Monday, October 31, 2011

Puget Sound Energy Reduces Natural Gas Bills (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)


(CENTRALIA) – Here’s a bit of good news for your wallet if you heat your home with natural gas. Puget Sound Energy will be cutting rates 4-percent for some residential customers.  The reduction equals a monthly savings of more than $3.  The rate decrease follows cheaper wholesale prices for natural gas.  The Bellevue-based utility provides natural gas service in six western Washington counties including Lewis and Thurston. 

Monday, October 24, 2011

Condit Dam to be breached Wednesday | The Columbian, Vancouver, WA

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/oct/23/condit-dam-breach-preparing-for-the-surge-safety-a/

Special Report: Singed by Solyndra | Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/24/us-usa-prend-idUSTRE79N2JP20111024

Texas - Bayfront wind turbines can't keep a pace » Corpus Christi Caller-Times, TX

http://www.caller.com/news/2011/oct/24/bayfront-wind-turbines-cant-keep-a-pace/

Solar: Chinese efficiency vs. U.S. innovation | Seattle Times

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/businesstechnology/2016583075_btchinasolar24.html

150 years ago, a primitive Internet united the USA (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2016588425_apustelegraphat150.html?syndication=rss

Getting smart, Flathead Electric Co-op installs appliances to study efficiency - Daily Inter Lake, Kalispell, MT

http://www.dailyinterlake.com/business_and_finance/local_montana/article_5013d316-fd37-11e0-b8c6-001cc4c03286.html?mode=print

Using Oregon's forests for bioenergy production has a down side: increased carbon emissions | Oregonian

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/10/using_oregons_forests_for_bioe.html

Maine reflects solar industry's rapid growth | The Kennebec Journal, Augusta, ME

http://www.kjonline.com/news/maine-reflects-solar-industrys-rapid-growth_2011-10-22.html

Solar power is beginning to go mainstream (Associated Press)

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5g4gb2SK5gYGIvJVnuw31IWQXKowA?docId=425d21da4c7947de8048769491c14df5

A White Salmon River free of Condit Dam is monumental for tribal elder, kayaker and a fish biologist | Oregonian

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/10/for_a_tribal_elder_a_kayaker_a.html

Pinchot embraces his family name, its calling » Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2011/oct/22/pinchot-embraces-his-family-name-its-calling/

How the web has powered work for 20 years — GigaOM

http://gigaom.com/collaboration/how-the-web-has-powered-work-for-20-years/

SNOHOMISH CTOUNTY PUD HOSS REGIONAL WORKSHOP ON ELECTRIC VEHICLES | GENERAL VALLEY NEWS | Sky Valley Chronicle, Monroe, WA

http://www.skyvalleychronicle.com/GENERAL-VALLEY-NEWS/SNOHOMISH-COUNTY-PUD-HOSTS-REGIONAL-WORKSHOP-ON-ELECTRIC-VEHICLES-803715

The Energy Efficiency Paradox - Big Think

www.bigthink.com/ideas/40779

Olympia seeks proposals for solar-panel work - Business - The Olympian, WA

http://www.theolympian.com/2011/10/21/1847395/olympia-seeks-proposals-for-solar.html

Natural-gas-fired plant proposed for Troutdale's former Reynolds Aluminum plant, just a mile from Columbia River Gorge | Oregonian

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2011/10/nature_gas-fired_plant_propose.html

Avista’s light-bulb mailing going ‘seamlessly’ - Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2011/oct/22/avistas-light-bulb-mailing-going-seamlessly/

China blasts SolarWorld's request for tariffs, says cheap solar panels help economy, environment | OregonLive.com

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/10/china_blasts_solarworlds_reque.html

Southern Montana Electric board refuses to seat new Beartooth co-op member, prompting walkout (Billings Gazette, MT)

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_dbdc0ea2-79a4-5ea6-a51a-d726176cb69b.html?oCampaign=hottopics

Southern Montana Electric files for bankruptcy (Billings Gazette, MT)

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/article_80cb4600-4f81-5278-9091-af9e940150fd.html

E.ON moves wind development office to Portland | Sustainable Business Oregon

http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2011/10/eon-moves-wind-development-office-to.html

Fitch Rates Snohomish PUD No.1, WA Electric System Bonds 'AA-'; Outlook Stable - MarketWatch

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/fitch-rates-snohomish-pud-no1-wa-electric-system-bonds-aa-outlook-stable-2011-10-21

A 'Renewable' That's Worse Than Coal? | EarthTechling

http://www.earthtechling.com/2011/10/a-renewable-thats-worse-than-coal/

Kansas company turns trash into alternative energy | Wichita Eagle, KS

http://www.kansas.com/2011/10/16/2064227/company-turns-trash-into-alternative.html

Biomass plant standoff could head to court (The Columbian, Vancouver, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/oct/23/biomass-plant-standoff-could-head-to-court-neither/

Burning wood to save West’s trees - The Salt Lake Tribune, UT

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/52537370-78/biomass-chips-energy-forests.html.csp

Iberdrola halts work on $100 million Lakeview biomass project - Oregonian

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2011/10/iberdrola_halts_work_on_100_mi.html

Friday, October 21, 2011

A skeptical physicist ends up confirming climate data - The Washington Post

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/ezra-klein/post/a-skeptical-physicist-ends-up-confirming-climate-data/2011/10/20/gIQA6viC1L_blog.html?wprss=ezra-klein

PG&E, Sempra Get Approvals for Western U.S. Solar Deals - Bloomberg

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2011-10-20/pg-e-sempra-get-approvals-for-western-u-s-solar-deals-1-.html

How The New Mars Rover's Power Supply Works (This Sucker's Nuclear!) - Gizmodo

http://gizmodo.com/5851853/how-the-new-mars-rovers-power-supply-works-this-suckers-nuclear

Sacrament Municipal Utility District won't install Hwy. 50 solar panels, Cites high bid & right of way issues - Sacramento Bee

http://www.sacbee.com/2011/10/21/3992155/smud-wont-install-hwy-50-solar.html

Inspection prompts Pacific Gas & Electric to examine overhead electrical lines - San Jose Mercury News

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_19159663

Winter forecast cold, wet with increased mountain snow for Northwest | KING-TV Seattle

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Winter-forecast-calls-for-cold-wet--132247018.html

Renewable Energy Development: Smaller Projects That Think Big | Renewable Energy World

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/10/renewable-energy-development-smaller-projects-that-think-big?cmpid=rss

23 WA companies named in Deloitte's Technology Fast 500 - Puget Sound Business Journal

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/morning_call/2011/10/23-wa-companies-named-in-deloittes.html

Beyond Green: A Net-Zero College Community - NYTimes.com

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/21/beyond-green-a-net-zero-college-community/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Folk Icon's Time At Bonneville Power Administration Celebrated In Film · OPB News

http://news.opb.org/article/folk-icons-time-bpa-celebrated-film/

Electric vehicles generating buzz in Clark County | The Columbian

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/oct/20/electric-vehicles-generating-buzz/

California approves carbon market rules | Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/21/us-carbon-california-idUSTRE79K00U20111021

Lines Go Up to Ferry Wind Energy to Major Cities - NY Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/21/us/lines-go-up-to-ferry-wind-energy-to-major-cities.html

BC Hydro plays NAFTA card in bid to win green status in California (Vancouver Sun, BC)

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Hydro+plays+NAFTA+card+green+status+California/5586278/story.html

Thursday, October 20, 2011

The Biomass Carbon Debate: When To Start Counting? | Renewable Energy World

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/10/the-biomass-carbon-debate-when-to-start-counting

Is NIMBYism a Threat to Small-Scale Renewables? | The Energy Collective

http://theenergycollective.com/energynow/67358/nimbyisms-threat-small-scale-renewables

Utilities want you to go ductless (Olympian, WA)

Uhttp://www.theolympian.com/2011/10/20/1844919/utilities-want-you-to-go-ductless.html

B.C. Hydro boss resigns after 16 months on job (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/sports/Hydro+boss+resigns+after+months/5579309/story.html

Ultra-green Seattle office project draws corporate HQ, complaints (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2016552908_skanska20.html

SolarWorld ups the ante in global solar trade war | Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/20/us-solarworld-idUSTRE79J1G120111020

A social energy network turns to solar chargers & shopping (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/cleantech/a-social-energy-network-turns-to-solar-chargers-shopping/

Solyndra puts off asset auction until Nov. 18 (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2011/10/20/BUKG1LJO33.DTL

The Columbia River's Extreme Math- Forbes

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jonbruner/2011/10/20/the-columbia-rivers-extreme-math-infographic/

Customers think rates too high, but love PUD (St. Helens Chronicle, OR)

http://thechronicleonline.com/news/article_8f632a96-fa6f-11e0-8004-001cc4c002e0.html?mode=print

In PUblic Power Pursh - Xcel Says Boulder Customers Could Lose Solar Rebates If 2B, 2C Pass (Energy Boom)

http://www.energyboom.com/policy/xcel-says-boulder-customers-could-lose-solar-rebates-if-2b-2c-pass

How Can I Avoid Static Electricity Shocks in Cold, Dry Weather? (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/5851408/how-can-i-avoid-static-shocks-in-the-winter

Energy Department Altered Loan-Related Release - CNBC

http://www.cnbc.com/id/44963294

PUDs to pay for fish hatchery in Canada (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2011/oct/19/puds-paying-for-canadian-fish-hatchery/

Is Wind Worth It? - NY Times

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/10/19/is-wind-worth-it/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Sleuth seeks to slash home heating bills | Baker City Herald, OR

http://www.bakercityherald.com/Local-News/Sleuth-seeks-to-slash-home-heating-bills

From coal to biomass for some Virginia power | Green Tech - CNET News

http://news.cnet.com/8301-11128_3-20122558-54/from-coal-to-biomass-for-some-virginia-power/

California treasurer defends tax break for energy firms (Associated Press)

http://articles.boston.com/2011-10-19/business/30298570_1_tax-break-program-sales-tax-bigger-risk

Despite Solyndra's collapse, other government bets pay off (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/nationworld/2016552524_solar20.html

Energy storage key for wind power producers (Edmonton Journal, AB)

http://www.edmontonjournal.com/business/Energy+storage+wind+power+producers/5578396/story.html

Japan eyes renewable energy deregulation: report | Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/20/us-japan-energy-idUSTRE79J0G020111020

$165 million biomass-fired plant earmarked for heart of oil country (Renewable Energy Magazine)

http://www.renewableenergymagazine.com/energias/renovables/index/pag/biomass/colleft/colright/biomass/tip/articulo/pagid/17538/botid/74/

UK boosts support for marine, biomass power | Reuters

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/20/britain-renewables-review-idUSL5E7LK3OW20111020

Council Approves Skamania County Whistling Ridge Wind Farm with Limits (Hood River News, OR)

http://www.hoodrivernews.com/ns/news-headlines/8114/council-approves-whistling-ridge-wind-farm-with-limits

Mason County Recreation Area Infield Project – Mason County PUD 3 helps with volunteer replacement of light poles (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/16444-mcra-infield-project

Wednesday, October 19, 2011

Plugging in the Power of Social Networking (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/bcolander/67301/plugging-power-social-networking

Auditor: State workers used state time, computers for personal gain (KOMO News, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/132107783.html

Starbucks worries that climate change is putting world's coffee supply at risk (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/29509802/detail.html

Grays Harbor County Cities to Get Energy Frugal (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3240

$10 mil bird bond may doom Naselle wind farm (Chinook Observer, Long Beach, WA)

http://www.chinookobserver.com/news/local/mil-bird-bond-may-doom-naselle-wind-farm/article_fccae9ca-f9e3-11e0-8064-001cc4c03286.html

America's Largest Coal Power Plant Burns 11 Million Tons of Bituminous a Year (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/5850299/americas-largest-coal-power-plant-burns-11-million-tons-of-bituminous-a-year

Seattle City Light Restores Historic Ladder Creek Light Show (Electric Energy Online)

http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=161170

Subsidized charging stations: Will Electric Vehicles follow? (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

ecotrope.opb.org/2011/10/subsidized-charging-stations-will-evs-follow/

How FERC Order 1000 Could Affect Hydro (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2011/10/how-ferc-order-1000-could-affect-hydro?cmpid=rss

Port Angeles residents to pay more for utilities next year (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20111019/news/310199983/port-angeles-residents-to-pay-more-for-utilities-next-year

Obama pushes power line projects (Wyoming Business Report)

http://www.wyomingbusinessreport.com/article.asp?id=60176

Texas sets wind power record as coastal wind grows (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/18/us-utilities-texas-wind-idUSTRE79H5ZL20111018

Snohomish PUD harvests power with new hydropower project (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20111019/news01/710199810/-1/rss02

Sharp Solar launches first two products since Camas move (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2011/10/sharp-solar-launches-first-two.html

New York Planting One Million Trees, Too Many for Some - NY Times

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/19/nyregion/new-york-planting-a-million-treestoo-many-some-say.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Studies Clash on Impact of Indian Point Shutdown - NYTimes

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/10/18/nyregion/studies-clash-on-impact-of-indian-point-shutdown.html?_r=2&ref=nyregion

The Lesson from Solyndra: It’s Time to Deregulate the Energy Market (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/on-innovations/the-lesson-from-solyndra-its-time-to-deregulate-the-energy-market/2011/09/14/gIQANaBFrL_story.html?wprss=rss_national

California Has One in Four US Solar Energy Jobs, Study Says (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_19135321

California's green tax breaks in question - San Jose Mercury News, CA

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_19134411

Solar Market Scouts for Cash as Subsidies Fade (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2011/10/18/us-solar-finance-idUSTRE79H6FB20111018

Northwest Open Access Network (NoaNet) to Bring Cable Internet to Rural Areas (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2011/oct/19/nonprofit-bring-cable-internet-rural-areas/

Umatilla Electric puts $15M loan into regional power lines - East Oregonian, Pendleton, OR

http://www.eastoregonian.com/news/local_news/umatilla-electric-puts-m-loan-into-regional-power-lines/article_6c531e94-f9b6-11e0-bb37-001cc4c03286.html

115-Year-Old Electric Car Gets Same 40 Miles to the Charge as Chevy Volt (The Daily Caller)

http://dailycaller.com/2011/10/14/114-year-old-electric-car-gets-same-40-miles-to-the-charge-as-chevy-volt/

TransAlta preparing to retrofit plant to control haze creating emissions (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

( CENTRALIA ) – Plans are underway to install $10 million worth of new pollution controlling equipment at the TransAlta coal fired steam plant.  The plant is being retrofitted for new gear that reduces the amount of pollution that’s cited for creating haze in national parks and wilderness areas.  The project aims to cut the amount of nitrogen oxide emissions from the Centralia area coal burning plant.  The project is part of the agreement that phases out the local burning of coal.  The new pollution gear is set to be installed for operation by January.