All the links in today’s news digest lead to current stories. Please note that some media organizations update their web sites regularly, which may result in broken links in the future.
THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER
Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:
HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES
Scientists Predict Rare ‘Hibernation’ of Sunspots “…Experts are now probing whether this…could be a second Maunder Minimum…a period known as the ‘Little Ice Age’…”(Associated Press)
Solar Array to Provide Power at Mason County PUD 3 Operations Center - PUD Agrees to Proposal from Private Developer (Mason County PUD No. 3)
Protected Birds Eating Millions of Endangered Salmon on Tiny Oregon Island (Oregonian, Portland)
Congressional Panel Ponders Death for Salmon-Munching Sea Lions (McClatchy News Service)
Canada - Contract Dispute Halts Montana Alberta Tie Ltd Transmission Line Work (Journal of Commerce, Canada)
NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
- Bonneville Power Administration Says Northwest Has Too Much Energy; Orders Wind Farms Cut Off Grid
- Massive Snowmelt Pits Wind Turbines against Water Power
- Canada - Contract Dispute Halts Montana Alberta Tie Ltd Transmission Line Work
- Coal Terminal Opponents Tell Cowlitz County Commissioners Fire is ‘Red Flag’
- Grant PUD Linemen Set for Rodeo
- California ISO Selects New President & CEO
- US Nuclear Reactors Unprepared for Total Power Loss, Report Suggests
- Political Volleys over Nuclear Waste
- German Irony: Will It Have To Import Nuclear Power?
- Major Blackouts Hit Venezuela – Again
- Protected Birds Eating Millions of Endangered Salmon on Tiny Oregon Island
- Congressional Panel Ponders Death for Salmon-Munching Sea Lions
- Sammie the Salmon Makes It to the Ocean
- Shellfish Harvesting Ban in Place along Strait of Juan De Fuca Beaches
- Taylor Shellfish - Breeding a Better Oyster
- Growing Deer Population Hurts Survival of Forests
- Lake Chelan - Lower Water Level is Raising Anxieties in Vacationland
- Elwha River Finding Its Natural Channel Once More
- Mason County - Small Increase for North Bay Sewer Approved
- Solar Array to Provide Power at Mason County PUD 3 Operations Center
- Utilities Developing More Solar Projects
- Google Invests $280 Million to Spur Home Solar Growth
- Oregon - Iberdrola Picks Biomass over Natural Gas in Klamath Falls
- Alaska - Fire Island Wind Power Project Moves Closer to Reality
- NJ Governor’s Energy Plan Draws Fire from Clean Power Advocates
- Penguin Windows to Shutter Operations
- China Takes a New Interest in Energy Efficiency
- Pay TV Boxes Hike Electric Bills, Waste Energy
- Scientists Predict Rare ‘Hibernation’ of Sunspots
- A Sun with No Sun Spots? What That Could Mean for Earth & Its Climate
- One of World’s Greenest Communities Coming to Bainbridge
- If US Senate Repeals Ethanol Subsidies, What Happens at the Gas Pump?
- WindMade™ Label Standard Presented to US Market
- How Big Data Can Save a Terawatt Hour of Energy
- Gregoire to Sign Operating Budget, Other Key Bills
- Ron Sims Leaving HUD, Returning to Northwest
- Washington State Attorney General - Reagan Dunn Runs to Succeed McKenna
- Editorial - Hands Off Sonntag’s Performance Audit Money
- Investigation Shows Accusations Unfounded in Port of Shelton Leadership Complaint
- Four Dollar Gas a Thing of the Past, at Least for Now
- La Niña’s Grip Finally Fading in Face of Summer
- Suspect Accused of Stealing $617,467 in Clallam Treasurer’s Funds, Admits to Taking $866
- Former Olympia Woman Pleads Guilty in University Of Washington Arson
- High School Graduation Rate Improves in Washington State
- Professor Says Vandalism against Olympia Photographer Not His Fault (the fault of the professor’s, that is – says the agent provocateur)
- US Postal Service Defends Five-Day Delivery Plan
WORD OF THE DAY
Bravura • \bruh-VUR-uh\ • Noun - 1: a musical passage requiring exceptional agility and technical skill in execution 2: a florid brilliant style 3: a show of daring or brilliance
“WOW” exclaimed the corporate administrative assistant to her seatmate at the local production of “Rocky Horror Picture Show.” “I knew that Montague was a theater nut, but I had no idea that he would play ‘Frank-N-Furter’ so broadly, with so much bravura,” she said.
Monty would never be seen in the same light again, as he daily wheeled the mail cart through the cubicles…the “gophers” rolling their chairs out to watch him stroll by.
SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS
ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES
Bonneville Power Administration Says Northwest Has Too Much Energy; Orders Wind Farms Cut Off Grid (Seattle Weekly)
Massive Snowmelt Pits Wind Turbines against Water Power (The Atlantic)
Canada - Contract Dispute Halts Montana Alberta Tie Ltd Transmission Line Work (Journal of Commerce, Canada)
Coal Terminal Opponents Tell Cowlitz County Commissioners Fire is ‘Red Flag’ (Longview Daily News, WA)
Grant PUD Linemen Set for Rodeo (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)
California ISO Selects New President & CEO (CNBC)
US Nuclear Reactors Unprepared for Total Power Loss, Report Suggests (NY Times)
Political Volleys over Nuclear Waste (NY Times)
German Irony: Will It Have To Import Nuclear Power? (Globe & Mail, Canada)
Major Blackouts Hit Venezuela – Again – Officials blame…the crisis on excess consumption & not on the inability & incapacity of the (government) to tackle the problems (Christian Science Monitor)
FISH & WILDLIFE
Protected Birds Eating Millions of Endangered Salmon on Tiny Oregon Island (Oregonian, Portland)
Congressional Panel Ponders Death for Salmon-Munching Sea Lions (McClatchy News Service)
Sammie the Salmon Makes It to the Ocean (Oregon Public Broadcasting)
Shellfish Harvesting Ban in Place along Strait of Juan De Fuca Beaches (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
Taylor Shellfish - Breeding a Better Oyster (Northwest Public Radio)
Growing Deer Population Hurts Survival of Forests (National Public Radio)
WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT
Lake Chelan - Lower Water Level is Raising Anxieties in Vacationland (Wenatchee World, WA)
Elwha River Finding Its Natural Channel Once More (Seattle Times)
Mason County - Small Increase for North Bay Sewer Approved (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY
Solar Array to Provide Power at Mason County PUD 3 Operations Center - PUD Agrees to Proposal from Private Developer (Mason County PUD No. 3)
Utilities Developing More Solar Projects (Renewable Energy World)
Google Invests $280 Million to Spur Home Solar Growth (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
Oregon - Iberdrola Picks Biomass over Natural Gas in Klamath Falls (Sustainable Business Oregon)
Alaska - Fire Island Wind Power Project Moves Closer to Reality (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
NJ Governor’s Energy Plan Draws Fire from Clean Power Advocates (Reuters)
CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY
Penguin Windows to Shutter Operations - Vancouver site shut down, with 60 to 70 laid off (Vancouver Columbian, WA)
China Takes a New Interest in Energy Efficiency (NY Times)
Pay TV Boxes Hike Electric Bills, Waste Energy (USA Today)
CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT
Scientists Predict Rare ‘Hibernation’ of Sunspots “…Experts are now probing whether this…could be a second Maunder Minimum…a period known as the ‘Little Ice Age’…”(Associated Press)
A Sun with No Sun Spots? What That Could Mean for Earth & Its Climate (Christian Science Monitor)
BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI
One of World’s Greenest Communities Coming to Bainbridge (KING-TV, Seattle)
If US Senate Repeals Ethanol Subsidies, What Happens at the Gas Pump? (Christian Science Monitor)
WindMade™ Label Standard Presented to US Market (Renewable Energy World)
TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS
How Big Data Can Save a Terawatt Hour of Energy (GigaOM)
POLITICS & GOVERNANCE
Gregoire to Sign Operating Budget, Other Key Bills (Associated Press)
Ron Sims Leaving HUD, Returning to Northwest (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)
Washington State Attorney General - Reagan Dunn Runs to Succeed McKenna (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)
Editorial - Hands Off Sonntag’s Performance Audit Money (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)
GENERAL NEWS
Investigation Shows Accusations Unfounded in Port of Shelton Leadership Complaint (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)
Four Dollar Gas a Thing of the Past, at Least for Now (USA Today)
La Niña’s Grip Finally Fading in Face of Summer - Warmer Weather Pattern Likely by Late Month (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)
Suspect Accused of Stealing $617,467 in Clallam Treasurer’s Funds, Admits to Taking $866 (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)
Former Olympia Woman Pleads Guilty in University Of Washington Arson (Olympian, WA)
High School Graduation Rate Improves in Washington State (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)
Professor Says Vandalism against Olympia Photographer Not His Fault (the fault of the professor’s, that is – says the agent provocateur) (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle)
US Postal Service Defends Five-Day Delivery Plan (Puget Sound Business Journal)
DIVERSIONS
Idaho House Infested with Snakes, Ex-Residents Say
Did You Hear The One About the Stolen Front Lawn in Edmonton? It’s True!
Mysterious Humming Noise Bedevils Tiny English Village (Christian Science Monitor)
France is Punished for Failing to Protect Its Wild Hamsters
SONG OF THE DAY
Friends of Distinction - Grazing in the Grass
