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
Washington State Not on Track to Meet Pollution Limits (Associated Press)
Federal Judge Upholds Washington State Building Energy Rules (Associated Press)
Texas to Probe Rolling Blackouts - State Wants to Determine if Generators Gamed Prices as Power Failed in Storm (Wall Street Journal)
Kittitas County Concerned by Community Wind Bill (The Daily Record, Ellensburg, WA)
Electric-Car Owners Might Face $100 State Fee (Seattle Times)
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
· Texas to Probe Rolling Blackouts - State Wants to Determine if Generators Gamed Prices as Power Failed in Storm
· Texas - State to Investigate Causes of Power Outages: Officials ask if laws & rules followed, if anyone profited
· Wind Power to Blame? - Blowing Smoke over the Texas Blackouts
· Texas Wind Power Helped Reliability During Super Bowl, Winter Storms
· Mason PUD 3 Makes Emergency Repairs
· The Battle Continues - Marin Energy Authority to Cut Rates by 14 Percent
· Montana - Bills Critics Say Will Undermine Renewable-Power, Conservation Incentives
· More Homes, Businesses Generate Electricity, Cash with Tennessee Valley Authority Program
· Honey, I Broke the Fracking Planet - A Dot on the Map, Until the Earth Started Shaking
· Could Excess Supply Foil Aluminum Prices in 2011?
· Copper Prices & Incidences of Copper Theft Rise
· New York - Niagara Hydroelectric Power Project Celebrates 50 Years
· Columbia River Spring Chinook Fishery to be Announced Tuesday
· Sturgeon Ceiling Might be Lowered on Willamette River
· Monster Hatchery Chinook Caught in Roche Harbor Salmon Classic
· Editorial - Does Congress Need to Intervene? The Columbia River Sea Lion Controversy Cannot Keep Dragging On
· California Delta Chinook Salmon Run Bigger, But Still Low
· California - Timber Company Petition to Delist Salmon Backfires
· Oyster Reefs Are Vanishing from Overharvesting
· Pilot Channel Removes Elwha River ‘Plug’ Above Reservoir
· Olympia Fires Henderson Boulevard Sewer Contractor - City says company failed to meet expectations
· Clallam County, Area Cities & PUD Pitched Water Program
· Kittitas County Concerned by Community Wind Bill
· State’s Largest Community Solar Project Goes Online in March in Poulsbo
· Thurston County Commissioners Lauded for Biomass Moratorium
· Spokane County Set to Approve Amendments to Waste-to-Energy Plant Contract
· Op/Ed – Proposed Washington’s Biomass Incinerators Are Bad for Forests & Climate
· Labor Coalition’s Tactics on Renewable Energy Projects Are Criticized
· Renewable Energy: Labor Coalition’s Tactics Draw Heat
· Obama fast-tracks Mid-Atlantic offshore wind energy
· US House GOP Supporters of Renewable Electricity Standard in 2007 Will Now Face the Pressure
· Federal Judge Upholds Washington State Building Energy Rules
· A Run on Incandescents - Some Consumers Resist New Light Bulbs
· Smart Technology Will Increase Energy Efficiency & Reliability
· Washington State Not on Track to Meet Pollution Limits
· Fog Burned Off by Climate Change Threatens to Stunt Muir Woods’ Majestic Redwoods
· Keep Courts Out of Climate Policy, GOP. Lawmakers Say
· Electric-Car Owners Might Face $100 State Fee
· Coal Stoves Linked to Growth Problems in Kids
· Chelan County PUD Fires Two Top Officials
· PR Jobs, Management Under Washington State Budget-Cut Scrutiny
· Shea Blasts ‘Vicious Personal Attacks’ over Nomination to Washington State Senate Seat
· CEOs: Locke Obama’s Secret Weapon
· One Killed in Travel Trailer Fire & Explosion Near Olympia
· Shelton Man Held in Attempted West Olympia Rape
· Reports Reveal Close Calls in the Skies over Washington
· Report: New Coastal Doppler Will be Ready for Next Wet Season
· Oregon Lawmakers Consider Banning Out-of-State Firewood
WORD OF THE DAY
Rapprochement • \rah-prōsh-MAW\ • Noun - Establishment of or state of having cordial relations
The rapprochement between the new copier repairman and the company’s “queen of the copy room” did not start well. After his “hi little lady” greeting, the two circled each other in the work-room like two prize-fighters, intent on finding the others’ weakness. This would not end well.
SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Texas to Probe Rolling Blackouts - State Wants to Determine if Generators Gamed Prices as Power Failed in Storm (Wall Street Journal)
Texas - State to Investigate Causes of Power Outages: Officials ask if laws & rules followed, if anyone profited (Austin American Statesman, TX)
Wind Power to Blame? - Blowing Smoke over the Texas Blackouts (Midwestern Energy News)
Texas Wind Power Helped Reliability During Super Bowl, Winter Storms (Electric Light & Power)
Mason PUD 3 Makes Emergency Repairs (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
The Battle Continues - Marin Energy Authority to Cut Rates by 14 Percent (Power-Gen Worldwide)
Montana - Bills Critics Say Will Undermine Renewable-Power, Conservation Incentives (The Missoulian, MT)
More Homes, Businesses Generate Electricity, Cash with Tennessee Valley Authority Program (The Tennessean, Nashville)
Honey, I Broke the Fracking Planet - A Dot on the Map, Until the Earth Started Shaking (NY Times)
Could Excess Supply Foil Aluminum Prices in 2011? (Morningstar)
Copper Prices & Incidences of Copper Theft Rise (NY Times)
New York - Niagara Hydroelectric Power Project Celebrates 50 Years (Electricity Forum)
FISH & WILDLIFE
Columbia River Spring Chinook Fishery to be Announced Tuesday (Seattle Times)
Sturgeon Ceiling Might be Lowered on Willamette River (Salem Statesman-Journal, OR)
Monster Hatchery Chinook Caught in Roche Harbor Salmon Classic (Seattle Times)
Editorial - Does Congress Need to Intervene? The Columbia River Sea Lion Controversy Cannot Keep Dragging On (The Daily Astorian, OR)
California Delta Chinook Salmon Run Bigger, But Still Low (SF Chronicle)
California - Timber Company Petition to Delist Salmon Backfires (Courthouse News Service)
Oyster Reefs Are Vanishing from Overharvesting (NY Times)
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Pilot Channel Removes Elwha River ‘Plug’ Above Reservoir (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
Olympia Fires Henderson Boulevard Sewer Contractor - City says company failed to meet expectations (Olympian, WA)
Clallam County, Area Cities & PUD Pitched Water Program (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Kittitas County Concerned by Community Wind Bill (The Daily Record, Ellensburg, WA)
State’s Largest Community Solar Project Goes Online in March in Poulsbo (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
Thurston County Commissioners Lauded for Biomass Moratorium (Olympian, WA)
Spokane County Set to Approve Amendments to Waste-to-Energy Plant Contract (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)
Op/Ed – Proposed Washington’s Biomass Incinerators Are Bad for Forests & Climate (Seattle Times)
Labor Coalition’s Tactics on Renewable Energy Projects Are Criticized (Los Angeles Times, CA)
Renewable Energy: Labor Coalition’s Tactics Draw Heat (Los Angeles Times, CA)
Obama fast-tracks Mid-Atlantic offshore wind energy (USA Today)
US House GOP Supporters of Renewable Electricity Standard in 2007 Will Now Face the Pressure (NY Times)
CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY
Federal Judge Upholds Washington State Building Energy Rules (Associated Press)
A Run on Incandescents - Some Consumers Resist New Light Bulbs (USA Today)
Smart Technology Will Increase Energy Efficiency & Reliability (Northwest Public Radio)
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Washington State Not on Track to Meet Pollution Limits (Associated Press)
Fog Burned Off by Climate Change Threatens to Stunt Muir Woods’ Majestic Redwoods (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
Keep Courts Out of Climate Policy, GOP. Lawmakers Say (NY Times)
BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI
Electric-Car Owners Might Face $100 State Fee (Seattle Times)
Coal Stoves Linked to Growth Problems in Kids (Reuters)
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Chelan County PUD Fires Two Top Officials (Wenatchee World, WA)
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
PR Jobs, Management Under Washington State Budget-Cut Scrutiny (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
Shea Blasts ‘Vicious Personal Attacks’ over Nomination to Washington State Senate Seat (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)
CEOs: Locke Obama’s Secret Weapon (Politico)
GENERAL NEWS
One Killed in Travel Trailer Fire & Explosion Near Olympia
Shelton Man Held in Attempted West Olympia Rape (Olympian, WA)
Reports Reveal Close Calls in the Skies over Washington (Northwest Cable News Network)
Report: New Coastal Doppler Will be Ready for Next Wet Season (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)
Oregon Lawmakers Consider Banning Out-of-State Firewood (Oregon Public Radio)
DIVERSIONS
iPhone App Allowing Catholics to Confess Sins Approved by Church
Tulare County Man Dies after Being Cut by Knife Attached to Cockfighting Rooster’s Leg
Hawaiian Restaurant Adds Surcharge for Customers Who Don’t Speak English
Irony Alert: Code Pink Protesters Bailed Out of Egyptian Fracas by Shell Oil
SONG OF THE DAY
Eric Burdon & the Animals - We’ve Gotta Get Outta This Place
