Energy News Digest for February 7, 2011

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

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices: http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Freeze Knocked Out Coal Plants & Natural Gas Supplies, Leading to Blackouts (Dallas Morning News, TX)

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/state/headlines/20110206-freeze-knocked-out-coal-plants-and-natural-gas-supplies-leading-to-blackouts.ece

Universal Service Fund - FCC to Propose Expanding Broadband Service to Underserved Areas (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/07/business/07fcc.html

Chelan PUD Fish Survival Hits Goals at Rock Island Dam (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/feb/05/fish-survival-hits-goals-at-rock-island-dam/

Olympia Federal LEEDs the Way of Green Building in Belfair – Mason PUD 3 LEED Building Coming Soon (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/feb/04/olympia-federal-leeds-way-green-building-belfair/

Clark County to Hold Open House on Proposed Vancouver Biomass Plant (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/clark-county/index.ssf/2011/02/clark_county_to_hold_open_house_on_proposed_vancouver_biomass_plant.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Freeze Knocked Out Coal Plants & Natural Gas Supplies, Leading to Blackouts

·         Editorial - When the Lights Went Out in Texas, the Fingers Started Pointing

·         Idaho Nuke Developer Back in Business

·         Op/Ed - Coal-Burning Plants Defy Covenant with Creator

·         California - Pacific Gas & Electric Spends More Than $4.1 Million to Fight Marin Clean Energy

·         Chesapeake Energy Plans to Sell $5 Billion in Assets

·         Okanogan PUD Views System Digitally, in Real Time

·         Clallam County PUD Goes Viral

·         Xcel Electricity Rates Up 21 Percent in Colorado; More Increases on the Way

·         Natural Gas Prices Fall More Than 2 Percent

·         Environmental Protection Agency Questions Air-Quality Permit for Kansas Coal Plant

·         Renewable Canadian Hydroelectricity for New Hampshire - Should the Lines be Buried?

·         Constellation Energy Fourth Quarter Profit Sinks 96 Percent

·         Chelan PUD Fish Survival Hits Goals at Rock Island Dam

·         Snake River Fall Chinook 2010 Redd Count Includes Records for Tributaries, Creeks

·         Oregon Cuts Sturgeon Fishing over Sea Lions

·         Inflammation in Columbia Sturgeon That Ate Slag in Upper River

·         Study Will Find Out if Lake Crescent’s Kokanee Salmon One of a Kind

·         Port of Olympia Moves Forward on Fixing Mission Creek for Salmon

·         Northern California - Big Salmon Run Spawns Profits

·         Make This Call in the Wild: Should Oregon Shoot Barred Owls to Save Spotted Owls?

·         Small Belfair Water District in a Big Fight

·         Idaho - Could the Teton Dam be Rebuilt?

·         Clark County to Hold Open House on Proposed Vancouver Biomass Plant

·         Op/Ed - We Need to Rethink Our Renewable Energy Policy

·         Wyoming Power Line Developers Want Less Uncertainty, Better Wind Marketing

·         Solar Power: US Tries to Cut Costs, Regain Edge

·         Olympia Federal LEEDs the Way of Green Building in Belfair – Mason PUD 3 LEED Building Coming Soon

·         Oregon Lawmakers to Consider School Energy Proposal

·         Getting the Biggest Savings by Swapping Out Light Bulbs

·         Poll Shows Americans Need New Incentives to Save Energy at Home

·         A Three-Minute Bedtime Routine That Will Save You $3 a Night

·         California Law to Curb Greenhouse Gases Faces a Legal Hurdle

·         Wood-Burning Stoves ‘Can Cause Cancer & Heart Disease’

·         Government Backs $1 Billion Plan to Make Gasoline from Wood

·         Oregon Considers Statewide Ban on Plastic Bags

·         Universal Service Fund - FCC to Propose Expanding Broadband Service to Underserved Areas

·         Legislators Want to Know How State Data Center Got So Big

·         Suit over Google Data Center Tax Breaks Rejected by North Carolina Supreme Court

·         Survey Reveals Careless Use of Hot Spot Wi-Fi

·         Dictator-Proofing the Internet

·         McCaslin Blasts Shea as Possible Successor for Washington State Senate Seat

·         Bills Introduced to Consolidate Natural Resource Agencies

·         Weyerhaeuser Sells Timberland in Grays Harbor & Pacific Counties

·         Lawsuit: State Illegally Giving Gas Tax Money to Tribes

·         Crooks Hit Port Orchard House Being Built by Volunteers

·         Divorces Skyrocket in Washington State’s Clark County

WORD OF THE DAY

Cantankerous • \kan-TANK-er-us\ • Adjective - Difficult or irritating to deal with.

The banging and popping sounds from the jury-rigged still made it sound like a cantankerous family member stumbling into the house after an all-night bender. “Oh, but what sweet music,” cackled the toothless caretaker of the nectar producing contraption.

SHELTON FORECAST & 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

Freeze Knocked Out Coal Plants & Natural Gas Supplies, Leading to Blackouts (Dallas Morning News, TX)

http://www.dallasnews.com/news/state/headlines/20110206-freeze-knocked-out-coal-plants-and-natural-gas-supplies-leading-to-blackouts.ece

Editorial - When the Lights Went Out in Texas, the Fingers Started Pointing (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, TX)

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/02/06/2827390/when-the-lights-went-out-in-texas.html

Idaho Nuke Developer Back in Business (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/57769-idaho-nuke-developer-back-business/

Op/Ed - Coal-Burning Plants Defy Covenant with Creator (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/feb/06/coal-burning-plants-defy-covenant-with-creator/

California - Pacific Gas & Electric Spends More Than $4.1 Million to Fight Marin Clean Energy (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_17298162

Chesapeake Energy Plans to Sell $5 Billion in Assets (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014153438_apuschesapeakeenergyshalesale1stldwritethru.html

Okanogan PUD Views System Digitally, in Real Time (Omak Chronicle, WA)

http://www.omakchronicle.com/nws/n110204a.shtml

Clallam County PUD Goes Viral (Sequim Gazette, WA)

http://search.sequimgazette.com/news/article.exm/2011-02-03_pud_goes_viral

Xcel Electricity Rates Up 21 Percent in Colorado; More Increases on the Way (KDVR-TV, Denver, CO)

http://www.kdvr.com/news/sns-ap-co--electricitybills,0,1175206.story

Natural Gas Prices Fall More Than 2 Percent (Associated Press)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/02/02/national/a134910S15.DTL

Environmental Protection Agency Questions Air-Quality Permit for Kansas Coal Plant (Associated Press)

http://www2.ljworld.com/news/2011/feb/06/epa-questions-air-quality-permit-kansas-coal-plant/

Renewable Canadian Hydroelectricity for New Hampshire - Should the Lines be Buried? (Reuters)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-07/nh-power-project-should-the-lines-be-buried-.html

Constellation Energy Fourth Quarter Profit Sinks 96 Percent (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-02-04/constellation-energy-4q-profit-sinks-96-percent.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Chelan PUD Fish Survival Hits Goals at Rock Island Dam (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/feb/05/fish-survival-hits-goals-at-rock-island-dam/

Snake River Fall Chinook 2010 Redd Count Includes Records for Tributaries, Creeks (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/405123.aspx

Oregon Cuts Sturgeon Fishing over Sea Lions (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/115340089.html

Inflammation in Columbia Sturgeon That Ate Slag in Upper River (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=13979428

Study Will Find Out if Lake Crescent’s Kokanee Salmon One of a Kind (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110207/news/302079993/study-will-find-out-if-lake-crescent-salmon-one-of-a-kind

Port of Olympia Moves Forward on Fixing Mission Creek for Salmon (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/02/05/1532327/missing-headline-for-05oports.html

Northern California - Big Salmon Run Spawns Profits (Wall Street Journal)

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704124504576118462016940744.html?mod=WSJ_hpp_editorsPicks_2

Make This Call in the Wild: Should Oregon Shoot Barred Owls to Save Spotted Owls? (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/02/make_this_call_in_the_wild_sho.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Small Belfair Water District in a Big Fight (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/feb/06/small-belfair-water-district-in-a-big-fight/

Idaho - Could the Teton Dam be Rebuilt? (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/02/07/1517585/could-the-teton-dam-be-rebuilt.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Clark County to Hold Open House on Proposed Vancouver Biomass Plant (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/clark-county/index.ssf/2011/02/clark_county_to_hold_open_house_on_proposed_vancouver_biomass_plant.html

Op/Ed - We Need to Rethink Our Renewable Energy Policy (Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal)

http://kpbj.com/business_weekly/2011-02-07/we_need_to_rethink_our_renewable_energy_policy

Wyoming Power Line Developers Want Less Uncertainty, Better Wind Marketing (Billings Gazette, MT)

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/wyoming/article_c81846bb-1015-5288-874c-f3d60088ea7f.html

Solar Power: US Tries to Cut Costs, Regain Edge (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=%2Fc%2Fa%2F2011%2F02%2F05%2FMND51HJ27H.DTL

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Olympia Federal LEEDs the Way of Green Building in Belfair – Mason PUD 3 LEED Building Coming Soon (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/feb/04/olympia-federal-leeds-way-green-building-belfair/

Oregon Lawmakers to Consider School Energy Proposal (Corvallis Gazette-Times, OR)

http://www.gazettetimes.com/news/state-and-regional/article_ea859290-9805-5769-be37-631fee69b71e.html

Getting the Biggest Savings by Swapping Out Light Bulbs (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110206/BIZ/702069950/-1/BIZ0-

Poll Shows Americans Need New Incentives to Save Energy at Home (Electric Light & Power)

http://www.elp.com/index/display/article-display.articles.electric-light-power.energy-efficiency.2011.02.Poll__Americans_need_new_incentives_to_save_energy_at_home.QP129867.dcmp=rss.page=1.html

A Three-Minute Bedtime Routine That Will Save You $3 a Night (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/The-Simple-Dollar/2011/0205/A-three-minute-bedtime-routine-that-will-save-you-3-a-night

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

California Law to Curb Greenhouse Gases Faces a Legal Hurdle (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/05/science/earth/05emit.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Wood-Burning Stoves ‘Can Cause Cancer & Heart Disease’ - Trendy wood-burning stoves produce invisible particles that can cause heart disease & cancer, scientists have warned (The Telegraph, UK)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/health/healthnews/8306792/Wood-burning-stoves-can-cause-cancer-and-heart-disease.html

Government Backs $1 Billion Plan to Make Gasoline from Wood (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/02/03/government-backs-1-billion-plan-to-make-gas-from-wood-chips/

Oregon Considers Statewide Ban on Plastic Bags (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Oregon-considers-statewide-ban-on-plastic-bags-115379414.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Universal Service Fund - FCC to Propose Expanding Broadband Service to Underserved Areas (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/07/business/07fcc.html

Legislators Want to Know How State Data Center Got So Big (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/02/07/1534007/legislators-want-to-know-how-data.html

Suit over Google Data Center Tax Breaks Rejected by North Carolina Supreme Court (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_17294641

Survey Reveals Careless Use of Hot Spot Wi-Fi (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20110206/BIZ/702069952/-1/rss03

Dictator-Proofing the Internet (Newsweek)

http://www.newsweek.com/2011/02/06/dictator-proofing-the-internet.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

McCaslin Blasts Shea as Possible Successor for Washington State Senate Seat (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/feb/05/mccaslin-blasts-shea-as-possible-successor-for/

Bills Introduced to Consolidate Natural Resource Agencies (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/feb/04/bills-introduced-to-consolidate-natural-resource/

GENERAL NEWS

Weyerhaeuser Sells Timberland in Grays Harbor & Pacific Counties (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014154382_apwaweyerhaeusersale1stldwritethru.html

Lawsuit: State Illegally Giving Gas Tax Money to Tribes (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/434841_gas7.html

Crooks Hit Port Orchard House Being Built by Volunteers (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/115487959.html

Divorces Skyrocket in Washington State’s Clark County (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014150244_apwaclarkdivorces.html

DIVERSIONS

God’s Flashlight - Christina Aguilera Fumbles National Anthem

http://www.kirotv.com/entertainment/26769146/detail.html

Air Passengers ‘Mutinied’ over Baggage Fee

http://www.kirotv.com/travelgetaways/26766044/detail.html

Funeral Pyres an Option in Colorado Mountain Town

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2014087025_apusmountainfuneralpyre.html

Politician Breaks into Home, Sues Owners for Injuries

http://consumerist.com/2011/01/politician-breaks-into-home-sues-owners-for-injuries.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Led Zeppelin – Kashmir (Please note PG-13 language in comments)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fv-Ltk3dKOc

Energy News Digest for February 4, 2011

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

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices: http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Washington State Bill Would Move TransAlta’s Deadline for Changes at Centralia Coal Power Plant - Bill would require using cleaner energy sources by late 2015, rather than 2025 (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/02/04/1531547/bill-would-move-transaltas-deadline.html

Energy Northwest Considers Mixed Plutonium Fuel for Columbia Generating Station (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/02/04/1354173/energy-northwest-considering-mixed.html

California cap-trade plan dealt blow by San Francisco judge (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/02/04/MNOO1HIDT2.DTL

Columbia River Sturgeon Numbers Decline; Hungry Sea Lions Apparent Cause (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014129669_sealions05m.html

Idaho Wind-Farm Complex Completed - Dozens of new windmills are now spread across 10,000 acres of south-central Idaho (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/02/04/1514153/idaho-wind-farm-complex-completed.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Washington State Bill Would Move TransAlta’s Deadline for Changes at Centralia Coal Power Plant

·         Energy Northwest Considers Mixed Plutonium Fuel for Columbia Generating Station

·         Repairs Continue After Chehalis Power Blast

·         State Oks Process for Transferring East Jefferson Electrical Service from Puget Sound Energy to PUD

·         Chelan County PUD Might Raise Water Rates, Extend Surcharge

·         Power Lines Across Truck in Issaquah Trap Driver

·         Thousands in New Mexico Without Natural Gas Service

·         Cold Exposes Jumble of Flaws in Texas Electric Policies

·         Report Backs Massive Canadian Oil Sands Pipeline to Gulf of Mexico

·         Ohio – American Electric Power Electricity Rate Plan Has Surprises in Store for Many Customers

·         Columbia River Sturgeon Numbers Decline; Hungry Sea Lions Apparent Cause

·         Op/Ed - Winning the Future: Salmon Country Needs Science & Innovation, Too

·         Western Wolverines Threatened by Climate Change

·         Idaho Wind-Farm Complex Completed

·         Norwegian Solar Energy Firm Renewable Energy Corporation Breaks Ground on Italian Solar Plant

·         McMinnville Water & Light Offers Incentives

·         Penguin Windows Jobs in Vancouver Are Safe for Now

·         California Cap-Trade Plan Dealt Blow by San Francisco Judge

·         United Kingdom Allowed to Restart Spot Carbon Trading

·         Climatologist Claims Climate Change Denier Defamed

·         Area’s First All-Electric Leaf Lands in Olympia

·         Oregon State University’s New Energy Center Makes a Platinum Statement

·         The Root: Trying to Find the Rumored Green Jobs

·         Analysis: US Biodiesel on Life Support, But Smiling

·         Verizon Stops Taking Iphone Pre-Orders After Setting Unspecified ‘Record’

·         Ahead of iPhone, Verizon Says It May Slow Data

·         Speculation of Alliance with Microsoft Lifts Nokia Shares

·         Depletion of Internet Addresses Reflects Wired World

·         Survey: 32% Admit Mooching Neighbor’s Wi-Fi

·         Huge Debt Handcuffs Washington State in Bad Times

·         Seattle Woman Quits Luxembourg Ambassador Job amid Criticism

·         Three-Year-Old Saves Father’s Life

·         Weyerhaeuser Posts Fourth Quarter Profit

·         Panel Rejects Pricey, Innovative Design for Portland-to-Vancouver Bridge

·         Washington State’s Banking Regulator Steps Down to Run San Juan Island Bank

·         Norfolk Pulls Website Similar to Seattle’s

·         Underdog Shelton ‘Climbers Like Role in Bowling Tournament

WORD OF THE DAY

Julienne • \jool-ee-ENN\ • - To slice into thin strips about the size of matchsticks

“Now, this ought to take care of that backlog of ‘Vegematics’ in the store-room,” cackled the opportunistic renewable energy entrepreneur. Looking for a way to make a more readily burned woody biomass processor, the “network marketing” enthusiast decided that julienne wood chips would be just the ticket.

SHELTON FORECAST & 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

Washington State Bill Would Move TransAlta’s Deadline for Changes at Centralia Coal Power Plant - Bill would require using cleaner energy sources by late 2015, rather than 2025 (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/02/04/1531547/bill-would-move-transaltas-deadline.html

Energy Northwest Considers Mixed Plutonium Fuel for Columbia Generating Station (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2011/02/04/1354173/energy-northwest-considering-mixed.html

Repairs Continue After Chehalis Power Blast (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

http://www.kelaam.com/pages/localnews?Repairs-continue-after-Chehalis-Power-bl=1&blockID=403325&feedID=410

State Oks Process for Transferring East Jefferson Electrical Service from Puget Sound Energy to PUD (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110204/news/302049981/state-oks-process-for-transferring-east-jefferson-electrical-service

Chelan County PUD Might Raise Water Rates, Extend Surcharge (Lake Chelan Mirror, WA)

http://www.lakechelanmirror.com/main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=3487

Power Lines Across Truck in Issaquah Trap Driver (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/26743524/detail.html

Thousands in New Mexico Without Natural Gas Service (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014125233_apusnaturalgasoutages.html

Cold Exposes Jumble of Flaws in Texas Electric Policies (Fort Worth Star-Telegram, TX)

http://www.star-telegram.com/2011/02/03/2822392/cold-exposes-jumble-of-flaws-in.html

Report Backs Massive Canadian Oil Sands Pipeline to Gulf of Mexico (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014126147_apusoilpipeline.html

Ohio – American Electric Power Electricity Rate Plan Has Surprises in Store for Many Customers (Business First, Ohio)

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/print-edition/2011/02/04/aep-rate-plan-has-surprises-in-store.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Columbia River Sturgeon Numbers Decline; Hungry Sea Lions Apparent Cause (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2014129669_sealions05m.html

Op/Ed - Winning the Future: Salmon Country Needs Science & Innovation, Too (Oregonian, Portland – Pay no attention to those return numbers…nothing to see here…move along…)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2011/02/winning_the_future_salmon_coun.html

Western Wolverines Threatened by Climate Change (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/greenspace/2011/02/wolverine-climate-change.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Idaho Wind-Farm Complex Completed - Dozens of new windmills are now spread across 10,000 acres of south-central Idaho (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2011/02/04/1514153/idaho-wind-farm-complex-completed.html

Norwegian Solar Energy Firm Renewable Energy Corporation Breaks Ground on Italian Solar Plant (BusinessGreen)

http://www.businessgreen.com/bg/news/2024134/rec-breaks-ground-italian-solar-plant

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

McMinnville Water & Light Offers Incentives (Yamhill County News-Register, McMinnville, OR)

http://www.newsregister.com/article/46836-mac+water+amp+light+offers+incentives

Penguin Windows Jobs in Vancouver Are Safe for Now (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/feb/04/penguin-windows-jobs-vancouver-are-safe-now/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

California Cap-Trade Plan Dealt Blow by San Francisco Judge (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/02/04/MNOO1HIDT2.DTL

United Kingdom Allowed to Restart Spot Carbon Trading - The UK has been cleared to begin spot carbon trading again on Friday after the European Union shut the whole market for two weeks (The Telegraph, UK)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/newsbysector/energy/8301727/UK-allowed-to-restart-spot-carbon-trading.html

Climatologist Claims Climate Change Denier Defamed Him (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/02/04/33907.htm

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Area’s First All-Electric Leaf Lands in Olympia (Olympian, WA – Small farm & residential charging exchange program anyone?)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/02/04/1531204/areas-first-all-electric-leaf.html

Oregon State University’s New Energy Center Makes a Platinum Statement (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/02/oregon_states_new_energy_cente.html

The Root: Trying to Find the Rumored Green Jobs (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2011/02/04/133491234/the-root-trying-to-find-the-rumored-green-jobs

Analysis: US Biodiesel on Life Support, But Smiling (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/02/04/us-usa-bi0diesel-idUSTRE7130H920110204

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Verizon Stops Taking Iphone Pre-Orders After Setting Unspecified ‘Record’ (Washington Post)

http://voices.washingtonpost.com/fasterforward/2011/02/verizon_has_unspecified_record.html

Ahead of iPhone, Verizon Says It May Slow Data (Associated Press)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20110203/ap_on_hi_te/us_tec_verizon_wireless_data

Speculation of Alliance with Microsoft Lifts Nokia Shares (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/02/04/technology/04nokia.html

Depletion of Internet Addresses Reflects Wired World (Reuters)

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110204/wr_nm/us_internetaddresses

Survey: 32% Admit Mooching Neighbor’s Wi-Fi (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/news/2011-02-04-wifimoochers04_ST_N.htm?csp=34tech

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Huge Debt Handcuffs Washington State in Bad Times (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014125005_debt04m.html

Seattle Woman Quits Luxembourg Ambassador Job amid Criticism – How bad? Some staffers requested transfers to Iraq & Afghanistan! (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Seattle-woman-quits-envoy-job-amid-criticism-115281264.html

GENERAL NEWS

Three-Year-Old Saves Father’s Life (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.net/news/news/4503-3-year-old-saves-fathers-life

Weyerhaeuser Posts Fourth Quarter Profit (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014129552_weyco05.html

Panel Rejects Pricey, Innovative Design for Portland-to-Vancouver Bridge; suggests three cheaper plans (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2011/02/panel_rejects_pricey_innovative_design_for_portland-to-vancouver_bridge_suggests_three_cheaper_plans.html

Washington State’s Banking Regulator Steps Down to Run San Juan Island Bank (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2014122462_dfi04.html

Norfolk Pulls Website Similar to Seattle’s (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/Global/story.asp?S=13969478

Underdog Shelton ‘Climbers Like Role in Bowling Tournament (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/02/04/1531246/underdog-climbers-like-role.html

DIVERSIONS

Google Bets $20,000 You Can’t Hack Chrome Internet Browser

http://www.informationweek.com/news/security/vulnerabilities/showArticle.jhtml?articleID=229201164&cid=RSSfeed_IWK_News

Lewis & Clark Law School Password Generates Online “Failure”

http://blog.oregonlive.com/mapesonpolitics/2011/02/lewis_clark_law_school_has_onl.html

Want to be in Sumo? iPhone Application Shows How You Might Look

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110204/od_uk_nm/oukoe_uk_japan_sumo_app

Parrots Tend to be “Left Handed,” Study Finds

http://news.yahoo.com/s/nm/20110203/od_nm/us_parrots_hands

SONG OF THE DAY

Jackson Browne - Lawyers in Love

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a9qrJMTU1O8