Tuesday, March 7, 2017

Energy News Digest for March 7, 2017

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SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Reports: White House Could Shutter EPA’s Energy Star Program (Utility Dive)

Tacoma Power Rep Says Mossyrock Dam Failure Unlikely – Lower Riffe Lake Levels Still Necessary (Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

Plans for Idaho Dam Water Release Poses Threat to Fish (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Spurned by Google Fiber, Oregon Considers Rescinding Gigabit Tax Break (Oregonian, Portland)

Wrong Plug, Wrong Outlet? Dutch Meter Study finds False Readings (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Tacoma Power Rep Says Mossyrock Dam Failure Unlikely – Lower Riffe Lake Levels Still Necessary
  • Wrong Plug, Wrong Outlet? Dutch Meter Study finds False Readings
  • Grays Harbor PUD Commissioners Approve Rate Restructure, Adjustment
  • Grant PUD Analysts Say Rates Driven By Expenses
  • New Chelan PUD Park Named: Coyote Dunes Natural Area
  • Outrage Swells over New York State’s Handling of Indian Point Nuclear Plant Closure
  • Editorial: New York Has No Idea How to Keep the Lights on When Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant Closes
  • Natural Gas Still Top Generation Fuel, Says Association Report
  • Nebraska Public Power District Doesn’t Have to Release Records Showing How Much It Costs to Generate Electricity, Judge Says
  • Hackers Drawn to Oil & Gas Energy Sector’s Lack of Sensors, Controls
  • Plans for Idaho Dam Water Release Poses Threat to Fish
  • British Columbia Fish Farm Company Says It ‘Highly Regrets’ Diesel Spill
  • ‘Boomer’ February Means Good News for Washington State’s Water Supply
  • Op/Ed: King County Sewage Spill Reveals Double Standard in Environmental Priorities
  • Utility-Scale Projects Pushed Solar Power to Record Heights in Oregon in 2016
  • Reports: White House Could Shutter EPA’s Energy Star Program
  • The Economic Impact of Energy Efficiency Standards
  • Energy Savings Can Be Fun, But No Need to Turn Off All the Lights
  • Design, Build & Sell Better Housing to Conserve Energy Costs
  • As Demand Grows, Tesla Pushes to Multiply Its Production
  • Spurned by Google Fiber, Oregon Considers Rescinding Gigabit Tax Break
  • Amazon Agrees to Hand Over Data in Echo Murder Case
  • Facebook’s Fake News Tag Is Here – Who Is Charged with Flagging Hoaxes?
  • Oh Snap? After Bursting Out of the Gate, Snapchat Shares Give Way
  • The White House Copied Exxon’s Press Release in a Statement Praising Exxon
  • Local Districts Lobbying for Elimination of 1 Percent Property Tax Cap
  • House Republicans Unveil Plan to Replace Health Law
  • Proposed NOAA Cuts Would Make Predicting Extreme Weather Even Harder
  • Daytime Traffic Signal Work Scheduled March 16 in Belfair
  • Washington State Senate Votes to Ban Holding Phones While Driving
  • Omaha’s Answer to Costly Potholes? Go Back to Gravel Roads
  • The Best Country in the World? Survey Says It’s Switzerland
WORD OF THE DAY

Conurbation • \kah-ner-BAY-shun\ • Noun – An aggregation or continuous network of urban communities.

Welcome to the community of EvSeaFedDesTacLacOlyTum, also known as the conurbation that stretches from Everett to Tumwater.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Tacoma Power Rep Says Mossyrock Dam Failure Unlikely – Lower Riffe Lake Levels Still Necessary (Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

Wrong Plug, Wrong Outlet? Dutch Meter Study finds False Readings (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

Grays Harbor PUD Commissioners Approve Rate Restructure, Adjustment (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

Grant PUD Analysts Say Rates Driven By Expenses (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

New Chelan PUD Park Named: Coyote Dunes Natural Area (North Central Washington Live, East Wenatchee, WA)

Outrage Swells over New York State’s Handling of Indian Point Nuclear Plant Closure (Forbes Magazine)

Editorial: New York Has No Idea How to Keep the Lights on When Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant Closes (NY Post)

Natural Gas Still Top Generation Fuel, Says Association Report (American Public Power Association)

Nebraska Public Power District Doesn’t Have to Release Records Showing How Much It Costs to Generate Electricity, Judge Says (Omaha World Herald, NE)

Hackers Drawn to Oil & Gas Energy Sector’s Lack of Sensors, Controls “…Power, chemical & nuclear facilities must adhere to strict cybersecurity measures, but federal law doesn’t impose such standards on the oil & gas sector…” (Associated Press)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Plans for Idaho Dam Water Release Poses Threat to Fish (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

British Columbia Fish Farm Company Says It ‘Highly Regrets’ Diesel Spill (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

WATER, THE SOURCE OF ALL LIFE

‘Boomer’ February Means Good News for Washington State’s Water Supply (Northwest Public Radio)

Op/Ed: King County Sewage Spill Reveals Double Standard in Environmental Priorities (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory – Includes comments from Rep Drew MacEwen)

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

Utility-Scale Projects Pushed Solar Power to Record Heights in Oregon in 2016 (Portland Business Journal, OR)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Reports: White House Could Shutter EPA’s Energy Star Program (Utility Dive)

The Economic Impact of Energy Efficiency Standards (Northwest Power and Conservation Council, Portland, OR)

Energy Savings Can Be Fun, But No Need to Turn Off All the Lights (National Public Radio)

Design, Build & Sell Better Housing to Conserve Energy Costs (New England Real Estate Journal)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – DRIVING ON SUNSHINE

As Demand Grows, Tesla Pushes to Multiply Its Production (Oregonian, Portland)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Spurned by Google Fiber, Oregon Considers Rescinding Gigabit Tax Break (Oregonian, Portland)

Amazon Agrees to Hand Over Data in Echo Murder Case (Gizmodo)

MARKETING & MEDIA

Facebook’s Fake News Tag Is Here – Who Is Charged with Flagging Hoaxes? (Christian Science Monitor)

Oh Snap? After Bursting Out of the Gate, Snapchat Shares Give Way (Associated Press)

The White House Copied Exxon’s Press Release in a Statement Praising Exxon (TIME Magazine)

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

Local Districts Lobbying for Elimination of 1 Percent Property Tax Cap (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

House Republicans Unveil Plan to Replace Health Law (NY Times)

Proposed NOAA Cuts Would Make Predicting Extreme Weather Even Harder (Grist Online)

GENERAL NEWS

Daytime Traffic Signal Work Scheduled March 16 in Belfair (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Washington State Senate Votes to Ban Holding Phones While Driving (Associated Press)

Omaha’s Answer to Costly Potholes? Go Back to Gravel Roads (NY Times)

The Best Country in the World? Survey Says It’s Switzerland (NY Times)

FINDING THE GOLDEN SNITCH – DIVERSIONS

Quidditch Hits the Tri-Cities

Pricey Parking Spot in Brooklyn on the Market for $300,000

It’s National Pancake Day, Which Means Free Pancakes from IHOP

Peeps Oreos & Seven Other Things That Turn Your Poop Strange Colors

SONG OF THE DAY

Sheryl Crow – Begin the Beguine

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LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

Links in the news digest lead to current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links. There may be paywall barriers, unless you are willing to fork over some dough or if you have a clean browser history.