Monday, February 9, 2009

Energy News Digest for February 9, 2009

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's $7.4 Billion Sale Completed
- Anderson Island Residents Urged To Go Easy On Power
- Everett Herald Editorial - Snohomish PUD Plots a Prudent Course on Power Rates
- Oregon Energy Council to Hold First Meeting
- Report Says Texas Electricity Rate Soar
- Hurdles (Not Financial Ones) Await Electric Grid Update
- Maine - Power Grid Expansion in Northern Maine for Big Wind Farm Put On Ice
- Congressional Research Reports - Energy Policy Act of 2005
- Second Natural-Gas Pipeline Sought Along Columbia River
- New York City - How Long to Fix a Streetlight? 12 Months, if you’re Persistent
- Early Portion of Chinook Season Could Be Adopted
- Post-Dam Analysis – Oregon’s Coal Creek Rebirth: Just Add Explosives
- Skokomish Projects to be Discussed This Week
- Gauging Health of Puget Sound
- Skagit County PUD Water Fluoridation May Not Happen At All
- Study Pinpoints West's Windy, Sunny Resource Areas
- Engineers from Ireland Tapped For Oregon Wave Study
- The Promise and Peril of the 'Clean-Energy Economy'
- Feed-In Tariffs Contemplated in the U.S.
- Turning Livestock Waste Into Energy Can Save The Farm And Save The Planet
- Why Obama’s Energy Savings Estimate May Be Skewed
- Energy Efficient Decorative Lights OK'd For New Narrows Bridge
- Is Your Clothesline Illegal?
- How to Stash Carbon Dioxide: Turn It into Stone
- Grays Harbor County: Impacts Of Warming Will Hit Here
- Microsoft Wants to Help Companies Gauge Their Greenness
- Calling All Cherry Pickers: Internet Tax Credit Boost Proposed By Senator
- Broadband Stimulus Bill Gets Smaller
- Not Everyone Is Cheering as Wi-Fi Takes to the Air
- North Carolina - City’s Wi-Fi Network Grows with Business Investment
- Pulling the Plug on Wi-Fi Bandits
- Billions in Stimulus Funds Sought For Washington's Needs
- Library System with Branch in Belfair Considering Its Options
- When Storms Strike Home, Preparedness Really Pays Off
- Shelton Fifth At State Bowling Tournament
- Be Heard By Improving E-Mail Communication

These And Links to More Stories in Today’s Energy News Digest

WORD OF THE DAY

Kinesics • \kuh-NEE-siks\ • noun - A systematic study of the relationship between nonlinguistic body motions (as blushes, shrugs, or eye movement) and communication

The dumbstruck kinesiologist was at a loss to interpret the complex mating dance of the love struck office workers on the second floor of the newly built finance center. At first it appeared that they were dancing 1965 craze “The Freddie”, but upon further review, she came to the conclusion that the copy repairman had a crush on one of the pool stenographers.

Do the Freddie
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xGxDS10VAbg

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Puget Energy's $7.4 Billion Sale Completed (Examiner.Com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1838203~Puget_Energy_s__7_4_billion_sale_completed.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines

Anderson Island Residents Urged To Go Easy On Power (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/619440.html

Everett Herald Editorial - Snohomish PUD Plots a Prudent Course on Power Rates
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090208/OPINION01/702089965

Oregon Energy Council to Hold First Meeting (Examiner.Com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1840482~Oregon_energy_council_to_hold_first_meeting.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Report Says Texas Electricity Rate Soar (Houston Chronicle, TX)
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/ap/business/6253890.html

Hurdles (Not Financial Ones) Await Electric Grid Update (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/07/science/earth/07grid.html

Maine - Power Grid Expansion in Northern Maine for Big Wind Farm Put On Ice (MSNBC)
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/29037946/

Congressional Research Reports - Energy Policy Act of 2005
http://opencrs.com/document/RL33302

Second Natural-Gas Pipeline Sought Along Columbia River (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008722910_pipeline09m.html?syndication=rss

New York City - How Long to Fix a Streetlight? 12 Months, if you’re Persistent (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/07/nyregion/07light.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Early Portion of Chinook Season Could Be Adopted (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20090207/SPORTS04/702089976

Post-Dam Analysis – Oregon’s Coal Creek Rebirth: Just Add Explosives (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/02/coal_creek_rebirth_just_add_ex.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Skokomish Projects to be Discussed This Week (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/feb/08/skokomish-projects-to-be-discussed-this-week/?partner=RSS

Gauging Health of Puget Sound (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008722914_tour09m.html

Skagit County PUD Water Fluoridation May Not Happen At All (KAPS Radio, Mount Vernon, WA)
http://www.kapsradio.com/2009/02/06/water-fluoridation-may-not-happen-at-all/

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Study Pinpoints West's Windy, Sunny Resource Areas (Associated Press)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=9805964

Engineers from Ireland Tapped For Oregon Wave Study (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008722916_waveenergy09m.html?syndication=rss

The Promise and Peril of the 'Clean-Energy Economy' (Los Angeles Times)
http://www.latimes.com/news/science/environment/la-na-clean-energy9-2009feb09,0,6542292.story

Feed-In Tariffs Contemplated in the U.S. (NY Times)
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/09/feed-in-tariffs-contemplated-in-the-us/

Turning Livestock Waste Into Energy Can Save The Farm And Save The Planet (The Kansas City Star. MO)
http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/1023258.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Why Obama’s Energy Savings Estimate May Be Skewed (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/07/washington/07energy.html?ref=politics

Energy Efficient Decorative Lights OK'd For New Narrows Bridge - Supporters to cover $3,000 in maintenance with money the Bonneville Power Administration offers for energy-efficient projects: also want to put Tacoma Power & PenLight on the hook (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/331/story/619398.html

Is Your Clothesline Illegal? (Los Angeles Times)
http://www.latimes.com/features/printedition/home/la-hm-clothesline7-2009feb07,0,4104849.story

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

How to Stash Carbon Dioxide: Turn It into Stone - Dissolved in water and pumped underground, CO2 becomes limestone (Christian Science Monitor)
http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2009/02/05/how-to-stash-carbon-dioxide-turn-it-into-stone/

Grays Harbor County: Impacts Of Warming Will Hit Here (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/02/08/local_news/01news.txt

Microsoft Wants to Help Companies Gauge Their Greenness (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/399300_msftdynamics09.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Calling All Cherry Pickers: Internet Tax Credit Boost Proposed By Senator (Reuters)
http://tech.yahoo.com/news/nm/20090206/wr_nm/us_usa_stimulus_internet_1

Broadband Stimulus Bill Gets Smaller - $1.5 Billion Less In Funding, Tax Credit Language Redefined (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Broadband-Stimulus-Bill-Gets-Smaller-100754

Not Everyone Is Cheering as Wi-Fi Takes to the Air (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/07/business/07plane.html

North Carolina - City’s Wi-Fi Network Grows with Business Investment (Charlotte Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2009/02/09/focus4.html?ana=from_rss

Pulling the Plug on Wi-Fi Bandits (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/09/BUC115O83U.DTL&feed=rss.business

GENERAL NEWS

Billions in Stimulus Funds Sought For Washington's Needs (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008720259_stimulus08m.html

Library System with Branch in Belfair Considering Its Options (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/feb/06/library-system-with-branch-in-belfair-its/?partner=RSS

When Storms Strike Home, Preparedness Really Pays Off (The Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090208/BIZ/702089941/-1/RSS03

Shelton Fifth At State Bowling Tournament (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/143/story/752145.html

Be Heard By Improving E-Mail Communication (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008719926_skube08.html?syndication=rss

DIVERSIONS

Garfield Player Punched During Redmond Basketball Game
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_020809WAB-garfield-redmond-basketball-brawl-sw.3076a942.html

Software Glitch Leads To 5-Cent Gas in Dutch Town
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090209/ap_on_fe_st/eu_odd_netherlands_cheap_gas;_ylt=AmCK4ilvCJkpTcPeH7eG9HLtiBIF

Escaped Prisoner Turns Up In Michigan Judge's Trunk
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090207/ap_on_fe_st/odd_judge_s_trunk_prisoner;_ylt=AseqPt84nu0d8IYOSeN1p6XtiBIF

Florida Man Issued 50 Traffic Citations In One Day
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090207/ap_on_fe_st/odd_bad_driver;_ylt=AlwfSsoEW7vwlsIN9GjIEKbtiBIF

SONG OF THE DAY

I Wanna Be Sedated - The Ramones
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wMD7Ezp3gWc

'I Wanna Be Sedated' (NPR top 100 music review)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=1114972&ps=bb4

Friday, February 6, 2009

Energy News Digest for February 6, 2009

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)

- Anderson Island Residents: Goodbye, Blackout; Hello, Huge Utility Bills
- Texas - Consumers must spend some energy to avoid being ripped off
- Detroit News Editorial - America, Michigan Can't Afford To Ditch Coal
- Possible Link between Dam and China Quake
- Salmon Are Losers in Squabble between Washington, Oregon
- Washington State Fish and Wildlife Panel Plans Rule Changes
- Humans Not Involved In Sea Lion Deaths, Investigation Says
- DNR Rejects Taylor Shellfish Lease Agreement
- Representative Finn Working to Help Keep Fish Hatcheries Open
- California - Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Drought Response Could Pit Fish against Fish
- Final Plan For Cd'A Lake Pollution Due This Month
- Tri-Citians in Olympia to Promote Green Jobs
- Developer Wants To Build Wind Farm Near Ellensburg
- Wind-Turbine Business Propels Port Of Vancouver
- Los Angeles’ renewable energy efforts will boost rates, report says
- Energy Pulse Commentary - Renewable Portfolio Standards: Certainty Now
- With Your Second Home: Staying Warm, Staying Green
- Oregon - Kulongoski Pushes Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Limit
- 2 Federal Agencies Settle Global Warming Lawsuit
- Farmers Relax (a Little) After Cow Gas Tax Scare
- Louisiana - After Five Years of Fighting, Lafayette Residents Gets Their Fiber
- Weyerhaeuser's 4Q Loss Exceeds $1 Billion
- 5 Useful Tips for Winter Photography

These And Links to More Stories in Today’s Energy News Digest

WORD OF THE DAY

Confabulation • \kun-fab-yuh-LAY-shun\ • noun - 1: familiar talk or conversation *2: a filling in of gaps in memory by fabrication

Mr. Bronte’s story about his visit to the grocery store seemed like a typically mundane way to pass the time on a drowsy summer afternoon. His confabulation about wrestling a particularly large pork roast from another customer, all the while fighting off an attack of lobsters from the seafood section held the lemonade-drinking, rocking chair set spellbound for over an hour.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Anderson Island Residents: Goodbye, Blackout; Hello, Huge Utility Bills (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/39188867.html

Texas - Consumers must spend some energy to avoid being ripped off “…I got taken by a retail electric company…” (Dallas Morning News, TX)
http://www.dallasnews.com/sharedcontent/dws/news/localnews/stories/DN-floyd_06met.ART.State.Edition1.4c3cf1a.html

Detroit News Editorial - America, Michigan Can't Afford To Ditch Coal
http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090205/OPINION01/902050336/1008/OPINION01

Possible Link between Dam and China Quake (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/06/world/asia/06quake.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Salmon Are Losers in Squabble between Washington, Oregon (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/outdoors/story/750020.html

Washington State Fish and Wildlife Panel Plans Rule Changes (The News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/outdoors/story/617156.html

Humans Not Involved In Sea Lion Deaths, Investigation Says (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/02/humans_not_involved_in_sea_lio.html

DNR Rejects Taylor Shellfish Lease Agreement (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/749949.html

Representative Finn Working to Help Keep Fish Hatcheries Open (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA – There’s a pun in this story somewhere, I just KNOW it!)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6306/reftab/1632/t/FINN-WORKING-TO-HELP-KEEP-FISH-HATCHERIES-OPEN-/Default.aspx

California - Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta Drought Response Could Pit Fish against Fish (Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://www.sacbee.com/topstories/story/1603598.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Final Plan For Cd'A Lake Pollution Due This Month (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/750495.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Tri-Citians in Olympia to Promote Green Jobs (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/kennewick_pasco_richland/story/470164.html

Developer Wants To Build Wind Farm Near Ellensburg - EnXco plans to submit application for 5,200-acre project (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)
http://www.yakimaherald.com/stories/2009/02/05/developer-wants-to-build-wind-farm-near-ellensburg

Wind-Turbine Business Propels Port Of Vancouver (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20090206/BIZ01/702069984/-1/BIZ

Los Angeles’ renewable energy efforts will boost rates, report says – The plan to increase such power sources has not been properly analyzed regarding costs to customers (Los Angeles Times, CA)
http://www.latimes.com/news/printedition/california/la-me-los-angeles-dwp-report6-2009feb06,0,4245904.story

Energy Pulse Commentary - Renewable Portfolio Standards: Certainty Now
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1936

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

With Your Second Home: Staying Warm, Staying Green - f you own two homes, what can you do to make that second home, which often sits empty, more energy-efficient? (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/06/greathomesanddestinations/06your.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Oregon - Kulongoski Pushes Mandatory Greenhouse Gas Limit (The Oregonian, Portland, OR)
http://www.oregonlive.com/news/index.ssf/2009/02/kulongoski_pushes_mandatory_gr.html

2 Federal Agencies Settle Global Warming Lawsuit (Examiner.Com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1837330~2_federal_agencies_settle_global_warming_lawsuit.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

Farmers Relax (a Little) After Cow Tax Scare - rumors that the feds were considering a tax on methane in an effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions (NY Times)
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/06/farmers-relax-a-little-after-cow-tax-scare/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Louisiana - After Five Years of Fighting, Lafayette Residents Gets Their Fiber (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/After-Five-Years-Of-Fighting-Lafayette-Gets-Their-Fiber-100724

GENERAL NEWS

Weyerhaeuser's 4Q Loss Exceeds $1 Billion (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008714439_apearnsweyerhaeuser1stldwritethru.html?syndication=rss

5 Useful Tips for Winter Photography (NY Times)
http://gadgetwise.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/06/5-useful-tips-for-winter-photography/

DIVERSIONS

Lost West Seattle Goat Jailed, Reunited With Owner
http://www.kirotv.com/news/18642066/detail.html

New Jersey Township Can't Declare Inflatable Rat a Pest
http://www.kirotv.com/news/18649081/detail.html

Bill Gates Unleashes Mosquitoes at Tech Conference
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/39202992.html

Masked Intruders Roaming the White House Grounds
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/05/AR2009020501306.html?nav=rss_email/components

SONG OF THE DAY

Smells like Teen Spirit - Nirvana
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kPQR-OsH0RQ

Smells like Teen Spirit - The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TLQ2eh5LfZY

Thursday, February 5, 2009

Energy News Digest for February 5, 2009

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.

The News Digest Is Also Available At The Following Web Site:
http://www.energynewsdigest.blogspot.com/

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

- 16 bills seek to amend alternative-energy initiative approved by voters
- No appeal of PSE sale; new Whidbey PUD effort
- Pend Oreille County Wants Bigger Piece Of Wealth From Seattle's
- River Flows Affect Chelan PUD Revenues
- The Daily News Editorial - Anger Can Be Justified, but Cowlitz PUD Recall Isn't the Answer
- No easy power fix for Anderson Island resident
- POWER: Benton PUD installing new meters
- Utilities and Transportation Commission Gets New Chairman
- Oregon Report: Energy Tax Credits Created Jobs
- $375 Million Coal Plant Proposed For SE Montana
- Dallas Morning News Editorial - Electric Dereg A Bust/Ripoff in Texas?
- Retail electricity competition pumps billions in economy
- Energy Secretary's Dire California Prediction
- Michigan Man Who Froze Over $1K In Unpaid Power Bills Had $
- Iowa Board May Revamp Electric Shut-Off Rules
- JD Power and Associates 2009 Electricity Customer Satisfaction Survey
- Idaho Statesman Editorial - Salmon Need Help From New Administration
- Sacramento: Hatchery Salmon Shortage Means Fewer Fish In Fall
- Lewis County PUD Believes Chehalis Dams Would Control Flooding
- Ice Dam Creates Potential Threat In Twisp
- Oregon - How Much Klamath River Water?
- Stormwater Ruling A Win For Small Cities
- State of Montana May Get $2 Million Riverfront Property
- Dark Days for Green
- Florida - Solar powered popcorn in Palm Beach
- Energy lawyer advocates for Great Lakes wind
- WHO GETS WHAT: Tax breaks for energy
- Obama ordering energy-efficient
- Hearing Airs Views On Proposed 'Cap and Trade' Emissions Bill
- Mid-Columbia Lawmakers Fight Emissions
- Congress Delays Troubled Switch To Digital
- Washington State Lawmakers Consider Bagging Plastic
- North Mason Storm Repair Work Could Begin Soon

These And Links to More Stories in Today’s Energy News Digest

WORD OF THE DAY

Girandole • \JEER-un-dohl\ • noun - 1: a radiating and showy composition (as a cluster of skyrockets fired together) *2: an ornamental branched candlestick 3: a pendant earring usually with three ornaments hanging from a central piece

The crowd exhaled with “Oohs” and “Aahs” which pleased the bearded pyrotechnican standing near the firing site for the Alaska State Fair. He figured that the girandole finale would bring the crowd to its feet….and he was not disappointed.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

16 bills seek to amend alternative-energy initiative approved by voters (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20090205/NEWS02/702059937

No appeal of PSE sale; new Whidbey PUD effort (The Whidbey Examiner, Coupeville, WA)
http://www.whidbeyexaminer.com/main.asp?SectionID=1&SubSectionID=1&ArticleID=2185&TM=63271.02

Pend Oreille County Wants Bigger Piece Of Wealth From Seattle's Dam (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008704810_pendoreille04m.html?syndication=rss

River Flows Affect Chelan PUD Revenues (Wenatchee World)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090203/NEWS04/702039919/1001

The Daily News Editorial - Anger Can Be Justified, but Cowlitz PUD Recall Isn't the Answer
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/02/05/editorial/doc498a0b39ec5fd067705987.txt

No easy power fix for Anderson Island resident (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_020409WAB-anderson-island-power-KC.1df25d36.html

POWER: Benton PUD installing new meters (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/468670.html

Utilities and Transportation Commission Gets New Chairman (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008704732_webgoltz04.html?syndication=rss

Oregon Report: Energy Tax Credits Created Jobs (Portland Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/stories/2009/02/02/daily23.html?ana=from_rss

$375 Million Coal Plant Proposed For SE Montana (Examiner.Com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1831723~_375_million_coal_plant_proposed_for_SE_Mont_.html?cid=rss-Montana_Headlines

Dallas Morning News Editorial - Electric Dereg A Bust/Ripoff in Texas?
http://dallasmorningviewsblog.dallasnews.com/archives/2009/02/electric-dereg.html

Retail electricity competition pumps billions in economy (San Antonio Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/sanantonio/stories/2009/02/02/daily12.html

Energy Secretary's Dire California Prediction (MSNBC)
http://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/Energy-Secretarys-Dire-California-Prediction.html

Michigan Man Who Froze Over $1K In Unpaid Power Bills Had $600K (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/nationworld/story/748361.html

Iowa Board May Revamp Electric Shut-Off Rules (Associated Press)
http://www.forbes.com/feeds/ap/2009/02/04/ap6008353.html

JD Power and Associates 2009 Electricity Customer Satisfaction Survey (Links to PDF File)
http://www.jdpower.com/corporate/news/releases/pdf/2009018.pdf

FISH & WILDLIFE

Idaho Statesman Editorial - Salmon Need Help From New Administration
http://www.idahostatesman.com/126/story/656237.html

Sacramento: Hatchery Salmon Shortage Means Fewer Fish In Fall Run (Sacramento Bee, CA)
http://www.sacbee.com/ourregion/story/1600663.html?mi_rss=Our+Region

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Lewis County PUD Believes Chehalis Dams Would Control Flooding (KELA-Radio, Centralia, WA)
http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews/?Lewis-County-PUD-Believes-Chehalis-Dams-=1&blockID=38420&feedID=410

Ice Dam Creates Potential Threat In Twisp (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/38931314.html

Oregon - How Much Klamath River Water? Though winter isn’t over, irrigators are concerned (Herald and News, Klamath Falls, OR)
http://www.heraldandnews.com/articles/2009/02/05/top_story/doc498a92878880c077721990.txt

Stormwater Ruling A Win For Small Cities (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008704765_webruling04.html?syndication=rss

State of Montana May Get $2 Million Riverfront Property – Some assistance from Bonneville Power Administration (The Daily Interlake, Kalispell, MT)
http://www.dailyinterlake.com/articles/2009/02/04/news/local_montana/news_8766237295_01.txt

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Dark Days for Green Energy (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/04/business/04windsolar.html?_r=1

Florida - Solar powered popcorn in Palm Beach County (WPTV-TV, West Palm Beach, FL)
http://www.wptv.com/news/local/story/Solar-powered-popcorn-in-Palm-Beach-County/RYwznnl_5UmOkh7LE51Ovg.cspx

Energy lawyer advocates for Great Lakes wind power (West Michigan Business)
http://www.mlive.com/business/west-michigan/index.ssf/2009/02/energy_lawyer_advocates_for_gr.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

WHO GETS WHAT: Tax breaks for energy conservation - Congress may soon give you a break that could save you hundreds of dollars (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008711203_apstimulusenergy.html?syndication=rss

Obama ordering energy-efficient standards – Potentially higher efficiency standards for everyday household appliances such as dishwashers, lamps and microwave ovens (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008710191_apobamaenergy.html?syndication=rss

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Hearing Airs Views On Proposed 'Cap and Trade' Emissions Bill (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/398642_cap04.html

Mid-Columbia Lawmakers Fight Emissions Cap (Tri-City Herald)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/kennewick_pasco_richland/story/467714.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Congress Delays Troubled Switch To Digital TV (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/04/AR2009020402584.html?wprss=rss_technology

GENERAL NEWS

Washington State Lawmakers Consider Bagging Plastic Bags (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/39119792.html

North Mason Storm Repair Work Could Begin Soon (The Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://kitsapsun.com/news/2009/feb/04/north-mason-storm-repair-work-could-begin-soon/?partner=RSS

DIVERSIONS

Man Found Stuck In Chimney - Man Says He Doesn't Know How He Got There
http://www.kirotv.com/news/18629084/detail.html

Karma Visits Identity Thief While He Awaits Trial
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/02/05/local_news/06news.txt

Washington High Court Dismisses Cow Bone Lawsuit
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/398893_dental06.html?source=rss

SONG OF THE DAY

Angel from Montgomery - Bonnie Raitt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhe3vb0z7mY&feature=related

Tuesday, February 3, 2009

Energy News Digest for February 3, 2009

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)

- Montana utility drops 250-megawatt coal plant in favor of natural gas, some wind
- Idaho bill: New electricity customers should pay more to recover cost of growth
- Oregon Legislature to Consider Rate Hike for Klamath Dam Removal
- Cowlitz PUD recall petition back on track - judge to decide measure’s fate
- Aging New Jersey nuke plant has fire as license vote nears
- Energy Provision for Nukes and Coal May Test Priorities
- Connecticut - NRG Energy Asserts 'Great Strides' Under Deregulation
- Class-Action Suit to Be Filed Over Salmon Farming Off Vancouver Island
- Benton County Commission Views Black Rock as Ideal for Columbia River Water Storage
- New Olympia-Area Wastewater Facility to Usher in East Bay Overhaul
- SolarWorld Moves Vancouver-Area Jobs to Oregon
- Wind Power Becomes Europe's Fastest Growing Energy Source
- Will the Children of Today Be Living in a World Powered by Renewable Energy by 2050?
- Energy audit points out ways you lose heat - and money
- Study Finds Firms Moving Slowly On Greening
- A Carbon Keeper: Crop Waste Sunk to the Ocean Deep
- Broadband Gets A Boost In Recovery Package
- Stimulus funds for Internet: wise or wasteful?
- Data Breaches Are More Costly Than Ever
- Comcast Denies Unfair VoIP Discrimination
- Regulatory Issues Stall In-Flight Internet Access
- Congressman Larsen Says Focused Stimulus Package Will Bring Money Quickly
- U.S. Sailor Electrocuted In Iraq
- Washington State Troopers with Bogus Degrees Won't Be Charged
- Lobbyists Could Spend Less per Legislator

These And Links to More Stories in Today’s Energy News Digest

WORD OF THE DAY

Engender • \in-JEN-der\ • verb - 1: beget, procreate *2: to cause to exist or to develop: produce 3: to assume form: originate

Horrified by his mad creation, Bartholomew slowly backed away, ready to run at a moment’s notice. Little did he realize that in combining “Sweathog DNA” from the “Welcome Back Kotter” television series that he would engender such a horrifying monster. He’d expected the Horschak gene would be regressive. Instead it was horrifically dominant…its booming, honking laughter shattering high-strength glass and reducing the reinforced concrete to rubble.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Montana utility drops 250-megawatt coal plant in favor of natural gas, some wind (Associated Press)
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Mont-utility-drops-apf-14226451.html

Idaho bill: New electricity customers should pay more to recover cost of growth (Associated Press)
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Idaho-bill-New-utility-apf-14229575.html

Oregon Legislature to Consider Rate Hike for Klamath Dam Removal (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1830147~Committee_to_consider_rate_boost.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Cowlitz PUD recall petition back on track - Superior Court judge will decide the fate of a recall petition (Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/02/03/area_news/doc4987e92bddec9731303864.txt

Aging New Jersey nuke plant has fire as license vote nears (Associated Press)
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Aging-NJ-nuke-plant-has-fire-apf-14226259.html

Energy Provision for Nukes and Coal May Test Priorities (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/02/AR2009020203162.html

Connecticut - NRG Energy Asserts 'Great Strides' Under Deregulation “…"Rates have increased 100 percent since restructuring started…rates could have been even higher than they are now if it weren't for deregulation….” (The Hartford Courant, CT)
http://www.courant.com/business/hc-nrg0202.artfeb02,0,5800409.story

FISH & WILDLIFE

Class-Action Suit to Be Filed Over Salmon Farming Off Vancouver Island (Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.vancouversun.com/news/story.html?id=1245415

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Benton County Commission Views Black Rock as Ideal for Columbia River Water Storage (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/kennewick_pasco_richland/story/466559.html

New Olympia-Area Wastewater Facility to Usher In East Bay Overhaul (The Olympian, Olympia, WA)
http://www.theolympian.com/southsound/story/746586.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY

SolarWorld Moves Vancouver-Area Jobs to Oregon (The Columbia, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20090203/BIZ01/702039988/-1/BIZ

Wind Power Becomes Europe's Fastest Growing Energy Source (The Guardian, UK)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/feb/03/wind-power-eu

Will the Children of Today Be Living in a World Powered by Renewable Energy by 2050? (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=54649&src=rss

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Energy audit points out ways you lose heat - and money (Boston Globe, MA)
http://www.boston.com/business/personalfinance/articles/2009/02/03/energy_audit_points_out_ways_you_lose_heat___and_money/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Study Finds Firms Moving Slowly On Greening (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/02/BUGN15KG1R.DTL&feed=rss.business

A Carbon Keeper: Crop Waste Sunk to the Ocean Deep (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/03/science/earth/03obcrops.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Broadband Gets A Boost In Recovery Package (San Jose Mercury News)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11613035

Stimulus funds for Internet: wise or wasteful? (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008700743_stimulus03.html

Data Breaches Are More Costly Than Ever (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/02/02/AR2009020203064.html?wprss=rss_technology

Comcast Denies Unfair VoIP Discrimination - Argues its ok that their own VoIP service gets priority treatment (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Comcast-Denies-Unfair-VoIP-Discrimination-100626

Regulatory Issues Stall In-Flight Internet Access (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/614846.html

GENERAL NEWS

Congressman Larsen Says Focused Stimulus Package Will Bring Money Quickly (Oblique reference to aluminum jobs - Bellingham Herald, WA)
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/102/story/780202.html

U.S. Sailor Electrocuted In Iraq – Third service member electrocuted in a shower in Iraq (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008699163_apiraqcontractorselectrocutions.html?syndication=rss

Washington State Troopers with Bogus Degrees Won't Be Charged (Associated Press)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=9775560

Lobbyists Could Spend Less per Legislator (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/747029.html

DIVERSIONS

Buddy Holly: 50 Years after the Music Died (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100161470&ft=1&f=3

Melee Between Player, Ref, Dad Ends Basketball Game
http://www.kirotv.com/sports/18625696/detail.html

Where Snow Has Fallen, Plow Thefts Have Risen
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/03/us/03plows.html

SONG OF THE DAY

American Pie – Don McLean (1971)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iN1baXrq5PU

Monday, February 2, 2009

Energy News Digest for February 2, 2009

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)

- Planned Power Outage for Lakeland Village Tuesday
- Stimulus Bill Would Boost NW Grid, Wind Energy
- Anderson Island Loses Power
- Maryland - Energy Inflation and the Cold Driving Utility Bills Up
- Missouri Electric Rates Going Up Regardless Of AmerenUE Nuclear Plant Bill's Fate
- Debating Next-Generation Nuclear Waste
- Michigan - Ban All Winter Power Shutoffs, Then Sell City Utility
- Working Group for Investment in Reliable and Economic Electric Systems
- Navy Dolphins, Sea Lions Could Come To Hood Canal in Expansion of Security System
- California - Political Pull Helped Fix Scouts' Dam Problem
- Canada - Turning To the Past Can Help Salmon Stocks of the Future
- Columbia Basin Aquifer Water Levels Failing To Recharge
- California - Septic Shock in State's Outback
- Does Wind Power Really Provide More Jobs Than Coal?
- Maryhill Museum Partners With Windy Point to Build Wind Turbines
- Washington State Introduces Feed-in Tariff
- Iowa's Green Energy Policy Struggle
- Dim Days for Solar Industry
- To Solar Boosters: Shade Happens
- Alaska - Search for Low-Impact Hydro Power Finds Opposition
- Biomass Brouhaha - Darrington Cleans Up Its Air, One Wood Stove at a Time
- Corvallis Leads Nation in Green Power Use
- Utilities Turn Their Customers Green, With Envy
- News Release - Ameren Want Customers' Old, Secondary Refrigerators
- Economy Swamping Issue of Climate Change
- Energy Pulse Commentary - Emissions Trading: A Brief Negative Resume
- Local Cable TV Providers Debate Outcome of Charter’s Troubles
- Click! Network Will Credit Customers in Outage
- Human Error Blamed For Google Glitch
- Broadband Link to U.S. Jobs Exaggerated: Experts
- Broadband Stimulus A Big Verizon Pay Day
- Verizon Could Get $1.6 Billion in Senate Stimulus Plan
- Talking Points Memo - Broadband Stimulus
- Bringing the Internet to Remote African Villages
- White House Expects Digital TV Delay until June
- Obama Declares Storm Disaster for Wash. State
- King County Exec Ron Sims to Take D.C. Job with HUD
- Gregoire Wants To Cut 'Sacred Cow' Boards and Commissions
- State May Turn To Raffles to Raise a Buck

These And Links to More Stories in Today’s Energy News Digest

WORD OF THE DAY

Preternatural • \pree-ter-NATCH-uh-rul\ • adjective - 1: existing outside of nature *2: exceeding what is natural or regular: extraordinary 3: inexplicable by ordinary means; especially: psychic

Darlene was initially elated at the chance to see the new show home being built in her community by the designers at Home and Garden TV. It was only after stumbling from garishly painted room to room that she succumbed to the preternatural colors that decorated the oddly angled home. The unfortunate result was an urgent “call to Ralph on the big white phone”.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Planned Power Outage for Lakeland Village Tuesday (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/News/NewsArticle/tabid/1897/smid/3468/ArticleID/6250/reftab/1632/t/PLANNED-POWER-OUTAGE-FOR-LAKELAND-VILLAGE-TUESDAY/Default.aspx

Stimulus Bill Would Boost NW Grid, Wind Energy - Includes $3.25 billion in additional borrowing authority for the Bonneville Power Administration (Associated Press)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/local/6420ap_stimulus_bpa.html

Anderson Island Loses Power (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_020109WAB-no-power-anderson-island-SW.d8afa1f.html

Maryland - Energy Inflation and the Cold Driving Utility Bills Up (Baltimore Sun, MD)
http://www.baltimoresun.com/business/bal-bz.hancock31jan31,0,3411333.column

Missouri Electric Rates Going Up Regardless Of AmerenUE Nuclear Plant Bill's Fate (St Louis Post-Dispatch)
http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/news/stories.nsf/politics/story/26FA7DD5F2145209862575510001859B?OpenDocument

Debating Next-Generation Nuclear Waste (NY Times)
http://greeninc.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/02/02/debating-next-generation-nuclear-waste/

Michigan - Ban All Winter Power Shutoffs, Then Sell City Utility (Bay City Times, MI)
http://www.mlive.com/opinion/bay-city/index.ssf/2009/02/ban_all_winter_power_shutoffs.html

Working Group for Investment in Reliable and Economic Electric Systems: Transmission portions of stimulus package good but more must be done (Utility Automation & Engineering)
http://uaelp.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=22&ARTICLE_ID=351938&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Navy Dolphins, Sea Lions Could Come To Hood Canal in Expansion of Security System at Bangor (Port Townsend Leader, WA)
http://www.ptleader.com/Main.asp?SectionID=4&SubSectionID=4&ArticleID=23150

California - Political Pull Helped Fix Scouts' Dam Problem - It had allegedly killed federally protected steelhead trout downstream (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/01/MNMT15EMFF.DTL&feed=rss.bayarea

Canada - Turning To the Past Can Help Salmon Stocks of the Future (The Globe and Mail)
http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/LAC.20090202.BCHUME02/TPStory//BritishColumbia/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Columbia Basin Aquifer Water Levels Failing To Recharge (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/01/30/news/doc498346a8527d6462471377.txt

California - Septic Shock in State's Outback: An uprising in rural counties has obliged the state to postpone a crackdown on that backcountry essential, the septic tank (San Francisco Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/02/02/EDIP15KCME.DTL&feed=rss.opinion

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Does Wind Power Really Provide More Jobs Than Coal? (Christian Science Monitor)
http://features.csmonitor.com/environment/2009/01/31/does-wind-power-really-provide-more-jobs-than-coal/

Maryhill Museum Partners With Windy Point to Build Wind Turbines to Make Money (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=9764575

Washington State Introduces Feed-in Tariff (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=54645&src=rss

Iowa's Green Energy Policy Struggle (British Broadcasting Corporation)
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/7861686.stm

Dim Days for Solar Industry (Denver Business Journal)
http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/stories/2009/02/02/story5.html?ana=from_rss

To Solar Boosters: Shade Happens (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/reinsider/story?id=54551&src=rss

Alaksa - Search for Low-Impact Hydro Power Finds Opposition: Fishing advocates fear disruption of area's spawning salmon (Anchorage Daily News)
http://www.adn.com/3221/story/675881.html

Biomass Brouhaha - Darrington Cleans Up Its Air, One Wood Stove at a Time (Everett Herald, WA)
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20090202/NEWS01/702029898/-1/RSS02

Corvallis Leads Nation in Green Power Use (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1827504~Corvallis_leads_nation_in_green_power_use.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Utilities Turn Their Customers Green, With Envy (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/31/science/earth/31compete.html?ref=earth

News Release - Ameren Illinois Utilities Want Customers' Old, Secondary Refrigerators (Yahoo! Finance)
http://finance.yahoo.com/news/Ameren-Illinois-Utilities-prnews-14222126.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Economy Swamping Issue of Climate Change (Associated Press)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/national/398229_davos31.html

Energy Pulse Commentary - Emissions Trading: A Brief Negative Resume - The clock of stupidity is attached to a bell, and it tolls for your descendants - Donald E. Carr (1976)
http://www.energypulse.net/centers/article/article_display.cfm?a_id=1935

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Local Cable TV Providers Debate Outcome of Charter’s Troubles - Will financially troubled Charter Communications pull out of the North Central Washington cable TV market?
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090201/NEWS04/702029988/1001/rss1001

Click! Network Will Credit Customers in Outage (The News Tribune, Tacoma)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/612206.html

Human Error Blamed For Google Glitch - Computer users doing Google searches during a nearly one-hour period Saturday morning were greeted with disturbing but erroneous messages (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2008694327_google01.html

Broadband Link to U.S. Jobs Exaggerated: Experts (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE50T6IP20090130?feedType=nl&feedName=ustechnology

Broadband Stimulus A Big Verizon Pay Day - Could reap billions for doing nothing differently (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Broadband-Stimulus-A-Big-Verizon-Pay-Day-100579

Verizon Could Get $1.6 Billion in Senate Stimulus Plan (NY Times)
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/01/30/senate-looks-to-stimulate-verizon/

Talking Points Memo - Broadband Stimulus
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/2009/01/30/broadband_stimulus/

Bringing the Internet to Remote African Villages (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/02/02/technology/internet/02kenya.html?_r=1

White House Expects Digital TV Delay until June (Reuters)
http://tech.yahoo.com/news/nm/20090202/tc_nm/us_usa_obama_digitaltv_1

GENERAL NEWS

Obama Declares Storm Disaster for Wash. State - Includes King, Lewis, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Snohomish, Thurston, and Wahkiakum (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1825225~Obama_declares_storm_disaster_for_Wash__state.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines

King County Exec Ron Sims to Take D.C. Job with HUD (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/18621443/detail.html?treets=sea&tml=sea_break&ts=T&tmi=sea_break_1_11190102022009

Gregoire Wants To Cut 'Sacred Cow' Boards and Commissions (The Associated Press)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=9771114

State May Turn To Raffles To Raise A Buck - Small towns, cities and counties soon may have a more creative way to raise a buck (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008696825_raffles02m.html?syndication=rss

DIVERSIONS

Punxsutawney Phil Sees Shadow, Winter to Continue
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/nation/6242032.html

Google Earth Reveals Hidden Marijuana Fields to Swiss Authorities
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/technology/2009/jan/Google-Earth-Reveals-Hidden-Marijuana-Fields-to-Swiss-Authorities.html

Gatorade Name Change Upsets Inventor's Family (National Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=100118062&ft=1&f=10

Fiat Nets $27K Parking Ticket in Austria - Car Abandoned In Parking Spot for 2 Years
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/18602894/detail.html

Response to "Thank You" Changing
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2008696955_thanks02.html?syndication=rss

SONG OF THE DAY

Jethro Tull - Bourée (1969)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N2RNe2jwHE0

Friday, January 30, 2009

Energy News Digest for January 30, 2009

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)

- Path Cleared For Puget Energy to Be Bought By Consortium
- Southwest Idaho Residents Want to Stop Power Line
- Buzz grows for modernizing energy grid
- Smart Grid, Stupid Policy?
- Cowlitz County PUD pay hike spurs recall attempt
- TransAlta 4Q Earnings Off
- California - Electrician accused of stealing $13,500 in power
- Gas Glut: Natural Gas Drillers Still Trying to Throttle Back
- Australia – Rising electricity prices 'to benefit renewable sector'
- Judge Won't Grant Stay Sparing Sea Lions
- Columbia River Treaty Tribes Tell States to Limit Columbia Spring Chinook Catch
- Idaho Officials Predict Large Return of Salmon
- Coeur d’Alene’s rewarded in Avista settlement over use of tribal lands for storing water to produce hydropower
- Snowpack above Average on Mt Hood, Below-Average in Northeast Oregon
- Low Snowpack May Mean a Third Dry Year for California
- State water allocation proposal in Jefferson County fuels growing fears
- Idaho board approves Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer plan
- Nevada A Natural Disaster Area Due To Drought
- Proposed Washington State Law Would Clarify Definition of Biomass
- FERC Chief: Energy Conservation and High-Performance Vehicles Can Coexist
- Oregon - Campus Turbine Gives Hood River Teens the (Wind) Power
- Plans to Build Tesla Electric Car Plant in San Jose Cancelled
- Frugal Family Tips To Save Money on Energy Bills
- Can Energy Efficiency Brighten A Dark Economy?
- Gregoire Says Emissions Plan Would Also Create Jobs
- Software Glitch Suspected In Click! Cable Outage
- Obama's Broadband Stimulus: Throwing Money at Wrong Target?
- Britain Looks to Expand Broadband and Limit Piracy
- Montana - Frontier Celebrates Fiber Optic Line in Libby
- More People Ditching Land Lines, Going Wireless
- 4.5 Quake Rattles Puget Sound Area
- Latest Quake Same Source as 2001 Nisqually Quake
- Exxon Mobil Shatters U.S. Record for Annual Profit
- Bill Would Require Retailers to Grant Restroom Access

These And Links to More Stories in Today’s Energy News Digest

WORD OF THE DAY

Indubitable • \in-DOO-buh-tuh-bul\ • adjective - Too evident to be doubted: unquestionable

“Watch this, whispered the office worker on the fourth floor to his visiting client.” The company CEO was headed to lunch, loudly announcing to all who would hear that he always ate a vegetarian sub sandwich to retain his “girlish figure”. What he did not realize, is that his indubitable habit of visiting the “Taco Trailer” across the street from his headquarters was observed daily by all his employees. The lard-enhanced refried beans did little to restrain the proliferation of fat cells around his mid-section.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Path Cleared For Puget Energy to Be Bought By Consortium - Deal Could Close Next Week (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/business/398040_puget30.html?source=rss

Southwest Idaho Residents Want to Stop Power Line (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/742246.html

Buzz grows for modernizing energy grid “…hybrids could become mini-generating plants…plugged into office garage outlets…feeding power to the grid when prices surge says BPA…” (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2009-01-29-smart-grid-energy_N.htm

Smart Grid, Stupid Policy? When it comes to upgrading the U.S. power system, spending runs far ahead of understanding (Forbes Magazine)
http://www.forbes.com/2009/01/29/electricity-infrastructure-obama-business-energy-0129_smart_grid.html

Cowlitz County PUD pay hike spurs recall attempt (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/01/30//area_news/doc4982ae41ed16d782009978.txt

TransAlta 4Q Earnings Off (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)
http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews/?TransAlta-4Q-Earnings-Off=1&blockID=37955&feedID=410

California - Electrician accused of stealing $13,500 in power (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/01/29/national/a132810S15.DTL&feed=rss.business

Gas Glut: Natural Gas Drillers Still Trying to Throttle Back (Wall Street Journal)
http://blogs.wsj.com/environmentalcapital/2009/01/29/gas-glut-natural-gas-drillers-still-trying-to-throttle-back/

Australia – Rising electricity prices 'to benefit renewable sector' “…a recommended a 78 per cent increase to the charges for household electricity over the next two years will bring prices into line with supply costs…” (ABC)
http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/01/30/2478915.htm

FISH & WILDLIFE

Judge Won't Grant Stay Sparing Sea Lions (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008687396_websealions29.html

Columbia River Treaty Tribes Tell States to Limit Columbia Spring Chinook Catch (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20090129/SPORTS04/901299983/-1/SPORTS

Idaho Officials Predict Large Return of Salmon (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/743336.html

Coeur d’Alene’s rewarded in Avista settlement over use of tribal lands for storing water to produce hydropower (Indian Country Today)
http://www.indiancountrytoday.com/national/northwest/37677989.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Snowpack above Average on Mt Hood, Below-Average In Northeast Oregon (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/4156-snowpack-above-average-mt-hood-below-average-northeast-oregon/

Low Snowpack May Mean a Third Dry Year for California (Los Angeles Times)
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-snowpack30-2009jan30,0,260986.story

State water allocation proposal in Jefferson County fuels growing fears (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090130/news/301309994

Idaho board approves Eastern Snake Plain Aquifer plan (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/743262.html

Nevada A Natural Disaster Area Due To Drought (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/01/29/financial/f154459S73.DTL&feed=rss.business

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Proposed Washington State Law Would Clarify Definition of Biomass (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/01/29/local_news/09news.txt

FERC Chief: Energy Conservation and High-Performance Vehicles Can Coexist (Las Vegas Review Journal)
http://www.lvrj.com/business/38688739.html

Oregon - Campus Turbine Gives Hood River Teens the (Wind) Power (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/01/hood_river_teens_get_the_wind.html

Plans to Build Tesla Electric Car Plant in San Jose Cancelled (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1823970~Plans_to_build_Tesla_plant_in_San_Jose_cancelled.html?cid=rss-California_Headlines

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Frugal Family Tips To Save Money on Energy Bills (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/perfi/basics/2009-01-29-frugal-families-energy-saving-tips_N.htm

Can Energy Efficiency Brighten A Dark Economy? (Christian Science Monitor)
http://features.csmonitor.com/economyrebuild/2009/01/29/can-energy-efficiency-brighten-a-dark-economy/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Gregoire Says Emissions Plan Would Also Create Jobs (The Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2008687632_carbon30m.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Software Glitch Suspected In Click! Cable Outage (The News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/611084.html

Obama's Broadband Stimulus: Throwing Money at Wrong Target? Current draft may not result in many more broadband Internet users (Network World)
http://www.networkworld.com/columnists/2009/012709-bradner.html?fsrc=rss-columns

Britain Looks to Expand Broadband and Limit Piracy (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/30/technology/30digital.html

Montana - Frontier Celebrates Fiber Optic Line in Libby (The Western News, Libby, MT)
http://www.thewesternnews.com/articles/2009/01/29/news/doc4982095c26d47005330590.txt

More People Ditching Land Lines, Going Wireless (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_012909WAB-people-dumping-landline-SW.166440e5.html

GENERAL NEWS

4.5 Quake Rattles Puget Sound Area (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/38694822.html

Latest Quake Same Source as 2001 Nisqually Quake (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/18603945/detail.html

Exxon Mobil Shatters U.S. Record for Annual Profit (Associated Press)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_11589748

Bill Would Require Retailers to Grant Restroom Access (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/4151-bill-would-require-retailers-grant-restroom-access/

DIVERSIONS

1981 primitive Internet report on KRON (This is GREAT – via Baller/Herbst)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5WCTn4FljUQ&feature=PlayList&p=66B42EC02895A8A6&playnext=1&index=39

Passenger Calls In Fake Robbery Report During Chase - presumably to get pursuing officers to go to the robbery call
http://www.kirotv.com/news/18596262/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_12pm&tmi=sea_12pm_1_02000101292009&ts=H

Texas Road Signs Warn Of Zombie Attack - Hackers Change Electronic Signs In Apparent Prank
http://www.kirotv.com/automotive/18595115/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000101292009&ts=H

60-Ton House Towed Across Frozen Lake
http://www.kirotv.com/weather/18594778/detail.html?treets=sea&tid=2653595907813&tml=sea_nots&tmi=sea_nots_1_01000101292009&ts=H

SONG OF THE DAY

Cherry Cherry – Neil Diamond (1967, from 2005)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gxIcSTGkO4I&feature=related

Thursday, January 29, 2009

Energy News Digest for January 29, 2009

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)

- Attorney Recommends Getting Advice on Condemnation for Jefferson County PUD
- Portland General Electric Considering Fate of Boardman Coal-Fired Plant
- Phone Scam Targets Local Residents, Including Cowlitz PUD Customers
- Pot Raid, Power Loss And CO Poisoning - Oh, My!
- For A Spiffier Electric Grid: $11 Billion
- Skepticism about Plan to Shutter New York City Power Plant
- Overweight Comcast Tech Breaks Utility Pole
- Washington to Delay Columbia Spring Chinook Season Setting
- New Reports Show Dam Removal Will Benefit Klamath River Salmon
- Fish Farming in Federal Waters
- Up to 20,000 Gallons of Waste Water Flows into Ludlow Bay
- Rivers, Sewage-Treatment Plants Carry Nitrogen to Puget Sound
- Idaho and Washington to Study Post Falls Dam
- Washington Senate Democrats Unveil Green Jobs Proposal
- Recession Threatens Wind Power, Industry Group Says
- Wind Power Hits Economic Storm
- Massachusetts - Will The Economy Take the Wind out Of the Governor’s Green Plans?
- Puget Sound Energy & Renewable Energy Systems Move Forward with Washington Wind Energy Development
- Alaska wind farms key to reduced energy costs
- Wave, Tidal, and In-Stream Energy Projects: Which Federal Agency Has the Lead?
- Seattle inventor hopes Google contest will help rooftop wind turbine fly
- North Carolina - Duke’s Opponents Step up Challenge to Save-A-Watt
- California Takes Aim at Big, Energy-Hungry TVs
- Oregon and Washington Move Forward With Cap-And-Trade
- Oregon Governor, Industry at Odds over Climate Report
- Majority Of American Voters: Global Warming Can't Be Blamed On Humans
- Here’s the Poll: 44% Say Global Warming Due To Planetary Trends, Not People
- New Study Calling Global Warming Irreversible Further Complicates Debate
- United Kingdom - Skepticism Grows Over the Viability of Green Projects
- Digital TV Beckons, but Many Miss the Call
- Internet Service Provider Lobbyists Shape Broadband Stimulus Plan
- Google Battles ISPs with Technology
- New Mexico - Qwest Shuts Down Part of Skywi Network Again
- So Far, Wireless Data Looks Recession-Proof
- Weyco Back in Talks with Prospective Buyer of Cosmopolis Pulp Mill
- Starbucks Closing 300 Stores; May Cut 6,700 Jobs
- Postmaster General: Mail Days May Need To Be Cut
- Recycling Bins Becoming Harder to Find in North Mason
- Idaho's Poor Get Donated Fish, But No Mercury Warning
- Number of Uninsured Drivers on the Rise

These And Links to More Stories in Today’s Energy News Digest

WORD OF THE DAY

Cynosure • \SYE-nuh-shur\ • noun - 1: the northern constellation Ursa Minor; also: North Star 2: one that serves to direct or guide *3: a center of attraction or attention

Abernathy returned from his weekend makeover, dressed as well as any Parisian male model could be. “You’re an absolute peacock,” crowed his impressed fellow employees. From that day forward, the newly-remodeled Abernathy strived to become the “Style Cynosure” of the local “Arby’s” fry-cooks.

WEATHER

Shelton Forecast and Weather Alerts
http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Attorney Recommends Getting Advice on Condemnation for Jefferson County PUD (Peninsula Daily News)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090129/news/301299995

Portland General Electric Considering Fate of Boardman Coal-Fired Plant (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/4147-pge-considering-fate-boardman-coal-fired-plant/

Phone Scam Targets Local Residents, Including Cowlitz PUD Customers (The Daily News, Longview, WA)
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/01/28/area_news/doc49810cb4f2398479857853.txt

Pot Raid, Power Loss And CO Poisoning - Oh, My! (KOMO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/38572307.html

For A Spiffier Electric Grid: $11 Billion - Most of that money would go to upgrading transmission lines. An expanded ‘smart meter’ program would get $1 billion (Christian Science Monitor)
http://features.csmonitor.com/economyrebuild/2009/01/27/for-a-spiffier-electric-grid-11-billion/

Skepticism about Plan to Shutter New York City Power Plant (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/nyregion/29nypa.html?ref=nyregion

Overweight Comcast Tech Breaks Utility Pole - 67-year old widow almost winds up without power (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Overweight-Comcast-Tech-Breaks-Utility-Pole-100479

FISH & WILDLIFE

Washington to Delay Columbia Spring Chinook Season Setting (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20090128/SPORTS04/901289988/-1/SPORTS

New Reports Show Dam Removal Will Benefit Klamath River Salmon (San Francisco Bay Area Independent)
http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/01/28/18566553.php

Fish Farming in Federal Waters (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/science/earth/29brfs-FISHFARMINGI_BRF.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Up to 20,000 Gallons of Waste Water Flows into Ludlow Bay (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20090129/news/301299997

Rivers, Sewage-Treatment Plants Carry Nitrogen to Puget Sound (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008682957_pugetsound29m.html

Idaho and Washington to Study Post Falls Dam (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1820407~Idaho__Wash__to_study_Post_Falls_Dam.html?cid=rss-Washington_Headlines

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Washington Senate Democrats Unveil Green Jobs Proposal (Associated Press)
http://www.mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=128854

Recession Threatens Wind Power, Industry Group Says (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, WI)
http://www.jsonline.com/business/38493439.html

Wind Power Hits Economic Storm (Associated Press)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iKNv0oJcYG8kMRXlXJNj17LtHlIgD95VPGI86

Massachusetts - Will The Economy Take the Wind out Of the Governor’s Green Plans? (Boston Globe, MA)
http://www.boston.com/lifestyle/green/articles/2009/01/29/will_the_economy_take_the_wind_out_of_patricks_plan/

Puget Sound Energy & Renewable Energy Systems Move Forward with Washington Wind Energy Development (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/story?id=54616&src=rss

Alaska wind farms key to reduced energy costs – well sure; compared to diesel generators (Anchorage News Miner, AK)
http://newsminer.com/news/2009/jan/27/alaska-wind-farms-key-reduced-energy-costs/

Congressional Research Service - Wave, Tidal, and In-Stream Energy Projects: Which Federal Agency Has the Lead?
http://opencrs.com/document/RS22721

Seattle inventor hopes Google contest will help rooftop wind turbine fly - A West Seattle man hopes his wind turbine will receive worldwide support from Google users (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2008670567_googlewind26m.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

North Carolina - Duke’s Opponents Step up Challenge to Save-A-Watt: Environmental groups seek tougher requirements for energy-efficiency proposal (Charlotte Business Journal)
http://charlotte.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2009/01/26/story11.html?b=1232946000%5E1765726

California Takes Aim at Big, Energy-Hungry TVs (Reuters)
http://uk.reuters.com/article/governmentFilingsNews/idUKN2852769920090128

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Oregon and Washington Move Forward With Cap-And-Trade (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
http://news.opb.org/article/4134-oregon-and-washington-move-forward-cap-and-trade/

Oregon Governor, Industry at Odds over Climate Report (The Oregonian, Portland)
http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2009/01/governor_industry_at_odds_over.html

Majority Of American Voters: Global Warming Can't Be Blamed On Humans (Examiner.com)
http://www.examiner.com/x-1109-Dallas-Environmental-Policy-Examiner~y2009m1d19-Majority-of-American-voters-global-warming-cant-be-blamed-on-humans

Here’s the Poll: 44% Say Global Warming Due To Planetary Trends, Not People (Rasmussen Reports)
http://www.rasmussenreports.com/public_content/politics/issues2/articles/44_say_global_warming_due_to_planetary_trends_not_people

New Study Calling Global Warming Irreversible Further Complicates Debate (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/environment/2009/jan/New-Study-Calling-Global-Warming-Irreversible-Further-Complicates-Debate.html

United Kingdom - Skepticism Grows Over the Viability of Green Projects (The Times of London)
http://business.timesonline.co.uk/tol/business/economics/wef/article5607996.ece

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Digital TV Beckons, but Many Miss the Call (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/29/arts/television/29ears.html

Internet Service Provider Lobbyists Shape Broadband Stimulus Plan - Senate adds tax credits, eliminates network neutrality language (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/ISP-Lobbyists-Shape-Broadband-Stimulus-Plan-100480

Google Battles ISPs with Technology (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/01/28/google-battles-isps-with-technology/

New Mexico - Qwest Shuts Down Part of Skywi Network Again (New Mexico Business Weekly)
http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/stories/2009/01/26/daily33.html?ana=from_rss

So Far, Wireless Data Looks Recession-Proof (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/01/28/so-far-wireless-data-looks-recession-proof/

GENERAL NEWS

Weyco Back in Talks with Prospective Buyer of Cosmopolis Pulp Mill (The Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/01/27/local_news/02news.txt

Starbucks Closing 300 Stores; May Cut 6,700 Jobs (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/money/18583835/detail.html

Postmaster General: Mail Days May Need To Be Cut (Associated Press)
http://wenatcheeworld.com/article/20090128/NEWS02/701299974/1001/rss1001

Recycling Bins Becoming Harder to Find in North Mason (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/jan/28/recycling-bins-becoming-harder-to-find-in-north/?partner=RSS

Idaho's Poor Get Donated Fish, But No Mercury Warning (Examiner.Com)
http://www.examiner.com/a-1819192~Idaho_s_poor_get_donated_fish__but_not_warning.html?cid=rss-Idaho_Headlines

Number of Uninsured Drivers on the Rise (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_012809WAB-uninsured-drivers-KC.1363ee55.html

DIVERSIONS

Miles Davis between Takes: The 'Kind Of Blue' Sessions - Given yesterday’s “Song of the Day”; How Prescient (NPR Audio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=99805408

Zounds! Knave Snags Shakespeare Festival Costumes
http://www.examiner.com/a-1820328~Zounds__Knave_snags_Shakespeare_Festival_costumes.html?cid=rss-Oregon_Headlines

Man Finds Worst Place To Make A Drug Deal
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/38546232.html

Bush War on Roquefort Raises a Stink in France
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/28/AR2009012804071.html?nav=rss_email%2Fcomponents

SONG OF THE DAY

The Galaxy Song – Clint Black version of Monty Python production (1999)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT7bAuOz8ao&feature=related