Energy News Digest for March 3, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for March 3, 2015

http://tinyurl.com/l3qupa3

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HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Ex-Puget Sound Energy Employee Charged in Theft of $32,000 in Copper Wire (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/03/02/3665442/employee-charged-with-stealing.html

Labour Group Objects to BC Hydro’s Plan for Non-Union Peace River Dam Workforce (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/labour-group-objects-to-bc-hydros-plan-for-non-union-site-c-workforce/article23251133/?cmpid=rss1

What Happens When a Solar Eclipse Takes 30GW of Solar Off-Line? (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/solarbusiness/2198781/what-happens-when-solar-eclipse-takes-30gw-solar-line

Strong Runs of Columbia River Chinook Projected (KVEW-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.kvewtv.com/article/2015/mar/02/strong-runs-columbia-river-chinook-projected/

Sale of Longview Simpson Mill to Interfor Corporation Finalized (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/sale-of-longview-simpson-mill-to-interfor-corp-finalized/article_bc45d2aa-c156-11e4-b952-8b9a882f92de.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

1. Ex-Puget Sound Energy Employee Charged in Theft of $32,000 in Copper Wire
2. Labour Group Objects to BC Hydro’s Plan for Non-Union Peace River Dam Workforce
3. Greens Fight Giant Pacific Northwest Oil Terminal on Columbia River
4. Mason PUD 3 Engineer – From Shelton, CT to Shelton, WA, Mark is Saving Lives
5. Grays Harbor Power Outages Down in 2014
6. Past Tense Oregon: Oregon’s Post-War Economy Directly Tied to Columbia River Dams
7. Utility Says Latest Delays to Georgia Nuclear Plant to Cost Additional $1 Billion
8. Outage Safety – A Wilsonville Company’s Quest to Keep the (Traffic) Lights On
9. Strong Runs of Columbia River Chinook Projected
10. California Drought: State to Boost Water Deliveries after Feds Pull Back
11. What Happens When a Solar Eclipse Takes 30GW of Solar Off-Line?
12. Editorial: Wind Farm Tax System Seems to be Flawed
13. Commentary: Ericksen’s Bill Would Gut Energy Act under the Guise of Climate Action
14. Rollback of renewable-energy standards dies in Colorado Legislature
15. Oregon House Republicans Float Clean Fuels Alternative that Would Gut Energy Trust Budget
16. Day-Tripping Pot-Tour Startups See Wine-Industry Future
17. Two Headlines Perfectly Sum Up Everything Wrong with American Drug Policy
18. Oregon’s Legal Pot May Mean Drug Dog No Longer with the Force
19. February Was One of the Most Bipolar Months in U-S Weather History
20. Seeds of War – Global Warming Helped Trigger Syria’s Bloody Civil War
21. How an Oregon Forest is Helping Chevy Meet Its Carbon Goals
22. Seattle is Third – How Portland Compares to Detroit for Electric Vehicles
23. Tax Breaks for Google Fiber, Comcast & Data Centers Sail through Oregon Senate
24. After Net Neutrality Vote, Wheeler Turns to Salesmanship
25. N Carolina: U-S Senator Moves to Overturn FCC Ruling on Local Broadband
26. Telemedicine Making Sense for More Doctors & Patients
27. Google, Facebook Give Updates on Contrasting Plans to Connect Rest of World
28. Wi-Fi Everywhere May Let You Roam Free from Your Mobile Carrier
29. ‘Puzzling’ Stickers Found at School Revealed to be Marketing Stunt
30. Sixteen Ways to Use Social Media to Promote Your Event
31. Washington Lt. Governor Tosses Two-Thirds Rule for ‘New’ Taxes
32. Washington State Senate Passes $15 Billion Transportation Package, Gas Tax Hike
33. Sale of Longview Simpson Mill to Interfor Corporation Finalized
34. Environmental Groups Sue Port of Seattle over Shell Oil Fleet
35. North Mason’s Faith in Action is Taking Action on New Senior Center
36. Police: Thieves Preyed on Seahawks Fans during Playoff Game
37. Homeless Man Caught Stealing $10,000 in Radio Broadcasting Equipment

WORD OF THE DAY

Tu Quoque • \TOO-KWOH-kwee\ • Noun - A retort charging an adversary with being or doing what he or she criticizes in others

“Golly,” exclaimed the fresh-faced liberal arts college student, “writing these environmentalist pamphlets to educate our brethren about the dangers of wood-fired power plants almost Thoreauesque!” The subtle tu quoque of the wool-clad group was lost them as they huddled close to the crackling, open-hearth wood fire for warmth in their off-grid house.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Ex-Puget Sound Energy Employee Charged in Theft of $32,000 in Copper Wire (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/03/02/3665442/employee-charged-with-stealing.html

Labour Group Objects to BC Hydro’s Plan for Non-Union Peace River Dam Workforce (Globe & Mail, Canada)

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/labour-group-objects-to-bc-hydros-plan-for-non-union-site-c-workforce/article23251133/?cmpid=rss1

Greens Fight Giant Pacific Northwest Oil Terminal on Columbia River (Courthouse News Service)

http://www.courthousenews.com/2015/03/03/greens-fight-giant-nw-oil-terminal.htm

From Shelton, CT to Shelton, WA, Mark is Saving Lives (BloodWorks NW – One of Mason PUD 3’s engineers gets kudos!)

http://psbcblog.com/2015/03/from-shelton-ct-to-shelton-wa-mark-is-saving-lives.html

Grays Harbor Power Outages Down in 2014 (KXRO Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

http://www.kxro.com/power-outages-down-in-2014/

Past Tense Oregon: Oregon’s Post-War Economy Directly Tied to Columbia River Dams (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/history/2015/03/past_tense_oregon_oregons_post.html

Utility Says Latest Delays to Georgia Nuclear Plant to Cost Additional $1 Billion (Charlotte Business Journal, NC)

http://www.bizjournals.com/charlotte/blog/energy/2015/03/utility-says-latest-delays-to-georgia-nuclear.html

Outage Safety – A Wilsonville Company’s Quest to Keep the (Traffic) Lights On (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/03/a-wilsonville-companys-quest-to-keep-the-traffic.html

FISH & WILDLIFE

Strong Runs of Columbia River Chinook Projected (KVEW-TV, Tri-Cities, WA)

http://www.kvewtv.com/article/2015/mar/02/strong-runs-columbia-river-chinook-projected/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

California Drought: State to Boost Water Deliveries after Feds Pull Back (SF Chronicle)

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/California-drought-State-to-boost-water-6110418.php

RENEWABLE ENERGY

What Happens When a Solar Eclipse Takes 30GW of Solar Off-Line? (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/solarbusiness/2198781/what-happens-when-solar-eclipse-takes-30gw-solar-line

Editorial: Wind Farm Tax System Seems to be Flawed (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

http://www.dailyrecordnews.com/opinion/editorial/editorial-wind-farm-tax-system-seems-to-be-flawed/article_71433720-bedb-11e4-92b5-eb6915314593.html

Commentary: Ericksen’s Bill Would Gut Energy Act under the Guise of Climate Action (The Political Junkie)

http://sweeneypolitics.com/2015/03/01/ericksens-bill-would-gut-energy-act-under-the-guise-of-climate-action/

Rollback of renewable-energy standards dies in Colorado Legislature (Denver Business Journal)

http://www.bizjournals.com/denver/news/2015/03/02/rollback-of-renewable-energy-standards-dies-in.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Oregon House Republicans Float Clean Fuels Alternative that Would Gut Energy Trust Budget (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/03/house-republicans-float-clean-fuels-alternative.html

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Day-Tripping Pot-Tour Startups See Wine-Industry Future (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/day-tripping-pot-tour-startups-see-wine-industry-future/

Two Headlines Perfectly Sum Up Everything Wrong with American Drug Policy (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/wonkblog/wp/2015/03/02/two-headlines-perfectly-sum-up-everything-wrong-with-american-drug-policy/?wprss=rss_business

Oregon’s Legal Pot May Mean Drug Dog No Longer with the Force (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Legal-pot-may-mean-drug-dog-no-longer-with-the-force-294779591.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

February Was One of the Most Bipolar Months in U-S Weather History (Mashable)

http://mashable.com/2015/03/02/record-cold-and-heat-bipolar-february/

Seeds of War – Global Warming Helped Trigger Syria’s Bloody Civil War (Mashable)

http://mashable.com/2015/03/02/global-warming-syria-civil-war/

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

How an Oregon Forest is Helping Chevy Meet Its Carbon Goals (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/03/how-an-oregon-forest-is-helping-chevy-meet-its.html

Seattle is Third – How Portland Compares to Detroit for Electric Vehicles (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/03/how-portland-compares-to-detroit-for-electric.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Tax Breaks for Google Fiber, Comcast & Data Centers Sail through Oregon Senate (Oregonian, Portland)

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

After Net Neutrality Vote, Wheeler Turns to Salesmanship (NY Times)

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/03/02/after-net-neutrality-vote-wheeler-turns-to-salesmanship/?partner=rss&emc=rss

N Carolina: U-S Senator Moves to Overturn FCC Ruling on Local Broadband (Charlotte News & Observer, NC)

http://www.newsobserver.com/2015/02/26/4585810_tillis-moves-to-overturn-fcc-ruling.html?rh=1

Telemedicine Making Sense for More Doctors & Patients (Seattle Times, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.seattletimes.com/business/telemedicine-making-sense-for-more-doctors-and-patients/

Google, Facebook Give Updates on Contrasting Plans to Connect Rest of World (Associated Press)

http://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2015/03/02/google-facebook-update-contrasting-plans-to-connect-world

Wi-Fi Everywhere May Let You Roam Free from Your Mobile Carrier (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/blogs/alltechconsidered/2015/03/02/390244986/wi-fi-everywhere-may-let-you-roam-free-from-your-mobile-carrier

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

‘Puzzling’ Stickers Found at School Revealed to be Marketing Stunt (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.katu.com/news/investigators/Puzzling-school-stickers-revealed-to-be-marketing-stunt--294768241.html

Sixteen Ways to Use Social Media to Promote Your Event (Social Media Examiner)

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/use-social-media-to-promote-your-event/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Washington Lt. Governor Tosses Two-Thirds Rule for ‘New’ Taxes (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwnewsnetwork.org/post/washington-lt-governor-tosses-two-thirds-rule-new-taxes

Washington State Senate Passes $15 Billion Transportation Package, Gas Tax Hike (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Senate-passes-15-billion-transportation-package-gas-tax-hike-294730751.html

GENERAL NEWS

Sale of Longview Simpson Mill to Interfor Corporation Finalized (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/sale-of-longview-simpson-mill-to-interfor-corp-finalized/article_bc45d2aa-c156-11e4-b952-8b9a882f92de.html

Environmental Groups Sue Port of Seattle over Shell Oil Fleet (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/03/03/us-usa-washington-ports-idUSKBN0LZ0KT20150303

North Mason’s Faith in Action is Taking Action on New Senior Center (Kitsap Sun, Bremerton, WA – Paywall Advisory)

http://www.kitsapsun.com/news/local-news/north-mason/faith-in-action-is-taking-action-on-new-senior-center

Police: Thieves Preyed on Seahawks Fans during Playoff Game (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/article/Police-Thieves-preyed-on-Seahawks-fans-during-6111353.php

Homeless Man Caught Stealing $10,000 in Radio Broadcasting Equipment (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

http://www.khq.com/story/28243325/homeless-man-caught-stealing-10000-in-radio-equipment

DIVERSIONS

Here’s a Photo of a Weasel Riding a Woodpecker

http://mashable.com/2015/03/03/photo-weasel-riding-woodpecker/

Canadians Paying Tribute to Leonard Nimoy by “Spocking” Their Currency

http://consumerist.com/2015/03/02/canadians-paying-tribute-to-leonard-nimoy-by-spocking-their-currency/

DEA Agent Says Legalizing Medical Marijuana in Utah Will Lead to Stoned Rabbits

http://consumerist.com/2015/03/03/dea-agent-says-legalizing-medical-marijuana-in-utah-will-lead-to-stoned-rabbits/

Sequim Radio Station’s “Classy” Bob Massey – Possibly Oldest Active Announcer – To Have 90th Birthday Celebrated Monday

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150303/news/303039997/sequim-radio-station-8217-s-8220-classy-8221-bob-massey-8212

SONG OF THE DAY

Jefferson Airplane - White Rabbit

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XR8LFNUr3vw

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.