Thursday, September 19, 2013

Energy News Digest for September 19, 2013

While I communed with fellow Northwest Public Power Association communicators this week, the news digest lounged around the hotel room, scarfing down MoonPies, RC Cola & watching ESPN Classic. It’s back today, a bit more rotund, & slightly sluggish.

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THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for September 19, 2013

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

FERC Commission Nominee Binz Grilled at Confirmation Hearing; Nomination May be in Trouble (American Public Power Association)

Public Weighs in on State Energy Independence Act at Richland Hearing (Bellingham Herald, WA)

Chinook Salmon Break Records in Columbia River (Northwest Cable News Network)

Tribes Pushing For Changes in Columbia River Water Treaty (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Port Angeles Residents Attack Smart-Meter Plan (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • FERC Commission Nominee Binz Grilled at Confirmation Hearing; Nomination May be in Trouble
  • Port Angeles Residents Attack Smart-Meter Plan
  • BC Hydro Outlines Smart Meter Refusal Cost
  • New Review of Bonneville Power Administration’s Hiring Practices Finds Systemic Problems
  • Avista Makes Annual Price Adjustment Requests in Washington
  • Chelan PUD to Build New Substations to Handle Growth
  • Okanogan PUD Working on $61.7 Million Budget for 2014
  • A Different Energy Idea for Site near Roza Dam
  • Janney to Be Consultant to Chelan PUD
  • Water, Power, Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement Costs on the Table
  • Bonneville Power Launches Pilot Project for Transactive Energy
  • Shining Light On History of Electric Service Here
  • Editorial: Time to Expedite Transmission Upgrade
  • Pacific Gas & Electric: Making Things Right in San Bruno
  • Texas Wildfires Prompt Co-op Lawsuit
  • Obama & Reinfeldt: A Hydro-Nuclear Bromance
  • Chinook Salmon Break Records in Columbia River
  • Eastern Washington Anglers Eye More Spring Chinook Salmon
  • 9th Circuit Questions Fish & Wildlife Cost Estimate in Northwest Power Plan
  • Salmon Restoration in American River Worries Some Kayakers, Rafters
  • Tribes Pushing For Changes in Columbia River Water Treaty
  • Op/Ed: We Must Keep Boat Sewage Out of Puget Sound
  • Public Weighs in on State Energy Independence Act at Richland Hearing
  • Oregon Legislators Drill Down on $30 Million in Tax Credits Approved for Shepherds Flat Wind Farm 
  • Selah Could Be Site for Energy Storage Project
  • In-Pipe Turbines to Generate Electricity from Drinking Water for the First Time
  • Kitsap Solar Tour Will Showcase Energy-Efficient Homes& Electric Vehicles
  • Canada: Green Energy Forcing Ratepayers into the Red
  • Wind Turbines May Be Killing Bats by ‘Exploding’ Their Lungs
  • Cities’ Energy Efficiency Scorecard: Seattle is No. 5
  • Senate’s Energy-Efficiency Bill Bogged Down in Unrelated Amendments
  • Obama Climate Change Plan Gets First Airing In Front of House Skeptics
  • New Map Reveals Places Most Vulnerable to Climate Change
  • Are Internet Companies Easy Targets for the Green Movement?
  • The Faster Your Broadband, The Higher Your Income
  • America’s Lackluster Broadband Market
  • Comcast Bumps $300, 305 Mbps Tier to 500 Mbps
  • Video Isn’t Breaking the Internet: The Industry Giants Are
  • Clark County Creates Disaster Social Media Game
  • Court: Facebook “Likes” Are Protected Speech, Shouldn’t Get You Fired from Your Job
  • Does Your Business Need a Full-Time Social Media Team?
  • The Dos & Don’ts of Pitching Journalists on Social Media
  • White House Threatens to Veto Forest Bill
  • Hoodsport Clinic to Join Mason General in 2014
  • Mason County Commission: Financial Conflicts over Belfair Sewer Hookups?
  • ‘Niners Fans Want NFL to Make 12th Man Pipe Down

WORD OF THE DAY

Collegial • \kuh-LEEJ-jull\ • Adjective – 1: Marked by power or authority vested equally in each of a number of colleagues; b: characterized by equal sharing of authority especially by Roman Catholic bishops 2:  marked by camaraderie among colleagues.

Beer, baseball & brats: an explosive combination guaranteed to foster a collegial environment for like-minded fans. Beer, baseball, and souvenir bat night: not so much.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

FERC Commission Nominee Binz Grilled at Confirmation Hearing; Nomination May be in Trouble (American Public Power Association)

Port Angeles Residents Attack Smart-Meter Plan (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

BC Hydro Outlines Smart Meter Refusal Cost (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

New Review of Bonneville Power Administration’s Hiring Practices Finds Systemic Problems (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

Avista Makes Annual Price Adjustment Requests in Washington (MarketWatch)

Chelan PUD to Build New Substations to Handle Growth (Wenatchee World, WA)

Okanogan PUD Working on $61.7 Million Budget for 2014 (Methow Valley News, Twisp, WA)

A Different Energy Idea for Site near Roza Dam (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Janney to Be Consultant to Chelan PUD (Wenatchee World, WA)

Water, Power, Klamath Basin Restoration Agreement Costs on the Table (Klamath Falls Herald & News, OR)

Bonneville Power Launches Pilot Project for Transactive Energy (Greenbiz)

Shining Light On History of Electric Service Here (Teton Valley News, Driggs, ID)


Pacific Gas & Electric: Making Things Right in San Bruno (Forbes Magazine)

Texas Wildfires Prompt Co-op Lawsuit (Electric Co-op Today)

Obama & Reinfeldt: A Hydro-Nuclear Bromance (Forbes Magazine)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Chinook Salmon Break Records in Columbia River (Northwest Cable News Network)

Eastern Washington Anglers Eye More Spring Chinook Salmon (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

9th Circuit Questions Fish & Wildlife Cost Estimate in Northwest Power Plan (Law 360)

Full Opinion of Above Ruling “…we AFFIRM the Plan with respect to NRIC’s “due-consideration” challenge, but REMAND the Plan to the Council for the limited purposes of (1) allowing public notice & comment on the proposed methodology for determining quantifiable environmental costs & benefits, & (2) reconsidering the inclusion in the Plan of a market-price-based estimate of the cost of accommodating fish & wildlife interests…” (Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals – PDF)

Salmon Restoration in American River Worries Some Kayakers, Rafters (Sacramento Bee, CA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Tribes Pushing For Changes in Columbia River Water Treaty (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Op/Ed: We Must Keep Boat Sewage Out of Puget Sound (Seattle Times - Paywall Advisory)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Public Weighs in on State Energy Independence Act at Richland Hearing (Bellingham Herald, WA)

Oregon Legislators Drill Down on $30 Million in Tax Credits Approved for Shepherds Flat Wind Farm (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

Selah Could Be Site for Energy Storage Project (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

In-Pipe Turbines to Generate Electricity from Drinking Water for the First Time (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

Kitsap Solar Tour Will Showcase Energy-Efficient Homes& Electric Vehicles (Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal, WA)

Canada: Green Energy Forcing Ratepayers into the Red (Edmonton Journal, Alberta)

Wind Turbines May Be Killing Bats by ‘Exploding’ Their Lungs (The Telegraph, UK)
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/earth/energy/renewableenergy/10307646/Wind-turbines-may-be-killing-bats-by-exploding-their-lungs.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Cities’ Energy Efficiency Scorecard: Seattle is No. 5 (Seattle Post Intelligencer)

Senate’s Energy-Efficiency Bill Bogged Down in Unrelated Amendments (National Journal)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Obama Climate Change Plan Gets First Airing In Front of House Skeptics (The Guardian, UK)

New Map Reveals Places Most Vulnerable to Climate Change (The Weather Channel)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Are Internet Companies Easy Targets for the Green Movement? (GigaOM)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

The Faster Your Broadband, The Higher Your Income (GigaOM)

America’s Lackluster Broadband Market (National Review)

Comcast Bumps $300, 305 Mbps Tier to 500 Mbps (Broadband Reports)

Video Isn’t Breaking the Internet: The Industry Giants Are (Gigaom)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Clark County Creates Disaster Social Media Game (KGW TV, Portland, OR)

Court: Facebook “Likes” Are Protected Speech, Shouldn’t Get You Fired from Your Job (Consumerist)

Does Your Business Need a Full-Time Social Media Team? (Mashable)

The Dos & Don’ts of Pitching Journalists on Social Media (Mashable)

GENERAL NEWS

White House Threatens to Veto Forest Bill (Northwest Public Radio)

Hoodsport Clinic to Join Mason General in 2014 (South Sound Business Examiner)

Mason County Commission: Financial Conflicts over Belfair Sewer Hookups? (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

‘Niners Fans Want NFL to Make 12th Man Pipe Down (Northwest Cable News Network)

DIVERSIONS

Hopkins Dairy Queen Manager’s Act of Kindness Goes Viral

Estranged Couple Squares Off Over $16K Engagement Ring

Oregon: How Much Do We Love Beer? About $31M Worth

Snoop Dogg Wins a Pound of Pot on Boxing Match, Brags on Instagram

SONG OF THE DAY

Glen Campbell - Try a Little Kindness

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.