Energy News Digest for March 22, 2011

Golly, sand DOES get everywhere when you visit the beach. The news digest is back and still getting some of those gritty grains out of mysterious places.

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

California Cap-And-Trade Plan Faces Setback (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/21/california-carbon-idUSN219838420110321

Pacific Northwest Water Supply Forecast Gets Big Jump, April-Sept. Runoff Now Projected at 104 Percent of Normal (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/406666.aspx

Vermont Nuke Plant Gets Federal OK for 20-Year Renewal (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2011-03-21-vermont-yankee-license.htm?csp=34money

Washington State Data Center Tax Break May be Extended (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/article_83475bfe-51b6-11e0-af92-001cc4c03286.html

Idaho - Friction Grows over Wind Power: Idaho Power Wants Moratorium, End to Tax Rebate (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/mar/22/friction-grows-over-wind-power/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Vermont Nuke Plant Gets Federal OK for 20-Year Renewal

·         Washington to Argue for Yucca Mountain Project

·         If Nukes Fade, Gas Exports Will Gain

·         Editorial - Nuclear Power in America: Five Reasons Why It’s Safe & Reliable

·         US Senator Discusses Possible PNNL Cuts

·         Montana - Flathead Electric Rates Going Up June 1

·         Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Reaffirms Order Requiring Revised Definition of Bulk Electric Systems

·         Montana - Power Line Eminent Domain Bill Tied Up in State Senate

·         Mason County PUD 3 Awards Students for Electricity-Related Projects at Skookum Rotary’s March 19 Science Fair

·         US Senator Murkowski Introduces Bipartisan Hydropower Improvement Act of 2011

·         California - East Contra Costa Welcomes Power Plants in Their Backyard

·         Connecticut Lawmakers Consider Tax on Electricity Generators as Critics Cite Rising Cost of Power

·         Feds Want to Double Nesting Areas for Shorebird

·         Researcher Suggests ‘Salmon Leukemia’ Is to Blame for Decline of Fraser Sockeye

·         Fish Biologist Helps Yakamas Create First Sturgeon Recovery Program

·         Op/Ed - Saving Columbia River Salmon: A Fish Story That’s Not Just About Fish

·         Deal Takes Idaho Wolf Packs Off Endangered List

·         Seals from Canada Found as Far South as North Carolina

·         Pacific Northwest Water Supply Forecast Gets Big Jump

·         California - Late Rains Put State’s Water Managers on the Spot

·         Is Lake Powell Slowly Dying?

·         Idaho - Friction Grows over Wind Power: Idaho Power Wants Moratorium, End to Tax Rebate

·         North Dakota - Iberdrola Halts Wind Farm After Suzlon Turbine Blades Fall

·         Wind Turbines Kill 0.088% of the Birds Killed by House Cats

·         Puget Sound Waters Test Wave Energy Prototype Buoy

·         Editorial - Biomass & Gravel Mining: Scuttled Projects Illustrate the Power of Determined People

·         Op/Ed - Renewable Energy: Leaving Oregonians out in the cold

·         Oregon - Clean Energy Works Expanding Statewide

·         A Better Kind of Lightbulb?

·         Poll: More Americans Improving Energy Efficiency at Home

·         Four Ways Electricity Monitors Can Trim Your Energy Bills

·         California Cap-And-Trade Plan Faces Setback

·         Car & Truck Exhaust, Wood Smoke & Solvents Top Oregon’s List of Toxic Air Pollution Risks

·         The Wood Stove Excels at Reducing Fossil Fuels—But Can it Get Clean Enough?

·         Washington State Data Center Tax Break May be Extended

·         Chelan PUD Suggests Sharing Expense on Costlier Fiber Connections

·         FCC Gives CenturyLink/Qwest Merger Approval

·         Oregon Yet to OK Centurylink-Qwest Merger

·         Japan Quake Knocked Out 25% of Global Silicon Wafer Production

·         Google Blames China for Disrupting Email Services in Latest Spat

·         Cloud-Storage Sites Eye Billion-Dollar Valuations

·         Inslee Lets Donors Know He’s Eyeing the Race for Governor

·         Washington State Senator at Odds With Ferry Workers over Vomit Pay

·         Radiation Detected in Washington, But Poses No Risk

·         Washingtonians Raise More Than $7 Million for Japan

·         Weather Delays Opening of Columbia River Navigation Lock

·         Hearing on City of Shelton Water Rate Increase Set

·         In a Renaissance for Radio, More Listeners Are Tuning In

WORD OF THE DAY

Savant • \sah-VAWNT\ • Noun - A person of learning; especially : one with detailed knowledge in some specialized field

Peter’s ear hovered over a five-inch-square space of putty colored plastic, his eyes narrowed in concentration as he tried to fathom the evil spirits that had possessed the company’s production-sized copy machine. With lightning fast reflexes, the technology savant slammed his doubled fist on the exact spot to clear the paper jam and resume the print job that so easily stalled the jet-like issuance of copy paper into neatly collated stacks.

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

Vermont Nuke Plant Gets Federal OK for 20-Year Renewal (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2011-03-21-vermont-yankee-license.htm?csp=34money

Washington to Argue for Yucca Mountain Project (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/83061-washington-argue-yucca-mountain-project/

If Nukes Fade, Gas Exports Will Gain (Montreal Gazette, Canada)

http://www.montrealgazette.com/news/nukes+fade+exports+will+gain/4480351/story.html

Editorial - Nuclear Power in America: Five Reasons Why It’s Safe & Reliable (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2011/0321/Nuclear-power-in-America-Five-reasons-why-it-s-safe-and-reliable/Nuclear-is-safe

US Senator Discusses Possible PNNL Cuts (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=14240845

Montana - Flathead Electric Rates Going Up June 1 (Daily Interlake, Kalispell, MT)

http://www.dailyinterlake.com/news/local_montana/article_ef5f816a-5425-11e0-b7e7-001cc4c002e0.html

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Reaffirms Order Requiring Revised Definition of Bulk Electric Systems (PennEnergy)

http://www.pennenergy.com/index/power/display/9020109026/articles/pennenergy/power/operations-reliability/2011/march/ferc-reaffirms_order.html

Montana - Power Line Eminent Domain Bill Tied Up in State Senate (Billings Gazette, MT)

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_7cd9e2fa-a1fc-5de5-9307-effe4b94ee2e.html

Mason County PUD 3 Awards Students for Electricity-Related Projects at Skookum Rotary’s March 19 Science Fair (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=845

US Senator Murkowski Introduces Bipartisan Hydropower Improvement Act of 2011 (Hydro World)

http://www.hydroworld.com/index/display/article-display/4328708472/articles/hrhrw/News-2/2011/03/senator-murkowski.html

California - East Contra Costa Welcomes Power Plants in Their Backyard (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_17656299

Connecticut Lawmakers Consider Tax on Electricity Generators as Critics Cite Rising Cost of Power (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/conn-lawmakers-consider-tax-on-electricity-generators-as-critics-cite-rising-cost-of-power/2011/03/22/ABDkArAB_story.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Feds Want to Double Nesting Areas for Shorebird (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014562633_aporsnowyploverglobalwarming.html

Researcher Suggests ‘Salmon Leukemia’ Is to Blame for Decline of Fraser Sockeye (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/mark-hume/researcher-suggests-salmon-leukemia-is-to-blame-for-decline-of-fraser-sockeye/article1949268/

Fish Biologist Helps Yakamas Create First Sturgeon Recovery Program (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2011/03/21/fish-biologist-helps-yakamas-create-first-sturgeon-recovery-program

Op/Ed - Saving Columbia River Salmon: A Fish Story That’s Not Just About Fish (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/03/saving_columbia_river_salmon_a.html

Deal Takes Idaho Wolf Packs Off Endangered List (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/85070-deal-takes-idaho-wolf-packs-endangered-list/

Seals from Canada Found as Far South as North Carolina (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/environment/2011-03-21-canada-harp-seals-usa_N.htm?csp=34news

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Pacific Northwest Water Supply Forecast Gets Big Jump, April-Sept. Runoff Now Projected at 104 Percent of Normal (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/406666.aspx

California - Late Rains Put State’s Water Managers on the Spot (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/03/22/3493907/late-rains-put-states-water-managers.html

Is Lake Powell Slowly Dying? (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/outdoors/51263038-75/lake-powell-river-colorado.html.csp?page=3

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Idaho - Friction Grows over Wind Power: Idaho Power Wants Moratorium, End to Tax Rebate (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/mar/22/friction-grows-over-wind-power/

North Dakota - Iberdrola Halts Wind Farm After Suzlon Turbine Blades Fall (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-03-21/iberdrola-halts-u-s-wind-farm-after-suzlon-turbine-blades-fall-to-ground.html

Wind Turbines Kill 0.088% of the Birds Killed by House Cats (REVE)

http://www.evwind.es/noticias.php?id_not=10948

Puget Sound Waters Test Wave Energy Prototype Buoy (KPLU Radio, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.kplu.org/post/puget-sound-waters-test-wave-energy-prototype-buoy

Editorial - Biomass & Gravel Mining: Scuttled Projects Illustrate the Power of Determined People (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/03/22/1588252/scuttled-projects-illustrate-the.html

Op/Ed - Renewable Energy: Leaving Oregonians out in the cold (Salem Statesman Journal, OR)

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20110321/OPINION/103210306/1049/opinion/Renewable-Energy-Leaving-Oregonians-out-cold

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Oregon - Clean Energy Works Expanding Statewide (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2011/03/clean-energy-works-expanding-statewide.html

A Better Kind of Lightbulb? (Scientific American)

http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=a-better-kind-of-light-bulb-2011-03-21

Poll: More Americans Improving Energy Efficiency at Home (Electric Light & Power)

http://www.elp.com/index/display/article-display.articles.electric-light-power.energy-efficiency.2011.03.Poll__More_Americans_improving_energy_efficiency_at_home.QP129867.dcmp=rss.page=1.html

Four Ways Electricity Monitors Can Trim Your Energy Bills (Reuters)

http://blogs.reuters.com/prism-money/2011/03/22/4-ways-electricity-monitors-can-trim-your-energy-bills/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

California Cap-And-Trade Plan Faces Setback (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/03/21/california-carbon-idUSN219838420110321

Car & Truck Exhaust, Wood Smoke & Solvents Top Oregon’s List of Toxic Air Pollution Risks (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/03/car_and_truck_exhaust_wood_smo.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

The Wood Stove Excels at Reducing Fossil Fuels—But Can it Get Clean Enough? (Biomass Magazine)

http://biomassmagazine.com/articles/5364/the-wood-stove-excels-at-reducing-fossil-fuelsundefinedbut-can-it-get-clean-enough/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Washington State Data Center Tax Break May be Extended (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/article_83475bfe-51b6-11e0-af92-001cc4c03286.html

Chelan PUD Suggests Sharing Expense on Costlier Fiber Connections (NCWTV)

http://www.ncwtv.com/news/local/Chelan-PUD-suggests-sharing-expense-on-costlier-fiber-connections-118425869.html

FCC Gives CenturyLink/Qwest Merger Approval - With Conditions Requiring the Tripling of 40 Mbps Availability (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/FCC-Gives-CenturyLinkQwest-Merger-Approval-113281

Oregon Yet to OK Centurylink-Qwest Merger (Portland Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2011/03/21/fcc-clears-centurylink-qwest-merger.html

Japan Quake Knocked Out 25% of Global Silicon Wafer Production (Forbes Magazine)

http://blogs.forbes.com/ericsavitz/2011/03/21/japan-quake-knocked-out-25-of-global-silicon-wafer-production/

Google Blames China for Disrupting Email Services in Latest Spat (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/03/21/AR2011032100214.html

Cloud-Storage Sites Eye Billion-Dollar Valuations (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/03/22/BUM41IGA1C.DTL

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Inslee Lets Donors Know He’s Eyeing the Race for Governor (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110321/blog13/110329968/-1/rss02

Washington State Senator at Odds With Ferry Workers over Vomit Pay (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/transportation/437479_vomit21.html

GENERAL NEWS

Radiation Detected in Washington, But Poses No Risk (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=448465

Washingtonians Raise More Than $7 Million for Japan (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=447962

Weather Delays Opening of Columbia River Navigation Lock (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=14292754

Hearing on City of Shelton Water Rate Increase Set (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=3033:hearing-on-water-rate-increase-set&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=106

In a Renaissance for Radio, More Listeners Are Tuning In (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/media/2011-03-21-Radio-listeners-growing.htm?csp=34money

DIVERSIONS

Like Bobbleheads, Seattle Sports Fans? Try Free Compost Night

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014563757_greenteams22m.html

Court Says Prosecution of White Lies Is Censorship

http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/03/21/35103.htm

Worker Rescued After Being Sucked into Sewer Pipe

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Pierce-Co-firefighters-rescue-worker-who-got-sucked-into-sewer-pipe-118373474.html

AP Removes Hyphen from ‘Email’ in Style Guide

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/03/18/ap-removes-hyphen-from-em_n_837833.html

SONG OF THE DAY

The Tubes - Don't Want To Wait Anymore

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x0n9TdbaKtc