Energy News Digest for August 12, 2013

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THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for August 12, 2013

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/08/energy-news-digest-word-cloud-for_12.html

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

The Day the Lights Went Out: New York Marks Ten Years Since the City That Never Sleeps Went Dark (The Daily Mail, UK)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2389280/The-day-lights-went-New-York-marks-years-city-sleeps-went-dark.html

White House Calls for Increased Grid Spending “…U-S customers lose power on average 1.2 times per year, for a total of 112 minutes…” (Associated Press)

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2013-08-12/white-house-calls-for-increased-grid-spending

Sockeye Salmon Shortfall Drives Up Price (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/08/09/bc-sockeye-salmon.html?cmp=rss

Eastern Oregon resident sues over Willow Creek wind project noise level (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2013/08/eastern_oregon_resident_sues_o.html

Lightning Strikes Spark More Washington Wildfires (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/Lightning-strikes-spark-more-Washington-wildfires-219199991.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• The Day the Lights Went Out: New York Marks Ten Years Since the City That Never Sleeps Went Dark
• Ten Years After: How a Massive Power Outage Sent People Out In the Street
• A Look at How Power Is Produced & Distributed to Americans & Who Oversees the System
• White House Calls for Increased Grid Spending
• Bonneville Power Administration Rate Hike Likely to be Felt by Grays Harbor PUD Ratepayers Eventually
• Cowlitz PUD Holding Wednesday Hearing on Proposed Rate Increase
• Walla Walla Country Club Tees Up Suit Against PacifiCorp - Wants Switch to Columbia Rural Electric Association
• Montana: Bankruptcy Judge Denies Electric Co-Op’s Liquidation
• Editorial: Hydropower? There’s more?
• Letters to the Editor: See the Second Letter Regarding Bonneville Power Administration News
• Center of Excellence for Clean Energy/Centralia College Achieves 140 Percent Hiring Target
• Pacific Northwest Names in Here: HydroVision International 2013 Attendee Choice Awards Announced
• Push to Create Minneapolis Electric Utility Fizzles
• Arizona: Copper Theft Attempt Suspected - Man Electrocuted near Wellton Identified
• Alcoa May Have Been Close to Receiving Hydroelectric Permit When North Carolina Sued
• Ex-FERC Commissioners Defend Nominee Binz
• Sockeye Salmon Shortfall Drives Up Price
• Northwest Power/Conservation Council Recommends Continued BPA Funding for Coded Wire Tagging
• Inside the Outdoors: Sockeye, Other Salmon & Treaty Rights
• Endangered Species Thrive on U-S Military Ranges
• EPA: Oregon Failing to Protect Water Quality
• Eastern Oregon resident sues over Willow Creek wind project noise level
• Ironically, Texas Leads the Way in Wind Energy
• California: Planning Commission Rejects 20-Acre Oak Hills Solar Farm Plan
• Colorado: From Beetle-Killed Trees to Come Renewable Energy
• United Kingdom: Wind Farms Paid £30 Million ($46.4 Million US) a Year to Stand Idle - Grid Can’t Cope With All the Energy They Produce
• Unanswered Questions Remain in FirstEnergy Renewable Case
• Don’t For a Second Imagine We’re Heading for an Era of Renewable Energy
• Multi-State Coalition Reaches Agreement with DOE over Energy-Efficiency Standards – Includes Washington & Oregon
• Charged-up Britain - Over a Quarter of People Bicker with Their Loved Ones about Their Gadget Overcharging Habits
• In First Test of Washington’s Greenhouse Gas Law, Court of Appeals Rejects Challenge to Puget Sound Regional Council’s Transportation Plan
• California to Hold Carbon Auction as It Consider Giving More Allowances Away for Free
• What if Everyone Plugs in Their Cars At Once?
• Bill Gates Slams Google’s ‘Broadband Via Helium Balloon’ Project
• How Many of Your Friends See Your Facebook Posts? The Debate’s Over, It’s 35%
• Twitter Boosts Political Profile
• Oversight Costs Washougal Workers - City retroactively seeks seasonal workers’ retirement premiums
• Lightning Strikes Spark More Washington Wildfires
• Southern Oregon Wildfires Torching Business for Outfitters, Rafting Companies
• Teen, Abductor Stood Out in Idaho Wilderness
• Six-Year-Old Boy Hit by SUV near Victor
• Kelso Police Arrested Man Suspected of Cutting Metal Off Cowlitz Way Bridge
• Washington Ranks 15th for Wine Consumer Friendly States
• Arizona Family Survives Weeks Lost at Sea Trying to Flee the U-S

WORD OF THE DAY

Tourbillion • \toor-BIL-yun\ • Noun - 1: whirlwind 2: a vortex especially of a whirlwind or whirlpool

The massive windmill slowly came to life, its blades like outstretched arms embracing the tourbillion forces through the narrow gap along the Columbia River.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

The Day the Lights Went Out: New York Marks Ten Years Since the City That Never Sleeps Went Dark (The Daily Mail, UK)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2389280/The-day-lights-went-New-York-marks-years-city-sleeps-went-dark.html

Ten Years After: How a Massive Power Outage Sent People Out In the Street (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2013/08/11/210700217/how-a-massive-power-outage-sent-people-dancing-in-the-street?ft=1&f=2

A Look at How Power Is Produced & Distributed to Americans & Who Oversees the System (Associated Press)

http://www.startribune.com/politics/national/219113511.html

White House Calls for Increased Grid Spending “…U-S customers lose power on average 1.2 times per year, for a total of 112 minutes…” (Associated Press)

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2013-08-12/white-house-calls-for-increased-grid-spending

Bonneville Power Administration Rate Hike Likely to be Felt by Grays Harbor PUD Ratepayers Eventually (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

http://thedailyworld.com/sections/news/local/bpa-rate-hike-likely-be-felt-pud-ratepayers-eventually.html

Cowlitz PUD Holding Wednesday Hearing on Proposed Rate Increase (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/pud-holding-wednesday-hearing-on-proposed-rate-increase/article_d9bfdf74-015e-11e3-b2e5-0019bb2963f4.html

Walla Walla Country Club Tees Up Suit Against PacifiCorp - Wants Switch to Columbia Rural Electric Association (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA)

http://union-bulletin.com/news/2013/aug/10/country-club-tees-suit-against-pacificorp/

Montana: Bankruptcy Judge Denies Electric Co-Op’s Liquidation (Associated Press)

http://missoulian.com/news/state-and-regional/bankruptcy-judge-denies-electric-co-op-s-liquidation/article_c230c112-0121-11e3-9419-001a4bcf887a.html

Editorial: Hydropower? There’s more? (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/aug/09/hydropower-theres-more/

Letters to the Editor: See the Second Letter Regarding Bonneville Power Administration News (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://blog.oregonlive.com/myoregon/2013/08/letters_george_fox_coach_bonne.html

Center of Excellence for Clean Energy/Centralia College Achieves 140 Percent Hiring Target - Sets New Goals With Dept. Of Labor Grant Application (Centralia College, WA)

http://cleanenergyexcellence.org/center-of-excellence-for-clean-energycentralia-college-achieves-140-percent-hiring-target-and-sets-new-goals-with-dept-of-labor-grant-application/

Pacific Northwest Names in Here: HydroVision International 2013 Attendee Choice Awards Announced (Penn Energy)

http://www.pennenergy.com/articles/hydro/2013/08/hydrovision-international-2013-attendee-choice-awards-announced.html

Push to Create Minneapolis Electric Utility Fizzles (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, MN)

http://www.startribune.com/local/minneapolis/219067391.html

Arizona: Copper Theft Attempt Suspected - Man Electrocuted near Wellton Identified (Yuma Sun, AZ)

http://www.yumasun.com/articles/electrocuted-89069-identified-wellton.html

Alcoa May Have Been Close to Receiving Hydroelectric Permit When North Carolina Sued (Charlotte Business Journal, NC)

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/outside_the_loop/2013/08/alcoa-may-have-been-close-to-receiving.html

Ex-FERC Commissioners Defend Nominee Binz (The Hill)

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/316391-ex-ferc-commissioners-defend-nominee-binz

FISH & WILDLIFE

Sockeye Salmon Shortfall Drives Up Price (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/08/09/bc-sockeye-salmon.html?cmp=rss

Northwest Power/Conservation Council Recommends Continued BPA Funding for Coded Wire Tagging (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/427857.aspx

Inside the Outdoors: Sockeye, Other Salmon & Treaty Rights (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

http://m.dailyrecordnews.com/outdoors/inside-the-outdoors-sockeye-other-salmon-and-treaty-rights/article_966a33d6-0128-11e3-8616-001a4bcf887a.html

Endangered Species Thrive on U-S Military Ranges (Associated Press)

http://www.sacbee.com/2013/08/10/5639522/endangered-species-thrive-on-us.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

EPA: Oregon Failing to Protect Water Quality (KGW TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.kgw.com/news/EPA-Oregon-failing-to-protect-water-quality--219017581.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Eastern Oregon resident sues over Willow Creek wind project noise level (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2013/08/eastern_oregon_resident_sues_o.html

Ironically, Texas Leads the Way in Wind Energy (Associated Press - Ironically, this article says nothing about the role of the production tax credit…)

http://siouxcityjournal.com/ap/entertainment/ironically-texas-leads-the-way-in-wind-energy/article_9b341a11-d0ae-5f14-9c87-fef4f1eb5cf3.html

California: Planning Commission Rejects 20-Acre Oak Hills Solar Farm Plan (San Bernardino Sun, CA)

http://www.sbsun.com/news/ci_23833266/planning-commission-rejects-oak-hills-solar-farm-plan

Colorado: From Beetle-Killed Trees to Come Renewable Energy (Grand Junction Daily Sentinel, CO)

http://www.gjsentinel.com/news/articles/from-beetlekilled-trees-8232to-come-renewable-ener/

United Kingdom: Wind Farms Paid £30 Million ($46.4 Million US) a Year to Stand Idle - Grid Can’t Cope With All the Energy They Produce (Daily Mail, UK)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2388417/Wind-farms-paid-30-million-year-stand-idle-grid-cope-energy-produce.html

Unanswered Questions Remain in FirstEnergy Renewable Case - Ohio regulators rebuked FirstEnergy for overpaying for renewable energy credits (Midwest Energy News)

http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2013/08/12/unanswered-questions-remain-in-firstenergy-renewable-case/

Don’t For a Second Imagine We’re Heading for an Era of Renewable Energy (Grist Online)

http://grist.org/climate-energy/dont-for-a-second-imagine-were-heading-for-an-era-of-renewable-energy/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Multi-State Coalition Reaches Agreement with DOE over Energy-Efficiency Standards – Includes Washington & Oregon (Legal Newsline)

http://legalnewsline.com/news/federal-government/243487-multi-state-coalition-reaches-agreement-with-doe-over-energy-efficiency-standards

Charged-up Britain - Over a Quarter of People Bicker with Their Loved Ones about Their Gadget Overcharging Habits (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2013/08/12/5643426/charged-up-britain-over-a-quarter.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

In First Test of Washington’s Greenhouse Gas Law, Court of Appeals Rejects Challenge to Puget Sound Regional Council’s Transportation Plan (GTH Energy & Natural Resources Law Blog)

http://www.energynaturalresourceslaw.com/2013/08/in-first-test-of-washingtons-greehouse-gas-law-court-of-appeals-rejects-challenge-to-puget-sound-reg.html

California to Hold Carbon Auction as It Consider Giving More Allowances Away for Free (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bna.com/week-ahead-california-b17179875771/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

What if Everyone Plugs in Their Cars At Once? (Seattle Times - Paywall Advisory)

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2021586394_electriccarxml.html?syndication=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Bill Gates Slams Google’s ‘Broadband Via Helium Balloon’ Project (DNA)

http://www.dnaindia.com/scitech/1872598/report-bill-gates-slams-google-s-broadband-via-helium-balloon-project

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

How Many of Your Friends See Your Facebook Posts? The Debate’s Over, It’s 35% (Business Insider)

http://www.businessinsider.com/35-percent-of-friends-see-your-facebook-posts-2013-8

Twitter Boosts Political Profile (Seattle Times - Paywall Advisory)

http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2021579624_twitterpacxml.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Oversight Costs Washougal Workers - City retroactively seeks seasonal workers’ retirement premiums (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/aug/12/oversight-costs-washougal-workers/

GENERAL NEWS

Lightning Strikes Spark More Washington Wildfires (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/Lightning-strikes-spark-more-Washington-wildfires-219199991.html

Southern Oregon Wildfires Torching Business for Outfitters, Rafting Companies (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2013/08/southern_oregon_wildfires_torc.html

Teen, Abductor Stood Out in Idaho Wilderness (Associated Press)

http://news.yahoo.com/teen-abductor-stood-idaho-wilderness-210931803.html

Six-Year-Old Boy Hit by SUV near Victor (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/10930

Kelso Police Arrested Man Suspected of Cutting Metal Off Cowlitz Way Bridge (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/kelso-police-arrested-man-suspected-of-cutting-metal-off-cowlitz/article_b8699762-015d-11e3-8bc7-0019bb2963f4.html

Washington Ranks 15th for Wine Consumer Friendly States (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.nbcrightnow.com/story/23097103/washington-ranks-15th-for-wine-consumer-friendly-states

Arizona Family Survives Weeks Lost at Sea Trying to Flee the U-S (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2013/08/arizona_family_survives_weeks.html

DIVERSIONS

I Really Want a Giant Unabridged English Dictionary & I Don’t Care

http://gizmodo.com/i-really-want-a-giant-unabridged-english-dictionary-and-1071398806

Man Survives Attack By Shark, Snake, Lightning...

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=210759508&ft=1&f=7

Driver Crashes New Lexus into Dealership

http://www.katu.com/news/local/Driver-crashes-new-Lexus-into-dealership-219139931.html

Mamma Mia! Seattle One of the Top Cities for Pizza

http://q13fox.com/2013/08/09/mamma-mia-seattle-one-of-the-top-cities-for-pizza/

SONG OF THE DAY

Lou Christie - Lightning Strikes Again

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LyRqdzF8swY

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.

Energy News Digest for August 9, 2013

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:

http://twitter.com/energydigest

THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for August 9, 2013

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/08/energy-news-digest-word-cloud-for_9.html

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Fire Weather Watch - For the Black Hills & Southwest Interior Lowlands, includes south Mason County (Mason County PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/08/fire-weather-watch-for-black-hills.html

Washington Supreme Court: Drunken Driver, Passenger Who Hit Pole Can Sue Power Company (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/court-drunken-driver-who-hit-pole-can-sue-power-co/nZJJ3/

Utilities Blast Columbia River Treaty (Daily Interlake, Kalispell, MT)

http://www.dailyinterlake.com/news/local_montana/article_1c62da24-0084-11e3-a7b1-0019bb2963f4.html

Cut Emissions? Congress Itself Keeps Burning a Dirtier Fuel (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/09/us/politics/just-across-town-a-test-of-obamas-emissions-goals.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Debate over Solar Panels Rages on in Kirkland (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Debate-over-solar-panels-rages-on-in-Kirkland-218943231.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Washington Supreme Court: Drunken Driver, Passenger Who Hit Pole Can Sue Power Company
• Washington Supreme Court Rejects Legal Liability Defense for Utilities & Municipalities Where Criminally Negligent Drivers Cause Accidents
• Utilities Blast Columbia River Treaty
• Advisory Committee Suggests Five Percent PUD Residential Rate Hike
• Wahkiakum PUD Commission Hears Reports on Service, Rates
• City of Tacoma Completes Major Hydropower Upgrade at Cushman Dam
• Thief Tries Steal Copper Wire, Gets Electrocuted
• Officials Say Bird Caused Prosser Fire after Landing on Power Pole
• Parents of Woman Crushed by Tree in California Sue Pacific Gas & Electric
• Use of Coal Power Plants Rises with Natural Gas Prices
• Energy & Water Are Running Out In Texas, But It’s Not Too Late
• Tennessee Valley Authority Saves Chattanooga from $44 Million of Flood Damage in July
• Latest Lake Washington Sockeye Count Shows More Than 178,000 Have Returned
• Seattle City Light: Lonely Osprey Risks a Lot Looking for Love
• Southern Oregon Farmers Suing to Prevent Klamath Water Release
• Debate over Solar Panels Rages on in Kirkland
• Avista Holding Open House at Kettle Falls Generating Station
• Marin Supervisors Defeat Proposed Novato Solar Farm
• SolarWorld Restructuring Proceeds in Germany, Cushioning Hillsboro Workers
• Environmentalists Gearing Up for a War on Wind
• State Renewable-Energy Laws Turn Out to be Incredibly Hard to Repeal
• Maine: Officials Tour Proposed Hydropower Project in Wilton
• Cut Emissions? Congress Itself Keeps Burning a Dirtier Fuel
• Climate Change is Already Pummeling Energy Infrastructure
• Swinging Carbon Dioxide Levels Show the Earth is ‘Breathing’ More Deeply
• Canada: Is Extreme Weather the New Normal?
• Study: Washington State the Second-Cleanest Place to Drive Electric Cars “…76 percent of electricity in the state is generated by hydroelectric dams…”
• Are Hybrids ‘Greener’ Than Electric Cars?
• Internet TVs May Drive Consumers to Cut Pay TV Cord
• Frontier Broadband Subscribers Climb to 1.8 Million as Business Customer Churn Slows
• CenturyLink Losing DSL Customers, Money
• The Daily Yonder: Geography is First Piece in Understanding Rural Broadband Puzzle
• This Is What an Undersea Data Cable Actually Looks Like
• ‘Like’ This Article Online? Your Friends Will Probably Approve, Too, Scientists Say
• Why Online Conversations Don’t Matter Anymore - And Never Did
• The Anatomy of a Successful, Responsive Website
• Is Congressman Doc Hastings Eying House Oversight Chair?
• This Week Marks the 39th Anniversary of Watergate Finale
• Fire Weather Watch - For the Black Hills & Southwest Interior Lowlands, includes south Mason County
• Wildfire Smoke Leads to Emergency Room Visits in Southern Oregon
• California Wildfire Chases 1,500 from Their Homes
• Baby Ejected from Car in Mason County Accident
• Olympia Oyster House Fire: Spontaneous Combustion
• Where Are the Foreign Language Households in Washington State? Not Where You Think
• iPhone Thief Who Posted Pics on Facebook Caught

WORD OF THE DAY

Blah • \BLAW\ • Noun - 1: silly or pretentious chatter or nonsense 2: a feeling of boredom, lethargy, or general dissatisfaction.

“Blah. Blah, blah, blah, blah” mouthed the listless CEO to her attentive minions at the staff meeting. “Sounds like the chief has a case of the blahs,” chirped one attentive oaf.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Washington Supreme Court: Drunken Driver, Passenger Who Hit Pole Can Sue Power Company (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/court-drunken-driver-who-hit-pole-can-sue-power-co/nZJJ3/

Washington Supreme Court Rejects Legal Liability Defense for Utilities & Municipalities Where Criminally Negligent Drivers Cause Accidents (GTH Energy & Natural Resources Law Blog)

http://www.energynaturalresourceslaw.com/2013/08/washington-supreme-court.html

Utilities Blast Columbia River Treaty (Daily Interlake, Kalispell, MT)

http://www.dailyinterlake.com/news/local_montana/article_1c62da24-0084-11e3-a7b1-0019bb2963f4.html

Advisory Committee Suggests Five Percent PUD Residential Rate Hike (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/abb5021c-008c-11e3-9db3-0019bb2963f4.html

Wahkiakum PUD Commission Hears Reports on Service, Rates (Wahkiakum Eagle, Skamokawa, WA)

http://www.waheagle.com/news/article.exm/2013-08-08_pud_commission_hears_reports_on_service__rates

City of Tacoma Completes Major Hydropower Upgrade at Cushman Dam (U-S Department of Energy)

http://apps1.eere.energy.gov/news/news_detail.cfm/news_id=19501

Thief Tries Steal Copper Wire, Gets Electrocuted (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.katu.com/news/local/Thief-tries-steal-copper-wire-gets-electrocuted-218898511.html

Officials Say Bird Caused Prosser Fire after Landing on Power Pole (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/latestlocalnews/1392293-8/officials-say-bird-cause-prosser-fire

Parents of Woman Crushed by Tree in California Sue Pacific Gas & Electric (Associated Press)

http://www.kgw.com/news/national/218828751.html

Use of Coal Power Plants Rises with Natural Gas Prices (Charlotte Business Journal, NC)

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/power_city/2013/08/use-of-coal-power-plants-rises-with.html

Energy & Water Are Running Out In Texas, But It’s Not Too Late (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/edfenergyexchange/2013/08/08/energy-and-water-are-running-out-in-texas-but-its-not-too-late/

Tennessee Valley Authority Saves Chattanooga from $44 Million of Flood Damage in July (Chattanooga Times Free Press, TN)

http://timesfreepress.com/news/2013/aug/08/tva-saves-chattanooga-44-million-july/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Latest Lake Washington Sockeye Count Shows More Than 178,000 Have Returned (Seattle Times - Paywall Advisory)

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/reeltimenorthwest/2013/08/08/latest-lake-washington-sockeye-count-shows-more-than-178000-have-returned/?syndication=rss

Seattle City Light: Lonely Osprey Risks a Lot Looking for Love (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/City-Light-Lonely-osprey-risks-a-lot-looking-for-love-218892691.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Southern Oregon Farmers Suing to Prevent Klamath Water Release (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/southern-oregon-farmers-suing-prevent-water-release

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Debate over Solar Panels Rages on in Kirkland (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Debate-over-solar-panels-rages-on-in-Kirkland-218943231.html

Avista Holding Open House at Kettle Falls Generating Station (KXLY-TV, Spokane, WA)

http://colvillestevenscounty.kxly.com/news/business/103671-avista-holding-open-house-kettle-falls-generating-station

Marin Supervisors Defeat Proposed Novato Solar Farm (Marin Independent Journal, San Rafael, CA)

http://www.marinij.com/ci_23808819/marin-supervisors-defeat-proposed-novato-solar-farm

SolarWorld Restructuring Proceeds in Germany, Cushioning Hillsboro Workers (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/08/solarworld_restructuring_proce.html

Environmentalists Gearing Up for a War on Wind (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/lorensteffy/2013/08/09/environmentalists-gearing-up-for-a-war-on-wind/

State Renewable-Energy Laws Turn Out to be Incredibly Hard to Repeal (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/08/08/state-renewable-energy-laws-turn-out-to-be-really-hard-to-repeal/?wprss=rss_business&clsrd

Maine: Officials Tour Proposed Hydropower Project in Wilton (Franklin Sun Journal, Lewiston, ME)

http://www.sunjournal.com/news/franklin/2013/08/08/officials-tour-proposed-hydropower-project-wilton/1405153

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Cut Emissions? Congress Itself Keeps Burning a Dirtier Fuel (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/09/us/politics/just-across-town-a-test-of-obamas-emissions-goals.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Climate Change is Already Pummeling Energy Infrastructure (High Country News)

http://www.hcn.org/blogs/goat/climate-change-is-already-impacting-the-energy-sector

Swinging Carbon Dioxide Levels Show the Earth is ‘Breathing’ More Deeply (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2013/08/08/210243967/swinging-co2-levels-show-the-earth-is-breathing-more-deeply?ft=1&f=2

Canada: Is Extreme Weather the New Normal? (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/08/06/f-weather-canada-2013.html?cmp=rss

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Study: Washington State the Second-Cleanest Place to Drive Electric Cars “…76 percent of electricity in the state is generated by hydroelectric dams…” (Seattle Times - Paywall Advisory)

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/today/2013/08/study-washington-state-the-second-cleanest-place-to-drive-electric-cars/?syndication=rss

Are Hybrids ‘Greener’ Than Electric Cars? (SF Chronicle, CA)

http://blog.sfgate.com/energy/2013/08/09/are-hybrids-greener-than-electric-cars/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Internet TVs May Drive Consumers to Cut Pay TV Cord (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/personal/2013/08/08/cord-cutting-effect-grows/2632987/

Frontier Broadband Subscribers Climb to 1.8 Million as Business Customer Churn Slows (Fierce Telecom)

http://www.fiercetelecom.com/story/frontier-broadband-subscribers-climb-18m-business-customer-churn-slows/2013-08-08

CenturyLink Losing DSL Customers, Money (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/CenturyLink-Losing-DSL-Customers-Money-125313

The Daily Yonder: Geography is First Piece in Understanding Rural Broadband Puzzle (Kentucky Forward)

http://www.kyforward.com/2013/08/the-daily-yonder-geography-is-first-piece-in-understanding-rural-broadband-puzzle/

This Is What an Undersea Data Cable Actually Looks Like (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/this-is-what-an-undersea-data-cable-actually-looks-like-1076971031

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

‘Like’ This Article Online? Your Friends Will Probably Approve, Too, Scientists Say (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/09/science/internet-study-finds-the-persuasive-power-of-like.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

Why Online Conversations Don’t Matter Anymore - And Never Did (Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal, WA)

http://kpbj.com/business_daily/2013-08-09/why_online_conversations_dont_matter_anymore_and_never_did

The Anatomy of a Successful, Responsive Website (Mashable)

http://mashable.com/2013/08/08/responsive-design-best-practices/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Is Congressman Doc Hastings Eying House Oversight Chair? (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/spincontrol/2013/aug/08/doc-hastings-eying-house-oversight-chair/

This Week Marks the 39th Anniversary of Watergate Finale (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/wp/2013/08/08/this-week-marks-the-39th-anniversary-of-watergates-final-week/?wprss=rss_congress&clsrd

GENERAL NEWS

Fire Weather Watch - For the Black Hills & Southwest Interior Lowlands, includes south Mason County (Mason County PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/08/fire-weather-watch-for-black-hills.html

Wildfire Smoke Leads to Emergency Room Visits in Southern Oregon (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/wildfire-smoke-leads-emergency-room-visits-southern-oregon-0

California Wildfire Chases 1,500 from Their Homes (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2013/0808/California-wildfire-chases-1-500-from-their-homes

Baby Ejected from Car in Mason County Accident (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=5858

Olympia Oyster House Fire: Spontaneous Combustion (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://kmasnewsradio.com/news/local-state-news/3740-oyster-house-fire-spontaneous-combustion

Where Are the Foreign Language Households in Washington State? Not Where You Think (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/where-are-foreign-language-households-washington-state-not-where-you-think

iPhone Thief Who Posted Pics on Facebook Caught (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/iPhone-thief-who-posted-pic-on-Facebook-caught-218929621.html

DIVERSIONS

Oregon’s Boring, Meet Scotland’s Dull. Excited Yet?

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/morning_call/2013/08/oregons-boring-meet-scotlands-dull.html

We’re Getting Closer to Finding Mona Lisa’s Skeleton

http://gizmodo.com/were-getting-closer-to-finding-mona-lisas-skeleton-1072441216

Perseid Meteor Shower to Light Up Night Sky This Weekend

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/sciencefair/2013/08/08/perseids-2013-meteor/2628521/

French Farmers in Egg-Smashing Rampage in Brittany

http://abcnews.go.com/International/wireStory/french-farmers-egg-smashing-rampage-brittany-19912663

SONG OF THE DAY

Boy Meets Girl – Waiting for a Star to Fall

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GG7NZNAJd10

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.

Energy News Digest for August 8, 2013

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

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THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for August 8, 2013

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/08/energy-news-digest-word-cloud-for_8.html

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Editorial: Oregon & the Pacific Northwest Need a Working BPA That's Run from Here (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/08/oregon_and_the_northwest_need.html

PUD Fiber-Optics to Expand Internet Access around Okanogan County (Methow Valley News, Twisp, WA)
http://methowvalleynews.com/2013/08/07/fiber-optics-to-expand-internet-access-around-okanogan-county/

Chelan PUD $10 Million Ahead of Budget (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/aug/07/pud-10-million-ahead-of-budget/

Avista Reports Second-Quarter Earnings Growth (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/aug/08/avista-reports-second-quarter-earnings-growth/

Klamath Tribal Members Will Not Receive Relief from Drought Program (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/article/klamath-tribal-members-will-not-receive-relief-from-drought-program/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Editorial: Oregon & the Pacific Northwest Need a Working BPA That's Run from Here
• Bonneville Power Administration - Fish & Wildlife Service: Spotlight Shines on Bosses Who Are Accused of Retaliation
• Chelan PUD $10 Million Ahead of Budget
• Green, On-Demand Attributes of Hydropower Starting to Pay Off for Chelan PUD
• Avista Reports Second-Quarter Earnings Growth
• Planned Utility Hike Still on Track
• Garbage Truck Wipes Out Power Lines in Tacoma
• Dye Test Thursday Will Track Seepage at Grand Coulee Dam
• Oregon Pays Ex-Energy Department Director $1 Million to Settle Cases
• Energy Regulator Visiting Kansas Sees Big Role for States
• Alberta Power Prices Marching Higher
• Union River Summer Chum Run
• Op/Ed: Salmon Management Bill Will Help Columbia River Anglers, Businesses, Towns
• Klamath Tribal Members Will Not Receive Relief from Drought Program
• Water from a Trinity Reservoir Will Be Released into the Klamath River
• States Debate Large-Scale Hydro Power and Renewable Portfolio Standards
• Wind Power: Obama in Center of Fight over Bald Eagle Deaths
• Paint it Black – Novel Wind Turbine Scheme to Curb Bird Strike
• Editorial: Could Cow Poop Be Used for Fuel?
• City of Shelton’s Energy & Dollar Savings
• What Does It Mean for Energy Efficiency to be a Resource in Texas?
• Climate Change Woes Already Widespread in California, Study Says
• Report: Arctic May Be Ice Free by 2054
• PUD Fiber-Optics to Expand Internet Access around Okanogan County
• Port Angeles Mulls Options in Potential Sale of Internet Service Provider
• Wide Price Gap Seen in Bids for Idaho Schools’ Wi-Fi Contract
• T-Mobile US Reports Largest Customer Growth in Four Years
• Mad at a Verizon Worker? Don’t Lock Him in an Airless Underground Vault
• A $200,000 Public Records Bill? Longshore Union Cries Foul
• Helicopters Rescue Two Injured Hikers from Ravine in Olympic National Park
• Court of Appeals Upholds Clallam County Embezzlement Convictions
• Port of Shelton Cleans Up John’s Prairie
• Powerball Official: Three Winners for $448 Million Jackpot
• Memories on Hood Canal - A Visit to Twanoh State Park

WORD OF THE DAY

Orgulous • \ORG-yuh-luss\ • Adjective - Proud, haughty

Orgulous rainbows

Beauty taunts morose people

Colors taking charge

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Editorial: Oregon & the Pacific Northwest Need a Working BPA That's Run from Here (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/08/oregon_and_the_northwest_need.html

Bonneville Power Administration - Fish & Wildlife Service: Spotlight Shines on Bosses Who Are Accused of Retaliation (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/federal_government/spotlight-shines-on-bosses-who-are-accused-of-retaliation/2013/08/07/7438c8be-ff97-11e2-96a8-d3b921c0924a_story.html?wprss=rss_national

Chelan PUD $10 Million Ahead of Budget (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/aug/07/pud-10-million-ahead-of-budget/

Green, On-Demand Attributes of Hydropower Starting to Pay Off for Chelan PUD (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/aug/08/green-on-demand-attributes-of-hydropower-starting-to-pay-off-for-chelan-pud/

Avista Reports Second-Quarter Earnings Growth (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/aug/08/avista-reports-second-quarter-earnings-growth/

Planned Utility Hike Still on Track (St Helens Chronicle, OR)

http://www.thechronicleonline.com/news/article_b3902a4a-ffb3-11e2-85e5-0019bb2963f4.html

Garbage Truck Wipes Out Power Lines in Tacoma (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Garbage-truck-wipes-out-power-lines-in-Tacoma-218721441.html

Dye Test Thursday Will Track Seepage at Grand Coulee Dam (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/aug/07/dye-test-thursday-will-track-seepage-at-grand-coulee-dam/

Oregon Pays Ex-Energy Department Director $1 Million to Settle Cases (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/oregon-pays-ex-energy-dept-director.html

Energy Regulator Visiting Kansas Sees Big Role for States (Associated Press)

http://www.wral.com/regulator-visiting-kan-sees-big-role-for-states/12751165/

Alberta Power Prices Marching Higher - Consumers urged to lock into contracts to avoid worst of hike (Calgary Herald, Alberta)

http://www.calgaryherald.com/news/alberta/Power+prices+marching+higher/8750951/story.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Union River Summer Chum Run (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://kmasnewsradio.com/news/local-state-news/3548-summer-chum-run

Op/Ed: Salmon Management Bill Will Help Columbia River Anglers, Businesses, Towns (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/08/management_bill_will_help_colu.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Klamath Tribal Members Will Not Receive Relief from Drought Program (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/article/klamath-tribal-members-will-not-receive-relief-from-drought-program/

Water from a Trinity Reservoir Will Be Released into the Klamath River (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/article/water-from-a-trinity-river-reservoir-will-be-released-into-the-klamath-river-/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

States Debate Large-Scale Hydro Power and Renewable Portfolio Standards (Congress.Org)

http://congress.org/2013/08/07/states-debate-large-scale-hydro-power-and-renewable-portfolio-standards/

Wind Power: Obama in Center of Fight over Bald Eagle Deaths (The Hill)

http://thehill.com/blogs/regwatch/pending-regs/316051-obama-in-center-of-green-fight-over-eagle-deaths

Paint it Black – Novel Wind Turbine Scheme to Curb Bird Strike (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2013/08/paint-it-black-novel-wind-turbine-scheme-to-curb-bird-strike?cmpid=rss

Editorial: Could Cow Poop Be Used for Fuel? (Tillamook Headlight Herald, OR)

http://www.tillamookheadlightherald.com/opinion/editorials/article_398994b2-feef-11e2-8a4d-0019bb2963f4.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

City of Shelton’s Energy & Dollar Savings (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://kmasnewsradio.com/news/local-state-news/3545-energy-and-dollar-savings

What Does It Mean for Energy Efficiency to be a Resource in Texas? (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/edfenergyexchange/2013/08/07/what-does-it-mean-for-energy-efficiency-to-be-a-resource-in-texas/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Climate Change Woes Already Widespread in California, Study Says (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://www.latimes.com/news/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-climate-change-effects-california-20130807,0,7293516.story

Report: Arctic May Be Ice Free by 2054 (U-S News & World Report)

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/08/08/report-arctic-may-be-ice-free-by-2054?s_cid=rss:report-arctic-may-be-ice-free-by-2054

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

PUD Fiber-Optics to Expand Internet Access around Okanogan County (Methow Valley News, Twisp, WA)
http://methowvalleynews.com/2013/08/07/fiber-optics-to-expand-internet-access-around-okanogan-county/

Port Angeles Mulls Options in Potential Sale of Internet Service Provider (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20130808/news/308089994/port-angeles-mulls-options-in-potential-sale-of-internet-service

Wide Price Gap Seen in Bids for Idaho Schools’ Wi-Fi Contract (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/aug/08/wide-price-gap-seen-in-bids-for-idaho-wi-fi/

T-Mobile US Reports Largest Customer Growth in Four Years (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/08/09/technology/t-mobile-us-reports-largest-customer-growth-in-four-years.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

Mad at a Verizon Worker? Don’t Lock Him in an Airless Underground Vault (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2013/08/07/mad-at-a-verizon-worker-dont-lock-him-in-an-airless-underground-vault/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

A $200,000 Public Records Bill? Longshore Union Cries Foul (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/2013/08/a-200k-public-records-bill-longshore.html

GENERAL NEWS

Helicopters Rescue Two Injured Hikers from Ravine in Olympic National Park (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2013/08/07/helicopters-rescue-2-injured-hikers-from-ravine-in-olympic-national-park/

Court of Appeals Upholds Clallam County Embezzlement Convictions (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20130808/NEWS/308089988/court-of-appeals-upholds-clallam-embezzlement-convictions

Port of Shelton Cleans Up John’s Prairie (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/10908

Powerball Official: Three Winners for $448 Million Jackpot (Associated Press)

http://www.katu.com/news/national/Lottery-picks-05-25-30-58-59-and-Powerball-32-218779821.html

Memories on Hood Canal - A Visit to Twanoh State Park (Thurston Talks, Olympia, WA)

http://www.thurstontalk.com/2013/08/08/memories-on-hood-canal-a-visit-to-twanoh-state-park/

DIVERSIONS

Police: Photos Found on Stolen Camera Help ID Owners

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/Police-Photos-found-on-stolen-camera-may-help-ID-owners-218673471.html

Los Angeles Bar Has Water Sommelier, Water Tasting Menu & Bottles of $40 Water

http://grist.org/list/l-a-bar-has-water-sommelier-water-tasting-menu-and-bottles-of-40-water/

Man Arrested after Calling 911 to Report Wrong McDonald’s Order

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/man-arrested-after-calling-911-for-wrong-mcdonald-s-order-171516401.html

Man Saves Dog from Sinking Ship . . . Then Goes Back for Wife

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/-man-saves-dog-from-sinking-ship--then-goes-back-for-wife--225351290.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Fontella Bass - Rescue Me

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwt3kr0_l6I

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.