Energy News Digest for March 31, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for March 31, 2015 – Note: Chance of mid-day thunderstorms. Winds breezy, 20-23 MPH.

http://tinyurl.com/q5owjgs

Small Craft Advisory for Puget Sound & Hood Canal

http://tinyurl.com/na3qwm2

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

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Move Afoot to Oust Puget Sound Energy: Bainbridge Grassroots Group Wants to Start Public Utility (Bainbridge Island Review, WA)

http://www.bainbridgereview.com/news/297813741.html

First Nation Occupies Fisheries Office in British Columbia as Herring Fight Escalates (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/first-nation-occupies-fisheries-office-in-bc-as-herring-fight-escalates/article23690720/?cmpid=rss1

Washington State Governor: No State-Funded Travel to Indiana (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/Inslee-to-keep-funds-out-of-Indiana-to-protest-controversial-law-298078721.html

An Opportunity to Strengthen I-937 (Washington Business Alliance)

http://www.wacatalyst.org/strengthen-i937/

Castle Rock Seeking Free Wi-Fi for Cluster of Businesses (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/castle-rock-seeking-free-wi-fi-for-cluster-of-businesses/article_6a02ce98-d750-11e4-bc0a-e37c8931ad42.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1. Move Afoot to Oust Puget Sound Energy: Bainbridge Grassroots Group Wants to Start Public Utility
2. 30,000 Affected: Idaho Power Says Some Customers Coming Back Online after Widespread Power Outage
3. Op/Ed: Snake River Dams Are Assets That Must Remain
4. Bonneville Power Administration to Build $65 Million Idaho Transmission Line
5. Mary Jensen Named General Counsel at Bonneville Power Administration
6. Grays Harbor PUD Moving to New Accounting & Customer Billing System
7. Hello Pullman: Improbable Schweitzer Engineering ESOP Story – Growth Company That Stayed Put
8. Regulators Plan to Drop Case at Closed San Onofre Nuclear Plant
9. First Nation Occupies Fisheries Office in British Columbia as Herring Fight Escalates
10. Photos: Fourth Pacific Northwest Baby Orca Spotted
11. Stink Rising about Victoria Sewage from Both Sides of U-S/Canadian Border
12. Specialists Monitor Conditions to Predict Pacific Northwest’s Water Supply
13. An Opportunity to Strengthen I-937
14. Austin Energy Warns Residents about High-Pressure Contractor Tactics for Solar, Efficiency
15. California: Turlock Irrigation District to Host Solar Workshop
16. Pennsylvania: Judge Sides with Electric Utility in Solar Metering Case
17. Wave Energy Still Looking for a Game-Changing ‘First’
18. United Nations: New Renewables Broke through 100GW Barrier in 2014
19. Philips Sells 80 Percent of Lighting Components Unit for $2.8 Billion
20. Washington Legislature Considers Compacts with Tribes over Marijuana
21. Chart of the Week: 25-Month Average Wait Time from Legalization to Sales
22. Obama Unveils Blueprint to Cut Greenhouse Gases
23. Texas Town First of Many to Switch to 100% Renewable Power
24. Scientists Can Predict Your City’s Obesity Rate by Analyzing Its Sewage
25. Castle Rock Seeking Free Wi-Fi for Cluster of Businesses
26. City of Port Angeles Extends Comments on Cable Franchise
27. $10 Billion: Charter & Bright House Form the Latest Big Cable Union
28. It…Is…Balloon! Bringing Internet to the Far Corners of the Earth
29. Four Legal Issues Brands Need to Understand Before Livestreaming on Periscope or Meerkat
30. Thirteen Mind-Bending Thoughts about Photography
31. To Buy an Apple Watch, Make an Appointment
32. Washington State Governor: No State-Funded Travel to Indiana
33. Portland’s Mayor the Latest to Join Boycott-Indiana Movement, Calls Law ‘Blatant Discrimination’
34. Access Denied: Reporters Say Federal Officials, Data Increasingly Off Limits
35. City of Shelton Can Form Transportation Benefit District

WORD OF THE DAY

Prothalamion • \proh-thuh-LAY-mee-un\ • Noun – A song in celebration of a marriage.

Arturo considered himself the pre-eminent prothalamion performer in the greater Matlock area of Mason County. With his $59 Casio Keyboard and syndrum machine, he would sing just about any song requested by the wedding couple. However, he drew the line at Michael Stookey’s “Wedding Song.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Move Afoot to Oust Puget Sound Energy: Bainbridge Grassroots Group Wants to Start Public Utility (Bainbridge Island Review, WA)

http://www.bainbridgereview.com/news/297813741.html

30,000 Affected: Idaho Power Says Some Customers Coming Back Online after Widespread Power Outage (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/03/31/3727644_power-outage-affecting-thousands.html?rh=1

Op/Ed: Snake River Dams Are Assets That Must Remain (Walla Walla Union Bulletin, WA)

http://union-bulletin.com/news/2015/mar/28/snake-river-dams-are-asset-that-must-remain/

Bonneville Power Administration to Build $65 Million Idaho Transmission Line (Argus Media)

http://www.argusmedia.com/News/Article?id=1016065

Mary Jensen Named General Counsel at Bonneville Power Administration (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://energynewsfeed.blogspot.com/2015/03/mary-jensen-veteran-attorney-named.html

Grays Harbor PUD Moving to New Accounting & Customer Billing System (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://www.kxro.com/pud-asks-for-your-patience/

Hello Pullman: Improbable Schweitzer Engineering ESOP Story – Growth Company That Stayed Put (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/maryjosephs/2015/03/30/improbable-schweitzer-engineering-esop-story-growth-company-that-stayed-put/

Regulators Plan to Drop Case at Closed San Onofre Nuclear Plant (KPBS-TV, San Diego, CA)

http://www.kpbs.org/news/2015/mar/30/regulators-plan-drop-case-closed-san-onofre-nuclea/

FISH & WILDLIFE

First Nation Occupies Fisheries Office in British Columbia as Herring Fight Escalates (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/first-nation-occupies-fisheries-office-in-bc-as-herring-fight-escalates/article23690720/?cmpid=rss1

Photos: Fourth Pacific Northwest Baby Orca Spotted (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Photos-Fourth-baby-orca-spotted-6170144.php

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Stink Rising about Victoria Sewage from Both Sides of U-S/Canadian Border (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150331/NEWS/303319986/stink-rising-about-victoria-sewage-from-both-sides-of-border

Specialists Monitor Conditions to Predict Pacific Northwest’s Water Supply (Puget Sound Public Radio)

http://wfae.org/post/specialists-monitor-conditions-predict-northwests-water-supply

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

An Opportunity to Strengthen I-937 (Washington Business Alliance)

http://www.wacatalyst.org/strengthen-i937/

Austin Energy Warns Residents about High-Pressure Contractor Tactics for Solar, Efficiency (American Public Power Association)

http://www.publicpower.org/Media/daily/ArticleDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=43499

California: Turlock Irrigation District to Host Solar Workshop (Turlock City News, CA)

http://turlockcitynews.com/news/item/4866-tid-to-host-solar-workshop

Pennsylvania: Judge Sides with Electric Utility in Solar Metering Case (Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, PA)

http://powersource.post-gazette.com/powersource/policy-powersource/2015/03/31/Federal-judge-sides-with-Pennsylvania-electric-utility-in-solar-metering-case/stories/201504070006

Wave Energy Still Looking for a Game-Changing ‘First’ (Breaking Energy)

http://breakingenergy.com/2015/03/30/wave-energy-still-looking-for-a-game-changing-first/

United Nations: New Renewables Broke through 100GW Barrier in 2014 (British Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-32119463

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Philips Sells 80 Percent of Lighting Components Unit for $2.8 Billion (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/31/us-philips-divestiture-go-scale-idUSKBN0MR0FI20150331

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Washington Legislature Considers Compacts with Tribes over Marijuana (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/radio/programs/thinkoutloud/segment/washington-legislature-considers-compacts-with-tribes-over-marijuana/

Oregon Chooses Kansas Company to Build Marijuana-Selling Apps (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/2015/03/oregon-chooses-kansas-company-to-build-pot.html

Chart of the Week: 25-Month Average Wait Time from Legalization to Sales (Marijuana Business Daily)

http://mmjbusinessdaily.com/chart-week-25-months-wait-time-legalization-sales/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Obama Unveils Blueprint to Cut Greenhouse Gases (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2015/03/31/obama-climate-change-blueprint-united-nations/70713680/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Texas Town First of Many to Switch to 100% Renewable Power (The Motley Fool)

http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2015/03/30/texas-town-first-of-many-to-switch-to-100-renewabl.aspx

Scientists Can Predict Your City’s Obesity Rate by Analyzing Its Sewage (Mother Jones)

http://www.motherjones.com/blue-marble/2015/03/wisconsin-scientists-obesity-sewage-sludge

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Castle Rock Seeking Free Wi-Fi for Cluster of Businesses (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/castle-rock-seeking-free-wi-fi-for-cluster-of-businesses/article_6a02ce98-d750-11e4-bc0a-e37c8931ad42.html

City of Port Angeles Extends Comments on Cable Franchise (KONP Radio, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.konp.com/local/10569

$10 Billion: Charter & Bright House Form the Latest Big Cable Union (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/2015/0331/Charter-and-Bright-House-form-the-latest-big-cable-union

It…Is…Balloon! Bringing Internet to the Far Corners of the Earth (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2015/03/30/396391960/bringing-internet-to-the-far-corners-of-the-earth

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Four Legal Issues Brands Need to Understand Before Livestreaming on Periscope or Meerkat (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/5-things-brands-need-know-about-shooting-live-perispcope-or-meerkat-163767

Thirteen Mind-Bending Thoughts about Photography (Mashable – Prepare yourself for number 13)

http://mashable.com/2015/03/30/photography-thoughts/

To Buy an Apple Watch, Make an Appointment (Christian Science Monitor)

http://www.csmonitor.com/Business/Saving-Money/2015/0330/To-buy-an-Apple-Watch-make-an-appointment-video

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington State Governor: No State-Funded Travel to Indiana (KEPR-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/Inslee-to-keep-funds-out-of-Indiana-to-protest-controversial-law-298078721.html

Portland’s Mayor the Latest to Join Boycott-Indiana Movement, Calls Law ‘Blatant Discrimination’ (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/portland/index.ssf/2015/03/portland_latest_to_join_boycot.html

Access Denied: Reporters Say Federal Officials, Data Increasingly Off Limits (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/style/access-denied-reporters-say-federal-officials-data-increasingly-off-limits/2015/03/30/935b4962-c04b-11e4-ad5c-3b8ce89f1b89_story.html

GENERAL NEWS

City of Shelton Can Form Transportation Benefit District (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://kmasnewsradio.com/news/local-state-news/22144-city-of-shelton-can-form-tbd

DIVERSIONS

Here’s How to Play Pac-Man on Google Maps

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/gaming/2015/03/31/pac-man-google/70715966/

Oregon Farmers Agree Slugs Are a Problem – But What to Do?

http://news.yahoo.com/oregon-farmers-agree-slugs-problem-205545925.html

When Did the Eiffel Tower Open, & Why Was It ‘A Truly Tragic Street Lamp’?

http://www.csmonitor.com/Technology/Horizons/2015/0331/When-did-the-Eiffel-Tower-open-and-why-was-it-a-truly-tragic-street-lamp

Idaho Man Calls 911 Twelve Times over Bar Bill, Now Faces $1,000 Fine & Jail Time

http://www.usnews.com/news/offbeat/articles/2015/03/31/police-idaho-man-calls-911-a-dozen-times-about-bar-bill

SONG OF THE DAY

The Guess Who – No Time

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oqeSUAlI5uI

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 March 30, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for March 30, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/nmejefb

Small Craft Advisory for Puget Sound & Hood Canal

http://tinyurl.com/pauj8bf

Will This Summer Be Warmer Than Normal? – I believe the probability of a warm summer in the Pacific Northwest is quite high (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2015/03/will-this-summer-be-warmer-than-normal.html

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

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Probe of Back-Channel Dealing Continues at California Public Utilities Commission (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article16859606.html

Governor's Signature Could Trigger Data Center Boom in Rural Oregon (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2015/03/gov_kate_brown_signs_tech_tax.html

Washington State Attorney General Tells High Court: Nebraska, Oklahoma Shouldn’t Pick on Colorado Pot Law (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2015/03/27/nebraska-oklahoma-shouldnt-pick-on-colorado-pot-law-ferguson/

Seattle Mayor Bans City Funding for Indiana Travel (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2015/03/28/murray-bans-city-funding-for-indiana-travel/

Editorial: Thumbs Up To Benton PUD’s Community Solar Project (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/03/30/3479216_thumbs-up-to-benton-puds-community.html?rh=1

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1. Probe of Back-Channel Dealing Continues at California Public Utilities Commission
2. Nation’s Biggest Nuclear Firm Makes a Play for Green Energy Money
3. Op/Ed: A Transition from Coal to Clean Energy
4. Clallam PUD Meeting Schedule, Budget Expectations in Building New Headquarters in Carlsborg
5. Transactive Energy: Enabling a More Intelligent, Interactive Grid
6. Op/Ed: Power Grid Is Protected – Your Say
7. How APS, APPA, And NRECA Would Design a 'Blank' Electricity Market
8. Audubon Announces Intent to Sue Corps over Plan to Cull Cormorants from Columbia River Estuary
9. Salmon BiOp Case: Feds File Cross-Motion Following Challengers’ Request for Summary Judgment
10. Judge Rules McKenzie River Salmon Hatchery Releases Sufficient to Protect Wild Fish
11. Drought, Early Spring Warmth Force Oregon Agriculture to Prepare for Tough Year – Or Years
12. Difficult Choices – Meager Snowpack Complicates Oregon’s Water Balancing Act
13. Sultan River Basin: Snow Depth Measured at Zero, But Rainfall Makes Up for It
14. Historically Small Sierra Snowpack, Seen Up Close, another Bad Sign in California Drought
15. Editorial: Thumbs Up To Benton PUD’s Community Solar Project
16. California's Shift toward Renewables Makes Energy Harder to Manage
17. Why Going “Off the Grid” May Not Actually be Such a Good Idea
18. Making Solar Work for You
19. New Jersey: Wind Power or Hot Air? Foes Question Christie’s Shift on Clean Energy
20. Report: Half of All Pacific Northwest Hospitals Cut Energy Consumption
21. Water Heater Bill Clears U-S Senate, on to House
22. An Energy App Startup's Unusual Bid to Make Money from California's Wholesale Electricity Market
23. Washington State Attorney General Tells High Court: Nebraska, Oklahoma Shouldn’t Pick on Colorado Pot Law
24. Moses Lake Zoning Proposal for Marijuana Production & Processing Fails
25. Washington State Marijuana Grower Suggests New Businesses Start Small
26. Portland Workshop Set to Guide Would-Be Pot-Preneurs
27. After Legalization, Marijuana Events Fighting for a Foothold in Portland
28. What It’s Like to Be Allergic to Wi-Fi
29. Governor's Signature Could Trigger Data Center Boom in Rural Oregon
30. Goldendale Lawmaker Seeks Permanent Tax Exemption for Internet Access
31. New Home, No Broadband? Prepare to Negotiate
32. Apple TV 'Skinny' Package Likely to Accelerate Cord Cutting
33. The Campaign to Make National Parks Relevant to Millennials
34. Sacramento Municipal Utility District’s Trout Derby Hooks Anglers of All Sizes
35. Are You a Millennial Boss? Here's How to Work With Boomers and Xers
36. Seattle Mayor Bans City Funding for Indiana Travel
37. In Delaying Vote on Loretta Lynch as Attorney General, GOP Is in a Quandary
38. Port Angeles Man Sentenced for Collecting Dead Grandmother's Benefits
39. State Takes Step toward Fining CenturyLink for 911 Outage
40. Steep Costs of Inmate Phone Calls Are Under Scrutiny
41. Germanwings Co-Pilot Had Been Treated for ‘Suicidal Tendencies,’ Authorities Say

WORD OF THE DAY

Panjandrum • \pan-JANN-drum\ • Noun - A powerful personage or pretentious official.

Like potentates of old, the city council ordered its members to wear an official uniform: powdered wig, “Elizabethan Collar” (no, not the pet-type collar), and black, silk robes. The group of pretentious panjandrums would then hold court on weighty topics: such as animal control ordinances, official holiday pronouncements, and the designation of mead as the official city beverage. Bartholomew’s sartorial secret was safe. That is until the day he suffered a seizure during the debate over the official city tree. It was found by the attending emergency medical technicians that the emperor truly wore no clothes (other than his uniform.)

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Probe of Back-Channel Dealing Continues at California Public Utilities Commission (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article16859606.html

Nation’s Biggest Nuclear Firm Makes a Play for Green Energy Money “…looking for policy support that every other technology receives…that produces zero-carbon electricity with the exception of nuclear…” (Associated Press)

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/nation-world/national/article16578626.html

Op/Ed: A Transition from Coal to Clean Energy (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/03/column-a-transition-from-coal-to-clean-energy.html

Clallam PUD Meeting Schedule, Budget Expectations in Building New Headquarters in Carlsborg (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150330/NEWS/303309984/clallam-public-utility-district-meeting-schedule-budget-expectations

Transactive Energy: Enabling a More Intelligent, Interactive Grid (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/Transactive-energy-enabling-a-more-intelligent-interactive-grid.aspx

Op/Ed: Power Grid Is Protected – Your Say (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2015/03/29/power-grid-security-threats-your-say/70635388/

How APS, APPA, And NRECA Would Design a 'Blank' Electricity Market – SEPA asks stakeholders to design the "51st State." Here are the utility proposals (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/how-aps-appa-and-nreca-would-design-a-blank-electricity-market/380795/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Audubon Announces Intent to Sue Corps over Plan to Cull Cormorants from Columbia River Estuary (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/433509.aspx

Salmon BiOp Case: Feds File Cross-Motion Following Challengers’ Request for Summary Judgment (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/433506.aspx

Judge Rules McKenzie River Salmon Hatchery Releases Sufficient to Protect Wild Fish (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/433511.aspx

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Drought, Early Spring Warmth Force Oregon Agriculture to Prepare for Tough Year – Or Years (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2015/03/drought_early_spring_warmth_fo.html

Difficult Choices – Meager Snowpack Complicates Oregon’s Water Balancing Act (Eugene Register-Guard, OR)

http://registerguard.com/rg/news/local/32887103-75/kayakers-in-march-low-snowpack-brings-odd-sights-big-concerns.html.csp

Sultan River Basin: Snow Depth Measured at Zero, But Rainfall Makes Up for It (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20150328/NEWS01/150328959

Historically Small Sierra Snowpack, Seen Up Close, another Bad Sign in California Drought (Fresno Bee, CA)

http://www.fresnobee.com/2015/03/28/4450307_ghost-on-californias-rooftop-close.html?rh=1

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Editorial: Thumbs Up To Benton PUD’s Community Solar Project (Tri-City Herald, WA)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/03/30/3479216_thumbs-up-to-benton-puds-community.html?rh=1

California's Shift toward Renewables Makes Energy Harder to Manage (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.siliconvalley.com/ci_27796539/californias-shift-toward-renewables-makes-energy-harder-manage

Why Going “Off the Grid” May Not Actually be Such a Good Idea (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2015/03/30/why-ditching-the-electric-grid-may-not-actually-be-such-a-good-idea/?wprss=rss_national

Making Solar Work for You (American Public Power Association)

http://blog.publicpower.org/sme/?p=433

New Jersey: Wind Power or Hot Air? Foes Question Christie’s Shift on Clean Energy (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/wind-power-or-hot-air-foes-question-christies-shift-on-clean-energy/2015/03/29/f8faf97e-d3e3-11e4-a62f-ee745911a4ff_story.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Report: Half of All Pacific Northwest Hospitals Cut Energy Consumption (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/03/report-half-of-all-nw-hospitals-cut-energy.html

Water Heater Bill Clears U-S Senate, on to House (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/public-policy-watch/legislation/water-heater-bill-clears-senate-on-to-house/79565

An Energy App Startup's Unusual Bid to Make Money from California's Wholesale Electricity Market (Forbes Magazine)

http://www.forbes.com/sites/uciliawang/2015/03/27/an-energy-app-startups-unusual-bid-to-make-money-from-californias-wholesale-electricity-market/

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Washington State Attorney General Tells High Court: Nebraska, Oklahoma Shouldn’t Pick on Colorado Pot Law (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2015/03/27/nebraska-oklahoma-shouldnt-pick-on-colorado-pot-law-ferguson/

Moses Lake Zoning Proposal for Marijuana Production & Processing Fails (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/politics/zoning-proposal-for-marijuana-production-and-processing-fails/article_d111353a-d4d9-11e4-8771-570700490449.html

Washington State Marijuana Grower Suggests New Businesses Start Small (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/article/washington-marijuana-grower-suggests-new-businesses-start-small/

Portland Workshop Set to Guide Would-Be Pot-Preneurs (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/morning_call/2015/03/portland-workshop-set-to-guide-would-be-pot.html

After Legalization, Marijuana Events Fighting for a Foothold in Portland (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/entertainment/index.ssf/2015/03/after_legalization_marijuana_e.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

What It’s Like to Be Allergic to Wi-Fi (New York Magazine)

http://nymag.com/scienceofus/2015/03/what-its-like-to-be-allergic-to-wi-fi.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Governor's Signature Could Trigger Data Center Boom in Rural Oregon (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2015/03/gov_kate_brown_signs_tech_tax.html

Goldendale Lawmaker Seeks Permanent Tax Exemption for Internet Access (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/latestlocalnews/3034991-8/goldendale-lawmaker-seeks-permanent-tax-exemption-for-internet

New Home, No Broadband? Prepare to Negotiate (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/2015/03/29/home-outside-broadband-coverage/70626156/

Apple TV 'Skinny' Package Likely to Accelerate Cord Cutting (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_27799019/apple-tv-skinny-package-likely-accelerate-cord-cutting

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

The Campaign to Make National Parks Relevant to Millennials (Mashable)

http://mashable.com/2015/03/30/find-your-national-park/

Sacramento Municipal Utility District’s Trout Derby Hooks Anglers of All Sizes (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/sports/outdoors/hunting-fishing/article16866623.html

Are You a Millennial Boss? Here's How to Work With Boomers and Xers (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/are-you-millennial-boss-heres-how-work-boomers-and-xers-163743

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Seattle Mayor Bans City Funding for Indiana Travel (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2015/03/28/murray-bans-city-funding-for-indiana-travel/

In Delaying Vote on Loretta Lynch as Attorney General, GOP Is in a Quandary (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/30/us/politics/in-holding-up-loretta-lynch-attorney-general-nominee-gop-is-in-a-quandary.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

GENERAL NEWS

Port Angeles Man Sentenced for Collecting Dead Grandmother's Benefits (Associated Press)

http://www.kxly.com/news/northwest/man-sentenced-for-collecting-dead-grandmothers-benefits/32066282

State Takes Step toward Fining CenturyLink for 911 Outage (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/03/29/3708674_state-takes-step-toward-fining.html?rh=1

Steep Costs of Inmate Phone Calls Are Under Scrutiny (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/31/us/steep-costs-of-inmate-phone-calls-are-under-scrutiny.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

Germanwings Co-Pilot Had Been Treated for ‘Suicidal Tendencies,’ Authorities Say (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/31/world/europe/germanwings-copilot-andreas-lubitz.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

DIVERSIONS

'God She's Beautiful': College Basketball Star Left Red-Faced as He Forgets Microphone is Still Running & Remarks on Pretty Reporter

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3012866/College-basketball-star-left-red-faced-forgets-microphone-running-calls-reporter-beautiful.html

3D Printing with Cheese is Here ... And it Stinks

http://mashable.com/2015/03/30/3d-cheese-whiz-printing/

Oregon Home Demolished after Diesel Mistakenly Dumped into Its Basement

http://registerguard.com/rg/news/local/32924140-75/home-demolished-after-diesel-mistakenly-dumped-into-its-basement.html.csp

Trevor Noah Set to Replace Jon Stewart on 'Daily Show'

http://news.yahoo.com/trevor-noah-set-replace-stewart-daily-show-132131368.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Bob Seger - Beautiful Loser

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EM-8QNkqx4M

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 March 27, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for March 27, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/pw77qd8

Small Craft Advisory for Puget Sound & Hood Canal

http://tinyurl.com/psgpkzz

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

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

TransAlta Tax Break Bill Heard in Committee (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/mar/26/transalta-tax-break-bill-heard-in-committee/

Oregon Clean Energy Advocates Want Salem to Put Sunset on Coal (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/03/clean-energy-advocates-want-salem-to-put-sunset-on.html

North-Central Oregon Wind Farm Dies – Application withdraw for project in Wasco & Sherman counties (Bend Bulletin, OR)

http://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/3014650-151/wind-project-is-no-more#

At Nearly $1 Billion, California Cap-&-Trade Revenues Last Year Blew Past Predictions (Sacramento Business Journal, CA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2015/03/27/at-nearly-1b-cap-and-trade-revenues-last-year-blew.html

Video: More Than 2,300 Sea Lions on Astoria Docks (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.kgw.com/story/news/local/north-coast/2015/03/26/more-than-2300-sea-lions-on-astoria-docks/70523496/

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1. TransAlta Tax Break Bill Heard in Committee
2. Oregon Clean Energy Advocates Want Salem to Put Sunset on Coal
3. Washington State Nuclear Power Measures Face Questions
4. California PUC Head: Pacific Gas & Electric Used Pipeline Safety Money for Exec Raises before San Bruno Explosion
5. ‘Cost of Service’ Workshop Set by Grant PUD Commissioners
6. Testing Error Causes Short Grays Harbor Power Outage
7. Pacific Power: Be on the Lookout for Phony Employees on ATVs
8. Illinois Senate Energy & Public Utilities Committee Passes Bill Supporting Nuclear Energy Plants
9. ‘Cat Litter Mix’ Closed U-S Nuclear Waste Repository
10. Federal Agencies Renew Commitment to Hydropower
11. Video: More Than 2,300 Sea Lions on Astoria Docks
12. Milestone Reached in 2001 Klamath Water Lawsuits
13. Oregon: Warrenton Dam Will Go, But How?
14. North-Central Oregon Wind Farm Dies – Application withdraw for project in Wasco & Sherman counties
15. Are Solar-Powered Homes Jacking Up Everyone Else’s Electric Bills?
16. EIA: Sun Rises on Solar – Coal Takes its Lumps
17. Texas Small Hydro Project Loses Exemption
18. Costa Rica Goes 75 Days Powering Itself Using Only Renewable Energy
19. Landscaping for Energy Conservation
20. Maui plans to replace streetlights with LED lighting
21. Slow Cooker Uses Less Electricity than Oven
22. Oregon’s State Marijuana Chief Tom Burns Fired
23. Pot Seed Giveaway Attracts Huge Crowd, No Cops, in Washington, D-C
24. At Nearly $1 Billion, California Cap-&-Trade Revenues Last Year Blew Past Predictions
25. Big Shelves of Antarctic Ice Melting Faster Than Scientists Thought
26. Florida Democrat Hits Home-State Governor over Climate Gag Rule
27. Washington State Patrol Makes Switch to Greener Power Source for Radio Towers
28. Vancouver, WA Mayor Promises Broadband Internet, Fully Staffed Police Department
29. Internet Outages Reveal Gaps in U-S Broadband Infrastructure
30. Periscope & Meerkat Competition Heats Up
31. Twitter’s Periscope Launch Is an Unintentional PR Coup for an Agency Called Periscope
32. One Secret Facebook Doesn’t Want You to Know
33. From New Logos to New Coke: When Corporations Make Mistakes
34. Consumerist Friday Flickr Finds
35. Attorney: Washington State Auditor, Troy Kelley Knew of Federal Inquiry nearly Two Years Ago
36. Nevada’s Harry Reid to Retire from U-S Senate in 2016
37. Slashed Letter Found in Dust Bin Declared Germanwings Co-Pilot ‘Unfit to Work’
38. Oregon Joins Texas, 21 Other States in Effort to Keep Radio Shack from Selling Customer Data
39. Shelton Police: Two Arrested, One Hospitalized in Overnight Pine Tree Inn Bar-Fight
40. Huffing Laughing Gas – Man Accused of Hitting Flagger: ‘Sorry Doesn’t Begin to Cover It’
41. Kingdome Kash – Stadium’s Debts Paid Off—15 Years after Implosion

WORD OF THE DAY

Prelapsarian • \pree-lap-SAIR-ee-un\ • Adjective - Characteristic of or belonging to the time or state before the biblical fall of humankind

Amber and Bert walked hand in hand through the green and fragrant tunnel of vines and creepers in the verdant rain forest. Each was lost in thought. Amber in particular thought that the environment could have been like a prelapsarian Eden, heavy in romance and primitive love. Bert could only think of one thing, “Did I leave the iron on?”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

TransAlta Tax Break Bill Heard in Committee (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/mar/26/transalta-tax-break-bill-heard-in-committee/

Oregon Clean Energy Advocates Want Salem to Put Sunset on Coal (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/03/clean-energy-advocates-want-salem-to-put-sunset-on.html

Washington State Nuclear Power Measures Face Questions (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2015/03/nuclear-power-measures-face-questions/

California PUC Head: Pacific Gas & Electric Used Pipeline Safety Money for Exec Raises before San Bruno Explosion (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/cpuc-head-pge-used-pipeline-safety-money-for-exec-raises-before-san-bruno/380011/

‘Cost of Service’ Workshop Set by Grant PUD Commissioners (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/news/cost-of-service-workshop-set-by-pud-commissioners/article_ad704608-d410-11e4-b976-3fa696b76cae.html

Testing Error Causes Short Grays Harbor Power Outage (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://www.kxro.com/testing-error-causes-power-outage/

Pacific Power: Be on the Lookout for Phony Employees on ATVs (Medford Mail Tribune, OR)

http://www.mailtribune.com/article/20150326/NEWS/150329694/101033/NEWS?rssfeed=true

Illinois Senate Energy & Public Utilities Committee Passes Bill Supporting Nuclear Energy Plants (Clinton Herald, IL)

http://www.clintonherald.com/news/illinois-senate-energy-and-public-utilities-committee-passes-bill-supporting/article_9ade55d8-d402-11e4-9b67-4fb90bfb2284.html

‘Cat Litter Mix’ Closed U-S Nuclear Waste Repository (British Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-32079504

Federal Agencies Renew Commitment to Hydropower (Fierce Energy)

http://www.fierceenergy.com/story/federal-agencies-renew-commitment-hydropower/2015-03-26

FISH & WILDLIFE

Video: More Than 2,300 Sea Lions on Astoria Docks (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.kgw.com/story/news/local/north-coast/2015/03/26/more-than-2300-sea-lions-on-astoria-docks/70523496/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Milestone Reached in 2001 Klamath Water Lawsuits (Klamath Falls Herald & News, OR)

http://www.heraldandnews.com/email_blast/milestone-reached-in-water-lawsuits/article_78987052-d449-11e4-8f1a-ab014f559a7f.html

Oregon: Warrenton Dam Will Go, But How? (Daily Astorian, OR)

http://www.dailyastorian.com/Local_News/20150326/dam-removal-darkened-by-concerns

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

North-Central Oregon Wind Farm Dies – Application withdraw for project in Wasco & Sherman counties (Bend Bulletin, OR)

http://www.bendbulletin.com/localstate/3014650-151/wind-project-is-no-more#

Are Solar-Powered Homes Jacking Up Everyone Else’s Electric Bills? (Mother Jones)

http://www.motherjones.com/environment/2015/03/solar-power-net-metering-pge

EIA: Sun Rises on Solar – Coal Takes its Lumps (U-S News & World Report)

http://www.usnews.com/news/blogs/data-mine/2015/03/27/us-solar-wind-and-oil-production-rise-coal-falls

Texas Small Hydro Project Loses Exemption (JD Supra)

http://www.jdsupra.com/post/documentViewer.aspx?fid=3a621bb9-a95c-4a77-8dd9-256edbdf9746

Costa Rica Goes 75 Days Powering Itself Using Only Renewable Energy (The Independent, UK)

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/costa-rica-goes-75-days-powering-itself-using-only-renewable-energy-10126127.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Landscaping for Energy Conservation (High Plains Journal, Dodge City, KS)

http://www.hpj.com/horticulture/landscaping-for-energy-conservation/article_484ca281-e469-586f-ab9d-bedf4d7327c8.html

Maui plans to replace streetlights with LED lighting (Pacific Business Journal, HI)

http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2015/03/26/maui-plans-to-replace-streetlights-with-led.html

Slow Cooker Uses Less Electricity than Oven (Cincinnati Enquirer OH)

http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/local/boone-county/2015/03/23/slow-cooker-uses-less-electricity-oven/70329750/

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Oregon’s State Marijuana Chief Tom Burns Fired (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/marijuana/index.ssf/2015/03/oregons_state_marijuana_chief.html

Pot Seed Giveaway Attracts Huge Crowd, No Cops, in Washington, D-C (U-S News & World Report)

http://www.usnews.com/news/articles/2015/03/27/pot-seed-giveaway-attracts-huge-crowd-no-cops-in-dc

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

At Nearly $1 Billion, California Cap-&-Trade Revenues Last Year Blew Past Predictions (Sacramento Business Journal, CA)

http://www.bizjournals.com/sacramento/news/2015/03/27/at-nearly-1b-cap-and-trade-revenues-last-year-blew.html

Big Shelves of Antarctic Ice Melting Faster Than Scientists Thought (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2015/03/26/395379216/big-shelves-of-antarctic-ice-melting-faster-than-scientists-thought

Florida Democrat Hits Home-State Governor over Climate Gag Rule (National Journal)

http://www.nationaljournal.com/energy/florida-democrat-hits-home-state-governor-over-climate-gag-rule-20150326

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Washington State Patrol Makes Switch to Greener Power Source for Radio Towers (Walla Walla Union-Bulletin, WA)

http://union-bulletin.com/news/2015/mar/25/washington-state-patrol-makes-switch-greener-power/

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Vancouver, WA Mayor Promises Broadband Internet, Fully Staffed Police Department (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/article/leavitt-promises-broadband-internet-fully-staff-police-department-/

Internet Outages Reveal Gaps in U-S Broadband Infrastructure (Associated Press)

http://www.khq.com/story/28630999/internet-outages-reveal-gaps-in-us-broadband-infrastructure

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Periscope & Meerkat Competition Heats Up (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_27793570/periscope-and-meerkat-competition-heats-up?source=rss

Twitter’s Periscope Launch Is an Unintentional PR Coup for an Agency Called Periscope (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/twitters-periscope-launch-unintentional-pr-coup-agency-called-periscope-163693

One Secret Facebook Doesn’t Want You to Know (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/columnist/komando/2015/03/27/facebook-secret/70482820/

From New Logos to New Coke: When Corporations Make Mistakes (Associated Press)

http://www.seattlepi.com/news/article/From-new-logos-to-New-Coke-when-corporations-6162606.php

Consumerist Friday Flickr Finds (Consumerist)

http://consumerist.com/2015/03/27/consumerist-friday-flickr-finds-282/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Attorney: Washington State Auditor, Troy Kelley Knew of Federal Inquiry nearly Two Years Ago (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwnewsnetwork.org/post/attorney-troy-kelley-knew-federal-inquiry-nearly-two-years-ago

Nevada’s Harry Reid to Retire from U-S Senate in 2016 (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/03/28/us/politics/senator-harry-reid-retire.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

GENERAL NEWS

Slashed Letter Found in Dust Bin Declared Germanwings Co-Pilot ‘Unfit to Work’ (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2015/03/27/slashed-letter-found-in-dust-bin-declared-germanwings-co-pilot-unfit-to-work/

Oregon Joins Texas, 21 Other States in Effort to Keep Radio Shack from Selling Customer Data (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2015/03/oregon_joins_texas_21_other_st.html

Shelton Police: Two Arrested, One Hospitalized in Overnight Pine Tree Inn Bar-Fight (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://kmasnewsradio.com/news/local-state-news

Huffing Laughing Gas – Man Accused of Hitting Flagger: ‘Sorry Doesn’t Begin to Cover It’ (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.katu.com/news/local/Man-accused-of-hitting-flagger-Sorry-doesnt-begin-to-cover-it-297724221.html

Kingdome Kash – Stadium’s Debts Paid Off—15 Years after Implosion (USA Today)

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/2015/03/27/seattle-kingdome-financing-bonds/70529912/

DIVERSIONS

Richard III’s Tomb Unveiled at Leicester Cathedral

http://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-leicestershire-32085532

Someone Stole More Than 200 Hens That Lay Pastel-Colored Eggs

http://consumerist.com/2015/03/26/someone-stole-more-than-200-hens-that-lay-pastel-colored-eggs/

Tough Jam: Cubs Pitcher Winds Up at Wrong Park, Misses Start

http://news.yahoo.com/tough-jam-cubs-pitcher-winds-wrong-park-misses-072027145--spt.html

Feel-Good Tale: Man Gets $7M Lottery Ticket in Get-Well Card

http://news.yahoo.com/feel-good-tale-man-gets-7m-lottery-ticket-160514139--finance.html

SONG OF THE DAY

Tears for Fears – Everybody Wants To Rule The World

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R-O3kYrDPbI

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.