Energy News Digest for June 27, 2012

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

Federal Court Rules Washington State Energy Standards Are Tough, but Legal (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/06/26/47828.htm

Editorial - Columbia Generating Station Deserved Its Nuclear License Renewal (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/06/columbia_generating_station_de.html

Natural Gas Gold Rush: Is Your State Next? (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-05-29/fracking-environment-gas/55845708/1?csp=34money

How Foul is Your Favorite Beach? (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/27/how-foul-is-your-favorite-beach/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Bainbridge Island City Hall goes solar (Bainbridge Island Review, WA)

http://www.bainbridgereview.com/news/160287615.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Editorial - Columbia Generating Station Deserved Its Nuclear License Renewal
• Natural Gas Gold Rush: Is Your State Next?
• Northwest Gas & Power Groups Commend Planned FERC Workshops but Stress Regional Differences
• Democrats Introduce Bill to Boost Hydro Dam Efficiency
• Benton PUD Warns of New Phone Scam
• Mason County PUD 3 Commission Report for June 26, 2012
• Safety in the Spotlight at Rocky Reach Dam Event
• Matanuska Electric Association Builds Alaska Power Plant
• Texans Urged to Conserve Energy as Power Demand Surges
• Vermont Yankee Nuclear Plant Can Continue Operating
• Inquiry on Nuclear Chief Finds No Rules Were Broken
• Aluminum Giant Alcoa Finds New Markets in Green Tech Economy
• Canada - Bird Populations Diving, Report Says
• Small Signs of Life Along Formerly Flooded Elwha River
• Spread of Deadly Fungus Threatens Bat Species
• How Foul is Your Favorite Beach?
• Bainbridge Island City Hall Goes Solar
• Arizona - Company to Get Energy Credits for Burning Trash
• Controversy Dogs Cleveland’s Waste-To-Energy Ambitions
• Wood-Fueled Plant Brings Jobs to East Texas
• Federal Court Rules Washington State Energy Standards Are Tough, but Legal
• Editorial - Alive but Not Kicking: Oregon Sustainability Center
• Apple Looking to Build $1 Billion Nevada Data Center by Year’s End
• Groups Plan Super Wi-Fi Network in Rural College Towns
• Washington State above Average in Voter Turnout
• Investigation Continues after Belfair Firework Explosion
• Officials Warn About Safety Before Fireworks Sales Start Thursday
• Colorado Wildfire Intensifies, Consumes 15,000 Acres
• Seven Shot Outside Federal Way Bar, One Dies
• $12.3 billion Hanford plant sees new costs, delays
• House Rejects Bid to Slash Rural Airline Subsidies

WORD OF THE DAY

Desideratum • \dih-sid-er-ROT-tum\ • Noun - Something desired as essential

For Barty, his daily dose of Star Trek trivia was considered his desideratum, like water to a thirsty man, food to the hungry. Needless to say, Barty needed to take the advice of William Shatner. (See appx 4:00 mark) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FeS4tVFbNNk

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

Editorial - Columbia Generating Station Deserved Its Nuclear License Renewal (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/06/columbia_generating_station_de.html

Natural Gas Gold Rush: Is Your State Next? (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-05-29/fracking-environment-gas/55845708/1?csp=34money

Northwest Gas & Power Groups Commend Planned FERC Workshops but Stress Regional Differences (MarketWatch)

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/northwest-gas-power-groups-commend-planned-ferc-workshops-but-stress-regional-differences-2012-06-26

Democrats Introduce Bill to Boost Hydro Dam Efficiency (Electric Light & Power)

http://www.elp.com/index/display/article-display.articles.electric-light-power.policy-and_regulation.2012.June.Democrats_introduce_bill_to_boost_hydro_dam_efficiency.QP129867.dcmp=rss.page=1.html

Benton PUD Warns of New Phone Scam (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/06/27/2001858/benton-pud-warns-of-new-phone.html

Mason County PUD 3 Commission Report for June 26, 2012 (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=1049

Safety in the Spotlight at Rocky Reach Dam Event (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/jun/27/safety-in-spotlight-at-rocky-reach-dam-event/

Matanuska Electric Association Builds Alaska Power Plant (Electric Light & Power)

http://www.elp.com/index/display/article-display.articles.electric-light-power.generation.2012.June.Matanuska_Electric_Association_builds_Alaska_power_plant.QP129867.dcmp=rss.page=1.html

Texans Urged to Conserve Energy as Power Demand Surges (KSAT-TV, San Antonio, TX)

http://www.ksat.com/news/Texans-urged-to-conserve-energy-as-power-demand-surges/-/478452/15294024/-/x91ueh/-/index.html

Vermont Yankee Nuclear Plant Can Continue Operating (Power Engineering)

http://www.power-eng.com/articles/2012/06/vermont-yankee-nuclear-plant-can-continue-operating.html

Inquiry on Nuclear Chief Finds No Rules Were Broken (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/27/inquiry-on-nuclear-chief-finds-no-rules-were-broken/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Aluminum Giant Alcoa Finds New Markets in Green Tech Economy (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/toddwoody/2012/06/26/aluminum-giant-alcoa-finds-new-markets-in-green-tech-economy/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Canada - Bird Populations Diving, Report Says: Coastal survey shows declining count among some species (Vancouver Sun, BC)

http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Bird+populations+diving+report+says/6846776/story.html

Small Signs of Life Along Formerly Flooded Elwha River (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20120627/news/306279990/small-signs-of-life-along-formerly-flooded-elwha-river

Spread of Deadly Fungus Threatens Bat Species (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/tech/science/story/2012-06-26/bat-deaths-white-nose-syndrome/55846712/1?csp=34tech

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

How Foul is Your Favorite Beach? (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/27/how-foul-is-your-favorite-beach/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Here’s the Link to Washington State’s Survey (Natural Resources Defense Council)

http://www.nrdc.org/water/oceans/ttw/wa.asp

Here’s the Link to Oregon’s Survey (Natural Resources Defense Council)

http://www.nrdc.org/water/oceans/ttw/or.asp

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Bainbridge Island City Hall goes solar (Bainbridge Island Review, WA)

http://www.bainbridgereview.com/news/160287615.html

Arizona - Company to Get Energy Credits for Burning Trash (Arizona Republic, Phoenix)

http://www.azcentral.com/members/Blog/BusinessBuzz/165213

Controversy Dogs Cleveland’s Waste-To-Energy Ambitions (Midwest Energy News)

http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2012/06/27/controversy-dogs-clevelands-waste-to-energy-ambitions/

Wood-Fueled Plant Brings Jobs to East Texas (KBMT-TV, Beaumont, TX)

http://www.12newsnow.com/story/18887400/wood-fueled-plant-brings-jobs-to-east-texas

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Federal Court Rules Washington State Energy Standards Are Tough, but Legal (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/06/26/47828.htm

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Editorial - Alive but Not Kicking: Oregon Sustainability Center (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2012/06/alive_but_not_kicking_oregon_s.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Apple Looking to Build $1 Billion Nevada Data Center by Year’s End (Gigaom)

http://gigaom.com/apple/apple-looking-to-build-1b-nevada-data-center-by-years-end/

Groups Plan Super Wi-Fi Network in Rural College Towns (PC World)

http://www.pcworld.com/businesscenter/article/258330/groups_plan_super_wifi_network_in_rural_college_towns.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State above Average in Voter Turnout (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/morning_call/2012/06/washington-state-above-average-in.html

GENERAL NEWS

Investigation Continues after Belfair Firework Explosion (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/jun/26/investigation-continues-after-belfair-firework/

Officials Warn About Safety Before Fireworks Sales Start Thursday (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018536376_fireworks27m.html

Colorado Wildfire Intensifies, Consumes 15,000 Acres (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/27/us-usa-wildfires-idUSBRE85L1DD20120627

Seven Shot Outside Federal Way Bar, One Dies (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018540751_apwafederalwayshooting2ndld.html

$12.3 billion Hanford plant sees new costs, delays (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018535344_apusnuclearwasteplant1stldwritethru.html

House Rejects Bid to Slash Rural Airline Subsidies (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/politics/2018536263_apusairlinesubsidies.html

DIVERSIONS

Students Set New Human-Powered Helicopter Flight Record

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2012/0626/Students-set-new-human-powered-helicopter-flight-record

Acclaimed Screenwriter Nora Ephron Dead at 71

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/27/entertainment-us-usa-noraephron-idUSBRE85Q00720120627

Bronx’s Butt Woman Is Going to Prison

http://www.courthousenews.com/2012/06/26/47799.htm

Alien Attack! Americans Pick Obama over Romney to Battle Invasion from Space

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/Decoder-Wire/2012/0627/Alien-attack!-Americans-pick-Obama-over-Romney-to-battle-invasion-from-space

SONG OF THE DAY

Les Crane – Desiderata

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bUTcy6w2Rw

Energy News Digest for June 26, 2012

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

Washington State’s Green Jobs Fade Due to Recession - Survey of state finds positions in category fell 18% (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/jun/25/green-jobs-fade-due-to-recession/

Grays Harbor PUD General Manager Rick Lovely Announces Retirement (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=4285

Federal Court Upholds EPA's Greenhouse Gas Rules (Associated Press)

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2012/06/26/us/politics/ap-us-epa-greenhouse-gases.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Pacific Northwest Fish Costs Reach $650 Million (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/editors-pick/protecting-pacific-northwest-fish-cost-rises/45685

Washington State Population Is Now 6.8 Million (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018528855_statepopulation26.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Grays Harbor PUD General Manager Rick Lovely Announces Retirement
• Ex-Lineman Pleads Guilty to Douglas PUD Gas Theft
• Idaho Falls Emergency Crews Train for Downed Power Lines
• Copper Wire Theft Leaves Cowlitz River Trail in the Dark
• Texas Grid Expects to Set June Power Record - Again
• Texas Public Utility Commission Will Vote on Raising Wholesale Electricity Price Cap
• Coal-Plant Plunge Risks Billions in Pollution Spending: Energy
• A Michigan Land Owner Caught Between Energy Giants
• Pacific Northwest Fish Costs Reach $650 Million
• Elwha River Excavation - Blasting to Resume at Glines Canyon Dam, Port Angeles Chamber Told
• Videos: How Lamprey Get Over Bonneville Dam
• Protesters at Oregon State Capitol Climb Flag Poles, Occupy Offices over Logging Plans
• British Columbia Sewage Spills into Lake Roosevelt
• Is Ocean Energy More Than "A Very Expensive Hobby"?
• Electricity and Hot Water - A Hybrid Approach to Solar Power
• Maryland Man Found Guilty in Renewable Energy Scheme
• Nest Thermostat Reviewed: A Smart Device for All Seasons
• Homes in the United Kingdom Getting Hungrier for Electricity
• Federal Court Upholds EPA's Greenhouse Gas Rules
• Rising Sea Levels: Is Global Warming Making the US East Coast a 'Hot Spot?'
• Washington State’s Green Jobs Fade Due to Recession
• Bamboo Experts See Growth Opportunity with Forest-Products Giant
• Blow-Up Solar Lantern Lights Up Haiti's Prospects
• Wave Broadband Continues Acquisition of East Jefferson County Cable Franchise
• Facebook Draws User Ire with Email Switcheroo
• No New Tax on Roll-Your-Own Cigarettes, Judge Rules
• Mason County Politics - Watch Belfair Candidates’ Forum Here
• Washington State Population is Now 6.8 Million
• Stray Bullet in Belfair Wrecking Yard Ignites Two Cities' Worth of Fireworks
• Two Washington State Counties in the Grips of Tent Caterpillar Outbreak
• Cost of Downtown Shelton SAVER Project Added to City Budget
• Pacific Residents Decry 'Tyrant' Mayor over Bullying, Firings

WORD OF THE DAY

Ahimsa • \uh-HIM-sah\ • Noun - The Hindu and Buddhist doctrine of refraining from harming any living being

Here’s Albert Schweitzer

Practiced ahimsa daily

Watch your soul buddy

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

Grays Harbor PUD General Manager Rick Lovely Announces Retirement (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=4285

Ex-Lineman Pleads Guilty to Douglas PUD Gas Theft (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2012/jun/25/ex-lineman-pleads-guilty-to-pud-gas-theft/

Idaho Falls Emergency Crews Train for Downed Power Lines (KPVI-TV, Pocatello, ID)
http://www.kpvi.com/content/news/local/story/Idaho-Falls-Emergency-Crews-Train-for-Downed/_DUS7V7apEmZppLDuHPdfA.cspx

Copper Wire Theft Leaves Cowlitz River Trail in the Dark (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/copper-wire-theft-leaves-cowlitz-river-trail-in-the-dark/article_4ac1e436-bf36-11e1-95eb-0019bb2963f4.html

Texas Grid Expects to Set June Power Record - Again (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/26/us-utilities-texas-heat-idUSBRE85O10G20120626

Texas Public Utility Commission Will Vote on Raising Wholesale Electricity Price Cap (Dallas Business Journal, TX)

http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/blog/morning_call/2012/06/texas-puc-will-vote-on-raising.html

Coal-Plant Plunge Risks Billions in Pollution Spending: Energy (Bloomberg News)

http://www.sfgate.com/business/bloomberg/article/Coal-Plant-Plunge-Risks-Billions-in-Pollution-3660487.php

A Michigan Land Owner Caught Between Energy Giants – Claims two companies colluded to kill deals that could have earned him more than $54 million (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/06/26/us-encana-land-zaremba-idUSBRE85P0GR20120626

FISH & WILDLIFE

Pacific Northwest Fish Costs Reach $650 Million (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/editors-pick/protecting-pacific-northwest-fish-cost-rises/45685

Elwha River Excavation - Blasting to Resume at Glines Canyon Dam, Port Angeles Chamber Told (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20120626/NEWS/306269996/blasting-to-resume-at-glines-canyon-dam-port-angeles-chamber-told

Videos: How Lamprey Get Over Bonneville Dam (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://ecotrope.opb.org/2012/06/videos-how-lamprey-get-over-bonneville-dam

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Protesters at Oregon State Capitol Climb Flag Poles, Occupy Offices over Logging Plans (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2012/06/protesters_at_oregon_state_cap.html

British Columbia Sewage Spills into Lake Roosevelt (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/jun/26/sewage-spills-into-lake-roosevelt/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Is Ocean Energy More Than "A Very Expensive Hobby"? (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2012/06/is-ocean-energy-more-than-a-very-expensive-hobby?cmpid=rss

Electricity and Hot Water - A Hybrid Approach to Solar Power (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/06/22/a-hybrid-approach-to-solar-power/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Maryland Man Found Guilty in Renewable Energy Scheme (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2018525189_apusrenewableenergyfraud.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Nest Thermostat Reviewed: A Smart Device for All Seasons (Gigaom)

http://gigaom.com/cleantech/nest-thermostat-reviewed-a-smart-device-for-all-seasons/

Homes in the United Kingdom Getting Hungrier for Electricity (British Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-18577035

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Federal Court Upholds EPA's Greenhouse Gas Rules (Associated Press)

http://www.nytimes.com/aponline/2012/06/26/us/politics/ap-us-epa-greenhouse-gases.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Rising Sea Levels: Is Global Warming Making the US East Coast a 'Hot Spot?' (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2012/0625/Rising-sea-levels-Is-global-warming-making-the-US-East-Coast-a-hot-spot-video

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Washington State’s Green Jobs Fade Due to Recession - Survey of state finds positions in category fell 18% (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/jun/25/green-jobs-fade-due-to-recession/

Bamboo Experts See Growth Opportunity with Forest-Products Giant (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2018528945_booshoot26.html

Blow-Up Solar Lantern Lights Up Haiti's Prospects (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Making-a-difference/Change-Agent/2012/0626/Blow-up-solar-lantern-lights-up-Haiti-s-prospects

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Wave Broadband Continues Acquisition of East Jefferson County Cable Franchise (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20120626/news/306269995/wave-broadband-continues-acquisition-of-east-jefferson-cable-franchise

Facebook Draws User Ire with Email Switcheroo (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/Facebook-draws-user-ire-with-email-switcheroo-3662144.php

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

No New Tax on Roll-Your-Own Cigarettes, Judge Rules (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/06/26/2194388/no-new-tax-on-roll-your-own-cigarettes.html

Mason County Politics - Watch Belfair Candidates’ Forum Here (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/6036#more-6036

GENERAL NEWS

Washington State Population is Now 6.8 Million (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2018528855_statepopulation26.html

More on Washington State Population Estimates Here (Office of Financial Management, WA)

http://www.ofm.wa.gov/pop/april1/default.asp

Stray Bullet in Belfair Wrecking Yard Ignites Two Cities' Worth of Fireworks (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/jun/25/2-cities-fireworks-displays-go-up-with-one-stray/

Two Washington State Counties in the Grips of Tent Caterpillar Outbreak (KING-TV, Seattle)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Two-Wash-counties-in-the-grips-of-tent-caterpillar-outbreak-160318045.html

Cost of Downtown Shelton SAVER Project Added to City Budget (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/6046

Pacific Residents Decry 'Tyrant' Mayor over Bullying, Firings (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/local-govt-politics/pacific-residents-decry-tyrant-mayor-over-bullying/nPfKF/

DIVERSIONS

Teen Trying to Steal Soda Gets Arm Stuck in Vending Machine

http://www.10news.com/news/31220455/detail.html

Utah Mom Upset over Judge's Hair-Cut Punishment

http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/story/2012-06-25/utah-judge-sentence-ponytail/55804484/1?csp=34news

London's Big Ben Clock Tower to be Renamed Elizabeth Tower

http://news.yahoo.com/londons-big-ben-renamed-elizabeth-tower-124855042.html

Mass Grave of ‘Giant Wombats’ Discovered in Australia

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/mass-grave-giant-wombats-discovered-australia-201621035.html

SONG OF THE DAY

The First Class - Beach Baby

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XG8MQ8f4nF4