Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Energy News Digest for July 15, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for July 15, 2015

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Record Warm Ocean Temperatures Pose Threat to B-C Salmon – Salmon face double threat from weather changes (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

Washington State Governor Blames GOP for Climate Failures (Associated Press)

California: Marin Clean Energy Reaches to Idaho, Oregon for Credits (Marin Independent Journal, CA)

Tieton Firefighters Can Only Watch as Live Power Wires Keep Them from Blaze (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Marijuana Opponents Using Racketeering Law to Fight Industry (Associated Press)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Tieton Firefighters Can Only Watch as Live Power Wires Keep Them from Blaze
  • Rain Causes Pole Fires, Power Outages around Spokane
  • Small Nuclear Reactors: Search for Washington State Site is Planned
  • Moody’s Maintains Aa3 on Tacoma Power’s Electric System Revenue Bonds – Outlook Stable
  • British Columbia: International Brotherhood of Electrical Works & BC Hydro Ratify Agreement
  • State Auditor: Snoqualmie Pass PUD Head Misused $20K Worth of District Assets
  • Front Porch: Snohomish PUD Announces Grants
  • Bonneville Power Administration Shares New Collection of Historical Films
  • New Mexico: Utility Says Rejecting Plan Would Force Closure of Power Plant
  • When the Lights Went Out in New York: A Tale of Two Nights
  • These Are the Ten Dirtiest Power Companies in the U-S
  • Record Warm Ocean Temperatures Pose Threat to B-C Salmon
  • River Temperatures Prompt Call to Close Fisheries
  • Sage Grouse Flies into U-S Species Protection Crossfire
  • Report: Canadian Wildlife Officer Suspended for Refusing to Kill Bear Cubs
  • Water Theft is Symptom of Bigger Troubles in Wapato Irrigation Project
  • California: Marin Clean Energy Reaches to Idaho, Oregon for Credits
  • Minnesota Community Solar Coming to Xcel Energy Customers
  • Harnessing the Power of the Wind: ‘It’s a Much Better Alternative’
  • Yelm High Class Explores Wind, Solar Technology
  • Amazon Cloud Services to Buy Power Generated by Wind Farm
  • Oklahoma: Osage Nation Prays for the End of Wind Developments
  • Solar Industry Rallies in Support of Federal Tax Incentives
  • Michigan Cities Gearing Up for Fight with Utilities over LED Streetlights
  • Three Questions with a Portland General Electric Smart Grid Expert
  • Marijuana Opponents Using Racketeering Law to Fight Industry
  • Severe Drought Could Hamper California Recreational Marijuana Efforts
  • Fifteen Unlicensed Dispensaries Targeted near Seattle
  • Washington State Governor Blames GOP for Climate Failures
  • Carbon Tax Initiative in Washington State
  • Washington State Lawmakers Extend Sales Tax Break on Electric Vehicles
  • Tesla Co-Founder Sees Big Changes for Utilities
  • Who Killed the Urban Electric Car?
  • Port of Walla Walla’s Broadband Plans Back to Square One
  • Comcast’s Super-Fast Internet Costs $300 a Month
  • Here’s What High Speed Municipal Broadband Looks Like in a Town 200 Miles Away – Let’s Do This, Seattle
  • Obama to Announce Project for More Broadband in Public Housing
  • Comcast to Launch $15-Per-Month Internet TV Service
  • Here’s How Data Caps Really Affect Your Internet Use, According to Data
  • Small Businesses Struggle to Prove Facebook ROI: New Research
  • Thirteen Vintage WPA Posters from the Bay Area
  • Structure Fire on Harstine Island
  • Teen Plane Crash Survivor Arrives Home; Skagit County Searchers Find Wreckage
  • British Columbia to Consider Impounding Cars If Drivers Throw Cigarette Butts
  • California: Recreational Drones Pose Increasing Risk to Firefighting
  • Shelton at Number 19 – These 20 Places in Washington Make the Best Sandwiches EVER
WORD OF THE DAY

Ambuscade • \AM-buss-kade\ • noun - A trap in which concealed persons lie in wait to attack by surprise; also: the persons so concealed or their position

The intricate maze built of copy-paper boxes by the utility’s information services staff had a dual purpose: funnel abusers of the print-limit policy into a single line; and make escape past the carefully organized ambuscade of printer police virtually impossible. The camouflage of those lying in wait was impressive…at first glance; they appeared as innocent boxes of copy paper. However, tear-away panels stood ready to release an onslaught of hidden IS workers at the ambush point.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Tieton Firefighters Can Only Watch as Live Power Wires Keep Them from Blaze (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Rain Causes Pole Fires, Power Outages around Spokane (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

Small Nuclear Reactors: Search for Washington State Site is Planned (Crosscut Seattle)

Moody’s Maintains Aa3 on Tacoma Power’s Electric System Revenue Bonds – Outlook Stable (Moody’s Investors Service)

British Columbia: International Brotherhood of Electrical Works & BC Hydro Ratify Agreement (Electric Energy Online)

State Auditor: Snoqualmie Pass PUD Head Misused $20K Worth of District Assets (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

Front Porch: Snohomish PUD Announces Grants (Everett Herald, WA)

Bonneville Power Administration Shares New Collection of Historical Films (Bonneville Power Administration)

New Mexico: Utility Says Rejecting Plan Would Force Closure of Power Plant (Associated Press)

When the Lights Went Out in New York: A Tale of Two Nights (Huffington Post)

These Are the Ten Dirtiest Power Companies in the U-S (Grist Online)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Record Warm Ocean Temperatures Pose Threat to B-C Salmon – Salmon face double threat from weather changes (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

River Temperatures Prompt Call to Close Fisheries (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Sage Grouse Flies into U-S Species Protection Crossfire (Reuters)

Report: Canadian Wildlife Officer Suspended for Refusing to Kill Bear Cubs (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Water Theft is Symptom of Bigger Troubles in Wapato Irrigation Project (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

RENEWABLE ENERGY

California: Marin Clean Energy Reaches to Idaho, Oregon for Credits (Marin Independent Journal, CA)

Minnesota Community Solar Coming to Xcel Energy Customers (Minnesota Public Radio)

Harnessing the Power of the Wind: ‘It’s a Much Better Alternative’ (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

Yelm High Class Explores Wind, Solar Technology (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

Amazon Cloud Services to Buy Power Generated by Wind Farm (Associated Press)

Oklahoma: Osage Nation Prays for the End of Wind Developments (Tulsa World, OK)

Solar Industry Rallies in Support of Federal Tax Incentives (Triangle Business Journal, NC)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Michigan Cities Gearing Up for Fight with Utilities over LED Streetlights (Midwest Energy News)

Three Questions with a Portland General Electric Smart Grid Expert (Portland Business Journal, OR)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Marijuana Opponents Using Racketeering Law to Fight Industry (Associated Press)

Severe Drought Could Hamper California Recreational Marijuana Efforts (Marijuana Business Daily)

Fifteen Unlicensed Dispensaries Targeted near Seattle (Marijuana Business Daily)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Washington State Governor Blames GOP for Climate Failures (Associated Press)

Carbon Tax Initiative in Washington State (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Washington State Lawmakers Extend Sales Tax Break on Electric Vehicles (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

Tesla Co-Founder Sees Big Changes for Utilities (Electric Co-op Today)

Who Killed the Urban Electric Car? (The Energy Collective)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Port of Walla Walla’s Broadband Plans Back to Square One (Walla Walla Union Bulletin, WA)

Comcast’s Super-Fast Internet Costs $300 a Month (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

Here’s What High Speed Municipal Broadband Looks Like in a Town 200 Miles Away – Let’s Do This, Seattle (The Stranger – PG-13 Language)

Obama to Announce Project for More Broadband in Public Housing (Reuters)

Comcast to Launch $15-Per-Month Internet TV Service (Associated Press)

Here’s How Data Caps Really Affect Your Internet Use, According to Data (Washington Post)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Small Businesses Struggle to Prove Facebook ROI: New Research (Social Media Examiner)

Thirteen Vintage WPA Posters from the Bay Area (SF Chronicle, CA)

GENERAL NEWS

Structure Fire on Harstine Island (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Teen Plane Crash Survivor Arrives Home; Skagit County Searchers Find Wreckage (Associated Press)

British Columbia to Consider Impounding Cars If Drivers Throw Cigarette Butts (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

California: Recreational Drones Pose Increasing Risk to Firefighting (Sacramento Bee, CA)

Shelton at Number 19 – These 20 Places in Washington Make the Best Sandwiches EVER (Only in Your State)

DIVERSIONS

Pluto’s Not Just a Dwarf Planet, It’s Now a Meme

The Danes Are Going to Complete a Karmic Circle by Recycling Urine into Beer

Guy Adopts Two Puppies, Finds Out They’re Actually Bears – Oops

Judge Rules in Battle of the Ukulele Orchestras

SONG OF THE DAY

John Lennon – Instant Karma!

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.