The Energy News Digest: Energy News Digest for February 3, 2011

Thursday, February 3, 2011

Energy News Digest for February 3, 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

US Hydropower Can be Doubled by 2035, Industry Group Tells Obama (Electric Light & Power)

http://www.elp.com/index/from-the-wires/wire_news_display/1350189664.html

Fishing: Chinook Return Likely to be Smaller Than 2010 (Bellingham Herald, WA)

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/02/02/1848053/fishing-chinook-return-likely.html

Rusting Barge Cracks in Half, Leaks Oil into Columbia River; Focuses Attention on Derelict Vessels (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/01/salvage_barge_cracked_open_and.html

Two Views on Future of Biomass - The Evergreen State College Wants Project Funded; Others Worry About Air (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/02/03/1529846/2-views-on-future-of-biomass.html

British Columbia, Washington State to Promote Climate Action - But agreements have no legal weight (Canadian Free Press)

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/greenpage/environment/bc-washington-to-promote-climate-action-but-agreements-have-no-legal-weight--115131809.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

· US Hydropower Can be Doubled by 2035, Industry Group Tells Obama

· Washington’s Bill of (Coal-Free) Health

· California - Controversial; Natural Gas? Disputed Power Plant for San Joaquin Valley Clears Hurdle

· California Utility Told to Cut Gas Pipeline Pressures

· A Big Future for Small Nuclear Reactors?

· Editorial – Montana: Going Co-Op Won’t Solve Great Falls’ Electric City Power’s Troubles

· Oregon - Richardson Wins Northern Wasco PUD Board Post

· New York - $300 Million in Price-Fixing by Keyspan Will Cost It $12 Million

· Fishing: Chinook Return Likely to be Smaller Than 2010

· Canada, US May Restrict Chinook Salmon Harvest to Benefit Killer Whales

· Rusting Barge Cracks in Half, Leaks Oil into Columbia River; Focuses Attention on Derelict Vessels

· Editorial - The Mighty Columbia, Our Fabled Junkyard

· Port Angeles Cuts Fluoride in Water; Forks Next?

· Two Views on Future of Biomass - The Evergreen State College Wants Project Funded; Others Worry About Air

· State of Oregon Studies Wind Health

· Idaho Turns on 183 Megawatts of Wind Power

· Idaho Irrigation District Proposes Canal Power Plant

· Edmonds Woman Is Taking Advantage of PUD Solar Express

· 33 Percent Solution - California Democrats Launch ‘Green Energy’ Bills

· Report Says Intel the Biggest Buyer of Green Energy in the US

· Editorial - Renewable-Energy Push Is Off-Base

· Grand Coulee Energy Efficiency Boosts Output of Nation’s Largest Hydroelectric Dam

· Canadian Fluorescent Bulb Disposal Plan Up in the Air

· Clark PUD Energy Adviser: Tax Credits Available; Amounts Reduced

· Future Uncertain for In-Home Energy ‘Dashboards’

· British Columbia, Washington State to Promote Climate Action - But agreements have no legal weight

· Obama Administration Threatens Climate Veto

· Climate Change Will Bring More Monster Winter Storms

· What Could Possibly Go Wrong: Blotting Out the Sun

· Opinions Differ on Wind Power’s Pollution Reduction

· Energy Firms Aided by US Find Backers

· Turning Garbage into Gas - Atomizing Trash Eliminates the Need to Dump It

· Hiybbprqag: Did Google Catch Bing Cheating?

· Microsoft: We’re Not Stealing Google’s Search Results

· Intel Chip Design Error Affects Few Computers

· Oregon - Class Action Suit Alleges Comcast Charged Illegal Late Fees

· Hotels Sock Travelers with Wi-Fi Fees

· Top 10 Countries That Say Internet Access Is a Basic Right

· Washington State Senate Budget Still Leaves $200 Million Deficit

· Groups Ramp Up Lobbying as New Regulations Loom

· Microsoft Spent $6.9 Million on Lobbying in 2010

· US Representative McMorris Rodgers Aims to Nullify Health Law Via IRS

· Washington State Bill Proposes State Websites Should Sell Advertising

· Winter Storm Begs the Question: What’s Going on with the Weather?

· Peak Flu Season Hits Washington

· Rural Airport Subsidies Test Resolve to Cut Spending

· Feds in New York Pull Plug on Pirated Sports Broadcasts

WORD OF THE DAY

Gesamtkunstwerk • \guh-ZAHMT-koonst-verk\ • Noun - From the German. The total work of art, meaning the architect designs everything, soup to nuts.

The architect as artist had begun the meeting with a bright-eyed exuberance. His vision, his gesamtkunstwerk was to be the crowning achievement…a shining structure in the dusty, Midwest town that would be a beacon for students everywhere. By the time the design had been festooned with folk art and rustic, rural design suggestions…his initial posture had declined into a thousand-mile square. “Great,” he mused. “I started with the Guggenheim, and wound up with Green Acres."

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

US Hydropower Can be Doubled by 2035, Industry Group Tells Obama (Electric Light & Power)

http://www.elp.com/index/from-the-wires/wire_news_display/1350189664.html

Washington’s Bill of (Coal-Free) Health (Sightline)

http://daily.sightline.org/daily_score/archive/2011/02/02/a-coal-free-washington

California - Controversial; Natural Gas? Disputed Power Plant for San Joaquin Valley Clears Hurdle (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/02/avenal-power-plant-san-joaquin-valley-pollution.html

California Utility Told to Cut Gas Pipeline Pressures (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014114461_apuspipelineexplosion.html

A Big Future for Small Nuclear Reactors? (Heritage Foundation)

http://www.heritage.org/Research/Reports/2011/02/A-Big-Future-for-Small-Nuclear-Reactors

Editorial – Montana: Going Co-Op Won’t Solve Great Falls’ Electric City Power’s Troubles (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20110202/OPINION01/102020341

Oregon - Richardson Wins Northern Wasco PUD Board Post (Dalles Chronicle, OR)

http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2011/02/02-02-11-02.shtml

New York - $300 Million in Price-Fixing by Keyspan Will Cost It $12 Million (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/03/nyregion/03keyspan.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Fishing: Chinook Return Likely to be Smaller Than 2010 (Bellingham Herald, WA)

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/02/02/1848053/fishing-chinook-return-likely.html

Canada, US May Restrict Chinook Salmon Harvest to Benefit Killer Whales (Vancouver Sun, BC)

http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Canada+restrict+chinook+salmon+harvest+benefit+killer+whales/4213858/story.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Rusting Barge Cracks in Half, Leaks Oil into Columbia River; Focuses Attention on Derelict Vessels (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/01/salvage_barge_cracked_open_and.html

Editorial - The Mighty Columbia, Our Fabled Junkyard (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/02/the_mighty_columbia_our_fabled.html

Port Angeles Cuts Fluoride in Water; Forks Next? (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110203/news/302039993/port-angeles-cuts-fluoride-in-water-forks-next

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Two Views on Future of Biomass - The Evergreen State College Wants Project Funded; Others Worry About Air (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/02/03/1529846/2-views-on-future-of-biomass.html

State of Oregon Studies Wind Health (Dalles Chronicle, OR)

http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2011/02/02-02-11-01.shtml

Idaho Turns on 183 Megawatts of Wind Power (Electric Light & Power)

http://www.elp.com/index/display/article-display.articles.electric-light-power.renewable-energy.wind.2011.02.Idaho_turns_on_183_MW_of_wind_power.QP129867.dcmp=rss.page=1.html

Idaho Irrigation District Proposes Canal Power Plant (Twin Falls Times-News, ID)

http://www.magicvalley.com/news/local/twin-falls/article_7e8e87bd-82df-548a-9dfd-75068b9c305b.html

Edmonds Woman Is Taking Advantage of PUD Solar Express (Edmonds Enterprise, WA)

http://heraldnet.com/article/20110202/ETP03/702029805/-1/NEWS01

33 Percent Solution - California Democrats Launch ‘Green Energy’ Bills (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/02/03/3373329/democrats-launch-green-energy.html

Report Says Intel the Biggest Buyer of Green Energy in the US (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/02/idUS390777168420110202

Editorial - Renewable-Energy Push Is Off-Base (Arizona Republic, Phoenix)

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/2011/02/03/20110203thurlets035.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Energy Efficiency Boosts Output of Nation’s Largest Hydroelectric Dam - Lighting upgrades at Grand Coulee Dam save enough power for America to watch the Super Bowl (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/1003619/

Canadian Fluorescent Bulb Disposal Plan Up in the Air - Environmentalists, cities worry mercury will end up in municipal dumps (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2011/02/02/light-bulbs.html

Clark PUD Energy Adviser: Tax Credits Available; Amounts Reduced (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/feb/03/tax-credits-available-amounts-reduced/

Future Uncertain for In-Home Energy ‘Dashboards’ (CNET News)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20030373-54.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

British Columbia, Washington State to Promote Climate Action - But agreements have no legal weight (Canadian Free Press)

http://www.winnipegfreepress.com/greenpage/environment/bc-washington-to-promote-climate-action-but-agreements-have-no-legal-weight--115131809.html

Obama Administration Threatens Climate Veto (Politico)

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0211/48690.html

Climate Change Will Bring More Monster Winter Storms (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2011/0202/Climate-change-will-bring-more-monster-winter-storms

What Could Possibly Go Wrong: Blotting Out the Sun (Popular Science)

http://www.popsci.com/science/article/2011-01/what-could-possibly-go-wrong-blotting-out-sun

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Opinions Differ on Wind Power’s Pollution Reduction (Vermont Public Radio)

http://www.vpr.net/news_detail/89924/

Energy Firms Aided by US Find Backers (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/03/business/energy-environment/03energy.html

Turning Garbage into Gas - Atomizing Trash Eliminates the Need to Dump It, And Generates Useful Power Too (Economist)

http://www.economist.com/node/18061104?story_id=18061104&fsrc=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Hiybbprqag: Did Google Catch Bing Cheating? Bing is copying search results from Google, company reps alleged this week. The proof? Hiybbprqag. (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Horizons/2011/0202/Hiybbprqag-Did-Google-catch-Bing-cheating

Microsoft: We’re Not Stealing Google’s Search Results (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/26721635/detail.html

Intel Chip Design Error Affects Few Computers (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/02/03/1528552/intel-chip-design-error-affects.html

Oregon - Class Action Suit Alleges Comcast Charged Illegal Late Fees (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/57103-comcast-required-return-late-fees-some-customers/

Hotels Sock Travelers with Wi-Fi Fees (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2014107428_webtroubleshooter02.html

Top 10 Countries That Say Internet Access Is a Basic Right (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/CSM-Photo-Galleries/Lists/Top-10-countries-that-say-Internet-access-is-a-basic-right

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE