Energy News Digest for April 10, 2012

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

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Chelan PUD Chief Says Keep, Improve Fiber Network (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/apr/09/pud-chief-says-keep-improve-fiber-network/

Whatcom County Money, PUD Participation Could Boost Internet in Foothills, Extend Utilities in Everson (Bellingham Herald, WA)

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/04/09/2470968/whatcom-money-could-boost-internet.html

Salmon Forecast Promises Boost for Lower Columbia Communities (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/salmon-forecast-promises-boost-for-lower-columbia-communities/article_1cabf8de-82a0-11e1-864a-001a4bcf887a.html

Feds Say Three Pesticides Harmful to Salmon (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017944589_aporsalmonpesticides.html

Are Pacific Northwest Residents Willing to Pay for More Renewable Energy? (Oregon Public Radio)

http://earthfix.opb.org/energy/article/understanding-where-energy-comes-and-why/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Connecticut-Based Northeast Utilities Buys NStar for $5 Billion
• US Coal Exports Highest Since 1991
• Drones Used to Detect Storm Damage on Utility Power Lines
• Mason County PUD 3 Conducting Tree Trimming on Burgundy Road - Project begins April 16
• Salmon Forecast Promises Boost for Lower Columbia Communities
• Feds Say Three Pesticides Harmful to Salmon
• Op/Ed - Beyond the ‘Spill’: Finding the Next Step for Northwest Salmon & People
• How Do Dams Hurt Rivers? New
• Study Indicates Fungus behind Bat Die-Off Came from Europe
• Yakama Nation Challenges Willamette River Polluters to Clean & Protect Lower Columbia River
• California - Desert County Can’t Sue Feds for Water
• Are Pacific Northwest Residents Willing to Pay for More Renewable Energy?
• United Kingdom - Energy Firm to Harness the Power of Rivers
• Here Comes The Sun... Not!
• Building Codes: Simple Energy Savings
• City of Chicago Getting 1,200 Energy-Efficient Streetlights — Without Amber Glow
• Warmest Ever? You Bet. March Temps Fry All Records
• Few Countries Have Cut Their Carbon Emissions without “Cheating”
• Oregon Institute of Technology Runs 100% on Renewable Energy
• Chelan PUD Chief Says Keep, Improve Fiber Network
• Whatcom County Money, PUD Participation Could Boost Internet in Foothills, Extend Utilities in Everson
• Microsoft to Build Data Center in Wyoming
• Iran Will Sever Internet Connectivity by August - Starts With Banning of Gmail & Hotmail
• A Ballooning Megabyte Budget
• Top Senator: Washington State Lawmakers Have Tentative Agreement
• Partisan Brawl over Cost of Special Election for Inslee’s Former Congressional Seat
• Washington State Auditor’s Office to Bainbridge: We’re Watching You
• Son of Washington State’s Lt. Governor Charged With Theft, Forgery
• City of Shelton Sales Tax Increase: Not Everyone Got the Word
• Burglars Target Renton Moviegoers
• Thieves Steal $75,000 in Gold, Silver Coins from Home near Kelso
• Something’s Missing at the State’s $3.2 Million Rest Area
• Copper Prices Fall on Global Economic Concerns

WORD OF THE DAY

Picaresque • \pick-uh-RESK\ • Adjective - Of or relating to rogues or rascals; also: of, relating to, suggesting, or being a type of fiction dealing with the episodic adventures of a usually roguish protagonist

Pirates of the Caribbean = Picaresque (or vice versa)

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

Connecticut-Based Northeast Utilities Buys NStar for $5 Billion (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2017948300_apusnortheastutilitiesnstar.html

US Coal Exports Highest Since 1991 (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/apr/10/us-coal-exports-highest-1991/

Drones Used to Detect Storm Damage on Utility Power Lines (Environment News Service)

http://www.ens-newswire.com/ens/apr2012/2012-04-06-092.html

Mason County PUD 3 Conducting Tree Trimming on Burgundy Road - Project begins April 16 (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/Newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=1012

FISH & WILDLIFE

Salmon Forecast Promises Boost for Lower Columbia Communities (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/salmon-forecast-promises-boost-for-lower-columbia-communities/article_1cabf8de-82a0-11e1-864a-001a4bcf887a.html

Feds Say Three Pesticides Harmful to Salmon (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017944589_aporsalmonpesticides.html

Op/Ed - Beyond the ‘Spill’: Finding the Next Step for Northwest Salmon & People (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2017944660_guest10richards.html

How Do Dams Hurt Rivers? New (Hampshire Public Radio)

http://www.nhpr.org/post/how-do-dams-hurt-rivers

Study Indicates Fungus behind Bat Die-Off Came from Europe (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2017942246_apusscibatdieoff.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Yakama Nation Challenges Willamette River Polluters to Clean & Protect Lower Columbia River (Indian Country Today)

http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2012/04/08/yakama-nation-challenges-willamette-river-polluters-to-clean-and-protect-lower-columbia-river-107040

California - Desert County Can’t Sue Feds for Water (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/04/10/45472.htm

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Are Pacific Northwest Residents Willing to Pay for More Renewable Energy? (Oregon Public Radio)

http://earthfix.opb.org/energy/article/understanding-where-energy-comes-and-why/

United Kingdom - Energy Firm to Harness the Power of Rivers (The Telegraph, UK)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/9194082/Energy-firm-to-harness-the-power-of-rivers.html

Here Comes The Sun... Not! Germany, once the world’s leading market for solar power, is pulling back its subsidies (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/marcgunther/81735/here-comes-sun-not

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Building Codes: Simple Energy Savings (Clean Technica)

http://cleantechnica.com/2012/04/09/building-codes-simple-energy-savings/

City of Chicago Getting 1,200 Energy-Efficient Streetlights — Without Amber Glow (Chicago Sun Times, IL)

http://www.suntimes.com/news/metro/11803810-418/city-getting-1200-energy-efficient-streetlights-without-amber-glow.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Warmest Ever? You Bet. March Temps Fry All Records (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/warmest_ever_you_bet._march_temps_fry_all_records/

Few Countries Have Cut Their Carbon Emissions without “Cheating” (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/few-countries-have-cut-their-carbon-emissions-without-cheating/2012/04/10/gIQAuWHG8S_blog.html?wprss=rss_economy

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Oregon Institute of Technology Runs 100% on Renewable Energy (IBTimes, Green Economy, UK)

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/20120410/oregon-institute-technology-runs-100-renewable-energy.htm

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Chelan PUD Chief Says Keep, Improve Fiber Network (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/apr/09/pud-chief-says-keep-improve-fiber-network/

Whatcom County Money, PUD Participation Could Boost Internet in Foothills, Extend Utilities in Everson (Bellingham Herald, WA)

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2012/04/09/2470968/whatcom-money-could-boost-internet.html

Microsoft to Build Data Center in Wyoming (Puget Sound Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2012/04/09/microsoft-to-build-data-center-in.html

Iran Will Sever Internet Connectivity by August - Starts With Banning of Gmail & Hotmail (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Iran-Will-Sever-Internet-Connectivity-By-August-119176

A Ballooning Megabyte Budget (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/04/09/technology/how-to-budget-megabytes-becomes-more-urgent-for-users.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Top Senator: Washington State Lawmakers Have Tentative Agreement (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017945439_apwaxgrbudget7thldwritethru.html

Partisan Brawl over Cost of Special Election for Inslee’s Former Congressional Seat (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2017944414_partisan_brawl_over_cost_of_sp.html

Washington State Auditor’s Office to Bainbridge: We’re Watching You (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/apr/09/state-auditors-office-to-bainbridge-were-you/

GENERAL NEWS

Son of Washington State’s Lt. Governor Charged With Theft, Forgery (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Mark-Owen-son-of-Lt-Gov-Brad-Owen-charged-with-theft-forgery-146743465.html

City of Shelton Sales Tax Increase: Not Everyone Got the Word (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/?p=4240#more-4240

Burglars Target Renton Moviegoers (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=658891

Thieves Steal $75,000 in Gold, Silver Coins from Home near Kelso (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2012/04/thieves_steal_75000_in_gold_si.html

Something’s Missing at the State’s $3.2 Million Rest Area (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Problems-with-the-states-most-expensive-restroom-146746445.html

Copper Prices Fall on Global Economic Concerns (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2017942306_apuscommoditiesreview.html

DIVERSIONS

Connecticut: Boy, 5, Brings Heroin for Show & Tell

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/04/10/1898410/connecticut-boy-5-brings-heroin.html

Five More Minutes? New Alarm Clock Answers Resounding ‘No’

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/5-more-minutes-New-clock-answers-resounding-no-3470204.php

Milton Kids Stop School Bus after Driver Stricken

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017946153_apwabusdriverstricken1stldwritethru.html

Doggy Gymnastics

http://www.thepostgame.com/blog/animal-house/201204/dog-shows-flair-gymnastics-ring

SONG OF THE DAY

The Arcade Fire - Wake Up

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9zdNdjF-htY