Wednesday, November 3, 2010

Energy News Digest for November 3, 2010

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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.

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

See Election Returns Information Under Politics And Governance Below…

Columbia Generating Station - Nuclear Plant Reliability Scores Low (Wenatchee World, WA)

An 80-Year Run for Nuclear Reactors? (NY Times)

Clark, Cowlitz Commissioners, BPA Chief to Attend Power Line Meeting (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Biomass Backlash: Rules Pose Threat to Energy Bonanza (Pallet Enterprise)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

·         Columbia Generating Station - Nuclear Plant Reliability Scores Low
·         Clark, Cowlitz Commissioners, BPA Chief to Attend Power Line Meeting
·         GOING UP!! Port Angeles City Council OKs Utility Fee Hikes
·         Chelan PUD Nursing Budget Back to Health
·         Montana - NorthWestern Energy Clarifies Supply Costs
·         An 80-Year Run for Nuclear Reactors?
·         Nuclear Power Gains in Republican House Victory
·         Florida - Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative Customers Struggle to Pay High Utility Deposits in Hernando
·         News Release - Hastings Outlines Natural Resources Committee Priorities
·         Be Careful With Candles During Power Outages
·         Removal of Dams Sparks Economic Interest on Rogue River
·         Falling Water Levels Key to River Fishing
·         Op/Ed - The Willamette Wildlife Settlement: Poor Process, Poor Result
·         Over an Aquifer - Railway Sues Kootenai County over Refueling Depot
·         State’s Water Quality Standards Under Review
·         Biomass Backlash: Rules Pose Threat to Energy Bonanza
·         The Future of Wind Power - It’s time to decide which way the wind is blowing
·         When Will the Sun Shine Again on Renewable Energy in Spain?
·         The A to Z of Renewable Energy
·         DOE Awards Princeton Power Systems Hydropower Research Program
·         AltaTerra Releases US Utility Solar Market Report
·         Daylight Savings Reminder of Ways to Save Energy & Money
·         On Our Radar: Fines for Energy-Inefficient Landlords
·         California Climate Law Suspension Defeated
·         Global Warming May Bring Giant, Voracious Crabs to Antarctica
·         Plug in Vehicles May Make Up 22 Percent of U.S. Auto Sales By 2030
·         Portland’s Leaf-Removal Fee an Example of Government Doing the Right Thing in the Wrong Way
·         Fruit Warehouses Upset over Chelan PUD Fiber
·         Google Settles Suit over Buzz & Privacy
·         Google Was in ‘Significant Breach’ of Data Law, United Kingdom Official Says
·         Stimulus Bonds Will Help Finance Intel’s New Fab in Hillsboro
·         Does the Airline Bomb Plot Spell the End for In-Flight Wi-Fi?
·         Mason County - Unofficial Election Results Updated Wednesday Morning – Includes Mason PUD 3 Race
·         Incumbent Armstrong Leads in Kitsap PUD Race
·         Cowlitz PUD’s Piper Holds Slim Lead over Curtis
·         Clark Public Utilities Commissioner Nancy Barnes Leading Challenger
·         Election: Franklin PUD Incumbent Losing His Seat
·         Chelan County PUD: Congdon Sweeps, Bolz Ahead By a Nose
·         Incumbent Cook Wins Another Term on PUD Commission
·         Wahkiakum County promotes Dearmore to sheriff; Brady leading
·         Washington State Legislative Results
·         Washington State Congressional Results
·         Washington State US Senate Results
·         Washington State Ballot Measure Results
·         GOP Moves Closer to Dems in Washington State House, Senate

WORD OF THE DAY

Hippodrome • \HIPP-uh-drome\ • Noun - 1: an oval stadium for horse and chariot races in ancient Greece 2: an arena for equestrian performances

“Harry the Horse” had become fed up with the waltz. “Want to headline at the hippodrome featuring the cha-cha,” he whinnied. The Hendersons just laughed.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Columbia Generating Station - Nuclear Plant Reliability Scores Low (Wenatchee World, WA)

Clark, Cowlitz Commissioners, BPA Chief to Attend Power Line Meeting (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

GOING UP!! Port Angeles City Council OKs Utility Fee Hikes (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Chelan PUD Nursing Budget Back to Health - Cuts reduce millions in 2011 shortfalls to just $445,000, board hears (Wenatchee World, WA)

Montana - NorthWestern Energy Clarifies Supply Costs (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

An 80-Year Run for Nuclear Reactors? (NY Times)

Nuclear Power Gains in Republican House Victory; `Cap & Trade’ Suffers (Bloomberg News)

Florida - Withlacoochee River Electric Cooperative Customers Struggle to Pay High Utility Deposits in Hernando (Tampa Bay Tribune, FL)

News Release - Hastings Outlines Natural Resources Committee Priorities (US Rep. Doc Hastings)

Be Careful With Candles During Power Outages - Tips for Fire Safety When the Lights Go Out (Electric Energy Online)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Removal of Dams Sparks Economic Interest on Rogue River - Local groups collaborate with state, feds about tourism, recreation development (Medford Mail Tribune, OR)

Falling Water Levels Key to River Fishing (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

Op/Ed - The Willamette Wildlife Settlement: Poor Process, Poor Result (Oregonian, Portland)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Over an Aquifer - Railway Sues Kootenai County over Refueling Depot (Associated Press)

State’s Water Quality Standards Under Review (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Biomass Backlash: Rules Pose Threat to Energy Bonanza (Pallet Enterprise)

The Future of Wind Power - It’s time to decide which way the wind is blowing (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, MN)

When Will the Sun Shine Again on Renewable Energy in Spain? (Gerson-Lehman Group)

The A to Z of Renewable Energy (Sequim Gazette, WA)

DOE Awards Princeton Power Systems Hydropower Research Program (Electric Light & Power)

AltaTerra Releases US Utility Solar Market Report (Renewable Energy World)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Daylight Savings Reminder of Ways to Save Energy & Money (Business Wire)

On Our Radar: Fines for Energy-Inefficient Landlords (NY Times)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

California Climate Law Suspension Defeated (SF Chronicle)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Global Warming May Bring Giant, Voracious Crabs to Antarctica (USA Today)

Plug in Vehicles May Make Up 22 Percent of U.S. Auto Sales By 2030 (Electric Light & Power)

Portland’s Leaf-Removal Fee an Example of Government Doing the Right Thing in the Wrong Way (Oregonian, Portland)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Fruit Warehouses Upset over Chelan PUD Fiber (Wenatchee World, WA)

Google Settles Suit over Buzz & Privacy (NY Times)

Google Was in ‘Significant Breach’ of Data Law, United Kingdom Official Says (Associated Press)

Stimulus Bonds Will Help Finance Intel’s New Fab in Hillsboro (Oregonian, Portland)

Does the Airline Bomb Plot Spell the End for In-Flight Wi-Fi? (Times Magazine)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Mason County - Unofficial Election Results Updated Wednesday Morning – Includes Mason PUD 3 Race (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Incumbent Armstrong Leads in Kitsap PUD Race (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Cowlitz PUD’s Piper Holds Slim Lead over Curtis (Longview Daily News, WA)

Clark Public Utilities Commissioner Nancy Barnes Leading Challenger (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Election: Franklin PUD Incumbent Losing His Seat (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Chelan County PUD: Congdon Sweeps, Bolz Ahead By a Nose (Wenatchee World, WA)

Incumbent Cook Wins Another Term on PUD Commission (Skagit Valley Herald, WA)

Wahkiakum County promotes Dearmore to sheriff; Brady leading (Longview Daily News, WA)

Washington State Legislative Results (WA Secretary of State)

Washington State Congressional Results (WA Secretary of State)

Washington State US Senate Results (WA Secretary of State)

Washington State Ballot Measure Results (WA Secretary of State)

GOP Moves Closer to Dems in Washington State House, Senate - This is where maverick Democratic Sen. Tim Sheldon could gain new clout as the swing man on key Senate vote (Olympian, WA)

DIVERSIONS

Deceased California State Senator Reelected

San Francisco Bans Most Happy Meals

Denver Voters Reject Plan to Track Space Aliens

Baby Falls 8 Floors, Bounces into Stranger’s Arms - Boy Apparently Uninjured

SONG OF THE DAY

LeBlanc & Carr – Falling