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.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Avista's WA electric, natural gas bills to increase Jan. 1
- Mason County PUD 1 Approves 2008 Budgets - Rate Increases For Water Only
- Grant County PUD budget approved
- Northern Wasco County PUD – BPA payback means PUD rate cut
- Franklin PUD Commissioner Appointed To National Policy Council
- Energy Bill Passes with Inslee Provisions Included
- Missouri Governor rejects key sections of Midwestern energy accord
- California – Calpine gets OK to reorganize
- Heating Oil Costs Strain State, Federal Aid Programs
- Washington Post Editorial – A Nuclear Site Is Breached
- Making the Case for Nuclear Power
- Oregonian Op/Ed – Who pays the price for dam removal?
- Nez Perce tribe authorizes steelhead gillnet season
- Kansas Threatens to Sue Nebraska Over Use of a River
- California Farmers to Get One-Third Less Water
- Cowlitz is among Western Washington rivers fishing wel
- Benton County district gets $91,000 grant to help salmon
- Clallam County PUD water rates going up
- Clark County lawn care plan: almost every lawn in the county will get its water from bathtub drains, dishwashers and rooftop gutters
- Greater Victoria rated 'high risk' polluter
- Corn farm runoff leads to trouble in Gulf of Mexico
- Makah Bay Offshore Wave Pilot Project: FERC issues first license for Hydrokinetic Energy Project
- Yakima – Hearing Examiner takes second look at proposed tire recycling plant
- Energy Law Leaves Out Wind, Solar Tax Credits
- Kempthorne taps Boise resident for national wind panel
- Measure signed by Bush means fluorescent bulbs are more likely to brighten the future
- E.P.A. Says 17 States Can’t Set Emission Rules
- Ancient Warming Caused Huge Spike in Temps
- Tax Hike to Help Environment a Hard Sell
- Do Women Who Find Ferrari Drivers Sexy Contribute to Global Warming?
- Provo, Utah, overhauls iProvo muni fiber model
- Seattle Times Op/Ed – Network neutrality
- F.T.C. Clears Google-DoubleClick Deal
- Municipal bonds hit by mortgage fallout
- Port of Portland to close on Troutdale Alcoa site
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Modus Operandi • \MOE-dus opp-er-RAND-ee\ • noun – A method of procedure; especially: a distinct pattern or method of operation that indicates or suggests the work of a single criminal in more than one crime
“No gentlemen, we are not dealing with a crazed criminal here,” purred Detective Poirot as he absentmindedly stroked his moustache. “What we have here is a person who is so fixed in their modus operandi that they would not change their ways even if confronted with the most secure lock box in the world.” “Non, mon ami, your lunches have not been stolen by a wayward squirrel, crazed dog, or even a trained capuchin monkey…they have been stolen by only one person….your copy repairman: Rick!” (Insert surprised gasp here)
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Avista's WA electric, natural gas bills to increase Jan. 1 (Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1114064~Avista_s_WA_electric__natural_gas_bills_to_increase_Jan__1.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
MASON COUNTY PUD No. 1 APPROVES 2008 BUDGETS - RATE INCREASES FOR WATER ONLY – The Mason County P.U.D. No. 1 Board of Commissioners has approved the District's 2008 water and electric budgets. The 2008 electric budget has projected revenues of $5,554,555 and does NOT reflect an increase in rates. The 2008 water budget has a 3% increase in water rates that is included in the District's ten year comprehensive business plan that was approved in 2003. Projected revenues for the water budget next year are $1,046,500. The 2008 budgets include a half time FTE in the electric operations department and a half time FTE in the water operations department. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Grant County PUD budget approved – Substations, fiber and turbines included (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2007/12/19/news/news01.txt
Northern Wasco County PUD – BPA payback means PUD rate cut. $1.5 million refund would be stretched over 10 months (The Dalles Chronicle)
http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2007/12/news12-19-07-01.shtml
News Release – FRANKLIN PUD COMMISSIONER GORDON APPOINTED TO NATIONAL POLICY COUNCIL – Franklin PUD Commissioner Bill Gordon was appointed to the American Public Power Association Policy Makers Council for the second consecutive year. In this role, Commissioner Gordon represents Northwest public power members on this national Council; his nomination was endorsed by both Benton and Douglas PUDs. Its purpose is to advance the public policy interests of its members and their customers, and provide member services to ensure adequate, reliable electricity at a reasonable price with the proper protection of the environment. “This is a great honor and opportunity for Bill and for Franklin PUD”, stated Franklin PUD Manager, Jean Ryckman. On behalf of the Board of Commissioners and the Franklin PUD staff, we congratulate Commissioner Gordon and wish him continued success.” (Franklin County PUD)
Energy Bill Passes with Inslee Provisions Included (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/dec/18/energy-bill-passes-with-inslee-provisions/
Bill could affect state's permit process for coal plants: Congressional bill could force changes in how Texas permits power plants (Knight Ridder Tribune Business News, via Power Markets Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5ChiooonmVTnkw11rbfem%5Ev
Blunt rejects key sections of Midwestern energy accord – Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt has dismissed major parts of the Midwestern Governors Association’s energy pact that would establish greenhouse gas reduction goals and require greater reliance on renewable electricity sources. (The Kansas City Star)
http://www.kansascity.com/news/politics/story/411222.html
California – Calpine gets OK to reorganize. San Jose energy firm set to emerge from bankruptcy after two years (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_7767633?source=rss&nclick_check=1
Heating Oil Costs Strain State, Federal Aid Programs – Heating oil prices are up sharply this winter. In Maine — where 80 percent of homes are heated with oil or kerosene — people are struggling to heat their homes. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17416038&ft=1&f=2
California – Natural gas plan alarms residents. Firm proposes using an underground site – beneath businesses, homes – for storage, and paying neighbors. (Sacramento Bee, may require free registration)
http://www.sacbee.com/294/story/576881.html
Washington Post Editorial – A Nuclear Site Is Breached. An underreported attack on a South African nuclear facility last month demonstrates the high risk of theft of nuclear materials by terrorists or criminals.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/19/AR2007121901857.html?nav=rss_opinion/columns
Making the Case for Nuclear Power – a review of A Brighter Tomorrow: Fulfilling the Promise of Nuclear Energy (The Heartland Institute,)
http://www.heartland.org/Article.cfm?artId=16389
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Oregonian Op/Ed – Who pays the price for dam removal? Pat Reiten, president of Pacific Power.
http://www.oregonlive.com/commentary/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/editorial/1198108506290780.xml&coll=7
Nez Perce tribe authorizes steelhead gillnet season – The Nez Perce Tribe in northern Idaho has started a commercial gillnetting season on portions of the Snake and Clearwater rivers. (Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1113965~Nez_Perce_tribe_authorizes_steelhead_gillnet_season.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines
Kansas Threatens to Sue Nebraska Over Use of a River – Kansas threatened a court fight Wednesday unless Nebraska reduced the amount of water it took from the Republican River and paid an undetermined amount for allegedly taking too much water in the past. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/us/20water.html?ex=1355806800&en=6e5f61f62015676f&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
California Farmers to Get One-Third Less Water – Farmers across Southern California are bracing for a 30 percent cut in the amount of water they get for their crops. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17416015&ft=1&f=2
Cowlitz is among Western Washington rivers fishing well (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/outdoors/story/304994.html
Benton County district gets $91,000 grant to help salmon – The Benton County Conservation District is getting $91,000 from the state to help salmon survive in the lower Yakima River. (Tri-Cities Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/v-rss/story/9527816p-9438618c.html
Clallam County PUD water rates going up (KONP Radio, Port Angeles)
http://www.konp.com/local/3316
Clark County lawn care plan: Use wastewater – If you like drinking from the garden hose or playing in the sprinkler, enjoy it while you can. Nobody's talking about actually outlawing such fun. But Clark County's latest ideas for holding down stormwater runoff assume that by 2050, almost every lawn in the county will get its water from bathtub drains, dishwashers and rooftop gutters. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2007/12/12202007_County-lawn-care-plan-Use-wastewater.cfm?newsletter=2
Greater Victoria rated 'high risk' polluter – Greater Victoria is a "high risk" sewage polluter and, regardless of the debate in the community, will be forced to build treatment plants by 2020 (Victoria Times-Colonist – Well, Duh!)
http://www.canada.com/victoriatimescolonist/news/story.html?id=f8ba5fff-33a0-4979-b8c8-5a46e9912595&k=51505
Corn farm runoff leads to trouble in Gulf of Mexico – Nitrogen from fertilizer flows to Mississippi River, then Gulf of Mexico, where oxygen depletion kills sea animals (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_7767615?source=rss
White Pass halts expansion work pending ruling – The White Pass Ski Area has agreed to halt work on a major expansion project until a federal judge rules on an appeal by environmental groups seeking to block it. (Associated Press, via the Columbian)
http://news.columbian.com/news/state/APStories/AP12202007news250627.cfm?newsletter=10
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
News Release – for the Makah Bay Offshore Wave Pilot Project: FERC issues first license for Hydrokinetic Energy Project (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)
http://www.ferc.gov/news/news-releases/2007/2007-4/12-20-07-H-1.asp
Yakima – Hearing Examiner takes second look at proposed tire recycling plant. Proposed plan would turn recycled tires into biodiesel fuel at the proposed site. (KNDO/KNDU, Tri-Cities)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=7522223
Energy Law Leaves Out Wind, Solar Tax Credits – While the new energy bill delivers good news to those in the ethanol business, it disappoints many in the business of cultivating alternative energy sources — such as wind, solar and geothermal power. (National Public Radio – “Windustry?”, good grief…at least they didn’t use “blowin’ in the wind”)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17416001&ft=1&f=2
Kempthorne taps Boise resident for national wind panel – Rich Rayhill will be part of a committee tasked with coming up with guidelines to protect wildlife. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/business/story/242058.html
U.S. Energy Bill Mandate for Corn-Free Ethanol Presents Huge Opportunity, Challenge for Industry (Canadian Business)
http://www.canadianbusiness.com/markets/market_news/article.jsp?content=D8TK1TD83
Lock 7 Hydro Partners to Be Primary Supplier for LG&E and KU Green Energy Program – Group will become the primary supplier of renewable energy credits (RECs) for Louisville Gas and Electric and Kentucky Utilities companies. The Mother Ann Lee Hydroelectric Station on the Kentucky River at Lock and Dam 7 will generate the RECs. (Market Wire, via Power Marketers Online – Nice to know that someone thinks hydropower is a renewable resource)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5Chiqpmqv%5BTnkw11rbfem%5Ev
CONSERVATION
Lighting a new path to energy efficiency – Measure signed by Bush means fluorescent bulbs are more likely to brighten the future (Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/chronicle/5392696.html
Tennessee – Attorney general fines Hendersonville energy saving companies (The Tennesseean, Nashville)
http://www.tennessean.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071219/BUSINESS01/71219084
The Green House as Classroom (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/garden/20show.html?ex=1355893200&en=c6eb16b37b42019f&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
E.P.A. Says 17 States Can’t Set Emission Rules – The Environmental Protection Agency on Wednesday denied California and 16 other states the right to set their own standards for carbon dioxide emissions from automobiles. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/20/washington/20epa.html?_r=1&ex=1355893200&en=139426ab611e3fc1&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Ancient Warming Caused Huge Spike in Temps, Study Says – What started out as a moderate global warm-up about 55 million years ago triggered a massive injection of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere that sent temperatures skyrocketing, a new study says. (National Geographic)
http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2007/12/071219-ancient-warming.html
Tax Hike to Help Environment a Hard Sell – A so-called carbon tax would put a price on any carbon released into the atmosphere. But even for the greenest voters, a tax increase that would help the environment is likely to be a hard sell. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17441683&ft=1&f=3
Do Women Who Find Ferrari Drivers Sexy Contribute to Global Warming? (Wired Magazine)
http://blog.wired.com/cars/2007/12/women-who-find.html
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Provo, Utah, overhauls iProvo muni fiber model – High churn leads iProvo to hire consultants. The city council of Provo, Utah, is conferring with consultants it hired this month to help determine why its fiber-to-the-home (FTTH) network isn’t performing as hoped and to overhaul the model. (Telephony Online)
http://telephonyonline.com/home/news/iprovo_municipal_fiber_121907/index.html
Seattle Times Op/Ed – Network neutrality Freedom of expression at risk
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2004083050_openmic20.html?syndication=rss
Seattle Times Op/Ed – Network neutrality Hysteria makes for bad law
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2004083048_broadband20.html?syndication=rss
F.T.C. Clears Google-DoubleClick Deal – The go-ahead from the Federal Trade Commission clears the way for a formidable combination in the burgeoning online advertising sector. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/technology/AP-Google-DoubleClick-Antitrust.html?ex=1355893200&en=efaae96e4344b592&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Ohio – Fiber a resource, not a revelation – Completed in 2002 at a cost of roughly $6 million, Butler County's fiber optic ring was touted as a high-tech lure to new business. (The Oxford Press)
http://www.oxfordpress.com/news/content/oh/story/news/local/2007/12/19/hjn122007fiberopticinside.html
Wi-Fi Mesh Lights Up Mecca for Hajj – The millions of pilgrims in Mecca this week for the Hajj, an annual gathering of Muslims, can stay connected thanks to a temporary Wi-Fi mesh network covering a large part of the city. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/idg/IDG_002570DE00740E18882573B5007AC5BA.html?ex=1355893200&en=fac659cc72e46ac7&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Storm aid to state boosted – FEMA doubles counties to 12, expands relief (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/344206_storms20.html?source=rss
Seven Corps workers back from Midwest – A group from the local U.S. Army Corps of Engineers office assisted with storm-relief efforts. (Union Bulletin, Walla Walla)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2007/12/19/local_news/local05.txt
Municipal bonds hit by mortgage fallout – Like toxic waste dumped into a city's sewer system, the subprime debacle is seeping into virtually every nook and cranny of the nation's financial markets, polluting sectors that seemed far removed from home mortgages. Today's case in point: municipal bonds. (The San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/20/BU0BU1GHR.DTL&feed=rss.business
Port of Portland to close on Troutdale Alcoa site – Alcoa will lead the cleanup of the parcel slated for shipping and manufacturing (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/119812471951190.xml&coll=7
DIVERSIONS
Eco-boat powered by human fat attempts round the world speed record
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=503419&in_page_id=1770
Woman goes to doctor to show Social Security she is alive
http://www.examiner.com/a-1115687~Woman_goes_to_doctor_to_show_Social_Security_she_is_alive.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Lottery money returned to real winners
http://www.canada.com/topics/news/story.html?id=557fd46f-8d55-4e4b-8a0c-abb5709b38ad&k=87041
Thieves Saw Off More Than 500 Parking Meters
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14898345/detail.html
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Wednesday, December 19, 2007
Energy News Digest for December 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.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Electricity Restored to Collins Lake Substation After Construction Crane Touches Power line
- Power Agreement Bonneville offers utility $9.5 million, with strings attached
- Bonneville payments ‘not relief, this is a trap,’ Grays Harbor County PUD says
- Local briefly: Snohomish County PUD won't yet decide on refund for $19 million
- Ratepayers may see BPA credit restored
- Stripped of Renewable Energy Mandates – House, 314-100, Passes Broad Energy Bill
- Walla Walla – Power plant siting in spotlight
- Idaho – Nuke plant developer will meet with public
- Texas vows to attract other carbon-capture plants
- Oregon Governor cites problems with federal analysis of gas terminal
- Grant County PUD names new treasurer
- One Enron Case Settled
- Ameren Illinois Utilities Issue Warning on Dangers of Copper Theft
- Mason County PUD No. 3 makes Last Reconnections from December 3 Storm
- Pact resolves 6-year battle over Ellensburg-area creek
- Puget Sound cleanup gets more federal funding than expected
- The Olympian Opinion – Environmental lobby looks to exert clout
- West Sound Utility District Hears From Public on Rate Hike
- City of Longview sets steep water and sewer rate hikes
- Resident fights Orting utility tax hike
- Southwest May Pipe In Water from Great Lakes
- New ethanol goal offers challenge, opportunity for biofuel industry
- Chevron sued over funding of biodiesel plant – Partner firm says oil giant stopped
- Sparks flying over Pennsylvania’s energy future
- Lighten the power load during Christmas season
- Montana – Climate change report aired.
- Clean-air agency wants to ban burning in yards
- Pizza Boxes Are Power Hogs
- FCC approves controversial media ownership rule
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Plebiscite • \PLEB-uh-site\ • noun – a vote by which the people of an entire country or district express an opinion for or against a proposal especially on a choice of government or ruler
“The ballots have been sent out. Like Noah sending the dove and the Raven to search for dry land we will soon know if the subjects like what I’ve suggested, or will continue to be restless,” mused the white-bearded king as he gazed from his tower, overlooking his lovely city of rivers. Unfortunately, calling for a plebiscite on naming the ‘cane toad’ as the Australian amphibian was like asking for an indulgence for a beer belch in church.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
News Release – Electricity Restored to Collins Lake Substation After Construction Crane Touches Power line (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/News/display.asp?NewsID=400
Power Agreement Bonneville offers utility $9.5 million, with strings attached – Clark Public Utilities could get a one-time $9.5 million payout from the Bonneville Power Administration under a proposal announced Monday by the BPA. But there's a lot of uncertainty about the deal. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2007/12/12182007_Power-Agreement-Bonneville-offers-utility-95-million-with-strings-attached.cfm
Bonneville payments ‘not relief, this is a trap,’ Grays Harbor County PUD says. Commissioners called the plan “absurd,” and rejected the interim proposal. (Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/12/18/local_news/03news.txt
Local briefly: Snohomish County PUD won't yet decide on refund for $19 million (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071219/NEWS01/710003258/-1/news01
Ratepayers may see BPA credit restored (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/page/dis/299999521904786
President Bush Signs Energy Bill (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/19/AR2007121900815.html?nav=rss_email/components
Energy bill to save 'billions' – President Bush signed into law Wednesday legislation that will bring more fuel-efficient vehicles into auto showrooms and require wider use of ethanol, calling it "a major step" toward energy independence and easing global warming. (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-12-18-fuel-economy_N.htm?csp=34
Stripped of Renewable Energy Mandates – House, 314-100, Passes Broad Energy Bill; Bush Plans to Sign It (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/19/washington/19energy.html?ei=5088&en=2f23e7ad81fc4185&ex=1355720400&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1198090893-AMjoU60bMvG1GwWBWLpkew
Walla Walla – Power plant siting in spotlight – Whether a power plant will be allowed in the heavy industrial area remains to be seen. (Union-Bulletin, Walla Walla)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2007/12/19/local_news/local04.txt
Idaho – Nuke plant developer will meet with public. As Payette ponders the proposed facility, the state debates who should be making decisions on where to put power plants. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/242279.html
N.J. sues Pa. power plant, claims excessive amounts of air pollution drift across state line (International Herald Tribune)
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/19/america/Pollution-Suit.php
Texas vows to attract other carbon-capture plants (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUKN1851451520071218?rpc=44
Oregon Governor cites problems with federal analysis of gas terminal (Associated Press, via the Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1112665~Governor_cites_problems_with_federal_analysis_of_gas_terminal.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Grant County PUD names new treasurer – Grant County PUD commissioners named Jim Bunch last week to the permanent position of treasurer/controller. (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2007/12/18/news/news05.txt
One Enron Case Settled (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/19/business/19enron.html?ex=1355720400&en=26ba475fbf6ef41d&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
News Release – Ameren Illinois Utilities Issue Warning on Dangers of Copper Theft. Public can Help Curb this Deadly Crime (Ameren Illinois, via Yahoo! Finance)
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/071219/aqw071.html?.v=33
News Release – Last Reconnections from December 3 Storm - Governmental Cooperation Applauded for Effort (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/News/display.asp?NewsID=398
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Pact resolves 6-year battle over Ellensburg-area creek – Farmers, environmentalists to restore fish runs without impeding irrigation (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/344121_creek19.html
Puget Sound cleanup gets more federal funding than expected (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/303998.html
The Olympian Opinion – Environmental lobby looks to exert clout
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/303883.html
West Sound Utility District Hears From Public on Rate Hike – Dennis Briggs doesn't mind paying more for sewer service, he just doesn't want to pay the same amount as a family of eight. (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/dec/18/west-sound-utility-district-hears-from-public-on/
City of Longview sets steep water and sewer rate hikes – Longview residents' utility bills will jump early next year as the city prepares to fund expensive upgrades to its aging water and sewer treatment systems. (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/12/19//area_news/doc4768c7e199144001446087.txt
Resident fights Orting utility tax hike – After the Orting City Council raises utility taxes, a resident who wanted to force a public vote on the issue was told he was too late. But he’s not through fighting. (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/233284.html
Southwest May Pipe In Water from Great Lakes – Drought-choked southwestern states are considering piping in water from the Great Lakes. Getting the go-ahead on such a plan wouldn't be easy, however. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17354828&ft=1&f=17
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Does the passage of the stripped-down Energy Bill mean that momentum is lost for renewables? (Renewable Energy Access)
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50920&src=rss
New ethanol goal offers challenge, opportunity for biofuel industry (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004081388_ethanol19.html?syndication=rss
Chevron sued over funding of biodiesel plant – Partner firm says oil giant stopped paying (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/19/BUJDU0VQ0.DTL&feed=rss.business
Sparks flying over Pennsylvania’s energy future – With Gov. Rendell and Senate Republicans $200 million apart, the biofuels-and-conservation effort is lagging. (Philly.com)
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20071219_Sparks_flying_over_Pa_s_energy_future.html
CONSERVATION
Lighten the power load during Christmas season (The Star Phoenix, Regina)
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/business/story.html?id=c4342fd7-e661-4076-a30a-8e37ad35357f
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Montana – Climate change report aired. Montana accounts for just 0.6 percent of America's greenhouse gas emissions, but the average Montanan contributes almost double the amount of greenhouse gas as the average American. (Billings Gazette)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/12/19/news/local/28-climatereport.txt
Clean-air agency wants to ban burning in yards – Burning garden leftovers, grass clippings, downed trees and other woody debris would be banned in rural Snohomish County under a proposal by clean-air officials. (Everett Herald – Check out the chart!)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071219/NEWS01/611452862&news01ad=1
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Pizza Boxes Are Power Hogs – As everyone knows, you get what you pay for. That maxim certainly holds true for Internet infrastructure, especially when it comes to servers. (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2007/12/18/pizza-boxes-are-power-hogs/
FCC approves controversial media ownership rule – The Federal Communications Commission, overturning a 32-year-old ban, voted Tuesday to allow broadcasters in the nation's 20 largest media markets to also own a newspaper. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004080133_webfcc18.html?syndication=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Oregon Gets Short Shrift In Congress' Final Days – President George Bush said Wednesday he will sign a hard-fought energy bill compromise. The bill sets higher mileage standards for cars, but for many Oregonians it's a disappointment. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/oregon-gets-short-shrift-congress-final-days/
DIVERSIONS
"Don't Tase Me, Bro" tops Reuters '07 memorable quote list
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN1959512020071219
Bride In Toilet Paper Dress To Tie Knot In Restroom
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14890478/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000312192007&ts=H
Judge Sides With Man Fired For Posting 'Dilbert' Comic In Office
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14890514/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000312192007&ts=H
Choir drops 'Christmas' from carol – Teachers' Decision; Children to sing: 'Soon it will be festive day'
http://www.nationalpost.com/newsletter/story.html?id=181191
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Electricity Restored to Collins Lake Substation After Construction Crane Touches Power line
- Power Agreement Bonneville offers utility $9.5 million, with strings attached
- Bonneville payments ‘not relief, this is a trap,’ Grays Harbor County PUD says
- Local briefly: Snohomish County PUD won't yet decide on refund for $19 million
- Ratepayers may see BPA credit restored
- Stripped of Renewable Energy Mandates – House, 314-100, Passes Broad Energy Bill
- Walla Walla – Power plant siting in spotlight
- Idaho – Nuke plant developer will meet with public
- Texas vows to attract other carbon-capture plants
- Oregon Governor cites problems with federal analysis of gas terminal
- Grant County PUD names new treasurer
- One Enron Case Settled
- Ameren Illinois Utilities Issue Warning on Dangers of Copper Theft
- Mason County PUD No. 3 makes Last Reconnections from December 3 Storm
- Pact resolves 6-year battle over Ellensburg-area creek
- Puget Sound cleanup gets more federal funding than expected
- The Olympian Opinion – Environmental lobby looks to exert clout
- West Sound Utility District Hears From Public on Rate Hike
- City of Longview sets steep water and sewer rate hikes
- Resident fights Orting utility tax hike
- Southwest May Pipe In Water from Great Lakes
- New ethanol goal offers challenge, opportunity for biofuel industry
- Chevron sued over funding of biodiesel plant – Partner firm says oil giant stopped
- Sparks flying over Pennsylvania’s energy future
- Lighten the power load during Christmas season
- Montana – Climate change report aired.
- Clean-air agency wants to ban burning in yards
- Pizza Boxes Are Power Hogs
- FCC approves controversial media ownership rule
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Plebiscite • \PLEB-uh-site\ • noun – a vote by which the people of an entire country or district express an opinion for or against a proposal especially on a choice of government or ruler
“The ballots have been sent out. Like Noah sending the dove and the Raven to search for dry land we will soon know if the subjects like what I’ve suggested, or will continue to be restless,” mused the white-bearded king as he gazed from his tower, overlooking his lovely city of rivers. Unfortunately, calling for a plebiscite on naming the ‘cane toad’ as the Australian amphibian was like asking for an indulgence for a beer belch in church.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
News Release – Electricity Restored to Collins Lake Substation After Construction Crane Touches Power line (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/News/display.asp?NewsID=400
Power Agreement Bonneville offers utility $9.5 million, with strings attached – Clark Public Utilities could get a one-time $9.5 million payout from the Bonneville Power Administration under a proposal announced Monday by the BPA. But there's a lot of uncertainty about the deal. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/business/businessNews/2007/12/12182007_Power-Agreement-Bonneville-offers-utility-95-million-with-strings-attached.cfm
Bonneville payments ‘not relief, this is a trap,’ Grays Harbor County PUD says. Commissioners called the plan “absurd,” and rejected the interim proposal. (Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/12/18/local_news/03news.txt
Local briefly: Snohomish County PUD won't yet decide on refund for $19 million (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071219/NEWS01/710003258/-1/news01
Ratepayers may see BPA credit restored (Yakima Herald-Republic)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/page/dis/299999521904786
President Bush Signs Energy Bill (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/19/AR2007121900815.html?nav=rss_email/components
Energy bill to save 'billions' – President Bush signed into law Wednesday legislation that will bring more fuel-efficient vehicles into auto showrooms and require wider use of ethanol, calling it "a major step" toward energy independence and easing global warming. (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-12-18-fuel-economy_N.htm?csp=34
Stripped of Renewable Energy Mandates – House, 314-100, Passes Broad Energy Bill; Bush Plans to Sign It (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/19/washington/19energy.html?ei=5088&en=2f23e7ad81fc4185&ex=1355720400&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1198090893-AMjoU60bMvG1GwWBWLpkew
Walla Walla – Power plant siting in spotlight – Whether a power plant will be allowed in the heavy industrial area remains to be seen. (Union-Bulletin, Walla Walla)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2007/12/19/local_news/local04.txt
Idaho – Nuke plant developer will meet with public. As Payette ponders the proposed facility, the state debates who should be making decisions on where to put power plants. (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/localnews/story/242279.html
N.J. sues Pa. power plant, claims excessive amounts of air pollution drift across state line (International Herald Tribune)
http://www.iht.com/articles/ap/2007/12/19/america/Pollution-Suit.php
Texas vows to attract other carbon-capture plants (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/marketsNews/idUKN1851451520071218?rpc=44
Oregon Governor cites problems with federal analysis of gas terminal (Associated Press, via the Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1112665~Governor_cites_problems_with_federal_analysis_of_gas_terminal.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Grant County PUD names new treasurer – Grant County PUD commissioners named Jim Bunch last week to the permanent position of treasurer/controller. (Columbia Basin Herald)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2007/12/18/news/news05.txt
One Enron Case Settled (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/19/business/19enron.html?ex=1355720400&en=26ba475fbf6ef41d&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
News Release – Ameren Illinois Utilities Issue Warning on Dangers of Copper Theft. Public can Help Curb this Deadly Crime (Ameren Illinois, via Yahoo! Finance)
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/071219/aqw071.html?.v=33
News Release – Last Reconnections from December 3 Storm - Governmental Cooperation Applauded for Effort (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/News/display.asp?NewsID=398
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Pact resolves 6-year battle over Ellensburg-area creek – Farmers, environmentalists to restore fish runs without impeding irrigation (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/344121_creek19.html
Puget Sound cleanup gets more federal funding than expected (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/303998.html
The Olympian Opinion – Environmental lobby looks to exert clout
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/303883.html
West Sound Utility District Hears From Public on Rate Hike – Dennis Briggs doesn't mind paying more for sewer service, he just doesn't want to pay the same amount as a family of eight. (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2007/dec/18/west-sound-utility-district-hears-from-public-on/
City of Longview sets steep water and sewer rate hikes – Longview residents' utility bills will jump early next year as the city prepares to fund expensive upgrades to its aging water and sewer treatment systems. (The Daily News, Longview)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2007/12/19//area_news/doc4768c7e199144001446087.txt
Resident fights Orting utility tax hike – After the Orting City Council raises utility taxes, a resident who wanted to force a public vote on the issue was told he was too late. But he’s not through fighting. (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/233284.html
Southwest May Pipe In Water from Great Lakes – Drought-choked southwestern states are considering piping in water from the Great Lakes. Getting the go-ahead on such a plan wouldn't be easy, however. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17354828&ft=1&f=17
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Does the passage of the stripped-down Energy Bill mean that momentum is lost for renewables? (Renewable Energy Access)
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/news/story?id=50920&src=rss
New ethanol goal offers challenge, opportunity for biofuel industry (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004081388_ethanol19.html?syndication=rss
Chevron sued over funding of biodiesel plant – Partner firm says oil giant stopped paying (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/19/BUJDU0VQ0.DTL&feed=rss.business
Sparks flying over Pennsylvania’s energy future – With Gov. Rendell and Senate Republicans $200 million apart, the biofuels-and-conservation effort is lagging. (Philly.com)
http://www.philly.com/philly/news/politics/20071219_Sparks_flying_over_Pa_s_energy_future.html
CONSERVATION
Lighten the power load during Christmas season (The Star Phoenix, Regina)
http://www.canada.com/saskatoonstarphoenix/news/business/story.html?id=c4342fd7-e661-4076-a30a-8e37ad35357f
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Montana – Climate change report aired. Montana accounts for just 0.6 percent of America's greenhouse gas emissions, but the average Montanan contributes almost double the amount of greenhouse gas as the average American. (Billings Gazette)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2007/12/19/news/local/28-climatereport.txt
Clean-air agency wants to ban burning in yards – Burning garden leftovers, grass clippings, downed trees and other woody debris would be banned in rural Snohomish County under a proposal by clean-air officials. (Everett Herald – Check out the chart!)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071219/NEWS01/611452862&news01ad=1
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Pizza Boxes Are Power Hogs – As everyone knows, you get what you pay for. That maxim certainly holds true for Internet infrastructure, especially when it comes to servers. (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2007/12/18/pizza-boxes-are-power-hogs/
FCC approves controversial media ownership rule – The Federal Communications Commission, overturning a 32-year-old ban, voted Tuesday to allow broadcasters in the nation's 20 largest media markets to also own a newspaper. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004080133_webfcc18.html?syndication=rss
GENERAL NEWS
Oregon Gets Short Shrift In Congress' Final Days – President George Bush said Wednesday he will sign a hard-fought energy bill compromise. The bill sets higher mileage standards for cars, but for many Oregonians it's a disappointment. (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/oregon-gets-short-shrift-congress-final-days/
DIVERSIONS
"Don't Tase Me, Bro" tops Reuters '07 memorable quote list
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSN1959512020071219
Bride In Toilet Paper Dress To Tie Knot In Restroom
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14890478/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000312192007&ts=H
Judge Sides With Man Fired For Posting 'Dilbert' Comic In Office
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14890514/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000312192007&ts=H
Choir drops 'Christmas' from carol – Teachers' Decision; Children to sing: 'Soon it will be festive day'
http://www.nationalpost.com/newsletter/story.html?id=181191
Tuesday, December 18, 2007
Energy News Digest for December 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.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- BPA offers interim fixes to utilities
- Puget Sound Energy – Merger Takes Another Step
- Domenici – Another Push for Nuclear Power.
- Officials pick site for carbon-free coal plant
- Walla Walla Union Bulletin Editorial – Judge goes too far in trying to manage dams
- Columbia Basin water plan includes $5.9M for 2 tribes
- More Water Coming To Wenatchee River Watershed
- News Tribune Opinion – The miracle at Swan Creek.
- Literally and Figuratively – Storm brings windfall to paper mill in Hoquiam
- California backers of targets for renewable energy can gather signatures
- Pacific Gas & Electric agrees to buy power from Canadian firm's proposed 'wave park'
- Another wave energy effort pitched for Humboldt coast
- Food and Fuel Compete for Land
- Light Bulbs, Gasoline Will Change with U.S. Energy Bill Passage
- Chelan County PUD Joins Emissions Trading Exchange
- High-tech brings rural towns back to life
- FCC set to decide on Media-ownership today
- $200,000 Cut From City Of Shelton’s Budget Prior To Adoption
- Energy prices mostly to blame for inflation
- Car crashes into Olympia's Oyster House
- Cantwell aide leaving – Michael Meehan
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Toady • \TOH-dee\ • noun – One who flatters in the hope of gaining favors: sycophant
The board room was packed with second tier employees, hanging on every word of the cigar-chomping Chief Executive Officer. “Jump,” he barked. “How high,” the toadies replied. “Speak,” he bellowed. The entire room erupted into an echoing “Woof,” after which one very tiny voice (Michigan Frog) piped “ribbet!”
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
BPA offers interim fixes to utilities – The agency would pay $131 million to private companies, resulting in rate relief for some customers (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1197953915239690.xml&coll=7
News Release – BPA proposes to get cash flowing back to Northwest utilities (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/186560/
Residential Exchange – Snohomish County PUD earns $19 million refund. The Bonneville Power Administration wants to write Snohomish County PUD a $19 million check, a refund of sorts for overcharging for the electricity it sells the utility. (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071218/NEWS01/677732266
UTILITY MERGER TAKES ANOTHER STEP – Puget Sound Energy (PSE), a regulated utility providing electric and natural gas service to the Puget Sound region, and a consortium of North American infrastructure investors today filed an application with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission to request approval in connection with the proposed merger of Puget Energy that was announced on Oct. 26. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Puget Energy did solicit other acquisition proposals from approximately 20 potential purchasers, including U.S. utility companies, non-U.S. utility companies, other energy companies and infrastructure investors. No proposal was received that could reasonably be expected to result in a proposal superior to the definitive merger agreement with the consortium. Under the terms of the merger agreement, the consortium will acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Puget Energy for $30 per share in cash, subject to the approval of Puget Energy's shareholders and certain regulatory approvals. The initial phase, Reynolds noted, involved the sale to the consortium of 12.5 million shares for an aggregate offering price of approximately $296 million. This infusion will fund PSE's ongoing construction program and working capital needs. The parties are continuing their efforts to complete the merger by the second half of 2008. (South Sound Business Examiner)
Domenici – Another Push for Nuclear Power. Senator Wants to Expand Federal Loan Guarantees for Plants (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/17/AR2007121701886.html?nav=rss_business
Officials pick site for carbon-free coal plant (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-12-18-coal-plant_N.htm?csp=34
Montana – Mystic Lake Project near Fishtail. FERC Iissues First Hydroelectric License Using Integrated Licensing Process
http://www.ferc.gov/news/news-releases/2007/2007-4/12-17-07.asp
United Kingdom – Householders face higher energy bills. Householders face higher energy bills in the New Year as npower becomes the latest provider to raise gas and electricity prices. (The Telegraph)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/12/18/cmenergy118.xml
How's your customer service fitness? Take this quiz to find out (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/display_article/315049/22/ARTCL/none/none/1/How's-your-customer-service-fitness?-Take-this-quiz-to-find-out/
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Walla Walla Union Bulletin Editorial – Judge goes too far in trying to manage dams
It is particularly concerning because Judge James Redden seems to be fixated on breaching the Snake River dams. (Thanks to Ruthann Mogen for the tip)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2007/12/16/opinion/daily_editorial/edit01.txt
New water agreement reached for Lake Roosevelt – Two Native American tribes joined farm, environmental, business and governmental interests Monday in reaching agreement on a plan to draw down Lake Roosevelt by one foot in a normal year to shore up supplies for fish and farms. (Tri-Cities Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/story/9526004p-9436794c.html
Columbia Basin water plan includes $5.9M for 2 tribes (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004079447_water18m.html?syndication=rss
MORE WATER COMING TO WENATCHEE RIVER WATERSHED – A new state rule will make more water available in the Wenatchee River watershed over the next 20 years. The rule changes approved last week by the state Department of Ecology will outline how water will be managed in the future, making additional water available for city and domestic uses, while at the same time improving protection of stream flows and existing water rights. (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee)
Southeastern Governors to Devise Drought Strategy (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17344704&ft=1&f=3
News Tribune Opinion – The miracle at Swan Creek. Not many city dwellers actually get to watch spawning salmon without leaving town. But Tacomans – and anyone else in these parts – can watch this marvel amazingly close to home.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/232473.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Literally and Figuratively – Storm brings windfall to paper mill in Hoquiam (Daily World, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1109815~Storm_brings_windfall_to_paper_mill_in_Hoquiam.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
California backers of targets for renewable energy can gather signatures – Backers of a state ballot initiative to require a significant boost in renewable energy used by all utilities in California can begin collecting signatures, the secretary of state announced Monday. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/18/BAQBU07T0.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
Oregon – Wave energy firm shows promising financial growth (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2007/12/17/daily6.html?ana=from_rss
Pacific Gas & Electric agrees to buy power from Canadian firm's proposed 'wave park' (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/12/18/MNEKU05V9.DTL
Another wave energy effort pitched for Humboldt coast (Times Standard, Eureka)
http://www.times-standard.com/ci_7749241?source=most_viewed
Start-Up Sells Solar Panels at Lower-Than-Usual Cost (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/technology/18solar.html?ex=1355634000&en=091b06819623f9d0&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Food and Fuel Compete for Land (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/business/18food.html?ei=5088&en=0f476f8f558d3d5e&ex=1355634000&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1197997751-LzNLJ35n3+qUFVZQ7fosIg
News Release – Progress Energy Florida Signs Contract for Second Waste-Wood Plant (Progress Energy, via Yahoo! Finance)
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/071218/cltu056.html?.v=101
CONSERVATION
Light Bulbs, Gasoline Will Change with U.S. Energy Bill Passage – The light bulbs in almost every U.S. home and the gasoline in many cars will be altered by energy legislation that the U.S. House of Representatives is set to pass today. (Bloomberg Business News)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=aUtyQS4TtgxQ&refer=india
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
CHELAN COUNTY P.U.D. JOINS EMISSIONS TRADING EXCHANGE – The Chelan County P.U.D. will join an exchange that will allow a portion of the power generated at Rocky Reach Dam to be traded to offset greenhouse gas emissions from other sources. With P.U.D. commissioners voting Monday to join the Chicago Climate Exchange, about 1.75 million megawatt hours generated at Rocky Reach since 2003 are eligible to be traded as carbon offset credits, which could be worth about $1.7 million to the P.U.D. (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee)
Seattle Post Intelligencer Columnist – Tote up your carbon footprint. Carbon is the new guilt.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/343901_carbon18.html?source=rss
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
High-tech brings rural towns back to life (Christian Science Monitor)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20071218/ts_csm/arurtech
FCC: Nebraska Ranks Second in DSL Internet Deployment (SW Nebraska News – Ed Note: FCC surveys have been reported to be excessively optimistic about broadband penetration. Take this one with a grain of salt.)
http://www.swnebr.net/newspaper/cgi-bin/articles/articlearchiver.pl?162645
Minnesota – Wi-Fi firm faces legal action over delays in St. Louis Park. The groundbreaking solar-powered, citywide wireless Internet service has run into constant delays. The City Council will vote Monday on its options. (Minneapolis/St. Paul Star-Tribune)
http://www.startribune.com/local/west/12523816.html
FCC set to decide on Media-ownership today (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004079559_fcc18.html?syndication=rss
GENERAL NEWS
$200,000 CUT FROM CITY OF SHELTON’S BUDGET PRIOR TO ADOPTION – The Shelton City Commission has adopted the City's budget for 2008. The budget totals more than $55.8 Million ($55,865,168). This is $200,000 less than the budget presented last week during the City Commission's budget hearing. Due to a reduction in the projected development, city staff had to cut several things out of next year's budget. This includes $75,000 from the Street Fund, $70,000 in the Police Department, $50,000 in Park maintenance, nearly $26,500 from recreation, and several public information items such as the "Tollie" news letter and the radio show "Focus on Shelton." The specific details of the cuts are still being worked out but one police officer position will not be filled in 2008, and possibly a halftime employee in the Parks Department could be laid off. Department heads are still working with their departments on the specific cuts. The City Commission will look at the 2008 budget quarterly next year and make adjustments as needed, as well as plan for 2009. Some of the City's long term budgeting plans are contracting for fire services, going to voters for a tax increase, and if all else fails, service reductions. Mayor John Tarrant called the budget a wake up call. Commissioner Mike Byrne said the cuts get the city by for now but 2009 could be a real disaster. And Commissioner Dawn Pannell said the budget is the most fiscally responsible thing the City can do right now. Copies of the City of Shelton's 2008 Budget are available at the Shelton Civic Center. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Energy prices mostly to blame for inflation (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004079369_inflation18.html?syndication=rss
Car crashes into Olympia's Oyster House (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/12576911.html
Cantwell aide leaving – Michael Meehan, Sen. Maria Cantwell's chief of staff and architect of her 2006 re-election victory, will leave the job at the end of next month. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2004079439_postmanblog18m.html?syndication=rss
DIVERSIONS
Fortune Magazine’s 101 Dumbest Moments in Business. Ah, what a dumb year it was! Fortune chose the absolutely dumbest of the dumb that the gods of fate and humor delivered into our laps - and yours - this past year
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/fortune/0712/gallery.101_dumbest.fortune/index.html
Man Drives Through Car Wash During Police Chase
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14872753/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000312172007&ts=H
Money Found Hidden In Walls During Home's Renovation – A contractor who helped discover bundles of cash totaling $182,000 hidden behind bathroom walls says the homeowner should turn the money over to him -- or at least share it.
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14872735/detail.html
1914 Christmas Card Defines Snail Mail – Intended Recipient Deceased
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14873042/detail.html
City's Christmas Tree Comes From Cemetery – Employee Remorseful About Cutting Down Tree
http://www.kirotv.com/holidays/14854695/detail.html
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- BPA offers interim fixes to utilities
- Puget Sound Energy – Merger Takes Another Step
- Domenici – Another Push for Nuclear Power.
- Officials pick site for carbon-free coal plant
- Walla Walla Union Bulletin Editorial – Judge goes too far in trying to manage dams
- Columbia Basin water plan includes $5.9M for 2 tribes
- More Water Coming To Wenatchee River Watershed
- News Tribune Opinion – The miracle at Swan Creek.
- Literally and Figuratively – Storm brings windfall to paper mill in Hoquiam
- California backers of targets for renewable energy can gather signatures
- Pacific Gas & Electric agrees to buy power from Canadian firm's proposed 'wave park'
- Another wave energy effort pitched for Humboldt coast
- Food and Fuel Compete for Land
- Light Bulbs, Gasoline Will Change with U.S. Energy Bill Passage
- Chelan County PUD Joins Emissions Trading Exchange
- High-tech brings rural towns back to life
- FCC set to decide on Media-ownership today
- $200,000 Cut From City Of Shelton’s Budget Prior To Adoption
- Energy prices mostly to blame for inflation
- Car crashes into Olympia's Oyster House
- Cantwell aide leaving – Michael Meehan
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Toady • \TOH-dee\ • noun – One who flatters in the hope of gaining favors: sycophant
The board room was packed with second tier employees, hanging on every word of the cigar-chomping Chief Executive Officer. “Jump,” he barked. “How high,” the toadies replied. “Speak,” he bellowed. The entire room erupted into an echoing “Woof,” after which one very tiny voice (Michigan Frog) piped “ribbet!”
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
BPA offers interim fixes to utilities – The agency would pay $131 million to private companies, resulting in rate relief for some customers (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1197953915239690.xml&coll=7
News Release – BPA proposes to get cash flowing back to Northwest utilities (Bonneville Power Administration)
http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/186560/
Residential Exchange – Snohomish County PUD earns $19 million refund. The Bonneville Power Administration wants to write Snohomish County PUD a $19 million check, a refund of sorts for overcharging for the electricity it sells the utility. (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071218/NEWS01/677732266
UTILITY MERGER TAKES ANOTHER STEP – Puget Sound Energy (PSE), a regulated utility providing electric and natural gas service to the Puget Sound region, and a consortium of North American infrastructure investors today filed an application with the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission to request approval in connection with the proposed merger of Puget Energy that was announced on Oct. 26. Under the terms of the merger agreement, Puget Energy did solicit other acquisition proposals from approximately 20 potential purchasers, including U.S. utility companies, non-U.S. utility companies, other energy companies and infrastructure investors. No proposal was received that could reasonably be expected to result in a proposal superior to the definitive merger agreement with the consortium. Under the terms of the merger agreement, the consortium will acquire all of the outstanding common shares of Puget Energy for $30 per share in cash, subject to the approval of Puget Energy's shareholders and certain regulatory approvals. The initial phase, Reynolds noted, involved the sale to the consortium of 12.5 million shares for an aggregate offering price of approximately $296 million. This infusion will fund PSE's ongoing construction program and working capital needs. The parties are continuing their efforts to complete the merger by the second half of 2008. (South Sound Business Examiner)
Domenici – Another Push for Nuclear Power. Senator Wants to Expand Federal Loan Guarantees for Plants (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/17/AR2007121701886.html?nav=rss_business
Officials pick site for carbon-free coal plant (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/news/washington/2007-12-18-coal-plant_N.htm?csp=34
Montana – Mystic Lake Project near Fishtail. FERC Iissues First Hydroelectric License Using Integrated Licensing Process
http://www.ferc.gov/news/news-releases/2007/2007-4/12-17-07.asp
United Kingdom – Householders face higher energy bills. Householders face higher energy bills in the New Year as npower becomes the latest provider to raise gas and electricity prices. (The Telegraph)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/money/main.jhtml?xml=/money/2007/12/18/cmenergy118.xml
How's your customer service fitness? Take this quiz to find out (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/display_article/315049/22/ARTCL/none/none/1/How's-your-customer-service-fitness?-Take-this-quiz-to-find-out/
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Walla Walla Union Bulletin Editorial – Judge goes too far in trying to manage dams
It is particularly concerning because Judge James Redden seems to be fixated on breaching the Snake River dams. (Thanks to Ruthann Mogen for the tip)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2007/12/16/opinion/daily_editorial/edit01.txt
New water agreement reached for Lake Roosevelt – Two Native American tribes joined farm, environmental, business and governmental interests Monday in reaching agreement on a plan to draw down Lake Roosevelt by one foot in a normal year to shore up supplies for fish and farms. (Tri-Cities Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/tch/local/story/9526004p-9436794c.html
Columbia Basin water plan includes $5.9M for 2 tribes (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004079447_water18m.html?syndication=rss
MORE WATER COMING TO WENATCHEE RIVER WATERSHED – A new state rule will make more water available in the Wenatchee River watershed over the next 20 years. The rule changes approved last week by the state Department of Ecology will outline how water will be managed in the future, making additional water available for city and domestic uses, while at the same time improving protection of stream flows and existing water rights. (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee)
Southeastern Governors to Devise Drought Strategy (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17344704&ft=1&f=3
News Tribune Opinion – The miracle at Swan Creek. Not many city dwellers actually get to watch spawning salmon without leaving town. But Tacomans – and anyone else in these parts – can watch this marvel amazingly close to home.
http://www.thenewstribune.com/opinion/story/232473.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Literally and Figuratively – Storm brings windfall to paper mill in Hoquiam (Daily World, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1109815~Storm_brings_windfall_to_paper_mill_in_Hoquiam.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
California backers of targets for renewable energy can gather signatures – Backers of a state ballot initiative to require a significant boost in renewable energy used by all utilities in California can begin collecting signatures, the secretary of state announced Monday. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/18/BAQBU07T0.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
Oregon – Wave energy firm shows promising financial growth (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2007/12/17/daily6.html?ana=from_rss
Pacific Gas & Electric agrees to buy power from Canadian firm's proposed 'wave park' (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/c/a/2007/12/18/MNEKU05V9.DTL
Another wave energy effort pitched for Humboldt coast (Times Standard, Eureka)
http://www.times-standard.com/ci_7749241?source=most_viewed
Start-Up Sells Solar Panels at Lower-Than-Usual Cost (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/technology/18solar.html?ex=1355634000&en=091b06819623f9d0&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Food and Fuel Compete for Land (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/18/business/18food.html?ei=5088&en=0f476f8f558d3d5e&ex=1355634000&adxnnl=1&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&adxnnlx=1197997751-LzNLJ35n3+qUFVZQ7fosIg
News Release – Progress Energy Florida Signs Contract for Second Waste-Wood Plant (Progress Energy, via Yahoo! Finance)
http://biz.yahoo.com/prnews/071218/cltu056.html?.v=101
CONSERVATION
Light Bulbs, Gasoline Will Change with U.S. Energy Bill Passage – The light bulbs in almost every U.S. home and the gasoline in many cars will be altered by energy legislation that the U.S. House of Representatives is set to pass today. (Bloomberg Business News)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601091&sid=aUtyQS4TtgxQ&refer=india
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
CHELAN COUNTY P.U.D. JOINS EMISSIONS TRADING EXCHANGE – The Chelan County P.U.D. will join an exchange that will allow a portion of the power generated at Rocky Reach Dam to be traded to offset greenhouse gas emissions from other sources. With P.U.D. commissioners voting Monday to join the Chicago Climate Exchange, about 1.75 million megawatt hours generated at Rocky Reach since 2003 are eligible to be traded as carbon offset credits, which could be worth about $1.7 million to the P.U.D. (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee)
Seattle Post Intelligencer Columnist – Tote up your carbon footprint. Carbon is the new guilt.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/343901_carbon18.html?source=rss
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
High-tech brings rural towns back to life (Christian Science Monitor)
http://news.yahoo.com/s/csm/20071218/ts_csm/arurtech
FCC: Nebraska Ranks Second in DSL Internet Deployment (SW Nebraska News – Ed Note: FCC surveys have been reported to be excessively optimistic about broadband penetration. Take this one with a grain of salt.)
http://www.swnebr.net/newspaper/cgi-bin/articles/articlearchiver.pl?162645
Minnesota – Wi-Fi firm faces legal action over delays in St. Louis Park. The groundbreaking solar-powered, citywide wireless Internet service has run into constant delays. The City Council will vote Monday on its options. (Minneapolis/St. Paul Star-Tribune)
http://www.startribune.com/local/west/12523816.html
FCC set to decide on Media-ownership today (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004079559_fcc18.html?syndication=rss
GENERAL NEWS
$200,000 CUT FROM CITY OF SHELTON’S BUDGET PRIOR TO ADOPTION – The Shelton City Commission has adopted the City's budget for 2008. The budget totals more than $55.8 Million ($55,865,168). This is $200,000 less than the budget presented last week during the City Commission's budget hearing. Due to a reduction in the projected development, city staff had to cut several things out of next year's budget. This includes $75,000 from the Street Fund, $70,000 in the Police Department, $50,000 in Park maintenance, nearly $26,500 from recreation, and several public information items such as the "Tollie" news letter and the radio show "Focus on Shelton." The specific details of the cuts are still being worked out but one police officer position will not be filled in 2008, and possibly a halftime employee in the Parks Department could be laid off. Department heads are still working with their departments on the specific cuts. The City Commission will look at the 2008 budget quarterly next year and make adjustments as needed, as well as plan for 2009. Some of the City's long term budgeting plans are contracting for fire services, going to voters for a tax increase, and if all else fails, service reductions. Mayor John Tarrant called the budget a wake up call. Commissioner Mike Byrne said the cuts get the city by for now but 2009 could be a real disaster. And Commissioner Dawn Pannell said the budget is the most fiscally responsible thing the City can do right now. Copies of the City of Shelton's 2008 Budget are available at the Shelton Civic Center. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Energy prices mostly to blame for inflation (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004079369_inflation18.html?syndication=rss
Car crashes into Olympia's Oyster House (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/12576911.html
Cantwell aide leaving – Michael Meehan, Sen. Maria Cantwell's chief of staff and architect of her 2006 re-election victory, will leave the job at the end of next month. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2004079439_postmanblog18m.html?syndication=rss
DIVERSIONS
Fortune Magazine’s 101 Dumbest Moments in Business. Ah, what a dumb year it was! Fortune chose the absolutely dumbest of the dumb that the gods of fate and humor delivered into our laps - and yours - this past year
http://money.cnn.com/galleries/2007/fortune/0712/gallery.101_dumbest.fortune/index.html
Man Drives Through Car Wash During Police Chase
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14872753/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000312172007&ts=H
Money Found Hidden In Walls During Home's Renovation – A contractor who helped discover bundles of cash totaling $182,000 hidden behind bathroom walls says the homeowner should turn the money over to him -- or at least share it.
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14872735/detail.html
1914 Christmas Card Defines Snail Mail – Intended Recipient Deceased
http://www.kirotv.com/news/14873042/detail.html
City's Christmas Tree Comes From Cemetery – Employee Remorseful About Cutting Down Tree
http://www.kirotv.com/holidays/14854695/detail.html
Monday, December 17, 2007
Energy News Digest Addendum
Ore.: $322M to Utilities Proposed – The Bonneville Power Administration said Monday it wants to make $322 million in interim payments to public and investor-owned utilities while the agency tries to resolve one of the top energy issues facing the region - the residential exchange program. (Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/5385089.html
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/5385089.html
Energy News Digest for December 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.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- More windy weather headed to the Harbors
- Senate OKs Close Watch on Energy Markets
- Broad coalition calls electricity rates 'unjust and unreasonable'
- Montana – Power forward. Flathead Electric having one of its best years ever
- Montana – PPL to end Montana tax protest
- Texas Going Nuclear With Greenpeace Founder's Backing
- Next generation nuke could cost up to $4.3 billion
- When holiday cheer short circuits
- Seattle Times Outdoors Notebook – Chinook forecast looks promising
- Seattle Post Intelligencer Editorial – Salmon: Faster learners
- Idaho Statesman Opinion –Redden won't let the salmon debate end easily
- Oceans failing acid test –Looming environmental catastrophe in the Pacific
- More Nisqually delta turning back into estuary
- Aquatic Pest Has Cost a Billion Bucks
- Los Angeles – Reservoirs Closed After Carcinogen Is Found
- British Columbia looks to tree debris for electricity
- Iceland's Hydrogen Revolution Stalled
- Money-saving technology has Olympia's eyes aglow
- It's lights out for traditional light bulbs
- Warming too much for walruses
- Washington Post Editorial – Waiting on the EPA.
- Google Gets Ready to Rumble with Microsoft
- Louisiana – Winning LUS bids set to be revealed.
- Mason County Now On the List: Federal Disaster Assistance Approved For Individuals & Businesses
- Lewis County mudslide photo spurs look at logging practices
- State lawmakers to consider urban tree protection
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Craven • \KRAY-vun\ • adjective – Lacking the least bit of courage: contemptibly fainthearted
Flavius stood undefeated in the arena; his blood-stained sword glinting in the sharp, angled glow of the setting, golden sun. No craven bone in his body had he…except for his uncharacteristic fear of chickens. Whether by suspicion or a childhood incident involving the family rooster, he would quake in fear at the mere mention of any poultry dish or the appearance of a feathered opponent.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
More windy weather headed to the Harbors (The Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/12/15/local_news/04news.txt
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Senate OKs Close Watch on Energy Markets – The Senate voted Thursday to give federal regulators increased authority to monitor electronic energy markets and protect against market manipulation. (Associated Press, via the San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/12/13/national/w185050S25.DTL&type=politics
Broad coalition calls electricity rates 'unjust and unreasonable' (NY Times – Golly, guess which market is exempt from FERC regulation?)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/17/business/17electricity.html?ex=1355547600&en=13a60b6ae9ac201d&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Montana – Power forward. Flathead Electric having one of its best years ever. Flathead Electric Cooperative’s rates are dropping for the second year in a row this January, for an overall $3 million rate reduction. (Daily Inter Lake, Kalispell)
http://www.dailyinterlake.com/articles/2007/12/16/business/bus01.txt
Montana – PPL to end Montana tax protest; wants more stability in taxes (Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1105339~PPL_to_end_Montana_tax_protest__wants_more_stability_in_taxes.html?cid=rss-Montana_Headlines
Laos pins hopes on huge dam, but environmentalists predict disaster (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/17/MNE4TMAV9.DTL&feed=rss.news
Texas Going Nuclear With Greenpeace Founder's Backing (Bloomberg News Service)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a980jwliyVpA&refer=us
Next generation nuke could cost up to $4.3 bil to build: US DOE (Platt’s Energy News)
http://www.platts.com/Nuclear/News/6656579.xml?src=Nuclearrssheadlines1
When holiday cheer short circuits – For Snohomish County PUD and other purveyors of electricity, this is the most wonderful time of the year. Why? Well, it’s all those bajillions of colorful lights dotting trees, homes and decorations, of course. (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071217/BLOG08/349292123
Minnesota – Xcel Energy outlines plans for more efficiency, green power
http://news.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?a=319576&z=7
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Seattle Times Outdoors Notebook – Chinook forecast looks promising
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2004075984_outn16.html?syndication=rss
Seattle Post Intelligencer Editorial – Salmon: Faster learners. Things aren't going swimmingly for salmon anywhere around us. Over thousands of years, salmon have adapted to the Northwest's environment. We must be faster learners.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/343624_salmoned.html?source=rss
Idaho Statesman Opinion –Redden won't let the salmon debate end easily. Salmon are not just falling victim to dams, natural predators, fishing and uncertain ocean conditions. Their most stubborn enemy may be a have-it-all mindset. (On both sides buddy….)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/editorial/story/239833.html
Oceans failing acid test – Seven hundred miles west of Seattle at Ocean Station Papa, a first-of-its-kind buoy is monitoring a looming environmental catastrophe in the Pacific. (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/231693.html
More Nisqually delta turning back into estuary – Five south Puget Sound watershed groups have pooled their state salmon recovery money to spend $2.4 million to help remove some dikes at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. (The Olympian, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1109280~More_Nisqually_delta_turning_back_into_estuary.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Subjects merge in study of salmon – Komachin program combines science, art and language (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/302083.html
Aquatic Pest Has Cost a Billion Bucks – For a critter scarcely the size of a fingernail, the zebra mussel is capable of a major amount of mischief. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2007/12/12162007_Aquatic-Pest-Has-Cost-a-Billion-Bucks.cfm
Los Angeles – Reservoirs Closed After Carcinogen Is Found. A rare sunlight and chlorine reaction tainted the water of two reservoirs that supply drinking water to Los Angeles with a cancer-causing chemical, utility officials said Friday. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/16/us/16reservoirs.html?ex=1355461200&en=da5273ec0ee99ab3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
As nation turns to biodiesel, Seattle to benefit – 2 startups await passage of bills (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/343662_biofarm15.html
British Columbia looks to tree debris for electricity – Beetle-killed forests, other wood waste seen as potential fuel source for power generation (Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20071217.RWASTE17/TPStory/Business
Iceland's Hydrogen Revolution Stalled –Hydrogen-powered vehicles play a critical role in Iceland's plan to free itself of fossil fuels by 2050. The hydrogen revolution is getting off to a rock start. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17253071&ft=1&f=17
CONSERVATION
Money-saving technology has Olympia's eyes aglow – Energy efficiency behind blue LED display downtown (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/300389.html
It's lights out for traditional light bulbs (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/environment/2007-12-16-light-bulbs_N.htm
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Warming too much for walruses – Thousands dead on crowded shoreline (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/300400.html
Washington Post Editorial – Waiting on the EPA. It's time the agency allowed California's tougher tailpipe emissions standards to take effect.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/14/AR2007121401711.html?nav=rss_opinions
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Google Gets Ready to Rumble With Microsoft (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/16/technology/16goog.html?ex=1355461200&en=51443a66d6584dc2&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
FTC Chairman Denies Conflict in Google Case – Deborah Platt Majoras said yesterday that she will not recuse herself from reviewing the proposed merger of Google and DoubleClick. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/14/AR2007121401735.html?nav=rss_technology
Louisiana – Winning LUS bids set to be revealed. 2 contractors to run fiber-optic lines (WBRZ News)
http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/acadiana/12497436.html
Philadelphia as a Wi-Fi Case Study – New report reviews the history of the developing system (Broadband Reports Note: comment section may contain PG-13 language)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Philadelphia-as-a-WiFi-Case-Study-90254
The 15 Biggest Tech Disappointments of 2007 – These much-ballyhooed products, sites, and services, it turned out, left much to be desired. (ABC News)
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Technology/PCWorld/story?id=4009365
GENERAL NEWS
MASON COUNTY NOW ON THE LIST: FEDERAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE APPROVED FOR INDIVIDUALS & BUSINESSES – Mason County has been included in the Presidential Disaster Declaration for assistance to individuals and businesses impacted by the December 2-4 severe weather and landslides. Individuals impacted by this disaster must registers with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by either calling the toll free number 1-800-621-FEMA, that's 800-621-3362, or by applying online at www.fema.gov. A link to that site can be found on Mason-County-Daily-News-dot-com. Mason County Division of Emergency Management will also be coordinating with the State Emergency Management Division and FEMA to set up a Disaster Recovery Center in Mason County later this week for those individuals that may need additional assistance in applying for this disaster aid. Also, the Governor has announced that the disaster food stamp program will be implemented in counties impacted by the storm on Monday. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Oops! Lewis County mudslide photo spurs look at logging practices (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004076111_weycologging16m.html
Which storm was worse? Was the hurricane-force storm that battered coastal Washington Dec. 2-3 as bad or worse than the legendary Columbus Day storm of 1962? (Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/12/16/local_news/01news.txt
State lawmakers to consider urban tree protection – Trees could be on the agenda for next month's legislative session. Environmental groups are pushing legislation called "Evergreen Cities," which could require cities and counties to develop plans for protecting trees. (Kitsap Sun, via the Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1109318~State_lawmakers_to_consider_urban_tree_protection.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
DIVERSIONS
Former No. 1 Girls' Name Drops Out – Sophia Top Name List for First Time
http://www.kirotv.com/family/14855024/detail.html
India – Monkey crackdown no funny business for city
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/12/14/india.monkeys/index.html?eref=ib_topstories
Bamboo PC is eco-friendly and looks nice too
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN1041987920071213?feedType=nl&feedName=ustechnology
Judge: First Amendment Protects Woman Who Cursed In Frustration
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14855976/detail.html
Dan Fogelberg, Lyric “Rocker”, Dies at 56 (punctuation added)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/17/arts/music/17fogelberg.html?ex=1355547600&en=73c240c1672222b3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Vanity Searches –About half of the online adult population has looked up themselves or someone else online, according to a survey released Sunday.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/17/BUKETSUFG.DTL&feed=rss.business
Bill Could Halt New York Carriage Horses – one city council member from Queens is trying to send the horses the way of the once-ubiquitous squeegee men, forever banished from the city's thoroughfares.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/16/AR2007121602021.html?nav=rss_nation
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- More windy weather headed to the Harbors
- Senate OKs Close Watch on Energy Markets
- Broad coalition calls electricity rates 'unjust and unreasonable'
- Montana – Power forward. Flathead Electric having one of its best years ever
- Montana – PPL to end Montana tax protest
- Texas Going Nuclear With Greenpeace Founder's Backing
- Next generation nuke could cost up to $4.3 billion
- When holiday cheer short circuits
- Seattle Times Outdoors Notebook – Chinook forecast looks promising
- Seattle Post Intelligencer Editorial – Salmon: Faster learners
- Idaho Statesman Opinion –Redden won't let the salmon debate end easily
- Oceans failing acid test –Looming environmental catastrophe in the Pacific
- More Nisqually delta turning back into estuary
- Aquatic Pest Has Cost a Billion Bucks
- Los Angeles – Reservoirs Closed After Carcinogen Is Found
- British Columbia looks to tree debris for electricity
- Iceland's Hydrogen Revolution Stalled
- Money-saving technology has Olympia's eyes aglow
- It's lights out for traditional light bulbs
- Warming too much for walruses
- Washington Post Editorial – Waiting on the EPA.
- Google Gets Ready to Rumble with Microsoft
- Louisiana – Winning LUS bids set to be revealed.
- Mason County Now On the List: Federal Disaster Assistance Approved For Individuals & Businesses
- Lewis County mudslide photo spurs look at logging practices
- State lawmakers to consider urban tree protection
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Craven • \KRAY-vun\ • adjective – Lacking the least bit of courage: contemptibly fainthearted
Flavius stood undefeated in the arena; his blood-stained sword glinting in the sharp, angled glow of the setting, golden sun. No craven bone in his body had he…except for his uncharacteristic fear of chickens. Whether by suspicion or a childhood incident involving the family rooster, he would quake in fear at the mere mention of any poultry dish or the appearance of a feathered opponent.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
More windy weather headed to the Harbors (The Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/12/15/local_news/04news.txt
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Senate OKs Close Watch on Energy Markets – The Senate voted Thursday to give federal regulators increased authority to monitor electronic energy markets and protect against market manipulation. (Associated Press, via the San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2007/12/13/national/w185050S25.DTL&type=politics
Broad coalition calls electricity rates 'unjust and unreasonable' (NY Times – Golly, guess which market is exempt from FERC regulation?)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/17/business/17electricity.html?ex=1355547600&en=13a60b6ae9ac201d&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Montana – Power forward. Flathead Electric having one of its best years ever. Flathead Electric Cooperative’s rates are dropping for the second year in a row this January, for an overall $3 million rate reduction. (Daily Inter Lake, Kalispell)
http://www.dailyinterlake.com/articles/2007/12/16/business/bus01.txt
Montana – PPL to end Montana tax protest; wants more stability in taxes (Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1105339~PPL_to_end_Montana_tax_protest__wants_more_stability_in_taxes.html?cid=rss-Montana_Headlines
Laos pins hopes on huge dam, but environmentalists predict disaster (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/17/MNE4TMAV9.DTL&feed=rss.news
Texas Going Nuclear With Greenpeace Founder's Backing (Bloomberg News Service)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601103&sid=a980jwliyVpA&refer=us
Next generation nuke could cost up to $4.3 bil to build: US DOE (Platt’s Energy News)
http://www.platts.com/Nuclear/News/6656579.xml?src=Nuclearrssheadlines1
When holiday cheer short circuits – For Snohomish County PUD and other purveyors of electricity, this is the most wonderful time of the year. Why? Well, it’s all those bajillions of colorful lights dotting trees, homes and decorations, of course. (Everett Herald)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071217/BLOG08/349292123
Minnesota – Xcel Energy outlines plans for more efficiency, green power
http://news.postbulletin.com/newsmanager/templates/localnews_story.asp?a=319576&z=7
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Seattle Times Outdoors Notebook – Chinook forecast looks promising
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2004075984_outn16.html?syndication=rss
Seattle Post Intelligencer Editorial – Salmon: Faster learners. Things aren't going swimmingly for salmon anywhere around us. Over thousands of years, salmon have adapted to the Northwest's environment. We must be faster learners.
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/343624_salmoned.html?source=rss
Idaho Statesman Opinion –Redden won't let the salmon debate end easily. Salmon are not just falling victim to dams, natural predators, fishing and uncertain ocean conditions. Their most stubborn enemy may be a have-it-all mindset. (On both sides buddy….)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/editorial/story/239833.html
Oceans failing acid test – Seven hundred miles west of Seattle at Ocean Station Papa, a first-of-its-kind buoy is monitoring a looming environmental catastrophe in the Pacific. (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/231693.html
More Nisqually delta turning back into estuary – Five south Puget Sound watershed groups have pooled their state salmon recovery money to spend $2.4 million to help remove some dikes at the Nisqually National Wildlife Refuge. (The Olympian, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1109280~More_Nisqually_delta_turning_back_into_estuary.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
Subjects merge in study of salmon – Komachin program combines science, art and language (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/302083.html
Aquatic Pest Has Cost a Billion Bucks – For a critter scarcely the size of a fingernail, the zebra mussel is capable of a major amount of mischief. (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2007/12/12162007_Aquatic-Pest-Has-Cost-a-Billion-Bucks.cfm
Los Angeles – Reservoirs Closed After Carcinogen Is Found. A rare sunlight and chlorine reaction tainted the water of two reservoirs that supply drinking water to Los Angeles with a cancer-causing chemical, utility officials said Friday. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/16/us/16reservoirs.html?ex=1355461200&en=da5273ec0ee99ab3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
As nation turns to biodiesel, Seattle to benefit – 2 startups await passage of bills (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/343662_biofarm15.html
British Columbia looks to tree debris for electricity – Beetle-killed forests, other wood waste seen as potential fuel source for power generation (Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20071217.RWASTE17/TPStory/Business
Iceland's Hydrogen Revolution Stalled –Hydrogen-powered vehicles play a critical role in Iceland's plan to free itself of fossil fuels by 2050. The hydrogen revolution is getting off to a rock start. (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17253071&ft=1&f=17
CONSERVATION
Money-saving technology has Olympia's eyes aglow – Energy efficiency behind blue LED display downtown (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/300389.html
It's lights out for traditional light bulbs (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/environment/2007-12-16-light-bulbs_N.htm
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Warming too much for walruses – Thousands dead on crowded shoreline (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/300400.html
Washington Post Editorial – Waiting on the EPA. It's time the agency allowed California's tougher tailpipe emissions standards to take effect.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/14/AR2007121401711.html?nav=rss_opinions
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Google Gets Ready to Rumble With Microsoft (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/16/technology/16goog.html?ex=1355461200&en=51443a66d6584dc2&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
FTC Chairman Denies Conflict in Google Case – Deborah Platt Majoras said yesterday that she will not recuse herself from reviewing the proposed merger of Google and DoubleClick. (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/14/AR2007121401735.html?nav=rss_technology
Louisiana – Winning LUS bids set to be revealed. 2 contractors to run fiber-optic lines (WBRZ News)
http://www.2theadvocate.com/news/acadiana/12497436.html
Philadelphia as a Wi-Fi Case Study – New report reviews the history of the developing system (Broadband Reports Note: comment section may contain PG-13 language)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Philadelphia-as-a-WiFi-Case-Study-90254
The 15 Biggest Tech Disappointments of 2007 – These much-ballyhooed products, sites, and services, it turned out, left much to be desired. (ABC News)
http://www.abcnews.go.com/Technology/PCWorld/story?id=4009365
GENERAL NEWS
MASON COUNTY NOW ON THE LIST: FEDERAL DISASTER ASSISTANCE APPROVED FOR INDIVIDUALS & BUSINESSES – Mason County has been included in the Presidential Disaster Declaration for assistance to individuals and businesses impacted by the December 2-4 severe weather and landslides. Individuals impacted by this disaster must registers with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) by either calling the toll free number 1-800-621-FEMA, that's 800-621-3362, or by applying online at www.fema.gov. A link to that site can be found on Mason-County-Daily-News-dot-com. Mason County Division of Emergency Management will also be coordinating with the State Emergency Management Division and FEMA to set up a Disaster Recovery Center in Mason County later this week for those individuals that may need additional assistance in applying for this disaster aid. Also, the Governor has announced that the disaster food stamp program will be implemented in counties impacted by the storm on Monday. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Oops! Lewis County mudslide photo spurs look at logging practices (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004076111_weycologging16m.html
Which storm was worse? Was the hurricane-force storm that battered coastal Washington Dec. 2-3 as bad or worse than the legendary Columbus Day storm of 1962? (Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/12/16/local_news/01news.txt
State lawmakers to consider urban tree protection – Trees could be on the agenda for next month's legislative session. Environmental groups are pushing legislation called "Evergreen Cities," which could require cities and counties to develop plans for protecting trees. (Kitsap Sun, via the Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1109318~State_lawmakers_to_consider_urban_tree_protection.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
DIVERSIONS
Former No. 1 Girls' Name Drops Out – Sophia Top Name List for First Time
http://www.kirotv.com/family/14855024/detail.html
India – Monkey crackdown no funny business for city
http://www.cnn.com/2007/WORLD/asiapcf/12/14/india.monkeys/index.html?eref=ib_topstories
Bamboo PC is eco-friendly and looks nice too
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSN1041987920071213?feedType=nl&feedName=ustechnology
Judge: First Amendment Protects Woman Who Cursed In Frustration
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/14855976/detail.html
Dan Fogelberg, Lyric “Rocker”, Dies at 56 (punctuation added)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/17/arts/music/17fogelberg.html?ex=1355547600&en=73c240c1672222b3&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Vanity Searches –About half of the online adult population has looked up themselves or someone else online, according to a survey released Sunday.
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2007/12/17/BUKETSUFG.DTL&feed=rss.business
Bill Could Halt New York Carriage Horses – one city council member from Queens is trying to send the horses the way of the once-ubiquitous squeegee men, forever banished from the city's thoroughfares.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/16/AR2007121602021.html?nav=rss_nation
Friday, December 14, 2007
Energy News Digest for December 14, 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.
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Windstorm prompts PSE changes
- Industry Flexes Muscle, Weaker Energy Bill Passes
- Coal Ash Is More Radioactive than Nuclear Waste
- TVA net income up
- Lice in Fish Farms Endanger Wild Salmon, Study Says
- Kitsap, Hood Canal Salmon-Project Funding Greatly Expanded
- California landslide wiped out native trout speciesState plan gives Central Washington cities water for future growth
- Western States to Share Colorado River Water
- Colorado – Wind power bills rising. It costs more to be green
- New York – Gear problems shut down windmills in Lackawanna
- Red light – Green Light – LED Technology In Richland Has Cost Effective Results
- Seattle No. 8 on 'greenest city' list
- Seattle Times Commentary – Thermal politics heat up
- Bloomberg: Carbon Tax Better Than Trades
- Server Electricity Use Soars in Asia Pacific Region
- Celebrating 60 years of transistors
- Mason County Public Health Has Free Immunizations For Clean Up Workers
- Steel Electrics gone, state will run a 'temp' car ferry out of Port Townsend
- State's paid family leave program closer to reality
- Greenspan: Recession Odds 'Clearly Rising'
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Folderol • \FAHL-duh-rahl\ • noun – 1: a useless ornament or accessory: trifle *2: nonsense
“What’s all this folderol?” thundered the red-faced schoolmaster to his unruly classroom. After nipping out of the classroom for a five minute comfort stop, the teacher returned to find that his class had created a pyramid of desks in the center of the room. “It were aliens that did it,” piped the young master Erich von Däniken.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Windstorm prompts PSE changes – A year after the Hanukkah Eve Wind Storm knocked out electricity to more than 1 million customers statewide — some for more than 10 days — officials at the state's largest energy utility concede they need to do a better job letting people know how long they'll be in the dark. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004071348_pse14m.html?syndication=rss
Industry Flexes Muscle, Weaker Energy Bill Passes – Pared-down energy legislation cleared the Senate on Thursday by a wide margin – Renewable standard is out. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/14/washington/14energy.html?ex=1355288400&en=c9b83f8710a73a9b&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Coal Ash Is More Radioactive than Nuclear Waste – By burning away all the pesky carbon and other impurities, coal power plants produce heaps of radiation (Scientific American)
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=coal-ash-is-more-radioactive-than-nuclear-waste
Oregon – Group protests plans for three LNG terminals across Oregon. Protesters thronged the Portland headquarters of Northwest Natural Gas Co. Wednesday to protest three proposed liquefied natural gas terminals near the coast and related pipelines that would snake across hundreds of miles of Oregon countryside. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1197512914160640.xml&coll=7
News Release – Calpine Announces Final Results of Plan of Reorganization Voting; 91% of Ballots Cast Vote to Accept Plan (Calpine Corporation)
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/12-12-2007/0004722017&EDATE=
TVA net income up (Memphis Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/stories/2007/12/10/daily21.html?ana=from_rss
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Canada – Fish farms will make local wild salmon extinct in a decade: study (CBC News)
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/12/13/tech-salmonfarm-lice.html
Lice in Fish Farms Endanger Wild Salmon, Study Says – Parasites that breed in fish farms kill so many passing juvenile wild salmon that they threaten the survival of fish populations in some rivers and streams, Canadian researchers are reporting. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/14/science/earth/14salmon.html?ex=1355288400&en=da47570e7562730e&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Kitsap, Hood Canal Salmon-Project Funding Greatly Expanded (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2007/dec/13/salmon-funding-greatly-expanded/
California landslide wiped out native trout species, scientists say – A mudslide in fire-damaged Orange County wiped out one of the last remaining populations of native rainbow trout in Southern California. (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_7721235?nclick_check=1
The Olympian Op/Ed – River flows must be restored to protect fish habitat
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/299448.html
State plan gives cities water for future growth – The cities of Cashmere and Leavenworth will have the water they need to grow for at least the next 25 years under a plan approved this week by the state. (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071213/NEWS04/712130001/1001
Western States to Share Colorado River Water (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17210282&ft=1&f=3
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Colorado – Wind power bills rising. It costs more to be green; regular Xcel customers will pay less as natural gas prices drop (Rocky Mountain News)
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/dec/13/wind-power-bills-rising/
New York – Gear problems shut down windmills in Lackawanna. Complicated repairs of turbines expected to take several months (Buffalo News)
http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/227898.html?imw=Y
News Release – 3TIER introduces Firstlook Solar Assessment. Web-based tool to accelerate development of solar energy sites (Renewable Energy Access)
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/partner/story;jsessionid=C70A78FCAB77EB2628C2D46D6F001E60?id=50828&src=rss
CONSERVATION
Pennsylvania – Energy analysis will help Adams County – With the state set to deregulate electricity in fewer than three years, Adams County wants to prepare. (The Evening Sun, Hanover)
http://www.eveningsun.com/localnews/ci_7721911
Red light – Green Light – LED Technology In Richland Has Cost Effective Results (KNDO-TV, Tri Cities)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=7495341
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Seattle No. 8 on 'greenest city' list (Puget Sound Business Journal – with about 95% of its electricity coming from hydro, I would hope to shout)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2007/12/10/daily21.html?ana=from_rss
Seattle Times Commentary – Thermal politics heat up – Ask Washington Rep. Jay Inslee about the blazing velocity of events surrounding global warming and clean energy. He has two fast answers: really bad news and really good news.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2004069767_lance14.html?syndication=rss
Bloomberg: Carbon Tax Better Than Trades (Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/5376441.html
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Server Electricity Use Soars in Asia Pacific Region – Server electricity use is growing faster in the Asia Pacific region (minus Japan) than anywhere on the planet, and total worldwide server electricity use doubled the first half of this decade (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/idg/IDG_002570DE00740E18002573B0000152E7.html?ex=1355202000&en=4aab816096d1b0e6&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Maine – Verizon decision postponed. A wrench was thrown into the Maine Public Utility Commission’s plans to deliberate and perhaps come to a decision on the proposed Verizon-FairPoint land line acquisition Thursday. (Bangor Daily News)
http://bangornews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=157752&zoneid=12
United Kingdom – £1m Ocean's Eleven-style heist. Robbers disguised as police stole up to £1million worth of computer equipment from a data centre with "state-of the art" security in a daring Ocean's Eleven-style robbery. (Evening Standard)
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23426764-details/%C2%A31m+Ocean%27s+Eleven-style+heist/article.do
FCC Chief Rejects Call to Delay Vote – Senators Accuse Martin of Forcing Cross-Ownership Rule (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/13/AR2007121301876.html?nav=rss_business
Celebrating 60 years of transistors (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/Celebrating-60-years-of-transistors/2100-1006-6222770.html?part=dht&tag=nl.e703
GENERAL NEWS
MASON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH HAS FREE IMMUNIZATIONS FOR CLEAN UP WORKERS – Mason County Public Health will be providing free Hepatitis A (first dose) and Tetanus immunizations for Mason County residents that have been working in floodwaters, mud, and debris, and may have contaminated drinking water. Public Health will be at the Theler Community Center in Belfair on Saturday from 11am to 1pm. There is a limited supply of state provided immunizations so the shots will be provided on a first come first serve basis. (KMAS Radio, Shelton – Love in the time of Cholera)
Local Governments Face Complex Situation – Economic Fallout: Early Estimates Say $111 Million in Damage Befell Lewis County “…City of Chehalis officials said building permits they issue within the floodplain will be considered more closely, but growth and a “business friendly” atmosphere will take priority. ‘we’re not going to take the position of not having development in the city’” (The Chronicle)
http://www.chronline.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1197573722&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&
Storm blowdown of trees immense – Some tore out by the roots while others snapped like matchsticks. (Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/12/13/local_news/01news.txt
Steel Electrics gone, state will run a 'temp' car ferry out of Port Townsend (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20071214/NEWS/712140305
State's paid family leave program closer to reality (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/343513_leave14.html?source=rss
Greenspan: Recession Odds 'Clearly Rising' (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17210282&ft=1&f=3
DIVERSIONS
Mysterious gold coin dropped in Salvation Army kettle
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071214/NEWS01/712140076&news01ad=1
See Mars Now: Red Planet Shines Bright
http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20071214/sc_space/seemarsnowredplanetshinesbright
Queen win karaoke crown – Rock classic Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen has been named the number one karaoke song of all time, after a new poll.
http://www.inthenews.co.uk/entertainment/music/queen-win-karaoke-crown-$1179087.htm
Lonely Canadian Shocked to Get $85,000 Phone Bill
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/technology/tech-phonebill.html?ex=1355288400&en=bc8e3abc735f48e4&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Oh, so it was for spite – Merry Christmas – McDermott: Christmas vote was jab at bill's GOP sponsor. Iowa's Steve King blocked children's insurance increase
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/343463_mcdermott14.html?source=rss
Eel-lectric lights for Japanese Christmas tree – Not even a blackout could put a damper on festivities at one Japanese aquarium where an electric eel is being used to light up its Christmas tree.
http://www.news.com/Eel-lectric-lights-for-Japanese-Christmas-tree/2100-11395_3-6222643.html?tag=fd_nbs_ent&tag=nl.e703
Under The Needle: Candy Cane Lane's conscientious objector abstains from decorating home
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/343519_needle14.html
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Windstorm prompts PSE changes
- Industry Flexes Muscle, Weaker Energy Bill Passes
- Coal Ash Is More Radioactive than Nuclear Waste
- TVA net income up
- Lice in Fish Farms Endanger Wild Salmon, Study Says
- Kitsap, Hood Canal Salmon-Project Funding Greatly Expanded
- California landslide wiped out native trout speciesState plan gives Central Washington cities water for future growth
- Western States to Share Colorado River Water
- Colorado – Wind power bills rising. It costs more to be green
- New York – Gear problems shut down windmills in Lackawanna
- Red light – Green Light – LED Technology In Richland Has Cost Effective Results
- Seattle No. 8 on 'greenest city' list
- Seattle Times Commentary – Thermal politics heat up
- Bloomberg: Carbon Tax Better Than Trades
- Server Electricity Use Soars in Asia Pacific Region
- Celebrating 60 years of transistors
- Mason County Public Health Has Free Immunizations For Clean Up Workers
- Steel Electrics gone, state will run a 'temp' car ferry out of Port Townsend
- State's paid family leave program closer to reality
- Greenspan: Recession Odds 'Clearly Rising'
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Folderol • \FAHL-duh-rahl\ • noun – 1: a useless ornament or accessory: trifle *2: nonsense
“What’s all this folderol?” thundered the red-faced schoolmaster to his unruly classroom. After nipping out of the classroom for a five minute comfort stop, the teacher returned to find that his class had created a pyramid of desks in the center of the room. “It were aliens that did it,” piped the young master Erich von Däniken.
WEATHER
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Windstorm prompts PSE changes – A year after the Hanukkah Eve Wind Storm knocked out electricity to more than 1 million customers statewide — some for more than 10 days — officials at the state's largest energy utility concede they need to do a better job letting people know how long they'll be in the dark. (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2004071348_pse14m.html?syndication=rss
Industry Flexes Muscle, Weaker Energy Bill Passes – Pared-down energy legislation cleared the Senate on Thursday by a wide margin – Renewable standard is out. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/14/washington/14energy.html?ex=1355288400&en=c9b83f8710a73a9b&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Coal Ash Is More Radioactive than Nuclear Waste – By burning away all the pesky carbon and other impurities, coal power plants produce heaps of radiation (Scientific American)
http://www.sciam.com/article.cfm?id=coal-ash-is-more-radioactive-than-nuclear-waste
Oregon – Group protests plans for three LNG terminals across Oregon. Protesters thronged the Portland headquarters of Northwest Natural Gas Co. Wednesday to protest three proposed liquefied natural gas terminals near the coast and related pipelines that would snake across hundreds of miles of Oregon countryside. (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1197512914160640.xml&coll=7
News Release – Calpine Announces Final Results of Plan of Reorganization Voting; 91% of Ballots Cast Vote to Accept Plan (Calpine Corporation)
http://www.prnewswire.com/cgi-bin/stories.pl?ACCT=109&STORY=/www/story/12-12-2007/0004722017&EDATE=
TVA net income up (Memphis Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/stories/2007/12/10/daily21.html?ana=from_rss
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Canada – Fish farms will make local wild salmon extinct in a decade: study (CBC News)
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2007/12/13/tech-salmonfarm-lice.html
Lice in Fish Farms Endanger Wild Salmon, Study Says – Parasites that breed in fish farms kill so many passing juvenile wild salmon that they threaten the survival of fish populations in some rivers and streams, Canadian researchers are reporting. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/12/14/science/earth/14salmon.html?ex=1355288400&en=da47570e7562730e&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Kitsap, Hood Canal Salmon-Project Funding Greatly Expanded (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2007/dec/13/salmon-funding-greatly-expanded/
California landslide wiped out native trout species, scientists say – A mudslide in fire-damaged Orange County wiped out one of the last remaining populations of native rainbow trout in Southern California. (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_7721235?nclick_check=1
The Olympian Op/Ed – River flows must be restored to protect fish habitat
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/299448.html
State plan gives cities water for future growth – The cities of Cashmere and Leavenworth will have the water they need to grow for at least the next 25 years under a plan approved this week by the state. (Wenatchee World)
http://www.wenworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071213/NEWS04/712130001/1001
Western States to Share Colorado River Water (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17210282&ft=1&f=3
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Colorado – Wind power bills rising. It costs more to be green; regular Xcel customers will pay less as natural gas prices drop (Rocky Mountain News)
http://www.rockymountainnews.com/news/2007/dec/13/wind-power-bills-rising/
New York – Gear problems shut down windmills in Lackawanna. Complicated repairs of turbines expected to take several months (Buffalo News)
http://www.buffalonews.com/cityregion/story/227898.html?imw=Y
News Release – 3TIER introduces Firstlook Solar Assessment. Web-based tool to accelerate development of solar energy sites (Renewable Energy Access)
http://www.renewableenergyaccess.com/rea/partner/story;jsessionid=C70A78FCAB77EB2628C2D46D6F001E60?id=50828&src=rss
CONSERVATION
Pennsylvania – Energy analysis will help Adams County – With the state set to deregulate electricity in fewer than three years, Adams County wants to prepare. (The Evening Sun, Hanover)
http://www.eveningsun.com/localnews/ci_7721911
Red light – Green Light – LED Technology In Richland Has Cost Effective Results (KNDO-TV, Tri Cities)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=7495341
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Seattle No. 8 on 'greenest city' list (Puget Sound Business Journal – with about 95% of its electricity coming from hydro, I would hope to shout)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2007/12/10/daily21.html?ana=from_rss
Seattle Times Commentary – Thermal politics heat up – Ask Washington Rep. Jay Inslee about the blazing velocity of events surrounding global warming and clean energy. He has two fast answers: really bad news and really good news.
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/opinion/2004069767_lance14.html?syndication=rss
Bloomberg: Carbon Tax Better Than Trades (Houston Chronicle)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/fn/5376441.html
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Server Electricity Use Soars in Asia Pacific Region – Server electricity use is growing faster in the Asia Pacific region (minus Japan) than anywhere on the planet, and total worldwide server electricity use doubled the first half of this decade (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/idg/IDG_002570DE00740E18002573B0000152E7.html?ex=1355202000&en=4aab816096d1b0e6&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Maine – Verizon decision postponed. A wrench was thrown into the Maine Public Utility Commission’s plans to deliberate and perhaps come to a decision on the proposed Verizon-FairPoint land line acquisition Thursday. (Bangor Daily News)
http://bangornews.com/news/t/news.aspx?articleid=157752&zoneid=12
United Kingdom – £1m Ocean's Eleven-style heist. Robbers disguised as police stole up to £1million worth of computer equipment from a data centre with "state-of the art" security in a daring Ocean's Eleven-style robbery. (Evening Standard)
http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/standard/article-23426764-details/%C2%A31m+Ocean%27s+Eleven-style+heist/article.do
FCC Chief Rejects Call to Delay Vote – Senators Accuse Martin of Forcing Cross-Ownership Rule (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/12/13/AR2007121301876.html?nav=rss_business
Celebrating 60 years of transistors (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/Celebrating-60-years-of-transistors/2100-1006-6222770.html?part=dht&tag=nl.e703
GENERAL NEWS
MASON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH HAS FREE IMMUNIZATIONS FOR CLEAN UP WORKERS – Mason County Public Health will be providing free Hepatitis A (first dose) and Tetanus immunizations for Mason County residents that have been working in floodwaters, mud, and debris, and may have contaminated drinking water. Public Health will be at the Theler Community Center in Belfair on Saturday from 11am to 1pm. There is a limited supply of state provided immunizations so the shots will be provided on a first come first serve basis. (KMAS Radio, Shelton – Love in the time of Cholera)
Local Governments Face Complex Situation – Economic Fallout: Early Estimates Say $111 Million in Damage Befell Lewis County “…City of Chehalis officials said building permits they issue within the floodplain will be considered more closely, but growth and a “business friendly” atmosphere will take priority. ‘we’re not going to take the position of not having development in the city’” (The Chronicle)
http://www.chronline.com/story.php?subaction=showfull&id=1197573722&archive=&start_from=&ucat=1&
Storm blowdown of trees immense – Some tore out by the roots while others snapped like matchsticks. (Daily World, Aberdeen)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2007/12/13/local_news/01news.txt
Steel Electrics gone, state will run a 'temp' car ferry out of Port Townsend (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20071214/NEWS/712140305
State's paid family leave program closer to reality (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/343513_leave14.html?source=rss
Greenspan: Recession Odds 'Clearly Rising' (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=17210282&ft=1&f=3
DIVERSIONS
Mysterious gold coin dropped in Salvation Army kettle
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20071214/NEWS01/712140076&news01ad=1
See Mars Now: Red Planet Shines Bright
http://news.yahoo.com/s/space/20071214/sc_space/seemarsnowredplanetshinesbright
Queen win karaoke crown – Rock classic Bohemian Rhapsody by Queen has been named the number one karaoke song of all time, after a new poll.
http://www.inthenews.co.uk/entertainment/music/queen-win-karaoke-crown-$1179087.htm
Lonely Canadian Shocked to Get $85,000 Phone Bill
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/technology/tech-phonebill.html?ex=1355288400&en=bc8e3abc735f48e4&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Oh, so it was for spite – Merry Christmas – McDermott: Christmas vote was jab at bill's GOP sponsor. Iowa's Steve King blocked children's insurance increase
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/343463_mcdermott14.html?source=rss
Eel-lectric lights for Japanese Christmas tree – Not even a blackout could put a damper on festivities at one Japanese aquarium where an electric eel is being used to light up its Christmas tree.
http://www.news.com/Eel-lectric-lights-for-Japanese-Christmas-tree/2100-11395_3-6222643.html?tag=fd_nbs_ent&tag=nl.e703
Under The Needle: Candy Cane Lane's conscientious objector abstains from decorating home
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/343519_needle14.html
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