The news digest will be away from the office May 19-20, and will return the 23rd.
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.
ENERGY NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER
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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES
Wind Farm Operators Say Pacific Northwest Power Manager’s Shutdown Notice Discriminates against Them (Associated Press)
Mason County PUD 3 & Mason Seniors Sign Option on Purchase of Downtown Shelton PUD Properties (Mason County PUD No. 3)
State Overestimated Oil-Pollution Levels in Sound (Seattle Times)
Lawsuit against Port of Shelton over Biomass Plant Dismissed (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
Pros, Cons Aired at Nippon Power Plant Permit Hearing; State Decision at Least Month Away (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Wind Farm Operators Say Pacific Northwest Power Manager’s Shutdown Notice Discriminates against Them
- BPA Decision Could Lead To Wind Power Curtailment in the Pacific Northwest
- Lots of Hydropower from Big Snowpack--So Why is Avista Asking for More Money?
- First "Smart Meters" Going in for Port Angeles
- Mason County PUD 3 & Mason Seniors Sign Option on Purchase of Downtown Shelton PUD Properties
- May 24 – Mason PUD 3 Planned Power Outage for Alderwood Road Area
- Federal Blue Ribbon Commission: DOE Shouldn’t Determine Home For Nation’s Nuclear Waste
- Snake River Alliance Releases Free Activist's Energy Guide
- Wisconsin Senate Agrees To Let Utilities Buy Renewable Power from Dams in Canada
- T. Boone Pickens’ New Energy Plan: No Wind
- Pennsylvania - For Commercial Customers, Peco Will Raise Its Price to Compare
- State Overestimated Oil-Pollution Levels in Sound
- Declining Spokane River Toxin Levels Still Don’t Meet Standards
- Washington's Green River on Top Ten Most Endangered List
- Suction Dredge Mining Targeted By Lawmakers And Environmental Groups
- Lawsuit against Port of Shelton over Biomass Plant Dismissed
- Pros, Cons Aired at Nippon Power Plant Permit Hearing
- Emissions-Permitting Agency Hears About Port Angeles Biomass Project
- Seattle Steam - Considered a Model for Efficient, Renewable Energy for the Future
- Companies Plan Garbage-Fueled Power Plants In Wyoming
- Paul Allen Adding Solar Panels to Power Qwest Field
- Trade Recreation Agricultural Center's Solar Power Plans a Potential Win for Franklin County
- Moot Point Department - Wilsonville SoloPower Referendum Won't Advance to a Public Vote, Petitioners Say
- California, Oregon, Massachusetts, New York, Washington and Colorado Top the Nation in Clean-Energy Leadership
- Iowa - Truck Carrying Wind Tower Base Rolls Over
- North Dakota Electric Cooperative Dedicating $363 Million South Dakota Wind Farm in June
- No Nukes, No Problem? Germany’s Race for a Renewable Future
- Connecticut - Debate Pits Energy Efficiency Fund against Utility Surcharge
- Habitat ReStore Outlets Growing
- Green Wars: Two 'Living Buildings' Battle for Sustainable Supremacy
- Biodegradable Urn Lets You Go Green, Even Six Feet Under
- Washington State Data Center Tax Bill Approved
- Impact of Federal Government Data Center Closures Unclear
- Could The Internet Spell the End of Snow Days?
- On This Day: Mount St. Helens Erupts
- More Shelton Street Lights to be Turned Off?
- Permanent Storage of Highly Radioactive Nuclear Waste at Hanford to be Debated
- Denmark Preparing to Stake Claim to North Pole
- Feuding In Farmville - A Young Couple in Rural Kootenai County Can’t Teach a Class about Poultry at Their Small Farm
WORD OF THE DAY
Dyspepsia • \diss-PEP-see-uh\ • Noun - 1: indigestion 2: ill humor: disgruntlement
The sourness that antacids will not kill. Jed’s dyspepsia was well known throughout the small mountain town. Residents would cross the street to avoid exposure to the blast of his ill-will.
SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Wind Farm Operators Say Pacific Northwest Power Manager’s Shutdown Notice Discriminates against Them (Associated Press)
BPA Decision Could Lead To Wind Power Curtailment in the Pacific Northwest (North American Windpower)
Lots of Hydropower from Big Snowpack--So Why is Avista Asking for More Money? (Northwest Cable News Network)
First "Smart Meters" Going in for Port Angeles (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)
Mason County PUD 3 & Mason Seniors Sign Option on Purchase of Downtown Shelton PUD Properties (Mason County PUD No. 3)
May 24 – Mason PUD 3 Planned Power Outage for Alderwood Road Area (Mason County PUD No. 3)
Federal Blue Ribbon Commission: DOE Shouldn’t Determine Home For Nation’s Nuclear Waste (Northwest Public Radio)
Snake River Alliance Releases Free Activist's Energy Guide (Sun Valley Online, ID)
Wisconsin Senate Agrees To Let Utilities Buy Renewable Power from Dams in Canada (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, WI)
T. Boone Pickens’ New Energy Plan: No Wind (Roll Call)
Pennsylvania - For Commercial Customers, Peco Will Raise Its Price to Compare: electricity prices for commercial customers will increase between 9.4 percent and 12.6 percent on July 1 (Philadelphia Inquirer, PA)
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
State Overestimated Oil-Pollution Levels in Sound (Seattle Times)
Declining Spokane River Toxin Levels Still Don’t Meet Standards (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)
Washington's Green River on Top Ten Most Endangered List (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
Suction Dredge Mining Targeted By Lawmakers And Environmental Groups (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Lawsuit against Port of Shelton over Biomass Plant Dismissed (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
Pros, Cons Aired at Nippon Power Plant Permit Hearing; State Decision at Least Month Away (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
Emissions-Permitting Agency Hears About Port Angeles Biomass Project (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)
Seattle Steam - Considered a Model for Efficient, Renewable Energy for the Future (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)
Companies Plan Garbage-Fueled Power Plants In Wyoming (Billings Gazette, MT)
Paul Allen Adding Solar Panels to Power Qwest Field (KIRO-TV, Seattle)
Trade Recreation Agricultural Center's Solar Power Plans a Potential Win for Franklin County (Tri-City Herald, WA)
Moot Point Department - Wilsonville SoloPower Referendum Won't Advance to a Public Vote, Petitioners Say (Oregonian, Portland)
California, Oregon, Massachusetts, New York, Washington and Colorado Top the Nation in Clean-Energy Leadership “…Idaho leads the U.S. in clean electricity as a percentage of its total generation - at an astounding 84 percent - when you include hydro and biomass. Other states that get more than 60 percent of their electricity from renewable sources including hydro and biomass are Washington (71.59 percent), South Dakota (65 percent), and Oregon (63.84 percent). (PR Web)
Iowa - Truck Carrying Wind Tower Base Rolls Over (KCCI-TV, Des Moines, IA)
North Dakota Electric Cooperative Dedicating $363 Million South Dakota Wind Farm in June (Associated Press)
No Nukes, No Problem? Germany’s Race for a Renewable Future (Grist Online)
CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY
Connecticut - Debate Pits Energy Efficiency Fund against Utility Surcharge (Connecticut Mirror)
BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI
Habitat ReStore Outlets Growing (USA Today)
Green Wars: Two 'Living Buildings' Battle for Sustainable Supremacy (TIME Magazine)
Biodegradable Urn Lets You Go Green, Even Six Feet Under (TIME Magazine)
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
Washington State Data Center Tax Bill Approved (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
Impact of Federal Government Data Center Closures Unclear (NextGov)
Could The Internet Spell the End of Snow Days? (Associated Press)
GENERAL NEWS
On This Day: Mount St. Helens Erupts (Finding Dulcinea)
More Shelton Street Lights to be Turned Off? (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA) - The City of Shelton wants to shut off more street lights. Last year, 47 lights were shut off because they were deemed unnecessary due to their proximity to other lighting sources and turning them off would save the City some money. The Police Department, which created the street light project, has analyzed the results of turning off those 47 lights and the City saved over $2,500 ($2,560.20) during the first three months of 2011 with no impact on public safety or increase in crime. So, staff is now asking the Shelton City Commission to turn off another 36 lights. These lights are in the area south of Cota Street to the City Limits. A map showing the location of the lights to be turned off in phase 2 is available for review at the Shelton Police Department. Action on this phase of the Street Light Project is expected next Monday
Permanent Storage of Highly Radioactive Nuclear Waste at Hanford to be Debated (Oregonian, Portland)
Denmark Preparing to Stake Claim to North Pole (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)
http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/Denmark-preparing-to-stake-claim-to-North-Pole-1382892.php
Feuding In Farmville - A Young Couple in Rural Kootenai County Can’t Teach a Class about Poultry at Their Small Farm…Instead, they have been told, they should explore renting a Coeur d’Alene hotel meeting room (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)
DIVERSIONS
Wacky Warning Contest Names 5 Frivolous Finalists
Baby Named after Facebook’s 'Like' Button
Canadian Poodle Survives Fall from Soaring Bird's Claws
Man Still On Food Stamps Despite Winning $2 Million
SONG OF THE DAY
Luck Be a Lady - Frank Sinatra & Chrissie Hynde
