Friday, November 6, 2015

Energy News Digest for November 6, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for November 6, 2015

Small Craft Advisory from Noon Today to 4:00 AM Saturday

IBM Watson Is Going to Change How You Think About the Weather (Washington Post)

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Obama Administration Kills Keystone XL Pipeline (Associated Press)

Oregon: Marijuana Grow Houses Trigger Seven Summer Outages for Pacific Power (Utility Dive)

Pacific Gas & Electric’s Profit Culture is Key Element in San Bruno Explosion Trial (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

New York is Investigating Exxon Mobil for Allegedly Misleading the Public about Climate Change (Washington Post)

Comcast, Citing “Fairness,” Adds Data Caps in More Cities (Christian Science Monitor)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Obama Administration Kills Keystone XL Pipeline
  • Pacific Gas & Electric’s Profit Culture is Key Element in San Bruno Explosion Trial 
  • Energy Adviser: Clark Public Utilities’ Student Tour Gives Electrical Safety Lesson
  • Fitch Affirms Chelan County PUD Bonds at ‘AA+’; Outlook Stable
  • Mason PUD 3 Planned Power Outage November 12 at Kamilche Point for Tree Removal
  • Seattle Cuts Power to Field after Faulty Light Pole Shocks Pet
  • New Mexico: Taos Electric Co-Op Seeks Higher Rates in Stagnant Market
  • Puerto Rico’s Governor Floats Bill to Restructure Debt-Strapped Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority
  • Homeowners Worried About Plan to Move the Skagit River
  • Winter Hatchery Steelhead Production in Puget Sound on the Debate Table
  • Catch Rate per Hours for Idaho Steelhead Showing Some Good Numbers on Snake Downstream from Salmon
  • Op/Ed: Puget Sound Recovery Hinges on Blocking Polluted Runoff
  • Washington State Inmates Help Restore Greater Sage Grouse Habitat
  • Co-op Hosts Monarch Butterfly Migrations
  • Fluoridation Survey to be Mailed Out Friday to Water Users in Port Angeles Area
  • Buying Into Solar an Option for Peninsula Light Customers
  • Tips to Save on Your Electricity Bill
  • Oregon: Marijuana Grow Houses Trigger Seven Summer Outages for Pacific Power
  • SW Washington Marijuana Sales Suffer As Oregon Stores Open
  • Ohio Said No to Legalizing Marijuana – It Might Have Nixed Federal Reforms, Too
  • New York is Investigating Exxon Mobil for Allegedly Misleading the Public about Climate Change
  • 44 States Take Sides in Clean Power Plan Legal Melee
  • Comcast, Citing “Fairness,” Adds Data Caps in More Cities
  • Leaked Comcast Doc Admits: Data Caps Have Nothing to Do with Congestion
  • In a First, the FCC Is Fining a Major Cable Company for Getting Hacked
  • Colorado’s Muni Broadband Ban Overridden in 44 Communities
  • Why Undersea Internet Cables Still Power Our ‘Wireless’ World
  • What Eight Agency Execs Think about Twitter’s New Like Button
  • How Pantone Became a Global Authority on Color
  • Momentum Builds for Reviving Export-Import Bank
  • Survey: Money Not #1 Reason People Love Work
  • Pipeline Closure in Washington State Leads to Spike in British Columbia Gas Prices
  • Portland Aluminum Plant Falsified Test Results, Letter to Customers Says
  • Ex-Olympia Farmers Market Manager Accused of Theft
  • Highway 101 Slide Repair Projects Wrapping Up in Mason & Grays Harbor Counties
  • Shelton Man Arrested after Grays Harbor County Pursuit
  • Snow Falls in Pullman Just in Time for Dad’s Weekend
  • Best Beer City in the U-S? One TV Network’s Opinion: It’s Not Portland
WORD OF THE DAY

Lucullan • \loo-KULL-un\ • Adjective - Lavish, luxurious.

The utility’s new headquarters was a Spartan affair; concrete, steel, glass almost “Soviet Roccoco.” Its hulking, gray exterior belied the breathtaking Lucullan restroom complex. Heated toilet seats, automatic faucets that spewed pink, frothy water over wizened worker hands made a trip to the loo an absolute pleasure trip. So much so that managers had to spend a great deal of their workday tracking down absent employees who had absconded with lap desks into the luxurious stalls of the facility’s comfort stations.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Obama Administration Kills Keystone XL Pipeline (Associated Press)

Pacific Gas & Electric’s Profit Culture is Key Element in San Bruno Explosion Trial (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

Energy Adviser: Clark Public Utilities’ Student Tour Gives Electrical Safety Lesson (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Fitch Affirms Chelan County PUD Bonds at ‘AA+’; Outlook Stable (Digital Journal)

Mason PUD 3 Planned Power Outage November 12 at Kamilche Point for Tree Removal (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

Seattle Cuts Power to Field after Faulty Light Pole Shocks Pet (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

New Mexico: Taos Electric Co-Op Seeks Higher Rates in Stagnant Market (Taos News, NM)

Puerto Rico’s Governor Floats Bill to Restructure Debt-Strapped Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority (Utility Dive)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Homeowners Worried About Plan to Move the Skagit River (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Winter Hatchery Steelhead Production in Puget Sound on the Debate Table – Public Comments Now Being Accepted (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Catch Rate per Hours for Idaho Steelhead Showing Some Good Numbers on Snake Downstream from Salmon (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

Op/Ed: Puget Sound Recovery Hinges on Blocking Polluted Runoff (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Washington State Inmates Help Restore Greater Sage Grouse Habitat (Northwest Public Radio)

Co-op Hosts Monarch Butterfly Migrations (Electric Co-op Today)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Fluoridation Survey to be Mailed Out Friday to Water Users in Port Angeles Area (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Buying Into Solar an Option for Peninsula Light Customers (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Tips to Save on Your Electricity Bill (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Tri Cities, WA)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Oregon: Marijuana Grow Houses Trigger Seven Summer Outages for Pacific Power (Utility Dive)

SW Washington Marijuana Sales Suffer As Oregon Stores Open (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Ohio Said No to Legalizing Marijuana – It Might Have Nixed Federal Reforms, Too (Washington Post)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

New York is Investigating Exxon Mobil for Allegedly Misleading the Public about Climate Change (Washington Post)

44 States Take Sides in Clean Power Plan Legal Melee (Utility Dive)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Comcast, Citing “Fairness,” Adds Data Caps in More Cities (Christian Science Monitor)

Leaked Comcast Doc Admits: Data Caps Have Nothing to Do with Congestion (Consumerist)

In a First, the FCC Is Fining a Major Cable Company for Getting Hacked (Washington Post)

Colorado’s Muni Broadband Ban Overridden in 44 Communities – State law forces communities to hold referenda before offering broadband (Ars Technica)

Why Undersea Internet Cables Still Power Our ‘Wireless’ World (Christian Science Monitor)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

What Eight Agency Execs Think about Twitter’s New Like Button (AdWeek)

How Pantone Became a Global Authority on Color – Pantone (meaning “all colors” combining the words “pan” & “tone”) (The Atlantic)

GOVERNANCE & WORKPLACE

Momentum Builds for Reviving Export-Import Bank (Associated Press)

Survey: Money Not #1 Reason People Love Work (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

Pipeline Closure in Washington State Leads to Spike in British Columbia Gas Prices (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

Portland Aluminum Plant Falsified Test Results, Letter to Customers Says (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

Ex-Olympia Farmers Market Manager Accused of Theft (Associated Press)

Highway 101 Slide Repair Projects Wrapping Up in Mason & Grays Harbor Counties (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

Shelton Man Arrested after Grays Harbor County Pursuit (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

Snow Falls in Pullman Just in Time for Dad’s Weekend (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

Best Beer City in the U-S? One TV Network’s Opinion: It’s Not Portland (Portland Business Journal, OR)

DIVERSIONS

Science Tackles Very Important Question: What’s the Best Cheese for a Gooey Grilled Cheese Sandwich?

Here Are Ten Deleted Star Wars Scenes That You Probably Never Saw Before

Man Killed by His Tapeworm’s Cancer

Toy Hall of Fame: Twister, Puppet, Super Soaker Get In

SONG OF THE DAY

Lyle Lovett - In My Own Mind

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

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LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY


All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their websites 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.

Thursday, November 5, 2015

Energy News Digest for November 5, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for November 5, 2015

Snow in Our Future (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Bonneville Power Administration Energizes a New 500-Kilovolt Line in Southeastern Washington (Bonneville Power Administration)

Washington State Joins Legal Fight to Defend Obama Climate Plan (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

Chinese Company May Get Behind Klickitat County PUD Reservoir System (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Shelton: New Marijuana Business Gets Majority Support from City Commissioners (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Arizona: Regulators Defend Calling Trash Burning ‘Renewable Energy’ (Arizona Daily Star, Tucson)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Bonneville Power Administration Energizes a New 500-Kilovolt Line in Southeastern Washington
  • Chinese Company May Get Behind Klickitat County PUD Reservoir System
  • Avista reports third quarter earnings of $12.7 million
  • Eugene Water & Electric Board Backs Off Proposed $10 Fee Increase
  • Vancouver Man Electrocuted in Kalama
  • Fitch Rates Cowlitz PUD’s Bonds ‘A’
  • Hawaii PUC Allows Public Utility Alternatives to be Considered in Nextera Merger Case
  • Outdoors: Chum Running Along Hood Canal
  • British Columbia’s Iconic Adams River Salmon Run off to a ‘Grim’ Start
  • Group Sues to Stop Commercial Salmon Farms in Puget Sound
  • Wild Salmon Fraud a Widespread Problem, Says New Report
  • Editorial: Don’t Saddle Portland Utility Customers with Bill For Decorative Fountains
  • Arizona: Regulators Defend Calling Trash Burning ‘Renewable Energy’
  • Biomass Blues: Oregon Mill Closure Could Have Serious Impacts across the Region
  • If a Solar Plant Uses Natural Gas, Is It Still Green?
  • Iowa Utility Reports ‘Strong Response’ to Community Solar Project
  • Imagine Signing Up for a Community Solar Garden through an App
  • Report: Wind Subsidies Transfer Wealth from Taxpayers to Companies
  • Wastewater Utilities Holding Back from Further Embracing Energy Efficiency
  • Infographic: Apartments Waste 33% of the Energy They Use
  • Shelton: New Marijuana Business Gets Majority Support from City Commissioners
  • Legal Pot Grows in Washington State & Oregon Raise Concerns about Electricity Use
  • LED Technology Courts Pot Growers
  • Washington State Joins Legal Fight to Defend Obama Climate Plan
  • How the Legal Battle over Demand Response Could Hinder California’s Climate Goals
  • Bill Gates Says Our Energy System Is Broken & He’s Giving $2 Billion to Fix It
  • City Of Portland Considers Fossil Fuel Infrastructure Ban
  • How Walmart Became a Green Energy Giant with Other People’s Money
  • Do Trees Really Help Clean the Air in Our Cities?
  • Why the Russian Threat to Undersea Cables Is Overblown
  • Facebook Now Averages Eight Billion Daily Video Views
  • Facebook Set to Steal More TV Ad Dollars as Video Views Soar
  • Washington State Gas Tax to Increase despite Voters’ Thumbs Down
  • Federal Highway Bill Passes House, but Funding Shortfall Remains
  • Business Anything But Usual These Days at Yakima City Hall
  • Pacific Northwest’s 2015 Weather Likely to be Repeated, Climate Scientists Say
  • Inslee Asks FEMA to Expand Individual Disaster Aid to Include Wildfire Victims
  • Trial Postponed for Brothers Shot by Olympia Officer
  • Boeing to Pay $57 Million to Settle Suit over Retirement Plan
  • Washington State’s Nuclear Waste Manager Will Retire
  • Shelton Sports Post Season Schedule
WORD OF THE DAY

Eternize • \it-TER-nyze\ • Verb - 1a: to make eternal b: to prolong indefinitely 2: immortalize

“I’m not sure this will eternize you,” stuttered the plastic extrusion engineer to the towering, imposing customer with the oversized thumb. “But if you want immortality by embedding your ashes into tiddlywinks disks when you die, that’s up to you. I just think it’s kinda creepy…that’s all”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Bonneville Power Administration Energizes a New 500-Kilovolt Line in Southeastern Washington (Bonneville Power Administration)

Chinese Company May Get Behind Klickitat County PUD Reservoir System (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Avista reports third quarter earnings of $12.7 million (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Eugene Water & Electric Board Backs Off Proposed $10 Fee Increase (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

Vancouver Man Electrocuted in Kalama (Longview Daily News, WA)

Fitch Rates Cowlitz PUD’s Bonds ‘A’ (BusinessWire)

Hawaii PUC Allows Public Utility Alternatives to be Considered in Nextera Merger Case (Utility Dive)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Outdoors: Chum Running Along Hood Canal (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

British Columbia’s Iconic Adams River Salmon Run off to a ‘Grim’ Start (Globe & Mail, Canada)

Group Sues to Stop Commercial Salmon Farms in Puget Sound (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

Wild Salmon Fraud a Widespread Problem, Says New Report (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Editorial: Don’t Saddle Portland Utility Customers with Bill For Decorative Fountains (Oregonian, Portland)

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Arizona: Regulators Defend Calling Trash Burning ‘Renewable Energy’ (Arizona Daily Star, Tucson)

Biomass Blues: Oregon Mill Closure Could Have Serious Impacts across the Region (Pamplin Media Group, Portland, OR)

If a Solar Plant Uses Natural Gas, Is It Still Green? (Gizmodo)

Iowa Utility Reports ‘Strong Response’ to Community Solar Project (American Public Power Association)

Imagine Signing Up for a Community Solar Garden through an App (American Public Power Association)

Report: Wind Subsidies Transfer Wealth from Taxpayers to Companies (Washington Examiner)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Wastewater Utilities Holding Back from Further Embracing Energy Efficiency (Breaking Energy – Can you find the safety violations in this photo?)

Infographic: Apartments Waste 33% of the Energy They Use (The Energy Collective)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Shelton: New Marijuana Business Gets Majority Support from City Commissioners (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Legal Pot Grows in Washington State & Oregon Raise Concerns about Electricity Use (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

LED Technology Courts Pot Growers (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Washington State Joins Legal Fight to Defend Obama Climate Plan (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

How the Legal Battle over Demand Response Could Hinder California’s Climate Goals (Utility Dive)

Bill Gates Says Our Energy System Is Broken & He’s Giving $2 Billion to Fix It (Gizmodo)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

City Of Portland Considers Fossil Fuel Infrastructure Ban (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

How Walmart Became a Green Energy Giant with Other People’s Money (Forbes Magazine)

Do Trees Really Help Clean the Air in Our Cities? (Gizmodo)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Why the Russian Threat to Undersea Cables Is Overblown (Christian Science Monitor)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Facebook Now Averages Eight Billion Daily Video Views (USA Today)

Facebook Set to Steal More TV Ad Dollars as Video Views Soar (Reuters)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Gas Tax to Increase despite Voters’ Thumbs Down (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Federal Highway Bill Passes House, but Funding Shortfall Remains (NY Times)

Business Anything But Usual These Days at Yakima City Hall (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

Pacific Northwest’s 2015 Weather Likely to be Repeated, Climate Scientists Say (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Inslee Asks FEMA to Expand Individual Disaster Aid to Include Wildfire Victims (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

Trial Postponed for Brothers Shot by Olympia Officer (Associated Press)

Boeing to Pay $57 Million to Settle Suit over Retirement Plan (NY Times)

Washington State’s Nuclear Waste Manager Will Retire (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

Shelton Sports Post Season Schedule (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

DIVERSIONS

Goat Farts Blamed for Emergency Plane Landing

New Bride Jilted on Her Wedding Day Treats Guests to a McDonald’s Feast

Hipster Barbie’s Maker Reveals Herself, Calls It Quits

Hayden Man Vows to Fight Lawsuit Threatened over His Planned Christmas Display

SONG OF THE DAY

Steve Miller Band – Threshold/Jet Airliner

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

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THE NEWS DIGEST TWITTER FEED

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

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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

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

Wednesday, November 4, 2015

Energy News Digest for November 4, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for November 4, 2015

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Alcoa Decision to Idle Plants Comes after Tax Breaks Renewed – Language that would have required Alcoa to pay back those tax savings if it laid off workers was not included in the final deal (Northwest Public Radio)

Power Shift: Data Centers to Replace Aluminum Industry as Largest Energy Consumers in Washington State (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

Federal Plan for Snake River Fall Chinook Recovery Unveiled (Oregonian, Portland)

Silicon Supply Lawsuit Could Threaten SolarWorld’s Existence (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Mason County Unofficial Election Results (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Alcoa Decision to Idle Plants Comes after Tax Breaks Renewed – Language that would have required Alcoa to pay back those tax savings if it laid off workers was not included in the final deal
  • Chelan County Elected Officials Grapple with Alcoa Plant Closure
  • Power Shift: Data Centers to Replace Aluminum Industry as Largest Energy Consumers in Washington State
  • City of Ellensburg to Run Test on Dolarway Transformer after Bird Strike, Outage
  • Grant PUD Commissioners Set Public Hearings on Rates
  • San Francisco Voters Define ‘Green’ Energy as City Launches Public Power Program
  • California ISO to Move Its Backup Center from Los Angeles to Lincoln
  • Scam Uses Co-op Recording in Bid to Trick Members
  • Federal Plan for Snake River Fall Chinook Recovery Unveiled
  • State, Federal Agencies to Map & Protect Cold Water Refuges for Fish in Columbia & Willamette
  • Millions of British Columbia Salmon Mysteriously ‘Just Disappear’ in Troubling Year
  • Quinault Tribe Shuts Fisheries in Grays Harbor County, Queets River to Protect Coho
  • Toxin from Vast Algae Bloom Off West Coast Found in Dead or Dying Marine Animals as Far North as Washington
  • Umatilla Tribes Join Opposition to Nestle Bottling Facility
  • Obama’s Clean Water Rules Saved by the Senate – For Now
  • Silicon Supply Lawsuit Could Threaten SolarWorld’s Existence
  • Wind Energy Is Being Unfairly Held Back in California
  • Central Oregon Forest Waste Has Potential
  • New Solar Panel Product to Reduce Costs Up to 10 Percent
  • Goldman Sachs to Invest $150 Billion in Clean Energy
  • Standards for Energy Storage: Which Wire Where?
  • Get Your House Ready for Winter
  • RIP for Incandescent Light Bulbs?
  • Six Reasons Marijuana Legalization Failed in Ohio
  • China Burns Much More Coal than Reported, Complicating Climate Talks
  • As Scientists Worry About Warming World, U-S Public Doesn’t
  • The Pacific Ocean Becomes a Caldron
  • Wine Will Survive Climate Change, Says Industry, But Will Likely Change
  • Washington State Senator Maralyn Chase Rails against Clean Energy Fund
  • New Research Shows Why Grid Defection Would Be a Bad Idea for the Average American
  • Tesla Misses Estimates, But Shares Rev Up on Positive CEO Comments
  • The Last Straw: Orcas Island Residents Bypass Internet Providers
  • Cloud Wars Setback? Microsoft Caps Storage While Competitors Expand
  • Not so Fast Frontier & CenturyLink: Oregon Regulators Raise the Bar for Gigabit Tax Breaks
  • Colorado: Broadband Ballot Measure Passes in Pitkin County
  • Are Twitter’s New Hearts Clickier Than Stars?
  • Study: 75% of Children Have Their Own Mobile Device by Age Four
  • Gmail’s Inbox App Will Now Write (Some Of) Your E-Mails for You
  • Google & Facebook Made These Posters to Illustrate the Unstoppableness of the Internet
  • Mason County Unofficial Election Results
  • Mason County Auditor – November 3, 2015 General Election
  • Voters Approve Wildlife, Anti-Tax Measures
  • City of Shelton Looks at Cutting Budget to Avoid Deficit
  • Strong Solar Wind from Hole Blowing in a Dazzling Aurora
WORD OF THE DAY

Ad hoc • \AD-HOCK\ • adjective 1a: concerned with a particular end or purpose *b: formed or used for specific or immediate problems or needs 2: fashioned from whatever is immediately available: improvised.

Brent did one thing, and he did it well: catching popcorn literally shot from a cannon at the circus. His ad hoc talent was wildly applauded at each show. Other than this act, he had no other part in the circus, other than shoveling elephant manure after each show. “Why don’t you leave the circus man,” murmured a mellow fan one day. “This is really demeaning work.” “What,” Brent shot back. “And leave show business?”

(From Merriam-Webster) Did you know? In Latin, “ad hoc” literally means “for this.” That historical meaning is clearly reflected in contemporary English uses of “ad hoc”—anything that is “ad hoc” can be thought of as existing “for this purpose only.” For example, an “ad hoc committee” is generally authorized to look into a single matter of limited scope, not to pursue any interesting issue. “Ad hoc” can also be used as an adverb meaning “for the case at hand apart from other applications,” as in “a commission created ad hoc.” The adverb is older (it has been used in English since the mid-17th century), but the adjective is no quickly improvised addition to our language; it has been part of English since at least 1879.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Alcoa Decision to Idle Plants Comes after Tax Breaks Renewed – Language that would have required Alcoa to pay back those tax savings if it laid off workers was not included in the final deal (Northwest Public Radio)

Chelan County Elected Officials Grapple with Alcoa Plant Closure (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

Power Shift: Data Centers to Replace Aluminum Industry as Largest Energy Consumers in Washington State (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

City of Ellensburg to Run Test on Dolarway Transformer after Bird Strike, Outage (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

Grant PUD Commissioners Set Public Hearings on Rates (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

San Francisco Voters Define ‘Green’ Energy as City Launches Public Power Program (SF Chronicle)

California ISO to Move Its Backup Center from Los Angeles to Lincoln (Sacramento Business Journal, CA)

Scam Uses Co-op Recording in Bid to Trick Members (Electric Co-op Today)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Federal Plan for Snake River Fall Chinook Recovery Unveiled (Oregonian, Portland)

State, Federal Agencies to Map & Protect Cold Water Refuges for Fish in Columbia & Willamette (Environmental Protection Agency)

Millions of British Columbia Salmon Mysteriously ‘Just Disappear’ in Troubling Year (Globe & Mail, Canada)                                                                                                                                  

Quinault Tribe Shuts Fisheries in Grays Harbor County, Queets River to Protect Coho (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Toxin from Vast Algae Bloom Off West Coast Found in Dead or Dying Marine Animals as Far North as Washington (Associated Press)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Umatilla Tribes Join Opposition to Nestle Bottling Facility (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

Obama’s Clean Water Rules Saved by the Senate – For Now (Christian Science Monitor)

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Silicon Supply Lawsuit Could Threaten SolarWorld’s Existence (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Wind Energy Is Being Unfairly Held Back in California (Sacramento Bee, CA)

Central Oregon Forest Waste Has Potential (Bend Bulletin, OR)

New Solar Panel Product to Reduce Costs Up to 10 Percent (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

Goldman Sachs to Invest $150 Billion in Clean Energy (Fortune Magazine)

Standards for Energy Storage: Which Wire Where? (American Public Power Association)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Get Your House Ready for Winter (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

RIP for Incandescent Light Bulbs? (The Energy Collective)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Six Reasons Marijuana Legalization Failed in Ohio (USA Today)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

China Burns Much More Coal than Reported, Complicating Climate Talks (NY Times)

As Scientists Worry About Warming World, U-S Public Doesn’t (Associated Press)

The Pacific Ocean Becomes a Caldron (NY Times)

Wine Will Survive Climate Change, Says Industry, But Will Likely Change (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Washington State Senator Maralyn Chase Rails against Clean Energy Fund (Everett Herald, WA)

New Research Shows Why Grid Defection Would Be a Bad Idea for the Average American (Grist Online)

Tesla Misses Estimates, But Shares Rev Up on Positive CEO Comments (USA Today)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

The Last Straw: Orcas Island Residents Bypass Internet Providers (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

Cloud Wars Setback? Microsoft Caps Storage While Competitors Expand (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

Not so Fast Frontier & CenturyLink: Oregon Regulators Raise the Bar for Gigabit Tax Breaks (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

Colorado: Broadband Ballot Measure Passes in Pitkin County (Associated Press)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Are Twitter’s New Hearts Clickier Than Stars? (Gizmodo)

Study: 75% of Children Have Their Own Mobile Device by Age Four (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Gmail’s Inbox App Will Now Write (Some Of) Your E-Mails for You (Washington Post)

Google & Facebook Made These Posters to Illustrate the Unstoppableness of the Internet (AdWeek)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Tattoos Becoming Less Taboo at Work (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

Mason County Unofficial Election Results (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Mason County Auditor – November 3, 2015 General Election (Mason County Elections, WA)

Voters Approve Wildlife, Anti-Tax Measures (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

City of Shelton Looks at Cutting Budget to Avoid Deficit (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Strong Solar Wind from Hole Blowing in a Dazzling Aurora (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

DIVERSIONS

Seattle’s Famous Gum Wall Is Getting Cleaned after 20 Years

Guinness Tweaking Its 256-Year-Old Beer Recipe So Vegans Can Enjoy a Pint, Too

Sharp-Eyed Garbage Man Returns Lost $12K to a Local School

Study May Have Found Evidence of Alternate, Parallel Universes (USA Today)

SONG OF THE DAY

Pink Floyd - Another Brick in the Wall (Parts 1, 2 & 3)

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

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THE NEWS DIGEST TWITTER FEED

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

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.