Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Energy News Digest for August 11, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for August 11, 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

Drought is Impacting Electric Utilities “…So far, the Bonneville Power Administration continues to enjoy strong pools on the Columbia River…” (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

British Columbia Residents Push for More-Stable Reservoir Levels as Columbia River Treaty is Renegotiated (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Note to Utilities: Here’s Why 2015 is the ‘Tipping Point’ for Community Solar (Utility Dive)

Grays Harbor PUD Passes 2.5% Rate Increase (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

City of Shelton Considering LED Reader Boards (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)
http://masonwebtv.com/archives/16511

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Drought is Impacting Electric Utilities
  • British Columbia Residents Push for More-Stable Reservoir Levels as Columbia River Treaty is Renegotiated
  • Grays Harbor PUD Passes 2.5% Rate Increase
  • City of Shelton Considering LED Reader Boards
  • City of Shelton: Alternatives to Over-the-Road Banners
  • Smart Meters Pose Personal Surveillance Risks, Experts Say
  • U-S Senate Energy Package Focuses on Fossil Fuels & Electric Infrastructure
  • Cyberattacks & the Clean Power Plan
  • Back to the Drawing Board for Control of Oyster-Killing Shrimp
  • Note to Utilities: Here’s Why 2015 is the ‘Tipping Point’ for Community Solar
  • Million Dollar Solar Project Underway at Columbia Basin College
  • Editorial: Tri-Cities - Solar Program Adds another Energy Option
  • West Coast Wind Patterns Lead to Below-Normal Wind Generation Capacity Factors
  • Energy Department Reports Highlight Trends of Growing U-S Wind Energy Industry
  • Canadians Pull the Plug on Renewable Energy Scheme
  • Energy-Efficient Buildings worth $216 Million to Washington’s Economy, Create 3,800 Jobs
  • 34% of Americans Don’t Know LEDs Save Electricity
  • Marijuana Market Takes Root
  • Kittitas County: Local Marijuana Businesses Rake in Nearly $4 Million in Total Sales
  • State Legislators Tell Feds to Keep Hands Off Marijuana Policy
  • Chart of the Week: 72% Increase in Energy Use by Denver Marijuana Cultivation Sites since 2012
  • Doubts over Climate Change Link to Sun’s Activity
  • Editorial: Washington State Can Lead on Global Warming & Clean Energy
  • Op/Ed: Obama’s Latest Global Warming Plan Is about His Legacy, Not Policy
  • Where Electric Cars Will Drive Around in Poor Neighborhoods
  • Google Morphs into Alphabet; Investors Cheer Clarity
  • Intriguing & Surprising Digital Marketing Stats from the Past Week
  • Tips for Better Taking Smartphone Photos at Night – And in Bars
  • Ways Email is Embracing the Trends That Were Supposed to Make It Obsolete
  • Target Removing Gender Based Signs from Its Stores
  • Peabody Energy Tries to Strike Song Lyrics from Complaint: Welcome to the Streisand Effect
  • Shelton Transition Center Open for Simpson Lumber Company Employees
  • Grays Harbor, Mason, Pacific, among 35 Counties Eligible for Disaster Loans
  • Seattle City Council Votes to Adopt ‘Gun Violence Tax’
  • Q&A: Why Does Berkshire Hathaway Want to Buy Oregon-Based Precision Castparts?
  • Kudos to Smokin’ Mo’s in Shelton – Here Are 15 BBQ Joints in Washington State That Will Leave Your Mouth Watering Uncontrollably
WORD OF THE DAY

Sandbag • \SAND-bag \ • Verb – 1: to bank, stop up, or weight with sandbags 2a: to hit or stun with or as if with a sandbag b: to treat unfairly or harshly *3: to conceal or misrepresent one’s true position, potential, or intent especially in order to take advantage of

The dark, surging water of “Pressure Creek” kept rising, its oily surface hiding the destructive power pummeling the ever-higher pile of sandbags placed on the riverbank. As the velvety darkness fell on the “bucket-brigade” of volunteers, the foreman on the growing levee fell, sandbagged into unconsciousness by an unknown assailant. Suddenly atop the improvised dam appeared a man in deep purple robes, the fabric spangled with diamonds that shone like starlight on the darkest night. “Do not be afraid,” he bellowed to the sweaty, begrimed workers, “The waters will not pass this point.” Fortunately, the dark toil did not abate, as the experienced flood survivors knew that the peculiar “Lord of the Rings” fanboy was merely trying to sandbag them into believing that he was one of the mysterious wizards of middle-earth.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Drought is Impacting Electric Utilities “…So far, the Bonneville Power Administration continues to enjoy strong pools on the Columbia River…” (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

British Columbia Residents Push for More-Stable Reservoir Levels as Columbia River Treaty is Renegotiated (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Grays Harbor PUD Passes 2.5% Rate Increase (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

City of Shelton Considering LED Reader Boards (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)
http://masonwebtv.com/archives/16511

City of Shelton: Alternatives to Over-the-Road Banners (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Smart Meters Pose Personal Surveillance Risks, Experts Say (Fresno Bee, CA)

U-S Senate Energy Package Focuses on Fossil Fuels & Electric Infrastructure (Breaking Energy)

Cyberattacks & the Clean Power Plan (Morning Consult)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Back to the Drawing Board for Control of Oyster-Killing Shrimp (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Note to Utilities: Here’s Why 2015 is the ‘Tipping Point’ for Community Solar (Utility Dive)

Million Dollar Solar Project Underway at Columbia Basin College (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

Editorial: Tri-Cities - Solar Program Adds another Energy Option (Tri-City Herald, WA)

West Coast Wind Patterns Lead to Below-Normal Wind Generation Capacity Factors (U-S Energy Information Administration)

Energy Department Reports Highlight Trends of Growing U-S Wind Energy Industry (Breaking Energy)

Canadians Pull the Plug on Renewable Energy Scheme (The Guardian, UK)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Energy-Efficient Buildings worth $216 Million to Washington’s Economy, Create 3,800 Jobs (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

34% of Americans Don’t Know LEDs Save Electricity (Energy Manager Today)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Marijuana Market Takes Root (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

Kittitas County: Local Marijuana Businesses Rake in Nearly $4 Million in Total Sales – Statewide, I-502 companies see $256M in sales; $67M in taxes (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

State Legislators Tell Feds to Keep Hands Off Marijuana Policy (Marijuana Business Daily)

Chart of the Week: 72% Increase in Energy Use by Denver Marijuana Cultivation Sites since 2012 (Marijuana Business Daily)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Doubts over Climate Change Link to Sun’s Activity (The Weather Channel)

Editorial: Washington State Can Lead on Global Warming & Clean Energy (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Op/Ed: Obama’s Latest Global Warming Plan Is about His Legacy, Not Policy (Washington Post)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Where Electric Cars Will Drive Around in Poor Neighborhoods (National Journal)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Google Morphs into Alphabet; Investors Cheer Clarity (Reuters)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Intriguing & Surprising Digital Marketing Stats from the Past Week (AdWeek)

Tips for Better Taking Smartphone Photos at Night – And in Bars) (Gizmodo)

Ways Email is Embracing the Trends That Were Supposed to Make It Obsolete (AdWeek)

Target Removing Gender Based Signs from Its Stores (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Peabody Energy Tries to Strike Song Lyrics from Complaint: Welcome to the Streisand Effect (Breaking Energy)

GENERAL NEWS

Shelton Transition Center Open for Simpson Lumber Company Employees (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Grays Harbor, Mason, Pacific, among 35 Counties Eligible for Disaster Loans (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

Seattle City Council Votes to Adopt ‘Gun Violence Tax’ (Associated Press)

Q&A: Why Does Berkshire Hathaway Want to Buy Oregon-Based Precision Castparts? (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Kudos to Smokin’ Mo’s in Shelton – Here Are 15 BBQ Joints in Washington State That Will Leave Your Mouth Watering Uncontrollably (Only in Your State)

DIVERSIONS

The British Library Needs Your Help to Solve This Hidden Message

Stolen Car Returned To South African Owner after 22 Years

FBI Hopes Grainy Video Will Help Solve 25-Year-Old $500 Million Art Heist

Alabama family reunites with dog missing for 9 years

SONG OF THE DAY

Everything But The Girl – Driving

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.