Wednesday, November 12, 2008

Energy News Digest for November 12, 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)

- The metals market has “characteristics of a vacuum” (um, it sucks?) Intalco faces new round of job cuts
- Grant PUD gets $66.6 million in power auction
- Clark Public Utilities faces $21 million shortfall
- Utilities hunker down for tough year ahead
- Utah – Options reconsidered for proposed coal plant
- Montana – Award given in Flathead copper theft cases
- Court rules for Navy in dispute over sonar, whales
- S.F. Chronicle Editorial – A promising share-the-catch plan for California fisheries
- Pro-commercial gillnetting presentation planned
- Fishing on the Cowlitz – Anglers Flock to Barrier Dam for Silver Salmon
- The Real Price of Farmed Salmon
- Kitsap PUD Educator Recognized at the State Level
- City of Shelton to Increase Sewer Rates
- Sewage problems hit Everett homes
- Twin City Utility Rates Flow Up
- Wood, I Wouldn't – It's better to heat your home with gas than with trees
- Wood stove violations could result in fines
- PSE orders 22 wind turbines for Wild Horse expansion
- Certain Green Industries Have Job Openings
- Solar Projects On Oregon's Horizon -- But What Role For Consumers?
- Maryland – City turns on methane energy at Back River plant
- For Africa, ‘Energy From Dirt’
- News Release – Reducing Emissions by Using Renewable Energy Sources Harms Transmission Grid
- Investing in Renewable Energy Funds
- Home Heating Costs Boosted By Leaky Ducts
- Energy efficiency moving into homes
- Connecticut – State To Charge $75 For Home Energy Audits
- Alaska – Group encourages local churches to focus on energy conservation
- Climate change effect on oceans causing sea change
- Al Gore details five-step plan to clean electricity
- Alaska permafrost study reveals larger global warming problem
- Colorado - Little financial risk in Glenwood Springs' fiber-optic expansion
- Is our Internet future in danger? Signs point to a bandwidth shortage
- Verizon DSL Customers Getting Free Upgrades
- Wisconsin Realizes Franchise 'Reform' Was a Con
- Vonage Still Struggling With Defecting Customers
- Like Roaches, Broadband over Powerline Doesn’t Go Away
- How Do Consumers Choose Wi-Fi Hotspots?
- Tanker spills buttermilk at Olympia
- Martian dust storm saps power from NASA rover

These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest

WORD OF THE DAY

Horripilation • \haw-rip-uh-LAY-shuhn\ • noun – The act or process of the hair bristling on the skin, as from cold or fear; goose flesh

Although he was unaware of its meaning, Fredo was the victim on an instant onset of horripilation at the Cuban New Year’s Eve party. It all started with an innocent kiss from his younger brother…followed by the chilling “I know it was you Fredo…” Everything after that, except for the little hairs on the back of his neck standing up was a blur.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?textField1=47.213805&textField2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=Shelton%2C%20WA%2C%20USA

Dozens of flood warnings issued as rain pelts Northwest (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/34327399.html

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Intalco faces new round of job cuts “…The industry is in surplus and has experienced an unprecedented fall in aluminum prices over a very short period of time…” (Bellingham Herald, WA)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/255/story/661665.html

Grant PUD gets $66.6 million in power auction (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081112/NEWS04/711121569

Clark Public Utilities faces $21 million shortfall – But customers may not have to bear entire burden (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20081110/BIZ01/711119977/-1/BIZ

Utilities hunker down for tough year ahead (Associated Press)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5jhFVM7usYPr2ltDK3OAe19WanZZQD94C9V5G1

Utah – Options reconsidered for proposed coal plant: Company says it's going to think about switching to natural gas power (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)
http://www.sltrib.com/news/ci_10961057?source=rss

Montana – Award given in Flathead copper theft cases (KAJ Radio, Kalispell, MT)
http://www.montanasnewsstation.com/Global/story.asp?S=9326205

FISH & WILDLIFE

Court rules for Navy in dispute over sonar, whales (Associated Press)
http://columbian.com/article/20081112/NEWS06/311129989/-1/NEWS

S.F. Chronicle Editorial – A promising share-the-catch plan for California fisheries
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/12/EDGL142D36.DTL&feed=rss.opinion

Pro-commercial gillnetting presentation planned – Panel also will discuss Mid-Columbia Steelhead Recovery Plan on Friday (Statesman-Journal, Salem, OR)
http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20081112/OUTDOORS/811120394/1034/SPORTS

Fishing on the Cowlitz – Anglers Flock to Barrier Dam for Silver Salmon (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/rss/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1226340310&archive=

The Real Price of Farmed Salmon (Environmental News Network)
http://www.enn.com/wildlife/article/38619

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Kitsap PUD Educator Recognized at the State Level (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/nov/10/kitsap-pud-educator-recognized-at-the-state/

City of Shelton to Increase Sewer Rates (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/5535/reftab/1896/title/CITY_TO_INCREASE_SEWER_RATES/Default.aspx

Sewage problems hit Everett homes (Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20081108/NEWS01/711089928/-1/RSS02

Twin City Utility Rates Flow Up – Centralia Plans To Implement Higher Rates Tuesday; Chehalis Might Delay Needed Spike (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/rss/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1226426111&archive=

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Wood, I Wouldn't – It's better to heat your home with gas than with trees (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2204252/?from=rss

Wood stove violations could result in fines (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20081110/NEWS02/711119969/-1/NEWS

PSE orders 22 wind turbines for expansion of its Wild Horse Wind and Solar facility (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/11/10/daily9.html?ana=from_rss

Certain Green Industries Have Job Openings (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96890387&ft=1&f=3

Solar Projects On Oregon's Horizon -- But What Role For Consumers? (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/3522-solar-projects-oregons-horizon-what-role-consumers/

Maryland – City turns on methane energy at Back River plant (Baltimore Sun, MD)
http://www.baltimoresun.com/news/local/baltimore_city/bal-plant1110,0,2622892.story?track=rss

For Africa, ‘Energy From Dirt’ (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/11/giving/11AFRICA.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss&oref=slogin

News Release – Reducing Emissions by Using Renewable Energy Sources Harms Transmission Grid (American Coalition for Clean Coal Electricity – it MUST be true!)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=100690

Investing in Renewable Energy Funds (Renewable Energy World – Howzabout some renewable energy derivatives: carbon credits anyone?)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/ate/story?id=54049&src=rss

CONSERVATION

Home Heating Costs Boosted By Leaky Ducts (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/money/17958691/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news

Energy efficiency moving into homes – In a lousy market, some builders are banking on houses that save on power (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1226294798221180.xml&coll=7

Connecticut – State To Charge $75 For Home Energy Audits (Hartford Courant, CT
http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-homeaudit1111.artnov11,0,594704.story

Alaska – Group encourages local churches to focus on energy conservation (Anchorage News Miner, AK)
http://newsminer.com/news/2008/nov/12/group-encourages-local-churches-focus-energy-conse/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Climate change effect on oceans causing sea change (Contra Cost Times, Walnut Creek, CA)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_10956914?source=rss

Al Gore details five-step plan to clean electricity (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10092364-54.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1_3-0-20

Alaska permafrost study reveals larger global warming problem (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, AK)
http://newsminer.com/news/2008/nov/11/new-permafrost-study-reveals-larger-global-warming/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Colorado - Little financial risk in Glenwood Springs' fiber-optic expansion (Glenwood Springs Post-Independent, CO)
http://www.postindependent.com/article/20081110/VALLEYNEWS/811109998/1083&ParentProfile=1074&title=Consultant:%20Little%20financial%20risk%20in%20Glenwood%20Springs'%20fiber-optic%20expansion%20

Is our Internet future in danger? Signs point to a bandwidth shortage, and avoiding that may mean you'll pay more for broadband usage (InfoWorld)
http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/11/11/46FE-broadband-limits_1.html

Verizon DSL Customers Getting Free Upgrades – Entry level tier speed jumping from 768kbps to 1.5Mbps (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Verizon-DSL-Customers-Getting-Free-Upgrades-99002

Wisconsin Realizes Franchise 'Reform' Was a Con (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Wisconsin-Realizes-Franchise-Reform-Was-a-Con-98982

Vonage Still Struggling With Defecting Customers – As cable VoIP continues to eat their lunch (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Vonage-Still-Struggling-With-Defecting-Customers-99007

Like Roaches, Broadband over Powerline Doesn’t Go Away (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/11/11/like-roaches-broadband-over-powerline-doesnt-go-away/

How Do Consumers Choose Wi-Fi Hotspots? (Seeking Alpha)
http://seekingalpha.com/article/105630-how-do-consumers-choose-wi-fi-hotspots?source=yahoo

GENERAL NEWS

Tanker spills buttermilk at Olympia (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1686185~Tanker_spills_buttermilk_at_Olympia.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines

Martian dust storm saps power from NASA rover – Sunshine blocked from reaching its solar panels (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/387460_space12.html

DIVERSIONS

Dog Droppings Clog Sewers In Portland, Maine
http://www.kirotv.com/money/17954703/detail.html

Man's body found in paper bale at Idaho plant
http://www.examiner.com/a-1684901~Man_s_body_found_in_paper_bale_at_Idaho_plant.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines

Missing cat back in California home after 13 years
http://www.examiner.com/a-1686090~Missing_cat_back_in_California_home_after_13_years.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Bowling Ball Spares Teen from Bullet – Police Searching For Five Suspects
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17948994/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=irresistible

Monday, November 10, 2008

Veterans Day Storms - Look Out!

It will be a sloppy few days this week, as two Pacific storms roll over Western Washington. Below you will find a summary of the information gleaned from this afternoon’s briefing from the National Weather Service.
-----------
Two wet and sloppy storms will be moving over Western Washington over the next several days. The first system will arrive on Tuesday morning. Here are the rain forecasts:

- Between 1 and 4 inches of rain in the Olympic Mountains
- Between .5 and 1.5 inches in the South Puget Sound lowlands
- A .25 and a .5 inch of rain in the Central Puget Sound region
- Winds are expected to be between 10 and 17 miles per hour.

The second storm, which is forecast to arrive Tuesday evening, will be stronger, and wetter than the first. The Weather Service forecast:

- Between 4 and 8 inches of rain in the Olympic Mountains
- Between 2 and 5 inches in the South Puget Sound lowlands
- 1 to 2 inches of rain in the Central Puget Sound region
- Coastal winds will be 30 MPH sustained, with gusts up to 45 MPH
- In Central Puget Sound, winds are forecast at 30 MPH sustained, with gusts up to 45 MPH
- In the Southwest Interior, the winds are forecast between 15 and 25 MPH, with gusts to 35

The heavy rain over this two day period will increase the threat of floods and landslides, especially along Highway 101 north of Shelton on the west side Hood Canal.

Although the National Weather Service is not predicting widespread power outages from this series of storms, the combination of saturated soils and occasionally gusty winds may result in trees that are knocked over or some limbs blown from trees. This creates the possibility of a few scattered outages, so customers are advised to have storm supplies on hand.

A flood watch has also been issued for Mason County from Tuesday afternoon through late Wednesday night. Rivers specifically under observation are the Skokomish and Satsop.

A flood watch means there is a potential for flooding based on the current forecasts. Residents in the watch area should be aware of the potential for significant rainfall that could lead to flooding and be prepared to take action should flooding develop.

Forecasters warn that with the amount of rainfall expected over the next several days there may also be some urban flooding.

Energy News Digest for November 10, 2008

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- More than 53% favor electricity in local hands in East Jefferson County
- BPA agreement guarantees low power costs for Cheney
- Bracing for rise in Spokane utility bills
- New York - Along 240 Miles of Power Lines, Preparing Every Tower for winter’s Wrath
- Indiana - Gas, power companies report more disconnections
- U.S. Electricity Project Forges Ahead Despite Afghan Terrain and Taliban
- United Kingdom - Mini nuclear plants to power 20,000 homes
- Panel approves catch quota for W. Coast fishing
- Yakima - More water, happier fish
- Outdoors: 85-pound salmon is a real big fish story
- San Francisco Chronicle Op/Ed - Monster salmon could be harbinger of fish's recovery
- Snake River sediment buildup may be slowing
- Canada - Fund to save salmon shrinks with economy
- Coca-Cola may bottle Willamette River water
- Snohomish PUD customers may see water rates climb for 4 years
- Gorgeous! Columbia River waterfalls top a list of sights to savor
- Shasta Lake's low water level reveals a piece of California's past
- Chesapeake Bay Watch: Political courage, not lawsuits, will get the estuary clean
- Public Gets Its Turn to Comment on Controversial Kitsap Sustainable Energy and Economic Development Project
- Report: Sun, wind power strain power grid
- Agency Pushes for Less Wood Burning
- Idaho man plans to power home with wind
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer Editorial - Beyond oil: Wind at our backs
- Drivers get charged up about plugging in cars
- Energy island to supply green power when wind drops
- Daylight Savings Time Increases Energy Use in Indiana
- Boston Globe Op/Ed – A climate plan in peril?
- Gore sets Obama a JFK challenge on energy
- Will the Weak Economy Derail Our Going Green?
- Data center being built on Columbia River near Boardman, OR
- Internet Attacks Grow More Potent
- Broadband access drives decisions on where to live
- Couple Builds New Home Just For Broadband - Then reconsiders
- Is broadband a utility?
- FiOS Not Hurting Cablevision...Yet
- FCC will seek more comment on telecom reforms
- Google at 10: Searching Its Own Soul
- Flood watch Tuesday-Wednesday in W. Washington
- Here’s a link to the latest vote count from the Mason County Auditor’s office
- Dog shot after biting Shelton resident
- New Onramp from Highway 3 to Highway 101 Near Shelton to Open
- Asphalt shortage delays road repairs nationwide
- Yelm could be home to new radio station

These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest

WORD OF THE DAY

Sedentary • \SED-un-tair-ee\ • adjective – 1: not migratory: settled *2: doing or requiring much sitting 3: not physically active 4: permanently attached

Zonker Harris, poster-boy for the sedentary art of competitive tanning, gave it all up in 1981 after his historic “Jack Ford Medal for Best Tan at the 1980 Gerald R. Ford Pro-Am Summer Biathlon and the bronze medal at the Sonny Bono Indoor Tan Fest.” – Doonesbury@Slate

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?textField1=47.213805&textField2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=Shelton%2C%20WA%2C%20USA

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

More than 53% favor electricity in local hands in East Jefferson County (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20081109/news/311099993

BPA agreement guarantees low power costs for Cheney - Customers will enjoy the lowest power rates in the area: agreement secures low cost, tier one power for 20 years (Cheney Free Press, WA)
http://www.cheneyfreepress.com/default.asp?sourceid=&smenu=1&twindow=&mad=&sdetail=3761&wpage=1&skeyword=&sidate=&ccat=&ccatm=&restate=&restatus=&reoption=&retype=&repmin=&repmax=&rebed=&rebath=&subname=&pform=&sc=2058&hn=cheneyfreepress&he=.com

Bracing for rise in Spokane utility bills - Convergence of rate-boosting forces to impact businesses here (Spokane Journal of Commerce)
http://www.spokanejournal.com/spokane_id=article&sub=3784

New York - Along 240 Miles of Power Lines, Preparing Every Tower for Winter’s Wrath (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/10/nyregion/10tree.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Indiana - Gas, power companies report more disconnections, many due to delinquent bills - Utility shut-offs may indicate more can't pay the bills (Indianapolis Star, IN)
http://www.indystar.com/article/20081108/BUSINESS/811080404/1003/BUSINESS

U.S. Electricity Project Forges Ahead Despite Afghan Terrain and Taliban (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/world/asia/09kajaki.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

United Kingdom - Mini nuclear plants to power 20,000 homes (The Guardian, UK)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2008/nov/09/miniature-nuclear-reactors-los-alamos

FISH & WILDLIFE

Panel approves catch quota for W. Coast fishing (Associated Press)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/34134379.html

More water, happier fish - The Benton Irrigation District is embarking on a $16 million project that will boost the amount of water left in the lower Yakima River during summer (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/2008/11/09/more-water-happier-fish

Outdoors: 85-pound salmon is a real big fish story (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/08/SP1B13VRCL.DTL

San Francisco Chronicle Op/Ed - Monster salmon could be harbinger of fish's recovery
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/09/SP1B13VRCL.DTL&feed=rss.sports

Snake River sediment buildup may be slowing (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008370932_apidriversediment.html?syndication=rss

Canada - Fund to save salmon shrinks with economy - $165-million endowment loses more than $35-million, could endanger projects in Canada and the U.S. (Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20081108.BCFUND08/TPStory//?page=rss&id=GAM.20081108.BCFUND08

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Coca-Cola may bottle Willamette River water (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1682759~Coca_Cola_may_bottle_Willamette_River_water.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Snohomish PUD customers may see water rates climb for 4 years (Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20081110/NEWS01/711109860/-1/RSS02

Gorgeous! Columbia River waterfalls top a list of sights to savor (Winston-Salem Journal, NC)
http://www2.journalnow.com/content/2008/nov/09/gorgeous-columbia-river-waterfalls-top-a-list-of-s/living/

Shasta Lake's low water level reveals a piece of California's past (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/33924709.html

Washington Post Editorial - Chesapeake Bay Watch: Political courage, not lawsuits, will get the estuary clean
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/11/07/AR2008110703483.html?nav%3Drss_opinions&sub=AR

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Public Gets Its Turn to Comment on Controversial Kitsap Sustainable Energy and Economic Development Project (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/nov/09/public-gets-its-turn-to-comment-on-seed/?partner=RSS

Report: Sun, wind power strain power grid (Silicon Valley / San Jose Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/stories/2008/11/10/daily3.html?ana=from_rss

Agency Pushes for Less Wood Burning - Cozying up next to a crackling fireplace is a hallmark of the winter months for some (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/rss/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1226150100&archive=

Idaho man plans to power home with wind (The Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/656354.html

Seattle Post-Intelligencer Editorial - Beyond oil: Wind at our backs
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/387089_energyed.html?source=rss

Drivers get charged up about plugging in cars - Many install extra battery in hybrid vehicles (Boston Globe, MA)
http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2008/11/08/drivers_get_charged_up_about_plugging_in_cars/

Energy island to supply green power when wind drops (Times of London, UK)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article5119585.ece

CONSERVATION

Daylight Savings Time Increases Energy Use in Indiana (Slashdot)
http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=08/11/09/1810228&from=rss

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Boston Globe Op/Ed – A climate plan in peril?
http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2008/11/10/a_climate_plan_in_peril/

Gore sets Obama a JFK challenge on energy (Financial Times of London)
http://blogs.ft.com/techblog/2008/11/gore-sets-obama-a-jfk-challenge-on-energy/

Will the Weak Economy Derail Our Going Green? (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/environment/2008/November/Will-the-Weak-Economy-Derail-Our-Going-Green-.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Data center being built on Columbia River near Boardman, OR – The gigantic server farm is thought to be connected to Amazon.com (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1226028328133040.xml&coll=7

Internet Attacks Grow More Potent (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/10/technology/internet/10attacks.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

Broadband access drives decisions on where to live (Associated Press)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20081109/BIZ/711099934/-1/RSS03

Couple Builds New Home Just For Broadband - Then considers moving back to old home when DSL arrives (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Couple-Builds-New-Home-Just-For-Broadband-98959

Is broadband a utility? (ZD Net)
http://community.zdnet.co.uk/blog/0,1000000567,10009696o-2000331761b,00.htm

FiOS Not Hurting Cablevision...Yet - FiOS services about 1.4 million homes in Cablevision's footprint (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/FiOS-Not-Hurting-CablevisionYet-98974

FCC will seek more comment on telecom reforms, including changes to inter carrier compensation and universal service fund (InfoWorld)
http://www.infoworld.com/article/08/11/06/FCC_seeks_more_comment_on_telecom_reforms_1.html

Google at 10: Searching Its Own Soul (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/08/technology/companies/08interview.html?_r=3&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1226206469-KgPy93cQ9SlmfZGCqvYLCw

GENERAL NEWS

Flood watch Tuesday-Wednesday in W. Washington (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008372867_webweather10m.html?syndication=rss

Here’s a link to the latest vote count from the Mason County Auditor’s office, as of Friday afternoon. The next count takes place on November 24
http://wei.secstate.wa.gov/mason/Elections/ElectionResults/Pages/ElectionResults.aspx

Dog shot after biting Shelton resident (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_110708WAB_dog_shot_KS.18e4efa48.html

New Onramp from Highway 3 to Highway 101 Near Shelton to Open Wednesday (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/5524/reftab/1632/title/NEW_ONRAMP_FROM_HIGHWAY_3_TO_HIGHWAY_101_TO_OPEN_WEDNESDAY/Default.aspx

Asphalt shortage delays road repairs nationwide (Associated Press)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_110908WAB_asphalt_shortage_SW.1978366a2.html

Yelm could be home to new radio station (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/656572.html

DIVERSIONS

Toy Hall of Fame Points to New Addition: The Stick
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/17931980/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_-1_01000111072008&ts=H

Fanboys run amok! An Otherworldly Opera That Speaks Klingon
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/09/nyregion/long-island/09trekli.html?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

Massachusetts Retiree Wins Lottery -- Twice
http://www.kirotv.com/money/17890121/detail.html

Cash found in Ohio house's walls becomes nightmare
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081109/ap_on_re_us/house_hidden_money;_ylt=ApHcDB7FhDQYid.xHILVIUntiBIF

Friday, November 7, 2008

Energy News Digest for November 7, 2008

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- BPA energy deal for struggling aluminum companies sparks strong objections
- Mason County Residents Urged To Prepare For Storms
- Scientist says fraudulent science hides hydro project's damage to B.C. creek
- Obama's Energy Department – Let the speculating begin
- Electric markets are broken, Pennsylvania officials told
- U.S. Decides One Nuclear Dump Is Enough
- Extreme Makeover: Nuclear Power Plant Edition
- State OKs part of Puget Sound for geoduck harvest
- Montana – On the brink of extinction: The Kootenai River white sturgeon
- 2020 vision to clean up Puget Sound unveiled
- EPA targets Columbia’s 4 key pollutants
- Lower Yakima Valley – EPA targets groundwater contamination
- Walla Walla – Corps lays plans to boost Mill Creek dam safety
- Walla Walla – Mill Creek project spurred by 1931 flood
- Pickens Plan: Boon or Boondoggle?
- Minnesota – Residents tilt at windmill and lose
- Duke Energy Sees Rooftops as Future Power Plants
- Ameren Illinois Utilities Encourage Customers to Control Energy Bills
- Carbon Trading: States & Utilities Unite to Rob Energy Consumer
- Clearwire Creatively Renamed 'New Clearwire'
- Report: Microsoft luring Verizon away from Google
- Heavy Rain Brings Rivers to Banks, Floods Roadways
- Flood Warning in Effect for Skokomish River
- Officer Fires Shot at Man in Mason County
- Ex-fire official admits stealing half a million dollars
- Kitsap Sun Plans Company-Wide Cuts

These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest

WORD OF THE DAY

Licentious • \lie-SENN-chus\ • adjective – 1: lacking legal or moral restraints; especially: disregarding sexual restraints 2: marked by disregard for strict rules of correctness

Alberto was on a rampage in the corridors of the company’s headquarters. His licentious romp was punctuated with handfuls of confetti from his shredded annual report. It wasn’t until he blasted the head accountant with a handful of the shredded paper that he was subdued by a blow to the side of his head from a hefty Swingline stapler.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?textField1=47.213805&textField2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=Shelton%2C%20WA%2C%20USA

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

BPA energy deal for struggling aluminum companies sparks strong objections “…it couldn’t come at a worse time, local economic leaders said Thursday…” (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/11/07/area_news/doc4913f146cc1aa162010610.txt

Mason County Residents Urged To Prepare For Storms (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/5493/reftab/1632/title/RESIDENTS_URGED_TO_PREPARE_FOR_STORMS/Default.aspx

Canada – Scientist says fraudulent science used to hide hydro project's damage to B.C. creek (CBC News)
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/11/06/bc-miller-creek.html?ref=rss

Obama's Energy Department – Let the speculating begin. Not oil speculation, but job speculation for the new Obama administration (Washington Post)
http://newsweek.washingtonpost.com/postglobal/energywire/2008/11/obamas_energy_department.html

Electric markets are broken, Pennsylvania officials told (Associated Press)
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/11/07/ap5664817.html

U.S. Decides One Nuclear Dump Is Enough (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/07/washington/07yucca.html?_r=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin

Extreme Makeover: Nuclear Power Plant Edition (NY Times)
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/11/07/extreme-makeover-nuclear-power-plant-edition/?partner=rssnyt&emc=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

State OKs part of Puget Sound for geoduck harvest (KIRO-Radio, Seattle)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=102915

Montana – On the brink of extinction: The Kootenai River white sturgeon is one of the most intriguing, and some would say bizarre, fish in North America (Helena Independent-Record, MT)
http://www.helenair.com/articles/2008/11/07/state/80st_081107_sturgeon.txt

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

2020 vision to clean up Puget Sound unveiled – Partnership shares environmental objectives for next 12 years (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/653143.html

EPA targets Columbia’s 4 key pollutants – Report gives officials, concerned parties basis to pursue action (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20081106/NEWS02/711079954/-1/NEWS

Lower Yakima Valley – EPA targets groundwater contamination: Agencies will meet to see what can be done (Yakima Herald Republic)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/2008/11/06/epa-targets-groundwater-contamination

Walla Walla – Corps lays plans to boost Mill Creek dam safety – The Corps of Engineers plans steps to ward off potential failure of the dam at the lake
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2008/11/06/local_news/081106local03millcreekdam.txt

Walla Walla – Mill Creek project spurred by 1931 flood (The Union-Bulletin)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2008/11/06/local_news/081106local04flood.txt

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Pickens Plan: Boon or Boondoggle? (OpEd News)
http://www.opednews.com/articles/Pickens-Plan-Boon-or-Boon-by-Barry-Krusch-081106-305.html

Minnesota – Residents tilt at windmill, but Medina Council approves it (Minneapolis Star, MN)
http://www.startribune.com/local/west/34061499.html?elr=KArksc8P:Pc:UHDaaDyiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

Duke Energy Sees Rooftops as Future Power Plants (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=96392743&ft=1&f=1025

CONSERVATION

Ameren Illinois Utilities Encourage Customers to Control Energy Bills Through Budget Billing and Conservation (PRNewswire)
http://cincinnati.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/prnewswire/press_releases/national/Illinois/2008/11/06/AQTH543

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Energy Pulse Commentary – Carbon Trading: States & Utilities Unite to Rob Energy Consumers
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1870

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Clearwire Creatively Renamed 'New Clearwire' – Branding department apparently didn't work much overtime (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Clearwire-Creatively-Renamed-New-Clearwire-98938

Report: Microsoft luring Verizon away from Google (Atlanta Business Chronicle)
http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/stories/2008/11/03/daily96.html?ana=from_rss

GENERAL NEWS

Heavy Rain Brings Rivers to Banks, Floods Roadways (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17930567/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news

Flood Warning in Effect for Skokomish River (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/5495/reftab/1632/title/FLOOD_WARNING_IN_EFFECT_FOR_SKOKOMISH_RIVER/Default.aspx

Officer Fires Shot at Man in Mason County (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/17931299/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news

Ex-fire official admits stealing – Likely prison term, restitution to follow plea by former South King CFO (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/531012.html

Kitsap Sun Plans Company-Wide Cuts (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/nov/06/sun-plans-company-wide-cuts/?partner=RSS

DIVERSIONS

Squirrels Too Licentious For Calif. Campus – UC Davis Squirrels to Get Birth Control Injections
http://www.kirotv.com/education/17929038/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=irresistible

Mushroom foragers love thrill of the hunt – As autumn rains rinse the Pacific Northwest, it is wild mushroom time
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/traveloutdoors/2008362133_shrooms07m.html

Snoring Australian judge's verdicts overturned
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081106/od_afp/australiajusticeoffbeat_081106172200;_ylt=AqJ7jAjhifwVFC10uk8G9UagOrgF

On a roll: Golfer records 5 holes-in-one in a week
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081107/ap_on_fe_st/odd5_holes_in_one;_ylt=AlihcPr2Y4zxhN5K0ZYyCePtiBIF

Thursday, November 6, 2008

Energy News Digest for November 6, 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)

- Counties split on public taking over PSE electric service
- Jefferson County favors independence from Puget Energy
- Jefferson PUD poised for talks on acquiring electric service
- Canada – 'Tape and twine' keep BC Hydro facilities going
- Most of Centralia Impacted by Planned Outage Midnight Friday
- Coos-Curry Electric Coop signs wholesale power agreement with PNGC Power
- Congressional Research Reports – Winter Fuels Markets
- Too much wind power may be bad news for endangered salmon
- Seattle Times Op/Ed – Orcas are a call to action on Puget Sound cleanup
- Net of warring interests surrounds West Coast fishery changes
- Fishermen criticize quota plan for West Coast groundfish
- Shoshone-Bannock Tribes to sign historic fish agreement Friday
- Oregonian Op/Ed – Questions of diversity for humans and fish
- Cowlitz the place for Coho; Skokomish hot for Chum
- Bush hits choppy water over ocean sanctuaries
- Agency to release Puget Sound cleanup plan
- Corps takes measures after inspection finds seepage at Bennington Lake dam
- On this Day: The Barnes Lake Dam Bursts in Toccoa Falls, Ga.
- Wave, Tidal, and In-Stream Energy Projects: Which Agency Has the Lead?
- Mass Megawatts Expands Into Small Wind
- Paying For Heat, Electric in Trying Times
- The Climate Change Trap
- Are Carbon Dioxide Emissions Rising More Rapidly Than Expected?
- Google pulls out of search ad deal with Yahoo
- Tech problems in a phone network in Coeur d'Alene cut service in E. Washington
- US President-Elect Obama Is Plugged In On Technology Issues
- Mason County Flood Watch Remains in Effect
- Simpson Door says workers have company’s “last offer”
- Trucker killed on I-5 at Olympia
- Crisis clinic seeks help with new funding to serve Thurston and Mason counties


WORD OF THE DAY

Panglossian • \pan-GLOSS-ee-un\ • adjective – Marked by the view that all is for the best in this best of possible worlds: excessively optimistic

Olive’s eyes were positively dewy. “ I just know that by blasting dams out of the Snake River that millions of salmon will magically appear, and all will be well,” she gushed in her best “Earth Mother” voice. Her Panglossian view was barely dented by virtually identical fish survival statistics for dammed and free-running rivers.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?textField1=47.213805&textField2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=Shelton%2C%20WA%2C%20USA

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Counties split on public taking over PSE electric service (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/386581_pse06.html

Jefferson County favors independence from Puget Energy (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008356727_pugetenergy06.html

Jefferson PUD poised for talks on acquiring electric service (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20081106/news/311069994

Canada – 'Tape and twine' keep BC Hydro facilities going (The Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=53940f0c-608b-474b-bc09-411a219e186c

Most of Centralia Impacted by Planned Outage Midnight Friday (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)
http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews/?Most-of-Centralia-Impacted-by-Planned-Ou=1&blockID=17231&feedID=410

Oregon – Coos-Curry Electric Coop signs wholesale power agreement with PNGC Power (Curry County Reporter, Gold Beach, OR)
http://www.currycountyreporter.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=4126

Congressional Research Reports – Winter Fuels Markets
http://opencrs.com/document/RL34714

FISH & WILDLIFE

Too much wind power may be bad news for endangered salmon (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/33970219.html

Seattle Times Op/Ed – Orcas are a call to action on Puget Sound cleanup
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008356333_opin06orca.html?syndication=rss

Net of warring interests surrounds West Coast fishery changes (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008356998_fishvote06.html

Fishermen criticize quota plan for West Coast groundfish (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2008/11/fishermen_criticize_quota_plan.html

BPA Media Advisory – Shoshone-Bannock Tribes to sign historic fish agreement Friday (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.bpa.gov/corporate/BPAnews/nreleases.cfm

Oregonian Op/Ed – Questions of diversity -- for humans and fish (Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/index.ssf/2008/11/andy_parker_questions_of_diver.html

Cowlitz the place for Coho; Skokomish hot for Chum (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/outdoors/story/651792.html

Bush hits choppy water over ocean sanctuaries (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/05/MNCJ13TPAV.DTL

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Agency to release Puget Sound cleanup plan (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1676558~Agency_to_release_Puget_Sound_cleanup_plan.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines

Corps takes measures after inspection finds seepage at Bennington Lake dam (Walla Walla Union Bulletin, WA)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2008/11/06/local_news/081105local09damsafety.txt

On this Day: The Barnes Lake Dam Bursts in Toccoa Falls, Ga. (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/on-this-day/November/The-Barnes-Lake-Dam-Bursts-in-Toccoa-Falls-Ga.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Congressional Research Reports – Wave, Tidal, and In-Stream Energy Projects: Which Federal Agency Has the Lead?
http://opencrs.com/document/RS22721

Mass Megawatts Expands Into Small Wind (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=54021&src=rss

CONSERVATION

Paying For Heat, Electric in Trying Times (CBS News)
http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/06/earlyshow/contributors/raymartin/main4577451.shtml

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

The Climate Change Trap (Forbes Magazine)
http://www.forbes.com/home/2008/11/05/obama-climate-change-biz-energy-cx_wp_1106energy.html

Congressional Research Reports – Are Carbon Dioxide Emissions Rising More Rapidly Than Expected?
http://opencrs.com/document/RS22970

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Google pulls out of search ad deal with Yahoo (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE49U0C620081105?feedType=nl&feedName=ustechnology

Tech problems in a phone network in Coeur d'Alene cut service in E. Washington (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/915/story/374989.html

US President-Elect Obama Is Plugged In On Technology Issues (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/news/newsfeeds/articles/djf500/200811051144DOWJONESDJONLINE000793_FORTUNE5.htm

GENERAL NEWS

Mason County Flood Watch Remains In Effect From Through Late Friday Night (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/selectmoduleid/3468/ArticleID/5486/reftab/1896/title/FLOOD_WATCH_REMAINS_IN_EFFECT_FROM_THROUGH_LATE_FRIDAY_NIGHT/Default.aspx

Simpson Door says workers have company’s “last offer” (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/11/05/local_news/05news.txt

Trucker killed on I-5 at Olympia (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008359033_apwaolympiafatal1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

Crisis clinic seeks help with new funding to serve Thurston and Mason counties (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/651779.html

DIVERSIONS

Alaska man says he accidentally stole a car
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081106/ap_on_fe_st/odd_auto_theft;_ylt=At3kSeNMvZV7l9hYqf2QF6btiBIF

Thieves caught in Hungary with 12 pigs in car
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20081106/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_hungary_pigs;_ylt=Aror0M7nd9mKHguy48ImrpztiBIF

FBI: Airline passenger restrained with duct tape
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081106/ap_on_re_us/odd_passenger_duct_tape;_ylt=AuotdINp4pjAe0xxgk0sC3DtiBIF

Police net Shanghai's cricket fighting king
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081030/od_afp/chinacrimegamblingcricketsoffbeat_081030161730;_ylt=AusZ24Qp8sHpQCp1QSOTxMygOrgF

Wednesday, November 5, 2008

Energy News Digest for November 5, 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)

- Jefferson PUD headed for authority to provide power
- Whidbey voters reject bid for public power – Skagit PUD proposal trailing slightly
- Jefferson County Election: Public power measure is passing
- Election Results
- Cowlitz County power outage delays release of county results
- In S.F., voters defeat Prop. H for city utility
- Clark Public Utilities Sees Slower Residential Customer Growth
- Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals – Snohomish County PUD, Et. Al vs. FERC
- Oregon – BPA proposes constructing line after 6-year delay
- Puget Energy Reports Third-Quarter 2008 Financial Results
- Jackson Prairie PSE Natural Gas Storage Expansion Complete
- TRAFFIC: BPA work to restrict I-82 south of Kennewick
- On the job with a Chelan PUD lineman
- Economic collapse puts salmon revival in jeopardy
- Search is on for Coho salmon-friendly streams
- Scotsman (UK) Op/Ed – Shun salmon to save seals
- Bathroom fixtures save water
- California is facing a water crisis
- SolarWorld union votes to strike
- Grays Harbor County PUD to spend $77 million on wind
- Energy Pulse Commentary – Offshore Wind Riding a Wave
- California’s Renewable power, alternative fuel measures fail
- Economy Shifts, and the Ethanol Industry Reels
- Pennsylvania – Customers of PPL Electric Utilities Taking Control of Electricity
- Canada to seek climate deal with Obama
- Not So Green: Voters Nix Most Environmental State Ballot Measures
- 100 Percent Rural Broadband Access, Study Finds
- Google Wins Big at FCC
- Cable companies, Verizon under investigation for pricing policies
- Gregoire triumphs as close race fails to materialize
- Tight race for Lands Commission, others win easily
- Heavy Rain Warning Prompts Flooding Concerns; Snow Also Expected

These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest

WORD OF THE DAY

Gauche • \GOE-SH\ • adjective – *1: lacking social experience or grace; also: not tactful: crude
2: crudely made or done

Alfredo was highly embarrassed by the gauche manners of his friend Frieda, whom he had invited to high mass at his church on Sunday. He could have ignored her secret snacking of raw garlic cloves during the service, but it was her lip smacking and burping that sent him over the edge.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?textField1=47.213805&textField2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=Shelton%2C%20WA%2C%20USA

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Jefferson PUD headed for authority to provide power (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20081105/news/311059993

2-1 Margin – Whidbey voters reject bid for public power – Skagit PUD proposal trailing slightly (Whidbey Examiner, Coupeville, WA)
http://www.whidbeyexaminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=1877&TM=41849.73

Jefferson County Election: Public power measure is passing (Port Townsend Leader, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.ptleader.com/Main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=22287

In the race for John Whalen's seat on the Mason County PUD No. 3 Commission, Tom Farmer has a 590 vote lead on Doug Womack. Farmer has 51.43% of the vote or 8,139 votes while Womack has 47.7% or 7,549 votes.

For Mason County PUD No. 1 Commission, District Two, incumbent Ron Gold has just under 60% (59.94%) or 645 votes to challenger Tom Strong's 38.94% or 419 votes.

Peshastin Orchardist Carnan Bergren is outpacing Chelan County PUD commissioner Werner Janssen 52 to 48 percent.

It appears there will be a shift of power in the Grays Harbor PUD Board of Commissioners. Chairman Jim Eddy is trailing Russ Skolrood 56% to 43%.

Incumbent Hugh Haffner maintained a comfortable54.5% to 45.5% lead in the Clallam County Public Utility District District 2 against challenger, Bob Jensen of Port Angeles.

Ken McMillen had a small margin in the race against Jim Pivarnik for Jefferson County Public Utility District commissioner on Tuesday night. McMillen leads by 53% to Pivarnik’s 47%.

Benton County PUD Commissioner, District 2 – Jeff Hall: 16,613, Pat Tucker: 10,230

Grant County PUD Commissioner, District 3 – Don Long: 9,555, Randy Allred: 10,533

Grant County PUD Commissioner, At Large A – Tom Flint: 11,554, Sam A. Johnson: 7,656

Thurston County PUD, District 3 – Chris Stearns (60%) is leading Terence Artz (40%)

Clark Public Utilities Commissioner Byron Hanke has won a second six-year term on the electric and water utility board. He ran unopposed.

Jeffrey McClure (68%) will likely be the new member on the Whatcom County Public Utility District board. Defeats Robin Dexter (32%).

Snohomish County PUD Commissioner, Dist 1 – Dave Aldrich: 97,717, Bill Barnet: 34,426

Kitsap County PUD Commissioner, Dist 2 Lee F. Caldwell 39,276 Pete Favazza 19,412

Cowlitz County power outage delays release of county results (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2008/11/05//area_news/doc49111fbb481db901732561.txt

In S.F., voters defeat Prop. H for city utility (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/05/BATD13RC1Q.DTL&feed=rss.news

CLARK PUBLIC UTILITIES SEES SLOWER RESIDENTIAL CUSTOMER GROWTH – Residential hook-ups with Clark Public Utilities grew to 166,298 in September, up from 164,008 in September 2007. The change represents a 1.39 percent annual increase in housing units in the county. Residential growth with the utility has slowed considerable from two years ago, when the hook-up rate was growing at an annual rate of more than 3 percent. (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals – Snohomish County PUD, Et. Al vs. FERC (Links to PDF File)
http://www.ca9.uscourts.gov/ca9/newopinions.nsf/79A1ACCBBD3550E9882574F6005B1777/$file/0372511o.pdf?openelement

Oregon – BPA proposes constructing line after 6-year delay (East Oregonian, Hermiston, OR)
http://www.eastoregonian.info/main.asp?SectionID=13&SubSectionID=48&ArticleID=84754&TM=52367.77

Puget Energy Reports Third-Quarter 2008 Financial Results (MarketWatch)
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/Puget-Energy-Reports-Third-Quarter/story.aspx?guid=%7B9A0DF4D1-878D-4178-80A6-1B795ECE2F4D%7D

Jackson Prairie PSE Natural Gas Storage Expansion Complete (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)
http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews/?Jackson-Prairie-PSE-Expansion-Complete=1&blockID=17155&feedID=410

TRAFFIC: BPA work to restrict I-82 south of Kennewick (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/372887.html?mi_email=Tri-City%20Herald_PM+%26+Breaking+News

On the job with a Chelan PUD lineman (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081105/NEIGHBORS/711059954

FISH & WILDLIFE

Economic collapse puts salmon revival in jeopardy (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/386402_salmon05.html

Search is on for Coho salmon-friendly streams (The World, Coos Bay, OR)
http://www.theworldlink.com/articles/2008/11/04/news/doc4910a43c546e8856876114.txt

Scotsman (UK) Op/Ed – Shun salmon to save seals
http://news.scotsman.com/opinion/Shun-salmon-to-save-seals.4660790.jp

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Bathroom fixtures save water (Arizona Republic)
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/news/articles/2008/11/04/20081104tempegreen1103urinal.html

California is facing a water crisis (Contra Costa Times, Walnut Creek, CA)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/opinion/ci_10896592

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

SolarWorld union votes to strike (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20081105/BIZ01/711059954/-1/BIZ

Grays Harbor County PUD to spend $77 million on wind – Clallam, Mason and Pacific County PUDs may participate in the project (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/11/04/local_news/01news.txt

Energy Pulse Commentary – Offshore Wind Riding a Wave
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1860

California’s Renewable power, alternative fuel measures fail (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/11/04/MND813Q18V.DTL&tsp=1

Economy Shifts, and the Ethanol Industry Reels (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/05/business/05ethanol.html?_r=1&adxnnl=1&oref=slogin&adxnnlx=1225912087-CPq4Q0hlmERy5le5ZttOpQ

CONSERVATION

Pennsylvania – Customers of PPL Electric Utilities Taking Control of Electricity Use, Bills (Solanco News, PA)
http://www.solanconews.com/Features/2008/081105_PPL_customers.htm

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Canada to seek climate deal with Obama (The Toronto Star, Ontario)
http://www.thestar.com/News/Canada/article/531128

Not So Green: Voters Nix Most Environmental State Ballot Measures (Wall Street Journal)
http://blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/2008/11/05/not-so-green-voters-nix-most-environmental-state-ballot-measures/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

100 Percent Rural Broadband Access, Study Finds (TMC-Net)
http://hosted-communications.tmcnet.com/topics/broadband-comm/articles/44483-100-percent-rural-broadband-access-study-finds.htm

Google Wins Big at FCC (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/11/04/google-wins-big-at-fcc-today/

Cable companies, Verizon under investigation for pricing policies (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/529081.html

GENERAL NEWS

Gregoire triumphs as close race fails to materialize (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/386451_governor05.html?source=rss

Tight race for Lands Commission, others win easily (Associated Press )
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_110408POB_results_wa_misc_KC.17fbc5a0e.html?npc

Heavy Rain Warning Prompts Flooding Concerns; Snow Also Expected (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/rss/news.php?subaction=showfull&id=1225831296&archive=

DIVERSIONS

Teen compacted in Wis. garbage truck, survives
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081105/ap_on_fe_st/odd_teen_compacted;_ylt=ApZrt7QH1RtWOorBk1XlUajtiBIF

Illinois police take aggressive rooster into custody
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20081104/ap_on_fe_st/odd_arrested_rooster;_ylt=AmAVwo_9HVff3_OUIp88l4ztiBIF

Woman arrested for calling Japanese police 7,177 times
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081105/od_afp/japancrimeoffbeat_081105135608

CNN 'beams up' virtual correspondent – “Help me Obi-Wan, you’re my only hope”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081105/od_afp/usvotemediatelevisioncnnoffbeat_081105011323;_ylt=AsJUHt4O7arY371nnfLwpkOgOrgF

Welsh road sign lost in translation
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20081101/od_afp/britainwalestransportoffbeat_081101160708;_ylt=ApHZlNbu9o2uJ5Jp2YRHm3agOrgF