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)
- Federal regulator clears Puget Energy sale
- NorthWestern Energy – Power company says carbon tax muddies plans
- NHA Recognizes Five Hydropower Projects for Extraordinary Achievement – Chelan PUD & Seattle City Light among honorees
- DOE Announces Membership of New Electricity Advisory Committee – Ed. Note: Vicky Van Zandt from BPA is on the board
- New Jersey's energy future may include new nuclear plant
- Abundant clean energy in your backyard –new natural gas discoveries in the United States
- How many gallons of water do you need to power a light bulb?
- Oregon, Washington allowed to kill salmon-eating sea lions
- PacifiCorp to limit turbines to help endangered Klamath fish
- Oregon Counties Considering New Dam In Coast Range
- Group names Oregon's Rogue River to threatened rivers list
- Tribe asks to halt new Mason County wells
- Montana – Tribes' water claims wind through process
- Southern California water wholesaler sued over drought allocation plan
- A Communal Drug Test via the Sewer
- The Eugene Water & Electric Board stakes ownership claim White Creek in wind farm
- Why British Columbia is failing to exploit its full potential of generating clean electricity
- Wisconsin Public Service Corporation may buy hydroelectric power from Canada
- San Jose solar-panel maker SunPower profits up nearly 1,000 percent
- California – Marin County, Pacific Gas & Electric fight shapes up over green power
- Tri City Herald Op/Ed – Ethanol subsidies a double-whammy
- Australia – Oil man's profit bid in green energy
- PUD 3 Providing Compact Fluorescent Bulb Recycling
- Breaking the Efficiency Gridlock – The Smart Grid could fix a big obstacle to efficiency—us
- Oceans are absorbing less carbon dioxide
- Green With Envy – Seven things Portland should do if we’re serious about being green
- Devastation in the Legislature – Climate Change In Our Rivers And Oceans
- FCC wrangles over 'Net neutrality' issue
- Google Revenue Beats Expectation, Shares Surge
- AT&T Still Predicts 2010 Internet Demise
- If snow shows, it will set record – Inch forecast for Friday would be Seattle's latest ever
- Attorney General says no gas price gouging in Washington State
- Washington is a ‘fuel island,’ driving pump prices higher
- Meanwhile: NW drivers cutting back big time on gas consumption
- Flu season was worst in 4 years
- USDA Nails Wolf Haven Director With 35 violations of the Federal Animal Welfare Act
- Copper prices soar to record on Chile strike, then retreat
- A warning for those recycling electronics
- Venting Seattle Mayor Nickels suggests secession
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
semelparous • \seh-MEL-puh-rus\ • adjective – Reproducing or breeding only once in a lifetime
“OK folks, you have only one chance at this, so make it your best effort,” warbled the hatchery manager to her tiny charges as they swam out into the river on their long trip to the sea. “It’s the return trip I’m looking forward to,” she said of her semalparous “children”.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Federal regulator clears Puget Energy sale – The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission approved Thursday the proposed takeover of Puget Energy by a group of Australian and Canadian investors (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004355924_webpugetsound17.html?syndication=rss
NorthWestern Energy – Power company says carbon tax muddies plans – told regulators Wednesday that rising fuel costs and the potential for carbon taxes are making it difficult to map the utility's energy future. (Associated Press, via Forbes Magazine)
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2008/04/17/ap4902772.html
Chelan PUD receives award from the National Hydropower Association for security improvements (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080417/NEWS04/592549491/1025/rss1025
News Release – NHA Recognizes Five Hydropower Projects for Extraordinary Achievement – Chelan PUD & Seattle City Light among honorees (National Hydropower Association)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/story?id=52211
U.S. Department of Energy announces new “Texas-Heavy” Electricity Advisory Committee (Dallas Morning News)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/bus/stories/041808dnbuscommittee.72756825.html
Here’s the news release – DOE Announces Membership of New Electricity Advisory Committee – Ed. Note: Vicky Van Zandt from BPA is on the board (US Department of Energy)
http://www.energy.gov/news/6158.htm
New Jersey's energy future may include new nuclear plant (Asbury Park Press)
http://www.app.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080418/NEWS0301/804180371
Abundant clean energy in your backyard – New technologies and higher prices are leading to big new natural gas discoveries in the United States (CNN Money)
http://money.cnn.com/2008/04/17/news/economy/natural_gas/index.htm?section=money_latest
How many gallons of water do you need to power a light bulb? “…geothermal and hydroelectric energy use the least amount of water, while nuclear plants use the most…” (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9921125-54.html?tag=nl.e433
FISH & WILDLIFE
Oregon, Washington allowed to kill salmon-eating sea lions “…shooting the animals would harm Columbia River kayakers and others who have relationships with individual sea lions…” (Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/westcoastnews/story.html?id=9bdbfe1d-8b90-4a26-bbbd-478078cfab6d
PacifiCorp to limit turbines to help endangered Klamath fish (Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1346416~PacifiCorp_to_limit_turbines_to_help_endangered_Klamath_fish.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Oregon Counties Considering New Dam In Coast Range – Twenty years after a dam was removed from the Upper Siletz River, officials in Polk and Lincoln Counties are considering a new dam to help supply drinking water (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/counties-considering-new-dam-coast-range/
Group names Oregon's Rogue River to threatened rivers list (Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1346533~Group_names_Oregon_s_Rogue_River_to_threatened_rivers_list.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Tribe asks to halt new Mason County wells – Squaxins say water withdrawal could hurt Johns Creek (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/421730.html
Montana – Tribes' water claims wind through process – Federal funding remains most difficult issue in negotiations (Billings Gazette)
http://www.billingsgazette.net/articles/2008/04/17/news/state/48-waterclaims.txt
Southern California water wholesaler sued over drought allocation plan (Los Angeles Times, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1347883~SoCal_water_wholesaler_sued_over_drought_allocation_plan.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
A Communal Drug Test via the Sewer – In Oregon, a team of scientists is making an ambitious attempt to figure out which illegal drugs residents are using (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89723389&ft=1&f=17
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
The Eugene Water & Electric Board stakes ownership claim White Creek in wind farm – EWEB moved to broaden its energy portfolio Tuesday when commissioners agreed to buy part ownership in a proposed wind farm in Washington State. (Eugene Register Guard)
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=94113&sid=4&fid=2
Straight.com Commentary – Why British Columbia is failing to exploit its full potential of generating clean electricity
http://www.straight.com/article-140989/why-bcis-failing-exploit-its-full-potential-generating-clean-electricity
Wisconsin Public Service Corporation may buy hydroelectric power from Canada – includes 500-megawatt purchase of electric capacity, energy and renewable attributes “…carbon-neutral electric resource into our supply portfolio…” (The Business Journal of Milwaukee)
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/04/14/daily44.html?ana=from_rss
San Jose solar-panel maker SunPower profits up nearly 1,000 percent (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8958842?source=rss
California – Marin County, Pacific Gas & Electric fight shapes up over green power (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CjnqoqqmTTlit9K%22bfen%5Fv
Tri City Herald Op/Ed – Ethanol subsidies a double-whammy “…ethanol leads only to higher food prices and greater greenhouse gas emissions…”
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/987/story/159358.html
Australia – Oil man's profit bid in green energy – Legendary Texas oil man T. Boone Pickens has gone green with a plan to spend $10.7 billion to build the world's biggest wind farm -- but he expects to turn a buck. (The Australian)
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,23562609-5005200,00.html
CONSERVATION
PUD 3 PROVIDING COMPACT FLUORESCENT BULB RECYCLING – Mason County PUD No. 3 will be offering its customers a place to recycle compact fluorescent light bulbs. The use of these energy efficient bulbs has increased and PUD 3 officials say it is logical that customers be given a way to conveniently and safely recycle burned out bulbs. Compact fluorescent light bulbs contain a small amount of mercury - five milligrams - and need to be disposed of properly so the PUD has partnered with the City of Shelton and Mason County to recycle the bulbs with a certified recycling firm in Seattle. Customers can take their burned out compact fluorescent light bulbs to the PUD offices in Shelton or Belfair. Those bulbs will then be taken to the County's recycling station on Eells Hill Road. When bringing bulbs in for recycling, customers are asked to place them carefully in the correct slot as damaged or broken bulbs will not be accepted. Officials believe this recycling opportunity will be as popular and successful as the PUD's battery recycling. Compact fluorescent light bulbs can last up to 10,000 hours and use 70% less electricity than conventional incandescent bulbs that only last 1,000 hours. KMAS (Radio, Shelton)
Breaking the Efficiency Gridlock – The Smart Grid could fix a big obstacle to efficiency—us (Mother Jones Magazine)
http://www.motherjones.com/news/feature/2008/05/breaking-the-efficiency-gridlock.html
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Oceans are absorbing less carbon dioxide (The Vancouver Sun)
http://www.canada.com/vancouversun/news/story.html?id=c3df8849-d928-43b0-ad9e-0779a37b4609
Green With Envy – Seven things Portland should do if we’re serious about being green “…Portland had one contaminated site for every 34 people, making us the country’s third “most toxic” city…” OUCH! (Willamette Weekly)
http://wweek.com/editorial/3423/10806/
Devastation in the Legislature – Climate Change In Our Rivers And Oceans (Eugene Weekly)
http://www.eugeneweekly.com/2008/04/17/coverstory3.html
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
FCC wrangles over 'Net neutrality' issue (The Associated Press, via the Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004353381_apinternetregulation.html?syndication=rss
Google Revenue Beats Expectation, Shares Surge
http://news.yahoo.com/s/cmp/20080418/tc_cmp/207400425
AT&T Still Predicts 2010 Internet Demise – But don't worry, they're spending a lot of money to keep you safe (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/ATT-Still-Predicts-2010-Internet-Demise-93700
GENERAL NEWS
If snow shows, it will set record – Inch forecast for Friday would be Seattle's latest ever (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/359569_snow18.html
Attorney General says no gas price gouging in Washington State (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2008/04/14/daily28.html?ana=from_rss
Washington is a ‘fuel island,’ driving pump prices higher (News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/338510.html
Meanwhile: NW drivers cutting back big time on gas consumption (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_041708WAB_northwest_gas_consumption_study_TP.72a2abcc.html
Flu season was worst in 4 years (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/422828.html
USDA Nails Wolf Haven Director With 35 violations of the Federal Animal Welfare Act (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/15917448/detail.html?rss=sea&psp=news
Copper prices soar to record on Chile strike, then retreat (Associated Press, via the San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/04/16/financial/f112744D18.DTL&feed=rss.business
A warning for those recycling electronics – Concerns are raised about where junk taken to free events ends up (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/359577_computer18.html?source=rss
Venting Seattle Mayor Nickels suggests secession Ed. Note: watch, as I roll my eyes, “…We have rural legislators making decisions on things like the viaduct and whether we can keep our city safe…” (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2004357406_mayors18m.html?syndication=rss
DIVERSIONS
Oregon man who claimed dog was imposter reunited with right pooch
http://www.examiner.com/a-1346806~Man_who_claimed_dog_was_imposter_reunited_with_right_pooch.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Stanford law prof takes on 'Potter' – Think Lord Voldemort was scary? You should meet his lawyers.
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8965866?source=rss
Teensy thief crawls in mail flap
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL1870795220080418?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Get the right name and open doors for your child
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL1747226920080417?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Friday, April 18, 2008
Thursday, April 17, 2008
Energy News Digest for April 17, 2008
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)
- Puget Energy moves a step closer to buyout
- FERC News Release – Chairman Joseph T. Kelliher's statement on Puget Energy, Inc
- $2 million Bonneville Power Administration settlement will delay PenLight rate increase
- US Supreme Court Will Hear Suit On Water Withdrawals for Power Plant Cooling
- North Carolina – Critics blast Duke Energy's plan to pass on option cost
- Grays Harbor County Cranberry Growers: Lack of electricity bad for cranberries
- FERC opens inquiry into its method of assessing annual regulatory charges from public utilities
- Oregon Liquefied Natural Gas developer fights land-use referendum
- Judge OKs plans to capture, kill sea lions on Columbia River
- Endangered – Oregon's salmon-fishing industry seemed poised to recover--until now
- Oregon’s coastal fishing industry headed for rough water
- California Judge: Feds failed to study how delta pumping affects salmon
- Where are the salmon? Looking at long-term trends, the ocean, and climate change for clues
- Outdoors Report: Columbia providing surge of Chinook action
- Columbia spring Chinook fishery to end Sunday
- Idaho – Agency hopes for local Chinook salmon season
- State releases rundown of marine sport salmon fishing seasons for 2008-09
- Safeway restricts Chilean salmon over concerns about a virus that is killing millions of fish there
- Watershed Moment – The death of a Montana dam
- Puget Partnership Begins Assessing Threats to Sound
- Sportsmen form new group to address energy development
- Olympia-area cities secure brewery water but price becomes sticking point
- Puget Sound Energy expanding wind farm near Ellensburg
- San Francisco hearings delay solar panel grants
- New York – Solar Company Finds Con Ed Not As Green As Advertised
- California – PG&E makes waves; public forum slated for alternative energy
- Investor put up $2.6 million to tinker with tidal power in U.S.
- The Coming Baseload Power Crisis
- Missouri – New study advances method to make energy from farm waste
- Pacific Gas and Electric pays customers $25 to use SmartAC switch
- Oregon – Gresham-Barlow School District named Energy Star Partner of Year
- President Bush revises strategy on greenhouse gases
- Bush to Present U.S. Goals at Paris Climate Talks
- New data reveal online video views are soaring
- Comcast to skip latest FCC network management hearing
- Comcast’s Concession to Net Neutrality
- San Francisco Chronicle Op/Ed – Public must fight to maintain net neutrality
- 2 out of 5 Cities Take Wi-Fi Back from EarthLink
- Long Island LI Wi-Fi Re-ignites Wireless Network Debate
- CBS Scores on the Web With March Madness
- Much of Oregon, SW Washington to see snow this weekend
- Copper thieves take Highway 16 wiring again
- Clean Air Agency Holding Hearing On Permit For Shelton Wood Pellet Facility
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Demarche • \day-MARSH\ • noun – 1a: a course of action: maneuver b: a diplomatic or political initiative or maneuver *2: a petition or protest presented through diplomatic channels
Bonaparte was befuddled. He had ordered the troops on his west flank to begin their demarche at 2:00 sharp, yet an hour after the deadline nothing had happened. Upon inspection he was horrified to find that his soldiers had all shed their clothes for an afternoon of sunbathing. “Don’t worry man,” said one of the men in his most soothing tones. “Once the sun is gone, we’ll be back in action.” And hence, the legend of the “Beach Bum Battalion” was born.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Puget Energy moves a step closer to buyout (The Seattle Times – Why is this man smiling? I mean, REALLY smiling?)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004354547_pse17.html
FERC News Release – Chairman Joseph T. Kelliher's statement on Puget Energy, Inc. (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)
http://www.ferc.gov/news/statements-speeches/kelliher/2008/04-17-08-kelliher-E-12.asp
$2 million Bonneville Power Administration settlement will delay PenLight rate increase (The Peninsula Gateway)
http://www.gateline.com/104/story/1184.html
US Supreme Court Will Hear Suit On Water Withdrawals for Power Plant Cooling (Associated Press, via the Hartford Courant)
http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-ctapriver0415.artapr15,0,1634088.story?track=rss
North Carolina – Critics blast Duke Energy's plan to pass on option cost – As Duke Energy Corp. prepares to meet high power demand this summer, state regulators and consumer groups are balking at its request to charge customers for reserving electricity it might never use (Charlotte Observer)
http://www.charlotte.com/business/story/582773.html
Grays Harbor County Cranberry Growers: Lack of electricity bad for cranberries (The Daily World, Longview)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/04/16/local_news/08news.txt
FERC opens inquiry into whether its method of assessing annual regulatory charges from public utilities remains fair, or whether it should adopt a different one (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)
http://www.ferc.gov/news/news-releases/2008/2008-2/04-17-08-E-24.asp
Oregon Liquefied Natural Gas developer fights land-use referendum (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1344276~LNG_developer_fights_land_use_referendum.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Judge OKs plans to capture, kill sea lions on Columbia River (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1208402726146010.xml&coll=7
Endangered – Oregon's salmon-fishing industry seemed poised to recover--until now (Newsweek)
http://www.newsweek.com/id/132407?from=rss
Oregon’s coastal fishing industry headed for rough water – Congress should help promptly; sport anglers should prepare to share the pain (The Mail Tribune)
http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080416/OPINION/804160329
California Judge: Feds failed to study how delta pumping affects salmon (Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1345001~Judge__Feds_failed_to_study_how_delta_pumping_affects_salmon.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
Where are the salmon? Looking at long-term trends, the ocean, and climate change for clues. (Los Angeles Times)
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oew-sydeman17apr17,0,7810667.story
Outdoors Report: Columbia providing surge of Chinook action (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/othersports/359347_out17.html
Columbia spring Chinook fishery to end Sunday (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/fishing/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/120840092197300.xml&coll=7
Idaho – Agency hopes for local Chinook salmon season – A fishing season for Chinook salmon returning to the Sawtooth hatchery above Stanley may be in the cards beginning in late June. (Challis Messenger)
http://www.challismessenger.com/index.php?accnum=story-12-20080417
State releases rundown of marine sport salmon fishing seasons for 2008-09 (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2004353559_salmonseasons16.html?syndication=rss
Safeway restricts Chilean salmon over concerns about a virus that is killing millions of fish there. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/world/americas/17chile.html?_r=1&ex=1366084800&en=70ac16af2763cfe5&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Watershed Moment – The death of a Montana dam. (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2188979/?from=rss
Puget Partnership Begins Assessing Threats to Sound (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/apr/16/puget-partnership-begins-assessing-threats-to/
Sportsmen form new group to address energy development (San Diego Union-Tribune)
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/outdoors/20080417-0647-wst-sportsmensgroup.html
Olympia-area cities secure brewery water but price becomes sticking point – The new owner of the former Olympia brewery is balking at an offer by Thurston County's three largest cities to pay $4.5 million for the rights to its water (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/421745.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Puget Sound Energy expanding wind farm near Ellensburg (Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1346140~PSE_expanding_wind_farm_near_Ellensburg.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
San Francisco hearings delay solar panel grants – Solar-power advocates are frustrated that politics have so far stalled a modest investment of public money in a solar panel program as the city continues to fall behind others in California in its use of sun energy. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/17/BAKD106OKI.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
New York – Solar Company Finds Con Ed Not As Green As Advertised – Con Edison Resists Connecting Solar Electric System in Scarsdale (Renewable Energy World Online)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/story?id=52199&src=rss
California – PG&E makes waves; public forum slated for alternative energy (Humboldt Beacon)
http://www.humboldtbeacon.com/local/ci_8946335
Investor put up $2.6 million to tinker with tidal power in U.S. (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9920651-54.html?tag=nl.e703
The Coming Baseload Power Crisis (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/reinsider/story?id=52157&src=rss
Missouri – New study advances method to make energy from farm waste (The Associated Press)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j7SBLnEtt_N5iWVL4_8T9QoyXMQQD903FE400
CONSERVATION
Pacific Gas and Electric pays customers $25 to use SmartAC switch (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/17/BUTH106L72.DTL&feed=rss.business
Oregon – Gresham-Barlow School District named Energy Star Partner of Year for conservation efforts – Schools save $1.3 million a year by using 50 percent less energy than average (The Gresham Outlook)
http://www.theoutlookonline.com/features/story.php?story_id=120831310918860200
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
President Bush revises strategy on greenhouse gases (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004352833_webclimatebush.html?syndication=rss
Bush to Present U.S. Goals at Paris Climate Talks (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89713249&ft=1&f=3
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
New data reveal online video views are soaring (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/04/16/financial/f164109D54.DTL&feed=rss.business
Comcast to skip latest FCC network management hearing – flap began over sharing on tin-pan alley music for barbershop quartets (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8947757?source=rss
Comcast’s Concession to Net Neutrality (NY Times)
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/comcasts-concession-to-net-neutrality/index.html?ex=1366171200&en=fc98b6ad6c2df18e&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
San Francisco Chronicle Op/Ed – Public must fight to maintain net neutrality
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/17/EDM11064UL.DTL&feed=rss.opinion
2 out of 5 Cities Take Wi-Fi Back from EarthLink – 3 cities left must figure out what to do about their EarthLink problems (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/2-out-of-5-Cities-Take-WiFi-Back-from-Earthlink-93667
Long Island LI Wi-Fi Re-ignites Wireless Network Debate – What does it take to get a big network up and running? (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/LI-WiFi-Reignites-Wireless-Network-Debate-93645
CBS Scores on the Web With March Madness (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/16/AR2008041603481.html?nav=rss_technology
GENERAL NEWS
Much of Oregon, SW Washington to see snow this weekend (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1346146~Much_of_Oregon__SW_Washington_to_see_snow_this_weekend.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Copper thieves take Highway 16 wiring again – Over the weekend, thieves stole 900 feet of wire (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_041608WAB_tacoma_wire_thieves_strike_again_TP.6dbd443e.html
CLEAN AIR AGENCY HOLDING HEARING ON PERMIT FOR SHELTON WOOD PELLET FACILITY – The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) is holding a public hearing at 6:30 tonight on the air pollution permit application for Coeur d'Alene Fibre Fuel to construct and operate a wood pellet production facility on John's Prairie. The construction of this $10 Million facility is underway. The company will be operating under the name Atlas Shelton and employ 15 people. Work on the facility's two buildings, a 20,000 square foot plant and a 23,000 square foot warehouse, is expected to be complete in June. The hearing tonight is on the pollution the plant is expected to produce and the techniques the company will use to reduce that pollution. The hearing is being held in the Mason County Commissioners' Chambers at 411 North Fifth Street in Shelton. The ORCAA Board is expected to approve the permit as the agency's staff has concluded the proposed facility is in compliance with applicable air regulations and those standards will likely be maintained. However, residents will have the opportunity to comment on the issue, again at 6:30 tonight. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
DIVERSIONS
Romanian man rears lion in garden until neighbors complain
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080417/ap_on_fe_st/odd_romania_lion_in_garden;_ylt=ApSeuEAfG.SiOlpjd1MJbajtiBIF
Company receives hundred of 'smelly' gas calls
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080416/ap_on_fe_st/odd_smelly_gas;_ylt=AiiSut_lFR8gTxFoRAJW9rftiBIF
Thief deposits loot with victim – Three days after stealing a rare collection of coins, a thief in Germany took them to the bank for safe keeping -- and delivered them into the hands of the man he had robbed
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080415/od_nm/germany_thief_dc;_ylt=AkiOKY8rjXnxCWcWeOxnVhftiBIF
Cute and prickly hedgehogs latest pet fad
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080416/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_britain_pets_hedgehogs;_ylt=AnagkJQbRXgRe9jiVriTP_ntiBIF
Man dressed as a woman accused of crashing into shop
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080416/ap_on_fe_st/odd_cross_dresser_crash;_ylt=AioeWG3QESBZvcTgmSiKx0jtiBIF
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Puget Energy moves a step closer to buyout
- FERC News Release – Chairman Joseph T. Kelliher's statement on Puget Energy, Inc
- $2 million Bonneville Power Administration settlement will delay PenLight rate increase
- US Supreme Court Will Hear Suit On Water Withdrawals for Power Plant Cooling
- North Carolina – Critics blast Duke Energy's plan to pass on option cost
- Grays Harbor County Cranberry Growers: Lack of electricity bad for cranberries
- FERC opens inquiry into its method of assessing annual regulatory charges from public utilities
- Oregon Liquefied Natural Gas developer fights land-use referendum
- Judge OKs plans to capture, kill sea lions on Columbia River
- Endangered – Oregon's salmon-fishing industry seemed poised to recover--until now
- Oregon’s coastal fishing industry headed for rough water
- California Judge: Feds failed to study how delta pumping affects salmon
- Where are the salmon? Looking at long-term trends, the ocean, and climate change for clues
- Outdoors Report: Columbia providing surge of Chinook action
- Columbia spring Chinook fishery to end Sunday
- Idaho – Agency hopes for local Chinook salmon season
- State releases rundown of marine sport salmon fishing seasons for 2008-09
- Safeway restricts Chilean salmon over concerns about a virus that is killing millions of fish there
- Watershed Moment – The death of a Montana dam
- Puget Partnership Begins Assessing Threats to Sound
- Sportsmen form new group to address energy development
- Olympia-area cities secure brewery water but price becomes sticking point
- Puget Sound Energy expanding wind farm near Ellensburg
- San Francisco hearings delay solar panel grants
- New York – Solar Company Finds Con Ed Not As Green As Advertised
- California – PG&E makes waves; public forum slated for alternative energy
- Investor put up $2.6 million to tinker with tidal power in U.S.
- The Coming Baseload Power Crisis
- Missouri – New study advances method to make energy from farm waste
- Pacific Gas and Electric pays customers $25 to use SmartAC switch
- Oregon – Gresham-Barlow School District named Energy Star Partner of Year
- President Bush revises strategy on greenhouse gases
- Bush to Present U.S. Goals at Paris Climate Talks
- New data reveal online video views are soaring
- Comcast to skip latest FCC network management hearing
- Comcast’s Concession to Net Neutrality
- San Francisco Chronicle Op/Ed – Public must fight to maintain net neutrality
- 2 out of 5 Cities Take Wi-Fi Back from EarthLink
- Long Island LI Wi-Fi Re-ignites Wireless Network Debate
- CBS Scores on the Web With March Madness
- Much of Oregon, SW Washington to see snow this weekend
- Copper thieves take Highway 16 wiring again
- Clean Air Agency Holding Hearing On Permit For Shelton Wood Pellet Facility
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Demarche • \day-MARSH\ • noun – 1a: a course of action: maneuver b: a diplomatic or political initiative or maneuver *2: a petition or protest presented through diplomatic channels
Bonaparte was befuddled. He had ordered the troops on his west flank to begin their demarche at 2:00 sharp, yet an hour after the deadline nothing had happened. Upon inspection he was horrified to find that his soldiers had all shed their clothes for an afternoon of sunbathing. “Don’t worry man,” said one of the men in his most soothing tones. “Once the sun is gone, we’ll be back in action.” And hence, the legend of the “Beach Bum Battalion” was born.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Puget Energy moves a step closer to buyout (The Seattle Times – Why is this man smiling? I mean, REALLY smiling?)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2004354547_pse17.html
FERC News Release – Chairman Joseph T. Kelliher's statement on Puget Energy, Inc. (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)
http://www.ferc.gov/news/statements-speeches/kelliher/2008/04-17-08-kelliher-E-12.asp
$2 million Bonneville Power Administration settlement will delay PenLight rate increase (The Peninsula Gateway)
http://www.gateline.com/104/story/1184.html
US Supreme Court Will Hear Suit On Water Withdrawals for Power Plant Cooling (Associated Press, via the Hartford Courant)
http://www.courant.com/news/politics/hc-ctapriver0415.artapr15,0,1634088.story?track=rss
North Carolina – Critics blast Duke Energy's plan to pass on option cost – As Duke Energy Corp. prepares to meet high power demand this summer, state regulators and consumer groups are balking at its request to charge customers for reserving electricity it might never use (Charlotte Observer)
http://www.charlotte.com/business/story/582773.html
Grays Harbor County Cranberry Growers: Lack of electricity bad for cranberries (The Daily World, Longview)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2008/04/16/local_news/08news.txt
FERC opens inquiry into whether its method of assessing annual regulatory charges from public utilities remains fair, or whether it should adopt a different one (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)
http://www.ferc.gov/news/news-releases/2008/2008-2/04-17-08-E-24.asp
Oregon Liquefied Natural Gas developer fights land-use referendum (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1344276~LNG_developer_fights_land_use_referendum.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Judge OKs plans to capture, kill sea lions on Columbia River (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1208402726146010.xml&coll=7
Endangered – Oregon's salmon-fishing industry seemed poised to recover--until now (Newsweek)
http://www.newsweek.com/id/132407?from=rss
Oregon’s coastal fishing industry headed for rough water – Congress should help promptly; sport anglers should prepare to share the pain (The Mail Tribune)
http://www.mailtribune.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080416/OPINION/804160329
California Judge: Feds failed to study how delta pumping affects salmon (Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1345001~Judge__Feds_failed_to_study_how_delta_pumping_affects_salmon.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
Where are the salmon? Looking at long-term trends, the ocean, and climate change for clues. (Los Angeles Times)
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/opinion/la-oew-sydeman17apr17,0,7810667.story
Outdoors Report: Columbia providing surge of Chinook action (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/othersports/359347_out17.html
Columbia spring Chinook fishery to end Sunday (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/fishing/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/sports/120840092197300.xml&coll=7
Idaho – Agency hopes for local Chinook salmon season – A fishing season for Chinook salmon returning to the Sawtooth hatchery above Stanley may be in the cards beginning in late June. (Challis Messenger)
http://www.challismessenger.com/index.php?accnum=story-12-20080417
State releases rundown of marine sport salmon fishing seasons for 2008-09 (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2004353559_salmonseasons16.html?syndication=rss
Safeway restricts Chilean salmon over concerns about a virus that is killing millions of fish there. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/world/americas/17chile.html?_r=1&ex=1366084800&en=70ac16af2763cfe5&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Watershed Moment – The death of a Montana dam. (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2188979/?from=rss
Puget Partnership Begins Assessing Threats to Sound (Kitsap Sun, may require free registration)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2008/apr/16/puget-partnership-begins-assessing-threats-to/
Sportsmen form new group to address energy development (San Diego Union-Tribune)
http://www.signonsandiego.com/sports/outdoors/20080417-0647-wst-sportsmensgroup.html
Olympia-area cities secure brewery water but price becomes sticking point – The new owner of the former Olympia brewery is balking at an offer by Thurston County's three largest cities to pay $4.5 million for the rights to its water (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/news/story/421745.html
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Puget Sound Energy expanding wind farm near Ellensburg (Associated Press, via Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1346140~PSE_expanding_wind_farm_near_Ellensburg.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
San Francisco hearings delay solar panel grants – Solar-power advocates are frustrated that politics have so far stalled a modest investment of public money in a solar panel program as the city continues to fall behind others in California in its use of sun energy. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/17/BAKD106OKI.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea
New York – Solar Company Finds Con Ed Not As Green As Advertised – Con Edison Resists Connecting Solar Electric System in Scarsdale (Renewable Energy World Online)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/story?id=52199&src=rss
California – PG&E makes waves; public forum slated for alternative energy (Humboldt Beacon)
http://www.humboldtbeacon.com/local/ci_8946335
Investor put up $2.6 million to tinker with tidal power in U.S. (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9920651-54.html?tag=nl.e703
The Coming Baseload Power Crisis (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/reinsider/story?id=52157&src=rss
Missouri – New study advances method to make energy from farm waste (The Associated Press)
http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5j7SBLnEtt_N5iWVL4_8T9QoyXMQQD903FE400
CONSERVATION
Pacific Gas and Electric pays customers $25 to use SmartAC switch (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/17/BUTH106L72.DTL&feed=rss.business
Oregon – Gresham-Barlow School District named Energy Star Partner of Year for conservation efforts – Schools save $1.3 million a year by using 50 percent less energy than average (The Gresham Outlook)
http://www.theoutlookonline.com/features/story.php?story_id=120831310918860200
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
President Bush revises strategy on greenhouse gases (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2004352833_webclimatebush.html?syndication=rss
Bush to Present U.S. Goals at Paris Climate Talks (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89713249&ft=1&f=3
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
New data reveal online video views are soaring (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/04/16/financial/f164109D54.DTL&feed=rss.business
Comcast to skip latest FCC network management hearing – flap began over sharing on tin-pan alley music for barbershop quartets (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8947757?source=rss
Comcast’s Concession to Net Neutrality (NY Times)
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/04/17/comcasts-concession-to-net-neutrality/index.html?ex=1366171200&en=fc98b6ad6c2df18e&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
San Francisco Chronicle Op/Ed – Public must fight to maintain net neutrality
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/17/EDM11064UL.DTL&feed=rss.opinion
2 out of 5 Cities Take Wi-Fi Back from EarthLink – 3 cities left must figure out what to do about their EarthLink problems (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/2-out-of-5-Cities-Take-WiFi-Back-from-Earthlink-93667
Long Island LI Wi-Fi Re-ignites Wireless Network Debate – What does it take to get a big network up and running? (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/LI-WiFi-Reignites-Wireless-Network-Debate-93645
CBS Scores on the Web With March Madness (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/16/AR2008041603481.html?nav=rss_technology
GENERAL NEWS
Much of Oregon, SW Washington to see snow this weekend (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1346146~Much_of_Oregon__SW_Washington_to_see_snow_this_weekend.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines
Copper thieves take Highway 16 wiring again – Over the weekend, thieves stole 900 feet of wire (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_041608WAB_tacoma_wire_thieves_strike_again_TP.6dbd443e.html
CLEAN AIR AGENCY HOLDING HEARING ON PERMIT FOR SHELTON WOOD PELLET FACILITY – The Olympic Region Clean Air Agency (ORCAA) is holding a public hearing at 6:30 tonight on the air pollution permit application for Coeur d'Alene Fibre Fuel to construct and operate a wood pellet production facility on John's Prairie. The construction of this $10 Million facility is underway. The company will be operating under the name Atlas Shelton and employ 15 people. Work on the facility's two buildings, a 20,000 square foot plant and a 23,000 square foot warehouse, is expected to be complete in June. The hearing tonight is on the pollution the plant is expected to produce and the techniques the company will use to reduce that pollution. The hearing is being held in the Mason County Commissioners' Chambers at 411 North Fifth Street in Shelton. The ORCAA Board is expected to approve the permit as the agency's staff has concluded the proposed facility is in compliance with applicable air regulations and those standards will likely be maintained. However, residents will have the opportunity to comment on the issue, again at 6:30 tonight. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
DIVERSIONS
Romanian man rears lion in garden until neighbors complain
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080417/ap_on_fe_st/odd_romania_lion_in_garden;_ylt=ApSeuEAfG.SiOlpjd1MJbajtiBIF
Company receives hundred of 'smelly' gas calls
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080416/ap_on_fe_st/odd_smelly_gas;_ylt=AiiSut_lFR8gTxFoRAJW9rftiBIF
Thief deposits loot with victim – Three days after stealing a rare collection of coins, a thief in Germany took them to the bank for safe keeping -- and delivered them into the hands of the man he had robbed
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080415/od_nm/germany_thief_dc;_ylt=AkiOKY8rjXnxCWcWeOxnVhftiBIF
Cute and prickly hedgehogs latest pet fad
http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20080416/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_britain_pets_hedgehogs;_ylt=AnagkJQbRXgRe9jiVriTP_ntiBIF
Man dressed as a woman accused of crashing into shop
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080416/ap_on_fe_st/odd_cross_dresser_crash;_ylt=AioeWG3QESBZvcTgmSiKx0jtiBIF
Wednesday, April 16, 2008
Energy News Digest for April 16, 2008
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)
- News Release – Mason County PUD No. 3 to Provide for Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb Recycling
- Jefferson County commissioners warm to studying PUD as power provider
- Washington State fines Puget Sound Energy $366,000 for fuel spill at Crystal Mountain
- Columbia River PUD warns of identity theft after rip-off
- Crash Knocks Out Power In South Seattle
- After wind turbine fatality, Siemens will defend safety procedures
- Valley public power group and PG&E settle dispute
- Local California communities reach for power over energy
- Canada – Alberta's nuclear power plans concern northern British Columbia mayors
- Wisconsin – Past Due Utility Bills Near $115 Million
- Wisconsin – Electric rates go up Tuesday – again
- Sport Chinook fishery on Chehalis River closed
- Columbia River spring Chinook salmon fishing can get you hooked
- Demand for B.C. farmed salmon outstrips supply, industry says
- Washington State Ecology to lay off as many as nine in its Water Quality Program
- Odessa Aquifer report released for public review
- Study looks at piping water to Umatilla basin farms
- Klamath Basin – It looks like Basin got a break on water supply
- Portland to pay settlement for nearly 90 sewage spills over six years
- Montana –State panel to hear wind-power case
- Will Wind Power Make the Grid Less Reliable?
- Demand and cost of natural gas – Costly fertilizer could bump crop prices
- Demand growing for employees in renewable energy
- Seattle-Based native company launches wind energy project
- Kentucky – Idaho company to study river power at Newburgh Lock & Dam
- Energy Pulse Commentary – Regulation in a Time of Looming Darkness
- Study Finds Garbage-To-Fuel Best Fit for Northwest
- Is ethanol's carbon footprint bad? It depends
- Is the silicon shortage in solar ending? Tea leaves mixed
- Hello Gridwise – Fridges of the world, unite! Smarter appliances mean fewer brown-outs
- White House floats new climate proposal with GOP conservatives
- Climate Changing Faster In The Northwest, Study Finds
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer Editorial – Climate Change: Last gasp for autos
- Chinese Officials Announce Plans to Clear Air before Olympics
- Turning White Space into Wireless
- Tennessee – Chattanooga power company to pursue cable venture
- Bill would ban in-flight phone talk
- Did Google 'dupe' FCC?
- Layoffs At Simpson Timber Company
- Unseasonably Cold Storm System Possible By Week's End
- KVI employee suspected of rigging radio contest
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Spinous • \SPY-nuss\ • adjective – 1a: covered or armed with spines; broadly: bearing spines, prickles, or thorns b: slender and pointed like a spine *2: difficult or unpleasant to handle or meet: thorny
Tom had heard the old proverb “as ticklish as dancing with a porcupine,” but until his spinous encounter in dancing class with his neighbor’s pet hedgehog, he never really knew what it meant. An hour later, his emergency room doctor spelled it all out for him.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
News Release – Mason County PUD No. 3 to Provide for Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb Recycling (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/News/display.asp?NewsID=425
Jefferson County commissioners warm to studying PUD as power provider (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080415/NEWS/804150305
Washington State fines Puget Sound Energy $366,000 for fuel spill at Crystal Mountain (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/419998.html
Columbia River PUD warns of identity theft after rip-off (South County Spotlight)
http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=120830002485421400
Crash Knocks Out Power In South Seattle (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/15897180/detail.html
After wind turbine fatality, Siemens will defend safety procedures – The wind turbine maker talks to Oregon regulators today about a tower that fell (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1208314508290870.xml&coll=7
Valley public power group and PG&E settle dispute – The state's first public electricity cooperative (San Joaquin Valley Power Authority) and Pacific Gas & Electric Co. said Monday they have settled an acrid dispute over PG&E's marketing campaign against the co-op (Associated Press, via the San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/04/14/state/n175625D82.DTL&feed=rss.business
Local communities reach for power over energy – Marin County residents want more solar and wind power. San Francisco officials think they might be able to strike better energy deals. Some cities in the San Joaquin Valley want to build their own power plants. …California communities are trying to exert more power over, well, their power. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/15/MN1K105A81.DTL
Canada – Alberta's nuclear power plans concern northern British Columbia mayors (CBC News)
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/04/14/bc-alberta-nuclear-plant.html
Wisconsin – Past Due Utility Bills Near $115 Million (Light and Medium Truck)
http://lmtruck.com/articles/lmtbase.aspx?storyid=129
Wisconsin – Electric rates go up Tuesday - again: We Energies' second increase in 3 months blamed on fuel costs (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CjmsrqtqUTjgt9K%22bfen%5Fv
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Sport Chinook fishery on Chehalis River closed (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/17761119.html
Columbia River spring Chinook salmon fishing can get you hooked (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2004351686_chinook16.html?syndication=rss
Demand for B.C. farmed salmon outstrips supply, industry says (Fish Update)
http://www.fishupdate.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/10639/Demand_for_B.C._farmed_salmon_outstrips_supply,_industry_says.html
Ecology to lay off as many as nine – The state Department of Ecology plans to lay off up to nine workers in its 250-person Water Quality Program, prompted in part by declining construction statewide. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/420563.html
Odessa Aquifer report released for public review (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/901/story/157988.html
Study looks at piping water to Umatilla basin farms – A consortium of three Oregon companies has been chosen to find out whether it's feasible to draw water from the Columbia River and store it for use by Umatilla basin farmers (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1208310929186630.xml&coll=7
Klamath Basin – It looks like Basin got a break on water supply (Klamath Herald & News)
http://www.heraldandnews.com/articles/2008/04/14/viewpoints/op-ed/doc4801a48c95a48171180452.txt
Portland to pay settlement for nearly 90 sewage spills over six years (The Associated Press, via the Eugene Register-Guard)
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=93128&sid=4&fid=2
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Montana –State panel to hear wind-power case - Small producers, Northwestern at odds over fees (The Missoulian)
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/04/15/news/mtregional/news07.txt
Will Wind Power Make the Grid Less Reliable? (Renewable Energy World Online)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/ate/story?id=52179&src=rss
Demand and cost of natural gas – Costly fertilizer could bump crop prices
http://www.examiner.com/a-1342401~Costly_fertilizer_could_bump_crop_prices.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
Demand growing for employees in renewable energy (Ashland Daily Tidings)
http://www.dailytidings.com/2008/0414/stories/0414_greenjobs.php
Seattle-Based native company launches wind energy project (Indian Country)
http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096417016
Kentucky – Idaho company to study river power at Newburgh Lock & Dam (Evansville Courier & Press)
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/apr/15/company-to-study-river-power-at-newburgh-lock/
Energy Pulse Commentary – Regulation in a Time of Looming Darkness
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1719
Study Finds Garbage-To-Fuel Best Fit for Northwest (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/study-finds-garbage-fuel-best-fit-northwest/
Is ethanol's carbon footprint bad? It depends (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9919612-54.html?tag=nl.e703
Is the silicon shortage in solar ending? Tea leaves mixed (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9919442-54.html?tag=nl.e703
CONSERVATION
Hello Gridwise – Fridges of the world, unite! Smarter appliances mean fewer brown-outs (The Economist Magazine Online)
http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11041528
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
White House floats new climate proposal with GOP conservatives (The Associated Press, via the Minneapolis Star)
http://www.startribune.com/politics/17675349.html
Climate Changing Faster In The Northwest, Study Finds (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/climate-changing-faster-northwest-study-finds/
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Editorial – Climate Change: Last gasp for autos
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/359157_drived.html?source=rss
Chinese Officials Announce Plans to Clear Air before Olympics (Washington Post – Ed. Note: two words – BIG fans)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/14/AR2008041401598.html?nav=rss_nation
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Turning White Space into Wireless – Some companies want to use leftover parts of the TV broadcast spectrum to create inexpensive wireless service. Such a move could be dangerous, critics say (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89652413&ft=1&f=17
Tennessee – Chattanooga power company to pursue cable venture - EPB says judge's dismissal of suit clears way for plans (Knoxville News)
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/apr/16/chattanooga-power-company-to-pursue-cable/
Bill would ban in-flight phone talk (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_8939101?source=rss
Did Google 'dupe' FCC? Google manipulated the U.S. government spectrum auction by bidding just enough to trigger rules that opened a nationwide set of airwaves to any device and then walking away, Republican lawmakers said Tuesday. (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8942121?source=rss
GENERAL NEWS
LAYOFFS AT SIMPSON TIMBER COMPANY – Simpson Timber Company is laying off a total 111 workers at two sawmills at the end of this month. This includes 65 at the mill in Shelton. The other 46 are in Tacoma. The operations in Dayton and Longview, and at Simpson Tacoma Kraft Company are not affected by these layoffs. The Company says the layoffs will take effect April 28th and are the result of a downturn in the wood products business. The Tuesday announcement also said that company officials "cannot predict when improved economic conditions will occur." (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
UNSEASONABLY COLD STORM SYSTEM POSSIBLE BY WEEK'S END – A strong, cold low pressure system dropping south out of Canada will usher in a colder air mass that will result in unseasonably cold temperatures and plummeting snow levels by this weekend. The National Weather Service predicts daytime temperatures on Friday will be in the mid 40s to lower 50s. On Saturday, daytime temperatures are expected to be “winter like.” Temperatures this time of year are normally in the mid 50s to lower 60s. The snow level is also predicted to plummet to near sea level late Friday night making it likely that any showers will change to snow or a rain and snow mix. The precipitation will change back to rain during the day Saturday. The threat of snow will continue late Saturday night and early Sunday morning. If any clearing occurs at night, temperatures could dip into the mid 20s in some areas but especially over the southwest interior. Keep it tuned to 1030 KMAS for updates. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
KVI employee suspected of rigging radio contest (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_041508WAB_rigged_radio_contest_KC.6aaf56a7.html
DIVERSIONS
Car Towed With Sleeping 7-Year-Old Inside – Police: Possible Kidnapping Investigation Under Way
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/15898495/detail.html
80 Percent Admit To 'Mental Health Days' – Stress, Family Problems Lead To Time Off
http://www.kirotv.com/health/15896645/detail.html
Pranksters Get Payback Of Thousands Of Forks In Yard
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/15900388/detail.html
Divorcing Wife Spouts Secrets On YouTube – Woman Also Dishes About Spouse's Family, Intimate Life
http://www.kirotv.com/family/15899534/detail.html
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- News Release – Mason County PUD No. 3 to Provide for Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb Recycling
- Jefferson County commissioners warm to studying PUD as power provider
- Washington State fines Puget Sound Energy $366,000 for fuel spill at Crystal Mountain
- Columbia River PUD warns of identity theft after rip-off
- Crash Knocks Out Power In South Seattle
- After wind turbine fatality, Siemens will defend safety procedures
- Valley public power group and PG&E settle dispute
- Local California communities reach for power over energy
- Canada – Alberta's nuclear power plans concern northern British Columbia mayors
- Wisconsin – Past Due Utility Bills Near $115 Million
- Wisconsin – Electric rates go up Tuesday – again
- Sport Chinook fishery on Chehalis River closed
- Columbia River spring Chinook salmon fishing can get you hooked
- Demand for B.C. farmed salmon outstrips supply, industry says
- Washington State Ecology to lay off as many as nine in its Water Quality Program
- Odessa Aquifer report released for public review
- Study looks at piping water to Umatilla basin farms
- Klamath Basin – It looks like Basin got a break on water supply
- Portland to pay settlement for nearly 90 sewage spills over six years
- Montana –State panel to hear wind-power case
- Will Wind Power Make the Grid Less Reliable?
- Demand and cost of natural gas – Costly fertilizer could bump crop prices
- Demand growing for employees in renewable energy
- Seattle-Based native company launches wind energy project
- Kentucky – Idaho company to study river power at Newburgh Lock & Dam
- Energy Pulse Commentary – Regulation in a Time of Looming Darkness
- Study Finds Garbage-To-Fuel Best Fit for Northwest
- Is ethanol's carbon footprint bad? It depends
- Is the silicon shortage in solar ending? Tea leaves mixed
- Hello Gridwise – Fridges of the world, unite! Smarter appliances mean fewer brown-outs
- White House floats new climate proposal with GOP conservatives
- Climate Changing Faster In The Northwest, Study Finds
- Seattle Post-Intelligencer Editorial – Climate Change: Last gasp for autos
- Chinese Officials Announce Plans to Clear Air before Olympics
- Turning White Space into Wireless
- Tennessee – Chattanooga power company to pursue cable venture
- Bill would ban in-flight phone talk
- Did Google 'dupe' FCC?
- Layoffs At Simpson Timber Company
- Unseasonably Cold Storm System Possible By Week's End
- KVI employee suspected of rigging radio contest
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Spinous • \SPY-nuss\ • adjective – 1a: covered or armed with spines; broadly: bearing spines, prickles, or thorns b: slender and pointed like a spine *2: difficult or unpleasant to handle or meet: thorny
Tom had heard the old proverb “as ticklish as dancing with a porcupine,” but until his spinous encounter in dancing class with his neighbor’s pet hedgehog, he never really knew what it meant. An hour later, his emergency room doctor spelled it all out for him.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
News Release – Mason County PUD No. 3 to Provide for Compact Fluorescent Light Bulb Recycling (Mason County PUD No. 3)
http://www.masonpud3.org/News/display.asp?NewsID=425
Jefferson County commissioners warm to studying PUD as power provider (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20080415/NEWS/804150305
Washington State fines Puget Sound Energy $366,000 for fuel spill at Crystal Mountain (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/breakingnews/story/419998.html
Columbia River PUD warns of identity theft after rip-off (South County Spotlight)
http://www.spotlightnews.net/news/story.php?story_id=120830002485421400
Crash Knocks Out Power In South Seattle (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/15897180/detail.html
After wind turbine fatality, Siemens will defend safety procedures – The wind turbine maker talks to Oregon regulators today about a tower that fell (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/business/1208314508290870.xml&coll=7
Valley public power group and PG&E settle dispute – The state's first public electricity cooperative (San Joaquin Valley Power Authority) and Pacific Gas & Electric Co. said Monday they have settled an acrid dispute over PG&E's marketing campaign against the co-op (Associated Press, via the San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2008/04/14/state/n175625D82.DTL&feed=rss.business
Local communities reach for power over energy – Marin County residents want more solar and wind power. San Francisco officials think they might be able to strike better energy deals. Some cities in the San Joaquin Valley want to build their own power plants. …California communities are trying to exert more power over, well, their power. (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2008/04/15/MN1K105A81.DTL
Canada – Alberta's nuclear power plans concern northern British Columbia mayors (CBC News)
http://www.cbc.ca/canada/british-columbia/story/2008/04/14/bc-alberta-nuclear-plant.html
Wisconsin – Past Due Utility Bills Near $115 Million (Light and Medium Truck)
http://lmtruck.com/articles/lmtbase.aspx?storyid=129
Wisconsin – Electric rates go up Tuesday - again: We Energies' second increase in 3 months blamed on fuel costs (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CjmsrqtqUTjgt9K%22bfen%5Fv
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Sport Chinook fishery on Chehalis River closed (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komotv.com/news/local/17761119.html
Columbia River spring Chinook salmon fishing can get you hooked (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/othersports/2004351686_chinook16.html?syndication=rss
Demand for B.C. farmed salmon outstrips supply, industry says (Fish Update)
http://www.fishupdate.com/news/fullstory.php/aid/10639/Demand_for_B.C._farmed_salmon_outstrips_supply,_industry_says.html
Ecology to lay off as many as nine – The state Department of Ecology plans to lay off up to nine workers in its 250-person Water Quality Program, prompted in part by declining construction statewide. (The Olympian)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/420563.html
Odessa Aquifer report released for public review (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/901/story/157988.html
Study looks at piping water to Umatilla basin farms – A consortium of three Oregon companies has been chosen to find out whether it's feasible to draw water from the Columbia River and store it for use by Umatilla basin farmers (The Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/1208310929186630.xml&coll=7
Klamath Basin – It looks like Basin got a break on water supply (Klamath Herald & News)
http://www.heraldandnews.com/articles/2008/04/14/viewpoints/op-ed/doc4801a48c95a48171180452.txt
Portland to pay settlement for nearly 90 sewage spills over six years (The Associated Press, via the Eugene Register-Guard)
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=93128&sid=4&fid=2
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Montana –State panel to hear wind-power case - Small producers, Northwestern at odds over fees (The Missoulian)
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/04/15/news/mtregional/news07.txt
Will Wind Power Make the Grid Less Reliable? (Renewable Energy World Online)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/ate/story?id=52179&src=rss
Demand and cost of natural gas – Costly fertilizer could bump crop prices
http://www.examiner.com/a-1342401~Costly_fertilizer_could_bump_crop_prices.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines
Demand growing for employees in renewable energy (Ashland Daily Tidings)
http://www.dailytidings.com/2008/0414/stories/0414_greenjobs.php
Seattle-Based native company launches wind energy project (Indian Country)
http://www.indiancountry.com/content.cfm?id=1096417016
Kentucky – Idaho company to study river power at Newburgh Lock & Dam (Evansville Courier & Press)
http://www.courierpress.com/news/2008/apr/15/company-to-study-river-power-at-newburgh-lock/
Energy Pulse Commentary – Regulation in a Time of Looming Darkness
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1719
Study Finds Garbage-To-Fuel Best Fit for Northwest (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/study-finds-garbage-fuel-best-fit-northwest/
Is ethanol's carbon footprint bad? It depends (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9919612-54.html?tag=nl.e703
Is the silicon shortage in solar ending? Tea leaves mixed (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9919442-54.html?tag=nl.e703
CONSERVATION
Hello Gridwise – Fridges of the world, unite! Smarter appliances mean fewer brown-outs (The Economist Magazine Online)
http://www.economist.com/displaystory.cfm?story_id=11041528
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
White House floats new climate proposal with GOP conservatives (The Associated Press, via the Minneapolis Star)
http://www.startribune.com/politics/17675349.html
Climate Changing Faster In The Northwest, Study Finds (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/climate-changing-faster-northwest-study-finds/
Seattle Post-Intelligencer Editorial – Climate Change: Last gasp for autos
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/opinion/359157_drived.html?source=rss
Chinese Officials Announce Plans to Clear Air before Olympics (Washington Post – Ed. Note: two words – BIG fans)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/04/14/AR2008041401598.html?nav=rss_nation
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Turning White Space into Wireless – Some companies want to use leftover parts of the TV broadcast spectrum to create inexpensive wireless service. Such a move could be dangerous, critics say (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=89652413&ft=1&f=17
Tennessee – Chattanooga power company to pursue cable venture - EPB says judge's dismissal of suit clears way for plans (Knoxville News)
http://www.knoxnews.com/news/2008/apr/16/chattanooga-power-company-to-pursue-cable/
Bill would ban in-flight phone talk (Contra Costa Times)
http://www.contracostatimes.com/ci_8939101?source=rss
Did Google 'dupe' FCC? Google manipulated the U.S. government spectrum auction by bidding just enough to trigger rules that opened a nationwide set of airwaves to any device and then walking away, Republican lawmakers said Tuesday. (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8942121?source=rss
GENERAL NEWS
LAYOFFS AT SIMPSON TIMBER COMPANY – Simpson Timber Company is laying off a total 111 workers at two sawmills at the end of this month. This includes 65 at the mill in Shelton. The other 46 are in Tacoma. The operations in Dayton and Longview, and at Simpson Tacoma Kraft Company are not affected by these layoffs. The Company says the layoffs will take effect April 28th and are the result of a downturn in the wood products business. The Tuesday announcement also said that company officials "cannot predict when improved economic conditions will occur." (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
UNSEASONABLY COLD STORM SYSTEM POSSIBLE BY WEEK'S END – A strong, cold low pressure system dropping south out of Canada will usher in a colder air mass that will result in unseasonably cold temperatures and plummeting snow levels by this weekend. The National Weather Service predicts daytime temperatures on Friday will be in the mid 40s to lower 50s. On Saturday, daytime temperatures are expected to be “winter like.” Temperatures this time of year are normally in the mid 50s to lower 60s. The snow level is also predicted to plummet to near sea level late Friday night making it likely that any showers will change to snow or a rain and snow mix. The precipitation will change back to rain during the day Saturday. The threat of snow will continue late Saturday night and early Sunday morning. If any clearing occurs at night, temperatures could dip into the mid 20s in some areas but especially over the southwest interior. Keep it tuned to 1030 KMAS for updates. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
KVI employee suspected of rigging radio contest (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_041508WAB_rigged_radio_contest_KC.6aaf56a7.html
DIVERSIONS
Car Towed With Sleeping 7-Year-Old Inside – Police: Possible Kidnapping Investigation Under Way
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/15898495/detail.html
80 Percent Admit To 'Mental Health Days' – Stress, Family Problems Lead To Time Off
http://www.kirotv.com/health/15896645/detail.html
Pranksters Get Payback Of Thousands Of Forks In Yard
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/15900388/detail.html
Divorcing Wife Spouts Secrets On YouTube – Woman Also Dishes About Spouse's Family, Intimate Life
http://www.kirotv.com/family/15899534/detail.html
Tuesday, April 15, 2008
Energy News Digest for April 15, 2008
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)
- Global warming has a new battleground: coal plants
- Duke Energy CEO: Coal not going away
- Poll: Bring on nuclear power
- Where Will Germany's Energy Come From? Nuclear power is too dangerous. Coal is too dirty. Gas involves too much dependence on Russia. And renewables are insufficient
- New Zealand electricity supply at 'high' risk
- Unsworth named president, COO, of electricity meter maker Itron
- Clinton, Obama and McCain reject dam breaching, at least for now
- Eugene Register Guard Opinion – A season without salmon: Collapse of Sacramento run left no choice
- NY Times Editorial – The Trouble with Salmon
- The Olympian Editorial – Humane Society misses the mark: Salmon or sea lions, which is it going to be?
- So much talk about so few fish – “…The salmon fisheries of the Northwest have spawned a new industry of bureaucrats, lawyers, environmentalists, sport fishers, commercial interests, scientists, and natives…”
- Washington State Officials Look At Building More Dams
- Canada – Province to cap copper mine leaking toxic chemical into Tsolum River
- SE Washington – Windmill rule ideas get public airing
- Technology Smooths the Way for Home Wind-Power Turbines
- GE confirms that wind turbine supply is getting worse
- Swept Up by Wind – Wind power is drawing some fancy suitors.
- New Ways to Store Solar Energy for Nighttime and Cloudy Days
- Solar and wind duking it out in high-powered battle
- Rock Port, Missouri, first in country to run 100% on wind power
- SolarCity offers San Jose residents solar-leasing contract for no money down
- FERC staff announces updates to staff guidance on pilot project licensing procedures for new hydropower technologies
- Fuel Choices, Food Crises and Finger-Pointing
- Wonder plant: Montana-grown camelina could solve more than energy problems
- Talent Shortage Threatens Renewables Growth
- Fluorescent vs. incandescent
- Survey: Energy concerns rising in business, but action lacking
- Canada – Should power users pay for conservation?
- Up In Smoke – Two Carbon-Market Millionaires Take a Hit as U.N. Clamps Down
- Florida energy bill's greening power, costs debated
- Connect Kentucky Gets Disconnected
- Corpus Christi Finally Gives Up on Earthlink
- What the Presidential Election Means for Broadband
- Microsoft: Vista feature designed to 'annoy users'
- Gauging a Collider’s Odds of Creating a Black Hole
- Belfair Woman Arrested After Ramming SUV Into Shelton Department Of Corrections Office
- City Of Shelton Plan For Sustainable Future Starts With General Fund
- Hundreds Of Recent Earthquakes Off Oregon's Coast Confuse Scientists
- Recycling That Harms the Environment and People
- Schultz says he'll sue to get Sonics back
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Ascetic • \uh-SET-ik\ • adjective – 1: practicing strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline *2: austere in appearance, manner, or attitude
Agnes decided that when announcing the increase in her occult-based financial security program that it would be best to take an ascetic approach. Instead of the bangles, bells and gold-embroidered costumes that marked her channeling of “Bogart, the Billion Dollar Spirit Advisor,” she wore a plain, black shroud that looked as if it had fallen off the back of a truck in rural Thurston County.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Global warming has a new battleground: coal plants – Environmental lawyers make a concentrated effort to stop new ones from being built; a coalition claims 65 victories in the last year. But industry groups are fighting back (Los Angeles Times)
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-coalwars14apr14,0,5565145.story
Duke Energy CEO: Coal not going away (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9917630-54.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1040_3-0-5
Poll: Bring on nuclear power (Jacksonville Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2008/04/14/daily5.html?ana=from_rss
Where Will Germany's Energy Come From? Nuclear power is too dangerous. Coal is too dirty. Gas involves too much dependence on Russia. And renewables are insufficient. So just where is Germany going to get its power from? (Der Spiegel)
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,547555,00.html
New Zealand electricity supply at 'high' risk – New Zealand's largest electricity consumers are on stand-by to cut power use as southern hydro lakes continue emptying and a winter crisis draws nearer (Stuff News)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4479931a13.html
Unsworth named president, COO, of electricity meter maker Itron (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1341485~Unsworth_named_president__COO__of_electricity_meter_maker_Itron.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Clinton, Obama and McCain reject dam breaching, at least for now (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/352240.html
Eugene Register Guard Opinion – A season without salmon: Collapse of Sacramento run left no choice
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=93127&sid=5&fid=1
NY Times Editorial – The Trouble with Salmon
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/opinion/15tues2.html?ex=1208923200&en=91f80d40dcf07ef1&ei=5070&emc=eta1
The Olympian Editorial – Humane Society misses the mark: Salmon or sea lions, which is it going to be?
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/419162.html
So much talk about so few fish – The salmon fisheries of the Northwest have spawned a new industry of bureaucrats, lawyers, environmentalists, sport fishers, commercial interests, scientists, and natives, all focused on the absence of fish. Meanwhile, four sockeye returned last summer to a lake in Idaho once teeming with tens of thousands. (Crosscut)
http://www.crosscut.com/recreation/13414/So+much+talk+about+so+few+fish/
Washington State Officials Look At Building More Dams (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/washington-state-officials-look-building-more-dams/
Canada – Province to cap copper mine leaking toxic chemical into Tsolum River – An abandoned copper mine that for four decades has leached a toxic mix into the Tsolum River on Vancouver Island, devastating salmon, trout and steelhead stocks, may finally get turned off. (The National)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080415.BCRIVER15/TPStory/National
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
SE Washington – Windmill rule ideas get public airing – The Columbia County Planning Commission hears options tonight that could change the face of local projects (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2008/04/14/local_news/080414l1windy.txt
Technology Smooths the Way for Home Wind-Power Turbines (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/science/earth/15wind.html?ex=1365998400&en=1063c43c6bd2cf0a&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
GE confirms that wind turbine supply is getting worse “…The solar guys, of course, have been dealing with a shortage of silicon since 2004…” (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9918121-54.html?tag=nl.e433
Swept Up by Wind – Wind power is drawing some fancy suitors. (EnergyBiz Insider, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8kowu%5D%5CjmrqmljRTift9K%22bfen%5Fv
New Ways to Store Solar Energy for Nighttime and Cloudy Days (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/science/earth/15sola.html?ex=1365998400&en=2a5396fbb838681c&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Solar and wind duking it out in high-powered battle – In the old Aesop fable, wind and sun battle over which is the stronger. The wind blows hard, but the sun shines hot. (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CjmpqorrTTift9K%22bfen%5Fv
Rock Port, Missouri, first in country to run 100% on wind power (St. Louis Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2008/04/14/daily11.html?ana=from_rss
SolarCity offers San Jose residents solar-leasing contract for no money down (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8929271?source=rss
News Release – FERC staff announces updates to staff guidance on pilot project licensing procedures for new hydropower technologies (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, links to PDF File)
http://www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower/indus-act/hydrokinetics/pdf/white_paper.pdf
Fuel Choices, Food Crises and Finger-Pointing – The idea of turning farms into fuel plants seemed, for a time, like one of the answers to high global oil prices and supply worries. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/business/worldbusiness/15food.html?_r=1&ex=1365998400&en=04280a2e687f74eb&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Wonder plant: Montana-grown camelina could solve more than energy problems - A crop so diverse you can wash your face with it, spread it on bread and eat it, heat your house with it, feed cows with it, turn it into plastic, even fuel your truck with it (The Missoulian)
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/04/14/business/biz64.txt
Talent Shortage Threatens Renewables Growth (Renewable Energy World Online)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=52175&src=rss
CONSERVATION
Fluorescent vs. incandescent – At the end of 2007, three households in Vancouver’s Northwest neighborhood took part in an experiment: They swapped their energy-greedy incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs, which use a fraction of the electricity (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/04/04142008_Fluorescent-vs-incandescent.cfm/
Survey: Energy concerns rising in business, but action lacking (The Business Journal of Milwaukee)
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/04/14/daily9.html?ana=from_rss
Canada – Should power users pay for conservation? Consultant thinks so but regulator will be one to decide (The Chronicle Herald, Nova Scotia)
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1049903.html
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Up In Smoke – Two Carbon-Market Millionaires Take a Hit as U.N. Clamps Down (Wall Street Journal Online)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120813542203111705.html
Florida energy bill's greening power, costs debated (Miami Herald)
http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/496596.html
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Connect Kentucky Gets Disconnected – The Democratic Governor of Kentucky has vetoed two years of funding for the continuation of a statewide broadband expansion program that’s a model for pushing nationwide rural broadband. (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/04/15/connect-kentucky-gets-disconnected/
Corpus Christi Finally Gives Up on Earthlink – City wants to take back its network and be done with the deal (Broadband Reports – Beware of possibly salty language in the comment section!)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Corpus-Christi-Finally-Gives-Up-on-Earthlink-93607
What the Presidential Election Means for Broadband – Legislation likely to get put on the back burner (Broadband Reports – Beware of possibly salty language in the comment section!)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/What-the-Presidential-Election-Means-for-Broadband-93592
Microsoft: Vista feature designed to 'annoy users' (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/Microsoft-Vista-feature-designed-to-annoy-users/2100-1016_3-6237191.html?tag=nl.e433
Gauging a Collider’s Odds of Creating a Black Hole (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/science/15risk.html?ex=1365998400&en=6fe9c418c4602e72&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
GENERAL NEWS
BELFAIR WOMAN ARRESTED AFTER RAMMING SUV INTO SHELTON DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS OFFICE – The Shelton Police Department arrested a 38-year-old Belfair woman on several counts after she drove her Sport Utility Vehicle into five cars and then into the Department of Corrections Office on North Fourth Street Monday. According to a news release, Annamarie Romano was booked into Mason County Jail on several counts of Felony Malicious Mischief, DUI and Reckless Endangerment. All vehicles Romano struck were in the D-O-C parking lot and when officers arrived, Romano's vehicle was almost halfway inside the Department of Corrections building. Witnesses told police that Romano was driving at a high rate of speed and was yelling obscenities out the window. No one was injured in the incident. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
CITY OF SHELTON PLAN FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURE STARTS WITH GENERAL FUND – Shelton's City Administrator Dave O'Leary unveiled his plan for “A Sustainable Future for Shelton” Monday. According to O'Leary, this plan has seven guiding principles including supporting employees, communication, being proactive, and teamwork. There are four phases of the plan: Planning, Sustainment, rebuilding and growth. O'Leary suggested the City start with its General Fund - rebuilding the fund balance that has been reduced by financial shortfalls. This includes establishing financial policies and procedures, using onetime revenues for onetime expenses not ongoing expenses, accumulate an ending fund balance totaling 15% of the General Fund Budget, continually reviewing programs to determine whether they are the most efficient way of doing business, and pursuing and encouraging development activities that generate new or increase sales taxes. All of these concepts will require direction from the Shelton City Commission. The first step would be adoption of a resolution that establishes the framework for this plan. That action is expected at the Commission's next business meeting. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Hundreds Of Recent Earthquakes Off Oregon's Coast Confuse Scientists (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/hundreds-recent-earthquakes-oregons-coast-confuse-scientists/
Recycling That Harms the Environment and People – Recycling is supposed to be good for the environment. But if it’s not carried out properly, certain kinds of recycling — notably the dismantling of electronic circuit boards, which contain lead, zinc, copper and other metals — can cause environmental harm. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/science/earth/15obrecy.html?ex=1365998400&en=800c26d028984503&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Schultz says he'll sue to get Sonics back (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/358985_stern15.html?source=rss
DIVERSIONS
Stolen rhino horns could be deadly
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSHAR46004820080414?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Fed up with politics, man eats vote (Ed. Note: article contains PG-13, scatological language)
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL1313250820080414?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Travel writer says he made up parts of books (as long as you don’t encounter the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal)
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSSYD21440120080414?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Smile and dress modestly, Serbian civil servants told
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL1463350620080414?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Oyster-Eating Champ Slurps Down 35 Dozen In New Orleans
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/15877511/detail.html
TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Global warming has a new battleground: coal plants
- Duke Energy CEO: Coal not going away
- Poll: Bring on nuclear power
- Where Will Germany's Energy Come From? Nuclear power is too dangerous. Coal is too dirty. Gas involves too much dependence on Russia. And renewables are insufficient
- New Zealand electricity supply at 'high' risk
- Unsworth named president, COO, of electricity meter maker Itron
- Clinton, Obama and McCain reject dam breaching, at least for now
- Eugene Register Guard Opinion – A season without salmon: Collapse of Sacramento run left no choice
- NY Times Editorial – The Trouble with Salmon
- The Olympian Editorial – Humane Society misses the mark: Salmon or sea lions, which is it going to be?
- So much talk about so few fish – “…The salmon fisheries of the Northwest have spawned a new industry of bureaucrats, lawyers, environmentalists, sport fishers, commercial interests, scientists, and natives…”
- Washington State Officials Look At Building More Dams
- Canada – Province to cap copper mine leaking toxic chemical into Tsolum River
- SE Washington – Windmill rule ideas get public airing
- Technology Smooths the Way for Home Wind-Power Turbines
- GE confirms that wind turbine supply is getting worse
- Swept Up by Wind – Wind power is drawing some fancy suitors.
- New Ways to Store Solar Energy for Nighttime and Cloudy Days
- Solar and wind duking it out in high-powered battle
- Rock Port, Missouri, first in country to run 100% on wind power
- SolarCity offers San Jose residents solar-leasing contract for no money down
- FERC staff announces updates to staff guidance on pilot project licensing procedures for new hydropower technologies
- Fuel Choices, Food Crises and Finger-Pointing
- Wonder plant: Montana-grown camelina could solve more than energy problems
- Talent Shortage Threatens Renewables Growth
- Fluorescent vs. incandescent
- Survey: Energy concerns rising in business, but action lacking
- Canada – Should power users pay for conservation?
- Up In Smoke – Two Carbon-Market Millionaires Take a Hit as U.N. Clamps Down
- Florida energy bill's greening power, costs debated
- Connect Kentucky Gets Disconnected
- Corpus Christi Finally Gives Up on Earthlink
- What the Presidential Election Means for Broadband
- Microsoft: Vista feature designed to 'annoy users'
- Gauging a Collider’s Odds of Creating a Black Hole
- Belfair Woman Arrested After Ramming SUV Into Shelton Department Of Corrections Office
- City Of Shelton Plan For Sustainable Future Starts With General Fund
- Hundreds Of Recent Earthquakes Off Oregon's Coast Confuse Scientists
- Recycling That Harms the Environment and People
- Schultz says he'll sue to get Sonics back
These and links to more stories in today’s Energy News Digest
WORD OF THE DAY
Ascetic • \uh-SET-ik\ • adjective – 1: practicing strict self-denial as a measure of personal and especially spiritual discipline *2: austere in appearance, manner, or attitude
Agnes decided that when announcing the increase in her occult-based financial security program that it would be best to take an ascetic approach. Instead of the bangles, bells and gold-embroidered costumes that marked her channeling of “Bogart, the Billion Dollar Spirit Advisor,” she wore a plain, black shroud that looked as if it had fallen off the back of a truck in rural Thurston County.
WEATHER
Forecast for Mason County, Washington
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/MapClick.php?site=sew&smap=1&textField1=47.21528&textField2=-123.09944
(NOTE: Some readers have noted that the NWS forecast has not been updated regularly. Apparently there is a refresh issue with the weather web site. If you visit and the forecast isn’t updated, press F5 or refresh the web page. That should take care of the issue)
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Global warming has a new battleground: coal plants – Environmental lawyers make a concentrated effort to stop new ones from being built; a coalition claims 65 victories in the last year. But industry groups are fighting back (Los Angeles Times)
http://www.latimes.com/news/nationworld/nation/la-na-coalwars14apr14,0,5565145.story
Duke Energy CEO: Coal not going away (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9917630-54.html?part=rss&subj=news&tag=2547-1040_3-0-5
Poll: Bring on nuclear power (Jacksonville Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2008/04/14/daily5.html?ana=from_rss
Where Will Germany's Energy Come From? Nuclear power is too dangerous. Coal is too dirty. Gas involves too much dependence on Russia. And renewables are insufficient. So just where is Germany going to get its power from? (Der Spiegel)
http://www.spiegel.de/international/germany/0,1518,547555,00.html
New Zealand electricity supply at 'high' risk – New Zealand's largest electricity consumers are on stand-by to cut power use as southern hydro lakes continue emptying and a winter crisis draws nearer (Stuff News)
http://www.stuff.co.nz/4479931a13.html
Unsworth named president, COO, of electricity meter maker Itron (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1341485~Unsworth_named_president__COO__of_electricity_meter_maker_Itron.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines
WATER, FISH & THE ENVIRONMENT
Clinton, Obama and McCain reject dam breaching, at least for now (Idaho Statesman)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/newsupdates/story/352240.html
Eugene Register Guard Opinion – A season without salmon: Collapse of Sacramento run left no choice
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/dt.cms.support.viewStory.cls?cid=93127&sid=5&fid=1
NY Times Editorial – The Trouble with Salmon
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/opinion/15tues2.html?ex=1208923200&en=91f80d40dcf07ef1&ei=5070&emc=eta1
The Olympian Editorial – Humane Society misses the mark: Salmon or sea lions, which is it going to be?
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/story/419162.html
So much talk about so few fish – The salmon fisheries of the Northwest have spawned a new industry of bureaucrats, lawyers, environmentalists, sport fishers, commercial interests, scientists, and natives, all focused on the absence of fish. Meanwhile, four sockeye returned last summer to a lake in Idaho once teeming with tens of thousands. (Crosscut)
http://www.crosscut.com/recreation/13414/So+much+talk+about+so+few+fish/
Washington State Officials Look At Building More Dams (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/washington-state-officials-look-building-more-dams/
Canada – Province to cap copper mine leaking toxic chemical into Tsolum River – An abandoned copper mine that for four decades has leached a toxic mix into the Tsolum River on Vancouver Island, devastating salmon, trout and steelhead stocks, may finally get turned off. (The National)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20080415.BCRIVER15/TPStory/National
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
SE Washington – Windmill rule ideas get public airing – The Columbia County Planning Commission hears options tonight that could change the face of local projects (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin)
http://www.union-bulletin.com/articles/2008/04/14/local_news/080414l1windy.txt
Technology Smooths the Way for Home Wind-Power Turbines (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/science/earth/15wind.html?ex=1365998400&en=1063c43c6bd2cf0a&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
GE confirms that wind turbine supply is getting worse “…The solar guys, of course, have been dealing with a shortage of silicon since 2004…” (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/8301-11128_3-9918121-54.html?tag=nl.e433
Swept Up by Wind – Wind power is drawing some fancy suitors. (EnergyBiz Insider, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8kowu%5D%5CjmrqmljRTift9K%22bfen%5Fv
New Ways to Store Solar Energy for Nighttime and Cloudy Days (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/science/earth/15sola.html?ex=1365998400&en=2a5396fbb838681c&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Solar and wind duking it out in high-powered battle – In the old Aesop fable, wind and sun battle over which is the stronger. The wind blows hard, but the sun shines hot. (McClatchy Tribune Business News, via Power Marketing Association Online)
http://powermarketers.netcontentinc.net/newsreader.asp?ppa=8knpp%5E%5CjmpqorrTTift9K%22bfen%5Fv
Rock Port, Missouri, first in country to run 100% on wind power (St. Louis Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/stlouis/stories/2008/04/14/daily11.html?ana=from_rss
SolarCity offers San Jose residents solar-leasing contract for no money down (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_8929271?source=rss
News Release – FERC staff announces updates to staff guidance on pilot project licensing procedures for new hydropower technologies (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, links to PDF File)
http://www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower/indus-act/hydrokinetics/pdf/white_paper.pdf
Fuel Choices, Food Crises and Finger-Pointing – The idea of turning farms into fuel plants seemed, for a time, like one of the answers to high global oil prices and supply worries. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/business/worldbusiness/15food.html?_r=1&ex=1365998400&en=04280a2e687f74eb&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&oref=slogin
Wonder plant: Montana-grown camelina could solve more than energy problems - A crop so diverse you can wash your face with it, spread it on bread and eat it, heat your house with it, feed cows with it, turn it into plastic, even fuel your truck with it (The Missoulian)
http://www.missoulian.com/articles/2008/04/14/business/biz64.txt
Talent Shortage Threatens Renewables Growth (Renewable Energy World Online)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=52175&src=rss
CONSERVATION
Fluorescent vs. incandescent – At the end of 2007, three households in Vancouver’s Northwest neighborhood took part in an experiment: They swapped their energy-greedy incandescent light bulbs for compact fluorescent bulbs, which use a fraction of the electricity (The Columbian)
http://www.columbian.com/news/localNews/2008/04/04142008_Fluorescent-vs-incandescent.cfm/
Survey: Energy concerns rising in business, but action lacking (The Business Journal of Milwaukee)
http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/stories/2008/04/14/daily9.html?ana=from_rss
Canada – Should power users pay for conservation? Consultant thinks so but regulator will be one to decide (The Chronicle Herald, Nova Scotia)
http://thechronicleherald.ca/Business/1049903.html
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Up In Smoke – Two Carbon-Market Millionaires Take a Hit as U.N. Clamps Down (Wall Street Journal Online)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB120813542203111705.html
Florida energy bill's greening power, costs debated (Miami Herald)
http://www.miamiherald.com/458/story/496596.html
TELECOMMUNICATIONS & TECHNOLOGY
Connect Kentucky Gets Disconnected – The Democratic Governor of Kentucky has vetoed two years of funding for the continuation of a statewide broadband expansion program that’s a model for pushing nationwide rural broadband. (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2008/04/15/connect-kentucky-gets-disconnected/
Corpus Christi Finally Gives Up on Earthlink – City wants to take back its network and be done with the deal (Broadband Reports – Beware of possibly salty language in the comment section!)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Corpus-Christi-Finally-Gives-Up-on-Earthlink-93607
What the Presidential Election Means for Broadband – Legislation likely to get put on the back burner (Broadband Reports – Beware of possibly salty language in the comment section!)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/What-the-Presidential-Election-Means-for-Broadband-93592
Microsoft: Vista feature designed to 'annoy users' (CNET News)
http://www.news.com/Microsoft-Vista-feature-designed-to-annoy-users/2100-1016_3-6237191.html?tag=nl.e433
Gauging a Collider’s Odds of Creating a Black Hole (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/science/15risk.html?ex=1365998400&en=6fe9c418c4602e72&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
GENERAL NEWS
BELFAIR WOMAN ARRESTED AFTER RAMMING SUV INTO SHELTON DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS OFFICE – The Shelton Police Department arrested a 38-year-old Belfair woman on several counts after she drove her Sport Utility Vehicle into five cars and then into the Department of Corrections Office on North Fourth Street Monday. According to a news release, Annamarie Romano was booked into Mason County Jail on several counts of Felony Malicious Mischief, DUI and Reckless Endangerment. All vehicles Romano struck were in the D-O-C parking lot and when officers arrived, Romano's vehicle was almost halfway inside the Department of Corrections building. Witnesses told police that Romano was driving at a high rate of speed and was yelling obscenities out the window. No one was injured in the incident. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
CITY OF SHELTON PLAN FOR SUSTAINABLE FUTURE STARTS WITH GENERAL FUND – Shelton's City Administrator Dave O'Leary unveiled his plan for “A Sustainable Future for Shelton” Monday. According to O'Leary, this plan has seven guiding principles including supporting employees, communication, being proactive, and teamwork. There are four phases of the plan: Planning, Sustainment, rebuilding and growth. O'Leary suggested the City start with its General Fund - rebuilding the fund balance that has been reduced by financial shortfalls. This includes establishing financial policies and procedures, using onetime revenues for onetime expenses not ongoing expenses, accumulate an ending fund balance totaling 15% of the General Fund Budget, continually reviewing programs to determine whether they are the most efficient way of doing business, and pursuing and encouraging development activities that generate new or increase sales taxes. All of these concepts will require direction from the Shelton City Commission. The first step would be adoption of a resolution that establishes the framework for this plan. That action is expected at the Commission's next business meeting. (KMAS Radio, Shelton)
Hundreds Of Recent Earthquakes Off Oregon's Coast Confuse Scientists (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/hundreds-recent-earthquakes-oregons-coast-confuse-scientists/
Recycling That Harms the Environment and People – Recycling is supposed to be good for the environment. But if it’s not carried out properly, certain kinds of recycling — notably the dismantling of electronic circuit boards, which contain lead, zinc, copper and other metals — can cause environmental harm. (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/15/science/earth/15obrecy.html?ex=1365998400&en=800c26d028984503&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
Schultz says he'll sue to get Sonics back (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/358985_stern15.html?source=rss
DIVERSIONS
Stolen rhino horns could be deadly
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSHAR46004820080414?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Fed up with politics, man eats vote (Ed. Note: article contains PG-13, scatological language)
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL1313250820080414?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Travel writer says he made up parts of books (as long as you don’t encounter the Ravenous Bugblatter Beast of Traal)
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSSYD21440120080414?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Smile and dress modestly, Serbian civil servants told
http://www.reuters.com/article/oddlyEnoughNews/idUSL1463350620080414?feedType=RSS&feedName=oddlyEnoughNews
Oyster-Eating Champ Slurps Down 35 Dozen In New Orleans
http://www.kirotv.com/irresistible/15877511/detail.html
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