Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Energy News Digest for December 9, 2014

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for December 9, 2014

Special Weather Statement for Mason County

Is a Major Windstorm Headed for the Pacific Northwest? (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Three Storms, Three Threats: Flooding, Strong Winds, Landslides (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

The Great Salmon Compromise - The Columbia Basin Fish Accords have funded $1 billion worth of habitat restoration projects, but can they replace free-flowing rivers? (High Country News)

Idaho Power Turns to Cloud Seeding to Boost Snowpack (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

What’s Up with My Heat Pump? - Powerful Advice: Energy Insights from PUD 3 (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

The Cost of Carbon: Tax Would Be ‘A Small Drag’ on Oregon Economy (Portland Business Journal, OR)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  1. Obama administration to appeal to Supreme Court on FERC Order 745 ruling
  2. FERC Nominee Colette Honorable Gets Bipartisan Support at U-S Senate Hearing
  3. Clark Public Utilities to Set System Budgets for 2015
  4. 2014 Christmas Parade - Mason PUD 3 Wins Second Place in its Division
  5. How Utilities Can Prepare for the Bigger, Badder Storms of the Future
  6. The Great Salmon Compromise
  7. Fund Approved to Help Columbia River Gillnetters When Fishing Rules Change
  8. Trout Numbers Declining in the South Fork of the Snake River
  9. Avista Studying Long Lake Carp’s Effect on Water Quality
  10. Idaho Power Turns to Cloud Seeding to Boost Snowpack
  11. SolarWorld Makes Its Case against Asian Competitors
  12. Suppliers Criticize Proposed Expansion of Duties on Chinese Solar Panels
  13. Tribes Challenge California Mojave Desert Solar Project
  14. The Energy Boom You Haven’t Heard About: Wood Pellets
  15. Is Renewable Energy Making Money?
  16. What’s Up with My Heat Pump? - Powerful Advice: Energy Insights from PUD 3
  17. Eight Easy Ways to Save on Your Electricity Bill
  18. Marijuana Farmer Finds Takers for His Controversial Donation
  19. Marijuana Survey Has Some Eye-Opening Responses
  20. Chart of the Week: Percent of U-S Population in States with Medical Marijuana Dispensaries
  21. The Cost of Carbon: Tax Would Be ‘A Small Drag’ on Oregon Economy
  22. NOAA Throws Cold Water on Idea That Climate Change is to Blame for California’s Record Drought
  23. Global Warming to Make European Heat Waves ‘Commonplace’ by 2040s, Study Finds
  24. Copenhagen Lighting the Way to Greener, More Efficient Cities
  25. As Data Center ‘Halls’ Sit Empty, Washington Casts Wider Net for Tenants
  26. Comcast Sued for Turning Home Wi-Fi Routers into Public Hotspots
  27. Anheuser-Busch Is Plotting to Win the Super Bowl with Four Social Media Command Rooms
  28. Learn How to Block Your Ex & More in Facebook’s Cute, Quirky Tutorial Videos
  29. ‘Women Laughing Alone With Tablets’ Is the New ‘Women Laughing Alone With Salad’
  30. Washington State House Democrats Ax Three Committees, Add One for Marijuana
  31. Three Storms, Three Threats: Flooding, Strong Winds, Landslides
  32. Bertha Repair Pit Might Have Caused 30 Seattle Buildings to Sink along With Viaduct
  33. Crude Oil Swoons to Five-Year Low, Gas Prices to Follow
  34. Washington State Dropping Mandate to Replace License Plates
  35. Map: Where Your Christmas Trees Come From
WORD OF THE DAY

Caitiff • \KAY-riff\ • Adjective - Cowardly, despicable

Another fresh sheet of foolscap and Frankie was ready to introduce his third character to his loyal readers. “Ah,” he sighed to his son Bobby. “Now I get to introduce the ‘Caitiff Lion’ to this wonderful story.” The child winced, “c’mon dad, no one knows what that means. Just call ‘im the ‘Cowardly Lion’ and be done with it.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Obama administration to appeal to Supreme Court on FERC Order 745 ruling (Utility Dive)

FERC Nominee Colette Honorable Gets Bipartisan Support at U-S Senate Hearing (RTO Insider)

Clark Public Utilities to Set System Budgets for 2015 (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

2014 Christmas Parade - Mason PUD 3 Wins Second Place in its Division (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

How Utilities Can Prepare for the Bigger, Badder Storms of the Future (Utility Dive)

FISH & WILDLIFE

The Great Salmon Compromise - The Columbia Basin Fish Accords have funded $1 billion worth of habitat restoration projects, but can they replace free-flowing rivers? (High Country News)

Fund Approved to Help Columbia River Gillnetters When Fishing Rules Change (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Trout Numbers Declining in the South Fork of the Snake River (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

Avista Studying Long Lake Carp’s Effect on Water Quality (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Idaho Power Turns to Cloud Seeding to Boost Snowpack (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

SolarWorld Makes Its Case against Asian Competitors (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Suppliers Criticize Proposed Expansion of Duties on Chinese Solar Panels (Associated Press)

Tribes Challenge California Mojave Desert Solar Project (Courthouse News Service)

The Energy Boom You Haven’t Heard About: Wood Pellets (National Geographic Magazine)

Is Renewable Energy Making Money? (Electric Co-op Today)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

What’s Up with My Heat Pump? - Powerful Advice: Energy Insights from PUD 3 (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

Eight Easy Ways to Save on Your Electricity Bill (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Tri Cities, WA)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Marijuana Farmer Finds Takers for His Controversial Donation (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Marijuana Survey Has Some Eye-Opening Responses (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Chart of the Week: Percent of U-S Population in States with Medical Marijuana Dispensaries (Marijuana Business Daily)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

The Cost of Carbon: Tax Would Be ‘A Small Drag’ on Oregon Economy (Portland Business Journal, OR)

NOAA Throws Cold Water on Idea That Climate Change is to Blame for California’s Record Drought “…natural variations…mostly a La Nina weather oscillation…” (U-S News & World Report)

Global Warming to Make European Heat Waves ‘Commonplace’ by 2040s, Study Finds (NY Times)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Copenhagen Lighting the Way to Greener, More Efficient Cities (NY Times)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

As Data Center ‘Halls’ Sit Empty, Washington Casts Wider Net for Tenants (Northwest Public Radio)

Comcast Sued for Turning Home Wi-Fi Routers into Public Hotspots (SF Chronicle)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Anheuser-Busch Is Plotting to Win the Super Bowl with Four Social Media Command Rooms (AdWeek)

Learn How to Block Your Ex & More in Facebook’s Cute, Quirky Tutorial Videos (AdWeek)

‘Women Laughing Alone With Tablets’ Is the New ‘Women Laughing Alone With Salad’ (TIME Magazine)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State House Democrats Ax Three Committees, Add One for Marijuana (Everett Herald, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

Three Storms, Three Threats: Flooding, Strong Winds, Landslides (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

Bertha Repair Pit Might Have Caused 30 Seattle Buildings to Sink along With Viaduct (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Crude Oil Swoons to Five-Year Low, Gas Prices to Follow (USA Today)

Washington State Dropping Mandate to Replace License Plates (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Map: Where Your Christmas Trees Come From (Washington Post)

DIVERSIONS

TGI Friday’s Dumb Mistletoe Drone Cut Somebody’s Face Open

Roof Experts Say Pigeon Poop Problem Grows in Fairbanks; Excrement Damages Metals, Sealants

Korean Air Exec Resigns after Ordering Crew Member Off the Plane for Serving Nuts Improperly

Photos Saved from Underwater Camera Lost in Cuba for Two Years

SONG OF THE DAY

George Gershwin - Rhapsody in Blue

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.