Energy News Digest for December 23, 2015

The Energy News Digest will be communing with the ghosts of Christmas past, present and future December 24 – December 28. If earth shattering energy news happens, keep in touch via the news digest twitter feed.

Also, a few ethereal spirit sessions are expected with the ghosts of the Johns Prairie operations center over the weekend.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for December 23, 2015

http://1.usa.gov/1O9UTHB

Winter Weather Advisory for the Olympic Mountains & Cascades

http://1.usa.gov/1cx8nJX

Small Craft Advisory for Puget Sound & Hood Canal

http://1.usa.gov/1RGxZtE

Snoqualmie Pass is Buried in Snow (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2015/12/snoqualmie-pass-is-buried-in-snow.html

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Some Cowlitz County Residents to Be Without Power for Days (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/some-area-residents-to-be-without-power-for-days/article_ca789193-a61d-583b-870f-6d906e06208b.html

BC Hydro Signs $1.75 Billion Contract for Peace River Dam Work (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bchydro-sitec-ndp-johnhorgan-1.3376369?cmp=rss

Participants & Mason PUD 3 Dedicate the County’s First Shared Solar Project (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=1583

It’s Snowing Really, Really Hard on Snoqualmie Pass Today (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2015/12/23/its-snowing-really-really-hard-on-snoqualmie-pass-today/

Washington State Carbon Tax Initiative Backers ‘On Fence’ About the Measure (Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal, WA)

http://www.kpbj.com/briefs/Carbon-tax-initiative-backers-on-fence-about-the-measure--363256261.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Some Cowlitz County Residents to Be Without Power for Days
• BC Hydro Signs $1.75 Billion Contract for Peace River Dam Work
• Snow Triggers North Idaho Power Outages
• Cowlitz PUD Drafts Contract with General Manager Finalist
• Kenmore Begins Puget Sound Energy Franchise Agreement Negotiations Partially in the Dark
• Bonneville Power Administration Selects New Vice President of Transmission Planning & Asset Management
• Deputy Administrator with Bonneville Power Administration, Greg Delwiche Receives Presidential Rank Award
• Eleventh Consecutive Award – Mason PUD 3 Receives International Recognition for Its Financial Reporting
• Chelan PUD Proposes New Substation for Leavenworth Area
• Behind the Scenes: Not All Electrical Lines Go Underground
• Bonneville Power Administration Retrospective: People, Partnerships & Path to Success
• Iran Looking for Payback in Recent New York State Dam Hack
• Over 100 Bald Eagles Visit Bridge Near Mount Baker Highway
• Washington State Drought Declaration Won’t Be Extended into Next Year
• Water Wars Could Return in the Pacific Northwest as Congress Dams Deal
• Participants & Mason PUD 3 Dedicate the County’s First Shared Solar Project
• Idaho: Blaine County Lowers Permit Fees for Solar Energy
• Oregon Wind Company Working on $1.6 Billion Project in Hawaii – Raises $225K 
• California: Customers of Clean Energy Programs Hit with Fee Increase
• Vermont Says Some Solar Firms Are Peddling Fake Renewable Energy
• Renewable Energy Efforts Stymied by Transmission Roadblocks
• A State-by-State Look at Renewable Energy Requirements
• Report: FERC Finds a Mixed Bag for Demand Response despite Advance Metering Infrastructure Expansion
• Future Home Tech: Eight Energy-Saving Solutions on the Horizon
• Flathead Electric Runs with Power-Cutting Program
• Here’s How Amazon Plans to Run Your Home — Before Microsoft Gets There
• Mason County Zoning Correction Opens Door for another Marijuana Grow Operation
• As Pot-Growing Expands, Electricity Demands Tax U-S Grids
• Washington State Carbon Tax Initiative Backers ‘On Fence’ About the Measure
• A Fitting End for the Hottest Year on Record
• Tom Steyer’s Carbon Regulation Win in Oregon
• Your Christmas Tree’s Carbon Footprint – An artificial vs. natural showdown
• U-S West Coast Mayors Envision Electric Highway as Cities Tackle Climate Change
• How Green is Your State
• Idaho Lawmakers Recommend Creating New Broadband Committee
• Comcast Starts Test of Super-Fast Next-Gen Broadband over Existing Cable Lines
• Broadband Takes a Hit
• Social Media Continues to Help Crime Stoppers End Crime
• How to Schedule Your Social Media Holiday Messages in Advance
• How to Speed Up Your Social Media Content Production
• 3,200 Washington State Prisoners May Have Been Released Early Since 2002
• It’s Snowing Really, Really Hard on Snoqualmie Pass Today
• El Nino Turns Holiday Weather Upside Down across the U-S
• Judge Dismisses NRA Challenge to Seattle’s New Gun-Violence Tax
• Rare Full Moon to Rise on Christmas Day — The First in Nearly 40 Years!

WORD OF THE DAY

Bathos • \BAY-thaws\ • Noun - 1a: the sudden appearance of the commonplace in otherwise elevated matter or style b: anticlimax 2: exceptional commonplaceness: triteness 3: insincere or overdone pathos: sentimentalism

Looking for humor

Bathos rears its ugly head

M Lisa moustache

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

1.    Some Cowlitz County Residents to Be Without Power for Days (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/some-area-residents-to-be-without-power-for-days/article_ca789193-a61d-583b-870f-6d906e06208b.html

2.    BC Hydro Signs $1.75 Billion Contract for Peace River Dam Work (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/bchydro-sitec-ndp-johnhorgan-1.3376369?cmp=rss

3.    Snow Triggers North Idaho Power Outages (KXLY-TV, Spokane, WA)

http://www.kxly.com/news/north-idaho-news/snow-triggers-north-idaho-power-outages/37093050

4.    Cowlitz PUD Drafts Contract with General Manager Finalist (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/pud-drafts-contract-with-general-manager-finalist/article_ba33862f-82d7-5872-bedf-3204d422a82f.html

5.    Kenmore Begins Puget Sound Energy Franchise Agreement Negotiations Partially in the Dark (Bothell Reporter, WA)

http://www.bothell-reporter.com/news/362975061.html

6.    Bonneville Power Administration Selects New Vice President of Transmission Planning & Asset Management (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2015/12/bonneville-power-administration-selects.html

7.    Deputy Administrator with Bonneville Power Administration, Greg Delwiche Receives Presidential Rank Award (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/Deputy-Administrator-Greg-Delwiche-receives-Presidential-Rank-Award.aspx

8.    Eleventh Consecutive Award – Mason PUD 3 Receives International Recognition for Its Financial Reporting (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?newsid=1584

9.    Chelan PUD Proposes New Substation for Leavenworth Area (Leavenworth Echo, WA)

http://leavenworthecho.com/main.asp?SectionID=5&SubSectionID=5&ArticleID=9821

10. Behind the Scenes: Not All Electrical Lines Go Underground (The Islands’ Sounder, Eastsound, WA)

http://www.islandssounder.com/news/363308891.html

11. Bonneville Power Administration Retrospective: People, Partnerships & Path to Success (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/People-partnerships-and-path-to-success.aspx

12. Iran Looking for Payback in Recent New York State Dam Hack (Washington Examiner)

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/iran-looking-for-payback-in-recent-dam-hack/article/2578870?custom_click=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

13. Over 100 Bald Eagles Visit Bridge Near Mount Baker Highway (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/2015/12/23/bald-eagles-nooksack-river/77778620/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

14. Washington State Drought Declaration Won’t Be Extended into Next Year (Associated Press)

http://www.khq.com/story/30814688/state-drought-declaration-wont-be-extended-into-next-year

15. Water Wars Could Return in the Pacific Northwest as Congress Dams Deal (Fox News)

http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2015/12/22/water-wars-could-return-in-northwest-as-congress-dams-deal.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY

16. Participants & Mason PUD 3 Dedicate the County’s First Shared Solar Project (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=1583

17. Idaho: Blaine County Lowers Permit Fees for Solar Energy (Idaho Mountain Express, Ketchum, ID)

http://www.mtexpress.com/news/blaine_county/county-lowers-permit-fees-for-solar-energy/article_ff4685dc-a903-11e5-8141-c374c9e832b1.html

18. Oregon Wind Company Working on $1.6 Billion Project in Hawaii – Raises $225K (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/12/oregon-wind-company-working-on-1-6project-in.html

19. California: Customers of Clean Energy Programs Hit with Fee Increase (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Customers-of-clean-energy-programs-hit-with-fee-6705978.php

20. Vermont Says Some Solar Firms Are Peddling Fake Renewable Energy (Concord Monitor, VT)

http://granitegeek.concordmonitor.com/2015/12/22/vermont-says-some-solar-firms-are-peddling-fake-renewable-energy/

21. Renewable Energy Efforts Stymied by Transmission Roadblocks (Associated Press)

http://www.dailynews.com/general-news/20151222/renewable-energy-efforts-stymied-by-transmission-roadblocks/1

22. A State-by-State Look at Renewable Energy Requirements (ABC News)

http://abcnews.go.com/Politics/wireStory/state-state-renewable-energy-requirements-35901847

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

23. Report: FERC Finds a Mixed Bag for Demand Response despite Advance Metering Infrastructure Expansion (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/report-ferc-finds-a-mixed-bag-for-demand-response-despite-ami-expansion/411325/

24. Future Home Tech: Eight Energy-Saving Solutions on the Horizon (Breaking Energy)

http://breakingenergy.com/2015/12/22/future-home-tech-8-energy-saving-solutions-on-the-horizon/

25. Flathead Electric Runs with Power-Cutting Program (The Daily Interlake, Kalispell, MT)

http://www.dailyinterlake.com/members/flathead-electric-runs-with-power-cutting-program/article_9cea90e8-a793-11e5-8f1c-4bcb190fca56.html

26. Here’s How Amazon Plans to Run Your Home — Before Microsoft Gets There (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/techflash/2015/12/heres-how-amazon-plans-to-run-your-home-before.html

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

27. Mason County Zoning Correction Opens Door for another Marijuana Grow Operation (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://kmasnewsradio.com/news/local-state-news/26038-zoning-correction-opens-door-for-another-grow-operation

28. As Pot-Growing Expands, Electricity Demands Tax U-S Grids (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2015-12-21/as-pot-growing-expands-power-demands-tax-u-s-electricity-grids

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

29. Washington State Carbon Tax Initiative Backers ‘On Fence’ About the Measure (Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal, WA)

http://www.kpbj.com/briefs/Carbon-tax-initiative-backers-on-fence-about-the-measure--363256261.html

30. A Fitting End for the Hottest Year on Record (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/24/science/climate-change-record-warm-year.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

31. Tom Steyer’s Carbon Regulation Win in Oregon (Washington Examiner)

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/tom-steyers-carbon-regulation-win-in-oregon/article/2578981?custom_click=rss

32. Your Christmas Tree’s Carbon Footprint – An artificial vs. natural showdown (Sightline Daily)

http://www.sightline.org/2015/12/21/your-christmas-trees-carbon-footprint/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

33. U-S West Coast Mayors Envision Electric Highway as Cities Tackle Climate Change (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/report-on-business/international-business/us-business/west-coast-mayors-envision-electric-highway-as-cities-tackle-climate-change/article27913363/

34. How Green is Your State (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/articles/2015/12/energy-news-how-green-is-your-state.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

35. Idaho Lawmakers Recommend Creating New Broadband Committee (Associated Press)

http://www.idahostatesman.com/news/business/article50940230.html

36. Comcast Starts Test of Super-Fast Next-Gen Broadband over Existing Cable Lines (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2015/12/23/comcast-starts-test-of-super-fast-next-gen-broadband-over-existing-cable-lines/

37. Broadband Takes a Hit (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/gadfly/articles/2015-12-22/smartphones-have-dented-broadband-use

MARKETING & MEDIA

38. Social Media Continues to Help Crime Stoppers End Crime (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Tri Cities, WA)

http://www.nbcrightnow.com/story/30805075/social-media-continues-to-help-crime-stoppers-end-crime

39. How to Schedule Your Social Media Holiday Messages in Advance (Gizmodo)

http://fieldguide.gizmodo.com/how-to-schedule-your-social-media-holiday-messages-in-a-1749061698

40. How to Speed Up Your Social Media Content Production (Social Media Examiner)

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-to-speed-your-social-media-content-production/

GENERAL NEWS

41. 3,200 Washington State Prisoners May Have Been Released Early Since 2002 (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://www.kxro.com/3200-prisoners-may-have-been-released-early-since-2002/

42. It’s Snowing Really, Really Hard on Snoqualmie Pass Today (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2015/12/23/its-snowing-really-really-hard-on-snoqualmie-pass-today/

43. El Nino Turns Holiday Weather Upside Down across the U-S (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/weather/index.ssf/2015/12/el_nino_turns_holiday_weather.html

44. Judge Dismisses NRA Challenge to Seattle’s New Gun-Violence Tax (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2015/12/22/judge-dismisses-national-rifle-association-challenge-to-seattles-new-gun-violence-tax/

45. Rare Full Moon to Rise on Christmas Day — The First in Nearly 40 Years! (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2015/12/22/rare-full-moon-to-rise-on-christmas-day-the-first-in-nearly-40-years/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

‘Star Wars’ Fan Arrested over Threat to Student Who Revealed Plot

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-montana-starwars-idUSKBN0U600W20151223

The Curious Life of ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’

http://koin.com/2015/12/20/the-curious-life-of-its-a-wonderful-life/

15 Words You Should Eliminate from Your Vocabulary to Sound Smarter

http://mashable.com/2015/05/03/words-eliminate-vocabulary/#SOpd8vNFxGql

Taco Joint Turns Robbery (Burglary Actually) Footage into Hilarious Ad

http://q13fox.com/2015/12/23/taco-joint-turns-robbery-footage-into-hilarious-ad/

SONG OF THE DAY

Joni Mitchell – Raised On Robbery

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEpP6d9n5-U

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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.

Winter Solstice: Five Things to Know (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2015/12/21/winter-solstice-5-things-to-know/

Power Grid Is Vulnerable to Foreign Hacks – Investigation finds a dozen incidents over the past decade (Associated Press)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/dec/21/power-grid-is-vulnerable-to-foreign-hacks/

Comply with the Clean Power Plan? No Problem for the Pacific Northwest (E&E Publishing)

http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060029726

Klamath Basin Water Accords Crumble as Congress Fails to Act (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article50602055.html

Homes with Broadband Internet Hit Plateau (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/12/21/homes-broadband-internet-hits-plateau/77669066/

Energy News Digest for December 21, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for December 21, 2015

http://1.usa.gov/1TcGjiD

Coastal Flood Advisory

http://1.usa.gov/1Zlp0zx

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Winter Solstice: Five Things to Know (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2015/12/21/winter-solstice-5-things-to-know/

Power Grid Is Vulnerable to Foreign Hacks – Investigation finds a dozen incidents over the past decade (Associated Press)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/dec/21/power-grid-is-vulnerable-to-foreign-hacks/

Comply with the Clean Power Plan? No Problem for the Pacific Northwest (E&E Publishing)

http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060029726

Klamath Basin Water Accords Crumble as Congress Fails to Act (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article50602055.html

Homes with Broadband Internet Hit Plateau (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/12/21/homes-broadband-internet-hits-plateau/77669066/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Power Grid Is Vulnerable to Foreign Hacks
• Clark Public Utilities Vigilant, Has Detected No Cyberattack Yet – BPA says it too takes threats seriously
• Answering Avista Bill Spike Questions
• Hungry Horse Dam Looking To Modernize Its 1950s-Era Power Plant
• NW Natural Chief Executive to Step Down Next Year
• Key Wins for Electric Co-ops in $1.1 Trillion Federal Spending Bill
• Scotus Case: Finding Bidders for Giant Power Plants
• Puerto Rico’s Utility Reaches Tentative Agreement to Restructure $8.2 Billion Debt
• Proper Storage Will Save Your Refrigerated Food
• Environmental Group Sues Feds Over Oregon Spotted Frog
• Tentative Agreement Reached in Dispute over Endangered Yellowstone Fish
• Klamath Basin Water Accords Crumble as Congress Fails to Act
• California Wants to Store Water for Farmers, but Struggles over How to Do It
• Your Rooftop Solar Panels Might Actually Help Balance the Power Grid
• Community Solar Brings Renewable Energy ‘To the Masses’
• EWEB: Grant-Funded Storage, Microgrid Project to Test Resiliency in Public Power City in Oregon
• Wind Power Spreads through Turbines for Lease
• California Marijuana Leaders Increasingly Uniting Behind One Legalization Measure
• The Top Ten Oregon Marijuana Licensing Myths
• Comply with the Clean Power Plan? No Problem for the Pacific Northwest
• Op/Ed: Wind & Renewables Are Key to Reducing Carbon Emissions
• Op/Ed: America’s Family Forests – Our Climate Change Solution
• A Small New England College Goes 100 Percent Solar
• Homes with Broadband Internet Hit Plateau
• High-Speed Internet Is a Luxury
• Mobile Browsing Will Trump Desktop by the End of 2016, Report Says
• Program Helps Small-Business Owners Make Money Off Wi-Fi
• Nearly a Billion PCs Run This Notoriously Insecure Software – Now Oracle Has to Clean It Up
• EPA ‘Won’t Back Down’ from Criticisms over Social Media Posts
• The NFL Plans to Stream All Thursday Night Games Next Season
• You Should Watch the Way You Punctuate Your Text Messages — Period
• Everett Herald Online: The Din of Online Comments to Fall Silent
• Winter Solstice: Five Things to Know
• Snow Dumping in the Cascades as More Winter Weather Creeps In
• One Person Dead Friday after Two-Car Crash along SR 106
• U-S 12 over White Pass to Reopen Tuesday Evening
• Funding Approved for Naval Base Kitsap Projects
• Seattle Times Plans Six Percent Newsroom Budget Cut
• Seahawks Clinch Playoff Berth with 30-13 Win over Browns

WORD OF THE DAY

Invidious ● \in-VID-ee-us\ ● Adjective – 1: tending to cause discontent, animosity, or envy 2a: unpleasant, objectionable, or obnoxious b: of a kind to cause harm or resentment.

Brandi’s invidious rejection of all green vegetables was a repulsion that extended beyond the normal version of the healthy comestibles. Even the sport varieties of vegetables were repellent to her. Purple cabbage; no thank you. White asparagus; yuck. Even the smallest touch of green to her food ticked the gag reflex. The horrific “green mint ice cream” incident was a topic that was verboten at even the most casual of family gatherings.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Power Grid Is Vulnerable to Foreign Hacks – Investigation finds a dozen incidents over the past decade (Associated Press)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/dec/21/power-grid-is-vulnerable-to-foreign-hacks/

Clark Public Utilities Vigilant, Has Detected No Cyberattack Yet – BPA says it too takes threats seriously (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/dec/21/clark-public-utilities-vigilant-has-detected-no-cyberattack-yet/

Answering Avista Bill Spike Questions (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

http://www.khq.com/story/30790033/answering-avista-bill-spike-questions

Hungry Horse Dam Looking To Modernize Its 1950s-Era Power Plant (Billings Gazette, MT)

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/hungry-horse-dam-looking-to-modernize-its-s-era-power/article_1b853d10-93c3-5b55-ab31-469b6fd4280e.html

NW Natural Chief Executive to Step Down Next Year (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2015/12/nw_natural_chief_executive_to.html

Key Wins for Electric Co-ops in $1.1 Trillion Federal Spending Bill (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/public-policy-watch/legislation/key-co-op-wins-in-1-1-trillion-spending-bill/87762

Scotus Case: Finding Bidders for Giant Power Plants (National Conference of State Legislatures)

http://www.ncsl.org/blog/2015/12/17/scotus-case-finding-bidders-for-giant-power-plants.aspx

Puerto Rico’s Utility Reaches Tentative Agreement to Restructure $8.2 Billion Debt (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/puerto-ricos-utility-reaches-tentative-agreement-to-restructure-82b-debt/411156/

Proper Storage Will Save Your Refrigerated Food (Fairbanks News Miner, AK)

http://www.newsminer.com/features/our_town/pinching_pennies/proper-storage-will-save-your-refrigerated-food/article_2562a2d4-a7b8-11e5-a93b-2f4eafbdeb5b.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Environmental Group Sues Feds Over Oregon Spotted Frog (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/article/environmental-group-sues-feds-over-oregon-spotted-frog-/

Tentative Agreement Reached in Dispute over Endangered Yellowstone Fish (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/science/article/Tentative-agreement-reached-in-dispute-over-6712780.php

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Klamath Basin Water Accords Crumble as Congress Fails to Act (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/article50602055.html

California Wants to Store Water for Farmers, but Struggles over How to Do It (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/22/science/california-wants-to-store-water-for-farmers-but-struggles-over-how-to-do-it.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Your Rooftop Solar Panels Might Actually Help Balance the Power Grid (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/12/your-rooftop-solar-panels-might-actually-help.html

Community Solar Brings Renewable Energy ‘To the Masses’ (Huffington Post)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/community-solar_567437bfe4b014efe0d532b5

EWEB: Grant-Funded Storage, Microgrid Project to Test Resiliency in Public Power City in Oregon (American Public Power Association)

http://www.publicpower.org/Media/daily/ArticleDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=44950

Wind Power Spreads through Turbines for Lease (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/12/19/business/energy-environment/wind-power-spreads-through-turbines-for-lease.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

California Marijuana Leaders Increasingly Uniting Behind One Legalization Measure (Marijuana Business Daily)

http://mjbizdaily.com/california-cannabis-leaders-increasingly-uniting-behind-one-legalization-measure/

The Top Ten Oregon Marijuana Licensing Myths (Canna Law Blog)

http://www.cannalawblog.com/the-top-ten-oregon-marijuana-licensing-myths/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Comply with the Clean Power Plan? No Problem for the Pacific Northwest (E&E Publishing)

http://www.eenews.net/stories/1060029726

Op/Ed: Wind & Renewables Are Key to Reducing Carbon Emissions (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/12/wind-and-renewables-are-key-to-reducing-carbon.html

Op/Ed: America’s Family Forests – Our Climate Change Solution (Huffington Post)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/tom-martin/americas-family-forests-o_b_8842240.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

A Small New England College Goes 100 Percent Solar (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/World/Making-a-difference/Change-Agent/2015/1221/A-small-New-England-college-goes-100-percent-solar

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Homes with Broadband Internet Hit Plateau (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2015/12/21/homes-broadband-internet-hits-plateau/77669066/

High-Speed Internet Is a Luxury – As broadband adoption stalls out, smartphone-only Internet users increasingly believe they’re at a disadvantage (The Atlantic Magazine)

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/12/bye-bye-high-speed-internet/421188/

Mobile Browsing Will Trump Desktop by the End of 2016, Report Says (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2015/12/18/mobile-browsing-will-trump-desktop-by-the-end-of-2016-report-says/

Program Helps Small-Business Owners Make Money Off Wi-Fi (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/business/program-helps-small-business-owners-make-money-off-wi-fi/article_1c47d1e0-a5d5-11e5-a198-6b63e6ed7387.html

Nearly a Billion PCs Run This Notoriously Insecure Software – Now Oracle Has to Clean It Up (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2015/12/21/nearly-a-billion-pcs-run-this-notoriously-insecure-software-now-oracle-has-to-clean-it-up/

MARKETING & MEDIA

EPA ‘Won’t Back Down’ from Criticisms over Social Media Posts (Washington Examiner)

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/epa-wont-back-down-from-criticisms-over-social-media-posts/article/2578711?custom_click=rss

The NFL Plans to Stream All Thursday Night Games Next Season (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/The-NFL-Plans-to-Stream-All-Thursday-Night-Games-Next-Season-135922

You Should Watch the Way You Punctuate Your Text Messages — Period (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/sections/alltechconsidered/2015/12/20/459485722/you-should-watch-the-way-you-punctuate-your-text-messages-period

Everett Herald Online: The Din of Online Comments to Fall Silent (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?aid=/20151220/NEWS01/151229934

GENERAL NEWS

Winter Solstice: Five Things to Know (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2015/12/21/winter-solstice-5-things-to-know/

Snow Dumping in the Cascades as More Winter Weather Creeps In (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/11/2876136/Snow-dump-expected-on-Cascades-as-more-winter-weather-creeps-in

One Person Dead Friday after Two-Car Crash along SR 106 (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/police-investigating-after-fatal-crash-along-sr-10/npnQS/

U-S 12 over White Pass to Reopen Tuesday Evening (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/2015/12/20/us-12-over-white-pass-to-reopen/77667318/

Funding Approved for Naval Base Kitsap Projects (Associated Press)

http://q13fox.com/2015/12/21/funding-approved-for-naval-base-kitsap-projects/

Seattle Times Plans Six Percent Newsroom Budget Cut (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2015/12/18/seattle-times-plans-6-percent-newsroom-budget-cut.html

Seahawks Clinch Playoff Berth with 30-13 Win over Browns (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

http://www.khq.com/story/30796851/seahawks-clinch-playoff-berth-with-30-13-win-over-browns

DIVERSIONS

A Peanut’s Christmas: Deleted Bible Passage Recited by Adults during School’s Play (And They Were Sore Afraid…)

http://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/deleted-bible-passage-recited-by-adults-during-schools-play/

Theft of Horse Hair Angers, Puzzles Owner

http://portlandtribune.com/scs/83-news/285843-162631-theft-of-horse-hair-angers-puzzles-owner

JJ Abrams Followed Portlander’s Four Star Wars Rules

http://koin.com/2015/12/18/jj-abrams-followed-portlanders-4-star-wars-rules/

Miss Universe Crowns Wrong Beauty Queen in Live TV Gaffe

http://news.yahoo.com/miss-philippines-crowned-miss-universe-live-tv-mixup-034750569.html

SONG OF THE DAY

America - A Horse with No Name

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zSAJ0l4OBHM

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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.