Energy News Digest for April 30, 2013 – Hot Shots Edition

Puget Sound Energy Automatic Rate Hike Escalator Plan Opposed (Puget Sound Buisness Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/morning_call/2013/04/pse-utility-rate-hike-escalater-plan.html

Pacific Northwest Residents Overwhelmingly View Hydropower as a Clean, Renewable Energy Resource (Northwest RiverPartners, Mason County PUD 3)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=1211

Cormorant hazing saves juvenile salmon on Oregon Coast as state also gathers data for kill permits

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/04/cormorant_hazing_saves_juvenil.html

BC Hydro Smart Meters Provoke Class Action Lawsuit (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/story/2013/04/29/bc-hydro-smart-meter-class-action.html?cmp=rss

Op/Ed - Tax Change Would Hike Price of Crucial Public Projects – Klein, Gaines, Carrasco (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2013/04/30/2578154/tax-change-would-hike-price-of.html

Controversy over Electric Car Charging Stations in Bremerton (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Bremerton-considering-installation-of-electric-car-charging-stations-205326521.html

Energy News Digest for April 29, 2013

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THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for April 29, 2013

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/04/energy-news-digest-word-cloud-for-april_29.html

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Scammers Busted Stealing 40,000 Pounds of Copper from Seattle City Light (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=2261792

Mason County Can’t Afford To Pay for Belfair Sewer System (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/apr/28/mason-county-cant-afford-to-pay-for-belfair/

Energy Conservation on Bainbridge Island Hits Goal Set by Puget Sound Energy (Bainbridge Island Review, WA)

http://www.bainbridgereview.com/news/204883531.html

City Of Olympia Has $5.7 Million Update of Water Meters in Works - Updated technology at Olympia homes will send readings remotely to city (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2013/04/29/2524747/57-million-update-of-water-meters.html#emlnl=Newsletter_-_Daily_News_Digest

Longview Adopts New Zoning Rules for Residential Windmills (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/longview-adopts-new-zoning-rules-for-residential-windmills/article_bf60dd2c-aee3-11e2-9ea1-001a4bcf887a.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Scammers Busted Stealing 40,000 Pounds of Copper from Seattle City Light
• Cowlitz PUD Weighing Changes to Commercial, Residential Rate Ratio
• Mylar Balloon Knocks Out Power to Wenatchee
• Montana – Damage Control: Glencore Affirms Commitment to Restarting Columbia Falls Plant
• In the Northwest, Rising Coal Exports to Asia Stir Huge Fight
• Grant County PUD Receives a Clean Audit from State
• California - Man Electrocuted in ‘Industrial Accident’ Identified as Winchester Resident
• FERC Refines “Bulk Electric System” Definition, Adopts New Cybersecurity Standards Proving Value of the Definition
• Expanding Efforts to Attract Young Nuclear Energy Professionals
• Dumbest Guys in the Room: Does Wall Street Understand Utilities?
• Nevada Co-op Seeks to Involve Youth
• Fish Managers Request End to Summer Salmon Transport from McNary; Cite System Improvements
• $27.4 Million Fish Collection Facility Opens in Effort to Restore Salmon/Steelhead above Detroit Dam
• Mine Project Threatens Bristol Bay Salmon Fishery: EPA Report
• City Of Olympia Has $5.7 Million Update of Water Meters in Works
• California - Delta Tunnel Project to Radically Change Sacramento County Landscape
• Longview Adopts New Zoning Rules for Residential Windmills
• Want a Solar Home? Consider Batteries
• Biomass Plants’ Environmental Benefits Up for Debate
• Renewables Provide Half of Germany’s Power - For a Few Hours
• Energy Conservation on Bainbridge Island Hits Goal Set by Puget Sound Energy
• Five Ways to Save on Electricity, Energy in Your Home
• United Kingdom - Big Brother to Switch Off Your Fridge
• Interior Alaska Spring Prep Sports Are on Hold Because of the Cold
• Students in Pasco Race Electric Carts
• Obama Administration to Add 10,000 Hybrids for ‘Green’ Government Fleet
• Sacramento Plans Solar-Powered ‘Smart’ Parking Meters
• From Coast to Coast with the Power of the Sun
• Gigabit Internet in Vermont is Cheaper than Google Fiber
• Tullahoma, Tennessee to Offer 1-Gigabit Internet Starting May 1
• Washington State Legislature Passes Bill to Monitor Social Media in the Workplace
• LivingSocial Hacked - More Than 50 Million Customer Names, Emails, Birthdates & Encrypted Passwords Accessed
• Starbucks Presses Social Media Onward
• Inslee Wants Legislature to Come Back May 13
• Mason County Can’t Afford To Pay for Belfair Sewer System
• Cybertheft Heists $1 Million from Leavenworth Hospital
• Death at Home of DB Cooper Chute Packer Ruled a Homicide
• Pink Slips for 132 Providence Workers in Washington State
• Squaxin Island Tourism Director Appointed to Washington Tourism Alliance
• Report Finds Dirtier West Coast Trucks End Up In Oregon

WORD OF THE DAY

Persnickety • \purr-SNICK-uh-tee\ • Adjective - 1a: fussy about small details: fastidious b: having the characteristics of a snob 2: requiring great precision

“No I will not have the beef tongue for my breakfast entrée, I will not eat anything that came out of a cow’s mouth.” sniffed the newly minted, persnickety English lord. “Give me fried eggs, over easy.”

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

Scammers Busted Stealing 40,000 Pounds of Copper from Seattle City Light (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/?nid=11&sid=2261792

Cowlitz PUD Weighing Changes to Commercial, Residential Rate Ratio (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/cowlitz-pud-weighing-changes-to-commercial-residential-rate-ratio/article_4eb97334-aee0-11e2-b74d-001a4bcf887a.html

Mylar Balloon Knocks Out Power to Wenatchee (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/apr/27/mylar-balloon-knocks-out-power-to-wenatchee/

Montana – Damage Control: Glencore Affirms Commitment to Restarting Columbia Falls Plant - Representatives say power contract talks are optimistic but metal market is a deterrent (Flathead Beacon, Kalispell, MT)

http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/glencore_affirms_commitment_to_restarting_cfac_plant/33121/

In the Northwest, Rising Coal Exports to Asia Stir Huge Fight (Seattle Times, WA)

http://seattletimes.com/html/localnews/2020875828_coalexportmontanaxml.html

Grant County PUD Receives a Clean Audit from State (iFiber One News, Ephrata, WA)

http://www.ifiberone.com/news/grantcounty/grant-county-pud-receives-a-clean-audit-from-state/article_0a3ab8d2-aee3-11e2-bf66-001a4bcf6878.html

California - Man Electrocuted in ‘Industrial Accident’ Identified as Winchester Resident (Southwest Riverside News Network, CA)

http://www.swrnn.com/2013/04/25/man-electrocuted-in-industrial-accident-identified-as-winchester-resident/

FERC Refines “Bulk Electric System” Definition, Adopts New Cybersecurity Standards Proving Value of the Definition (GTH Energy & Natural Resources Law Blog)

http://www.energynaturalresourceslaw.com/2013/04/ferc-refines-bulk-electric-system-definition-adopts-new-cybersecurity-standards-proving-value-of-the.html

Expanding Efforts to Attract Young Nuclear Energy Professionals (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/ansorg/216361/waste-management-conference-expands-efforts-attract-young-nuclear-professionals

Dumbest Guys in the Room: Does Wall Street Understand Utilities? (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/williampentland/2013/04/27/dumbest-guys-in-the-room-does-wall-street-understand-utilities/

Nevada Co-op Seeks to Involve Youth (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/newsmakers/local-initiatives/nevada-electric-coop-youth-ambassador-program/55346

FISH & WILDLIFE

Fish Managers Request End to Summer Salmon Transport from McNary; Cite System Improvements (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/426309.aspx

$27.4 Million Fish Collection Facility Opens in Effort to Restore Salmon/Steelhead above Detroit Dam (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/426310.aspx

Mine Project Threatens Bristol Bay Salmon Fishery: EPA Report (Seattle Post Intelligencer, WA)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2013/04/26/mine-project-threatens-bristol-bay-salmon-fishery-epa-report/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

City Of Olympia Has $5.7 Million Update of Water Meters in Works - Updated technology at Olympia homes will send readings remotely to city (Olympian, WA)

http://www.theolympian.com/2013/04/29/2524747/57-million-update-of-water-meters.html#emlnl=Newsletter_-_Daily_News_Digest

California - Delta Tunnel Project to Radically Change Sacramento County Landscape (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2013/04/28/5377328/delta-tunnel-project-to-radically.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Longview Adopts New Zoning Rules for Residential Windmills (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/longview-adopts-new-zoning-rules-for-residential-windmills/article_bf60dd2c-aee3-11e2-9ea1-001a4bcf887a.html

Want a Solar Home? Consider Batteries (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/2013/0427/Want-a-solar-home-Consider-batteries

Biomass Plants’ Environmental Benefits Up for Debate (Redding Record Searchlight, CA)

http://www.redding.com/news/2013/apr/27/biomass-plants-environmental-benefits-up-for/

Renewables Provide Half of Germany’s Power - For a Few Hours (Real Clear Energy)

http://www.realclearenergy.org/charticles/2013/04/26/renewables_provide_half_germanys_power_-_for_one_day_106986.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Energy Conservation on Bainbridge Island Hits Goal Set by Puget Sound Energy (Bainbridge Island Review, WA)

http://www.bainbridgereview.com/news/204883531.html

Five Ways to Save on Electricity, Energy in Your Home (Hampton-N Hampton Patch)

http://hampton-northhampton.patch.com/articles/5-ways-to-save-on-electricity-energy-in-your-home

United Kingdom - Big Brother to Switch Off Your Fridge: Power Giants to Make Millions - But You Must Pay For ‘Sinister’ Technology (The Daily Mail, UK)

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2315863/Big-brother-switch-fridge-Power-giants-make-millions--pay-sinister-technology.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Interior Alaska Spring Prep Sports Are on Hold Because of the Cold (Fairbanks News-Miner, AK)

http://www.newsminer.com/sports/high_school/interior-spring-prep-sports-are-on-hold-because-of-the/article_50eb4d1c-ad7d-11e2-8776-0019bb30f31a.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Students in Pasco Race Electric Carts (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.nbcrightnow.com/story/22098228/students-in-pasco-race-electric-carts

Obama Administration to Add 10,000 Hybrids for ‘Green’ Government Fleet (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/In-Gear/2013/0426/Obama-administration-to-add-10-000-hybrids-for-green-government-fleet

Sacramento Plans Solar-Powered ‘Smart’ Parking Meters (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2013/04/29/5379130/sacramento-plans-solar-powered.html

From Coast to Coast with the Power of the Sun (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2013/04/28/179597476/from-coast-to-coast-with-the-power-of-the-sun?ft=1&f=10

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Gigabit Internet in Vermont is Cheaper than Google Fiber (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/5995487/gigabit-internet-in-vermont-is-cheaper-than-google-fiber

Tullahoma, Tennessee to Offer 1-Gigabit Internet Starting May 1 (American Public Power Association)

http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppd/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=216370&issueID=27005

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Washington State Legislature Passes Bill to Monitor Social Media in the Workplace (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Wash-Legislature-approves-social-media-rules-205017471.html

LivingSocial Hacked - More Than 50 Million Customer Names, Emails, Birthdates & Encrypted Passwords Accessed (All Things Digital)

http://allthingsd.com/20130426/livingsocial-hacked-more-than-50-million-customer-names-emails-birthdates-and-encrypted-passwords-accessed/

Starbucks Presses Social Media Onward (Seattle Times, WA)

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2020862483_starbuckssocialxml.html

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Inslee Wants Legislature to Come Back May 13 (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Parties-far-apart-as-Legislature-adjourns--205165201.html

GENERAL NEWS

Mason County Can’t Afford To Pay for Belfair Sewer System (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/2013/apr/28/mason-county-cant-afford-to-pay-for-belfair/

Cybertheft Heists $1 Million from Leavenworth Hospital (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/apr/26/cybertheft-heists-1-million-from-leavenworth/

Death at Home of DB Cooper Chute Packer Ruled a Homicide (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.katu.com/news/local/Sheriff-Woodinville-mans-death-ruled-a-homicide-205013021.html

Pink Slips for 132 Providence Workers in Washington State (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2013/04/29/pink-slips-for-132-providence-workers-in-washington-state/

Squaxin Island Tourism Director Appointed to Washington Tourism Alliance (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://masoncountydailynews.com/news/news-page/55597-squaxin-island-tourism-director-appointed-to-washington-tourism-alliance

Report Finds Dirtier West Coast Trucks End Up In Oregon (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/blog/ecotrope/report-finds-dirtier-west-coast-trucks-end-up-in-oregon/

DIVERSIONS

Mamma Mia! Bookie Offers Odds on ABBA Reunion

http://www.reuters.com/article/2013/04/25/entertainment-us-abba-idUSBRE93O0WT20130425

Rare 1913 Nickel Fetches Over $3.1 Million at Auction

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/04/26/nickel-1913-liberty/2115307/

80-Year-Old Accidentally Swallows $5,000 Diamond

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2013/04/26/diamond-80-year-old-woman-swallows/2115411/

The Resurgence of Vinyl Records: Why Analog Lives On

http://www.csmonitor.com/Commentary/Opinion/2013/0426/The-resurgence-of-vinyl-records-why-analog-lives-on

SONG OF THE DAY

Abba - Mamma Mia (This video of 1970’s AWSOME!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=unfzfe8f9NI

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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.

Energy News Digest for April 26, 2013

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

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THE NEWS DIGEST TWITTER FEED

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

http://twitter.com/energydigest

THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for April 26, 2013

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2013/04/energy-news-digest-word-cloud-for-april_26.html

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Glencore Still Hopes to Reopen Columbia Falls Aluminum (Daily Interlake, Kalispell, MT)

http://www.dailyinterlake.com/news/local_montana/article_f1211072-ad51-11e2-abc3-001a4bcf887a.html

The Best Utility Brands of 2013 – Snohomish PUD #2, SMUD #4, Portland General Electric #6, Idaho Power #7, Seattle City Light #9 (E-Source)

http://www.esource.com/Blog/ESource/4-25-13-UtilityBrands

Idaho Power Seeks to End Excess Green Energy Credit Payouts (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/idaho-power-seeks-end-excess-green-energy-credit-payouts

Energy Efficiency Means Lower Utility Bills, Less Mortgage Risk (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy-Voices/2013/0425/Energy-efficiency-means-lower-utility-bills-less-mortgage-risk

In Two-Way Charging, Electric Cars Begin to Earn Money from the Grid (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/26/business/energy-environment/electric-vehicles-begin-to-earn-money-from-the-grid.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Montana - Glencore Still Hopes to Reopen Columbia Falls Aluminum
• News Digest Flashback - Montana U-S Senator: ‘Glencore Has Been Playing Us’
• The Best Utility Brands of 2013 – Snohomish PUD #2, SMUD #4, Portland General Electric #6, Idaho Power #7, Seattle City Light #9
• Hanging ‘Em High - Crews Thread Cable for Douglas PUD’s New High-Voltage Line
• Editorial - The River, the Treaty, the Money
• Northwest books: Woody Guthrie (BPA), Abe Lincoln, Pig War, Susan Orlean, Karen Karbo
• French Nuclear Giant Areva Sees Revenue Rise 12.5 Per Cent as Turnaround Takes Hold
• New Nuclear Waste Proposal Creates Agency, Restarts Yucca Mountain Debate
• The Next Nuclear Reactor May Arrive Hauled by a Truck
• Kokanee Reach New Sizes in Lake Chelan
• Oregon’s Air Getting Fresher: American Lung Association State of the Air 2013
• 9th Circuit Axes Pacific Northwest Forest Plan Settlement
• Green Groups Seeing Red over Barbara Boxer’s Water Bill
• Idaho Power Seeks to End Excess Green Energy Credit Payouts
• Largest Solar Power Water Heating System in Washington State Installed near Prescott
• IRS Provides Tax-Day Gift to Renewable Energy Producers
• Energy Efficiency Means Lower Utility Bills, Less Mortgage Risk
• Feds Issue Final Rule Setting Energy Efficiency Standards for Distribution Transformers
• Snohomish County PUD Tips for Reducing Bills, Helping the Environment
• LED Streetlamp Aims to Improve Public’s View of Stars
• Obama Backers Launch Plan to Shame Climate Skeptics in Congress
• In Two-Way Charging, Electric Cars Begin to Earn Money from the Grid
• Lacey Alternative Energy Fair to Showcase Green Energy
• U-S Colleges Building a Clean Energy Future
• Washington State AG to T-Mobile: Not So Fast with That ‘No-Contract’ Advertising
• New York City’s Free Subway Wi-Fi Faster than Home Broadband
• Google Agrees to Change Displays for Search Results in Europe
• Bold Predictions about the Internet from 1982
• Netflix Looks Back on Its Near-Death Spiral
• Watch How Retweets Ripple Out Through the Internet
• Why Only Perfect Customer Service Scores Matter: It’s About Evangelism
• Washington State GOP Blames Democrats for Special Session
• U-S Congress - House Joins Senate in Passing Bill to Ease Flight Delays
• Seattle Siblings Swim 14 Hours after Boat Sinks in Virgin Islands
• Olympia Prepares for Possible May Day Demonstrations
• Pacific Northwest Ranks High for Stress
• Stoel Rives Looks to Grow with New Development Chief

WORD OF THE DAY

Demulcent • \dih-MULL-sunt\ • Adjective - Soothing

See Christopher Cross, “Sailing.”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyYhZ9HH8cI

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

Montana - Glencore Still Hopes to Reopen Columbia Falls Aluminum (Daily Interlake, Kalispell, MT)

http://www.dailyinterlake.com/news/local_montana/article_f1211072-ad51-11e2-abc3-001a4bcf887a.html

News Digest Flashback - Montana U-S Senator: ‘Glencore Has Been Playing Us’ (Flathead Beacon, Kalispell, MT)

http://www.flatheadbeacon.com/articles/article/glencore_has_been_playing_us/32429/

The Best Utility Brands of 2013 – Snohomish PUD #2, SMUD #4, Portland General Electric #6, Idaho Power #7, Seattle City Light #9 (E-Source)

http://www.esource.com/Blog/ESource/4-25-13-UtilityBrands

Hanging ‘Em High - Crews Thread Cable for Douglas PUD’s New High-Voltage Line (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/apr/25/hanging-em-high-crews-thread-cable-for-douglas/

Editorial - The River, the Treaty, the Money (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/apr/25/the-river-the-treaty-the-money/

Northwest books: Woody Guthrie (BPA), Abe Lincoln, Pig War, Susan Orlean, Karen Karbo (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/books/index.ssf/2013/04/jeff_baker_northwest_books_woo.html

French Nuclear Giant Areva Sees Revenue Rise 12.5 Per Cent as Turnaround Takes Hold (Associated Press)

http://www.timescolonist.com/business/french-nuclear-giant-areva-sees-revenue-rise-12-5-per-cent-as-turnaround-takes-hold-1.139016

New Nuclear Waste Proposal Creates Agency, Restarts Yucca Mountain Debate (U-S News & World Report)

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2013/04/25/new-nuclear-waste-proposal-creates-new-agency-restarts-yucca-mountain-argument?s_cid=rss:new-nuclear-waste-proposal-creates-new-agency-restarts-yucca-mountain-argument

The Next Nuclear Reactor May Arrive Hauled by a Truck (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/25/business/energy-environment/the-next-nuclear-reactor-may-arrive-hauled-by-a-truck.html?ref=businessspecial2&pagewanted=all&_r=3&

FISH & WILDLIFE

Kokanee Reach New Sizes in Lake Chelan (Wenatchee World, WA)

http://www.wenatcheeworld.com/news/2013/apr/26/kokanee-reach-new-sizes-in-lake-chelan/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Oregon’s Air Getting Fresher: American Lung Association State of the Air 2013 (Oregonian, Portland, OR)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2013/04/oregons_air_getting_fresher_am.html

9th Circuit Axes Pacific Northwest Forest Plan Settlement (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2013/04/25/57060.htm

Green Groups Seeing Red over Barbara Boxer’s Water Bill (Politico)

http://www.politico.com/story/2013/04/green-groups-see-red-over-boxers-water-bill-90580.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Idaho Power Seeks to End Excess Green Energy Credit Payouts (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/idaho-power-seeks-end-excess-green-energy-credit-payouts

Largest Solar Power Water Heating System in Washington State Installed near Prescott (KNDU-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.nbcrightnow.com/story/22082979/largest-solar-power-water-in-washington-installed-near-prescott

IRS Provides Tax-Day Gift to Renewable Energy Producers - Provides Guidance on Production Tax Credit Eligibility (GTH Energy & Natural Resources Law Blog)

http://www.energynaturalresourceslaw.com/2013/04/irs-provides-tax-day-gift-to-renewable-energy-producers-providing-guidance-on-production-tax-credit.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Energy Efficiency Means Lower Utility Bills, Less Mortgage Risk (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy-Voices/2013/0425/Energy-efficiency-means-lower-utility-bills-less-mortgage-risk

Feds Issue Final Rule Setting Energy Efficiency Standards for Distribution Transformers (American Public Power Association)

http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppd/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=216257&issueID=27004

Snohomish County PUD Tips for Reducing Bills, Helping the Environment (Mukilteo Beacon, WA)

http://mukilteobeacon.villagesoup.com/p/pud-tips-for-reducing-bills-helping-the-environment/993720#.UXqURHek3yA

LED Streetlamp Aims to Improve Public’s View of Stars (British Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/technology-22292129

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Obama Backers Launch Plan to Shame Climate Skeptics in Congress (The Guardian, UK)

http://www.guardian.co.uk/environment/2013/apr/25/obama-for-america-shame-climate-sceptics

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

In Two-Way Charging, Electric Cars Begin to Earn Money from the Grid (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/26/business/energy-environment/electric-vehicles-begin-to-earn-money-from-the-grid.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Lacey Alternative Energy Fair to Showcase Green Energy (Thurston Talks, Olympia, WA)

http://www.thurstontalk.com/2013/04/25/lacey-alternative-energy-fair-to-showcase-green-energy/

U-S Colleges Building a Clean Energy Future (The Energy Collective – Includes Evergreen, UW, WSU, WWU, UPS, etc.)

http://theenergycollective.com/silviomarcacci/217561/us-colleges-teach-america-how-build-clean-energy-future

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Washington State AG to T-Mobile: Not So Fast with That ‘No-Contract’ Advertising (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2013/04/26/washington-state-ag-to-t-mobile-not-so-fast-with-that-no-contract-advertising/

New York City’s Free Subway Wi-Fi Faster than Home Broadband (NBC News)

http://www.nbcnews.com/technology/technolog/nycs-free-subway-wi-fi-faster-home-broadband-6C9601867

Google Agrees to Change Displays for Search Results in Europe (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2013/04/google_agrees_to_change_displa.html

Bold Predictions about the Internet from 1982 (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2013/04/26/bold-predictions-about-the-internet-from-1982/?wprss=rss_business

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Netflix Looks Back on Its Near-Death Spiral (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/27/business/netflix-looks-back-on-its-near-death-spiral.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Watch How Retweets Ripple Out Through the Internet (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/5995388/watch-how-retweets-ripple-out-through-the-internet

Why Only Perfect Customer Service Scores Matter: It’s About Evangelism (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2013/04/25/why-only-perfect-customer-service-scores-matter-its-about-evangelism/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State GOP Blames Democrats for Special Session - With Four Days Left In Regular Session (Seattle Times, WA)

http://blogs.seattletimes.com/politicsnorthwest/2013/04/25/gop-blames-democrats-for-special-session-with-four-days-left-in-regular-session/?syndication=rss

U-S Congress - House Joins Senate in Passing Bill to Ease Flight Delays (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/27/us/politics/congress-passes-bill-to-end-flight-delays.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

GENERAL NEWS

Seattle Siblings Swim 14 Hours after Boat Sinks in Virgin Islands (Associated Press)

http://www.kgw.com/news/Seattle-siblings-swim-14-hours-after-boat-sinks-in-Puerto-Rico-204868431.html

Olympia Prepares for Possible May Day Demonstrations (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/news/local/Olympia-Police-prepare-for-May-Day-204771801.html

Pacific Northwest Ranks High for Stress - Washington, Oregon & Idaho among top 15 most-stressed states (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2013/apr/25/pacific-northwest-ranks-high-for-stress/

Stoel Rives Looks to Grow with New Development Chief (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/2013/04/stoel-rives-seeks-growth-with-new.html

DIVERSIONS

What Did Alexander Graham Bell Sound Like? Now We Know

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/innovations/wp/2013/04/24/what-did-alexander-graham-bell-sound-like-now-we-know/?wprss=rss_technology

Feral Hogs - Malicious but Delicious

http://www.nytimes.com/2013/04/23/opinion/bruni-malicious-but-delicious.html?_r=0

Return of the Twinkie? Hostess to Reopen Bakery This Summer

http://www.katu.com/news/national/Need-a-Twinkie-Hostess-to-reopen-bakery-this-summer-204848711.html

George Jones, Country Superstar, Has Died At 81

http://www.nwcn.com/news/204853441.html

SONGS OF THE DAY

George Jones - He Stopped Loving Her Today

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bRK--ahPd3s

George Jones - The Race Is On

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIfFs7a_aXs

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

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.