Energy News Digest for February 20, 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

THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD (JUST BECAUSE I CAN)

Energy News Digest word cloud for February 20, 2013

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/02/word-cloud-for-energy-news-digest_20.html

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

California Wins $1.6 Billion Ruling on 2000-2001 Energy Crisis – Bonneville Power Administration Named in Case (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2013/02/20/5201958/california-wins-ruling-on-2000.html

Inslee to Environmental Activists: State Will Trigger ‘International Revolution’ on Energy Policy (Seattle Times, WA)

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/politicsnorthwest/2013/02/19/inslee-declares-international-revolution-coming-over-energy-policy/

U-S Senator Ron Wyden: Hanford Will be Priority for Next Energy Secretary (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/sen-wyden-hanford-will-be-priority-next-energy-secretary

Yahoo! Powering Down Wenatchee Plant, Sending Work to Its Quincy Site (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/feb/19/yahoo-powering-down-wenatchee-plant-sending-work/

WSDOT Head Hammond Resigns, Inslee Appoints Replacement - Sustainable communities & transportation advisor to Oregon’s Governor to step in (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Transportation-Secretary-Paula-Hammond-announces-her-resignation-191875861.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• California Wins $1.6 Billion Ruling on 2000-2001 Energy Crisis – Bonneville Power Administration Named in Case
• Enron-Era Ruling Signals $1.6 Billion California Refunds – Bonneville Power Administration listed as one of the Respondents
• Meanwhile, California Probe Recommended Into Oversight of Trillions of Dollars in Utility Ratepayer Money
• U-S Senator Ron Wyden: Hanford Will be Priority for Next Energy Secretary
• Portland General Electric PGE Asks Oregon Regulators to Review Customer Prices
• Grant County PUD Continues Program to Explain Rate Increases
• Grays Harbor PUD Announce Management Restructuring
• Telephone Scam Hits Franklin County PUD
• California - Flooded Rice Field is Tested as Salmon Nursery in Yolo Bypass
• West Coast Fisheries Showing Recovery Signs
• Inslee to Environmental Activists: State Will Trigger ‘International Revolution’ on Energy Policy
• Editorial - Washington State Environmental Coalition Pushing an Ambitious Agenda
• Montana U-S Senator’s Bill Pushes for More Geothermal Exploration
• Green Energy Standards Hitting Blockades - Kansas is Now Resistant
• Could Wind Power Cool New England’s Price Fever?
• Home Energy Use in the U-S – Infographic
• Is a Smart Home in Your Future?
• Yahoo! Powering Down Wenatchee Plant, Sending Work to Its Quincy Site
• Utah - Bill Would Halt Further Bonding for UTOPIA Broadband Operations
• Intel TV Service Already Being Tested by Hundreds of Users
• Idaho Panel Says Tax Shouldn’t Apply to Cloud Services
• Massive Cyberattacks from China? Report Claims to Expose Secret ‘Unit 61398’
• Apple Suffers Largest Hacking Attack in Its History
• Those $2 per Month Adapters Comcast Says You Need? You Might Not Need Them
• Report Fingers Boston, Providence DJ as Burger King & Jeep’s Twitter Nemesis
• Twitter Now Reducing Some Tweets to 117 Characters
• Most Web Pages Can be Connected in 19 Clicks, Study Says
• Yahoo Takes Cue from Facebook in Website Revamp
• WSDOT Head Hammond Resigns, Inslee Appoints Replacement - Sustainable communities & transportation advisor to Oregon’s Governor to step in
• As Budget Cuts Loom, Congressman Hears Shipyard Workers’ Concerns
• Roach Supports Washington State Bill That Would Require State Workers to Tell Truth
• U-S Senate - Schweitzer vs. Baucus? Montana Ex-Governor Posts Poll
• Shelton Couple Injured in Chehalis Crash
• Mason County Places Belfair Bypass on Six-Year Transportation Plan
• Leaking Nuclear Sludge Could Threaten Columbia River
• Special Weather Statement for Mason County
• Japan Probe Finds Miswiring (sic) of Boeing 787 Battery
• Report: Hand Sanitizer, Static Electricity May Have Caught Girl on Fire
• New Year Remarkably Dry - So Far

WORD OF THE DAY

Trousseau • \TRUE-soe\ • Noun - The personal possessions of a bride usually including clothes, accessories, and household linens and wares

Martha was ecstatic with joy as she rifled through the contents of her ornately carved wedding chest. Dainty garments, beautifully embroidered bed linens, perfumes and fragrant ointments were among the treasures. Inexplicable to her was the one present: a small, sturdy chest which had the family crest hammered heavily into its surface. “Kinda looks like a haggis stitching kit,” she pondered. “But where would I get all the tasty ingredients for such a dish here in downtown Los Angeles?”

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

California Wins $1.6 Billion Ruling on 2000-2001 Energy Crisis – Bonneville Power Administration Named in Case (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2013/02/20/5201958/california-wins-ruling-on-2000.html

Enron-Era Ruling Signals $1.6 Billion California Refunds – Bonneville Power Administration listed as one of the Respondents (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-20/enron-era-ruling-signals-1-6-billion-california-refunds.html

Meanwhile, California Probe Recommended Into Oversight of Trillions of Dollars in Utility Ratepayer Money (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_22623892

U-S Senator Ron Wyden: Hanford Will be Priority for Next Energy Secretary (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/sen-wyden-hanford-will-be-priority-next-energy-secretary

Portland General Electric PGE Asks Oregon Regulators to Review Customer Prices (Electric Energy Online)

http://www.electricenergyonline.com/?page=show_news&rss=1&id=169029

Grant County PUD Continues Program to Explain Rate Increases (iFiber One News, Ephrata, WA)

http://www.ifiberone.com/news/grantcounty/ephrata/article_a94a13ec-7adf-11e2-90f7-001a4bcf6878.html

Grays Harbor PUD Announce Management Restructuring (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kxro.wordpress.com/2013/02/20/grays-harbor-pud-announce-restructuring/

Telephone Scam Hits Franklin County PUD (Franklin County PUD)

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/02/telephone-scam-hits-franklin-county-pud.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

California - Flooded Rice Field is Tested as Salmon Nursery in Yolo Bypass (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2013/02/20/5202224/flooded-rice-field-is-tested-as.html

West Coast Fisheries Showing Recovery Signs (Associated Press)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20130219/BIZ/702199943

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Inslee to Environmental Activists: State Will Trigger ‘International Revolution’ on Energy Policy (Seattle Times, WA)

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/politicsnorthwest/2013/02/19/inslee-declares-international-revolution-coming-over-energy-policy/

Editorial - Washington State Environmental Coalition Pushing an Ambitious Agenda “…they are paying close attention, for example, to more than 18 bills attempting to relax the requirements of Initiative 937…” (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2013/02/17/2426893/environmental-coalition-pushing.html

Montana U-S Senator’s Bill Pushes for More Geothermal Exploration (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

http://www.greatfallstribune.com/article/20130219/NEWS01/302190023/Tester-bill-pushes-geothermal-exploration

Green Energy Standards Hitting Blockades - Kansas is Now Resistant (EnergyBiz)

http://www.energybiz.com/article/13/02/green-energy-standards-hitting-blockades

Could Wind Power Cool New England’s Price Fever? (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/17/could-wind-power-cool-new-englands-price-fever/?partner=rss&emc=rss

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Home Energy Use in the U-S – Infographic (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/globalwarmingisreal/187951/infographic-home-energy-use-us

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Is a Smart Home in Your Future? (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2013/02/20/2282138/is-a-smart-home-in-your-future.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Yahoo! Powering Down Wenatchee Plant, Sending Work to Its Quincy Site (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/feb/19/yahoo-powering-down-wenatchee-plant-sending-work/

Utah - Bill Would Halt Further Bonding for UTOPIA Broadband Operations (Salt Lake Tribune, UT)

http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/money/55796327-79/utopia-bonds-money-operations.html.csp

Intel TV Service Already Being Tested by Hundreds of Users (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2013/02/14/intel-media-alpha-test/

Idaho Panel Says Tax Shouldn’t Apply to Cloud Services (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/feb/16/panel-says-tax-shouldnt-apply-to-cloud-services/

Massive Cyberattacks from China? Report Claims to Expose Secret ‘Unit 61398’ (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2013/0219/Massive-cyberattacks-from-China-Report-claims-to-expose-secret-Unit-61398.-video

Apple Suffers Largest Hacking Attack in Its History (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_22621397

Those $2 per Month Adapters Comcast Says You Need? You Might Not Need Them (Minneapolis/St Paul Business Journal, MN)

http://www.bizjournals.com/twincities/morning_roundup/2013/02/those-2month-adapters-comcast-says.html

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Report Fingers Boston, Providence DJ as Burger King & Jeep’s Twitter Nemesis (Boston Business Journal, MA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/boston/blog/mass_roundup/2013/02/burger-king-jeep-hacker-identity.html

Twitter Now Reducing Some Tweets to 117 Characters (Mashable)

http://mashable.com/2013/02/20/twitter-tco-length/

Most Web Pages Can be Connected in 19 Clicks, Study Says (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/most-web-pages-can-be-connected-in-19-clicks-study-says/2013/02/19/026db29a-7a9e-11e2-82e8-61a46c2cde3d_story.html?wprss=rss_technology

Yahoo Takes Cue from Facebook in Website Revamp (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/20/us-yahoo-website-idUSBRE91J0Q620130220

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

WSDOT Head Hammond Resigns, Inslee Appoints Replacement - Sustainable communities & transportation advisor to Oregon’s Governor to step in (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Transportation-Secretary-Paula-Hammond-announces-her-resignation-191875861.html

As Budget Cuts Loom, Congressman Hears Shipyard Workers’ Concerns (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/feb/19/in-shadow-of-budget-cuts-congressman-hears/

Roach Supports Washington State Bill That Would Require State Workers to Tell Truth (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Bill-would-require-state-employee-truthfulness-191864221.html

U-S Senate - Schweitzer vs. Baucus? Montana Ex-Governor Posts Poll (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/post-politics/wp/2013/02/20/schweitzer-vs-baucus-montana-ex-governor-posts-poll/?wprss=rss_congress

GENERAL NEWS

Shelton Couple Injured in Chehalis Crash (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/9257

Mason County Places Belfair Bypass on Six-Year Transportation Plan (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/feb/19/mason-county-places-belfair-bypass-on-six-year/

Leaking Nuclear Sludge Could Threaten Columbia River (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-20/leaking-nuclear-sludge-could-threaten-columbia-river.html

Special Weather Statement for Mason County (National Weather Service)

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/02/special-weather-statement-for-mason.html

Japan Probe Finds Miswiring (sic) of Boeing 787 Battery (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2020389712_apasjapanboeing787.html

Report: Hand Sanitizer, Static Electricity May Have Caught Girl on Fire (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattle911/2013/02/19/report-hand-sanitizer-static-electricity-may-have-caught-girl-on-fire/

New Year Remarkably Dry - So Far (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/new-year-remarkably-dry-so-far/article_13328a14-7b03-11e2-ab61-001a4bcf887a.html

DIVERSIONS

Picasso’s Masterpieces Made With ... House Paint

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/02/19/newser-picasso-house-paint/1930199/

Cheating Woman Admits Pocket-Dial Led to Lovers’ Fight

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/02/20/cheating-woman-pocket-dial-stabbing/1932171/

Police Informed a Mother about Her Son’s Death over Facebook

http://gizmodo.com/5985605/police-informed-a-mother-about-her-sons-death-over-facebook

Maker’s Mark: Haha, Just Kidding - We Won’t Water Down Bourbon

http://consumerist.com/2013/02/19/makers-mark-haha-just-kidding-we-wont-water-down-bourbon/

SONG OF THE DAY

Norah Jones - 10 Painter Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6weoLdQEfI

Energy News Digest for February 19, 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

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-february.html

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Judge Dismisses Humane Society Lawsuit That Opposed Killing Sea Lions at Bonneville Dam (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/02/judge_dismisses_humane_society.html

Tribes, Cable Groups Protest Plan for Snohomish PUD’s Tidal-Power Project (Everett Herald, WA)

http://heraldnet.com/article/20130219/NEWS01/702199973

Oregon - State Approves $20 Million Tax Credit for SoloPower; Portland plant struggles to meet job, manufacturing benchmarks (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/02/state_approves_20_million_tax_credit_for_solopower_as_portland_plant_struggles_to_meet_job_manufacturing_benchmarks.html

Oregon - Rate Increase Sparks No Complaints, Emerald PUD Says: The power utility says cuts to staffing & other costs allowed it to hold the size of the increase to 3 percent (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

http://www.registerguard.com/web/news/cityregion/29439844-41/utility-percent-increase-power-rate.html.csp

Lawmakers to Propose Ten Cent per Gallon Gas Tax Hike for Washington State (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/10-cent-gas-tax-hike-for-Washington-191812781.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Oregon - Rate Increase Sparks No Complaints, Emerald PUD Says
• Sound Off on Franklin PUD Rate Hike Proposal
• Cowlitz PUD Considering Forming Rate Advisory Committee
• Oregon - Tillamook PUD Board Moves Forward with Proposed Transmission Line
• Chelan PUD Sells Another ‘Slice’ of Dam Power
• Editorial - Janney will leave a better Chelan County PUD
• Plan Filed to Save Bankrupt Montana Power Co-Op
• Problem Solvers Help Horse Owner Reach Settlement with Puget Sound Energy
• Columbia River PUD named Business of the Year by the South Columbia County Chamber of Commerce
• Bonneville Power Administration Launches Science Lab Videos for National Engineers Month
• More Regulations Add to Electric Bill Pinch
• Op/Ed - Electrical Power Companies Are Out of Control
• Op/Ed - A Hydropower Renaissance
• Judge Dismisses Humane Society Lawsuit That Opposed Killing Sea Lions at Bonneville Dam
• Federal Court Dismisses Suit against Elwha Hatchery; Tribe Drops Nonnative Steelhead Stocking Plan
• Needs of Farmers, Salmon Sought with New Columbia River Water Deal
• East Side Anglers Lobby for Higher Snake River Chinook Quotas
• North Mason Business Owners Ask Water District to Lower Pipe
• Tribes, Cable Groups Protest Plan for Snohomish PUD’s Tidal-Power Project
• Oregon - State Approves $20 Million Tax Credit for SoloPower
• Clallam Public Utility District Backs Effort to Amend I-937
• Washington State Legislature - New Resolution Could Make Hydroelectric Power a Renewable Resource
• Washington State Legislature - Tharinger Bill Boosts Hog Fuel Tax Help
• HVAC Business Reaches Out with Social Media, Email, Web
• School’s Lights Out Energy Saving Policy Concerns Parents
• Can the Government Itself Achieve Obama’s New Energy Efficiency Goal?
• Natural Gas Isn’t the Only Reason U-S Carbon Emissions Are Falling
• Duke University Survey Finds More Americans Concerned About Climate Change than in Recent Years
• San Juan Islands - Lopez Group Seeks Vote on Broadband Initiative
• Broadband - Rexburg, Idaho & Surrounding Counties Commit to Feasibility Study
• FCC Chair Criticizes Muni-Broadband Restrictions
• United Kingdom - Fast Fibre: A Community Shows the Way
• Burger King Twitter Gets McHacked
• Facebook Will Pay No Taxes, Get Huge Refund Instead
• Lawmakers to Propose Ten Cent per Gallon Gas Tax Hike for Washington State
• Bill Aims to Crack Down on Washington State Metal Theft
• Mandated City of Seattle Sick Leave? Not So Fast, Washington State Legislature Says
• Montesano Woman Dead Following Accident Outside of McCleary
• Belfair Man Arrested After Standoff at His Home on East Blake Rd
• Allyn Couple Escapes House Fire Unharmed
• Exploding Targets under Scrutiny after Devastating Central Washington Fire
• Editorial - Where Have All the Businesses Gone?
• More Than 100 Apply to be Washington State’s Marijuana Consultant

WORD OF THE DAY

Clamant • \KLAY-munt\ • Adjective - 1: clamorous, blatant 2: demanding attention: urgent

“Warning, there be monsters here,” blared the clamant language that headed the ancient map showing the edge of the earth. “Pshaw,” snorted Odysseus, “what could possibly go wrong on this trip?” (And one of the first examples of hubris was born.)

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

Oregon - Rate Increase Sparks No Complaints, Emerald PUD Says: The power utility says cuts to staffing & other costs allowed it to hold the size of the increase to 3 percent (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

http://www.registerguard.com/web/news/cityregion/29439844-41/utility-percent-increase-power-rate.html.csp

Sound Off on Franklin PUD Rate Hike Proposal (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.nbcrightnow.com/story/21233062/weigh-in-on-franklin-pud-rate-hike-proposal

Cowlitz PUD Considering Forming Rate Advisory Committee (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/cowlitz-pud-considering-forming-rate-advisory-committee/article_433f52c4-77dd-11e2-9c35-001a4bcf887a.html

Oregon - Tillamook PUD Board Moves Forward with Proposed Transmission Line (Tillamook Headlight-Herald, OR)

http://www.tillamookheadlightherald.com/news/article_e00ebc0c-7986-11e2-b954-001a4bcf887a.html

Chelan PUD Sells Another ‘Slice’ of Dam Power (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/feb/15/chelan-pud-sells-another-slice-of-dam-power/

Editorial - Janney will leave a better Chelan County PUD (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/feb/16/janney-will-leave-a-better-pud/

Plan Filed to Save Bankrupt Montana Power Co-Op (Billings Gazette, MT)

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/plan-filed-to-save-bankrupt-power-co-op/article_17af476e-48f2-51c2-8cec-e8d2c338e330.html

Problem Solvers Help Horse Owner Reach Settlement with Puget Sound Energy (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/problemsolvers/Problem-Solvers-help-horse-owner-reach-settlement-with-PSE-191490451.html

Columbia River PUD named Business of the Year by the South Columbia County Chamber of Commerce (Coast River Business Journal, Astoria, OR)

http://www.crbizjournal.com/news/article_6395579e-7a12-11e2-84e6-001a4bcf887a.html

Bonneville Power Administration Launches Science Lab Videos for National Engineers Month (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/02/bonneville-power-administration.html

More Regulations Add to Electric Bill Pinch (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/public-policy-watch/energy-environment/congress-warned-on-regulatory-costs/52625

Op/Ed - Electrical Power Companies Are Out of Control (Washington Times)

http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/curmudgeon-corner/2013/feb/17/electrical-power-companies-are-out-control/

Op/Ed - A Hydropower Renaissance (Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal, WA)

http://kpbj.com/business_daily/2013-02-18/a_hydropower_renaissance

FISH & WILDLIFE

Judge Dismisses Humane Society Lawsuit That Opposed Killing Sea Lions at Bonneville Dam (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/02/judge_dismisses_humane_society.html

Federal Court Dismisses Suit against Elwha Hatchery; Tribe Drops Nonnative Steelhead Stocking Plan (Seattle Times, WA)

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020379561_elwhahatcheryxml.html?prmid=4939

Needs of Farmers, Salmon Sought with New Columbia River Water Deal (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.keprtv.com/politics/Needs-of-farmers-salmon-sought-with-Columbia-River-water-deal-191482991.html

East Side Anglers Lobby for Higher Snake River Chinook Quotas (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/feb/17/east-side-anglers-lobby-for-higher-snake-river/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

North Mason Business Owners Ask Water District to Lower Pipe (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/feb/16/north-mason-business-owners-ask-water-district/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Tribes, Cable Groups Protest Plan for Snohomish PUD’s Tidal-Power Project (Everett Herald, WA)

http://heraldnet.com/article/20130219/NEWS01/702199973

Oregon - State Approves $20 Million Tax Credit for SoloPower; Portland plant struggles to meet job, manufacturing benchmarks (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/02/state_approves_20_million_tax_credit_for_solopower_as_portland_plant_struggles_to_meet_job_manufacturing_benchmarks.html

Clallam Public Utility District Backs Effort to Amend I-937 (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20130217/NEWS/302179990/clallam-public-utility-district-backs-effort-to-amend-i-937

Washington State Legislature - New Resolution Could Make Hydroelectric Power a Renewable Resource (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kxro.wordpress.com/2013/02/18/new-resolution-could-make-hydroelectic-power-a-renewable-resource/

Washington State Legislature - Tharinger Bill Boosts Hog Fuel Tax Help (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20130218/news/302189995/eye-on-olympia-tharinger-bill-boosts-hog-fuel-tax-help

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

HVAC Business Reaches Out with Social Media, Email, Web (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20130218/BIZ/702189969

School’s Lights Out Energy Saving Policy Concerns Parents (WSFA-TV, Montgomery, AL)
http://www.wsfa.com/story/21221934/schools-lights-out-energy-saving-policy-concerns-parents

Can the Government Itself Achieve Obama’s New Energy Efficiency Goal? (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2013/02/can-the-government-itself-achieve-obamas-new-energy-efficiency-goal

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Natural Gas Isn’t the Only Reason U-S Carbon Emissions Are Falling (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/02/15/natural-gas-isnt-the-only-reason-u-s-carbon-emissions-are-plummeting/

Duke University Survey Finds More Americans Concerned About Climate Change than in Recent Years (American Public Power Association)

http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppd/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=207150&issueID=26956

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

San Juan Islands - Lopez Group Seeks Vote on Broadband Initiative (Islands Sounder, Eastsound, WA)

http://www.islandssounder.com/news/191471741.html

Broadband - Rexburg, Idaho & Surrounding Counties Commit to Feasibility Study (Community Broadband Networks)

http://www.muninetworks.org/content/rexburg-idaho-and-surrounding-counties-commit-feasibility-study

FCC Chair Criticizes Muni-Broadband Restrictions (Online Media Daily)

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/193666/fcc-chair-criticizes-muni-broadband-restrictions.html#axzz2LMPtGbLF

United Kingdom - Fast Fibre: A Community Shows the Way (British Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-21442348

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Burger King Twitter Gets McHacked (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2013/02/18/burger-king-twitter-gets-mchacked/

Facebook Will Pay No Taxes, Get Huge Refund Instead (Gawker)

http://gawker.com/5984831/facebook-will-pay-no-taxes-get-huge-refund-instead

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Lawmakers to Propose Ten Cent per Gallon Gas Tax Hike for Washington State (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/10-cent-gas-tax-hike-for-Washington-191812781.html

Bill Aims to Crack Down on Washington State Metal Theft (Seattle Times, WA)

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020379683_metaltheftxml.html

Mandated City of Seattle Sick Leave? Not So Fast, Washington State Legislature Says (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2013/02/18/mandated-city-sick-leave-not-so-fast-legislature-says/#axzz2LMPYcKtP

GENERAL NEWS

Montesano Woman Dead Following Accident Outside of McCleary (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kxro.wordpress.com/2013/02/19/montesano-woman-dead-following-accident-outside-of-mccleary/

Belfair Man Arrested After Standoff at His Home on East Blake Rd (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/feb/18/belfar-man-arrested-after-standoff-at-his-home/

Allyn Couple Escapes House Fire Unharmed (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/feb/18/allyn-couple-escapes-house-fire-unharmed/

Exploding Targets under Scrutiny after Devastating Central Washington Fire (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Exploding-targets-under-scrutiny-after-devastating-fire-191594641.html

Editorial - Where Have All the Businesses Gone? (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/50222-where-have-all-the-businesses-gone

More Than 100 Apply to be Washington State’s Marijuana Consultant (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/2013/02/more-than-100-apply-to-be-wa-marijuana.html

DIVERSIONS

Would You Pay $30 An Hour To Nap In A 7-By-8-Foot Room At The Airport?

http://consumerist.com/2013/02/14/would-you-pay-30-an-hour-to-nap-in-a-7-by-8-foot-room-at-the-airport/

How State Boundaries Would Look Based on Equal Population

http://gizmodo.com/5984487/how-state-boundaries-would-look-based-on-equal-population

Muscle-Printed Cycling Suits Let You Ride around Looking Like a Flayed Horror

http://grist.org/business-technology/muscle-printed-cycling-suits-let-you-ride-around-looking-like-a-flayed-horror/

Texas Woman Has Two Sets of Identical Twins in One Day

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/19/us-usa-twins-idUSBRE91I04K20130219

SONG OF THE DAY

Gordon Lightfoot - Song for a Winter’s Night

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_yQc-wGeYvk

Energy News Digest for February 15, 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

Programming Note

The energy news digest will be contemplating a glut of Presidential Programming on the History Channel or elsewhere on Monday. Therefore it will be too sated with infotainment to lift a finger to disseminate any news…unless a meteorite explodes over the Pacific Northwest, then…LOOK OUT!

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

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

http://twitter.com/energydigest

THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD (JUST BECAUSE I CAN)

Energy News Digest word cloud for February 15, 2013

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/02/energy-news-digest-word-cloud-for_15.html

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Nearly 1,000 Injured by Blasts as Meteor Falls in Russia (Associated Press – Some AWESOME videos here)

http://www.nwcn.com/news/191397131.html

Washington State Lawmakers Seek Changes to Clean-Energy Law (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/02/washington_lawmakers_seek_chan.html

Puget Sound Energy Wind Farms Post New One-Day Generating Record (BusinessWire)

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/moreover/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&ndmConfigId=1000027&newsId=20130214006635&newsLang=en

Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance Releases Comprehensive Residential Energy Study - study reveals home energy usage that will inform future Pacific Northwest energy planning (Rock Hill Herald, SC)

http://www.heraldonline.com/2013/02/14/4621942/neea-releases-comprehensive-residential.html

U-S Senator Cantwell Presses Lew on Proposal to Cap Municipal Bond Tax Deduction (American Public Power Association)

http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppd/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=207290&issueID=26954

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• U-S Senator Cantwell Presses Lew on Proposal to Cap Municipal Bond Tax Deduction
• Taxpayers Steaming over Florida Nuclear Plant’s Shuttering
• San Onofre: Mitsubishi Told to Hand over Nuclear Power Plant Report
• Tennessee Valley Authority Faces Lawsuit over Clean Water Act
• Energy Theft Goes Global
• Columbia River Suitable for Invasive Mussel Invasion
• March 1 Forecast Meeting Starts Salmon Season Process
• What Happens When Fish Get High on Discarded Drugs?
• Relocation of Endangered Deer a Slow, Dangerous Process
• Greens Say California Hatchery Threatens Native Fish
• Skagit County - No Charges in Possible Theft of State Money at Bullerville Utility District
• Washington State Lawmakers Seek Changes to Clean-Energy Law
• Puget Sound Energy Wind Farms Post New One-Day Generating Record
• Dimming Future for Large Solar Projects in Oregon as Incentives Dry Up
• Won’t You Be My Solar-Panel-Buying Neighbor?
• Texas - Clean Energy Faces Hurdles in Legislature
• Net Metering Debate Rages On, Despite Calls for Calm
• United Kingdom - Kent Prison Goes Green with Huge Wind Turbines
• Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance Releases Comprehensive Residential Energy Study
• How Nest’s Control Freaks Reinvented the Thermostat
• Op/Ed - LEDs: Lighting the Way to Major Energy Savings
• Federal Government’s New Big Worry: The Weather
• Biofuel Agreement - Port Of Pasco Agrees to New Lease with Green Power
• To Help Light Up Africa, Many Drops in the Bucket
• U-S Broadband Providers Performing Better Than Their Critics Claim, New Study Finds
• Which Internet Service Providers Are Providing The Speeds They Advertise?
• Seattle Number 7 on Network World’s Top Tech Towns
• Obama Executive Order on Cybersecurity Promises Greater Information Sharing With Industry
• Nearly 1,000 Injured by Blasts as Meteor Falls in Russia
• Budget Deadline Would Cut 1,000 Hanford Workers
• Snohomish County Executive Admits Political Attacks Came from His Staff
• Dude, Where’s My Refund? IRS Website Overrun

WORD OF THE DAY

Intemperate • \in-TEMP-puh-rutt\ • adjective - 1: not moderate or mild: severe 2: lacking or showing lack of restraint 3: given to excessive use of alcoholic beverages

“Diarrhea is like an intemperate storm raging inside you,” boomed the throbbing baritone voice into the microphone, its glottal tones shaking the spiders in the rafters of the control booth at the recording studio. “Um, you may want to remove the word intemperate from the copy Gary,” the mousy-voiced engineer whined into the talkback circuit. “Two of our staff were persuaded by your delivery…just a bit too much.”

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

U-S Senator Cantwell Presses Lew on Proposal to Cap Municipal Bond Tax Deduction (American Public Power Association)

http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppd/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=207290&issueID=26954

Taxpayers Steaming over Florida Nuclear Plant’s Shuttering (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2013/02/14/172020709/taxpayers-steaming-over-florida-nuclear-plants-shuttering?ft=1&f=2

San Onofre: Mitsubishi Told to Hand over Nuclear Power Plant Report (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/lanow/2013/02/nrc-san-onofre-mitsubishi-report.html

Tennessee Valley Authority Faces Lawsuit over Clean Water Act (Memphis Business Journal, TN)
http://www.bizjournals.com/memphis/news/2013/02/14/tva-faces-lawsuit-over-clean-water-act.html

Energy Theft Goes Global (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/sbattaglia/185556/energy-theft-goes-global

FISH & WILDLIFE

Columbia River Suitable for Invasive Mussel Invasion (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020361475_aporinvasivemussels.html

March 1 Forecast Meeting Starts Salmon Season Process (Wahkiakum Eagle, Skamokawa, WA)

http://www.waheagle.com/news/article.exm/2013-02-14_forecast_meeting_starts_salmon_season_process

What Happens When Fish Get High on Discarded Drugs? (Seattle Times, WA)

http://seattletimes.com/html/health/2020361515_druggedfishxml.html

Relocation of Endangered Deer a Slow, Dangerous Process (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/relocation-of-endangered-deer-a-slow-dangerous-process/article_709caf96-7648-11e2-a80e-001a4bcf887a.html

Greens Say California Hatchery Threatens Native Fish (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/02/15/54900.htm

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Skagit County - No Charges in Possible Theft of State Money at Bullerville Utility District (Skagit Valley Herald, Mount Vernon, WA)

http://www.goskagit.com/all_access/no-charges-in-possible-theft-of-state-money/article_43564c70-ea58-53a4-80e8-06075e539eea.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Washington State Lawmakers Seek Changes to Clean-Energy Law (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/02/washington_lawmakers_seek_chan.html

Puget Sound Energy Wind Farms Post New One-Day Generating Record (BusinessWire)

http://www.businesswire.com/portal/site/moreover/index.jsp?ndmViewId=news_view&ndmConfigId=1000027&newsId=20130214006635&newsLang=en

Dimming Future for Large Solar Projects in Oregon as Incentives Dry Up (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

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

Won’t You Be My Solar-Panel-Buying Neighbor? (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2013/02/13/environment/112927/wont-you-be-my-solar-panel-buying-group-neighbor/

Texas - Clean Energy Faces Hurdles in Legislature (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/15/us/clean-energy-foresees-fight-in-texas-legislature.html?_r=0

Net Metering Debate Rages On, Despite Calls for Calm (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2013/02/net-metering-debate-rages-on-despite-calls-for-calm?cmpid=rss

United Kingdom - Kent Prison Goes Green with Huge Wind Turbines (The Guardian, UK)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/feb/15/windpower-renewableenergy

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Northwest Energy Efficiency Alliance Releases Comprehensive Residential Energy Study - study reveals home energy usage that will inform future Pacific Northwest energy planning (Rock Hill Herald, SC)

http://www.heraldonline.com/2013/02/14/4621942/neea-releases-comprehensive-residential.html

How Nest’s Control Freaks Reinvented the Thermostat (MIT Technology Review)

http://www.technologyreview.com/featuredstory/511086/how-nests-control-freaks-reinvented-the-thermostat/

Op/Ed - LEDs: Lighting the Way to Major Energy Savings (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ciocentral/2013/02/14/leds-lighting-the-way-to-major-energy-savings-2/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Federal Government’s New Big Worry: The Weather (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/02/15/climate-change-and-weather-report/1920381/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Biofuel Agreement - Port Of Pasco Agrees to New Lease with Green Power (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.nbcrightnow.com/story/21202503/port-of-pasco

To Help Light Up Africa, Many Drops in the Bucket (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/14/to-help-light-up-africa-many-drops-in-the-bucket/?partner=rss&emc=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

U-S Broadband Providers Performing Better Than Their Critics Claim, New Study Finds (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bna.com/us-broadband-providers-n17179872334/

Which Internet Service Providers Are Providing The Speeds They Advertise? (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2013/02/15/which-isps-are-providing-the-speeds-they-advertise/

Seattle Number 7 on Network World’s Top Tech Towns (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2013/02/seattle-no-7-on-network-worlds-top.html

Obama Executive Order on Cybersecurity Promises Greater Information Sharing With Industry (GTH Energy & Natural Resources Law Blog)

http://www.energynaturalresourceslaw.com/2013/02/-the-executive-actions-lack.html

GENERAL NEWS

Nearly 1,000 Injured by Blasts as Meteor Falls in Russia (Associated Press – Some AWESOME videos here)

http://www.nwcn.com/news/191397131.html

Budget Deadline Would Cut 1,000 Hanford Workers (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Budget-deadline-would-cut-1000-Hanford-workers-191385571.html

Snohomish County Executive admits political attacks came from his staff (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=2203476

Dude, Where’s My Refund? IRS Website Overrun (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.com/html/politics/2020357520_apusirswheresmyrefund.html

DIVERSIONS

Ancient Asteroid Strike in Australia “Changed Face of Earth”

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/02/15/us-science-asteroid-australia-idUSBRE91E0AO20130215

Bill Nye Says 45-Meter Asteroid Coming near Earth Reason to be Concerned

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=2202888

Yes, There’s a Study about Passing Gas on Planes: Let It Rip, Unless You’re the Pilot

http://consumerist.com/2013/02/15/yes-theres-a-study-about-passing-gas-on-planes-let-it-rip-unless-youre-the-pilot/

Worst Vacation Ever Continues as Cruise Ship’s Bus Ride Home Breaks Down

http://www.theatlanticwire.com/national/2013/02/carnival-cruise-ship-bus-breakdown/62180/

SONG OF THE DAY

Justin Hayward - Forever Autumn (this is perhaps the most obscure song of the day reference to a story in the news digest you will ever see…)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CO9Qx7Kp_I8