Wednesday, October 28, 2015

Energy News Digest for October 28, 2015 – Hot Shots Edition

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for October 28, 2015

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP STORIES

Portland General Electric Income Falls $3 Million as It Prepares to Open New $450m Natural Gas Plant (Portland Business Journal, Or)

Future of Avista’s Coal Power to be Discussed in Spokane Wednesday (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

Cowlitz PUD to Save $3 Million with Bond Refinancing (Longview Daily News, WA)

Attorney Says Two Utilities’ Negligence Led to New Mexico Wildfire (Associated Press)

Drone Crash Kills Power to Hundreds of LA Residents (Gizmodo)

Mason PUD 3’s Social Media Outreach Receives National Award (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

Oregon: Columbia River PUD Website Receives National Honors (St Helens Chronicle, OR)

Forget Google Fiber: Lake Oswego May Build Its Own High Speed Network (KATU-TV, Portland, Or)

Google Fiber Kansas City Offline as Royals Start World Series (Associated Press)

How Comcast Wants to Meter the Internet (Associated Press)

Bipartisan Coalition Launches Congressional Battery Storage Caucus (Utility Dive)

Dusting the Sky With Diamond is the Latest Crazy Scheme to Cool the Planet (Gizmodo)

Turn Your Halloween Pumpkins Into Power (Breaking Energy)

Shelton Women Share Life: Surgeons perform first live liver transplant in Pacific Northwest (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

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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.

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

Energy News Digest for October 27, 2015 – Hot Shots Edition

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for October 27, 2015

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP STORIES

Coal Mine Expansion Stalls in Suit Citing Climate Change (Associated Press)

Utility-Backed Group Launches Campaign Warning of Coal Power Plant Retirements (Utility Dive)

Pacific Northwest Transmission - Building Big Eddy (Transmission & Distribution World)

$3 Billion in Low Income Heating Assistance Program Funds Released (Electric Co-op Today)

Electric Cooperative Love Rocks Ease the Pain of Oregon Shootings (Electric Co-op Today)

Editorial: Orcas a Growing Factor in Columbia River Salmon Management (The Daily Astorian, OR)

Flood Forecasting Technology Rolls Out in Washington (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

With Updated Notifications, Facebook Pulls People Down the Rabbit Hole (GigaOM)

Survivor: 'Sudden Wave' Capsized British Columbia Whale-Watching Boat (Associated Press)

Love It or Hate It - Daylight Saving Ends on Sunday (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Five Energy Halloween Costumes You Can Make At Home (Breaking Energy)

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:

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.

Monday, October 26, 2015

Energy News Digest for October 26, 2015

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for October 26, 2015

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:

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Federal Agency Dismisses Complaint against Puget Sound Energy’s Energize Eastside Project (Kirkland Reporter, WA)

Preliminary 2015 Spring Juvenile Survival Estimates through Snake/Columbia River Dams Dismal (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

‘Arc Flash’ Explosion Injured Priest Rapids Dam Workers (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Thanks to Wi-Fi Assist, Apple’s In a $5 Million Lawsuit (Gizmodo)

Five Britons Killed After Whale Sightseeing Boat Sinks Off Vancouver Island (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • Federal Agency Dismisses Complaint against Puget Sound Energy’s Energize Eastside Project
  • ‘Arc Flash’ Explosion Injured Priest Rapids Dam Workers
  • Exploring Small Modular Nuclear Reactors for Carbon-Free Power
  • After Shelton Substation Adventure, ‘Sparky’ the Bear One of Three New Cubs at Idaho Rehab
  • Bonneville Maintenance & Repairs - Emergency Outage to Affect Lake Cushman Area Customers
  • Ten Months Later, Lights Still Off in Some Old Clinton Cabins
  • Copper Thieves, Dressed as Workers, Damaging Highway Reader Boards
  • Hood River Group Banks on a $5 Million Hydropower System
  • Op/Ed: Municipal Power – Let’s emPOWER Millersburg
  • California’s New Demand Response Future Begins Today
  • Las Vegas Casinos, NV Energy Locked in ‘Toxic’ Defection Struggle
  • Preliminary 2015 Spring Juvenile Survival Estimates through Snake/Columbia River Dams Dismal
  • Report: Doubling Geoduck Farming in Puget Sound Could Negatively Impact Salmon
  • Sixth Newborn Puget Sound Orca Spotted, Conservationists Thrilled
  • Skagit PUD to Install Self-Serve Water Stations
  • Solar Power Expansion Could Pose Ecological Risks
  • Hawaii PUC Chair Defends Landmark Decision to End Retail Rate Net Metering
  • Southern Power, Turner Add Eighth California Solar Facility
  • Nebraska: Farms Flexing Solar Power
  • Vermont Reaching ‘Net Metering’ Cap with Solar Expansion
  • Apple Cleaning Up Act in China with More Renewable Energy
  • Will Climate Change Migrants Choose the Pacific Northwest?
  • Before & After Photos Show How Glaciers Have Totally Melted over the Years
  • Thanks to Wi-Fi Assist, Apple’s In a $5 Million Lawsuit
  • Russian Presence near Vital Undersea Cables Causes Worry
  • FCC Reduces Cost of Phone Calls to Inmates in Washington State
  • A Bold Vision for Broadband Access for All U-S Schools
  • Infographic: For Moms, Mobile Is Now a Vital Part of the Shopping Experience
  • Five Ways to Use Storytelling in Your Social Media Marketing
  • Five Britons Killed After Whale Sightseeing Boat Sinks Off
  • Washington State Patrol Troopers Leaving Job in Droves
  • Taylor Shellfish Sells Land to State for Conservation
  • El Niño to Blame for Hyperactive Pacific Hurricane Season
WORD OF THE DAY

Gesamtkunstwerk • \guh-ZAHMT-koonst-verk\ • Noun - From the German. The total work of art, meaning the architect designs everything, soup to nuts.

The architect as artist had begun the meeting with a bright-eyed exuberance. His vision, his gesamtkunstwerk was to be the crowning achievement…a shining structure in the dusty, Midwest town that would be a beacon for students everywhere. By the time the design had been festooned with folk art and rustic, rural design suggestions…his initial posture had declined into a thousand-mile square. “Great,” he mused. “I started with the Guggenheim, and wound up with Green Acres.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Federal Agency Dismisses Complaint against Puget Sound Energy’s Energize Eastside Project (Kirkland Reporter, WA)

‘Arc Flash’ Explosion Injured Priest Rapids Dam Workers (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Exploring Small Modular Nuclear Reactors for Carbon-Free Power (American Public Power Association)

After Shelton Substation Adventure, ‘Sparky’ the Bear One of Three New Cubs at Idaho Rehab (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Bonneville Maintenance & Repairs - Emergency Outage to Affect Lake Cushman Area Customers (Mason PUD 3, Shelton, WA)

Ten Months Later, Lights Still Off in Some Old Clinton Cabins – Puget Sound Energy Won’t Restore Power Without Owner Support (South Whidbey Record, WA)

Copper Thieves, Dressed as Workers, Damaging Highway Reader Boards (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Hood River Group Banks on a $5 Million Hydropower System (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Op/Ed: Municipal Power – Let’s emPOWER Millersburg (Albany Democrat-Herald, OR)

California’s New Demand Response Future Begins Today (Utility Dive)

Las Vegas Casinos, NV Energy Locked in ‘Toxic’ Defection Struggle (Utility Dive)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Preliminary 2015 Spring Juvenile Survival Estimates through Snake/Columbia River Dams Dismal (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

Report: Doubling Geoduck Farming in Puget Sound Could Negatively Impact Salmon (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

Sixth Newborn Puget Sound Orca Spotted, Conservationists Thrilled (KOIN-TV, Portland, OR)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Skagit PUD to Install Self-Serve Water Stations (Skagit Valley Herald, Mount Vernon, WA)

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Solar Power Expansion Could Pose Ecological Risks (Scientific American)

Hawaii PUC Chair Defends Landmark Decision to End Retail Rate Net Metering (Utility Dive)

Southern Power, Turner Add Eighth California Solar Facility (Atlanta Business Chronicle, GA)

Nebraska: Farms Flexing Solar Power (Lincoln Journal-Star, NE)

Vermont Reaching ‘Net Metering’ Cap with Solar Expansion (Washington Post)

Apple Cleaning Up Act in China with More Renewable Energy (Associated Press)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Will Climate Change Migrants Choose the Pacific Northwest? (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

Before & After Photos Show How Glaciers Have Totally Melted over the Years (Gizmodo)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Thanks to Wi-Fi Assist, Apple’s In a $5 Million Lawsuit (Gizmodo)

Russian Presence near Vital Undersea Cables Causes Worry (Sacramento Bee, CA)

FCC Reduces Cost of Phone Calls to Inmates in Washington State (Associated Press)

A Bold Vision for Broadband Access for All U-S Schools (SF Chronicle)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Infographic: For Moms, Mobile Is Now a Vital Part of the Shopping Experience (AdWeek)

Five Ways to Use Storytelling in Your Social Media Marketing (Social Media Examiner)

GENERAL NEWS

Five Britons Killed After Whale Sightseeing Boat Sinks Off Vancouver Island (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

Washington State Patrol Troopers Leaving Job in Droves (Associated Press)

Taylor Shellfish Sells Land to State for Conservation (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

El Niño to Blame for Hyperactive Pacific Hurricane Season (USA Today)

DIVERSIONS

Goofy Lemur Tries on Halloween Masks in Its Spare Time

Alaska Tribe to Get Back Totem Pole Taken by U-S Actor In 1930s

Ranked: The Most Loyal Fans in the NFL

Yellow Nose, the Oryx Wandering Northwest Portland’s Forest Park, Has Been Caught

SONG OF THE DAY

Toto – Africa

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.

Friday, October 23, 2015

Energy News Digest for October 23, 2015

After communing with communicators this week, its back to the grind for the Energy News Digest

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for October 23, 2015

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org

THE NEWS DIGEST BLOG & TWITTER FEED

The news digest is also available at the following web site:

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

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Final Clean Power Plan Rule Published; 24 States Sue EPA (Utility Dive)

The Electricity Innovation So Controversial That It’s Now before the Supreme Court (Washington Post)

Cowlitz PUD Community Solar Buy-In Starts (Longview Daily News, WA)

Seattle City Light Plans Utility Meter Upgrade, But Safety Concerns Raised (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

The Atmospheric Rain Switch Is About to Be Flipped (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)
  • The Electricity Innovation So Controversial That It’s Now before the Supreme Court
  • Seattle City Light Plans Utility Meter Upgrade, But Safety Concerns Raised
  • Oregon: Will Millersburg Electric Utility Vote Mean Power to the People?
  • Wahkiakum PUD to Hike All Rates by 5 Percent
  • Little Used Montana Natural Gas Plant Being Dismantled
  • Critically Injured Priest Rapids Dam Employee Improves
  • Oregon: Columbia River PUD Manager Retires
  • Bear Cub's Risky Walk through Washington State Power Substation
  • Oregon: Central Lincoln PUD Celebrates with Contest, Food Drive
  • BC Hydro to Partner with Clean-Energy Industry to Find New Projects
  • California Utility Gets $400 Million Settlement Tied to Closed Nuclear Power Plant
  • Columbia River: Sea Lions Step Up Endangered Salmon Feast
  • Alaska’s 2015 Commercial Salmon Harvest Second Largest on Record: 263.5 Million Fish
  • Biologists Use Drone to Study Health of Pacific Northwest Orcas
  • Bonneville Power Administration Improves Hundreds of Acres of Habitat on Sauvie Island
  • Company Aims to Sell Groundwater from Mojave Desert
  • Cowlitz PUD Community Solar Buy-In Starts
  • California Solar Advocates Fight Proposed Utility Changes
  • California: Solar Panels Get Cool Reception from Homeowners Associations
  • Remote Alaskan Villages Move from Diesel to Wind Power
  • Wind Industry Installed over 1,600 MW of Capacity in Q3 2015
  • Washington Ranks 8th for Energy Efficiency in 2015 Scorecard Report
  • Oregon Businesses Switch to LED Lighting at a Record Pace
  • Everett Begins Replacing Street Lights with LEDs
  • Seattle City Light Proposes Higher Energy Savings Goal
  • Jennifer Light Will Lead Pacific Northwest Regional Technical Forum
  • Final Clean Power Plan Rule Published; 24 States Sue EPA
  • Groups Plan Ballot Initiatives to Battle Climate Change in Washington and Oregon
  • Point: State Senator Tim Sheldon – Opposing Inslee’s Climate Proposals is a Bipartisan Affair
  • Counterpoint: State Representative Joe Fitzgibbon – Tackling Climate Change Is a Moral & Economic Imperative
  • Climate Scientists Say 2015 on Track to be Warmest Year on Record
  • Climate Change (Rising Sea Levels) Could Be Bad News for Lower Columbia Restoration
  • FCC Offers Eye-Popping Initial Bids for Pacific Northwest TV Airwaves
  • CenturyLink Penalized for San Juan Islands Outage
  • Dig Once: This Simple Idea Could Make Internet Cheaper & Faster & It’s Gaining Steam on Capitol Hill
  • Co-Ops Tackle Broadband, Overcome State Network Restrictions
  • Huge Hack Hits 4 Million British Broadband Customers
  • Trillions of Facebook Posts Added to Search Results
  • ESPN is Cutting About 4 Percent of Staff
  • YouTube Hides Most ESPN Content – Network Failed To Negotiate Paid Subscription Service Deal
  • Consumerist Friday Flickr Finds
  • Email Scandal Uncovered a Culture of 'Delete, Delete, Delete' in British Columbia Government
  • Washington State’s 19th Legislative District Appoints JD Rossetti to Fill Takko’s Seat
  • Mexico Braces for Strongest Hurricane Recorded in Western Hemisphere
  • The Atmospheric Rain Switch Is About to Be Flipped
  • Latest El Nino Forecast Provides Warm Winter Outlook for Pacific Northwest
  • Cleared for takeoff: Sea-Tac flights to Moses Lake, Port Angeles
  • Every Big Oregon Coast Earthquake Since 7845 B.C., Charted. Hint: We're Due
  • Shelton to Conduct Hazardous Waste Study of Landfill
  • KMAS Uses New Frequency to Reach North Mason County
WORD OF THE DAY

Bohemian • \bo-HEE-mee-un\ • Noun – 1a: a native or inhabitant of Bohemia b: the group of Czech dialects used in Bohemia 2a: vagabond, wanderer; especially: gypsy b: a person (as a writer or an artist) living an unconventional life usually in a colony with others.

Barnabas thought he was living life to the Bohemian fullest: rooming with four guys; drinking Jagermeister each night with wild abandon; blogging incoherently about anything and everything that popped into his febrile mind; rolling out of bed, bleary-eyed the following morning to raise the dough for rent ant Top Ramen. His distraught mother put his it more succinctly: “My son? He’s living like a bum.”

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

The Electricity Innovation So Controversial That It’s Now before the Supreme Court (Washington Post)

Seattle City Light Plans Utility Meter Upgrade, But Safety Concerns Raised (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

Oregon: Will Millersburg Electric Utility Vote Mean Power to the People? (Albany Herald Democrat, OR)

Wahkiakum PUD to Hike All Rates by 5 Percent (Wahkiakum Eagle, WA)

Little Used Montana Natural Gas Plant Being Dismantled (Associated Press)

Critically Injured Priest Rapids Dam Employee Improves (Tri-City Herald, WA)

Oregon: Columbia River PUD Manager Retires (St Helens Chronicle OR)

Bear Cub's Risky Walk through Washington State Power Substation (WMAZ-TV, Macon, GA)

Oregon: Central Lincoln PUD Celebrates with Contest, Food Drive (Umpquah Post, OR)

BC Hydro to Partner with Clean-Energy Industry to Find New Projects (Globe & Mail, Canada)

California Utility Gets $400 Million Settlement Tied to Closed Nuclear Power Plant (Associated Press)

FISH & WILDLIFE

Columbia River: Sea Lions Step Up Endangered Salmon Feast (Electric Co-Op Today)

Alaska’s 2015 Commercial Salmon Harvest Second Largest on Record: 263.5 Million Fish (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

Biologists Use Drone to Study Health of Pacific Northwest Orcas (Associated Press)

Bonneville Power Administration Improves Hundreds of Acres of Habitat on Sauvie Island (Bonneville Power Administration)

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Company Aims to Sell Groundwater from Mojave Desert (Desert Sun, Palm Desert, CA)

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Cowlitz PUD Community Solar Buy-In Starts (Longview Daily News, WA)

California Solar Advocates Fight Proposed Utility Changes (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

California: Solar Panels Get Cool Reception from Homeowners Associations (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

Remote Alaskan Villages Move from Diesel to Wind Power (Grist Online)

Wind Industry Installed over 1,600 MW of Capacity in Q3 2015 (Utility Dive)

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Washington Ranks 8th for Energy Efficiency in 2015 Scorecard Report (Seattle Post Intelligencer, WA)

Oregon Businesses Switch to LED Lighting at a Record Pace (Portland Business Journal, OR)

Everett Begins Replacing Street Lights with LEDs (Everett Herald, WA)

Seattle City Light Proposes Higher Energy Savings Goal (American Public Power Association)

Jennifer Light Will Lead Pacific Northwest Regional Technical Forum (Northwest Power & Conservation Council)

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Final Clean Power Plan Rule Published; 24 States Sue EPA (Utility Dive)

Groups Plan Ballot Initiatives to Battle Climate Change in Washington and Oregon (EcoWatch)

Point: State Senator Tim Sheldon – Opposing Inslee’s Climate Proposals is a Bipartisan Affair (Crosscut Seattle)

Counterpoint: State Representative Joe Fitzgibbon – Tackling Climate Change Is a Moral & Economic Imperative (Crosscut Seattle)

Climate Scientists Say 2015 on Track to be Warmest Year on Record (The Guardian, UK)
http://www.theguardian.com/environment/2015/jul/21/climate-scientists-say-2015-on-track-to-be-warmest-year-on-record


Climate Change (Rising Sea Levels) Could Be Bad News for Lower Columbia Restoration (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

FCC Offers Eye-Popping Initial Bids for Pacific Northwest TV Airwaves (Northwest Public Radio)

CenturyLink Penalized for San Juan Islands Outage (Associated Press)

Dig Once: This Simple Idea Could Make Internet Cheaper & Faster & It’s Gaining Steam on Capitol Hill (Washington Post)

Co-Ops Tackle Broadband, Overcome State Network Restrictions (The Daily Yonder)

Huge Hack Hits 4 Million British Broadband Customers (Gizmodo)

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Trillions of Facebook Posts Added to Search Results (British Broadcasting Corporation)

ESPN is Cutting About 4 Percent of Staff (Associated Press)

YouTube Hides Most ESPN Content – Network Failed To Negotiate Paid Subscription Service Deal (Consumerist)

Consumerist Friday Flickr Finds (Consumerist)

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Email Scandal Uncovered a Culture of 'Delete, Delete, Delete' in British Columbia Government (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation)

Washington State’s 19th Legislative District Appoints JD Rossetti to Fill Takko’s Seat (KBKW Radio, Aberdeen, WA)

GENERAL NEWS

Mexico Braces for Strongest Hurricane Recorded in Western Hemisphere (Associated Press)

The Atmospheric Rain Switch Is About to Be Flipped (Cliff Mass Weather Blog)

Latest El Nino Forecast Provides Warm Winter Outlook for Pacific Northwest (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

Cleared for takeoff: Sea-Tac flights to Moses Lake, Port Angeles (Puget Sound Business Journal, WA)

Every Big Oregon Coast Earthquake Since 7845 B.C., Charted. Hint: We're Due (Oregonian, Portland)

Shelton to Conduct Hazardous Waste Study of Landfill (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

KMAS Uses New Frequency to Reach North Mason County (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

DIVERSIONS

Watch These Parachuting Beavers Spread Across Idaho

Montana Cops Can't Shake Off Specter of Paranormal

Manchester United Footballer Suing Toymakers for Making Lookalike Nazi Doll with His Name

Friendly Wager Leads to 41 Tons of Potatoes for Food Banks

SONG OF THE DAY

Jimmy Buffet – The Weather is Here, Wish You Were Beautiful

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.