Friday, July 31, 2015

Energy News Digest for July 31, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for July 31, 2015

Red Flag Warning for Olympic and Cascade Mountains

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THE NEWS DIGEST TWITTER FEED

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Boeing Chairman Threatens to Move Operations Overseas over Political Flap (Oregonian, Portland)

Warm Water 'Blob' Invades Puget Sound (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Franklin PUD Plans New Solar Carport (KVEW-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

Idaho Falls Power Pays Off Bonds, Gets Ready for Rate Reduction & ‘Bond Fire’ (American Public Power Association)

Northwest Senators Push to Open Banking to Cannabis Businesses (Northwest Public Radio)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Idaho Falls Power Pays Off Bonds, Gets Ready for Rate Reduction & ‘Bond Fire’
  • New Bonneville Power Administration Rates Could Impact Mason PUD 1 Rates This Winter
  • Vegas-Area Coal Plant Owners to Pay $4.3 Million to Settle Lawsuit
  • Electricity from Natural Gas Surpasses Coal for First Time, But Just for One Month
  • U-S Senate Panel Advances Broad Energy Bill
  • Salmon Habitat Protected In E. Idaho Bonneville Power Administration Conservation Easement
  • Fraser River Sockeye Return Still Lagging Behind Preseason Forecast
  • Op/Ed: Sockeye Death Toll a Predictable Disaster
  • Warm Water 'Blob' Invades Puget Sound
  • Alcoa Fined over Columbia River Discharge
  • Effluent Levels in Spokane River Higher Due to Drought
  • Epic Drought Reveals Lake Mead's Hidden Historic Sites
  • Franklin PUD Plans New Solar Carport
  • Hydropower: The Renewable Energy Source That’s About to Boom Again
  • Need a Weatherman – Though Wind Generation Is Growing Fast, Much Remains Wrong with the Industry
  • Feds to Vacate Energy Efficiency Rule for Commercial Walk-In Coolers & Freezers, Industry Group Says
  • Customers Want to Control Energy Use as They Use iPads
  • Northwest Senators Push to Open Banking to Cannabis Businesses
  • Pot-Centric Colorado Credit Union Sues Federal Reserve Bank for Denying Account
  • Editorial: California – Growing Pot Outdoors Is Indeed a Waste of Water
  • California: $2.2 Million Approved for 12 Bay Area Hydrogen Refueling Stations
  • This Idea by the FCC is Terrifying Apple, Amazon & Microsoft
  • Facebook to Test 747-Sized Drones That Will Beam Broadband to the Entire World
  • Cable Companies Refuse to Reveal How Much They Make Off of Set-Top Boxes
  • Broadband for Baltimore
  • Google Fights Effort to Apply ‘Right to Be Forgotten’ Ruling Worldwide
  • Tough Week for Social Media Stocks – No One is Spared
  • Boeing Chairman Threatens to Move Operations Overseas over Political Flap
  • Judge Hits Greenpeace with $2,500 per Hour Fine for Blocking Portland Exit of Shell Icebreaker
  • Man Reported Missing In Puget Sound Found Alive, Well
  • Counties Finding Texts to 911 Mostly Bogus, Misdials
  • Russell Wilson, Seahawks Reach Contract Extension
  • As Americans Figure Out the Roundabout, It Spreads Across the U-S
WORD OF THE DAY

Unfettered • \un-FETT-terd\ • Adjective – Free, unrestrained

Unfettered ferret
Swirls and dances for his treats
Count fingers, post treat

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Idaho Falls Power Pays Off Bonds, Gets Ready for Rate Reduction & ‘Bond Fire’ (American Public Power Association)

New Bonneville Power Administration Rates Could Impact Mason PUD 1 Rates This Winter (Mason Web-TV, Shelton, WA)

Vegas-Area Coal Plant Owners to Pay $4.3 Million to Settle Lawsuit (ABC News)

Electricity from Natural Gas Surpasses Coal for First Time, But Just for One Month (U-S Energy Information Administration)

U-S Senate Panel Advances Broad Energy Bill (Washington Examiner)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Salmon Habitat Protected In E. Idaho Bonneville Power Administration Conservation Easement (Associated Press)

Fraser River Sockeye Return Still Lagging Behind Preseason Forecast (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Op/Ed: Sockeye Death Toll a Predictable Disaster (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Warm Water 'Blob' Invades Puget Sound (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Alcoa Fined over Columbia River Discharge (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

Effluent Levels in Spokane River Higher Due to Drought (KXLY-TV, Spokane, WA)

Epic Drought Reveals Lake Mead's Hidden Historic Sites (CBS News)

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Franklin PUD Plans New Solar Carport (KVEW-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

Hydropower: The Renewable Energy Source That’s About to Boom Again (TIME Magazine)

Need a Weatherman – Though Wind Generation Is Growing Fast, Much Remains Wrong with the Industry (The Economist)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Feds to Vacate Energy Efficiency Rule for Commercial Walk-In Coolers & Freezers, Industry Group Says (The Hill, Washington, DC)

Customers Want to Control Energy Use as They Use iPads (American Public Power Association)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Northwest Senators Push to Open Banking to Cannabis Businesses (Northwest Public Radio)

Pot-Centric Colorado Credit Union Sues Federal Reserve Bank for Denying Account (Consumerist)

Editorial: California – Growing Pot Outdoors Is Indeed a Waste of Water (Sacramento Bee, CA)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

California: $2.2 Million Approved for 12 Bay Area Hydrogen Refueling Stations (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

This Idea by the FCC is Terrifying Apple, Amazon & Microsoft (Washington Post)

Facebook to Test 747-Sized Drones That Will Beam Broadband to the Entire World (The Independent, UK)

Cable Companies Refuse to Reveal How Much They Make Off of Set-Top Boxes (Consumerist)

Broadband for Baltimore (Baltimore Sun, MD)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Google Fights Effort to Apply ‘Right to Be Forgotten’ Ruling Worldwide (NY Times)

Tough Week for Social Media Stocks – No One is Spared (Associated Press)

GENERAL NEWS

Boeing Chairman Threatens to Move Operations Overseas over Political Flap (Oregonian, Portland)

Judge Hits Greenpeace with $2,500 per Hour Fine for Blocking Portland Exit of Shell Icebreaker (Northwest Public Radio)

Man Reported Missing In Puget Sound Found Alive, Well (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

Counties Finding Texts to 911 Mostly Bogus, Misdials (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

Russell Wilson, Seahawks Reach Contract Extension (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

As Americans Figure Out the Roundabout, It Spreads Across the U-S (NY Times)

DIVERSIONS

90 Percent of Beer in the U-S is Made by These 11 Companies: Bottoms Up

Blue Moon Celebrates 20th Birthday on Actual Blue Moon

Why Buffalo's Dirty Snow Pile Still Hasn't Melted Yet

Washington State Man Arrested after Bizarre Standoff Involving Banjo

SONG OF THE DAY

This…Is…Awesome!!!

Earl Scruggs & Steve Martin – Foggy Mountain Breakdown

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.

Thursday, July 30, 2015

Energy News Digest for July 30, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for July 30, 2015

Red Flag Warning for Olympic Mountains

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST BLOG & TWITTER FEED

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Mason PUD 3 Analyzing New Bonneville Power Administration Rates; Increase Coming (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Washington State Governor Issues Executive Order to Cap Carbon Emissions (Utility Dive)

Bonneville Power Administration Shares Tips on Coping with Hottest Day of Year (Go Local PDX)

Mason in the Cold – Hot Vs. Cold Housing Markets in Western Washington (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Washington State Drought Provides “Critical Condition” Data for Hydrologists (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Mason PUD 3 Analyzing New Bonneville Power Administration Rates; Increase Coming
  • Seattle City Light Proposes New Substation in South Lake Union
  • Could Next-Gen Reactors Spark Revival in Nuclear Power?
  • Customer Education is Key to Successful Smart Utility Initiatives
  • Nimby Nation: The High Cost to America of Saying No to Everything
  • ‘I Am Trying to Save a Company’: FirstEnergy CEO Calls for Re-Regulation in Ohio
  • Missouri Regulators Looking into Decoupling Utility Revenues & Profits
  • Idaho: First Sockeye Salmon of Year Returns to Redfish Lake Creek
  • British Columbia: First Nations Tribal Council Suspends Okanagan Sockeye Salmon Fishery
  • In Drought, Conflict Emerges Between Fish & Man
  • Washington State Drought Provides “Critical Condition” Data for Hydrologists
  • Residents Fight for North Side of Mt. Hood
  • Port Angeles City Council Decides on Fluoridation Poll by Mail Rather Than Ballot Item
  • If Wind Energy is ‘Strong,’ Why Does It Need Subsidies?
  • California: Wind Farm Signs Deal with Edison
  • Can SolarCity Crack the Code on Small Commercial Solar?
  • Bonneville Power Administration Shares Tips on Coping with Hottest Day of Year
  • Trying to Keep Cool? Tips to Maintain Air Conditioning Units
  • Energy Adviser: Ductless Heat Pumps Are Coolers on Hot Days
  • Estimating Appliance & Home Electronic Energy Use
  • Native American Tribes Set to Begin Marijuana Sales
  • Washington State Governor Issues Executive Order to Cap Carbon Emissions
  • Inslee Says Cap Would Hit Washington State’s Largest Carbon Sources, Including Gas Distributors
  • Critics Say a Washington State Carbon Cap Would Raise Gas, Utility Bills
  • BMW’s Plan to Prevent Electric Cars from Overwhelming the Grid
  • Windows 10 Release May Break Internet Traffic Records
  • Beautiful Video Explains How Light’s Been Harnessed for Communication
  • Facebook is Tech’s It Company: Column
  • PicMonkey Grabs $41 Million Investment
  • Mason in the Cold – Hot Vs. Cold Housing Markets in Western Washington
  • Small Washington State Exporters ‘Kneecapped’ by Loss of Export-Import Bank
  • Greenpeace Protesters Dangle from Portland Bridge
  • Indian Ocean Debris Almost Certainly from Boeing 777: Malaysia
  • Washington State Cranberry Growers Anxious for Fall Rain at Harvest
  • ‘New Yorker’ Magazine Tries to Calm Seattle’s Fears after Terrifying Earthquake Story
WORD OF THE DAY

Conundrum • \kuh-NUN-drum\ • Noun – 1: a riddle whose answer is or involves a pun 2a: a question or problems having only a conjectural answer b: an intricate and difficult problem

Cut, borrow, or tax
Congressional conundrum
The best we can do?

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Mason PUD 3 Analyzing New Bonneville Power Administration Rates; Increase Coming (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Seattle City Light Proposes New Substation in South Lake Union (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Could Next-Gen Reactors Spark Revival in Nuclear Power? (National Geographic)

Customer Education is Key to Successful Smart Utility Initiatives (Breaking Energy)

Nimby Nation: The High Cost to America of Saying No to Everything (Forbes Magazine – CAVE People = Citizens Against Virtually Everything)

‘I Am Trying to Save a Company’: FirstEnergy CEO Calls for Re-Regulation in Ohio (Utility Dive)

Missouri Regulators Looking into Decoupling Utility Revenues & Profits (Midwest Energy News)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Idaho: First Sockeye Salmon of Year Returns to Redfish Lake Creek (Associated Press)

British Columbia: First Nations Tribal Council Suspends Okanagan Sockeye Salmon Fishery (Globe & Mail, Canada)

In Drought, Conflict Emerges Between Fish & Man (Crosscut Seattle)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Washington State Drought Provides “Critical Condition” Data for Hydrologists (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

Residents Fight for North Side of Mt. Hood (Courthouse News Service)

Port Angeles City Council Decides on Fluoridation Poll by Mail Rather Than Ballot Item (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

RENEWABLE ENERGY

If Wind Energy is ‘Strong,’ Why Does It Need Subsidies? (Christian Science Monitor)

California: Wind Farm Signs Deal with Edison (San Diego Union-Tribune, CA)

Can SolarCity Crack the Code on Small Commercial Solar? (The Energy Collective)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Bonneville Power Administration Shares Tips on Coping with Hottest Day of Year (Go Local PDX)

Trying to Keep Cool? Tips to Maintain Air Conditioning Units (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

Energy Adviser: Ductless Heat Pumps Are Coolers on Hot Days (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Estimating Appliance & Home Electronic Energy Use (Breaking Energy)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Native American Tribes Set to Begin Marijuana Sales (Tri-City Herald, WA)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Washington State Governor Issues Executive Order to Cap Carbon Emissions (Utility Dive)

Inslee Says Cap Would Hit Washington State’s Largest Carbon Sources, Including Gas Distributors (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Critics Say a Washington State Carbon Cap Would Raise Gas, Utility Bills (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

BMW’s Plan to Prevent Electric Cars from Overwhelming the Grid (The Atlantic)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Windows 10 Release May Break Internet Traffic Records (Broadband Reports)

Beautiful Video Explains How Light’s Been Harnessed for Communication (Gizmodo)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook is Tech’s It Company: Column (USA Today)

PicMonkey Grabs $41 Million Investment (TechCrunch)

GENERAL NEWS

Mason in the Cold – Hot Vs. Cold Housing Markets in Western Washington (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Small Washington State Exporters ‘Kneecapped’ by Loss of Export-Import Bank (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

Greenpeace Protesters Dangle from Portland Bridge (Northwest Public Radio)

Indian Ocean Debris Almost Certainly from Boeing 777: Malaysia (Reuters)

Washington State Cranberry Growers Anxious for Fall Rain at Harvest (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

‘New Yorker’ Magazine Tries to Calm Seattle’s Fears after Terrifying Earthquake Story (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

DIVERSIONS

Waters for Rio de Janiero’s 2016 Olympics Are ‘Basically Raw Sewage’

New Hampshire Baby Receives Lifetime Hunting-Fishing License

Three Sets of Twins Born Same Day at Montana Hospital

Florida Man Wins Hemingway Look-Alike Contest in Key West

SONG OF THE DAY

The Standells – Dirty Water

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.

Wednesday, July 29, 2015

Energy News Digest for July 29, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for July 29, 2015

Special Weather Statement for Mason County

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:

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Businesses Wary as Inslee Rolls Out Plan to Reduce Carbon Emissions in Washington State (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

Avista Electric Rates Too High, Say Two Washington State Agencies (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

55,000 Streetlights, $1.5 Million in Savings: Portland LED Project Sets a Solid Pace (Portland Business Journal, OR)

British Columbia: Sockeye Face ‘Catastrophic’ Collapse in South Okanagan (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

Still Offline: U-S Non-Internet Users Stuck at 15 Percent (Yahoo! Tech)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Avista Electric Rates Too High, Say Two Washington State Agencies
  • Franklin PUD to Increase Rate This Fall
  • Franklin PUD Commission Approves Rate Action
  • BPA Rates, Community Solar – Mason PUD 3 Commission Report – July 28, 2015 Business Meeting
  • Oregon: Columbia County Electric Rates Rise as Water Levels Fall
  • Portland General Electric Earnings Flat, Revenue Up as Company Stays on Track
  • California: Environmental Hurdle Adds a Year to SMUD’s Massive $800 Million Hydroelectric Project
  • Which Countries Have The Most Nuclear Reactors Under Construction?
  • Stealing Electricity to Power Phones is a Crime, But Solution Offered for Homeless Women
  • British Columbia: Sockeye Face ‘Catastrophic’ Collapse in South Okanagan
  • 100,000 Fish Die from Drought at Green River Hatchery
  • Lake Wenatchee Sockeye Salmon Fishery to Open
  • Some Man-Made Rock Dams Being Removed from Area Rivers
  • Oregon Passes Sage Grouse Development Rules
  • Yakima Basin Water Plan Heads for U-S Senate Panel
  • Seattle Running Out of Water Quicker Than We Thought
  • 55,000 Streetlights, $1.5 Million in Savings: Portland LED Project Sets a Solid Pace
  • Businesses Wary as Inslee Rolls Out Plan to Reduce Carbon Emissions in Washington State
  • Inslee: I’ll Use My Authority to Impose Cap on Emissions in Washington State
  • Later Deadline Expected in Obama’s Climate Plan
  • Mayor Details Portland’s Plans to Battle Climate Change Following Vatican Trip
  • New Quick-Charging Station ‘Electric Avenue’ Opens in Portland
  • Still Offline: U-S Non-Internet Users Stuck at 15 Percent
  • Microsoft Launches Windows 10 with an Eye on Mobile Market
  • Twitter Shares Fall as Growth of Monthly Users Slows
  • Facebook’s Ascent Has Investors Betting on More Gains
  • Court Rejects Claim over Goat Goring in Olympic National Park
  • Washington State to Sell Former Island Park to Squaxin Island Tribe
  • Washington State Patrol Considers Larger Academy Class Size
WORD OF THE DAY

Fettle • \FET-tull\ • noun – State or condition of health, fitness, wholeness, spirit, or form.

“You are in fine fettle this morning,” chirped the attentive stenographer to her grumpy supervisor. “The old trout normally stumps in, all hunched over,” mused the rosy-cheeked employee. “Today she looks positively dewey. I wonder if that trip to the casino last night was profitable.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Avista Electric Rates Too High, Say Two Washington State Agencies (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Franklin PUD to Increase Rate This Fall (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Franklin PUD Commission Approves Rate Action (Franklin PUD, Pasco, WA)

BPA Rates, Community Solar – Mason PUD 3 Commission Report – July 28, 2015 Business Meeting (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

Oregon: Columbia County Electric Rates Rise as Water Levels Fall (St Helens Chronicle, OR)

Portland General Electric Earnings Flat, Revenue Up as Company Stays on Track (Portland Business Journal, OR)

California: Environmental Hurdle Adds a Year to SMUD’s Massive $800 Million Hydroelectric Project (Sacramento Business Journal, CA)

Which Countries Have The Most Nuclear Reactors Under Construction? (Forbes Magazine)

Stealing Electricity to Power Phones is a Crime, But Solution Offered for Homeless Women (Oregonian, Portland)

FISH & WILDLIFE

British Columbia: Sockeye Face ‘Catastrophic’ Collapse in South Okanagan (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

100,000 Fish Die from Drought at Green River Hatchery (Longview Daily News, WA)

Lake Wenatchee Sockeye Salmon Fishery to Open (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

Some Man-Made Rock Dams Being Removed from Area Rivers (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

Oregon Passes Sage Grouse Development Rules (Northwest Public Radio)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Yakima Basin Water Plan Heads for U-S Senate Panel (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Seattle Running Out of Water Quicker Than We Thought (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

55,000 Streetlights, $1.5 Million in Savings: Portland LED Project Sets a Solid Pace (Portland Business Journal, OR)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Businesses Wary as Inslee Rolls Out Plan to Reduce Carbon Emissions in Washington State (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

Inslee: I’ll Use My Authority to Impose Cap on Emissions in Washington State (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Later Deadline Expected in Obama’s Climate Plan (NY Times)

Mayor Details Portland’s Plans to Battle Climate Change Following Vatican Trip (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

New Quick-Charging Station ‘Electric Avenue’ Opens in Portland (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Still Offline: U-S Non-Internet Users Stuck at 15 Percent (Yahoo! Tech)

Microsoft Launches Windows 10 with an Eye on Mobile Market (Reuters)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Twitter Shares Fall as Growth of Monthly Users Slows (Reuters)

Facebook’s Ascent Has Investors Betting on More Gains (Reuters)

GENERAL NEWS

Court Rejects Claim over Goat Goring in Olympic National Park (Associated Press)

Washington State to Sell Former Island Park to Squaxin Island Tribe (Olympian - Paywall Advisory)

Washington State Patrol Considers Larger Academy Class Size (Associated Press)

DIVERSIONS

First Blue Moon since 2012 Will Cross Sky on Friday

Seven Incredible Viewpoints & Stops Along Hood Canal

Tom Brady is ‘Very Disappointed’ That NFL Will Uphold Deflategate Ban

Cat Found Alive aboard Sunken Boat Pulled from Lake Havasu

SONG OF THE DAY

Bill Monroe - Blue Moon of Kentucky

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.

Tuesday, July 28, 2015

Energy News Digest for July 28, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for July 28, 2015

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:

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Google Lays Groundwork for another Data Center in the Dalles (Oregonian, Portland)

Washington Regulators Examine Cost of Closing Puget Sound Coal Facilities (Utility Dive)

Pacific Power’s High-Energy Parent Joins Climate Change Fight (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Will the Pacific Northwest Have a Water Problem This Fall? (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

Inslee Weighs Action on Climate Change against ‘Poison Pill’ In Washington State Transportation Bill (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Washington Regulators Examine Cost of Closing Puget Sound Coal Facilities
  • Green Groups Split with Cantwell on Senate Energy Bill
  • New Study Highlights Impact of Increased Electricity Prices
  • FERC’s 2015 Energy Primer Reflects Changes in Energy Markets
  • Despite Court Setbacks, Michigan Smart-Meter Opponents ‘Not Going Away’
  • Why We Need Nuclear Power
  • Will the Pacific Northwest Have a Water Problem This Fall?
  • Capitol Land Trust Moves Forward on Black River, Goldsborough Creek & Nelson Family Ranch Projects
  • Pacific Northwest Tribal Members Report Early Start to Huckleberry Season
  • Buyer Beware of Solar Sales Pitches
  • Expansion-Minded Sacramento Biomass Company Takes Over Connecticut Plant
  • For Those without Electricity Solar is Shining Brighter
  • Spring & Summer Energy-Saving Tips
  • Let There Be More Light for Surprise Winner
  • Pacific Power’s High-Energy Parent Joins Climate Change Fight
  • Google Lays Groundwork for another Data Center in the Dalles
  • Wired to Fail
  • AT&T Fumes Over $100M FCC Fine for Throttling Unlimited Users
  • Google Pulling Back on Social Network as Key User Gateway
  • LinkedIn, Notorious for Sending Too Many Emails, Cuts Back
  • The Surprising Way Smartphones Are Changing the Way We Shop
  • Inslee Weighs Action on Climate Change against ‘Poison Pill’ In Washington State Transportation Bill
  • Editorial: Inslee: Don’t Forfeit Washington State Green Projects for Fuel Mandate
  • Puget Sound Cities Activate Drought Plans as River Levels Drop
  • City of Shelton, Mason County & EDC Talk Use of Simpson Mill Closure Relief Funds
  • Downtown Shelton Port-A-Potty Pilot Project Proposed
  • Pacific Northwest True Crime Writer Ann Rule Dead at 83
WORD OF THE DAY

Effulgence • \ih-FULL-junss\ • Noun - Radiant splendor: brilliance

The attending flacks stood in awe of their Chief Operating Officer’s dazzling effulgence. The rollout of a new light-emitting diode disco cape was apparently a huge success, with sparking lights from the COO’s clothes sending iridescent reflections off the mirror ball onto the slack-jawed faces of the media elites, whom had been called to witness the event.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Washington Regulators Examine Cost of Closing Puget Sound Coal Facilities (Utility Dive)

Green Groups Split with Cantwell on Senate Energy Bill (National Journal)

New Study Highlights Impact of Increased Electricity Prices (National Rural Electric Cooperative Association)

FERC’s 2015 Energy Primer Reflects Changes in Energy Markets (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)

Despite Court Setbacks, Michigan Smart-Meter Opponents ‘Not Going Away’ (Midwest Energy News)

Why We Need Nuclear Power – Some scientists are calling for 100 percent renewable energy, that’s the wrong approach (Mother Jones)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Will the Pacific Northwest Have a Water Problem This Fall? (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

Capitol Land Trust Moves Forward on Black River, Goldsborough Creek & Nelson Family Ranch Projects (Thurston Talks, Olympia, WA)

Pacific Northwest Tribal Members Report Early Start to Huckleberry Season (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Buyer Beware of Solar Sales Pitches (Electric Co-op Today)

Expansion-Minded Sacramento Biomass Company Takes Over Connecticut Plant (Sacramento Business Journal, CA)

For Those without Electricity Solar is Shining Brighter (Christian Science Monitor)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Spring & Summer Energy-Saving Tips (Breaking Energy)

Let There Be More Light for Surprise Winner (Electric Co-op Today)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Pacific Power’s High-Energy Parent Joins Climate Change Fight (Portland Business Journal, OR)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Google Lays Groundwork for another Data Center in the Dalles (Oregonian, Portland)

Wired to Fail – How a little known agency mishandled several billion dollars of stimulus money trying to expand broadband coverage to rural communities (Politico)

AT&T Fumes Over $100M FCC Fine for Throttling Unlimited Users (Broadband Reports)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Google Pulling Back on Social Network as Key User Gateway (SF Chronicle)

LinkedIn, Notorious for Sending Too Many Emails, Cuts Back (NY Times)

The Surprising Way Smartphones Are Changing the Way We Shop (SF Chronicle)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Inslee Weighs Action on Climate Change against ‘Poison Pill’ In Washington State Transportation Bill (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Editorial: Inslee: Don’t Forfeit Washington State Green Projects for Fuel Mandate (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

GENERAL NEWS

Puget Sound Cities Activate Drought Plans as River Levels Drop (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

City of Shelton, Mason County & EDC Talk Use of Simpson Mill Closure Relief Funds (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Downtown Shelton Port-A-Potty Pilot Project Proposed (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Pacific Northwest True Crime Writer Ann Rule Dead at 83 (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

DIVERSIONS

Man’s Selfie with Rattlesnake Lands Him $150,000 Hospital Bill

Peaches or Plums? Tree Bears 40 Kinds of Fruit

ATM Workers Forget Bag of Cash, Man Drives Off with $150,000

Fugitive’s Role in Horror Film Leads to His Olympia Arrest

SONG OF THE DAY

Somebody That I Used to Know – Walk off the Earth

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.