Energy News Digest for April 5, 2013

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

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

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THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for April 5, 2013

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/04/energy-news-digest-word-cloud-for-april_5.html

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Rulings against Bonneville, WAPA Could Mean Electricity Rebates for California Consumers (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/04/rulings_against_bonneville_wap.html

Former Enron CEO Could Be Released Years Early in Deal with Justice Department (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_22953645

Mark A. Gabriel is new administrator at Western Area Power Administration (American Public Power Association)

http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppd/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=213684&issueID=26989

Feds Recommend Removing Four Dams On the Klamath River (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/feds-recommend-removing-four-dams-klamath-river

Study Critiques Washington State’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (South Sound Business Examiner)

http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/April-2013/Study-critiques-Renewable-Portfolio-Standard/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Rulings against Bonneville, WAPA Could Mean Electricity Rebates for California Consumers
• Former Enron CEO Could Be Released Years Early in Deal with Justice Department
• Mark A. Gabriel is new administrator at Western Area Power Administration
• Douglas PUD Earns National Distinction for Reliability
• Seattle City Light Worker to Pay Fine over Calls, Email for Avon Sales
• BPA Offering $20,000 in Science & Energy Education Grants
• Snohomish County PUD Contest Honors 17 Young Artists
• Explosion Rocks Georgia Power Plant - Reports 4 Minor Injuries
• Fukushima Nuclear Plant's Cooling System Fails
• U-S Natural Gas Supplies Shrank Last Week
• Feds Recommend Removing Four Dams On the Klamath River
• Editorial - Honor Treaties with Native Americans, Restore Salmon
• East Siders Wary of Extending Spring Chinook Fishing in Lower Columbia
• Audio - Colorado Farmers Scramble to Find Irrigation Water
• Study Critiques Washington State’s Renewable Portfolio Standard
• Wind Industry in Holding Pattern, Awaiting New Tax Rules
• Pacific Gas & Electric Cancels Solar Power Contract with BrightSource Energy
• The Limits of Renewable Energy
• Are Feed-In Tariffs a ‘Subsidy’ for a Small Group of Utility Customers?
• Wood: The Fuel of the Future - Environmental Lunacy in Europe
• Bonfire of the Subsidies - Europe’s Wood Subsidies Show the Folly of Focusing Green Policy on “Renewables”
• France Geothermal Energy Debate: When Is Fracking not Fracking?
• Idaho Power Cutting Back Its Demand Response Programs
• Save Electricity: Don’t Turn Off Your Printer
• The Remote-Controlled ‘Smart House’
• The Ultimate Climate Change FAQ - What Is Climate Finance & Where Will It Come From?
• What Happens To Recycled Batteries?
• Here’s What Happens When You Bring Them (batteries) to Mason County PUD No. 3
• Assert Your Dominance Over the Sun With a Solar Charging Patio Umbrella
• Internet-Based Attacks Hit Emergency Call Centers. What's the Damage?
• Cable Angry About Higher 6 Mbps FCC Broadband Definition
• Magid: New 'Facebook Phone' Could Be Dangerous for Social Media Addicts
• Washington State House Issues 'No-Frills' Transportation Budget
• Obama Seeks Deal, Proposes Cuts to Social Security
• 14-Year-Old Dead After Car Crashes Into Kitsap County Creek
• Smile When You Speed - Radar-Triggered Camera Coming To I-5 in Washington State
• Washington State Tourism Alliance Fights for Funding
• Salish Cliffs Golf Club near Shelton Earns National Accolades
• Promotional Videos for Shelton WA
• Union Resort to Resume Former RV Operations
• Stern Calls Kings Relocation Process 'Complex,' May Delay Vote

WORD OF THE DAY

Hackneyed • \HACK-need\ • Adjective - Lacking in freshness or originality

Well, I guess today’s word of the day “is what it is.”

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

Rulings against Bonneville, WAPA Could Mean Electricity Rebates for California Consumers (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/04/rulings_against_bonneville_wap.html

Former Enron CEO Could Be Released Years Early in Deal with Justice Department (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_22953645

Mark A. Gabriel is new administrator at Western Area Power Administration (American Public Power Association)

http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppd/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=213684&issueID=26989

Douglas PUD Earns National Distinction for Reliability (Quad City Herald, Brewster, WA)

http://www.qcherald.com/main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=6848

Seattle City Light Worker to Pay Fine over Calls, Email for Avon Sales (Seattle Times, WA)

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020708559_ethicsrazonxml.html

BPA Offering $20,000 in Science & Energy Education Grants (Albany Tribune, OR)

http://www.albanytribune.com/04042013-bpa-offering-20000-in-science-and-energy-education-grants/

Snohomish County PUD Contest Honors 17 Young Artists (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20130405/NEWS01/704059911/-1/news01

Explosion Rocks Georgia Power Plant - Reports 4 Minor Injuries (Rome News Tribune, GA)

http://romenews-tribune.com/view/full_story/22159311/article-Explosion-rocks-Plant-Bowen--Ga--Power-reports-4-minor-injuries-at-plant?instance=home_news

Fukushima Nuclear Plant's Cooling System Fails (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2013/04/05/fukushima-japan-nuclear-cooling/2055679/

U-S Natural Gas Supplies Shrank Last Week (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/US-natural-gas-supplies-shrank-last-week-4409502.php

FISH & WILDLIFE

Feds Recommend Removing Four Dams On the Klamath River (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/feds-recommend-removing-four-dams-klamath-river

Editorial - Honor Treaties with Native Americans, Restore Salmon (Seattle Times, WA)

http://seattletimes.com/html/editorials/2020712912_editsalmonculvertsxml.html

East Siders Wary of Extending Spring Chinook Fishing in Lower Columbia (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/blogs/outdoors/2013/apr/04/east-siders-wary-extending-spring-chinook-fishing-lower-columbia/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Audio - Colorado Farmers Scramble to Find Irrigation Water (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2013/04/05/176299518/colorado-farmers-scramble-to-find-irrigation-water?ft=1&f=3

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Study Critiques Washington State’s Renewable Portfolio Standard (South Sound Business Examiner)

http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/April-2013/Study-critiques-Renewable-Portfolio-Standard/

Wind Industry in Holding Pattern, Awaiting New Tax Rules (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy-Voices/2013/0405/Wind-industry-in-holding-pattern-awaiting-new-tax-rules

Pacific Gas & Electric Cancels Solar Power Contract with BrightSource Energy (Power Engineering)

http://www.power-eng.com/articles/2013/04/pge-cancels-solar-power-contract-with-brightsource-energy.html

The Limits of Renewable Energy (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/matthew-stepp-overlooking-the-limits-of-renewable-energy/2013/04/04/d6df6666-9adf-11e2-9a79-eb5280c81c63_story.html

Are Feed-In Tariffs a ‘Subsidy’ for a Small Group of Utility Customers? (Midwest Energy News)

http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2013/04/05/are-feed-in-tariffs-a-subsidy-for-a-small-group-of-utility-customers/

Wood: The Fuel of the Future - Environmental Lunacy in Europe (The Economist)

http://www.economist.com/news/business/21575771-environmental-lunacy-europe-fuel-future

Bonfire of the Subsidies - Europe’s Wood Subsidies Show the Folly of Focusing Green Policy on “Renewables” (The Economist)

http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21575759-europes-wood-subsidies-show-folly-focusing-green-policy-renewables-bonfire

France Geothermal Energy Debate: When Is Fracking not Fracking? (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2013/04/france-geothermal-energy-debate-when-is-fracking-not-fracking?cmpid=rss

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Idaho Power Cutting Back Its Demand Response Programs (Renew-Grid)

http://www.renew-grid.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php?content.9752#.UV7zT3dXq8E

Save Electricity: Don’t Turn Off Your Printer (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2013/04/04/save-electricity-dont-turn-off-your-printer/

The Remote-Controlled ‘Smart House’ (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/realestate/the-remote-controlled-smart-house/2013/04/04/ea4343a8-7f5a-11e2-8074-b26a871b165a_story.html?wprss=rss_local

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

The Ultimate Climate Change FAQ - What Is Climate Finance & Where Will It Come From? (The Guardian, UK)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/apr/04/climate-change-renewableenergy

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

What Happens To Recycled Batteries? (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.opb.org/news/blog/ecotrope/what-happens-to-recycled-batteries/

Here’s What Happens When You Bring Them to Mason County PUD No. 3 (Mason County PUD No. 3)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B-Q-yKK88Po

Assert Your Dominance Over the Sun With a Solar Charging Patio Umbrella (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/5993673/assert-your-dominance-over-the-sun-with-a-solar-charging-patio-umbrella

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Internet-Based Attacks Hit Emergency Call Centers. What's the Damage? (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/2013/0404/Internet-based-attacks-hit-emergency-call-centers.-What-s-the-damage

Cable Angry About Higher 6 Mbps FCC Broadband Definition (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Cable-Angry-About-Higher-6-Mbps-FCC-Broadband-Definition-123746

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Magid: New 'Facebook Phone' Could Be Dangerous for Social Media Addicts (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_22955786

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State House Issues 'No-Frills' Transportation Budget (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/State-House-issues-no-frills-transportation-budget-201517751.html

Obama Seeks Deal, Proposes Cuts to Social Security (Associated Press)

http://www.sacbee.com/2013/04/05/5318696/official-obama-proposes-cuts-to.html

GENERAL NEWS

14-Year-Old Dead After Car Crashes Into Kitsap County Creek (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Teen-dies-after-car-skids-off-rural-road-in-Kitsap-Co-201619401.html

Smile When You Speed - Radar-Triggered Camera Coming To I-5 in Washington State (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Radar-triggered-camera-coming-to-I-5-in-Washington-201568431.html

Washington State Tourism Alliance Fights for Funding (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Same-sex-marriage-visitors-guide-201558971.html

Salish Cliffs Golf Club near Shelton Earns National Accolades (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/modules/news/article.php?storyid=5311

Promotional Videos for Shelton WA (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/53783-promotional-videos-for-shelton-wa

Union Resort to Resume Former RV Operations (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/apr/04/union-resort-to-resume-former-rv-operations/

Stern Calls Kings Relocation Process 'Complex,' May Delay Vote (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Stern-calls-Kings-relocation-process-complex-may-delay-vote--201555281.html

DIVERSIONS

Film Critic Roger Ebert Dead at 70

http://www.usnews.com/news/newsgram/articles/2013/04/04/film-critic-roger-ebert-dead-at-70

Maple Syrup Miscreants Now Illegally Tapping Trees in Maine

http://consumerist.com/2013/04/05/maple-syrup-miscreants-now-illegally-tapping-trees-in-maine/

NYC 'Zombie' Finds Long Island Cat in Times Square

http://news.yahoo.com/nyc-zombie-finds-long-island-cat-times-square-001215574.html

Giant tarantula discovered in Sri Lanka

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/giant-tarantula-discovered-sri-lanka-211813390.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Citizen Kane Overture - Bernard Herrmann

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-1Ob74I6bRc

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 4, 2013

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST TWITTER FEED

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

http://twitter.com/energydigest

THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for April 4, 2013

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/04/energy-news-digest-word-cloud-for-april_4.html

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Oregon Reservoirs Low Heading Into Irrigation Season (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-reservoirs-low-heading-into-irrigation-season/

Chelan & Douglas PUDs Hit Milestone Targets For Fish Survival (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/apr/04/puds-hit-milestone-targets-for-fish-survival/

New Front in Western Wind Energy War: FERC vs. Idaho (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/elchristensen/204156/new-front-western-wind-war-ferc-files-suit-against-idaho-puc-second-suit-waits-

Washington State Bill to Allow Employer Access to Facebook Passwords Rejected (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/House-rejects-bill-that-would-allow-employer-access-to-Facebook-passwords-201316061.html

LED Streetlights Move from Pilot Projects to Widespread Use (Midwest Energy News)

http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2013/04/04/led-streetlight-move-from-pilot-projects-to-widespread-use-alliant-xcel/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Jefferson PUD to Name Substation after Late Official
• Op/Ed - Thank Dana Roberts for Jefferson County PUD Switch
• Powering Up: Portland Conference Brings Glimpse of Energy Future
• Editorial - Wilf Woods: Tracing Bonneville’s History
• Op/Ed - CleanHydro Highlights Hydropower & River Values
• June 1 Restart Could Be Out of Reach at San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant
• Texas - Storm & Copper Thieves Cause Extensive Power Outage Overnight
• How Ontario Is Putting an End to Coal-Burning Power Plants
• AC vs. DC Powerlines & the Electrical Grid
• How Diverse Is Your State’s Electricity Generation Portfolio?
• Chelan & Douglas PUDs Hit Milestone Targets For Fish Survival
• California - Yolo Bypass Floodplain Experiment Produces Salmon ‘Fatties’
• Report: Asian Carp May Have Reached Great Lakes
• Oregon Reservoirs Low Heading Into Irrigation Season
• Kitsap PUD to Provide Water for Two More Bainbridge Neighborhoods
• Metro Vancouver, B-C Should End Garbage Incineration: Study
• New Front in Western Wind Energy War: FERC vs. Idaho
• Alarm Raised Over Lack of Process in British Columbia Run-Of-River Hydroelectric Project
• OP/Ed - More Renewables for States
• LED Streetlights Move from Pilot Projects to Widespread Use
• British Columbia Liberals Set to Announce Five-Year Carbon Tax Freeze
• Temperatures Reach Record Low of 61 in Honolulu
• The Drought is Drying Up All Our Ethanol
• Verizon, New York City to Test Way to Spread Fiber Network
• British Columbia - Broadband Internet Access Comes to Lil’wat Nation
• How Broadband May Help Roll Out the Rural Smart Grid
• Washington State Bill to Allow Employer Access to Facebook Passwords Rejected
• Short on Funding, County Roads Could Return to Gravel
• Small Earthquake Wednesday in North Mason County
• Man Convicted Of Assault in Montesano Courthouse Stabbing, Shooting
• Alleged Metal Thief Sparks Natural Gas Explosion at Everett House
• Law Enforcement Gets Educated on Metal Theft
• Oregon – Dad (A McCleary Resident) Flees On I-5 at 120 Mph, Crashes with 3-Year-Old in Back
• Four Mason County Schools Get Achievement Awards
• North Korea Clears Its Military to Attack U-S with Nukes

WORD OF THE DAY

Bellicose • \BELL-ih-kose\ • Adjective - Favoring or inclined to start quarrels or wars.

Marsha could understand John’s intense and bellicose attitude towards the incredibly scrumptious crème brulee that she had whipped up for him at the last minute. Perhaps it was the tart message scrawled in “Sharpie” pen across the bottom of the white, ceramic cup, revealed as he was scraping the last, tasty tidbit of the heavenly creation out of the container: “I want to break up; it’s not me…it’s you.” From that day on, custard-like desserts lost all taste for John. “They just turn to ashes in my mouth,” he was wont to say.

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

Jefferson PUD to Name Substation after Late Official (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20130404/NEWS/304049987/jefferson-pud-to-name-substation-after-late-official

Op/Ed - Thank Dana Roberts for Jefferson County PUD Switch (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

http://www.ptleader.com/main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=33303

Powering Up: Portland Conference Brings Glimpse of Energy Future (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2013/04/powering-up-portland-conference-brings.html

Editorial - Wilf Woods: Tracing Bonneville’s History (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/apr/03/wilf-woods-tracing-bonnevilles-history/

Op/Ed - CleanHydro Highlights Hydropower & River Values (Shelton-Mason County Journal, Shelton, WA)

https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=sites&srcid=ZGVmYXVsdGRvbWFpbnxuZXdzZGlnZXN0Y2FmZXxneDo1ZWUzYTUyNzkyMzc3ZmU3

Op/Ed - CleanHydro Highlights Hydropower & River Values (St Helens Chronicle, OR)

http://www.thechronicleonline.com/opinion/article_6006f826-9cb3-11e2-93bf-001a4bcf887a.html

June 1 Restart Could Be Out of Reach at San Onofre Nuclear Power Plant (Associated Press)

http://abcnews.go.com/US/t/story/june-restart-reach-san-onofre-18873515

Texas - Storm & Copper Thieves Cause Extensive Power Outage Overnight (Cleveland Advocate, Woodlands, TX)
http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/cleveland/news/storm-and-copper-thieves-cause-extensive-power-outage-overnight/article_4ee0b8e6-671b-5461-a928-8c0a57c077b0.html

How Ontario Is Putting an End to Coal-Burning Power Plants (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Making-a-difference/Change-Agent/2013/0403/How-Ontario-is-putting-an-end-to-coal-burning-power-plants

AC vs. DC Powerlines & the Electrical Grid (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/rogerrethinker/204396/ac-versus-dc-powerlines

How Diverse Is Your State’s Electricity Generation Portfolio? (Climate Progress)

http://thinkprogress.org/climate/2013/04/03/1817011/how-diverse-is-your-states-electricity-generation-portfolio/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Chelan & Douglas PUDs Hit Milestone Targets For Fish Survival (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/apr/04/puds-hit-milestone-targets-for-fish-survival/

California - Yolo Bypass Floodplain Experiment Produces Salmon ‘Fatties’ (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2013/04/03/5314669/yolo-bypass-floodplain-experiment.html

Report: Asian Carp May Have Reached Great Lakes (Associated Press)

http://news.yahoo.com/report-asian-carp-may-reached-great-lakes-130205163.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Oregon Reservoirs Low Heading Into Irrigation Season (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-reservoirs-low-heading-into-irrigation-season/

Kitsap PUD to Provide Water for Two More Bainbridge Neighborhoods (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/apr/03/kitsap-pud-to-provide-water-for-two-more/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

New Front in Western Wind Energy War: FERC vs. Idaho (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/elchristensen/204156/new-front-western-wind-war-ferc-files-suit-against-idaho-puc-second-suit-waits-

Metro Vancouver, B-C Should End Garbage Incineration: Study (Surrey Leader, British Columbia)

http://www.surreyleader.com/news/201079671.html

Alarm Raised Over Lack of Process in British Columbia Run-Of-River Hydroelectric Project (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/04/03/bc-hydro-holmes-river.html

OP/Ed - More Renewables for States (Politico)

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/more-renewables-for-states-not-less-89600.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

LED Streetlights Move from Pilot Projects to Widespread Use (Midwest Energy News)

http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2013/04/04/led-streetlight-move-from-pilot-projects-to-widespread-use-alliant-xcel/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

British Columbia Liberals Set to Announce Five-Year Carbon Tax Freeze (Vancouver Sun, B-C)
http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Liberals%20announce%20five%20year%20carbon%20freeze/8186348/story.html

Temperatures Reach Record Low of 61 in Honolulu (Fremont Tribune, NE)

http://fremonttribune.com/news/national/temperatures-reach-record-low-of-in-honolulu/article_247f8348-3dcc-54ef-9d98-662869d9349f.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

The Drought is Drying Up All Our Ethanol (Grist Online)

http://grist.org/climate-energy/the-drought-is-drying-up-all-our-ethanol/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Verizon, New York City to Test Way to Spread Fiber Network (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-02/verizon-new-york-city-agree-to-test-way-to-spread-fiber-network.html

British Columbia - Broadband Internet Access Comes to Lil’wat Nation (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/04/03/bc-lilwat-nation-internet.html

How Broadband May Help Roll Out the Rural Smart Grid (GreenTech Grid)

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/rural-broadband-for-the-smart-grid

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Washington State Bill to Allow Employer Access to Facebook Passwords Rejected (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/House-rejects-bill-that-would-allow-employer-access-to-Facebook-passwords-201316061.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Short on Funding, County Roads Could Return to Gravel (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Transportation-funding-faces-a-rocky-road-201365981.html

GENERAL NEWS

Small Earthquake Wednesday in North Mason County (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/9788

Man Convicted Of Assault in Montesano Courthouse Stabbing, Shooting (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2013/04/03/man-convicted-of-assault-in-montesano-courthouse-stabbing-shooting/

Alleged Metal Thief Sparks Natural Gas Explosion at Everett House (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20130403/NEWS01/704039845

Law Enforcement Gets Educated on Metal Theft (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.keprtv.com/home/video/Law-enforcement-gets-educated-on-metal-theft-201356431.html

Oregon – Dad (A McCleary Resident) Flees On I-5 at 120 Mph, Crashes with 3-Year-Old in Back (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Police-Michael-Payne-flees-at-120-mph-crashes-with-3-year-old-in-back-201261211.html

Four Mason County Schools Get Achievement Awards (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/9794

North Korea Clears Its Military to Attack U-S with Nukes (Associated Press)

http://www.katu.com/news/national/North-Korea-clears-its-military-to-attack-US-with-nukes-201359351.html

DIVERSIONS

Nova Scotia - University Tribute to Women Shows Men Only

http://thechronicleherald.ca/metro/1120686-university-tribute-to-women-shows-men-only

Taco Time Offering Free Burritos Friday

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/Taco-Time-offering-free-burritos-Friday-201315261.html

‘Vadering’ Takes the Web by Force

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/vadering-taking-force-194636726.html

Philadelphia Gets Ready to Play ‘Pong’ on Building

http://news.yahoo.com/philadelphia-gets-ready-play-pong-building-185453836.html

SONG OF THE DAY

James Taylor – Mexico

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSazsX9EOCM

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 3, 2013

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

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

http://twitter.com/energydigest

THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for April 3, 2013

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/04/energy-news-digest-word-cloud-for-april_3.html

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Washington Republicans Declare Victory on Inslee’s Climate Change Bill (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/washington-republicans-declare-victory-inslees-climate-change-bill

Testing Free Wi-Fi Zones in Downtown Poulsbo – Kitsap PUD pilot program installs antennas that tap into fiber optic broadband network (Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal, WA)

http://kpbj.com/cover_story/2013-04-02/testing_free_wifi_zones_downtown

‘Unusual Mortality Event’ Is Declared For the California Sea Lion (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-stranded-sea-lions-20130402,0,7225136.story

BP to Sell U-S Wind Business in Retreat to Fossil Fuels (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-03/bp-to-sell-u-s-wind-buiness-in-retreat-to-fossil-fuels.html

SoloPower’s California Job Cuts Arrive Amid Company Restructuring (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/money/index.ssf/2013/04/solopowers_california_job_cuts.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Few Hitches in Jefferson County Energy Switch
• Tillamook Signs Order Denying PUD Line
• Open Houses Cover Next Leg of Columbia River Treaty Deliberations
• Environmental Groups Announce Plan to Sue Rail & Coal Companies Under Clean Water Act
• Puget Sound Energy Releases 2013 Draft Resource Plan
• Thieves Steal Record Amount of Copper Wire from Light Poles along Interstate in Salt Lake City
• Copper Theft: A Worldwide, And Sometimes Lethal, Epidemic
• Abundance of Natural Gas Isn’t Fueling Job Growth
• British Regulator Fines Electricity Supplier SSE 10.5 Million Pounds ($16 Million) for Misleading Customers
• Drunk Idiot Dangles Upside Down from Power Cables
• ‘Unusual Mortality Event’ Is Declared For the California Sea Lion
• States Delay Commercial Fishing for Columbia River Spring Chinook
• Chelan County PUD Preparing for Avian Visitors
• Below-Average Runoff Forecast for Lake Chelan
• BP to Sell U-S Wind Business in Retreat to Fossil Fuels
• SoloPower’s California Job Cuts Arrive Amid Company Restructuring
• States Show Folly of Energy Mandates
• North Carolina - Cut Your Electric Bill: Repeal the Mandate!
• NRG Rolls Out Solar Pergola to Target Residential Market
• Washington D-C Government Eyes Wind for a Third of Its Electricity Supply
• Eight Myths About Wind Energy
• Why Your Energy Company Wants You to Use Less Energy
• City of Aspen’s Electric Energy Usage Dropping Faster than Expected – It may be working too well 
• Classes Use Energy Dashboard to Study Conservation
• Washington Republicans Declare Victory on Inslee’s Climate Change Bill
• In Seattle - A Building Not Just Green, but Practically Self-Sustaining
• Seattle’s Green Stormwater Goals
• Testing Free Wi-Fi Zones in Downtown Poulsbo
• Who Knew? Fiber is Also Good for a Telco’s Health
• The Cellphone Turns 40 Today
• SEC Weighs In On Social Media as a Market Mover
• As Facebook Matures, Is It Losing Its Edge?
• Daily World Will Reduce Home Delivery to Three Days
• Study: More Young Adults Tuning Out Terrestrial Radio While Driving
• Washington State Bill Would Allow Bosses to Seek Facebook Passwords
• Vancouver, WA Man Identified in High-Rise California Graffiti Death
• Police: Bold Vandals Putting Themselves, Cleaning Crews in Danger
• Hanford Treatment Plant for Waste in Nuclear Cleanup Has Design Flaws, Panel Says
• State Farm Could Add 2,000 Jobs in Tacoma This Year
• Five Years after Financial Crisis, Survey Highlights Gains in Savings & Investing Discipline
• Which States Show Love to Small Businesses?

WORD OF THE DAY

Puce • \PYOOS\ •  - A dark red that is yellower and less strong than cranberry, paler and slightly yellower than average garnet, bluer, less strong, and slightly lighter than pomegranate, and bluer and paler than average wine.

Word Origin (Merriam Webster Dictionary Online): Puce entered English from French, where puce translates as “flea.” The relationship between the flea and the color is complicated but almost certainly one connection is the flea's hunger for blood.

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

Few Hitches in Jefferson County Energy Switch (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20130402/NEWS/304029992/few-hitches-in-jefferson-county-energy-switch

Tillamook Signs Order Denying PUD Line (Tillamook Headlight Herald, OR)
http://www.tillamookheadlightherald.com/news_paid/article_903b0bf0-9bd6-11e2-9ac2-0019bb2963f4.html

Open Houses Cover Next Leg of Columbia River Treaty Deliberations (Capital Press)

http://www.capitalpress.com/newest/mw-Treaty-meetings-040213

Environmental Groups Announce Plan to Sue Rail & Coal Companies Under Clean Water Act (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/environmental-groups-announce-plan-sue-rail-and-coal-companies-under-clean-water-act

Puget Sound Energy Releases 2013 Draft Resource Plan (Electric Light & Power)

http://www.elp.com/articles/2013/04/puget-sound-energy-releases-2013-draft-resource-plan.html

Thieves Steal Record Amount of Copper Wire from Light Poles along Interstate in Salt Lake City (Associated Press)

http://www.timescolonist.com/business/thieves-steal-record-amount-of-copper-wire-from-light-poles-along-interstate-in-salt-lake-city-1.102561

Copper Theft: A Worldwide, And Sometimes Lethal, Epidemic (MacLeans, Canada)

http://www2.macleans.ca/2013/03/29/copper-theft-a-worldwide-and-sometimes-lethal-epidemic/

Abundance of Natural Gas Isn’t Fueling Job Growth (Albuquerque Business First, NM)

http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/blog/morning-edition/2013/04/abundance-of-gas-not-fueling-jobs.html

British Regulator Fines Electricity Supplier SSE 10.5 Million Pounds ($16 Million) for Misleading Customers (Associated Press)

http://www.timescolonist.com/business/british-regulator-fines-electricity-supplier-sse-10-5-million-pounds-for-misleading-customers-1.102868

Drunk Idiot Dangles Upside Down from Power Cables (Gizmodo – Note PG 13 Language in Comment Section)

http://gizmodo.com/5993416/drunk-idiot-dangles-upside-down-from-power-cables

FISH & WILDLIFE

‘Unusual Mortality Event’ Is Declared For the California Sea Lion (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-stranded-sea-lions-20130402,0,7225136.story

States Delay Commercial Fishing for Columbia River Spring Chinook (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/apr/01/states-delay-commercial-fishing-spring-chinook/

Chelan County PUD Preparing for Avian Visitors (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/apr/02/preparing-for-visitors/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Below-Average Runoff Forecast for Lake Chelan – Chelan County PUD expects to hit May elevation target for lake recreation (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/apr/02/snowpack-above-lake-chelan-93-percent-normal/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

BP to Sell U-S Wind Business in Retreat to Fossil Fuels (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-04-03/bp-to-sell-u-s-wind-buiness-in-retreat-to-fossil-fuels.html

SoloPower’s California Job Cuts Arrive Amid Company Restructuring (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/money/index.ssf/2013/04/solopowers_california_job_cuts.html

States Show Folly of Energy Mandates (Politico)

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/states-show-folly-of-energy-mandates-89515.html

North Carolina - Cut Your Electric Bill: Repeal the Mandate! (Carolina Journal, Durham, NC)

http://www.carolinajournal.com/daily_journal/display.html?id=10022

NRG Rolls Out Solar Pergola to Target Residential Market (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/uciliawang/2013/04/02/nrg-rolls-out-solar-pergola-to-target-residential-market/

Washington D-C Government Eyes Wind for a Third of Its Electricity Supply (Washington Business Journal, D-C)
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/blog/2013/04/dc-government-eyes-wind-for-a-third.html

Eight Myths About Wind Energy (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2013/04/8-myths-about-wind-energy?cmpid=rss

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Why Your Energy Company Wants You to Use Less Energy - It may even pay you (a little) if you do (U-S News & World Report)

http://money.usnews.com/money/personal-finance/articles/2013/04/02/why-your-energy-company-wants-you-to-use-less-energy

City of Aspen’s Electric Energy Usage Dropping Faster than Expected – It may be working too well (Aspen Daily News, CO)

http://www.aspendailynews.com/section/home/157330

Classes Use Energy Dashboard to Study Conservation (Cornell Chronicle, Ithaca, NY)

http://www.news.cornell.edu/stories/2013/04/classes-use-energy-dashboard-study-conservation

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Washington Republicans Declare Victory on Inslee’s Climate Change Bill (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/washington-republicans-declare-victory-inslees-climate-change-bill

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

In Seattle - A Building Not Just Green, but Practically Self-Sustaining (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/03/realestate/commercial/the-bullitt-center-in-seattle-goes-well-beyond-green.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0

Seattle’s Green Stormwater Goals - How to manage polluted runoff six times better? (Sightline Daily)

http://daily.sightline.org/2013/04/02/seattles-green-stormwater-goals/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Testing Free Wi-Fi Zones in Downtown Poulsbo – Kitsap PUD pilot program installs antennas that tap into fiber optic broadband network (Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal, WA)

http://kpbj.com/cover_story/2013-04-02/testing_free_wifi_zones_downtown

Who Knew? Fiber is Also Good for a Telco’s Health (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2013/04/02/who-knew-fiber-is-also-good-for-a-telcos-health/

The Cellphone Turns 40 Today (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/5993422/the-cellphone-turns-40-today

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

SEC Weighs In On Social Media as a Market Mover (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/morning_call/2013/04/sec-weighs-in-on-social-media-as-a-mark.html

As Facebook Matures, Is It Losing Its Edge? (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2013/04/02/facebook-matures-less-fun/2045761/

Daily World Will Reduce Home Delivery to Three Days (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

http://thedailyworld.com/sections/news/local/daily-world-will-reduce-home-delivery-three-days.html

Study: More Young Adults Tuning Out Terrestrial Radio While Driving (Mashable)

http://mashable.com/2013/04/02/internet-radio-study-npd/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Bill Would Allow Bosses to Seek Facebook Passwords (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020694843_socialpasswordxml.html

GENERAL NEWS

Vancouver, WA Man Identified in High-Rise California Graffiti Death (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Craig-Fugate-man-identified-in-high-rise-graffiti-death-201081251.html

Police: Bold Vandals Putting Themselves, Cleaning Crews in Danger (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Police-bold-vandals-putting-themselves-cleaning-crews-in-danger-201186011.html

Hanford Treatment Plant for Waste in Nuclear Cleanup Has Design Flaws, Panel Says (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/03/science/earth/treatment-plant-for-waste-in-nuclear-cleanup-has-design-flaws-panel-says.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

State Farm Could Add 2,000 Jobs in Tacoma This Year (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/morning_call/2013/04/state-farm-could-add-2000-jobs-in.html

Five Years after Financial Crisis, Survey Highlights Gains in Savings & Investing Discipline (Associated Press)

http://www.timescolonist.com/business/5-years-after-financial-crisis-survey-highlights-gains-in-savings-and-investing-discipline-1.102916

Which States Show Love to Small Businesses? (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/on-small-business/which-states-show-love-to-small-businesses/2013/04/02/042bae60-9bc4-11e2-9a79-eb5280c81c63_story.html?wprss=rss_business

DIVERSIONS

Dalai Lama Ticket Scalpers Inviting Bad Karma

http://www.kgw.com/news/Scalping-tickets-dalai-lama-legal-karma-bad-201057021.html

Ready For a One-Way Trip to Mars? A Dutch company wants to send four people, selected via reality-show-style elimination, on a permanent trip to the Red Planet in 2022

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2013/0401/Ready-for-a-one-way-trip-to-Mars

Rogue Releases Beer Made from Beard Yeast

http://www.kgw.com/news/Rogue-releases-beer-made-from-beard-yeast-200946321.html

Ring That May Have Inspired Tolkien Goes On Show

http://news.yahoo.com/ring-may-inspired-tolkien-goes-show-171323816.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Paul McCartney & Wings - Venus & Mars & Rock Show

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BU_2oNF9CZE

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.