Utilities eyeing coal power plants
Avista Corp. has joined Idaho Power to study whether the two utilities should consider building new electricity generation plants that burn coal.
Each company is interested in the use of coal-fired power, Avista said in a press release.
In particular, an Avista initiative calls for added megawatts from a variety of sources, including wind, conservation and dam upgrades.
The largest, however would be an extra 250 megawatts of coal-fired electricity generation over 10 years.
The two companies have hired the engineering firms of Cummins & Barnard Inc. and Power Engineers to study their options.
The nation’s greatest reserves of low-sulfur coal rest in eastern Montana and the Powder River country of Northeastern Wyoming.
Washington
BlackBerry trial judge may rule
The U.S. Patent and Trademark Office took another step Wednesday toward invalidating a patent that is at the center of a bitter legal feud over the BlackBerry wireless e-mail device.
The patent office has already preliminarily rejected all five patents at the heart of NTP Inc.’s lawsuit against Research in Motion, which runs the BlackBerry service.
However, the trial judge hearing the case has indicated himself unwilling to await final word from the patent office.
Chicago
Grand jury indicts suspected pirates
A federal grand jury indicted 19 people accused of using the Internet to pirate more than $6.5 million worth of copyrighted computer software, games and movies, authorities announced Wednesday.
The indictment outlines an alleged plot by defendants across the United States to illegally distribute newly released titles, including movies like “The Incredibles” and “The Aviator,” and games like “Tiger Woods PGA Tour 2005.”
A grand jury in Chicago returned the indictment late Tuesday following undercover investigations in Chicago, Charlotte, N.C., and San Jose, Calif.
Washington
Federal grants target new jobs
The Labor Department will provide $195 million to 13 regions of the country for economic development opportunities to lure businesses and create new jobs.
Labor Secretary Elaine Chao announced the grants Wednesday in an interview with the Associated Press.
Each of the 13 selected regions will receive $15 million over a three-year period to come up with economic development plans to bring this about, Chao said.
The selected regions are spread throughout the country and include areas in New York, Michigan, Denver, Montana, Florida and California.
“These grants will help local communities to develop new industries and train workers for these opportunities,” Chao said.