Energy News Digest for April 4, 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

Energy Northwest Begins Planned Outage at Columbia Generating Station (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/04/03/1434133/power-energy-northwest-begins.html

Clallam PUD, City of Port Angeles to Consider Bonneville Power’s Settlement Offer (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110404/NEWS/304049994/clallam-pud-city-of-port-angeles-to-consider-bonneville-powers

Washington State Delays Prison Processing Center Decision (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_bbdb72c0-5cce-11e0-8bcc-001cc4c03286.html

Over Renewable Energy Amendments - Washington State Senators Leave Key Budget Hearing in Protest (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Wash-senators-leave-key-budget-hearing-in-protest-119155699.html

Snake River Dams to Begin Spilling for Salmon, Steelhead (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA – Includes photo of Lower Granite Dam, last dam with fish passage on the snake)

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/outdoors/2011/apr/01/snake-river-dams-begin-spilling-salmon-steelhead/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Clallam PUD, City of Port Angeles to Consider Bonneville Power’s Settlement Offer

·         Report Reveals Hydro Potential at Existing Dams In the US

·         Ice Harbor Dam Offers More Tours

·         Montana - Columbia Falls Hit By Layoffs, But Manages to Grow By Leaps & Bounds

·         Utah - Power Rates to Rise as Energy Demands Offset Savings

·         New York City Electric Bills to Soar 12%

·         Rhode Island Residential Electric Bills to Drop 16.5%

·         For Pepco, Maryland Legislature Could be a Paper Tige

·         Bill on Arizona Power-Line Routes Raises Concern

·         Gulf Oil Spill Aftermath - Transocean Gives Safety Bonuses Despite Deaths

·         Carbon Monoxide - Ohio Landlord Charged in Fume Deaths of 4 Tenants

·         Energy Northwest Begins Planned Outage at Columbia Generating Station

·         Op/Ed - Setting The Record Straight About Washington’s Commercial Nuclear Reactor

·         Atomic Snowflakes - Only Two U.S. Nuclear Sites Are In Compliance With Federal Fire Regulations

·         Interview: Steven Chu - The Energy Secretary & Nobel Prize-Winning Physicist Talks Nuclear Power After Japan, & Being a Nerd

·         Snake River Dams to Begin Spilling for Salmon, Steelhead

·         States Could Keep the Lower Columbia River Spring Chinook Fishery Open Longer

·         New Rules to Protect Fish Are Clear as Mud, Cities Say

·         Fishmonger Sentenced for Falsely Labeled Salmon

·         Captive Broodstock Program Has Endangered Coho Returning to California’s Russian River

·         Water Rates, Plan on Tap - Shelton City Commission Meets Tonight

·         Second Front Opened in Bainbridge Island Utility Battle – Kitsap PUD held up as good example

·         Marysville Tries to Avoid Vote on Snohomish County PUD Water Deal

·         New Bill Restricts Fertilizers for Lawns

·         Willamette River - Ross Island Restoration Could Take a Decade Longer Than Planned

·         California - Dams Seem Like a Simple Idea, But Are Harder to Plan & Build

·         Chesapeake Bay Supporters Keeping Close Eye on Federal Budget Battle, GOP Riders on EPA

·         Over Renewable Energy Amendments - Washington State Senators Leave Key Budget Hearing in Protest

·         Biomass Talk in Port Townsend Canceled; New Date Not Selected

·         Editorial - California Energy Mandates Ignore Real World

·         Editorial - California Powers Ahead on Green Energy

·         Anchorage City Utilities Offer for Wind Power Criticized as Low

·         North Dakota Wind Project Scrapped On Possible Threat to Bird Species

·         Maryland - Lawmakers Weigh Incentives for Trash-Burning Energy Plants

·         Pennsylvania - Willingboro Council Rejects Solar Project Bids

·         Save Energy with Mason County PUD 3 Rebate & Incentive Programs

·         Tax Increases Not a Popular Solution for Greenhouse Gas Problem

·         EPA Chief: History Will Judge Congress Harshly if Climate Rules Are Axed

·         Editorial - Cutting Carbon: A Better Approach to Energy Policy

·         Activists at UN Climate Change Conference Call for Renewable, Not Nuclear, Energy

·         Tesla, Other Electric Vehicles Poised to Enter the Mainstream

·         Will Buying an Electric Car Make an Environmental Difference?

·         Ethanol Pork Cows Most GOP Contenders

·         New Name for Qwest Won’t Debut Until May

·         AT&T To Spend $19 Billion on Network in 2011

·         More Customers Exposed as Big Data Breach Grows

·         Communications & Technology Subcommittee Passes Broadband Scrutiny Bill

·         Twitter Tax Deal Creates Classic San Francisco Row

·         Facebook Landing Team Transports Company Culture

·         Washington State Measure Aimed at Enticing Older Teachers to Retire

·         Geographic Center of Washington State Population Up for Debate

·         Oregon Treasurer Ted Wheeler Seeks to Shield Employees, Keep Travel Information Secret

·         Elderly Belfair Man Missing Since Friday

·         Washington State Delays Prison Processing Center Decision

·         Washington State Mulls Prisoner Release to Save Money

·         Port Of Vancouver Dodges Coal, Embraces Potash

WORD OF THE DAY

Meshuggener • \muh-SHUG-uhner\ • Noun – A foolish or crazy person

“Good Grief!” Exclaimed the vaudeville hall booking agent. “We asked for ‘Charlie McCarthy,’ and that meshuggener Edgar Bergen has the audacity to bring ‘Mortimer Snerd’ instead.”

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

Clallam PUD, City of Port Angeles to Consider Bonneville Power’s Settlement Offer (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110404/NEWS/304049994/clallam-pud-city-of-port-angeles-to-consider-bonneville-powers

Report Reveals Hydro Potential at Existing Dams In the US (International Water Power)

http://www.waterpowermagazine.com/story.asp?sectioncode=130&storyCode=2059275

Ice Harbor Dam Offers More Tours (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=14369248

Montana - Columbia Falls Hit By Layoffs, But Manages to Grow By Leaps & Bounds (The Missoulian, MT)

http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/article_8d2740ee-5daa-11e0-99f6-001cc4c002e0.html

Utah - Power Rates to Rise as Energy Demands Offset Savings (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/home2/51481376-183/power-electricity-percent-utah.html.csp

New York City Electric Bills to Soar 12% “…typical apartment resident’s electric bill of $74 -- based on 250 kilowatt hours of power each month -- will go up to $86…” (New York Post, NY)

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/hey_you_fuse_you_lose_usdxtYyIrgGtXmAeGGk6xH

Rhode Island Residential Electric Bills to Drop 16.5% (Providence Journal, RI)

http://www.projo.com/news/content/CHEAPER_ELECTRIC_04-01-11_ABNA55N_v21.1a1d86e.html

For Pepco, Maryland Legislature Could be a Paper Tiger “…Despite…public uproar over Pepco’s chronic power outages…there’s a substantial risk that the Maryland legislature isn’t going to do enough to force the utility to keep the lights on…” (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/for_pepco_maryland_legislature_could_be_a_paper_tiger/2011/04/01/AFbgonQC_story.html

Bill on Arizona Power-Line Routes Raises Concern (Arizona Daily Star, Tucson, AZ)

http://azstarnet.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/article_c241b2af-3a46-564b-9236-74b80715ce17.html

Gulf Oil Spill Aftermath - Transocean Gives Safety Bonuses Despite Deaths (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014667914_apustransoceanexecutivecompensation.html

Carbon Monoxide - Ohio Landlord Charged in Fume Deaths of 4 Tenants (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014662272_apuscarbonmonoxidedeaths.html

NUCLEAR SCIENCE READING ROOM

Energy Northwest Begins Planned Outage at Columbia Generating Station (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/04/03/1434133/power-energy-northwest-begins.html

Op/Ed - Setting The Record Straight About Washington’s Commercial Nuclear Reactor (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2014662349_guest02reddemann.html

Atomic Snowflakes - Only Two U.S. Nuclear Sites Are In Compliance With Federal Fire Regulations (The Atlantic)

http://www.theatlantic.com/national/archive/2011/04/atomic-snowflakes/73227/

Interview: Steven Chu - The Energy Secretary & Nobel Prize-Winning Physicist Talks Nuclear Power After Japan, & Being a Nerd (Newsweek Magazine)

http://www.newsweek.com/2011/04/03/interview-steven-chu.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Snake River Dams to Begin Spilling for Salmon, Steelhead (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA – Includes photo of Lower Granite Dam, last dam with fish passage on the snake)

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/outdoors/2011/apr/01/snake-river-dams-begin-spilling-salmon-steelhead/

States Could Keep the Lower Columbia River Spring Chinook Fishery Open Longer (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2014670260__washington_and_oregon_fisheri.html

New Rules to Protect Fish Are Clear as Mud, Cities Say (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110403/news01/704039942/-1/rss02

Fishmonger Sentenced for Falsely Labeled Salmon (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/119096344.html

Captive Broodstock Program Has Endangered Coho Returning to California’s Russian River (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/407066.aspx

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Water Rates, Plan on Tap - Shelton City Commission Meets Tonight (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/3857-city-commission-meets-tonight

Second Front Opened in Bainbridge Island Utility Battle – Kitsap PUD held up as good example of water utility (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/apr/01/second-front-opened-in-bainbridge-island-utility/

Marysville Tries to Avoid Vote on Snohomish County PUD Water Deal (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110402/NEWS01/704029884/-1/NEWS

New Bill Restricts Fertilizers for Lawns (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/apr/02/new-bill-restricts-fertilizers-for-lawns/

Willamette River - Ross Island Restoration Could Take a Decade Longer Than Planned (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/04/ross_island_restoration_could.html

California - Dams Seem Like a Simple Idea, But Are Harder to Plan & Build (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/04/04/3525638/dams-seem-like-a-simple-idea-but.html

Chesapeake Bay Supporters Keeping Close Eye on Federal Budget Battle, GOP Riders on EPA (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/chesapeake_bay_supporters_keeping_close_eye_on_federal_budget_battle_gop_riders_on_epa/2011/04/02/AFLXNVMC_story.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Over Renewable Energy Amendments - Washington State Senators Leave Key Budget Hearing in Protest (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Wash-senators-leave-key-budget-hearing-in-protest-119155699.html

Biomass Talk in Port Townsend Canceled; New Date Not Selected (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110403/news/304039993/biomass-talk-in-port-townsend-canceled-new-date-not-selected

Editorial - California Energy Mandates Ignore Real World “…NIMBY activism has blocked more renewable projects than coal-fired power plants…” (San Diego Union-Tribune, CA)

http://www.signonsandiego.com/news/2011/apr/03/energy-mandates-have-feel-of-make-believe/

Editorial - California Powers Ahead on Green Energy (SF Chronicle, CA)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/04/02/EDEI1H58NH.DTL

Anchorage City Utilities Offer for Wind Power Criticized as Low (Anchorage Daily News, AK)

http://www.adn.com/2011/03/31/1786099/city-utilitys-offer-for-wind-power.html

North Dakota Wind Project Scrapped On Possible Threat to Bird Species (NASDAQ)

http://www.nasdaq.com/aspx/stock-market-news-story.aspx?storyid=201104011714dowjonesdjonline000439&title=wind-project-scrapped-on-possible-threat-to-bird-species

Maryland - Lawmakers Weigh Incentives for Trash-Burning Energy Plants (Baltimore Sun, MD)

http://articles.baltimoresun.com/2011-04-01/features/bs-gr-waste2energy-20110401_1_renewable-energy-renewable-sources-offshore-wind

Pennsylvania - Willingboro Council Rejects Solar Project Bids (Philadelphia Inquirer, PA)

http://www.phillyburbs.com/news/local/burlington_county_times_news/solar-project-bids-rejected/article_885d9de7-4899-5845-a89c-97fa833d52f4.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Save Energy with Mason County PUD 3 Rebate & Incentive Programs (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/Newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=851

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Tax Increases Not a Popular Solution for Greenhouse Gas Problem (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/tax-increases-not-popular-solution-greenhouse-gas-problem/

EPA Chief: History Will Judge Congress Harshly if Climate Rules Are Axed (The Hill)

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/153437-epa-chief-history-will-judge-congress-harshly-if-climate-rules-are-axed

Editorial - Cutting Carbon: A Better Approach to Energy Policy (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/cutting_carbon_a_better_approach_to_energy_policy/2011/03/30/AFTl1kJC_story.html

Activists at UN Climate Change Conference Call for Renewable, Not Nuclear, Energy (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/activists-at-un-climate-change-conference-call-for-renewable-not-nuclear-energy/2011/04/03/AFxRekTC_story.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Tesla, Other Electric Vehicles Poised to Enter the Mainstream (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/top-stories/ci_17764005

Will Buying an Electric Car Make an Environmental Difference? (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_17767977

Ethanol Pork Cows Most GOP Contenders (Real Clear Politics)

http://www.realclearpolitics.com/articles/2011/04/01/ethanol_pork_subsidy_cowers_most_2012_gop_contenders_iowa_caucus_109413.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

New Name for Qwest Won’t Debut Until May (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/apr/02/klasjdflkajsdlfkjs/

AT&T To Spend $19 Billion on Network in 2011 (Jacksonville Business Journal, FL)

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2011/04/01/att-to-spend-19b-on-network-in-2011.html

More Customers Exposed as Big Data Breach Grows (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/04/us-citi-capitalone-data-idUSTRE7321PI20110404

Communications & Technology Subcommittee Passes Broadband Scrutiny Bill (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-tech/post/communications_and_technology_subcommittee_passes_broadband_scrutiny_bill/2011/04/01/AFgGa5HC_blog.html

Twitter Tax Deal Creates Classic San Francisco Row (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Twitter-tax-deal-creates-classic-San-Francisco-row-1319592.php

Facebook Landing Team Transports Company Culture (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/04/03/1610825/facebook-landing-team-transports.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Measure Aimed at Enticing Older Teachers to Retire (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=14371740

Geographic Center of Washington State Population Up for Debate (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014663720_populationcenter02m.html

Oregon Treasurer Ted Wheeler Seeks to Shield Employees, Keep Travel Information Secret (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2011/04/oregon_state_treasurer_ted_whe.html

GENERAL NEWS

Elderly Belfair Man Missing Since Friday (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Elderly-Belfair-man-missing-since-Friday-119157014.html

Washington State Delays Prison Processing Center Decision (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_bbdb72c0-5cce-11e0-8bcc-001cc4c03286.html

Washington State Mulls Prisoner Release to Save Money (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/119147009.html

Port Of Vancouver Dodges Coal, Embraces Potash - The port decided to export the fertilizer instead of the fossil fuel (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/apr/03/dodging-coal-embracing-potash-the-port-of-vancouve/

DIVERSIONS

Cheaters Believe They’re That Good, Even When They’re Not

http://arstechnica.com/science/news/2011/03/cheaters-believe-theyre-that-good-even-when-theyre-not.ars

PETA Wants Bible to be More Animal Friendly

http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=452756

We Explore the Wild & Wacky World of the Squirrel

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/we_explore_the_wild_and_wacky_world_of_the_squirrel/2011/04/01/AFnEXoXC_story.html

Too Real Means Too Creepy in New Disney Animation

http://www.komonews.com/news/tech/119184599.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Ray Charles - Your Cheatin’ Heart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNEInaOsK6I

Hank William Sr - Your Cheatin’ Heart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cS4LCoh0VGQ