Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Energy News Digest for July 22, 2014

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THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest word cloud for July 22, 2014

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Another Veteran Alleges Discrimination by Bonneville Power Administration, Files Suit Seeking Damages (Oregonian, Portland)

NorthWestern Energy CEO Rowe: We Are Not ‘Crooks’ - State of Montana must approve purchase price of $870M for hydroelectric dams (Helena Independent Republic, MT)

Energy Northwest to Operate Tieton Dam Electric Project in Yakima County (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Most Americans Support Carbon Tax When Revenue Is Earmarked (U-S News & World Report)

Cooler Weather Aids Crews Fighting State's Biggest-Ever Wildfire (Associated Press)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Another Veteran Alleges Discrimination by Bonneville Power Administration, Files Suit Seeking Damages
  • NorthWestern Energy CEO Rowe: We Are Not ‘Crooks’
  • Energy Northwest to Operate Tieton Dam Electric Project in Yakima County
  • Grays Harbor PUD Commissioners Approve 1.5% Rate Increase
  • Fitch Rates Energy Northwest Bonds 'AA'; Outlook Stable
  • Mason PUD 3 in the High-Five Club - Employees of Local Businesses and Organizations Honored for United Way Giving
  • Nearly Nine Years Later, Congress Finally Funds Incentives for Power Production on Existing Dams
  • Natural Gas Falls to an Eight-Month Low
  • Some Utility Retirees Sue Omaha Public Power District for Removing Their Discount on Monthly Electric Bills
  • Hot Air Balloon Hits Power Lines in Massachusetts
  • Bristol Bay Salmon Win a Round in Fight over Proposed Pebble Mine
  • Easier Migration for Salmon in East Multnomah County's Beaver Creek: $500,000 Fix for Troublesome Culverts
  • Sockeye Draft Recovery Plan Shows Just How Far Away Success Is
  • As Numbers of Gray Seals Rise, So Do Conflicts
  • California: New Drakes Bay Oyster Company Suit by Local Businesses Seek to Keep Operation Afloat
  • Drier Than the Dust Bowl: Waiting for Relief in Rural America
  • SoloPower Systems Says It Has 'Resources' to Restart Portland Factory, Yet Discloses Few Details
  • Washington State Just Lopped Up to $2,500 Off the Cost of Solar Panels. Here’s How
  • Offshore Wind Farms: A Buffet for Seals?
  • Florida Utilities Seek to End Energy Efficiency Rebates
  • Four Reasons Why Energy Efficiency Programs Fail
  • Most Americans Support Carbon Tax When Revenue Is Earmarked
  • Global Heat Record Broken for June, Following Record May
  • Corralling Carbon Before It Belches from the Stack
  • Climate Scientists Have a Beef with Beef
  • Germany Provides Inspiration, Potential Market for Washington State Clean Tech Companies
  • Edmunds Team Sets Cross-Country Electric Record in Tesla
  • 1 Million Net Neutrality Comments Filed, But Will They Matter?
  • Net Neutrality, Shall I Compare Thee to a Highway? A Showerhead?
  • Net Neutrality Defenders Actually Fine If Internet Users Decide What Goes Fast
  • Comcast Beats Earnings with Increased Broadband Sales
  • Content over Companionship: Facebook Shifts Further From Social with Its New Save Feature
  • Netflix Tops 50 Million Subscribers as Second Quarter Earnings Soar
  • Portland-Based Consultants Teach White-Men-Only Diversity Training
  • Cooler Weather Aids Crews Fighting State's Biggest-Ever Wildfire
  • Two Men in Wildfire Area Arrested for Setting Back Burns That Endangered Others
  • Thunderstorms, Heavy Rain Forecast Wednesday in Washington State
  • Washington State Pot Grower: Could Take Months for Retail Supply to Meet Demand
  • Olympic National Park to Review Goat Options after 2010 Attack
  • Five-Hour Energy Drinks Alleges Oregon, Washington Officials Asked for Money, Then Sued for Deceptive Marketing
WORD OF THE DAY

Lèse-majesté • \layze-MADGE-uh-stee\ • Noun - 1: an offense violating the dignity of sovereign 2: a detraction from or affront to dignity or importance.

The stately matron floated down the church aisle to her assigned pew. To all the world she was the personification of a mighty battleship, smoothly negotiating the common rabble, and their undisguised Lèse-majesté. By leg, knee or ankle, they took took great pains to block her entry, late though it was, to her seat.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Another Veteran Alleges Discrimination by Bonneville Power Administration, Files Suit Seeking Damages (Oregonian, Portland)

NorthWestern Energy CEO Rowe: We Are Not ‘Crooks’ - State of Montana must approve purchase price of $870M for hydroelectric dams (Helena Independent Republic, MT)

Energy Northwest to Operate Tieton Dam Electric Project in Yakima County (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Grays Harbor PUD Commissioners Approve 1.5% Rate Increase (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

Fitch Rates Energy Northwest Bonds 'AA'; Outlook Stable (Yahoo! Finance)

Mason PUD 3 in the High-Five Club - Employees of Local Businesses and Organizations Honored for United Way Giving (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

Nearly Nine Years Later, Congress Finally Funds Incentives for Power Production on Existing Dams (GTH Energy & Natural Resources Law Blog)

Natural Gas Falls to an Eight-Month Low (Associated Press)

Some Utility Retirees Sue Omaha Public Power District for Removing Their Discount on Monthly Electric Bills - Discount was 25 percent to 30 percent (Omaha World-Herald, NE)

Hot Air Balloon Hits Power Lines in Massachusetts (Christian Science Monitor)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Bristol Bay Salmon Win a Round in Fight over Proposed Pebble Mine (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

Easier Migration for Salmon in East Multnomah County's Beaver Creek: $500,000 Fix for Troublesome Culverts (Oregonian, Portland)

Sockeye Draft Recovery Plan Shows Just How Far Away Success Is (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

As Numbers of Gray Seals Rise, So Do Conflicts (Associated Press)

California: New Drakes Bay Oyster Company Suit by Local Businesses Seek to Keep Operation Afloat (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Drier Than the Dust Bowl: Waiting for Relief in Rural America (Washington Post)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

SoloPower Systems Says It Has 'Resources' to Restart Portland Factory, Yet Discloses Few Details (Oregonian, Portland)

Washington State Just Lopped Up to $2,500 Off the Cost of Solar Panels. Here’s How (Grist Online)

Offshore Wind Farms: A Buffet for Seals? (Christian Science Monitor)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Florida Utilities Seek to End Energy Efficiency Rebates (Reuters)

Four Reasons Why Energy Efficiency Programs Fail (The Energy Collective)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Most Americans Support Carbon Tax When Revenue Is Earmarked (U-S News & World Report)

Global Heat Record Broken for June, Following Record May (Associated Press)

Corralling Carbon Before It Belches from the Stack (NY Times)

Climate Scientists Have a Beef with Beef (Los Angeles Times, CA)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Germany Provides Inspiration, Potential Market for Washington State Clean Tech Companies (KPLU Radio, Tacoma, WA)

Edmunds Team Sets Cross-Country Electric Record in Tesla (USA Today)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

1 Million Net Neutrality Comments Filed, But Will They Matter? (National Public Radio)

Net Neutrality, Shall I Compare Thee to a Highway? A Showerhead? (National Public Radio)

Net Neutrality Defenders Actually Fine If Internet Users Decide What Goes Fast (Washington Post)

Comcast Beats Earnings with Increased Broadband Sales (USA Today)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Content over Companionship: Facebook Shifts Further From Social with Its New Save Feature (GigaOM)

Netflix Tops 50 Million Subscribers as Second Quarter Earnings Soar (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Portland-Based Consultants Teach White-Men-Only Diversity Training - Gain Popularity with Fortune 500 Corporations (Oregonian, Portland)

GENERAL NEWS

Cooler Weather Aids Crews Fighting State's Biggest-Ever Wildfire (Associated Press)

Two Men in Wildfire Area Arrested for Setting Back Burns That Endangered Others (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

Thunderstorms, Heavy Rain Forecast Wednesday in Washington State (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Washington State Pot Grower: Could Take Months for Retail Supply to Meet Demand (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

Olympic National Park to Review Goat Options after 2010 Attack (Associated Press)

Five-Hour Energy Drinks Alleges Oregon, Washington Officials Asked for Money, Then Sued for Deceptive Marketing (Oregonian, Portland)

DIVERSIONS

Cool New X-Wing Mark II Revealed in New Star Wars VII Video

Think Seattle's Weather is Bad? Well, It's Not the Worst

A Gift for Someone Who Has Everything? Aladdin, Wyoming is for Sale.

George Harrison Memorial Tree Killed by Beetles

SONG OF THE DAY

Eric Clapton - Let It Rain

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.