Energy News Digest for February 1, 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

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Energy Secretary to Depart, as Administration Vacancies Mount (New York Times, NY)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/02/us/politics/energy-secretary-to-depart-as-administration-vacancies-mount.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

Portland General Electric Planning Port Westward Power Plant (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/pge-planning-port-westward-power-plant/article_a2c6ab04-6c0f-11e2-b9d2-0019bb2963f4.html

Prineville, Quincy, Loudoun County - Data Centers Haven’t Just Changed Computing, They’ve Changed Communities (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2013/02/01/data-centers-havent-just-changed-computing-theyve-changed-communities/

Clallam County PUD says I-937 fueling surge in electricity costs (Sequim Gazette, WA)

http://www.sequimgazette.com/news/article.exm/2013-01-31_pud_says_i_937_fueling_surge_in_electricity_costs

Steve Wright: Bonneville Power Administration CEO & Administrator Addresses RiverPartners (Northwest River Partners)

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/01/steve-wright-bonneville-power.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Energy Secretary to Depart, as Administration Vacancies Mount
• Energy Secretary Chu to Resign
• Lake Wenatchee Storm Damage Doesn’t Qualify for Federal Assistance
• Portland General Electric Planning Port Westward Power Plant
• Power Pole Fire Causes Outage in Lakewood Area
• Federal Court Awards Sacramento Municipal Utility District Millions in Nuke Storage Case
• NorthWestern Energy to Improve Montana Electric Transmission System
• British Columbia - Promise of Site C Peace River Dam Still a Distant One
• Norway May Boost Hydro Output 12% by 2020, Survey Shows
• The Future of Energy - Batteries Included?
• Minnesota – Editorial: The Service You Don’t See
• Steve Wright: Bonneville Power Administration CEO & Administrator Addresses RiverPartners
• Op/Ed - Political Games Are Devastating Sustainable Commercial Fishing
• Clallam County PUD Says I-937 Fueling Surge in Electricity Costs
• Missouri - Complaint Says Ameren is Circumventing Green Power Law
• California Utilities Quietly Gearing Up to Fight Solar Energy
• Report: Clean Power is Moving (Gradually) into Americans’ Homes
• Puget Sound Energy Offering Manufactured-Home Owners Free Efficiency Upgrades
• Sacramento Launches $100-Million Energy Retrofit Fund
• NOAA Report Highlights Coastal Climate Risks
• Clean Energy in Europe Suffering from Falling Carbon Dioxide Prices
• Plugged In: Oregon Finishes I-5 Quick-Charge Station Corridor
• Prineville, Quincy, Loudoun County - Data Centers Haven’t Just Changed Computing, They’ve Changed Communities
• Comcast Now Charging Customers for Formerly Free Converter Boxes
• Is Broadband a Social Justice Issue?
• REI Chief Sally Jewell in the Mix for Interior
• Washington State Bill Would Change Public Records Act
• If Congress Fails to Act by March 1, Rainier & Olympic Parks Would Face Cuts Affecting Visitors
• Investigation Launched After North Mason Boy, 3, Flown to Harborview
• Cooper Point, Black Lake Blvd - Jogger Struck, Killed By Car at Busy Olympia Intersection
• Mason County Sheriff’s Office - Dean Byrd Retires
• Guilty Plea in Largest Public Embezzlement Case in Washington State’s History
• Man Found Guilty in Plot to Bomb Portland Tree-Lighting Ceremony
• Reduced Newspaper Delivery: Smart or Death Knell?
• Magazine Declares Seattle Has ‘Wussiest’ Winter in America
• Change Coming to Costco’s $1.50 Hot Dog-Soda Combo

WORD OF THE DAY

Jabberwocky • \JAB-burr-wok-kee\ • Noun - Meaningless speech or writing.

The good old “Wednesday Afternoon Format,” the jabberwocky of air personalities with nothing to say: “Fred Farkle here, glad to have you along with me on this Wednesday afternoon, I hope your day is going great. I’ll be alongside until six tonight…..”

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

Energy Secretary to Depart, as Administration Vacancies Mount (New York Times, NY)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/02/02/us/politics/energy-secretary-to-depart-as-administration-vacancies-mount.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

Energy Secretary Chu to Resign (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2013/02/01/obama-chu-energy-secretary/1883425/

Lake Wenatchee Storm Damage Doesn’t Qualify for Federal Assistance (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/feb/01/storm-damage-doesnt-qualify-for-federal-assistance/

Portland General Electric Planning Port Westward Power Plant (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/pge-planning-port-westward-power-plant/article_a2c6ab04-6c0f-11e2-b9d2-0019bb2963f4.html

Power Pole Fire Causes Outage in Lakewood Area (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Power-pole-fire-causes-outage-in-Lakewood-area-189133631.html

Federal Court Awards Sacramento Municipal Utility District Millions in Nuke Storage Case (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://blogs.sacbee.com/capitolalertlatest/2013/02/court-awards-smud-millions-in-nuke-storage-case.html

NorthWestern Energy to Improve Montana Electric Transmission System (Electric Light & Power)

http://www.elp.com/articles/2013/01/northwestern-energy-to-improve-montana-electric-transmission-sys.html

British Columbia - Promise of Site C Peace River Dam Still a Distant One (Vancouver Sun, B-C)

http://www.vancouversun.com/technology/Promise%20Site%20still%20distant/7904000/story.html

Norway May Boost Hydro Output 12% by 2020, Survey Shows (Renewable Energy World)

http://www.renewableenergyworld.com/rea/news/article/2013/02/norway-may-boost-hydro-output-12-by-2020-survey-shows?cmpid=rss

The Future of Energy - Batteries Included? The search for better ways of storing electricity is hotting up (The Economist Magazine)

http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_c=116umgo72x5t2qs&xid=116rhqxmo3mtaux&done=.116umgo72x622qs

Minnesota – Editorial: The Service You Don’t See (Moose Lake Star-Gazette, MN)

http://www.mlstargazette.com/story/2013/01/31/opinion/the-service-you-dont-see/385.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Steve Wright: Bonneville Power Administration CEO & Administrator Addresses RiverPartners (Northwest River Partners)

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/01/steve-wright-bonneville-power.html

Op/Ed - Political Games Are Devastating Sustainable Commercial Fishing (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2013/01/31/animals-wildlife/112712/fish-wildlife-sports-commercial-fisheries-pete-knu/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Clallam County PUD Says I-937 Fueling Surge in Electricity Costs (Sequim Gazette, WA)

http://www.sequimgazette.com/news/article.exm/2013-01-31_pud_says_i_937_fueling_surge_in_electricity_costs

Missouri - Complaint Says Ameren is Circumventing Green Power Law - counting generation from hydropower using ineligible renewable energy certificates (St Louis Dispatch, MO)

http://www.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/complaint-says-ameren-circumventing-green-power-law/article_50906e1f-ceca-5f25-bf6b-ee3d2cdf61a0.html

California Utilities Quietly Gearing Up to Fight Solar Energy (Capitol Weekly, CA)

http://www.capitolweekly.net/article.php?_c=116umgo72x5t2qs&xid=116rhqxmo3mtaux&done=.116umgo72x622qs

Report: Clean Power is Moving (Gradually) into Americans’ Homes (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/uciliawang/2013/01/31/report-clean-power-is-moving-gradually-into-americans-homes/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Puget Sound Energy Offering Manufactured-Home Owners Free Efficiency Upgrades (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2013/02/01/2406690/puget-sound-energy-offering-manufactured.html

Sacramento Launches $100-Million Energy Retrofit Fund (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/justingerdes/2013/01/31/sacramento-launches-100-million-energy-retrofit-fund/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

NOAA Report Highlights Coastal Climate Risks (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://www.sustainablebusinessoregon.com/articles/2013/01/noaa-report-highlights-coastal-climate.html

Clean Energy in Europe Suffering from Falling Carbon Dioxide Prices (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/davidhone/179716/carbon-price-in-europe

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Plugged In: Oregon Finishes I-5 Quick-Charge Station Corridor (Salem Statesman Journal, OR)

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/article/20130201/NEWS/302010022/1001

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Prineville, Quincy, Loudoun County - Data Centers Haven’t Just Changed Computing, They’ve Changed Communities (GigaOM)

http://gigaom.com/2013/02/01/data-centers-havent-just-changed-computing-theyve-changed-communities/

Comcast Now Charging Customers for Formerly Free Converter Boxes (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2013/01/31/comcast-now-charging-customers-for-formerly-free-converter-boxes/

Is Broadband a Social Justice Issue? (Huffington Post)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/jason-resendez/internet-access_b_2567724.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

REI Chief Sally Jewell in the Mix for Interior (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/in-the-loop/post/rei-chief-sally-jewell-in-the-mix-for-interior/2013/01/31/c4cb27c0-6bbf-11e2-ada0-5ca5fa7ebe79_blog.html

Washington State Bill Would Change Public Records Act (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

http://thedailyworld.com/sections/news/local/bill-would-change-public-records-act.html

If Congress Fails to Act by March 1, Rainier & Olympic Parks Would Face Cuts Affecting Visitors (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/02/01/2457645/sequestration-would-harm-national.html

GENERAL NEWS

Investigation Launched After North Mason Boy, 3, Flown to Harborview (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/jan/31/investigation-launched-after-north-mason-boy-3/

Cooper Point, Black Lake Blvd - Jogger Struck, Killed By Car at Busy Olympia Intersection (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Jogger-struck-killed-by-car-at-busy-Olympia-intersection-189386181.html

Mason County Sheriff’s Office - Dean Byrd Retires (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/49055-dean-byrd-retires

Guilty Plea in Largest Public Embezzlement Case in Washington State’s History (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/guilty-plea-largest-public-embezzlement-case-washington-state-s-history

Man Found Guilty in Plot to Bomb Portland Tree-Lighting Ceremony (Seattle Times, WA)

http://seattletimes.com/html/nationworld/2020260556_orebombingxml.html

Reduced Newspaper Delivery: Smart or Death Knell? (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/columnist/2013/01/31/syracuse-post-standard/1878315/

Magazine Declares Seattle Has ‘Wussiest’ Winter in America (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/weather/blogs/scott/Magazine-declares-Seattle-has-wussiest-winter-in-America-189235931.html

Change Coming to Costco’s $1.50 Hot Dog-Soda Combo (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Costcos-150-hot-dog-soda-combo-to-get-big-change-189379761.html

DIVERSIONS

Proposed Law Shows What Counts in Texas

http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/01/31/54440.htm

Tortoise Trapped in Record Player Box Found Alive after 30 Years

http://gizmodo.com/5980332/tortoise-trapped-in-record-player-box-found-alive-after-30-years

Sandbaggers Will Install Longview’s Newest Squirrel Bridge Saturday

http://tdn.com/news/local/sandbaggers-will-install-longview-s-newest-squirrel-bridge-saturday/article_4bc6c3f2-6c0f-11e2-9826-0019bb2963f4.html

Woman Arrested after Trying to Dance, Sing Her Way Out of Bar Tab

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=2189845

SONG OF THE DAY

Emmylou Harris - Waltz Across Texas Tonight

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VG5PnFBk1g

Ernest Tubb - Waltz Across Texas

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VkKW2hNCVis