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 NW: ‘Unusual Event’ Report Unnecessary (Associated Press)
Wet March Boosts Power Supply, But Rates Won’t Fall (Seattle Times)
Facebook Unveils Prineville Data Center Design, Pledges to Collaborate on Efficiency (Oregonian, Portland)
Pendleton, Better Known for Cowboys, Promotes Solar Energy (Associated Press)
Oregon’s Electric Car Owners Shocked by Proposed Bill That Would Tax Their Cars “…I figured the state would find a way to get the gas taxes that I’m no longer paying…” (Oregonian, Portland – Shocked! Shocked I am that you would want me to pay for the roads on which I will drive my car…)
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
· Wet March Boosts Power Supply, But Rates Won’t Fall
· Interior, Energy Announce $26 Million to Develop Advanced Hydropower Technologies
· BPA Agreement on Tap - Hermiston Council to Meet Monday
· The Goldendale Aluminum Plant - The Death of a Way of Life
· Costs Amount to $408,000 in Oregon Department of Energy Case Looking for Favoritism in $60,000 Contract
· Major Power Shortages Loom over Japanese Firms
· Pacific Gas & Electric Fine over Natural Gas Safety Should Be Higher, Opponents Argue
· 3.9 Earthquakes Shake Arkansas, Some Doubt ‘Fracking’ Link
· Salt River Project Debates Election System - Acreage-Based Voting Divides Utility’s Leaders
· Utilities Telecom Council Calls New Pole Attachment Rules Unsafe
· Energy NW: ‘Unusual Event’ Report Unnecessary
· Vermont Ready to Fight Effort to Keep Nuclear Power Plant Open
· Association of German Utility Companies Calls for Abolishing Nuclear Power by 2020
· Op/Ed - Why Nuclear Power is Still a Good Choice
· Editorial - As Nuclear Waste Piles Up, Obama Must Step Up
· Feds Issue New Rules to Protect Puget Sound Orcas
· Federal Judge Blocks Deal between Environmental Groups, Government on Protections for Wolves
· Indiana Electrical Cooperative Acts to Protect Raptors
· Studies Uncover Mislabeling of Restaurant Fish
· The Harmless Invasion of the Pacific Oyster
· Lack of Dredging Behind Lower Granite Forces Balancing Act for Fish, Navigation, Flood Control
· Pendleton, Better Known for Cowboys, Promotes Solar Energy
· Arizona Paid Steep Price to Lure First Solar Plant
· So, where’s That Big GE Solar Plant Going to Go?
· Caldwell: Bonneville Renewable Power Plan Creates Buzz in Industry
· Another Reality Check for Wind Power Investors
· California - New Plan Removes Worst of Altamont Turbines
· Editorial – Wind Industry Running “Afowl” of Aviation Groups
· New Mexico: Deal Reached over Biomass Tax Credits
· Pacific Northwest Regional Plan for Energy-Efficiency Cluster to Be Unveiled
· Money Tip: Energy-Efficient Lighting is Financially Efficient
· Consider Multiple Bids When Insulating Attic Space
· World Stumbles toward Climate Summit
· Scientists Mull Tweaking Climate to Save Earth
· Australia - Revealed: Scandal of Carbon Credit Firm
· Oregon’s Electric Car Owners Shocked by Proposed Bill That Would Tax Their Cars
· Op/Ed - Powerful Fuel for Washington’s Economy
· Charles Lindbergh’s Grandson Eyes Electric Aircraft
· Facebook Unveils Prineville Data Center Design, Pledges to Collaborate on Efficiency
· Facebook Prineville: Not Just Data; A Platform
· Oregon Regulators Say New Customers Should Steer Clear of Frontier Cable TV
· Review: Best Web Browser? Google’s Chrome Outshines Pack
· Washington State House Budget That Cuts $4.4B in Spending Advances
· Washington State Senate Approves Slew of Transportation Bills
· Closing Tax Loopholes in Olympia Could Backfire
· McKenna, Inslee Get Early Start on 2012 Gubernatorial Election
· Marysville Cuts City Meetings to Three a Month - The city’s business just isn’t taking as long anymore
· $4.50 a Gallon by Memorial Day Some Analysts Say
· Washington State Senate Oks Bill to Improve Prison Safety
· Protesters Hauled Out of Washington State Capitol Building
· The $300 Million Washington State Liquor Plan
· Cash for High-Speed Rail Hightails It to Washington
WORD OF THE DAY
Hermetic • \herr-MET-tick\ • Adjective - 1: relating to or characterized by occultism or abstruseness: recondite 2a: airtight b: impervious to external influence c: recluse, solitary
Frank the Hermetic
Lived thus not by his choice
Garlic was his vice
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Wet March Boosts Power Supply, But Rates Won’t Fall (Seattle Times)
Interior, Energy Announce $26 Million to Develop Advanced Hydropower Technologies (Columbia Basin Bulletin)
BPA Agreement on Tap - Hermiston Council to Meet Monday (Hermiston Herald, OR)
The Goldendale Aluminum Plant - The Death of a Way of Life (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)
Costs Amount to $408,000 in Oregon Department of Energy Case Looking for Favoritism in $60,000 Contract (Oregonian, Portland)
Major Power Shortages Loom over Japanese Firms (National Public Radio)
Pacific Gas & Electric Fine over Natural Gas Safety Should Be Higher, Opponents Argue (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
3.9 Earthquakes Shake Arkansas, Some Doubt ‘Fracking’ Link (Associated Press)
Salt River Project Debates Election System - Acreage-Based Voting Divides Utility’s Leaders (Arizona Republic, Phoenix, AZ)
Utilities Telecom Council Calls New Pole Attachment Rules Unsafe (Electric Light & Power)
NUCLEAR SCIENCE READING ROOM
Energy NW: ‘Unusual Event’ Report Unnecessary (Associated Press)
Vermont Ready to Fight Effort to Keep Nuclear Power Plant Open (Associated Press) http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014729238_apusvermontyankee.html
Association of German Utility Companies Calls for Abolishing Nuclear Power by 2020 (Associated Press)
Op/Ed - Why Nuclear Power is Still a Good Choice (Los Angeles Times, CA)
Editorial - As Nuclear Waste Piles Up, Obama Must Step Up (Boston Globe, MA)
FISH & WILDLIFE
Feds Issue New Rules to Protect Puget Sound Orcas (Associated Press)
Federal Judge Blocks Deal between Environmental Groups, Government on Protections for Wolves (Associated Press)
Indiana Electrical Cooperative Acts to Protect Raptors (Associated Press)
Studies Uncover Mislabeling of Restaurant Fish (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
The Harmless Invasion of the Pacific Oyster (InterPress Service)
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Lack of Dredging Behind Lower Granite Forces Balancing Act for Fish, Navigation, Flood Control (Columbia Basin Bulletin)
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Pendleton, Better Known for Cowboys, Promotes Solar Energy (Associated Press)
Arizona Paid Steep Price to Lure First Solar Plant (Arizona Republic, Phoeniz, AZ)
So, where’s That Big GE Solar Plant Going to Go? (Midwestern Energy News)
Caldwell: Bonneville Renewable Power Plan Creates Buzz in Industry (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)
Another Reality Check for Wind Power Investors (Alt Energy Stocks)
California - New Plan Removes Worst of Altamont Turbines (Livermore Independent, CA)
Editorial – Wind Industry Running “Afowl” of Aviation Groups (Tulsa World, OK)
New Mexico: Deal Reached over Biomass Tax Credits (Associated Press)
CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY
Pacific Northwest Regional Plan for Energy-Efficiency Cluster to Be Unveiled (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)
Money Tip: Energy-Efficient Lighting is Financially Efficient (Seattle Times)
Consider Multiple Bids When Insulating Attic Space (Seattle Times)
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
World Stumbles toward Climate Summit (Associated Press)
Scientists Mull Tweaking Climate to Save Earth (Associated Press)
Australia - Revealed: Scandal of Carbon Credit Firm (Sydney Morning Herald, AU)
BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI
Oregon’s Electric Car Owners Shocked by Proposed Bill That Would Tax Their Cars “…I figured the state would find a way to get the gas taxes that I’m no longer paying…” (Oregonian, Portland – Shocked! Shocked I am that you would want me to pay for the roads on which I will drive my car…)
Op/Ed - Powerful Fuel for Washington’s Economy (Everett Herald, WA)
Charles Lindbergh’s Grandson Eyes Electric Aircraft (Associated Press)
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Facebook Unveils Prineville Data Center Design, Pledges to Collaborate on Efficiency (Oregonian, Portland)
Facebook Prineville: Not Just Data; A Platform - Social-Network Giant Announces ‘Open Compute Project’ (KTVZ-TV, Bend, OR)
Oregon Regulators Say New Customers Should Steer Clear of Frontier Cable TV (Oregonian, Portland)
Review: Best Web Browser? Google’s Chrome Outshines Pack (USA Today)
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
Washington State House Budget That Cuts $4.4B in Spending Advances (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
Washington State Senate Approves Slew of Transportation Bills (Associated Press)
Closing Tax Loopholes in Olympia Could Backfire (Crosscut Seattle)
McKenna, Inslee Get Early Start on 2012 Gubernatorial Election (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)
Marysville Cuts City Meetings to Three a Month - The city’s business just isn’t taking as long anymore (Everett Herald, WA)
GENERAL NEWS
$4.50 a Gallon by Memorial Day Some Analysts Say (KING-TV, Seattle)
Washington State Senate Oks Bill to Improve Prison Safety (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
Protesters Hauled Out of Washington State Capitol Building (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
The $300 Million Washington State Liquor Plan (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
Cash for High-Speed Rail Hightails It to Washington (Crosscut Seattle)
DIVERSIONS
Too Perfect on Picture Day? Some parents choose photo retouching of school portraits
How The Wild Hamster Was Tamed
Too Far? Nerds Getting Cosmetic Surgery for Elf Ears
SONG OF THE DAY
Lothlorien - Lord of the Rings Musical
