Energy News Digest for July 28, 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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Bonneville Power Administration to Raise Rates, Cowlitz PUD Could Follow Suit (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_836fee48-b8c2-11e0-b808-001cc4c03286.html

Bonneville Power Administration Price Hike to Increase Clallam County Consumer Energy Costs (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110728/news/307289996/bonneville-power-administration-price-hike-to-up-clallam-county

Power Upgrade Made Way for Facebook’s Second Prineville Data Center (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2011/07/power_upgrade_made_way_for_facebooks_second_prinev.html

States Nervously Watch Debt-Ceiling Impasse (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2011-07-27-debt-ceiling-states_n.htm?csp=34money

Olympic Peninsula Poised for Next, Big Quake? (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.konp.com/local/7087

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Bonneville Power Administration to Raise Rates, Cowlitz PUD Could Follow Suit
• Bonneville Power Administration Price Hike to Increase Clallam County Consumer Energy Costs
• Montana - PSC Finalizes Rate Increase of About 6% for MDU Electric Customers in E. Montana
• Utah - Utility, Agencies Reach Initial Deal on Electric Rate Hikes
• BPA Agrees to $3 Billion Settlement
• Layoff Notices for Up to 1,200 Hanford Workers
• Despite Troubled Past, Hydro Remains Dominant Renewable Energy Source in West
• China’s Three Gorges Project: A Huge Dam with Big Troubles
• China’s Farmers See Hope in Effort to Stem Soil Erosion Caused by Three Gorges Dam
• Clark Public Utilities Adopts Rate Changes for Streetlights
• Mason County PUD 3 Commission Report for July 26, 2011
• US Power Companies See Mixed Economic Picture
• Steve Snyder to Retire as TransAlta CEO, COO Dawn Farrell to Succeed
• House Backs Dem Plan on Endangered Species
• Feds Launch New Plan to Conserve Sage Grouse Habitat
• Idaho Fish & Game Meeting Draws Crowd of Wolf Foes
• Are Grizzly Bears Back in Washington?
• Baker River Fish Trap Broken: Has Delayed Transporting Sockeye to Baker Lake Fishery
• Colville Tribes Freezing Part of Salmon Catch
• Clallam County PUD Letter Seeks to Set Record Straight on Carlsborg Sewer
• Tribal Canoe Journey & Science Connect in Salish Sea
• Poll: Californians Favor More Alternative Energy
• Op/Ed - Wind Questions Still Have No Answers
• Florida - Energy Conservation Rules Rolled Back by Florida Regulators
• Florida Power & Light Cuts Rates for Job Creators
• Sequim Quality Inn Retains ENERGY STAR™ Award
• Smart Meters Save Homeowners Energy
• US & Europe Battle over Carbon Fees for Airlines
• Going Green: Unlimited Hydroplanes to Switch to Bio-Fuels in 2012
• South Carolina - BMW Looks to Hydrogen. Not For Car; for Factory
• Put Down the Firewood! NY Cracks Down on Campers, Loggers in Bid to Stop Destructive Ash Borer
• Power Upgrade Made Way for Facebook’s Second Prineville Data Center
• Cable Companies to Give Clues on Internet Impact
• Amazon Headcount Continues to Swell Via Acquisitions, Distribution Centers
• Google Insider’s Account Sheds New Light on Internet Giant
• Technology Group Urges Feds to Embrace Cloud
• States Nervously Watch Debt-Ceiling Impasse
• Research Desk: Will Congressmen Get Paid?
• Olympic Peninsula Poised for Next, Big Quake?
• ‘A Betrayal of Trust’: Former County Treasurer’s Cashier Stole Up to $793,595, Jury Finds
• Microsoft Use of Low-Tax Havens Drives Down Tax Bill
• Rural US Disappearing? Population Share Hits Low’
• Group Tries to Kill Title IX in High School
• “Like a Poodle on a Leash” Earth Shares Its Orbit with Tiny Asteroid
• Longtime Mariners Vendor ‘Rick the Peanut Guy’ Dies

WORD OF THE DAY

Gallivant • \GALL-uh-vant\ • Verb - 1: to go about usually ostentatiously or indiscreetly with members of the opposite sex 2: to travel, roam, or move about for pleasure

The cobwebs of his misty daydream drifted away from the corners of his mind like a waning thunderstorm over a vast, waving field of Midwest wheat. Walter Mitty was being called back from his “Virginia Mayo” daydream by his hulking, matronly supervisor. “Gallivanting around the countryside with that blond strumpet again,” she bellowed into his ringing ear. “Get back to work, or you’ll be daydreaming about the unemployment line.” I he had known the true feelings of his boss, he probably would have preferred the jobless queue.

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

Bonneville Power Administration to Raise Rates, Cowlitz PUD Could Follow Suit (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_836fee48-b8c2-11e0-b808-001cc4c03286.html

Bonneville Power Administration Price Hike to Increase Clallam County Consumer Energy Costs (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110728/news/307289996/bonneville-power-administration-price-hike-to-up-clallam-county

Montana - PSC Finalizes Rate Increase of About 6% for MDU Electric Customers in E. Montana (Billings Gazette, MT)

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_3e877b5b-e0b5-5f8e-b302-826c226dcffb.html

Utah - Utility, Agencies Reach Initial Deal on Electric Rate Hikes (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/money/52270714-79/rate-power-company-increase.html.csp

BPA Agrees to $3 Billion Settlement (Oregon Public Radio - Guarantees Public Power Subsidies for Private Utilities; still waitin’ on that thank you note.)

http://news.opb.org/article/bpa-agrees-3-billion-settlement/

Layoff Notices for Up to 1,200 Hanford Workers (Associated Press)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/jul/28/layoff-notices-for-up-to-1200-hanford-workers/

Despite Troubled Past, Hydro Remains Dominant Renewable Energy Source in West (New West)

http://www.newwest.net/topic/article/despite_troubled_past_hydro_remains_dominant_renewable_energy_source_in_wes/C618/L618/

China’s Three Gorges Project: A Huge Dam with Big Troubles (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2011/0727/China-s-Three-Gorges-project-A-huge-dam-with-big-troubles

China’s Farmers See Hope in Effort to Stem Soil Erosion Caused by Three Gorges Dam (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Asia-Pacific/2011/0727/China-s-farmers-see-hope-in-effort-to-stem-soil-erosion-caused-by-Three-Gorges-Dam

Clark Public Utilities Adopts Rate Changes for Streetlights (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/jul/28/utility-adopts-rate-changes-streetlights/

Mason County PUD 3 Commission Report for July 26, 2011 (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/Newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=890

US Power Companies See Mixed Economic Picture (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/27/idUSN1E76Q0FC20110727

Steve Snyder to Retire as TransAlta CEO, COO Dawn Farrell to Succeed (Electric Light & Power)

http://www.elp.com/index/display/article-display.articles.electric-light-power.t-and_d.2011.07.Steve_Snyder_to_retire_as_TransAlta_CEO__COO_Dawn_Farrell_to_succeed.QP129867.dcmp=rss.page=1.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

House Backs Dem Plan on Endangered Species (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/story/15158377/house-backs-dem-plan-on-endangered-species

Feds Launch New Plan to Conserve Sage Grouse Habitat (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/feds-launch-new-plan-conserve-sage-grouse-habitat/

Idaho Fish & Game Meeting Draws Crowd of Wolf Foes (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/idaho_fish_and_game_meeting_draws_crowd_of_wolf_foes/

Are Grizzly Bears Back in Washington? (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Grizzly-bears-return-126297858.html

Baker River Fish Trap Broken: Has Delayed Transporting Sockeye to Baker Lake Fishery (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2015747619_fish_trap_broken_and_has_delay.html

Colville Tribes Freezing Part of Salmon Catch (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015754284_apwacolvilletribalsalmon1stldwritethru.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Clallam County PUD Letter Seeks to Set Record Straight on Carlsborg Sewer (Sequim Gazette, WA)

http://search.sequimgazette.com/news/article.exm/2011-07-27_pud_letter_seeks_to_set_record_straight

Tribal Canoe Journey & Science Connect in Salish Sea (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://earthfix.opb.org/water/article/tribal-canoe-journey-and-science-connect-in-salish/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Poll: Californians Favor More Alternative Energy (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/07/28/BAUV1KFU03.DTL

Op/Ed - Wind Questions Still Have No Answers (Hermiston Herald, OR)

http://www.hermistonherald.com/news/woelk-wind-questions-still-have-no-answers/article_dd14c984-b86b-11e0-8e21-001cc4c03286.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Florida - Energy Conservation Rules Rolled Back by Florida Regulators (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/27/3797225/energy-conservation-rules-rolled.html

Florida Power & Light Cuts Rates for Job Creators (South Florida Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2011/07/27/florida-power-light-cuts-rates-for.html

Sequim Quality Inn Retains ENERGY STAR™ Award (Sequim Gazette, WA)

http://www.sequimgazette.com/news/article.exm/2011-07-27_quality_inn_retains_energy_star%28r%29_award

Smart Meters Save Homeowners Energy - While the rollout of smart meter technology in some areas has been controversial, a new survey suggests that the vast majority of customers are happy with the results (The Daily Green)

http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/home-smart-meters-0711

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

US & Europe Battle over Carbon Fees for Airlines (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/28/business/energy-environment/us-air-carriers-brace-for-emissions-fees-in-europe.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Going Green: Unlimited Hydroplanes to Switch to Bio-Fuels in 2012 (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.kndu.com/story/15161387/going-green-unlimited-hydroplanes-to-switch-to-bio-fuels-in-2012

South Carolina - BMW Looks to Hydrogen. Not For Car; for Factory. (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Latest-News-Wires/2011/0728/BMW-looks-to-hydrogen.-Not-for-car.-For-factory

Put Down the Firewood! NY Cracks Down on Campers, Loggers in Bid to Stop Destructive Ash Borer (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/put-down-the-firewood-ny-cracks-down-on-campers-loggers-in-bid-to-stop-destructive-ash-borer/2011/07/27/gIQAV6x3cI_story.html?wprss=rss_national

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Power Upgrade Made Way for Facebook’s Second Prineville Data Center (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2011/07/power_upgrade_made_way_for_facebooks_second_prinev.html

Cable Companies to Give Clues on Internet Impact - Are people really cancelling cable to watch TV & movies from the Internet instead? (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Cable-companies-to-give-clues-on-Internet-impact-1616188.php

Amazon Headcount Continues to Swell Via Acquisitions, Distribution Centers (Techflash)

http://techflash.com/seattle/2011/07/amazon-head-count-swells.html

Google Insider’s Account Sheds New Light on Internet Giant (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_18561178

Technology Group Urges Feds to Embrace Cloud (Bloomberg News)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/07/27/BUAN1KF9DA.DTL

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

States Nervously Watch Debt-Ceiling Impasse (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/economy/2011-07-27-debt-ceiling-states_n.htm?csp=34money

Research Desk: Will Congressmen Get Paid? (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/research-desk-will-congressmen-get-paid/2011/07/27/gIQAlHMxeI_blog.html?wprss=ezra-klein

GENERAL NEWS

Olympic Peninsula Poised for Next, Big Quake? (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.konp.com/local/7087

‘A Betrayal of Trust’: Former County Treasurer’s Cashier Stole Up to $793,595, Jury Finds (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110728/news/307289992/-8216-a-betrayal-of-trust-8217-former-county-treasurer-8217-s

Microsoft Use of Low-Tax Havens Drives Down Tax Bill (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/27/us-microsoft-tax-idUSTRE76Q6OB20110727

Rural US Disappearing? Population Share Hits Low’ (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2015747129_apuscensusruralamerica.html

Group Tries to Kill Title IX in High School (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/07/27/38508.htm

“Like a Poodle on a Leash” Earth Shares Its Orbit with Tiny Asteroid (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2015742473_apussciearthcompanion.html

Longtime Mariners Vendor ‘Rick the Peanut Guy’ Dies (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/126266188.html

DIVERSIONS

Man Found Inside Chimney Identified After 27 Years

http://www.katc.com/news/man-found-inside-chimney-identified-after-27-years/

White House ‘Rickrolls’ Twitter Followers?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/44/post/white-house-tweets-rick-astley-video/2011/07/27/gIQA4ZQRdI_blog.html?wprss=44

Nanaimo Thrift Store Workers Find Big Pile of Cash Amid Books

http://www.timescolonist.com/Nanaimo+thrift+store+workers+find+pile+cash+amid+books/5167230/story.html

Holy Molar! Madonna Sighted On a Bicuspid

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/jul/28/holy-molar-madonna-sighted-on-a-bicuspid/

SONG OF THE DAY

Chim Chim Cher-ee – Dick Van Dyke (Mary Poppins)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6GufEKaD8eU

Energy News Digest for July 27, 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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Bonneville Power Administration Raises Rates for Some Northwest Public Utilities by 7.8 Percent (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/07/bpa_raises_rates_for_some_nort.html

Bonneville Power Administration Settles Residential Exchange Dispute (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2011/07/bpa-settles-residential-exchange-dispute.html

Cowlitz County PUD Votes To Defer Collection on Bills if Federal Debt-Ceiling Deal Falls Through (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_f2d3a414-b81d-11e0-8610-001cc4c002e0.html

Washington State Treasurer Weighs in on Debt Ceiling Crisis (Puget Sound Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2011/07/27/washington-state-treasurer-weighs-in.html

Facebook Plans Second Data Center Building in Prineville (Oregonian, Portland – Stand by for predictable Greenpeace blast…)

http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2011/07/facebook_plans_second_data_center_building_in_prin.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Bonneville Power Administration Raises Rates for Some Northwest Public Utilities by 7.8 Percent
• News Release – Bonneville Power Administration Adopts New Wholesale Power Rate
• Cowlitz County PUD Votes To Defer Collection on Bills if Federal Debt-Ceiling Deal Falls Through
• Bonneville Power Administration Settles Residential Exchange Dispute
• News Release - Bonneville Power Administration Adopts Residential Exchange Settlement
• Grays Harbor PUD Not Among BPA Settlement Supporters
• Gregoire Is a Firm Neutral on the Coal Port Proposal
• Squirrelly Outages Driving East Wenatchee Neighbors Nuts
• ‘Roll on Columbia’ - Woody’s Time with the Bonneville Power Administration
• Colorado - Boulder Combs Through Energy Proposals for City-Operated Electrical Utility
• Under Public Power, San Franciscans Will Pay More
• Vermont Electric Votes for $12 Million Transmission Line Upgrade to Carry Wind-Generated Power
• Humane Society: Sea Lions Get Reprieve at Dam
• Idaho - Summer Steelhead Making Their Way into the Clearwater River
• Canada - Feds Silence Nanaimo Scientist over Salmon Study
• Project Adds Woody Structures to River
• Killer Whale Sounds Fail to Urge Gray Whale to Sea
• A Stimulus Plan for Seafood: Tear Down Those Dams
• Belfair Residents Continue Opposition to Sewer Rates & Charges
• Thirteen Mile King County Sewage Tunnel Nearly Complete
• wners
• Bremerton Seeks More Bang for its Clean-Water Buck
• California - Storing Water for a Dry Day Leads to Suits
• California Governor Promises to “Crush” Solar Opponents
• British Columbia - Gold River’s Bid to Burn Garbage from Metro Vancouver Smolders
• Maine – Tribes Say Wind Power Plan May Interfere With Sacred Ceremonies
• Solar Cells Printed on Paper Could be Next Cheap Power Source
• PenLight Giving Away & Installing CFL Bulbs
• Texans Take a Shine to In-Home Energy Displays
• Melting Ice Forces Polar Bears to Swim Farther, Study Finds
• Texas Agricultural Losses Could Set New Record Amid Drought
• Federal Program Looks to Oregon to Help Spur Biofuel Development
• Developing Electric Cars That Recharge As You Drive
• Facebook Plans Second Data Center Building in Prineville
• Google Begins Engineering for Kansas City Fiber
• Congressional Democrats Want Cost Estimate for ‘Dig Once’ Broadband
• Looming Threat for Netflix: Charging Consumers for Data Use
• Fox Network Erects Internet Video Paywall - Non-Cable Customers to See 8 Day Delay
• Amazon Pushes California toward Referendum on Online Sales Tax
• First Mason County Candidates’ Forum Tonight in Belfair
• Mason County Commission Redistricting Hearing Held
• US Senate Confirms Gary Locke as Ambassador to China
• Primary Election Will Offer Key Hint in Race for Snohomish County Council
• Washington State Treasurer Weighs in on Debt Ceiling Crisis
• How a Debt Downgrade May Affect Consumers
• Debt Ceiling Phone Calls Flood Congressional Offices
• Port of Port Angeles to Pay for Wild Olympics Campaign Study
• Judge Says Maytown Gravel Mining Can Start
• Third Bone Site in Oak Harbor Acknowledged, City Cleared of Wrongdoing
• Clallam County Treasurer’s Office Theft by One or Many?
• Five Washington Cities on 100 ‘Best Places to Live’ List

WORD OF THE DAY

Volition • \voe-LISH-shun\ • Noun - 1: an act of making a choice or decision; also: a choice or decision made 2: the power of choosing or determining: will

Belvedere was considered the hapless sad sack of the office. It seemed that every endeavor he undertook was doomed to failure, no matter what good intentions he had. His latest venture to house feral civet cats in the basement of the office building came to naught, after he discovered the creature’s scent glands produced such an overpowering stench that the building had to be evacuated several times before the maintenance workers found the source. “Next time you get a bright idea,” thundered the overall-bedecked maintenance supervisor, “don’t act on your own volition…ask me first so I can put an end to any idea you come up with.”

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

Bonneville Power Administration Raises Rates for Some Northwest Public Utilities by 7.8 Percent (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/07/bpa_raises_rates_for_some_nort.html

News Release – Bonneville Power Administration Adopts New Wholesale Power Rate (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/1148047/

Cowlitz County PUD Votes To Defer Collection on Bills if Federal Debt-Ceiling Deal Falls Through (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_f2d3a414-b81d-11e0-8610-001cc4c002e0.html

Bonneville Power Administration Settles Residential Exchange Dispute (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2011/07/bpa-settles-residential-exchange-dispute.html

Grays Harbor PUD Not Among BPA Settlement Supporters (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2899

News Release - Bonneville Power Administration Adopts Residential Exchange Settlement: Historic agreement resolves long-running battle, stabilizes wholesale power rates (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/1148083/

Gregoire Is a Firm Neutral on the Coal Port Proposal (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/blog/crosscut/20430/Gregoire-is-a-firm-neutral-on-the-coal-port-proposal/

Squirrelly Outages Driving East Wenatchee Neighbors Nuts (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/jul/26/squirrelly-outages-driving-neighbors-nuts/

‘Roll on Columbia’ - Woody’s Time with the Bonneville Power Administration (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/roll-columbia-woodys-time-bpa/

Colorado - Boulder Combs Through Energy Proposals for City-Operated Electrical Utility (Boulder Daily Camera, CO)

http://www.dailycamera.com/energy/ci_18556523

Under Public Power, San Franciscans Will Pay More (San Francisco Business Times, CA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/blog/2011/07/sfclean-power-costs-more-than-pge.html

Vermont Electric Votes for $12 Million Transmission Line Upgrade to Carry Wind-Generated Power (Associated Press)

http://www.dailyjournal.net/view/story/d5a9cfa1c57446ccad3b277af8bb8f07/VT--Electric-Vote/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Humane Society: Sea Lions Get Reprieve at Dam (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015733047_aporsealionsdam.html

Idaho - Summer Steelhead Making Their Way into the Clearwater River (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2015735874_steelhead_making_their_way_int.html

Canada - Feds Silence Nanaimo Scientist over Salmon Study - New research helps explain why salmon stocks are dwindling (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/technology/Feds+silence+Nanaimo+scientist+over+salmon+study/5163289/story.html

Project Adds Woody Structures to River (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/project_adds_woody_structures_to_river/

Killer Whale Sounds Fail to Urge Gray Whale to Sea (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Killer-whale-sounds-fail-to-urge-gray-whale-to-sea-1605783.php

A Stimulus Plan for Seafood: Tear Down Those Dams - The ruins of the Industrial Revolution block rivers & streams throughout the Northeast—leaving fisheries in ruins, too (The Atlantic)

http://www.theatlantic.com/life/archive/2011/07/a-stimulus-plan-for-seafood-tear-down-those-dams/242510/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Belfair Residents Continue Opposition to Sewer Rates & Charges (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/11351-residents-continue-opposition

Thirteen Mile King County Sewage Tunnel Nearly Complete (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/story/15157010/13-mile-king-county-sewage-tunnel-nearly-complete

Kennewick Irrigation District Plan for Water Rates Upsets Owners (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/07/26/1758873/kid-plan-for-water-rates-upsets.html

Bremerton Seeks More Bang for its Clean-Water Buck (Sightline Daily)

http://daily.sightline.org/2011/07/26/bremerton-seeks-more-bang-for-its-clean-water-buck/

California - Storing Water for a Dry Day Leads to Suits (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/27/science/earth/27waterbank.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

California Governor Promises to “Crush” Solar Opponents (Business Green)

http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2097175/governor-brown-promises-crush-californias-solar-opponents

British Columbia - Gold River’s Bid to Burn Garbage from Metro Vancouver Smolders (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/technology/Jack+Knox+Gold+River+burn+garbage+from+Metro+Vancouver+smoulders/5165537/story.html

Maine – Tribes Say Wind Power Plan May Interfere With Sacred Ceremonies (Portland Press-Herald, ME)

http://www.pressherald.com/news/tribes-wind-plan-may-interfere-with-sacred-ceremonies_2011-07-26.html

Solar Cells Printed on Paper Could be Next Cheap Power Source (Bloomberg News)

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/world/52265668-68/cells-solar-power-research.html.csp

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

PenLight Giving Away & Installing CFL Bulbs (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/jul/25/penlight-giving-away-and-installing-cfl-bulbs/

Texans Take a Shine to In-Home Energy Displays (CNET News)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20084090-54/texans-take-a-shine-to-in-home-energy-displays/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Melting Ice Forces Polar Bears to Swim Farther, Study Finds (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/melting-ice-forces-polar-bears-to-swim-farther-study-finds/2011/07/19/gIQAq9Q5YI_story.html?wprss=rss_national

Texas Agricultural Losses Could Set New Record Amid Drought (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2015737906_apusfoodandfarmtexasdrought.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Federal Program Looks to Oregon to Help Spur Biofuel Development (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/07/federal_program_looks_to_orego.html

Developing Electric Cars That Recharge As You Drive (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/07/electric-cars-wireless-recharging-haloipt/1?csp=34money

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Facebook Plans Second Data Center Building in Prineville (Oregonian, Portland – Stand by for predictable Greenpeace blast…)

http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2011/07/facebook_plans_second_data_center_building_in_prin.html

Google Begins Engineering for Kansas City Fiber - As 1 Gbps Customers Come Online in Stanford, CA (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Google-Begins-Engineering-For-Kansas-City-Fiber-115368

Congressional Democrats Want Cost Estimate for ‘Dig Once’ Broadband (The Hill)

http://thehill.com/blogs/hillicon-valley/technology/173537-house-dems-want-analysis-of-laying-fiber-optic-cable-along-highways

Looming Threat for Netflix: Charging Consumers for Data Use (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/looming-threat-for-netflix-charging-consumers-for-data-use/2011/07/26/gIQAqTSmbI_story.html?wprss=rss_business

Fox Network Erects Internet Video Paywall - Non-Cable Customers to See 8 Day Delay (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Fox-Erects-Internet-Video-Paywall-115384

Amazon Pushes California toward Referendum on Online Sales Tax (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/2011/0726/Amazon-pushes-California-toward-referendum-on-online-sales-tax

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

First Mason County Candidates’ Forum Tonight in Belfair (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/11352-first-candidates-forum-tonight-in-belfair

Mason County Commission Redistricting Hearing Held (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/11351-residents-continue-opposition

US Senate Confirms Gary Locke as Ambassador to China (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Gary-Locke-confirmed-as-Ambassador-to-China-126252423.html

Primary Election Will Offer Key Hint in Race for Snohomish County Council (Everett Herald, WA)

http://heraldnet.com/article/20110726/NEWS01/707269965

GENERAL NEWS

Washington State Treasurer Weighs in on Debt Ceiling Crisis (Puget Sound Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2011/07/27/washington-state-treasurer-weighs-in.html

How a Debt Downgrade May Affect Consumers (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/27/your-money/how-a-us-debt-downgrade-may-affect-consumers.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Debt Ceiling Phone Calls Flood Congressional Offices (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Debt-ceiling-phone-calls-flood-Congressional-offices-126221783.html

Port of Port Angeles to Pay for Wild Olympics Campaign Study (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110727/news/307279993/port-of-port-angeles-to-pay-for-wild-olympics-campaign-study

Judge Says Maytown Gravel Mining Can Start - Appeal coming, says group seeking new studies (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/07/27/1739028/judge-says-gravel-mining-can-start.html

Third Bone Site in Oak Harbor Acknowledged, City Cleared of Wrongdoing (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/sound/article/Third-bone-site-in-Oak-Harbor-acknowledged-city-1604570.php

Clallam County Treasurer’s Office Theft by One or Many? Attorneys sum up after accused ex-cashier takes stand (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110727/news/307279986/treasurer-8217-s-office-theft-by-one-or-many-attorneys-sum-up-after

Five Washington Cities on 100 ‘Best Places to Live’ List (Puget Sound Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2011/07/26/five-washington-cities-on-100-best.html

DIVERSIONS

Florida Mayor, 84, Says ‘Grass’ in Yard Was Not Hers

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2015742058_apusfloridamayormarijuanaplants.html

Lucas Loses UK Battle over “Star Wars” Stormtrooper Helmets

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2015738532_apeubritainstormtrooperbattle.html

Colorado Parks Division Sued over Christo Project

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2015742115_apuscoloradoparkschristo.html

Here’s a link to view some of Christo’s “art”

http://www.christojeanneclaude.net/

Wild Cougar Traveled East 1,500 Miles, Tests Find

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/27/nyregion/wild-cougar-traveled-east-1500-miles-tests-find.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

SONG OF THE DAY

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Travelin’ Man

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z6TZxaJKPvU