Wednesday, December 16, 2009

Energy News Digest for December 16, 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)


City of Shelton May Turn Out Lights to Save Money

Mason PUD 3 Commission Adopts 2010 Budget - No Retail Rate Increase

Clark Public Utilities Cranks Up Electricity Production to Meet Demand

Idaho Power Reports New Record for Winter Power

Clark County residents protest new BPA line

Columbian Editorial – Productive BPA Protest Rally

Daily News Op/Ed - BPA Rushed Planning of Power Line

New Substation Necessary - ‘Project Chinook’ Near Moses Lake Could Mean 200 Jobs

Chelan PUD Settles Discrimination Suit for $500,000

Clallam PUD Gets Enron Refunds

Two More Seek Appointment to Jefferson County PUD Board

BPA Seeks Senior Vice President for Power Services

Washington State Watchdog Hands Out Clean Audits to Whatcom PUD

Keizer City Councilors Interested in Power Plant Proposal

Colorado - State Regulators Delay Power Line Decision

Exxon Mobil Makes $29 Billion Bet on Natural Gas

Georgia - Burned Man Still Hospitalized after Electric Shock

Coalition Forms to Fight Klamath River Agreement

Upcoming Cowlitz Sport Smelt Season Again Could Be Slim

Bull Trout May Return to Clackamas River

Washington State Tribe Loses Ruling on Treaty Fishing Rights

10 Million Gallons of Wastewater Spills into Elliott Bay

Sewage-Soaked Madison Valley Residents Sue Seattle

Forest Service Fined $12,000 for Smoke from Yakima Area Controlled Burn

Panel Says Great Lakes Not Losing Extra Water Due to Dredging

Phasing Out Wind Farm Tax Credit Divides Oregon Groups

TV Washington Feature on Marbled Murrelet Tonight (Wednesday) at 7 PM

Oregon - Troutdale mayor seeks stimulus assistance for wind project

Wyoming Allows More Comment on Wind Recommendations

Kansas - Sunflower Wind Is Suing Turbine Blade Supplier

Contractor’s 100th Windmill Goes Up in Maine

Report Says Wind Farms Annoying But Not Harmful

L.A. Utility Shelves Plans for Solar Farm near Salton Sea

NY Energy Plan Pushes Conservation, Solar & Wind

Tampa Electric Allowed to Charge Customers Premium Prices for Solar Energy

As California Greens, Northwest Power Gains

Energy-Efficient Traffic Lights Can’t Melt Snow

‘Smart’ Device Makers: Variable Electricity Rates Needed

US Dept. of Energy DOE Wants Water Heated More Efficiently

Bellevue Family Cuts Power Consumption, Gains $7,500

Frustration Mounts in Copenhagen as Talks Stall

Police Beat Back Massed Climate Protesters

Turning Carbon into Cash

In Duluth, Carbon Offset Boosts the Holiday Cheer

Study Says Big Impact of the Plug-In Hybrid Will Be Decades Away

Soft Cheese for a Clean Planet - A foodie’s guide to planet-friendly fromage

Quincy Hums With Data Centers & Tax Dollars, Say Summit Speakers

Bend Broadband Launches Nation’s Fastest Wireless Service

Privacy concerns close Pierce County septic Web page after personal data found

F.T.C. Accuses Intel of Trying to Stifle Competition

The Europe/Microsoft Browser Battle Ends

Google & Bing Keep Rising While Yahoo Drops Again

McDonald’s to Lift Fee for Internet Access

Boeing Dreamliner Finally Takes Flight

Washington Unemployment Rate Steady at 9.2

Naveed Haq Guilty in Jewish Center

Traffic Stop Nets $1.5 Million in

Cantwell Irked With NOAA over Planned Move

Congress - Doumit Considering Run for Baird

Mason County Floral Greens


WORD OF THE DAY


Modicum • \MOD-ih-kum\ • noun - A small portion: a limited quantity

The debate over how much rum was necessary for the best hot butter rum quickly fractured the elves on Christmas Eve. The original Santa-approved recipe called for a “modicum” of the warming alcoholic liquid. One of the two camps defined that as meaning half a shot glass. The other, rosy-cheeked advocates called for “whatever feels right.”


WEATHER


Shelton Forecast & 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


City of Shelton May Turn Out Lights to Save Money (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.nwcn.com/news/washington/Shelton-may-turn-out-lights-to-save-money-79348202.html


Mason PUD 3 Commission Adopts 2010 Budget - No Retail Rate Increase Anticipated (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=645


Clark Public Utilities Cranks Up Electricity Production to Meet Demand (Columbian, Vancouver, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2009/dec/12/utility-cranks-up-electricity-production-to-meet/


Idaho Power Reports New Record for Winter Power (Associated Press)

http://www.examiner.com/a-2372953~Idaho_Power_reports_new_record_for_winter_power.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines

Clark County residents protest new BPA line (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010512708_apwabpaline.html?syndication=rss


Columbian Editorial – Productive BPA Protest Rally: Residents speak up, BPA listens & the power line discussion continues (Vancouver, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2009/dec/16/productive-rally/


Daily News Op/Ed - BPA Rushed Planning of Power Line (Longview, WA)

http://www.tdn.com/news/opinion/article_b658faf4-e7ca-11de-9381-001cc4c03286.html


New Substation Necessary - ‘Project Chinook’ Near Moses Lake Could Mean 200 Jobs (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/12/15/news/doc4b280f4e27117653301276.txt


Chelan PUD Settles Discrimination Suit for $500,000 (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2009/dec/15/chelan-pud-settles-discrimination-suit-for-500000/


Clallam PUD Gets Enron Refunds (Sequim Gazette, WA)

http://search.sequimgazette.com/news/article.exm/2009-12-16_pud_gets_enron_refunds


Two More Seek Appointment to Jefferson County PUD Board (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20091215/news/312159992


BPA Seeks Senior Vice President for Power Services (Renewable Energy World)

http://jobs.renewableenergyworld.com/careers/jobsearch/detail/jobId/21535075/viewType/rss


Washington State Watchdog Hands Out Clean Audits to Whatcom PUD, City of Blaine (Bellingham Herald, WA)

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/477/story/1205452.html


Keizer City Councilors Interested in Power Plant Proposal (Keizer Times, OR)

http://www.keizertimes.com/news/story.cfm?story_no=12128


Colorado - State Regulators Delay Power Line Decision (Pueblo Chieftain, CO)

http://www.chieftain.com/articles/2009/12/16/business/local/doc4b286d44ab502162424556.txt


Exxon Mobil Makes $29 Billion Bet on Natural Gas (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010509447_exxonxto15.html


Georgia - Burned Man Still Hospitalized after Electric Shock – Was trying to restore his disconnected electrical service (Augusta Chronicle, GA)

http://chronicle.augusta.com/stories/latest/lat_703985.shtml?v=1540


FISH & WILDLIFE


Coalition Forms to Fight Klamath River Agreement (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/12/coalition_forms_to_fight_klama.html


Upcoming Cowlitz Sport Smelt Season Again Could Be Slim (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews?Upcoming-Sport-Smelt-Season-Again-Could-=1&blockID=103986&feedID=410


Bull Trout May Return to Clackamas River (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/12/14/Bull_Trout_May_Return_to_Clackamas_River.htm


Washington State Tribe Loses Ruling on Treaty Fishing Rights (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/12/14/Tribe_Loses_Ruling_on_Treaty_Fishing_Rights.htm


WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT


10 Million Gallons of Wastewater Spills into Elliott Bay (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/10-million-gallons-of-wastewater-spills-into-Elliott-Bay-79334422.html


Sewage-Soaked Madison Valley Residents Sue Seattle (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/413272_madisonvalley14.html?source=pimail


Forest Service Fined $12,000 for Smoke from Yakima Area Controlled Burn (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2009/12/15/forest-service-fined-12-000-for-smoke-from-controlled-burn


Panel Says Great Lakes Not Losing Extra Water Due to Dredging (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010521073_apusgreatlakeserosion.html?syndication=rss


RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY


Phasing Out Wind Farm Tax Credit Divides Oregon Groups (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2009/12/phasing_out_wind_farm_tax_cred.html


TV Washington Feature on Marbled Murrelet Tonight (Wednesday) at 7 PM (TV Washington)

http://www.tvw.org/search/theimpact.cfm?eventtype=1&CFID=3101507&CFTOKEN=85585796&bhcp=1


Oregon - Troutdale Mayor Seeks Stimulus Assistance for Wind Project (Daily Journal of Commerce, OR)

http://djcoregon.com/news/2009/12/14/troutdale-mayor-seeks-stimulus-assistance-for-wind-project/


Wyoming Allows More Comment on Wind Recommendations (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010521641_apuswindenergywildlifewyoming.html?syndication=rss


Kansas - Sunflower Wind Is Suing Turbine Blade Supplier (Hutchinson News, KS)

http://www.hutchnews.com/Newsbriefs/wind2009-12-14T20-58-58


Contractor’s 100th Windmill Goes Up in Maine (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010521235_apmewind100thtower.html?syndication=rss


Report Says Wind Farms Annoying But Not Harmful (Vancouver Sun, BC)

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Wind+farms+annoying+harmful+Report/2344246/story.html


L.A. Utility Shelves Plans for Solar Farm Near Salton Sea – Utility is troubled by the costs of the project (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-la-solar16-2009dec16,0,2282198.story


NY Energy Plan Pushes Conservation, Solar & Wind (Associated Press)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ihzA7tP3Wfr_FRwIstgZCKlrt0NwD9CK0EJ80


Tampa Electric Allowed to Charge Customers Premium Prices for Solar Energy (St. Petersburg Times, SFL)

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/energy/tampa-electric-can-charge-customers-premium-prices-for-solar-energy-psc/1059048


CONSERVATION



As California Greens, Northwest Power Gains (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2009/12/15/energy-utilities/19443/


Energy-Efficient Traffic Lights Can’t Melt Snow (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121498684&ft=1&f=3


‘Smart’ Device Makers: Variable Electricity Rates Needed (CNET News)

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-10414993-54.html


US Dept. of Energy DOE Wants Water Heated More Efficiently (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/12/14/DOE_Wants_Water_Heated_More_Efficiently.htm


Bellevue Family Cuts Power Consumption, Gains $7,500 (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/video/featured-videos/Bellevue-Family-Drops-Power-Gains-7500-79357037.html


CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT


Frustration Mounts in Copenhagen as Talks Stall (Time Magzine)

http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1929071_1929070_1948020,00.html


Police Beat Back Massed Climate Protesters (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/17/science/earth/17climate.html?partner=rss&emc=rss


Turning Carbon into Cash - How the carbon-offsets market is turning Wall Street traders & an African stove maker into unlikely business partners.

http://www.newsweek.com/id/226941?from=rss


In Duluth, Carbon Offset Boosts the Holiday Cheer (Duluth News Tribune, MN)

http://wcco.com/wireapnewsmn/In.Duluth.paying.2.1369106.html


BARELL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI


Study Says Big Impact of the Plug-In Hybrid Will Be Decades Away (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/15/business/15hybrid.html


Soft Cheese for a Clean Planet - A foodie’s guide to planet-friendly fromage (Slate Magazine)

http://www.slate.com/id/2237779/?from=rss


TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS


Quincy Hums With Data Centers & Tax Dollars, Say Summit Speakers (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2009/dec/14/quincy-hums-with-data-centers-and-tax-dollars-say/


Bend Broadband Launches Nation’s Fastest Wireless Service (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Bend-Broadband-Launches-Nations-Fastest-Wireless-Service-106018


Privacy concerns close Pierce County septic Web page after personal data found (News Tribune, Tacoma)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/government/story/995705.html


F.T.C. Accuses Intel of Trying to Stifle Competition (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/17/technology/companies/17chip.html?partner=rss&emc=rss


The Europe/Microsoft Browser Battle Ends (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2009/12/16/the-europemicrosoft-browser-battle-ends/


Google & Bing Keep Rising While Yahoo Drops Again (NY Times)

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/16/google-and-bing-keep-rising-while-yahoo-drops-again/?partner=rss&emc=rss


McDonald’s to Lift Fee for Internet Access (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010516210_apusmcdonaldswifi1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss


GENERAL NEWS


Boeing Dreamliner Finally Takes Flight (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/1072523.html


Washington Unemployment Rate Steady at 9.2 Percent (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010513682_apwawashjobless1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss


Naveed Haq Guilty in Jewish Center Shooting (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010513302_apusjewishcentershooting4thldwritethru.html?syndication=rss


Traffic Stop Nets $1.5 Million in Cocaine (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010516830_webcocaine15.html?syndication=rss


Cantwell Irked With NOAA over Planned Move (Puget Sound Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/12/14/daily20.html


Congress - Doumit Considering Run for Baird Seat (Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)

http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/12/15/local_news/doc4b27daa88e656970200325.txt


Mason County Floral Greens - Making the Arrangements for a World Market (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/dec/12/making-the-arrangements-for-a-world-market/?partner=RSS


ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS


Man Turns Christmas Lights Into Guitar Hero Game

http://news.cnet.com/8301-17852_3-10414561-71.html?tag=nl.e703


AP Exclusive: Tourists Enjoy White House Breakfast

http://www.kirotv.com/politics/21977124/detail.html


Sonic Manager Arrested on Charges of Cooking Meth at Restaurant

http://www.slashfood.com/2009/12/11/sonic-meth-bust/


Kelso: Bowhunter Shoots Prowler in Buttocks with Arrow

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/995710.html


SONG OF THE DAY


Harry Nilsson - Me & My Arrow

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5tgL4p4d1Yo


Friday, December 11, 2009

Energy News Digest for December 11, 2009

The Energy News Digest will be taking a holiday on Monday, December 14. Back with Presents on the 15th.

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)

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

· Last Month’s Storms unlike Most That Hit Area, Clallam PUD Says
· Clallam PUD Says Underground Lines Only One Option for Cutting Storm Outages
· The Climate Conundrum over Nuclear Energy
· Huge Columbia River Spring Chinook Run Forecast
· Editorial - Coho Are Back From the Brink
· US Congress - Salmon-Recovery Funds Restored to Senate Bill
· NOAA to Move Faster to Reform Commercial Fishing
· Opposition Builds against BPA Proposal to Manage Level of Lake Pend Oreille
· Judge Tentatively Invalidates West Water Pact
· Kittitas County - Environmental Questions Await Proposed Solar Farm
· Ellensburg Residents Invest in Solar Power Park
· Quake Threat Leads Swiss to Close Geothermal Project
· Virginia County Allows Residents to Use Wind Power
· In Energy Innovation, Everything New Is Old Again
· Kitsap & Mason County Homes Get a Weatherizing Boost, Courtesy of Enron
· Richland Looking To Help Eligible Seniors with Heating Bills
· Holiday Lights Are a Low Concern for Pacific NW Power Producers
· Utah - Rocky Mountain Power Urges Customers to Conserve
· New Year’s Energy Resolutions That Really Pay Off
· Cap & Rebate - Cantwell Proposes New Approach to Climate Issue
· Senators Revise Climate Bill to Court GOP Support
· Seattle Charges Up the Electric Cars
· Northern Plains Corn Ethanol Uses More Water
· Port Angeles - Internet Restored for Many Area Residents
· Read It & Weep: Ephrata ISP Hits 114 Mbps, $45 Per Month
· Utah - Brigham City approves bond for fiber-optic network UTOPIA
· Cable Industry Gets Confused By First Amendment
· Cox: Our Non-Fiber Network Is In Fact Fiber
· Winter Storm on the Way
· Feds say El Nino Changes in Pacific Getting Stronger
· Two Challengers Declare Run for Baird’s Congressional Seat
· Editorial - Politicians Have Raided Timber Payment Program to Serve Their Own Interests
· Costco Will Resume Carrying Coca-Cola Products

WORD OF THE DAY

Namby-pamby • \nam-bee-PAM-bee\ • adjective - 1: lacking in character or substance: insipid *2: weak, indecisive

“But I really don’t want to shave today,” whined the public information officer during his floating holiday. “Shave anyway you namby pamby,” the reflection growled back.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast & 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

Last Month’s Storms unlike Most That Hit Area, Clallam PUD Says (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20091211/news/312119988

Clallam PUD Says Underground Lines Only One Option for Cutting Storm Outages (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20091211/news/312119989

The Climate Conundrum over Nuclear Energy (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=121309061&ft=1&f=3

FISH & WILDLIFE

Huge Columbia River Spring Chinook Run Forecast (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2010477902_regr11.html

Wenatchee World Editorial - Coho Are Back From the Brink
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2009/dec/09/coho-are-back-from-the-brink/

US Congress - Salmon-Recovery Funds Restored to Senate Bill (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20091210/NEWS02/712109946/

NOAA to Move Faster to Reform Commercial Fishing (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010472504_apusfishingcatchshares.html?syndication=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Opposition Builds against BPA Proposal to Manage Level of Lake Pend Oreille (Bonner County Daily Bee, Sandpoint, ID)
http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com/articles/2009/12/10/news/doc4b209c8826507444789140.txt

Judge tentatively invalidates West water pact (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-2366875~Judge_tentatively_invalidates_West_water_pact.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Kittitas County - Environmental Questions Await Proposed Solar Farm (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/413046_Solar09.html

Ellensburg Residents Invest in Solar Power Park (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_ellensburg_solar_power.html

Quake Threat Leads Swiss to Close Geothermal Project (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/11/science/earth/11basel.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Virginia County Allows Residents to Use Wind Power (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010482201_apusalbemarlewindpowervirginia.html?syndication=rss

In Energy Innovation, Everything New Is Old Again - Most Alternative Fuel Technologies Have Roots in Long-Ago Discoveries; Scarcity of ‘Killer Apps’ Slows Progress (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB126048948482786623.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_LEFTTopStories

CONSERVATION

Kitsap & Mason County Homes Get a Weatherizing Boost, Courtesy of Enron (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/dec/10/kitsap-homes-get-a-weatherizing-boost-courtesy/

Richland Looking To Help Eligible Seniors with Heating Bills (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=11656636

Holiday Lights Are a Low Concern for Pacific NW Power Producers (KUOW, Seattle)
http://kuow.org/program.php?id=18980

Utah - Rocky Mountain Power Urges Customers to Conserve, Reduce Demand on System (Deseret News, Salt Lake City, UT)
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705350538/Rocky-Mountain-Power-urges-Utah-customer-to-conserve-reduce-demand-on-system.html

New Year’s Energy Resolutions That Really Pay Off (Associated Press)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gahfc9_l2JRPn0ZL3LJ4tTn_iKgwD9CH9VUG0

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Cap & Rebate - Cantwell Proposes New Approach to Climate Issue (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/news/local/Cantwell-proposes-new-approach-to-climate-issue-79070902.html

Senators Revise Climate Bill to Court GOP Support (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/12/10/national/w132433S26.DTL&feed=rss.news

BARELL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Seattle Charges Up the Electric Cars (The Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/1067554.html

Northern Plains Corn Ethanol Uses More Water (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010478414_apusfarmsceneethanolwater.html?syndication=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Port Angeles - Internet Restored for Many Area Residents (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.konp.com/local/5323

Read It & Weep: Ephrata ISP Hits 114 Mbps, $45 Per Month (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/technologybrierdudleysblog/2010476648_read_it_and_weep_ephrata_isp_h.html

Utah - Brigham City approves bond for fiber-optic network UTOPIA (Deseret News, Salt Lake City, UT)
http://www.deseretnews.com/article/705350794/Brigham-City-approves-bond-for-fiber-optic-network-UTOPIA.html

Cable Industry Gets Confused By First Amendment - Apparently, anti-competitive behavior is a constitutional right (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Cable-Industry-Gets-Confused-By-First-Amendment-105939

Cox: Our Non-Fiber Network Is In Fact Fiber - Cable industry somewhat ashamed of coaxial use (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Cox-Our-NonFiber-Network-Is-In-Fact-Fiber-105933

GENERAL NEWS

Winter Storm on the Way (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://tdn.com/news/article_878cfeec-e611-11de-9899-001cc4c03286.html

Feds say El Nino Changes in Pacific Getting Stronger (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2010472782_apuselnino.html?syndication=rss

Two Challengers Declare Run for Baird’s Congressional Seat (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2010473018_bevyofgopchallengersmullingrunforbrianbairdssoontobevacatedcongr.html?syndication=rss

Daily News Editorial - Politicians Have Raided Timber Payment Program to Serve Their Own Interests
http://tdn.com/news/opinion/article_4451f574-e530-11de-af26-001cc4c002e0.html

Costco Will Resume Carrying Coca-Cola Products (Associated Press)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=11655182

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

Teen Racks Up $21K Cell Phone Bill
http://www.kirotv.com/money/21933125/detail.html

Mozart’s Music May Help Preemies Gain Weight
http://www.kirotv.com/health/21921151/detail.html

Seattle High School Drug Counselor Indicted on Drug Charges
http://www.king5.com/news/local/Seattle-high-school-drug-counselor-indicted-on-drug-charges-79083867.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Elton John - Cold as Christmas (In the Middle of the Year)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgX5aupUoRw

Thursday, December 10, 2009

Energy News Digest for December 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)

· Pacific Northwest Power Consumption Peaks during Cold Weather
· Mason County PUD No. 3 Releases 2010 Budget
· Apartment Residents Displaced by Transformer Fire
· Jefferson PUD Gives Self 90 Days to Fill Vacancy
· Nine Undersea Routes Mapped for Power Grid
· Shattuck: Constellation Doing Away with Golden Parachutes
· City of San Antonio Nervous about Nuke Plant Expansion
· Jefferson PUD Commissioner’s View Applauded at Port Townsend
· Canada - Sockeye decline linked to climate change
· Canadian Scientists Call For More Cautious Salmon Harvest
· Hood Canal Salmon Hatchery May Face Closure
· Idaho’s Nez Perce Ship Coho Eggs to Oregon
· Leavenworth Hatchery Workers Host Ice-Breakers This Time Of Year
· Experiment to Test Killing One Owl to Help Another
· Why Is Capitol Lake Lower? To See If Cold Kills Snails
· Kittitas County - Environmental Questions Await Proposed Solar Farm
· Solar Power Coming to a Store near You
· Op/Ed - NIMBY Desert Dwellers Are Equal-Opportunity Naysayers
· Judge Halts West Virginia Wind Farm Due to Endangered Bats
· Indiana Regulators Order Greater Conservation Push
· U.S. Negotiator Dismisses Reparations for Climate
· Researcher’s Lie Could Threaten California Diesel Rules
· Op/Ed - We’ll Become A Can’t-Do Nation If We Listen To Clean-Energy Defeatists
· Oregon - Bankrupt Ethanol Plant Sells For $15M
· Seattle Gets First Peek At Nissan Electric Car
· Stimulus Funds Possible for Grant PUD Fiber
· Part of the Daily American Diet, 34 Gigabytes of Data
· AT&T to Urge Customers to Use Less Wireless
· Clearwire Suffers Five Hour
· Deep Freeze Continues as Flurries Possible in North Sound
· Carbon Monoxide Kills One In Portland, Ore., Home
· Wash. Rep. Baird says he will not seek re-election
· Hood Canal - Marine Mammals Set to Guard US Submarine Base
· Papa John’s Swamped in Police Officer Pizza Fundraiser

WORD OF THE DAY

Mugwump • \MUG-wump \ • noun – 1: a bolter from the Republican party in 1884 2: a person who is independent (as in politics) or who remains undecided or neutral

From Massachusett mugquomp, muggumquomp war leader

“Will you PLEASE make up your mind about your menu choice,” Mindy shouted one morning at her hesitant husband in the local hash-house. “Had I known you were such a mugwump I would have never married you,” she frumped.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast & 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

Pacific Northwest Power Consumption Peaks during Cold Weather (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=253779

Mason County PUD No. 3 Releases 2010 Budget (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://masoncountydailynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=815:pud-3-releases-2010-budget-&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

Apartment Residents Displaced by Transformer Fire (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010472201_webauburn10m.html?syndication=rss

Jefferson PUD Gives Self 90 Days to Fill Vacancy (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20091210/news/312109989

Nine Undersea Routes Mapped for Power Grid (Pacific Business News)
http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2009/12/07/daily21.html?ana=from_rss

Shattuck: Constellation Doing Away with Golden Parachutes (Baltimore Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2009/12/07/daily26.html?ana=from_rss

City of San Antonio Nervous about Nuke Plant Expansion (Courthouse News)
http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/12/09/City_Nervous_About_Nuke_Plant_Expansion.htm

Jefferson PUD Commissioner’s View Applauded at Port Townsend Forum on Open Government (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20091210/NEWS/312109986

FISH & WILDLIFE

Canada - Sockeye decline linked to climate change - Change in ocean conditions in 2007 likely behind mass death of stocks (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)
http://www.cbc.ca/technology/story/2009/12/09/bc-scientists-sockeye-climate-change.html?ref=rss

Canadian Scientists Call For More Cautious Salmon Harvest - Government needs to conduct more research to uncover cause of declining Fraser returns, think tank says (Globe and Mail, Canada)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/scientists-call-for-more-cautious-salmon-harvest/article1395120/

Hood Canal Salmon Hatchery May Face Closure (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20091210/news/312109985

Idaho’s Nez Perce Ship Coho Eggs to Oregon (Associated Press)
http://www.kpvi.com/global/story.asp?s=11653997

Leavenworth Hatchery Workers Host Ice-Breakers This Time Of Year (Wenatchee World, WA)
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2009/dec/09/hatchery-workers-host-ice-breakers-this-time-of/

Experiment to Test Killing One Owl to Help Another (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010467666_apusowlvsowl1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

Why Is Capitol Lake Lower? To See If Cold Kills Snails (Olympian, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/1065444.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Kittitas County - Environmental Questions Await Proposed Solar Farm (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/413046_Solar09.html?source=rss

Solar Power Coming to a Store near You (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010467926_apusdiysolar.html?syndication=rss

Los Angeles Times Op/Ed - NIMBY Desert Dwellers Are Equal-Opportunity Naysayers
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-lewis10-2009dec10,0,4418624.story

Judge Halts West Virginia Wind Farm Due to Endangered Bats (ABC News)
http://abcnews.go.com/Business/wireStory?id=9294527

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Indiana Regulators Order Greater Conservation Push (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/12/10/financial/f082510S57.DTL&feed=rss.business

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

U.S. Negotiator Dismisses Reparations for Climate (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/10/science/earth/10climate.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Researcher’s Lie Could Threaten California Diesel Rules (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/12/09/MNQR1B123E.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Seattle Times Op/Ed - We’ll Become A Can’t-Do Nation If We Listen To Clean-Energy Defeatists
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2010462842_harrop10.html?syndication=rss

Oregon - Bankrupt Ethanol Plant Sells For $15M (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/12/07/daily27.html

Seattle Gets First Peek At Nissan Electric Car (Seattle Tmes)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010468141_electriccars10m.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Stimulus Funds Possible for Grant PUD Fiber (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/12/09/news/doc4b2033a518ecd924350423.txt

Part of the Daily American Diet, 34 Gigabytes of Data (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/10/technology/10data.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

AT&T to Urge Customers to Use Less Wireless Data (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/12/10/technology/companies/10iphone.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Clearwire Suffers Five Hour Outage - In half a dozen of the company’s launch markets (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Clearwire-Suffers-Five-Hour-Outage-105903

GENERAL NEWS

Deep Freeze Continues as Flurries Possible in North Sound (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/weather/21906662/detail.html

Carbon Monoxide Kills One In Portland, Ore., Home (NW Cable News)
http://www.nwcn.com/news/78943637.html

Wash. Rep. Baird says he will not seek re-election
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/1065280.html

Hood Canal - Marine Mammals Set to Guard US Submarine Base (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/science/2009/dec/Marine-Mammals-Set-to-Guard-US-Submarine-Base.html

Papa John’s Swamped in Police Officer Pizza Fundraiser (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010467133_webpizza09m.html?syndication=rss

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

No Eggo Shortage for Costco Members
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_13954531?nclick_check=1

WSDOT Says “Bah, Humbug” To Poulsbo Christmas Lights
http://www.king5.com/news/local/WSDOT-says-bahumbug-to-Christmas-lights-78942702.html

Man, 93, Adopts 64-Year-Old Foster Son
http://www.kirotv.com/news/21907362/detail.html

Dog Missing 3 Weeks Found In Storm Drain
http://www.kirotv.com/family/21901255/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Greg Lake - I Believe in Father Christmas
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0O_fCs5Buwg