Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Energy News Digest for February 13, 2013



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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

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

THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD (JUST BECAUSE I CAN)

Energy News Digest word cloud for February 13, 2013

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Wyla Wood, Mason County PUD 3 Manager Announces Retirement (Mason County PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

Janney Announces Departure from Chelan PUD (Wenatchee World, WA)

Washington State PDC to Investigate Allegations against Fired Cowlitz PUD GM (Longview Daily News, WA)

One Killed In Head-On Crash on State Route 3 near Allyn – Photos (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)
A Mason County PUD 3 meter reader was in the area when the accident occurred. He is reported to have put out a fire in one of the vehicles & begin flagging soon after to keep others safe.

New Washington State Senator from Tri-Cities Proposes Changes to Renewable Energy Bill (Tri-City Herald, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

  • Wyla Wood, Mason County PUD 3 Manager Announces Retirement
  • Janney Announces Departure from Chelan PUD
  • Washington State PDC to Investigate Allegations against Fired Cowlitz PUD GM
  • One Killed In Head-On Crash on State Route 3 near Allyn – PUD 3 Meter Reader Assists in Flagging & Fire Suppression
  • Crash Cuts Power, Snarls Traffic in Seattle
  • PUD 3 Commissioners “Throw the Switch” at Reconstructed Mason Substation in Downtown Shelton
  • Editorial - Jefferson County PUD: Down to the Wire
  • J.D. Power & Associates Reports: Overall Business Customer Satisfaction with Electric Utility Companies Declines - Despite Improved Communications
  • U-S Senator Ron Wyden Leads Sharp Debate Over Natural Gas Export
  • Wolf Relocation - ‘It’s a Stupid Bill & It’s a Waste of Our Resources’
  • Juniper Invasion Marring Oregon’s High Desert Habitat
  • Are San Francisco Oysters Wilderness Wreckers or Pollution Solution?
  • Sequim to Filter Treated Wastewater into Ground
  • Bureau of Reclamation Appoints Yakima Manager
  • New Washington State Senator from Tri-Cities Proposes Changes to Renewable Energy Law
  • Too Much Wind Power - PacifiCorp Agrees to Work on Real-Time Energy Imbalance
  • Olympia Likes Lower Heating Bills - Home Energy Action Training Gets You There
  • Home-Heating Energy Sources & Their Costs
  • Alaska House Committee Advances Home Heater Upgrade Bill
  • Five Quick-and-Easy Ways to Winterize Your Home
  • Washington State Governor Inslee: “No Immediate Plans” For a Price on Carbon Emissions
  • Gone With the Wind - Cow Fart Credits
  • The True Cost of Powering an Electric Car - Focus on Low Kilowatt-Hours, Not Cost Per Gallon
  • Could a ‘Solar Tent’ Charge a Parked Car?
  • Crashing the Broadband Party
  • Fitch Revises Kansas City Outlook to Stable, Ratings Affirmed - Touts Google Fiber
  • President Obama’s Order Gives Firms Cyberthreat Information
  • Do Governments Need Personal Social Media Policies?
  • The Elephants of Typography
  • Governor Inslee to Release Washington Jobs Plan
  • Washington State Senate Ends Investigation of Pam Roach
  • Residents Invited To Comment on Belfair Bypass Environmental Impacts
  • Mason County Special Election Results
  • Fire Destroys Barn at Thurston County Fairgrounds
  • Prosecutors: Thieves Took Tons of Steel from Tacoma Storage Yard
  • Former Olympia Tumwater Foundation Director Must Pay $100,000 in Restitution

WORD OF THE DAY

Aegis • \EE-jus\ • Noun - 1: a shield or breastplate 2a: protection b: controlling or conditioning influence 3: auspices, sponsorship b: control or guidance especially by an individual, group, or system

“Under what authority do you disturb the sleep of ‘Darwin the Sleepy’,” drawled the minor noble to the brilliantly-garbed jester. “My authority comes from the King, you knave,” cackled the jester. “ I serve under the aegis of ‘Crabforce the Caffeinated’”

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Wyla Wood, Mason County PUD 3 Manager Announces Retirement (Mason County PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

Janney Announces Departure from Chelan PUD (Wenatchee World, WA)

Washington State PDC to Investigate Allegations against Fired Cowlitz PUD GM (Longview Daily News, WA)

One Killed In Head-On Crash on State Route 3 near Allyn – Photos (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)
A Mason County PUD 3 meter reader was in the area when the accident occurred. He is reported to have put out a fire in one of the vehicles & begin flagging soon after to keep others safe.

Crash Cuts Power, Snarls Traffic in Seattle (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

PUD 3 Commissioners “Throw the Switch” at Reconstructed Mason Substation in Downtown Shelton (Mason County PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

Editorial - Jefferson County PUD: Down to the Wire (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

J.D. Power & Associates Reports: Overall Business Customer Satisfaction with Electric Utility Companies Declines - Despite Improved Communications to Businesses during Power Outages (PR Newswire – Check out the list for Pacific Northwest Utilities’ ratings)

U-S Senator Ron Wyden Leads Sharp Debate Over Natural Gas Export (Northwest Public Radio)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Wolf Relocation - ‘It’s a Stupid Bill & It’s a Waste of Our Resources’ (Associated Press)

Juniper Invasion Marring Oregon’s High Desert Habitat (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

Are San Francisco Oysters Wilderness Wreckers or Pollution Solution?  (Grist Online)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Sequim to Filter Treated Wastewater into Ground (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Bureau of Reclamation Appoints Yakima Manager (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

New Washington State Senator from Tri-Cities Proposes Changes to Renewable Energy Bill (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Too Much Wind Power - PacifiCorp Agrees to Work on Real-Time Energy Imbalance System (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Olympia Likes Lower Heating Bills - Home Energy Action Training Gets You There (Thurston Talk, Olympia, WA)

Home-Heating Energy Sources & Their Costs: How to decide what’s best! (Coast River Business Journal, Astoria, OR)

Alaska House Committee Advances Home Heater Upgrade Bill (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, AK)

Five Quick-and-Easy Ways to Winterize Your Home (U-S News & World Report)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Washington State Governor Inslee: “No Immediate Plans” For a Price on Carbon Emissions (Northwest Public Radio)

Gone with the wind - cow fart credits (News 24, Cape Town, South Africa)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

The True Cost of Powering an Electric Car - Focus on Low Kilowatt-Hours, Not Cost Per Gallon (Edmunds Motor News)

Could a ‘Solar Tent’ Charge a Parked Car? (Christian Science Monitor)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Crashing the Broadband Party (Forbes Magazine)

Fitch Revises Kansas City Outlook to Stable, Ratings Affirmed - Touts Google Fiber (Reuters)

President Obama’s Order Gives Firms Cyberthreat Information (NY Times)


MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Do Governments Need Personal Social Media Policies? (Government Technology)

The Elephants of Typography (Mashable)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Governor Inslee to Release Washington Jobs Plan (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Washington State Senate Ends Investigation of Pam Roach (Associated Press)

GENERAL NEWS

Residents Invited To Comment on Belfair Bypass Environmental Impacts (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Mason County Special Election Results (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Fire Destroys Barn at Thurston County Fairgrounds (Associated Press)

Prosecutors: Thieves Took Tons of Steel from Tacoma Storage Yard (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

Former Olympia Tumwater Foundation Director Must Pay $100,000 in Restitution (Olympian, WA)

DIVERSIONS

Lightning Strikes the Vatican – Literally

Coeur d’Alene Says No to Pigs as Urban Pets

Guppies Use Ugly Friends to Seem More Attractive

My Smelly Valentine: Sewage Treatment Plant Offers Tours

SONG OF THE DAY

Lou Christie - Lightning Strikes

Energy News Digest for February 13, 2013



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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

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

THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD (JUST BECAUSE I CAN)

Energy News Digest word cloud for February 13, 2013

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Wyla Wood, Mason County PUD 3 Manager Announces Retirement (Mason County PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

Janney Announces Departure from Chelan PUD (Wenatchee World, WA)

Washington State PDC to Investigate Allegations against Fired Cowlitz PUD GM (Longview Daily News, WA)

One Killed In Head-On Crash on State Route 3 near Allyn – Photos (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)
A Mason County PUD 3 meter reader was in the area when the accident occurred. He is reported to have put out a fire in one of the vehicles & begin flagging soon after to keep others safe.

New Washington State Senator from Tri-Cities Proposes Changes to Renewable Energy Bill (Tri-City Herald, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

  • Wyla Wood, Mason County PUD 3 Manager Announces Retirement
  • Janney Announces Departure from Chelan PUD
  • Washington State PDC to Investigate Allegations against Fired Cowlitz PUD GM
  • One Killed In Head-On Crash on State Route 3 near Allyn – PUD 3 Meter Reader Assists in Flagging & Fire Suppression
  • Crash Cuts Power, Snarls Traffic in Seattle
  • PUD 3 Commissioners “Throw the Switch” at Reconstructed Mason Substation in Downtown Shelton
  • Editorial - Jefferson County PUD: Down to the Wire
  • J.D. Power & Associates Reports: Overall Business Customer Satisfaction with Electric Utility Companies Declines - Despite Improved Communications
  • U-S Senator Ron Wyden Leads Sharp Debate Over Natural Gas Export
  • Wolf Relocation - ‘It’s a Stupid Bill & It’s a Waste of Our Resources’
  • Juniper Invasion Marring Oregon’s High Desert Habitat
  • Are San Francisco Oysters Wilderness Wreckers or Pollution Solution?
  • Sequim to Filter Treated Wastewater into Ground
  • Bureau of Reclamation Appoints Yakima Manager
  • New Washington State Senator from Tri-Cities Proposes Changes to Renewable Energy Law
  • Too Much Wind Power - PacifiCorp Agrees to Work on Real-Time Energy Imbalance
  • Olympia Likes Lower Heating Bills - Home Energy Action Training Gets You There
  • Home-Heating Energy Sources & Their Costs
  • Alaska House Committee Advances Home Heater Upgrade Bill
  • Five Quick-and-Easy Ways to Winterize Your Home
  • Washington State Governor Inslee: “No Immediate Plans” For a Price on Carbon Emissions
  • Gone With the Wind - Cow Fart Credits
  • The True Cost of Powering an Electric Car - Focus on Low Kilowatt-Hours, Not Cost Per Gallon
  • Could a ‘Solar Tent’ Charge a Parked Car?
  • Crashing the Broadband Party
  • Fitch Revises Kansas City Outlook to Stable, Ratings Affirmed - Touts Google Fiber
  • President Obama’s Order Gives Firms Cyberthreat Information
  • Do Governments Need Personal Social Media Policies?
  • The Elephants of Typography
  • Governor Inslee to Release Washington Jobs Plan
  • Washington State Senate Ends Investigation of Pam Roach
  • Residents Invited To Comment on Belfair Bypass Environmental Impacts
  • Mason County Special Election Results
  • Fire Destroys Barn at Thurston County Fairgrounds
  • Prosecutors: Thieves Took Tons of Steel from Tacoma Storage Yard
  • Former Olympia Tumwater Foundation Director Must Pay $100,000 in Restitution

WORD OF THE DAY

Aegis • \EE-jus\ • Noun - 1: a shield or breastplate 2a: protection b: controlling or conditioning influence 3: auspices, sponsorship b: control or guidance especially by an individual, group, or system

“Under what authority do you disturb the sleep of ‘Darwin the Sleepy’,” drawled the minor noble to the brilliantly-garbed jester. “My authority comes from the King, you knave,” cackled the jester. “ I serve under the aegis of ‘Crabforce the Caffeinated’”

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Wyla Wood, Mason County PUD 3 Manager Announces Retirement (Mason County PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

Janney Announces Departure from Chelan PUD (Wenatchee World, WA)

Washington State PDC to Investigate Allegations against Fired Cowlitz PUD GM (Longview Daily News, WA)

One Killed In Head-On Crash on State Route 3 near Allyn – Photos (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)
A Mason County PUD 3 meter reader was in the area when the accident occurred. He is reported to have put out a fire in one of the vehicles & begin flagging soon after to keep others safe.

Crash Cuts Power, Snarls Traffic in Seattle (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

PUD 3 Commissioners “Throw the Switch” at Reconstructed Mason Substation in Downtown Shelton (Mason County PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

Editorial - Jefferson County PUD: Down to the Wire (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

J.D. Power & Associates Reports: Overall Business Customer Satisfaction with Electric Utility Companies Declines - Despite Improved Communications to Businesses during Power Outages (PR Newswire – Check out the list for Pacific Northwest Utilities’ ratings)

U-S Senator Ron Wyden Leads Sharp Debate Over Natural Gas Export (Northwest Public Radio)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Wolf Relocation - ‘It’s a Stupid Bill & It’s a Waste of Our Resources’ (Associated Press)

Juniper Invasion Marring Oregon’s High Desert Habitat (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

Are San Francisco Oysters Wilderness Wreckers or Pollution Solution?  (Grist Online)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Sequim to Filter Treated Wastewater into Ground (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Bureau of Reclamation Appoints Yakima Manager (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

New Washington State Senator from Tri-Cities Proposes Changes to Renewable Energy Bill (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Too Much Wind Power - PacifiCorp Agrees to Work on Real-Time Energy Imbalance System (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Olympia Likes Lower Heating Bills - Home Energy Action Training Gets You There (Thurston Talk, Olympia, WA)

Home-Heating Energy Sources & Their Costs: How to decide what’s best! (Coast River Business Journal, Astoria, OR)

Alaska House Committee Advances Home Heater Upgrade Bill (Fairbanks Daily News-Miner, AK)

Five Quick-and-Easy Ways to Winterize Your Home (U-S News & World Report)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Washington State Governor Inslee: “No Immediate Plans” For a Price on Carbon Emissions (Northwest Public Radio)

Gone with the wind - cow fart credits (News 24, Cape Town, South Africa)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

The True Cost of Powering an Electric Car - Focus on Low Kilowatt-Hours, Not Cost Per Gallon (Edmunds Motor News)

Could a ‘Solar Tent’ Charge a Parked Car? (Christian Science Monitor)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Crashing the Broadband Party (Forbes Magazine)

Fitch Revises Kansas City Outlook to Stable, Ratings Affirmed - Touts Google Fiber (Reuters)

President Obama’s Order Gives Firms Cyberthreat Information (NY Times)


MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Do Governments Need Personal Social Media Policies? (Government Technology)

The Elephants of Typography (Mashable)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Governor Inslee to Release Washington Jobs Plan (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Washington State Senate Ends Investigation of Pam Roach (Associated Press)

GENERAL NEWS

Residents Invited To Comment on Belfair Bypass Environmental Impacts (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

Mason County Special Election Results (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Fire Destroys Barn at Thurston County Fairgrounds (Associated Press)

Prosecutors: Thieves Took Tons of Steel from Tacoma Storage Yard (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

Former Olympia Tumwater Foundation Director Must Pay $100,000 in Restitution (Olympian, WA)

DIVERSIONS

Lightning Strikes the Vatican – Literally

Coeur d’Alene Says No to Pigs as Urban Pets

Guppies Use Ugly Friends to Seem More Attractive

My Smelly Valentine: Sewage Treatment Plant Offers Tours

SONG OF THE DAY

Lou Christie - Lightning Strikes