Friday, March 18, 2016

Energy News Digest for March 18, 2016

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for March 18, 2016

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Pacific Power Rate Request Runs into Opposition (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Longtime Northwest Power Council Leader Retires (Portland Business Journal, OR)

REC Silicon Could Restart Production in June (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

Google Greenlights New $600 Million Data Center in the Dalles (Oregonian, Portland)

Twitter Heard You: The 140-Character Limit Is Here to Stay (Washington Post)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Pacific Power Rate Request Runs into Opposition
  • Longtime Northwest Power Council Leader Retires
  • Building BPA’s Competitive Financial Strength – An Interview with Elliot Mainzer
  • Lower Generation & Power Sales at Grand Coulee Results in Small 181-D Payment, Says BPA
  • Tacoma Public Utilities Chairman To Methanol Proposer: ‘Go Away & Don’t Come Back’ without Answers
  • Diablo Dam Safety Drill Offers Chance to Practice Emergency Coordination
  • Snohomish County PUD to Open New Lynnwood Offices
  • Public Power is a Model for the Future Utility
  • Washington State Chooses Grays River for Steelhead Gene Bank
  • King County Chinook Salmon Recovery Projects Hit 10-Year Mark
  • Taylor Shellfish, with Responsible Aquaculture Certification, Has Plans to Expand
  • Inflatable Dancers Are Latest Astoria Sea Lion Hazing Tools
  • Dozens of Washington State Water Systems Have Elevated Lead Levels
  • Dramatic Images Show El Niño Beginning to Rescue California from Its Drought
  • REC Silicon Could Restart Production in June
  • FERC Rejects Attempt by Qualifying Facility Wind Generator to Force Pseudo-Tie with Portland General
  • California Public Power Utility to Develop Large Geothermal Project in Salton Sea
  • Wind Farm May Be Built Off Long Island
  • Eagles Are Making Wind Turbines Safer for Birds
  • How Utilities Can Turn Distributed Energy Resources from Threat into Opportunity
  • Utilities Often a Forgotten Cost
  • Washington State Governor Vetoes Hemp Farming Bill
  • Legal Weed Is Filling Oregon Tax Coffers Way Ahead of Schedule
  • Oregon Ranks, Um, High on ‘Marijuana Enthusiasm Index’
  • Science at Odds with Washington State Lands Commissioner Candidate Carbon Proposal
  • The Economy Is Growing, But Carbon Emissions Aren’t – That’s a Really Big Deal
  • Canada: Climate Change Labels Coming to Port Moody Gas Pumps – Mayor Has Reservations
  • Our Best Shot at Nuclear Fusion Needs Magnets That Weigh as Much as a Boeing 747
  • Google Greenlights New $600 Million Data Center in the Dalles
  • Report: Google Steps Onto Amazon’s Turf with Apple Cloud Deal
  • Tennessee: Federal Appeals Court Deciding on Municipal Broadband Expansion in Chattanooga
  • Charter Official Nick Pavlis Offers Tennessee Lawmakers Airtime after House Panel Kills Broadband Bill
  • Comcast Customer Hit with $60,000 Penalty after Waiting 10 Months for Installation
  • Twitter Heard You: The 140-Character Limit Is Here to Stay
  • Twitter Shutting Down TweetDeck for Windows App April 15
  • Here’s a Nice Video Reminder Of Just How Awesome Ansel Adams Truly Was
  • Yelp’s Founder Once Thought No One Would Want to Post Opinions on the Internet
  • Obscure Broadcasting Tax at Center of Attempt to End Budget Impasse
  • U-S Gov’t Sets Record for Failures to Find Files When Asked
  • California Initiative Avalanche Makes Signatures More Valuable
  • Sexual Harassment Played into Mason Transit GM’s Departure
  • Boy Scouts Close Tahuya Area Camp
  • Better Business Bureau Worried About ‘Storm Chasers’ after Puget Sound Windstorm
  • On The Brink: Washington State Parks Bouncing Back after ‘Being on the Edge’
  • Cowlitz Casino Continues to Rise Despite Legal Fight
WORD OF THE DAY

Sangfroid • \sawn-FWAH\ • noun – self-possession or imperturbability especially under strain – Etymology: French sang-froid, literally, cold blood

“Watch what happens when I open this breaker,” cackled the scientist. Instantly the entire eastern seaboard went dark, sparking a Federal Energy Regulatory Commission study into the hiring of “mad scientists with sangfroid tendencies”. Unfortunately, it also spawned 250 new regulations as part of the National Energy Reliability Corporation’s rule-making activities.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Pacific Power Rate Request Runs into Opposition (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Longtime Northwest Power Council Leader Retires (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Building BPA’s Competitive Financial Strength – An Interview with Elliot Mainzer (Transmission & Distribution World – The Energy Times)

Lower Generation & Power Sales at Grand Coulee Results in Small 181-D Payment, Says BPA (Colville Tribal Tribune, WA)

Tacoma Public Utilities Chairman To Methanol Proposer: ‘Go Away & Don’t Come Back’ without Answers – Utility chair Bryan Flint blasts company’s lack of specifics (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Diablo Dam Safety Drill Offers Chance to Practice Emergency Coordination (Skagit Valley Herald, Mount Vernon, WA)

Snohomish County PUD to Open New Lynnwood Offices (Everett Herald, WA)

Public Power is a Model for the Future Utility (American Public Power Association)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Washington State Chooses Grays River for Steelhead Gene Bank (Longview Daily News, WA)

King County Chinook Salmon Recovery Projects Hit 10-Year Mark (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Taylor Shellfish, with Responsible Aquaculture Certification, Has Plans to Expand (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Inflatable Dancers Are Latest Astoria Sea Lion Hazing Tools (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Dozens of Washington State Water Systems Have Elevated Lead Levels (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Dramatic Images Show El Niño Beginning to Rescue California from Its Drought (Los Angeles Times, CA)

RENEWABLE ENERGY

REC Silicon Could Restart Production in June (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

FERC Rejects Attempt by Qualifying Facility Wind Generator to Force Pseudo-Tie with Portland General (Wind Power Engineering & Development)

California Public Power Utility to Develop Large Geothermal Project in Salton Sea (American Public Power Association)

Wind Farm May Be Built Off Long Island (NY Times)

Eagles Are Making Wind Turbines Safer for Birds (Breaking Energy)

How Utilities Can Turn Distributed Energy Resources from Threat into Opportunity (Utility Dive)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Utilities Often a Forgotten Cost (Chicago Tribune, IL)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Washington State Governor Vetoes Hemp Farming Bill (Marijuana Business Daily)

Legal Weed Is Filling Oregon Tax Coffers Way Ahead of Schedule (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Oregon Ranks, Um, High on ‘Marijuana Enthusiasm Index’ (Oregonian, Portland)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Science at Odds with Washington State Lands Commissioner Candidate Carbon Proposal (Washington Policy Center)

The Economy Is Growing, But Carbon Emissions Aren’t – That’s a Really Big Deal (Washington Post)

Canada: Climate Change Labels Coming to Port Moody Gas Pumps – Mayor Has Reservations (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Our Best Shot at Nuclear Fusion Needs Magnets That Weigh as Much as a Boeing 747 (Gizmodo)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Google Greenlights New $600 Million Data Center in the Dalles (Oregonian, Portland)

Report: Google Steps Onto Amazon’s Turf with Apple Cloud Deal (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

Tennessee: Federal Appeals Court Deciding on Municipal Broadband Expansion in Chattanooga (Chattanooga Times Free Press, TN)

Charter Official Nick Pavlis Offers Tennessee Lawmakers Airtime after House Panel Kills Broadband Bill (Knoxville News Sentinel, TN)

Comcast Customer Hit with $60,000 Penalty after Waiting 10 Months for Installation (Consumerist)

MARKETING & MEDIA

Twitter Heard You: The 140-Character Limit Is Here to Stay (Washington Post)

Twitter Shutting Down TweetDeck for Windows App April 15 (Consumerist)

Here’s a Nice Video Reminder Of Just How Awesome Ansel Adams Truly Was (Popular Photography)

Yelp’s Founder Once Thought No One Would Want to Post Opinions on the Internet (Washington Post)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Obscure Broadcasting Tax at Center of Attempt to End Budget Impasse (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

U-S Gov’t Sets Record for Failures to Find Files When Asked (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

California Initiative Avalanche Makes Signatures More Valuable (Sacramento Bee, CA)

GENERAL NEWS

Sexual Harassment Played into Mason Transit GM’s Departure (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

Boy Scouts Close Tahuya Area Camp (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

Better Business Bureau Worried About ‘Storm Chasers’ after Puget Sound Windstorm (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

On The Brink: Washington State Parks Bouncing Back after ‘Being on the Edge’ (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Cowlitz Casino Continues to Rise Despite Legal Fight (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Washington, DC Bald Eagle Nest Cam

Oregon Man Sues over ‘Dangerous’ Llama

Dog Believed Lost at Sea Turns Up on Island Used by U-S Navy

Leaked Memo Reports Kazakhstan Barring Smartphones at Government Offices to Prevent Leaks

SONG OF THE DAY

Steve Miller Band – Space Intro/Fly Like an Eagle

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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.

Wednesday, March 16, 2016

Energy News Digest for March 16, 2016

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for March 16, 2016

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Montana: Dam Hydroelectric Bill Clears Hurdle in House (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

British Columbia: Peace River Dam Construction Moves Ahead after Shutdown of Protests (Globe & Mail, Canada)

Cable Worker Shocked by Live Wire in Kitsap County (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

$2 Billion Loss for Generators as a Million U-S Roofs Get Solar (Bloomberg News)

Mason County Unemployment Rises in January (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Montana: Dam Hydroelectric Bill Clears Hurdle in House
  • Montana: Litigation Strategy Begins Over Power from Kerr Dam
  • British Columbia: Peace River Dam Construction Moves Ahead after Shutdown of Protests
  • Alberta Energy Minister Links Trans Mountain Pipeline Support for Peace River Dam Electricity
  • Cable Worker Shocked by Live Wire in Kitsap County
  • Jefferson PUD: Stormy Weather Continues into March
  • At $209 Million – A Seattle City Light Electrical Substation to Delight the Senses
  • Eugene Water & Electric Board, Workers OK Labor Contract
  • Sacramento Municipal Utility District Customers See Silver Lining from Recent Storms
  • Washington, DC: Business Leaders Urge District Officials to Approve Pepco-Exelon Merger
  • At 22.6 Cents per Kilowatt Hour, Electric Bills on Oahu Lowest in More Than Six Years
  • The Customer Engagement Proposal
  • What You Need to Know About Drones for Co-ops
  • Utility Execs' New Worry: Economic Growth, Electricity Sales No Longer Linked
  • Specter of Coastal Salmon Fishing Ban Haunts North Olympic Peninsula Business, Community Leaders
  • Op/Ed: Preserve Wild Salmon from Hatchery Hordes
  • Malheur Refuge Occupation Gave Invasive Fish Species a Leg Up
  • $2 Billion Loss for Generators as a Million U-S Roofs Get Solar
  • The Solar Net Metering Controversy: Who Pays For Energy Subsidies?
  • Maine: LePage opposes Compromise to Rapidly Expand Solar Power
  • Target Stores Should Be a Bull's-Eye for Rooftop Solar
  • Upcoming Coast Guard Study on Offshore Wind Energy Raises Questions
  • Oregon: Medford School District Saving $200,000 Annually through Energy Conservation Projects
  • As Temperatures Soar, New Doubts Arise About Holding Warming to 2 Degrees Celsius
  • Tennessee Legislators Vote Down Rural Broadband Expansion
  • Google Reveals 77 Percent of Its Online Traffic is Encrypted
  • White House: Obama Chooses Merrick Garland for U-S Supreme Court
  • Craig Patti to Run for 35th District State Representative, Position 2
  • 'Green' Lands Commissioner Goldmark Not Green Enough, Opponent Says
  • Mason County Unemployment Rises in January
  • City of Shelton Changes Fee Schedule Including Reduced Building Fees
  • Land Transfer First Step toward New Belfair Park
  • Washington State Patrol to Conduct Left Lane Violation Emphasis
  • Despite Weak Oil Prices, Here's Why Gasoline Prices Will Spring Forward This Spring
  • Study: Women Need More Sleep Than Men Because Their Brains Are More Complex
WORD OF THE DAY

Cantankerous • \kan-TANK-er-us\ • Adjective - Difficult or irritating to deal with.

The banging and popping sounds from the jury-rigged still made it sound like a cantankerous family member stumbling into the house after an all-night bender. “Oh, but what sweet music,” cackled the toothless caretaker of the nectar producing contraption.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Montana: Dam Hydroelectric Bill Clears Hurdle in House (Great Falls Tribune, MT)

Montana: Litigation Strategy Begins Over Power from Kerr Dam (Valley Journal, Ronan, MT)
http://www.valleyjournal.net/article/14998/Litigation-strategy-begins

British Columbia: Peace River Dam Construction Moves Ahead after Shutdown of Protests (Globe & Mail, Canada)

Alberta Energy Minister Links Trans Mountain Pipeline Support for Peace River Dam Electricity (Financial Post, Canada)

Cable Worker Shocked by Live Wire in Kitsap County (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

Jefferson PUD: Stormy Weather Continues into March (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

At $209 Million – A Seattle City Light Electrical Substation to Delight the Senses (E&E News)

Eugene Water & Electric Board, Workers OK Labor Contract (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

Sacramento Municipal Utility District Customers See Silver Lining from Recent Storms (Sacramento Business Journal, CA)

Washington, DC: Business Leaders Urge District Officials to Approve Pepco-Exelon Merger (Washington Business Journal)

At 22.6 Cents per Kilowatt Hour, Electric Bills on Oahu Lowest in More Than Six Years (Pacific Business Journal, HI – I guess pricing is all relative…)

The Customer Engagement Proposal (American Public Power Association)

What You Need to Know About Drones for Co-ops (Electric Co-op Today)

Utility Execs' New Worry: Economic Growth, Electricity Sales No Longer Linked (The Energy Collective)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Specter of Coastal Salmon Fishing Ban Haunts North Olympic Peninsula Business, Community Leaders (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Op/Ed: Preserve Wild Salmon from Hatchery Hordes (Oregonian, Portland)

Malheur Refuge Occupation Gave Invasive Fish Species a Leg Up (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

RENEWABLE ENERGY

$2 Billion Loss for Generators as a Million U-S Roofs Get Solar (Bloomberg News)

The Solar Net Metering Controversy: Who Pays For Energy Subsidies? (Forbes Magazine)

Maine: LePage opposes Compromise to Rapidly Expand Solar Power (Portland Press Herald, ME)

Target Stores Should Be a Bull's-Eye for Rooftop Solar (Minneapolis Star-Tribune, MN)

Upcoming Coast Guard Study on Offshore Wind Energy Raises Questions (Renewable Energy World)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Oregon: Medford School District Saving $200,000 Annually through Energy Conservation Projects (Medford Mail-Tribune, OR)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

As Temperatures Soar, New Doubts Arise About Holding Warming to 2 Degrees Celsius (Washington Post)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Tennessee Legislators Vote Down Rural Broadband Expansion (Knoxville News Sentinel, TN)

Google Reveals 77 Percent of Its Online Traffic is Encrypted (Associated Press)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

White House: Obama Chooses Merrick Garland for U-S Supreme Court (USA Today)

Craig Patti to Run for 35th District State Representative, Position 2 (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

'Green' Lands Commissioner Goldmark Not Green Enough, Opponent Says (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

GENERAL NEWS

Mason County Unemployment Rises in January (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

City of Shelton Changes Fee Schedule Including Reduced Building Fees (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Land Transfer First Step toward New Belfair Park (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

Washington State Patrol to Conduct Left Lane Violation Emphasis (KNDO/KNDU-TV, Tri Cities, WA)

Despite Weak Oil Prices, Here's Why Gasoline Prices Will Spring Forward This Spring (Forbes Magazine)

Study: Women Need More Sleep Than Men Because Their Brains Are More Complex (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Scientists May Have Just Made a Huge Breakthrough in Explaining the Mystery of the Bermuda Triangle

House of Representatives Bill Would Recognize Magic as 'National Treasure'

Penguin Swims 5,000 Miles Every Year for Reunion with the Man Who Saved His Life

Group Petitioning to Create J.P. Patches License Plate

SONG OF THE DAY

Magic – Olivia Newton-John

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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.

Tuesday, March 15, 2016

Energy News Digest for March 15, 2016 – Hot Shots Edition

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for March 15, 2016

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP STORIES

Oregon: Feds Reject Jordan Cove LNG Terminal (Oregonian, Portland)

Snohomish PUD Outage Map Deemed a Success (My Everett News, WA)

Coho Forecasts Prompt Fisheries Managers to Consider Closing Ocean Salmon Fishing This Year (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

Mixed Salmon Runs Challenge Season-Setting Process (Oregonian, Portland)

California’s Biggest Reservoirs Recover, Putting Water Limits in Question (Sacramento Bee, CA)

Pacific Northwest Public Power Utility Gauges Interest in Community Solar (American Public Power Association)

A Decade of Growth: How Amazon's Cloud Business Changed – And Will Keep Changing – Seattle (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

Sierra Pacific Shelton Mill Could Be Running in Early 2017 (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Press Coverage Complicates Jury Selection in Trial of Indicted State Auditor (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

City of Shelton to Hire Additional Lawyers for C Street Landfill Lawsuit (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Newly Crowned Mason County Forest Festival Royalty is “Timber Strong!” (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Hellfire Missiles Were 'Dummy' Rounds Headed for Portland, Maine -- Not Oregon (Oregonian, Portland)

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.

Monday, March 14, 2016

Energy News Digest for March 14, 2016

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for March 14, 2016

Small Craft Advisory for Hood Canal & Puget Sound

Max Winds (Cliff Mass Weather)

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Thousands in Washington State without Power as Crews Clear Downed Trees from Deadly Storm (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

Oregon: Sage Grouse Concerns Trip Up Steens Mountain Turbine Project (Courthouse News Service)

Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission Propose Canceling Coho Season (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Internet Service Providers Also Blocking Google Fiber Pole Access in California (Broadband Reports)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Thousands in Washington State without Power as Crews Clear Downed Trees from Deadly Storm
  • Man Killed When Tree Falls on SUV during Storm
  • Punishing Windstorm Cuts Power for Nearly 1,300 – Mason PUD 3 Restores Electricity
  • Over 10,000 Grays Harbor PUD Customers Were without Power Due to Storm
  • Windy Storm Knocks Out Power throughout North Olympic Peninsula
  • FINAL: Sunday Storm Stirs Jefferson County Issues with Bridge, Ferry, Roads, Power Outages
  • More Than 1,000 Cowlitz PUD Customers Lose Power Sunday
  • Unlike Tacoma Project, Kalama Methanol Plant Gets Warmer Reception
  • Total Electricity Sales Fell in 2015 for Fifth Time in Past Eight Years
  • ‘New Energy Provider’ Scam Hits Florida Co-op
  • Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission Propose Canceling Coho Season
  • Lamprey Found Above Condit Dam Site on White Salmon River
  • Op/Ed: Northwest Tribes Have Moral Obligation to Have Salmon & Steelhead Protected
  • Oregon: Sage Grouse Concerns Trip Up Steens Mountain Turbine Project
  • Can Water Kill the Duck Curve?
  • Paris Goes Greener with U-S Wood Heating
  • Opower Tapped to Head Con Edison’s Customer Energy Management System
  • Shelton Medical Marijuana Shop Transitions to Recreational Sales
  • How Marijuana Is Keeping Portland Retail Vacancy Rates Low
  • How Washington State Governor Inslee Can Change the Script on Climate Issues
  • Internet Service Providers Also Blocking Google Fiber Pole Access in California
  • 65% of U-S Broadband Consumers Use Second Screen
  • Yahoo Continues Streamlining By Shuttering More Products
  • Thwarted by the iPhone, Hackers Turn Their Attention to Other Products
  • Facebook Mobile Apps: A Guide for Marketers
  • Washington Lawmakers Exempt from Releasing Emails
  • Sunshine Sunday: Open Records Act under Fire as Large Requests Tax System
  • Washington State Auditor’s Trial Set to Begin in Federal Court
  • Customer Shoots Masked, Hatchet-Wielding Attacker in King County 7-Eleven
  • Bomb-Sniffing Dog Discovers Two Hellfire Missiles Bound for Portland
  • Group Health Members Vote to Support Kaiser Permanente Acquisition
  • Editor’s Notebook: Storms, My Dangerous Addiction
WORD OF THE DAY

Scarlet Pimpernel - • \SCAR-lut – PIMP-per-nell\ • Noun - 1: a European pimpernel (Anagallis arvensis) naturalized in North America & having scarlet, white, or purplish flowers that close in cloudy weather 2: a person who rescues others from mortal danger by smuggling them across a border.

See “Leslie Howard,” The Scarlet Pimpernel: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Scarlet_Pimpernel_%281934_film%29

“We seek him here, we seek him there
Those Frenchies seek him everywhere!
Is he in heaven? Or is he in hell?
That demmed Elusive (Scarlet) Pimpernel?”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Thousands in Washington State without Power as Crews Clear Downed Trees from Deadly Storm (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

Man Killed When Tree Falls on SUV during Storm (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Punishing Windstorm Cuts Power for Nearly 1,300 – Mason PUD 3 Restores Electricity (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

Over 10,000 Grays Harbor PUD Customers Were without Power Due to Storm (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

Windy Storm Knocks Out Power throughout North Olympic Peninsula – Closes Hood Canal Bridge for nearly three hours (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

FINAL: Sunday Storm Stirs Jefferson County Issues with Bridge, Ferry, Roads, Power Outages (Port Townsend Leader, WA)

More Than 1,000 Cowlitz PUD Customers Lose Power Sunday (Longview Daily News, WA)

Unlike Tacoma Project, Kalama Methanol Plant Gets Warmer Reception (Longview Daily News, WA)

Total Electricity Sales Fell in 2015 for Fifth Time in Past Eight Years (The Energy Collective)

‘New Energy Provider’ Scam Hits Florida Co-op (Electric Co-op Today)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Northwest Indian Fisheries Commission Propose Canceling Coho Season (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Lamprey Found Above Condit Dam Site on White Salmon River (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Op/Ed: Northwest Tribes Have Moral Obligation to Have Salmon & Steelhead Protected (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Oregon: Sage Grouse Concerns Trip Up Steens Mountain Turbine Project (Courthouse News Service)

Can Water Kill the Duck Curve? (Breaking Energy)

Paris Goes Greener with U-S Wood Heating (Engineering & Technology Magazine)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Opower Tapped to Head Con Edison’s Customer Energy Management System (Utility Dive)

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Shelton Medical Marijuana Shop Transitions to Recreational Sales (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

How Marijuana Is Keeping Portland Retail Vacancy Rates Low (Portland Business Journal, OR)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

How Washington State Governor Inslee Can Change the Script on Climate Issues (Crosscut Seattle)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Internet Service Providers Also Blocking Google Fiber Pole Access in California (Broadband Reports)

65% of U-S Broadband Consumers Use Second Screen (Broadband & TV News)

Yahoo Continues Streamlining By Shuttering More Products (Dallas Business Journal, TX)

Thwarted by the iPhone, Hackers Turn Their Attention to Other Products (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

MARKETING & MEDIA

Facebook Mobile Apps: A Guide for Marketers (Social Media Examiner)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington Lawmakers Exempt from Releasing Emails (KPQ Radio, Wenatchee, WA)

Sunshine Sunday: Open Records Act under Fire as Large Requests Tax System (Olympian - Paywall Advisory)

GENERAL NEWS

Washington State Auditor’s Trial Set to Begin in Federal Court (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

Customer Shoots Masked, Hatchet-Wielding Attacker in King County 7-Eleven (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

Bomb-Sniffing Dog Discovers Two Hellfire Missiles Bound for Portland (Associated Press)

Group Health Members Vote to Support Kaiser Permanente Acquisition (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

Editor’s Notebook: Storms, My Dangerous Addiction (Daily Astorian, OR)

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Unhappy NCAA Investigates the Bracket Leak

Man Arrested in Connection with Iditarod Crashes

Pi Day Freebies & Tech Deals 2016

Maine Wholesaler Acquires Rare Four-Clawed Lobster

SONG OF THE DAY

Paul McCartney - Fixing a Hole

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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.