Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Energy News Digest for February 9, 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

FCC To Use Phone Subsidy Fund To Pay For Broadband (Associated Press)

Home Heating Assistance Seen At Record High (Associated Press)

Columbia Spring Chinook Salmon Season Set: Fewer Fish; More Room (Oregonian, Portland)

Idaho Sides With Utilities Over Wind-Farm Builders - Developers say the decision will dampen one of the state’s few economic bright spots (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

Moses Lake - REC Silicon Fined $10,000 by Washington State Department of Ecology – “…nitrogen oxides…If humans inhale the particles, they can result in or worsen emphysema or bronchitis, or aggravate existing heart disease…” (Columbia Basin Bulletin, Moses Lake, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Home Heating Assistance Seen At Record High
·         Oregon House Panel Takes Up - And Sets Aside For Now - Restructuring The Oregon Department Of Energy
·         1,600 Hanford Workers To Be Laid Off
·         Mason County PUD No. 3 Johns Prairie Ops Center Project Update
·         Texas Natural Gas Shortage To Generators Was A Business Decision, Industry Leader Says
·         ‘Massive’ Closures of US Coal Plants Loom
·         Search for Wind-Related Grid Problems Finds a Bigger Concern
·         Pacific Gas & Electric Hangs Onto San Francisco Electricity Monopoly
·         Columbia Spring Chinook Salmon Season Set: Fewer Fish; More Room
·         Logs Key To Elwha River Restoration, Fish And Wildlife Managers Say
·         Is Obama Swimming Upstream with Campaign Against Salmon Bureaucracy?
·         A Nez Perce Elder Spreads Love for Lamprey
·         BC Hydro Won’t Fence Off Roosevelt Elk ‘Death Trap’
·         California - Poor Economy Enables Public Land Trusts to Buy Land for Conservation
·         Two Million Gallons per Month - New Water Bottling Plant Coming To Everett
·         Congress Spends Big Bucks On Bottled Water
·         Idaho Sides With Utilities Over Wind-Farm Builders
·         Voluntary Guidelines To Avoid Bird-Wind Impacts
·         Mayor Sam Adams headed to Spain hoping to keep Iberdrola headquarters in Portland
·         Moses Lake - REC Silicon Fined $10,000 by Washington State Department of Ecology
·         REC Silicon Revenue Almost Doubled In The Fourth Quarter Of 2010
·         REC Expects Polysilicon, Solar Wafer Prices to Drop 5% in First Quarter
·         Winter, Snow, & Solar Panels: A Mixed Forecast
·         Utilities, Cool to Obama's Clean Energy Standard, Are Redefining
·         State Renewable Energy Standards Under Attack From GOP Legislators
·         Op/Ed - Washington State Energy Efficiency Victory Helps Homeowners Save Money and Cuts Pollution
·         Homeowners Tapping Super-Efficient Water Heaters To Save Money
·         Teaming Tenants and Landlords for Energy Savings
·         Global Warming Fix Heats Up Hearing With EPA Chief
·         GOP Threatens Big EPA Budget Cut Over Global Warming
·         Editorial - Protect EPA’s Authority: New Bills Would Halt Regulation Of Greenhouse Gases
·         Scientists Calculate Ghengis Khan's Carbon Footprint
·         Lawsuit By Low-Income Groups May Delay Climate Law
·         FCC To Use Phone Subsidy Fund To Pay For Broadband
·         Rent Might Help State Bill For Washington State’s Olympia Data Center
·         General Manager Takes Over Chelan County PUD Fiber Optic Build-Out
·         California - State Audit Blasts Inadequacies Of $2 Billion Court Computer System
·         Budget Frills? What Are Washington And Oregon Buying That Idaho Isn't?
·         Congressional Lawmakers Oppose Federal Bailout For States
·         Non-Profit Hospital Pay Under State Scrutiny
·         Bill Would Ban Coal-Tar Sealant In Washington State
·         Military 'Widows' Tax' Lingers

WORD OF THE DAY

Vicissitude • \vuh-SISS-uh-tood\ • Noun - 1: the quality or state of being changeable: mutability 2a: an unexpected change or fluctuation b: a difficulty or hardship usually beyond one's control

Adapting to the vicissitudes of aging, Garry Shandling’s signature line “How’s my hair?” may soon have to be changed to “Where’s my hair?”

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Home Heating Assistance Seen At Record High (Associated Press)

Oregon House Panel Takes Up - And Sets Aside For Now - Restructuring The Oregon Department Of Energy (Oregonian, Portland)

1,600 Hanford Workers To Be Laid Off (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

Mason County PUD No. 3 Johns Prairie Ops Center Project Update – Expenditure info was available…not reported (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Texas Natural Gas Shortage To Generators Was A Business Decision, Industry Leader Says - Some power companies allow cuts to service for cheaper gas, Railroad Commission is told (Austin Statesman American, TX)

‘Massive’ Closures of US Coal Plants Loom (Bloomberg)

Search for Wind-Related Grid Problems Finds a Bigger Concern (NY Times)

Pacific Gas & Electric Hangs Onto San Francisco Electricity Monopoly (San Francisco Business Times)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Columbia Spring Chinook Salmon Season Set: Fewer Fish; More Room (Oregonian, Portland)

Logs Key To Elwha River Restoration, Fish And Wildlife Managers Say (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Is Obama Swimming Upstream with Campaign Against Salmon Bureaucracy? (Fox News)

A Nez Perce Elder Spreads Love for Lamprey (High Country News)

BC Hydro Won’t Fence Off Roosevelt Elk ‘Death Trap’ (Globe & Mail, Canada)

California - Poor Economy Enables Public Land Trusts to Buy Land for Conservation (Sacramento Bee, CA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Two Million Gallons per Month - New Water Bottling Plant Coming To Everett (Everett Herald, WA)

Congress Spends Big Bucks On Bottled Water (Associated Press)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Idaho Sides With Utilities Over Wind-Farm Builders - Developers say the decision will dampen one of the state’s few economic bright spots (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

Voluntary Guidelines To Avoid Bird-Wind Impacts (Associated Press)

Mayor Sam Adams headed to Spain hoping to keep Iberdrola headquarters in Portland (Oregonian, Portland)

Moses Lake - REC Silicon Fined $10,000 by Washington State Department of Ecology – “…nitrogen oxides…If humans inhale the particles, they can result in or worsen emphysema or bronchitis, or aggravate existing heart disease…” (Columbia Basin Bulletin, Moses Lake, WA)

REC Silicon Revenue Almost Doubled In The Fourth Quarter Of 2010 (Renewable Energy Focus)

REC Expects Polysilicon, Solar Wafer Prices to Drop 5% in First Quarter (Bloomberg)

Winter, Snow, & Solar Panels: A Mixed Forecast (CNET News)

Utilities, Cool to Obama's Clean Energy Standard, Are Redefining It (NY Times)

State Renewable Energy Standards Under Attack From GOP Legislators - Montana, Colorado, Minnesota And Missouri (Reuters)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Op/Ed - Washington State Energy Efficiency Victory Helps Homeowners Save Money and Cuts Pollution at the Same Time (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

Homeowners Tapping Super-Efficient Water Heaters To Save Money (Minnesota Public Radio)

Teaming Tenants and Landlords for Energy Savings (NY Times)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Global Warming Fix Heats Up Hearing With EPA Chief (Associated Press)

GOP Threatens Big EPA Budget Cut Over Global Warming (Associated Press)

Editorial - Protect EPA’s Authority: New Bills Would Halt Regulation Of Greenhouse Gases (Eugene Register Guard, OR)

Scientists Calculate Ghengis Khan's Carbon Footprint “…Khan helped remove enough carbon dioxide from the atmosphere to offset the amount of gasoline burned today for one year. His method: Killing lots of people…”  (Christian Science Monitor)

Lawsuit By Low-Income Groups May Delay Climate Law (California Watch)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Lawsuit Targets S.C. Johnson’s ‘Green’ Labeling - Firm's internal certification process is deceptive, lawsuit says (Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, WI)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

FCC To Use Phone Subsidy Fund To Pay For Broadband (Associated Press)

Rent Might Help State Bill For Washington State’s Olympia Data Center – Hmm, locating a high-energy use data center in an area prone to earthquakes and with private utility rates…hmmm (Olympian, WA)

General Manager Takes Over Chelan County PUD Fiber Optic Build-Out (Lake Chelan Mirror, WA)

California - State Audit Blasts Inadequacies Of $2 Billion Court Computer System (Sacramento Bee, CA)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Budget Frills? What Are Washington And Oregon Buying That Idaho Isn't? (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Congressional Lawmakers Oppose Federal Bailout For States (Associated Press)

GENERAL NEWS

Non-Profit Hospital Pay Under State Scrutiny (Associated Press)

Bill Would Ban Coal-Tar Sealant In Washington State (Associated Press)

Military 'Widows' Tax' Lingers - In order to fully collect on insurance their husbands bought for them when alive, they must marry another man (Olympian, WA)

DIVERSIONS

You're Not Imagining Things: Your Cubicle Is Getting Smaller

Deaf Dog Gets Sign Language Training

False Alarm – Vatican Says Catholics Cannot Confess Via iPhone

Musical Stash Waiting To Be Found Finally Uncovered At Fort Lewis

SONG OF THE DAY

Xavier Cugat Orchestra - Walter Winchell Rhumba

1956 The Walter Winchell Show TV
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzVVDu7ldB0

Tuesday, February 8, 2011

Energy News Digest for February 8, 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 Not on Track to Meet Pollution Limits (Associated Press)

Federal Judge Upholds Washington State Building Energy Rules (Associated Press)

Texas to Probe Rolling Blackouts - State Wants to Determine if Generators Gamed Prices as Power Failed in Storm (Wall Street Journal)

Kittitas County Concerned by Community Wind Bill (The Daily Record, Ellensburg, WA)

Electric-Car Owners Might Face $100 State Fee (Seattle Times)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Texas to Probe Rolling Blackouts - State Wants to Determine if Generators Gamed Prices as Power Failed in Storm
·         Texas - State to Investigate Causes of Power Outages: Officials ask if laws & rules followed, if anyone profited
·         Wind Power to Blame? - Blowing Smoke over the Texas Blackouts
·         Texas Wind Power Helped Reliability During Super Bowl, Winter Storms
·         Mason PUD 3 Makes Emergency Repairs
·         The Battle Continues - Marin Energy Authority to Cut Rates by 14 Percent
·         Montana - Bills Critics Say Will Undermine Renewable-Power, Conservation Incentives
·         More Homes, Businesses Generate Electricity, Cash with Tennessee Valley Authority Program
·         Honey, I Broke the Fracking Planet - A Dot on the Map, Until the Earth Started Shaking
·         Could Excess Supply Foil Aluminum Prices in 2011?
·         Copper Prices & Incidences of Copper Theft Rise
·         New York - Niagara Hydroelectric Power Project Celebrates 50 Years
·         Columbia River Spring Chinook Fishery to be Announced Tuesday
·         Sturgeon Ceiling Might be Lowered on Willamette River
·         Monster Hatchery Chinook Caught in Roche Harbor Salmon Classic
·         Editorial - Does Congress Need to Intervene? The Columbia River Sea Lion Controversy Cannot Keep Dragging On
·         California Delta Chinook Salmon Run Bigger, But Still Low
·         California - Timber Company Petition to Delist Salmon Backfires
·         Oyster Reefs Are Vanishing from Overharvesting
·         Pilot Channel Removes Elwha River ‘Plug’ Above Reservoir
·         Olympia Fires Henderson Boulevard Sewer Contractor - City says company failed to meet expectations
·         Clallam County, Area Cities & PUD Pitched Water Program
·         Kittitas County Concerned by Community Wind Bill
·         State’s Largest Community Solar Project Goes Online in March in Poulsbo
·         Thurston County Commissioners Lauded for Biomass Moratorium
·         Spokane County Set to Approve Amendments to Waste-to-Energy Plant Contract
·         Op/Ed – Proposed Washington’s Biomass Incinerators Are Bad for Forests & Climate
·         Labor Coalition’s Tactics on Renewable Energy Projects Are Criticized
·         Renewable Energy: Labor Coalition’s Tactics Draw Heat
·         Obama fast-tracks Mid-Atlantic offshore wind energy
·         US House GOP Supporters of Renewable Electricity Standard in 2007 Will Now Face the Pressure
·         Federal Judge Upholds Washington State Building Energy Rules
·         A Run on Incandescents - Some Consumers Resist New Light Bulbs
·         Smart Technology Will Increase Energy Efficiency & Reliability
·         Washington State Not on Track to Meet Pollution Limits
·         Fog Burned Off by Climate Change Threatens to Stunt Muir Woods’ Majestic Redwoods
·         Keep Courts Out of Climate Policy, GOP. Lawmakers Say
·         Electric-Car Owners Might Face $100 State Fee
·         Coal Stoves Linked to Growth Problems in Kids
·         Chelan County PUD Fires Two Top Officials
·         PR Jobs, Management Under Washington State Budget-Cut Scrutiny
·         Shea Blasts ‘Vicious Personal Attacks’ over Nomination to Washington State Senate Seat
·         CEOs: Locke Obama’s Secret Weapon
·         One Killed in Travel Trailer Fire & Explosion Near Olympia
·         Shelton Man Held in Attempted West Olympia Rape
·         Reports Reveal Close Calls in the Skies over Washington
·         Report: New Coastal Doppler Will be Ready for Next Wet Season
·         Oregon Lawmakers Consider Banning Out-of-State Firewood

WORD OF THE DAY

Rapprochement • \rah-prōsh-MAW\ • Noun - Establishment of or state of having cordial relations

The rapprochement between the new copier repairman and the company’s “queen of the copy room” did not start well. After his “hi little lady” greeting, the two circled each other in the work-room like two prize-fighters, intent on finding the others’ weakness. This would not end well.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Texas to Probe Rolling Blackouts - State Wants to Determine if Generators Gamed Prices as Power Failed in Storm (Wall Street Journal)

Texas - State to Investigate Causes of Power Outages: Officials ask if laws & rules followed, if anyone profited (Austin American Statesman, TX)

Wind Power to Blame? - Blowing Smoke over the Texas Blackouts (Midwestern Energy News)

Texas Wind Power Helped Reliability During Super Bowl, Winter Storms (Electric Light & Power)

Mason PUD 3 Makes Emergency Repairs (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

The Battle Continues - Marin Energy Authority to Cut Rates by 14 Percent (Power-Gen Worldwide)

Montana - Bills Critics Say Will Undermine Renewable-Power, Conservation Incentives (The Missoulian, MT)

More Homes, Businesses Generate Electricity, Cash with Tennessee Valley Authority Program (The Tennessean, Nashville)

Honey, I Broke the Fracking Planet - A Dot on the Map, Until the Earth Started Shaking (NY Times)

Could Excess Supply Foil Aluminum Prices in 2011? (Morningstar)

Copper Prices & Incidences of Copper Theft Rise (NY Times)

New York - Niagara Hydroelectric Power Project Celebrates 50 Years (Electricity Forum)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Columbia River Spring Chinook Fishery to be Announced Tuesday (Seattle Times)

Sturgeon Ceiling Might be Lowered on Willamette River (Salem Statesman-Journal, OR)

Monster Hatchery Chinook Caught in Roche Harbor Salmon Classic (Seattle Times)

Editorial - Does Congress Need to Intervene? The Columbia River Sea Lion Controversy Cannot Keep Dragging On (The Daily Astorian, OR)

California Delta Chinook Salmon Run Bigger, But Still Low (SF Chronicle)

California - Timber Company Petition to Delist Salmon Backfires (Courthouse News Service)

Oyster Reefs Are Vanishing from Overharvesting (NY Times)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Pilot Channel Removes Elwha River ‘Plug’ Above Reservoir (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Olympia Fires Henderson Boulevard Sewer Contractor - City says company failed to meet expectations (Olympian, WA)

Clallam County, Area Cities & PUD Pitched Water Program (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Kittitas County Concerned by Community Wind Bill (The Daily Record, Ellensburg, WA)

State’s Largest Community Solar Project Goes Online in March in Poulsbo (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Thurston County Commissioners Lauded for Biomass Moratorium (Olympian, WA)

Spokane County Set to Approve Amendments to Waste-to-Energy Plant Contract (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Op/Ed – Proposed Washington’s Biomass Incinerators Are Bad for Forests & Climate (Seattle Times)

Labor Coalition’s Tactics on Renewable Energy Projects Are Criticized (Los Angeles Times, CA)

Renewable Energy: Labor Coalition’s Tactics Draw Heat (Los Angeles Times, CA)

Obama fast-tracks Mid-Atlantic offshore wind energy (USA Today)

US House GOP Supporters of Renewable Electricity Standard in 2007 Will Now Face the Pressure (NY Times)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Federal Judge Upholds Washington State Building Energy Rules (Associated Press)

A Run on Incandescents - Some Consumers Resist New Light Bulbs (USA Today)

Smart Technology Will Increase Energy Efficiency & Reliability (Northwest Public Radio)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Washington State Not on Track to Meet Pollution Limits (Associated Press)

Fog Burned Off by Climate Change Threatens to Stunt Muir Woods’ Majestic Redwoods (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

Keep Courts Out of Climate Policy, GOP. Lawmakers Say (NY Times)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Electric-Car Owners Might Face $100 State Fee (Seattle Times)

Coal Stoves Linked to Growth Problems in Kids (Reuters)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Chelan County PUD Fires Two Top Officials (Wenatchee World, WA)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

PR Jobs, Management Under Washington State Budget-Cut Scrutiny (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

Shea Blasts ‘Vicious Personal Attacks’ over Nomination to Washington State Senate Seat (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

CEOs: Locke Obama’s Secret Weapon (Politico)

GENERAL NEWS

One Killed in Travel Trailer Fire & Explosion Near Olympia

Shelton Man Held in Attempted West Olympia Rape (Olympian, WA)

Reports Reveal Close Calls in the Skies over Washington (Northwest Cable News Network)

Report: New Coastal Doppler Will be Ready for Next Wet Season (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

Oregon Lawmakers Consider Banning Out-of-State Firewood (Oregon Public Radio)

DIVERSIONS

iPhone App Allowing Catholics to Confess Sins Approved by Church

Tulare County Man Dies after Being Cut by Knife Attached to Cockfighting Rooster’s Leg

Hawaiian Restaurant Adds Surcharge for Customers Who Don’t Speak English

Irony Alert: Code Pink Protesters Bailed Out of Egyptian Fracas by Shell Oil

SONG OF THE DAY

Eric Burdon & the Animals - We’ve Gotta Get Outta This Place