Energy News Digest for February 5, 2013

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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD (JUST BECAUSE I CAN)

Energy News Digest word cloud for February 5, 2013

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/02/energy-news-digest-word-cloud-for_5.html

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Superdome Officials Had Worried About a Power Outage (Associated Press)

http://news.yahoo.com/superdome-officials-worried-power-outage-041026284--finance.html

Report Says Dam Removal Good for Klamath Salmon (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_22516392/report-says-dam-removal-good-klamath-salmon

New Light Bulb Law Feeds Washington State Recycling Industry (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/New-light-bulb-law-feeds-recycling-industry-189738561.html

Judge Halts Sale of Assets in Chinese Firm’s Oregon Wind Deal (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-04/judge-hals-sale-of-assets-in-chinese-firm-s-wind-deal.html

Castle Rock Area Residents Speak Out Against New Bonneville Power Administration Power Line (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/castle-rock-area-residents-speak-out-against-new-bpa-power/article_e8a6532a-6f68-11e2-8ff3-0019bb2963f4.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Superdome Officials Had Worried About a Power Outage
• Hubris Alert - Super Bowl Blackout: 49ers New High-Tech Stadium Would Not Fail During Big Game, Boosters Say
• Castle Rock Area Residents Speak Out Against New Bonneville Power Administration Power Line
• Editorial - Wright Brought Stability
• Doug Smith Serving New Roles at Grays Harbor PUD
• Alaska Senator Murkowski Unveils Her Big New Energy Plan. Here’s a Breakdown
• Duke Energy to Close Troubled Florida Nuclear Plant
• Are Mini-Reactors The Future Of Nuclear Power?
• Op/Ed - Who Should Be Obama’s Next Energy Secretary?
• U-S Department of Energy is the Latest Victim of an Online Attack
• Texas Power Company Skeptical of Customer’s Heat Exhaustion Lawsuit
• Report Says Dam Removal Good for Klamath Salmon
• Arizona Sues U-S EPA over Coal Power Plant Emissions
• Businesses Cashing in on China’s Air Pollution
• Judge Halts Sale of Assets in Chinese Firm’s Oregon Wind Deal
• FERC Proposes Changes to Small Generator Interconnection Process Designed to Encourage Solar, Distributed Resources
• New Light Bulb Law Feeds Washington State Recycling Industry
• Nest Topped Last Week’s Top Five Silicon Valley Fundings
• Carbon Emissions in U-S Drop to Lowest Level Since 1994
• Huzzah! King County Reaches Ambitious Goal of Getting Half of Its Energy for Operations from Renewable Sources
• EPA Doubles Down on Ethanol Mandates
• FCC Super Wi-Fi Proposal Prompts Fierce Lobbying from Tech, Telecom Firms
• When Will the Rest of Us Get Google Fiber?
• Report: Canadian Schools Banning Wi-Fi Based on Bogus Science
• Report Blasts Cell Phone Taxes & Fees
• Dell in $24 Billion Deal to Go Private
• Blackout Bowl Spotlights Twitter’s Super Reach
• When Twitter Attacks: How Trolls Use Social Media to Silence
• CBS Learned Nothing from Hopper Snafu - Banned SodaStream Ad Because it Angered Coke & Pepsi
• Nearly Half of Single Women Research Dates on Facebook
• Washington State Senate - “Gross Disloyalty”: Democrats Censure Tom, Sheldon
• On Suffrage, Washington State Helped Lead the Way
• Oregon Men Falsified Weight, Takeoff Power of Helicopter in Deadly Iron 44 Crash, Indictment Alleges
• Three Washington State Colleges Lead Nation in Peace Corps Volunteers
• I Want My Bankruptcy Stew! Portland Group to Purchase Oak Tree Casino Restaurant
• Canada Begins Phase Out of Penny

WORD OF THE DAY

Topiary • \TOPE-pee-err-ee\ • Adjective - Of, relating to, or being the practice or art of training, cutting, and trimming trees or shrubs into odd or ornamental shapes; also: characterized by such work.

Nigel was the perfect choice for the landscaping job at the Bamsforth-Duddle-Branxton estates in the remote “Lakes District” of England. Not only was he skilled at shaping boxwood into the most amazing topiary shapes…he truly reflected his work. His amazing shock of hair was the “test bed” for many of his creations; billowing, flowing shapes, creatures and various designs appeared on his raven locks before he took the sharp, shiny shears to the shrubbery.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

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

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Superdome Officials Had Worried About a Power Outage (Associated Press)

http://news.yahoo.com/superdome-officials-worried-power-outage-041026284--finance.html

Hubris Alert - Super Bowl Blackout: 49ers New High-Tech Stadium Would Not Fail During Big Game, Boosters Say (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_22518256

Castle Rock Area Residents Speak Out Against New Bonneville Power Administration Power Line (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/castle-rock-area-residents-speak-out-against-new-bpa-power/article_e8a6532a-6f68-11e2-8ff3-0019bb2963f4.html

Editorial - Wright Brought Stability: Bonneville Power Administration CEO & Administrator Navigated Challenging Waters (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

http://www.registerguard.com/web/opinion/29399794-47/bpa-power-wright-electricity-administrator.html.csp

Doug Smith Serving New Roles at Grays Harbor PUD (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kxro.wordpress.com/2013/02/05/doug-smith-serving-new-roles-at-grays-harbor-pud/

Alaska Senator Murkowski Unveils Her Big New Energy Plan. Here’s a Breakdown (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/02/04/what-would-a-republican-energy-policy-look-like-ask-lisa-murkowski/?wprss=rss_business

Duke Energy to Close Troubled Florida Nuclear Plant (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2013/02/05/2263409/duke-energy-to-close-troubled.html

Are Mini-Reactors The Future Of Nuclear Power? (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2013/02/04/170482802/are-mini-reactors-the-future-of-nuclear-power?ft=1&f=3

Op/Ed - Who Should Be Obama’s Next Energy Secretary? (NY Times)

http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/01/who-should-be-obamas-next-energy-secretary/?partner=rss&emc=rss

U-S Department of Energy is the Latest Victim of an Online Attack (NY Times)

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/04/energy-department-is-the-latest-victim-of-an-online-attack/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Texas Power Company Skeptical of Customer’s Heat Exhaustion Lawsuit (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/02/04/54555.htm

FISH & WILDLIFE

Report Says Dam Removal Good for Klamath Salmon (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_22516392/report-says-dam-removal-good-klamath-salmon

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Arizona Sues U-S EPA over Coal Power Plant Emissions (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/04/us-utilities-arizona-coal-idUSBRE9130L420130204

Businesses Cashing in on China’s Air Pollution - Businesses are selling everything from $5 face masks to million-dollar protective domes (Seattle Times, WA)

http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2020288471_chinapollutionxml.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Judge Halts Sale of Assets in Chinese Firm’s Oregon Wind Deal (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-04/judge-hals-sale-of-assets-in-chinese-firm-s-wind-deal.html

FERC Proposes Changes to Small Generator Interconnection Process Designed to Encourage Solar, Distributed Resources (GTH Energy & Natural Resources Law Blog)

http://www.energynaturalresourceslaw.com/2013/02/ferc-proposes-changes-to-small-generator-interconnection-process-designed-to-encourage-solar-distrib.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

New Light Bulb Law Feeds Washington State Recycling Industry (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/New-light-bulb-law-feeds-recycling-industry-189738561.html

Nest Topped Last Week’s Top Five Silicon Valley Fundings (Silicon Valley Business Journal, San Jose, CA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2013/02/03/nest-topped-last-weeks-top-five.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Carbon Emissions in U-S Drop to Lowest Level Since 1994 (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy-Voices/2013/0204/Carbon-emissions-in-US-drop-to-lowest-level-since-1994

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Huzzah! King County Reaches Ambitious Goal of Getting Half of Its Energy for Operations from Renewable Sources (Redmond Reporter, WA)

http://www.redmond-reporter.com/community/189737581.html

EPA Doubles Down on Ethanol Mandates (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy-Voices/2013/0205/EPA-doubles-down-on-ethanol-mandates

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

FCC Super Wi-Fi Proposal Prompts Fierce Lobbying from Tech, Telecom Firms (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-tech/post/fcc-super-wifi-proposal-prompts-fierce-lobbying-from-tech-telecom-firms/2013/02/04/e9e6ab78-6ee5-11e2-ac36-3d8d9dcaa2e2_blog.html?wprss=rss_technology

When Will the Rest of Us Get Google Fiber? (Mashable)

http://mashable.com/2013/02/04/when-will-we-get-google-fiber/

Report: Canadian Schools Banning Wi-Fi Based on Bogus Science (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Report-Canada-Schools-Banning-WiFi-Based-on-Bogus-Science-123005

Report Blasts Cell Phone Taxes & Fees (Milwaukee Business Journal, WI)

http://www.bizjournals.com/milwaukee/blog/2013/02/report-blasts-cell-phone-taxes-and-fees.html

Dell in $24 Billion Deal to Go Private (NY Times)

http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2013/02/05/dell-sets-23-8-billion-deal-to-go-private/?partner=rss&emc=rss

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Blackout Bowl Spotlights Twitter’s Super Reach (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2020288673_superbowlsocialxml.html

When Twitter Attacks: How Trolls Use Social Media to Silence (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/techchron/2013/02/04/when-twitter-attacks-how-trolls-use-social-media-to-silence/

CBS Learned Nothing from Hopper Snafu - Banned SodaStream Ad Because it Angered Coke & Pepsi (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/CBS-Learned-Nothing-From-Hopper-Snafu-123019

Nearly Half of Single Women Research Dates on Facebook (Mashable)

http://mashable.com/2013/02/05/online-dating-habits/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Senate - “Gross Disloyalty”: Democrats Censure Tom, Sheldon (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2013/02/04/gross-disloyalty-democrats-censure-tom-sheldon/

On Suffrage, Washington State Helped Lead the Way (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20130205/BLOG55/130209944

GENERAL NEWS

Oregon Men Falsified Weight, Takeoff Power of Helicopter in Deadly Iron 44 Crash, Indictment Alleges (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2013/02/oregon_men_falsified_weight_ta.html

Three Washington State Colleges Lead Nation in Peace Corps Volunteers (Seattle Times, WA)

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020288767_peacecorpsxml.html

I Want My Bankruptcy Stew! Portland Group to Purchase Oak Tree Casino Restaurant (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/feb/04/portland-group-to-purchase-oak-tree/

Canada Begins Phase Out of Penny (Associated Press)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20130204/BIZ/702049871

DIVERSIONS

Remembering Karen Carpenter, 30 Years Later

http://www.npr.org/2013/02/04/171080334/remembering-karen-carpenter-30-years-later?ft=1&f=2

What Happens When a 900 MPH Ping Pong Serve Hits Your Paddle?

http://gizmodo.com/5981379/what-happens-when-a-900mph-ping-pong-serve-hits-your-paddle

Remains of King Richard III Found Under Parking Lot

http://www.oregonlive.com/today/index.ssf/2013/02/remains_of_king_richard_iii_fo.html

True Love Tattoo? Woman Tattoos Man’s Name on Her Face 24 Hours after They Meet

http://q13fox.com/2013/02/04/true-love-tattoo-woman-tattoos-mans-name-on-her-face-24-hours-after-they-meet/#axzz2K2ZyZcC8

SONG OF THE DAY

Carpenters - Calling Occupants of Interplanetary Craft

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4yTkrdsg4Qo

Energy News Digest for February 4, 2013

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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Super Bowl Extravaganza Hit by Power Failure (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/04/us-nfl-superbowl-lights-idUSBRE91300U20130204

Bonneville Power Administration’s Steve Wright Says Goodbye after 12 Years as Administrator (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/02/bonneville_power_administratio_1.html

At Shelton Presentation - BPA Administrator Educates Community about Hydroelectricity: Outgoing administrator lauds hydropower (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/feb/01/bpa-administrator-educates-community-about-hydroel/

Investigators Begin to Test Other Electrical Parts on the 787 (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/02/business/inquiry-into-787-batteries-expands-to-other-components.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

Solar Development Absorbing California Farmland (Associated Press)

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/national/Solar-development-absorbing-Calif-farmland_00095559

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Super Bowl Extravaganza Hit by Power Failure
• Blackout Is a Boon for Super Bowl Ratings
• Bonneville Power Administration’s Steve Wright Says Goodbye after 12 Years as Administrator
• At Shelton Presentation - BPA Administrator Educates Community about Hydroelectricity
• Op/Ed - Bonneville Power Administration’s Power Line Decision Will Cost Everyone
• Cowlitz PUD Documents Shed Light on Events Surrounding GM’s Firing
• Thurston County Not Much Better Off a Year after Big Snowstorm
• Editorial - Thumbs Up to Energy Northwest for Record-Breaking Year
• Regulated Energy Companies Top of Washington State Consumer Complaint List
• Vancouver School Wins Nation’s Largest Regional Science Bowl, For 2nd Year
• Trade Groups Sue to Stop Collection of Federal Nuclear Waste Fee
• Energy Companies & Landowners Are Clashing over Property Rights
• U-S Energy Secretary Chu’s Resignation Memo
• Tennessee Public Utility CEOs Rake in Six-Figure Salaries
• Hundreds Watch as San Diego Power Plant Imploded
• Fewer Early Columbia Chinook Expected
• Final Brief Filed in Appeals Court Challenge to Council’s Northwest Power Plan, Fish Mitigation
• Washington State Bill Would Allow Counties to Ban Fish Farming
• Hundreds of Miles of Forest Streams for Fish Habitat Are Re-Opening
• Solar Development Absorbing California Farmland
• Arizona - Cuts to Renewable-Energy Incentives Blasted
• Ocean Energy on the Move in the Pacific Northwest
• Four Reasons Why it’s a Bad Argument to Say Cats Kill More Birds Than Wind Turbines
• Energy Efficiency First – Olympia Home Energy Audits & Performance Contracting
• City of Kennewick to Get Rebate for Conserving Energy
• Big Switch Under Way in U-S Energy Use: Report
• Coal-Burning Utilities Seek a Role in EPA Rule-Making on Greenhouse Gas Emissions
• Pacific Northwest Paying High Price for Carbon Emissions
• Beer Helps Power Alaskan Brewery
• Cellulose Fuel Slow to Start Pumping, But This May Be the Year
• Regulators Working to Fix Scam-Ridden U-S Biofuel Program
• Op/Ed - Chelan PUD Working Hard to Fix the Fiber
• Click! Gets Deal with Fisher Broadcasting
• Speedy Fiber Has Kansas City All Googley
• How Sports Networks Inflate Your TV Bill
• Investigators Begin to Test Other Electrical Parts on the 787
• Grapeview School District Asks Voters to Approve $12.5 Million Bond
• WSP Trooper Testing Draws Nearly 100 Hopefuls

WORD OF THE DAY

Redolent • \RED-duh-lunt\ • Adjective - 1: exuding fragrance: aromatic 2a: full of a specified fragrance: scented b: evocative, suggestive

“Little Trees”; Axe Spray

Old cars and teen angst on show

Redolent device

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

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

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Super Bowl Extravaganza Hit by Power Failure (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/04/us-nfl-superbowl-lights-idUSBRE91300U20130204

Blackout Is a Boon for Super Bowl Ratings (NY Times)

http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/04/blackout-is-a-boon-for-super-bowl-ratings/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Bonneville Power Administration’s Steve Wright Says Goodbye after 12 Years as Administrator (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/02/bonneville_power_administratio_1.html

At Shelton Presentation - BPA Administrator Educates Community about Hydroelectricity: Outgoing administrator lauds hydropower (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/feb/01/bpa-administrator-educates-community-about-hydroel/

Op/Ed - Bonneville Power Administration’s Power Line Decision Will Cost Everyone (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/opinion/guest-column-bpa-s-decision-will-cost-everyone/article_ba63126a-6bfc-11e2-a9e2-0019bb2963f4.html

Cowlitz PUD Documents Shed Light on Events Surrounding GM’s Firing (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/74639f60-6ce1-11e2-afcc-001a4bcf887a.html

Thurston County Not Much Better Off a Year after Big Snowstorm - Generators needed to keep shelters open when South Sounders are displaced (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2013/02/03/2408666/county-not-much-better-off-a-year.html

Editorial - Thumbs Up to Energy Northwest for Record-Breaking Year (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2013/02/04/2260455/thumbs-up-to-energy-northwest.html

Regulated Energy Companies Top of Washington State Consumer Complaint List (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/49067-energy-companies-top-of-consumer-complaint-list

Vancouver School Wins Nation’s Largest Regional Science Bowl, For 2nd Year - Sponsored by Bonneville Power Administration (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.koinlocal6.com/news/local/story/Vancouver-school-wins-nations-largest-regional-sc/ZhNnqPPb9kqnu1DzyN8UXQ.cspx

Trade Groups Sue to Stop Collection of Federal Nuclear Waste Fee (American Public Power Association)

http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppd/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=205520&issueID=26945

Energy Companies & Landowners Are Clashing over Property Rights (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/kensilverstein/2013/02/02/energy-companies-and-landowners-are-clashing-over-property-rights/

U-S Energy Secretary Chu’s Resignation Memo (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2013/02/01/2259478/energy-sec-chus-resignation-memo.html

Tennessee Public Utility CEOs Rake in Six-Figure Salaries (Watchdog.Org)

http://watchdog.org/68000/tn-public-utility-ceos-rake-in-six-figure-salaries/

Hundreds Watch as San Diego Power Plant Imploded (Associated Press)

http://news.yahoo.com/hundreds-watch-san-diego-power-plant-imploded-205442650.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Fewer Early Columbia Chinook Expected (Bellingham Herald, WA)

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2013/02/01/2861272/fewer-early-columbia-chinook-expected.html

Final Brief Filed in Appeals Court Challenge to Council’s Northwest Power Plan, Fish Mitigation (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/424838.aspx

Washington State Bill Would Allow Counties to Ban Fish Farming (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20130204/news/302049995/bill-would-allow-counties-to-ban-fish-farming

Hundreds of Miles of Forest Streams for Fish Habitat Are Re-Opening (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/49064-hundreds-of-miles-of-forest-streams-for-fish-habitat-are-re-opening-

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Solar Development Absorbing California Farmland (Associated Press)

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/national/Solar-development-absorbing-Calif-farmland_00095559

Arizona - Cuts to Renewable-Energy Incentives Blasted: Enviros, solar officials fear AZ panel’s move could hurt industry (Arizona Daily Star, Tucson)

http://azstarnet.com/business/local/cuts-to-renewable-energy-incentives-blasted/article_04f839b1-3e8a-56fb-a143-68e96720018b.html

Ocean Energy on the Move in the Pacific Northwest - Oregon Adopts New Rules, FERC Finds No Significant Environmental Impacts for Snohomish PUD’s Admiralty Inlet Tidal Project (GTH Energy & Natural Resources Law Blog) http://www.energynaturalresourceslaw.com/2013/01/ocean-energy-on-the-move-in-the-northwest-oregon-adopts-new-rules-snohomish-pud-files-eis-on-admiral.html

Four Reasons Why it’s a Bad Argument to Say Cats Kill More Birds Than Wind Turbines (KCET-TV, Burbank, CA)

http://www.kcet.org/news/rewire/wildlife/4-reasons-cats-bird-kills-dont-excuse-wind-turbine-bird-kills.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Energy Efficiency First – Olympia Home Energy Audits & Performance Contracting: Improving Your Comfort, Health & Bottom Line (Thurston Talk, Olympia, WA)

http://www.thurstontalk.com/2013/02/02/energy-efficiency-first-olympia-home-energy-audits-and-performance-contracting-improving-your-comfort-health-and-bottom-line/

City of Kennewick to Get Rebate for Conserving Energy (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2013/02/04/2261852/kennewick-to-get-rebate-for-conserving.html

Big Switch Under Way in U-S Energy Use: Report (Bloomberg News)

http://www.smh.com.au/business/carbon-economy/big-switch-under-way-in-us-energy-use-report-20130201-2doyw.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Coal-Burning Utilities Seek a Role in EPA Rule-Making on Greenhouse Gas Emissions (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/coal-burning-utilities-seek-a-role-in-epa-rule-making-on-greenhouse-gas-emissions/2013/02/03/a0095c8a-6b39-11e2-95b3-272d604a10a3_story.html

Pacific Northwest Paying High Price for Carbon Emissions (Grist Online)

http://grist.org/article/pacific-northwest-paying-high-price-for-carbon-emissions/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Beer Helps Power Alaskan Brewery (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/today/index.ssf/2013/02/beer_helps_power_alaskan_brewe.html

Cellulose Fuel Slow to Start Pumping, But This May Be the Year (Seattle Times, WA)

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2020272401_celluloseethanolxml.html

Regulators Working to Fix Scam-Ridden U-S Biofuel Program (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2013/02/regulators-working-to-fix-scam-ridden-u-s-biofuel-program?cmpid=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Op/Ed - Chelan PUD Working Hard to Fix the Fiber (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/feb/01/working-hard-to-fix-the-fiber/

Click! Gets Deal with Fisher Broadcasting (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/02/02/2458998/click-gets-deal-with-fisher.html

Speedy Fiber Has Kansas City All Googley (Seattle Times, WA)

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2020275960_kansascitybroadbandxml.html

How Sports Networks Inflate Your TV Bill (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/02/03/verizon-subscribers-regional-sports-network-fee-time-warner-la-dodgers/1880595/

GENERAL NEWS

Investigators Begin to Test Other Electrical Parts on the 787 (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/02/business/inquiry-into-787-batteries-expands-to-other-components.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

Grapeview School District Asks Voters to Approve $12.5 Million Bond (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/feb/01/grapeview-school-district-asks-voters-to-approve/

WSP Trooper Testing Draws Nearly 100 Hopefuls (Northwest Cable News Network)

http://www.nwcn.com/news/Trooper-testing-draws-nearly-100-hopefuls-189527621.html

DIVERSIONS

Did Beyonce Flash an Illuminati Sign? Why Did the Superdome Power Go Out? Your Super Bowl Mysteries, Solved!

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutdown-corner/did-beyonce-flash-illuminati-sign-why-did-superdome-064347471--nfl.html

Etch a Sketch Inventor Andre Cassagnes Dies in France at Age of 86

http://www.oregonlive.com/today/index.ssf/2013/02/etch_a_sketch_inventor_andre_c.html

Student Project Helps Disabled Kitten Walk

http://mashable.com/2013/01/31/disabled-kiten/

British Man’s Dog Sniffs out Smelly Whale Secretion worth Thousands

http://grist.org/article/british-mans-dog-sniffs-out-smelly-whale-secretion-worth-thousands/

SONG OF THE DAY

Sketches of Spain

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6CZFnyXwlV4

Energy News Digest for February 1, 2013

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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Energy Secretary to Depart, as Administration Vacancies Mount (New York Times, NY)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/02/us/politics/energy-secretary-to-depart-as-administration-vacancies-mount.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

Portland General Electric Planning Port Westward Power Plant (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/pge-planning-port-westward-power-plant/article_a2c6ab04-6c0f-11e2-b9d2-0019bb2963f4.html

Prineville, Quincy, Loudoun County - Data Centers Haven’t Just Changed Computing, They’ve Changed Communities (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2013/02/01/data-centers-havent-just-changed-computing-theyve-changed-communities/

Clallam County PUD says I-937 fueling surge in electricity costs (Sequim Gazette, WA)

http://www.sequimgazette.com/news/article.exm/2013-01-31_pud_says_i_937_fueling_surge_in_electricity_costs

Steve Wright: Bonneville Power Administration CEO & Administrator Addresses RiverPartners (Northwest River Partners)

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/01/steve-wright-bonneville-power.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Energy Secretary to Depart, as Administration Vacancies Mount
• Energy Secretary Chu to Resign
• Lake Wenatchee Storm Damage Doesn’t Qualify for Federal Assistance
• Portland General Electric Planning Port Westward Power Plant
• Power Pole Fire Causes Outage in Lakewood Area
• Federal Court Awards Sacramento Municipal Utility District Millions in Nuke Storage Case
• NorthWestern Energy to Improve Montana Electric Transmission System
• British Columbia - Promise of Site C Peace River Dam Still a Distant One
• Norway May Boost Hydro Output 12% by 2020, Survey Shows
• The Future of Energy - Batteries Included?
• Minnesota – Editorial: The Service You Don’t See
• Steve Wright: Bonneville Power Administration CEO & Administrator Addresses RiverPartners
• Op/Ed - Political Games Are Devastating Sustainable Commercial Fishing
• Clallam County PUD Says I-937 Fueling Surge in Electricity Costs
• Missouri - Complaint Says Ameren is Circumventing Green Power Law
• California Utilities Quietly Gearing Up to Fight Solar Energy
• Report: Clean Power is Moving (Gradually) into Americans’ Homes
• Puget Sound Energy Offering Manufactured-Home Owners Free Efficiency Upgrades
• Sacramento Launches $100-Million Energy Retrofit Fund
• NOAA Report Highlights Coastal Climate Risks
• Clean Energy in Europe Suffering from Falling Carbon Dioxide Prices
• Plugged In: Oregon Finishes I-5 Quick-Charge Station Corridor
• Prineville, Quincy, Loudoun County - Data Centers Haven’t Just Changed Computing, They’ve Changed Communities
• Comcast Now Charging Customers for Formerly Free Converter Boxes
• Is Broadband a Social Justice Issue?
• REI Chief Sally Jewell in the Mix for Interior
• Washington State Bill Would Change Public Records Act
• If Congress Fails to Act by March 1, Rainier & Olympic Parks Would Face Cuts Affecting Visitors
• Investigation Launched After North Mason Boy, 3, Flown to Harborview
• Cooper Point, Black Lake Blvd - Jogger Struck, Killed By Car at Busy Olympia Intersection
• Mason County Sheriff’s Office - Dean Byrd Retires
• Guilty Plea in Largest Public Embezzlement Case in Washington State’s History
• Man Found Guilty in Plot to Bomb Portland Tree-Lighting Ceremony
• Reduced Newspaper Delivery: Smart or Death Knell?
• Magazine Declares Seattle Has ‘Wussiest’ Winter in America
• Change Coming to Costco’s $1.50 Hot Dog-Soda Combo

WORD OF THE DAY

Jabberwocky • \JAB-burr-wok-kee\ • Noun - Meaningless speech or writing.

The good old “Wednesday Afternoon Format,” the jabberwocky of air personalities with nothing to say: “Fred Farkle here, glad to have you along with me on this Wednesday afternoon, I hope your day is going great. I’ll be alongside until six tonight…..”

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

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

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Energy Secretary to Depart, as Administration Vacancies Mount (New York Times, NY)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/02/us/politics/energy-secretary-to-depart-as-administration-vacancies-mount.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

Energy Secretary Chu to Resign (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/02/01/obama-chu-energy-secretary/1883425/

Lake Wenatchee Storm Damage Doesn’t Qualify for Federal Assistance (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/feb/01/storm-damage-doesnt-qualify-for-federal-assistance/

Portland General Electric Planning Port Westward Power Plant (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/pge-planning-port-westward-power-plant/article_a2c6ab04-6c0f-11e2-b9d2-0019bb2963f4.html

Power Pole Fire Causes Outage in Lakewood Area (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Power-pole-fire-causes-outage-in-Lakewood-area-189133631.html

Federal Court Awards Sacramento Municipal Utility District Millions in Nuke Storage Case (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2013/02/court-awards-smud-millions-in-nuke-storage-case.html

NorthWestern Energy to Improve Montana Electric Transmission System (Electric Light & Power)

http://www.elp.com/articles/2013/01/northwestern-energy-to-improve-montana-electric-transmission-sys.html

British Columbia - Promise of Site C Peace River Dam Still a Distant One (Vancouver Sun, B-C)

http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Promise%20Site%20still%20distant/7904000/story.html

Norway May Boost Hydro Output 12% by 2020, Survey Shows (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2013/02/norway-may-boost-hydro-output-12-by-2020-survey-shows?cmpid=rss

The Future of Energy - Batteries Included? The search for better ways of storing electricity is hotting up (The Economist Magazine)

http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_c=116umgo72x5t2qs&xid=116rhqxmo3mtaux&done=.116umgo72x622qs

Minnesota – Editorial: The Service You Don’t See (Moose Lake Star-Gazette, MN)

http://www.mlstargazette.com/story/2013/01/31/opinion/the-service-you-dont-see/385.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Steve Wright: Bonneville Power Administration CEO & Administrator Addresses RiverPartners (Northwest River Partners)

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/01/steve-wright-bonneville-power.html

Op/Ed - Political Games Are Devastating Sustainable Commercial Fishing (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2013/01/31/animals-wildlife/112712/fish-wildlife-sports-commercial-fisheries-pete-knu/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Clallam County PUD Says I-937 Fueling Surge in Electricity Costs (Sequim Gazette, WA)

http://www.sequimgazette.com/news/article.exm/2013-01-31_pud_says_i_937_fueling_surge_in_electricity_costs

Missouri - Complaint Says Ameren is Circumventing Green Power Law - counting generation from hydropower using ineligible renewable energy certificates (St Louis Dispatch, MO)

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/complaint-says-ameren-circumventing-green-power-law/article_50906e1f-ceca-5f25-bf6b-ee3d2cdf61a0.html

California Utilities Quietly Gearing Up to Fight Solar Energy (Capitol Weekly, CA)

http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_c=116umgo72x5t2qs&xid=116rhqxmo3mtaux&done=.116umgo72x622qs

Report: Clean Power is Moving (Gradually) into Americans’ Homes (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/uciliawang/2013/01/31/report-clean-power-is-moving-gradually-into-americans-homes/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Puget Sound Energy Offering Manufactured-Home Owners Free Efficiency Upgrades (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2013/02/01/2406690/puget-sound-energy-offering-manufactured.html

Sacramento Launches $100-Million Energy Retrofit Fund (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/justingerdes/2013/01/31/sacramento-launches-100-million-energy-retrofit-fund/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

NOAA Report Highlights Coastal Climate Risks (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2013/01/noaa-report-highlights-coastal-climate.html

Clean Energy in Europe Suffering from Falling Carbon Dioxide Prices (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/davidhone/179716/carbon-price-in-europe

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Plugged In: Oregon Finishes I-5 Quick-Charge Station Corridor (Salem Statesman Journal, OR)

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20130201/NEWS/302010022/1001

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Prineville, Quincy, Loudoun County - Data Centers Haven’t Just Changed Computing, They’ve Changed Communities (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2013/02/01/data-centers-havent-just-changed-computing-theyve-changed-communities/

Comcast Now Charging Customers for Formerly Free Converter Boxes (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2013/01/31/comcast-now-charging-customers-for-formerly-free-converter-boxes/

Is Broadband a Social Justice Issue? (Huffington Post)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jason-resendez/internet-access_b_2567724.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

REI Chief Sally Jewell in the Mix for Interior (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/post/rei-chief-sally-jewell-in-the-mix-for-interior/2013/01/31/c4cb27c0-6bbf-11e2-ada0-5ca5fa7ebe79_blog.html

Washington State Bill Would Change Public Records Act (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

http://thedailyworld.com/sections/news/local/bill-would-change-public-records-act.html

If Congress Fails to Act by March 1, Rainier & Olympic Parks Would Face Cuts Affecting Visitors (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/02/01/2457645/sequestration-would-harm-national.html

GENERAL NEWS

Investigation Launched After North Mason Boy, 3, Flown to Harborview (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/jan/31/investigation-launched-after-north-mason-boy-3/

Cooper Point, Black Lake Blvd - Jogger Struck, Killed By Car at Busy Olympia Intersection (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Jogger-struck-killed-by-car-at-busy-Olympia-intersection-189386181.html

Mason County Sheriff’s Office - Dean Byrd Retires (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/49055-dean-byrd-retires

Guilty Plea in Largest Public Embezzlement Case in Washington State’s History (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/guilty-plea-largest-public-embezzlement-case-washington-state-s-history

Man Found Guilty in Plot to Bomb Portland Tree-Lighting Ceremony (Seattle Times, WA)

http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2020260556_orebombingxml.html

Reduced Newspaper Delivery: Smart or Death Knell? (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/2013/01/31/syracuse-post-standard/1878315/

Magazine Declares Seattle Has ‘Wussiest’ Winter in America (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/weather/blogs/scott/Magazine-declares-Seattle-has-wussiest-winter-in-America-189235931.html

Change Coming to Costco’s $1.50 Hot Dog-Soda Combo (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Costcos-150-hot-dog-soda-combo-to-get-big-change-189379761.html

DIVERSIONS

Proposed Law Shows What Counts in Texas

http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/01/31/54440.htm

Tortoise Trapped in Record Player Box Found Alive after 30 Years

http://gizmodo.com/5980332/tortoise-trapped-in-record-player-box-found-alive-after-30-years

Sandbaggers Will Install Longview’s Newest Squirrel Bridge Saturday

http://tdn.com/news/local/sandbaggers-will-install-longview-s-newest-squirrel-bridge-saturday/article_4bc6c3f2-6c0f-11e2-9826-0019bb2963f4.html

Woman Arrested after Trying to Dance, Sing Her Way Out of Bar Tab

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=2189845

SONG OF THE DAY

Emmylou Harris - Waltz Across Texas Tonight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VG5PnFBk1g

Ernest Tubb - Waltz Across Texas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkKW2hNCVis