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
Mid-Columbia Power Rates Cheapest in Washington
State (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)
Department of Energy Implementation Activities in
the Case of a Lapse of Appropriations “…BPA…is self-funding…operates funds
under a permanent, indefinite appropriation known as the Bonneville Fund.
Therefore, BPA will continue to operate normally…” (US Department of Energy)
Salmon Flood California Hatcheries, Great 2012
Predicted (SF Chronicle)
Montana
– NorthWestern Energy Urges State to OK $86 Million Wind Deal (Helena
Independent-Record, MT)
Greenpeace Finds Common Cause with Facebook on
Clean Power for Data Centers (Oregonian, Portland)
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Mid-Columbia Power Rates Cheapest in Washington State
- Department of Energy Implementation Activities in the Case of a Lapse of Appropriations
- British Columbia - $200-Million River-Power Project Clears Key Hurdle
- Pacific Gas & Electric Cuts Power to Three SmartMeter Opponents Who Removed Devices
- Mason County PUD 1 Budget Approved
- Arch Coal Secures $300 Million Wyoming Coal Lease
- Montana – Thanks to Flathead Electric: Money Found for Discovery Square
- Energy Northwest Gives Out Toys & Clothing
- Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Goes Nuclear with Abuse, Colleagues Say
- Thousands of Households Face Cuts in Energy Aid
- Duke Energy, Progress Energy Merger Delayed
- Merger Talks - Constellation, Exelon Reach Accord with Maryland Governor
- Tennessee Valley Authority Says Fuel Cost 3.1 Percent Lower in January
- US Natural Gas Supplies Shrank Last Week
- As Gas Drilling Spreads, Towns Stand Ground Over Control
- Is a Perfect Storm Brewing for the Power Sector in 2012?
- Salmon Flood California Hatcheries, Great 2012 Predicted
- Washington State Water Deal Benefits All of Tri-Cities
- Pateros is First to Receive Lake Roosevelt Water
- Yakima – River Basin Water Plan May Have to Wait Two Years for Funds
- Montana – NorthWestern Energy Urges State to OK $86 Million Wind Deal
- Vestas’ Martha Wyrsch: Save the Production Tax Credit
- Green Energy: Silicon Valley Leads a Back-To-Basics Revolution
- Connecticut - NRG Biomass Plant Could Offset Impact of Montville Coal-Fired Power Plant’s Closing
- Thou Shalt Covet Thy Neighbor’s Electric Bill
- With Rise of Eco-Friendly Cars, Washington State Sees Slump in Gas Tax Revenue
- California Regulator Plans for Near Elimination of Gasoline-Powered Vehicles
- Recycling Rate Reaches 49 Percent in Washington
- Hawaii Utility to Make Gas from Vegetable Oil
- Greenpeace Finds Common Cause with Facebook on Clean Power for Data Centers
- Google to Invest in $120 Million Singapore Data Center
- Fun Facts for Data Center Geeks - Infographic
- Lines Drawn on Internet Antipiracy Bills
- Top Internet Engineers Warn Against SOPA
- Cisco Says 70% of Young Workers Ignore IT Rules
- Six Million Only Use Wireless Broadband
- Op/Ed - State Redistricting Commission Needs to Set Aside Politics & Meet Jan. 1 Deadline
- Columnist - US Senator Patty Murray’s Plan to Skirt Partisanship: More Women in Congress
- Does Politics Trump Science in The Obama White House?
- Washington State Legislature Adjourns 17-Day Special Session in Olympia
- This Could be Seattle’s Driest December Ever
- Thieves Prowling for Unattended Holiday Packages
WORD OF THE DAY
Emblazon • \im-BLAY-zun\ • Verb - 1a: to inscribe
or adorn with or as if with heraldic bearings or devices b: to inscribe (as
logos or lettering) on a surface 2: celebrate, extol
“I can’t admit you sir,’ the apologetic bouncer murmured
to the jittery fanboy at the backstage door at the local comic book convention.
“But,” whined the pizza-faced adolescent, “didn’t you see my ‘Justice League’
badge. That should mean something.” “Yeah,” sighed the bouncer; “It means you
had a sharp nail to emblazon the ‘League’ logo on tinfoil….now get lost.”
SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Mid-Columbia Power Rates Cheapest in Washington
State (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)
Department of Energy Implementation Activities in
the Case of a Lapse of Appropriations “…BPA…is self-funding…operates funds
under a permanent, indefinite appropriation known as the Bonneville Fund.
Therefore, BPA will continue to operate normally…” (US Department of Energy)
British Columbia - $200-Million River-Power Project
Clears Key Hurdle: Conservation groups raise fears over fish habitat (Victoria
Times Colonist, BC)
http://www.timescolonist.com/technology/million+river+power+project+clears+hurdle/5862456/story.html
Pacific Gas & Electric Cuts Power to Three
SmartMeter Opponents Who Removed Devices (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
Mason County PUD 1 Budget Approved (KMAS Radio,
Shelton, WA)
Arch Coal Secures $300 Million Wyoming Coal Lease (Associated
Press)
Montana – Thanks to Flathead Electric: Money Found
for Discovery Square (Flathead News Group, Kalispell, MT)
Energy Northwest Gives Out Toys & Clothing (KNDU-TV,
Tri-Cities, WA)
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chairman Goes Nuclear
with Abuse, Colleagues Say (Seattle Times)
Thousands of Households Face Cuts in Energy Aid
(The Tennessean, Nashville)
Duke Energy, Progress Energy Merger Delayed (Dayton
Business Journal, OH)
http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2011/12/15/duke-energy-progress-energy-merger.html
http://www.bizjournals.com/dayton/news/2011/12/15/duke-energy-progress-energy-merger.html
Merger Talks - Constellation, Exelon Reach Accord
with Maryland Governor (Baltimore Business Journal, MD)
Tennessee Valley Authority Says Fuel Cost 3.1
Percent Lower in January (Associated Press)
US Natural Gas Supplies Shrank Last Week (Associated
Press)
As Gas Drilling Spreads, Towns Stand Ground Over
Control (NY Times)
Is a Perfect Storm Brewing for the Power Sector in
2012? (Electric Light & Power)
FISH & WILDLIFE
Salmon Flood California Hatcheries, Great 2012 Predicted
(SF Chronicle)
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Washington State Water Deal Benefits All of
Tri-Cities (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
Pateros
is First to Receive Lake Roosevelt Water (Wenatchee World, WA)
Yakima
– River Basin Water Plan May Have to Wait Two Years for Funds (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Montana
– NorthWestern Energy Urges State to OK $86 Million Wind Deal (Helena
Independent-Record, MT)
Vestas’
Martha Wyrsch: Save the Production Tax Credit (Sustainable
Business Oregon)
Green
Energy: Silicon Valley Leads a Back-To-Basics Revolution (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2011/1214/Green-energy-Silicon-Valley-leads-a-back-to-basics-revolution
Connecticut
- NRG Biomass Plant Could Offset Impact of Montville Coal-Fired Power Plant’s
Closing (Hartford Courant, CT)
CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY
Thou Shalt Covet Thy Neighbor’s Electric Bill (Electric
Light & Power)
BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI
With
Rise of Eco-Friendly Cars, Washington State Sees Slump in Gas Tax Revenue (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
California
Regulator Plans for Near Elimination of Gasoline-Powered Vehicles (E&E
News)
Recycling
Rate Reaches 49 Percent in Washington (Associated Press)
Hawaii
Utility to Make Gas from Vegetable Oil (Associated Press)
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Greenpeace Finds Common Cause with Facebook on
Clean Power for Data Centers (Oregonian, Portland)
Google to Invest in $120 Million Singapore Data
Center (San Francisco Business Times, CA)
Fun Facts for Data Center Geeks - Infographic (GigaOM)
Lines Drawn on Internet Antipiracy Bills (NY Times)
Top Internet Engineers Warn Against SOPA (Washington
Post)
Cisco Says 70% of Young Workers Ignore IT Rules
(Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)
Six Million Only Use Wireless Broadband (Broadband
Reports)
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
Op/Ed - State Redistricting Commission Needs to Set
Aside Politics & Meet Jan. 1 Deadline (Seattle Times)
Columnist - US Senator Patty Murray’s Plan to Skirt
Partisanship: More Women in Congress (Seattle Times)
Does Politics Trump Science in The Obama White
House? (Politico)
GENERAL NEWS
Washington State Legislature Adjourns 17-Day
Special Session in Olympia (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
This Could be Seattle’s Driest December Ever (KING-TV,
Seattle)
Thieves Prowling for Unattended Holiday Packages (KOMO-TV,
Seattle)
DIVERSIONS
Behold the Power of Paws: Wisconsin Cat with 26
Toes Helps Raise $120,000 for Shelter
Dogs Have Their Day in Court after Jury Finds Two
Portland Men Guilty of Animal Neglect
Seattle Names City Dump after Julius Pierpont Patches
Police: Thieves Pocket-Dial 911, Leading to Arrest
SONG OF THE DAY
Buddy
Guy & Tracy Chapman - Ain’t No Sunshine
