Energy News Digest for February 12, 2009

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

The News Digest Is Also Available At The Following Web Site:

http://www.energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

-  BPA asks for rate hike; review in March

-  Mason PUD 3 Would Be Hit by Bonneville Rate Hike

-  Power rate hike could affect Clark County

-  Lewis County Power Bills Go Up as BPA Plans First Rate Hike in Six Years

-  Senator Cantwell to Lead Senate Energy And Natural Resources Subcommittee

-  Florida - Electrocuted Lineman Reportedly Violated "Hot Glove" Safety Rule

-  Maryland - State Orders Utilities to Account For Spike In Energy Bill Rates

-  Bumper Crop of Idaho Salmon This Year?

-  States agree on Columbia salmon season

-  Bill Would Make It Easier To Trap Moles

-  Agency Considers New Comments on Threatened Marbled Murrelet

-  Texas Ranchers and Farmers Struggle in Drought

-  Daily News Editorial - Time to tweak state's renewable energy law

-  Vestas may cut jobs, despite increased earnings

-  Oakland's BrightSource Energy Signs 'World's Largest' Solar

-  Lane County farms install PV solar systems

-  Ethanol, Just Recently a Savior, Is

-  Orlando Sentinel Op/Ed - Science Of Global Warming Doesn't Support The Hype

-  Antarctic Ice Causing Some to

-  Oregon Governor Creates Team to Guide Green Spending

-  Big Science Role Is Seen in Global Warming Cure

-  Oil Industry Ready to Work on Global Warming

-  Broadband Program Oversight Questioned

-  Farm Census Data Gives Insight Into Rural

-  Twitter? It’s What You Make It

-  Congressman's Twittering Raises Security Concerns

-  Still Waiting For Expected Charter

-  Congress, White House Agree On $790B Stimulus Bill

-  Details of a Trimmer Stimulus Emerge

-  Tip Leads To Overpayments & Conflict Of Interest at Port Of

-  Tree Falls On Excavator Operator

-  NM Chamber Recognizes Outstanding Citizens

These And Links to More Stories in Today’s Energy News Digest

WORD OF THE DAY

Slumgullion • \SLUM-gull-yun\ • noun - A meat stew

“Plop!” went the lump of mystery meat slumgullion into Barty’s wooden bowl. “What wentg into this? He asked the slovenly server. “You don’t want to know,” she snarled, a drop of spittle flying onto the mucky mess.

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 asks for rate hike; review in March (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2009/02/bpa_asks_for_rate_hike_review.html

Mason PUD 3 Would Be Hit by Bonneville Rate Hike (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/feb/11/mason-pud-would-be-hit-by-bonneville-rate-hike/

Power rate hike could affect Clark County (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/article/20090211/BLOGS02/902119983

Lewis County Power Bills Go Up as BPA Plans First Rate Hike in Six Years (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews/?Local-Power-Bills-Go-Up-as-BPA-Plans-Fir=1&blockID=39600&feedID=410

Senator Cantwell to Lead Senate Energy And Natural Resources Subcommittee (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/755868.html

Florida - Electrocuted Lineman Reportedly Violated "Hot Glove" Safety Rule (Ocala Star Banner, FL)

http://www.ocala.com/article/20090211/ARTICLES/902110283/1001/News01?Title=Electrocuted_lineman_reportedly_violated__hot_glove__safety_rule

Maryland - State Orders Utilities to Account For Spike In Energy Bill Rates (Baltimore Sun, MD)

http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-psc0211,0,3347727.story

FISH & WILDLIFE

Bumper Crop of Idaho Salmon This Year? Up to 127,000 Chinook may be bound for the Salmon and Clearwater rivers (The Mountain Express, Sun Valley, ID)

http://www.mtexpress.com/vu_breaking_story.php?bid=6720

States agree on Columbia salmon season (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/outdoors/story/756220.html

Bill Would Make It Easier To Trap Moles (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)

http://columbian.com/article/20090211/NEWS02/702129981/

Agency Considers New Comments on Threatened Marbled Murrelet (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/755680.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Texas Ranchers and Farmers Struggle in Drought (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/12/us/12drought.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Daily News Editorial - Time to tweak state's renewable energy law

http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/02/12/editorial/doc499348abd3e86766764848.txt

Vestas may cut jobs, despite increased earnings (Portland Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/02/09/daily39.html?ana=from_rss

Oakland's BrightSource Energy Signs 'World's Largest' Solar Deal with Southern California Utility (San Jose Mercury News)

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11679524

Lane County farms install PV solar systems (KVAL-TV, Eugene, OR)

http://www.kval.com/news/local/39468852.html

Ethanol, Just Recently a Savior, Is Struggling (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/12/business/12ethanol.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Orlando Sentinel Op/Ed - Science Of Global Warming Doesn't Support The Hype

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/services/newspaper/printedition/tuesday/localandstate/orl-miket1009feb10,0,7016747.column

Antarctic Ice Causing Some to Wonder - Controversial opinions continue about the antarctic ice sheet as the climate is warming (MSNBC)

http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=9834307

Oregon Governor Creates Team to Guide Green Spending (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/4251-gov-kulongoski-creates-team-guide-green-spending/

Big Science Role Is Seen in Global Warming Cure (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/12/us/politics/12chu.html

Oil Industry Ready to Work on Global Warming (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/12/science/earth/12oil.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Broadband Program Oversight Questioned - USDA Would Manage Rural Internet Funds (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/11/AR2009021103832.html

Farm Census Data Gives Insight Into Rural Broadband - 33% of Farms Have Broadband Connections (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Farm-Census-Data-Gives-Insight-Into-Rural-Broadband-100822

Twitter? It’s What You Make It (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/12/technology/personaltech/12pogue.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Congressman's Twittering Raises Security Concerns (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11680013

Still Waiting For Expected Charter Bankruptcy - Moody's again downgrades stock on missed interest payment (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Still-Waiting-For-Expected-Charter-Bankruptcy-100833

GENERAL NEWS

Congress, White House Agree On $790B Stimulus Bill (Associated Press)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090212/ap_on_go_co/congress_stimulus_390

Details of a Trimmer Stimulus Emerge (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/13/us/politics/13stimulus-web.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Tip Leads To Overpayments & Conflict Of Interest at Port Of Hoodsport (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6366/reftab/1632/t/TIP-LEADS-TO-OVERPAYMENTS--CONFLICT-OF-INTEREST-AT-PORT-OF-HOODSPORT/Default.aspx

Tree Falls On Excavator Operator (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_021109WAB-tree-falls-on-bulldozer-TP.8014f17.html

NM Chamber Recognizes Outstanding Citizens, Business (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/feb/04/nm-chamber-recognizes-outstanding-citizens-busines/?partner=RSS

DIVERSIONS

United Sets Woman's Luggage on Fire

http://www.chicagotribune.com/travel/chi-tue-problem-0210-feb10-2,0,7331900.column

Seattle Fans Make Trip to Boo Thunder

http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=134037

4-Year-Old behind Wheel as Car Hits Storefront

http://www.kirotv.com/news/18700484/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Reunion - Life Is a Rock

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=16kh-AP4OCU

Energy News Digest for February 11, 2009

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)

- News Release - BPA Proposes First Rate Increase In Six Years
- Stimulus Money: Hanford to Get Big Boost From Bailout
- Settlement Reached On Spokane River Dams Dispute
- PUD 3 workers Chain Up for February Snowstorm
- Grant County PUD Asks Attorney to Reapply for Job
- TransAlta Profit Falls on Reduced Output
- Arkansas Power Users Asked To Back Higher Rate
- Northwest Power Council Approves Columbia River Management Plan
- Klamath dam removal bill clears senate committee
- Oregon - No Spring Chinook Season On the Deschutes
- Less Water, More Heat Forecast For State
- Free E-Cycling Off To Strong Start in Northwest
- BC Company Withdraws From Makah Wave-Power Project
- Riding the tide - Is tidal energy a possibility in Puget Sound?
- Kitsap Sustainable Energy and Economic Development Work Quietly Continues
- Solar Energy 'Power Towers' To Light up California
- California - Wind Farm Approved Southwest Of Lompoc
- Study: Ethanol Production Could Boom By 2030
- Puget Sound Energy Rebates Helping Customers Save Money
- ‘Smart’ Streetlights Hit the Streets
- Report: Climate Change to Wallop State
- Can Technology Save Us From Climate Change?
- How the Stimulus Package Fails Rural Broadband
- Technology’s Fingerprints on the Stimulus Package
- Intel's $7 Billion Plan Could Benefit Clark County
- Southwest Tests Airborne Internet Access
- 500 TV Stations Still Plan to Make Digital Switch Next Week
- Twitter may charge companies that 'tweet'
- Senate Approves Stimulus and Begins Intense Talks
- Labor and Industries Computer Code Cost State Millions
- Seattle Police Chief to Become Nation's Drug Czar
- U.S. Postal Service Raising Rates
- Washington AG office warns of scammers targeting Hispanics
- Muzak Files for Bankruptcy Protection
- Thousands of Congressional Reports Now Available Online

These And Links to More Stories in Today’s Energy News Digest

WORD OF THE DAY

Lexical • \LEK-sih-kul\ • adjective - 1: of or relating to words or the vocabulary of a language as distinguished from its grammar and construction 2: of or relating to a lexicon or to lexicography

Sweat poured off the dumbstruck spelling bee contestant. He had aced every lexical challenge presented in the first five rounds. Not to mix metaphors, but his Achilles’ heel reared its ugly head when the judge asked him to spell the word “receive”. For some reason, the “I before E, except after C” rule had never nestled itself into his consciousness…it had always lurked in the darkness, just beyond the reach of his thoughts. Needless to say, he was bounced from the competition.

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

News Release - BPA Proposes First Rate Increase in Six Years (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/253538/

Stimulus Money: Hanford to Get Big Boost From Bailout (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/474625.html

Settlement Reached On Spokane River Dams Dispute (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008730302_webdams10.html?syndication=rss

PUD 3 workers Chain Up for February Snowstorm (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/photos/galleries/2009/feb/10/february-snowstorm/2984/

Grant County PUD asks attorney to reapply for job - Foianini believes some commissioners trying to replace him (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/02/10/news/doc4991ac621372b901398116.txt

TransAlta Profit Falls on Reduced Output (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)
http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews/?TransAlta-Profit-Falls-on-Reduced-Output=1&blockID=39433&feedID=410

Arkansas Power Users Asked To Back Higher Rate - Southwestern Electric Power customers will find a direct mail appeal asking their support of a sizable rate-increase request (Arkansas Democrat-Gazette – Now THAT’S chutzpah!)
http://www.nwanews.com/adg/Business/252012/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Northwest Power Council Approves Columbia River Management Plan (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008730503_webcolumbiaplan10.html?syndication=rss

Klamath Dam Removal Bill Clears Senate Committee (The Oregonian, Portland, WA)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/02/klamath_dam_removal_bill_clear.html

Oregon - No Spring Chinook Season On the Deschutes (The Oregonian, Portland, WA)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/02/no_spring_chinook_season_on_th.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Less Water, More Heat Forecast For State - Report Details Climate Change in Washington (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/399586_climate11.html

Free E-Cycling Off To Strong Start in Northwest (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/755062.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY

BC Company Withdraws From Makah Wave-Power Project (Examiner.Com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1845745~BC_company_withdraws_from_Makah_wave_power_project.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines

Riding The Tide - Is Tidal Energy A Possibility In Puget Sound? (Grist Magazine)
http://gristmill.grist.org/story/2009/2/10/145023/460

No Green Light, but Kitsap Sustainable Energy and Economic Development Work Quietly Continues (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/feb/10/no-green-light-but-seed-work-continues/?partner=RSS

Solar Energy 'Power Towers' To Light up California (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10161348-54.html

California - Wind Farm Approved Southwest Of Lompoc (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1845454~Wind_farm_approved_southwest_of_Lompoc.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Study: Ethanol Production Could Boom By 2030 (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11675631

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Puget Sound Energy Rebates Helping Customers Save Money (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_021109WAB-pse-rebates-LJ.6852fbb.html

‘Smart’ Streetlights Hit the Streets (NY Times)
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/10/smart-streetlights-hit-the-streets/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Report: Climate Change to Wallop State - A warmer, drier Washington could mean less hydropower and more air conditioners in summer, bigger forest fires and more drought (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008731012_climate11m.html

Can Technology Save Us From Climate Change? (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/environment/2009/feb/Can-Technology-Save-Us-From-Climate-Change-.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

How the Stimulus Package Fails Rural Broadband (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/02/10/how-the-stimulus-package-fails-rural-broadband/

Technology’s Fingerprints on the Stimulus Package (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/technology/11corporate.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Intel's $7 Billion Plan Could Benefit Clark County (Associated Press) http://columbian.com/article/20090210/BIZ01/702119981/-1/BIZ

Southwest Tests Airborne Internet Access (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/02/09/daily14.html?ana=from_rss

500 TV Stations Still Plan to Make Digital Switch Next Week (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/10/AR2009021002473.html?wprss=rss_technology

Twitter May Charge Companies That 'Tweet' (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1023_3-10161103-93.html?tag=nl.e703

GENERAL NEWS

Senate Approves Stimulus and Begins Intense Talks (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/us/politics/11obama.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Labor And Industries Computer Code Cost State Millions - Duplication resulted in overpayments to "Retro" programs (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/754973.html

Seattle Police Chief to Become Nation's Drug Czar (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008732707_webkerlliskowske11m.html?syndication=rss

U.S. Postal Service Raising Rates (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/02/09/daily27.html?ana=from_rss

Washington AG Office Warns Of Scammers Targeting Hispanics (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/02/09/daily19.html?ana=from_rss

Muzak Files for Bankruptcy Protection (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008729813_webmuzak10.html?syndication=rss

Thousands of Congressional Reports Now Available Online (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/11/AR2009021101388.html?wprss=rss_technology

DIVERSIONS

Damaged Wind Turbine: It Wasn’t Aliens
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/11/damaged-wind-turbine-it-wasnt-aliens/

Man Returns Hidden Treasure To Rightful Heir
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/39433887.html

Pot Fans Smoking Mad At Kellogg
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090211/BIZ/702119852/-1/RSS03

Understatement Of The Decade - Octuplets' Mom “No One Can Care For 14 Kids Alone”
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/02/10/national/a203839S94.DTL&feed=rss.news

SONG OF THE DAY

Hound Dog – Big Mamma Thornton
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5XUAg1_A7IE