Energy News Digest for February 2, 2011

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

Thanks to Public Power & NoaNet - High-Speed Internet Access Coming to Mount Baker Foothills Area (Bellingham Herald, WA)

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/02/02/1846045/high-speed-internet-access-coming.html

Washington State Gives Green Light to Jefferson PUD’s Proposed Takeover of Puget Sound Energy’s Electrical System in County (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/boomerconsumer/archives/237931.asp

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal Rejects US Bid to Establish Corridors for New Electric Transmission Lines (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-electric-corridors-20110202,0,835999.story

Penguin Windows Closing Several Locations amid Claims over Energy Savings & Sales Tactics (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Penguin-Windows-closing-115033904.html

Punxsutawney Phil Predicts an Early Spring (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014103463_apusgroundhogday.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Washington State Gives Green Light to Jefferson PUD’s Proposed Takeover of Puget Sound Energy’s Electrical System in County

·         Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal Rejects US Bid to Establish Corridors for New Electric Transmission Lines

·         Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Blocks National Park Power Line Plan

·         Richland Firm Gets Energy Northwest Nuclear Plant Contract

·         Natural Gas Pipeline Contractor for Puget Sound Energy Laying Off 300

·         Montana - NorthWestern, Others, Appeal Rate Case

·         Spokane Power Outage Blamed on Contractor

·         Chelan PUD - Lineman Memorial Scholarship Deadline Nears

·         White House Clean Energy Standard Gets Key Support

·         The Truth About Risks, Benefits of the Smart Grid

·         Colorado - Frozen Pipe Sparks Light Show at Xcel Substation

·         US Probes BP for Natural Gas Market Manipulation

·         New York - Hey, Is That a Cell Phone Tower in Your Yard?

·         California - A Small Fish Caught in a Big Fuss

·         Editorial - Fishing for a Laugh, Obama Missed the Mark on Salmon

·         EPA Will Limit Rocket Fuel Chemical in Tap Water

·         Oregon - Intel Adds Solar Capacity at Two Hillsboro Campuses

·         Community Solar Gets a Tryout with Major California Utility

·         Silicon Producer REC Profit Beats Estimates, Shares Rise Most Since May 2009

·         Missouri Lawmakers Vote to Reject Renewable Energy Rule

·         Wyoming House Panel Backs Extending Wind Moratorium

·         Rethinking Wind Rankings

·         Southside Virginians Back Biomass Power Plant

·         Ohio - Environmentalists Challenge Biomass Burning at Dayton Utility’s Plant

·         Penguin Windows Closing Several Locations amid Claims over Energy Savings & Sales Tactics

·         Flathead Electric Coop - High-Tech Program to Test Use of Electricity in Libby

·         Cyberthieves Shut Down the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme

·         Report: Obama Unlikely to Meet His Electric-Car Goal

·         Los Angeles Homebuilder Offers Smog-Eating Tile Roofs

·         Inkjet Printers May be the Future of Solar Cells

·         Thanks to Public Power & NoaNet - High-Speed Internet Access Coming to Mount Baker Foothills Area

·         Google Claims Microsoft Is Copying Its Search Results

·         Internet Runs Out of Addresses as Devices Grow

·         Egypt Reopens Internet, Facebook Access

·         Google Dials Up Voice Service in Egypt

·         Abandon Washington State’s Presidential Primary, Leaders Say

·         Panel Hears Bill to Take Schools Chief Off Ballot

·         Some Kitsap County Officials Ready to Harness the Power of Social Media

·         Punxsutawney Phil Predicts an Early Spring

·         Weapons Screening Coming to Mason County Courthouse

·         Insane Photos of an Absurd Blizzard: The Most Astonishing Snowpocalypse Shots

WORD OF THE DAY

Kerfuffle • \kurr-FUFF-full\ • Noun - Disturbance, fuss

Beatrice heard the ruckus in the copy room; punctuated by shouts and obscene words. What she thought was a fight over the use of the copy machine was merely a kerfuffle between the repairman and a reluctant adjustment knob.

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

Washington State Gives Green Light to Jefferson PUD’s Proposed Takeover of Puget Sound Energy’s Electrical System in County (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/boomerconsumer/archives/237931.asp

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeal Rejects US Bid to Establish Corridors for New Electric Transmission Lines (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-electric-corridors-20110202,0,835999.story

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Blocks National Park Power Line Plan (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/02/01/33813.htm

Richland Firm Gets Energy Northwest Nuclear Plant Contract (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/02/01/1349664/richland-firm-gets-nuke-plant.html

Natural Gas Pipeline Contractor for Puget Sound Energy Laying Off 300 (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014101554_pilchuck02.html

Montana - NorthWestern, Others, Appeal Rate Case (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20110202/NEWS01/110202003/NorthWestern++others++appeal+rate+case

Spokane Power Outage Blamed on Contractor (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/feb/01/power-outage-darkens-county-campus-jail/

Chelan PUD - Lineman Memorial Scholarship Deadline Nears (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/feb/02/lineman-memorial-scholarship-deadline-nears/

White House Clean Energy Standard Gets Key Support (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/01/idUS163126540220110201

The Truth About Risks, Benefits of the Smart Grid (Forbes Magazine)

http://blogs.forbes.com/oshadavidson/2011/02/01/the-truth-about-risks-benefits-of-the-smart-grid/

Colorado - Frozen Pipe Sparks Light Show at Xcel Substation (KUSA-TV, Denver, CO)

http://www.9news.com/news/local/article.aspx?storyid=179020&catid=346

US Probes BP for Natural Gas Market Manipulation (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/02/us-bp-marketmanipulation-idUSTRE7111LY20110202

New York - Hey, Is That a Cell Phone Tower in Your Yard? Local Officials Call It ‘Construction by Ambush’ & Demand Answers (MSNBC)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41376150/ns/technology_and_science-wireless/?GT1=43001

FISH & WILDLIFE

California - A Small Fish Caught in a Big Fuss - The tiny delta smelt has a big effect on the amount of water sent to 25 million people & 2 million acres of Central Valley farmland (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-me-delta-smelt-20110202,0,5552268.story

Editorial - Fishing for a Laugh, Obama Missed the Mark on Salmon (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/02/02/1528377/fishing-for-a-laugh-obama-missed.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

EPA Will Limit Rocket Fuel Chemical in Tap Water (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/02/epa-rocket-fuel-tap-water/1?csp=34tech

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Oregon - Intel Adds Solar Capacity at Two Hillsboro Campuses (Oregonian, Portland)

http://blog.oregonlive.com/siliconforest/2011/02/intel_adds_solar_capacity_at_t.html

Community Solar Gets a Tryout with Major California Utility (CNET News)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20030345-54.html

Silicon Producer REC Profit Beats Estimates, Shares Rise Most Since May 2009 (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-02/rec-profit-beats-estimates-shares-rise-in-oslo-most-since-september-2009.html

Missouri Lawmakers Vote to Reject Renewable Energy Rule (Associated Press)

http://www.koamtv.com/Global/story.asp?S=13948089

Wyoming House Panel Backs Extending Wind Moratorium (Associated Press)

http://trib.com/ap/state/article_44efc5f0-98ab-54f2-80d5-3b469bda1de7.html

Rethinking Wind Rankings (Midwest Energy News)

http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2011/01/27/rethinking-wind-rankings/

Southside Virginians Back Biomass Power Plant (Richmond Times-Dispatch, VA)

http://www2.timesdispatch.com/business/2011/feb/02/tdbiz03-southside-virginians-back-biomass-power-pl-ar-814254/

Ohio - Environmentalists Challenge Biomass Burning at Dayton Utility’s Plant (Dayton Daily News, OH)

http://www.daytondailynews.com/news/dayton-news/environmentalists-challenge-biomass-burning-at-dayton-utilitys-plant-1070056.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Penguin Windows Closing Several Locations amid Claims over Energy Savings & Sales Tactics (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Penguin-Windows-closing-115033904.html

Flathead Electric Coop - High-Tech Program to Test Use of Electricity in Libby (The Western News, Libby MT)

http://www.thewesternnews.com/news/article_156257d6-2e54-11e0-a43a-001cc4c03286.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Cyberthieves Shut Down the European Union’s Emissions Trading Scheme (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/01/idUS118181819720110201

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Report: Obama Unlikely to Meet His Electric-Car Goal (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/02/report-obama-unlikely-to-meet-his-electric-car-goal/1?csp=34money

Los Angeles Homebuilder Offers Smog-Eating Tile Roofs (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_17260807

Inkjet Printers May be the Future of Solar Cells (MSNBC)

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41316632/ns/technology_and_science-future_of_energy/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Thanks to Public Power & NoaNet - High-Speed Internet Access Coming to Mount Baker Foothills Area (Bellingham Herald, WA)

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/02/02/1846045/high-speed-internet-access-coming.html

Google Claims Microsoft Is Copying Its Search Results (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014102094_binggoogle02.html

Internet Runs Out of Addresses as Devices Grow (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2011-02-02-internet-addresses_N.htm?csp=34tech

Egypt Reopens Internet, Facebook Access (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Horizons/2011/0202/Egypt-reopens-Internet-Facebook-access

Google Dials Up Voice Service in Egypt (Newsweek)

http://www.newsweek.com/2011/02/01/google-dials-up-voice-service-in-egypt.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Abandon Washington State’s Presidential Primary, Leaders Say - Canceling state’s event would save millions; results largely ignored (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/feb/02/abandon-presidential-primary-leaders-say/

Panel Hears Bill to Take Schools Chief Off Ballot (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=13953288

Some Kitsap County Officials Ready to Harness the Power of Social Media (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/feb/01/some-kitsap-county-officials-ready-to-harness-of/

GENERAL NEWS

Punxsutawney Phil Predicts an Early Spring (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014103463_apusgroundhogday.html

Weapons Screening Coming to Mason County Courthouse (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/news/4491-weapons-screening-coming-to-courthouse

Insane Photos of an Absurd Blizzard: The Most Astonishing Snowpocalypse Shots (Time Magazine)

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/02/02/snowpocalypse-slams-the-midwest-the-most-astonishing-photos/

DIVERSIONS

A Discourse on Emerging Tectonic Visualization & the Effects of Materiality on Praxis - Or an essay on the ridiculous way architects talk

http://www.slate.com/id/2283172/

Chinese ‘Year of the Rabbit’ Could be Year of the Love Rat

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Year+Rabbit+could+year+love/4210949/story.html

Immigration Officer Fired After Bosses Learn He Added Wife to Do-Not-Fly List

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/02/02/time-for-counseling-immigration-officer-adds-wife-to-terrorist-suspect-list/

If Not for Postal Clerks, Puppy Would Have Been DOA - A 39-year-old woman was charged with animal cruelty after she tried to air-mail the dog to Atlanta from downtown Minneapolis

http://www.startribune.com/local/115011544.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Harry Bidgood - “Run, Rabbit, Run!”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K1SX8r5y1qw