Energy News Digest for December 19, 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

Ecology's Change in Haze Plan Targets TransAlta Pollution (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017040814_airpollution18m.html

AP Impact: EPA Rules Threaten Older Power Plants (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017047247_apuscoalplantretirements.html

New Codes Aim to Cut Energy Use (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/18/us/new-codes-aim-to-cut-energy-use.html?_r=1

Fisher Communications Completes Sale of Fisher Plaza (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2011/12/16/fisher-communications-completes-sale.html

Thinning Oregon Forests Develops Spotted Owl Habitat, Chases Away Flying Squirrels -- The Owls' Chief Prey (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/12/another_oregon_forest_conundru.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Ecology's Change in Haze Plan Targets TransAlta Pollution
• AP Impact: EPA Rules Threaten Older Power Plants
• How AP Estimated Power Plant Closures Due to EPA
• Washington State Commission Approves Avista Rate Increases
• Wyoming, California, Arizona - Duke Energy Venture Plans $3.5 Billion Transmission Line
• Mason County PUD No. 1 - Overnight Power Outage Tonight
• Missing Man's Body Found by PUD Employee in Klickitat County
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratories Operator Earns $8.5M in Performance Pay
• Pacific Northwest Power Traders Use Web for Deals
• Feds on the Hunt for Possible Yucca Mountain Replacement
• Op/Ed – Decoupling: Updating Rates Key to Energy Efficiency
• 35 Cents per kWh - Oahu Electric Rates Hit another Record High
• Brazil Judge Allows Dam Construction to Continue
• Thinning Oregon Forests Develops Spotted Owl Habitat, Chases Away Flying Squirrels -- The Owls' Chief Prey
• Elwha Dam Demolition to Resume as Fish Window Closes Early
• Eagles at Lake Coeur d'Alene in Record Numbers
• Yeah, We've Heard this Before: Big Salmon Run Predicted for 2012
• How to Catch, Store, And Use Rainwater
• EPA Selects Four Pacific Northwest Groups for Environmental Justice Grants
• Oregon - Biomass Tax Credit Created $12M in Economic Activity
• Attorneys Make Arguments in Umatilla County Wind Power Appeal
• Minnesota - Wind Farm Tensions Flare over Eagle Study: Developers Say Opponents Baiting Eagles with Animal Carcasses
• California - Editorial: Failed Windmill Plan another Sign of Lack of Commitment to Green Energy in Marin
• Alaska - Biomass Generators Set to Run in Fairbanks
• Op/Ed - Rethink Renewable Energy Mandates
• United Kingdom - Money-Spinning Wind Turbines Blow Nothing but an Ill Wind for Residents
• New Codes Aim to Cut Energy Use
• Despite Delay, the 100-Watt Bulb Is on Its Way Out
• Breweries Warm Up to Solar Thermal Heating
• Geothermal Heat Pumps Generate Savings
• $62 Million Oregon Sustainability Center Steeped in Uncertainty
• Stevens Pass One of the Greenest Ski Areas
• Fisher Communications Completes Sale of Fisher Plaza
• Do Build Your Own Data Centers Make Sense Anymore?
• O'Brien: FCC Chair Making Progress to Bridge the Digital Divide
• FCC Wants Input on New Universal Service Rule
• Another Microsoft Antitrust Trial after Utah Jury Deadlock?
• 'Disgruntled Employee' Disrupts DSLExtreme Service
• In US, Many More Dreading than Anticipating 2012 Campaign - Seven in 10 say they can't wait for the campaign to be over
• Redistricting Panel Redraws Western Washington Maps
• Washington State Governor's Race Seems All Locked Up
• Filed a Complaint Online About Tacoma Worker? It Might Have Vanished
• Times: Seattle Cartoonist David Horsey Joins L.A. Times
• Olympia Could Have Driest December in 63 Years
• Unimpressed Skiers Ask: Where's the Spectacular La Nina Snow?
• States’ Sales-Tax Deduction to Expire for 2012
• Way Too Much Crackdown for a Few Days of Bad Air
• Kalakala Sold For $1 to Person Who Will Return Ferry 'To Her Full Glory'
• “Valiantly Clinging to Death” N. Korean dictator Kim Jong Il dead at 69

WORD OF THE DAY

Raillery • \RAYL-uh-ree\ • Noun - 1: good-natured ridicule: banter 2: jest

“Oh sure,” whined Jack Frost. “It’s all good fun until someone gets hurt.” The raillery at the “All Seasons” ball had gone astray, as the Indian Summer folks started chasing Jack throwing errant rays of sunshine…their sunbeams impaling themselves on his back until he looked like a shining porcupine with mange.

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

Ecology's Change in Haze Plan Targets TransAlta Pollution (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017040814_airpollution18m.html

AP Impact: EPA Rules Threaten Older Power Plants (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017047247_apuscoalplantretirements.html

How AP Estimated Power Plant Closures Due to EPA (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017047288_apuscoalplantretirementsmethodology.html

Washington State Commission Approves Avista Rate Increases (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/dec/17/state-commission-approves-avista-rate-increases/

Wyoming, California, Arizona - Duke Energy Venture Plans $3.5 Billion Transmission Line (Charlotte Business Journal, NC)

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/power_city/2011/12/duke-energy-venture-plans-35-billion.html

Mason County PUD No. 1 - Overnight Power Outage Tonight (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/19958-overnight-power-outage-1219-1220

Missing Man's Body Found by PUD Employee in Klickitat County (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017047548_apwaklickitatbody.html

Pacific Northwest National Laboratories Operator Earns $8.5M in Performance Pay (Associated Press)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/dec/19/pnnl-operator-earns-85m-in-performance-pay/

Pacific Northwest Power Traders Use Web for Deals (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/editors-pick/n-w-power-traders-use-web-for-deals/37453

Feds on the Hunt for Possible Yucca Mountain Replacement (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/story/2011-12-18/nuclear-waste-yucca-mountain/52046526/1?csp=34news

Op/Ed – Decoupling: Updating Rates Key to Energy Efficiency (Arizona Republic, Phoenix)

http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/2011/12/18/20111218energy-efficiency-dirks-croucher.html

35 Cents per kWh - Oahu Electric Rates Hit another Record High (Pacific Business News)

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/blog/morning_call/2011/12/Oahu-electric-bills-hit-another-record.html

Brazil Judge Allows Dam Construction to Continue (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/Brazil-judge-allows-dam-construction-to-continue-2409402.php

FISH & WILDLIFE

Thinning Oregon Forests Develops Spotted Owl Habitat, Chases Away Flying Squirrels -- The Owls' Chief Prey (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/12/another_oregon_forest_conundru.html

Elwha Dam Demolition to Resume as Fish Window Closes Early (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20111219/news/312199998/dam-demolition-to-resume-as-fish-window-closes-early

Eagles at Lake Coeur d'Alene in Record Numbers (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Eagles-at-Lake-Coeur-dAlene-in-record-numbers--135796283.html

Yeah, We've Heard this Before: Big Salmon Run Predicted for 2012 (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

http://voices.idahostatesman.com/2011/12/19/outdoors/yeah_weve_heard_big_salmon_run_predicted_2012

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

How to Catch, Store, And Use Rainwater (Sunset Magazine)

http://www.sunset.com/garden/earth-friendly/catch-and-save-rainwater-00400000038636/

EPA Selects Four Pacific Northwest Groups for Environmental Justice Grants (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://earthfix.opb.org/communities/article/epa-selects-four-pacific-northwest-groups-for-envi/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Oregon - Biomass Tax Credit Created $12M in Economic Activity (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2011/12/biomass-tax-credit-created-50m-in.html

Attorneys Make Arguments in Umatilla County Wind Power Appeal (East Oregonian, Pendleton)

http://www.wind-watch.org/news/2011/12/17/attorneys-make-arguments-in-umatilla-county-wind-power-appeal/

Minnesota - Wind Farm Tensions Flare over Eagle Study: Developers Say Opponents Baiting Eagles with Animal Carcasses (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, MN)

http://www.startribune.com/local/135774858.html

California - Editorial: Failed Windmill Plan another Sign of Lack of Commitment to Green Energy in Marin (Marin Independent Journal, CA – We want renewable energy, and we dare you to build it!)

http://www.marinij.com/opinion/ci_19565671

Alaska - Biomass Generators Set to Run in Fairbanks (Juneau Empire, AK)

http://juneauempire.com/state/2011-12-12/biomass-generators-set-run-fairbanks#.Tu-CtM2wWAI

Op/Ed - Rethink Renewable Energy Mandates (Politico)

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1211/70610.html

United Kingdom - Money-Spinning Wind Turbines Blow Nothing but an Ill Wind for Residents ((The Sunday telegraph, UK)

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/opinion/money-spinning-wind-turbines-blow-nothing-but-an-ill-wind-for-residents/story-e6frezz0-1226224671897

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

New Codes Aim to Cut Energy Use (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/18/us/new-codes-aim-to-cut-energy-use.html?_r=1

Despite Delay, the 100-Watt Bulb Is on Its Way Out (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/17/business/energy-environment/100-watt-bulb-on-its-way-out-despite-bill.html

Breweries Warm Up to Solar Thermal Heating (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2011/12/16/breweries-warm-up-to-solar-thermal.html

Geothermal Heat Pumps Generate Savings (Imperial Valley News, Yuma, AZ)

http://imperialvalleynews.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=11809&Itemid=23

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

$62 Million Oregon Sustainability Center Steeped in Uncertainty (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2011/12/62_million_oregon_sustainabili.html

Stevens Pass One of the Greenest Ski Areas (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=596074

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Fisher Communications Completes Sale of Fisher Plaza (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2011/12/16/fisher-communications-completes-sale.html

Do Build Your Own Data Centers Make Sense Anymore? (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/cloud/do-byo-data-centers-make-sense-anymore/

O'Brien: FCC Chair Making Progress to Bridge the Digital Divide (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_19558486

FCC Wants Input on New Universal Service Rule (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/12/17/42335.htm

Another Microsoft Antitrust Trial after Utah Jury Deadlock? (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/morning_call/2011/12/another-microsoft-antitrust-trial.html

'Disgruntled Employee' Disrupts DSLExtreme Service - All Customers Being Told to Change Passwords (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Disgruntled-Employee-Disrupts-DSLExtreme-Service-117487

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

In US, Many More Dreading than Anticipating 2012 Campaign - Seven in 10 say they can't wait for the campaign to be over (Gallup)

http://www.gallup.com/poll/151592/Dreading-Anticipating-2012-Campaign.aspx

Redistricting Panel Redraws Western Washington Maps (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017033979_apwaredistricting1stldwritethru.html

Washington State Governor's Race Seems All Locked Up (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017040414_primary18m.html

Filed a Complaint Online About Tacoma Worker? It Might Have Vanished (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/12/17/1949658/filed-a-complaint-online-about.html

Times: Seattle Cartoonist David Horsey Joins L.A. Times (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Cartoonist-David-Horsey-joins-LA-Times-135862153.html

GENERAL NEWS

Olympia Could Have Driest December in 63 Years (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/12/19/1918770/olympia-could-have-driest-december.html

Unimpressed Skiers Ask: Where's the Spectacular La Nina Snow? (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Unimpressed-skiers-ask-Wheres-the-spectacular-La-Nina-snow-135835228.html

States’ Sales-Tax Deduction to Expire for 2012 (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017040410_pnsalestax18m.html

Way Too Much Crackdown for a Few Days of Bad Air (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/12/18/1949853/way-too-much-crackdown-for-a-few.html

Kalakala Sold For $1 to Person Who Will Return Ferry 'To Her Full Glory' (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/12/19/1951353/kalakala-sold-for-1-to-person.html

“Valiantly Clinging to Death” N. Korean dictator Kim Jong Il dead at 69 (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2017047216_kimjongil19.html

DIVERSIONS

Scientist Wants to Make Snowflake Formation Crystal-Clear

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/story/2011-12-18/snowflakes-form/52049686/1?csp=34tech

'Whatever' Wins Crown for Most Annoying Conversation Stopper

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/living/2017034534_whatever17.html

Seahawks Photographer Gets Single Shot to Capture Most Memorable Moment

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=594854

Cars Powered With Coke and Mentos Battle for Mileage Supremacy

http://gizmodo.com/5868554/cars-powered-with-coke-and-mentos-battle-for-mileage-supremacy

SONG OF THE DAY

Brenda White - Christmas in the Northwest

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XYr9z0gTm2s

Energy News Digest for December 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

Congressional Leaders Reach Spending Deal to Avoid Federal Government Shutdown (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/congressional-leaders-negotiating-key-bills-to-avoid-government-shutdown/2011/12/15/gIQA6nPwwO_story.html

Record 2012 Returns Predicted for Sockeye, 462,000; Upper Columbia Summer Chinook, 92,100 (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/414777.aspx

Oregon - Coos Bay Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal May Pit Land Agency against Attorney General (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/12/coos_bay_liquefied_natural_gas.html

Debris from Japanese Tsunami Hits Washington State Coast, Much More to Come

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Debris-from-Japanese-tsunami-hits-Wash-much-more-to-come-135691063.html

Oregon - Prineville Votes to Annex Data Center Land: Apple could delay a decision until tax issue is settled with the state (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2011/12/prineville_votes_to_annex_data.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Oregon - Coos Bay Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal May Pit Land Agency against Attorney General
• Controversial Pipeline Clears Montana Hurdle
• ‘Dear Customer’: Do Not Open This Email from Puget Sound Energy
• Kittitas County PUD Manager Grills His Bosses over Termination
• Op/Ed – Chelan PUD: Reflecting Back & Looking Ahead
• Pacific Gas & Electric SmartMeter Draws Customer Rebellion
• Japan Declares Tsunami-Crippled Nuke Plant Stable
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chief: ‘Mortified’ by Bullying Allegations
• How Far Texas’ Electric Deregulation Has Come
• Don’t Shoot at Birds Sitting On Wires
• Couple Who Rode Freight Trains Found Dead in Coal - killed when a train dumped its load at a Florida power plant
• Record 2012 Returns Predicted for Sockeye, 462,000; Upper Columbia Summer Chinook, 92,100
• Canada Holds Hearings on Suspected Virus in Salmon
• Work to Start Up Again Monday on Elwha Dams
• Timeline to Hook Up More Sewers in Belfair Won’t be Rushed
• Clallam County to Dip into Economic Development Fund to Pay for Sewer Project
• La Center Council OKs Sewer Pact with Cowlitz Indian Tribe
• Study Connects Large-Scale Dairies, Feedlots to Increased Air Pollution
• State of California Orders Golden State Water to Refund $3.6 Million to Customers
• Xcel Would Rethink Wind Plans without Tax Credit
• Wisconsin Court Accepts Wind Farm Challenge
• Bird Advocates Seek Tougher Wind Turbine Rules
• Schwarzenegger: Solyndra Debate ‘Narrow Minded’
• Large Hydro Help? State of Vermont to go 90 Percent Clean Energy by 2050
• Chicken Litter to Energy - Perdue AgriBusiness & Fibrowatt Submitt Proposal to State of Maryland
• Chile’s Bid to Save Energy: Men, Leave Your Ties at Home
• United Kingdom - Blogger’s Computer Seized in ‘Climategate’ Police Raid
• Coal Industry Drive against EPA Will Shadow Obama’s Campaign
• Where There’s Smoke, There’s Sickness: Woodsmoke a Big Pacific NW Pollution Source
• Oregon - Prineville Votes to Annex Data Center Land
• WindData: Data Centers Harnessing the Wind
• Lawmakers Trade Barbs in Hearing n Stop Online Piracy Act
• Internet Inventors Warn of SOPA Stupidity - Bill Seriously Breaks Internet Functionality, Creates Censorship Slope
• Amazon Says It Is Selling One Million Kindles per Week
• Google Zeitgeist for Washington State
• Congressional Leaders Reach Spending Deal to Avoid Federal Government Shutdown
• Gregoire Proposes Privatizing the Washington State Lottery
• Washington State’s Elected Officials Eye Overhaul of Voter Initiatives
• Washington State Senator Tim Sheldon Appointed to Environment Committee
• Debris from Japanese Tsunami Hits Washington State Coast, Much More to Come
• Troopers Clear Occupy Tents from Olympia Park
• Washington State One of Nine States to Win US Early Learning Cash
• Golf course elk getting temporary stay of execution
• Tree Thieves Targeting University of Washington Campus
• Thieves Using Garage Door Openers to Burglarize Homes
• Picked the Wrong Back Yard - Seattle Trespasser Mauled by Dogs

WORD OF THE DAY

Foment • \FOE-ment\ • verb - To promote the growth or development of: rouse, incite

Alfred knew before even sitting down at his drawing board that his new plan for reorganizing the tiddlywinks professional circuit would foment his frothing fans to a frenzy. Really, moving Schenectady, New York’s franchise to a conference including Poughkeepsie? “Regional, competitive integrity my foot,” he mused, smoke from his smoldering cigarette curling into the green glass shade of his desk lamp. “I just want to avoid that twice annual trip to Rochester, especially in the winter.”

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

Oregon - Coos Bay Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal May Pit Land Agency against Attorney General (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/12/coos_bay_liquefied_natural_gas.html

Controversial Pipeline Clears Montana Hurdle (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/dec/15/controversial-pipeline-clears-montana-hurtle/

‘Dear Customer’: Do Not Open This Email from Puget Sound Energy (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Dear-Customer-Do-not-open-this-email-from-PSE-135671023.html

Kittitas County PUD Manager Grills His Bosses over Termination (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

http://www.dailyrecordnews.com/news/kittitas-county-pud-manager-grills-his-bosses-over-termination/article_b8b37568-2751-11e1-996f-0019bb2963f4.html

Op/Ed – Chelan PUD: Reflecting Back & Looking Ahead (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/dec/15/reflecting-back-and-looking-ahead/

Pacific Gas & Electric SmartMeter Draws Customer Rebellion (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/12/16/BULC1MD1MA.DTL

Japan Declares Tsunami-Crippled Nuke Plant Stable (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/world/story/2011-12-16/japan-nuclear-crisis/52002024/1?csp=34news

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chief: ‘Mortified’ by Bullying Allegations (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2017021858_apusnrcdissension.html

How Far Texas’ Electric Deregulation Has Come - Cost benefits arrived, albeit slowly, and customers are seeing more options (Dallas Business Journal, TX)

http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/print-edition/2011/12/16/energy-special-report-how-far.html

Don’t Shoot at Birds Sitting On Wires (Easton Star-Democrat, MD)

http://www.stardem.com/article_aeada6fb-98b2-566b-9312-ca9f386062ee.html

Couple Who Rode Freight Trains Found Dead in Coal - killed when a train dumped its load at a Florida power plant (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2017027231_apustrainridingdeaths.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Record 2012 Returns Predicted for Sockeye, 462,000; Upper Columbia Summer Chinook, 92,100 (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/414777.aspx

Canada Holds Hearings on Suspected Virus in Salmon (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/12/16/science/canada-begins-hearings-on-infectious-salmon-anemia-virus.html

Work to Start Up Again Monday on Elwha Dams (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.konp.com/local/7504

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Timeline to Hook Up More Sewers in Belfair Won’t be Rushed (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/dec/15/timeline-to-hook-up-more-sewers-in-belfair-wont/

Clallam County to Dip into Economic Development Fund to Pay for Sewer Project (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.konp.com/local/7505

La Center Council OKs Sewer Pact with Cowlitz Indian Tribe (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/dec/15/la-center-council-approves-sewer-agreement/

Study Connects Large-Scale Dairies, Feedlots to Increased Air Pollution (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2011/12/15/study-connects-large-scale-dairies-feedlots-to-increased-air-pollution

State of California Orders Golden State Water to Refund $3.6 Million to Customers (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/16/4126374/california-puc-orders-golden-state.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Xcel Would Rethink Wind Plans without Tax Credit (Midwest Energy News)

http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2011/12/15/xcel-would-rethin-wind-plans-without-tax-credit/

Wisconsin Court Accepts Wind Farm Challenge (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2017021963_apusbigwindfarmwisconsin.html

Bird Advocates Seek Tougher Wind Turbine Rules (Cedar Rapids Gazette, IA)

http://thegazette.com/2011/12/14/bird-advocates-seek-tougher-wind-turbine-rules/

Schwarzenegger: Solyndra Debate ‘Narrow Minded’ (Associated Press)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hxA-ESd1UaInzAz0BZOzZQbG5y4Q?docId=6c71566211a048bd86eb85cc434a0f2b

Large Hydro Help? State of Vermont to go 90 Percent Clean Energy by 2050 (TMC Net)

http://green.tmcnet.com/channels/renewable-energy/articles/245768-state-vermont-go-90-percent-clean-energy-2050.htm

Chicken Litter to Energy - Perdue AgriBusiness & Fibrowatt Submitt Proposal to State of Maryland (Energy Boom)

http://www.energyboom.com/biofuels/chicken-litter-energy-perdue-agribusiness-and-fibrowatt-submitt-proposal-state-maryland

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Chile’s Bid to Save Energy: Men, Leave Your Ties at Home (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/Latin-America-Monitor/2011/1215/Chile-s-bid-to-save-energy-men-leave-your-ties-at-home

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

United Kingdom - Blogger’s Computer Seized in ‘Climategate’ Police Raid (The Independent, UK)

http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/news/bloggers-computer-seized-in-climategate-police-raid-6277726.html

Coal Industry Drive against EPA Will Shadow Obama’s Campaign (Bloomberg)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-12-16/coal-industry-drive-against-epa-will-shadow-obama-s-campaign.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Where There’s Smoke, There’s Sickness: Woodsmoke a Big Pacific NW Pollution Source (KCTS-TV, Seattle)

http://earthfix.kcts9.org/communities/article/where-theres-smoke-wood-smoke-is-now-a-major-contr/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Oregon - Prineville Votes to Annex Data Center Land: Apple could delay a decision until tax issue is settled with the state (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2011/12/prineville_votes_to_annex_data.html

WindData: Data Centers Harnessing the Wind (Data Center Knowledge)

http://www.datacenterknowledge.com/archives/2011/12/16/winddata-data-centers-harnessing-the-wind/

Lawmakers Trade Barbs in Hearing n Stop Online Piracy Act (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/lawmakers-trade-barbs-in-hearing-on-stop-online-piracy-act/2011/12/15/gIQAqDnwwO_story.html

Internet Inventors Warn of SOPA Stupidity - Bill Seriously Breaks Internet Functionality, Creates Censorship Slope (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Internet-Inventors-Warn-of-SOPA-Stupidity-117455

Amazon Says It Is Selling One Million Kindles per Week (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_19555149

Google Zeitgeist for Washington State (Google)

http://www.googlezeitgeist.com/en/top-lists/us/regional/seattle-wa

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Congressional Leaders Reach Spending Deal to Avoid Federal Government Shutdown (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/congressional-leaders-negotiating-key-bills-to-avoid-government-shutdown/2011/12/15/gIQA6nPwwO_story.html

Gregoire Proposes Privatizing the Washington State Lottery (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017026127_lottery16m.html

Washington State’s Elected Officials Eye Overhaul of Voter Initiatives (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Olympia-leaders-eye-overhaul-of-Wash-initiatives-135685048.html

Washington State Senator Tim Sheldon Appointed to Environment Committee (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/20156-sheldon-appointed-to-environment-committee

GENERAL NEWS

Debris from Japanese Tsunami Hits Washington State Coast, Much More to Come (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Debris-from-Japanese-tsunami-hits-Wash-much-more-to-come-135691063.html

Troopers Clear Occupy Tents from Olympia Park (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017030013_apwaoccupyolympia3rdld.html

Washington State One of Nine States to Win US Early Learning Cash (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2017029803_apwaracetothetopearlylearning1stldwritethru.html

Golf course elk getting temporary stay of execution (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Destructive-elk-get-stay-of-execution--135713478.html

Tree Thieves Targeting University of Washington Campus (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Tree-thieves--135703118.html

Thieves Using Garage Door Openers to Burglarize Homes (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Thieves-using-garge-door-openers-to-burglarize-homes-135718573.html

Picked the Wrong Back Yard - Seattle Trespasser Mauled by Dogs (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Seattle-trespasser-mauled-by-dogs-135688743.html

DIVERSIONS

Sky Apples Stun English Motorists

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Global-News/2011/1215/Sky-apples-stun-English-motorists

Anonymous Donors Pay Off Kmart Layaway Accounts

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2011-12-15/layaway-santa/51980922/1?csp=34news

Canadian Music Studio Brandish Poop Flute for the Holidays (PG-13 Content)

http://gizmodo.com/5868730/canadian-music-studio-brandish-poop-flute-for-the-holidays

Software Reveals the Clanging First Chord of “A Hard Day’s Night”

http://gizmodo.com/5868409/software-reveals-the-clanging-first-chord-of-a-hard-days-night

SONG OF THE DAY

The Beatles - A Hard Day’s Night (2009 Stereo Remaster – Also, good use of cowbell by Ringo)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j9FQhRu5HMs