The Energy News Digest: Energy News Digest for July 15, 2015

Tieton Firefighters Can Only Watch as Live Power Wires Keep Them from Blaze
Rain Causes Pole Fires, Power Outages around Spokane
Small Nuclear Reactors: Search for Washington State Site is Planned
Moody’s Maintains Aa3 on Tacoma Power’s Electric System Revenue Bonds – Outlook Stable
British Columbia: International Brotherhood of Electrical Works & BC Hydro Ratify Agreement
State Auditor: Snoqualmie Pass PUD Head Misused $20K Worth of District Assets
Front Porch: Snohomish PUD Announces Grants
Bonneville Power Administration Shares New Collection of Historical Films
New Mexico: Utility Says Rejecting Plan Would Force Closure of Power Plant
When the Lights Went Out in New York: A Tale of Two Nights
These Are the Ten Dirtiest Power Companies in the U-S
Record Warm Ocean Temperatures Pose Threat to B-C Salmon
River Temperatures Prompt Call to Close Fisheries
Sage Grouse Flies into U-S Species Protection Crossfire
Report: Canadian Wildlife Officer Suspended for Refusing to Kill Bear Cubs
Water Theft is Symptom of Bigger Troubles in Wapato Irrigation Project
California: Marin Clean Energy Reaches to Idaho, Oregon for Credits
Minnesota Community Solar Coming to Xcel Energy Customers
Harnessing the Power of the Wind: ‘It’s a Much Better Alternative’
Yelm High Class Explores Wind, Solar Technology
Amazon Cloud Services to Buy Power Generated by Wind Farm
Oklahoma: Osage Nation Prays for the End of Wind Developments
Solar Industry Rallies in Support of Federal Tax Incentives
Michigan Cities Gearing Up for Fight with Utilities over LED Streetlights
Three Questions with a Portland General Electric Smart Grid Expert
Marijuana Opponents Using Racketeering Law to Fight Industry
Severe Drought Could Hamper California Recreational Marijuana Efforts
Fifteen Unlicensed Dispensaries Targeted near Seattle
Washington State Governor Blames GOP for Climate Failures
Carbon Tax Initiative in Washington State
Washington State Lawmakers Extend Sales Tax Break on Electric Vehicles
Tesla Co-Founder Sees Big Changes for Utilities
Who Killed the Urban Electric Car?
Port of Walla Walla’s Broadband Plans Back to Square One
Comcast’s Super-Fast Internet Costs $300 a Month
Here’s What High Speed Municipal Broadband Looks Like in a Town 200 Miles Away – Let’s Do This, Seattle
Obama to Announce Project for More Broadband in Public Housing
Comcast to Launch $15-Per-Month Internet TV Service
Here’s How Data Caps Really Affect Your Internet Use, According to Data
Small Businesses Struggle to Prove Facebook ROI: New Research
Thirteen Vintage WPA Posters from the Bay Area
Structure Fire on Harstine Island
Teen Plane Crash Survivor Arrives Home; Skagit County Searchers Find Wreckage
British Columbia to Consider Impounding Cars If Drivers Throw Cigarette Butts
California: Recreational Drones Pose Increasing Risk to Firefighting
Shelton at Number 19 – These 20 Places in Washington Make the Best Sandwiches EVER

WORD OF THE DAY

Ambuscade • \AM-buss-kade\ • noun - A trap in which concealed persons lie in wait to attack by surprise; also: the persons so concealed or their position

The intricate maze built of copy-paper boxes by the utility’s information services staff had a dual purpose: funnel abusers of the print-limit policy into a single line; and make escape past the carefully organized ambuscade of printer police virtually impossible. The camouflage of those lying in wait was impressive…at first glance; they appeared as innocent boxes of copy paper. However, tear-away panels stood ready to release an onslaught of hidden IS workers at the ambush point.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Tieton Firefighters Can Only Watch as Live Power Wires Keep Them from Blaze (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/firefighters-can-only-watch-as-live-power-wires-keep-them/article_1dd98170-2ab5-11e5-81b9-77d0a0509384.html

Rain Causes Pole Fires, Power Outages around Spokane (KHQ-TV, Spokane, WA)

http://www.khq.com/story/29527311/rain-causes-pole-fires-power-outages-around-spokane

Small Nuclear Reactors: Search for Washington State Site is Planned (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2015/07/small-nuke-reactors-search-for-site-is-planned/

Moody’s Maintains Aa3 on Tacoma Power’s Electric System Revenue Bonds – Outlook Stable (Moody’s Investors Service)

https://www.moodys.com/research/Moodys-maintains-Aa3-on-Tacoma-Power-WAs-electric-system-revenue--PR_330109

British Columbia: International Brotherhood of Electrical Works & BC Hydro Ratify Agreement (Electric Energy Online)

http://www.electricenergyonline.com/detail_news.php?ID=538267&cat=;16;90

State Auditor: Snoqualmie Pass PUD Head Misused $20K Worth of District Assets (Ellensburg Daily Record, WA)

http://www.dailyrecordnews.com/members/state-auditor-snoqualmie-pass-pud-head-misused-k-worth-of/article_cd4a6f80-2a78-11e5-b471-6fc4e1f678a4.html

Front Porch: Snohomish PUD Announces Grants (Everett Herald, WA)

http://www.heraldnet.com/article/20150714/NEWS01/150719590

Bonneville Power Administration Shares New Collection of Historical Films (Bonneville Power Administration)

http://www.bpa.gov/news/newsroom/Pages/BPA-shares-new-collection-of-historical-films.aspx

New Mexico: Utility Says Rejecting Plan Would Force Closure of Power Plant (Associated Press)

http://www.tri-cityherald.com/2015/07/14/3651294_pnm-rejecting-proposal-would-force.html?rh=1

When the Lights Went Out in New York: A Tale of Two Nights (Huffington Post)

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/phillip-martin/when-the-lights-went-out-_b_7796292.html

These Are the Ten Dirtiest Power Companies in the U-S (Grist Online)

http://grist.org/climate-energy/these-are-the-10-dirtiest-power-companies-in-the-u-s/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Record Warm Ocean Temperatures Pose Threat to B-C Salmon – Salmon face double threat from weather changes (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/record-warm-ocean-temperatures-pose-threat-to-b-c-salmon-1.3151406

River Temperatures Prompt Call to Close Fisheries (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/tech/science/environment/2015/07/13/wild-fish-conservancy-close-fisheries-river-temperatures-drought/30114059/

Sage Grouse Flies into U-S Species Protection Crossfire (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/13/usa-sagegrouse-endangered-idUSL1N0ZB20U20150713

Report: Canadian Wildlife Officer Suspended for Refusing to Kill Bear Cubs (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2015/07/12/report-canadian-wildlife-officer-suspended-for-refusing-to-kill-bear-cubs/

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Water Theft is Symptom of Bigger Troubles in Wapato Irrigation Project (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

http://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/environment/water-theft-is-symptom-of-bigger-troubles-in-wapato-irrigation-project/

RENEWABLE ENERGY

California: Marin Clean Energy Reaches to Idaho, Oregon for Credits (Marin Independent Journal, CA)

http://www.marinij.com/environment-and-nature/20150711/marin-clean-energy-reaches-to-idaho-oregon-for-credits

Minnesota Community Solar Coming to Xcel Energy Customers (Minnesota Public Radio)

http://www.mprnews.org/story/2015/07/13/community-solar-for-xcel-customers

Harnessing the Power of the Wind: ‘It’s a Much Better Alternative’ (KATU-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.katu.com/news/local/Harnessing-the-wind-Robert-Migliori-Pelican-Wind-Power-314602411.html

Yelm High Class Explores Wind, Solar Technology (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

http://www.theolympian.com/news/local/education/article26137975.html

Amazon Cloud Services to Buy Power Generated by Wind Farm (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_28478016/amazon-cloud-services-buy-power-generated-by-wind

Oklahoma: Osage Nation Prays for the End of Wind Developments (Tulsa World, OK)

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/local/osage-nation-prays-for-the-end-of-wind-developments/article_278a9e60-9446-5451-aec3-4610c11fc4fa.html

Solar Industry Rallies in Support of Federal Tax Incentives (Triangle Business Journal, NC)

http://www.bizjournals.com/triangle/news/2015/07/10/solar-industry-rallies-in-support-of-tax-incentive.html

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Michigan Cities Gearing Up for Fight with Utilities over LED Streetlights (Midwest Energy News)

http://midwestenergynews.com/2015/07/13/michigan-cities-gearing-up-for-fight-with-utilities-over-led-streetlights/

Three Questions with a Portland General Electric Smart Grid Expert (Portland Business Journal, OR)

http://www.bizjournals.com/portland/blog/sbo/2015/07/3-questions-with-a-pge-smart-grid-expert.html

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Marijuana Opponents Using Racketeering Law to Fight Industry (Associated Press)

http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Marijuana-opponents-using-racketeering-law-to-6382656.php

Severe Drought Could Hamper California Recreational Marijuana Efforts (Marijuana Business Daily)

http://mjbizdaily.com/severe-drought-could-hamper-california-rec-efforts/

Fifteen Unlicensed Dispensaries Targeted near Seattle (Marijuana Business Daily)

http://mjbizdaily.com/15-unlicensed-dispensaries-targeted-near-seattle/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Washington State Governor Blames GOP for Climate Failures (Associated Press)

http://www.keprtv.com/news/local/Gov-Jay-Inslee-blames-GOP-for-climate-failures-315093181.html

Carbon Tax Initiative in Washington State (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

http://cliffmass.blogspot.com/2015/07/carbon-tax-initiative-in-washington.html

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI

Washington State Lawmakers Extend Sales Tax Break on Electric Vehicles (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/07/13/3913603_wash-lawmakers-extend-sales-tax.html?rh=1

Tesla Co-Founder Sees Big Changes for Utilities (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/emerging-technologies/r-d/tesla-co-founder-sees-big-changes-for-utilities/82891

Who Killed the Urban Electric Car? (The Energy Collective)

http://www.theenergycollective.com/matt-conway/2249690/who-killed-urban-electric-car

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Port of Walla Walla’s Broadband Plans Back to Square One (Walla Walla Union Bulletin, WA)

http://union-bulletin.com/news/2015/jul/10/ports-broadband-plans-back-square-one/

Comcast’s Super-Fast Internet Costs $300 a Month (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2015/07/14/comcasts-super-fast-internet-costs-300-a-month/

Here’s What High Speed Municipal Broadband Looks Like in a Town 200 Miles Away – Let’s Do This, Seattle (The Stranger – PG-13 Language)

http://www.thestranger.com/blogs/slog/2015/07/14/22521336/heres-what-high-speed-municipal-broadband-looks-like-in-a-town-200-miles-away-lets-do-this-seattle

Obama to Announce Project for More Broadband in Public Housing (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/07/15/us-usa-obama-internet-idUSKCN0PP1JI20150715

Comcast to Launch $15-Per-Month Internet TV Service (Associated Press)

http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Comcast-to-launch-15-per-month-Internet-TV-6382678.php

Here’s How Data Caps Really Affect Your Internet Use, According to Data (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2015/07/14/heres-how-data-caps-really-affect-your-internet-use-according-to-data/?wprss=rss_technology

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Small Businesses Struggle to Prove Facebook ROI: New Research (Social Media Examiner)

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/small-businesses-struggle-to-prove-facebook-roi-new-research/

Thirteen Vintage WPA Posters from the Bay Area (SF Chronicle, CA)

http://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/13-vintage-WPA-posters-from-the-Bay-Area-6381857.php

GENERAL NEWS

Structure Fire on Harstine Island (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/15983

Teen Plane Crash Survivor Arrives Home; Skagit County Searchers Find Wreckage (Associated Press)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Teen-plane-crash-survivor-arrives-home-searchers-find-wreckage-315319631.html

British Columbia to Consider Impounding Cars If Drivers Throw Cigarette Butts (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://m.kirotv.com/news/news/british-columbia-consider-impounding-cars-if-drive/nmy2d/

California: Recreational Drones Pose Increasing Risk to Firefighting (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/fires/article27021067.html#emlnl=Morning_Newsletter

Shelton at Number 19 – These 20 Places in Washington Make the Best Sandwiches EVER (Only in Your State)

http://www.onlyinyourstate.com/washington/wa-sandwiches/

DIVERSIONS

Pluto’s Not Just a Dwarf Planet, It’s Now a Meme

http://mashable.com/2015/07/14/pluto-memes/

The Danes Are Going to Complete a Karmic Circle by Recycling Urine into Beer

http://time.com/3944313/urine-pee-beer-denmark-roskilde/

Guy Adopts Two Puppies, Finds Out They’re Actually Bears – Oops

http://hellogiggles.com/puppies-actually-bears/

Judge Rules in Battle of the Ukulele Orchestras

http://www.theguardian.com/music/2015/jul/02/judge-rules-in-battle-of-the-ukulele-orchestras?CMP=share_btn_fb

SONG OF THE DAY

John Lennon – Instant Karma!

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

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.

The Energy News Digest

Wednesday, July 15, 2015

Energy News Digest for July 15, 2015

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