Energy News Digest for January 10, 2011

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: http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

As Much as a Foot of Snow Possible Beginning Tuesday Night (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/news/4294-as-much-as-a-foot-of-snow-possible-beginning-tuesday-night

Oregon Paper Mill Power Deal with ADAGE Falls Through (Albany Democrat-Herald, OR)

http://www.democratherald.com/news/local/article_fce3dfcc-1a2b-11e0-a5d6-001cc4c03286.html

Quincy is Microsoft’s First Modular Data Center (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/article_810932f4-1a9d-11e0-817d-001cc4c03286.html

Duke Energy to Buy Progress Energy for $13.7 Billion (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE7092NK20110110

Bonneville Power Administration Transmission Line Meetings Planned (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2011/01/07/transmission-line-meetings-planned

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Duke Energy to Buy Progress Energy for $13.7 Billion

·         Bonneville Power Administration Transmission Line Meetings Planned

·         Alcoa Intalco to Restart Idled Capacity, Create 60 Jobs

·         Seattle City Light Knew of Street Light Problem for Awhile

·         Franklin PUD Gives Tips on Door to Door Scams

·         Port Townsend Nonprofit Radio Station Closer to Reality “...One scheduled show…weekly blues program hosted by Barney Burke, a Jefferson Public Utility District commissioner…”

·         How Great Corporate Power Shadows Gregoire on Coal Shipments to China

·         Vermont Nuke Fights for Future but Chances Are Dimming

·         Wyoming Uranium Industry Bullish Amid Rising Prices

·         California – Pacific Gas & Electric Raised Natural Gas Pipeline Pressure to Legal Limit

·         Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline Remains Shut Down

·         Business, Obama Officials Come Calling as Rep. Fred Upton Assumes Energy & Commerce Post

·         More Tropical Sea Mammals Making Trek to Puget Sound

·         Salmon River Snorkeling Sampling Shows Dramatic Impact of Cooler Water Temperatures

·         Has Overfishing Ended? Top US Scientist Says Yes

·         Bad Decision to Put More Salmon in Path of Fraser River Sockeye, Say Grouping

·         Budd Inlet Sewage Spill Creates Health Hazard

·         With $17 Million Extension - Lakewood Sewer Hookups May Become Mandatory

·         New Recommendations for Cities That Add Fluoride to Water

·         US Says Too Much Fluoride in Water

·         Montana-Wyoming Water Fight Goes Before High Court

·         California - Heavy Sierra Snowfall Translates to Happy Skiers, Replenished Reservoirs

·         Farm Group Says Chesapeake Bay Plan Could Ruin Farmers

·         Oregon Paper Mill Power Deal with ADAGE Falls Through

·         Editorial - Let’s Dispel Three Myths about Wood Power: It is Critical to Our Energy Future

·         Green Lobby Weighs ‘Political Realities’ of Energy Policy; Finds ‘Clean Energy Standard’ Isn’t So Bad

·         Montana - Northwestern Energy to Buy 24 MW Wind Project from Invenergy Wind

·         California - Getting Some Blowback: Guess Who’s Wound Up over Wind Power in West Marin?

·         United Kingdom - Wind Farms Don’t Work in the Cold: Why It’s No Use Waiting for Turbines to Keep Us Warm as the Snow Returns

·         US Wind Industry: 2010 Year in Review

·         Pentagon Must ‘Buy American,’ Barring Chinese Solar Panels

·         Energy-Saving Opportunities Are Everywhere, Often Missed, Oregon Experts Say

·         Great Melt Predicted by End of Century - Half of Western Canada’s glacier ice could disappear by 2100, scientists say

·         British Columbia’s Climate Ardour Cooling

·         Customers Who Ordered All-Electric Nissan Leafs Growing Impatient

·         US Does Not Have Infrastructure to Consume More Ethanol

·         Op/Ed - Biomass for Energy - A Cautionary Tale

·         Quincy is Microsoft’s First Modular Data Center

·         Verizon Will Offer iPhones, Unlimited Data - Company Prepares Press Event for Tuesday

·         Washington State Legislature Opens 105-Day Session

·         Some Washington State Democrats Out to Deny Freshman Seat in Legislature

·         Tim Sheldon Says Lack of Democrat Partisanship Led to Dumping from Committee

·         Washington State’s Outdoor Agencies’ Merger Tricky

·         Arizona Shooting Shakes Up Washington State Representatives

·         Environmentalists Fear Business-Friendly Hastings - Congressman Will Chair Natural Resources Committee

·         Congress - Idaho Republican Appropriator Takes Quick Aim at ‘Scary’ EPA & ‘Its Bloated Budget’

·         As Much as a Foot of Snow Possible Beginning Tuesday Night

·         Most Load Restrictions Lifted on Mason County Roads

·         Storm-Battered Kitsap Close to Meeting Threshold for FEMA Funds

·         The Green File: City of Shelton Stayed Busy with Public Works Projects Last Year

·         Editorial - Don’t Lock South Kitsap Industrial Area in with Prison Industry

·         Survey Shows Gas Prices Up over 9 Cents a Gallon

·         KMAS Gets the First Shot - Two Radio Stations Will Feature Pust in Coming Weeks

·         Advocates rejoice as Obama signs Local Community Radio Act

WORD OF THE DAY

Rapscallion• \rapp-SKALL-yun\ • Noun - Rascal, ne’er-do-well

Rapscallion, a rogue

Grabs your wallet and he runs

When opened, moths fly

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

Duke Energy to Buy Progress Energy for $13.7 Billion (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE7092NK20110110

Bonneville Power Administration Transmission Line Meetings Planned (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2011/01/07/transmission-line-meetings-planned

Alcoa Intalco to Restart Idled Capacity, Create 60 Jobs (KGMI Radio, Bellingham, WA – & Hallmark looks to make another buck on thank you notes to public utilities)

http://kgmi.com/Alcoa-Intalco-to-restart-idled-capacity--create-60/8937242

Seattle City Light Knew of Street Light Problem for Awhile (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/City-Light-electrified-streetlights-113113864.html

Franklin PUD Gives Tips on Door to Door Scams (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=13806330

Port Townsend Nonprofit Radio Station Closer to Reality “...One scheduled show…weekly blues program hosted by Barney Burke, a Jefferson Public Utility District commissioner…” (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110110/news/301109995/port-townsend-nonprofit-radio-station-closer-to-reality

How Great Corporate Power Shadows Gregoire on Coal Shipments to China (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2011/01/07/environment/20522/How-great-corporate-power-shadows-Gregoire-on-coal-shipments-to-China/

Vermont Nuke Fights for Future but Chances Are Dimming (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013889400_apusyankeesfate.html

Wyoming Uranium Industry Bullish Amid Rising Prices (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013871835_apuswyomingmining.html

California – Pacific Gas & Electric Raised Natural Gas Pipeline Pressure to Legal Limit (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013893052_apuspipelineexplosion.html

Trans-Alaska Oil Pipeline Remains Shut Down (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013892714_apuspipelineshutdown.html

Business, Obama Officials Come Calling as Rep. Fred Upton Assumes Energy & Commerce Post (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2011/01/08/AR2011010804574.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

More Tropical Sea Mammals Making Trek to Puget Sound (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Tropical-Sea-Mammals-Making-Puget-Sound-a-Habit-113098779.html

Salmon River Snorkeling Sampling Shows Dramatic Impact of Cooler Water Temperatures (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/403720.aspx

Has Overfishing Ended? Top US Scientist Says Yes (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013881532_apusendofoverfishing.html

Bad Decision to Put More Salmon in Path of Fraser River Sockeye, Say Grouping (Scottish Whitefish Producers’ Association)

http://www.fishnewseu.com/latest-news/world/5013-bad-decision-to-put-more-salmon-in-path-of-fraser-river-sockeye-say-grouping-.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Budd Inlet Sewage Spill Creates Health Hazard (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/01/07/1498409/raw-sewage-spills-into-budd-inlet.html

With $17 Million Extension - Lakewood Sewer Hookups May Become Mandatory (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/01/10/1495892/lakewood-sewer-hookups-may-become.html

New Recommendations for Cities That Add Fluoride to Water (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.konp.com/local/6516

US Says Too Much Fluoride in Water (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/yourlife/health/medical/2011-01-07-too-much-fluoride_N.htm?csp=34news

Montana-Wyoming Water Fight Goes Before High Court (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2013896605_apsupremecourtwaterdispute.html

California - Heavy Sierra Snowfall Translates to Happy Skiers, Replenished Reservoirs (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/01/10/3311858/heavy-sierra-snowfall-translates.html

Farm Group Says Chesapeake Bay Plan Could Ruin Farmers (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013889324_apuschesapeakebayfarmers.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Oregon Paper Mill Power Deal with ADAGE Falls Through (Albany Democrat-Herald, OR)

http://www.democratherald.com/news/local/article_fce3dfcc-1a2b-11e0-a5d6-001cc4c03286.html

Editorial - Let’s Dispel Three Myths about Wood Power: It is Critical to Our Energy Future (Concord Monitor, NH)

http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/233177/lets-dispel-three-myths-about-wood-power

Green Lobby Weighs ‘Political Realities’ of Energy Policy; Finds ‘Clean Energy Standard’ Isn’t So Bad “…Sen. Lindsey Graham…is starting work on a bill that would require utilities to generate a portion of power from clean energy, which would include renewables, nuclear & coal with carbon capture & sequestration…” (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/gwire/2011/01/07/07greenwire-green-lobby-weighs-political-realities-of-ener-14288.html

Montana - Northwestern Energy to Buy 24 MW Wind Project from Invenergy Wind (Electric Light & Power)

http://www.elp.com/index/display/article-display.articles.electric-light-power.renewable-energy.wind.2011.01.NorthWestern_Energy_to_buy_24_MW_wind_project_from_Invenergy_Wind.QP129867.dcmp=rss.page=1.html

California - Getting Some Blowback: Guess Who’s Wound Up over Wind Power in West Marin? (Bohemian News, CA)

http://www.bohemian.com/bohemian/01.05.11/news-1101.html

United Kingdom - Wind Farms Don’t Work in the Cold: Why It’s No Use Waiting for Turbines to Keep Us Warm as the Snow Returns (The Daily Mail, UK)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1345233/Its-use-waiting-turbines-warm-snow-returns.html

US Wind Industry: 2010 Year in Review (Sustainable Business)

http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/21684

Pentagon Must ‘Buy American,’ Barring Chinese Solar Panels (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/10/business/global/10solar.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Energy-Saving Opportunities Are Everywhere, Often Missed, Oregon Experts Say (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/01/businesses_building_owners_lea.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Great Melt Predicted by End of Century - Half of Western Canada’s glacier ice could disappear by 2100, scientists say (Vancouver Sun, British Columbia, Canada)

http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Great+melt+predicted+century/4084629/story.html

British Columbia’s Climate Ardour Cooling (Financial Post, Canada)

http://www.financialpost.com/climate ardour cooling/4078646/story.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Customers Who Ordered All-Electric Nissan Leafs Growing Impatient (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_17030204

US Does Not Have Infrastructure to Consume More Ethanol (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/01/u-s-does-not-have-infrastructure-to-consume-more-ethanol

Op/Ed - Biomass for Energy - A Cautionary Tale (The Calgary Herald, Alberta, Canada)

http://www.calgaryherald.com/technology/Biomass+energy+cautionary+tale/4083837/story.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Quincy is Microsoft’s First Modular Data Center (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/article_810932f4-1a9d-11e0-817d-001cc4c03286.html

Verizon Will Offer iPhones, Unlimited Data - Company Prepares Press Event for Tuesday (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Verizon-Will-Offer-iPhone-Unlimited-Data-112157

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Legislature Opens 105-Day Session (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/WA-Legislature-opens-105-day-session-113197834.html

Some Washington State Democrats Out to Deny Freshman Seat in Legislature (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/26417644/detail.html

Tim Sheldon Says Lack of Democrat Partisanship Led to Dumping from Committee (Associated Press)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/jan/08/tim-sheldon-claims-majority-leader-unfairly-him/

Washington State’s Outdoor Agencies’ Merger Tricky (Associated Press)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/01/10/1495900/outdoor-agencies-merger-tricky.html

Arizona Shooting Shakes Up Washington State Representatives (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=410696

Environmentalists Fear Business-Friendly Hastings - Congressman Will Chair Natural Resources Committee (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/01/10/1500959/environmentalists-fear-business.html

Congress - Idaho Republican Appropriator Takes Quick Aim at ‘Scary’ EPA & ‘Its Bloated Budget’ (The Hill)

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/136723-republican-appropriator-takes-quick-aim-at-scary-epa

GENERAL NEWS

As Much as a Foot of Snow Possible Beginning Tuesday Night (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/news/4294-as-much-as-a-foot-of-snow-possible-beginning-tuesday-night

Most Load Restrictions Lifted on Mason County Roads (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/news/4295-most-load-restrictions-lifted-on-mason-county-roads

Storm-Battered Kitsap Close to Meeting Threshold for FEMA Funds (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/jan/09/kitsap-close-to-meeting-threshold-for-fema-funds/

The Green File: City of Shelton Stayed Busy with Public Works Projects Last Year (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA – Oh, & don’t forget the Johns Prairie watermain extension)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/voices/the-green-file/4286-shelton-stayed-the-green-file-busy-with-public-works-projects-last-year

Editorial - Don’t Lock South Kitsap Industrial Area in with Prison Industry (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/jan/09/our-view-dont-lock-skia-in-with-prison-industry/

Survey Shows Gas Prices Up over 9 Cents a Gallon (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013889695_apusgasprices.html

KMAS Gets the First Shot - Two Radio Stations Will Feature Pust in Coming Weeks (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/01/07/1498456/2-radio-stations-will-feature.html

Advocates rejoice as Obama signs Local Community Radio Act (Washington Post)

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/posttech/2011/01/advocates_rejoice_as_obama_sig.html

DIVERSIONS

Fresh Step Kitty Litter Ads Spark Lawsuit

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/01/fresh_step_kitty_litter_ads_sp.html

Scientists Plan Mission to Probe Uranus

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/Cool-Astronomy/2011/0107/Scientists-plan-mission-to-probe-Uranus

Seahawks Fans Cause 12th Man ‘Quake’ During Lynch Touchdown

http://www.nwcn.com/news/Seahawks-fans-cause-12th-Man-quake-during-Lynch-touchdown-113208789.html

Wenatchee Man Finds Silver Ingots in Furnace

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=13814419

SONG OF THE DAY

Digable Planets - Cool Like That

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3nLknje5E9E

Energy News Digest for January 7, 2011

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: http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Washington State - Alcoa to Restart Third Smelter Line (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/jan/07/alcoas-restarting-third-smelter-line/

Columbia-Snake shipping issues tangled up in climate debate “…Lewiston’s Port hopes it can develop a long term market to ship overs-sized loads up the Snake…” (Not without the Snake River Dams, Rocky - Idaho Statesman, Boise)

http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2011/01/06/rockybarker/columbiasnake_shipping_issues_tangled_climate_debate

EPA Faces First Volley from the US House (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/06/e-p-a-faces-first-volley-from-the-house/

Chance of Mason County Snow Pushed Back to Saturday Night (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/news/4272-chance-of-snow-pushed-back-to-saturday-night

Fact Check: Mass Bird, Fish Deaths Occur Regularly (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013865533_apusscideadwildlifefactcheck.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Washington State - Alcoa to Restart Third Smelter Line

·         Alcoa to Restart Ferndale, Wenatchee Smelters

·         Alcoa’s Fourth Quarter Profit Seen Strong on Rising Demand

·         Columbia-Snake Shipping Issues Tangled Up in Climate Debate

·         Coal Exports - The Burning Question in Washington State

·         Avista to Lower Long Lake Reservoir

·         More Seattle Streetlights Found Emitting Voltage, Total Now at 25

·         Temporary Refinery Shut Down in Anacortes After Power Outage

·         Chelan PUD Customers Still ‘Owners’

·         Feds Sue Pennsylvania Coal Plant Operators over Pollution

·         Georgia - Cobb Electric Cooperative Chief Released from Jail

·         California Public Utilities Commission Could Get Pro-Consumer Majority

·         Hold That Megawatt! - “Frequency Regulation,” an Esoteric But Increasingly Important Element of the Electric System, Is Getting a New Competitor

·         Bottlenose Dolphin Spotted in Puget Sound

·         Fact Check: Mass Bird, Fish Deaths Occur Regularly

·         State Authorizes $1.9 Million for 16 Salmon Recovery Projects in South Sound

·         Oregon - Butte Falls Hatchery’s Days Are over, Future Still in Doubt

·         California - Bioengineered Salmon: State Bill Seeks Clear Label

·         Retiring Biologist Comments on the Plight of the Sturgeon

·         Belfair - Inmates Restoring Hood Canal Habitat Also Cultivate a New Life

·         Lakes a Big Source of Climate-Warming Gas: Study

·         Oregon Poised to Adopt the Strictest Standard for Toxic Water Pollution in the US

·         New Utility to Oversee Water on Camano, Whidbey

·         Editorial - Basic Survival: Water Supply & Quality

·         Chicken Plant Isn’t Liable for City’s Water Utility Money Woes

·         Cape Wind Gets Permit for Work in Fed Waters

·         Pumped Hydro: Is it TOO Green?

·         An Energy Efficiency Initiative Modeled on Portland Ideas & Innovations Will Use the City as a Testing Ground

·         EPA Faces First Volley from the US House

·         EPA Wants to Issue Texas Greenhouse Gas Permits

·         Carbon Dioxide, the Bane of Environmentalists, Is in Demand in the Oil Industry

·         Banned Four Loko Being Recycled into Auto Fuel

·         Telephone Company Merger Generates Little Pacific Northwest Static

·         FCC Head Urges Swift Action on Spectrum Crunch

·         Gregoire Proposes Turning Washington State Ferries over to New Regional District

·         US Senator Murray’s Chief of Staff Stepping Down

·         Washington State Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos Pleads Guilty in DUI Arrest

·         Stop Crying Wolf About Municipal Bonds: They’re (Mostly) Fine

·         Chance of Mason County Snow Pushed Back to Saturday Night

·         Washington State Governor Rescinds Order Directing State Workers to Stop Opening Mail

·         ‘Mega’ Millionaires Claim Prize - Ephrata Couple Picked Numbers Based on Birthdays

·         Web Gaining on TV as Americans’ Main News Source

·         Belfair - ‘The Pen Man’ Leads a Double Life

·         From MSNBC - Bat Survivors of Australian Floods

WORD OF THE DAY

Stalwart • \STAWL-wart\ • Adjective - Marked by outstanding strength & vigor of body, mind, or spirit

“I double dog dare you to wear this wool shirt all day…WITHOUT a protective undergarment,” cackled the demonic fashion designer to her seemingly stalwart assistant.

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

Washington State - Alcoa to Restart Third Smelter Line (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/jan/07/alcoas-restarting-third-smelter-line/

Alcoa to Restart Ferndale, Wenatchee Smelters (Seattle Times – Public utilities expect a “Thank-You” note from Alcoa)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013871888_alcoa08.html

Alcoa’s Fourth Quarter Profit Seen Strong on Rising Demand (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE7062ZJ20110107

Columbia-Snake Shipping Issues Tangled up in Climate Debate “…Lewiston’s Port hopes it can develop a long term market to ship overs-sized loads up the Snake…” (Not without the Snake River Dams, Rocky - Idaho Statesman, Boise)

http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2011/01/06/rockybarker/columbiasnake_shipping_issues_tangled_climate_debate

Coal Exports - The Burning Question in Washington State: Officials are considering whether to allow the U.S. West Coast’s first major coal export facility (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://articles.latimes.com/2011/jan/06/nation/la-na-coal-terminal-20110107

Avista to Lower Long Lake Reservoir (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/jan/06/avista-lower-long-lake-reservoir/

More Seattle Streetlights Found Emitting Voltage, Total Now at 25 (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/More-Seattle-streetlights-found-emitting-voltage-total-now-at-25-113044644.html

Temporary Refinery Shut Down in Anacortes After Power Outage (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2013866977_apwarefinerypoweroutage.html

Chelan PUD Customers Still ‘Owners’ (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/jan/07/pud-customers-still-owners/

Feds Sue Pennsylvania Coal Plant Operators over Pollution (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013865763_apuspowerplantlawsuit.html

Georgia - Cobb Electric Cooperative Chief Released from Jail: Cobb County grand jury indicted him on 31 counts of racketeering & theft (Atlanta Journal Constitution)

http://www.ajc.com/business/cobb-emc-chief-released-797034.html

California Public Utilities Commission Could Get Pro-Consumer Majority (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://www.latimes.com/news/la-fi-brown-puc-20110107,0,3615724.story

Hold That Megawatt! - “Frequency Regulation,” an Esoteric But Increasingly Important Element of the Electric System, Is Getting a New Competitor (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/07/hold-that-megawatt/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Bottlenose Dolphin Spotted in Puget Sound (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/01/07/1497851/bottlenose-dolphin-spotted-in.html

Fact Check: Mass Bird, Fish Deaths Occur Regularly (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013865533_apusscideadwildlifefactcheck.html

State Authorizes $1.9 Million for 16 Salmon Recovery Projects in South Sound (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/01/07/1497569/19-million-for-salmon-recovery.html

Full Project List (Including $435,000 Mason County Projects) Available at the Link Below (PDF File)

http://www.rco.wa.gov/documents/salmon/eval_results/Salmon2010DetailsbyCounty.pdf

Oregon - Butte Falls Hatchery’s Days Are over, Future Still in Doubt (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/34658-butte-falls-hatcherys-days-are-over-future-still-doubt/

California - Bioengineered Salmon: State Bill Seeks Clear Label (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/01/07/BA6G1H5F4D.DTL

Retiring Biologist Comments on the Plight of the Sturgeon (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/lifestyles/article_797994f6-19e0-11e0-a4da-001cc4c03286.html

Belfair - Inmates Restoring Hood Canal Habitat Also Cultivate a New Life (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Cultivating-a-New-Life-113032904.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Lakes a Big Source of Climate-Warming Gas: Study (Reuters)

http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKTRE70555620110106

Oregon Poised to Adopt the Strictest Standard for Toxic Water Pollution in the US (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/01/oregon_poised_to_adopt_the_str.html

New Utility to Oversee Water on Camano, Whidbey (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110107/NEWS01/701079925/-1/RSS02

Editorial - Basic Survival: Water Supply & Quality (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2013865902_lance07.html

Chicken Plant Isn’t Liable for City’s Water Utility Money Woes (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/01/06/33118.htm

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Cape Wind Gets Permit for Work in Fed Waters (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2013861761_apuscapewind.html

Pumped Hydro: Is it TOO Green? (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2011/01/pumped-hydro-is-it-too-green

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

An Energy Efficiency Initiative Modeled on Portland Ideas & Innovations Will Use the City as a Testing Ground (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/01/an_initiative_modeled_on_portl.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

EPA Faces First Volley from the US House (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/01/06/e-p-a-faces-first-volley-from-the-house/

EPA Wants to Issue Texas Greenhouse Gas Permits (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2013861237_apusepavstexas.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Carbon Dioxide, the Bane of Environmentalists, Is in Demand in the Oil Industry (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/01/07/us/07ttcarbon.html

Banned Four Loko Being Recycled into Auto Fuel (Inhabitat – “It’s a dessert topping…It’s a floor wax!”)

http://inhabitat.com/banned-four-loko-recycled-into-auto-fuel/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Telephone Company Merger Generates Little Pacific Northwest Static (Oregon Public Radio)

http://news.opb.org/article/34130-telephone-company-merger-generates-little-static/

FCC Head Urges Swift Action on Spectrum Crunch (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE7060I520110107

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Gregoire Proposes Turning Washington State Ferries over to New Regional District (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/jan/06/gregoire-proposes-regional-ferry-district/

US Senator Murray’s Chief of Staff Stepping Down (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/01/06/1496794/murrays-chief-of-staff-stepping.html

Washington State Representative Sharon Tomiko Santos Pleads Guilty in DUI Arrest (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2013863848_rep_tomiko_santos_arrested_for.html

Stop Crying Wolf About Municipal Bonds: They’re (Mostly) Fine (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/The-Reformed-Broker/2011/0107/Stop-crying-wolf-about-municipal-bonds-They-re-mostly-fine

GENERAL NEWS

Chance of Mason County Snow Pushed Back to Saturday Night (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/news/4272-chance-of-snow-pushed-back-to-saturday-night

Washington State Governor Rescinds Order Directing State Workers to Stop Opening Mail (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/26401047/detail.html

‘Mega’ Millionaires Claim Prize - Ephrata Couple Picked Numbers Based on Birthdays (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/01/07/1497555/mega-millionaires-claim-prize.html

Web Gaining on TV as Americans’ Main News Source (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/432827_news05.html

Belfair - ‘The Pen Man’ Leads a Double Life (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/jan/06/pen-man-leads-double-life/

From MSNBC - Bat Survivors of Australian Floods (OMG, How Cute! – Energy News Digest)

http://energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/2011/01/from-msnbc-bat-survivors-of-australian.html

DIVERSIONS

Tumbleweeds Invade Kennewick

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/01/07/1317194/tumbleweeds-invade-kennewick.html

Oops: Man’s Dream Home Accidentally Demolished

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/01/07/oops-mans-dream-home-accidentally-demolished/

Eleven Funny Fine-Print Warnings - Check Out the Hilarious Safety Precautions on These Product Labels

http://www.womansday.com/Articles/Family-Lifestyle/11-Funny-Fine-Print-Warnings.html?cid=sm_pr_warnings

New documents: Hitler-mocking dog enraged Nazis

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/01/07/international/i030741S92.DTL

SONG OF THE DAY

Sons of the Pioneers - Tumbling Tumbleweeds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=avFaTud5V90

From MSNBC - Bat Survivors of Australian Floods

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/40964403/ns/weather/