Wednesday, May 12, 2010

Energy News Digest for May 12, 2010

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

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Over Energy Subsidy Dispute - Alcoa to Temporarily Curb Aluminum Output in Italy “…Alcoa has complained about high power prices in Italy…Italy’s parliament approved a power decree offering favorable conditions to some industrial consumers to convince Alcoa to keep its Italian plants working…” (Reuters)

Central Russian Hydropower Plant Blast Kills Two, Wounds One (Associated Press)

Grays Harbor PUD Has “Big Question Mark” on Radar Ridge Wind Project (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

Oregon Adopts New Energy Efficiency Code (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

US Senate’s Climate Bill Makes Its Debut (NY Times)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Over Energy Subsidy Dispute - Alcoa To Temporarily Curb Aluminum Output in Italy
·         Talks Between ‘Car Guys’ Got Jefferson PUD-PSE Deal Rolling
·         Port Townsend Leader Op/Ed - Jefferson PUD Foresees Benefits of Community-Based Power
·         Port Townsend Leader Op/Ed - PUD Zapped Customers in East Jefferson County
·         Central Russian Hydropower Plant Blast Kills Two, Wounds One
·         Snowpack Isn’t Helping Chelan PUD’s Melting Budget
·         Natural Gas Complements Renewables
·         Kootenai Electric Lines Hit by Avista Crews
·         Grays Harbor PUD Commissioner, Seely Won’t Run for Re-Election
·         Texas - Pedernales Electric Cooperative Members Want Say in Co-Op’s Charitable Giving
·         West Coast Salmon Fishing to be Monitored
·         Summer Steelhead Season Still On
·         Chehalis River Dam Plan Pitched To Grays Harbor County Commissioners
·         Chesapeake Bay Settlement Has EPA Agreeing To Enforce Pollution Reduction Goals
·         Grays Harbor PUD Has “Big Question Mark” on Radar Ridge Wind Project
·         Developer Adage Hopeful on Two US $250 Million Biopower Plants
·         Indiana - Regulators to Hear Comments on Scottsburg Biomass Project
·         Panel OKs Plan to Burn Biomass at University of Wisconsin Power Plant
·         Columbian Editorial - Analyzing Biomass: Cutting-Edge Power Industry Is Taking Hold in Proposed Pacific Northwest Projects
·         Biomass Magazine Op/Ed - Biomass Power is a Natural Fit
·         Air Quality: Moses Lake Silicon Plant Fined $14,000
·         Idaho Presents Itself as the ‘Green Energy State
·         Kennewick Company, Infinia to Get $3 Million for Solar Battery Research
·         Everett Solar Panels to Power Electric Cars
·         Solar Stampede Prompts Temporary Halt for New Jersey Rebate Program
·         Oregon Adopts New Energy Efficiency Code
·         Philips Offers LED Replacement for 60-Watt Bulb
·         US Senate’s Climate Bill Makes Its Debut
·         NY Times Analysis - The American Power Act
·         Glacier National Park Turns 100, But May Not Last Another 10
·         Microsoft Gets More Aggressive With Free Software
·         US Broadband Demand Bounces Back
·         Zoom! Zoom! Why Our Insatiable Need for Broadband Equals Bigger Pipes
·         Cable Worries about Web Video as Fee Disputes Grow
·         One in Four Households with Cell Phone, No Landline
·         Tax Bills in 2009 at Lowest Level since 1950
·         Public Gets First Look at Mason General Hospital Expansion & Remodel Plans
·         Sequim Man on Trial for Branding Children “Like Cattle”
·         C-17 Workers Strike Boeing in Long Beach, California
·         Libyan Jet Crash Kills 103, Boy Only Survivor
·         Acquisition of 1,300 Acres Would Expand Dosewallips State Park
·         Swarms of Grasshoppers Predicted To Plague the West This Year
·         Drifting Satellite Threatens US Cable Programming
·         Thieves Steal Controversial War Memorial Cross in Mojave Desert
·         Peter Frampton Concerts Cancelled in Shelton, WA & AZ

WORD OF THE DAY

Arbiter • \ARE-bet-ter\ • noun - 1: a person with power to decide a dispute: judge 2: a person or agency whose judgment or opinion is considered authoritative

“How unfortunate,” mused Betty to her rain-soaked, fashion-conscious friends, “that our fashion disaster would be caused by the new paper-dress trend.” It would figure that the arbiter of the latest fashion craze was the New York Times.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Over Energy Subsidy Dispute - Alcoa To Temporarily Curb Aluminum Output in Italy “…Alcoa has complained about high power prices in Italy…Italy’s parliament approved a power decree offering favorable conditions to some industrial consumers to convince Alcoa to keep its Italian plants working…” (Reuters)

Talks Between ‘Car Guys’ Got Jefferson PUD-PSE Deal Rolling - Some residents question $103 million price tag for power utility (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

Port Townsend Leader Op/Ed - Jefferson PUD Foresees Benefits of Community-Based Power

Port Townsend Leader Op/Ed - PUD Zapped Customers in East Jefferson County

Central Russian Hydropower Plant Blast Kills Two, Wounds One (Associated Press)

Snowpack Isn’t Helping Chelan PUD’s Melting Budget (Wenatchee World, WA)

Natural Gas Complements Renewables “…Wind & solar only provide enough power in Oregon for 15 days, & we’ve fully allocated our hydro resources…” (Sustainable Business Oregon)

Kootenai Electric Lines Hit by Avista Crews (Spokesman-Review, Spokane, WA)

Grays Harbor PUD Commissioner, Seely Won’t Run for Re-Election (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

Texas - Pedernales Electric Cooperative Members Want Say in Co-Op’s Charitable Giving: Wildflower Center gift raises questions about how nonprofit utility spends money on causes (Austin American-Statesman, TX)

FISH & WILDLIFE

West Coast Salmon Fishing to be Monitored (Courthouse News Service)

Summer Steelhead Season Still On (Oregonian, Portland)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Chehalis River Dam Plan Pitched To Grays Harbor County Commissioners (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

Chesapeake Bay Settlement Has EPA Agreeing To Enforce Pollution Reduction Goals (Washington Post)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Grays Harbor PUD Has “Big Question Mark” on Radar Ridge Wind Project (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

Developer Adage Hopeful on Two US $250 Million Biopower Plants (Recharge)

Indiana - Regulators to Hear Comments on Scottsburg Biomass Project (Louisville Courier-Journal, KY)

Panel OKs Plan to Burn Biomass at University of Wisconsin Power Plant (Wisconsin State Journal)

Columbian Editorial - Analyzing Biomass: Cutting-Edge Power Industry Is Taking Hold in Proposed Pacific Northwest Projects

Biomass Magazine Op/Ed - Biomass Power is a Natural Fit

Air Quality: Moses Lake Silicon Plant Fined $14,000 (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Idaho Presents Itself as the ‘Green Energy State’ “…Idaho’s decision not to require renewable portfolio standards may turn out to help the state’s green energy industry…utilities forced to adopt the earliest green energy technology may get locked into less-efficient, more costly technology…” (Idaho Statesman, Boise, ID)

Kennewick Company, Infinia to Get $3 Million for Solar Battery Research (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Everett Solar Panels to Power Electric Cars (Associated Press)

Solar Stampede Prompts Temporary Halt for New Jersey Rebate Program (Sunpluggers)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Oregon Adopts New Energy Efficiency Code (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

Philips Offers LED Replacement for 60-Watt Bulb (CNET News)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

US Senate’s Climate Bill Makes Its Debut (NY Times)

NY Times Analysis - The American Power Act

Glacier National Park Turns 100, But May Not Last Another 10 (USA Today)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Microsoft Gets More Aggressive With Free Software (USA Today)

US Broadband Demand Bounces Back (GigaOM)

Zoom! Zoom! Why Our Insatiable Need for Broadband Equals Bigger Pipes (GigaOM)

Cable Worries about Web Video as Fee Disputes Grow (Reuters)

One in Four Households with Cell Phone, No Landline (Associated Press)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Tax Bills in 2009 at Lowest Level since 1950 (USA Today)

GENERAL NEWS

Public Gets First Look at Mason General Hospital Expansion & Remodel Plans (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Sequim Man on Trial for Branding Children “Like Cattle” (Associated Press)

C-17 Workers Strike Boeing in Long Beach, California (Associated Press)

Libyan Jet Crash Kills 103, Boy Only Survivor (Reuters)

Acquisition of 1,300 Acres Would Expand Dosewallips State Park (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Swarms of Grasshoppers Predicted To Plague the West This Year (Oregonian, Portland)

Drifting Satellite Threatens US Cable Programming (Associated Press)

Thieves Steal Controversial War Memorial Cross in Mojave Desert - Reward Offered (Christian Science Monitor)

Peter Frampton Concerts Cancelled in Shelton, WA & AZ (KBKW-Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

DIVERSIONS

Water Well Drillers Strike Oil in Small South Dakota Town

Judge says Elderly Sister Can Keep Lottery Prize – Woman Doesn’t Have to Share with Feuding Sibling

Man, 22, Accused of Posing as Student - Led Basketball Team To State Playoffs

Moth-Munching Bird Finds Perch at Twins Ballpark

SONG OF THE DAY

Neil Young – Old Man