Energy News Digest for May 11, 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 Lawmakers Slash Funds for Performance Audit (Northwest Public Radio)

http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=8773

Federal Executives Release Joint Statement on Salmon Plan - Statement follows May 9 U.S. District Court hearing on Biological Opinion (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/1084103/

Columbia River - 9th Circuit Mulls Impact of Lake Roosevelt Drawdown Project (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/05/10/36467.htm

Columbia Falls Aluminum Owners Unveil $12 Billion Stock Offering – Loses Argument for Tax Break (Hungry Horse News, MT)

http://www.flatheadnewsgroup.com/hungryhorsenews/article_614e1122-7b47-11e0-aeb9-001cc4c03286.html

Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance & BPA Debut Conservation Conduit - The first social media tool for energy professionals unveiled (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/1085539/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Columbia Falls Aluminum Owners Unveil $12 Billion Stock Offering – Loses Argument for Tax Break
• Avista Reports Financial Results for First Quarter 2011
• Chelan PUD Stepping Out of the Shadow - Utility’s financial team sees a surplus for this year
• Op/Ed - Is Our Nuclear Plant Safe? Yes
• Montana - New Power Supply Company Formed
• Southern Montana Electric Cooperative Seeks Injunction to Force City to Pay for Power
• Utah - Feds Propose Hydro Plant along Spanish Fork River
• Patagonian Hydroelectric Project Approval Spurs Violent Protests in Chile
• Feds Find Severe Safety Violation at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant in Alabama
• Illinois Governor Opposes Potential Rate Hikes for Smart Grid
• Federal Executives Release Joint Statement on Salmon Plan
• A Big Day for Tiny Fish: Sockeye Salmon Continue Long Journey to Ocean & Back
• Fewest Sea Lions Since 2003 Hanging Out Below Bonneville Dam
• Interior Dept. Strikes Deal to Clear Backlog on Endangered Species Listings
• Columbia River - 9th Circuit Mulls Impact of Lake Roosevelt Drawdown Project
• State Law Exempts Marysville from Election Requirement on Deal with Snohomish PUD
• Pacific Northwest Wind Power Production Growing Fast
• Franklin County Commissioners Learn About New Solar Projects
• Arlington Resident Goes ‘Off the Grid’
• Once Hailed, Wood Power Fizzles in Massachusetts
• Colorado - Biomass Bill Would Battle Beetle Kill by Creating New Plan, Working Group
• Canada - Tim Hudak Vows to Scrap Lucrative Green-Energy Deals in Ontario
• Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance & BPA Debut Conservation Conduit
• US Department of Energy Beefs Up Energy Star, Other Efficiency Enforcement
• Energy Efficiency - How Bad Ideas Keep Rebounding Into Public Discourse
• $20 Million Climate Change Research Project Kicks Off
• Washington State Department of Ecology Seeks Comment on Moses Lake Data Center
• Microsoft Deal Should Vastly Expand Reach of Skype
• Skype Deal May Not Pay Off for Microsoft
• Google Braces to Pay at Least $500M in Ad Probe
• Talks Continue City of Portland’s Cable Drama
• Millions of Underage Facebook Users, Survey Finds
• Washington State Lawmakers Slash Funds for Performance Audit
• US Senator Murray Wants More Stimulus Money for Roads, Bridges & Transit
• Social Media a Balancing Act for Local Law Enforcement
• Mason County - State of County Address
• Oregon, Washington among National Leaders in Efficient Transportation Spending
• Port Townsend’s Noncommercial Radio Station to Go on Air Saturday

WORD OF THE DAY

Pursy • \PERR-see\ • adjective - 1: having a puckered appearance 2: proud of one’s wealth

“Whenever Alberto doesn’t like your ideas, his face goes all pursy on you,” whispered the grizzled administrative assistant to his fresh-faced replacement. “Uh-oh,” the new hire muttered, “That’s just about all the time.”

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

Columbia Falls Aluminum Owners Unveil $12 Billion Stock Offering – Loses Argument for Tax Break (Hungry Horse News, MT)

http://www.flatheadnewsgroup.com/hungryhorsenews/article_614e1122-7b47-11e0-aeb9-001cc4c03286.html

Avista Reports Financial Results for First Quarter 2011 (Market Wire)

http://www.environmental-expert.com/news/avista-corp-reports-financial-results-for-first-quarter-2011-237755

Chelan PUD Stepping Out of the Shadow - Utility’s financial team sees a surplus for this year (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/may/10/chelan-pud-stepping-out-of-the-shadow-utilitys/

Op/Ed - Is Our Nuclear Plant Safe? Yes (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/may/10/is-our-nuclear-plant-safe-yes/

Montana - New Power Supply Company Formed (Billings Gazette, MT)

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_7a59e543-6245-5742-9981-e20493fd25c1.html

Southern Montana Electric Cooperative Seeks Injunction to Force City to Pay for Power (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20110511/NEWS01/105110310

Utah - Feds Propose Hydro Plant along Spanish Fork River (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/politics/51786587-90/utah-energy-private-fork.html.csp

Patagonian Hydroelectric Project Approval Spurs Violent Protests in Chile (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-05-10/patagonia-hydroelectric-project-approval-spurs-violent-protests-in-chile.html

Feds Find Severe Safety Violation at Browns Ferry Nuclear Plant in Alabama (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/apnewsbreak_nrc_finds_severe_safety_violation_at_browns_ferry_nuclear_plant_in_ala/2011/05/10/AF1usOhG_story.html?wprss=rss_national

Illinois Governor Opposes Potential Rate Hikes for Smart Grid (Chicago Tribune, IL)

http://newsblogs.chicagotribune.com/clout_st/2011/05/quinn-opposed-to-comed-smart-grid.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Federal Executives Release Joint Statement on Salmon Plan - Statement follows May 9 U.S. District Court hearing on Biological Opinion (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/1084103/

A Big Day for Tiny Fish: Sockeye Salmon Continue Long Journey to Ocean & Back (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2011/05/10/a-big-day-for-tiny-fish-sockeye-salmon-continue-long-journey-to-ocean-and-back

Fewest Sea Lions Since 2003 Hanging Out Below Bonneville Dam (Chinook Observer, Long Beach, WA)

http://www.chinookobserver.com/sports/great_outdoors/fewest-sea-lions-since-hanging-out-below-bonneville-dam/article_15343846-7b49-11e0-b5fa-001cc4c03286.html

Interior Dept. Strikes Deal to Clear Backlog on Endangered Species Listings (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/interior_strikes_deal_with_conservation_groups_on_endangered_species_listings/2011/05/10/AF7iX2hG_story.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Columbia River - 9th Circuit Mulls Impact of Lake Roosevelt Drawdown Project (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/05/10/36467.htm

State Law Exempts Marysville from Election Requirement on Deal with Snohomish PUD (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110511/NEWS01/705119834/-1/COMM

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Pacific Northwest Wind Power Production Growing Fast (Oregon Public Radio)

http://news.opb.org/article/northwest-wind-power-production-growing-fast/

Franklin County Commissioners Learn About New Solar Projects (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.kndu.com/story/14621052/franklin-county-commissioners-learn-about-new-solar-projects

Arlington Resident Goes ‘Off the Grid’ (Arlington Times, Marysville, WA)

http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/north_sound/arl/lifestyle/121581769.html

Once Hailed, Wood Power Fizzles in Massachusetts (Associated Press)

http://www.boston.com/news/local/rhode_island/articles/2011/05/11/once_hailed_wood_power_fizzles_in_mass/

Colorado - Biomass Bill Would Battle Beetle Kill by Creating New Plan, Working Group (Colorado Independent)

http://coloradoindependent.com/87742/biomass-bill-would-battle-beetle-kill-by-creating-new-plan-working-group

Canada - Tim Hudak Vows to Scrap Lucrative Green-Energy Deals in Ontario (Globe & Mail)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/politics/tim-hudak-vows-to-scrap-lucrative-green-energy-deals-in-ontario/article2016695/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance & BPA Debut Conservation Conduit - The first social media tool for energy professionals unveiled (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/1085539/

US Department of Energy Beefs Up Energy Star, Other Efficiency Enforcement (Environmental Leader)

http://www.environmentalleader.com/2011/05/11/doe-beefs-up-energy-star-other-efficiency-enforcement/

Energy Efficiency - How Bad Ideas Keep Rebounding Into Public Discourse: The Rebound Effect & Its Refutation (Grist Magazine)

http://www.grist.org/energy-efficiency/2011-05-10-how-bad-ideas-keep-rebounding-into-public-discourse-the-effect

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

$20 Million Climate Change Research Project Kicks Off (Northwest Public Radio)

http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=8774

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Washington State Department of Ecology Seeks Comment on Moses Lake Data Center (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

http://www.kpq.com/5-11-11---DOE-Seeks-Comment-In-Moses-Lake--more-/9815303

Microsoft Deal Should Vastly Expand Reach of Skype (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015016506_apusmicrosoftskype8thldwritethru.html

Skype Deal May Not Pay Off for Microsoft (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/morning_call/2011/05/skype-deal-may-not-pay-off-for-microsoft.html

Google Braces to Pay at Least $500M in Ad Probe (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2015017843_apustecgoogleadvertisinginvestigation.html

Talks Continue City of Portland’s Cable Drama (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/morning_call/2011/05/talks-continue-citys-cable-drama.html

Millions of Underage Facebook Users, Survey Finds (SF Chronicle, CA)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/11/BUSV1JE1G5.DTL

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Lawmakers Slash Funds for Performance Audit (Northwest Public Radio)

http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=8773

US Senator Murray Wants More Stimulus Money for Roads, Bridges & Transit (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politicsnorthwest/2015017355_more_stimulus_sen_murray_looks.html

Social Media a Balancing Act for Local Law Enforcement (Northwest Cable News)

http://www.nwcn.com/news/Seattle-Police-Social-media-121631914.html

GENERAL NEWS

Mason County - State of County Address (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/6360-state-of-county-address

Oregon, Washington among National Leaders in Efficient Transportation Spending (Oregonian, Portland)

http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting/2011/05/oregon_washington_among_nation.html

Port Townsend’s Noncommercial Radio Station to Go on Air Saturday (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110511/news/305119991/port-townsend-8217-s-noncommercial-radio-station-to-go-on-air

DIVERSIONS

Free Bob Marley! He’s Been Hijacked By Stoned Suburban Teenagers

http://www.slate.com/id/2135672/

Cicadas Re-Emerge after 13-Year Absence

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2011/0511/Cicadas-re-emerge-after-13-year-absence

Ellensburg Family Has Fun Racing Lawnmowers

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=14625618

SONG OF THE DAY

Bob Marley – No Woman, No Cry

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x59kS2AOrGM

Energy News Digest for May 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

Third Plan for Columbia Basin Dams & Wild Salmon May Still Have Holes, Judge James A. Redden Warns (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/05/governments_third_plan_for_col.html

Oregonian Editorial Board - What We’re Thinking & Writing About “…We think Redden ought to approve the biop, which is the best plan the feds…have ever produced for Columbia salmon…” (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/05/editorial_board_what_were_thin_12.html

Microsoft Buying Skype for $8.5 Billion in Its Biggest Deal Ever (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2011-05-10-microsoft-skype_n.htm

‘Fracking’ for Natural Gas is Polluting Ground Water, Study Concludes (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2011/0509/Fracking-for-natural-gas-is-polluting-ground-water-study-concludes

Feds Rank Portland General Electric No. 1 in US for Number of Renewable Power Customers (Bradenton.com)

http://www.bradenton.com/2011/05/09/3179914/doe-ranks-pge-no-1-in-us-for-number.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         ‘Fracking’ for Natural Gas is Polluting Ground Water, Study Concludes

·         Montana – Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Makes Request for Local Tax Cut

·         Ratepayers Will Pay for Removal of PacifiCorp’s Klamath Basin Dams

·         Pacific Gas & Electric’s Underground Electrical Gear Blamed for Fires, Explosions, Power Outages

·         Tacoma Utility Workers to Get Raises

·         May 17 - Planned Power Outage for Shelton-Matlock Road Area

·         Power Outages Affect Large Swath of Venezuela, Raising Concerns about Recurring Problem

·         Chile Approves Huge Dam Project in Wild Patagonia

·         Planting the Right Tree in the Right Place Prevents Risk of Injury, Power Outages

·         PJM Region Grows, But Ready For Hot Weather Power Demand

·         Third Plan for Columbia Basin Dams & Wild Salmon May Still Have Holes, Judge James A. Redden Warns

·         BiOp Oral Arguments - Redden Asks About Accountability if Future Survival Evaluations Fall Short

·         Lawyers Argue Columbia River Salmon Numbers

·         Judge Redden Hears Perhaps His Final Arguments in Salmon vs. Dams Debate

·         Oregonian Editorial Board - What We’re Thinking & Writing About

·         Columbia River Restoration Off to Good Start

·         Columbia River Spring Chinook Count Looks to Be on Par With Preseason Forecast

·         Columbia River - Four Days Added to Spring Chinook Season

·         Hood Canal Council Could Get Millions from Navy for Mitigation Projects

·         Feds Rank Portland General Electric No. 1 in US for Number of Renewable Power Customers

·         Austin Energy Top Green Power Seller in US

·         Ocean Power Technologies Testing New Wave Power Device

·         Solar Power A Natural Deep in the Mojave Desert

·         Massachusetts - Opponent of Planned Springfield Biomass Plant

·         British Columbia - Carbon Offset Target ‘Will Be Met’

·         Ice Flows - What Do 28,000 Time-Lapse Photos Tell Us About Everest’s Melting Glaciers?

·         Electric Car Grid Balancing Options Limited: Study

·         Utility Price Hikes Push Demand for Wood in Tanzania

·         Goats Enlisted to Help with Work on Oregon Levees

·         Backyard Beehives the New Buzz in Town

·         Microsoft Buying Skype for $8.5 Billion in Its Biggest Deal Ever

·         Google to Launch Cloud Music Service

·         San Francisco’s Digital Realty Gains on Data-Center Frenzy

·         Wi-Fi Networks Could be Disrupted by Climate Change

·         Congressman Doc Hastings Hospitalized

·         State Budget Negotiators Look to Outsource Some Government Functions

·         An Environmental Scorecard from Olympia

·         North Mason School District to Lay Off Librarians, Other Teachers

·         Gas Price to Drop as Oil Joins Commodities Plunge

·         No Federal Stimulus Money to Stop Washington State Railroad Mudslides

·         Mason General Hospital Gets New Name & Logo

WORD OF THE DAY

Decalogue • \DECK-uh-log\ • Noun – 1: capitalized: ten commandments 2: a basic set of rules carrying binding authority

Here’s My Decalogue

God said to trembling Moses

Now, use them wisely

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

‘Fracking’ for Natural Gas is Polluting Ground Water, Study Concludes (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2011/0509/Fracking-for-natural-gas-is-polluting-ground-water-study-concludes

Montana – Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Makes Request for Local Tax Cut (KPAX-TV, Missoula, MT)

http://www.kpax.com/news/cfac-make-request-for-tax-cut/

Ratepayers Will Pay for Removal of PacifiCorp’s Klamath Basin Dams (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/ratepayers-will-pay-removal-pacificorps-klamath-basin-dams/

Pacific Gas & Electric’s Underground Electrical Gear Blamed for Fires, Explosions, Power Outages (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_18020802

Tacoma Utility Workers to Get Raises (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/05/10/1659159/city-utility-workers-to-get-raises.html

May 17 - Planned Power Outage for Shelton-Matlock Road Area (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/Newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=861

Power Outages Affect Large Swath of Venezuela, Raising Concerns about Recurring Problem (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/world/power-outages-affect-large-swath-of-venezuela-raising-concerns-about-recurring-problem/2011/05/09/AFl5o4bG_story.html

Chile Approves Huge Dam Project in Wild Patagonia (Associated Press)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5gjJHQ6wvG-m0b51ImWx9I-FbB-3A?docId=d04c24f5797d4faebeea10c37a745d11

Planting the Right Tree in the Right Place Prevents Risk of Injury, Power Outages (Electric Energy Online)

http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=154533

PJM Region Grows, But Ready For Hot Weather Power Demand - Recession Continues to Impact Summer Demand (Electric Energy Online)

http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=154561

FISH & WILDLIFE

Third Plan for Columbia Basin Dams & Wild Salmon May Still Have Holes, Judge James A. Redden Warns (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/05/governments_third_plan_for_col.html

BiOp Oral Arguments - Redden Asks About Accountability if Future Survival Evaluations Fall Short (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/408275.aspx

Lawyers Argue Columbia River Salmon Numbers (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/may/10/lawyers-argue-salmon-numbers/

Judge Redden Hears Perhaps His Final Arguments in Salmon vs. Dams Debate (Oregon Public Radio)

http://news.opb.org/article/judge-redden-hears-perhaps-his-final-arguments-salmon-vs-dams-debate/

Oregonian Editorial Board - What We’re Thinking & Writing About “…We think Redden ought to approve the biop, which is the best plan the feds…have ever produced for Columbia salmon…” (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/05/editorial_board_what_were_thin_12.html

Columbia River Restoration Off to Good Start (Oregon Business)

http://www.oregonbusiness.com/high-five/10-high-five/5252-columbia-restoration-off-to-good-start

Columbia River Spring Chinook Count Looks to Be on Par With Preseason Forecast - Sport fishery in lower river could reopen soon (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2015005935__just_ask_anyone_who.html

Columbia River - Four Days Added to Spring Chinook Season (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/nwhookandbullet/fishing/regulations/article_e77ee95a-7819-11e0-a712-001cc4c03286.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Hood Canal Council Could Get Millions from Navy for Mitigation Projects (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/may/09/hood-canal-council-could-get-millions-from-navy/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Feds Rank Portland General Electric No. 1 in US for Number of Renewable Power Customers (Bradenton.com)

http://www.bradenton.com/2011/05/09/3179914/doe-ranks-pge-no-1-in-us-for-number.html

Austin Energy Top Green Power Seller in US (Austin Business Journal, TX)

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2011/05/09/austin-energy-top-green-power-seller.html

Ocean Power Technologies Testing New Wave Power Device (Electric Light & Power)

http://www.elp.com/index/display/article-display.articles.electric-light-power.renewable-energy.wave-title.2011.05.Ocean_Power_Technologies_testing_new_wave_power_device.QP129867.dcmp=rss.page=1.html

Solar Power A Natural Deep in the Mojave Desert (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110510/biz/705109947/-1/rss03

Massachusetts - Opponent of Planned Springfield Biomass Plant: Project ‘Full Steam Ahead’ Despite Proposed New Massachusetts Regulations (Springfield Republican, MA)

http://www.masslive.com/news/index.ssf/2011/05/opponent_of_planned_springfield_biomass_plant_project_full_steam_ahead.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

British Columbia - Carbon Offset Target ‘Will Be Met’ (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/technology/Carbon+offset+target+will/4756020/story.html

Ice Flows - What Do 28,000 Time-Lapse Photos Tell Us About Everest’s Melting Glaciers? (Slate Magazine)

http://www.slate.com/id/2292964/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Electric Car Grid Balancing Options Limited: Study (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/05/10/us-automobiles-electricity-idUSTRE7492ZD20110510

Utility Price Hikes Push Demand for Wood in Tanzania (AlertNet)

http://www.trust.org/alertnet/news/utility-price-hikes-push-demand-for-wood-in-tanzania

Goats Enlisted to Help with Work on Oregon Levees (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014998800_goats09.html

Backyard Beehives the New Buzz in Town (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015009956_bees10m.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Microsoft Buying Skype for $8.5 Billion in Its Biggest Deal Ever (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2011-05-10-microsoft-skype_n.htm

Google to Launch Cloud Music Service (Silicon Valley/San Jose Business Journal, CA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2011/05/10/google-to-launch-cloud-music-service.html

San Francisco’s Digital Realty Gains on Data-Center Frenzy (SF Chronicle, CA)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/05/09/BU1Q1JB2DH.DTL

Wi-Fi Networks Could be Disrupted by Climate Change (PC Advisor, UK)

http://www.pcadvisor.co.uk/news/network-wifi/3278771/wi-fi-networks-could-be-disrupted-by-climate-change/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Congressman Doc Hastings Hospitalized (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/story/14602290/congressman-doc-hastings-hospitalized

State Budget Negotiators Look to Outsource Some Government Functions (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/05/10/1646131/wrangle-looms-on-privatization.html

An Environmental Scorecard from Olympia (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2011/05/09/environment/20897/An-environmental-scorecard-from-Olympia/

GENERAL NEWS

North Mason School District to Lay Off Librarians, Other Teachers (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/may/09/north-mason-school-district-to-lay-off-other/

Gas Price to Drop as Oil Joins Commodities Plunge (Associated Press)

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2011/05/06/ap/business/main20060555.shtml

No Federal Stimulus Money to Stop Washington State Railroad Mudslides (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015008320_rail10m.html

Mason General Hospital Gets New Name & Logo (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/6279-new-name-and-logo

DIVERSIONS

Oregon German Shepherd Opens Kennel & Clinic Doors in Late-Night Escape from Vet’s Office

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/oregon_german_shepherd_opens_kennel_and_clinic_doors_in_late_night_escape_from_vets_office/2011/05/10/AFoDkIhG_story.html

Police: Connecticut Man Dials 911 to Solve Beer Emergency

http://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Police-Conn-man-dials-911-to-solve-beer-emergency-1372440.php

Rich Countries Not Drinking Enough Beer

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/Rich-countries-not-drinking-enough-beer-The-1372106.php

Fircrest Teacher Gets on ‘Oprah’ After Dropping 302 Pounds

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/05/10/1659148/fircrest-teacher-gets-on-oprah.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Bow Wow Wow - I Want Candy

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0MEO31mR0eo