Monday, April 13, 2009

Energy News Digest for April 13, 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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Homes That Use Natural Gas for Heat Could Save Big
- Even In Hydro-Rich Northwest, Coal Still Major Power Source
- Challenged To Find Budget Cuts, Grays Harbor PUD Addresses Aberdeen
- Seattle City Council: No Utility Hikes In '09
- Oregon Electrical Co-Op Increases Its Rates
- Kalispell Tribe, Pend Oreille County PUD Agree On New Dam License
- Avista Warns Of Safety Line Break Nine Mile Dam North of Spokane
- Company Considering Hydro Project in N. Idaho
- BPA to Hold Smart Grid Workshop to Develop Regional Plan
- New ‘Smart Grid’ Will Change How Energy Goes From Plants to Homes
- PPL Chief's Compensation Slips 3.6 Percent in 2008
- Good Salmon News for State, Not So For California, Oregon
- Coho Seasons Comeback on the Oregon Coast
- What's Killing California's Salmon?
- Miners Lose Bid to Stop Tribal Salmon Fishing
- New Weir Helps Fish at Little Goose Dam
- Fish Stocking in North Cascades Lakes Set To End
- Lewis County Survey: Twin City Support Strong for Dam, Levies
- Skamania County Dam near Carson Will Be Removed This Summer
- Nisqually Delta Conservation Efforts Take a Big Step Forward
- WATER: Supply Outlook Good in Eastern Washington
- TVA Rejects Many Requests as It Buys Land Tainted by Coal-Ash Spill
- News Tribune - Tacoma Deserves Fair Treatment in Green Energy Bill
- Grays Harbor PUD Asks City Hall for Help on Small Hydro Bill
- Reinvent Grid For Shifty Bursts Of Wind
- Wind Power: Texas Is King, But Iowa Breezes Past California
- Backyard Windmills
- European Wind Energy Manufacturers Look to Oklahoma
- Biomass Brouhaha - Clean-Air Agency Makes Burn-Ban Violators Feel Heat
- Seattleites Call For Change in Biodiesel Industry
- Report: Ethanol Raises Cost Of Nutrition Programs
- San Francisco Renewable Power Plant Proposed For Farallones
- Disclosing a Home’s Energy Efficiency
- Big Tax Breaks for Energy Efficiency
- Who Will Get U.S. Millions In Energy Aid?
- Unplug Your Electronics, Save Money
- Md. To Redirect Cap-And-Trade Revenues
- A Carbon Cap Will Create More Jobs
- Editorial - Cap-And-Trade Bill Could Devastate Manufacturing
- Cost Is a Key Issue for Caps on Carbon
- Toronto Star Editorial - Costing Green Energy
- Expert: Don't 'Rinky-Dink around the Margins' Of Climate Change
- Australia May Have Climate Lessons for the U.S.
- Changing Environmental Tide Demands B.C. Lobbyist in Washington
- Sabey Continues Data Center Talks In Quincy
- FCC Plan: Free High-Speed Net Access across U.S.
- With Greater Broadband Speeds Come Greater Demand on Networks
- Scuttling Network Sabotage
- Bad Scenarios for The Smart-Grid Concept
- Fear of Viruses Could Be Causing PC Attacks: Report
- California - City Of Palo Alto’s Fiber Dreams Still Flickering
- Father of Fiber Optics Explains How It Began
- Co-Working: A Room Not Of Their Own
- Facebook, MySpace & Twitter: Free Advertising That Works
- 'Open Season' Comment Just Fine by Some Mason County Residents
- Taxable Retail Sales Down In Mason County
- Twittering all the rage on Capitol Hill

WORD OF THE DAY

Lickerish • \LIK-uh-rish\ • adjective - 1: greedy, desirous *2: lecherous

Bradley’s intense competitive streak would be his undoing. As he hammered each volley of the ping-pong ball at his diminutive opponent, the throng of onlookers gasped with derision. It was one thing to have a lickerish sense of victory and the destruction of an opponent. But to take it out on his eight year old child was one step too far. After the final set, the crowd rushed the table tennis equipment and folded Bradley into it. He was not found until the next week’s church youth group gathering.

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

Homes That Use Natural Gas for Heat Could Save Big (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009020382_apnaturalgasglut.html?syndication=rss

Even In Hydro-Rich Northwest, Coal Still Major Power Source (Oregon Public Radio)
http://news.opb.org/article/4742-even-hydro-rich-northwest-coal-still-major-power-source/

Challenged To Find Budget Cuts, Grays Harbor PUD Manager Addresses Aberdeen City Council (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/04/11/local_news/doc49e05bae0b8eb785859535.txt

Seattle City Council: No Utility Hikes In '09 (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/166037.asp?source=pimail

Oregon Electrical Co-Op Increases Its Rates - Utilities are reacting to higher prices expected from the source of their power (Eugene Register Guard)
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/cityregion/11635595-41/story.csp

Kalispell Tribe, Pend Oreille County PUD Agree On New Dam License (ASSOCIATED PRESS)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_dam_deal.html?source=mypi

Avista Warns Of Safety Line Break Nine Mile Dam North of Spokane (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009031439_apwalakebreak.html?syndication=rss

Company Considering Hydro Project in N. Idaho (The Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/817185.html

BPA to Hold Smart Grid Workshop to Develop Regional Plan (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/267031/

New ‘Smart Grid’ Will Change How Energy Goes From Plants to Homes (Holland Sentinel, MI)
http://www.hollandsentinel.com/news/x711735212/New-smart-grid-will-change-how-energy-goes-from-plants-to-homes

PPL Chief's Compensation Slips 3.6 Percent in 2008 (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009014003_appapplcorpexecutivecompensation.html?syndication=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Good Salmon News for State, Not So For California, Oregon (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090409/NEWS03/704099838/1024/rss1024

Coho Seasons Comeback on the Oregon Coast (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/bill_monroe/index.ssf/2009/04/coho_seasons_comeback_on_the_o.html

What's Killing California's Salmon? (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102997037&ft=1&f=7

Miners Lose Bid to Stop Tribal Salmon Fishing (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/816303.html

New Weir Helps Fish at Little Goose Dam (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/northwest/story/707702.html

Fish Stocking In North Cascades Lakes Set To End (Associated Press)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=155237

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Lewis County Survey: Twin City Support Strong for Dam, Levies (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)
http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews/?Survey-Twin-City-Support-Strong-for-Dam-=1&blockID=48982&feedID=410

Skamania County Dam near Carson Will Be Removed This Summer (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20090412/NEWS02/704129960/

Nisqually Delta Conservation Efforts Take a Big Step Forward (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/707558.html

WATER: Supply outlook good in Eastern Washington (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/540626.html

Tennessee Valley Authority Rejects Many Requests as It Buys Land Tainted by Coal-Ash Spill (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/12/us/12spill.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

RENEWABLE & ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

News Tribune Editorial - Tacoma Deserves Fair Treatment in Green Energy Bill
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/706877.html

Grays Harbor PUD Asks City Hall for Help on Small Hydro Bill (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/04/11/local_news/doc49e05b242befd250718005.txt

To Reinvent Grid for Shifty Bursts of Wind, Energy Overseers Must Rejigger Supply and Demand (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/04/13/focus2.html?ana=from_rss

Wind Power: Texas Is King, But Iowa Breezes Past California (Associated Press)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iCCigqHwXLg0T4Qo1ExfgpLg-1TQD97H5D0O1

Backyard Windmills (WHYY Philadelphia, PA)
http://whyy.org/cms/news/health-science/2009/04/12/backyard-windmills/6025

European Wind Energy Manufacturers Look to Oklahoma Energy Current)
http://www.energycurrent.com/index.php?id=3&storyid=17347

Biomass Brouhaha - Clean-Air Agency Makes Burn-Ban Violators Feel Heat (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009029132_air13m.html?syndication=rss

Seattleites Call For Change in Biodiesel Industry (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_041109WAB-biodiesel-KS.c692a6fd.html?rss

Report: Ethanol Raises Cost Of Nutrition Programs (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2009014114_apfoodcostsethanol.html?syndication=rss

San Francisco Renewable Power Plant Proposed For Farallones (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/11/BUAP170KCO.DTL&feed=rss.business

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Disclosing a Home’s Energy Efficiency (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/10/AR2009041001404.html

Big Tax Breaks for Energy Efficiency (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/11/BU6L170I4F.DTL&feed=rss.business

Who Will Get U.S. Millions In Energy Aid? (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/government/story/706833.html

Unplug Your Electronics, Save Money (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/12/BUHS170INS.DTL&feed=rss.business

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Md. To Redirect Cap-And-Trade Revenues - Critics say rebates will short-circuit goals (Bloomberg News)
http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20090411/BUSINESS/904110308/1003

A Carbon Cap Will Create More Jobs (Miami Herald, FL)
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/environment/story/997500.html

Journal-Sentinel Editorial - Cap-And-Trade Bill Could Devastate Manufacturing (Milwaukee, WI)
http://www.jsonline.com/business/42829987.html

Cost Is a Key Issue for Caps on Carbon (Tampa Tribune, FL)
http://www2.tbo.com/content/2009/apr/12/bz-cost-is-a-key-issue-for-caps-on-carbon/news-money/

Toronto Star Editorial - Costing Green Energy
http://www.thestar.com/comment/article/617332

Expert: Don't 'Rinky-Dink around The Margins' Of Climate Change “…"The polar ice caps are melting…and we're banning plastic bags…'You have got to be kidding me!'" (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/405057_green11.html?source=pimail

Australia May Have Climate Lessons for the U.S. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/04/10/10climatewire-australia-may-have-climate-lessons-for-the-u-10506.html

Changing Environmental Tide Demands B.C. Place a Lobbyist in Washington (Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.vancouversun.com/business/fp/Changing+environmental+tide+demands+place+lobbyist+Washington/1490734/story.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Sabey Continues Data Center Talks In Quincy - Buildings could go up later this year (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/04/10/news/doc49df737bc0b2b617679833.txt

FCC Plan: Free High-Speed Net Access across U.S. (Associated Press)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090411/BIZ/704119968/-1/RSS03

With Greater Broadband Speeds Come Greater Demand On Networks (Seattle Times)http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009021892_ptmacc11.html?syndication=rss

Scuttling Network Sabotage - Telecommunication companies are fighting vandals who use simple tools that can cut off service to thousands (Associated Press)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090411/BIZ/704119966/-1/RSS03

Bad Scenarios for The Smart-Grid Concept - Commentary: Cable cuts in Bay Area look like someone's testing network (MarketWatch)
http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/bad-scenarios-smart-grid-concept/story.aspx?guid={4F799BF6-C977-4CE5-BA8A-6958108C6206}&dist=msr_1

Fear of Viruses Could Be Causing PC Attacks: Report (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN0749083820090408?feedType=nl&feedName=ustechnology

California - City Of Palo Alto’s Fiber Dreams Still Flickering (Palo Alto Online)
http://www.paloaltoonline.com/news/show_story.php?id=11913

Father of Fiber Optics Explains How It Began (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/10/MNGD170HIH.DTL

Co-Working: A Room Not Of Their Own (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2009/04/coworking_a_room_not_of_their.html

Facebook, MySpace & Twitter: Free Advertising That Works (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities)
http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/42880792.html

GENERAL NEWS

'Open Season' Comment Just Fine by Some Mason County Residents (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/42840257.html

Taxable Retail Sales Down In Mason County (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6962/reftab/1632/t/TAXABLE-RETAIL-SALES-DOWN-IN-MASON-COUNTY/Default.aspx

Twittering All the Rage on Capitol Hill (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2009028644_bttwitter13.html

DIVERSIONS

‘The Real Spinal Tap’
http://www.newsweek.com/id/193490?from=rss

Neighbors Say 'Barney' the Purple House Lowers Property Values
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090412/news/304129978

Hammer Time for Cell Phone Used To Run Up $5K Bill
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090410/ap_on_fe_st/odd_phone_bill;_ylt=Aj13YqSDc0RpCHEP9cjgdnTtiBIF

Swedish Parishioners Unveil Lego Statue of Jesus
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090412/ap_on_fe_st/eu_sweden_lego_jesus_statue;_ylt=An_eEc1AiL_HMKGDUaIOHFHtiBIF

SONG OF THE DAY

Spinal Tap – Stonehenge (PG-13 for some ‘adult’ language)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WXGbwIkvh38

Friday, April 10, 2009

Energy News Digest for April 10, 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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Intalco Tells BPA It Could Shut Down In Weeks Without Rate Cut
- Rio Tinto cuts jobs, expansion at its aluminum division headquarters
- Alcoa to lay off 275 at Quebec smelter
- Michigan - Disappointment abounds about Hydro Aluminum’s closure
- Pend Oreille PUD Dam Pact Aims to Alleviate Box Canyon Hydro Damage
- DOE Defends TransAlta Deal
- Seattle Times Op/Ed - Gov. must lead Washington beyond its reliance on coal
- BPA to build $1 million hangar in Spokane
- Washington Post Editorial - Down to the Wires
- Salmon Season Looks 'Fantastic' For Wash. Anglers
- Word from State and Tribes on Salmon Season Setting Process
- Oregon Delegation Appeals For Fishing Aid In Wake Of Closure
- Federal Hatchery to Truck Calif. Salmon to the Sea
- Point-Counterpoint: Oregon’s Bird Seed Tax
- Shellfish Harvesting Restricted in Allyn; More Local Beaches Could Follow
- Vancouver-Area Environmental Agency Offices Pollute Nearby Creek
- Comments Being Taken For Puget Sound Recovery Plan
- Washington snowpack back to normal
- Yakima Basin Storage Project Dies -- Or Does It?
- California - Judge Tentatively Rejects Argument against Desalinization Plant
- New Tidal Turbine for Vancouver Island
- Rhode Island - National Grid backs down on renewables
- Global Warming Reports: Poor Prospects for Corn Ethanol
- Energy blamed more than ethanol for food prices
- Developer shrugs off recession, plots all-solar Fla. City
- Electric grid changes loom
- Carbon Market in a Slump
- Congressmen Bachmann's Forum on Energy Emissions Draws Cheers, Jeers
- Dissenter on Warming Expands His Campaign
- Vandals in CA Cut Eight Fiber Optic Cables, $100K Reward Offered
- Report: Microsoft, Google Court Twitter
- Cuts to Mason Co. Sheriff's Office: Criminals 'Expect A Lead Enema'
- State Lawmaker: 'Open Season on Criminals'
- Prosecutors Seek 18 Months for Wash. Timber Theft
- Puyallup Man Gets 10 Years for Cheating Wood Mill
- Hood Canal Bridge Closure Looms; Businesses Prepare

WORD OF THE DAY

Effete • \ih-FEET\ • adjective - 1: no longer fertile 2a: having lost character, vitality, or strength b: marked by weakness or decadence *c: soft or delicate from or as if from a pampered existence 3: effeminate

The Carthaginians were justifiably angry. Arms akimbo, the survivors of the Roman scourge watched the invading fleet head out to the Mediterranean, the once fertile fields in the north African empire left effete by the salt which had been sown by the merciless invaders.

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

Intalco Tells BPA It Could Shut Down In Weeks Without Rate Cut - Smelter wants to tie its electricity bill to price of aluminum (Bellingham Herald, WA)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/865536.html

Rio Tinto cuts jobs, expansion at its aluminum division headquarters (The Globe & Mail, Canada)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090408.RALCAN08ART1928/TPStory/Business

Alcoa to lay off 275 at Quebec smelter “…because of the recession, reduced demand and falling aluminum prices…” (CBC News)
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/montreal/story/2009/04/10/aloca-becancour-quebec-smelter-job-cuts.html

Michigan - Disappointment abounds about Hydro Aluminum’s closure (Daily Telegram, Adrian, MI)
http://www.lenconnect.com/news/x1931053646/Disappointment-abounds-about-Hydro-s-closure

Pend Oreille PUD Dam Pact Aims to Alleviate Damage - Utility to help fish, improve tribal land (Spokesman Review, Spokane)
http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2009/apr/10/dam-pact-aims-to-alleviate-damage/

DOE Defends TransAlta Deal - Pollution: Proposal Now Enters Into Public Hearings Phase (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.outdoorslc.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1239384325&archive=&start_from=&ucat=5&

Seattle Times Op/Ed - Gov. Gregoire must lead Washington beyond its reliance on coal
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2009015513_opinc10sierra.html

BPA to build $1 million hangar in Spokane (Spokane Journal of Business)
http://www.spokanejournal.com/article.php?id=4452

Washington Post Editorial - Down to the Wires: Local resistance to transmission lines is keeping customers from getting the green power they need
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/09/AR2009040903914.html?nav=rss_opinions

FISH & WILDLIFE

Salmon Season Looks 'Fantastic' For Wash. Anglers (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/42816852.html

Word from State and Tribes on Salmon Season Setting Process (Seattle Times)
http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/reeltimenorthwest/2009/04/09/word_from_state_and_tribes_on.html

Oregon Delegation Appeals For Fishing Aid In Wake Of Closure
http://news.opb.org/article/4743-oregon-delegation-appeals-fishing-aid-wake-closure/

Federal Hatchery to Truck Calif. Salmon to the Sea (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/04/08/state/n104521D49.DTL&feed=rss.business

Point-Counterpoint: Oregon’s Bird Seed Tax (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/04/pointcounterpoint_the_birdseed.html

Shellfish Harvesting Restricted in Allyn; More Local Beaches Could Follow (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/apr/09/shellfish-harvesting-restricted-in-allyn-more/?partner=RSS

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Vancouver-Area Environmental Agency Offices Pollute Nearby Creek (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/42808357.html

Comments Being Taken For Puget Sound Recovery Plan (KIRO-Radio, Seattle)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=154617

Washington snowpack back to normal (Associated Press)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_041009WAB-AP-snowpack-KS.bfe46c5a.html?rss

Yakima Basin Storage Project Dies -- Or Does It? (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/04/09/09greenwire-yakima-basin-storage-project-dies--or-does-it-10496.html

California - Judge Tentatively Rejects Argument against Desalinization Plant (Examiner.Com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1953830~Judge_tentatively_rejects_argument_against_plant.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

New Tidal Turbine for Vancouver Island (Victoria Times-Colonist, BC)
http://www.timescolonist.com/tidal+turbine+Vancouver+Island/1478950/story.html

Rhode Island - National Grid backs down on renewables - Drops appeal ruling that ordered the company to step up its efforts to find renewable energy sources (Providence Business News)
http://www.pbn.com/detail/41519.html

Global Warming Reports: Poor Prospects for Corn Ethanol (Los Angeles Times)
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2009/04/global-warming-reports-prospects-not-so-good-for-corn-and-ethanol.html

Energy blamed more than ethanol for food prices (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/09/BUHL1704UL.DTL

Developer shrugs off recession, plots all-solar Fla. City (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2009/04/09/09greenwire-developer-shrugs-off-recession-plots-allsolar-10492.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Electric grid changes loom - Futuristic smart grid offers bold energy saving solutions (Beaverton Valley Times, OR)
http://www.beavertonvalleytimes.com/sustainable/story.php?story_id=123912620488398900

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Carbon Market in a Slump - Even 'Green' Trade Not Immune To Economic Woes (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102927032&ft=1&f=3

Congressmen Bachmann's Forum on Energy Emissions Draws Cheers, Jeers (The Star-Tribune, Minneapolis, MN)
http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/senate/42779967.html?elr=KArksLckD8EQDUoaEyqyP4O:DW3ckUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUUr

Dissenter on Warming Expands His Campaign
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/10/us/politics/10morano.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Vandals in CA Cut Eight Fiber Optic Cables, $100K Reward Offered (TG Daily)
http://www.tgdaily.com/html_tmp/content-view-42002-103.html

Report: Microsoft, Google Court Twitter (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/04/06/daily44.html?ana=from_rss

GENERAL NEWS

Cuts to Mason Co. Sheriff's Office: Criminals 'Expect A Lead Enema'
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19142861/detail.html

State Lawmaker: 'Open Season on Criminals'
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/42768172.html

Prosecutors Seek 18 Months for Wash. Timber Theft (Associated Press)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=10162366

Puyallup Man Gets 10 Years for Cheating Wood Mill (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/816111.html

Hood Canal Bridge Closure Looms; Businesses Prepare (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/04/06/daily49.html?ana=from_rss

DIVERSIONS

In Legal Documents, Coldplay Says Satriani Song "Lacks Originality"
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/entertainment/2009/april/In-Legal-Documents-Coldplay-Say-Satriani-Long-Lacks-Originality.html

Court Fines Mother for Phoning Son Too Much
http://uk.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUKTRE5384R620090409

SONG OF THE DAY

Coldplay - Viva La Vida
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P5TNK-TvIcI

Joe Satriani - If I Could Fly
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CMcjXo8ZuqE

Thursday, April 9, 2009

Energy News Digest for April 9, 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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Grays Harbor County PUD Board Seeks Cutback Options
- British Columbia Seeking Intervener Status on Okanogan Dam Proposal
- Oregon Legislative Bills Oppose Idaho Power Line
- PUD 3 Tree Trimming On Shelton-Matlock Road Begins Monday
- Fifteen Percent - Pacific Power seeks new rate hike
- Nation's Oldest Nuclear Power Plant Gets New License
- Cantwell Optimistic For Green Energy Jobs
- Report: Cyber-Spies Hack U.S. Electricity Grid
- Sleeping guards cost Florida Power & Light $130,000
- Calif. Chinook Fishing Season Halted Again
- Oregon Coast Commercial Salmon Season Curtailed Again
- Salmon Anglers Will See a Big Expansion of Select Fisheries in Puget Sound
- Federal regulators deny protection to Calif. Smelt
- California Cows Create Healthy Habitat for Endangered Shrimp
- Pierce County Weighs Action on Rising River Sediment
- National Post Editorial - Wind Power Is a Complete Disaster
- Corndoggle - How did Oregon’s largest producer of “green” fuel fail so fast?
- Standard-Times Op/Ed - Realities of renewables
- Why Are Home Renewable Energy Systems Still So Expensive?
- Green Energy Subsidies Could Cost Jobs
- Windmill Blades to Come Through Port Of Olympia This Week
- Free Press Op/Ed - Give A Dam about Canadian Run-Of-River
- Canada - B.C. Hydro Not Interested in Nanaimo Turbine Energy
- The “Smart Grid:” How Smart?
- Energy Adviser: Shrink your carbon footprint
- White House May Postpone Auctioning Emissions
- Science Chief Discusses Climate Strategy
- World Can Halt Global Warming, Activist Says
- Carbon Market Is Closely Watching the U.S.
- Climate Legislation Sends Chill through Areas Fueled by Coal
- Boston Globe Editorial - A carbon cap with teeth
- Maryland to Rebate Cap and Trade Money to Consumers
- Winnipeg Sun Editorial - Hot Air over Greenhouse Gases
- Geoengineering Explored To Fight Global Warming
- T-Mobile Launches Douglas County’s First Data Center
- Stat Shot: Fiber to the Home
- Cisco to Buy Tidal as Part of Its Data Center Rush
- There's No Data to Prove Metered Billing Is Necessary
- Google releases upgrade to its App Engine
- Australia Vs. U.S. In Broadband Stimulus Plans
- Effort Underway to Save Belfair Bypass from State Scrap Heap
- Insurance to Pay Fines over Record Requests for Mason County
- Olympia area could get some of Sea-Tac's traffic
- Motorcycle Fatalities Prompt Warning

WORD OF THE DAY

Tontine • \TAWN-teen\ • noun – 1: an annuity scheme in which subscribers share a common fund with the benefit of survivorship, the survivors' shares being increased as the subscribers die, until the whole goes to the last survivor

It was the end of the march. The final World War I veteran who had made a pact with his friends many years ago in the muddy fields of France held the dusty bottle of cognac in his wrinkled hands. It seemed ironic to him, that of all those who made the tontine pact that the bottle’s amber contents would be his alone to savor in the twilight years of his life. Ironic in that he had lived his entire existence as a teetotaler.

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

Grays Harbor County PUD Board Seeks Cutback Options (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/04/08/local_news/doc49dcec5580a36561743207.txt

British Columbia Seeking Intervener Status on Okanogan Dam Proposal (Keremeos Review, BC)
http://www.bclocalnews.com/okanagan_similkameen/keremeosreview/news/42638892.html

Oregon Legislative Bills Oppose Idaho Power Line (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/814413.html

PUD 3 Tree Trimming On Shelton-Matlock Road Begins Monday (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6935/reftab/1632/t/TREE-TRIMMING-ON-SHELTON-MATLOCK-ROAD-BEGINS-MONDAY/Default.aspx

Fifteen Percent - Pacific Power seeks new rate hike (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/2009/04/08/pacific-power-seeks-new-rate-hike

Nation's Oldest Nuclear Power Plant - Feds OK New 20 Year License For NJ Facility (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008954850_apoystercreekrelicensing.html?syndication=rss

Cantwell Optimistic For Green Energy Jobs (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/814214.html

Report: Cyber-Spies Hack U.S. Electricity Grid (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=102887291&ft=1&f=2

Sleeping guards cost Florida Power & Light $130,000 (Associated Press)
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/miami/sfl-florida-power-and-light-fine-bn040809,0,3688460.story?track=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Calif. Chinook Fishing Season Halted Again (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1951303~Calif__chinook_fishing_season_halted_again.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Oregon Coast Commercial Salmon Season Curtailed Again (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/04/oregon_coast_commercial_salmon.html

Salmon Anglers Will See a Big Expansion of Select Fisheries in Puget Sound (Seattle Times)
http://blog.seattletimes.nwsource.com/reeltimenorthwest/2009/04/08/salmon_anglers_will_see_a_big.html

Federal regulators deny protection to Calif. Smelt (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1950805~Federal_regulators_deny_protection_to_Calif__fish.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

California Cows Create Healthy Habitat for Endangered Shrimp (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1950542~Cows_create_healthy_habitat_for_endangered_shrimp.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Pierce County Weighs Action on Rising River Sediment (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/702728.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

National Post Editorial - Wind Power Is a Complete Disaster “…the world’s most wind-intensive nation, with more than 6,000 turbines generating 19% of its electricity, has yet to close a single fossil-fuel plant…” (Canada)
http://network.nationalpost.com/np/blogs/fpcomment/archive/2009/04/08/wind-power-is-a-complete-disaster.aspx

Corndoggle - How did Oregon’s largest producer of “green” fuel fail so fast? (Willamette Weekly, OR)
http://wweek.com/editorial/3522/12412/

Standard-Times Op/Ed - Realities of renewables: Wind, solar lag far behind in economics of oil (San Angelo, TX)
http://www.gosanangelo.com/news/2009/apr/09/realities-of-renewables/

Welcome to the “Bleeding Edge:” Why Are Renewable Energy Systems for Homeowners Still So Expensive? (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/04/why-are-renewable-energy-systems-for-homeowners-still-so-expensive?src=rss

Green Energy Subsidies Could Cost Jobs (KXRM-TV, Colorado Springs, CO)
http://www.coloradoconnection.com/news/news_story.aspx?id=284575

Windmill Blades to Come Through Port Of Olympia This Week (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/business/story/813694.html

Free Press Op/Ed - Give A Dam about Canadian Run-Of-River (100 Mile House Free Press, BC)
http://www.bclocalnews.com/opinion/42634812.html

Canada - B.C. Hydro Not Interested in Nanaimo Turbine Energy - Technology doesn't meet policies for buying electricity (Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/Hydro+interested+Nanaimo+turbine+energy/1247674/story.html

The “Smart Grid:” How Smart? Technology will run it and clean electricity will power it (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/04/how-smart?src=rss

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Energy Adviser: Shrink your carbon footprint (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20090409/LIVING/704099998

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

White House May Postpone Auctioning Emissions (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/08/AR2009040802467.html?hpid=topnews

Science Chief Discusses Climate Strategy - Obama Adviser Hints at Compromise on Cap-and-Trade Emission Allowances (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/08/AR2009040802467.html?wprss=rss_politics

World Can Halt Global Warming, Activist Says (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/04/world_can_halt_global_warming.html

Carbon Market Is Closely Watching the U.S. (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10215704-38.html

Climate Legislation Sends Chill through Areas Fueled by Coal (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/09/us/09coal.html?_r=1&hpw

Boston Globe Editorial - A carbon cap with teeth
http://www.boston.com/bostonglobe/editorial_opinion/editorials/articles/2009/04/09/a_carbon_cap_with_teeth/

Maryland to Rebate Cap and Trade Money to Consumers (The Business Insider)
http://www.businessinsider.com/maryland-to-rebate-cap-and-trade-money-to-consumers-2009-4

Winnipeg Sun Editorial - Hot Air over Greenhouse Gases (Canada)
http://www.winnipegsun.com/comment/columnists/lorrie_goldstein/2009/04/09/9060341-sun.html

Geoengineering Explored To Fight Global Warming (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/814218.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

T-Mobile Launches Douglas County’s First Data Center – Douglas PUD Power Makes It Go! (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090408/NEWS04/704089958/-1/WEATHER?T-Mobile-launches-Douglas-County-s-first-data-center

Stat Shot: Fiber to the Home (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/04/08/stat-shot-fiber-to-the-home/

Cisco to Buy Tidal as Part of Its Data Center Rush (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/04/09/cisco-to-buy-tidal-as-part-of-its-data-center-rush/

There's No Data to Prove Metered Billing Is Necessary - Journalists start crunching numbers, call Time Warner plan 'obscene' (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Theres-No-Data-To-Prove-Metered-Billing-Is-Necessary-101824

Google releases upgrade to its App Engine (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12101209?nclick_check=1

Australia Vs. U.S. In Broadband Stimulus Plans (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-13578_3-10215603-38.html

GENERAL NEWS

Effort Underway to Save Belfair Bypass From State Scrap Heap (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/apr/08/effort-underway-to-save-belfair-bypass-from-heap/?partner=RSS

Insurance to Pay Fines over Record Requests for Mason County (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6940/reftab/1632/t/INSURANCE-TO-PAY-RECORDS-FINES-FOR-MASON-COUNTY/Default.aspx

Olympia area could get some of Sea-Tac's traffic - Neighbors worry about more noise, bigger planes (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/814215.html

Motorcycle Fatalities Prompt Warning (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_040809WAB-motorcycle-safety-warning-TP.b5cb6388.html?rss

DIVERSIONS

Clowning around Pays off For Circus Hopefuls
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE53784T20090408?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

Not Such A G'Day - How Yellow Tail Crushed The Australian Wine Industry
http://www.slate.com/id/2215153/?from=rss

Relish This: Semitrailer Spills Hot Dogs
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/19129977/detail.html

Castaway Canine Home after Months at Sea
http://www.kirotv.com/family/19122495/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Eric Burdon and War - Spill the Wine (1970)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7_U-zj2gfE

Wednesday, April 8, 2009

Energy News Digest for April 8, 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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Electricity Grid in U.S. Penetrated by Spies
- Energy Outlook 2050: Lower Carbon, But Not So Renewable
- Power Restored to Area near Yakima, Wash.
- Dangling Power Lines Trap Seattle Crash Victim
- Oregon- Hearing could affect Idaho Power Co. line
- Planning Starts for ‘Smart Grid’ Projects
- Rural Colorado Co-Ops Duke It out over Tiered Electricity Rates
- Safety Team Warns Of 'Catastrophic' Wiring in Iraq
- Fishery Managers Set Columbia River Gillnet Season
- Oregon- Removal of Rogue River Dam Spells End of Bitter Battle
- Walla Walla Salmon Projects In Line for Funds
- Cowlitz Still Producing Steelhead Salmon
- Environmental Group Claims Lower Snake 3rd Most Endangered River
- Chelan PUD Water Project under Budget
- Dozens of theories for creation of Mima Mounds
- Bill in Legislature Could Increase Some Water, Sewer Bills
- Texas- Debate Continues Over Wind Energy Tax Deals
- Daily Mail Editorial- Americans Need Reliable Electricity
- Applied Materials' $1.9 Billion Solar Panel Deal Trimmed Back
- Myths and Realities of Renewable Energy
- Energy Secretary Backs Clean-Coal Investments
- Regional U.S. Carbon Markets May Merge
- Energy Secretary Chu on climate threat: Earth is like the Titanic
- NY Times Op/Ed- Show Us the Ball
- Climate Legislation With a Sweetener for Taxpayers
- New Data Show Rapid Arctic Ice Decline
- FCC Broadband Proposal May Miss Out on Stimulus
- 2009: The FCC Finally Makes a Broadband Plan
- Metered Broadband Kills Jobs & May Violate 1st Amendment
- Due To Budget Shortfall, Mason County Commission Denies Contracts
- Grays Harbor County Looks To Cut More Jobs
- Port of Shelton Commission ousts Miles from Chairmanship
- Vancouver Columbian Newspaper May Face Foreclosure
- Alcoa Lost $497 Million in First Quarter
- Pollen delivers allergy season on time

WORD OF THE DAY

Nescience • \NESH-unts\ • noun - Lack of knowledge or awareness; ignorance

Barnabas was the envy of the second floor steno pool. As he blithely glided through his day, he was unaware of the economic turmoil or politics that constantly flailed at his troubled colleagues. Many of his co-workers marveled at his equanimity in the face of life altering, ulcer-inducing pressures in the plastic ukulele factory. His calmness wasn’t zen-like nor an inner peace…it was pure nescience. He had no idea what was going on around him at any time, whatsoever.

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

Electricity Grid in U.S. Penetrated by Spies (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123914805204099085.html

Energy Outlook 2050: Lower Carbon, But Not So Renewable (NY Times)
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/energy-outlook-2050-lower-carbon-but-not-so-renewable/

Power Restored to Area near Yakima, Wash. (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009002435_apwafireoutage1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

Dangling Power Lines Trap Seattle Crash Victim (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009006032_apwapowerlinecrash.html?syndication=rss

Oregon - Hearing could affect Idaho Power Co. line (Baker City Herald, OR)
http://www.bakercityherald.com/Local-News/Hearing-could-affect-Idaho-Power-Co-line

Planning Starts for ‘Smart Grid’ Projects (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/4706-planning-starts-smart-grid-projects/

Rural Colorado Co-Ops Duke It out over Bill to Allow Tiered Electricity Rates (Colorado Independent – Hey EWEB, check out the meter face in the story photo!)
http://coloradoindependent.com/25897/rural-co-ops-duke-it-out-over-bill-to-allow-tiered-electricity-rates

Safety Team Warns Of 'Catastrophic' Wiring in Iraq (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2009004316_apelectrocutionsiraq.html?syndication=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Fishery Managers Set Columbia River Gillnet Season (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/04/07//area_news/doc49dad42a72a80108009255.txt

Oregon - Removal of Rogue River Dam Spells End of Bitter Battle (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/812684.html

Walla Walla Salmon Projects In Line for Funds (Walla Walla Union Bulletin)
http://union-bulletin.com/articles/2009/04/07/local_news/090407local01snakeriverstimulus.txt

Cowlitz Still Producing Steelhead Salmon (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/outdoors/story/702800.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Environmental Group Claims Lower Snake 3rd Most Endangered River (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009000859_webdams07.html?syndication=rss

Chelan PUD Water Project under Budget (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090407/NEWS04/704079893/1001/NEWS04

Dozens of theories for creation of Mima Mounds (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090407/NEWS03/704079970/1025/rss1025

Bill in Legislature Could Increase Some Water, Sewer Bills (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/apr/07/bill-in-legislature-could-increase-some-water/?partner=RSS

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Texas - Debate Continues Over Wind Energy Tax Deals (KWES-TV, Midland, TX)
http://www.newswest9.com/Global/story.asp?S=10148064&nav=menu505_2

Daily Mail Editorial - Americans Need Reliable Electricity (Charleston, WV)
http://www.dailymail.com/Opinion/Editorials/2009040788765

Applied Materials' $1.9 Billion Solar Panel Deal Trimmed Back To $250 Million (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12090539

Myths and Realities of Renewable Energy (Smart Grid Newsletters)
http://www.smartgridnews.com/artman/publish/commentary/Myths_and_Realities_of_Renewable_Energy-556.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY



CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Energy Secretary Backs Clean-Coal Investments (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB123913664020498157.html

Regional U.S. Carbon Markets May Merge (Reuters)
http://uk.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUKTRE5366TN20090407

Energy Secretary Chu on climate threat: Earth is like the Titanic (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/greenenergy/ci_12092138?nclick_check=1

NY Times Op/Ed - Show Us the Ball “…Since the opponents of cap-and-trade are going to pillory it as a tax anyway, why not go for the real thing — a simple, transparent, economy-wide carbon tax?...”
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/opinion/08friedman.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Climate Legislation With a Sweetener for Taxpayers - Entrepreneur's Vision Inspires Proposal for a Pollution Dividend (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/07/AR2009040703998.html?hpid=topnews

New Data Show Rapid Arctic Ice Decline - Proportion of Thicker, More Persistent Winter Cover Is the Lowest on Record (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/06/AR2009040601634.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

FCC Broadband Proposal May Miss Out on Stimulus - Networks May Be Built Ahead of Policies (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/07/AR2009040703996.html?wprss=rss_technology

2009: The FCC Finally Makes a Broadband Plan - Now the real test: shaking off lobbyist influence (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/2009-The-FCC-Finally-Makes-A-Broadband-Plan-101787

Congressman: Metered Broadband Kills Jobs & May Violate 1st Amendment (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/04/08/congressman-metered-broadband-kills-jobs-may-violate-1st-amendment/

GENERAL NEWS

Due To Budget Shortfall, Mason County Commission Denies Contracts (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6927/reftab/1632/t/DUE-TO-BUDGET-SHORTFALL-COUNTY-DENIES-CONTRACTS/Default.aspx

Grays Harbor County Looks To Cut More Jobs (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/813433.html

Stroke of State: Port of Shelton Commission outs Miles from Chairmanship (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6926/reftab/1632/t/NEW-PORT-OF-SHELTON-COMMISSION-CHAIR---MILES-OUSTED/Default.aspx

Vancouver Columbian Newspaper May Face Foreclosure (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2009000311_apwanewspaperforeclosure1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

Alcoa Lost $497 Million in First Quarter “…excess supplies of aluminum worldwide…further production cuts are needed to match falling orders…the actual market decline will be twice as much as Alcoa projected…” (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/04/07/financial/f132142D84.DTL&feed=rss.business

Pollen delivers allergy season on time (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/health/2009003730_allergy08m0.html?syndication=rss

DIVERSIONS

Motorist Survives Three Accidents in an Hour
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSTRE53653820090407?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

Woman Calls 911 over Lack of Shrimp in Fried Rice
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090408/ap_on_fe_st/odd_skimp_on_shrimp;_ylt=AoyWBU3vM2i.bFU50SpzC97tiBIF

Fox To Make Reality TV Show Out Of Company Layoffs
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090408/ap_on_en_tv/tv_fox_layoff_show;_ylt=Asn58YcIByaw8Ji5gzppqv7tiBIF

Almost Half of French Approve of Locking Up Bosses
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090407/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_france_bosses;_ylt=AsIS2yFmdCk9bEhNiO1C9lftiBIF

SONG OF THE DAY

Night on Bald Mountain - Fantasia 1940 (Nightmare Food for Kids)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6gd2YKyEImY

Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Energy News Digest for April 7, 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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- State's “Secret Deal” With Centralia Coal Plant Sparks Outcry
- Utilities Tie 'Clean' Costs To Rates
- Idaho Power Backs Off Parma Transmission Line Plan
- AARP Protests Ameren Bill for Nuke Plant Construction
- United Kingdom - A Nuclear White Elephant
- Land Trust Buys Prime Columbia River Salmon Habitat
- State Seeks Millions in Salmon and Habitat Grants
- Chinook Limits Proposed On Bering Sea Pollock Fleets
- Asian Oysters Banned From Chesapeake
- Congressman Hastings is Strong Supporter of Black Rock Reservoir Project
- California’s Two Longest Rivers Called Most Endangered
- Energy from landfill to power homes
- Salazar: Eastern Wind Could Replace Coal for Power
- Daily News Op/Ed - Wound Up Over Windmills
- Residential Wind Power Reaps Investors and Political Support
- Burning Desire - An Update on the Wood Pellet Market
- Drawing power from the Mississippi River Currents
- Australia - Green Status of Snowy Power Station in Doubt
- Decoupling Utilities: Separating Profits from Energy Use
- NY Times Op-Ed Contributor - This Old Wasteful House
- Empire State Building to Go "Green", Save Millions
- Washington to Become a Leader in Solving Challenge of Climate Change?
- Support in Oregon, rest of West, cools for climate caps
- Montana Governor Supports GOP Carbon Storage Bill
- Gallup Poll: Economy Takes Precedence over Environment
- U.S. power plant carbon emissions fell in 2008: study
- CO2 Down Nationally, But Not In WA – Washington Ranks 39th in CO2 Emissions
- Carbon Slump Threatens Emission-Cut Goals
- Emissions bill fuels fight in Congress
- Satellite data shows Arctic on thinner ice
- Canada - Green dies hard: "Green revolution stalls on cheap oil"
- FCC to begin broadband policy overhaul
- NY Times Op/Ed - How the Internet Got Its Rules
- Australia Moves to Build High-Speed Network
- Swedish Internet Traffic Plummets After File-Sharing Law Is Implemented
- British ISPs Required to Store E-Mail Data for a Year
- $3 Billion Construction Bond Proposal Could Hurt State Credit Rating
- Lewis County Fuel Theft Leads To Homicide
- Norm Dicks Earmark Requests Include Projects in Mason County
- Deal Would Keep KGY at Port Site At Least Five Years

WORD OF THE DAY

Gratuitous • \grat-TOO-it-uss\ • adjective - 1a: given unearned or without recompense b: not involving a return benefit, compensation, or consideration c: costing nothing: free 2: not called for by the circumstances: unwarranted.

In the end, it was the flippant, gratuitous comment at the end of the Kingsford peace negotiations that doomed the Diamond Empire to oblivion. After years of careful crafting, tense sessions over “just the right wording,” the Diamond diplomat couldn’t resist a parting shot, “I still think you’re all jerks,” he muttered to the departing delegation. The Diamond star system is now the prime source of charcoal briquettes for the Kingsford Confederacy.

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

State's “Secret Deal” With Centralia Coal Plant Sparks Outcry (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008997025_coal07m.html?syndication=rss

Utilities Tie 'Clean' Costs To Rates - PacifiCorp and Portland General Electric seek increases for 2010, citing renewable energy projects (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1239076517314060.xml&coll=7

Idaho Power Backs Off Parma Transmission Line Plan (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1946381~Idaho_Power_backs_off_Parma_transmission_line_plan.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines

AARP Protests Ameren Bill for Nuke Plant Construction (St. Louis Business Journal, MO)
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2009/04/06/daily6.html?ana=from_rss

United Kingdom - A Nuclear White Elephant: Call for public inquiry as Sellafield recycling plant is costing taxpayer millions every year (The Independent, UK)
http://www.independent.co.uk/environment/green-living/a-1631bn-nuclear-white-elephant-1664427.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Land Trust Buys Prime Columbia River Salmon Habitat - $362K from BPA (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/04/land_trust_buys_prime_columbia.html

State Seeks Millions in Salmon and Habitat Grants, Including Money for Skokomish River (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/811693.html

Chinook Limits Proposed On Bering Sea Pollock Fleets (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008997399_webfish06m.html?syndication=rss

Asian Oysters Banned From Chesapeake - Threat to Ecosystem Outweighs Possible Benefits, Officials Decide; Efforts Will Focus on Native Species (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/06/AR2009040602010.html?nav=rss_email/components

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Congressman Hastings is Strong Supporter of Black Rock Reservoir Project (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=10140274

California’s Two Longest Rivers Called Most Endangered (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1947719~Calif_s_2_longest_rivers_called_most_endangered.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Energy from landfill to power homes (Associated Press)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=153432

Salazar: Eastern Wind Could Replace Coal for Power (Associated Press – and what about spinning reserves?)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008993062_apoffshorewindmills.html?syndication=rss

Daily News Op/Ed - Wound Up Over Windmills (Andover, MA)
http://www.newburyportnews.com/puopinion/local_story_096233309.html?keyword=secondarystory

Residential Wind Power Reaps Investors and Political Support (Yale Environment 360)
http://e360.yale.edu/content/digest.msp?id=1819

Burning Desire - An Update on the Wood Pellet Market (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/04/burning-issues-an-update-on-the-wood-pellet-market?src=rss

Drawing power from the Mississippi River Currents (Houston Chronicle, TX)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/business/6362021.html

Australia - Green Status of Snowy Power Station in Doubt “…flows were only a third of those promised and water was being diverted to the Murray River to boost crop irrigation…” (Augusta-Margaret River Mail)
http://margaretriver.yourguide.com.au/news/national/national/general/green-status-of-snowy-power-station-in-doubt/1445609.aspx

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Decoupling Utilities: Separating Profits from Energy Use (Sightline Institute)
http://www.sightline.org/research/sust_toolkit/solutions/decoupling-utilities-seperating-profits-from-energy-use

NY Times Op-Ed Contributor - This Old Wasteful House
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/06/opinion/06moe.html?em

Empire State Building to Go "Green", Save Millions (Reuters)
http://uk.reuters.com/article/rbssConsumerGoodsAndRetailNews/idUKN0641844120090406

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Seattle Times Op/Ed - Gov. Gregoire: Crisis Offers Washington a Chance to Become a Leader in Solving Challenge of Climate Change
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2008995804_opina07gregoire.html?syndication=rss

Support in Oregon, rest of West, cools for climate caps (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/04/support_in_oregon_rest_of_west.html

Montana Governor Supports GOP Carbon Storage Bill (Associated Press)
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/04/07/ap6264715.html

Gallup Poll: Economy Takes Precedence over Environment - First time majority has supported economy in 25 years of asking question (Gallup)http://www.gallup.com/poll/116962/Americans-Economy-Takes-Precedence-Environment.aspx

U.S. power plant carbon emissions fell in 2008: study (Reuters)
http://uk.reuters.com/article/behindTheScenes/idUKTRE5355T220090406

CO2 Down Nationally, But Not In WA – Washington Ranks 39th in CO2 Emissions (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/energy/archives/165836.asp?source=rss

To see the report: Environment Integrity Project Report lists the following plants as CO2 emitters: Centralia Steam Plant, Chehalis Natural Gas, Grays Harbor Energy Center, Goldendale Generating Center, Mint Farm - Longview, River Road, Fredrickson, (Links to PDF File)
http://www.environmentalintegrity.org/generatePub.cfm?pubID=617

Carbon Slump Threatens Emission-Cut Goals (Japan Times)
http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/eo20090407mr.html

Emissions bill fuels fight in Congress (Politico.Com_
http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0409/20959.html

Satellite data shows Arctic on thinner ice (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/environmentNews/idUSTRE5356SA20090406

Canada - Green dies hard: "Green revolution stalls on cheap oil" (The Financial Post)
http://www.financialpost.com/news-sectors/story.html?id=1419566

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

FCC to begin broadband policy overhaul (C/NET News)
http://news.cnet.com/8301-1035_3-10213179-94.html?tag=nl.e433

NY Times Op/Ed - How the Internet Got Its Rules
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/07/opinion/07crocker.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Australia Moves to Build High-Speed Network (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/08/technology/internet/08broadband.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Swedish Internet Traffic Plummets After File-Sharing Law Is Implemented (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/technology/2009/april/Swedish-Internet-Traffic-Plummets-After-File-Sharing-Law-Is-Implemented.html

British ISPs Required to Store E-Mail Data for a Year (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/Europe/2009/april/British-ISPs-Required-to-Store-E-Mail-Data-for-a-Year.html

GENERAL NEWS

State Treasurer: $3 Billion Construction Bond Proposal Could Hurt Credit Rating (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_040609POB-bond-measure-SW.ac925ad5.html?rss

Lewis County Fuel Theft Leads To Homicide (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_040609WAB-mossyrock-fuel-theft-KC.ae3653fc.html?rss

Norm Dicks Earmark Requests Include Projects in Mason County (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6917/reftab/1632/t/NORM-DICKS-EARMARK-REQUESTS-INCLUDE-PROJECTS-IN-MASON-COUNTY/Default.aspx

Deal Would Keep KGY at Port Site At Least Five Years (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/localnewsfeed/story/811699.html

DIVERSIONS

Is Toledo Weather Vane World's Largest?
http://www.outdoorslc.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1239037300&archive=&start_from=&ucat=5&

Drug-Sniffing Dog Finds Pot in Art Frames
http://www.kirotv.com/entertainment/19099963/detail.html

Feathers Ruffled At Detroit Pillow Fight - Police Say Cleanup At Issue
http://www.kirotv.com/news/19096764/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Gilligan’s Island - Stairway to Heaven (Too Weird)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KTCYLbFxTpI&feature=related

Monday, April 6, 2009

Energy News Digest for April 6, 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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- Regional Comments on BPA Rate Hike Are Few, So Far
- The Observer Editorial: BPA Rate Hike Too Much For This Economy
- East Coast Ruling May Help LNG Project on Columbia
- Future Energy Is Topic of First Tuesday Event
- California Electricity Supply Faces Strain in Drier Future
- Tennessee Valley Authority Sees Growing 'Pressure' For Higher Rates
- Utilities Challenged To Justify Nuke Work
- New York Consortium Drops Its Plan to Build New Power Lines
- Ohio Power Company Says More People Stealing Electricity amid Recession
- Earnings Preview: Alcoa expected to post 1Q loss
- North Carolina - Alcoa Fires Back In Feud over Control of Yadkin River
- Washington Post - Will Obama's Revolution Deliver Energy Independence?
- Interactive Energy Bill: Just Around the Corner?
- Tech Firms Eager to Gobble Energy Stimulus Funds
- Feds Partner with Washington to Accelerate Habitat Projects in Columbia
- Tribes, State Will Return to Court over Salmon
- Other Regions’ Low Salmon Supplies Could Benefit Alaska Fisheries
- Cecil Andrus: A Workable Salmon Policy for the Northwest
- All-Male Run of Fish in Woodland Creek Won’t Find Mates
- Legislation Could Soften Blow of Closing Hatcheries
- Join the Club - Orting Hatchery in Danger of Closure
- Study of Water Storage Options in Yakima Basin Gets $2 Million
- Snow Surveys Important For Determining Summer Water Supplies
- Reservoir Project to Create 1,500 Jobs in Portland
- 8 homes struck, none injured in Beaver Dam mudslides on Whidbey Island
- U.S. Navy and the Snohomish PUD to Test Tidal Power off Whidbey
- E. Idaho Ordinance Could Bolster Wind Turbines
- Canadian Protesters Lash Out At River Hydro Project Plans in Nanaimo
- Wood: The Hot New Renewable Energy Source
- More States Want Solar Power to Be Option on New Homes
- Senator Shelby Speaks on Renewable Standard: One Size Does Not Fit All
- Free At Last - How to Achieve Genuine Energy Independence
- Government Should Mandate More Wind Power
- Environmentalists delay S.F. biodiesel plans
- Father-son Team Repair Wind Turbines
- Canadian Energy Rebate Not So Bright, Critics Argue
- Texas - Mandate for Energy Audits Creates Buzz
- B.C.'S Carbon-Offset Plan Doesn’t Sit Well with Environmentalists
- New Site Calculates Carbon Footprints
- Study: Cool Spells Normal in Warming World
- China’s Grand Plans for Eco-Cities Now Lie Abandoned
- Web Sites Disrupted By Attack on Register.com
- Data centers brace for Obama's 'cap and trade' energy pricing plan
- Twitter Unveils Redesign - Move over Google
- Graham, WA - Dad Murdered Kids Because Wife Was Leaving Him
- Mason County Sheriff's Department Facing Budget Cuts
- Nobody Bidding At State Timber Auctions
- Harrison Memorial Hospital in Bremerton to Trim Staff
- $265K 'Bubble' art prompts Olympia meeting

WORD OF THE DAY

Epistemic • \ep-uh-STEE-mik\ • adjective - Of or relating to knowledge or knowing:

The razor sharp mind of Abercrombie cut in only one direction. His epistemic skills in “Trivial Pursuit” were just that, trivial. Ask him about the main food of the Tibetan Pika, and he would have a ready answer (‘Little tiny haypiles of grass!’). But ask him directions to the grocery store and you could wind up many miles away from where you wanted to go.

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

Regional Comments on BPA Rate Hike Are Few, So Far (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/04/03/local_news/04news.txt

The Observer Editorial: BPA Rate Hike Too Much For This Economy (La Grande, OR)
http://www.istockanalyst.com/article/viewiStockNews/articleid/3176473

East Coast Ruling May Help LNG Project on Columbia (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/04/05/area_news/doc49d81aae27499815156565.txt

Future Energy Is Topic of First Tuesday Event (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20090404/NEWS02/704049977/

California Electricity Supply Faces Strain in Drier Future (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/02/MNH216R7O5.DTL&feed=rss.news

Tennessee Valley Authority Sees Growing 'Pressure' For Higher Rates (Associated Press)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jgkVTROMGlTT1PK6ZhQjLR-X0V_QD97B9C480

Utilities Challenged To Justify Nuke Work (Arizona Republic)
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/2009/04/04/20090404biz-nukereport0404.html

New York Consortium Drops Its Plan to Build New Power Lines (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/04/04/business/energy-environment/04power.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

Ohio Power Company Says More People Stealing Electricity amid Recession (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008984560_apstealingelectricity.html?syndication=rss

Earnings Preview: Alcoa expected to post 1Q loss “…analysts noted soaring aluminum inventories worldwide, and said the industry needed to cut production further…” (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/04/03/financial/f090647D84.DTL&feed=rss.business

North Carolina - Alcoa Fires Back In Feud over Control of Yadkin River (Charlotte Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2009/04/06/newscolumn1.html?ana=from_rss

Washington Post Opinion - Will Obama's Revolution Deliver Energy Independence?
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/04/03/AR2009040302794.html

Interactive Energy Bill: Just Around the Corner? (BusinessWeek)
http://www.businessweek.com/technology/content/apr2009/tc2009045_701898.htm

Tech Firms Eager to Gobble Energy Stimulus Funds (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2009-04-05-stimulus-infrastructure-technology_N.htm

FISH & WILDLIFE

Feds Partner with Washington to Accelerate Habitat Projects in Columbia Estuary (The Astorian, OR)
http://www.dailyastorian.com/main.asp?SectionID=2&SubSectionID=398&ArticleID=59803&TM=80764.54

Tribes, State Will Return to Court over Salmon - The two sides were unable to agree on how quickly the state must repair culverts that impede salmon runs (Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090406/NEWS01/704069910/-1/RSS02

Other Regions’ Low Salmon Supplies Could Benefit Alaska Fisheries (Alaska Journal of Commerce)
http://www.alaskajournal.com/stories/040309/fis_fisheries001.shtml

Oregonian Op/Ed – Cecil Andrus: A Workable Salmon Policy for the Northwest
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/04/a_workable_salmon_policy_for_t.html

A Fishy Mystery Solved - All-Male Run of Fish in Woodland Creek Won’t Find Mates (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/808880.html

Legislation Could Soften Blow of Closing Hatcheries (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.outdoorslc.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1238777978&archive=&start_from=&ucat=5&

Join the Club - Orting Hatchery in Danger Of Closure (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2008987201_outn05.html?syndication=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Study of Water Storage Options in Yakima Basin Gets $2 Million (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/2009/04/02/04-03-09-water-storage-money

Snow Surveys Important For Determining Summer Water Supplies (Oregon Publci Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/4693-snow-surveys-important-determining-summer-water-supplies/

Reservoir Project to Create 1,500 Jobs in Portland (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008991456_webportland06m.html?syndication=rss

8 homes struck, none injured in Beaver Dam mudslides on Whidbey Island (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008983204_mudslide04m.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

U.S. Navy and the Snohomish PUD to Test Tidal Power off Whidbey (Whidbey News-Times)
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/whidbey/wnt/news/42450332.html

E. Idaho Ordinance Could Bolster Wind Turbines (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/809437.html

Canadian Protesters Lash Out At River Hydro Project Plans in Nanaimo (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)
http://www.timescolonist.com/Technology/Protesters+lash+river+hydro+project+plans+Nanaimo/1466973/story.html

Wood: The Hot New Renewable Energy Source (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/4675-wood-hot-new-renewable-energy-source/

More States Want Solar Power to Be Option on New Homes (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2009-04-06-solar-ready_N.htm?csp=34

WAAY-TV Op/Ed - Senator Shelby Speaks Out on Proposed Renewable Energy Standard: One Size Does Not Fit All
http://www.waaytv.com/Global/story.asp?S=10127777

Free At Last - How to Achieve Genuine Energy Independence (Newsweek)
http://www.newsweek.com/id/192479?from=rss

Government Should Mandate More Wind Power (Kansas City Star, MO)
http://www.kansascity.com/340/story/1124583.html

Environmentalists delay S.F. biodiesel plans - Argue that the city failed to consider hazards associated with converting fat into fuel (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/04/03/BAQ516RSCV.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

Father-son Team Repair Wind Turbines (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2009/04/father-son-team-repair-wind-turbines?src=rss

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Canadian Energy Rebate Not So Bright, Critics Argue (Calgary Herald, Alberta)
http://www.calgaryherald.com/business/Energy+rebate+bright+critics+argue/1468163/story.html

Texas - Mandate for Energy Audits Creates Buzz (Austin Business Journal, TX)
http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/stories/2009/04/06/story4.html?ana=from_rss

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

B.C.'S Carbon-Offset Plan Doesn’t Sit Well with Environmentalists (CBC News)
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2009/04/05/bc-carbon-offsets.html?ref=rss

New Site Calculates Carbon Footprints (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/03/30/daily51.html?ana=from_rss

Study: Cool Spells Normal in Warming World (NY Times)
http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/04/03/cool-spells-in-a-warming-world/?partner=rss&emc=rss

China’s Grand Plans for Eco-Cities Now Lie Abandoned (Yale Environment 360) http://e360.yale.edu/content/feature.msp?id=2138

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Web Sites Disrupted By Attack on Register.com (Washington Post)
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2009/04/web_sites_disrupted_by_attack.html

Data centers brace for Obama's 'cap and trade' energy pricing plan (ComputerWorld)
http://www.computerworld.com/action/article.do?command=viewArticleBasic&articleId=336620&intsrc=news_ts_head

Twitter Unveils Redesign - Move over Google. Twitter wants some search mojo (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_12057285?nclick_check=1

GENERAL NEWS

Graham, WA - Dad Murdered Kids Because Wife Was Leaving Him (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/42499832.html

Mason County Sheriff's Department Facing Budget Cuts (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6906/reftab/1632/t/SHERIFF-S-OFFICE-FACING-BUDGET-CUTS/Default.aspx

Nobody Bidding At State Timber Auctions (Associated Press)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_040509WAB-AP-timber-auctions-SW.a731d98f.html?rss

Harrison Memorial Hospital in Bremerton to Trim Staff (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/808868.html

$265K 'Bubble' art prompts Olympia meeting - Arts Commission to hold special session open to the public (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/808923.html

DIVERSIONS

Spokane Man Finds Message in a Bottle From 1913
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/809334.html

Volunteers Help Salamanders Avoid Roadway Massacre
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008988738_apsalamanderescorts.html?syndication=rss

Woman Divorces Husband For Cleaning Too Much
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20090402/od_nm/us_divorce_odd;_ylt=Av7jV6uCzxQolSt12c_aehjtiBIF

California Woman Gets 6 Years for Fatal Texting Crash
http://www.examiner.com/a-1943563~Calif_woman_gets_6_years_for_fatal_texting_crash.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

SONG OF THE DAY

I Just Want to Celebrate - Rare Earth (1971)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QZsppOw2Mxk