Thursday, September 1, 2011

Energy News Digest for September 1, 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

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

McKenna Wins Health-Care Suit, Loses Goldmark Case over Okanogan PUD Power Line Case in Washington State Supreme Court (Seattle Times)

Montana - Last Day to Comment on Proposed Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Power Deal (KAJ-TV, Kalispell, MT – Now, about those thank you notes to public utilities…)

California Cap & Trade Proposal Criticized as Inadequate, Harmful to Industry “…"BPA disagrees that California has 'authority' to regulate BPA…” (Cogeneration & Onsite Power Production)

Feds Still on the Hook for Foiling Energy Stimulus (Courthouse News Service)

Solar Firm Aided by Federal Loans Shuts Doors (NY Times)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • McKenna Wins Health-Care Suit, Loses Goldmark Case over Okanogan PUD Power Line Case in Washington State Supreme Court
  • Montana - Last Day to Comment on Proposed Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Power Deal
  • Port Angeles City Electricity Bills Likely to Rise Next Year
  • Infrastructure & Dam Licensing Requirements - Grant PUD Plans Rate Hike
  • Officials Celebrate New Moses Lake BMW Plant - Thank you Hydropower!
  • Everett's Kimberly-Clark Mill Preparing to Close
  • Energy Secretary Fears US Engineering Programs Falling Behind
  • Editorial: Pacific Gas & Electric Shouldn't Stick Ratepayers with Repair Bill
  • Energy-Hungry China is Becoming a Big Player in the Mountain West
  • Texas - New EPA Rules Could Mean Major Power Outages
  • Eastern Utilities Tap Virtually Every Resource Available East of the Rockies to Restore Power Following Irene
  • Massachusetts - Mayor, Officials Blast Utility's Storm Response
  • Japan Study Boosts Nuclear Power's Cost Estimates
  • Shocking Investigation on Stray Electricity
  • Revenge on the Smolt Snatchers - Trouble in Seabird Paradise
  • Commercial Gill-Net Season on Columbia River for Four Native American Tribes
  • Summer Salmon Fishing Season Has Been Stellar
  • Comment period extended for winter plan for Lake Pend Oreille
  • Solar Firm Aided by Federal Loans Shuts Doors
  • Solyndra's Collapse a Worrisome Sign for 'Green-Tech' Hopes
  • Green Jobs Backlash? A Reality Check from Bellingham
  • Massachusetts - State Supreme Court to Hear Appeal of Cape Wind Decision Sept. 8
  • Has Wind Energy Reached Overcapacity?
  • Renewable Energy Corporation Singapore Unaffected by Lay-offs in Norway
  • World’s Biggest Tidal Power Plant Opened in South Korea
  • Feds Still on the Hook for Foiling Energy Stimulus
  • Energy Monitoring: A Crucial Part of Energy Conservation
  • Tell Us About Your Water Heater!
  • California Cap & Trade Proposal Criticized as Inadequate, Harmful to Industry
  • London Olympics Drops Carbon-Offset Plan
  • Seattle Electric Car Charging Station Runs on Solar Power
  • British Columbia - Thefts at Landfill Spark Battery Ban
  • Local Residents Urge Clallam County Withdrawal from UN-Sponsored Environmental Group
  • Editorial – Jefferson County’ s Digital, Economic Divide
  • Wi-Fi Scam Could Steal Personal Information from College Students
  • Washington State Attorney General Clears Mason County Sheriff's Office
  • Parole Denied for Man Who Killed Kitsap Deputy
  • Space Junk Littering Orbit; Might Need Cleaning Up
WORD OF THE DAY

Mettle • \MET-tull\ • Noun - 1a: vigor and strength of spirit or temperament b: staying quality: stamina 2: quality of temperament or disposition

“I have only one question for you Simpson,” growled the grizzled, cigar chewing CEO of the materials testing firm. “Do you have the mettle to test this metal?” (Haw Haw)

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

McKenna Wins Health-Care Suit, Loses Goldmark Case over Okanogan PUD Power Line Case in Washington State Supreme Court (Seattle Times)

Montana - Last Day to Comment on Proposed Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Power Deal (KAJ-TV, Kalispell, MT – Now, about those thank you notes to public utilities…)

Port Angeles City Electricity Bills Likely to Rise Next Year - Due to Bonneville Power Administration wholesale rate increase (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Infrastructure & Dam Licensing Requirements - Grant PUD Plans Rate Hike (Wenatchee World, WA)

Officials celebrate new Moses Lake BMW plant “…Low hydropower rates from Columbia River dams are drawing an increasing number of high-tech companies to Moses Lake and surrounding Grant County…” (Associated Press)

Everett's Kimberly-Clark Mill Preparing to Close - Had teamed with Snohomish PUD on Biomass energy facility (Everett Herald, WA)

Energy Secretary Fears US Engineering Programs Falling Behind (Oregon Public Radio)

Editorial: Pacific Gas & Electric Shouldn't Stick Ratepayers with Repair Bill (Sacramento Bee, CA)

Energy-Hungry China is Becoming a Big Player in the Mountain West (Crosscut Seattle)

Texas - New EPA Rules Could Mean Major Power Outages (Houston Business Journal, TX)

Eastern Utilities Tap Virtually Every Resource Available East of the Rockies to Restore Power Following Irene (Electric Energy Online)

Massachusetts - Mayor, Officials Blast Utility's Storm Response (Sun Chronicle, Attleboro, MA)

Japan Study Boosts Nuclear Power's Cost Estimates (Reuters)

Shocking Investigation on Stray Electricity (CBS News)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Revenge on the Smolt Snatchers - Trouble in Seabird Paradise (Seattle Times)

Commercial Gill-Net Season on Columbia River for Four Native American Tribes (Oregonian, Portland)

Summer Salmon Fishing Season Has Been Stellar (Seattle Times)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Comment period extended for winter plan for Lake Pend Oreille (Coeur d’Alene Press, ID)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Solar Firm Aided by Federal Loans Shuts Doors (NY Times)

Solyndra's Collapse a Worrisome Sign for 'Green-Tech' Hopes (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

Green Jobs Backlash? A Reality Check from Bellingham (Sightline Daily)

Massachusetts - State Supreme Court to Hear Appeal of Cape Wind Decision Sept. 8 (AIM Business Insider)

Has Wind Energy Reached Overcapacity? (REVE)

Renewable Energy Corporation Singapore Unaffected by Lay-offs in Norway (ScandAsia)

World’s Biggest Tidal Power Plant Opened in South Korea (The Green Optimistic)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Feds Still on the Hook for Foiling Energy Stimulus (Courthouse News Service)

Energy Monitoring: A Crucial Part of Energy Conservation (Renewable Energy World)

Tell Us About Your Water Heater! A quick survey can help jump-start residential energy efficiency (Sightline Daily)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

California Cap & Trade Proposal Criticized as Inadequate, Harmful to Industry “…"BPA disagrees that California has 'authority' to regulate BPA…” (Cogeneration & Onsite Power Production)

London Olympics Drops Carbon-Offset Plan (Bloomberg News)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Seattle Electric Car Charging Station Runs on Solar Power (KING-TV, Seattle)

British Columbia - Thefts at Landfill Spark Battery Ban (Salmon Arm Observer, BC)

Local Residents Urge Clallam County Withdrawal from UN-Sponsored Environmental Group (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Editorial – Jefferson County’ s Digital, Economic Divide: Efforts to bring broadband to the county are moving along, thanks to a $3.2 million federal grant (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

Wi-Fi Scam Could Steal Personal Information from College Students (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

Washington State Attorney General Clears Mason County Sheriff's Office (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Parole Denied for Man Who Killed Kitsap Deputy (Associated Press)

Space Junk Littering Orbit; Might Need Cleaning Up (Associated Press)

DIVERSIONS

Man Finds $150,000 in Garden

Apple Loses Another iPhone Prototype in Bar

Seattle Ranks among Nation's Worst Drivers

Chinese-Made Qur'ans Full of Errors, Warns Iranian Official

SONG OF THE DAY

Bachman Turner Overdrive - Let It Ride