Energy News Digest for January 7, 2010

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)

•  Centralia Coal Plant Emissions Debated

•  Portland General Electric Starts Push for New Power Plants, Huge Investments

•  Mason County PUD 3 Sets SEPA Appeal Hearing Dates

•  Oregon - BPA Seeks Public’s Help in Wire Theft near Roseburg

•  Energy Park at Hanford Holds Promise for Powering Vit Plant

•  Jefferson PUD Fills Vacancy; Picks Former Reporter for Port Townsend Leader

•  Planned Power Outage in Belfair Friday Night but Now Only 30 Customers Impacted

•  Idaho Power Files 2009 Integrated Resource Plan

•  Indiana - Alcoa Plans to Lay off up to 145

•  Unmarked Power Line Probed In Calif. Copter Crash

•  ABB Transformers - Gunman Storms Power Company in St. Louis

•  Three Die in Fire at Detroit Home Where Power Was Cut

•  Natural Gas Stocks Show Seasonal Decline

•  Utility Plans High-Voltage Line for Southern Utah

•  US DOE Fined for Failure to Remove Nuclear Fuel

•  “Google Energy” Subsidiary: What’s Google Up To?

•  Texas Day Care Hit with $90,000 Electricity Bill

•  Pacific Northwest's Endangered Orca Population Rose in 2009

•  Nisqually Closed to Chum Salmon Fishing

•  Poor Sacramento River Salmon Runs A Bad Sign for Oregon's Fishing Fleet

•  Boise Company's High-Tech Gear Collects Data That Can Influence Salmon Policy

•  NOAA Designates Sea Turtle Habitat Off Oregon Coast

•  Famous SF Sea Lions May Have Turned Up Near Oregon

•  Mason County Authorizes Use of Condemnation for Belfair Sewer Easements

•  Wind Farm Backers Say Report Affirms There's Minimal Threat to Marbled Murrelet

•  Pacific County Wind Farm No Threat to Murrelets

•  Scientific Review States That Wind Project Would Not Impact Endangered Bird

•  Editorial - Harness the Invisible: Wind farm cranks up for Clark Public Utilities

•  Montana Supreme Court: PSC Must Set Electricity Rate for Whitehall-Area Wind Project

•  Wind Farms, Welcomed by Many, Prompt Defensive Reactions from Some

•  Greater Sage Grouse Endangered Species Listing Could Slow Western US Wind Growth

•  Wind Turbines Threatening Existence of the Lesser Prairie Chicken

•  Columnist - Bay Area Wind Power Firms Blown Away

•  Op/Ed - Tongass Wood-Fuel Project Not Benign

•  Study Says U.S. Biofuels Policies Flawed

•  Bill Aims to Make Schools More Energy Efficient

•  News Release - New Projects Reflect Battelle Role in Smart Grid Future

•  Cold Weather: Winter Is Chilliest 'In Many People's Memory’

•  Experts: Cold Snap Doesn't Disprove Global Warming

•  Florida Freezes As Arctic Blast Makes Its Way South

•  Washington Gets $13.5 Million for Green Jobs

•  Clallam Gets Portion of Green Jobs Training Grant

•  FCC Commissioners Haven't Seen Broadband Plan

•  FCC seeks extension for national broadband plan

•  Washington State to Appeal Felon Vote Ruling to Supreme Court

•  Denny Heck Running for Baird's Seat in Congress

•  In Primary Fight - Judge Orders GOP, Libertarians to Repay State $70K

•  Greens Plot 2010 Legislative Strategy

•  Top Green Priority in the Legislature: A Tax on Oil

WORD OF THE DAY

Trope • \trōp\ • noun - 1a: a word or expression used in a figurative sense: figure of speech b: a common or overused theme or device: cliché 2: a phrase or verse added as an embellishment or interpolation to the sung parts of the Mass in the Middle Ages

“Ahh…the smells of the circus, the call of the barkers, the show man; the SHOW,” enthused the manager of the menagerie to his new hire. “All those tropes about the circus being the greatest show on earth are true,” the grizzled veteran crowed to the fresh-faced recruit.

“But you’re in charge of cleaning up after the elephants,” squeaked the wet-behind-the-ears rookie. “Have you ever thought about getting another job?”

“What,” barked the stoop-shouldered gaffer, “and give up show business?”

(Insert Rim-Shot Here)

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

Centralia Coal Plant Emissions Debated - Plant's latest permit lacks greenhouse gas, mercury controls, pollution board told (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/1092951.html

Portland General Electric Starts Push for New Power Plants, Huge Investments (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2010/01/pge_starts_push_for_new_power.html

Mason County PUD 3 Sets SEPA Appeal Hearing Dates (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1012:pud-3-sets-sepa-appeal-hearing-dates&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

Oregon - BPA Seeks Public’s Help in Wire Theft near Roseburg: Reward offered for information about substation break-in (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/440763/

Energy Park at Hanford Holds Promise for Powering Vit Plant (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/kennewick_pasco_richland/story/853561.html

Jefferson PUD Fills Vacancy; Picks Former Reporter for Port Townsend Leader (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20100107/news/301079993

Planned Power Outage in Belfair Friday Night but Now Only 30 Customers Impacted (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1020:planned-power-outage-in-belfair-friday-night&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

Idaho Power Files 2009 Integrated Resource Plan (Electric Energy Online)

http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=125194

Indiana - Alcoa Plans to Lay off up to 145: Cuts will occur in Warrick plant's rigid-packaging division (Evansville Courier & Press, IN)

http://www.courierpress.com/news/2010/jan/05/05web-Alcoa/

Unmarked power line probed in Calif. copter crash (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010726498_apusfatalhelicoptercrash.html?syndication=rss

ABB Transformers - Gunman storms power company in St. Louis (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/1093247.html

Three Die in Fire at Detroit Home Where Power Was Cut (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2010699785_apusfatalfiredetroit.html

Natural Gas Stocks Show Seasonal Decline (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010726784_apapfnusnaturalgasstorage.html?syndication=rss

Utility Plans High-Voltage Line for Southern Utah (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010727121_apuspowerlineutah.html?syndication=rss

US DOE Fined for Failure to Remove Nuclear Fuel (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/01/07/23445.htm

“Google Energy” Subsidiary: What’s Google Up To? (Earth2Tech)

http://earth2tech.com/2010/01/07/google-energy-subsidiary-whats-google-up-to/

Texas Day Care Hit with $90,000 Electricity Bill (Galveston Daily News, TX)

http://galvestondailynews.com/story.lasso?ewcd=341eb3b8e7a49086

FISH & WILDLIFE

Pacific Northwest's Endangered Orca Population Rose in 2009 (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2010/01/pacific_northwests_endangered.html

Nisqually Closed to Chum Salmon Fishing (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/1019187.html

Poor Sacramento River Salmon Runs A Bad Sign for Oregon's Fishing Fleet (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2010/01/poor_salmon_runs_in_california.html

Boise Company's High-Tech Gear Collects Data That Can Influence Salmon Policy (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)

http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/1032737.html

NOAA Designates Sea Turtle Habitat Off Oregon Coast (Oregon Public Radio)

http://news.opb.org/article/6487-noaa-designates-sea-turtle-habitat-oregon-coast/

Famous SF Sea Lions May Have Turned Up Near Oregon (Associated Press)

http://www.examiner.com/a-2408094~Famous_SF_sea_lions_may_have_turned_up_near_Oregon.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Mason County Authorizes Use of Condemnation for Belfair Sewer Easements (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1014:mason-county-authorizes-use-of-condemnation-for-belfair-sewer-easements&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Wind Farm Backers Say Report Affirms There's Minimal Threat to Marbled Murrelet (The Daily News, Longview, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/article_1a4baaa8-fa76-11de-a2b5-001cc4c03286.html

Pacific County Wind Farm No Threat to Murrelets (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010705537_apwawindfarmmurrelets.html

Scientific Review States That Wind Project Would Not Impact Endangered Bird (North American Windpower)

http://www.nawindpower.com/naw/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.5109

Columbian Editorial - Harness the Invisible: Wind farm cranks up for Clark Public Utilities; voluntary ratepayer program yields benefits

http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/jan/06/harness-the-invisible/

Montana Supreme Court: PSC Must Set Electricity Rate for Whitehall-Area Wind Project (Billings Gazette, MT)

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_af25f22a-fb28-11de-babe-001cc4c03286.html

Wind Farms, Welcomed by Many, Prompt Defensive Reactions from Some (Finding Dulcinea)

http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/environment/2010/jan/Wind-Farms--Welcomed-by-Many--Prompt-Defensive-Reactions-From-Some.html

Greater Sage Grouse Endangered Species Listing Could Slow Western US Wind Growth (Treehugger)

http://www.treehugger.com/files/2010/01/greater-sage-grouse-endangered-species-listing-could-slow-wind-power.php

Wind Turbines Threatening Existence of the Lesser Prairie Chicken (Oklahoma Gazette, Oklahoma City, OK)

http://www.okgazette.com/p/12776/a/5363/Default.aspx

SF Chronicle Columnist - Bay Area Wind Power Firms Blown Away

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/01/06/BUN61BE3S0.DTL&type=business

Anchorage Daily News Op/Ed - Tongass Wood-Fuel Project Not Benign

http://www.adn.com/opinion/compass/story/1080440.html

Study Says U.S. Biofuels Policies Flawed (Houston Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/houston/stories/2010/01/04/daily26.html?ana=from_rss

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Bill Aims to Make Schools More Energy Efficient (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=266209

News Release - New Projects Reflect Battelle Role in Smart Grid Future (EarthTimes)

http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/new-projects-reflect-battelle-role-in-smart-grid-future,1109413.shtml

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Cold Weather: Winter Is Chilliest 'In Many People's Memory’ (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2010/0105/Cold-weather-winter-is-chilliest-in-many-people-s-memory

Experts: Cold Snap Doesn't Disprove Global Warming (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010724003_apscibigchill.html?syndication=rss

Florida Freezes As Arctic Blast Makes Its Way South (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010723993_apusfrozenflorida.html?syndication=rss

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Washington Gets $13.5 Million for Green Jobs (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_green_jobs.html

Clallam Gets Portion of Green Jobs Training Grant - Others include King, Snohomish, Pierce and Kitsap counties; cities of Seattle, Tacoma, Everett and Bremerton (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20100107/news/301079986

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

FCC Commissioners Haven't Seen Broadband Plan - And Commissioner vote not required when plan is finished (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/FCC-Commissioners-Havent-Seen-Broadband-Plan-106246

FCC seeks extension for national broadband plan

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010725006_apustecfccbroadband.html?syndication=rss

GENERAL NEWS

Washington State to Appeal Felon Vote Ruling to Supreme Court (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/22165699/detail.html

Denny Heck Running for Baird's Seat in Congress (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=11784904

In Primary Fight - Judge Orders GOP, Libertarians to Repay State $70K (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010724670_partycash07m.html?syndication=rss

Greens Plot 2010 Legislative Strategy (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/190044.asp?source=pimail

Top Green Priority in the Legislature: A Tax on Oil (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2010/01/06/puget-sound/19476/

DIVERSIONS

Giant Tuna Fetches $177,000 at Japan Fish Auction

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010699489_apasjapangianttunasold.html

Snowed-In Brits Boost Adultery Website

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE6054F820100106?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews

Thief Returns Stolen Penguin With Apology

http://www.nwcn.com/news/Thief-returns-stolen-penguin-with-apology-80873187.html

Wife Pitches Out A Fortune After Husband Socks Money in Shoes

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/jan/06/wife-pitches-out-a-fortune-after-husband-socks/

SONG OF THE DAY

Stars on 45 – Megamix (Remember These? If you had blacked them out, I’m sorry to bring ‘em back!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sPq9LbM5rC4

Energy News Digest for January 5, 2010

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)

•  ALCOA to Cut 90 Jobs at Tennessee Operations

•  Energy Regulators up Timeline for Columbia River Liquid Gas Terminal

•  Clearwater Power to Raise Rates in Idaho & Washington

•  SUV Hits Utility Pole on Highway 3

•  Editorial - Thanks, Oregon: Metal Recycling Regulations Now Match Severity of Washington State’s Laws

•  Mason County PUD No. 3 Receives Fifth Consecutive National Financial Reporting Award

•  Grant County PUD President Looks to 2010

•  Op/Ed - Research Will Help Chelan PUD Make the Best Decisions

•  Arizona Governor Wants More Nuclear Power in State

•  New York Lawmaker Sues Feds Over Nuke Plant Safety

•  Attorney Wagers Judge Will Approve Columbia River Salmon Plan

•  Congressman Hastings Concerned About Renewed Threat of Dam Removal

•  California Autumn Chinook Run Falls Short

•  Op/Ed - Gary Miller: California on the Hook for a Fish

•  Another Newborn Orca Seen in J Pod

•  Oregon - Toxic Chemicals in the Willamette River

•  Ground Breaking of Upgrades to Shelton Wastewater Treatment Plant Tuesday

•  California’s Groundwater Shrinking Because of Agricultural Use

•  Study: Seabird Won’t Be Harmed by Wind Project for Clallam, Other PUDs

•  New Study Shows Marbled Murrelet Not Significantly Impacted by Radar Ridge Project

•  Massachusetts - A Decision in Sight on Cape Wind Dispute

•  For Cape Cod Wind Farm, New Hurdle Is Spiritual

•  Nebraska - Wind Farms Could Create Thousands of New Jobs

•  Oregon - City of Salem Energy Strategy Gets a Boost from Forum

•  Minnkota, Minnesota Power complete energy deal For Wind Power Transmission

•  California - Small-Scale Solar Plan Clashes With Big Energy

•  Solar Panel Thefts Heating Up

•  New Mexico Utility Gets Extension on Filing Renewable Energy Plan

•  California - Trash to Gas: Landfill Energy Projects Increasing

•  Logo Creation Tips for Renewable Energy Companies

•  Don’t Let the Heat Out: Energy Audits Available

•  Maryland - Looming Pollution Regulations Threaten Energy Rebates

•  California Climate Law Faces Opposition

•  CIA Is Sharing Data with Climate Scientists

•  Rainier’s Rocks Are Filling Riverbeds

•  How Green Is My Campus? Colleges Woo Students With Environmental Initiatives

•  Greenpeace members sentenced for climbing Mount Rushmore

•  Do We Want Toilet Paper to Be Soft Or Good for the Environment?

•  Fake Fireplace Logs Can Be Better for the Environment than Real Wood

•  Washington’s DOT Web Site Has a Traffic Jam

•  Google Unveils ‘Nexus One’ Smartphone

•  Google Phone Lands with a Thud

•  DOJ to FCC: Promote Broadband Competition

•  US Seeks More Wireless Spectrum for High-Speed Internet

•  Next Up on Cable TV, Higher Bill for Consumers

•  AT&T Customers Pay for AT&T’s Tax Screw-Up

•  News Sites Dabble With a Web Tool for Nudging Local Officials

•  Washington State Ranks High in Seat Belt Use Nationally

WORD OF THE DAY

Myrmidon • \MER-muh-donn\ • noun - A loyal follower; especially: a subordinate who executes orders unquestioningly or unscrupulously

Behold! Myrmidon

Says everything I tell it

It won’t shut up now

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

ALCOA to Cut 90 Jobs at Tennessee Operations (The Daily Times, Marysville, TN)

http://www.thedailytimes.com/article/20100104/BREAKING/100109980

Energy Regulators up Timeline for Columbia River Liquid Gas Terminal (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2010/01/energy_regulators_up_timeline.html

Clearwater Power to Raise Rates in Idaho & Washington (Associated Press)

http://www.kpvi.com/Global/story.asp?S=11771372

SUV Hits Utility Pole on Highway 3 (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1000:suv-hits-pole-on-highway-3&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

Columbian Editorial - Thanks, Oregon: Metal Recycling Regulations Now Match Severity of Washington State’s Laws

http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/jan/05/thanks-oregon/

Mason County PUD No. 3 Receives Fifth Consecutive National Financial Reporting Award (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=658

Grant County PUD President Looks to 2010 (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2010/01/04/basin_life/doc4b426ecaa24df308071783.txt

Wenatchee World Op/Ed - Research Will Help Chelan PUD Make the Best Decisions

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/jan/04/research-will-help-chelan-pud-make-the-best/

Arizona Governor Wants More Nuclear Power in State (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010700372_apusbrewerenergyarizona.html

New York Lawmaker Sues Feds Over Nuke Plant Safety (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/01/05/23338.htm

FISH & WILDLIFE

Attorney Wagers Judge Will Approve Columbia River Salmon Plan (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2010/01/attorney_wagers_judge_will_app.html

Congressman Hastings Concerned About Renewed Threat of Dam Removal (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/851224.html

California Autumn Chinook Run Falls Short (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/2435402.html

Orange County Register Op/Ed - Gary Miller: California on the Hook for a Fish

http://www.ocregister.com/opinion/california-226892-water-delta.html

Another Newborn Orca Seen in J Pod (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/jan/04/another-newborn-orca-seen-in-j-pod/

Oregon - Toxic Chemicals in the Willamette River (Eugene Weekly, Or)

http://www.eugeneweekly.com/2009/12/31/news.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Ground Breaking of Upgrades to Shelton Wastewater Treatment Plant Tuesday (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=995:ground-breaking-of-upgrades-to-shelton-wastewater-treatment-plant-tuesday&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

California’s Groundwater Shrinking Because of Agricultural Use (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2010/0104/California-s-groundwater-shrinking-because-of-agricultural-use

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Study: Seabird Won’t Be Harmed by Wind Project for Clallam, Other PUDs (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20100105/NEWS/301059993

New Study Shows Marbled Murrelet Not Significantly Impacted by Radar Ridge Project (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA – Note: does not like running in Chrome or Firefox)

http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=1286

Massachusetts - A Decision in Sight on Cape Wind Dispute: Interior secretary orders parties to meet next week (Boston Globe, MA)

http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2010/01/05/decision_in_sight_for_wind_farm_dispute/

For Cape Cod Wind Farm, New Hurdle Is Spiritual (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/05/science/earth/05wind.html

Nebraska - Wind Farms Could Create Thousands of New Jobs (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010694395_apuswindenergyjobsnebraska.html

Oregon - City of Salem Energy Strategy Gets a Boost from Forum - $1.5 million federal grant jump starts local planning (Salem Statesman Journal, OR)

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20100104/NEWS/1040315/1001

North Dakota – For Wind Power Transmission: Minnkota, Minnesota Power complete energy deal (Grand Forks Herald, ND)

http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/146453/

California - Small-Scale Solar Plan Clashes With Big Energy (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2010%2F01%2F04%2FMNBU1B492N.DTL&feed=rss.business

Solar Panel Thefts Heating Up (Nat’l Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=122242708&ft=1&f=3

New Mexico Utility Gets Extension on Filing Renewable Energy Plan (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010697214_apuspnmrenewableenergynewmexico.html

California - Trash to Gas: Landfill Energy Projects Increasing (Associated Press)

http://www.examiner.com/a-2403661~Trash_to_gas__Landfill_energy_projects_increasing.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Logo Creation Tips for Renewable Energy Companies (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/01/logo-creation-tips-for-renewable-energy-companies

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Don’t Let the Heat Out: Energy Audits Available (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/jan/05/dont-let-the-heat-out/

Maryland - Looming Pollution Regulations Threaten Energy Rebates (Baltimore Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/stories/2010/01/04/story6.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

California Climate Law Faces Opposition (NY Times)

http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/12/31/california-climate-law-faces-opposition/

CIA Is Sharing Data with Climate Scientists (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/05/science/earth/05satellite.html

Rainier’s Rocks Are Filling Riverbeds - The fallout from Mount Rainier’s shrinking glaciers is beginning to roll downhill (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010689013_rainiergravel04m.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

How Green Is My Campus? Colleges Woo Students With Environmental Initiatives (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010668592_greencampuses02m.html

Greenpeace members sentenced for climbing Mount Rushmore (KOTA-TV, Rapid City, SD)

http://www.kotatv.com/Global/story.asp?S=11765772

Do We Want Toilet Paper to Be Soft Or Good for the Environment? (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/jan/04/do-we-want-toilet-paper-to-be-soft-or-good-for/

Fake Fireplace Logs Can Be Better for the Environment than Real Wood (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/04/AR2010010402838.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Washington’s DOT Web Site Has a Traffic Jam (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/travel/2010697274_webdotsite04.html

Google Unveils ‘Nexus One’ Smartphone (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/01/05/AR2010010500948.html

Google Phone Lands with a Thud - Nothing revolutionary, in either design or pricing (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Google-Phone-Lands-With-A-Thud-106243

DOJ to FCC: Promote Broadband Competition - Recommendations include new approaches to spectrum, better transparency (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/DOJ-To-FCC-Promote-Broadband-Competition-106235

US Seeks More Wireless Spectrum for High-Speed Internet (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_14120064

Next Up on Cable TV, Higher Bill for Consumers (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/business/media/04cable.html

AT&T Customers Pay for AT&T’s Tax Screw-Up - AT&T reaches $65 million settlement, makes Missouri customers pay for it (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/ATT-Customers-Pay-For-ATTs-Tax-Screwup-106231

GENERAL NEWS

News Sites Dabble With a Web Tool for Nudging Local Officials (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/01/04/business/media/04click.html

Washington State Ranks High in Seat Belt Use Nationally (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010702024_webseatbelt05m.html

DIVERSIONS

Christmas Penguin Thief Caught on Camera

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Christmas-penguin-thief-caught-on-camera-80677342.html

TSA Takes Boy’s Play-Doh Before Flight

http://www.kirotv.com/travelgetaways/22134762/detail.html

ESPN to Introduce 3-D Sports Channel

http://www.kirotv.com/sports/22135637/detail.html

Robbery Suspect Asks for Ride to Mall

http://www.kirotv.com/news/22130515/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Sons of the Pioneers - Cool Water

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFBHc2qafgU