Energy News Digest for August 2, 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

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Mason PUD 3 Signs Contract for Construction of Johns Prairie Operations Center (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=753

Sockeye Salmon Run Sets Record for Columbia River (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2010/08/sockeye_salmon_run_sets_record.html

Oregon - Turbines Too Loud? Here, Take $5,000 (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/01/us/01wind.html

US Says It’s Committed to Cutting Greenhouse Gases (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012512646_apclimatechange.html

Belfair’s Water District Padlocks Fire Hydrants (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/aug/02/belfairs-water-district-padlocks-fire-hydrants/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Mason PUD 3 Signs Contract for Construction of Johns Prairie Operations Center

·         California - New Rules Make It Harder for Pacific Gas & Electric to Shut Off Service

·         Windows Power Grid Worm is Just the Beginning

·         Second Quarter Shows TransAlta Returning to Profit

·         Op/Ed - Shale Gas: Hope for Our Energy Future

·         Op/Ed - Who Should Pay for ‘Smart’ Electricity in Maryland?

·         A Benchmark of Progress, Electrical Grid Fails Iraqis

·         Sockeye Salmon Run Sets Record for Columbia River

·         Record Sockeye Run Is a Boon for Small Town of Brewster

·         Editorial - Sockeye, Fantastic

·         Elwha River’s Coming Dam Removal Has Scientists Flooded With Unknowns

·         Court Decision Allowing Deeper Lake Roosevelt Drawdowns Appealed to the Ninth Circuit

·         Oregon - Rocky Mountain Goats Released at Base of Mt. Jefferson

·         Logging Plan for Willamette National Forest Suspended After Spotted Owls Move Closer

·         Congress - McMorris Rodgers Introduces Legislation to Shed Light on Endangered Species Act Compliance Costs

·         Ruckelshaus retires from Puget Sound Leadership Council

·         Army Corps Sets $44M Fixes for Howard Hanson Dam

·         Acidification Threatens Wide Swath of Sea Life

·         Louisiana Marshes Damaged by Oil, But Surprisingly Resilient

·         Oregon - Turbines Too Loud? Here, Take $5,000

·         Oregon - Reaping the Wind; ‘Community Wind’ takes a village

·         Cape Wind Drops Power Price

·         Vestas Shakes Up Portland Exec Team

·         Canada - California Dreamin’ for Green Power Sales

·         Iowa - Lightning Strike Burns Down Wind Turbine

·         Bigger Blades & Better Designs in Wind Energy

·         New York – Veterans’ Hospital to Get New Biomass Energy System, Thanks to Stimulus Funds

·         Coal to Biomass - Burning Ohio Trees at Burger Sets Fire to Debate

·         Vermont - Montpelier Biomass Energy Project Moves Forward

·         Massachusetts Solar Panel Incentives Prompts National Company to Offer Installation Without Upfront Investment

·         Richland Senior Center Going Ductless

·         North Carolina - Duke Energy Wants OK to Share Home Usage Data With Neighbors

·         Green-Financing Suspension Hits San Francisco Programs

·         Green Building Supplier Sees Growing Market in Colleges, Hospitals

·         US Says It’s Committed to Cutting Greenhouse Gases

·         What’s Next on Climate Change?

·         EPA’s Global Warming Authority under Fire from All Sides

·         Cap-&-Trade Failure Leaves Utilities Waiting on Energy Policy

·         Climate Change Prolongs Interior Alaska Growing Season

·         Plugging in the Electric Car

·         Biofuels Left Out as Automakers Go Electric

·         For Pocono, Solar Power & Safety Improvements

·         Vermont Is Wiring Itself with Fiber Because Nobody Else Will

·         Idaho Broadband efforts back on waiting list

·         Op/Ed - The Corporate Deal to Control Your Internet

·         Six Cool Innovations for the Data Center

·         Technology Races to Meet Tide of Data

·         Mason County Candidates’ Forum Tuesday Night at Olympic College Shelton

·         Washington Secretary of State Predicts 38 Percent Turnout in Primary

·         Mason County Seeks Help in Identifying Bank Robber

·         Belfair’s Water District Padlocks Fire Hydrants

·         Hazy Skies Creating Spectacular Sunsets in Western Washington

·         Montana Twisters Are More Frequent, Powerful in 2010

·         Cowlitz Bank Closed, Sold to Heritage Bank

·         KVI Ex-Employee Sentenced for Rigging Radio Contest

·         North Mason Chamber Names Interim President & CEO

WORD OF THE DAY

En masse • \on-MASS\ • adverb - In a body: as a whole

Like the sheep they were, the group of unshorn ruminants followed the bell-wether en masse to their first shearing of the year. “Where are we going?” bleated Anabelle to her herd mate. “I dunno,” replied Gertie. “Someone said there was a fashion statement to be made today. I just hope it’s not a clipper cut like I had last year; it makes me look fat.”

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

Mason PUD 3 Signs Contract for Construction of Johns Prairie Operations Center (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=753

California - New Rules Make It Harder for Pacific Gas & Electric to Shut Off Service (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_15632908

Windows Power Grid Worm is Just the Beginning (Earth2Tech)

http://earth2tech.com/2010/08/01/windows-power-grid-worm-is-just-the-beginning/

Second Quarter Shows TransAlta Returning to Profit (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews?Q2-Shows-TransAlta-Returning-To-Profit-=1&blockID=280346&feedID=410

Op/Ed - Shale Gas: Hope for Our Energy Future (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/08/01/AR2010080103288.html

Op/Ed - Who Should Pay for ‘Smart’ Electricity in Maryland? (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/30/AR2010073005983.html

A Benchmark of Progress, Electrical Grid Fails Iraqis (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/world/middleeast/02electricity.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Sockeye Salmon Run Sets Record for Columbia River (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/outdoors/index.ssf/2010/08/sockeye_salmon_run_sets_record.html

Record Sockeye Run Is a Boon for Small Town of Brewster (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99722884.html

Editorial - Sockeye, Fantastic (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/jul/31/sockeye-fantastic/

Elwha River’s Coming Dam Removal Has Scientists Flooded With Unknowns (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012495725_elwha31m.html

Court Decision Allowing Deeper Lake Roosevelt Drawdowns Appealed to the Ninth Circuit (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/393662.aspx

Oregon - Rocky Mountain Goats Released at Base of Mt. Jefferson (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/bill_monroe/index.ssf/2010/07/rocky_mountain_goats_released.html

Logging Plan for Willamette National Forest Suspended After Spotted Owls Move Closer (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2010/07/logging_plan_for_willamette_national_forest_suspended_after_spotted_owls_move_closer.html

Congress - McMorris Rodgers Introduces Legislation to Shed Light on Endangered Species Act Compliance Costs (Trading Markets)

http://www.tradingmarkets.com/news/stock-alert/pmkt_mcmorris-rodgers-introduces-legislation-to-shed-light-on-esa-compliance-costs-1078260.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Ruckelshaus retires from Puget Sound Leadership Council (Associated Press)

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

Army Corps Sets $44M Fixes for Howard Hanson Dam (Associated Press)

http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=348945

Acidification Threatens Wide Swath of Sea Life (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012502655_acidification01.html

Louisiana Marshes Damaged by Oil, But Surprisingly Resilient (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/environment/2010-08-02-1Amarshes02_CV_N.htm

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Oregon - Turbines Too Loud? Here, Take $5,000 (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/01/us/01wind.html

Oregon - Reaping the Wind; ‘Community Wind’ takes a village (Dalles Chronicle, OR)

http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2010/08/08-01-10-01.shtml

Cape Wind Drops Power Price (Boston Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/stories/2010/07/26/daily42.html

Vestas Shakes Up Portland Exec Team (Portland Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2010/07/26/daily42.html

Canada - California Dreamin’ “…The Clean Energy Act was approved…to enable B.C. to become an exporter of renewable energy to the United States…” (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/california-dreamin/article1656731/

Iowa - Lightning Strike Burns Down Wind Turbine (Sioux City Journal, IA)

http://www.siouxcityjournal.com/news/local/article_28f30fe1-66fc-5db0-85c1-662dd6009bd6.html

Bigger Blades & Better Designs in Wind Energy (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2010/07/bigger-blades-and-better-designs-in-wind-energy

New York – Veterans’ Hospital to Get New Biomass Energy System, Thanks to Stimulus Funds (Messenger Post, Canandaigua, NY)

http://www.mpnnow.com/news/x145183678/VA-to-get-new-energy-system-thanks-to-stimulus-funds

Coal to Biomass - Burning Ohio Trees at Burger Sets Fire to Debate (Akron Beacon-Journal, OH)

http://www.ohio.com/news/99711024.html

Vermont - Montpelier Biomass Energy Project Moves Forward (Montpelier Times-Srgus, VT)

http://www.timesargus.com/article/20100802/NEWS02/708029955/1003/NEWS02

Massachusetts Solar Panel Incentives Prompts National Company to Offer Installation Without Upfront Investment (Springfield Republican, MA)

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2010/08/massachusetts_solar_panel_ince.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Richland Senior Center Going Ductless (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/08/01/1285254/richland-senior-center-going-ductless.html

North Carolina - Duke Energy Wants OK to Share Home Usage Data With Neighbors (Triangle Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/stories/2010/08/02/story4.html

Green-Financing Suspension Hits San Francisco Programs (San Francisco Examiner, CA)

http://www.sfexaminer.com/opinion/blogs/under-the-dome/green-financing-suspension-hits-sf-programs-99722404.html

Green Building Supplier Sees Growing Market in Colleges, Hospitals (The Business Review - Albany, NY)

http://www.bizjournals.com/albany/stories/2010/08/02/focus3.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

US Says It’s Committed to Cutting Greenhouse Gases (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012512646_apclimatechange.html

What’s Next on Climate Change? (KPLU Radio, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.publicbroadcasting.net/kplu/news.newsmain?action=article&ARTICLE_ID=1682941

EPA’s Global Warming Authority under Fire from All Sides (Politico)

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0810/40534.html

Cap-&-Trade Failure Leaves Utilities Waiting on Energy Policy (Bismarck Tribune, ND)

http://www.bismarcktribune.com/business/local/article_56f282d6-9cdf-11df-a911-001cc4c03286.html

Climate Change Prolongs Interior Alaska Growing Season (Associated Press)

http://www.adn.com/2010/08/01/1391100/warmer-temperatures-prolong-alaska.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Plugging in the Electric Car (Nat’l Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128911975&ft=1&f=2

Biofuels Left Out as Automakers Go Electric (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/08/01/BU3H1EK5HK.DTL

For Pocono, Solar Power & Safety Improvements (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/01/sports/autoracing/01pocono.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Vermont Is Wiring Itself with Fiber Because Nobody Else Will (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Vermont-Is-Wiring-Itself-With-Fiber-Because-Nobody-Else-Will-109655

Idaho Broadband efforts back on waiting list (Bonner County Daily Bee, Sandpoint ID)

http://www.bonnercountydailybee.com/articles/2010/08/01/news/doc4c53c2fc497ad445804818.txt

Op/Ed - The Corporate Deal to Control Your Internet (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2012494647_guest02karr.html

Six Cool Innovations for the Data Center (ComputerWorld)

http://www.computerworld.com/s/article/9179865/6_cool_innovations_for_the_data_center?taxonomyId=12

Technology Races to Meet Tide of Data (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/08/02/technology/02iht-NETPIPE02.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Mason County Candidates’ Forum Tuesday Night at Olympic College Shelton (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/2856-candidates-forum-tuesday-night-at-olympic-college-shelton

Washington Secretary of State Predicts 38 Percent Turnout in Primary (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012495506_primary31.html

GENERAL NEWS

Mason County Seeks Help in Identifying Bank Robber (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/aug/01/mason-county-seeks-help-in-identifying-bank/

Belfair’s Water District Padlocks Fire Hydrants (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/aug/02/belfairs-water-district-padlocks-fire-hydrants/

Hazy Skies Creating Spectacular Sunsets in Western Washington (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Hazy-skies-creating-spectacular-sunsets-in-Western-Wash-99756349.html

Montana Twisters Are More Frequent, Powerful in 2010 (Billings Gazette, MT)

http://www.billingsgazette.com/news/local/article_c6640e2c-9d9e-11df-8e35-001cc4c03286.html

Cowlitz Bank Closed, Sold to Heritage Bank (Portland Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2010/07/26/daily60.html

KVI Ex-Employee Sentenced for Rigging Radio Contest (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012494429_riggedcontest31m.html

North Mason Chamber Names Interim President & CEO (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/2850-north-mason-chamber-names-interim-president-a-ceo

DIVERSIONS

Northwest Wienerfest: Big Event, Little Dogs - Hundreds assemble for the love of dachshunds

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/08/01/1322074/big-event-little-dogs.html

Comic Book Buff Selling Rare Copy of Batman No. 1

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2012510518_apuscomicbookauction.html

De Niro, Brooklyn, India on last Roll of Kodachrome Slide Film

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2012512844_apuskodachromeslastroll.html

Bottom-Shaking Employee Wins Workers’ Comp Appeal

http://www.courthousenews.com/2010/08/02/29258.htm

SONG OF THE DAY

Paul Simon - Kodachrome

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wZpaNJqF4po

Energy News Digest for July 29, 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

 

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

 

Bonneville Power Administration Balances Wind Services with Cost for Developers (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/07/bpa_balances_wind_services_wit.html

 

Invasive Mussels Pose Threat to Dams (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012475261_mussels29.html

 

Ex-Enron CEO Skilling Seeks Release on Bail after Supreme Court Ruling (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/28/AR2010072806473.html

 

Kittitas County Residents Have Their Say on Ecology’s Ban on Wells (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/07/28/kittitas-co-residents-have-their-say-on-ecology-s-ban-on-wells

 

Evergreen State College Considers Wood Power - Campus to study process called biomass gasification (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/07/28/1317760/evergreen-considers-wood-power.html

 

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

 

·         Bonneville Power Administration Balances Wind Services with Cost for Developers

·         Invasive Mussels Pose Threat to Dams

·         Columbia Snake River System Shut Down to Barges Soon

·         Ex-Enron CEO Skilling Seeks Release on Bail after Supreme Court Ruling

·         Idaho - Challis Council Hears Salmon River Electric Plans

·         Group Seeks to Stall Montana Coal Railroad

·         Editorial - Clark Public Utilities Commissioner: Barnes, Lyons - Top two choices for utility commissioner

·         Illinois - Wary of ‘Smart’ Meters

·         Constellation Energy Cuts Spending on Areva Nuclear Reactor Venture

·         Iowa - Alcoa’s Davenport Works to Recall 159 Employees

·         Power & Light - Getting Iraqis & Afghans on the grid could have helped build peace

·         Key Base of Ocean Food Web Dropping Dramatically

·         New Rules & Increased Enforcement for Skokomish River as Salmon Fishing Opens Sunday

·         Klamath Farmers Will be Paid to Save Water for Fish

·         Salmon: Judge Won’t Stop Rogue River Dam Removal

·         Bald Eagle Comeback Pressures Coastal Seabirds

·         All Clallam Beaches Closed to Shellfish Harvesting

·         Wildlife Officials Seek Men Who Shot Ten Seagulls

·         Feds, Farmers Create Habitats for Migrating Birds

·         Kittitas County Residents Have Their Say on Ecology’s Ban on Wells

·         EPA Releases Data on Local Toxics

·         Pasco Dedicates New Water Treatment Plant

·         Lawsuit Filed to Stop Hawaiian Trash Bound for Washington State

·         Evergreen State College Considers Wood Power

·         Massachusetts - Fight Gears Up on Biomass

·         Study Says Pacific Northwest Poised to Lead Clean-Energy Transition

·         California’s Clean Energy Future Threatened by Federal Delays, State Officials Say

·         Editorial - California Policy Could Blow Hard: California’s energy policies now affect the Northwest in significant ways

·         Warning to Michigan Manufacturers: Nothing Easy About Getting into Wind Energy

·         Energy Subsidies - Good & Bad

·         Builders Try to Prove Green Homes Can be Affordable

·         State-Level Politics Could Threaten Western Climate Initiative

·         Scientists Say Global Warming Is Continuing

·         State of the Climate: Hottest Decade on Record

·         Snowmageddon - Washington, DC Record Snow in 2010 Not Due to Global Warming

·         Wind Drives Growing Use of Batteries

·         Mason General Hospital Named “Most Wired” Again – Thanks in Part to Public Broadband

·         Lower Costs, Better Technology Enable Portland Hospitals to Extend Telemedicine Links Across Oregon

·         White House Proposal Would Ease FBI Access to Records of Internet Activity

·         FCC: Broadband Mission Not Accomplished

·         Who is the World’s Biggest Broadband Company? Find Out

·         Washington Special Session More & More Unlikely

·         35^th District Democrat Draws Opposition - Tim Sheldon Facing Write-In Foe

·         Sixth & Final Initiative Added to Washington State’s November Ballot

·         Education - Why Washington Stumbled in “Race to the Top”

·         Bond Sale a Plus for State - Results: estimated $3.7 million savings

·         Washington State Residents Paid $105 in Taxes per $1,000 in Income

·         Fife to Pay $23,500 for Help in Finding Next City Manager

·         Are Public Pension Funds Sustainable?

·         Fire at Skokomish Tribal Police Department under Investigation

·         Missing West Seattle Sailor’s Body Recovered in Afghanistan

·         Belfair Company Fined for Mining Mistake

·         Engineer Raises Safety Concerns at Hanford

·         Washington State’s Move to Restrict Pain Killers Puts Onus on Doctors

·         Unusual bunch of foes to postal rate increase unites as Affordable Mail Alliance

·         Doomsday Shelters Making a Comeback

 

WORD OF THE DAY

 

Averse • \uh-VERS\ • adjective - Having an active feeling of repugnance or distaste

 

Adverse • \add-VERS\ • adjective - 1: acting against or in a contrary direction: hostile 2a: opposed to one’s interests

 

“Here ya go sonny,” blared the beefy barkeep, offering a thick slice of haggis to Dilton, a diminutive customer in the dark, smoky Scottish pub. “I must choke back my aversion to this local dish or face the consequences,” he said to himself through clenched teeth. Even so, his reaction to the baked internal organs of the ancient sheep was not the expected adverse expulsion of his own stomach contents…to the contrary, he actually liked it.

 

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

 

Bonneville Power Administration Balances Wind Services with Cost for Developers (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2010/07/bpa_balances_wind_services_wit.html

 

Invasive Mussels Pose Threat to Dams (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012475261_mussels29.html

 

Columbia Snake River System Shut Down to Barges Soon (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/99435684.html

 

Ex-Enron CEO Skilling Seeks Release on Bail after Supreme Court Ruling (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/28/AR2010072806473.html

 

Idaho - Challis Council Hears Salmon River Electric Plans (Challis Messenger, ID)

http://www.challismessenger.com/index.php?accnum=story-5-20100729

 

Group Seeks to Stall Montana Coal Railroad (Associated Press)

http://www.examiner.com/a-2747599~Group_seeks_to_stall_Mont__coal_railroad.html

 

Editorial - Clark Public Utilities Commissioner: Barnes, Lyons - Top two choices for utility commissioner (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2010/jul/28/barnes-lyons/

 

Illinois - Wary of ‘Smart’ Meters: as ComEd launches its pilot program, users elsewhere raise accuracy, health issues (Chicago Tribune, IL)
http://www.suntimes.com/business/2546014,CST-NWS-SMART29.article

 

Constellation Energy Cuts Spending on Areva Nuclear Reactor Venture (News & Advance, Lynchburg, VA)

http://www2.newsadvance.com/business/2010/jul/28/constellation-energy-cuts-spending-areva-reactor-v-ar-353679/

 

Iowa - Alcoa’s Davenport Works to Recall 159 Employees (Quad City Times, Davenport, IA)

http://qctimes.com/news/local/article_acd6e77a-9a5d-11df-8a92-001cc4c002e0.html

 

Power & Light - Getting Iraqis & Afghans on the grid could have helped build peace, but the Americans couldn’t quite deliver (Newsweek Magazine)

http://www.newsweek.com/2010/07/28/power-and-light.html

 

FISH & WILDLIFE

 

Key Base of Ocean Food Web Dropping Dramatically (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012469177_apbcusscidecliningplankton.html

 

New Rules & Increased Enforcement for Skokomish River as Salmon Fishing Opens Sunday (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/2832-new-rules-and-increased-enforcement-for-skokomish-river-as-salmon-fishing-opens-sunday-

 

Klamath Farmers Will be Paid to Save Water for Fish (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/9906-klamath-farmers-will-be-paid-save-water-fish/

 

Salmon: Judge Won’t Stop Rogue River Dam Removal (Associated Press)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/07/28/1109807/salmon-judge-wont-stop-rogue-river.html

 

Bald Eagle Comeback Pressures Coastal Seabirds (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/9831-bald-eagle-comeback-pressures-coastal-seabirds/

 

All Clallam Beaches Closed to Shellfish Harvesting (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.konp.com/local/5995

 

Wildlife Officials Seek Men Who Shot Ten Seagulls (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/24421309/detail.html

 

Feds, Farmers Create Habitats for Migrating Birds (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012475995_apusgulfoilspillmigratorybirds.html

 

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

 

Kittitas County Residents Have Their Say on Ecology’s Ban on Wells (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2010/07/28/kittitas-co-residents-have-their-say-on-ecology-s-ban-on-wells

 

EPA Releases Data on Local Toxics (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2012468781_apusepatoxics.html

 

Pasco Dedicates New Water Treatment Plant (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2010/07/28/1109598/pasco-dedicates-new-water-treatment.html

 

Lawsuit Filed to Stop Hawaiian Trash Bound for Washington State (Associated Press)

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

 

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

 

Evergreen State College Considers Wood Power - Campus to study process called biomass gasification (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/07/28/1317760/evergreen-considers-wood-power.html

 

Massachusetts - Fight Gears Up on Biomass (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/29/fight-gears-up-on-biomass/

 

Study Says Pacific Northwest Poised to Lead Clean-Energy Transition “…well suited to make the switch to clean-energy sources…it has a relatively small part of its energy generation portfolio coming from coal & nuclear power…” Note: wouldn’t that mean that we’re already there? (Sustainable Oregon)

http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2010/07/study_northwest_poised_to_lead_clean-energy_transition.html

 

California’s Clean Energy Future Threatened by Federal Delays, State Officials Say (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://articles.latimes.com/2010/jul/28/business/la-fi-solar-energy-20100728

 

Editorial - California Policy Could Blow Hard: California’s energy policies now affect the Northwest in significant ways, & the impacts, somehow, will trickle down to ratepayers (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2010/jul/28/california-policy-could-blow-hard/

 

Warning to Michigan Manufacturers: Nothing Easy About Getting into Wind Energy (Grand Rapids Press, MI)

http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2010/07/summit_warning_to_michigan_man.html

 

Energy Subsidies - Good & Bad (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/29/opinion/29thu3.html

 

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

 

Builders Try to Prove Green Homes Can be Affordable (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2010/07/builder-homes-produce-energy/1

 

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

 

State-Level Politics Could Threaten Western Climate Initiative (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/9870-state-level-politics-could-threaten-western-climate-initiative/

 

Scientists Say Global Warming Is Continuing (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012469549_apusscistateoftheclimate.html

 

State of the Climate: Hottest Decade on Record (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/07/28/state-of-the-climate-hottest-decade-ever/

 

Snowmageddon - Washington, DC Record Snow in 2010 Not Due to Global Warming (Washington Post)

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/capitalweathergang/2010/07/last_winters_snowstorms_not_ca.html

 

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

 

Wind Drives Growing Use of Batteries (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/28/business/energy-environment/28storage.html

 

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

 

Mason General Hospital Named “Most Wired” Again - Thanks to Public Broadband (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/2834-mason-general-hospital-named-most-wired-again

 

Lower Costs, Better Technology Enable Portland Hospitals to Extend Telemedicine Links Across Oregon (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/health/index.ssf/2010/07/lower_costs_better_technology.html

 

White House Proposal Would Ease FBI Access to Records of Internet Activity (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/28/AR2010072806141.html

 

FCC: Broadband Mission Not Accomplished - And it won’t be until the FCC addresses competition (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/FCC-Broadband-Mission-Not-Accomplished-109627

 

Who is the World’s Biggest Broadband Company? Find Out (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2010/07/28/top-ten-broadband-providers/

 

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

 

Washington Special Session More & More Unlikely (Northwest Public Radio)

http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=7602

 

35^th District Democrat Draws Opposition - Tim Sheldon Facing Write-In Foe (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/07/29/1319039/democrat-draws-opposition.html

 

Sixth & Final Initiative Added to Washington State’s November Ballot (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012475170_initiative29.html

 

Education - Why Washington Stumbled in “Race to the Top” (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=347926

 

Bond Sale a Plus for State - Results of latest sale provide rare bit of good news: estimated $3.7 million savings (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2010/07/29/1319037/bond-sale-a-plus-for-state.html

 

Washington State Residents Paid $105 in Taxes per $1,000 in Income (Puget Sound Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2010/07/26/daily22.html

 

Fife to Pay $23,500 for Help in Finding Next City Manager (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2010/07/29/1281452/fife-city-to-pay-23500-to-help.html

 

Are Public Pension Funds Sustainable? (Nat’l Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=128828518&ft=1&f=2

 

GENERAL NEWS

 

Fire at Skokomish Tribal Police Department under Investigation (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/24436445/detail.html

 

Missing West Seattle Sailor’s Body Recovered in Afghanistan (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Missing-Renton-sailors-body-recovered-in-Afghanistan-99537234.html

 

Belfair Company Fined for Mining Mistake (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2010/jul/28/belfair-company-fined-for-mining-mistake/

 

Engineer Raises Safety Concerns at Hanford (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/99512309.html

 

Washington State’s Move to Restrict Pain Killers Puts Onus on Doctors (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2010/07/29/business/29pain.html

 

Unusual bunch of foes to postal rate increase unites as Affordable Mail Alliance (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/07/28/AR2010072805908.html

 

Doomsday Shelters Making a Comeback (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2010-07-28-doomsday28_ST_N.htm

 

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

 

Detectives Investigate ‘Extreme Domestic Dispute’

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2012468700_apwaextremedomesticdispute1stldwritethru.html

 

Cats That Look Like Hitler Bemuse, Annoy - Website Popularity Spikes After Mentions by Colbert

http://www.kirotv.com/news/24421904/detail.html

 

Chihuahua Takes on Black Bear

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Chihuahua-charges-black-bear-and-survives-99442504.html

 

Competitive Lock picking Growing in US Popularity

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2012475940_apuscompetitivelockpicking.html

 

SONG OF THE DAY

 

Steely Dan - I.G.Y

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PfBYsII_Jw