Thursday, February 27, 2014

Energy News Digest for February 27, 2014

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THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for February 27, 2014

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Bonneville Power Administration: Mainzer Firms Up BPA Front Office with Appointment of Delwiche & Andrews (Bonneville Power Administration)

Yakima Basin Snowpack Now Just Above Average (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Spokane Trash Burner Power Bill Dies in Washington State Legislature (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Oregon Energy Department Allows Transfer of $10 Million Tax Credit for Solar Project – Again (Oregonian, Portland)

Another Scam is Targeting Lewis County PUD Customers (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Bonneville Power Administration: Mainzer Firms Up BPA Front Office with Appointment of Delwiche & Andrews
  • Another Scam is Targeting Lewis County PUD Customers
  • Consumer Alert — ‘Phony Utility Bill’ Email Scam Heating Up in Washington State
  • Cowlitz PUD Expands Online Billing System
  • IDACORP, Inc. Announces Year-End & Fourth Quarter 2013 Results, Initiates 2014 Earnings Guidance
  • Michigan: Consumers Energy-Funded Group Running Ads against Electric Choice/Deregulation
  • Illinois: ComEd Customers Refusing Smart Meter Will Be Charged $21.53 a Month
  • Natural Gas Prices Break $6.00 per MMBtu to Reach a Five-Year High
  • Living Smart: Electrical System
  • Columbia Basin’s Chinook Boom: Could Wild Salmon Be Fair Game?
  • Scientists Solve Mystery of Chile’s Massive Whale Graveyard
  • Yakima Basin Snowpack Now Just Above Average
  • California’s Drought is Extreme; But the Government is Making It Worse
  • Fertilizer Limits Sought Near Lake Erie to Fight Spread of Algae
  • How Much Energy are We Flushing Down the Drain?
  • Oregon Energy Department Allows Transfer of $10 Million Tax Credit for Solar Project – Again
  • Spokane Trash Burner Power Bill Dies in Washington State Legislature
  • Utility Interests Push for Protectionism in State of Washington
  • Massachusetts Legislation Raises Question: What Is Clean Energy?
  • Energy Dept.: Non-Hydro Renewables Are on a Roll
  • Massachusetts: Cape Wind Project Gets Major Boost with $600 Million Loan from Danish Agency
  • Offshore Wind Farms Could Knock Down Hurricanes
  • What If Money DID Grow on Trees? Powerful Advice – Energy Insights from Mason PUD 3
  • Op/Ed: California Carbon Tax Proposal Shines Light on Climate Change Policies
  • Op/Ed: The Unscientific Consensus
  • Editorial: Climate Science, Inescapable Truths
  • Tesla Unveils $5 Billion Plan for Massive ‘Gigafactory’ to Manufacture Batteries
  • Harsh Winter Brings Shortage of Pellet Fuel for Pellet Stoves
  • Op/Ed: Why Super-Fast Internet Is Coming Super Slowly
  • Target CEO Promises “Eye-Popping Irresistible Deals” after Profits Destroyed by Data Breach
  • Washington Legislature on Collision Course over Tax Breaks
  • Arizona Governor Vetoes Bill on Refusal of Service to Gays
  • More Snow Possible This Weekend - Early Summer Forecast Looking Warm & Dry
  • Special Weather Statement for Possible Lowland Snow in Puget Sound Region
  • Victims’ Relatives Criticize Inslee’s Death Penalty Moratorium
  • Lawsuit: Washington State Patrol Breaks the Law When Hiring Veterans
  • Warehouses to Open Across State for Marijuana Businesses to Share Space
  • States Push Public Lands for Designation as Monuments – Includes Sites in Oregon & Idaho

WORD OF THE DAY

Solatium • \so-LAY-shee-yum\ • Noun - A compensation (as money) given as solace for suffering, loss, or injured feelings.

“We’re sorry for your loss,” grinned the golden-toothed attorney to the bereaved energy trader. “Here’s your settlement for your poor decision making.” The solatium included a box of out-dated Snickers bars and a ten million dollar check.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Bonneville Power Administration: Mainzer Firms Up BPA Front Office with Appointment of Delwiche & Andrews (Bonneville Power Administration)

Another Scam is Targeting Lewis County PUD Customers (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

Consumer Alert — ‘Phony Utility Bill’ Email Scam Heating Up in Washington State (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Cowlitz PUD Expands Online Billing System (Longview Daily News, WA)

IDACORP, Inc. Announces Year-End & Fourth Quarter 2013 Results, Initiates 2014 Earnings Guidance (Electric Energy Online)

Michigan: Consumers Energy-Funded Group Running Ads against Electric Choice/Deregulation (MLive Media Group, Lansing, MI)

Illinois: ComEd Customers Refusing Smart Meter Will Be Charged $21.53 a Month (Chicago Tribune, IL)

Natural Gas Prices Break $6.00 per MMBtu to Reach a Five-Year High (Market Realist)

Living Smart: Electrical System (Olympian - Paywall Advisory)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Columbia Basin’s Chinook Boom: Could Wild Salmon Be Fair Game? (Bend Bulletin, OR)

Scientists Solve Mystery of Chile’s Massive Whale Graveyard (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Yakima Basin Snowpack Now Just Above Average (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

California’s Drought is Extreme; But the Government is Making It Worse (Washington Post)

Fertilizer Limits Sought Near Lake Erie to Fight Spread of Algae (NY Times)

How Much Energy are We Flushing Down the Drain? (The Energy Collective)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Oregon Energy Department Allows Transfer of $10 Million Tax Credit for Solar Project – Again (Oregonian, Portland)

Spokane Trash Burner Power Bill Dies in Washington State Legislature (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Utility Interests Push for Protectionism in State of Washington (Renewable Energy World)

Massachusetts Legislation Raises Question: What Is Clean Energy? “…would allow utilities to meet the state’s mandates to cut greenhouse gases by acquiring power from large-scale hydroelectric projects…” (Boston Globe, MA)

Energy Dept.: Non-Hydro Renewables Are on a Roll (Sustainable Business Oregon)

Massachusetts: Cape Wind Project Gets Major Boost with $600 Million Loan from Danish Agency (Boston Business Journal, MA)

Offshore Wind Farms Could Knock Down Hurricanes (Scientific American)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

What If Money DID Grow on Trees? Powerful Advice – Energy Insights from PUD 3 (Mason County PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Op/Ed: California Carbon Tax Proposal Shines Light on Climate Change Policies (Sacramento Bee, CA)

Op/Ed: The Unscientific Consensus (Forbes Magazine)

Editorial: Climate Science, Inescapable Truths (The Economist Magazine)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Tesla Unveils $5 Billion Plan for Massive ‘Gigafactory’ to Manufacture Batteries (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

Harsh Winter Brings Shortage of Pellet Fuel for Pellet Stoves (WGRZ-TV, Buffalo, NY)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Op/Ed: Why Super-Fast Internet Is Coming Super Slowly (Wall Street Journal)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Target CEO Promises “Eye-Popping Irresistible Deals” after Profits Destroyed by Data Breach (Consumerist)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington Legislature on Collision Course over Tax Breaks (Northwest Public Radio)

Arizona Governor Vetoes Bill on Refusal of Service to Gays (NY Times)

GENERAL NEWS

More Snow Possible This Weekend - Early Summer Forecast Looking Warm & Dry (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Special Weather Statement for Possible Lowland Snow in Puget Sound Region (National Weather Service, Seattle, WA)

Victims’ Relatives Criticize Inslee’s Death Penalty Moratorium (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Lawsuit: Washington State Patrol Breaks the Law When Hiring Veterans (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

Warehouses to Open Across State for Marijuana Businesses to Share Space (Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal, WA)

States Push Public Lands for Designation as Monuments – Includes Sites in Oregon & Idaho (USA Today)

DIVERSIONS

Purge These Redundancies & Needless Phrases

This Is What Happens When You Put Pit Bulls in a Photo Booth

Talking Parrot ‘Helps’ UP Police Crack Murder Case

Shelter Dogs’ Before & After Photos Will Fetch Your Feels

SONG OF THE DAY

Toby Keith - Every Dog Has Its Day

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.