The Energy News Digest: 02/16/12

Thursday, February 16, 2012

Energy News Digest for February 16, 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.

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Climate Science Attack Machine Took Donations from Major Corporations (The Guardian, UK)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/feb/15/heartland-institute-microsoft-gm-money

Oregon State University Gets $600K to Study Wind Power’s Effect On Birds, Bats (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/osu-gets-600k-study-wind-powers-affect-birds-bats/

Local Timber Voices Weigh in on Bonneville Power Administration Project - Transmission line concerns operations large & small (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/feb/15/local-timber-voices-weigh-in-on-bpa-project/

FCC Plans to Nix Wireless Network that May Jam GPS (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/FCC-plans-to-nix-wireless-network-that-may-jam-GPS-3332706.php

Northern Pike Flourish in Columbia River Tributary; Washington Cracks Down (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/bill_monroe/index.ssf/2012/02/northern_pike_flourish_in_colu.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

Local Timber Voices Weigh in on Bonneville Power Administration Project
Theft of $20,000 from Snohomish PUD Safe Remains a Mystery
Temporary Stint for Security Guard at Cowlitz PUD Lobby About to End
Pacific Gas & Electric Opt-Out of SmartMeters Underway
Alaska - Rural Power Providers Back More Help for Struggling Ratepayers
J.D. Power & Associates Reports: Overall Satisfaction Among Business Customers of Electric Utilities Increases Notably, but Satisfaction Lags Among Businesses That Spend the Least on Electricity
Sacramento Municipal Utility District Ties for No. 1 in Customer Satisfaction
Avista Corp. Reports Financial Results for Fiscal Year & Fourth Quarter 2011
NorthWestern Energy Reports 2011 Financial Results
Meter-Maker Itron to Purchase Mississippi Tech Company for $100 Million
US Natural Gas Supplies Shrank Last Week
Northern Pike Flourish in Columbia River Tributary; Washington Cracks Down
Environmentalists Raise Alarm on Dam Removals
The Robot Fish That Led to Better Dam Designs
Beyond Salmon & the Spotted Owl
Scientists See Big ‘Scientific Event’ as Pacific Whales Turn Up Far from Home
Snowpack Shoots Up
Will Taxpayers Be Taken for a Ride on New Washington State Irrigation Plans?
Editorial - Water, Trees & Politics
Op/Ed - Where the Colorado Runs Dry
Oregon State University Gets $600K to Study Wind Power’s Effect on Birds, Bats
Hydro, Wind Power Seek Peace in Northwest
Many Jobs May be Gone with the Wind Energy Credit
Renewable Energy Battle: Wind vs. Solar
US Solar Industry Divided over Trade Action against China
Op/Ed - Wind Energy: Iowa Model for Success
Greenpeace demands more clean power from Duke Energy
Solar Power: Cheap Electricity for World’s Poor
More New Homes Conserve Energy
Home Economics: Easy Ways to Cut Electricity Costs
Snohomish PUD Pushes Conservation Efforts
Thurston County Puget Sound Energy Customers Can Get Free Energy-Efficiency Upgrades in 2012
You’ll Be Ashamed to Fill These Vintage-Inspired Fridges with Junk Food
Climate Science Attack Machine Took Donations from Major Corporations
Leak Offers Glimpse of Campaign against Climate Science
Can a Prius Increase Global Warming?
Electric-Car Subsidies Would to Go to Automakers
Murray, Cantwell at Ramparts - Green Voter Group
FCC Plans to Nix Wireless Network that May Jam GPS
FCC Bars the Use of Airwaves for a Broadband Plan
Seattle’s Sabey Corp - A Tower’s New Owner Hears the Hum of Data
More Free Wi-Fi Coming to Downtown Victoria
Poll: McKenna Opens 9-Point Lead on Inslee in Washington State Governor’s Race
Powell Family Backing Off Cemetery Decision
Possible New Evidence in Lindsey Baum Case
Former Port of Shelton Commissioner Convicted of DUI
Tension at Belfair Water District Continues
White House Initiative to Discuss Indian Education in Shelton
Decision Reversed on Shelton Hills Rezone
Recent Extreme Weather Impacted 80% of Americans
Officials: Eastern Europe’s Cold Snap Kills More Than 600
Three Charged with Stealing $15K in Gold from Olympia Dental Office

WORD OF THE DAY

Abnegate • \ABB-nih-gate\ • Verb - 1: deny, renounce 2: surrender, relinquish

“OK buddy, let’s have it,” demanded the supervisor to the dejected cube dweller. Bronc had to abnegate his miniature helicopter after repeated complaints from the punk rocker element in the “C” wing of the call center. Constant buzzing of their super-glue enhanced Mohawk hair creations had resulted in outbreaks of shingles, shouting, and floor shaking bouts of Ian Drury’s “Sex & Drugs & Rock ‘N Roll.”

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

Local Timber Voices Weigh in on Bonneville Power Administration Project - Transmission line concerns operations large & small (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/feb/15/local-timber-voices-weigh-in-on-bpa-project/

Theft of $20,000 from Snohomish PUD Safe Remains a Mystery (Everett Herald, WA)

http://heraldnet.com/article/20120215/NEWS01/702159890

Temporary Stint for Security Guard at Cowlitz PUD Lobby About to End (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/961641d0-5847-11e1-96ea-0019bb2963f4.html

Pacific Gas & Electric Opt-Out of SmartMeters Underway (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_19971400

Alaska - Rural Power Providers Back More Help for Struggling Ratepayers (Juneau Empire, AK)

http://juneauempire.com/state/2012-02-15/rural-power-providers-back-more-help-struggling-ratepayers

J.D. Power & Associates Reports: Overall Satisfaction Among Business Customers of Electric Utilities Increases Notably, but Satisfaction Lags Among Businesses That Spend the Least on Electricity (MarketWatch)

www.marketwatch.com/story/jd-power-and-associates-reports-overall-satisfaction-among-business-customers-of-electric-utilities-increases-notably-but-satisfaction-lags-among-businesses-that-spend-the-least-on-electricity-2012-02-15?reflink=MW_news_stmp

Sacramento Municipal Utility District Ties for No. 1 in Customer Satisfaction (Saccramento Business Journal, CA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2012/02/15/smud-utility-customer-satisfaction-surve.html

Avista Corp. Reports Financial Results for Fiscal Year & Fourth Quarter 2011 (MarketWatch)

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/avista-corp-reports-financial-results-for-fiscal-year-and-fourth-quarter-2011-2012-02-15?reflink=MW_news_stmp

NorthWestern Energy Reports 2011 Financial Results (MarketWatch)

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/northwestern-reports-2011-financial-results-2012-02-16

Meter-Maker Itron to Purchase Mississippi Tech Company for $100 Million (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2017517658_itron16.html

US Natural Gas Supplies Shrank Last Week (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2017522291_apusnaturalgasstorage.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Northern Pike Flourish in Columbia River Tributary; Washington Cracks Down (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/bill_monroe/index.ssf/2012/02/northern_pike_flourish_in_colu.html

Environmentalists Raise Alarm on Dam Removals (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/02/16/43951.htm

The Robot Fish That Led to Better Dam Designs (Popular Mechanics)

Beyond Salmon & the Spotted Owl - Other Northwest plant, animal species on the edge (Portland Tribune, OR)

http://portlandtribune.com/sustainable/story.php?story_id=132919805872675700

Scientists See Big ‘Scientific Event’ as Pacific Whales Turn Up Far from Home (McClatchy Newspapers)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/feb/15/scientists-see-big-scientific-event-as-pacific/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Snowpack Shoots Up (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/feb/15/snowpack-shoots-up/

Will Taxpayers Be Taken for a Ride on New Washington State Irrigation Plans? (Grist Online)

http://crosscut.com/2012/02/15/environment/21935/Will-taxpayers-be-taken-for-a-ride-on-new-state-irrigation-plans-/

Editorial - Water, Trees & Politics “…Columbia River, though…bill would require the state Water Resources Department to ‘aggressively pursue’ more irrigation water from the Columbia for agriculture uses…” (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/02/water_trees_and_politics.html

Op/Ed - Where the Colorado Runs Dry (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/15/opinion/where-the-colorado-river-runs-dry.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Oregon State University Gets $600K to Study Wind Power’s Effect on Birds, Bats (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/osu-gets-600k-study-wind-powers-affect-birds-bats/

Hydro, Wind Power Seek Peace in Northwest (Earth Techling)

http://www.earthtechling.com/2012/02/hydro-wind-power-seek-peace-in-northwest/

Many Jobs May be Gone with the Wind Energy Credit (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2012/02/16/146920324/many-jobs-may-be-gone-with-the-wind-energy-credit

Renewable Energy Battle: Wind vs. Solar (Motley Fool)

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2012/02/14/renewable-energy-battle-wind-vs-solar.aspx

US Solar Industry Divided over Trade Action against China (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_19973193

Op/Ed - Wind Energy: Iowa Model for Success (Politico)

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0212/72954.html

Greenpeace Demands More Clean Power from Duke Energy (Charlotte Business Journal, NC)

http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2012/02/14/greenpeace-demands-more-clean-power.html

Solar Power: Cheap Electricity for World’s Poor (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Making-a-difference/Change-Agent/2012/0216/Solar-power-cheap-electricity-for-world-s-poor

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

More New Homes Conserve Energy (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/environment/story/2012-02-02/more-homes-conserve-energy/53098306/1

Home Economics: Easy Ways to Cut Electricity Costs (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/homegarden/2017518261_standbypower15.html?syndication=rss

Snohomish PUD Pushes Conservation Efforts (Snohomish County Business Journal, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20120202/SCBJ02/702029855/1014/BIZ06

Thurston County Puget Sound Energy Customers Can Get Free Energy-Efficiency Upgrades in 2012 (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2012/02/14/1990429/thurston-county-pse-customers.html

You’ll Be Ashamed to Fill These Vintage-Inspired Fridges with Junk Food (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/5885505/youll-be-ashamed-to-fill-these-vintage+inspired-fridges-with-junk-food

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Climate Science Attack Machine Took Donations from Major Corporations (The Guardian, UK)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2012/feb/15/heartland-institute-microsoft-gm-money

Leak Offers Glimpse of Campaign against Climate Science (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/16/science/earth/in-heartland-institute-leak-a-plan-to-discredit-climate-teaching.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Can a Prius Increase Global Warming? Some argue that driving fuel-efficient cars will actually encourage people to drive more, boosting carbon emissions & hastening climate change (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Green-Economics/2012/0214/Can-a-Prius-increase-global-warming

Electric-Car Subsidies Would to Go to Automakers (NY Times)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2012/02/obama-wants-electric-car-subsidies-to-go-to-automakers/1?csp=34money

Murray, Cantwell at Ramparts - Green Voter Group (Seattle Post Intelligencer)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2012/02/15/murray-cantwell-at-ramparts-green-voter-group/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

FCC Plans to Nix Wireless Network that May Jam GPS (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/FCC-plans-to-nix-wireless-network-that-may-jam-GPS-3332706.php

FCC Bars the Use of Airwaves for a Broadband Plan (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/15/business/media/fcc-bars-airwave-use-for-broadband-plan.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Seattle’s Sabey Corp - A Tower’s New Owner Hears the Hum of Data (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/15/realestate/commercial/in-former-new-york-telephone-tower-sabey-corp-plans-data-centers.html?_r=1