Thursday, May 1, 2014

Energy News Digest for May 1, 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:

THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for May 1, 2014

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Editorial: Inslee's Climate Balancing Act - Governor's strategy on greenhouse gas emissions preferable to ignoring issue (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Are Wind Farms on the Way for Our Local National Forests? (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

Wanapum Dam Repair Cost Includes Anchors All Along Spillway (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Internet Fast Lanes May Raise Consumer Costs (U-S News & World Report)

Survey Shows LED Installations Surpassing Fluorescents for the First Time in 2014 (Electrical Marketing)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Wanapum Dam Repair Cost Includes Anchors All Along Spillway (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)
  • A New Federal Push for More Hydropower across the Country (Forbes Magazine)
  • Northwest RiverPartners Wins National Award for CleanHydro Campaign (Northwest RiverPartners)
  • National Hydropower Award for Tacoma Power (South Sound Business Examiner)
  • Clallam, Jefferson PUDs, Port Townsend Paper Agree to Deal for Transferring Power Lines, Poles (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
  • Puget Sound Energy Requests Lower Power Bills - Homeowners Would See Monthly Statements Drop by $6 for One Full Year, About 50 Cents per Month (Businesswire)
  • Energy Firm Promises Safer Oil Railcars to Clatskanie Terminal (Associated Press)
  • Avista Unpaved a Parking Lot, Put In a City Park (KXLY-TV, Spokane, WA)
  • Unpaid Bills: Power Restored to Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office in Bills Crackdown (British Broadcasting Corporation)
  • Modified Wanapum Fish Ladder, Priest Rapids Fish Bypass Appear Successful (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
  • Op/Ed: Drought Shadows the Start of California’s Salmon Season (Sacramento Bee, CA)
  • Thanks BPA: Greenbelt Adds to Luckiamute River Holdings with Purchase of Easement Corvallis Gazette-Times, OR)
  • Federal Government Finds Harmful Contaminants in Columbia River Fish (Idaho Public Television)
  • Long-Awaited Water Right Delivered in Bridgeport (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)
  • Water Cutbacks Looming for California Farmers, Water Agencies (Sacramento Bee, CA)
  • Portland’s Urine-Tinged Water Diverted to another Reservoir (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)
  • Cities with the Cleanest Air (American Lung Association)
  • Are Wind Farms on the Way for Our Local National Forests? (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)
  • Group to Sue U-S Government over Changes to Eagle Protection Rules (Reuters)
  • Seattle City Light Completes Community Solar Project (Fierce Energy)
  • Sweet Wind Music: Massive Wind Power Farm Moves Mars Candy Bars toward Carbon Neutral Operations (Penn Energy)
  • Google's 'Green' Energy Plan: Build, Learn, Expand (Christian Science Monitor)
  • Op/Ed: Biomass Electric Power Generation Dirtier than Coal? Not Possible (Renewable Energy World)
  • Link between Electricity Prices & Renewable Energy Completely Warped in Forbes Article (Clean Technica)
  • Survey Shows LED Installations Surpassing Fluorescents for the First Time in 2014 (Electrical Marketing)
  • Philips 60 Watt LED Equivalent Now Between $2 & $4 in Many U-S Markets (Forbes Magazine)
  • Energy Adviser: Electric Spring Cleaning Stops Shocks Later (Vancouver Columbian, WA)
  • APPA, EEI & NRECA Voice Concern over DOE Ignoring Costs of Conservation Standards (American Public Power Association)
  • Surveys Show Consumers Hot on Energy-Efficient Products but Not the Politics (Austin Business Journal, TX)
  • Editorial: Inslee's Climate Balancing Act - Governor's strategy on greenhouse gas emissions preferable to ignoring issue (Vancouver Columbian, WA)
  • Scientists Probe Earth's Last Warm Phase (British Broadcasting Corporation)
  • Climate Change: Pacific Ocean Acidity Dissolving Shells of Key Species (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
  • A California Ghost Town, Going Green (NY Times)
  • What It Will Take to Farm Sunlight from Space (Gizmodo)
  • Internet Fast Lanes May Raise Consumer Costs (U-S News & World Report)
  • New Net Neutrality Rules Won't Create 'Slow Lane' on Web, FCC Chief Says (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
  • Google’s Fiber Effect: Fuel for a Broadband Explosion (C/NET News)
  • Google Fiber: Portland & Suburbs 'In Good Shape' for Thursday Deadline; Here's What Comes Next (Oregonian, Portland)
  • Frontier Complains That Offering 10 Mbps is a Bridge Too Far (Broadband Reports)
  • Why You're Being Told Not to Use Internet Explorer & How To Fix It (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)
  • Google Changes Gmail-Scanning Policy for Education Apps to Protect Students' Personal Info (U-S News & World Report)
  • How Twitter's Engagement Growth Has Changed over Two Years (Mashable)
  • Opinion: In the Age of Twitter, Everyone Is On the Hot Seat (San Jose Mercury News, CA)
  • As Facebook Phases Out Messaging from Its Main App, Facebook Messenger Gets a Big Update (GigaOM)
  • Confused by Facebook Privacy Settings? So Is the U-S Supreme Court (Washington Post)
  • Facebook Is a Middle Aged Man (Valleywag)
  • Amazon Is Losing Business in States Where It Collects Online Sales Tax (Christian Science Monitor)
  • Governor Inslee Looking to Fill Washington State Supreme Court Justice Seat (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Tri Cities, WA)
  • Private Attorney Confirmed to Eastern Washington State Federal Bench (Courthouse News Service)
  • Clark County Booted from Insurance Risk Pool (Vancouver Columbian, WA)
  • Source Says Shelton Bombing Suspect Threatened to Blow Up Space Needle (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)
  • Seattle May Day Events Will Block Traffic; Disrupt Bus Service (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)
  • Will Washington State Weather Records Be Broken Today? (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)
  • Resident Dies in Olympia Apartment Fire (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)
  • Man Suspected Of Stealing Copper Wire in Tacoma Recently Sold 88 Pounds (Of what? Fat, steak, hamburger?) (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)
  • Washington State’s Retail Marijuana Lottery Results to be Announced Friday - Except for Longview (Longview Daily News, WA)
  • Columbia River Cannabis: Small Washington Town Looks To Strike It Rich with Pot (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)
WORD OF THE DAY

Avuncular • \uh-VUNK-yuh-lurr\ • Adjective - 1: of or relating to an uncle 2: suggestive of an uncle especially in kindliness or geniality

It’s easy to imagine “Mad Magazine” being designed by a bunch of pre-teen boys sitting around making jokes about bodily functions and hastily scrawling down their ideas on assorted foolscap or lined notebook paper ripped from their “Pee-Chees.” But, in fact, the magazine sprung deformed from the mind of an avuncular editor who (when retired) went on to become a landscape artist in the American west. What? Me worry?

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Wanapum Dam Repair Cost Includes Anchors All Along Spillway (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

A New Federal Push for More Hydropower across the Country (Forbes Magazine)

Northwest RiverPartners Wins National Award for CleanHydro Campaign (Northwest RiverPartners)

National Hydropower Award for Tacoma Power (South Sound Business Examiner)

Clallam, Jefferson PUDs, Port Townsend Paper Agree to Deal for Transferring Power Lines, Poles (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Puget Sound Energy Requests Lower Power Bills - Homeowners Would See Monthly Statements Drop by $6 for One Full Year, About 50 Cents per Month (Businesswire)

Energy Firm Promises Safer Oil Railcars to Clatskanie Terminal (Associated Press)

Avista Unpaved a Parking Lot, Put In a City Park (KXLY-TV, Spokane, WA)

Unpaid Bills: Power Restored to Pakistan Prime Minister’s Office in Bills Crackdown (British Broadcasting Corporation)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Modified Wanapum Fish Ladder, Priest Rapids Fish Bypass Appear Successful (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

Op/Ed: Drought Shadows the Start of California’s Salmon Season (Sacramento Bee, CA)

Thanks BPA: Greenbelt Adds to Luckiamute River Holdings with Purchase of Easement Corvallis Gazette-Times, OR)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Federal Government Finds Harmful Contaminants in Columbia River Fish (Idaho Public Television)

Long-Awaited Water Right Delivered in Bridgeport (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

Water Cutbacks Looming for California Farmers, Water Agencies (Sacramento Bee, CA)

Portland’s Urine-Tinged Water Diverted to another Reservoir (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

Cities with the Cleanest Air (American Lung Association)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Are Wind Farms on the Way for Our Local National Forests? (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

Group to Sue U-S Government over Changes to Eagle Protection Rules (Reuters)

Seattle City Light Completes Community Solar Project (Fierce Energy)

Sweet Wind Music: Massive Wind Power Farm Moves Mars Candy Bars toward Carbon Neutral Operations (Penn Energy)

Google's 'Green' Energy Plan: Build, Learn, Expand (Christian Science Monitor)

Op/Ed: Biomass Electric Power Generation Dirtier than Coal? Not Possible (Renewable Energy World)

Link between Electricity Prices & Renewable Energy Completely Warped in Forbes Article (Clean Technica)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Survey Shows LED Installations Surpassing Fluorescents for the First Time in 2014 (Electrical Marketing)

Philips 60 Watt LED Equivalent Now Between $2 & $4 in Many U-S Markets (Forbes Magazine)

Energy Adviser: Electric Spring Cleaning Stops Shocks Later (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

APPA, EEI & NRECA Voice Concern over DOE Ignoring Costs of Conservation Standards (American Public Power Association)

Surveys Show Consumers Hot on Energy-Efficient Products but Not the Politics (Austin Business Journal, TX)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Editorial: Inslee's Climate Balancing Act - Governor's strategy on greenhouse gas emissions preferable to ignoring issue (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Scientists Probe Earth's Last Warm Phase (British Broadcasting Corporation)

Climate Change: Pacific Ocean Acidity Dissolving Shells of Key Species (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

A California Ghost Town, Going Green (NY Times)

What It Will Take to Farm Sunlight from Space (Gizmodo)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Internet Fast Lanes May Raise Consumer Costs (U-S News & World Report)

New Net Neutrality Rules Won't Create 'Slow Lane' on Web, FCC Chief Says (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

Google’s Fiber Effect: Fuel for a Broadband Explosion (C/NET News)

Google Fiber: Portland & Suburbs 'In Good Shape' for Thursday Deadline; Here's What Comes Next (Oregonian, Portland)

Frontier Complains That Offering 10 Mbps is a Bridge Too Far (Broadband Reports)

Why You're Being Told Not to Use Internet Explorer & How To Fix It (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Google Changes Gmail-Scanning Policy for Education Apps to Protect Students' Personal Info (U-S News & World Report)

How Twitter's Engagement Growth Has Changed over Two Years (Mashable)

Opinion: In the Age of Twitter, Everyone Is On the Hot Seat (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

As Facebook Phases Out Messaging from Its Main App, Facebook Messenger Gets a Big Update (GigaOM)

Confused by Facebook Privacy Settings? So Is the U-S Supreme Court (Washington Post)

Facebook Is a Middle Aged Man (Valleywag)

Amazon Is Losing Business in States Where It Collects Online Sales Tax (Christian Science Monitor)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Governor Inslee Looking to Fill Washington State Supreme Court Justice Seat (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Tri Cities, WA)

Private Attorney Confirmed to Eastern Washington State Federal Bench (Courthouse News Service)

Clark County Booted from Insurance Risk Pool (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

Source Says Shelton Bombing Suspect Threatened to Blow Up Space Needle (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Seattle May Day Events Will Block Traffic; Disrupt Bus Service (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

Will Washington State Weather Records Be Broken Today? (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

Resident Dies in Olympia Apartment Fire (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

Man Suspected Of Stealing Copper Wire in Tacoma Recently Sold 88 Pounds (Of what? Fat, steak, hamburger?) (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Washington State’s Retail Marijuana Lottery Results to be Announced Friday - Except for Longview (Longview Daily News, WA)

Columbia River Cannabis: Small Washington Town Looks To Strike It Rich with Pot (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

DIVERSIONS

Al Feldstein, the Soul of Mad Magazine, Dies at 88

Hillsboro Man Says Rescue of Ducklings Made Day 'Meaningful'

Modern Humans Were Not Any Smarter Than Neanderthals, Say Scientists

Hitler Materializes in Lost Family Trip Negatives Found at Thrift Store

SONG OF THE DAY

The Cure - Pictures of You

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.