Thursday, February 5, 2015

Energy News Digest for February 5, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for February 5, 2015

Mason County Flood Watch

Special Weather Statement – Rain!

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

As Scandal Subsides, Pacific Northwest Energy Giant Turns Its Attention to the Future (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Tacoma Public Utilities Named Tops for Business (South Sound Business Examiner, WA)

Shelton’s Conversion to LED Lights, with Mason PUD 3 (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Oregon: Umatilla County Says Proposed Wind Farm Lacks Detail on Transmission (East Oregonian, Pendleton, OR)

Rope Tricks: Washington Senate Votes to Legalize Hemp Farming as Oregon Starts Writing Permits (Northwest Public Radio)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  1. As Scandal Subsides, Pacific Northwest Energy Giant Turns Its Attention to the Future
  2. Tacoma Public Utilities Named Tops for Business
  3. British Columbia to Restore Rate-Setting Power to Utilities Commission after Critical Report
  4. Mason PUD 1 Celebrates 80 Years of Public Service
  5. Portland Water & Sewer Utility Costs on the Rise Again
  6. North Dakota: Fargo Wants to Bury Old Power Lines, But Price Is Steep for Sights Unseen
  7. APPA CEO to Participate in FERC Conference on Clean Power Plan
  8. Obama Administration Proposed Budget Ends Strategic Review of Tennessee Valley Authority
  9. Indiana Senate Considers Limits on Municipal Electricity Service Annexations
  10. Natural Gas Slumps to 29-Month Low on Mixed Weather Outlook
  11. Maps: Oklahoma’s Earthquake Problem is Getting Worse
  12. Summer Chinook Fishing Proposals Split Anglers
  13. Barges Sit for Hours behind Locks That May Take Decades to Replace
  14. Oregon: Umatilla County Says Proposed Wind Farm Lacks Detail on Transmission
  15. British Columbia Firms See a Future in Power Storage Systems
  16. Wahkiakum PUD Commission Considers Renewable Energy Program
  17. Op/Ed: Wind Production Tax Credit Opposition Seeks Skewed Energy Market
  18. Wisconsin: Scott Walker’s Budget Includes $250,000 to Study ‘Wind Energy System-Related Health Issues’
  19. Shelton’s Conversion to LED Lights, with Mason PUD 3
  20. New LED Lights at Safeco Field Get a First Big Test
  21. Energy Adviser: Recycling Appliances Pays Off in Many Ways
  22. Water Heater Fix Part of Keystone Bill
  23. Rope Tricks: Washington Senate Votes to Legalize Hemp Farming as Oregon Starts Writing Permits
  24. Marijuana Bill Would Significantly Change Washington State’s Criminal Laws
  25. Real Estate Issues in a Flourishing Cannabis Market: Q&A with Oregon Broker Zack Stratford
  26. California: Medical Marijuana Lawsuit Is Not Just Smoke
  27. Washington State GOP Offers Its Own Slate of Clean-Energy Bills
  28. Top Republicans Say They Want to Reduce Washington State Carbon Emissions, Too
  29. Opinion: Washington State Cap & Trade, or No Cap & All Tax?
  30. FERC & EPA’s Clean Power Plan
  31. Governor Inslee, Some Washington State Legislators Pushing Electric-Car Ownership
  32. U-S Lawmakers Push Bill to Reform Renewable Fuel Mandate
  33. FCC Plans Strong Hand to Regulate the Internet
  34. News Guide: Net Neutrality & What It Could Mean to Your Life Online & Your Pocketbook
  35. Wireless Industry’s Hilariously Awful Anti-Title II Video
  36. Inside Idaho’s Broadband Mess
  37. Complaining Comcast Customer Renamed “Super B**ch” on Her Cable Bill
  38. Twitter & Google Said to Reach Deal on Search
  39. Tricked into Quoting Hitler, Coca-Cola Suspends Automated Tweet Campaign
  40. Editorial: Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber Must Resign
  41. Triple Atmospheric River Event to Hit the West Coast
  42. West Coast Port Lockout Could Be Days Away
  43. Lawsuit Challenges Tribe’s Control of Lake Quinault
  44. Anthem Health Insurer Says Cyberattack Stole Data of Millions
  45. U-S Senator: Allow Restaurant Employees to Skip Hand-Washing
  46. Test Reveals Importance of Washing Hands to Stay Healthy
  47. NBC’s Brian Williams Apologizes for Falsely Claiming He Was Fired on In Iraq
WORD OF THE DAY

Restive • \RES-tiv\ • adjective – 1: stubbornly resisting control: balky *2: marked by impatience or uneasiness: fidgety

Albert tossed and turned all night. Finally, in his restive state he drifted off into a fitful sleep and dreamed about eating a giant marshmallow. He awoke the next morning; a cold sweat covering his body. Then he made a horrendous discovery under the covers at the end of his bed: the dismembered head of the Sta-Puft marshmallow man, swimming in a pool of marshmallow cream. Ahhhhhhhhhh Ahhhhhhhh. Half a continent away, the owner of “Generic Marshmallow, Inc.” was enjoying a wistful smile…. (Sorry Mr. Coppola)

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

As Scandal Subsides, Pacific Northwest Energy Giant Turns Its Attention to the Future (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Tacoma Public Utilities Named Tops for Business (South Sound Business Examiner, WA)

British Columbia to Restore Rate-Setting Power to Utilities Commission after Critical Report (Globe & Mail, Canada)

Mason PUD 1 Celebrates 80 Years of Public Service (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Portland Water & Sewer Utility Costs on the Rise Again (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

North Dakota: Fargo Wants to Bury Old Power Lines, But Price Is Steep for Sights Unseen (Inforum, Fargo, ND)

APPA CEO to Participate in FERC Conference on Clean Power Plan (American Public Power Association)

Obama Administration Proposed Budget Ends Strategic Review of Tennessee Valley Authority (American Public Power Association)

Indiana Senate Considers Limits on Municipal Electricity Service Annexations (Utility Dive)

Natural Gas Slumps to 29-Month Low on Mixed Weather Outlook (Bloomberg News)

Maps: Oklahoma’s Earthquake Problem is Getting Worse (Washington Post)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Summer Chinook Fishing Proposals Split Anglers (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Barges Sit for Hours behind Locks That May Take Decades to Replace (NY Times)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Oregon: Umatilla County Says Proposed Wind Farm Lacks Detail on Transmission (East Oregonian, Pendleton, OR)

British Columbia Firms See a Future in Power Storage Systems (Vancouver Sun, BC)

Wahkiakum PUD Commission Considers Renewable Energy Program (The Wahkiakum Eagle, Cathlamet, WA)

Op/Ed: Wind Production Tax Credit Opposition Seeks Skewed Energy Market (The Hill, Washington, DC)

Wisconsin: Scott Walker’s Budget Includes $250,000 to Study ‘Wind Energy System-Related Health Issues’ (Huffington Post)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Shelton’s Conversion to LED Lights, with Mason PUD 3 (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

New LED Lights at Safeco Field Get a First Big Test (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Energy Adviser: Recycling Appliances Pays Off in Many Ways (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Water Heater Fix Part of Keystone Bill (Electric Co-op Today)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Rope Tricks: Washington Senate Votes to Legalize Hemp Farming as Oregon Starts Writing Permits (Northwest Public Radio)

Marijuana Bill Would Significantly Change Washington State’s Criminal Laws (Seattle Post Intelligencer, WA)

Real Estate Issues in a Flourishing Cannabis Market: Q&A with Oregon Broker Zack Stratford (Marijuana Business Daily)

California: Medical Marijuana Lawsuit Is Not Just Smoke (Courthouse News Service)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Washington State GOP Offers Its Own Slate of Clean-Energy Bills (Seattle Times, WA – via National Wind Watch)

Top Republicans Say They Want to Reduce Washington State Carbon Emissions, Too (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

Opinion: Washington State Cap & Trade, or No Cap & All Tax? (Washington State Wire, Olympia, WA)

FERC & EPA’s Clean Power Plan (Breaking Energy)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Governor Inslee, Some Washington State Legislators Pushing Electric-Car Ownership (Associated Press)

U-S Lawmakers Push Bill to Reform Renewable Fuel Mandate (The Hill, Washington, DC)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

FCC Plans Strong Hand to Regulate the Internet (NY Times)

News Guide: Net Neutrality & What It Could Mean to Your Life Online & Your Pocketbook (U-S News & World Report)

Wireless Industry’s Hilariously Awful Anti-Title II Video (Broadband Reports)

Inside Idaho’s Broadband Mess (KIVI-TV, Nampa, ID)

Complaining Comcast Customer Renamed “Super B**ch” on Her Cable Bill (Consumerist)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Twitter & Google Said to Reach Deal on Search (NY Times)

Tricked into Quoting Hitler, Coca-Cola Suspends Automated Tweet Campaign (AdWeek)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Editorial: Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber Must Resign “…Who knew following the trail of ‘clean energy’ money could make you feel so dirty?...” (Oregonian, Portland)

GENERAL NEWS

Triple Atmospheric River Event to Hit the West Coast (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

West Coast Port Lockout Could Be Days Away (Associated Press)

Lawsuit Challenges Tribe’s Control of Lake Quinault (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

Anthem Health Insurer Says Cyberattack Stole Data of Millions (NY Times)

U-S Senator: Allow Restaurant Employees to Skip Hand-Washing (Associated Press)

Test Reveals Importance of Washing Hands to Stay Healthy (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

NBC’s Brian Williams Apologizes for Falsely Claiming He Was Fired on In Iraq (Seattle Post Intelligencer, WA)

DIVERSIONS

Hello Vancouver! Washington’s Most Romantic City? It’s Not ‘Sleepless’ or ‘50 Shades’ Seattle

Man Who Lived Modestly Leaves Millions in Surprise Donations

Ohio Man Pleads Guilty to Selling Fake Urine for Drug Tests – “Urine Luck” one of the varieties

Gun Found Inside Book Donated to Maine Goodwill Store

SONG OF THE DAY

John Paul Young - Love Is in the Air

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.