Energy News Digest for December 1, 2014

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for December 1, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/m633ypa

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST TWITTER FEED

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

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Grant PUD Begins Raising Wanapum Pool (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/article_2df86412-75c1-11e4-8e85-b77849a558f8.html

Inland Power & Light Tries Community Solar Projects (Associated Press)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/kpbj/utility-tries-community-solar-projects

Oregon Proposes Tax Credit Rollback for Biomass (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-proposes-tax-credit-rollback-for-biomass/

Editorial: Columbia Generating Station - Study against Nuclear Power Plant Lacks Credibility (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2014/11/30/3285085_our-voice-study-against-nuclear.html?sp=/99/1426/&rh=1

Idaho’s Sockeye Salmon Success Could Be Blueprint (Associated Press)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2014/nov/30/idaho-sockeye-salmon-success-could-be-blueprint/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1. Grant PUD Begins Raising Wanapum Pool
2. Editorial: Columbia Generating Station - Study against Nuclear Power Plant Lacks Credibility
3. EPA Urged Not To Include Nuclear Units under Construction in Calculation of State Carbon Dioxide Goals
4. Op/Ed: New Jersey Can Use Nuclear Power to Diversify Its Energy Supply
5. Western Area Power Administration Agrees to Settlement in Southwest Blackout
6. A Fresh Look at Power Lines, Cancer & the Dread-to-Risk Ratio
7. December 4 Confirmation Hearing Date Set for Colette Honorable
8. Idaho’s Sockeye Salmon Success Could Be Blueprint
9. Lake Cle Elum Proposal Geared to Help Efforts to Recover Native Fishery
10. Chehalis Basin Work Group Celebrates ‘Historic Step Forward’ on Handling Flooding
11. Inland Power & Light Tries Community Solar Projects
12. Oregon Proposes Tax Credit Rollback for Biomass
13. For Struggling Rural Communities, Wind Farms a Welcome Boon
14. Spinning Off Baseload Resources – German Utility Company E.ON to Focus on Renewables
15. California Motorists to Begin Shouldering Costs of Carbon Auction
16. Executive Orders & Carbon Emissions: Can Governor Inslee Establish A Low Carbon Fuel Standard Without Legislation?
17. Op/ED: Governor & Washington State Carbon Emissions Reduction Taskforce Should Carefully Consider Climate Policy
18. Washington State Governor Jay Inslee Seeks Tax Breaks, Maybe Car Pool Lanes for Electric Vehicles
19. Tennessee Fiber Fight: Broadening Broadband Gig City Touted as Model in Broadband Debate
20. More Data Breaches Expected this Holiday Season
21. Black Friday Fatigue? Thanksgiving Weekend Sales Slide Eleven Percent
22. Supreme Court Weighs Limits of Free Speech over the Internet
23. Congress Crams Unfinished Agenda into Final Days (U-S
24. Cold Forecast to Ease Midweek in Washington
25. Shelton Woman Stabbed; Suspect in Custody
26. New Mason County Superior Court Judge Position Filled
27. Taylor United Shellfish Company Seeks Permits for Dungeness Bay Geoduck Farm
28. Incudes Mount Ellinor – Trail Counters Help Monitor Use in Olympic Forest
29. Giant Sunspot May Cause Massive Solar Storms
30. Road De-Icing Researchers Say Hold the Salt, Pass the Vodka By-Product

WORD OF THE DAY

Lodestar • \LOAD-star\ • noun - One that serves as an inspiration, model, or guide. The literal, albeit archaic, meaning of “lodestar” is “a star that leads or guides; especially: the North Star.” (The first half of the word derives from the Middle English word “lode,” meaning “course.”)

His realization that woefully outdated generational references and a hyper-nerdish wardrobe were not to his best advantage, Bertrand began to question using Steve Erkle has his cultural and professional lodestar.

Steve Erkle (Wikipedia) – http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Urkel

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Grant PUD Begins Raising Wanapum Pool (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/article_2df86412-75c1-11e4-8e85-b77849a558f8.html

Editorial: Columbia Generating Station - Study against Nuclear Power Plant Lacks Credibility (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2014/11/30/3285085_our-voice-study-against-nuclear.html?sp=/99/1426/&rh=1

EPA Urged Not To Include Nuclear Units under Construction in Calculation of State Carbon Dioxide Goals (American Public Power Association)

http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppw/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=297094&issueID=30597

Op/Ed: New Jersey Can Use Nuclear Power to Diversify Its Energy Supply (New Jersey Star Ledger)

http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/11/nj_can_use_nuclear_power_to_diversify_its_energy_supply_opinion.html

Western Area Power Administration Agrees to Settlement in Southwest Blackout (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/top-story-home-page/wapa-agrees-to-settlement-in-southwest-blackout/75742

A Fresh Look at Power Lines, Cancer & the Dread-to-Risk Ratio “…finds no evidence…of anything approaching a public health concern…” (NY Times)

http://dotearth.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/12/01/a-fresh-look-at-power-lines-cancer-and-the-dread-to-risk-ratio/?partner=rss&emc=rss

December 4 Confirmation Hearing Date Set for Colette Honorable (American Public Power Association)

http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppw/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=297312&issueID=30597

FISH & WILDLIFE

Idaho’s Sockeye Salmon Success Could Be Blueprint (Associated Press)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2014/nov/30/idaho-sockeye-salmon-success-could-be-blueprint/

Lake Cle Elum Proposal Geared to Help Efforts to Recover Native Fishery (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/latestlocalnews/2691191-8/lake-cle-elum-proposal-geared-to-help-efforts

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Chehalis Basin Work Group Celebrates ‘Historic Step Forward’ on Handling Flooding (Olympian - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.theolympian.com/2014/11/30/3450998_chehalis-basin-work-group-celebrates.html?rh=1

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Inland Power & Light Tries Community Solar Projects (Associated Press)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/kpbj/utility-tries-community-solar-projects

Oregon Proposes Tax Credit Rollback for Biomass (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-proposes-tax-credit-rollback-for-biomass/

For Struggling Rural Communities, Wind Farms a Welcome Boon (Midwest Energy News)

http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2014/12/01/for-struggling-rural-communities-wind-farms-a-welcome-boon/

Spinning Off Baseload Resources – German Utility Company E.ON to Focus on Renewables (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/German-utility-company-E-ON-to-focus-on-renewables-5926026.php

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

California Motorists to Begin Shouldering Costs of Carbon Auction (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/article4178511.html

Executive Orders & Carbon Emissions: Can Governor Inslee Establish A Low Carbon Fuel Standard Without Legislation? (Science, Law & the Environment, Seattle, WA)

http://www.sciencelawenvironment.com/2014/11/executive-orders-carbon-emissions-can-governor-inslee-establish-a-low-carbon-fuel-standard-without-legislation/

Op/ED: Governor & Washington State Carbon Emissions Reduction Taskforce Should Carefully Consider Climate Policy (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://seattletimes.com/html/opinion/2025125011_elliottopedfuelstandards26xml.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Washington State Governor Jay Inslee Seeks Tax Breaks, Maybe Car Pool Lanes for Electric Vehicles (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/11/washington_gov_inslee_seeks_ta.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Tennessee Fiber Fight: Broadening Broadband Gig City Touted as Model in Broadband Debate (Chattanooga Times-Free Press, TN)

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2014/nov/30/fiber-figh-Broadening-broadband-Gig-City-touted-as/

More Data Breaches Expected this Holiday Season (Sacramento Business Journal, CA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/blog/morning-roundup/2014/12/more-data-breaches-expected-this-holiday-season.html

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Black Friday Fatigue? Thanksgiving Weekend Sales Slide Eleven Percent (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/12/01/business/thanksgiving-weekend-sales-at-stores-and-online-slide-11-percent.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Supreme Court Weighs Limits of Free Speech over the Internet (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/entertainment/ci_27038746/supreme-court-weighs-limits-free-speech-over-internet

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Congress Crams Unfinished Agenda into Final Days (U-S News & World Report)

http://www.usnews.com/news/politics/articles/2014/12/01/congress-crams-unfinished-agenda-into-final-days

GENERAL NEWS

Cold Forecast to Ease Midweek in Washington State (Associated Press)

http://tdn.com/news/state-and-regional/washington/cold-forecast-to-ease-midweek-in-washington/article_5b1184bf-3400-578d-a817-0c24bd5cb130.html

Shelton Woman Stabbed; Suspect in Custody (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)
http://masonwebtv.com/archives/13928

New Mason County Superior Court Judge Position Filled (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)
http://masonwebtv.com/archives/13921

Taylor United Shellfish Company Seeks Permits for Dungeness Bay Geoduck Farm (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20141201/news/312019989/shellfish-company-seeks-permits-for-dungeness-bay-geoduck-farm

Incudes Mount Ellinor – Trail Counters Help Monitor Use in Olympic Forest (Associated Press)

http://www.katu.com/news/local/Trail-counters-help-monitor-use-in-Olympic-forest-284262361.html

Giant Sunspot May Cause Massive Solar Storms (Mashable)

http://mashable.com/2014/11/30/sunspot-solar-storms/

Road De-Icing Researchers Say Hold the Salt, Pass the Vodka By-Product (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwnewsnetwork.org/post/road-de-icing-researchers-say-hold-salt-pass-vodka-product

DIVERSIONS

Price of Doing 12 Days of Christmas Up 1%, Will Now Cost $116,000

http://consumerist.com/2014/12/01/price-of-doing-12-days-of-christmas-up-1-will-now-cost-116k/

Kirk Douglas’ Obit Published by Mistake on ‘People’ Website

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation-now/2014/11/30/people-magainze-posts-kirk-douglas-obit/19721703/

Cops: Beau Who Ate Holiday Meal Early Gets Stabbed

http://news.yahoo.com/cops-beau-ate-holiday-meal-early-gets-stabbed-172523788.html

Wisconsin: Dispute over Nine-Point Buck Settled with Coin Flip

http://news.yahoo.com/dispute-over-9-point-buck-settled-coin-flip-150541099.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Alex North – Main Theme - Spartacus 1960 Original Soundtrack

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_lKsgg6ZpzU

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 November 26, 2014

Programming Note; The energy news digest will be participating in the festival of Thanksgiving beginning tomorrow. Take time this weekend to think about your blessings. It’s easy, and fun!

See you Monday.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for November 26, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/om2ubev

Flood Watch Issued for Mason County – Three to Five Inches of Rain in Olympics (National Weather Service, Seattle)

http://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WA125178AAF2A4.FloodWatch.125178D73260WA.SEWFFASEW.182b4f65bdee86acc70c6b0eef02074a

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST TWITTER FEED

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

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Flood Watch for Mason County - More Rain Forecast for Thanksgiving in Washington State (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/174/2654026/More-rain-forecast-for-Thanksgiving-in-Washington

Quincy Data Center Announces 4.5 Megawatts of New Capacity (Columbia Basin Bulletin, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/business/article_8065cc82-7420-11e4-8742-e3a700422efe.html

Cowlitz PUD’s McMaster Expecting Up to 5 Percent Rise in Rate Next Year (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/cowlitz-pud-s-mcmaster-expecting-up-to-percent-rise-in/article_d7444474-7511-11e4-819b-0701ec8612f4.html

Feds: Pacific Northwest Ratepayer Spending on Salmon Paying Off “…BPA power customers…paid $682 million last year to support fish & wildlife programs, accounting for about one-third of the power marketer’s wholesale rates…” (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/editors-pick/feds-nw-ratepayer-spending-on-salmon-paying-off/75724

Lawsuit Filed to Stop Snake River Dredging (Associated Press)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2014/11/25/3279181/lawsuit-filed-to-stop-dredging.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1. Cowlitz PUD’s McMaster Expecting Up to 5 Percent Rise in Rate Next Year
2. Washington State Panel OKs’ Avista Plan to Hike Rates January 1
3. Jefferson PUD Raises Discount for Low-Income Seniors, Disabled to $20 a Month
4. The Triple Bottom Line on PGE’s First-Ever Sustainability Report
5. Canada: Geothermal Alternatives to Peace River Dam Are More Cost Effective: Industry Group
6. San Francisco Supervisors Give City’s Power Utility a Big Boost
7. Will Santa Fe Be the Next City to Municipalize Its Electric Utility?
8. Feds: Pacific Northwest Ratepayer Spending on Salmon Paying Off
9. Op/Ed: Columbia River Basin Conference Shows Support for Salmon Return
10. Oregon: Someone Shooting Seagulls with Blow Darts
11. Lawsuit Filed to Stop Snake River Dredging
12. Klamath Water Agreement Headed to U-S Senate
13. EPA to Introduce Broad New Ozone Regulations
14. U-S Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Rules on Mercury from Power Plants
15. ‘A Big Milestone:’ Carlsborg Sewer Pact Approved
16. Distributed Generation: Is Your Co-op Prepared?
17. Florida: Regulators Vote to End Solar Panel Rebates in 2015
18. Solar Energy’s Popularity Increases as Rooftop Panels Get Less Expensive
19. New York: Fort Drum Goes Wood Powered In a Push for Renewable Energy
20. These Weed Snobs Show Why Pot Can Be Just as Snooty as Wine
21. Robot Discovers That Antarctic Ice is Thicker than Thought
22. The Newest Benefits Perk: Cheap Solar Power for Your Home
23. Quincy Data Center Announces 4.5 Megawatts of New Capacity
24. Comcast Could Be Using Router in Your Home as Public Hot Spot
25. Google Fiber Raises Prices for Cable TV Service
26. FCC Says T-Mobile Can’t Hide Throttled Data Speeds
27. Op/Ed: The Universal Internet - Obama’s Plan for Net Neutrality Makes Perfect Sense
28. If Email is Dead, Why So Many New Email Products?
29. Red Sox Delete Ill-Timed Tweet after Ferguson Announcement
30. Three-Quarters of Americans Don’t Know This Basic Fact about the Internet
31. Congressman Hastings to Forgo $53,000 Annual Pension upon Retirement
32. Flood Watch for Mason County - More Rain Forecast for Thanksgiving in Washington State
33. Flooding Triggers Evacuations at Mount Rainier National Park
34. 2014 General Election Results Certified
35. Worker Compensation Rates to Go Up .8% in ‘15, Smaller than Originally Predicted
36. This Government Rule Could Cripple Commercial Drone Flight
37. Oregon’s U-S Senators Don’t Like Where the FAA is Headed on Drones
38. Richard Sherman Lampoons NFL Hypocrisy with Two-Minute Skit at His Presser

WORD OF THE DAY

Abulia • \ay-BOO-lee-uh\ • noun: abnormal lack of ability to act or to make decisions

After two hours of asking, the server concluded that Bartholomew’s inability to choose between fish or chicken could be marked down to his apparent abulia. She quickly decided to never again to return to his table.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Cowlitz PUD’s McMaster Expecting Up to 5 Percent Rise in Rate Next Year (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/cowlitz-pud-s-mcmaster-expecting-up-to-percent-rise-in/article_d7444474-7511-11e4-819b-0701ec8612f4.html

Washington State Panel OKs’ Avista Plan to Hike Rates January 1 (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/nov/26/panel-oks-avista-plan-to-hike-rates/

Jefferson PUD Raises Discount for Low-Income Seniors, Disabled to $20 a Month (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

http://www.ptleader.com/news/pud-raises-discount-for-low-income-seniors-disabled-to-a/article_d339d232-750b-11e4-a73c-87b90da34b08.html

The Triple Bottom Line on PGE’s First-Ever Sustainability Report (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2014/11/the-triple-bottom-line-on-pges-first-ever.html

Canada: Geothermal Alternatives to Peace River Dam Are More Cost Effective: Industry Group (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/geothermal-alternatives-for-site-c-are-more-cost-effective-industry-group/article21784675/?cmpid=rss1

San Francisco Supervisors Give City’s Power Utility a Big Boost (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/S-F-supervisors-give-city-s-power-utility-a-5918287.php

Will Santa Fe Be the Next City to Municipalize Its Electric Utility? (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/will-santa-fe-be-the-next-city-to-municipalize-its-electric-utility/337072/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Feds: Pacific Northwest Ratepayer Spending on Salmon Paying Off “…BPA power customers…paid $682 million last year to support fish & wildlife programs, accounting for about one-third of the power marketer’s wholesale rates…” (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/editors-pick/feds-nw-ratepayer-spending-on-salmon-paying-off/75724

Op/Ed: Columbia River Basin Conference Shows Support for Salmon Return (Trail Daily Times, BC)

http://www.bclocalnews.com/opinion/283856781.html

Oregon: Someone Shooting Seagulls with Blow Darts (KOIN TV, Portland, OR)

http://koin.com/2014/11/24/odfw-someone-shooting-seagulls-with-blow-darts/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Lawsuit Filed to Stop Snake River Dredging (Associated Press)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2014/11/25/3279181/lawsuit-filed-to-stop-dredging.html

Klamath Water Agreement Headed to U-S Senate (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2014/11/klamath-water-agreement-headed-to-u-s-senate.html

EPA to Introduce Broad New Ozone Regulations (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/epa-to-introduce-broad-new-ozone-regulations/337586/

U-S Supreme Court to Hear Challenge to Rules on Mercury from Power Plants (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/11/26/us/politics/supreme-court-to-hear-case-on-costs-of-clean-air-act.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

‘A Big Milestone:’ Carlsborg Sewer Pact Approved (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20141126/news/311269992/-8216-a-big-milestone-8217-carlsborg-sewer-pact-approved

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Distributed Generation: Is Your Co-op Prepared? (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/industry/trends-reports-analyses/distributed-generation-for-electric-op-ops-becoming-reality/75244

Florida: Regulators Vote to End Solar Panel Rebates in 2015 (South Florida Business Journal

http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/blog/morning-edition/2014/11/regulators-vote-to-end-solar-panel-rebates-in-2015.html

Solar Energy’s Popularity Increases as Rooftop Panels Get Less Expensive (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2014/11/26/366729911/solar-energy-s-popularity-increases-as-rooftop-panels-get-less-expensive

New York: Fort Drum Goes Wood Powered In a Push for Renewable Energy (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Making-a-difference/Change-Agent/2014/1126/Fort-Drum-goes-wood-powered-in-a-push-for-renewable-energy

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

These Weed Snobs Show Why Pot Can Be Just as Snooty as Wine (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/these-weed-snobs-show-why-pot-can-be-just-snooty-wine-161674

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Robot Discovers That Antarctic Ice is Thicker than Thought (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2014/1124/Robot-discovers-that-Antarctic-ice-is-thicker-than-we-thought-video

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

The Newest Benefits Perk: Cheap Solar Power for Your Home (Grist Online)

http://grist.org/climate-energy/the-newest-benefits-perk-cheap-solar-power-for-your-home/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Quincy Data Center Announces 4.5 Megawatts of New Capacity (Columbia Basin Bulletin, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/business/article_8065cc82-7420-11e4-8742-e3a700422efe.html

Comcast Could Be Using Router in Your Home as Public Hot Spot (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.kgw.com/story/money/consumer/2014/11/25/comcast-could-be-using-router-in-your-home-as-public-hot-spot/70061170/

Google Fiber Raises Prices for Cable TV Service (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2014/11/google_fibers_cable_tv_service.html

FCC Says T-Mobile Can’t Hide Throttled Data Speeds (Ars Technica)

http://arstechnica.com/business/2014/11/t-mobile-forced-to-stop-hiding-slow-speeds-from-throttled-customers/

Op/Ed: The Universal Internet - Obama’s Plan for Net Neutrality Makes Perfect Sense (U-S News & World Report)

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/economic-intelligence/2014/11/21/obamas-net-neutrality-plan-is-the-right-one

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

If Email is Dead, Why So Many New Email Products? (GigaOM)

https://gigaom.com/2014/11/26/if-email-is-dead-why-so-many-new-email-products/

Red Sox Delete Ill-Timed Tweet after Ferguson Announcement (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/nation-world/ci_27009316/red-sox-delete-ill-timed-tweet-after-ferguson

Three-Quarters of Americans Don’t Know This Basic Fact about the Internet (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/11/25/three-quarters-of-americans-dont-know-this-basic-fact-about-the-internet/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Congressman Hastings to Forgo $53,000 Annual Pension upon Retirement (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2014/11/25/3279281_a-130500-pension-some-in-congress.html?rh=1

GENERAL NEWS

Flood Watch for Mason County - More Rain Forecast for Thanksgiving in Washington State (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/174/2654026/More-rain-forecast-for-Thanksgiving-in-Washington

Flooding Triggers Evacuations at Mount Rainier National Park (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Flooding-triggers-evacuations-at-Mt-Rainier-Natl-Park-283873271.html

2014 General Election Results Certified (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.kmasnewsradio.com/news/local-state-news/20044-2014-general-election-results-uncertified-2

Worker Compensation Rates to Go Up .8% in ‘15, Smaller than Originally Predicted (Washington State Wire, Olympia, WA)

http://washingtonstatewire.com/blog/worker-comp-rates-go-8-15-smaller-originally-predicted/

This Government Rule Could Cripple Commercial Drone Flight (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/11/25/this-government-rule-could-cripple-commercial-drone-flight/

Oregon’s U-S Senators Don’t Like Where the FAA is Headed on Drones (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/11/25/senators-dont-like-where-the-faas-headed-on-drones/

Richard Sherman Lampoons NFL Hypocrisy with Two-Minute Skit at His Presser (SB*Nation)

http://www.sbnation.com/nfl/2014/11/25/7287009/richard-sherman-press-conference-marshawn-lynch-fine-doug-baldwin-cutout

DIVERSIONS

W+K Made a Giant, Amazing Cuckoo Clock Out of an Oregon Maple for Portland Tourism

http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/wk-made-giant-amazing-cuckoo-clock-out-oregon-maple-portland-tourism-161663

Pennsylvania City’s Residents Asking Why Their Town Smells Like Cat Urine

http://news.yahoo.com/residents-asking-why-city-smells-cat-urine-160630646.html

Heirloom Ring Flushed; Sewer Workers Retrieve It

http://news.yahoo.com/heirloom-ring-flushed-sewer-workers-retrieve-230903459.html

Exit Sign on Los Angeles’ 710 Freeway Misspells Olympic Boulevard as 'Olimpic'

http://www.latimes.com/local/california/la-me-sign-spelling-20141125-story.html

SONG OF THE DAY

The Outsiders - Time Won't Let Me

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

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 November 25, 2014

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for November 25, 2014

http://tinyurl.com/mpffgqf

Hydrologic Outlook - Heavy Rain in the Olympics This Week Could Cause Some Rivers to Flood (National Weather Service, Seattle)

http://tinyurl.com/mr49zbb

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST TWITTER FEED

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

http://twitter.com/energydigest

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Wanapum Reservoir Raising Could Happen as Soon as This Weekend (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/article_f10ab300-7112-11e4-8145-0bb7c10cfb22.html

Mason PUD 3 Adopts $63.7 Million 2015 Budget – Higher Wholesale Energy Prices Affect Local Rates (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=1451

Pacific Northwest Public Utilities, Bonneville Power Administration Top Five-Year Energy Savings Target (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2014/11/northwest-public-utilities-bonneville.html

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Weighs Government Pollution of Klamath River Tributary (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2014/11/24/9th-weighs-govt-pollution-of-klamath-river-tributary.htm

Heavy Precipitation, Flooding, & a Cascade Meltdown - Yes, a typical Thanksgiving in the Pacific Northwest (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2014/11/heavy-precipitation-flooding-and.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1. Wanapum Reservoir Raising Could Happen as Soon as This Weekend
2. Mason PUD 3 Adopts $63.7 Million 2015 Budget – Higher Wholesale Energy Prices Affect Local Rates
3. Nattering Nuclear Nabobs of Negativism - Why Do They Listen to Alvarez?
4. Editorial: Avista Offer of Spokane Site a Big Break for Science Center
5. Alaska: Gunshots Hit Golden Valley Electric Association’s Ester Dome Microwave Tower
6. Pacific Gas & Electric Hit for $10.8 Million over Carmel Blast
7. FERC Approves Fourth Settlement in 2011 Southwest Blackout Case
8. FERC Approves Merger between Exelon & Pepco Holdings
9. NERC Report Says Prolonged Cold Weather Events May Cause Increase in Generator Unavailability
10. Once Nearly Extinct, Idaho Sockeye Regaining Fitness Advantage
11. Record Number of Coho Salmon Returning to Cowlitz River
12. Where Fish Go to Die
13. Prison Inmates Enlisted to Restore Threatened Species
14. Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Weighs Government Pollution of Klamath River Tributary
15. John Briscoe, a Water-Resource Expert Who Championed Dams, Dies at 66
16. Montana: Electrical Co-Ops Want Affordable Renewable Energy
17. Conservative Group Targets GOP Members in Ads against Wind Energy Credit
18. Pacific Northwest Public Utilities, Bonneville Power Administration Top Five-Year Energy Savings Target
19. The Connected Water Heater: The Next Energy Saver in the Home?
20. Vermont Goes Energy Efficient for This Season’s Snowmaking
21. Third Washington State City, Kennewick, Gets Court OK to Ban Marijuana Sales
22. Clarkston Bans Marijuana Sales in City Limits
23. Activists Make Push for Legalization of Marijuana in Idaho
24. Americans Would Rather Adapt to Extreme Weather than Curb Climate Change
25. Editorial: Net Neutrality is Essential
26. Why Mark Cuban Opposes Net Neutrality: ‘I Want There to be Fast Lanes’
27. Consumer Reports: How You Can Avoid Wi-Fi Dead Spots at Home
28. Google Fiber Pricing Unveiled for Austin
29. Twitter’s CFO Suffers a Social Media Faux Pas
30. Crisis Communications: What Leaders Need to Know
31. News Sites Top List of Slowest-Loading Web Pages
32. Could You Do Your Job Without a Smartphone or a Tablet? Or the Web?
33. EPA: Lawmakers Target Management Woes in Behind-The-Scenes Probes
34. Heavy Precipitation, Flooding, & a Cascade Meltdown - Yes, a typical Thanksgiving in the Pacific Northwest
35. East Coast Storm to Snarl Thanksgiving Plans on Year’s Busiest Travel Day
36. North Cascades, Chinook, Cayuse Passes Closed
37. Ferguson Fallout: Protesters Confront Police in Seattle, Force Brief Closure of I-5

WORD OF THE DAY

Pelagic • \puh-LAJ-jick\ • Adjective - Of, relating to, or living or occurring in the open sea: oceanic.

Pelagic journey

Noah on the open sea

Seasick beasts; oh my!

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Wanapum Reservoir Raising Could Happen as Soon as This Weekend (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/article_f10ab300-7112-11e4-8145-0bb7c10cfb22.html

Mason PUD 3 Adopts $63.7 Million 2015 Budget – Higher Wholesale Energy Prices Affect Local Rates (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=1451

Nattering Nuclear Nabobs of Negativism - Why Do They Listen to Alvarez? (Northwest Clean Energy)

http://northwestcleanenergy.wordpress.com/2014/11/20/why-do-they-listen-to-alvarez/

Editorial: Avista Offer of Spokane Site a Big Break for Science Center (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/nov/21/editorial-avista-offer-of-site-a-big-break-for/

Alaska: Gunshots Hit Golden Valley Electric Association’s Ester Dome Microwave Tower (Anchorage News Miner, AK)

http://www.newsminer.com/news/local_news/gunshots-hit-ester-dome-microwave-tower/article_bc8c9bc4-746f-11e4-bf92-7b172a9a8c69.html

Pacific Gas & Electric Hit for $10.8 Million over Carmel Blast (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/crime-courts/ci_27003395/pg-e-hit-10-8-million-over-carmel

FERC Approves Fourth Settlement in 2011 Southwest Blackout Case (Federal Energy Regulatory Commission)

http://www.ferc.gov/media/news-releases/2014/2014-4/11-24-14.asp#.VHPWYfnF98E

FERC Approves Merger between Exelon & Pepco Holdings (American Public Power Association)

http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppd/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=296882&issueID=34993

NERC Report Says Prolonged Cold Weather Events May Cause Increase in Generator Unavailability (American Public Power Association)

http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppd/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=297039&issueID=34993

FISH & WILDLIFE

Once Nearly Extinct, Idaho Sockeye Regaining Fitness Advantage (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/Once-nearly-extinct-Idaho-sockeye-regaining-fitness-advantage.aspx

Record Number of Coho Salmon Returning to Cowlitz River (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/2014/11/21/coho-record-salmon-cowlitz-lewis-tacoma-power/19370431/

Where Fish Go to Die - Native American tribes do important work during salmon spawning season (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

http://registerguard.com/rg/sports/outdoors/32451279-80/where-fish-go-to-die.html.csp#

Prison Inmates Enlisted to Restore Threatened Species (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/prison-inmates-enlisted-restore-threatened-species

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals Weighs Government Pollution of Klamath River Tributary (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2014/11/24/9th-weighs-govt-pollution-of-klamath-river-tributary.htm

John Briscoe, a Water-Resource Expert Who Championed Dams, Dies at 66 (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/obituaries/john-briscoe-a-water-resource-expert-who-championed-dams-dies-at-66/2014/11/17/9742079c-6e74-11e4-ad12-3734c461eab6_story.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Montana: Electrical Co-Ops Want Affordable Renewable Energy (Hungry Horse News, Columbia Falls, MT)

http://www.flatheadnewsgroup.com/hungryhorsenews/electrical-co-ops-want-affordable-renewable-energy/article_73e540c6-7440-11e4-b25a-3f611d5ea280.html

Conservative Group Targets GOP Members in Ads against Wind Energy Credit (The Hill, Washington, DC)

http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/225202-conservative-group-targets-gop-members-in-ads-against-wind-energy

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Pacific Northwest Public Utilities, Bonneville Power Administration Top Five-Year Energy Savings Target (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2014/11/northwest-public-utilities-bonneville.html

The Connected Water Heater: The Next Energy Saver in the Home? (GigaOM)

http://research.gigaom.com/2014/11/the-connected-water-heater-the-next-energy-saver-in-the-home/

Vermont Goes Energy Efficient for This Season’s Snowmaking (Mashable)

http://mashable.com/2014/11/24/best-snowmaking-vermont/

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Third Washington State City, Kennewick, Gets Court OK to Ban Marijuana Sales (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/morning_call/2014/11/third-washington-city-gets-court-ok-to-ban.html

Clarkston Bans Marijuana Sales in City Limits (KXLY-TV, Spokane, WA)

http://www.kxly.com/news/spokane-news/clarkston-bans-marijuana-sales-in-city-limits/29916378

Activists Make Push for Legalization of Marijuana in Idaho (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2014/11/25/3506684_activists-make-push-for-legal.html?rh=1

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Americans Would Rather Adapt to Extreme Weather than Curb Climate Change (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2014/1124/Americans-would-rather-adapt-to-extreme-weather-than-curb-climate-change

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Editorial: Net Neutrality is Essential (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/opinion/editorials/2648267-8/net-neutrality-is-essential

Why Mark Cuban Opposes Net Neutrality: ‘I Want There to be Fast Lanes’ (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/11/24/why-mark-cuban-opposes-net-neutrality-i-want-there-to-be-fast-lanes/

Consumer Reports: How You Can Avoid Wi-Fi Dead Spots at Home (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.keprtv.com/Consumer-Reports-How-you-can-avoid-Wi-Fi-dead-spots-at-home-283763841.html

Google Fiber Pricing Unveiled for Austin (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Google-Fiber-Pricing-Unveiled-for-Austin-131489

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Twitter’s CFO Suffers a Social Media Faux Pas (NY Times)

http://dealbook.nytimes.com/2014/11/24/twitters-c-f-o-suffers-a-social-media-faux-pas/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Crisis Communications: What Leaders Need to Know (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/shelliekarabell/2014/11/24/crisis-communications-what-leaders-need-to-know/?ss=energy

News Sites Top List of Slowest-Loading Web Pages - Ads may not appear before users move on (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/news-sites-top-list-slowest-loading-web-pages-161619

Could You Do Your Job Without a Smartphone or a Tablet? Or the Web? (GigaOM)

http://research.gigaom.com/2014/11/could-you-do-your-job-without-a-smartphone-or-a-tablet-or-the-web/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

EPA: Lawmakers Target Management Woes in Behind-The-Scenes Probes (EE News)

http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060009495

GENERAL NEWS

Heavy Precipitation, Flooding, & a Cascade Meltdown - Yes, a typical Thanksgiving in the Pacific Northwest (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2014/11/heavy-precipitation-flooding-and.html

East Coast Storm to Snarl Thanksgiving Plans on Year’s Busiest Travel Day (Mashable)

http://mashable.com/2014/11/24/thanksgiving-travel-problems/

North Cascades, Chinook, Cayuse Passes Closed (Associated Press)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/latestlocalnews/2688405-8/north-cascades-chinook-cayuse-passes-closed

Ferguson Fallout: Protesters Confront Police in Seattle, Force Brief Closure of I-5 (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Dozens-rally-at-Seattles-Westlake-Park-in-wake-of-Ferguson-decision-283782151.html

DIVERSIONS

There’s a Mysterious Field of Electrical Energy Outside Google’s Office in London

http://www.businessinsider.com/mysterious-field-of-static-electrical-energy-at-google-in-london-2014-11

Tourist Fined $25,000 For Carving Initial on Rome’s Coliseum

http://www.theguardian.com/world/2014/nov/23/tourist-fined-carving-initial-rome-colosseum

‘Casablanca’ Piano Sells for $3.4 Million - Wizard of Oz Lion Costume Sells for $3 Million

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30183262

In Seattle, Tofu Turkeys Get Thanksgiving Pardons

http://news.yahoo.com/seattle-tofu-turkeys-thanksgiving-pardons-182959290.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Bert Lahr - If I Were King of the Forest (Wizard of Oz)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ak3J5DayiCk

Diana Krall - As Times Goes By

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=L6OJFzXPlnE

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.