Energy News Digest for June 16, 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

Port Of St. Helens a Potential Candidate for a Terminal to Export Coal to Asia (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/06/port_of_st_helens_potential_ca.html

Pacific Northwest - Tilting at Windmills: Teething Troubles in the Clean-Energy Sector (The Economist Magazine)

http://www.economist.com/node/18836410?story_id=18836410&fsrc=rss

Environmental Groups Seek Review of Port Townsend Paper Corp. Biomass Project (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110616/news/306169992/enviromental-groups-seek-review-of-port-townsend-paper-corp-biomass

US Congress House Moves to Bar Genetically Modified Salmon (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2015331743_apuscongresssalmon.html

Clark Public Utilities Wins Award for Energy-Efficiency Efforts (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/jun/16/utility-wins-award-energy-efficiency/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Port Of St. Helens a Potential Candidate for a Terminal to Export Coal to Asia
• Pacific Northwest - Tilting at Windmills: Teething Troubles in the Clean-Energy Sector
• Some Puget Sound Energy Customers Lose Electrical Service, Again
• California Drought Drove Up Energy Costs
• Pacific Gas & Electric to Start Widespread Installation of Smart Meters in Santa Cruz County
• Op/Ed - Chairman’s Manipulation at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Imperils Trust
• Florida - If Crystal River Nuclear Power Plant Never Comes Back Online, What Happens to Your Electric Bill?
• Germany’s Nuclear Hit to Markets
• What the US Power Industry Thinks About the Future of the US Power Industry
• Mason County PUD 3 Commission Report for June 14, 2011
• Sixth Annual Energy & Construction Best Practices Summit includes National Experts
• Duke Sees Danger if US Hooked on Natural Gas
• A Deeper Look at an Energy Analysis Raises Big Questions – Concern over Greenpeace Connection
• West Virginia - 112-Year-Old Hydro Plant Gets Modern Makeover
• Squirrel Project Has Pair of Mark Morris Students Spinning Their Wheels
• US Congress House Moves to Bar Genetically Modified Salmon
• On East Sand Island at the Mouth of the Columbia River, Cormorants & Terns Feast on Endangered Salmon
• Plenty of Fish Around to Catch, & Coastal Salmon Fishery Opens This Saturday
• Sprinkler Causes Columbia River Sea Lions to Scoot
• Darigold Admits to Dumping Ammonia, Causing Issaquah Fish Kill
• Good Grief! Man Caught Urinating in Portland’s Mount Tabor Reservoir
• Chelan PUD: Timing Not Right for Pricey Water Project
• Environmental Groups Seek Review of Port Townsend Paper Corp. Biomass Project
• Cle Elum - Teanaway Solar Reserve Work Continues
• Port Angeles’ City Pier Won’t Get Solar Panels
• When Will We See Solar Panels on the White House?
• Solar vs. Wind: Which Gets More Government Love?
• Vermont Capital Residents Approve Wood-Heating System
• New German Solar Energy Installations Slump: Sources
• Clark Public Utilities Wins Award for Energy-Efficiency Efforts
• BPA Accelerates Delivery of $35 Million to Utilities for Energy Efficiency
• Breaking News: Energy-Efficiency Programs Work, Save Us Millions
• Vampire Appliances Cause Higher Electric Bills
• Australia Power Industry Fears “Even Worse” Carbon Plan
• What Fading Sunspots Mean for ‘Little Ice Age’ Predictions
• A Solar Scientist Rebuts a Cool Sunspot Prediction
• Editorial - Horse Dung Was the Global Threat in 1898
• What Google’s Kansas City Search Won’t Turn Up: Data Center, Lots of Jobs
• Comcast Shows Off 1 Gbps Broadband
• Seattle - High-Speed Internet, Lower Parking Rates Coming to Pioneer Square
• Chromebooks Go on Sale
• Google Chromebook Works Great as Long as You’re Online
• State Moves Closer to Privatizing Liquor
• Two Credible Washington Gubernatorial Candidates Promise Vigorous Contest
• Vancouver Begins Cleanup after Riots over Stanley Cup Loss
• Hiker Bullied by Aggressive Mountain Goat near Lake Cushman
• Washington Loses Jobs in May; First Drop in Months
• New Mill, New Hope in Grays Harbor County
• Port of Olympia Busy with Timber Exports to Asia
• Lacey Senior Center Getting $1 Million Federal Grant
• Technology Pioneer Big Blue (IBM) Turns 100
• Olympic Prison Escapee Captured near Forks – Visit to wrong cabin proves his undoing

WORD OF THE DAY

Efficacious • \eff-uhKAY-shus\ • Adjective - Having the power to produce a desired effect

Ipecac relief

Efficacious music now!

Here’s the “Candy Man”

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

Port Of St. Helens a Potential Candidate for a Terminal to Export Coal to Asia (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/06/port_of_st_helens_potential_ca.html

Pacific Northwest - Tilting at Windmills: Teething Troubles in the Clean-Energy Sector (The Economist Magazine)

http://www.economist.com/node/18836410?story_id=18836410&fsrc=rss

Some Puget Sound Energy Customers Lose Electrical Service, Again (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015332825_outage16m.html

California Drought Drove Up Energy Costs (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/06/california-drought-hydropower.html

Pacific Gas & Electric to Start Widespread Installation of Smart Meters in Santa Cruz County (San Jose Mercury News, CA - Let the Hysteria Begin)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_18279886

Op/Ed - Chairman’s Manipulation at the Nuclear Regulatory Commission Imperils Trust (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2015331074_guest16rogers.html

Florida - If Crystal River Nuclear Power Plant Never Comes Back Online, What Happens to Your Electric Bill? (St Petersburg Times, FL)

http://www.tampabay.com/news/business/energy/what-happens-if-the-crystal-river-nuke-plant-never-comes-back-online/1175479

Germany’s Nuclear Hit to Markets (Bloomberg News)

http://www.climatespectator.com.au/commentary/germanys-nuclear-hit-markets

What the US Power Industry Thinks About the Future of the US Power Industry (Grist Online)

http://www.grist.org/climate-energy/2011-06-16-what-the-us-power-industry-thinks-about-future

Mason County PUD 3 Commission Report for June 14, 2011 (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/Newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=879

Sixth Annual Energy & Construction Best Practices Summit includes National Experts (Center of Excellence – Links to PDF file)

http://cleanenergyexcellence.org/wp-content/uploads/PR-Summit2011.pdf

Duke Sees Danger if US Hooked on Natural Gas (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/16/us-energy-summit-duke-santeecooper-idUSTRE75E5TY20110616

A Deeper Look at an Energy Analysis Raises Big Questions – Concern over Greenpeace Connection (NY Times)

http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/15/a-deeper-look-at-an-energy-analysis-raises-big-questions/?partner=rss&emc=rss

West Virginia - 112-Year-Old Hydro Plant Gets Modern Makeover (WBOY-TV, Clarksburg, WV)

http://www.wboy.com/story.cfm?func=viewstory&storyid=101556

Squirrel Project Has Pair of Mark Morris Students Spinning Their Wheels – Cool, squirrels generating electricity instead of causing an outage (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_ca84c7c8-96fc-11e0-af8c-001cc4c03286.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

US Congress House Moves to Bar Genetically Modified Salmon (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2015331743_apuscongresssalmon.html

On East Sand Island at the Mouth of the Columbia River, Cormorants & Terns Feast on Endangered Salmon (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/06/on_east_sand_island_at_the_mou.html

Plenty of Fish Around to Catch, & Coastal Salmon Fishery Opens This Saturday (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2015333100_plenty_of_fish_around_to_catch.html

Sprinkler Causes Columbia River Sea Lions to Scoot (KOMO-TV, Seattle – I have one of these to keep deer away from my roses…gets me sometimes also)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/123999194.html

Darigold Admits to Dumping Ammonia, Causing Issaquah Fish Kill (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Darigold-admits-to-dumping-ammonia-causing-1426064.php

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Good Grief! Man Caught Urinating in Portland’s Mount Tabor Reservoir Prompts City to Shift Water Supply (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/06/man_caught_urinating_in_mt_tab.html

Chelan PUD: Timing Not Right for Pricey Water Project (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/jun/15/pud-timing-not-right-for-pricey-water-project/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Environmental Groups Seek Review of Port Townsend Paper Corp. Biomass Project (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110616/news/306169992/enviromental-groups-seek-review-of-port-townsend-paper-corp-biomass

Cle Elum - Teanaway Solar Reserve Work Continues (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

http://dailyrecordnews.com/news/teanaway-solar-reserve-work-continues/article_92242c4a-9777-11e0-8a85-001cc4c002e0.html

Port Angeles’ City Pier Won’t Get Solar Panels (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110616/news/306169996/city-pier-won-8217-t-get-solar-panels

When Will We See Solar Panels on the White House? (Grist Online)

http://www.grist.org/politics/2011-06-14-when-will-we-see-solar-panels-on-the-white-house-barack-obama

Solar vs. Wind: Which Gets More Government Love? (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/15/idUS424144893420110615

Vermont Capital Residents Approve Wood-Heating System (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2011-06-15-Vermont-capital-wood-fuel-system_n.htm

New German Solar Energy Installations Slump: Sources (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/15/us-germany-solar-idUSTRE75E4C720110615

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Clark Public Utilities Wins Award for Energy-Efficiency Efforts (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/jun/16/utility-wins-award-energy-efficiency/

BPA Accelerates Delivery of $35 Million to Utilities for Energy Efficiency - Utilities achieve unprecedented energy savings (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/1114979/

Breaking News: Energy-Efficiency Programs Work, Save Us Millions (Grist Online)

http://www.grist.org/energy-efficiency/2011-06-15-energy-efficiency-programs-work-save-millions

Vampire Appliances Cause Higher Electric Bills (ABC News)

http://abcnews.go.com/US/vampire-appliances-higher-electric-bills-energy-waste/story?id=13846388

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Australia Power Industry Fears “Even Worse” Carbon Plan (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/16/us-australia-carbon-power-idUSTRE75F1PF20110616

What Fading Sunspots Mean for ‘Little Ice Age’ Predictions (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2011/06/15/what-fewer-sunspots-mean-for-little-ice-age-predictions/

A Solar Scientist Rebuts a Cool Sunspot Prediction (NY Times)

http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/15/a-solar-scientist-rebuts-a-cool-sunspot-prediction/?partner=rss&emc=rss

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Editorial - Horse Dung Was the Global Threat in 1898 (Toronto Sun, Ontario – which is where we get the phrase “for the birds” – ‘cause birds pecked out the undigested oats, seeds, etc from the dung. So you’re literally saying” that’s a pile of horsesh**.”)

http://www.torontosun.com/2011/06/15/manure-mania-horse-dung-was-the-global-threat-in-1898

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

What Google’s Kansas City Search Won’t Turn Up: Data Center, Lots of Jobs (Kansas City Business Journal, MO)

http://www.bizjournals.com/kansascity/blog/2011/06/what-googles-kansas-city-search-wont.html

Comcast Shows Off 1 Gbps Broadband (Gigaom)

http://gigaom.com/broadband/comcast-shows-off-1-gbps-broadband/

Seattle - High-Speed Internet, Lower Parking Rates Coming to Pioneer Square (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/123956079.html

Chromebooks Go on Sale (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/faster-forward/post/chromebooks-go-on-sale/2011/06/15/AG6qbKWH_blog.html?wprss=faster-forward

Google Chromebook Works Great as Long as You’re Online (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/columnist/edwardbaig/2011-06-15-google-chromebook_n.htm

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

State Moves Closer to Privatizing Liquor (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015332011_liquor16m.html

Two Credible Washington Gubernatorial Candidates Promise Vigorous Contest (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2015331073_joni16.html

GENERAL NEWS

Vancouver Begins Cleanup after Riots over Stanley Cup Loss (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Cleanup-begins-in-Vancouver-following-riots-over-Stanley-Cup-loss-123994204.html

Hiker Bullied by Aggressive Mountain Goat near Lake Cushman (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/123960189.html

Washington Loses Jobs in May; First Drop in Months (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015326629_apwawashjobless2ndldwritethru.html

New Mill, New Hope in Grays Harbor County (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/New-Mill-New-Hope-In-Grays-Harbor-County-123954254.html

Port of Olympia Busy with Timber Exports to Asia (Associated Press)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/jun/16/port-of-olympia-busy-with-timber-exports-to-asia/

Lacey Senior Center Getting $1 Million Federal Grant - Expansion will allow increase in programs; construction set for 2012 (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/06/16/1688927/lacey-senior-center-getting-1.html

Technology Pioneer Big Blue (IBM) Turns 100 (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2015331787_ibm16.html

Olympic Prison Escapee Captured near Forks – Visit to wrong cabin proves his undoing (Associated Press)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/jun/16/olympic-prison-escapee-captured-near-forks/

DIVERSIONS

Three Soaked When GPS Guides Car Into Mercer Slough

http://www.kirotv.com/news/28243319/detail.html

Missing Edmonton Lawn Mystery Solved

http://www.timescolonist.com/Missing+Edmonton+lawn+mystery+solved/4945094/story.html

YouTube: Teaching You More about Microwaves Than You Wanted to Know

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/06/15/youtube-teaching-you-more-about-microwaves-than-you-wanted-to-know/

Texting Juror Who Caused Mistrial Faces Judge

http://www.nypost.com/p/news/local/queens/texting_juror_who_caused_mistrial_4sfCMa2HAg9B6LoBcNAfpL?CMP=OTC-rss&FEEDNAME

SONG OF THE DAY

The Monkees - Pleasant Valley Sunday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u7ICup8O_1M

Energy News Digest for June 15, 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

Scientists Predict Rare ‘Hibernation’ of Sunspots “…Experts are now probing whether this…could be a second Maunder Minimum…a period known as the ‘Little Ice Age’…”(Associated Press)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110614/ts_afp/usspacesun

Solar Array to Provide Power at Mason County PUD 3 Operations Center - PUD Agrees to Proposal from Private Developer (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=878

Protected Birds Eating Millions of Endangered Salmon on Tiny Oregon Island (Oregonian, Portland)

http://videos.oregonlive.com/oregonian/2011/06/protected_birds_eating_million_1.html

Congressional Panel Ponders Death for Salmon-Munching Sea Lions (McClatchy News Service)

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/06/14/2266674/house-panel-ponders-death-for.html

Canada - Contract Dispute Halts Montana Alberta Tie Ltd Transmission Line Work (Journal of Commerce, Canada)

http://www.joconl.com/article/id44811

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Bonneville Power Administration Says Northwest Has Too Much Energy; Orders Wind Farms Cut Off Grid
• Massive Snowmelt Pits Wind Turbines against Water Power
• Canada - Contract Dispute Halts Montana Alberta Tie Ltd Transmission Line Work
• Coal Terminal Opponents Tell Cowlitz County Commissioners Fire is ‘Red Flag’
• Grant PUD Linemen Set for Rodeo
• California ISO Selects New President & CEO
• US Nuclear Reactors Unprepared for Total Power Loss, Report Suggests
• Political Volleys over Nuclear Waste
• German Irony: Will It Have To Import Nuclear Power?
• Major Blackouts Hit Venezuela – Again
• Protected Birds Eating Millions of Endangered Salmon on Tiny Oregon Island
• Congressional Panel Ponders Death for Salmon-Munching Sea Lions
• Sammie the Salmon Makes It to the Ocean
• Shellfish Harvesting Ban in Place along Strait of Juan De Fuca Beaches
• Taylor Shellfish - Breeding a Better Oyster
• Growing Deer Population Hurts Survival of Forests
• Lake Chelan - Lower Water Level is Raising Anxieties in Vacationland
• Elwha River Finding Its Natural Channel Once More
• Mason County - Small Increase for North Bay Sewer Approved
• Solar Array to Provide Power at Mason County PUD 3 Operations Center
• Utilities Developing More Solar Projects
• Google Invests $280 Million to Spur Home Solar Growth
• Oregon - Iberdrola Picks Biomass over Natural Gas in Klamath Falls
• Alaska - Fire Island Wind Power Project Moves Closer to Reality
• NJ Governor’s Energy Plan Draws Fire from Clean Power Advocates
• Penguin Windows to Shutter Operations
• China Takes a New Interest in Energy Efficiency
• Pay TV Boxes Hike Electric Bills, Waste Energy
• Scientists Predict Rare ‘Hibernation’ of Sunspots
• A Sun with No Sun Spots? What That Could Mean for Earth & Its Climate
• One of World’s Greenest Communities Coming to Bainbridge
• If US Senate Repeals Ethanol Subsidies, What Happens at the Gas Pump?
• WindMade™ Label Standard Presented to US Market
• How Big Data Can Save a Terawatt Hour of Energy
• Gregoire to Sign Operating Budget, Other Key Bills
• Ron Sims Leaving HUD, Returning to Northwest
• Washington State Attorney General - Reagan Dunn Runs to Succeed McKenna
• Editorial - Hands Off Sonntag’s Performance Audit Money
• Investigation Shows Accusations Unfounded in Port of Shelton Leadership Complaint
• Four Dollar Gas a Thing of the Past, at Least for Now
• La Niña’s Grip Finally Fading in Face of Summer
• Suspect Accused of Stealing $617,467 in Clallam Treasurer’s Funds, Admits to Taking $866
• Former Olympia Woman Pleads Guilty in University Of Washington Arson
• High School Graduation Rate Improves in Washington State
• Professor Says Vandalism against Olympia Photographer Not His Fault (the fault of the professor’s, that is – says the agent provocateur)
• US Postal Service Defends Five-Day Delivery Plan

WORD OF THE DAY

Bravura • \bruh-VUR-uh\ • Noun - 1: a musical passage requiring exceptional agility and technical skill in execution 2: a florid brilliant style 3: a show of daring or brilliance

“WOW” exclaimed the corporate administrative assistant to her seatmate at the local production of “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” “I knew that Montague was a theater nut, but I had no idea that he would play ‘Frank-N-Furter’ so broadly, with so much bravura,” she said.

Monty would never be seen in the same light again, as he daily wheeled the mail cart through the cubicles…the “gophers” rolling their chairs out to watch him stroll by.

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

Bonneville Power Administration Says Northwest Has Too Much Energy; Orders Wind Farms Cut Off Grid (Seattle Weekly)

http://blogs.seattleweekly.com/dailyweekly/2011/06/bonneville_power_administratio.php

Massive Snowmelt Pits Wind Turbines against Water Power (The Atlantic)

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2011/06/massive-snowmelt-pits-wind-turbines-against-water-power/240373/

Canada - Contract Dispute Halts Montana Alberta Tie Ltd Transmission Line Work (Journal of Commerce, Canada)

http://www.joconl.com/article/id44811

Coal Terminal Opponents Tell Cowlitz County Commissioners Fire is ‘Red Flag’ (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/article_b9c8240c-96e8-11e0-9a02-001cc4c03286.html

Grant PUD Linemen Set for Rodeo (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/article_19642d34-96a3-11e0-a46d-001cc4c002e0.html

California ISO Selects New President & CEO (CNBC)

http://www.cnbc.com/id/43401424

US Nuclear Reactors Unprepared for Total Power Loss, Report Suggests (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/15/u-s-reactors-unprepared-for-total-power-loss-report-suggests/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Political Volleys over Nuclear Waste (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/14/political-volleys-over-nuclear-waste/?partner=rss&emc=rss

German Irony: Will It Have To Import Nuclear Power? (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/commentary/neil-reynolds/german-irony-will-it-have-to-import-nuclear-power/article2060358/

Major Blackouts Hit Venezuela – Again – Officials blame…the crisis on excess consumption & not on the inability & incapacity of the (government) to tackle the problems (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/Latin-America-Monitor/2011/0614/Major-blackouts-hit-Venezuela-again

FISH & WILDLIFE

Protected Birds Eating Millions of Endangered Salmon on Tiny Oregon Island (Oregonian, Portland)

http://videos.oregonlive.com/oregonian/2011/06/protected_birds_eating_million_1.html

Congressional Panel Ponders Death for Salmon-Munching Sea Lions (McClatchy News Service)

http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/06/14/2266674/house-panel-ponders-death-for.html

Sammie the Salmon Makes It to the Ocean (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://ecotrope.opb.org/2011/06/sammie-the-salmon-makes-it-to-the-ocean/

Shellfish Harvesting Ban in Place along Strait of Juan De Fuca Beaches (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110615/news/306159987/shellfish-harvesting-ban-in-place-along-strait-of-juan-de-fuca-beaches

Taylor Shellfish - Breeding a Better Oyster (Northwest Public Radio)

http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=8957

Growing Deer Population Hurts Survival of Forests (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2011/06/15/137192604/what-does-more-deer-mean-for-forests?ft=1&f=3

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Lake Chelan - Lower Water Level is Raising Anxieties in Vacationland (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/jun/14/lower-water-level-is-raising-anxieties-in/

Elwha River Finding Its Natural Channel Once More (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/fieldnotes/2015325701_elwha_river_finds_its_natural_channel_once_more.html

Mason County - Small Increase for North Bay Sewer Approved (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/8685-small-increase-for-north-bay-sewer-approved

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Solar Array to Provide Power at Mason County PUD 3 Operations Center - PUD Agrees to Proposal from Private Developer (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=878

Utilities Developing More Solar Projects (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/06/utilities-developing-more-solar-projects?cmpid=rss

Google Invests $280 Million to Spur Home Solar Growth (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/06/15/1706379/google-invests-280-million-to.html

Oregon - Iberdrola Picks Biomass over Natural Gas in Klamath Falls (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2011/06/iberdrola-picks-biomass-over-natural.html

Alaska - Fire Island Wind Power Project Moves Closer to Reality (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/06/14/1706225/fire-island-wind-power-moves-closer.html

NJ Governor’s Energy Plan Draws Fire from Clean Power Advocates (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/06/14/idUS316229553820110614

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Penguin Windows to Shutter Operations - Vancouver site shut down, with 60 to 70 laid off (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/jun/14/penguin-windows-to-shutter-operations/

China Takes a New Interest in Energy Efficiency (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/16/business/energy-environment/16green.html

Pay TV Boxes Hike Electric Bills, Waste Energy (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/greenhouse/post/2011/06/cable-tv-set-top-boxes-energy-hogs/1?csp=34money

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Scientists Predict Rare ‘Hibernation’ of Sunspots “…Experts are now probing whether this…could be a second Maunder Minimum…a period known as the ‘Little Ice Age’…”(Associated Press)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20110614/ts_afp/usspacesun

A Sun with No Sun Spots? What That Could Mean for Earth & Its Climate (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2011/0614/A-sun-with-no-sun-spots-What-that-could-mean-for-Earth-and-its-climate

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

One of World’s Greenest Communities Coming to Bainbridge (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/One-of-worlds-greenest-communities-coming-to-Bainbridge-123869949.html

If US Senate Repeals Ethanol Subsidies, What Happens at the Gas Pump? (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2011/0614/If-Senate-repeals-ethanol-subsidies-what-happens-at-the-gas-pump

WindMade™ Label Standard Presented to US Market (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/american-wind-energy-association/news/article/2011/06/windmade-label-standard-presented-to-us-market

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

How Big Data Can Save a Terawatt Hour of Energy (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/cleantech/opower-how-big-data-can-save-a-terawatt-hour-of-energy/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Gregoire to Sign Operating Budget, Other Key Bills (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=14909973

Ron Sims Leaving HUD, Returning to Northwest (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=497822

Washington State Attorney General - Reagan Dunn Runs to Succeed McKenna (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2011/06/14/reagan-dunn-runs-to-succeed-mckenna/

Editorial - Hands Off Sonntag’s Performance Audit Money (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/06/15/1706389/hands-off-sonntags-performance.html

GENERAL NEWS

Investigation Shows Accusations Unfounded in Port of Shelton Leadership Complaint (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/8681-accusations-unfounded

Four Dollar Gas a Thing of the Past, at Least for Now (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2011-06-14-gas-prices-slide-4-gallon_n.htm

La Niña’s Grip Finally Fading in Face of Summer - Warmer Weather Pattern Likely by Late Month (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/weather/28234260/detail.html

Suspect Accused of Stealing $617,467 in Clallam Treasurer’s Funds, Admits to Taking $866 (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110615/NEWS/306159988/betts-accused-of-stealing-617467-in-clallam-treasurer-8217-s

Former Olympia Woman Pleads Guilty in University Of Washington Arson (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/06/14/1687035/former-olympia-woman-pleads-guilty.html

High School Graduation Rate Improves in Washington State (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/jun/14/science-still-stumps-half-wash-high-school-student/

Professor Says Vandalism against Olympia Photographer Not His Fault (the fault of the professor’s, that is – says the agent provocateur) (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=498192

US Postal Service Defends Five-Day Delivery Plan (Puget Sound Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2011/06/14/us-postal-service-defends-5-day.html

DIVERSIONS

Idaho House Infested with Snakes, Ex-Residents Say

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/06/15/1687544/idaho-house-infested-with-snakes.html

Did You Hear The One About the Stolen Front Lawn in Edmonton? It’s True!

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/hear+about+stolen+front+lawn+Edmonton+true/4942791/story.html

Mysterious Humming Noise Bedevils Tiny English Village (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2011/0614/Mysterious-humming-noise-bedevils-tiny-English-village

France is Punished for Failing to Protect Its Wild Hamsters

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/06/14/france-is-punished-for-failing-to-protect-its-wild-hamsters/

SONG OF THE DAY

Friends of Distinction - Grazing in the Grass

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxVLHaHUI4E