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.
WORD OF THE DAY
Genial • \JEE-nee-ul\ • adjective – 1: favorable to growth or comfort: mild *2: marked by or diffusing sympathy or friendliness 3: displaying or marked by genius
“Come on in. Set a spell,” drawled the genial Mr. Clampett
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Oregon farm community protests proposed natural gas pipeline – About 200 people attended a federal hearing on a proposed 117-mile buried natural gas pipeline Oregon LNG wants to build from Astoria to Molalla, and most of them were mad. (The Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-946812~Farm_commuity_protests_proposed_natural_gas_pipeline.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Montana – Highwood plant has objectors within co-op membership. As three Montana cities - Missoula, Helena and Bozeman - turn down a chance to plug into the Highwood Generating Station, some co-op members in south-central Montana wish they could do the same. (Billings Gazette)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/09/21/news/state/20-plant.txt
British Columbia – 196-megawatt independent power project among biggest. Vancouver-based Plutonic Power signs $500-million construction contract (The Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/business/story.html?id=f91fcb80-161b-4f28-b4b4-5e1d03e35275
California – Thousands of PG&E customers stand to get refunds for billing violations. Pacific Gas and Electric Co. must refund $35 million to customers who received long-overdue or estimated bills in violation of state rules, California regulators decided Thursday. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://sfgate.com//cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/21/BUD4SAB97.DTL&feed=rss.business
North Dakota – Basin plans second power line extension. Basin Electric Power Cooperative is planning a second major power transmission line in western North Dakota (Bismarck Tribune)
http://www.bismarcktribune.com/articles/2007/09/20/news/state/139613.txt
Kentucky – Utility Fined $11.4 Million for Acid Rain. A Kentucky utility has agreed to pay the largest-ever fine for alleged violations of the Clean Air Act's acid rain program, the Environmental Protection Agency said yesterday. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/20/AR2007092002547.html?nav=rss_business
California – Bad PG&E cable causes Sunset power outage
http://www.examiner.com/a-947712~Bad_PG_E_cable_causes_Sunset_power_outage.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
California – Energy-saving moves may pay off for utilities (LA Times)
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-fi-energy21sep21,1,4564880.story?coll=la-headlines-pe-california&ctrack=1&cset=true
New York ISO outlines its plan for meeting future power demand (Platts Energy News)
http://www.platts.com/Electric%20Power/News/6483053.xml?src=Electric%20Powerrssheadlines1
State regulators defend FERC role in policing financial markets (Platts Energy News)
http://www.platts.com/Natural%20Gas/News/6483052.xml?sub=Natural%20Gas&p=Natural%20Gas/News&
News Release – FERC Announces Creation Of Office Of Electric Reliability (Power On Line)
http://www.poweronline.com/content/news/article.asp?docid=%7BA82A1D92-B51E-4F9E-9461-1C4C1A06854C%7D&VNETCOOKIE=NO
News Release – Commission acts to assure independence of PJM market monitoring. The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission today acted to assure independence of market monitoring in the PJM Interconnection and preserve the integrity of PJM market operations by directing all parties to enter into a settlement process. (FERC Web Site)
http://www.ferc.gov/news/news-releases/2007/2007-3/09-20-07-E-3.asp
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Tribe doesn't have right to kill seals, NOAA says – Squaxin representatives reject implied link to deaths. The Squaxin Island tribe does not have authority under the 1972 Marine Mammal Protection Act to kill harbor seals that interfere with its gillnet salmon fishery in South Sound (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/223316.html
Clear passage for fish at stake – Salmon and trout would have many more places to spawn and grow if more than 1,000 state-owned road culverts didn’t stand in the way, biologists say. (The News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/161173.html
Left high and dry, salmon make powerful friends in Nevada – The fishermen who remember salmon running thick in Northern Nevada's rivers are gone. (Las Vegas Sun)
http://www.lasvegassun.com/sunbin/stories/lv-other/2007/sep/21/566636016.html
Reviving ocean habitat: Fishing limits mean businesses will see modest hit; some worry staffing inadequate to protect the 29 marine areas (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_6958170?source=rss&nclick_check=1
A stay, at least briefly, for trees on Columbia levee – A drainage district fears the loss of U.S. certification, but residents say the cutting adds flood risks (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1190258719155510.xml&coll=7
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Irony Watch! Remodeled barge to transport biofuels on Columbia River “…barge remains the most efficient mode of transport compared with railcars and trucks in load capacities, fuel consumption and emissions…” Ed Note: barging made possible by Columbia Basin Dams (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/business/v-rss/story/9320444p-9234964c.html
Farmers And Scientists Search For Super Fuel Crop – Growing canola to make biodiesel isn't exactly setting Northwest farmers' hearts aflutter. Government statistics show just a slight increase in canola plantings, despite layers of incentives to support homegrown fuel. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/farmers-and-scientists-search-super-fuel-crop/
Wind Power's a Breeze in Europe – The EU's renewable power sector, led by wind, is growing, and those who build wind farms are having trouble keeping up with demand (Business Week)
http://www.businessweek.com/globalbiz/content/sep2007/gb20070919_459208.htm?chan=globalbiz_europe+index+page_top+stories
CONSERVATION
California – Energy nonprofit group is target of investigation: Berkeley is investigating alleged misuse of funds at a nonprofit group it created 22 years ago to pursue energy conservation after firing its director in August. (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_6958168?source=rss
Reduce Your Energy Costs (The Motley Fool)
http://www.fool.com/personal-finance/saving/2007/09/21/reduce-your-energy-costs.aspx
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Record sea ice melt this summer larger than Texas and Alaska – Shattering previous records, the sea ice in the Arctic shrank 1 million square miles more this summer than the average melt over 25 years, an area larger than Alaska and Texas combined, according to NASA satellite data released Thursday. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/21/MNMISACP7.DTL&feed=rss.news
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Cities turning off plans for Wi-Fi - Complexity, cost doom efforts to create access (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/printedition/news/20070920/1a_lede20.art.htm
Portland, OR – Wireless alternative to blanket city in 2008: WiMAX technology is used in other parts of Oregon and will be included in some Intel laptops (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1190256916101250.xml&coll=7
U.S. Helps Bring WiMax to Rural Vietnam (Broadband Reports, Note: comments may include PG-13 language)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/US-Helps-Bring-WiMax-To-Rural-Vietnam-87735
Sen. Smith: Ban Internet tax forever – Oregon U.S. Sen. Gordon Smith, chairman of the Senate Republican High Tech Task Force, on Thursday called for immediate action to permanently ban taxes on the Internet. (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2007/09/17/daily33.html?ana=from_rss
NY Times Editorial: Regulating Microsoft – Microsoft’s resounding defeat in a European antitrust case establishes welcome principles that should be adopted in the United States as guideposts for the future development of the information economy.
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/21/opinion/21fri4.html?ei=5088&en=3013209f6ec21ed6&ex=1348027200&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1190393078-dnrdn6VtfH9EuYS3KoIi0w
The doctor will e-mail you now – Secure connections offer access to medical records, test results (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/health/332591_docemail21.html
GENERAL NEWS
Peninsula weighs in as Canada's dollar reaches parity with greenback (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070921/NEWS/709210307
DIVERSIONS
'God' apparently responds to lawsuit
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070921/ap_on_fe_st/odd_suing_god;_ylt=Agguc3qijbKkCT_KeUFuBg_tiBIF
Government wants kids to get hunting – The citizens of Alberta just aren't going after big game at the pace they once did, according to the government of the western Canadian province, but a remedy is in the works.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070921/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_hunting;_ylt=AmiKhqKBXRpScugmJEHMD9ftiBIF
Cop faces heat over squad car joy ride – Prosecutors have filed two misdemeanor charges against a former police officer who authorities say crashed a squad car while showing off for three female college students riding with him.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070920/ap_on_fe_st/odd_police_joy_ride;_ylt=AgNjJymtO42_PsdbDpD9vUrtiBIF
Errant text message leads to drug bust – A man who thought he was asking a friend about a drug deal instead sent a text message to the state police and was arrested, authorities said.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070921/ap_on_re_us/odd_text_message_bust;_ylt=Asp0ShouhF409bcyMdk44QDtiBIF
Thousands of hyphens perish as English marches on – About 16,000 words have succumbed to pressures of the Internet age and lost their hyphens in a new edition of the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/britain_hyphen1_dc;_ylt=Ap5AcPE1Up1qKHOn9cXsrCXtiBIF
Friday, September 21, 2007
Thursday, September 20, 2007
News Digest for September 20, 2007
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.
WORD OF THE DAY
Quidnunc • \KWID-nunk\ • noun – A person who seeks to know all the latest news or gossip: busybody
Bursting with the news, Magda couldn’t resist blurting the latest rumor about the peccadilloes of her co-worker one cubicle over. Unfortunately for her, the company quidnunc (who had overheard the conversation) was fast on his way to the boss with the news, which ultimately spelled doom for Magda’s promotion to “coffee monitor” for section B on floor ten.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
State agencies blast Port of Kalama power project plan – Two state agencies and six environmental groups will ask the state's Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council today to grant them intervener status in the public power consortium's efforts to build a $1.5 billion coal gasification plant at the Port of Kalama. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/business/v-rss/story/9316570p-9231327c.html
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Editorial Board – Coal Power: Make the case. The use of coal to provide electrical power looks more dubious every day. The burden of proof rests entirely with a group of public power agencies to defend plans for a coal-based generation facility in Kalama.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/332327_coaled.html?source=rss
Region faces energy quandary – Analysts have long held that electricity consumers would save money by meeting more of the Pacific Northwest's future energy needs through conservation and wind generators, rather than traditional coal or gas. “…Some have proposed breaching dams to assist fisheries and aquatic systems, but the council report warns toppling just four dams on the Lower Snake River would result in an additional 5.4 million tons of CO2 per year, as thermal plants fire up to cover the hydroelectric losses…” (The Missoulan)
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2007/09/19/news/mtregional/news07.txt
Clatskanie PUD board members lash back at Ollila – Two Clatskanie PUD board members took exception Wednesday to written comments by their colleague Rod Ollila, who faces a recall election Tuesday. (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/09/20/area_news/news09.txt
The Daily News Editorial – Withholding Clatskanie PUD report leaves voters in dark (This’ll be gone tomorrow)
http://www.tdn.com/editorial/
Possible snag in Port Angeles City Light building move – The Port Angeles City council last night voted to reject a bid for the remodeling of space at Airport Industrial Park, for use as an interim Light Operations facility. (KONP Radio, Port Angeles)
http://www.konp.com/local/3105
Truck on Port Angeles bridge project snares line, cuts power to mill “…a dump truck with its bed extended snagged a high-voltage power line…” (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070920/NEWS/709200302
Grays Harbor County PUD project at Elk River this weekend (Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/09/19/local_news/03news.txt
State regulators to consider plan to unite energy providers – The state’s second largest electric utility believes the time is right to revive a much-discussed plan to unite energy providers throughout the Railbelt. (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)
http://newsminer.com/2007/09/20/8972
California – Tree trimmer electrocuted in Marin. A 26-year-old San Rafael man was electrocuted by a 12,000-volt power line as he trimmed a redwood tree in Marin County, authorities said today. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/20/MN2US9CGA.DTL&feed=rss.news
Canada – Southern Saskatchewan hit by massive blackout
http://www.canada.com/cityguides/lethbridge/story.html?id=ba954c58-8e97-4a3e-9f80-4262d23e2a1a&k=77461
North Carolina – Coal plant draws applause: Proposal will add jobs, tax income; effect on environment criticized. Strong local support Tuesday greeted Duke Energy's plans for its first coal-fired power plant expansion in decades as environmentalists decried what they say is obsolete technology. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News via PowerMarketers.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CfjnkoqsYTnk%27%40%3E%20bfem%5E%21
Illinois – Ameren creates new rate relief programs. Ameren Illinois utilities continued rolling out rate relief initiatives with a package designed to help residential customers. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News via PowerMarketers.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CfjnqpjrZTnk%27%40%3E%20bfem%5E%21
News Release – Emphasis On Worker Safety Producing Results for Puget Sound Energy – Fewer Injuries and Lost-Work Time as Utility Steps up Safety Training for Employees (Yahoo! Finance)
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070920/20070920005644.html?.v=1
News Release – Windsor residents say public power is best for consumers and environment – In a telephone poll conducted by the Ontario Electricity Coalition, more than 80% of Windsor residents said they think publicly owned, non-profit utilities are better for consumers and the environment than private corporations. (CNW Group)
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2007/20/c3161.html
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Harbor seals discovered dead in unusual numbers – Dead harbor seals are washing ashore in South Sound in higher-than- normal numbers this late-summer season, including four in the past four days, according to Olympia-based Cascadia Research, a marine-mammal research group. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/570/story/222168.html
Salmon Viewing at Gorst Creek This Weekend – Chinook salmon returning to Gorst Creek can be seen Saturday and Sunday during an open viewing event at the City of Bremerton's Jarstad Park. (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/sep/19/salmon-viewing-at-gorst-creek-this-weekend/
BPA News Release – Program puts students into critter habitat feet first
http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/Newsroom/Query.aspx?SiteName=Bonneville&Entity=PRAsset&SF_PRAsset_PRAssetID_EQ=40663&XSL=PressRelease&Cache=True
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Seattle Times Editorial – Let the wind blow. Gov. Christine Gregoire ruled for the future in deciding to approve a controversial wind farm northwest of Ellensburg.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2003892590_winded20.html
Wenatchee World Editorial – Local rulings matter not “…State law promotes ... no, demands ... the construction of large wind power projects. There will be many, many more coming. If Eastern Washington NIMBYism is allowed to rule, the entire program will turn to muck…”
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070919/OP02/109190022/-1/OP
Snohomish County PUD tidal power passes first test – Currents in Sound are strong enough to make electricity (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20070920/NEWS01/709200026
Ranoke Times Editorial – Highland wind farm keeps moving forward. Virginia should allow the developers to prove that their clean energy project will not match neighbors' fears.The Virginia Supreme Court last week cleared the way for a wind farm in Highland County, at least for now. The next move belongs to the State Corporation Commission, which, despite the sincere concerns of the wind farm's opponents, should approve the project.
http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/wb/132436
PG&E helps Habitat for Humanity go solar – Many eco-conscious Californians love solar power. Few can afford it. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/20/BUTDS9FRL.DTL&feed=rss.business
Seattle Post Intelligencer Guest Columnist – Energy Farming Worsens Global Warming. The rush of the world's largest corporations to squeeze car fuel out of food is an effort to force industrialization on the tropics and end small family farming in the industrialized north.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/332331_agfuel20.html?source=rss
New England Wood Pellets: An Environmentally Superior Source of Heat (RenewableEnergyAccess.com)
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/partner/story;jsessionid=96B7C760EC61B75726E7F2803426B0E3?id=50005&src=rss
CONSERVATION
Public forum calls for 'Cool Communities' – If the demand for energy in Maine continues to increase at its current rate, 10 new power plants will be needed by 2018. (Democrat News, Dover, New Hampshire)
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070920/FOSTERS01/709200107/-1/NEWS09
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Tip from Terry Flores @ NW River Partners – National Views on Global Warming, Moore Insight: Our recent survey of U.S. voters confirms global warming is a leading concern among environmental issues. However, in the context of all national issues, it still barely registers. Further, voters are divided in their willingness to pay for programs to fight global warming, and several differences by key subgroup suggest that there will be significant disagreement in how we address global warming as a nation. (Links to PDF File)
http://www.moore-info.com/MI_GlobalWarming9.07.pdf
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Bremerton, Southworth Ferries Waiting for Wi-Fi – Wireless Internet service on the Bremerton-Seattle ferry route has been delayed again (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/sep/19/bremerton-southworth-ferries-waiting-for-wi-fi/
Verizon gets OK to bundle services in Washington State (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20070920/BIZ/709200023
Qwest tops in West for broadband service – Qwest Communications International Inc. ranked the highest in customer satisfaction for broadband Internet service. (The Denver Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2007/09/17/daily27.html?ana=from_rss
GENERAL NEWS
MURDERER ESCAPED FROM ARIZONA PRISON STILL AT LARGE, MAY HAVE HAD HELP – Roy Townsend, the convicted murderer from Mason County, remains at large after escaping from a private medium security prison in Florence, Arizona on Monday. At this stage, authorities believe that Townsend had help from friends or family who may have also helped plan the escape. Investigators suspect he may have access to a vehicle. Also, Florence police claim since Townsend had no outside communication for months it is likely that the escape was planned well in advance. Townsend was convicted of arson, theft and murder in the 1996 shooting of Gerald Harkins in Mason County. Townsend is described as a white male, 5 feet 11 inches tall, with black hair and brown eyes. At the time of the escape Townsend was wearing blue jeans and a white T shirt or blue top. Anyone with information on Roy Townsend or his escape should contact law enforcement immediately. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Environmental groups petition U.S. to regulate air fresheners – A group of heavyweight environmental organizations is asking the federal government to crack down on air fresheners, products that scientific studies show can aggravate asthma and pose other health risks. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://sfgate.com//cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/09/20/MNTLS9GTF.DTL
Zoning the 'enemy' of affordable homes – Seattle code needs updating, says housing expert (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/332171_workforce19.html
DIVERSIONS
Bees Escape Hives in Mont. Road Accident
http://www.examiner.com/a-944074~Bees_Escape_Hives_in_Mont__Road_Accident.html?cid=rss-Montana_Headlines
`Leave It to Beaver' actor sues Screen Actors Guild “Golly, you look nice today Mrs. Cleaver!”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070920/ap_on_en_tv/people_ken_osmond;_ylt=AsTXFLJWouAl4eh5mNyiXAhI2ocA
$5 bill to have splashes of purple, gray
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070920/ap_on_bi_ge/colorful_abe;_ylt=Alec94F_C5kMMw8EpUJNYSlI2ocA
Judge orders burial of mummified baby – A judge has ordered a man to lay an unusual family heirloom to rest: a mummified baby has been passed down for generations.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070920/ap_on_fe_st/mummy_baby;_ylt=AktZkql83kAwIrnVTTV4JAftiBIF
Couple who wanted baby sue over having twins – A lesbian couple in Australia are suing their doctor after they had twin girls from an in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure when they only wanted one child.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070920/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_australia_twins;_ylt=AgLci6CRPsWDg9gwr2DYvL3tiBIF
'Queenie' the errant Cow corralled in NY – An errant cow is headed for greener pastures after being corralled by police following a two-mile chase through the streets of Queens.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070919/ap_on_fe_st/odd_runaway_cow;_ylt=Av_1osRxL4NQEVYTX80mdOrtiBIF
WORD OF THE DAY
Quidnunc • \KWID-nunk\ • noun – A person who seeks to know all the latest news or gossip: busybody
Bursting with the news, Magda couldn’t resist blurting the latest rumor about the peccadilloes of her co-worker one cubicle over. Unfortunately for her, the company quidnunc (who had overheard the conversation) was fast on his way to the boss with the news, which ultimately spelled doom for Magda’s promotion to “coffee monitor” for section B on floor ten.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
State agencies blast Port of Kalama power project plan – Two state agencies and six environmental groups will ask the state's Energy Facility Site Evaluation Council today to grant them intervener status in the public power consortium's efforts to build a $1.5 billion coal gasification plant at the Port of Kalama. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/business/v-rss/story/9316570p-9231327c.html
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Editorial Board – Coal Power: Make the case. The use of coal to provide electrical power looks more dubious every day. The burden of proof rests entirely with a group of public power agencies to defend plans for a coal-based generation facility in Kalama.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/332327_coaled.html?source=rss
Region faces energy quandary – Analysts have long held that electricity consumers would save money by meeting more of the Pacific Northwest's future energy needs through conservation and wind generators, rather than traditional coal or gas. “…Some have proposed breaching dams to assist fisheries and aquatic systems, but the council report warns toppling just four dams on the Lower Snake River would result in an additional 5.4 million tons of CO2 per year, as thermal plants fire up to cover the hydroelectric losses…” (The Missoulan)
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2007/09/19/news/mtregional/news07.txt
Clatskanie PUD board members lash back at Ollila – Two Clatskanie PUD board members took exception Wednesday to written comments by their colleague Rod Ollila, who faces a recall election Tuesday. (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/09/20/area_news/news09.txt
The Daily News Editorial – Withholding Clatskanie PUD report leaves voters in dark (This’ll be gone tomorrow)
http://www.tdn.com/editorial/
Possible snag in Port Angeles City Light building move – The Port Angeles City council last night voted to reject a bid for the remodeling of space at Airport Industrial Park, for use as an interim Light Operations facility. (KONP Radio, Port Angeles)
http://www.konp.com/local/3105
Truck on Port Angeles bridge project snares line, cuts power to mill “…a dump truck with its bed extended snagged a high-voltage power line…” (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070920/NEWS/709200302
Grays Harbor County PUD project at Elk River this weekend (Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/09/19/local_news/03news.txt
State regulators to consider plan to unite energy providers – The state’s second largest electric utility believes the time is right to revive a much-discussed plan to unite energy providers throughout the Railbelt. (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)
http://newsminer.com/2007/09/20/8972
California – Tree trimmer electrocuted in Marin. A 26-year-old San Rafael man was electrocuted by a 12,000-volt power line as he trimmed a redwood tree in Marin County, authorities said today. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/20/MN2US9CGA.DTL&feed=rss.news
Canada – Southern Saskatchewan hit by massive blackout
http://www.canada.com/cityguides/lethbridge/story.html?id=ba954c58-8e97-4a3e-9f80-4262d23e2a1a&k=77461
North Carolina – Coal plant draws applause: Proposal will add jobs, tax income; effect on environment criticized. Strong local support Tuesday greeted Duke Energy's plans for its first coal-fired power plant expansion in decades as environmentalists decried what they say is obsolete technology. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News via PowerMarketers.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CfjnkoqsYTnk%27%40%3E%20bfem%5E%21
Illinois – Ameren creates new rate relief programs. Ameren Illinois utilities continued rolling out rate relief initiatives with a package designed to help residential customers. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News via PowerMarketers.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CfjnqpjrZTnk%27%40%3E%20bfem%5E%21
News Release – Emphasis On Worker Safety Producing Results for Puget Sound Energy – Fewer Injuries and Lost-Work Time as Utility Steps up Safety Training for Employees (Yahoo! Finance)
http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070920/20070920005644.html?.v=1
News Release – Windsor residents say public power is best for consumers and environment – In a telephone poll conducted by the Ontario Electricity Coalition, more than 80% of Windsor residents said they think publicly owned, non-profit utilities are better for consumers and the environment than private corporations. (CNW Group)
http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/September2007/20/c3161.html
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Harbor seals discovered dead in unusual numbers – Dead harbor seals are washing ashore in South Sound in higher-than- normal numbers this late-summer season, including four in the past four days, according to Olympia-based Cascadia Research, a marine-mammal research group. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/570/story/222168.html
Salmon Viewing at Gorst Creek This Weekend – Chinook salmon returning to Gorst Creek can be seen Saturday and Sunday during an open viewing event at the City of Bremerton's Jarstad Park. (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/sep/19/salmon-viewing-at-gorst-creek-this-weekend/
BPA News Release – Program puts students into critter habitat feet first
http://vocuspr.vocus.com/VocusPR30/Newsroom/Query.aspx?SiteName=Bonneville&Entity=PRAsset&SF_PRAsset_PRAssetID_EQ=40663&XSL=PressRelease&Cache=True
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Seattle Times Editorial – Let the wind blow. Gov. Christine Gregoire ruled for the future in deciding to approve a controversial wind farm northwest of Ellensburg.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2003892590_winded20.html
Wenatchee World Editorial – Local rulings matter not “…State law promotes ... no, demands ... the construction of large wind power projects. There will be many, many more coming. If Eastern Washington NIMBYism is allowed to rule, the entire program will turn to muck…”
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070919/OP02/109190022/-1/OP
Snohomish County PUD tidal power passes first test – Currents in Sound are strong enough to make electricity (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20070920/NEWS01/709200026
Ranoke Times Editorial – Highland wind farm keeps moving forward. Virginia should allow the developers to prove that their clean energy project will not match neighbors' fears.The Virginia Supreme Court last week cleared the way for a wind farm in Highland County, at least for now. The next move belongs to the State Corporation Commission, which, despite the sincere concerns of the wind farm's opponents, should approve the project.
http://www.roanoke.com/editorials/wb/132436
PG&E helps Habitat for Humanity go solar – Many eco-conscious Californians love solar power. Few can afford it. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/20/BUTDS9FRL.DTL&feed=rss.business
Seattle Post Intelligencer Guest Columnist – Energy Farming Worsens Global Warming. The rush of the world's largest corporations to squeeze car fuel out of food is an effort to force industrialization on the tropics and end small family farming in the industrialized north.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/332331_agfuel20.html?source=rss
New England Wood Pellets: An Environmentally Superior Source of Heat (RenewableEnergyAccess.com)
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/partner/story;jsessionid=96B7C760EC61B75726E7F2803426B0E3?id=50005&src=rss
CONSERVATION
Public forum calls for 'Cool Communities' – If the demand for energy in Maine continues to increase at its current rate, 10 new power plants will be needed by 2018. (Democrat News, Dover, New Hampshire)
http://www.fosters.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070920/FOSTERS01/709200107/-1/NEWS09
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Tip from Terry Flores @ NW River Partners – National Views on Global Warming, Moore Insight: Our recent survey of U.S. voters confirms global warming is a leading concern among environmental issues. However, in the context of all national issues, it still barely registers. Further, voters are divided in their willingness to pay for programs to fight global warming, and several differences by key subgroup suggest that there will be significant disagreement in how we address global warming as a nation. (Links to PDF File)
http://www.moore-info.com/MI_GlobalWarming9.07.pdf
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Bremerton, Southworth Ferries Waiting for Wi-Fi – Wireless Internet service on the Bremerton-Seattle ferry route has been delayed again (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/sep/19/bremerton-southworth-ferries-waiting-for-wi-fi/
Verizon gets OK to bundle services in Washington State (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20070920/BIZ/709200023
Qwest tops in West for broadband service – Qwest Communications International Inc. ranked the highest in customer satisfaction for broadband Internet service. (The Denver Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2007/09/17/daily27.html?ana=from_rss
GENERAL NEWS
MURDERER ESCAPED FROM ARIZONA PRISON STILL AT LARGE, MAY HAVE HAD HELP – Roy Townsend, the convicted murderer from Mason County, remains at large after escaping from a private medium security prison in Florence, Arizona on Monday. At this stage, authorities believe that Townsend had help from friends or family who may have also helped plan the escape. Investigators suspect he may have access to a vehicle. Also, Florence police claim since Townsend had no outside communication for months it is likely that the escape was planned well in advance. Townsend was convicted of arson, theft and murder in the 1996 shooting of Gerald Harkins in Mason County. Townsend is described as a white male, 5 feet 11 inches tall, with black hair and brown eyes. At the time of the escape Townsend was wearing blue jeans and a white T shirt or blue top. Anyone with information on Roy Townsend or his escape should contact law enforcement immediately. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Environmental groups petition U.S. to regulate air fresheners – A group of heavyweight environmental organizations is asking the federal government to crack down on air fresheners, products that scientific studies show can aggravate asthma and pose other health risks. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://sfgate.com//cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/09/20/MNTLS9GTF.DTL
Zoning the 'enemy' of affordable homes – Seattle code needs updating, says housing expert (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/332171_workforce19.html
DIVERSIONS
Bees Escape Hives in Mont. Road Accident
http://www.examiner.com/a-944074~Bees_Escape_Hives_in_Mont__Road_Accident.html?cid=rss-Montana_Headlines
`Leave It to Beaver' actor sues Screen Actors Guild “Golly, you look nice today Mrs. Cleaver!”
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070920/ap_on_en_tv/people_ken_osmond;_ylt=AsTXFLJWouAl4eh5mNyiXAhI2ocA
$5 bill to have splashes of purple, gray
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070920/ap_on_bi_ge/colorful_abe;_ylt=Alec94F_C5kMMw8EpUJNYSlI2ocA
Judge orders burial of mummified baby – A judge has ordered a man to lay an unusual family heirloom to rest: a mummified baby has been passed down for generations.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070920/ap_on_fe_st/mummy_baby;_ylt=AktZkql83kAwIrnVTTV4JAftiBIF
Couple who wanted baby sue over having twins – A lesbian couple in Australia are suing their doctor after they had twin girls from an in vitro fertilization (IVF) procedure when they only wanted one child.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20070920/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_australia_twins;_ylt=AgLci6CRPsWDg9gwr2DYvL3tiBIF
'Queenie' the errant Cow corralled in NY – An errant cow is headed for greener pastures after being corralled by police following a two-mile chase through the streets of Queens.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070919/ap_on_fe_st/odd_runaway_cow;_ylt=Av_1osRxL4NQEVYTX80mdOrtiBIF
Wednesday, September 19, 2007
News Digest for September 19, 2007
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.
WORD OF THE DAY
Fissiparous • \fih-SIP-uh-rus\ • adjective – tending to break up into parts: divisive
Will Rogers was stumped. “I’m a part of a fissiparous party. I’m a Democrat,” he wrote. “Nah, that sounds like I jus’ rolled in from Harvard on a Rhodes Scholarship,” he grouched. Then the light went on, “I am not a member of any organized political party,” he wrote. “I am a Democrat.” “Much better,” his wife whispered from her rocking chair across the room.
More Will Rogers quotes can be found here:
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/willrogers122697.html
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Ellison resigns from Grays Harbor County PUD post
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/09/18/local_news/03news.txt
Portland General Electric touts electric meters it wants to buy – PGE has entered an agreement with Sensus Metering Systems to buy the smart electric meters that it wants to install for about 850,000 customers. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1190168717118860.xml&coll=7
Thieves pillage another Tacoma park – Cost to replace stolen wiring could hit $22,000, say city officials (Tacoma News Tribune)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/159376.html
Stehekin down to 20-year-old power source – A single 20-year-old diesel generator is all that's keeping Chelan County PUD power on for the approximately 170 ratepayers in Stehekin. (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070918/NEWS04/109180046/1001
Benton PUD Online Billing – Saves Customers Money, Reduces Waste (KVEW-TV, Kennewick)
http://www.kvewtv.com/news/?sect_rank=1§ion_id=1&story_id=3387
Preparedness can save lives, property – Preparedness is key when it comes to making it through a winter storm and minimizing impacts to lives and property. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/snohomishcountynews/2003890609_weatherside19n.html?syndication=rss
Renewable energy transmission initiative gains power – The state of California has formed a public-private partnership to consider the feasibility of building new transmission lines to access renewable power generation. (San Francisco Business Times)
http://sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2007/09/17/daily10.html
News Release – DTE Energy Offers Fall Harvest Safety Tips: During the fall harvest season, DTE Energy reminds farmers to be aware of overhead power lines and underground utilities, whether working near the house or out in the field.
http://digital50.com/news/items/PR/2007/09/18/CLTU113/dte-energy-offers-fall-harvest-safety-tips.html
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Proposed reservoir's leakage a worry: Hanford area – The water could carry nuclear contamination into the Columbia River. A proposed central Washington reservoir with a multibillion-dollar price tag has another serious catch: It would leak water underground, into the highly contaminated Hanford Nuclear Reservation and toward the Columbia River. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/119016694465670.xml&coll=7
Doc Hastings says proposed reservoir doesn't have to leak (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-943431~Doc_Hastings_says_proposed_reservoir_doesn_t_have_to_leak.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
55 anglers cited on Toutle, Kalama rivers – State fisheries agents cited 55 anglers during a weekend investigation into complaints of illegal salmon fishing on the Kalama and Toutle rivers. (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/09/19/area_news/news14.txt
Scientists: Canadian fish farms threaten wild salmon (Bellingham Herald)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/256/story/184029.html
Lake Forest Park fights county to keep its 'pristine' aquifer (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/331931_water17.html?source=rss
Light Sentences For Raptor Killers Riles Bird Lovers – Environmentalists and animal rights’ advocates expressed outrage last spring, when undercover federal agents infiltrated a group of pigeon hobbyists. They discovered that pigeon owners were killing federally protected hawks and falcons that were threatening their pigeons. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/light-sentences-raptor-killers-riles-bird-lovers/
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Gregoire OKs wind farm near Ellensburg – Gov. Christine Gregoire today announced she will overrule local objections and allow a controversial plan to install 65 towering wind turbines in hills northwest of Ellensburg. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003890252_webwind18m.html?syndication=rss
NY Times Editorial – The High Costs of Ethanol
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/19/opinion/19wed1.html?ei=5088&en=8fc197c4eb405fb0&ex=1347854400&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1190222833-dxANS7HEHFy58t7eYqtABA
San Francisco Chronicle Open Forum – On Energy Conservation: Harnessing the sun
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/19/ED4US8MP2.DTL&feed=rss.opinion
CONSERVATION
Council OKs "zero-energy" housing project – The Issaquah City Council voted unanimously Monday night to approve a much-anticipated "zero-energy" housing project, in which 10 homes will be designed to produce as much electricity as they consume. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003890184_zeroenergy18e.html?syndication=rss
Will utilities give consumers cash for buying efficient PCs? Right now, if you buy an energy-efficient dishwasher, utilities like PG&E will give you a cash rebate. They may do the same for energy-efficient PCs. (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/Will+utilities+give+consumers+cash+for+buying+efficient+PCs/8301-10784_3-9780783-7.html?part=dht&tag=nl.e703
Utahns urged to turn off the lights – That's all that will be required to participate in Wednesday's "Lights Off Utah" event, an effort to encourage residents and businesses to turn off all non-essential lighting statewide between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. (Daily Utah Chronicle)
http://media.www.dailyutahchronicle.com/media/storage/paper244/news/2007/09/18/News/Utahns.Urged.To.Turn.Off.The.Lights-2975319.shtml
Lights out, S.F.! Voluntary brownout to show ease of saving energy (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/19/BUDUS8P5P.DTL&feed=rss.business
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Green groups signal auto-emission lawsuit – Western environmental groups say said they intend to sue the Bush administration if states are not given federal waivers to combat auto emissions.
http://www.examiner.com/a-941775~Green_groups_signal_auto_emission_lawsuit.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Oregon crafting greenhouse gas reporting rule – State regulators are starting work on a new rule requiring Oregon companies to report emissions of greenhouse gases, an early step in the drive by Gov. Ted Kulongoski to limit the gases blamed for global warming. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1190085938187980.xml&coll=7
Effort to Get Companies to Disclose Climate Risk – Two environmental groups and the financial officers of 10 states and New York City are asking the Securities and Exchange Commission to require companies to disclose the risks that climate change may pose to their bottom lines. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/18/business/18disclose.html?ex=1347768000&en=91bf4433bcf7e2c4&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Joel Connelly: Seattle Post-Intelligencer Columnist – Evidence of global warming surrounds a skeptic. As a city that reads, Seattle is on the A-minus list for authors' book-launching tours, and its "green" reputation makes the Emerald City a natural destination for professional enviro-skeptic Dr. Bjorn Lomborg.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/connelly/332243_joel19.html?source=rss
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Comcast says feeling telco, satellite competition – Exec for cable company says rivals are increasingly aggressive about packaging and pricing services. (Reuters via CNET News)
http://www.news.com/Comcast+says+feeling+telco%2C+satellite+competition/2100-1037_3-6208840.html?tag=fd_nbs_ent
Intel Previews a New Family of Power-Saving Chips – Intel today gave the first public demonstration of a new generation of processors that significantly increase performance without consuming more power. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/18/technology/18cnd-chip.html?ex=1347768000&en=a99e500622caaa4d&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Alaska Airlines To Test In-Flight Wi-Fi (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/technology/14144936/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
GENERAL NEWS
LOCAL INVESTIGATION INTO ESCAPED MURDERER – The Mason County Sheriff's Office is helping Arizona law enforcement in their search for escaped murderer Roy Townsend. The Sheriff's Office is conducting its own investigation in the event Townsend makes his way here. Investigators are looking into the possibility of local family or friends having contact with him. Roy Townsend is described as a white male, 5 feet 11 inches tall, with black hair and brown eyes. At the time of the escape Townsend was wearing blue jeans and a white T shirt or blue top. Townsend was convicted of arson, theft and murder in the shooting of Gerald Harkins in Mason County. Townsend's release date is Sept. 5, 2054. Citizens having information about the whereabouts of Roy Townsend are cautioned not to approach him and call 911 immediately. Due to the violent nature of the escape and Townsend's previous convictions, he is considered armed and dangerous. About 1am Monday, Townsend and 24-year-od Kollin Folsom overpowered and tied up a correctional officer while they were performing cleaning duties. The two then gained access to ladders, scaled a prison roof and two fences to make good their escape. Folsom was subsequently captured by local law enforcement, but again Townsend remains at large. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Former Shelton Man: Escaped Washington killer still at large – Roy Townsend escaped from an Arizona prison Monday along with another convicted killer from Washington who was later captured. (NW Cable News)
http://www.nwcn.com/statenews/washington/stories/NW_091807WAB_arizona_prisoner_LJ.e6bd881b.html
PORT AND COUNTY TO WORK TOGETHER TO EXTEND WATER TO JOHN'S PRAIRIE – The Port of Shelton plans on working with Mason County to get proper fire flow to a site on John's Prairie. Port Commissioner Richard Byrd stated during Tuesday's Port of Shelton Commission meeting that he does not understand why the City of Shelton is “dragging it's feet” when it comes to extending water service to that area. He also explained that last year, the Port and the County worked cooperatively to extend a Port waterline to Belco Forest Products that now provides proper fire flow to that mill. That water extension was completed in a matter of months. Byrd would like to do a similar project that will extend that water line at Belco about a half a mile to the property where Coeur d' Alene Fiber Fuels would like to build a plant. Lack of fire flow is what is stopping the company from building an $8 Million facility, relocating its operations from Idaho and creating 15 new jobs. Officials are meeting with a design engineer Thursday to find out what it will take to extend that waterline from Belco to the Fiber Fuel site. This extension would be built to the standards spelled out in the Shelton Urban Growth Area Sub Area Plan. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Traffic's yearly toll: 45 hours in jams – And stressed-out commuters, that's BETTER than in 1995 (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/transportation/332190_traffic19.html
The Columbian Opinion – In our view: Santa Sohn Visits “…Meet Chang Mook Sohn. For the 16th consecutive quarter, Sohn, the state's chief economist, has predicted an expansion of the state economy…”
http://www.columbian.com/opinion/news/09182007news199275.cfm?newsletter=5
DIVERSIONS
Man arrested after calling border agents to say he lost backpacks full of cocaine
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/9851481.html
'Peanuts' character to be namesake for Sonoma recital hall
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/18/MNSQS8M8C.DTL&feed=rss.news
Trying to impress his girlfriend – Man bitten after putting rattler in his mouth
http://www.examiner.com/a-943374~Man_bitten_after_putting_rattler_in_his_mouth.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Tape Catches Woman's Fury At Man In Chimney – Firefighters Ripped Open Wall To Get Trapped Man Out
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14147879/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_7am&tmi=sea_7am_1_09000309192007&ts=H
Quarter-century of 'smiley faces' – School celebrates birth of emoticon. PITTSBURGH -- It was a serious contribution to the electronic lexicon. :-)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/332191_emoticon19.html?source=rss
WORD OF THE DAY
Fissiparous • \fih-SIP-uh-rus\ • adjective – tending to break up into parts: divisive
Will Rogers was stumped. “I’m a part of a fissiparous party. I’m a Democrat,” he wrote. “Nah, that sounds like I jus’ rolled in from Harvard on a Rhodes Scholarship,” he grouched. Then the light went on, “I am not a member of any organized political party,” he wrote. “I am a Democrat.” “Much better,” his wife whispered from her rocking chair across the room.
More Will Rogers quotes can be found here:
http://www.brainyquote.com/quotes/quotes/w/willrogers122697.html
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Ellison resigns from Grays Harbor County PUD post
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/09/18/local_news/03news.txt
Portland General Electric touts electric meters it wants to buy – PGE has entered an agreement with Sensus Metering Systems to buy the smart electric meters that it wants to install for about 850,000 customers. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1190168717118860.xml&coll=7
Thieves pillage another Tacoma park – Cost to replace stolen wiring could hit $22,000, say city officials (Tacoma News Tribune)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/159376.html
Stehekin down to 20-year-old power source – A single 20-year-old diesel generator is all that's keeping Chelan County PUD power on for the approximately 170 ratepayers in Stehekin. (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070918/NEWS04/109180046/1001
Benton PUD Online Billing – Saves Customers Money, Reduces Waste (KVEW-TV, Kennewick)
http://www.kvewtv.com/news/?sect_rank=1§ion_id=1&story_id=3387
Preparedness can save lives, property – Preparedness is key when it comes to making it through a winter storm and minimizing impacts to lives and property. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/snohomishcountynews/2003890609_weatherside19n.html?syndication=rss
Renewable energy transmission initiative gains power – The state of California has formed a public-private partnership to consider the feasibility of building new transmission lines to access renewable power generation. (San Francisco Business Times)
http://sanfrancisco.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/stories/2007/09/17/daily10.html
News Release – DTE Energy Offers Fall Harvest Safety Tips: During the fall harvest season, DTE Energy reminds farmers to be aware of overhead power lines and underground utilities, whether working near the house or out in the field.
http://digital50.com/news/items/PR/2007/09/18/CLTU113/dte-energy-offers-fall-harvest-safety-tips.html
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Proposed reservoir's leakage a worry: Hanford area – The water could carry nuclear contamination into the Columbia River. A proposed central Washington reservoir with a multibillion-dollar price tag has another serious catch: It would leak water underground, into the highly contaminated Hanford Nuclear Reservation and toward the Columbia River. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/119016694465670.xml&coll=7
Doc Hastings says proposed reservoir doesn't have to leak (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-943431~Doc_Hastings_says_proposed_reservoir_doesn_t_have_to_leak.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
55 anglers cited on Toutle, Kalama rivers – State fisheries agents cited 55 anglers during a weekend investigation into complaints of illegal salmon fishing on the Kalama and Toutle rivers. (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/09/19/area_news/news14.txt
Scientists: Canadian fish farms threaten wild salmon (Bellingham Herald)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/256/story/184029.html
Lake Forest Park fights county to keep its 'pristine' aquifer (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/331931_water17.html?source=rss
Light Sentences For Raptor Killers Riles Bird Lovers – Environmentalists and animal rights’ advocates expressed outrage last spring, when undercover federal agents infiltrated a group of pigeon hobbyists. They discovered that pigeon owners were killing federally protected hawks and falcons that were threatening their pigeons. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/light-sentences-raptor-killers-riles-bird-lovers/
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Gregoire OKs wind farm near Ellensburg – Gov. Christine Gregoire today announced she will overrule local objections and allow a controversial plan to install 65 towering wind turbines in hills northwest of Ellensburg. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003890252_webwind18m.html?syndication=rss
NY Times Editorial – The High Costs of Ethanol
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/19/opinion/19wed1.html?ei=5088&en=8fc197c4eb405fb0&ex=1347854400&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1190222833-dxANS7HEHFy58t7eYqtABA
San Francisco Chronicle Open Forum – On Energy Conservation: Harnessing the sun
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/19/ED4US8MP2.DTL&feed=rss.opinion
CONSERVATION
Council OKs "zero-energy" housing project – The Issaquah City Council voted unanimously Monday night to approve a much-anticipated "zero-energy" housing project, in which 10 homes will be designed to produce as much electricity as they consume. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2003890184_zeroenergy18e.html?syndication=rss
Will utilities give consumers cash for buying efficient PCs? Right now, if you buy an energy-efficient dishwasher, utilities like PG&E will give you a cash rebate. They may do the same for energy-efficient PCs. (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/Will+utilities+give+consumers+cash+for+buying+efficient+PCs/8301-10784_3-9780783-7.html?part=dht&tag=nl.e703
Utahns urged to turn off the lights – That's all that will be required to participate in Wednesday's "Lights Off Utah" event, an effort to encourage residents and businesses to turn off all non-essential lighting statewide between 9 p.m. and 10 p.m. (Daily Utah Chronicle)
http://media.www.dailyutahchronicle.com/media/storage/paper244/news/2007/09/18/News/Utahns.Urged.To.Turn.Off.The.Lights-2975319.shtml
Lights out, S.F.! Voluntary brownout to show ease of saving energy (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/19/BUDUS8P5P.DTL&feed=rss.business
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Green groups signal auto-emission lawsuit – Western environmental groups say said they intend to sue the Bush administration if states are not given federal waivers to combat auto emissions.
http://www.examiner.com/a-941775~Green_groups_signal_auto_emission_lawsuit.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Oregon crafting greenhouse gas reporting rule – State regulators are starting work on a new rule requiring Oregon companies to report emissions of greenhouse gases, an early step in the drive by Gov. Ted Kulongoski to limit the gases blamed for global warming. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1190085938187980.xml&coll=7
Effort to Get Companies to Disclose Climate Risk – Two environmental groups and the financial officers of 10 states and New York City are asking the Securities and Exchange Commission to require companies to disclose the risks that climate change may pose to their bottom lines. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/18/business/18disclose.html?ex=1347768000&en=91bf4433bcf7e2c4&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Joel Connelly: Seattle Post-Intelligencer Columnist – Evidence of global warming surrounds a skeptic. As a city that reads, Seattle is on the A-minus list for authors' book-launching tours, and its "green" reputation makes the Emerald City a natural destination for professional enviro-skeptic Dr. Bjorn Lomborg.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/connelly/332243_joel19.html?source=rss
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Comcast says feeling telco, satellite competition – Exec for cable company says rivals are increasingly aggressive about packaging and pricing services. (Reuters via CNET News)
http://www.news.com/Comcast+says+feeling+telco%2C+satellite+competition/2100-1037_3-6208840.html?tag=fd_nbs_ent
Intel Previews a New Family of Power-Saving Chips – Intel today gave the first public demonstration of a new generation of processors that significantly increase performance without consuming more power. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/18/technology/18cnd-chip.html?ex=1347768000&en=a99e500622caaa4d&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Alaska Airlines To Test In-Flight Wi-Fi (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/technology/14144936/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
GENERAL NEWS
LOCAL INVESTIGATION INTO ESCAPED MURDERER – The Mason County Sheriff's Office is helping Arizona law enforcement in their search for escaped murderer Roy Townsend. The Sheriff's Office is conducting its own investigation in the event Townsend makes his way here. Investigators are looking into the possibility of local family or friends having contact with him. Roy Townsend is described as a white male, 5 feet 11 inches tall, with black hair and brown eyes. At the time of the escape Townsend was wearing blue jeans and a white T shirt or blue top. Townsend was convicted of arson, theft and murder in the shooting of Gerald Harkins in Mason County. Townsend's release date is Sept. 5, 2054. Citizens having information about the whereabouts of Roy Townsend are cautioned not to approach him and call 911 immediately. Due to the violent nature of the escape and Townsend's previous convictions, he is considered armed and dangerous. About 1am Monday, Townsend and 24-year-od Kollin Folsom overpowered and tied up a correctional officer while they were performing cleaning duties. The two then gained access to ladders, scaled a prison roof and two fences to make good their escape. Folsom was subsequently captured by local law enforcement, but again Townsend remains at large. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Former Shelton Man: Escaped Washington killer still at large – Roy Townsend escaped from an Arizona prison Monday along with another convicted killer from Washington who was later captured. (NW Cable News)
http://www.nwcn.com/statenews/washington/stories/NW_091807WAB_arizona_prisoner_LJ.e6bd881b.html
PORT AND COUNTY TO WORK TOGETHER TO EXTEND WATER TO JOHN'S PRAIRIE – The Port of Shelton plans on working with Mason County to get proper fire flow to a site on John's Prairie. Port Commissioner Richard Byrd stated during Tuesday's Port of Shelton Commission meeting that he does not understand why the City of Shelton is “dragging it's feet” when it comes to extending water service to that area. He also explained that last year, the Port and the County worked cooperatively to extend a Port waterline to Belco Forest Products that now provides proper fire flow to that mill. That water extension was completed in a matter of months. Byrd would like to do a similar project that will extend that water line at Belco about a half a mile to the property where Coeur d' Alene Fiber Fuels would like to build a plant. Lack of fire flow is what is stopping the company from building an $8 Million facility, relocating its operations from Idaho and creating 15 new jobs. Officials are meeting with a design engineer Thursday to find out what it will take to extend that waterline from Belco to the Fiber Fuel site. This extension would be built to the standards spelled out in the Shelton Urban Growth Area Sub Area Plan. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Traffic's yearly toll: 45 hours in jams – And stressed-out commuters, that's BETTER than in 1995 (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/transportation/332190_traffic19.html
The Columbian Opinion – In our view: Santa Sohn Visits “…Meet Chang Mook Sohn. For the 16th consecutive quarter, Sohn, the state's chief economist, has predicted an expansion of the state economy…”
http://www.columbian.com/opinion/news/09182007news199275.cfm?newsletter=5
DIVERSIONS
Man arrested after calling border agents to say he lost backpacks full of cocaine
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/9851481.html
'Peanuts' character to be namesake for Sonoma recital hall
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/18/MNSQS8M8C.DTL&feed=rss.news
Trying to impress his girlfriend – Man bitten after putting rattler in his mouth
http://www.examiner.com/a-943374~Man_bitten_after_putting_rattler_in_his_mouth.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Tape Catches Woman's Fury At Man In Chimney – Firefighters Ripped Open Wall To Get Trapped Man Out
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14147879/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_7am&tmi=sea_7am_1_09000309192007&ts=H
Quarter-century of 'smiley faces' – School celebrates birth of emoticon. PITTSBURGH -- It was a serious contribution to the electronic lexicon. :-)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/332191_emoticon19.html?source=rss
Tuesday, September 18, 2007
News Digest for September 18, 2007
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.
WORD OF THE DAY
Thesaurus • \thih-SOR-us\ • noun – *1: treasury, storehouse 2a: a book of words or of information about a particular field or set of concepts; especially: a book of words and their synonyms b: a list of subject headings or descriptors usually with a cross-reference system for use in the organization of a collection of documents for reference and retrieval
“You’re a regular walkin’, talkin’ thesaurus,” Albert told his friend Erasmus. “Pshaw,” exclaimed Razzy. “You flatter me; exalt me to a higher plane; exaggerate my lexicogical skills; etcetera, etcetera, etcetera…”
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Ethics panel dismisses complaints against Clatskanie PUD –The Oregon Government Ethics Commission on Friday dismissed complaints against members of the Clatskanie PUD Board for executive sessions that critics say violated the state's open meetings law. (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/09/18/area_news/news08.txt
Avista to lower natural gas prices in Washington, Idaho (Associated Press via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/220524.html
South Dakota – Utilities withdraw from power plant project. Two Minnesota utilities have withdrawn support for a coal-fired power plant project. (Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2007/09/17/daily10.html?ana=from_rss
Building a Dam in a Bid to End Afghan Instability (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/18/world/asia/18dam.html?ex=1347768000&en=096b31516339610c&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
News Release – Electricity Coalition Urges FERC to Keep Focused Scope of Rulemaking, Not Disrupt Effective Existing Market Structures. COMPETE, a coalition representing 171 electricity stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, generators, transmission owners, trade associations and economic development corporations, filed comments with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) urging the commission to continue its efforts to make energy markets more efficient and open to competition. (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=74034
Energy Pulse Commentary – Snow White vs. Green Goddess. Energy mirror on the wall, who's the greenest of them all? For years it seemed to be natural gas: no SOX, no NOX, no waste disposal problem.
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1566
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
News Release – USA. Senator Reid requests salmon passage at Hells Canyon Dams. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to require fish passage at the Hells Canyon Complex on the Snake River as a condition of renewing the dams' federal operating license. (BYM Marine Environment News)
http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=15419
Sept. 17 Rocky Barker's blog: Reid's entry in to Northwest salmon-dam politics comes as Craig pushed out – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s demand to federal energy regulators that they require fish passage on the Hells Canyon dams when they get a new license has salmon advocates cheering. But just as they warn Congress against passing a rider that they say would limit the amount of water flushed out of Idaho to aid salmon, they are backing Nevada Democrat Reid for mostly other reasons. (The Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/160778.html
Alarm sounds for young Coho – Juvenile Coho salmon are disappearing at an alarming rate before they can migrate out of South Sound, according to a three-year study by the Squaxin Island tribe. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/220263.html
Columbia River will close to Chinook retention in WA, OR – Effective on Wednesday, sport fishermen on the Columbia River will be required to release any Chinook salmon they catch below the Bonneville Dam for the remainder of the season. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP09182007news199069.cfm?newsletter=1
Anglers stage ‘fish-in’ to protest late season – Dozens of Harbor-area sport fishermen staged a “fish-in” at Morrison Riverfront Park in Aberdeen Sunday to protest the late opening of the fall Coho salmon run in the Chehalis River. (The Daily News, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/09/17/local_news/02news.txt
Conservation overkill? To Protect Cutthroat, the South Fork of the Flathead to be Poisoned. The west slope cutthroat trout. It sounds like the most drastic of measures—killing an entire natural fishery in order to replace it with another. (New West, Missoula)
http://www.newwest.net/city/article/bpa_mfwp_set_to_begin_hybrid_trout_removal_next_month/C8/L8/
Jefferson County – Big crowd douses clean water district hearing. A public hearing Monday on a proposed clean water district for East Jefferson County was postponed after only a few comments were heard - all in opposition. (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070918/NEWS/709180304
Wealthy newcomers drive up sewer bills for all – Residents of northern Clackamas County can expect sewer bills to rise nearly 50 percent in the next year or two and much more later, mainly to subsidize people moving into some of the wealthiest and fastest-growing suburbs in Oregon. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/118999951464490.xml&coll=7
Water rule open houses slated – The rule sets limits for new exempt wells in rural areas. Homeowners, real estate agents, builders and others concerned about a new water rule can quiz experts and regulators on the topic this week at a pair of open houses. (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2007/09/17/local_news/local01.txt
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Recyclers Used to Burning Rubber Are Now Idling – A new industry that recycles old tires into fuel, saving companies millions of dollars and reducing a billion-tire national stockpile, is in limbo after a U.S. appeals court tossed out some federal clean-air rules. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/17/AR2007091701879.html?nav=rss_business
CONSERVATION
State of California regulators propose developing energy self-sufficiency by 2020 – All new housing developments in California should be so energy-efficient by the year 2020 that they could produce all the power they need on their own, state regulators proposed Monday. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/18/BUMKS7VTF.DTL&feed=rss.business
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Suit Blaming Automakers Over Gases Is Dismissed – The courts do not have the authority or the expertise to decide injury lawsuits concerning global warming, a federal judge in San Francisco ruled yesterday in dismissing a suit brought by the State of California against six car companies. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/18/us/18pollute.html?ex=1347768000&en=31c69b1fa287de5c&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Qwest on cusp of city cable – Cable TV competition may finally be coming to Portland (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1190048102144840.xml&coll=7
Google threat comes in no uncertain terms – The dozens of entrepreneurs gathered for an exclusive high-tech conference Monday all hope to dazzle the crowd with their ingenuity. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/332045_googlechallenger18.html?source=rss
GENERAL NEWS
SHELTON MAN FOUND DEAD IN HENDERSON INLET – A Shelton man was found dead in Henderson Inlet Monday. According to Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock, 44-year-old Robert E. Hope was found tangled in the lines of a dinghy tied to a small sailboat that washed up Monday afternoon. A kayaker found Hope. An autopsy is schedule for today but the Thurston County Sheriff's Office says there was nothing suspicious about Hope's death. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Thieves Black Out Silverdale Intersection – Thieves stole wire from a traffic signal at Newberry Hill Road just off Highway 3 early Monday morning. (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/sep/17/thieves-black-out-silverdale-intersection/
Lobbyists owe rent, will leave Capitol – Group faces $15,000 bill. Lobbyists have lost their office privileges at the state Capitol — at least until they pay back rent. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/220227.html
DIVERSIONS
Men, wash your hands: one-third don't in bathroom – The gender gap has widened when it comes to hygiene, according to the latest stakeout by the "hand-washing police. " One-third of men didn't.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003889812_dirtyhands18.html
Someone Tries to Sell Belgium on eBay – Hidden among the porcelain fox hounds and Burberry tablecloths on sale at eBay.be this week was an unusual item: "For Sale: Belgium, a Kingdom in three parts ... free premium: the king and his court (costs not included)."
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/09/18/international/i072241D19.DTL&feed=rss.news
Nebraska State Senator Sues God – The defendant in a state senator's lawsuit is accused of causing untold death and horror and threatening to cause more still. He can be sued in Douglas County, the legislator claims, because He's everywhere.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/17/AR2007091701500.html?nav=rss_politics
WORD OF THE DAY
Thesaurus • \thih-SOR-us\ • noun – *1: treasury, storehouse 2a: a book of words or of information about a particular field or set of concepts; especially: a book of words and their synonyms b: a list of subject headings or descriptors usually with a cross-reference system for use in the organization of a collection of documents for reference and retrieval
“You’re a regular walkin’, talkin’ thesaurus,” Albert told his friend Erasmus. “Pshaw,” exclaimed Razzy. “You flatter me; exalt me to a higher plane; exaggerate my lexicogical skills; etcetera, etcetera, etcetera…”
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Ethics panel dismisses complaints against Clatskanie PUD –The Oregon Government Ethics Commission on Friday dismissed complaints against members of the Clatskanie PUD Board for executive sessions that critics say violated the state's open meetings law. (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/09/18/area_news/news08.txt
Avista to lower natural gas prices in Washington, Idaho (Associated Press via the Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/220524.html
South Dakota – Utilities withdraw from power plant project. Two Minnesota utilities have withdrawn support for a coal-fired power plant project. (Minneapolis-St. Paul Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/stories/2007/09/17/daily10.html?ana=from_rss
Building a Dam in a Bid to End Afghan Instability (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/18/world/asia/18dam.html?ex=1347768000&en=096b31516339610c&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
News Release – Electricity Coalition Urges FERC to Keep Focused Scope of Rulemaking, Not Disrupt Effective Existing Market Structures. COMPETE, a coalition representing 171 electricity stakeholders, including customers, suppliers, generators, transmission owners, trade associations and economic development corporations, filed comments with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) urging the commission to continue its efforts to make energy markets more efficient and open to competition. (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=74034
Energy Pulse Commentary – Snow White vs. Green Goddess. Energy mirror on the wall, who's the greenest of them all? For years it seemed to be natural gas: no SOX, no NOX, no waste disposal problem.
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1566
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
News Release – USA. Senator Reid requests salmon passage at Hells Canyon Dams. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV), has asked the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to require fish passage at the Hells Canyon Complex on the Snake River as a condition of renewing the dams' federal operating license. (BYM Marine Environment News)
http://www.bymnews.com/news/newsDetails.php?id=15419
Sept. 17 Rocky Barker's blog: Reid's entry in to Northwest salmon-dam politics comes as Craig pushed out – Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid’s demand to federal energy regulators that they require fish passage on the Hells Canyon dams when they get a new license has salmon advocates cheering. But just as they warn Congress against passing a rider that they say would limit the amount of water flushed out of Idaho to aid salmon, they are backing Nevada Democrat Reid for mostly other reasons. (The Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/160778.html
Alarm sounds for young Coho – Juvenile Coho salmon are disappearing at an alarming rate before they can migrate out of South Sound, according to a three-year study by the Squaxin Island tribe. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/220263.html
Columbia River will close to Chinook retention in WA, OR – Effective on Wednesday, sport fishermen on the Columbia River will be required to release any Chinook salmon they catch below the Bonneville Dam for the remainder of the season. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP09182007news199069.cfm?newsletter=1
Anglers stage ‘fish-in’ to protest late season – Dozens of Harbor-area sport fishermen staged a “fish-in” at Morrison Riverfront Park in Aberdeen Sunday to protest the late opening of the fall Coho salmon run in the Chehalis River. (The Daily News, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/09/17/local_news/02news.txt
Conservation overkill? To Protect Cutthroat, the South Fork of the Flathead to be Poisoned. The west slope cutthroat trout. It sounds like the most drastic of measures—killing an entire natural fishery in order to replace it with another. (New West, Missoula)
http://www.newwest.net/city/article/bpa_mfwp_set_to_begin_hybrid_trout_removal_next_month/C8/L8/
Jefferson County – Big crowd douses clean water district hearing. A public hearing Monday on a proposed clean water district for East Jefferson County was postponed after only a few comments were heard - all in opposition. (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070918/NEWS/709180304
Wealthy newcomers drive up sewer bills for all – Residents of northern Clackamas County can expect sewer bills to rise nearly 50 percent in the next year or two and much more later, mainly to subsidize people moving into some of the wealthiest and fastest-growing suburbs in Oregon. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/118999951464490.xml&coll=7
Water rule open houses slated – The rule sets limits for new exempt wells in rural areas. Homeowners, real estate agents, builders and others concerned about a new water rule can quiz experts and regulators on the topic this week at a pair of open houses. (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2007/09/17/local_news/local01.txt
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Recyclers Used to Burning Rubber Are Now Idling – A new industry that recycles old tires into fuel, saving companies millions of dollars and reducing a billion-tire national stockpile, is in limbo after a U.S. appeals court tossed out some federal clean-air rules. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/17/AR2007091701879.html?nav=rss_business
CONSERVATION
State of California regulators propose developing energy self-sufficiency by 2020 – All new housing developments in California should be so energy-efficient by the year 2020 that they could produce all the power they need on their own, state regulators proposed Monday. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/18/BUMKS7VTF.DTL&feed=rss.business
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Suit Blaming Automakers Over Gases Is Dismissed – The courts do not have the authority or the expertise to decide injury lawsuits concerning global warming, a federal judge in San Francisco ruled yesterday in dismissing a suit brought by the State of California against six car companies. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/18/us/18pollute.html?ex=1347768000&en=31c69b1fa287de5c&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Qwest on cusp of city cable – Cable TV competition may finally be coming to Portland (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1190048102144840.xml&coll=7
Google threat comes in no uncertain terms – The dozens of entrepreneurs gathered for an exclusive high-tech conference Monday all hope to dazzle the crowd with their ingenuity. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/332045_googlechallenger18.html?source=rss
GENERAL NEWS
SHELTON MAN FOUND DEAD IN HENDERSON INLET – A Shelton man was found dead in Henderson Inlet Monday. According to Thurston County Coroner Gary Warnock, 44-year-old Robert E. Hope was found tangled in the lines of a dinghy tied to a small sailboat that washed up Monday afternoon. A kayaker found Hope. An autopsy is schedule for today but the Thurston County Sheriff's Office says there was nothing suspicious about Hope's death. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Thieves Black Out Silverdale Intersection – Thieves stole wire from a traffic signal at Newberry Hill Road just off Highway 3 early Monday morning. (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/sep/17/thieves-black-out-silverdale-intersection/
Lobbyists owe rent, will leave Capitol – Group faces $15,000 bill. Lobbyists have lost their office privileges at the state Capitol — at least until they pay back rent. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/220227.html
DIVERSIONS
Men, wash your hands: one-third don't in bathroom – The gender gap has widened when it comes to hygiene, according to the latest stakeout by the "hand-washing police. " One-third of men didn't.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2003889812_dirtyhands18.html
Someone Tries to Sell Belgium on eBay – Hidden among the porcelain fox hounds and Burberry tablecloths on sale at eBay.be this week was an unusual item: "For Sale: Belgium, a Kingdom in three parts ... free premium: the king and his court (costs not included)."
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/09/18/international/i072241D19.DTL&feed=rss.news
Nebraska State Senator Sues God – The defendant in a state senator's lawsuit is accused of causing untold death and horror and threatening to cause more still. He can be sued in Douglas County, the legislator claims, because He's everywhere.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/17/AR2007091701500.html?nav=rss_politics
Monday, September 17, 2007
News Digest for September 17, 2007
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.
WORD OF THE DAY
Salubrious • \suh-LOO-bree-us\ • adjective – favorable to or promoting health or well-being
“C’mon dear, just take the spoonful of medicine like a good boy,” cooed Derwent’s mother. Even as a inarticulate child the boy knew that all salubrious brews smelled awful. “If only she’d give that dreck to me with a spoonful of sugar…the medicine would go down a lot better,” his inner voice intoned.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Test may map way for power project – On a larger scale; the test could lead to a new way to capture carbon dioxide that will play into where future power plants can be placed. A test that could be a key part of a $2 billion power project as well as a new tool to fight global warming may literally be going down early next year. (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2007/09/16/local_news/local03.txt
New York Subpoenas 5 Energy Companies – Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo of New York has opened an investigation of five large energy companies, questioning whether their plans to build coal-fired power plants pose undisclosed financial risks that their investors should know about. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/16/nyregion/16greenhouse.html?ex=1347595200&en=f8258946c5bd70b0&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Chelan County PUD surplus power sales double budgeted estimate – Public meetings focus on rate hikes, despite soaring revenues. Randy Lowe, executive manager of energy resources, reported that the PUD is having a good year so far in wholesale sales. (Leavenworth Echo)
http://www.leavenworthecho.com/main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=18
Buffett, Gates, Pickens May Profit From Texas Power Shortage – Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and Boone Pickens expect to profit from the rising electricity prices paid by the 23 million people of Texas. (Bloomberg News Service)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aq3kc7fAgq6k&refer=home
Commentary: Nuclear is risky; energy conservation is proven – From a limited perspective, it may appear that additional energy generation from nuclear power is necessary because of San Antonio's burgeoning population. (San Antonio Express-News)
http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/stories/MYSA091607.05H.nukecomment.21e1847.html
Public dollars at work – The man who oversees the Northwest's only nuclear plant is the Tri-Cities' best-paid public official. (Tri0City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/v-rss/story/9307934p-9222406c.html
Nuclear Jobs – The nation's largest federally-owned utility plans to go on a hiring binge. The Tennessee Valley Authority says that it likely needs to bring on thousands of employees to construct and operate a slew of nuclear power plants that may get built in the Southeast. (PowerMarketers Industry Publications)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8kowu%5D%5Cfiqpjpz%5BTif%27%40%3E%20bfem%5E%21
Alaska – Force utilities to cooperate, MEA requests. It's now or never for utility cooperatives between Homer and Fairbanks to combine generation plans and tie together South-central Alaska energy consumers, Matanuska Electric Association administrators say. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News via PowerMarketers.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CfiplntuYTkh%27%40%3E%20bfem%5Ev
Alaska – Tanana will experiment with conversion to propane. Tanana is teaming up with the state on an ambitious demonstration project to use propane from the North Slope for heating, hot water, electricity and more. (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/9301520p-9215991c.html
Douglas Dam keeps up with technology – From its beginnings powering the development of the atomic bomb to recent upgrades that help protect the environment and streamline energy production, Douglas Dam has a long history of innovation. (Mountain News)
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18823152&BRD=1211&PAG=461&dept_id=169689&rfi=6
News Release – LPPC calls for full review of wholesale competition in organized markets
Net consumer benefits must be Commission’s priority. “…Claiming that organized markets have resulted in a “substantial transfer of wealth from customers to the generation sector…” (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=73890
SITECRAFTING TO BUILD TACOMA PUBLIC UTILITIES’ WEB SITE – Tacoma Public Utilities recently announced it has awarded the redesign and development of its main Web site, plus sites for its three operating divisions — Tacoma Power, Tacoma Water and Tacoma Rail — to Tacoma-based SiteCrafting Inc. Plans include an updated design, and development of a robust platform and custom content management system for Tacoma Public Utilities. The project also includes an online permitting application that will allow the utility's business customers to view existing inspections related to permits they have applied for. Users will be able to request a change to or cancellation of an inspection appointment and request new inspections for existing permits. The four sites are scheduled to launch in February, with the online permitting application following. (South Sound Business Examiner)
Oregon – Economic developer to join Central Lincoln PUD management team (Newport News-Times)
http://www.newportnewstimes.com/articles/2007/09/14/news/news08.txt
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Salmon plan's critics locked on single issue – Critics of the latest salmon recovery plan instantly dismissed it as more of the same. The problem, of course, is that the proposal doesn't call for breaching dams, and anything less is anathema to these true believers. Their knee-jerk position, however, is scientifically suspect and politically futile. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/opinions/story/9310024p-9224496c.html
Salmon Spawn Baby Trout in Experiment – Papa salmon plus mama salmon equals ... baby trout? Japanese researchers put a new spin on surrogate parenting as they engineered one fish species to produce another, in a quest to preserve endangered fish. (The Associated Press)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iS0bkNVyP_1oJP3zej74PRJnsWAQ
Tough season for Columbia river tribal fishermen (KATU-TV, Portland)
http://www.katu.com/news/local/9815426.html
First big step in Elwha Dam removal taken – Federal, city and tribal officials marked the start of a project necessary for the planned removal of the Elwha River dams Friday. (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070916/NEWS/709160306
An 'Offal' Meal for Idaho Trout – Cow manure and fish guts and maggots. It could all soon be dinner - if you're an Idaho rainbow trout. (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-934251~An__Offal__Meal_for_Idaho_Trout.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
The Olympian Editorial – Capitol Lake study needs timely finish. The lake vs. estuary debate continues to divide this community as it has divided the committee assigned to decide whether to leave man-made Capitol Lake as it is, or remove the Fifth Avenue dam and let the lake revert to a marine estuary. "We've been dinking around with this for 10 years. It's time to get it done."
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/217213.html
Water issues separate cranberry growers, landowner – To cranberry growers, Johnson Creek's water gurgling from the hills through stands of alder trees and cranberry bogs on its short trip to the ocean is "liquid gold." (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-938043~Water_issues_separate_cranberry_growers__landowner.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Oregonians throwing away more than ever – Since Oregon passed the nation's first bottle bill in the early 1970s it has been touted as a leader in recycling. (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-938952~Oregonians_throwing_away_more_than_ever.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
RENEWABLEALTERNATIVE ENERGY
The renewable energy future – Wind farms and solar energy have great potential -- but there are still clouds on the horizon. (Los Angeles Times. And Robert Zimmerman gets another 25 cents)
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-ed-renewable17sep17,1,2388408.story?coll=la-news-comment&ctrack=1&cset=true
New York – Bidder has new interest in Long Island wind farm. Weeks after Long Island Power Authority chairman Kevin Law said he would terminate a planned 40-turbine wind farm off the South Shore, a second bidder for the project is expressing renewed interest in taking it on. (Newsday)
http://mobile.newsday.com/detail.jsp?key=68813&rc=business
Solar farm at sewage plant will be studied – Medford's City Council has approved exploring construction of a 15-acre, 11,000-panel solar farm at the regional sewage treatment plant. (The Associated Press)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/331971_solarfarm17.html?source=rss
The alternatives to alternative energy – Entrepreneurs look beyond solar and wind, to algae, giant kites, lightning (MSNBC)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20729466/
Ethanol sparks food fight between corn growers and buyers (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/331869_ethanoldivide17.html?source=rss
S.F. nonprofit's energy vision lights Nicaraguan villages' future – Wind, solar power sources provided free to remote areas (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/16/MNLRRUS15.DTL&feed=rss.news
CONSERVATION
San Francisco Chronicle Editorial – A bright way to cut energy. State energy regulators just issued a decision allowing commercial building owners to charge tenants based on the amount of electricity each tenant actually uses.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/09/17/EDRHS6GO0.DTL
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
The Olympian Editorial – Climate change event mishandled. Surely the Olympia City Council could have found a better use for the $25,000 they will spend to bring two environmental authors to town next month for a lecture on climate change.
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/217844.html
State's emissions measure faces federal challenge – Washington state's effort to help control global warming could suffer a serious setback later this year when federal regulators are expected to block new standards designed to reduce by nearly one-third greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/218609.html
Wenatchee World Editorial – Dreaming a carbon fantasy
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070914/OP02/109140003/1025/rss1025
One Answer to Global Warming: A New Tax (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/16/business/16view.html?ex=1347595200&en=c01f67013fa7eb6e&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Is California the world's last best hope against climate change? When it comes to energy, California has often been seen as the Promised Land. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/16/IN3ERM8TK.DTL&feed=rss.opinion
Evangelicals and environmentalists are surprising allies – Creation care divides evangelicals in Idaho and the nation, and a Boise congregation and its pastor are among those at the heart of the debate. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/eyepiece/story/160565.html
Canada – Fuel incentive fad is eco-foolish: “…What concerns me…is the way the provincial and federal governments pick winners and losers on my behalf in the name of waging war on global warming.” (Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=272f21f2-c817-44a0-966d-66bfdf2f27b2
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
EU Court Dismisses Microsoft Appeal, Upholds $613M Fine – A European court has dealt a major blow to Microsoft, upholding a lower court ruling that the company is an abusive monopoly out to bury the competition. (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/technology/14129898/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
Web 2.0 market may be slowing – There are some preliminary signs that investors in Web 2.0 startups may be taking a breather. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/331868_web17.html
Seattle Times Editorial – Free the Internet ...
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2003885124_netned16.html
Seattle Times Editorial... Build broadband: the Internet is an important conduit to commerce and innovation, a medium that has wildly exciting communication potential. Yet, the United States' paltry broadband network lags behind most of the industrialized world.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2003885128_broded16.html
Sharing could use community to provide free Wi-Fi – The recent collapse of San Francisco's plan to provide free Wi-Fi has spawned a new, community-based effort that could provide a model for other cities that have found themselves in the same situation. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/17/BUA4S6EB7.DTL
Cable vs. Satellite TV Slugfest – But Watch Out for Fiber Optic. While Cable and Satellite continue their battle in the ever-crowded race among TV service providers, the newest TV entrant – Fiber Optics – appears ready to come on strong. (Seeking Alpha)
http://seekingalpha.com/article/47138-cable-vs-satellite-tv-slugfest-but-watch-out-for-fiber-optic
Back to School: Reading, Writing and Internet Safety – As students return to school in Virginia, there's something new in their curriculum. Virginia is the first state to require public schools to teach Internet safety. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14427020&ft=1&f=3
GENERAL NEWS
Execs in scandal at Met Mortgage settle with SEC – Several key figures in the Metropolitan Mortgage & Securities accounting scandal have agreed to settle lawsuits filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003887992_metmortgage17.html?syndication=rss
Two Wash. murderers escape from prison (Townsend, 37, was convicted of arson and murder in the shooting death of Gerald Harkins in Mason County.) KOMO-TV, Seattle
http://www.komotv.com/news/9830167.html
FATAL CRASH ON HIGHWAY 3 – A Grapeview man died Sunday night in a single vehicle crash on Highway 3 south Allyn. According to the State Patrol, 43-year-old Edward L. Koller was southbound on SR-3 in a 1993 Chrysler LaBaron about 8:30pm. Near the intersection with Grapeview Loop Road North, the Chrysler crossed the northbound lane and left the roadway to the left, coming to rest on the northbound embankment about 20 feet from the highway. Koller was transported to Mason General Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Cause of the crash is under investigation. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
USA Today – At 25, ‘McPaper’ Is All Grown Up (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/17/business/media/17gannett.html?ex=1347681600&en=c4915eabb084a0e0&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
DIVERSIONS
Man in China dies after three-day Internet session – A Chinese man dropped dead after playing Internet games for three consecutive days, state media said on Monday, as China seeks to wean Internet addicts offline.
http://www.news.com/Man+in+China+dies+after+three-day+Internet+session/2100-1043_3-6208313.html?tag=fd_nbs_ent
Duck! Here comes Super Teacher! A Japanese teacher who threw a chair at his students was named "super teacher" by the local board of education
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUST13778120070917?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
"Dead" man wakes up under autopsy knife
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN149975820070917?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Baboon adopts chicken at zoo
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL147902220070917?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
WORD OF THE DAY
Salubrious • \suh-LOO-bree-us\ • adjective – favorable to or promoting health or well-being
“C’mon dear, just take the spoonful of medicine like a good boy,” cooed Derwent’s mother. Even as a inarticulate child the boy knew that all salubrious brews smelled awful. “If only she’d give that dreck to me with a spoonful of sugar…the medicine would go down a lot better,” his inner voice intoned.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/total_forecast/index.php?minlon=-124.8&maxlon=-120.57&minlat=46.2&maxlat=49.33&mapwidth=354&map.x=144&map.y=269
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Test may map way for power project – On a larger scale; the test could lead to a new way to capture carbon dioxide that will play into where future power plants can be placed. A test that could be a key part of a $2 billion power project as well as a new tool to fight global warming may literally be going down early next year. (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2007/09/16/local_news/local03.txt
New York Subpoenas 5 Energy Companies – Attorney General Andrew M. Cuomo of New York has opened an investigation of five large energy companies, questioning whether their plans to build coal-fired power plants pose undisclosed financial risks that their investors should know about. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/16/nyregion/16greenhouse.html?ex=1347595200&en=f8258946c5bd70b0&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Chelan County PUD surplus power sales double budgeted estimate – Public meetings focus on rate hikes, despite soaring revenues. Randy Lowe, executive manager of energy resources, reported that the PUD is having a good year so far in wholesale sales. (Leavenworth Echo)
http://www.leavenworthecho.com/main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=18
Buffett, Gates, Pickens May Profit From Texas Power Shortage – Warren Buffett, Bill Gates and Boone Pickens expect to profit from the rising electricity prices paid by the 23 million people of Texas. (Bloomberg News Service)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&sid=aq3kc7fAgq6k&refer=home
Commentary: Nuclear is risky; energy conservation is proven – From a limited perspective, it may appear that additional energy generation from nuclear power is necessary because of San Antonio's burgeoning population. (San Antonio Express-News)
http://www.mysanantonio.com/opinion/stories/MYSA091607.05H.nukecomment.21e1847.html
Public dollars at work – The man who oversees the Northwest's only nuclear plant is the Tri-Cities' best-paid public official. (Tri0City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/v-rss/story/9307934p-9222406c.html
Nuclear Jobs – The nation's largest federally-owned utility plans to go on a hiring binge. The Tennessee Valley Authority says that it likely needs to bring on thousands of employees to construct and operate a slew of nuclear power plants that may get built in the Southeast. (PowerMarketers Industry Publications)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8kowu%5D%5Cfiqpjpz%5BTif%27%40%3E%20bfem%5E%21
Alaska – Force utilities to cooperate, MEA requests. It's now or never for utility cooperatives between Homer and Fairbanks to combine generation plans and tie together South-central Alaska energy consumers, Matanuska Electric Association administrators say. (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News via PowerMarketers.com)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CfiplntuYTkh%27%40%3E%20bfem%5Ev
Alaska – Tanana will experiment with conversion to propane. Tanana is teaming up with the state on an ambitious demonstration project to use propane from the North Slope for heating, hot water, electricity and more. (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner)
http://www.adn.com/news/alaska/story/9301520p-9215991c.html
Douglas Dam keeps up with technology – From its beginnings powering the development of the atomic bomb to recent upgrades that help protect the environment and streamline energy production, Douglas Dam has a long history of innovation. (Mountain News)
http://www.zwire.com/site/news.cfm?newsid=18823152&BRD=1211&PAG=461&dept_id=169689&rfi=6
News Release – LPPC calls for full review of wholesale competition in organized markets
Net consumer benefits must be Commission’s priority. “…Claiming that organized markets have resulted in a “substantial transfer of wealth from customers to the generation sector…” (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/IndustryNews.asp?m=1&id=73890
SITECRAFTING TO BUILD TACOMA PUBLIC UTILITIES’ WEB SITE – Tacoma Public Utilities recently announced it has awarded the redesign and development of its main Web site, plus sites for its three operating divisions — Tacoma Power, Tacoma Water and Tacoma Rail — to Tacoma-based SiteCrafting Inc. Plans include an updated design, and development of a robust platform and custom content management system for Tacoma Public Utilities. The project also includes an online permitting application that will allow the utility's business customers to view existing inspections related to permits they have applied for. Users will be able to request a change to or cancellation of an inspection appointment and request new inspections for existing permits. The four sites are scheduled to launch in February, with the online permitting application following. (South Sound Business Examiner)
Oregon – Economic developer to join Central Lincoln PUD management team (Newport News-Times)
http://www.newportnewstimes.com/articles/2007/09/14/news/news08.txt
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Salmon plan's critics locked on single issue – Critics of the latest salmon recovery plan instantly dismissed it as more of the same. The problem, of course, is that the proposal doesn't call for breaching dams, and anything less is anathema to these true believers. Their knee-jerk position, however, is scientifically suspect and politically futile. (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/opinions/story/9310024p-9224496c.html
Salmon Spawn Baby Trout in Experiment – Papa salmon plus mama salmon equals ... baby trout? Japanese researchers put a new spin on surrogate parenting as they engineered one fish species to produce another, in a quest to preserve endangered fish. (The Associated Press)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5iS0bkNVyP_1oJP3zej74PRJnsWAQ
Tough season for Columbia river tribal fishermen (KATU-TV, Portland)
http://www.katu.com/news/local/9815426.html
First big step in Elwha Dam removal taken – Federal, city and tribal officials marked the start of a project necessary for the planned removal of the Elwha River dams Friday. (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070916/NEWS/709160306
An 'Offal' Meal for Idaho Trout – Cow manure and fish guts and maggots. It could all soon be dinner - if you're an Idaho rainbow trout. (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-934251~An__Offal__Meal_for_Idaho_Trout.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
The Olympian Editorial – Capitol Lake study needs timely finish. The lake vs. estuary debate continues to divide this community as it has divided the committee assigned to decide whether to leave man-made Capitol Lake as it is, or remove the Fifth Avenue dam and let the lake revert to a marine estuary. "We've been dinking around with this for 10 years. It's time to get it done."
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/217213.html
Water issues separate cranberry growers, landowner – To cranberry growers, Johnson Creek's water gurgling from the hills through stands of alder trees and cranberry bogs on its short trip to the ocean is "liquid gold." (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-938043~Water_issues_separate_cranberry_growers__landowner.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Oregonians throwing away more than ever – Since Oregon passed the nation's first bottle bill in the early 1970s it has been touted as a leader in recycling. (Associated Press)
http://www.examiner.com/a-938952~Oregonians_throwing_away_more_than_ever.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
RENEWABLEALTERNATIVE ENERGY
The renewable energy future – Wind farms and solar energy have great potential -- but there are still clouds on the horizon. (Los Angeles Times. And Robert Zimmerman gets another 25 cents)
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-ed-renewable17sep17,1,2388408.story?coll=la-news-comment&ctrack=1&cset=true
New York – Bidder has new interest in Long Island wind farm. Weeks after Long Island Power Authority chairman Kevin Law said he would terminate a planned 40-turbine wind farm off the South Shore, a second bidder for the project is expressing renewed interest in taking it on. (Newsday)
http://mobile.newsday.com/detail.jsp?key=68813&rc=business
Solar farm at sewage plant will be studied – Medford's City Council has approved exploring construction of a 15-acre, 11,000-panel solar farm at the regional sewage treatment plant. (The Associated Press)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/331971_solarfarm17.html?source=rss
The alternatives to alternative energy – Entrepreneurs look beyond solar and wind, to algae, giant kites, lightning (MSNBC)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/20729466/
Ethanol sparks food fight between corn growers and buyers (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/331869_ethanoldivide17.html?source=rss
S.F. nonprofit's energy vision lights Nicaraguan villages' future – Wind, solar power sources provided free to remote areas (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/16/MNLRRUS15.DTL&feed=rss.news
CONSERVATION
San Francisco Chronicle Editorial – A bright way to cut energy. State energy regulators just issued a decision allowing commercial building owners to charge tenants based on the amount of electricity each tenant actually uses.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/09/17/EDRHS6GO0.DTL
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
The Olympian Editorial – Climate change event mishandled. Surely the Olympia City Council could have found a better use for the $25,000 they will spend to bring two environmental authors to town next month for a lecture on climate change.
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/217844.html
State's emissions measure faces federal challenge – Washington state's effort to help control global warming could suffer a serious setback later this year when federal regulators are expected to block new standards designed to reduce by nearly one-third greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/218609.html
Wenatchee World Editorial – Dreaming a carbon fantasy
http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070914/OP02/109140003/1025/rss1025
One Answer to Global Warming: A New Tax (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/16/business/16view.html?ex=1347595200&en=c01f67013fa7eb6e&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Is California the world's last best hope against climate change? When it comes to energy, California has often been seen as the Promised Land. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/16/IN3ERM8TK.DTL&feed=rss.opinion
Evangelicals and environmentalists are surprising allies – Creation care divides evangelicals in Idaho and the nation, and a Boise congregation and its pastor are among those at the heart of the debate. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/eyepiece/story/160565.html
Canada – Fuel incentive fad is eco-foolish: “…What concerns me…is the way the provincial and federal governments pick winners and losers on my behalf in the name of waging war on global warming.” (Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/editorial/story.html?id=272f21f2-c817-44a0-966d-66bfdf2f27b2
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
EU Court Dismisses Microsoft Appeal, Upholds $613M Fine – A European court has dealt a major blow to Microsoft, upholding a lower court ruling that the company is an abusive monopoly out to bury the competition. (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/technology/14129898/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
Web 2.0 market may be slowing – There are some preliminary signs that investors in Web 2.0 startups may be taking a breather. (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/331868_web17.html
Seattle Times Editorial – Free the Internet ...
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2003885124_netned16.html
Seattle Times Editorial... Build broadband: the Internet is an important conduit to commerce and innovation, a medium that has wildly exciting communication potential. Yet, the United States' paltry broadband network lags behind most of the industrialized world.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/editorialsopinion/2003885128_broded16.html
Sharing could use community to provide free Wi-Fi – The recent collapse of San Francisco's plan to provide free Wi-Fi has spawned a new, community-based effort that could provide a model for other cities that have found themselves in the same situation. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/09/17/BUA4S6EB7.DTL
Cable vs. Satellite TV Slugfest – But Watch Out for Fiber Optic. While Cable and Satellite continue their battle in the ever-crowded race among TV service providers, the newest TV entrant – Fiber Optics – appears ready to come on strong. (Seeking Alpha)
http://seekingalpha.com/article/47138-cable-vs-satellite-tv-slugfest-but-watch-out-for-fiber-optic
Back to School: Reading, Writing and Internet Safety – As students return to school in Virginia, there's something new in their curriculum. Virginia is the first state to require public schools to teach Internet safety. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=14427020&ft=1&f=3
GENERAL NEWS
Execs in scandal at Met Mortgage settle with SEC – Several key figures in the Metropolitan Mortgage & Securities accounting scandal have agreed to settle lawsuits filed by the Securities and Exchange Commission. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2003887992_metmortgage17.html?syndication=rss
Two Wash. murderers escape from prison (Townsend, 37, was convicted of arson and murder in the shooting death of Gerald Harkins in Mason County.) KOMO-TV, Seattle
http://www.komotv.com/news/9830167.html
FATAL CRASH ON HIGHWAY 3 – A Grapeview man died Sunday night in a single vehicle crash on Highway 3 south Allyn. According to the State Patrol, 43-year-old Edward L. Koller was southbound on SR-3 in a 1993 Chrysler LaBaron about 8:30pm. Near the intersection with Grapeview Loop Road North, the Chrysler crossed the northbound lane and left the roadway to the left, coming to rest on the northbound embankment about 20 feet from the highway. Koller was transported to Mason General Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Cause of the crash is under investigation. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
USA Today – At 25, ‘McPaper’ Is All Grown Up (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/09/17/business/media/17gannett.html?ex=1347681600&en=c4915eabb084a0e0&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
DIVERSIONS
Man in China dies after three-day Internet session – A Chinese man dropped dead after playing Internet games for three consecutive days, state media said on Monday, as China seeks to wean Internet addicts offline.
http://www.news.com/Man+in+China+dies+after+three-day+Internet+session/2100-1043_3-6208313.html?tag=fd_nbs_ent
Duck! Here comes Super Teacher! A Japanese teacher who threw a chair at his students was named "super teacher" by the local board of education
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUST13778120070917?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
"Dead" man wakes up under autopsy knife
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN149975820070917?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Baboon adopts chicken at zoo
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL147902220070917?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
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