Energy News Digest for April 12, 2013

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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 12, 2013

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/04/energy-news-digest-word-cloud-for-april_12.html

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Obama Budget Plan Ponders Sale of Tennessee Valley Authority (Bloomberg News)

http://www.sfgate.com/business/bloomberg/article/Obama-Budget-Plan-Ponders-Sale-of-Tennessee-4427374.php

Columbia River Treaty Public Meetings Begin in Spokane (Boise State Public Radio, ID)

http://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/post/columbia-river-treaty-public-meetings-begin-spokane

Ocean Salmon Seasons Offer Abundant Catches (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.kgw.com/news/202568871.html

Senate Confirms REI’s Sally Jewell as Interior Secretary (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/2013/04/senate-confirms-sally-jewell-former.html

Special Weather Statement for Hood Canal-Bremerton Area (National Weather Service)

http://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WA124EFA1047C0.SpecialWeatherStatement.124EFA1DB540WA.SEWSPSSEW.38cf50e1a319c23c6b745b82df0e171e

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Obama Budget Plan Ponders Sale of Tennessee Valley Authority
• Columbia River Treaty Public Meetings Begin in Spokane
• Montana - Columbia Falls Aluminum’s Reopening Increasingly Uncertain
• Longtime Mason County PUD 3 Employee Appointed Manager
• Grays Harbor County PUD Interviewing Final Five Candidates for GM
• Electric Power Research Institute Names New Members to Board of Directors - BPA’s Anita Decker among the Chosen
• Northern Wasco County PUD Garners Power Accolade for Reliability
• Mason County PUD 3 Commission Report for April 9, 2013
• California PUC Official in Hot Water for Trying to Secretly Record Meeting
• Ocean Salmon Seasons Offer Abundant Catches
• Washington’s Salmon Fishing Seasons Set for 2013
• Fish Passage Improvements Result in Increased Survival
• Bonneville Power Administration Seeks Comment on Proposed Walla Walla Hatchery
• Op/Ed - The Problem with the Wild Olympics Plan for Olympic National Forest
• Feds Extend Comment Period for Snake River Dredging Plan
• City of Bainbridge, Kitsap PUD to Talk Water Utility Management
• Cowlitz PUD Poised to Meet Renewable Energy Standards, Officials Say
• Montana - How a Columbia Falls Company is Storing Wind for a Windless Day
• Chairman Hastings: Time to Cut Red Tape to Expand the Development of Small Conduit Hydropower
• Court Sides with Iowa Solar Installer in Dispute with Utility
• Op/Ed - Today’s Renewable-Energy Technologies Work
• American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy Honors BPA Energy Efficiency Program
• Clark Public Utilities Offers Rebate for Ductless Heat Pumps
• Climate Change Did Not Cause 2012 U-S Drought, Says Government Report
• Rosie the Riveter on a Wind Turbine: Women & the Growing Green Economy
• Portland Telecom Company to Bring Hundreds of Jobs to Vancouver
• Rural Carriers Complain About Broadband Obstacles
• Google Might Be Planning Free Nationwide Wi-Fi Since the FCC Isn’t
• NAB Chief: Next FCC Chair Shouldn’t Have ‘Bias’ Toward Broadband
• Charter Dangles Broadband Carrot at the FCC
• Microsoft Tweeter Reportedly Loses Job
• Senate Confirms REI’s Sally Jewell as Interior Secretary
• Environmental Questions Take Back Seat at Hearing for EPA Nominee
• Washington State Governor Surprises Higher-Ed Community with Council Shake-Up
• Editorial - Reform the Writing of Fiscal Notes in Washington State Legislature
• Special Weather Statement for Hood Canal-Bremerton Area
• North Mason Chamber Names New Executive Director
• Severe Landslides in Washington Could Be Signs of Times Ahead
• Mason County Senior Center Celebrates 32 Years
• Sinclair Acquiring Fisher Communications
• Sinclair Known for Conservative Political Tilt
• Navigating the Notorious Pacific Northwest Roundabouts
• Idaho Family Sues Forest Service for $1 Million After Tree Hit Six-Year-Old Son

WORD OF THE DAY

Distaff • \DISS-staff\ • Noun - 1a: a staff for holding the flax, tow, or wool in spinning b: woman’s work or domain 2: the female branch or side of a family.

See the Amazon

The distaff warrior: look out!

She’ll take your head, man

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

Obama Budget Plan Ponders Sale of Tennessee Valley Authority (Bloomberg News)

http://www.sfgate.com/business/bloomberg/article/Obama-Budget-Plan-Ponders-Sale-of-Tennessee-4427374.php

Columbia River Treaty Public Meetings Begin in Spokane (Boise State Public Radio, ID)

http://www.boisestatepublicradio.org/post/columbia-river-treaty-public-meetings-begin-spokane

Montana - Columbia Falls Aluminum’s Reopening Increasingly Uncertain (The Missoulian, MT)

http://missoulian.com/news/local/columbia-falls-aluminum-s-reopening-increasingly-uncertain/article_b15f9f0e-a251-11e2-bab4-001a4bcf887a.html

Longtime Mason County PUD 3 Employee Appointed Manager (Shelton-Mason County Journal, WA)

http://tinyurl.com/cwepz64

Grays Harbor County PUD Interviewing Final Five Candidates for GM (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

http://thedailyworld.com/sections/news/local/pud-interviewing-final-five-candidates-gm.html

Electric Power Research Institute Names New Members to Board of Directors - BPA’s Anita Decker among the Chosen (Electric Light & Power)

http://www.elp.com/articles/2013/04/epri-names-new-members-to-board-of-directors.html

Northern Wasco County PUD Garners Power Accolade for Reliability (The Dalles Chronicle, OR)

http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2013/apr/10/northern-wasco-county-pud-garners-power-accolade/

Mason County PUD 3 Commission Report for April 9, 2013 (Mason County PUD No. 3, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=1202

California PUC Official in Hot Water for Trying to Secretly Record Meeting (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2013/04/10/5329532/puc-official-in-hot-water-for.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Ocean Salmon Seasons Offer Abundant Catches (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.kgw.com/news/202568871.html

Washington’s Salmon Fishing Seasons Set for 2013 (Access Washington)

http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/apr1113a/

Fish Passage Improvements Result in Increased Survival (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/Fish-passage-improvements-result-in-increased-survival-for-juvenile-salmon-steelhead.aspx

Bonneville Power Administration Seeks Comment on Proposed Walla Walla Hatchery (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/04/bonneville-power-administration-seeks.html

Op/Ed - The Problem with the Wild Olympics Plan for Olympic National Forest (Seattle Times, WA)

http://seattletimes.com/html/opinion/2020760903_billdriscollopedxml.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Feds Extend Comment Period for Snake River Dredging Plan (Associated Press)

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/Feds-extend-comment-period-for-river-dredging-plan-202566041.html

City of Bainbridge, Kitsap PUD to Talk Water Utility Management (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/apr/11/bainbridge-kitsap-pud-to-talk-water-utility/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Cowlitz PUD Poised to Meet Renewable Energy Standards, Officials Say (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/cowlitz-pud-poised-to-meet-renewable-energy-standards-officials-say/article_d2fd1da8-a24c-11e2-93ee-001a4bcf887a.html

Montana - How a Columbia Falls Company is Storing Wind for a Windless Day (Montana Public Radio News)

http://mtprnews.wordpress.com/2013/04/10/how-a-columbia-falls-company-is-storing-wind-for-a-windless-day/

Chairman Hastings: Time to Cut Red Tape to Expand the Development of Small Conduit Hydropower (U-S House of Representatives, Natural Resources Committee)

http://naturalresources.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=327279

Court Sides with Iowa Solar Installer in Dispute with Utility (Midwest Energy News)

http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2013/04/12/court-sides-with-iowa-solar-installer-in-dispute-with-utility/

Op/Ed - Today’s Renewable-Energy Technologies Work (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/todays-renewable-energy-technologies-work/2013/04/11/a3504adc-a15f-11e2-bd52-614156372695_story.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy Honors BPA Energy Efficiency Program (Electric Light & Power)

http://www.elp.com/articles/2013/04/aceee-honors-bpa-energy-efficiency-program.html

Clark Public Utilities Offers Rebate for Ductless Heat Pumps (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/apr/10/utility-offers-rebate-for-ductless-heat-pumps/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Climate Change Did Not Cause 2012 U-S Drought, Says Government Report (The Guardian, UK)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/apr/12/climate-change-not-2012-drought

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Rosie the Riveter on a Wind Turbine: Women & the Growing Green Economy (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/josephromm/208141/rosie-riveter-wind-turbine-women-and-growing-green-economy

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Portland Telecom Company to Bring Hundreds of Jobs to Vancouver (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/apr/10/pdx-telecom-company-bring-hundreds-jobs-vancouver/

Rural Carriers Complain About Broadband Obstacles (PC World)

http://www.pcworld.com/article/2033657/rural-carriers-complain-about-broadband-obstacles.html

Google Might Be Planning Free Nationwide Wi-Fi Since the FCC Isn’t (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/benzingainsights/2013/04/08/google-might-be-planning-free-nationwide-wi-fi-since-the-fcc-isnt/

NAB Chief: Next FCC Chair Shouldn’t Have ‘Bias’ Toward Broadband (Variety Magazine)

http://variety.com/2013/digital/news/nab-chief-next-fcc-chair-shouldnt-have-bias-toward-broadband-1200341363/

Charter Dangles Broadband Carrot at the FCC - Would Expand its 100 Meg Footprint; Go All-Digital if FCC OKs Proposed Set-Top Waiver (Multichannel)

http://www.multichannel.com/distribution/charter-dangles-broadband-carrot-fcc/142616

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Microsoft Tweeter Reportedly Loses Job (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2013/04/microsoft-tweeter-reportedly-loses-job.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Senate Confirms REI’s Sally Jewell as Interior Secretary (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/2013/04/senate-confirms-sally-jewell-former.html

Environmental Questions Take Back Seat at Hearing for EPA Nominee (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/12/us/politics/environmental-questions-take-back-seat-at-confirmation-hearing-for-epa-nominee.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

Washington State Governor Surprises Higher-Ed Community with Council Shake-Up (Seattle Times, WA)

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020761417_higheredboardxml.html

Editorial - Reform the Writing of Fiscal Notes in Washington State Legislature (Seattle Times, WA)

http://seattletimes.com/html/editorials/2020743361_editfiscalnotesxml.html

GENERAL NEWS

Special Weather Statement for Hood Canal-Bremerton Area (National Weather Service)

http://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WA124EFA1047C0.SpecialWeatherStatement.124EFA1DB540WA.SEWSPSSEW.38cf50e1a319c23c6b745b82df0e171e

North Mason Chamber Names New Executive Director (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/9862

Severe Landslides in Washington Could Be Signs of Times Ahead (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/severe-landslides-washington-could-be-signs-times-ahead

Mason County Senior Center Celebrates 32 Years (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/54453-senior-center-celebrates-32-years

Sinclair Acquiring Fisher Communications (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.katu.com/news/local/Sinclair-acquiring-Fisher-Communications-202532881.html

Sinclair Known for Conservative Political Tilt - Has a history of using its television stations to support its political views (Seattle Times, WA)

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2020756844_fishersinclairxml.html

Navigating the Notorious Pacific Northwest Roundabouts (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Navigating-the-notorious-NW-roundabouts-202620221.html

Idaho Family Sues Forest Service for $1 Million After Tree Hit Six-Year-Old Son (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2013/04/idaho_family_sues_forest_servi.html

DIVERSIONS

Estacada Woman Among 371 Oregonians Accused of Illegally Downloading Steven Seagal Movie (Really, A Steven Seagal Movie?)

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

Kootenay City Considers Birth Control for Pigeons

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/04/11/bc-trail-pigeon-control.html?cmp=rss

Heroin Addict Faked Cancer, Duped Donors

http://www.nbcnewyork.com/news/local/Drug-Addict-Heroin-Fake-Cancer-Charity-Scam-202319141.html

Beaver Bites Man to Death in Belarus Attack

http://news.sky.com/story/1076746/beaver-bites-man-to-death-in-belarus-attack

SONG OF THE DAY

Neil Young - Four Strong Winds

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bI3Xn0-2fbY

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.

Note that as some newspapers migrate to a “paywall” system of access, some articles may not be available without forking over some cold hard credit card cash. However, some sites will allow a certain number of story accesses per month before holding out their hand. Sorry if this is an inconvenience.

Energy News Digest for April 10, 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 10, 2013

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/04/energy-news-digest-word-cloud-for-april_10.html

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

U-S, Canadian Governments Study Critical Water Treaty (Flathead Beacon, Kalispell, MT)

http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/american_canadian_governments_study_critical_water_treaty/32759/

Washington State to Look at Last-Minute Salary Hikes That Led to Boosted Pensions (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/apr/10/state-looks-at-salary-hikes/

California’s Governor Wants His State’s Carbon Market to Link with Quebec’s (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2013/04/10/5329469/brown-wants-californias-carbon.html

Bainbridge Island Answers Call to Conserve Energy (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/apr/09/bainbridge-answers-call-to-conserve-energy/

Man Suspected in Fatal Mason County Hit-And-Run Pleads Innocent (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Man-suspected-in-fatal-hit-and-run-pleads-not-guilty-202232011.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• U-S, Canadian Governments Study Critical Water Treaty
• Portland Suspends & Fires Electrical Inspectors Accused of Brunching on the Job
• Cowlitz PUD Establishes Citizen Panel to Guide Rate Decisions
• U-S Energy Secretary Nominee Backs Natural Gas ‘Revolution’
• Ernest Moniz: Where Would He Take Energy Department?
• Ex-Regulator Says U-S Reactors Are Flawed
• Mississippi - Entergy Repaying School $1.2 Million-Plus for Years of Overbilling
• Look What Dragged In the Cat: Feline Rescued After 4 Nights atop Utility Pole in Kamloops
• California Oyster Farm Caught Up in Pipeline Politics
• Portable Wind Turbines a Versatile Alternative
• San Jose Solar Startup to Be Acquired by Largest U-S Solar Manufacturer
• Bainbridge Island Answers Call to Conserve Energy
• California’s Governor Wants His State’s Carbon Market to Link with Quebec’s
• Solar Panels Could Destroy U-S Utilities, According To U-S Utilities
• Burien Resident Claims City Doesn’t Deserve Tree City USA Status
• Google Expanding Super-Fast Internet Service to Austin, Texas
• Why AT&T’s Promise to Bring 1 Gbps to Austin is Mostly Empty
• Kansas City Slow To Connect with Google’s Super-Fast Internet
• It’s Surprisingly Inexpensive For Google to Build Its Cable-Destroying Google Fiber Network
• North Carolina - The Curious Tale of Raleigh’s Free Downtown Wi-Fi
• Fox Affiliates Exec Says Stations ‘On Board’ with Plan to Move to Pay TV amid Aereo Dispute
• Private Cloud Mania Drives Data Center Expansion, Survey Says
• Texas - Local Companies Cash in on Google Fiber Announcement
• General Motors Gives Facebook another Chance
• Washington State to Look at Last-Minute Salary Hikes That Led to Boosted Pensions
• Editorial - Spiking Public Safety Pensions Hurts Poor Kids the Most
• Washington State Senate Leader: ‘Dream Act’ Is Dead This Session
• Man Suspected in Fatal Mason County Hit-And-Run Pleads Innocent
• Washington State Worries as Boeing Pours $1 Billion into South Carolina
• Vancouver, WA Teen Found Safe after Two-Week Disappearance
• Public to Weigh In on Mason County Forest Conservation
• Former Tumwater Municipal Court Judge Could Face Jail Time after Second DUI Arrest
• Court Approves Sale of Last Core Hostess Assets
• Oregon Girls Rescue Dad by Lifting Tractor Off His Chest

WORD OF THE DAY

Campestral • \camp-PEST-trull\ • Adjective - Of or relating to fields or open country: rural.

After forty years away from the windswept grasslands of northeast Montana, the family matriarch stood among the campestral glory of her ancestral homestead, her face aglow with the dewy freshness of a teen-aged farm girl. She had always felt fenced in in her new home among the towering, deep green forests of western Washington. But she knew deep down that the whispering winds through the pasture grass of the prairie always spoke to her heart.

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, Canadian Governments Study Critical Water Treaty (Flathead Beacon, Kalispell, MT)

http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/american_canadian_governments_study_critical_water_treaty/32759/

Portland Suspends & Fires Electrical Inspectors Accused of Brunching on the Job (Willamette Week, Portland, OR)

http://www.wweek.com/portland/blog-30004-city_suspends_and_fires_inspectors_accused_of_brunching_on_the_job.html

Cowlitz PUD Establishes Citizen Panel to Guide Rate Decisions (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/9654f8c6-a17f-11e2-838b-001a4bcf887a.html

U-S Energy Secretary Nominee Backs Natural Gas ‘Revolution’ - Ernest Moniz backs increased use of natural gas (Associated Press)

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/moniz-backs-natural-gas-revolution-165429932.html

Ernest Moniz: Where Would He Take Energy Department? (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy-Voices/2013/0409/Ernest-Moniz-Where-would-he-take-Energy-Department

Ex-Regulator Says U-S Reactors Are Flawed (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/09/us/ex-regulator-says-nuclear-reactors-in-united-states-are-flawed.html?_r=0

Mississippi - Entergy Repaying School $1.2 Million-Plus for Years of Overbilling (Associated Press)

http://msbusiness.com/blog/2013/04/09/entergy-repaying-school-1-2m-plus-for-years-of-overbilling/

Look What Dragged In the Cat: Feline Rescued After 4 Nights atop Utility Pole in Kamloops (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/b-c/look-what-dragged-in-the-cat-feline-rescued-after-4-nights-atop-utility-pole-in-kamloops-1.107497

FISH & WILDLIFE

California Oyster Farm Caught Up in Pipeline Politics (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/10/us/public-land-battle-over-drakes-bay-oyster-draws-unlikely-allies.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Portable Wind Turbines a Versatile Alternative (Washington State University News)

http://wsutoday.wsu.edu/pages/publications.asp?Action=Detail&PublicationID=35708&TypeID=1

San Jose Solar Startup to Be Acquired by Largest U-S Solar Manufacturer (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_22988082

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Bainbridge Island Answers Call to Conserve Energy (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/apr/09/bainbridge-answers-call-to-conserve-energy/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

California’s Governor Wants His State’s Carbon Market to Link with Quebec’s (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2013/04/10/5329469/brown-wants-californias-carbon.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Solar Panels Could Destroy U-S Utilities, According To U-S Utilities (Grist Online)

http://grist.org/article/solar-panels-could-destroy-u-s-utilities-according-to-u-s-utilities/

Burien Resident Claims City Doesn’t Deserve Tree City USA Status (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Burien-resident-claims-city-doesnt-deserve-Tree-City-USA-status-202223731.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Google Expanding Super-Fast Internet Service to Austin, Texas (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/google-expanding-super-fast-internet-service-to-austin/2013/04/09/7c70e8ae-a146-11e2-be47-b44febada3a8_story.html?wprss=rss_technology

Why AT&T’s Promise to Bring 1 Gbps to Austin is Mostly Empty - Company Tries Damage Control With Carefully-Worded Press Release (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/ATT-Adorably-Pretends-They-Too-Will-Offer-1-Gbps-in-Austin-123807

Kansas City Slow To Connect with Google’s Super-Fast Internet (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2013/04/09/176713148/kansas-city-slow-to-connect-with-googles-super-fast-internet?ft=1&f=2

It’s Surprisingly Inexpensive For Google to Build Its Cable-Destroying Google Fiber Network (Business Insider)

http://www.businessinsider.com/the-cost-of-building-google-fiber-2013-4

North Carolina - The Curious Tale of Raleigh’s Free Downtown Wi-Fi “…downtown free Wi-Fi went bankrupt last year - and forgot to tell the city…” (The Raleigh Record, NC)

http://www.raleighpublicrecord.org/news/2013/04/05/a-tale-of-raleighs-free-downtown-wi-fi/

Fox Affiliates Exec Says Stations ‘On Board’ with Plan to Move to Pay TV amid Aereo Dispute (Associated Press)

http://www.timescolonist.com/business/fox-affiliates-exec-says-stations-on-board-with-plan-to-move-to-pay-tv-amid-aereo-dispute-1.107140

Private Cloud Mania Drives Data Center Expansion, Survey Says (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2013/04/08/private-cloud-mania-drives-data-center-expansion-survey-says/

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Texas - Local Companies Cash in on Google Fiber Announcement (Austin Business Journal, TX)

http://www.bizjournals.com/austin/blog/at-the-watercooler/2013/04/at-the-google-fiber-announcement.html

General Motors Gives Facebook another Chance (Silicon Valley Business Journal, CA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sanjose/news/2013/04/09/gm-gives-facebook-another-chance.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State to Look at Last-Minute Salary Hikes That Led to Boosted Pensions (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/apr/10/state-looks-at-salary-hikes/

Editorial - Spiking Public Safety Pensions Hurts Poor Kids the Most (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/apr/10/shawn-vestal-spiking-public-safety-pensions-hurts/

Washington State Senate Leader: ‘Dream Act’ Is Dead This Session (Associated Press)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/apr/09/senate-leader-dream-act-is-dead-this-session/

GENERAL NEWS

Man Suspected in Fatal Mason County Hit-And-Run Pleads Innocent (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Man-suspected-in-fatal-hit-and-run-pleads-not-guilty-202232011.html

Washington State Worries as Boeing Pours $1 Billion into South Carolina (Seattle Times, WA)

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2020743615_boeingscxml.html

Vancouver, WA Teen Found Safe after Two-Week Disappearance (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Oregon-teen-found-safe-after-2-week-disappearance-202228521.html

Public to Weigh In on Mason County Forest Conservation (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2013/04/09/2498195/public-to-weigh-in-on-forest-conservation.html

Former Tumwater Municipal Court Judge Could Face Jail Time after Second DUI Arrest (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Former-judge-could-face-jail-time-after-2nd-DUI-arrest-202219781.html

Court Approves Sale of Last Core Hostess Assets (Associated Press)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2013/04/09/2349240/court-approves-sale-of-last-of.html

Oregon Girls Rescue Dad by Lifting Tractor Off His Chest (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.katu.com/news/local/Girls-rescue-dad-by-lifting-tractor-off-his-chest-202151901.html

DIVERSIONS

Cicadas to Emerge on East Coast after 17 Years

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2013/0408/Cicadas-to-emerge-on-East-coast-after-17-years

Does a Star Wars Palace in Italy Need the Army to Protect It?

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Europe/2013/0409/Does-a-Star-Wars-palace-in-Italy-need-the-army-to-protect-it

New York ‘Gambling Nun’ Guilty in $130,000 Church Thefts

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22087338

Canada Woman in C$40,000 Lottery Prize Actually Won C $40 Million

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-22082923

SONG OF THE DAY

Zero the Antistar - The Lonely Cricket Sonata

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gTjtcGt5-uQ

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.

Note that as some newspapers migrate to a “paywall” system of access, some articles may not be available without forking over some cold hard credit card cash. However, some sites will allow a certain number of story accesses per month before holding out their hand. Sorry if this is an inconvenience.

Energy News Digest for April 9, 2013

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http://twitter.com/energydigest

THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for April 9, 2013

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

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

First Chinook Cross Lower Granite Dam (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/04/08/2525890/chinook-cross-dam.html

California - State’s Wind Turbines Blow Past Power-Production Records (Sacramento Business Journal, CA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2013/04/08/states-wind-turbines-blow-past.html

Colorado - Bill Increasing Renewable Standard for Rural Co-Ops Passes Committee (Denver Post, CO)

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22982998/bill-increasing-renewable-standard-rural-co-ops-passes

Community Anchor Institutions in Rural Washington Connected by NoaNet (Community Broadband Networks)

http://www.muninetworks.org/content/community-anchor-institutions-rural-washington-connected-noanet

Grays Harbor PUD Closer to Announcing New General Manager (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kxro.wordpress.com/2013/04/09/pud-closer-to-announcing-new-general-manager/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Grays Harbor PUD Closer to Announcing New General Manager
• Editorial - Approve Refunds for California Electricity Ratepayers
• Change in Tax-Exempt Status of Municipal Bonds Would Increase Price of Electricity
• FERC Approves Vegetation Management Rules to Improve Electric Reliability
• American Electric Power Officials: Copper Thefts in Ohio Valley at All-Time High
• Is Wall Street Wrong About Con Edison? Probably
• Pepco CEO Joseph Rigby Made Nearly $11.5 Million Last Year
• First Chinook Cross Lower Granite Dam
• Birds to Be Hazed to Protect Oregon Coast Salmon
• Washington State Facing $1.9 Billion Bill for New Culverts
• West Coast Fisheries to See Ecosystem Approach
• Concern about Pollution Drives Fight over Eating Fish
• Op/Ed - For Healthy Salmon, Protect Forage Fish
• City of Lacey vs. The Nation: Pledge to Save Water & You Could Win a Toyota Prius!
• California Coast - Slaking a Region’s Thirst While Cleaning Its Beaches
• California - State’s Wind Turbines Blow Past Power-Production Records
• Colorado - Bill Increasing Renewable Standard for Rural Co-Ops Passes Committee
• Colorado - Xcel Energy Says Boulder Overstepping City Limits on New Utility
• With Help from Nature, a California Town Aims to Be a Solar Capital
• Will the Fracking Revolution Buoy Renewables?
• Oregon - Ashland Council Adopts Conservation, Business Goals
• Cleveland Public Power to Test LED Street Lights for Two Years
• Climate Change Will Threaten Wine Production, Study Shows
• Fasten Seatbelts, Air Passengers: Climate Change Ahead
• James Hansen Says Natural Gas is Worse than Nuclear
• Op/Ed - How U-S Energy Policy Fails to Address Climate Change
• Fatbergs: Burning Fat & Oil to Generate London Power
• Top Wacky Wind Turbines: Photos
• Community Anchor Institutions in Rural Washington Connected by NoaNet
• Montana PSC Seeks Info on Broadband Internet
• As Austin Readies for Google Fiber, Here’s Why You Need a Gig: Even If You Don’t Think You Do
• The Downsides of a Gig: What Other Towns Have Learned After Getting a Gig
• A Quick Look at Google Fiber Pricing Versus the Incumbents
• Oregon’s ‘Social Media Bill’ One Step Closer to Becoming Law
• Pay Walls Could Be Print’s Salvation Online
• Should Your Small Business Hire a Social-Media Expert?
• Washington State Senate Majority Spends Same Timber Revenues Twice
• Alaska GOP Drama Results in Chairwoman’s Ouster
• North Mason School Officials Present Case for $49 Million Bond
• Billionaire Kings Investor Pulls Out Days Before NBA Ruling on Sale of Sacramento Team
• Port Angeles Stack Toppled! Chimney That Refused to Fall with Explosives Finally ‘Cut’ Down
• Sidewalks to Nowhere - City of Shelton Commission Meeting
• Study: Seattle’s Gender Pay Gap Worst in the U-S

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

Grays Harbor PUD Closer to Announcing New General Manager (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kxro.wordpress.com/2013/04/09/pud-closer-to-announcing-new-general-manager/

Editorial - Approve Refunds for California Electricity Ratepayers (Riverside Press-Enterprise, CA)

http://www.pe.com/opinion/editorials-headlines/20130407-editorial-approve-refunds-for-california-electricity-ratepayers.ece

Change in Tax-Exempt Status of Municipal Bonds Would Increase Price of Electricity, APPA & Others Tell Ways & Means (American Public Power Association)

http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppd/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=213793&issueID=26991

FERC Approves Vegetation Management Rules to Improve Electric Reliability (Transmission & Distribution World)

http://tdworld.com/vegetationmanagement/news/ferc-vegetation-rules-0413/

American Electric Power Officials: Copper Thefts in Ohio Valley at All-Time High (WTOV-TV, Steubenville, OH)

http://www.wtov9.com/news/news/power-officials-copper-thefts-ohio-valley-all-time/nXF8k/

Is Wall Street Wrong About Con Edison? Probably - Investigators concluded that the utility had suffered a loss of more than $225 million as the result of accounting improprieties (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/williampentland/2013/04/08/is-wall-street-wrong-about-con-edison-probably/

Pepco CEO Joseph Rigby Made Nearly $11.5 Million Last Year (Washington Business Journal, D-C)
http://www.bizjournals.com/washington/morning_call/2013/04/pepco-ceo-made-more-than-11m-last-year.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

First Chinook Cross Lower Granite Dam (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/04/08/2525890/chinook-cross-dam.html

Birds to Be Hazed to Protect Oregon Coast Salmon (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.kgw.com/news/Birds-to-be-hazed-to-protect-Oregon-Coast-salmon-201980561.html

Washington State Facing $1.9 Billion Bill for New Culverts (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20130409/NEWS01/704099927

West Coast Fisheries to See Ecosystem Approach (Associated Press)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/apr/08/west-coast-fisheries-to-see-ecosystem-approach/

Concern about Pollution Drives Fight over Eating Fish (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20130405/NEWS01/704059935

Op/Ed - For Healthy Salmon, Protect Forage Fish (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2013/04/for_healthy_salmon_protect_for.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

City of Lacey vs. The Nation: Pledge to Save Water & You Could Win a Toyota Prius! (Thurston Talk, Olympia, WA)

http://www.thurstontalk.com/2013/04/05/city-of-lacey-vs-the-nation-pledge-to-save-water-and-you-could-win-a-toyota-prius-2/

California Coast - Slaking a Region’s Thirst While Cleaning Its Beaches (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/08/us/los-angeles-plan-to-turn-pollution-into-drinking-water.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

California - State’s Wind Turbines Blow Past Power-Production Records (Sacramento Business Journal, CA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2013/04/08/states-wind-turbines-blow-past.html

Colorado - Bill Increasing Renewable Standard for Rural Co-Ops Passes Committee (Denver Post, CO)

http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_22982998/bill-increasing-renewable-standard-rural-co-ops-passes

Colorado - Xcel Energy Says Boulder Overstepping City Limits on New Utility (Denver Business Journal, CO)

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/blog/earth_to_power/2013/04/xcel-energy-says-boulder-overstepping.html

With Help from Nature, a California Town Aims to Be a Solar Capital (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/09/us/lancaster-calif-focuses-on-becoming-solar-capital-of-universe.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Will the Fracking Revolution Buoy Renewables? (GTH Energy & Natural Resources Law Blog)

http://www.energynaturalresourceslaw.com/2013/04/will-the-fracking-revolution-bouy-renewables.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Oregon - Ashland Council Adopts Conservation, Business Goals (Ashland Daily Tidings, OR)

http://www.dailytidings.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20130408/NEWS02/304080306/-1/NEWSMAP

Cleveland Public Power to Test LED Street Lights for Two Years (Cleveland Plain Dealer, OH)

http://www.cleveland.com/cityhall/index.ssf/2013/04/cleveland_public_power_to_test.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Climate Change Will Threaten Wine Production, Study Shows - Global warming will make it difficult to raise grapes in traditional wine country, but will shift production to other regions (The Guardian, UK)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/apr/08/climate-change-wine-production

Fasten Seatbelts, Air Passengers: Climate Change Ahead. (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Latest-News-Wires/2013/0409/Fasten-seatbelts-air-passengers.-Climate-change-ahead

James Hansen Says Natural Gas is Worse than Nuclear (Grist Online)

http://grist.org/business-technology/james-hansen-says-natural-gas-is-worse-than-nuclear/

Op/Ed - How U-S Energy Policy Fails to Address Climate Change (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy-Voices/2013/0406/How-US-energy-policy-fails-to-address-climate-change

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Fatbergs: Burning Fat & Oil to Generate London Power (British Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-22062122

Top Wacky Wind Turbines: Photos (Discovery News)

http://news.discovery.com/tech/alternative-power-sources/top-wacky-wind-turbines-photos-130408.htm

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Community Anchor Institutions in Rural Washington Connected by NoaNet (Community Broadband Networks)

http://www.muninetworks.org/content/community-anchor-institutions-rural-washington-connected-noanet

Montana PSC Seeks Info on Broadband Internet Availability (KPAX-TV, Missoula, MT)

http://www.kpax.com/news/montana-psc-seeks-info-on-broadband-internet-availability/

As Austin Readies for Google Fiber, Here’s Why You Need a Gig: Even If You Don’t Think You Do (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2013/04/06/as-austin-readies-for-google-fiber-heres-why-you-need-a-gig-even-if-you-dont-think-you-do/

The Downsides of a Gig: What Other Towns Have Learned After Getting a Gig (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2013/04/08/the-downsides-of-a-gig-what-other-towns-have-learned-after-getting-a-gig/

A Quick Look at Google Fiber Pricing Versus the Incumbents (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2013/04/08/a-quick-look-at-google-fiber-pricing-v-the-incumbents/

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Oregon’s ‘Social Media Bill’ One Step Closer to Becoming Law (Associated Press)

http://www.katu.com/politics/Social-media-bill-one-step-closer-to-becoming-law-202002351.html

Pay Walls Could Be Print’s Salvation Online - Small, local newspapers have become the petri dish of online subscriptions (U-S News & World Report)

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/04/09/pay-walls-could-be-prints-salvation-online

Should Your Small Business Hire a Social-Media Expert? (Charlotte Business Journal, NC)

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/socialmadness/2013/04/should-your-small-business-hire-a.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Senate Majority Spends Same Timber Revenues Twice (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20130405/BLOG13/130409922

Alaska GOP Drama Results in Chairwoman’s Ouster (Alaska Dispatch)

http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/20130409/alaska-gop-drama-results-chairwomans-ouster

GENERAL NEWS

North Mason School Officials Present Case for $49 Million Bond (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/apr/08/north-mason-school-officials-present-case-for-49/

Billionaire Kings Investor Pulls Out Days Before NBA Ruling on Sale of Sacramento Team (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=2247790

Port Angeles Stack Toppled! Chimney That Refused to Fall with Explosives Finally ‘Cut’ Down (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20130409/NEWS/304099991/penply-stack-proves-tough-8212-but-finally-falls-ending-an-era

Sidewalks to Nowhere - City of Shelton Commission Meeting (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/54136-city-of-shelton-commission-meeting

Study: Seattle’s Gender Pay Gap Worst in the U-S (Seattle Times, WA)

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/fyi-guy/2013/04/08/study-seattles-gender-pay-gap-worst-in-the-u-s/

DIVERSIONS

Man Gets Shock of His Life - Buys Two Toy Poodles for $150 Only to be Told By A Vet That They Are Actually Giant Rodents Pumped Up With Steroids to Look Like Dogs

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2305310/Man-gets-shock-toy-poodles-turn-GIANT-RODENTS-steroids.html

Annette Funicello, Mouseketeer & Film Star, Dies at Age 70

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_22979477

#nowthatchersdead: Fans Think Cher Died after Thatcher Hashtag Trends

http://mashable.com/2013/04/08/cher-nowthatchersdead-twitter-hashtag-dead/

Longview Woman Arrested After Drug Text Mistake

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Longview-woman-arrested-after-drug-text-mistake-201775081.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Billy Joel - When You Wish Upon a Star

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=luoPNxyi2fE

Cliff Edwards (Ukulele Ike) - When You Wish Upon a Star

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aafpos35u-s

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.