Friday, January 23, 2015

Energy News Digest for January 23, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for January 23, 2015
The rain could be heavy at times. New precipitation amounts between three quarters & one inch possible.

Small Craft Advisory in Effect from Noon Today to 6 PM Saturday

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Oregon Fishery Officials Hatch Desperate Measures - Compromised Leaburg Dam stresses two local hatcheries (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

In Win for SolarWorld, Trade Commission Affirms Tariffs on Chinese, Taiwanese Solar Products (Oregonian, Portland)

Pacific Power’s $1.8 Million Looks to Bolster Northwest Solar Projects “…PacifiCorp depends on coal for 60.37% of its total energy load. Gas accounts for 12%…” (Portland Business Journal, OR)

A Tiny Oregon City Has Already Built Its Own Gigabit Internet (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Activists Turn Out in Olympia as Lawmakers Weigh Medical Marijuana (Associated Press)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  1. FERC Files Supreme Court Challenge to Demand Response Decision
  2. Fired Emerald People’s Utility District Chief Rehired – Board decides not to fight the release of recorded conversations
  3. Rock Slide Closes Road to Hells Canyon Dam
  4. Three Keys to Ensuring Clark County Economic Growth - These steps vital to solid development
  5. British Columbia: Fake BC Hydro Scam Surfaces in Coquitlam
  6. Awards Celebrate the Behind-The-Scenes Work of Managing Federal Columbia River Power System Dams
  7. Oregon Fishery Officials Hatch Desperate Measures - Compromised Leaburg Dam stresses two local hatcheries
  8. California Sea Lions Take Over Astoria Docks
  9. New Study Suggests Rain Gardens Can Save Salmon
  10. In Win for SolarWorld, Trade Commission Affirms Tariffs on Chinese, Taiwanese Solar Products
  11. Pacific Power’s $1.8 Million Looks to Bolster Northwest Solar Projects
  12. What Would Be Your Return on Investment in Solar? Washington County Software Gives Answers
  13. ‘Sexy’ No Longer, Solar May See More Consolidation
  14. Op/Ed: Will Falling Oil Prices Kill Wind & Solar Power?
  15. California Landfill Taps Methane for Electricity
  16. IRS Specifies Performance & Quality Standards for Small Wind Turbines
  17. U-S Senate Passes Energy Efficiency Promotion Amendment by a Vote of 94-5
  18. Salt River Project Launches Smart Thermostat, Variable Rate Pilot
  19. Thermos-Like Passive Homes Aggressively Save Energy
  20. Activists Turn Out in Olympia as Lawmakers Weigh Medical Marijuana
  21. Clallam Planners Focus on Marijuana Zoning Ordinance
  22. Spokane Pot Shop Uses Billboard to Attract Business
  23. The Massive Scale of California’s Drought. How It Informs the Climate Change Debate
  24. Biodiesel Plants Must Get Smart to Survive Market Highs & Lows, WSU Economist Says
  25. BMW, VW Team Up to Build Fast-Charging Electric Car Stations in U-S
  26. Official: U-S Will Not Meet One Million Electric Vehicle Goal in 2015
  27. A Tiny Oregon City Has Already Built Its Own Gigabit Internet
  28. Editorial: Three U-S Senate Democrats Join Obama in Backing Municipal Broadband
  29. Editorial: Taking the Risk to Offer Broadband Should Be a Local Call
  30. Did Congress, The Media & the FCC All Misunderstand What Verizon Said on Net Neutrality? Verizon Thinks So
  31. Microsoft Readies ‘Spartan’ as Successor to Internet Explorer
  32. We’re Still Using Dumb Passwords. Not Nearly as Much as Before
  33. Bitcoin Backers Seek to Create ‘Regulated’ Exchange
  34. Tweet Translation with Bing Translator
  35. This Heartbreaking Puppy GIF Is the Perfect Teaser for Budweiser’s Super Bowl Ad
  36. The New Sonos Logo Looks Like Pulsing Sound as You Scroll It
  37. Consumerist Friday Flickr Finds
  38. Oil Prices Jump as Saudi King’s Death Feeds Market Uncertainty
  39. Doesn’t Anyone Want to Take Credit for Low Gas Prices?
  40. Kitsap County Teen Pleads Guilty to Three Vehicular Homicide Counts
  41. Washington Adds 7,600 Jobs in December - Unemployment Lingers Above 6%
  42. Mason General Hospital & Family of Clinics Joins Innovative Patient Care Consortium
  43. Congressman Kilmer Urging Renewal of Federal Payment Plan to Local Governments
  44. Historic Kalakala Ferry Makes Last Voyage
WORD OF THE DAY

Williwaw • \WILL-ih-waw\ • noun – *1a: a sudden violent gust of cold land air common along mountainous coasts of high latitudes b: a sudden violent wind 2: a violent commotion

“One more williwaw like that and I’ll be cracking up,” cursed the tense utility dispatcher. The fall and winter storm season had barely begun, and two windstorms had already blustered their way across the region.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

FERC Files Supreme Court Challenge to Demand Response Decision (The Energy Collective)

Fired Emerald People’s Utility District Chief Rehired – Board decides not to fight the release of recorded conversations (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

Rock Slide Closes Road to Hells Canyon Dam (Baker City Herald, OR)

Three Keys to Ensuring Clark County Economic Growth - These steps vital to solid development “…low cost of power in Southwest Washington is a huge asset for businesses…” (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

British Columbia: Fake BC Hydro Scam Surfaces in Coquitlam (Vancouver Sun, BC)

Awards Celebrate the Behind-The-Scenes Work of Managing Federal Columbia River Power System Dams (Bonneville Power Administration)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Oregon Fishery Officials Hatch Desperate Measures - Compromised Leaburg Dam stresses two local hatcheries (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

California Sea Lions Take Over Astoria Docks (Associated Press)

New Study Suggests Rain Gardens Can Save Salmon (KPLU Radio, Seattle, WA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

In Win for SolarWorld, Trade Commission Affirms Tariffs on Chinese, Taiwanese Solar Products (Oregonian, Portland)

Pacific Power’s $1.8 Million Looks to Bolster Northwest Solar Projects “…PacifiCorp depends on coal for 60.37% of its total energy load. Gas accounts for 12%…” (Portland Business Journal, OR)

What Would Be Your Return on Investment in Solar? Washington County Software Gives Answers (Oregonian, Portland)

‘Sexy’ No Longer, Solar May See More Consolidation (Bloomberg News)

Op/Ed: Will Falling Oil Prices Kill Wind & Solar Power? (Scientific American)

California Landfill Taps Methane for Electricity (Associated Press)

IRS Specifies Performance & Quality Standards for Small Wind Turbines (Breaking Energy)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

U-S Senate Passes Energy Efficiency Promotion Amendment by a Vote of 94-5 (American Public Power Association)

Salt River Project Launches Smart Thermostat, Variable Rate Pilot (Utility Dive)

Thermos-Like Passive Homes Aggressively Save Energy (National Geographic Magazine)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Activists Turn Out in Olympia as Lawmakers Weigh Medical Marijuana (Associated Press)

Clallam Planners Focus on Marijuana Zoning Ordinance (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Spokane Pot Shop Uses Billboard to Attract Business (KXLY-TV, Spokane, WA)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

The Massive Scale of California’s Drought. How It Informs the Climate Change Debate (Washington Post)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Biodiesel Plants Must Get Smart to Survive Market Highs & Lows, WSU Economist Says (Tri-City Herald, WA)

BMW, VW Team Up to Build Fast-Charging Electric Car Stations in U-S (Christian Science Monitor)

Official: U-S Will Not Meet One Million Electric Vehicle Goal in 2015 (Detroit News, MI)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

A Tiny Oregon City Has Already Built Its Own Gigabit Internet (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Editorial: Three U-S Senate Democrats Join Obama in Backing Municipal Broadband (Los Angeles Times, CA)

Editorial: Taking the Risk to Offer Broadband Should Be a Local Call (Los Angeles Times, CA)

Did Congress, The Media & the FCC All Misunderstand What Verizon Said on Net Neutrality? Verizon Thinks So (Washington Post)

Microsoft Readies ‘Spartan’ as Successor to Internet Explorer (Oregonian, Portland)

We’re Still Using Dumb Passwords. Not Nearly as Much as Before (Washington Post)

Bitcoin Backers Seek to Create ‘Regulated’ Exchange (British Broadcasting Corporation)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Tweet Translation with Bing Translator (Twitter)

This Heartbreaking Puppy GIF Is the Perfect Teaser for Budweiser’s Super Bowl Ad (AdWeek)

The New Sonos Logo Looks Like Pulsing Sound as You Scroll It (Gizmodo)

Consumerist Friday Flickr Finds (Consumerist)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Oil Prices Jump as Saudi King’s Death Feeds Market Uncertainty (Reuters)

Doesn’t Anyone Want to Take Credit for Low Gas Prices? (National Journal)

GENERAL NEWS

Kitsap County Teen Pleads Guilty to Three Vehicular Homicide Counts (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

Washington Adds 7,600 Jobs in December - Unemployment Lingers Above 6% (Washington State Wire, Olympia, WA)

Mason General Hospital & Family of Clinics Joins Innovative Patient Care Consortium (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Congressman Kilmer Urging Renewal of Federal Payment Plan to Local Governments (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

Historic Kalakala Ferry Makes Last Voyage (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

DIVERSIONS

Guy Who Bought Lottery Tickets to Break $100 Bill Wins $10 Million

How a $12 Million Monet Was Repaired After Some Idiot Punched It

Old Phone Unveiled 100 Years after First Coast-To-Coast Call

Oregon Water Treatment Company Wants to Turn Sewer Water into Beer

SONG OF THE DAY

Blondie – Call Me

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.