of Retirement
· Spokane Commissioners Appoint Jeff Baxter as McCaslin Replacement for State Senate
· Herrera Beutler Adjusts to Other Washington
· Spin Control: Washington State Initiative Filing Fee a Turn-of-the-Century Deal
· Tax-Increment Financing Could Spur Economy, Say Backers
· North Mason Proposes Shorter School Year
· Report: La Nina Weakening; Still Expected to Last Till Spring
· States’ Offer of Tax Breaks No Guarantee for Jobs
· Rural Post Offices Put on Notice in Face of DIY Digital Age
· Quincy Farmer Captures Metal Theft Suspects
· War Re-Enactors Want to Increase Black Powder Limits in Washington State
WORD OF THE DAY
Canoodle • \kuh-NOO-dull\ • Verb - To engage in amorous embracing, caressing, and kissing
Every time I hear or read this word, the song “Muskrat Love” starts playing in my head. Curses Merriam-Webster! (It’s not in the song, but implied in one of the latter verses)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Region’s Snowpacks Are About Average (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)
Bill Virgin: Don’t Count on Cheap Energy - The Northwest has lived for decades on a legacy of cheap hydropower, supplemented by relatively cheap coal, even cheap conservation (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
Intalco Fires up Idled Ferndale-Area Aluminum Smelter Line “…smelter that has been one of the few in the region to survive the ‘dwindling’ regional power surplus…” (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
Pay Dispute at Play in Picketing at Alcoa Wenatchee Works (Wenatchee World, WA)
Jobs, Health Argued at TransAlta Hearing (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)
Obama Administration to Push for Small ‘Modular’ Nuclear Reactors (NY Times)
British Columbia’s Westshore Provides Glimpse of Longview’s Potential Future with Coal (Longview Daily News, WA)
Op/Ed – Electricity Transmission: Bonneville Power Administration Ought to Take the High Road (Longview Daily News, WA)
Meetings Will Air Details of Mega Electricity Transmission Line in Utah (Deseret News, Salt Lake City, UT)
Energy Budget Calls for Cuts in Several Programs (Associated Press)
Bonneville Power Administration Donates ATVs to Save Lives in Rugged Skamania County (Vancouver Columbian, WA)
Nebraska Public Power District to Offer Voluntary, Early Retirement Program (Electric Energy Online)
Rising electricity costs could drive industry away from Germany “…due partly to…government efforts to subsidize renewable energy…” (Deutsch Welle)
FISH & WILDLIFE
Much to Learn About Orcas - In the Battle to Save Orcas & Salmon, Fishing Gets Caught in the Middle (Olympian, WA)
Fertilizers Boost Declining Vancouver Island Fish Populations - Fry grow up to 95 per cent bigger in streams treated with nutrients, fisheries biologists say (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)
Salmon in the Classroom May be Saved from Becoming Extinct (Seattle Times)
The Reckoning: A Looming Decision on Endangered Salmon Will Set the Stage for Momentous Battles over the Future (Oregonian, Portland)
Editorial - New York Myopia? O Oysters (NY Times)
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
New Puget Sound Partnership Leader Ready to ‘Roll Up Sleeves’ (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
Klickitat PUD - White Salmon Sees Water as Key to Growth (Vancouver Columbian, WA)
Southwestern US Water: Going, Going, Gone? (NY Times)
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Oregon - Owner Worries Lakeview Geothermal Energy Project Could Stop Old Perpetual, Take Water from Resort Hot Springs (Oregonian, Portland)
Op/Ed - Biomass: A Financially & Environmentally Sustainable Way to Manage the State’s Resources (Seattle Times)
California - Proposed Wood-Fired Power Plant in Weed Poses Problem; Suit Could Affect Redding (Redding Record Searchlight, CA)
Oregon - Emerald People’s Utility District Recovers Record Amount of Landfill Gas (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)
In Holland, Land of Windmills, Flap over Wind Farm (Washington Post)
Rooftop Pipe-Dream - Be Wary of the Booming Market for Pint-Sized, Roof-Mounted Windmills (Slate Magazine)
California - Energy Bill Would Exclude Desert: Balance Development of Renewable Energy & Protect Conservation Areas (The Desert Sun, Palm Springs, CA)
Calculating the True Cost of Solar Electricity (Renewable Energy World)
CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY
Home Energy Sleuths Find Clues (Seattle Times)
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Large Dams Can Alter Climate, Affect Rainfall (The Cookeville Herald Citizen, TN)
BARREL O’ BUBBLING GREEN POTPOURRI
Drivers Express Interest in Hybrids, But Many Don’t Buy (USA Today)
Green Smoke Screen - Supporters of “Green Energy” Like to Say It Will Create More Jobs. They’re Wrong (Slate Magazine)
US Approves Corn Modified for Ethanol (NY Times)
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
North Central Washington State Hospitals Win Telemedicine Grant (Wenatchee World, WA)
Broadband Stimulus Spat - Kansas Broadband Debate Crosses Party Lines (Hays Daily News, KS)
New Wireless System Won’t Need Cell Towers - Smaller ‘light Radio cubes’ offer faster, better coverage (Associated Press)
The Dirty Little Secrets of Search (NY Times)
Yahoo! Data Center’s Goat Video Nominated for Award (Columbia Basin Bulletin, Moses Lake, WA)
New Digital Divide Seen for Minorities on Internet (Associated Press)
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
States Aim Ax at Health Cost of Retirement (NY Times)
Spokane Commissioners Appoint Jeff Baxter as McCaslin Replacement for State Senate (Associated Press)
Herrera Beutler Adjusts to Other Washington (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
Spin Control: Washington State Initiative Filing Fee a Turn-of-the-Century Deal (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)
Tax-Increment Financing Could Spur Economy, Say Backers (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
GENERAL NEWS
North Mason Proposes Shorter School Year (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
Report: La Nina Weakening; Still Expected to Last Till Spring (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
States’ Offer of Tax Breaks No Guarantee for Jobs (Associated Press)
Rural Post Offices Put on Notice in Face of DIY Digital Age (USA Today)
Quincy Farmer Captures Metal Theft Suspects (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/crime-fire/article_fcac5512-3613-11e0-bc7b-001cc4c03286.html
War Re-Enactors Want to Increase Black Powder Limits in Washington State (Associated Press)
DIVERSIONS
Malaysian Woman Uses Soap Ladle to Save Husband from Tiger Attack
Shades of ‘Seinfeld’: Maine bottle scam alleged
Fireworks Retailer Gets Probation for Selling Bombs
SONG OF THE DAY
Survivor - Eye of the Tiger
