Friday, July 22, 2011

Energy News Digest for July 22, 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:

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Heat Wave: Can the Power Grid Handle It? (Christian Science Monitor)

Rivers Could Rise Fast in Heat This Weekend (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

US, Seeking to Reshape Electric Grid, Adopts a Power Line Rule (NY Times)

News Release - Salmon Group Wades Into Pacific Northwest Curtailment Battle (North American Wind Power)

Hundreds of Fraudulent Signatures On Initiative - 1163 Petitions (KING-TV, Seattle)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Heat Wave: Can the Power Grid Handle It?
  • US, Canada Power Grids Ready For Heat Wave
  • States Cut Programs to Help Poor Cool Their Homes
  • US, Seeking to Reshape Electric Grid, Adopts a Power Line Rule
  • Snohomish County PUD: Working Under the Hood, First - Substation automation, fiber and sensors come before AMI
  • No Safety Conclusions in Report on Nuclear Dump
  • Editorial - Preserve Nuclear History
  • Editorial - Wanted: A New Kind of Utility Leadership at Pacific Gas & Electric
  • Michigan - Woman Electrocuted in Neighbor's Yard
  • Mischief on the Klamath: Science, Secrecy and Salmon Restoration
  • Oregon - Spring Chinook quota nearly met on Imnaha River
  • Dog Helps Discover Orca Inbreeding Habits
  • Sign of Success: Endangered Pygmy Rabbits Breed in the Wild
  • Lewis County - US Army Corps of Engineers: Twin City Levee Plan Doesn’t Pencil
  • Puyallup Tribe, State Officials Dedicate Port of Tacoma 26-Acre Habitat
  • Mount Rainier's Trees Could Hold Key to Saving Whitebark Pines
  • Othello to Flush Fluoride Out of Well
  • News Release - Salmon Group Wades Into Pacific Northwest Curtailment Battle
  • Spanish Bird Protection Group Halts Iberdrola Wind Power Project
  • Oregon - More Biomass Jobs Coming to Wallowa
  • The Pressure to Add Clean Power in California
  • Canada - Editorial: McGuinty's View of Overburdened Ontario Doesn't Travel Well
  • Clark Public Energy Adviser: Event to Feature Energy Star Technology
  • Four Ways to Survive Heat Wave & Keep Energy Bills Down
  • Incandescent Light Bulbs: What to Do Now?
  • Cloud Computing Could Lead to Billions in Energy Savings
  • North Dakota - State Has Two-Fronted Battle with EPA
  • Battelle Completes Carbon Storage Project in Ohio Valley Energy Corridor
  • In Seattle Case, Court Takes a Shine to Yellow Pages Publishers
  • Hash – The Glands of Cannabis Can Pay for Free Energy for Everyone
  • United Kingdom - Growing Popularity of Log-Burning Stoves Fuels Rise in Timber Thefts
  • Environmentalists Bad for the Environment, Former Leader Says
  • Goats-For-Hire Whack Pervasive Weed in Boise Foothills
  • Microsoft Windows Fizzles as PC Fears Loom
  • Google Spends Millions Lobbying Washington amid Inquiry
  • FCC Temporarily Halts Review of AT&T Merger with T-Mobile
  • Tulalips, Microsoft Settle Code Name Issue
  • Why Changing Twitter’s 140-Character Limit Is a Dumb Idea
  • Hundreds of Fraudulent Signatures On Initiative - 1163 Petitions
  • Glance: A Look at Friday's New Laws in Washington
  • Judge Again Denies Island County Commissioner’s Lawsuit
  • Rivers Could Rise Fast in Heat This Weekend
  • Borders Books Begins Going-Out-Of-Business Sales
  • Farm Thieves Target Grapes, and Even Bees
  • Copper Falls on Signs of Manufacturing Slowdown
  • Where Did Life Exist on Mars? NASA Chooses Landing Site for Curiosity Rover

WORD OF THE DAY

Cuspidor • \KUSS-puh-dor\ • Noun - A receptacle for spit: spittoon

“Hey look!” shouted the oafish American tourist at the Spanish bullfight, “There’s the cuspidor…there, on horseback.” “That’s the picador, you idiot,” muttered the straw-hatted, bearded expatriate writer seated one row down.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Heat Wave: Can the Power Grid Handle It? (Christian Science Monitor)

US, Canada Power Grids Ready For Heat Wave (Reuters)

States Cut Programs to Help Poor Cool Their Homes (Associated Press)

US, Seeking to Reshape Electric Grid, Adopts a Power Line Rule (NY Times)

Snohomish County PUD: Working Under the Hood, First - Substation automation, fiber and sensors come before AMI (Intelligent Utility)

No Safety Conclusions in Report on Nuclear Dump (Associated Press)

Editorial - Preserve Nuclear History (Oregonian, Portland)

Editorial - Wanted: A New Kind of Utility Leadership at Pacific Gas & Electric (SF Chronicle)

Michigan - Woman Electrocuted in Neighbor's Yard: She tried to warn neighbors of downed power line (WOOD-TV, Grand Rapids, MI)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Mischief on the Klamath: Science, Secrecy and Salmon Restoration (San Francisco Bay Area Independent, CA)

Oregon - Spring Chinook quota nearly met on Imnaha River (Associated Press)

Dog Helps Discover Orca Inbreeding Habits (KING-TV, Seattle)

Sign of Success: Endangered Pygmy Rabbits Breed in the Wild (Oregonian, Portland)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Lewis County - US Army Corps of Engineers: Twin City Levee Plan Doesn’t Pencil (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

Puyallup Tribe, State Officials Dedicate Port of Tacoma 26-Acre Habitat (Tacoma Daily Index, WA)

Mount Rainier's Trees Could Hold Key To Saving Whitebark Pines (Seattle Times)

Othello to Flush Fluoride Out of Well (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

News Release - Salmon Group Wades Into Pacific Northwest Curtailment Battle (North American Wind Power)

Spanish Bird Protection Group Halts Iberdrola Wind Power Project (Wind Power Monthly)

Oregon - More Biomass Jobs Coming to Wallowa: Arrangements nearly finalized to start plant at old mill site (Wallowa County Chieftain, Enterprise, OR)

The Pressure to Add Clean Power in California (Reuters)

Canada - Editorial: McGuinty's View of Overburdened Ontario Doesn't Travel Well -
Province with second-highest wages in Canada is looking for federal money to pay for its green energy plan (Vancouver Sun, BC)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Clark Public Energy Adviser: Event to Feature Energy Star Technology (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Four Ways to Survive Heat Wave & Keep Energy Bills Down (Christian Science Monitor)

Incandescent Light Bulbs: What to Do Now? (Los Angeles Times, CA)

Cloud Computing Could Lead to Billions in Energy Savings (GigaOM)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

North Dakota - State Has Two-Fronted Battle with EPA (Bismarck Tribune, ND)

Battelle Completes Carbon Storage Project in Ohio Valley Energy Corridor (Electric Light & Power)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

In Seattle Case, Court Takes a Shine to Yellow Pages Publishers (Courthouse News Service)

Hash – The Glands of Cannabis Can Pay for Free Energy for Everyone (NuMag)

United Kingdom - Growing Popularity of Log-Burning Stoves Fuels Rise in Timber Thefts (The Telegraph, UK – Single exposure can kill…and also lead to crime)

Environmentalists Bad for the Environment, Former Leader Says (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

Goats-For-Hire Whack Pervasive Weed in Boise Foothills (Northwest Public Radio)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Microsoft Windows Fizzles as PC Fears Loom (Reuters)

Google Spends Millions Lobbying Washington amid Inquiry (Associated Press)

FCC Temporarily Halts Review of AT&T Merger with T-Mobile (Washington Post)

Tulalips, Microsoft Settle Code Name Issue (Associated Press)

Why Changing Twitter’s 140-Character Limit Is a Dumb Idea (GigaOM)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Hundreds of Fraudulent Signatures On Initiative - 1163 Petitions (KING-TV, Seattle)

Glance: A Look at Friday's New Laws in Washington (State (Associated Press)

Judge Again Denies Island County Commissioner’s Lawsuit (Everett Herald, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

Rivers Could Rise Fast in Heat This Weekend (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

Borders Books Begins Going-Out-Of-Business Sales (KING-TV, Seattle)

Farm Thieves Target Grapes, and Even Bees (NY Times)

Copper Falls on Signs of Manufacturing Slowdown (Associated Press)

Where Did Life Exist on Mars? NASA Chooses Landing Site for Curiosity Rover (Christian Science Monitor)

DIVERSIONS

Russia Decrees Beer is Alcohol, Not Food

Walla Walla Ranked Friendliest Town in the Country

Wenatchee Named Perfect Place to Retire (Wenatchee World, WA)

New Zealand Bans Weird Baby Names

SONG OF THE DAY

Andrew Gold - Thank You for Being a Friend
(Towards the end of the song there is a “pregnant pause.” When I was a DJ, a lot of folks liked to plunk some sort of sound effect in there…or one jock was punked when someone extended the pause to about five seconds; which is FOREVER in radio.)

Thursday, July 21, 2011

Energy News Digest for July 21, 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:

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

The Bonneville Power Administration Punches Back in Wind Versus Water Fight (Oregonian, Portland)

Heat ‘Dome’ Makes Much of US Feel Like Steam Bath (Associated Press)

New Worry for Orcas in Puget Sound – Inbreeding (NW Cable News Network)

House Republicans Send Letter Raising Concerns over President Obama’s Nominee for Fish, Wildlife & Parks Assistant Secretary (US House Natural Resources Committee)

Editorial - In Our View: A Win for Clean Air: Environmentalists, PGE announce agreement; shift to coal-free power production continues (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Editorial - In Our View: A Win for Clean Air
  • Montana - Exxon Spill Highlights Gaps in Pipeline Oversight
  • Montana - Whitefish Seals Deal with Flathead Electric Cooperative for Hydroelectric Plant Output
  • Los Angeles Granted Delay to Comply with Power Plant Rule
  • Federal Transmission Ruling Expected Today
  • The Dirty Little Secret Behind the ‘Transmission Debate’
  • Split Within Nuclear Regulatory Agency
  • New York - Power Plant Water Rule Threatens Indian Point Reactors
  • France Delays New Generation Nuclear Plant
  • Can Europe Find a Safe Place for Nuclear Waste?
  • Boulder Aims for Energy Independence in the Name of Clean Power
  • Progress Energy Responds to Terrorism Threat on Utilities
  • Vermont Utilities Enter Smart Grid-Broadband Deal
  • Philly Electric Company Loses Power at Downtown HQ
  • House Republicans Send Letter Raising Concerns over President Obama’s Nominee for Fish, Wildlife & Parks Assistant Secretary
  • New Worry for Orcas in Puget Sound – Inbreeding
  • Rocky Reach Dam Getting Heavy Traffic
  • California - Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta Smelt Population Up
  • Nisqually River - Seeing Trends, Coalition Works to Help a River Adapt
  • Nisqually River - As a River Warms, Hope Beckons
  • Centralia Levee System Getting $267,000 Makeover
  • The Bonneville Power Administration Punches Back in Wind Versus Water Fight
  • Bonneville Power Administration Defends Wind Curtailment in FERC Filing
  • Solar Power Works, But Slow to Win Favor in Seattle
  • Solar Power Boom Shines for Consumers
  • Canada - Ontario’s Power Trip: Power Dumping
  • Editorial - I’m Environmentally Enlightened, But the New Bulbs Turn Me Off
  • Ohio Leads Nation in Toxic Air Pollution
  • Michael Bloomberg Gives $50 Million to Sierra Club’s Anti-Coal Campaign
  • Ethanol Industry Torn over Losing Subsidy Billions
  • California Ends $5,000 Electric-Car Rebates
  • Oregon - Clean Water Services Turns Liquid Sewage into Fertilizer; And an Energy Tax Credit
  • Tulalip Tribes Question Microsoft About Name for Company’s Social Media Project
  • Google+: The Numbers Driving Its Growth
  • FCC Delays AT&T, T-Mobile Merger
  • Why New York’s ‘Silicon Alley’ May Never Match Silicon Valley
  • Editorial - California: Amazon Trying to Buy Its Way Out of Paying Taxes
  • Aaron’s Rental Wants Pennsylvania Spyware Computer Suit Tossed
  • Washington State Worker Health Costs to Rise 5 Percent, on Average, in 2012
  • 9th Circuit Court of Appeals Reversed Again
  • $866 or $617,467? Theft Amount Issue in Trial of Former Clallam County Treasurer’s Office Cashier
  • Heat ‘Dome’ Makes Much of US Feel Like Steam Bath
  • Sun Dependent Businesses Take Hit During Puget Sound’s Bummer Summer
  • Washington State Jobs Figures Show Mixed Signals
  • Washington’s Jobs Losses in May an Error
  • Cause of Huge I-90 Crash Disputed by Semi Driver
  • Atlantis Has Landed, Ending NASA’s Shuttle Era
  • CenturyLink Field Gets Roof Makeover
  • On the East Coast, Fireflies Make a Brilliant Return

WORD OF THE DAY

Sagacious • \suh-GAY-shus\ • adjective - 1: of keen and farsighted penetration and judgment: discerning 2: caused by or indicating acute discernment

Abercrombie’s sagacious manner held the entire room spellbound. He could speak for hours on the topic of energy trading and the benefits of electricity deregulation and every audience would be on the edge of their seats. But, like trying to photograph a vampire, after the applause died away, every attendee could not mention one substantive comment Abercrombie made during his presentation.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Editorial - In Our View: A Win for Clean Air: Environmentalists, PGE announce agreement; shift to coal-free power production continues (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Montana - Exxon Spill Highlights Gaps in Pipeline Oversight (Associated Press)

Montana - Whitefish Seals Deal with Flathead Electric Cooperative for Hydroelectric Plant Output (Daily Interlake, Kalispell, MT)

Los Angeles Granted Delay to Comply with Power Plant Rule - A cooling process at its coastal power plants is blamed for killing sea life (Associated Press)

Federal Transmission Ruling Expected Today (Midwest Energy News)

The Dirty Little Secret Behind the ‘Transmission Debate’ (Grist Online)

Split Within Nuclear Regulatory Agency (NY Times)

New York - Power Plant Water Rule Threatens Indian Point Reactors (Reuters)

France Delays New Generation Nuclear Plant (Associated Press)

Can Europe Find a Safe Place for Nuclear Waste? (Christian Science Monitor)

Boulder Aims for Energy Independence in the Name of Clean Power (Reuters)

Progress Energy Responds to Terrorism Threat on Utilities (Triangle Business Journal)

Vermont Utilities Enter Smart Grid-Broadband Deal (Bloomberg Businessweek)

Philly Electric Company Loses Power at Downtown HQ (Associated Press)

FISH & WILDLIFE

House Republicans Send Letter Raising Concerns over President Obama’s Nominee for Fish, Wildlife & Parks Assistant Secretary (US House Natural Resources Committee)

New Worry for Orcas in Puget Sound – Inbreeding (NW Cable News Network)

Rocky Reach Dam Getting Heavy Traffic (Wenatchee World Blog, WA)

California - Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta Smelt Population Up; Wet Winter Appears to Have Helped (Sacramento Bee, CA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Nisqually River - Seeing Trends, Coalition Works to Help a River Adapt (NY Times)

Nisqually River - As a River Warms, Hope Beckons (NY Times)

Centralia Levee System Getting $267,000 Makeover (Associated Press)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

The Bonneville Power Administration Punches Back in Wind Versus Water Fight (Oregonian, Portland)

Bonneville Power Administration Defends Wind Curtailment in FERC Filing (Reuters)

Solar Power Works, But Slow to Win Favor in Seattle (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

Solar Power Boom Shines for Consumers (USA Today)

Canada - Ontario’s Power Trip: Power Dumping: Billions are wasted buying subsidized wind & solar power that ends up being exported at fire-sale prices (Financial Post, Canada)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Chelan PUD Earns Efficiency Award (Lake Chelan Mirror, WA)

Editorial - I’m Environmentally Enlightened, But the New Bulbs Turn Me Off (Wenatchee World, WA)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Ohio Leads Nation in Toxic Air Pollution (Dayton Business Journal, OH)

Michael Bloomberg Gives $50 Million to Sierra Club’s Anti-Coal Campaign (The Guardian, UK)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Ethanol Industry Torn over Losing Subsidy Billions (National Public Radio)

California Ends $5,000 Electric-Car Rebates (USA Today)

Oregon - Clean Water Services Turns Liquid Sewage into Fertilizer; And an Energy Tax Credit (Oregonian, Portland)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Tulalip Tribes Question Microsoft About Name for Company’s Social Media Project (Everett Herald, WA)

Google+: The Numbers Driving Its Growth (USA Today)

FCC Delays AT&T, T-Mobile Merger (SF Business Times, CA)

Why New York’s ‘Silicon Alley’ May Never Match Silicon Valley (Christian Science Monitor)

Editorial - California: Amazon Trying to Buy Its Way Out of Paying Taxes (SF Chronicle)

Aaron’s Rental Wants Pennsylvania Spyware Computer Suit Tossed (Associated Press)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Worker Health Costs to Rise 5 Percent, on Average, in 2012 (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

9th Circuit Court of Appeals Reversed Again (Wenatchee World, WA)

$866 or $617,467? Theft Amount Issue in Trial of Former Clallam County Treasurer’s Office Cashier (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

Heat ‘Dome’ Makes Much of US Feel Like Steam Bath (Associated Press)

Sun Dependent Businesses Take Hit During Puget Sound’s Bummer Summer (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

Washington State Jobs Figures Show Mixed Signals (Associated Press)

Washington’s Jobs Losses in May an Error (Northwest Public Radio)

Cause of Huge I-90 Crash Disputed by Semi Driver (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

Atlantis Has Landed, Ending NASA’s Shuttle Era (Reuters)

CenturyLink Field Gets Roof Makeover (KING-TV, Seattle)

On the East Coast, Fireflies Make a Brilliant Return (Wenatchee World, WA)

DIVERSIONS

Entire Apple Stores Being Faked in China

Amputee Tortoise Regains Mobility with Prosthetic Wheel – Looks like the wheel came from the corner hardware store!

Vanity Project Gone Wild - Rich Shiekh’s Name Can be Seen from Space

Thurston County Man Married, Arrested 1 Hour Later

SONG OF THE DAY

Django Reinhardt - The Sheik of Araby