Thursday, May 15, 2014

Energy News Digest for May 15, 2014

The Energy News Digest will be on break from May 16 through May 19. A certain chain of restaurants that specialize in emaciated pork flesh & fried chicken embryos has been calling my name. I will consume quantities of said nourishment.

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THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for May 15, 2014

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Second Dam to Be Checked after Mistake Cracks Columbia River Dam (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Olsson Industrial Electric Wins $34.99 Million Contract for McNary Dam Upgrade (Oregonian, Portland)

FCC Approves Plan to Allow for Paid Priority on Internet (Washington Post)

Inslee’s Climate Effort Will Face Steep Odds (Crosscut Seattle)

Let the Hype Begin! It’s Copper River Salmon Time (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Second Dam to Be Checked after Mistake Cracks Columbia River Dam
  • Gov. Inslee: Cracked Wanapum Dam a Unique Problem, Not Systemic in River System
  • Olsson Industrial Electric Wins $34.99 Million Contract for McNary Dam Upgrade
  • Recruitment for New Director at Oregon Department of Energy Begins with a Survey
  • Women in Trades Career Fair
  • Energy Northwest among Washington Businesses Receiving Service Awards
  • California: Fire Forces Evacuation of San Onofre Nuclear Plant
  • Why Bitcoin Miners Are Moving to Tiny Towns in Washington State
  • APPA Seeks Glass Insulator Donations
  • Let the Hype Begin! It’s Copper River Salmon Time
  • The Buzz on Disappearing Bees: 23% Colony Die-Off This Winter Not as Bad as Previous Years
  • EPA to Spend $38 Million on Coeur d’Alene Basin Cleanup
  • $2 Million Found for Moses Lake Irrigation District Dam
  • Arlington Back to Using Own Water Source after Contamination Fears
  • Is California’s Thirst Triggering Earthquakes?
  • United Kingdom: Solar ‘Ranch’ Plan Sparks Village Fears
  • Napa County Preparing to Join Marin Clean Energy Program
  • Utilities Launch Campaign against Home-Based Solar
  • Teach Them Public Power & Learn Xboxes
  • Direct Energy to Offer Nest Thermostats to New Ohio Customers
  • Introduction to On-Bill Financing Webinar
  • Inslee’s Climate Effort Will Face Steep Odds
  • Scientists Say More Hurricanes Moving to Populated Places
  • EPA Policy Uncertainty Upsets Seattle-Area Biofuel Producers
  • Dairy Farmers of Washington Member Wins 2014 U-S Dairy Sustainability Award
  • Enviros Bash Industry-Backed “Green” Building Program
  • FCC Approves Plan to Allow for Paid Priority on Internet
  • FCC Advances Proposal to Erode Net Neutrality
  • FCC Is Moving Forward With Its Horrible Plan for an Internet Fast Lane
  • Comcast Confirms Usage Caps Going Nationwide After Trials
  • Internet of Things Will Mushroom by 2025, Report Says
  • Same Supreme Court Deciding Aereo’s Fate is Clueless about Tech
  • Shutterfly Congratulates Everyone on Arrival of Nonexistent Babies
  • YouTube, Facebook Account for Nearly a Third of Mobile Traffic
  • GOP’s McKenna Urging Support for Washington State Senator Sheldon In 35th Race
  • Mason County Candidate Filing Week – Day 3
  • Where Are the Most Gerrymandered Congressional Districts?
  • Lake Cushman Fatality Collision
  • Washington State Unemployment Rate Lower in April
  • Casey Kasem Found ‘Alert & Aware’ in Kitsap County
  • Lawmakers Raise Concerns about Troubled Washington State Patrol Radio System
  • Columbia River Tourism Takes Hit from Damaged Wanapum Dam
  • Oregon Weather Watch: Strongest El Nino in 17 Years Brewing
  • President Obama to Welcome Seahawks to White House
WORD OF THE DAY

Diurnal • \DIE-urn-nul\ • Adjective - 1a:  recurring every day b:  having a daily cycle 2a:  of, relating to, or occurring in the daytime b:  active chiefly in the daytime c:  opening during the day & closing at night.

The dance was intensifying; Bartley thought he would burst if the slow-talking, drawling farmer didn’t get out of the path to the outhouse. “We call this our diurnal urinal,” the farmer mumbled to his impatient visitor. “Why’s that,” gasped Bartley, his urges now feeling akin to an unbelievable pain. “Cause ya’ll can’t see to hit the target at night. We ain’t got no lights in this part of the yard,” came the slow reply.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Second Dam to Be Checked after Mistake Cracks Columbia River Dam (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Gov. Inslee: Cracked Wanapum Dam a Unique Problem, Not Systemic in River System (Northwest Public Radio)

Olsson Industrial Electric Wins $34.99 Million Contract for McNary Dam Upgrade (Oregonian, Portland)

Recruitment for New Director at Oregon Department of Energy Begins with a Survey (Oregonian, Portland)

Women in Trades Career Fair (Northwest Labor Press)

Energy Northwest among Washington Businesses Receiving Service Awards (Tri-City Herald, WA)

California: Fire Forces Evacuation of San Onofre Nuclear Plant (Los Angeles Times, CA)

Why Bitcoin Miners Are Moving to Tiny Towns in Washington State (Gizmodo)

APPA Seeks Glass Insulator Donations (American Public Power Association)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Let the Hype Begin! It’s Copper River Salmon Time (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

The Buzz on Disappearing Bees: 23% Colony Die-Off This Winter Not as Bad as Previous Years (Associated Press)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

EPA to Spend $38 Million on Coeur d’Alene Basin Cleanup (Associated Press)

$2 Million Found for Moses Lake Irrigation District Dam (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

Arlington Back to Using Own Water Source after Contamination Fears (Everett Herald, WA)

Is California’s Thirst Triggering Earthquakes? (Christian Science Monitor)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

United Kingdom: Solar ‘Ranch’ Plan Sparks Village Fears (Plymouth Herald, UK)

Napa County Preparing to Join Marin Clean Energy Program (Napa Valley Register, CA)

Utilities Launch Campaign against Home-Based Solar (MSN Money)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Teach Them Public Power & Learn Xboxes (American Public Power Association)

Direct Energy to Offer Nest Thermostats to New Ohio Customers (Columbus Business First, OH – Hey, check out the temperature on the thermostat in the photo I hope that’s Celsius!)

Introduction to On-Bill Financing Webinar (Conduit)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Inslee’s Climate Effort Will Face Steep Odds (Crosscut Seattle)

Scientists Say More Hurricanes Moving to Populated Places (Christian Science Monitor)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

EPA Policy Uncertainty Upsets Seattle-Area Biofuel Producers (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Dairy Farmers of Washington Member Wins 2014 U-S Dairy Sustainability Award (BusinessWire)

Enviros Bash Industry-Backed “Green” Building Program (Grist Online)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

FCC Approves Plan to Allow for Paid Priority on Internet (Washington Post)

FCC Advances Proposal to Erode Net Neutrality (Mashable)

FCC Is Moving Forward With Its Horrible Plan for an Internet Fast Lane (Gizmodo)

Comcast Confirms Usage Caps Going Nationwide After Trials (Broadband Reports)

Internet of Things Will Mushroom by 2025, Report Says (USA Today)

Same Supreme Court Deciding Aereo’s Fate is Clueless about Tech (Broadband Reports)

SOCIAL MEDIA & MARKETING

Shutterfly Congratulates Everyone on Arrival of Nonexistent Babies (Consumerist)

YouTube, Facebook Account for Nearly a Third of Mobile Traffic (Mashable)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

GOP’s McKenna Urging Support for Washington State Senator Sheldon In 35th Race (Olympian - Paywall Advisory)

Mason County Candidate Filing Week – Day 3 (Mason Web-TV, Shelton, WA)

Where Are the Most Gerrymandered Congressional Districts? (Washington Post)

GENERAL NEWS

Lake Cushman Fatality Collision (Mason Web-TV, Shelton, WA)

Washington State Unemployment Rate Lower in April (Associated Press)

Casey Kasem Found ‘Alert & Aware’ in Kitsap County (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Lawmakers Raise Concerns about Troubled Washington State Patrol Radio System (Northwest Public Radio)

Columbia River Tourism Takes Hit from Damaged Wanapum Dam (Northwest Cable News Network)

Oregon Weather Watch: Strongest El Nino in 17 Years Brewing (Oregonian, Portland)

President Obama to Welcome Seahawks to White House (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

DIVERSIONS

There’s Still a Lot of Drama Surrounding the Sriracha Factory in California

Postal Officials Seek Clues to Relatives of Couple Named on Unopened World War II-Era Letter

Concealed Carry Clothing for Women a Huge Hit

Dracula’s Castle for Sale: Your Next Family Home?

SONG OF THE DAY

Steve Winwood, Eric Clapton - Can’t Find My Way Home

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.