Energy News Digest for June 2, 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

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Power Down: Elwha Dams’ Turbines Silenced After Decades (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110602/NEWS/306029988/power-down-elwha-dams-8217-turbines-silenced-after-decades

Idaho Power Files General Rate Case with Idaho Public Utilities Commission – 9.9 Percent Overall Average Rate Increase (Electric Energy Online)

http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=156268

Ferndale Aluminum Plant Adjusting Operations “...consuming some of the extra power produced by the wet spring weather…” (KGMI Radio, Bellingham, WA)

http://kgmi.com/Ferndale-Plant-Adjusting-Operations/10022344

NorthWestern Energy Seeks to Purchase 40 MW Montana Wind Farm (Electric Light & Power)

http://www.elp.com/index/display/article-display.articles.electric-light-power.renewable-energy.wind.2011.06.NorthWestern_Energy_seeks_to_purchase_40_MW_Montana_wind_farm.QP129867.dcmp=rss.page=1.html

Pollution Threatens Nine of Washington’s Shellfish Harvest Areas (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/28100245/detail.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Idaho Power Files General Rate Case with Idaho Public Utilities Commission – 9.9 Percent Overall Average Rate Increase
• Ferndale Aluminum Plant Adjusting Operations “...consuming some of the extra power produced by the wet spring weather…”
• Bonneville Power Administration Blamed for Shelton Power Outage
• Coal Terminal Foes Dominate Bellingham Hearing
• Why Oregon Imports Power from Fossil Fuels & Exports Renewable Energy
• Oregon State Managers Cleared in Alleged Steering of Energy Contract to the Firm of the Governor’s Companion
• SmartMeter Foes Call Study on Cell Phones Vindication
• House Spending Bill Thwarts Obama on Yucca Nuke Waste Site
• Editorial - Germany’s Nuclear Energy Blunder
• New York Tells Feds Not to Frack with its Water
• South Dakota - House Panel Cuts Rural Energy, Biofuels
• Shareholders Approve $7.1 Billion Massey Energy Sale to Alpha
• PJM Interconnection Expands in Ohio
• Survey Reveals Member Perceptions - Research Finds Co-Ops Have Work to Do
• Plans for Dams in Patagonia Draw Ire from Chileans
• Brazil Grants Building License for Amazon River Dam
• Power Down: Elwha Dams’ Turbines Silenced After Decades
• Spring Chinook Fishery Above Bonneville Dam on the Columbia Extended
• Extreme Low Tide Offers Good Digging for Clams, Oysters, Geoduck
• Washington Wolf Plan Calls for 15 Packs in State
• Pollution Threatens Nine of Washington’s Shellfish Harvest Areas
• Plan for China’s Water Crisis Spurs Concern
• NorthWestern Energy Seeks to Purchase 40 MW Montana Wind Farm
• A Level Playing Field for Wind
• Wind Energy Leaders Testify to House Panel on Need for Workable Rules to Develop Wind & Protect Wildlife
• Pennsylvania - Quakertown Looks to Trash for Its Energy Needs
• United Kingdom - ‘Green Deal’ May Cover Cost of Solar Panels for Homes
• Energy Efficiency - Winslow Neighborhood Powers Down
• Aloha Shirts Ok as Japan Seeks to Beat Heat
• Environmental Protection Agency Calls Some Greenhouse Gas Data Confidential
• Op/Ed - Cap-And-Trade Is the Way Forward
• Environmental Tax Threatens Green Energy Research in the United Kingdom
• Washington State Data Center Tax Break Bill Dies in House
• Pasco Call Center Lays Off Employees
• Microsoft Demos New Windows ‘8’ for Tablets, Personal Computers
• Google: Hundreds of Gmail Accounts Hacked, Including Some Senior US Government Officials
• BYO (Bring Your Own) Device Trend Sparks Security Concerns in the Workplace
• Surewest Accelerates FTTH Build in Kansas
• Study: Washington State Spends Too Much on New Roads, Not Enough on Maintenance
• Washington State: Closing Maple Lane Juvenile Facility Will be a ‘Challenge’
• Oregon - Lake Oswego Considering Reversal of Utility Fee Increases for School District Aid
• Trial of Mason County Hunter Accused of Shooting Brush Picker Goes to Jury
• Oops: Everett Fire Station Built in the Wrong Location
• Judges Warn Jurors about Posting to Blogs, Facebook
• Bid a Costly Goodbye to These Food Pyramids
• WA Residents Can Still Get Free Training on Microsoft Programs
• Photos from Stolen Laptop Lead to Man’s Arrest
• Bird-Dogging News Errors in the Modern Media Age

WORD OF THE DAY

Iota • \eye-OWE-tuh\ • Noun - 1: the 9th letter of the Greek alphabet 2: an infinitesimal amount: jot

“I don’t give a flying fig, a jot, a tiny bit, one iota, about your promotion,” barked the perennially rejected executive candidate to his effusive office mate.

Merriam-Webster Word Origin - The words “iota” and “jot” share a lot more than just a common meaning -- both ultimately derive from the same word. When Latin scholars transcribed the Greek name of the ninth letter of the Greek alphabet, they spelled it as either “iota” or “jota” (the letters “i” and “j” were simply variants of each other), and these spellings eventually passed into English as “iota” and “jot.” Since the Greek letter iota is the smallest letter of its alphabet, both words eventually came to be used in reference to very small things.

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

Idaho Power Files General Rate Case with Idaho Public Utilities Commission – 9.9 Percent Overall Average Rate Increase (Electric Energy Online)

http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=156268

Ferndale Aluminum Plant Adjusting Operations “...consuming some of the extra power produced by the wet spring weather…” (KGMI Radio, Bellingham, WA)

http://kgmi.com/Ferndale-Plant-Adjusting-Operations/10022344

Bonneville Power Administration Blamed for Shelton Power Outage (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/7844-bpa-blamed-for-power-outage-

Coal Terminal Foes Dominate Bellingham Hearing (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015214339_apwabellinghamcoalterminal.html

Why Oregon Imports Power from Fossil Fuels & Exports Renewable Energy (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://ecotrope.opb.org/2011/06/why-oregon-imports-power-from-fossil-fuels-and-exports-renewable-energy/

Oregon State Managers Cleared in Alleged Steering of Energy Contract to the Firm of the Governor’s Companion (Associated Press)

http://www.registerguard.com/web/newslocalnews/26325449-41/state-department-energy-contract-cleared.html.csp

SmartMeter Foes Call Study on Cell Phones Vindication (SF Chronicle, CA)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/06/02/BUT31JO9MN.DTL

House Spending Bill Thwarts Obama on Yucca Nuke Waste Site (The Hill)

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/677-e2-wire/164163-house-spending-bill-thwarts-obama-on-yucca-nuke-waste-site

Editorial - Germany’s Nuclear Energy Blunder (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/germanys-nuclear-energy-blunder/2011/05/31/AGjjGkGH_story.html

New York Tells Feds Not to Frack with its Water (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/06/02/37018.htm

South Dakota - House Panel Cuts Rural Energy, Biofuels (Sioux Falls Argus Leader, SD)

http://www.argusleader.com/article/20110528/NEWS/105280302/1001/news

Shareholders Approve $7.1 Billion Massey Energy Sale to Alpha (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/02/business/02coal.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

PJM Interconnection Expands in Ohio (Philadelphia Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/philadelphia/news/2011/06/01/pjm-interconnection-expands-territory.html

Survey Reveals Member Perceptions - Research Finds Co-Ops Have Work to Do “…getting younger electric co-op members to see themselves as ‘members’ rather than as ‘customers’ remains a challenge…” (Electric Coop Today)

http://www.ect.coop/editors-pick/survey-reveals-member-perceptions/30125

Plans for Dams in Patagonia Draw Ire from Chileans (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2011/06/01/136855319/plans-for-dams-in-patagonia-draw-ire-from-chileans?ft=1&f=2

Brazil Grants Building License for Amazon Dam (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Brazil-grants-building-license-for-Amazon-dam-1404517.php

FISH & WILDLIFE

Power Down: Elwha Dams’ Turbines Silenced After Decades (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110602/NEWS/306029988/power-down-elwha-dams-8217-turbines-silenced-after-decades

Spring Chinook Fishery Above Bonneville Dam on the Columbia Extended (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2015208888_spring_chinook_fishery_above_b.html

Extreme Low Tide Offers Good Digging for Clams, Oysters, Geoduck (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2015209066_fish02.html

Washington Wolf Plan Calls for 15 Packs in State (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015214431_apwawolfplan1stldwritethru.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Pollution Threatens Nine of Washington’s Shellfish Harvest Areas (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/28100245/detail.html

Plan for China’s Water Crisis Spurs Concern (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/02/world/asia/02water.html?_r=1&partner=rss&emc=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

NorthWestern Energy Seeks to Purchase 40 MW Montana Wind Farm (Electric Light & Power)

http://www.elp.com/index/display/article-display.articles.electric-light-power.renewable-energy.wind.2011.06.NorthWestern_Energy_seeks_to_purchase_40_MW_Montana_wind_farm.QP129867.dcmp=rss.page=1.html

A Level Playing Field for Wind (Midwest Energy News)

http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2011/06/01/a-level-playing-field-for-wind/

Wind Energy Leaders Testify to House Panel on Need for Workable Rules to Develop Wind & Protect Wildlife (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/american-wind-energy-association/news/article/2011/06/wind-energy-leaders-testify-to-house-panel-on-need-for-workable-rules-to-develop-wind-and-protect-wildlife?cmpid=rss

Pennsylvania - Quakertown Looks to Trash for Its Energy Needs (Courier Times News, Levittown, PA)

http://www.phillyburbs.com/my_town/quakertown/quakertown-looks-to-trash-for-its-energy-needs/article_72294c03-a016-53cc-a670-c2d2f605762b.html

United Kingdom - ‘Green Deal’ May Cover Cost of Solar Panels for Homes: Small-scale energy generation may be eligible for the government-backed loan scheme for householders (The Guardian, UK)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/jun/02/green-deal-solar-panels

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Energy Efficiency - Winslow Neighborhood Powers Down (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/jun/01/winslow-neighborhood-powers-down/

Aloha Shirts Ok as Japan Seeks to Beat Heat (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/02/uk-environment-japan-cool-idUSLNE75100M20110602

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Environmental Protection Agency Calls Some Greenhouse Gas Data Confidential (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/05/31/36969.htm

Op/Ed - Cap-And-Trade Is the Way Forward (SF Chronicle, CA)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/06/01/ED2H1JNJUO.DTL

Environmental Tax Threatens Green Energy Research in the United Kingdom - Carbon reduction commitment (CRC) scheme has ‘perverse effect’ of threatening zero-carbon energy research (The Guardian, UK)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2011/may/30/environmental-tax-threatens-green-energy-research

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Washington State Data Center Tax Break Bill Dies in House (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/article_9fa7c25c-8ba4-11e0-9537-001cc4c03286.html

Pasco Call Center Lays Off Employees (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.kndu.com/story/14823716/call-center-lays-off-employees

Microsoft Demos New Windows ‘8’ for Tablets, Personal Computers (Associated Press)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/06/01/financial/f171546D44.DTL

Google: Hundreds of Gmail Accounts Hacked, Including Some Senior US Government Officials (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-tech/post/google-hundreds-of-gmail-accounts-hacked-including-some-senior-us-government-officials/2011/06/01/AGgASgGH_blog.html

BYO (Bring Your Own) Device Trend Sparks Security Concerns in the Workplace (TechFlash)

http://www.techflash.com/seattle/2011/05/seattle-vc-firms-back-Mobilisafe.html

Surewest Accelerates FTTH Build in Kansas - As 1 Gbps Google Fiber Looms on Horizon (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Surewest-Accelerates-FTTH-Build-in-Kansas-114498

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Study: Washington State Spends Too Much on New Roads, Not Enough on Maintenance (PulbiCola)

http://publicola.com/2011/06/01/study-state-spends-too-much-on-new-roads-not-enough-on-maintenance/

Washington State: Closing Maple Lane Juvenile Facility Will be a ‘Challenge’ (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/State-Closing-juvenile-facility-will-be-a-challenge-122984003.html

Oregon - Lake Oswego Considering Reversal of Utility Fee Increases for School District Aid (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/lake-oswego/index.ssf/2011/06/lake_oswego_considering_reversal_of_utility_fee_increases_for_school_district_aid.html

GENERAL NEWS

Trial of Mason County Hunter Accused of Shooting Brush Picker Goes to Jury (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/jun/01/trial-of-mason-county-hunter-accused-of-shooting/

Oops: Everett Fire Station Built in the Wrong Location (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110602/blog40/110609968/-1/rss02

Judges Warn Jurors about Posting to Blogs, Facebook (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=490998

Bid a Costly Goodbye to These Food Pyramids (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2011/06/02/bid-a-costly-goodbye-to-these-food-pyramids/

WA Residents Can Still Get Free Training on Microsoft Programs (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/122972508.html

Photos from Stolen Laptop Lead to Man’s Arrest (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2015207301_apusstolenlaptoptrackingsoftware.html

Bird-Dogging News Errors in the Modern Media Age - Studies show that 40 to 60 percent of news stories contain errors (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2011/05/27/media/20951/Bird-dogging-news-errors-in-the-modern-media-age/

DIVERSIONS

Oilers Player Picks Up Hitchhiker: Bono

http://www.kirotv.com/sports/28107213/detail.html

Teen Says He’s Inherited Millions from Long-Lost Aunt - Better Business Bureau Skeptical, Says It’s a Scam

http://www.wsmv.com/news/28089091/detail.html?taf=nash

Mid-Air Smackdown: Brawl over Reclined Seat Diverts United Flight

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/06/01/mid-air-smackdown-brawl-over-reclined-seat-diverts-united-flight/

Vigilante Justice - Seattle Man Accused of ‘Keying’ Improperly Parked Cars

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=14824409

SONG OF THE DAY

U2 - Where the Streets Have No Name

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

Energy News Digest for June 1, 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

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Elwha Dam Powerhouse Crew Finishing Mission with Shutdown at 8 AM Today (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110601/news/306019985/dam-powerhouse-crew-finishing-mission-with-shutdown-at-8-am-today

Cheapest Electricity in the Entire Country - But many challenges face PUDs in North Central Washington (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/jun/01/cheapest-electricity-in-the-entire-country-but/

Idaho PUC to Hear Oral Arguments in Wind Dispute (North American Wind Power)

http://www.nawindpower.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.7971

Germany’s Move Away from Nuclear Power Could Spread to US (Tulsa World, OK)

http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=49&articleid=20110601_49_E1_CUTLIN412147&allcom=1

Washington State Retirees Fight for Cost of Living Increases - The Retired Public Employees Council says the state might be obligated to continue the increases (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/05/31/1670025/retirees-fight-for-colas.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Germany’s Move Away from Nuclear Power Could Spread to US
• Germany Moves to Shutter Nuclear Power Stations
• Germany Nuclear Power Substitute? Coal from Australia
• Solar Stocks Surge on Germany’s Anti-Nuke Vow
• No Damage from Lightning-Caused Outage in Chelan County
• Electricity Restored on Tahuya River Rd - 229 Mason PUD 3 Customers Affected during Emergency Equipment Repair
• Fitch Rates Energy Northwest Electric Revenue & Refunding Bonds ‘AA’; Outlook Stable
• Mason PUD 3 Commission Report for May 31, 2011
• Arizona Utilities Want to Give ‘Decoupling’ a Whirl
• Washington, DC - Thousands in Dark, Cooling Centers Open amid Heat Wave
• United Kingdom - Shale Gas Firm Halts Drilling After Earth Tremor
• Opportunity in the Internet’s Voracious Energy Appetite
• Canadian Utility Fortis to Buy Vermont Power Company for $470 Million
• Barriers to Investment in North American Electricity Infrastructure Will Saddle Consumers with Higher Electricity Costs
• Socializing Transmission Costs
• Cheapest Electricity in the Entire Country - But many challenges face PUDs
• Power of Water - Public Utilities’ Harvest of Megawatts Fuels Economic Growth
• Hydro: The Profit Sweetener
• Editorial - Electricity Gives Us a Powerful Advantage
• Elwha Dam Powerhouse Crew Finishing Mission with Shutdown at 8 AM Today
• Two Elwha River Dams Unplugged on Wednesday
• Glut of Fish Means Copper River Salmon Bargain
• Saving White Oak Trees … By Climbing Them?
• High Water Levels on Columbia River Prompt Warning for Riverfront Parks, Docks, Boat Launches
• Idaho PUC to Hear Oral Arguments in Wind Dispute
• Dayco Installs Its First Tri-Cities Residential Wind Turbine
• New Hampshire - Debate over Biomass Plant Heats Up: Regulators suspend order for approval
• Oregon - Solar Power for a More Sustainable Spud
• Canada - Solar Power Industry Seeks Higher Profile, Government Support
• Already Part of Local Renewable Stock, Wind Energy Poised for Growth in San Diego
• Hydropower Tunnel under Niagara Falls
• Maine - Hydroelectric Dams’ Owner May Sell Operations to Belfast
• Making the Case for Spinning Reserve on the Grid
• How Close Are Large-Scale Ocean Energy Projects? – Snohomish PUD on the Panel
• Ideas to Reduce Energy Costs
• Did NJ Governor Chris Christie Just Doom US Climate Policy?
• Will Recovering Global Economy Thwart Efforts to Curb Global Warming?
• Electric Car Fast-Chargers Coming to I-5 in Oregon
• Are GM Dealerships Gaming Chevy Volt Tax Credit?
• Fiji Water Nixes Suit over Green Drop Labels
• Apple to Unveil iCloud Next Week - Meet Your Newest Cap Eater
• Microsoft Cloud Service Office 365 Launches in June
• Dell Wants to Buy ‘Everything around Data Centers’
• Wi-Fi to Overtake Wired Network Traffic by 2015
• The FCC Needs More Fixes, Fewer Excuses for the National Broadband Map
• Slate Misses the Real Story about Broadband Data & the FCC
• Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt Thinks Lack of Response to Facebook Was His Biggest Mistake
• Data Security with Cloud Computing
• Protect Your Wireless Network
• Washington State Retirees Fight for Cost of Living Increases
• Getting Married Doesn’t Count as Looking for Work, Washington State Reminds
• Sex Change Benefits Proposed for Portland Workers
• Woman Accused in Fraud Scam - JBLM soldiers among those she allegedly recruited to pay bills fraudulently: military exchanges, Tacoma Public Utilities & other businesses victimized
• Washington State Representatives Debolt, Alexander Boycott Maple Lane Closing Ceremony
• Port of Shelton Approves Mason Area Fair Agreement
• City of Shelton’s “K” Street Restoration
• World Health Organization: Cellphones Possibly Carcinogenic
• Head to Head: Is the Rise of New Electronic Social Media Progress or Distraction?
• America’s Looming Helium Crisis - No, Really

WORD OF THE DAY

Deleterious • \dell-uh-teer-ee-uss\ • Adjective - Harmful often in a subtle or unexpected way

“Hey man, is that a third ear growing out of the side of your head,” shouted a pizza-faced hoodlum at the cell-phone addicted businessman who was standing at a mid-town taxi stand. Bartholomew had been so infatuated with his constant cell conversations over the past year that he had not noticed the deleterious results of his addiction. “Well, at least it’s not a tumor,” he mumbled under his breath.

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

Germany’s Move Away from Nuclear Power Could Spread to US (Tulsa World, OK)

http://www.tulsaworld.com/business/article.aspx?subjectid=49&articleid=20110601_49_E1_CUTLIN412147&allcom=1

Germany Moves to Shutter Nuclear Power Stations (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2011/05/31/136829606/germany-moves-to-shutter-nuclear-power-stations?ft=1&f=2

Germany Nuclear Power Substitute? Coal from Australia (Huffington Post)

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2011/06/01/germany-nuclear-energy_n_869536.html

Solar Stocks Surge on Germany’s Anti-Nuke Vow (Associated Press)

http://money.msn.com/business-news/article.aspx?feed=AP&date=20110531&id=13711251

No Damage from Lightning-Caused Outage in Chelan County (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/may/31/no-damage-from-lightning-caused-outage/

Electricity Restored on Tahuya River Rd - 229 Mason PUD 3 Customers Affected during Emergency Equipment Repair (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/Newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=871

Fitch Rates Energy Northwest Electric Revenue & Refunding Bonds ‘AA’; Outlook Stable (BusinessWire)

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20110531007117/en/Fitch-Rates-Energy-Northwest-Electric-Revenue-Refunding

Mason PUD 3 Commission Report for May 31, 2011 (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/Newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=872

Arizona Utilities Want to Give ‘Decoupling’ a Whirl - utilities are beginning to ask regulators to “decouple” their prices from the volume of their sales, which proponents said will encourage conservation (Arizona Republic, Phoenix)

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/business/articles/2011/06/01/20110601biz-efficiency0601.html

Washington, DC - Thousands in Dark, Cooling Centers Open amid Heat Wave (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post_now/post/electricity-regulator-out-of-electricity/2011/05/31/AGZ5YvFH_blog.html

United Kingdom - Shale Gas Firm Halts Drilling After Earth Tremor (Reuters)

http://uk.reuters.com/article/2011/06/01/uk-britain-shale-cuadrilla-idUKTRE75024H20110601

Opportunity in the Internet’s Voracious Energy Appetite: The Cloud Begins with Coal - And Fracking “…Watch a live stream of a Major League Baseball game…and you…are using about as much energy as driving about 30 miles in your favorite car…” (Forbes Magazine)

http://blogs.forbes.com/markpmills/2011/05/31/opportunity-in-the-internets-voracious-energy-appetite-the-cloud-begins-with-coal-and-fracking/

Canadian Utility Fortis to Buy Vermont Power Company for $470 Million (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2015187631_apusfortis.html

Barriers to Investment in North American Electricity Infrastructure Will Saddle Consumers with Higher Electricity Costs (Fraser Institute)

http://www.fraserinstitute.org/research-news/news/display.aspx?id=17575

Socializing Transmission Costs (Energy Biz)

http://www.energybiz.com/article/11/05/socializing-transmission-costs

WATER POWER SPOTLIGHTED IN THE WENATCHEE WORLD

Cheapest Electricity in the Entire Country - But many challenges face PUDs in North Central Washington (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/jun/01/cheapest-electricity-in-the-entire-country-but/

Power of Water - Public Utilities’ Harvest of Megawatts Fuels Economic Growth (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/jun/01/power-of-water-public-utilities-harvest-of/

Hydro: The Profit Sweetener (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/jun/01/hydro-the-profit-sweetener/

Editorial - Electricity Gives Us a Powerful Advantage (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/jun/01/electricity-gives-us-a-powerful-advantage/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Elwha Dam Powerhouse Crew Finishing Mission with Shutdown at 8 AM Today (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110601/news/306019985/dam-powerhouse-crew-finishing-mission-with-shutdown-at-8-am-today

Two Elwha River Dams Unplugged on Wednesday (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015202387_elwha02m.html

Glut of Fish Means Copper River Salmon Bargain (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=490289

Saving White Oak Trees … By Climbing Them? (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://ecotrope.opb.org/2011/05/treeversing-oak-savannah-without-touching-the-ground/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

High Water Levels on Columbia River Prompt Warning for Riverfront Parks, Docks, Boat Launches (NCWTV)

http://www.ncwtv.com/news/local/High-water-levels-on-Columbia-River-prompt-warning-for-riverfront-parks-docks-boat-launches-122904479.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Idaho PUC to Hear Oral Arguments in Wind Dispute (North American Wind Power)

http://www.nawindpower.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.7971

Dayco Installs Its First Tri-Cities Residential Wind Turbine (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.kndu.com/story/14758945/dayco-installs-its-first-residential-wind-turbine

New Hampshire - Debate over Biomass Plant Heats Up: Regulators suspend order for approval (Associated Press)

http://www.concordmonitor.com/article/259927/debate-over-biomass-plant-heats-up

Oregon - Solar Power for a More Sustainable Spud (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/solar-power-more-sustainable-spud/

Canada - Solar Power Industry Seeks Higher Profile, Government Support - Clean energy expert cautions advocates on headwinds, “delusions” (Vancouver Sun, BC)

http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Solar+power+industry+seeks+higher+profile+government+support+clean+energy+expert+cautions+advocates/4870413/story.html

Already Part of Local Renewable Stock, Wind Energy Poised for Growth in San Diego (San Diego Daily Transcript, CA)

http://www.sddt.com/Green/article.cfm?SourceCode=20110527czl

Hydropower Tunnel under Niagara Falls (Renewable Energy Focus)

http://www.renewableenergyfocus.com/view/18260/hydropower-tunnel-under-niagara-falls/

Maine - Hydroelectric Dams’ Owner May Sell Operations to Belfast (Bangor Daily News, ME)

http://new.bangordailynews.com/2011/05/28/news/hydroelectric-dams%E2%80%99-owner-may-sell-operations-to-belfast/

Making the Case for Spinning Reserve on the Grid (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/05/making-the-case-for-spinning-reserve-on-the-grid?cmpid=rss

How Close Are Large-Scale Ocean Energy Projects? – Snohomish PUD on the Panel (Lexology)

http://www.lexology.com/library/detail.aspx?g=9686fcec-1f35-417f-852f-bf27e9e311af

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Ideas to Reduce Energy Costs (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/jun/01/ideas-to-reduce-energy-costs/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Did NJ Governor Chris Christie Just Doom US Climate Policy? (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/did-chris-christie-just-doom-us-climate-policy/2011/05/31/AGQicWFH_blog.html

Will Recovering Global Economy Thwart Efforts to Curb Global Warming? (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2011/0531/Will-recovering-global-economy-thwart-efforts-to-curb-global-warming

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Electric Car Fast-Chargers Coming to I-5 in Oregon (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=14776090

Are GM Dealerships Gaming Chevy Volt Tax Credit? (National Legal & Policy Statement)

http://nlpc.org/stories/2011/04/25/taxpayer-rip-dealerships-taking-chevy-volt-tax-credit

Fiji Water Nixes Suit over Green Drop Labels (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/05/31/36964.htm

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Apple to Unveil iCloud Next Week - Meet Your Newest Cap Eater (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Apple-to-Unveil-iCloud-Next-Week-114462

Microsoft Cloud Service Office 365 Launches in June (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/microsoftpri0/2015193438_microsoft_cloud_service_office_365_launches_in_jun.html

Dell Wants to Buy ‘Everything around Data Centers’ (Austin Business Journal, TX)

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/news/2011/05/31/dell-wants-to-buy-everything-around.html

Wi-Fi to Overtake Wired Network Traffic by 2015 (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/broadband/cisco-wifi-vni-report/

The FCC Needs More Fixes, Fewer Excuses for the National Broadband Map (Slate Magazine)

http://www.slate.com/id/2295880/

Slate Misses the Real Story about Broadband Data & the FCC - The FCC responds to the Slate article “Map to Nowhere.” (Slate Magazine)

http://www.slate.com/id/2295855/

Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt Thinks Lack of Response to Facebook Was His Biggest Mistake (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/former-google-ceo-eric-schmidt-thinks-lack-of-response-to-facebook-was-his-biggest-mistake/2011/05/31/AGRS7tFH_story.html

Data Security with Cloud Computing (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110601/biz/110529836/-1/rss03

Protect Your Wireless Network (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/kimkomando/2011-05-27-wireless-network-security_n.htm?csp=34tech

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Retirees Fight for Cost of Living Increases - The Retired Public Employees Council says the state might be obligated to continue the increases (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/05/31/1670025/retirees-fight-for-colas.html

Getting Married Doesn’t Count as Looking for Work, Washington State Reminds (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/06/01/1688179/getting-married-doesnt-count-as.html

Sex Change Benefits Proposed for Portland Workers (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/122952033.html

GENERAL NEWS

Woman Accused in Fraud Scam - JBLM soldiers among those she allegedly recruited to pay bills fraudulently: military exchanges, Tacoma Public Utilities & other businesses victimized (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/06/01/1671276/woman-accused-in-scam.html

Washington State Representatives Debolt, Alexander Boycott Maple Lane Closing Ceremony (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/05/31/1671157/debolt-alexander-boycott-maple.html

Port of Shelton Approves Mason Area Fair Agreement (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/7739-port-approves-fair-agreement

City of Shelton’s “K” Street Restoration (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/7741-qkq-street-restoration

World Health Organization: Cellphones Possibly Carcinogenic (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/2011-05-31-cellular-radiation-cancer_n.htm

Head to Head: Is the Rise of New Electronic Social Media Progress or Distraction? (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/06/01/3667329/is-the-rise-of-new-electronic.html

America’s Looming Helium Crisis - No, Really (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/americas-looming-helium-crisis-no-really/2011/05/31/AGZIBdFH_blog.html

DIVERSIONS

40 Years Later: Collectors Keyed Up over Ford Pinto

http://www.npr.org/2011/05/31/136824864/40-years-later-collectors-keyed-up-over-ford-pinto?ft=1&f=2

Walt Disney Surrenders to Navy’s SEAL Team 6

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052702304066504576345752703592770.html?mod=ITP_marketplace_0

Circus Elephants Help with Joplin Cleanup

http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2011/05/31/circus-elephants-help-with-joplin-cleanup/

Family Fights Kitsap County over Safety of Tree House

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=490078

SONG OF THE DAY

Carly Simon - Boys in the Trees

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOdROKjoR7w