Energy News Digest for May 16, 2012

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

Federal Judge Declines to Rule Immediately in Killing of Sea Lions at Bonneville Dam (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2012/05/federal_judge_declines_to_rule.html

Good News for Six Types of Fish - rebuilt populations include…Chinook salmon along the Northern California coast, Coho salmon off Washington State (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/15/science/earth/noaa-report-says-six-types-of-fish-back-to-healthy-levels.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Corps of Engineers Presses Ahead With Plan to Raise Toutle River Dam Spillway (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/corps-of-engineers-presses-ahead-with-plan-to-raise-toutle/article_f92d4eb8-9ed7-11e1-9154-001a4bcf887a.html

Pondering That Green Label – Case being made against the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, which has been in the cross hairs of an environmental group (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/15/pondering-that-green-label/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Protesters March to Sequim Council Meeting to Seek Rescheduling of Cancelled Biomass Forum (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20120516/news/305169985/protesters-march-to-sequim-council-meeting-to-seek-rescheduling-of

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Puget Sound Energy Rate Hikes Kick In
• Op/Ed - Public Enthusiastic About Thurston PUD Initiative
• May 24, 2 PM - Johns Prairie Operations Center Dedication
• Judge Denies Electric Co-op’s Request to Leave Southern Montana Electric Co-Op
• Some Attack Plans Bolstered, Others Eased for Nuclear Power Plants & Their Communities
• How Much Longer Does European Nuclear Have?
• Consert: Top Social Media Outlets for Utilities
• Federal Judge Declines to Rule Immediately in Killing of Sea Lions at Bonneville Dam
• Good News for Six Types of Fish - rebuilt populations include…Chinook salmon along the Northern California coast, Coho salmon off Washington State
• States to Consider Reopening Chinook Fishing in Columbia
• Drano Lake Fishermen: The Fight is on for Spring Chinook
• Vancouver Island Salmon Farm Culling Fish after Virus Confirmed
• Let the Hype Begin – Washington State Readies for First Shipment of Copper River Salmon
• Bald Eagle Rebound Comes With Peril of Increased Human Interaction
• Corps of Engineers Presses Ahead With Plan to Raise Toutle River Dam Spillway
• Years Long Bitter Lake Sewage Leak Traced to Incorrect Sewer Line
• La Center Repeals Sewer Agreement with Cowlitz Tribe
• Historic Water Pact Signed between Colorado’s East, West Slope Interests
• Potomac Named Most Endangered River In US
• Q. and A.: The Most Endangered Rivers
• Protesters March to Sequim Council Meeting to Seek Rescheduling of Cancelled Biomass Forum
• New Jersey Solar Renewable Energy Credit Market Set to Dim Further
• Turbine That Looks Like a Piece of Art Will Fit Right in at Your Yacht Club
• Study: Northwest Mammals May Not Keep Pace with Climate Change
• Pondering That Green Label
• Nonprofit Teaches You How to Save Endangered Species, Then Gives You a Tattoo of One
• Wireless Startup LightSquared Files for Bankruptcy
• Greenpeace Members Arrested in Apple ‘Cloud’ Demo
• Report: Apple Planning iCloud Upgrade for WWDC
• Utah Tech Director Resigns in Wake of Data Theft
• United Kingdom Broadband Firms Told to Improve Speed Information
• Scientists Make Wi-Fi Twenty Times Faster
• Why Did GM Kill Its $10M Facebook Ad Campaign?
• Name of Deceased Mason County Car Wreck Victim Released
• Rivers Rising Amid High Temperatures
• BP Restarting Cherry Point Refinery
• Olympic Peninsula Not Affected By Wood Stove Burn Bans, Business Owner Says
• Thieves Take Historic Olympia-Area Urns

WORD OF THE DAY

Argot • \ARR-goh\ • Noun - An often more or less secret vocabulary & idiom peculiar to a particular group.

Acronyms flowed like a heady wine, as utility executives babbled away to each other at the regional energy forum, speaking in low tones that sounded almost like a conversation in Klingon at a Star Trek convention. “Get ready for a steady diet of ‘argot stew’ like this every time you come here,” whispered the grizzled utility energy planner to his fresh-faced recruit.

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

Puget Sound Energy Rate Hikes Kick In (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=677054

Op/Ed - Public Enthusiastic About Thurston PUD Initiative (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2012/05/16/2107103/public-enthusiastic-about-pud.html

May 24, 2 PM - Johns Prairie Operations Center Dedication (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/Newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=1036

Judge Denies Electric Co-op’s Request to Leave Southern Montana Electric Co-Op (USA Today)

http://www.wisconsinrapidstribune.com/usatoday/article/39261983

Some Attack Plans Bolstered, Others Eased for Nuclear Power Plants & Their Communities (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2018216385_apusagingnukesreadinesshighlights.html

How Much Longer Does European Nuclear Have? (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/christophercoats/2012/05/15/how-much-longer-does-european-nuclear-have/

Consert: Top Social Media Outlets for Utilities (Fierce Energy)

http://www.fierceenergy.com/story/consert-top-social-media-outlets-utilities/2012-05-14

FISH & WILDLIFE

Federal Judge Declines to Rule Immediately in Killing of Sea Lions at Bonneville Dam (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2012/05/federal_judge_declines_to_rule.html

Good News for Six Types of Fish - rebuilt populations include…Chinook salmon along the Northern California coast, Coho salmon off Washington State (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/15/science/earth/noaa-report-says-six-types-of-fish-back-to-healthy-levels.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

States to Consider Reopening Chinook Fishing in Columbia (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/may/14/states-consider-reopening-chinook-fishing-columbia/

Drano Lake Fishermen: The Fight is on for Spring Chinook (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018215351_dranolake16.html

Vancouver Island Salmon Farm Culling Fish after Virus Confirmed (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/Island+salmon+farm+culling+fish+after+virus+confirmed/6627309/story.html

Let the Hype Begin – Washington State Readies for First Shipment of Copper River Salmon (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=677353

Bald Eagle Rebound Comes With Peril of Increased Human Interaction (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/bald-eagle-rebound-comes-with-peril-of-increased-human-interaction/article_4792846a-9ef1-11e1-8cc8-001a4bcf887a.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Corps of Engineers Presses Ahead With Plan to Raise Toutle River Dam Spillway (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/corps-of-engineers-presses-ahead-with-plan-to-raise-toutle/article_f92d4eb8-9ed7-11e1-9154-001a4bcf887a.html

Years Long Bitter Lake Sewage Leak Traced to Incorrect Sewer Line (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/environment/Sewer-line-sewage-leak-Bitter-Lake--151702565.html

La Center Repeals Sewer Agreement with Cowlitz Tribe (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/may/15/la-center-repeals-sewer-agreement-with-cowlitz-tri/

Historic Water Pact Signed between Colorado’s East, West Slope Interests (Denver Business Journal, CO)

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2012/05/15/historic-water-pact-signed-between.html

Potomac Named Most Endangered River In US (Baltimore Business Journal, MD)
http://www.bizjournals.com/baltimore/news/2012/05/15/potomac-named-most-endangered-river-in.html

Q. and A.: The Most Endangered Rivers (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/15/q-and-a-the-most-endangered-rivers/?partner=rss&emc=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Protesters March to Sequim Council Meeting to Seek Rescheduling of Cancelled Biomass Forum (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20120516/news/305169985/protesters-march-to-sequim-council-meeting-to-seek-rescheduling-of

New Jersey Solar Renewable Energy Credit Market Set to Dim Further (Environmental Finance)

http://www.environmental-finance.com/news/view/2491

Turbine That Looks Like a Piece of Art Will Fit Right in at Your Yacht Club (Grist Online)

http://grist.org/list/turbine-that-looks-like-a-piece-of-art-will-fit-right-in-at-your-yacht-club/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Study: Northwest Mammals May Not Keep Pace with Climate Change (Boise State Public Radio, ID)

http://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/post/study-northwest-mammals-may-not-keep-pace-climate-change

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Pondering That Green Label – Case being made against the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, which has been in the cross hairs of an environmental group (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/15/pondering-that-green-label/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Nonprofit Teaches You How to Save Endangered Species, Then Gives You a Tattoo of One (Grist Online)

http://grist.org/list/learn-conservation-leadership-skills-get-a-free-endangered-animal-tattoo/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Wireless Startup LightSquared Files for Bankruptcy (Associated Press)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/story/2012-05-14/lightsquared-wireless-network/54960864/1?csp=34tech

Greenpeace Members Arrested in Apple ‘Cloud’ Demo (AFP)

http://news.ph.msn.com/sci-tech/greenpeace-members-arrested-in-apple-cloud-demo-3

Report: Apple Planning iCloud Upgrade for WWDC (PC Magazine)

http://www.pcmag.com/article2/0,2817,2404407,00.asp

Utah Tech Director Resigns in Wake of Data Theft (Associated Press)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2012/05/15/national/a162111D61.DTL

United Kingdom Broadband Firms Told to Improve Speed Information (The Telegraph, UK)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/technology/broadband/9267560/Broadband-firms-told-to-improve-speed-information.html

Scientists Make Wi-Fi Twenty Times Faster (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/5910723/scientists-make-wi+fi-twenty-times-faster

Why Did GM Kill Its $10M Facebook Ad Campaign? (Cincinnati Business Courier, OH)

http://www.bizjournals.com/cincinnati/morning_call/2012/05/why-did-gm-kill-its-10m-facebook-ad.html

GENERAL NEWS

Name of Deceased Mason County Car Wreck Victim Released (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/30179-name-of-deceased-car-wreck-victim-released

Rivers Rising Amid High Temperatures (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/may/15/ncw/

BP Restarting Cherry Point Refinery (Associated Press)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/may/16/bp-restarting-cherry-point-refinery/

Olympic Peninsula Not Affected By Wood Stove Burn Bans, Business Owner Says (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20120516/news/305169993/peninsula-not-affected-by-wood-stove-burn-bans-business-owner-says

Thieves Take Historic Olympia-Area Urns (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=677659

DIVERSIONS

Kodak Confirms It Had Weapons-Grade Uranium in Underground Lab

http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-kodak-confirms-it-had-weaponsgrade-uranium-in-underground-lab-20120516,0,1430863.story

Infamous Fistfight over a Pig’s Provenance Leads to Lawsuit

http://www.oregonlive.com/dining/index.ssf/2012/05/infamous_two-year-old_pig_figh.html

Pacific Northwest Department Store Found Raising Prices Before Sales

http://www.keprtv.com/news/consumer/NW-department-store-found-raising-prices-before-sales-151568575.html

Solar Eclipse: ‘Ring of Fire’ Coming Sunday

http://newsfeed.time.com/2012/05/16/solar-eclipse-ring-of-fire-coming-sunday/

SONG OF THE DAY

Social Distortion - Ring of Fire

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

Johnny Cash - Ring of Fire

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

Energy News Digest for May 15, 2012

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

Columbia Spring Chinook Salmon Run Downgraded by a Third - Tribal Commercial Sales Begin To Public (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/bill_monroe/index.ssf/2012/05/columbia_spring_chinook_salmon_2.html

Puget Sound Energy - Higher Natural Gas, Electricity Rates Starting Monday (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=676759

FERC audit cites NERC for variety of shortcomings; NERC contests findings (American Public Power Association)

http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppw/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=176430&issueID=23328

Dam Fight Grows; Skykomish on List of At-Risk Rivers (Everett Herald, WA)

http://heraldnet.com/article/20120515/NEWS01/705159932/-1/news01

Drivers Fill Up With Pain as State Gas Prices Soar - Largely fueled by the aftermath of a fire at Washington’s biggest refinery & scheduled maintenance at other West Coast refineries (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2018209653_gasprices15.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Puget Sound Energy - Higher Natural Gas, Electricity Rates Starting Monday
• FERC Audit Cites NERC for Variety of Shortcomings; NERC Contests Findings
• Energy Northwest New Environmental Classification
• Electrical Fire, Bypassed Meter - Fire Crews Find Pot Grow after Seattle Restaurant Fire
• Editorial - Power Up: Healy Plant’s Air Permit Shouldn’t Be an Issue
• EWU Economist Headed to Avista; Barcus Retiring
• California - Pacific Gas & Electric Execs Would Be subject To Fines under Bill
• Tennessee Valley Authority Plans to Boost Prices Again in June
• Georgia - A Higher Price Tag for a Nuclear Project
• Massachusetts - Conventional Utility Companies, ‘Munis’ Have Different Criteria in Determining Rates
• North Dakota Becomes No. 2 Oil Producing State, Trailing Only Texas
• Security at Co-ops Goes High Tech
• Message Received - Americans Have Low Tolerance for Power Outages, Survey Finds
• Columbia Spring Chinook Salmon Run Downgraded by a Third
• Portland Court Hearing on Hazing Hungry Sea Lions
• Protecting Eagles vs. Accommodating Indian Religious Freedoms
• Dam Fight Grows; Skykomish on List of At-Risk Rivers
• Marysville Solar Builder Silicon Energy Adds New Line
• Lots of Solar Power May Reduce, Not Increase, Electricity Prices
• BPA Official to Discuss Wind Issues on Tuesday in the Tri Cities
• Google-backed offshore wind power line gets Interior Department OK
• With Canal Hydropower, Still Waters Make Electricity
• Massachusetts - Newton Switching to Clean Energy
• Americans Support National Clean-Energy Standard
• Seattle Lighting Startup Makes LED Color More Natural, Using Sand
• Texans to Get Reprieve on Paying Sales Taxes for Energy-Efficient Appliances
• Cracking the Smart Energy Market
• Upkeep of Air Conditioners Lowers Summer Electric Bills
• Natural-Gas Plans Could Alter British Columbia’s Climate-Change Goals
• Obscure-But-Awesome Energy Law Getting Shivved by Natural Gas Lobby
• Milk Waste Leaves Big Carbon Footprint
• An Environmental Crusader’s Newest Goal: Congress
• 9.5 Percent Increase - Comcast to Raise Rates for Basic Cable Service
• Broadcasters, FCC in Spectrum Turf War
• Report: Amazon Hiring More Than 1,000 People for Seattle Offices
• Poll: Half of Americans Call Facebook a Fad
• United Kingdom - Broadband Users Getting 42 Per Cent Lower Speed than Advertised
• Washington State’s US Senate Race Overshadowed by Gubernatorial Match-Up
• Six Seek to Succeed Reed as Secretary of State
• Sheldon to Seek Third Term as Mason County Commissioner
• Mason County Elections Page
• Op/Ed - Three Cheers for the Wenatchee Arena Default
• Drivers Fill Up With Pain as State Gas Prices Soar
• Fatal Crash on Mikkelsen Road
• Faith-Healing Parents Acquitted of Murder
• Both Sides Reluctantly Accepting Newest Wild Olympics Proposal
• Yes, That’s a Flying Salmon - Alaska Airlines Has Come Up with Another Big Fuselage Fish

WORD OF THE DAY

Jumble • \JUM-bull\ • Noun - 1a: a mass of things mingled together without order or plan: hodgepodge b: a state of confusion

A jumble today

Jackstraws thrown on a table

Don’t disturb the sticks

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

Puget Sound Energy - Higher Natural Gas, Electricity Rates Starting Monday (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=676759

FERC Audit Cites NERC for Variety of Shortcomings; NERC Contests Findings (American Public Power Association)

http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppw/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=176430&issueID=23328

Energy Northwest New Environmental Classification (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.kndu.com/story/18403498/energy-northwest-new-clasification

Electrical Fire, Bypassed Meter - Fire Crews Find Pot Grow after Seattle Restaurant Fire (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2012/05/14/2105667/fire-crews-find-pot-grow-after.html

Editorial - Power Up: Healy Plant’s Air Permit Shouldn’t Be an Issue (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, AK)

http://newsminer.com/view/full_story_opinion/18567204/article-Power-up--Healy-plant-s-air-permit-shouldn-t-be-an-issue

EWU Economist Headed to Avista; Barcus Retiring (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/may/14/ewu-economist-headed-avista-barcus-retiring/

California - Pacific Gas & Electric Execs Would Be subject To Fines under Bill: Executives would be personally responsible for corporate wrongdoing

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2012/05/14/BUQ81OHT3M.DTL

Tennessee Valley Authority Plans to Boost Prices Again in June (Chattanooga Times Free Press, TN)

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/15/tva-plans-to-boost-prices-again-in-june/

Georgia - A Higher Price Tag for a Nuclear Project (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/11/a-higher-price-tag-for-a-nuclear-project/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Massachusetts - Conventional Utility Companies, ‘Munis’ Have Different Criteria in Determining Rates (Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise, MA)

http://www.sentinelandenterprise.com/local/ci_20609207/conventional-utility-companies-munis-have-different-criteria-determining

North Dakota Becomes No. 2 Oil Producing State, Trailing Only Texas (Grand Forks Herald, ND)

http://www.grandforksherald.com/event/article/id/236467/

Security at Co-ops Goes High Tech (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/industry/crime/security-at-co-ops-goes-high-tech/43828

Message Received - Americans Have Low Tolerance for Power Outages, Survey Finds (American Public Power Association)

http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppd/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=176996&issueID=23103

FISH & WILDLIFE

Columbia Spring Chinook Salmon Run Downgraded by a Third - Tribal Commercial Sales Begin To Public (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/bill_monroe/index.ssf/2012/05/columbia_spring_chinook_salmon_2.html

Portland Court Hearing on Hazing Hungry Sea Lions (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2012/05/15/2106253/portland-court-hearing-on-hazing.html

Protecting Eagles vs. Accommodating Indian Religious Freedoms (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2018192340_eagle13.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Dam Fight Grows; Skykomish on List of At-Risk Rivers (Everett Herald, WA)

http://heraldnet.com/article/20120515/NEWS01/705159932/-1/news01

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Marysville Solar Builder Silicon Energy Adds New Line (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2012/05/14/local-solar-builder-silicon-energy.html

Lots of Solar Power May Reduce, Not Increase, Electricity Prices (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2012/05/lots-of-solar-power-may-reduce-not-increase-electricity-prices?cmpid=rss

BPA Official to Discuss Wind Issues on Tuesday in the Tri Cities (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/05/10/1935235/bpa-official-to-discuss-wind-issues.html

Google-backed offshore wind power line gets Interior Department OK (San Francisco Business Times, CA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2012/05/14/google-backed-offshore-wind-power-line.html

With Canal Hydropower, Still Waters Make Electricity (Clean Technica)

http://cleantechnica.com/2012/05/13/with-canal-hydropower-still-waters-make-electricity/

Massachusetts - Newton Switching to Clean Energy (Boston Herald, MA)

http://articles.boston.com/2012-05-13/yourtown/31691080_1_clean-energy-newton-electricity

Americans Support National Clean-Energy Standard: Study - Average US citizen is willing to pay 13 percent more (Phys.Org)

http://phys.org/news/2012-05-americans-national-clean-energy-standard.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Seattle Lighting Startup Makes LED Color More Natural, Using Sand (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/energy/2012/05/11/seattle-lighting-startup-makes-led-color-more-natural-using-sand/

Texans to Get Reprieve on Paying Sales Taxes for Energy-Efficient Appliances (Dallas Business Journal, TX)

http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/news/2012/05/14/texans-to-get-reprieve-on-paying-sales.html

Cracking the Smart Energy Market (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/05/11/cracking-the-smart-energy-market/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Upkeep of Air Conditioners Lowers Summer Electric Bills (Wichita Falls Times Record, TX)

http://www.timesrecordnews.com/news/2012/may/12/upkeep-of-air-conditioners-lowers-summer-bills/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Natural-Gas Plans Could Alter British Columbia’s Climate-Change Goals (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/national/british-columbia/bc-politics/lng-plans-may-alter-bcs-climate-change-goals/article2431448/

Obscure-But-Awesome Energy Law Getting Shivved by Natural Gas Lobby (Grist Online)

http://grist.org/politics/obscure-but-awesome-energy-law-getting-shivved-by-natural-gas-lobby/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Milk Waste Leaves Big Carbon Footprint (New Zealand Herald)

http://www.nzherald.co.nz/world/news/article.cfm?c_id=2&objectid=10805935

An Environmental Crusader’s Newest Goal: Congress (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/05/15/nyregion/colin-beavan-environmental-activist-makes-a-run-for-congress.html?_r=1

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

9.5 Percent Increase - Comcast to Raise Rates for Basic Cable Service (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/may/11/comcast-raise-rates-basic-cable-service/

Broadcasters, FCC in Spectrum Turf War (Politico)

http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0512/76282.html

Report: Amazon Hiring More Than 1,000 People for Seattle Offices (KCPQ TV, Seattle/Tacoma, WA)

http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-report-amazon-hiring-more-than-1000-people-for-seattle-offices-20120514,0,5826217.story

Poll: Half of Americans Call Facebook a Fad (Associated Press)

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2012/may/15/poll-half-americans-call-facebook-fad/?breakingnews

United Kingdom - Broadband Users Getting 42 Per Cent Lower Speed than Advertised (Expert Reviews)

http://www.expertreviews.co.uk/general/1292206/uk-broadband-users-getting-42-per-cent-lower-speed-than-advertised

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State’s US Senate Race Overshadowed by Gubernatorial Match-Up (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/wash._u.s._senate_race_overshadowed_by_gubernatorial_match-up/

Six Seek to Succeed Reed as Secretary of State (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/may/15/six-seek-to-succeed-reed-as-secretary-of-state/

Sheldon to Seek Third Term as Mason County Commissioner (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/may/14/sheldon-to-seek-third-term-as-mason-county/

Mason County Elections Page (Mason County Auditor)

https://wei.sos.wa.gov/county/mason/en/Elections/CandidateInfo/Pages/Candidates-Who-Have-Filed.aspx

Op/Ed - Three Cheers for the Wenatchee Arena Default (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2018208846_guest15shoval.html

GENERAL NEWS

Drivers Fill Up With Pain as State Gas Prices Soar - Largely fueled by the aftermath of a fire at Washington’s biggest refinery & scheduled maintenance at other West Coast refineries (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2018209653_gasprices15.html

Fatal Crash on Mikkelsen Road (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/?p=5297

Faith-Healing Parents Acquitted of Murder (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Faith-healing-parents-acquitted-of-murder-151532115.html

Both Sides Reluctantly Accepting Newest Wild Olympics Proposal (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.konp.com/local/7886

Yes, That’s a Flying Salmon - Alaska Airlines Has Come Up with Another Big Fuselage Fish (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/05/15/2145094/yes-thats-a-flying-salmon.html

DIVERSIONS

Puyallup Brothers’ Solar Jacket Is Finalists in Buffett Business Contest

http://www.q13fox.com/news/kcpq-puyallup-brothers-solar-jacket-is-finalists-in-buffett-business-contest-20120514,0,6202968.story

Egyptian Man Declared Dead but Wakes Up Before Funeral

http://www.metro.co.uk/weird/898938-egyptian-man-declared-dead-but-wakes-up-before-funeral

White Buffalo Bull Being Donated to Texas Ranch

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2018195528_apuswhitebuffalodeath.html

Top Baby Names of 2011: Sophia, Jacob And... Briella?

http://www.csmonitor.com/The-Culture/Family/Modern-Parenthood/2012/0514/Top-baby-names-of-2011-Sophia-Jacob-and-Briella

SONG OF THE DAY

Linda Ronstadt - Ooh Baby Baby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kmu-UUl_dLE