Energy News Digest for July 19, 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

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Spring Rise Ebbs in Pacific Northwest; Wind Farms at Full Output (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015651972_aporwindenergyhalt.html

The Pressure’s on EPA to Back Off New Smog Regulation (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/07/environmental_news_pressures_o.html

Columbia River Summer Chinook & Sockeye Fishery Ends on a Good Note “…caught 1,564 sockeye & released 390 others…highest number of sockeye taken by anglers since at least 1980…” (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2015625497_columbia_river_summer_chinook_3.html

Op/Ed - Science, Not Politics, Should Dictate Energy Solutions (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/jul/19/washington-view-science-not-politics/

King County Sewer - Millions of Dollar’s Worth of Brightwater Project Material Deemed Unusable (NW Cable News Network)

http://www.nwcn.com/news/Millions-of-dollars-worth-of-Brightwater-project-material-deemed-unusable-125763733.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Op/Ed - Science, Not Politics, Should Dictate Energy Solutions
• Mayor Warns of Seattle Impacts if Bellingham Coal Terminal Is Built
• Duke Likely to Retire All Coal-Fired Units at Ohio Plant Due to Utility MACT Rule
• Japan’s Crippled Nuclear Plant Reaches Stability
• Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chief Plans Quick Response to Post-Fukushima Study
• Grays Harbor PUD Gets Substation Upgrades
• How California ISO Uses Google Maps, Big Data to Manage Power
• Rio de Janeiro’s New Hazard: Exploding Manholes
• Homeowners Fight Georgia Power to Save 100-Year-Old Tree
• Columbia River Summer Chinook & Sockeye Fishery Ends on a Good Note
• Columbia River Salmon on the Move
• FERC - Northwest Fish Passage Training & Facilities Workshop
• King County Sewer - Millions of Dollar’s Worth of Brightwater Project Material Deemed Unusable
• Environmental Groups Fault Spokane River Cleanup
• Kittitas County Investigating Ecology Department over Well Restrictions
• Second Montana Oil Spill Unreported for Weeks
• After Drought, Waters in Lake Mead Start to Rise
• Spring Rise Ebbs in Pacific Northwest; Wind Farms at Full Output
• News Release - Adolfson & Peterson Awarded Mason County PUD 3 Solar Array Installation
• Communities Blow Back at Wind Farm Development
• Arizona - Burned Trash Can be Used as Energy: Incinerator to Count for Renewable Goals
• Bonneville Power Administration to Manage Energy Efficiency with Nexant Technology
• The Pressure’s on EPA to Back Off New Smog Regulation
• EPA Sued over Los Angeles Smog
• Cisco to Lay Off Thousands of Employees
• Controversial Washington State Data Center Project Opens
• CenturyLink Plans to Invest $20M in New Mexico Broadband
• NFIB: Businesses Providing Wi-Fi Could Get Piracy Warnings
• Study: Average Corporate Network Hacked 3+ Times a Year
• Intel Buys Networking Chipmaker Because the Data Center Is Now the Computer
• Ex-Bush Spokesman Considering Senate Race in Washington State
• Carpet Bagging? Ohio Congressman Kucinich Eyes Washington for New House Seat
• Embezzlement Trial of Former Clallam Treasurer’s Cashier over Missing $617,467 Starts
• State Worker Who Stole, Sold Files Sentenced
• Moody’s Debt Solution: Eliminate the Ceiling
• More Wrong Tolling Found on Tacoma Narrows Bridge
• ct Sites Debases National Park System
• 25 Tons of Metal Stolen from Mukilteo Business
• Washington State Orchard Workers Renew Call for $2 Million Judgment
• Borders Says It’s Going Out of Business
• Unfunded Washington State Scholarships Frustrate Local Recipients
• Survey: Mariners Among the Toughest of All Pro Sports Teams to Root For

WORD OF THE DAY

Juggernaut • \JUGG-gurr-not\ • Noun - 1: a large heavy truck 2: a massive inexorable force, campaign, movement, or object that crushes whatever is in its path

Amber had asked Chad to create a simple costume she could wear for the April “Procession of the Species” parade in Olympia. Unbeknownst to her, he had just attended a guerilla theater camp where the attendees were taught how to make giant, creepy puppets for protest marches. Horrified, she crawled inside the paper-mache blue whale that was to be her costume. Sweating and straining, barely aware of the cheers from the attendees of the event, Amber swayed back and forth down the parade route, the juggernaut of a costume she was wearing veering dangerously towards the nearby Greenpeace “Rainbow Warrior” float. The irony of the next moments would live forever in “procession” lore.

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

Op/Ed - Science, Not Politics, Should Dictate Energy Solutions (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/jul/19/washington-view-science-not-politics/

Mayor Warns of Seattle Impacts if Bellingham Coal Terminal Is Built (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/blog/crosscut/20421/McGinn-warns-of-Seattle-impacts-if-Bellingham-coal-terminal-is-built/

Duke Likely to Retire All Coal-Fired Units at Ohio Plant Due to Utility MACT Rule (Penn Energy)

http://www.pennenergy.com/index/power/display/0900253639/articles/pennenergy/power/coal/2011/july/duke-likely_to_retire.html

Japan’s Crippled Nuclear Plant Reaches Stability (Associated Press)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/07/19/international/i062156D41.DTL

Nuclear Regulatory Commission Chief Plans Quick Response to Post-Fukushima Study (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/18/n-r-c-chief-plans-quick-response-to-post-fukushima-study/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Grays Harbor PUD Gets Substation Upgrades (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=2869

How California ISO Uses Google Maps, Big Data to Manage Power (Gigaom)

http://gigaom.com/cloud/how-california-uses-souped-up-google-maps-to-manage-its-power/

Rio de Janeiro’s New Hazard: Exploding Manholes (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Americas/Latin-America-Monitor/2011/0719/Rio-de-Janeiro-s-new-hazard-exploding-manholes

Homeowners Fight Georgia Power to Save 100-Year-Old Tree (Atlanta Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/atlanta/morning_call/2011/07/homeowners-fight-ga-power-to-save.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Columbia River Summer Chinook & Sockeye Fishery Ends on a Good Note “…caught 1,564 sockeye & released 390 others…highest number of sockeye taken by anglers since at least 1980…” (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2015625497_columbia_river_summer_chinook_3.html

Columbia River Salmon on the Move (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/jul/18/salmon-on-the-move/

FERC - Northwest Fish Passage Training & Facilities Workshop (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)

http://www.ferc.gov/industries/hydropower/enviro/fish-passage.asp

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

King County Sewer - Millions of Dollar’s Worth of Brightwater Project Material Deemed Unusable (NW Cable News Network)

http://www.nwcn.com/news/Millions-of-dollars-worth-of-Brightwater-project-material-deemed-unusable-125763733.html

Environmental Groups Fault Spokane River Cleanup (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/story/15101899/environmental-groups-fault-spokane-river-cleanup

Kittitas County Investigating Ecology Department over Well Restrictions (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakima-herald.com/stories/2011/07/18/kittitas-county-investigating-ecology-department

Second Montana Oil Spill Unreported for Weeks (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/jul/18/new-oil-spill-reported-montana/

After Drought, Waters in Lake Mead Start to Rise (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2011/07/18/138484216/after-years-for-drought-lake-mead-waters-start-to-rise?ft=1&f=2

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Spring Rise Ebbs in Pacific Northwest; Wind Farms at Full Output (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015651972_aporwindenergyhalt.html

News Release - Adolfson & Peterson Awarded Mason County PUD 3 Solar Array Installation (Adolfson & Peterson Construction)

http://www.a-p.com/node/751

Communities Blow Back at Wind Farm Development (Climate Central)

http://www.climatecentral.org/news/communities-blow-back-at-wind-farm-development

Arizona - Burned Trash Can be Used as Energy: Incinerator to Count for Renewable Goals (Arizona Republic, Phoenix)

http://www.azcentral.com/business/articles/2011/07/18/20110718arizona-burned-trash-can-used-energy.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Bonneville Power Administration to Manage Energy Efficiency with Nexant Technology (Electric Light & Power)

http://www.elp.com/index/display/article-display.articles.electric-light-power.energy-efficiency.2011.07.BPA_to_manage_energy_efficiency_with_Nexant_technology.QP129867.dcmp=rss.page=1.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

The Pressure’s on EPA to Back Off New Smog Regulation (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/07/environmental_news_pressures_o.html

EPA Sued over Los Angeles Smog (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_18505994

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Cisco to lay off thousands of employees (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/n/a/2011/07/18/financial/f134715D79.DTL

Controversial Washington State Data Center Project Opens (Northwest Public Radio)

http://www.nwpr.org/07/HomepageArticles/Article.aspx?n=9140

CenturyLink Plans to Invest $20M in New Mexico Broadband (New Mexico Business Weekly)

http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/news/2011/07/18/centurylink-plans-to-invest-20m-in-nm.html

NFIB: Businesses Providing Wi-Fi Could Get Piracy Warnings (Sacramento Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2011/07/18/businesses-providing-wi-fi-piracy-warn.html

Study: Average Corporate Network Hacked 3+ Times a Year (Minneapolis/St Paul Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/morning_roundup/2011/07/study-average-corporate-network.html

Intel Buys Networking Chipmaker Because the Data Center Is Now the Computer (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/cloud/intel-buys-networking-chipmaker-because-the-data-center-is-now-the-computer/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Ex-Bush Spokesman Considering Senate Race in Washington State (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/07/18/1729104/ex-bush-spokesman-considering.html

Carpet Bagging? Ohio Congressman Kucinich Eyes Washington for New House Seat (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/story/15107216/kucinich-eyes-washington-for-new-house-seat

Embezzlement Trial of Former Clallam Treasurer’s Cashier over Missing $617,467 Starts (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110719/NEWS/307199994/embezzlement-trial-of-former-clallam-treasurers-cashier-over-missing

State Worker Who Stole, Sold Files Sentenced (Seattle Post Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/State-worker-who-stole-sold-files-sentenced-1471437.php

Moody’s Debt Solution: Eliminate the Ceiling (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2011/07/moodys-debt-solution-eliminate-the-ceiling/1?csp=34money

GENERAL NEWS

More Wrong Tolling Found on Tacoma Narrows Bridge (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/More-wrong-tolling-found-on-Tacoma-Narrows-Bridge-125788798.html

Anti-Nuke Groups Say Creating Parks at Manhattan Project Sites Debases National Park System (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/anti-nuke-groups-say-creating-parks-at-manhattan-project-sites-debases-national-park-system/2011/07/18/gIQAHAPOMI_story.html?wprss=rss_national

25 Tons of Metal Stolen from Mukilteo Business (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/25-tons-of-metal-stolen-from-Mukilteo-business-125779658.html

Washington State Orchard Workers Renew Call for $2 Million Judgment (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2011/07/19/38280.htm

Borders Says It’s Going Out of Business (USA Today)

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2011/07/borders-says-it-will-shut-down/1?csp=34money

Unfunded Washington State Scholarships Frustrate Local Recipients (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2011/07/19/1749950/unfunded-state-scholarships-frustrate.html

Survey: Mariners Among the Toughest of All Pro Sports Teams to Root For (Puget Sound Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2011/07/18/of-all-pro-sports-teams-mariners-are.html

DIVERSIONS

Truck Full of Toilet Paper Tumbles Off Road, Clogging Lochsa River in Northern Idaho

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2011/07/truck_full_of_toilet_paper_tumbles_off_road_clogging_lochsa_river_in_northern_idaho.html

Chihuahua Foils Armed Robbery

http://www.kirotv.com/news/28595747/detail.html

Songwriter of Hits by Rolling Stones, Joplin Dies

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/entertainment/2015652037_apusobitragovoy.html

One Beefy Birthday: Oscar Mayer’s Wienermobile Turns 75

http://newsfeed.time.com/2011/07/18/one-beefy-birthday-oscar-meyers-wienermobile-turns-75/

SONGS OF THE DAY

Janis Joplin - Take Another Piece of My Heart

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tenV9Din7K4

Rolling Stones - Time Is on My Side

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PHVeyo4W18U

Energy News Digest for July 18, 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

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Energy Northwest Wins Nearly $49 Million Judgment over Spent Nuclear Fuel (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/story/15091457/energy-northwest-wins-nearly-49m-judgment

Kitsap County - Copper Thieves Leave Puget Sound Energy Substation Dark (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/jul/17/copper-thieves-leave-pse-substation-dark/

Work to Start This Summer on Extension of Kitsap PUD’s Fiber Optic Network (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/jul/15/work-to-start-this-summer-on-extension-of-fiber/

Farm Tests Out Smart-Grid-Like Irrigation System – Simplot, Bonneville Power Administration, Local Utilities Running the Pilot (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/07/17/1727570/farm-tests-out-smart-grid-like.html

Dangerous Heat Wave Forecast for Half the Country (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/extremes/2011-07-17-heat-wave-to-hit-East_n.htm?csp=34news

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Energy Northwest Wins Nearly $49 Million Judgment over Spent Nuclear Fuel
• Kitsap County - Copper Thieves Leave Puget Sound Energy Substation Dark
• Puget Sound Energy Goes Special Ops on Copper Thieves
• Washington State Steps in to Help Handle a Coal Port Proposal in Bellingham
• Oregon Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal Plans Reverse from Importing to Exporting Gas
• Montana – Bonneville Power Administration Work to Cause Brief Power Outages in Flathead County
• City of Vancouver & Bonneville Power Administration – Stormwater Fees
• Chelan PUD Crews Update Vintage Power Lin
• California - Pacific Gas & Electric, Feds Disagree on Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant Fault Danger
• Massachusetts - State Seeks Delay in NStar, Northeast Utilities Merger
• Delaware - Electricity options dwindling in Delaware
• Hydromania Offers Hands-On Science Fun
• Salmon-Eating Sea Lions Targeted for Good Taste
• Sockeye Run Picks Up, Could be Fourth Largest Since 1980; Over 2,000 Snake River Fish Forecasted
• Bonneville Power Briefs Council on Projected Fish, Wildlife Project Spending for FY 2012
• Minnesota Government Shutdown Means State Muskie Record Stands
• Port Angeles Dioxin Level High, But Risk Not Great, Experts Say After Study by Ecology Department 
• Federal Money to Pay for Grays Harbor Restoration
• Oregon - Prineville Looks to Ancient River for More Water
• Montana Crews Finish Pulling Oil from Exxon Pipeline
• Idaho Congressman’s Bill Would Speed Geothermal Exploration
• Oregon - Gresham Hasn’t Given Up on Bringing Thin-Film Solar Plant to Town
• Feds Revisit Program for Solar Development
• The Groupon for Solar Looks Nationwide
• Wind Power Fails to Sail in South Dakota
• Colorado - Family Continues High Country Hydropower Tradition
• Quest for Renewable Power Turns Back to Water
• Florida – Gainesville’s Biomass Plant: Is There No Turning Back Now?
• Forest Service to Fund Woody Biomass Energy Studies
• United Kingdom - Poultry Farmers Switch on to Green Energy
• NFL’s Washington Redskins Use Solar to Power Stadium, Protect Tailgaters
• Farm Tests Out Smart-Grid-Like Irrigation System
• Bonneville Power Administration Encourages Farmers to Get Water Efficient
• Kudos to GridMobility & Mason PUD 3 - Five Smart Grid Startups to Watch
• Wrapping the Cost of Energy Improvements into a Mortgage
• Light Bulb Wars: Where It All Began
• Editorial - Light-Bulb Standards Equal Energy Efficiency
• Columnist - Cutting Need for Energy by Using Less of It
• Lighting the Energy Hopes of the Grid-Less
• Work to Start This Summer on Extension of Kitsap PUD’s Fiber Optic Network
• Oregon - Sandy’s City-Run Internet Will Deliver High Speed at Low Costs
• Phone Hackers Stick Bellevue Business with $90,000 Bill
• Las Vegas: Home to Carrot Top & The ‘World’s Greenest’ Data Center?
• Pierce County Unions Forgo Pay Bumps to Help Budget Problems
• Rural Lawmakers Hold Tight to Power as States Change
• Cantwell Builds a Political Firewall - With Greenbacks
• Dangerous Heat Wave Forecast for Half the Country
• Police in San Francisco Kill Man Wanted for Death of Pregnant Seattle Teen
• First Wave Moves into Washington State Data Center Complex
• China Edges Out US as Top British Columbia Lumber Customer
• The Race Is On - Backers Hope Two Local Motorsports Parks Aren’t Too Many
• Washington State Litter Hotline Shut Down by Budget Cuts; Signs to Remain
• China’s Hypergrowth Fueled by Building Giant Cities No One Lives In

WORD OF THE DAY

Propitious • \pruh-PISH-us\ • Adjective - 1: favorably disposed: benevolent 2: being of good omen: auspicious 3: tending to favor: advantageous

The wizened, secretive hermit greedily rubbed his gnarled, wrinkled hands together in glee. His dissipation, caused by copious amounts of ‘RC Cola” and “Moon Pies” over the years had given him a corpulent, “Jabba-the-Hut” form. The only benefit of his condition was when the local “Jedi-Knight” gathering occurred at the community center. “How propitious.” he cackled, “using Jedi-mind tricks in reverse: You cannot resist feeding Jabba,” he practiced before the mirror.

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

Energy Northwest Wins Nearly $49 Million Judgment over Spent Nuclear Fuel (Associated Press)

http://www.kndu.com/story/15091457/energy-northwest-wins-nearly-49m-judgment

Kitsap County - Copper Thieves Leave Puget Sound Energy Substation Dark (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/jul/17/copper-thieves-leave-pse-substation-dark/

Puget Sound Energy Goes Special Ops on Copper Thieves (KING-TV, Seattle – Golly, this video surveillance looks familiar…)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/PSE-Goes-Special-Ops-on-Thieves-125670073.html

Washington State Steps in to Help Handle a Coal Port Proposal in Bellingham (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2011/07/15/environment/21112/State-steps-in-to-help-handle-a-coal-port-proposal-in-Bellingham/

Oregon Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal Plans Reverse from Importing to Exporting Gas (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/07/oregon_lng_terminal_plans_reve.html

Montana – Bonneville Power Administration Work to Cause Brief Power Outages in Flathead County (KPAX-TV, Missoula, MT)

http://www.kpax.com/news/maintenance-work-to-cause-brief-power-outages-in-flathead-co-/

City of Vancouver & Bonneville Power Administration – Stormwater Fees (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.piersystem.com/go/doc/1582/1137491/

Chelan PUD Crews Update Vintage Power Line (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/jul/15/crews-update-vintage-powerline/

California - Pacific Gas & Electric, Feds Disagree on Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant Fault Danger (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/07/17/MN311K9QBV.DTL

Massachusetts - State Seeks Delay in NStar, Northeast Utilities Merger - Months-long review could stall deal (Boston Globe, MA)

http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2011/07/18/review_of_power_rates_could_stall_merger_of_utilities/

Delaware - Electricity options dwindling in Delaware (News Journal, New Castle, DE)

http://www.delawareonline.com/article/20110717/BUSINESS/107170315/Electricity-options-dwindling-Delaware

Hydromania Offers Hands-On Science Fun (East Oregonian, Pendleton)

http://www.eastoregonian.com/news/hydromania-offers-hands-on-science-fun/article_f1b7cf64-af81-11e0-b2f7-001cc4c03286.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Salmon-Eating Sea Lions Targeted for Good Taste (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2011/07/16/138172334/salmon-eating-sea-lions-targeted-for-their-taste

Sockeye Run Picks Up, Could be Fourth Largest Since 1980; Over 2,000 Snake River Fish Forecasted (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/410801.aspx

Bonneville Power Briefs Council on Projected Fish, Wildlife Project Spending for FY 2012 (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/410800.aspx

Minnesota Government Shutdown Means State Muskie Record Stands (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2015643826_apusshutdownmonstermuskie.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Port Angeles Dioxin Level High, But Risk Not Great, Experts Say After Study by Ecology Department (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20110718/NEWS/307189994/port-angeles-dioxin-level-high-but-risk-not-great-experts-say-after

Federal Money to Pay for Grays Harbor Restoration (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2015646263_apwagraysharborcleanup.html

Oregon - Prineville Looks to Ancient River for More Water (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://news.opb.org/article/prineville-looks-ancient-river-more-water/

Montana Crews Finish Pulling Oil from Exxon Pipeline (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2015643969_apusoilspillyellowstoneriver.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Idaho Congressman’s Bill Would Speed Geothermal Exploration (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/jul/15/idaho-reps-bill-would-speed-geothermal-exploration/

Oregon - Gresham Hasn’t Given Up on Bringing Thin-Film Solar Plant to Town (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/gresham/index.ssf/2011/07/gresham_hasnt_given_up_on_brin.html

Feds Revisit Program for Solar Development (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/jul/17/feds-revisit-program-for-solar-development/

The Groupon for Solar Looks Nationwide (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/cleantech/the-groupon-for-solar-looks-nationwide/

Wind Power Fails to Sail in South Dakota - Puttering economy, cheap natural gas hinder faster growth (Argus-Leader, Sioux Falls, SD)

http://www.argusleader.com/article/20110718/NEWS/107180323/Wind-power-fails-to-sail-in-S-D-

Colorado - Family Continues High Country Hydropower Tradition (Pueblo Chieftain, CO)

http://www.chieftain.com/news/local/family-continues-high-country-hydropower-tradition/article_f57a5a98-af6a-11e0-bdca-001cc4c002e0.html

Quest for Renewable Power Turns Back to Water (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2015648239_apusriverpower.html

Florida – Gainesville’s Biomass Plant: Is There No Turning Back Now? (Gainesville Sun, FL)

http://www.gainesville.com/article/20110716/ARTICLES/110719688/1002/sitemaps

Forest Service to Fund Woody Biomass Energy Studies (Omaha World-Herald, NE)

http://www.theindependent.com/articles/2011/07/16/news/local/doc4e225a65cd974399580549.txt

United Kingdom - Poultry Farmers Switch on to Green Energy (Farmers’ Weekly)

http://www.fwi.co.uk/Articles/2011/07/18/127851/Poultry-farmers-switch-on-to-green-energy.htm

NFL’s Washington Redskins Use Solar to Power Stadium, Protect Tailgaters (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/07/15/idUS225407468220110715

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Farm Tests Out Smart-Grid-Like Irrigation System – Simplot, Bonneville Power Administration, Local Utilities Running the Pilot (Associated Press)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/07/17/1727570/farm-tests-out-smart-grid-like.html

Bonneville Power Administration Encourages Farmers to Get Water Efficient - Installing new equipment could bring down usage dramatically (East Oregonian, Pendleton)

http://www.eastoregonian.com/news/bpa-encourages-farmers-to-get-water-efficient/article_3b60d634-af77-11e0-b6a7-001cc4c03286.html

Kudos to GridMobility & Mason PUD 3 - Five Smart Grid Startups to Watch (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/cleantech/5-smart-grid-startups-to-watch-via-the-cleantech-open/

Wrapping the Cost of Energy Improvements into a Mortgage (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_18486419

Light Bulb Wars: Where It All Began (Midwest Energy News)

http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2011/07/18/light-bulb-wars-where-it-all-began/

Editorial - Light-Bulb Standards Equal Energy Efficiency (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/opinionla/la-ed-bulbs-20110718,0,1278629.story

Columnist - Cutting Need for Energy by Using Less of It (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/07/18/business/energy-environment/cutting-need-for-energy-by-using-less-of-it.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Lighting the Energy Hopes of the Grid-Less (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/07/15/if-everyone-lighted-one-little-led/?partner=rss&emc=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Work to Start This Summer on Extension of Kitsap PUD’s Fiber Optic Network (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/jul/15/work-to-start-this-summer-on-extension-of-fiber/

Oregon - Sandy’s City-Run Internet Will Deliver High Speed at Low Costs (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/clackamascounty/index.ssf/2011/07/sandy_fiber_internet_project_t.html

Phone Hackers Stick Bellevue Business with $90,000 Bill (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/komo/article/Phone-hackers-stick-Bellevue-business-with-1468824.php

Las Vegas: Home to Carrot Top & The ‘World’s Greenest’ Data Center? (Gigaom)

http://gigaom.com/cloud/las-vegas-home-to-carrot-top-and-the-worlds-greenest-data-center/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Pierce County Unions Forgo Pay Bumps to Help Budget Problems (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=515539

Rural Lawmakers Hold Tight to Power as States Change (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2015635768_rurallawmakers17.html

Cantwell Builds a Political Firewall - With Greenbacks (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2011/07/15/cantwell-builds-a-political-firewall-with-greenbacks/

GENERAL NEWS

Dangerous Heat Wave Forecast for Half the Country (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/weather/news/extremes/2011-07-17-heat-wave-to-hit-East_n.htm?csp=34news

Police in San Francisco Kill Man Wanted for Death of Pregnant Seattle Teen (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=515558

First Wave Moves into Washington State Data Center Complex - State’s $255 million building opens today (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/07/18/1728311/first-wave-moves-into-data-center.html

China Edges Out US as Top British Columbia Lumber Customer - Smaller sawmills back in operation to meet the new demand (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/China+edges+lumber+customer/5116820/story.html

The Race Is On - Backers Hope Two Local Motorsports Parks Aren’t Too Many: Bremerton’s motorsports park proposal is in its infant stages, while a facility in nearby Shelton is already taking shape (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/jul/16/bremerton-backers-hope-two-local-motorsports-too/

Washington State Litter Hotline Shut Down by Budget Cuts; Signs to Remain (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/125720708.html

China’s Hypergrowth Fueled by Building Giant Cities No One Lives in (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2011/07/chinas-hypergrowth-fueled-by-building-giant-cities-no-one-lives-in.html

DIVERSIONS

Love Your Kids? They’re Safer Riding With Grandparents

http://content.usatoday.com/communities/driveon/post/2011/07/love-your-kids-let-em-ride-with-grandparents-children-safer-crashes-injury-new-study/1?csp=34money

Police in Midway, Georgia Order Lemonade Stand Closed

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2011/jul/15/police-midway-ga-order-lemonade-stand-closed/

iPhone Survives Fall from Skydiver’s Pocket - Gadget Found Half-Mile Away on Top of Building

http://www.kirotv.com/news/28581428/detail.html

Detroit Follow-Up - Oak Park Woman Faces Dog Trouble After Veggie Case Is Dropped

http://www.freep.com/article/20110715/NEWS05/107150366/Oak-Park-woman-faces-dog-trouble-after-veggie-case-dropped

SONG OF THE DAY

Hans Zimmer - Driving Miss Daisy Score

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdThqTY8YBg