Bonneville
Power Administration to Switch to Two-Tier Rate System in October (The
Hermiston Herald, OR)
Friday, September 2, 2011
Energy News Digest for September 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.
THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER
Follow
the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:
HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES
Tsunami Warning Lifted After 6.8 Earthquake Near
Alaska (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)
Upriver Salmon Runs Making a Move; Large Numbers
of Fall Chinook Passing Bonneville Dam Daily (Columbia Basin Bulletin)
Supreme Inconsistency? McKenna Rulings 180 Degrees
Apart (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
Wait for Electricity Frays Nerves as New England
Begins to Clean Up (Associated Press)
US
Solar Firms’ Woes Boost China (Sacramento Bee, CA)
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Supreme Inconsistency? McKenna Rulings 180 Degrees Apart
- Wait for Electricity Frays Nerves as New England Begins to Clean Up
- Irene Aftermath: Which States are Restoring Power the Quickest - And Why?
- Was a Downed Power Line Used as a Weapon During Irene?
- Officials Celebrate New Moses Lake BMW Plant
- Grant PUD Plans to Refinance Debt, Construct Power Line
- Snohomish PUD’s New Control Room Will Allow for Huge Map to Track Repairs, Emergencies
- Natural Gas - NW Natural Seeks Rate Reductions in Washington & Oregon
- Idaho - Avista Rate Hearings Sept. 13 in Coeur d’Alene
- California – Pacific Gas & Electric Fires Four Inspectors over False Electrical Inspections
- California - Another Pacific Gas & Electric Blast Draws Feds’ Attention
- Quake Risk to Nuclear Reactors Greater Than Thought
- Obama Decides Against Change in Ozone Standards
- Nebraska Governor Urges Obama to Deny Cross-Country Pipeline Permit
- Keystone XL Primer: Why Nebraska is Ground Zero in the Pipeline Fight
- Editorial - Keystone Would Bring Jobs as Well as Crude Oil
- Tennessee Valley Authority among Top Utilities for Economic Development for Sixth Straight Year
- Upriver Salmon Runs Making a Move; Large Numbers of Fall Chinook Passing Bonneville Dam Daily
- Snake River Sockeye Recovery on Track This Year; 120 Trapped Fish of Natural Origin
- Fishing Boats Making a Good Haul of Pink Salmon This Season
- Op/Ed - Ensuring Fish Restoration after the Elwha Dams Come Out
- Keeping Industrial Plants Cool & Fish Alive
- Pacific County, Oysterville Sea Farms at Odds over Zoning Rules
- Study Calls for Halting Oyster Fishing in Chesapeake Bay
- Eleven Years of Warm Water in the Columbia River
- A Hiker’s Plight: How to Help When Water Runs Low
- US Solar Firms’ Woes Boost China
- Solar Power Pandemonium - House Republicans Step Up Solyndra Investigation
- Columnist - Solar Energy’s Future in Not-So-Sunny Places
- California - Measures Ease Environmental Permit Process for Renewable Energy Projects
- Editorial - Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Renewable Energy Revolution
- Portland - Timbers Park Earns High LEED Status
- Mohave Electric Goes Out on a Limb to Save Energy
- United States’ Department of Energy Selects Imperium Renewables as Part of Consortium to Continue Advances in Renewable Aviation Fuels
- Mass Layoff at Bremerton Call Center, Hello AT&T?
- Agency May Have Violated Law with Microsoft Cloud Services Contract, Judge Says
- Chrome Turns 3, Google Celebrates Web’s History
- Two California Men Charged with Selling iPhone Prototype
- Kitsap County’s Urban Growth Areas Too Large, Hearings Board Rules
- Tsunami Warning Lifted After 6.8 Earthquake Near Alaska
- Shelton School District Teachers Contract Approved
- Teachers Take Pay Cut in North Thurston School District
- Bellingham Teachers to Hit Picket Line
- Boys, 8, Face Felony Arson Charges in Idaho Brush Fire
- Two-Year Term for Ex-WA Licensing Worker for Taking Bribes
- Mason County’s Salish Cliffs Golf Course Opening
- Survey: Oregon’s Rural Roads among Worst in US
WORD OF THE DAY
Colloquial • \cull-LOW-kwee-ull\ • Adjective - 1: of or relating to
conversation: conversational 2a: used in or characteristic of familiar and
informal conversation; also: unacceptably informal b: using conversational
style
Amber stumbled from her first meeting with her utility’s energy experts
in a daze. Acronyms and specialized concepts rolled out the door behind her,
somewhat like “Fibber McGee’s Closet.” The colloquial onset was dulled somewhat
by a quick “break” at the nearby pub, where a pint of ale replaced her mental
confusion with more of a physical one.
SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Supreme Inconsistency? McKenna Rulings 180 Degrees
Apart (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
Wait for Electricity Frays Nerves as New England Begins
to Clean Up (Associated Press)
Irene Aftermath: Which States are Restoring Power
the Quickest - And Why? (Christian Science Monitor)
Was a Downed Power Line Used as a Weapon During
Irene? (Washington Post)
Officials Celebrate New Moses Lake BMW Plant “…Washington’s
cheap power from renewable resources & its renewable-energy incentives were
factors in the decision to locate in Moses Lake…” (Associated Press)
Grant PUD Plans to Refinance Debt, Construct Power
Line (Wenatchee World, WA)
Snohomish PUD’s New Control Room Will Allow for
Huge Map to Track Repairs, Emergencies (Everett Herald, WA)
Natural Gas - NW Natural Seeks Rate Reductions in
Washington & Oregon (Portland Business Journal, OR)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2011/09/01/nw-natural-seeks-to-reduce-rates-in.html
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2011/09/01/nw-natural-seeks-to-reduce-rates-in.html
Idaho - Avista Rate Hearings Sept. 13 in Coeur d’Alene
(Coeur d’Alene Press, ID)
California – Pacific Gas & Electric Fires Four
Inspectors over False Electrical Inspections (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
California - Another Pacific Gas & Electric
Blast Draws Feds’ Attention (SF Chronicle)
Quake Risk to Nuclear Reactors Greater Than Thought
(Associated Press)
Obama Decides Against Change in Ozone Standards (USA
Today)
Nebraska Governor Urges Obama to Deny Cross-Country
Pipeline Permit (USA Today)
Keystone XL Primer: Why Nebraska is Ground Zero in
the Pipeline Fight (Solve Climate)
Editorial - Keystone Would Bring Jobs as Well as
Crude Oil (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)
Tennessee Valley Authority among Top Utilities for
Economic Development for Sixth Straight Year (Electric Energy Online)
FISH & WILDLIFE
Upriver Salmon Runs Making a Move; Large Numbers
of Fall Chinook Passing Bonneville Dam Daily (Columbia Basin Bulletin)
Snake River Sockeye Recovery on Track This Year;
120 Trapped Fish of Natural Origin (Columbia Basin Bulletin)
Fishing Boats Making a Good Haul of Pink Salmon
This Season (Bellingham Herald, WA)
Op/Ed - Ensuring Fish Restoration after the Elwha
Dams Come Out (Seattle Times)
Keeping Industrial Plants Cool & Fish Alive (NY
Times)
Pacific County, Oysterville Sea Farms at Odds
over Zoning Rules (Longview Daily News, WA)
Study Calls for Halting Oyster Fishing in
Chesapeake Bay (Washington Post)
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Eleven
Years of Warm Water in the Columbia River (Oregon Public Radio)
http://news.opb.org/article/11_years_of_warm_water_in_the_columbia_river/
http://news.opb.org/article/11_years_of_warm_water_in_the_columbia_river/
A
Hiker’s Plight: How to Help When Water Runs Low (NY Times)
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
US
Solar Firms’ Woes Boost China (Sacramento Bee, CA)
Solar
Power Pandemonium - House Republicans Step Up Solyndra Investigation (Washington Post)
Columnist
- Solar Energy’s Future in Not-So-Sunny Places (Seattle
Times)
California
- Measures Ease Environmental Permit Process for Renewable Energy Projects
(Desert Sun, Palm Springs, CA)
Editorial
- Don’t Let the Sun Go Down on Renewable Energy Revolution (Desert Sun, Palm
Springs, CA)
CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY
Portland - Timbers Park Earns High LEED Status (Sustainable
Business Oregon)
Mohave Electric Goes Out on a Limb to Save Energy
(Mohave Daily News, AZ)
BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI
United
States’ Department of Energy Selects Imperium Renewables as Part of Consortium
to Continue Advances in Renewable Aviation Fuels (Market Watch)
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Mass Layoff at Bremerton Call Center, Hello
AT&T? (Seattle Times)
Agency May Have Violated Law with Microsoft Cloud
Services Contract, Judge Says (Bloomberg News)
Chrome Turns 3, Google Celebrates Web’s History (Washington
Post)
Two California Men Charged with Selling iPhone Prototype
(Associated Press)
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
Kitsap County’s Urban Growth Areas Too Large,
Hearings Board Rules (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
GENERAL NEWS
Tsunami Warning Lifted After 6.8 Earthquake Near
Alaska (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)
Shelton School District Teachers Contract Approved (KMAS
Radio, Shelton, WA)
Teachers Take Pay Cut in North Thurston School
District (Olympian, WA)
Bellingham Teachers to Hit Picket Line (KING-TV,
Seattle)
Boys, 8, Face Felony Arson Charges in Idaho Brush
Fire - Playing with matches (Reuters)
Two-Year Term for Ex-WA Licensing Worker for Taking
Bribes (Associated Press)
Mason County’s Salish Cliffs Golf Course Opening (KMAS
Radio, Shelton, WA)
Survey: Oregon’s Rural Roads among Worst in US
(Oregon Public Radio)
DIVERSIONS
Steamin’ Piles o’ Doo - Zoo Doo is Back for Fall
Fecal Fest at Woodland Park Zoo
JC
Penney Yanks ‘I’m Too Pretty to Do Homework’ T-Shirt after Online Outcry
Super
Mario Rides the Alaskan Way Viaduct
Fan
Boys on a Rampage - New Star Wars: Blu-Ray Release of Original Trilogy Contains
Yet More Changes
SONG OF THE DAY
Captain
Kangaroo - Animal Fair
Thursday, September 1, 2011
Energy News Digest for September 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.
THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER
Follow
the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:
HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES
McKenna Wins Health-Care Suit, Loses Goldmark Case
over Okanogan PUD Power Line Case in Washington State Supreme Court (Seattle
Times)
Montana - Last Day to Comment on Proposed Columbia
Falls Aluminum Company Power Deal (KAJ-TV, Kalispell, MT – Now, about those
thank you notes to public utilities…)
California
Cap & Trade Proposal Criticized as Inadequate, Harmful to Industry
“…"BPA disagrees that California has 'authority' to regulate BPA…”
(Cogeneration & Onsite Power Production)
Feds Still on the Hook for Foiling Energy Stimulus
(Courthouse News Service)
Solar
Firm Aided by Federal Loans Shuts Doors (NY Times)
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- McKenna Wins Health-Care Suit, Loses Goldmark Case over Okanogan PUD Power Line Case in Washington State Supreme Court
- Montana - Last Day to Comment on Proposed Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Power Deal
- Port Angeles City Electricity Bills Likely to Rise Next Year
- Infrastructure & Dam Licensing Requirements - Grant PUD Plans Rate Hike
- Officials Celebrate New Moses Lake BMW Plant - Thank you Hydropower!
- Everett's Kimberly-Clark Mill Preparing to Close
- Energy Secretary Fears US Engineering Programs Falling Behind
- Editorial: Pacific Gas & Electric Shouldn't Stick Ratepayers with Repair Bill
- Energy-Hungry China is Becoming a Big Player in the Mountain West
- Texas - New EPA Rules Could Mean Major Power Outages
- Eastern Utilities Tap Virtually Every Resource Available East of the Rockies to Restore Power Following Irene
- Massachusetts - Mayor, Officials Blast Utility's Storm Response
- Japan Study Boosts Nuclear Power's Cost Estimates
- Shocking Investigation on Stray Electricity
- Revenge on the Smolt Snatchers - Trouble in Seabird Paradise
- Commercial Gill-Net Season on Columbia River for Four Native American Tribes
- Summer Salmon Fishing Season Has Been Stellar
- Comment period extended for winter plan for Lake Pend Oreille
- Solar Firm Aided by Federal Loans Shuts Doors
- Solyndra's Collapse a Worrisome Sign for 'Green-Tech' Hopes
- Green Jobs Backlash? A Reality Check from Bellingham
- Massachusetts - State Supreme Court to Hear Appeal of Cape Wind Decision Sept. 8
- Has Wind Energy Reached Overcapacity?
- Renewable Energy Corporation Singapore Unaffected by Lay-offs in Norway
- World’s Biggest Tidal Power Plant Opened in South Korea
- Feds Still on the Hook for Foiling Energy Stimulus
- Energy Monitoring: A Crucial Part of Energy Conservation
- Tell Us About Your Water Heater!
- California Cap & Trade Proposal Criticized as Inadequate, Harmful to Industry
- London Olympics Drops Carbon-Offset Plan
- Seattle Electric Car Charging Station Runs on Solar Power
- British Columbia - Thefts at Landfill Spark Battery Ban
- Local Residents Urge Clallam County Withdrawal from UN-Sponsored Environmental Group
- Editorial – Jefferson County’ s Digital, Economic Divide
- Wi-Fi Scam Could Steal Personal Information from College Students
- Washington State Attorney General Clears Mason County Sheriff's Office
- Parole Denied for Man Who Killed Kitsap Deputy
- Space Junk Littering Orbit; Might Need Cleaning Up
WORD OF THE DAY
Mettle • \MET-tull\ • Noun - 1a: vigor and strength of spirit or
temperament b: staying quality: stamina 2: quality of temperament or
disposition
“I have only one question for you Simpson,” growled the grizzled, cigar
chewing CEO of the materials testing firm. “Do you have the mettle to test this
metal?” (Haw Haw)
SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
McKenna Wins Health-Care Suit, Loses Goldmark Case
over Okanogan PUD Power Line Case in Washington State Supreme Court (Seattle
Times)
Montana - Last Day to Comment on Proposed Columbia
Falls Aluminum Company Power Deal (KAJ-TV, Kalispell, MT – Now, about those
thank you notes to public utilities…)
Port Angeles City Electricity Bills Likely to Rise
Next Year - Due to Bonneville Power Administration wholesale rate increase (Peninsula
Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
Infrastructure & Dam Licensing Requirements - Grant
PUD Plans Rate Hike (Wenatchee World, WA)
Officials celebrate new Moses Lake BMW plant “…Low
hydropower rates from Columbia River dams are drawing an increasing number of
high-tech companies to Moses Lake and surrounding Grant County…” (Associated
Press)
Everett's Kimberly-Clark Mill Preparing to Close - Had
teamed with Snohomish PUD on Biomass energy facility (Everett Herald, WA)
Energy Secretary Fears US Engineering Programs
Falling Behind (Oregon Public Radio)
Editorial: Pacific Gas & Electric Shouldn't
Stick Ratepayers with Repair Bill (Sacramento Bee, CA)
Energy-Hungry China is Becoming a Big Player in the
Mountain West (Crosscut Seattle)
Texas - New EPA Rules Could Mean Major Power
Outages (Houston Business Journal, TX)
Eastern Utilities Tap Virtually Every Resource
Available East of the Rockies to Restore Power Following Irene (Electric Energy
Online)
Massachusetts - Mayor, Officials Blast Utility's
Storm Response (Sun Chronicle, Attleboro, MA)
Japan Study Boosts Nuclear Power's Cost Estimates (Reuters)
Shocking Investigation on Stray Electricity (CBS
News)
FISH & WILDLIFE
Revenge on the Smolt Snatchers - Trouble in
Seabird Paradise (Seattle Times)
Commercial Gill-Net Season on Columbia River for Four
Native American Tribes (Oregonian, Portland)
Summer Salmon Fishing Season Has Been Stellar (Seattle Times)
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Comment
period extended for winter plan for Lake Pend Oreille (Coeur d’Alene Press, ID)
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Solar
Firm Aided by Federal Loans Shuts Doors (NY Times)
Solyndra's
Collapse a Worrisome Sign for 'Green-Tech' Hopes (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
Green
Jobs Backlash? A Reality Check from Bellingham
(Sightline Daily)
Massachusetts
- State Supreme Court to Hear Appeal of Cape Wind Decision Sept. 8 (AIM
Business Insider)
Has
Wind Energy Reached Overcapacity? (REVE)
Renewable
Energy Corporation Singapore Unaffected by Lay-offs in Norway (ScandAsia)
World’s
Biggest Tidal Power Plant Opened in South Korea (The Green Optimistic)
CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY
Feds Still on the Hook for Foiling Energy Stimulus (Courthouse
News Service)
Energy Monitoring: A Crucial Part of Energy
Conservation (Renewable Energy World)
Tell Us About Your Water Heater! A quick survey can
help jump-start residential energy efficiency (Sightline Daily)
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
California
Cap & Trade Proposal Criticized as Inadequate, Harmful to Industry “…"BPA
disagrees that California has 'authority' to regulate BPA…” (Cogeneration &
Onsite Power Production)
London
Olympics Drops Carbon-Offset Plan (Bloomberg News)
BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI
Seattle
Electric Car Charging Station Runs on Solar Power (KING-TV, Seattle)
British
Columbia - Thefts at Landfill Spark Battery Ban (Salmon Arm Observer, BC)
Local
Residents Urge Clallam County Withdrawal from UN-Sponsored Environmental Group (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Editorial – Jefferson County’ s Digital, Economic
Divide: Efforts to bring broadband to the county are moving along, thanks to a
$3.2 million federal grant (Port Townsend Leader, WA)
Wi-Fi Scam Could Steal Personal Information from
College Students (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.kndu.com/story/15369299/wi-fi-scam-could-steal-personal-information-from-college-students
GENERAL NEWS
Washington State Attorney General Clears Mason
County Sheriff's Office (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
Parole Denied for Man Who Killed Kitsap Deputy (Associated
Press)
Space Junk Littering Orbit; Might Need Cleaning Up (Associated
Press)
http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/Earth-lost-fight-to-keep-orbit-clean-of-space-junk-2150950.php
DIVERSIONS
Man Finds $150,000 in Garden
Apple Loses Another iPhone Prototype in Bar
Seattle Ranks among Nation's Worst Drivers
Chinese-Made Qur'ans Full of Errors, Warns Iranian Official
SONG OF THE DAY
Bachman
Turner Overdrive - Let It Ride
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