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)
- Columbian Guest Columnist – Skagit would regret seizing live power lines
- Chelan County PUD-Alcoa Contract
- Tacoma tideflats power outage causes oil to spew out of refinery stack
- UTAH – Coal-fired power plant will be on Sevier County ballot
- Women at Work Find Reinforced Glass Ceilings – BPA targeted in article
- MINNESOTA – Is Otter Tail a utility or a conglomerate?
- Summer salmon run has anglers giddy
- The Daily Astorian Opinion – Salmon elites pull out of negotiations
- Wind Power Threatens . . . Salmon?!
- East Clallam County – Customers make waves over Diamond Point water system
- Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens wants to supplant oil with wind
- Wind Power: Energy vision or Boone doggle?
- Large Solar Energy Array Set for General Motors plant in Spain
- Europeans Reconsider Biofuel Goal
- Canada's Clean Energy Classrooms
- A Cloth to Cut the Mercury Risk from Light Bulbs
- U.S. Green Building Council set to modify LEED standards
- Special Report: Energy Efficiency – Same Wires, More Power
- G-8 Leaders Pledge to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Half by 2050
- Experts Push 'Green' Solutions to Infrastructure Problems
- Grant County PUD Wholesale Fiber Rates
- OREGON – Providence Health clamps down on bandwidth
- So Far, Broadband 'Franchise Reform' Means Higher Prices
- CALIFORNIA – Palo Alto council enthusiastic about high speed broadband proposals
- Another twist in Microsoft, Yahoo saga
- Seattle improperly spent taxes, audit says
- Seattle to hold hearing on proposed Styrofoam ban and 20-cent fee for paper or plastic bags
- Theft of car anti-pollution devices increasing
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Turpitude • \TER-puh-tood\ • noun – Inherent baseness: depravity; also: a base act
Derwood was mortified by the accusations of moral turpitude that were directed at him by the executive board of the “Pick Up Stix” Association of America. The only digression he could remember came when he was twelve, and had been caught rearranging an extremely complex pile of the sticks while he thought no one was looking. His worst fears were confirmed by the cunning smirk displayed by board member Rusty the “Straw Man” Hertz.
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
Columbian Guest Columnist – Skagit would regret seizing live power lines: Washingtonians put the bitter private-public power wars behind us more than three quarters of a century ago (Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2008/07/07082008_Skagit-would-regret-seizing-live-power-lines.cfm/
CHELAN COUNTY PUD-ALCOA CONTRACT – Chelan County PUD commissioners are getting closer to ratifying a new power sales contract with Alcoa. PUD spokeswoman Kimberlee Craig says commissioners will consider the final agreement next Monday. Six months ago, commissioners approved the initial contract terms. Craig says the contract would provide Alcoa with electricity equal to 26 percent of the output of Rocky Reach and Rock Island dams, in exchange for the company paying 26 percent of the cost of producing and delivering the power, plus other costs. She says if approved, Alcoa will also pay about 23 million dollars of an 89 million dollar reservation charge within a month of signing, with the balance deferred as long as the plant continues to run three pot lines. (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)
Tacoma tideflats power outage causes oil to spew out of refinery stack (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/407334.html
UTAH – Coal-fired power plant will be on Sevier County ballot (The Salt Lake Tribune, UT)
http://www.sltrib.com/News/ci_9813736
Women at Work Find Reinforced Glass Ceilings – With two decades of experience under her belt, Lindsay Hall was confident she was a strong candidate for a promotion within the Bonneville Power Administration, a federal agency in Oregon where she works as a wildlife biologist. (Womens’ ENews Note: why didn’t the author include mention of previous hires of Judi Johansen as administrator and Vickie Van Zandt in transmission?)
http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/3663/context/archive
MINNESOTA – Is Otter Tail a utility or a conglomerate? As the utility's other businesses grow, it asks for its first overall rate increase in 20 years (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, MN)
http://www.startribune.com/business/24048459.html?location_refer=Business:highlightModules:3
FISH & WILDLIFE
Summer salmon run has anglers giddy “…Projections call for a run of more than 52,000 summer Chinook to make their way up the Columbia this season. Sockeye run predictions are even more impressive…” (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080707/NEWS04/237436731
The Daily Astorian Opinion – Salmon elites pull out of negotiations: Commercial fishers are descendants of heroic men who fed their families (Astoria, OR)
http://www.dailyastorian.com/main.asp?SectionID=23&SubSectionID=392&ArticleID=52649&TM=275.812
Wind Power Threatens . . . Salmon?! (National Review Online)
http://planetgore.nationalreview.com/post/?q=YzgxMmRmOTIwNmFlMDEzNzAyY2U5N2E1MjJiYjQxOTU=
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
East Clallam County – Customers make waves over Diamond Point water system (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080708/NEWS/807080307
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Texas oilman T. Boone Pickens wants to supplant oil with wind (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2008-07-08-t-boone-pickens-plan-wind-energy_N.htm
Wind Power: Energy vision or Boone doggle? Pickens plan credible by comparison with Washington (MarketWatch)
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/energy-vision-boone-doggle/story.aspx?guid=%7BCE4C84D0-A81D-4BAF-BC52-0585105E516D%7D&dist=msr_1
Large Solar Energy Array Set for General Motors plant in Spain (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/08/business/08solar.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Europeans Reconsider Biofuel Goal – European officials proposed scaling back drastically on their goal of increasing Europe’s use of biofuels, a major about-face on a central environmental and energy issue (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/08/business/worldbusiness/08fuel.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Canada's Clean Energy Classrooms (Renewable Energy World Online)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=52997&src=rss
CONSERVATION
A Cloth to Cut the Mercury Risk from Light Bulbs (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/08/science/08obcfl.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
U.S. Green Building Council set to modify LEED standards (Portland Business Journal, OR)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/07/07/daily6.html?ana=from_rss
Special Report: Energy Efficiency – Same Wires, More Power (Forbes Magazine)
http://www.forbes.com/business/2008/07/03/energy-efficiency-electricity-biz-energy_cx_bw_wp_0707efficiency_grid.html
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
G-8 Leaders Pledge to Cut Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Half by 2050 (The NY Times, clever picture)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/09/science/earth/09climate.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Experts Push 'Green' Solutions to Infrastructure Problems (Oregon Public Broadcasting – Note: this is a story that really says NOTHING)
http://news.opb.org/article/2528-experts-push-green-solutions-infrastructure-problems/
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
GRANT COUNTY PUD WHOLESALE FIBER RATES – Grant County PUD commissioners this week adopted new wholesale fiber rates that officials say will allow the District to move forward with its fiber build-out by moving towards making the system pay for itself. PUD spokeswoman Dorothy Harris says one the change to the wholesale rate structure is a one-time 55 dollar fee for fiber electronics installation. The new wholesale fiber rates go into effect in October. (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)
OREGON – Providence Health clamps down on bandwidth – The Portland-area hospital system halts employees' personal use of streaming audio and video online (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/121514551333780.xml&coll=7
So Far, 'Franchise Reform' Means Higher Prices – Shocking: lobbyist promises of competitive price utopia not materializing (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/So-Far-Franchise-Reform-Means-Higher-Prices-95903
CALIFORNIA – Palo Alto council enthusiastic about high speed broadband proposals (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9817124?source=rss
Another twist in Microsoft, Yahoo saga – Ballmer, Icahn talking about possible deal if board ousted (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/369890_msftyahoo08.html?source=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Seattle improperly spent taxes, audit says – City to reimburse property revenue spent on fire station, trail (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/369891_audit08.html?source=rss
Seattle City Council to hold hearing on proposed Styrofoam ban and 20-cent fee for paper or plastic bags (Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008038566_grocerybag08m0.html?syndication=rss
Theft of car anti-pollution devices increasing (Associated Press, via the Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080707/NEWS02/54094592/1025/rss1025
ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS
Man Posts Video Showing Himself, Father Shocking Each Other With Stolen Stun Gun
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16811026/detail.html
Common wildlife is alien to many British kids – It comes in a poor second to their ability to identify science fiction creatures such as Star Wars characters
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080708/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_britain_nature;_ylt=AvIUiBi0Jc3taN_J8iQlbgrtiBIF
Man accused of faking heart attacks to avoid bills
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080705/ap_on_fe_st/odd_fake_heart_attacks;_ylt=AvA5wzb2WVlg9VC6UxSHnL3tiBIF
It pays to go in a public toilet in India – residents are earning close to a dollar a month by using public urinals, a scheme launched by authorities to promote hygiene and research in rural areas
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080707/od_nm/toilets_dc;_ylt=AoC_5kgfnLcO92vyauRrJhDtiBIF
Tuesday, July 8, 2008
Monday, July 7, 2008
Energy News Digest for July 7, 2008 - Supersized Edition
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 lowers its rate increase request
- Grays Harbor PUD Commissioners OK Cosmopolis pulp mill cogeneration deal
- Wind surge poses a risk to salmon and reveals flaws in BPA's power-regulating system
- Larsen optimistic on Intalco – Smelter’s future hinges on power deal
- New grads find it difficult to rise to lineman challenge
- TEXAS – End of an affair – Panelists agree that change is coming to U.S. energy use and supply
- PENNSYLVANIA – An old dam is a source to provide new energy
- UNITED KINGDOM –Suicide Bid Over Energy Bill
- Eight dead as canoeists sucked into turbines at hydroelectric dam under construction
- AUSTRALIA – Energy providers feel the heat as copper wire thefts soar
- FLORIDA – Unpaid bills may trigger utility rate increases
- Fascinating – Appeals Court rules that judges shouldn't act as scientists
- Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals clears path for more logging
- Daily News Opinion – A little balance from 9th Circuit
- $1.13 Million – Enviros Send Feds' BiOp Bill
- Salmon on the Columbia: See you in court
- CANADA – Sockeye's success near Osoyoos is a miracle in the desert
- Salmon is keystone species for region
- Alaska's sick salmon
- OREGON – Rogue River dam in Southern Oregon to come down
- Settlement in WA spotted owl lawsuit
- Work slated on Elwha River diversion channel
- EPA fines Idaho Transportation Department over highway project that damages Lake Coeur d'Alene
- State and local governments side with builders on runoff pollution
- Bottling plant looks to Orting after snubbing by Enumclaw
- Treatment in store for Tacoma’s Wapato Lake to control algae
- OREGON – How safe is city’s water? Testing for contaminants in reservoirs inadequate
- OREGON – Clouds Form On Solar Energy's Horizon
- CALIFORNIA – Surprise opponents to renewable energy measure
- TEXAS – Debate flares over wind power
- NEW YORK – Responses to green energy programs lack energy
- NEW YORK – Wind turbine deal spins up controversy
- Solar power companies look abroad as sun sets on tax credits
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer Opinion – Energy: Renewable ideas
- OREGON – Portland General Electric predicts surge in hybrid vehicles
- Toyota to add solar panels to some Prius
- Biofuels behind food price hikes: leaked World Bank report
- Poplar trees hold promise for fuel
- Clark utility offers free replacement fluorescent light bulbs
- Conserve and you can save, Snohomish County PUD says
- Portland Business Journal poll: Higher energy costs of little concern
- Japan Sees a Chance to Promote Its Energy-Frugal Ways
- Tacoma City Council backs ‘green’ goals
- Is LCD manufacturing worse for environment than coal?
- Can Weeds Help Solve the Climate Crisis?
- UTAH – New iProvo owner changes mind on Veracity buyout
- UTAH – Veracity pullout won't kill iProvo sale
- Internet addressing agency loses its own addresses
- As Web Traffic Grows, Crashes Take Bigger Toll
- Five Nines on the Net is a Pipe Dream
- How Much Bandwidth Do We Really Need?
- Bandwidth Barons Want More Money for Fewer Bytes
- CALIFORNIA – Companies propose ultra-fast broadband for Palo Alto
- PENNSYLVANIA – Fiber optics may hold key to future
- Small-town USA enjoys its first course of WiMax
- Google told to release video data in YouTube trial
- Microsoft to sell $70-a-year subscriptions for Office bundle
- Energy Star for Servers May Be Ready by Year-End
- Secret deal may open prime land in Montana
- Mima Mounds: Mystery hides in vast prairie
- Weyerhaeuser is up a tree on Wall Street
- National speed limit pushed as gas saver
- Spate of Manhole Cover Thefts Poses Problem
- Couple discovers stolen dogs on sale on Craigslist
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Sentient • \SEN-shee-unt\ • adjective – *1: responsive to or conscious of sense impressions 2: aware 3: finely sensitive in perception or feeling
Bert was intrigued by his girlfriend’s obsession with cleaning out his refrigerator. “You’ve got some things that have been in here for at least ten years,” her muffled voice exclaimed from the interior of the mossy cold-storage device. “In fact, I think that this carton of cottage cheese has evolved into some sort of sentient being. It just asked me for a date!”
WORD ORIGIN FROM MERRIAM-WEBSTER: You may have guessed that "sentient" has something to do with the senses. The initial spelling "sent-" or "sens-" is often a giveaway for such a meaning. A "sentient" being is one who perceives and responds to sensations of whatever kind -- sight, hearing, touch, taste, or smell. "Sentient" ultimately comes from the Latin verb "sentire," which means "to feel" and is related to the noun "sensus," meaning "feeling" or "sense." A few related English words are "sentiment" and "sentimental," which have to do with emotions, and "sensual," which relates to more physical "sensations."
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 lowers its rate increase request (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/369562_pse04.html
Grays Harbor PUD Commissioners OK Cosmopolis pulp mill cogeneration deal (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/07/04/local_news/02news.txt
Wind surge poses a risk to salmon and reveals flaws in BPA's power-regulating system – With Columbia Gorge turbines pumping out extra electricity, the agency had to quickly adjust its hydro generation (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1215226547277170.xml&coll=7
Larsen optimistic on Intalco – Smelter’s future hinges on power deal (The Bellingham Herald, WA – Implies that the tiered rate methodology will divert some energy to smelters? “…may provide BPA with more flexibility to shift some power to Intalco and other regional aluminum smelters…”)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/459422.html
New grads find it difficult to rise to lineman challenge – The International Association of Electrical Workers reports that up to 60 percent of utility workers are expected to retire in the next two years (The Cleveland Plain Dealer, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008035183_apprenticeships06.html?syndication=rss
TEXAS – End of an affair – Panelists agree that change is coming to U.S. energy use and supply, driven by consumers who demand it (Houston Chronicle, TX)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/5872282.html
PENNSYLVANIA – An old source to provide new energy – The century-old dam on the Susquehanna River doesn't look like an energy source of the future “...providing another 100,000 homes with pollution-free electricity…” (The Baltimore Sun, via the Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, CA)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_9791354?source=rss
Here’s a picture of the Holtwood Dam
http://www.pbase.com/r2010/image/55407728
UNITED KINGDOM –Suicide Bid Over Energy Bill – A pensioner downed 100 pills and half a bottle of brandy in an attempt to kill himself over an exorbitant - and incorrect - electricity bill (Sky News, UK)
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Business/Pensioner-84-Attempts-Suicide-Over-Incorrect-Unpaid-Energy-Bill-From-EON/Article/200807115025396?lpos=Business_8&lid=ARTICLE_15025396_Pensioner%252C%2B84%252C%2BAttempts%2BSuicide%2BOver%2BIncorrect%2BUnpaid%2BEnergy%2BBill%2BFrom%2BE.ON
SLOVENIA – Eight dead as canoeists sucked into turbines at hydroelectric dam under construction – The trip was ominously dubbed "The Final Descent"… (CNN Europe)
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/07/04/slovenia.canoe.ap/index.html?eref=ib_topstories
AUSTRALIA – Energy providers feel the heat as copper wire thefts soar (Sydney Morning Herald)
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/energy-providers-feel-the-heat-as-copper-wire-thefts-soar/2008/07/06/1215282652811.html
FLORIDA – Unpaid bills may trigger utility rate increases (Orlando Business Journal)
http://orlando.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2008/07/07/story2.html
FISH & WILDLIFE
Fascinating – Appeals Court rules that judges shouldn't act as scientists –Ninth Circuit says that t’s improper for federal judges to act as scientists when weighing in on disputed U.S. Forest Service timber projects (The Associated Press, via KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/23095519.html
Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals clears path for more logging – Federal judges redefine standards for timber projects on public lands and deal a blow to environmental groups (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/121514735090910.xml&coll=7
Daily News Opinion – A little balance from 9th Circuit – The federal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last week that judges shouldn't second-guess scientists (Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/07/07/editorial/doc487102024768d745685284.txt
$1.13 Million – Enviros Send Feds' BiOp Bill – Earthjustice attorney Todd True sent his bill to the federal government for blowing the last FCRPS BiOp (NWF v. NMFS) out of the water (Courtesy of NW Fishletter, Energy NewsData)
http://www.newsdata.com/fishletter/248/3story.html
Salmon on the Columbia: See you in court – The federal agencies are back for a fifth round in federal court (Crosscut, Seattle, WA)
http://www.crosscut.com/food/15565/Salmon+on+the+Columbia:+See+you+in+court/
CANADA – Sockeye's success near Osoyoos is a miracle in the desert – Of all the places least likely to see a revival of wild salmon, the southern Okanagan must top the list (The Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080707.BCHUMECOLUMN07/TPStory/National
Salmon is keystone species for region (Los Angeles Times, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008033130_badsalmonside04.html
Alaska's sick salmon – More Alaskan salmon caught in Tanana end up in the dog pot these days, their orange-pink flesh fouled by disease that scientists have correlated with warmer water in the Yukon River (Los Angeles Times, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008033127_badsalmon04.html
OREGON – Rogue River dam in Southern Oregon to come down (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1472855~Rogue_River_dam_in_Southern_Oregon_to_come_down.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Settlement in WA spotted owl lawsuit – Sought to block logging on 50,000 acres of private timberland to protect the threatened northern spotted owl (The Associated Press, via the Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/497379.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Work slated on Elwha River diversion channel – Part of Elwha River Restoration Project and removal of the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080706/NEWS/807060304
IDAHO – EPA slaps Idaho Transportation Department with new fine over highway project that sent tons of sediment into Lake Coeur d'Alene (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1473929~EPA_slaps_ITD_with_new_fine__bringing_payments_to__1_7_mln.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
State and local governments side with builders on runoff pollution – Environmentalists seek 'low impact' mandates Governments side with builders (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/369820_lowimpact07.html?source=rss
Bottling plant looks to Orting after snubbing by Enumclaw – City rejected Nestle Corporation to build a 100 million-gallon water bottle plant (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/405892.html
Treatment in store for Tacoma’s Wapato Lake to control algae (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/environment/story/403856.html
OREGON – How safe is city’s water? EPA official: Testing for contaminants in reservoirs inadequate (The Portland Tribune, OR)
http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=121503548781724900
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
OREGON – Clouds Form On Solar Energy's Horizon – In a few weeks, Oregon energy regulators will decide a key legal question involving public-private solar projects across the state (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2502-clouds-form-solar-energys-horizon/
CALIFORNIA – Surprise opponents to renewable energy measure – A November ballot measure to boost the amount of renewable energy generated by California utilities has attracted a wildly diverse group of opponents (The San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/04/BACJ11IQ3Q.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
TEXAS – Debate flares over wind power – There is such a thing as too much wind power “…Wind developers say wind power is so cheap that the cost to accommodate it is negligible…” ($85 + per Megawatt is CHEAP? The Dallas Morning News, TX)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/industries/energy/stories/DN-wind_06bus.ART0.State.Edition1.4e033eb.html
NEW YORK – Responses to green energy programs lack energy – Even as more Americans look to shrink their carbon footprints, relatively few have switched to providers of electricity generated by wind, water and sun (The Associated Press, via Newsday, NY)
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--greenpower0705jul05,0,1024721.story
NEW YORK – Wind turbine deal spins up controversy (Business First of Buffalo)
http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2008/07/07/story1.html?ana=from_rss
Solar power companies look abroad as sun sets on tax credits – Businesses are having trouble signing contracts for 2009 projects (Sacramento Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2008/07/07/story6.html?ana=from_rss
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Opinion – Energy: Renewable ideas (Seattle WA)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/369534_solared.html?source=rss
OREGON – Portland General Electric predicts surge in hybrid vehicles, plans more plug ins – The utility will build 12 charging stations in Portland and Salem (The Associated Press, via the Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1215143716287160.xml&coll=7
Toyota to add solar panels to some Prius hybrids (Reuters)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080707/tc_nm/toyota_dc_4
Biofuels behind food price hikes: leaked World Bank report (AFP, via Yahoo! News)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080704/ts_afp/climateenvironmentbiofuelsworldbankusbritain;_ylc=X3oDMTI1NzZyc3Q3BFJfYWlkAwRSX2RtbgN5YWhvby5jb20EUl9maWQDYmRhMGMzMzU0NTFiYmY2YjY0Y2Q0MWRlYjBiYWRlNDYEUl9sdHADMQ--
Poplar trees hold promise for fuel – Washington State University researcher Jon Johnson finds himself in a scramble to extract ethanol from fast-growing poplar trees (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/07/07072008_Poplar-trees-hold-promise-for-fuel.cfm/
CONSERVATION
Clark utility offers free replacement fluorescent light bulbs (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2008/07/07042008_Clark-utility-offers-free-replacement-fluorescent-light-bulbs.cfm/
Conserve and you can save, Snohomish County PUD says – Energy-saving programs help save on their customers' bills, the utility says (The Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080707/NEWS01/69225176/-1/RSS02
Portland Business Journal poll: Higher energy costs of little concern (Portland, OR)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/06/30/daily36.html?ana=from_rss
Japan Sees a Chance to Promote Its Energy-Frugal Ways (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/04/world/asia/04japan.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Tacoma City Council backs ‘green’ goals – Tacoma supports drastic carbon emissions cuts despite steep growth (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/405918.html
Is LCD manufacturing worse for environment than coal? A chemical used to make LCD televisions and semiconductors could cause more global warming than coal-fired power plants (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9983744-54.html
Can Weeds Help Solve the Climate Crisis? (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/magazine/29weeds-t.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
UTAH – New iProvo owner changes mind on Veracity buyout (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)
http://www.sltrib.com/business/ci_9776005?source=rss
UTAH – Veracity pullout won't kill iProvo sale (The Daily Herald, Provo, UT)
http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/272321/18/
Internet addressing agency loses its own addresses (The Associated Press)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080703/ap_on_hi_te/domain_name_attack_2
As Web Traffic Grows, Crashes Take Bigger Toll (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/06/technology/06outage.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Five Nines on the Net is a Pipe Dream (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/07/06/five-nines-on-the-net-is-a-pipe-dream/
How Much Bandwidth Do We Really Need? Plenty, as long as storage keeps getting cheaper and content gets better (Broadband reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/How-Much-Bandwidth-Do-We-Really-Need-95761
Bandwidth Barons Want More Money for Fewer Bytes (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/07/03/bandwidth-barons-want-more-money-for-fewer-bytes/
CALIFORNIA – Companies propose ultra-fast broadband for Palo Alto – Plan To Bring High-Speed Broadband To City Greeted With Qualified Approval (The San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9793596?source=rss
PENNSYLVANIA – Fiber optics may hold key to future – It’s not sunny every day and money doesn’t sprout from trees in Kutztown, Pa., but for cable and Internet fiends, it may be considered paradise (Carroll County Times, PA)
http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2008/07/06/news/local_news/newsstory3.txt
Small-town USA enjoys its first course of WiMax (The Washington Post, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008036449_btwimax07.html?syndication=rss
Google told to release video data in YouTube trial – Plaintiffs will get to learn who watches what (The Associated Press, via the Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1215138338153450.xml&coll=7
Microsoft to sell $70-a-year subscriptions for Office bundle – Package including OneCare would cost $200 to buy the traditional way (The Associated Press, via the San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/07/BUV411IRRC.DTL&feed=rss.business
Energy Star for Servers May Be Ready by Year-End (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/idg/IDG_852573C400693880882574750016E6C6.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Secret deal may open prime land in Montana (The Washington Post, via the Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, CA)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_9791601?source=rss
Mima Mounds: Mystery hides in vast prairie (The Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2008035378_onlywa06mima.html?syndication=rss
Weyerhaeuser is up a tree on Wall Street – Big investors are pressuring Weyerhaeuser to fundamentally restructure its business (The Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/jontalton/2008035958_biztaltoncol06.html?syndication=rss
National speed limit pushed as gas saver (CNN Politics)
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/03/warner.speed.limit.ap/index.html?eref=ib_topstories
Spate of Manhole Cover Thefts Poses Problem (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92204515
Couple discovers stolen dogs on sale on Craigslist (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_070708WAB_stolen_dogs_craisglist_LJ.30c9735f.html?npc
ELEPHANTS ON ACID - DIVERSIONS
Lawn-chair adventurer soars across state line
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008035396_chair06.html
Plans went south somehow, so City Hall sits too far north – Officials in Edgewood are looking for answers as to why their new City Hall is more than 13 feet north of where it should be
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/404744.html
Dude! Body Makes Pot-Like Substance To Help Skin – Our Bodies Like Marijuana Plant, Doctor Says
http://www.kirotv.com/health/16778668/detail.html
Pack Up The Winnebago, We're Going To Wal-Mart (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92241280&ft=1&f=17
Judge sends rambling lawsuit back for a rewrite
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008033157_funnyjudge04m.html?syndication=rss
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Puget Sound Energy lowers its rate increase request
- Grays Harbor PUD Commissioners OK Cosmopolis pulp mill cogeneration deal
- Wind surge poses a risk to salmon and reveals flaws in BPA's power-regulating system
- Larsen optimistic on Intalco – Smelter’s future hinges on power deal
- New grads find it difficult to rise to lineman challenge
- TEXAS – End of an affair – Panelists agree that change is coming to U.S. energy use and supply
- PENNSYLVANIA – An old dam is a source to provide new energy
- UNITED KINGDOM –Suicide Bid Over Energy Bill
- Eight dead as canoeists sucked into turbines at hydroelectric dam under construction
- AUSTRALIA – Energy providers feel the heat as copper wire thefts soar
- FLORIDA – Unpaid bills may trigger utility rate increases
- Fascinating – Appeals Court rules that judges shouldn't act as scientists
- Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals clears path for more logging
- Daily News Opinion – A little balance from 9th Circuit
- $1.13 Million – Enviros Send Feds' BiOp Bill
- Salmon on the Columbia: See you in court
- CANADA – Sockeye's success near Osoyoos is a miracle in the desert
- Salmon is keystone species for region
- Alaska's sick salmon
- OREGON – Rogue River dam in Southern Oregon to come down
- Settlement in WA spotted owl lawsuit
- Work slated on Elwha River diversion channel
- EPA fines Idaho Transportation Department over highway project that damages Lake Coeur d'Alene
- State and local governments side with builders on runoff pollution
- Bottling plant looks to Orting after snubbing by Enumclaw
- Treatment in store for Tacoma’s Wapato Lake to control algae
- OREGON – How safe is city’s water? Testing for contaminants in reservoirs inadequate
- OREGON – Clouds Form On Solar Energy's Horizon
- CALIFORNIA – Surprise opponents to renewable energy measure
- TEXAS – Debate flares over wind power
- NEW YORK – Responses to green energy programs lack energy
- NEW YORK – Wind turbine deal spins up controversy
- Solar power companies look abroad as sun sets on tax credits
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer Opinion – Energy: Renewable ideas
- OREGON – Portland General Electric predicts surge in hybrid vehicles
- Toyota to add solar panels to some Prius
- Biofuels behind food price hikes: leaked World Bank report
- Poplar trees hold promise for fuel
- Clark utility offers free replacement fluorescent light bulbs
- Conserve and you can save, Snohomish County PUD says
- Portland Business Journal poll: Higher energy costs of little concern
- Japan Sees a Chance to Promote Its Energy-Frugal Ways
- Tacoma City Council backs ‘green’ goals
- Is LCD manufacturing worse for environment than coal?
- Can Weeds Help Solve the Climate Crisis?
- UTAH – New iProvo owner changes mind on Veracity buyout
- UTAH – Veracity pullout won't kill iProvo sale
- Internet addressing agency loses its own addresses
- As Web Traffic Grows, Crashes Take Bigger Toll
- Five Nines on the Net is a Pipe Dream
- How Much Bandwidth Do We Really Need?
- Bandwidth Barons Want More Money for Fewer Bytes
- CALIFORNIA – Companies propose ultra-fast broadband for Palo Alto
- PENNSYLVANIA – Fiber optics may hold key to future
- Small-town USA enjoys its first course of WiMax
- Google told to release video data in YouTube trial
- Microsoft to sell $70-a-year subscriptions for Office bundle
- Energy Star for Servers May Be Ready by Year-End
- Secret deal may open prime land in Montana
- Mima Mounds: Mystery hides in vast prairie
- Weyerhaeuser is up a tree on Wall Street
- National speed limit pushed as gas saver
- Spate of Manhole Cover Thefts Poses Problem
- Couple discovers stolen dogs on sale on Craigslist
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Sentient • \SEN-shee-unt\ • adjective – *1: responsive to or conscious of sense impressions 2: aware 3: finely sensitive in perception or feeling
Bert was intrigued by his girlfriend’s obsession with cleaning out his refrigerator. “You’ve got some things that have been in here for at least ten years,” her muffled voice exclaimed from the interior of the mossy cold-storage device. “In fact, I think that this carton of cottage cheese has evolved into some sort of sentient being. It just asked me for a date!”
WORD ORIGIN FROM MERRIAM-WEBSTER: You may have guessed that "sentient" has something to do with the senses. The initial spelling "sent-" or "sens-" is often a giveaway for such a meaning. A "sentient" being is one who perceives and responds to sensations of whatever kind -- sight, hearing, touch, taste, or smell. "Sentient" ultimately comes from the Latin verb "sentire," which means "to feel" and is related to the noun "sensus," meaning "feeling" or "sense." A few related English words are "sentiment" and "sentimental," which have to do with emotions, and "sensual," which relates to more physical "sensations."
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 lowers its rate increase request (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/369562_pse04.html
Grays Harbor PUD Commissioners OK Cosmopolis pulp mill cogeneration deal (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/07/04/local_news/02news.txt
Wind surge poses a risk to salmon and reveals flaws in BPA's power-regulating system – With Columbia Gorge turbines pumping out extra electricity, the agency had to quickly adjust its hydro generation (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1215226547277170.xml&coll=7
Larsen optimistic on Intalco – Smelter’s future hinges on power deal (The Bellingham Herald, WA – Implies that the tiered rate methodology will divert some energy to smelters? “…may provide BPA with more flexibility to shift some power to Intalco and other regional aluminum smelters…”)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/459422.html
New grads find it difficult to rise to lineman challenge – The International Association of Electrical Workers reports that up to 60 percent of utility workers are expected to retire in the next two years (The Cleveland Plain Dealer, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008035183_apprenticeships06.html?syndication=rss
TEXAS – End of an affair – Panelists agree that change is coming to U.S. energy use and supply, driven by consumers who demand it (Houston Chronicle, TX)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/editorial/5872282.html
PENNSYLVANIA – An old source to provide new energy – The century-old dam on the Susquehanna River doesn't look like an energy source of the future “...providing another 100,000 homes with pollution-free electricity…” (The Baltimore Sun, via the Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, CA)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_9791354?source=rss
Here’s a picture of the Holtwood Dam
http://www.pbase.com/r2010/image/55407728
UNITED KINGDOM –Suicide Bid Over Energy Bill – A pensioner downed 100 pills and half a bottle of brandy in an attempt to kill himself over an exorbitant - and incorrect - electricity bill (Sky News, UK)
http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Business/Pensioner-84-Attempts-Suicide-Over-Incorrect-Unpaid-Energy-Bill-From-EON/Article/200807115025396?lpos=Business_8&lid=ARTICLE_15025396_Pensioner%252C%2B84%252C%2BAttempts%2BSuicide%2BOver%2BIncorrect%2BUnpaid%2BEnergy%2BBill%2BFrom%2BE.ON
SLOVENIA – Eight dead as canoeists sucked into turbines at hydroelectric dam under construction – The trip was ominously dubbed "The Final Descent"… (CNN Europe)
http://www.cnn.com/2008/WORLD/europe/07/04/slovenia.canoe.ap/index.html?eref=ib_topstories
AUSTRALIA – Energy providers feel the heat as copper wire thefts soar (Sydney Morning Herald)
http://www.smh.com.au/news/national/energy-providers-feel-the-heat-as-copper-wire-thefts-soar/2008/07/06/1215282652811.html
FLORIDA – Unpaid bills may trigger utility rate increases (Orlando Business Journal)
http://orlando.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2008/07/07/story2.html
FISH & WILDLIFE
Fascinating – Appeals Court rules that judges shouldn't act as scientists –Ninth Circuit says that t’s improper for federal judges to act as scientists when weighing in on disputed U.S. Forest Service timber projects (The Associated Press, via KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/23095519.html
Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals clears path for more logging – Federal judges redefine standards for timber projects on public lands and deal a blow to environmental groups (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/121514735090910.xml&coll=7
Daily News Opinion – A little balance from 9th Circuit – The federal 9th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled last week that judges shouldn't second-guess scientists (Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/07/07/editorial/doc487102024768d745685284.txt
$1.13 Million – Enviros Send Feds' BiOp Bill – Earthjustice attorney Todd True sent his bill to the federal government for blowing the last FCRPS BiOp (NWF v. NMFS) out of the water (Courtesy of NW Fishletter, Energy NewsData)
http://www.newsdata.com/fishletter/248/3story.html
Salmon on the Columbia: See you in court – The federal agencies are back for a fifth round in federal court (Crosscut, Seattle, WA)
http://www.crosscut.com/food/15565/Salmon+on+the+Columbia:+See+you+in+court/
CANADA – Sockeye's success near Osoyoos is a miracle in the desert – Of all the places least likely to see a revival of wild salmon, the southern Okanagan must top the list (The Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080707.BCHUMECOLUMN07/TPStory/National
Salmon is keystone species for region (Los Angeles Times, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008033130_badsalmonside04.html
Alaska's sick salmon – More Alaskan salmon caught in Tanana end up in the dog pot these days, their orange-pink flesh fouled by disease that scientists have correlated with warmer water in the Yukon River (Los Angeles Times, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008033127_badsalmon04.html
OREGON – Rogue River dam in Southern Oregon to come down (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1472855~Rogue_River_dam_in_Southern_Oregon_to_come_down.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Settlement in WA spotted owl lawsuit – Sought to block logging on 50,000 acres of private timberland to protect the threatened northern spotted owl (The Associated Press, via the Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/497379.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Work slated on Elwha River diversion channel – Part of Elwha River Restoration Project and removal of the Elwha and Glines Canyon dams (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080706/NEWS/807060304
IDAHO – EPA slaps Idaho Transportation Department with new fine over highway project that sent tons of sediment into Lake Coeur d'Alene (The Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1473929~EPA_slaps_ITD_with_new_fine__bringing_payments_to__1_7_mln.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
State and local governments side with builders on runoff pollution – Environmentalists seek 'low impact' mandates Governments side with builders (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/369820_lowimpact07.html?source=rss
Bottling plant looks to Orting after snubbing by Enumclaw – City rejected Nestle Corporation to build a 100 million-gallon water bottle plant (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/405892.html
Treatment in store for Tacoma’s Wapato Lake to control algae (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/environment/story/403856.html
OREGON – How safe is city’s water? EPA official: Testing for contaminants in reservoirs inadequate (The Portland Tribune, OR)
http://www.portlandtribune.com/news/story.php?story_id=121503548781724900
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
OREGON – Clouds Form On Solar Energy's Horizon – In a few weeks, Oregon energy regulators will decide a key legal question involving public-private solar projects across the state (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/2502-clouds-form-solar-energys-horizon/
CALIFORNIA – Surprise opponents to renewable energy measure – A November ballot measure to boost the amount of renewable energy generated by California utilities has attracted a wildly diverse group of opponents (The San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/04/BACJ11IQ3Q.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
TEXAS – Debate flares over wind power – There is such a thing as too much wind power “…Wind developers say wind power is so cheap that the cost to accommodate it is negligible…” ($85 + per Megawatt is CHEAP? The Dallas Morning News, TX)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/industries/energy/stories/DN-wind_06bus.ART0.State.Edition1.4e033eb.html
NEW YORK – Responses to green energy programs lack energy – Even as more Americans look to shrink their carbon footprints, relatively few have switched to providers of electricity generated by wind, water and sun (The Associated Press, via Newsday, NY)
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/newyork/ny-bc-ny--greenpower0705jul05,0,1024721.story
NEW YORK – Wind turbine deal spins up controversy (Business First of Buffalo)
http://www.bizjournals.com/buffalo/stories/2008/07/07/story1.html?ana=from_rss
Solar power companies look abroad as sun sets on tax credits – Businesses are having trouble signing contracts for 2009 projects (Sacramento Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/stories/2008/07/07/story6.html?ana=from_rss
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Opinion – Energy: Renewable ideas (Seattle WA)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/369534_solared.html?source=rss
OREGON – Portland General Electric predicts surge in hybrid vehicles, plans more plug ins – The utility will build 12 charging stations in Portland and Salem (The Associated Press, via the Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1215143716287160.xml&coll=7
Toyota to add solar panels to some Prius hybrids (Reuters)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080707/tc_nm/toyota_dc_4
Biofuels behind food price hikes: leaked World Bank report (AFP, via Yahoo! News)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20080704/ts_afp/climateenvironmentbiofuelsworldbankusbritain;_ylc=X3oDMTI1NzZyc3Q3BFJfYWlkAwRSX2RtbgN5YWhvby5jb20EUl9maWQDYmRhMGMzMzU0NTFiYmY2YjY0Y2Q0MWRlYjBiYWRlNDYEUl9sdHADMQ--
Poplar trees hold promise for fuel – Washington State University researcher Jon Johnson finds himself in a scramble to extract ethanol from fast-growing poplar trees (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/07/07072008_Poplar-trees-hold-promise-for-fuel.cfm/
CONSERVATION
Clark utility offers free replacement fluorescent light bulbs (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2008/07/07042008_Clark-utility-offers-free-replacement-fluorescent-light-bulbs.cfm/
Conserve and you can save, Snohomish County PUD says – Energy-saving programs help save on their customers' bills, the utility says (The Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20080707/NEWS01/69225176/-1/RSS02
Portland Business Journal poll: Higher energy costs of little concern (Portland, OR)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/06/30/daily36.html?ana=from_rss
Japan Sees a Chance to Promote Its Energy-Frugal Ways (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/04/world/asia/04japan.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Tacoma City Council backs ‘green’ goals – Tacoma supports drastic carbon emissions cuts despite steep growth (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/405918.html
Is LCD manufacturing worse for environment than coal? A chemical used to make LCD televisions and semiconductors could cause more global warming than coal-fired power plants (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9983744-54.html
Can Weeds Help Solve the Climate Crisis? (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/29/magazine/29weeds-t.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
UTAH – New iProvo owner changes mind on Veracity buyout (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)
http://www.sltrib.com/business/ci_9776005?source=rss
UTAH – Veracity pullout won't kill iProvo sale (The Daily Herald, Provo, UT)
http://www.heraldextra.com/content/view/272321/18/
Internet addressing agency loses its own addresses (The Associated Press)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080703/ap_on_hi_te/domain_name_attack_2
As Web Traffic Grows, Crashes Take Bigger Toll (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/06/technology/06outage.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Five Nines on the Net is a Pipe Dream (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/07/06/five-nines-on-the-net-is-a-pipe-dream/
How Much Bandwidth Do We Really Need? Plenty, as long as storage keeps getting cheaper and content gets better (Broadband reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/How-Much-Bandwidth-Do-We-Really-Need-95761
Bandwidth Barons Want More Money for Fewer Bytes (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/07/03/bandwidth-barons-want-more-money-for-fewer-bytes/
CALIFORNIA – Companies propose ultra-fast broadband for Palo Alto – Plan To Bring High-Speed Broadband To City Greeted With Qualified Approval (The San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9793596?source=rss
PENNSYLVANIA – Fiber optics may hold key to future – It’s not sunny every day and money doesn’t sprout from trees in Kutztown, Pa., but for cable and Internet fiends, it may be considered paradise (Carroll County Times, PA)
http://www.carrollcountytimes.com/articles/2008/07/06/news/local_news/newsstory3.txt
Small-town USA enjoys its first course of WiMax (The Washington Post, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008036449_btwimax07.html?syndication=rss
Google told to release video data in YouTube trial – Plaintiffs will get to learn who watches what (The Associated Press, via the Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1215138338153450.xml&coll=7
Microsoft to sell $70-a-year subscriptions for Office bundle – Package including OneCare would cost $200 to buy the traditional way (The Associated Press, via the San Francisco Chronicle, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/07/BUV411IRRC.DTL&feed=rss.business
Energy Star for Servers May Be Ready by Year-End (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/idg/IDG_852573C400693880882574750016E6C6.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Secret deal may open prime land in Montana (The Washington Post, via the Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, CA)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_9791601?source=rss
Mima Mounds: Mystery hides in vast prairie (The Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2008035378_onlywa06mima.html?syndication=rss
Weyerhaeuser is up a tree on Wall Street – Big investors are pressuring Weyerhaeuser to fundamentally restructure its business (The Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/jontalton/2008035958_biztaltoncol06.html?syndication=rss
National speed limit pushed as gas saver (CNN Politics)
http://www.cnn.com/2008/POLITICS/07/03/warner.speed.limit.ap/index.html?eref=ib_topstories
Spate of Manhole Cover Thefts Poses Problem (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92204515
Couple discovers stolen dogs on sale on Craigslist (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_070708WAB_stolen_dogs_craisglist_LJ.30c9735f.html?npc
ELEPHANTS ON ACID - DIVERSIONS
Lawn-chair adventurer soars across state line
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008035396_chair06.html
Plans went south somehow, so City Hall sits too far north – Officials in Edgewood are looking for answers as to why their new City Hall is more than 13 feet north of where it should be
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/404744.html
Dude! Body Makes Pot-Like Substance To Help Skin – Our Bodies Like Marijuana Plant, Doctor Says
http://www.kirotv.com/health/16778668/detail.html
Pack Up The Winnebago, We're Going To Wal-Mart (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92241280&ft=1&f=17
Judge sends rambling lawsuit back for a rewrite
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008033157_funnyjudge04m.html?syndication=rss
Thursday, July 3, 2008
Energy News Digest for July 3, 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)
- Utility, investors seek to sweeten Puget Sound Energy deal
- News Whiz – Puget Sound Energy and Puget Holdings Investors Outline Merger Benefits
- Idaho Statesman Opinion –Proposed Idaho Power Company’s power rate hikes need to be scrutinized
- Avista warns of natural gas increase
- Workplace heat rule takes effect Saturday in Washington
- FERC approves two California settlements
- Douglas County PUD commissioners approve pay increase
- OREGON – Survey shows customers happy with Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative
- Old King Coal – Don Hodel
- NEW YORK – 2 Sides in Con Ed Talks Each Held a Strong Hand
- Columbia River is thick with sockeye salmon
- Salmon fishing is hot around the state
- Chinook salmon fishing starts in several areas of the upper Columbia River
- No one's happy with Columbia salmon sharing
- ALASKA – Copper River reds continue weak run
- CANADA – 30,000 salmon escape farm pen
- San Francisco Chronicle Op/Ed – On Wildlife Conservation: A recipe for wild salmon
- IDAHO – Unwanted species found in E. Idaho reservoir
- OKLAHOMA – Oklahomans for Responsible Government criticizes dam bond issue
- AUSTRALIA – Floodwater harvest halted
- The Clock is Ticking: States Rush to Meet Renewable Portfolio Standard Deadlines
- U.S. lifts block on solar applications for public land
- MASSACHUSETTS – Patrick signs landmark energy bill
- Houston Turns to Wind for Power, Savings
- NEW YORK – US Senator Chuck Schumer celebrates wind power project in Wyoming County
- CALIFORNIA – The dirty fight over clean power
- SCOTLAND, UK – Hydropower scheme 'planned for Scotland'
- North Carolina regulatory staff opposes Duke Energy's Save-A-Watt
- Wenatchee World Opinion – Our money for speeches
- A little guilt with those hot dogs? How to Have a Green Fourth of July
- State of U.S. Broadband: Demand Hits Speed Bumps
- Many dial-up users prefer the slow lane
- Portland, OR – Going cheap on eBay: MetroFi's Wi-Fi gear
- New Jersey man admits to defrauding Cisco of millions of dollars
- US contradicts itself over its own ID theft advice
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Peregrine • \PAIR-uh-grin\ • adjective – Having a tendency to wander
Walter Mitty sat immobile at his desk, his unfocused eyes betraying his peregrine mind, as it took a flight of fancy to a Renaissance Festival in Belfair, Washington…
WORD HISTORY FROM MERRIAM WEBSTER DICTIONARY – The current meaning of "peregrine" has wandered a bit from its earlier meanings. The word originally meant "foreign," as did its Latin predecessor "peregrinus." But even before "peregrine" appeared on its own in English, it was part of the name of that well-known bird of prey, the peregrine falcon. The bird's appellation derives from "falco peregrinus" -- literally, "pilgrim falcon" in Medieval Latin. Peregrine falcons typically nest in high places, such as on cliff ledges or, in modern times, city skyscrapers. Because of the nests' inaccessibility, medieval falconers who wanted young peregrine falcons to train had captured them on their first flights or migratory "pilgrimages." That practice led to a new sense of "peregrine" ("engaged in or traveling on a pilgrimage"), which was later broadened to "wandering."
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
Utility, investors seek to sweeten the deal – Puget Energy and the investors seeking to buy it offer additional incentives in order to answer criticisms and win regulatory approval of the deal (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/369407_pse03.html
News Whiz – Puget Sound Energy and Puget Holdings Investors Outline Merger Benefits to Customers and Affirm Local Control and Regulatory Oversight (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=93794
Idaho Statesman Opinion –Proposed Idaho Power Company’s power rate hikes need to be scrutinized (Boise, ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/106/story/432197.html
Avista warns of natural gas increase – Normally, natural gas prices are low in the summer months and utilities stock up for sale in the winter (The Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008030301_apwaavistanaturalgas.html?syndication=rss
Workplace heat rule takes effect Saturday in Washington (The Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008029826_apwaworkplaceheat.html?syndication=rss
FERC approves two California settlements –Resolves all claims related to the FERC proceedings, the Lockyer v. FERC remand, the Bonneville Power Administration v. FERC remand and the California Public Utilities Commission v. FERC remand (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/display_article/333386/22/ARTCL/none/none/1/FERC-approves-two-California-settlements/
Douglas County PUD commissioners approve pay increase (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080702/NEWS04/544941898
OREGON – Survey shows customers happy with Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative (Baker City Herald, OR)
http://www.bakercityherald.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=6831
Old King Coal – Don Hodel (Forbes Magazine)
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2008/0721/034.html
NEW YORK – 2 Sides in Con Ed Talks Each Held a Strong Hand (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/03/nyregion/03coned.html?_r=2&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
FISH & WILDLIFE
Columbia River is thick with sockeye salmon (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/5451
Salmon fishing is hot around the state (The Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2008031164_fish03.html?syndication=rss
Chinook salmon fishing starts in several areas of the upper Columbia River and the lower stretch of the Okanogan River (The Omak Chronicle, WA)
http://www.omakchronicle.com/spt/s080702i.shtml
No one's happy with Columbia salmon sharing (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/sports/localNews/2008/07/07032008_No-ones-happy-with-Columbia-salmon-sharing.cfm/
ALASKA – Copper River reds continue weak run (Alaska Public Radio)
http://aprn.org/2008/07/02/copper-river-reds-continue-weak-run/
CANADA – 30,000 salmon escape farm pen – Incident near Campbell River sparks renewed calls for closed containers (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=e8e01e0c-c2ac-441a-ba8b-e05347585422
San Francisco Chronicle Op/Ed – On Wildlife Conservation: A recipe for wild salmon (San Francisco, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/03/ED4U11IRVS.DTL&feed=rss.opinion
IDAHO – Unwanted species found in E. Idaho reservoir (The Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/496700.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
OKLAHOMA – Oklahomans for Responsible Government criticizes dam bond issue for developing low-water dams along the Arkansas River (The Tulsa Beacon)
http://www.tulsabeacon.com/?p=569
AUSTRALIA – Floodwater harvest halted – A NEW policy on floodwater harvesting amounts to the retrospective legalization of Murray-Darling Basin environmental theft, critics say (The Sydney Morning Herald)
http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/floodwater-harvest-halted/2008/07/03/1214950951545.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
The Clock is Ticking: States Rush to Meet Renewable Portfolio Standard Deadlines (Energy Pulse Commentary)
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1770
U.S. lifts block on solar applications for public land (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9983480-54.html
MASSACHUSETTS – Patrick signs landmark energy bill (well, landmark for Massachusetts – The Boston Globe, MA)
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/07/patrick_signs_l.html
Houston Turns to Wind for Power, Savings – In a city dominated by oil, wind power looks to be more economical (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/business/July-08/Houston-Turns-to-Wind-for-Power--Savings.html
NEW YORK – US Senator Chuck Schumer celebrates wind power project in Wyoming County – Urges expansion as boon to region (The Buffalo News, NY)
http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/383134.html
CALIFORNIA – The dirty fight over clean power – Pacific Gas & Electric (San Francisco Bay Guardian, CA)
http://www.sfbg.com/entry.php?entry_id=6654&catid=4
SCOTLAND, UK – Hydropower scheme 'planned for Scotland' – A proposed hydropower scheme may help Scotland to meet its renewable energy generation target by the year 2020 (Voltimum)
http://www.voltimum.co.uk/news/10631/infopro.profnews.voltimum/Hydropower-scheme--planned-for-Scotland-.html
CONSERVATION
North Carolina regulatory staff opposes Duke Energy's Save-A-Watt (Charlotte Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2008/06/30/daily36.html?ana=from_rss
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Wenatchee World Opinion – Our money for speeches – When Patrick Moore came to down – “…many of his views appeal to me — pro-nuclear, pro-managed forestry, a very strong defender of hydroelectricity as an important renewable resource...” (Wenatchee, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080702/OP03/112053710/-1/OP
A little guilt with those hot dogs? How to Have a Green Fourth of July (US News & World Report)
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/fresh-greens/2008/7/3/how-to-have-a-green-fourth-of-july.html
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
State of U.S. Broadband: Demand Hits Speed Bumps (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/07/02/pews-state-of-us-broadband-200/
Many dial-up users prefer the slow lane – Study suggests that attitude rather than availability may be the key reason why more Americans don't have high-speed Internet access (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/369400_broadband03.html?source=rss
Portland, OR – Going cheap on eBay: MetroFi's Wi-Fi gear (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/06/30/daily26.html?ana=from_rss
New Jersey man admits to defrauding Cisco of millions of dollars (The Associated Press, via the San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9768986?source=rss
GENERAL NEWS
US contradicts itself over its own ID theft advice – The government doesn't have to look very far to see who's ignoring its advice on preventing identity theft (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008029071_apriskingidtheft.html?syndication=rss
ELEPHANTS ON ACID - DIVERSIONS
Oregon lawn-chair pilot plans 300-mile flight
http://www.examiner.com/a-1470821~Oregon_lawn_chair_pilot_plans_300_mile_flight.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
"Spiritual" effects of psychedelic mushrooms last a year?
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN0127105120080702?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
From a U.S. hostage in the Colombian jungle, a marriage proposal
http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20080703/ts_csm/ohostages
Alleged Sausage Assault Brings Battery Charge
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16770572/detail.html
What Does Your Car Say About You? Vehicles Can Show Need For Control Of Image
http://www.kirotv.com/2009-cars/16709812/detail.html
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Utility, investors seek to sweeten Puget Sound Energy deal
- News Whiz – Puget Sound Energy and Puget Holdings Investors Outline Merger Benefits
- Idaho Statesman Opinion –Proposed Idaho Power Company’s power rate hikes need to be scrutinized
- Avista warns of natural gas increase
- Workplace heat rule takes effect Saturday in Washington
- FERC approves two California settlements
- Douglas County PUD commissioners approve pay increase
- OREGON – Survey shows customers happy with Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative
- Old King Coal – Don Hodel
- NEW YORK – 2 Sides in Con Ed Talks Each Held a Strong Hand
- Columbia River is thick with sockeye salmon
- Salmon fishing is hot around the state
- Chinook salmon fishing starts in several areas of the upper Columbia River
- No one's happy with Columbia salmon sharing
- ALASKA – Copper River reds continue weak run
- CANADA – 30,000 salmon escape farm pen
- San Francisco Chronicle Op/Ed – On Wildlife Conservation: A recipe for wild salmon
- IDAHO – Unwanted species found in E. Idaho reservoir
- OKLAHOMA – Oklahomans for Responsible Government criticizes dam bond issue
- AUSTRALIA – Floodwater harvest halted
- The Clock is Ticking: States Rush to Meet Renewable Portfolio Standard Deadlines
- U.S. lifts block on solar applications for public land
- MASSACHUSETTS – Patrick signs landmark energy bill
- Houston Turns to Wind for Power, Savings
- NEW YORK – US Senator Chuck Schumer celebrates wind power project in Wyoming County
- CALIFORNIA – The dirty fight over clean power
- SCOTLAND, UK – Hydropower scheme 'planned for Scotland'
- North Carolina regulatory staff opposes Duke Energy's Save-A-Watt
- Wenatchee World Opinion – Our money for speeches
- A little guilt with those hot dogs? How to Have a Green Fourth of July
- State of U.S. Broadband: Demand Hits Speed Bumps
- Many dial-up users prefer the slow lane
- Portland, OR – Going cheap on eBay: MetroFi's Wi-Fi gear
- New Jersey man admits to defrauding Cisco of millions of dollars
- US contradicts itself over its own ID theft advice
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Peregrine • \PAIR-uh-grin\ • adjective – Having a tendency to wander
Walter Mitty sat immobile at his desk, his unfocused eyes betraying his peregrine mind, as it took a flight of fancy to a Renaissance Festival in Belfair, Washington…
WORD HISTORY FROM MERRIAM WEBSTER DICTIONARY – The current meaning of "peregrine" has wandered a bit from its earlier meanings. The word originally meant "foreign," as did its Latin predecessor "peregrinus." But even before "peregrine" appeared on its own in English, it was part of the name of that well-known bird of prey, the peregrine falcon. The bird's appellation derives from "falco peregrinus" -- literally, "pilgrim falcon" in Medieval Latin. Peregrine falcons typically nest in high places, such as on cliff ledges or, in modern times, city skyscrapers. Because of the nests' inaccessibility, medieval falconers who wanted young peregrine falcons to train had captured them on their first flights or migratory "pilgrimages." That practice led to a new sense of "peregrine" ("engaged in or traveling on a pilgrimage"), which was later broadened to "wandering."
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
Utility, investors seek to sweeten the deal – Puget Energy and the investors seeking to buy it offer additional incentives in order to answer criticisms and win regulatory approval of the deal (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/369407_pse03.html
News Whiz – Puget Sound Energy and Puget Holdings Investors Outline Merger Benefits to Customers and Affirm Local Control and Regulatory Oversight (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=93794
Idaho Statesman Opinion –Proposed Idaho Power Company’s power rate hikes need to be scrutinized (Boise, ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/106/story/432197.html
Avista warns of natural gas increase – Normally, natural gas prices are low in the summer months and utilities stock up for sale in the winter (The Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008030301_apwaavistanaturalgas.html?syndication=rss
Workplace heat rule takes effect Saturday in Washington (The Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008029826_apwaworkplaceheat.html?syndication=rss
FERC approves two California settlements –Resolves all claims related to the FERC proceedings, the Lockyer v. FERC remand, the Bonneville Power Administration v. FERC remand and the California Public Utilities Commission v. FERC remand (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/display_article/333386/22/ARTCL/none/none/1/FERC-approves-two-California-settlements/
Douglas County PUD commissioners approve pay increase (The Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080702/NEWS04/544941898
OREGON – Survey shows customers happy with Oregon Trail Electric Consumers Cooperative (Baker City Herald, OR)
http://www.bakercityherald.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=6831
Old King Coal – Don Hodel (Forbes Magazine)
http://www.forbes.com/forbes/2008/0721/034.html
NEW YORK – 2 Sides in Con Ed Talks Each Held a Strong Hand (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/03/nyregion/03coned.html?_r=2&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin&oref=slogin
FISH & WILDLIFE
Columbia River is thick with sockeye salmon (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/5451
Salmon fishing is hot around the state (The Seattle Times, WA)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2008031164_fish03.html?syndication=rss
Chinook salmon fishing starts in several areas of the upper Columbia River and the lower stretch of the Okanogan River (The Omak Chronicle, WA)
http://www.omakchronicle.com/spt/s080702i.shtml
No one's happy with Columbia salmon sharing (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/sports/localNews/2008/07/07032008_No-ones-happy-with-Columbia-salmon-sharing.cfm/
ALASKA – Copper River reds continue weak run (Alaska Public Radio)
http://aprn.org/2008/07/02/copper-river-reds-continue-weak-run/
CANADA – 30,000 salmon escape farm pen – Incident near Campbell River sparks renewed calls for closed containers (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=e8e01e0c-c2ac-441a-ba8b-e05347585422
San Francisco Chronicle Op/Ed – On Wildlife Conservation: A recipe for wild salmon (San Francisco, CA)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/03/ED4U11IRVS.DTL&feed=rss.opinion
IDAHO – Unwanted species found in E. Idaho reservoir (The Associated Press, via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/496700.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
OKLAHOMA – Oklahomans for Responsible Government criticizes dam bond issue for developing low-water dams along the Arkansas River (The Tulsa Beacon)
http://www.tulsabeacon.com/?p=569
AUSTRALIA – Floodwater harvest halted – A NEW policy on floodwater harvesting amounts to the retrospective legalization of Murray-Darling Basin environmental theft, critics say (The Sydney Morning Herald)
http://www.smh.com.au/news/environment/floodwater-harvest-halted/2008/07/03/1214950951545.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
The Clock is Ticking: States Rush to Meet Renewable Portfolio Standard Deadlines (Energy Pulse Commentary)
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1770
U.S. lifts block on solar applications for public land (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-9983480-54.html
MASSACHUSETTS – Patrick signs landmark energy bill (well, landmark for Massachusetts – The Boston Globe, MA)
http://www.boston.com/news/local/breaking_news/2008/07/patrick_signs_l.html
Houston Turns to Wind for Power, Savings – In a city dominated by oil, wind power looks to be more economical (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/business/July-08/Houston-Turns-to-Wind-for-Power--Savings.html
NEW YORK – US Senator Chuck Schumer celebrates wind power project in Wyoming County – Urges expansion as boon to region (The Buffalo News, NY)
http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/383134.html
CALIFORNIA – The dirty fight over clean power – Pacific Gas & Electric (San Francisco Bay Guardian, CA)
http://www.sfbg.com/entry.php?entry_id=6654&catid=4
SCOTLAND, UK – Hydropower scheme 'planned for Scotland' – A proposed hydropower scheme may help Scotland to meet its renewable energy generation target by the year 2020 (Voltimum)
http://www.voltimum.co.uk/news/10631/infopro.profnews.voltimum/Hydropower-scheme--planned-for-Scotland-.html
CONSERVATION
North Carolina regulatory staff opposes Duke Energy's Save-A-Watt (Charlotte Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2008/06/30/daily36.html?ana=from_rss
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Wenatchee World Opinion – Our money for speeches – When Patrick Moore came to down – “…many of his views appeal to me — pro-nuclear, pro-managed forestry, a very strong defender of hydroelectricity as an important renewable resource...” (Wenatchee, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080702/OP03/112053710/-1/OP
A little guilt with those hot dogs? How to Have a Green Fourth of July (US News & World Report)
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/fresh-greens/2008/7/3/how-to-have-a-green-fourth-of-july.html
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
State of U.S. Broadband: Demand Hits Speed Bumps (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/07/02/pews-state-of-us-broadband-200/
Many dial-up users prefer the slow lane – Study suggests that attitude rather than availability may be the key reason why more Americans don't have high-speed Internet access (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/369400_broadband03.html?source=rss
Portland, OR – Going cheap on eBay: MetroFi's Wi-Fi gear (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/06/30/daily26.html?ana=from_rss
New Jersey man admits to defrauding Cisco of millions of dollars (The Associated Press, via the San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9768986?source=rss
GENERAL NEWS
US contradicts itself over its own ID theft advice – The government doesn't have to look very far to see who's ignoring its advice on preventing identity theft (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008029071_apriskingidtheft.html?syndication=rss
ELEPHANTS ON ACID - DIVERSIONS
Oregon lawn-chair pilot plans 300-mile flight
http://www.examiner.com/a-1470821~Oregon_lawn_chair_pilot_plans_300_mile_flight.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
"Spiritual" effects of psychedelic mushrooms last a year?
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN0127105120080702?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
From a U.S. hostage in the Colombian jungle, a marriage proposal
http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20080703/ts_csm/ohostages
Alleged Sausage Assault Brings Battery Charge
http://www.kirotv.com/news/16770572/detail.html
What Does Your Car Say About You? Vehicles Can Show Need For Control Of Image
http://www.kirotv.com/2009-cars/16709812/detail.html
Wednesday, July 2, 2008
Energy News Digest for July 2, 2008
All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Nuclear Agency Weighs Attack Threat at Plants
- Gas prices shift energy opinions – Poll says drilling, new power plants growing in favor
- Grays Harbor County PUD cogeneration deal at Cosmopolis pulp mill down to fine points
- Chelan County PUD board blasts fellow commissioner for organizing meeting
- OREGON – Feds to stay out of liquefied natural gas firms' squabble
- MONTANA – Public Service Commission OKs rate hike for gas, electricity
- PENNSYLVANIA – State Senate Democrats call electricity deregulation a 'failure'
- TEXAS – Oncor to refund $72M to electricity customers
- Missouri regulators say yes to purchase of Aquila by Great Plains Energy
- CONNECTICUT – Regulators give Connecticut Light & Power OK to boost electricity rates
- Economist questions Duke Energy's projections on power use
- NEW YORK – Con Ed Agrees to Tentative Contract
- Salmon on the Fourth: When a holiday tradition collides with threatened stocks
- California wildfires play part in local haze
- Pacific Gas & Electric inks Oregon wind power deal with Horizon Wind Energy
- The Columbian Opinion – In Our View: Go with the wind
- The War Over Offshore Wind Is Almost Over
- Cantwell at odds with Democrats over energy plan
- No rubber stamps, even for renewable energy
- AUSTRALIA – Electricity plan on the table
- Drivers Of Vegetable-Oil Vehicles In A Legal Pickle
- American Public Power Association and environmental group launch joint initiative for energy efficiency
- Clean energy a key issue for new Pacific initiative
- CANADA – New 2.3¢ per liter carbon tax sends gas price up a dime in places
- Curbing Emissions Won't Be Enough
- Bank Takes Environmental Step Into Rural Town
- Accused hackers steal PINs from Citibank ATMs
- Data Breaches Are Up 69% This Year, Nonprofit Says
- IOWA – State confirms Microsoft has chosen Iowa as the site of its next data center
- Justice Department to review Google-Yahoo deal
- PENNSYLVANIA – High-speed Web access planned with state bil
- WISCONSIN – Fiber optics being extended to rural area
- Internet Users Continue to Engage in Unprotected Text
- Mason County Action On Renaissance Faire Expected July 16th
- List still secret – Starbucks plans to close 600 stores across U.S.
- Stealing From the Dead – Metal Thieves Desecrate Cemetery by Stealing Bronze Plaques
- Grapeview Community Association Celebrates 20th Birthday
- Utah State Employees Moving to a Four-Day Workweek
- TEXAS - Foreclosure Tragedy – Cedar Park couple sues Austin company
- Newspapers Make Cuts At Home, Hire Abroad
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Trichotillomania • \trick-uh-till-uh-MAY-nee-uh\ • noun – An abnormal desire to pull out one's hair
“Electricity deregulation is good, regulation is bad,” the announcer intoned over and over as a video of the vapid, smiling faces of Enron energy traders cross-faded on a huge television screen placed at the dinner table by Alberto’s troubled son. The boy’s obsession with hocus-pocus market solutions and occasional bouts of trichotillomania when they did not work out made him look like Mini-Me.
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
Nuclear Agency Weighs Attack Threat at Plants (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/02/us/02nuke.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Gas prices shift energy opinions – Poll says drilling, new power plants growing in favor (The Associated Press, via the San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/02/BUNB11I78E.DTL&feed=rss.business
Grays Harbor County PUD cogeneration deal at Cosmopolis pulp mill down to fine points (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/07/01/local_news/02news.txt
Chelan County PUD board blasts fellow commissioner for organizing meeting between several PUD customers and PUD staff. Rest of board says not notified (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080701/NEWS04/809738903
OREGON – Feds to stay out of liquefied natural gas firms' squabble – FERC says review of Oregon LNG in Warrenton can proceed (The Daily Astorian)
http://www.dailyastorian.com/Main.asp?SectionID=2&ArticleID=52488
MONTANA – Public Service Commission OKs rate hike for gas, electricity – On a 3-2 vote, the state on Tuesday gave final approval to a $15 million annual rate increase for NorthWestern Energy (The Billings Gazette)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/07/02/news/state/50-ratehike.txt
PENNSYLVANIA – State Senate Democrats call electricity deregulation a 'failure' (Pittsburgh Business Times)
http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2008/06/30/daily18.html?ana=from_rss
TEXAS – Oncor to refund $72M to electricity customers – Makes good on a promise designed to ease opposition to the buyout of the company last year. The refund amounts to $12.58 for each residential customer (The Dallas Morning News, TX)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/industries/energy/stories/070208dnbusoncorrefund.1333967d.html
Missouri regulators say yes to purchase of Aquila by Great Plains Energy Inc (The Kansas City Star, MO)
http://www.kansascity.com/business/story/688011.html
CONNECTICUT – Regulators give Connecticut Light & Power OK to boost electricity rates – Increased demand for power, electricity deregulation that critics say has failed and rapidly escalating energy prices are blamed for the higher electric rates (The Associated Press, via Newsday)
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/connecticut/ny-bc-ct--electricityrates0702jul02,0,5907612.story
Economist questions Duke Energy's projections on power use – Houses are growing larger and filled with more electronic gadgets, but the people living in them are using less energy (Charlotte Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2008/06/30/daily27.html?ana=from_rss
NEW YORK – Con Ed Agrees to Tentative Contract (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/03/nyregion/03coned.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
FISH & WILDLIFE
Salmon on the Fourth: When a holiday tradition collides with threatened stocks (The Boston Globe, MA)
http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/greenblog/2008/07/salmon_on_the_fourth_when_a_ho.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
California wildfires play part in local haze (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/495130.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Pacific Gas & Electric inks Oregon wind power deal with Horizon Wind Energy (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/06/30/daily15.html?ana=from_rss
The Columbian Opinion – In Our View: Go with the wind – Vancouver’s role in wind-power generation is blowing harder all the time (Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/opinion/news/2008/07/07022008_In-Our-View-Go-with-the-wind.cfm/
The War Over Offshore Wind Is Almost Over – It's no longer if, but when, where, and how many wind farms will go up along the U.S. coast (BusinessWeek Magazine)
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_27/b4091052403644.htm
Cantwell at odds with Democrats over energy plan (The Associated Press, via the Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP07012008news335668.cfm
No rubber stamps, even for renewable energy (The Economist Magazine, via the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/369155_solarenergyonline02.html?source=rss
AUSTRALIA – Electricity plan on the table – The federal Government is pressing ahead with plans to source 20per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2020 (The Australian)
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23960553-5013871,00.html
Drivers Of Vegetable-Oil Vehicles In A Legal Pickle – Effort To Go Green Violates Federal Environment Laws (The Baltimore Sun, via the San Jose Mercury News, CA)http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9762225?source=rss
CONSERVATION
News Release – American Public Power Association and Natural Resources Defense Council launch joint initiative for energy efficiency (ThomasNet)
http://news.thomasnet.com/companystory/546045
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Clean energy a key issue for new Pacific initiative – B.C. teams with four U.S. states, including Washington, to manage environmental concerns, other areas (The Globe and Mail, Canada)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080702.BCPACIFIC02/TPStory/TPNational/BritishColumbia/
CANADA – New 2.3¢ per liter carbon tax sends gas price up a dime in places – Many stations charge several times new levy (The Vancouver Sun, BC – That tax would equate to about 9-cents a gallon)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=65171e4c-4027-4ffb-ab69-37cbd7efe460
Curbing Emissions Won't Be Enough – We're great at spewing CO2 into the air. Visionaries are now devising ways to suck it out (Newsweek Magazine)
http://www.newsweek.com/id/35570
Bank Takes Environmental Step Into Rural Town – Moves its North American headquarters to a sprawling facility that it bills as carbon neutral in this hamlet about 30 miles north of Chicago (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/02/business/02hsbc.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Accused hackers steal PINs from Citibank ATMs – Hackers broke into Citibank's network of ATMs inside 7-Eleven stores and stole customers' PIN codes (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008028857_atm02.html?syndication=rss
Data Breaches Are Up 69% This Year, Nonprofit Says – New Laws May Have Increased Reporting (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/30/AR2008063002123.html?nav=rss_technology
IOWA – State confirms Microsoft has chosen Iowa as the site of its next data center (The Des Moines Register, IA)
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080701/BUSINESS/80701036
Justice Department to review Google-Yahoo deal (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9982577-7.html
PENNSYLVANIA – High-speed Web access planned with state bill – Public-private partnership would help improve service to rural and inner-city areas (The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, PA)
http://www.timesleader.com/news/High-speed_Web_access_planned_with_state_bill_06-30-2008.html
WISCONSIN – Fiber optics being extended to rural area (The Baldwin Bulletin, WI)
http://baldwinbulletin.blogspot.com/2008/07/fiber-optics-being-extended-to-rural.html
Internet Users Continue to Engage in Unprotected Text (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/technology/May-June-08/Internet-Users-Continue-to-Engage-in-Unprotected-Text.html
GENERAL NEWS
Mason County Action On Renaissance Faire Expected July 16th However, State DNR Moratorium In Effect (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/395/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
List still secret – Starbucks plans to close 600 stores across U.S. – 12,000 employees affected, but company hopes to absorb some (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/369152_starbucks02.html?source=rss
Stealing From the Dead – Metal Thieves Desecrate Cemetery by Stealing Bronze Plaques from Headstones (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/rss/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1214935971&archive=
Grapeview Community Association Celebrates 20th Birthday (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/jul/01/grapeview-community-association-celebrates-20th-bi/
Utah State Employees Moving to a Four-Day Workweek (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/Americas/July-08/Utah-State-Employees-Moving-to-a-Four-Day-Workweek.html
TEXAS - Foreclosure Tragedy – Cedar Park couple sues Austin company in foreclosure mix-up (Austin American-Statesman, TX)http://www.statesman.com/business/content/business/stories/other/07/01/0701dickson.html
Newspapers Make Cuts At Home, Hire Abroad – Outsourced employees are doing everything from writing ad copy to copy editing to writing weekend supplements for U.S. and British newspapers (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92126544&ft=1&f=3
ELEPHANTS ON ACID - DIVERSIONS
Today Is International Corinthian Leather Day (Video from Jalopnik)
http://jalopnik.com/cars/classic-ad-watch/today-is-international-corinthian-leather-day-295962.php
Experts say tourists harming Machu Picchu
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008027604_apmachupicchuendangered.html?syndication=rss
Couple Holds Blood Drive In Lieu Of Shower
http://www.kirotv.com/health/16768419/detail.html
DOG DAYS BEGIN (JULY 3) – The Dog Days (a period of 40 days beginning July 3 and ending August 11) are named for the Dog Star, Sirius, which is visible with the rising Sun at this time of year. Ancients associated this sky picture with the hot days that coincided with it. Sirius is the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major (Greater Dog). (From the Old Farmer’s Almanac)
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Nuclear Agency Weighs Attack Threat at Plants
- Gas prices shift energy opinions – Poll says drilling, new power plants growing in favor
- Grays Harbor County PUD cogeneration deal at Cosmopolis pulp mill down to fine points
- Chelan County PUD board blasts fellow commissioner for organizing meeting
- OREGON – Feds to stay out of liquefied natural gas firms' squabble
- MONTANA – Public Service Commission OKs rate hike for gas, electricity
- PENNSYLVANIA – State Senate Democrats call electricity deregulation a 'failure'
- TEXAS – Oncor to refund $72M to electricity customers
- Missouri regulators say yes to purchase of Aquila by Great Plains Energy
- CONNECTICUT – Regulators give Connecticut Light & Power OK to boost electricity rates
- Economist questions Duke Energy's projections on power use
- NEW YORK – Con Ed Agrees to Tentative Contract
- Salmon on the Fourth: When a holiday tradition collides with threatened stocks
- California wildfires play part in local haze
- Pacific Gas & Electric inks Oregon wind power deal with Horizon Wind Energy
- The Columbian Opinion – In Our View: Go with the wind
- The War Over Offshore Wind Is Almost Over
- Cantwell at odds with Democrats over energy plan
- No rubber stamps, even for renewable energy
- AUSTRALIA – Electricity plan on the table
- Drivers Of Vegetable-Oil Vehicles In A Legal Pickle
- American Public Power Association and environmental group launch joint initiative for energy efficiency
- Clean energy a key issue for new Pacific initiative
- CANADA – New 2.3¢ per liter carbon tax sends gas price up a dime in places
- Curbing Emissions Won't Be Enough
- Bank Takes Environmental Step Into Rural Town
- Accused hackers steal PINs from Citibank ATMs
- Data Breaches Are Up 69% This Year, Nonprofit Says
- IOWA – State confirms Microsoft has chosen Iowa as the site of its next data center
- Justice Department to review Google-Yahoo deal
- PENNSYLVANIA – High-speed Web access planned with state bil
- WISCONSIN – Fiber optics being extended to rural area
- Internet Users Continue to Engage in Unprotected Text
- Mason County Action On Renaissance Faire Expected July 16th
- List still secret – Starbucks plans to close 600 stores across U.S.
- Stealing From the Dead – Metal Thieves Desecrate Cemetery by Stealing Bronze Plaques
- Grapeview Community Association Celebrates 20th Birthday
- Utah State Employees Moving to a Four-Day Workweek
- TEXAS - Foreclosure Tragedy – Cedar Park couple sues Austin company
- Newspapers Make Cuts At Home, Hire Abroad
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Trichotillomania • \trick-uh-till-uh-MAY-nee-uh\ • noun – An abnormal desire to pull out one's hair
“Electricity deregulation is good, regulation is bad,” the announcer intoned over and over as a video of the vapid, smiling faces of Enron energy traders cross-faded on a huge television screen placed at the dinner table by Alberto’s troubled son. The boy’s obsession with hocus-pocus market solutions and occasional bouts of trichotillomania when they did not work out made him look like Mini-Me.
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
Nuclear Agency Weighs Attack Threat at Plants (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/02/us/02nuke.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Gas prices shift energy opinions – Poll says drilling, new power plants growing in favor (The Associated Press, via the San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/07/02/BUNB11I78E.DTL&feed=rss.business
Grays Harbor County PUD cogeneration deal at Cosmopolis pulp mill down to fine points (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/07/01/local_news/02news.txt
Chelan County PUD board blasts fellow commissioner for organizing meeting between several PUD customers and PUD staff. Rest of board says not notified (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080701/NEWS04/809738903
OREGON – Feds to stay out of liquefied natural gas firms' squabble – FERC says review of Oregon LNG in Warrenton can proceed (The Daily Astorian)
http://www.dailyastorian.com/Main.asp?SectionID=2&ArticleID=52488
MONTANA – Public Service Commission OKs rate hike for gas, electricity – On a 3-2 vote, the state on Tuesday gave final approval to a $15 million annual rate increase for NorthWestern Energy (The Billings Gazette)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/07/02/news/state/50-ratehike.txt
PENNSYLVANIA – State Senate Democrats call electricity deregulation a 'failure' (Pittsburgh Business Times)
http://www.bizjournals.com/pittsburgh/stories/2008/06/30/daily18.html?ana=from_rss
TEXAS – Oncor to refund $72M to electricity customers – Makes good on a promise designed to ease opposition to the buyout of the company last year. The refund amounts to $12.58 for each residential customer (The Dallas Morning News, TX)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/industries/energy/stories/070208dnbusoncorrefund.1333967d.html
Missouri regulators say yes to purchase of Aquila by Great Plains Energy Inc (The Kansas City Star, MO)
http://www.kansascity.com/business/story/688011.html
CONNECTICUT – Regulators give Connecticut Light & Power OK to boost electricity rates – Increased demand for power, electricity deregulation that critics say has failed and rapidly escalating energy prices are blamed for the higher electric rates (The Associated Press, via Newsday)
http://www.newsday.com/news/local/wire/connecticut/ny-bc-ct--electricityrates0702jul02,0,5907612.story
Economist questions Duke Energy's projections on power use – Houses are growing larger and filled with more electronic gadgets, but the people living in them are using less energy (Charlotte Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2008/06/30/daily27.html?ana=from_rss
NEW YORK – Con Ed Agrees to Tentative Contract (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/03/nyregion/03coned.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
FISH & WILDLIFE
Salmon on the Fourth: When a holiday tradition collides with threatened stocks (The Boston Globe, MA)
http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/greenblog/2008/07/salmon_on_the_fourth_when_a_ho.html
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
California wildfires play part in local haze (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/495130.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Pacific Gas & Electric inks Oregon wind power deal with Horizon Wind Energy (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2008/06/30/daily15.html?ana=from_rss
The Columbian Opinion – In Our View: Go with the wind – Vancouver’s role in wind-power generation is blowing harder all the time (Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/opinion/news/2008/07/07022008_In-Our-View-Go-with-the-wind.cfm/
The War Over Offshore Wind Is Almost Over – It's no longer if, but when, where, and how many wind farms will go up along the U.S. coast (BusinessWeek Magazine)
http://www.businessweek.com/magazine/content/08_27/b4091052403644.htm
Cantwell at odds with Democrats over energy plan (The Associated Press, via the Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP07012008news335668.cfm
No rubber stamps, even for renewable energy (The Economist Magazine, via the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/369155_solarenergyonline02.html?source=rss
AUSTRALIA – Electricity plan on the table – The federal Government is pressing ahead with plans to source 20per cent of electricity from renewable sources by 2020 (The Australian)
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23960553-5013871,00.html
Drivers Of Vegetable-Oil Vehicles In A Legal Pickle – Effort To Go Green Violates Federal Environment Laws (The Baltimore Sun, via the San Jose Mercury News, CA)http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_9762225?source=rss
CONSERVATION
News Release – American Public Power Association and Natural Resources Defense Council launch joint initiative for energy efficiency (ThomasNet)
http://news.thomasnet.com/companystory/546045
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Clean energy a key issue for new Pacific initiative – B.C. teams with four U.S. states, including Washington, to manage environmental concerns, other areas (The Globe and Mail, Canada)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080702.BCPACIFIC02/TPStory/TPNational/BritishColumbia/
CANADA – New 2.3¢ per liter carbon tax sends gas price up a dime in places – Many stations charge several times new levy (The Vancouver Sun, BC – That tax would equate to about 9-cents a gallon)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=65171e4c-4027-4ffb-ab69-37cbd7efe460
Curbing Emissions Won't Be Enough – We're great at spewing CO2 into the air. Visionaries are now devising ways to suck it out (Newsweek Magazine)
http://www.newsweek.com/id/35570
Bank Takes Environmental Step Into Rural Town – Moves its North American headquarters to a sprawling facility that it bills as carbon neutral in this hamlet about 30 miles north of Chicago (The NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/07/02/business/02hsbc.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Accused hackers steal PINs from Citibank ATMs – Hackers broke into Citibank's network of ATMs inside 7-Eleven stores and stole customers' PIN codes (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008028857_atm02.html?syndication=rss
Data Breaches Are Up 69% This Year, Nonprofit Says – New Laws May Have Increased Reporting (The Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/06/30/AR2008063002123.html?nav=rss_technology
IOWA – State confirms Microsoft has chosen Iowa as the site of its next data center (The Des Moines Register, IA)
http://www.desmoinesregister.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080701/BUSINESS/80701036
Justice Department to review Google-Yahoo deal (CNET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-9982577-7.html
PENNSYLVANIA – High-speed Web access planned with state bill – Public-private partnership would help improve service to rural and inner-city areas (The Times Leader, Wilkes-Barre, PA)
http://www.timesleader.com/news/High-speed_Web_access_planned_with_state_bill_06-30-2008.html
WISCONSIN – Fiber optics being extended to rural area (The Baldwin Bulletin, WI)
http://baldwinbulletin.blogspot.com/2008/07/fiber-optics-being-extended-to-rural.html
Internet Users Continue to Engage in Unprotected Text (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/technology/May-June-08/Internet-Users-Continue-to-Engage-in-Unprotected-Text.html
GENERAL NEWS
Mason County Action On Renaissance Faire Expected July 16th However, State DNR Moratorium In Effect (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/395/reftab/1896/Default.aspx
List still secret – Starbucks plans to close 600 stores across U.S. – 12,000 employees affected, but company hopes to absorb some (The Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/369152_starbucks02.html?source=rss
Stealing From the Dead – Metal Thieves Desecrate Cemetery by Stealing Bronze Plaques from Headstones (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/rss/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1214935971&archive=
Grapeview Community Association Celebrates 20th Birthday (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/jul/01/grapeview-community-association-celebrates-20th-bi/
Utah State Employees Moving to a Four-Day Workweek (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/Americas/July-08/Utah-State-Employees-Moving-to-a-Four-Day-Workweek.html
TEXAS - Foreclosure Tragedy – Cedar Park couple sues Austin company in foreclosure mix-up (Austin American-Statesman, TX)http://www.statesman.com/business/content/business/stories/other/07/01/0701dickson.html
Newspapers Make Cuts At Home, Hire Abroad – Outsourced employees are doing everything from writing ad copy to copy editing to writing weekend supplements for U.S. and British newspapers (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=92126544&ft=1&f=3
ELEPHANTS ON ACID - DIVERSIONS
Today Is International Corinthian Leather Day (Video from Jalopnik)
http://jalopnik.com/cars/classic-ad-watch/today-is-international-corinthian-leather-day-295962.php
Experts say tourists harming Machu Picchu
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008027604_apmachupicchuendangered.html?syndication=rss
Couple Holds Blood Drive In Lieu Of Shower
http://www.kirotv.com/health/16768419/detail.html
DOG DAYS BEGIN (JULY 3) – The Dog Days (a period of 40 days beginning July 3 and ending August 11) are named for the Dog Star, Sirius, which is visible with the rising Sun at this time of year. Ancients associated this sky picture with the hot days that coincided with it. Sirius is the brightest star in the constellation Canis Major (Greater Dog). (From the Old Farmer’s Almanac)
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