The Energy News Digest: 02/11/15

Montana Coal Plant to Shut Down in August
Energy Quote of the Day: GOP Releases “Architecture of Abundance” Legislative Framework
FERC Proposes $5 Million Fine against Maxim, Subsidiaries Tied to Alleged Manipulation
NRECA Pushes for More LIHEAP Funds
Pacific Gas & Electric Urges Customers to Be Safe & Keep Metallic Balloons Secure on Valentine’s Day
Before 1948, LA’s Power Grid Was Incompatible with the Rest of the U-S
California: Appeals Court Rejects Challenges to Fish Hatcheries’ Impact
Despite Low Snowpack, There’s no Need to Panic
Apple Investing $850 Million in California Solar Farm
Build it, We Dare you – Why are Green Groups Unhappy with Apple’s Big Solar Buy?
California: Google Buys Altamont Wind Energy to Power Googleplex
Hundreds Protest Salt River Project’s Proposed $50 per Month Solar Charge in Arizona
The Great Solar Panel Debate: To Lease or to Buy?
Should You Be Worried About Solar Leasing? Utilities Think So
Obama Sets Goal to Raise $2 Billion from Private Sector for Clean Energy Technology
Europe Loses Billions in Badly Sited Renewable Power Plants
LED Outdoor Lighting: $6 Billion Annual Savings Opportunity Ripe for the Picking
Give your Water Heater a Little Love this Valentine’s Day
Study: 85% of Broadband Households Tried to Save on Energy in 2014
Colorado Collected About $76 Million in Recreational Marijuana Revenue in 2014
Traditional Colleges Enter Cannabis Education
Washington State Governor’s Cap-And-Trade Bill Needs More Votes
Climate Change: California Lawmakers to Introduce Sweeping New Measures to Increase Renewable Energy, Cut Fossil Fuel Use
Panel Urges More Research on Geoengineering as a Tool against Climate Change
How to Turn Carbon Dioxide into Rock & Bury It Forever – Hopefully
CenturyLink Internet Map: Sluggish Speeds Persist in Portland Neighborhoods amid Gigabit Rollout
Otter Aide: Idaho Broadband Impasse Threatens $245 Million in Federal Funding
FCC Dissenter Takes on Net Neutrality Proposal
Republicans Are About to ‘Benghazi All Over Again’ on Net Neutrality
Louisiana: Lafayette May Petition FCC for Muni-Broadband Help
U-S Bill Seeks more Wi-Fi Airwaves Alongside Smart Cars
Samsung Smart TV Can Hear, Transmit Owners’ Conversations
Samsung: Our Televisions Aren’t Secretly Eavesdropping on You
Here Is the Captivating Ad Format Facebook Hopes Will Wow Its Users
Tim Eyman Mortgages House to Get Back in the Initiative Game
Ouch: Portland to Homeowners - Fix Your Own Unimproved Street
School Board Votes to Close Shelton High Pool
Pioneer School Bond Passing
Pilot OK after Small Plane Makes Emergency Landing along Hood Canal
Driver Crashes after Fleeing from Mason County Deputy
Port Townsend Paper Sold to Atlanta Holding Company
Union Says Little Progress in U-S Refinery Contract Talks
Questionable Recruiting: Jackie Robinson West Stripped of Its National Little League Title
Jon Stewart Leaving Comedy Central’s ‘The Daily Show’
Brian Williams Suspended From NBC for Six Months without Pay

WORD OF THE DAY

Contumely • \kahn-TOO-muh-lee\ • Noun – Harsh language or treatment arising from haughtiness and contempt; also: an instance of such language or treatment

For the rest of his life, Alberto had an unnatural fear of salad. It started innocently enough at a grade school play, where he starred in the role of a tasty stalk of celery. Unfortunately, his method acting and the upstaging of the “lesser vegetables” were overbearing. So much so, that all the other children dressed as vegetables unleashed a contumely attack that had to be broken up by the teachers, who were dressed as salad spoons.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Montana Coal Plant to Shut Down in August (Associated Press)

http://www.kxly.com/news/northwest/montana-coal-plant-to-shut-down-in-august/31194970

Energy Quote of the Day: GOP Releases “Architecture of Abundance” Legislative Framework (Breaking Energy)

http://breakingenergy.com/2015/02/10/energy-quote-of-the-day-gop-releases-architecture-of-abundance-legislative-framework/

FERC Proposes $5 Million Fine against Maxim, Subsidiaries Tied to Alleged Manipulation (American Public Power Association)

http://www.publicpower.org/Media/daily/ArticleDetail.cfm?ItemNumber=43150

NRECA Pushes for More LIHEAP Funds (Electric Co-op Today)

http://www.ect.coop/public-policy-watch/legislation/nreca-pushes-for-more-liheap-funds/77780

Pacific Gas & Electric Urges Customers to Be Safe & Keep Metallic Balloons Secure on Valentine’s Day (PG&E Currents)

http://www.pgecurrents.com/2015/02/10/video-pge-urges-customers-to-be-safe-and-keep-metallic-balloons-secure-on-valentines-day/

Before 1948, LA’s Power Grid Was Incompatible with the Rest of the U-S (Gizmodo)

http://southland.gizmodo.com/before-1948-las-power-grid-was-incompatible-with-the-r-1683629042

FISH & WILDLIFE

California: Appeals Court Rejects Challenges to Fish Hatcheries’ Impact (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article9708359.html

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Despite Low Snowpack, There’s no Need to Panic (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/2902242-8/despite-low-snowpack-theres-no-need-to-panic

RENEWABLE/ALTERNATIVE ENERGY

Apple Investing $850 Million in California Solar Farm (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/10/us-apple-cook-idUSKBN0LE2RN20150210

Build it, We Dare you – Why are Green Groups Unhappy with Apple’s Big Solar Buy? (Breaking Energy)

http://breakingenergy.com/2015/02/11/why-are-green-groups-unhappy-with-apples-big-solar-buy/

California: Google Buys Altamont Wind Energy to Power Googleplex (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_27503195/google-buys-altamont-wind-energy-power-googleplex

Hundreds Protest Salt River Project’s Proposed $50 per Month Solar Charge in Arizona (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/hundreds-protest-salt-river-projects-proposed-50-per-month-solar-charge-i/363004/

The Great Solar Panel Debate: To Lease or to Buy? (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2015/02/10/384958332/the-great-solar-panel-debate-to-lease-or-to-buy

Should You Be Worried About Solar Leasing? Utilities Think So (Grist Online)

http://grist.org/business-technology/should-you-be-worried-about-solar-leasing-utilities-think-so/

Obama Sets Goal to Raise $2 Billion from Private Sector for Clean Energy Technology (Associated Press)

http://www.usnews.com/news/business/articles/2015/02/10/obama-seeks-2-billion-in-private-dollars-for-clean-energy

Europe Loses Billions in Badly Sited Renewable Power Plants (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/jnyangon/2192076/europe-lose-100-billion-badly-sited-renewable-power-plants

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

LED Outdoor Lighting: $6 Billion Annual Savings Opportunity Ripe for the Picking (The Energy Collective)

http://theenergycollective.com/nrdcswitchboard/2191381/led-outdoor-lighting-6-billion-annual-savings-opportunity-ripe-picking

Give your Water Heater a Little Love this Valentine’s Day (Thurston Talks, Olympia, WA)

http://www.thurstontalk.com/2015/02/10/water-heater-maintenance/

Study: 85% of Broadband Households Tried to Save on Energy in 2014 (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/study-85-of-broadband-households-tried-to-save-on-energy-in-2014/363068/

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Colorado Collected About $76 Million in Recreational Marijuana Revenue in 2014 (Associated Press)

http://www.oregonlive.com/marijuana/index.ssf/2015/02/marijuana_news_colorado_collec.html

Traditional Colleges Enter Cannabis Education (Marijuana Business Daily)

http://mmjbusinessdaily.com/traditional-colleges-enter-cannabis-education/

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

Washington State Governor’s Cap-And-Trade Bill Needs More Votes (Crosscut Seattle)

http://crosscut.com/2015/02/10/politics-government/123928/jay-inslee-carbon-cap-trade-house-vote-legislature/

Climate Change: California Lawmakers to Introduce Sweeping New Measures to Increase Renewable Energy, Cut Fossil Fuel Use (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/science/ci_27498110/climate-change-california-lawmakers-introduce-sweeping-new-measures

Panel Urges More Research on Geoengineering as a Tool against Climate Change (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/11/science/panel-urges-more-research-on-geoengineering-as-a-tool-against-climate-change.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

How to Turn Carbon Dioxide into Rock & Bury It Forever – Hopefully (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/how-to-turn-carbon-dioxide-into-rock-and-bury-it-foreve-1685082681

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

CenturyLink Internet Map: Sluggish Speeds Persist in Portland Neighborhoods amid Gigabit Rollout (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/silicon-forest/index.ssf/2015/02/centurylink_internet_map_slugg.html

Otter Aide: Idaho Broadband Impasse Threatens $245 Million in Federal Funding (Idaho Statesman, Boise)

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2015/02/10/3638273_otter-aide-broadband-impasse-threatens.html?rh=1

FCC Dissenter Takes on Net Neutrality Proposal (NY Times)

http://bits.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/02/10/f-c-c-dissenter-takes-on-net-neutrality-proposal/?partner=rss&emc=rss

Republicans Are About to ‘Benghazi All Over Again’ on Net Neutrality (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2015/02/10/republicans-are-about-to-benghazi-all-over-again-on-net-neutrality/

Louisiana: Lafayette May Petition FCC for Muni-Broadband Help (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/Lafayette-May-Petition-FCC-For-MuniBroadband-Help-132604

U-S Bill Seeks more Wi-Fi Airwaves Alongside Smart Cars (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/10/us-usa-internet-autos-idUSKBN0LE2SY20150210

Samsung Smart TV Can Hear, Transmit Owners’ Conversations (Associated Press)

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_27497516/samsung-smart-tv-can-hear-transmit-owners-conversations

Samsung: Our Televisions Aren’t Secretly Eavesdropping on You (Washington Post)

http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/the-switch/wp/2015/02/10/samsung-our-televisions-arent-secretly-eavesdropping-on-you/

MARKETING & SOCIAL MEDIA

Here Is the Captivating Ad Format Facebook Hopes Will Wow Its Users (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/news/technology/here-captivating-ad-format-facebook-hopes-wows-its-users-162839

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Tim Eyman Mortgages House to Get Back in the Initiative Game (Seattle Post-Intelligencer, WA)

http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattlepolitics/2015/02/10/tim-eyman-mortgages-house-to-get-back-in-the-initiative-game/

Ouch: Portland to Homeowners - Fix Your Own Unimproved Street (KGW-TV, Portland, OR)

http://www.kgw.com/story/news/local/2015/02/10/portlands-unimproved-roads-anger-drivers-neighbors/23204429/

GENERAL NEWS

School Board Votes to Close Shelton High Pool (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://kmasnewsradio.com/news/local-state-news/21305-shelton-pool-to-close#comments

Pioneer School Bond Passing (Mason Web-TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/14344

Pilot OK after Small Plane Makes Emergency Landing along Hood Canal (KIRO-TV, Seattle)

http://mynorthwest.com/11/2708193/Pilot-OK-after-small-plane-makes-emergency-landing-along-Hood-Canal

Driver Crashes after Fleeing from Mason County Deputy (KOMO-TV, Seattle)

http://www.komonews.com/news/local/Driver-crashes-after-fleeing-from-Mason-County-deputy-291398051.html

Port Townsend Paper Sold to Atlanta Holding Company (Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, WA)

http://www.peninsuladailynews.com/article/20150211/NEWS/302119980/port-townsend-paper-corp-sold-to-atlanta-holding-company

Union Says Little Progress in U-S Refinery Contract Talks (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/11/us-refineries-labor-strike-idUSKBN0LE2YZ20150211

Questionable Recruiting: Jackie Robinson West Stripped of Its National Little League Title (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/12/sports/jackie-robinson-west-stripped-of-its-national-little-league-title.html?partner=rss&emc=rss

Jon Stewart Leaving Comedy Central’s ‘The Daily Show’ (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/2015/02/11/us-television-jonstewart-idUSKBN0LF00920150211

Brian Williams Suspended From NBC for Six Months without Pay (NY Times)

http://www.nytimes.com/2015/02/11/business/media/brian-williams-suspended-by-nbc-news-for-six-months.html?partner=rss&emc=rss&_r=0

DIVERSIONS

Neil Armstrong’s Secret Stash of Lunar Mission Artifacts Found in a Closet

http://www.oregonlive.com/pacific-northwest-news/index.ssf/2015/02/neil_armstrong.html

Why You’d Want to Go on a One-Way Trip to Mars

http://gizmodo.com/why-youd-want-to-go-on-a-one-way-trip-to-mars-1684834681

If You Inherit a Bunch of Jewelry, Don’t Brag About It on Facebook

http://mashable.com/2015/02/09/facebook-jewelry-robbed/

Man Suspected of Trying to Break into Apartment Building Gets Stuck in Wall, Has to Be Cut Out

http://q13fox.com/2015/02/10/man-suspected-of-trying-to-break-into-apartment-building-gets-stuck-in-wall-has-to-be-cut-out/

SONG OF THE DAY

The Beatles – Day Tripper

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gKL6oQPDGOU

Jimi Hendrix – Day Tripper

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VgHA9Fuor60

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, February 11, 2015

Energy News Digest for February 11, 2015

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