Energy News Digest for February 9, 2016

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for February 9, 2016

http://1.usa.gov/1T3HnqR

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

REC Silicon Shuts Down Remaining Moses Lake Production – Ongoing trade dispute continues to hinder business (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/business/rec-silicon-shuts-down-remaining-moses-lake-production/article_943f79ea-ce8f-11e5-ae5c-cfa8709af120.html

South Kitsap Puget Sound Energy Customers Not Pleased with Energy Bills (Port Orchard Independent, WA)

http://www.portorchardindependent.com/news/367855391.html

Snowpack “Oodles Better” than Last Year, Hydrologists Report (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/snowpack-oodles-better-than-last-year-hydrologists-report/article_c918e603-14ad-57a8-9fc9-05cc57c202d1.html

City of Shelton Sued Over Contaminated Landfill (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/2016/02/08/shelton-sued-over-contaminated-landfill/80032888/

Inslee Blasts Washington State Senate Republicans for Cabinet Ouster (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

http://www.khq.com/story/31170592/inslee-blasts-senate-republicans-for-cabinet-ouster

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• South Kitsap Puget Sound Energy Customers Not Pleased with Energy Bills
• Washington State Senate Panel Endorses Colstrip Shut-Down Bill
• Public Power Ranks High in JD Power Customer Satisfaction Study
• Natural Gas Use for Power Generation Higher This Winter
• Why Natural Gas Investments Could Spell Trouble for Electric Utilities
• Canada Makes Big Decisions to Strengthen its Commitment to Nuclear Power
• Fill the Air with Love on Valentine’s Day, Not Metallic Balloons
• Half-Built Nuclear Fuel Plant in South Carolina Faces Test on Its Future
• Snowpack “Oodles Better” than Last Year, Hydrologists Report
• REC Silicon Shuts Down Remaining Moses Lake Production
• Editorial: Is Oregon’s Flip Flop on Business Energy Tax Credit Audit Good Governance or PR?
• Northern Arizona Power Plant to Run on Forest Thinnings
• Coal Companies, Enviros Back Tax Incentive Extension for Carbon Capture Projects
• Op/Ed: Washington State Fiscal Office Miscalculates Carbon Initiative’s Revenue Stream
• Editorial: ‘Cap and Trade’ Overreach Makes Mockery of Short Legislative Sessions
• 5G Might Be Your Next Home Broadband Service
• Evaluating Your Broadband Speed
• Verizon Admits It’s Considering a Yahoo Buy
• Yelp Is Really Struggling
• Three Steps for Adding Video to Your Social Media Marketing
• Inslee Blasts Washington State Senate Republicans for Cabinet Ouster
• City of Shelton Sued Over Contaminated Landfill
• Russell Wilson Pens ‘Thank You’ Letter to Peyton Manning

WORD OF THE DAY

Emaciated • \ih-MAY-shee-ate-ed\ • verb - Wasted away physically 1: Loss of flesh so as to become very thin 2: to be feeble

The thin, pinch-faced clerk heaved a deep sigh. It was either pay $250 for a prime parking spot from his emaciated bank account, or walk ten blocks from a free public lot that had feeble lighting, and heavily cracked pavement…weeds fighting their way to the thin winter sunshine.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

South Kitsap Puget Sound Energy Customers Not Pleased with Energy Bills (Port Orchard Independent, WA)

http://www.portorchardindependent.com/news/367855391.html

Washington State Senate Panel Endorses Colstrip Shut-Down Bill (KRTV-TV, Great Falls, MT)

http://www.krtv.com/story/31157475/wa-state-senate-panel-endorses-colstrip-shut-down-bill

Public Power Ranks High in JD Power Customer Satisfaction Study (American Public Power Association)

http://www.publicpower.org/Media/daily/ArticleDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=45167

Natural Gas Use for Power Generation Higher This Winter (US Energy Information Administration)

http://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.cfm?id=24892

Why Natural Gas Investments Could Spell Trouble for Electric Utilities (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/why-natural-gas-investments-could-spell-trouble-for-electric-utilities/413368/

Canada Makes Big Decisions to Strengthen its Commitment to Nuclear Power (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/mzconsulting/2322123/canada-makes-big-decisions-further-strengthen-its-commitment-nuclear-power

Fill the Air with Love on Valentine’s Day, Not Metallic Balloons (PG&E Currents)

http://www.pgecurrents.com/2016/02/08/fill-the-air-with-love-on-valentine%E2%80%99s-day-not-metallic-balloons/

Half-Built Nuclear Fuel Plant in South Carolina Faces Test on Its Future (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/09/us/politics/half-built-nuclear-fuel-plant-in-south-carolina-faces-test-on-its-future.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Snowpack “Oodles Better” than Last Year, Hydrologists Report (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/snowpack-oodles-better-than-last-year-hydrologists-report/article_c918e603-14ad-57a8-9fc9-05cc57c202d1.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY

REC Silicon Shuts Down Remaining Moses Lake Production – Ongoing trade dispute continues to hinder business (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/business/rec-silicon-shuts-down-remaining-moses-lake-production/article_943f79ea-ce8f-11e5-ae5c-cfa8709af120.html

Editorial: Is Oregon’s Flip Flop on Business Energy Tax Credit Audit Good Governance or PR? (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/02/is_flip_flop_on_betc_audit_goo.html

Northern Arizona Power Plant to Run on Forest Thinnings (Arizona Republic, Phoenix)

http://www.azcentral.com/story/money/business/energy/2016/02/09/northern-arizona-power-plant-run-forest-thinnings/80029200/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Coal Companies, Enviros Back Tax Incentive Extension for Carbon Capture Projects (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/coal-companies-enviros-back-tax-incentive-extension-for-carbon-capture-pro/413474/

Op/Ed: Washington State Fiscal Office Miscalculates Carbon Initiative’s Revenue Stream (Olympian - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/op-ed/article58570878.html

Editorial: ‘Cap and Trade’ Overreach Makes Mockery of Short Legislative Sessions (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/02/cap_and_trade_overreach_makes.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

5G Might Be Your Next Home Broadband Service (CIO)

http://www.cio.com/article/3031005/5g-might-be-your-next-home-broadband-service.html

Evaluating Your Broadband Speed (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/09/technology/personaltech/evaluating-your-broadband-speed.html

Verizon Admits It’s Considering a Yahoo Buy (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Verizon-Admits-Its-Considering-a-Yahoo-Buy-136250

MARKETING & MEDIA

Yelp Is Really Struggling (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2016/02/08/yelp-is-really-struggling/

Three Steps for Adding Video to Your Social Media Marketing (Social Media Examiner)

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/3-steps-for-adding-video-to-your-social-media-marketing/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Inslee Blasts Washington State Senate Republicans for Cabinet Ouster (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

http://www.khq.com/story/31170592/inslee-blasts-senate-republicans-for-cabinet-ouster

GENERAL NEWS

City of Shelton Sued Over Contaminated Landfill (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/2016/02/08/shelton-sued-over-contaminated-landfill/80032888/

Russell Wilson Pens ‘Thank You’ Letter to Peyton Manning (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.kgw.com/sports/russell-wilson-pens-thank-you-letter-to-peyton-manning/36768757

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Lock of John Lennon’s Hair Expected to Fetch $10,000 at Auction

http://news.yahoo.com/lock-lennons-hair-expected-fetch-10k-auction-121044428.html

Wisconsin Couple, Too Drunk to Drive, Give Keys to 9-Year-Old Daughter

http://news.yahoo.com/wisconsin-couple-too-drunk-drive-keys-9-old-184741559.html

Cars Parked on Thin Ice Get Icy Bath in Wisconsin

http://news.yahoo.com/cars-parked-thin-ice-icy-bath-wisconsin-042108734.html

Watch the Birdie! Photo Booth Snaps Mugshot of Thief in the Act

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-illinois-crime-photobooth-idUSKCN0VD2ZG

SONG OF THE DAY

Jethro Tull – Skating Away

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kelfA6UeZh0

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

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.

Energy News Digest for February 8, 2016

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for February 8, 2016

http://1.usa.gov/1SEdlvf

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

New Record Set for Fall Chinook Redds in Snake River (Associated Press)

http://komonews.com/news/local/new-record-set-for-fall-chinook-redds-in-snake-river

A Look at Restoring Wild Salmon Runs on the Upper Columbia River (Associated Press)

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/feb/7/a-look-at-restoring-wild-salmon-runs-on-the-columb/

California: Sacramento Municipal Utility District Cancels $1.45 Billion Hydro Project in El Dorado County (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/business/article58651808.html

Editorial: It’s Not Too Late for Klamath – Not Congress – To Manage Its Water (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/02/its_not_too_late_for_klamath_n.html

Washington State Senate Votes to Oust Transportation Secretary (Associated Press)

http://www.khq.com/story/31154379/washington-senate-votes-to-oust-transportation-secretary

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• California: Sacramento Municipal Utility District Cancels $1.45 Billion Hydro Project in El Dorado County
• Avista Boosts Third Quarter Stock Dividend
• Port Townsend Buildings Evacuated After Underground Electrical Malfunction
• Electric Rates May Rise in Burley
• Cowlitz PUD Customers Protest High Electricity Bills, Call for Meter Audit
• California Saves $12 Million in New Energy Imbalance Market
• Super Bowl’s Super Solar Utility Has Been a Target of Attack
• Westview Wins Regional Bonneville Power Administration Science Bowl
• Massachusetts Plan Could Spur Hydro Imports to New England
• One Statistic Shows Just How Dramatically Our Energy System Is Changing – U-S Electricity Generation by Fuel Type
• New Record Set for Fall Chinook Redds in Snake River
• A Look at Restoring Wild Salmon Runs on the Upper Columbia River
• One-Day Smelt Season Nets More then 160 Violations
• Owners of Historic Hydroelectric Plant Sued Over Fish Protections
• Editorial: It’s Not Too Late for Klamath – Not Congress – To Manage Its Water
• Why Drought Might Be the New Normal for the American Southwest
• Arcadia Power Pitches Bozeman on Wind Power: But How Does It Work?
• World’s Biggest Wind Farm to Be Built Off the Coast of the UK
• Montana’s Geothermal Credit Mainly Benefits the Rich
• Legal Marijuana a High-Growth Business
• Seattle’s Brash King of Pot Raking in Cash & Raising Hackles at Uncle Ike’s
• Carbon Tax Measure, I-732, Might Be on Washington State Ballot
• Op/Ed: Politics behind Attacks on State’s Clean Energy Fund
• Op/Ed: Clean Energy Fund Is Delivering Outside Funding, Results
• Net Neutrality Again Puts FCC General Counsel at Center Stage
• How Many Americans Don’t Have Access to Broadband Internet?
• India Introduces Net Neutrality Rules Barring Facebook’s Free Internet
• LinkedIn Sheds $11 Billion in Value on Stock’s Worst Day since Debut
• Twitter Moves to Actively Seek Out Terrorist Supporters
• How to Use Facebook Messenger for Your Business
• The Five Worst Ads of Super Bowl 50
• The Five Best Ads of Super Bowl 50
• Washington State Senate Votes to Oust Transportation Secretary
• Peterson Responds to Firing, Washington State Republican Senator Threatens “More Heads are Going to Roll”
• Washington State Corrections Secretary Resigns
• National Park Service’s Maintenance Backlog Hits $11.9 Billion
• Belfair Woman Injured in Crash near Kitsap Lake
• Killer Found Insane Can’t Have Slain Wife’s Washington State Pension, Judge Rules
• Rig Count Plummets Nationwide As Oil Remains at $30 per Barrel
• Broncos Stifle Panthers, Win Super Bowl 50
• Commentary: Lynch Retirement Is a Disappointing But Clean Break for Seahawks

WORD OF THE DAY

Portentous • \por-TEN-tuss\ • Adjective – 1: of, relating to, or constituting a portent 2: eliciting amazement or wonder: prodigious 3 *a: being a grave or serious matter b : self-consciously solemn or important: pompous c: ponderously excessive

Nicholas Abercrombie dressed in his most elaborate ceremonial garb for the portentous event. “It isn’t every day that you base jump off a 200 foot tall windmill,” he crowed. Obviously, his idea of a portentous occasion versus a silly one was a matter of perspective.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

California: Sacramento Municipal Utility District Cancels $1.45 Billion Hydro Project in El Dorado County (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/business/article58651808.html

Avista Boosts Third Quarter Stock Dividend (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2016/feb/05/avista-boosts-3q-stock-dividend/

Port Townsend Buildings Evacuated After Underground Electrical Malfunction (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20160207/news/302079985/port-townsend-buildings-evacuated-after-electrical-malfunction

Electric Rates May Rise in Burley (Twin Falls Times News, ID)

http://magicvalley.com/electric-rates-may-rise-in-burley/article_9acd57ce-6a2e-58ec-8c13-f0d110aa44d9.html

Cowlitz PUD Customers Protest High Electricity Bills, Call for Meter Audit (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/customers-protest-high-electricity-bills-call-for-meter-audit/article_786cd8c0-d432-53e1-bd73-12acd180e234.html

California Saves $12 Million in New Energy Imbalance Market (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/business/article57812653.html

Super Bowl’s Super Solar Utility Has Been a Target of Attack (Washington Examiner)

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/super-bowls-super-solar-utility-has-been-a-target-of-attack/article/2582588?custom_click=rss

Westview Wins Regional Bonneville Power Administration Science Bowl (Pamplin Media Group, Portland, OR)

http://portlandtribune.com/pt/9-news/292392-169639-westview-wins-regional-science-bowl

Massachusetts Plan Could Spur Hydro Imports to New England (Associated Press)

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_HYDROPOWER_NEW_ENGLAND?SITE=AP&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

One Statistic Shows Just How Dramatically Our Energy System Is Changing – U-S Electricity Generation by Fuel Type (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/02/04/one-statistic-shows-just-how-dramatically-our-electricity-system-is-changing/

FISH & WILDLIFE

New Record Set for Fall Chinook Redds in Snake River (Associated Press)

http://komonews.com/news/local/new-record-set-for-fall-chinook-redds-in-snake-river

A Look at Restoring Wild Salmon Runs on the Upper Columbia River (Associated Press)

http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/feb/7/a-look-at-restoring-wild-salmon-runs-on-the-columb/

One-Day Smelt Season Nets More then 160 Violations (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/one-day-smelt-season-nets-more-than-violations/article_a3f3483b-05b6-5395-84d1-4410551001f4.html

Owners of Historic Hydroelectric Plant Sued Over Fish Protections (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/tech/science/environment/2016/02/05/owners-dam-puyallup-river-sued-fish-protections/79867310/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Editorial: It’s Not Too Late for Klamath – Not Congress – To Manage Its Water (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2016/02/its_not_too_late_for_klamath_n.html

Why Drought Might Be the New Normal for the American Southwest (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2016/0206/Why-drought-might-be-the-new-normal-for-the-American-Southwest

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Arcadia Power Pitches Bozeman on Wind Power: But How Does It Work? (Bozeman Daily Chronicle, MT – Congrats, here’s your environmental indulgence)

http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/economy/arcadia-power-pitches-bozeman-on-wind-power-but-how-does/article_5157c8d9-382f-55e0-ad4e-e4032232ea3e.html

World’s Biggest Wind Farm to Be Built Off the Coast of the UK (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/worlds-biggest-wind-farm-to-be-built-off-the-coast-of-t-1757743498

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Montana’s Geothermal Credit Mainly Benefits the Rich (The Bozeman Daily Chronicle, MT)

http://www.bozemandailychronicle.com/news/environment/montana-s-geothermal-credit-mainly-benefits-the-rich/article_c2222ea9-a82b-5339-94f9-e1f41d85229d.html

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Legal Marijuana a High-Growth Business (Olympian - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.theolympian.com/news/local/marijuana/article58218663.html

Seattle’s Brash King of Pot Raking in Cash & Raising Hackles at Uncle Ike’s (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://bit.ly/1RiLT4C

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Carbon Tax Measure, I-732, Might Be on Washington State Ballot (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20160208/BIZ/160209503

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Op/Ed: Politics behind Attacks on State’s Clean Energy Fund (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?aid=/20160207/OPINION03/160209498

Op/Ed: Clean Energy Fund Is Delivering Outside Funding, Results (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://bit.ly/1RiKk6S

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Net Neutrality Again Puts FCC General Counsel at Center Stage (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/08/technology/net-neutrality-again-puts-fcc-general-counsel-at-center-stage.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

How Many Americans Don’t Have Access to Broadband Internet? (The Motley Fool)

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2016/02/07/how-many-americans-dont-have-access-to-broadband-i.aspx

India Introduces Net Neutrality Rules Barring Facebook’s Free Internet (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-india-regulator-netneutrality-idUSKCN0VH162

MARKETING & MEDIA

LinkedIn Sheds $11 Billion in Value on Stock’s Worst Day since Debut (Reuters)

http://uk.reuters.com/article/linkedin-results-research-idUKKCN0VE1N0

Twitter Moves to Actively Seek Out Terrorist Supporters (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_29486928/twitter-moves-actively-seek-out-terrorist-supporters?source=rss

How to Use Facebook Messenger for Your Business (Social Media Examiner)

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-to-use-facebook-messenger-for-your-business/

The Five Worst Ads of Super Bowl 50 (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/news-gallery/advertising-branding/5-worst-ads-super-bowl-50-169512

The Five Best Ads of Super Bowl 50 (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/news-gallery/advertising-branding/5-best-ads-super-bowl-50-169503

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Senate Votes to Oust Transportation Secretary (Associated Press)

http://www.khq.com/story/31154379/washington-senate-votes-to-oust-transportation-secretary

Peterson Responds to Firing, Washington State Republican Senator Threatens “More Heads are Going to Roll” (PubliCola)

http://www.seattlemet.com/articles/2016/2/5/peterson-responds-to-firing-republican-senator-threatens-more-heads-are-going-to-roll

Washington State Corrections Secretary Resigns (Associated Press)

http://www.khq.com/story/31157735/washington-corrections-secretary-resigns

GENERAL NEWS

National Park Service’s Maintenance Backlog Hits $11.9 Billion (The Hill, Washington, DC)

http://thehill.com/policy/energy-environment/268423-park-services-maintenance-backlog-hits-119-million

Belfair Woman Injured in Crash near Kitsap Lake (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/18976

Killer Found Insane Can’t Have Slain Wife’s Washington State Pension, Judge Rules (Olympian - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.theolympian.com/news/local/politics-government/article58795398.html

Rig Count Plummets Nationwide As Oil Remains at $30 per Barrel (Dallas Business Journal, TX)

http://www.bizjournals.com/dallas/blog/morning_call/2016/02/rig-count-plummets-nationwide-as-oil-remains-at-30.html

Broncos Stifle Panthers, Win Super Bowl 50 (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

http://koin.com/2016/02/07/super-bowl-50-denver-broncos-vs-carolina-panthers-02072016/

Commentary: Lynch Retirement Is a Disappointing But Clean Break for Seahawks (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2016/02/07/commentary-lynch-retirement-is-a-disappointing-but-a-clean-break-for-seahawks/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Cat Missing for 16 Months Found Living in the Most Purrfect Place

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/missing-cat-pet-food-warehouse_us_56b4723ae4b08069c7a6ca54

Quasimodo, a Rescue Pup with a Hunched Back, Now Has a Happy Foster Home

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/entry/rescue-dog-with-hunched-back-named-quasimodo-is-now-has-a-happy-foster-home_us_56ab87e6e4b00b033aaec2be?cps=gravity_5119_-1463285649637574069

Ancient Museum Mousetrap Still Works, Trapping This Unsuspecting Critter

http://mashable.com/2016/02/05/victorian-mousetrap/#jzmggl_Lmgqw

Indian Man Thought to Be First Ever Killed by Meteorite

http://time.com/4211780/meteorite-india-college/

SONG OF THE DAY

Kenny Loggins – Celebrate Me Home

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

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

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.

Energy News Digest for February 5, 2016

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for February 5, 2016

http://1.usa.gov/1PZfHUX

Small Craft Advisory for Puget Sound & Hood Canal

http://1.usa.gov/1micdPy

Special Weather Statement: Rain & Landslide Danger

http://1.usa.gov/1zSAL46

Flood Watch for Skokomish River

http://1.usa.gov/157dzFc

Ridgezilla (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2016/02/ridgezilla.html

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Sub-Par Coho Run Forecast for Columbia River in 2016 (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2016/feb/04/sub-par-coho-run-forecast-for-columbia-river-in-2016/

Water Supply Specialists Waving Goodbye to Washington State Drought with Continued Snowpack Build (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

http://kpq.com/water-supply-specialists-waving-goodbye-to-drought-with-continued-snowpack-build/

Seattle Council Members Grill City Light Nominee (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/seattle-council-members-grill-city-light-nominee/

Cold Temps Bring Higher Kittitas County Electric Bills – Winter weather hits customer pocketbooks (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

http://www.dailyrecordnews.com/news/brrr-cold-temps-bring-higher-electric-bills/article_ac80c0f4-cab1-11e5-9ceb-d3410f67701c.html

CenturyLink: Work to Remedy Weeklong ‘Disruptions’ in Olympia & Tumwater Nearly Done (Olympian - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article58516708.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Seattle Council Members Grill City Light Nominee
• Cold Temps Bring Higher Kittitas County Electric Bills – Winter weather hits customer pocketbooks
• Snohomish PUD to Hold Special Meeting on Billing Concerns
• Energy Official Says Emissions Rules Could Impact Idaho Electricity Prices
• No Coal. 50 Percent Renewables. What Does the Oregon Legislature’s Big Energy Bill Really Mean?
• Customer’s Lawsuit Challenges Sacramento Municipal Utility District’s Use of Smart Meters
• Pacific Gas & Electric May Face Additional Fines in Criminal Trial for San Bruno Explosion
• Pacific Gas & Electric Opens ‘Smart’ Electrical Nerve Center in Placer County
• British Columbia: Peace River Dam Impact Mitigated by BC Hydro-Fort St. John Agreement
• Work Under Way on Endangered Species Act Hatchery Plans
• Sub-Par Coho Run Forecast for Columbia River in 2016
• Editorial: Fisheries Management by Lawsuit is a Blunt Instrument
• Water Supply Specialists Waving Goodbye to Washington State Drought with Continued Snowpack Build
• Arizona Regulators OK SunZia Power Lines
• Government Vigorously Defends “Clean Power Plan”
• Hold that Climate Change Panic, NOAA Has a Solution
• ‘Wrong Type of Trees’ in Europe Increased Global Warming
• CenturyLink: Work to Remedy Weeklong ‘Disruptions’ in Olympia & Tumwater Nearly Done
• Why AT&T’s Attempt to Kill Municipal Broadband in Tennessee Matters to All Americans
• ‘How Clean is the Cloud?’ Amazon, Microsoft Fuel Need for Sustainable Data Centers
• Apple Ordered to Pay $625.6 Million in Patent Case over FaceTime, iMessage Technology
• Read the Fine Print – You Might Get Sued for a Negative Online Review
• Here’s How Brands Should Create Their Real-Time Super Bowl Strategy for Twitter
• Washington State Legislative Committee Clears Bill Limiting Large Public Records Requests
• Obama to Propose $10-A-Barrel Oil Tax to Fund Rail & Highway Projects
• U-S Capitol Portraits, a Perk of Access, Become a Symbol of Excess Instead
• Semi-Truck Driver Arrested for Vehicular Homicide for Deadly I-90 Crash
• Federal Judge Orders Release of Sole Oregon Defendant in Refuge Takeover
• Text-to-911 Services Now Available in Six Washington State Counties
• Pharmaceutical Pariah Martin Shkreli Takes the Fifth before U-S House Panel, Then Tweets about ‘Imbecile’ Lawmakers
• The Most Democratic, Republican Counties in Washington Are…
• Super Bowl 50

WORD OF THE DAY

Amalgam • \uh-MAL-gum\ • Noun – 1: an alloy of mercury with another metal that is solid or liquid at room temperature according to the proportion of mercury present and is used especially in making tooth cements 2: a mixture of different elements

Urbino squirmed in his seat. His punishment for lying to his wife about his Super Bowl television purchase was to chew on pieces of aluminum foil until he revealed the secret location of the big-screen TV in his palatial home. Each time he bit down, the amalgam in his fillings fired off an uncomfortable voltaic effect causing him to rue the days of sugar babies, saltwater taffy and big hunk candy bars.

In the example sentence for the word “amalgam,” we all squirmed along with Urbino as he was tortured by his wife to reveal the location of his new, big-screen TV. The punishment was chewing on pieces of aluminum foil. Why does this cause us discomfort? Here’s the answer from the web site “How Things Work”:

Biting on aluminum foil can be painful. Why?

Biting on aluminum foil can be painful and is usually noticed if you have metal in your mouth from dental work (e.g. fillings, crowns). Basically, when you bite on foil, you set up a battery in your mouth and the electrical current stimulates nerve endings in your tooth. Here is what happens:

• Pressure from biting brings two dissimilar metals (aluminum foil, mercury in fillings or gold in crowns) in contact in a moist, salty environment (saliva)
• The two metals have an electrochemical potential difference or voltage across them
• Electrons flow from the foil into the tooth (i.e. electrical current)
• The current gets conducted into the tooth’s root, usually by the filling or crown
• The current sets off a nerve impulse in the root’s nerve
• The nerve impulse is sent to the brain
• The brain interprets the impulse as pain

The production of electric current between two metals in contact is called the voltaic effect after Alessandro Volta, who discovered it. Early batteries were made by stacking metal discs together in a pile called a voltaic pile.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Seattle Council Members Grill City Light Nominee (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/politics/seattle-council-members-grill-city-light-nominee/

Cold Temps Bring Higher Kittitas County Electric Bills – Winter weather hits customer pocketbooks (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

http://www.dailyrecordnews.com/news/brrr-cold-temps-bring-higher-electric-bills/article_ac80c0f4-cab1-11e5-9ceb-d3410f67701c.html

Snohomish PUD to Hold Special Meeting on Billing Concerns (My Everett News, WA)

http://myeverettnews.com/2016/02/04/pud-to-hold-special-night-meeting-on-billing-concerns/

Energy Official Says Emissions Rules Could Impact Idaho Electricity Prices (Twin Falls Times-News, ID)

http://magicvalley.com/news/local/govt-and-politics/energy-official-says-emissions-rules-could-impact-idaho-electricity-prices/article_64403602-4aa3-503d-bfb5-4799294518d6.html

No Coal. 50 Percent Renewables. What Does the Oregon Legislature’s Big Energy Bill Really Mean? (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2016/02/whats_really_in_the_legislatur.html

Customer’s Lawsuit Challenges Sacramento Municipal Utility District’s Use of Smart Meters (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/business/article58433618.html

Pacific Gas & Electric May Face Additional Fines in Criminal Trial for San Bruno Explosion (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_29480232/pg-e-may-face-additional-fines-criminal-trial?source=rss

Pacific Gas & Electric Opens ‘Smart’ Electrical Nerve Center in Placer County – New “smart” operation speeds response (Auburn Journal, CA)

http://www.auburnjournal.com/article/2/03/16/pge-opens-smart-electrical-nerve-center-placer-county

British Columbia: Peace River Dam Impact Mitigated by BC Hydro-Fort St. John Agreement (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/site-c-dam-impact-mitigated-by-bc-hydro-fort-st-john-agreement-1.3434437?cmp=rss

FISH & WILDLIFE

Work Under Way on Endangered Species Act Hatchery Plans (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2016/feb/04/work-under-way-on-endangered-species-act-hatchery-plans/

Sub-Par Coho Run Forecast for Columbia River in 2016 (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2016/feb/04/sub-par-coho-run-forecast-for-columbia-river-in-2016/

Editorial: Fisheries Management by Lawsuit is a Blunt Instrument (Daily Astorian, OR)

http://www.dailyastorian.com/editorials/20160204/editorial-management-by-lawsuit-is-a-blunt-instrument

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Water Supply Specialists Waving Goodbye to Washington State Drought with Continued Snowpack Build (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

http://kpq.com/water-supply-specialists-waving-goodbye-to-drought-with-continued-snowpack-build/

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Arizona Regulators OK SunZia Power Lines (Arizona Daily Star, Tucson)

http://tucson.com/news/science/environment/arizona-regulators-ok-sunzia-power-lines/article_9e5816a2-d19e-5922-bd79-f1fec355431c.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Government Vigorously Defends “Clean Power Plan” (SCOTUS Blog)

http://www.scotusblog.com/2016/02/government-vigorously-defends-clean-power-plan/

Hold that Climate Change Panic, NOAA Has a Solution (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/science/article/NOAA-climate-change-solution-power-grid-carbon-6806714.php

‘Wrong Type of Trees’ in Europe Increased Global Warming (British Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35496350

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

CenturyLink: Work to Remedy Weeklong ‘Disruptions’ in Olympia & Tumwater Nearly Done (Olympian - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article58516708.html

Why AT&T’s Attempt to Kill Municipal Broadband in Tennessee Matters to All Americans (CIO)

http://www.cio.com/article/3029727/consumer-electronics/why-atts-attempt-to-kill-municipal-broadband-in-tenn-matters-all-americans.html

‘How Clean is the Cloud?’ Amazon, Microsoft Fuel Need for Sustainable Data Centers – cheap, clean power & low land prices (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/blog/2016/02/how-clean-is-the-cloud-amazon-microsoft-fuel-need.html

Apple Ordered to Pay $625.6 Million in Patent Case over Facetime, iMessage Technology (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_29475917/apple-ordered-pay-625-6-million-patent-case?source=rss

MARKETING & MEDIA

Read the Fine Print – You Might Get Sued for a Negative Online Review (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.seattletimes.com/life/travel/read-the-fine-print-you-might-get-sued-for-a-negative-online-review/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_all

Here’s How Brands Should Create Their Real-Time Super Bowl Strategy for Twitter (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/heres-how-brands-should-create-their-real-time-super-bowl-strategy-twitter-169400

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Legislative Committee Clears Bill Limiting Large Public Records Requests (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/news/politics/2016/02/05/committee-clears-bill-limiting-large-public-records-requests/79876280/

Obama to Propose $10-A-Barrel Oil Tax to Fund Rail & Highway Projects (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/business/economy/obama-to-propose-10-a-barrel-oil-tax-to-fund-rail-and-highway-projects/2016/02/04/49b3ec5c-cb7f-11e5-88ff-e2d1b4289c2f_story.html?wprss=rss_business

U-S Capitol Portraits, a Perk of Access, Become a Symbol of Excess Instead (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/06/us/politics/capitol-portraits-a-perk-of-access-become-a-symbol-of-excess-instead.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

GENERAL NEWS

Semi-Truck Driver Arrested for Vehicular Homicide for Deadly I-90 Crash (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/11/2907658/Semitruck-driver-arrested-for-vehicular-homicide-for-deadly-I90-crash

Federal Judge Orders Release of Sole Oregon Defendant in Refuge Takeover (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2016/02/federal_judge_orders_release_o.html

Text-to-911 Services Now Available in Six Washington State Counties (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/2016/02/04/text-to-911-services-available-washington-counties/79819882/

Pharmaceutical Pariah Martin Shkreli Takes the Fifth before U-S House Panel, Then Tweets about ‘Imbecile’ Lawmakers (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/nation-world/ci_29475127/martin-shkreli-takes-fifth-wont-testify-before-house?source=rss

The Most Democratic, Republican Counties in Washington Are… (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/news/politics/state/2016/02/04/most-democratic-republican-counties-washington/79819676/

Super Bowl 50 (CBS Sports)

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/superbowl/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Maurice White, Founder of Earth, Wind & Fire, Dies at 74

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/05/arts/music/maurice-white-founder-of-earth-wind-and-fire-dies-at-74.html?mwrsm=GooglePlus&_r=0

Sea Lion Takes a Booth at San Diego Restaurant on the Beach

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-california-sealion-idUSKCN0VE088

Activists Get Animal Shelter Chief Fired for $1,000 Purebred Collie

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/weird_news/activists-fire-shelter-chief-for-purebred-collie/article_527cbc97-6940-5010-a0ab-1fd0edd853f3.html

The Sad, Lonely Story of Super Bowl I’s Lost Recording

http://mashable.com/2016/02/03/super-bowl-i-lost-recording/#3NEESqyJs5qM

SONGS OF THE DAY

Earth Wind & Fire- Shining Star

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vwc0AW67CmA

Earth Wind & Fire -That’s the Way of the World

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

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

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.