Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Energy News Digest for January 21, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for January 21, 2015

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THE NEWS DIGEST TWITTER FEED

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

British Columbia: Hydro Chief Says More Talks Key to Finding Peace River Dam Solutions with First Nations (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

Oregon Bank Is the First to Work with Colorado Marijuana Businesses (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Portland Now Generating Hydropower in Its Water Pipes (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Defective Panels Threatening Profit at China Solar Farms (Bloomberg News)

Facebook Report Says It Adds More than $200 Billion to Global Economy (Reuters)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  1. British Columbia: Hydro Chief Says More Talks Key to Finding Peace River Dam Solutions with First Nations
  2. Energy’s Holy Grail? You Can Find It at Redmond’s Helion Energy
  3. Chelan PUD Pays Off another $9 Million in Debt
  4. Bonneville Power Administration Says Power Line Will Ease Burdens on Hydro
  5. Oregon: Coe Rebuffs Overtures to Rejoin Emerald People’s Utility District Board as Top Executive
  6. Legarsky Leaves Jefferson PUD Finance Position
  7. Nuclear Industry Losing Its Glow. Should Government Step In? “…If…nuclear industry’s operating capacity disappears…the U-S will become far more reliant on natural gas & it will go backward in its efforts to curb carbon emissions…”
  8. Kansas City Power & Light Will Stop Using Coal at Some of Its Generating Units
  9. Missouri: Utilities Boost Focus on Cybersecurity as FERC Adopts New Standards
  10. U-S Department of Energy Releases Voluntary Code of Conduct for Safeguarding Customer Data
  11. Electrifying the Bakken
  12. How Is the Fuel Mix for U-S Electricity Generation Changing?
  13. How to Get Young People to Work at Your Co-op
  14. Four Terms Every Utility Executive Must Know
  15. Mysterious Goo Blamed in San Francisco Bay Area Bird Deaths; Tests Eyed for Substance’s Source
  16. California: Los Angeles River Restoration May Have New Funding Source
  17. California: Century Later, the ‘Chinatown’ Water Feud Ebbs
  18. Portland Now Generating Hydropower in Its Water Pipes
  19. Defective Panels Threatening Profit at China Solar Farms
  20. Renewables Enjoy New Bipartisan Consensus, But Efficiency Standards Remain Under Attack
  21. How the Rise of a Mega Solar Panel Farm Shows Us the Future of Energy
  22. Largest-Ever Study Quantifies the Value of Rooftop Photovoltaics
  23. Breaking Wind: The Odd Culture of Wind Farm Protests
  24. Beaverton Energy Conservation Firm Sold to California Outfit
  25. Oregon Bank Is the First to Work with Colorado Marijuana Businesses
  26. Marijuana Taxes Could Help Pay for Mental Health Treatment in Washington If New Bill Is Passed
  27. Goldendale Residents Wonder, Does Pot Have a Place?
  28. King County Prosecutor Puts Medical Marijuana Businesses ‘On Notice’
  29. Unique Hurdles Facing Legal Pot in Live-And-Let-Live Alaska
  30. Nearly Half of Electric Car Tax Breaks Go to State’s Wealthiest Ten Percent
  31. Where the Electric Vehicle Boom is Happening & How Utilities Can Take Advantage
  32. What’s Behind President Obama’s Push for High-Speed Internet
  33. Who Exactly is a Broadband Common Carrier?
  34. Facebook Report Says It Adds More than $200 Billion to Global Economy
  35. Facebook Is Cracking Down on Hoaxes in Your News Feed
  36. President Obama’s State of the Union Goes Big on Social Media
  37. NBC to Stream Super Bowl to Convince People to Buy Cable
  38. Six Ways to Improve Your Twitter Marketing Results
  39. In State of the Union, President Obama Sets an Ambitious Agenda
  40. Peninsula Counties Hope for Timber Subsidy to Stave Off Impacts on Road DepartmentsVideo: ‘Ticket Bots’ Target of Proposed Washington State Law
  41. States with the Highest (And Lowest) Gas Taxes
  42. One Phone Making Thousands of 911 Calls to Kitsap Dispatchers
  43. Deflategate – NFL League Sources Say 11 of 12 Patriots Footballs Underinflated
WORD OF THE DAY

Bucolic • \byoo-CALL-ick\ • adjective – 1: of or relating to shepherds or herdsmen: pastoral 2a: relating to or typical of rural life b: idyllic.

A soft, warm breeze rustled the tall grass enveloping Barney as he lay in the pasture watching the clouds lazily roll by, framed by a deep azure sky. “This day couldn’t be better,” he mused, enjoying his bucolic escape with a deep, spiritual contentment.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

British Columbia: Hydro Chief Says More Talks Key to Finding Peace River Dam Solutions with First Nations (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

Energy’s Holy Grail? You Can Find It at Redmond’s Helion Energy (Crosscut Seattle)

Chelan PUD Pays Off another $9 Million in Debt (Wenatchee World, WA)

Bonneville Power Administration Says Power Line Will Ease Burdens on Hydro (Electric Light & Power)

Oregon: Coe Rebuffs Overtures to Rejoin Emerald People’s Utility District Board as Top Executive (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

Legarsky Leaves Jefferson PUD Finance Position (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

Nuclear Industry Losing Its Glow. Should Government Step In? “…If…nuclear industry’s operating capacity disappears…the U-S will become far more reliant on natural gas & it will go backward in its efforts to curb carbon emissions…” (Christian Science Monitor)

Kansas City Power & Light Will Stop Using Coal at Some of Its Generating Units (Kansas City Star, MO)

Missouri: Utilities Boost Focus on Cybersecurity as FERC Adopts New Standards (Utility Dive)

U-S Department of Energy Releases Voluntary Code of Conduct for Safeguarding Customer Data (American Public Power Association)

Electrifying the Bakken (The Bakken Magazine, Grand Forks, ND)

How Is the Fuel Mix for U-S Electricity Generation Changing? (U-S Energy Information Administration)

How to Get Young People to Work at Your Co-op (Electric Co-op Today)

Four Terms Every Utility Executive Must Know (The Energy Collective)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Mysterious Goo Blamed in San Francisco Bay Area Bird Deaths; Tests Eyed for Substance’s Source (Associated Press)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

California: Los Angeles River Restoration May Have New Funding Source (Associated Press)

California: Century Later, the ‘Chinatown’ Water Feud Ebbs (NY Times)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Portland Now Generating Hydropower in Its Water Pipes (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Defective Panels Threatening Profit at China Solar Farms (Bloomberg News)

Renewables Enjoy New Bipartisan Consensus, But Efficiency Standards Remain Under Attack (Utility Dive)

How the Rise of a Mega Solar Panel Farm Shows Us the Future of Energy (GigaOM)

Largest-Ever Study Quantifies the Value of Rooftop Photovoltaics (Phys.Org)

Breaking Wind: The Odd Culture of Wind Farm Protests (RenewablesBiz)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Beaverton Energy Conservation Firm Sold to California Outfit (Portland Business Journal, OR)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Oregon Bank Is the First to Work with Colorado Marijuana Businesses (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Marijuana Taxes Could Help Pay for Mental Health Treatment in Washington If New Bill Is Passed (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

Goldendale Residents Wonder, Does Pot Have a Place? (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

King County Prosecutor Puts Medical Marijuana Businesses ‘On Notice’ (Northwest Public Radio)

Unique Hurdles Facing Legal Pot in Live-And-Let-Live Alaska (Reuters)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Nearly Half of Electric Car Tax Breaks Go to State’s Wealthiest Ten Percent (Washington Policy Center)

Where the Electric Vehicle Boom is Happening & How Utilities Can Take Advantage (Utility Dive)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

What’s Behind President Obama’s Push for High-Speed Internet (Christian Science Monitor)

Who Exactly is a Broadband Common Carrier? (The Hill, Washington, DC)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook Report Says It Adds More than $200 Billion to Global Economy (Reuters)

Facebook Is Cracking Down on Hoaxes in Your News Feed (Mashable)

President Obama’s State of the Union Goes Big on Social Media (USA Today)

NBC to Stream Super Bowl to Convince People to Buy Cable (Consumerist)

Six Ways to Improve Your Twitter Marketing Results (Social Media Examiner)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

In State of the Union, President Obama Sets an Ambitious Agenda (NY Times)

GENERAL NEWS

Peninsula Counties Hope for Timber Subsidy to Stave Off Impacts on Road Departments (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Video: ‘Ticket Bots’ Target of Proposed Washington State Law (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

States with the Highest (And Lowest) Gas Taxes (USA Today)

One Phone Making Thousands of 911 Calls to Kitsap Dispatchers (Associated Press)

Deflategate – NFL League Sources Say 11 of 12 Patriots Footballs Under Inflated (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

DIVERSIONS

The Mystery of the 132-Year-Old Winchester Rifle Found Propped against a National Park Tree

Ohio Firing Ends in Glittery Vandalism Charges - Boss’s Office Covered in Glitter, Silly String, Police Say

This is Just Sad – This App Builds You a Fake Girlfriend or Boyfriend, Voicemails & All

New Marijuana Strain Named after Seahawks Running Back Marshawn Lynch

SONG OF THE DAY

Atlanta Rhythm Section – Imaginary Lover

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, January 20, 2015

Energy News Digest for January 20, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for January 20, 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

Energy Northwest Says Proposed Changes to NPDES Permit for Nuclear Plant Could Cost It More Than $20 Million (American Public Power Association)

Oregon: Pacific Power States Case for Lawsuit against City of Klamath Falls (Klamath Falls Herald & News, OR)

Snohomish County Pot Farms Next Door a ‘Complete Shock’ to Neighbors (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

U-S Solar Industry Sees Growth, But Also Some Uncertainty (National Public Radio)

Montana Broadband Ranked Among Worst in the United States (Ravalli Republic, MT)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  1. Energy Northwest Says Proposed Changes to NPDES Permit for Nuclear Plant Could Cost It More Than $20 Million
  2. Oregon: Pacific Power States Case for Lawsuit against City of Klamath Falls
  3. British Columbia: Peace River Dam Plan Won’t Stifle Independent Power Projects, B-C Energy Minister Says
  4. Northeast U-S Firewood Shortage Becomes Fuel for Frustration
  5. Co-ops & Big Business: A Two-Way Street
  6. Co-op Lineman’s Clamp Could Cut Risks
  7. Saudi Arabia: Cable Thieves Electrocuted
  8. Tribes Lay Out Process for Investigating Feasibility of Salmon Reintroduction above Grand Coulee Dam
  9. Washington State Optimistic about Columbia River Smelt
  10. Oil Spills into Yellowstone River after Montana Crude Pipe Leak
  11. Key Reservoir for Brazil’s Biggest City Running Dry as Drought Reduces Rivers, Other Lakes
  12. U-S Solar Industry Sees Growth, But Also Some Uncertainty
  13. Burned up in Flight: Bird Deaths at California Power Plant a PR Nightmare for Industry
  14. Arizona – Solar Energy in Yuma a Boon for Electric Grid
  15. Arizona Public Service Employee Drafted Anti-Solar Letter Signed By AZ Congressmen
  16. Green-Energy Inspiration Off the Coast of Denmark “…It still relies on fossil fuels when the wind does not blow or the heating plants break down….”
  17. Video: Mariners Make Major League Baseball History as First LED Lit Field
  18. Op/Ed: Energy Conservation – An Insulated Bargain
  19. Snohomish County Pot Farms Next Door a ‘Complete Shock’ to Neighbors
  20. Oregon Marijuana Growers Vie for Real Estate as They Prepare for Recreational Market
  21. Oregon’s Largest Medical Marijuana Grow Site Serves Only California Patients
  22. Growing Pot Isn’t Green. Is It Time for LEED for Weed?
  23. Latest Climate Change Battle May Center on Food Pyramid
  24. Op/Ed: Pacific Northwest Innovators Work to Save Earth
  25. Swiss-Made Solar Plane Plans Stops in India, China, U-S in Circumnavigation Bid
  26. Montana Broadband Ranked Among Worst in the United States
  27. Dark Fiber May Help Light Up Competition in Broadband Market
  28. U-S Senator Cantwell Urges Support for Net Neutrality
  29. Congress Lines up FCC Commissioners-turned-Lobbyists for Hearing to Say Why Congress’s Bad Net Neutrality Proposal is Great
  30. Amazon Web Services to Power Indiana Facility with Wind Power
  31. Facebook Knows You Better Than Anyone Else
  32. Magid: Social Media Still Growing, With Instagram Leading the Way
  33. Firms Turn to Online ‘Influencers’ to Spread the Word on Social Media
  34. This Week’s Most Intriguing Digital Marketing Stats
  35. Seahawks Apologize for Tweet Comparing MLK, Football
  36. Obama’s Social Media Team Tries to Widen Audience for State of the Union Address
  37. Clark County GOP Could Vote to Censure Congresswoman
  38. Washington State Representative Wants to Repeal Restaurant Take-And-Bake Pizza Tax
  39. New Case of Avian Flu Confirmed in Washington State
  40. Hawks’ Super Bowl is ‘Super’ for Biz
  41. Packers’ Fans Tweets Start Off Gloating, End in Despair
WORD OF THE DAY

Natty • \NAT-tee\ • adjective – Trimly neat & tidy

“You have to admit, Belvedere is a natty dresser,” exclaimed Betty to her walking partner. “Yeah,” her companion agreed. “But shouldn’t he be a natty dresser in men’s clothes; not his wife’s sun dress?”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Energy Northwest Says Proposed Changes to NPDES Permit for Nuclear Plant Could Cost It More Than $20 Million (American Public Power Association)

Oregon: Pacific Power States Case for Lawsuit against City of Klamath Falls (Klamath Falls Herald & News, OR)

British Columbia: Peace River Dam Plan Won’t Stifle Independent Power Projects, B-C Energy Minister Says (Globe & Mail, Canada)

Northeast U-S Firewood Shortage Becomes Fuel for Frustration (Boston Globe, MA)

Co-ops & Big Business: A Two-Way Street (Electric Co-op Today)

Co-op Lineman’s Clamp Could Cut Risks (Electric Co-op Today)

Saudi Arabia: Cable Thieves Electrocuted (Arab News)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Tribes Lay Out Process for Investigating Feasibility of Salmon Reintroduction above Grand Coulee Dam (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

Washington State Optimistic about Columbia River Smelt (Longview Daily News, WA)


WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Oil Spills into Yellowstone River after Montana Crude Pipe Leak (Bloomberg News)

Key Reservoir for Brazil’s Biggest City Running Dry as Drought Reduces Rivers, Other Lakes (Associated Press)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

U-S Solar Industry Sees Growth, But Also Some Uncertainty (National Public Radio)

Burned up in Flight: Bird Deaths at California Power Plant a PR Nightmare for Industry (E&E Publishing)

Arizona – Solar Energy in Yuma a Boon for Electric Grid (Yuma Sun, AZ)

Arizona Public Service Employee Drafted Anti-Solar Letter Signed By AZ Congressmen (Arizona Capitol Times, Phoenix)

Green-Energy Inspiration Off the Coast of Denmark “…It still relies on fossil fuels when the wind does not blow or the heating plants break down….” (NY Times)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Video: Mariners Make Major League Baseball History as First LED Lit Field (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Op/Ed: Energy Conservation – An Insulated Bargain (Fairbanks Daily News, Miner, AK)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Snohomish County Pot Farms Next Door a ‘Complete Shock’ to Neighbors (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Oregon Marijuana Growers Vie for Real Estate as They Prepare for Recreational Market (Oregonian, Portland)

Oregon’s Largest Medical Marijuana Grow Site Serves Only California Patients (Oregonian, Portland)

Growing Pot Isn’t Green. Is It Time for LEED for Weed? (Upstart Business Journal)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Latest Climate Change Battle May Center on Food Pyramid (Los Angeles Times, CA)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Op/Ed: Pacific Northwest Innovators Work to Save Earth (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Swiss-Made Solar Plane Plans Stops in India, China, U-S in Circumnavigation Bid (Associated Press)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Montana Broadband Ranked Among Worst in the United States (Ravalli Republic, MT)

Dark Fiber May Help Light Up Competition in Broadband Market (Los Angeles Times, CA)

U-S Senator Cantwell Urges Support for Net Neutrality (Associated Press)

Congress Lines up FCC Commissioners-turned-Lobbyists for Hearing to Say Why Congress’s Bad Net Neutrality Proposal is Great (Consumerist)

Amazon Web Services to Power Indiana Facility with Wind Power (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook Knows You Better Than Anyone Else (NY Times)

Magid: Social Media Still Growing, With Instagram Leading the Way (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

Firms Turn to Online ‘Influencers’ to Spread the Word on Social Media (Los Angeles Times, CA)

This Week’s Most Intriguing Digital Marketing Stats (AdWeek)

Seahawks Apologize for Tweet Comparing MLK, Football (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Obama’s Social Media Team Tries to Widen Audience for State of the Union Address (NY Times)

Clark County GOP Could Vote to Censure Congresswoman (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Washington State Representative Wants to Repeal Restaurant Take-And-Bake Pizza Tax (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

GENERAL NEWS

New Case of Avian Flu Confirmed in Washington State (Northwest Public Radio)

Hawks’ Super Bowl is ‘Super’ for Biz (South Sound Business Journal)

Packers’ Fans Tweets Start Off Gloating, End in Despair (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

DIVERSIONS

Seahawks Fan Rejects $20K, Will Give Winning Football Back to Jermaine Kearse

Five-Year-Old Receives Invoice from Friend’s Mom after Missing Birthday Party

Teen Caught After Posing as OB/GYN at Hospital for Month, Fooling Doctors

Georgia: Man Cited for Eating a Cheeseburger While Driving

SONG OF THE DAY

Jimmy Buffett - Cheeseburger in Paradise

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.

Friday, January 16, 2015

Energy News Digest for Janaury 16, 2014

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for January 16, 2015

Warning about Heavy Rainfall this Weekend: The Puget Sound lowlands from about Seattle southward could see 2 to 3 inches of rain during this period.

Will Snow Return to the Pacific Northwest? (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

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

Huge Battery Will Help Deliver Clean Electricity, Snohomish PUD Says (Everett Herald, WA)

Multimillion-Dollar Lawsuits Filed over Nippon Paper’s Port Angeles Biomass Plant (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

U-S House GOP Wants to Revive Yucca Nuke Dump (The Hill, Washington, DC)

Washington State Governor Opts for Cap-and-Trade, But Debate Continues Over Carbon Tax (Washington State Wire, Olympia, WA)

Broadband Audit Shows Low Usage in Idaho Schools (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  1. U-S House GOP Wants to Revive Yucca Nuke Dump
  2. Former Idaho Governors Blast Otter’s Nuclear Waste Deal
  3. Scientists Say Public Safety Hazards at Jordan Cove Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal in Coos Bay Are Underestimated
  4. Editorial: Millersburg Public Power Panel Must Take Time
  5. Colorado: Boulder Municipal Utility Plans Hit another Setback
  6. Columbia County Switches Power Providers for Offices – Going with Columbia Rural Electric Association
  7. Incoming Washington State DFW Director Has Challenging Job Ahead
  8. Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta Fish Species Plunge amid Drought
  9. Eight Reasons You Should Never Order the Salmon
  10. Judge Rules Dairies Are Contaminating Yakima Valley Drinking Water
  11. California: Drought Fears Return with Signs of Fourth Straight Dry Year
  12. Huge Battery Will Help Deliver Clean Electricity, Snohomish PUD Says
  13. Multimillion-Dollar Lawsuits Filed over Nippon Paper’s Port Angeles Biomass Plant
  14. Idaho Could Soon Have the Most Solar Per-Capita of Any State
  15. California Plan for Community Solar Stirs Controversy with Renewables Advocates
  16. New Mexico: Kit Carson Looks to Expand Solar Offerings
  17. California: Wind Turbine Catches Fire
  18. Conservation Hit by Falling Gas Prices
  19. How Opening Interior Doors Can Cut Heating Bills
  20. Millions of Americans Start Competing for a Cleaner Energy Future
  21. Growers Struggle with Glut of Legal Pot in Washington State
  22. Tumwater Credit Union Opens Its Doors to I-502 Businesses
  23. New Washington State Marijuana Bill Could Bring Tax Money to Cities
  24. Report: Cannabis Industry Investments Rocket 942%
  25. Weed Apps Are Dazed & Confused over Apple’s Unpredictable Policies
  26. Washington State Governor Opts for Cap-and-Trade, But Debate Continues Over Carbon Tax
  27. Climate Change Has Already Pushed Earth near the Tipping Point, But Technological Advances Could Save Us
  28. Rate of Sea-Level Rise ‘Steeper’
  29. Broadband Audit Shows Low Usage in Idaho Schools
  30. FCC To Vote in February on State Protectionist Broadband Laws
  31. Broadband: The Electricity of the 21st Century
  32. President Obama Calls for More High-Speed Broadband, Cites Public Power Examples
  33. Editorial: Getting Government into the Broadband Internet Business
  34. Seahawks Set Wireless Record, Consider New Stadium Tech
  35. Sony Hack Changing Email Habits at Work
  36. Facebook Is Now Moving to Invade Your Workplace with New App
  37. How to Use Visuals to Engage Your Audience
  38. How Polluting Industries Paid to Thwart Inslee’s Play
  39. Rep. Herrera Beutler Lands New Subcommittee Appointments
  40. Dan Newhouse Gets His Spots – Chairman Bishop Announces Natural Resources Committee Republican Leadership, Subcommittee Assignments for 114th Congress
  41. Here Chick Chick – Bowing To Tradition, a New Washington State Lawmaker Gets an Old Painting
  42. Samples from Benton County Flocks Come Back Negative for Avian Flu
  43. Washington State Lawmakers Get Earful on Fallout from West Coast Ports Dispute
  44. Yosemite Climbers Tell of Fear, Hope during Historic Climb
WORD OF THE DAY

Brobdingnagian ● \brob-ding-NAG-ee-un\ ● Adjective – Marked by tremendous size.

The diminutive Chihuahua Jumbo barked and leaped around the dinner-plate-sized feet of the phlegmatic Newfoundland, Tansey. The little pooch’s self-awareness was woefully at odds with his actual size. An abrupt stumble of his brobdingnagian companion Tansy caused the big-boned canine to roll over Jumbo, creating an abrupt silence where once there were yips and ultrasonic whines.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

U-S House GOP Wants to Revive Yucca Nuke Dump (The Hill, Washington, DC)

Former Idaho Governors Blast Otter’s Nuclear Waste Deal (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

Scientists Say Public Safety Hazards at Jordan Cove Liquefied Natural Gas Terminal in Coos Bay Are Underestimated (Oregonian, Portland)

Editorial: Millersburg Public Power Panel Must Take Time (Albany Herald Democrat, OR)

Colorado: Boulder Municipal Utility Plans Hit another Setback (Utility Dive)

Columbia County Switches Power Providers for Offices – Going with Columbia Rural Electric Association (Walla Walla Union Bulletin, WA)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Incoming Washington State DFW Director Has Challenging Job Ahead (Longview Daily News, WA)

Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta Fish Species Plunge amid Drought (Sacramento Bee, CA)

Eight Reasons You Should Never Order the Salmon (Yahoo! News)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Judge Rules Dairies Are Contaminating Yakima Valley Drinking Water (Northwest Public Radio)

California: Drought Fears Return with Signs of Fourth Straight Dry Year (SF Chronicle)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Huge Battery Will Help Deliver Clean Electricity, Snohomish PUD Says (Everett Herald, WA)

Multimillion-Dollar Lawsuits Filed over Nippon Paper’s Port Angeles Biomass Plant (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Idaho Could Soon Have the Most Solar Per-Capita of Any State (Utility Dive)

California Plan for Community Solar Stirs Controversy with Renewables Advocates (Utility Dive)

New Mexico: Kit Carson Looks to Expand Solar Offerings (Sangre de Cristo Chronicle, Angel Fire NM)

California: Wind Turbine Catches Fire (Imperial Valley Press, El Centro, CA)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Conservation Hit by Falling Gas Prices (Portland Tribune, OR)

How Opening Interior Doors Can Cut Heating Bills (Arlington Heights Daily Herald, IL)

Millions of Americans Start Competing for a Cleaner Energy Future – WA Communities include Anacortes, Bellevue, Bellingham, San Juan County, Walla Walla, WA (Georgetown University Energy Prize)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Growers Struggle with Glut of Legal Pot in Washington State (Oregonian, Portland)

Tumwater Credit Union Opens Its Doors to I-502 Businesses (Olympian - Paywall Advisory)

New Washington State Marijuana Bill Could Bring Tax Money to Cities (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Tri Cities, WA)

Report: Cannabis Industry Investments Rocket 942% (Marijuana Business Daily)

Weed Apps Are Dazed & Confused over Apple’s Unpredictable Policies (AdWeek)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Washington State Governor Opts for Cap-and-Trade, But Debate Continues Over Carbon Tax (Washington State Wire, Olympia, WA)

Climate Change Has Already Pushed Earth near the Tipping Point, But Technological Advances Could Save Us (Oregonian, Portland)

Rate of Sea-Level Rise ‘Steeper’ (British Broadcasting Corporation)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Broadband Audit Shows Low Usage in Idaho Schools (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

FCC To Vote in February on State Protectionist Broadband Laws (Broadband Reports)

Broadband: The Electricity of the 21st Century (White House Blog)

President Obama Calls for More High-Speed Broadband, Cites Public Power Examples (American Public Power Association)

Editorial: Getting Government into the Broadband Internet Business (NY Times)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Seahawks Set Wireless Record, Consider New Stadium Tech (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Sony Hack Changing Email Habits at Work (Oregonian, Portland)

Facebook Is Now Moving to Invade Your Workplace with New App (Consumerist)

How to Use Visuals to Engage Your Audience (Social Media Examiner)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

How Polluting Industries Paid to Thwart Inslee’s Play (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

Rep. Herrera Beutler Lands New Subcommittee Appointments “…Energy & Water Subcommittee…Department of Energy, the Army Corps of Engineers, the Bonneville Power Administration,…Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Nuclear Waste Technical Review Board, & others…” (Longview Daily News, WA)

Dan Newhouse Gets His Spots – Chairman Bishop Announces Natural Resources Committee Republican Leadership, Subcommittee Assignments for 114th Congress (U-S House of Representatives)

Here Chick Chick – Bowing To Tradition, a New Washington State Lawmaker Gets an Old Painting (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

GENERAL NEWS

Samples from Benton County Flocks Come Back Negative for Avian Flu (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Washington State Lawmakers Get Earful on Fallout from West Coast Ports Dispute (Northwest Public Radio)

Yosemite Climbers Tell of Fear, Hope during Historic Climb (SF Chronicle)

DIVERSIONS

Kam Chancellor’s Greatest Hits

Wisconsin Radio Station Bans Seattle Music before Seahawks Game

Seriously, a Fatwa against Snowmen? Saudis Push Back on Twitter (Christian Science Monitor)

Thousands of Fish to Be Freed from Abandoned Mall Fish-Hell

SONG OF THE DAY

Pat Benatar - Hit Me with Your Best Shot

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.

Thursday, January 15, 2015

Energy News Digest for January 15, 2015 – The Hot Shots Edition

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for January 15, 2015

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP STORIES

Editorial: Getting Government Into the Broadband Internet Business (NY Times)

Bitcoin Crash Could Take Toll on Data Center Providers (GigaOM)

Obama Targets Methane. What Is It? Why Does It Matter? (Christian Science Monitor)

Canada: Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Spread Like Weeds in Vancouver, BC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

Salt River Project Will Light the Super Bowl with Wind Energy for Free (Phoenix Business Journal, AZ)

Legion of (Economic) Boom: Downtown Seattle to Get $6 Million Boost from Seahawks Playoff Games (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

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.