Energy News Digest for April 26, 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

Salt River Project to March to Different Drummer - Chief financial officer Bonsall is promoted to utility's top spot (Arizona Republic, Phoenix, AZ)

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/2011/04/27/20110427biz-srp0427.html

Hydro, Wind Battling for Grid Space - Each Is Producing to Excess, Tilting Legal Balance of Power (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/apr/26/hydro-wind-battling-for-grid-space/

Is dioxin leaking into Olympia’s Budd Inlet? – High levels in storm drain sediment cause concern (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/04/27/1630498/is-dioxin-leaking-into-budd-inlet.html

State DOC Discusses Grand Mound Reception Center Possibility (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews?State-DOC-discusses-Grand-Mound-receptio=1&blockID=511032&feedID=410

CenturyLink Gets Cloud Boost with $2.5 Billion Savvis Buy (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/27/us-savvis-centurylink-idUSTRE73Q32D20110427

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Salt River Project to March to Different Drummer - Chief financial officer Bonsall is promoted to utility's top spot

·         Carrasco to Stay at Seattle City Light

·         Flashback - SRP narrows GM search to five candidates (Steve Wright of BPA & Jorge Carrasco were on the list)

·         Hydro, Wind Battling for Grid Space - Each Is Producing to Excess, Tilting Legal Balance of Power

·         Permits OK'd for Puget Sound Energy to Reroute Power Line through Lakewood

·         Alternate Energy Holdings’ Proposed Idaho Nuclear Power Plant Begins Final Hearings

·         State of Montana OKs NorthWestern Electricity Rate Settlement

·         California – Pacific Gas & Electric Creates a 'Delay List' for Customers Concerned About SmartMeters

·         Less Haze Expected in Grand Canyon from Plant

·         Vermont Electric Cooperative board rejects deal with Vermont Yankee

·         Salmon: Running the Gauntlet

·         Is dioxin leaking into Olympia’s Budd Inlet?

·         Hanson Dam's Mysteries Solved

·         Myths about Large-scale Solar Threaten Public Lands

·         Colorado - Constitution Invoked against Renewable Law

·         Maryland - Environmentalists Urge O’Malley to Veto Waste-To-Energy Bill

·         Utility-Backed Renewable Energy Bill Now ‘Dead’ In the Florida Legislature

·         Traditional Incandescent Bulbs on Their Way Out Starting January 1

·         Saskatchewan - Canadian Government Approves $1.24 Billion Carbon Capture Project

·         Recession Briefly Axed Greenhouse Gases in 2009

·         Poll: 85 Percent of US Customers Want an Electric Vehicle

·         Turn Sweat into Watts: The Green Gym in Oregon Where Your Workout Generates Energy

·         CenturyLink Gets Cloud Boost with $2.5 Billion Savvis Buy

·         Google: We're in Kansas City to Make Money - Project Isn't Just a 1 Gbps 'Petri Dish'

·         Move Server Farms to Desert? Data Is Easier to Move Than Power, After All

·         Consumer Reports Explores Pros of Fiber Optics

·         Lack of Funding Stops the Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence

·         Spyware Cleaners, Accused Of Scams, Agree to Follow Law

·         Washington State House Gets Amendment to Limit State's Debt

·         Paid Sick Leave Proposal Building Steam among Seattle Workers

·         State DOC Discusses Grand Mound Reception Center Possibility

·         Overwrought Vancouver Father Set Fire That Killed Him, Five Children, Source Says

·         Thieves Cut Fuel Lines, Siphon Gas at Thurston County Facilities

·         New Tree for County – Replaces Removed Red Cedar near Courthouse

·         Poll: Working Boomers Say Age a Plus at Office

WORD USAGE TIP OF THE DAY

From Daily Writing Tips: http://www.dailywritingtips.com/

Is “Alright” All Right?

In 1965, The Who told us “The Kids are Alright,” spawning generations of the use of alright in music.

In 2004, The Killers said “Everything Will be Alright,” Jennifer Lopez was “Gonna Be Alright” in 2002, and Janet Jackson said it was “alright with me” in 1989. The examples go on and on, leaving us to wonder if, in fact, “alright” is all right.

Scholars and grammarians are constantly debating the question of alright vs. all right. In common usage, all right is a synonym for okay or satisfactory, as in “Are you all right?” However, it can also mean “all correct”, as in, “My answers on the test were all right.”

In some circles, alright has become an accepted usage interchangeable with most uses of all right, particularly in dialogue:

    Rob, do you want to come to the party with me?

    Alright.

Generally, most editors and teachers don’t think “alright” is all right. If you’re in doubt, it’s best to stick with the more widely accepted two-word “all right,” especially in formal academic or professional writing.

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

Salt River Project to March to Different Drummer - Chief financial officer Bonsall is promoted to utility's top spot (Arizona Republic, Phoenix, AZ)

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/2011/04/27/20110427biz-srp0427.html

Carrasco to Stay at Seattle City Light (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2014882204_carrasco_to_stay_at_city_light.html

Flashback - SRP narrows GM search to five candidates (Steve Wright of BPA & Jorge Carrasco were on the list) (Arizona Republic, Phonenix)

http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/2011/03/29/20110329srp-narrows-general-manager-search-five-candidates.html

Hydro, Wind Battling for Grid Space - Each Is Producing to Excess, Tilting Legal Balance of Power (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/apr/26/hydro-wind-battling-for-grid-space/

Permits OK'd for Puget Sound Energy to Reroute Power Line through Lakewood (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/04/27/1641638/permits-okd-for-power-line-reroute.html

Alternate Energy Holdings’ Proposed Idaho Nuclear Power Plant Begins Final Hearings (Electric Energy Online)

http://www.elp.com/index/display/article-display.articles.electric-light-power.generation.nuclear.2011.04.AEHI_s_proposed_Idaho_nuclear_power_plant_begins_final_hearings.QP129867.dcmp=rss.page=1.html

State of Montana OKs NorthWestern Electricity Rate Settlement (Associated Press)

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_edc0c7fc-7062-11e0-b81b-001cc4c002e0.html

California – Pacific Gas & Electric Creates a 'Delay List' for Customers Concerned About SmartMeters (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_17928402

Less Haze Expected in Grand Canyon from Plant (Associated Press)

http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2011/04/26/business-us-navajo-generating-station-arizona_8435100.html

Vermont Electric Cooperative board rejects deal with Vermont Yankee (Burlington Free Press, VT)

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20110426/NEWS02/110426030/Vermont-Electric-Cooperative-rejects-Vermont-Yankee-agreement

FISH & WILDLIFE

Salmon: Running the Gauntlet (Public Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/salmon-running-the-gauntlet/introduction/6546/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Is dioxin leaking into Olympia’s Budd Inlet? – High levels in storm drain sediment cause concern (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/04/27/1630498/is-dioxin-leaking-into-budd-inlet.html

Hanson Dam's Mysteries Solved - Green River: Engineers turn detective, find and fix threatening conditions (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/04/27/1630515/hanson-dams-mysteries-solved.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Myths about Large-scale Solar Threaten Public Lands (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/04/myths-about-large-scale-solar-threaten-public-lands?cmpid=rss

Colorado - Constitution Invoked against Renewable Law (EnergyBiz Insider)

http://www.scoop.com/remote/article/include/241071658/53616c7465645f5f7ff1bfe99df06a256272982d6a63c19fffe3d844c86b4c2132cc590625b92d69

Maryland - Environmentalists Urge O’Malley to Veto Waste-To-Energy Bill (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/politics/environmentalists_urge_omalley_to_veto_waste_to_energy_bill/2011/04/26/AFZxthtE_story.html

Utility-Backed Renewable Energy Bill Now ‘Dead’ In the Florida Legislature (Florida Independent)

http://floridaindependent.com/28222/utility-backed-renewable-energy-bill-now-dead-in-the-florida-legislature

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Traditional Incandescent Bulbs on Their Way Out Starting January 1 (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/environment/2011-04-26-new-light-bulbs_n.htm

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Saskatchewan - Canadian Government Approves $1.24 Billion Carbon Capture Project (Electric Light & Power)

http://www.elp.com/index/display/article-display.articles.electric-light-power.generation.coal.2011.04.Canadian_government_approves__1_24_billion_carbon_capture_project.QP129867.dcmp=rss.page=1.html

Recession Briefly Axed Greenhouse Gases in 2009 (Reuters)

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/sns-rt-environment-us-climtre73q5k0-20110427,0,6314488.story

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Poll: 85 Percent of US Customers Want an Electric Vehicle (Electric Light & Power)

http://www.elp.com/index/display/article-display.articles.electric-light-power.renewable-energy.phev.2011.04.Poll__85_percent_of_U_S__customers_want_an_electric_vehicle.QP129867.dcmp=rss.page=1.html

Turn Sweat into Watts: The Green Gym in Oregon Where Your Workout Generates Energy (The Daily Mail, United Kingdom)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-1380785/Oregons-green-gym-YOUR-workout-generates-energy.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

CenturyLink Gets Cloud Boost with $2.5 Billion Savvis Buy (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/04/27/us-savvis-centurylink-idUSTRE73Q32D20110427

Google: We're in Kansas City to Make Money - Project Isn't Just a 1 Gbps 'Petri Dish' (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Google-Were-in-Kansas-City-To-Make-Money-113926

Move Server Farms to Desert? Data Is Easier to Move Than Power, After All (Discover Magazine)

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2011/04/27/move-server-farms-to-desert-data-is-easier-to-move-than-power-after-all/

Consumer Reports Explores Pros of Fiber Optics (KGO-TV, San Francisco, CA)

http://abclocal.go.com/kgo/story?section=news/7_on_your_side&id=8095927

Lack of Funding Stops the Search for Extra Terrestrial Intelligence (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/faster-forward/post/lack_of_funding_stops_the_search_for_extra_terrestial_intelligence/2011/04/26/AFhGF3rE_blog.html

Spyware Cleaners, Accused Of Scams, Agree to Follow Law (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Spyware-cleaners-accused-of-scams-agree-to-1353456.php

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State House Gets Amendment to Limit State's Debt (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014882528_apwaxgrspecialsession1stldwritethru.html

Paid Sick Leave Proposal Building Steam among Seattle Workers (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Paid-sick-leave-proposal-building-steam-among-Seattle-workers--120748149.html

GENERAL NEWS

State DOC Discusses Grand Mound Reception Center Possibility (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews?State-DOC-discusses-Grand-Mound-receptio=1&blockID=511032&feedID=410

Overwrought Vancouver Father Set Fire That Killed Him, Five Children, Source Says (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/clark-county/index.ssf/2011/04/overwrought_vancouver_father_set_fire_that_killed_him_five_children_source_says.html

Thieves Cut Fuel Lines, Siphon Gas at Thurston County Facilities (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/27687731/detail.html

New Tree for County – Replaces Removed Red Cedar near Courthouse (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/5448-new-tree-for-county

Poll: Working Boomers Say Age a Plus at Office (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014878306_apusappollboomersatwork.html

DIVERSIONS

Oh No! Clippy Is Back! Microsoft Has Brought Clippy, Everyone’s Despised/Favorite Helper from Office, Back from the Dead

http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/2011/04/26/oh-no-clippy-is-back/

Pint-Sized Powerhouse: Little Thor Packs a Major Wallop in VW Ad Parody

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/04/26/pint-sized-powerhouse-little-thor-packs-a-major-wallop-in-vw-ad-parody/

Jury Acquits Man in 99-Cent Hot Dog Theft in Cheney

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014888495_hotdog27m.html

Is it wrong to put your child on a leash

http://communities.canada.com/vancouversun/blogs/parenting/archive/2011/04/25/leash-debate.aspx

SONG OF THE DAY

Thin Lizzy - The Boys are Back in Town

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hQo1HIcSVtg