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.
The news digest is also available at the following web site:
http://www.energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Washington State joins Snohomish County PUD's fight on expensive power contract
- Maryland – Utilities commission orders Allegheny to hearings – Public outcry over cost of energy-efficient bulbs sparks action
- Montana – As coal-power plants boom, environmentalists launch legal assault
- Nuclear Safety Rule Ignites Strong Reactions
- Environmentalists Sue DOE over its creation of a corridor in the mid-Atlantic region
- FERC Eyeing New BPA Grid Interconnection Plan
- Transmission Developers Jolted
- Mason County PUD No. 3 receives national financial reporting award for third straight year
- Putting power to work for Western New York (cheap hydro supports industry)
- California – Pacific Gas and Electric PG&E launches work force development program
- Deep snowpack raises flood risk, forecasters warn
- Stakeholder group seeks to end rift between fishers
- Dallas Judge overturns TXU wind power supply award
- The Never-ending Story: Cape Wind Takes Step Forward
- California – Home builders group pledges to halve energy consumption by 2020
- Gregoire backs climate change legislation
- Satellite Will Search For Carbon “Sinks”
- Congressional Research – Pipelines for Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Control
- Pollution Regulation's Unintended Consequences
- FCC Asks Comcast About Internet Filter
- Louisiana – Officials to begin Lafayette Utility Service fiber project
- Report Critical Of Cell Phone Ban On U.S. Planes
- 2008 Legislature leans toward green
- Jefferson commissioners approve rezoning for big Brinnon development
- Oops! Remember (Ed Hansen) that emails to public agencies are public records
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Auctorial • \awk-TOR-ee-ul\ • adjective – Of or relating to an author
Of all his auctorial duties, Dagwood’s required appearances at signing parties were the most feared and loathed. It wasn’t until the fourth such appearance at a bookstore in Dirt, North Dakota that he decided to only sign books in his personal secret code. Therefore, the recipient of the book would never know that although the inscription said “best wishes” the real meaning was “get lost”. Dagwood’s quality life was thereby improved immeasurably, and he looked forward to his appointments with glee.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Washington State joins Snohomish County PUD's fight on expensive power contract - The support is key to the PUD's argument before the U.S. Supreme Court. (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080115/NEWS01/366808079/-1/RSS01
Maryland – Utilities commission orders Allegheny to hearings – Public outcry over cost of energy-efficient bulbs sparks action (Frederick News Post)
http://www.fredericknewspost.com/sections/news/display.htm?StoryID=70008
Montana – As coal-power plants boom, environmentalists launch legal assault (Associated Press, via the Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1157113~As_coal_power_plants_boom__environmentalists_launch_legal_assault.html?cid=rss-Montana_Headlines
Nuclear Safety Rule Ignites Strong Reactions (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/14/AR2008011402576.html?wpisrc=_rssbusiness
Environmentalists Sue DOE over its creation of a corridor in the mid-Atlantic region that could smooth the way for construction of new power lines. (Associated Press)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jUAYKjXaNb0UbYadhIOt3nwte31gD8U5S1AO2
FERC Eyeing New BPA Grid Interconnection Plan “…BPA…is considering the open season concept for its new grid interconnection approach…” (Trading Markets.com)
http://www.tradingmarkets.com/.site/news/Stock%20News/988027/
Transmission Developers Jolted – A proposed project to supply power throughout the East has come under fierce opposition. (Power Marketers Industry Publications)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8kowu%5D%5ChntusklVTif%7D38%7Dbfen%5Fv
News Release – Mason County PUD No. 3 receives national financial reporting award for third straight year (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/News/display.asp?NewsID=406
Putting power to work for Western New York: For the first time in a half-century, state officials are preparing to rethink the use of a huge block of low-cost hydropower generated north of Niagara Falls that's intended to promote economic development in Western New York. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News via Power Marketers Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5ChnqpvtpVTif%7D38%7Dbfen%5Fv
California – Pacific Gas and Electric PG&E launches work force development program (East Bay Business Times)
http://www.bizjournals.com/eastbay/stories/2008/01/14/daily16.html?ana=from_rss
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Deep snowpack raises flood risk, forecasters warn (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/01/15//area_news/10059249.txt
Oregon – A winter haven. A five-year Oregon Department of Fish & Wildlife study is showing how small streams like Hamilton Creek in Ashland may help wild salmon survive (Mail-Tribune, Medford)
http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080114/NEWS/801140319
Stakeholder group seeks to end rift between fishers – Sport and commercial representatives to discuss river fishing seasons (Daily Astorian)
http://www.dailyastorian.info/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=398&ArticleID=48332&TM=25757.47
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Dallas Judge overturns TXU award – A Dallas judge has overturned a jury decision that awarded TXU Corp. $8.9 million last June related to a flap over wind energy. (Dallas Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/stories/2008/01/14/daily7.html?ana=from_rss
News Release – Electric Power Supply Association issues statement on renewable energy “…Organized electricity markets provide ease of access to grid; clear market signals to encourage investment; and large land area to compensate for variability…” (ThomasNet)
http://news.thomasnet.com/companystory/538468
The Never-ending Story: Cape Wind Takes Step Forward (Renewable Energy Access)
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=51128&src=rss
CONSERVATION
California – Home builders group pledges to halve energy consumption by 2020 (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/15/BUMTUF79S.DTL&feed=rss.business
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Gregoire backs climate change legislation (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/347291_climate15.html?source=rss
Satellite Will Search For Carbon “Sinks” (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3483
Congressional Research – Regulation of Vehicle Greenhouse Gas Emissions: State and Federal Standards
http://opencrs.cdt.org/document/RS22788
Congressional Research – Pipelines for Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Control: Network Needs and Cost Uncertainties
http://opencrs.cdt.org/document/RL34316
Pollution Regulation's Unintended Consequences – Two recent energy stories were cheered by environmentalists and booed by the Wall Street Journal. Al Gore won the Nobel Peace Prize for his tireless efforts to warn about climate change. American Electric Power was fined $4.6 billion for modifying old coal-fired power plants. (Energy Pulse Commentary)
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1645
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
FCC Asks Comcast About Internet Filter – Comcast Corp. Monday said it has received a letter of inquiry from the Federal Communications Commission regarding complaints that the company actively interferes with its subscribers' Internet traffic. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004126113_apcomcastdatadiscrimination15.html?syndication=rss
Vermont – Search broadens in rural options for broadband (Burlington Free Press, via Baller/Herbst)
http://www.burlingtonfreepress.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080114/NEWS02/801140320/1007
Kansas – Municipal WiFi Provider Forces Local Monopoly to Offer Free Broadband Service (The Lawrencian, via Baller/Herbst)
http://buzz.lawrencian.com/lfnwifi.html
Louisiana – Officials to begin Lafayette Utility Service fiber project. Lafayette officials celebrated a milestone in the Lafayette Utilities System's fiber-to-the-home project Thursday. (The Daily Advertiser, via Baller/Herbst)
http://www.theadvertiser.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080111/BUSINESS/801110322/1046
Report Critical Of Cell Phone Ban On U.S. Planes (Boo-Hoo! Information Week)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/cmp/20080115/tc_cmp/205604708
GENERAL NEWS
2008 Legislature leans toward green – Poll gives governor a 13-percentage-point lead over Rossi, but it might not be enough (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/347379_poll15.html
Jefferson commissioners approve rezoning for big Brinnon development; permits next (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080115/NEWS/801150307
DIVERSIONS
Oops! Remember that emails to public agencies are public records – Go 2 Guy: Too bad boosters can't be fired (Seattle Post Intelligencer fingers Ed Hansen in UW booster correspondence)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/huskies/347353_moore15.html
Man Apologizes For Profane Remark On Check To Pay Parking Ticket
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/15044945/detail.html
Oscar Mayer Weiner Mobile Singing Contest Locations
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=7625136
Citroen apologizes for scowling Mao ad
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN1549505420080115?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Germans puff on as smoking ban fizzles
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL1421202620080115?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Tuesday, January 15, 2008
Monday, January 14, 2008
Energy News Digest for January 14, 2008
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.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Utilities try to deter wire thieves
- Montana coal plans wait
- Oregon – Wyden: Reserve electricity needed
- Maryland – O'Malley to offer energy package
- Maryland – Area lawmakers demand Allegheny refund customers for light bulbs
- PSE asks for conservation proposals
- United Kingdom – Energy rip-off exposed
- With Nuke Rebirth Come New Worries
- Bucknell professor says utility choices, power alternatives to come at high cost
- Columbia River ports wary of LNG plans
- Clallam PUD considers water use goals
- Several thousand anchovies die in WA Hood Canal
- Salmon arrive late, but Klamath Basin returns beating goals
- Oregon ocean troll salmon fishing marks second-worst year in '07
- Sport, commercial fishing interests vie for allocations
- Debris another culprit harming marine life in Puget Sound
- Oregon Legislature's Feb. session to seek more water for rural Oregon
- Idaho – Hearings officer sides with state in south-central water dispute
- A Long-Dry California River Gets, and Gives, New Life
- Idaho, grass growers, environmentalists reach field-burning deal
- Yacolt, Oregon – Parrots get new roost
- Fuel Bills Steep? Burn Corn – Renewable Energy No Pipe Dream
- In warming Mediterranean, a model of energy-efficient building
- California – Critics cool to 'smart thermostat' proposal
- Aspen, CO Times Op/Ed – The hypocrisy of Aspen
- Seattle Times Editorial – Green choices
- Last Year Among Hottest On Record, Say Scientists
- Study Says Glaciers Formed During a Very Warm Period
- California – Race for '08: Voters split on global warming cost
- Clearwire cuts staff but says it wants to grow
- Official: Idaho must be ready if Micron leaves
- Yahoo’s Core Value Is Falling
- Telecommuting not so great for those left in office
- WA lawmakers open `safety & security' session Monday
- Liz Loomis Appointed To State Legislature
- Low Flying Aircraft Over Shelton Tuesday
- Grays Harbor – Weyco holds closed-bid auction for mill
- Western Washington construction industry needs more gravel pits
- Snohomish County – Pet waste is turning streams into sewers
- Weather Channel Ratings – Methow Valley listed top family winter getaway
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Invidious • \in-VID-ee-us\ • adjective – 1: tending to cause discontent, animosity, or envy 2: envious 3a: of an unpleasant or objectionable nature: obnoxious *b: of a kind to cause harm or resentment.
“You’re wearing a silly hat,” thundered Octavio during the morning session on energy conservation. Ignoring the remark, the hardy presenter droned on about heat pumps and cost savings. “You’re mother wears army boots,” marked the next salvo in Octavio’s barrage of invidious comments. His barking, irrelevant comments were the only points that kept the attendees awake. Unfortunately for the presenter, the only things the attendees remembered were something about boots and hats.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Utilities try to deter wire thieves – Color-coding might make it harder for the criminals to sell the costly material to metal recyclers (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1200014711154130.xml&coll=7
Montana coal plans wait – Laundry list of mining and power projects twisting in the wind. (Casper Star-Tribune)
http://www.trib.com/articles/2008/01/07/news/regional/d17f90ce1c84637d872573c700267703.txt
Oregon – Wyden: Reserve electricity needed. “…Wyden said he is working with his constituents in Washington, D.C., to ‘change their priorities’ to better address energy needs on the North Coast…” (Seaside Signal)
http://seasidesignal.com/articles/2008/01/11/news/local_news/doc47879ee3aa1cd367643936.txt
Maryland – O'Malley to offer energy package. Plan boosts conservation, could raise consumer costs (Baltimore Sun)
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-te.md.power14jan14,0,4691318.story?track=rss
Maryland – Area lawmakers demand Allegheny refund customers for light bulbs (Herald-Mail, Hagerstown)
http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=183053&format=html
Maryland – Federal officials say bulb mailings already might be illegal (Herald-Mail, Hagerstown)
http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=183057&format=html
PSE asks for conservation proposals (I would suggest staying away from unsolicited CFL promotions – Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/347111_pse12.html?source=rss
United Kingdom – Energy rip-off exposed. Britain’s biggest energy companies have stifled competition to raise prices and make record profits of more than £4.5 billion, a Sunday Times investigation has found. (Times of London)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3177612.ece
With Nuke Rebirth Come New Worries – Global warming and rocketing oil prices are making nuclear power fashionable, drawing a once demonized industry out of the shadows of the Chernobyl disaster as a potential shining knight of clean energy. (Associated Press, via San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/01/12/international/i100252S42.DTL&feed=rss.business
Pennsylvania – Bucknell professor says utility choices, power alternatives to come at high cost (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5Chnogoqr%5BTfc%7D38%7Dbfen%5Fv
Australia – Costs 'lower' for privatized power. Victorian consumers are paying less for electricity now than in the days when the state government owned and ran the power industry; undermining claims by unions in NSW that privatization means higher prices. (The Australian)
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23053211-5005200,00.html
News Release – PJM Names Terry Boston as President & CEO (PR Newswire)
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/01-11-2008/0004734975&EDATE=
Columbia River ports wary of LNG plans – The shipping vessels that travel the Columbia River can cost as much as $60,000 each day to operate, said Larry Paulson, the Port of Vancouver's executive director. The companies that own them, he said, are not fond of delays. (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/01/13//area_news/doc4789b4eca69e5282774481.txt
Man gets jail for gas theft: He illegally tapped utility line to heat his garage – A Menomonee Falls who said a fire that heavily damaged his garage was divine comeuppance for stealing natural gas to heat it got his earthly punishment on Thursday. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5ChnmhlqvYTfc%7D38%7Dbfen%5Fv
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Clallam PUD considers water use goals –PUD commissioners will accept public comment and consider adoption of new water use efficiency goals today. (KONP Radio, Port Angeles)
http://www.konp.com/local/3354
Several thousand anchovies die in WA Hood Canal (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/324884.html
Salmon arrive late, but Klamath Basin returns beating goals – After three straight lean years, 2007 returns of wild fall Chinook salmon to the Klamath Basin have exceeded the minimums set by federal fisheries managers. (Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004121399_klamathsalmon12m.html?syndication=rss
Oregon ocean troll salmon fishing marks second-worst year in '07 (KTVZ-TV, Bend)
http://www.ktvz.com/Global/story.asp?S=7617570
Sport, commercial fishing interests vie for allocations (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/sports/localNews/2008/01/01132008_Sport-commercial-fishing-interests-vie-for-allocations.cfm
Debris another culprit harming marine life in Puget Sound – Lost fishing gear, creosote pilings add to dangers (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/347029_creosote12.html?source=rss
Oregon Legislature's Feb. session to seek more water for rural Oregon “Sen. Brad Avakian… and others said Oregon soon will have to face up to dwindling water supplies…” (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-22/1200165849268220.xml&storylist=orlocal
Idaho – Hearings officer sides with state in south-central water dispute. A former Idaho Supreme Court chief justice has upheld most of a 2005 order aimed at resolving disputes between groundwater users and two fish farms (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/325454.html
Montana – ‘People will enjoy this open space for a long time’. Several major conservation easements were executed…last month, capping a busy year for easements in the Flathead Valley. “...Grant funding from the federal Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program and from BPA’s Hungry Horse Dam fisheries mitigation program…” (Daily Interlake)
http://www.dailyinterlake.com/articles/2008/01/13/news/news02.txt
A Long-Dry California River Gets, and Gives, New Life – One of the largest river-restoration projects in the country has sent a gentle current of water meandering through what just a year ago was largely a sandy, rocky bed best used as a horse trail and barely distinguishable from the surrounding high desert scrub. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/12/us/12water.html?ex=1357880400&en=c1a2183800954fd2&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Idaho, grass growers, environmentalists reach field-burning deal (But is it still carbon neutral since it’s the burning of biomass? – Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/324791.html
Yacolt, Oregon – Parrots get new roost. Several Quaker Parrots who have made an unlikely home in this rural burg were a cheerful bunch on Saturday. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/01/01132008_Parrots-get-new-roost.cfm/
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Fuel Bills Steep? Burn Corn – Renewable Energy No Pipe Dream (No, really: burn corn in your stove! – WRTV-TV, Indianapolis)
http://www.theindychannel.com/money/15008942/detail.html
In warming Mediterranean, a model of energy-efficient building – In Athens, Sol Energy Hellas is headquartered in a building powered entirely by renewable energy. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0114/p13s01-woeu.html
Laidlaw Energy files $10 mill lawsuit against NY town; seeks judgment to operate cogeneration facility (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/display_article/316757/22/ARTCL/none/none/1/Laidlaw-Energy-files-$10-mill-lawsuit-against-NY-town;-seeks-judgment-to-operate-cogeneration-facility/
CONSERVATION
California – Critics cool to 'smart thermostat' proposal – New thermostats in homes and businesses would be fitted with technology that would allow utilities to change a building's temperature by remote control under a proposal being considered by state energy officials. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/12/MNHDUDAQ3.DTL&feed=rss.news
Aspen, CO Times Op/Ed – The hypocrisy of Aspen. A guest opinion in last week’s Aspen Times (“A Recipe for Foreign Oil Dependence” Jan. 8) charged that Aspen is hypocritical in its environmental stance against regional energy development because local energy appetites are conspicuous and excessive.
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20080114/COLUMN/784294045
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Seattle Times Editorial – Green choices. Gov. Christine Gregoire's voice needs to be heard on the environmental proposals car-pooling to Olympia this legislative session.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2004118975_envied11.html
Last Year Among Hottest On Record, Say Scientists (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/11/AR2008011103483.html?wpisrc=rss_technology
Study Says Glaciers Formed During a Very Warm Period – Giant glaciers formed about 90 million years ago during a warm period when alligators thrived in the Arctic (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/11/world/europe/11glacier.html?ex=1357880400&en=ac256a44ec656b42&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
California – Race for '08: Voters split on global warming cost. Some fear businesses will be hobbled (Sacramento Bee, may require free registration)
http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/631856.html
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Clearwire cuts staff but says it wants to grow (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/347089_clearwire12.html?source=rss
Official: Idaho must be ready if Micron leaves – Company’s losses have been mounting as prices for its products have collapsed. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/business/story/262286.html
Yahoo’s Core Value Is Falling – Still more rumors that Microsoft is trying to buy Yahoo. (NY Times)
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/11/yahoos-core-value-is-falling/index.html?ex=1357880400&en=13a0da1e51f16988&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Broadband access on the rise in West Virginia (Cumberland News-Times)
http://www.times-news.com/local/local_story_014093804.html
Telecommuting not so great for those left in office – Telecommuting may boost morale, and cut stress, but it can have the opposite effect on those left behind in the office, according to a new study. (Reuters)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080111/wr_nm/ba_work_telecommuting_dc_1
GENERAL NEWS
WA lawmakers open `safety & security' session Monday (Associated Press, via The Columbian)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP01142008news261933.cfm?newsletter=10
LOOMIS APPOINTED TO STATE LEGISLATURE – The Snohomish County Council has appointed Liz Loomis to fill the 44th District seat in the state Legislature vacated by John Lovick, who was recently elected county sheriff. Loomis, a former Snohomish City Council member who lost a re-election bid in 2005, owns Liz Loomis Public Affairs, a public relations and strategic communications agency that specializes in public power issues. Since 2001 she has also headed PeoplePower, which helps educate and encourages grassroots efforts on behalf of consumer-owned utilities in the Northwest, including 21 Washington PUD members.
LOW FLYING AIRCRAFT OVER SHELTON TUESDAY – A reminder: an aircraft will be flying low over the City of Shelton Tuesday. The plane will be conducting an aerial survey of the Hillcrest area for the Sewer Basin Five Inflow and Infiltration Reduction project. The aircraft will be taking pictures of structures, utility locations and the general area. This will provide a comprehensive picture of the area for design of the project. City officials are alerting residents of this low flying aircraft so people do NOT think the plane is in distress. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Grays Harbor – Weyco holds closed-bid auction for mill “…Those interested reportedly include…a joint offer made by the Grays Harbor PUD and California-based Evergreen Pulp…” (Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/01/12/local_news/02news.txt
Western Washington construction industry needs more gravel pits (Seattle Times, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1156573~Western_Washington_construction_industry_needs_more_gravel_pits.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Snohomish County – Pet waste is turning streams into sewers. The county is finishing a $475,000 effort to protect creeks and encourage pet owners to scoop and bag. (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080114/NEWS01/456182906&news01ad=1
Weather Channel Ratings – Methow Valley listed top family winter getaway (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080112/NEWS04/557081408/1001
There are rules for leaving effective, useful voice mail – As we clean our desks and promise to start the new year fresh, perhaps it's time to rethink how we handle voice mail. (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/347082_voicemail14.html
DIVERSIONS
Home demolition begins with grandma, four others still inside – RCMP were forced to step in when the owner of a Fraser Valley home began a planned demolition while five former renters were still inside.
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=943c78b5-c869-487a-ac53-d345ead998e3&k=80842
Twins separated at birth met and married
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSEIC17037920080111?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Parents snort as school enforces pig rearing
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN1438977520080114?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Fishing License Stickers Don't Stick to Boats
http://www.myfoxdc.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=0399CE0E2C4E463E659B5D11C2314B7B?contentId=5476290&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1
NY Post Parks Simpson Twin Behind Cowboys’ Bench
http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/lynsey-nordstrom-photos-jessica-simpson-twin-hired-by-nypost-for-giants-game-15415
Man reels Hummer Limo out of Lake Texoma
http://www.kxii.com/home/headlines/13758402.html
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Utilities try to deter wire thieves
- Montana coal plans wait
- Oregon – Wyden: Reserve electricity needed
- Maryland – O'Malley to offer energy package
- Maryland – Area lawmakers demand Allegheny refund customers for light bulbs
- PSE asks for conservation proposals
- United Kingdom – Energy rip-off exposed
- With Nuke Rebirth Come New Worries
- Bucknell professor says utility choices, power alternatives to come at high cost
- Columbia River ports wary of LNG plans
- Clallam PUD considers water use goals
- Several thousand anchovies die in WA Hood Canal
- Salmon arrive late, but Klamath Basin returns beating goals
- Oregon ocean troll salmon fishing marks second-worst year in '07
- Sport, commercial fishing interests vie for allocations
- Debris another culprit harming marine life in Puget Sound
- Oregon Legislature's Feb. session to seek more water for rural Oregon
- Idaho – Hearings officer sides with state in south-central water dispute
- A Long-Dry California River Gets, and Gives, New Life
- Idaho, grass growers, environmentalists reach field-burning deal
- Yacolt, Oregon – Parrots get new roost
- Fuel Bills Steep? Burn Corn – Renewable Energy No Pipe Dream
- In warming Mediterranean, a model of energy-efficient building
- California – Critics cool to 'smart thermostat' proposal
- Aspen, CO Times Op/Ed – The hypocrisy of Aspen
- Seattle Times Editorial – Green choices
- Last Year Among Hottest On Record, Say Scientists
- Study Says Glaciers Formed During a Very Warm Period
- California – Race for '08: Voters split on global warming cost
- Clearwire cuts staff but says it wants to grow
- Official: Idaho must be ready if Micron leaves
- Yahoo’s Core Value Is Falling
- Telecommuting not so great for those left in office
- WA lawmakers open `safety & security' session Monday
- Liz Loomis Appointed To State Legislature
- Low Flying Aircraft Over Shelton Tuesday
- Grays Harbor – Weyco holds closed-bid auction for mill
- Western Washington construction industry needs more gravel pits
- Snohomish County – Pet waste is turning streams into sewers
- Weather Channel Ratings – Methow Valley listed top family winter getaway
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Invidious • \in-VID-ee-us\ • adjective – 1: tending to cause discontent, animosity, or envy 2: envious 3a: of an unpleasant or objectionable nature: obnoxious *b: of a kind to cause harm or resentment.
“You’re wearing a silly hat,” thundered Octavio during the morning session on energy conservation. Ignoring the remark, the hardy presenter droned on about heat pumps and cost savings. “You’re mother wears army boots,” marked the next salvo in Octavio’s barrage of invidious comments. His barking, irrelevant comments were the only points that kept the attendees awake. Unfortunately for the presenter, the only things the attendees remembered were something about boots and hats.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Utilities try to deter wire thieves – Color-coding might make it harder for the criminals to sell the costly material to metal recyclers (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1200014711154130.xml&coll=7
Montana coal plans wait – Laundry list of mining and power projects twisting in the wind. (Casper Star-Tribune)
http://www.trib.com/articles/2008/01/07/news/regional/d17f90ce1c84637d872573c700267703.txt
Oregon – Wyden: Reserve electricity needed. “…Wyden said he is working with his constituents in Washington, D.C., to ‘change their priorities’ to better address energy needs on the North Coast…” (Seaside Signal)
http://seasidesignal.com/articles/2008/01/11/news/local_news/doc47879ee3aa1cd367643936.txt
Maryland – O'Malley to offer energy package. Plan boosts conservation, could raise consumer costs (Baltimore Sun)
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/politics/bal-te.md.power14jan14,0,4691318.story?track=rss
Maryland – Area lawmakers demand Allegheny refund customers for light bulbs (Herald-Mail, Hagerstown)
http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=183053&format=html
Maryland – Federal officials say bulb mailings already might be illegal (Herald-Mail, Hagerstown)
http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=183057&format=html
PSE asks for conservation proposals (I would suggest staying away from unsolicited CFL promotions – Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/347111_pse12.html?source=rss
United Kingdom – Energy rip-off exposed. Britain’s biggest energy companies have stifled competition to raise prices and make record profits of more than £4.5 billion, a Sunday Times investigation has found. (Times of London)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3177612.ece
With Nuke Rebirth Come New Worries – Global warming and rocketing oil prices are making nuclear power fashionable, drawing a once demonized industry out of the shadows of the Chernobyl disaster as a potential shining knight of clean energy. (Associated Press, via San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/01/12/international/i100252S42.DTL&feed=rss.business
Pennsylvania – Bucknell professor says utility choices, power alternatives to come at high cost (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5Chnogoqr%5BTfc%7D38%7Dbfen%5Fv
Australia – Costs 'lower' for privatized power. Victorian consumers are paying less for electricity now than in the days when the state government owned and ran the power industry; undermining claims by unions in NSW that privatization means higher prices. (The Australian)
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23053211-5005200,00.html
News Release – PJM Names Terry Boston as President & CEO (PR Newswire)
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/01-11-2008/0004734975&EDATE=
Columbia River ports wary of LNG plans – The shipping vessels that travel the Columbia River can cost as much as $60,000 each day to operate, said Larry Paulson, the Port of Vancouver's executive director. The companies that own them, he said, are not fond of delays. (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/01/13//area_news/doc4789b4eca69e5282774481.txt
Man gets jail for gas theft: He illegally tapped utility line to heat his garage – A Menomonee Falls who said a fire that heavily damaged his garage was divine comeuppance for stealing natural gas to heat it got his earthly punishment on Thursday. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5ChnmhlqvYTfc%7D38%7Dbfen%5Fv
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Clallam PUD considers water use goals –PUD commissioners will accept public comment and consider adoption of new water use efficiency goals today. (KONP Radio, Port Angeles)
http://www.konp.com/local/3354
Several thousand anchovies die in WA Hood Canal (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/324884.html
Salmon arrive late, but Klamath Basin returns beating goals – After three straight lean years, 2007 returns of wild fall Chinook salmon to the Klamath Basin have exceeded the minimums set by federal fisheries managers. (Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004121399_klamathsalmon12m.html?syndication=rss
Oregon ocean troll salmon fishing marks second-worst year in '07 (KTVZ-TV, Bend)
http://www.ktvz.com/Global/story.asp?S=7617570
Sport, commercial fishing interests vie for allocations (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/sports/localNews/2008/01/01132008_Sport-commercial-fishing-interests-vie-for-allocations.cfm
Debris another culprit harming marine life in Puget Sound – Lost fishing gear, creosote pilings add to dangers (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/347029_creosote12.html?source=rss
Oregon Legislature's Feb. session to seek more water for rural Oregon “Sen. Brad Avakian… and others said Oregon soon will have to face up to dwindling water supplies…” (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/regional/index.ssf?/base/news-22/1200165849268220.xml&storylist=orlocal
Idaho – Hearings officer sides with state in south-central water dispute. A former Idaho Supreme Court chief justice has upheld most of a 2005 order aimed at resolving disputes between groundwater users and two fish farms (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/325454.html
Montana – ‘People will enjoy this open space for a long time’. Several major conservation easements were executed…last month, capping a busy year for easements in the Flathead Valley. “...Grant funding from the federal Farm and Ranch Lands Protection Program and from BPA’s Hungry Horse Dam fisheries mitigation program…” (Daily Interlake)
http://www.dailyinterlake.com/articles/2008/01/13/news/news02.txt
A Long-Dry California River Gets, and Gives, New Life – One of the largest river-restoration projects in the country has sent a gentle current of water meandering through what just a year ago was largely a sandy, rocky bed best used as a horse trail and barely distinguishable from the surrounding high desert scrub. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/12/us/12water.html?ex=1357880400&en=c1a2183800954fd2&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Idaho, grass growers, environmentalists reach field-burning deal (But is it still carbon neutral since it’s the burning of biomass? – Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/324791.html
Yacolt, Oregon – Parrots get new roost. Several Quaker Parrots who have made an unlikely home in this rural burg were a cheerful bunch on Saturday. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/01/01132008_Parrots-get-new-roost.cfm/
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Fuel Bills Steep? Burn Corn – Renewable Energy No Pipe Dream (No, really: burn corn in your stove! – WRTV-TV, Indianapolis)
http://www.theindychannel.com/money/15008942/detail.html
In warming Mediterranean, a model of energy-efficient building – In Athens, Sol Energy Hellas is headquartered in a building powered entirely by renewable energy. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0114/p13s01-woeu.html
Laidlaw Energy files $10 mill lawsuit against NY town; seeks judgment to operate cogeneration facility (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/display_article/316757/22/ARTCL/none/none/1/Laidlaw-Energy-files-$10-mill-lawsuit-against-NY-town;-seeks-judgment-to-operate-cogeneration-facility/
CONSERVATION
California – Critics cool to 'smart thermostat' proposal – New thermostats in homes and businesses would be fitted with technology that would allow utilities to change a building's temperature by remote control under a proposal being considered by state energy officials. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/01/12/MNHDUDAQ3.DTL&feed=rss.news
Aspen, CO Times Op/Ed – The hypocrisy of Aspen. A guest opinion in last week’s Aspen Times (“A Recipe for Foreign Oil Dependence” Jan. 8) charged that Aspen is hypocritical in its environmental stance against regional energy development because local energy appetites are conspicuous and excessive.
http://www.aspentimes.com/article/20080114/COLUMN/784294045
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Seattle Times Editorial – Green choices. Gov. Christine Gregoire's voice needs to be heard on the environmental proposals car-pooling to Olympia this legislative session.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2004118975_envied11.html
Last Year Among Hottest On Record, Say Scientists (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/11/AR2008011103483.html?wpisrc=rss_technology
Study Says Glaciers Formed During a Very Warm Period – Giant glaciers formed about 90 million years ago during a warm period when alligators thrived in the Arctic (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/11/world/europe/11glacier.html?ex=1357880400&en=ac256a44ec656b42&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
California – Race for '08: Voters split on global warming cost. Some fear businesses will be hobbled (Sacramento Bee, may require free registration)
http://www.sacbee.com/111/story/631856.html
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Clearwire cuts staff but says it wants to grow (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/347089_clearwire12.html?source=rss
Official: Idaho must be ready if Micron leaves – Company’s losses have been mounting as prices for its products have collapsed. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/business/story/262286.html
Yahoo’s Core Value Is Falling – Still more rumors that Microsoft is trying to buy Yahoo. (NY Times)
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/01/11/yahoos-core-value-is-falling/index.html?ex=1357880400&en=13a0da1e51f16988&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Broadband access on the rise in West Virginia (Cumberland News-Times)
http://www.times-news.com/local/local_story_014093804.html
Telecommuting not so great for those left in office – Telecommuting may boost morale, and cut stress, but it can have the opposite effect on those left behind in the office, according to a new study. (Reuters)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080111/wr_nm/ba_work_telecommuting_dc_1
GENERAL NEWS
WA lawmakers open `safety & security' session Monday (Associated Press, via The Columbian)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP01142008news261933.cfm?newsletter=10
LOOMIS APPOINTED TO STATE LEGISLATURE – The Snohomish County Council has appointed Liz Loomis to fill the 44th District seat in the state Legislature vacated by John Lovick, who was recently elected county sheriff. Loomis, a former Snohomish City Council member who lost a re-election bid in 2005, owns Liz Loomis Public Affairs, a public relations and strategic communications agency that specializes in public power issues. Since 2001 she has also headed PeoplePower, which helps educate and encourages grassroots efforts on behalf of consumer-owned utilities in the Northwest, including 21 Washington PUD members.
LOW FLYING AIRCRAFT OVER SHELTON TUESDAY – A reminder: an aircraft will be flying low over the City of Shelton Tuesday. The plane will be conducting an aerial survey of the Hillcrest area for the Sewer Basin Five Inflow and Infiltration Reduction project. The aircraft will be taking pictures of structures, utility locations and the general area. This will provide a comprehensive picture of the area for design of the project. City officials are alerting residents of this low flying aircraft so people do NOT think the plane is in distress. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Grays Harbor – Weyco holds closed-bid auction for mill “…Those interested reportedly include…a joint offer made by the Grays Harbor PUD and California-based Evergreen Pulp…” (Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/01/12/local_news/02news.txt
Western Washington construction industry needs more gravel pits (Seattle Times, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1156573~Western_Washington_construction_industry_needs_more_gravel_pits.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Snohomish County – Pet waste is turning streams into sewers. The county is finishing a $475,000 effort to protect creeks and encourage pet owners to scoop and bag. (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080114/NEWS01/456182906&news01ad=1
Weather Channel Ratings – Methow Valley listed top family winter getaway (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080112/NEWS04/557081408/1001
There are rules for leaving effective, useful voice mail – As we clean our desks and promise to start the new year fresh, perhaps it's time to rethink how we handle voice mail. (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/347082_voicemail14.html
DIVERSIONS
Home demolition begins with grandma, four others still inside – RCMP were forced to step in when the owner of a Fraser Valley home began a planned demolition while five former renters were still inside.
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=943c78b5-c869-487a-ac53-d345ead998e3&k=80842
Twins separated at birth met and married
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSEIC17037920080111?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Parents snort as school enforces pig rearing
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN1438977520080114?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Fishing License Stickers Don't Stick to Boats
http://www.myfoxdc.com/myfox/pages/Home/Detail;jsessionid=0399CE0E2C4E463E659B5D11C2314B7B?contentId=5476290&version=1&locale=EN-US&layoutCode=TSTY&pageId=1.1.1&sflg=1
NY Post Parks Simpson Twin Behind Cowboys’ Bench
http://www.sportsbybrooks.com/lynsey-nordstrom-photos-jessica-simpson-twin-hired-by-nypost-for-giants-game-15415
Man reels Hummer Limo out of Lake Texoma
http://www.kxii.com/home/headlines/13758402.html
Friday, January 11, 2008
Energy News Digest for January 11, 2008
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.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Tiny utility takes on BPA's boss
- Maryland Electric Company Sends You Unsolicited Light Bulbs, Charges $12
- Money runs out for low-income energy assistance program
- Vancouver Island – Power line upgrade costs hit $5.1 billion; higher bills predicted for consumers
- California – Environmental group sues over federal energy corridor plan
- FERC approves three planning and operating reliability standards – reversed NERC's reliability registry determinations for 3 companies
- Britain reverses course on nuclear power
- Redford taking on Texas coal-fired power plants
- Disaster in the United Kingdom – Huge energy price hikes threaten pubs
- Floodwaters damaged salmon habitat
- Weyerhaeuser, environmentalists argue logging's effect on floods
- Despite one of best runs of spring Chinook, local anglers likely won't be able to fish downriver of Portland
- Hungry sea lions back in the Columbia, but birds worse problem
- California recreational fishing adds $2B to state economy
- Chemical trace leads U.S. to ban Tofino salmon
- Daily Astorian Editorial – Salmon can't live on shallow symbolism
- Wind generation in BPA control area surpasses 1,000 MW for the first time
- California Seeks Thermostat Control
- Washington State legislation aims to build on last year's climate change bill
- Lifting the Lid: Banks urged to address climate change
- Wired America – America's Most Wired Cities (Forbes – Seattle is #2, Portland #10)
- FCC chairman defends commission practices
- Telcos Defend Broadband Speeds, Reach
- Trees downed by storms create glut, harvest rush
- U.S. Olympic panel bristles at peninsula winery's name
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Cliometrics • \klye-uh-MET-riks\ • noun – the application of methods developed in other fields (as economics, statistics, and data processing) to the study of history
For the moment, Clarence was able to bask in the glory of his doctoral thesis. Through the use of cliometrics, he was able to prove (on paper at least) that the 1929 stock market crash was not due to marginal trading and “irrational exuberance” but rather on men’s fashion trends…specifically the lack of spats for men’s shoes. It wasn’t until he was defending his academic paper that the entire house of cards that was his thesis fell down. It had actually been constructed of 3x5 index cards that fell over when one of the professors sneezed.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
Tornado in Vancouver WA – Amazingly, nobody was hurt – A lunch-hour tornado raked roofs, shredded trees, downed power lines and jumbled traffic Thursday in Hazel Dell and Fruit Valley. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/01/01112008_Amazingly-nobody-was-hurt.cfm
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Tiny utility takes on BPA's boss – The Canby board wants someone other than Steve Wright to oversee an aspect of a crucial rate case (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1200027310193770.xml&coll=7
Maryland Electric Company Sends You Unsolicited Light Bulbs, Charges $12 –Allegheny Power, sent its customers some CFL light bulbs as part of a consumer education program. Sounds nice until you find out that the customers were charged $0.96 a month (about $12 a year) for the two light bulbs. (The Consumerist, beware of possible PG-13 language in the comments)
http://consumerist.com/343376/maryland-electric-company-sends-you-unsolicted-light-bulbs-charges-12
Here’s the original story: Faithful Allegheny Power customer considers mailing 'underhanded' (Cumberland Times News)
http://www.times-news.com/local/local_story_010091257.html
Money runs out for low-income energy assistance program (The Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080110/NEWS01/509864848
Vancouver Island – Power line upgrade costs hit $5.1 billion; higher bills predicted for consumers. Groups warn that massive upgrades will jolt consumers for years to come (Victoria Times Colonist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=8f54662d-ec82-43dd-ac89-ba01df1ead66&k=98739
California – Environmental group sues over federal energy corridor plan – An environmental group sued the U.S. Department of Energy on Thursday for designating an energy corridor in Arizona and California that will bypass normal reviews for new high-voltage power lines. (Associated Press, via Press-Enterprise)
http://www.pe.com/ap_news/California/WST_Energy_Corridors_322955C.shtml
FERC approves three planning and operating reliability standards – FERC approved three reliability standards proposed by NERC; reversed NERC's reliability registry determinations for 3 companies. (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/display_article/316026/22/ARTCL/none/none/1/FERC-approves-three-planning-and-operating-reliability-standards/
Britain reverses course on nuclear power (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/346951_britain11.html
Redford taking on Texas coal-fired power plants – The Sundance Kid is taking on "Goliath" to block the building of coal-fired electricity plants in Texas, the most power-hungry state in the U.S. (Salt Lake Tribune)
http://www.sltrib.com/outdoors/ci_7932373
News Whiz – Americans for Balanced Energy Choices Research Identifies Benefits of New Coal-Fueled Power Plant Construction (PR Newswire, Americans for Balanced Energy Choices)
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/01-10-2008/0004734265&EDATE=
Disaster in the United Kingdom – Huge energy price hikes threaten pubs. Licensees are expecting big hikes in gas and electricity prices following news that Npower has increased rates for domestic users by about 15%. (The Advertiser)
http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/news_detail.aspx?articleid=55374
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Floodwaters damaged salmon habitat (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/323994.html
Weyerhaeuser, environmentalists argue logging's effect on floods (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004119378_logging11m.html
Despite one of best runs of spring Chinook, local anglers likely won't be able to fish downriver of Portland (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/01/11/this_day/doc4787978bf35b9328445716.txt
Hungry sea lions back in the Columbia, but birds worse problem (KTVC-TV, Bend)
http://www.ktvz.com/Global/story.asp?S=7609251
California recreational fishing adds $2B to state economy (Sacramento Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2008/01/07/daily42.html?ana=from_rss
Chemical trace leads U.S. to ban Tofino salmon – U.S. Food and Drug Administration tests that found traces of malachite green in Chinook salmon fillets from a Tofino fish farm have flabbergasted the company's general manager. (Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=a91cb77a-3906-4c69-84e6-645d3f2f6a59
Daily Astorian Editorial – Salmon can't live on shallow symbolism. Their struggle is a warning of what’s coming for the human population
http://www.dailyastorian.info/main.asp?SectionID=23&SubSectionID=392&ArticleID=48228&TM=4082.365
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
News Release – Wind generation in BPA control area surpasses 1,000 MW for the first time (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/188211/
CONSERVATION
Seattle Post Intelligencer Columnist – Make energy resolutions for 2008
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/346893_energy11.html
California Seeks Thermostat Control – Next year in California, state regulators are likely to have the emergency power to control individual thermostats (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/11/us/11control.html?ex=1357707600&en=608b7b5bb2921934&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Legislation aims to build on last year's climate change bill – Follow-up legislation to last year's climate change bill could be unveiled as soon as Monday, setting the stage for broader limits on polluters. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/story/9565218p-9477626c.html
Lifting the Lid: Banks urged to address climate change (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/reutersComService4/idUSN0852567820080111
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Wired America – America's Most Wired Cities (Forbes – Seattle is #2, Portland #10)
http://www.forbes.com/home/technology/2008/01/09/wired-cities-wifi-tech-wireless-cx_ew_0110wired.html
Arizona – Tempe, Chandler municipal broadband network back online with new owner (MuniWireless)
http://www.muniwireless.com/article/articleview/6699/1/23
Winning The Airwaves – Phoning In Wireless Dreams (Forbes)
http://www.forbes.com/business/2008/01/10/verizon-wireless-auction-tech-wire-cx_ew_0110auction.html
FCC chairman defends commission practices (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/industryNews/idUSN0960117420080109
Telcos Defend Broadband Speeds, Reach “…The idea that the U.S. has lost its leadership position in global broadband is greatly exaggerated…" (PC World)
http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/006204.html
GENERAL NEWS
Trees downed by storms create glut, harvest rush – Private and public forestland owners are scrambling to salvage hundreds of millions of board feet of timber that was blown over in Western Washington by the early December storms. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/323996.html
Lakefair's royal controversy – Teen calls treatment 'unjust' (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/324002.html
U.S. Olympic panel bristles at peninsula winery's name – A lawyer for the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) wrote to the winery last fall saying its name infringes on the committee's turf. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004119045_olympic11.html?syndication=rss
DIVERSIONS
Dog Poop Footprints Lead Police To Drunken Driving Suspect
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/15021839/detail.html
Gerbing’s Heated Clothing – Mason County 12th Men Fit Seahawks With Heated Britches
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2008/jan/10/mason-county-12th-men-fit-seahawks-with-heated/
Reaction cool to Brown's hot pants – The Green Bay Packers were amused Thursday when told that Josh Brown uses battery-powered heaters in his warm-up pants to keep his kicking leg loose
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/football/346948_pants11.html
The NFL's Coldest Games
http://www.forbes.com/sportsbusiness/2007/12/14/nfl-packers-bears-biz-sports-cx_tvr_1214frozen.html?boxes=popstories
A First! Snow Falls in Baghdad
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/01/11/international/i040305S39.DTL&feed=rss.news
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Tiny utility takes on BPA's boss
- Maryland Electric Company Sends You Unsolicited Light Bulbs, Charges $12
- Money runs out for low-income energy assistance program
- Vancouver Island – Power line upgrade costs hit $5.1 billion; higher bills predicted for consumers
- California – Environmental group sues over federal energy corridor plan
- FERC approves three planning and operating reliability standards – reversed NERC's reliability registry determinations for 3 companies
- Britain reverses course on nuclear power
- Redford taking on Texas coal-fired power plants
- Disaster in the United Kingdom – Huge energy price hikes threaten pubs
- Floodwaters damaged salmon habitat
- Weyerhaeuser, environmentalists argue logging's effect on floods
- Despite one of best runs of spring Chinook, local anglers likely won't be able to fish downriver of Portland
- Hungry sea lions back in the Columbia, but birds worse problem
- California recreational fishing adds $2B to state economy
- Chemical trace leads U.S. to ban Tofino salmon
- Daily Astorian Editorial – Salmon can't live on shallow symbolism
- Wind generation in BPA control area surpasses 1,000 MW for the first time
- California Seeks Thermostat Control
- Washington State legislation aims to build on last year's climate change bill
- Lifting the Lid: Banks urged to address climate change
- Wired America – America's Most Wired Cities (Forbes – Seattle is #2, Portland #10)
- FCC chairman defends commission practices
- Telcos Defend Broadband Speeds, Reach
- Trees downed by storms create glut, harvest rush
- U.S. Olympic panel bristles at peninsula winery's name
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Cliometrics • \klye-uh-MET-riks\ • noun – the application of methods developed in other fields (as economics, statistics, and data processing) to the study of history
For the moment, Clarence was able to bask in the glory of his doctoral thesis. Through the use of cliometrics, he was able to prove (on paper at least) that the 1929 stock market crash was not due to marginal trading and “irrational exuberance” but rather on men’s fashion trends…specifically the lack of spats for men’s shoes. It wasn’t until he was defending his academic paper that the entire house of cards that was his thesis fell down. It had actually been constructed of 3x5 index cards that fell over when one of the professors sneezed.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
Tornado in Vancouver WA – Amazingly, nobody was hurt – A lunch-hour tornado raked roofs, shredded trees, downed power lines and jumbled traffic Thursday in Hazel Dell and Fruit Valley. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/01/01112008_Amazingly-nobody-was-hurt.cfm
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Tiny utility takes on BPA's boss – The Canby board wants someone other than Steve Wright to oversee an aspect of a crucial rate case (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1200027310193770.xml&coll=7
Maryland Electric Company Sends You Unsolicited Light Bulbs, Charges $12 –Allegheny Power, sent its customers some CFL light bulbs as part of a consumer education program. Sounds nice until you find out that the customers were charged $0.96 a month (about $12 a year) for the two light bulbs. (The Consumerist, beware of possible PG-13 language in the comments)
http://consumerist.com/343376/maryland-electric-company-sends-you-unsolicted-light-bulbs-charges-12
Here’s the original story: Faithful Allegheny Power customer considers mailing 'underhanded' (Cumberland Times News)
http://www.times-news.com/local/local_story_010091257.html
Money runs out for low-income energy assistance program (The Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080110/NEWS01/509864848
Vancouver Island – Power line upgrade costs hit $5.1 billion; higher bills predicted for consumers. Groups warn that massive upgrades will jolt consumers for years to come (Victoria Times Colonist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=8f54662d-ec82-43dd-ac89-ba01df1ead66&k=98739
California – Environmental group sues over federal energy corridor plan – An environmental group sued the U.S. Department of Energy on Thursday for designating an energy corridor in Arizona and California that will bypass normal reviews for new high-voltage power lines. (Associated Press, via Press-Enterprise)
http://www.pe.com/ap_news/California/WST_Energy_Corridors_322955C.shtml
FERC approves three planning and operating reliability standards – FERC approved three reliability standards proposed by NERC; reversed NERC's reliability registry determinations for 3 companies. (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/display_article/316026/22/ARTCL/none/none/1/FERC-approves-three-planning-and-operating-reliability-standards/
Britain reverses course on nuclear power (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/346951_britain11.html
Redford taking on Texas coal-fired power plants – The Sundance Kid is taking on "Goliath" to block the building of coal-fired electricity plants in Texas, the most power-hungry state in the U.S. (Salt Lake Tribune)
http://www.sltrib.com/outdoors/ci_7932373
News Whiz – Americans for Balanced Energy Choices Research Identifies Benefits of New Coal-Fueled Power Plant Construction (PR Newswire, Americans for Balanced Energy Choices)
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/01-10-2008/0004734265&EDATE=
Disaster in the United Kingdom – Huge energy price hikes threaten pubs. Licensees are expecting big hikes in gas and electricity prices following news that Npower has increased rates for domestic users by about 15%. (The Advertiser)
http://www.morningadvertiser.co.uk/news_detail.aspx?articleid=55374
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Floodwaters damaged salmon habitat (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/323994.html
Weyerhaeuser, environmentalists argue logging's effect on floods (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004119378_logging11m.html
Despite one of best runs of spring Chinook, local anglers likely won't be able to fish downriver of Portland (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/01/11/this_day/doc4787978bf35b9328445716.txt
Hungry sea lions back in the Columbia, but birds worse problem (KTVC-TV, Bend)
http://www.ktvz.com/Global/story.asp?S=7609251
California recreational fishing adds $2B to state economy (Sacramento Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2008/01/07/daily42.html?ana=from_rss
Chemical trace leads U.S. to ban Tofino salmon – U.S. Food and Drug Administration tests that found traces of malachite green in Chinook salmon fillets from a Tofino fish farm have flabbergasted the company's general manager. (Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=a91cb77a-3906-4c69-84e6-645d3f2f6a59
Daily Astorian Editorial – Salmon can't live on shallow symbolism. Their struggle is a warning of what’s coming for the human population
http://www.dailyastorian.info/main.asp?SectionID=23&SubSectionID=392&ArticleID=48228&TM=4082.365
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
News Release – Wind generation in BPA control area surpasses 1,000 MW for the first time (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/188211/
CONSERVATION
Seattle Post Intelligencer Columnist – Make energy resolutions for 2008
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/346893_energy11.html
California Seeks Thermostat Control – Next year in California, state regulators are likely to have the emergency power to control individual thermostats (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/11/us/11control.html?ex=1357707600&en=608b7b5bb2921934&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Legislation aims to build on last year's climate change bill – Follow-up legislation to last year's climate change bill could be unveiled as soon as Monday, setting the stage for broader limits on polluters. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/story/9565218p-9477626c.html
Lifting the Lid: Banks urged to address climate change (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/reutersComService4/idUSN0852567820080111
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Wired America – America's Most Wired Cities (Forbes – Seattle is #2, Portland #10)
http://www.forbes.com/home/technology/2008/01/09/wired-cities-wifi-tech-wireless-cx_ew_0110wired.html
Arizona – Tempe, Chandler municipal broadband network back online with new owner (MuniWireless)
http://www.muniwireless.com/article/articleview/6699/1/23
Winning The Airwaves – Phoning In Wireless Dreams (Forbes)
http://www.forbes.com/business/2008/01/10/verizon-wireless-auction-tech-wire-cx_ew_0110auction.html
FCC chairman defends commission practices (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/industryNews/idUSN0960117420080109
Telcos Defend Broadband Speeds, Reach “…The idea that the U.S. has lost its leadership position in global broadband is greatly exaggerated…" (PC World)
http://blogs.pcworld.com/staffblog/archives/006204.html
GENERAL NEWS
Trees downed by storms create glut, harvest rush – Private and public forestland owners are scrambling to salvage hundreds of millions of board feet of timber that was blown over in Western Washington by the early December storms. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/323996.html
Lakefair's royal controversy – Teen calls treatment 'unjust' (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/324002.html
U.S. Olympic panel bristles at peninsula winery's name – A lawyer for the U.S. Olympic Committee (USOC) wrote to the winery last fall saying its name infringes on the committee's turf. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004119045_olympic11.html?syndication=rss
DIVERSIONS
Dog Poop Footprints Lead Police To Drunken Driving Suspect
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/15021839/detail.html
Gerbing’s Heated Clothing – Mason County 12th Men Fit Seahawks With Heated Britches
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2008/jan/10/mason-county-12th-men-fit-seahawks-with-heated/
Reaction cool to Brown's hot pants – The Green Bay Packers were amused Thursday when told that Josh Brown uses battery-powered heaters in his warm-up pants to keep his kicking leg loose
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/football/346948_pants11.html
The NFL's Coldest Games
http://www.forbes.com/sportsbusiness/2007/12/14/nfl-packers-bears-biz-sports-cx_tvr_1214frozen.html?boxes=popstories
A First! Snow Falls in Baghdad
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/01/11/international/i040305S39.DTL&feed=rss.news
Thursday, January 10, 2008
Energy News Digest for Janaury 10, 2008
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.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Nuclear power gains steam in energy race
- Executive Resigns in Storm Over Sleeping Guards at Nuclear Plants
- Puget Energy Declares Dividends
- Maryland – Hedging bets on electricity – Zen and the art of making utility customers pay for trading losses
- Smarter meters, dumber utilities
- Oregon – Energy corridors draw criticism
- Wildlife commissions will discuss Columbia River salmon runs
- Northwest Power and Conservation Council recommends funding for salmon recovery
- Letter to the editor – Dam Breaching: Editorial board ignores facts, new science
- San Francisco – Delta's grim year
- U.S. high court declines to review Can. company pollution ruling
- Kennewick Explores Underground Water Storage Options
- Salem Statesman-Journal Commentary – Wind-power industry is booming
- Alaska – Energy company wants to test wind power in Hatcher Pass
- Wave energy promoters get to work
- California Hydrogen plans hit the brakes
- United Kingdom – Nuclear power costs double offshore wind
- Investment stalling – 'Green' energy up in Germany but future clouding
- Digital Tools Help Users Save Energy, Study Finds – Includes Olympic Peninsula Gridwise Program
- Montana – Think tank proposes state energy-conservation office
- Utilities Amp Up Push To Slash Energy Use – California Pays Bonuses For Reducing Demand
- Building green – Buyers are demanding homes that leave smaller energy footprints
- Big Foot - Big Energy! Refrigerator and Freezer Decommissioning
- Western States Gather to Design Cap-and-Trade System
- Canadian government says no to carbon tax
- From the chutzpa department – Saskatchewan wants climate credit for uranium
- As arctic ice melts, South Pole ice grows
- Utah Fiber Optics – UTOPIA ‘unlikely to fail’ despite key setbacks
- Daily Traffic to Video Sharing Sites Nearly Double
- F.C.C. to Look at Complaints Comcast Interferes With Net
- 365 Main – Data Center Operator Cuts Energy Bill By Going 'Green'
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Lachrymose • \ LACK-rim-mose\ • adjective – 1: given to tears or weeping: tearful 2: tending to cause tears: mournful
Tad’s ad campaign for a new variety of onion was not going over so well. After having sold the DeBarto Onion Company on the popular theme “An Onion A Day Keeps Your Spouse Away” he embarked on a new campaign for “Lachrymose Free Onions, They’re All Wet”. The executives were not amused.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Nuclear power gains steam in energy race – Nuclear power, despite controversy over safety, pollution and cost factors, is rapidly gathering steam in a race to guarantee energy as emerging economies compete for fuel and particularly oil. (Yahoo! News)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080110/sc_afp/worldenergynuclearsectorenvironment_080110161224
Executive Resigns in Storm Over Sleeping Guards – The security company’s chief executive resigned during continuing controversy about guards caught napping at a Pennsylvania reactor last year. ("…We would like to thank Mr. Sanders and wish him the best of luck in the future..." Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/09/AR2008010903368.html?nav=rss_business
Canada – Top nuclear watchdog stands ground, criticizes threat to fire her. The president of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission vowed on Tuesday to serve out her term as Canada's top nuclear watchdog (Victoria Times-Colonist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=58a1c041-3edb-4371-a9d0-b92246a82825&k=65082
PUGET ENERGY DECLARES DIVIDENDS – Puget Energy has declared quarterly dividends on the company's common and preferred stock. A quarterly dividend of 25 cents per share was declared on Puget Energy's common stock, payable Feb. 15 to shareholders of record as of the close of business Jan. 23. The dividend is the 258th consecutive quarterly dividend paid by Puget Energy and its predecessor companies. (South Sound Business Examiner)
Maryland – Hedging bets on electricity – Zen and the art of making utility customers pay for trading losses (The Baltimore Sun)
http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-bz.hancock09jan09,0,5311887.column
Smarter meters, dumber utilities (Contra Costa Times, Via Turn.org)
http://www.turn.org/article.php?id=653
Oregon – Energy corridors draw criticism. A draft government designation of more than 6,000 miles of energy transportation corridors through 11 Western states found a crescendo of criticism and no support at a hearing on a multi-agency preliminary environmental impact statement. (The Argus Observer)
http://www.argusobserver.com/articles/2008/01/09/news/doc47852896508a2404873428.txt
Montana – Candy billionaire fights energy firms. A reclusive billionaire whose family owns the Mars candy empire is emerging as a formidable opponent to the energy industry's plans to expand development of some of the country's most productive coal and gas deposits. (The Associated Press)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080108/ap_on_bi_ge/candy_versus_coal_1
UK'S Brown says energy price rises 'regrettable' – Severe rises in the cost of British domestic energy are 'regrettable', Prime Minister Gordon Brown told parliament. (“Golly, that’s too bad…poor chap…” Forbes)
http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2008/01/09/afx4510613.html
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Wildlife commissions will discuss Columbia River salmon runs (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/story/250774.html
Northwest Power and Conservation Council recommends funding for salmon recovery (The Chronicle, Omak)
http://www.omakchronicle.com/nws/n080107a.shtml
Letter to the editor – Dam Breaching: Editorial board ignores facts, new science (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/letters/story/252549.html
San Francisco – Delta's grim year. Survey says weather, pollution in 2007 caused fish species to hit record-low levels (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_7931189?nclick_check=1
U.S. high court declines to review Can. company pollution ruling – An Indian tribe says it will continue its efforts to force a Canadian company to pay to clean up pollution of a stretch of the Columbia River that flows past the tribe's reservation. (Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP01082008news259020.cfm?newsletter=10
Thurston County Judge finds man illegally fished on tribal land (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/322873.html
Kennewick Explores Underground Water Storage Options (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/kennewick-explores-underground-water-storage-options/
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Salem Statesman-Journal Commentary – Wind-power industry is booming
http://159.54.226.83/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080109/OPINION/801090379/1049
Alaska – Energy company wants to test wind power in Hatcher Pass (Anchorage Daily News)
http://www.adn.com/front/story/259282.html
Wave energy promoters get to work (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/01/07/daily14.html?ana=from_rss
California Hydrogen plans hit the brakes – Third agency turns down state funds to build vehicle fueling station (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_7931193
United Kingdom – Nuclear power costs double offshore wind – Greens. New nuclear stations would generate electricity at twice the price of electricity from offshore wind turbines, opponents have claimed. (Kent News)
http://www.kentnews.co.uk/kent-news/Students-in-Kent-achieve-best__ever-GCSE-results-newsinkent8633.aspx?news=local
Investment stalling – 'Green' energy up in Germany but future clouding: producers – Germany produced almost a tenth of its energy needs for transport, electricity generation and heating from renewable sources in 2007, an industry group said on Tuesday. (Yahoo! News)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080108/sc_afp/germanyclimatewarmingenergyalternative_080108193629
NY Times Op-Ed Columnist – Is Ethanol for Everybody?
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/opinion/10cohen.html?ex=1357621200&en=1b45fba9e5dfc00d&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
CONSERVATION
Digital Tools Help Users Save Energy, Study Finds – Includes Olympic Peninsula Gridwise Program (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/technology/10energy.html?_r=2&ex=1357707600&en=0bf4d327a1f48fca&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
Montana – Think tank proposes state energy-conservation office (Montana Standard)
http://www.montanastandard.com/articles/2008/01/10/state/hjjbjiijjjeghf.txt
Utilities Amp Up Push To Slash Energy Use – California Pays Bonuses For Reducing Demand; A Switch in Light Bulbs (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119984808932177097.html
Building green – Buyers are demanding homes that leave smaller energy footprints, and developers are paying heed (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/metrowest/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/metro_west_news/1199481915133570.xml&coll=7
Big Foot - Big Energy! Refrigerator and Freezer Decommissioning (Energy Pulse Commentary)
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1647
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Western States Gather to Design Cap-and-Trade System (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3472
Canadian government says no to carbon tax (The National Post)
http://www.nationalpost.com/newsletter/story.html?id=221515
From the chutzpa department – Saskatchewan wants climate credit for uranium – Premier Brad Wall is "dreaming in Technicolor" if he thinks Saskatchewan and Canada will - or should - receive credit for greenhouse-gas reductions because of the province's export of uranium (CanWest News Service)
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=cb0626b4-93f6-45ea-8a86-e730e33c2432&k=99370
As arctic ice melts, South Pole ice grows – Scientists are puzzled, but the phenomenon seems to fit the latest global-warming models. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0110/p14s01-sten.html
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Utah Fiber Optics – UTOPIA ‘unlikely to fail’ despite key setbacks (The Davis County Clipper)
http://www.clippertoday.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=1&twindow=&mad=&sdetail=24815&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1005&hn=clippertoday&he=.com
Daily Traffic to Video Sharing Sites Nearly Double (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/paidcontent/PCORG_318515.html?ex=1357621200&en=12b424d4f1a786e0&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
F.C.C. to Look at Complaints Comcast Interferes With Net Associated Press, via the NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/09/business/media/09fcc.html?ex=1357534800&en=9e4b64cb37e6d47b&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
365 Main – Data Center Operator Cuts Energy Bill By Going 'Green' (Information Week, via Yahoo! News)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/cmp/20080109/tc_cmp/205600759
GENERAL NEWS
Seattle Times Columnist – Art as a symbol ... of Port waste
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/dannywestneat/2004115152_danny09.html
DIVERSIONS
'Meanest Mom' Sells Teenage Son's Wheels – Mom Finds Alcohol In Son's Car
http://www.kirotv.com/family/15013132/detail.html
Calling Tom Hagen – Man Who Mailed Cow's Head To Wife's Lover Sentenced (extra points for those who got the ‘Godfather’ reference)
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/15013006/detail.html
Police Chief Fired, Convicted Of Stealing Beer From Firefighters' Fridge
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/15013024/detail.html
Cat Causes Idaho Blackout
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/15003098/detail.html
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Nuclear power gains steam in energy race
- Executive Resigns in Storm Over Sleeping Guards at Nuclear Plants
- Puget Energy Declares Dividends
- Maryland – Hedging bets on electricity – Zen and the art of making utility customers pay for trading losses
- Smarter meters, dumber utilities
- Oregon – Energy corridors draw criticism
- Wildlife commissions will discuss Columbia River salmon runs
- Northwest Power and Conservation Council recommends funding for salmon recovery
- Letter to the editor – Dam Breaching: Editorial board ignores facts, new science
- San Francisco – Delta's grim year
- U.S. high court declines to review Can. company pollution ruling
- Kennewick Explores Underground Water Storage Options
- Salem Statesman-Journal Commentary – Wind-power industry is booming
- Alaska – Energy company wants to test wind power in Hatcher Pass
- Wave energy promoters get to work
- California Hydrogen plans hit the brakes
- United Kingdom – Nuclear power costs double offshore wind
- Investment stalling – 'Green' energy up in Germany but future clouding
- Digital Tools Help Users Save Energy, Study Finds – Includes Olympic Peninsula Gridwise Program
- Montana – Think tank proposes state energy-conservation office
- Utilities Amp Up Push To Slash Energy Use – California Pays Bonuses For Reducing Demand
- Building green – Buyers are demanding homes that leave smaller energy footprints
- Big Foot - Big Energy! Refrigerator and Freezer Decommissioning
- Western States Gather to Design Cap-and-Trade System
- Canadian government says no to carbon tax
- From the chutzpa department – Saskatchewan wants climate credit for uranium
- As arctic ice melts, South Pole ice grows
- Utah Fiber Optics – UTOPIA ‘unlikely to fail’ despite key setbacks
- Daily Traffic to Video Sharing Sites Nearly Double
- F.C.C. to Look at Complaints Comcast Interferes With Net
- 365 Main – Data Center Operator Cuts Energy Bill By Going 'Green'
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Lachrymose • \ LACK-rim-mose\ • adjective – 1: given to tears or weeping: tearful 2: tending to cause tears: mournful
Tad’s ad campaign for a new variety of onion was not going over so well. After having sold the DeBarto Onion Company on the popular theme “An Onion A Day Keeps Your Spouse Away” he embarked on a new campaign for “Lachrymose Free Onions, They’re All Wet”. The executives were not amused.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Nuclear power gains steam in energy race – Nuclear power, despite controversy over safety, pollution and cost factors, is rapidly gathering steam in a race to guarantee energy as emerging economies compete for fuel and particularly oil. (Yahoo! News)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080110/sc_afp/worldenergynuclearsectorenvironment_080110161224
Executive Resigns in Storm Over Sleeping Guards – The security company’s chief executive resigned during continuing controversy about guards caught napping at a Pennsylvania reactor last year. ("…We would like to thank Mr. Sanders and wish him the best of luck in the future..." Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/09/AR2008010903368.html?nav=rss_business
Canada – Top nuclear watchdog stands ground, criticizes threat to fire her. The president of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission vowed on Tuesday to serve out her term as Canada's top nuclear watchdog (Victoria Times-Colonist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=58a1c041-3edb-4371-a9d0-b92246a82825&k=65082
PUGET ENERGY DECLARES DIVIDENDS – Puget Energy has declared quarterly dividends on the company's common and preferred stock. A quarterly dividend of 25 cents per share was declared on Puget Energy's common stock, payable Feb. 15 to shareholders of record as of the close of business Jan. 23. The dividend is the 258th consecutive quarterly dividend paid by Puget Energy and its predecessor companies. (South Sound Business Examiner)
Maryland – Hedging bets on electricity – Zen and the art of making utility customers pay for trading losses (The Baltimore Sun)
http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-bz.hancock09jan09,0,5311887.column
Smarter meters, dumber utilities (Contra Costa Times, Via Turn.org)
http://www.turn.org/article.php?id=653
Oregon – Energy corridors draw criticism. A draft government designation of more than 6,000 miles of energy transportation corridors through 11 Western states found a crescendo of criticism and no support at a hearing on a multi-agency preliminary environmental impact statement. (The Argus Observer)
http://www.argusobserver.com/articles/2008/01/09/news/doc47852896508a2404873428.txt
Montana – Candy billionaire fights energy firms. A reclusive billionaire whose family owns the Mars candy empire is emerging as a formidable opponent to the energy industry's plans to expand development of some of the country's most productive coal and gas deposits. (The Associated Press)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080108/ap_on_bi_ge/candy_versus_coal_1
UK'S Brown says energy price rises 'regrettable' – Severe rises in the cost of British domestic energy are 'regrettable', Prime Minister Gordon Brown told parliament. (“Golly, that’s too bad…poor chap…” Forbes)
http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2008/01/09/afx4510613.html
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Wildlife commissions will discuss Columbia River salmon runs (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/story/250774.html
Northwest Power and Conservation Council recommends funding for salmon recovery (The Chronicle, Omak)
http://www.omakchronicle.com/nws/n080107a.shtml
Letter to the editor – Dam Breaching: Editorial board ignores facts, new science (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/letters/story/252549.html
San Francisco – Delta's grim year. Survey says weather, pollution in 2007 caused fish species to hit record-low levels (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_7931189?nclick_check=1
U.S. high court declines to review Can. company pollution ruling – An Indian tribe says it will continue its efforts to force a Canadian company to pay to clean up pollution of a stretch of the Columbia River that flows past the tribe's reservation. (Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP01082008news259020.cfm?newsletter=10
Thurston County Judge finds man illegally fished on tribal land (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/322873.html
Kennewick Explores Underground Water Storage Options (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/kennewick-explores-underground-water-storage-options/
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Salem Statesman-Journal Commentary – Wind-power industry is booming
http://159.54.226.83/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080109/OPINION/801090379/1049
Alaska – Energy company wants to test wind power in Hatcher Pass (Anchorage Daily News)
http://www.adn.com/front/story/259282.html
Wave energy promoters get to work (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/01/07/daily14.html?ana=from_rss
California Hydrogen plans hit the brakes – Third agency turns down state funds to build vehicle fueling station (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_7931193
United Kingdom – Nuclear power costs double offshore wind – Greens. New nuclear stations would generate electricity at twice the price of electricity from offshore wind turbines, opponents have claimed. (Kent News)
http://www.kentnews.co.uk/kent-news/Students-in-Kent-achieve-best__ever-GCSE-results-newsinkent8633.aspx?news=local
Investment stalling – 'Green' energy up in Germany but future clouding: producers – Germany produced almost a tenth of its energy needs for transport, electricity generation and heating from renewable sources in 2007, an industry group said on Tuesday. (Yahoo! News)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080108/sc_afp/germanyclimatewarmingenergyalternative_080108193629
NY Times Op-Ed Columnist – Is Ethanol for Everybody?
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/opinion/10cohen.html?ex=1357621200&en=1b45fba9e5dfc00d&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
CONSERVATION
Digital Tools Help Users Save Energy, Study Finds – Includes Olympic Peninsula Gridwise Program (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/10/technology/10energy.html?_r=2&ex=1357707600&en=0bf4d327a1f48fca&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
Montana – Think tank proposes state energy-conservation office (Montana Standard)
http://www.montanastandard.com/articles/2008/01/10/state/hjjbjiijjjeghf.txt
Utilities Amp Up Push To Slash Energy Use – California Pays Bonuses For Reducing Demand; A Switch in Light Bulbs (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB119984808932177097.html
Building green – Buyers are demanding homes that leave smaller energy footprints, and developers are paying heed (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/metrowest/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/metro_west_news/1199481915133570.xml&coll=7
Big Foot - Big Energy! Refrigerator and Freezer Decommissioning (Energy Pulse Commentary)
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1647
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Western States Gather to Design Cap-and-Trade System (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3472
Canadian government says no to carbon tax (The National Post)
http://www.nationalpost.com/newsletter/story.html?id=221515
From the chutzpa department – Saskatchewan wants climate credit for uranium – Premier Brad Wall is "dreaming in Technicolor" if he thinks Saskatchewan and Canada will - or should - receive credit for greenhouse-gas reductions because of the province's export of uranium (CanWest News Service)
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=cb0626b4-93f6-45ea-8a86-e730e33c2432&k=99370
As arctic ice melts, South Pole ice grows – Scientists are puzzled, but the phenomenon seems to fit the latest global-warming models. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0110/p14s01-sten.html
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Utah Fiber Optics – UTOPIA ‘unlikely to fail’ despite key setbacks (The Davis County Clipper)
http://www.clippertoday.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=1&twindow=&mad=&sdetail=24815&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=1005&hn=clippertoday&he=.com
Daily Traffic to Video Sharing Sites Nearly Double (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/paidcontent/PCORG_318515.html?ex=1357621200&en=12b424d4f1a786e0&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
F.C.C. to Look at Complaints Comcast Interferes With Net Associated Press, via the NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/09/business/media/09fcc.html?ex=1357534800&en=9e4b64cb37e6d47b&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
365 Main – Data Center Operator Cuts Energy Bill By Going 'Green' (Information Week, via Yahoo! News)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/cmp/20080109/tc_cmp/205600759
GENERAL NEWS
Seattle Times Columnist – Art as a symbol ... of Port waste
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/dannywestneat/2004115152_danny09.html
DIVERSIONS
'Meanest Mom' Sells Teenage Son's Wheels – Mom Finds Alcohol In Son's Car
http://www.kirotv.com/family/15013132/detail.html
Calling Tom Hagen – Man Who Mailed Cow's Head To Wife's Lover Sentenced (extra points for those who got the ‘Godfather’ reference)
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/15013006/detail.html
Police Chief Fired, Convicted Of Stealing Beer From Firefighters' Fridge
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/15013024/detail.html
Cat Causes Idaho Blackout
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/15003098/detail.html
Monday, January 7, 2008
Energy News Digest for January 7, 2008
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.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Snowfall this season could match record
- California – New storms to hit state with thousands in dark
- Hazards follow power outages
- Colorado – Daily Camera Op/Ed: Electric heat is a dirty business
- Congressional Research Reports – Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007
- Major power line sought for Vancouver Island – Existing system seen as unreliable
- Montana – Global warming's political winds leave energy producers wary of coal
- State of Oregon hints of conflict in firm's 2 LNG studies
- Shifting to LNG just trades devil for witch, energy expert says
- California – Pacific Gas and Electric PG&E expects 7 percent drop in natural gas bills
- New energy in nuclear power supply battle
- Bonneville sea lions may come under fire
- Warming could fry salmon
- Tide is Changing at PNW Salmon Center in Belfair
- Montana – Panelist will seek day in killing fish
- Group opposes Columbia Basin irrigation expansion
- East Oregon – Dam goes down in Pilot Rock
- Agencies aim to clean up Puget Sound
- Geoduck: the weird clam worth a fortune
- Orange County recycles water from toilet to tap
- Environmentalists push $1 million program to save urban trees
- Richland company on track with biodiesel
- Animal waste: Future energy, or just hot air?
- Saving Earth saves you money
- Canada’s boreal forests the Fort Knox of carbon
- A melting archive of climate clues
- Study says North Atlantic waters may be warming naturally
- 'Green' product claims are about to receive some federal scrutiny
- Big Ideas: Buying your way out of carbon debt
- Fiber optics bring Othello the world Montana – 3 cities in hunt for state server site
- Noontime Web Video Revitalizes Lunch at Desk
- The Well-Wired Use Libraries More
- Your primary vote will cost you an oath
- Theler Center Aid Comes at a Cost
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Boycott • \BOY-kaht\ • verb – To engage in a concerted refusal to have dealings with (as a person, store, or organization) usually to express disapproval or to force acceptance of certain conditions
Ambrose’s global warming protest was less than successful. It seems that his idea to boycott his own carbon dioxide emissions by not breathing was a fatal mistake.
From Merriam-Webster online – Did you know? In the 1870s, Irish farmers faced an agricultural crisis that threatened to result in a repeat of the terrible famine and mass evictions of the 1840s. Anticipating financial ruin, they formed a Land League to campaign against the rent increases and evictions landlords were imposing as a result of the crisis. Retired British army captain Charles Boycott had the misfortune to be acting as an agent for an absentee landlord at the time, and when he tried to evict tenant farmers for refusing to pay their rent, he was ostracized by the League and community. His laborers and servants quit, and his crops began to rot. Boycott's fate was soon well known, and his name became a byword for that particular protest strategy.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
Snowfall this season could match record РIf the current weather holds out, snowfall could match the historical record set in 1998-99 when the last strong La Ni̱a rolled in from the Pacific Ocean (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004111268_snowpack07m.html
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
California – New storms to hit state with thousands in dark. More than 200,000 homes, businesses without power as more heavy rain, snow nears California (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_7902212?nclick_check=1
Hazards follow power outages – Spoiled food, improper indoor heating and even candlelight carry big risks, experts warn. (Sacramento Bee, may require free registration)
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/612812.html
From the bad timing department – Virginia: Switch back to TVA for Briston Virginia Utilities leaves some in cold. Cold temperatures and a switch in power providers combined Wednesday morning to leave thousands of city residents shivering in the dark. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5Chlnnqrw%5BShf%7D38%7Dbfen%5Fv
Colorado – Daily Camera Op/Ed: Electric heat is a dirty business
http://dailycamera.com/news/2008/jan/06/electric-heat-is-a-dirty-business/
Congressional Research Reports – Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007: A Summary of Major Provisions
http://opencrs.cdt.org/document/RL34294
Major power line sought for Vancouver Island – Existing system seen as unreliable (Victoria Times-Colonist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=3a70583d-8351-42ad-9b4f-212b814ad8ca&k=94327
Energy Pulse Commentary – Continental Grid Vision Needed
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1638
Montana – Global warming's political winds leave energy producers wary of coal (The Missoulian)
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/01/07/news/local/znews04.txt
Oregon –The Coos County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday officially approved a land use application for a marine terminal on the North Spit of Coos Bay. (Bandon Western World)
http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2008/01/03/news/doc477d37e05ba40488273624.txt
State of Oregon hints of conflict in firm's 2 LNG studies – Oregon is skeptical of federal assurances that the terminal and pipeline reports were independently done (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1199507118183690.xml&coll=7
Shifting to LNG just trades devil for witch, energy expert says (Arizona Star)
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/business/219178.php
California – Pacific Gas and Electric PG&E expects 7 percent drop in natural gas bills (Sacramento Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2007/12/31/daily24.html?ana=from_rss
United Kingdom – Energy firms keep £1bn cost savings from customers. Energy companies have been accused of overcharging customers by more than £1 billion by exploiting changes in gas and electricity prices. (London Times)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3137656.ece
New energy in nuclear power supply battle – Firms jostle to be 1st in line for scarce reactor components (Chicago Tribune)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-sun_nukejan06,0,6203019.story?coll=chi-navrailbusiness-nav
Huffington Post Commentary – Anti-Nuclear Renaissance: A Powerful but Partial and Tentative Victory Over Atomic Energy. As the presidential primary season heats up, an "anti-nuclear renaissance" against loan guarantees for new nuclear power plants will escalate, with the future of American energy policy and global warming hanging in the balance.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/harvey-wasserman/antinuclear-renaissance_b_79983.html
Nessie…stay away! Loch Ness hydro tunnel makes breakthrough – A huge boring machine has completed a five mile tunnel for a £140m hydro-electric scheme it started digging 15 months ago. (British Broadcasting Corporation)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7171802.stm
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Bonneville sea lions may come under fire – Sea lions making a buffet line of salmon at Bonneville Dam may arrive this spring to find armed resistance. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/01/01062008_Bonneville-sea-lions-may-come-under-fire.cfm/
Warming could fry salmon – Salmon survived massive dams and fishing fleets, but now they're feeling the heat of global warming -- and it's likely to hammer them as hard as anything they've faced. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1199505301132330.xml&coll=7
Tide is Changing at PNW Salmon Center in Belfair – Michelle Hori named administrative manager (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2008/jan/05/tide-changing-pnw-salmon-center-CNM/
Montana – Panelist will seek day in killing fish. A monkey wrench could be thrown into the state's largest native westslope cutthroat trout restoration project in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. (Billings Gazette)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/01/06/news/state/28-fish.txt
Group opposes irrigation expansion – An environmental law and policy center based in Spokane is hoping to garner public comment against the expansion of the Columbia Basin Project. (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/01/04/news/news02.txt
East Oregon – Dam goes down in Pilot Rock. “…Funding for such projects, while another obstacle, can come from a variety of sources. Money from the Bonneville Power Administration is going toward such projects in the Columbia River Basin…” (East Oregonian)
http://www.eastoregonian.info/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=48&ArticleID=71375&TM=51058.18
Agencies aim to clean up Puget Sound (Associated Press, via Contra Costa Times, may require free registration)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_7896805
Geoduck: the weird clam worth a fortune – Chinese market for this West Coast seafood is thriving (Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=d25ce742-9d4b-4ca9-afd3-6757c63e4fbc
Orange County recycles water from toilet to tap – As a hedge against water shortages and population growth, Orange County has begun operating the world's largest, most modern reclamation plant -- a facility that can turn 70 million gallons of treated sewage into drinking water every day. (Contra Costa Times, may require free registration)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_7896813?nclick_check=1
Environmentalists push $1 million program to save urban trees – Environmentalists eager to save urban trees are promoting the Evergreen Cities campaign, naming it one of their top four priorities for the legislative session that starts next Monday. They're pushing a $1 million program to improve urban forests statewide. *Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/346352_trees07.html
Seattle Timed Guest Columnist: Save Northwest forests for conifers, not condos – Brian Boyle, former State Lands Commissioner
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2004110796_brianboyle07.html?syndication=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Gridlock on the Western plains – “…with the West Coast’s increasing electricity demands straining the region’s transmission grid, the race to tap into the West’s best wind sites is getting tighter—and some developers are feeling the squeeze…” (Sustainable Industries)
http://www.sustainableindustries.com/energy/13058457.html
Richland company on track with biodiesel – The Tri-City & Olympia Railroad Co. isn't going to let skyrocketing diesel costs derail its profits. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/business/v-rss/story/9557419p-9469839c.html
Animal waste: Future energy, or just hot air? (CNN.com)
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/01/07/eco.about.manure/
CONSERVATION
Saving Earth saves you money – Seattle often pays consumers back for buying green. Local governments and utilities around here offer a variety of rebates for citizens and businesses who save energy, save water, even build eco-friendly buildings. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/346177_rebates05.html
Virginia – Energy efficient lightbulb program beats expectations (The Daily Press)
http://www.dailypress.com/business/dp-now-bulbs-0104,0,3676768.story?track=rss
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Boreal forests the Fort Knox of carbon – Canada's timberland a 'life-support' system for the planet, scientists say (Times-Columnist, Victoria)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=9b6e5bb9-326c-4106-98f0-da2309996df2&k=41724
OK, so which is it? (From Friday’s Energy News Digest) Canadian warming forests sop up less greenhouse gases than thought (Vancouver Sun)http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=7db30aea-db09-4bd6-8224-cc5fc447742f&k=24603
Seattle Times Editorial – "Sue and sue and sue" for emissions standards. Washington lined up with California and 14 other states to force the U.S. government out of its unfathomable foot-dragging on improving vehicle-emissions standards.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2004108073_emissionsed06.html
A melting archive of climate clues (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004110015_glacier06.html
Study says North Atlantic waters may be warming naturally (CanWest News Service)
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=d659aba5-2261-42be-9366-fd2003fff9a8&k=85752
'Green' product claims are about to receive some federal scrutiny – How many advertising execs does it take to screw in a compact fluorescent light bulb? So many, it seems, that Washington has decided to take a look at how Madison Avenue markets eco-friendly products. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1199498124260280.xml&coll=7
Big Ideas: Buying your way out of carbon debt – Why corporations and individuals are rushing out to go 'neutral' (The National Post, Canada)
http://www.nationalpost.com/newsletter/story.html?id=216074
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Fiber optics bring Othello the world – With the advent of a fiber optics system, Othello is poised for opportunity. (Othello Outlook)
http://othellooutlook.com/cgi-bin/outlook/get_story.cgi?story=Story_2&dir=01032008
Montana – 3 cities in hunt for state server site – Landing the $2 million to $3 million building to house the computerized intellectual property of the state of Montana has become a hot contest. (Billings Gazette)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/01/04/news/local/22-server.txt
Colorado – City of Glenwood Springs drafts ballot question for expanding fiber-optic network. Voters will decide in April if the city should pursue the infrastructure to provide fiber-optic connections to every home. (Glenwood Springs Post-Independent)
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20080104/VALLEYNEWS/312585246
System that Made Internet Possible Turns 25 (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17872707&ft=1&f=2
A Breakthrough for TV on the Web (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/05/AR2008010500145.html?nav=rss_technology
Noontime Web Video Revitalizes Lunch at Desk – In cubicles across the country, lunchtime has become the new prime time, as workers click aside their spreadsheets to watch videos on YouTube, news highlights on CNN.com or other Web offerings. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/05/business/media/05video.html?_r=1&ex=1357362000&en=6229cf8d4abdac05&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
The Well-Wired Use Libraries More – Library use is far more prevalent among people who have a broadband Internet connection at home or at work, according to a new study. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/07/technology/07drill.html?ex=1357362000&en=979fd599f8dd347d&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Your primary vote will cost you an oath – The state's Democratic and Republican parties will receive a bonus from next month's presidential primary -- the name of every voter and which party's ballot they picked. (Everett Herald – OK, so how does New Hampshire get away without these requirements?)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080106/NEWS01/486134055&news01ad=1
Theler Center Aid Comes at a Cost (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2008/jan/05/theler-center-aid-comes-cost-cnm/
DIVERSIONS
Sacre Bleu! Ontario francophones under threat of assimilation – Ontario's 500,000 francophones are under constant threat of assimilation in an overwhelmingly English province, says Francophone Affairs Minister Madeleine Meilleur.
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=6ca121cb-2332-4b10-a451-fad22576e6c1&k=80049
Stewart, Colbert return today
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080107/NEWS02/553447811/-1/RSS01
Punta Gorda woman bites into a rare, purple pearl
http://www.winknews.com/news/local/13114992.html
Britney Spears Rejects Visit From Dr. Phil (well wouldn’t you?)
http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,320506,00.html
Bending over backwards to entertain, it's SNAKEGIRL!
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=506289&in_page_id=1811
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Snowfall this season could match record
- California – New storms to hit state with thousands in dark
- Hazards follow power outages
- Colorado – Daily Camera Op/Ed: Electric heat is a dirty business
- Congressional Research Reports – Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007
- Major power line sought for Vancouver Island – Existing system seen as unreliable
- Montana – Global warming's political winds leave energy producers wary of coal
- State of Oregon hints of conflict in firm's 2 LNG studies
- Shifting to LNG just trades devil for witch, energy expert says
- California – Pacific Gas and Electric PG&E expects 7 percent drop in natural gas bills
- New energy in nuclear power supply battle
- Bonneville sea lions may come under fire
- Warming could fry salmon
- Tide is Changing at PNW Salmon Center in Belfair
- Montana – Panelist will seek day in killing fish
- Group opposes Columbia Basin irrigation expansion
- East Oregon – Dam goes down in Pilot Rock
- Agencies aim to clean up Puget Sound
- Geoduck: the weird clam worth a fortune
- Orange County recycles water from toilet to tap
- Environmentalists push $1 million program to save urban trees
- Richland company on track with biodiesel
- Animal waste: Future energy, or just hot air?
- Saving Earth saves you money
- Canada’s boreal forests the Fort Knox of carbon
- A melting archive of climate clues
- Study says North Atlantic waters may be warming naturally
- 'Green' product claims are about to receive some federal scrutiny
- Big Ideas: Buying your way out of carbon debt
- Fiber optics bring Othello the world Montana – 3 cities in hunt for state server site
- Noontime Web Video Revitalizes Lunch at Desk
- The Well-Wired Use Libraries More
- Your primary vote will cost you an oath
- Theler Center Aid Comes at a Cost
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Boycott • \BOY-kaht\ • verb – To engage in a concerted refusal to have dealings with (as a person, store, or organization) usually to express disapproval or to force acceptance of certain conditions
Ambrose’s global warming protest was less than successful. It seems that his idea to boycott his own carbon dioxide emissions by not breathing was a fatal mistake.
From Merriam-Webster online – Did you know? In the 1870s, Irish farmers faced an agricultural crisis that threatened to result in a repeat of the terrible famine and mass evictions of the 1840s. Anticipating financial ruin, they formed a Land League to campaign against the rent increases and evictions landlords were imposing as a result of the crisis. Retired British army captain Charles Boycott had the misfortune to be acting as an agent for an absentee landlord at the time, and when he tried to evict tenant farmers for refusing to pay their rent, he was ostracized by the League and community. His laborers and servants quit, and his crops began to rot. Boycott's fate was soon well known, and his name became a byword for that particular protest strategy.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
Snowfall this season could match record РIf the current weather holds out, snowfall could match the historical record set in 1998-99 when the last strong La Ni̱a rolled in from the Pacific Ocean (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004111268_snowpack07m.html
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
California – New storms to hit state with thousands in dark. More than 200,000 homes, businesses without power as more heavy rain, snow nears California (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_7902212?nclick_check=1
Hazards follow power outages – Spoiled food, improper indoor heating and even candlelight carry big risks, experts warn. (Sacramento Bee, may require free registration)
http://www.sacbee.com/101/story/612812.html
From the bad timing department – Virginia: Switch back to TVA for Briston Virginia Utilities leaves some in cold. Cold temperatures and a switch in power providers combined Wednesday morning to leave thousands of city residents shivering in the dark. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5Chlnnqrw%5BShf%7D38%7Dbfen%5Fv
Colorado – Daily Camera Op/Ed: Electric heat is a dirty business
http://dailycamera.com/news/2008/jan/06/electric-heat-is-a-dirty-business/
Congressional Research Reports – Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007: A Summary of Major Provisions
http://opencrs.cdt.org/document/RL34294
Major power line sought for Vancouver Island – Existing system seen as unreliable (Victoria Times-Colonist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=3a70583d-8351-42ad-9b4f-212b814ad8ca&k=94327
Energy Pulse Commentary – Continental Grid Vision Needed
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1638
Montana – Global warming's political winds leave energy producers wary of coal (The Missoulian)
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/01/07/news/local/znews04.txt
Oregon –The Coos County Board of Commissioners on Wednesday officially approved a land use application for a marine terminal on the North Spit of Coos Bay. (Bandon Western World)
http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2008/01/03/news/doc477d37e05ba40488273624.txt
State of Oregon hints of conflict in firm's 2 LNG studies – Oregon is skeptical of federal assurances that the terminal and pipeline reports were independently done (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1199507118183690.xml&coll=7
Shifting to LNG just trades devil for witch, energy expert says (Arizona Star)
http://www.azstarnet.com/sn/business/219178.php
California – Pacific Gas and Electric PG&E expects 7 percent drop in natural gas bills (Sacramento Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2007/12/31/daily24.html?ana=from_rss
United Kingdom – Energy firms keep £1bn cost savings from customers. Energy companies have been accused of overcharging customers by more than £1 billion by exploiting changes in gas and electricity prices. (London Times)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/article3137656.ece
New energy in nuclear power supply battle – Firms jostle to be 1st in line for scarce reactor components (Chicago Tribune)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/chi-sun_nukejan06,0,6203019.story?coll=chi-navrailbusiness-nav
Huffington Post Commentary – Anti-Nuclear Renaissance: A Powerful but Partial and Tentative Victory Over Atomic Energy. As the presidential primary season heats up, an "anti-nuclear renaissance" against loan guarantees for new nuclear power plants will escalate, with the future of American energy policy and global warming hanging in the balance.
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/harvey-wasserman/antinuclear-renaissance_b_79983.html
Nessie…stay away! Loch Ness hydro tunnel makes breakthrough – A huge boring machine has completed a five mile tunnel for a £140m hydro-electric scheme it started digging 15 months ago. (British Broadcasting Corporation)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/scotland/highlands_and_islands/7171802.stm
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Bonneville sea lions may come under fire – Sea lions making a buffet line of salmon at Bonneville Dam may arrive this spring to find armed resistance. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/01/01062008_Bonneville-sea-lions-may-come-under-fire.cfm/
Warming could fry salmon – Salmon survived massive dams and fishing fleets, but now they're feeling the heat of global warming -- and it's likely to hammer them as hard as anything they've faced. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1199505301132330.xml&coll=7
Tide is Changing at PNW Salmon Center in Belfair – Michelle Hori named administrative manager (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2008/jan/05/tide-changing-pnw-salmon-center-CNM/
Montana – Panelist will seek day in killing fish. A monkey wrench could be thrown into the state's largest native westslope cutthroat trout restoration project in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. (Billings Gazette)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/01/06/news/state/28-fish.txt
Group opposes irrigation expansion – An environmental law and policy center based in Spokane is hoping to garner public comment against the expansion of the Columbia Basin Project. (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/01/04/news/news02.txt
East Oregon – Dam goes down in Pilot Rock. “…Funding for such projects, while another obstacle, can come from a variety of sources. Money from the Bonneville Power Administration is going toward such projects in the Columbia River Basin…” (East Oregonian)
http://www.eastoregonian.info/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=48&ArticleID=71375&TM=51058.18
Agencies aim to clean up Puget Sound (Associated Press, via Contra Costa Times, may require free registration)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_7896805
Geoduck: the weird clam worth a fortune – Chinese market for this West Coast seafood is thriving (Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=d25ce742-9d4b-4ca9-afd3-6757c63e4fbc
Orange County recycles water from toilet to tap – As a hedge against water shortages and population growth, Orange County has begun operating the world's largest, most modern reclamation plant -- a facility that can turn 70 million gallons of treated sewage into drinking water every day. (Contra Costa Times, may require free registration)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_7896813?nclick_check=1
Environmentalists push $1 million program to save urban trees – Environmentalists eager to save urban trees are promoting the Evergreen Cities campaign, naming it one of their top four priorities for the legislative session that starts next Monday. They're pushing a $1 million program to improve urban forests statewide. *Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/346352_trees07.html
Seattle Timed Guest Columnist: Save Northwest forests for conifers, not condos – Brian Boyle, former State Lands Commissioner
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2004110796_brianboyle07.html?syndication=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Gridlock on the Western plains – “…with the West Coast’s increasing electricity demands straining the region’s transmission grid, the race to tap into the West’s best wind sites is getting tighter—and some developers are feeling the squeeze…” (Sustainable Industries)
http://www.sustainableindustries.com/energy/13058457.html
Richland company on track with biodiesel – The Tri-City & Olympia Railroad Co. isn't going to let skyrocketing diesel costs derail its profits. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/business/v-rss/story/9557419p-9469839c.html
Animal waste: Future energy, or just hot air? (CNN.com)
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/asiapcf/01/07/eco.about.manure/
CONSERVATION
Saving Earth saves you money – Seattle often pays consumers back for buying green. Local governments and utilities around here offer a variety of rebates for citizens and businesses who save energy, save water, even build eco-friendly buildings. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/346177_rebates05.html
Virginia – Energy efficient lightbulb program beats expectations (The Daily Press)
http://www.dailypress.com/business/dp-now-bulbs-0104,0,3676768.story?track=rss
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Boreal forests the Fort Knox of carbon – Canada's timberland a 'life-support' system for the planet, scientists say (Times-Columnist, Victoria)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=9b6e5bb9-326c-4106-98f0-da2309996df2&k=41724
OK, so which is it? (From Friday’s Energy News Digest) Canadian warming forests sop up less greenhouse gases than thought (Vancouver Sun)http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=7db30aea-db09-4bd6-8224-cc5fc447742f&k=24603
Seattle Times Editorial – "Sue and sue and sue" for emissions standards. Washington lined up with California and 14 other states to force the U.S. government out of its unfathomable foot-dragging on improving vehicle-emissions standards.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2004108073_emissionsed06.html
A melting archive of climate clues (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004110015_glacier06.html
Study says North Atlantic waters may be warming naturally (CanWest News Service)
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=d659aba5-2261-42be-9366-fd2003fff9a8&k=85752
'Green' product claims are about to receive some federal scrutiny – How many advertising execs does it take to screw in a compact fluorescent light bulb? So many, it seems, that Washington has decided to take a look at how Madison Avenue markets eco-friendly products. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1199498124260280.xml&coll=7
Big Ideas: Buying your way out of carbon debt – Why corporations and individuals are rushing out to go 'neutral' (The National Post, Canada)
http://www.nationalpost.com/newsletter/story.html?id=216074
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Fiber optics bring Othello the world – With the advent of a fiber optics system, Othello is poised for opportunity. (Othello Outlook)
http://othellooutlook.com/cgi-bin/outlook/get_story.cgi?story=Story_2&dir=01032008
Montana – 3 cities in hunt for state server site – Landing the $2 million to $3 million building to house the computerized intellectual property of the state of Montana has become a hot contest. (Billings Gazette)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/01/04/news/local/22-server.txt
Colorado – City of Glenwood Springs drafts ballot question for expanding fiber-optic network. Voters will decide in April if the city should pursue the infrastructure to provide fiber-optic connections to every home. (Glenwood Springs Post-Independent)
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20080104/VALLEYNEWS/312585246
System that Made Internet Possible Turns 25 (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17872707&ft=1&f=2
A Breakthrough for TV on the Web (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/01/05/AR2008010500145.html?nav=rss_technology
Noontime Web Video Revitalizes Lunch at Desk – In cubicles across the country, lunchtime has become the new prime time, as workers click aside their spreadsheets to watch videos on YouTube, news highlights on CNN.com or other Web offerings. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/05/business/media/05video.html?_r=1&ex=1357362000&en=6229cf8d4abdac05&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
The Well-Wired Use Libraries More – Library use is far more prevalent among people who have a broadband Internet connection at home or at work, according to a new study. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/01/07/technology/07drill.html?ex=1357362000&en=979fd599f8dd347d&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Your primary vote will cost you an oath – The state's Democratic and Republican parties will receive a bonus from next month's presidential primary -- the name of every voter and which party's ballot they picked. (Everett Herald – OK, so how does New Hampshire get away without these requirements?)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080106/NEWS01/486134055&news01ad=1
Theler Center Aid Comes at a Cost (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2008/jan/05/theler-center-aid-comes-cost-cnm/
DIVERSIONS
Sacre Bleu! Ontario francophones under threat of assimilation – Ontario's 500,000 francophones are under constant threat of assimilation in an overwhelmingly English province, says Francophone Affairs Minister Madeleine Meilleur.
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=6ca121cb-2332-4b10-a451-fad22576e6c1&k=80049
Stewart, Colbert return today
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080107/NEWS02/553447811/-1/RSS01
Punta Gorda woman bites into a rare, purple pearl
http://www.winknews.com/news/local/13114992.html
Britney Spears Rejects Visit From Dr. Phil (well wouldn’t you?)
http://www.foxnews.com/printer_friendly_story/0,3566,320506,00.html
Bending over backwards to entertain, it's SNAKEGIRL!
http://www.mailonsunday.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/worldnews.html?in_article_id=506289&in_page_id=1811
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