Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Energy News Digest for July 31, 2013

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THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for July 31, 2013

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Washington DNR Bans All Outdoor Burning on State Lands (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Oregon: Idaho Man Electrocuted, Dies in Curry County (Associated Press)

California Officials Say They 'Got Every Penny' They Demanded from JP Morgan for Manipulative Energy Trades (San Luis Obispo Tribune, CA)

Bonneville Power Administration Project Receives Innovation Award for New Occupancy Sensors (Bonneville Power Administration)

Coming to a Starbucks near You: Faster Internet, Thanks to Google (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Oregon: Idaho Man Electrocuted, Dies in Curry County
  • California Officials Say They 'Got Every Penny' They Demanded from JP Morgan for Manipulative Energy Trades
  • Bait-And-Switch Electricity Trading Detailed in JP Morgan Chase Settlement
  • Editorial: FERC Lets JP Morgan Walk
  • California: Driver to Face Trial in Electrocution Deaths of Good Samaritans
  • Truck Pulls Down Power Poles in NW Portland; No One Hurt
  • Portland: Spectacular 'Domino Effect' of Power Lines in Pearl District
  • Power Affected Following Woman’s Hit-And-Run
  • Study on Combining Hanford, Commercial Waste under Way
  • Pacific Gas & Electric CEO Acknowledges Utility's Guilt in San Bruno Blast but Balks at Proposed Penalty
  • Cost of Closing San Onofre Nuclear Plant: $13.6 Billion
  • Colorado: Feds Deny Boulder’s Request to Limit Cost of Divorce from Xcel Energy
  • Arizona Business Groups, Others Backing APS in Deregulation Fight
  • Southern Company Taking $450 Million Charge for Mississippi Power Plant
  • Decision on Water Release to Avoid Klamath River Fish Kill Due
  • Idaho: Bonneville Power Administration Seeks Comments on Clark Fork Delta’s Restoration
  • Avista Celebrates 30 Years of Biomass at Kettle Falls
  • Sultan Wins Three Awards & a Snohomish PUD Solar Panel Grant
  • Trade Fight Over Solar Benefits a Bystander
  • State Wind-Power Efforts Need a Boost in Construction of Electric Power Lines
  • Bonneville Power Administration Project Receives Innovation Award for New Occupancy Sensors
  • California’s Energy Conservation Claims Questioned
  • Could Utilities’ Future be Selling Light Instead of Electrons?
  • British Columbia's Carbon Tax after Five Years
  • This Film Could Turn Your Smartphone into a Solar Panel
  • Coming to a Starbucks near You: Faster Internet, Thanks to Google
  • Starbucks Will Get Speedier, Google-Powered Free Wi-Fi
  • Now That It’s in the Broadband Game, Google Flip-Flops on Network Neutrality
  • Port of Vancouver Runs Afoul of Meetings Law
  • Washington DNR Bans All Outdoor Burning on State Lands
  • Pacific Northwest Now a Top Priority for Firefighters
  • Winds Push Colockum Fire to 60,000 Acres
  • Emergency Declared in Kittitas County Due to Wildfire
  • First Rain in More Than a Month?
  • Mason County Firefighters Fighting Eastern Washington Fire
  • Alleged Copper-Wire Thieves in Custody

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Oregon: Idaho Man Electrocuted, Dies in Curry County (Associated Press)

California Officials Say They 'Got Every Penny' They Demanded from JP Morgan for Manipulative Energy Trades (San Luis Obispo Tribune, CA)

Bait-And-Switch Electricity Trading Detailed in JP Morgan Chase Settlement (Sacramento Bee, CA)

Editorial: FERC Lets JP Morgan Walk (Los Angeles Times, CA)

California: Driver to Face Trial in Electrocution Deaths of Good Samaritans (Associated Press)

Truck Pulls Down Power Poles in NW Portland; No One Hurt (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

Portland: Spectacular 'Domino Effect' of Power Lines in Pearl District (Oregonian, Portland)

Power Affected Following Woman’s Hit-And-Run (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

Study on Combining Hanford, Commercial Waste under Way (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Pacific Gas & Electric CEO Acknowledges Utility's Guilt in San Bruno Blast but Balks at Proposed Penalty (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

Cost of Closing San Onofre Nuclear Plant: $13.6 Billion (The Energy Collective)

Colorado: Feds Deny Boulder’s Request to Limit Cost of Divorce from Xcel Energy (Denver Buisness Journal, CO)

Arizona Business Groups, Others Backing APS in Deregulation Fight (Phoenix Business Journal, AZ)

Southern Company Taking $450 Million Charge for Mississippi Power Plant (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Decision on Water Release to Avoid Klamath River Fish Kill Due (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Idaho: Bonneville Power Administration Seeks Comments on Clark Fork Delta’s Restoration (Bonner County Daily Bee, ID)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Avista Celebrates 30 Years of Biomass at Kettle Falls (4-Traders)

Sultan Wins Three Awards & a Snohomish PUD Solar Panel Grant (Monroe Monitor, WA)

Trade Fight Over Solar Benefits a Bystander (NY Times)

State Wind-Power Efforts Need a Boost in Construction of Electric Power Lines (Washington Post)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Bonneville Power Administration Project Receives Innovation Award for New Occupancy Sensors (Bonneville Power Administration)

California’s Energy Conservation Claims Questioned (Santa Maria Times, CA)

Could Utilities’ Future be Selling Light Instead of Electrons? (Midwest Energy News)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

British Columbia's Carbon Tax after Five Years (The Energy Collective)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

This Film Could Turn Your Smartphone into a Solar Panel (Mashable)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Coming to a Starbucks near You: Faster Internet, Thanks to Google (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

Starbucks Will Get Speedier, Google-Powered Free Wi-Fi (GigaOM)

Now That It’s in the Broadband Game, Google Flip-Flops on Network Neutrality (Wired)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Port of Vancouver Runs Afoul of Meetings Law - Commissioners apparently committed violations when they met in private on oil terminal lease (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

Washington DNR Bans All Outdoor Burning on State Lands (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Pacific Northwest Now a Top Priority for Firefighters (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Winds Push Colockum Fire to 60,000 Acres (Wenatchee World, WA)

Emergency Declared in Kittitas County Due to Wildfire (Northwest Cable News Network)

First Rain in More Than a Month? (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

Mason County Firefighters Fighting Eastern Washington Fire (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Alleged Copper-Wire Thieves in Custody (Seattle Times – Paywall Advisory)

DIVERSIONS

The Entire Premise of Jurassic Park Is Wrong Because of Mosquitoes

Package-Chucking FedEx Workers Caught on Viral Video Fired

Cat Survives Freighter Trip from Philippines to L-A

Washington near Bottom of Barrel in Beer Consumption

SONG OF THE DAY

Al Stewart - Year of the Cat

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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.


Note that as some newspapers migrate to a “paywall” system of access, some articles may not be available without forking over some cold hard credit card cash. However, some sites will allow a certain number of story accesses per month before holding out their hand. Sorry if this is an inconvenience.

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Energy News Digest for July 30, 2013

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST TWITTER FEED

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for July 30, 2013

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

JP Morgan to Pay $410 Million to Settle Power Market Case (Reuters)

Congress to Hold Hearings Thursday on Hiring & Discrimination Allegations at Bonneville Power Administration (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

Pacific Northwest Wildfires Cover More Than 125,000 Acres (Northwest Cable News Network)

Idaho Governor Butch Otter Tepid on School Wi-Fi Deal (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

The Alaskan Village Set to Disappear Underwater in a Decade (British Broadcasting Corporation)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • JP Morgan to Pay $410 Million to Settle Power Market Case
  • JP Morgan Pays $410 Million in Energy Manipulation Case
  • FERC, JP Morgan Unit Agree to $410 Million in Penalties, Disgorgement to Ratepayers
  • California Officials Call JP Morgan Settlement 'Vindication' for Electricity Charges
  • Feds Describe How JP Morgan Chase Allegedly Gamed California Power Market
  • Congress to Hold Hearings Thursday on Hiring & Discrimination Allegations at Bonneville Power Administration
  • Pacific Northwest Could Be Ground Zero in Fight over FERC Order No. 1000 Authority
  • City of Richland Taking Over Hanford 300 Area Electrical Service
  • Boulder City Council Votes to Start Process for Acquiring Local Poles, Wires from Xcel Energy
  • Jurisdictional Jostling: Hearing Begins on Tri-State’s Electricity Rates
  • New York Power Authority Grants Low-Cost Power to Three Local Firms
  • EIA Projects 56% Increase by 2040
  • United Kingdom - Delay Smart Meter Rollout Rather Than Dumb It Down, Say Ministers of Parliament
  • Energy Facts: Map of U-S Electricity Consumption in 1921
  • Efforts to Cool Water at Lower Granite, Plus Trap/Haul, Have Snake River Sockeye Moving Again
  • Editorial: Saving Salmon is a Complex Prospect
  • Thurston County Gopher Situation Frustrating for Some
  • Why a Dam in Afghanistan Might Set Back Peace
  • British Columbia: Harmac's $45-Million Electrical Generation Plant Expected to Soon Connect to Hydro Grid
  • BP Calls Off Sale of U-S Wind Business
  • Clean Energy Clash: Solar Advocates & Conservationists Butt Heads
  • Net Metering Key to Arizona, Other States’ Solar Growth
  • Geothermal Heat Pump Market to Triple by 2020
  • The Alaskan Village Set to Disappear Underwater in a Decade
  • Climate Study Predicts a Watery Future for New York, Boston & Miami
  • Texas: General Manager Says Carbon Rules Could Shutter His Co-op
  • Urban Sustainability Accelerator Shares Portland's Green Expertise with Cities around the Country
  • Infographic - How Green is My State
  • Busy Beavers Building Natural Carbon Storage
  • Idaho Governor Butch Otter Tepid on School Wi-Fi Deal
  • Survey Ranks Utah Tops in West for Broadband Internet Speeds
  • CenturyLink Appeals Portland Tax on Landline Phones
  • California: Hayward Could Get High-Speed Fiber-Optic Network
  • AT&T’s Latest Home Broadband Service Isn’t DSL or Fiber. It’s LTE
  • New Washington State Social Media Law in Effect
  • FEMA App Adds Crowdsourcing for Disaster Relief
  • Washington State Republican Chairman Resigns for D-C Job
  • U-S Rep. Herrera Beutler's Baby First to Survive Potter's Syndrome
  • Department Of Ecology: Washington State Audit Finds $14,000 in Fraudulent Purchases
  • Pacific Northwest Wildfires Cover More Than 125,000 Acres
  • Interactive Map of Northwest Wildfires
  • Seattle Woman Drowns at Lake Nahwatzel near Shelton
  • Storm Knocks Out Power on Several Hawaiian Islands
  • Poor Translations Used by Washington State’s Health Care Exchange

WORD OF THE DAY

Cineast • \SIN-ee-ast\ • Noun - A devotee of motion pictures; also: moviemaker

Hitchcock; cineaste
Films of suspense, without peer
Don’t blink, you’ll miss it

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

JP Morgan to Pay $410 Million to Settle Power Market Case (Reuters)

JP Morgan Pays $410 Million in Energy Manipulation Case (USA Today)

FERC, JP Morgan Unit Agree to $410 Million in Penalties, Disgorgement to Ratepayers (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)

California Officials Call JP Morgan Settlement 'Vindication' for Electricity Charges (Sacramento Bee, CA)

Feds Describe How JP Morgan Chase Allegedly Gamed California Power Market (Sacramento Bee, CA)

Congress to Hold Hearings Thursday on Hiring & Discrimination Allegations at Bonneville Power Administration (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

Pacific Northwest Could Be Ground Zero in Fight over FERC Order No. 1000 Authority (GTH Energy & Natural Resources Law Blog)

City of Richland Taking Over Hanford 300 Area Electrical Service (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Boulder City Council Votes to Start Process for Acquiring Local Poles, Wires from Xcel Energy (American Public Power Association)

Jurisdictional Jostling: Hearing Begins on Tri-State’s Electricity Rates - Co-ops object to policy that doesn’t reward off-peak users (Durango Herald, CO)
http://durangoherald.com/article/20130729/NEWS01/130729472/0/FRONTPAGE/Hearing-begins-on-Tri-State%E2%80%99s-electricity-rates

New York Power Authority Grants Low-Cost Power to Three Local Firms (Buffalo News, NY)

EIA Projects 56% Increase by 2040 (Real Clear Energy)

United Kingdom - Delay Smart Meter Rollout Rather Than Dumb It Down, Say Ministers of Parliament (Utility Week)

Energy Facts: Map of U-S Electricity Consumption in 1921 (The Energy Collective)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Efforts to Cool Water at Lower Granite, Plus Trap/Haul, Have Snake River Sockeye Moving Again (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

Editorial: Saving Salmon is a Complex Prospect (Daily Astorian, OR)

Thurston County Gopher Situation Frustrating for Some (Olympian, WA - Paywall Advisory)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Why a Dam in Afghanistan Might Set Back Peace (Christian Science Monitor)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

British Columbia: Harmac's $45-Million Electrical Generation Plant Expected to Soon Connect to Hydro Grid (Nanaimo Daily News, BC)

BP Calls Off Sale of U-S Wind Business (Renewable Energy World)

Clean Energy Clash: Solar Advocates & Conservationists Butt Heads (Grist Online)

Net Metering Key to Arizona, Other States’ Solar Growth (Phoenix Business Journal, AZ)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Geothermal Heat Pump Market to Triple by 2020 (Renewable Energy World)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

The Alaskan Village Set to Disappear Underwater in a Decade (British Broadcasting Corporation)

Climate Study Predicts a Watery Future for New York, Boston & Miami (The Guardian, UK)

Texas: General Manager Says Carbon Rules Could Shutter His Co-op (Electric Co-op Today)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Urban Sustainability Accelerator Shares Portland's Green Expertise with Cities around the Country (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

Infographic - How Green is My State (MPH Online)

Busy Beavers Building Natural Carbon Storage (Grist Online)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Idaho Governor Butch Otter Tepid on School Wi-Fi Deal (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Survey Ranks Utah Tops in West for Broadband Internet Speeds (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)

CenturyLink Appeals Portland Tax on Landline Phones (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

California: Hayward Could Get High-Speed Fiber-Optic Network (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

AT&T’s Latest Home Broadband Service Isn’t DSL or Fiber. It’s LTE (GigaOM)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

New Washington State Social Media Law in Effect (South Sound Business Examiner)

FEMA App Adds Crowdsourcing for Disaster Relief (Mashable)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Republican Chairman Resigns for D-C Job (Associated Press)

U-S Rep. Herrera Beutler's Baby First to Survive Potter's Syndrome (KGW TV, Portland, OR)

Department Of Ecology: Washington State Audit Finds $14,000 in Fraudulent Purchases (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

GENERAL NEWS

Pacific Northwest Wildfires Cover More Than 125,000 Acres (Northwest Cable News Network)

Interactive Map of Northwest Wildfires (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

Seattle Woman Drowns at Lake Nawatzel near Shelton (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

Storm Knocks Out Power on Several Hawaiian Islands (Seattle Times - Paywall Advisory)

Poor Translations Used by Washington State’s Health Care Exchange (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

DIVERSIONS

Local Mom Looking to Become 'America's Strongest Woman'

Campaign Aims to Show Farm Animals’ Intelligence

Nevada Statehood License Plates Made In Oregon

It's a Bird, It's a Plane, It's ... Swiss 'Jetman'

SONG OF THE DAY

Elton John - Rocket Man

Brian Evans - Rocket Man

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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.


Note that as some newspapers migrate to a “paywall” system of access, some articles may not be available without forking over some cold hard credit card cash. However, some sites will allow a certain number of story accesses per month before holding out their hand. Sorry if this is an inconvenience.

Monday, July 29, 2013

Energy News Digest for July 29, 2013

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST TWITTER FEED

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for July 29, 2013

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

A Canada-US Energy Treaty Faces a Key Decision in 2014 (Platts)

Bonneville Power Administration Rate Increase Effect Varies among Olympic Peninsula Electric Utilities (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

As Fellow Senators Bail, Oregon’s Ron Wyden Revels in His Rapidly Growing Clout (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

Is There a Fix For Global Warming Under Our Feet? (Seattle Times - Paywall Advisory)

SkyFi High on Speedy Internet Delivery (Wenatchee World, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Bonneville Power Administration Rate Increase Effect Varies among Olympic Peninsula Electric Utilities
  • Oregon Trail Electric Co-op to Raise Rates This Fall
  • Idaho - Wildfire North of Gooding Threatens Power to Wood River Valley
  • Editorial - The Wright Man for Chelan PUD
  • In Advance of Bonneville Power Administration Hearings - Statement on Hiring from U-S Department of Energy
  • Washington State Utilities & Transportation Commission Names King as Director
  • Editorial: Gains, Losses Must Balance – Eugene Water & Electric Board may transfer McKenzie area to Lane Electric
  • B-C Hydro Hit with Smart Meter Class-Action Lawsuit
  • Squirrel Knocks Out Power to More Than 7,000 in SE Portland
  • Editorial: Pay, Power & the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
  • Oklahoma - Tree-Trimming More Cost-Efficient Than Underground Conversion, AEP-PSO Says
  • Insurer Warns Solar Storms Could Devastate North American Grid, Cause Huge Damage
  • North Carolina - Teachers Can Apply Now for Electric Cooperative’s Bright Ideas Grants
  • Good News for Seal Pup Feared Starving Near Olympia; the Little Tyke Gets a Meal
  • First Snake River Sockeye of 2013 Returning to Central Idaho’s Sawtooth Valley
  • Skokomish River Opens August 3 for Recreational Salmon Fishing
  • Oregon: Interior Department Extends Chetco River Gold Mining Withdrawal for Five Years
  • Forest Service’s ‘Salmon Cam’ in Alaska Creek Allows World-Wide Viewing of Spawning Sockeye
  • A Canada-US Energy Treaty Faces a Key Decision in 2014
  • PolitiFact Oregon: Are ‘Pet Projects’ to Blame for Portland’s High Water & Sewer Rates?
  • Iowa - Dam Removal Project Would Benefit Many in Delaware County
  • Desert Storm: Battle Brews over Obama Renewable Energy Plan
  • Offshore Wind Just Can’t Gain Traction in the U-S
  • On Rooftops, a Rival for Utilities
  • News Release - Solar Power Helps to Increase Home Value
  • Ten Quick Summer Energy Saving Tips from Thurston Energy
  • Q&A: How to Improve Follow-Through on Energy Audits
  • Is There a Fix For Global Warming Under Our Feet?
  • After Delayed Vote, EPA Gains a Tough Leader to Tackle Climate Change
  • Electric Car Charging Stations Now Open at Cowlitz PUD
  • SkyFi High on Speedy Internet Delivery
  • Amazon Hiring 5,000 in Warehouses to Meet Customer Demand
  • Renewable Energy for the Data Center: Where, When & How?
  • As Fellow Senators Bail, Oregon’s Ron Wyden Revels in His Rapidly Growing Clout
  • Former Washington State Auditor Joins Freedom Foundation
  • Wenatchee-Area Wildfire Forces Evacuation of Homes, Cattle
  • Goldendale Area Wildfire Grows Over the Weekend
  • Hundreds Gather On Columbia River to Protest Fossil Fuel Terminals
  • DNR Releases Draft of Recreation Proposal for Green Mountain & Tahuya State Forests
  • Washington Faces Marijuana Legalization Roadblocks

WORD OF THE DAY

Suffuse • \suff-YOOZ\ • Verb - To spread over or through in the manner of fluid or light: flush, fill

The hatch flew open, its explosive bolts flinging the several-tons slab of gray, pitted metal twenty yards from the shiny, cylindrical spaceship, rolling across the dusty plain. The  interstellar craft lay on the surface of the foreign planet like some spent sockeye salmon on the upper reaches of the Snake River. Its lone occupant cautiously exited the ship, blinking like a naked mole rat at the uncanny yellow light which suffused the landing site with its feeble, oscillating rays. (Take THAT Edgar Rice Burroughs…)

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Bonneville Power Administration Rate Increase Effect Varies among Olympic Peninsula Electric Utilities (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Oregon Trail Electric Co-op to Raise Rates This Fall (LaGrande Observer, OR)

Idaho - Wildfire North of Gooding Threatens Power to Wood River Valley (Twin Falls Times-News, ID)

Editorial - The Wright Man for Chelan PUD (Wenatchee World, WA)

In Advance of Bonneville Power Administration Hearings - Statement on Hiring from U-S Department of Energy (US Dept of Energy)

Washington State Utilities & Transportation Commission Names King as Director (South Sound Business Examiner)

Editorial: Gains, Losses Must Balance – Eugene Water & Electric Board may transfer McKenzie area to Lane Electric (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

B-C Hydro Hit with Smart Meter Class-Action Lawsuit (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

Squirrel Knocks Out Power to More Than 7,000 in SE Portland (KGW TV, Portland, OR)

Editorial: Pay, Power & the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power - There’s more at stake than the city budget’s bottom line in talks over a new labor contract (LA Times, CA)

Oklahoma - Tree-Trimming More Cost-Efficient Than Underground Conversion, AEP-PSO Says (Tulsa World, OK)

Insurer Warns Solar Storms Could Devastate North American Grid, Cause Huge Damage (SNL Financial)

North Carolina - Teachers Can Apply Now for Electric Cooperative’s Bright Ideas Grants (Ansor Record, NC)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Good News for Seal Pup Feared Starving Near Olympia; the Little Tyke Gets a Meal (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

First Snake River Sockeye of 2013 Returning to Central Idaho’s Sawtooth Valley (Colubmia Basin Bulletin)

Skokomish River Opens August 3 for Recreational Salmon Fishing (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Oregon: Interior Department Extends Chetco River Gold Mining Withdrawal for Five Years (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

Forest Service’s ‘Salmon Cam’ in Alaska Creek Allows World-Wide Viewing of Spawning Sockeye (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

A Canada-US Energy Treaty Faces a Key Decision in 2014 (Platts)

PolitiFact Oregon: Are ‘Pet Projects’ to Blame for Portland’s High Water & Sewer Rates? (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

Iowa - Dam Removal Project Would Benefit Many in Delaware County (Cedar Rapids Gazette, IA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Desert Storm: Battle Brews over Obama Renewable Energy Plan (Energy Tribune)

Offshore Wind Just Can’t Gain Traction in the U-S (Sustainable Business)

On Rooftops, a Rival for Utilities (NY Times)

News Release - Solar Power Helps to Increase Home Value (PR Newswire)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Ten Quick Summer Energy Saving Tips from Thurston Energy (Thurston Talks, Olympia, WA)

Q&A: How to Improve Follow-Through on Energy Audits (Midwest Energy News)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Is There a Fix For Global Warming Under Our Feet? (Seattle Times - Paywall Advisory)

After Delayed Vote, EPA Gains a Tough Leader to Tackle Climate Change (NY Times)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Electric Car Charging Stations Now Open at Cowlitz PUD (Longview Daily News, WA)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

SkyFi High on Speedy Internet Delivery (Wenatchee World, WA)

Amazon Hiring 5,000 in Warehouses to Meet Customer Demand (Bloomberg News)

Renewable Energy for the Data Center: Where, When & How? (IT Business Edge)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

As Fellow Senators Bail, Oregon’s Ron Wyden Revels in His Rapidly Growing Clout (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

Former Washington State Auditor Joins Freedom Foundation (Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

Wenatchee-Area Wildfire Forces Evacuation of Homes, Cattle (Wenatchee World, WA)

Goldendale Area Wildfire Grows Over the Weekend (Northwest Public Radio)

Hundreds Gather On Columbia River to Protest Fossil Fuel Terminals (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

DNR Releases Draft of Recreation Proposal for Green Mountain & Tahuya State Forests (Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal, WA)

Washington Faces Marijuana Legalization Roadblocks (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

DIVERSIONS

Washington State Soldier Home from War, Dog Given Away

Olympia Man Challenges the Wrong Driver to Race

Mascot Melee: Angry Boeing Worker Punches the Mariner Moose

Ohio Bank Repossess Wrong House; Owner Wants $18,000

SONG OF THE DAY

409 - The Beach Boys

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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.


Note that as some newspapers migrate to a “paywall” system of access, some articles may not be available without forking over some cold hard credit card cash. However, some sites will allow a certain number of story accesses per month before holding out their hand. Sorry if this is an inconvenience.