Energy News Digest for July 11, 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
Australia Unveils Carbon Tax (The Telegraph, UK)
Idled Japanese Nuclear Reactors Could Restart After Stress Test First Stage (Reuters)
Oregon - A Loophole for Coal-Fired Power Hiding In the Grid? (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
Pollution Poses Problem for Oysters, Puget Sound (Associated Press)
Oregon - Aurora-Area Solar Farm Reaps $20,000 a Month from Portland General Electric Program (Oregonian, Portland)
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Oregon - A Loophole for Coal-Fired Power Hiding In the Grid?
- Clean Coal Group Spent $940,000 on First Quarter Lobbying
- Judge Approves Tennessee Valley Authority Settlement on Air Pollution
- Coal Plants Important to Duke Energy’s Future
- Editorial - So Now Burning Coal Causes Cooling?
- Lineworkers Bring Power to the People, Without a Net
- In Person: Kimberly Harris, CEO of Puget Sound Energy
- Colorado - Country Watches as Boulder Considers Forming Own Electric Utility
- Washington, DC Mayor Vincent Gray under Pressure over Virginia Power Plant
- Idled Japanese Nuclear Reactors Could Restart After Stress Test First Stage
- Feds, Nuclear Power Industry Criticized for Skirting Public
- Energy’s Deputy Secretary to Speak at Hanford’s Waste Treatment Plant
- Shades of “Office Space” - Hanford Engineer Banished to Basement
- Fate of Yucca Mountain Decision in Nuclear Regulatory Commission Hands
- Minnesota - US to Pay Xcel $100M for Nuclear Waste Storage
- Radiation Probe Finds Risks at Ohio Nuclear Plant
- Scatology Used to Study Orca Decline
- American Fisheries Society Western Division Again Calls for Breaching Snake River Dams
- Skokomish River to Open for Salmon in August
- Op/Ed - Science Will Show Status of Pocket Gophers
- Answer for Invasive Species: Put It on a Plate & Eat It
- Pollution Poses Problem for Oysters, Puget Sound
- Clallam PUD Sends Letters to Carlsborg Concerning Potential Sewer Costs
- Oregon - Aurora-Area Solar Farm Reaps $20,000 a Month from Portland General Electric Program
- Google Enhances Its Image by Beefing Up Solar Program
- Power Play in the Klamath Basin
- Progress Report on Washington State Biomass Study
- Florida - Feds Say Wind Farm Proposed Near Everglades Could Harm Birds
- North Carolina - Ways to Meet “Electricity from Poultry Litter” Mandate Expanded
- United Kingdom - Power Bills to Soar by 30 Percent in ‘Green’ Reforms
- Spain’s First Wave Power Plant Goes Online
- Puget Sound Energy Events Trade New Bulbs for Old
- Program Will Help Lacey Residents Save On Home Energy Costs
- Texans Rally to Save Old-Style Light Bulbs
- Editorial - Roll Back Bulb Standards? Not a Bright Idea
- Car Makers Jump on Energy Bandwagon as Japan Saves Power
- Australia Unveils Carbon Tax
- Australia - Carbon Tax Governance A Real Growth Industry
- Word Choice Matters for Energy Policy
- Nissan Works on Recharging Leaf with Solar Power
- Future of Electric Cars Hinges on Better Batteries
- British Columbia - Gardener Ticketed for Trying to Grow Garry Oak Meadow in Saanich Yard
- Michigan - Oak Park Woman Faces 93-Days in Jail for Planting Vegetable Garden
- The Greener Beer: In Bottles or Cans?
- CenturyLink Says Qwest Merger Will Help Idaho
- US Internet Providers to Act Against Online Pirates
- The Social Web Still Has a Lot of Room to Grow
- Servers Are Like Money, You’ll Always Need More
- Will Washington’s US Senator Cantwell Get a Free Ride in 2012 Re-Election Bid?
- Unions Were Big Spenders in Past Washington State Legislative Session
- Inslee Takes The Edge Off Controversial Idea - Use of state pension fund money
- Politicians Turning to Newspaper Ads to Keep Constituents Up to Date
- Port of Shelton Whistleblower Accusations Deemed Unfounded
- Mercer Island Fined $90,000 over Withholding Documents in Firing Case
- Driver Killed in Hydroplane Accident Near Olympia
- Rail Ownership is a Drain on City of Tacoma
- Scammers Claim Luxury Cars as Farm Vehicles for Cheap Insurance
- Photographic Film: Its End May Be Near
WORD OF THE DAY
Dreadnought • \DREDD-nott\ • Noun - 1: a warm garment of thick cloth; also: the cloth 2: battleship 3: one that is among the largest or most powerful of its kind
As the negotiations over the stalled renewable energy project ground to a screeching, painful halt, its proponents were aghast at the irony of their adversaries. “Time to bring in the big guns,” grinned the dreadlocked, wool-socked, sandal-clad leader. “Billy Turbine-Blades, the dreadnaught of the wind farm lobby on Capitol Hill!” The street-theater effect was not lost on those in attendance…but not in a good way. A gigantic street puppet with “BILLY” emblazond down its quivering pylon lumbered into the business chambers, clashing against the ceiling, stuffed “dead” birds and bats dangling from its paper mache blades…bits of old newspaper and glue past snowing down on the tables and chairs of the attendees. The horror…the horror…
SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Oregon - A Loophole for Coal-Fired Power Hiding In the Grid? (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
Clean Coal Group Spent $940,000 on First Quarter Lobbying (Associated Press)
Judge Approves Tennessee Valley Authority Settlement on Air Pollution (Ashville Citizen-Times, NC)
Coal Plants Important to Duke Energy’s Future (Charlotte Business Journal, NC)
Editorial - So Now Burning Coal Causes Cooling? (Tucson Citizen, AZ)
Lineworkers Bring Power to the People, Without a Net (KUOW Radio, Seattle)
In Person: Kimberly Harris, CEO of Puget Sound Energy (Seattle Times)
Colorado - Country Watches as Boulder Considers Forming Own Electric Utility (Denver Post, CO)
Washington, DC Mayor Vincent Gray under Pressure over Virginia Power Plant (Associated Press)
NUCLEAR SCIENCE READING ROOM
Idled Japanese Nuclear Reactors Could Restart After Stress Test First Stage (Reuters)
Feds, Nuclear Power Industry Criticized for Skirting Public (Associated Press)
Energy’s Deputy Secretary to Speak at Hanford’s Waste Treatment Plant (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
Shades of “Office Space” - Hanford Engineer Banished to Basement (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
Fate of Yucca Mountain Decision in Nuclear Regulatory Commission Hands (Courthouse News Service)
Minnesota - US to Pay Xcel $100M for Nuclear Waste Storage: In the latest in a series of settlements with the nation’s electric utilities, the government agreed to bear the cost of storing waste (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, MN)
http://www.startribune.com/business/125250519.html
http://www.startribune.com/business/125250519.html
Radiation Probe Finds Risks at Ohio Nuclear Plant (Associated Press)
FISH & WILDLIFE
Scatology Used to Study Orca Decline (Northwest Public Radio)
American Fisheries Society Western Division Again Calls for Breaching Snake River Dams (Columbia Basin Bulletin)
Skokomish River to Open for Salmon in August (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
Op/Ed - Science Will Show Status of Pocket Gophers (Olympian, WA)
Answer for Invasive Species: Put It on a Plate & Eat It (NY Times)
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Pollution Poses Problem for Oysters, Puget Sound (Associated Press)
Clallam PUD Sends Letters to Carlsborg Concerning Potential Sewer Costs (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)
Developer, Washington State Dispute Spokane River Water Level - Department of Ecology says wrong number used for Coyote Rock plans (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Oregon - Aurora-Area Solar Farm Reaps $20,000 a Month from Portland General Electric Program (Oregonian, Portland)
Google Enhances Its Image by Beefing Up Solar Program (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)
Power Play in the Klamath Basin (Klamath Falls Herald & News, OR)
Progress Report on Washington State Biomass Study (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
Florida - Feds Say Wind Farm Proposed Near Everglades Could Harm Birds (Fort Lauderdale Sun-Sentinel, FL)
North Carolina - Ways to Meet “Electricity from Poultry Litter” Mandate Expanded (North Wilkesboro Journal Patriot, NC)
United Kingdom - Power Bills to Soar by 30 Percent in ‘Green’ Reforms (The Telegraph, UK)
Spain’s First Wave Power Plant Goes Online (Domestic Fuel)
CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY
Puget Sound Energy Events Trade New Bulbs for Old (Seattle Times)
Program Will Help Lacey Residents Save On Home Energy Costs – Customers to pay $95 for discounted home energy audits (Olympian, WA)
Texans Rally to Save Old-Style Light Bulbs (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)
Editorial - Roll Back Bulb Standards? Not a Bright Idea (Sacramento Bee, CA)
Car Makers Jump on Energy Bandwagon as Japan Saves Power (Reuters)
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Australia Unveils Carbon Tax (The Telegraph, UK)
Australia - Carbon Tax Governance A Real Growth Industry (The Australian)
BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI
Word Choice Matters for Energy Policy (NY Times)
Nissan Works on Recharging Leaf with Solar Power (Associated Press)
Future of Electric Cars Hinges on Better Batteries (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
British Columbia - Gardener Ticketed for Trying to Grow Garry Oak Meadow in Saanich Yard (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)
Michigan - Oak Park Woman Faces 93-Days in Jail for Planting Vegetable Garden (WJKB-TV, Detroit, MI)
The Greener Beer: In Bottles or Cans? (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
CenturyLink Says Qwest Merger Will Help Idaho - The new company says it plans to invest $15 million in the Gem State (Idaho Statesman, Boise)
US Internet Providers to Act Against Online Pirates (Reuters)
The Social Web Still Has a Lot of Room to Grow (GigaOM)
Servers Are Like Money, You’ll Always Need More (GigaOM)
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
Will Washington’s US Senator Cantwell Get a Free Ride in 2012 Re-Election Bid? (Seattle Times)
Unions Were Big Spenders in Past Washington State Legislative Session - Public-sector fights prompted spending (Olympian, WA)
Inslee Takes The Edge Off Controversial Idea - Use of state pension fund money to seed start-up companies that agree to stay in Washington (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
Politicians Turning to Newspaper Ads to Keep Constituents Up to Date (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
GENERAL NEWS
Port of Shelton Whistleblower Accusations Deemed Unfounded (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
Mercer Island Fined $90,000 over Withholding Documents in Firing Case (Seattle Times)
Driver Killed in Hydroplane Accident Near Olympia (KING-TV, Seattle)
Rail Ownership is a Drain on City of Tacoma - Board members call for action to address liability, ownership concerns (Olympian, WA)
Scammers Claim Luxury Cars as Farm Vehicles for Cheap Insurance (USA Today)
Photographic Film: Its End May Be Near (Associated Press)
DIVERSIONS
Smartphones Smelling Like Jelly Beans?! Jelly Belly Introduces Scented Cases
Deschutes Brewery Wins Beer Championship
Free Slurpees At 7-Eleven Stores on July 11
Thieves Hit Arizona Church, Haul Off Two 5-Ton Air Conditioners Before Sunday Services
SONG OF THE DAY
Neil Diamond - Brother Love’s Traveling Salvation Show
