Tuesday, December 18, 2012

Energy News Digest for December 18, 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

Storm Wrap-Up - PUD 3 Linemen Complete Restoration of Electricity to Nearly 3,000 Customers (Mason County PUD No. 3)

Columbia River - Canadian Smelter Found Liable For U-S Pollution (Northwest Public Radio)

Sports, Commercials Spar over Columbia River Fisheries Reform (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Douglas PUD Petitions Feds for Longer-Term Dam License (Wenatchee World, WA)

Big Eastern Washington Wind Farm to Begin Operations (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/morning_call/2012/12/big-eastern-washington-wind-farm-to.htm

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)


  • Storm Wrap-Up - PUD 3 Linemen Complete Restoration of Electricity to Nearly 3,000 Customers
  • Wind, Snow Cause Lake Wenatchee Power Outage
  • Major Forest Grove Power Outage Caused by Problems along Bonneville Power Lines between City & Tillamook
  • Douglas PUD Petitions Feds for Longer-Term Dam License
  • Port Townsend Mill, Bonneville Power Administration Hail Joint Power Pact
  • Grays Harbor PUD’s 2013 Budget Includes 8% Rate Increase
  • Grant County PUD Commissioner Randy Allred Died Friday after Long Illness
  • The “Casey Era” Comes to an End - Grays Harbor PUD Commissioners Swear in New Commissioner
  • Everyday Business: Chelan PUD’s Randy Smith is Tree Top’s Big Apple Now
  • Montana - Superfund Designation Sought for Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Land
  • Eric Christensen Publishes "A Guide to the Byzantine" - The New "Bulk Electric System"
  • Utilities Share Strategies to Stifle the Industry’s $60 Million Problem: Copper Theft
  • North Carolina - Preservation Sought for 1898 Idols Hydroelectric Power Station on Yadkin
  • Sports, Commercials Spar over Columbia River Fisheries Reform
  • Columbia River - Canadian Smelter Found Liable For U-S Pollution
  • Army Corps Plans to Dredge Lower Snake, Clearwater Rivers
  • Chehalis-Centralia Businesses Prepare for Next Flood
  • Mason County’s Haven Lake Weed Treatment Placed on Hold
  • Big Eastern Washington Wind Farm to Begin Operations
  • Local Researchers Creating Longer Lasting, Efficient Light Bulbs
  • This Small Plug & Your Smartphone Could Save You Electricity
  • BPA Turns 75, Part Five, Saving the Kilowatt
  • Umbra’s Second Helpings: Saving Money on Your Heating Bill
  • Poll: Most Americans Say World is Warming
  • Researchers Study Electric Car Impacts on the Grid
  • NW Energy Angels Eye Record Year with Investment in Ethical Electric
  • Coal Museum Installs Solar Panels to Save Money
  • Seattle’s Planned Fiber Network: The Gigabit is in the Details
  • Seattle among Markets Affected By Sale of Data Centers
  • FCC Creates Healthcare Connect Fund
  • Electric Co-ops Make Rural Broadband Possible
  • Dish Faces Build-Out Requirement on Mobile Broadband Network
  • The Growing Energy Demands of Living Your Life in the Cloud
  • Washington State Bill Would Impose Fee on Lobbyists, Others
  • Western Washington Wakes Up to Snow
  • Advisory for Winter-Like Weather in Effect
  • Cellphone Tower Workers Stranded on Oregon Mountain
  • New Amazon Distribution Center to Open in DuPont
  • Brinnon Man Gets a Year in Jail for National Forest Tree Theft
  • Mason County Begins Directing Sales Tax Money to Drug Court
  • Longview Police Need Public’s Help in Copper Thefts
  • Shhhh! A New Law Says TV Ads Can't Blare Anymore

WORD OF THE DAY

Commensal • \kuh-MENN-sull\ • Adjective - 1: of or relating to those who habitually eat together 2: of, relating to, or living in a relationship in which one organism obtains food or other benefits from another without damaging or benefiting it.

The block of nutritional supplement that passed as a meal on the deep space probe plopped onto Lt Brandies’ tray with a resounding thud. “Good luck chief,” growled the grizzled “cook” to his ship mate. “Today’s menu includes all the ingredients of ‘Beef Bourguignon’, but without the taste,” he cackled through his two-day old growth of beard.

“What I wouldn’t give,” muttered the lieutenant to the commensal gathering in the wardroom, “for at least one week of slow cooked cook.  I imagine it would taste like pork…the swine.”

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Storm Wrap-Up - PUD 3 Linemen Complete Restoration of Electricity to Nearly 3,000 Customers (Mason County PUD No. 3)

Wind, Snow Cause Lake Wenatchee Power Outage (Associated Press)

Major Forest Grove Power Outage Caused by Problems along Bonneville Power Lines between City & Tillamook (Oregonian, Portland)

Douglas PUD Petitions Feds for Longer-Term Dam License (Wenatchee World, WA)

Port Townsend Mill, Bonneville Power Administration Hail Joint Power Pact (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Grays Harbor PUD’s 2013 Budget Includes 8% Rate Increase (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

Grant County PUD Commissioner Randy Allred Died Friday after Long Illness (iFiber One News, Ephrata, WA)

The “Casey Era” comes to an End - Grays Harbor PUD Commissioners Swear in New Commissioner (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

Everyday Business: Chelan PUD’s Randy Smith is Tree Top’s Big Apple Now (Wenatchee World, WA)

Montana - Superfund Designation Sought for Columbia Falls Aluminum Company Land (Daily InterLake, Kalispell, MT)

Eric Christensen Publishes "A Guide to the Byzantine" - The New "Bulk Electric System" (GTH Energy & Natural Resources Law Blog)

Utilities Share Strategies to Stifle the Industry’s $60 Million Problem: Copper Theft (American Public Power Association)

North Carolina - Preservation Sought for 1898 Idols Hydroelectric Power Station On Yadkin (Winston-Salem Journal, NC)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Sports, Commercials Spar over Columbia River Fisheries Reform (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Columbia River - Canadian Smelter Found Liable For U-S Pollution (Northwest Public Radio)

Army Corps Plans to Dredge Lower Snake, Clearwater Rivers (Associated Press)

Chehalis-Centralia Businesses Prepare for Next Flood (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

Mason County’s Haven Lake Weed Treatment Placed on Hold (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Big Eastern Washington Wind Farm to Begin Operations (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)
http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/morning_call/2012/12/big-eastern-washington-wind-farm-to.htm

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Local Researchers Creating Longer Lasting, Efficient Light Bulbs (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

This Small Plug & Your Smartphone Could Save You Electricity (GigaOM)

BPA Turns 75, Part Five, Saving the Kilowatt (Bonneville Power Administration)

Umbra’s Second Helpings: Saving Money on Your Heating Bill (Grist Online)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Poll: Most Americans Say World is Warming (USA Today)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Researchers Study Electric Car Impacts on the Grid (The Energy Collective)

NW Energy Angels Eye Record Year with Investment in Ethical Electric (Xconomy)

Coal Museum Installs Solar Panels to Save Money (Grist Online)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Seattle’s Planned Fiber Network: The Gigabit is in the Details (GigaOM)

Seattle among Markets Affected By Sale of Data Centers (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

FCC Creates Healthcare Connect Fund (Lexology)

Electric Co-ops Make Rural Broadband Possible (Electric Co-op Today)

Dish Faces Build-Out Requirement on Mobile Broadband Network (Denver Post, CO)

The Growing Energy Demands of Living Your Life in the Cloud (Forbes Magazine)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Bill Would Impose Fee on Lobbyists, Others (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

Western Washington Wakes Up to Snow (KING-TV, Seattle)

Advisory for Winter-Like Weather in Effect (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Cellphone Tower Workers Stranded on Oregon Mountain (Associated Press)

New Amazon Distribution Center to Open in DuPont (Associated Press)

Brinnon Man Gets a Year in Jail for National Forest Tree Theft (Associated Press)

Mason County Begins Directing Sales Tax Money to Drug Court (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Longview Police Need Public’s Help in Copper Thefts (KCPQ-TV, Seattle/Tacoma, WA)

Shhhh! A New Law Says TV Ads Can't Blare Anymore (Associated Press)

DIVERSIONS

School Yoga Classes Draw Fire from Conservatives

Wearable Wagging Tail Matches Your Mood

For Sale in China: Potato Chips Flavored by Pepsi & Chicken

Learn English Online: How the Internet is Changing Language

SONG OF THE DAY

American Breed - Bend Me Shape Me