Energy News Digest for July 6, 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

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

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http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Bremerton Fiber Optic Cable Cut Knocks Out Service for Wave Broadband Customers (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/jul/06/bremerton-fiber-optic-cable-cut-knocks-out-for/

EPA Grants Biomass a Final Reprieve from Carbon Dioxide Rules (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/07/05/05greenwire-epa-grants-biomass-a-final-reprieve-from-co2-r-18885.html

Portland General Electric & Northwest Natural Sue City of Gresham over Utility Fee (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/gresham/index.ssf/2011/07/utility_fee_dispute_pits_pge_a.html

No Charges Against Vermont-Yankee Nuclear Power Plant Officials (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2015522510_apusvermontyankee.html

Washington State Prison Chief Admits Affair; Video Tape at Olympia Motel Leaked (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/komo/article/State-prison-chief-admits-affair-video-tape-at-1454305.php

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Portland General Electric & Northwest Natural Sue City of Gresham over Utility Fee
• Mason County PUD 3 Passes Washington State Financial & Regulatory Evaluation
• Massachusetts - Unions Fear Job-Loss Jolt after Nstar, Northeast Utilities Merge
• SMUD Employee to Compete - ‘Over-50’ Athletes to Compete in World Championships in Sacramento
• Indiana - Goshen Revitalizing Old Hydroelectric Power Plant
• No Charges Against Vermont-Yankee Nuclear Power Plant Officials
• At US Nuclear Reactors, Crews Train For the Worst
• Aging Nuclear Plants: Nuclear Plants’ Life Spans Exceeding Intended Limits
• A Safer Nuclear Crypt
• Japan Nuclear Plants to Undergo ‘Stress Tests’
• Japan Disaster Will Slow Nuclear Energy Growth, CH2M Hill Says
• Germany Looks to Replace Nuclear Power
• Pacific Ocean Trash Patch Mystery: How Many Fish Eat Plastic?
• Bureau of Land Management Calls Its Own Oregon Timber Plan Faulty; Urges It Be Tossed
• Columbia River Project Could Mean Major Eyesore for Prescott
• Fluoride Foes Appeal Port Angeles, Forks Water Issue to Washington State Supreme Court
• EPA Grants Biomass a Final Reprieve from Carbon Dioxide Rules
• BP Joins Others in Opposing Bonneville Power Administration Environmental Redispatch
• Wind & Vehemence: Vermont Electric Co-Op Readies for Vote
• California Rooftop Solar Installations Surge
• Minnesota Town Rejects Solar Panels, Turns Down $100,000 Grant
• United Kingdom - Solar Panel Myth: Experts Slash Estimates for How Much Panels Will Save You
• Texas - Utility Commission Drops Plan for Renewable Energy Mandate
• Michigan - Rooftop Turbines Give New Meaning to Being Green
• Washington State Plan Would Weatherize More Walls
• The World’s Greatest Light Bulb
• EPA Chief Stands Firm as Tough Rules Loom
• Most Americans Want Scientists, Not Politicians, to Lead Climate Debate
• Report: Washington Still Nation’s Number 2 ‘Sustainable’ State
• Clark Public Utilities Hosts Clark County’s First Public Electric Vehicle Charging Station
• United Kingdom - Solar Power: Middle-Class Indulgence or Lifeline for the Earth’s Poorest?
• Bremerton Fiber Optic Cable Cut Knocks Out Service for Wave Broadband Customers
• Oregon Regulators Will Investigate Phone Connection Problems in Rural Areas
• Federal Investigators Visit Clackamas County as Part of Audit into County’s $7.8-Million
• Facebook’s New Video Chat Has Rival in Google+
• Verizon Nixing Unlimited Data for Newbies
• Washington State Prison Chief Admits Affair; Video Tape at Olympia Motel Leaked
• Highway 101 Near Shelton Blocked for Eight Hours
• Shelton Port Commission Censures Miles
• Three Possible Mason County Commissioner Districts [sic]
• Umatilla Tribes Claim Any Surplus Hanford Land
• Grapes of Wrath - Cleanup Under Way After Massive Arizona Dust Storm

WORD OF THE DAY

Irrefragable • \irr-ih-FRAGG-uh-bull\ • Adjective - 1: impossible to refute 2: impossible to break or alter

Brannigan was backed into an irrefragable glass box. The head mime at the Glendale Improv group, he had been asked to take part in a ten-minute interview on the local radio station…but only if he appeared in character…

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

Portland General Electric & Northwest Natural Sue City of Gresham over Utility Fee (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/gresham/index.ssf/2011/07/utility_fee_dispute_pits_pge_a.html

Mason County PUD 3 Passes Washington State Financial & Regulatory Evaluation (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/Newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=885

Massachusetts - Unions Fear Job-Loss Jolt after Nstar, Northeast Utilities Merge (Boston Herald, MA)

http://bostonherald.com/business/general/view.bg?articleid=1349878&position=1

SMUD Employee to Compete - ‘Over-50’ Athletes to Compete in World Championships in Sacramento (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/07/06/3749815/over-50-athletes-to-compete-in.html

Indiana - Goshen Revitalizing Old Hydroelectric Power Plant (WSBT-TV, South Bend, IN)

http://www.wsbt.com/news/wsbt-goshen-revitalizing-old-hydroelectric-power-plant-20110705,0,2200467.story

NUCLEAR SCIENCE READING ROOM

No Charges Against Vermont-Yankee Nuclear Power Plant Officials (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sports/2015522510_apusvermontyankee.html

At US Nuclear Reactors, Crews Train For the Worst (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2011/07/06/137633351/at-u-s-nuclear-reactors-crews-train-for-the-worst?ft=1&f=3

Aging Nuclear Plants: Nuclear Plants’ Life Spans Exceeding Intended Limits (Associated Press)

http://daily-journal.com/archives/dj/display.php?id=475943

A Safer Nuclear Crypt (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/06/business/energy-environment/06cask.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Japan Nuclear Plants to Undergo ‘Stress Tests’ (Associated Press)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/07/05/international/i225531D44.DTL

Japan Disaster Will Slow Nuclear Energy Growth, CH2M Hill Says (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-07-06/japan-disaster-will-slow-nuclear-energy-growth-ch2m-hill-says.html

Germany Looks to Replace Nuclear Power (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2011/07/05/137630991/germany-looks-to-replace-nuclear-power?ft=1&f=2

FISH & WILDLIFE

Pacific Ocean Trash Patch Mystery: How Many Fish Eat Plastic? (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2011/0706/Pacific-Ocean-trash-patch-mystery-How-many-fish-eat-plastic

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Bureau of Land Management Calls Its Own Oregon Timber Plan Faulty; Urges It Be Tossed (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)
http://www.registerguard.com/web/newslocalnews/26507043-41/plan-blm-oregon-timber-judge.html.csp

Columbia River Project Could Mean Major Eyesore for Prescott (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_2bb1749e-a777-11e0-9e56-001cc4c03286.html

Fluoride Foes Appeal Port Angeles, Forks Water Issue to Washington State Supreme Court (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110706/news/307069988/fluoride-foes-appeal-port-angeles-forks-water-issue-to-supreme-court

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

EPA Grants Biomass a Final Reprieve from Carbon Dioxide Rules (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/07/05/05greenwire-epa-grants-biomass-a-final-reprieve-from-co2-r-18885.html

BP Joins Others in Opposing Bonneville Power Administration Environmental Redispatch (Platts)

http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/ElectricPower/8082906

Wind & Vehemence: Vermont Electric Co-Op Readies for Vote (Burlington Free Press, VT)

http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/article/20110706/NEWS02/107060302/Wind-vehemence-Vermont-Electric-Co-op-readies-vote

California Rooftop Solar Installations Surge - Renewable energy approaches oil output, reports say (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/money_co/2011/07/california-rooftop-solar-surges-and-renewable-energy-approaches-oil-reports-say.html

Minnesota Town Rejects Solar Panels, Turns Down $100,000 Grant (Bemidji Pioneer, MN)

http://www.bemidjipioneer.com/event/article/id/100029842/

United Kingdom - Solar Panel Myth: Experts Slash Estimates for How Much Panels Will Save You (The Daily Mail, UK)
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/money/article-2011540/Energy-experts-slash-estimates-household-savings-using-solar-panels.html

Texas - Utility Commission Drops Plan for Renewable Energy Mandate (Austin American- Statesman, TX)

http://www.statesman.com/business/utility-commission-drops-plan-for-renewable-energy-mandate-1584351.html

Michigan - Rooftop Turbines Give New Meaning to Being Green (The Detroit News, MI)

http://www.detnews.com/article/20110705/BIZ/107050363/Rooftop-turbines-give-new-meaning-to-being-green

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Washington State Plan Would Weatherize More Walls (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/07/06/1713944/plan-would-weatherize-more-walls.html

The World’s Greatest Light Bulb - Dump your fluorescents & incandescents for this amazing new LED bulb (Slate Magazine)

http://www.slate.com/id/2298444/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

EPA Chief Stands Firm as Tough Rules Loom (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/06/science/earth/06epa.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Most Americans Want Scientists, Not Politicians, to Lead Climate Debate (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/05/idUS333949079520110705

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Report: Washington Still Nation’s Number 2 ‘Sustainable’ State (Puget Sound Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2011/07/05/report-washington-still-nations-no.html

Clark Public Utilities Hosts Clark County’s First Public Electric Vehicle Charging Station (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/clark-county/index.ssf/2011/07/clark_public_utilities_hosts_clark_countys_first_public_electric_vehicle_charging_station.html

United Kingdom - Solar Power: Middle-Class Indulgence or Lifeline for the Earth’s Poorest? (The Daily Telegraph, UK)
http://blogs.telegraph.co.uk/news/geoffreylean/100095461/solar-power-middle-class-indulgence-or-lifeline-for-the-earths-poorest/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Bremerton Fiber Optic Cable Cut Knocks Out Service for Wave Broadband Customers (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/jul/06/bremerton-fiber-optic-cable-cut-knocks-out-for/

Oregon Regulators Will Investigate Phone Connection Problems in Rural Areas (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2011/07/oregon_regulators_will_investigate_phone_connectio.html

Federal Investigators Visit Clackamas County as Part of Audit into County’s $7.8-Million Broadband Grant (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/oregon-city/index.ssf/2011/07/federal_investigators_visit_clackamas_county_as_part_of_audit_into_countys_78-million_broadband_gran.html

Facebook’s New Video Chat Has Rival in Google+ (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/edwardbaig/2011-07-06-facebook-video-chat_n.htm?csp=34tech

Verizon Nixing Unlimited Data for Newbies (Associated Press)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2011-07-05-verizon-wireless-data-plans_n.htm?csp=34tech

GENERAL NEWS

Washington State Prison Chief Admits Affair; Video Tape at Olympia Motel Leaked (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/komo/article/State-prison-chief-admits-affair-video-tape-at-1454305.php

Highway 101 Near Shelton Blocked for Eight Hours (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/10001-101-blocked-for-8-hours

Shelton Port Commission Censures Miles (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/10002-port-commission-censures-miles

Three Possible Mason County Commissioner Districts [sic] (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/10003-three-possible-commissioner-districts

Umatilla Tribes Claim Any Surplus Hanford Land (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015522556_apwahanfordumatillatribes.html

Grapes of Wrath - Cleanup Under Way After Massive Arizona Dust Storm (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2015522456_apusphoenixduststorm.html

DIVERSIONS

Contemplate This - Scientists Find a Rich Array of Unknown Bacteria in Human Navels

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/scientists-find-a-rich-array-of-unknown-bacteria-in-human-navels/2011/07/01/gHQAJ476xH_story.html?wprss=rss_national

777-Pound Burger Takes Guinness Record

http://www.kirotv.com/health/28449106/detail.htm

Prison Guards Foil Suitcase Escape Bid - Inmate Found Curled in Fetal Position in Wife’s Luggage

http://www.kirotv.com/news/28448044/detail.html

Typing Beats Scribbling: Indiana Schools Can Stop Teaching Cursive

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/07/06/typing-beats-scribbling-indiana-schools-can-stop-teaching-cursive/

SONG OF THE DAY

Giovanni Marradi - Arabian Nights

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I4EtygdvZZk