Wednesday, September 15, 2010

Energy News Digest for September 15, 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

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices: https://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Citizen Group Files Lawsuit against the Port of Shelton over ADAGE (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

RUS, NTIA Unveil New Broadband Stimulus Winners - $518 million from USDA/RUS, another $482 million from NTIA (Broadband Reports)

Pacific Gas & Electric Won’t Apply Billing Plan to San Bruno Fire – Could have allowed company to bill the public for last week’s deadly pipeline explosion (SF Chronicle)

Tahuya - Victim’s Neighbor Arrested in Mason County Shooting (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Boyd Is Chelan PUD’s New Chief Financial Officer (Wenatchee World, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

  • Pacific Gas & Electric Won’t Apply Billing Plan to San Bruno Fire
  • Groups Mount New Challenge to Ruby Pipeline Plan
  • California - Santa Cruz County Supervisors Vote to Support Moratorium on SmartMeters
  • South Carolina: Nuclear Cleanup Underestimated by $1.5. Billion
  • Boyd Is Chelan PUD’s New Chief Financial Officer
  • Michigan - Consumers Energy Introduces New Rates in Preparation for Electric Vehicles
  • Michigan - Chamber Supports Traverse City Public Utility
  • Ocean Coho Take, Cowlitz, Nisqually River Angling Improves
  • First Genetically Modified Salmon Sparks FDA Debate
  • Whole Foods to Post Seafood Sustainability Ratings
  • Editorial - Fishing at the Base of the (Food) Pyramid
  • Tulalips Release Turkeys for Hunting by Tribe
  • Sandy River Life After the Dam - Three Years after the Marmot Dam’s Removal, Where Did the Sediment Buildup Go?
  • Oregon’s Rogue River Draws in Gold Prospectors
  • The Clean Air Act Turns 40
  • Anacortes to Supply Water to Bottler Everett Rebuffed
  • Citizen Group Files Lawsuit against the Port of Shelton over ADAGE
  • Biomass Takes Center Stage - Annual Forestry Tour Yields New Ideas for Timber Debris
  • Proposed New Rules Concern Maine’s Biomass Industry
  • Methane to Produce Power in Quincy
  • National Hydropower Association Congratulates Snohomish PUD on DOE Funding Award
  • Vestas Blames Human Error for V112 Wind Turbine Blade Detachment
  • Massachusetts - Municipal Wind Power Project Moving Forward
  • CEO: No Easy Fix to Maine Wind Turbine Noise Complaints
  • New Jersey Solar Bill Too Costly, Complicated for Former Backers
  • When Are We Going to Get This Transmission Thing Right?
  • Editorial - They Must Think I’m a Dim Bulb
  • Climate Policy Inaction Lost Oregon 26,000 Jobs, Groups Say
  • States Are Climate Battlegrounds
  • Arctic Sea Ice Continues Its Summer Slide
  • Women Agree with Science on Global Warming More Than Men Do
  • Roving Herds of Grazing Climate Helpers
  • My Personal Biomass Incinerator - Should You Install a Wood-Burning Stove?
  • RUS, NTIA Unveil New Broadband Stimulus Winners
  • Federal Grant Bringing Wi-Fi to Rural Areas of Stevens, Spokane & Ferry Counties
  • Online Banking Is Restored at Chase after Outage
  • Internet Explorer 9 Test Launch Is Today
  • Google Unveils White Space Broadband Trial in Ohio
  • Editorial - ‘Net Neutrality’ Is a New Wrinkle in Web Content Competition
  • How Do People Use Their Smartphones?
  • At Twitter, a Web Site Is Revamped & Simplified
  • Ten Things You Didn’t Know About the New Twitter.com
  • States Cutting Benefits for Public-Sector Retirees
  • A Look at State Pension Changes
  • Census Response in Mason County Up Substantially from 2000
  • Washington State’s 35th District Candidates Talk Education, Government Priorities
  • Metric Interstate Divides Arizonans
  • Tahuya - Victim’s Neighbor Arrested in Mason County Shooting
  • Walla Walla: Five Year Old Shoots & Kills His Toddler Brother
  • Oregon, Washington Secretaries of State Oppose Cuts to Saturday Mail Delivery
  • Boeing Prepares for Illegal Subsidy Ruling from World Trade Organization
  • Log Exports Still Booming at Port of Longview - Wind Power Shipping Slows
  • Despite Call Before You Dig - Firefighters Respond to a Broken Gas Line
  • Auditor: WWU Employee Wasted Tax Dollars on Trips, Parking Fees
  • Olympia Man Admits to Thousands of Obscene Phone Calls

WORD OF THE DAY

Onomatopoeia • \on-uh-mott-uh-PEE-uh\ • noun - 1: the naming of a thing or action by a vocal imitation of the sound associated with it (as buzz, hiss) 2: the use of words whose sound suggests the sense.

“Whiz…bang…pow…vroom,” bellowed the toddler as he bounced around the room with his toy cars. His manic bouts of onomatopoeia did not end at nap time, as he snored loudly in French…much to his mother’s amusement.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Pacific Gas & Electric Won’t Apply Billing Plan to San Bruno Fire – Could have allowed company to bill the public for last week’s deadly pipeline explosion (SF Chronicle)

Groups Mount New Challenge to Ruby Pipeline Plan (Associated Press)

California - Santa Cruz County Supervisors Vote to Support Moratorium on SmartMeters (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

South Carolina: Nuclear Cleanup Underestimated by $1.5. Billion (NY Times)

Boyd Is Chelan PUD’s New Chief Financial Officer (Wenatchee World, WA)

Michigan - Consumers Energy Introduces New Rates in Preparation for Chevy Volt, Other Electric Vehicles (Grand Rapids Press, MI)

Michigan - Chamber Supports Traverse City Public Utility (Interlochen Public Radio, MI)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Ocean Coho Take, Cowlitz, Nisqually River Angling Improves (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

First Genetically Modified Salmon Sparks FDA Debate (USA Today)

Whole Foods to Post Seafood Sustainability Ratings (Oregonian, Portland)

Editorial - Fishing at the Base of the (Food) Pyramid (NY Times)

Tulalips Release Turkeys for Hunting by Tribe (Everett Herald, WA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Sandy River Life After the Dam - Three Years After the Marmot Dam’s Removal, Where Did the Sediment Buildup Go? (Sandy Post, OR)

Oregon’s Rogue River Draws in Gold Prospectors (SF Chronicle)

The Clean Air Act Turns 40 (NY Times)

Anacortes to Supply Water to Bottler Everett Rebuffed (Everett Herald, WA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Citizen Group Files Lawsuit against the Port of Shelton over ADAGE (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Biomass Takes Center Stage - Annual Forestry Tour Yields New Ideas for Timber Debris (Daily Astorian, OR)

Proposed New Rules Concern Maine’s Biomass Industry (Maine Public Broadcasting Network)

Methane to Produce Power in Quincy (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

National Hydropower Association Congratulates Snohomish PUD on DOE Funding Award (Renewable Energy World)

Vestas Blames Human Error for V112 Wind Turbine Blade Detachment (Renewable Energy World)

Massachusetts - Municipal Wind Power Project Moving Forward (Cape Cod Times, Hyannis, MA)

CEO: No Easy Fix to Maine Wind Turbine Noise Complaints (Associated Press)

New Jersey Solar Bill Too Costly, Complicated for Former Backers (New Jersey Spotlight)

When Are We Going to Get This Transmission Thing Right? (Renewable Energy World)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Editorial - They Must Think I’m a Dim Bulb (Wenatchee World, WA)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Climate Policy Inaction Lost Oregon 26,000 Jobs, Groups Say (Sustainable Business Oregon)

States Are Climate Battlegrounds (Politico)

Arctic Sea Ice Continues Its Summer Slide (NY Times)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Women Agree with Science on Global Warming More Than Men Do (Live Science)

Roving Herds of Grazing Climate Helpers (Miller McCune Magazine)

My Personal Biomass Incinerator - Should You Install a Wood-Burning Stove? “…wood stoves can also be significant sources of air pollution…” (DIY Life)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

RUS, NTIA Unveil New Broadband Stimulus Winners - $518 million from USDA/RUS, another $482 million from NTIA (Broadband Reports)

Federal Grant Bringing Wi-Fi to Rural Areas of Stevens, Spokane & Ferry Counties (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Online Banking Is Restored at Chase after Outage (USA Today)

Internet Explorer 9 Test Launch Is Today (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

Google Unveils White Space Broadband Trial in Ohio - Hospital trial got one-year experimental FCC license (Broadband Reports)

Editorial - ‘Net Neutrality’ Is a New Wrinkle in Web Content Competition (Olympian, WA)

How Do People Use Their Smartphones? (NY Times)

At Twitter, a Web Site Is Revamped & Simplified (NY Times)

Ten Things You Didn’t Know About the New Twitter.com (GigaOM)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

States Cutting Benefits for Public-Sector Retirees “…Only four states - Florida, New York, Washington & Wisconsin - had fully funded pension systems as of 2008…” (Associated Press)

A Look at State Pension Changes (Associated Press)

Census Response in Mason County Up Substantially from 2000 (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Washington State’s 35th District Candidates Talk Education, Government Priorities (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Metric Interstate Divides Arizonans (NY Times)

GENERAL NEWS

Tahuya - Victim’s Neighbor Arrested in Mason County Shooting (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Walla Walla: Five Year Old Shoots & Kills His Toddler Brother (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

Oregon, Washington Secretaries of State Oppose Cuts to Saturday Mail Delivery (Northwest Public Radio)

Boeing Prepares for Illegal Subsidy Ruling from World Trade Organization (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

Log Exports Still Booming at Port of Longview - Wind Power Shipping Slows (Longview Daily News, WA)

Despite Call Before You Dig - Firefighters Respond to a Broken Gas Line (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

Auditor: WWU Employee Wasted Tax Dollars on Trips, Parking Fees (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

Olympia Man Admits to Thousands of Obscene Phone Calls (Seattle Times)

DIVERSIONS

Treasure Hunter Finds Rare Antique in Cumbria

Gin-Soaked Raisins Relief to Back Pain?

Victoria Rabbits Hop for the Border

Rescuers Free Camel from Oregon Sinkhole

SONG OF THE DAY

Jefferson Airplane - White Rabbit

Tuesday, September 14, 2010

Energy News Digest for September 14, 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

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices: https://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Group Files Suit over Mason County Biofuels Plant (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Aging Gas Pipes at Risk of Explosion Nationwide (Associated Press)

Scientists: Desert Energy Projects Should Tread Lightly (Riverside Press-Enterprise, CA)

Melting Sea Ice Forces Walruses Ashore in Alaska (Associated Press)

Mason County Lawmen Arrest Suspect in Tahuya Shooting (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Pipeline Explosion Aftermath - Pacific Gas & Electric sets up $100 million fund to help San Bruno
·         Aging Gas Pipes at Risk of Explosion Nationwide
·         Should We Rely on Natural Gas in Earthquake Zones?
·         Montana - Great Falls, Electric Co-Op’s Relationship Splintering
·         Illinois - ComEd’s Life Support Registry Proves Elusive
·         Pepco Ready to Deploy ‘Smart Meters’ in Washington, DC; Pricing Still Up in the Air
·         Miniature Nuclear Reactors Might be a Safe, Efficient Source of Power
·         Melting Sea Ice Forces Walruses Ashore in Alaska
·         Sea Lions Wreaking Havoc for Bonneville Power Administration
·         The Mighty Monarch Butterfly Sets Out on Long Migration
·         Killer Shrimp Assault British Shrimp, Threaten Ecosystem
·         Preparations Underway for Biggest Dam Removal in US History
·         Hood Canal Oyster Harvesting Closed Until October 1
·         Sea Monsters: Giant Rogue Waves Are Out There
·         Group Files Suit over Mason County Biofuels Plant
·         Oregon Wave Energy Park Gets $2.4 Million Bump
·         Agreement Could Boost Montana’s Wind Power Potential
·         Wind in BPA Grid Tops 3,000 MW
·         4,150 Gigawatts - NREL Releases Estimate of National Offshore Wind Energy Potential
·         Iberdrola to Invest $6.1 Billion in UK on Wind Farms, Electricity Lines
·         Wind Industry Fights to Defend Its Position as Clean Energy Alternative
·         New York - Biomass Plans Speed Ahead: Montgomery Officials Urge Quick Review
·         A Power Studying Biomass Power Plant in Nevada
·         New Mexico - County to Consider Bond for Solar Plant
·         Scientists: Desert Energy Projects Should Tread Lightly
  • Climate Bill’s Comeback Chances in Congress Still Slim After Summer of Severe Weather
  • Oregon BEST invests $1 million in Green Tech lab
  • What to Consider Before Buying An Electric Car
  • Defending the Plug-In Car
  • Will China Dominate the Green Economy? And if They Do, Should We Worry?
  • Obama: No Thanks to Carter Solar Panels
  • Smells Like Green Spirit - Are Air Fresheners Bad for the Environment?
  • Microsoft Prepares to Roll Out New Browser
  • Bing Overtakes Yahoo as No. 2 in Search Survey
  • No, RSS Is Not Dead, and Neither Are RSS Readers
  • US Senate Race - Murray Leads Rossi in New Elway Poll
  • Oregon GOP Wants Kitzhaber’s Girlfriend Removed from State Energy Panel
  • Soda Pop & Candy Taxes - Money Pours into Ballot Race
  • New Commissioner at WA Employment Security Dept.
  • Mason County Lawmen Arrest Suspect in Tahuya Shooting
  • In Mason County Murder - BC Man Pleads Guilty in Stepdaughter’s Slaying
  • State Patrol Identifies Kitsap County Trooper Who Fatally Shot Intruder
  • Strike Over, Ferndale Teachers Go Back to Work
  • At 100, Glacier National Park Is Tourism Hot Spot
  • Mediocre Huckleberry Crop Pushes Bears Near Humans

WORD OF THE DAY

Byzantine • \BIH-zun-teen\ • adjective - 1: of, relating to, or characteristic of the ancient city of Byzantium 2: of, relating to, or having the characteristics of a style of architecture developed in the Byzantine Empire especially in the fifth and sixth centuries featuring the dome carried on pendentives over a square and incrustation with marble veneering and with colored mosaics on grounds of gold 3: of or relating to the churches using a traditional Greek rite and subject to Eastern canon law 4: often not capitalized a: of, relating to, or characterized by a devious and usually surreptitious manner of operation b : intricately involved: labyrinthine

“Welcome to the PUD’s engineering building,” smirked the public information officer to the fresh-faced new hire. “Now that I’ve escorted you to the drafting offices, it’s up to you to find your way through this byzantine warren of offices back to the main entrance. Just so you know, we’re still looking for two new meter readers that went missing last fall.”

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Pipeline Explosion Aftermath - Pacific Gas & Electric sets up $100 million fund to help San Bruno (Associated Press)

Aging Gas Pipes at Risk of Explosion Nationwide (Associated Press)

Should We Rely on Natural Gas in Earthquake Zones? (Christian Science Monitor)

Montana - Great Falls, Electric Co-Op’s Relationship Splintering (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

Illinois - ComEd’s Life Support Registry Proves Elusive (Chicago Tribune, IL)

Pepco Ready to Deploy ‘Smart Meters’ in Washington, DC; Pricing Still Up in the Air (Washington Post)

Miniature Nuclear Reactors Might be a Safe, Efficient Source of Power (Washington Post)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Melting Sea Ice Forces Walruses Ashore in Alaska (Associated Press)

Sea Lions Wreaking Havoc for Bonneville Power Administration (KBND Radio, Bend, OR)

The Mighty Monarch Butterfly Sets Out on Long Migration (Epoch Times)

Killer Shrimp Assault British Shrimp, Threaten Ecosystem (Christian Science Monitor)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Preparations Underway for Biggest Dam Removal in US History (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Hood Canal Oyster Harvesting Closed Until October 1 (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Sea Monsters: Giant Rogue Waves Are Out There (Globe & Mail)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Group Files Suit over Mason County Biofuels Plant (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Oregon Wave Energy Park Gets $2.4 Million Bump (Portland Business Journal)

Agreement Could Boost Montana’s Wind Power Potential (KXLF-TV, Butte MT)

Wind in BPA Grid Tops 3,000 MW (North American Wind Power)

4,150 Gigawatts - NREL Releases Estimate of National Offshore Wind Energy Potential (R&D Magazine)

Iberdrola to Invest $6.1 Billion in UK on Wind Farms, Electricity Lines (Bloomberg News)

Wind Industry Fights to Defend Its Position as Clean Energy Alternative (Tulsa World, OK)

New York - Biomass Plans Speed Ahead: Montgomery Officials Urge Quick Review (Middletown Times Herald Record, NY)

A Power Studying Biomass Power Plant in Nevada (Penn Energy)

New Mexico - County to Consider Bond for Solar Plant (Las Cruces Sun News, NM)
http://www.lcsun-news.com/las_cruces-news/ci_16068668

Scientists: Desert Energy Projects Should Tread Lightly (Riverside Press-Enterprise, CA)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Climate Bill’s Comeback Chances in Congress Still Slim After Summer of Severe Weather (Dallas Morning News, TX)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Oregon BEST invests $1 million in Green Tech lab (Portland Business Journal)

What to Consider Before Buying An Electric Car (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

Defending the Plug-In Car (Reuters)

Will China Dominate the Green Economy? And if They Do, Should We Worry? (Christian Science Monitor)

Obama: No Thanks to Carter Solar Panels (Renewable Energy World)

Smells Like Green Spirit - Are Air Fresheners Bad for the Environment? (Slate Magazine)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Microsoft Prepares to Roll Out New Browser (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

Bing Overtakes Yahoo as No. 2 in Search Survey (NY Times)

No, RSS Is Not Dead, and Neither Are RSS Readers (GigaOM)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

US Senate Race - Murray Leads Rossi in New Elway Poll (Seattle Times)

Oregon GOP Wants Kitzhaber’s Girlfriend Removed from State Energy Panel (Oregonian, Portland)

Soda Pop & Candy Taxes - Money Pours into Ballot Race (Seattle Times)

New Commissioner at WA Employment Security Dept. (Associated Press)

GENERAL NEWS

Mason County Lawmen Arrest Suspect in Tahuya Shooting (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

In Mason County Murder - BC Man Pleads Guilty in Stepdaughter’s Slaying (Associated Press)

State Patrol Identifies Kitsap County Trooper Who Fatally Shot Intruder (Seattle Times)

Strike Over, Ferndale Teachers Go Back to Work (Associated Press)

At 100, Glacier National Park Is Tourism Hot Spot (Associated Press)

Mediocre Huckleberry Crop Pushes Bears Near Humans (Associated Press)

DIVERSIONS

Smoked Salmon Vodka Lands in Washington Liquor Stores

Corn Syrup Producers Want Sweeter Name: Corn Sugar

Boy Wanders into Wrong Class, Prompts Lockdown

Plumbers Help Couple Find Flushed $40K Rings

SONG OF THE DAY

Shirley Bassey - Diamonds Are Forever