The Energy News Digest: Energy News Digest for November 29, 2012

Thursday, November 29, 2012

Energy News Digest for November 29, 2012

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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

BPA Administrator Praises Hydropower Benefits at Tri-Cities Chamber Luncheon (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/11/29/2187102/bpa-administrator-praises-hydropower.html

Hydropower Licensees Challenge FERC’s Practice of Charging Them for Using Their Own Lands – Includes Chelan, Grant Snohomish Public Utility Districts (SNL Financial)

http://www.snl.com/Interactivex/article.aspx?CdId=A-16522903-14124

Coastal Flood Advisory – Includes Mason County (National Weather Service, Seattle)

http://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WA124CD0C0A344.CoastalFloodAdvisory.124CD0C1E13CWA.SEWCFWSEW.e52bdd42d16603844b391f01f9048a36

Washington State Governor-Elect Jay Inslee Announces Transition Committee (Governor’s Transition Team)

http://www.inslee-transitionoffice.wa.gov/news/20121127.asp

$588 Million Powerball Jackpot Tickets Sold in Arizona, Missouri (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/nov/29/588m-powerball-jackpot-tickets-sold-in-ariz-mo/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

BPA Administrator Praises Hydropower Benefits at Tri-Cities Chamber Luncheon
Hydropower Licensees Challenge FERC’s Practice of Charging Them for Using Their Own Lands – Includes Chelan, Grant Snohomish Public Utility Districts
2013 Budget Passed; Successful Audit for Mason County PUD No. 1
Kittitas County PUD Looks to Hire New Manager
Some Idaho Power Workers Eye Union
New York Tells Con Ed to Prepare in Case Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant Shuts Down
Another Step to Smaller Reactors
Over “Lifetime” Heating Discounts - FirstEnergy Off Hook in Homeowner Suit, Ohio Supreme Court Rules
New York Electrician Shortage Hampers Sandy Recovery
U-S Natural Gas Supplies Grew Last Week
Germany to Pay Energy-Intensive Firms to Switch Off Power Supply
New Era Looms for Lower Columbia Salmon Fisheries
Latest Fall Fish Transportation Figures for the Cowlitz River
New Owl Habitat Affects More Oregon Forests Than Neighbors
Miners, Conservationists Team Up to Help Yellowstone Trout
Contractor Approved for Upgrade to Central Kitsap Sewer Plant
As Great Lakes Plummet, Towns Try to Save Harbors
Arlington High Goes Green with Solar Panels
Hints to Winterize Your Home
Empire State Building Surprises New York City with New LED Lights
Op/Ed - Is Cap-And-Trade Auction a Step Forward?
“Giant Reed” Arundo Donax -- Miracle Biofuel or Invasive Menace?
U-S Senate Gives Green Light to Pentagon Green Energy
USDA Says Rural Broadband Funding Will Be Given Priority
Google Fiber is Awesome & Time Warner is Worried
Ars Asks: Help Us Max Out Google Fiber
Op/Ed - Bad Connections: Break Up the Telecom Cartels
This Is How Much Time You Spend on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr
Op/Ed - Let’s Face It: Most Social Media Marketing is a Waste of Time
NYU’s ‘Replyallpacolypse’ Reminds Businesses of Email’s Shortcomings
Washington State Governor-Elect Jay Inslee Announces Transition Committee
Recount will be coming to Clark county Washington State Legislature Race
Washington State Senator Bob Morton Announces Retirement
White House Warns Consumer Spending in Oregon Could Fall $2.5 Billion without Tax Deal
$588 Million Powerball Jackpot Tickets Sold in Arizona, Missouri
Terri Jeffreys Sworn In as Newest Mason County Commissioner
Coastal Flood Advisory – Includes Mason County
Rains Wash Out Bridge in Tahuya State Forest
Stratos Skydive & Mason County Connection
Facebook-Posting Climber Stranded on Mt. Hood Found Safe
Housing Rebound Has More Northwest Sawmills Buzzing
From the Astounding Chutzpah Department - Hostess Seeks Approval for Executive Bonuses

WORD OF THE DAY

Obdurate • \AWB-duh-rut\ • Adjective - 1a: stubbornly persistent in wrongdoing b: hardened in feelings 2: resistant to persuasion or softening influences

Brittani’s obdurate attitude regarding the woozy effect of the “Axe” body spray used by her new boyfriend was unfathomable to her mall-walking friends. “Like, do you have to wear a gas-mask to be around him,” sniffed Candi as they strutted past Bath & Body Works, their bejeweled “smart phones” winking in and out with reflections from a stray spotlight at the “Empire Floors” kiosk. “Anytime you can actually see waves of fragrance should be a warning sign,” mumbled Nanci, who was absently sipping on her “Orange Julius”.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

http://www.wrh.noaa.gov/forecast/mapclick.php?textfield1=47.213805&textfield2=-123.113412&site=all&smap=1&searchresult=shelton%2c%20wa%2c%20usa

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

BPA Administrator Praises Hydropower Benefits at Tri-Cities Chamber Luncheon (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2012/11/29/2187102/bpa-administrator-praises-hydropower.html

Hydropower Licensees Challenge FERC’s Practice of Charging Them for Using Their Own Lands – Includes Chelan, Grant Snohomish Public Utility Districts (SNL Financial)

http://www.snl.com/Interactivex/article.aspx?CdId=A-16522903-14124

2013 Budget Passed; Successful Audit for Mason County PUD No. 1 (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/44426-successful-audit-for-pud-no-1

Kittitas County PUD Looks to Hire New Manager (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

http://www.dailyrecordnews.com/paywall/news/pud-looks-to-hire-new-manager/article_64df0cca-399a-11e2-b8b4-001a4bcf887a.html

Some Idaho Power Workers Eye Union (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

http://www.individual.com/storyrss.php?story=167240501&hash=410a9d532d1157731aae9de3b6d0bf57

New York Tells Con Ed to Prepare in Case Indian Point Nuclear Power Plant Shuts Down (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/11/28/us-utilities-entergy-indianpoint-idUSBRE8AR18Z20121128

Another Step to Smaller Reactors (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/11/28/another-step-to-smaller-reactors/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Over “Lifetime” Heating Discounts - FirstEnergy Off Hook in Homeowner Suit, Ohio Supreme Court Rules (Columbus Business Journal, OH)

http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/morning_call/2012/11/firstenergy-off-the-hook-in-homeowner.html

New York Electrician Shortage Hampers Sandy Recovery (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2012/11/29/166139923/n-y-electrician-shortage-hampers-sandy-recovery?ft=1&f=3

U-S Natural Gas Supplies Grew Last Week (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2019788181_apusnaturalgasstorage.html

Germany to Pay Energy-Intensive Firms to Switch Off Power Supply (Platts)

http://www.platts.com/RSSFeedDetailedNews/RSSFeed/ElectricPower/6844593

FISH & WILDLIFE

New Era Looms for Lower Columbia Salmon Fisheries (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/nov/28/new-era-looms-lower-columbia-salmon-fisheries/

Latest Fall Fish Transportation Figures for the Cowlitz River (Seattle Times)

http://seattletimes.com/html/reeltimenorthwest/2019780510_latest_fall_fish_transportatio_5.html

New Owl Habitat Affects More Oregon Forests Than Neighbors (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/article/new-protected-owl-habitat-affects-more-oregon-forests-than-neighbors/

Miners, Conservationists Team Up to Help Yellowstone Trout (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2012/11/29/2335704/miners-conservationists-team-up.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Contractor Approved for Upgrade to Central Kitsap Sewer Plant (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2012/nov/28/contractor-approved-for-upgrade-to-central-sewer/

As Great Lakes Plummet, Towns Try to Save Harbors (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2019774042_apusgreatlakeslowwater.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Arlington High Goes Green with Solar Panels (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20121128/SCBJ02/711299979/1005/BIZ

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Hints to Winterize Your Home (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/hints-winterize-your-home

Empire State Building Surprises New York City with New LED Lights (Associated Press)

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2019784842_apusempirestatebuildinglights.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Op/Ed - Is Cap-And-Trade Auction a Step Forward? (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2012/11/29/5017275/is-cap-and-trade-auction-a-step.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

“Giant Reed” Arundo Donax -- Miracle Biofuel or Invasive Menace? (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/today/index.ssf/2012/11/giant_reed_arundo_donax_--_mir.html

U-S Senate Gives Green Light to Pentagon Green Energy (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/nov/28/senate-gives-green-light-to-pentagon-green-energy/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

USDA Says Rural Broadband Funding Will Be Given Priority (CivSource)

http://civsourceonline.com/2012/11/28/usda-says-rural-broadband-funding-will-be-given-priority/

Google Fiber is Awesome & Time Warner is Worried - Analysts Believe Google Fiber Will Expand Beyond Kansas City (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/BTIG-Google-Fiber-is-Awesome-and-Time-Warner-is-Worried-122187

Ars Asks: Help Us Max Out Google Fiber (Ars Technica)

http://arstechnica.com/business/2012/11/ars-asks-help-us-max-out-google-fiber/

Op/Ed - Bad Connections: Break Up the Telecom Cartels (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/11/28/opinion/break-up-the-telecom-cartels.html?_r=0

This Is How Much Time You Spend on Facebook, Twitter, Tumblr (Mashable!)

http://mashable.com/2012/11/28/social-media-time/

Op/Ed - Let’s Face It: Most Social Media Marketing is a Waste of Time “…The secret to good social media marketing: Make good products & offer good services…” (Mashable)

http://mashable.com/2012/11/28/jerry-maguire-social-media-marketing/

NYU’s ‘Replyallpacolypse’ Reminds Businesses of Email’s Shortcomings (Tampa Bay Business Journal, FL)

http://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/blog/2012/11/nyus-replyallpacolypse-reminds.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Governor-Elect Jay Inslee Announces Transition Committee (Governor’s Transition Team)

http://www.inslee-transitionoffice.wa.gov/news/20121127.asp

Recount will be coming to Clark county Washington State Legislature Race - Benton-Probst, Stonier-Olson races to be tallied by hand (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2012/nov/27/recount-will-be-coming-to-county/

Washington State Senator Bob Morton Announces Retirement – Leaving Legislature after 22 Years (Washington State Wire)

http://washingtonstatewire.com/blog/sen-bob-morton-announces-retirement-leaving-legislature-after-22-years/

White House Warns Consumer Spending in Oregon Could Fall $2.5 Billion without Tax Deal (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/politics/index.ssf/2012/11/white_house_warns_consumer_spe.html

GENERAL NEWS

$588 Million Powerball Jackpot Tickets Sold in Arizona, Missouri (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2012/nov/29/588m-powerball-jackpot-tickets-sold-in-ariz-mo/

Terri Jeffreys Sworn In as Newest Mason County Commissioner (Mason Web-TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/8417

Coastal Flood Advisory – Includes Mason County (National Weather Service, Seattle)

http://alerts.weather.gov/cap/wwacapget.php?x=WA124CD0C0A344.CoastalFloodAdvisory.124CD0C1E13CWA.SEWCFWSEW.e52bdd42d16603844b391f01f9048a36