Friday, March 11, 2016

Energy News Digest for March 11, 2016

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for March 11, 2016

“Spring Forward” This Weekend to Daylight Saving Time

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Power Outages Remain as More Rain, Wind Approaches (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

U-S Senator Cantwell Says Trudeau Agreeable to Columbia River Talks (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Google Fiber Strikes Utility Pole Deals across Portland, Oregon (Broadband Reports)

Solar Industry Keeping Close Watch on Washington State Legislature’s Moves (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Special Session Begins Today as Legislators Deadlock over Budget (PubliCola)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Tens of Thousands Lose Power after Winds Pummel Region
  • Twin Storms Cause Scattered Mason PUD 3 Outages
  • Most Lights Back on after Wild Weather Cuts Power to Thousands on North Olympic Peninsula
  • U-S Senator Cantwell Says Trudeau Agreeable to Columbia River Talks
  • Under Close Watch, Puget Sound Energy Has Worked to Improve Safety
  • Idaho: Heyburn Officials Approve Service Study That Will Soften Electric Rate Hike
  • Op/Ed: Eugene Water & Electric Board Has Handled Financial Challenges Expertly
  • Moody’s Assigns Aa1 to Energy Northwest Bonds Rating – Outlooks Are Stable
  • Utilities Discover a New Era of Engagement as the Focus Shifts to the ‘Customer of One’
  • Northwest Power & Conservation Council Fish & Wildlife Committee Moves Forward on Salmon Reintroduction Study above Grand Coulee
  • Tribes Seek to Restore Columbia River Salmon Runs
  • Forecast Good for Columbia River Salmon Runs
  • BPA, Northwest Power & Conservation Council Identify More Than $500,000 in Cost Savings in Fish & Wildlife Projects
  • Spokane River to Benefit from $15 Million in Conservation Efforts
  • Rep. Kilmer Goes to White House State Dinner after Talking Victoria Sewage with Trudeau
  • Clallam County & Clallam PUD to Meet over Water Mitigation
  • “Waters of the U-S” Rule Still Subject to Nationwide Stay…For Now
  • Solar Industry Keeping Close Watch on Washington State Legislature’s Moves
  • Oregon Passes 50% Renewables Standard into Law
  • Despite Layoffs, Oregon’s Solar Market Expected to Grow in 2016
  • Idaho: Local Solar-Power Program Reduces Cost
  • Dismantling Under Way at Altamont Pass
  • Rural Electric Cooperatives Improve Energy Efficiency with On-Bill Financing
  • How to Build a Better Low-Income Energy Efficiency Program
  • Tri-Cities, Washington – Local impact of Carbon Emission Tax initiative
  • Aggressive Electric Vehicle Plan Announced For Seattle
  • Google Fiber Strikes Utility Pole Deals across Portland, Oregon
  • Inside the Game-Changing Data Center That Connects Seattle to Asia
  • Obama Recommends Extending Phone Subsidy to Broadband Internet
  • Telemedicine Eliminates Long Waits for Doctors
  • #BCStorm Lights Up Social Media
  • Special Session Begins Today as Legislators Deadlock over Budget
  • Governor Inslee Vetoes Bills after Washington State Lawmakers Fail to Reach Budget Deal
  • Spat over Drilling Royalties – Florida Senator Puts Hold on Broad Energy Bill, Ties Up Flint Funds
  • Editorial: Pacific Northwest Interests on the Menu as Obama, Trudeau Meet
  • Washington State Senator Jim Hargrove of Hoquiam Announces Retirement
  • Power Outages Remain as More Rain, Wind Approaches
  • Heavy Rains Create Extreme Landslide Hazard for Mason County
  • Driver Investigated in 3-Vehicle Crash Involving School Bus
  • Washington State Sets March 30 Public Hearing on Shelton’s C Street Landfill
  • Above-Normal Snowpack May Not Reduce Severity of Summer Fire Season
  • Avalanche Kills Director of Avalanche Center in Oregon
WORD OF THE DAY

Panoply • \pan-uh-PLEE\ • Noun – 1a: a full suit of armor b: ceremonial attire 2: something forming a protective covering 3a: a magnificent or impressive array b: a display of all appropriate appurtenances

“Before we get started on this root canal,” said the dentist, “please allow me to show you the panoply of tools I will be shoving into your mouth.” All Francine could think about was how the inquisitors began their business during the dark ages.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Tens of Thousands Lose Power after Winds Pummel Region (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Twin Storms Cause Scattered Mason PUD 3 Outages (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

Most Lights Back on after Wild Weather Cuts Power to Thousands on North Olympic Peninsula (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

U-S Senator Cantwell Says Trudeau Agreeable to Columbia River Talks (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Under Close Watch, Puget Sound Energy Has Worked to Improve Safety (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Idaho: Heyburn Officials Approve Service Study That Will Soften Electric Rate Hike (Twin Falls Times-News, ID)

Op/Ed: Eugene Water & Electric Board Has Handled Financial Challenges Expertly (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

Moody’s Assigns Aa1 to Energy Northwest Bonds Rating – Outlooks Are Stable (Moody’s Investor Service)

Utilities Discover a New Era of Engagement as the Focus Shifts to the ‘Customer of One’ (Breaking Energy)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Northwest Power & Conservation Council Fish & Wildlife Committee Moves Forward on Salmon Reintroduction Study above Grand Coulee (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

Tribes Seek to Restore Columbia River Salmon Runs (Native Times)

Forecast Good for Columbia River Salmon Runs (St Helens Chronicle, OR)

BPA, Northwest Power & Conservation Council Identify More Than $500,000 in Cost Savings in Fish & Wildlife Projects (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Spokane River to Benefit from $15 Million in Conservation Efforts (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Rep. Kilmer Goes to White House State Dinner after Talking Victoria Sewage with Trudeau (Seattle Post Intelligencer, WA)

Clallam County & Clallam PUD to Meet over Water Mitigation (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

“Waters of the U-S” Rule Still Subject to Nationwide Stay…For Now (Breaking Energy)

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Solar Industry Keeping Close Watch on Washington State Legislature’s Moves (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Oregon Passes 50% Renewables Standard into Law (Utility Dive)

Despite Layoffs, Oregon’s Solar Market Expected to Grow in 2016 (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Idaho: Local Solar-Power Program Reduces Cost (Idaho Mountain Express, Ketchum)

Dismantling Under Way at Altamont Pass (Wind Power Monthly)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Rural Electric Cooperatives Improve Energy Efficiency with On-Bill Financing (The Energy Collective)

How to Build a Better Low-Income Energy Efficiency Program (The Energy Collective)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Tri-Cities, Washington – Local impact of Carbon Emission Tax initiative (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Aggressive Electric Vehicle Plan Announced For Seattle (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Google Fiber Strikes Utility Pole Deals across Portland, Oregon (Broadband Reports)

Inside the Game-Changing Data Center That Connects Seattle to Asia (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Obama Recommends Extending Phone Subsidy to Broadband Internet (CBS News)

Telemedicine Eliminates Long Waits for Doctors (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

MARKETING & MEDIA

#BCStorm Lights Up Social Media (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Special Session Begins Today as Legislators Deadlock over Budget (PubliCola)

Governor Inslee Vetoes Bills after Washington State Lawmakers Fail to Reach Budget Deal (Northwest Public Radio)

Spat over Drilling Royalties – Florida Senator Puts Hold on Broad Energy Bill, Ties Up Flint Funds (Utility Dive)

Editorial: Pacific Northwest Interests on the Menu as Obama, Trudeau Meet (Everett Herald, WA)

Washington State Senator Jim Hargrove of Hoquiam Announces Retirement (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

Power Outages Remain as More Rain, Wind Approaches (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Heavy Rains Create Extreme Landslide Hazard for Mason County (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Driver Investigated in 3-Vehicle Crash Involving School Bus (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Washington State Sets March 30 Public Hearing on Shelton’s C Street Landfill (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Above-Normal Snowpack May Not Reduce Severity of Summer Fire Season (Northwest Public Radio)

Avalanche Kills Director of Avalanche Center in Oregon (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Okanagan Beavers Won’t Stop Felling Trees onto Man’s Property

Justin Bieber Tour T-Shirt Has Typo

Women Dressed as Anna, Elsa Kicked Out of ‘Frozen on Ice’ for Being ‘Too Popular’

Woman, 93, Gets Diploma Once Denied Because She Was Married

SONG OF THE DAY

Harve Presnell – They Call the Wind Maria (From Paint Your Wagon)

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LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their websites 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.