Friday, August 16, 2013

Sacramento Municipal Utility District Chief Ready to Step down Next Year (Sacramento Business Journal, CA)

Energy News Digest for August 16, 2013

Programming Note: The energy news digest is on the road and incommunicado the next two weeks, following the Snake River and its tributaries as the editor is on vacation beginning August 19. Expect the new season to resume September 3.

While out & about, if some interesting news tidbits float through the window, you may get a chance to sample their tasty goodness on the news digest Twitter feed.

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 August 16, 2013

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Taking Back Power: Tribes Vie for Control of Hydro Dams (Northwest Public Radio)

California Attorney General Announces $750M Refund from Canadian Utility Powerex (Sacramento Bee, CA)

Fraser River Sockeye Test Fishery Scaled Back (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

Climate Research Targets Western Wildfire Smoke (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

Washington State Supreme Court Says Columbia County Ranch Must Fence-In Creek (Northwest Public Radio)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Taking Back Power: Tribes Vie for Control of Hydro Dams
  • Bill Eases Regulations on Hydropower Projects - McMorris Rodgers’ Measure Speeds Up Licensing Process
  • Power Group: Draft Columbia River Treaty Hurts U-S
  • California Attorney General Announces $750M Refund from Canadian Utility Powerex
  • Electricity Industry: JP Morgan & Market Complexity
  • $22 Million Net Loss - Portland General Electric Announces Second Quarter Results
  • Franklin PUD Completes Sale of Revenue Bonds
  • Bonneville Power Administration Names Richard Shaheen VP of Engineering & Technical Services - Former Florida Power & Light Executive
  • Grays Harbor PUD Earns Clean Annual Audit from Washington State Auditor’s Office
  • Columbia River PUD Warns Customers to be Wary of Phone Scam
  • Editorial: Heed Court’s Order on Nuke Waste Delay Tactics
  • Report Says U-S Nuclear Power Plants Vulnerable to 9/11-Style Attacks
  • Appeals Court Blocks Attempt by Vermont to Close a Nuclear Plant
  • Minnesota: One Killed, One Injured While Working on Power Line Construction near New Prague
  • Sierra Club Raises Concerns over Sale of NV Energy
  • Alcoa to Close or Curtail 164,000 Metric Tons of Smelting Capacity
  • Increased Air Conditioning Usage Threatens Global Energy Supply
  • A Rare Glimpse Inside a Magnificent, Abandoned Shrine to Electricity
  • Fraser River Sockeye Test Fishery Scaled Back
  • Chehalis Developer to Pay $250,000 for Clean Water Violations
  • Scatter Creek: Business Decision Drains Salmon Stream of Water
  • California: Judge Orders New Yuba River Biological Opinion
  • Washington State Supreme Court Says Columbia County Ranch Must Fence-In Creek
  • New Law Caps Gold Mining Dredges in Oregon’s Rivers at 850
  • Drought Forces Restrictions on Colorado River Water Releases
  • Chelan County: Local Wind Power Keeps Energy Close to Home
  • Washington State Agricultural Solar Projects to be Funded
  • Secretary Jewell Underscores Importance of Landscape-Level Approach, Mitigation in Meeting Presidents Renewable Energy Goals on Public Lands
  • Japan Solar Energy Soars, But Grid Needs to Catch Up
  • Your iPhone Uses More Energy than a Refrigerator
  • Climate Research Targets Western Wildfire Smoke
  • Enviros Not Happy with California Carbon Offsets
  • Severe Heat Waves Are Expected to Double by 2020
  • White House Solar Panels Being Installed this Week
  • New York: Rochester Man Puts Solar Panels on Home to Show Waste
  • British Columbia: Solar Panels Mean $3 Electricity Bill for Surrey Man
  • Gresham Goes Solar on Some Emergency Vehicles
  • Google Unveils Provo Google Fiber Pricing
  • Comcast Fights Google Fiber in Provo With New Pricing
  • The Surprisingly Large Energy Footprint of the Digital Economy
  • Editorial: Dave Sabey - Big Ideas & Big Data Go Hand In Hand
  • CBS Blackout on Time Warner Cable May Last Until NFL Season
  • Why Dayparting Must Be Part of Your Mobile Strategy
  • Facebook is a Bummer, Study Says
  • How Ant Colonies Foreshadow the Future of Facebook
  • Idaho Congressman Labrador to Seek Third Term, Not Run for Governor
  • Paid Washington State Signature Gatherer Accused of Faking Names
  • Washington State is at “High Risk” of Losing Federal Education Waiver
  • Washington State’s Unemployment Rate Ticks Up in July, While Jobs Continue to Climb
  • Radical Environmentalist Rebecca Rubin Will Plead Guilty in Portland in October
  • Silverdale Man Believed to be Under the Influence Causes Belfair Crash
  • HHS Watchdog Says Rural Hospital Program Needs a Trim

WORD OF THE DAY

Moue • \moo\ • Noun - A little grimace: pout.

Moue, a nervous tic
“Seasons in the Sun,” I cringe
Terry Jacks, oh no!

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Taking Back Power: Tribes Vie for Control of Hydro Dams (Northwest Public Radio)

Bill Eases Regulations on Hydropower Projects - McMorris Rodgers’ Measure Speeds Up Licensing Process (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Power Group: Draft Columbia River Treaty Hurts U-S (Electric Co-op Today)

California Attorney General Announces $750M Refund from Canadian Utility Powerex (Sacramento Bee, CA)

Electricity Industry: JP Morgan & Market Complexity (The Energy Collective)

$22 Million Net Loss - Portland General Electric Announces Second Quarter Results (BusinessWire)

Franklin PUD Completes Sale of Revenue Bonds (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Bonneville Power Administration Names Richard Shaheen VP of Engineering & Technical Services - Former Florida Power & Light Executive (Bonneville Power Administration)

Grays Harbor PUD Earns Clean Annual Audit from Washington State Auditor’s Office (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

Columbia River PUD Warns Customers to be Wary of Phone Scam (St Helens Chronicle, OR)

Editorial: Heed Court’s Order on Nuke Waste Delay Tactics (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Report Says U-S Nuclear Power Plants Vulnerable to 9/11-Style Attacks (Reuters)

Appeals Court Blocks Attempt by Vermont to Close a Nuclear Plant (NY Times)

Minnesota: One Killed, One Injured While Working on Power Line Construction near New Prague (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, MN)

Sierra Club Raises Concerns over Sale of NV Energy (Individula.com)

Alcoa to Close or Curtail 164,000 Metric Tons of Smelting Capacity (Pittsburgh Business Times, PA)

Increased Air Conditioning Usage Threatens Global Energy Supply (U-S News & World Report)

A Rare Glimpse Inside a Magnificent, Abandoned Shrine to Electricity (Gizmodo)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Fraser River Sockeye Test Fishery Scaled Back (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

Chehalis Developer to Pay $250,000 for Clean Water Violations (Longview Daily News, WA)

Scatter Creek: Business Decision Drains Salmon Stream of Water (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

California: Judge Orders New Yuba River Biological Opinion (The Appeal-Democrat, Marysville, CA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Washington State Supreme Court Says Columbia County Ranch Must Fence-In Creek (Northwest Public Radio)

New Law Caps Gold Mining Dredges in Oregon’s Rivers at 850 (Northwest Public Radio)

Drought Forces Restrictions on Colorado River Water Releases (National Public Radio)

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Chelan County: Local Wind Power Keeps Energy Close to Home (Northwest Public Radio)

Washington State Agricultural Solar Projects to be Funded (KVEW-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

Secretary Jewell Underscores Importance of Landscape-Level Approach, Mitigation in Meeting Presidents Renewable Energy Goals on Public Lands (Renewables Biz)

Japan Solar Energy Soars, But Grid Needs to Catch Up (National Geographic Magazine)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Your iPhone Uses More Energy than a Refrigerator (The Week)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Climate Research Targets Western Wildfire Smoke (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

Enviros Not Happy with California Carbon Offsets (Associated Press)

Severe Heat Waves Are Expected to Double by 2020 (U-S News & World Report)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

White House Solar Panels Being Installed this Week (Washington Post)

New York: Rochester Man Puts Solar Panels on Home to Show Waste (Rochester Democrat & Chronicle, NY)

British Columbia: Solar Panels Mean $3 Electricity Bill for Surrey Man (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

Gresham Goes Solar on Some Emergency Vehicles (KGW TV, Portland, OR)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Google Unveils Provo Google Fiber Pricing (Broadband Reports)

Comcast Fights Google Fiber in Provo With New Pricing (Broadband Reports)

The Surprisingly Large Energy Footprint of the Digital Economy (TIME Magazine)

Editorial: Dave Sabey - Big Ideas & Big Data Go Hand In Hand (Wenatchee World, WA)

CBS Blackout on Time Warner Cable May Last Until NFL Season (NY Times)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Why Dayparting Must Be Part of Your Mobile Strategy (Mashable)

Facebook is a Bummer, Study Says (Los Angeles Times, CA)

How Ant Colonies Foreshadow the Future of Facebook (Mashable)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Idaho Congressman Labrador to Seek Third Term, Not Run for Governor (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Paid Washington State Signature Gatherer Accused of Faking Names (Everett Herald, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

Washington State is at “High Risk” of Losing Federal Education Waiver (Northwest Public Radio)

Washington State’s Unemployment Rate Ticks Up in July, While Jobs Continue to Climb (Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal, WA)

Radical Environmentalist Rebecca Rubin Will Plead Guilty in Portland in October (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

Silverdale Man Believed to be Under the Influence Causes Belfair Crash (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA - Paywall Advisory)

HHS Watchdog Says Rural Hospital Program Needs a Trim (Washington Post)

DIVERSIONS

Lambrecht Chevrolet Auction is Your Chance to Buy New (And We Mean New) Old Cars

Residents Blow Up Home in Attempt to Make Hash Oil

Chinese Zoo Tries to Pass Off Dog as African Lion

Want a ‘Star Trek’ Tricorder? Your Smart Phone Could Be Getting Close

SONG OF THE DAY

Jigsaw - Sky High

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.

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Energy News Digest for August 15, 2013 - The Hot Shots Edition

The energy news digest will be communing with nature at the first National Park over the next two weeks, enjoying the fine products of Fall River Electric Cooperative. It will return – rested & relaxed – on September 3.

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:

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP STORIES

Washington State Utility Commission Staff: Puget Sound Energy Should Lower - Not Raise – Rates (Seattle Times - Paywall Advisory)

Cowlitz PUD Plan to Increase Residential Rates Draws Sharp Feedback (Longview Daily News, WA)

Some Pacific County PUD Customers Will See Changes Soon (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

Skagit County PUD Approves $10 Million Loan for New Water Tank (Skagit Valley Herald, Mt Vernon, WA)

Oregon: Bonneville Power Administration Removes Transmission Line in Forest Park, a First in Decades (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

Intermittent Nature of Green Power Is Challenge for Utilities (NY Times)

Victim of Fatal Shelton Shooting Identified (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Driest July on Record in Oregon, Washington Not Far Behind (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

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.

Wednesday, August 14, 2013

Energy News Digest for August 14, 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 August 14, 2013

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Appeals Court: Obama Administration Violating Law on Nuclear-Waste Site (Associated Press)
Washington State AG Ferguson, Congressman Hastings Cheered by Court Ruling on Nevada Nuclear Waste Site (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Revised Columbia River Treaty Could Restore Salmon Runs (Globe & Mail, Canada)

Central Ferry-Lower Monumental Transmission Line Project Moves Forward (Bonneville Power Administration)

Homicide Suspect Chased from Shelton Crime Scene, One Injured, One Dead, One in Custody (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Appeals Court: Obama Administration Violating Law on Nuclear-Waste Site
  • Court: Work on Yucca Mountain Must Resume
  • Yucca Mountain Waste Site: Court Orders Nuclear Agency Back to Work
  • Washington State AG Ferguson, Congressman Hastings Cheered by Court Ruling on Nevada Nuclear Waste Site
  • Editorial: NRC Must Finish Work on Yucca Mountain Nuclear-Waste Site
  • Central Ferry-Lower Monumental Transmission Line Project Moves Forward
  • Mason County PUD 3 Commission Report for the August 13 Regular Business Meeting
  • Ten Years after the Blackout, How Has the Power Grid Changed?
  • Complex Networks Make Up U-S Power Grid
  • Blackouts Less Likely Thanks to New Technology
  • Power Play: People, Politics, Electricity, Nuclear Energy
  • Municipal Utility Customers Enjoy Quicker Repairs, Shorter Outages, Florida Municipal Power Agency Report Says
  • San Francisco Fails to Set Rates for Cleanpowersf
  • African Villagers Destroying Electricity Pylons to Make Donkey Carts
  • Revised Columbia River Treaty Could Restore Salmon Runs
  • Helping Fish Find Their Way Up the Clackamas River
  • Returning a Salmon Predator to the Upper Clackamas River
  • Sandy River Dam Built In the 1930s to Help Salmon Will Now Be Removed
  • Tiger Muskie Catch Sets New Idaho Record
  • Judge Blocks Water Gusher in California’s Trinity River
  • Water Advisory Lifted for Clallam Bay, Sekiu
  • Orcas Power & Light Supports Solar Project
  • Wind Industry Wildlife Biologist Fined in Unlawful Eagle Handling
  • Alaska Airlines Ramps Up Its Use of Solar Power
  • Solar, Geothermal Projects Touted at Vegas Summit
  • How Much Land Does it Take to Produce Solar Energy for 1,000 Homes?
  • NREL Releases Free, Open-Source Energy Analysis Tool
  • Report: Redwoods Thriving as Climate Changes
  • Portland Water Commissioner: Energy-Saving ‘Water House’ Was a Mistake
  • Electric Vehicles, Advanced Chargers, & Maximizing the Value of the Pacific Northwest’s Electricity Grid
  • California Billionaire Unveils Futuristic ‘Hyperloop’ Transport
  • These American Balloons Are Powering Google Loon
  • Oh Google. Of Course Email Users Expect Privacy - You Promised It to Them
  • ComEd Becomes Most “Liked” Utility on Facebook
  • Homicide Suspect Chased from Shelton Crime Scene, One Injured, One Dead, One in Custody
  • Wildfire Threatens Two Idaho Mountain Towns; Evacuations Ordered
  • FBI Tapes Indicate Serial Killer Had Victims in Washington State
  • Opportunistic Burglars Ransacking Empty Kitsap County Homes
  • Oregon-Led Columbia River Crossing Ups Risks for State Taxpayers, Still Includes Light Rail

WORD OF THE DAY

Impetus • \IMP-puh-tus\ • Noun - 1a: a driving force: impulse b: incentive, stimulus c: stimulation or encouragement resulting in increased activity 2: the property possessed by a moving body in virtue of its mass & its motion; used of bodies moving suddenly or violently to indicate the origin & intensity of the motion

Whether it was the impetus or not, the stubborn Scot called on all his mighty thews to pull his sled of stones over the obstacle course…his ultimate prize: a year’s worth of free food from Hiram’s Haggis Hut on South Second Street.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Appeals Court: Obama Administration Violating Law on Nuclear-Waste Site (Associated Press)

Court: Work on Yucca Mountain Must Resume (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Yucca Mountain Waste Site: Court Orders Nuclear Agency Back to Work (Christian Science Monitor)

Washington State AG Ferguson, Congressman Hastings Cheered by Court Ruling on Nevada Nuclear Waste Site (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Editorial: NRC Must Finish Work on Yucca Mountain Nuclear-Waste Site (Seattle Times - Paywall Advisory)

Central Ferry-Lower Monumental Transmission Line Project Moves Forward (Bonneville Power Administration)

Mason County PUD 3 Commission Report for the August 13 Regular Business Meeting (Mason County PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

Ten Years after the Blackout, How Has the Power Grid Changed? (National Public Radio)

Complex Networks Make Up U-S Power Grid (National Public Radio)

Blackouts Less Likely Thanks to New Technology (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Power Play: People, Politics, Electricity, Nuclear Energy (The Energy Collective)

Municipal Utility Customers Enjoy Quicker Repairs, Shorter Outages, Florida Municipal Power Agency Report Says (American Public Power Association)

San Francisco Fails to Set Rates for Cleanpowersf (SF Chronicle, CA)

African Villagers Destroying Electricity Pylons to Make Donkey Carts (Individual.com)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Revised Columbia River Treaty Could Restore Salmon Runs (Globe & Mail, Canada)

Helping Fish Find Their Way Up the Clackamas River (Oregon Public Radio)

Returning a Salmon Predator to the Upper Clackamas River (Oregon Public Radio)

Sandy River Dam Built In the 1930s to Help Salmon Will Now Be Removed (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

Tiger Muskie Catch Sets New Idaho Record (Northwest Cable News Network)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Judge Blocks Water Gusher in California’s Trinity River (Courthouse News Service)

Water Advisory Lifted for Clallam Bay, Sekiu (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Orcas Power & Light Supports Solar Project (Island Sounder, Eastsound, WA)

Wind Industry Wildlife Biologist Fined in Unlawful Eagle Handling (KCET-TV, Los Angeles, CA)

Alaska Airlines Ramps Up Its Use of Solar Power (Los Angeles Times, CA)

Solar, Geothermal Projects Touted at Vegas Summit (Associated Press)

How Much Land Does it Take to Produce Solar Energy for 1,000 Homes? (Sustainable Business)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

NREL Releases Free, Open-Source Energy Analysis Tool (GCN)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Report: Redwoods Thriving as Climate Changes (Petaluma 360, CA)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Portland Water Commissioner: Energy-Saving ‘Water House’ Was a Mistake (KGW TV, Portland, OR)

Electric Vehicles, Advanced Chargers, & Maximizing the Value of the Pacific Northwest’s Electricity Grid (GTH Energy & Natural Resources Law Blog)

California Billionaire Unveils Futuristic ‘Hyperloop’ Transport (Reuters)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

These American Balloons Are Powering Google Loon (GigaOM)

Oh Google. Of Course Email Users Expect Privacy - You Promised It to Them (GigaOM)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

ComEd Becomes Most “Liked” Utility on Facebook (Electric Energy Online – Ed. Note: to put their story into context, ComEd’s 50,000 likes represent 1.32% of its customers. Selected PNW Publics: Mason PUD 3, 8.4% - Mason County PUD 1, 5% - Clark Public Utilities, 3.4%)

GENERAL NEWS

Homicide Suspect Chased from Shelton Crime Scene, One Injured, One Dead, One in Custody (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

Wildfire Threatens Two Idaho Mountain Towns; Evacuations Ordered (Reuters)

FBI Tapes Indicate Serial Killer Had Victims in Washington State (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Opportunistic Burglars Ransacking Empty Kitsap County Homes (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

Oregon-Led Columbia River Crossing Ups Risks for State Taxpayers, Still Includes Light Rail (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

DIVERSIONS

Sending Sand through the Mail Probably Not the Best Idea for Strip Club Promo

Does the World Really Need an Adult-Sized Big Wheel?

Boy Finds Diamond? Vacationing Boy in Arkansas Finds a Five-Carat Diamond

Goats Gone Wild! Natural Cleanup at D-C’S Congressional Cemetery – Just Watch Your Step

SONG OF THE DAY

Pink Floyd - Shine On You Crazy Diamond (full version)

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.