Monday, June 1, 2015

Energy News Digest for June 1, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for June 1, 2015

Small Craft Advisory in Effect for Puget Sound & Hood Canal

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

Strong Earthquake Strikes Off Oregon Coast (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

Washington State Grips for Tough Summer amid Drought (Associated Press)

Seattle City Light Crews Remove Drone Stuck in High-Voltage Transmission Line (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

Latest Status Report Shows Sea Lion Presence at Bonneville Dam This Year Smashing Single Day Records (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

Temporary Layoff Notices Go to Washington State Employee Unions (Northwest Public Radio)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Seattle City Light Crews Remove Drone Stuck in High-Voltage Transmission Line
  • British Columbia’s Peace River Dam Site Still Waiting on Permits Delayed by Treaty 8 Group
  • Idaho: Barber Dam Operators Make Changes after Accident Briefly Drained Boise River
  • Michelle Manary: Bonneville Power Administration Selects New Transmission Marketing & Sales VP
  • Corps Announces Extended Columbia/Snake Lock System Closure 2016-17 for Repairs
  • Franklin PUD Considers Electric Rate Increase
  • Billing Error Affects Online Seattle City Light Customers
  • Grant PUD Customer Service Survey Scheduled for June
  • Klamath Falls Public Utility District Debate Reignited
  • Mason PUD 3 Commission Report – May 26, 2015 Business Meeting
  • Utilities Accuse Grid Operator of ‘Massive, Unlawful’ Costs
  • Texas Co-ops to Build 24 Megawatt Hydropower Project
  • Latest Status Report Shows Sea Lion Presence at Bonneville Dam This Year Smashing Single Day Records
  • Oregon Aims to Double Its Fish Farming Industry to $23 Million
  • Washington State to Release Puget Sound Steelhead in Lakes, Not Rivers
  • Washington State Grips for Tough Summer amid Drought
  • EPA Water Rules Draw Applause, Jeers from All Corners of Oregon
  • California Residents Using Technology to #DroughtShame Their Neighbors
  • Oregon’s U-S Senator Requests Radar Update to Clear Way for Wind Energy
  • Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals OKs Southern California Wind Farm Project
  • Renewables Share of U-S Energy Consumption Highest Since 1930s
  • I Helped Pay for Some Solar Panels in New Jersey
  • Net Metering: The Dark Cloud in a Sunny Sky
  • Investors Turning Away from Green Energy
  • West Richland Being Lit with All LED Streetlights
  • Pot Shop Owner in Eastern Washington Opens Doors, Defying Local Ban
  • Error Could Force Oregon to Revoke Hemp Licenses
  • Hemp Industry Enters Second Year with Hazy Market Potential
  • How Climate Change Threatens the Western Grid, And What to Do About It
  • Reversing William Shatner's Idea: Moving California Agriculture to the Pacific Northwest
  • Columbia Biogas Pulls Plug on NE Portland Power Plant
  • EPA Can’t Shake Its Ethanol Headache
  • It's On: Intel And Altera Confirm $16.7 Billion Deal
  • Better Broadband at Better Prices? Welcome To Charter CEO's Fantasy
  • Survey Says: Everyone Still Hates Comcast’s, TWC’s Customer Service
  • Five Ways to Improve Your Facebook Organic Reach
  • High Court Throws Out Conviction for Facebook Threats
  • Millennials Rely on Facebook for Politics News More Than Anywhere Else
  • Facebook Finally Adds Animated GIFs to the News Feed ... but Not for Brand Pages
  • How to Make Your TV Commercials Look Epic, Even on Zero Budget
  • Temporary Layoff Notices Go to Washington State Employee Unions
  • Governor Inslee to Convene Washington Budget Negotiations
  • Strong Earthquake Strikes Off Oregon Coast
  • Nearly 200 Shelton Mill Workers Seek Aid, Information at Resource Fair
  • City of Shelton, Port of Shelton & Mason County Holding Joint Meeting
  • Shelton Pool Fund Raiser Started
  • Washington State Realtor of the Year from Mason County
WORD OF THE DAY

Vernal • \VERN-null\ • Adjective - 1: of, relating to, or occurring in the spring 2: fresh or new like the spring; also: youthful

A baby’s first smile
Heartwarming, vernal surprise
And no, it’s not gas

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Seattle City Light Crews Remove Drone Stuck in High-Voltage Transmission Line (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

British Columbia’s Peace River Dam Site Still Waiting on Permits Delayed by Treaty 8 Group (Globe & Mail, Canada)

Idaho: Barber Dam Operators Make Changes after Accident Briefly Drained Boise River (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

Michelle Manary: Bonneville Power Administration Selects New Transmission Marketing & Sales VP (Bonneville Power Administration)

Corps Announces Extended Columbia/Snake Lock System Closure 2016-17 for Repairs

Franklin PUD Considers Electric Rate Increase (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Billing Error Affects Online Seattle City Light Customers (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

Grant PUD Customer Service Survey Scheduled for June (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

Klamath Falls Public Utility District Debate Reignited (Klamath Falls Herald & News, OR)

Mason PUD 3 Commission Report – May 26, 2015 Business Meeting (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

Utilities Accuse Grid Operator of ‘Massive, Unlawful’ Costs (Midwest Energy News)

Texas Co-ops to Build 24 Megawatt Hydropower Project (Electric Co-op Today)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Latest Status Report Shows Sea Lion Presence at Bonneville Dam This Year Smashing Single Day Records (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

Oregon Aims to Double Its Fish Farming Industry to $23 Million (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Washington State to Release Puget Sound Steelhead in Lakes, Not Rivers (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Washington State Grips for Tough Summer amid Drought (Associated Press)

EPA Water Rules Draw Applause, Jeers from All Corners of Oregon (Portland Business Journal)

California Residents Using Technology to #DroughtShame Their Neighbors (Seattle Post Intelligencer)

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Oregon’s U-S Senator Requests Radar Update to Clear Way for Wind Energy (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals OKs Southern California Wind Farm Project (Courthouse News Service)

Renewables Share of U-S Energy Consumption Highest Since 1930s (U-S Energy Information Administration)

I Helped Pay for Some Solar Panels in New Jersey (Slate Magazine)

Net Metering: The Dark Cloud in a Sunny Sky (American Public Power Association)

Investors Turning Away from Green Energy (Christian Science Monitor)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

West Richland Being Lit with All LED Streetlights (Tri-City Herald, WA)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Pot Shop Owner in Eastern Washington Opens Doors, Defying Local Ban (Northwest Public Radio)

Error Could Force Oregon to Revoke Hemp Licenses (Marijuana Business Daily)

Hemp Industry Enters Second Year with Hazy Market Potential (Associated Press)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

How Climate Change Threatens the Western Grid, And What to Do About It “…planning reserve margin could be reduced from 18% to 14% during a future ten-year drought…” (Utility Dive)

Reversing William Shatner's Idea: Moving California Agriculture to the Pacific Northwest (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Columbia Biogas Pulls Plug on NE Portland Power Plant (Portland Business Journal, OR)

EPA Can’t Shake Its Ethanol Headache – The Obama administration proposed lowering the ethanol mandate, and nobody's happy (National Journal)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

It's On: Intel And Altera Confirm $16.7 Billion Deal (Oregonian, Portland)

Better Broadband at Better Prices? Welcome To Charter CEO's Fantasy (Los Angeles Times, CA)

Survey Says: Everyone Still Hates Comcast’s, TWC’s Customer Service (Consumerist)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Five Ways to Improve Your Facebook Organic Reach (Social Media Examiner)

High Court Throws Out Conviction for Facebook Threats (Associated Press)

Millennials Rely on Facebook for Politics News More Than Anywhere Else (Mashable)

Facebook Finally Adds Animated GIFs to the News Feed ... but Not for Brand Pages (AdWeek)

How to Make Your TV Commercials Look Epic, Even on Zero Budget – iStock by Getty Images has the solution (AdWeek)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Temporary Layoff Notices Go to Washington State Employee Unions (Northwest Public Radio)

Governor Inslee to Convene Washington Budget Negotiations (Northwest Public Radio)

GENERAL NEWS

Strong Earthquake Strikes Off Oregon Coast (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

Nearly 200 Shelton Mill Workers Seek Aid, Information at Resource Fair (Olympian - Paywall Advisory)

City of Shelton, Port of Shelton & Mason County Holding Joint Meeting (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Shelton Pool Fund Raiser Started (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Washington State Realtor of the Year from Mason County (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

DIVERSIONS

This Is How Fans of The Goonies Are Celebrating the Film’s 30th Anniversary

Vintage Apple Computer Worth $200,000 Dropped Off For Recycling

11,000 Marbles Running Through a Gigantic Maze Is Absolutely Deafening

Finally, an X-Wing Drone Is Added to the Fleet of DIY 'Star Wars' Airships

SONG OF THE DAY

Golden Earring – Radar Love

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.