Monday, January 6, 2014

Energy News Digest for January 6, 2014

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THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for January 6, 2014

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Offshore ‘Click Farms’ Big Business for Those Trying to Make Money from Duping Social Media (Associated Press)

East Sand Cormorant Colony Increasing; Estuary’s Single Most Significant Source of Smolt Mortality (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

Apple Plans Solar Array at Central Oregon Data Center, Says Prineville Mayor (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Michigan: Lansing Utility Chief under Fire after Storm Response – Went on New York Vacation (WZZM, Grand Rapids, MI)

Efforts to Improve the Efficiency of Natural Gas Furnaces Have Chilled (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Michigan: Lansing Utility Chief under Fire after Storm Response – Went on New York Vacation
  • Settlement Talks Planned in Montana Power Co-Op Bankruptcy
  • Finding Hot Spots in Mason County - Infrared Inspection for Safety & Reliability
  • Botched Tree Removal - Fallen Tree, Power Line Blocks Vancouver Street
  • Judge: Environmental Groups’ Lawsuit over Eastern Washington Coal Trains Can Proceed
  • FirstEnergy Utilities Offer Cold Weather Tips
  • Ratings Firm: Electric Co-op Finances Solid
  • Co-op Clutter Becomes Treasure
  • Nepal Extends Power Cut to 12 Hours per Day as Dry Season Comes
  • East Sand Cormorant Colony Increasing; Estuary’s Single Most Significant Source of Smolt Mortality
  • No Snow is No Fun
  • California: Sierra Snow Survey Points to Dry Year Ahead
  • Colorado River Drought Forces a Painful Reckoning for States
  • California: Outrage in Owens Valley a Century after Los Angeles Began Taking Its Water
  • Americans’ View of Clean Energy Rebounds
  • Study: Wind Energy Needs Controls to Minimize Risk of Instability on the Grid
  • New National Renewable Energy Laboratory Tests Wind Turbines’ Performance
  • Hawaiian Electric Considers Wood Pellets as Fuel
  • Efforts to Improve the Efficiency of Natural Gas Furnaces Have Chilled
  • Apple Plans Solar Array at Central Oregon Data Center, Says Prineville Mayor
  • Worried About the Yahoo Malware Outbreak? If You’re in U-S, You’re Probably Safe
  • Offshore ‘Click Farms’ Big Business for Those Trying to Make Money from Duping Social Media
  • Australian Olympians Say They’ll Defy Sochi Social Media Ban
  • Flu-Related Death Toll Doubles in Washington State
  • Tahuya Man Arrested After Standoff
  • Frigid Air Threatens Coldest U-S Weather in Two Decades
  • ‘Polar Vortex’ Pushes Subzero Temps into Midwest
  • Shades of Gray in Union’s OK of Boeing 777X Offer
  • ‘The System is Broken’: Staffing Issues Plague Washington State Ferries
  • DNR to Enhance Recreation Opportunities in Green Mountain & Tahuya State Forests

WORD OF THE DAY

Mimesis • \muh-MEE-siss\ • Noun - Imitation, mimicry.

Mark was justifiably proud of his art. The attention to detail, the use of bold and subtle hues, and feather soft brush strokes. All his skills and artistic powers fit flawlessly…to a point. He just could not restrain his tendency to produce mimesis reminiscent of those “follow you around the room eyes” in the style of Walter Keane. “It’s just creepy,” was the verdict of his 13-year-old daughter.


SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Michigan: Lansing Utility Chief under Fire after Storm Response – Went on New York Vacation (WZZM, Grand Rapids, MI)

Settlement Talks Planned in Montana Power Co-Op Bankruptcy (Associated Press)

Finding Hot Spots in Mason County - Infrared Inspection for Safety & Reliability (Mason County PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

Botched Tree Removal - Fallen Tree, Power Line Blocks Vancouver Street (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Judge: Environmental Groups’ Lawsuit over Eastern Washington Coal Trains Can Proceed (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

FirstEnergy Utilities Offer Cold Weather Tips (Yahoo! Finance)

Ratings Firm: Electric Co-op Finances Solid (Electric Co-op Today)

Co-op Clutter Becomes Treasure (Electric Co-op Today)

Nepal Extends Power Cut to 12 Hours per Day as Dry Season Comes (China Daily)

FISH & WILDLIFE

East Sand Cormorant Colony Increasing; Estuary’s Single Most Significant Source of Smolt Mortality (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

No Snow is No Fun (Wenatchee World, WA)

California: Sierra Snow Survey Points to Dry Year Ahead (Sacramento Bee, CA)

Colorado River Drought Forces a Painful Reckoning for States (NY Times)

California: Outrage in Owens Valley a Century after Los Angeles Began Taking Its Water (Sacramento Bee, CA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Americans’ View of Clean Energy Rebounds (Houston Business Journal)

Study: Wind Energy Needs Controls to Minimize Risk of Instability on the Grid (The Energy Collective)

New National Renewable Energy Laboratory Tests Wind Turbines’ Performance (The Journal Advocate, Sterling, CO)
http://www.journal-advocate.com/sterling-local_news/ci_24842409/new-national-renewable-energy-labratory-tests-wind-turbines-performance

Hawaiian Electric Considers Wood Pellets as Fuel (Associated Press)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Efforts to Improve the Efficiency of Natural Gas Furnaces Have Chilled (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Apple Plans Solar Array at Central Oregon Data Center, Says Prineville Mayor (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Worried About the Yahoo Malware Outbreak? If You’re in U-S, You’re Probably Safe (Washington Post)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Offshore ‘Click Farms’ Big Business for Those Trying to Make Money from Duping Social Media (Associated Press)

Australian Olympians Say They’ll Defy Sochi Social Media Ban (Mashable)

GENERAL NEWS

Flu-Related Death Toll Doubles in Washington State (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

Tahuya Man Arrested After Standoff (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Frigid Air Threatens Coldest U-S Weather in Two Decades (Bloomberg News)

‘Polar Vortex’ Pushes Subzero Temps into Midwest (Associated Press)

Shades of Gray in Union’s OK of Boeing 777X Offer (Everett Herald, WA)

‘The System is Broken’: Staffing Issues Plague Washington State Ferries (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

DNR to Enhance Recreation Opportunities in Green Mountain & Tahuya State Forests (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

DIVERSIONS

Phil Everly & Brother Don Were Architects of Harmony

NFL Fines Lynch for Not Talking

The Interior of the Lego Simpsons Home Takes Its Awesome Level Up to 11

Man’s Blood Alcohol Content Too High for Police to Measure

SONG OF THE DAY

Everly Brothers Country Music Hall of Fame Video

Everly Brothers - Bye Bye Love

Don’t Speak - No Doubt

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.