Thursday, December 27, 2012

Energy News Digest for December 27, 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

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Pacific Northwest Snowfall Eases Drought Concerns ... For Now (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Climate Change Could Cut Western Water Runoff by Ten Percent (Los Angeles Times, CA)

Avista Electricity & Natural Gas Rate Hikes Approved for Next Two Years (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Idaho Supreme Court sides with PacifiCorp in Tax Fight (Associated Press)

Rules Trap Former Pacific Power Customers in Catch 22 (Walla Walla Union Bulletin, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Avista Electricity & Natural Gas Rate Hikes Approved for Next Two Years
  • Idaho Supreme Court sides with PacifiCorp in Tax Fight
  • Rules Trap Former Pacific Power Customers in Catch 22
  • Report Says Downed Puget Sound Energy Power Line Caused Pinehurst Home Explosion
  • Highway 2 Open, Lake Wenatchee & Plain Power Mostly Restored
  • Columbia River PUD Board Approves 2013 Budget
  • Mason County PUD 3 Commissioner Bruce Jorgenson Sworn in for Fourth Term
  • Emerald PUD Selects Kevin Parrish for Board Vacancy
  • Ashton Reservoir - East Idaho Dam Set to Reopen After Work Project
  • Ailing California Nuclear Power Plant Faces Questions on Restart
  • New York - Con Ed Considers Flying Drones for Future Disaster Response
  • Pepco’s Smart Meter Installation behind Schedule
  • Marriage Leads to Demotion for Nashville Electric Service Utility Worker
  • High Energy Costs Plaguing Europe
  • Iran Media Report New Cyberattack by Stuxnet Worm – Targets Power Plant
  • New Colville Tribal Hatchery to Boost Columbia Fish Production Starting this Spring
  • Pacific Northwest Snowfall Eases Drought Concerns ... For Now
  • EPA Administrator Jackson Announces Resignation
  • British Columbia Offshore Wind Signs Up Siemens, and Hopes
  • 2013: A Cloudy Forecast for Renewable Energy, With a Silver Lining
  • North Carolina - Power Company Wants to Pay Less for Solar Energy
  • Christmas Trees Will Be Recycled to Create Electricity for California Residents
  • New York City’s Law Tracking Energy Use Yields Some Surprises
  • Climate Change Could Cut Western Water Runoff by Ten Percent
  • California Law Tests Company Responses to Carbon Costs
  • Who’s Killing the Electric Car? Consumers
  • Rules Urge Bigger Hybrid, Electric Car Signage to Protecting Firefighters, Tow-Truck Drivers
  • Why Are U-S Firms Going ‘Green’: CEOs or Customers?
  • ‘The Cloud’ Challenges Amazon
  • Why Your Computer is Getting Cheaper but Your Broadband Bill Isn’t
  • Owen to Broker Deal - Washington State’s Lieutenant Governor Plans Meeting Friday with Senate Dems, New Majority Coalition
  • Eyman Readies Washington State I-517, Adding Six Months to Get Signatures
  • Pacific Council Strikes Last-Minute Deal to Save City
  • Early Snow Lays Thick Snowpack for Pacific NW Ski Resorts
  • Mason County Unemployment Up
  • Japan Tsunami’s Floating Debris to Keep Hitting the Pacific Coast This
  • Oak Tree Restaurant & Casino Abruptly Closes - Struggling Business Promises to Reopen

WORD OF THE DAY

Mise-en-scène • \meez-awn-SENN\ • noun - 1a: the arrangement of actors and scenery on a stage for a theatrical production b: stage setting 2a: the physical setting of an action (as of a narrative or a motion picture): context b: environment, milieu

The utility’s accounting department had the misfortune to work for a supervisor whose hobbies included improv theater…based on “Star Trek’s” Klingon mythology. To the staff’s immense displeasure, the last day of each work week had been converted from casual Friday to the Klingon ritual “Rite of passage.”

At the start of each Friday, along employees dressing in costume, the board room was converted into a mise-en-scène of Klingon finery. Each employee, from the mail boy to the head accountant was required to chant “Today I am a Warrior. I must show you my heart. I travel the river of blood.” Thankfully, members of the gauntlet used rolled up newspapers to whack the participants as they fled the room, instead of traditional Klingon painsticks.

(I am ashamed I know even THIS much about Klingons)

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Avista Electricity & Natural Gas Rate Hikes Approved for Next Two Years (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Idaho Supreme Court sides with PacifiCorp in Tax Fight (Associated Press)

Rules Trap Former Pacific Power Customers in Catch 22 (Walla Walla Union Bulletin, WA)

Report Says Downed Puget Sound Energy Power Line Caused Pinehurst Home Explosion (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

Highway 2 Open, Lake Wenatchee & Plain Power Mostly Restored (Wenatchee World, WA)

Columbia River PUD Board Approves 2013 Budget (Coast River Business Journal, Astoria, OR)

Mason County PUD 3 Commissioner Bruce Jorgenson Sworn in for Fourth Term (Mason County PUD No. 3)

Emerald PUD Selects Kevin Parrish for Board Vacancy (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

Ashton Reservoir - East Idaho Dam Set to Reopen After Work Project (Associated Press)

Ailing California Nuclear Power Plant Faces Questions on Restart (Associated Press)

New York - Con Ed Considers Flying Drones for Future Disaster Response (New York Business Journal)

Pepco’s Smart Meter Installation behind Schedule (Washington, D-C Business Journal)

Marriage Leads to Demotion for Nashville Electric Service Utility Worker (USA Today)

High Energy Costs Plaguing Europe (NY Times)

Iran Media Report New Cyberattack by Stuxnet Worm – Targets Power Plant (Associated Press)

FISH & WILDLIFE

New Colville Tribal Hatchery to Boost Columbia Fish Production Starting this Spring (Seattle Times)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Pacific Northwest Snowfall Eases Drought Concerns ... For Now (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

EPA Administrator Jackson Announces Resignation (Associated Press)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

British Columbia Offshore Wind Signs Up Siemens, and Hopes (The Energy Collective)

2013: A Cloudy Forecast for Renewable Energy, With a Silver Lining (TIME Magazine)

North Carolina - Power Company Wants to Pay Less for Solar Energy (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

Christmas Trees Will Be Recycled to Create Electricity for California Residents (KSBY-TV, San Luis Obispo, CA)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

New York City’s Law Tracking Energy Use Yields Some Surprises (NY Times)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Climate Change Could Cut Western Water Runoff by Ten Percent (Los Angeles Times, CA)

California Law Tests Company Responses to Carbon Costs (NY Times)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Who’s Killing the Electric Car? Consumers (Christian Science Monitor)

Rules Urge Bigger Hybrid, Electric Car Signage to Protecting Firefighters, Tow-Truck Drivers (USA Today)

Why Are U-S Firms Going ‘Green’: CEOs or Customers? (Christian Science Monitor)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

‘The Cloud’ Challenges Amazon (NY Times)

Why Your Computer is Getting Cheaper but Your Broadband Bill Isn’t (Gigaom)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Owen to Broker Deal - Washington State’s Lieutenant Governor Plans Meeting Friday with Senate Dems, New Majority Coalition (Washington State Wire)

Eyman Readies Washington State I-517, Adding Six Months to Get Signatures (Olympian, WA)

Pacific Council Strikes Last-Minute Deal to Save City (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

GENERAL NEWS

Early Snow Lays Thick Snowpack for Pacific NW Ski Resorts (Associated Press)

Mason County Unemployment Up (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Japan Tsunami’s Floating Debris to Keep Hitting the Pacific Coast This Winter (Gizmodo)

Oak Tree Restaurant & Casino Abruptly Closes - Struggling Business Promises to Reopen (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

DIVERSIONS

Pizza-Flavored Beer - They’re Not Selling Just a Garden Variety Brew

World’s Largest Gluten-Free Pizza Weighs 50,000 Pounds

City Government Busts Old-Timey Soda Fountain for Selling Old-Timey Candy Cigarettes

Southern California Couple Unlawfully Wedded for 48 Years

SONG OF THE DAY

Dean Martin - That's Amore