Energy News Digest for September 29, 2017

Occasionally clear the cache & history of your internet browser. It will help when trying to access news sites that count your visits.

The Energy News Digest is on Facebook.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for September 29, 2017

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

‘Pacific Highway of Storm Systems’ Rolling In (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/766555/pacific-highway-of-storm-systems-rolling-in/

Puerto Rico’s Debt-Plagued Power Grid Was on Life Support Long Before Hurricanes Wiped It Out (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-puerto-rico-power-20170925-story.html

PacifiCorp Launches RFP for 1,270 MW of Wyoming Wind (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/pacificorp-launches-rfp-for-1270-mw-of-wyoming-wind/506106/

Oregon’s Public Pension Deficit Reaches $25.3 Billion (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/oregon/articles/2017-09-28/oregons-public-pension-deficit-reaches-253-billion

We’ve Grossly Underestimated How Much Cow Farts Are Contributing to Global Warming (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/we-ve-grossly-underestimated-how-much-cow-farts-are-con-1818993089

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Puerto Rico’s Debt-Plagued Power Grid Was on Life Support Long Before Hurricanes Wiped It Out
• Powered Up & Wired? Post-Irma, Here’s How Your Service Providers Performed
• New Lawsuit Argues SCANA Led ‘Misinformation Campaign’ on South Carolina Nuclear Power Plant
• Three-Acre Brush Fire Cuts Power to Thousands in Snohomish
• Natural Gas Inventories Remain Lower Than Last Year, But Higher Than the Five-Year Average
• Rick Perry Proposes Sweeping New Steps to Support Coal & Nuclear Power Plants
• Feds Propose Cost Recovery for Baseload Generators in New FERC Rule
• You Can No Longer Fly Your Drone Over Grand Coulee Dam, Statue Of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, Other Sites
• U-S Considers Ending Protections for Northwest Montana Bears
• Sockeye Salmon Numbers Encouraging
• On an Undammed River – Sockeye Salmon Run In B-C’s Fraser River Remains Low While Ottawa Takes Action
• Northwest Power & Conservation Council Requests Science Review of 2014 Columbia Basin Fish/Wildlife Program
• Biologists Report Creek Habitat Project in Northeast Oregon Shows Young Salmon Use Increasing
• Tsunami Debris Continues to Bring New Marine Species to the Pacific Northwest
• PacifiCorp Launches RFP for 1,270 MW of Wyoming Wind
• Why Tampa Electric Is Spending $850 Million on Solar Projects
• The Future of Wind Turbines Could Be Bladeless
• Thousands of Marijuana Plants Seized in Lewis County, Police Say
• We’ve Grossly Underestimated How Much Cow Farts Are Contributing to Global Warming
• These Solar Farms Have a Secret Hiding under Them: Mushrooms
• Wave Broadband Completes Underground Oregon Fiber Line – A Gateway to Top Asian Markets
• More Than 90 Percent of Puerto Rico’s Cell Sites Are out of Action
• Senator Berates Twitter over ‘Inadequate’ Inquiry into Russian Meddling
• Oregon’s Public Pension Deficit Reaches $25.3 Billion
• Judgment Day for Public Unions
• Proposition 1: Changing to a Seven-Member City Council/Manager Form of Government
• Vaughn Man Dies When Vehicle Strikes Tree near Allyn
• ‘Pacific Highway of Storm Systems’ Rolling In
• Mayor Sees Economic Turn-Around in City of Shelton
• Build a Brewery, & They Will Come
• After 103 Years in Storage, Civil War Veteran’s Remains Laid to Rest in Port Orchard

WORD OF THE DAY

Rorschach Test • \ROAR-shack - test\ • noun – a personality & intelligence test in which a subject interprets inkblot designs in terms that reveal intellectual & emotional factors —called also Rorschach, Rorschach inkblot test. Etymology: Hermann Rorschach died 1922 Swiss psychiatrist

Bartholomew befuddled his psychiatrists. During Rorschach Tests, the ink blots elicited mainly silence. That is, until Bart issued odd, braying laughter at unusual times when the most elaborate ink blots were portrayed. Unbeknownst to the psychiatrists, Bartholomew misunderstood the test instructions. Barty thought he was taking a Horshack test. https://news.avclub.com/r-i-p-ron-palillo-welcome-back-kotters-horshack-1798232841

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Puerto Rico’s Debt-Plagued Power Grid Was on Life Support Long Before Hurricanes Wiped It Out (Los Angeles Times, CA)

http://www.latimes.com/nation/la-na-puerto-rico-power-20170925-story.html

Powered Up & Wired? Post-Irma, Here’s How Your Service Providers Performed (Miami Herald, FL – Good “lessons learned” information here.)

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/weather/hurricane/article175913791.html

New Lawsuit Argues SCANA Led ‘Misinformation Campaign’ on South Carolina Nuclear Power Plant (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/new-lawsuit-argues-scana-led-misinformation-campaign-on-summer-plant/506128/

Three-Acre Brush Fire Cuts Power to Thousands in Snohomish (Everett Herald, WA)

https://www.heraldnet.com/news/3-acre-brush-fire-cuts-power-to-thousands-in-snohomish/

Natural Gas Inventories Remain Lower Than Last Year, But Higher Than the Five-Year Average (U-S Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=33132

Rick Perry Proposes Sweeping New Steps to Support Coal & Nuclear Power Plants (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/09/29/rick-perry-proposes-sweeping-new-moves-to-support-coal-and-nuclear-plants/

Feds Propose Cost Recovery for Baseload Generators in New FERC Rule (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/breaking-doe-proposes-cost-recovery-for-baseload-generators-in-new-ferc-ru/506137/

You Can No Longer Fly Your Drone Over Grand Coulee Dam, Statue Of Liberty, Mount Rushmore, Other Sites (Consumerist)

https://consumerist.com/2017/09/29/you-can-no-longer-fly-your-drone-over-the-statue-of-liberty-mount-rushmore-other-sites/

FISH & WILDLIFE

U-S Considers Ending Protections for Northwest Montana Bears (Associated Press)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/sep/29/us-considers-ending-protections-for-northwest-mont/

Sockeye Salmon Numbers Encouraging (KPVI-TV, Pocatello, ID)

http://www.kpvi.com/news/local_news/sockeye-salmon-numbers-encouraging/article_b6957c38-a3b8-11e7-b3ba-f3a7f10d90d0.html

On an Undammed River – Sockeye Salmon Run In B-C’s Fraser River Remains Low While Ottawa Takes Action (Globe & Mail, Canada)

https://beta.theglobeandmail.com/news/british-columbia/sockeye-salmon-run-in-bcs-fraser-river-remains-low-while-ottawa-takes-action/article36430613/

Northwest Power & Conservation Council Requests Science Review of 2014 Columbia Basin Fish/Wildlife Program (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/439633.aspx

Biologists Report Creek Habitat Project in Northeast Oregon Shows Young Salmon Use Increasing (Columbia Basin Bulletin)

http://www.cbbulletin.com/439634.aspx

Tsunami Debris Continues to Bring New Marine Species to the Pacific Northwest (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/tsunami-debris-continues-bring-new-marine-species-pacific-northwest

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

PacifiCorp Launches RFP for 1,270 MW of Wyoming Wind (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/pacificorp-launches-rfp-for-1270-mw-of-wyoming-wind/506106/

Why Tampa Electric Is Spending $850 Million on Solar Projects (Tampa Bay Business Journal, FL)

https://www.bizjournals.com/tampabay/news/2017/09/28/why-tampa-electric-is-spending-850-million-on.html

The Future of Wind Turbines Could Be Bladeless (CNBC)

https://www.cnbc.com/2017/09/29/the-future-of-wind-turbines-could-be-bladeless.html

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Thousands of Marijuana Plants Seized in Lewis County, Police Say (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

http://www.theolympian.com/news/local/crime/article176112386.html

CLIMATE CHANGE SEQUESTRATION VAULT

We’ve Grossly Underestimated How Much Cow Farts Are Contributing to Global Warming (Gizmodo)

https://gizmodo.com/we-ve-grossly-underestimated-how-much-cow-farts-are-con-1818993089

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

These Solar Farms Have a Secret Hiding under Them: Mushrooms (Fast Company)

https://www.fastcompany.com/40469425/these-solar-farms-have-a-secret-hiding-under-them-mushrooms

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Wave Broadband Completes Underground Oregon Fiber Line – A Gateway to Top Asian Markets (Geekwire)

https://www.geekwire.com/2017/wave-broadband-completes-underground-oregon-fiber-line-providing-gateway-top-asian-markets/

More Than 90 Percent of Puerto Rico’s Cell Sites Are out of Action (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/09/28/this-is-how-bad-cell-service-in-puerto-rico-is-right-now/

Senator Berates Twitter over ‘Inadequate’ Inquiry into Russian Meddling (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/28/us/politics/twitter-russia-interference-2016-election-investigation.html

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

Oregon’s Public Pension Deficit Reaches $25.3 Billion (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/oregon/articles/2017-09-28/oregons-public-pension-deficit-reaches-253-billion

Judgment Day for Public Unions (Atlantic Magazine)

https://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2017/09/judgment-day-for-public-unions/541449/

Proposition 1: Changing to a Seven-Member City Council/Manager Form of Government (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.ifiberonenewsradio.com/news/local_news/proposition-changing-to-a--member-city-council-manager-form/youtube_cad13338-a497-11e7-b87f-27d5382334fe.html

GENERAL NEWS

Vaughn Man Dies When Vehicle Strikes Tree near Allyn (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.ifiberonenewsradio.com/news/local_news/vaughn-man-dies-when-vehicle-strikes-tree-near-allyn/article_41e9daa0-a52a-11e7-a68c-8fede1b1b592.html

‘Pacific Highway of Storm Systems’ Rolling In (KIRO Broadcasting, Seattle, WA)

http://mynorthwest.com/766555/pacific-highway-of-storm-systems-rolling-in/

Mayor Sees Economic Turn-Around in City of Shelton (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.ifiberonenewsradio.com/news/local_news/mayor-sees-economic-turn-around-in-city-of-shelton/article_9b4f5bd4-a4a2-11e7-b2d8-c77468996f86.html

Build a Brewery, & They Will Come (National Public Radio)

http://www.npr.org/2017/09/28/554331255/build-a-brewery-and-they-will-come

After 103 Years in Storage, Civil War Veteran’s Remains Laid to Rest in Port Orchard (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/after-103-years-in-storage-civil-war-vets-remains-laid-to-rest/

RODENTS IN THE ROTORS – DIVERSIONS

Rat Damaged Car Engine Leads To $15K Repair Bill

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/rats-damage-cars-1.4312381?cmp=rss

The Nose, Knows – Pierce County Lawsuit against Honey Bucket Certified as Class Action

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/washington/articles/2017-09-29/lawsuit-against-honey-bucket-certified-as-class-action

A Toddler Was Sneakily Stealing Popcorn from Prince Harry – The Photos of Him Realizing It Are Priceless

https://www.yahoo.com/news/toddler-sneakily-stealing-popcorn-prince-144704937.html

The Man Who Live-Tweets World War II

https://www.theatlantic.com/technology/archive/2017/09/world-war-twitter-tweeting/541134/?utm_source=feed

SONG OF THE DAY

Ray Parker Jr & Helen Terry – One Sunny Day

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=akX6Qf29LI0

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org.

GET SOCIAL WITH THE NEWS DIGEST

The Energy News Digest is on Facebook.

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

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

Links in the news digest lead to current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links. There may be paywall barriers, unless you are willing to fork over some dough or if you have a clean browser history.

Energy News Digest for September 28, 2017

Occasionally clear the cache & history of your internet browser. It will help when trying to access news sites that count your visits.

The Energy News Digest is on Facebook.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for September 28, 2017

Change in the Weather – Special Weather Statement for Mason County

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

In the Virgin Islands, Hurricane Maria Drowned What Irma Didn’t Destroy (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/27/us/hurricane-maria-virgin-islands.html

Asplundh Tree Trimming Company to Pay Record Fine for Immigration Practices (Associated Press)

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/tree-company-to-pay-record-fine-for-immigration-practices/

Democrats Are Pushing a $40 Billion Plan to Bring the Best Internet Access to Rural America (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/09/28/democrats-are-pushing-a-40-billion-plan-to-bring-the-best-internet-access-to-rural-america/

Songbird Numbers May Indicate Trouble in Northwest Forests (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/songbird-numbers-may-indicate-trouble-northwest-forests/

Municipal Bond Tax Exemption Preserved Under Federal Tax Reform Plan (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/municipal-bond-tax-exemption-preserved-under-federal-tax-reform-plan

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• In the Virgin Islands, Hurricane Maria Drowned What Irma Didn’t Destroy
• $1 Billion Loan Offer to Struggling Puerto Rico Utility May Be Rejected
• Severe Power Failures in Puerto Rico & Across the Caribbean Spur New Interest in Renewable Energy
• Asplundh Tree Trimming Company to Pay Record Fine for Immigration Practices
• Editorial: Cowlitz PUD Rate Increase – Agrees
• British Columbia: Winter Stops Peace River Dam Work, Prompts 200 Layoffs
• Tacoma Couple’s Restoration of Historic Sullivan Creek Powerhouse a Labor of Love
• South Carolina: Gov. Henry McMaster Sets Deadline for Santee Cooper Buyers, Pushes Interim CEO
• Nuclear Power Plant Outages Were Relatively Low This Summer
• Mission Impossible? How Utilities Are Minimizing Disruptions from Inevitable Storms
• Songbird Numbers May Indicate Trouble in Northwest Forests
• Biologist Says Chumming Won’t Affect Fisheries
• Interior Department to Overhaul Obama’s Sage Grouse Protection Plan
• British Columbia: Wind or Water? The Peace River Dam Debate Generally Splits Into Two Camps: Hydroelectric or Wind Power
• Arizona Utility Will Use ‘Reverse Demand Response’ to Avoid Renewables Curtailment
• It’s Cheaper to Save Energy than to Buy It, Despite Misleading Claims
• Utilities Cashing in on Smart Technologies
• Pacific Northwest Cleantech Accelerator Lands Federal Funds for Expansion
• Democrats Are Pushing a $40 Billion Plan to Bring the Best Internet Access to Rural America
• Lewis County 911 Was Down for Landline Users, Officials Say
• ‘Network Issue’ Causes Global Airport Delays
• Amazon on YouTube Fracas: We’re Ready to Fix It
• NERC Proposal Targets Cybersecurity Risks in Electric System Supply Chains
• Those Extra Characters on Twitter Just Became the World’s Geekiest Status Symbol
• The Best Social Media Influencers Do These Five Things
• Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell Opposes FCC Chair over Net Neutrality
• AT&T Gives Refunds to Those Offended by NFL Protests
• Municipal Bond Tax Exemption Preserved Under Federal Tax Reform Plan
• U-S Senate Energy Committee Loses Staff Director
• Fed Interior Secretary Zinke Says His Workers Are Disloyal. They Say His Personnel Moves Break The Law.
• Residents Question, Criticize, Praise City Officials at Shelton OutLoud
• Washington State Earthquake Group Favors Quick Fixes over Major Upgrades
• Shelton Leaders Back Design Push for Alder Street-Olympic Highway North Project
• North Mason Kiwanis Club Improving Pedestrian Safety
• In College Basketball Scandal, Follow the Money … and the Shoes

WORD OF THE DAY

Lexical • \LEK-sih-kul\ • adjective - 1: of or relating to words or the vocabulary of a language as distinguished from its grammar & construction 2: of or relating to a lexicon or to lexicography

Sweat flowed like a waterfall off the dumbstruck spelling bee contestant. He had aced every lexical challenge presented in the first five rounds. Not to mix metaphors, but his Achilles’ heel reared its ugly head when the judge asked him to spell the word “receive”. For some reason, the “I before E, except after C” rule had never nestled itself into his consciousness…it had always lurked in the darkness, just beyond the reach of his thoughts. Needless to say, he was bounced from the competition.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

In the Virgin Islands, Hurricane Maria Drowned What Irma Didn’t Destroy (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/27/us/hurricane-maria-virgin-islands.html

$1 Billion Loan Offer to Struggling Puerto Rico Utility May Be Rejected (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/1b-loan-offer-to-struggling-puerto-rico-utility-may-be-rejected/506006/

Severe Power Failures in Puerto Rico & Across the Caribbean Spur New Interest in Renewable Energy (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/09/28/storm-driven-power-failures-in-the-caribbean-spur-new-interest-in-renewable-energy/

Asplundh Tree Trimming Company to Pay Record Fine for Immigration Practices (Associated Press)

https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/tree-company-to-pay-record-fine-for-immigration-practices/

Editorial: Cowlitz PUD Rate Increase – Agrees (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/opinion/editorial/pud-rate-increase/article_ab063198-6759-561a-8924-35d70aa6ec40.html

British Columbia: Winter Stops Peace River Dam Work, Prompts 200 Layoffs

http://www.timescolonist.com/business/winter-stops-site-c-dam-work-prompts-200-layoffs-1.23049621

Tacoma Couple’s Restoration of Historic Sullivan Creek Powerhouse a Labor of Love (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/sep/26/tacoma-couples-restoration-of-historic-sullivan-cr/#/0

South Carolina: Gov. Henry McMaster Sets Deadline for Santee Cooper Buyers, Pushes Interim CEO (Charleston Post & Courier, SC)

http://www.postandcourier.com/news/gov-henry-mcmaster-sets-deadline-for-santee-cooper-buyers-pushes/article_d3a7f7ce-a3bd-11e7-b23e-cffb77b1a87f.html

Nuclear Power Plant Outages Were Relatively Low This Summer (U-S Energy Information Administration)

https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=33112

Mission Impossible? How Utilities Are Minimizing Disruptions from Inevitable Storms (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/mission-impossible-how-utilities-are-minimizing-disruptions-from-inevitabl/505351/

FISH & WILDLIFE

Songbird Numbers May Indicate Trouble in Northwest Forests (Courthouse News Service)

https://www.courthousenews.com/songbird-numbers-may-indicate-trouble-northwest-forests/

Biologist Says Chumming Won’t Affect Fisheries (Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA)

http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2017/sep/28/biologist-says-chumming-wont-affect-fisheries/

Interior Department to Overhaul Obama’s Sage Grouse Protection Plan (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/28/climate/trump-sage-grouse.html

RENEWABLE ENERGY & SELF STORAGE

British Columbia: Wind or Water? The Peace River Dam Debate Generally Splits Into Two Camps: Hydroelectric or Wind Power (Business Vancouver, BC)

https://www.biv.com/article/2017/9/wind-or-water/

Arizona Utility Will Use ‘Reverse Demand Response’ to Avoid Renewables Curtailment (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/arizona-utility-will-use-reverse-demand-response-to-avoid-renewables-curt/505943/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

It’s Cheaper to Save Energy than to Buy It, Despite Misleading Claims (The Energy Collective)

http://www.theenergycollective.com/raponline/2413453/cheaper-save-energy-buy-despite-misleading-claims

Utilities Cashing in on Smart Technologies (Forbes Magazine)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/jeffmcmahon/2017/09/28/utilities-cashing-in-on-smart-technologies/#437c840e7dde

BARREL O’ GREEN POTPOURRI – SEETHING STEW OF SCIENCE

Pacific Northwest Cleantech Accelerator Lands Federal Funds for Expansion (Portland Business Journal, OR)

https://www.bizjournals.com/portland/news/2017/09/27/pacific-northwest-cleantech-accelerator-lands.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Democrats Are Pushing a $40 Billion Plan to Bring the Best Internet Access to Rural America (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/the-switch/wp/2017/09/28/democrats-are-pushing-a-40-billion-plan-to-bring-the-best-internet-access-to-rural-america/

Lewis County 911 Was Down for Landline Users, Officials Say (Olympian, WA – Paywall Advisory)

http://www.theolympian.com/news/local/article175814786.html

‘Network Issue’ Causes Global Airport Delays (British Broadcasting Corporation)

http://www.bbc.com/news/technology-41429376

Amazon on YouTube Fracas: We’re Ready to Fix It (USA Today)

https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/talkingtech/2017/09/28/amazon-google-echo-youtube-fracas/711943001/

NERC Proposal Targets Cybersecurity Risks in Electric System Supply Chains (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/nerc-proposal-targets-cybersecurity-risks-in-electric-system-supply-chains/506000/

MARKETING & MEDIA

Those Extra Characters on Twitter Just Became the World’s Geekiest Status Symbol (Slate Magazine)

http://www.slate.com/articles/technology/technology/2017/09/having_access_to_280_character_tweets_just_became_the_world_s_geekiest_status.html

The Best Social Media Influencers Do These Five Things (AdWeek)

http://www.adweek.com/digital/brendan-gahan-epic-signal-guest-post-best-social-media-influencers-5-things/

Washington Sen. Maria Cantwell Opposes FCC Chair over Net Neutrality (Northwest Public Radio)

http://nwpr.org/post/washington-sen-maria-cantwell-opposes-fcc-chair-over-net-neutrality

AT&T Gives Refunds to Those Offended by NFL Protests (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/ATT-Gives-Refunds-to-Those-Offended-by-NFL-Protests-140410

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

Municipal Bond Tax Exemption Preserved Under Federal Tax Reform Plan (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/municipal-bond-tax-exemption-preserved-under-federal-tax-reform-plan

U-S Senate Energy Committee Loses Staff Director (Washington Examiner)

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/senate-energy-committee-loses-staff-director/article/2635798

Fed Interior Secretary Zinke Says His Workers Are Disloyal. They Say His Personnel Moves Break The Law. (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/09/27/zinke-says-his-workers-are-disloyal-they-say-his-personnel-moves-break-the-law/

GENERAL NEWS

Residents Question, Criticize, Praise City Officials at Shelton OutLoud Forum (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.ifiberonenewsradio.com/news/local_news/residents-question-criticize-praise-city-officials-at-shelton-outloud-forum/article_afc76214-a46b-11e7-9207-bf99ff5d8f65.html

Washington State Earthquake Group Favors Quick Fixes over Major Upgrades (News Tribune, Tacoma, WA – Paywall Advisory)

http://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/article175787901.html

Shelton Leaders Back Design Push for Alder Street-Olympic Highway North Project (KMAS Radio, Shelton, WA)

http://www.ifiberonenewsradio.com/news/local_news/shelton-leaders-back-design-push-for-alder-st--olympic/article_b5182990-a3d7-11e7-81a3-4b5a79905cdd.html

North Mason Kiwanis Club Improving Pedestrian Safety (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/27476

In College Basketball Scandal, Follow the Money … and the Shoes (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/27/sports/ncaabasketball/adidas-pitino-louisville.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Largest Ever Rough Cut Diamond Sold at Public Auction Nets 53 Million

http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/british-columbia/massive-diamond-sold-1.4306750

Hugh Hefner, Founder of Playboy, Dead at 91

https://www.yahoo.com/news/hugh-hefner-founder-playboy-dead-031914304.html

How to Get Free Coffee on National Coffee Day – Where to Find Portland’s Best

http://www.oregonlive.com/dining/index.ssf/2017/09/how_to_get_free_coffee_and_whe.html

‘Creepy’ Clown Candidate Brings Police to College Polling Place

http://www.bostonherald.com/news/local_politics/2017/09/creepy_clown_candidate_brings_police_to_college_polling_place

SONG OF THE DAY

The Manhattan Transfer - Java Jive

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6lgX0YrCNYU

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org.

GET SOCIAL WITH THE NEWS DIGEST

The Energy News Digest is on Facebook.

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

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

Links in the news digest lead to current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links. There may be paywall barriers, unless you are willing to fork over some dough or if you have a clean browser history.

Energy News Digest for September 27, 2017

Occasionally clear the cache & history of your internet browser. It will help when trying to access news sites that count your visits.

The Energy News Digest is on Facebook.

SHELTON FORECAST & WEATHER ALERTS

Weather Forecast for September 27, 2017

HOT SHOTS – TODAY’S TOP FIVE STORIES

Washington State Denies Key Permit for U.S.-Asia Coal Export Terminal (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-coal-export/washington-state-denies-key-permit-for-u-s-asia-coal-export-terminal-idUSKCN1C12US

Probe Opened Into ‘Potential Criminality’ in South Carolina Nuclear Power Project (Associated Press)

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/state-law-allowing-rate-hikes-constitutionally-suspect-50101366

U-S, Mexico Expand Pact on Managing Overused Colorado River (Associated Press)

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/us-mexico-expand-pact-on-managing-overused-colorado-river/

Fiber Subject of Lengthy Grant PUD Discussion (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/article/20170927/ARTICLE/170929922

Twitter to Test Doubling Tweet Length to 280 Characters (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/26/technology/twitter-280-characters.html

NEWS HIGHLIGHTS (Details Below)

• Washington State Denies Key Permit for U.S.-Asia Coal Export Terminal
• Cowlitz PUD Approves 2.5% Rate Hike
• Utility Seeks Higher Natural Gas Price for Montana Customers
• Lewis County Commissioners Proclaim First Week in October ‘Public Power Week’
• Editorial: Public Power & You
• Probe Opened Into ‘Potential Criminality’ in South Carolina Nuclear Power Project
• President Authorizes 100% Funding for Emergency Power Efforts in Puerto Rico
• Central Maine Power Seeks Permit to Transmit Cheap Hydro from Canada
• Pueblo, Colorado Considers Forming a Public Power Utility
• Electricity Alone Powers One Quarter of U-S Homes
• The Wet Winter Brought Lots of Water to California – Fighting Over Fish Continues
• Comment Period Extended on Olympics Mountain Goat Plan
• U-S, Mexico Expand Pact on Managing Overused Colorado River
• Cutting Energy Use Is One Way Cash-Strapped Schools Can Save. But By How Much?
• Oregon Pot Farmer to Neighbors: Chill Out. Neighbors: No.
• Fiber Subject of Lengthy Grant PUD Discussion
• CenturyLink Promises Broadband Upgrades to 3 Million by 2018
• The Wireless Industry Is Competitive, The FCC Finds – Some Wonder for How Long
• Twitter to Test Doubling Tweet Length to 280 Characters
• Maria Cantwell Slams Ryan Zinke Over Plan to Fire Interior Employees for Lack of Loyalty
• How Did Sound Transit’s $15 Billion Tax Request Reach $54 Billion? Republicans Say They Were Misled
• Seattle Woman Injured in Crash on Highway 106
• Adidas, Nike Officials Charged in Basketball Corruption Case
• New Planned Factory for Spokane Valley to Produce New Engineered Wood
• National Parks Struggle with a Mounting Crisis: Too Many Visitors
• Saudi Government Will Allow Women to Drive

WORD OF THE DAY

Accretion • \uh-CREE-shun\ • noun - 1: the process of growth or enlargement by a gradual buildup: as a: increase by external addition or accumulation (as by adhesion of external parts or particles) b: the increase of land by the action of natural forces 2: a product of accretion; especially: an extraneous addition

Viktor was a procrastinator of the first sort. One of his loathed household chores was scrubbing his shower of soap scum. His aversion over a two-year period did not take into account the gradual accretion on the walls of his shower stall. Then came that one fateful morning when he discovered he could not fit into the chamber for his daily ablutions.

ENERGY & UTILITY ISSUES

Washington State Denies Key Permit for U.S.-Asia Coal Export Terminal (Reuters)

http://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-coal-export/washington-state-denies-key-permit-for-u-s-asia-coal-export-terminal-idUSKCN1C12US

Cowlitz PUD Approves 2.5% Rate Hike (Longview Daily News, WA)

http://tdn.com/news/local/cowlitz-pud-approves-rate-hike/article_53e7d734-59e2-531d-87fd-2960ced77a99.html

Utility Seeks Higher Natural Gas Price for Montana Customers (Billings Gazette, MT)

http://billingsgazette.com/news/state-and-regional/montana/utility-seeks-higher-natural-gas-price-for-montana-customers/article_d85d0a3c-b580-55cb-928e-1d2fcc23e0bf.html

Lewis County Commissioners Proclaim First Week in October ‘Public Power Week’ (The Chronicle, Centralia, WA)

http://www.chronline.com/news/county-commissioners-proclaim-first-week-in-october-public-power-week/article_65074dd6-a2e8-11e7-a815-f350e4fa6df5.html

Editorial: Public Power & You (Lincoln County Record, Pioche, NV)

http://www.lccentral.com/2017/09/26/public-power-and-you/

Probe Opened Into ‘Potential Criminality’ in South Carolina Nuclear Power Project (Associated Press)

http://abcnews.go.com/US/wireStory/state-law-allowing-rate-hikes-constitutionally-suspect-50101366

President Authorizes 100% Funding for Emergency Power Efforts in Puerto Rico (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/president-authorizes-100-funding-emergency-power-efforts-puerto-rico

Central Maine Power Seeks Permit to Transmit Cheap Hydro from Canada (Utility Dive)

http://www.utilitydive.com/news/central-maine-power-seeks-permit-to-transmit-cheap-hydro-from-canada/505897/

Pueblo, Colorado Considers Forming a Public Power Utility (American Public Power Association)

https://www.publicpower.org/periodical/article/pueblo-colo-considers-forming-public-power-utility

Electricity Alone Powers One Quarter of U-S Homes (Inewsource)

http://inewsource.org/2017/09/26/electricity-one-quarter-homes-all-electric/

FISH & WILDLIFE

The Wet Winter Brought Lots of Water to California – Fighting Over Fish Continues (Sacramento Bee, CA)

http://www.sacbee.com/news/state/california/water-and-drought/delta/article175541821.html

Comment Period Extended on Olympics Mountain Goat Plan (Yakima Herald Republic, WA)

http://www.yakimaherald.com/news/state_news/comment-period-extended-on-olympics-mountain-goat-plan/article_d5ac239d-b463-5ae5-adc8-ae788012084c.html

WATER, THE SOURCE OF ALL LIFE

U-S, Mexico Expand Pact on Managing Overused Colorado River (Associated Press)

https://www.seattletimes.com/business/us-mexico-expand-pact-on-managing-overused-colorado-river/

CONSERVATION & EFFICIENCY

Cutting Energy Use Is One Way Cash-Strapped Schools Can Save. But By How Much? (Forbes Magazine)

https://www.forbes.com/sites/ucenergy/2017/09/27/cutting-energy-use-is-one-way-cash-strapped-schools-can-save-but-by-how-much/#2c0dfb622cb2

KILOWATTS FOR CANNABIS

Oregon Pot Farmer to Neighbors: Chill Out. Neighbors: No. (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/26/style/oregon-weed-farmers.html

TECHNOLOGY & TELECOMMUNICATIONS

Fiber Subject of Lengthy Grant PUD Discussion (Columbia Basin Herald, Moses Lake, WA)

http://www.columbiabasinherald.com/article/20170927/ARTICLE/170929922

CenturyLink Promises Broadband Upgrades to 3 Million by 2018 (Broadband Reports)

http://www.dslreports.com/shownews/CenturyLink-Promises-Broadband-Upgrades-to-3-Million-by-2018-140404

The Wireless Industry Is Competitive, The FCC Finds – Some Wonder for How Long (Washington Post)

https://www.washingtonpost.com/amphtml/news/the-switch/wp/2017/09/26/the-wireless-industry-is-competitive-the-fcc-finds-but-some-wonder-for-how-long/

MARKETING & MEDIA

Twitter to Test Doubling Tweet Length to 280 Characters (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/26/technology/twitter-280-characters.html

GOVERNANCE & MANAGEMENT

Maria Cantwell Slams Ryan Zinke Over Plan to Fire Interior Employees for Lack of Loyalty (Washington Examiner)

http://www.washingtonexaminer.com/maria-cantwell-slams-ryan-zinke-over-plan-to-fire-interior-employees-for-lack-of-loyalty/article/2635654

How Did Sound Transit’s $15 Billion Tax Request Reach $54 Billion? Republicans Say They Were Misled (Seattle Times, WA – Paywall Advisory)

https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/transportation/how-did-sound-transits-15-billion-tax-request-reach-54-billion-republican-say-they-were-misled/

GENERAL NEWS

Seattle Woman Injured in Crash on Highway 106 (Mason Web TV, Shelton, WA)

http://masonwebtv.com/archives/27474

Adidas, Nike Officials Charged in Basketball Corruption Case (Vancouver Columbian, WA)

http://www.columbian.com/news/2017/sep/26/adidas-nike-officials-charged-in-basketball-corruption-case/

New Planned Factory for Spokane Valley to Produce New Engineered Wood (Associated Press)

https://www.usnews.com/news/best-states/washington/articles/2017-09-27/new-planned-factory-to-produce-new-engineered-wood

National Parks Struggle with a Mounting Crisis: Too Many Visitors (NY Times)

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/09/27/us/national-parks-overcrowding.html

Saudi Government Will Allow Women to Drive (Voice of America)

https://www.voanews.com/a/state-media-saudi-king-issues-decree-allowing-women-drive/4045378.html

ALLIGATORS IN THE SEWER – DIVERSIONS

Best Airports for Craft Beer Lovers – Looks like Portland is a Winner

https://www.usatoday.com/story/travel/flights/2017/09/27/airports-craft-beer/704483001/

EPA Spending Almost $25,000 to Install a Secure Phone Booth for Scott Pruitt

https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2017/09/26/epa-spending-almost-25000-to-install-a-secure-phone-booth-for-scott-pruitt/?utm_term=.8a922bff8a4c

Kind Man Pulls a 6-Foot Snake Out of His Elderly Neighbor’s Toilet with His Bare Hands

http://mashable.com/2017/09/26/toilet-snake-elderly-neighbor.amp

Swallowed Playmobil Traffic Cone ‘In Man’s Lung for 40 Years’

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-england-lancashire-41403940

SONG OF THE DAY

No Doubt - Don’t Speak

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TR3Vdo5etCQ

SUBSCRIBE TO THE ENERGY NEWS DIGEST

To subscribe, email jmyer@masonpud3.org.

GET SOCIAL WITH THE NEWS DIGEST

The Energy News Digest is on Facebook.

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

LINKS & PAYWALL ADVISORY

Links in the news digest lead to current stories. Media organizations update their websites regularly, which may result in broken links. There may be paywall barriers, unless you are willing to fork over some dough or if you have a clean browser history.