Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Energy News Digest for December 30, 2014

The Energy News Digest will be out of circulation December 31, cogitating on the end of 2014 and considering the promise of 2015 and its attendant football feast. Have a wonderful New Year’s celebration.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for December 30, 2014

COLD! Area Forecast Discussion

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 FIVE STORIES

Temperatures Plunge in Western Washington State (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Vermont’s Sole Nuclear Power Plant Ends Operations - Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant ends operations after 42 years of producing electricity (Associated Press)

Up in Smoke: WA Pot Firms Say Their Profits Are Getting Burned Down by Tax Bills (Crosscut Seattle)

Alaska: Commercial Fishing Threatens Endangered Sea Lions, Groups Say (Courthouse News Service)

Is Microsoft About to Put Internet Explorer Out of Its Misery? (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  1. Vermont’s Sole Nuclear Power Plant Ends Operations Japan’s Nuclear Jitters Might Spur Exports of U-S Energy
  2. Klickitat PUD’s ‘Audacious’ Pumped Storage Project Starting to Look like a Winner
  3. Western Power Lines Taking Shape
  4. Governor Inslee Names Ann Rendahl to Washington State Utilities & Transportation Commission
  5. Mason PUD 3 Commission Report – December 23, 2014 Business Meeting
  6. Alaska: Commercial Fishing Threatens Endangered Sea Lions, Groups Say
  7. Monarch Butterfly Eyed for Possible U-S Endangered Species Protection
  8. Small Hydro Is Renewable Energy the New Congress Might Just Get Behind
  9. Program That Backed Solyndra Now Showing Successes
  10. How Can Business Owners, Schools & Municipalities Benefit from Community Solar?
  11. Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance’s New Water Heater Promises Big Savings
  12. How Smart Glass Windows Slash Energy Bills
  13. This Lamp’s Very Structure Is Its Light Source, Too
  14. Up in Smoke: WA Pot Firms Say Their Profits Are Getting Burned Down by Tax Bills
  15. Marijuana Grower Hopes to Outlast Early Ups & Downs
  16. Dangerous Hash Oil Labs Expose Holes in Washington State Pot Laws
  17. Alaska Lawyers’ Group Exploring Marijuana Issues
  18. Sacramento Valley’s Powerhouse Rice Crop One Step Closer to Cap & Trade
  19. California Rangeland Loss Could Worsen Climate Change
  20. Poll Finds Support for EPA Low Ahead of Standoff with Congress
  21. Electric Cars Get Big Boost in Germany
  22. Plastic Bag Supporters Petition to Challenge Ban in California
  23. Is Microsoft About to Put Internet Explorer Out of Its Misery?
  24. Want to See Broadband’s Future? Check Out the Airline Industry
  25. Movie Studios Claim That Google Fiber Leads To More Piracy
  26. Sony Hackers ‘Shared’ Stolen Employee Login Data
  27. The Next Big Turning Point in the Net Neutrality Debate
  28. American Workers Say Internet Makes Them More Productive
  29. Twitter Account to Overly Thirsty Brands: Stop Saying the Word ‘Bae’
  30. Turns Out “Bae” Means Something Entirely Different
  31. Facebook Friend Request Nearly Costs Woman Thousands
  32. Harsh TripAdvisor Reviewer’s Anonymity Protected: Oregon Coast Hotel Drops $74,999 Defamation Suit
  33. New Republican-Led Panel Will Focus on Energy & Environment
  34. Temperatures Plunge in Western Washington State
  35. Inland Pacific Northwest Braces for Dangerous Temps
  36. Bodies, Debris from Missing AirAsia Plane Pulled from Sea Near Indonesia
  37. Body Found In Search for Mount Rainier Snowshoer
  38. Washington State Fines Tenino Fireworks Company for Explosion, Violations
  39. Washington State Governor Proposes Change to Sales Tax Exemption
  40. Copper Wire Thieves Turned Off Coulon Park’s Clam Lights
WORD OF THE DAY

Tempus Fugate • \temp-uss FYOO-jet\ • “Foreign Term” - Latin - Time flies

Days flew by this year
Tempus Fugate, won’t come back
Find treasure each day

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Vermont’s Sole Nuclear Power Plant Ends Operations - Vermont Yankee nuclear power plant ends operations after 42 years of producing electricity (Associated Press)

Japan’s Nuclear Jitters Might Spur Exports of U-S Energy (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Klickitat PUD’s ‘Audacious’ Pumped Storage Project Starting to Look like a Winner (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Western Power Lines Taking Shape (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

Governor Inslee Names Ann Rendahl to Washington State Utilities & Transportation Commission (Washington State Governor)

Mason PUD 3 Commission Report – December 23, 2014 Business Meeting (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Alaska: Commercial Fishing Threatens Endangered Sea Lions, Groups Say (Courthouse News Service)

Monarch Butterfly Eyed for Possible U-S Endangered Species Protection (Reuters)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Small Hydro Is Renewable Energy the New Congress Might Just Get Behind (KUNC Radio, Greeley, CO)

Program That Backed Solyndra Now Showing Successes (Associated Press)

How Can Business Owners, Schools & Municipalities Benefit from Community Solar? (Renewable Energy World)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance’s New Water Heater Promises Big Savings (Portland Business Journal, OR)

How Smart Glass Windows Slash Energy Bills (SF Chronicle, CA)

This Lamp’s Very Structure Is Its Light Source, Too (Gizmodo)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Up in Smoke: WA Pot Firms Say Their Profits Are Getting Burned Down by Tax Bills (Crosscut Seattle)

Marijuana Grower Hopes to Outlast Early Ups & Downs (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

Dangerous Hash Oil Labs Expose Holes in Washington State Pot Laws (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

Alaska Lawyers’ Group Exploring Marijuana Issues (Marijuana Business Daily)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Sacramento Valley’s Powerhouse Rice Crop One Step Closer to Cap & Trade (Sacramento Bee, CA)

California Rangeland Loss Could Worsen Climate Change (Sacramento Bee, CA)

Poll Finds Support for EPA Low Ahead of Standoff with Congress (Utility Dive)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Electric Cars Get Big Boost in Germany (Christian Science Monitor)

Plastic Bag Supporters Petition to Challenge Ban in California (Consumerist)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Is Microsoft About to Put Internet Explorer Out of Its Misery? (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

Want to See Broadband’s Future? Check Out the Airline Industry (GigaOM)

Movie Studios Claim That Google Fiber Leads To More Piracy (Consumerist)

Sony Hackers ‘Shared’ Stolen Employee Login Data (British Broadcasting Corporation)

The Next Big Turning Point in the Net Neutrality Debate (Washington Post)

American Workers Say Internet Makes Them More Productive (NY Times)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Twitter Account to Overly Thirsty Brands: Stop Saying the Word ‘Bae’ (TIME Magazine)

Turns Out “Bae” Means Something Entirely Different (Refinery 29)

Facebook Friend Request Nearly Costs Woman Thousands (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

Harsh TripAdvisor Reviewer’s Anonymity Protected: Oregon Coast Hotel Drops $74,999 Defamation Suit (Oregonian, Portland)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

New Republican-Led Panel Will Focus on Energy & Environment “…watch over the Environmental Protection Agency, as well as the departments of agriculture, energy & interior…” (Washington Post)

GENERAL NEWS

Temperatures Plunge in Western Washington State (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Inland Pacific Northwest Braces for Dangerous Temps (KXLY-TV, Spokane, WA)

Bodies, Debris from Missing AirAsia Plane Pulled from Sea Near Indonesia (Reuters)

Body Found In Search for Mount Rainier Snowshoer (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Washington State Fines Tenino Fireworks Company for Explosion, Violations (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

Washington State Governor Proposes Change to Sales Tax Exemption (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Copper Wire Thieves Turned Off Coulon Park’s Clam Lights (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

DIVERSIONS

So You Call Yourself an Oregon Ducks Football Fan? Take Our Quiz (Using the scientific method of guessing I got a score of 50%)

No Kidding, Jack Daniels Names Son Jim Beam…

Our Windowless Megachurches Are Killing the Stained Glass Industry

A Baltimore Truck Driver Has Won the Maryland Lottery for a Second Time

SONG OF THE DAY

Willie Nelson & Asleep at the Wheel - Whiskey River

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, December 29, 2014

Energy News Digest for December 29, 2014

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for December 29, 2014

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 FIVE STORIES

Report: Washington State Carbon Emissions Dropped in 2011 (Associated Press)

EPA Wrestles with Role of Nuclear Plants in Carbon Emission Rules (NY Times)

California: New Pacific Gas & Electric Emails Show More Unethical Dealings with California Regulators (Utility Dive)

Race to Build on the Columbia River Could Block Pacific Oil Route (NY Times)

Editorial: Even Boeing Says Hydropower is Renewable Energy (Tri-City Herald, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  1. California: New Pacific Gas & Electric Emails Show More Unethical Dealings with California Regulators
  2. EPA Wrestles with Role of Nuclear Plants in Carbon Emission Rules
  3. UMass-Dartmouth Report Details Impact of Vermont Yankee Closing
  4. Video: Anonymous Donors Pay Tacoma Family’s Utility Bills
  5. Have Your Cake & Easement, Too
  6. Fish Recovery Plan Paying Off on Yakima River
  7. Kitsap County Proposal for Hood Canal Geoduck Farm Dropped
  8. Geoduck Clam Farming Opportunities Sowing Seeds for a British Columbia Turf War
  9. Race to Build on the Columbia River Could Block Pacific Oil Route
  10. Water Source for Almonds in California May Run Dry
  11. Editorial: Even Boeing Says Hydropower is Renewable Energy
  12. Utility CEOs to Congress: No New Tax Credits for Wind Energy
  13. Germans Balk at Plan for Wind Power Lines
  14. Editorial: No Steam behind Wind Energy Tax Credits
  15. New Mexico: State Solar Industry to Fight PNM’s Proposed Rooftop Fee
  16. Don’t Let the New Gadgets Santa Brought be a Drain on Your Electricity
  17. As the Marijuana Industry Looks to the Legislature, Job Prospects Continue to Expand
  18. Pair Charged in $20,000 Robbery of Snohomish County Medical Marijuana Grower
  19. Pot Pie, Redefined? Chefs Start to Experiment With Cannabis
  20. ‘Free’ Pot Offered by Vancouver Medical Marijuana Dispensary
  21. Report: Washington State Carbon Emissions Dropped in 2011
  22. California Fuel Prices Going Up As Its Greenhouse Gas Controls Hit Gasoline, Diesel Sales
  23. California Carbon Funds Are an Uncertain Benefit for High-Speed Rail
  24. Battle Ground Home Goes Super Green with Geothermal, Solar Energy
  25. Are Google & Gmail Really the Enemy of China?
  26. Xbox Live Goes Offline as Microsoft Gets Caught in the Middle of a Hacker Turf War
  27. Pinterest Cashes in on Success of Promoted Pins, Opening It to All Advertisers
  28. U-S Police Struggle to Uncover Threats on Social Media
  29. Facebook Apologizes for Pain Caused by ‘Year in Review’ Posts
  30. Consumerist End-Of-The-Week Flickr Finds
  31. Cantwell Says She’ll Play Defense as Ranking Democrat on U-S Senate Energy Panel
  32. Energy Policy Seen Ripe for Compromise in GOP Congress
  33. GOP Congress: Five Energy Priorities
  34. AirAsia QZ8501: Indonesia Plane ‘At Bottom of Sea’
  35. Oregon, Washington State Minimum Wage Set for Increase
  36. Lawsuit for Washington State Wildfire Claims Prepared
  37. New $48 Million Thurston County Jail Sits Empty
  38. Unpopular License Plate Law Dies, Drivers Not Entirely Pleased
  39. Seattle, Portland Could Set Records for Warmth in 2014
  40. Man Stabs Co-Worker at Christmas Party, Police Say
WORD OF THE DAY

Desultory • \DEH-sult-tore-ee\ • Adjective - 1: marked by lack of definite plan, regularity, or purpose 2: not connected with the main subject 3: disappointing in progress, performance, or quality.

The local sports announcer was booster, perhaps too enthusiastic. The 3-13 team trotted onto its tattered home field for its last game of the year, another sacrifice to their league opponents (a la the “Washington Generals” of Globetrotters fame) and another expected, desultory performance. “They never gave up, no matter what the score,” pronounced the reporter. But quietly, his inner voice answered “of course not, the rules don’t let you do that until the time runs out at the end of the game.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

California: New Pacific Gas & Electric Emails Show More Unethical Dealings with California Regulators (Utility Dive)

EPA Wrestles with Role of Nuclear Plants in Carbon Emission Rules (NY Times)

UMass-Dartmouth Report Details Impact of Vermont Yankee Closing (VT Digger, Montpelier, VT)

Video: Anonymous Donors Pay Tacoma Family’s Utility Bills (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Have Your Cake & Easement, Too (Electric Co-op Today)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Fish Recovery Plan Paying Off on Yakima River (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Kitsap County Proposal for Hood Canal Geoduck Farm Dropped (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Geoduck Clam Farming Opportunities Sowing Seeds for a British Columbia Turf War (Globe & Mail, Canada)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Race to Build on the Columbia River Could Block Pacific Oil Route (NY Times)

Water Source for Almonds in California May Run Dry (NY Times)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Editorial: Even Boeing Says Hydropower is Renewable Energy (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Utility CEOs to Congress: No New Tax Credits for Wind Energy (Utility Dive)

Germans Balk at Plan for Wind Power Lines (NY Times)

Editorial: No Steam behind Wind Energy Tax Credits (Denver Post, CO)

New Mexico: State Solar Industry to Fight PNM’s Proposed Rooftop Fee (Albuquerque Business First, NM)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Don’t Let the New Gadgets Santa Brought be a Drain on Your Electricity (Consumerist)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

As the Marijuana Industry Looks to the Legislature, Job Prospects Continue to Expand (Olympian - Paywall Advisory)

Pair Charged in $20,000 Robbery of Snohomish County Medical Marijuana Grower (Everett Herald, WA)

Pot Pie, Redefined? Chefs Start to Experiment With Cannabis (NY Times)

‘Free’ Pot Offered by Vancouver Medical Marijuana Dispensary (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Report: Washington State Carbon Emissions Dropped in 2011 (Associated Press)

California Fuel Prices Going Up As Its Greenhouse Gas Controls Hit Gasoline, Diesel Sales (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

California Carbon Funds Are an Uncertain Benefit for High-Speed Rail (Sacramento Bee, CA)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Battle Ground Home Goes Super Green with Geothermal, Solar Energy (Battle Ground Reflector, WA)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Are Google & Gmail Really the Enemy of China? (Christian Science Monitor)

Xbox Live Goes Offline as Microsoft Gets Caught in the Middle of a Hacker Turf War (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Pinterest Cashes in on Success of Promoted Pins, Opening It to All Advertisers (Mashable)

U-S Police Struggle to Uncover Threats on Social Media (Reuters)

Facebook Apologizes for Pain Caused by ‘Year in Review’ Posts (TIME Magazine)

Consumerist End-Of-The-Week Flickr Finds (Consumerist)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Cantwell Says She’ll Play Defense as Ranking Democrat on U-S Senate Energy Panel (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Energy Policy Seen Ripe for Compromise in GOP Congress (Bloomberg News)

GOP Congress: Five Energy Priorities (Christian Science Monitor)

GENERAL NEWS

AirAsia QZ8501: Indonesia Plane ‘At Bottom of Sea’ (British Broadcasting Corporation)

Oregon, Washington State Minimum Wage Set for Increase (Northwest Public Radio)

Lawsuit for Washington State Wildfire Claims Prepared (Associated Press)

New $48 Million Thurston County Jail Sits Empty (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

Unpopular License Plate Law Dies, Drivers Not Entirely Pleased (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

Seattle, Portland Could Set Records for Warmth in 2014 (Northwest Public Radio)

Man Stabs Co-Worker at Christmas Party, Police Say (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

DIVERSIONS

Who Don’t You Want to Live Next To? Survey Says ... Justin Bieber!

Sunnyside Battles Hitchcock-Style Crow Infestation

Camo Returns! The Cat Went Missing After It Was Accidentally Sold with a Mattress

Nevada Goats Help Eat, Recycle Christmas Trees

SONG OF THE DAY

Player - Baby Come Back

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, December 24, 2014

Energy News Digest for December 24, 2014

Merry Christmas from the Energy News Digest. The digest will be away from the intertubewebs December 24 & 25 for the holidays. May you find peace, love and enjoyment in the season.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for December 24, 2014

Coastal Flood Advisory for Puget Sound & Hood Canal

Goodbye Hawaii, Hello Ridge (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

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 FIVE STORIES

Mountain Snow Could Slow Christmas Eve Travel (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Portland LED Specialist Lands another $1 Million in Investments (Portland Business Journal, OR)

British Columbia Premier Christy Clark Defends Peace River Dam as a 100-Year Plan (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

Peace River Dam Approval Leaves Two Northern British Columbia Wind Projects Up in the Air (Business Vancouver, BC)

Portland LED Specialist Lands another $1 Million in Investments (Portland Business Journal, OR)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  1. British Columbia Premier Christy Clark Defends Peace River Dam as a 100-Year Plan
  2. Public Gets Chance to Comment on New Idaho Power Line West
  3. Columbia River PUD Says GM Resigning after Settlement
  4. Commissioner Tom Farmer Takes Oath of Office – Mason PUD 3 Board Elects Officers for 2015
  5. California: Governor Appoints New President & New Commissioner for Embattled PUC
  6. Rhode Island Regulators Approve Steep Electric Rate Increase; Will Phase in 24 Percent over 12 Months
  7. Hacking of South Korean Nuclear Reactors Poses No Danger
  8. If Cyberwar Erupts, America’s Electric Grid is a Prime Target
  9. How Southern Company Generates Electricity
  10. Peace River Dam Approval Leaves Two Northern British Columbia Wind Projects Up in the Air
  11. Renewable Energy Companies Use New Clout in Statehouses
  12. Biomass: Holiday Trees Help Light Co-op Homes
  13. Solar Panel Maintenance Poses Unforeseen Challenge in Developing World Electrification
  14. Portland LED Specialist Lands another $1 Million in Investments
  15. Video: Pot Shops Court Holiday Shoppers
  16. Despite Legalization, Illegal Marijuana Grows Continue on Public Lands
  17. Map: Cities & Counties That Do & Don’t Allow Marijuana Businesses
  18. Climate Change is Melting Mount Rainier’s Glaciers at Unprecedented Rates
  19. Restored Forests Breathe Life into Efforts against Climate Change
  20. Squirrels & Beavers: Meet the Rodents Making Global Warming Worse
  21. How Solar Power & Electric Cars Could Make Suburban Living Awesome Again
  22. North Korea Outage a Case Study in Online Uncertainties
  23. Phone Companies Would Like to Cut Your Landline Cord for You
  24. Cutting the Cord: Happiness Is a Cut Cord, Survey Says
  25. The Switchboard: Google & Microsoft Take Aim at Wi-Fi Blocking Hotel Chains
  26. Facebook Kicks Off NFL Partnership with Ad-Supported Video Clips
  27. Seven Things People Hate about Your Website
  28. Instagram Could Be One of the Best Deals of the Last Decade
  29. Rieder: Clooney Emerges as Hero in Sony Mess
  30. Mountain Snow Could Slow Christmas Eve Travel
  31. Garbage Rates, Rogue Trees - The City of Shelton Report for Dec. 23
  32. The Interview is Coming to YouTube, Google Play, & Xbox Video Today
  33. ‘Nut Rage’: Prosecutors Seek Arrest for Korean Air Executive
  34. Why Our Christmas Music is Still Stuck in the 1950s
WORD OF THE DAY

Fissile • \FISS-sull\ • Adjective - 1: capable of being split or divided in the direction of the grain or along natural planes of cleavage 2: capable of undergoing fission

Doctor Ambrose loved his routine afternoon daydreams. Unlike the whimsical imaginings of “Walter Mitty,” a confusing, fissile relationship between dreaming and reality, Ambrose’s daydreams were whiskery and dark. Think “Wizard of Oz” versus “Sin City.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

British Columbia Premier Christy Clark Defends Peace River Dam as a 100-Year Plan (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

Public Gets Chance to Comment on New Idaho Power Line West (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

Columbia River PUD Says GM Resigning after Settlement (Longview Daily News, WA)

Commissioner Tom Farmer Takes Oath of Office – Mason PUD 3 Board Elects Officers for 2015 (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

California: Governor Appoints New President & New Commissioner for Embattled PUC (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

Rhode Island Regulators Approve Steep Electric Rate Increase; Will Phase in 24 Percent over 12 Months (Associated Press)

Hacking of South Korean Nuclear Reactors Poses No Danger (Forbes Magazine)

If Cyberwar Erupts, America’s Electric Grid is a Prime Target (Christian Science Monitor)

How Southern Company Generates Electricity (Mother Nature Network)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Peace River Dam Approval Leaves Two Northern British Columbia Wind Projects Up in the Air (Business Vancouver, BC)

Renewable Energy Companies Use New Clout in Statehouses (Stateline)

Biomass: Holiday Trees Help Light Co-op Homes (Electric Co-op Today)

Solar Panel Maintenance Poses Unforeseen Challenge in Developing World Electrification (The Energy Collective)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Portland LED Specialist Lands another $1 Million in Investments (Portland Business Journal, OR)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Video: Pot Shops Court Holiday Shoppers (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Despite Legalization, Illegal Marijuana Grows Continue on Public Lands (Northwest Public Radio)

Map: Cities & Counties That Do & Don’t Allow Marijuana Businesses (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Climate Change is Melting Mount Rainier’s Glaciers at Unprecedented Rates (Nature World News)

Restored Forests Breathe Life into Efforts against Climate Change (NY Times)

Squirrels & Beavers: Meet the Rodents Making Global Warming Worse (The Weather Channel)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

How Solar Power & Electric Cars Could Make Suburban Living Awesome Again (Washington Post)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

North Korea Outage a Case Study in Online Uncertainties (Associated Press)

Phone Companies Would Like to Cut Your Landline Cord for You (Chicago Tribune, IL)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/ct-no-more-landlines-1217-biz-20141217-story.html#page=1

Cutting the Cord: Happiness Is a Cut Cord, Survey Says (USA Today)

The Switchboard: Google & Microsoft Take Aim at Wi-Fi Blocking Hotel Chains (Washington Post)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook Kicks Off NFL Partnership with Ad-Supported Video Clips (San Francisco Business Times, CA)

Seven Things People Hate about Your Website (Mashable)

Instagram Could Be One of the Best Deals of the Last Decade (GigaOM)

Rieder: Clooney Emerges as Hero in Sony Mess (USA Today)

GENERAL NEWS

Mountain Snow Could Slow Christmas Eve Travel (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Garbage Rates, Rogue Trees - The City of Shelton Report for Dec. 23 (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

The Interview is Coming to YouTube, Google Play, & Xbox Video Today (Gizmodo)

‘Nut Rage’: Prosecutors Seek Arrest for Korean Air Executive (British Broadcasting Corporation)

Why Our Christmas Music is Still Stuck in the 1950s (Washington Post)

DIVERSIONS

There’s a Blizzard Warning in Effect For ... Hawaii?!

Check to Make Sure That Box Spring You Buy Off Craigslist Doesn’t Come with a Free Cat

The Origin of the Candy Cane

The Very American History of Christmas Lights

SONGS OF THE DAY - From the Ridiculous to the Sublime

Mystery Science Theater 3K/Reddit – Let’s Have a Patrick Swayze Christmas

Mystery Science Theater 3K - Merry Christmas; If That’s OK

Mel Torme - The Christmas Song

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.