Energy News Digest for May 5, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for May 5, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/d45ylov

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

Software Error Caused Avista to Overestimate Washington State Rate Request (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/may/04/software-error-caused-avista-overestimate-rate-req/

Canadian Hydropower can Help States Achieve Carbon-Cutting Goals (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/kyleaarons/2222231/canadian-hydropower-can-help-states-achieve-carbon-cutting-goals

Editorial: Columbia River Treaty Talks Need to Start Now (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/04/30/3537655_our-voice-columbia-river-treaty.html?rh=1

Editorial: Local Company Ups the Ante on Click Lease Proposal (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/04/30/3766990/local-company-ups-the-ante-on.html

Yakima Basin Water Supply Outlook Worsens Again (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/latestlocalnews/3139994-8/yakima-basin-water-supply-outlook-worsens-again

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1. Software Error Caused Avista to Overestimate Washington State Rate Request
2. Editorial: Columbia River Treaty Talks Need to Start Now
3. Public Power Weekly Exclusive: Seattle City Light to Test ‘Self-Healing’ Power Lines
4. Mason PUD 3 Commission Report – April 28, 2015 Business Meeting
5. Minnesota Investor Owned Utility Gets OK to Sell Assets to 12 Electric Co-Ops
6. Demand Response, Saved by Congress, Thrives in Rural Areas
7. Comcast Still Experimenting with Offering Electricity
8. Op/Ed: Planned Cormorant Slaughter Is Not Necessary
9. Salmon Summit Going on Tuesday & Wednesday in Columbia Park in Kennewick 
10. Yakima Basin Water Supply Outlook Worsens Again
11. Odessa Subarea Irrigators File Lawsuit against U-S Bureau of Reclamation
12. Congressman Newhouse Leads Effort for Federal Funding of Water Storage Projects
13. Drought Could Mean Less Whitewater, More Demand from Rafters
14. Blue Frog Solar Honored as Emerging Manufacturer
15. California Utilities Ready Plans for Community Solar Programs
16. Shift in U-S Federal Solar Funding Needed for Large-Scale Deployment: Report
17. Compromise Reached for Softened Kansas Renewable Energy Standards
18. Op/Ed: The Wind Power Industry Could Lose the Subsidy Tailwind at It’s Back
19. How GE Plans to Benefit from Jacksonville’s Data-Sucking Streetlights
20. Entertainment Devices Emerging as Energy Hogs in Homes
21. Are Front-Loading Washers Still Mold Machines?
22. Bill to Legitimize Marijuana Money Introduced in U-S House
23. Tesla Battery Could Help Cannabis Growers Cut Energy Use
24. Canadian Hydropower can Help States Achieve Carbon-Cutting Goals
25. How Would Climate Change Regulations Help Now? Study Seeks Answer
26. What Backing up Your Home with Tesla’s Battery Might Be Like
27. Editorial: Local Company Ups the Ante on Click! Lease Proposal
28. The FCC’s Chairman Has a Killer Plan to Fight Its Net Neutrality Lawsuits
29. Net Neutrality Is Already Improving Internet Connections & It Hasn’t Even Gone Into Effect
30. ‘Internet of Things’ Demands More Web Addresses, Internet Founder Says
31. The Internet’s Dark Side You Don’t Use
32. Joseph Lechleider, a Father of the DSL Internet Technology, Dies at 82
33. LinkedIn Follows Twitter, Shocks Social Media Investors
34. Campaign Coverage via Snapchat Could Shake Up the 2016 Elections
35. With Boxing Match, Video Piracy Battle Enters Latest Round: Mobile Apps
36. The Internet Archive Has Grown Up with a Gorgeous New Design
37. Op/Ed: Invest In Mason County’s Future by Building a Diverse Economy
38. Editorial: Simpson Pulling Up Stakes Is Painful
39. Weyerhaeuser Hopes for Wood Products Bounceback
40. Belfair Toddler Returned Home Safe after She Was Found Wandering Several Blocks Away
41. Worker with Ties to Washington State Auditor Troy Kelley Fired
42. Judge Dismisses Lawsuit against Quinault Indian Nation over Lake Ownership
43. Big Surf Keeps Rolling Along Southern California Coast, Draws Bodysurfers, Crowds to Beaches

WORD OF THE DAY

Mise-en-scène • \meez-awn-SENN\ • noun - 1a: the arrangement of actors & scenery on a stage for a theatrical production b: stage setting 2a: the physical setting of an action (as of a narrative or a motion picture): context b: environment, milieu

The utility’s accounting department had the misfortune to work for a supervisor whose hobbies included improv theater…based on “Star Trek’s” Klingon mythology. To the staff’s immense displeasure, the last day of each workweek had been converted from casual Friday to the Klingon ritual “Rite of passage.”

At the start of each Friday, along employees dressing in costume, the boardroom was converted into a mise-en-scène of Klingon finery. Each employee, from the mail boy to the head accountant was required to chant “Today I am a Warrior. I must show you my heart. I travel the river of blood.” Thankfully, members of the gauntlet used rolled up newspapers to whack the participants as they fled the room, instead of traditional Klingon painsticks.

(I am ashamed I know even THIS much about Klingons)

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Software Error Caused Avista to Overestimate Washington State Rate Request (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/may/04/software-error-caused-avista-overestimate-rate-req/

Editorial: Columbia River Treaty Talks Need to Start Now (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/04/30/3537655_our-voice-columbia-river-treaty.html?rh=1

Public Power Weekly Exclusive: Seattle City Light to Test ‘Self-Healing’ Power Lines (American Public Power Association)

http://www.publicpower.org/Media/daily/ArticleDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=43771

Mason PUD 3 Commission Report – April 28, 2015 Business Meeting (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=1511

Minnesota Investor Owned Utility Gets OK to Sell Assets to 12 Electric Co-Ops (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/minnesota-iou-gets-ok-to-sell-assets-to-12-co-ops/393993/

Demand Response, Saved by Congress, Thrives in Rural Areas (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)

http://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/consumers-powersource/2015/05/05/Managing-the-load-in-rural-areas/stories/201505120003

Comcast Still Experimenting with Offering Electricity (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Comcast-Still-Experimenting-With-Offering-Electricity-133631

FISH & WILDLIFE

Op/Ed: Planned Cormorant Slaughter Is Not Necessary (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2015/05/planned_cormorant_slaughter_is.html

Salmon Summit Going on Tuesday & Wednesday in Columbia Park in Kennewick (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Tri Cities, WA)

http://www.nbcrightnow.com/story/28976022/salmon-summit-going-on-tuesday-wednesday-in-columbia-park-in-kennewick

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Yakima Basin Water Supply Outlook Worsens Again (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/latestlocalnews/3139994-8/yakima-basin-water-supply-outlook-worsens-again

Odessa Subarea Irrigators File Lawsuit against U-S Bureau of Reclamation (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/odessa-subarea-irrigators-file-lawsuit-against-usbr/article_85dc88dc-f2b4-11e4-9b7b-5f8bc52fd98c.html

Congressman Newhouse Leads Effort for Federal Funding of Water Storage Projects (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/yhr/sunday/3128043-8/newhouse-leads-effort-for-federal-funding-of-water

Drought Could Mean Less Whitewater, More Demand from Rafters (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwnewsnetwork.org/post/drought-could-mean-less-whitewater-more-demand-rafters

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Blue Frog Solar Honored as Emerging Manufacturer (Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/kpbj/blue-frog-solar-honored-as-emerging-manufacturer

California Utilities Ready Plans for Community Solar Programs (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-utilities-ready-plans-for-community-solar-programs/394045/

Shift in U-S Federal Solar Funding Needed for Large-Scale Deployment: Report (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/05/us-usa-solar-idUSKBN0NQ08320150505

Compromise Reached for Softened Kansas Renewable Energy Standards (Kansas City Star, MO)

http://www.kansascity.com/news/government-politics/article20186187.html

Op/Ed: The Wind Power Industry Could Lose the Subsidy Tailwind at It’s Back (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/chrisversace/2015/05/03/the-wind-power-industry-could-lose-the-subsidy-tailwind-at-its-back/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

How GE Plans to Benefit from Jacksonville’s Data-Sucking Streetlights (Jacksonville Business Journal, FL)

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2015/05/04/how-ge-plans-to-benefit-from-jacksonvilles-data.html

Entertainment Devices Emerging as Energy Hogs in Homes (E&E Publishing)

http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060017884

Are Front-Loading Washers Still Mold Machines? (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2015/05/04/are-front-loading-washers-still-mold-machines/

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Bill to Legitimize Marijuana Money Introduced in U-S House (Congressman Denny Heck)

http://dennyheck.house.gov/media-center/in-the-news/bill-to-legitimize-marijuana-money-introduced-in-house

Tesla Battery Could Help Cannabis Growers Cut Energy Use (Marijuana Business Daily)

http://mjbizdaily.com/suggested-hed-tesla-battery-could-help-keep-plants-growing-in-outages/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Canadian Hydropower can Help States Achieve Carbon-Cutting Goals (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/kyleaarons/2222231/canadian-hydropower-can-help-states-achieve-carbon-cutting-goals

How Would Climate Change Regulations Help Now? Study Seeks Answer (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2015/0504/How-would-climate-change-regulations-help-now-Study-seeks-answer

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

What Backing up Your Home with Tesla’s Battery Might Be Like (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/05/01/what-backing-up-your-home-with-teslas-battery-might-be-like/?wprss=rss_technology

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Editorial: Local Company Ups the Ante on Click! Lease Proposal (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/04/30/3766990/local-company-ups-the-ante-on.html

The FCC’s Chairman Has a Killer Plan to Fight Its Net Neutrality Lawsuits (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2015/05/04/the-fccs-chairman-has-a-killer-plan-to-fight-its-net-neutrality-lawsuits/?wprss=rss_business

Net Neutrality Is Already Improving Internet Connections & It Hasn’t Even Gone Into Effect (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2015/05/01/net-neutrality-is-already-improving-internet-connections-and-it-hasnt-even-gone-into-effect/

‘Internet of Things’ Demands More Web Addresses, Internet Founder Says (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/05/04/vint-cerf-internet-of-things-needs-more-sites/26890517/

The Internet’s Dark Side You Don’t Use (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/komando/2015/05/01/internet-dark-web/26452515/

Joseph Lechleider, a Father of the DSL Internet Technology, Dies at 82 (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/05/business/yoga-rooms-offer-a-quiet-break-in-hectic-airports.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

LinkedIn Follows Twitter, Shocks Social Media Investors (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/01/us-socialmedia-stocks-idUSKBN0NM42220150501

Campaign Coverage via Snapchat Could Shake Up the 2016 Elections (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/04/business/media/campaign-coverage-via-snapchat-could-shake-up-the-2016-elections.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

With Boxing Match, Video Piracy Battle Enters Latest Round: Mobile Apps (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/05/05/technology/with-boxing-match-video-piracy-battle-enters-latest-round-mobile-apps.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

The Internet Archive Has Grown Up with a Gorgeous New Design (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/the-internet-archive-has-grown-up-with-a-gorgeous-new-d-1702174418

GENERAL NEWS

Op/Ed: Invest In Mason County’s Future by Building a Diverse Economy (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/15158

Editorial: Simpson Pulling Up Stakes Is Painful (Olympian - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.theolympian.com/2015/05/01/3702867/simpson-pulling-up-stakes-is-painful.html

Weyerhaeuser Hopes for Wood Products Bounceback (South Sound Business Examiner)

http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/May-2015/Weyerhaeuser-hopes-for-wood-products-bounceback/

Belfair Toddler Returned Home Safe after She Was Found Wandering Several Blocks Away (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/belfair-toddler-returned-home-safe-after-she-was-found-wandering-several-blocks-away/

Worker with Ties to Washington State Auditor Troy Kelley Fired (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/may/05/worker-with-ties-to-auditor-troy-kelley-fired/

Judge Dismisses Lawsuit against Quinault Indian Nation over Lake Ownership (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://www.kxro.com/judge-dismisses-lawsuit-against-quinault-indian-nation/

Big Surf Keeps Rolling Along Southern California Coast, Draws Bodysurfers, Crowds to Beaches (Associated Press)

http://www.usnews.com/news/science/news/articles/2015/05/04/huge-waves-in-california-lure-surfers-cause-minor-flooding

DIVERSIONS

Microsoft’s Age-Guessing Tool Takes on History’s Most Iconic Portraits

http://gizmodo.com/microsofts-age-guessing-tool-takes-on-historys-most-ico-1701985099

Dog Poop Samples Demanded by Burnaby Apartment Landlord

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/dog-poop-samples-demanded-by-burnaby-apartment-landlord-1.3061379?cmp=rss

Roman Mosaics Are Almost Unrecognizable after Botched Restoration Work

http://mashable.com/2015/05/05/turkey-mosaics-ruined/

Man Caught Jamming on Guitar (his bass, actually) While Driving

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/weird-news/man-caught-playing-guitar-while-driving/nk84W/

SONG OF THE DAY

Elton John - Song for Guy

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsOpexp-Av4

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 May 4, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for May 4, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/d45ylov

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

Court of Appeals Rules Klickitat County PUD Must Pay for 2010 Wildfire (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/latestlocalnews/3128403-8/court-of-appeals-rules-klickitat-county-pud-must

Tesla’s Battery Technology to Power Homes, Businesses (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/business/article19995996.html

Seattle Activists Push for City-Run, High-Speed Internet Service (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://tinyurl.com/mjsnpqv

Scientists Monitor Undersea Volcanic Eruption Off Oregon Coast (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/02/us-usa-volcano-oregon-idUSKBN0NM4JB20150502

Two Sea Lions Die in Trap at Bonneville Dam (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/article/two-sea-lions-die-in-trap-at-bonneville-dam/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Court of Appeals Rules Klickitat County PUD Must Pay for 2010 Wildfire
• Snohomish PUD Probes Allegations of Unfair Contracts
• Taxpayers: Don’t Send Jefferson PUD Your Property Taxes
• History Month: How the Cowlitz PUD Came to Be
• Supreme Court to Review U-S Electricity Market Efficiency Rule
• Electric Smart Meters Operating in Two-Way Mode Surpasses One-Way Smart Meters
• Three Serious Failures in Transmission Planning & How to Fix Them
• Two Sea Lions Die in Trap at Bonneville Dam
• White Salmon River Evolves Amid Mixed Feelings
• Sammamish Residents Say Development Would Add Traffic, Harm Salmon
• Willapa-Grays Harbor Oyster Growers Association & DOE Cancel Pesticide Permit
• Oyster Heaven: Hama Hama Hits Upon a Tasty Business Model
• New Sea Star Babies Offer Hope amid Mass Deaths in Pacific
• Low Water Forecasts at Dalles Dam Will Impact How Much Montana Reservoirs Will Be Drawn Down
• California: Sacramento Water Coalition Works to Avoid Feared ‘Dead Pool’ at Folsom Dam
• Initiative 937 – Carbon Reduction Investments are Smart Strategy for Electric Sector
• Montana: Second Wind Farm Going up near Fairfield
• U-S Senator Lamar Alexander Blasts EPA for Favoring Wind & Solar over Nuclear Power
• Co-ops Rank Highly on Solar Top 10 List
• Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Enhanced Geothermal Systems
• Washington State Group Challenging New Medical Marijuana Law
• California Pot Legalization Effort Is All About Details
• Editorial: Washington State’s Drought Is a Natural Cycle
• Tesla’s Battery Technology to Power Homes, Businesses
• Northwest Students Take to the Track in Lacey Electric Car Rally
• Road-Tripping on the West Coast Electric Highway
• Seattle Activists Push for City-Run, High-Speed Internet Service
• Comcast’s Internet Subscribers Surpass Cable TV Customers
• Large Saturday Comcast Outage Comes at Terrible Time for Fight Fans
• Cutting the Cord: Navigating Streaming Services & Living without Cable TV
• Choosing an Internet Service Provider: Tips for Cord-Cutters
• Olympia Students, Educators Talk Technology
• Seven Ways Your Facebook Page Can Help Your Business
• Washington State Lawmakers Might Expand Their Social Network
• Carly Fiorina Really Should Have Remembered to Register Her Domain Name
• Philip Morris International Uses Copyright Claims to Quiet Marlboro Critics
• Search of Washington State Auditor Troy Kelley’s House, Computers Raises More Questions
• Scientists Monitor Undersea Volcanic Eruption Off Oregon Coast
• Wood Stove Smoke Down – Washington State’s Air Quality Is Back in Line Again
• The Most (and Least) Polluted Cities in America
• Mason County: Filing for Public Office Begins Next Week
• Hupp Withdraws from Port of Shelton Commission Race
• Change of Date & Venue for the Next Downtown Shelton Visioning Meeting
• Police Shoot Dead Two Gunmen at Texas Exhibit of Prophet Mohammad Cartoons

WORD OF THE DAY

Doyen • \DOY-un\ • noun – *1: the senior or most experienced member of a group 2: the oldest example of a category

“Man, at 98 years old you’re the oldest employee here,” shouted Biff at handsome Buck Mulligan. “The thing is, you don’t look a day over 30. I’ll bet there’s a picture of Doyen Gray somewhere in your attic!”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Court of Appeals Rules Klickitat County PUD Must Pay for 2010 Wildfire (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/latestlocalnews/3128403-8/court-of-appeals-rules-klickitat-county-pud-must

Snohomish PUD Probes Allegations of Unfair Contracts (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Snohomish-Co-PUD-probes-allegations-of-unfair-contracts-302415321.html

Taxpayers: Don’t Send Jefferson PUD Your Property Taxes – PUD returns $18,000 to county from mistaken online transfers (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

http://www.ptleader.com/news/taxpayers-don-t-send-pud-your-property-taxes/article_32faface-ef60-11e4-b8f5-bb4e72e00ad1.html

History Month: How the Cowlitz PUD Came to Be (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/7e2c50fe-15e9-5450-a1c2-2365a35b1723.html

Supreme Court to Review U-S Electricity Market Efficiency Rule (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/04/us-usa-court-electricity-idUSKBN0NP17020150504

Electric Smart Meters Operating in Two-Way Mode Surpasses One-Way Smart Meters (U-S Energy Information Administration)

http://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/update/

Three Serious Failures in Transmission Planning & How to Fix Them (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/3-serious-failures-in-transmission-planning-and-how-to-fix-them/391504/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Two Sea Lions Die in Trap at Bonneville Dam (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/article/two-sea-lions-die-in-trap-at-bonneville-dam/

White Salmon River Evolves Amid Mixed Feelings – With Condit Dam gone, life goes on, but with many changes, challenges (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/may/03/after-dam-white-salmon-river-evolves-mixed-feeling/

Sammamish Residents Say Development Would Add Traffic, Harm Salmon (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://tinyurl.com/pjo34y2

Willapa-Grays Harbor Oyster Growers Association & DOE Cancel Pesticide Permit (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://www.kxro.com/willapa-grays-harbor-oyster-growers-association-and-doe-cancel-pesticide-permit/

Oyster Heaven: Hama Hama Hits Upon a Tasty Business Model (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.seattletimes.com/pacific-nw-magazine/oyster-heaven-hama-hama-hits-upon-a-tasty-business-model/

New Sea Star Babies Offer Hope amid Mass Deaths in Pacific (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/New-sea-star-babies-offer-hope-amid-mass-deaths-in-Pacific-302416221.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Low Water Forecasts at Dalles Dam Will Impact How Much Montana Reservoirs Will Be Drawn Down (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/433882.aspx

California: Sacramento Water Coalition Works to Avoid Feared ‘Dead Pool’ at Folsom Dam (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article20109969.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Initiative 937 – Carbon Reduction Investments are Smart Strategy for Electric Sector (Plan Washington Catalyst)

http://www.wacatalyst.org/carbon-reduction-investments-point-smart-direction-for-electric-sector-carbon-reduction/

Montana: Second Wind Farm Going up near Fairfield (Great Falls Tribune, MT)
http://www.greatfallstribune.com/story/news/local/2015/05/01/second-wind-farm-going-near-fairfield/26745287/

U-S Senator Lamar Alexander Blasts EPA for Favoring Wind & Solar over Nuclear Power (Chattanooga Times Free Press, TN)
http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2015/apr/29/alexander-blasts-epa-favoring-wind-and-solar-over-nuclear-power/301512/

Co-ops Rank Highly on Solar Top 10 List (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/editors-pick/80809/80809

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Top 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Enhanced Geothermal Systems (Breaking Energy)

http://breakingenergy.com/2015/05/01/top-10-things-you-didnt-know-about-enhanced-geothermal-systems/

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Washington State Group Challenging New Medical Marijuana Law (Marijuana Business Daily)

http://mjbizdaily.com/wa-group-challenging-new-medical-marijuana-law/

California Pot Legalization Effort Is All About Details (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article20103015.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Editorial: Washington State’s Drought Is a Natural Cycle (Omak Chronicle, WA)

http://m.omakchronicle.com/news/2015/apr/22/states-drought-natural-cycle/?templates=mobile

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Tesla’s Battery Technology to Power Homes, Businesses (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/business/article19995996.html

Northwest Students Take to the Track in Lacey Electric Car Rally (Olympian - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.theolympian.com/2015/05/02/3708203_students-take-to-the-track-in.html?rh=1

Road-Tripping on the West Coast Electric Highway (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/road-tripping-west-coast-electric-highway

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Seattle Activists Push for City-Run, High-Speed Internet Service (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://tinyurl.com/mjsnpqv

Comcast’s Internet Subscribers Surpass Cable TV Customers (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2015/05/comcasts_internet_subscribers_1.html

Large Saturday Comcast Outage Comes at Terrible Time for Fight Fans (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/komo/article/Large-Comcast-outage-comes-at-terrible-time-for-6239325.php

Cutting the Cord: Navigating Streaming Services & Living without Cable TV (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2015/05/cutting_the_cord_navigating_st.html

Choosing an Internet Service Provider: Tips for Cord-Cutters (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2015/05/choosing_an_internet_service_p.html

Olympia Students, Educators Talk Technology (Olympian - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.theolympian.com/2015/05/01/3705789_olympia-students-educators-talk.html?rh=1

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Seven Ways Your Facebook Page Can Help Your Business (Social Media Examiner)

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/ways-your-facebook-page-can-help-your-business/

Washington State Lawmakers Might Expand Their Social Network (Olympian - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.theolympian.com/2015/05/02/3707822_state-lawmakers-might-expand-their.html?rh=1

Carly Fiorina Really Should Have Remembered to Register Her Domain Name (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/carly-fiorina-really-should-have-remembered-to-register-1701996944

Philip Morris International Uses Copyright Claims to Quiet Marlboro Critics (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2015/05/01/philip-morris-international-uses-copyright-claims-to-quiet-marlboro-critics/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Search of Washington State Auditor Troy Kelley’s House, Computers Raises More Questions (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwnewsnetwork.org/post/search-troy-kelleys-house-computers-raises-more-questions

GENERAL NEWS

Scientists Monitor Undersea Volcanic Eruption Off Oregon Coast (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/02/us-usa-volcano-oregon-idUSKBN0NM4JB20150502

Wood Stove Smoke Down – Washington State’s Air Quality Is Back in Line Again (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/washingtons-air-quality-back-line-again

The Most (and Least) Polluted Cities in America (Grist Online)

http://grist.org/cities/the-most-and-least-polluted-cities-in-america/

Mason County: Filing for Public Office Begins Next Week (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://kmasnewsradio.com/news/local-state-news/22781-filing-for-public-office-begins-next-week

Hupp Withdraws from Port of Shelton Commission Race (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/15149

Change of Date & Venue for the Next Downtown Shelton Visioning Meeting (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/15146

Police Shoot Dead Two Gunmen at Texas Exhibit of Prophet Mohammad Cartoons (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/05/04/us-usa-shooting-texas-idUSKBN0NP01G20150504

DIVERSIONS

On ‘Star Wars’ Day, May the Fourth Be With You

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/05/03/star-wars-day-may-4/26835319/

Blackboard Chalk Isn’t Really Chalk at All

http://gizmodo.com/blackboard-chalk-isn-t-really-chalk-at-all-1701961875

Let the Debate Begin – Ten Enchanting Cover Songs Better Than the Originals

http://mashable.com/2015/05/04/good-cover-songs/

Joyful Noise or Unholy Din? New Church ‘Bells’ Mean Discord

http://news.yahoo.com/joyful-noise-unholy-din-church-bells-mean-discord-160904316.html

SONG OF THE DAY

John Williams – Best of Star Wars

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJJlP1X4V_s

Similarities? You Be the Judge: Gustav Holst - The Planets

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHVsszW7Nds

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 29, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for April 29, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/ogguhu9

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

Warm Winter, Cold Reality for Portland General Electric Bottom Line (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/04/warm-winter-cold-reality-for-pge-bottom-line.html

Jefferson County: A Tussle over PUD Privilege Taxes – Fire District Wants PUD Tax Money County Kept (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

http://www.ptleader.com/news/a-tussle-over-taxes/article_38c56ae8-edfd-11e4-a965-b37383558464.html

An Active Oregon Volcano Could House a New Renewable Energy Lab (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/04/an-active-oregon-volcano-could-house-a-new.html

Twitter Trading Halted after Shares Plunge on Leaked Earnings (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Twitter-trading-halted-after-shares-plunge-on-6229358.php

Brinnon Man Dies after Collision at East Anthony Road Intersection North of Shelton (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/brinnon-man-dies-after-collision-at-east-anthony-road-intersection-north-of-shelton/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Warm Winter, Cold Reality for Portland General Electric Bottom Line
• Jefferson County: A Tussle over PUD Privilege Taxes – Fire District Wants PUD Tax Money County Kept
• Streamflow Dropped at Merwin Dam to Save Water for Fall
• Fitch Affirms Tacoma’s Electric System Revenue Bonds at ‘AA-’; Outlook Stable
• Fitch Rates Grays Harbor County PUD’s Electric Revenue Bonds ‘A’; Outlook Stable
• Alaska: Power Plant Fire Knocks Out Electricity in Emmonak
• Spring Has Sprung & So Have Power Scams
• Feds Urge Immigrant Victims of Scams to Speak Out
• Biggest Coal Exporter Says Climate Change Won’t Strand Assets
• Will the Quadrennial Energy Review Change Anything?
• Top Ten Things You Didn’t Know about Hydropower
• Disbelief over State Plan to Spray Neurotoxin into Oyster Beds
• King County Taking Insurers to Court Again over Brightwater Wastewater Treatment Plant
• Don’t Blame Drought for Higher Water Rates in Seattle
• California Dems Won’t Fast-Track New Reservoirs
• Builders Flood Congress to Block Obama’s Bid to Regulate Creeks
• An Active Oregon Volcano Could House a New Renewable Energy Lab
• Utility Buy-In Fuels a Boom in Colorado Community Solar
• U-S Energy Demand Slows Except for Industrial, Commercial Sectors
• Port Townsend’s First Retail Marijuana Shop Due to Open Next Month
• Cannabis Farm Gets OK’d by Washington State, Kittitas County
• Sunnyside Bans Marijuana after More than Year of Indecision
• Editorial: Legalized Marijuana – Unforeseen Consequences
• Four Marijuana Plants Require Huge Amounts of Electricity
• California Governor Issues Executive Order to Aggressively Reduce Greenhouse Gases by 2030
• Scientists & Religious Leaders Discuss Climate Change at Vatican
• Amazon: 1% of Tree Species Store 50% of Region’s Carbon
• Oregon Brewers Tasked with Turning Sewage into Suds
• T-Mobile Likely to Bump Out Sprint, Become Third-Largest Carrier as Customer Growth Continues
• Using Comcast Data: One Arrested, Ten Wanted in $1.2 Million Identity Theft Scheme
• American Airlines Planes Grounded by iPad app Error
• AT&T Bills 83 Year Old $24,298 for AOL Dial Up
• Twitter Trading Halted after Shares Plunge on Leaked Earnings
• How One Tweet Wiped $8 Billion Off Twitter’s Value
• Data Analysis Proves That Some Brands Are Really Good At Twitter
• We Already Knew Legacy Media Had a Problem – These Two Charts Are Really Depressing
• Bud Light Apologizes after ‘Up For Whatever’ Slogan Misses Mark, Causes Social Media Uproar
• ‘Seinfeld’ Reruns Headed to Hulu in Rich Deal
• Indicted Washington State Auditor to Begin Unpaid Leave
• Brinnon Man Dies after Collision at East Anthony Road Intersection North of Shelton
• Details: Simpson/Sierra Pacific Industries Deal
• Sierra Pacific’s Shelton Mill Acquisition Won’t Change Things for Aberdeen Mill
• Mason General Hospital Board Approves Shelton Pool Agreement; School Board Needs More Time
• Hupp Running for Shelton Port Commission
• Hero Teacher Speaks Out About Stopping North Thurston Gunman
• Scrap Metal Laws Still Not Deterring Thieves
• NFL Gives Up Tax-Exempt Status, Calls It a ‘Distraction’

WORD OF THE DAY

Alliumphile • \ALLEY-yum-file\ • noun – A lover of garlic

Alfredo was a walking, talking, breathing, fume emitting, advertisement for garlic. As the town’s resident alliumphile, he was often requested to walk on the other side of the street…especially after his morning breakfast of twenty (count-’em, twenty) cloves of pickled elephant garlic. His olfactory-challenged wife had no idea what the fuss was about.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Warm Winter, Cold Reality for Portland General Electric Bottom Line (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/04/warm-winter-cold-reality-for-pge-bottom-line.html

Jefferson County: A Tussle over PUD Privilege Taxes – Fire District Wants PUD Tax Money County Kept (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

http://www.ptleader.com/news/a-tussle-over-taxes/article_38c56ae8-edfd-11e4-a965-b37383558464.html

Streamflow Dropped at Merwin Dam to Save Water for Fall (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/apr/28/streamflow-dropped-merwin-dam-save-water-fall/

Fitch Affirms Tacoma’s Electric System Revenue Bonds at ‘AA-’; Outlook Stable (BusinessWire)

http://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20150428007062/en/Fitch-Affirms-Tacoma-Electric-System-Revenue-Bonds#.VUDyWo7F98E

Fitch Rates Grays Harbor County PUD’s Electric Revenue Bonds ‘A’; Outlook Stable (BusinessWire)

http://finance.yahoo.com/news/fitch-rates-grays-harbor-county-150000159.html

Alaska: Power Plant Fire Knocks Out Electricity in Emmonak (Alaska Dispatch)

https://www.adn.com/article/20150428/power-plant-fire-knocks-out-electricity-emmonak

Spring Has Sprung & So Have Power Scams (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/industry/crime/spring-has-sprung-and-so-have-power-scams/80699

Feds Urge Immigrant Victims of Scams to Speak Out (Inquirer.Net)

http://globalnation.inquirer.net/121721/feds-urge-immigrant-victims-of-scams-to-speak-out/

Biggest Coal Exporter Says Climate Change Won’t Strand Assets (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-28/biggest-coal-exporter-says-climate-change-won-t-strand-assets

Will the Quadrennial Energy Review Change Anything? (Morning Consult)

http://morningconsult.com/2015/04/will-the-quadrennial-energy-review-change-anything/

Top Ten Things You Didn’t Know about Hydropower (Breaking Energy)

http://breakingenergy.com/2015/04/28/top-10-things-you-didnt-know-about-hydropower-2/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Disbelief over State Plan to Spray Neurotoxin into Oyster Beds (Seattle Times, WA)

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/disbelief-over-state-plan-to-spray-neurotoxin-into-oyster-beds/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

King County Taking Insurers to Court Again over Brightwater Wastewater Treatment Plant (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/2015/04/28/king-county-brightwater-lawsuit-pump/26554435/

Don’t Blame Drought for Higher Water Rates in Seattle (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2015/04/dont-blame-drought-for-higher-water-rates-in-seattle/

California Dems Won’t Fast-Track New Reservoirs (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2015/04/28/calif-dems-wont-fast-track-new-reservoirs.htm

Builders Flood Congress to Block Obama’s Bid to Regulate Creeks (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-04-29/builders-flood-congress-to-block-obama-s-bid-to-regulate-creeks

RENEWABLE ENERGY

An Active Oregon Volcano Could House a New Renewable Energy Lab (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/04/an-active-oregon-volcano-could-house-a-new.html

Utility Buy-In Fuels a Boom in Colorado Community Solar (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/utility-buy-in-fuels-a-boom-in-colorado-community-solar/391501/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

U-S Energy Demand Slows Except for Industrial, Commercial Sectors (U-S Energy Information Administration)

http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=21012

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Port Townsend’s First Retail Marijuana Shop Due to Open Next Month (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150428/news/304289991/port-townsend-8217-s-first-retail-marijuana-shop-due-to-open-next

Cannabis Farm Gets OK’d by Washington State, Kittitas County (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

http://www.dailyrecordnews.com/members/cannabis-farm-gets-ok-d-by-state-county/article_556a5ad0-ecfb-11e4-a211-774c225a9f79.html

Sunnyside Bans Marijuana after More than Year of Indecision (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/latestlocalnews/3122131-8/sunnyside-bans-marijuana-after-more-than-year-of

Editorial: Legalized Marijuana – Unforeseen Consequences (The Daily Astorian, OR)

http://www.dailyastorian.com/editorials/20150428/editorial-unforeseen-consequences

Four Marijuana Plants Require Huge Amounts of Electricity (Energy Manager Today)

http://www.energymanagertoday.com/4-pot-plants-require-huge-amounts-of-electricity-0111526/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

California Governor Issues Executive Order to Aggressively Reduce Greenhouse Gases by 2030 (Associated Press)

http://www.usnews.com/news/science/news/articles/2015/04/29/california-touts-aggressive-plan-to-reduce-greenhouse-gases

Scientists & Religious Leaders Discuss Climate Change at Vatican (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/04/29/world/europe/scientists-and-religious-leaders-discuss-climate-change-at-vatican.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Amazon: 1% of Tree Species Store 50% of Region’s Carbon (British Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-32497537

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Oregon Brewers Tasked with Turning Sewage into Suds (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Brewers-tasked-with-turning-sewage-into-suds-301687281.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

T-Mobile Likely to Bump Out Sprint, Become Third-Largest Carrier as Customer Growth Continues (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2015/04/t-mobile-likely-to-bump-out-sprint-become-third.html

Using Comcast Data: One Arrested, Ten Wanted in $1.2 Million Identity Theft Scheme (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/04/28/3534203_1-arrested-10-wanted-in-12-million.html?rh=1

American Airlines Planes Grounded by iPad app Error (British Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-32513066

AT&T Bills 83 Year Old $24,298 for AOL Dial Up (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/ATT-Bills-83-Year-Old-24298-for-AOL-Dial-Up-133543

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Twitter Trading Halted after Shares Plunge on Leaked Earnings (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Twitter-trading-halted-after-shares-plunge-on-6229358.php

How One Tweet Wiped $8 Billion Off Twitter’s Value (British Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-32511932

Data Analysis Proves That Some Brands Are Really Good At Twitter (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2015/04/28/data-analysis-proves-that-some-brands-are-really-good-at-twitter/

We Already Knew Legacy Media Had a Problem – These Two Charts Are Really Depressing (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-fix/wp/2015/04/29/we-already-knew-legacy-media-had-a-problem-but-these-two-charts-are-really-depressing/?wprss=rss_national

Bud Light Apologizes after ‘Up For Whatever’ Slogan Misses Mark, Causes Social Media Uproar (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2015/04/29/bud-light-apologizes-after-up-for-whatever-slogan-misses-mark/

‘Seinfeld’ Reruns Headed to Hulu in Rich Deal (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/life/tv/2015/04/29/hulu-gets-seinfeld-reruns/26561369/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Indicted Washington State Auditor to Begin Unpaid Leave (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2015/apr/29/indicted-state-auditor-to-begin-unpaid-leave/

GENERAL NEWS

Brinnon Man Dies after Collision at East Anthony Road Intersection North of Shelton (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/brinnon-man-dies-after-collision-at-east-anthony-road-intersection-north-of-shelton/

Details: Simpson/Sierra Pacific Industries Deal (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://kmasnewsradio.com/news/local-state-news/22697-simpson-sierra-pacific-industries-deal

Sierra Pacific’s Shelton Mill Acquisition Won’t Change Things for Aberdeen Mill (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

http://thedailyworld.com/news/local/sierra-pacific-acquisition-won-t-change-things-aberdeen-mill

Mason General Hospital Board Approves Shelton Pool Agreement; School Board Needs More Time (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/15119

Hupp Running for Shelton Port Commission (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/15117

Hero Teacher Speaks Out About Stopping North Thurston Gunman (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwnewsnetwork.org/post/hero-teacher-speaks-out-about-stopping-north-thurston-gunman

Scrap Metal Laws Still Not Deterring Thieves (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/news/crime/2015/04/29/scrap-metal-theft-copper-whittenberg-king-5/26565639/

NFL Gives Up Tax-Exempt Status, Calls It a ‘Distraction’ (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2015/04/28/nfl-gives-up-tax-exempt-status-calls-it-a-distraction/

DIVERSIONS

Fed Up Professor Flunks Entire Class

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/national/university-steps-after-professor-flunks-entire-cla/nk4xj/

You Can Now Rent a Chicken to Get the Freshest of Fresh Eggs

http://consumerist.com/2015/04/28/you-can-now-rent-a-chicken-to-get-the-freshest-of-fresh-eggs/

Brewer Replaces Athletes’ Missing Teeth with Implants That Double as Bottle Openers

http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/brewer-replaces-athletes-missing-teeth-implants-double-bottle-openers-164384

Would You Pay $80 a Pound for Coffee? Starbucks Thinks You Will

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/morning_call/2015/04/would-you-pay-80-a-pound-for-coffee-starbucks.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Alice Cooper - School’s Out

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Eh2j7nUX1y4

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.