Energy News Digest for April 13, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for April 13, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/ps9uwg2

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

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

‘Warm Blob’ in Pacific Ocean Linked to Weird Weather across the U-S (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150413/NEWS/304139994/warm-blob-in-pacific-ocean-linked-to-weird-weather-across-the-us

Solar Companies Say Legislation Would Drive Them Out of Washington State (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20150413/BIZ/150419869

Group Fighting for Seattle Broadband to Become a Public Utility (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/11/2745135/Group-fighting-for-Seattle-broadband-to-become-a-public-utility

Nez Perce Tribe Fights the Loss of the Lamprey (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

http://www.khq.com/story/28776545/nez-perce-tribe-fights-the-loss-of-the-lamprey

Gallup: Public Support Waning for Nuclear, Coal Power (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/gallup-public-support-waning-for-nuclear-coal-power/385904/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1. Gallup: Public Support Waning for Nuclear, Coal Power
2. Op/Ed: Bainbridge Island – Cut Your Carbon Emissions without a Lifestyle Overhaul
3. Benton PUD to Consider Raising Rates
4. Car into Pole Knocks Out Power for Hours to Areas East of Port Angeles
5. Congressman Dan Newhouse Tours Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository Site
6. Bonneville Power Administration Line Crew Puts Innovative Work Plan into Aerial Action
7. Copper Wire Thief Electrocuted in Stockton – Man Was 30 Years Old
8. The Case for Breaking Up Combined Gas & Electric Utilities
9. Nez Perce Tribe Fights the Loss of the Lamprey
10. Hooking a Slippery Prize Where the Klamath River Meets the Pacific
11. British Columbia Sockeye Run at Risk Due to DFO Policy, Say Critics
12. NW Power/Conservation Council Assesses Ways to Protect Past Fish & Wildlife Infrastructure
13. Astoria Tests Electrified Mats to Keep Sea Lions Off Docks
14. Water Supply: Early Runoff Depleting Snowpack, Columbia River at Dalles Dam Projected at 82 Percent
15. Cascade Locks Presses Forward With Nestle Spring Water Deal
16. U-S Forest Service Investigates Expired Permit Nestle Uses to Draw Water Out of California for Bottled Water
17. Mighty Rio Grande Now a Trickle under Siege
18. Solar Companies Say Legislation Would Drive Them Out of Washington State
19. Forest Service Considers Thousands of Acres for Geothermal Leasing
20. FBI Joins Oregon Probe into Tax Credits for University Solar Projects
21. Cowltiz PUD Commissioners to Get I-937 Update
22. Go Solar with SolarCity, Get a Free Nest
23. Microlenses Can Help Significantly Boost the Brightness of LED Bulbs
24. ‘The Promise of Marijuana’ Tax Revenue May No Longer Save Washington’s Health Centers
25. British Columbia Farmland Lost to Tree Planting for Carbon Credits is a Frightening Loss
26. Oregon Lawmakers Want to Ban Gas Vehicles from Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
27. A Solar Tree Grows at Co-op Office
28. Group Fighting for Seattle Broadband to Become a Public Utility
29. Getting Rural Areas Online a Worthy Challenge for Cathlamet Startup
30. Google’s New Data Center in The Dalles Brings Total Project to $1.2 Billion
31. Woman Sentenced for Theft from Mattawa Internet Company
32. How California’s Red Tape Hurts Google Fiber, Future Telecommunications Upgrades
33. Net Neutrality Will Be Fair Game for Lawsuits Starting Next Week
34. Infographic: See Which Devices Your Target Audience Is Using
35. Internet in a Frenzy over Hillary Campaign Logo
36. Amazon, Google & More Are Drawn to Home Services Market
37. Seven Ways to Use Video to Boost Your Social Media Marketing
38. ‘Warm Blob’ in Pacific Ocean Linked to Weird Weather across the U-S

WORD OF THE DAY

Grandiloquence • \gran-DIH-luh-kwunss\ • noun – a lofty, extravagantly colorful, pompous, or bombastic style, manner, or quality especially in language

The superfluous use of bombastic and luridly descriptive language was the hallmark of Edgar Rice Burrough’s writing style. As one wit commented, “when you read about a rainstorm in one of his (Burrough’s) books, you actually get wet.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Gallup: Public Support Waning for Nuclear, Coal Power (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/gallup-public-support-waning-for-nuclear-coal-power/385904/

Op/Ed: Bainbridge Island – Cut Your Carbon Emissions without a Lifestyle Overhaul (Bainbridge Review, WA)

http://www.bainbridgereview.com/news/299350611.html

Benton PUD to Consider Raising Rates (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/04/11/3506962_benton-pud-to-consider-raising.html?rh=1

Car into Pole Knocks Out Power for Hours to Areas East of Port Angeles (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.konp.com/local/10609

Congressman Dan Newhouse Tours Yucca Mountain Nuclear Waste Repository Site (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Tri Cities, WA)

http://www.nbcrightnow.com/story/28775661/congressman-dan-newhouse-tours-yucca-mountain-nuclear-waste-repository-site

Bonneville Power Administration Line Crew Puts Innovative Work Plan into Aerial Action (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/BPA-line-crew-puts-innovative-work-plan-into-aerial-action.aspx

Copper Wire Thief Electrocuted in Stockton – Man Was 30 Years Old (KCRA TV, Sacramento, CA)

http://www.kcra.com/news/local-news/news-stockton/copper-wire-thief-electrocuted-in-stockton/32313470

The Case for Breaking Up Combined Gas & Electric Utilities (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/williampentland/2015/04/12/the-case-for-breaking-up-combined-gas-and-electric-utilities/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Nez Perce Tribe Fights the Loss of the Lamprey (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

http://www.khq.com/story/28776545/nez-perce-tribe-fights-the-loss-of-the-lamprey

Hooking a Slippery Prize Where the Klamath River Meets the Pacific (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/13/us/hooking-an-eel-where-the-klamath-river-meets-the-pacific.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

British Columbia Sockeye Run at Risk Due to DFO Policy, Say Critics – Conservationists & First Nations groups say fisheries officials too focused on commercial interests (Vancouver Sun, BC)

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Sockeye+risk+policy+critics/10966490/story.html

NW Power/Conservation Council Assesses Ways to Protect Past Fish & Wildlife Infrastructure (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/433641.aspx

Astoria Tests Electrified Mats to Keep Sea Lions Off Docks (Associated Press)

http://www.kgw.com/story/news/2015/04/11/astoria-tests-electrified-mats-sea-lions/25638719/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Water Supply: Early Runoff Depleting Snowpack, Columbia River at Dalles Dam Projected at 82 Percent (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/433649.aspx

Cascade Locks Presses Forward With Nestle Spring Water Deal (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/article/cascadelockspressesforwardwithnestlespringwaterdeal/

U-S Forest Service Investigates Expired Permit Nestle Uses to Draw Water Out of California for Bottled Water (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/drought/ci_27898570/us-forest-service-investigates-expired-permit-nestle-uses

Mighty Rio Grande Now a Trickle under Siege (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/13/us/mighty-rio-grande-now-a-trickle-under-siege.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Solar Companies Say Legislation Would Drive Them Out of Washington State (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20150413/BIZ/150419869

Forest Service Considers Thousands of Acres for Geothermal Leasing (KUOW Radio, Seattle, WA)

http://kuow.org/post/forest-service-considers-thousands-acres-geothermal-leasing

FBI Joins Oregon Probe into Tax Credits for University Solar Projects (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/04/fbi_joins_state_probe_into_tax.html

Cowltiz PUD Commissioners to Get I-937 Update (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/cowlitz-pud-commissioners-to-get-i--update/article_11c62166-e4de-52a1-b14b-65e5c60cb6e3.html

Go Solar with SolarCity, Get a Free Nest (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Go-solar-with-SolarCity-get-a-free-Nest-6192757.php

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Microlenses Can Help Significantly Boost the Brightness of LED Bulbs (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/microlenses-can-help-significantly-boost-the-brightness-1697443992

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

‘The Promise of Marijuana’ Tax Revenue May No Longer Save Washington’s Health Centers (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/health-care-inc/2015/04/the-promise-of-marijuana-may-no-longer-save.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

British Columbia Farmland Lost to Tree Planting for Carbon Credits is a Frightening Loss (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/bc-ndp-alarmed-over-farmland-lost-to-tree-planting-for-carbon-credits/article23893267/?cmpid=rss1

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Oregon Lawmakers Want to Ban Gas Vehicles from Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwnewsnetwork.org/post/oregon-lawmakers-want-ban-gas-vehicles-electric-vehicle-charging-stations

A Solar Tree Grows at Co-op Office (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/editors-pick/a-solar-tree-grows-at-co-op-office/79977

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Group Fighting for Seattle Broadband to Become a Public Utility (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/11/2745135/Group-fighting-for-Seattle-broadband-to-become-a-public-utility

Getting Rural Areas Online a Worthy Challenge for Cathlamet Startup (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/getting-rural-areas-online-a-worthy-challenge-for-cathlamet-startup/article_9eee6de4-ac15-11e4-a9f6-c7a2f60c1cb9.html

Google’s New Data Center in The Dalles Brings Total Project to $1.2 Billion (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2015/04/googles_new_data_center_in_the.html

Woman Sentenced for Theft from Mattawa Internet Company (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/crime-fire/woman-sentenced-for-theft-from-internet-company/article_68bc27e8-dfc3-11e4-8832-6bc53bede40a.html

How California’s Red Tape Hurts Google Fiber, Future Telecommunications Upgrades (San Francisco Business Times, CA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/morning_call/2015/04/california-fiber-broadband-energy-tech-regulation.html

Net Neutrality Will Be Fair Game for Lawsuits Starting Next Week (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2015/04/10/net-neutrality-is-about-to-land-in-the-official-record-making-it-fair-game-for-lawsuits/?wprss=rss_technology

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Infographic: See Which Devices Your Target Audience Is Using (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/infographic-here-are-devices-your-target-audience-using-164026

Internet in a Frenzy over Hillary Campaign Logo (Associated Press)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/national-govt-politics/internet-frenzy-over-hillary-campaign-logo/nksMr/

Amazon, Google & More Are Drawn to Home Services Market (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/13/technology/amazon-google-and-more-are-drawn-to-home-services-market.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Seven Ways to Use Video to Boost Your Social Media Marketing (Social Media Examiner)

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/use-video-to-boost-your-social-media-marketing/

GENERAL NEWS

‘Warm Blob’ in Pacific Ocean Linked to Weird Weather across the U-S (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150413/NEWS/304139994/warm-blob-in-pacific-ocean-linked-to-weird-weather-across-the-us

DIVERSIONS

Space Station Grocery Run Includes Italian Espresso Maker

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/texas/article/Space-station-grocery-run-includes-Italian-6196235.php

‘Houston, We Have a Problem’ – Explosion Happened 200,000 Miles from Earth on April 13, 1970 (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

http://koin.com/2015/04/13/houston-we-have-a-problem/

Wisconsin Students’ Rice Krispies Treat a Snap, Crackle, Colossus

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/12/us-usa-wisconsin-bigtreat-idUSKBN0N30VO20150412

Ghostbusters - Big Twinkie

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pzaQjS1JstY

Chess Star Cheats in Tournament… From Unlikely Spot

http://q13fox.com/2015/04/13/chess-star-cheats-in-tournament-from-unlikely-spot/

SONG OF THE DAY

Billy Preston - Outa-Space

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ihDYK12WMG4

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 April 10, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for April 10, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/o8s2jys

Special Weather Statement for Mason County (covers much of Western Washington)

http://tinyurl.com/pvz2n83

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

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Hail, Mountain Snow Expected as Cold Front Blows across Western Washington State (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/11/2745043/Hail-mountain-snow-expected-as-cold-front-blows-across-Western-Washington

Restless Crowd Wants Tacoma to Keep Control of City’s Click Broadband Network (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/04/09/3733350_restless-crowd-wants-city-to-keep.html?rh=1

British Columbia Energy Minister Optimistic Peace River Dam Construction Will Begin in Summer (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/energy-minister-optimistic-site-c-dam-construction-will-begin-in-summer/article23871021/?cmpid=rss1

Washington State Governor Says Carbon Cap Still in Play, Polling Says... (PublicCola)

http://www.seattlemet.com/news-and-profiles/publicola/articles/putting-a-price-on-carbon-faces-tough-odds-in-legislature-and-in-polling-april-2015

Pacific Sardine Industry Shutdown Looms as Species Collapses (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/04/pacific_sardine_industry_shutd.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1. British Columbia Energy Minister Optimistic Peace River Dam Construction Will Begin in Summer 
2. Should – Or Could – California Break Up Pacific Gas & Electric?
3. Avista Continues Construction Work on Post Falls Dam
4. Oregon: Public Comment on Swan Lake Pumped Storage Hydro Plant
5. Clallam PUD Power Rate Increase Takes Effect
6. Chelan PUD Signs New Contract with Union
7. Despite White House Cuts, Appropriators Look to Lock Down Some Dam Money
8. FERC Denies Incentives for San Diego Gas & Electric’s Transmission Project
9. Op/Ed: Nuclear Power under Threat
10. Why 2015 Could Be a Record Year for the Greening of U-S Energy
11. Pacific Sardine Industry Shutdown Looms as Species Collapses
12. Study: Pet Fish Wreak Havoc on Ecosystem
13. California Farmers Mount PR Campaign to Counter Backlash over Water Use
14. British Columbia: Vancouver Commits to Run on 100% Renewable Energy
15. Golden Eagle Study Could Complicate Federal Development Plans in California Desert
16. Solar, Wind, Hydropower: Home Renewable Energy Installations
17. Exclusive Videos: US Wind Industry Launches #InTheirOwnWords Project
18. Powerful Advice – Insulation: Out of Sight, Out of Mind?
19. Tackling the LED Streetlight Challenge
20. Video: Wyden, Blumenauer Seek Tax Code Change for Marijuana Businesses
21. Colorado: Federal Bank Chief & Pot Merchants Meet
22. What’s a Serving of Marijuana? Oregon to Look into Pot Dosing, Health Effects
23. Washington State Governor Says Carbon Cap Still in Play, Polling Says...
24. Southwest Power Pool: Carbon Regulation Compliance Will Cost Billions Annually
25. The Pacific Ocean May Have Entered a New Warm Phase
26. The Power & Limits of Pope Francis’s Climate Change Campaign
27. Jefferson County Agencies Seek $250,000 Grant to Amp up Car Charging Stations
28. Restless Crowd Wants Tacoma to Keep Control of City’s Click Broadband Network
29. Comcast: Fiber Damage Leaves 33,000 in Seattle without Internet, 911 Access
30. Google Opens New, $600 Million Oregon Data Center
31. Broadband is Hot Topic at Orcas Power & Light Candidates Forum
32. FCC’s Net Neutrality Rules Open Door to New Fee on Internet Service
33. Conservative Group ALEC Threatens Legal Action against Telecom Critics
34. Social Media Upends Apple Marketing Cart
35. Mountain Dew Turns Tweets into Online Ads with the Return of Baja Blast
36. Consumerist Friday Flickr Finds
37. Hillary Clinton to Launch Presidential Campaign, Sources Say
38. Hail, Mountain Snow Expected as Cold Front Blows across Western Washington State
39. Mason County Man Convicted of Filling Tahuya River Channel
40. Washington State Highway Speed Limit Increase Now in Governor’s Hands
41. The FAA Has Given Amazon the Official Go-Ahead for Drone Testing
42. Apple Watch Is Already Backordered by at Least a Month
43. Lauren Hill, College Basketball Player Battling Cancer, Dies

WORD OF THE DAY

Impetuous • \im-PETCH-uh-wuss\ • Adjective - 1: marked by impulsive vehemence or passion 2: marked by force & violence of movement or action

“Ah, yes; the impetuous actions of our youngsters,” cackled the grizzled railroad engineer to his fireman. “Remember last year when the young fella running in the switching yard tripped over a lever and sent four trains bound for Seattle to Spokane instead?”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

British Columbia Energy Minister Optimistic Peace River Dam Construction Will Begin in Summer (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/energy-minister-optimistic-site-c-dam-construction-will-begin-in-summer/article23871021/?cmpid=rss1

Should – Or Could – California Break Up Pacific Gas & Electric? (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Should-or-could-California-break-up-PG-E-6190374.php

Avista Continues Construction Work on Post Falls Dam (KXLY-TV, Spokane, WA)

http://www.kxly.com/news/north-idaho-news/avista-continues-construction-work-on-post-falls-dam/32286742

Oregon: Public Comment on Swan Lake Pumped Storage Hydro Plant (Klamath Falls Herald & News, OR)

http://www.heraldandnews.com/klamath/this-swan-lake-story-needs-a-title/article_a508b064-f661-51c2-837e-ddce176e8718.html

Clallam PUD Power Rate Increase Takes Effect (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.konp.com/local/10602

Chelan PUD Signs New Contract with Union (Wenatchee World, WA)

https://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2015/apr/09/chelan-pud-signs-new-labor-contract-with-union/

Despite White House Cuts, Appropriators Look to Lock Down Some Dam Money (National Journal)

http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/despite-white-house-cuts-appropriators-look-to-lock-down-some-dam-money-20150408

FERC Denies Incentives for San Diego Gas & Electric’s Transmission Project (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/ferc-denies-incentives-for-sdge-transmission-project/385308/

Op/Ed: Nuclear Power under Threat (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/04/09/3732908/nuclear-power-under-threat.html

Why 2015 Could Be a Record Year for the Greening of U-S Energy (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/04/09/report-2015-could-be-a-record-year-for-the-greening-of-u-s-energy/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Pacific Sardine Industry Shutdown Looms as Species Collapses (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/04/pacific_sardine_industry_shutd.html

Study: Pet Fish Wreak Havoc on Ecosystem (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/national/study-pet-fish-wreak-havoc-aquatic-system/nkq8y/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

California Farmers Mount PR Campaign to Counter Backlash over Water Use (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article18013727.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

British Columbia: Vancouver Commits to Run on 100% Renewable Energy (The Guardian, UK)

http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/apr/10/vancouver-commits-to-run-on-100-renewable-energy

Golden Eagle Study Could Complicate Federal Development Plans in California Desert (Governors’ Wind Energy Coalition)

http://www.governorswindenergycoalition.org/?p=12435

Solar, Wind, Hydropower: Home Renewable Energy Installations (Breaking Energy)

http://breakingenergy.com/2015/04/09/solar-wind-hydropower-home-renewable-energy-installations/

Exclusive Videos: US Wind Industry Launches #InTheirOwnWords Project (Breaking Energy)

http://breakingenergy.com/2015/04/09/exclusive-videos-us-wind-industry-launches-intheirownwords-project/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Powerful Advice – Insulation: Out of Sight, Out of Mind? (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=1503

Tackling the LED Streetlight Challenge (American Public Power Association)

http://www.publicpower.org/Media/magazine/ArticleDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=43331

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Video: Wyden, Blumenauer Seek Tax Code Change for Marijuana Businesses (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.kgw.com/story/news/2015/04/09/wyden-blumenauer-pot-bills/25533583/

Colorado: Federal Bank Chief & Pot Merchants Meet (Associated Press)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/10/us/colorado-federal-bank-chief-and-pot-merchants-meet.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

What’s a Serving of Marijuana? Oregon to Look into Pot Dosing, Health Effects (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/marijuana/index.ssf/2015/04/whats_a_serving_of_marijuana_o.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Washington State Governor Says Carbon Cap Still in Play, Polling Says... (PublicCola)

http://www.seattlemet.com/news-and-profiles/publicola/articles/putting-a-price-on-carbon-faces-tough-odds-in-legislature-and-in-polling-april-2015

Southwest Power Pool: Carbon Regulation Compliance Will Cost Billions Annually (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/southwest-power-pool-carbon-regulation-compliance-will-cost-billions-annua/385299/

The Pacific Ocean May Have Entered a New Warm Phase – The Consequences Could Be Dramatic (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/04/10/the-pacific-ocean-may-have-entered-a-new-warm-phase-and-the-consequences-could-be-dramatic/?wprss=rss_national

The Power & Limits of Pope Francis’s Climate Change Campaign (NY Times)

http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/04/10/the-power-and-limits-of-pope-franciss-climate-change-campaign/?partner=rss&emc=rss

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Jefferson County Agencies Seek $250,000 Grant to Amp up Car Charging Stations – efforts aim to draw tourists from outside Jefferson to Olympic National Park (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150410/news/304109969/agencies-seek-250000-grant-to-amp-up-car-charging-stations-efforts

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Restless Crowd Wants Tacoma to Keep Control of City’s Click Broadband Network (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/04/09/3733350_restless-crowd-wants-city-to-keep.html?rh=1

Comcast: Fiber Damage Leaves 33,000 in Seattle without Internet, 911 Access (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Comcast-Fiber-damage-leaves-30000-in-Seattle-without-service-299257091.html

Google Opens New, $600 Million Oregon Data Center (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2015/04/google_opens_new_oregon_data_c.html

Broadband is Hot Topic at Orcas Power & Light Candidates Forum (Islands’ Sounder, Eastsound, WA)

http://www.islandssounder.com/news/299292571.html

FCC’s Net Neutrality Rules Open Door to New Fee on Internet Service (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://www.latimes.com/business/la-fi-broadband-fees-20150409-story.html#page=1

Conservative Group ALEC Threatens Legal Action against Telecom Critics (National Journal)

http://www.nationaljournal.com/tech/conservative-group-alec-threatens-legal-action-against-telecom-critics-20150410

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Social Media Upends Apple Marketing Cart (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/latestlocalnews/3069918-8/social-media-upends-apple-marketing-cart

Mountain Dew Turns Tweets into Online Ads with the Return of Baja Blast (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/mountain-dew-turns-tweets-online-ads-return-baja-blast-163979

Consumerist Friday Flickr Finds (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2015/04/10/consumerist-friday-flickr-finds-283/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Hillary Clinton to Launch Presidential Campaign, Sources Say (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/04/hillary_clinton_to_launch_pres.html

GENERAL NEWS

Hail, Mountain Snow Expected as Cold Front Blows across Western Washington State (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/11/2745043/Hail-mountain-snow-expected-as-cold-front-blows-across-Western-Washington

Mason County Man Convicted of Filling Tahuya River Channel (South Sound Business Examiner)

http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/April-2015/Mason-County-man-convicted/

Washington State Highway Speed Limit Increase Now in Governor’s Hands (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwnewsnetwork.org/post/washington-highway-speed-limit-increase-now-governors-hands

The FAA Has Given Amazon the Official Go-Ahead for Drone Testing (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2015/04/10/the-faas-given-amazon-the-official-go-ahead-for-drone-testing/?wprss=rss_technology

Apple Watch Is Already Backordered by at Least a Month (Mashable)

http://mashable.com/2015/04/10/apple-watch-sold-out/

Lauren Hill, College Basketball Player Battling Cancer, Dies (U-S News & World Report)

http://www.usnews.com/news/sports/articles/2015/04/10/lauren-hill-dies-after-fighting-tumor-to-play-college-hoops

DIVERSIONS

Firefighters Rescue 11 Ducklings from Snohomish County Storm Drain

http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/pets-and-animals/2015/04/09/snohomish-county-firefighters-rescue-11-ducklings/25547173/

Oregon Cat Survives Shock, 25-Foot Fall from Power Pole

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Oregon-cat-survives-shock-25-foot-fall-from-power-pole-299278711.html

Planned Hunt for Marijuana-Filled Easter Eggs Runs into Major Buzzkill

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20150410/NEWS01/150419939

Kid Who Won ESPN’s March Madness Bracket Donates Xbox Prize to Make-A-Wish

http://time.com/3817126/espn-bracker-winner-donates-xbox/

SONG OF THE DAY

Sesame Street – Rubber Ducky Song

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cDy4PZPMDwU

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 April 9, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for April 9, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/ms9ys6g

Special Weather Statement for Western Washington

http://tinyurl.com/lfwb5yp

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

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

San Bruno: Pacific Gas & Electric Hit with Record Penalty of $1.6 Billion for Fatal Explosion (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_27880159/san-bruno-pg-e-faces-record-penalty-punishment

Spill for Fish Passage Begins Friday at Columbia River Dams (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/apr/09/spill-fish-passage-begins-friday-columbia-river-da/

Electric Co-Ops – Nespelem Valley Electric, Inland Power & Light – To Study Merger Idea (Star of the Grand Coulee, WA)

http://www.grandcoulee.com/story/2015/04/08/news/electric-co-ops-to-study-merger-idea/5546.html

Ellensburg: Proposed Solar Farm Public Hearing Set for Thursday (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

http://www.dailyrecordnews.com/inbrief/proposed-solar-farm-public-hearing-is-set-for-thursday/article_fb72000a-de0e-11e4-90e4-4f7ef6c842fa.html

Olympic Peninsula on the List: Drought Committee Adds to List of Areas at Risk for Water Shortages (Washington State Department of Ecology)

http://ecologywa.blogspot.com/2015/04/drought-committee-adds-to-list-of-areas.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1. San Bruno: Pacific Gas & Electric Hit with Record Penalty of $1.6 Billion for Fatal Explosion
2. Electric Co-Ops – Nespelem Valley Electric, Inland Power & Light – To Study Merger Idea
3. Lewis County PUD Proposes Rate Increase
4. Low Service Line Violations: Oregon Homeowners – Surprise $1,000 Bill Could be Coming
5. Fitch Rates Energy Northwest Bonds ‘AA’; Outlook Stable
6. Taking the Hydro Out of Hydropower
7. Top Ten Facts about Yucca Mountain
8. Spill for Fish Passage Begins Friday at Columbia River Dams
9. Oregon/Washington Extend Spring Salmon Fishing
10. Olympic Peninsula on the List: Drought Committee Adds to List of Areas at Risk for Water Shortages
11. Conditions ‘Practically Out of Control’ as Snowpack Hits Record Low
12. Ellensburg: Proposed Solar Farm Public Hearing Set for Thursday
13. Montana Will Delay Action on Net Metering Until a Study of Its Impacts is Complete
14. Including the Poor in the Solar Energy Boom
15. Portland Battery Energy Startup Lands $250,000 from Wells Fargo Incubator
16. Residents React Strongly to Proposed Southwest North Dakota Wind Farm
17. Joel Spira, Founder of Light Dimmer Switch Empire, Dies
18. BPA, Public Utilities Fueling the Energy Efficiency Powerhouse
19. Marijuana Taxes Won’t Save State Budgets
20. Wave Broadband Acquires ReallyFast.net to Expand Gigabit Service in Seattle
21. Google Leases New Downtown Portland Office
22. CEO’s Fight for Control Could Cost Google Half a Billion Dollars
23. CenturyLink Apologizes for Overstating Gigabit Availability
24. High-Speed Internet Added to Everett Apartments
25. Teens Aren’t Fleeing Facebook as Quickly as We Thought
26. More U-S Teens Turning to Instagram, Snapchat, Survey Finds
27. Why Livestreaming Apps Like Meerkat & Periscope Will be a Huge Boon for Cops
28. Watch How Absurd Email Would Seem in Real Life
29. Leader of Washington State Campaign Watchdog Agency Resigning
30. Road Rage Contributed to Fatal Three-Car Crash on I-5, WSP Says – Centralia Woman Killed
31. Get Your Motor Running: Gas at $2.35 This Summer
32. Fewer People Taking & Passing the G.E.D. Test
33. Low Snowpack Prompts Port Townsend Paper to Plan Water Conservation Measures, Meet with City Officials
34. Stolen Eastern Washington Cabin Found Outside of Springdale

WORD OF THE DAY

Ingénue • \AN-juh-noo\ • Noun – 1: a naïve girl or young woman *2: the stage role of an ingénue; also: an actress playing such a role

Whenever I see this word, I always think of the actress Theresa Wright. I think that when you look up the word ingénue in the dictionary, her picture should be right there. Not that I’m obsessed with Theresa Wright, you see. I just think she was neat. Doesn’t hurt that she was an Oscar winner too. But I digress…

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

San Bruno: Pacific Gas & Electric Hit with Record Penalty of $1.6 Billion for Fatal Explosion (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_27880159/san-bruno-pg-e-faces-record-penalty-punishment

Electric Co-Ops – Nespelem Valley Electric, Inland Power & Light – To Study Merger Idea (Star of the Grand Coulee, WA)

http://www.grandcoulee.com/story/2015/04/08/news/electric-co-ops-to-study-merger-idea/5546.html

Lewis County PUD Proposes Rate Increase (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2015/04/lewis-county-pud-proposes-rate-increase.html

Low Service Line Violations: Oregon Homeowners – Surprise $1,000 Bill Could be Coming (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.katu.com/news/problemsolver/Oregon-homeowners-surprise-1000-bill-could-be-coming-298971361.html

Fitch Rates Energy Northwest Bonds ‘AA’; Outlook Stable (Yahoo! Finance)

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/fitch-rates-energy-northwest-wa-190600522.html

Taking the Hydro Out of Hydropower (Marketplace, American Public Media)

http://www.marketplace.org/topics/sustainability/taking-hydro-out-hydropower

Top Ten Facts about Yucca Mountain (Nuclear Energy Institute)

http://www.nei.org/News-Media/News/News-Archives/Top-10-Facts-About-Yucca-Mountain

FISH & WILDLIFE

Spill for Fish Passage Begins Friday at Columbia River Dams (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/apr/09/spill-fish-passage-begins-friday-columbia-river-da/

Oregon/Washington Extend Spring Salmon Fishing (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/bill_monroe/index.ssf/2015/04/oregonwashington_extend_spring.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Olympic Peninsula on the List: Drought Committee Adds to List of Areas at Risk for Water Shortages (Washington State Department of Ecology)

http://ecologywa.blogspot.com/2015/04/drought-committee-adds-to-list-of-areas.html

Conditions ‘Practically Out of Control’ as Snowpack Hits Record Low (Associated Press)

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/States-winter-snowpack-at-only-22-percent-of-normal-299076081.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Ellensburg: Proposed Solar Farm Public Hearing Set for Thursday (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

http://www.dailyrecordnews.com/inbrief/proposed-solar-farm-public-hearing-is-set-for-thursday/article_fb72000a-de0e-11e4-90e4-4f7ef6c842fa.html

Montana Will Delay Action on Net Metering Until a Study of Its Impacts is Complete (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/montana-will-delay-action-on-net-metering-until-a-study-of-its-impacts-is-c/384863/

Including the Poor in the Solar Energy Boom (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Making-a-difference/Change-Agent/2015/0408/Including-the-poor-in-the-solar-energy-boom

Portland Battery Energy Startup Lands $250,000 from Wells Fargo Incubator (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/04/portland-energy-startup-lands-250k-from-wells.html

Residents React Strongly to Proposed Southwest North Dakota Wind Farm (Northern Plains Business News, Grand Forks, ND)

http://www.prairiebizmag.com/event/article/id/23331/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Joel Spira, Founder of Light Dimmer Switch Empire, Dies (Associated Press)

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/joel-spira-founder-light-dimmer-switch-empire-dies-30167503

BPA, Public Utilities Fueling the Energy Efficiency Powerhouse (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/BPA-public-utilities-fueling-the-energy-efficiency-powerhouse.aspx

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Marijuana Taxes Won’t Save State Budgets (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/09/upshot/09up-marijuana.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&abt=0002&abg=1

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Wave Broadband Acquires ReallyFast.net to Expand Gigabit Service in Seattle (Geekwire)

http://www.geekwire.com/2015/wave-broadband-acquires-reallyfast-net-to-expand-gigabit-service-in-seattle/

Google Leases New Downtown Portland Office (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2015/04/google_to_open_downtown_portla.html

CEO’s Fight for Control Could Cost Google Half a Billion Dollars (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Technology/2015/0408/CEO-s-fight-for-control-could-cost-Google-half-a-billion-dollars

CenturyLink Apologizes for Overstating Gigabit Availability (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/CenturyLink-Apologizes-for-Overstating-Gigabit-Availability-133296

High-Speed Internet Added to Everett Apartments (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20150409/BIZ/150409096

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Teens Aren’t Fleeing Facebook as Quickly as We Thought (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2015/04/09/teens-arent-fleeing-facebook-as-quickly-as-we-thought/?wprss=rss_technology

More U-S Teens Turning to Instagram, Snapchat, Survey Finds (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_27877870/more-u-s-teens-turning-instagram-snapchat-survey

Why Livestreaming Apps Like Meerkat & Periscope Will be a Huge Boon for Cops (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2015/04/08/why-livestreaming-apps-like-meerkat-and-periscope-will-be-a-huge-boon-for-cops/?wprss=rss_technology

Watch How Absurd Email Would Seem in Real Life (Gizmodo – The video ends with an ad, but the content is fun!)

http://gizmodo.com/watch-how-absurd-email-would-seem-in-real-life-1696432217

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Leader of Washington State Campaign Watchdog Agency Resigning (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20150408/BLOG13/150409145/Leader-of-state-campaign-watchdog-agency-resigning

GENERAL NEWS

Road Rage Contributed to Fatal Three-Car Crash on I-5, WSP Says – Centralia Woman Killed (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2015/04/09/road-rage-contributed-to-fatal-3-car-crash-on-i-5-wsp-says/

Get Your Motor Running: Gas at $2.35 This Summer (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/04/09/get-your-motor-running-summer-of-2015-will-be-cheapest-for-gas-in-a-decade/25512941/

Fewer People Taking & Passing the G.E.D. Test (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.keprtv.com/Fewer-people-taking-and-passing-the-GED-test-299075111.html

Low Snowpack Prompts Port Townsend Paper to Plan Water Conservation Measures, Meet with City Officials (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150409/news/304099985/low-snowpack-prompts-port-townsend-paper-corp-to-plan-water

Stolen Eastern Washington Cabin Found Outside of Springdale (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/apr/09/stolen-cabin-found-outside-springdale/

DIVERSIONS

Meet the Real Women Who Inspired a League of Their Own

http://time.com/3760024/women-professional-baseball/

Couple Rescues Starving Dog Lost in Washington Mountains; Looks for Owner

http://www.katu.com/news/local/Couple-rescues-starving-dog-lost-in-Washington-mountains-looks-for-owner-299127331.html

Civil War: 150th Anniversary of Lee Surrender at Appomattox

http://www.khq.com/story/28760496/civil-war-150th-anniversary-of-lee-surrender-at-appomattox

Comcast Refused to Cancel Cable for Customer Whose House Went Up in Flames

http://consumerist.com/2015/04/09/comcast-refused-to-cancel-cable-for-customer-whose-house-went-up-in-flames/

SONG OF THE DAY

Crosby Stills Nash & Young – Our House

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c7goifK_2qY

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.