Thursday, January 15, 2015

Energy News Digest for January 15, 2015 – The Hot Shots Edition

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for January 15, 2015

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:

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP STORIES

Editorial: Getting Government Into the Broadband Internet Business (NY Times)

Bitcoin Crash Could Take Toll on Data Center Providers (GigaOM)

Obama Targets Methane. What Is It? Why Does It Matter? (Christian Science Monitor)

Canada: Medical Marijuana Dispensaries Spread Like Weeds in Vancouver, BC (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

Salt River Project Will Light the Super Bowl with Wind Energy for Free (Phoenix Business Journal, AZ)

Legion of (Economic) Boom: Downtown Seattle to Get $6 Million Boost from Seahawks Playoff Games (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

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.

Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Energy News Digest for January 14, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for January 14, 2015

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:

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

The Switchboard: Obama Urges End of State Laws Limiting Municipal Broadband (Washington Post)

Washington State Gov. Inslee Says Fund Education, Transportation, Clean Energy (Associated Press)

JD Power: Electric Utilities Achieve Highest Level of Business Customer Satisfaction since 2009 (Yahoo! Finance)

Turning Waste into Energy in Oregon: City of Gresham Wastewater Treatment Plant (Renewable Energy World)

Marijuana Listening Tour: Oregon Liquor Control Commission Announces Two Stops in Eastern Oregon (Oregonian, Portland)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  1. JD Power: Electric Utilities Achieve Highest Level of Business Customer Satisfaction since 2009
  2. Alaska: Falling Oil Prices Lead to 12 Percent Power Rate Drop in Interior
  3. Feds Seek to Bring Nuclear Waste to Idaho for Research
  4. Benton PUD Expands Its Low Income Discount to More Seniors
  5. Public Power Council Elects Officers & Board Members for 2015-2016
  6. Montana: Columbia Falls Aluminum – Who Are the Responsible Parties?
  7. New NRC Chair to Focus on Safety, Commission Structure
  8. FERC Pushes Utilities to Adopt Protection Standards for Both Cyber & Physical Security
  9. Will a Takeover of Hawaiian Electric Bring Relief from the Nation’s Highest Electricity Prices?
  10. Winter Rations Prompt Coal Use in Hydropower-Rich Tajikistan
  11. Enormous Rainbow Trout Caught in Idaho
  12. White House Environmental Adviser to Resign
  13. Turning Waste into Energy in Oregon: City of Gresham Wastewater Treatment Plant
  14. Net Metering for Rooftop Solar: How to Fix the Problems
  15. Reverse Net-Metering? California Penalizes Certain Types of Energy Efficiency
  16. Cheap Solar Power Emerging From Mineral Named for Russian Count
  17. Nova Scotia Power Biomass Project in Cape Breton Raising Green Concerns
  18. Marijuana Listening Tour: Oregon Liquor Control Commission Announces Two Stops in Eastern Oregon
  19. Washington State Municipals that Block Cannabis Should be Blocked from Revenue Sharing. Fair is Fair
  20. Maligned & Banned: The American Comeback of Industrial Hemp
  21. Complications Abound for Hemp Farming in Pacific Northwest
  22. The Greenest Governor in the Country Tells Grist about His Big Washington State Climate Plan
  23. Former Mayor Sam Adams to Leave Portland for D-C Climate Job
  24. The Switchboard: Obama Urges End of State Laws Limiting Municipal Broadband
  25. Obama Wants to Help Make Your Internet Faster & Cheaper. This is His Plan: Public Broadband
  26. Obama Aims to Unleash Broadband Boost
  27. Eugene Church Offers to Scrap Cell Tower for $750,000
  28. Cloud Company Basho Says Goodbye to Boston, Shifts Headquarters to Bellevue
  29. Cable: Google Doesn’t Need Title II for Pole Access
  30. Facebook Ad Clicks Are Shifting to Mobile, so Why Aren’t Conversions?
  31. Nissan’s Reddit “Ask Me Anything” Went Horribly Wrong – PR Plants?
  32. It’s Official: ESPN Scored Cable’s Highest Ratings Ever with College Football Championship
  33. Coke & Pepsi Shrink Their Can Sizes
  34. Washington State Gov. Inslee Says Fund Education, Transportation, Clean Energy
  35. Washington State Senate’s 2/3rds Rule Could Doom New Taxes, Inslee Carbon Plan
  36. Testifying to Lawmakers in Olympia May Get Easier with Remote Testimonies
  37. Rep. Dan Griffey Discusses First Week as New Legislator on KMAS Radio, Shelton
  38. Op/Ed: Dan Evans & the Efficacy of Bipartisanship
  39. China Joins Nations Banning U-S Poultry & Eggs after Benton County Avian Influenza Outbreak
  40. WSDOT Comes Under Fire for Report Warning of ‘Catastrophic Failure’ with Bertha Repair Pit
  41. Thurston County Approves Emergency Jail Repairs
  42. OPEC Won’t Cut Production Despite Plummeting Oil Prices
WORD OF THE DAY

Longueur • \lawn-GURR \ • Noun - A dull & tedious passage or section (as of a book, play, or musical composition) — usually used in plural.

Cool story about coded messages to the French Underground in Woirld War II prior to the Normandy invasions on D-Day:

In preparation for Operation Overlord, the BBC had signaled to the French Resistance that the opening lines of the 1866 Verlaine poem “Chanson d’Automne” were to indicate the start of D-Day operations. The first three lines of the poem, Long sobs of autumn violins, meant that Operation Overlord was to start within two weeks. These lines were broadcast on 1 June 1944. The next set of lines, wound my heart with a monotonous languor, meant that it would start within 48 hours & that the resistance should begin sabotage operations especially on the French railroad system; these lines were broadcast on 5 June at 23:15.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

JD Power: Electric Utilities Achieve Highest Level of Business Customer Satisfaction since 2009 (Yahoo! Finance)

Alaska: Falling Oil Prices Lead to 12 Percent Power Rate Drop in Interior (Alaska Dispatch)

Feds Seek to Bring Nuclear Waste to Idaho for Research (Associated Press)

Benton PUD Expands Its Low Income Discount to More Seniors (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Public Power Council Elects Officers & Board Members for 2015-2016 (Public Power Council)

Montana: Columbia Falls Aluminum – Who Are the Responsible Parties? (Hungry Horse News, MT)

New NRC Chair to Focus on Safety, Commission Structure (Utility Dive)

FERC Pushes Utilities to Adopt Protection Standards for Both Cyber & Physical Security (Breaking Energy)

Will a Takeover of Hawaiian Electric Bring Relief from the Nation’s Highest Electricity Prices? (Forbes Magazine)

Winter Rations Prompt Coal Use in Hydropower-Rich Tajikistan (National Geographic Magazine)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Enormous Rainbow Trout Caught in Idaho (KGW TV, Portland, OR)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

White House Environmental Adviser to Resign (National Journal)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Turning Waste into Energy in Oregon: City of Gresham Wastewater Treatment Plant (Renewable Energy World)

Net Metering for Rooftop Solar: How to Fix the Problems (The Energy Collective)

Reverse Net-Metering? California Penalizes Certain Types of Energy Efficiency (Forbes Magazine)

Cheap Solar Power Emerging From Mineral Named for Russian Count (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

Nova Scotia Power Biomass Project in Cape Breton Raising Green Concerns (Halifax Citizen, Canada)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Marijuana Listening Tour: Oregon Liquor Control Commission Announces Two Stops in Eastern Oregon (Oregonian, Portland)

Washington State Municipals that Block Cannabis Should be Blocked from Revenue Sharing. Fair is Fair (Washington State Wire, Olympia, WA)

Maligned & Banned: The American Comeback of Industrial Hemp (SF Chronicle, CA)

Complications Abound for Hemp Farming in Pacific Northwest (Northwest Public Radio)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

The Greenest Governor in the Country Tells Grist about His Big Washington State Climate Plan (Grist Online)

Former Mayor Sam Adams to Leave Portland for D-C Climate Job (Portland Business Journal, OR)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

The Switchboard: Obama Urges End of State Laws Limiting Municipal Broadband (Washington Post)

Obama Wants to Help Make Your Internet Faster & Cheaper. This is His Plan: Public Broadband (Washington Post)

Obama Aims to Unleash Broadband Boost (Politico)

Eugene Church Offers to Scrap Cell Tower for $750,000 (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

Cloud Company Basho Says Goodbye to Boston, Shifts Headquarters to Bellevue (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

Cable: Google Doesn’t Need Title II for Pole Access (Broadband Reports)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook Ad Clicks Are Shifting to Mobile, so Why Aren’t Conversions? (AdWeek)

Nissan’s Reddit “Ask Me Anything” Went Horribly Wrong – PR Plants? (Mashable)

It’s Official: ESPN Scored Cable’s Highest Ratings Ever with College Football Championship (AdWeek)

Coke & Pepsi Shrink Their Can Sizes (Associated Press)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Gov. Inslee Says Fund Education, Transportation, Clean Energy (Associated Press)

Washington State Senate’s 2/3rds Rule Could Doom New Taxes, Inslee Carbon Plan (Crosscut Seattle)

Testifying to Lawmakers in Olympia May Get Easier with Remote Testimonies (KNDU/KNDO , Tri-Cities, WA)

Rep. Dan Griffey Discusses First Week as New Legislator on KMAS Radio, Shelton (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Op/Ed: Dan Evans & the Efficacy of Bipartisanship (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

GENERAL NEWS

China Joins Nations Banning U-S Poultry & Eggs after Benton County Avian Influenza Outbreak (Tri-City Herald, WA)

WSDOT Comes Under Fire for Report Warning of ‘Catastrophic Failure’ with Bertha Repair Pit (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

Thurston County Approves Emergency Jail Repairs (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

OPEC Won’t Cut Production Despite Plummeting Oil Prices (Associated Press)

DIVERSIONS

NY Times: 52 Places to Go in 2015 – Hey Look, Bend Oregon is on this List

Man Caught at Chinese Customs Wearing 94 iPhones as Long Underwear

Sir Patrick Stewart Perfectly Demonstrates the Most Annoying People on Planes

National Dress Your Pet Day: ‘It’s Important That They be Comfortable’

SONG OF THE DAY

Victor Young - Around the World in 80 Days, Soundtrack Suite

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.

Tuesday, January 13, 2015

Energy News Digest for January 13, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for January 13, 2015

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:

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

California: Public Utilities Commission Email Scandal Widens to Involve Southern Cal Edison, San Onofre Closure (Utility Dive)

Free Wi-Fi now available in downtown Bainbridge Island – Kitsap PUD Partnership (Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal, WA)

One More Try: A Renewed Push to Pass Klamath Agreements (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

How Four Brands (and Bob Newhart) Made the Most of College Football’s First Playoff Championship (AdWeek)

Washington State Senate Republicans Bring Back Eyman-Style “Super Majority” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  1. California: Public Utilities Commission Email Scandal Widens to Involve Southern Cal Edison, San Onofre Closure
  2. Oregon Transportation Commission Chair Says the Governor Fired Her for Rejecting Coal Subsidy
  3. Public’s Power – 80 People Attend Two Open Houses on Idaho Power’s Proposed Boardman to Hemingway Power Line
  4. Minnesota: After Clash over Power Lines, Organic Dairy Cedar Summit Farm Closes
  5. Energy Information Administration: Wholesale Power Prices Rose across the Nation in 2014
  6. FERC Conferences to Address Impact of EPA’s Clean Power Plan on Electricity Reliability & Markets
  7. OSHA Extends Delay in Enforcement for Certain Parts of Its Big New Safety Rule
  8. Texas: Firefighters Warn Against Makeshift Power Sources
  9. American Public Power Association’s Policy Makers Council Advocates on Top Priorities for Public Power
  10. One More Try: A Renewed Push to Pass Klamath Agreements
  11. Washington State Department of Ecology Releases ‘Fish Consumption’ Rule
  12. Op/Ed: Wind Energy Hits Headwinds
  13. Americans Like Alternative Energy But Don’t Understand Costs, Survey Finds “…the caution is that if you inform them, you’re going to get lower support…”
  14. Dynamic Tidal Power Technology Advances
  15. Pasco Saves Big from “Energy Star” Schools
  16. Environment, Not Cash, Encourages L.A. Residents to Save Electricity
  17. Cree Sees How Many Suits It Takes to Block Rival LED Lightbulbs
  18. Chart of the Week: The Challenging Banking Climate for Marijuana Businesses
  19. No Smoke, but Haze around E-Joint
  20. Seven Unbelievable Things You Could Buy with Colorado’s Weed Tax Revenue
  21. Energy Department Project Captures & Stores One Million Metric Tons of Carbon
  22. Car Charging Stations Go Unused in Cowlitz County
  23. Free Wi-Fi now available in downtown Bainbridge Island – Kitsap PUD Partnership
  24. Anti-Municipal Broadband Bill Teed Up In Missouri
  25. This Year’s Y2K? ‘Leap Second’ Threatens to Break the Internet
  26. How Four Brands (and Bob Newhart) Made the Most of College Football’s First Playoff Championship
  27. McDonald’s New ‘Signs’ Ad Draw Strong Reactions, Good & Bad
  28. Facebook Will Now Include AMBER Alerts in the News Feed
  29. Stop Putting Your Email Address in Your Email Signature
  30. Washington State Senate Republicans Bring Back Eyman-Style “Super Majority”
  31. Washington Senate Opens with Democratic Insurgency – Roach Wins Senate President Pro-Tem over Sheldon
  32. U-S Rep. Kilmer Cops a Coveted House Appropriations Committee Seat
  33. Patient Walks Away From Staff at Mason General Hospital, Found in Canyon Nearby
  34. Teen Driver Admits to Smoking Marijuana before Kitsap County Crash Killing 3
  35. The Night It All Ended: Oregon Ducks’ Resiliency Runs out in Title Game Loss to Ohio State
  36. Police Deploy Pepper Spray, Gas to Disperse Ohio Football Fans
WORD OF THE DAY

Ichthyomania • \ick-thee-oh-MANE-ee-yah/ • An excessive fascination with fish.

Ichthyomancy 1. Divination by means of the heads or entrails of fishes. 2. Divination by examining the heads and/or entrails of fish for prophetic signs or processing the next fish caught.

Bradford was in heaven. As a rabid ichtyomnaniac, working in the fish processing plant let him play with his semi-frozen charges as if they were ventriloquist dummies. Hi Folks! He would exclaim while working the little fish mouths at lunch. It was when he started using ichthyomancy in an attempt to predict the annual salmon runs in the Columbia River that his co-workers started to avoid him like week-old chum.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

California: Public Utilities Commission Email Scandal Widens to Involve Southern Cal Edison, San Onofre Closure (Utility Dive)

Oregon Transportation Commission Chair Says the Governor Fired Her for Rejecting Coal Subsidy (Oregonian, Portland)

Public’s Power – 80 People Attend Two Open Houses on Idaho Power’s Proposed Boardman to Hemingway Power Line (Baker City Herald, OR)

Minnesota: After Clash over Power Lines, Organic Dairy Cedar Summit Farm Closes (Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal, MN)

Energy Information Administration: Wholesale Power Prices Rose across the Nation in 2014 (Utility Dive)

FERC Conferences to Address Impact of EPA’s Clean Power Plan on Electricity Reliability & Markets (National Law Review)

OSHA Extends Delay in Enforcement for Certain Parts of Its Big New Safety Rule (American Public Power Association)

Texas: Firefighters Warn Against Makeshift Power Sources (KRGV-TV, Rio Grande Valley, TX)

American Public Power Association’s Policy Makers Council Advocates on Top Priorities for Public Power (American Public Power Association)

FISH & WILDLIFE

One More Try: A Renewed Push to Pass Klamath Agreements (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Washington State Department of Ecology Releases ‘Fish Consumption’ Rule (South Sound Business Journal, WA)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Op/Ed: Wind Energy Hits Headwinds (Washington Post)

Americans Like Alternative Energy But Don’t Understand Costs, Survey Finds “…the caution is that if you inform them, you’re going to get lower support…” (Columbus Business First, OH)

Dynamic Tidal Power Technology Advances (Renewable Energy World)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Pasco Saves Big from “Energy Star” Schools (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

Environment, Not Cash, Encourages L.A. Residents to Save Electricity (Los Angeles Times, CA)

Cree Sees How Many Suits It Takes to Block Rival LED Lightbulbs (Bloomberg News)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Chart of the Week: The Challenging Banking Climate for Marijuana Businesses (Marijuana Business Daily)

No Smoke, but Haze around E-Joint (NY Times)

Seven Unbelievable Things You Could Buy with Colorado’s Weed Tax Revenue (Mashable)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Energy Department Project Captures & Stores One Million Metric Tons of Carbon (Breaking Energy)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Car Charging Stations Go Unused in Cowlitz County (Everett Herald, WA)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Free Wi-Fi now available in downtown Bainbridge Island – Kitsap PUD Partnership (Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal, WA)

Anti-Municipal Broadband Bill Teed Up In Missouri (Multi Channel News)

This Year’s Y2K? ‘Leap Second’ Threatens to Break the Internet (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

How Four Brands (and Bob Newhart) Made the Most of College Football’s First Playoff Championship (AdWeek)

McDonald’s New ‘Signs’ Ad Draw Strong Reactions, Good & Bad (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Facebook Will Now Include AMBER Alerts in the News Feed (Washington Post)

Stop Putting Your Email Address in Your Email Signature (Slate Magazine)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Senate Republicans Bring Back Eyman-Style “Super Majority” (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

Washington Senate Opens with Democratic Insurgency – Roach Wins Senate President Pro-Tem over Sheldon (Northwest Public Radio)

U-S Rep. Kilmer Cops a Coveted House Appropriations Committee Seat (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

Patient Walks Away From Staff at Mason General Hospital, Found in Nearby Canyon (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

Teen Driver Admits to Smoking Marijuana before Kitsap County Crash Killing Three (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

The Night It All Ended: Oregon Ducks’ Resiliency Runs out in Title Game Loss to Ohio State (Oregonian, Portland – so what’s the deal with the YELLOW confetti?)

Police Deploy Pepper Spray, Gas to Disperse Ohio Football Fans (Reuters)

DIVERSIONS

Local Politician’s Threat to Sue Maryland Newspaper Backfires – The Moral: Don’t argue with someone who buys their ink by the barrel!

Black Lab Likes to Take Solo Bus Ride to Her Dog Park Stop

Coin Dealer Pays Nearly $2.6 Million for Rare American Penny

Minnesotan Who Lived on Yacht, Collected Aid, Gets 21 Months in Prison

SONG OF THE DAY

The Clash - I Fought the Law

Bobby Fuller Four - I Fought the Law

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.

Monday, January 12, 2015

Energy News Digest for January 12, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for January 12, 2015

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:

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

2015 Legislative Session: Washington State Lawmakers Face Tough Tasks (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Yakima Basin Snowpack Levels About Half of Normal (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

Oil-Terminal Decision: How Green Is Our Governor? - Jay Inslee, champion of action on climate change, must decide whether to approve the nation’s largest oil-by-rail terminal (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Oregon: Lincoln County Moving to Gather Wind Energy Data – Could Lead to Coastal Wind Farm (News Lincoln County, Newport, OR)

Garbage Incinerators Make Comeback, Kindling Both Garbage & Debate (NY Times)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  1. Oil-Terminal Decision: How Green Is Our Governor?
  2. Bureau of Land Management Releases Draft Plan for Boardman-To-Hemingway Transmission Project
  3. LIHEAP Backers Set Sights on Fiscal Year 2016
  4. Op/Ed: Salmon Recovery – The Time to Act Is Now
  5. Exploratory Mining Permits near Mount St. Helens Invalidated; Threats to Salmon/Steelhead Cited
  6. Montana: Fish Virus Detected in Kootenai River
  7. Washington Agency Seeks Protection for Tufted Puffin – Names New Director
  8. U-S Supreme Court Leaves Water Delivery Restrictions in Place to Protect California Delta Smelt
  9. Yakima Basin Snowpack Levels About Half of Normal
  10. Feds Seek Public Comment on Snoqualmie Pass Reservoir Expansion
  11. Turning Poop into Clean Water
  12. Hateful Little Cannibal Squirrels Could Help California Drought
  13. Oregon: Lincoln County Moving to Gather Wind Energy Data
  14. Garbage Incinerators Make Comeback, Kindling Both Garbage & Debate
  15. Analysis Suggests Large-Scale Wave Energy in PNW Should Have Lower Integration Costs than Wind Power
  16. Massachusetts: Money from the Sun: Solar Developer Links Financing, Buyers
  17. Thurston Energy Launches New Energy Efficiency Rebate Offer for Five-County Region
  18. National Energy Efficiency Bill Will Be First Amendment on Keystone Legislation
  19. Electric Bill Shocker: How to Keep Yours Down
  20. General Electric Launching App-Connected Washers, Ranges
  21. The Marijuana Effect - It’s Been a Year Since Colorado Became the First State to Legalize Recreational Pot
  22. Touchdown! NFL Playoffs Could Boost Colorado, Washington State Rec Sales
  23. The Chevy Bolt Promises 200 Miles EV Range for $30,000
  24. Report: Utilities Must Plan Electric Car Future
  25. Will Electric Cars Short-Circuit? Some Fear Sales Will Falter as Gas Prices Continue to Decline
  26. Your BMW is the Answer to Grid Instability
  27. In Southern Oregon, a $200 Million Project to Turn Forestry Waste into Jet Fuel
  28. Virginia: Amazon Data Center Under Construction Catches Fire
  29. 40 Hours Later, Verizon Says Its Cloud is Back
  30. Seattle: Here Are the Top Cloud Computing Companies Here in Cloud City
  31. Obama Asks FCC to Regulate Internet as Utility, Backing Net Neutrality in Showdown with Telecom Giants
  32. U-S Internet Speeds Are Getting Better, But Still Lag Behind Global Elite
  33. Baig: Cord-Cutters Rejoice as Streaming TV Grows
  34. Study: 58% of All American Adults Are on Facebook
  35. Viral Power: Negative Social Media Bad for Business
  36. Get More Followers & Increase Engagement with These Seven Twitter Tips
  37. Dog Travels the Country, Poses for Majestic Portraits
  38. 2015 Legislative Session: Washington State Lawmakers Face Tough Tasks
  39. Gridlock or Compromise? Divided Washington State Legislature Set to Convene
  40. Map: How Much Each State Relies on the Federal Government for Revenue
  41. Sheriff: Three Teens Killed in Kitsap County Crash
  42. Police Say Gunman in Idaho Shooting Spree Had Multiple Weapons
  43. Increased Sustainable Forestry Initiative Standards Ban Chemicals, Require Native Plant, Wildlife Protections
  44. Beware: Phishing Scams Targeting Businesses
  45. Tickets for Seahawks-Green Bay NFC Championship Game Go on Sale Tuesday
  46. Ducks, Buckeyes Finally Play Today for True National Championship
WORD OF THE DAY

Ne Plus Ultra • \nay-plus-UL-truh\ • Noun - 1: the highest point capable of being attained: acme 2: the most profound degree of a quality or state.

It’s Ne Plus Ultra
No generic “Mac & Cheese”
“Kraft” macaroni!

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Oil-Terminal Decision: How Green Is Our Governor? - Jay Inslee, champion of action on climate change, must decide whether to approve the nation’s largest oil-by-rail terminal (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Bureau of Land Management Releases Draft Plan for Boardman-To-Hemingway Transmission Project (Utility Dive)

LIHEAP Backers Set Sights on Fiscal Year 2016 (Electric Co-op Today)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Op/Ed: Salmon Recovery – The Time to Act Is Now (North Kitsap Herald, WA)

Exploratory Mining Permits near Mount St. Helens Invalidated; Threats to Salmon/Steelhead Cited (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

Montana: Fish Virus Detected in Kootenai River (Flathead Beacon, Kalispell, MT)

Washington Agency Seeks Protection for Tufted Puffin – Names New Director (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

U-S Supreme Court Leaves Water Delivery Restrictions in Place to Protect California Delta Smelt (Associated Press)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Yakima Basin Snowpack Levels About Half of Normal (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

Feds Seek Public Comment on Snoqualmie Pass Reservoir Expansion (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

Turning Poop into Clean Water (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Hateful Little Cannibal Squirrels Could Help California Drought (Grist Online)

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Oregon: Lincoln County Moving to Gather Wind Energy Data – Could Lead to Coastal Wind Farm (News Lincoln County, Newport, OR)

Garbage Incinerators Make Comeback, Kindling Both Garbage & Debate (NY Times)

Analysis Suggests Large-Scale Wave Energy in PNW Should Have Lower Integration Costs than Wind Power (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

Massachusetts: Money from the Sun: Solar Developer Links Financing, Buyers (Worcester Telegram, MA)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Thurston Energy Launches New Energy Efficiency Rebate Offer for Five-County Region (Thurston Talks, Olympia, WA)

National Energy Efficiency Bill Will Be First Amendment on Keystone Legislation (Utility Dive)

Electric Bill Shocker: How to Keep Yours Down (Boston Globe, MA)

General Electric Launching App-Connected Washers, Ranges (Cincinnati Courier Journal, OH)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

The Marijuana Effect - It’s Been a Year Since Colorado Became the First State to Legalize Recreational Pot, Bill Whitaker Checks In (CBS News – 60 Minutes)

Touchdown! NFL Playoffs Could Boost Colorado, Washington State Rec Sales (Marijuana Business Daily)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

The Chevy Bolt Promises 200 Miles EV Range for $30,000 (Jalopnik)

Report: Utilities Must Plan Electric Car Future (Electric Co-op Today)

Will Electric Cars Short-Circuit? Some Fear Sales Will Falter as Gas Prices Continue to Decline (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Your BMW is the Answer to Grid Instability (The Energy Collective)

In Southern Oregon, a $200 Million Project to Turn Forestry Waste into Jet Fuel (Portland Business Journal, OR)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Virginia: Amazon Data Center Under Construction Catches Fire (Cable News Network)

40 Hours Later, Verizon Says Its Cloud is Back (GigaOM)

Seattle: Here Are the Top Cloud Computing Companies Here in Cloud City (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

Obama Asks FCC to Regulate Internet as Utility, Backing Net Neutrality in Showdown with Telecom Giants (GeekWire – See comments for info about Grant PUD)

U-S Internet Speeds Are Getting Better, But Still Lag Behind Global Elite (Consumerist)

Baig: Cord-Cutters Rejoice as Streaming TV Grows (USA Today)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Study: 58% of All American Adults Are on Facebook (Consumerist)

Viral Power: Negative Social Media Bad for Business (USA Today)

Get More Followers & Increase Engagement with These Seven Twitter Tips (Socialmediopolis)

Dog Travels the Country, Poses for Majestic Portraits (Mashable)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

2015 Legislative Session: Washington State Lawmakers Face Tough Tasks (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Gridlock or Compromise? Divided Washington State Legislature Set to Convene (Northwest Public Radio)

Map: How Much Each State Relies on the Federal Government for Revenue (Washington Post)

GENERAL NEWS

Sheriff: Three Teens Killed in Kitsap County Crash (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

Police Say Gunman in Idaho Shooting Spree Had Multiple Weapons (Reuters)

Increased Sustainable Forestry Initiative Standards Ban Chemicals, Require Native Plant, Wildlife Protections (Oregonian, Portland)

Beware: Phishing Scams Targeting Businesses (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Tickets for Seahawks-Green Bay NFC Championship Game Go on Sale Tuesday (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Ducks, Buckeyes Finally Play Today for True National Championship (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

DIVERSIONS

How the Oreo Was Invented

Seismologists See Activity for Chancellor’s Touchdown, Sherman’s Interception

911 Call: Family in Minivan Stuck under Semi, Towed 16 Miles

Swiss Clamp Down on Cross-Border Pizza Delivery

SONG OF THE DAY

Supertramp – Give a Little Bit

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.