Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Energy News Digest for January 20, 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)

•  Energy NW Applies for Renewal of Columbia Generating Station License with NRC
•  Alcoa Planning $20 Million Upgrade to Chelan PUD Grid
•  Editorial - Change of Course for Portland General Electric
•  Cabinet Gorge & Noxon Rapids - Avista Wants Two Dams Certified As Low-Impact
•  Energy Affairs - Jackson Hole Requires an Increasing Amount of Power
•  Contract Talks Continue at NY’s Indian Point Nuclear Plant
•  Editorial - The Coal Ash Case
•  Ship Engine Maker Wartsila Lays Off 1,400 Globally
•  Hydropower & Innovation in Fish-Friendly Turbines
•  Oregon Coast Spotters Count Hundreds of Migrating Whales
•  Is Lawn Fertilizer Next for Phosphorus Ban?
•  EPA Fines Hoquiam Fish Waste Processor $22K
•  Colorado Pipeline Proposal Stirs Utah Water Fears
•  From Snohomish PUD - Feds Receive Puget Sound Tidal Power Application
•  US Says Wind Could Power 20 Percent of Eastern Grid
•  Expanding Use of Wind Power Feasible, but May Be Costly
•  Montana Land Board Approves Wind Project
•  Fuel Cell Maker Ballard Power, Partners Buy Stake in Dantherm
•  Canada - Ontario Edges British Columbia in Green-Energy Figh
•  Does Geothermal Drilling Cause Earthquakes?
•  New Mexico - Public Service Co. of New Mexico Asks Ariz. Firm to Build 5 Solar Plants
•  More People Installing Renewable Energy Systems in Michigan, Regulators Say
•  Energy Efficiency Can Mean Lower Taxes
•  Energy Efficiency - ‘Crossing the Energy Divide’
•  Intel, Too, Eyes Home Energy Management
•  Smart Grid Investing - A Play on the Coming Energy Shortage
•  2000s Warmest Decade on Record, Government Reports
•  US Cap-And-Trade Bill Looks Even Further Away
•  Editorial - First Climategate, now Glaciergate
•  Editorial - Avoiding a Trap on Climate Change
•  $6 Million to Support Green Jobs in Washington
•  Therapists Report Increase in Green Disputes
•  Average US Broadband Speed: 3.9 Mbps
•  Columnist - Public Comments Remind Us Why ‘Net Neutrality’ Matters
•  Skype Traffic Soars, Leaving Old-School Phone Companies in the Dust
•  6.1 Richter Aftershock Rattles Nerves in Haitian Capital
•  Shelton Rotary Sending Hospital Beds to Haiti
•  Social Networking - Linked-Up in Belfair
•  New York Times to Charge for Web Access in 2011

WORD OF THE DAY

Adagio • \ah-DAWZH-ee-oh\ • noun – At a slow tempo —used chiefly as a direction in music

“Dude!” exclaimed the rooster-crowned rocker to his slovenly goth friend. “No way you can ‘rock out’ in adagio. When you get to ‘presto,’ well, now you’re rockin’”

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast & Weather Alerts

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Energy NW Applies for Renewal of Columbia Generating Station License with NRC (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Alcoa Planning $20 Million Upgrade to Chelan PUD Grid (Wenatchee World, WA)

Oregonian Editorial - Change of Course for Portland General Electric

Cabinet Gorge & Noxon Rapids - Avista Wants Two Dams Certified As Low-Impact (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

Cabinet Gorge Dam (Wikipedia)

Noxon Rapids Dam (Wikipedia)

Energy Affairs - Jackson Hole requires an increasing amount of power to light & heat large homes & hotels (Jackson Hole Weekly, WY)

Contract Talks Continue at NY’s Indian Point Nuclear Plant (NY Times)

NY Times Editorial - The Coal Ash Case

Ship Engine Maker Wartsila Lays Off 1,400 Globally (Associated Press)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Hydropower & Innovation in Fish-Friendly Turbines - New turbine designs protect fish & could end fish busing (GreenTech Media)

Oregon Coast Spotters Count Hundreds of Migrating Whales (The Oregonian, Portland)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Is Lawn Fertilizer Next for Phosphorus Ban? (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

EPA Fines Hoquiam Fish Waste Processor $22K (Puget Sound Business Journal)

Colorado Pipeline Proposal Stirs Water Fears - Entrepreneur would tap river flow before it reaches Utah (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

From Snohomish PUD - Feds Receive Puget Sound Tidal Power Application (Seattle Post Intelligencer)

US Says Wind Could Power 20 Percent of Eastern Grid (Reuters)

Expanding Use of Wind Power Feasible, but May Be Costly (NY Times)

Montana Land Board Approves Wind Project (Associated Press)

Fuel Cell Maker Ballard Power, Partners Buy Stake in Dantherm (Seattle Times)

Canada - Ontario Edges British Columbia in Green-Energy Fight: Provinces locked in heated battle to provide best climate for investments in alternative power (Globe & Mail, Canada)

Does Geothermal Drilling Cause Earthquakes? (Renewable Energy World)

New Mexico - The Public Service Co. of New Mexico Asks Ariz. Firm to Build 5 Solar Plants (Associated Press)

More People Installing Renewable Energy Systems in Michigan, Regulators Say (The Bay City Times, MI)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Energy Efficiency Can Mean Lower Taxes (Associated Press)

Energy Efficiency - ‘Crossing the Energy Divide’ (NY Times)

Intel, Too, Eyes Home Energy Management (C/NET News)

Smart Grid Investing - A Play on the Coming Energy Shortage (CNBC)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

2000s Warmest Decade on Record, Government Reports (Associated Press)

US Cap-And-Trade Bill Looks Even Further Away (Financial Times of London, UK)

Canada National Post Editorial - First Climategate, now Glaciergate

Washington Post Editorial - Avoiding a Trap on Climate Change

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

$6 Million to Support Green Jobs in Washington (Associated Press)

Therapists Report Increase in Green Disputes (NY Times)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Average US Broadband Speed: 3.9 Mbps (Broadband Reports)

San Jose Mercury News Columnist - Public Comments Remind Us Why ‘Net Neutrality’ Matters

Skype Traffic Soars, Leaving Old-School Phone Companies in the Dust (Christian Science Monitor)

GENERAL NEWS

6.1 Richter Aftershock Rattles Nerves in Haitian Capital (NY Times)

Shelton Rotary Sending Hospital Beds to Haiti (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Social Networking - Linked-Up in Belfair (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

New York Times to Charge for Web Access in 2011 (Associated Press)

DIVERSIONS

Car Dealer Sues Woman to Cancel ‘Good Deal’

Blooming ‘Corpse Flower’ Stinks Up Museum

Wisconsin Man Cited for ‘Rocking Out’ to John Denver

Police: Drunken Man in Cowboy Gear Threatens Dog

Cowlitz County Says Moving 90-Year-Old Barn Makes It ‘New Construction’

SONG OF THE DAY

John Denver - Rhymes & Reasons

Tuesday, January 19, 2010

Energy News Digest for January 19, 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)

•  BPA, Corps Table Request to Fluctuate the Level of Lake Pend Oreille This Winter
•  TransAlta Tax Break Targeted by Dems
•  Portland General Electric Mulls Biomass if Boardman Closes
•  BPA Hopes to Build New Eastern Washington Transmission Line
•  Hearing Set for Proposed Maine Transmission Line
•  An Idaho County Moves Closer to Allowing a Nuclear Plant
•  A Nuclear Critic Draws a Lesson from France’s Success
•  Montana's Bruce Measure Named New NPCC Chair, Washington's Wallace Vice-Chair
•  Recession To Blame For Drop In Electric Output
•  Florida - Battle over What Power Companies Can Charge
•  Funding Suspended for $10-Billion in Florida Electric Projects
•  Canada - Shocker: We Don't Pay Enough for Electricity
•  University of Tennessee to Ask Tennessee Valley Authority for Lower Rates
•  Monday's Wind Knocks Out Power to About 1,000
•  Grays Harbor - Howler of a Storm KOs Power in Some Areas
•  Windy Weather Leaves Some in the Dark - At Least for a Few Hours
•  High Winds Rake Snohomish County, Cut Power
•  Cowlitz PUD Restores Power To 7,200 After High Winds Hit Region
•  Wild Weather Leaves Thousands without Power Overnight
•  Wind Leaves Kitsap Homes in the Dark
•  High Winds Knock Out Power in Western Washington
•  'This Is What You Get When You Have a Beach'
•  Northwest Power & Conservation Council Endorses BPA Funding for $28 Million in Tribal 'Fish Accord' Projects
•  Leavenworth Fish Hatchery Loses Most Fed Funding
•  Idaho Set to Move Forward on Hatchery Plan to Increase Snake River Sockeye Smolt Production
•  Winter Steelhead Having a Strong Run
•  Salmon Fishery Fails in Alaska, Tied to Climate
•  Saving Delta Is at Core of New California Water Policy
•  Oregon Deals With One of Worst Wild Goose Problems in Nation
•  Justices Won't Close Great Lakes Shipping Locks to Keep Out Carp
•  Work on Belfair Sewers Begins
•  PUD 1 Holding Water Use Efficiency Workshop Wednesday
•  Seattle's Sewers Are Getting Clogged With Grease
•  Idaho - Minidoka Dam repairs could cost $50 million, take three years
•  Columbian Editorial - The Power of ‘Bio’
•  Montana Landowners, Developers Laying Groundwork for Community Wind Farm
•  Texas Judge Orders Halt to Work on Wind Transmission Project
•  Dallas Morning News Editorial: Wind Energy's Future Still Strong in Texas
•  Muskegon Chronicle Editorial - Lessons from the Wind
•  Editorial - Renewable Energy: Wisconsin Pays More if the State Fails to Act
•  Solar subsidy cuts in Germany
•  Arizona - Amid State's Push for Solar Power, Water-Supply Worries Arise
•  Breaking the Planet? Geothermal Drilling Safeguards Imposed
•  Seattle Company Promising Portable Power Plants
•  A Boost for LED Lighting Development
•  Boston Globe Editorial - Why Wait? Save Energy Now
•  U.N. Panel’s Glacier Warning Is Criticized as Exaggerated
•  As Climate Warms, What Will Our Rivers Do?
•  Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels' Green Agenda Wasn't Enough
•  Pastors in Pacific Northwest Find Focus in ‘Green’
•  Found: Missing Broadband Stimulus Funds!
•  What the Net Neutrality Filings Say
•  Broadband Traffic in a Jam on Wireless Expressway
•  Skype Steals Even More Minutes from Phone Companies
•  Google Probing Possible Inside Help on Attack
•  Google Denies Leaving China, Seeks Negotiations
•  FCC Orders Wireless Mike Modifications
•  Judge Ben Settle’s Ruling - Supreme Court to Hear Case on Disclosure of Names on a Petition
•  Congressman Hastings Seeks Fairness in USFS Lease Fees for Cabins
•  Bill Would Make Boeing Say It Cares About Washington
•  Investigators: Local College (Evergreen) Pays for Home to Sit Empty & Unused
•  Cyberbullying Leads to Suspension of 28 Middle-Schoolers at McClure
•  Plug Being Pulled on Decades-Old Marine Navigation System
•  Will Snow Be An Olympic No-Show in Vancouver?
•  Get Ready to Pay for Your NYT Fix

WORD OF THE DAY

Noetic • \noh-ET-ik\ • adjective - of, relating to, or based on the intellect

As far as the noetic capabilities of the common toad, the horned toad is considered the Einstein of the amphibian kingdom.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast & Weather Alerts

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

BPA, Corps Table Request to Fluctuate the Level of Lake Pend Oreille This Winter (Bonner County Daily Bee, Sandpoint, ID)

TransAlta Tax Break Targeted by Dems - Senate Bill Would Strip Coal Plant of Millions of Dollars in Exemptions (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

Portland General Electric Mulls Biomass if Boardman Closes (Portland Business Journal)

BPA Hopes to Build New Eastern Washington Transmission Line (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Hearing Set for Proposed Maine Transmission Line (Associated Press)

An Idaho County Moves Closer to Allowing a Nuclear Plant (NW Public Radio)

A Nuclear Critic Draws a Lesson from France’s Success (NY Times)

Montana's Bruce Measure Named New NPCC Chair, Washington's Wallace Vice-Chair (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

Recession To Blame For Drop In Electric Output (Power Engineer)

Florida - Battle over What Power Companies Can Charge Doesn't End With Recent Rate Denials (St Petersburg Times, FL)

Funding Suspended for $10-Billion in Florida Electric Projects (Clean Skies)

Canada - Shocker: We Don't Pay Enough for Electricity (Globe & Mail, Canada)

University of Tennessee to Ask Tennessee Valley Authority for Lower Rates to Deal With Increased Energy Costs (WHNT-TV, Huntsville, AL)

MLK DAY STORM NEWS

Monday's Wind Knocks Out Power to About 1,000 (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Grays Harbor - Howler of a Storm KOs Power in Some Areas (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)

Windy Weather Leaves Some in the Dark - At Least for a Few Hours (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

High Winds Rake Snohomish County, Cut Power (Everett Herald, WA)

Cowlitz PUD Restores Power To 7,200 after High Winds Hit Region (The Daily News, Longview, WA)

Wild Weather Leaves Thousands without Power Overnight (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

Wind Leaves Kitsap Homes in the Dark (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

High Winds Knock Out Power in Western Washington (Associated Press)

'This Is What You Get When You Have a Beach' (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Northwest Power & Conservation Council Endorses BPA Funding for $28 Million in Tribal 'Fish Accord' Projects (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

Leavenworth Fish Hatchery Loses Most Fed Funding (Associated Press)

Idaho Set to Move Forward on Hatchery Plan to Increase Snake River Sockeye Smolt Production (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

Winter Steelhead Having a Strong Run - State officials want anglers to catch as many as possible (Salem Statesman Journal, OR)

Salmon Fishery Fails in Alaska, Tied to Climate (Courthouse News Service)

Saving Delta Is at Core of New California Water Policy (Associated Press)

Oregon Deals With One of Worst Wild Goose Problems in Nation (Associated Press)

Justices Won't Close Great Lakes Shipping Locks to Keep Out Carp (Associated Press)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Work on Belfair Sewers Begins (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

PUD 1 Holding Water Use Efficiency Workshop Wednesday (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Seattle's Sewers Are Getting Clogged With Grease (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

Idaho - Minidoka Dam repairs could cost $50 million, take three years (Magic Valley Times-News, Twin Falls, ID)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Columbian Editorial - The Power of ‘Bio’: Pacific Northwest is showing the way for cutting-edge technologies

Montana Landowners, Developers Laying Groundwork for Community Wind Farm (Billings Gazette, MT)

Texas Judge Orders Halt to Work on Wind Transmission Project (Houston Chronicle, TX)

Dallas Morning News Editorial: Wind Energy's Future Still Strong in Texas

Muskegon Chronicle Editorial - Lessons from the Wind

Milwaukee Journal Sentinel Editorial - Renewable Energy: Wisconsin Pays More if the State Fails to Act

Solar subsidy cuts in Germany (Biofuels Watch)

Arizona - Amid State's Push for Solar Power, Water-Supply Worries Arise (Arizona Republic, Phoenix)

Breaking the Planet? Geothermal Drilling Safeguards Imposed (NY Times)

Seattle Company Promising Portable Power Plants (KING-TV, Seattle)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

A Boost for LED Lighting Development (NY Times)

Boston Globe Editorial - Why Wait? Save Energy Now

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

U.N. Panel’s Glacier Warning Is Criticized as Exaggerated (NY Times)

As Climate Warms, What Will Our Rivers Do? (Seattle Post Intelligencer)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Seattle Mayor Greg Nickels' Green Agenda Wasn't Enough (Seattle Times)

Pastors in Pacific Northwest Find Focus in ‘Green’ (NY Times)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Found: Missing Broadband Stimulus Funds! (GigaOM)

What the Net Neutrality Filings Say (GigaOM)

Broadband Traffic in a Jam on Wireless Expressway (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

Skype Steals Even More Minutes from Phone Companies (GigaOM)

Google Probing Possible Inside Help on Attack (Reuters)

Google Denies Leaving China, Seeks Negotiations (Reuters)

FCC Orders Wireless Mike Modifications (NY Times)

GENERAL NEWS

Judge Ben Settle’s Ruling - Supreme Court to Hear Case on Disclosure of Names on a Petition (Washington Post)

Congressman Hastings Seeks Fairness in USFS Lease Fees for Cabins (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

Bill Would Make Boeing Say It Cares About Washington (Seattle Times)

Investigators: Local College (Evergreen) Pays for Home to Sit Empty & Unused (NW Cable News)

Cyberbullying Leads to Suspension of 28 Middle-Schoolers at McClure (Seattle Times)

Plug Being Pulled on Decades-Old Marine Navigation System (Associated Press)

Will Snow Be An Olympic No-Show in Vancouver? (Seattle Times)

Get Ready to Pay for Your NYT Fix (Consumerist)

DIVERSIONS

Santa Cruz Developer Arrested after Allegedly Felling Neighbors' Trees to Get Clearer View of the Coast

Nevermore? Mystery Visitor Misses Poe's Birthday

Men Get Financial Boost from Marriage, Data Show

US Faith Group Sends Hundreds of Solar-Powered Bibles to Haiti

SONG OF THE DAY

Handel - Water Music, Air