The Energy News Digest

Friday, October 16, 2009

Energy News Digest for October 16, 2009

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Energy News Digest for October 15, 2009

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Energy News Digest for October 14, 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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Grant County PUD Approves Rate Structure Changes
• Central Lincoln PUD to Increase Electricity Rates
• Natural Gas Rates Drop Again; Electric Rates Go Up Slightly
• Thieves in search of copper wire again hit Benton PUD storage compound
• British Columbia - Going After Copper Lands Two Men Jail Time
• Northwest Power Plan Includes Fewer Fossil Fuel Plants, More Conservation
• Power Planning Council to Hold Public Hearing on Region's Electricity Needs
• New Mexico Project Would Link Nation's 3 Electric Grids
• Boeing to Move Defense Strategies to 'Smart' Energy
• Tokyo Electric May Raise Nuclear Reactors Capacity to Meet Climate Goal
• How Much Did The U.S. Spend In 2007 To Protect Endangered Species?
• Tribes Demand State Fix Salmon Passage Problems at Culverts
• Harvest Maxed Out - Fall Chinook Season Closing Early At Hanford Reach
• Decision on Salmon, Steelhead Plan Looms
• Canada - It's one of the Worst Years in History for Salmon, And We're Still Killing Them
• Will Orcas Mix With Tidal Energy Turbines?
• Congress Votes to Protect Skagit River Salmon Stream
• Technologies Grant County PUD Uses to Track Fish Movement
• N. Korea 'regrets' causing deadly flood in S. Korea – Water released from dam
• Supreme Court Hears Carolinas Water Case
• Growth Management Strikes - Little League Seeks Water for Ballfield
• Simpson Tacoma Kraft Helps Light Sacramento
• Wood Making Comeback as Power Source
• Fed Grant - Principle Power Combines Waves, Wind
• Texas - Scientists Study Birds Killed By Wind Turbines
• New Nebraska Group Forms to Cash in On Wind Energy
• United Kingdom - Vandals Cut Wires on 230ft Test for Turbine
• Recipe for 700,000 New, Green American Jobs? Just Add Water
• Colorado Law Opens Way for Solar-Energy Leases
• 3TIER Launches Next Generation of Solar Assessment Products
• Iowa - Wind Turbine Driver Fined More Than $82,000
• California Considers Strict Energy Standards for Televisions
• Mandate or Negotiation - A Tale of 2 Ways to Save Electricity
• Boise, Inc. Mill to Be Site Of Carbon Study
• EPA Document Creates Crossfire between Midwestern Utilities and Enviros
• Obama EPA Releases Bush-Era Global Warming Finding
• Corporate Green Walls Could Inspire Energy Conservation Efforts
• Car Colors, Engines Reveal Regional Quirks
• Hybrid Cars May Include Fake Vroom for Safety
• Sidekick Outage: How Can Microsoft Save Face?
• Microsoft Issues Record Number of Security Updates
• Sweden Breaks the Internet - Or at least their portion of it
• Mason Jobless Rate 9.5 Percent - State Rate At 9.3 Percent
• Colorado Becomes First State to Lower Minimum Wage
• Grays Harbor - Back-To-Back-To-Back-To-Back Storms Headed Our Way
• Man's Death, Downed Trees, Power Outages All From High Winds
• Serial Burglar Stealing Dental Gold
• Mason Sheriff's Office Raises Enough Money for Patrol Dog

WORD OF THE DAY

Limn • \LIM \ • verb – 1: to draw or paint on a surface *2: to outline in clear sharp detail: delineate 3: describe

Agatha looked on in silent horror as the medium turned the tarot cards. As each card fell with a soft thud on the green felt tabletop her future was limned out in stark detail, including an ill-fated relationship with the pizza faced mail boy from the neighboring office complex.

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

Grant County PUD Approves Rate Structure Changes (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/10/13/news/doc4ad4f2d9309c1972740821.txt

Central Lincoln PUD to Increase Electricity Rates (South Lincoln County News, Waldport, OR)
http://www.southlincolncountynews.com/v2_news_articles.php?heading=0&page=72&story_id=1082

Natural Gas Rates Drop Again; Electric Rates Go Up Slightly (Redmond Reporter, WA)
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/east_king/red/news/64012362.html

Thieves in search of copper wire again hit Benton PUD storage compound (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/yahoonews/story/753554.html

British Columbia - Going After Copper Lands Two Men Jail Time (Electric Energy Online)
http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=120324

Northwest Power Plan Includes Fewer Fossil Fuel Plants, More Conservation (Missoulian, MT)
http://www.missoulian.com/news/local/article_11cde96a-b87a-11de-94f9-001cc4c002e0.html

Power Planning Council to Hold Public Hearing on Region's Electricity Needs (Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2009/10/power_planning_council_to_hold.html

New Mexico Project Would Link Nation's 3 Electric Grids (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/10/13/financial/f153312D32.DTL&feed=rss.business

Boeing to Move Defense Strategies to 'Smart' Energy (Bloomberg News)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/boeingaerospace/2010058153_boeingmulenburg14.html

Tokyo Electric May Raise Nuclear Reactors Capacity to Meet Climate Goal (Bloomberg News)
http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601101&sid=aw9_aIe2Cgek

FISH & WILDLIFE

How Much Did The U.S. Spend In 2007 To Protect Endangered Species? “…The species that required the most money in 2007 was the Chinook Salmon…” (Scientific American – in the salmon’s case, you can thank BPA public power customers for footing a big chunk of the bill)
http://www.scientificamerican.com/blog/post.cfm?id=how-much-did-the-us-spend-in-2007-t-2009-10-13

Tribes Demand State Fix Salmon Passage Problems at Culverts (Associated Press)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/64111462.html

Harvest Maxed Out - Fall Chinook Season Closing Early At Hanford Reach (Associated Press)
http://www.komonews.com/news/local/64187037.html

Decision on Salmon, Steelhead Plan Looms (Heartland Institute)
http://www.heartland.org/publications/environment%20climate/article/26170/Decision_on_Salmon_Steelhead_Plan_Looms.html

Canada - It's one of the Worst Years in History for Salmon, And We're Still Killing Them (Vancouver Sun, BC)
http://www.vancouversun.com/sports/worst+years+history+salmon+still+killing+them/2099674/story.html

Will Orcas Mix With Tidal Energy Turbines? (Whidbey News-Times, Oak Harbor, WA)
http://www.pnwlocalnews.com/whidbey/wnt/news/64158482.html

Congress Votes to Protect Skagit River Salmon Stream (Seattle Post Intelligencer)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/archives/181955.asp

Technologies Grant County PUD Uses to Track Fish Movement (Hydro World)
http://www.hydroworld.com/index/display/article-display/0133662363/articles/hydro-review/volume-28/issue-7/articles/fish-tracking__technologies.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

N. Korea 'regrets' causing deadly flood in S. Korea – Water released from dam (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/10/13/international/i222042D74.DTL&feed=rss.business

Supreme Court Hears Carolinas Water Case (Charlotte Business Journal, NC)
http://charlotte.bizjournals.com/charlotte/stories/2009/10/12/daily17.html?ana=from_rss

Growth Management Strikes - Little League Seeks Water for Ballfield Just Outside Sequim Growth Area (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20091014/news/310149986

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Simpson Tacoma Kraft Helps Light Sacramento - ‘Green power’: Simpson turns wood waste into enough electricity for 38,000 homes (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/business/story/915493.html

Wood Making Comeback as Power Source (USA Today)
http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/energy/2009-10-13-wood-power_N.htm

Fed Grant - Principle Power Combines Waves, Wind (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://www.seattlepi.com/xconomy/411060_xconomy45537.html?source=rss

Texas - Scientists Study Birds Killed By Wind Turbines “…Birds killed by wind turbines pale in comparison to birds killed by cars, buildings and other animals…” (WFAA-TV, Dallas, TX)
http://www.wfaa.com/sharedcontent/dws/wfaa/latestnews/stories/wfaa091013_lj_winddurbines.211e06347.html

New Nebraska Group Forms to Cash in On Wind Energy (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/10/13/financial/f131755D86.DTL&feed=rss.business

United Kingdom - Vandals Cut Wires on 230ft Test for Turbine near Queniborough (Leicester Mercury, UK)
http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/news/Vandals-cut-wires-230ft-test-turbine-near-Queniborough/article-1416245-detail/article.html

Recipe for 700,000 New, Green American Jobs? Just Add Water (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/national-hydropower-association/news/article/2009/10/recipe-for-700000-new-green-american-jobs-just-add-water?cmpid=rss

Colorado Law Opens Way for Solar-Energy Leases (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/10/13/financial/f165526D43.DTL&feed=rss.business

3TIER Launches Next Generation of Solar Assessment Products (Renewable Energy World)
http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/partner/3tier/news/article/2009/10/3tier-launches-next-generation-of-solar-assessment-products?cmpid=rss

Iowa - Wind Turbine Driver Fined More Than $82,000 (Globe Gazette, Mason City, IA)
http://www.globegazette.com/articles/2009/10/13/news/latest/doc4ad503e235a90062396219.txt#vmix_media_id=6693796

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

California Considers Strict Energy Standards for Televisions (Associated Press)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5iOdSjBeSBXoLiftQRTMLX92Eu8ggD9BAG6D00

Mandate or Negotiation - A Tale of 2 Ways to Save Electricity (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/10/14/14climatewire-a-tale-of-2-ways-to-save-electricity-75494.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Boise, Inc. Mill to Be Site Of Carbon Study (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA)
http://union-bulletin.com/articles/2009/10/13/local_news/091013aacarbon.txt

EPA Document Creates Crossfire between Midwestern Utilities and Enviros (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/cwire/2009/10/13/13climatewire-epa-document-creates-crossfire-between-midwe-43213.html

Obama EPA Releases Bush-Era Global Warming Finding (Associated Press)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/10/13/national/w122816D27.DTL&feed=rss.news

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Corporate Green Walls Could Inspire Energy Conservation Efforts (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/environment/2009/oct/Corporate-Green-Walls-Could-Inspire-Energy-Conservation-Efforts.html

Car Colors, Engines Reveal Regional Quirks (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010055553_apuscarcolorsglance.html?syndication=rss

Hybrid Cars May Include Fake Vroom for Safety (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/14/automobiles/14hybrid.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Sidekick Outage: How Can Microsoft Save Face? (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://blog.seattlepi.com/microsoft/archives/181814.asp?source=pimail

Microsoft Issues Record Number of Security Updates (Washington Post)
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/securityfix/2009/10/microsoft_releases_record_numb.html

Sweden Breaks the Internet - Or at least their portion of it (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Sweden-Breaks-The-Internet-104954

GENERAL NEWS

Mason Jobless Rate 9.5 Percent - State Rate At 9.3 Percent (Associated Press)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/6420ap_wa_wash_jobless.html?source=pimail

Colorado Becomes First State to Lower Minimum Wage (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_13551794

Grays Harbor - Back-To-Back-To-Back-To-Back Storms Headed Our Way (Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/10/13/local_news/doc4ad4be5db8e89627158122.txt

Man's Death, Downed Trees, Power Outages All From High Winds (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/weather/21288241/detail.html

Serial Burglar Stealing Dental Gold (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_101409WAB-dental-gold-serial-burglar-TP.217040e3d.html?rss

Mason Sheriff's Office Raises Enough Money for Patrol Dog (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/oct/13/mason-sheriffs-office-raises-enough-money-for/?partner=RSS

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

Fraud Fugitive Busted After 'Friending' Wrong Person on Facebook
http://www.kirotv.com/technology/21287466/detail.html

Juggling Shown to Change Wiring of the Brain
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/science/2009/oct/Juggling-Shown-to-Change-Wiring-of-the-Brain.html

'Godfather' Singer Al Martino Dies At 82
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2010059376_apusobitalmartino.html?syndication=rss

Farmers Try to Plant Hemp at DEA Office, Arrested
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010058726_apusfarmscenehempprotest.html?syndication=rss

SONG OF THE DAY

Al Martino - I Have But One Heart (Song from “Connie’s” wedding in Godfather)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lHflxC89DDY

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

500th Blog Post - Energy News Digest for October 13, 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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Klickitat PUD Announces Manager’s Resignation
• Grant County PUD Discussing 5 Percent Rate Increase
• Skilling in the Dock - Supreme Court to Hear Ex-Enron CEO’s Appeal
• Hearings Set In Montana, Idaho over Power Plan
• Puget Sound Energy Files Two Draft ‘Request for Proposals’ with Washington UTC
• Fitch Affirms Energy Northwest Wind Project Bonds at ‘A-’; Outlook Stable
• Montana - Energy Ventures Keep Candidates Amped
• Seattle Utility Poles Targeted By Arsonists
• Heater Safety to Prevent Fires
• Florida Family Electrocuted Putting Up Ham Radio Antenna
• Kissimmee Utility Authority Adopts Policy to Help Local Vendors
• Clean Coal Dealt Second Blow As Danish Energy Giant Pulls Out Of Scottish Plans
• Record Numbers of Salmon, Steelhead Pour into Columbia River
• Surge of Puget Sound Pink Salmon Amazes, Mystifies
• Three Kennewick Men Accused of Stealing Fish from State Hatchery
• Meet the Maggie Walker Fish
• Olympia: New Policy Allows Collecting Rainwater without a Permit
• Cleansing the Air at the Expense of Waterways
• California Tries to Solve Water Woes
• Klickitat County Wind Project Gets $178M in Funding
• Wyoming Wind Developers Fear New Taxes
• California Heats Up Incentives for Solar Power
• New German Government May Cut Solar Subsidy
• Schools Go For Gold at Solar Decathlon
• California, Feds Sign MOU for Renewables
• Transforming Clean-Energy Industry into a Local One
• Is It A Sin To Leave Your Cell Phone Plugged In Overnight?
• Editorial - A Warming Earth Awaits Leadership on Climate
• US Energy Secretary Steven Chu Backs Carbon Capture Strategy
• Free Clark County Workshop Outlines Green Living Techniques
• Grant PUD Plans To Reduce Fiber Program
• Bandwidth Boost for Libraries Gaining Support
• Lack of Home Internet Service Puts Job Seekers at a Disadvantage
• Petroskey News Editorial - Broadband Group In Worthy Pursuit
• Connected Nation Misses Out On Early Mapping Money
• Sidekick Users See Their Data Vanish Into a Cloud
• Acer Sees Revenue Up As Tech Demand Returns
• The Web’s Inventor Regrets One Small Thing
• Bob Holter, Former Mason County Sheriff, Commissioner, & Shelton Police Chief, Dies
• Ceremonial First Step Launches Long-Awaited Belfair Sewer Project
• Pacific Storm Blows Into Western Washington
• Naches Slide One of Largest In State’s History
• Ship Built With World Trade Center Steel Sails For Namesake City
• Enter The Big Cheese - Is It Smart To Put Your CEO In Your Ad Campaign?
• “New” Michael Jackson Single a “Mistake”
• Magazine Votes Portland Building ‘Ugliest In the World’

WORD OF THE DAY

Preternatural • \preet-err-NATCH-er-ul\ • adjective – 1: existing outside of nature 2: exceeding what is natural or regular: extraordinary 3: inexplicable by ordinary means; especially: psychic

Barb’s shocking pink outfit was truly a preternatural creation. “I doubt you’ll find that color anywhere in nature,” exclaimed her new supervisor. The IS department was doubly concerned, because the light waves emanating from the unnaturally colored fabric created interference in the computer monitors throughout the cubicles in which she worked.

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

Klickitat PUD Announces Manager’s Resignation (Goldendale Sentinel, WA)
http://www.goldendalesentinel.com/news/2009news/10-01-09_news.htm

Grant County PUD Discussing 5 Percent Rate Increase (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/10/12/news/doc4ad39add2c00a825583826.txt

Skilling in the Dock - Supreme Court to Hear Ex-Enron CEO’s Appeal (Courthouse News Service)
http://www.courthousenews.com/2009/10/13/Supreme_Court_to_Hear_Ex-Enron_CEO_s_Appeal.htm

Hearings Set In Montana, Idaho over Power Plan (Associated Press)
http://www.fox12idaho.com/Global/story.asp?S=11303156

Puget Sound Energy Files Two Draft ‘Request for Proposals’ with Washington UTC (BusinessWire)
http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/google/?ndmViewId=news_view&newsId=20091012006220&newsLang=en

Fitch Affirms Energy Northwest Wind Project Bonds at ‘A-’; Outlook Stable (PR Inside)
http://www.pr-inside.com/fitch-affirms-energy-northwest-wa-wind-r1524055.htm

Montana - Energy Ventures Keep Candidates Amped (Great Falls Tribune)
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20091013/NEWS01/910130304

Seattle Utility Poles Targeted By Arsonists (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/theblotter/2010055072_utility_poles_targeted_by_arso.html?syndication=rss

Heater Safety to Prevent Fires (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities)
http://www.kndu.com/global/story.asp?s=11302408

Florida Family Electrocuted Putting Up Ham Radio Antenna (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2010052522_apusfloridafamilyelectrocuted.html?syndication=rss

Kissimmee Utility Authority Adopts Policy to Help Local Vendors (Orlando Business Journal)
http://orlando.bizjournals.com/orlando/stories/2009/10/12/daily10.html?ana=from_rss

United Kingdom - Clean Coal Dealt Second Blow As Danish Energy Giant Pulls Out Of Scottish Plans (Guardian, United Kingdom)
http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2009/oct/12/dong-energy-coal-plant

FISH & WILDLIFE

Record Numbers of Salmon, Steelhead Pour into Columbia River (Heartland Institute)
http://www.heartland.org/publications/environment%20climate/article/26144/Record_Numbers_of_Salmon_Steelhead_Pour_into_Columbia_River.html

Surge of Puget Sound Pink Salmon Amazes, Mystifies (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/914091.html

Three Kennewick Men Accused of Stealing Fish from State Hatchery (Tri-City Herald, WA)
http://www.tri-cityherald.com/945/story/751738.html

Meet The Maggie Walker Fish - An ugly little critter that can’t swim but still impresses (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/410961_fish12.html?source=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Olympia: New Policy Allows Collecting Rainwater without a Permit (Olympian, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/914277.html

Cleansing the Air at the Expense of Waterways (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/13/us/13water.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

California Tries to Solve Water Woes (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/13/us/13calif.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Klickitat County Wind Project Gets $178M in Funding (Puget Sound Business Journal)
http://seattle.bizjournals.com/seattle/stories/2009/10/12/daily5.html?ana=from_rss

Wyoming Wind Developers Fear New Taxes (Billings Gazette, MT)
http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/wyoming/article_5ff9f584-b7b7-11de-b5e5-001cc4c03286.html

California Heats Up Incentives for Solar Power (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/rbssTechMediaTelecomNews/idUSN1213618120091012

New German Government May Cut Solar Subsidy (Sustainable Business)
http://www.sustainablebusiness.com/index.cfm/go/news.display/id/19040

Schools Go For Gold at Solar Decathlon (Nat’l Public Radio)
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=113735450&ft=1&f=2

California, Feds Sign MOU for Renewables (Power Engineering)
http://pepei.pennnet.com/Articles/Article_Display.cfm?Section=ONART&PUBLICATION_ID=6&ARTICLE_ID=370028&C=INDUS&dcmp=rss

Transforming Clean-Energy Industry into a Local One - Minnesota Turbines At Forefront of A New Movement: Community Power (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/12/AR2009101203097.html?wprss=rss_business

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Is It A Sin To Leave Your Cell Phone Plugged In Overnight? (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2232195/?from=rss

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Oregonian Editorial - A Warming Earth Awaits Leadership on Climate
http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/10/a_warming_earth_awaits_leaders.html

US Energy Secretary Steven Chu Backs Carbon Capture Strategy (Times of London, UK)
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/environment/article6872464.ece

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Free Clark County Workshop Outlines Green Living Techniques (Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://columbian.com/article/20091013/NEWS02/910129988/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Grant PUD Plans To Reduce Fiber Program (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/articles/2009/10/12/news/doc4ad39aab17661902523138.txt

Bandwidth Boost for Libraries Gaining Support - A plan to put fiber optic technology in public libraries may be a candidate for federal stimulus funding (Information Week)
http://www.informationweek.com/news/government/policy/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=220600556&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_News

Lack of Home Internet Service Puts Job Seekers at a Disadvantage (Finding Dulcinea)
http://www.findingdulcinea.com/news/technology/2009/oct/Lack-of-Home-Internet-Service-Puts-Job-Seekers-at-a-Disadvantage.html

Petroskey News Editorial - Broadband Group In Worthy Pursuit (Michigan)
http://www.petoskeynews.com/articles/2009/10/12/editorials/doc4ad33bff9b098424833682.txt

Connected Nation Misses Out On Early Mapping Money - A sign of things to come, or just early coincidence? (Broadband Reports)
http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Connected-Nation-Misses-Out-On-Early-Mapping-Money-104940

Sidekick Users See Their Data Vanish Into a Cloud (Washington Post)
http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fasterforward/2009/10/sidekick_users_see_their_data.html

Acer Sees Revenue Up As Tech Demand Returns (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/technologyNews/idUSTRE59B2J220091012?feedType=nl&feedName=ustechnology

The Web’s Inventor Regrets One Small Thing (NY Times)
http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/the-webs-inventor-regrets-one-small-thing/?partner=rss&emc=rss

GENERAL NEWS

Bob Holter, Former Mason County Sheriff, Commissioner, & Shelton Police Chief, Dies (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://masoncountydailynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=362:bob-holter-former-mason-county-sheriff-commissioner-a-shelton-police-chief-has-died&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

Ceremonial First Step Launches Long-Awaited Belfair Sewer Project (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/oct/12/work-on-belfair-sewer-takes-ceremonial-first/?partner=RSS

Pacific Storm Blows Into Western Washington (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_101309WXB-storm-tues-SW.211600235.html?rss

Naches Slide One of Largest In State’s History (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
http://www.kirotv.com/news/21281732/detail.html

Ship Built With World Trade Center Steel Sails For Namesake City (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2010054858_apusussnewyork.html?syndication=rss

Enter The Big Cheese - Is It Smart To Put Your CEO In Your Ad Campaign? (Slate Magazine)
http://www.slate.com/id/2232188/?from=rss

“New” Michael Jackson Single a “Mistake” (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/newsOne/idUSN1215390020091013

Magazine Votes Portland Building ‘Ugliest In the World’ (NW Cable News Network)
http://www.nwcn.com/topstories/stories/NW_101309ORN-portland-ugly-building-SW.211885651.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

Officials Take Baseball Away From Little Girl Who Sues and Gets It Back
http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/10/09/florida.baseball.lawsuit/index.html

Pennsylvania Man Sleeps through House Fire, Survives
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/10/12/national/a122554D15.DTL&feed=rss.business

Newlyweds Burglarized Chapel, Police Say
http://www.kirotv.com/news/21274209/detail.html

Despite Threats, California Governor Says Cows Can Keep Tails
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2009/10/12/financial/f160650D39.DTL&feed=rss.business

SONG OF THE DAY

Steely Dan - Kid Charlemagne
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ylr2D4Pwn58&feature=related

Monday, October 12, 2009

Energy News Digest for October 12, 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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

TODAY’S HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• The Dalles Lock Will Be Fixed By Monday Night, Corps Says
• Clallam PUD Holds Off Power Rate Hike
• Sierra Club Visits Portland General Electric’s Boardman Coal Plant
• Op/Ed - Get Involved In Regional Energy Planning
• Fitch Affirms Benton County Public Utility Bonds at ‘A’; Outlook Stable
• California - Schwarzenegger Vetoes Energy Bills
• Editorial - FirstEnergy-PUCO light bulb fiasco would be a comedy of errors, if it were funny
• New Way to Tap Gas May Expand Global Supplies
• Mexico Says It Is Closing a Provider of Electricity
• Editorial - Salmon Plan Deserves a Chance
• Idaho Wants New Hatchery to Increase Snake River Sockeye
• Oregon, Nez Perce, Earthjustice Briefs Say Obama Salmon Plan Falls Short
• Struggling Santa Cruz County Steelhead Get Bump from Federal Stimulus
• Dam Breaching Celebrated on Famed Rogue River
• Aerial View: Albatrosses Following a Killer Whale
• The Evergreen State Faces A New Water Reality
• Lewis County - Scoping Out the Dams
• Elma May Have To Pay Twice For Biosolid Removal
• Idaho Water Czar’s Exit Complicates Teton Dam Debate
• Oregon ‘Dead Zone’ Less Lethal This Year
• Rain Gardens? Kitsap County Hopes They’re Pouring
• Tri-City Company Gets Grant to Develop Canal Hydropower
• Idaho Sees Interest from Wind Energy Companies
• Op/Ed - The Facts about Wind Turbine Sound
• Clean Energy Splits France
• Solar Power Outshining Colorado’s Gas Industry
• Solar-Powered Homes in Kalamazoo-Area Help with Energy Costs
• Alternative Energy Sources Offer Minimal Promise
• Clark Public Utilities to Get $1 Million from Stimulus
• City of Ellensburg Gets Energy Efficiency Support
• Idaho Receives Final Piece of Energy Stimulus Cash
• Coos-Curry Electric Co-op board expands conservation programs
• An Upcoming Stimulus Program Provides Rebates for Energy-Efficient Appliances
• Virginia Utilities Differ on Use of Green-Energy Funds
• Debate Follows Bills to Remove Clotheslines Bans
• Massachusetts Utility Customers to Get Home Energy Reports
• Air of Unease across Rust Belt from Climate Plan
• Steward’s 10 ‘Myths’ About Global Warming and CO2 Damage
• United Kingdom Climate Body Urges “Step Change” On Emissions
• Mukilteo Pulls off City Hall’s Weed-Filled Sod Roof
• ‘Let’s Just Go Extreme.” Building an extremely green home
• Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Goes Green
• Rival Ethanol Group Feud Said Hurting Industry
• Charging Ahead - Will 2010 Be the Year Electric Cars Hit the Road in Oregon?
• Tough Choices for Feds Giving out Broadband Money
• Seeking Energy Savings at the Heart of the Internet
• Economists to FCC: Wireless and Wired Broadband Are Equal
• FCC Launches Probe of Google Voice Service
• Google Hopes To Ride a Social-Networking Wave
• Shelton - St. Edwards Fight Apparently Over
• ‘River Rat’ Robber Trapped, Jailed
• Box Mill Closures Catch Port Townsend Union by Surprise
• Puget Sound Area Emerging As Wine Region, Thanks To Warmer Climate
• Lady Washington Launches Columbia River Tour
• GM Signs Deal to Sell Hummer Brand to Chinese Company

WORD OF THE DAY

MacGuffin • \muh-GUFF-in\ • noun - An object, event, or character in a film or story that serves to set and keep the plot in motion despite usually lacking intrinsic importance

The donkey was hypnotized by the carrot dangling on a string just out of reach of his twitching nostrils. Unbeknownst to the unfortunate beast of burden, the carrot was just a MacGuffin in his miserable existence. The true reason for the carrot was to distract him from the endless treadmill on which his hooves pounded…providing electricity for the hair-shirted blogger who pounded away on his ancient computer in the deep forests of the wildest land in the nation.

The first person to use “MacGuffin” as a word for a plot device was Alfred Hitchcock. He borrowed it from an old shaggy-dog story in which some passengers on a train interrogate a fellow passenger carrying a large, strange-looking package. The fellow says the package contains a “MacGuffin,” which, he explains, is used to catch tigers in the Scottish Highlands. When the group protests that there are no tigers in the Highlands, the passenger replies, “Well, then, this must not be a MacGuffin.” Hitchcock apparently appreciated the way the mysterious package holds the audience’s attention and builds suspense. He recognized that an audience anticipating a solution to a mystery will continue to follow the story even if the initial interest-grabber turns out to be irrelevant.

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

The Dalles Lock Will Be Fixed By Monday Night, Corps Says (Oregonian)
http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2009/10/the_dalles_lock_fixed_by_monda.html

Clallam PUD Holds Off Power Rate Hike (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.konp.com/local/5163

Sierra Club Visits Portland General Electric’s Boardman Coal Plant (It’s Getting Hot in Here)
http://itsgettinghotinhere.org/2009/10/10/sierra-club-and-allies-visit-the-boardman-coal-plant/

Missoulian Op/Ed - Get Involved In Regional Energy Planning
http://www.missoulian.com/news/opinion/columnists/article_811a6a58-b737-11de-839f-001cc4c03286.html

Fitch Affirms Benton County Public Utility Bonds at ‘A’; Outlook Stable (Earth Times)
http://www.earthtimes.org/articles/show/fitch-affirms-benton-county-public,993769.shtml

California - Schwarzenegger Vetoes Energy Bills (Wall Street Journal)
http://online.wsj.com/article/SB125533246723779819.html

Cleveland Plain-Dealer Editorial - FirstEnergy-PUCO light bulb fiasco would be a comedy of errors, if it were funny
http://www.cleveland.com/opinion/index.ssf/2009/10/firstenergy-puco_light_bulb_fi.html

New Way to Tap Gas May Expand Global Supplies (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/10/business/energy-environment/10gas.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Mexico Says It Is Closing a Provider of Electricity (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/world/americas/12mexico.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Daily News Editorial - Salmon Plan Deserves a Chance
http://www.tdn.com/articles/2009/10/12/editorial/doc4ad2d4fbe4114684010485.txt

Idaho Wants New Hatchery to Increase Snake River Sockeye Smolt Production Up To One Million (Columbia Basin Bulletin)
http://www.cbbulletin.com/360326.aspx

Oregon, Nez Perce, Earthjustice Briefs Say Obama Salmon Plan Falls Short; Fed Reply Due Oct. 23 (Columbia Basin Bulletin)
http://www.cbbulletin.com/360331.aspx

California - Struggling Santa Cruz County Steelhead Get Bump from Federal Stimulus (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_13527052

Dam Breaching Celebrated on Famed Rogue River (Associated Press)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_13536335

Aerial View: Albatrosses Following a Killer Whale (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/13/science/13obbird.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

The Evergreen State Faces A New Water Reality - ‘If you are trying to develop a 2009 water right, you are about 104 years too late.’ (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)
http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2009/10/10/mitigation-the-evergreen-state-faces-a-new-water-reality

Lewis County - Scoping Out the Dams: Baird, Army Corps, Flood Authority Seek Ways to Move Forward on Flood Projects (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)
http://www.chronline.com/articles/2009/10/10/news/doc4ad0232b3e5ca075888175.txt

Elma May Have To Pay Twice For Biosolid Removal (Daily World, Aberdeen, WA)
http://www.thedailyworld.com/articles/2009/10/10/local_news/doc4acf7b0a4bbc7109776399.txt

Idaho Water Czar’s Exit Complicates Teton Dam Debate (Associated Press)
http://www.theolympian.com/northwest/story/1000154.html

Oregon ‘Dead Zone’ Less Lethal This Year - Global warming: Lessening wind helps (Associated Press)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/913265.html

Rain Gardens? Kitsap County Hopes They’re Pouring (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)
http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2009/oct/12/kitsap-county-hopes-homeowners-will-get-their/?partner=RSS

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Tri-City Company Gets Grant to Develop Canal Hydropower (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/northwest/story/913357.html

Idaho Sees Interest from Wind Energy Companies (KPVI-TV, Pocatello, ID)
http://www.kpvi.com/Global/story.asp?S=11296956

Minneapolis Star-Tribune Op/Ed - The Facts about Wind Turbine Sound
http://www.startribune.com/opinion/commentary/63890637.html?elr=KArks7PYDiaK7DU2EPaL_V_9E7ODiUiD3aPc:_Yyc:aUU

Clean Energy Splits France - It’s Carbon vs. Countryside in Environmental Battle over Plan for Windmills near Coastal Shrine (Washington Post)
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/10/10/AR2009101001901.html

Solar Power Outshining Colorado’s Gas Industry (Associated Press)
http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5ilsDBjcry8X9Y7jwN5RoaBXZtP2AD9B891OO0

Michigan - Solar-Powered Homes in Kalamazoo-Area Help with Energy Costs (Kalamazoo Gazette, MI)
http://www.mlive.com/news/kalamazoo/index.ssf/2009/10/solar-powered_homes_help_with.html

Alternative Energy Sources Offer Minimal Promise (Heartland Institute)
http://www.heartland.org/publications/environment%20climate/article/26141/Alternative_Energy_Sources_Offer_Minimal_Promise.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Clark Public Utilities to Get $1 Million from Stimulus - To use money to support energy conservation (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)
http://www.columbian.com/article/20091010/NEWS02/710109969/Utility+to+get+$1+million+from+stimulus

City Of Ellensburg Gets Energy Efficiency Support - State awards city $344,000 for gas conservation (Daily Record, Ellensberg, VA)
http://www.kvnews.com/articles/2009/10/10/news/doc4ad03a3b4d7a9300631570.txt

Idaho Receives Final Piece of Energy Stimulus Cash (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)
http://www.idahostatesman.com/business/story/931540.html

Coos-Curry Electric Co-op board expands conservation programs (Curry Coastal Pilot, Brookings, OR)
http://www.currypilot.com/20091009113992/News/Local-News/Co-op-board-expands-conservation-programs

An Upcoming Stimulus Program Provides Rebates for Energy-Efficient Appliances (New Orleans Times-Picayune, LA)
http://www.nola.com/business/index.ssf/2009/10/an_upcoming_stimulus_program_p.html

Virginia Utilities Differ on Use of Green-Energy Funds (Richmond Times-Dispatch, VA)
http://www2.timesdispatch.com/rtd/business/energy/article/B-RAPP10_20091009-215605/298489/

Debate Follows Bills to Remove Clotheslines Bans (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/11/us/11clothesline.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Massachusetts Utility Customers to Get Home Energy Reports (Boston Herald, MA)
http://www.bostonherald.com/business/general/view/20091012mass_utility_customers_to_get_home_energy_reports/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Air of Unease across Rust Belt from Climate Plan (Associated Press)
http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2009/10/11/us/AP-US-Climate-Rust-Belt.html

Steward’s 10 ‘Myths’ About Global Warming and CO2 Damage (US News & World Report)
http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2009/10/09/stewards-10-myths-about-global-warming-and-co2-damage.html

United Kingdom Climate Body Urges “Step Change” On Emissions (Reuters)
http://www.reuters.com/article/GCA-GreenBusiness/idUSTRE59B1IQ20091012

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Mukilteo Pulls off City Hall’s Weed-Filled Sod Roof - The green roof atop City Hall is leaving some people red-faced
http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20091010/NEWS01/710109875/-1/RSS02

‘Let’s Just Go Extreme.” Tom Elliott and Barbara Scott are setting out to build an extremely green home - but just how green is yet to be determined (Bend Bulletin, OR)
http://www.bendbulletin.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20091011/NEWS0107/910110424/-1/rss

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Goes Green (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/northwest/story/911459.html

Rival Ethanol Group Feud Said Hurting Industry (United Press International)
http://www.upi.com/Business_News/2009/10/10/Ethanol-group-feud-said-hurting-industry/UPI-65681255183891/

Charging Ahead - Will 2010 Be the Year Electric Cars Hit the Road in Oregon? (Eugene Register Guard, OR)
http://www.registerguard.com/csp/cms/sites/web/news/cityregion/21330840-41/story.csp

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Tough Choices for Feds Giving out Broadband Money (Associated Press)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2010044428_apustecbroadbandvignettes.html?syndication=rss

Seeking Energy Savings at the Heart of the Internet (NY Times)
http://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/12/business/energy-environment/12iht-green.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Economists to FCC: Wireless and Wired Broadband Are Equal (GigaOM)
http://gigaom.com/2009/10/09/economists-to-fcc-wireless-and-wired-broadband-are-equal/

FCC Launches Probe of Google Voice Service (Associated Press)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_13525900

Google Hopes To Ride a Social-Networking Wave (SF Chronicle)
http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2009/10/11/BU4O1A2UB6.DTL&feed=rss.business

GENERAL NEWS

Shelton - St. Edwards Fight Apparently Over (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
http://masoncountydailynews.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=347:st-edwards-fight-apparently-over&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

‘River Rat’ Robber Trapped, Jailed (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
http://www.seattlepi.com/local/411039_rat12.html?source=rss

Box Mill Closures Catch Port Townsend Union by Surprise (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20091011/news/310119988

Puget Sound Area Emerging As Wine Region, Thanks To Warmer Climate (Seattle Times)
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010045723_wine12m.html?syndication=rss

Lady Washington Launches Columbia River Tour (KING-TV, Seattle)
http://www.king5.com/localnews/stories/NW_101009WAB-lady-washington-ship-KS.202f84cbe.html?rss?npc

GM Signs Deal to Sell Hummer Brand to Chinese Company (Associated Press)
http://www.mercurynews.com/ci_13524696

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER - DIVERSIONS

A Day for Beer and Dachshunds - Oktoberfest: Dozens of wiener dog owners gather with their pooches for races and fun
http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/story/913263.html

Madoff Mask a Natural for Halloween
http://www.kirotv.com/entertainment/21266267/detail.html

Maine Couple Wins Wife-Carrying Championship
http://www.kirotv.com/news/21265204/detail.html

‘Whatever’ Tops Most Annoying Word Poll - ‘You Know’ And ‘Anyway’ Also Among Most Annoying
http://www.kirotv.com/news/21230257/detail.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Beer Barrel Polka-The Andrews Sisters
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rrDSMBJ7AAc

And for the accordion aficionados:

Walter Ostanek and His Band - Beer Barrel Polka
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sshhb5ISHvI

Friday, October 9, 2009

Energy News Digest for October 9, 2009