The Energy News Digest: 12/30/15

Feds Say No to Klickitat PUD Energy Project
Bonneville Power Administration Transmission Line Impact Statement Delayed
Columbia River PUD Outages: “It Was the Worst I’ve Ever Seen…”
Kootenai Electric Linemen Humble as People Send Thanks
Move Over, Fixed Fees – Utilities See Demand Charges as Revenue Cure
LA’s Gas Leak Is a Global Disaster
Climate Change: Idaho Could Be Safe Haven for Native Fish
Songbird Study Shows River Ecosystem Recovery after Dam Removal, Return of Salmon Nutrients
SeaWorld to Sue over Ban on Orca Breeding
This Giant Squid Looks Like a Robot Missile Lurking in the Ocean
Pacific Northwest Snow Piles Up Ahead of Schedule
Environmental Groups Oppose Yakima River Basin Water Plan
Tax Breaks, Falling Costs Are Boosting Wind & Solar
Biomass Power Could Help California’s Dying Forests
Ohio: Local Prison Wants Help Conserving Energy
‘Revenue Neutral’ Carbon-Tax Initiative Could Cost Washington State $675 Million
Editorial: Carbon Tax May Well Be in Our Future
California U-S House Rep Rolls Out Carbon Pricing Bill
A Secret Weapon to Fight Climate Change: Soil
Oregon: CenturyLink Complaints Spike as New Services Arrive
America’s Internet Speed Tripled Since 2011 – Still Sucks Compared to the Rest of the World
Making Strong Wi-Fi Available to All
Facebook’s Free Internet Service for Egyptians Shuts Down
Twitter Updates Cyberbullying Restrictions
How to Extend the Life of Your Social Media Content
Scientists Have Uncovered Exactly What Makes a Photo Memorable
Bellevue Man Sues Washington State Auditor, Claims Being Ripped Off
Epicenter near Victoria, B-C: Overnight Earthquake Felt across Western Washington
Police: Teens’ Game of ‘Chicken’ Causes Train to Derail in Montesano
Washington State Officials: Early Prisoner Release Fix Delayed 16 Times
Washington State Officials Hope Repairs to U-S 12 Will Be Completed by the Summer
City of Shelton Offers a HandUp to Mason County
Legal ID? TSA May Ban Washington Driver’s Licenses

WORD OF THE DAY

Sylvan • \SILL-vun\ • Adjective – 1a: living or located in the woods or forest b: of, relating to, or characteristic of the woods or forest 2a: made, shaped, or formed of woods or trees b: abounding in woods, groves, or trees: wooded

Chirping birds, a babbling brook, and the earthy, mossy smell of the forest…lit by filtered sunshine welcomed visitors to Bambi’s sylvan paradise.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Feds Say No to Klickitat PUD Energy Project (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/lower_valley/feds-say-no-to-klickitat-energy-project/article_64298b20-aec7-11e5-b221-6732a6a1e1f9.html

Bonneville Power Administration Transmission Line Impact Statement Delayed (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/dec/29/power-line-impact-statement-delayed/

Columbia River PUD Outages: “It Was the Worst I’ve Ever Seen…” (St Helens Chronicle, OR)

http://www.thechronicleonline.com/news/it-was-the-worst-i-ve-ever-seen/article_7a6e5052-ae89-11e5-b0f3-731f53b2af2f.html

Kootenai Electric Linemen Humble as People Send Thanks (KREM-TV, Spokane, WA)

http://www.krem.com/story/news/local/kootenai-county/2015/12/29/kootenai-electric-linemen-humble-as-people-send-thanks/78015532/

Move Over, Fixed Fees – Utilities See Demand Charges as Revenue Cure (Midwest Energy News)

http://midwestenergynews.com/2015/12/02/move-over-fixed-fees-utilities-see-demand-charges-as-revenue-cure/

LA’s Gas Leak Is a Global Disaster (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/las-gas-leak-disaster-is-a-bigger-problem-than-you-real-1750035270

FISH & WILDLIFE

Climate Change: Idaho Could Be Safe Haven for Native Fish (Twin Falls Times-News, ID)

http://magicvalley.com/news/local/climate-change-idaho-could-be-safe-haven-for-native-fish/article_c3a50cd5-450c-50be-befe-324970cf4221.html

Songbird Study Shows River Ecosystem Recovery after Dam Removal, Return of Salmon Nutrients (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/435773.aspx

SeaWorld to Sue over Ban on Orca Breeding (Associated Press)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/dec/29/seaworld-to-sue-over-ban-on-orca-breeding/

This Giant Squid Looks Like a Robot Missile Lurking in the Ocean (Gizmodo)

http://sploid.gizmodo.com/this-giant-squid-looks-like-a-robot-missile-lurking-in-1750214000

WATER & THE ENVIRONMENT

Pacific Northwest Snow Piles Up Ahead of Schedule (Oregon Public Broadcasting)

http://www.opb.org/news/article/northwest-snow-piles-up-ahead-of-schedule/

Environmental Groups Oppose Yakima River Basin Water Plan (Associated Press)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2015/dec/28/environmental-groups-oppose-yakima-water-plan/

RENEWABLE ENERGY

Tax Breaks, Falling Costs Are Boosting Wind & Solar (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2015/12/29/460812946/tax-breaks-falling-costs-are-boosting-wind-and-solar

Biomass Power Could Help California’s Dying Forests (Capital Public Radio, Sacramento, CA)

http://www.capradio.org/63471

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Ohio: Local Prison Wants Help Conserving Energy (Columbus Business First, OH)
http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/blog/ohio-energy-inc/2015/12/local-prison-wants-help-conserving-energy.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

‘Revenue Neutral’ Carbon-Tax Initiative Could Cost Washington State $675 Million (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/politics-government/article52077085.html

Editorial: Carbon Tax May Well Be in Our Future (Olympian - Paywall Advisory)

http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/editorials/article51972650.html

California U-S House Rep Rolls Out Carbon Pricing Bill (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/california-us-house-rep-rolls-out-carbon-pricing-bill/411380/

A Secret Weapon to Fight Climate Change: Soil (Twin Falls Times-News, ID)

http://magicvalley.com/business/agriculture/a-secret-weapon-to-fight-climate-change-soil/article_0b7ac7bd-a80c-59f5-9db3-d4ac08579752.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Oregon: CenturyLink Complaints Spike as New Services Arrive (Oregonian, Portland)

http://www.oregonlive.com/business/index.ssf/2015/12/centurylink_complaints_spike_a.html

America’s Internet Speed Tripled Since 2011 – Still Sucks Compared to the Rest of the World (Gizmodo)

http://gizmodo.com/americas-internet-speed-tripled-since-2011-still-sucks-1750297538

Making Strong Wi-Fi Available to All (Washington Examiner)

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/making-strong-wi-fi-available-to-all/article/2579241?custom_click=rss

Facebook’s Free Internet Service for Egyptians Shuts Down (San Jose Mercury News, CA)

http://www.mercurynews.com/business/ci_29325576/facebooks-free-internet-service-egyptians-shut-down?source=rss

MARKETING & MEDIA

Twitter Updates Cyberbullying Restrictions (British Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-35198313

How to Extend the Life of Your Social Media Content (Social Media Examiner)

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/how-to-extend-the-life-of-your-social-media-content/

Scientists Have Uncovered Exactly What Makes a Photo Memorable (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/innovations/wp/2015/12/29/forget-beautiful-sunrises-embrace-absurdity-heres-how-to-take-memorable-photos/

POLITICS & GOVERNANCE

Bellevue Man Sues Washington State Auditor, Claims Being Ripped Off (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/news/2015/12/30/troy-kelley-state-auditor-lawsuit-federal-indictment/78060334/

GENERAL NEWS

Epicenter near Victoria, B-C: Overnight Earthquake Felt across Western Washington (KCPQ-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://q13fox.com/2015/12/30/overnight-earthquake-felt-across-western-washington/

Police: Teens’ Game of ‘Chicken’ Causes Train to Derail in Montesano (KOMO-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://komonews.com/news/local/police-teens-game-of-chicken-causes-train-to-derail-in-montesano

Washington State Officials: Early Prisoner Release Fix Delayed 16 Times (Associated Press)

http://tdn.com/news/state-and-regional/washington/officials-early-prisoner-release-fix-was-delayed-times/article_6ed2c6ab-7d20-5f08-abe0-a8c219a40cd0.html

Washington State Officials Hope Repairs to U-S 12 Will Be Completed by the Summer (Yakima Herald-Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/local/officials-hope-repairs-to-u-s-will-be-completed-by/article_e6b4fade-aec7-11e5-b8a6-e7ce681d8724.html

City of Shelton Offers a HandUp to Mason County (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://kmasnewsradio.com/news/local-state-news/26103-city-offers-a-handup-to-the-county

Legal ID? TSA May Ban Washington Driver’s Licenses (KING-TV, Seattle, WA)

http://www.king5.com/story/news/local/2015/12/29/tsa-ban-washington-licenses/78048104/

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Woman Who Won Lottery during Divorce Can Keep It All - Dutch Court

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-netherlands-lottery-court-idUSKBN0UC0Y320151229

Strong Solar Storm to Hit Earth Before New Year’s Eve – Northern Lights to Be Visible in Northern States

http://www.seattlepi.com/local/science/article/Strong-solar-storm-to-hit-Earth-before-New-Year-s-6726537.php

Star Wars’ Abandoned Tunisian Locations – In Pictures

http://www.theguardian.com/film/2015/dec/03/star-wars-abandoned-tunisian-locations-in-pictures?CMP=fb_gu

On the Question of Dog Pants

http://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2015/12/on-the-topic-of-dog-pants/422193/

SONG OF THE DAY

Average White Band - Cut the Cake

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=75bYDYLSP0o

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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 websites 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, December 30, 2015

Energy News Digest for December 30, 2015

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