Customers Comment on Return of Hiring Authority to Bonneville Power Administration (Public Power Council, Portland, OR)

Department of Energy’s announcement that it is clearing the Bonneville Power Administration to conduct its own human resources functions seen as a positive sign

(PORTLAND, OR) – Leaders of groups representing purchasers of wholesale electricity from the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) reacted positively today on the announcement that the Department of Energy (DOE) had returned to BPA all of its authorities to make personnel decisions following a process to address concerns over hiring issues raised in audits last year that led to suspension of the agency’s authority.  BPA is a key regional supplier of power impacting millions of Northwest residents.

“This is a critical step,” said Scott Corwin, Executive Director of the Public Power Council.  “With the problems fixed, authority is rightly returned to the regional Administrator so that BPA can take much needed personnel actions.”

The Northwest Congressional delegation had expressed concerns about the hiring issues and the autonomy of BPA when DOE stripped the agency of its ability to take almost any personnel action last year in the wake of reports that it had not been following federal hiring guidelines.

John Prescott, President and CEO of PNGC Power said, “This affirms that Elliot Mainzer and the leadership team at BPA have done an impressive job with an enormous challenge over the past year.”

BPA worked with DOE and the Office of Personnel Management to create an action plan to address the past human resources mistakes and to train staff regarding recent laws on federal hiring practices. 

“Elliot Mainzer, the managers, and the employees at BPA have really stepped up to address the human resources issues,” said John Saven, CEO of Northwest Requirements Utilities.  “Now, we will work together to ensure they are in the best position possible to meet the mission of providing safe and reliable wholesale power and transmission for Northwest consumers.”

The announcement today made clear that extensive work by BPA staff successfully addressed the concerns in the audits.  A remaining issue customers would like addressed is to see the BPA General Counsel once again report to the BPA Administrator rather than to DOE headquarters.

The Public Power Council, PNGC Power, and Northwest Requirements Utilities are organizations that represent well over 100 utility preference customers of the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA), serving power to millions of consumers in eight states.  These consumer-owned utilities are close partners with BPA in delivering the clean, cost based power from the Federal Columbia River Power System to residents and businesses in the Northwest. 

Bonneville Power Administration’s Hiring Authority Reinstated (U-S Department of Energy)

Statement from Deputy Secretary Daniel Poneman on Bonneville Power Administration's HR Authorities

September 30, 2014

(WASHINGTON, DC) -- Deputy Secretary Daniel Poneman issued the following statement today on the reinstatement of Bonneville Power Administration's human resources authorities:

"Today, the Department of Energy is reinstating the Bonneville Power Administration’s delegated human resources authorities, after 13 months of extensive training, as well as evaluation and auditing of Bonneville’s human capital management program. Bonneville, in partnership with Department of Energy headquarters, has successfully completed an extensive “get well” program, reconstructing 1,259 hiring cases involving over 22,000 job applications, to assure that all candidates are treated fairly, and that all of the discrepancies identified have been resolved. A shared commitment by both BPA and the Department of Energy to rebuild a stronger, more agile HR function was key to this success."

"Moving forward, the Department will continue to review BPA’s HR activities. The Department’s compliance efforts will honor BPA’s unique status as a separate and distinct organizational entity within the Department."

Energy News Digest for September 30, 2014

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

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THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for September 30, 2014

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2014/09/word-cloud-energy-news-digest-for_30.html

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Mason PUD 3 Customers Should be on the Alert for Possible Telephone Scams (Mason County PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=1431

Salmon Funds Approved for Ongoing Skokomish Restoration (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/local-news/salmon-funds-approved-for-ongoing-skokomish-restoration_81285328

Biologists Identify Pot Gardens as Salmon Threat (Associated Press)

http://news.yahoo.com/biologists-identify-pot-gardens-salmon-162550511.html

Centralia College Gets $10 Million Federal Clean Energy Grant (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2014/09/centralia-college-gets-10-million.html

Green Diamond: From Shelton Roots to Klamath Falls Forests (South Sound Business Examiner)

http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/September-2014/From-Shelton-roots-to-Klamath-Falls-forests/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Mason PUD 3 Customers Should be on the Alert for Possible Telephone Scams
• Jefferson PUD Candidates Confess: Neither Voted for Electrical Takeover in 2008 Election
• Rationalizing California’s Residential Electricity Rates
• Electric Rates Soar in New England
• Co-ops Win Case over FERC Demand Response Order
• Tennessee Valley Authority Prices $1 Billion of New 10-Year Global Power Bonds
• Salmon Funds Approved for Ongoing Skokomish Restoration
• Biologists Identify Pot Gardens as Salmon Threat
• Detroit Bankruptcy Judge Says He Can’t Stop Water Shutoffs
• Centralia College Gets $10 Million Federal Clean Energy Grant
• Bats Killed by Wind Turbines ‘Because They Mistake Them for Trees’
• How Solar Power is Changing Your Utility Bill - And Your Utility
• Taxes, Fees: The Worldwide Battle between Utilities & Solar
• Using LED Lights to Change Moods
• California Drought Tied to Climate Change? Scientists Unsure
• Oregon Global Warming Commission Endorses Obama Power Plant Regulations
• Latest EIA Report Shows Marked Increase in U-S Carbon Dioxide Emissions
• California Plastic Bag Ban Signed, Setting Off Sweeping Changes
• Irony Alert: Field Roast’s Fake Meat Has to be Tested on Real Animals
• The Internet is Still ‘Shellshocked’ by Latest Bug — But It Won’t be the Last
• Cisco: The Internet Needs More Control
• FCC Lays Groundwork for 5G Wireless Networks
• EBay is Splitting PayPal Off as a Separate Company
• FCC Appears Poised to Loosen Sports Blackout Rule, Despite Protests by the NFL
• Londoners Accidentally Pay for Free Wi-Fi with a Firstborn, Because No One Reads Anymore
• This Supermarket Poster Was Not Meant to Be Seen by the Public
• Green Diamond: From Shelton Roots to Klamath Falls Forests
• Huge Tax Breaks for Boeing Weren’t Tied to Jobs; 2,000 Jobs to be Cut, Moved from Washington
• Two Kennewick Residents Lose $6,300 from Phone Scams
• Kansas City Chiefs Fans Now NFL’s Noisiest, Take Title from Seahawk Fans

WORD OF THE DAY

Esurient • \ih-SURR-ee-unt\ •  Adjective - Hungry, greedy

Feed me, Seymour (growled the esurient houseplant)

Feed me all night long

‘Cause if you feed me Seymour

I can grow up big & strong

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Mason PUD 3 Customers Should be on the Alert for Possible Telephone Scams (Mason County PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=1431

Jefferson PUD Candidates Confess: Neither Voted for Electrical Takeover in 2008 Election (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20140930/news/309309994/jefferson-pud-candidates-confess-neither-voted-for-electrical

Rationalizing California’s Residential Electricity Rates (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/severinborenstein/1503771/rationalizing-california-s-residential-electricity-rates

Electric Rates Soar in New England (U-S News & World Report)

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2014/09/29/electric-rates-soar-in-stranded-new-england

Co-ops Win Case over FERC Demand Response Order (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/industry/on-the-docket/co-ops-win-case-over-ferc-demand-response-order/73931

Tennessee Valley Authority Prices $1 Billion of New 10-Year Global Power Bonds (American Public Power Association)

http://www.naylornetwork.com/app-ppd/articles/index-v2.asp?aid=287236&issueID=34953

FISH & WILDLIFE

Salmon Funds Approved for Ongoing Skokomish Restoration (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/local-news/salmon-funds-approved-for-ongoing-skokomish-restoration_81285328

Biologists Identify Pot Gardens as Salmon Threat (Associated Press)

http://news.yahoo.com/biologists-identify-pot-gardens-salmon-162550511.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Detroit Bankruptcy Judge Says He Can’t Stop Water Shutoffs (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/USA/USA-Update/2014/0929/Detroit-bankruptcy-judge-says-he-can-t-stop-water-shutoffs

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Centralia College Gets $10 Million Federal Clean Energy Grant (KELA Radio, Centralia, WA)

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2014/09/centralia-college-gets-10-million.html

Bats Killed by Wind Turbines ‘Because They Mistake Them for Trees’ (International Business Times)

http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/bats-killed-by-wind-turbines-because-they-mistake-them-trees-1467736

How Solar Power is Changing Your Utility Bill - And Your Utility (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Energy-Voices/2014/0929/How-solar-power-is-changing-your-utility-bill-and-your-utility

Taxes, Fees: The Worldwide Battle between Utilities & Solar (Reuters)

http://news.yahoo.com/taxes-fees-worldwide-battle-between-utilities-solar-081017571.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Using LED Lights to Change Moods (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/emerging-technologies/r-d/using-led-lights-to-change-moods/73923

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

California Drought Tied to Climate Change? Scientists Unsure (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/news/article/California-drought-tied-to-climate-change-Maybe-5788420.php

Oregon Global Warming Commission Endorses Obama Power Plant Regulations (Portland Tribune, OR)

http://portlandtribune.com/sl/235252-100599-oregon-global-warming-commission-endorses-obama-power-plant-regulations

Latest EIA Report Shows Marked Increase in U-S Carbon Dioxide Emissions (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/globalwarmingisreal/979566/latest-eia-report-shows-marked-increase-us-co2-emissions

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

California Plastic Bag Ban Signed, Setting Off Sweeping Changes (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2014/09/30/6748372/california-plastic-bag-ban-signed.html

Irony Alert: Field Roast’s Fake Meat Has to be Tested on Real Animals (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/field-roast-s-fake-meat-has-to-be-tested-on-real-animals-1.2781491?cmp=rss

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

The Internet is Still ‘Shellshocked’ by Latest Bug — But It Won’t be the Last (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2014/09/29/the-internet-is-still-shellshocked-by-latest-bug-but-it-wont-be-the-last/

Cisco: The Internet Needs More Control (NY Times)

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/09/29/cisco-the-internet-needs-more-control/?partner=rss&emc=rss

FCC Lays Groundwork for 5G Wireless Networks (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/FCC-Lays-Groundwork-for-5G-Wireless-Networks-130653

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

EBay is Splitting PayPal Off as a Separate Company (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/ebay-is-splitting-paypal-off-as-a-separate-company-1640685480

FCC Appears Poised to Loosen Sports Blackout Rule, Despite Protests by the NFL (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/30/business/media/fcc-appears-poised-to-loosen-nfl-blackout-rule-despite-league-protests.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Londoners Accidentally Pay for Free Wi-Fi with a Firstborn, Because No One Reads Anymore (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20140929/BIZ/140928939

This Supermarket Poster Was Not Meant to Be Seen by the Public (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2014/09/30/this-supermarket-poster-was-not-meant-to-be-seen-by-the-public/

GENERAL NEWS

Green Diamond: From Shelton Roots to Klamath Falls Forests (South Sound Business Examiner)

http://www.businessexaminer.com/blog/September-2014/From-Shelton-roots-to-Klamath-Falls-forests/

Huge Tax Breaks for Boeing Weren’t Tied to Jobs; 2,000 Jobs to be Cut, Moved from Washington (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/11/2615687/Huge-tax-breaks-for-Boeing-werent-tied-to-jobs-2000-jobs-to-be-cut-moved-from-Washington

Two Kennewick Residents Lose $6,300 from Phone Scams (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2014/09/29/3176739_two-kennewick-residents-lose-6300.html

Kansas City Chiefs Fans Now NFL’s Noisiest, Take Title from Seahawk Fans (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/morning_call/2014/09/k-c-chiefs-fans-now-nfls-noisiest-take-title-from.html

DIVERSIONS

Firefighters Save Family of Hamsters With Tiny Oxygen Masks

http://mashable.com/2014/09/29/hamster-fire/

Oregon Fugitive’s Strong Cologne Leads Cops to His Hiding Spot

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Oregon-fugitives-strong-cologne-leads-cops-to-his-hiding-spot-277479021.html

Leonardo Da Vinci ‘Painted Three Ermine Portraits’

http://www.bbc.com/news/entertainment-arts-29407093

European Union Flag Stirs Confused Terrorist Alert in Belfast

http://news.yahoo.com/eu-flag-stirs-confused-terrorist-alert-belfast-170604244.html

SONG OF THE DAY

The Little Shop of Horrors - Feed Me, Seymour (Git It)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsmngHziLrs

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 September 29, 2014

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

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 September 29, 2014

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2014/09/word-cloud-energy-news-digest-for_29.html

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Powering Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Vit Plant Could Save $300M, Study Says (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2014/09/25/3171471_small-modular-nuclear-reactor.html

Devaluation of Wind Farms to Hit Government Coffers (Bakersfield Californian, CA)

http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/local/x167886573/Devaluation-of-wind-farms-to-hit-government-coffers

California: Agencies at Odds over Wind Farm, Eagles at Odds over Wind Farm, Eagles (San Diego Union-Tribune, VA)

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/sep/27/tp-agencies-at-odds-over-wind-farm-eagles-at-odds/

Electric Vehicles Sell Power Back to the Grid - Delaware Test Fleet Makes Money by Serving as an Electricity Reserve (Wall Street Journal)

http://online.wsj.com/articles/electric-vehicles-sell-power-back-to-the-grid-1411937796?KEYWORDS=energy

Sea Lions Thwart Salmon, Pacific Northwest Wildlife Managers (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/editors-pick/sea-lions-still-thwart-salmon-wildlife-managers/73885

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Powering Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Vit Plant Could Save $300M, Study Says
• Hearing on Pacific Power Electricity Rate Increase Held in Walla Walla
• Dworshak Generator Outage, Now Back in Action - Had Corps Juggling Spill, Flow Operations for Fish
• Ninth Circuit Orders BPA to Reconsider Recovery of Improper Payments to Direct Service Industries
• Dave Siburg Will Depart from Kitsap Public Utility District after 27 Years
• Mason PUD 3 Commission Report - September 23, 2014 Business Meeting
• Bonneville Power Administration Customers Get Insider View of FCRPS Dam Operations
• Power Outage Caused by Moclips Rat
• California: Folsom-Based Electric Grid Operator Names New Chairman
• Lights Out: Preparing for Extended Power Outages
• Sea Lions Thwart Salmon, Pacific Northwest Wildlife Managers
• Columbia Riverkeeper Tests Find Toxics in Fish Bound for Dinner Tables
• Do You Want Your Salmon Farmed or Wild?
• Kootenai River Projects Beckon Anglers
• Gophers May Put Puget Sound Builders in the Hole
• Wastewater Plan Improves Yakima River’s Flow
• Making Sure There Is Enough Water to Go Around
• Septic Systems Threaten Water Quality throughout Thurston County
• Devaluation of Wind Farms to Hit Government Coffers
• California: Agencies at Odds over Wind Farm, Eagles at Odds over Wind Farm, Eagles
• Alaska: Council to Consider Lease Agreement with AVEC for Wind Study
• California: Palen Solar Project Dropped by Developers
• Geothermal Industry Sees a New Frontier the Northwest
• Benton PUD Energy Saving Class for Seniors Set Oct. 15
• Climate Change Linked to Several 2013 Heat Waves
• President’s Drive for Carbon Pricing Fails to Win at Home
• Electric Vehicles Sell Power Back to the Grid - Delaware Test Fleet Makes Money by Serving as an Electricity Reserve
• Editorial: Dalles Broadband - A Link Forged in a Crucible
• Consumer Reports Test: iPhone 6 Bends at 70 Pounds
• Examining the Amazon Way
• Shelton Woman Airlifted from Scene of Mason County Collision
• Washington Corrections Center near Shelton Celebrates 50 Years
• Earthquake Swarm: What Caused Hundreds of California Mini-Quakes?
• Editorial: Forest Service Comes to Its Senses on Media

WORD OF THE DAY

Cartographer• \car-TAH-gruh-fer \ • Noun - One that makes maps

The 14th century artist backed away from his world map…pleased with the colors, shapes of the continents, & the symmetrical arrangement of the land masses. “It’s a good thing we won’t be using this for navigation,” mused the Genoan sailor to his first mate. “That big land mass painted by this ‘so-called’ cartographer between us & Indies would keep our hands off the spice trade for years.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Small Modular Nuclear Reactor Powering Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Vit Plant Could Save $300M, Study Says (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2014/09/25/3171471_small-modular-nuclear-reactor.html

Hearing on Pacific Power Electricity Rate Increase Held in Walla Walla (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA)

http://union-bulletin.com/news/2014/sep/26/hearing-electricity-rate-increase-held-walla-walla/

Dworshak Generator Outage, Now Back in Action - Had Corps Juggling Spill, Flow Operations for Fish (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/432203.aspx

Ninth Circuit Orders BPA to Reconsider Recovery of Improper Payments to Direct Service Industries (GTH Energy & Natural Resources Law Blog)

http://www.energynaturalresourceslaw.com/2014/09/ninth-circuit-orders-bpa-to-reconsider-recovery-of-improper-payments-to-dsis.html

Dave Siburg Will Depart from Kitsap Public Utility District after 27 Years (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2014/09/dave-siburg-will-depart-from-kitsap.html

Mason PUD 3 Commission Report - September 23, 2014 Business Meeting (Mason County PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

http://www.masonpud3.org/newsdisplay.aspx?NewsID=1430

Bonneville Power Administration Customers Get Insider View of FCRPS Dam Operations (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/BPA-customers-get-insider-view-of-FCRPS-dam-operations.aspx

Power Outage Caused by Moclips Rat (Aberdeen Daily World, WA)

http://thedailyworld.com/news/local/power-outage-caused-moclips-rat

California: Folsom-Based Electric Grid Operator Names New Chairman (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/2014/09/26/6739962/folsom-based-electric-grid-operator.html

Lights Out: Preparing for Extended Power Outages (Cincinnati Insurance Companies)

http://blog.cinfin.com/2014/03/20/extended-power-outages/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Sea Lions Thwart Salmon, Pacific Northwest Wildlife Managers (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/editors-pick/sea-lions-still-thwart-salmon-wildlife-managers/73885

Columbia Riverkeeper Tests Find Toxics in Fish Bound for Dinner Tables (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/09/columbia_riverkeeper_tests_fin.html

Do You Want Your Salmon Farmed or Wild? (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2014/09/do-you-want-your-salmon-farmed-or-wild.html

Kootenai River Projects Beckon Anglers (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/sep/28/kootenai-river-projects-beckon-anglers/

Gophers May Put Puget Sound Builders in the Hole (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://seattletimes.com/html/businesstechnology/2024637392_sundaybuzz28xml.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Wastewater Plan Improves Yakima River’s Flow (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/latestlocalnews/2490818-8/wastewater-plan-improves-yakima-rivers-flow

Making Sure There Is Enough Water to Go Around (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/local-news/making-sure-there-is-enough-water-to-go-around_06205846

Septic Systems Threaten Water Quality throughout Thurston County (Olympian - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.theolympian.com/2014/09/28/3339776_septic-systems-threaten-water.html

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Devaluation of Wind Farms to Hit Government Coffers (Bakersfield Californian, CA)

http://www.bakersfieldcalifornian.com/local/x167886573/Devaluation-of-wind-farms-to-hit-government-coffers

California: Agencies at Odds over Wind Farm, Eagles at Odds over Wind Farm, Eagles (San Diego Union-Tribune, VA)

http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2014/sep/27/tp-agencies-at-odds-over-wind-farm-eagles-at-odds/

Alaska: Council to Consider Lease Agreement with AVEC for Wind Study (The Delta Discovery, Bethel, AK)

http://www.deltadiscovery.com/story/2014/09/24/from-the-editor/council-to-consider-lease-agreement-with-avec-for-wind-study/2490.html

California: Palen Solar Project Dropped by Developers (Palm Springs Desert Sun, CA)

http://www.desertsun.com/story/tech/science/energy/2014/09/26/palen-solar-plant-developers/16294531/

Geothermal Industry Sees a New Frontier the Northwest (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/geothermal-industry-sees-new-frontier-northwest

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Benton PUD Energy Saving Class for Seniors Set Oct. 15 (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2014/09/27/3174977/benton-pud-energy-saving-class.html?sp=/99/177/&ihp=1

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Climate Change Linked to Several 2013 Heat Waves (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/weather/2014/09/29/climate-change-extreme-weather-heat-waves-drought/16421151/

President’s Drive for Carbon Pricing Fails to Win at Home (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/28/world/americas/presidents-drive-for-carbon-pricing-fails-to-win-at-home.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Electric Vehicles Sell Power Back to the Grid - Delaware Test Fleet Makes Money by Serving as an Electricity Reserve (Wall Street Journal)

http://online.wsj.com/articles/electric-vehicles-sell-power-back-to-the-grid-1411937796?KEYWORDS=energy

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Editorial: Dalles Broadband - A Link Forged in a Crucible (The Dalles Chronicle, OR)

http://m.thedalleschronicle.com/news/2014/sep/27/editorial-link-forged-crucible/?templates=mobile

Consumer Reports Test: iPhone 6 Bends at 70 Pounds (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/cars/2014/09/27/consumer-reports-iphone6/16346979/

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Examining the Amazon Way (NY Times)

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2014/09/26/examining-the-amazon-way/?partner=rss&emc=rss

GENERAL NEWS

Shelton Woman Airlifted from Scene of Mason County Collision (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://kbkw.com/local-news/249903

Washington Corrections Center near Shelton Celebrates 50 Years (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://kmasnewsradio.com/news/local-state-news/19042-wcc-celebrates-50-years

Earthquake Swarm: What Caused Hundreds of California Mini-Quakes? (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Environment/Latest-News-Wires/2014/0928/Earthquake-swarm-What-caused-hundreds-of-mini-quakes

Editorial: Forest Service Comes to Its Senses on Media (Baker City Herald, OR)

http://www.bakercityherald.com/Editorials/Forest-Service-comes-to-its-senses-on-media

DIVERSIONS

Hey, Caffeine Addicts: It’s National Coffee Day

http://mashable.com/2014/09/29/national-coffee-day-2014/

Scientists Sneak Bob Dylan Lyrics into Articles as Part of Long-Running Bet

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2014/sep/29/swedish-cientists-bet-bob-dylan-lyrics-research-papers

Man Who Raised $55K for Potato Salad Throws Party

http://news.yahoo.com/man-raised-55k-potato-salad-throws-party-182935389.html

Cops: Man Fired into Neighbor’s Home to Unload Gun

http://news.yahoo.com/cops-man-fired-neighbors-home-unload-gun-233642863.html

SONG OF THE DAY

The Manhattan Transfer - Java Jive

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0XxsasUHzaQ

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 September 26, 2014

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

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THE NEWS DIGEST WORD CLOUD

Energy News Digest Word Cloud for September 26, 2014

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2014/09/word-cloud-energy-news-digest-for_26.html

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Frontier Communications Outage Frustrating Redmond Businesses (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/2014/09/25/frontier-communication-phone-outage-fiber-copper-lines/16236603/

A Carbon Tax Would Push Washington State’s Gasoline Prices Higher (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2014/09/25/environment/122047/carbon-taxes-jay-inslee-washington-state/

Repairs Continuing at Wanapum Dam - Goal to fill pool part of the way by end of the year (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/article_5dd32d52-4506-11e4-b58b-cfa53ca95b85.html

Richland Considers LED Lights for Developments (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2014/09/25/3171475/richland-considers-led-lights.html?sp=/99/177/&ihp=1

Solar Advocates Fight Utilities over Grid Access (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2014/09/25/351437119/solar-advocates-fight-utilities-over-grid-access

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Repairs Continuing at Wanapum Dam - Goal to fill pool part of the way by end of the year
• Editorial: The Next Big Challenge at BPA
• Germany’s Energy Mix: Getting Out of Gas; Germany’s Reliance on Russian Gas Is Falling
• Autonomous Robots Could Repair Electrical Networks in a Power Outage
• Interior Secretary Visits Oregon Sage Grouse Project
• Washington State’s Salmon Recovery Funding Board Tours Methow
• Previously in the News Digest: ‘Salmon Cannon’ Gets Test Drive
• Solar Advocates Fight Utilities over Grid Access
• The Straight Poop: What Happens When a City Dweller Visits Dairy Digesters on the Oregon Coast?
• United Kingdom: Tidal Power Firm Signs Deal to Sell Electricity to EDF Energy
• Richland Considers LED Lights for Developments
• Study: Small Towns Can Save Big with Efficiency, Renewables
• A Carbon Tax Would Push Washington State’s Gasoline Prices Higher
• Will Portland’s Population Explode with Climate Change Refugees?
• Can Amazon’s Secret Lab Design a Smarter Home?
• Frontier Communications Outage Frustrating Redmond Businesses
• 43% of Companies Had a Data Breach in the Past Year
• South Korea’s Gigabit Broadband Woes Should Serve as Object Lesson for FCC Regulators
• Narendra Modi, the Social Media Politician
• Airport Parking Company Apologizes for Using a Man’s Death as a Marketing Hook
• Top 10 Stop-Motion Artists Doing Brilliant Work for Brands on Vine
• Consumerist Friday Flickr Finds
• Eric Holder Resigns, Setting Up Fight over Successor
• Charge: Port of Seattle Manager Siphoned Public Money Despite $84K Salary
• Magnitude 6.2 Earthquake Rattles Alaska
• U-S Attorney General Questions Whether Marijuana Should be in Same Legal Category as Heroin
• El Nino & Warm Water ‘Blob’ Affecting Northwest Weather
• Long-Lived Atmospheric River Hits the Northwest
• Forest Service Chief Says No, You Won’t be Charged to Take Photos
• 70 Years Ago: First Full-Scale Nuclear Reactor at Hanford Starts Up
• Vancouver, WA Pot Farmer Plans Mobile Marijuana-Processing Business
• Mason County Committee Selects Agency to Promote Local Tourism

WORD OF THE DAY

Götterdämmerung • \gher-ter-DEM-uh-roong\ Noun • A collapse (as of a society or regime) marked by catastrophic violence & disorder; broadly: downfall.

In what became known as “The Little Götterdämmerung,” Bartholomew’s habanero-frosted cupcakes were a hit at Melody’s retirement party for exactly two seconds. The stampeding rush for the water fountains resulted in carnage that would affect the small company’s workers’ compensation insurance for years to come.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Repairs Continuing at Wanapum Dam - Goal to fill pool part of the way by end of the year (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/article_5dd32d52-4506-11e4-b58b-cfa53ca95b85.html

Editorial: The Next Big Challenge at BPA (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/opinion/index.ssf/2014/09/the_next_big_challenge_at_bpa.html

Germany’s Energy Mix: Getting Out of Gas; Germany’s Reliance on Russian Gas Is Falling (The Economist Magazine)

http://www.economist.com/news/business-and-finance/21620080-germanys-reliance-russian-gas-fallingbut-not-sustainably-going-out-gas

Autonomous Robots Could Repair Electrical Networks in a Power Outage (Mashable)

http://mashable.com/2014/09/26/autonomous-robots-rebuild-electrical-networks/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Interior Secretary Visits Oregon Sage Grouse Project (Associated Press)

http://www.statesmanjournal.com/story/travel/outdoors/2014/09/26/interior-secretary-visits-oregon-sage-grouse-project/16255555/

Washington State’s Salmon Recovery Funding Board Tours Methow (Methow Valley News, Twisp, WA)

http://methowvalleynews.com/2014/09/25/states-salmon-recovery-funding-board-tours-methow/

Previously in the News Digest: ‘Salmon Cannon’ Gets Test Drive (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/sep/26/salmon-cannon-gets-test-drive/

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Solar Advocates Fight Utilities over Grid Access (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2014/09/25/351437119/solar-advocates-fight-utilities-over-grid-access

The Straight Poop: What Happens When a City Dweller Visits Dairy Digesters on the Oregon Coast? (Sustainable Business Oregon)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2014/09/the-straight-poop-what-happens-when-a-city-dweller.html

United Kingdom: Tidal Power Firm Signs Deal to Sell Electricity to EDF Energy (The Guardian, UK)

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2014/sep/25/tidal-power-electricity-edf-energy-marine-pembrokeshire

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Richland Considers LED Lights for Developments (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2014/09/25/3171475/richland-considers-led-lights.html?sp=/99/177/&ihp=1

Study: Small Towns Can Save Big with Efficiency, Renewables (Midwest Energy News)

http://www.midwestenergynews.com/2014/09/26/study-small-towns-can-save-big-with-efficiency-renewables/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

A Carbon Tax Would Push Washington State’s Gasoline Prices Higher (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2014/09/25/environment/122047/carbon-taxes-jay-inslee-washington-state/

Will Portland’s Population Explode with Climate Change Refugees? (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/environment/index.ssf/2014/09/will_portlands_population_expl.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Can Amazon’s Secret Lab Design a Smarter Home? (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Innovation/Tech/2014/0924/Can-Amazon-s-secret-lab-design-a-smarter-home

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Frontier Communications Outage Frustrating Redmond Businesses (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/2014/09/25/frontier-communication-phone-outage-fiber-copper-lines/16236603/

43% of Companies Had a Data Breach in the Past Year (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/2014/09/24/data-breach-companies-60/16106197/

South Korea’s Gigabit Broadband Woes Should Serve as Object Lesson for FCC Regulators (Network World)

http://www.networkworld.com/article/2687532/lan-wan/south-korea-s-gigabit-broadband-woes-should-serve-as-object-lesson-for-fcc-regulators.html

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Narendra Modi, the Social Media Politician (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/26/upshot/narendra-modi-the-social-media-politician.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&abt=0002&abg=0

Airport Parking Company Apologizes for Using a Man’s Death as a Marketing Hook - ‘Don’t be late & end up in a crate’ (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/adfreak/airport-parking-company-apologizes-using-mans-death-marketing-hook-160368

Top 10 Stop-Motion Artists Doing Brilliant Work for Brands on Vine (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/top-10-stop-motion-artists-doing-brilliant-work-brands-vine-160331

Consumerist Friday Flickr Finds (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2014/09/26/consumerist-friday-flickr-finds-258/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Eric Holder Resigns, Setting Up Fight over Successor (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/09/26/us/politics/eric-holder-resigning-as-attorney-general.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Charge: Port of Seattle Manager Siphoned Public Money Despite $84K Salary (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Charge-Port-of-Seattle-manager-siphoned-public-5781524.php

GENERAL NEWS

Magnitude 6.2 Earthquake Rattles Alaska (Associated Press)

http://www.king5.com/story/news/2014/09/25/alaska-earthquake/16227887/

U-S Attorney General Questions Whether Marijuana Should be in Same Legal Category as Heroin (Vox)

http://www.vox.com/2014/9/25/6842187/us-drug-schedule-marijuana-justice-department-eric-holder

El Nino & Warm Water ‘Blob’ Affecting Northwest Weather (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/2014/09/25/the-blob-affects-our-weather/16240841/

Long-Lived Atmospheric River Hits the Northwest (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2014/09/long-lived-atmospheric-river-hits.html

Forest Service Chief Says No, You Won’t be Charged to Take Photos (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwnewsnetwork.org/post/forest-service-chief-says-no-you-wont-be-charged-take-photos

70 Years Ago: First Full-Scale Nuclear Reactor at Hanford Starts Up (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwnewsnetwork.org/post/70-years-ago-first-full-scale-nuclear-reactor-hanford-starts

Vancouver, WA Pot Farmer Plans Mobile Marijuana-Processing Business (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2014/sep/25/pot-farmer-mobile-marijuana-processing-vancouver/

Mason County Committee Selects Agency to Promote Local Tourism (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/local-news/north-mason/committee-selects-agengy-to-promote-local-tourism

DIVERSIONS

Winnie the Pooh Was Based on a Real Bear That Participated in WWI

http://factually.gizmodo.com/winnie-the-pooh-was-a-real-bear-that-participated-in-wo-1638801783

The Toilet Seat Stadium & Other Unfortunate Designs

http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-magazine-monitor-29325539

Couple’s Wedding Day Saved by Strangers from Craigslist

https://gma.yahoo.com/couple-wedding-day-saved-strangers-craigslist-192000542.html

Connecticut Man Arrested after Driving Stolen Car to Meeting with Cops

http://news.yahoo.com/connecticut-man-arrested-driving-stolen-car-meeting-cops-212456288.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Kenny Loggins with Jim Messina - House at Pooh Corner

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g9x1Ctc7ZjY

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.