Thursday, November 29, 2012

Energy News Digest for November 29, 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

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

BPA Administrator Praises Hydropower Benefits at Tri-Cities Chamber Luncheon (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Hydropower Licensees Challenge FERC’s Practice of Charging Them for Using Their Own Lands – Includes Chelan, Grant Snohomish Public Utility Districts (SNL Financial)

Coastal Flood Advisory – Includes Mason County (National Weather Service, Seattle)

Washington State Governor-Elect Jay Inslee Announces Transition Committee (Governor’s Transition Team)

$588 Million Powerball Jackpot Tickets Sold in Arizona, Missouri (Associated Press)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

  • BPA Administrator Praises Hydropower Benefits at Tri-Cities Chamber Luncheon
  • Hydropower Licensees Challenge FERC’s Practice of Charging Them for Using Their Own Lands – Includes Chelan, Grant Snohomish Public Utility Districts
  • 2013 Budget Passed; Successful Audit for Mason County PUD No. 1
  • Kittitas County PUD Looks to Hire New Manager
  • Some Idaho Power Workers Eye Union
  • New York Tells Con Ed to Prepare in Case Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant Shuts Down
  • Another Step to Smaller Reactors
  • Over “Lifetime” Heating Discounts - FirstEnergy Off Hook in Homeowner Suit, Ohio Supreme Court Rules
  • New York Electrician Shortage Hampers Sandy Recovery
  • U-S Natural Gas Supplies Grew Last Week
  • Germany to Pay Energy-Intensive Firms to Switch Off Power Supply
  • New Era Looms for Lower Columbia Salmon Fisheries
  • Latest Fall Fish Transportation Figures for the Cowlitz River
  • New Owl Habitat Affects More Oregon Forests Than Neighbors
  • Miners, Conservationists Team Up to Help Yellowstone Trout
  • Contractor Approved for Upgrade to Central Kitsap Sewer Plant
  • As Great Lakes Plummet, Towns Try to Save Harbors
  • Arlington High Goes Green with Solar Panels
  • Hints to Winterize Your Home
  • Empire State Building Surprises New York City with New LED Lights
  • Op/Ed - Is Cap-And-Trade Auction a Step Forward?
  • “Giant Reed” Arundo Donax -- Miracle Biofuel or Invasive Menace?
  • U-S Senate Gives Green Light to Pentagon Green Energy
  • USDA Says Rural Broadband Funding Will Be Given Priority
  • Google Fiber is Awesome & Time Warner is Worried
  • Ars Asks: Help Us Max Out Google Fiber
  • Op/Ed - Bad Connections: Break Up the Telecom Cartels
  • This Is How Much Time You Spend on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr
  • Op/Ed - Let’s Face It: Most Social Media Marketing is a Waste of Time
  • NYU’s ‘Replyallpacolypse’ Reminds Businesses of Email’s Shortcomings
  • Washington State Governor-Elect Jay Inslee Announces Transition Committee
  • Recount will be coming to Clark county Washington State Legislature Race
  • Washington State Senator Bob Morton Announces Retirement
  • White House Warns Consumer Spending in Oregon Could Fall $2.5 Billion without Tax Deal
  • $588 Million Powerball Jackpot Tickets Sold in Arizona, Missouri
  • Terri Jeffreys Sworn In as Newest Mason County Commissioner
  • Coastal Flood Advisory – Includes Mason County
  • Rains Wash Out Bridge in Tahuya State Forest
  • Stratos Skydive & Mason County Connection
  • Facebook-Posting Climber Stranded on Mt. Hood Found Safe
  • Housing Rebound Has More Northwest Sawmills Buzzing
  • From the Astounding Chutzpah Department - Hostess Seeks Approval for Executive Bonuses

WORD OF THE DAY

Obdurate • \AWB-duh-rut\ • Adjective - 1a: stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing b: hardened in feelings 2: resistant to persuasion or softening influences

Brittani’s obdurate attitude regarding the woozy effect of the “Axe” body spray used by her new boyfriend was unfathomable to her mall-walking friends. “Like, do you have to wear a gas-mask to be around him,” sniffed Candi as they strutted past Bath & Body Works, their bejeweled “smart phones” winking in and out with reflections from a stray spotlight at the “Empire Floors” kiosk. “Anytime you can actually see waves of fragrance should be a warning sign,” mumbled Nanci, who was absently sipping on her “Orange Julius”.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

BPA Administrator Praises Hydropower Benefits at Tri-Cities Chamber Luncheon (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Hydropower Licensees Challenge FERC’s Practice of Charging Them for Using Their Own Lands – Includes Chelan, Grant Snohomish Public Utility Districts (SNL Financial)

2013 Budget Passed; Successful Audit for Mason County PUD No. 1 (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Kittitas County PUD Looks to Hire New Manager (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

Some Idaho Power Workers Eye Union (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

New York Tells Con Ed to Prepare in Case Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant Shuts Down (Reuters)

Another Step to Smaller Reactors (NY Times)

Over “Lifetime” Heating Discounts - FirstEnergy Off Hook in Homeowner Suit, Ohio Supreme Court Rules (Columbus Business Journal, OH)

New York Electrician Shortage Hampers Sandy Recovery (National Public Radio)

U-S Natural Gas Supplies Grew Last Week (Associated Press)

Germany to Pay Energy-Intensive Firms to Switch Off Power Supply (Platts)

FISH & WILDLIFE

New Era Looms for Lower Columbia Salmon Fisheries (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Latest Fall Fish Transportation Figures for the Cowlitz River (Seattle Times)

New Owl Habitat Affects More Oregon Forests Than Neighbors (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Miners, Conservationists Team Up to Help Yellowstone Trout (Olympian, WA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Contractor Approved for Upgrade to Central Kitsap Sewer Plant (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

As Great Lakes Plummet, Towns Try to Save Harbors (Associated Press)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Arlington High Goes Green with Solar Panels (Everett Herald, WA)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Hints to Winterize Your Home (Northwest Public Radio)

Empire State Building Surprises New York City with New LED Lights (Associated Press)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Op/Ed - Is Cap-And-Trade Auction a Step Forward? (Sacramento Bee, CA)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

“Giant Reed” Arundo Donax -- Miracle Biofuel or Invasive Menace? (Associated Press)

U-S Senate Gives Green Light to Pentagon Green Energy (Associated Press)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

USDA Says Rural Broadband Funding Will Be Given Priority (CivSource)

Google Fiber is Awesome & Time Warner is Worried - Analysts Believe Google Fiber Will Expand Beyond Kansas City (Broadband Reports)

Ars Asks: Help Us Max Out Google Fiber (Ars Technica)

Op/Ed - Bad Connections: Break Up the Telecom Cartels (NY Times)

This Is How Much Time You Spend on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr (Mashable!)

Op/Ed - Let’s Face It: Most Social Media Marketing is a Waste of Time “…The secret to good social media marketing: Make good products & offer good services…” (Mashable)

NYU’s ‘Replyallpacolypse’ Reminds Businesses of Email’s Shortcomings (Tampa Bay Business Journal, FL)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Governor-Elect Jay Inslee Announces Transition Committee (Governor’s Transition Team)

Recount will be coming to Clark county Washington State Legislature Race - Benton-Probst, Stonier-Olson races to be tallied by hand (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Washington State Senator Bob Morton Announces Retirement – Leaving Legislature after 22 Years (Washington State Wire)

White House Warns Consumer Spending in Oregon Could Fall $2.5 Billion without Tax Deal (Oregonian, Portland)

GENERAL NEWS

$588 Million Powerball Jackpot Tickets Sold in Arizona, Missouri (Associated Press)

Terri Jeffreys Sworn In as Newest Mason County Commissioner (Mason Web-TV, Shelton, WA)

Coastal Flood Advisory – Includes Mason County (National Weather Service, Seattle)

Rains Wash Out Bridge in Tahuya State Forest (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Stratos Skydive & Mason County Connection (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Facebook-Posting Climber Stranded on Mt. Hood Found Safe (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

Housing Rebound Has More Northwest Sawmills Buzzing (Northwest Public Radio)

From the Astounding Chutzpah Department - Hostess Seeks Approval for Executive Bonuses (KING-TV, Seattle)

DIVERSIONS

Suspects Wanted in West Seattle Ukulele Attack

Here’s How Your Man Can Smell Like Bacon

Spiders, Drywall & Brass Knuckles Don’t Mix

Baby Named ‘Hashtag’ Draws Internet Fame, Ire, Skepticism

SONG OF THE DAY

Psycho Killer - The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain