The barrage of bad news about oil is producing some of the best popular journalism ever about energy. Exhibit A is a guest editorial in today's Wall Street Journal by Joseph Petrowski, president of Gulf Oil, which you can read here in the Seattle Industry News Service.

Petrowski writes that as "someone who has spent his life in and around energy markets, I find the tone and substance of the current debate about energy policy to be profoundly disappointing." He faults Democrats and Republicans alike for their lack of leadership, lack of knowledge and sheer thick headedness: "Energy is too important a cornerstone of domestic prosperity and international stability to be used as a debating prop."

He urges Democrats to come to grips with the need for new oil exploration. "The technology to find, drill and recover oil has evolved tremendously, and careless drillers will fear tort lawyers more than government regulators."

He also criticizes Republicans for not prioritizing greater energy efficiency. "Efficiency is a huge source of new energy. It is scandalous that we have let the mileage standards decrease over the past 25 years."

"Our national interest," he writes, "is to add more energy, use it more efficiently, and diversify its source and type. This will serve to lessen the power of any one choke point (geography, nation or source)."

Petrowski's column is one of many that have recently argued our problem isn't so much the amount of oil that's still in the ground, but the political barriers to oil development that exist on the earth's surface. Another example was reported in Wednesday's Wall Street Journal about the enormous, but largely untapped oil reserves that are available in the northern Iraq province of Kurdistan.

An area the size of Switzerland, Kurdistan may hold more oil reserves than the entire United States, and in some parts of the country, oil seeps to the surface to form large ponds. But decades of war and conflict in the region precluded development and while Kurdistan is presently stable, it can't export its oil because Iraq has yet to develop a national law to govern petroleum production and distribution. This article is also available in the Seattle Industry News Service.

Nominate Your Favorite Small Business
The city of Seattle Mayor's Small Business Awards are looking for nominations. The deadline is coming right up, Firday July 18, 2008. The judges will be juding on:
*Business History and Vision
*Management Practices
*Entrepreneurial Spirit & Customer Service
*Community Involvement
*Overall Impression
Businesses of annual revenues of less than $10 million are encouraged to apply. For More information visit their website.

Green Guide for Business Survey
The SODO Business Association is developing a Green Guide for Businesses that will provide local business owners information about how your business can save money through resource conservation. The Green Guide will be your resource for learning how to reduce energy consumption and divert waste. It will have suggestions for transportation alternatives and list options for materials and purchased goods – all with the ultimate goal of saving you money.

The Green Guide will also provide a directory of websites and resources for more detailed information. We will post the Green Guide on the SODO website, and hope to develop a new SODO Green website in the near future. The website will allow 'real time' information to be posted, along with links to the many related websites.

Below is a link to a short survey designed to ensure the Green Guide works for you. Please take five minutes to complete the survey. All survey participants who respond by July 15 will be entered in a drawing for a gift certificate $50 from a local merchant.

Link to survey Or go to SODO website: www.sodobusinessassociation.org

Save, Save, Save...
Join Seattle City Light on July 16 when they co-host the third Climate Business Challenge workshop with Alliance to Save Energy . The workshop will explore the central role that energy efficiency will play in helping the country address global warming while fostering energy independence and reducing electricity costs. WHEN: Wednesday, July 16, 2:00 pm – 3:30 pm. WHERE: Seattle City Hall, Bertha Knight Landes Room, 600 Fourth Ave, 98104. Please RSVP to Debbie Palmason at debbie.palmason@seattle.gov or call at (206) 386.1661

First They Asked Us What We Wanted, Now They're Telling Us What We Get...Check It Out To See If They Got It Right
The Seattle Department of Planning and Development has released a DRAFT Shoreline Master Program Vision Report. This report summarizes the results of two public participation processes: a public opinion survey about shorelines in Seattle, and a series of visioning workshops we hosted at seven locations throughout the city during March 2008. Goals for specific sections of the shoreline are included, as well as a vision for Seattle's shorelines as a whole.

Now is your chance to provide feedback on the SMP Vision Report. The draft version will be available for review until August 4 at Click here for pdf. The summary of the telephone survey will be posted at this website by the end of this week. http://www.seattle.gov/dpd/Planning/ShorelineMasterProgramUpdate/Overview/

Please submit any questions or comments to project manager Maggie Glowacki at margaret.glowack@seattle.gov. Thank you for your interest, and thanks to all who participated in the survey and visioning workshops.

SR 520 Closed for the Weekend
Washington State Department of Transportation crews will close the SR 520 Evergreen Point floating bridge beginning at 11 p.m. Friday, July 11 for its annual inspection and maintenance work. The bridge will reopen at 5 a.m. Monday, July 14. The closure extends from Montlake Boulevard to 92nd Avenue N.E.

Contacts: Archie Allen, WSDOT Bridge Superintendent, 425-739-3700; Kris Olsen, WSDOT Communications, 206-440-4475; Suanne Pelley, SR 520 Bridge Replacement and HOV Project, Office: 206-770-3578 Cell: 206-437-5717

Visit our Website
www.seattleindustry.org


Spring 2008 issue
NOW Available. Email us for your copy.

We Need You
Do you like what you are hearing from us? The Manufacturing Industrial Council is a member based, non-profit organization that advocates for manufacturing businesses, and we need you! To become a member click here.

Renewing Members
Cobalt Group
Road Link (WCT)

New Members
Emerald Services
North Star Ice
Industrial Tire

More Info?
Questions, Comments, or suggestions about the Seattle Industry eBulletin are always welcome. Your input will make the bulletin a more successful product. Contact us at (206)762-2470 or fax (206)762-2492.

Next MIC Meeting
July 22, 2008
3:30-5:30 PM
5509 1st Ave S
Seattle, WA 98108