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)
* Oops! Human Error Cited in Fla. Power Failure
* Bonneville Power Administration Power Credit Back on the Table
* Companies eager for BPA repayments
* Port of Walla Walla puts brakes on carbon project
* California – Calpine's turnaround specialist to leave with $29 million bonus
* Thirsting for Energy in India’s Boomtowns and Beyond
* Booming growth raises idea of dams
* Crash at lock blocks Columbia
* Columbia River conservation at loggerheads – Look out sea lions
* Washington Post Op/Ed – A Toxic Time Bomb in the Northwest
* Price of Lake Tapps deal revealed – it’s $39 million
* No need to sweat over water supply at Spada Lake
* Legacy of Kosmos Reappears – Submerged Logging Town Re-Emerges From Riffe Lake
* Canada – No reprieve on sewage treatment
* Incentives drive growing wind energy industry
* Canadian Wind power monopoly feared
* Chevron and Weyco team up on biofuels
* Geothermal Company Cleared to Drill in Eastern Oregon
* Texas companies quicker to switch to green energy than residents
* New York – Officials: NY Renewable Energy Program Needs Money
* Idaho State Senate revives bill for energy-saving buildings; not as tough
* Should roads have tolls to fight global warming?
* Seattle Times Editorial – Global Warming: Taxing carbons
* Oregon State Legislature –Lobbyist Mark Nelson persuades the Legislature not to count Greenhouse gases
* News Tribune Editorial – Chinese energy czars: Welcome to Gig Harbor
* Skeptics on Human Climate Impact Seize on Cold Spell
* It isn't called 'California warming,' EPA says
* San Francisco Chronicle Op/Ed – EPA's own study argues for California waiver
* Canada whispers to U.S. not to include oilsands in new greenhouse laws
* Iowa governor signs incentives law to lure Microsoft
* Broadband Woes for Ireland
* Europe hits one million FTTH broadband connections
* Suspicious fires burn down "Street of Dreams" homes in Snohomish County
* Rep. Norm Dicks says he’ll block changes to lift gun ban in national parks
* Mason County Gets CTED Dollars
* States and Cities Start Rebelling on Bond Ratings
* Lacey rules written permission must be given to panhandle
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Obverse • \AHB-verse\ • noun – *1: the side of a coin or currency note bearing the chief device and lettering; broadly: a front or principal surface 2: a counterpart having the opposite orientation or force; also: opposite
Garfunkel was enjoying his summer daydream; imagining himself as a lucky silver dollar in the pocket of a Wall Street Trader. The daydream had its downside, like the time the trader flipped the coin over and over with his obverse side always landing up. “One more time and I’m going to be urping up silver,” opined the daydreaming Garfunkel.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Oops! Human Error Cited in Fla. Power Failure – A power failure that plunged large parts of Florida into the dark this week was caused primarily by human error, the state's largest electric company said Friday. “… The engineer was investigating a malfunctioning switch at one of the power company's substations in west Miami when he disabled two levels of protection for the system…” (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004230086_apfloridaoutages.html
Bonneville Power Administration Power Credit Back on the Table (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2008/mar/02/power-credit-taken-away-last-year-is-back-on-the/
Companies eager for BPA repayments – Electric utilities serving Eastern Oregon are united in their agreement the Bonneville Power Administration owes them money - and ultimately owes their ratepayers. (The East Oregonian)
http://www.eastoregonian.info/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=48&ArticleID=74096&TM=61594.62
Port puts brakes on carbon project – Port of Walla Walla officials are hesitant to dig deeper into a groundbreaking energy project in western Walla Walla County until they can resolve challenges that lie beneath the surface.
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2008/02/29/local_news/080229lacarbonsequestration.txt
California – Calpine's turnaround specialist to leave with $29 million bonus. Bonus For Exec Who Led During Bankruptcy (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8418066?source=rss&nclick_check=1
Thirsting for Energy in India’s Boomtowns and Beyond – Almost half of India’s population has no access to the electricity grid, and many more people suffer hours without power. Nearly 700,000 Indians rely on animal waste and firewood as fuel for cooking. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/world/asia/02india.html?ex=1362286800&en=dc7afe79d7b3e0b1&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Why Energy Companies are Not Investing in The Future
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=84607
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Booming growth raises idea of dams – A booming population and growing fears about climate change have governments once again studying dams, this time to create huge reservoirs to capture more winter rain and spring snowmelt for use in dry summer months. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004254401_dams02.html
Crash at lock blocks Columbia – River traffic on the Columbia River between Portland and the Tri-Cities area of Washington state came to a halt Friday after two empty grain barges rammed the gate of a navigation lock at John Day Dam, east of The Dalles. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1204347311199050.xml&coll=7
Columbia River conservation at loggerheads – Thousands of spring chinook salmon are headed for the Columbia River, and California sea lions will be waiting for them at Bonneville Dam. “…No one likes the idea of killing the sea lions, which have been protected under the federal Marine Mammal Act since 1972 …” (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/376322.html
Washington Post Op/Ed – A Toxic Time Bomb in the Northwest: By Chris Gregoire and Maria Cantwell
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/03/02/AR2008030201860.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns
Price of Lake Tapps deal revealed – it’s $39 million – A consortium of mainly east King County cities and water utilities has agreed to pay $39 million for Lake Tapps in northeast Pierce County to use as a regional water source. (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/297429.html
No need to sweat over water supply at Spada Lake – There's a heavy snowpack even at lower elevations in Sultan Basin. The city of Everett and the PUD co-manage the water facilities, including the Spada Lake Reservoir, which is behind Culmback Dam. (Everett Herald)
http://heraldnet.com/article/20080229/NEWS01/838826286/-1/news01
Legacy of Kosmos Reappears – Purposely Flooded During 1968 Dam Construction: Submerged Logging Town Re-Emerges From Riffe Lake (The Chronicle, Centralia)
http://www.chronline.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1204360662&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&
Canada – No reprieve on sewage treatment – The B.C. government won't reconsider its decision to order sewage treatment for Greater Victoria because the provincial capital should have to follow the same rules on treating its waste as the rest of the province "…How is it the people on southern Vancouver Island think their effluent doesn't stink?…" (The Victoria Times Colonist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=bd7cb138-4caa-4ded-a7c8-b29f182019de&k=37163
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Incentives drive growing wind energy industry – Giant wind turbines still account for only a tiny percentage of U.S. electricity production, but state and federal incentives have fueled rapid industry growth. (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080301/NEWS04/409878582
Canadian Wind power monopoly feared – Ontario's new winner-take-all system could see one firm nab most of Crown land left for turbines (Toronto Star)
http://www.thestar.com/News/Ontario/article/308107
Chevron and Weyco team up on biofuels – Imagine a car powered by trees. It’s a future that might not be too far away. (The Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/03/01/local_news/02news.txt
Geothermal Company Cleared to Drill in Eastern Oregon (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3641
Texas companies quicker to switch to green energy than residents (Dallas Morning News)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/030208dnbuswindpower.2dbaceb.html
New York – Officials: NY Renewable Energy Program Needs Money (WKBW-TV, Buffalo)
http://www.wkbw.com/news/local/16178612.html
Excessive Permit Fees Hinder Renewable Energy Development (Renewable Energy Access)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/reinsider/story?id=51701&src=rss
CONSERVATION
Idaho State Senate revives bill for energy-saving buildings; not as tough (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/377401.html
Old North Church goes modern with LEDs (Associated Press)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080303/ap_on_hi_te/north_church_lighting_4
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Should roads have tolls to fight global warming? Two global-warming bills likely to pass the Legislature this session could open the door to tolls on major highways in the central Puget Sound region (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004250231_warming29m.html
Seattle Times Editorial – Global Warming: Taxing carbons. Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels and state Sen. Ed Murray recently unveiled a plan to tax cars on the basis of their fuel efficiency.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/353289_hummered.html?source=rss
Oregon State Legislature – Counting Coup: Lobbyist Mark Nelson persuades the Legislature not to count Greenhouse gases.
http://wweek.com/editorial/3416/10438/
News Tribune Editorial – Chinese energy czars: Welcome to Gig Harbor. When it comes to energy and global warming, the United States and China have a lot in common: Both use a lot of the former and bear responsibility for a lot of the latter.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/298257.html
Skeptics on Human Climate Impact Seize on Cold Spell (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/02/science/02cold.html?_r=1&ex=1362286800&en=17a5b4a306689ad0&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
It isn't called 'California warming,' EPA says – The Environmental Protection Agency on Friday justified blocking California from cracking down on auto emissions by saying global warming isn't unique to the state. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/120434011712000.xml&coll=7
San Francisco Chronicle Op/Ed – EPA's own study argues for California waiver
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/03/03/ED4HVBLRS.DTL&feed=rss.opinion
Canada whispers to U.S. not to include oilsands in new greenhouse laws (Canwest News Service)
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=0a3a0133-2f6e-4ed9-a0d3-5d185e366e68&k=26097
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Iowa governor signs incentives law to lure Microsoft – Iowa Gov. Chet Culver has signed a package of business incentives designed to persuade Microsoft Corp. to locate a data center in that state. (Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP02292008news285822.cfm?newsletter=10
Broadband Woes for Ireland (TMC Net)
http://hosted-communications.tmcnet.com/topics/broadband-comm/articles/21955-broadband-woes-ireland.htm
Europe hits one million FTTH broadband connections (The Register)
http://www.theregister.co.uk/2008/03/03/ftth_deployment_spreads/
GENERAL NEWS
Suspicious fires burn down "Street of Dreams" homes in Snohomish County – Evidence Implicating Earth Liberation Front found (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004256586_webdreamsfire03m.html?syndication=rss
Rep. Norm Dicks says he’ll block changes to lift gun ban in national parks (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/government/story/298990.html
MASON COUNTY GETS CTED DOLLARS - Money to help the Skokomish Indian Tribe conduct a feasibility study in Mason County for a marina with fuel services on Hood Canal is on the list Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board announced. The board announced some $750,000 will go toward creating new jobs and boosting business growth across the state. $50,000 will do feasibility work for the Skokomish project. The tribe recently purchased a waterfront resort in Potlatch as part of a tourism development plan. "We can help to build the economy of local communities by supporting key infrastructure improvements," said Gov. Chris Gregoire. "These are sound investments in the future of our state." (South Sound Business Examiner)
States and Cities Start Rebelling on Bond Ratings (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/03/03/business/03bond.html?ex=1362200400&en=ea0ffd555df940f0&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Lacey rules written permission must be given to panhandle – Panhandlers no longer can stand near the driveways of stores or shopping centers in Lacey without written permission from those properties' owners (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/374359.html
DIVERSIONS
Annoying Campaign Songs (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=19304252
One-Third Of Workers Sleepy, Survey Says – Workdays Growing Longer, More Time Spent Working From Home
http://www.kirotv.com/health/15470954/detail.html
Woman Births Child Nearly Her Own Size – 18-Inch Daughter Born To 28-Inch Tall Kentucky Woman
http://www.kirotv.com/family/15442695/detail.html
Washington state detectives say man asked friend to shoot him in the arm so he could skip work – What happened to faking a cough?
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/375181.html
Monday, March 3, 2008
Friday, February 29, 2008
Energy News Digest for February 29, 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)
Puget Sound Energy rates could go up
Questions Linger in Florida Blackout
News Release – Assessing the electric energy supply of the Pacific Northwest
Idaho – House committee backs tax breaks for Idaho uranium plant
Duke Energy's Lee Nuclear License Application Accepted by U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
News release – COMPETE Coalition Cites Proven Economic and Environmental Benefits for Consumers Provided by Competitive Electricity Markets
Brussels bungles energy unbundling
California – Stockton weighs power play: Mayor to unveil city's electricity market plan
Hearings find little opposition to reservoir at Black Rock
Idaho Senate committee backs Governor’s $20 million aquifer proposal
Leaders Talk Environmental Future of Mid-Columbia
Canada – Optimism renewed for pink salmon run
Tacoma Power holding off on tidal power, says not viable for at least eight years
Nevada – Geothermal energy, Power from the underground
Irony Alert – Want to Know Why Seattle’s “Tree Canopy” Is Disappearing?
New green Web site launched
Arctic debate could result in armed conflict
FCC Considering Another Neutrality Hearing?
Google Sites Now Live To Collaborate
Shareholders sue Yahoo over its response to Microsoft purchase bid
Another candidate announces for 35th District – Randy Neatherlin
California sues U.S. over management plan for national forests
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Whelm • \hw-ELM\ • verb – 1: to turn (as a dish or vessel) upside down usually to cover something: cover or engulf completely with usually disastrous effect 2: to overcome in thought or feeling: overwhelm: to pass or go over something so as to bury or submerge it
Some news digest readers may have been underwhelmed by the lack of creativity in the example sentences this week. Fortunately, the upcoming weekend will allow the digest to recharge and have whiz-bang prose that may whelm...and might I add, overwhelm the senses. or not.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Puget Sound Energy rates could go up – Puget Sound Energy is expected to file an electric and natural-gas rate increase with state regulators today, combined with an already pending request would be a nearly 12 percent overall electricity increase (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/374370.html
Questions Linger in Florida Blackout – Utility company investigators will likely look beyond a substation fire to determine the cause of a recent blackout that left as many as 3 million Floridians without power, energy experts say. Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004230086_apfloridaoutages.html?syndication=rss
News Release – Assessing the electric energy supply of the Pacific Northwest (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/193483/
Idaho – House committee backs tax breaks for Idaho uranium plant (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/373699.html
Duke Energy's Lee Nuclear License Application Accepted by U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Fox Business News)
http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/industries/energy/article/duke-energys-lee-nuclear-license-application-accepted-nuclear-regulatory_497989_11.html
News release – COMPETE Coalition Cites Proven Economic and Environmental Benefits for Consumers Provided by Competitive Electricity Markets – Upsetting Established Markets Threatens Demonstrated Consumer Benefits And Continued Investment Necessary to Meet Growing Demand (Electric Energy Online – Doesn’t a working, competitive market have to be in place first?)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=84498
Brussels bungles energy unbundling (The Financial Times of London)
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/37c75f34-e635-11dc-8398-0000779fd2ac.html
California – Stockton weighs power play: Mayor to unveil city's electricity market plan – City Hall is considering a bid to involve itself in Stockton's electricity market, a measure Mayor Ed Chavez said could cut rates and generate revenue (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CinssrlhRUnjy30qbfen%5Fv
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Hearings find little opposition to reservoir at Black Rock – Wednesday was a good day for proponents who want to build a reservoir in Black Rock Valley east of Yakima. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/901/story/103711.html
Idaho Senate committee backs Governor’s $20 million aquifer proposal – plan to study, monitor and develop plans for future management of 10 aquifers scattered across the state cleared another legislative hurdle Wednesday. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/531/story/308454.html
Leaders Talk Environmental Future of Mid-Columbia (KNDO, Tri-Cities)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=7941200
Canada – Optimism renewed for pink salmon run (Victoria Times-Colonist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/sports/story.html?id=85394969-6b1f-4baf-bdbe-c0b6ca2a7c8c
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Tacoma Power holding off on tidal power, says not viable for at least eight years (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/02/25/daily23.html?ana=from_rss
Nevada – Geothermal energy, Power from the underground (Summit Daily News, Frisco, CO)
http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20080225/NEWS/443354159/0/FRONTPAGE
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Irony Alert – Want to Know Why Seattle’s “Tree Canopy” Is Disappearing? – Take a look at what’s happening in North Seattle. (Seattle Weekly)
http://seattleweekly.com/2008-02-27/news/want-to-know-why-seattle-s-tree-canopy-is-disappearing.php
New green Web site launched (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/02/25/daily26.html?ana=from_rss
Arctic debate could result in armed conflict, says former American coast guard official (Canwest News Service)
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=73cec1a6-334a-4bcd-a9fa-dd79d4c0b8ed&k=68531
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
FCC Considering Another Neutrality Hearing? This time in Stanford after the controversy at Harvard (Broadband Reports Note: comment section may include PG-13 language)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/FCC-Considering-Another-Neutrality-Hearing-92227
Google Sites Now Live To Collaborate (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/02/27/google-sites-launched/
Shareholders sue Yahoo over its response to Microsoft purchase bid (Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2008/02/25/daily66.html?ana=from_rss
GENERAL NEWS
Another candidate announces for 35th District – Randy Neatherlin (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/373980.html
California sues U.S. over management plan for national forests (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1248265~California_sues_U_S__over_management_plan_for_national_forests.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
DIVERSIONS
Misunderstood Banners In Yakima Coming Down (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/misunderstood-banners-yakima-coming-down/
Armed Robber Hog-Tied By Biker Gang
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/15438913/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000302282008&ts=H
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
Puget Sound Energy rates could go up
Questions Linger in Florida Blackout
News Release – Assessing the electric energy supply of the Pacific Northwest
Idaho – House committee backs tax breaks for Idaho uranium plant
Duke Energy's Lee Nuclear License Application Accepted by U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission
News release – COMPETE Coalition Cites Proven Economic and Environmental Benefits for Consumers Provided by Competitive Electricity Markets
Brussels bungles energy unbundling
California – Stockton weighs power play: Mayor to unveil city's electricity market plan
Hearings find little opposition to reservoir at Black Rock
Idaho Senate committee backs Governor’s $20 million aquifer proposal
Leaders Talk Environmental Future of Mid-Columbia
Canada – Optimism renewed for pink salmon run
Tacoma Power holding off on tidal power, says not viable for at least eight years
Nevada – Geothermal energy, Power from the underground
Irony Alert – Want to Know Why Seattle’s “Tree Canopy” Is Disappearing?
New green Web site launched
Arctic debate could result in armed conflict
FCC Considering Another Neutrality Hearing?
Google Sites Now Live To Collaborate
Shareholders sue Yahoo over its response to Microsoft purchase bid
Another candidate announces for 35th District – Randy Neatherlin
California sues U.S. over management plan for national forests
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Whelm • \hw-ELM\ • verb – 1: to turn (as a dish or vessel) upside down usually to cover something: cover or engulf completely with usually disastrous effect 2: to overcome in thought or feeling: overwhelm: to pass or go over something so as to bury or submerge it
Some news digest readers may have been underwhelmed by the lack of creativity in the example sentences this week. Fortunately, the upcoming weekend will allow the digest to recharge and have whiz-bang prose that may whelm...and might I add, overwhelm the senses. or not.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Puget Sound Energy rates could go up – Puget Sound Energy is expected to file an electric and natural-gas rate increase with state regulators today, combined with an already pending request would be a nearly 12 percent overall electricity increase (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/374370.html
Questions Linger in Florida Blackout – Utility company investigators will likely look beyond a substation fire to determine the cause of a recent blackout that left as many as 3 million Floridians without power, energy experts say. Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004230086_apfloridaoutages.html?syndication=rss
News Release – Assessing the electric energy supply of the Pacific Northwest (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/193483/
Idaho – House committee backs tax breaks for Idaho uranium plant (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/373699.html
Duke Energy's Lee Nuclear License Application Accepted by U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission (Fox Business News)
http://www.foxbusiness.com/markets/industries/energy/article/duke-energys-lee-nuclear-license-application-accepted-nuclear-regulatory_497989_11.html
News release – COMPETE Coalition Cites Proven Economic and Environmental Benefits for Consumers Provided by Competitive Electricity Markets – Upsetting Established Markets Threatens Demonstrated Consumer Benefits And Continued Investment Necessary to Meet Growing Demand (Electric Energy Online – Doesn’t a working, competitive market have to be in place first?)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=84498
Brussels bungles energy unbundling (The Financial Times of London)
http://www.ft.com/cms/s/0/37c75f34-e635-11dc-8398-0000779fd2ac.html
California – Stockton weighs power play: Mayor to unveil city's electricity market plan – City Hall is considering a bid to involve itself in Stockton's electricity market, a measure Mayor Ed Chavez said could cut rates and generate revenue (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CinssrlhRUnjy30qbfen%5Fv
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Hearings find little opposition to reservoir at Black Rock – Wednesday was a good day for proponents who want to build a reservoir in Black Rock Valley east of Yakima. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/901/story/103711.html
Idaho Senate committee backs Governor’s $20 million aquifer proposal – plan to study, monitor and develop plans for future management of 10 aquifers scattered across the state cleared another legislative hurdle Wednesday. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/531/story/308454.html
Leaders Talk Environmental Future of Mid-Columbia (KNDO, Tri-Cities)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=7941200
Canada – Optimism renewed for pink salmon run (Victoria Times-Colonist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/sports/story.html?id=85394969-6b1f-4baf-bdbe-c0b6ca2a7c8c
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Tacoma Power holding off on tidal power, says not viable for at least eight years (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/02/25/daily23.html?ana=from_rss
Nevada – Geothermal energy, Power from the underground (Summit Daily News, Frisco, CO)
http://www.summitdaily.com/article/20080225/NEWS/443354159/0/FRONTPAGE
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Irony Alert – Want to Know Why Seattle’s “Tree Canopy” Is Disappearing? – Take a look at what’s happening in North Seattle. (Seattle Weekly)
http://seattleweekly.com/2008-02-27/news/want-to-know-why-seattle-s-tree-canopy-is-disappearing.php
New green Web site launched (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/02/25/daily26.html?ana=from_rss
Arctic debate could result in armed conflict, says former American coast guard official (Canwest News Service)
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=73cec1a6-334a-4bcd-a9fa-dd79d4c0b8ed&k=68531
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
FCC Considering Another Neutrality Hearing? This time in Stanford after the controversy at Harvard (Broadband Reports Note: comment section may include PG-13 language)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/FCC-Considering-Another-Neutrality-Hearing-92227
Google Sites Now Live To Collaborate (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/02/27/google-sites-launched/
Shareholders sue Yahoo over its response to Microsoft purchase bid (Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2008/02/25/daily66.html?ana=from_rss
GENERAL NEWS
Another candidate announces for 35th District – Randy Neatherlin (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/373980.html
California sues U.S. over management plan for national forests (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1248265~California_sues_U_S__over_management_plan_for_national_forests.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
DIVERSIONS
Misunderstood Banners In Yakima Coming Down (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/misunderstood-banners-yakima-coming-down/
Armed Robber Hog-Tied By Biker Gang
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/15438913/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000302282008&ts=H
Thursday, February 28, 2008
Energy News Digest for February 28, 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)
House Votes to End Big Oil's Tax Breaks – Despite Veto Threat
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Editorial – Energy Taxes: Rocket launch
Montana – USDA pulls plug on Highwood power plant financing
NorthWestern Energy announces filing of Montana transmission rate settlement agreement
News Release – American Public Power Association Calls for Electricity Market Reforms to Address Growing Crisis
Maryland – PSC chief to Constellation Energy: Ratepayers misled on nuclear plant deal
America is Running Out of Electricity
New York – Niagara County printer receives NYPA boost
Trout bearing chemicals are even in our national parks
Belfair Sewer Cost Higher Than Budgeted
Company Fined for Oregon Wind Turbine Death
British Petroleum (BP) hints that it may offload green business
House Wants Oil Subsidies to Go to Green Energy
Cap and Caulk: How Smart Climate Policy Can Cut Our Energy Costs
Chelan PUD's clean credits pay for entry into exchange
Alaska town sues over global warming
Senate antiphishing bill outlaws...what's already illegal
Utah Internet providers could earn 'G-rating'
Wikileaks close backfires on bank trying to remove documents
Amazon Spent $1.6M Lobbying Government
500 jobs added at call center in Oregon; more might be needed
Swooning economy Fed chief's key worry
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Bonapartism • \BOH-nuh-par-tiz-um\ • noun – A policy supporting dictatorial rule usually by a military leader who has ostensibly received a popular mandate
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
House Votes to End Big Oil's Tax Breaks – Despite Veto Threat, Bill to Boost Renewable Energy Is Sent to Senate (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/27/AR2008022702635.html?nav=rss_business
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Editorial – Energy Taxes: Rocket launch. The economy or the environment? How about both? Congress approved Wednesday $18 billion in new oil company taxes, money that will be used to spur investment in wind, solar and alternative sources.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/352940_gaspricesed.html?source=rss
Montana – USDA pulls plug on Highwood financing – USDA's Rural Utilities Service, citing a lack of funding, has informed Southern Montana Electric Generation & Transmission that it can't finance the cooperative's proposed coal-fired power plant east of Great Falls. (Great Falls Tribune)
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080228/NEWS01/802280302/1002
NorthWestern Energy announces filing of Montana transmission rate settlement agreement (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=321377&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss
News Release – American Public Power Association Calls for Electricity Market Reforms to Address Growing Crisis (APPA, via Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=84390
Maryland – PSC chief to Constellation Energy: Ratepayers misled on nuclear plant deal (Baltimore Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2008/02/25/daily15.html?ana=from_rss
America is Running Out of Electricity – The provision of electrical power nationwide has become the chosen battleground for environmental groups laboring night and day to insure there will not be enough of it to meet our needs. (Energy Pulse Commentary)
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1683
New York – Niagara County printer receives NYPA boost – Shipman Printing Industries has been allocated to receive a block of electricity from the New York Power Authority as the Wheatfield printer undergoes an expansion. (Business First of Buffalo)
http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2008/02/25/daily13.html?ana=from_rss
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Trout bearing chemicals are even in our national parks – Mercury, flame retardants ending up in pristine lakes (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/352814_parkpollute27.html
BELFAIR SEWER COST HIGHER THAN BUDGETED – The costs to construct sewers and a water reclamation facility to serve the core of the Belfair Urban Growth Area are higher than originally budgeted. According to Emmett Dobey, Director of Utilities and Waste Management for Mason County, there are three reasons for this $2 Million overage. One is that the original estimate was done in 2006 dollars and not adjusted into 2008 dollars. The second reason is that a second pump station is needed. And the third reason has to do with the spray field for the Water Reclamation Facility. A geologic survey found that the infiltrate in that area is not as great as originally thought so an infiltration gallery needs to be designed and added to the project. Dobey believes they have discovered these potential cost overages early enough in the project's design so that the project will still be brought in on budget and on time. The County is looking at moving the second pump station which will result in a savings of about $500,000. Design of the project continues and a ground breaking ceremony is expected this fall. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Company Fined for Oregon Wind Turbine Death (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3624
British Petroleum (BP) hints that it may offload green business (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8380030?source=rss
House Wants Oil Subsidies to Go to Green Energy (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=86973288&ft=1&f=3
CONSERVATION
Cap and Caulk: How Smart Climate Policy Can Cut Our Energy Costs (Sightline Institute)
http://www.sightline.org/daily_score/archive/2008/02/27/cap-and-caulk-how-smart-climate-policy-can-cut-our-energy-costs
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Chelan PUD's clean credits pay for entry into exchange – Power generated at Rocky Reach Dam is now helping to reduce carbon pollution elsewhere in the country — at least in theory. (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080227/NEWS04/220117514
Alaska town sues over global warming (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/02/25/daily21.html?ana=from_rss
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Senate antiphishing bill outlaws...what's already illegal (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-13578_3-9879859-38.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20
Utah Internet providers could earn 'G-rating' (Deseret Morning News)
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695256344,00.html
Wikileaks close backfires on bank trying to remove documents – An effort at damage control has snowballed into a public relations disaster for a Swiss bank seeking to crack down on a renegade Web site for posting classified information about some of its wealthy clients. (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1246437~Wikileaks_close_backfires_on_bank_trying_to_remove_documents.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
Amazon Spent $1.6M Lobbying Government (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/02/27/financial/f171657S12.DTL&feed=rss.business
500 jobs added at call center in Oregon; more might be needed (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1246773~500_jobs_added_at_call_center_in_Oregon__more_might_be_needed.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
GENERAL NEWS
Swooning economy Fed chief's key worry (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004247519_bernanke28.html
A banner year for new paychecks – Steve Ingrum, an apprentice lineman for the Snohomish County PUD, works at transfering lines to a new pole in Arlington. He says a job with the utility long had been a goal for him. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/snohomishcountynews/2004238896_jobgrowth27n.html
DIVERSIONS
Kindergartner Suspended For Mohawk Haircut
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/15426674/detail.html
After 33 Years, Man Recovers Lost Wallet – Item Recovered During Renovation
http://www.kirotv.com/news/15423281/detail.html
Stop thief, why are you wearing that hanger?
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSEIC77388120080227?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest
Price of eternal salvation: $12.79
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/16067567.html
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
House Votes to End Big Oil's Tax Breaks – Despite Veto Threat
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Editorial – Energy Taxes: Rocket launch
Montana – USDA pulls plug on Highwood power plant financing
NorthWestern Energy announces filing of Montana transmission rate settlement agreement
News Release – American Public Power Association Calls for Electricity Market Reforms to Address Growing Crisis
Maryland – PSC chief to Constellation Energy: Ratepayers misled on nuclear plant deal
America is Running Out of Electricity
New York – Niagara County printer receives NYPA boost
Trout bearing chemicals are even in our national parks
Belfair Sewer Cost Higher Than Budgeted
Company Fined for Oregon Wind Turbine Death
British Petroleum (BP) hints that it may offload green business
House Wants Oil Subsidies to Go to Green Energy
Cap and Caulk: How Smart Climate Policy Can Cut Our Energy Costs
Chelan PUD's clean credits pay for entry into exchange
Alaska town sues over global warming
Senate antiphishing bill outlaws...what's already illegal
Utah Internet providers could earn 'G-rating'
Wikileaks close backfires on bank trying to remove documents
Amazon Spent $1.6M Lobbying Government
500 jobs added at call center in Oregon; more might be needed
Swooning economy Fed chief's key worry
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Bonapartism • \BOH-nuh-par-tiz-um\ • noun – A policy supporting dictatorial rule usually by a military leader who has ostensibly received a popular mandate
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
House Votes to End Big Oil's Tax Breaks – Despite Veto Threat, Bill to Boost Renewable Energy Is Sent to Senate (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/27/AR2008022702635.html?nav=rss_business
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Editorial – Energy Taxes: Rocket launch. The economy or the environment? How about both? Congress approved Wednesday $18 billion in new oil company taxes, money that will be used to spur investment in wind, solar and alternative sources.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/352940_gaspricesed.html?source=rss
Montana – USDA pulls plug on Highwood financing – USDA's Rural Utilities Service, citing a lack of funding, has informed Southern Montana Electric Generation & Transmission that it can't finance the cooperative's proposed coal-fired power plant east of Great Falls. (Great Falls Tribune)
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080228/NEWS01/802280302/1002
NorthWestern Energy announces filing of Montana transmission rate settlement agreement (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=321377&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss
News Release – American Public Power Association Calls for Electricity Market Reforms to Address Growing Crisis (APPA, via Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=84390
Maryland – PSC chief to Constellation Energy: Ratepayers misled on nuclear plant deal (Baltimore Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2008/02/25/daily15.html?ana=from_rss
America is Running Out of Electricity – The provision of electrical power nationwide has become the chosen battleground for environmental groups laboring night and day to insure there will not be enough of it to meet our needs. (Energy Pulse Commentary)
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1683
New York – Niagara County printer receives NYPA boost – Shipman Printing Industries has been allocated to receive a block of electricity from the New York Power Authority as the Wheatfield printer undergoes an expansion. (Business First of Buffalo)
http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2008/02/25/daily13.html?ana=from_rss
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Trout bearing chemicals are even in our national parks – Mercury, flame retardants ending up in pristine lakes (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/352814_parkpollute27.html
BELFAIR SEWER COST HIGHER THAN BUDGETED – The costs to construct sewers and a water reclamation facility to serve the core of the Belfair Urban Growth Area are higher than originally budgeted. According to Emmett Dobey, Director of Utilities and Waste Management for Mason County, there are three reasons for this $2 Million overage. One is that the original estimate was done in 2006 dollars and not adjusted into 2008 dollars. The second reason is that a second pump station is needed. And the third reason has to do with the spray field for the Water Reclamation Facility. A geologic survey found that the infiltrate in that area is not as great as originally thought so an infiltration gallery needs to be designed and added to the project. Dobey believes they have discovered these potential cost overages early enough in the project's design so that the project will still be brought in on budget and on time. The County is looking at moving the second pump station which will result in a savings of about $500,000. Design of the project continues and a ground breaking ceremony is expected this fall. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Company Fined for Oregon Wind Turbine Death (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3624
British Petroleum (BP) hints that it may offload green business (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8380030?source=rss
House Wants Oil Subsidies to Go to Green Energy (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=86973288&ft=1&f=3
CONSERVATION
Cap and Caulk: How Smart Climate Policy Can Cut Our Energy Costs (Sightline Institute)
http://www.sightline.org/daily_score/archive/2008/02/27/cap-and-caulk-how-smart-climate-policy-can-cut-our-energy-costs
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Chelan PUD's clean credits pay for entry into exchange – Power generated at Rocky Reach Dam is now helping to reduce carbon pollution elsewhere in the country — at least in theory. (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080227/NEWS04/220117514
Alaska town sues over global warming (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/02/25/daily21.html?ana=from_rss
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Senate antiphishing bill outlaws...what's already illegal (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-13578_3-9879859-38.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20
Utah Internet providers could earn 'G-rating' (Deseret Morning News)
http://deseretnews.com/article/1,5143,695256344,00.html
Wikileaks close backfires on bank trying to remove documents – An effort at damage control has snowballed into a public relations disaster for a Swiss bank seeking to crack down on a renegade Web site for posting classified information about some of its wealthy clients. (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1246437~Wikileaks_close_backfires_on_bank_trying_to_remove_documents.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
Amazon Spent $1.6M Lobbying Government (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/02/27/financial/f171657S12.DTL&feed=rss.business
500 jobs added at call center in Oregon; more might be needed (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1246773~500_jobs_added_at_call_center_in_Oregon__more_might_be_needed.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
GENERAL NEWS
Swooning economy Fed chief's key worry (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004247519_bernanke28.html
A banner year for new paychecks – Steve Ingrum, an apprentice lineman for the Snohomish County PUD, works at transfering lines to a new pole in Arlington. He says a job with the utility long had been a goal for him. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/snohomishcountynews/2004238896_jobgrowth27n.html
DIVERSIONS
Kindergartner Suspended For Mohawk Haircut
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/15426674/detail.html
After 33 Years, Man Recovers Lost Wallet – Item Recovered During Renovation
http://www.kirotv.com/news/15423281/detail.html
Stop thief, why are you wearing that hanger?
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSEIC77388120080227?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest
Price of eternal salvation: $12.79
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/16067567.html
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Energy News Digest for February 26, 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)
* Avista customers to get small credit
* Pacific Power says it will not accept agreement from BPA
* BPA Offer Could Lead to Lower Electric Bills
* Appointee Hays won't run for Jefferson County PUD post
* Grant helps pay heating bills for low-income family in Snohomish County
* Idaho – Companies in race to provide fuel for US 'nuclear renaissance'
* Dry weather causes hike in Tennessee Valley Authority rates
* Florida – Utility transmission plan rouses suspicion
* Great Plains Energy reaches agreement in principle in proposed Aquila purchase
* Tiny Arctic town hoping to power up after a week rationing electricity
* Pepco Lobbied on Energy Legislation $820,000 worth
* NERC cybersecurity standards to become mandatory in US
* Dam rules extended as Columbia River salmon plan written
* Oregon – State turns the tap on Umatilla basin water project
* Government planning to unleash flood through Grand Canyon in March
* Cantwell seeks tax breaks for wind power
* Boom and Bust for Renewable Energy?
* Oregon – How will utilities green up portfolios?
* Lack of lines for transmission trips up wind energy
* B.C. firm turns to green power
* Photovoltaic Cells Are Still Very Green, Comparative Test Shows
* Urban decay, redefined
* Energy-Saving Bulbs Raise Safety Questions
* Washington’s Legislative environment grows heated
* Farms May Be Exempted From Emission Rules
* PG&E to fund forest projects
* Carbon report says tax could save Canadians money
* British official: Rich countries must pay for carbon reduction
* Possible Wi-Fi In Downtown Centralia
* F.C.C. to Act on Delaying of Broadband Traffic
* Google joins consortium to build bandwidth
* Keep the internal hacker from turning the lights out in 2008
* Some GOP senators want Eastern Washington as a state unto itself
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Benefic • \buh-NEFF-ik\ • adjective – Of, having, or exerting a favorable influence
Dagwood leaned back and sighed in pleasure. It never ceased to amaze him about how his mountainous sandwiches provided a benefic turning point in his evening gastronomic activity.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Avista customers to get small credit – Beginning in April, Avista Corp.’s residential customers could see a bit of relief on their monthly electric bills. (Spokesman Review, Spokane)
http://www.spokesmanreview.com/breaking/story.asp?ID=13829
Pacific Power says it will not accept agreement from BPA (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/news-23/120397045448570.xml&storylist=orlocal
BPA Offer Could Lead to Lower Electric Bills (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3619
Appointee Hays won't run for Jefferson County PUD post – Saying he is ready to retire again, M. Kelly Hays has announced he will not seek election (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080225/NEWS/802250304
Grant helps pay heating bills for low-income family in Snohomish County (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080226/NEWS01/753113564/-1/RSS01
Idaho – Companies in race to provide fuel for US 'nuclear renaissance' (Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1240921~Companies_in_race_to_provide_fuel_for_US__nuclear_renaissance_.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
Dry weather causes hike in Tennessee Valley Authority rates (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketers Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CinpkmsrUUkgy30qbfen%5Fv
Florida – Utility plan rouses suspicion. Environmentalists says they'll fight Progress Energy on its transmission line project to expand its power transmission capability through 10 counties (St Petersburg Times)
http://www.sptimes.com/2008/02/24/Pasco/Utility_plan_rouses_s.shtml
Great Plains Energy reaches agreement in principle in proposed Aquila purchase (Consolidate---Consolidate – Forbes)
http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2008/02/25/afx4694818.html
Tiny Arctic town hoping to power up after a week rationing electricity (The Canadian Press)
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5g3sw70X6kTDDymKK8jxrdhDh8cuA
Pepco Lobbied on Energy Legislation – Pepco Holdings Spent $820,000 in 2007 to Lobby on Energy Legislation (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/apwire/fb79c6a6b68abc6bc828b04e2d921661.htm
Newsmaker: Meet the king of coal – You may not love coal, but you use a lot of it. Peabody Energy's Greg Boyce says the company will even participate in cleaning the stuff up (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/Meet-the-king-of-coal/2008-13840_3-6231768.html
NERC cybersecurity standards to become mandatory in US – The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved eight cyber security and critical infrastructure protection standards proposed by NERC. (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ARTCL&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=321050&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Dam rules extended as salmon plan written – To avoid more legal battles until a May 5 deadline for a new salmon-recovery plan for the Northwest, a federal judge has ordered that Columbia River dams be operated under last year's guidelines. (Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004203245_salmondams26m.html?syndication=rss
Oregon – State turns the tap on Umatilla basin water project (The Oregonian)
http://blog.oregonlive.com/pdxgreen/2008/02/state_turns_the_tap_on_umatill.html
Government planning to unleash flood through Grand Canyon in March (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8359467?source=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Cantwell seeks tax breaks for wind power – But Big Oil fights shift in proposed energy bill (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/352600_energy26.html?source=rss
Boom and Bust for Renewable Energy? Tax credits central to renewable-energy development (Epoch Times)
http://en.epochtimes.com/news/8-2-25/66550.html
Oregon – How will utilities green up portfolios? Power providers take first steps toward meeting state renewable energy mandate (Bend Bulletin)
http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080225/BIZ0102/802250335
Lack of lines for transmission trips up wind energy (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/environment/2008-02-25-wind-power-transmission_N.htm
B.C. firm turns to green power – Canfor Pulp is planning to become an electricity producer using wood waste to answer BC Hydro's call for green power.(Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=ad7bee15-e2af-494a-8a1b-37cf726e95ce
Power Struggle – The people of Iceland awaken to a stark choice: exploit a wealth of clean energy or keep their landscape pristine. (National Geographic)
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/03/iceland/del-giudice-text
Photovoltaic Cells Are Still Very Green, Comparative Test Shows (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/science/26obsola.html?ex=1361682000&en=b032bdd210ea8e75&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Urban decay, redefined – City hopes to turn yard clippings and food scraps into heat, electricity (Boston Globe)
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/02/26/urban_decay_redefined/
CONSERVATION
Energy-Saving Bulbs Raise Safety Questions (News Channel 5, Cleveland)
http://www.weathernet5.com/money/15381938/detail.html?rss=nn5wx&psp=news
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Legislative environment grows heated – Washington’s rural-versus-urban divide was in full view last week as the Legislature took up two bills that might someday reduce the state’s contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/02/02252008_Legislative-environment-grows-heated.cfm/
Farms May Be Exempted From Emission Rules – Under pressure…the Environmental Protection Agency wants to drop requirements that factory farms report their emissions of toxic gases, despite findings by the agency's scientists that the gases pose a health threat (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/25/AR2008022502472.html?nav=rss_email/components
PG&E to fund forest projects – Last year, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. gave its customers the option of going carbon neutral, voluntarily paying a little extra on their monthly bills to fund projects that reduce greenhouse gas levels. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/26/BUFTV8HC8.DTL&feed=rss.business
Carbon report says tax could save Canadians money (Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=cbd1f741-70e7-4e10-be1d-a994b9c4efc4&k=34529
Canada – How Will You Spend Your $100? We'll each get a cheque to offset the carbon tax. Tell us your plans for the money. (The Tyee)
http://thetyee.ca/Views/2008/02/25/100GreenDollars/
British official: Rich countries must pay for carbon reductions (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/environment/2008-02-26-china-britain_N.htm?csp=34
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
POSSIBLE WI-FI IN DOWNTOWN CENTRALIA – Wireless Internet access could be coming for downtown Chehalis computer users. It’s under a program being considered by city hall. Centralia also launched a limited program that offers WiFi access in parts of Centralia’s downtown. (KELA Radio, Centralia)
F.C.C. to Act on Delaying of Broadband Traffic (New York Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/technology/25cnd-fcc.html?_r=1&ex=1361682000&en=400675c21d9dc50b&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
FCC Unimpressed by Comcast’s “Network Management” (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/02/25/fcc-unimpressed-by-comcasts-network-managment/
UPDATE:NY Attorney General Quizzes Comcast Over Network Mgmt (Ameritrade)
http://custom.marketwatch.com/custom/tdameritrade-com/html-story.asp?guid={29f8eaf0-7dcf-4fb6-8653-6f0525906a40}
Net Neutrality Hearing: When Is an Internet Traffic Delay O.K.? (New York Times)
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/net-neutrality-hearing-when-is-an-internet-traffic-delay-ok/index.html?ex=1361682000&en=71a6b321c952ea8d&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Google joins consortium to build bandwidth – Will invest in trans-Pacific fiber-optic cable (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8360521?source=rss&nclick_check=1
Keep the internal hacker from turning the lights out in 2008 (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ARTCL&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=321070&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Some GOP senators want Eastern Washington as a state unto itself (Seattle Times – The annual Cascade-Curtain Call)
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=webeasternwash23&date=20050223
DIVERSIONS
A price to pay for saying "I don't" – Mexican brides and grooms who get cold feet before walking down the aisle will have to pay their significant other for the inconvenience
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN2255471720080225?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
777 pilot fired for buzzing airport
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004203734_cathay26.html?syndication=rss
German cleans up glacier graffiti
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080226/ap_on_fe_st/odd_glacier_graffiti;_ylt=Ajis3NX7GqSVLUvqJvuq.ybtiBIF
GPS leading driving astray in N.J. city
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080225/ap_on_fe_st/odd_gps_goof;_ylt=AiD.U1OdcVf.oacyyea_dqPtiBIF
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
* Avista customers to get small credit
* Pacific Power says it will not accept agreement from BPA
* BPA Offer Could Lead to Lower Electric Bills
* Appointee Hays won't run for Jefferson County PUD post
* Grant helps pay heating bills for low-income family in Snohomish County
* Idaho – Companies in race to provide fuel for US 'nuclear renaissance'
* Dry weather causes hike in Tennessee Valley Authority rates
* Florida – Utility transmission plan rouses suspicion
* Great Plains Energy reaches agreement in principle in proposed Aquila purchase
* Tiny Arctic town hoping to power up after a week rationing electricity
* Pepco Lobbied on Energy Legislation $820,000 worth
* NERC cybersecurity standards to become mandatory in US
* Dam rules extended as Columbia River salmon plan written
* Oregon – State turns the tap on Umatilla basin water project
* Government planning to unleash flood through Grand Canyon in March
* Cantwell seeks tax breaks for wind power
* Boom and Bust for Renewable Energy?
* Oregon – How will utilities green up portfolios?
* Lack of lines for transmission trips up wind energy
* B.C. firm turns to green power
* Photovoltaic Cells Are Still Very Green, Comparative Test Shows
* Urban decay, redefined
* Energy-Saving Bulbs Raise Safety Questions
* Washington’s Legislative environment grows heated
* Farms May Be Exempted From Emission Rules
* PG&E to fund forest projects
* Carbon report says tax could save Canadians money
* British official: Rich countries must pay for carbon reduction
* Possible Wi-Fi In Downtown Centralia
* F.C.C. to Act on Delaying of Broadband Traffic
* Google joins consortium to build bandwidth
* Keep the internal hacker from turning the lights out in 2008
* Some GOP senators want Eastern Washington as a state unto itself
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Benefic • \buh-NEFF-ik\ • adjective – Of, having, or exerting a favorable influence
Dagwood leaned back and sighed in pleasure. It never ceased to amaze him about how his mountainous sandwiches provided a benefic turning point in his evening gastronomic activity.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Avista customers to get small credit – Beginning in April, Avista Corp.’s residential customers could see a bit of relief on their monthly electric bills. (Spokesman Review, Spokane)
http://www.spokesmanreview.com/breaking/story.asp?ID=13829
Pacific Power says it will not accept agreement from BPA (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/newsflash/index.ssf?/base/news-23/120397045448570.xml&storylist=orlocal
BPA Offer Could Lead to Lower Electric Bills (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3619
Appointee Hays won't run for Jefferson County PUD post – Saying he is ready to retire again, M. Kelly Hays has announced he will not seek election (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080225/NEWS/802250304
Grant helps pay heating bills for low-income family in Snohomish County (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080226/NEWS01/753113564/-1/RSS01
Idaho – Companies in race to provide fuel for US 'nuclear renaissance' (Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1240921~Companies_in_race_to_provide_fuel_for_US__nuclear_renaissance_.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
Dry weather causes hike in Tennessee Valley Authority rates (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketers Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CinpkmsrUUkgy30qbfen%5Fv
Florida – Utility plan rouses suspicion. Environmentalists says they'll fight Progress Energy on its transmission line project to expand its power transmission capability through 10 counties (St Petersburg Times)
http://www.sptimes.com/2008/02/24/Pasco/Utility_plan_rouses_s.shtml
Great Plains Energy reaches agreement in principle in proposed Aquila purchase (Consolidate---Consolidate – Forbes)
http://www.forbes.com/markets/feeds/afx/2008/02/25/afx4694818.html
Tiny Arctic town hoping to power up after a week rationing electricity (The Canadian Press)
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5g3sw70X6kTDDymKK8jxrdhDh8cuA
Pepco Lobbied on Energy Legislation – Pepco Holdings Spent $820,000 in 2007 to Lobby on Energy Legislation (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/apwire/fb79c6a6b68abc6bc828b04e2d921661.htm
Newsmaker: Meet the king of coal – You may not love coal, but you use a lot of it. Peabody Energy's Greg Boyce says the company will even participate in cleaning the stuff up (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/Meet-the-king-of-coal/2008-13840_3-6231768.html
NERC cybersecurity standards to become mandatory in US – The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) approved eight cyber security and critical infrastructure protection standards proposed by NERC. (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ARTCL&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=321050&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Dam rules extended as salmon plan written – To avoid more legal battles until a May 5 deadline for a new salmon-recovery plan for the Northwest, a federal judge has ordered that Columbia River dams be operated under last year's guidelines. (Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004203245_salmondams26m.html?syndication=rss
Oregon – State turns the tap on Umatilla basin water project (The Oregonian)
http://blog.oregonlive.com/pdxgreen/2008/02/state_turns_the_tap_on_umatill.html
Government planning to unleash flood through Grand Canyon in March (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8359467?source=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Cantwell seeks tax breaks for wind power – But Big Oil fights shift in proposed energy bill (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/352600_energy26.html?source=rss
Boom and Bust for Renewable Energy? Tax credits central to renewable-energy development (Epoch Times)
http://en.epochtimes.com/news/8-2-25/66550.html
Oregon – How will utilities green up portfolios? Power providers take first steps toward meeting state renewable energy mandate (Bend Bulletin)
http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080225/BIZ0102/802250335
Lack of lines for transmission trips up wind energy (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/environment/2008-02-25-wind-power-transmission_N.htm
B.C. firm turns to green power – Canfor Pulp is planning to become an electricity producer using wood waste to answer BC Hydro's call for green power.(Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=ad7bee15-e2af-494a-8a1b-37cf726e95ce
Power Struggle – The people of Iceland awaken to a stark choice: exploit a wealth of clean energy or keep their landscape pristine. (National Geographic)
http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/2008/03/iceland/del-giudice-text
Photovoltaic Cells Are Still Very Green, Comparative Test Shows (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/26/science/26obsola.html?ex=1361682000&en=b032bdd210ea8e75&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Urban decay, redefined – City hopes to turn yard clippings and food scraps into heat, electricity (Boston Globe)
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/02/26/urban_decay_redefined/
CONSERVATION
Energy-Saving Bulbs Raise Safety Questions (News Channel 5, Cleveland)
http://www.weathernet5.com/money/15381938/detail.html?rss=nn5wx&psp=news
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Legislative environment grows heated – Washington’s rural-versus-urban divide was in full view last week as the Legislature took up two bills that might someday reduce the state’s contribution to global greenhouse gas emissions. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/02/02252008_Legislative-environment-grows-heated.cfm/
Farms May Be Exempted From Emission Rules – Under pressure…the Environmental Protection Agency wants to drop requirements that factory farms report their emissions of toxic gases, despite findings by the agency's scientists that the gases pose a health threat (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/25/AR2008022502472.html?nav=rss_email/components
PG&E to fund forest projects – Last year, Pacific Gas and Electric Co. gave its customers the option of going carbon neutral, voluntarily paying a little extra on their monthly bills to fund projects that reduce greenhouse gas levels. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/02/26/BUFTV8HC8.DTL&feed=rss.business
Carbon report says tax could save Canadians money (Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=cbd1f741-70e7-4e10-be1d-a994b9c4efc4&k=34529
Canada – How Will You Spend Your $100? We'll each get a cheque to offset the carbon tax. Tell us your plans for the money. (The Tyee)
http://thetyee.ca/Views/2008/02/25/100GreenDollars/
British official: Rich countries must pay for carbon reductions (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/environment/2008-02-26-china-britain_N.htm?csp=34
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
POSSIBLE WI-FI IN DOWNTOWN CENTRALIA – Wireless Internet access could be coming for downtown Chehalis computer users. It’s under a program being considered by city hall. Centralia also launched a limited program that offers WiFi access in parts of Centralia’s downtown. (KELA Radio, Centralia)
F.C.C. to Act on Delaying of Broadband Traffic (New York Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/technology/25cnd-fcc.html?_r=1&ex=1361682000&en=400675c21d9dc50b&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
FCC Unimpressed by Comcast’s “Network Management” (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/02/25/fcc-unimpressed-by-comcasts-network-managment/
UPDATE:NY Attorney General Quizzes Comcast Over Network Mgmt (Ameritrade)
http://custom.marketwatch.com/custom/tdameritrade-com/html-story.asp?guid={29f8eaf0-7dcf-4fb6-8653-6f0525906a40}
Net Neutrality Hearing: When Is an Internet Traffic Delay O.K.? (New York Times)
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/25/net-neutrality-hearing-when-is-an-internet-traffic-delay-ok/index.html?ex=1361682000&en=71a6b321c952ea8d&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Google joins consortium to build bandwidth – Will invest in trans-Pacific fiber-optic cable (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8360521?source=rss&nclick_check=1
Keep the internal hacker from turning the lights out in 2008 (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ARTCL&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=321070&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Some GOP senators want Eastern Washington as a state unto itself (Seattle Times – The annual Cascade-Curtain Call)
http://archives.seattletimes.nwsource.com/cgi-bin/texis.cgi/web/vortex/display?slug=webeasternwash23&date=20050223
DIVERSIONS
A price to pay for saying "I don't" – Mexican brides and grooms who get cold feet before walking down the aisle will have to pay their significant other for the inconvenience
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN2255471720080225?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
777 pilot fired for buzzing airport
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004203734_cathay26.html?syndication=rss
German cleans up glacier graffiti
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080226/ap_on_fe_st/odd_glacier_graffiti;_ylt=Ajis3NX7GqSVLUvqJvuq.ybtiBIF
GPS leading driving astray in N.J. city
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080225/ap_on_fe_st/odd_gps_goof;_ylt=AiD.U1OdcVf.oacyyea_dqPtiBIF
Monday, February 25, 2008
Energy News Digest for February 25, 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)
* BPA's proposal won't lead to cuts in electric bills soon
* Cowlitz PUD to deliver $65 refunds
* Between Shelton and Olympia – Transmission upgrades aimed at reducing outages
* Idaho desert right for uranium plant, but firm wants tax goodies, too
* Metal thieves on I-5 Bridge find only fiber
* Governors: Coal must be part of energy debate
* A Victory Near for Utilities in Kansas Coal Battle
* Va. Utility Faces Biggest Fight In Plan for 65-Mile Power Line
* Congress expected to approve energy package; who will foot bill?
* Domenici speech highlights water, energy nexus
* Satisfaction of business customers with electric utilities continues to climb
* Idaho’s Dworshak Dam is Safe, Says Army Corps
* Bering Sea pollock fishery accidentally takes 130,000 prize Chinook
* Fishermen, feds debate sea lions' fate
* New York – In City Waters, Beds (and a Job) for Oysters
* State Ecology Department OKs Neah Bay wave power project
* Idaho utility companies, wind developers come to agreement
* Canada - Sidney company proposes giant wind farm in caribou habitat
* Move Over, Oil, There’s Money in Texas Wind
* Energy storage nears its day in the sun
* Jefferson County electrifies travel with no-gasoline car
* Niagra Falls For Wood Power – Move over Niagara hydropower
* 10 things the nation must do to avert an energy crunch and protect the planet
* Columbia River Bridge – Bridging the global warming gap
* Canada – Federal carbon tax proposed
* World switches on to Earth Hour switch-off
* Great expectations given at Grant County EDC banquet – Ask.com discusses move
* Qwest's broadband step may be a little one
* Soaring energy prices bad news for the economy
* Exxon Valdez case drags on; many claimants dead
* Windstorm's wrath forces emergency harvest
* North Mason County Hospital District Gets Loan to Get Off the Ground
* Are retreats working vacations or just work?
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Dodgery • \DAH-juh-ree\ • noun – Evasion, trickery
Alberto was quite impressed with the dodgery of the energy trader during his 2001 internship in Houston. “Now remember,” said the trader. “Although you think I’m selling you something of value, I’m really selling you a derivative of nothing.”
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
BPA's proposal won't lead to cuts in electric bills soon “…PacifiCorp…is unlikely to sign off on the BPA's proposal and will keep fighting for higher benefits….” (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1203737103318840.xml&coll=7
Cowlitz PUD to deliver $65 refunds “…thanks to an approximately $15 million settlement coming from the federal Bonneville Power Administration…” (Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/02/23/area_news/10124044.txt
Between Shelton and Olympia – Transmission upgrades aimed at reducing outages. Bonneville Power Administration seeks comment on construction (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/367617.html
Idaho desert right for uranium plant, but firm wants tax goodies, too (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/368154.html
Metal thieves on I-5 Bridge find only fiber – The damage that took out traffic cameras on the Interstate 5 Bridge bears the markings of a metal thief. The only problem? No metal. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/02/02222008_Metal-thieves-on-I-5-Bridge-find-only-fiber.cfm?newsletter=1
Governors: Coal must be part of energy debate (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2008-02-23-energy-debate_N.htm?csp=34
A Victory Near for Utilities in Kansas Coal Battle (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/22/AR2008022202878.html?nav=rss_business
Va. Utility Faces Biggest Fight In Plan for 65-Mile Power Line (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/23/AR2008022301830.html?nav=rss_business
Congress expected to approve energy package; who will foot bill? (Memphis Commercial Appeal)
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/feb/25/oil-wind-battle-for-tax-breaks/
Domenici speech highlights water, energy nexus (New Mexico Business Weekly)
http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/stories/2008/02/18/daily37.html?ana=from_rss
Satisfaction of business customers with electric utilities continues to climb: J.D. Power and Associates (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=320927&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Idaho’s Dworshak Dam is Safe, Says Army Corps (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3611
Bering Sea pollock fishery accidentally takes 130,000 prize Chinook (The Canadian Press)
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5i6sTLycKdtFCnJ3GHHpPEvylRlZA
Fishermen, feds debate sea lions' fate (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakima-herald.com/page/dis/291077705657541
New York – In City Waters, Beds (and a Job) for Oysters. New York City plans to plant oysters near the mouth of a creek that is wedged between two dormant landfills to establish oyster beds that will absorb waste materials. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/nyregion/24oysters.html?_r=1&ex=1361595600&en=e7c935e84b602832&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
State Ecology Department OKs Neah Bay wave power project (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1236083~State_Ecology_Department_OKs_Neah_Bay_wave_power_project.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Idaho utility companies, wind developers come to agreement (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/368280.html
Canada - Sidney company proposes giant wind farm in caribou habitat (Victoria Times-Colonist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=9371f38a-a293-47dd-ba86-047c0aed41f4&k=873
Move Over, Oil, There’s Money in Texas Wind (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/23/business/23wind.html?_r=1&ex=1361509200&en=3235d917da8aadba&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Energy storage nears its day in the sun (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSL222164020080222?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest
Jefferson County electrifies travel with no-gasoline car (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080224/NEWS/802240302
Niagra Falls For Wood Power – Move over Niagara hydropower – There’s a new generation of power in town. (Biomass Magazine: Slowly I turn….Step by step…)
http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=1400
CONSERVATION
10 things the nation must do to avert an energy crunch and protect the planet (Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/5565637.html
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Columbia River Bridge – Bridging the global warming gap. Planners of a new I-5 span juggle ideas on tolls and prices, looking for ways to slow the growth in trips (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1203753302183320.xml&coll=7
Canada – Federal carbon tax proposed (Victoria Times Columnist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=76a72fff-445f-4b60-8b06-8712c0e5e70a&k=58966
World switches on to Earth Hour switch-off (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSSP878820080219?sp=true
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Great expectations given at Grant County EDC banquet – Ask.com discusses move (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/02/22/news/news05.txt
Qwest's broadband step may be a little one (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004199035_brier25.html
GENERAL NEWS
Soaring energy prices bad news for the economy – The high cost of oil and gasoline could act as a tax on consumers and undercut the government's stimulus plan. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0221/p03s01-usec.html
Exxon Valdez case drags on; many claimants dead (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004199250_exxxon25.html
Windstorm's wrath forces emergency harvest (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004199401_salvagelogging25m.html?syndication=rss
North Mason County Hospital District Gets Loan to Get Off the Ground (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2008/feb/24/nm-hospital-district-gets-loan-to-get-off-the/
Are retreats working vacations or just work? Puyallup’s City Council went to the downtown Bellevue Hyatt Regency and spent $17,000 over two days (Tacooma News Tribune)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/291425.html
DIVERSIONS
NFL Reverses Call On Church Parties
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/20/AR2008022002772.html
Man 'didn't intend' theft in bank error – A defense attorney in New York City says her client believed he was rightfully entitled to the $2 million he's accused of stealing from a bank account managed by someone with the same name.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080223/ap_on_fe_st/odd_bank_error_arrest;_ylt=Ah6rK94SAfx6kXaV9.cuSjrtiBIF
Famed bun-maker cleans up "doggy" name
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080225/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_china_buns;_ylt=AgA5l79ioBtxJX.8SYjn0E_tiBIF
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
* BPA's proposal won't lead to cuts in electric bills soon
* Cowlitz PUD to deliver $65 refunds
* Between Shelton and Olympia – Transmission upgrades aimed at reducing outages
* Idaho desert right for uranium plant, but firm wants tax goodies, too
* Metal thieves on I-5 Bridge find only fiber
* Governors: Coal must be part of energy debate
* A Victory Near for Utilities in Kansas Coal Battle
* Va. Utility Faces Biggest Fight In Plan for 65-Mile Power Line
* Congress expected to approve energy package; who will foot bill?
* Domenici speech highlights water, energy nexus
* Satisfaction of business customers with electric utilities continues to climb
* Idaho’s Dworshak Dam is Safe, Says Army Corps
* Bering Sea pollock fishery accidentally takes 130,000 prize Chinook
* Fishermen, feds debate sea lions' fate
* New York – In City Waters, Beds (and a Job) for Oysters
* State Ecology Department OKs Neah Bay wave power project
* Idaho utility companies, wind developers come to agreement
* Canada - Sidney company proposes giant wind farm in caribou habitat
* Move Over, Oil, There’s Money in Texas Wind
* Energy storage nears its day in the sun
* Jefferson County electrifies travel with no-gasoline car
* Niagra Falls For Wood Power – Move over Niagara hydropower
* 10 things the nation must do to avert an energy crunch and protect the planet
* Columbia River Bridge – Bridging the global warming gap
* Canada – Federal carbon tax proposed
* World switches on to Earth Hour switch-off
* Great expectations given at Grant County EDC banquet – Ask.com discusses move
* Qwest's broadband step may be a little one
* Soaring energy prices bad news for the economy
* Exxon Valdez case drags on; many claimants dead
* Windstorm's wrath forces emergency harvest
* North Mason County Hospital District Gets Loan to Get Off the Ground
* Are retreats working vacations or just work?
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Dodgery • \DAH-juh-ree\ • noun – Evasion, trickery
Alberto was quite impressed with the dodgery of the energy trader during his 2001 internship in Houston. “Now remember,” said the trader. “Although you think I’m selling you something of value, I’m really selling you a derivative of nothing.”
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
BPA's proposal won't lead to cuts in electric bills soon “…PacifiCorp…is unlikely to sign off on the BPA's proposal and will keep fighting for higher benefits….” (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1203737103318840.xml&coll=7
Cowlitz PUD to deliver $65 refunds “…thanks to an approximately $15 million settlement coming from the federal Bonneville Power Administration…” (Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/02/23/area_news/10124044.txt
Between Shelton and Olympia – Transmission upgrades aimed at reducing outages. Bonneville Power Administration seeks comment on construction (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/367617.html
Idaho desert right for uranium plant, but firm wants tax goodies, too (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/368154.html
Metal thieves on I-5 Bridge find only fiber – The damage that took out traffic cameras on the Interstate 5 Bridge bears the markings of a metal thief. The only problem? No metal. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/02/02222008_Metal-thieves-on-I-5-Bridge-find-only-fiber.cfm?newsletter=1
Governors: Coal must be part of energy debate (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2008-02-23-energy-debate_N.htm?csp=34
A Victory Near for Utilities in Kansas Coal Battle (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/22/AR2008022202878.html?nav=rss_business
Va. Utility Faces Biggest Fight In Plan for 65-Mile Power Line (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/23/AR2008022301830.html?nav=rss_business
Congress expected to approve energy package; who will foot bill? (Memphis Commercial Appeal)
http://www.commercialappeal.com/news/2008/feb/25/oil-wind-battle-for-tax-breaks/
Domenici speech highlights water, energy nexus (New Mexico Business Weekly)
http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/stories/2008/02/18/daily37.html?ana=from_rss
Satisfaction of business customers with electric utilities continues to climb: J.D. Power and Associates (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=320927&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Idaho’s Dworshak Dam is Safe, Says Army Corps (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3611
Bering Sea pollock fishery accidentally takes 130,000 prize Chinook (The Canadian Press)
http://canadianpress.google.com/article/ALeqM5i6sTLycKdtFCnJ3GHHpPEvylRlZA
Fishermen, feds debate sea lions' fate (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakima-herald.com/page/dis/291077705657541
New York – In City Waters, Beds (and a Job) for Oysters. New York City plans to plant oysters near the mouth of a creek that is wedged between two dormant landfills to establish oyster beds that will absorb waste materials. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/24/nyregion/24oysters.html?_r=1&ex=1361595600&en=e7c935e84b602832&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
State Ecology Department OKs Neah Bay wave power project (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1236083~State_Ecology_Department_OKs_Neah_Bay_wave_power_project.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Idaho utility companies, wind developers come to agreement (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/368280.html
Canada - Sidney company proposes giant wind farm in caribou habitat (Victoria Times-Colonist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=9371f38a-a293-47dd-ba86-047c0aed41f4&k=873
Move Over, Oil, There’s Money in Texas Wind (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/23/business/23wind.html?_r=1&ex=1361509200&en=3235d917da8aadba&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Energy storage nears its day in the sun (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/scienceNews/idUSL222164020080222?feedType=nl&feedName=usmorningdigest
Jefferson County electrifies travel with no-gasoline car (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080224/NEWS/802240302
Niagra Falls For Wood Power – Move over Niagara hydropower – There’s a new generation of power in town. (Biomass Magazine: Slowly I turn….Step by step…)
http://www.biomassmagazine.com/article.jsp?article_id=1400
CONSERVATION
10 things the nation must do to avert an energy crunch and protect the planet (Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/outlook/5565637.html
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Columbia River Bridge – Bridging the global warming gap. Planners of a new I-5 span juggle ideas on tolls and prices, looking for ways to slow the growth in trips (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1203753302183320.xml&coll=7
Canada – Federal carbon tax proposed (Victoria Times Columnist)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=76a72fff-445f-4b60-8b06-8712c0e5e70a&k=58966
World switches on to Earth Hour switch-off (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSSP878820080219?sp=true
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Great expectations given at Grant County EDC banquet – Ask.com discusses move (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2008/02/22/news/news05.txt
Qwest's broadband step may be a little one (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004199035_brier25.html
GENERAL NEWS
Soaring energy prices bad news for the economy – The high cost of oil and gasoline could act as a tax on consumers and undercut the government's stimulus plan. (Christian Science Monitor)
http://www.csmonitor.com/2008/0221/p03s01-usec.html
Exxon Valdez case drags on; many claimants dead (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004199250_exxxon25.html
Windstorm's wrath forces emergency harvest (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004199401_salvagelogging25m.html?syndication=rss
North Mason County Hospital District Gets Loan to Get Off the Ground (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2008/feb/24/nm-hospital-district-gets-loan-to-get-off-the/
Are retreats working vacations or just work? Puyallup’s City Council went to the downtown Bellevue Hyatt Regency and spent $17,000 over two days (Tacooma News Tribune)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/291425.html
DIVERSIONS
NFL Reverses Call On Church Parties
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/20/AR2008022002772.html
Man 'didn't intend' theft in bank error – A defense attorney in New York City says her client believed he was rightfully entitled to the $2 million he's accused of stealing from a bank account managed by someone with the same name.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080223/ap_on_fe_st/odd_bank_error_arrest;_ylt=Ah6rK94SAfx6kXaV9.cuSjrtiBIF
Famed bun-maker cleans up "doggy" name
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080225/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_china_buns;_ylt=AgA5l79ioBtxJX.8SYjn0E_tiBIF
Friday, February 22, 2008
Energy News Digest for February 22, 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)
* Avista Corp. appeals Residential Exchange case to US Supreme Court
* BPA – Squeezing juice from aging infrastructure
* Special Series: Coal development in Montana
* FERC enters tinkering time: Power market changes sought
* Montana – BP drops Flathead coal-bed plan
* Lower Columbia River closes to salmon, steelhead fishing Feb. 25
* Grant County PUD looks to raise fish in Lake Wenatchee pens
* Farm program helps environment – 67,000 trees have been planted
* Castle Rock residents simmering over water bills
* Controversial Jefferson County septic program
* Water Wars – Georgia Claims a Sliver of the Tennessee River
* California – Governor, Feinstein to try to get water deal done
* Governors try to advance clean energy
* A Solar Grand Plan
* Oregon nonprofit lands funding for solar electric system
* Wind Power Development Surging in US
* Qualms Over Clean Energy That Would Come From 12 Stories Up
* California neighbors wage battle over trees that shade solar panels
* Solar heater puts the power of the sun in the suds
* Oregon’s Climate Service Head and Global Warming Critic Retires
* China's carbon dragon
* Riding With Ed (Begley Jr.): An Actor Devoted to the Green Life
* Server-farm subsidies uncertain in WA Legislature
* Internet-TV connection still far off, experts say
* San Jose Mercury News Editorial: Congress should act to preserve Net neutrality
* AOL Really Kills Netscape This Time
* FCC Relaxes Digital-TV Transition Order
* Computer Piracy – What To Do About the Zombie Lord Next Door?
* Gas prices spike overnight
* High gas prices drive down revenues – Washington Gas Tax Projects Still Underfunded
* King County could lose millions from poor investments
* Idaho officials blame software flaw for tax revenue shortfall
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Logy • \LOE-ghee\ • adjective – Marked by sluggishness and lack of vitality: groggy
“Ahhh…now that’s a turkey dinner to write home about,” exhaled the Professor after the annual “Zither Society” dinner. “I know that I’ve been paid a $50,000 honorarium for a speech, but my mind is a bit logy tonight. Therefore, in place of a speech, I will allow you to watch me sleep for the next 45 minutes.” “Enjoy,” he exclaimed as his breathing gave way to chainsaw-like snoring.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Avista Corp. appeals case to US Supreme Court – Three investor-owned utilities seek review of ruling on BPA payments (Journal of Business)
http://www.spokanejournal.com/spokane_id=article&sub=3489
Squeezing juice from aging infrastructure – Bonneville Power Administration says upgrades are needed to meet area's growing appetite for electricity. Central Oregon’s power network, pushed to the limit by a decade of growth, needs about $140 million worth of investment in the next (Bend Bulletin)
http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080222/BIZ0102/802220425
Special Series: Coal development in Montana (KVTQ-TV, Billings)
http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/global/story.asp?s=7894944
FERC enters tinkering time: Power market changes sought – Federal commission's plan might improve wholesale competition after report of fast-rising electricity costs (Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/5561138.html
Montana – BP drops Flathead coal-bed plan. A controversial plan to extract coal-bed methane from the Canadian wilds north of Glacier National Park was scuttled Thursday, a surprise turnaround that drew praise from many downstream Montanans. (The Missoulian)
http://missoulian.com/articles/2008/02/22/news/local/news03.txt
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Lower Columbia River closes to salmon, steelhead fishing Feb. 25 (Bend Weekly News)
http://www.bendweekly.com/Public-Notices/13796.html
Grant County PUD looks to raise fish in Lake Wenatchee pens (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080221/NEWS04/559558111/1001/rss1001
Farm program helps environment – 67,000 trees have been planted to help streams, fish (Bellingham Herald)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/business/story/328593.html
Castle Rock residents simmering over water bills – The city's revamped water and sewer rates have some residents boiling mad - and they're asking city leaders for relief. (Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/02/22/area_news/10122363.txt
Controversial Jefferson County septic program -- including higher fees -- delayed for year or more (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080222/NEWS/802220302
Water Wars – Georgia Claims a Sliver of the Tennessee River (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/us/22water.html?ex=1361336400&en=264ca4787ebf5c71&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
California – Governor, Feinstein to try to get water deal done – Schwarzenegger, senator attempt to persuade state lawmakers to reach a compromise on a bond (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_8334166?source=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Governors try to advance clean energy – Governors who want clean energy to be a national priority are trying to bring together states with wildly different ways of producing power (Associated Press, via Yahoo! News)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080221/ap_on_re_us/governors_global_warming_3
A Solar Grand Plan – By 2050 solar power could end U.S. dependence on foreign oil and slash greenhouse gas emissions (Scientific American)
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=a-solar-grand-plan
Oregon nonprofit lands funding for solar electric system (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/02/18/daily31.html?ana=from_rss
Wind Power Development Surging in US (Voice of America)
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-02-21-voa23.cfm
Xcel Energy wants wind farms – Xcel Energy Inc. on Thursday issued a request for proposals for companies to build wind farms capable of generating up to 150 megawatts of power. (Denver Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2008/02/18/daily49.html?ana=from_rss
Qualms Over Clean Energy That Would Come From 12 Stories Up (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/nyregion/22turbine.html?_r=1&ex=1361422800&en=e6a531467f91ead2&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
California neighbors wage battle over trees that shade solar panels (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/352131_greendispute21.html
Solar heater puts the power of the sun in the suds – Lucky Labrador's new Solar Flare ale glows as golden as sunbeams in a glass, but a new solar water-heating system makes it Portland's greenest beer. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1203648901175020.xml&coll=7
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Oregon’s Climate Service Head and Global Warming Critic Retires (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/climate-service-head-and-global-warming-critic-retires/
China's carbon dragon (Christian Science Monitor, via Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/987/story/97163.html
Riding With Ed (Begley Jr.): An Actor Devoted to the Green Life (NY Times)
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/riding-with-ed-an-actor-devoted-to-the-green-life/index.html?ex=1361422800&en=3af8220088247bd2&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Server-farm subsidies uncertain in WA Legislature – Major tech companies' campaign for a server-farm tax break appears stalled in Washington's Legislature, just a day after hometown favorite Microsoft Corp. won an incentive package from Iowa lawmakers. (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/366554.html
Internet-TV connection still far off, experts say – New sets allow users to watch Web videos from the couch, but many say technology isn't there yet (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_8334161?source=rss&nclick_check=1
Microsoft to share some software secrets (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/02/18/daily23.html?ana=from_rss
San Jose Mercury News Editorial: Congress should act to preserve Net neutrality
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8332927?source=rss&nclick_check=1
AOL Really Kills Netscape This Time (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/idg/IDG_002570DE00740E18002573F60061A2A2.html?ex=1361422800&en=887b320760708dd6&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
FCC Relaxes Digital-TV Transition Order (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/21/AR2008022102605.html?nav=rss_technology
Computer Piracy – What To Do About the Zombie Lord Next Door? (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/02/21/what-to-do-about-the-zombie-lord-next-door/
GENERAL NEWS
Gas prices spike overnight – If you're waking up this morning and getting ready to go on a weekend drive, bad news: Gas prices have shot up again overnight. (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_022208WAB_gas_prices_rise_LJ.1933faaa.html
High gas prices drive down revenues – Washington Gas Tax Projects Still Underfunded (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3608
King County could lose millions from investments – Local budgets may be hurt by sub-prime mortgage woes (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/352135_bonds21.html
Idaho officials blame software flaw for tax revenue shortfall – Kootenai County officials are blaming a software glitch for a shortfall in tax revenue collected last year from property owners. (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/366507.html
Remember the Seattle Mayor’s parking flap in Olympia? Seattle's free parking spots not free for long (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/15868327.html
DIVERSIONS
Government Still Declares Living Woman Dead – Laura Todd has been dead off and on for eight years
http://www.kirotv.com/news/15365524/detail.html
Elvis Impersonator Acknowledged Fraud, Police Say (pretender pretends his pretend house burned down…)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23225901/
Mother Tries Stealing 90 DVDs — With Four Children in Tow
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2008/feb/21/mother-tries-stealing-90-dvds-8212-with-four-in/
Police: Fake $100 Bills Had Lincoln's Image – Watermark Contained Abe Lincoln's Portrait (I know Ben Franklin, he is a friend of mine…and you sir are no Ben Franklin)
http://www.kirotv.com/money/15340698/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000202212008&ts=H
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
* Avista Corp. appeals Residential Exchange case to US Supreme Court
* BPA – Squeezing juice from aging infrastructure
* Special Series: Coal development in Montana
* FERC enters tinkering time: Power market changes sought
* Montana – BP drops Flathead coal-bed plan
* Lower Columbia River closes to salmon, steelhead fishing Feb. 25
* Grant County PUD looks to raise fish in Lake Wenatchee pens
* Farm program helps environment – 67,000 trees have been planted
* Castle Rock residents simmering over water bills
* Controversial Jefferson County septic program
* Water Wars – Georgia Claims a Sliver of the Tennessee River
* California – Governor, Feinstein to try to get water deal done
* Governors try to advance clean energy
* A Solar Grand Plan
* Oregon nonprofit lands funding for solar electric system
* Wind Power Development Surging in US
* Qualms Over Clean Energy That Would Come From 12 Stories Up
* California neighbors wage battle over trees that shade solar panels
* Solar heater puts the power of the sun in the suds
* Oregon’s Climate Service Head and Global Warming Critic Retires
* China's carbon dragon
* Riding With Ed (Begley Jr.): An Actor Devoted to the Green Life
* Server-farm subsidies uncertain in WA Legislature
* Internet-TV connection still far off, experts say
* San Jose Mercury News Editorial: Congress should act to preserve Net neutrality
* AOL Really Kills Netscape This Time
* FCC Relaxes Digital-TV Transition Order
* Computer Piracy – What To Do About the Zombie Lord Next Door?
* Gas prices spike overnight
* High gas prices drive down revenues – Washington Gas Tax Projects Still Underfunded
* King County could lose millions from poor investments
* Idaho officials blame software flaw for tax revenue shortfall
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Logy • \LOE-ghee\ • adjective – Marked by sluggishness and lack of vitality: groggy
“Ahhh…now that’s a turkey dinner to write home about,” exhaled the Professor after the annual “Zither Society” dinner. “I know that I’ve been paid a $50,000 honorarium for a speech, but my mind is a bit logy tonight. Therefore, in place of a speech, I will allow you to watch me sleep for the next 45 minutes.” “Enjoy,” he exclaimed as his breathing gave way to chainsaw-like snoring.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Avista Corp. appeals case to US Supreme Court – Three investor-owned utilities seek review of ruling on BPA payments (Journal of Business)
http://www.spokanejournal.com/spokane_id=article&sub=3489
Squeezing juice from aging infrastructure – Bonneville Power Administration says upgrades are needed to meet area's growing appetite for electricity. Central Oregon’s power network, pushed to the limit by a decade of growth, needs about $140 million worth of investment in the next (Bend Bulletin)
http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080222/BIZ0102/802220425
Special Series: Coal development in Montana (KVTQ-TV, Billings)
http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/global/story.asp?s=7894944
FERC enters tinkering time: Power market changes sought – Federal commission's plan might improve wholesale competition after report of fast-rising electricity costs (Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/5561138.html
Montana – BP drops Flathead coal-bed plan. A controversial plan to extract coal-bed methane from the Canadian wilds north of Glacier National Park was scuttled Thursday, a surprise turnaround that drew praise from many downstream Montanans. (The Missoulian)
http://missoulian.com/articles/2008/02/22/news/local/news03.txt
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Lower Columbia River closes to salmon, steelhead fishing Feb. 25 (Bend Weekly News)
http://www.bendweekly.com/Public-Notices/13796.html
Grant County PUD looks to raise fish in Lake Wenatchee pens (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080221/NEWS04/559558111/1001/rss1001
Farm program helps environment – 67,000 trees have been planted to help streams, fish (Bellingham Herald)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/business/story/328593.html
Castle Rock residents simmering over water bills – The city's revamped water and sewer rates have some residents boiling mad - and they're asking city leaders for relief. (Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/02/22/area_news/10122363.txt
Controversial Jefferson County septic program -- including higher fees -- delayed for year or more (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080222/NEWS/802220302
Water Wars – Georgia Claims a Sliver of the Tennessee River (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/us/22water.html?ex=1361336400&en=264ca4787ebf5c71&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
California – Governor, Feinstein to try to get water deal done – Schwarzenegger, senator attempt to persuade state lawmakers to reach a compromise on a bond (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_8334166?source=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Governors try to advance clean energy – Governors who want clean energy to be a national priority are trying to bring together states with wildly different ways of producing power (Associated Press, via Yahoo! News)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080221/ap_on_re_us/governors_global_warming_3
A Solar Grand Plan – By 2050 solar power could end U.S. dependence on foreign oil and slash greenhouse gas emissions (Scientific American)
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=a-solar-grand-plan
Oregon nonprofit lands funding for solar electric system (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/02/18/daily31.html?ana=from_rss
Wind Power Development Surging in US (Voice of America)
http://www.voanews.com/english/2008-02-21-voa23.cfm
Xcel Energy wants wind farms – Xcel Energy Inc. on Thursday issued a request for proposals for companies to build wind farms capable of generating up to 150 megawatts of power. (Denver Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2008/02/18/daily49.html?ana=from_rss
Qualms Over Clean Energy That Would Come From 12 Stories Up (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/nyregion/22turbine.html?_r=1&ex=1361422800&en=e6a531467f91ead2&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
California neighbors wage battle over trees that shade solar panels (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/352131_greendispute21.html
Solar heater puts the power of the sun in the suds – Lucky Labrador's new Solar Flare ale glows as golden as sunbeams in a glass, but a new solar water-heating system makes it Portland's greenest beer. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1203648901175020.xml&coll=7
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Oregon’s Climate Service Head and Global Warming Critic Retires (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/climate-service-head-and-global-warming-critic-retires/
China's carbon dragon (Christian Science Monitor, via Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/987/story/97163.html
Riding With Ed (Begley Jr.): An Actor Devoted to the Green Life (NY Times)
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/02/22/riding-with-ed-an-actor-devoted-to-the-green-life/index.html?ex=1361422800&en=3af8220088247bd2&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Server-farm subsidies uncertain in WA Legislature – Major tech companies' campaign for a server-farm tax break appears stalled in Washington's Legislature, just a day after hometown favorite Microsoft Corp. won an incentive package from Iowa lawmakers. (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/366554.html
Internet-TV connection still far off, experts say – New sets allow users to watch Web videos from the couch, but many say technology isn't there yet (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_8334161?source=rss&nclick_check=1
Microsoft to share some software secrets (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/02/18/daily23.html?ana=from_rss
San Jose Mercury News Editorial: Congress should act to preserve Net neutrality
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8332927?source=rss&nclick_check=1
AOL Really Kills Netscape This Time (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/idg/IDG_002570DE00740E18002573F60061A2A2.html?ex=1361422800&en=887b320760708dd6&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
FCC Relaxes Digital-TV Transition Order (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/02/21/AR2008022102605.html?nav=rss_technology
Computer Piracy – What To Do About the Zombie Lord Next Door? (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/02/21/what-to-do-about-the-zombie-lord-next-door/
GENERAL NEWS
Gas prices spike overnight – If you're waking up this morning and getting ready to go on a weekend drive, bad news: Gas prices have shot up again overnight. (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_022208WAB_gas_prices_rise_LJ.1933faaa.html
High gas prices drive down revenues – Washington Gas Tax Projects Still Underfunded (NW Public Radio)
http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=3608
King County could lose millions from investments – Local budgets may be hurt by sub-prime mortgage woes (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/352135_bonds21.html
Idaho officials blame software flaw for tax revenue shortfall – Kootenai County officials are blaming a software glitch for a shortfall in tax revenue collected last year from property owners. (Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/366507.html
Remember the Seattle Mayor’s parking flap in Olympia? Seattle's free parking spots not free for long (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/15868327.html
DIVERSIONS
Government Still Declares Living Woman Dead – Laura Todd has been dead off and on for eight years
http://www.kirotv.com/news/15365524/detail.html
Elvis Impersonator Acknowledged Fraud, Police Say (pretender pretends his pretend house burned down…)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/23225901/
Mother Tries Stealing 90 DVDs — With Four Children in Tow
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2008/feb/21/mother-tries-stealing-90-dvds-8212-with-four-in/
Police: Fake $100 Bills Had Lincoln's Image – Watermark Contained Abe Lincoln's Portrait (I know Ben Franklin, he is a friend of mine…and you sir are no Ben Franklin)
http://www.kirotv.com/money/15340698/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000202212008&ts=H
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