Energy News Digest for October 4, 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

BPA Decision Threatens Proposed Transmission Line between Montana, Idaho (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2012/10/bpa_decision_threatens_propose.html

Federal Electricity Grid Plans Have Montana Electric Co-Ops Concerned (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20121003/NEWS01/310030021/Chu-s-electricity-grid-plans-concern-Montana-co-ops

Snake River - Toxic Algae Warning Issued for Little Goose Dam (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/10/03/2123200/toxic-algae-warning-issued-for.html

Weather Deals Setback to Oregon Wave Energy Project - Firm will not deploy first test buoy off Reedsport until the spring (Salem Statesman Journal, OR)

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20121004/NEWS/310040040/Weather-deals-setback-Oregon-wave-energy-project

Oregon, Washington in Top Ten Energy Efficient States (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/oregon-washington-top-10-energy-efficient-states

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• BPA Decision Threatens Proposed Transmission Line between Montana, Idaho
• Federal Electricity Grid Plans Have Montana Electric Co-Ops Concerned
• Corker Fears Feds May ‘Destroy’ Tennessee Valley Authority
• Struggling with Bills? Snohomish PUD Offers Resources That Can Help
• Okanogan PUD Receives Three 2012 Excellence in Communication Awards from NWPPA
• Troubled California Nuclear Energy Plant Aims to Restart Reactor
• Europe’s Nuclear Reactors Need Repair or Upgrades
• Metal Theft Laws Beefed Up in California
• Columbia River Coho Salmon Return Updated, And Lower Than Anticipated
• Tidal Connections Restored at Otter Point for First Time in More Than a Century
• Decision on Pocket Gopher’s Endangered Species Status Delayed
• Snake River - Toxic Algae Warning Issued for Little Goose Dam
• Skagit PUD Water Rates May Go Up Next Year
• New Utility Charge Coming for Port Angeles – To Pay for Pollution Studies
• Weather Deals Setback to Oregon Wave Energy Project
• Scientists Identify Massive Geothermal Hotspot in Utah
• Green Power on the Edge of Practicality
• Oregon, Washington in Top Ten Energy Efficient States
• States Boost Energy Efficiency, But Which Do Best?
• Oregon Looks At Options for Greenhouse Gas Reductions
• Could Controversy Surrounding Global Warming Cool Down?
• Facebook Tops 1 Billion Active Users
• United Kingdom - Whistleblower Sacked Over British Telecom Rural Broadband Leak
• Social Media Renders Rapid Judgment on Wednesday’s Presidential Debate
• North of Shelton - All Lanes of SR 3 to Reopen Friday at 5pm
• EIS Comments Deadline Extended for Major Shelton Area Development
• Pleasant Weather Might Be a Sign of a Mild Winter to Come
• Idaho Firefighter Charged with Arson Bonds Out of Jail
• Mason County Sheriff Graduates from FBI National Academy

WORD OF THE DAY

Placate • \PLAY-kayt\ • Verb - To soothe or mollify especially by concessions: to calm the anger or bitterness of

“Now, now” purred the speech coach to her shattered student. “We win the speech contest every time.” Her efforts to placate the young William Jennings Bryant must have made some impression, as he turned out to be one of the greatest orators in U-S political history. Unfortunately for him, he was a much better orator than Presidential candidate.

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

BPA Decision Threatens Proposed Transmission Line between Montana, Idaho (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2012/10/bpa_decision_threatens_propose.html

Federal Electricity Grid Plans Have Montana Electric Co-Ops Concerned (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20121003/NEWS01/310030021/Chu-s-electricity-grid-plans-concern-Montana-co-ops

Corker Fears Feds May ‘Destroy’ Tennessee Valley Authority “…might be better off if it came out from under federal oversight…” (WPLN Radio, Nashville, WA)

http://wpln.org/?p=41811

Struggling with Bills? Snohomish PUD Offers Resources That Can Help (South Everett Beacon, WA)

http://south-everett.villagesoup.com/news/story/struggling-with-bills-pud-offers-resources-that-can-help/905372

Okanogan PUD Receives Three 2012 Excellence in Communication Awards from NWPPA (North Central Washington TV)

http://www.ncwtv.com/okanogan-pud-receives-three-2012-excellence-in-communication-awards-from-nwppa-4978/

Troubled California Nuclear Energy Plant Aims to Restart Reactor (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/oct/04/troubled-calif-nuke-plant-aims-to-restart-reactor/

Europe’s Nuclear Reactors Need Repair or Upgrades (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/world/europe/safety-review-says-europes-nuclear-reactors-need-repair.html?_r=1

Metal Theft Laws Beefed Up in California (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/industry/crime/california-metal-theft-laws-take-effect/48687

FISH & WILDLIFE

Columbia River Coho Salmon Return Updated, And Lower Than Anticipated (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2019334628_columbia_river_coho_return_upd.html

Tidal Connections Restored at Otter Point for First Time in More Than a Century (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.bpa.gov/corporate/BPANews/ArticleTemplate.cfm?ArticleId=article-20121004-01

Decision on Pocket Gopher’s Endangered Species Status Delayed (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2012/10/03/2273041/decision-on-pocket-gophers-endangered.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Snake River - Toxic Algae Warning Issued for Little Goose Dam (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/10/03/2123200/toxic-algae-warning-issued-for.html

Skagit PUD Water Rates May Go Up Next Year (KAPS Radio, Mount Vernon, WA)

http://www.kapsradio.com/kaps-radio-660am-news-headlines/water-rates-may-go-up-next-year/

New Utility Charge Coming for Port Angeles – To Pay for Pollution Studies (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.konp.com/local/8187

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Weather Deals Setback to Oregon Wave Energy Project - Firm will not deploy first test buoy off Reedsport until the spring (Salem Statesman Journal, OR)

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20121004/NEWS/310040040/Weather-deals-setback-Oregon-wave-energy-project

Scientists Identify Massive Geothermal Hotspot in Utah (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy-Voices/2012/1004/Scientists-identify-massive-geothermal-hotspot-in-Utah

Green Power on the Edge of Practicality (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/business/energy-environment/04iht-green04.html?_r=1

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Oregon, Washington in Top Ten Energy Efficient States (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/oregon-washington-top-10-energy-efficient-states

States Boost Energy Efficiency, But Which Do Best? (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2012/10/03/states-energy-efficiency-scorecard/1610317/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Oregon Looks At Options for Greenhouse Gas Reductions (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-looks-at-options-for-greenhouse-gas-reductions/

Could Controversy Surrounding Global Warming Cool Down? (U-S News & World Report)

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2012/10/04/could-controversy-surrounding-global-warming-cool-down

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Facebook Tops 1 Billion Active Users (NY Times)

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/10/04/facebook-passes-1-billion-active-users/

United Kingdom - Whistleblower Sacked Over British Telecom Rural Broadband Leak (The Guardian, UK)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/technology/2012/oct/03/whistleblower-sacked-bt-broadband

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Social Media Renders Rapid Judgment on Wednesday’s Presidential Debate (U-S News & World Report)

http://www.usnews.com/news/technology/articles/2012/10/04/social-media-renders-rapid-judgment-on-debate

GENERAL NEWS

North of Shelton - All Lanes of SR 3 to Reopen Friday at 5pm (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/40623-all-lanes-of-sr-3-to-reopen-friday-at-5pm

EIS Comments Deadline Extended for Major Shelton Area Development (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/40628-eis-comments-deadline-extended

Pleasant Weather Might Be a Sign of a Mild Winter to Come (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20121004/NEWS01/710049932

Idaho Firefighter Charged with Arson Bonds Out of Jail (KTVB-TV, Boise, ID)

http://www.ktvb.com/news/local/Firefighter-charged-with-arson-bonds-out-of-jail--172583961.html

Mason County Sheriff Graduates from FBI National Academy (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/40621-sheriff-salisbury-graduates-from-fbi-national-academy

DIVERSIONS

The Sound Of James Bond: Vic Flick’s Surf Guitar

http://www.npr.org/2012/10/03/161888984/the-sound-of-james-bond-vic-flicks-surf-guitar?ft=1&f=3

Dog Survives 11-Mile Trip in Grille of Car; Police Searching for Owner

http://www.tauntongazette.com/news/x670729712/Dog-survives-11-mile-trip-in-grill-of-car-police-searching-for-owner

Insects Destroy Idaho County’s Historic Documents

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Insects-destroy-Idaho-countys-historic-documents-172509711.html

Lost Egyptian Pyramids Found?

http://www.komonews.com/news/va?vaid=8a66c5a17f9e3488e16243b0ded86c55

SONG OF THE DAY

Alan Parsons Project – Pyramania

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O-KWb6JuYp0

Energy News Digest for October 3, 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

Chinese Wind Company Sues Obama for Violating Its Constitutional Rights (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2012/10/02/chinese-wind-company-sues-obama-for-violating-its-constitutional-rights/

Drier Winter Expected as El Nino Blows In (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/La-Nina-out-as-El-Nino-blows-in-172405471.html

Eastern Washington Wind Churns Up Dust, Triggers Power Outages (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/oct/03/wind-churns-up-dust-triggers-power-outages/

BPA Turns down Montana State Transmission Intertie Power Line as Preferred Option (Montana Standard, Butte, MT)

http://mtstandard.com/news/local/updated-bpa-turns-down-msti-power-line-as-preferred-option/article_dc0085a2-0d55-11e2-9f2f-0019bb2963f4.html

Editorial - Obstacles Could be Insurmountable to Electrified Thurston County PUD (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2012/10/03/2272179/obstacles-could-be-insurmountable.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Eastern Washington Wind Churns Up Dust, Triggers Power Outages
• BPA Turns down Montana State Transmission Intertie Power Line as Preferred Option
• Richland City Council Approves Electricity Rate Increase
• Editorial - Obstacles Could be Insurmountable to Electrified Thurston County PUD
• Mason County PUD 1 Director Named Top Female Executive
• Grant County PUD Spokeswoman Dedicates 36 Years to Work
• Mason County PUD 3 to Celebrate Public Power Week October 7-13
• Itron Gets Huge California Gas Meter Contract
• Seagull Blamed for Berkeley Fire & Power Outage
• O’Malley to Seek Surcharge to Harden Maryland’s Electric Grid
• Natural Gas Futures Fall. A Mild Winter to Blame?
• Answering Public’s Concerns about ‘Smart Meters’
• Obama in First Visit to Hoover Dam: ‘Spectacular’
• Sockeye Salmon Find Easier Path through Woodinville
• Chinese Wind Company Sues Obama for Violating Its Constitutional Rights
• Portland General Electric Searching for More Renewable Energy to Meet Mandate
• Flathead Electric Cooperative - Montana Co-op Aids City Hydro Plan
• AT&T to Buy 9.6 Megawatts of Bloom Energy’s Fuel Cells
• Want a Green Job? Here’s Who’s Hiring in Wind Energy, Solar
• Nest Learning Thermostat: Temperature Control for the iPhone Crowd
• Oregon Has One Company on Global Cleantech Roster
• Public Safety Broadband Network Will Rely on Existing Commercial Infrastructure
• With New Satellite Tech, Rural Dwellers Get Access to True Broadband
• Scoop: GoDaddy Quietly Kills Its Cloud Computing Business
• National Budget Watchdog Group Takes Aim at Columbia River Crossing Project
• Drier Winter Expected as El Nino Blows In
• In Washington State, Picker Shortage Threatens Apple Boom
• City of Shelton Looking at Derelict Buildings
• OysterFest 2012 in Mason County, Washington
• Squaxin Tribe Selects Croman to Lead Economic Enterprises
• Charge: Jailer Faked Military Deployment for Paid Year Off

WORD OF THE DAY

Obstreperous • \ub-STREP-uh-russ\ • Adjective - 1: marked by unruly or aggressive noisiness: clamorous 2: stubbornly resistant to control: unruly

The staff’s autumnal equinox party had all the decorum of a child’s first birthday party. No knowing why they were having a party (much less what the “equinox” was) the accounting staff proceeded to perform a conga line through the engineering department, their obstreperous chants ("Debits-Credits" -- "Debits-Credits") distracting even the most disciplined engineer from their exacting tasks.

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

Eastern Washington Wind Churns Up Dust, Triggers Power Outages (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/oct/03/wind-churns-up-dust-triggers-power-outages/

BPA Turns down Montana State Transmission Intertie Power Line as Preferred Option (Montana Standard, Butte, MT)

http://mtstandard.com/news/local/updated-bpa-turns-down-msti-power-line-as-preferred-option/article_dc0085a2-0d55-11e2-9f2f-0019bb2963f4.html

Richland City Council Approves Electricity Rate Increase (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/10/03/2122472/richland-city-council-approves.html

Editorial - Obstacles Could be Insurmountable to Electrified Thurston County PUD (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2012/10/03/2272179/obstacles-could-be-insurmountable.html

Mason County PUD 1 Director Named Top Female Executive (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/40617-pud-1-director-is-named-top-female-executive

Grant County PUD Spokeswoman Dedicates 36 Years to Work (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/politics/article_58c1c72e-0cd7-11e2-abb0-001a4bcf887a.html

Mason County PUD 3 to Celebrate Public Power Week October 7-13 (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=1090

Itron Gets Huge California Gas Meter Contract (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/morning_call/2012/10/itron-gets-huge-california-gas-meter.html

Seagull Blamed for Berkeley Fire & Power Outage (SF Chronicle, CA)

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Seagull-blamed-for-Berkeley-fire-3912745.php

O’Malley to Seek Surcharge to Harden Maryland’s Electric Grid (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/md-politics/omalley-to-seek-surcharge-to-harden-md-electric-grid/2012/10/02/d75961f6-0ccc-11e2-a310-2363842b7057_story.html?wprss=rss_local

Natural Gas Futures Fall. A Mild Winter to Blame? (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy-Voices/2012/1003/Natural-gas-futures-fall.-A-mild-winter-to-blame

Answering Public’s Concerns about ‘Smart Meters’ (The Hill, Washington, D-C)

http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/technology/259751-answering-publics-concerns-about-smart-meters-

Obama in First Visit to Hoover Dam: ‘Spectacular’ (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.com/html/politics/2019323349_apusobama.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Sockeye Salmon Find Easier Path through Woodinville (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Sockey-find-easier-path-through-Woodinville-thanks-to-Adopt-A-Stream-Foundation-172389011.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Chinese Wind Company Sues Obama for Violating Its Constitutional Rights (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/christopherhelman/2012/10/02/chinese-wind-company-sues-obama-for-violating-its-constitutional-rights/

Portland General Electric Searching for More Renewable Energy to Meet Mandate (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2012/10/portland_general_electric_sear.html

Flathead Electric Cooperative - Montana Co-op Aids City Hydro Plan (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/power-supply/renewable-energy/montana-co-op-rebuilds-hydroelectric-plant/48503

AT&T to Buy 9.6 Megawatts of Bloom Energy’s Fuel Cells (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2012-10-02/at-t-agrees-to-buy-9-6-megawatts-of-bloom-energy-s-fuel-cells.html

Want a Green Job? Here’s Who’s Hiring in Wind Energy, Solar (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy-Voices/2012/1003/Want-a-green-job-Here-s-who-s-hiring-in-wind-energy-solar

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Nest Learning Thermostat: Temperature Control for the iPhone Crowd (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy-Voices/2012/1002/Nest-Learning-Thermostat-temperature-control-for-the-iPhone-crowd

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Oregon Has One Company on Global Cleantech Roster (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2012/10/oregon-has-one-company-on-global.html

Here’s the Full List of the Cleantech Companies - The 2012 Global Cleantech 100 (Clean Tech Group)

http://www.cleantech.com/global-cleantech-100/the-2012-global-cleantech-100/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Public Safety Broadband Network Will Rely on Existing Commercial Infrastructure (Fierce Government IT)

http://www.fiercegovernmentit.com/story/public-safety-broadband-network-will-rely-existing-commercial-infrastructur/2012-10-02

With New Satellite Tech, Rural Dwellers Get Access to True Broadband (GigaOm)

http://gigaom.com/2012/10/01/with-new-satellite-tech-rural-dwellers-get-access-to-true-broadband/

Scoop: GoDaddy Quietly Kills Its Cloud Computing Business (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/cloud/scoop-godaddy-quietly-kills-its-cloud-computing-business/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

National Budget Watchdog Group Takes Aim at Columbia River Crossing Project (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/mapes/index.ssf/2012/10/national_budget_watchdog_group.html

GENERAL NEWS

Drier Winter Expected as El Nino Blows In (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/La-Nina-out-as-El-Nino-blows-in-172405471.html

In Washington State, Picker Shortage Threatens Apple Boom (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/blogs/thesalt/2012/10/03/162145140/in-washington-state-picker-shortage-threatens-apple-boom

City of Shelton Looking at Derelict Buildings (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/7552

OysterFest 2012 in Mason County, Washington (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/40523-oysterfest-2012-in-mason-county-washington

Squaxin Tribe Selects Croman to Lead Economic Enterprises (South Sound Business Examiner, WA)

www.businessexaminer.com/blog/October-2012/Squaxin-Tribe-selects-Croman-to-lead-economic-enterprises/

Charge: Jailer Faked Military Deployment for Paid Year Off (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Charge-King-Co-jailer-Jose-Abarca-faked-military-deployment-for-paid-year-off-172323371.html

DIVERSIONS

Restaurant Shut Down after Road Kill Brought into Kitchen

http://www.wkyt.com/wymt/home/headlines/Restaurant-shut-down-after-roadkill-brought-inside-171805741.html

Washington State Attorney: ‘I Have Physically Traveled in Time’

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/Wash-attorney-I-have-physically-traveled-in-time-171952681.html

Skydiver Aims to Break Sound Barrier in Free Fall

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/oct/01/skydiver-aims-to-break-sound-barrier-in-free-fall/

Japanese Study Claims Viewing Photos of Cute Animals at Work May Boost Productivity

http://gawker.com/5947904/japanese-study-claims-viewing-photos-of-cute-animals-at-work-may-boost-productivity

SONG OF THE DAY

Rocky Horror Picture Show - Time Warp

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a_7u3nhANa4