Energy News Digest for April 5, 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

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

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Clallam PUD Puts Decision on BPA Settlement on Hold (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110405/news/304059996/clallam-pud-puts-decision-on-bpa-settlement-on-hold

City of Shelton to Reissue Determination on Simpson Biomass Plant (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/3978-city-to-reissue-determination-on-simpson-biomass

The Evergreen State College Biomass Project Torpedoed - Questions doom plan to use forest debris to heat college (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/04/05/1604568/biomass-project-torpedoed.html

Op/Ed – Tribes Saving Columbia Salmon: Reversing Salmon Decline One Population at a Time (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/04/saving_columbia_salmon_reversi.html

US Nuclear Output Falls Near Lowest in Year as Reactors Refuel (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-04/u-s-nuclear-output-falls-near-lowest-in-year-as-reactors-refuel.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Clallam PUD Puts Decision on BPA Settlement on Hold

·         Puget Sound Energy unveils 2011 update to Integrated Resource Plan

·         Scammers Targeting Seattle City Light Customers

·         Grant PUD Says Crescent Bar Islanders Have Wrong Court

·         Germany Now Imports Energy after Taking Nuclear Power Plants Off the Grid

·         Feds Call on Natural Gas Industry to Repair Aging Pipelines

·         1.85 Billion Barrels Later, North Dakota’s Oil Patch Turns 60

·         Gulf Oil Rig Owner Apologizes for Calling 2010 ‘Best Year for Safety’ Ever

·         US Nuclear Output Falls Near Lowest in Year as Reactors Refuel

·         California’s Diablo Nuke Plant Reactor Back in Service after Weeklong Shutdown

·         Safety of Vermont Nuclear Power Plant Cables Questioned

·         Radiation 101: How Far Will Radioactive Water Leaking From Nuclear Plant Go?

·         It’s Sea Lion vs. Salmon in the Columbia River

·         Managing Salmon in Idaho’s Salmon River is Complicated

·         Op/Ed – Tribes Saving Columbia Salmon: Reversing Salmon Decline One Population at a Time

·         Coalition Brings Fight for Alaska’s Bristol Bay Fish to Washington DC

·         USGS Scientist Proposes That Migrating Birds ‘Hear’ Their Way Home

·         Hearings to Collect Environmental Concerns on Yakima River Basin Water Plan

·         Nevadans’ Ire Over ‘Big Bully’ California’s Regulations May Fracture Tahoe Land Agency

·         Two Missing in Huge Tennessee Sewage Plant Spill

·         City of Shelton to Reissue Determination on Simpson Biomass Plant

·         The Evergreen State College Biomass Project Torpedoed

·         Turbines Going Up on Southeast Washington Wind Farm

·         California - Contra Costa County Supervisor Raises Concerns about Safety of Planned New Turbines

·         T. Boone Pickens Abandons Plan for Giant Texas Wind Farm

·         Suit Filed over Colorado Clean Energy Standard

·         Editorial - Hydropower: The Original Green Energy

·         Juhl Wind Says Japan’s Nuclear Problems Bode Well for Its Wind-Power Products

·         United Kingdom - Lack of Wind Saw Scottish Land-Based Turbines Idle for Four-Fifths of 2010

·         United Kingdom - Wind Turbine Threat to Bat Populations Costing Farmers Billions Each Year

·         Chelan PUD - Cutting Power Pays Off: Wenatchee couple wins $500 in PUD energy saving contest

·         With ‘Riders,’ GOP Seeks to Undo Obama Environmental Policies

·         UN Says Arctic Ozone Layer at an Unprecedented Low

·         Electric Cars Likely to Spark New ‘Smart Grid’

·         Electric Vehicles: Where Do the Emissions Go?

·         Paris Sewers to Heat Schools, President’s Palace

·         FCC’s Clyburn Not Keen on Anti-Community Fiber Bills

·         Verizon Agrees to $93M Settlement for False Billing to Federal Agency

·         Targeted Nature of Email Breach Worries Experts

·         Kansas - Hospital’s ‘Paperless’ System Looks to Speed Health Services

·         California Bill Would Collect Taxes from Online Sales

·         Washington State’s House Dems Outline Plan to close $5 Billion State Budget Shortfall

·         Think Tank Sues Washington State Governor in Public Records Case

·         Local Projects Get Nod in Proposed Washington State House Budget

·         Two Dead After I-5 Pursuit Ends Near Tumwater

·         Missing Belfair Man Located

·         FAA Will Call for 737 Inspections

·         Cost of Driving Has Risen 3.4%, Study Finds

·         Studded Tires Still OK in Washington State, Not in Oregon

WORD OF THE DAY

Ruritanian • \rur-uh-TAY-nee-un\ • Adjective - Of, relating to, or having the characteristics of an imaginary place of high romance

Did you know – Merriam-Webster Online

In 1894, British author Anthony Hope published The Prisoner of Zenda (one of my favorite movies), a novel set in the mythical kingdom of Ruritania. Within two years of the novel’s publication, George Bernard Shaw had seen fit to use “Ruritanian” as a generic adjective. Romantic or fanciful places or things have been “Ruritanian” ever since.

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 Puts Decision on BPA Settlement on Hold (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110405/news/304059996/clallam-pud-puts-decision-on-bpa-settlement-on-hold

Puget Sound Energy unveils 2011 update to Integrated Resource Plan - More energy efficiency, wind power & ‘peaking’ resources needed by utility (Electric Energy Online)

http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=152284

Scammers Targeting Seattle City Light Customers (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattle911/2011/04/04/scammers-targeting-city-light-customers/

Grant PUD Says Crescent Bar Islanders Have Wrong Court (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/apr/04/grant-pud-says-islanders-have-wrong-court-utility/

Germany Now Imports Energy after Taking Nuclear Power Plants Off the Grid (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/utilities-germany-now-imports-energy-after-taking-nuclear-power-plants-off-the-grid/2011/04/04/AFNqMNaC_story.html

Feds Call on Natural Gas Industry to Repair Aging Pipelines (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_17771965

1.85 Billion Barrels Later, North Dakota’s Oil Patch Turns 60 (Associated Press)

http://www.bismarcktribune.com/news/state-and-regional/article_602635b8-5ed7-11e0-ae98-001cc4c03286.html

Gulf Oil Rig Owner Apologizes for Calling 2010 ‘Best Year for Safety’ Ever (CNN)

http://edition.cnn.com/2011/US/04/04/gulf.spill.bonuses/index.html

NUCLEAR SCIENCE READING ROOM

US Nuclear Output Falls Near Lowest in Year as Reactors Refuel (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-04-04/u-s-nuclear-output-falls-near-lowest-in-year-as-reactors-refuel.html

California’s Diablo Nuke Plant Reactor Back in Service after Weeklong Shutdown (Associated Press)

http://www.therepublic.com/view/story/e8b1e238503f4f13963bdd2171d32954/CA--Diablo-Canyon-Nuclear-Plant/

Safety of Vermont Nuclear Power Plant Cables Questioned (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014681458_apusvermontyankee.html

Radiation 101: How Far Will Radioactive Water Leaking From Nuclear Plant Go? (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2011/0405/Radiation-101-How-far-will-radioactive-water-leaking-from-nuclear-plant-go

FISH & WILDLIFE

It’s Sea Lion vs. Salmon in the Columbia River (Anchorage Daily News, AK)

http://www.adn.com/2011/04/03/1790701/its-sea-lion-vs-salmon-in-the.html

Managing Salmon in Idaho’s Salmon River is Complicated (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/outdoors/2011/apr/04/managing-salmon-idahos-salmon-river-complicated/

Op/Ed – Tribes Saving Columbia Salmon: Reversing Salmon Decline One Population at a Time (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/04/saving_columbia_salmon_reversi.html

Coalition Brings Fight for Alaska’s Bristol Bay Fish to Washington DC (Associated Press)

http://newsminer.com/bookmark/12585543

USGS Scientist Proposes That Migrating Birds ‘Hear’ Their Way Home (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_17753701

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Hearings to Collect Environmental Concerns on Yakima River Basin Water Plan (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2011/04/04/hearings-to-collect-environmental-concerns-on-basin-water-plan

Nevadans’ Ire Over ‘Big Bully’ California’s Regulations May Fracture Tahoe Land Agency (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_17752478

Two Missing in Huge Tennessee Sewage Plant Spill (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014688592_apussewagespill.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

City of Shelton to Reissue Determination on Simpson Biomass Plant (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/3978-city-to-reissue-determination-on-simpson-biomass

The Evergreen State College Biomass Project Torpedoed - Questions doom plan to use forest debris to heat college (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/04/05/1604568/biomass-project-torpedoed.html

Turbines Going Up on Southeast Washington Wind Farm (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/04/04/1604094/turbines-going-up-on-southeast.html

California - Contra Costa County Supervisor Raises Concerns about Safety of Planned New Turbines (Oakland Tribune, CA)

http://www.insidebayarea.com/oaklandtribune/localnews/ci_17755390

T. Boone Pickens Abandons Plan for Giant Texas Wind Farm (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2009/07/08/1600865/t-boone-pickens-abandons-plan.html

Suit Filed over Colorado Clean Energy Standard (KOAA-TV, Colorado Springs, CO)

http://www.newsfirst5.com/news/suit-filed-over-colorado-clean-energy-standard/

Editorial - Hydropower: The Original Green Energy (Merced Sun-Star, CA)

http://www.mercedsunstar.com/2011/04/04/1838145/our-view-hydropower-the-original.html

Juhl Wind Says Japan’s Nuclear Problems Bode Well for Its Wind-Power Products (Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/news/2011/04/01/juhl-loses-money-but-japan-nuclear.html

United Kingdom - Lack of Wind Saw Scottish Land-Based Turbines Idle for Four-Fifths of 2010 (The Scotsman, UK)

http://news.scotsman.com/scotland/Lack-of-wind-saw-Scottish.6744476.jp

United Kingdom - Wind Turbine Threat to Bat Populations Costing Farmers Billions Each Year (The Daily Mail, UK)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1372235/Wind-turbine-threat-bat-populations-costing-farmers-billions-year.html?ITO=1490

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Chelan PUD - Cutting Power Pays Off: Wenatchee couple wins $500 in PUD energy saving contest (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/apr/04/cutting-power-pays/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

With ‘Riders,’ GOP Seeks to Undo Obama Environmental Policies (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2011/0405/With-riders-GOP-seeks-to-undo-Obama-environmental-policies

UN Says Arctic Ozone Layer at an Unprecedented Low (Oregonian, Portland)

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

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Electric Cars Likely to Spark New ‘Smart Grid’ (Bellingham Herald)

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2011/04/04/1950907/electric-cars-likely-to-spark.html

Electric Vehicles: Where Do the Emissions Go? (Huffington Post)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/lucia-greenweiskel/electric-vehicles-where-d_b_843895.html

Paris Sewers to Heat Schools, President’s Palace (Reuters)

http://ibnlive.in.com/generalnewsfeed/news/paris-sewers-to-heat-schools-presidents-palace/637609.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

FCC’s Clyburn Not Keen on Anti-Community Fiber Bills (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/FCCs-Clyburn-Not-Keen-on-AntiCommunity-Fiber-Bills-113546

Verizon Agrees to $93M Settlement for False Billing to Federal Agency (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-tech/post/verizon_agrees_to_93m_settlement_for_false_billing_to_gsa/2011/04/05/AFvS6YjC_blog.html

Targeted Nature of Email Breach Worries Experts (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014678578_apusdatabreach.html

Kansas - Hospital’s ‘Paperless’ System Looks to Speed Health Services (Hutchinson News, KS)

http://hutchnews.com/Localregional/PROMISE-CPOE--1

California Bill Would Collect Taxes from Online Sales (Associated Press)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/04/04/state/n165840D33.DTL

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State’s House Dems Outline Plan to close $5 Billion State Budget Shortfall (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014681563_housebudget05m.html

Think Tank Sues Washington State Governor in Public Records Case (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/04/04/1604150/govs-office-sued-for-public-records.html

Local Projects Get Nod in Proposed Washington State House Budget (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/apr/04/local-projects-get-nod-in-proposed-house-budget/

GENERAL NEWS

Two Dead After I-5 Pursuit Ends Near Tumwater (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/One-dead-in-I-5-pursuit-near-Tumwater-119246419.html

Missing Belfair Man Located (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/3895-missing-belfair-man-located

FAA Will Call for 737 Inspections (Associated Press)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/04/05/1613054/faa-will-call-for-737-inspections.html

Cost of Driving Has Risen 3.4%, Study Finds (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/autos/2011-04-04-costs-of-driving-rise.htm?csp=34money

Studded Tires Still OK in Washington State, Not in Oregon (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Studded-tires-still-OK-in-WA-not-in-OR-119247264.html

DIVERSIONS

Massachusetts Man Uses Fake Leg to Take Down Armed Robber

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/04/01/state/n075103D04.DTL

Washington DC Squirrel Week: Are They Craftier Than We Realize?

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc_squirrel_week_are_they_craftier_than_we_realize/2011/04/03/AF6ilKdC_story.html

Genetically Modified Cows Produce ‘Human’ Milk

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/agriculture/geneticmodification/8423536/Genetically-modified-cows-produce-human-milk.html

Professor Arrested for Shutting Student’s Laptop in Class (Note: PG-13 to R rated language in the comments section)

http://gawker.com/#!5788610/professor-arrested-for-shutting-students-laptop-in-class

SONG OF THE DAY

Transylvania Mania - Young Frankenstein

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=52AODL2J0TU