Friday, May 11, 2012

Energy News Digest for May 11, 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:

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Puget Sound Energy Backing Group to Fight Thurston County Power Initiative (Olympian, WA)

Energy Northwest to Buy $711 Million of Nuclear Fuel (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Energy Northwest to Settle Lawsuit with Contractor over Nuclear Plant Upgrades (Bellingham Herald, WA)

Avista Gives Cash to Oust Two North Idaho Legislature Incumbents (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Studies Show Places in the US that Make the Most of Electric Vehicles “…in the Pacific Northwest, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is the main power generator & that there are lots of dams in that region for hydroelectric generation, which is why the Leaf & the Volt do so well there…” (Thomas Net)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Puget Sound Energy Backing Group to Fight Thurston County Power Initiative
  • Energy Northwest to Buy $711 Million of Nuclear Fuel
  • Energy Northwest to Settle Lawsuit with Contractor over Nuclear Plant Upgrades
  • Avista Gives Cash to Oust Two North Idaho Legislature Incumbents
  • Oregon Governor Sees Savings in Smarter Power Grid
  • Longtime Chelan PUD Leader Wayne Wright Retiring; Jeff Smith to Lead District Services
  • Central Lincoln PUD Manager Wins Major Award
  • Spokane County Sheriff: Copper Wire Theft Costs Business $100K
  • Canada - Smart-Meter Critics Take Concerns to Health Office
  • NRC Staff Criticize Official’s Handling of Fort Calhoun Nuclear Plant
  • Congress - McMorris Rodgers Advocates for Hydropower Bill at Energy & Power Subcommittee Hearing
  • Virginia Electric Co-op Lineman Finds Missing Child
  • Four Things That Are Different About Electricity Infrastructure
  • Columbia Salmon Surge: Better Late Than Never
  • Roosevelt Lake - Tension Brewing Between Fishermen, Colville Tribe
  • Anti-Whaling Group Joining Fight to Save Sea Lions
  • San Francisco Third-Graders Fight against Sea Lion Killings
  • Balancing Fish & Farms on a Washington State River Estuary
  • Dike Removal to Restore Stillaguamish River Estuary
  • Columbia Biogas Signs on PacifiCorp as Power Customer
  • With High-Tech Wood Pellets & Efficient Burners, Brothers Push Forest Biomass as Energy Good for Oregon
  • Many Firsts in First Wind’s Palouse Project
  • Anti-Wind Activists Want to Create Fake Grassroots Campaign Against Industry
  • Wyoming - New Alliance Hopes to Expand Renewable Energy Options
  • Vermont - Hydro Advocates Tout Bill That Expedites Permitting
  • Energy Adviser: Newer Televisions Use Energy Efficiently
  • US Senate Bill Aims to Appraise Value of Home Efficiency
  • Energy Conservation for Hotels Using Demand Control
  • Cows Cause as Much Smog in Los Angeles As Cars Do
  • Studies Show Places in the US that Make the Most of Electric Vehicles
  • Honda Wins Appeal of Small-Claims Hybrid Judgment
  • Study Compares Energy Sources from ‘Cradle-to-Grave’
  • How the Green Revolution Can Help You Find Work
  • Reusable Grocery Bag Was Norovirus Culprit
  • Op/Ed - Amazon, Microsoft: Let’s Keep ‘The Cloud’ Clean
  • It’s Official: Broadband Caps Cause Problems
  • Why the Oregon Attorney General Race Has National Implications for Marijuana Laws
  • Washington State Minority-Contracts Director Resigns Under Fire
  • Washington State: Don’t Eat Any Shellfish or Shellfish Products from Korea
  • Mason County Candidate Filing Next Week; Redistricting Cards Being Mailed
  • Oops! JPMorgan Reveals $2 Billion Loss in Trading Portfolio
  • Washington Students Beat National Average in Science Test Scores
WORD OF THE DAY

Putative • \PYOO-tuh-tive\ • Adjective - 1: commonly accepted or supposed 2: assumed to exist or to have existed

“The putative Arthurian legend obviously supports the ‘Camelot’ story in this sprawling musical production,” sniffed the entertainment editor at the snooty, big city newspaper. “But the musical is ‘Spamalot’ sir,” prompted the fresh-faced intern.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Puget Sound Energy Backing Group to Fight Thurston County Power Initiative (Olympian, WA)

Energy Northwest to Buy $711 Million of Nuclear Fuel (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Energy Northwest to Settle Lawsuit with Contractor over Nuclear Plant Upgrades (Bellingham Herald, WA)

Avista Gives Cash to Oust Two North Idaho Legislature Incumbents (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Oregon Governor Sees Savings in Smarter Power Grid (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Longtime Chelan PUD Leader Wayne Wright Retiring; Jeff Smith to Lead District Services (North Central Washington TV)

Paperless Billing Proving Popular – And Secure – With Chelan County PUD Customers (North Central Washington TV)

Central Lincoln PUD Manager Wins Major Award (Newport News Times, OR)

Spokane County Sheriff: Copper Wire Theft Costs Business $100K (Associated Press)

Canada - Smart-Meter Critics Take Concerns to Health Office (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

NRC Staff Criticize Official’s Handling of Fort Calhoun Nuclear Plant (Omaha World-Herald, NE)

Congress - McMorris Rodgers Advocates for Hydropower Bill at Energy & Power Subcommittee Hearing (Power Engineering)

Virginia Electric Co-op Lineman Finds Missing Child (Electric Co-op Today)

Four Things That Are Different About Electricity Infrastructure (AOL Energy)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Columbia Salmon Surge: Better Late Than Never (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Roosevelt Lake - Tension Brewing Between Fishermen, Colville Tribe (Wenatchee World, WA)

Anti-Whaling Group Joining Fight to Save Sea Lions (Associated Press)

San Francisco Third-Graders Fight against Sea Lion Killings (North County Times, CA)

Balancing Fish & Farms on a Washington State River Estuary (High Country News)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Dike Removal to Restore Stillaguamish River Estuary (Associated Press)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Columbia Biogas Signs on PacifiCorp as Power Customer (Sustainable Business Oregon)

With High-Tech Wood Pellets & Efficient Burners, Brothers Push Forest Biomass as Energy Good for Oregon (Oregonian, Portland)

Many Firsts in First Wind’s Palouse Project (Earth Techling)

Anti-Wind Activists Want to Create Fake Grassroots Campaign Against Industry (Grist Online)

Wyoming - New Alliance Hopes to Expand Renewable Energy Options (Billings Gazette, MT)

Vermont - Hydro Advocates Tout Bill That Expedites Permitting (Vermont Public Radio)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Energy Adviser: Newer Televisions Use Energy Efficiently (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

US Senate Bill Aims to Appraise Value of Home Efficiency (Midwest Energy News)

Energy Conservation for Hotels Using Demand Control (Renewable Energy World)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Cows Cause as Much Smog in Los Angeles As Cars Do (Grist Online)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Studies Show Places in the US that Make the Most of Electric Vehicles “…in the Pacific Northwest, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is the main power generator & that there are lots of dams in that region for hydroelectric generation, which is why the Leaf & the Volt do so well there…” (Thomas Net)

Honda Wins Appeal of Small-Claims Hybrid Judgment (Associated Press)

Study Compares Energy Sources from ‘Cradle-to-Grave’ (Renewable Energy World)

How the Green Revolution Can Help You Find Work (US News & World Report)

Reusable Grocery Bag Was Norovirus Culprit (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Op/Ed - Amazon, Microsoft: Let’s Keep ‘The Cloud’ Clean “…Yahoo & Google are already embracing the challenge to deliver a truly green cloud…” (Seattle Times)

It’s Official: Broadband Caps Cause Problems (My Broadband)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Why the Oregon Attorney General Race Has National Implications for Marijuana Laws (US News & World Report)

Washington State Minority-Contracts Director Resigns Under Fire (Olympian, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

Washington State: Don’t Eat Any Shellfish or Shellfish Products from Korea (KCPQ-TV, Seattle/Tacoma, WA)

Mason County Candidate Filing Next Week; Redistricting Cards Being Mailed (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Oops! JPMorgan Reveals $2 Billion Loss in Trading Portfolio (Associated Press)

Washington Students Beat National Average in Science Test Scores (Associated Press)

DIVERSIONS

Pit Bull Drags Unconscious Owner from Path of Train

Mechanic Discovers a Pound of Cocaine in 82-Year-Old Woman’s Car

End of Days Near? Mayan Find Pushes Calendar Way Beyond 2012

Seattle Couple Caught Living in $1.2 Million Waterfront Home Charged in Welfare Fraud

SONG OF THE DAY

Bonnie Tyler- Holding out for a Hero