Friday, August 7, 2015

Energy News Digest for August 5, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for August 5, 2015

How a ‘Lazy Jet Stream’ is Affecting Pacific Northwest Weather (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Google Wins Approval from The Dalles, Wasco County for New Data Center Tax Deal (Oregonian, Portland)

U-S Senate Bill Would Block EPA’s Final Rule on Carbon Dioxide from Power Plants (American Public Power Association)

Rural Utilities Struggle to Be Optimistic about EPA Climate Rules (Washington Examiner)

Coho Fuel Good Catches Off Southern Washington Coast (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Repair Work to Close U-S 101 Lane & Ramp in Shelton (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • U-S Senate Bill Would Block EPA’s Final Rule on Carbon Dioxide from Power Plants
  • Will the Clean Power Plan Actually Change Anything in the Power Sector?
  • Does Apple Lie About How It Powers Its Data Centers?
  • Moody’s assigns A1 to Skamania County PUD’s Revenue Bonds
  • Fitch Affirms Eugene Water & Electric Board’s Bonds Bonds at ‘A+’; Outlook Stable
  • Bonneville Power Administration’s Transmission GIS & Remote Sensing Team Recognized by Industry Leaders
  • Entergy: NRC Approves Step in Eliminating EPZ at Vermont Yankee
  • Electricity Is More than the Bill – Let’s Tell Our Customers
  • PG&E’s Female Engineers Take Part in Social Media Campaign to Help Break Tech Stereotypes
  • Coho Fuel Good Catches Off Southern Washington Coast
  • Heat Kills 5,400 Fish at Whatcom Falls Hatchery
  • Warm Water Puts British Columbia’s Sockeye Run at Risk on Un-Dammed Fraser River
  • British Columbia: Coho at Risk on Sunshine Coast
  • Jellyfish Boom Prompts Research By Plane & Boat
  • Clallam PUD Sets Limits on Customers Using Port Angeles Water
  • Three Sewer Plants in Mason County Recognized for Perfect Performance
  • Watershed Study: Septic Tanks Aren’t Keeping Fecal Bacteria from Rivers, Lakes
  • From The Mississippi to the Ganges, River Deltas Are in Major Trouble
  • Flathead Electric Cooperative Bringing Renewable Energy Options to Northwest Montana
  • Community Solar Projects Are Popping Up in Wisconsin
  • The Other Death Spiral Utilities Are Beginning to Deal With
  • Idaho Falls Power to Install LED Lights
  • Marijuana Growers Warned Not to Use Illegal Pesticides – Which Is Nearly All of Them
  • Oregon Marijuana Growers Focus on Branding to Fetch Premium Prices for What They Say is Premium Product
  • More on the Cover Story: A Pot Pro’s Take on Potent Power Bills
  • Rural Utilities Struggle to Be Optimistic about EPA Climate Rules
  • Will the Clean Power Plan Make Every State Look More Like California?
  • Chart: All the Emissions, State by State
  • Monthly Power Sector Carbon Dioxide Emissions Reach 27-Year Low in April
  • How Dirty Is Your Air? This Map Shows You
  • Editorial: ‘Electric Avenue’ Long-Term Loophole Raises Questions about Parking Use
  • River to Return to Work Powering Minneapolis Industrial Lofts
  • Google Wins Approval from The Dalles, Wasco County for New Data Center Tax Deal
  • Fast Fibre-Optic Internet Arrives in Many Small Towns before Big Cities
  • Still Use a Landline? FCC Voting on New Phone Rules
  • Here’s the Incredible Social Buzz Arby’s Has Created Around Jon Stewart’s Departure
  • How to Grow Your Facebook Fans Without a Budget
  • Money Speaks: Boeing, General Electric Cut Off Donations to Republicans Blocking Export-Import Bank
  • City of Yakima Says Ex-Employee on Hook for Cupcake Bill
  • Repair Work to Close U-S 101 Lane & Ramp in Shelton
  • Citizen Comment on Simpson Mill Site Demolition Sought
  • 126 People Used Lethal Prescriptions in Washington State in 2014
  • Washington State’s Community College Enrollment Has Dwindled — But It’s a Good Thing
  • Feds: ‘Music Wood’ Poachers Targeted Washington Old Growth Maples in Lewis County
  • Here Comes the Perseid Meteor Shower!
  • How Jon Stewart Ended His Long Run as Host on ‘The Daily Show’
WORD OF THE DAY

Gumption • \GUMP-shun\ • Noun – 1: common sense, horse sense 2: enterprise, initiative.

Expertly guiding his team of six horses, the wizened stagecoach driver suspiciously eyed the fresh-faced guard assigned to watch over the chest of gold nuggets stashed under the wildly swaying seat. He absently shifted his quid of chewing tobacco and spat at a hovering fly, all the time wondering of the guard, nicknamed “Buttercup,” would have the gumption to protect the treasure on board the coach, or flee at the first sign of robbers or restive natives.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

U-S Senate Bill Would Block EPA’s Final Rule on Carbon Dioxide from Power Plants (American Public Power Association)

Will the Clean Power Plan Actually Change Anything in the Power Sector? (Utility Dive)

Does Apple Lie About How It Powers Its Data Centers? “…At its facilities in the Pacific Northwest…use a steady supply of very green renewable energy. Over 40 percent of the hydroelectric power generated in the United States comes from the Columbia River Basin…” (ZD-Net)

Moody’s assigns A1 to Skamania County PUD’s Revenue Bonds (Moody’s Investor Service)

Fitch Affirms Eugene Water & Electric Board’s Bonds Bonds at ‘A+’; Outlook Stable (BusinessWire)

Bonneville Power Administration’s Transmission GIS & Remote Sensing Team Recognized by Industry Leaders (Bonneville Power Administration)

Entergy: NRC Approves Step in Eliminating EPZ at Vermont Yankee (Berkshire Eagle, VT)

Electricity Is More than the Bill – Let’s Tell Our Customers (American Public Power Association)

PG&E’s Female Engineers Take Part in Social Media Campaign to Help Break Tech Stereotypes (Pacific Gas & Electric, Currents)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Coho Fuel Good Catches Off Southern Washington Coast (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Heat Kills 5,400 Fish at Whatcom Falls Hatchery (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

Warm Water Puts British Columbia’s Sockeye Run at Risk on Un-Dammed Fraser River (Vancouver Sun, BC)

British Columbia: Coho at Risk on Sunshine Coast (Vancouver Sun, BC)

Jellyfish Boom Prompts Research By Plane & Boat (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Clallam PUD Sets Limits on Customers Using Port Angeles Water (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Three Sewer Plants in Mason County Recognized for Perfect Performance (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Watershed Study: Septic Tanks Aren’t Keeping Fecal Bacteria from Rivers, Lakes (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

From The Mississippi to the Ganges, River Deltas Are in Major Trouble (Washington Post)

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Flathead Electric Cooperative Bringing Renewable Energy Options to Northwest Montana (KPAX-TV, Missoula, MT)

Community Solar Projects Are Popping Up in Wisconsin (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, WI)

The Other Death Spiral Utilities Are Beginning to Deal With (Utility Dive)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Idaho Falls Power to Install LED Lights (KIFI-TV, Idaho Falls,)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Marijuana Growers Warned Not to Use Illegal Pesticides – Which Is Nearly All of Them (Oregonian, Portland)

Oregon Marijuana Growers Focus on Branding to Fetch Premium Prices for What They Say is Premium Product (Oregonian, Portland)

More on the Cover Story: A Pot Pro’s Take on Potent Power Bills (Denver Business Journal, CO)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Rural Utilities Struggle to Be Optimistic about EPA Climate Rules (Washington Examiner)

Will the Clean Power Plan Make Every State Look More Like California? (Christian Science Monitor)

Chart: All the Emissions, State by State (Grist Online)

Monthly Power Sector Carbon Dioxide Emissions Reach 27-Year Low in April (U-S Energy Information Administration)

How Dirty Is Your Air? This Map Shows You (Grist Online)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Editorial: ‘Electric Avenue’ Long-Term Loophole Raises Questions about Parking Use (Oregonian, Portland)

River to Return to Work Powering Minneapolis Industrial Lofts (Midwest Energy News)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Google Wins Approval from The Dalles, Wasco County for New Data Center Tax Deal (Oregonian, Portland)

Fast Fibre-Optic Internet Arrives in Many Small Towns before Big Cities (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

Still Use a Landline? FCC Voting on New Phone Rules (Associated Press)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Here’s the Incredible Social Buzz Arby’s Has Created Around Jon Stewart’s Departure (AdWeek)

How to Grow Your Facebook Fans Without a Budget (Social Media Examiner)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Money Speaks: Boeing, General Electric Cut Off Donations to Republicans Blocking Export-Import Bank (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

City of Yakima Says Ex-Employee on Hook for Cupcake Bill (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

Repair Work to Close U-S 101 Lane & Ramp in Shelton (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Citizen Comment on Simpson Mill Site Demolition Sought (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

126 People Used Lethal Prescriptions in Washington State in 2014 (Associated Press)

Washington State’s Community College Enrollment Has Dwindled — But It’s a Good Thing (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

Feds: ‘Music Wood’ Poachers Targeted Washington Old Growth Maples in Lewis County (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

Here Comes the Perseid Meteor Shower! (USA Today)

How Jon Stewart Ended His Long Run as Host on ‘The Daily Show’ (Christian Science Monitor)

DIVERSIONS

‘Monty Python & the Holy Grail’ Anniversary: Here’s When It’s Coming Back to Theaters

A White Watermelon? Check Art History to See What Food Used to Look Like

Man Throws Away, Recovers Lottery Tickets worth $10,000

George Fox University Nerds Make Giant ‘iWheel’ from 36 iMac Boxes

SONG OF THE DAY

Journey – Wheel in the Sky

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.