Thursday, December 19, 2013

Energy News Digest for December 19, 2013

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THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for December 19, 2013

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Winter Storm Watch in Effect (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Denies NERC Rehearing on Louisiana Bulk Power System Case (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)

So-So Spring Chinook Forecast for Willamette (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

City of Port Angeles Extends Broadband Contract as Provider Sells (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

U-S Senator Ron Wyden Positioned to Take Finance Chairmanship Early Due to Baucus Exit (Oregonian, Portland)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Denies NERC Rehearing on Louisiana Bulk Power System Case
  • FERC: South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association - Order Denying Rehearing
  • Pacific Northwest Power at Stake in Treaty Plan
  • Astoria Manhole Cover Blows, Injures Worker
  • Energy Northwest Brings Holiday Cheer to Low-Income Kids
  • Inland Power & Light Selects Tantalus & Itron for Smart Grid Communications Network
  • A Holiday Gift: A New Website to Explain the Mysteries of FERC!
  • Some PNW Beneficiaries: DEED Board Approves $72,000 in Educational Scholarships, Internships, Research Grants & Design Projects
  • So-So Spring Chinook Forecast for Willamette
  • Chairman Hastings Seeks Public Input on Draft Plan to Strengthen & Improve Nation’s Fisheries
  • California: Fate Still Unclear for Nine Species in Delta Water Tunnel Plan
  • Wind-Eighted: Oregon Scores Well in Turbine Measure
  • 80,000 Acres Identified for Offshore Wind in Maryland
  • U-S Proposes Energy Tax Reform: Here’s What It Means for Renewables
  • Sacramento Business Journal Operations Center Lands Highest LEED Rating
  • A Heat-Pump Water Heater – Is it Right for You?
  • Chinese Carbon Market Opens to a Busy First Day
  • Ask Umbra: Is My Artisanal Whipped Cream a Climate Menace?
  • City of Port Angeles Extends Broadband Contract as Provider Sells
  • Internet Domain Names: Background & Policy Issues
  • Smart Homes Aren’t Dumb, And Will Employees Have Privacy in the Smart Office?
  • Ten Tips for Improving Your Mobile Advertising Campaign
  • FCC Seeks to Do Away With Sports Blackout Rule
  • U-S Senator Ron Wyden Positioned to Take Finance Chairmanship Early Due to Baucus Exit
  • Will Baucus Become The Next U-S Ambassador To China?
  • Winter Storm Watch in Effect
  • Mudslide in Index Leaves Residents Stranded, Causes Power Outage
  • Mason County: Co-Workers’ Quick Actions Save Life of Diver without Air
  • Target Holiday Cyber Breach Hits 40 Million Payment Cards
  • Mega Millions Winners in Georgia, California to Split $648 Million
  • Super Bowl Could Be Rescheduled for Big Storm

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission Denies NERC Rehearing on Louisiana Bulk Power System Case (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)

FERC: South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association - Order Denying Rehearing (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)

Pacific Northwest Power at Stake in Treaty Plan (Electric Co-op Today)

Astoria Manhole Cover Blows, Injures Worker (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

Energy Northwest Brings Holiday Cheer to Low-Income Kids (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Tri Cities, WA)

Inland Power & Light Selects Tantalus & Itron for Smart Grid Communications Network (4-Traders)

A Holiday Gift: A New Website to Explain the Mysteries of FERC! (Natural Resources Defense Council)

Some PNW Beneficiaries: DEED Board Approves $72,000 in Educational Scholarships, Internships, Research Grants & Design Projects (American Public Power Association)

FISH & WILDLIFE

So-So Spring Chinook Forecast for Willamette (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Chairman Hastings Seeks Public Input on Draft Plan to Strengthen & Improve Nation’s Fisheries (U-S House of Representatives, Natural Resources Committee)

California: Fate Still Unclear for Nine Species in Delta Water Tunnel Plan (Sacramento Bee, CA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Wind-Eighted: Oregon Scores Well in Turbine Measure (Sustainable Business Oregon)

80,000 Acres Identified for Offshore Wind in Maryland (Associated Press)

U-S Proposes Energy Tax Reform: Here’s What It Means for Renewables (Renewable Energy World)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Sacramento Business Journal Operations Center Lands Highest LEED Rating (Sacramento Business Journal, CA)

A Heat-Pump Water Heater – Is it Right for You? (Thurston Talks, Olympia, WA)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Chinese Carbon Market Opens to a Busy First Day (NY Times)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Ask Umbra: Is My Artisanal Whipped Cream a Climate Menace? (Grist Online)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

City of Port Angeles Extends Broadband Contract as Provider Sells (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

Internet Domain Names: Background & Policy Issues (Congressional Research Service)

Smart Homes Aren’t Dumb, And Will Employees Have Privacy in the Smart Office? (GigaOM)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Ten Tips for Improving Your Mobile Advertising Campaign (Mashable)

FCC Seeks to Do Away With Sports Blackout Rule (NY Times)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

U-S Senator Ron Wyden Positioned to Take Finance Chairmanship Early Due to Baucus Exit (Oregonian, Portland)

Will Baucus Become The Next U-S Ambassador To China? (Christian Science Monitor)

GENERAL NEWS

Winter Storm Watch in Effect (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Mudslide in Index Leaves Residents Stranded, Causes Power Outage (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

Mason County: Co-Workers’ Quick Actions Save Life of Diver without Air (Olympian - Paywall Advisory)

Target Holiday Cyber Breach Hits 40 Million Payment Cards (Reuters)

Mega Millions Winners in Georgia, California to Split $648 Million (Reuters)

Super Bowl Could Be Rescheduled for Big Storm (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

DIVERSIONS

100 Most Powerful Moments of 2013 in Photos

Baby Jesus Stolen from Washington State Capitol Building

Million-Dollar Picasso Sold at Charity Raffle for 100 Euros ($137 USD)

Gruesome Gift That Keeps On Giving: $200 to Sponsor Museum Skulls

SONG OF THE DAY

Trans-Siberian Orchestra - Christmas Canon Rock

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.

Wednesday, December 18, 2013

Energy News Digest for December 18, 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:

THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for December 18, 2013

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Editorial: Anti-Nuclear Group’s Case against Columbia Generating Station Unconvincing (Tri-City Herald, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Right-Size Reactors Breathing New Life into Nuclear Energy (Forbes Magazine)

Op/Ed: Oregon Renewable Standards Should Recognize Hydro (Oregonian, Portland)

Vision of Steelhead Dancing in Some Heads (Bellingham Herald, WA)

Climate Change: The Warmest November Worldwide Since 1880 (Christian Science Monitor)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Editorial: Anti-Nuclear Group’s Case against Columbia Generating Station Unconvincing
  • Right-Size Reactors Breathing New Life into Nuclear Energy
  • Low Cost of Clean Power
  • Final Recommendation for Columbia River Treaty is Improvement over Drafts, Public Power Council Says
  • New Cowlitz PUD Budget Passes on Unanimous Vote
  • Fitch Rates Energy Northwest Wind Project Revenue Bonds ‘A-’
  • Mason County PUD 3 Commissioner Gott Named to Policy Makers Council
  • Barclays Moves to Block U-S from Collecting $488 Million Fines in Electricity Market Manipulation Case
  • Ohio’s Push toward Electricity Deregulation Applauded
  • U-S Department of Energy General Counsel Nomination Approved
  • Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to Celebrate 1,000th Meeting
  • Vision of Steelhead Dancing in Some Heads
  • Steelhead Released to Spawn Second Time in Lower Snake River
  • Tagging Salmon Yields Interesting Results
  • Creating a Northwest Lamprey Hatchery
  • Senator Begich Wants Geoduck Import Ban Lifted
  • Op/Ed: Oregon Renewable Standards Should Recognize Hydro
  • A Struggle to Balance Wind Energy with Wildlife
  • Can the American Wind Energy Industry Survive without the Production Tax Credit?
  • Get Ready for a Massive Renewable Energy Boom
  • LED Holiday Lights Are Brighter, Safer, and Save Money Over Time!
  • Incandescent Vs. LED Christmas Lights Infographic
  • Loblaws Recalls Outdoor LED Christmas Lights Sold Across Canada
  • Climate Change: The Warmest November Worldwide Since 1880
  • Ex-Energy Chief Steven Chu Joins Carbon Capture Company
  • Your Wireless Router Could Be Murdering Your Houseplants
  • Pacific County Phone Service Repaired after Vader-Area Fiber Optic Line Break
  • The Future of Broadband Looks Very Much Like Cable TV - Here is Why
  • Telecommunications & Media Convergence: Selected Issues for Consideration
  • White House Taps Former Microsoft Exec to Fix Obamacare
  • Facebook Will Test ‘Autoplay’ Video Ads in Users’ News Feeds Thursday
  • Five Biggest Social Media Lessons of 2013
  • Utility-Backed Energy Conservation Push Seeks PR Power
  • Washington State Governor Inslee Proposes More Prison Beds, No Teacher Colas in Budget Update 
  • Wonkbook: Ryan-Murray Will Pass. So What’s In It?
  • Rules Change Expediting Confirmation Process for Several Interior, Energy Picks
  • Tumwater Teen Arrested After Reported School Threats
  • Memo: Boeing to Choose ‘Handful’ of Potential 777X Sites This Week
  • Washington State Courts Airbus amid Boeing Tension
  • Wet Snow Possible in Puget Sound Region Thursday Night
  • Piles of Stolen Mail Found in Bremerton Woods
  • Rand Study: Washington State Residents Consumed 175 Metric Tons of Pot in 2013
  • Delta: No Voice Calls on Our Planes

WORD OF THE DAY

Philosophical • \fill-uh-SOFF-ih-cull\ • Adjective - Having a calm attitude toward a difficult or unpleasant situation.

I love the philosophical attitude of the guy in this story:

There once was a man with the carnival whose job it was to clean up smelly bucketloads of prolific elephant dung. A passerby, who one day saw him hip-deep in the excrement, asked, “My good man, how can you put up with such demeaning conditions? Haven’t you ever thought about another line of work?” To which the carnival worker replied, “What, and give up show business?”

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Editorial: Anti-Nuclear Group’s Case against Columbia Generating Station Unconvincing (Tri-City Herald, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Right-Size Reactors Breathing New Life into Nuclear Energy (Forbes Magazine)

Low Cost of Clean Power (Energy Northwest)

Final Recommendation for Columbia River Treaty is Improvement over Drafts, Public Power Council Says (American Public Power Association)

New Cowlitz PUD Budget Passes on Unanimous Vote (Longview Daily News, WA)

Fitch Rates Energy Northwest Wind Project Revenue Bonds ‘A-’ (Reuters)

Mason County PUD 3 Commissioner Gott Named to Policy Makers Council (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Barclays Moves to Block U-S from Collecting $488 Million Fines in Electricity Market Manipulation Case (The Telegraph, UK)

Ohio’s Push toward Electricity Deregulation Applauded (Columbus Dispatch, OH)

U-S Department of Energy General Counsel Nomination Approved (Associated Press)

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to Celebrate 1,000th Meeting (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Vision of Steelhead Dancing in Some Heads (Bellingham Herald, WA)

Steelhead Released to Spawn Second Time in Lower Snake River (Bonneville Power Administration)

Tagging Salmon Yields Interesting Results (Walla Walla Union Bulletin, WA)

Creating a Northwest Lamprey Hatchery (Northwest Public Radio)

Senator Begich Wants Geoduck Import Ban Lifted (Associated Press)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Op/Ed: Oregon Renewable Standards Should Recognize Hydro (Oregonian, Portland)

A Struggle to Balance Wind Energy with Wildlife (NY Times)

Can the American Wind Energy Industry Survive without the Production Tax Credit? (The Energy Collective)

Get Ready for a Massive Renewable Energy Boom (The Week)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

LED Holiday Lights Are Brighter, Safer, and Save Money Over Time! (The Energy Collective)

Incandescent Vs. LED Christmas Lights Infographic (Daily Infographic)

Loblaws Recalls Outdoor LED Christmas Lights Sold Across Canada (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Climate Change: The Warmest November Worldwide Since 1880 (Christian Science Monitor)

Ex-Energy Chief Steven Chu Joins Carbon Capture Company (Associated Press)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Your Wireless Router Could Be Murdering Your Houseplants (Mashable)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Pacific County Phone Service Repaired after Vader-Area Fiber Optic Line Break (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

The Future of Broadband Looks Very Much Like Cable TV - Here is Why (GigaOM)

Telecommunications & Media Convergence: Selected Issues for Consideration (Congressional Research Service)

White House Taps Former Microsoft Exec to Fix Obamacare (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook Will Test ‘Autoplay’ Video Ads in Users’ News Feeds Thursday (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Five Biggest Social Media Lessons of 2013 (Mashable)

Utility-Backed Energy Conservation Push Seeks PR Power (O’Dwyer’s)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Governor Inslee Proposes More Prison Beds, No Teacher Colas in Budget Update (Northwest Public Radio)

Wonkbook: Ryan-Murray Will Pass. So What’s In It? (Washington Post)

Rules Change Expediting Confirmation Process for Several Interior, Energy Picks (E&E News)

GENERAL NEWS

Tumwater Teen Arrested After Reported School Threats (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

Memo: Boeing to Choose ‘Handful’ of Potential 777X Sites This Week (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

Washington State Courts Airbus amid Boeing Tension (Associated Press)

Wet Snow Possible in Puget Sound Region Thursday Night (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Piles of Stolen Mail Found in Bremerton Woods (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Rand Study: Washington State Residents Consumed 175 Metric Tons of Pot in 2013 (Associated Press)

Delta: No Voice Calls on Our Planes (Associated Press)

DIVERSIONS

Wearing Russell Wilson Jersey Gets Travelers to Front of Line

Idaho IHOP Waitress Gets $500 Tip on $46 Tab

Got a Light? Olympic Torch Relay Seems Cursed to the Ends of the Earth

U-S Senate: Al Franken Hosts Secret Santa, Marco Rubio Gets Coal

SONG OF THE DAY

The Rolling Stones - Waiting on a Friend

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.

Tuesday, December 17, 2013

Energy News Digest for December 17, 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:

THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for December 17, 2013

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

PUDs, Tribes Back Final Recommendation to Modernize Columbia River Treaty with Canada (Wenatchee World, WA)

Suspended Bonneville Power Administration Execs Refuse Reassignment, Report Says (Oregonian, Portland)

Salmon Outlook is a Christmas Present That Stocking Stuffers Can Match (Oregonian, Portland)

Dueling Reports Argue For, Against Richland Nuclear Plant (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

U-S Budget Deal Clears Crucial Vote in Senate (Reuters)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • PUDs, Tribes Back Final Recommendation to Modernize Columbia River Treaty with Canada
  • U-S Side Calls for Columbia River Treaty to be ‘Modernized’
  • Five Reasons the Columbia River Treaty Is a Big Deal
  • Dueling Reports Argue For, Against Richland Nuclear Plant
  • Op/Ed: Irresponsible Physicians Oppose Nuclear Energy
  • Environmentalists Split over Need for Nuclear Power
  • Suspended Bonneville Power Administration Execs Refuse Reassignment, Report Says
  • Grays Harbor PUD Adopts Rate Increase, Will Revisit Second Increase in July
  • Klamath Falls Considers Taking over Utility
  • Colorado: Boulder Votes to Break with Xcel & Start Its Own Power Utility
  • Op/Ed: What’s the Plan for Meeting Energy Needs?
  • Ninth Circuit Hears Challenge to Feds’ Albeni Falls Dam/Lake Pend Oreille Winter Operations
  • British Columbia’s Site C Dam Threatens Athabasca Delta, Alberta Says
  • U-S Forecasts Natural Gas Boom through 2040
  • Fitch: 2014 Public Power & Electric Coops Outlook Stable despite Potential Environmental Regulations
  • Despite Enron & California, Retail Electricity Reform Has Not Been Zapped
  • Energy Bills: Who Pays the Most In Europe?
  • Salmon Outlook is a Christmas Present That Stocking Stuffers Can Match
  • Editorial: Columbia River Plan Fails to Protect Salmon
  • Geoduck Testing Here Shows Less Toxin Than China Reported
  • Skagit PUD Plans New MV Water Tank
  • Editorial: More Storage May Be California’s Most Important Water Issue
  • Idle Port Angeles City Hydro Site Still Costs Taxpayers Money
  • Wisconsin Company Snatches Up, Reclaims Aging Hydroelectric Dams
  • Analysis: Clouds over Hawaii’s Rooftop Solar Growth Hint at U-S Battle
  • Scottish Power Becomes Third Firm to Scrap UK Offshore Wind Farm
  • Top Five Solar Infographics
  • Know Your LEDs: Light-Emitting Diode Bulbs Set to Go Mainstream in Households Globally
  • Op/Ed: Decarbonizing Our Future
  • Study: Climate Change Could Put Millions More at Risk of Water Scarcity
  • Government Fleets Soon To Include More Fully-Electric Cars
  • Department of Energy Blocking Users from Its Websites
  • U-S Budget Deal Clears Crucial Vote in Senate
  • Woman Struck & Killed Monday on Highway 101 near Shelton
  • Police Arrest 16 as Protesters Block Tar-Sands Megaload near John Day
  • Mason County’s Credit Rating Upgraded
  • Weather in the Northwest Is Not Getting Worse
  • Thrifty Thurston Visits Shelton’s Christmas Wonderland

WORD OF THE DAY

Carbuncle • \CAR-bunk-cull\ • Noun - A large painful swelling under the skin - A jewel (such as a garnet) that is cut into a rounded shape.

“Cut it out…cut it out!” squealed Barnabas to his fellow gem miner. Little did Barney realize that the painful boil that had broken out in his elbow was about to turn out to be the find of the century, a carbuncle of enormous proportions that would make him rich beyond his wildest dreams…and a carbuncle that would go down in medical history. “I guess that tumble I took last year at the Crystal Gardens in Montana turned out to be a good thing after all,” he gasped after the makeshift surgery to remove the garnet from his arm.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS


A RIVER RUNS THROUGH IT - COLUMBIA RIVER TREATY

PUDs, Tribes Back Final Recommendation to Modernize Columbia River Treaty with Canada (Wenatchee World, WA)

U-S Side Calls for Columbia River Treaty to be ‘Modernized’ (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

Five Reasons the Columbia River Treaty Is a Big Deal (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Dueling Reports Argue For, Against Richland Nuclear Plant (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Op/Ed: Irresponsible Physicians Oppose Nuclear Energy (Forbes Magazine)

Environmentalists Split over Need for Nuclear Power (National Public Radio)

Suspended Bonneville Power Administration Execs Refuse Reassignment, Report Says (Oregonian, Portland)

Grays Harbor PUD Adopts Rate Increase, Will Revisit Second Increase in July (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

Klamath Falls Considers Taking over Utility (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Colorado: Boulder Votes to Break with Xcel & Start Its Own Power Utility (Yes Magazine)

Op/Ed: What’s the Plan for Meeting Energy Needs? (Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal, WA)

Ninth Circuit Hears Challenge to Feds’ Albeni Falls Dam/Lake Pend Oreille Winter Operations (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

British Columbia’s Site C Dam Threatens Athabasca Delta, Alberta Says (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

U-S Forecasts Natural Gas Boom through 2040 (USA Today)

Fitch: 2014 Public Power & Electric Coops Outlook Stable despite Potential Environmental Regulations (BusinessWire)

Despite Enron & California, Retail Electricity Reform Has Not Been Zapped (Forbes Magazine)

Energy Bills: Who Pays the Most In Europe? (British Broadcasting Corporation)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Salmon Outlook is a Christmas Present That Stocking Stuffers Can Match (Oregonian, Portland)

Editorial: Columbia River Plan Fails to Protect Salmon (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Geoduck Testing Here Shows Less Toxin Than China Reported (Olympian - Paywall Advisory)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Skagit PUD Plans New MV Water Tank (Skagit Valley Herald, Mount Vernon, WA)

Editorial: More Storage May Be California’s Most Important Water Issue (Sacramento Bee, CA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Idle Port Angeles City Hydro Site Still Costs Taxpayers Money (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Wisconsin Company Snatches Up, Reclaims Aging Hydroelectric Dams (Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel, WI)
http://www.jsonline.com/business/wisconsin-company-snatches-up-reclaims-aging-hydroelectric-dams-b99160605z1-235951831.html

Analysis: Clouds over Hawaii’s Rooftop Solar Growth Hint at U-S Battle (Reuters)

Scottish Power Becomes Third Firm to Scrap UK Offshore Wind Farm (Reuters)

Top Five Solar Infographics (The Energy Collective)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Know Your LEDs: Light-Emitting Diode Bulbs Set to Go Mainstream in Households Globally (The Energy Collective, Shelton, WA)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Op/Ed: Decarbonizing Our Future (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Study: Climate Change Could Put Millions More at Risk of Water Scarcity (U-S News & World Report)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Government Fleets Soon To Include More Fully-Electric Cars (Northwest Public Radio)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Department of Energy Blocking Users from Its Websites (Washington Business Journal, DC)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

U-S Budget Deal Clears Crucial Vote in Senate (Reuters)

GENERAL NEWS

Woman Struck & Killed Monday on Highway 101 near Shelton (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Police Arrest 16 as Protesters Block Tar-Sands Megaload near John Day (Oregonian, Portland)

Mason County’s Credit Rating Upgraded (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Weather in the Northwest Is Not Getting Worse (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Thrifty Thurston Visits Shelton’s Christmas Wonderland (Thurston Talks, Olympia, WA)

DIVERSIONS

Linda Ronstadt, Nirvana Will Be Inducted Into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame Next Year

Android Tablet Delivered by UPS Left, ‘In Black Trash Can’

Thief’s Plan to Hide Necklaces by Swallowing Them Goes about As Well As Expected

Egypt Apologies for Constitution Banner Blunder - Misspelt the word “Egyptians” and carried images of foreigners instead of locals

SONG OF THE DAY

The Man Who Sold the World – Nirvana

Linda Ronstadt - Love Has No Pride

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.