Energy News Digest for April 6, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for April 6, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/lvjby5m

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THE NEWS DIGEST TWITTER FEED

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

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Green Energy from the Columbia Gorge Proving Costly to Cowlitz PUD Ratepayers (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/18118cd0-db2b-11e4-80c2-8749c5b81f01.html

Group Launches Initiative for a Carbon Tax in Washington State (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/group-launches-initiative-carbon-tax-washington

Washington State Governor Puts Focus on Climate Goals, and Less on Debate (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/05/us/politics/washington-governor-puts-focus-on-climate-goals-and-less-on-debate.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

FERC Calls for Hearing in BPA-PacifiCorp Dispute; Encourages Parties to Settle (American Public Power Association)

http://www.publicpower.org/Media/daily/ArticleDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=43538

Sparse Snowpack in Olympics Close to Worst in America's West (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150406/NEWS/304069976/sparse-snowpack-in-olympics-close-to-worst-in-americas-west

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1. FERC Calls for Hearing in BPA-PacifiCorp Dispute; Encourages Parties to Settle
2. Idaho: Commissioner Says Farmers Unhappy with Caribou County Transmission Line Route
3. New Deputy Power Manager Announced for Grand Coulee Dam
4. Critics Say Pacific Gas & Electric Minimizes Quake Risks at Nuclear Plant
5. U-S Senator Harry Reid's Exit Removes Obstacle to Yucca Nuclear Waste Site
6. A Rural Colorado Utility Bucks Against Its Power Supplier
7. Part III: How Do You Teach Customers Algebra If They Don't Know How to Multiply?
8. Editorial: Swimming Upstream to Save a Victim of California’s Water Crisis – Delta smelt nears extinction despite years of efforts
9. Tackling a Sustainable Industry for Atlantic Salmon Farming
10. Sparse Snowpack in Olympics Close to Worst in America's West
11. University of Washington UW Looking for Help to Measure Olympic Peninsula Rainfall
12. California: Storms Will Boost Reservoirs And Bring Snow to Mountains But Won’t Be ‘Drought-Busting’
13. Below Culmback Dam – Spectacular Gorge on Sultan River Will Open to Kayakers April 25
14. Green Energy from the Columbia Gorge Proving Costly to Cowlitz PUD Ratepayers
15. Cowlitz Wind Energy by the Numbers
16. Op/Ed: Washington State Must Step Up Game on Renewable Energy
17. Build More Renewables, “We Dare You” – Wind Gets Cheaper, But Energy for Building Turbines Wanes
18. Nonhydro Electricity Storage Increasing as New Policies Are Implemented
19. Energy Northwest, Bonneville Power Administration Integrate Additional DR Resource into Project
20. U-S Justice Medical Marijuana Enforcements Proceed Despite Congressional Mandate
21. Marijuana Trimmers Use Tiny Scissors But Eye Big Careers
22. Taiwan Expanding into Indoor, LED-Lit, Pesticide-Free Farms
23. Group Launches Initiative for a Carbon Tax in Washington State
24. Washington State Governor Puts Focus on Climate Goals, and Less on Debate
25. ALEC: This Conservative Group is Tired of Being Accused of Climate Denial, And Is Fighting Back 
26. Google Is Forcing Big Broadband Providers to Boost Speeds
27. Google Gmail Users Hit by Software Glitch
28. Canadian Telecom Companies Set Example for A La Carte TV Fees
29. Philadelphia Won’t Show Results of Comcast Customer Survey to Anyone – Except Comcast
30. Publication of New Internet Rules to Prompt Cheers and Challenges
31. Every Wi-Fi Router Should Look Like the USS Enterprise
32. Spring Tweeting: Mariners Receive Social Media Training
33. Washington State Governor Rescinds Travel Ban after Indiana Changes ‘Religious Freedom’ Law
34. Oregon Governor's Office Releases 94,000 Cylvia Hayes Emails
35. Local Taxes Burned Up Along with Springfield, Oregon Mill – The Firm which Purchased OPP Assets
36. Super Bowl Ticket-Resale Company Shrugged When Its Brokers Reneged
37. $93,000 Raised for Richland Florist Who Refused Gay Couple

WORD OF THE DAY

Duende • \doo-END-day\ • noun - The power to attract through personal magnetism & charm.

The high-powered car salesman prowled through the gleaming new cars on his sprawling lot, his duende was described as potent as the musk aftershave that legend decreed was purchased by the barrel, and secretly stored with the windshield wiper blades on the bowels of the auto shop. No customer would withstand either his personality, or his cologne…as one or the other led to the signing of a contract for escape…similar to a wolf chewing off its leg to get out of a trap.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

FERC Calls for Hearing in BPA-PacifiCorp Dispute; Encourages Parties to Settle (American Public Power Association)

http://www.publicpower.org/Media/daily/ArticleDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=43538

Idaho: Commissioner Says Farmers Unhappy with Caribou County Transmission Line Route (KIFI-TV, Idaho Falls)

http://www.localnews8.com/news/commissioner-farmers-unhappy-with-caribou-county-transmission-line-route/32181980

New Deputy Power Manager Announced for Grand Coulee Dam (Bureau of Reclamation)

http://www.usbr.gov/newsroom/newsrelease/detail.cfm?RecordID=49126

Critics Say Pacific Gas & Electric Minimizes Quake Risks at Nuclear Plant (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/PG-E-minimizes-quake-risks-at-nuclear-plant-6179531.php

U-S Senator Harry Reid's Exit Removes Obstacle to Yucca Nuclear Waste Site (The Hill, Washington, DC)

http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/237845-reids-exit-removes-obstacle-to-yucca-nuclear-waste-site

A Rural Colorado Utility Bucks Against Its Power Supplier (High Country News)

https://www.hcn.org/articles/rural-electric-cooperative-asks-government-for-more-freedom

Part III: How Do You Teach Customers Algebra If They Don't Know How to Multiply? (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/part-iii-how-do-you-teach-customers-algebra-if-they-dont-know-how-to-mult/371209/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Editorial: Swimming Upstream to Save a Victim of California’s Water Crisis – Delta smelt nears extinction despite years of efforts (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/opinion/opn-columns-blogs/dan-morain/article17351492.html

Tackling a Sustainable Industry for Atlantic Salmon Farming (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/tackling-a-sustainable-industry-for-atlantic-salmon-farming/article23794936/?cmpid=rss1

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Sparse Snowpack in Olympics Close to Worst in America's West (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150406/NEWS/304069976/sparse-snowpack-in-olympics-close-to-worst-in-americas-west

University of Washington UW Looking for Help to Measure Olympic Peninsula Rainfall (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://www.kxro.com/uw-looking-for-help-to-measure-rainfall/

California: Storms Will Boost Reservoirs And Bring Snow to Mountains But Won’t Be ‘Drought-Busting’ (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/weather/article17463782.html

Below Culmback Dam – Spectacular Gorge on Sultan River Will Open to Kayakers April 25 (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20150405/BLOG49/150409660/Spectacular-gorge-on-Sultan-River-will-open-to-kayakers-April-25-

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Green Energy from the Columbia Gorge Proving Costly to Cowlitz PUD Ratepayers (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/18118cd0-db2b-11e4-80c2-8749c5b81f01.html

Cowlitz Wind Energy by the Numbers (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/energy-by-the-numbers/article_5b731778-db2b-11e4-8585-77ae138ed7a7.html

Op/Ed: Washington State Must Step Up Game on Renewable Energy (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/apr/05/state-must-step-up-game-on-renewable-energy/

Build More Renewables, “We Dare You” – Wind Gets Cheaper, But Energy for Building Turbines Wanes (Interlochen Public Radio, MI)

http://interlochenpublicradio.org/post/wind-gets-cheaper-energy-building-turbines-wanes

Nonhydro Electricity Storage Increasing as New Policies Are Implemented (U-S Energy Information Administration)

http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=20652

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Energy Northwest, Bonneville Power Administration Integrate Additional DR Resource into Project (American Public Power Association)

http://www.publicpower.org/Media/daily/ArticleDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=43537

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

U-S Justice Medical Marijuana Enforcements Proceed Despite Congressional Mandate (Marijuana Business Daily)

http://mmjbusinessdaily.com/doj-enforcements-proceed-despite-congressional-mandate/

Marijuana Trimmers Use Tiny Scissors But Eye Big Careers (Associated Press)

http://www.kxly.com/news/northwest/marijuana-trimmers-use-tiny-scissors-but-eye-big-careers/32200596

Taiwan Expanding into Indoor, LED-Lit, Pesticide-Free Farms (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/apr/04/taiwan-expanding-into-indoor-led-lit-pesticide-fre/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Group Launches Initiative for a Carbon Tax in Washington State (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/group-launches-initiative-carbon-tax-washington

Washington State Governor Puts Focus on Climate Goals, and Less on Debate (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/05/us/politics/washington-governor-puts-focus-on-climate-goals-and-less-on-debate.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

ALEC: This Conservative Group is Tired of Being Accused of Climate Denial, And Is Fighting Back (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/04/05/this-conservative-group-is-tired-of-being-accused-of-climate-denial-and-is-fighting-back/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Google Is Forcing Big Broadband Providers to Boost Speeds (Vox)

http://www.vox.com/2015/4/4/8341199/google-comcast-broadband-race

Google Gmail Users Hit by Software Glitch (British Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-32194202

Canadian Telecom Companies Set Example for A La Carte TV Fees (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/apr/05/canadian-telecom-companies-set-exle-for-a-la/

Philadelphia Won’t Show Results of Comcast Customer Survey to Anyone – Except Comcast (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2015/04/06/philadelphia-wont-show-results-of-comcast-customer-survey-to-anyone-except-comcast/

Publication of New Internet Rules to Prompt Cheers and Challenges (NY Times)

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com//2015/04/05/publication-of-net-neutrality-rules-to-prompt-cheers-and-challenges/

Every Wi-Fi Router Should Look Like the USS Enterprise (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/every-wi-fi-router-should-look-like-the-uss-enterprise-1695903201

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Spring Tweeting: Mariners Receive Social Media Training (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/11/2742819/Spring-tweeting-Mariners-receive-social-media-training

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Governor Rescinds Travel Ban after Indiana Changes ‘Religious Freedom’ Law (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2015/04/03/inslee-rescinds-travel-ban-after-indiana-changes-religious-freedom-law/

Oregon Governor's Office Releases 94,000 Cylvia Hayes Emails (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2015/04/cylvia_hayes_john_kitzhaber_em.html

GENERAL NEWS

Local Taxes Burned Up Along with Springfield, Oregon Mill – The Firm which Purchased OPP Assets (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

http://registerguard.com/rg/news/local/32932741-75/plywood-mill-lost-to-fire-will-get-reduction-in-property-taxes.html.csp

Super Bowl Ticket-Resale Company Shrugged When Its Brokers Reneged (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.seattletimes.com/sports/seahawks/ticketnetwork-just-shrugged-when-its-brokers-reneged/?utm_source=WhatCountsEmail&utm_medium=Newsline&utm_campaign=Newsline

$93,000 Raised for Richland Florist Who Refused Gay Couple (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/04/05/3496047_85k-raised-for-washington-florist.html?rh=1

DIVERSIONS

Hungry Sea Lion Pulls Man Holding Fish Off Boat in California

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/06/us-usa-california-sealion-idUSKBN0MX06G20150406

Judge Rules: Woman Can Serve Elusive Husband Divorce Papers via Facebook Message

http://consumerist.com/2015/04/06/judge-rules-woman-can-serve-elusive-husband-divorce-papers-via-facebook-message/

Seattle-Area Apartments Use DNA Testing to Catch Dog Owners Who Don't Pick Up Pet Droppings

http://www.usnews.com/news/offbeat/articles/2015/04/04/dna-testing-for-dog-poop-on-the-rise-in-seattle-area

Lynyrd Skynyrd Drummer Bob Burns Dies in Car Crash

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-32188511

SONG OF THE DAY

Lynyrd Skynyrd - Tuesday's Gone

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

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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

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

Energy News Digest for April 3, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for April 3, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/pwvt75d

Small Craft Advisory for Puget Sound & Hood Canal

http://tinyurl.com/nyafc2f

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

Follow Up File: Five Bonneville Power Officials Lost Their Positions over Veteran-Hiring Scandal (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2015/04/03/five-bonneville-power-officials-lost-their-positions-over-veteran-hiring-scandal/

Schweitzer Labs Puts ‘Game-Changing’ Battery Power to Test in Pullman (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/apr/03/schweitzer-labs-puts-game-changing-battery-power/

Video: No Mountain Snow in the Pacific Northwest Could Hurt Fish, Shipping, Recreation (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.kgw.com/story/news/local/green/2015/04/02/no-mountain-snow-could-hurt-fish-shipping-recreation/70862634/

More Bad News for British Columbia’s Wild Sockeye – Pink salmon populations augmented by hatchery programs hurt sockeye returns, study finds (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/b-c/more-bad-news-for-b-c-s-wild-sockeye-1.1812260

The Northwest Struggles with Coal-Generated Power from Out of State (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/article/the-northwest-struggles-with-coal-generated-power-from-out-of-state/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1. Follow Up File: Five Bonneville Power Officials Lost Their Positions over Veteran-Hiring Scandal
2. Whistleblowers Who Exposed Hiring Offenses at Bonneville Power Administration Win Relief
3. The Northwest Struggles with Coal-Generated Power from Out of State
4. Bonneville Power Administration Selects Final Path for Its Hooper Springs Transmission Project
5. Seattle Residents May Get Money after City Power Surge
6. White House Releases Clean Energy Fact Sheet Ahead of President Obama’s Speech in Utah
7. More Bad News for British Columbia’s Wild Sockeye
8. California: Non-Native Fish in San Joaquin River Newest Invasive Species
9. Taking Action on Climate Change Helps Birds Now
10. Video: No Mountain Snow in the Pacific Northwest Could Hurt Fish, Shipping, Recreation
11. Klamath Basin Water Users Brace for another Dry Year
12. Washington State to Lease Water to Bolster Summer Stream Flow
13. California Drought: Who Might Feel New Water Restrictions the Most?
14. NASA Scientist to the World: California has One Year of Water Left
15. Schweitzer Labs Puts ‘Game-Changing’ Battery Power to Test in Pullman
16. Why It Can Take So Long to Get Rooftop Solar Connected to the Grid
17. This Affordable Housing Complex Has a Solar Farm on Its Roof
18. Obama Pushes to Train Veterans for Solar Power
19. New Interactive Map Shows Big Potential for America’s Wind Energy Future
20. Corporate America's Position on the EPA's Clean Power Act
21. Oregon Could Soon Pay You $3,000 to Buy an Electric Vehicle
22. California Could Rein in Tesla Rebates That Mostly Go to Wealthy
23. Represented: Data Centers and Taxation in Central Oregon
24. Frontier Boosts Broadband Speeds in Washington State, Offering Customers Up to 150 Mbps
25. Verizon Latest to Bury 'Broadcast TV Fee' Below the Line
26. Another Casualty in Yemen: Internet Stability
27. Monkeys 'Hinder India Internet Drive' – They’re Trying to Get More Fiber in Their Diet
28. How Facebook Knows Who All Your Friends Are, Even Better Than You Do
29. This Bank Found a Way for Men to Browse Pinterest without Feeling Ashamed
30. Utilities Embrace Social Media, Surging Self-Generation of Power
31. Ted Cruz Has a Swag Problem – A Few Tchotchkes Can Go a Long Way
32. Washington State House Passes Budget
33. Inslee Laments Demise of $12 Minimum Wage Bill, Hints at Ballot Measure
34. Oregon Denies Money for Former First Lady's Email Release Fight
35. Olympia Tire Shop Employees Thwart Man's Attack
36. Lightning Strikes Two Jets on Approach to Sea-Tac Airport
37. Tulalip Tribal Member Accused of Clubbing Eagles to Death, Trying to Sell Them
38. Too Many Amber Alert Notifications Worry Cell Phone Owners
39. Autonomous Car Drives from San Francisco to New York

WORD OF THE DAY

Whirling Dervish • \WHIR-ling DERR-vish\ • noun – A member of a Turkish order of dervishes, or Sufis, whose ritual consists in part of a highly stylized whirling dance.

Spritual Bliss

Dance you Whirling Dervishes

Dance for peace and love

A fraternity of Sufis (Muslim mystics) founded in Konya (Qonya), Anatolia, by the Persian Sufi poet Rumi (d. 1273), whose popular title mawlana (Arabic: "our master") gave the order its name. The order, propagated throughout Anatolia, controlled Konya and environs by the 15th century and in the 17th century appeared in Constantinople (Istanbul). European travelers identified the Mawlawiyah as dancing (or whirling) dervishes, based on their observations of the order's ritual prayer (dhikr), performed spinning on the right foot to the accompaniment of musical instruments.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Follow Up File: Five Bonneville Power Officials Lost Their Positions over Veteran-Hiring Scandal (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/federal-eye/wp/2015/04/03/five-bonneville-power-officials-lost-their-positions-over-veteran-hiring-scandal/

Whistleblowers Who Exposed Hiring Offenses at Bonneville Power Administration Win Relief (Government Executive)

http://www.govexec.com/management/2015/04/whistleblowers-who-exposed-hiring-offenses-bonneville-power-administration-win-relief/109174/

The Northwest Struggles with Coal-Generated Power from Out of State (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/article/the-northwest-struggles-with-coal-generated-power-from-out-of-state/

Bonneville Power Administration Selects Final Path for Its Hooper Springs Transmission Project (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2015/04/bonneville-power-administration-selects.html

Seattle Residents May Get Money after City Power Surge (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/seattle-residents-may-get-money-after-city-power-s/nkmCM/

White House Releases Clean Energy Fact Sheet Ahead of President Obama’s Speech in Utah (KSTU-TV, Salt Lake City, UT)

http://fox13now.com/2015/04/03/white-house-releases-clean-energy-fact-sheet-ahead-of-president-obamas-speech-in-utah/

FISH & WILDLIFE

More Bad News for British Columbia’s Wild Sockeye – Pink salmon populations augmented by hatchery programs hurt sockeye returns, study finds (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/news/b-c/more-bad-news-for-b-c-s-wild-sockeye-1.1812260

California: Non-Native Fish in San Joaquin River Newest Invasive Species (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/local/article17259011.html

Taking Action on Climate Change Helps Birds Now (Audubon Society)

http://www.audubon.org/news/taking-action-climate-change-helps-birds-now

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Video: No Mountain Snow in the Pacific Northwest Could Hurt Fish, Shipping, Recreation (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.kgw.com/story/news/local/green/2015/04/02/no-mountain-snow-could-hurt-fish-shipping-recreation/70862634/

Klamath Basin Water Users Brace for another Dry Year (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2015/04/klamath_basin_water_users_brac.html

Washington State to Lease Water to Bolster Summer Stream Flow (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/home/3048528-8/state-to-lease-water-to-bolster-summer-stream

California Drought: Who Might Feel New Water Restrictions the Most? (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2015/0401/California-drought-Who-might-feel-new-water-restrictions-the-most-video

NASA Scientist to the World: California has One Year of Water Left (Breaking Energy)

http://breakingenergy.com/2015/04/02/nasa-scientist-to-the-world-california-has-one-year-of-water-left/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Schweitzer Labs Puts ‘Game-Changing’ Battery Power to Test in Pullman (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/apr/03/schweitzer-labs-puts-game-changing-battery-power/

Why It Can Take So Long to Get Rooftop Solar Connected to the Grid (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/why-it-can-take-so-long-to-get-rooftop-solar-connected-to-the-grid/382278/

This Affordable Housing Complex Has a Solar Farm on Its Roof (Grist Online)

http://grist.org/climate-energy/this-affordable-housing-complex-has-a-solar-farm-on-its-roof/

Obama Pushes to Train Veterans for Solar Power (The Hill, Washington, DC)
http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/237811-obama-pushes-to-train-veterans-for-solar-power

New Interactive Map Shows Big Potential for America’s Wind Energy Future (U-S Energy Information Administration)

http://energy.gov/articles/new-interactive-map-shows-big-potential-america-s-wind-energy-future

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Corporate America's Position on the EPA's Clean Power Act (The Guardian, UK)

http://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2015/apr/02/corporate-america-climate-change-position-epa

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Oregon Could Soon Pay You $3,000 to Buy an Electric Vehicle (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/04/oregon-could-soon-pay-you-3-000-to-buy-an-electric.html

California Could Rein in Tesla Rebates That Mostly Go to Wealthy (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_27837137/california-could-rein-tesla-rebates-that-mostly-go

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Represented: Data Centers and Taxation in Central Oregon (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/thinkoutloud/segment/represented-data-centers-and-taxation-in-central-oregon/

Frontier Boosts Broadband Speeds in Washington State, Offering Customers Up to 150 Mbps (Geekwire)

http://www.geekwire.com/2015/frontier-boosts-broadband-speeds-in-washington-state-offering-customers-up-to-150-mbps/

Verizon Latest to Bury 'Broadcast TV Fee' Below the Line (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Verizon-Latest-To-Bury-Broadcast-TV-Fee-Below-The-Line-133208

Another Casualty in Yemen: Internet Stability (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2015/04/02/another-casualty-in-yemen-internet-stability/?wprss=rss_technology

Monkeys 'Hinder India Internet Drive' – They’re Trying to Get More Fiber in Their Diet (British Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-32172798

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

How Facebook Knows Who All Your Friends Are, Even Better Than You Do (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-intersect/wp/2015/04/02/how-facebook-knows-who-all-your-friends-are-even-better-than-you-do/?wprss=rss_technology

This Bank Found a Way for Men to Browse Pinterest without Feeling Ashamed (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/bank-found-way-men-browse-pinterest-without-feeling-ashamed-163862

Utilities Embrace Social Media, Surging Self-Generation of Power (Transmission & Distribution World – BGE has a 3.6% Facebook like to customer ratio)

http://tdworld.com/energy-business/utilities-embrace-social-media-surging-self-generation-power?NL=TDW-14&Issue=TDW-14_20150402_TDW-14_56&sfvc4enews=42&cl=article_3&utm_rid=CPG04000000114899

Ted Cruz Has a Swag Problem – A Few Tchotchkes Can Go a Long Way (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/politics/first-draft/2015/04/03/ted-cruz-has-a-swag-problem/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State House Passes Budget (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://www.kxro.com/house-passes-budget/

Inslee Laments Demise of $12 Minimum Wage Bill, Hints at Ballot Measure (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwnewsnetwork.org/post/inslee-laments-demise-12-minimum-wage-bill-hints-ballot-measure

Oregon Denies Money for Former First Lady's Email Release Fight (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/04/03/us-usa-politics-oregon-idUSKBN0MU05720150403

GENERAL NEWS

Olympia Tire Shop Employees Thwart Man's Attack (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/olympia-tire-shop-employees-thwart-mans-attack/nkmNK/

Lightning Strikes Two Jets on Approach to Sea-Tac Airport (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.katu.com/blogs/weather/Watch-Lightning-strikes-two-jets-on-approach-to-Sea-Tac-Airport-298483801.html

Tulalip Tribal Member Accused of Clubbing Eagles to Death, Trying to Sell Them (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/komo/article/Charge-Man-clubbed-eagles-to-death-tried-to-6177072.php

Too Many Amber Alert Notifications Worry Cell Phone Owners (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Too-many-Amber-Alerts-worry-cell-phone-owners-298561091.html

Autonomous Car Drives from San Francisco to New York (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/drive/ci_27837159/autonomous-car-drives-from-san-francisco-new-york

DIVERSIONS

This TRON Motorbike Is Totally Functional, And Yes, You Can Buy It

http://gizmodo.com/this-tron-motorbike-is-totally-functional-and-yes-you-1695180526

Utah Man Returns 75-Pound Bag of Cash Found on Highway

http://news.yahoo.com/utah-man-returns-75-pound-bag-cash-found-213057117.html

Tiny Songbird Tracked across 1,700 Miles of Open Ocean

http://news.yahoo.com/tiny-songbird-tracked-across-1-700-miles-open-231334828.html

Lucille Ball Fans Want ‘Frightening’ Statue in Star’s Hometown Removed

http://news.yahoo.com/lucille-ball-fans-want--frightening--statue-in-star-s-hometown-removed-215927032.html

SONG OF THE DAY

The Mambo Kings - Beautiful Maria of My Soul (English)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ft_r0czoVRk

The Mambo Kings - Beautiful Maria of My Soul (Spanish)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6p5Ec6cLaU4

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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

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

Energy News Digest for April 2, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for April 2, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/pa3kcks

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

Portland Nuclear Firm Hits another Small Module Milestone (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/04/portland-nuclear-firm-hits-another-small-module.html

Governor Issues Mandatory Water Cuts as California Snowpack Hits Record Low (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article17115506.html

Embattled Washington State Auditor Responds to Questions from Governor (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwnewsnetwork.org/post/embattled-state-auditor-responds-questions-inslee

Editorial: Proposal to Lease Click Merits Serious Consideration (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/04/01/3719467_proposal-to-lease-click-merits.html?rh=1

Including “Incremental Hydro”: House Committee Advances Three Senator Brown Bills (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/04/01/3490873_house-committee-advances-3-sen.html?rh=1

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1. Portland Nuclear Firm Hits another Small Module Milestone
2. Columbia River Coal Terminal Gets Oregon’s Water-Quality OK
3. Op/Ed: Dirty Fuel Exports Darken Pacific Northwest’s Earth Day
4. Mason PUD 3 Commission Report – March 31, 2015 Business Meeting
5. New U-S Senate Push for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program
6. New York: Landlord’s Lawyer Blames Con Ed in East Village Explosion
7. U-S House Panel Inquiring into Former Energy Official’s, Dan Poneman, $1.7 Million Job
8. Columbia Tanglenets Fall Short of Expected Salmon Catch
9. Idaho Senate OKs Making Sage Grouse Protection Info Private
10. Are Orcas Making a Comeback in the Pacific Northwest?
11. The Price of Progress – Why the Spokane Tribe Says It's Still Owed for Grand Coulee Dam
12. Governor Issues Mandatory Water Cuts as California Snowpack Hits Record Low
13. Expected Yakima Basin Drought Worsens after March Brings Little Snow, Officials Say
14. Woodland Wastewater Utility Whistleblower Claims Retaliation by City
15. Including “Incremental Hydro”: House Committee Advances Three Senator Brown Bills
16. Northwest U-S Wind Power Output Falls in 2015
17. Renewable Portfolio Standards under Attack across America
18. Hawaii’s Utility is Approving a Backlog of More Than 3,000 Solar Installations
19. Why the Graphene Light Bulb Could Switch on a New Era of Innovation
20. Fix the Missing “And” – Maine Lawmakers Debating Solution for Mistaken Efficiency Funding Cut
21. April 15 Marks Hot Water Heater Regulations Affecting Homeowners
22. Ten Best Marijuana Strains of March
23. California Drought Is Worsened by Global Warming, Scientists Say
24. Composting Toilets Help Make This Seattle Building 'One of the Most Important in the World'
25. Editorial: Proposal to Lease Click Merits Serious Consideration
26. AT&T Shows Cupertino Precisely What Broadband Competition (Or the Lack Thereof) Looks Like
27. Comcast to Start Offering 2Gbps Internet Service in Atlanta Next Month
28. For 7% of Americans, Smartphone is Only Link to Internet
29. Good Bye Bellevue: Expedia to Move HQ to Seattle
30. Nine Things Brands Should Consider Before Launching a Blog
31. How to Optimize Social Media Images
32. The Internet’s First Gatekeepers Are Getting Older – The Web Is Leaving Them Behind
33. 29 People Who Can't Stand Your Stupid Branded April Fools' Joke
34. Embattled Washington State Auditor Responds to Questions from Governor
35. Embattled Washington State Auditor Skips Olympia Committee Hearing
36. Indiana Unveils Changes to Religion Bill; Arkansas in Flux
37. Mason Transit Authority’s Transit-Community Center Starts Off in High Gear
38. 125 Years, 100 Million Trees for Green Diamond
39. Two Separate Mason County Collisions Involving School Buses Wednesday
40. Mason PUD 1 Places Second in South Sound for AWWA Water Taste Test Competition

WORD OF THE DAY

Today’s word of the day has a stand-in: it’s a surprise visit from its cousin “phrase of the day”!

 “STEAL MY THUNDER” – John Dennis, 1709

The Story behind It: John Dennis, English critic and playwright, invented a new way of simulating the sound of thunder on stage and used the method in one of his plays, Appius and Virginia. Dennis "made" thunder by using "troughs of wood with stops in them" instead of the large mustard bowls usually employed. The thunder was a great success, but Dennis's play was a dismal failure. The manager at Drury Lane, where the play was performed, canceled its run after only a few performances. A short time later, Dennis returned to Drury Lane to see Shakespeare's Macbeth. As he sat in the pit, he was horrified to discover that his method of making thunder was being used. Jumping to his feet, Dennis screamed at the audience, "That's my thunder, by God! The villains will not play my play but they steal my thunder." -- From Trivia-Library.com

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Portland Nuclear Firm Hits another Small Module Milestone (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/04/portland-nuclear-firm-hits-another-small-module.html

Columbia River Coal Terminal Gets Oregon’s Water-Quality OK (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/apr/01/columbia-coal-terminal-gets-water-quality-ok/

Op/Ed: Dirty Fuel Exports Darken Pacific Northwest’s Earth Day (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2015/03/guest-opinion-dirty-fuel-exports-darken-nws-earth-day/

Mason PUD 3 Commission Report – March 31, 2015 Business Meeting (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=1501

New U-S Senate Push for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/public-policy-watch/legislation/new-senate-push-for-liheap/79694

New York: Landlord’s Lawyer Blames Con Ed in East Village Explosion (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/02/nyregion/landlords-lawyer-blames-con-ed-in-east-village-explosion.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

U-S House Panel Inquiring into Former Energy Official’s, Dan Poneman, $1.7 Million Job (Politico)

http://www.politico.com/story/2015/04/dan-poneman-centrus-house-panel-inquiry-116573.html#ixzz3W9RuOdI8

FISH & WILDLIFE

Columbia Tanglenets Fall Short of Expected Salmon Catch (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/sports/oregonian/bill_monroe/index.ssf/2015/04/post_157.html

Idaho Senate OKs Making Sage Grouse Protection Info Private (Associated Press)

http://www.argusobserver.com/news/idaho-senate-oks-making-sage-grouse-protection-info-private/article_cadc3188-d88f-11e4-b600-770279abf44e.html

Are Orcas Making a Comeback in the Pacific Northwest? (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2015/0401/Are-orcas-making-a-comeback-in-the-Pacific-Northwest-video

The Price of Progress – Why the Spokane Tribe Says It's Still Owed for Grand Coulee Dam (The Inlander, Spokane, WA)

http://www.inlander.com/spokane/the-price-of-progress/Content?oid=2434910

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Governor Issues Mandatory Water Cuts as California Snowpack Hits Record Low (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article17115506.html

Expected Yakima Basin Drought Worsens after March Brings Little Snow, Officials Say (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/04/01/3490833/expected-yakima-basin-drought.html

Woodland Wastewater Utility Whistleblower Claims Retaliation by City (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

http://koin.com/2015/04/01/woodland-whistleblower-claims-retaliation-by-city/

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Including “Incremental Hydro”: House Committee Advances Three Senator Brown Bills (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/04/01/3490873_house-committee-advances-3-sen.html?rh=1

Northwest U-S Wind Power Output Falls in 2015 (Argus Media)

http://www.argusmedia.com/News/Article?id=1017550

Renewable Portfolio Standards under Attack across America (Renewable Energy World)

http://theenergycollective.com/silviomarcacci/2212276/renewable-portfolio-standards-under-attack-across-america

Hawaii’s Utility is Approving a Backlog of More Than 3,000 Solar Installations (Green Tech Media)

http://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/Hawaiis-Utility-is-Approving-a-Backlog-of-More-Than-3000-Solar-Installati

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Why the Graphene Light Bulb Could Switch on a New Era of Innovation (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/wp/2015/04/02/why-the-graphene-light-bulb-could-switch-on-a-new-era-of-innovation/?wprss=rss_national

Fix the Missing “And” – Maine Lawmakers Debating Solution for Mistaken Efficiency Funding Cut (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/maine-lawmakers-debating-fix-for-mistaken-efficiency-funding-cut/382398/

April 15 Marks Hot Water Heater Regulations Affecting Homeowners (Thurston Talks, Olympia, WA)

http://www.thurstontalk.com/2015/04/01/naeca-hot-water-heater/

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Ten Best Marijuana Strains of March (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/marijuana/2015/04/01/ten-best-marijuana-strains-of-march/#16788101=0

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

California Drought Is Worsened by Global Warming, Scientists Say (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/02/science/california-drought-is-worsened-by-global-warming-scientists-say.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Composting Toilets Help Make This Seattle Building 'One of the Most Important in the World' (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2015/04/composting-toilets-help-make-this-seattle-building.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Editorial: Proposal to Lease Click Merits Serious Consideration (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/04/01/3719467_proposal-to-lease-click-merits.html?rh=1

AT&T Shows Cupertino Precisely What Broadband Competition (Or the Lack Thereof) Looks Like (TechDirt)

https://www.techdirt.com/blog/netneutrality/articles/20150401/05424230512/att-shows-cupertino-precisely-what-broadband-competition-lack-thereof-looks-like.shtml

Comcast to Start Offering 2Gbps Internet Service in Atlanta Next Month (Mashable)

http://mashable.com/2015/04/02/comcast-2gbps-internet-atlanta/

For 7% of Americans, Smartphone is Only Link to Internet (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/04/01/smartphone-dependent-7-pew/70672728/

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Good Bye Bellevue: Expedia to Move HQ to Seattle (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

http://www.seattlepi.com/business/article/Expedia-to-move-HQ-to-Seattle-6174631.php

Nine Things Brands Should Consider Before Launching a Blog (Mashable)

http://mashable.com/2015/04/02/blog-brands/

How to Optimize Social Media Images (Social Media Examiner)

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-to-optimize-social-media-images/

The Internet’s First Gatekeepers Are Getting Older – The Web Is Leaving Them Behind (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2015/04/01/the-internets-first-gatekeepers-are-getting-older-and-the-web-is-leaving-them-behind/?wprss=rss_business

29 People Who Can't Stand Your Stupid Branded April Fools' Joke – The Backlash is Real (AdWeek – Ed. Note: Why would ANYONE who has spent so much sweat and effort to make their brand a reliable, trusted source of information/service risk it all on a stupid April Fool’s joke. Remember this adage: one D-S erases ten “attaboys.”)

http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/29-people-who-cant-stand-your-stupid-branded-april-fools-joke-163799

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Embattled Washington State Auditor Responds to Questions from Governor (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwnewsnetwork.org/post/embattled-state-auditor-responds-questions-inslee

Embattled Washington State Auditor Skips Olympia Committee Hearing (Associated Press)

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/Embattled-state-auditor-skips-Olympia-committee-hearing-298333511.html

Indiana Unveils Changes to Religion Bill; Arkansas in Flux (Associated Press)

http://www.khq.com/story/28701140/indiana-unveils-changes-to-religion-bill-arkansas-in-flux

Bonus word of the day:

Embattled • \em-BATT-tulled\ • Adjective – Engaged in battle or conflict: surrounded by enemies; constantly criticized or attacked - 1a: ready to fight: prepared to give battle b: engaged in battle, conflict, or controversy 2a: being a site of battle, conflict, or controversy b: characterized by conflict or controversy

GENERAL NEWS

Mason Transit Authority’s Transit-Community Center Starts Off in High Gear (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://kmasnewsradio.com/news/local-state-news/22188-mta-s-transit-community-center-starts-off-in-high-gear

125 Years, 100 Million Trees for Green Diamond (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://kmasnewsradio.com/news/local-state-news/22185-125-years-for-green-diamond

Two Separate Mason County Collisions Involving School Buses Wednesday (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/14898

Mason PUD 1 Places Second in South Sound for AWWA Water Taste Test Competition (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/14906

DIVERSIONS

Why the April 4 Lunar Eclipse Will be Different

http://www.csmonitor.com/Science/2015/0331/Why-this-next-lunar-eclipse-will-be-different

The Only Thing Better than a Chocolate Bunny is This Life-Size Chocolate Benedict Cumberbatch

http://time.com/3768686/benedict-cumberbatch-chocolate-sculpture/

“Let Them Eat Cake” – Ice-Cold Camembert' Blamed for Lawmaker’s Expenses Claims

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-news-from-elsewhere-32160250

Woman Who Chased Down Google Street View Car And Flashed It Could Now be Facing Charges

http://consumerist.com/2015/04/01/woman-who-chased-down-google-street-view-car-and-flashed-it-could-now-be-facing-charges/

SONG OF THE DAY

Tony Bennett, Lady Gaga - The Lady is a Tramp

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

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.