Energy News Digest for February 28, 2013

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.

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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

http://twitter.com/energydigest

THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD (JUST BECAUSE I CAN)

Energy News Digest word cloud for February 28, 2013

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/02/energy-news-digest-word-cloud-for_28.html

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Judge Rules Eyman Washington State Two-Thirds Tax Initiative Unconstitutional (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Judge-rules-Eyman-tax-initiative-unconstitutional-155754575.html

Grant PUD Celebrates 75th Year with Renewed Community Focus (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/feb/28/grant-pud-celebrates-75th-year-with-renewed/

U-S House Unanimous on McMorris Rodgers Hydropower Bill (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/feb/27/us-house-unanimous-on-mcmorris-rodgers-hydropower/

Let’s Hear it for NoaNet - Rural Broadband Project Aims to Bridge ‘Digital Divide’: Federal stimulus funds are helping Columbia & Garfield counties modernize communication systems (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA)

http://union-bulletin.com/news/2013/feb/26/rural-broadband-project-aims-bridge-digital-divide/

SoloPower Confirms Layoffs as Company Restructures, Struggles Mount (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/money/index.ssf/2013/02/solopower_confirms_layoffs_as.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Grant PUD Celebrates 75th Year with Renewed Community Focus
• U-S House Unanimous on McMorris Rodgers Hydropower Bill
• Mason County PUD 3’s “K” Street Property Sold – Site of Former Warehouse, Operations
• Mason County PUD 3 Commission Report for February 26, 2013
• Editorial - In Olympia, More Proposed Pension Creep
• Outgoing Energy Secretary - A Pep Talk on Energy Innovation
• Maryland Commission Orders Power Utilities to Improve
• White House Official: Power Grid Upgrades Needed to Mitigate Extreme Weather
• Japan to Begin Restarting Idled Nuclear Plants, Leader Says
• TransAlta Generates Higher Fourth-Quarter Earnings on Acquisition, Lower Costs
• Missouri - Volunteers Organize Dinner for Boone County Electric Linemen
• Puget Sound Coho Salmon Hitch Ride to New Saltwater Home
• Salmon-Minded Pesticide Study Can’t Pass Muster
• Mason County Will Stay in Hood Canal Council
• EPA Releases $305 Million Draft Clean Up Plan for Seattle’s Duwamish River
• Work Underway on Fixing Elwha Water Treatment Plant
• SoloPower Confirms Layoffs as Company Restructures, Struggles Mount
• Falling Costs Could Mean a Bright Future for Solar Panels
• Feds Must Still Defend Blocked Oregon Wind Farm
• Lectures Take Fresh Look at Biomass
• Massachusetts – Editorial: Solar Project Clouds Hatfield Neighborhood
• New Lights Shine on Everett’s Art District
• Could a Quiet Sun Cancel Global Warming?
• Washington State Lawmakers Weigh Penalties for Blocking Electric Vehicle Charging Stations
• Store Owners Say Plastic Bag Ban Causes More Shoplifting
• Let’s Hear it for NoaNet - Rural Broadband Project Aims to Bridge ‘Digital Divide’
• Broadband Subsidies Hammered on Hill - Republicans Square Off with NTIA’s Strickling over BTOP
• Survey Finds Gap in Internet Access between Rich, Poor Students
• iCloud Had a Big Hiccup this Morning, Several Services Still Experiencing Problems
• Wireless Connections Creep into Everyday Things
• Seriously, That’s Your Password?
• A New Angle for Paper, Taking Its Place in a Wi-Fi Society
• Washington State GOP Set to Block Higher Gasoline Tax
• Why March First Isn’t Congress’s Last Chance to Amend ‘Sequester’ Cuts
• Official Fined for Moonlighting on the Job; Washington State Senator Wants Her Fired
• Judge Rules Eyman Washington State Two-Thirds Tax Initiative Unconstitutional
• Inslee Demands Feds Clean Up Nuclear Waste from Leaking Hanford Tanks
• Green Diamond Appealing Denial of Lake Nahwatzel Rezone
• Hupp to Run for Shelton Port Commission Re-Election
• City of McCleary Staff Signed Non-Disclosure Agreements on Property Sale
• Oregon, Washington Teen Drivers Among Safest As U-S Traffic Deaths Spike
• Lawyer Expects Seattle to Pay for His Fancy Dinners, Travel & Booze

WORD OF THE DAY

Expunge • \ix-SPUNJ\ • Verb - 1: to strike out, obliterate, or mark for deletion 2: to efface completely: destroy 3: to eliminate (as a memory) from one’s consciousness.

In a little known dispute from the creation of the musical “South Pacific,” Oscar Hammerstein II was known to have been unduly fascinated with words from the parliamentary procedure bible, “Robert’s Rules of Order.” So much so, that it generated a full blown, knock down drag out fight with Richard Rodgers over the song “I’m Gonna Wash That Man Right Outa My Hair.” Oscar wanted it to read “Expunge that Man Right Outa My Life.” A black eye from the right fist of Richard decided the matter, and a classic song was rescued from procedural oversight.

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

Grant PUD Celebrates 75th Year with Renewed Community Focus (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/feb/28/grant-pud-celebrates-75th-year-with-renewed/

U-S House Unanimous on McMorris Rodgers Hydropower Bill (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/feb/27/us-house-unanimous-on-mcmorris-rodgers-hydropower/

Mason County PUD 3’s “K” Street Property Sold – Site of Former Warehouse, Operations (Mason Web-TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/9335#.US5pEfhXadA

Mason County PUD 3 Commission Report for February 26, 2013 (Mason County PUD No. 3, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=1185

Editorial - In Olympia, More Proposed Pension Creep (Seattle Times, WA)

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/opinionnw/2013/02/28/in-olympia-more-proposed-pension-creep/

Outgoing Energy Secretary - A Pep Talk on Energy Innovation (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/27/a-pep-talk-on-energy-innovation/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Maryland Commission Orders Power Utilities to Improve (Bloomberg Businessweek)

http://www.businessweek.com/ap/2013-02-27/md-dot-commission-orders-power-utilities-to-improve

White House Official: Power Grid Upgrades Needed to Mitigate Extreme Weather (The Hill, Washington, DC)

http://thehill.com/blogs/e2-wire/e2-wire/284899-white-house-official-power-grid-upgrades-needed-to-mitigate-extreme-weather-

Japan to Begin Restarting Idled Nuclear Plants, Leader Says (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/03/01/world/asia/japan-to-begin-restarting-idled-nuclear-plants.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

TransAlta Generates Higher Fourth-Quarter Earnings on Acquisition, Lower Costs (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/business/transalta-generates-higher-fourth-quarter-earnings-on-acquisition-lower-costs-1.81605

Missouri - Volunteers Organize Dinner for Boone County Electric Linemen (The Columia Missourian, MO)

http://www.columbiamissourian.com/a/159195/volunteers-organize-dinner-for-boone-county-electric-linemen/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Puget Sound Coho Salmon Hitch Ride to New Saltwater Home (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/feb/26/coho-salmon-hitch-ride-to-new-saltwater-home/

Salmon-Minded Pesticide Study Can’t Pass Muster (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/02/28/55290.htm

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Mason County Will Stay in Hood Canal Council (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/feb/27/mason-county-will-stay-in-hood-canal-council/

EPA Releases $305 Million Draft Clean Up Plan for Seattle’s Duwamish River (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/epa-releases-305m-draft-clean-plan-seattles-duwamish-river

Work Underway on Fixing Elwha Water Treatment Plant (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.konp.com/local/8544

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

SoloPower Confirms Layoffs as Company Restructures, Struggles Mount (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/money/index.ssf/2013/02/solopower_confirms_layoffs_as.html

Falling Costs Could Mean a Bright Future for Solar Panels - Even in sun-starved Western Washington, photovoltaics can pay for themselves in seven years (Seattle Daily Journal of Commerce, WA)

http://www.djc.com/news/en/12050407.html

Feds Must Still Defend Blocked Oregon Wind Farm (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/02/27/55247.htm

Lectures Take Fresh Look at Biomass (Corvallis Gazette-Times, OR)

http://www.gazettetimes.com/news/local/lectures-take-fresh-look-at-biomass/article_f653a10c-8120-11e2-a645-001a4bcf887a.html

Massachusetts – Editorial: Solar Project Clouds Hatfield Neighborhood (Daily Hampshire Gazette, Northampton, MA)

http://www.gazettenet.com/home/4722051-95/solar-energy-hatfield-power

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

New Lights Shine on Everett’s Art District (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20130227/NEWS01/702279948/1038/comm0601#.US5tUsDbnIo.gmail

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Could a Quiet Sun Cancel Global Warming? (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/capital-weather-gang/post/could-a-quiet-sun-cancel-global-warming/2013/02/28/156b9f3e-81c8-11e2-a350-49866afab584_blog.html?wprss=rss_local

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Washington State Lawmakers Weigh Penalties for Blocking Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2013/02/27/2439216/a-positive-bill-for-electric-cars.html

Store Owners Say Plastic Bag Ban Causes More Shoplifting (Seattle Post-Intelligencer)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Store-owners-say-plastic-bag-ban-causes-more-4314744.php

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Let’s Hear it for NoaNet - Rural Broadband Project Aims to Bridge ‘Digital Divide’: Federal stimulus funds are helping Columbia & Garfield counties modernize communication systems (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA)

http://union-bulletin.com/news/2013/feb/26/rural-broadband-project-aims-bridge-digital-divide/

Broadband Subsidies Hammered on Hill - Republicans Square Off with NTIA’s Strickling over BTOP (Broadcasting & Cable)

http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/492069-Broadband_Subsidies_Hammered_on_Hill.php

Survey Finds Gap in Internet Access between Rich, Poor Students (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/business/technology/survey-finds-gap-in-internet-access-between-rich-poor-students/2013/02/27/3718ca4c-8152-11e2-a350-49866afab584_story.html?wprss=rss_business

iCloud Had a Big Hiccup this Morning, Several Services Still Experiencing Problems (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2013/02/28/icloud-had-a-big-hiccup-this-morning-several-services-still-experiencing-problems/

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Wireless Connections Creep into Everyday Things (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/rss/ci_22682177

Seriously, That’s Your Password? (Sacramento Business Journal, CA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/blog/mark-anderson/2013/02/hackers-target-easy-to-guess-passwords.html

A New Angle for Paper, Taking Its Place in a Wi-Fi Society (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/28/business/media/paper-finds-a-fit-in-a-wi-fi-society.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State GOP Set to Block Higher Gasoline Tax (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2013/feb/28/gop-set-to-block-higher-gasoline-tax/

Why March First Isn’t Congress’s Last Chance to Amend ‘Sequester’ Cuts (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/DC-Decoder/2013/0227/Why-March-1-isn-t-Congress-s-last-chance-to-amend-sequester-cuts

Official Fined for Moonlighting on the Job; Washington State Senator Wants Her Fired (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/02/27/2491306/official-fined-state-senator-wants.html

GENERAL NEWS

Judge Rules Eyman Washington State Two-Thirds Tax Initiative Unconstitutional (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Judge-rules-Eyman-tax-initiative-unconstitutional-155754575.html

Link to Tax Vote Ruling (Washington State Supreme Court)

http://www.courts.wa.gov/index.cfm?fa=controller.managefiles&filePath=Opinions&fileName=87425-5%20opinion.pdf

Inslee Demands Feds Clean Up Nuclear Waste from Leaking Hanford Tanks (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Inslee-on-Hanford-193429321.html

Green Diamond Appealing Denial of Lake Nahwatzel Rezone (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/9347

Hupp to Run for Shelton Port Commission Re-Election (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/9363

City of McCleary Staff Signed Non-Disclosure Agreements on Property Sale (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

http://thedailyworld.com/sections/news/local/city-staff-signed-non-disclosure-agreements-property-sale.html

Oregon, Washington Teen Drivers Among Safest As U-S Traffic Deaths Spike (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://blog.oregonlive.com/commuting/2013/02/report_oregon_washington_teen.html

Lawyer Expects Seattle to Pay for His Fancy Dinners, Travel & Booze (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/Lawyer-expects-Seattle-to-pay-for-his-fancy-dinners-travel-and-booze-193339121.html

DIVERSIONS

Van Cliburn, Famed Pianist, Dies at 78

http://www.sfgate.com/music/article/Van-Cliburn-famed-pianist-dies-at-78-4313832.php

Hawaiians Have Highest Well-Being Rating for 4th Year

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/02/27/well-being-index/1949237/

Dog Won’t Face Charges for Shooting Its Master

http://www.kirotv.com/news/news/national/dog-wont-face-charges-shooting-its-master/nWbgx/#.US5tcQUta1s.gmail

Student Hides in Locker, Stunned by Thief She Catches

http://q13fox.com/2013/02/27/hidden-cam-catches-teacher-stealing-from-students/

SONG OF THE DAY

Van Cliburn - Rachmaninoff Prelude No.5 in D major

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y6JnK1dZITM

Energy News Digest for February 27, 20123

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.

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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

http://twitter.com/energydigest

THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD (JUST BECAUSE I CAN)

Energy News Digest word cloud for February 5, 2013

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/02/energy-news-digest-word-cloud-for_27.html

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Climate Change May Dry Up Important U-S Reservoirs (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/josephromm/191396/study-climate-change-may-dry-important-us-reservoirs-lake-powell-and-lake-mead

Benton PUD to Postpone April Rate Increase (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2013/02/27/2290886/benton-pud-electric-rates-will.html

Mason County PUD 3 Releases Harstine Island Cable Video (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/9331

Klamath County Votes to Withdraw from Water Restoration Agreement (Associated Press)

http://www.registerguard.com/web/news/sevendays/29503033-47/agreement-klamath-county-voted-board.html.csp

Geothermal Energy Development Picking Up Steam (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/article/geothermal-energy-development-picking-up-steam/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Benton PUD to Postpone April Rate Increase
• Mason County PUD 3 Releases Harstine Island Cable Video
• See Full Harstine Cable Video Here
• Cold Spell Leads to Steep Cowlitz PUD Bills for January
• Oregon - Residents Surprised When Bonneville Power Administration Shows Up to Cut Down Trees
• Spring Ahead! Snohomish PUD Reminds You to Plan for Outdoor Projects
• At $1.2 Billion - Pacific Gas & Electric to Upgrade San Francisco Power Grid
• Suit Challenges FERC Authority to Fine Other Federal Agencies for Reliability Violations
• California Girds for Electricity Woes - Increased Reliance on Wind, Solar Power Means Power Production Fluctuates
• Arizona Still a Nuclear State with Palo Verde Pumping Out Power
• Peabody Energy Says U-S Regulators Investigating Illinois Power-Plant Project
• Grant PUD Moves Forward with Building Salmon Hatchery
• Klamath County Votes to Withdraw from Water Restoration Agreement
• Montana - Flathead Lake is Now Eight Feet from Full Pool
• Geothermal Energy Development Picking Up Steam
• Big Savings for Going Solar with Franklin County PUD
• Colorado - Boulder Steps Closer to Creating Clean Energy-based Municipal Utility
• First Solar’s New World Record for Solar Cell Efficiency & Why It’s Important
• Hawaii Electric Issues RFP to Jump-Start Renewables on Oahu
• Bills Target Renewable Energy Standards in Three States
• Surplus Wind Power Could Cost Ontario Ratepayers Up to $200 Million
• Wireless Power Monitor Snitches to Your Smartphone about Your Energy Waste
• Climate Change May Dry Up Important U-S Reservoirs
• Fiber Cable Subcontractor in Deadly Kansas City Blast Lacked Permit
• Canada - Telus to Acquire Electronic Medical Records Provider, Bring More Doctors Online
• New Type of Grassroots Organizing
• Stabenow to Head Senate Finance Subcommittee on Energy
• Washington State Admits Costly Mistakes on 520 Bridge
• Boeing, SPEEA Contract Dispute near Resolution
• More Work to be Done on Long-Delayed Update to Mason County Shoreline Plan
• Mason County Firefighters to Climb Columbia Tower

WORD OF THE DAY

Reprobate • \REP-roe-bayt\ • Transitive Verb - 1: to condemn strongly as unworthy, unacceptable, or evil 2: to foreordain to damnation 3: to refuse to accept: reject

“Rooster you reprobate,” shrilled Miss Hannigan at her no-good younger brother.

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

Benton PUD to Postpone April Rate Increase (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2013/02/27/2290886/benton-pud-electric-rates-will.html

Mason County PUD 3 Releases Harstine Island Cable Video (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/9331

See Full Harstine Cable Video Here (Mason County PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a14rthvwkzo

Cold Spell Leads to Steep Cowlitz PUD Bills for January (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/cold-spell-leads-to-steep-pud-bills-for-january/article_9d72cd58-807e-11e2-adf7-001a4bcf887a.html

Oregon - Residents Surprised When Bonneville Power Administration Shows Up to Cut Down Trees (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.katu.com/news/local/Residents-surprised-when-BPA-shows-up-to-cut-down-trees-193454801.html

Spring Ahead! Snohomish PUD Reminds You to Plan for Outdoor Projects (South Everett Beacon, WA)

http://south-everett.villagesoup.com/p/spring-ahead-pud-reminds-you-to-plan-for-outdoor-projects/967976

At $1.2 Billion - Pacific Gas & Electric to Upgrade San Francisco Power Grid (SF Chronicle, CA)

http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/PG-amp-E-to-upgrade-S-F-power-grid-4311145.php

Suit Challenges FERC Authority to Fine Other Federal Agencies for Reliability Violations (American Public Power Association)

http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppd/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=208624&issueID=26962

California Girds for Electricity Woes - Increased Reliance on Wind, Solar Power Means Power Production Fluctuates (Wall Street Journal)

http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424127887323699704578328581251122150.html?mod=googlenews_wsj

Arizona Still a Nuclear State with Palo Verde Pumping Out Power (Phoenix Business Journal, AZ)

http://www.bizjournals.com/phoenix/blog/business/2013/02/arizona-still-a-nuclear-state-with.html

Peabody Energy Says U-S Regulators Investigating Illinois Power-Plant Project (Associated Press)

http://www.timescolonist.com/business/peabody-energy-says-us-regulators-investigating-power-plant-project-1.80993

FISH & WILDLIFE

Grant PUD Moves Forward with Building Salmon Hatchery (iFiber News, Ephrata, WA)

http://www.ifiberone.com/news/grantcounty/article_81b369e2-807e-11e2-b734-0019bb30f31a.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Klamath County Votes to Withdraw from Water Restoration Agreement (Associated Press)

http://www.registerguard.com/web/news/sevendays/29503033-47/agreement-klamath-county-voted-board.html.csp

Montana - Flathead Lake is Now Eight Feet from Full Pool (Big Fork Eagle, MT)

http://www.flatheadnewsgroup.com/bigforkeagle/news/local/article_c84cc13e-806d-11e2-b05e-0019bb2963f4.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Geothermal Energy Development Picking Up Steam (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/article/geothermal-energy-development-picking-up-steam/

Big Savings for Going Solar with Franklin County PUD (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.kndu.com/story/21392091/big-savings-for-going-solar

Colorado - Boulder Steps Closer to Creating Clean Energy-based Municipal Utility (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/blog/post/2013/02/boulder-steps-closer-to-creating-clean-energy-based-municipal-utility?cmpid=rss

First Solar’s New World Record for Solar Cell Efficiency & Why It’s Important (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2013/02/26/first-solars-new-world-record-for-solar-cell-efficiency-and-why-its-important/

Hawaii Electric Issues RFP to Jump-Start Renewables on Oahu (GTH Energy & Natural Resources Law Blog)

http://www.energynaturalresourceslaw.com/2013/02/hawaii-electric-issues-rfp-to-jump-start-renewables-on-oahu.html

Bills Target Renewable Energy Standards in Three States (Midwest Energy News)

http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2013/02/27/bills-target-renewable-energy-standards-in-three-states/

Surplus Wind Power Could Cost Ontario Ratepayers Up to $200 Million (Toronto Star, Ontario)

http://www.thestar.com/business/2013/02/26/surplus_wind_power_could_cost_ontario_ratepayers_up_to_200_million_ieso.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Wireless Power Monitor Snitches to Your Smartphone about Your Energy Waste (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/5987291/wireless-power-monitor-snitches-to-your-smartphone-about-your-energy-waste

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Climate Change May Dry Up Important U-S Reservoirs (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/josephromm/191396/study-climate-change-may-dry-important-us-reservoirs-lake-powell-and-lake-mead

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Fiber Cable Subcontractor in Deadly Kansas City Blast Lacked Permit (Associated Press)

http://www.hdnews.net/Story/k2188-BC-US-KansasCity-PlazaF-2ndLd-Writethru-02-25-0787

Canada - Telus to Acquire Electronic Medical Records Provider, Bring More Doctors Online (Victoria Times Colonist, BC)

http://www.timescolonist.com/business/telus-to-acquire-electronic-medical-records-provider-bring-more-doctors-online-1.80953

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

New Type of Grassroots Organizing (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/annual-meeting-articles-2013/special-features-2013/new-type-of-grassroots-organizing/53260

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Stabenow to Head Senate Finance Subcommittee on Energy (American Public Power Association)

http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppd/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=208644&issueID=26962

GENERAL NEWS

Washington State Admits Costly Mistakes on 520 Bridge (Seattle Times, WA)

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020439320_520pontoonscostsxml.html

Boeing, SPEEA Contract Dispute near Resolution (Seattle Times, WA)

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2020438864_boeingspeeaxml.html

More Work to be Done on Long-Delayed Update to Mason County Shoreline Plan (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/feb/25/more-work-to-be-done-on-long-delayed-update-to/

Mason County Firefighters to Climb Columbia Tower (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/9324#.US0Uy8bK6Gs.gmail

DIVERSIONS

Burmese Pythons Prove Elusive Prey in Florida Challenge

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/feb/26/burmese-pythons-prove-elusive-prey-in-challenge/

Pig Saves Goat - Really Cute, but Totally Faked

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/27/arts/television/pig-rescues-goat-and-the-video-is-really-cute-but-totally-faked.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

What the White House Looks Like Completely Gutted

http://mashable.com/2013/02/26/white-house-remodel-photos/

Man Arrested after Calling 911 Nine Times Trying to Order a Cheeseburger

http://news.yahoo.com/blogs/sideshow/man-arrested-calling-911-nine-times-trying-order-002943552.html

SONG OF THE DAY

The Ukulele Orchestra of Great Britain – Fly Me Off the Handel

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sTIv8hP-UIA

Energy News Digest for February 26, 2013

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.

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.

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST ON TWITTER

Follow the news digest on Twitter for breaking news & notices:

http://twitter.com/energydigest

THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD (JUST BECAUSE I CAN)

Energy News Digest word cloud for February 26, 2013

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/02/energy-news-digest-word-cloud-for_26.html

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Seamless Transition Promised in Jefferson County PUD Electrical Service Takeover (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20130226/NEWS/302269994/seamless-transition-promised-in-pud-electrical-service-takeover

Storm Costs Approach $3 Million for Chelan PUD (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/feb/26/storm-costs-approach-3-million-for-pud/

Columbia Managers Dial Back Flows For Spawning Chum to Save Water for Upper Spring Chinook (The Dalles Chronicle, OR)

http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2013/feb/25/columbia-managers-dial-back-flows-spawning-chum-sa/

Is the U-S Losing the Broadband Race? As it Turns Out, We Look a Lot Like Danica Patrick (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/halsinger/2013/02/26/is-the-u-s-losing-the-broadband-race-as-it-turns-out-we-look-a-lot-like-danica-patrick/

U-S Senate Schedules Confirmation Hearing on Sally Jewell’s Nomination as Interior Secretary (Associated Press)

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/politicsnorthwest/2013/02/26/senate-schedules-confirmation-hearing-on-sally-jewells-nomination-as-interior-secretary/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Seamless Transition Promised in Jefferson County PUD Electrical Service Takeover
• Storm Costs Approach $3 Million for Chelan PUD
• No School at Sehome High Tuesday after Transformer Explodes
• Bonneville Power Administration to Update Vancouver City Council on I-5 Corridor Reinforcement Project
• Energy Northwest - The First Amendment Bombs Nuclear Energy by Accident
• Moody’s Downgrades Chelan PUD Debt over Revenue Volatility – But Improves Outlook to Stable
• Texas - Live Wire Electrocutes Kids in Back Yard
• American Electric Power Agrees to Close Three Coal Plants in Emissions Settlement
• National Rural Electric Co-op Association Concerned with FERC Rulings
• Hints from Heloise: Play It Safe Around Electricity
• Energy Revolution Promises to Transform East Africa
• Columbia Managers Dial Back Flows For Spawning Chum to Save Water for Upper Spring Chinook
• The Pinniped Watch: So Far, Only One Sea Lion at Bonneville, Stellers Less Abundant than Past Years
• Pesticides & Pacific Salmon: The Long & Winding Litigation Road Gets Longer as the Fourth Circuit Strikes Down NMFS’s Biological Opinion
• California Oyster Farm Facing Shutdown Wins Reprieve
• Fluoride Referendum Qualifies for Portland’s May 2014 Ballot
• Grant County, REC Silicon Settle Property Tax Fight
• Sacramento Municipal Utility District to Study Residential, Commercial Use of Solar
• A Dam in the Wilderness, a Legislature Out of Control, And Rep. Lindsey Holmes
• Missouri - Clean Energy Advocates Cry Foul over Hydropower Legislation
• Blazing Tires Will No Longer Power Illinois Homes
• On Our Radar: Prison Term for Biodiesel Fraud
• This Billboard Sucks Water Out of the Air & Delivers It to Families Below
• Is the U-S Losing the Broadband Race? As it Turns Out, We Look a Lot Like Danica Patrick
• Millions Said to Be Wasted on U-S Broadband Expansion
• Colorado - Eagle-Net Broadband Controversy Set for Congressional Hearings
• Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 10 Browser Coming to Windows 7 PCs
• Yahoo Renews Debate over Working from Home
• U-S Senate Schedules Confirmation Hearing on Sally Jewell’s Nomination as Interior Secretary
• Partial Merger of Mason County Fire Districts Nine & Six Hits Snag
• Washington State Senate Explores Shift to 401(K)-Style Plans
• Charges over Olympian’s Inappropriate Child Images Dismissed Due to Unlawful Search
• C. Everett Koop, Former Surgeon General, Dies at Age 96

WORD OF THE DAY

Pugilism • \PEW-juh-liz-um\ • Noun – Boxing

“The sweet science,” mused a young Howard Cosell. “Seems like pugilism is more of a sweat science…”

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

Seamless Transition Promised in Jefferson County PUD Electrical Service Takeover (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20130226/NEWS/302269994/seamless-transition-promised-in-pud-electrical-service-takeover

Storm Costs Approach $3 Million for Chelan PUD (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/feb/26/storm-costs-approach-3-million-for-pud/

No School at Sehome High Tuesday after Transformer Explodes (Bellingham Herald, WA)

http://www.bellinghamherald.com/2013/02/26/2895033/fire-erupts-in-sehome-high-electrical.html

Bonneville Power Administration to Update Vancouver City Council on I-5 Corridor Reinforcement Project (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/clark-county/index.ssf/2013/02/bonneville_power_administratio_5.html

Energy Northwest - The First Amendment Bombs Nuclear Energy by Accident (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/jamesconca/2013/02/24/the-first-amendment-bombs-nuclear-energy-by-accident/

Moody’s Downgrades Chelan PUD Debt over Revenue Volatility – But Improves Outlook to Stable (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/feb/26/moodys-downgrades-pud-debt-over-revenue-volatility/

Texas - Live Wire Electrocutes Kids in Back Yard (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/02/26/55171.htm

American Electric Power Agrees to Close Three Coal Plants in Emissions Settlement (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/aep-agrees-to-close-3-coal-plants-in-emissions-lawsuit/2013/02/25/a11f1a96-7f5d-11e2-b99e-6baf4ebe42df_story.html

National Rural Electric Co-op Association Concerned with FERC Rulings - Asking for a clarification or rehearing of its final rule on a revised Bulk Electric System definition (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/regulatory-watch/power-regulation/nreca-concerned-with-ferc-rulings/52321

Hints from Heloise: Play It Safe Around Electricity (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2013/02/23/5201626/play-it-safe-around-electricity.html

Energy Revolution Promises to Transform East Africa (British Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-africa-21549380

FISH & WILDLIFE

Columbia Managers Dial Back Flows For Spawning Chum to Save Water for Upper Spring Chinook (The Dalles Chronicle, OR)

http://www.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2013/feb/25/columbia-managers-dial-back-flows-spawning-chum-sa/

The Pinniped Watch: So Far, Only One Sea Lion at Bonneville, Stellers Less Abundant than Past Years (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/425155.aspx

Pesticides & Pacific Salmon: The Long & Winding Litigation Road Gets Longer as the Fourth Circuit Strikes Down NMFS’s Biological Opinion (GTH Energy & Natural Resources Law Blog)

http://www.energynaturalresourceslaw.com/2013/02/pesticides-and-pacific-salmon-the-long-and-winding-litigation-road-gets-longer-as-fourth-circuit-str.html

California Oyster Farm Facing Shutdown Wins Reprieve (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/02/26/55193.htm

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Fluoride Referendum Qualifies for Portland’s May 2014 Ballot (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2012/11/fluoride_referendum_qualifies.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Grant County, REC Silicon Settle Property Tax Fight (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/politics/article_4297eee8-7d33-11e2-8daa-001a4bcf887a.html

Sacramento Municipal Utility District to Study Residential, Commercial Use of Solar (Sacramento Business Journal, CA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2013/02/26/smud-solar-grid-residential-commercial.html

A Dam in the Wilderness, a Legislature Out of Control, And Rep. Lindsey Holmes (Alaska Dispatch)

http://www.alaskadispatch.com/article/dam-wilderness-legislature-out-control-and-rep-lindsey-holmes

Missouri - Clean Energy Advocates Cry Foul over Hydropower Legislation (KOLR-TV, Springfield, MO)

http://ozarksfirst.com/fulltext?nxd_id=771472

Blazing Tires Will No Longer Power Illinois Homes (Grist Online)

http://grist.org/climate-energy/no-more-burning-tires-illinois/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

On Our Radar: Prison Term for Biodiesel Fraud (NY Times)

http://green.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/02/25/on-our-radar-prison-term-for-biodiesel-fraud/?partner=rss&emc=rss

This Billboard Sucks Water Out of the Air & Delivers It to Families Below (Grist Online)

http://grist.org/living/this-billboard-sucks-water-out-of-the-air-and-delivers-it-to-families-below/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Is the U-S Losing the Broadband Race? As it Turns Out, We Look a Lot Like Danica Patrick (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/halsinger/2013/02/26/is-the-u-s-losing-the-broadband-race-as-it-turns-out-we-look-a-lot-like-danica-patrick/

Millions Said to Be Wasted on U-S Broadband Expansion (Bloomberg News)

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/2013-02-26/millions-said-to-be-wasted-on-u-s-broadband-expansion.html

Colorado - Eagle-Net Broadband Controversy Set for Congressional Hearings (Denver Business Journal, CO)
http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2013/02/25/eagle-net-controversy-set-for.html

Microsoft’s Internet Explorer 10 Browser Coming to Windows 7 PCs (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_22670794/microsofts-internet-explorer-10-browser-coming-windows-7

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Yahoo Renews Debate over Working from Home (Albuquerque Business First, NM)

http://www.bizjournals.com/albuquerque/blog/morning-edition/2013/02/yahoo-renews-debate-over-working-at-home.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

U-S Senate Schedules Confirmation Hearing on Sally Jewell’s Nomination as Interior Secretary (Associated Press)

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/politicsnorthwest/2013/02/26/senate-schedules-confirmation-hearing-on-sally-jewells-nomination-as-interior-secretary/

GENERAL NEWS

Partial Merger of Mason County Fire Districts Nine & Six Hits Snag (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/50836-partial-merger-of-mcfd-9-with-mcfd-6-hits-snag

Washington State Senate Explores Shift to 401(K)-Style Plans (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://www.kirotv.com/news/ap/legislative/wash-senate-explores-shift-to-401k-style-plans/nWZLB/

Charges over Olympian’s Inappropriate Child Images Dismissed Due to Unlawful Search (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Child-porn-charges-dismissed-due-to-illegal-search-193078801.html

C. Everett Koop, Former Surgeon General, Dies at Age 96 (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/today/index.ssf/2013/02/c_everett_koop_former_surgeon.html

DIVERSIONS

Awesome Thermochromic Jeans Changes Colors with Heat

http://gizmodo.com/5986889/awesome-thermochromic-jeans-change-colors-with-heat

Bear Grylls Seeks Adventure in Latest Air New Zealand Video

http://mashable.com/2013/02/26/bear-grylls-air-new-zealand/

Just How Incomprehensibly Massive Is the Universe? (Hint: Even Bigger Than That)

http://gizmodo.com/5986798/just-how-incomprehensibly-massive-is-the-universe-hint-even-bigger-than-that

Total Perspective Vortex – Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Technology_in_The_Hitchhiker’s_Guide_to_the_Galaxy#Total_Perspective_Vortex

Honey, It’s Electric: Bees Sense Charge on Flowers

http://www.npr.org/2013/02/22/172611866/honey-its-electric-bees-sense-charge-on-flowers?ft=1&f=3

SONG OF THE DAY

Eric Idle - The Galaxy Song

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vIy76M-4txo