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
Washington State Lawmakers Slash Funds for Performance Audit (Northwest Public Radio)
Federal Executives Release Joint Statement on Salmon Plan - Statement follows May 9 U.S. District Court hearing on Biological Opinion (Bonneville Power Administration)
Columbia River - 9th Circuit Mulls Impact of Lake Roosevelt Drawdown Project (Courthouse News Service)
Columbia Falls Aluminum Owners Unveil $12 Billion Stock Offering – Loses Argument for Tax Break (Hungry Horse News, MT)
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance & BPA Debut Conservation Conduit - The first social media tool for energy professionals unveiled (Bonneville Power Administration)
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Columbia Falls Aluminum Owners Unveil $12 Billion Stock Offering – Loses Argument for Tax Break
- Avista Reports Financial Results for First Quarter 2011
- Chelan PUD Stepping Out of the Shadow - Utility’s financial team sees a surplus for this year
- Op/Ed - Is Our Nuclear Plant Safe? Yes
- Montana - New Power Supply Company Formed
- Southern Montana Electric Cooperative Seeks Injunction to Force City to Pay for Power
- Utah - Feds Propose Hydro Plant along Spanish Fork River
- Patagonian Hydroelectric Project Approval Spurs Violent Protests in Chile
- Feds Find Severe Safety Violation at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant in Alabama
- Illinois Governor Opposes Potential Rate Hikes for Smart Grid
- Federal Executives Release Joint Statement on Salmon Plan
- A Big Day for Tiny Fish: Sockeye Salmon Continue Long Journey to Ocean & Back
- Fewest Sea Lions Since 2003 Hanging Out Below Bonneville Dam
- Interior Dept. Strikes Deal to Clear Backlog on Endangered Species Listings
- Columbia River - 9th Circuit Mulls Impact of Lake Roosevelt Drawdown Project
- State Law Exempts Marysville from Election Requirement on Deal with Snohomish PUD
- Pacific Northwest Wind Power Production Growing Fast
- Franklin County Commissioners Learn About New Solar Projects
- Arlington Resident Goes ‘Off the Grid’
- Once Hailed, Wood Power Fizzles in Massachusetts
- Colorado - Biomass Bill Would Battle Beetle Kill by Creating New Plan, Working Group
- Canada - Tim Hudak Vows to Scrap Lucrative Green-Energy Deals in Ontario
- Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance & BPA Debut Conservation Conduit
- US Department of Energy Beefs Up Energy Star, Other Efficiency Enforcement
- Energy Efficiency - How Bad Ideas Keep Rebounding Into Public Discourse
- $20 Million Climate Change Research Project Kicks Off
- Washington State Department of Ecology Seeks Comment on Moses Lake Data Center
- Microsoft Deal Should Vastly Expand Reach of Skype
- Skype Deal May Not Pay Off for Microsoft
- Google Braces to Pay at Least $500M in Ad Probe
- Talks Continue City of Portland’s Cable Drama
- Millions of Underage Facebook Users, Survey Finds
- Washington State Lawmakers Slash Funds for Performance Audit
- US Senator Murray Wants More Stimulus Money for Roads, Bridges & Transit
- Social Media a Balancing Act for Local Law Enforcement
- Mason County - State of County Address
- Oregon, Washington among National Leaders in Efficient Transportation Spending
- Port Townsend’s Noncommercial Radio Station to Go on Air Saturday
WORD OF THE DAY
Pursy • \PERR-see\ • adjective - 1: having a puckered appearance 2: proud of one’s wealth
“Whenever Alberto doesn’t like your ideas, his face goes all pursy on you,” whispered the grizzled administrative assistant to his fresh-faced replacement. “Uh-oh,” the new hire muttered, “That’s just about all the time.”
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Columbia Falls Aluminum Owners Unveil $12 Billion Stock Offering – Loses Argument for Tax Break (Hungry Horse News, MT)
Avista Reports Financial Results for First Quarter 2011 (Market Wire)
Chelan PUD Stepping Out of the Shadow - Utility’s financial team sees a surplus for this year (Wenatchee World, WA)
Op/Ed - Is Our Nuclear Plant Safe? Yes (Wenatchee World, WA)
Montana - New Power Supply Company Formed (Billings Gazette, MT)
Southern Montana Electric Cooperative Seeks Injunction to Force City to Pay for Power (Great Falls Tribune, MT)
Utah - Feds Propose Hydro Plant along Spanish Fork River (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)
Patagonian Hydroelectric Project Approval Spurs Violent Protests in Chile (Bloomberg News)
Feds Find Severe Safety Violation at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant in Alabama (Washington Post)
Illinois Governor Opposes Potential Rate Hikes for Smart Grid (Chicago Tribune, IL)
FISH & WILDLIFE
Federal Executives Release Joint Statement on Salmon Plan - Statement follows May 9 U.S. District Court hearing on Biological Opinion (Bonneville Power Administration)
A Big Day for Tiny Fish: Sockeye Salmon Continue Long Journey to Ocean & Back (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)
Fewest Sea Lions Since 2003 Hanging Out Below Bonneville Dam (Chinook Observer, Long Beach, WA)
Interior Dept. Strikes Deal to Clear Backlog on Endangered Species Listings (Washington Post)
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Columbia River - 9th Circuit Mulls Impact of Lake Roosevelt Drawdown Project (Courthouse News Service)
State Law Exempts Marysville from Election Requirement on Deal with Snohomish PUD (Everett Herald, WA)
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Pacific Northwest Wind Power Production Growing Fast (Oregon Public Radio)
Franklin County Commissioners Learn About New Solar Projects (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
Arlington Resident Goes ‘Off the Grid’ (Arlington Times, Marysville, WA)
Once Hailed, Wood Power Fizzles in Massachusetts (Associated Press)
Colorado - Biomass Bill Would Battle Beetle Kill by Creating New Plan, Working Group (Colorado Independent)
Canada - Tim Hudak Vows to Scrap Lucrative Green-Energy Deals in Ontario (Globe & Mail)
CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY
Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance & BPA Debut Conservation Conduit - The first social media tool for energy professionals unveiled (Bonneville Power Administration)
US Department of Energy Beefs Up Energy Star, Other Efficiency Enforcement (Environmental Leader)
http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/05/11/doe-beefs-up-energy-star-other-efficiency-enforcement/
Energy Efficiency - How Bad Ideas Keep Rebounding Into Public Discourse: The Rebound Effect & Its Refutation (Grist Magazine)
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
$20 Million Climate Change Research Project Kicks Off (Northwest Public Radio)
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Washington State Department of Ecology Seeks Comment on Moses Lake Data Center (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)
Microsoft Deal Should Vastly Expand Reach of Skype (Associated Press)
Skype Deal May Not Pay Off for Microsoft (Portland Business Journal, OR)
Google Braces to Pay at Least $500M in Ad Probe (Associated Press)
Talks Continue City of Portland’s Cable Drama (Portland Business Journal, OR)
Millions of Underage Facebook Users, Survey Finds (SF Chronicle, CA)
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
Washington State Lawmakers Slash Funds for Performance Audit (Northwest Public Radio)
US Senator Murray Wants More Stimulus Money for Roads, Bridges & Transit (Seattle Times)
Social Media a Balancing Act for Local Law Enforcement (Northwest Cable News)
GENERAL NEWS
Mason County - State of County Address (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
Oregon, Washington among National Leaders in Efficient Transportation Spending (Oregonian, Portland)
Port Townsend’s Noncommercial Radio Station to Go on Air Saturday (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
DIVERSIONS
Free Bob Marley! He’s Been Hijacked By Stoned Suburban Teenagers
Cicadas Re-Emerge after 13-Year Absence
Ellensburg Family Has Fun Racing Lawnmowers
SONG OF THE DAY
Bob Marley – No Woman, No Cry
