Energy News Digest for January 27, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for January 27, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/nn9fotb

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

Nantucket without Power as Outages Hit Massachusetts (Boston Globe, MA)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/01/27/thousands-lose-power-storym/awXQFhWumraJI78tAJnEeN/story.html

Richland Eyes Electric Rate Increase (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/01/26/3379397_richland-eyes-electric-rate-increase.html?rh=1

Upper Columbia Tribes Seek To Restore River’s Salmon Runs (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/jan/27/upper-columbia-tribes-seek-to-restore-rivers/

In Contrast to California, Washington State Eyes Tougher, More Expensive Cap-and-Trade Program (Washington State Wire, Olympia, WA)

http://washingtonstatewire.com/blog/contrast-california-washington-eyes-tougher-expensive-cap-trade-program/

Yakima Basin Short on Snow, But Season Is Still Young (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/latestlocalnews/2862281-8/yakima-basin-short-on-snow-but-season-is

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1. Nantucket without Power as Outages Hit Massachusetts
2. Richland Eyes Electric Rate Increase
3. Oregon Department of Energy Announces Meeting on Jordan Cove Power Plant
4. Bonneville Power Administration Hosts Nation’s Largest Regional Science Bowl
5. The Clean Power Plan’s Dirty Secret – Obama plans to put the bungling EPA in charge of the nation’s electricity
6. Minnesota: Three Hydro Projects Competing to Install in Minneapolis
7. Engaging Co-op Members in Challenging Times
8. Upper Columbia Tribes Seek To Restore River’s Salmon Runs
9. Montana: Bull Trout Redd Counts Bring No Surprises for Biologists
10. Yakima Basin Short on Snow, But Season Is Still Young
11. Warm Temps Are Bad for Oregon’s Snowpack
12. An Increasingly Rare Type of Solar Farm Goes Online in California
13. Hawaii Utility Seeks End to Popular Rooftop Solar Incentive; Does It Signal Industry’s Future?
14. Wave Power Could Supply Half the U-S with Cheap Electricity – Here’s Why It Doesn’t
15. Oregon: Distributed Generation Whiz Joins Energy Trust Board
16. The Light Bulb Freedom Movement Comes to Olympia
17. Xcel’s Proposed Rate Hike Would Cost Colorado Customers $1.57 a Month “…forecasting more power sales than…predicted. A surge in marijuana cultivation is one of the reasons…sales are rising…”
18. Sick Kids Should Only Get Medical Marijuana When Other Treatments Fail, Pediatrics Group Says
19. Social Media, App Sites Take Hard Line against Cannabis Businesses
20. In Contrast to California, Washington State Eyes Tougher, More Expensive Cap-and-Trade Program
21. Cities May Be Leaking More Heat-Trapping Methane than Previously Thought
22. Human Composting Possible Option as Kelowna Cemetery Fills Up
23. Idaho Waiting on Court before Making $3 Million in Broadband Payments
24. The Switchboard: Are These the Next Four Google Fiber Cities?
25. Comcast Ghost-Wrote Politicians’ Letters Supporting Time-Warner Deal – Including One from Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown
26. Business Shift to Cloud Services Hits Traditional Microsoft Cash Cows
27. Cable Industry Asks FCC to Continue Using Outdated “Broadband” Definition
28. Sling TV Could Be Cable-Cutter’s Dream
29. Facebook Blames Internal Glitch for Hour-Long Global Outage
30. Twitter Introduces Group Direct Messages & Native Video Sharing
31. Five Big New Trends That Marketers Need to Know Before Sunday’s Game
32. Tips & Tricks for Taking the Best Cat Photos
33. Pilot Presumed Dead after Small Plane Crashes into Hood Canal near Seabeck
34. Oregon, Washington State Propose $12 State Minimum Wages
35. Washington State Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Abolish Death Penalty
36. Bye, Bye Low Gas Prices? Union Signals U-S Refinery Workers May Have to Go on Strike

WORD OF THE DAY

Force majeure • \force MA-zhoor\ • noun – 1: superior or irresistible force 2: an event or effect that cannot be reasonably anticipated or controlled -- compare ACT OF GOD

“God should have been keeping a closer eye on the maintenance of our Cheetos corn slurry pipeline, following a disastrous explosion that coated the nearby town with orange, tasty dust. Therefore we believe our production problems are a force majeure,” exclaimed the Frito Lay spokesman. “How could we have foreseen that the lack of maintenance could cause leaks? God is omnipotent, and we’re not. We can’t keep an eye on the price on the snack bag and the safety of our extruding pipelines at once,” the spokesman breathlessly intoned.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Nantucket without Power as Outages Hit Massachusetts (Boston Globe, MA)

https://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2015/01/27/thousands-lose-power-storym/awXQFhWumraJI78tAJnEeN/story.html

Richland Eyes Electric Rate Increase (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/01/26/3379397_richland-eyes-electric-rate-increase.html?rh=1

Oregon Department of Energy Announces Meeting on Jordan Cove Power Plant (Coos Bay World, OR)

http://theworldlink.com/news/local/oregon-department-of-energy-announces-meeting-on-jordan-cove-power/article_8587130c-be82-5f51-bf59-69c415b0f738.html

Bonneville Power Administration Hosts Nation’s Largest Regional Science Bowl (PDF File – Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/releases/Documents/20150126-PR-01-15-BPA-hosts-nations-largest-regional-science-bowl.pdf

The Clean Power Plan’s Dirty Secret – Obama plans to put the bungling EPA in charge of the nation’s electricity (U-S News & World Report)

http://www.usnews.com/opinion/articles/2015/01/26/obamas-epa-clean-power-plan-has-a-dirty-secret?int=98f508

Minnesota: Three Hydro Projects Competing to Install in Minneapolis (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/3-hydro-projects-competing-to-install-in-minneapolis/357018/

Engaging Co-op Members in Challenging Times (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/editors-pick/engaging-members-in-challenging-times/77329

FISH & WILDLIFE

Upper Columbia Tribes Seek To Restore River’s Salmon Runs (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/jan/27/upper-columbia-tribes-seek-to-restore-rivers/

Montana: Bull Trout Redd Counts Bring No Surprises for Biologists (Big Fork Eagle, MT)

http://www.flatheadnewsgroup.com/bigforkeagle/bull-trout-redd-counts-bring-no-surprises-for-biologists/article_59c824ae-a192-11e4-a9bb-975768e933f0.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Yakima Basin Short on Snow, But Season Is Still Young (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/latestlocalnews/2862281-8/yakima-basin-short-on-snow-but-season-is

Warm Temps Are Bad for Oregon’s Snowpack (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/article/warm-temps-are-bad-for-oregons-snowpack/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

An Increasingly Rare Type of Solar Farm Goes Online in California (GigaOM)

https://gigaom.com/2015/01/26/an-increasingly-rare-type-of-solar-farm-goes-online-in-california/

Hawaii Utility Seeks End to Popular Rooftop Solar Incentive; Does It Signal Industry’s Future? (E&E Publishing)

http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060012232

Wave Power Could Supply Half the U-S with Cheap Electricity – Here’s Why It Doesn’t (Yahoo! News)

http://news.yahoo.com/wave-power-could-supply-half-u-cheap-electricity-233654273.html

Oregon: Distributed Generation Whiz Joins Energy Trust Board (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/01/distributed-generation-whiz-joins-energy-trust.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

The Light Bulb Freedom Movement Comes to Olympia (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/politicsnorthwest/2015/01/26/the-light-bulb-freedom-movement-comes-to-olympia/?syndication=rss

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Xcel’s Proposed Rate Hike Would Cost Colorado Customers $1.57 a Month “…forecasting more power sales than…predicted. A surge in marijuana cultivation is one of the reasons…sales are rising…” (Boulder Daily Camera, CO)

http://www.dailycamera.com/business/ci_27381505/xcel-colorado-customers-could-pay-almost-1-more-month

Sick Kids Should Only Get Medical Marijuana When Other Treatments Fail, Pediatrics Group Says (Associated Press)

http://www.usnews.com/news/science/news/articles/2015/01/26/medical-pot-only-ok-for-sick-kids-failed-by-other-drugs-mds

Social Media, App Sites Take Hard Line against Cannabis Businesses (Marijuana Business Daily)

http://mmjbusinessdaily.com/some-cannabis-companies-blacklisted-from-instagram-app-store/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

In Contrast to California, Washington State Eyes Tougher, More Expensive Cap-and-Trade Program (Washington State Wire, Olympia, WA)

http://washingtonstatewire.com/blog/contrast-california-washington-eyes-tougher-expensive-cap-trade-program/

Cities May Be Leaking More Heat-Trapping Methane than Previously Thought (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Global-Warming/2015/0124/Cities-may-be-leaking-more-heat-trapping-methane-than-previously-thought

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Human Composting Possible Option as Kelowna Cemetery Fills Up (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/human-composting-possible-option-as-kelowna-cemetery-fills-up-1.2919951?cmp=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Idaho Waiting on Court before Making $3 Million in Broadband Payments (Twin Falls Times-News, ID)

http://magicvalley.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/idaho-waiting-on-court-before-making-million-in-broadband-payments/article_7c560d0a-9496-5d95-8321-4edefdd9e627.html

The Switchboard: Are These the Next Four Google Fiber Cities? (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2015/01/27/the-switchboard-are-these-the-next-four-google-fiber-cities/

Comcast Ghost-Wrote Politicians’ Letters Supporting Time-Warner Deal – Including One from Oregon Secretary of State Kate Brown (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2015/01/comcast_ghost-wrote_politician.html

Business Shift to Cloud Services Hits Traditional Microsoft Cash Cows (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2025550639_microsoftearningsxml.html?utm_source=WhatCountsEmail&utm_medium=Newsline&utm_campaign=Newsline

Cable Industry Asks FCC to Continue Using Outdated “Broadband” Definition (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2015/01/26/cable-industry-asks-fcc-to-continue-using-outdated-broadband-definition/

Sling TV Could Be Cable-Cutter’s Dream (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2015/01/26/381529334/sling-tv-could-be-cable-cutters-dream

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook Blames Internal Glitch for Hour-Long Global Outage (Associated Press)

http://www.sfgate.com/business/technology/article/Facebook-suffers-outage-affecting-users-worldwide-6042056.php

Twitter Introduces Group Direct Messages & Native Video Sharing (Mashable)

http://mashable.com/2015/01/27/twitter-group-dm-native-video/

Five Big New Trends That Marketers Need to Know Before Sunday’s Game (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/brandshare/5-big-new-trends-marketers-need-know-sundays-game-162497

Tips & Tricks for Taking the Best Cat Photos (Reviewed.Com)

http://cameras.reviewed.com/features/tips-and-tricks-for-taking-the-best-cat-photos

GENERAL NEWS

Pilot Presumed Dead after Small Plane Crashes into Hood Canal near Seabeck (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Pilot-presumed-dead-after-small-plane-crash-into-Hood-Canal-289921271.html

Oregon, Washington State Propose $12 State Minimum Wages (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwnewsnetwork.org/post/oregon-washington-propose-12-state-minimum-wages

Washington State Lawmakers Introduce Bill to Abolish Death Penalty (Associated Press)

http://www.katu.com/politics/Wash-lawmakers-introduce-bill-to-abolish-death-penalty--289869781.html

Bye, Bye Low Gas Prices? Union Signals U-S Refinery Workers May Have to Go on Strike (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/27/us-refinery-labor-talks-idUSKBN0L006Y20150127

DIVERSIONS

The Science behind Brain Farts

http://mashable.com/2015/01/27/brain-fart-science/

You’re Going to Have to Spare More than a Square: Toilet Paper is Shrinking

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/01/26/youre-going-to-have-to-spare-more-than-a-square-toilet-paper-is-shrinking/

San Francisco Zoo Offers Spurned Lovers Cockroach, Scorpion Adoptions

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/27/us-usa-california-zoo-idUSKBN0L004E20150127

Blizzard 2015: Yeti Seen Prowling the Streets near Boston

http://abcnews.go.com/US/blizzard-2015-yeti-prowling-streets-boston/story?id=28507215

SONG OF THE DAY

J Geils Band - Love Stinks

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CyP-7ulafFQ

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 January 26, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for January 26, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/mtsrzgq

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

Record High Temperatures Sunday across Western Washington State (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Record-high-temperatures-Sunday-across-Western-Wash-289784271.html

After Two-Year Fight, Tacoma Releases Records Confirming Huge Fee Hikes by Broadcasters (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/01/24/3605051_after-2-year-fight-tacoma-releases.html?rh=1

Worry for Solar Projects after End of Tax Credits (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/26/business/worry-for-solar-projects-after-end-of-tax-credits.html?ref=energy-environment&_r=0

Jefferson County Commissioners Anticipate Large, Active Turnout for Pot Business Moratorium Hearing Today (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150126/NEWS/301269873/jefferson-county-commissioners-anticipate-large-active-turnout-for

California: Pacific Gas & Electric Fined $530,000 by Regulator for Safety Violations (Sacramento Business Journal, CA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/blog/morning-roundup/2015/01/pg-e-fined-cpuc-san-bruno-explosion-email-scandal.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1. California: Pacific Gas & Electric Fined $530,000 by Regulator for Safety Violations
2. Olympic Peninsula: Power Restored to Forks, West End after Widespread Outage
3. U-S Nuclear Plants Post Record Efficiency in 2014
4. Natural Gas’ Green Friends Are Gone
5. Energy Quote of the Day: ‘Grid Operators are Now Seeing Over-Generation’
6. Lena Wittler named Clark Public Utilities Director of Communications
7. How a Co-op Got Members to Agree to a Rate Hike
8. Worry for Solar Projects after End of Tax Credits
9. Inside the Coming Showdown over Rooftop Solar in Indiana
10. Massachusetts: More Doubt Cast on Cape Wind Plan - Developer Drops Two Land Contracts
11. Wind Power Sets Off Revolt in Michigan's Thumb
12. Washington Utility Adopts Novel Modular Energy Storage Design
13. NewsWhiz – Save Net Metering & a Thriving Rooftop Solar Industry in Washington State!
14. Photo-Essay: A Day in the Life of a Wind Farm Operator
15. Smarter Cities Could Start with a Simple Light Bulb
16. New Hampshire Co-op Helps Water & Sewer District Save
17. Infographic: Can Your Dishwasher Spy on You?
18. Jefferson County Commissioners Anticipate Large, Active Turnout for Pot Business Moratorium Hearing Today
19. Pot-Related Calls to Poison Control Centers Spike in Washington, Colorado after Legal Sales
20. Yakima’s Pot-Testing Lab Takes Its Work Seriously
21. Colorado Governor: Legalizing Pot Was Bad Idea
22. How Low Gas Prices Could Spike Obama’s Climate Plan
23. Oregon Becomes Dumping Ground for California's Old, Polluting Diesel Big Rigs
24. Tri-Cities Startup Seeks to Distill Solar-Powered Alcohol
25. Toyota Seeks More Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars for U-S
26. After Two-Year Fight, Tacoma Releases Records Confirming Huge Fee Hikes by Broadcasters
27. Google Fiber Appears Ready to Go in North Carolina; No Word on Portland
28. City Wi-Fi: Fast, Cheap, and No You Can't Have It
29. Cablevision to Introduce Wi-Fi-Based Phone Plan
30. The Sorry State of In-Flight Wi-Fi
31. Op/Ed: Senator Maria Cantwell Can Lead on Communications Reform in 2015
32. Selling Advertisers on Reader Attention, Not Clicks
33. California: Elk Grove Resident Transforms Instagram Success into a Business
34. Twitter Explodes with Tributes to Skymall
35. Report: Sports Illustrated Lays Off All Staff Photographers
36. Obama Proposal to Tax College Accounts Worries GET Director
37. Record High Temperatures Sunday across Western Washington State
38. Humongous Winter Storm Poised to Strike Northeast U-S
39. Investigators Rule Fatal Shooting by Mason County Officer Justified
40. Olympia Mother Arrested; Three Children Suffer Neck Wounds
41. Layoffs at Weyerhaeuser Could Start Next Week
42. 'Drone' Found on White House Grounds by Secret Service Agents
43. Bill Nye Weighs In On 'Deflate-Gate,' Calls Out Belichick

WORD OF THE DAY

Ambivalent • \am-BIV-uh-lunt\ • adjective 1: simultaneously holding contradictory attitudes or feelings (as attraction and repulsion) toward someone or something 2a: continually fluctuating (as between one thing and its opposite) b: uncertain as to which approach to follow.

“I’m ambivalent about Horace’s looks,” frumped Juliette. “On one hand, he’s one of the most handsome men I’ve ever met. But on the other hand, the large, hairy wart on the very tip of his beautifully formed nose absolutely repulses me.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

California: Pacific Gas & Electric Fined $530,000 by Regulator for Safety Violations (Sacramento Business Journal, CA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/blog/morning-roundup/2015/01/pg-e-fined-cpuc-san-bruno-explosion-email-scandal.html

Olympic Peninsula: Power Restored to Forks, West End after Widespread Outage (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150124/NEWS/301249955

U-S Nuclear Plants Post Record Efficiency in 2014 (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/us-nuclear-plants-post-record-efficiency-in-2014/356339/

Natural Gas’ Green Friends Are Gone (The Morning Consult)

http://themorningconsult.com/2015/01/natural-gas-green-environmental-fracking-allies/

Energy Quote of the Day: ‘Grid Operators are Now Seeing Over-Generation’ “…Four times this past spring, California’s grid operator had to shut off wind and solar power when it exceeded demand…”

http://breakingenergy.com/2015/01/23/energy-quote-of-the-day-grid-operators-are-now-seeing-overgeneration/

Lena Wittler named Clark Public Utilities Director of Communications (Washington PUD Association, Olympia, WA)

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2015/01/lena-wittler-named-clark-public.html

How a Co-op Got Members to Agree to a Rate Hike (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/industry/business-finance/how-a-co-op-got-members-to-agree-to-a-hike/77323

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Worry for Solar Projects after End of Tax Credits (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/26/business/worry-for-solar-projects-after-end-of-tax-credits.html?ref=energy-environment&_r=0

Inside the Coming Showdown over Rooftop Solar in Indiana - The Green Tea Coalition is contemplating action in the state (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/inside-the-coming-showdown-over-rooftop-solar-in-indiana/355784/

Massachusetts: More Doubt Cast on Cape Wind Plan - Developer Drops Two Land Contracts (Boston Globe, MA)

http://www.bostonglobe.com/metro/2015/01/24/cape-wind-terminates-additional-contracts-casting-more-doubts-project-viability/voEIRKmjXziMT5HAoM41KN/story.html

Wind Power Sets Off Revolt in Michigan's Thumb (Detroit News, MI)

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/environment/2015/01/26/wind-power-sets-revolt-michigans-thumb/22333959/

Washington Utility Adopts Novel Modular Energy Storage Design (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/washington-utility-adopts-novel-modual-energy-storage-design/356293/

NewsWhiz – Save Net Metering & a Thriving Rooftop Solar Industry in Washington State! (Action Alliance for Solar Choice – Astroturf?)

http://action.allianceforsolarchoice.com/page/speakout/wa-save-net-metering?js=false

Photo-Essay: A Day in the Life of a Wind Farm Operator (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2015/01/photoessay-a-day-in-the-life-of-a-wind-farm-operator?cmpid=rss

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Smarter Cities Could Start with a Simple Light Bulb Swap (GigaOM)

https://gigaom.com/2015/01/23/smarter-cities-could-start-with-a-simple-light-bulb-swap/

New Hampshire Co-op Helps Water & Sewer District Save (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/power-supply/renewable-energy/new-hampshire-co-op-helps-water-and-sewer-district-save/77118

Infographic: Can Your Dishwasher Spy on You? (Breaking Energy)

http://breakingenergy.com/2015/01/26/can-your-dishwasher-spy-on-you/

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Jefferson County Commissioners Anticipate Large, Active Turnout for Pot Business Moratorium Hearing Today (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150126/NEWS/301269873/jefferson-county-commissioners-anticipate-large-active-turnout-for

Pot-Related Calls to Poison Control Centers Spike in Washington, Colorado after Legal Sales (Associated Press)

http://www.usnews.com/news/us/articles/2015/01/23/pot-related-poison-control-calls-up-in-washington-colorado

Yakima’s Pot-Testing Lab Takes Its Work Seriously (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/latestlocalnews/2831045-8/yakimas-pot-testing-lab-takes-its-work-seriously

Colorado Governor: Legalizing Pot Was Bad Idea (The Hill, Washington, DC)

http://thehill.com/policy/finance/230511-colorado-governor-legalizing-pot-was-bad-idea

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

How Low Gas Prices Could Spike Obama’s Climate Plan (National Journal)

http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/how-low-gas-prices-could-spike-obama-s-climate-plan-20150125

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Oregon Becomes Dumping Ground for California's Old, Polluting Diesel Big Rigs (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2015/01/oregon_becomes_dumping_ground.html

Tri-Cities Startup Seeks to Distill Solar-Powered Alcohol (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/startup-seeks-distill-solar-powered-alcohol

Toyota Seeks More Hydrogen Fuel Cell Cars for U-S (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2015/01/25/toyota-fuel-cell-mirai/22308863/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

After Two-Year Fight, Tacoma Releases Records Confirming Huge Fee Hikes by Broadcasters (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/01/24/3605051_after-2-year-fight-tacoma-releases.html?rh=1

Google Fiber Appears Ready to Go in North Carolina; No Word on Portland (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2015/01/google_fiber_appears_ready_to.html

City Wi-Fi: Fast, Cheap, and No You Can't Have It - Because enjoying cute cat videos while sitting in your local park is socialism (Mother Jones)

http://www.motherjones.com/politics/2015/01/republicans-free-city-wifi-municipal-broadband-socialism

Cablevision to Introduce Wi-Fi-Based Phone Plan (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/26/business/media/cablevision-to-introduce-wi-fi-based-phone-plan.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

The Sorry State of In-Flight Wi-Fi (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/01/22/style/the-sorry-state-of-in-flight-wi-fi.html

Op/Ed: Senator Maria Cantwell Can Lead on Communications Reform in 2015 (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://seattletimes.com/html/opinion/2025532059_wilsonopedcommunicationact23xml.html

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Selling Advertisers on Reader Attention, Not Clicks (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/01/25/publishers-seek-reader-engagement/22074703/

California: Elk Grove Resident Transforms Instagram Success into a Business (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/business/biz-columns-blogs/cathie-anderson/article8045691.html

Twitter Explodes with Tributes to Skymall (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/USA-Update/2015/0123/Twitter-explodes-with-tributes-to-SkyMall

Report: Sports Illustrated Lays Off All Staff Photographers (Mashable)

http://mashable.com/2015/01/23/sports-illustrated-layoff-photographers/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Obama Proposal to Tax College Accounts Worries GET Director (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2025545378_taxesgetxml.html

GENERAL NEWS

Record High Temperatures Sunday across Western Washington State (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Record-high-temperatures-Sunday-across-Western-Wash-289784271.html

Humongous Winter Storm Poised to Strike Northeast U-S (Associated Press)

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/Latest-News-Wires/2015/0125/Humongous-winter-storm-poised-to-strike-northeast-US-video

Investigators Rule Fatal Shooting by Mason County Officer Justified (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://kmasnewsradio.com/news/local-state-news/21013-fatal-shooting-justified-by-ciit

Olympia Mother Arrested; Three Children Suffer Neck Wounds (Associated Press)

http://www.katu.com/news/local/Olympia-mother-arrested-3-children-suffer-wounds-to-neck-289721781.html

Layoffs at Weyerhaeuser Could Start Next Week (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/article/layoffs-at-weyerhaeuser-could-start-next-week-/

'Drone' Found on White House Grounds by Secret Service Agents (British Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-30982937

Bill Nye Weighs In On 'Deflate-Gate,' Calls Out Belichick (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/sports/watch-bill-nye-weighs-deflate-gate-calls-out-belic/njw69/

DIVERSIONS

Matt Damon to Wear Russell Wilson Jersey if Seahawks Win Super Bowl

http://mynorthwest.com/11/2695699/Matt-Damon-to-wear-Russell-Wilson-jersey-if-Seahawks-win-Super-Bowl

The Rise & Fall (and Rise) of the Ukulele

http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/01/though-it-be-little-the-rise-of-the-ukulele/384453/

Burger King Customer Gets Bag Filled with $2,631 Instead of Chicken Sandwich, Returns It

http://consumerist.com/2015/01/26/burger-king-customer-gets-bag-filled-with-2631-instead-of-chicken-sandwich-returns-it/

How the Piano Was Invented

http://gizmodo.com/how-the-piano-was-invented-1681762595

SONG OF THE DAY

Beethoven - Moonlight Sonata (Piano Sonata 14)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Tr0otuiQuU

Billy Joel - Piano Man

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

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 January 23, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for January 23, 2015

The rain could be heavy at times. New precipitation amounts between three quarters & one inch possible.

http://tinyurl.com/q2gx47f

Small Craft Advisory in Effect from Noon Today to 6 PM Saturday

http://tinyurl.com/qgdb67n

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

Oregon Fishery Officials Hatch Desperate Measures - Compromised Leaburg Dam stresses two local hatcheries (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

http://registerguard.com/rg/news/local/32662195-75/hatchery-works-overtime-to-keep-fish-healthy-during-dam-repair.html.csp#

In Win for SolarWorld, Trade Commission Affirms Tariffs on Chinese, Taiwanese Solar Products (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2015/01/in_win_for_solarworld_internat.html

Pacific Power’s $1.8 Million Looks to Bolster Northwest Solar Projects “…PacifiCorp depends on coal for 60.37% of its total energy load. Gas accounts for 12%…” (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/01/pacific-powers-1-8m-looks-to-bolster-portland.html

A Tiny Oregon City Has Already Built Its Own Gigabit Internet (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/techflash/2015/01/a-tiny-oregon-city-has-already-built-its-own.html

Activists Turn Out in Olympia as Lawmakers Weigh Medical Marijuana (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Activists-turn-out-in-Olympia-as-lawmakers-weigh-medical-pot-289517991.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1. FERC Files Supreme Court Challenge to Demand Response Decision
2. Fired Emerald People’s Utility District Chief Rehired – Board decides not to fight the release of recorded conversations
3. Rock Slide Closes Road to Hells Canyon Dam
4. Three Keys to Ensuring Clark County Economic Growth - These steps vital to solid development
5. British Columbia: Fake BC Hydro Scam Surfaces in Coquitlam
6. Awards Celebrate the Behind-The-Scenes Work of Managing Federal Columbia River Power System Dams
7. Oregon Fishery Officials Hatch Desperate Measures - Compromised Leaburg Dam stresses two local hatcheries
8. California Sea Lions Take Over Astoria Docks
9. New Study Suggests Rain Gardens Can Save Salmon
10. In Win for SolarWorld, Trade Commission Affirms Tariffs on Chinese, Taiwanese Solar Products
11. Pacific Power’s $1.8 Million Looks to Bolster Northwest Solar Projects
12. What Would Be Your Return on Investment in Solar? Washington County Software Gives Answers
13. ‘Sexy’ No Longer, Solar May See More Consolidation
14. Op/Ed: Will Falling Oil Prices Kill Wind & Solar Power?
15. California Landfill Taps Methane for Electricity
16. IRS Specifies Performance & Quality Standards for Small Wind Turbines
17. U-S Senate Passes Energy Efficiency Promotion Amendment by a Vote of 94-5
18. Salt River Project Launches Smart Thermostat, Variable Rate Pilot
19. Thermos-Like Passive Homes Aggressively Save Energy
20. Activists Turn Out in Olympia as Lawmakers Weigh Medical Marijuana
21. Clallam Planners Focus on Marijuana Zoning Ordinance
22. Spokane Pot Shop Uses Billboard to Attract Business
23. The Massive Scale of California’s Drought. How It Informs the Climate Change Debate
24. Biodiesel Plants Must Get Smart to Survive Market Highs & Lows, WSU Economist Says
25. BMW, VW Team Up to Build Fast-Charging Electric Car Stations in U-S
26. Official: U-S Will Not Meet One Million Electric Vehicle Goal in 2015
27. A Tiny Oregon City Has Already Built Its Own Gigabit Internet
28. Editorial: Three U-S Senate Democrats Join Obama in Backing Municipal Broadband
29. Editorial: Taking the Risk to Offer Broadband Should Be a Local Call
30. Did Congress, The Media & the FCC All Misunderstand What Verizon Said on Net Neutrality? Verizon Thinks So
31. Microsoft Readies ‘Spartan’ as Successor to Internet Explorer
32. We’re Still Using Dumb Passwords. Not Nearly as Much as Before
33. Bitcoin Backers Seek to Create ‘Regulated’ Exchange
34. Tweet Translation with Bing Translator
35. This Heartbreaking Puppy GIF Is the Perfect Teaser for Budweiser’s Super Bowl Ad
36. The New Sonos Logo Looks Like Pulsing Sound as You Scroll It
37. Consumerist Friday Flickr Finds
38. Oil Prices Jump as Saudi King’s Death Feeds Market Uncertainty
39. Doesn’t Anyone Want to Take Credit for Low Gas Prices?
40. Kitsap County Teen Pleads Guilty to Three Vehicular Homicide Counts
41. Washington Adds 7,600 Jobs in December - Unemployment Lingers Above 6%
42. Mason General Hospital & Family of Clinics Joins Innovative Patient Care Consortium
43. Congressman Kilmer Urging Renewal of Federal Payment Plan to Local Governments
44. Historic Kalakala Ferry Makes Last Voyage

WORD OF THE DAY

Williwaw • \WILL-ih-waw\ • noun – *1a: a sudden violent gust of cold land air common along mountainous coasts of high latitudes b: a sudden violent wind 2: a violent commotion

“One more williwaw like that and I’ll be cracking up,” cursed the tense utility dispatcher. The fall and winter storm season had barely begun, and two windstorms had already blustered their way across the region.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

FERC Files Supreme Court Challenge to Demand Response Decision (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/jeffstjohn/2185731/ferc-files-supreme-court-challenge-demand-response-decision

Fired Emerald People’s Utility District Chief Rehired – Board decides not to fight the release of recorded conversations (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

http://registerguard.com/rg/news/local/32683038-75/epud-board-votes-to-rehire-scott-coe-as-general-manager-also-decides-to-release-telephone-tapes.html.csp

Rock Slide Closes Road to Hells Canyon Dam (Baker City Herald, OR)

http://www.bakercityherald.com/Local-News/Rock-slide-closes-road-to-Hells-Canyon-Dam

Three Keys to Ensuring Clark County Economic Growth - These steps vital to solid development “…low cost of power in Southwest Washington is a huge asset for businesses…” (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/jan/22/3-keys-to-ensuring-economic-growth/

British Columbia: Fake BC Hydro Scam Surfaces in Coquitlam (Vancouver Sun, BC)

http://www.vancouversun.com/business/Fake+Hydro+scam+surfaces+Coquitlam/10752075/story.html

Awards Celebrate the Behind-The-Scenes Work of Managing Federal Columbia River Power System Dams (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/Awards-celebrate-the-behind-the-scenes-work-of-managing-FCRPS-dams.aspx

FISH & WILDLIFE

Oregon Fishery Officials Hatch Desperate Measures - Compromised Leaburg Dam stresses two local hatcheries (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

http://registerguard.com/rg/news/local/32662195-75/hatchery-works-overtime-to-keep-fish-healthy-during-dam-repair.html.csp#

California Sea Lions Take Over Astoria Docks (Associated Press)

http://www.ktvz.com/news/california-sea-lions-take-over-astoria-docks/30881380

New Study Suggests Rain Gardens Can Save Salmon (KPLU Radio, Seattle, WA)

http://www.kplu.org/post/new-study-suggests-rain-gardens-can-save-salmon

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

In Win for SolarWorld, Trade Commission Affirms Tariffs on Chinese, Taiwanese Solar Products (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2015/01/in_win_for_solarworld_internat.html

Pacific Power’s $1.8 Million Looks to Bolster Northwest Solar Projects “…PacifiCorp depends on coal for 60.37% of its total energy load. Gas accounts for 12%…” (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/01/pacific-powers-1-8m-looks-to-bolster-portland.html

What Would Be Your Return on Investment in Solar? Washington County Software Gives Answers (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/hillsboro/index.ssf/2015/01/what_would_be_your_return_on_i.html

‘Sexy’ No Longer, Solar May See More Consolidation (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2015-01-22/-sexy-no-longer-solar-may-see-more-consolidation-hanwha-says.html

Op/Ed: Will Falling Oil Prices Kill Wind & Solar Power? (Scientific American)

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/will-falling-oil-prices-kill-wind-and-solar-power/

California Landfill Taps Methane for Electricity (Associated Press)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20150123/BIZ02/150129607

IRS Specifies Performance & Quality Standards for Small Wind Turbines (Breaking Energy)

http://breakingenergy.com/2015/01/22/irs-specifies-performance-and-quality-standards-for-small-wind-turbines/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

U-S Senate Passes Energy Efficiency Promotion Amendment by a Vote of 94-5 (American Public Power Association)

http://www.publicpower.org/Media/daily/ArticleDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=43038

Salt River Project Launches Smart Thermostat, Variable Rate Pilot (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/salt-river-project-launches-smart-thermostat-variable-rate-pilot/355876/

Thermos-Like Passive Homes Aggressively Save Energy (National Geographic Magazine)

http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/energy/2015/01/150120-thermos-like-passive-homes-heat-up-in-the-us/

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Activists Turn Out in Olympia as Lawmakers Weigh Medical Marijuana (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Activists-turn-out-in-Olympia-as-lawmakers-weigh-medical-pot-289517991.html

Clallam Planners Focus on Marijuana Zoning Ordinance (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150123/news/301239982/clallam-planners-focus-on-marijuana-zoning-ordinance

Spokane Pot Shop Uses Billboard to Attract Business (KXLY-TV, Spokane, WA)

http://www.kxly.com/news/spokane-news/pot-shops-use-billboards-to-attract-business/30877456

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

The Massive Scale of California’s Drought. How It Informs the Climate Change Debate (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/01/23/the-massive-scale-of-californias-drought-and-how-it-informs-the-climate-change-debate/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Biodiesel Plants Must Get Smart to Survive Market Highs & Lows, WSU Economist Says (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/01/22/3372736_biodiesel-must-get-smart-to-survive.html

BMW, VW Team Up to Build Fast-Charging Electric Car Stations in U-S (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/2015/0122/BMW-VW-team-up-to-build-fast-charging-electric-car-stations-in-US

Official: U-S Will Not Meet One Million Electric Vehicle Goal in 2015 (Detroit News, MI)

http://www.detroitnews.com/story/business/autos/2015/01/22/ev-goal-million/22176225/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

A Tiny Oregon City Has Already Built Its Own Gigabit Internet (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/techflash/2015/01/a-tiny-oregon-city-has-already-built-its-own.html

Editorial: Three U-S Senate Democrats Join Obama in Backing Municipal Broadband (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/opinion-la/la-ol-obama-booker-citylink-gigabit-wifi-20150122-story.html#page=1

Editorial: Taking the Risk to Offer Broadband Should Be a Local Call (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://www.latimes.com/opinion/editorials/la-ed-broadband-obama-20150122-story.html

Did Congress, The Media & the FCC All Misunderstand What Verizon Said on Net Neutrality? Verizon Thinks So (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2015/01/23/did-congress-the-media-and-the-fcc-all-misunderstand-what-verizon-said-on-net-neutrality-verizon-thinks-so/

Microsoft Readies ‘Spartan’ as Successor to Internet Explorer (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2015/01/microsoft_readies_spartan_as_s.html

We’re Still Using Dumb Passwords. Not Nearly as Much as Before (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2015/01/22/yes-were-still-using-dumb-passwords-but-not-nearly-as-much-as-before/

Bitcoin Backers Seek to Create ‘Regulated’ Exchange (British Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-30949658

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Tweet Translation with Bing Translator (Twitter)

https://twitter.com/twitter/status/558342974350688256

This Heartbreaking Puppy GIF Is the Perfect Teaser for Budweiser’s Super Bowl Ad (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/heart-breaking-puppy-gif-perfect-teaser-budweisers-super-bowl-ad-162476

The New Sonos Logo Looks Like Pulsing Sound as You Scroll It (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/the-new-sonos-logo-looks-like-pulsing-sound-as-you-scro-1681318145

Consumerist Friday Flickr Finds (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2015/01/23/consumerist-friday-flickr-finds-273/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Oil Prices Jump as Saudi King’s Death Feeds Market Uncertainty (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/01/23/markets-oil-idUSL4N0V216820150123

Doesn’t Anyone Want to Take Credit for Low Gas Prices? (National Journal)

http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/doesn-t-anyone-want-to-take-credit-for-low-gas-prices-20150122

GENERAL NEWS

Kitsap County Teen Pleads Guilty to Three Vehicular Homicide Counts (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Kitsap-Co-teen-pleads-guilty-to-3-vehicular-homicide-counts-289573851.html

Washington Adds 7,600 Jobs in December - Unemployment Lingers Above 6% (Washington State Wire, Olympia, WA)

http://washingtonstatewire.com/blog/washington-adds-7600-jobs-december-unemployment-lingers-6/

Mason General Hospital & Family of Clinics Joins Innovative Patient Care Consortium (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/14149

Congressman Kilmer Urging Renewal of Federal Payment Plan to Local Governments (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.konp.com/local/10381

Historic Kalakala Ferry Makes Last Voyage (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/morning_call/2015/01/historic-kalakala-ferry-makes-last-voyage.html

DIVERSIONS

Guy Who Bought Lottery Tickets to Break $100 Bill Wins $10 Million

http://consumerist.com/2015/01/23/guy-who-bought-lottery-tickets-to-break-100-bill-wins-10m/

How a $12 Million Monet Was Repaired After Some Idiot Punched It

http://gizmodo.com/how-a-12-million-monet-was-repaired-after-some-idiot-p-1681345808

Old Phone Unveiled 100 Years after First Coast-To-Coast Call

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/technology/article/Old-phone-unveiled-100-years-after-first-6033711.php

Oregon Water Treatment Company Wants to Turn Sewer Water into Beer

http://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-water-treatment-company-wants-to-turn-sewage-into-beer/

SONG OF THE DAY

Blondie – Call Me

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m95Iv8UfvhM

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.